OH MY GOD

[Download "Action" from The Action Album]
[Download "Get Steady" from Interrogations and Confessions]
[Download "You're Too Straight to Love Me" from You're Too Straight to Love Me]

While attending high school Oh My God dominated the Flint, MI music scene. The Chicago based band packed The Flint Local 432, Churchills, and The Metropolis on an almost weekly basis. Their insane stage antics, unique musical style, and down to earth attitudes left kids, including me, addicted to their sound.

Oh My God has three members. Iguana, a former Buddy Guy studio musician handles keyboards. Bish takes care of drums. Then there is Billy, the outrageous frontman who occasionally pitches in on bass guitar. Their sound is uncomparable to any band that I have ever heard. I can only describe them has a heavily keyboard driven, synth/pop, with political and sexually charged lyrics. Do yourself a favor and download the tracks I have made available.

Miike

PANIC! AT THE DISCO

[Download "The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage" from A Fever You Can't Sweat Out]

Say what you will about Fueled By Ramen Records or the booming post-hardcore movement happening in the US and Canada right now. The fact of the matter is that it is exposing some incredibly talented acts. Bands like The Receiving End of Sirens, The Fall of Troy, and now Panic! At The Disco are paving the way with loud guitars, conceptual lyrics, and out experimental electronics.

P!ATD are an really young group of kids from Las Vegas, Nevada. I typically tend to stray from bands that carry the now overly cliche term "emo". However, after listening to a few tracks, I was immediately addicted to their catchy choruses and unique lyrical style. Their debut album A Fever You Can't Sweat Out will be released late in September on Fueled By Ramen.

-Miike

THE SPACESHIP EARTH

[Download "Look! I Made a Hot Air Balloon"] EXPIRED

Some of you may have noticed Small Bedroom went on a bit of a hiatus. I was in the process of moving into a new apartment and havn't had internet or anything. But now I am all moved in and will start posting again.

This latest addition to the blog comes from a group that consists of none other than me, Miike. I realize that this is a shameless self-promotion tactic, but whatever. The Spaceship Earth was a summer project of sorts, many hours were spent writing and recording this track. I don't know how to write about my own work, but some people have compared "Look! I Made a Hot Air Balloon" to early CAN, The Mercury Project, and Faust. Please check this track out, you may be pleasantly surprised. Also, I would really appreciate some feedback. So leave some comments.

Thanks,
Miike

INOUK

[Download "Elected" from No Danger]

Inouk was introduced to me a while ago by a friend who I had known while living in New York City. Good thing she told me about them, because this shit is sick. Inouk creates real mellow and soft indie rock. At points the singers voice eerily resembles that of Citizen Cope's. They also mix it up with some real twangy guitars that reminded me a bit of Beachwood Sparks. Their album No Danger is out on Say Hey Records, and it is sweet. Also, if you are in the UK, I think Inouk is touring with Modest Mouse right now.

-Miike

SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. IV |Sounds of Michigan|

[Download "SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. IV Sounds of Michigan"] EXPIRED
All 19 tracks are compressed into one '.zip' file.
Size: 67.5 MB
Format: WinZip File (.zip)

DISCLAIMER: This collection of music is only for sampling purposes. It may be a good idea to delete them from your computer after 24 Hours. SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. IV will be available for only 7 days. If you are the owner of one of these songs and would like it removed, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am not trying to harsh on anyones mellow here.

Michigan, my home state. Two glorious peninsulas covered with some of North America's most beautiful wildlife and scenery. I am proud to say I grew up in this great state. Slug once said, "and it hit me man, the midwest is dope, if only simply for not what we have but what we dont." I couldn't have said it better myself. The midwest, including Michigan, is full of hardworking down to earth people, and we arn't afraid or embarassed to say we are Michiganders. There was a point in my life when I thought I couldn't find what I was looking for in Michigan. I moved to New York City, and after two years the city never felt like home. I moved back home and to a new house with some old friends. It is now a year later, and I've never been happier.

Aside from the incredible wildlife and nature, Michigan has been home to some of the world's greatest musicians. Growing up, the Michigan music scene embraced me like nothing had before. I became heavily involved in any aspect of the scene I could. Whether it be writing for a zine or booking some disasterous show, I made sure I was a part of it. The tracks found on Sounds of Michigan are some of my favorite pieces of music. Some songs are from classic artists, others are from bands that were short lived and are long gone. For most people these names will be unfamiliar, but for a smaller group these bands will bring back memories of excellent times had. Please take the time to download and listen, you will be surprised at what Michigan has to offer. As always, I suggest you listen to the songs in the order listed. Oh yea, as a way to promote myself, I added a track from one of my musical endeavours. Tell me what you think.

