...for we are young and FREE!!!!

Stuff got put on teh internetz and i foundz it so you can has it too...! CLICK THE PICS!


The Beautiful Girls are releasing new album early 2010 and they are offering the first single as a free download! Its a little different from previous work that i have heard form these guys, but i really like the new direction and polish on what was already a pretty slick roots/blues/alt reggae vibe.

Urthboy contributed a cover of The Clash song 'London Calling' to TripleJ's infamous 'Like a Version' segment this year and its included on the new comp/CD of the same name. The fifth in the series this one looks kinda interesting from a glance at the tracklist. BUT... this song is frickin awsome! Not like Urthy's other stuff and yet i cant help but think he's very well suited to the song! I hearts it. The d/l link came in an email to mailing lists subscribers.

The Optimen are an aussie hip hop outfit and have plans to drop a new album in 2010 (doesnt everyone?) and this is the lead single off the disc. Its a free download and is well worth your three minutes! RIYL: The Herd, Horrowshow, Thundamentals, Illy etc etc...



So this isnt exactly new. No, actually it isnt new at all. But i only just came across it myself so its fresh to my ears. Its a band from Melbourne which serves as an outlet for one of the Cat Empire dudes. Not sure which one, doesnt matter though, this is pretty far from Cat Empire territory. See this as a second band, not a side project. It hase a blend of so many different stlyings that its a bitch to pigeon hole BUT if you at all enjoy rootsy/reggae/indie/hihop/electro/pop music then this will get its hooks into you. The version im linking you to features a guest verse from Phrase (Melbourne MC) and i have to admit, whilst i dont care much for him...he really adds to this track to make it something really special.

So there's some feel good tunes to play in the background of those good times your having with the warmer weather!! Cheers!

I found more.

I found more...mooooore!

A band that sings about matters of justice, environment and politics who are actually worth listening to is ‘Blue King Brown’. They have a new single available for free d/l called ‘Moment of Truth’ and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it for those who want a healthy dose of activism in their ears. Sign up to their email list to get free goodies.
Go get the track from the link below…
http://www.archive.org/download/MomentOfTruth_669/1.MomentOfTruth.mp3

Now, mixtapes are awesome for a number of reasons:
1) They are free
2) They build interest in local artists and DJ’s.
3) They are better than remixes!

‘Chasm & Vida Sunshyne’ dropped an album on Obese Records in October. Its dub- reggae-hip hop stuff. Very cool. But leading up to the release DJ Diaz released an official mixtape called ‘Fire in the Building’ which collects a bunch of their appearances on other peoples tracks, remixes it and features a bunch of new tripped out instro’s, breaks and beats to lay back and zone out with. The idea is that if you like it, you can go check out their new album or follow the DJ’s work..or follow up the original songs from which they have borrowed to make the mixtape.
http://www.chasmbeats.com/fire.zip

Get it….its sooooo good!

From Little Things Big Things Grow (+ rant)

I did not know about this until today. It's really quite cool and features some fantastic artists all collaborating on a song that was previously just another Paul Kelly tune. (One of the many, cos dude has like 20 albums!) Now it's a reworked track that features snippets from PM Ruddy's "Sorry" speech and some awsome lyrics and voices that capture the heart of reconciliation. I wish I knew about this sooner but apparently it blew up all over Triple J last year when it was released..ha! Im so behind. Anyone else miss this?
Its got Urthboy, Ozi Batla, Missy Higgins and Jane Tyrell on it to name a few voices. Sick eh?

You get the song via the Get Up! web site which has a page just for this campaign/project. There's also high-res artwork and a video clip available for free download (my favourite type) but its a big file! (youtube it instead) When you're done have a look around the site and see what else is going on. Worth your 5 minutes i promise.

Or...just click on the pic for the mp3 if thats too much.

