Although they have been a little quiet for a while, the sparse and often deliciously eerie folk duo The Skeleton Dead have made a couple of new tracks available for free download via their Bandcamp page. More new material is due for later in the year.
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While we’re not great ones for themed mixes on MM, Halloween is one of the exceptions we like to make. Here is a perfect mix for whatever ghoulish event you’ve got lined up today! Fifteen corking tunes, from the skewed new wave pop of XTC and off-kilter indie of the Mountain Goats to the trashy surf rock of The Cramps and from the folk-stomp of the Men They Couldn’t Hang and the gothic drive of Ghost Dance to the pounding blues rock of the Scissormen and 22-20s. Enjoy.
Download Ministry – Every Day Is Halloween mp3
Download Ghost Dance – The Grip Of Love mp3
Download Green On Red – Zombie For Love mp3
Download The Roadside Graves – Demons (Aquarium Drunkard Encore Session) mp3
Download The Scissormen – The Devil Is Laughing mp3
Download The 22-20s – Devil In Me mp3
Download Lonesome Wyatt & The Holy Spooks – Macabre Holy Pleasure mp3
Download Ghoultown – Killer In Texas mp3
Download The Men They Couldn’t Hang – Ghosts Of Cable Street mp3
Download The Seeds – Evil Hoodoo mp3
Download The Cramps – I Was A Teenage Werewolf mp3
Download The Bodeans – Pretty Ghost mp3
Download The Mountain Goats – Damn These Vampires mp3
Download The Skeleton Dead – Lock The Doors mp3
Download XTC – The Ballad Of Peter Pumpkinhead mp3
And don’t forget our 2010 Halloween mix either – still available here.
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Another bonanza month of top tunes, all rounded up for you in one perfect download mix. Here are the September highlights together, as always, with a couple of top-notch new tracks too.
Download The Migrant – The Hurricane mp3 (from Amerika)
Distinguished by a slow blues refrain, handclaps and a mournful vocal, it is one of those tunes that sounds like it has been around forever.
Download Diarrhea Planet – Warm Ridin’ mp3 (from Loose Jewels)
A magnificent cacophony of guitars, pounding bass, thundering drums and begs for an open road, a booming car stereo and a warm night.
Download Black Pussy – Marijuana mp3 (from On Blonde)
Another track crying out for the open road, beer, and a bag of weed. This one comes barrelling down the road a whoopin’ and a hollerin’, wearing a shit-eatin’ grin and its anthemic heart firmly on its sleeve.
Download Vanish Valley – The Bottom mp3 (from Get Good)
Perfectly blending elements of folk, country and psychedelia into a roll-your-window-down backcountry cruise.
Download Kurt Vile & The Violators – The Creature mp3 (from So Outta Reach EP)
Another cracking slice of woozy, indie rock.
Download Ha Ha Tonka – Made Example Of mp3 (from Death Of A Decade)
Country rock par excellence.
Download Brown Bird – Thunder And Lightning mp3 (from Salt for Salt)
Darkly dramatic folk.
Download Acid Baby Jesus – Oh, Aurelia mp3
Full throttle, scuzzy garage rock.
Download Sic Alps – Breadhead mp3 (from Breadhead 7″)
A lo-fi, garage gem of tambourine, guitar squall and hippy vocals.
Download Icarus Himself – On Your Side mp3 (from Career Culture)
Built on a loop of a drum machine hi-hat and a fuzzed-out Casio synth and recalling artists like Kurt Vile, Deerhunter, and David Bowie.
Download Henry’s Funeral Shoe – Dog Scratched Ear mp3 (from Donkey Jacket)
Raw blues boogie, and song of the month for us!
Download Thee Oh Sees – Carrion Crawler mp3 (from Carrion Crawler / The Dream)
Loose, rattly garage with sneering vocals and a sinewy riff.
Download The Soft Moon – Total Decay mp3 (from Total Decay EP)
Ominous, swirling, bleak and nihilistic.
Download Acid Glasses – My Pale Garden mp3 (from My Pale Garden 7″)
Tripped out psychedelia in an outlandlishly hallucinogenic world.
Download Wooden Wand – Nails And Spikes mp3 (from Archives Vol 3)
Another gem of lo-fi folk genius from the most underrated lyricist around.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Keep Your Eyes To The Ground mp3 (from The Skeleton Dead)
Pure, mesmerising folk melancholia.
