MuzikDizcovery Exclusive: The Year Fifteen - "Out Of Sync"

The Republic of Wolves may have just released their latest record No Matter How Narrow late last year, but keyboardist Billy Duprey wasn't content to just sit around. The debut record of his solo project The Year Fifteen has actually been in the works for nearly three years now, as second As A World Entire track "Objectivity" was originally released in November, 2011. As A World Entire now has a release date of March 23rd, and the whole record is a perfect extension of No Matter How Narrow' s move into a lighter mood, pushing it even more towards a poppy sound. Today, we're very excited to be premiering the song right at the middle of the record, "Out Of Sync." The song's verses wouldn't be too out of place on a Manchester Orchestra song if they decided to go poppier, softer and add more keys, while the chorus is repetitive, but extremely catchy. The bridge is the perfect climax to the song, as the rest of the members of The Republic of Wolves join to alternate vocals, becoming a beautiful use of guest vocals. The release of As A World Entire is fast approaching, so be sure to follow The Year Fifteen on Facebook for more news regarding the record.

Casey's EPs, Songs and Albums of 2013

After the relative mediocrity of 2012 following up the fantastic year of 2011, it's nice to see that 2013 let no one down. It makes sense based on the length of a typical album cycle that many of the bands that put out great albums in 2011 and 2010 would return for 2013, and we saw the return of Vampire Weekend, Kanye West, The National, The Wonder Years and far more atop many lists. However, debuts really made an impact on my list personally, as three of my top four favorite records of the year happened to be a band's first full length release. Owel, The World Is A Beautiful and The 1975 all showed that they are full of fantastic songwriters and are bands whose popularity should continue to skyrocket through 2014, and their followups will be sought after by far more people than these fantastic debuts. However, the best record of the year was one I was only slightly anticipating after a poor last release, but ended up being one of the biggest growers of the year. Below, you will be able to see my favorite 10 EPs, 25 songs and 25 albums of 2013, a year which had plenty for everyone. If you click on an album title, it will link to our coverage (if we had any) and if you click on a song title, it will bring you to YouTube or Soundcloud. Enjoy!

MuzikDizcovery Exclusive: Winter Dust - Autumn Years Album Stream

So if you haven't noticed recently, we love Winter Dust. Between our very well received premier of "Early Grey Mornings" to our recent A level review of Autumn Years, it's clear that we think that Winter Dust is one of the best young bands making music right now. So there were no second thoughts when we found out we had the opportunity to premier this fantastic album. The album brings together so many parts of bands I love such as Gates, Caspian and Athletics, and it really is something special. From the instrumental beauty of songs like "Undertow" to immense emotional releases in "Early Grey Mornings," Winter Dust is a band that knows how to tug at the heartstrings. If you haven't already, also be sure to like their Facebook page for more information. The album is now available for free download, but if you aren't already convinced, be sure to stream it below.

Artist Of The Day: Death Grips

Somehow, Death Grips keeps surprising us. A little over a year after leaking No Love Deep Web without their label's permission, they've come out of nowhere to release the brand new album Government Plates. While "Birds" was released in August, the strangeness and out of nowhere posting of the track made it feel like a one-off. However, it seems that was simply a teaser for this record. "Birds" isn't quite a strong indication of the sound of the record, however the one correct sign you may get from it is that the record is far more focused on the beats and features more vocal-less parts. Even during the rapped parts, the vocals seem to be turned down lower than before, giving Zach Hill and Flatlander the spotlight rather than their weirdly worshipped frontman MC Ride. It's definitely an interesting listen, if not their best, and worth downloading. You can download Government Plates for free right here, and stream it on their Soundcloud.

Artist Of The Day: Tancred

We may have to wait until 2014 for a new Now, Now record, but it's hard to complain with Tancred's brand new self-titled record out for consumption. For the uninformed, Tancred is Now, Now guitarist/backing vocalist Jess Abbott's solo project, and after two stripped down acoustic releases she has released a record that stands up to the best of Now, Now. While the ambient electronics that made Threads so unique and fantastic are nonexistent in Tancred, the guitar based sound works to separate the two projects. Opener "The Ring" is almost bouncy in its guitar riff and melody, but the emotional strain on Jess's voice permeates throughout the song, a standard matched throughout the whole album. It's a fantastic effort for something that isn't even close to the main priority for Jess, as Now, Now is touring through the release of this record. However, it's a nice little sign that her creative juices are still flowing, leading into higher hopes for Now, Now's expected 2014 release. You can stream and purchase the record on Topshelf Records's Bandcamp page.

