Website: Onecall.com

Now, I’m not sure about the fine-print regarding this website, but from a glance, this website’s a bargain. Think of it as Best Buy, online, and cheaper.

Hit the site up at www.onecall.com

“Sea Wolf” Featured in “Zombieland”

“Sea Wolf” ‘s song, “You’re a Wolf”, was featured in the zomedy (zombie comedy) movie, “Zombieland”. Perhaps, this might be proof that Sea Wolf is growing in popularity.

Here’s the video for “You’re a Wolf”.

Music Spotlight: Miniature Tigers

Miniature Tigers – formed in the bedroom of singer Charlie Brand, is a refreshing new example of tip-top-quality Indie rock. Their lyrics are provocatively insightful, their sound refreshing, and their overall atmosphere very, very professional. I, for one, would much rather hear these types of songs played in feature films, rather than mainstream trash like the “Pussycat Dolls”.  It’s great atmospheric music, truly. Although these tunes wouldn’t work out well at, say, a college party, it serves as superb mood-setting music. Tracks like these deserve outstanding visuals to accompany them side-by-side.

Visit Miniature Tigers at:

Last.FM

Myspace

Lesser-Known Website: Oodle.com

Aye. Oodle here is a classified-listings type of website. It garners listings from hundreds of other sources and lists them on one site. This, itself, is a handy alternative to Ebay and other sites. Facebook’s “Marketplace” uses Oodle to garner its listings, which I find to be MUCH more engaging than other sites, most likely due to the fact that material objects are being sold on a social networking website. This, in itself, reassures me of the validity and humanity of the vendors.

Now, I myself use websites that sell things for two main objectives:

1. Find guitars and other musical paraphernalia

2. Find cars.

In retrospect, this is all a massive waste of time if I don’t plan on readily buying any of those things. This could be another part of being human, though; I still gaze longingly at things that I won’t be getting anytime soon. Perhaps it’s a means of motivation. OR – it could be plain-old avarice.

So, to wrap things up: You can access Oodle online at http://www.oodle.com/ to find things like THIS:

"Mother of god..."

Music Spotlight: Balance Problems – All Ears Now (Turkish Bath version)

Damn, I want a tangible CD version of Balance Problems’ 2nd EP, “Separate Chapters”. Personally, I prefer to own my favorite tracks on original CD, and perhaps Vinyl later on. Cyberspace is still too ethereal for me. 

—

Balance Problems has been around for somewhere left or right of 3 years, formed as the solo project for Brack Cantrell, former member of metalcore band Sky Eats Airplane. He release his first EP, “There’s Life in the Trees”, to relative popularity within certain music circles on April 12, 2007. My own personal favorite Balance Problems song, “Enderly”, is track #4 on this CD. A year later, on February 15th, 2008, “Morning Sun” was released, marking Balance Problems’ first full debut. The latest EP, “Separate Chapters”, was released September of that year (2008). “All Ears Now (Turkish Bath version)” is a preview Brack Cantrell uploaded onto Myspace, as a teaser for his new CD. Previously, electronic sounds had been a major part of his songs – however, Brack has stated that he would like to take a more “organic” approach to music, with less electronica.

I chose to feature this track because of the vivid visual imagery it evokes for me. The “Turkish Bath” effect is a nice touch, and makes the track much more theatrical and engaging. Banjo is also prevalent throughout the piece, adding a homely feel to the track. One of the main reasons I’m a huge fan of Balance Problems is due to the warm aura that emanates from his work. 

(Visit the Band’s myspace to listen to our featured song)

The band’s Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/balanceproblems

Official band site: http://www.brackcantrell.com

Music Spotlight : Sea Wolf – Leaves in the River

Listen to it here.

Sea Wolf was started as a solo project by Alex Brown Church, sometime around 2003. He plays with members of the Ship Collective Community, who rotate through bands. Alex has recently gained some publicity after having two of his songs featured in commercials – “You’re a Wolf” in a GM commercial for the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, and “Sea Monuments” for a Radioshack holiday commercial. Sea Wolf is currently signed to Dangerbird Records, and has released three albums :

“Get to the River Before It Runs too Low (EP)” – 2007

“Leaves in the River” – 2007

“White Water, White Bloom” – 2009

 

The Song Featured: 

This track starts out with a big, dramatic, almost theatrical opening. Water rippling, with lots of echo room and big, heavy bass drum. It builds up slightly chaotically, but in a good way, with the typical “rewind” sound effect mixed in there as an undertone. Then it all stops, save for the water sound/fire crackling/scratchy record.

Demure acoustic follows, very simply, introducing singer Alex Church’s remarkably amiable singing. A second acoustic soon joins in, along with a cello and an odd sound effect that sounds like a looped slide-up pluck on a double bass. A simple, music-box esque piano riff joins the sections together, tying Intro, Development, Chorus, and Outtro together nicely. 

As kind as the music is, the lyrics are equally, if not more, evocative of soft emotions. The lyrics, vocals, and instrumentals blend together to make a thoroughly warm and loveable song.

I met a girl on Halloween
When she was lost, and I was drunk
And it was dark and cold out when we left

 

And as we walked the rain started
The leaves softened with every step
And all around us people slept alone with their dreams

The wind came down from up the planes
And blew the leaves all through the streets
I wondered how far leaves could really fly

Would they rest in suburb yards
Or make it to the city
Or would they end up in the river just to float away

She pointed to a small brick house
And said it was where she grew up
The lights were out, she aked if we could stop for awhile

Her hair was still just getting wet
The water running down her neck
Collecting in the handprint in cement beneath her feet

Apparently there’d been a death
Someone close and nothing left
Because she hadn’t left him in the end

I saw her blush when I asked
If she always talked like that
She said it only happened when she drank

And later on I felt her hand
Slipping into my cold fist
She promised me a kiss as soon as we got home

 

Her costume had begun to tear
She ran ahead and turned to me
Her laughter echoed through the empty streets 

 

Sea Wolf’s Website: http://www.seawolfmusic.com/

Sea Wolf’s Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/seawolf

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