When I first started Mystery and Misery, there weren’t too many mp3 blogs. There also weren’t too many decent bands trying to pitch their music via the internet. Over the course of time, mp3 blogs were all over the place. And so were bands trying what they could to get on mp3 blogs. There are and were a wide variety of mp3 blogs, all of which serve a purpose, whether it be to genuinely talk about music of which the author had a genuine reaction, positive or negative to. Others, on the complete opposite spectrum, served as a vehicle for people to download as much music as humanly, and technically possible. The remaining mp3 blogs in between serve as nothing more than an attempt for internet attention or a way to make money.

The bands were all over the place. Players included major label hacks all the way to indie bands who sounded great, but struggled to get signed to a willing label. Over the course of time, I could hardly keep up with the requests to listen to everyone’s music. Some of the music just aweful. Well, a lot of it was. 10 to 15% of it was good to great. The requests to listen and post music as well the traffic to the website at one point hit critical mass, both technologically and personally. My webhost was having problems with my database and getting through to tech support was a joke. Also, a growing child and a busier work schedule severly limited my time that I could spend on the site.

From Mystery and Misery, I was able to meet and talk to some interesting people. That was the biggest perk of the website. Talking to bands coming through towns, other music writers, and others in the inner workings of the music industry was very enjoyable.

The reason why I am failing to continue on with Mystery and Misery is that it became another part time job. I just do not have the time and energy at the moment to continue in it’s current state. Whether or not I come back has yet to be decided, yet I can say the determination to do so is high. Whether it is with a team of folks and/or a completely different format has yet to be determined.

So, watch this space.

“The blogosphere, at least within the realm of indie rock, seems content to sit behind a keyboard, rewrite press releases, and piggyback on others’ work, without the smallest adherence to style, substance, and (most importantly) modesty.” – via Kathryn Yu

Damn, I could not have said it better myself. Hence, one of the reasons why I am taking so long to get back.

I’ve been quite silent because I am getting ready to leave for a cruise. When I get back, posts will continue.

I’m back from playing five hours of poker. It’s late and I should be sleeping like any normal person, but I am wound. So I am surfing some of my favorite boards looking for something entertaining to listen to. The December Sound is one of those bands that you would have found me listening to in my college days when insomnia would set in. Old habits are hard to break.

The December Sound seem to have a shoegazey and IDM influence with “Kill Me” that wouldn’t get lost with a club crowd mixed in with some you’d have to drag me to the club type of people like myself. The band has an energy that would make me want to DJ a night at a club. “Kill Me” is a killer song and it’s going on my ipod. But enough about me. The rest of the mp3s here show a progression in what seems a consistant style and sound but with better recordings on “Kill Me” and “Reminder.” The rest of the mp3s are a bit lo-fi sound wise, but are worth a listen. I love the shoegaze/dreampop sounds of the earlier recordings. “Summers Gone” is very appropiate for the moment.

mp3
: Kill Me
: Reminder
: Off From The Start
: Loop
: Summers Gone
: Overflowing

As it would happen, the stars are not aligned for me to catch a wonderful show this weekend. Between a poker tournament and the Dodgers (hopefully) beating the Mets this Saturday, I am over booked to catch the Hinkley and Schooner show at the Spy Bar here in Rochester.

Schooner prolongs the great Chapel Hill scene with some noisy indie rock that I, and I can imagine many others, could get behind. The band reminds me of the Magnetic Fields with a tinge of Americana, but with just enough sound sonically to give their music an indie rock feel. They give enough lyrically and sonically to impress me and to not just pass them off as a knockoff Chapell Hill band who are feeding off of their predecessors.

Their myspace page lists a few more dates (and streaming music) like tomorrow’s DC date, Montreal, Somerville, and Durham. Check them out if you get the chance.

mp3s from schooner.com
: Carrboro
: Ominous Bird
: Strange Alibis
: Make Me Mad
: Normal Day
: Trains and Parades
: Indian Sunburn
: Open Door
: Stunts and Showmanship and Codes
: We Let The Cat Out
: Machines’s Running Out
: Looking For Love (live Neil Young cover)

more stuff
: pictures and video at a NC music scene blog called Mann’s World

It’s that time of the year where I go back and rediscover releases, from the past year and beyond, that I have forgotten about and left to collect dust on my cd rack. If something looks promising, I’ll load it to my ipod. One of those bands is Goldrush and their album Ozona. The band is part of a crop of English groups (like the Magic Numbers) that sound American. The band, some could argue, sound too much like Grandaddy, Teenage Fanclub, Neil Young, and the Flaming Lips. But, as I will argue, is exactly why I think you should hear the band. The band has a variety of producers with equal minded backgrounds so what you hear is a twinge of Americana alt. country with some guitar indie rock. Lyrically, the band has everything you could possibly want from an indie band … understandable lyrics that put into words what we’ve all had to say at some point in our lives but never been able to do. I remember really digging this album last fall and I can see myself giving Ozona some serious airplay this fall as well. If you do end up liking this, and want to purchase the album be sure to get the album from Better Looking Records or itunes. Outlets like emusic have their UK release, which has six less songs.

: Wait For The Wheels
: 52nd State
: There’s A World

Those of you who have been with me over the long haul may know that there’s a Rochester band who surpass any other local band, and many national indie acts in terms of song quality and live shows. That would be Hinkley. While Mystery and Misery has been down, Hinkley had come out with a new album named Estate Sale, released on the local, but worldly known, Carbon Records.

Estate Sale is a welcome extension of their previous EP, Frail and Poker Faced, which introduced me to the band. With Frail I was attached to the lyrics, catchy melodies, song writing and song translations to a live show. Isn’t that most of us look for in a band anyways? The mood and atmosphere with Estate Sale takes that feeling and expands with it to bigger proportions. The whole album is a clusterfuck of emotions, rock, harmonies, melodies, great songwriting and twists and turns even I didn’t expect from the band.

The first song, “Hanging Tree,” is a song I have heard live before the album, so it was nice to hear it all in it’s studio polished form. Will Veeder’s voice is genuinely wonderful in a moody rock atmosphere, which this song, coupled with the lyrics and the band’s ability to be sentimental yet at the same time rock is a great way to start an album. Another highlight is the next song, “Casino.” “Casino” reminds me of the Posies Frosting on the Beater-era with it’s lyrics and tight, but not over done, harmonies. “Ballerina” and “Memory In My Heart” are two more live crowd favorites that made it to the album.

The one song I was surprised at hearing was “Where the River Meets the Sea.” While many bands lyrics are veiled in secrecy, metaphors, and double entendres, which sometimes show a lack of originality, this song is quite a story of love, trust, betrayal, and murder. It is both dark and beautiful at the same time.

Over the course of time I have been following the band, Estate Sale shows me that the band has grown musically and sonically. Hinkley puts on a great show and has made a wonderful album whose song writing and music is top notch. Sometimes I wonder how a band would top a great album, but with Hinkley and Estate Sale, I feel there is momentum building, instead of a momentary peak.

For older indie music fans Estate Sale might be perfect for fans of the Posies, Big Star, Neil Young, Wilco, and Teenage Fanclub. Indie scenesters might want to stop listening to their Tapes N Tapes and try Hinkley.

mp3s from Estate Sale
: Hanging Tree
: Ballerina
: Estate Sale
: Build Me Something in the Sky
: more mp3s can be found here

While I was gone away from the whole music and blogging scene, I missed the news that The London Apartments were signed to Beggars Banquet. I reviewed their last album over at DOA some time ago. So congrats to Justin. He’s definitely deserving of a bigger audience. I just wish I was able to get a show for him in Rochester. Hopefully something will work out sooner than later. So congrats Justin!

Check out some of the videos on his site. “Street Lights Are Soldiers” is my favorite song of the band. The video is pretty good as well. Archive.org has a few mp3s available for download.

One of the few nuances of the Rochester music scene that is endearing to me is that much of the music that comes out of Rochester, since I started listening in the mid90s, is that it is so balls to the wall. From the local Garage Pop Records to the annual Bug Jar Fest, everything seems like a whisky fueled madness that is part Ramones, part surf, part metal glam. In turn, the music has garnered sort of a cult following. So when I get an album that has that Western NY balls to the wall whiskey fueled flavor, I am genuinely interested. The Unsacred Hearts, via way of my friends at Serious Business Records in NYC, have that same feeling on In Defense of Fort Useless.” And they even have a song named “Whiskey In The Fridge.”

“The Two Three Four” is a beautifully sloppy grungy song that features the unmistakable voice of guest vocalist Tina DaCosta from labelmates Man In Gray. “Teenage Palace Daydream” is a carefree Pixies shout out like song. “1000 Hot Babies” is one of a few Dylan-esque songs, but this one is my favorite. I would even argue that Dylan would like this one. The balls to the wall aspect of the album is more than just drunken slopiness. There’s call and response like vocals between singer Joe Willie and bassist Andy Bean on “Point of Pride.” Overall, what I love most about the album is is it’s consistancy. Not one track is out of place. While song styles might vary track to track, yet they all carry a sound unique to the band. Yet, like I said, everything is balls to wall, from the slowest song to the most intense, The Unsacred Hearts bring it.

It’s only fitting that The Unsacred Heart’s label is named Serious Business. The band is nothing but business, yet at the same time, their enjoyment in writing and performing comes through in their music and vocals. I love that this is album is a labor of love and not a bunch of singles from the latest silver spooned band from some over zealous mp3 bloggers and PR agents with a little extra money.

This album is best listened to in a rock and roll stance.

mp3s
: Point Of Pride
: Drunk In A Parlor Car

Remarkably, Scissors For Lefty are not a British band. They are from San Francisco. At least, that is where they reside now when they aren’t touring the world in support of their as of yet unnamed upcoming album on the Rough Trade label. Scissors for Lefty has such a genuine Brit-pop sound that you’d never think came from some lads from America. Their four song EP, which is a teaser for their upcoming album, was releaseed on the Pepper Street Music label. “Lay Down Your Weapons” is very Parkland Blur-esque mixed with Modest Mouse with it’s upbeat enthusiasm. Even better is “Ghetto Ways” in it’s “Disco 2000” glory. In fact, this EP is a mini Different Class, the pinnacle of Pulp’s career. If Scissors For Lefty can take that feeling and run with it, I’m game. If not (Their previous album, Bruno, available on emusic.com, was decent, but pretty boring.), they’ll be yet another entertaining Americans do Brit-pop band whose sound is nothing but a reminder of the past.