So far this year has been quite musically mindblowing. But wasn’t that kind of expected? With even more anticipated albums, songs, and tours on the horizon, 2009 is shaping up to be one of the better years on the decade.
Top 5 Albums That Met/Surpassed My Expectations
Simplistic and a combination of years of timeless work.
Meticulously crafted and easy to get obsessed with. An instant classic.
Too easy? STFU! This album will forever be an example of when everything we knew about experimental pop changed.
Sunlight and skill in a 12-track album. Way better than expected.
Took some time to love but there is something special going on here that is beyond a simple rock album…
Top 5 Songs That Caught Me Off Guard (in a good way)
Sleepy Sun – White Dove
St. Vincent – Save Me From What I Want
Bat for Lashes – Glass
Mos Def – Auditorium – Mos Def,
Clues – Remember Severed Head
Best Compilation For Anyone With Good Taste
The Grizzly Bear and Feist song alone is worth purchasing this perfectly crafted comp.
Top 5 EPs That Teased Me To The Point Of Joyous Anger
The amount of imagination and playfulness is undeniable. I can’t wait to see what they do next.
They never cease to amaze and pull at the heart strings.
This is the evolution of true rock music in the making. I can’t wait until August 25th for the full product.
Spoon at the their most dramatic and dreamy. An interesting listen.
Is he seriously of this world?
Top 5 Instrumental/Ambient Album That I’ve Been Reading To
This is a monster that has been awakened to destroy your eardrums.
A moving debut masterpiece.
Refusing to be pigeon-holed or classified. Gifts delivers their most personal record yet.
I am so happy this finally got a proper release. An emotionally effusive debut.
I’ll be blogging (hate that word) on the road this coming week. In fact as you read this, I’ll already be in Boston drinking heavily and celebrating my friend’s birthday. Good times. Anyway, I have quite a few reasons why I’ll be in Boston. Here are my top 5…
1. Opening Day at Fenway with the Red Sox vs. Tampa Bay Rays! Courtesy of my good friend Katie. GO SOX!
2. Friend’s crazy Birthday pub crawl. Maybe a drunk post tonight…who knows what could happen?
3. Mates of State / Black Kids / SUNBEARS! show at the newly renovated House of Blues. Good to finally see my boys in SUNBEARS! perform.
4. Zombie parade on EASTER DAY! Will I bring a camera? Yes. Will there be a shitload of Zombie Jesus’? I’m guessing yes on that one.
5. Boston Pillow Fight Today! I don’t know where it’s going to be (yet) but I’ll definitely be there.
Mates of State – My Only Offer
Moving on…
To celebrate the new releases of Michael Zapruder ‘Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope‘ and 1090 Club ‘Natural Selection‘, SideCho Records are giving away an exclusive package to one lucky person! You will receive a copy of ‘Dragon Chinese Cocktail Horoscope’, ‘Natural Selection’, Michael Zapruder Tshirt, Posters from Michael and 1090 Club, and more. All you have to do is sign up for the SideCho Records Newsletter by emailing contests@sidecho.com.
Hey! You know that band theSTART? Probably not, but you might want to get to know the band’s side project, Normandie. A very dark 80s-ish mix of Blondie and Portishead. You like the sound of that? Well then download this low quality demo and tell me what you think.
Normandie – Little Sister (demo)
Some interesting new releases this past Tuesday. First off is the wonderful Great Lake Swimmers with Lost Channels. I seriously love this album and can already tell you that I will be listening to this album over and over on the plane. It’s very solid release, go buy it. Peter Bjorn and John return with Living Thing. Not as many catchy tunes as I would have expected, but it’s not bad. The Whitest Boy Alive’sRules is growing on me a bit. Oh and the new Yeah Yeah Yeahs album, It’s Blitz, came out. I love this album so much. I’m so glad these guys went in this direction, it suits them well.
The Whitest Boy Alive – Island
No this isn’t the cover of the new My Chemical Romance album. I wouldn’t do that to you after my little April Fools gag. This is the cover of Cage’s new free E.P. I Never Knew You. He says it will be available soon, but I’m not sure when that exactly is. But here’s the dark El-P produced title track from the upcoming and much anticipated E.P.
Putting a label on the debut album by Jacksonville Florida’s SUNBEARS! is a toughie. They’re sort of a synth-psychedelic-indie-noisepop band from space. Plus they break an awful lot of rules in their debut album Dream Happy Dreams, a short, vibrant, colorful little album that sounds like a waterfall of summer love. Recorded in Redding CA, Atlanta GA, and their hometown of Jacksonville, the album has a unique and striking sound, and they obviously know how to craft solid pop music with a foot-tapping beat.
