SOME THOUGHTS ON BANDCAMP

Bandcamp's a cool little thing I think. It's like purevolume gone sick DIY. I hear murmurs that some people don't dig it. I dig it lots. I wish they had a little better search/suggestion system like purevolume, but when I can listen to, and sometimes even download, majorly wicked tunes that the bands thumbs-up, I'm good and hand-clapping. Here are some thoughts on bandcamp:

- Laminar Excursion Monthly was this cool year-long subscription joint effort between Crossroads of America Records and Flannelgraph Records a while back. Each month two mini-cds with exclusive-ish music came spinning up to my mailbox. Sometimes they rocked sometimes they sounded like lawnmowers. Osteoferocious' output for LEM was their longest and totally best release. Nine songs of fast clanky rock n' roll, just the way I like it. Favorite tracks: "Fix Me," "Underage Drinking," and "I Don't Mind."

- Bunch of weirdo dudes from Muncie pumping out loud music in various shifted shapes: Support The Troopz, Acid Devils, and Indiana State Park. Get over your squiggly sideways face staring at the troopz page. That stuff shreds. And Acid Devils should be played at the top of every parking garage. And I heard Indiana State Park is finishing up a full-length, okay, thanks. "Cigars" is a summer rock tune if I've ever heard one.



- I'm not sure why I haven't bought Apache Dropout's full LP yet. I know it's at VGR. They have Side A up on bandcamp FOR FREE. Been shaking my body to these songs for months now.

- Half Raptor seemed like a bunch of (cool) dweebs when they played VGR awhile back and man do they make some killer gritty songs. Check out their discography FOR FREE. Favorite tunes: "Our Death," "Sadley But Surely," and "Andy Warr."

- Two soothing albums to buy on bandcamp for cheapz if you don't own a record player or JUST CAN'T WAIT: Oscillate Wisely by Mike Adams At His Honest Weight and Life But No More by Frank Schweikhardt. These are awesome albums for sitting on your roof or making out or walking your dog.

- I'm not sure why you wouldn't buy "Post-Nothing" by Japandroids for EIGHT BUCKS. I'm not sure why you would go see them with me for my birthday.



- LOOK AT ALL THOSE HUSBAND&WIFE TUNES YOU CAN LISTEN TO.

Alright alright alright. WHAT AM I MISSING ON BANDCAMP?

Yesterday was Sara's birthday, so I wrote her this On Poem

On Your Birthday

When I say I’m retching for you, it’s a good thing. Like the earth vomiting winter, so we can have disc golf weather in the spring. Like your tiny garden out front killing itself to live. That’s me. When I say I’m reaching for you, it’s a good thing. Sometimes, I open your door while you sleep and listen to you breathe the night in and out. I can’t see you, so it’s not creepy. The visuals in my life are sometimes too much to bear. All the fleshy beauty, the words, the baked goods on the counter. When I say I’m wrestling myself, it’s a good thing. Like I’m shouting at the mirror, the one with the I’M NOT WORRIED sticker at the top. Like I’m saying GET IT TOGETHER MAN. Sara, it’s your birthday, and you are not here. But you are somewhere. When I say I’m whistling your name, it’s a good thing. Like please come home. Like YOU’RE REAL COOL.

MIKE ADAMS MIKE ADAMS MIKE ADAMS

I'm a huge fan of Mike Adams: guitar/vocals for Husband&Wife (makers of one of my favorite albums of all time: Proud Flesh), one dude of XRA Records (REAL GOOD DIY LABEL), and guitar/vocals of Handbook For William (that silly fun band from my high school days).

AND NOW THIS, OSCILLATE WISELY, HIS SOLO ALBUM, PLAYIN SOME SERIOUS ROCK JAMS

I'm a huge fan of thoughtful lyrics, catchy jams, and a little fuzz. GOT IT.

Don't You Blanket When That Happens

To this end, I do not have to know.
It's all in fun, but gets so personal.
I know it so well I could quote it to you now.
It's fading
fast and we'll see if I care on the day it's gone.
This old world has tried to tell us 1000 times...
we'll lay in wait and carve out a better space.
I love it when that happens.
Too fast to climb, too far to fall,
when it turns out we need it all along.
Will this end?
It seems I have to know.
It wasn't then, but now I'm volatile.
I know it so well I could quote it to you now.
It's changing fast but we'll see if I'm dead on the day it's gone.
This old world has tried to tell us 1000 times the burden's great, but it's worse when you're out of shape.
I hate it when that happens.

I bought this album for Sara for her birthday. WHAT A GREAT IDEA.