The Persian Claws from Burlington, Vermont deliver a heavy dose of stripped down, powerful rock and roll. With a garage punk-rock sound steeped in late 1960’s surf styled riffs, these troubadours of raw rock and roll power have delivered a dangerous set of tunes with their album, Caged and Unreleased. [...]]]>

The Persian Claws

The Persian Claws from Burlington, Vermont deliver a heavy dose of stripped down, powerful rock and roll. With a garage punk-rock sound steeped in late 1960’s surf styled riffs, these troubadours of raw rock and roll power have delivered a dangerous set of tunes with their album, Caged and Unreleased. You can purchase their album by visiting them on Bandcamp. If you dig solid, well-crafted punk rock, go see the Persian Claws live.

This soundcentury podcast features: Hotrats – I can’t Stand It – Chain and the Gang – For Practical Purposes (I Love You) – The Persian Claws – Novacaine > Dirty Knees > Ghostified – Big Pimp Jones – The 258th Style Mastered – Soul Sugar – First Come
**Filler music – Mellow – Rivolizione Sessantanove

I want to send a big thank you out to Sarathan Records out of Seattle for tuning me in to the sounds of My Goodness. They are yet another rockin’ band out of the Pacific Northwest. They are offering a free download to get a feel for their sound. [...]]]>

Photo by Sacha Maxim

I want to send a big thank you out to Sarathan Records out of Seattle for tuning me in to the sounds of My Goodness. They are yet another rockin’ band out of the Pacific Northwest. They are offering a free download to get a feel for their sound. The tune is C’mon Doll and is the song featured here. You can download it on the bands website, as well as purchase the full album. You can hear My Goodness performing live from a recording at the KEXP 90.3 Studio in Seattle by clicking here. KEXP is a fantastic radio station and a powerful resource for solid music. Oh, did I mention that C’mon Doll is performed by just two musicians, Guitarist Joel Schneider and drummer Ethan Jacobsen. That’s right. Now that is rockin.

Audio Love Letter. Design by Soundcentury.

My first listen to Audio Love Letter, by Poi Dog Pondering, was in my office at the University of Maine, which is more like a closet. I just didn’t enjoy the album all that much on my first listen. I blamed it on the flurescent lighting [...]]]>

Audio Love Letter. Design by Soundcentury.

My first listen to Audio Love Letter, by Poi Dog Pondering, was in my office at the University of Maine, which is more like a closet. I just didn’t enjoy the album all that much on my first listen. I blamed it on the flurescent lighting and the hum of the aging server that contributes to the technology infused, artificial being of my office. Yeah, I thought to myself, the lame environment was the culprit. Poi Dog still has it. I just need to listen to it later. I need to take some time to listen to it in a more music friendly environment.

I do this a lot with albums. Sometimes on my first listen, I just don’t dig it. Second listen, it starts to entice me a bit. Third listen, it could become my new favorite album.

Whenever Poi Dog Pondering releases a new album, I get myself prepared to be blown away by something totally unique. It is this bands ability to continually evolve and redefine their sound that has made me a big fan over the years. It’s very hard to get tired of a band that keeps changing.

Audio Love Letter at first listen did not have this impact on me, and I was surprised. Kevin Cornell of NoVo Arts, a promoter of good music based in Chicago, sent me the album to check out, and so it truly was a surprise. In other words, I did not go out to the record store, buy the record, and sit down to listen to it.

So, about a week later I went for a jog. I turned Audio Love Letter up on my I-pod and I started running on the muddy trail that meanders through the woods around the university. This listen gave me a new perspective on the album.

It’s a smooth album through and through, and it’s definitely got some serious romantic flavor. A perfect album to throw on when you are trying to set the mood for that special someone. It could also be a really cool album to listen to while lying in bed on a rainy day.

The horns on a couple tracks create that lovely Belle and Sebastian vibe that the Scotland band does so well. The upbeat cover of Sweet Thing by Van the man Morrison, is a cool take on this popular song, and the tune Steve Marriott is very reminiscent of the bands earlier material.

If you are a fan of Poi Dog Pondering, you will dig it. If you are not a fan of Poi Dog Pondering, listen to it, but make sure to also check out some of the bands other albums. They are a little bit different. This may be the most mellow to date that I have heard. Learn more and purchase Audio Love letter here.

I put together a podcast with three songs from the album, and as usual threw in a few other selected tunes.

This Soundcentury Podcast Features:
Gary Hoey – Theme to Endless Summer > Qhude Manikiniki – Umahlathini Nabo – Poi Dog Pondering (Audio Love Letter). – Uncertain Smile > Steve Marriott > Win – Poi Dog Pondering (Volo Volo) – Lackluster – Soul to Soul – Jazzies Groove

Glasgow, Scotland has always had a hot music scene. There must be something in the water there. So many awesome bands come out of this town. Soundcentury attempts to stay tuned into mainly New England unsigned bands, but just for a little change of pace, decided to branch out into some [...]]]>

Al Hotchkiss

Glasgow, Scotland has always had a hot music scene. There must be something in the water there. So many awesome bands come out of this town. Soundcentury attempts to stay tuned into mainly New England unsigned bands, but just for a little change of pace, decided to branch out into some unsigned bands from Europe for this podcast. There is just so much good music, it is really hard to just commit to the New England bands.

So, this Soundcentury podcast features Al Hotchkiss from Glasgow, Scotland. The songs in this podcast can be heard on the album, Deadmans Stroll and Other Popular Favorites, which is available on his Bandcamp page. You can name your own price for this album.