Track Listing:
01. MC5- Kick Out the Jams
02. Kinetic Stereokids- Call It Quits
03. Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Commander- D Vi The Lovers
04. Whirlwind Heat- Blue
05. Wallside- Backpacks and Winterhats
06. Current- Continued Rantings
07. Jihad- Solcrosis
08. Empire State Games- The Evil Song
09. Mycomplex- We Have Seasons Here
10. Midwest Product- Still Love in the Midwest
11. Dayton Family- Flint Town
12. Benefit- So Sick
13. Binary Star- Reality Check
14. Thunderbirds Are Now!- Untitled Song (Demo)
15. Utah- The Boy Who Gave Away The Bomb
16. Telegraph- American Way
17. The Fletcher Pratt- Lucky and the Train Back
18. Sufjan Stevens- Flint
19. Uh Yes Uh No- Look! I Made a Hot Air Balloon (my song!)
[DOWNLOAD ALL TRACKS]

-Miike

NISENNENMONDAI

[Download "Untitled Song" from Sorede Sozo Suru Neji] EXPIRED

Yes, this is a repeat post. Everyone said that they loved this track, so I am posting it again. Oh yea, the guys at Throwaway Style and Soft Graffiti gave Small Bedroom a shout out.

Nisennenmondai are three very small girls from Japan. The name means "2000 Years of Problems" or "Year 2000 Computer Bug", I don't know. These girls blast out long, loud, instrumental tracks that just don't stop. In the last two years they have release two albums in Japan and the US, and have managed to become the sweethearts of Japan's underground noise scene. You can buy both of their albums in the US on Eclipse Records.

-Miike

DANIEL JOHNSTON

[Download "Speeding Motorcycle" from Please Don't Feed The Ego] EXPIRED

For the last twenty years or so of Daniel Jonston's tremulent life and career, he has been creating some of the most original and unique music I have ever heard. His interesting approach to song writing and lo-fi recording has earned him recognition worldwide. One claim to fame is that Kurt Cobain wore a Johnston shirt at the MTV Music Awards some time ago. Please Don't Feed The Ego is by far Daniel's best album and contains all of his hits. It was released in 1994 on Eternal Yip Eye Music .

-Miike

SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. III

[Download "SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. III"] EXPIRED
All 16 tracks are compressed into one '.zip' file.
Size: 48.8 MB
Format: WinZip File (.zip)

DISCLAIMER: This collection of music is only for sampling purposes. It may be a good idea to delete them from your computer after 24 Hours. SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. III will be available for only 7 days. If you are the owner of one of these songs and would like it removed, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am not trying to harsh on anyones mellow here.

I know I have been pretty lazy lately, and havn't posted that much stuff. But whatever, SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. III is here bitches. This mixtape has some seriously sick shit on it. It has a shit ton of new stuff, some older stuff, and humorous track or two. The last mixtape was pretty popular and I got a lot of positive input. So download, and tell me what you think. Oh yea, as always I reccommend you listen to the tracks in the order provided.

Track Listing:
01. Tree Wave- May Banners
02. Animalmonster- Jumanji
03. The Russian Futurists- Paul Simon
04. Wire- Used To
05. The Velvet Underground- Stephanie Says
06. Serge Gainsbourg- Sea, Sex & Sun
07. Iggy Pop & The Stooges- 1970
08. Zs- Olymipics
09. Drive Like Jehu- Spikes To You
10. Starlite Desperation- The Thing
11. The Monorchid- Alias Directory
12. This Moment In Black History- Are Lipps Our Inc.
13. The Sun- Must Be You
14. Saves The Day- For Erminie, aka Monkey, aka Time Sprocket (Live Acoustic)
15. George Jones- Saginaw, Michigan
16. The Beets- Killer Tofu
[DOWNLOAD ALL TRACKS]

-Miike

I DELETED ALL THE COMMENTS

Like an idiot, I added HaloScan for posting comments. As a result, all of the comments users have posted were deleted. That sucks a lot. But oh well, just leave more comments. Oh, and check out the new mixtape above.

-Miike

SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. II

[Download "SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. II"] EXPIRED
All 17 tracks are compressed into one '.zip' file.
Size: 57.3 MB
Format: WinZip File (.zip)

DISCLAIMER: This collection of music is only for sampling purposes. It may be a good idea to delete them from your computer after 24 Hours. SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. II will be available for about 10 days. If you are the owner of one of these songs and would like it removed, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am not trying to harsh on anyones mellow here.

