Alright guys, contest time.

The amazing guys in The Rose West have agreed to run a giveaway. There will be 15 prizes/winners in total.

The contest begins today (Saturday) 5/11/13 and will end 5/19/13 (Sunday) at 11am est, and the winner chosen at 12pm.

The prizes are:

- 10 digital download codes for “When The Road Darkens” from bandcamp, which allows the winner to download a copy of the album in any format.
- 4 copies of “When the Road Darkens” on CD, complete with artwork and liner notes.
- 1 grand prize, a copy of “When the Road Darkens” on CD, signed by the band, a signed poster and a The Rose West t-shirt (sizes XS-XL)

The way the contest works, and to be entered, you must:

1. Like The Rose West facebook page.
2. Like For Your Aural Enjoyment on facebook.
3. Share the write up of the band, which is pinned to the top of this page.
(you must use the ‘share’ option on the pinned post. I’ve noticed some shares are not counting, due to privacy settings. Please, if you have your settings super tight, send a message to the page to be entered.)

Everyone who shares the post will then be entered and picked at random, using a web generated chooser.

The 1st 10 picked will win the digital codes, followed by 4 physical copies, and then the grand prize.

So get to sharing, and good luck.

There Is No Mountain is a new project from the Portland-based duo that brought you the americana-pop group The Ascetic Junkies. Their first single “Owl Hymn” is a bit more indie without losing their bluegrass/folksy roots, and catchy to boot. They’re offering it free for download on their bandcamp. 

http://thereisnomountain.bandcamp.com/

PS-If you’re not familiar with The Ascetic Junkies, check out their music here. Their intelligent, fun, bluegrass-tinged pop sound *will* get lodged in your brain. You’ve been warned. 

http://theasceticjunkies.bandcamp.com/

Alright guys, here’s that awesome interview I did with Mark Lombardo, the lead singer of the amazing indie dream-pop band,Titanics. Enjoy!


1. How did the band get started?
- The band originally started as a side project of our lead singer, Mark Lombardo. Although the project was acoustic/folk based - it led to a more dreamy and rich sound that became the band as we know it today. After Lombardo recorded a bunch of dreamy keyboard based demos at 4am in his shed/beer brewery in upstate NY - he recruited Derek Rogers on guitar to complete the sound for the live show.



2. What drew you to create music, or become a musician in general?
- Music feels real right from the start, it doesn’t take an understanding or logic - it feels good. It is the quickest way to go to another place. I wanted to be the captain of that.


3. What artists have been particularly influential in the music-making process?
- I listen to a lot of Youth Lagoon, Broken Social Scene and Dirty Vegas. I like rich and visual music - more recently I’ve been digging aesthetic beats and chill out stuff.


4. Many musicians become inspired by a variety of aspects. Have you been influenced by different genres or art, such as books/movies? Do you draw inspiration from these methods, and as well, Incorporate them into your music?
- I am very influenced by short fiction and anything relating to strange meta-physics and cosmic stories. I read a lot of Herman Hesse. Things of ‘unreal’ or ‘impossible’ nature have always affected and influenced me. I think we as humans underestimate our powers very much. Everything is perception - my music is very influenced in the theme of hope and wonder and wander.

I am also obsessed with The Twilight Zone.


5. If you could pick any three artists - any genre, actors/authors/musicians to have one meal with, who would you choose?
- Jim Morrison of The Doors, Ernest Hemingway, and a great white shark.


6. If you could listen to only one album for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
- Kings of Convenience- Declaration of Dependence


7. Have you ever been so moved by a song, that you cried? If so, what was it?
- any song sung by an attractive lead singer who is already married or something

(Switching gears here)


8. What is your favorite food on tour? Least favorite?
- Organic Peanut Butter is my personal favorite to eat when I am not rolling in money. I am not a picky eater by any standard- I really think falafel is simply horrible.


9. Who are some favorite musicians that you’ve either toured with, or have seen live?
- We have a show in Albany with a band from Connecticut called Mercies. All a bunch of really cool guys and phenomenal musicians. Love playing with them: always a holy evening.


10. Name a band or artist(s) you would tour if with if the opportunity presented itself.
- Beach House, Phantogram or Youth Lagoon.


11. Where do you see the band going? Where do you want to be in 1 year? 3 years?
- a few more months of local shows then : touring, touring, touring, rafting out to Cuba, touring, touring, touring.

Thanks for being so great, Mark.

Make sure you guys check out this amazing debut album -http://titanics.bandcamp.com/music

Alright, so there’s this band, The Elephant in the Room. And Casey Crescenzo wants to record and produce their first real record. 

That’s pretty damn exciting, but they need your help to do so.

