All you need is one track

Ever wonder what cassette tape guts sound like taped together?

Download my One-Track Mixtape.

Complete with an early version of Buddy Holly by Weezer, Yip Yip, a little Hot Chip and comedy transitions between songs. No need to skip songs - this baby plays through like media of old.

Enjoy, and let me know what you think! But mostly, enjoy.

Gimme More GIM - Now on Paper + Plastick!

Lucky Gainesville gatorboys of Greenland is Melting released Our Hearts are Gold, Are Grass is Blue on Paper + Plastick last month!



Download it from Paper + Plastick for FREE!
It is difficult for me to chose a favorite song from 'Hearts are Gold', but I think it is "No More Sorry Songs" for the fact that I was not sure that I liked it when I first heard it, but now I always press repeat. In the opening it reminded me a little of a Barenaked Ladies song, but then when it gets to the lines, "I keep a box in my room filled with everything that you ever gave me or anything that reminds me of you, I keep it lock out of sight with hopes that one day I might pluck up the courage to sit down and write this letter to you" it gets so raw and so pretty. I love the production of the album because it did not sacrifice any detail - vocal layering, counting into songs, and that damn suitcase kickdrum.
I love it, guys.

There is something about this video of Greenland is Melting performing 'Jaundiced Eye'. Even though the quality is not the best, I love the bright energy of the music in the hookah bar setting, not to mention singer Shaun Pereira's voice is so prominent and clear that it is like another instrument of the string ensemble.



They add fresh flavor to that Gainesville swamp stew and keep me coming back for seconds. You owe it to yourself to give Our Hearts are Gold, Are Grass is Blue a spin or two!

The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore

Hopefully by now you are familiar with the amazing Saxon Shore - that is of course if you don't listen to any sort of experimental post-rock. But just incase you didn't know who Saxon Shore is, they are an experimental rock band in the same vein as Explosions in the Sky, and God is an Astronaut. A band that is spread out all over America only really coming together to be Saxon Shore. They have amazingly "heavy" and complex instrumental songs. Who needs words when your instruments can do all the talking for you?

They have had five albums since they formed eight years ago, as well as one EP. Their latest offering, It Doesn't Matter is probably one of their best to date. It's hard to depict the exact differences between this and their last effort, other then the obvious use of amazing dreamy vocals. This is an over all more mature sound, and I'm happy to have it in my library.

Here are two of my favorites off their new album. First is a beautiful track with the above mentioned vocals on it, courtesy of the wonderful Caroline.

Saxon Shore - This Place

The second is a 7+ minute long adventure that has hints of waiting in Airport terminals. Japanese Airport terminals.

 Saxon Shore - Tokyo 412am

Providing some versatile jams for your everyday music needs

Among the many kudos I can grant Powerplant, I will mention just two.

All you need to know is
1. The drums and keys instrumentals are like a soundtrack to your everyday life -
dance, study, cry, drive or perform surgery to this music and you will find it fitting
2. "Provides" is completely FREE at PowerplantProvides.com!



All the brahs of Tallahassee love this band - you should too.

Michael Hurley: A Legend

When I lived in New York I had the pleasure of being taken out on a date to a little venue in the LES called the Cake Shop. I had never been to the Cake Shop, and was pleasantly surprised by its tucked away basement concert room. I had never heard of the headliner before, but my lady-in-red had never failed me before so I thought, "Why not?"

I'm glad that I did, because she introduced me to one of my (now) all time favorite folk musicians, Michael Hurley. It was so strange to be standing in this tiny little basement club in front of one of the coolest song writers I've ever had the privilege of hearing.
And now I'd like to give you the privilege of hearing some of his amazing work as well.
This is an instrumental track thats got long road trip written all over it.
Michael Hurley - Red Ravagers Reel

The next is pretty standard Hurley at his best.
Michael Hurley - Light Green Fellow

Billy Table's Cool Tunes of 2009

Following suit as all your favorite music blogs are naming their top picks for 2009, I thought my inaugural Adventure Koala musing should include all the jams that made my year.
Keep your eyes peeled for the 2009 lists from other ADVENTURE KOALAS contributors!
-Billy Table

2009's Best Releases
1. Matt & Kim - Grand
2. Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Vs. Children
3. Dan Deacon - Bromst
4. Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
5. Health - Get Color
6. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
7. Drake - We Are Young Money
8. Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
9. Lil Wayne - No Ceilings
10. Horse the Band - Desperate Living

Unsigned Favorites of 2009 That Should Be Signed and Make Millions on Ipod Commercials
1. Good Morning Engineer - Heart of Fire
2. Jaspers - Get In Here EP
3. The Monsters - Diamond
4. Greenland Is Melting - Our Hearts are Gold, Or Grass is Blue
5. Let's Go Exploring - Do Work (split with Random Notes of Decay)
6. Exploding Pages - Tambien
7. Powerplant - Provides

Songs I Overplayed This Year
1. Best Coast - "The Sun Was High (And So Was I)"
2. Protest The Hero - "Bloodmeat"
3. Matt & Kim - "Lessons Learned"
4. Billy Joel - "We Didn't Start the Fire"
5. Jaspers - "Papa"
6. Health - "Die Slow"

7. Passion Pit - "Sleepyhead"
8. Man Man - "Top Drawer"
9. Andrew Jackson Jihad - "Rejoice"
10. Wavves - "SO BORED"
11. Hot Chip - "And I Was a Boy From School"
12. Bear Vs. Shark - "Entrance of the Elected"

Here is a MIXTAPE
of assorted songs by the artists above!