Despite the fact that no one posted any comments, the response to SMALL BEDROOM Mixtap Vol. I was quite positive. So, I decided to throw another one together. This week's mixtape is a little different than Vol. I. One thing that is different is that Vol. II has 17 tracks opposed to only 16. Also, in terms of genre, the music is more closely related. There is a little Folk, a little Punk Rock, a little Electronic. Let me know if you guys are liking the Mixtapes, so I can keep making them. Oh yea, I reccomend listening to all the tracks in the order listed, I think it works well. It all should fit on a CDr quite nicely.

As always, I realize the filze size (57.3 MB) is quite large. But it would take far too long to upload each track individually. If there is a song you would really like, then email me and maybe we can work something out.

Track Listing:
01. Aspera- Mountains Will Give
02. Q Electronics- Drum Buddy Intro
03. Need New Body- Tittiepop
04. Enduro- Shaky Sister
05. Joanna Newsom- Sadie
06. Deerhoof- Milking
07. Daniel Johnston- The Beatles
08. Judee Sill- Jesus Was a Crossmaker
09. Herman's Hermits- Silhouettes on the Shade
10. The Greenhornes- Nobody Loves You
11. Lullaby for the Working Class- Sketchings on a Bar Room Napkin
12. Gun Club- Sex Beat
13. Sex Positions- Commit It
14. Wolf Eyes- Stabbed in the Face
15. Thunderbirds are Now!- Pink Motorcycle Helmet
16. zZz- Sweet Sex
17. Brother Ali- You Never Know
[DOWNLOAD ALL TRACKS]

-Miike

KINETIC STEREOKIDS

[Download "Kinetic Stereokids: The Super Hits"] EXPIRED
5 individual tracks!
Size: 22.2 MB
Format: WinZip (.zip)

At one point, Kinetic Stereokids' line up consisted mainly of kids that went to my high school. However, they weren't the "high school band" that played O.A.R. and poor Dave Matthews Band covers. KSK was the band that didn't play the talent show and only a select group listened to. The reason for this is quite obvious, not many high schoolers are into experimental/jam/electronic/noise rock. But KSK didn't care, they continued to play what they wanted to, and over the years have built a large following in the Flint and Metro Detroit, Michigan areas. It's now like 4 years after high school and KSK is still a fully functional band. KSK has always been years ahead of any band in the area. While everyone's Ska band was breaking up or morphing into an emo group, KSK was in the basement playing guitars with chalk board erasers. As a result, they have perfected their sound far beyond any band of their peers, and put on a live show that cannot be touched.

These guys are the epitome of D.I.Y. The 5 or 6 full length albums in their discography are all wonderfully home recorded, mastered, and produced. Everything from t-shirts to flyers are home made, and are always unique pieces of art. The five tracks on "Kinetic Stereo Kids: The Super Hits" are recordings mainly from earlier releases, but also some new ones. I know the file size (22.2 MB) is quite large, but I assure you it will be worth it. If you don't want to download the file, you can check out some new tracks on their Myspace page.

Track Listing:
01. Call It Quits
02. Explosions Were Heard
03. Free Money
04. Mechanical Outbreak
05. Pointless Day
[DOWNLOAD 22.2 MB]

-Miike

CAN

[Download "Bring Me Coffee or Tea" from Tago Mago] EXPIRED

I got a copy of CAN's Tago Mago at a Flint Local Show a while back. CAN formed in the late 1960's in Cologne, Germany. They strayed from current German trends and created heavily experimental electronic music. They scored a few hits in the UK, but remained mainly a cult band. However, their influence on today's music is undeniable. Loads of bands including, Radiohead, Godspeed! You Black Emperor, Bjork, Pavement, As Tall As Lions, and even Sigur Ros all list CAN as one of their biggest influences.

I have listened to all of CAN's early stuff (ie Soundtrack, Monster Movie, Tago Mago, Ege Bamyasi), and Tago Mago is by far my favorite. It is honestly one of the greatest album's ever, period. But seriously, if you don't already know this ablum, get to know it. I believe Restless and United Artists originally released Tago Mago in 1971.

