Band(s) of the Day(s) 19 - 22

So one step forward, four steps back. Kinda feels like each time I catch up and feel good about things, something happens and I'm almost worse off than before. Kinda like my bank account really (sigh).

The Age of Rockets

A friend of mine worked with the brainchild of this project on their own little duo the Mercenary Rhymes. Andrew Futrall has written two albums worth of teary-eyed electronica-pop with both albums having a dstinctive flavour - last year's Hannah was orchestral led excellence.
Listen: www.myspace.com/theageofrockets

Propagandhi

On this eve of Obama's inaguaration, we'd all like to think America's problems will be swept away. More likely, they'll be swept under the carpet. This means Propagandhi are as relevant as ever, which is good because they have another album on the way. Now, possibly unlike most bands featured here, I'm not enamoured with everything they've done. However, it's their third record Todays Empires, Tomorrows Ashes that is more than shining light - it's an incredible, righteous and irrefutably brilliant political record, maybe one of a handful in the world. Nothing feels contrived, its sense of humour is plastered all over the lyrics, while the seriousness is shocking and more than a little riling. They tackle all their favourite subjects with intelligence while their music is fast, rousing, technical and exhilirating. Incredible.

Albright Monument, Baghdad




Rings

Formerly First Nation, Rings' debut album Black Habit was an astonishing piece of work which stirred in feminism, concentric circles and musical mantras that echo and hypnotise. Semi-improvised, these tribal repetitions and haunting refrains made for one of last year's greatest albums. I know very little about them, and thats a really good thing in my opinion.

www.myspace.com/firstnationlove


Neil Young

I can't even attempt to put into words what an influence his entire back catalogue has had on music and what it means to people. Could I even do a mixtape? No not really. I only own Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere, After the Goldrush, Harvest, Tonight's the Night, Rust Never Sleeps and Sugar Mountain. So, why not use Spotify to have a listen to his back catalogue and let it seep in gradually? It could take you a long time, or you could be at a time of life where it all makes sense. 27 seems to be the optimum time...