Greg's Musik Haus

Greg's Musik Haus HAS MOVED.

2015-03-08T16:16:00.002+01:00

Greg's Musik Haus has now permanently moved to Tumblr. You can find and follow it here: http://gregsmusikhaus.tumblr.com.

Copeland Is Back!

2014-04-03T13:12:00.001+02:00

Copeland have reunited to release their fifth album, Ixora. They have released a new track, "Ordinary", which you can listen to below. You can also download the track over on Bandcamp. The song encompasses everything one would expect from this band. Enjoy!

Ordinary by Copeland

New Songs From Autopilot Off!!

2014-04-03T12:58:00.003+02:00

Autopilot Off have released two new songs, which can be streamed below. I'm digging both songs quite a lot. They bring me back to 2004. Really happy to hear new stuff from these guys.

Review: La Dispute - Rooms of the House

2014-03-20T10:07:00.002+01:00

La Dispute has released an incredible new album, Rooms of the House. Musically and lyrically, the album is spectacular. Front and center in Rooms of the House is flawless storytelling. What unfolds is a story of the collapse of a marriage, paralleled by recollections of past experiences, all centered around the idea of home. The story, however a fiction, was very much inspired by Jordan Dreyer's family and some of their real-life experiences. One of the best aspects in the story-telling is that it's non-linear. And why should it be? Are our memories (a constant theme of the album) ever linear?

Each song on the album is connected, with songs often referencing others on the album as the characters go through different experiences, which elicit vivid memories of the past. This is especially true in the song "Stay Happy There". This creates a consistent flow to the story, also captured in the absolutely fantastic flow of the music.

The lyrics are some of the best written by Dreyer. They often can be quite sobering. "The Child We Lost 1963" is a heart rending song, yet beautiful lyrically, about the loss of a child and how it affects a family. The song particularly resonated with me since my family also experienced a similar loss. It can be quite difficult to be a kid and watch your parents cope with losing a child, but this song captures the sentiment completely.

"Woman (Reading)" is probably my favorite track on the album, painting a sad picture as the narrator observes (or remembers observing) his wife before the end of their marriage. The lyrics are especially gorgeous. I think it captures the overall essence of the main theme of Rooms of the House as Dreyer wails "How the spaces in the memories you make change the room from just blueprints / To the place where you live".

Musically, Rooms of the House is very dynamic, each song distinct. The killer bass lines from Adam Vass and drum lines from Brad Vander Lugt really shine on this album. They pace each song with the utmost proficiency. Produced by Will Yip, this album is probably their most musically cohesive, yet.

La Dispute's Rooms of the House is an album that should be, without a doubt, experienced by all. The lyrics hold so much meaning and beautiful poetry, that I was immediately captivated by the story. Although the themes and narrative of the album can be quite somber, it also induces thoughts about how we can learn from our past experiences and use them to progress forward.

This is La Dispute's best album to date. Definitely check it out, and make sure you have the lyrics to read along with the album.

I cannot recommend the album more!

A Handful of New Streams from: La Dispute, Tycho, ...Of Sinking Ships, Seahaven, I Am The Avalanche, and Collapse Under The Empire

2014-03-14T08:31:00.001+01:00

Lot's of cool streams for everyone to check out!

Stream La Dispute's incredible new album here! It's truly an amazing piece of art.

Seahaven have released a cool new track from their upcoming album:

Collapse Under The Empire have released a handful of snippets from their new album. This album is shaping up to sound pretty cool!

You can stream I Am The Avalanche's new album Wolverines over at Billboard.

Check out a new song from ...Of Sinking Ships over at AbsolutePunk. The song is quite beautiful!

Stream Tycho's beautiful new album below:

Review: Tides Of Man - Young and Courageous

2014-01-27T09:53:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time, Tides Of Man were a progressive rock band. Then, they went through some changes, eventually switching gears to become an instrumental post-rock band. With this change comes their third full-length album, Young and Courageous. It’s without surprise that some fans of their old music will be turned away by this. But, let me assure you, Tides Of Man have created a most magnificent piece of work.

On the band’s Bandcamp page, they claim they are “in the middle of an identity crisis, but we’re loving it”. This definitely shows on the album. Their love of their new direction is evident in every song on Young and Courageous. Each one is quite different, be it in the style or how it is layered. And, there is a clear attention to detail in the flow and composition that makes one forget that Tides Of Man were ever not a post-rock band.

