Hot Hot Heat / Maxeen

Scott: So after Adam's unabashed praise of the new Hot Hot Heat album [readable here], my interest really was piqued in this band. Thanks to moldy, I now own said album [gotta love those belated birthday presents!]. This song has been stuck in my head in the past 72 hours, and I expect for it to stay around much, much longer:
Hot Hot Heat - Oh, Goddamnit
For more info on Hot Hot Heat, go to HotHotHeat.com.

Adam: "They say it's your birthday? Well it's my birthday too yeah." Yep. I'm 21 today, which in Canada is really far less interesting than it is in the States. But no, that won't stop me from taking a page from the Book of Scott and soliciting presents. Here's one of the songs that should be playing during the bash, it's SideOne's new signing Maxeen doing their best Police impression:
Maxeen - Love Goes A Long Way
For more info on the band check SideOneDummy.

Red Animal War

Hey, today is my 21st birthday! And to help me celebrate, all I ask is that you download this MP3 by a kickass band called Red Animal War. I saw them on Friday night as a part of the Too Young To Die tour, and the rocked me senseless. Think of a mix between the melodicism of Jawbox and the angular sounds of the Ghost or the Honor System. This band should be huge.
Red Animal War - When Fat Pigs Fly
For more info on Red Animal War, check out RedAnimalWar.com.

[Oh yeah, if you really want to help me celebrate my 21st - in lieu of buying me a drink, buy me a present off my wishlist.]

Joe Jackson Band

Okay, so I am seriously loving this new Joe Jackson Band album. Here's that funny, funny song I was talking about in my review of the new disc:
Joe Jackson Band - Thugz 'R' Us
For more info on Joe Jackson, go to JoeJackson.com.

Tangiers

Toronto's Tangiers have been getting a fair amount of buzz lately from the Canadian music press. The four-piece channels early New Bomb Turks and Rolling Stones swagger through vocals that range in influence from Richard Hell to John Lydon, all with incredible energy and solid songwriting. Look for a full review of the band's debut LP "Hot New Spirits" soon, but needless to say I'm enthused. Check out the lead track:
Tangiers - Red Stone Rocks
For more info check out the band's label Sonic Unyon.

Warsawpack / Panic In Detroit

Hamilton, Ontario's Warsawpack signed with Winnipeg's G7 Welcoming Committee last year. The band plays what can best be described as highly politicized hip hop backed by a jazz band. Its different but great. This is off their debut "Gross Domestic Product" that was released last year:
Warsawpack - Attention To Deficit
For more info check out the G7 Welcoming Committee.

A friend saw this band play in Toronto a few days ago and advised that I check them out. Panic In Detroit is a pretty straight-up rock band but executes their sound quite well. This track's from their self titled EP on Silverthree Sound Recordings. Foo Fighters or Weezer fans should dig this:
Panic In Detroit - We Own Everything
For more info on Panic In Detroit, go here.

Gestalt [again] / Vic Ruggiero

Scott: Well if you know me [or if you read the story below this], you know I love the Smoking Popes. Also, if you know me [or have been following my MP3 of the week posts recently], you know how much I love Gestalt. So what better way to combine my two loves? I'm glad you asked!
Gestalt - Paul
Could that be my favorite German techno band with a penchant for acoustic love songs covering one of Chicago's all-time greats? Yeah, I think it is. Why this wasn't on the official tribute record is beyond me. For more info on the Smoking Popes, head to SmokingPopes.net and for more info on Gestalt, you can email the band at Gestaltx@aol.com [and download more of their MP3s here].

Adam: Ok, I've let you all live with Scott's weirdness long enough. His reign of terror ends now. Here's a track by Slackers frontman Vic Ruggiero from his independently released solo album "Living in Sin / Understanding New Jersey." Its a great low-fi rockabilly ditty:
Vic Ruggiero - Junkie Parents
(track offline. email Adam if you want to hear it)
Vic's band The Slackers are working on a new album that should drop this fall on Hellcat.

Gestalt

Hooray! The papers have cleared, the band has relocated to the Midwest, and now I bring them to you as the new best unsigned band in America. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a German techno duo with a penchant for acoustic love songs. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you…

Gestalt.

Download these three MP3s in order of their listing to better enjoy and understand the mystery that is Gestalt:
Gestalt - Intro Gestalt - Sir Francis Mit Bacon Gestalt - Whining Infidelities
[NOTE: If you're having problems downloading those last 2 songs directly, just go to the band's mp3.com page here.]

