Watch Out For Rockets: excerpt from 'Beasts With Hearts Of Gold' (USA 2008/9)

WATCH OUT FOR ROCKETS are from Austin, TX.

The songs featured here for free download are an excerpt from their album "Beasts With Hearts Of Gold", now available at iTunes.

So if you like what you hear, please support the artists!

The music is a brilliant mix of lo-fi punk rock and freak-pop with great melodies, dirty and direct sound and lots of energy! Most of the songs are rather short (Did I hear somebody say GUIDED BY VOICES?...).

Enjoy!

Q: Where exactly are you from?

A: dave jones and I (aaron rimbey) are from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and we are half brothers. Lucas urbanski is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. and Jonathan terharr is from florida. we've been in Austin Texas for 7 years.

Q: How recorded?

A: this record was recorded on 4-track tascam in our livingroom and kitchen.

Q: When recorded?

A: late 2008 and most of 2009. i recorded all instruments for slap the blast factor 10 years ago in Madison Wisconsin and Dave added vocals in 2009.

Q: Who involved? who played what?

A: Dave played all of the instruments and vocals on this record with the exception of slap the blast factor. i "engineered" the recordings and helped with lyrics. lucas helped with arrangement and may have done a bass line here or there. John is a recent addition and has added great drum tracks to the new stuff we are working on. for shows Dave and I play guitar and sing, Lucas plays bass and John plays drums.

Q: Any more releases? Any "official" releases (label?)?

A: we released let me levitate previously late 2008/early 2009, our third record shaman shit is being released for free digitally any day now on watchoutforrockets.blogspot.com and we have been working on our fourth record and it is coming together well. we are excited about that one.

Q: Since when does this band/project exist?

A: I guess 7 years ago. we had a line-up with Dave, Lucas and myself and a keyboardist. I was playing drums at the time. Lucas lost his mom to cancer and moved back to wisconsin. we didn't put it back together until he moved back in 2007. it was just dave and I recording for fun, messing around with loops, recording vocals on old songs we hadn't finished. we put together let me levitate and started playing out with Kevin bybee the drummer for a local band frank smith and I picked up the guitar again. we finished beasts with hearts of gold in 2009 and made John our official drummer and it's been a lot of fun playing out.

Q: Any previous bands worth mentioning?

A: Dave and I started out playing guitar in different punk bands. his first band was called noun and I was in a band with rainer maria's drummer bill, called Jim jones party mix.

Q: How'd you "label" your music?

A: that's a tough one. by process it is lo-fi, indie and punk. but we are also a folk, pop, rock or garage rock band? what is garage rock anyways? we have a car port with no walls. we are livingroom rock.

Q: Website, myspace?

A: http://myspace.com/wofr

http://watchoutforrockets.blogspot.com

Q: Anything that you think is interesting, that you'd like to inform the blog readers about...

A: we are running a band counceling service. people send us their music and tell us their band problems. we usually tell them to break up.

(Info by Aaron)

WATCH OUT FOR ROCKETS: excerpt from

'Beasts With Hearts Of Gold'

(USA 2008/9)

(mp3-zip, 6 tracks, 10 min, 12,3 MB)

Cattle Prod

Johnny Skydiver

Sparrow In A Spiders Web

Headrush Hour

Punk On A Rainbow

Lift Off Cloud Controller

Get 'em here or here or here!

Comments are always welcome!

Low Sea - Appetizer track from debut (IRELAND 2010)

This here – Never Yours – is a track from "Las Olas", the 10 track debut by the very promising Irish shoegaze/psychedelic band LOW SEA from Galway, sent to me by the band.

The limited edition cd in round metal tin is for sale on their page, or may get downloaded at cd baby or iTunes.

http://www.myspace.com/lowseamusic

Check it out here or here or here!

Old And Gray - Vowel Sounds (USA 2010)

More new sounds from OLD AND GRAY (see older posts here): Vowel Sounds (11 min), again rather dark indie/alternative and electronic rock sounds.

4 shorter pieces in one long track: 11 Fingers, Tearable, Tearable 02, Melting Away.

http://oldandgray.bandcamp.com/album/vowel-sounds

OLD AND GRAY: Vowel Sounds (2010)

(mp3-zip, 1 track, 11 min, 25,4 MB, fr. cover incl.)

Get it here!

Snoose Junction - KEXP Sonarchy Radio Session (aka: The Last Days Of Ballard Saga Cycle) (USA 2009)

5-Track from the Seattle-based psychedelic noise rock/improv band collective SNOOSE JUNCTION sent me this recordings to post for you.

It's featuring John Leighton Beezer, John Foss, 5-Track, Evan Strauss, Vince Amandes and Wes Amundsen.

"My name is 5-Track and I am an electric guitar player currently living in Los Angeles, USA, Earth. In previous recent incarnations I lived in Seattle, Washington. (...) This music was performed live on Sonarchy Radio, KEXP, Seattle. I hope you enjoy!"

(5-Track)

More info here:

http://5-track.com/CDSonarchy.html

http://www.myspace.com/snoosejunction

http://www.myspace.com/fivespace

SNOOSE JUNCTION - KEXP Sonarchy Radio Session

(USA 2009)

(mp3-zip, 3 tracks, 57 min, 130,4 MB)

01 Breathe On Live On (Streets Are Paved With Gold pt1) - 23:40

02 Looking For Something Beautiful (Streets Are Paved With Gold pt2) - 30:16

03 Why Do We Have To End It This Way - 03:01

Get it here or here or here!

An alternative mix is available here: http://www.archive.org/details/KEXPSonarchyRadio_SnooseJunction

This is the original KEXP-mix by Doug Haire.

The Ragas - The Ragas (USA 2008)

As announced: Here are THE RAGAS, a duo consisting of JIM GUITTARD (see posts below) and HENRY McGUINN, whose father is ROGER McGUINN, one of the founders of THE BYRDS. And one can say that THE RAGAS record is truly in the spirit of that famous 60s California band (one of my all time favourites in fact).

The sound is a little rough, indeed lofi, but don't let this stop you from downloading this very interesting piece of music.

Enjoy!

Read the amazing story how Jim met Henry here: http://jimguittard.com/?p=6

Favourite track: Blues Raga and Not Yet Instrumental

THE RAGAS: The Ragas (2008)

(mp3-zip, 14 tracks, 40 min, 57,7 MB, VBR 192 k)

Get it here or here or here!

Jim Guittard - The Notorious G.I.D.D. (USA 2005; rec. 2004-5)

"The Notorious G.I.D.D. has some more experimental stuff on it ..."

(J. G.)

http://jimguittard.com/

Favourite track: Flippity Flop – reminds me of SYD BARRETT!

JIM GUITTARD: The Notorious G.I.D.D. (USA 2005)

(mp3-zip, 8 tracks, 26 MB, 19 min, VBR)

Get it here or here or here!

Comments always welcome!

ADD by Jim:

"I forgot to mention about my new music and it is probably clear with some of the new songs more about my motivation as an artist.

You can find them at my facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Jim-Guittard/33600816077

Titles so far are:

Rise Up America

Brainwashed and Liking It

What Do You Want?

Independence

Buried Under the American Dream

Rise Up Punks

I've been kicking around a follow-up name to the "Busted in Bulgaria" album and it is possible that it could be "Busted in America." I imagine I'll put it out later this year.

That's all. Just thought this is relevant info since I am about freedom for the artist and it seems that the current situation in America and in a lot of places around the world for that matter is really not as free as one would think."

Jim Guittard - Busted In Bulgaria (USA 2008)

"This album I wrote and recorded while a Peace Corps Volunteer English teacher in Bulgaria. I recorded everything myself on a laptop. The album is basically a psychedelic trip diary of my unual time living as a foreigner there."

(J.G.)

Favourite track: Listen To Your Voice

JIM GUITTARD: Busted In Bulgaria

(2008; rec. 2006-2008)

(mp3-zip, 18 tracks, 46 min, 65,4 MB, VBR 192k)

Get it here or here or here!

Jim Guittard - 96 98 - (USA 2009; rec. 96-98)

The early recordings of JIM GUITTARD from 1996-1998. Some nice experimental tracks are featured here, including a sitar solo on Haluva!

Great stuff, recommended!

Enjoy!

Favourite track: Once Around The Moon

JIM GUITTARD: 96 98 (2009)

(mp3-zip, 10 tracks, 31 min, 42,1 MB, MP3 VBR 192k)

Get it here or here or here!

Jim Guittard - California Daze (USA 2008; rec. 2001-2002)

Here are a couple of albums recorded by JIM GUITTARD, currently living in Portland, Oregon, USA.

