Here’s a drum and bass jam of the day.

MRSA - Chemicals

Sometimes music just plays itself in my head.  Today’s song is a pretty obvious choice since it’s rainy here in Lawrence: Rainy Monday by Shiny Toy Guns (who else?).  When I typed “Monday” into my computer to find the file to upload it for you all, a couple other tracks showed up that I figured were worth sharing as well.  Here you go.

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Bangles – Manic Monday.mp3

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Orgy – Blue Monday.mp3

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Shiny Toy Guns – Rainy Monday.mp3

If you’ve ever heard me spin a drum and bass set, then you know it’s no secret I love Pendulum.  I introduced my friend Steph to a track of theirs called Granite, a track she recently reminded me that she still loves.  That makes a guy feel good.  So here’s some more Pendulum for ya, starting with the track that first got me into Pendulum, Vault.  Pendulum overall is a little dirtier and more aggressive and a little less liquid/atmospheric/harmonic than the drum and bass I usually go for, and this track’s no exception to that, but for some reason, the way they put it together appeals to me in spite of the dirt.

Pendulum – Vault.mp3

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These first few tracks are quite old, early Pendulum stuff while they were still polishing their sound.  At this point in their career they were still very much electronic music, drum and bass, sounding like the origins of the style from underground clubs in the UK, even though they’re from Australia.

Pendulum – Spiral.mp3

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Pendulum – Girl in the Fire.mp3

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Pendulum – Another Planet.mp3

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As they refined their sound, they started to incorporate more of a rock sound into their music.  This is an early example of that.  Steph, these next ones are going to be more like Granite. Check em out.

Pendulum – Hold Your Colour.mp3

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Here they’re moving more towards that rock sound as evidenced by the more standardized patterns of vocals with verses and a bridge (chorus is instrumental).

Pendulum – Propane Nightmares.mp3

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And this might be my favorite Pendulum track of all time.  Such an amazing way to get a set started. (Stick with it through the prelude.)

Pendulum – Slam.mp3

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This one’s a bit of a change of pace, a somewhat different beat, at least until the end.  It’s got a fantastic bass line that kicks in around 2:21. This is the one I should listen to more often:

Pendulum – The Tempest.mp3

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And in the course of writing this, I’ve just discovered they have a new album out, which I’m about to go snag RIGHT NOW.

This is a little different from the style of stuff I usually post, but I’m digging this track enough that I wanted to share it with you guys.  I heard it on KJHK, KU’s student-run radio station, yesterday.  At which point I was compelled to immediately track it down.

So many different styles influence this track.  There’s an electro bass line, a breakbeat, retro synth drums, 80s style arpeggiated synths, along with a wicked, slightly dark melody and great vocal harmonies.  Obviously it’s the overall electronic sound that appeals to me, but there’s a lot more going on here that’s worth listening to, even if you’re not a huge fan of the usual repetitive drivel I usually barf up here for you guys.

Check this out from Wikipedia:

School of Seven Bells (often just SVIIB) is a three-piece band formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines, together with identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza, formerly of On! Air! Library!. The band is named after the School of the Seven Bells, a mythical South American pickpocket training academy.

Pretty cool way to name your band.  Wikipedia also mentions the words “ethereal” and “dreamy” to describe SVIIB’s music, which describes other things I’ve liked.  For some reason, I feel like if it were the 90s, SVIIB could have been signed by 4AD, right next to acts like the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance, even though this is decidedly more beat-driven.  It just has that feel to it.

School of Seven Bells – Dust Devil.mp3

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Future Prophecies - September (Camo & Krooked Remix)

Krizz Kaliko - Game On

ROCK CHALK!

So for the last month my life has been utter insanity as I move to another city and start school. I promise I’m not dead.

Cleveland Lounge - Drowning (AK1200 remix)

Kosheen - Suicide