The album opens with a slow burn, as if someone is carefully feeling through the dark until they triumphantly find their destination. Immediately following is “Mountain House”, one of the early songs released from the album. It’s an accessible and upbeat song, and very much reminded me of songs on Align In Time’s Me & My Arrow. What follows is an array of gorgeous songs, some of which showing hints of influence from post-rock staples like Mogwai (albeit not as brooding) and Caspian. Really, it’s impossible to find that one favorite track on the album. You have the deeply layered soundscapes like the title track (which also boasts a tight riff in the bass line) and “Eyes Like Strange Sins”, while “Hold Still” has a second half that is an absolute stunner. We also get some cool syncopated beats in the short, but sweet, “All The Years”. The closer “Measure Your Breath” slides back to a dissonant roll, which eventually leads to a full crescendo into an aural melody to finish the album on a definite high note.

Tides Of Man have successfully transitioned into the post-rock genre. One can hear clear influences from other veteran bands. But, Tides Of Man manage to infuse their own rock-and-roll style, setting themselves apart from the rest. Young and Courageous proves that the band is just that. They set out to try something new, and in that process, they ended up making some of the best music of their career.

This is one you should not miss. I cannot recommend it enough.

Head on over to the Tides Of Man Bandcamp page to pre-order the album and listen to a couple of tracks.

Check Out Belle Noire's New Song "Sleep"

2014-01-23T13:32:00.002+01:00

I just recently found out about Belle Noire via AbsolutePunk.net. They've released a new song entitled "Sleep", which you can listen to below. I really like the song. Definitely has a In:Aviate + Kaddisfly vibe. Be on the lookout for a new album from the band this year.

Sleep by Belle Noire

Stream Tides Of Man's New Song "Hold Still"

2014-01-21T19:59:00.002+01:00

AbsolutePunk have released an exclusive track from Tides Of Man, entitled "Hold Still". The song comes from their new album Young & Courageous, which drops on February 4th. The song is absolutely fantastic, just like the other songs that have been released. I really loved the second-half of the song. My anticipation for this album is boiling over.

Head on over to Absolutepunk to check out "Hold Still"!

Manchester Orchestra Are "Top Notch"

2014-01-21T15:57:00.003+01:00

Manchester Orchestra have posted a new song "Top Notch" which you can listen to below. The song comes from their new album Cope, which releases on April 1st. I really like the song. Some pretty cool riffs. Definitely have a listen!

New Instrumental Album From Tides Of Man

2014-01-14T11:51:00.001+01:00

~~Prog-rockers~~, check that...post-rockers, Tides of Man will soon be releasing a new album, Young And Courageous, on February 4th. The catch is that it will be minus a singer. Personally, I can't be more excited. This album has just jumped to the top of my most anticipated list. The two songs I've already heard sound fantastic! Their sound fits very nicely as an instrumental post rock band in the vein of Align In Time and Caspian. Have a listen to two songs from the album below. If you like what you hear, head over to their Bandcamp page to pre-order the album.

Young and Courageous by Tides Of Man

Jody Wisternoff's Mix of Favorites in 2013

2014-01-07T11:07:00.003+01:00

This is one reason I love DJs. Jody Wisternoff has posted a new DJ set in which he mixes his favorite tracks from 2013. Really awesome way to post your top of 2013. Definitely check it out below. It's a really nice mix! Also, if you still haven't heard his Anjunadeep 05 mix, you need to get on that…

Best Of 2013

2014-01-03T22:43:00.000+01:00

It's that time of year again. Although I haven't made many posts on this blog this year, that doesn't mean I haven't been listening to tons of music. It was an interesting year as usual, with some welcomed surprises late in the year. This year was also a strong year for trip-hop and electronica, a lot of really solid releases. Anyway, without any further adieu, here are my favorites for 2013.