His music is an interesting mixture of folk/folkrock and country rock with some psychedelic undertone. As one of his influences he mentions THE BYRDS, and I think that one can clearly hear that (e.g. Beach).

If you like the genre, his albums are well worth checking out!

Enjoy!

Jim also worked with Henry McGuinn, the son of BYRDS co-founder Roger McGuinn in a project called THE RAGAS (to be posted later), while living in California.

Q: Where exactly are you from?

A: I am originally from Dallas, Texas. But have lived in various places, thus soaking up the vibes of wherever I have lived. I went to college in a small town called Gunnison in Colorado. After that I worked the corporate world of insurance and got fed up and struck out for Hollywood to attend a music school. After 3 years in Hollywood I traveled back to Texas and became a caretaker for my grandparents. After two years of that, I applied for the Peace Corps and was accepted to teach English in Bulgaria. I was there for almost three years and came back to the States and to Portland, Oregon.

Q: Do you want your real name mentioned? If so: What is your real name?

A: Jim Guittard is my real name and what all my solo music is under.

Q: How recorded?

A: I have been recording myself really since 1994 when I got my first 4-track machine. It was a Tascam. In the early days, I recorded myself mostly doing Beatles, Tom Petty, or other classic rock music. - My favorite guitar to use is a 6-string 330 Rickenbacker. I also have a 12-String 330 Rickenbacker. For some songs I used a Dr. Groove drum machine and make shift shakers (beer can filled with rice taped up). On my earliest album 96/98 I had a friend, (Jim Seagroves) play pots and pans drums. He was a drummer but didn't have any drums so this is what we did. - In California, I had a lot of gear that was stolen that I used. - I had a Telecaster B-Bender guitar, 12-String Acoustic Guild, and a Fender Jazz Bass. Hope the thugs that stole it are making some good music. - While in Bulgaria, I used a 12 String acoustic guitar.

Q: When recorded?

A: "Busted in Bulgaria" was recorded between July 2006 to July 2008 on my dell laptop using Adobe Audition 3. - "The Notorious G.I.D.D." was recorded in 2004-2005. It was when I lived at my grandparents and I used the Tascam 6-track recorder and Cool Edit Pro for editing and mixing. I used some kind of keyboard for a few of the tracks. Can't remember what kind. - "California Daze" was recorded in 2001 to 2002 and on the 6-track Tascam recorder. Brian McKay engineered some of the songs like "Beach (Acoustic)". But otherwise I recorded it myself. - 96//98 was recorded during the years 1996 - 1998 on my Tascam 4-track recorder.

Q: Who involved? Who played what?

A: "Busted In Bulgaria": I played all acoustic guitars, all percussion or drum machine, all lead and back up singing. There are various background noises that I got from various real news events like: on "Survival Mode" the Andrew Meyer Taser scandal at University of Florida John Kerry Rally. - On "Gangster" I used some of my students for background talking. - On "8A Class", you can hear me "trying" to instruct my students over the loud classroom noise.

- "The Notorious G.I.D.D." is all me with acoustic and electric guitars and lead and background singing.

- "California Daze": "Beach" is co-written by Dominica Campanella of the neo-psychedelic band the Quarter After. I wrote the first verse of the lyrics and he wrote the other verses and chorus. I put the song to music. - On "Beach - Acoustic" Vladimir Maskoff played the jazz fender bass. - On "Confusion, Lies, Guns, and Drugs" Vladimir Maskoff played the jazz fender bass. - The songs "Swing Tune" and "Jazz Tune" were instrumentals songs I wrote while attending the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. The recordings of these songs were an actually playing test that I did. I came into class with charts for the musicians that I had written out and they sight-read the 2 songs. The back up electric guitar is a Brazilian guy named Reginaldo. He was a friend of mine. I do not know the name of the drummer. The teacher you can hear in the background is Lupo Groinig who gives a critique.

- On 96/98 I played the acoustic guitars, electric guitar, sitar, tambourine, sang lead vocals unless noted otherwise. My brother Bob Guittard played bass on Chapatis, and electric guitar on "Once Around the Moon." - Warren Barry played keyboards and drums on "Once Around the Moon." I played bass on "Once Around the Moon." - Jim Seagroves played pots and pans drum on many of the tracks as well as sang or talked some backgrounds.

Q: Any more releases? Any "official" releases?

A: No other official releases but I am constantly working on new material.

Q: Since when does this band/project exist (are you into music)?

