Within Temptation

Dutch Symphonic Metal Band Within Temptation finally went truly symphonic. Backed by the Metropole Orchestra, they recorded this in three days time in September, 2008. Since its live, I will say that Sharon's vocals are good but sometimes a little rough.

This is not the American release.

Ouverture
Jillian (I'd Give My Heart)
The Howling
Stand My Ground
The Cross
What Have You Done (Featuring Keith Caputo)
Hand Of Sorrow
The Heart Of Everything
Forgiven
Somewhere (Featuring Anneke Van Giersbergen)
The Swan Song
Memories
Our Solemn Hour
The Other Half (Of Me) (Featuring George Oosthoek)
Frozen
The Promise
Angels
Mother Earth
The Thruth Beneath The Rose
Deceiver Of Fools
All I Need
Ice Queen

2008, 53.07MB

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Candlemass

Well, no one accuse me of not putting up fresh new releases. This one has yet to come out. It hits on April 3rd. Swedish Epic Metal band Candlemass have been around since the 80's but are always awesome. They posted their album for streaming on MySpace after its release was delayed. So, considering the source, I'm surprised at the quality of the files. Anyways, enjoy!

1. If I Ever Die
2. Hammer Of Doom
3. The Bleeding Baroness
4. Demon Of The Deep
5. House Of 1,000 Voices
6. Dead Angel
7. Clouds Of Dementia
8. My Funeral Dreams

2009, 24.61MB

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Ani DiFranco

Another album from 2006!?!? You'd think I have some sort of hard on for the year or something. I don't. It's just what I'm digging right now.

I can't really say anything that hasn't been said about Ani. She's stellar. Get her. 'Nuff Said.

P.S. I like long-haired Ani.

1. "Hypnotized" – 4:11
2. "Subconscious" – 3:32
3. "In the Margins" – 3:13
4. "Nicotine" – 4:06
5. "Decree" – 3:43
6. "78% H₂O" – 3:30
7. "Millennium Theater" – 3:14
8. "Half-Assed" – 3:30
9. "Reprieve" – 2:45
10. "A Spade" – 4:24
11. "Unrequited" – 4:06
12. "Shroud" – 4:48
13. "Reprise" – 1:34

2006, 9.97MB

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The Brand New Heavies

The Brand New Heavies have got to be one of the best things in my CD collection outside of having every NIИ halo and a heap o' Groove Armada cds. They're legendary! Pioneers of Acid Jazz and still grooving off of it. This is the last album they've released and I love it!!! Picking a favorite song off this album is like picking a favorite child: it can't be done without massive guilt. But I'd have to say "I Just Realized" is it.My personal favorite song from this album is

Enclosed in the archive is The Brand New Heavies' cover of Maria Muldaur's "Midnight at the Oasis". This track came out in 1994 in Britain but not in the US. Its an fabulous version and is the song that introduced me to the band. Totally worth grooving to!

01. We've Got 04:43
02. I Don't Know Why (I Love You) 03:31
03. Get Used To It 03:26
04. Sex God 04:54
05. Let's Do It Again 05:08
06. We Won't Stop 04:08
07. Right On 04:05
08. Music 03:35
09. I Just Realized 04:35
10. All Fired Up 04:12
11. Love Is 04:15
12. I've Been Touched 04:11

2006, 25.31MB

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Emily Loizeau

The debut album by French singer and author Emily Loizeau. Yes, it is in French. No, I will not translate. I will tell you the album's name translates into The Other Side of the World.

This is also enormous when compared to the other albums I put up here. I screwed up on the my options and realized this afterward. I'm lazy.

1. "L'autre bout du monde"
   
2. "Boby chéri"
3. "Voilà pourquoi"
4. "Je ne sais pas choisir" – 3:19
5. "Jasseron" (with Franck Monnet) – 3:54
6. "I'm alive" – 4:17
7. "Sur la route" – 2:57
8. "Je suis jalouse" – 3:16
9. "Comment dire" – 2:18
10. "Zool" – 1:24
11. "Leaving you" – 2:34
12. "London town" (duet with Andrew Bird) – 2:48
13. "L'âge d'or" – 4:52

2006, 119.00MB

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The Fixx

Continuing the the 80's thing, here's an album from the British New Wave outfit, The Fixx. This is probably the high point in their career. This album is actually a really good listen though the style is definitely a product of its time: it screams 1984.

