I found this song in the road

You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude

2012-04-23T19:58:00.000-07:00

So the You Blew It! - Grow Up, Dude listening party is going well. I'm going to have to give this album 4 meows down for NOT ENOUGH MEOWS. There are meows in one of the tracks so they don't get the full 5 meows down. I've got a fever, and the only thing that can fix it is MORE MEOWS. You blew it, You Blew It! You shouldn't have mixed out all of those meows. The album is really good and you can stream it here, but cat lovers will be disappointed. You've been warned.

Sinatra/I Kill Giants - Split

2012-03-16T14:39:00.002-07:00

Sinatra and I Kill Giants just dropped a split like 30 seconds ago. Check it out, they are both phenomenal bands. It's free!

Free

Hop Along - Tibetan Pop Stars

2012-01-29T23:10:00.000-08:00

This is a new track by Hop Along was posted. The album will be released April 1st, but knowing the irony of that date, it won't actually be released out on that date. Francis takes forever to write, but this is fantastic.

Download

Wavelets - Athaletics

2012-01-22T10:40:00.000-08:00

Well isn't this just lovely. At nine tracks, Athaletics is a little on the short side, but there is enough within those songs to make the album really stand out. This is twinkly emo/indie that actually pulls off both elements well, with the energy of songs like 'We're Really Jazzed About The Gig' counterbalancing the more reflective and texturally focused numbers like 'Bad Scene, Jawbreaker's Fault.' Fans of bands like Algernon Cadwallader and What Price, Wonderland? will find a lot to love here. There's nothing especially new here, but it's done so well that that doesn't matter, so give it a listen, if only to prove that there's more coming out of Gainesville than gruff pop punk.

Bandcamp: http://tinyengines.bandcamp.com/album/athaletics

Signals Midwest - Latitudes & Longitudes

2012-01-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

Cleveland, OH's Signals Midwest are a band very much influenced by their location, and Latitudes & Longitudes takes more than a few cues from '90s Midwestern emo. There's the power of Braid, the twinkly guitar lines of American Football and the quirkyness of Cap'n Jazz all on display here, but it is all bound together by a sense of carefully measured songwriting which really sets it apart from bands who just rehash this classic sound. Basically, this is what happens when gruff punk collides with 90's emo, and it's brilliant, with songs like ‘Monarchs’, ‘I Was Lost’ and ‘The Quiet Persuader’ being particular standouts for me. Latitudes & Longitudes basically strikes the perfect balance; it’s accessible without being overly poppy, emotional without being over the top, and technical without being bafflingly so. So yeah, give it a spin, if you’re into any of the bands mentioned then you’ll find something to love here.

Download: http://tinyengines.bandcamp.com/album/latitudes-and-longitudes

Stop SOPA Cencorship Bill

2012-01-17T23:22:00.000-08:00

There is a bill in progress and might be passed towards anti-piracy. It effectively gives corporations the right to shut down any website that they want if it interferes with their sales. So, this site, would be taken down with no notice or court to fight against. I have gotten cease and desist letters, digital millennium copyright act letters and letters from the RIAA itself asking me to take things down, but this bill would take it to the next level of corporate control. If you want for your ability to fight against it then read up on the links below. Sites like Wikipedia, Google, and Craigslist are blacked out today to protest this bill. I figure that we can do our relatively small part in posting this as well.

Read about it
Take action

Younger Siblings - Bald Eagles Aren't Actually Bald

2012-01-17T14:18:00.000-08:00

I really like this 7" from Birmingham, AL's Younger Siblings. There are are a lot of different influences on display here, from 60's pop and surf rock to the more toned down elements of Bomb The Music Industry's recent album. Overall, it kind of sounds like grainy, analogue indie colliding with Bright Eyes with John Flansburgh on vocals. There is also a slightly twee undertone which reminded me of certain Dead Milkmen songs, which is always a plus point, and the whole thing is drenched in analogue distortion, reverb and even a little bit of slapback which gives a nice organic feel. My only real problem is that the first song, 'Pure Mechanical Failure' is, in my opinion, a lot stronger than the other tracks, and this disparity in quality started to get to me on the third or fourth listen. It's not that the other two songs are bad, far from it, they just aren't as good as the opener. Overall though, this is a great little 7" and I will definately be keeping an ear out for what they do in the future.

Mediafire: http://www.mediafire.com/?dpbsjlaicwuow66

Buy 7": http://springstrecords.storenvy.com/products/137316-younger-siblings-bald-eagles-aren-t-really-bald-7

Sticker Promotion Is Over!