You can definitely hear a 1960’s psychedelic vibe in many of the dark and bluesy tracks on this album. It’s a perfect soundtrack for all the damp, foggy days they tend to get in Glasgow.

This Soundcentury Podcast Features:
The Digs – Dig It – The Deadly Snakes – Pirate Cowboy – Al Hotchkiss – The Beat > Wild Cat > Celina La Belleza Luminoso – The Dandy Warhols – Wonderful You – The Cars – Candy’O

The folks over at Sarathan Records, a very hip record label based out of Seattle, WA, recently got in touch with me to let me know about Jason Spooner. A successful songwriter, Jason Spooner hails from Maine, but now tours all over the states.

I unfortunately missed his recent performance at [...]]]>

Jason Spooner

The folks over at Sarathan Records, a very hip record label based out of Seattle, WA, recently got in touch with me to let me know about Jason Spooner. A successful songwriter, Jason Spooner hails from Maine, but now tours all over the states.

I unfortunately missed his recent performance at the Strand Theatre in Rockland, Maine. I heard it was an amazing show. But you have another opportunity to catch them live in Maine when Spooner and his band rock out the Brian Boru Pub in Portland, Maine on St. Patty’s day. Go check them out if you can.

The song, Black and Blue from the album The Flame you Follow, that I have featured in this post is available as a free download on the Jason Spooner website.

Portland Maine funksters, Sly Chi announced a series of tourdates during March, April and May. These guys know how to make a dance floor shake. Their final show at the Big Easy in Portland looks to be absolutely killer. They will be paying tribute to legendary funk [...]]]>

Portland Maine Funk Band Sly-Chi

Portland Maine funksters, Sly Chi announced a series of tourdates during March, April and May. These guys know how to make a dance floor shake. Their final show at the Big Easy in Portland looks to be absolutely killer. They will be paying tribute to legendary funk monkies, “Tower of Power.” Get out and see them if you can.

The featured song Emotions is a free mp3 download off the Sly-Chi Facebook page. You can purchase songs by Sly-Chi here.

Sly Chi spring 2011 Tour Dates.
3/12/11 – The Big Easy, Portland – Music Heals: A fundraiser for Music Therapy in Maine
3/19/11 - The Phoenix House, Sunday River
3/26/11 – The Rack, Sugarloaf
4/13/11 – Port City Music Hall (Stevie Wonder vs. Ray Charles Clash)
4/22/11 – The Arts Block, Greenfield, Mass
4/23/11 – Rockwood Music Hall, NYC
4/29/11 – The Dover Brickhouse, Dover
5/14/11 – The Big Easy, Portland (Saturday Soul Series)
5/31/11 – The Big Easy, Portland (Cover to Cover – Paying tribute to Tower of Power)

The Mideast has exploded into [...]]]>

The world has changed quite a bit since my last podcast. While I have been busy finishing up a Master’s degree here in Maine, skiing when I can and all, the Mideast has exploded with revolution. The people have spoken up and unpopular government leaders are being moved out.

The Mideast has exploded into revolution since my last podcast and the world has changed dramatically. I have been really busy and unable to get to posting on Soundcentury. The site was down for a bit due to my switch to a new hosting service, but things are now back up and running.

Sidi Bouazid Poster, Tunisia. (Getty Images)

I plan to keep trying to get cool New England bands on Soundcentury when I can. I also plan on trying to cover emerging alternative energy companies more. I have a big list of what seem to be really exciting companies that hold a lot of promise in ending our dependence on big, bad oil. But, lot’s of other things take priority at the moment over this site, but I will try and get to it as often as possible.

So, please check back once and a while. Who knows, you might just find out about a cool new band or discover a new alternative energy company.

This podcast features Wicked Funk (Funk Rebirth Mix) by Kwanzaa Posse feat. Fela Kuti (with some sound bytes thrown on top) > Black Rain by Ben Harper > Funky Dollar Bill by Funkadelic > Funky President by the man James Brown > Vital Juices by Funkadelic > Tight n’ Shiny by the Jesus Lizard > UMASS by the Pixies.

As I mentioned in the previous post, I neglected to renew my domain name and so down went this site for a little while. Sorry about that.

Thought I would get things cookin’ again with a little Phish remix of some of their songs from the recent fall tour. [...]]]>

NICU Design by Soundcentury

As I mentioned in the previous post, I neglected to renew my domain name and so down went this site for a little while. Sorry about that.

Thought I would get things cookin’ again with a little Phish remix of some of their songs from the recent fall tour. I got a little bit from a whole lot of shows including Halloween in Atlantic City.

The band has definitely tightened things up a bit, but they still know how to set sail and get lost in the jam. The New Years run should be quite epic and if I were able to make it to just one of the shows, I would pick the first night at Worcester. I think this show is going to absolutely rock.

If you just stumbled upon this site in your Internet travels, welcome. If you come back every couple weeks, you will be able to listen to a new podcast featuring a cool band from New England, or a set of music I throw together. The podcast is also available through I-Tunes. Just search Soundcentury.

Happy New Year!!! I am feeling that 2011 is going to be a good year (:

Oh, and if you still are looking for tickets for the Phish New Years run, make sure to visit Cashortrade.org This is a fantastic website connecting the Phish community.

This podcast features Phish – Remix Fall Tour 2010 – Cookin’ on Three Burners – Push it Up > Ted Nugent – Live it Up