-Miike

BLUEBIRD

[Download "Future Burn" from Dark Presence]

I don't know much about Bluebird. I know that they are from California, and I know they've released a handful of albums over the past 5 or 6 years. My knowledge of Bluebird is limited for a few reasons. One, they are completely unknown where I live in Michigan. Two, I have heard albums released after Dark Presensce ( ie. Hot Blood, The Two), and I don't care for them. Thats okay though, I do however love this particular release. Dark Presence is an exceptional album that blends very ambient guitars with dark instrumentals, all while having a very psychedelic feel. The group's obvious influences include The Rolling Stones, Mogwai, Fugazi, and The Velvet Underground. Dark Presence was released in '02 on Dopamine Records.

-Miike

SUFJAN STEVENS

[Download "Come On, Feel The Illinoise" from Illinois] EXPIRED
[Download "Casimir Pulaski Day" from Illinois] EXPIRED
[Download "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" from Illinois] EXPIRED

Let's get this straight, I love Sufjan Stevens, and it is not because I am from Michigan. I first heard Greetings From Michigan a few years back. It is filled with heartfelt and beautiful songs about my home state. Sufjan plans on releasing an album for each US State. Illinois is next on the list. Get all the details on Illinois [here]. It will be out July 5th on Sounds Familyre and Asthmatic Kitty.

Sufjan's song writing and composing abilities greatly surpass any of his peer's. He has the potential to be one of the greats like Dylan, Smith, Lennon, or Drake. He creates the most amazing and unique blend of folk, classical, rock, and even punk. I highly suggest checking him out, his music has influenced me in so many ways.

-Miike

SMALL BEDROOM MIXTAPE VOL. I

[Download "SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. I"] EXPIRED
All 16 tracks are compressed into one '.zip' file.
Size: 51.8 MB
Format: WinZip File (.zip)

DISCLAIMER: This collection of music is only for sampling purposes. It may be a good idea to delete them from your computer after 24 Hours. But I don't care. SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. I will be available for about 10 days. If you are the owner of one of these songs and would like it removed, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am not trying to harsh on anyones mellow here.

A lot of sites have been posting "mixtapes" of their favorite music. That sounded like a fun idea, so I decided to make one as well. The SMALL BEDROOM Mixtape Vol. I is a collection of tunes that have been in heavy rotation at my house. There is no one specific genre on this mixtape, music ranges from Noise to Doowop to Folk. Some tracks you may like, others you may not like so much. Download the thing and give me your input, you may even find something you really like.

Track Listing:
01. Black Dice- Untitled
02. Kinetic Stereo Kids- Free Money
03. The Crows- Gee
04. Brian Jonestown Massacre- Yesterday
05. Devendra Banhart- This Beard is for Siobhan
06. Inouk- Elected
07. Midwest Product- Ofhas
08. Phoenix- Everything is Everything
09. Spoon- Paper Tiger
10. The Go! Team- Junior Kickstart
11. Oh My God- Fourteen
12. Black Mountain- Druganaut
13. 400 Blows- Root of Our Nature
14. Wire- Field Day for the Sundays
15. The Short Wave Set- Is it Any Wonder
16. The Muffs- Kids in America
[DOWNLOAD ALL TRACKS 51.8 MB]

-Miike

LIGHTNING BOLT

[Lightning Bolt Live in Fort Thunder, New Years Eve 2000]
Track Listing:
02. Waiting For the Snake Assasin
04. Wee Ones Parade Intro
05. Wee Ones Parade
07. 13 Monsters
09. Ride The Sky

Lightning Bolt are from Fort Thunder, Rhode Island, not exactly a hot spot for experimental noise rock. Nevertheless, the have managed to gain huge popularity and success all over the US. The duo consists of Brian Chippendale (vocals/drums) and Brian Gibson (bass guitar). They create some of the most unusual and interesting music I have ever heard. The bass Guitar slams out loud and relentless chords, and is acommpanied by drums that are equally loud and wild. They are truly pioneers of their genre.

Instead of posting tracks from an official release, I am posting a few tracks from a live show. Lightning Bolt shows are known for being crazy and loud. They typically play on the floor, opposed to on a stage, and the crowds always get rowdy. Give these guys a try, you will be surprised.

-Miike

INK & DAGGER

[Download "Creatures Like Us" from Ink & Dagger] EXPIRED

The Philadelphians Ink & Dagger broke out in like 1996. They pump out a great blend of somewhat dark hardcore and punk. This "self-titled" album is bad ass. Fucking check this shit out now. I thought New American Dream released this in 1999, but I was wrong. Buddyhead released it in 2000.

