Local Vertical

And Now...A Pause

2009-11-01T10:19:00.004-05:00

The work schedule the next few weeks will be even more intense than it usually is, and I feel the need to put Local Vertical on the back burner for a short time. If all goes according I may resume posting shortly after the November 16th launch of Atlantis. For those that have sent music for review and consideration, I would appreciate your patience and understanding and will effort to get caught up as soon as possible. And to our readers, please look for a return soon. Thanks!

Reintroducing Codes In The Clouds

2009-11-01T00:19:00.004-04:00

Even though we just had a mention of them about a month ago, the music from the UK's Codes In The Clouds new album, Paper Canyon, is just so good it deserves another post. It's some of the best post-rock I've ever heard, their compositions just seem so naturally perfect. Hard to believe this album was put together in just a few days. Highly recommended.

Fractures
Codes In The Clouds: MySpace • Paper Canyon is available via Erased Tapes

From The Blogroll: 31 October 2009

2009-10-31T21:34:00.003-04:00

Good Rockin' Tonight...Halloween Party Music
Speed of Dark...Halloween Mix, Part 5
The Devil Has The Best Tuna...Happy Halloween
The Midnight Tracker...Something for the Season

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T05:00:00.009-04:00

Four hideous faces, four songs for the day. No tricks here!

Buy: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4

More From: Quest For Fire

2009-10-30T20:49:00.007-04:00

Quest for Fire's recent June release of their self-titled debut album still has people talking. Their 10+ minute sonic assaults are old school classic rock and psychedelia at their gritty finest. We first mentioned them before the release and the offered track Bison Eyes was one of the most downloaded/played tracks we had offered. Since you can never get enough of a good thing, feel free to immerse yourself in Hawk That Hunts The Walking.

Hawk That Hunts The Walking
Quest For Fire: MySpace • Available via Tee Pee Records

It's A Hugo Frusslinky Friday!

2009-10-30T17:46:00.003-04:00

On this Halloween eve, I present to you a gift, ~~these two droids~~...um, hang on. Actually, it's one of my favorite lady vocalists on the planet, the lovely and talented and not-really-as-threatening-as-she-sounds Heather McCallum. Got an email from my buddy Jono not Bono-whom I swear if I could sneak someone on a deep space probe it would be him as his guitars would wake a galaxy-and he's sent along a new track, Stone, from the band. If you aren't familiar with the U.K.'s Hugo Frusslinky, go back in time to this post and you'll get an idea how much I like this bunch. Besides some totally rockus music, any band that includes some type of fowl on an album cover has to be taken seriously. Well, maybe that's a stretch but you can't deny their music is brutally well done. If you are in and around London, they should be playing in some nearby club, pub or basement. And I guarantee you'll have no problem finding them, their sound will see to that.

Hugo Frusslinky • Stone • Fatty Boom Boom

This Weeks' Kick-Ass Space Image

2009-10-28T17:44:00.003-04:00

Well, needless to say it's been an incredible day. To help take something that was only on paper three years ago and watch it come to life and fly straight and true is a feeling I just can't adequately describe. It was just emotional as hell, most of the team was near tears but success combined with relief will do that. I'm just so humbly proud to be a part of such a wonderful, bright and dedicated group of people as those that commit their energies to our space program. Without a doubt, it was the most beautiful rocket launch I've ever seen. It's a big, majestic and glorious rocket with a soul and it came to life today. This is the future, this is for you, this is just so damn fantastic. We can't stay down here forever; it's such a big universe, it was put here for us to go explore, not fear. I just feel so damn proud to be a part of this, you folks just have no idea.

Before Tomorrow Comes • Alter Bridge, from Blackbird

From The Inbox: 25 October 2009

2009-10-25T08:59:00.012-04:00

A couple of Seattle artists have new albums out via Cheap Lullaby Records. Tim Wilson and Ryan Carbary are Ivan & Alyosha(I wonder why they couldn't just be Tim and Ryan?) and their new album is called The Verse, The Chorus. It's getting terrific reviews and some comparisons to a slower variation of the The Shins, which can't be a bad thing. Call me overworked, but it even sounds a little early Beatles-esque to me.

