The American Dollar - Heavy Eyes Ignite (Single)

New York based ambient duo The American Dollar have been one of my all time favorite musical acts since their self-titled debut was released in 2006. In six years, The American Dollar have released four full-length studio albums, two compilations, one split EP, and one live album. On March 24, 2012, they will release their newest full-length entitled 'Awake In The City'. Today, March 1, 2012, they released the first single from this new effort entitled 'Heavy Eyes Ignite', and it automatically brings back that classic, ambient sound that The American Dollar mastered the craft of. Heartfelt keys, melodic guitar, and complex drumming make up the entirety of the track, and the tracks overall tone gives off a secure and warming vibe. 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' is an overall beautiful track and leaves me knowing that the entire full-length 'Awake In The City' is going to be a masterpiece.

Listen to 'Heavy Eyes Ignite' here:
http://theamericandollar.bandcamp.com/track/heavy-eyes-ignite-single-edit

City Of Satellites - Machine Is My Animal

Australian based duo City Of Satellites create a beautiful blend of structured electronic pop filled with layered guitar tones, beautifully atmospheric vocals, and intricate drumming. Layers of vintage synthesizers and textures are interwoven in the mix, creating a unique sound somewhere between post-rock and shoegaze. The ethereal vocals and synth soundscapes reminded me of my childhood right away, combining 80's pop influences with more modern technology. I can hear elements of My Bloody Valentine, M83, The Smashing Pumpkins, Joy Division, and Jatun throughout City Of Satellites's music. This band completely blew me away, changed my day, and brought me back to that childhood feeling of dreaming and being free in spirit.

Check out City Of Satellites - Skeletons (Remix):



Metazen - Digital Purgatory

Bay area experimental hip-hop mastermind Metazen is at it again and is planning on releasing a new EP very soon. Although I am eagerly awaiting the new EP, Metazen has done a great job at keeping fans well fed with the release of his new track Digital Purgatory. Digital Purgatory comes in at 6 minutes and 6 seconds, and is an all instrumental track. The piano leading into the track sounds very reminiscent of a score for a thriller movie. After this, the bass drops and electronic wobbles fill the space. Post-rock driven guitar work is heard through out the bass and fuzz, and the layering has to be some of the best that I have heard in any genre. As much as I would like to continue describing Digital Purgatory, the track is best left to interpretation. This track is heartfelt, eerie, dark, and beautiful all at the same time, and my interpretation of it is beyond words. Metazen, you have done it again, and I can't wait to hear the new material in the very near future. 

Listen to Metazen's Digital Purgatory here:
http://soundcloud.com/metavatta/digital-purgatory

Innovative Music's Top Ten Albums of 2011

1. Junius - Reports From The Threshold Of Death:

Though there were many top albums for me in 2011, Junius' Reports From The Threshold Of Death, without a doubt, takes the cake. On Reports, Junius lose the post-punk/indie sound that they are known for and instead trade it for dreamy, spaced-out, mature sounding rock music. The album has its darkwave influences such as Depeche Mode and Joy Division, and combines these influences with crushing riffs and intricacy similar to the sounds of Isis and Deftones. Reports is inspired by near death experiences, with many of the songs focusing on light, judgement, and ascension. Though the album's overall theme may seem dark, the overall outcome of the album has a strong sense of light. The album was recorded at Will Benoit's (Constants) Radar Studios, which is powered entirely by solar energy. Reports literally would not exist without light present. Junius' Reports From The Threshold Of Death is an incredibly uplifting album and is easily my favorite of 2011. I highly recommend this album.

For fans of: Joy Division, A Perfect Circle, Depeche Mode, Isis, Deftones

2. Nao - Nao:

Nao's self-titled album comes in second place on my list of top ten albums of 2011. Nao was started in 2002 by Pierre-Andre Pernin (computer, ideas galore) as a one-man project, but he was soon joined by Thibault Fellmann (drums), Jordan Daverio (guitar), and Matthieu Tercieux (video design). Nao's music combines crafty melodies and downtempo/industrial beats, with influences ranging from Nine Inch Nails and 65daysofstatic to Amon Tobin and Bitcrush. On this self-titles masterpiece, Nao present a beautiful combination of electronica and stadium-worthy rock. This is only the beginning for Nao and their self-titled album is easily one of my favorites of 2011, or essentially, all time.