-Miike

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY

[Download "Sonny's Burning" from The Bad Seed EP] EXPIRED

The Birthday Party are a dark and poetic post-punk band from the '80s. Hailing from Melbourne TBP were originally known as The Boys Next Door and were comprised of Nick Cave, Howard, Mick Harvey Tracy Pew, and Phill Calvert. Nick Cave's vocals are perfectly matched to a soundscape of noise and feedback mixed with blues and rockabilly licks. This is amazing music, and I am fortunate enough to have a copy of this EP in my collection. The Bad Seed EP was released in 1982 on 4AD. Download and you will understand.

-Miike

WINTER SOUNDS

I am going to use up some space to plug a personal project. I am trying to get this label together and I need some help. The label is called WINTER SOUNDS, and it is run by me, Miike. I want to release a lot of Noise, Alt Folk, Rock, Experimental, Punk, and Hardcore. This is where you come in. I am looking for bands that would be interested in working with a real small label. If you are in a band, know someone in a band, or know of a good unsigned band get in touch with me. There are too many labels releasing crap, WINTER SOUNDS is not going to release crap.

Here is what to do:
Go to the WINTER SOUNDS website located at www.winter-sounds.com for all the information. Or, email me at rizikmi1@msu.edu or mike@winter-sounds.com.

Thanks,
Miike

THE FLETCHER PRATT

[Download "Sugar Won't Let You Sleep" from Slumber Party Highs EP]
[Download "Electrocute" from Nine By Nine]

Back in like '99 I wrote for a few local zines, whoop dee do. However, doing so introduced me to a lot of really geat music, and even more bad music. The Fletcher Pratt just happens to be one of the few good acts I was introduced to while writing. I got an email from a band member's sister or cousin or girlfriend saying she represented this band. She told me they sounded like The Beatles and The Kinks. So, I told her to send the album over. Days later I received Slumber Party Highs, and popped it in the player. I immediately loved it.

Natives of Detroit, The Fletcher Pratt are the unsung heroes of early motor city-style "indie" rock. The sound is a masterful mix of Stone's style psychedelia and 60's pop. But they are more than that, each song is unique and have obvious influences from groups like The Byrds, The Stooges, The Beatles, The Kinks, or more recently The Lilys. Unfortunatley, their career was short. The Fletcher Pratt disbanded in late 2000, long before they got the credit they deserved.

Slumber Party Highs EP was released in 1999 on Kite Records. Nine By Nine was released in 2000 on British label, Rainbow Quartz.

-Miike

Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.

COMPUTER COUGAR

[Download "Too Much" from Rough Notes on High Stress]

The lack of updates is due to the fact that I am in Costa Rica, and will be for at least the next two weeks. So this will prbably be the last post until I get back.

Apparantly not much is known about Computer Cougar. I was just lucky enough to stumble upon this Gern Blandsten release one day while browsing the free bin at FBC. The music is fast simple garage rock, and i love it. There is not much left to say really, except that they include members of Rorshach, Born Against, Greyhouse, and the owner of Gern Blandsten Records. Just scope it, you will like.

-Miike

THE SKOLARS/TELEGRAPH

[Download "American Way" from Quit Your Band] EXPIRED

In keeping with the trend of posting music from my past, I decided a little Ska was in order. Yea fuck you, I liked Ska. Big deal, what 14 year old wouldn't? There still remains a side of me that cannot resist fast upbeat guitars closely followed by someone yelling "pick it up, pick it up". Seriously though, for me Ska was more than just goofy suits and horns. It was mainly about the unity, and how close those old ska bands brought people in my area together. At the end of the '90s not a single weekend passed without at least 50 different ska bands playing somewhere in Flint or Detroit.

In '98 The Skolars were at the top of Metro Detroit's booming Ska scene. They played anywhere and everywhere at anytime. People loved them and word started to spread. In order to avoid legal trouble with about a million other bands, The Skolars became Telegraph. For the next few years Telegraph continued to play shows and even signed a deal with Jump Up! Records. As the decade faded away, so did Ska. Coincidentally, Telegraph struggled to mantain their following. A bold choice was then made by the band, they just weren't going to play ska music anymore. The group ditched all their old material, changed their named to The Telegraph and started fresh. The end result was the heavily hyped album, Switched On. Switched On was a bland and seemingly careless combination of poprock and horns. The album ultimately flopped and the band called it quits. American Way is off their sophmore effort, Quit Your Band. This is undeniably one of the greatest examples of North America's 3rd wave ska movement.

