Active Child - Curtis Lane

Artist: Active Child
Album: Curtis Lane
Year: 2010
Genre: Ambient, Dream Pop, Mildly Electronic
Country: U.S. (Cali)

Sometimes, you just find albums in your library without any recollection of when, why or how you got them. Everyone reading has probably looked through their collection once and said, "who the fuck are these guys?" Sometimes, they're things you downloaded and forgot to listen to, or just downloaded for the indie cred. Regardless, its there, you're bored, and you feel like listening to something new. The initial reaction is to go online, see if pitchfork gave it a review (don't lie, you all do it), and if there is none, you know you have a hipster victory token. Two things can happen from here, you could either find your band of the week, or found something to contribute to the infamous recycling bin. Finding a hidden treasure on your computer is one of the many joys of having a collection that in retrospect, is far too large.
If you were to ask if I knew who Active Child were 2 weeks ago, you would see a confused look on my face. Little would you know, a release of theirs has been chilling in my collection since mid-October. It was found clusterfucked with a bunch of other albums completely unknown in my collection, some of which still have yet to receive a listen. Thankfully, this album has been heard, and enjoyed to its potential. (Incidentally, this album does have a pitchfork review.) After a few more listens, this album has been deemed worthy by a specific screening process.
Calling the album ambient is quite a stretch to be honest, but it kind of has to be included. The album is dominated by keyboard, drums, guitar, and falsetto vocals. However, it sounds nothing like Sigur Ros. Usually once the songs pick up, they are actually danceable. Not that this music was probably intended for dancing at all, but the pace is much faster than most ambient, dream poppy, post-rocky, electonicy styles. It even has ostinatos  at some points in certain songs. Point being, this record is far from what it may seem like it may be. Its actually catchy.
The main charm of this album is its 'bedroom' recording feel. Even if you've never heard this term, you should know what it means. Essentially, it has a somewhat personal appeal, like he's actually playing for you. It's like the demos your friends send you over the internet. It's like these recordings feel actually private in a way. He's not in your face about his music. A great release, which shows potential in Pat Grossi and Active Child.
Rating: B+

Tracklist:
1. I'm in Your Church at Night
2. She Was a Vision
3. When Your Love is Safe
4. Take Shelter
5. Weight of the World
6. Wilderness

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?lx1zvj5u4ki
If you really like him, you should check out his latest release, which became available 2 days ago. http://activechildmusic.com/2011/01/06/daytrotter-performance-out-for-free-download/

Astrobite - Crush

Artist: Astrobite
Album: Crush
Year: 2001
Genre: Straight up Shoegaze
Country: U.S. (Somewhere in the Midwest)

I'll cut the trend of starting my review with worthless babble that only has remotely to do with the album in question. Astrobite is one of those bands that are treasured by hardcore Shoegaze fans, and generally unknown by everyone else. It is a so-called 'Shoegaze Supergroup', because it contains members of STAR, Lovesliescrushing, Majesty, and Mahogany, among others. They had a hiatus between 1997 and 2001, and came back on the scene almost instantaneously with this album. Alas, it didn't matter, because no one had a fucking clue who they were. And no unsuspecting music fans would by this album due to its absolutely horrendous album art.
Despite the somewhat sad story that may be called its 'fame', this album came at a time when the Shoegaze style was practically dead. 1998 through 2004 were years that no one really cared about the genre, and this album was released right smack in the middle of that time period. Honestly, its no surprise that no one knew who they were, because during their period from 1994-1997, all they released were a couple EPs on cassette, none of which are ever talked about, and none of which have been leaked or found online. Really, little information is known about Crush, and its their most well known album.
Who cares about its history, its how the album sounds that really matters. It sounds like the missing link in the My Bloody Valentine chain; an album that incorporates elements of Isn't Anything, and Loveless. Now, that being said, this band is definitley not a MBV clone, nor does it really sound like it. It just seems like My Bloody Valentine would listen to this right after Isn't Anything and said "Okay, lets try this on the next album." The album opens with 'Crasher', essentially the album track. Its starts off quiet, and then envelops you into a noisy, sonic landscape, with fuzzy guitars. The album seems to climax with 'Overdriver', A song that seems to vary between pure Noise Pop, Shoegaze and even almost Post-Punk at times. The album closes with 'Peachfuzz', which sounds like the Verse of 'Soon' by My Bloody Valentine. Like 'Soon' was for Loveless, this track is a great closure song, with a catchy drum beat, and a fine attempt at Kevin Shields's glide guitar. To be honest, glide guitar doesn't have a clear definition on what it is, but this might be what he was talking about. I would also like to point out that all the album tracks seem to have one word, which just seems like a Shoegaze LP trend in the 2000's. It just seems like it.
Rating: B+

