CLLCT Forever!

Remember my post on CLLCT.com? The site is resting in peace due to reasons I'm not sure of nor would I publicize them if I were fully aware. End of an era? I hope not. A resurrection is possible and several community members are attempting to do so. Whether it can be duplicated may be a bit of a long shot, after well over a million views and the sense of a selfless loving family that it provided, CLLCT (The Collective Family) is an original. I'm aware that this post doesn't come close; it is simply an homage.

The line between making music for the love of it and doing it in an attempt as a career, to make money, even to simply pay the bills, is not a fine one. It is a huge gap between art and greed. Music is not a job, it is a creative hobby that very few are lucky enough to live off of entirely and this is why the Collective Family has offered their music up for free. Because they are true artists and the art is what brought them together, no egos in sight.

Anyone from the CLLCT who has any of their music zipped in an archive, feel free to comment here with your links!

For now, here are a quick, tiny handful; the first two were sent to me by the artist, the others were one I recalled being archived on an alternate link in the site and I found through Google's cache. Music that is worth saving!

James Eric - 31
http://sharebee.com/e43d0b1a
-This version contains more tracks than the final, but is missing "Save Me Aagin", which can be found at http://jamesericmusic.com
JE MySpace.

-------

Garden On A Trampoline - SEX/DEATH
http://sharebee.com/90267548
GoaT MySpace.

--------

Existential Hero - Eating Grapes & Whale Bones
http://www.mediafire.com/?nx2f5tjsnzt

Existential Hero - The Storm Of The Century
http://www.mediafire.com/?b0mlcn0wm12

Existential Hero - What Do We Do Now?
http://www.mediafire.com/?nyodmo5dgej

EH MySpace

---------

Jellybean! - Breakfast Burrito & A Coffee To Go
http://sharebee.com/1675a7b3

Jellybean! - Answer Me!!
http://sharebee.com/baffa5e7

Jellybean! - The Best Christmas Ever
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=1f66ec303d06c3a891b20cc0d07ba4d2f6486717e8f365f1

J! MySpace

----------

Iron Like Nylon - Shut Up
http://meghanlamb.persephassa.com/shut%20up.zip

ILN MySpace

hiatus.

In short, I don't feel like blogging/uploading music lately. I'll be back sooner or later.

Ednaswap

Natalie Imbruglia may be known for her breakout hit "Torn", but Ednaswap were the originators of this song.

Another interesting band name. This one came from a nightmare that leader Anne Preven had about being in a band called Edna Swap who were booed offstage. I don't know if this ever actually happened in real life, but they were most definitely underappreciated as a band even though Preven and bandmate Scott Cutler have achieved success as collaborative songwriters, including a recent Oscar nod for Dreamgirls' "Listen".

Ednaswap's sound was gritty and grungy on their first two albums, then resorted to a poppier sound on 1998's Wonderland Park. Some tracks from the first album repeat themselves on Wacko Magneto as newer recordings and I would definitely say that the latter is an overall stronger album. Particularly the version of "Torn" dramatically changes from a radio-friendly tune not much different from Imbruglia's later hit to a dark, angsty number.

The band broke up in 1999, to briefly resurface as AnneTennA a couple of years later. (If anyone is interested I will feature it when I find my CD).




Ednaswap - Ednaswap (1995)
1. This Is a Song
2. Clown Show
3. Acrobat
4. Ted and Joe
5. Pale
6. Blown Away
7. The State I'm In
8. Therapy
9. More
10. Minor Crap
11. Glow
12. Torn
13. The Goodnight Moon



Ednaswap - Wacko Magneto (1997)
1. Stop Counting
2, Clown Show
3. Chordomatic
4. Sideways Out The Window
5. All Time Low
6. More
7. Silver Hill
8. Pale
9. Ydwibe
10. Torn
11. Shrapnel
12. Claustrophobic
13. Violin Song


Ednaswap - Wonderland Park (1998)
1. Safety Net
2. Back On The Sun
3. Liquid Soul
4. 74 Willow
5. Without Within
6. A Conversation
7. Supernatural
8. Trivial
9. Flower
10. 747
11. Invisible


Purchase from Amazon.

Paris Red - Promises

Past post Shades of Red explains pretty much all you need to know. :)

Paris Red - Promises (1992)
1. Promises
2. Without You
3. I Can't Give You Up
4. Ain't No Mountain High Enough
5. Lovin' You
6. After The Love Has Lost It's Shine
7. Party
8. One And Everything
9. Good Friend
10. For A Lifetime
11. Do Ya (Feel It)
12. Promises (108 BPM)
13. O.I.A.
14. Sexy
tracks 1-7
tracks 8-14

Falafel Babies - Celebrities In Space EP

If you liked my post about the CLLCT, you may dig Clare O'Kane & Peter Hernandez, aka Falafel Babies. They really should join the CLLCT; this EP is already offered for free on last.fm.

Falafel Babies - Celebrities In Space EP
1. Aquatic Orchestra
2. Horse Whisperer
3. Ballad of Lindsay Lohan
4. Ivy Atoms
5. Poppyseed
6. Ballad of Marlon Brando
7. Space Jam

MySpace.

Falafel falafel falafel. weee.

Killola

Good rock bands are so hard to come by these days. That's why Killola are a breath of fresh air. They're by far the best new rock band of this decade. I pity the fool who disagrees! :) Fronted by actress Lisa Rieffel, K)) will kick you in the throat only to watch you laugh it off. What else is rock for, eh? Lisa's vocals are also like no one else's out there.

The band not only gives fans the option to buy or download their music for free, but those with Killola tattoos get in their shows for free as well. But possibly the most interesting thing about this band is the origin of their name...

While living together in a Los Angeles apartment in the middle of forming, along came Ray, a Craigslist find. One morning, Ray and his belongings were nowhere to be found. All that he left behind was the cryptic word "Killola" smeared on the bathroom mirror - in mayonnaise! And the rest is history.



Killola - Louder, Louder! (2006)
1. Barrel Of Donkeys
2. Appetite
3. I Don't Know Who
4. Get Around
5. It's All Right
6. Hollow
7. Rip-Off Artist
8. Bonus Rock Track ("Dr. Rock" - Ween cover)

Killola - Live studio session In England (2007)
1. 10,000 Pound Ego
2. Heartrate 160
3. This Is How The World Ends
4. Johnny, Are You Queer? (Josie Cotton cover)
5. Barrel Of Donkeys
6. Get Around
7. Appetite
8. I Don't Know Who
9. Dr. Rock
10. Bullet
11. Rip-Off Artist
12. Down
13. Me & The Boys
14. Hollow
15. Wa Da We Da



Killola - I Am The Messer (2007, w/ 2008 bonus tracks)
1. This Is How The World Ends
2. All Of My Idols Are Dead
3. Strung Out On Sunshine
4. Is This A Love Song?
5. The Man From Kilimanjaro (interlude)
6. Personal Graveyard
7. Heartrate 160
8. Wa Da We Da
9. You Can't See Me Because I'm A Stalker
10. 10,000 Pound Ego
11. Who We Think We Are (bonus track)
12. Cracks In The Armor (bonus track)

I Am The Messer (as well as albums by many other up-and-coming acts and a handful of those already famous) can also be downloaded on True Anthem. "Connecting the Band to the Fan with a Brand"... This is where I got the above from. At the beginning of every track there is an introduction and ad from the band shouting out to the sponsor who made it possible to share it for free. In this case, DW Drums. The ads are not intrusive at all. In fact, they add introspect to the artists' character or lack therof. Killola are an excellent example of this, particularly Lisa opening the band's tracks with goofy charisma!

BONUSES:
No Matter
Santa, Give Us Something We Can Use



Official Website.
MySpace.
Purchase albums from CD Baby.

Imani Coppola

"Hypnotize me
Make me bark like a bunny
Got a pain in my head from the microwave
Jesus Presley
Elvis Saves"
-Before I Lost My Memory

Well, Jesus Presley, you haven't lived until you've listened to Imani Coppola! No, no no, you have not! You may be familiar with 1997's "Legend Of A Cowgirl", Imani's entry into the one-hit wonder hall of fame, a quirky, catchy pop-hip-hop Luscious Jackson-esque little tune which samples Donovan's "Sunshine Superman".
Or...maybe you've heard her recent project, Little Jackie, a duo where she hops onto the neo-soul bandwagon. Okay, so she has balls to tell off Amy Winehouse on "Cryin' For The Queen".

But for Imani, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Little Jackie, or her previous (brilliant) effort, The Black & White Album were no comebacks. Over the years, she continued to record independently through the Internet. Her official website's store has supposed to have relaunched for a couple of years now. I don't know what's up with that nor do I have all of her albums (I'm looking!) but the digital-only ones that I do have are below.

She once offered Audio Blahgs for free. All of these tracks are spoken-word by Imani in character. 14+ characters. ohmygosh, this never ceases to be amusing. About as nutty as I am walking around the house doing the same thing.


Imani Coppola - Audio Blahgs (2006)
Can I Come Over?
Cassandra
Chinese Restaurant
Counting Calories
How I Quit Smoking
Ice Cream
Impressing The Neighbors
Meant To Be
Next Door Neighbor
Retarded Sister
Summer School
Where's My Money
You Can Be Psychic
You Know You Broke


Imani Coppola - Post Traumatic Pop Syndrome (2002)
1. Woodstock
2. Frequent Flyer
3. Brainstorm
4. Prayer
5. Before I Lost My Memory
6. Ill Tempered Lover
7. Do I Go To You?
8. Cool Beats With My Feet
9. Song For The Seeker


Imani Coppola - Little Red Fighting Mood (2002)
1. Hope For The Future
2. These Days
3. Hey Now
4. Cool Beats With My Feet (missing; I just noticed that, sorry, but it's on the above Post Traumatic Pop Syndrome also)
5. Go With The Flow
6. Feelin' Like A Sucka
7. Sun Spots
8. Hold Back The Black
9. Fake Is The New Real
10. I Know Karate
11. Lock Me Up
12. Lotto
13. It's Raining Pianos
14. Jillian Jones
15. The Radio Song
16. Desperado
17. Meet Me At The Beach

"Woodstock" and "Fake Is The New Real" were later covered by soul artist Alice Smith on her album For Lovers, Dreamers & Me.