-Miike

MYCOMPLEX

[Download "We Have Seasons Here" from If We Keep Moving] EXPIRED
[Download "To Be Continued" from If We Keep Moving] EXPIRED

I've decided that it is time to dig deep. Time to offer some tunes from the time period when I first started to take music seriously. Music from my early days that exposed me to a world I had never experienced, and continues to influence me in one way or another.

Mycomplex is one of the first local bands that I ever payed attention to. I was given their demo at Detroit's Pharoah's Golden Cup back in '97. I was in seventh grade at the time, never heard anything like it and was immediately hooked. After that I attended as many of their shows as a 12 year old could. Unfortunatly the bands career was short lived. Months after they hit the scene Cargo Music offered them a deal, and they took it. Excited by their new found success the band didn't hesitate to act and quickly entered the studio. If We Keep Moving was out in months, and a nationwide tour was in the works. Buuut, the band never made it that far. Weeks after the release the group disbanded and left this little boy very unhappy.

If We Keep Moving is simply a great album. The record is a masterful collection of ridiculously spazzed out power punk songs. The sound was completely original at the time and has ultimatley become one of the most influential math-rock albums to date. Al from Mycomplex currently fronts the popular group Rescue and the drummer plays with my least favorite band, ForDireLifeSake.

-Miike

FIFTEEN

[Download "World Starvation" from Buzz] EXPIRED
[Download "Ain't Life a Drag" from Ain't Life a Drag] EXPIRED

Fifteen is a very important band to me. East Bay punk rock bands like Fifteen, Operation Ivy, Basic Radio, Crimpshrine, and Isocracy taught me ideals I still hold true. Those bands exposed me to ideas and thoughts different from anything my parents or television had taught me. I began to realize that it is okay to question authority. Just because a person is in a position of power it does not mean that they are incapable of lying, stealing, and cheating. Another lesson learned is that your parents arn't always right. Not that I do not have enormous amounts of respect for my parents, but they are human and we make mistakes. Fifteen and the other groups helped me realize that I can make decisions for myself, and that it's okay to stray from the masses. All of which are important issues to a 14 year old that's attempting to find his place in the world.

Fifteen arose from the ashes of the equally as influential band, Crimpshrine. Jeff Ott fronted both groups and is in my eyes a punk rock legend. Fifteen released a dozen albums on a handful of labels including Lookout! and Hopeless Records. After about 8 "official" break-ups and a million line-up changes, Jeff called it quits. The tracks posted are off some of their earlier releases and give a pretty good notion of what they are all about.

-Miike

THE OLIVIA TREMOR CONTROL

[Download "The Opera House" from Dusk At Cubist Castle] EXPIRED

The Olivia Tremor Control were a great Pop group. They released a handful of albums for Elephant Six and Flydaddy in the '90s then broke up. Dusk At Cubist Castle is one of those "could have been great" pop albums. I say "could have been great" because the whole concept of the album lies just beyond the realm of the mainstream. Dusk.. is almost exclusively influenced by Sgt. Pepper's.. and Pet Sounds. Annnd.. I don't really know what else to say. TOTC is an exceptionally good rock band that had huge potential, and I enjoy every minute of this album.

-Miike

DANIELSON FAMILE

[Download "Rallying The Dominos" from Fetch The Compass Kids]
[Download "Good News for the Pus Pickers" from Fetch The Compass Kids]

I don't really know why I am posting Danielson Famile tracks on here. No one I know likes them or cares about them. But somehow they remain to be one of the most critically accaimled indie acts around. The Danielson Famile started out as a family band that performed songs that frontman, Daniel Smith composed for his classes at Rutgers University. In fact, their first official release, A Prayer for Every Hour, was Smith's senior thesis project. Needless to say he got an 'A'.

The Danielson Famile play some of the most eccentric alternative folk music I have ever heard. Smith sings almost exclusivly in a very high pitched falsetto voice, that you have to love for the sake of sheer obscurity. All of their songs carry a positive and sometimes Christian message. Don't let that scare you away though, their style of music just wouldn't fit with anything but a lighthearted and upbeat agenda. Fetch The Compass Kids is an earlier release, and probably their most mainstream. They almost scored a hit with Rallying The Dominos, but could never break out of the underground. In addition to still touring and recording with The Famile, Smith's solo project, Br. Danielson has been a huge success and currently sells out tours around the world.