Tracklist:
1.  Crasher
2. Radiofriendly
3. Bottlerocket
4. Lemondrop
5. Overdriver
6. Hopefully
7. Happysad
8. Blown
9. Crushed
10. Butterflykiss
11. Comet
12. Peachfuzz

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?ydkkihyheth

Autolux - Future Perfect

Artist: Autolux
Album: Future Perfect
Year: 2004
Genre: Noise Pop, Experimental, Shoegaze
Country: U.S. (Cali)

In the music industry, bands are known in their respective genres on the following criteria: they helped pioneer the genre, they popularized the genre, or they're just fucking good at what they do. It can be a combination of the following, but that is essentially how bands become known. Stage personality really doesn't matter that much. How fame is handled (or in some cases, how no fame is handled) has little importance to the masses listening to them. The reason people enjoy music, except for the popularizing image and/or the indie cred, is purely based on the sheer quality of the music. This is the way things go, you either enjoy it, or you don't. The definition of subjective, is almost completely described by the concept of music tastes alone. Its simple really, people like their own music. If this was untrue, than music would have never evolved and we would still be listening to Irving Berlin, or Mozart exclusively. Sure people enjoy these two artists, but not everybody.
On a different note, Autolux. A band formed by 3 supposedly bored musicians of bands from the 1990s. Guitarist Greg Edwards was in the grunge outfit Failure, a band whose release Fantastic Planet is definitley worth a listen, whilst Drummer Carla Azar was a former drummer for PJ Harvey. Bassist and vocalist Eugene Goreshter completes the band, and gives them the distinct tenor vocals, but not in a very conventional style. This release deserves a giant question mark when given genre, or what the band is really up to. They disappeared for over 6 years to release their mediocre follow up Transit Transit in 2010.
This album has a distinctive spacey, noisy, melodic brand of what is questionably Shoegaze. Although it sounds completely original, it is exceptionally hard to put a finger on what they are doing that is different. But honestly, it doesn't matter, whatever it is they're doing, they're doing a hell of a good job at it on this release. Although it may be a little hard to get into it at first, it completely grows on you, until this is the only album you listen to for a week. No one is even sure why.
The album starts off with the heavy drum beat of 'Turnstile Blues'. Its a very memorable beat, and it is followed by Goreshter's uniquely harmonizing vocal style. Once the chorus is approached, a wall of guitar noise hits like no other song in the 2000's had previous to that date. The song progresses from there with a simple, yet genius guitar riff that goes perfectly with the song. The next two tracks, 'Angry Candy' and 'Subzero Fun', are prototypes of fuzzy pop songs that have become popular later in the decade. Maybe not quite the same, but its there nonetheless. The album fluctuates from there, varying between different degrees of ambient noise, fuzzy power chords, and strange vocals. Those mighty drums will haunt for days.
Rating: A

Tracklist:
1. Turnstile Blues
2. Angry Candy
3. Subzero Fun
4. Sugarless
5. Blanket
6. Great Days for the Passenger Element
7. Robots in the Garden
8. Here Comes Everybody
9. Asleep at the Trigger
10. Plantlife
11. Capital Kind of Strain

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?wzljimvgnyy
Link to Fantastic Planet to those interested: http://www.mediafire.com/?nvlo5teowtj

Best of 2010

I was asked by a friend to post a Top 10 albums of 2010 list on here. I decided to go overkill and post a Top 30 instead.
P.S. The last one I did was a draft. Here is the finalized list.

30 .Interpol - Interpol
29. Tyvek - Nothing Fits
28. Tame Impala - Innerspeaker
27. Secret Cities - Pink Graffiti
26. Wavves - King of the Beach
25. Zola Jesus - Stridulum EP
24. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
23. No Age - Everything in Between
22. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
21. Earl Sweatshirt - Earl
20. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
19. Wild Nothing - Gemini
18. Harlem - Hippies
17. Fang Island - Fang Island
16. Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Before Today
15. Sleigh Bells - Treats
14. Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme
13. Xiu Xiu - Dear God, I Hate Myself
12. Seaspin - Reverser EP
11. Girls - Broken Dreams Club EP
10. Cloud Nothings - Leave You Forever EP
9. Best Coast - Crazy for You
8. Salem - King Night
7. MGMT - Congratulations
6. Swim - Caribou
5. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
4. Dinosaur Feathers - Fantasy Memorial
3. Beach House - Teen Dream
2. Deerhunter - Halcyon Digest
1. Whirl - Distressor EP 

I was going to post pictures for every album but I'm lazy.