Josh Ottum and a rather large group of musicians, including a couple borrowed from Sufjan Stevens, have put together a rather adventurous album called Like The Season. It's their debut album and it has a fine 70's melodic pop sound to it that will fill any room it's being played in.

Ivan & Alyosha • Beautiful Lie
Josh Ottum • It's Alright
Both albums available via Cheap Lullaby Records

• • • •

Nebula seems to do this brand of music as well if not better than most everyone that tries; we'll strengthen the argument by offering another track of their July release of Heavy Psyche. If you play this really loud while the neighborhood kids contemplate knocking on your door for Mars bars this Halloween, you'll likely hear them saying this.

Aphrodite
Nebula: Website • MySpace • Available via Tee Pee Records

• • • •

The more I hear it, the more I really like this sound too. It's from the new album Over The Stones, Under The Stars from Ned Collette + Wirewalker. The Melbourne, Australia three-piece group's music is just great to listen to due to the simplicity of it, yet nothing detracts from the pace of it. The band has already earned a sizeable U.S. following and will continue touring the globe in support of the recently-released(October 23rd) album.

Come Clean
Ned Collette + Wirewalker: Website • MySpace • Available via Remote Control

• • • •

Ravens & Chimes is one of my favorite bands I've found due to this blog. They are in the middle of recording a new album and has sent over a track to share as a tease of what's coming. Their 2007 release, Reichenbach Falls, was fantastic and I'm sure what they are putting together will surpass that. They recently had a CMJ show and had I not been so busy lately, I would have told you that before the show, not after. So that's kind of pointless. When we get word of the album release, we'll pass it along. Before it comes out.

Hearts of Palm
Ravens and Chimes: Website • MySpace • Reichenbach Falls available via Amazon

New Music: Little Fish, Darling Dear

2009-10-24T21:04:00.004-04:00

If you plan to follow any musical act this year as they ascend up the charts, you could do worse than Little Fish. Fronted by JuJu (who didn't even pick up a guitar until college), she's taking female rock to a rarified level. Joined by drummer/percussionist Nez, Juju is earning impressive comparisons to Patti Smith and PJ Harvey and likely will continue to do so as long as the UK duo (assisted by Levi French on keyboards) pumps out music like this. This is raw, no-pretense rock by a woman who gets it. And gets it right. Highly recommended.

Darling Dear
Little Fish: MySpace • Available via Amazon

Visual Audio: Royal Chant, Somedays

2009-10-24T20:40:00.008-04:00

By popular demand (right), we've brought back the most popular header in the history of this blog. By even more popular demand (seriously!), we've got another video by Mark Spence and Royal Chant. This video gives me Tom Petty-Don't Come Around Here No More flashbacks. God help the sheep.

Music Royale

2009-10-24T19:54:00.006-04:00

I think pretty much everyone's heard of the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Rainbow-Wizard of Oz connection. One of my all-time favorite movies is the 1967 original version of Casino Royale. I guess if I ever get the urge to try music-movie synchronization, that movie and this music might just do the trick. Or maybe not.

Slap On The Face • Blue Jungle, from Baby Don't Cry
Gimme Money • Electric Tickle Machine • , from Blew It Again
Ticket Away From Prague • Hotchacha, from The World's Hardest Working Telescope and the Violent Birth of Stars
She Walks Downtown • Kill The Dandies!, from I Saw White Fields
Love Etc. • System and Station, from I'm Here To Kill

This Weeks' Kick-Ass Space Image

2009-10-21T16:45:00.007-04:00

Lately, from Day of Fire's upcoming album, Losing All (January 26, 2010)

From The Inbox: 10.17.09

2009-10-17T16:04:00.003-04:00

Before we dive into some new music, I just want to wish Merz, author of the fine blog Mars Needs Guitars, best of luck as he deals with some personal issues. Merz, I'm just right up US1; if there's anything I can do to help out, just send up a flare. Actually, pyrotechnics aren't really necessary...just send me an email and I'll be there for you any way I can bro.