Two particular songs stand out. First, the ubiquitous One Thing Leads to Another. If you don't know this song, you obviously are either over 70 or under 5. It was their biggest hit and is played frequently on 80's channels and other 80's, 90's and today stations. Second, the song Saved by Zero. This song was not a big hit back in 1983. But it was resurrected last year by Toyota for their annoying ads. Don't believe me? Watch this!

Yeah.... I let it go in the background and after a minute I was going to throw my laptop off the balcony! But The Fixx did it much better.

1. One Thing Leads to Another
2. Sign of Fire
3. Running
4. Saved by Zero
5. Opinions
6. Reach the Beach
7. Changing
8. Liner
9. Priviledge
10. Outside

1983, 22.19MB

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This Mortal Coil - Filligree & Shadow

This Mortal Coil was a dream pop supergroup lead by Ivo Watts-Russell, founder of the British record label 4AD. Although Watts-Russell and John Fryer were technically the only two official members, the band's recorded output featured a large rotating cast of supporting artists, many who were signed to, or otherwise associated with, 4AD. About half of the songs released were cover songs, often of 1960s and 1970s psychedelic and folk acts, which displayed those two genres' place in the history and formation of dream pop. On each of the band's three LPs, at least one song would also be a cover of a 4AD artist, and most of the original songs were instrumentals.

The name "This Mortal Coil" is drawn from William Shakespeare's Hamlet and is a poetic expression referring to the earthly condition.

Fryer and Watts-Russell put together a follow-up album, Filigree & Shadow, which was released in 1986. A sprawling and more varied collection, Filigree & Shadow covered songs by Tim Buckley, Colin Newman, Talking Heads, Pearls Before Swine, Gene Clark, Judy Collins, and Van Morrison in between the original compositions. The Cocteau Twins' Simon Raymonde was still a significant presence, and string player/arranger Martin McCarrick took a bigger role this time around; Steven Young and Mark Cox both returned, and members of Dif Juz were also prominent. Most vocals were by Dominic Appleton (also of Breathless), Deirdre Rutkowski and Louise Rutkowski, and a pre-dance diva Alison Limerick.

1. Velvet Belly
2. The Jeweller
3. Ivy And Neet
4. Meniscus
5. Tears
6. Tarantula
7. My Father
8. Come Here My Love
9. At First, And Then
10. Strength Of Strings
11. Morning Glory
12. Inch-blue
13. I Want To Live
14. Mama K (I)
15. Filigree And Shadow
16. Fire Brothers
17. Thais (I)
18. I Must Have Been Blind
19. A Heart Of Glass
20. Alone
21. Mama K (II)
22. The Horizon Bleeds And Sucks Its Thumb
23. Drugs
24. Red Rain
25. Thais (II)

1986, 29.98MB

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Pure Punjabi

Awesome album of groovy Indian electronics.

1. Mastie Hi Masti - Ashok Mastie

2. Nishani Pyar Di - Jassi, Jasbir Jassi

3. Dil Naiyo Lagda - Rajinder Kaur Raina

4. Billo Gori Gori - Ashoo Punjabi

5. Nikki Nikki - Vikrant Singh

6. Mehendi - Simran Tripat

7. Sonne Da Challa - Vikrant Singh

8. Putt Jattan Da - Jassi, Jasbir Jassi

9. Whiskey di Bottle - Gunjit Singh

10. Palla Sipaya - Rajeshwari

11. Mirza - Rajinder Kaur Raina

12. Khalli Balli - Kebi Dhindsa

13. Nachdi Nachdi Aa - Preet Brar

14. Rang De - Shweta Pandit, Sukhwinder Singh

2006, 79.05MB

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Ryan Adams - Demolition

Ryan Adams is a strange guy to pin down. Best to think of him as Alt-Country. He's not Nashville. He's not Mountain. He's not Bluegrass. He's not pop or Goth. Alt is all thats left.

This is a compilation of demos recorded in four sessions of varying locale. It was released two years after his debut, Gold. Ryan Adams is a talent that does not get nearly the recognition he deserves. Please buy his albums if you like him. He's worth it!!!