My music taste sucks. 2010 was an alright year though.

Seaspin - Reverser [EP]

Artist: Seaspin
Album: Reverser EP
Year: 2010
Genre: Shoegaze, Dream Pop
Country: U.S. (Cali)

As previously stated, 2009-2010 marked a huge Shoegaze revival. But sometimes, the EPs are better than the LPs. Why express an albums worth of songs when you can sample the best of the best on 4 or 5 tracks? Is it because they would sell more copies for a higher price? It doesn't matter, true music nerds will download it all for free anyway. If you want to sell more, put it on vinyl. Its 2011, vinyl is back. The hipsters will eat it up. I have an extensive vinyl collection myself, so I honestly shouldn't be talking.
Its the power of the internet that helps people discover bands like Seaspin. Its nothing new really, its just a god-tier Shoegaze revival EP coming from the San Fransisco scene, an area that has released dozens of excellent EPs in the past couple of years (see LSD and the Search for God and Whirl). Because of the internet, legions of Shoegaze revivalists can download these even though they are stuck in Bum Fuck Nowhere Missouri. Even though I'm sure the bands aren't great fans of this, people would definitley come to their live shows if they came to, say, Missouri.
The EP opens with 'Love is a Fable', which is really the greatest track on the album. A noise pop classic, the underlying guitar track makes Shoegazers smile. Topped with the melody and the harmonizing vocals, this song could be compared to 'Leave Them all Behind' by Ride, except with female vocals. After the fuzzy noise of the first track, the EP segues into a much more poppy song, 'Dream Life'. There is no other way to describe this track other than pure beauty. You would honestly think this is not the same band that you just listened to on the previous track, but it is. It is a non-distorted, yet heavily delayed and reverbed. The vocals almost sound like a common pop star's, but it just fits with the tune so well.
The album fluctuates from there, varying between different levels of effects in the guitars, between hard and soft melodies, and the aggressive and passive vocal styles. This record does take some random turns, but at least it doesn't bore you. A highly recommended piece.
Rating: A-

Tracklist:
1. Love is a Fable
2. Dream Life
3. Give Yourself
4. Reverser
5. The Way You Move

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?u5gnmughjlm

Young Prisms - Friends for Now

Artist: Young Prisms
Album: Friends for Now
Year: 2011
Genre: Noise Pop, Lo-Fi, Shoegaze
Country: U.S. (Cali)

Ever since around 2007, there has been a small, yet significant revival of Shoegaze. No fans can deny this. Nowadays, however, instead of Shoegazers being total quality nerds with the greatest gear selections, and perfectionist sound recordings to the point that they make their label go almost bankrupt (*cough* Kevin Shields), there has been a fusion with the lo-fi tradition, that has also had a recent revival. Some people dub this as Shitgaze, a term coined by the band Psychedelic Horseshit. They're worth a listen if you're interested.
However, the genre of Shoegaze is quite loose sound-wise, and descriptively. Not all bands who play Shoegaze stare at their feet for the duration of a performance. In fact, for every show I've seen of bands who play Shoegaze, none of them are as secluded as everyone thinks. Post-rock though is a different story. Okay, now this is getting off-topic.
This album is very good. Though quite lo-fi as far as some Shoegaze goes, its still got the effects, the droning vocals, and the aggressive guitars of its contemporaries. I guess if I were to compare this to anyone, it would be a more low quality Kitchens of Distinction. And by low quality, I mean production styles, not quality of musicianship. The very ambient opener flows solidly in with the pounding drums of 'If You Want to'. "Stay Awake', the final track of the album is an epic ambient pop song. The highlight of the album indeed.  A solid album which I've only come across just recently, I figured I would share it.
Rating: B+

Tracklist:
1. Friends for Now
2. If You Want to
3. Sugar
4. Eleni
5. In Your Room
6. All Day Holiday
7. Breathless
8. Feel Fine
9. If Don't Get Much
10. Stay Awake

Link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=MF2W4D18
If it asks for a password, use 098. If the link is terminated, tell me, and i'll post a new one.