For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, 65daysofstatic, Amon Tobin, Bitcrush

3. Sainthood Reps - Monoculture:

One thing that has stuck with me ever since I was a child is my love for the 90's alternative/grunge rock that I grew up with. Very few modern bands have been able to bring back this sound that I loved as a child and still love to this day. I was aching for some new raw, alternative, grunge music until I discovered Sainthood Reps. This Long Island quartet relies heavily on distorted guitars and thick bass tones reminiscent of many grunge acts of the early 90's. Sainthood Reps Monoculture is an album that you will have to hear for yourself, but it is a great throwback album for those that grew up on 90's grunge/alternative and can serve as a starting point to those that were to young to experience the great sounds of that era.

For fans of: Brand New (after 2005), Hum, Failure, The Life And Times

4. Tycho - Dive:

Next on the list is Tycho's Dive. Tycho is San Francisco-based artist/producer Scott Hansen. Dive is a collection of ten tracks that make the listener feel exactly like the title suggests, diving into an ocean of sounds and floating in the depths. Tycho's Dive is filled with lush, atmospheric arrangements that allow the listener to hear something new with each listen. Analog synths and hip-hop-esque bass sound out the majority of the album, which may sound standard to some, but that is what makes the album more enjoyable. Dive is one of the more chilled out favorite albums of 2011, but in a very comfortable and relaxed way. Dive is an album that is perfect for shutting off your busy brain and just enjoying the beautiful sounds coming through your speakers. Tycho is bringing back the art of analog synths that artists such as Brian Eno and Boards Of Canada heavily relied on, and he is doing an incredible job at it.

For fans of: Boards Of Canada, Brian Eno, Ulrich Schnauss, Arms And Sleepers



5. Metazen - The Conscious Cicatrix:

One thing with me, when it comes to music, is that I listen for creativity, feeling, sound quality, and an overall pleasing of the ear. Genres are very irrelevant to me when it comes to music. Metazen's music has all of these elements and his 2011 release The Conscious Cicatrix has to be one of my favorite hip-hop/not-so-hip-hop albums in quite some time. Though there are many elements of different genres thrown in to the mix, this is not why I enjoy the album so much. The overall sound quality and lyricism on the album is beyond unique. Metazen's vocals are based on his own thoughts and interests which include mind control, alien abduction, and terraforming. The lyrics on The Conscious Cicatrix allow the listener to explore topics beyond the world. With the release of The Conscious Cicatrix, Metazen has crafted some incredible experimental rap that covers many boundaries.

For fans of: El-P, Nine Inch Nails, Dalek, Rage Against The Machine

6. Mogwai - Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will:

Mogwai have carved the path for many and have influenced numerous other bands in the post-rock genre. 2011's Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will follows in the footsteps of previous Mogwai releases, however, there are some surprises on this release. You will hear elements of krautrock, shoegaze, dancehall, techno, post-rock, alternative, punk, and ambient. Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will never gets boring and shows that Mogwai can switch up the routine if they please. This could be one of Mogwai's best albums since Young Team and they have definitely opened new doors over the years. Mogwai are innovators of their craft and this album is one hell of a creation.

For fans of: Explosions In The Sky, Caspian, This Will Destroy You, GYBE



7. Collapse Under The Empire - Shoulders & Giants:

Hamburg, Germany's post-rock geniuses Collapse Under The Empire are, without a doubt, one of the best instrumental duos that I have ever heard. Their 2011 release Shoulders & Giants is also one of my favorite instrumental albums of all time. The music on Shoulders & Giants doesn't have the same post-rock sound that fans of the genre are used to. Collapse Under The Empire has taken a different approach with this album than on their previous releases. The sounds revealed on Shoulders & Giants are filled with epic guitar tones and many more electronic elements than any other Collapse Under The Empire release. Shoulders & Giants is one of Collapse Under The Empire's most stripped down and mature album to date. They keep progressing and proving, with each release, that they are some of the best players in instrumental music.