Download Woodsman – Specdrum mp3 (from Mystic Places EP)
Another cut of sublime spacey, psychedelia from their forthcoming Mystic Places EP.
Download The Felice Brothers – Behind That Locked Door mp3 (from Mojo Tribute To George Harrison)
The ramshackle Americana of The Felice Brothers take on George Harrison. Win.
Download Real Estate – Green Aisles mp3 (from Days)
Spacious, fluid, psych-tinged pop from the new album.
Download Sick Figures – Whiskey Song mp3 (from Two Ghosts)
Military beat, chaotic sounds and chanted lyrics that calls to mind a nursery rhyme composed by Charles Bukowski at his most pissed (and pissed off).
Download A.A. Bondy – Surfer King mp3 (from Believers)
First cut from folk troubadour’s eagerly awaited new album.
Download Bleached – You Take Time mp3 (from Carter 7″)
Ultra-catchy garage goodness.
And the new ones: we have a taste from Giant Sand’s Chore of Enchantment anniversary reissue in the shape of Music Arcade (which originally appeared on the tour only CD The Rock Opera Years), an epic slice of alternative rock Aussie style from Eddy Current Suppression Ring, a new one from unusual Welsh folkie Cate Le Bon, and punk rock ‘supergroup’ Wild Flag’s single Romance.
Download Giant Sand – Music Arcade mp3 (from Chore Of Enchantment 25th Anniversary Edition)
Download Eddy Current Suppression Ring – Walking In Unison mp3 (from Walking In Unison)
Download Cate Le Bon – Puts Me To Work mp3 (from CYRK)
Download Wild Flag – Romance mp3 (from Romance single)
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Folkish London duo The Skeleton Dead were originally a discovery of the esteemed Mrs Mackerel, and their brand of often malevolent, and occasionally macabre, lyrics contrast wonderfully with their sparsely delicate instrumentation. We previously described them as genuinely haunting – in the best sense of the word of course.
Now they have completed their self titled debut album and made it available for free download via Bandcamp here. The saying goes that when something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Well take our word for it – this is the exception to that rule.
But if you still need proof then a single listen to the previously posted Lock The Doors (a twisted new take on murder ballads), the heartbreakingly fatalistic Taken By The Tide or the pure mesmerising melancholia of Keep Your Eyes To The Ground – each and every one will do the job. Marvellous.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Keep Your Eyes To The Ground mp3 (from The Skeleton Dead)
Download The Skeleton Dead – Lock The Doors mp3 (from The Skeleton Dead)
Download The Skeleton Dead – Taken By The Tide mp3 (from The Skeleton Dead)
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Here are the juiciest cuts from our May postings rounded up and presented as one marvellous mix plus a couple of cracking new tracks as well. Be sure to check out all our previous ‘Best Of the Month’ mixes in the sidebar too.
Download Country Mice – Morning Son mp3 (from Twister)
Country rock and blistering sonic experiments combining to deliver a brilliant apocalyptic ballad.
Download Howling Owls – Hay Fever mp3 (from When Tipsy Turns Somber EP)
Deliciously ominous folk music that creeps from the edges of the swamp and imperceptibly curls icy fingers around the back of your neck.
Download The Black Lips – Modern Art mp3 (from Arabia Mountain)
A garage fuelled boozy swagger with added meaty Stooges Fun House era sonics.
Download Jackie-O Motherfucker – In The Willows mp3 (from Earth Sound System)
Banks of hazy guitars that threaten to show the chillwave youngsters where it’s at with some sun dappled riffs.
Download Abigail Washburn – City Of Refuge mp3 (from City Of Refuge)
Charming mix of Appalachian folk and bluegrass topped with a gorgeous vocal delivery.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Lock The Doors mp3
Brilliantly realised tale of the macabre – follow the twists and turns of a murderous burglar told over a sparse backdrop of gentle instrumentation that acts as a wonderful counterbalance to the coiled menace of the lyrics – this gem gives a twisted new take on murder ballads.
Download Mount Moriah – Lament mp3 (from Mount Moriah)
Wonderfully hymnal chant over a delicate acoustic narrative.
Download Leaving – Lonely Child mp3 (from Ghost House EP)
Sparse, ghostly and beautiful folk with slow, swirling instrumentation like tendrils of smoke from a campfire.
Download The Middle East – Hunger Song mp3 (from I Want That You Are Always Happy)
Australian folk musical collective’s upbeat gem.