Gestalt now has an email address! Send your fanmail to Gestaltx@aol.com. Remember, their English isn't all that good, so be simple.

The New Pornographers / Gods Reflex

Adam: There's something to say about the pedigree of the New Pornographers, as they're a finely bred animal that's resulted from a long line of great indie rock acts. The Vancouver supergroup features Zumpano's Carl Newman, (non-touring member) Dan Bejar of Destroyer, Kurt Dahle of Limblifter and critical-darling Neko Case just to name a few. Their debut album is "top 5" shit for me, so getting new material from them makes me quite happy:
New Pornographers - The Laws Have Changed
Check Mint Records or Matador for more info. The new album "Electric Version" drops on May 5th.

Scott: Due to my car blowing up last week, I was unable to attend Gods Reflex's last show which took place this past Friday at the Fireside Bowl. In lieu of flowers for my car, all I ask is that you download some of these MP3s [most of which are graciously provided by Arms Reach Recordings] so you can better understand just how amazing Gods Reflex was, and how much I'm going to miss them:
Gods Reflex - I'm Not Sorry Gods Reflex - Why I Hate Texas Gods Reflex - How I Learned To Unwind Gods Reflex - Or Ever Be Lonely Again Gods Reflex - Perfect Blankets For November Gods Reflex - Put Down That Guitar Gods Reflex - That They Should Never Weep Gods Reflex - Unfastened In Your Car Gods Reflex - Careering [live on Illinois Wesleyan radio] Gods Reflex - Careering
Gods Reflex - Of Self And Promise
The band's webpage is now defunct, but a few good sites to find out more about the band and buy some CDs are ArmsReachRecordings.com, JohannsFace.com, and RedLineDistribution.com.

Oh yeah, and as for revealing my pick for the new best unsigned band in America: I know I promised it for this week, but there is a small problem - the band is from Germany. I'm currently hard at work getting them physically imported to America, and hopefully all the paperwork will go through by next Sunday. What I can tell you about the band, however, is their name: Gestalt. Get ready for a musical revolution.

Royal City

Adam: Royal City play a mix of indie rock, folk, alt-country and low-fi punk with a penchant for occasionally morbid imagery. This track is from their 2001 album "Alone At The Microphone" which is being reissued in Europe soon on Rough Trade Records. Jim Guthrie from this band is becoming quite a celebrated solo artist in his own right. Fans of the Weakerthans will dig this :
Royal City - Bad Luck
Check out Three Gut Records for more info, tour dates and whatnot.

Scott: Why no MP3 of the week from yours truly today? I know why! BECAUSE MY FUCKING CAR BLEW UP ON THE FUCKING HIGHWAY. Not that I'm upset about it or anything. Anyway, look for me to debut the new best unsigned band in America next Sunday - this band will rock your world.

John K. Samson

Scott: Remember that story we ran a little while ago about those John K. Samson songs being streamed by the CBC? Remember how frustrated you were when the songs were only available through streaming audio, and not MP3? Remember when those awesome guys at Punknews.org provided some of them in MP3 form?
John K. Samson - Psalm for The Elk's Lodge Last Call
For more information on Samson's band, the Weakerthans, please head on over to TheWeakerthans.org.

Adam: Here's another from those CBC sessions. It doesn't paint the most flattering picture of Winnipeg but Samson claims the song isn't written in the first person:
John K. Samson - One Great City
Are we excited? Yes. I believe we are.

American Steel

A lot of you like American Steel. I like American Steel, too. I also like this American Steel song, which is the last one they ever recorded and is only available on Lookout! Freakout Volume 3:
American Steel - More Like A Dream
For more info on American Steel, go here.

Plan Of Attack / The Slackers & Chris Murray

Scott: Hardcore punk is alive and well in Dekalb, Illinois and Plan Of Attack is here to prove it. Fans of Gorilla Biscuits, Minor Threat, and the like take note:
Plan Of Attack - Watch It Burn
For more info on the band, go here, and to download more of their MP3s, go here.

Adam: The Slackers recently put together an album released independently through their Special Potatoe label titled "The Slackers And Friends." It features the band backing guest vocalists from the ska and reggae scenes. This is one of my favorite tracks from the disc, featuring Chris Murray of King Apparatus:
The Slackers f. Chris Murray - Running From Safety
You can pick up this record from the band's website or at their shows, I doubt its easily available in stores.