Live Review: Volcano Choir, 9:30 Club (9/12/13)

The sad reality about Volcano Choir shows are that a large amount of people are there to see Justin Vernon. The Bon Iver superstar's involvement in the project drove in plenty of fans solely due to name value, but Volcano Choir isn't a band that features a "frontman." It's a magical collective of similar minded and equally talented musicians, merging together to form wonderful music. In a live setting, this feeling of teamwork displays itself even more blatantly, creating a performance that could be appreciated by all for the musical brilliance coming from the stage.

Artist Of The Day: Hellogoodbye

While this fantastic musical year that is 2013 is beginning to finally come to an end, there are still a couple of records that could very well enter that upper echelon of releases this year. Hellogoodbye's new record Everything Is Debatable might only be highly anticipated by those who listened to previous release Would It Kill You?, but the album's high acclaim as well as a huge upcoming tour supporting Paramore has pushed the album's hype far higher than those who consider the band nothing more than a "one-hit wonder" would expect. It's a slight shift from the organic, earthy feel of Would It Kill You?, instead adding in subtle electronics to the still lush indie pop sound the band previously perfected. "Just Don't" has a pounding bass that puts the band back in the dancy territory of their debut, yet it still feels like a totally different band. Everything Is Debatable isn't another enormous leap forward, but it's a refining and reorganization of what has become the band's signature sound. Be sure to look out for an upcoming album stream by following the band's Facebook page.

Artist Of The Day: Mansions

I can honestly say that Mansions's upcoming record Doom Loop may very well be my most anticipated record of all time. Dig Up The Dead slowly but surely moved towards the top of my list of favorite albums, and at this moment I consider Mansions my favorite band of all time. The band has so far released one track off the record, and if "Climbers" is a representation of the overall sound of the album, we should expect a combination of the distorted crunch of Dig Up The Dead with the catchiness of New Best Friends, creating almost a perfect middle point between the albums. Based on "Climbers" and the other two live tracks that Christopher Browder and company have been playing for over a year now, there's very little chance that Doom Loop isn't one of the best albums of 2013. Stream "Climbers" right here, and be sure to follow the band's Facebook page for more details on the album.

Interview With Rare Monk (8/23/13)

One of our favorite new little bands on MuzikDizcovery this year has been Rare Monk. From first listen, they have blown us away by their ability to make segments both crushingly powerful and infectiously catchy, even within songs. The group just finished up their largest tour to date opening up for The Dangerous Summer, and at the Baltimore date of the tour they graciously answered questions from us regarding topics such as playing in new places, the removal of Sleep/Attack from Bandcamp, new music, Daytrotter, music videos, and far more that you can read below.

Artist Of The Day: Moving Mountains

While not entirely unexpected, it's still quite sad to see that Moving Mountains is probably ending their existence as a band after three more shows. The most heartbreaking part about this breakup is the fact that the band may have just released their best record. After the mediocre Waves, it seemed that the band would never hit the heights of their first record Pneuma. However, Moving Mountains is another reinvention of their sound, moving in a sonically different direction from the heavier Waves into a more subdued tone similar to The Appleseed Cast. This isn't a record that is an immediate hit – instead it's possibly one of the biggest growers of the year. Every listen brings more to the table as the record slowly seeps in to your mind. It's a record that needs time and care to really get, just as the band did with the creation of it. If you can make it to one of the band's three final shows in Boston, Brooklyn and Hamden, CT, you should really go see what should be a beautiful end to this band's existence. Check out all the information for those shows on Facebook, and be sure to read our review for the album as well.