For fans of: The American Dollar, Sleepmakeswaves, pg.lost, Long Distance Calling



8. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross - Original film score for "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo":

Original film scores have always been some of my favorite records to listen to. In 2011, one of my favorite film scores of all time was released and that score is for the film The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack is made up of nearly three-hours, 37 pieces of rich, experimental, dark compositions. The score is filled with solid electronic and acoustic music that goes in strange and eerie directions. This is easily one of Reznor's darkest sounding efforts to date, along with Ross, and is a perfect fit for the movie it accompanies. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo soundtrack is easily my favorite film score of all time.

For fans of: Nine Inch Nails, The Social Network soundtrack, Brian Eno

9. Thomas Giles - Pulse:

Thomas Giles is the solo project for Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers. On February 1, 2011, he released his debut album entitled Pulse on Metal Blade Records. The album combines a perfect blend of space-rock, industrial, folk, electronic, metal, and progressive, and is a truly entertaining and legendary album. The most incredible part about Pulse is that it was completely written by Tommy Rogers himself and this shows true talent and skill. Even though each track is completely different, they all seem to work together perfectly and flow in to one another smoothly. This album makes for one epic adventure and is sure to be a rewarding experience for whoever chooses to listen.

For fans of: Trent Reznor, Thom Yorke, BTBAM

10. Misuse - April: 

Formed in 2001, Greek post-rockers Misuse have been carving quite a path for themselves since their formation, and with their 2011 release April, they are better than ever. Since their debut album, Misuse has been experimenting with new sounds, textures, and styles that go beyond the post-rock genre. Although they took big steps with April, Misuse still are able to maintain the true identity of the band. April shows a darker and more experimental side of Misuse, and this new approach shows the band at their best.

For fans of: Mogwai, Errors, The American Dollar, Arms And Sleepers



Sainthood Reps - Monoculture

It is a very rare occurrence when a band can pull off a sound that is on par with the music that said band grew up with. Long Island natives, Sainthood Reps, fit this rarity and this can be heard on their Tooth and Nail Records debut Monoculture. While Tooth and Nail Records lost their grunge and punk-inspired roots over time, these roots have returned on Sainthood Reps Monoculture. Monoculture has a variety of influential sounds, including Smashing Pumpkins, Frodus, Brand New, Failure, Jawbox, and early mewithoutYou.

Sainthood Reps bring back the fuzzy, distorted guitars and thick, pummeling bass of early grunge and post-punk. The vocals are very thought provoking and are sort of a finger to corporate America, which is what really defined the grunge/punk movement years ago. Monoculture is filled with social criticism and many of the tracks refer to the tragedies brought on by greed or pride. This criticism on commercialization is evident in the first, title track 'Monoculture' and remains steady throughout the entirety of the record.

Sainthood Reps Monoculture is definitely an album for fans of 90's music, particularly grunge and post-punk. It is a raw and stripped down record that goes back to the roots that its creators grew up on. Albums like Monoculture are few and far between, and are definitely worth every penny. For such a new band, Sainthood Reps not only sound like many well-known grunge legends, they also manage to pull the sound off successfully. Monoculture is a masterpiece of a record and will appeal to any fan of grunge, alternative, or punk rock. Sainthood Reps have put themselves on the map with the release of their debut Monoculture and have crafted what could very well be one of the best early-90's-esque albums of the last decade.

