Pat Hull- So Far Gone (Video) & Soup of the Day: My Flame

Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Pat Hull is sure to immediately grab your attention. His distinct voice raises eyebrows because the listener sees a young man with five o'clock shadow but hears a folky female range. Once you adjust to the odd contrast, Hull's vocals become an added spark to his warm melodies and spirited songwriting abilities.

So Far Gone is an older song off of his Forever's Night EP, but is a great embodiment of Hull's endearing ethos. If you check out Pat's latest song, My Flame, on BandSoup, his infectious pop meets roots rock style shines even brighter as the catchy lyrics and contagious arrangement morphed me into a moth. My Flame also reminded me a bit of Neil Young, an influence that Hull harvests amongst a bushel of others on his 2011 album, Light.

Listen to My Flame on BandSoup

Pat Hull on Facebook

Buy/Stream Light

Walter Cabal Studio Interview 2 (Video)

Riverside, California based singer-songwriter Walter Cabal is preparing his new album, Between Lines, with producer/engineer Matt Mendoza. In the above video, the two talk about the recording process and what it's like to collaborate on an album coming from two different mind states.

Listen to Walter Cabal on BandSoup

Between Lines' available 02.28.12
Pre-Order at http://cabal.bandcamp.com
$9. 1st Pressing physical copies limited to 100.

Hot One of the Week: Impo & the Tents

This semester has me confronting what I consider a huge class in my college career, Honors Punk Rock and Society: Critical and Comparative Perspectives. With that in the back of my mind I decided to go through some of the punk music being fed to BandSoup. Now, as I listened to the music designated as “punk” on BandSoup I came to ask the same question my professors did this week, “What is punk?” The word, the genre, and the environment that we know as punk is much more eclectic than we even realize. Folk punk, pop punk, alternative punk, hardcore punk, and electro punk are just a few of the variations you can find on BandSoup. I was looking for a more “classic” example of punk rock music and eventually I came across Impo & the Tents




This Swedish-trio has had five releases over the past year and they are riddled with great examples of the total package when it comes to punk music. The vocals, bass, guitar, and drums all come together in nostalgic, lo-fi recordings that to me are just as magical as some of punk’s most influential records. Sadly, this act only has 244 fans on Facebook, but ironically most of their YouTube videos have just as many or more views. Despite the lack of fan representation, believe me when I say you need to get on their Bandcamp page and listen to them. Go get some free downloads and share/embed that stuff all over! Great punk rock is easily crammed into songs shorter than 3 minutes each and these guys accomplish that with precision. Look for fun tracks such as “Pretty Temptress”, “Four Eyes”, and “Ugly Girl”.

Listen to Impo & The Tents on BandSoup

An intelligent punk name, fun and catchy music, and that genuine garage feel…what could be much better than that?

Like them here!

-Doug Foley

Skint & Demoralised- All The Rest Is Propaganga (Video)

Here is the official video for Skint & Demoralised single 'All The Rest Is Propaganda' from their 2nd album This Sporting Life. Be on the look out for the digital release via Heist Or Hit Records on March 5th before the album's full launch on March 12th.

Listen to another single from the album on BandSoup

photo by Andy Broomhead

Anacron- Facelift 3: Cosmetic Characteristics (Free Mixtape Download)

Los Angeles renaissance artist Anacron has just dropped the third installment of his Facelift remix project, Facelift 3: Cosmetic Characteristics. Miles beyond the typical hip-hop "mixtape," Anacron employs his talents as a producer, instrumentalist, rapper, and singer to morph 12 previously crafted tunes into completely evolved (and revolved) interpretations. 

Listen to Anacron on BandSoup

On number three, Anacron tackles artists like Lenny Kravitz, Malachai, Rollerskaters, and more. 

Anacron's annual remix album series continues with "The Facelift 3", yet another impressive installation of reshaped sounds and ideas from the "Unfamous" one. Following what's become tradition, Anacron reworks a motley assortment of songs; bending and sometimes breaking the original structure of tunes with mild to extreme crafting and arrangement. However, no matter how removed from the original, the end result seems to always be spectacular. Whether you love or hate the original version of any song that Anacron chooses to receive a "face lift", his meticulous writing, composing, producing, and mixing process is sure to birth something that brings a positive response from any listener. With 12 tracks in total (2 hidden bonus tracks with download), Anacron's "The Facelift 3: Cosmetic Characteristics" is a better than great addition to the casual eclectic's every day playlist.