1. Nuclear
2. Hallelujah
3. You Will Always be the Same
4. Desire
5. Cry on Demand
6. Starting to Hunt
7. She wants to Play Hearts
8. Tennessee Sucks
9. Dear Chicago
10. Gimme a Sign
11. Tomorrow
12. Chin Up Cheer Up
13. Jesus (Don't Touch My Baby)

2002, 49.58MB

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A Night in Brazil

1. Brasil Legal - Lulu Santos

2. Samba de uma Nota So - Leny Andrade

3. Garota de Ipanema - Dick Farney

4. Mais Que Nada - Tamba Trio

5. Heróis Da Liberdade - João Bosco

6. Chega de Saudade - Beth Carvalho

7. Mulheres Do Brasil - Maria Bethânia

8. Kid Cavaquinho - João Bosco

9. E Preciso Perdoar - Paula Morelenbaum

10. Se Tivesse Do - Zeca Pagodinho

11. Garoto Maroto - Alcione

12. Samba Em Paz - Caetano Veloso

13. Interfone - Só Pra Contrariar

14. So Em Teus Bracos - Nana Caymmi

15. Caminhos Cruzados - Gal Costa

2008, 56.05 MB

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Creole Bred

This disc celebrates the heritage of Creoles and Cajuns in Louisiana. Focusing more on the Zydeco side, it features some interesting contributions from , of all people, Cyndi Lauper. it is well worth the listen. Eventually i'll put is sister Evangeline up here, too.

1. Allons À Grand Cotueau - Cyndi Lauper

2. Two-Step de Grand Mallet - Taj Mahal

3. Only the Strong Survive - Tom Tom Club

4. Baby Please Don't Go - Darick Campbell, Phillip Campbell, Curley Taylor

5. Zydeco Two Step - Nathan Williams, Nathan Williams, Zydeco Cha-Chas

6. I'm Coming Home - Sean Ardoin, Keith Frank, Rosie Ledet, Nathan Williams, Nathan Williams, Zydeco Cha-Chas

7. Mon Conné la Cause - David Hidalgo

8. Mon Homme Est Pas 'Rivé - Sweet Honey in the Rock

9. Paper in My Shoe - Michelle Shocked

10. Tit Monde - Taj Mahal

11. Festival Zydeco - Cyndi Lauper

12. Old Carpenter's Waltz Revisited - Darol Anger, Edward Poullard

2004, 10.14 MB (Yes, it is a full album and that small)

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The Rough Guide to Scottish Folk

1. Clan Coco/The Road To Benderloch/15 Stubbies To Warragul - Battlefield Band

2. Griogal Cridhe - Mac-Talla

3. Rithil Aill - Matheson, Karen

4. Heart And Soul - Wolfstone

5. Craigs Of Ailsa/Staffa's Shore - Kinnaird, Alison

6. Queen Of Argyll - Silly Wizard

7. John Griffin's - Campbell, Rory & Malcolm Stitt

8. Centennial Waltz - Fiddlers Five

9. Good Drying Set - Tannahill Weavers

10. Tha M'eudail Is M'aighear 's Mo Gradh - Primrose, Christine

11. Dirty Old Town - McColl, Ewan

12. S Gann Gunn Dirich Mi Chaoidh - Ossian

13. Quiet Man - Hardie, Jonnie & Gavin Marwick

14. Harper/Lady Catherine Ogle - Whirligig (1)

15. Gathering Storms/The Lowland Of Scotland/Feaden Glan O'phiob - Kennedy, Ross & Archie McAllister

16. Jack Broke Da Prison Door/Donald Blue/Sleep Soond Ida Mornin - Anderson, Tom & Aly Bain

17. Lasses Trust In Providence/Bonnie Isle O' Whalsay - Anderson, Tom & Aly Bain

18. Wooden Whale/Leaps And Bounds/Skye Barbeque - Fraser, Alasdair

19. Tree - Capercaillie

20. Swallow Tailed Coat/Turf Lodge - Burgess, John

2002 (originally issued 2000), 35Mb

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What you need to know.

Greetings and Salutations!!!

This is the first time I'm doing a blog about music. I don't plan to confine it to one genre. I do plan to keep the files small in volume. After long hours downloading massive files of flacs that take up more space then I care about, I began to use oggs. Let me tell you a bit about them. If you are informed, skip the next paragraph.

Ogg Vorbis was developed by the Xiph.org Foundation. It's called Ogg Vorbis because the file is Vorbis-encoded audio in an ogg container. Oggs are also a free codec and Open Source. What this means is that it can be implemented into devices such a DAPs without any fees going to the originator. The Open Source designation means that if anyone can play around with the codec as they see fit. The way Xiph.org sees it oggs are “as an ethically, legally and technically superior audio alternative to the proprietary MP3 format.” They also liberate valuable bytes on your hard drive!

Here, I will be uploading .oggs and .ogas. There is no difference between the two. Xiph.org wants people to start using .oga for audio (.ogv for video and .ogx for applications).

In the sidebar, you'll find links for downloading and installing the codecs. They are the actual pages.

That's about it!