Best Albums of 2013:

The Republic of Wolves - No Matter How Narrow

This album came late in the year, but I've been listening to it nonstop since its release. The Republic of Wolves have really refined their sound, creating an amazing and beautiful album full of sweeping sounds and their signature acoustic touches. The song “Vinedresser” especially stood out for me. If you like this album you should also go buy their acoustic Empty Vessels EP on Bandcamp. It's a nice companion to No Matter How Narrow.
<a href="http://therepublicofwolves.bandcamp.com/album/no-matter-how-narrow">No Matter How Narrow by The Republic Of Wolves</a>
Tricky - False Idols

Tricky's album immediately won me over. It's full of his signature trip-hop sounds, plus some new sounds. However, what sets this one above some of his previous albums is the coherency and flow of False Idols. It really is the best album he's made in quite some time.
Native - Orthodox

To be honest, this album caught me completely by surprise. Having heard a couple of tracks before it's release, I didn't expect to like it so much. But, Orthodox is full of pure, raw energy. Now, whenever I start to play the album, I can't help but to finish it all the way through. It's such a solid piece of work. Plus, my two year old daughter loves dancing to this. Who would've thought? I need to post a video of that at some point.
<a href="http://native.bandcamp.com/album/orthodox">Orthodox by Native</a>
65daysofstatic - Wild Light

Wild Light has one of the best openers for and instrumental rock album. It immediately set the mood for the album nicely. What follows is the electro-rock sounds one has come to expect from 65daysofstatic. However, this album felt like they were finally setting themselves apart from other leaders in the genre. This album was definitely the perfect backdrop to many of my workouts and days at work this year.
Bonobo - The North Borders

Bonobo is the master of organic trip-hop. He has created so many smooth sounds and riffs, in his albums, and The North Borders is no different. Although, this album has less experimentation than previous albums, Bonobo still provides a lush atmosphere of down-tempo jives.
The Company We Keep - Sound / No Sound

When a former band member of The Receiving End Of Sirens starts a new band, I immediately get interested. So, it was no wonder that I had to check this band out. Sound / No Sound is an amazing rock album at heart. I also really love the fantastic production quality (to be expected). This was the perfect album for a hard run.
You can stream the album here.
Balance And Composure - The Things We Think We're Missing

Balance and Composure's new album was yet another surprise. I liked their first album, but it didn't have a lasting value for me. However, The Things We Think We're Missing really hit the right tone. The lyrics and moody rock really felt genuine. And, when the album is produced by Will Yip, you really can't go wrong.
<a href="http://nosleepsampler.com/album/the-things-we-think-were-missing">The Things We Think We&#39;re Missing by Balance and Composure</a>
Touché Amoré - Is Survived By

This year was the year of rawness for me. I can say that the genre in which Touché Amoré sit is not my favorite. I often can't get beyond the screaming. But, I couldn't ignore how much I enjoyed the music and lyrics in Is Survived By. I love it when an album that I wouldn't normally like just completely jives with me.
Hans Zimmer - Man Of Steel Soundtrack

Ok, so the movie may not have been the best ever. I was still entertained, and the special effects were pretty cool. But, no matter what you may have thought of the movie, one thing going very right for it was Hans Zimmer's soundtrack. Zimmer creates epic themes, which in my opinion, could rival that of John William's original fanfare.
Daft Punk - Random Access Memories

Daft Punk returned with a ridiculously fun album. I especially like it for the fact that I wouldn't normally listen to the type of music presented on this album. But, Daft Punk managed to make it accessible with their signature production quality and electro-dance grooves. Really, I can't listen to this album without moving to the groove.

Honorable Mentions (alphabetical):

A Loss For Words - Before It Caves
Anthony Green - Young Legs
August Burn Red - Rescue & Restore
Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal
Captain We're Sinking - The Future Is Cancelled
Caspian - Hymn For The Greatest Generation EP
Citizen - Youth
Crash Of Rhinos - Knots
Daughter - If You Leave
Daylight - Jar
Emancipator - Dusk To Dawn
Enemies - Embark, Embrace
Funeral For A Friend - Conduit
Hans Zimmer - Rush Soundtrack
Kevin Devine - Bubblegum
M83 - Oblivion Soundtrack
NGHBRS - Twenty One Rooms
Paramore - Paramore
Reverse The Curse - Existent
Sainthood Reps - Headswell
The Almost - Fear Inside Our Bones
The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation
Turnover - Magnolia
Young Statues - Age Isn't Ours EP

Awesome DJ Mixes of 2013:

Jody Wisternoff & James Grant - Anjunadeep 05
Bonobo - Late Night Tales
Sasha - Involv3r
Nick Warren - Renaissance: The Masters Series 18

Awesome Songs of 2013 (alphabetical):

NOTE: This is just a list of songs I listened to quite a bit this year.

“Cover Girl” - The Ongoing Concept (Saloon)
“Creative Captivity” - August Burns Red (Rescue & Restore)
“Elements” - Funeral For A Friend (Conduit)
“How Long” - How To Destroy Angels (Welcome Oblivion)
“Hymn For The Greatest Generation” - Caspian (Hymn For The Greatest Generation EP)
“Impasses” - Clash Of Rhinos (Knots)
“Is That Your Life” - Tricky (False Idols)
“Let it Go” - Idina Menzel (Frozen Soundtrack)
“Lose Yourself To Dance” - Daft Punk (Random Access Memories)
“Lost but Won” - Hans Zimmer (Rush Soundtrack)
“Monday Night” - Native (Orthodox)
“Part II” - Paramore (Paramore)
“Prisms” - 65daysofstatic (Wild Light)
“Remurdered” - Mogwai (Remurdered Single)
“Sick and Impatient” - Citizen (Youth)
“The Last of Us” - Gustavo Santaolalla (The Last Of Us Soundtrack)
“Towers” - Bonobo (The North Borders)
“Vinedresser” - The Republic of Wolves (No Matter How Narrow)
“What Are You Going To Do When You're Not Saving The World?” - Hans Zimmer (Man Of SteelvSoundtrack)

Moving Mountains Release Final Telegraph Sessions Video for "Apsides"

2013-09-04T10:53:00.001+02:00

Moving Mountains have released a video for "Apsides", which marks the last video of their Telegraph Sessions. These videos are live previews of many of the songs on their new self-titled album that drops next Tuesday. Have a listen to all videos from the sessions here!!

What Have I Been Listening To This Week?

2013-09-04T09:58:00.002+02:00

This week I've been listening to some new music and some old. Plus I made a new discovery. I love it when that happens.

Crash Of Rhinos - Knots
This album totally swung in under the radar for me. I only discovered Crash Of Rhinos through Absolutepunk.net's Absolute100 feature. This album is absolutely fantastic. I love how raw and honest it is. Definitely among the best of the year. Now, if they'd only get it up on US Spotify, I'd be even happier.

Align In Time - Me & My Arrow
Align In Time has finally gotten his album up on Spotify. When I found out about this, I immediately started listening to it again. This album is so fantastic. I was immediately reminded why this was among my favorite albums of 2011.

Native - Orthodox
This album just keeps growing on me. With every new listen, I love it more and more. Such raw energy -- totally awesome.

Jody Wisternoff & James Grant - Anjunadeep 05
This is my go-to DJ mix at the moment. Some really great beats on this one!

Nine Inch Nails - Hesitation Marks
NIN released a new album this week. Of course, I'm listening to it. And, it's good!

Reverse The Curse - Existent
This was another big grower. So groovy.

Listen to Knots here:

Knots by Crash Of Rhinos You can check the rest out in my Weekly Spotify playlist. Follow it to see what I listen to each week!

Watch Moving Mountains Telegraph Sessions

2013-08-27T12:54:00.000+02:00

Moving Mountains will be releasing their new self-titled album on September 10th. But, if you're like me, you may be having trouble waiting for that day to arrive. Well, they've been providing all of us with a nice treat, performing all of the songs on the album via their Telegraph Sessions, which you can watch below. I'll keep posting new videos to this post as new ones arrive. I've already listened several times, and the songs sound fantastic! I can't wait to hear the actual album.

Enjoy!

Stream Reverse The Curse's New Album "Existent"

2013-08-26T16:36:00.001+02:00

I stumbled upon Reverse The Curse over on Absolutepunk.net. I found the music oddly strange (at least compared to my other tastes), but it's actually quite good. I have a feeling I'll enjoy this even more with every new listen. So, I thought I'd throw 'em a shout out. Their new album, Existent, arrives tomorrow. So, have a listen, and if you like what you here, go and get the album!

Some Recommendations, Including O'Brother, Native and Run For Cover Records!

2013-08-26T09:14:00.004+02:00

This has been a ridiculously good year. So many great albums. I'm even considering making separate genre end of the year lists, since it's going to be very difficult to come up with a solid top 20 list. But, we'll see. In the meantime, I thought I'd throw out some recommendations for music you should listen to this week.

The heavy rock/metal-core/metal scene has been kicking it this year. I can't recommend the following two albums more. I've been basically listening to these nonstop since they were released last week:
O'Brother - Disillusion
Native - Orthodox

Another fun album:
The Ongoing Concept - Saloon

A really nice DJ mix:
Jody Wisternoff & James Grant - Anjunadeep 05

Run For Cover Records have had some really solid albums released this year. They are definitely up for label of the year. You should definitely check out:
Citizen - Youth
Young Statues - Age Isn't Ours EP
Captain, We're Sinking - The Future Is Cancelled
Turnover - Magnolia
Pity Sex - Feast of Love
Daylight - Jar
Cloakroom - Infinity

What are your recommendations? Go make your ears happy!

Hands Like Houses Release "A Fire On A Hill"

2013-07-01T11:48:00.003+02:00

Hands Like Houses have released a new track entitled "A Fire On A Hill". The song comes from their upcoming album Unimagine, which drops on August 23rd. Check it out below!

O'Brother Stream New Song "Context"

2013-06-29T00:22:00.001+02:00

O'Brothere have released a new song entitled "Context", which comes from their upcoming album, Disillusion, that drops on August 20th. You can stream the song below. Definitely check it out!

Best of 2013 So Far...

2013-06-28T09:06:00.000+02:00

Well, we've reached mid-year (or Midsummer here in Sweden), which means it's time to list what I feel are the best albums of the year so far. To be honest, to limit the list to only 10 has been quite difficult. So, instead, I've listed below those albums I've been spinning quite a lot, which is about 15. You can also head over to my For Your Ears page to listen to a playlist which includes all of these albums. I've also included a playlist filled with my favorite songs from the year so far. Needless to say, you should definitely check them all out. All are absolutely fantastic!

1) Tricky - False Idols (trip-hop)

2) Bonobo - The North Borders (trip-hop)

3) Daft Punk - Random Access Memories (electronic, dance)

4) August Burns Red - Rescue & Restore (metalcore)

5) Hans Zimmer - Man Of Steel Soundtrack (instrumental, score)

6) I The Mighty - Satori (rock)

7) Paramore - Paramore (pop-rock)

8) The Almost - Fear Inside Our Bones (southern rock)

9) Jimmy Eat World - Damage (emo, rock)

10) Sasha - Involv3r (DJ, electronic, dance)

11) The Wonder Years - The Greatest Generation (pop-punk)

12) Funeral For A Friend - Conduit (rock)

13) Emancipator - Dusk To Dawn (trip-hop)

14) Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal (metalcore)

15) Mallory Knox - Signals (rock)

Hands Like Houses Release New Song "Introduced Species"

2013-06-13T09:04:00.002+02:00

Aussie rockers Hands Like Houses have released a new song entitled "Introduced Species", which you can stream below. The song comes from their new album Unimagine that drops on July 23rd. The songs is great, full of energy. Definitely looking forward to the album. Check it out below!

Mixtapes Stream New Songs "C.C.S" and "Elevator Days"

2013-06-13T08:39:00.001+02:00

Pop-punk outfit Mixtapes have released two new tracks entitled "C.C.S" and "Elevator Days". The songs come from their new album Ordinary Silence that drops on June 25th. You can stream "C.C.S." over at Absolutepunk.net, while you can listen to "Elevator Days" below. I really like the songs, and there's a bit of hype about the album coming from Absolutepunk. Definitely check 'em out!

Ordinary Silence by Mixtapes

Citizen Release Music Video for "The Summer"

2013-06-12T12:00:00.000+02:00

Citizen have released an official music video for "The Summer", which comes from their latest album Youth. The video was originally posted over at Absolutepunk.net, and you can also watch it below. Youth is a really good album and has gotten better with every new listen. Definitely check it out!

I The Mighty Release Official Music Video for "Failures"

2013-06-12T11:16:00.000+02:00

I The Mighty have released an official music video for their new song "Failures", which you can watch below. The song comes from their new album Satori that dropped yesterday. The album is incredibly good, so definitely check it out!

Huge Music Day!!

2013-06-11T09:17:00.001+02:00

Today is huge, people. Lots of great music. So, go on and purchase some of these great albums!

Hans Zimmer - Man of Steel Soundtrack (Stream it here!) -- Epic!

I The Mighty - Satori (Stream it here!) -- This album is absolutely amazing. Such a great follow up to their Karma Never Sleeps EP.

Jimmy Eat World - Damage (Stream it here!) -- This album is fantastic. You just can't go wrong with JEW.

The Almost - Fear Inside Our Bones (Stream it here!) -- I love the southern rock feel of this album!

Citizen - Youth (More Info here!) -- I've really enjoyed this one. Sorta blindsided me.

Boysetsfire - While A Nation Sleeps -- Solid rock!