They have started a Kickstarter to get the word around, and they have some pretty awesome pledge rewards.  Click the title above to go there and pledge.

Help this band realize this amazing dream!

Titanics:

I’m always in search of new indie/dream pop/chillwave music to listen to. I’m addicted to it, there is just something about synthy pop that warms me to the core.

So, with that, I was recently contacted by the Albany based band,Titanics. I wasn’t familiar with them prior, but I’m hooked now. As it turns out, they were just what I wanted in a band. They recently put out their debut album, Soft Treasure.

My recommendation, check out this album. When asked what I thought about the album by the vocalist, I replied “my only true issue, is that it had to end”.

In the coming days, I’ll be posting an interview with the band members, but until then, enjoy.

http://titanics.bandcamp.com/

Looking for a new post-hardcore/alternative rock band? Look no further.

Check out The Secondside, a band based out of New Jersey.

I see the world in a swirl of hues, but my favorite color is shame. Tonight the sky is painted, tonight the sky is painted, melancholy.

Miles Of Machines:

Miles of Machines is a progressive metal band from the magical land of California.

Drawing influence bands such as Coheed and Cambria, Clousure in Moscow, and even Slayer, this band is sure to rise.

Check out their EP, To The Quiet Winds on bandcamp for name your own price. 

http://milesofmachines.com/album/to-the-quiet-winds-ep

Neither Scene Nor Herd is a band out of Greensboro, NC.

This band is a healthy mix of alt, indie punk, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Great layered sound, amazing drum and guitar work, and really fun vocals. This is band on the rise. 

I was reminded greatly of Zlam Dunk!! and even a little bit of influence from The Fall of Troy while listening.

You can get the EP for ‘pay what you want’ at:http://neitherscenenorherd.bandcamp.com/

Born Blonde - What the Desert Taught
2:54 - 2:54
Coheed and Cambria - The Afterman: Ascension
Circa Survive - Violent Waves
Athletics - Who You Are is Not Enough
Vuvuzela - The Hollow Choir
Josh Benash - The Dismal; The Beautiful
Stellar Young - Everything At Once
Hotel of The Laughing Tree - Mammoth Skin Pt. 1
By The Sea - By The Sea
mewithoutYou - Ten Stories
Bats - The Sleep of Reason
I the Mighty - Karma Never Sleeps
Shapes & Colors - Hold Your Breath
Calexico - Algiers
Between the Buried and Me - The Parallax II: Future Sequence
The Gaslight Anthem - Handwritten
Yeasayer - Fragrant World 
Night Verses - Out of the Sky
T.R.A.M. - Lingua Franca
Fun. - Some Nights
SIOS - Halcyon Failure
Godspeed You! Black Emperor - ‘Allejujah! Don’t Bend! Ascend!
Thaddeus Lowe - Rose Garden In the Gospel of Now
Bad Books - II
Take One Car - It’s Going To Be A Nice Day
Grey Sky Symphony - Cloud Factory
Ticktockman - Calling out the Hounds
Endevor - 296 Above Parallels
Trioscapes - Separate Realities
Miles of Machines - To The Quiet Winds
To Give You the Stars - 2492
Conor Oberst - One of my Kind
Say Anything - Anarchy, My Dear

Prog-rockers, Ticktockman also released their newest EP, ‘Calling Out the Hounds’ for digital download today, with a name your own price option.

This EP is fantastic.  I know this, because I’ve been listening to it for months.

Please, check it out.  You won’t leave disappointed… 

http://ticktockman.bandcamp.com/album/calling-out-the-hounds

Proud to premiere the music video for Cosmonauts new song ‘Cold Harbor’. 

TAKE NOTICE!
THE VIDEO CONTAINS STONG GRAPHIC CONTENT AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR ALL AUDIENCES. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

(You’ve been warned!!!) 

Have you heard To Give You The Stars?

It’s a progressive rock opera, that takes place in space.

Sound familiar?

‎Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground

Much like Ticktockman, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground is another band that came from the hiatus of Gatsbys American Dream.

The music draws from a very wide range of genres, with a sound unlike any other. Kyle O’Quin and Kirk Huffman of Gatsbys set out to make a mark on music, and they have. With styles ranging from jazz, pop, and indie rock.

Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground has 3 official members, but have been know to perform with up to 11 people on stage, with instruments ranging from tuba, violin, even trumpets.

Calexico is an Arizona based band, that draws many different influences.  The best was I can describe them is: tex-mex/indie rock/country.   

Inspired by the music of Latin America, such as mariaichi, infused with rock, this band has a unique sound, that’s mild and soothing, and never to disappoint.  They have a new album coming out tomorrow!!!