Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Ninja Gang by Boltoph

I can't really love Boltoph's lyrics, but everything else about Ninja Gang sounds great to me. The laid back guitar line over the hip-hop beat just fits right.

http://www.songfight.org/music/ninja_gang/boltoph_ng.mp3

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Cash Machine by Two Ton Boa

I had the pleasure of seeing Two Ton Boa open for the Dresden Dolls. They had two bass players, no guitar, and an odd looking drum set. Using just a bass and relatively low female singer to carry the melody makes songs like Cash Machine stand out from the crowd of heavy rock songs out there.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/twotonboa/audio/CashMachine.mp3

Monday, September 28, 2009

A Girl Like You by Mexican Institute Of Sound

A Girl Like You starts with the sort of beatboxing and repeating guitar line you might hear on a recent Tom Waits song. But then it throws in lots of other instruments and electronic effects, with a female singer over the whole thing. It's a strange, irresistibly toe-tapping experience.

http://aurgasm.us/music/andrew/Mexican%20Institute%20of%20Sound%20-%20A%20Girl%20Like%20You.mp3

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Habitual Ritual by Revolution Void

Habitual Ritual a relaxed journey filled with keys, a sax, and turn table scratching. Fine modern jazz.

http://www.archive.org/download/revoid_2004_04_04.flac16/revoid_2004_04_04_t03_vbr.mp3

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Cry 4 Help by Har Mar Superstar

Kill Rock Stars is not a place you'll typically find anything as funky as Har Mar Superstar's Cry 4 Help. If you've got any groove in you, it'll get you moving.

http://killrockstars.com/bands/harmarsuperstar/audio/Cry_4_Help.mp3

Friday, September 25, 2009

Accelerator by A Kid Named Ace

All of A Kid Named Ace's songs are super cute, and Accelerator is one of his best. The ending just brings a tear to my eye.

http://www.songfight.org/music/accelerator/akidnamedace_accel.mp3

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Fortnight by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Fortnight has some subtle touches. For example, worked into part of the beat is a pop that sounds like the crackle of a record player. It changes the mood of what would otherwise feel like a heavier, more aggressive piece.

Also available in ogg vorbis at about half the file size.

http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/06_Fortnight.MP3
http://www.archive.org/download/sute016/06_Fortnight.ogg

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Jumpers by Sleater-Kinney

Jumpers is loud, energetic, and dynamic. Perfect for making you jump around.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/audio/2382.mp3

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Chance At Greatness by Canasta

Canasta tries to convince you to be satisfied with the ordinary, everyday life, and throw away your Chance at Greatness. Their hooky orchestral pop makes a pitch for mundanity sound more compelling than it has any right to.

http://audio.canastamusic.com/FindTheTime/Canasta-FindTheTime-ChanceAtGreatness.mp3

Monday, September 21, 2009

Hakol Kashura (Everything's Alright) by Habanot Nechama

Hakol Kashura (Everything's Alright) is built around a repeating guitar lick, with layers of Hebrew language vocals, various percussions, and lead guitars laid over it.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Habanot%20Nechama%20-%20Hakol%20Kashura%20(Everything%27s%20Alright).mp3

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Better At Rapping by MC Frontalot

Typical self-deprecating lyrics meets atypically minimal production, as the Frontalot dreams of being Better at Rapping. Fortunately, his self-effacing tendencies come in creative packages that often succeed in getting a laugh.

http://frontalot.com/media.php/500/MC_Frontalot_-_Better_At_Rapping_%28CP08_Version%29.mp3

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Sometimes It's Hard To Keep Yourself Moving by Forkbomb

Good news for me. Puce is back to songfighting under the name forkbomb. He's part of the current fight, Somtimes It's Hard to Keep Yourself Moving.

http://www.songfight.org/music/sometimes_its_hard_to_keep_yourself_moving/forkbomb_sihtkym.mp3

Friday, September 18, 2009

Driver Education by Amy Ray

Amy Ray has a peppy fun rock tune called Driver Education that came to my attention for being featured on Oddio Overplay's Tunes in Overplay back in June of 2005.

http://www.daemonrecords.com/amy/Driver%20Education.mp3

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Climbing The Mountain by Podington Bear

This song was put out in the first month of Podington Bear's year long project to make a new song three times a week. It was the start of Climbing The Mountain.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JanuaryOriginal/ClimbingTheMountain.mp3

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

You Are In Love With Me by ADD

The narrator of You Are in Love with Me is obviously in love with whoever he's addressing, but his sad circumstance is only made worse by the fact that he can't say anything that makes the title seem like anything more than wishful thinking.

http://actdead.com/mp3s/add-youareinlovewithme.mp3

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Our Love Violates Corporate Policy by Hostess Mostess

Hostess Mostess is at his best when he's doing simple guitar based pop, and that's just what you get with Our Love Violates Corporate Policy. It took him second place in a Song Fight sporting some terrific cover art.