Let us know who is on your year end list!

We can't be done because I have more beer

Such soulful boys and girl make up the Tallahassee folk-indie ensemble, Jaspers. First the band was a group of best friends combining like musical interests and tidbits of solo material. Now, Jaspers hopes to play Harvest of Hope Festival 2010 and tour Florida this winter.

Guitarist Kiley Bobbitt's gentle serenade compliments the resounding pipes of frontman Jeremy Rasik. The emotion in the music flourishes like every song is the soundtrack to a sad or hopeful scene in a movie. My favorite song is only found on the Jaspers Myspace music page . Recorded live, the song titled "Papa" has this weird yet hauntingly beautiful oscillating effect on the vocals. Can't get enough!

Download the Get in Here EP here.


Picture by Javier Ortega of Tallahassee, FL.

Hop along, sing your song

The sweet, jangly tunes of Hop Along, Queen Ansleis remind me of jumping in creeks during summertime and feeling nostalgic about memories from childhood. Vocals by singer and guitarist Frances Quinlan sometimes remind me of Tommy Pickles from the Rugrats - in a good way. Quinlan coos, yells, belts and emotes in a refreshingly zany style while the music combines a clean guitar sound and children's percussion toys.

The band shares their demo "La Strada" on their Myspace page, but you can get the single 'Bruno is Orange" from their debut album Freshman Year here.

The anxious wait for a Hop Along show commences as the full band tour with P.S. Eliot is not until March 2010!

Putting It On The Map

If you have never heard of The Twin Atlas then that's ok. They have been a pretty big favorite of my mind since I heard their 2005 album, Sun Township. When I wrote the band about possible Floridian tour dates, I sadly got a letter saying that they were going on hiatus. Its now 2009, four years since their last album - and some how I fell asleep on the dial! Their newest album, Good Light, came out in April - but it's still amazing if you haven't checked out yet! Above is a video for their song Double Shot. Below is a track of theirs called Pink House. Enjoy!

The Twin Atlas - Pink House

Sun The Color of Rubies

World, meet The Ruby Suns. The Ruby Suns are an amazing pop-psychedelic folk band out of New Zealand. They consist of Ryan, Amee and Bevan. The three are probably the greatest thing I've heard come out of there since....well let's just say it's been an unfortunate while (check live video below for why).  The main member Ryan McPhun, originally from California, does a great deal of the song writing  and got his band to levels high enough for Sub Pop to take notice and sign them!
Here is a video of them live!

Here is there amazing track There Are Birds
Enjoy!

Catputer The Flag

Minneapolis's Dosh is one amazing musician. I had the pleasure of seeing him headline a fantastic show in New York (with Anathallo opening) a couple years back. He is so good live, and I feel like this video I just stumbled on is a great showcasing of what a Dosh live show would be like. Enjoy, and catch him on tour ASAP!

New York: Tread Lightly

New York City: Tread Lightly

~~Preface~~

Sorry that the second (or first, if you discount the first as a preliminary welcoming) post being so late. I've been a busy man, and wanted to really wait musically, personally and emotionally till the right time when I could dedicate a better sized portion of my self to this and to you. I appreciate your patience, or your virgin viewing, and hope to fulfill whatever you get out of coming here on a more regular basis. Now enough with this non-apologetic apology.

~~Chapter One~~

New York has always been my favorite city on the planet. I even spent a short period of time (6 months) of my life calling this place home. My heart lives here. To this day I still have never felt more comfortable or my self in any other location on this planet. New York gets me, and I it.

I arrived on a monday and new instantly that the one thing over anything else I wanted to go to a concert. Sadly, nothing from the looks of things were going on while I was available. Luckily to fill my musical voids while traveling, I made myself a mix. So I guess a good place to start would be there.

Here is a track list of the mix cd. And a link to download it.

1. Weezer - Pink Triangle (Acoustic Live Version)

2. Weezer - Getchoo

3. The Zombies - She's Not There

4. First Aid Kit - Tangerine

5. Julian Casablancas - Left & Right In The Dark

6. Dashboard Confessionals - Hell On The Throat (Acoustic)

7. Tegan & Sara - Back In Your Head

8. The Zombies - Hung Up On A Dream

9. Weezer - The Good Life (Acoustic Live Version)

10. Nirvana - Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Live Acoustic)

11. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Know Better Learn Faster

12. Gemma Ray - Someting Shifted

13. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Maps (iTunes Originals Version)

14. Velvet Underground - Femme Fatale

15. Editors - You Don't Know Love

16. The Flaming Lips - Scorpio Sword

17. The Shins - Split Needles

18. 7 Worlds Collide - Riding The Wave

19. Arcade Fire - The Well and The Lighthouse

20. New Buffalo - I'm The Drunk and You're The Star

21. Del Shannon - Runaway

Mediafire

Welcome!

This blog is just another way for me to expose the masses to some cool music that you may have never heard before. Everything on this site will be in the indie-folk-alt-rock realm of things. If you care to check out some dance music you can check out this, or this.

This blog will also feature monthly Mix-Tapes. These are just cd's I literally make for myself every month that I'd like to share to the masses.

You aren't going to like everything on this blog - but hey - if you get turned onto at least one band from this site enough to go to their show and buy their album, then my job is done here.

Happy trails Adventurers. Let the posting begin!

- D.