• • • •

Cleeman is a one-man project comprised of Danish downtempo singer and multi-instrumentalist Gunnar Cleeman. His new CD, titled 45 Minutes Mostly About Caring, is as unique and interesting as pop music comes, and there's a certain genius to his work. Lush vocals gently woven among calming instruments are his hallmark and make for a rather charming album that relaxes as well as reassures. With songs titles such as Ambitious, Righteous, and Optimist, how could it not? Excellent.

Ambitious
Cleeman: MySpace • 45 Minutes Mostly About Caring available via Series Two Records

• • • •

Brian Ward is best known for his simple, emotional songwriting delivered by floating vocals that are some of the most melodic yet intense you'll hear. From Columbus, Ohio, Brian has earned and enjoyed a substantial online following and his new release Only In The Mornings: Hubert, is an impressive texture of raw acoustics and ambient guitars with his vocals the tender final touch. Even if you are not a fan of the genre, this album will still capture your ear the first time you listen to it.

Trapped Windows
Only In The Mornings: MySpace • CD Baby has Only In The Mornings: Hubert

• • • •

Philadelphia indie-pop band The Swimmers will release their second album, People Are Soft, on November 3rd and it's almost as much a debut album as the band has reinvented itself through a very refined sound. Featuring distorted hooks, crushing guitars and reverb trails in their refined mixes, The Swimmers have made a triumphant effort with the music of the album and are definitely a band to watch if they keep creating music this alluring. Save Me is typical of the pounding choruses of their music, which the band recorded entirely themselves. Very well done, should be a well-received release.

Save Me(From The Brightness)
The Swimmers: Website • MySpace • Watch Mad Dragon Records for the release

• • • •

The Heavy's Sophomore Album, The House That Dirt Built Is Out and to no surprise, the band continues to outdo itself with each release. Doesn't matter if it sounds genre-bending or musically schizophrenic. It just sounds great.

Short Change Hero
The Heavy: MySpace • The House That Dirt Built available via iTunes

• • • •

Freaky gorgeous: Titiyo's new album Hidden. Her first album since 2001’s chart-topping Come Along LP, it's a far cry from the common sounds of your everyday Swedish indie pop. But that's the beauty of it, no?

Crystal Clear Mud
Titiyo: MySpace • Available via Despotz Records

• • • •

The Little Death will take you back in time when 60's rock bands discovered the Blues, and take their individual rock roots and drown themselves in the deep south sound. Everything about the band screams a grassroots time period and blends a sound sharing their love of raw blues, soul, and psychedelic rock. Recording nearly every song in three takes or less in order to capture the fervor of their live performance, and recording to tape to encapsulate the rich sound of yesteryear, their self-titled debut is best heard loud.

Gather Round
The Little Death: Website • MySpace • Debut Album available via the band's store

Local Video: v5

2009-10-17T14:02:00.009-04:00

The latest effort of combining time-lapse video and appropriate music. Hope you enjoy it!

The Never-Left Return of Ryan Costello

2009-10-17T11:18:00.005-04:00

If you consider yourself some sort of historian, you might recall a post featuring an Orlando band called The OaKs, a six-piece indie folk band whose music was as smooth as silk and just as fine. The band has put themselves on hiatus while the members each follow different paths that hopefully will lead them back to each other some day, as The OaKs music was something really special. The news is not all bad by any means however, as former OaKs lead singer Ryan Costello will be releasing a solo album on October 20th. Appropriately titled After The Fire, the album features music mainly folk-based yet tinged with electronic elements. The music from the new album and Ryan's Paul Simon-esque voice immediately serve to sooth that while The OakS may not be around as a group right now, the elements that made the band are still in great form and doing what they do best: making near-perfect music. The alum is a rebirth of sorts, rebuilding the human spirit while continuing to share the gift of Ryan's voice that is almost singular in nature. We've had the privilege of hearing the entire album, and choosing just one track to share was a real challenge. A great body of work, highly recommended.