Check out the track 'Dingus' off of Sainthood Reps Monoculture:

Check out the track 'Hunter' off of Sainthood Reps Monoculture:



Thomas Giles - Pulse

Thomas Giles is the solo project for Between The Buried And Me frontman Tommy Rogers. On February 1, 2011, he released his debut album entitled Pulse on Metal Blade Records. Oddly enough, this is not the type of album that one would usually hear from Metal Blade Records and it definitely doesn't sound like something the frontman of the brutal, progressive metal act Between The Buried And Me would release. However, Tommy Rogers has always been very innovative in his musical ventures and this is shown in much of Between The Buried And Me's work. Rogers branches out from ordinary metal and applies many different styles to his music. Some people have even referred to him as the Thom Yorke of metal. So although the release of Pulse may seem out of the ordinary to metal fans, it is definitely not out of the ordinary for Rogers himself.

Prior to listening to Pulse, I was not sure what to expect and upon first listen, I was not sure what to think. Pulse is a very unique and deeply thought out album, and is definitely the type of album that takes some time to sit and reflect on. This is an album devoted to individuality, with each of the tracks sounding different than the others. Pulse is one of those albums that you wish artists would release more often, because the difference in personality and style on each track makes it one of a kind. Pulse is one of those albums that is very hard to give an accurate description of. It covers so many boundaries and styles that there is no true, set genre to put the music under. If anything, the music on Pulse has a very strong Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) and Thom Yorke (Radiohead) influence in it. These influences are noted because Reznor and Yorke have always released diverse albums with such musically individualistic tracks. This is the approach that Tommy Rogers sets forth in Pulse. From start to finish, Pulse shows off Rogers' versatility and explores various musical areas that will be a shock to most fans of the heavier side of his work with Between The Buried And Me, but this will be a good sort of shock. Pulse is by no means a metal album, but it takes some influences from the metal genre and numerous other genres including indie, acoustic, folk, progressive, jazz, industrial, and electronic.

Thomas Giles' Pulse begins with the track "Sleep Shake", which starts off with an ambient guitar riff that is very reminiscent of early, classic space-rock (David Bowie, Pink Floyd, King Crimson). The chorus then comes in with distorted electronics, guitars, and thunderous, pummeling drums. This track is definitely a memorable experience and a great way to begin the album. Although "Sleep Shake" is spacey sounding with its electronics and keyboards present, it stays more along the lines of apocalyptic, crescendo-driven rock. The more spaced-out sound is present on the next track "Reverb Island". This track is jam-packed with acoustic guitars, electronics, keyboards, and even a bridge section where Roger's repeats the words "can't stop" over and over again, while a trance-inducing dance beat is layered underneath of these vocals. This track could be described as Pink Floyd performing an acoustic song at a rave, dance party. "Mr. Bird" is mainly a piano-driven track, with a little lead acoustic guitar work thrown into the mix. This is a dark and eerie sounding track and shows how unique and different each of the tracks are on the album, especially because of the track right after it. This fourth track, entitled "Catch And Release" is, without a doubt, the album's wildest track by far. This is the most industrial, metal-driven track on the album and is somewhere along the lines of Chicago industrial noise and Radiohead's "Fitter, Happier" programmed vocal style or Skinny Puppy-esque screams. "Catch And Release" is a very noisy track and is pure genius, in my honest opinion.

The fifth track, "Hamilton Anxiety Scale", is one of my favorite tracks on the album and is a very melodic and progressive rock track that starts off acoustically and then leads into a full-blown distorted rock masterpiece. This track also has sparse elements of funk and space rock undertones throughout its four minutes and nine seconds. "Scared" is a beautiful, heartfelt, soulful acoustic folk song about hope and being there for someone, but also being sad and scared about what the outcome of a certain situation might be. Some people have compared this track to The Beatles at their heaviest. "Reject Falicon" is the second strangest track on the album (the first being "Catch And Release") and is a spooky, futuristic sounding, electronica track, complete with distorted synth beats and dark piano melodies. This track would fit perfectly in a sci-fi film and is without a doubt of the most unique sounding songs written by any artist in many years.