http://www.songfight.org/music/our_love_violates_corporate_policy/hostessmostess_olvcp.mp3

Monday, September 14, 2009

Pushin On by Freddie Cruger featuring Linn

This Aurgasm song is aimed at the wage slaves who find a way to keep Pushing On, helping them along with a funky bassline to nod their heads to.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Freddie%20Cruger%20-%20Pushing%20On%20(feat.%20Linn).mp3

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Revolution Now by Josh Woodward

Revolution Now rocks my eardrums, even if it never explains what this revolution is about.

http://www.joshwoodward.com/mp3/TheSimpleLife/JoshWoodward-TheSimpleLife-105-RevolutionNow.mp3

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Waste Of TV by Brad Sucks

I find TV pretty uncompelling since the advent of this medium we're using here now, so when he calls himself a Waste of TV, it's even more self deprecating to my ears than his usual fare.

http://media.bradsucks.net/albums/gwam/05_-_Brad_Sucks_-_Waste_of_TV.mp3

Friday, September 11, 2009

Highway by State Shirt

Highway is a mournful, nostalgic indie rock tune State Shirt did for a Song Fight way back in 2001. It also appears on his 2004 album, Don't Die.

http://www.songfight.org/music/highway/stateshirt_highway.mp3

Thursday, September 10, 2009

A Thing For Me by Metronomy

A Thing For Me looks like it was great fun to shoot. They find plenty of variations on ball bouncing off the lyrics and they do it all with an enthusiasm to match the joyful pop song.

http://www.motiongraphics.it/video08/dicembre/metronomy.mov

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Swimming Pools by Thao Nguyen and Get Down Stay Down

Thao and her backing band Get Down Stay Down make catchy indie folk. Swimming Pools tempers its band playing footage with public mischief and strange weather.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/thao/video/swimmingpools.mov

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Dumb Animals by The Handsome Furs

Handsome Furs make excellent music for passing dark nights contemplating how we are all just Dumb Animals.

http://subpop-public.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/video/3253.mov

Monday, September 7, 2009

The List by Metric

Unfortunately the video for The List is your basic live-footage-of-band-playing-the-song. But the song is some fine indie pop, so give it a listen if you haven't heard it.

http://www.gangassets01.com/metric/metric_list_h.mov

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Muppet Face by Xiu Xiu

Muppet Face is probably more of what I expect from a Xiu Xiu video than any other Xiu Xiu video I've ever seen. Callous soldiers, human dismemberment, and Jamie Stewart's singing.

http://www.noperformance.com/downloads/muppetface_web_small.mov

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Tears And Music Of Love by Deerhoof

Kill Rock Stars wants to advertise just how much fun Deerhoof are live, so they offer a super high quality video of them performing The Tears and Music of Love.

http://krs5rc.com/krs/bands/deerhoof/video/DEERHOOFTEARS.mov

Friday, September 4, 2009

Basin Street Blues by Kid Koala

The video for Basin Street Blues makes the tune feel more like it was designed as a soundtrack for the animated short than the other way around. It's a somber, chopped up mourning for the poor man with no brain.

http://www.monkmus.com/videos/basin_street_blues.mpg

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Versatile Flying Objects by Kalahar Surfers

Versatile Flying Objects flings piano and organ melodies over electronic beats, odd samples, and assorted percussion. Versatile indeed.

http://www.africandope.co.za/downloads/audio/cd011/kalahari_surfers-versatile_flying_objects.mp3

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

You Can Never Hold Back Spring by Tom Waits

Everything about You Can Never Hold Back Spring makes it feel like a part of the soundtrack for some old-time black and white movie, from Tom Waits' singing to the brass band backing him, to the white noise of a recording made on out-of-date equipment.

http://www.anti.com/media/download/529

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Unconcious Alliance by General Fuzz

The mood over at Messy's Place is upbeat and friendly, so join General Fuzz there for an Unconcious Alliance.

http://www.generalfuzz.net/mp3/Messys%20Pace/unconscious%20alliance.mp3

Monday, August 31, 2009

Calabria by Enur featuring Natasha Saad

Aurgasm has the long, tragic story of Calabria. The song itself is designed to get heads bobbing and bodies moving.

http://aurgasm.us/music/Enur%20feat.%20Natasha%20-%20Calabria.mp3

Sunday, August 30, 2009

The Freedom by Swan Lake

I once had the pleasure of hearing Dan Bejar performThe Freedom solo. It's a special song, whether stripped naked or slowly dressed up with the rest of Swan Lake.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/thefreedom.mp3

Saturday, August 29, 2009

I Ghosts I by Nine Inch Nails

Ghosts is a pretty varied album, but even still, I Ghosts I is a pretty good example of what you're getting into. Haunting ambience, an overall trippy experience.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/176780466/1%2BGhosts%2BI.mp3

Friday, August 28, 2009

Live The Future (Collapse Edit) by Ninja 9000

There's a terrific irony about a song making heavy use of the C64 called Live the Future, but it's still excellent advice, and the song should make you dance your pants off.

http://www.uncannyplanet.com/ninja9000/bitcollapse/Ninja9k-BC-02LiveTheFuture.mp3

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Regasu by Mayra Andrade

Regasu is a rich, melodic song, with beautiful arrangement and a wonderful voice singing in the Cape Verdean Portuguese Creole.

This got pulled with a DMCA notice. Rather than challenge this, I just suggest you go to Aurgasm page where this song is posted and click their link at the bottom of the post.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sincerity Machine by Tony Hightower

Tony Hightower didn't keep at song fighting for too long, sadly. Songs like Sincerity Machine are catchy toe-tapping fun, even if they only once won him a fight.

http://www.songfight.org/music/sincerity_machine/tonyhightower_sm.mp3

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

2X2 by If:Then:Goto

I find If:Then:Goto's album titles interesting. 2X2 is from Art Vs. Science. It weaves its melody around a thumping electronic beat, a slow moving bass line, and the occasional sound of the rain.

http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/75429703/2X2.mp3

Monday, August 24, 2009

Oopon by Sleepy Town Manufacture

Oopon is a relaxing tune with an interesting fast beat and some beautiful melody. Great for chilling out.

http://www.archive.org/download/mtk208/mtk208-stm-02-oopon.mp3

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy by The Pink Mountaintops

The Pink Mountaintops have constructed a slow, tense guitar ditty just to let you know that you are thier Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy.

http://www.scjag.com/mp3/jag/rocknrollfantasy.mp3

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Tube by Daniele Torelli

This here is a live performance of The Tube, with a fat bass line to go with Daniele Torelli's atmospheric electronics.

Get it in an ogg format.

http://esaurito.yue.it/torelli_songs/daniele_torelli-the_tube_(live).mp3
http://esaurito.yue.it/torelli_songs/daniele_torelli-the_tube_(live).ogg

Friday, August 21, 2009

Happy Machine Ankle by Brother Machine

The tragic tale of a cyborg girl whose only human part was her ankle Happy Machine Ankle (or, Dipped in the Digital River Styx) won Brother Machine one of the silliest-titled song fights ever.

http://www.songfight.org/music/happy_machine_ankle/brothermachine_hma.mp3

Thursday, August 20, 2009

Other Places I Have Lived by Deshead

Other Places I Have Lived reminisces with some bitterness on past love and dwells impulses that keep a body from staying in one place.

http://www.songfight.org/music/other_places_i_have_lived/deshead_opihl.mp3

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Worrisome Heart by Melody Gardot

Melody Gardot's vocal jazz is perfect music to relax to. It'll soothe any Worrisome Heart.

http://aurgasm.us/music/julija/Melody%20Gardot%20-%20Worrisome%20Heart.mp3

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Under Sea Farm by The Apartment

The Apartment imports a host of exotic noises, including conga drumming, fluttering wind instuments, and samples of chanting children to construct their Under Sea Farm.

http://www.gondolamusic.com/mp3s/slicecon/17%20under%20sea%20farm.mp3

Monday, August 17, 2009

Into The Unknown by Podington Bear

Into The Unknown is a brave piano tune, a perfect soundtrack for any moment you face uncertainty with willful resolution.

http://podingtonbear.com/podcasts/JuneOriginal/IntoTheUnknown.mp3

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Towering Inferno by ADD

Don't let the Towering Inferno catchy melodrama eat you in your sleep.

http://www.archive.org/download/JeffFalPleaseLetYourFaithPatienceBeMine/plyfapbm_03_toweringinferno.mp3

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Magic Carpet by Randomajestiq

Artkillah is an EP of some rough, aggressive electronic music. Magic Carpet is one of the more relaxed tunes, but it's still got an aggressive beat.

http://www.archive.org/download/kahvi181_Randomajestiq_Artkillah/kahvi181e_randomajestiq-magic_carpet.ogg

Friday, August 14, 2009

Non-Threat by The Walt

There's a delicious irony to naming a noisy, energetic rock tune Non-Threat. The four and a half minute running time might wear you out, but the way the bass sticks out in the mix makes for a happy worn out.

http://www.beepbeep.nl/wp-content/music/the-walt/The%20Walt%20-%20Something%20we%20did%20not%20have/non-threat.mp3

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Jesus On The Intercom by Eight Legged Oedipus

Eight Legged Oedipus gives us a fat funky bassline when he tries to talk to Jesus on the Intercom.

http://www.songfight.org/music/jesus_on_the_intercom/eightleggedoedipus_joti.mp3

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Alright Alright by Duboce Triangle

Alright Alright, this song is senseless. It's also not terribly inventive, but it's catchy, enthusiastic, and has a charming rough production.

http://www.songfight.org/music/alright_alright/dubocetriangle-alrightalrig.mp3