Black Sabbath - Live in Paris - 1970

There is not much I can say about Black Sabbath that hasn't already been said by someone else at some point in the past 40 years but What I can safely say is that they were one of the best live bands of their time. There are some videos of this show floating around but I ripped the audio out myself. Enjoy!

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Black Sabbath: Live In Paris 1970

Film School - Hideout - 2007

Stratified sound, punchy minimalistic drums, indie vocal styling - Film School is a perfect example of indie rock as well as shoegaze. Formed in the late 1990's by Greg Bertens and former members of Pavement and Fuck, the group released several albums with this being the third. There is the ever present "wall-of-sound" aspect all too common with shoegaze music but it's not overdone. The vocal style and lyrical content can be a bit depressing but as a bass player, I really don't pay too much attention to that aspect of the music. That being said, I think the vocals are very good and accomplish what they were designed to do, which is convey a grim mood. Overall, if you like any style of indie rock or shoegaze, you will get a kick out of this album.

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Film School: Hideout

Hum - Fillet Show - 1991

Sounding like a sonic Frankenstein monster, Fillet Show reminds me of contemporary bands like Dinosaur Jr, Helmet and Starflyer 59. This is the first album by the Champaign, Illinois group. This album is a bit more rough and tumble than later albums which feature more complex songwriting and syncopation. Overall, this is a great album by a band that had dropped off the edge of the world by 2000.

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Hum: Fillet Show

Om - Live at Amoeba Records

Om performs at Amoeba Records, Enjoy!

Autolux - Future Perfect - 2004

This isn't your typical overdriven, alternative rock/indie trio. Combining experimental rock themes with poppy chord structure and indie effects, Autolux's Future Perfect still melts my heart even after hearing it several hundred times. The trio formed in Los Angeles, CA in 2000 and played two shows at the Silverlake Lounge before releasing a five song EP entitled "Demonstration" which was recorded on an 8 track in their rehearsal space. I don't want to say much more, listen to this album, its what indie alternative should sound like.

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Autolux: Future Perfect

True Widow - True Widow - 2008

It seems like everyday I find a new genre. Branching off from shoe-gaze and noise, the Dallas, TX trio True Widow has been dubbed many things: stone-gaze, slowcore, sonic noir, etc. Their self-titled debut is a reverb-soaked, sonic wonder with menacing undertones and haunting melodies that conjure images in black and white. I just missed them in May when they played in NYC but I will not miss them the next time around.

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True Widow - True Widow

Om - Variations On A Theme - 2005

Tibetan-styled chanting, downtuned bass, and minimalistic drums make Om a formidable force in drone metal culture. Featuring Al Cisneros and Chris Hakius, bassist and drummer respectively, of the colossal stoner metal trio Sleep, Om is slow, and melodic and almost puts the listener into a trance with long, dynamic songs and re-occurring musical themes. Some of the only metal one can sleep to in my opinion.

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Om: Variations On A Theme

Electric Wizard - Come My Fanatics - 1996

Quoted as the "heaviest band in the universe", Electric Wizard is dear to my ears. Come My Fanatics is the followup album to the eponymous 1994 debut and features better composition and more use of chilling effects and subtle production value. Regular drone metal themes including heavy use of sustain and delay are combined with british heavy metal influence to make for a delicious drone record.

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Electric Wizard: Come My Fanatics

Boris - Amplifier Worship - 1998

Amplifier Worship is the second album to come from the japanese sludge trio Boris. Being one of only two full-length albums the band has released, this album is unique because it has more aspects of a pop sludge record while still having the elements of noise and experimentation remain the same. Overall, a monumentally bizarre, immensely enjoyable album.


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Boris: Amplifier Worship