Luiz Bonfá -- Jacarandá

Brazilian jazz fusion from 1973 featuring Stanley Clarke and Idris Muhammad and some other jazzmen that you may have heard or heard of. Those of you who have heard Mike Patton's Lovage album will recognize a sample from the 2nd song. If you don't like this, then I don't like you.

320 kbps (fixed)

Force -- Force

Solid grind from Japan featuring members of Hellchild, From Hell, Swarrrm, Multiplex, etc. Released in 1999.

224 kbps

Toadliquor -- The Hortator's Lament

Released in 2003, The Hortator's Lament collects the bulk of Toadliquor's previous vinyl-only recordings. These guys pose a serious challenge to Khanate for the title of slowest band. Actually, that reminds me of a joke. A snail is walking down the street when a gang of turtles approaches him, beats him up, and takes his wallet. So the snail dusts himself off and heads over to the police station to report the crime. When he gets there, the police ask "what happened to you?" To which the snail replies, "I don't know...it all happened so fast."

What is a hortator anyway?

192 kbps

Kroko -- Furia

Instrumental trio fronted by Deep Turtle's guitarist Pentti Dassum, which makes it mandatory listening. Sounds a bit like The Nels Cline Trio or The Blue Humans in parts, but will remind you of Deep Turtle as well.

256 kbps

The Uphill Gardeners -- The Uphill Gardeners

Instrumental noodlery from L.A. musicians who have gone on to be in bands such as Goliath Bird Eater, The Polar Goldie Cats, Get Hustle, Young People, etc. Most of which are pretty boring, actually. Guess they peaked early. Yes, that's the cover.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Deep Turtle -- Riva!

Double-7'' from the masters, released in 1993. At this point I shouldn't have to describe this or tell you that you need it, should I?

192 kbps

Yusef Lateef -- Live at Pep's

Really, it's all the about the snake charming jazz of the first song, Sister Mamie. The rest of the album is a bit spotty, with some decent tracks and some forgettable ones, but Sister Mamie makes it all worthwhile.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Trumans Water -- Spasm Smash XXXOXOX Ox & Ass

This is probably my favorite "indie rock" album of all time, perhaps because that label doesn't really fit so well. It may also be my favorite album of the '90s, or at least in the top handful of albums, which is a much stronger statement. I guess these guys are still touring and playing songs from this album, although the lead singer has since become a Christian and started up Soul-Junk, a weird lo-fi hip-hop outfit whose lyrics pay tribute to a certain imaginary skygod. Anyway, you should really hear this if you haven't already. And you should re-hear it if it's been a while. This is their magnum opus -- 20 songs worth of unhinged lunacy. Spasm Smash is to '90s indie rock what Trout Mask Replica is to '60s/'70s folk/psych rock, what Double Nickels on the Dime or Zen Arcade is to '80s punk rock, and I could probably think of others if I tried. You owe it to yourself to know and love this album. Do it.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Zu -- Carboniferous

Italian freakout jazz/no-wave/metal trio. I'm not much in the mood for writing descriptions right now, so just download it already. You won't be sorry.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

The Dead -- The Dead

Australian DM. Thanks to Klontarth for this one.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Killdozer -- Burl

Released in 1986, this EP was dedicated to the memory of Burl Ives. Most people have to wait until their deaths for such tributes, but Mr. Ives got to enjoy his before passing in 1995. Rather thoughtful of the Killdozer gents, wouldn't you say?

192 kbps (fixed)

Wrench -- Planets Surface

1997 debut from Australia's Wrench. I know almost nothing about these guys other than the fact that they put out a great album in 1997, and they're Australian. Sounds a bit like so-called desert rock, and in fact it's nothing you haven't heard before, but it's really well executed. I couldn't find an image of the cover on the innertubes, so here's a photo of my dog getting a bath instead. I think I originally downloaded this from the Sludge Swamp, so credit where credit is due, etc.

192 kbps

The Pyramids -- Birth Speed Merging

Out jazz from 1976 that I only recently discovered when a retrospective of frontman Idris Ackamoor's career was released by EM Records a few years back. I always prefer the original albums to compilations, however, so here's one of 'em.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Various Artists -- Choubi Choubi! Folk and Pop Sounds from Iraq

The peripatetic genii at Sublime Frequencies have made a habit (and record label) out of digging up exotic sounds from faraway lands. This gem from 2005 is a collection of Iraqi folk and pop music, in some cases from artists whose identity is unknown. If you've ever found yourself tapping your foot while waiting in line at a falafel stand, you should probably check this out now. Then go buy this and everything else in the SF catalog.

192 kbps (broken link fixed)

Jamaaladeen Tacuma -- Show Stopper

Change of pace here. A quick look at the cover should tell you what's inside, at least in some rough sense. But don't worry, not all jazz fusion was bad. This one has its share of lows, such as tracks 3 and 5, but the highs, such as track 4, compensate. This dude did time with Ornette Coleman before busting out on his own, so you know he's good.

192 kbps

Something that you should do right now

Go to soundweave, perhaps the best music blog on the interbutts, and read the top 50 of 2008 list. I'm not much of a list-maker myself, but I always enjoy reading others, and his is perhaps the best.

I realize that most of the traffic on this site comes from there, but those few of you who haven't followed that route to get here should go check it out now.

Fredrik Thordendal -- Sol Niger Within

Solo album from Meshuggah's guitarist that is, in my opinion, better than anything Meshuggah has done. I don't always enjoy music when you can practically hear the musicians counting due to the weird time changes and whatnot, but this one succeeds despite the mathiness. I really dig the vocals, too. Maybe Meshuggah should let him sing instead of the other guy, who sounds like a meathead.

192 kbps

Voivod -- Nothingface

There was a period of about 6 months, perhaps more, during which I listened to this album every day. That was quite a while ago, but I just listened again, and the magic has not faded. I'm still amazed that a cover song, Pink Floyd's Astronomy Domine, fits in so well with such an elaborate concept album. There something naive and sweet here, and I'm not sure that I could enjoy an album as much today as did this one back then. Sigh.

320 kbps (re-fixed)

Last of the Juanitas -- In the Dirt

Really digging these guys lately. This is their latest, and while it's short, it packs a punch. I could make some sort of snide reference here, but I'd pay for it later. That's the best I could do on the cover image, sorry.

.m4a, so who knows (fixed corrupt .rar file)

Duobetic Homunkulus -- Části a Mechanismy Strojů

As promised, here's what 2 of the members of !T.O.O.H.! are up to, post-!T.O.O.H.! The .mp3's are a mixture of 128 kbps and 192 kbps, which is weird and a little annoying, but they came straight from the band's website, and I wasn't able to find better copies.

get it

Obituary -- Slowly We Rot

I fucking love this record. Obituary got more accolades for Cause of Death, but in my opinion that is far weaker than this. They were much more raw on this one, more punk, whereas on Cause they had Scott Burns in the studio making them sound like Morbid Angel and all the other Florida DM bands of that era. Not that that's a bad thing, exactly, but on this one they have their own thing going on. I can't fucking believe that this album is 20 years old now either. Egad.

320 kbps

Hail of Bullets -- Of Frost and War

Speaking of Martin van Drunen, here's his new band, although they definitely have an old school sound, too.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Pestilence -- Consuming Impulse

Old-school DM from Holland. These guys have apparently reformed and are planning a mini-tour later this year, minus Martin van Drunen (the lead singer on this album). I saw these guys open for Death at the Reseda Country Club in 1990 -- my first death metal show. At the time this stuff sounded like the harshest, most misanthropic music imaginable. Now it sounds kinda quaint. And how can you not love the album cover? Of all the cheesy artwork produced during this era, it has to be one of my favorites. I guess the ants are the ones with the impvlse to consvme? So scary.

192 kbps

Eibon -- Eibon

French (or is it Freedom?) doom/sludge/post-metal. Sounds a bit like Indian to me. 2 tracks of delicious heaviosity.

VBR @ 240+ kbps

Steel Pole Bath Tub -- Butterfly Love

More golden-era-of-college-radio nostalgia for me. This one came out in 1989, and I think I played the song Heaven on Dirt on my radio show every week for a year. Or a month, or something. I was shocked to learn that these guys released an album as recently as 2002. They're from Bozeman, MT of all places.

192 kbps

Buried at Sea -- Migration

Along with Dopethrone, this is one of the 2 heaviest albums ever recorded. I go back and forth about which I prefer. This one is less tuneful, but I'm not sure if that's a pro or a con. You obviously should have them both. If there's any other album missing from this discussion, let me know.

VBR @ 220+ kbps

!T.O.O.H.! -- Řád a Trest (Order and Punishment)

Criminally underappreciated techgrind band from the Czech Republic. These guys manage to combine bizarre time changes and disparate musical influences in a way that isn't annoying. The name stands for The Obliteration Of Humanity, which matches the cheesiness of the cover art rather well. Although they've broken up, two of the members are still chugging along as Duobetic Homunkulus, whose debut EP is even more chaotic and weird. (It's also available free on their website -- maybe I'll save you all the trouble of finding it by posting it here in the days to come.)

192 kbps

Electric Wizard -- Dopethrone

Happy new year, fruits. Here's an essential album that most of you probably already have. This is the remastered version with a bonus track released a few years back. If I'm ever in the market for a high-end stereo system, I'm bringing this with me.

320 kbps

Old Time Relijun -- Witchcraft Rebellion

My favorite album by these guys. From 2001. This is one of a few bands whose lyrics must be ignored/unheard at all costs, along with Gojira, McLusky and others I can't think of at the moment. That's tough, though, because the main draw here is the deranged vocal stylings of wildman Arrington de Dionyso. I swear the fucker is possessed. Anyway, enjoy.

192 kbps

Reverb Motherfuckers -- Route 666

So-called scum rock from NYC 1988. Featuring this guy on vocals.

320 kbps

Outlaw Order -- Dragging Down the Enforcer

Basically, this is Eyehategod. All the members are the same, minus one, and the music sounds pretty much the same, too. Although, apparently Eyehategod is still together. Go figure. Maybe they just finally realized what a stupid name Eyehategod is. Like, if that's what you want as your name, then just be I Hate God. For years I resisted listening to them because of the terrible name, but when I finally gave in I was hooked. They're great, and this is great, too.

VBR @ 220+ kbps

Last of the Juanitas -- Hawaii

I figured I'd post something from a Portland band since I'm in Portland for the holidays. It's a fucking winter wonderland here, too. Absolutely gorgeous.

192 kbps

Cave -- Butthash

New 7'' from the Columbia, MO noise/kraut/psych scene.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Corrupted -- El Mundo Frío

A doom metal masterpiece. They could stop making doom metal right now and it really wouldn't matter, because the perfect doom metal recording is right here. This is one 70+ minute song, by the way, and while it's probably on 100 other blogs out there, I had to have it on mine, too.

320 kbps

Burmese -- A Mere Shadow and Reminiscence of Humanity

I wonder how Thoreau would feel about having his words attached to this album (yes, I had to google it). Don't let the tame cover fool you - these guys are angry. I have to imagine that making music like this is therapeutic, though. Roar.

192 kbps

Phobia -- 22 Random Acts of Violence

I can't believe these guys are still playing, and playing well. This is straight-ahead grind -- nothing you haven't heard before -- but it's well-executed. Thanks to Matt D for this one.

192 kbps

Bastards -- Monticello

Midwestern hatecore from 1989. This is about as close as any band has ever come to sounding like Killdozer, which is no small feat. If I recall correctly, the label in the middle of the record had a photo of a woman that turned into a man when you fit it over the little knob in the record player. Or at least a woman with a penis, like the one on the back of the record. Maybe these guys were trying to tell us something?

256 kbps

nomeansno -- 0+2=1

One of their finest. If you don't already know who these guys are, then you aren't currently reading this.

256 kbps

O.L.D. -- Old Lady Drivers

Debut album on Earache records from 1988 featuring the first recorded appearance of James Plotkin. If you had told me that this guy would have a long and distinguished career when I first heard this, I would have said nay. But here we are 20 years later, and he's still going strong, although mostly as a producer. Also featuring Alan Dubin on vocals -- you may know these two from their work in Khanate. This is more of a historical curiosity (not an historical curiosity, because that's stupid) than anything else. In other words, it's not that good, but you may be curious to hear it anyway.

192 kbps

Azarath -- Diabolic Impious Evil

Brutal death metal from Poland that sounds a lot like Behemoth, and not only because they share a drummer. Or maybe that is why...I don't know.

VBR @ 256+ kbps

Todd -- Comes to Your House

I know next to nothing about these guys, except that they're from London and they sound a little like Unsane at times. Yes, I'm posting more retro-AmRep noisiness. I guess I don't really need to tell you that it's good, since, after all, I'm posting it, which I wouldn't do if it weren't. You see, I only like things that are good. And I definitely don't like things that suck.

VBR @ 192+ kbps

Indian -- The Unquiet Sky

Downtuned sludgy doomy goodness. This was their debut, but none of the subsequent releases have the same impact. From Chicago.