-Miike

THE SHINS

[Download "Eating Styes From Elephant Eyes" from Nature Bears a Vacuum] EXPIRED

Yes kids there are other Shins albums besides Chutes Too Narrow. In fact, this track comes from what is in my opinion their craziest album to date. In 1998 Omnibus released Nature Bears a Vacuum. If you only know current Shin's, this album may take a little getting used to. Nature.. is definetly more lo-fi, more experimental, and more obnoxious than what you may be used to. The tracks are shorter than your typical Shins song. The album bounces all over the place, but remains upbeat. There also seems to be an abundance of slide whistle on most tracks. Regardless of what your little sister says, this is a good album. Any real Shins fan should have a copy in their collection.

-Miike

BRITISH SEA POWER

[Download "Remember Me" from The Decline of British Sea Power] EXPIRED

I would like to start out by saying British Sea Power is a killer name for a band. If it wasn't taken I'd use it. BSP is obviously a British musical group. They are based out of Brighton, East Sussex. Unfortunatly, I havn't had the opportunity to listen to The Decline Of.. in its entirty. This is partly due to the fact no record stores near me carries any BSP. As a result, I am really in no position to comment on the album as a whole. I can say Remember Me is a sweet rock and roll song. If you want, you can read what Pitchfork had to say about the album.

-Miike

VINCENT GALLO

[Download "Moonchild (King Crimson Cover)" from The Buffalo '66 Soundtrack] EXPIRED

Everybody knows Vincent Gallo. He is the self-proclaimed worlds greatest director, composer, lovemaker, photography, actor, and asshole. But it's not like all this ego is for nothing. Gallo just happens to be a pretty good actor, okay director, and incredible musician. Gallo's musical career spans just about his entire life, forming his first band, The Blue Mood, in 1971. The music is influenced by a broad spectrum of genres, ranging from prog rock to folk to hip-hop.

The Buffalo '66 Soundtrack is an excellent display of Gallo's talent as a musician. This soundtrack consists mainly of original tracks composed specifically for the movie. The song posted is an amazing cover of King Crimson's Moonchild. And it just so happens that King Crimson is one of my favorite bands.

-Miike

JOANNA NEWSOM

[Download "Sadie" from Milk Eyed Mender] EXPIRED

I don't know much about Joanna Newsom. I think she is a relatively new musician, or she is just now breaking into the scene. Joanna plays the harp..and thats about it. But don't get me wrong, this is some very interesting music. The songs consist of unusual harp melodies which accompany Newsome's mewing vocals. Milk Eyed Mender is bound to bum out at least half of your friends. In other words, lots of people will not like it. But I do, so give it a try. The album came out in '04 on Drag City Records.

-Miike

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE

[Download "The Devil May Care (My Mom and Dad don't)" from Give it Back] EXPIRED
[Download "Not If You Were The Last Dandy On Earth" from Give it Back] EXPIRED
[Download "Servo" from Give it Back] EXPIRED

If you dont already know The Brian Jonestown Massacre then I'm sorry. You missed out on some of the greatest albums of the '90s. Anton Newcombe is the tortured soul behind BJM. Throughout the '90s he and his band of misfits toured the country, released amazing music, and destroyed their careers all at once. Anton's inability to cope with reality blew every opportunity they had to advance. As a result his band quit. Newcombe still tours and records amazing music, this time with a new line-up and a new outlook on life. Give It Back was recorded one week in 1997, and contains some of the BJM's best tracks. It has definite roots in psychedelic rock, and displays some of Anton's best work on the sitar. You can download all of the Brian Jonestown Massacre albums on their website.

-Miike

KEEP MUSIC EVIL

AS TALL AS LIONS

[Download "Deepsleeper" from Lafcadio (japanese import)] EXPIRED

I have been jamming to As Tall As Lions since my days living in Queens. I got their self-released ep Blood and Aphorisms from a friend. I immediatly loved it. Last February I was fortunte enough to catch them in Michigan. That night the guys took refuge at my house, and proved not only to be incredibly nice people but very professional and determined. One would be a fool to classify these guys as your typical indie/ emo band on an indie/emo label. This album takes the genre is a new direction with wicked catchy hooks and broadway-esque style vocals. All this is and a killer live show. Deepsleeper is a track that isn't available on the US release of Lafcadio. It can only be found on the Japanese release. Lafcadio came out in '04 on Triple Crown Records.