Download Moses Luster – I’m The Lion mp3 (from I’m The Lion)
For lovers of tales of the downtrodden and the desperate.
Download Bonnie “Prince” Billy & The Phantom Family Halo – The Mindeater mp3 (from The Mindeater)
Bonnie’s vocal performance is perhaps already one of his eeriest in years – creepy backwoods paranoia anyone?
Download Marissa Nadler – The Sun Always Reminds Me Of You mp3 (from Marissa Nadler)
Her unique blend of dream pop, but this time pedal steel adds a distinct country feel to accompany that exquisite, ethereal voice.
Download Elliott Brood – Northern Air mp3 (from Days Into Years)
Another very fine example of their bluegrass tinged, up tempo alt-country with a classic singalong chorus.
Download U.S. Girls – If These Walls Could Talk mp3 (from U.S. Girls / Slim Twig Split 12″)
Hazy, insistent pop minimalism.
Download Slim Twig – Priscilla mp3 (from U.S. Girls / Slim Twig Split 12″)
Brilliantly twisted pop-art.
Download Chad VanGaalen – Sara mp3 (from Diaper Island)
Sparse, sweet, wide-eyed acoustic taster from new album.
Download Dirty Bourbon River Show – Train Is Gone mp3 (from Volume 2)
Ultra catchy country and horns rumble.
Download The Stripminers – No Luck mp3
Acerbic, punky take on Americana.
Download The Adultery Brothers – Something In My Drink mp3 (from Let Me Think)
Effevescent toe-tapping indie rock.
Download Pearl & the Beard – Sweetness mp3 (from Killing The Darlings)
Spitting, crackling folk with rousing boy/girl harmonies and mischievous ways.
Download The Blood Arm – Introducing Randy Newman mp3 (from Turn And Face Me)
Explosively catchy blend of tribal drums, relentless rock ‘n’ roll guitar and classicly simple, but effective hooks.
Download Mr Plow – Thank You Mr Ford mp3 (from Joyful In Song We Are)
Rich baritone voice lingers over a backdrop of twangy Gretsch guitars, shuffling drums and zinging flat top acoustic strumming.
Download The Roadside Graves – Love Me More mp3 (from We Can Take Care Of Ourselves)
Perfectly judged slice of tattered country rock with a rich chorus and a expansive feel.
Download Savaging Spires – Bending The Rules For Brian mp3 (from Savaging Spires)
Spooky slice of freakish folk and drone with a chorus that sounds like a voodoo incantation over slow, ominous backing strings.
Download The Sea Thieves – Focus The Stars mp3 (from They Will Run)
Hypnotic and haunting, it is a song that is meant for the quiet of evening when the stars are out and the only other sound is the wind rustling the leaves.
Download Twiggy Frostbite – By The Ocean mp3
Hazy, dreamlike song that sounds like it was created in a netherworld where surreal is the norm, and nothing is quite as it seems or as it should be.
And to finish we have the slightly unhinged proto-garage of The Bats Pajamas, the brilliantly retro garage soul of Fitz & The Tantrums (with a track just made for open-top cruising), and the first taste of songwriter Van Pierszalowski’s new project following the very sad demise of the wonderful Port O’Brien. Called Waters, this is his rousing single For The One.
Download The Bats Pajamas – Downtown Nitty Gritty mp3 (from The Bats Pajamas)
Download Fitz & The Tantrums – Don’t Gotta Work It Out mp3 (from Songs For A Break Up: Volume 1 EP)
Download Waters – For The One mp3 (from Out In The Light)
The Skeleton Dead have been back in touch with two more tracks of delicately beautiful acoustic tracks that still reveal some wonderfully dark and sinister undertones.
Lock The Doors is a brilliantly realised tale of the macabre – follow the twists and turns of a murderous burglar told over a sparse backdrop of gentle instrumentation that acts as a wonderful counterbalance to the coiled menace of the lyrics – this gem gives a twisted new take on murder ballads.
By contrast Taken By The Tide is more upbeat, but still remains heartbreakingly fatalistic.
“If we’re taken by the tide
I can’t say that I’ll mind.”
Haunting is a much overused term to describe most kind of acoustic folk – not this time. The Skeleton Dead easily exceed all expectations – highly recommended.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Lock The Doors mp3
Download The Skeleton Dead – Taken By The Tide mp3
Despite all the ‘best of’ lists, the top tens/twenties/fifties/one hundreds etc. and all the Christmas songs too, there has still been a cracking amount of new releases in December as well. So lest you missed out, here is our monthly round-up of the best tunes we’ve posted in December and, as always, a couple of new ones too.