Official Website.
Discography.
Little Jackie on MySpace.
Imani on Amazon.
Purchase Afrodite from CD Baby.

Juliana Hatfield EPs

Juliana Hatfield is my all-time favorite solo singer-songwriter. These are most of her EPs; all of the ones that I own. If you're a fan of 90's alternative rock, chances are you are already familiar with her hits "My Sister" or "Spin The Bottle" at the very least. All EPs below fit in the alt-rock category, but she is also in a class of her own as a great songwriter who continues today as a true artist; distinctive honey-coated voice intact.

Juliana's blog, also available through her MySpace is highly recommended reading. Every entry focuses on a different song she has written/recorded and the story behind it.



I See You (1992)
1.I See You
2. Ugly
3. Rider
4. Here Comes The Pain
5. Feed Me



Forever Baby (1992)
1. Forever Baby
2. Nirvana
3. Everybody Loves Me But You
4. Raisans
5. Tamara



My Sister (1993)
1. My Sister
2. Put It Away
3. A Dame With A Rod (demo version)
4. Ruthless



For The Birds (1993)
1. For The Birds
2. Hello, My Name Is Baby
3. Bat Wing
4. I Got No Idols (piano version)



Universal Heart-Beat (1995)
1. Universal Heart-Beat
2. Where Would I Be Without You
3. Yardsailing
4. Girl In Old Blue Volvo Disowns Self



Please Do Not Disturb (1997)
1. Sellout
2. Trying Not To Think About It
3. As If Your Life Depended On It
4. Give Me Some Of That
5. Get Off
6. The Edge Of Nowhere

All are out-of-print, but of course can be purchased on Amazon.
Official Website.


"Everybody Loves Me But You":


"My Sister":


"For The Birds":


"Universal Heart-Beat":

Leslie Carter (unreleased)

By request from my "fan", Audrey. *shout out*

Leslie Carter is the little sister of Backstreet Boy Nick Carter, and older sister of *cringe* Aaron Carter. Here we have another of those Britney/*NSYNC-era teen-pop failure stories. This time molded by Dreamworks and as t(w)eenybopper as you can possibly get. I'd say her writers and producers tried too hard. Example: "Shy Guy" begins with the spoken line: "This is a story about a shy guy". Sound famiiar? "This is a story about a girl named 'Lucky' ". Plus coming from an already famous family, she had to be thought of as a sure shot.

Her 2001 debut single "Like, Wow!" received major airplay on Radio Disney and appeared on the Shrek soundtrack. Dreamworks didn't believe that she could compete with the already famous pop stars, however, so they scrapped her album. Leslie also scrapped her bubblegum sound for a more pop/rock one with her band The OtherHalf, whose debut album is expected this year.

"Be Mine" is a cover of a single by Wild Orchid, Fergie's old girl group.



Leslie Carter - Like Wow (2001)
1. Be Mine
2. Like, Wow!
3. They Don't Know
4. I Need To Hear It From You
5. Too Much Too Soon
6. Shy Guy
7. I Wanna Be Your Girl
8. True
9. Boy Like That
10. Mine
tracks 1-5
tracks 6-10

"Like, Wow!" video:


The OtherHalf's Official Website.
The OtherHalf's MySpace.

China Forbes - Love Handle

China Forbes, a Harvard graduate, is best known as the main singer for the multicultural, multilingual band Pink Martini. I've noticed a common misconception that she released her debut album in 2008. '78 was her second solo effort. Her debut, Love Handle was actually in 1995, pre-Pink Martini days. The title is tacky, yes. The cover art, likewise. But focus on that and you'd be selling yourself short. This is a collection of songs by a young woman still searching for her sound on an indie label and marks a necessary step for China.

I remember finding this CD back in 2000 for $1.99 at Circuit City (R.I.P.) thinking, "hey this is the girl who did the Clueless TV show theme song!"
Definitely grab this if you're a fan of female singer-songwriters (most primarily of the 90's) or, of course, Pink Martini and Forbes' more recent album.



China Forbes - Love Handle (1995)
1. Labor Day
2. Yo Yo
3. Star Tramps
4. Best Dress
5. Phase
6. My Baby
7. Rival
8. Tucson
9. Crazy Angel
10. Ode
11. Doorway
12. I'm Just A Girl Who can't Cry
tracks 1-5
tracks 6-12

Speaking of "that Clueless TV show theme song" -
BONUS:
"Ordinary Girl"


Purchase from Amazon.
Official Website.
China Forbes' MySpace.