RANT WARNING:

This gets me thinking, why isnt there more? As in...why arnt there more collaborations, partnerships and artists out there joining forces to speak out...or speak up about something? Dont get me wrong i am stoked that this exists, im all for the 'apology' but why does it stop there? What about assylum seekers, boat people, migrants and refugee's? What about suicide, depression and self harm? Homelessness, substance abuse, gambling and family violence? There is a never ending list of issues that could really benefit from some of this treatment and ive noticed that the mainstream media is missing the point. Power is in the hands of the people, not the other way around. Change will occur from the ground up, not top down. Live Aid, Wave Aide, Earth Hour, Make Povery History...whilst all good idea's and effective mediums in communicating to a large audience at once have resulted in very little change to our culture and society. So, a concert is still just a concert and a song is still just a song. More songs will still only amount to that...more songs. More noise. But people with voices can do a lot. I like that Paul Kelly, Urthboy and all the rest are motivated like this...i just wish more people were.
End rant.

Lest we forget 11:11am, 11/11/09

I always choke up when i think about this day and what we as a nation remember on this day. I imagine myself boarding a ship and leaving my wife, my son and my friends and family, hobbies, job, comfortable way of life...then consider the liklihood that i would never see them again. Leave them behind to grieve, imagine the pain, imagine the loss and how much that would impact everyone left behind. Its terrible right?

Then multiply that scenario a few thousand times over, and that is exactly what occured in the lives of all the men and women over the years who stepped up and defended our country and our way of life, or more to the point, the freedom to chose how we live.

People + Sacrifice = Freedom

Here's a great song by Redgum called 'I was only 19', covered by the Herd. Its fitting for today. Just click on the pic and you will go to the host site where you can watch or download it in a variety of formats.

....off this album BTW.

R.I.P. The Tongue

Here's a brand new & FREE mixtape from Elephant Traks artist 'The Tongue'. Unreal stuff featuring heaps of other quality hip hop artists. It flows seemlessly from one track to another and has a great vibe to it. I really like it. I really really like it!! The theme of memorial/funeral for the dude is kinda weird but works in the context of the mix. Theres a few interesting interludes (see 'Terrorist Hotline'!!) and cool instrumentals but the gold is in the lyrics that challenge and confront, irritate and interest me to new levels. I highly recommend this to anyone with an interest in skiphip or aussie music in general! I also like the tribue to De' La Soul wth the artwork image. I had that album, good times. Click on the picture to go to the site, download link at the bottom with the tracklisting.

Supplemental entry:

Unkle Ho released a mixtape of his own, the first in what will no doubt be many from this awsome instrumental/dj-producer/artist...whatever! It's really pretty good and would fit perfectly in the background of a cool cafe on a hot afternoon in a busy city somewhere with a cold brew in ya hand. Some of the music gets a little easy to ignore but then he pulls you back in with a guest vocalist or a sweet riff or sample. Either way its a great free soundtrack to wehatever you're doing right now.
Get it here:
http://soundcloud.com/urbanworld/unkle-ho-the-devils-mixtape

Hard, Hard, Soft, Soft

http://www.myspace.com/northlaneaus
Sydney metal-core band giving away a three track ep.
Can get the songs here:
http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=30445
IMO: Pretty bloody heavy and quite good.

Techy-Metal-Core band from Sydney
New album out called Empires and Endings
Stream here: http://www.myspace.com/mazeau
Download a freebie from here: http://www.purevolume.com/lightwithoutheat80
That’s the last track on the CD, pretty epic closer too. (don’t stream it from PV, d’l quality is mmmuch better)

Sydney indie band 'Parades' are going to be buzz band in like…ten minutes.

The more people catch on to these sounds the better i say.
Stream tracks here: http://www.myspace.com/parades
Down two tracks for free here: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/View.aspx?artistid=19421
*Invaders’ is off last years demo… *Dead Nationale is off their latest double AA side..(See picture) UNREAL drumming, soft and pretty vocals…what a mix!

Ice Pictures - aka Matt Blake. Sweet indie sounds, a little radiohead-ish, a little Gomez, a little Muse...a lot of goodness whichever comparison you draw from it.

Stream tracks here: http://www.myspace.com/icepictures

Or grab a bunch for free from here: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=23309 He's giving it away so if you want to have the lot...follow the links from his myspace page and you can grab the EP in mp3/aac format depending on your preference.