-Miike

OH BOY! OH BOY! COMMANDER

[Download "Di: (Vi the Lovers)" from 4] EXPIRED

Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Commander is a one man band led by 17-year-old genius, Commander Joe. I have talked to Joe, and aside from being an egotistical bitch he writes some good music. A native of Fenton, MI, Joe is a high school dropout who writes and records all his music in his parents house. Back home in Flint he always attracts a big crowd with his raucaus stage antics and powerful presence. I can't really describe the music or compare it to anyone else. All I know is that Joe uses a lot of noise and plays a killer guitar. You will just have to check it out. OBOBC's debut LP will be out soon on Detroit's Focus Media.

-Miike

THE NATURAL HISTORY

[Download "Run De Run" from Beat Beat Heartbeat]
[Download "Do What You Should" from Beat Beat Heartbeat]

I First saw NYC's The Natural History at the Brooklyn night club North Six. It was my freshman year of college and I was totally digging the fact that I partied in Brooklyn, the new mecca of indie rock! Anyways, one night in March '03 a few friends and I hopped the F Train from Queens and made our way to Williamsburg, BK. At the time I hadn't heard The Natural History, but everyone was hyping them. They headlined that night and fucking rocked. They pumped out short New York style rock and roll tunes. Influences would obviously be Elvis Costello and the Beatles, but there are also echoes of The Kinks, XTC, Wire, and the Jam. All in all, Beat Beat Heartbeat kicks out some killer jams. Startime Intl. released it in '03.

-Miike

THE OUT CROWD

[Download "Reptile" from Then I Saw The Holy City]

Matt Hollywood and Anton Newcombe were the genius behind The Brian Jonestown Massacre. Despite Matt's talent he was never able to capture the spotlight the way he deserved. When Matt Hollywood left BJM in '98 he returned to Portland, OR with no intention of giving up his musical dreams. Working a steady job at a local bar and networking with other musicians Matt formed The Out Crowd. On their latest release "Then I Saw The Holy City" the band reclines upon their influences with surprising comfort--Hollywood's innate melodic sense (and faux-British accent) masterfully propelling the dreamy din beneath. A reverb wash of ringing acoustic guitar, billowing fuzz, and ever-present tambourine, Then I Saw the Holy City carries tradition with impressive deftness--and by the time it's over, the Crowd manage to breath a little bit of new life into music that sounded half-alive to begin with.

-Miike

NEON BLONDE

[Download "Headlines" from the upcoming LP] EXPIRED

Neon Blonde is the side project of Johnny Whitney and Mark Gajadhar of The Blood Brothers . It sounds a lot like The Blood Brothers, but whatever it's still good. Neon Blonde will be releasing their 11-song debut full-length through Dim Mak some time this coming summer.

-Miike

THUNDERBIRDS ARE NOW!

[Download "Eat This City" from Justamustache.] EXPIRED

* "Bursting out of Detroit’s pollution-and-crime-ridden streets like Robocop after one too many Yellow Jackets, Thunderbirds are Now! deliver catchy, smart, melodic, fast, direct and danceable rock with a nod to late ‘70s and early ‘80s post-punk. Keyboards are used not as a novelty, but as a necessity, functioning as an instrument that provides everything from atmosphere to a song's main melody. Guitars are wiry and manic – but still direct – and not afraid of the occasional delayed part or barre chord. The bass rides an undercurrent, but also jumps out of the foray, delivering alternate melodies and power. Drums are never overcomplicated or flashy, but are instead used to generate a rhythmic pulse that carries throughout the song. Vocals dart in and out of the mix, sung with a sassy intensity. In other words, they fucking rule.

Consisting of Ryan Allen (guitar/vocals), Scott Allen (keyboards/vocals/percussion/samples), Mike Durgan (drums) and Martin Smith (bass/cowbell) – with help from Zach Curd (vocals/guitar/percussion) – Thunderbirds Are Now! started as a less than stellar tribute to Tool in early 2002. Their musical evolution has been diverse and deliberate, going from a more spastic and rambunctious sound to a more streamlined and focused noise, combining the jittery stance of the Talking Heads with the slightly skewed pop sensibility of the Pixies. Instead of expounding on this comparison, however, TAN! lets their music speak for itself. 'We like to let our hot licks and bomb ass beats do the talking for us,' they said."

*taken from the french kiss records website.

-Miike

MIIKE

a little about miike

I love music, and I wanted to share it. That is why I created Small Bedroom. I don't know if it is exactly legal, but if you have any questions contact me. Anways, I go to MSU and live in a house with some good friends of mine. I've lived in New York City and have travelled all over the world. I'm younger than all my friends, a mere twenty years of age. So, if you have shitty taste in music, I suggest you download some of the tracks on this page. Enjoy.