Author Archives: acompleteunknown

The Unknown: The Underhill Family Orchestra

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They’re rowdy and rough. They’re flag-waving country punks with swing-a-billy boots stomping the floor. Imagine Zac Brown at a Pixies show or Dwight Yoakam dueting it up with the Arcade Fire.  There are so many influences in The Underhill Family Orchestra, it’s as if they pulled a little something from every nook and cranny in Miss Liberty’s kitchen, including the kitchen sink.  They play with such high-energy, it’s like they are trying to entertain all of America from their back porch in Mobile, Alabama.  And don’t tell them they can’t do it, it will only make them play louder, faster, and with more spirit than Thomas Jefferson wearing an American flag tuxedo.  And, if you spill your beer from dancing too much, you won’t even care.

Their second album is set to be released in December 2013, with an extensive tour of the Southern states.  For all of us on the West Coast who will miss their rambunctious good time (for now), we’ll have to settle for debut album, “This Is…”

Purchase and preview, their debut album, “This Is…” and their new single “Showdown at St. Lawrence” over at their Bandcamp Page.

http://theunderhillfamilyorchestra.bandcamp.com/

Check out their video for “Showdown at St. Lawrence” – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oMoTsG0Jao&list=TLEEscmKQbgnM7CuDFGfG0HUOqvGaI1lQM

Follow them to the ends of the Earth here:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/TheUnderhillFamilyOrchestra

Website- http://www.theunderhillfamilyorchestra.com/

Twitter- https://twitter.com/underhillfamily

The Underhill Family Orchestra is:

 Jeremy – Drums/Guitar/Vocals

Brian – Guitar/Bass/Vocals

Joelle – Tambourine/Vocals

Steven – Guitar/Drums/Vocals

Ben – Mandolin/Guitar/Vocals

 

The Unknown: SchnarffSchnarff

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Moving forward with Unknown week, let’s stick with the international theme and check in with SchnarffSchnarff from Glasgow.  This working man’s European rock outfit howls with the spirit of Springsteen and wails with the grit of Grohl.  The guitars hum with a forceful bounce right out the Sleater-Kinney playbook while drums pick up the groove with a Black Keys swagger.  These guys may come from the other side of the pond but they bare their souls like they’ve spent their lives in Heartland of America, working 16-hours days, scrubbing their fingers to the bone, just to eke out enough money to keep their electricity on for one more day.  There’s a sense of true struggle that cries for attention underneath the crash and tumble.  These guys don’t just deserve a listen…they demand it.

A European tour is in the works.

Here’s an MP3 of their song “Urrrgh”

Check out their video for their lead single “Urrrgh”:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZwescgAI-g

More SchnarffSchnarff goodness as Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/SchnarffSchnarff

www.twitter.com/SchnarffBeys

www.facebook.com/SchnarffSchnarff

SchnarffSchnarff.com

schnarffschnarffy@hotmail.com

Band Details:

Vocalist – Myles Bonnar

Guitarist 1 – Andrew Maclean

Guitarist 2 – Richard Douglas

Bassist – Brian Farguhar

Drums – Jaamie Douglas

 

The Unknown: Colaars

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 As a music blogger, you get tons of submissions from bands requesting you present their music to the world.  That’s one of the main reasons I have an “unknown” section.  It’s hard to sift through a lot of the material and find good stuff.  I have neglected it.  So starting today and over the weekend and next week, I would like to present some of the best submissions I’ve received these past few months.
Up first, all the way from the freaking Ukraine is the indie rock band, Colaars.  Isn’t amazing how easy it is to get a submission from the other side of the planet?  This wouldn’t have been possible 20 years ago.  Now it’s normal…and it is to our benefit.  These guys have been tearing up Europe since 2010 and their music is slowly making its way over to the states.  With the driving force of Modest Mouse, the ambiance of U2 and the complexity of Explosions in the Sky, Colaars is an energetic kick in the pants of the post-punk, post-rock hole-in-the-wall club circuit.  They’re the kind of band you expect to open for a headliner and would end up blowing the headliner out of the water.  They’re the kind of band who you would stumble upon at a club, who would draw you in and leave you sweating by the end of their set.  They’re the band that would be ringing in your ears the next morning with that feeling of wanting more.  I’ve said my piece…now go listen to these guys for yourself.
You can download their EP Wood Arsenal here.  Be sure to give them some Facebook love.  And check them out on tour in Europe in 2014 in support of their upcoming full-length album.
Vanya – guitar / back vocals
Bogdan – bass / back vocals
Eugene – drums

The 11 Best Songs By Cut Copy

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Cut Copy’s magical ability to capture the carefree ’80s synth neon perfection is only outdone by their grounded creativity to deliver modern-sounding music without feeling dated.  Though the John Hughes and Martha Quinn influence drips throughout the melodies, there’s a powerful strobe light backbone whose true home would be at the Electric Daisy Carnival.  Their songs have the charm of a mall-induced power ballad which are enhanced with the murky undertone that could set the mood for an after hours Tinder hook-up.  It’s music that captures the atmosphere of a generation for a generation whose main concern seems to be capturing itself.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Cut Copy:

  1. Hearts On Fire (In Ghost Colours)
  2. Out There On The Ice (In Ghost Colours)
  3. Lights and Music (In Ghost Colours)
  4. Pharaohs & Pyramids (Zonoscope)
  5. Feel The Love (In Ghost Colours)
  6. Future (Bright Like Neon Love)
  7. Time Stands Still (Bright Like Neon Love)
  8. Take Me Over (Zonoscope)
  9. Unforgettable Season (In Ghost Colours)
  10. Hanging Onto Every Heartbeat (Zonoscope)
  11. Need You Now (Zonoscope)

Buy Cut Copy’s new album, Free Your Mind…now!!!

 

The 11 Best Songs By Midlake

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My heart broke when I first learned that ex-lead singer Tim Smith had left Midlake.  Their break-out album, Van Occupanther, was such a mythical delight, it was like someone had journeyed it from the top of Mt. Doom and dragged it out of Middle Earth for our pleasure.  One listen and you were transported to a world where Hobbits smoked long pipes and androgynous Elves are really good archers.  Tim Smith was our Gandolf, leading us on an adventure that we might not return from…and we weren’t sure we wanted to.  Now, our Gandolf is gone.  The shock was so great, we didn’t want to go on.  We considered going home and giving up.  But maybe…just maybe… a new leader would emerge from the Dark Side of Rivendale.  From the bard-like timber of Smith the Grey to the ranger-fueled grit of new singer Eric Pulido the White, Midlake emerges as determined as ever to get the Gollum off their backs.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Midlake:

  1. Roscoe (The Trials of Van Occupanther)
  2. Rulers, Ruling All Things (The Courage of Others)
  3. Head Home (The Trials of Van Occupanther)
  4. Acts of Man (The Courage of Others)
  5. Van Occupanther (The Trials of Van Occupanther)
  6. In This Camp (The Trials of Van Occupanther)
  7. Children of the Grounds (The Courage of Others)
  8. It Covers The Hillside (The Trials of Van Occupanther)
  9. Kingfish Pies (Bamnan & Silvercork)
  10. Winter Dies (The Courage of Others)
  11. Young Bride (The Trials of Van Occupanther)

Buy Midlake’s new album, Antiphon…now!

The 11 Best Eminem Guest Spots of 00s

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With less than a month until the release of my book…promotion will be started any day now.  I look forward to everyone buying at least 10 copies.  It’s Christmas, you know…and a very early Hanukkah.

Here is another list from the book:  Eminem

Let me know what you think!!

Does one of the best-selling artists need more exposure?  The answer is yes.  Eminem is a great example of how to stay relevant in a rapidly changing field.  One of hip-hop’s greatest innovations is the “guest spot.”  Sometimes rappers can overdo it and include too many guests on their album.  There is nothing more annoying than a rapper having so many guests that he barely has any time for himself.  Featuring a couple of really great guests can have a huge impact on your album credibility, not to mention more exposure for the guest.  Eminem is the best guest any rapper can ask to have on his album.  Em’s drop-ins are magnetic, not just elevating the songs but inspiring his fellow rappers, too. Would 50 Cent be a household name without Em’s involvement? Would Dr. Dre’s Chronic 2001 be as legendary without young Eminem’s pugilistic word-wit?

Eminem is not successful because of his guest spots.  It’s his lyrics.  He is one of the best lyricists of all time in any genre. It just goes to show that everybody can benefit from a little help, even the best.

Fun Fact:  In America, Eminem was the top-selling artist of the ’00s, selling 32 million albums.  Close behind in second place were The Beatles.

The 11 Best Eminem Guest Spots:

1.      Renegade (Jay-Z – Blueprint)

2.      Outro (Obie Trice – Cheers)

3.      Gatman And Robbin (50 Cent – The Massacre)

4.      Drama Setter (Tony Yayo – Thoughts of A Predicated Felon)

5.      We Ain’t (The Game – The Documentary)

6.      It Has Been Said (Notorious B.I.G. – Duets)

7.      Don’t Approach Me (Xzibit – Restless)

8.      On Fire (Lloyd Banks – Hunger For More)

9.      Rush Ya Clique (Outsidaz – Night Life EP)

10.  Chemical Warfare (The Alchemist – Chemical Warfare)

11.  Touchdown (T.I. – T.I. vs. T.I.P.)

Buy Eminem’s new album, The Marshall Mathers LP 2…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Live of the 90s

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It may be Halloween but it’s also throwback Thursday.  So a little treat for you, let’s go back to Live (the band) in their heyday.  Throwing Copper is easily the most underrated album of the decade.  When it came out many people thought Live might actually become bigger than Pearl Jam because of it.  It does hold up and it was a struggle to not have an entire top 11 with just Throwing Copper songs…and honestly, would anyone have argued against it?