Live Review: A Great Big Pile Of Leaves, The Ottobar (8/14/13)

On a Topshelf Records lineup dominated by emo bands, A Great Big Pile Of Leaves is a bit of an oddball. In contrast to the raw emotion of Pianos Become The Teeth or the ambient twinkly soundscapes of The World Is A Beautiful Place, the band embraces a far more accessible indie pop sound. With a knack for massive hooks while surrounding them with multilayered harmonies and sophisticated guitar parts, the band actually has the greatest potential for overall success on the Topshelf roster. If they keep cranking out on performances like their recent gig at the Ottobar, they should top the Topshelf food chain in no time.

Artist Of The Day: Yuck

A vocalist leaving a band often becomes a death sentence for a band. It's just hard for a group to recover when their main voice changes, and very often turns away a large group of their fans. Yuck's relatively long period of inactivity only helped lower expectations for upcoming material, but after a couple listens of Glow And Behold I can safely say that the album has exceeded my wildest expectations. The album pulls back on the haze that covered Yuck, a stylistic change that fits Max Bloom's voice far better than it would former vocalist Daniel Blumberg's. There is also a shift to more sophisticated arrangements, featuring trumpets on about half the album's tracks and two beautiful instrumental tracks to change anyone's perspective of what Yuck actually is. Glow And Behold is a perfect return to prominence for Yuck, and the acclaim should start beginning to pile up very soon. Get excited for Glow and Behold by streaming the two new tracks "Middle Sea" and "Rebirth," and follow them on Facebook for more information regarding the new release.

Artist Of The Day: Rare Monk

If you've been following the site this year, you know that Rare Monk has been almost universally one of our favorite discoveries of 2013. The band's ability to go from an insanely catchy indie pop group to a powerful instrumental group from song to song just showcases both their talent and desire to avoid being pigeonholed within one category of music. I recently saw the group perform with The Dangerous Summer in Baltimore, and needless to say they blew me and the rest of the crowd away, receiving by far the loudest cheers of the night outside of the headliner. Their set consisted of three songs off former album (more news on that soon) Sleep/Attack, as well as three brand new songs and a cover. The band's presence was felt even outside their set, as violinist Isaac Thelin played violin for a song on every one of the band's sets, including a stunning performance of The Dangerous Summer's "Northern Lights" that even stunned vocalist AJ Perdomo in its beauty. The band showed that they have all the tools to continue expanding their fanbase, so be ready to hear the name Rare Monk a lot in the future. Our interview with the band should be up in a few days, so keep your eyes peeled. You can check them out on Facebook.

MuzikDizcovery Exclusive: Echo Base - "Never Tell Me The Odds"

We're very excited today to be premiering the penultimate track from Floridian emo duo Echo Base's forthcoming full length album Some Legacy. "Never Tell Me The Odds" allows the pair the opportunity to shred with their respective instruments, showcasing both guitarist Spencer Wills's ability to twinkle hard and drummer Miguel Vasquez's upbeat and driving rhythms. Both members take the reins on vocal duties, shifting from one to the other seamlessly and even layering their shouts onto each other. Send Away Stranger vocalist Will Linscott joins the track for a guest verse that stands as the calm between the two more intense segments of the track. Echo Base allows their homestate buddy to shine, giving him the spotlight over top the more subdued instrumental before bursting back and taking back their own track. It's a song that should be a staple of the band's live sets for years to come as well as a strong introduction to the band as a whole. Some Legacy is out September 3rd, and you can stream two other tracks and preorder the album on Bandcamp. All proceeds from Bandcamp purchases will go towards getting the album pressed on vinyl. Be sure to also follow the band on Facebook, as all news having to do with the band will be posted there.    

Artist Of The Day: There For Tomorrow

By the luck of the shuffle setting on my iTunes, I have recently rekindled the love for the band that used to be my absolute favorite. In 2008, right around when I was just getting into music below the mainstream and before I started this website, I fell in love with a little band called There For Tomorrow. The band's debut single "Pages," was everything I wanted in music at that point — vocalist Maika Maile's voice was powerful, but able to hit a wide range of notes, the instrumentals had the perfect blend of atmosphere and aggression and the hook was enormous. In a time where I was still needing more accessible music, There For Tomorrow allowed me to feel both progressive and underground while catering to my current musical needs.