2012-01-16T23:27:00.001-08:00

Encase you're wondering where your free stickers are, they are right here in these envelopes. I'm drawing cool designs on them and writing you all personal notes. I take a while to do things, but I think it's worth it to add my personal flair to it. A lot of people requested stickers, I'm really excited that happened. The record label has a lot of cool stuff going on too, including stickers, so you'll be able to get your hands on those soon as well. Thanks for all your continued support.

Paul Newman & the Ride Home - The Importance of Being Ernest Hemingway

2012-01-15T03:24:00.000-08:00

Normally when I think pop-punk I get bad vibes, but this band from Baltimore changes that notion. They have some folk-punk influence, not in the traditional sense, but in the sense that you would probably think they were from Gainesville, Florida if you didn't know better. I like their band name, their music ain't bad either.

Bandcamp
Mediafire

Ape Up! - Untitled EP

2012-01-12T18:23:00.000-08:00

This EP is supposedly only going to be up for one day so be sure to download it and not wait around.

Download

Sticker Promotion!

2012-01-09T17:49:00.000-08:00

We messed up big by turning down the idea of running a blog and a record label at the same time. To make it up to you guys that stuck it out and are still here, I'm running a sticker promotion. Remember all those stickers that I had a while ago? I dug 31 of these bad boys up. That means we've given out or put up 94 stickers in the time that we got them. That's a pretty awesome thing to be able to say.

What we want for the blog is for it to be a forum for our fans to tell us what they think about what we're doing and ideas for how to change for the better. If you're in a band, we'll post you. If you are a good band and we have the money, we might release you. Fans of the blog will help us decide on what to release and what they want to buy. We're always open to anything you have to say. Even if it's just to say hi, feel free to contact us at songsfromtheroad@gmail.com

Here's the deal: Send your address to songsfromtheroad@gmail.com with something cool to say, what you intend to do with your sticker, and your address and we'll send you one free of charge. We'll pay the postage and envelopes.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Thanks,
Jesse

Spanish Club/Constellations - Split

2012-01-08T01:37:00.001-08:00

Alright, so we're back and better than ever. To start, I'd like to share with you a band that never ceases to ask me my opinion on how they sound(Specifically Dominic). I initially told him that they shouldn't try to sound like they recorded through 1/8-1/4 inch adapters shoved into laptop headphone jacks so he came back and thanked me with this release. It's a refreshing Pennsylvania sounding album. I'm not talking about Philadelphia or Pittsburgh, but real heart of America, Pennsylvania. Their folk-punk roots show through into the typical twinkle-emo stuff that I hear way too much. It's also recorded by Joe from Algernon so that's pretty cool. The only downside to the album is that there are only 2 songs. It's for free download, but it will be released on CD off Littleneck Records for 3 bucks so I suggest liking them and keeping up with it if you're interested.

Try
Keep updated

Best Releases of 2011

2011-12-30T23:26:00.000-08:00

With the start of something new, I suppose it is best to create one of those lists to reflect on the year as a whole. The blog's revival starts a new year and the start of a record label that wants to hear what you have to say. I also didn't include either of our releases due to the obvious bias. Here is my top ten favorite releases of 2011. I'd love to hear if you guys have similar artists on the list or what happens to be on yours. Happy new years everyone!

10) Jet Set Sail - Jet Set Sail Free
Look for these guys in the future. They've been playing a lot of shows with a lot of amazing bands, yet have somehow snuck under the radar too many times.

9) We All Have Hooks For Hands - Girls Free
A twenty seven piece band from Michigan. Okay, I don't think either of those are correct. South Dakota with 9 members that will make you feel really happy with upbeat good vibes.

8) Arrah & the Ferns - Soldier Ghost EP Free
Actually a pretty long EP. They've been up on my charts for a while but started listening to them rapidly after booking the first stop on their last tour. A lot of fun to see live, a lot of fun to listen to.

7) Mallard - Mallard "of the Thick" Free
This band brought some next level depth to my listening experience. I was hooked from the first song on this album and wanted more when it was through. I can't get enough of these dudes. They are even more fun live than listening home alone in your mom's basement.

6) You'll Live - Things Would Change If You Heard This Free
Non-generic stuff you can scream along to that people you hang out with probably won't know the words to so you'll end up feeling really awkward at shows.

5) Fucked Up - David Comes to Life Buy
I've heard this band's name so many times and passed it off as "one of those bands". I finally listened to them this year upon the release of this album and I regret all those times I failed to give them a chance.

4) Dowsing - All I Could Find Was You Free
Really, they are wonderful. I don't have much to say on them on why I like them because I like everything.