A: I have been fascinated by the tape recorder and sounds since a small child. I think the first song I learned on the guitar was George Harrison's "Don't Bother Me." I guess I related to George the most because he was the quiet Beatle and often overlooked.

Q: Any previous bands worth mentioning?

A: While in California, I had a duo with Henry McGuinn called the Ragas. We recorded a bit and had a few shows. The music can be found here:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/The_Ragas It is pretty raw. - He is the son of Roger McGuinn co-founded the Byrds. - Here's a little piece I wrote on the Ragas:

http://jimguittard.com/?p=6

Q: How'd you "label" your music?

A: I don't like labeling myself because my music may be heard differently to everybody and labeling is rather meaningless sometimes. To me, my music is honest optimistic, psychedelic, folk-rock, country-rock, "figure it out as you go" hopeful music or experimental. A kind of travel life diary music or who knows it may be just crap music.

Q: Influences?

A: I was a child of the 1980's and I was not into Motley Crue or Def Leppard at the time. I was the guy with sideburns since I was 16 and looked up to Elvis and the Beatles. I got turned onto the Byrds while in California and Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is probably who I am influenced the most by. It is really his philosophy of life that has influenced me. The rebelliousness of Johnny Cash has also influenced me quite a bit. In that he does his own thing and does not need to please anyone. - And lastly Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre has heavily influenced me in the music and again mostly for his philosophy of life to keep at it and never give up no matter what jokers are attacking.

Q: Website, myspace?

A: Main website:

http://jimguittard.com/

Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/guittard

Youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/user/jgidd

To download the albums for free:

http://www.jamendo.com/en/artist/Jim_Guittard

Q: Anything that you think is interesting, that you'd like to inform the blog readers about...

A: Only thing I have to say is that every one should find their own voice through art, music, writing or whatever. The world needs more idealists to express feelings to bring about change. We have been told what to think for so long and we don't need to be told. As George Harrison said, "Think For Yourself." Experience things for yourself. Be open-minded and get out of your back yard and experience things that may be out of your comfort zone. - I had a live interview just months before coming back to the States on Tangra Mega Rock Radio Station in Bulgaria: http://jimguittard.com/?p=241

(J. G. via email)

Favourite track: Beach

JIM GUITTARD: California Daze (2008)

(mp3-zip, 8 tracks, 25 min, 37,9 MB, MP3 VBR 192k)

Get it here or here or here!

Alex Northrup - The Navigator (USA 2010)

From Brooklyn, New York, comes ALEX NORTHRUP.

Former bands included BAD KIDS, THE FROGBOTS, TIN SPHINX and some more – as listed on his Myspace site.

The Navigator was recorded on a 4-track "over the past months or so". Indeed some of the songs (a minority!) sound rather lo-fi (e.g. The Harbor/Pandering Box). Obviously all the instruments, mainly guitar, piano, organ, and the vocals are by the man himself, excerpt for a little help by Jim Hill (bs, mandol.,perc.) on one track and Ben Schwabe (tamb.) on another one – as listed on the back cover.

Otherwise I don't have much info on this release or the artist.

Check out his Myspace site for more.

The music is a mix of rock/pop music and some a little bit more experimental tracks in singer/song writer mood. The playing is well done and the arrangements are good aswell, though you won't find any real big surprises (some backwards guitars here and there, some distorted piano playing, a theremin...). The music gets a little bit more adventurous with the last three songs, in fact my favourite ones.

All things considered The Navigator is a solid album that makes for good listening. I guess the overall relaxed and somewhat slightly, well, ... strange, mellow atmosphere is caught very well in the cover art work.

Favourite tracks: 30N and Ticker Tape Parade/Radiocity

http://www.myspace.com/alexnorthrup1768

ALEX NORTHRUP: The Navigator (2010)

(mp3-zip, 9 tracks, 35 min, 32,4 MB, artwork incl.)

Get it here or here or here!

Leonel Garcia - Spectrum (Puerto Rico 2010)

"Spectrum is my latest album and was written and recorded between October 2009 and February 2010, The music was recorded entirely in October 2009 but the lyrics were written mostly in between January and February.

I think this is my most accomplished album to date and that doesn't mean my favorite. Accomplished because it contains most of the genres I play with a great flow. Not my favorite because I'm in love with "The Eyelild Of God.." and I will have to work hard to out perform that one which is a prog-indie album very different from this one. I think "Spectrum" finishes what I started with "Slavery Ends With Art" which covers a lot of ground.