"Medic" is the heaviest and most metal-driven track on Pulse. If there was a track on Pulse that could be compared to Between The Buried And Me, "Medic" would have to be it, "Suspend The Death Watch" is a genius track and reminds me of Pink Floyd at their most spaced-out. Towards the middle of the track there is an atmospheric effect anda voice recording of a man talking about time machines. If anything, this piece sounds like it would be the perfect soundtrack for time travel. "Armchair Travel" is another folky, acoustic track that is very similar to "Scared". The final track, "Hypoxia", is a very slow song complete with harps, strings, woodwinds, keys, and guitars. This track slowly builds throughout and harmonizes beautifully until the epic crescendo sends you into another dimension.

Overall, Thomas Giles' Pulse is a true masterpiece of an album. The album combines a perfect blend of space-rock, industrial, folk, electronic, metal, and progressive, and is a truly entertaining and legendary album. The most incredible part about Pulse is that it was completely written by Tommy Rogers himself and this shows true talent and skill. Even though each track is completely different, they all seem to work together perfectly and flow into one another smoothly. This album makes for one epic adventure and is sure to be a rewarding experience for whoever chooses to listen. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Thomas Giles' Pulse, you will not be disappointed with the outcome.

Check out the music video for the track "Sleep Shake" off of Thomas Giles' Pulse:



Check out the track "Medic" off of Thomas Giles' Pulse:

The Shaking Sensations - East Of Youth (2011)

Hailing from Copenhagen, Denmark, instrumental five-piece The Shaking Sensations formed in 2005 and have been getting a lot of praise for their newest album East Of Youth. I can relate to this praise because I happen to like the album a whole lot. The Shaking Sensations create well-crafted instrumentals that could restart the legacy of great post-rock, similar to what pioneering acts Mogwai and Explosions In The Sky did. They are very faithful to the post-rock genre and put a great amount of heart and effort into their material. The song structures on East Of Youth consist of precise build-ups that eventually lead into beautiful, melodic crescendos. This is the traditional post-rock structuring and The Shaking Sensations have easily mastered this technique. This Danish five-piece could easily go down as the next addition of current post-rock bands to keep the legacy of this genre alive, along with the likes of pioneers such as Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed You Black Emperor.

The Shaking Sensations debut album, East Of Youth, brings to the table everything that is worthwhile in a genre that has become not so worthwhile. Tracks like "All That Ever Lives Will Live Forever" and "Our Hearts Were Young And Gay" are composed of heartfelt, melodic guitar riffs that collectively build up into an array of emotions. Album closer "Homage To Boyhood" take a different approach than the previously mentioned tracks and introduces the bands heavier side. This track also shows off the collective blend of the bands two drummers and perfectly showcases how the two drummers bring an immense rhythm section and epic wall of sound.

Overall, The Shaking Sensations East Of Youth is a musically transcending debut album and the music on this album is so extraordinary that the band helps to continue the legacy of post-rock excellence. There is a significant contrast in The Shaking Sensations music, and this contrast is between the calm and fragile moments and the fiercly energetic moments. Moments like these help to describe the true nature of post-rock and instrumental music as a whole. The Shaking Sensations are sure to go down in the post-rock hall of fame, alongside of acts like Mogwai, Explosions In The Sky, and Godspeed You Black Emperor. Fans of these bands will definitely find something worthwhile on The Shaking Sensations East Of Youth and are very likely to hear the heart put into this album. East Of Youth is one of the best post-rock releases in recent years, but I could even go as far as saying that it is one of the best post-rock releases since the inception of the genre many years ago. All in all, The Shaking Sensations are definitely masterminds of their genre and prove this on their debut album East Of Youth. I was very pleased with what I heard on this album and the album continues to get better with each listen. This album is not only one that fans of post-rock will enjoy, but also one that music fans in general will find entertaining and beautiful. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of The Shaking Sensations East Of Youth. This is real music at its very finest.

                                                                                                                      

 Check out the track "The Obsidian Sea" off of The Shaking Sensations East Of Youth: