Help Ma Boab, It's The 62 Word Review

How To Swim – It Doesn't Even Have To Be You

I've admired How To Swim for ages (the old Jockrock forum liked them – shows you how long they've been around!) but, despite their artistic consistency, they've never seemed to be able quite get beyond the cusp of greatness they've been stalled at for years. This is a gem of a single though, hopefully the album brings them superstardom. They deserve it.

Available to download for free from Bandcamp.

Flutes – Auld Archie

It's nice when you get something like this in your inbox: a band you've never heard of who just happened to have released something not just very good, but absolutely spectacular. There's a John Knox Sex Club feel throughout, but with lovely vocal harmonies and mellow flutes weaving their way towards a blazing climax, full of squealing guitar and rolling drums. Majestic.

Any Color Black - You

Any Color Black's filthy electro rock and roll puts me in mind of some of The Black Keys recent album, El Camino. I've never been impressed by them previously, and it's not really the kind of thing I'd listen to but strangely I found myself humming it at work today so there's definitely something there. Decent, I'll be keeping an ear out.

Fin.

Friday Freebies

The Twilight Sad
The 'Sad boys recorded a session for LimeWire (when did LimeWire go legit?), they're currently giving away “Cold Days From The Birdhouse (Live At Lime)” as a free download here.

Jenny & Johnny
Perhaps you might know them better as Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley fame (does anyone know if they've officially split up?) and her Glasgow born boyfriend, Jonathan Rice. Well they've decided to make an album together, as a wee preview they're giving away a free download of their song 'Scissor Runner'. Pleasant enough it is too, although I must admit that it did make me pine for another album from Jenny's 'old' band.

Pink Nasty
Now here's a blast from the past, I haven't listened to Pink Nasty in years. In fact I must admit that I had totally forgotten about her, I must admit that I do feel kind of guilty about that, as 'BTK Blues' featuring Will Oldhan is one of my all time favourite songs. I guess she must have a new album coming out soon, as she's giving away her album 'Mold the Gold', featuring the latter song. Absoloutley gorgeous stuff, I'd be chuffed to hear what you all think of it.

Eels
With a new up album in the offing 'E' and his boys have posted new song 'Looking Up' for free download over on their homepage.

Any Color Black
The Glasgow electronica duo have posted a free download of their cover of Britney Spears '3', get yourself a copy here.

Tired Pony
Gary Lightbody's new supergroup, featuring folk from REM and Belle and Sebastian, have posted a free download from their forthcoming album, 'The Place We Ran From'. I think this was a US only download, but I'll save you all the signing up nonsense, just click here to download a free MP3 of their song 'Point Me At Lost Islands'

British Sea Power
They're not the kind of band that you'd expect to write a World Cup, but they have, it's titled “Football (Kick It In The Goal),” and it is available to download for free on their website.

Superchunk
Amazon have posted an MP3 of 'Learned to Surf' from the bands 'Leaves In The Gutter' EP up for free.

The Good Gods!
The Londoners are giving away an MP3 of their new single "Lying On Our Bright Red Backs", in exchange for your email address.

The Giving Tree Band
The folksy eight-piece Americana band are giving away a free copy of their song “Circles”, just sign up for their mailing list and they'll send you it (scroll to the bottom to find the widget).

Earthtone 9
I don't know anything about these guys, apart from the fact that they're giving away a collection of their songs from 1998-2002. If you know who they are, or your just plain curious, find out more here.



Kowalskiy's Komplimentary Korner

Beerjacket

This weeks offering from the 'Doc' are a couple of cracking live shows from Beerjacket recorded live at King Tuts. He hopes the it might console some of you folk out there who missed out on seeing him at last weeks postponed gig.

Any Color Black - Leith FM Session (18/06/10)

Track Listing
1. Minutes
2. Answer
3. Sex and Love

Download

Friday Freebies

Too Many Fireworks
Neil Milton is reviving his label 'Too Many Fireworks', woo to the mother fucking hoo! The double bonus is that if you sign up to the labels mailing list you'll get an eight track too many fireworks sampler download in exchange for free. It's worth it just to hear some Flying Matchstick Men again. Go on, do it, do it now.

The Wildhouse
Edinburgh blogger Ed is just about to put out his first album release by the Dundee band The Wildhouse on his 17Seconds Label. In celebration of this forthcoming release he's put up some free MP3's from the album. Download them here.

Run/Lucky/Free
The Edinburgh band are offering up some 'free downloads, free video acoustic sessions and more'. All you have to do is sign up their mailing list here.

Galleries
Tipped by the Pop Cop as one of his one's to watch in 2010, find out if he's uncovered another diamond by downloading their debut EP completely free here.

To Rococo Rot
In celebration of the release of their new album 'Speculation' , the Berlin based post-rockers are giving away a free MP3 download of new song "Working Against Time"

Caribou
The Canadian electronic musician, Daniel Victor Snaith aka 'Carbou', returns with a new album Swim on the 19th of April. In anticipation of this release he's put up a new song for you to download Just sign up to his mailing list and you'll get yourself a free download of 'Odessa'.

Peter Broderick
The Portland singer/songwriter has put a whole host of demos and outtakes up for free download, strangely they're available to download from Flickr of all places.

Any Color Black
The Glasgow Electro rock duo have put up a free download of 'Start a Fire' for your aural pleasure. If it tickles your fancy then you can get even more MP3's by signing up their mailing list.

Annie Accidental
The Glaswegian lassie has put a free download of her song 'S.A.D.' to down load for free here. It's twee as fuck and it sounds amazing, the perfect song to see you through till normal hours of daylight return.

Little Yellow Ukuleles
Up and coming Weegie powerpop starlets 'the Yook' have put a free download of 'Discopants' on their Bandcamp.

Plum
The lovely Edinburgh electornica lady Plum has put her ode to the bard, 'Ae Fond Kiss' up for free download on her blog. Download yourself a copy here.

Pacific Theatre
Another Glasgow powerpop band amking waves are Pacific Theatre, who have put a free download of their song, 'Far Away' up on their Bandcamp.

Yeasayer
Apparently the new album, 'Odd Blood', is very good, haven't heard it myself yet so I can't comment. However, I can tell you that they have have put the second single from the album, 'ONE', available as a free download on their website.