The Thief
Ryan Costello: Website • MySpace • After The Fire available via Amazon

Introducing Skeletons With Flesh On Them

2009-10-11T10:38:00.007-04:00

How to make a successful album:

1-Come up with a name people will remember.
Check.

2-Assemble four really good musicians.
Check.

3-Pick a genre, then damn near reinvent it with some unique as hell music.
Check.

4-Compose and produce a full-length and release it regardless if signed to a label or not.
Check.

5-Base the band in Seattle; instant credibility.
Check.

6-Hang out with the guys in the band Stencil.
Hmmm...

The band is called Skeletons with Flesh On Them; you won't forget that name. Four guys-Neal, Scott, Devon and Lucas-have written and produced some of the best melodic chamber rock I've ever heard. Thirteen tracks that individually stand on their own and collectively make one awesome full-length. There is no musical justice if this band doesn't get the recognition they deserve for this release. The CD is called All The Other Animals, and it really needs to be in your music collection. Highly recommended.

Ten Times
Skeletons with Flesh On Them: MySpace • CD Baby has All The Other Animals

Next Mission: De-Ring Saturn

2009-10-10T20:26:00.005-04:00

Terrorists train by moonlight. The moon must be held accountable.

If humor was funding, we'd be in a parallel universe by now. Read on at Popfi and io9.

Bombs Away • The Big Heavy, from what else, Bombs Away
Subtle Like Bombs • The Hush Now, from The Hush Now LP
Bombs Away • Luke Doucet and the White Falcon, from Blood's Too Rich
Miss Atom Bomb 1951 • Mister Vague, from Allergic To Everything

iChoRa and the Veins of Light

2009-10-10T10:34:00.007-04:00

This is iChoRa (eye-kora). Sounds like a considerably large ensemble of instruments making this dark, gothic and atmospheric music and more than one on the trance-like vocals. This must have taken months to produce, judging by the complexity of the guitars, piano, keyboards, bass, drums, percussion and cello. Obviously this is a band that's been doing this for quite some time, based on how terrific this sounds.

Wait, this is the work of just one guy? And he's playing all the instruments on the songs? And this is his debut EP? I'll be damned.

This is Australia's iChoRa. His name is Chri. Ichora means the vast, limitless potential that flows through all of us. How appropriate! Highly recommended.

Lunafire • Haloma
iChoRa: Website • MySpace • Buy Veins of Light here

This Weeks' Kick-Ass Space Image

2009-10-07T17:26:00.007-04:00

High Wire, from The Happy Hollows new album, Spells

Coming Soon: Baroness, Blue Record

2009-10-03T20:59:00.004-04:00

Come October 13th, your speakers won't have a prayer. Savannah, Georgia's Baroness will release their new album, Blue Record, and it may well become an instant classic as the four-piece rockers continue their music legacy from 2007's Red Album. The soaring melodies and striking riffs, trademarks of Baroness' sound, are more powerful than ever and if there is any musical justice in the world this band should receive heaps of it for this release. Fronted by the incredible guitars of John Baizley and Pete Adams and mix in the the drums of Allen Blickle and bassist Summer Welch and you have what Decibel Magazine is calling a possible candidate for album of the year. Even if you aren't a fan of post-metal, don't bypass this without giving it a listen; I can almost guarantee it won't be what you think it is. It's far too good. Damn good.

Swollen and Halo
Baroness: MySpace • Pre-order Blue Record via Relapse Records

The Colour Elect: Back To The Sky

2009-10-03T18:38:00.005-04:00

L.A.'s The Colour Elect is a band made up of friends that got together last year and started writing and performing music for the sheer love of it. That's the whole story, no fluff or pretense. Their alt-rock is energetic, doesn't run over itself with misplaced vocals or instrumentals and just plain sounds damn fine. They've recently released their first EP, Back To The Sky, and it contains six songs that would sound good on a CD or in your local club. Actually, there's so much musical diversity in the songs it's a testament to just how talented this band is. The hardworking band released the EP on their own and relies primarily on outlets such as this to spread the word about them. Consider the word spread, at least from here. Highly recommended, hopefully a band you'll hear lots from down the road.