Click Here to Download Facelift 3: Cosmetic Characteristics

Cloudy October- The Metal Jerk (Free Album Download)

Armed with an alluring flow that unveils haphazardly like stop motion animation, Portland, Oregon rookie MC Cloudy October demands your full attention from the first bar uttered and beyond. In the same vein as a few of my favorite experimental west coast artists, Cloudy October presents common subjects in his own original and oddball way, rejuvenating the way one listens, absorbs, and connects with hip hop.

Listen to Cloudy October on BandSoup

Here is what Cloudy had to say about the project:

The Metal Jerk, is named after a rhyme style I am currently employing.

The Metal Jerk is a walking abortion. It is a rhyme style that seems to have an advantage by vocally mimicking and adhering to the instruments inside of a beat. It is inspired by popular piano right hand techniques and improvisational jazz. It is also a rhyme style that is handicapped by my lack of practice, primitive syllable placement within composition and my incessant, desperate use of the punch-in function and delay effect while recording. This album marks a period in my life that I discovered that my imagination is much larger than my skill set.

This album is dedicated to all you fucks creating safe-hop complaining about other safe-hop artists. Your blood taste terrific and you make my job really easy. My colleagues and I have discussed your plight for many years. The best advice we can give you is to start and continue to seek opinions about your work from outside of your peer group. Listeners, the industry and the times may not be the best place to place all that blame.

On behalf of myself and all the amazing people who are a part of this project, we hope you enjoy the sounds of The Metal Jerk. Ta ta. XYXYXYXY

Limited Physical Copies of this album will be available before Spring of 2012.

Download The Metal Jerk Here.

This Week On BandSoup (1/23-1/30)

Another week in the books and yet another week of great uploads here on BandSoup! Here are a few of the bands that you must hear according to an unanimous vote from the BandSoup blog team. Remember, new bands pop up on the site 1-5 times per day, so check back in with us. You might be missing out on your new favorite band!

* Click the band's name to hear their music.

Ben Crane (Folk/Acoustic)-- Hay Fever is Crane's first full-length release. The recording took place in his bedroom and classrooms in the Tufts music building. At its core, it's a folk album. But, he tried out lots of different styles and ended up with a pretty eclectic mix of tunes.

Daniel Whittingon (Folk/Blues/Country)-- Daniel has been performing since age 11 and spent the first few years of his music career touring with his father's blues band. In 2008 Daniel began work on a solo album and performing acoustic shows in Hollywood, CA at venues like the Rainbow Room, the Roxy, and the Pig and Whistle. After 3 months of working on the album, he moved to Austin to continue pursuing a solo career and to complete the album in Texas.

Makeshift (Regggae)--  An emerging Chicago based reggae/blues band that's reminiscent of O.A.R. and Slightly Stoopid.

Xperimento (Latin/Funk)-- Xperimento is a bilingual, multicultural band that blends world sounds such as Cumbia, Reggae, Merengue, Ska, Salsa, and Funk with elements of Rock, R&B, Hip Hop and Dancehall. Their songs are rhythmically driven, melodic, and catchy, making their live performances upbeat and fun, weather playing at clubs or big festivals. Xperimento's line up includes a horn section, percussion, drums, electric guitar, bass and a multifaceted singer.

The Ocho (Psych Rock/Jam Band)-- The Ocho is a 4-man Instrumental band who is stationed in Landskrona, Sweden. They play a mix of progressive and psychedelic Rock with hazy synths and funky soundscapes.

Pat Hull (Folk/Singer Songwriter)-- "The Brooklyn based songwriter's alto and his intimate melodies are evocative of Luke Temple's solo records before he started Here We Go Magic, and although the instrumentation, cadence and atmosphere of this material scream "country", Pat's melodies and guitar parts go in the direction of gently reinventing the genre rather than obeying to its exhausted axioms" - Deli Magazine

Wilbur By The Sea (Folk/Singer Songwriter)-- Wilbur By The Sea, the moniker of indie-folk songwriter Sean Knisely, is from a chance encounter along a road far from home. Placed curiously on a Florida road sign with no further explanation, it came to embody the wanderlust that later led Knisely to leave his hometown in West Virginia and follow his passion for music. After recording a collection of earnest and vulnerable acoustic songs in his apartment, he left his TV director job and hit the road to start following his dreams.

Symbol & Surface (Folk/Indie Rock)-- Read our Hot One of the Week feature on Symbol & Surface.

Decortica- Shinkansen (Video)

Here is another video from Auckland alternative rockers Decortica off their 2011 album, Love Hotel, which you can order/download in various different ways here.

Listen to Decortica on BandSoup

Watch their other video for "Eros" here.