That’s the New Year’s Eve mixtape sorted at least.
Download The Sweaters – Can’t Stop Winnin’ mp3
A syrupy, garage gem. It’s upbeat and has as much soul as it does jangle and is driven along by solid percussion every bit as muscular as you would hope.
Download Harlan Pepper – Great Lakes mp3
Slyly mischievous lyrics over a vintage country refrain – a song you could imagine still being sung on back porches in fifty years time.
Download Eulogies – You Hide mp3
Belying the tragic inspiration behind the new Eulogies album, this is a surprisingly positive track.
Download Wye Oak – Civilian mp3
Taster from folk duo’s forthcoming album is a gem.
Download Howling Owls – My Kinda Luck mp3
Picks away at the edges of domestic strife and family troubles, gleefully revealing a queasy, black-hearted underbelly.
Download The Babies – Run Me Over mp3
Rather charming, fuzzed up, doo-wop drenched opener that comes from their forthcoming debut album.
Download Yo Soybean – Anticipation mp3
Alternative folk that bounces with slide banjo and djembe delivering an impassioned stream of consciousness concerning the mundane intricacies of twenty-something year old existence in the twenty-first century.
Download Two Wounded Birds – Night Patrol mp3
Twangy menace behind a velveteen croon.
Download The Handsome Family – Drinking Beer On The Roof mp3
Classic black-humoured Americana from new album of covers, demos and outtakes.
Download The Range Rats – Colt 44 mp3
All Johnny Cash rumble and gun toting lyrics.
Download White Fence – Lillian (Won’t You Play Drums) mp3
More top notch lo-fi, retro indie pop.
Download The Mountain Goats – Tyler Lambert’s Grave mp3
Latest from the respected and influential lo-fi, indie do-it-yourselfers. A suitably prophetic tale.
Download Beach House – I Do Not Care For The Winter Sun mp3
Our most popular download of the month. More dreamy, reverb laden pop.
Download Julianna Barwick – The Magic Place mp3
Experimental and ethereal in equal measure.
Download Western States Motel – Country & Western Song mp3
A deceptively simple and straight forward tune that bounces along on a great rhythm and has quickly grown to be a firm favourite here at the Mackerel abode.
Download Jeremy Joyce – 18 Wheels mp3
A dark and groovy rocker with a great Hammond Organ solo.
Download Lisa Will Insult You, Darling – Give A Fuck mp3
A beautifully simple construction of the desolate and the downtrodden.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Gather Up Your Clothes mp3
It’s a lament, a regret. It’s both memorable and hypnotic.
Download Duke Garwood – Jesus Got A Gun mp3
An air of quiet menace, Garwood’s vocals whispering and murmuring over hollow knocks, piano and drones.
We also have a quite wonderful track from Sonny + The Sandwitches, it is from a recently released new four-song self-titled 7″ EP and features appearances by Heidi Alexander and Grace Cooper of the Sandwitches. The songs were inspired by a near-drowning, hence this track Throw My Ashes From This Pier When I Die. Superb.
We also have Religious To Damn who describe themselves as gypsy-psych and have an album Glass Prayer due for release in early 2011. This track Drifter has echoes of some of the classic 80s 4AD bands right through to Zola Jesus and Esben & The Witch.
Download Sonny + The Sandwitches – Throw My Ashes From This Pier When I Die mp3 (from Sonny + The Sandwitches EP)
Download Religious To Damn – Drifter mp3 (from Glass Prayer)
The Skeleton Dead are a fledgling band of only six months but this is something to marvel at rather than use as any sort of rationale. What sets the bar at a different level is the Greek/bouzouki-style guitar rhythm that hooks you in from the very first bar: it’s both memorable and hypnotic.
This is like a combination of many of my favourite musical influences – and I have absolutely no idea what the Skeleton Dead’s are – a little bit of Willard Grant Conspiracy, coupled with a bit of Lanegan and Campbell, even a hint of Magnetic Fields.
The dark with the light; the bare and transparent; a simple arrangement that works so well with the intensity of this song. It’s a lament, a regret. It’s time for him to leave – but will she leave with him? I’m hoping this is the first of many from the Skeleton Dead. Intense.
Visit their MySpace here or their Soundcloud page here.
Download The Skeleton Dead – Gather Up Your Clothes mp3