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Live of the 90s:

  1. White, Discussion (Throwing Copper)
  2. I Alone (Throwing Copper)
  3. Operation Spirit (Mental Jewelry)
  4. Lakini’s Juice (Secret Samadhi)
  5. Pillars of Davidson (Throwing Copper)
  6. Lightning Crashes (Throwing Copper)
  7. Waitress (Throwing Copper)
  8. Heropsychodreamer (Secret Samadhi)
  9. Pains Lies on the Riverside (Mental Jewelry)
  10. Iris (Throwing Copper)
  11. The Dolphin’s Cry (The Distance to Here)
Buy Ed Kowalczyk’s new album, The Flood and The Mercy…now!!

The 11 Best Linkin Park Remixes

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Thirteen years ago, I had my own email blast that went out to about 1000 people called The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown.  Funny, huh?  Each week, I would review 3 albums.  A good album, a bad album, and an unknown artist.  I would review each album song by song in a humorous way.  One week I took a break and reviewed 4 of the trending nu metal bands.  I didn’t include the song reviews…but it’s interesting to see what I thought of the band then, and now how my review stands up.

Papa Roach “Infest”

The new favorite sons of the metal movement.  Not sure why.  The singer sounds like his tongue is too big for his mouth.  Sylvester the cat has better pronunciation skills.  And the music is just okay.  No skill required.  It’s supposed to hardcore, but it sounds like they just got out of bed. Of course, who said it takes skill to get played on the radio?

How this album ranks: C

Will they be around in 5 years? 15%

********

Disturbed “Sickness”

They’re from the south side of Chicago.  So I can understand the burning anger building up inside of them.  But I’m confused at how making bizarre animal noises is an outlet for that anger.  I knew a kid in junior high school who used to make animal noises in class.  He’s in jail now.

How this album ranks: C-

Will they be listened to in 5 years?  10%

*******

Slipknot “Slipknot”

What do call a bunch of dorks who dress up in clown costumes and pretend to be something they’re not?  Okay, if you said Republicans, then you’re half-right.  It’s actually the band Slipknot.  Since their music bares no originality (they sound like Korn), they’ve decided to dress up like clowns because no one has ever done that before (Insane Clown Posse).

How this album ranks: C-

Will they be around in 5 years?  20%

********

Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory”

Don’t know a lot about this band except they sound exactly like a cross between Stabbing Westward, God Lives Underwater, and Depeche Mode.  Poor Depeche Mode.

How this album ranks: B

Will they be around in 5 years? 50%

Here are the 11 Best Linkin Park Remixes:

  1. Numb/Encore (Collision Course)
  2. Enth E Nd (Reanimation)
  3. Frgt/10 (Reanimation)
  4. Nobody’s Listening – Evil Genius Remix (We Major)
  5. The Catalyst – King Fantastic Remix (The Catalyst)
  6. 1stp Klosr (Reanimation)
  7. Jigga What/Faint (Collision Course)
  8. Rnw@y (Reanimation)
  9. H! Vltg3 (Reanimation)
  10. What I’ve Done – M. Shinoda Remix (LPUX)
  11. WTH> You (Reanimation)
Buy Linkin Park’s new remix/reinterpretation album, Recharged…now!

 

The 11 Best Songs By The Arcade Fire

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South Park told us to blame Canada but today we may need to thank Canada for saving rock n roll.  Ten years ago, The Arcade Fire put a smile on our face with a Funeral…now they’re brightening our lives with a Reflektor.  It took their return to make us realize how silent our world had been without them to show us how it is done.  It’s like David Bowie stuffed the Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, and French teacher and in a hypodermic needle and injected them into our veins.  The Arcade Fire have made a career of shining light on dim worlds.  From enlightening a funeral to electrocharging religion to enriching everyday life, The Arcade Fire is the dawn from the dusk.  Which reminds me, don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings Time.  It gives you an extra hour to listen to the new album.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Arcade Fire:

  1. Suburban War (The Suburbs)
  2. Ready To Start (The Suburbs)
  3. Neighborhood #3 Power Out (Funeral)
  4. Rebellion Lies (Funeral)
  5. We Used To Wait (The Suburbs)
  6. Month of May (The Suburbs)
  7. No Cars Go (Neon Bible)
  8. Keep The Car Running (Neon Bible)
  9. The Suburbs (The Suburbs)
  10. Wake Up (Funeral)
  11. Antichrist Television Blues (Neon Bible)

Buy The Arcade Fire’s new album, Reflektor…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By The Velvet Underground

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Lou Reed dead at 71.  Legend.  Genius.  Groundbreaking.  Brilliant.  Iconic.

These words don’t even come close to describing his music contributions.

Sleep well, Lou.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Velvet Underground:

  1. Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  2. Rock & Roll (Loaded)
  3. Heroin (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  4. Sweet Jane (Loaded)
  5. I’m Waiting For The Man (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  6. Candy Says (The Velvet Underground)
  7. Venus In Furs (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  8. Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground)
  9. There She Goes Again (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  10. Beginning To See the Light (The Velvet Underground)
  11. Sister Ray (White Light/White Heat)