I'm very proud because I played lots of keyboards and for the first time I think I played it well and doesn't sound half as bad as my early experiments." (L. G.)

Again a very fine album by LEONEL GARCIA, the one-man neo-psychedelic band from Puerto Rico.

In his info (incl. in the zip-file) Leonel gives a track by track analysis of this album, and for lack of time I won't discuss it any further.

Get it and enjoy!



Q: How did you record "Spectrum"? Still all instruments played by yourself?


A: I used a WinXP PC with software to record and mix the tracks and another software to play virtual drums. I played all instruments which include guitars, basses and keyboards.


Q: What's your favourite track on the album? Why?


A: "Lost", it takes me to another place when I listen to it and I love the keyboard solo which is not common in my music. On the lyrics side my favorite is "My Best Friend (Song For Peter)" which is an extremely personal song.


Q: Since when are you into recording music?


A: Since 1991, a Canned Heat cover (I lost the recording, thank God), wrote my first song called "School Damage" in 1992.


Q: How many records did you already release on your website? Please list them in chronological order.


A:

1. Destination: Saturn (Original Version) [from 1997]


2. Wooden Flower, Water And Air (Original Version) [from 2004]


3. Roots [from 2005]


4. Push Her [from 2006]


5. A Vision In A Dream [from 2006]


6. Unfinished Report Of Last Year's Report [from 2006]


7. A New Perspective [from 2007]


8. Debris [from 2007]


9. Hosted Critical Dynamic Resources [from 2007]


10. Wooden Flower, Water And Air [from 2007]


11. Lost In The Morning Dew [from 2007]


12. Destination: Saturn [from 2007]


13. Blue Brain Flu [from 2008]


14. Connect The Polka Dots [from 2008]


15. Filth [from 2008]


16. Slavery Ends With Art [from 2008]


17. Social Tea [from 2008]


18. The Black Lagoon [from 2009]


19. Memories Lost Under Grey Hair [from 2009]


20. The Eyelid Of God [from 2009]


21. Proceed At Your Own Risk! [from 2009]


22. Electric Laser Church Of Agnostic Gnomes [from 2009]


23. Sadness 'Round The Bend [from 2009]


24. Spectrum [from 2010]


Q: Any feedback for your last records (except for HLFP)?


A: I got 2 songs played on WFMU New Jersey's Solid Gold Hell with Sue P. both songs are from The Black Lagoon album:
 Hostage Situation, The House at The End Of The Road. I don't know how they got them but I'm almost sure it was from HLFP.


Q: Any previous bands worth mentioning?


A: None.


Q: How do you write your songs? What comes first, words or music?


A: Music. "I wish I was Bob Dylan"...


Q: Did you ever consider to work with other people – for example a girl singer? Should be interesting, don't you think so?


A: My wife did background vocals on Vengo from Blue Brain Flu but that's about all I've done with other people. A girl singer would be great but I never considered "working" on music as it is a hobby to get rid of stress.


Q: Would it be ok, if people call your music "neo psychedelic rock"? Or what "label" would you prefer?


A: People can call it whatever they like but it is just music and hopefully they will enjoy it and spend a good 40 minutes.


Q: What is "psychedelic music" for you?


A: It used to be music that helped your trip, now it means the same without the chemicals.


(Very good answer! m-f)

Q: What is your all time favourite psychedelic record?

A: The Pretty Things' S.F. Sorrow.


Q: Any plans for live gigs?


A: None.


Q: What are your main influences?


A: Sonic Youth, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Black Sabbath and my favorite band of all time is Pavement. I'm also a fan of the early 80's new wave, 60's soul, The Beatles, hardcore punk... I should say EVERYTHING.


Q: The last five records you bought?


A: Last year I bought Dark Side Of The Moon on vinyl again and 6 CD's by Joan Manuel Serrat who is my favorite songwriter.


Q: Anything that you think is interesting, that you'd like to inform the blog readers about...


A: Well, people should check to The Dodos' Visiter album even though is from 2008 and they have a newer album. The album is very exciting. And of course I'm finishing recording the music of another album so look for it soon.



(L. G. via email)

If you like what you hear, you should visit Leonel's website http://leogt.blogspot.com and leave a comment! Here you will also find many more of his albums for free download.

LEONEL GARCIA - Spectrum (2010)

(mp3-zip, 44 min, 81,3 MB, cool artwork incl.)

Get it here or here or here!