3) Joyce Manor - Joyce Manor Try/Buy
Did not disappoint, reminded me why I like Joyce Manor so much.

2) Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies Try/Buy
Although Fun and Some Kind of Cadwallader hold a place in my heart, the album caught on quicker than most. I finally managed to see them live this year which is embarrassing.

1) Deer Leap + The World is a Beautiful Place & I am No Longer Afraid to Die Are Here to Help You Try/Try/Buy
This split was flawless. I blew off everything by TWIABP until I heard the songs off this split live. I've had this on loop for the last 2 months. Rediculous.

Blog Return 2k12

2011-12-29T00:38:00.000-08:00

Hey! It's been a while, but I know you all missed me because of the mass of submissions that are still filling up the mailbox. Instead of emailing you back, I've starred every demo/album received. I will be posting the best ones occasionally in order to keep up with what this blog is about: promoting music. I mean, that's why we are doing the whole record label thing, right? The new deal is, send us submissions regularly to songsfromtheroad@gmail.com and if we like it, we'll post it. If we love it and see some potential, we might email you back in the future to talk business.

Some stuff that's going on with the label. We have released two artists, Tawny Peaks and Trophywife. You can listen and buy the two at the links below. We are really excited about how things are going and hope that you can continue to show your support. Some distro items will also be in the shop shortly as well from the UK. Keep up, we have an artist coming up that I think you guys are going to be incredibly excited to hear we are working with(because I sure am).

Anyways, check us out at the links below. Expect some more updates in and around 2012.

Facebook
Bandcamp
Store
songsfromtheroad@gmail.com
@songsfromroad

Lots of love,
Jesse <3

Important Announcement!

2011-08-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

If you've been following any of our web 2.0 pages, you'll have noticed that we are in the process of converting from a music blog to a record label. After almost 5 years of running this blog, I've decided to take it somewhere further from the usual norm of posting music that I like.

So here's the deal. About a month ago, my friend Zach and I were talking and I brought up the fact that I wanted to start a record label. I realized that we are a great tag-team duo with skills and experience complimenting each other.

We are a no contract, no bullshit, completely DIY independent record label. We are incredibly accessible and love meeting others. If you have a question, demo, or inquiry then we'll definitely take a look.

Here's the meat of the news. We currently have two artists on our roster: Tawny Peaks and Trophywife, both with upcoming releases. You can check them out at our bandcamp below. So what's going to come of the blog after all of this? It's going to be somewhat regularly updated, hopefully somebody will be able to post frequently and take my place.

The RECORD LABEL url will be songsfromtheroad.com which for now re-directs to songsfromtheroad.blogspot.com. Our tumblr and twitter will be taken over and be used by the label only. We have a new fan page for the label which you should follow here.

I'm really excited how this is all turning out. There will be more updates soon, but for the most part, our new fan page will be the most of our updates until we can get a main page up.

Download our two artist's upcoming releases at our bandcamp for free for a limited time only!

Seymour Glass - Demo

2011-08-06T00:56:00.000-07:00

Seymour writes wonderful acoustic songs and sings them. I found them from our friends at ohnoimlateforschool.com which is awesome because this artist is local to both of us in Lodi, NJ. I look forward to hearing more from him.

http://www.mediafire.com/?x9m9k426rzpdrmt

Relo - Sunplosion EP

2011-08-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

Some chill alternative rock from Dallas, Relo is what I've been listening to for about a week straight or so. It's not something that I would normally listen to, but this week it somehow made my top pick. In other news, this blog is going to undergo a long awaited renovation soon with some exciting news awaiting. I recognize the lack of posting, but I have a lot of projects that I am working on that hopefully will counter-act number of posts that have been made.

http://relo.bandcamp.com

Stable Boys - 2 tracks

2011-07-12T01:44:00.000-07:00

Members of Snowing, Algernon Cadwallader, and Glocca Morra got together and formed a band. These are two tracks that they released 12 minutes ago.

http://stableboys.bandcamp.com/track/dionneing-it
http://stableboys.bandcamp.com/track/schwartz-illustrated-666

Tawny Peaks - Harris Harris Harris EP

2011-07-05T22:45:00.000-07:00

If you were angry when American Football broke up in 2000 and are looking for a fresh approach then look no further. These Montclair natives are making a big splash in the local scene and have just released their first EP to start things off. It's not like the other loud, screamy, and twinkly bands I posted from the Montclair scene before but it is definitely worth checking out.

Download

Topshelf Records - 2011 Label Sampler

2011-07-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

Topshelf Records has a new compilation available now for free. All you have to do is give a "tweet" or a "like" in order to unlock the code to get it. If you are already a fan of Topshelf Records on facebook, you can go ahead and download it instantly. It involves the entire Topshelf family and even bands off friend labels. There are almost 69 tracks total(almost).

