Keep Tidy is a Vancouver band that will satisfy your craving for hardcore, balls-on rock. With female-led vocals, the band reminds me of a cross between The Distillers and a very loud and uninhibited, Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

They are made up of Brett, Dustin, Kyle and Shmoo; most of the members aren't new in the scene. They actually belonged to various other bands in the local Vancouver rock scene before coming together to create this fast paced, loud record that seems to be made up of nothing but a whirlwind of sound. 

The band comes in strong and hard. Blasting through with 7 songs that equal to 8 minutes of play time only. That might seem quite short -okay, that is very short - but it doesn't diminish the energy or likability factor of the songs.

Starting with Goochie Main, the song declares its presence with loud drumming, followed by prominent bass work. Within seconds, you're greeted with the brash female vocals that perfectly harmonize with its surrounding instruments. At 1:54, this is actually the longest song on the EP. It's followed by an equally commanding track, Simpsons Quotes. Each song seamlessly flows into another that it's sometimes hard to know where one ends and the other begins.

In spite of this, they never fail to inject that headstrong sound, which makes you want to jump around and head bang. If you're in for some rockin' good time, then you should take a listen to Keep Tidy. Definitely a band worth checking out.

Related Links:
Keep Tidy on BandCamp
Keep Tidy on Facebook
Keep Tidy on Twitter
Keep Tidy on Myspace

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Punk is not dead! For the many punk lovers out there, Punk's Undead Volume 1 might just be the album you've been looking for. This 28 track compilation features great tracks from various punk rockers in the Chicago area and neighboring cities.

Released under Illinois indie netlabel, Sematary Records, the compilation is one big punk fest featuring songs that are energetic and quite raw in places. Described as the record label from the grave, Punk's Undead - Volume 1 is definitely an interesting compilation fit for any true blue punk rocker.

Opening with Roberta Sparrow, these hardcore punk rockers arose from the remnants of Vice Dolls. The group blasts through the compilation with Poison the Air We Breathe. This short but highly energetic track bounces everywhere and definitely gives you an idea how the rest of the album will be.

Although much of it is loud, fast and brash, the entire album isn't strictly punk rock. Occasionally you'll encounter a progressive death metal track like Sinister Tongues from Scavenger; a punk power pop song like Relocator from The Knockdown; and several female led punk numbers, particularly from The Burminators and The Regulars.

Punk's Undead Volume 1 is filled with quite a few impressive punk tracks to enjoy. Although you might find some of them a little unpolished, there's no denying that the punk aesthetic is alive and kicking. Take a listen and grab the download.

Related Links:
Sematary Records on BandCamp
Sematary Records on Facebook
Punk's Undead Volume 1 on Dying Scene
Sematary Records on Myspace

Blues has always had a special place in my heart so when I found this really cool record from Freeky Cleen, it definitely made me smile. Acoustic Blues Jams is a laid back and simple guitar driven blues jam from a one man band.

The project began back in 2004 when Ilya Polishchuk and Alex Okhrimenko decided to create their own recording studio, complete with instruments and systems that they created themselves. This was a big challenge but they managed to succeed. After taking the plunge, Ilya recorded a couple of original tracks which would eventually lead to Freeky Cleen's debut record, Infertility, back in 2005.

To date, this is the sixth release from the artist. Acoustic Blues Jams is exactly like its title. It's a hodge podge of beautiful blues jam sessions accompanied with Ilya's country style vocals and clean acoustic guitar playing. The album contains 15 tracks including 3 bonus singles.

Starting with the catchy Married Man Blues, the song laments temptations besetting well...a married man. Featuring great guitar skills and a very laid style, the song is instantly likable even after just one listen. The vocals and backing voice lends itself to the song and definitely add that touch of sincerity to the lyrics. Other tracks like Feelin' Low Down, echo a more rhythm and blues vibe reminiscent of various blues artists who pretty much spearheaded the sound. Elements of hard rock, country, bluegrass and even boogie woogie dominate Freeky Cleen's sound; providing audiences a chance to enjoy this long-forgotten sound especially in today's pop-driven music world.

Overall, the record is a great one to have for those who know how to appreciate acoustic blues. It's a beautiful and relaxing compilation that makes you want to find yourself a bayou somewhere with guitar on hand and singing the afternoon's away. You'll find the record in Jamendo as well as on the band's official website.

Related Links:
Freeky Cleen Official Website
Freeky Cleen on Last FM
Freeky Cleen on Jamendo

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At the mention of the phrase “music from Sweden”, the odds are you'll sing in your head a line or two from Dancing Queen or, if your affinities lie at the opposite pole, make a mental list of your favorite death metal bands from that part of the world. Much as outsider impression of Swedish music is limited to the spirited disco pop of ABBA and the baneful loudness of the country's vibrant metal scene, a genre that's somewhere near the confluence into which these opposing musical streams flow is peeking out for some attention.

Cavanaugh, a four-piece band from Borlänge, Dalarana, is among the proponents of this genre, which the group unabashedly calls “mainstream rock”. But even as we hear that from the band itself, a deeper look into its music reveals sensibilities that have recently been missing from the mainstream scene at large. The 2009 EP Far From Chicago, spirited as it is in a way heavy, is without most of the unneccessary trappings.

The songs are rife with beautiful, catchy – but not maudlin – melodies, insinuating regret and forlorn feelings over what has long been gone but still pined for. The melodies and their delivery take cue from 80s rock ballads, but not the ones bordering on metal; they lean much closer toward the work of post-Eagles Don Henley, as in the artist's The Boys of Summer. To achieve this, band employs a little heartland rock, in the vein of Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty.

The instrumentation, come to think of it, exhibits the greatest amount of the mainstream flavor the band speaks of. With the innocuous chugging guitars on Get It Right and modern-day riffings on Fade Away, the band's message is clear: it wants to be relevant. And indeed, it is, and not necessarily at the expense of its musicality.

Related Links:
Cavanaugh's Official Website
Cavanaugh on Facebook
Cavanaugh on YouTube

In a scene dominated by glamor and pageantry, the gritty and bare-bones rarely stand a chance. Sure, The White Stripes and The Strokes made it, but their presence is hugely rendered anomalous by the prevailing forces. That's why it's a delight – and a respite – to stumble upon something as authentic as The Diamond Light. In 2009 this Los Angeles-based “soul-rock-blues” band, as the members categorize it, released Krotona, an eight-track EP that is a testament to how good and satisfying music gets when you keep it raw and real.

There isn't one languid moment in this release, even as supposedly lethargic acoustic tracks turn up in a significant number. Contrary to that notion, these acoustic numbers possess the broody, sinister power of Delta blues that serves as a pass to a vicarious experiencing of the unknown; in fact, the first few of moments of Get Behind the Mule, with its quasi-lo-fi wailing vocals and hard-times-inspired eerie melodies, are Delta blues by all important measures.

The electric tracks, on the other hand, are buoyed by a masterful reworking of signature blues-rock riffs and licks and tightly interlocked drums and bass, creating late-60s and early-70s dynamics and vibe, which the band obviously strives to achieve. Vocalist Griffin Young's pipes and melodies work toward this end as well, though it may be noticed how his voice takes on qualities of those of Silverchair's Daniel Johns and ex-Red Hot Chili Pepper John Frusciante.

And since this is an unapologetically old-fashioned rock and roll band, Krotona is not bereft of vigorously played guitar solos, earning it an added dose of grease. Which is a necessary element for the band to stay true to what it is -- raw and real.

If you like them and would like to hear more from the band, head to their Kickstarter page and help make their next album possible.

Related Links:
The Diamond Light Official Website
The Diamond Light on Facebook
The Diamond Light on YouTube

Hunt Club definitely knows how to put together an energy-filled rocking compilation. These boys have been around the block since 2005. So far they've released 5 compilations, each one bearing their resident indie post punk rock sound.

Even though it's already 3 years old, this Hunt Club LP still sounds fresh and filled with a raw energy that echo right off the stereo as you play it.

Reflecting this postpunk vibe, growling vocals and loud instrument work; Hunt Club is worth "hearing" in action.

"Hunt Club is the sound of a Frenchman, an Irishman, and a Californian having an arm wrestling contest in a walk-in refrigerator. Hunt Club is the sound that Thomas Jefferson’s bones make when he rolls over in his grave. Hunt Club sounds like Jerry Falwell trimming his hedges with an electric toothbrush. It is the sound of abandoned motherboards howling at the moon in a waste treatment facility in China..." (Jamendo)

It might seem weird to associate the band's sound with  their self-written description, nevertheless, it does perfectly capture the band's sound aesthetics. Their eclectic arrangements and weird vocal work in certain songs, keep listeners guessing what they'll do next. Although I'm not fully sold out on the entire record, there are several tracks that are worth checking out.

Opening track, Knife Fight, is a mix of gypsy rock and roll that is catchy and loud. Meanwhile, Drowning Man, is a quieter cut with a rather darker mood. The latter also incorporates some weird vocal work; bordering on kitschy but it works great for the song nonetheless.

You can check out this record as well as the other albums that the guys have to offer right on Jamendo page. Their compilations are offered for free legal download under a creative commons license.

Related Links:
Hunt Club on Jamendo
Hunt Club on Myspace
Hunt Club on Free Music is Awesome
Hunt Club on Last FM
Hunt Club on The Punk Site

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A hodgepodge of rock, alternative, grunge, noise and progressive rock, Life Support is a pretty good album to check out. This is the latest release from a singer/songwriter and producer from England who dubs himself as, Karmafish.

Although there's not much info on who this guy is, he sure has quite a number of albums under his belt. Life Support is his latest release following 4 previous records - all of which are available for free download on Jamendo and under a creative commons license.

This careful menagerie of sounds and noise is perfect for any rock lover. The artists' skillful and creative take on various genres of rock is impressive at best and certainly warrants a listen.

Life Support is filled with 10 tracks that  resonate like a "sonic patchwork" of sound. There are plenty of things going on in each track but it still manages to hold itself together and entertain.

Starting with the glorious rock opener, Eternal Sunshine, Karmafish kicks the door with some bad ass guitar licks while peppering the track with retro sounding, lo-fi vocal work. Sure, you can barely understand what he's saying but it won't stop you from head bobbing once in awhile. Most of the other tracks traverse the same vein while injecting a certain dose of hipster/Beach Boys feel on Where Do You Go?, pulling a noise progrock fusion on The Looking Glass, and even exuding a rockish yet eerie Floyd-like atmosphere in The Rule.

I'm not going to say that the album is a complete win but it does gather enough elements together to make it an interesting record to have. There were moments when I wished the vocals were more prominent. However, most of the time, I was too content with listening to the droning guitars, noise and various sounds littering the air to care about anything else. Take a listen and judge for yourself.

Related Links:
Karmafish on Jamendo
Karmafish on Myspace
Karmafish on Facebook
Karmafish on NME

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My very first experience listening to the band might have included pressing play and patiently waiting for the lead singer to come out with his/her powerful vocals among the equally powerful electric guitar solos... patiently waiting, and waiting. But as the times goes by and you find yourself so into the flow of the music, listening to every riff and hit of drums - that initial need for vocals seem to fade.
Well, Re-Stoned is not your average band - so the traditional set up fronted by a lead singer was instead replaced by the true craftsmanship of guitar, bass, and drums creating a fully instrumental experience. Vermel, Re-Stoned latest album, certainly brings us back to the golden style of the 70s classic rock, and with its world class hooks and true fuzzy rock the album definitely upholds the tradition of the decade well.