The Vandelles

Artist: The Vandelles
Album: The Vandelles [EP]
Year: 2009
Album: Del Black Aloha
Year: 2010
Genre: Noise Pop, Shoegaze, Post-punk, Surfgaze
Country: U.S. (NY)

I've only discovered The Vandelles recently, and I'm quite sorry to myself about that. I've been a fan of A Place to Bury Strangers since they released their 2009 album, 'Exploding Head', and The Vandelles pick up where they left off. Incredibly fuzzy guitars, mixed with feedback and pounding drums hold this album together as a Noise Pop classic. If you like a droning, at some points almost robotic, vocal style, you need these albums. The EP and the LP don't sound very much different, but its okay because they both sound very good, and its not a sound that gets boring quickly.
If you're skeptical, Look up the song 'Lovely Weather', which happens to be on both records. It should be on youtube. If you like the kind of style there, you will be hooked. The most obvious sound heard is that of A Place to Bury Strangers, but I also see the 'Surfgaze' sound of The Raveonettes. (By the way, I've officially just coined the term Surfgaze. Hopefully it doesn't already exist.) I highly recommend this album to someone who likes noisy post-punk, and who wants to feel like they're falling into a swirl of a black and gray abyss.
EP Rating: B+
LP Rating: A-

Tracklist:
[EP]
1. Fever of the Beat
2. Swell to Heaven
3. Die For it Cowboy
4. Lovely Weather
5.Dead Wave

[LP]
1. Dash n' Dive
2. Get Down
3. Lovely Weather
4. Roving Rex
5. Going Downtown
6. Chain Walking
7. Fever of the Beat
8. Blue LA Strip
9. Bomb the Surf
10. California Killer
11. Die For it Cowboy
12. Bad Volcano

EP Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?nzdn4nh0y4v
LP Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?llfnyzkjz0m

Whirl - Distressor [EP]

Artist: Whirl
Album: Distressor
Year: 2010
Genre: Shoegaze, Dream Pop, Noise pop
Country: U.S. (California)

EP of the year in my opinion. Actually scratch that, It's a tie with Broken Dreams Club by Girls. Also the Cloud nothings EP. Oh fuck, whatever. Point is, this is really good. It sounds like it's the bridge between Shoegaze and Dream Pop. The rhythmic fuzz with one guitar along with the heavily reverbed lead guitar, and droning, androgynous sounding vocals, is what proves that this is a recording for Shoegaze fans to remember. Listening to it, it sounds as if it is a fusion of all the original bands of Shoegaze put together; The underlying noise of My Bloody Valentine, the pop hooks of Ride, The pretty, yet harsh vocals of Slowdive, and the sheer beauty of Lush, almost makes a total fusion have its own sound ideal. Just the way 'Preface' leads into 'Leave', shows you the ride you're about to take. Embrace it, its a very good ride.
My Rating: A

Tracklist:
1. Preface
2. Leave
3. Blue
4. Ghost
5. Meaningless
6. Child
7. Sandy

Links: (mp3) http://www.mediafire.com/?t2neunngqko
(FLAC) http://www.mediafire.com/?aac25417ffw72ag

Ringo Deathstarr - Sparkler

Artist: Ringo Deathstarr
Album: Sparkler
Year: Late 2009
Genre: Shoegaze, Dream Pop
Country: U.S. (Texas)

With a band title which is an obvious pun on the drummer for The Beatles, this album is a shoegaze staple. Noisy, textured guitars, ethereal vocals subdued beneath walls of jangly noise, pounding drums, and killer bass lines to hold it all together. If you really liked the glide guitar, and dance oriented drum lines from 'Soon' by My Bloody Valentine, you will like this album. The vocals are a lot more in your face than most of the albums in the first wave, but they are definitley not a vocal led band. All the instruments work as a collective. The sound is not particularly too noisy, but textured. It flows together very well.
Overall, this album is a fine example of how a musical genre spawned in England can be done with style overseas.
My Rating: B+

Tracklisting:


1. Swirly
2. Starrsha
3.Some Kind of Sad
4. Down on You
5.Sweet Girl
6. In Love
7.Summer Time
8. Rats Live on Evil Star
9.Your Town

Link: http://www.mediafire.com/?mm2miutn3zl