Artist Of The Day: Acceptance

Acceptance is one of the biggest cases of "what could they have done if they hadn't broken up." A slick, radio ready alternative rock band led by the smooth vocals of Jason Vena, the band had every reason to blow up. Strong musicianship and powerful hooks allowed the band to appeal to fans of both rock and pop, and with the emergence of rock songs on the chart, Acceptance had both the style and audience to blow up. Sadly, the band's major label just couldn't push surefire Phantoms hits like "Take Cover" and "So Contagious" enough, creating less of a reason for the band to stay together. It's been tough not hearing Jason Vena's voice over the last seven years, though in recent years he's finally decided to donate several lines to All Time Low's "Outlines" and Ivoryline's "The Healing." Hopefully he'll finally get the itch to return to music in the future, whether it be with an Acceptance revival or a whole new project. Either way, we at least have one fantastic album to hold on to forever. Phantoms was recently pressed on vinyl by Bad Timing Records, but the first pressing is currently all sold out (GFYTN). There should be a second pressing soon, so be sure to keep an eye on the label's Facebook page.

Artist Of The Day: Luray

Just because because someone is a sibling of a well known musician, that doesn't mean that they should be forgotten. Jamie Lacey seems to be doing pretty well for himself as part of Coasta, even while he's done his best to keep away from his revered brother's name. As the sister of Sean Carey (of S. Carey and Bon Iver fame), Luray's Shannon Carey is embracing her brother's talent, enlisting him as the producer of the group's debut full length The Wilder. Ms. Carey embraces the banjo, using it to infuse her folky tunes with a bluegrass tinge. The majority of the tracks are dominated by the the banjo, while her sweet voice creates quite an enjoyable listen. However, the atmospheric title track and opener of the record stays closer to her brother's projects, focusing on vocals among soft pulses of sound, creating the most unique and interesting track in the arsenal. More diversity could be used, but the talent is obviously there and The Wilder is definitely a successful debut for the group. The Wilder is out August 27th, so be sure to follow what the band does on Facebook!

Artist Of The Day: Sampha

Sampha is probably currently best known for his prevalent vocal work (as well as some production and writing credits) on SBTRKT's self titled album as well as a member of his live band, but with the release of his official debut solo EP he should start being respected as an individual artist. Dual, released today, gives us a first impression of his artistic vision. His soulful voice is on full display, and is definitely the forefront of the project, but the production supports it perfectly. Piano is a weapon of choice for his beats, but the most interesting tracks are the two that don't end up relying on it. The driving drumbeats on "Without" give the most similar feeling to his work on SBTRKT, while the layered vocal samples on closer "Can't Get Close" create an ethereal mood that could easily be likened to an angelic ride through the sky. While some work is needed to create a stronger, more cohesive product, Dual is simply the beginning on what should be a respected career for this up and coming vocalist and producer. You can stream a few tracks from the EP on Sampha's website.

Artist Of The Day: Minks

Minks has gone under a pretty incredible transformation in sound over the last three years. Based on the release of the first three singles from the upcoming record Tides End, the dreamy, reverb drenched sound of the band's debut By The Hedge is all but gone, replaced with a more straightforward and focused sound. Everything packs far more of a punch, from the newly clear and intelligible vocals to the tightened up instrumentals focused on doing more than just creating a wall of sound. The choruses are huge and it's obvious that Tides End is going to be a far more accessible record, with the ability to make the impact that Wild Nothing, Beach Fossils and DIIV have made in the last couple years. Check out streams of "Margot" and "Painted Indian," and definitely preorder the record if you enjoy those tracks!

Interview With Koji (7/13/13)

Koji is more than just a musician. Music is just one of the tools that he uses to express his feelings on issues that he feels passionate for. For example, he used the preorder for his brand new record Crooked In My Mind as a way to donate to several organizations that fight issues that he finds important to the world as a whole. Koji graciously took some time out his busy touring schedule with Turnover, Have Mercy, and Ivy League to talk to us in Baltimore, Maryland about topics such as touring for long periods of time, the second edition of the Warped Tour Acoustic Basement, the record preorder, playing the Idobi Meltdown Festival, and far more that you can read below.