The man standing behind the band, Ilya Lipkin, is a Moscow-based composer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist who in 2008, together with a friend, Vladimir Nikulin, invited a drummer named Andrei Pankratov to form a rock trio THE RE-STONED, usually associated with the local "stoner rock" scene. But the band was formed to do more than that - it came to life as a way for the members to 're-turn to the music they always listened to, loved, and played'. In fact as some sources maintain the band is arguably the most welcomed and popular live act among the Russian classic rock revivalists.

In essence the album is a captured lived performance recorded at the Vermel Club on August 19, 2010. It includes different versions of five compositions from the debut CD-album Revealed Gravitation, and two brand new tracks, "Jam" and "Return" - best when played LOUD. The release comes with no overdubs and certainly offers something fresh.

Ilya Lipkin - guitars; Vladimir Nikulin - bass, Andrey Pankratov - drums

Related Links:
The Re-Stoned on Myspace
The Re-Stoned on Facebook
The Re-Stoned on Free Music Archive

If the name didn't capture your attention first, then maybe their music will make a better impression. Lenin/McCarthy and their latest record, titled ART; combine amusing song titles with equally amazing sounds.

Listening to the band is like a form of release. There's the hardcore guitar licks, the loud drumming, the slightly low key, yet growly vocals and the overall catchiness of the tracks. It's like partying and rocking out with your favorite band while they play one feet away from you in a cramped room.

These OZ natives are sure to give you enough of a good time that you'll be wondering when again will you be stuck in a tight, crowded room with a rock band. 

From the onset, you'd think this was a full-on five piece crew. With the immense sound coming from the record, it's hard to believe that there are only three people manning the helm. Listening to the record, you'll hear nothing but straight up hard punk rock with rolling drums, angry guitar licks and energetic vocals.

ART opens loud and fast with Lost featuring Lazlo Hollyfield. The track is equivalent to having someone giving you a sucker punch in the gut. It's abrupt and catches you when you least expect it. There's also quite a lot of energy and emotion bouncing around this record. Pretty much, like a sucker punch, it comes out of nowhere and disappears, simply leaving you with a ringing ear and good vibes throughout.

The rest of the tracks are equally loud and are a rock'n'roll affair from start to finish. The entire record runs for about 20 minutes only (since almost all of the 10 cuts are under two minutes); perfect for people with low attention spans, a great love for hard punk rock and looking for a whole lot of great time.

Related Links:
Lenin/McCarthy on Quote Unquote Records
Lenin/McCarthy on Punk News
Lenin/McCarthy on Sputnik Music
Lenin/McCarthy on Lansing Music

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Sometimes, all you need is good old rock and roll. Gleb Bones' The Fine Art of Wasting Time is an interesting mix of funk, hardrock, indie and garage rock in one loud yet likable record.

These Frenchman actually describe their sound as "glam rock" on their Myspace page and certainly, some songs do remind you of the good old hair, sequins, and tights days. However, there's no denying that most of the tracks are certainly worth lovin'.

If you're looking for some nostalgic rock and roll, then this is one of the best records on Jamendo to check out.

The Fine Art of Wasting Time is a great album filled with 70s/80s style rock and roll. Gleb Bones pretty much got their work cut out for them; recording and including 17 full cuts in the compilation. Each one has sass and style; taking you back to the good old days when men can wear colorful skintight outfits, makeup and big hair with no fear.

Songs like Date of Misery, I Wanna Try and Altarrr all echo a glam rock vibe. Meanwhile, Call It What You Want ( my favorite in the compilation) features a more 70s psychedelic rock style. It's a song done in the same vein as Deep Purple or a hazy, drugged out Doors. Really nice trippy, rock track that's worth checking out.
On the other hand, tracks like Liquid Present and The Fine Art of Wasting Time, each have their own distinct category. The former being an instrumental escapade of beautiful guitars while the latter a slow, acoustic slight love song.

Overall, the record is pretty interesting. One of those albums that grow on you; it has quite a few surprises at nearly every turn. Check it out and grab the download.

Related Links:
Gleb Bones on Jamendo
Gleb Bones on Myspace
Gleb Bones on Last FM

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