Download

I Found This Song In The Road - A Mix To Make You Smile

2011-06-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

I just dug up my 8 tracks account and found a mix that I made a while ago. It's intent was solely to make as many people smile as possible. The solution was to put all my favorite songs about positive and happy things. I hope you like it.

Check out my other mixtapes and this one as well!

Andrew Bird Celebrates Brooklyn

2011-06-17T18:14:00.000-07:00

It's seven pm in Prospect Park, Brooklyn and there's at least a mile-long line winding its way around a fenced off concert area. People are scattered everywhere on multicolored blankets having picnics while waiting for the show to start. Who's drawing all this attention? Why are people waiting in an absurd line to maybe squeeze into the fenced off area with the stage & booze stands? Andrew Bird is kicking off the start of the Celebrate Brooklyn free concert series in the park. If you're already a fan of this ridiculously talented Chicago-born and bred artist then there's no need for explanation as to why the line is so disgustingly long.

   Bird, classically trained in the suzuki method, is a fabulous multi-instrumentalist and lyricist who adds quirky twists of glockenspiel, guitar and whistling to create unforgettably beautiful songs.
   It isn't until half past eight that Bird comes on stage and silence sweeps over the audience as attention is focused on the thin man with the violin center stage. He begins to play a few notes of "Why" and the bar was set high for the rest of the night. Every song Bird played either by himself or with his band "Bowl of Fire" was absolutely spell-bindingly brilliant. The song line-up for the night began with "Why" and was followed throughout the two hours with "Imitosis," "Plasticities," "Darkmatter," "Scythian Empires," "Tables and Chairs," "Effigy," "A Nervous Tic Motion of The Head To The Left" with many other tracks spanning all ten of his albums. Even though it was absolutely incredible experiencing him play live all the songs I've loved, it was a treat when he revealed he was going to perform a NEW SONG from his unreleased new album! The song is called "Give It Away" and it has a pop-ish, fun and light-hearted feel to it. Like most of Bird's songs, the lyrics hold real weight and end up giving the listener questions to ponder. Some may not like that quality of his music then some love it. If you are of the former group, then Andrew Bird may not be for you.
   Overall, this concert kickoff for the Celebrate Brooklyn series couldn't have gone any better. Andrew Bird put on a beautifully orchestrated, colorful and vivacious show. To check his new song "Give It Away" click on the link below. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e3lVO1jel8

William Bonney - Kickstarter/Summer Tour

2011-06-13T11:12:00.001-07:00

William Bonney has a kickstarter ending in 7 days to support their summer tour. It has 165 dollars left which is 23 dollars a day on average. These guys are great guys and are in a great band. If you want to help support them and grab some limited edition swag, now’s your chance. They’ll be going on tour regardless, but it would really be great to see them reach their goal.

Last night, I blogged this on our tumblr and reblogged on all my accounts. Overnight it jumped 60 dollars. I'm not taking credit, but that's awesome. Thanks for helping my friends out, guys!

Heather Maloney: A North East Gem

2011-06-10T12:06:00.000-07:00

On the brightly lit stage of The Living Room (154 Ludlow Street NYC) surrounded by a broad range of instruments Heather Maloney begins to sing the melodiously playful and light-hearted song “Time and Pocket Change.” The lyrics bring about the nostalgia of childhood and memories of the simple things that made us happy that we perhaps forgot like making the most magnificent sandcastles and not worrying about their existence beyond completion. But it’s not only the fun lyrics or her guitar playing that captivates the audience, it’s also her unbelievably beautiful, smooth voice that plays with range in “Time and Pocket Change” yet is raw, passionate and soulful in “No Shortcuts.” Maloney’s voice is much like that of singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. Her recently released sophomore album titled “Time and Pocket Change” is a great collection of indie-rock songs. Take some time to listen to Heather Maloney’s fantastic new cd “Time and Pocket Change” at Heathermaloney.com. If you want to hear what musicianship is all about, I strongly suggest checking her out.

Martin Luther King - Demo

2011-06-09T03:51:00.000-07:00

This two track demo, from Connecticut's MLK is raw, effecting and brilliantly put together. And that is why it is my pick of the week. It has a lot in common with Kinsella bands while taking a harder edge, it also has the super 90s vocals-low-in-the-mix thing that I've loved for oh-so long. The songs have this frenetic urgency like they are somehow competing with themselves to fit as much emotion in as short a time as possible. And it works. Instantly arresting, my only complaint is that there isn't more.

Stream!