The album opens with Le Penné Pageant, a strolling waltz with slow-building gypsy brass smothered in twisted synth and closes with a relaxed airily synthesized Sunshine at 9 P.M. Everything in between is a whirlwind of influences and originality, cleverly warped into one body and garnished with some very impressive and astute lyrics. Songs like I’m Alive! and Little Baby Pines are catchy and subversive enough to win over any fan of perfectly creafted pop music.
In addition, SUNBEARS! will be supporting Mates of State and Black Kids on the eastern leg of their tour. You can also catch them at the Harvest of Hope Fest at the St. Johns County Fair Grounds in St. Augustine, Florida on Saturday along with Tilly & the Wall, Against Me!, Deerhunter, and dozens more.
You can purchase that album digitally here or pick up a physical copy on their upcoming tour.
Apr 2 2009 Richmond, VA – The National
Apr 3 2009 Philadelphia, PA – Trocadero
Apr 4 2009 Washington, DC – 9:30 Club
Apr 5 2009 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
When first hearing the SUNBEARS!, you have to wonder how a band that sounds so good can go unnoticed. There seems to be a sense of sweet honesty and huge pop sound that is familiar to anyone who fell in love with the Postal Service’s “Give Up.” The music they create passes through your ears like a gentle breeze but comfortably stays inside you. I’ve said it once before and I’ll say it again, this band will not go unknown for very long.
The song itself sounds almost too cute to be accepted into the indie music scene or the music blogosphere, but there is this soulful “magic” that resonates from The Sound of Arrows‘ new single M.A.G.I.C. that is irrefutable . The release of their 9-track debut EP will be on the 28th of January and from the sound of things, is already showing signs of Top 10 potential this year.
After a careful listen, I found that if MGMT collaborated with the Postal Service, you’d get the viciously catchy SUNBEARS! Sorry for the capitol letters but thats how they are addressed. I guess when you tell someone what you’re listening to you need to yell it in their face. Anyway, it’s been quite a good year for the Jacksonville, Florida duo. Not only have they released a super fun album but they just wrapped up a successful tour with the experimental rock band, dredg. SUNBEARS! are one of those acts where you kind of sit back and wait for them to blow up in your face. They aren’t the kind of band that stays unknown for very long. This my friends, is the closest you’ll come to a new Postal Service record (better in my opinion).
Kata Rokkar is a place where you can download free mp3 from artists and bands that I currently love and listen to. They are only for sampling purposes and to influence you to go out and support these artists by purchasing their records and going to their concerts. If you are a record company or an artist that is displeased with a song being displayed, feel free to contact me and I will remove it ASAP. Thank you and enjoy!
So far this year has been quite musically mindblowing. But wasn’t that kind of expected? With even more anticipated albums, songs, and tours on the horizon, 2009 is shaping up to be one of the better years on the decade.
Simplistic and a combination of years of timeless work.
Meticulously crafted and easy to get obsessed with. An instant classic.
Too easy? STFU! This album will forever be an example of when everything we knew about experimental pop changed.
Sunlight and skill in a 12-track album. Way better than expected.
Took some time to love but there is something special going on here that is beyond a simple rock album…
White Dove
The Grizzly Bear and Feist song alone is worth purchasing this perfectly crafted comp.
The amount of imagination and playfulness is undeniable. I can’t wait to see what they do next.
They never cease to amaze and pull at the heart strings.
This is the evolution of true rock music in the making. I can’t wait until August 25th for the full product.
Spoon at the their most dramatic and dreamy. An interesting listen.
Is he seriously of this world?
This is a monster that has been awakened to destroy your eardrums.
A moving debut masterpiece.
Refusing to be pigeon-holed or classified. Gifts delivers their most personal record yet. 
I am so happy this finally got a proper release. An emotionally effusive debut.
Calming and disarming for anyone with a heart.
No this isn’t the cover of the new My Chemical Romance album. I wouldn’t do that to you after my little April Fools gag. This is the cover of Cage’s new free E.P. I Never Knew You. He says it will be available soon, but I’m not sure when that exactly is. But here’s the dark El-P produced title track from the upcoming and much anticipated E.P.
Putting a label on the debut album by Jacksonville Florida’s 