VBR @ 224+ kbps

Impaled Northern Moonforest -- Impaled Northern Moonforest

Featuring Seth Putnam of Anal Cunt. Sure, it's a joke, but it's a funny one. Acoustic black metal which was supposedly created because there was somebody sleeping in the next room. Then again, Seth doesn't exactly seem like the kind of guy who would care if somebody was trying to sleep, so who knows. This, believe it or not, has spawned a raft of imitators. Let your response to the song titles below be your guide.

A1	Grim and Frostbitten Moongoats of the North
A2	Forlorned Invocations of Blasphemous Congregations of Lusting Goat Sodomizing Sathanis
A3	Gazing at the Blasphemous Moon While Perched atop a Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Forsaken Crest of the Northern Mountain
A4	Bloodlustfully Praising Satan's Unholy Almightiness in the Woods at Midnight
A5	Nocturnal Cauldrons Aflame Amidst the Northern Hellwitch's Perpetual Blasphemy
A6	Transfixing the Forbidden Blasphemous Incantation of the Conjuring Wintergoat
B1	Masturbating on the Unholy Inverted Tracks of the Grim & Frostbitten Necrobobsledders
B2	Awaiting the Blasphemous Abomination of the Necroyeti While Sailing on the Northernmost Fjord of Xzfgiiizmtsath
B3	Lustfully Worshipping the Inverted Moongoat While Skiing Down the Inverted Necromountain of Necrodeathmortum
B4	Awaiting the Frozen Blasphemy of the Necroyeti's Lusting Necrobation Upon the Altar of Voxrfszzzisnzf
B5	Summoning the Unholy Frozen Winterdemons to the Grimmest and Most Frostbitten Inverted Forest of Abazagorath
B6	Entranced by the Northern Impaled Necrowizard's Blasphemous Incantation Amidst the Agonizing Abomination of the Lusting Necrocorpse
B7	Grim and Frostbitten Gay Bar

192 kbps

Kylesa -- Time Will Fuse its Worth

I have no idea what the title of this album means. Think about it for a while and let me know if you come up with something. Is it just some nonsense thrown together and meant to sound deep? That's my take. Have you ever read a placard next to a painting in a gallery and felt embarrassment for the writer? Miró is betokening the epistemologial ontology of extemporaneous, preternatural synthesis. The viewer is invited -- nay, challenged -- to dichotomize the essential proclamation of vigor and foudroyance in this opus, and time will fuse its worth to him splendiferously.

To fuse is to bring two things together, but worth is only one thing. I suppose there could be something interesting to say about the worth of time...but one thing I know for sure is that the time you spent reading this just now was wasted, and thus worth nothing.

Fuse that in your time and worth it.

Oh, this album, despite the stupid title, is pretty good, so download it now.

192 kbps

The Golding Institute -- Final Relaxation

Gregg Turkington, the warped genius behind Neil Hamburger, not to mention Caroliner, Faxed Head, Zip Code Rapists and others, makes his first foray into self-help/meditation tapes. Only for those who are prepared for the ultimate experience in extreme relaxation.

Thanks go to Dimitri for this one.

It's spoken word, so who cares about the bitrate

King Snake Roost -- Ground into the Dirt

Australia had a decent little noise rock scene in the late 80s and early 90s. With the help of Amphetamine Reptile records, bands such as feedtime, Lubricated Goat and these guys found an audience among college radio dorks. (I know, because I was one.) Not all the stuff from that era still sounds good to me, but this one does.

192 kbps

Sayyadina -- Mourning the Unknown

I guess this genre of music is called crust punk. It sounds more or less like grindcore to me, but maybe a little punkier or something. Do I sound old?

320 kbps

Deep Turtle -- Tutina

More Deep Turtle = more essential music that you should download now. From 2002, their second phase, which means somewhat more mature songwriting and somewhat less anarchy. Emphasis on the somewhat.

192 kbps

Earth -- Earth 2

The album without which Sunn 0)))) and Boris and Nadja and all the others would not exist. Ambient metal. Although it's very easy to tune this out and do other stuff while it's playing, the second it ends I feel empty inside and want to put it back on. Maybe that's the effect that noted heroin-enthusiast Dylan Carlson was going for.

320 kbps

Laddio Bolocko -- The Life & Times of Laddio Bolocko

Noisy, krauty, jazzrock at its best.

VBR @ 224 kbps on average