Blood Red Moon
The Colour Elect: MySpace • on Facebook • Back To The Sky EP available via Amazon

More From: Kinetic Stereo Kids, Kid Moves

2009-09-28T16:09:00.002-04:00

We first mentioned the Kinetic Stereo Kids new album, Kid Moves, back in February. We felt it was worthy of another mention as the album continues to garner a ton of praise even though the release is more than six months out. The band has been touring relentlessly in support of the album and they've become recognized as putting on a great live show. It's a hardworking band from the hardworking city of Flint, Michigan, and you can hear it in their beat-heavy, sonic music. They've progressed nicely from a basement jamming band to a group that is making their mark as an innovative band They've also completed a couple of videos to go with selected songs from the album, and you can see them via the You of Tube. By the way, I believe I work with that voice at the beginning of Twisted Thoughts. Or my headphones are haunted.

Twisted Thoughts • Have A Nice Day
Kinetic Stereo Kids: Website • MySpace • Kid Moves available via Amazon

Introducing The Black Apples

2009-09-27T10:33:00.003-04:00

LA's The Black Apples are a garage band; there are tons of those. The Black Apples play awesome psychedelic-tinged music; tons of bands do that. The Black Apples aren't afraid to put a personal message in their music; yup, tons of bands do that, too. So what sets this band apart from others in the same genre? To put it quite simply, their music will turn your head. With a hint of a sixties-James Bond spy touch snuck in with seventies-sounding pounding guitars and a few tricks of their own mixed in(bells?), The Black Apples aren't afraid to try some things that will help you remember not only what you heard, but who you saw. Campbell Scarborough, Andrew Scarborough, and Jason Debo are the three guys that make up the band-it sounds like a larger band than only three-and they've got one of the most impressive lists of influences around. You can certainly hear it in their music, and if you are fortunate enough to be to see them live you'll probably be able to "see" it in their music as well. In any case, whatever "it" is for this band, it's working quite well. And solely because of that, they are not likely to remain obscure much longer. Highly recommended.

Where The Wild Things Go
The Black Apples: MySpace

More New Music: Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons, Death Won't Send A Letter

2009-09-26T20:16:00.010-04:00

Cory Chisel's debut full-length album Death Won't Send A Letter follows his critically acclaimed EP released in the summer of '08. As with that self-titled released, his new album (out September 29th) is a work of exquisite musical beauty, dark and urgent but in the same sense reassuring. His new songs seek to make sense of the world, answering a call from the road while longing for home. Cory has transformed into an artist with a wonderful knack of telling a story in a unique manner, allowing that being a bit emotionally vulnerable doesn't mean you are anything less of a being. Cory worked with his excellent backing vocalist/keyboard player Adriel Harris on the album, and The Raconteurs Little Jack Lawrence also was part of the initial tracking. The result is a gutsier rhythm, but doesn't overwhelm Cory's vocals in any way. Another excellent release in what seems to have been a good week for new music.

Love Is Gone
Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons: Website• MySpace • Bio • Death Won't Send A Letter available via Amazon

Meet Car Stereo Wars

2009-09-26T12:57:00.007-04:00

Their name might conjure up images of sitting at a traffic light with extremely decibel-challenged individuals in the car next to you, but the music of Melbourne, Australia's Car Stereo Wars is actually serene in comparison. Beginning musical life as a trio back in 2000, their first EP was titled Project A and included a very dreamy track called Broken which earned them considerable attention. Since then, they've continued to refine an impressive blend of orchestra and electronic into their debut full-length release, For Your Comfort and Safety. This is your chilled-out release of the year, atmospheric and though-provoking if the moment calls for it made available to you by a band with terrific versatility, and their music will grab you, pull you in and keep you in full float. A band as good at genre-mixing as they come. Excellent.

Smooth
Car Stereo Wars: Website • MySpace • For Your Comfort And Safety available via Amazon