The debut from Alex B is Moments.  A mix of Dubstep, Trip Hop, and Electro Hop.  The album has a lo-fi feel to it, with slow crunky beats and gritty synths along with some very slight Ambient tones to temper the sound.  The album has that future urban sound which is becoming more and more prominent these days.  This album should be played in an abandoned warehouse with generators supplying power to the turntables, synthesizers and mixers, lights flickering on and off.  Mysterious ancient records pulled out of long forgotten stores, deciphered and remixed into this new sound.  An excellent album. 

Tracks: All Tracks Good

RIYD: Harmonic 313, Deru, DJ Shadow, Odd Nosdam

The bloodsugars - Form/Function

An indie Brooklyn band’s romantic electro poprock cry. Cute, honest ballads of lighthearted retro vocals strewn over 80’s synth, upbeat percussion, and a bit of funk. Easy on the ears and brain, but endearing none the less. Think, if Rooney were friends with JT and The Postal Service and spent their long nights in New York City dance clubs.

Sounds like: Rooney, Ok Go, Postal Service, Black Kids, indiepop radio tunes

Play: 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 10

FCC Clean!

Candlemass- "Ashes To Ashes (Live)"

released June 29, 2010 on Nuclear Blast Records

Formed in Stockholm, Sweden in the early 1980s, Candlemass is, in my opinion, one of the best doom metal bands of all time. I was delighted to find out about the existence of this live album. Basically, if you've heard Candlemass in the past, you will be familiar with some of the live cuts. "Dark Are The Veils Of Death" is an excellent way to start things off. It's followed up by "Samarithan", which is another excellent track. Some of my favorite cuts include "A Sorcerer's Pledge" (clocking in at 11:47, it's quite possibly their finest work), "Solitude" and "Hammer Of Doom".  To a die-hard fan, the songs may sound slightly different due to the fact that Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeturnus) has replaced Messiah Marcolin on vocals.  Regardless, this is an excellent live album that should appeal to fans of Candlemass and doom metal in general. The retail version comes with a companion DVD.

FCC: Check

Try: 2, *4*, 7, *8*, *9*

Described as "post Christian nihilistic pop opera"  per New Amsterdam records, this is a pop opera about Boy & Girl and their confused issues of sexual relationships and their religious beliefs. Indie rock/pop with traces of gospel. Lyrics included. FCC clean. Try any track.

File: Rock composer: Marks

These are modern song cycles based on classical song cycles but in the pop vocal style, but with fairly obvious classical musical styles. The composer seeks to mix classical with pop and succeeds admirably. Lyrics quirky, interesting and even sad. CD1 tracks  with International Contemporary Ensemble, CD 2 tracks with synths and piano.  Try any!

File: Rock composer: Dargel

A collection of works by Canadian composers, all contemporary and with different styles--jazzy, classical, abstract. All interesting, play any!

File: Classical collections: Raum

Avant-garde works with all kinds of sounds, both natural and made, and many different instruments.  Descriptive notes for each song indicate the inspiration. Liner notes indicate these as "terse and potent sound poems" (George Tsontakis. Explore and/or sample due to length.

File: Classical/avant-garde composer: Campbell