Michio Kurihara - Sunset Notes

Michio Kurihara - Sunset Notes
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=YQUJD8ZF

"After lending his considerable guitar prowess to various Japanese psych acts, Michio Kurihara finally released his debut solo record in 2007 on Ba Da Bing. A song cycle centered on nine different sunsets, SUNSET NOTES is not only a modern psych guitar tour de force but also a mesmerizing reflection on nature's dazzling daily showstopper. Some are brilliant and fiery, as evidenced in the blazing fretwork of "Twilight Mystery of A Russian Cowboy"; some are wistful, like the garage nugget "Do Deep Sea Fish Dream of Electric Moles"; and some are gentle and mournful like the female-voiced "Wind Waltzes" and "The Wind's Twelve Quarters." Like the title subject matter, SUNSET NOTES is epic and essential.

Tiny Hawks - Fingers Become Bridges

Tiny Hawks - Fingers Become Bridges

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4A6TZY9K
I guess Tiny Hawks TECHNICALLY is a math rock band. They’re angular guitar playing and over the top drumming certainly pigeon hole them into that genre. But, they seem to draw subtly from two other realms; the Midwest emo scene mostly in the form of the praised Kinsella projects and also the post-hardcore scene that seemed to spring up after Slint’s demise. The band is cheerfully noisy and their vocals sometimes range from Kinsella cute yelps to Maximillian Colby like shout. Tiny Hawks originated from the Providence warehouse scene that has taken the world by storm in the form of Lightning Bolt, so obviously they do love their noise as well. Essentially, I guess they are an art rock group but with only two members (guitar and drums) they certainly have a lot of room to fill. And oh how they fill it.

Shels - Sea of the Dying Dhow

Shels - Sea of the Dying Dhow
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=KY8J9FLO

So, what is Shels exactly? In my opinion it is one of the finest attempts to incorporate metalcore aesthetics into a progressive rock setting. Basically, they succeed where other bands have failed. They are able to be progressive without being overtly cheesy (like, say, Between the Buried and Me's "Alaska"), and they are able to be progressive without entering realms of unnecessary pretension (like the middle of Pax Cecilia's "Blessed are the Bonds"). Sure, I could throw out a list of comparisons to groups like Kayo Dot or Isis in hopes that some of their fans might streamline through this review and check them out, but Shels really doesn't embrace the arty atmosphere of either band. Everything on this album is meticulously arranged, but is also grounded in a solid base genre of metalcore. Essentially, I guess it is the best of both worlds; complete originality and full blown clichés. Whatever is the key to Shels successful formula, it works and "Sea of the Dying Dhow" effortlessly proves that.