Band: Phantasmic
Song: Broken
Album: Art Core Vol. 2

Yeah, I’m really bad at blogging. But you see, it’s really hard to be an MP3 blogger when all you do is listen to the same song over and over.

Gosh, I’m horrible at this “blogging” thing. I’ll finish the Aaron Sprinkle retrospective, I promise! I hope you’re all digging his new Fair album. I’m sure not, because I preordered it and it isn’t here yet. Mailman, bring me no more blues.

Onto some interesting MP3s!

Wouldn’t you know it, Viva Voce released a new song called So Many Miles! It’s from their new album releasing September 12th. Yep, that’s the same day as the new Starflyer 59 (and the new Black Keys.) What a glorious day that will be!

There’s a new, unreleased Switchfoot song from their upcoming album. You can download it here, but you have to sign up for their mailing list. I’m increasingly becoming disinterested in Switchfoot. How bout you guys?

Mae? Someone Else’s Arms? OK!

Since you are all very hip people, I know you all have already bought the new Danielson album. And I’m sure you all know the extent of it’s awesomeness. But you might know some uncool people who haven’t heard it yet, so send them this MP3: Did I Step On Your Trumpet

Sufjan Stevens is releasing an album of B-Sides from Illinois soon. Here’s The Henney Buggy Band.

And what would an MP3 Roundup be without an Eisley song. Here’s Lullaby, recorded live in the studio.

Band: Rose Blossom Punch
Song: Sowing in the Sun
Album: Art Core Vol. 1 (1995)

Band: Rose Blossom Punch
Song: See It In Me
Album: Art Core Vol. 2 (1996)

Band: Rose Blossom Punch
Song: Based On A True Story (Demo)
Album: Take Time To Listen Vol. 3 (1997)

Yeah…remember when I started that Aaron Sprinkle Retrospective back in January? I’m going to finally finish that. Kids, don’t be lazy like me. It’ll get you nowhere in life.

I lovelovelove Rose Blossom Punch There was a short time where I considered them my favorite band, despite them not putting out much music. Thus I’m going to spend a couple posts drinking deep from a big bowl of Rose Blossom Punch. (With a name like that, they’re almost begging for cheesey metaphors.)

Rose Blossom Punch started out as a side project for Aaron Sprinkle while he was in Poor Old Lu. Their songs kept popping up on compilations at the rate of about one per year.

Their first song was a lo-fi grunge/60s pop tune and appeared on Art Core Volume 1. (I’ve written about other songs from this comp here and here … it’s one of my favorites.)

Then they recorded See It In Me for Art Core Vol. 2. (Interestingly enough, this showed up in a stripped down acoustic version on Aaron Sprinkle’s Really Something EP. Hey look, Paste Music has an MP3 of it! I love it when a plan comes together!)

When Poor Old Lu broke up in ‘96, Aaron decided to tackle Rose Blossom Punch full time. They signed to Five Minute Walk/Sarabellum records. Five Minute Walk put their demo of “Based On A True Story” on their “Take Time To Listen Vol 3″ sampler. Suprisingly, this didn’t end up on Rose Blossom Punch’s subsequent full length - which is strange because I think it’s a really strong song. However it was rerecorded for Aaron Sprinkle’s “Kindest Days” album with Paul Mumaw on drums (the only member other than Aaron to play on every Rose Blossom Punch song.)

Stayed tuned for some tracks from the amazing Rose Blossom Punch LP, and their final EP that was marred by legal trouble and ultimately a letdown.

Band: MxPx
Song: Walking By
Album: Pokinatcha

“You never notice me…”

Band: Starflyer 59
Song: When You Feel Miserable
Album: Gold

“But I still fear the times, you’re not the woman you appear…”

Band: Larry Norman
Song: I’ve Got To Learn To Live Without You
Album: Only Visiting This Planet

“But then you went away and left me by myself, I feel completely lost and lonely without you…”

Band: Switchfoot
Song: Might Have Ben Hur
Album: The Legend of Chin

“Wonder if she knows of the pain I feel tonight…”

Band: The Billons
Song: Picture of You
Album: Quiet As Its Kept

“I hate women…”

First of all, possibly the best download I’ve featured on here. The recently broken-up Havalina has offered up a 2 disc “retrospective” for free download from their site. If you’re not yet a Havalina fan, now’s the time to become one. They were an amazing, innovative and talented band.

Discover America has The Halves That Make Us Whole for download on their Myspace.

MAP has four songs for download on their MySpace. Get em quickly. 3 were produced by Jason Martin of Starflyer 59 and one by Richard Swift. (BTW, stream 2 songs from Richard Swift’s upcoming album here.

You like Starflyer 59? Of course you do. Here’s a couple covers:

Nigel Evan Dennis of The Evaluation recorded Next Time Around for the new Lujo Records Valentine’s comp. You should probably buy it, because it features many great bands, including The Broadway Hush, who are quickly becoming one of my favorites.

Also, a band named Sevynstarr has a cover of Hazel Would for download. You can also stream Messed Up Over You on their Myspace.

And since it’s quite an awesome song, another band called Savage Fen covered Messed Up Over You as well.

And rounding out the cover - The Imploding Voice does Help Me When You’re Gone and The Blonde Names cover The Starflyer 2000 Reprise

FINALLY Chauntelle Dupree from Eisley sang on a demo of a song recorded at a songwriters confrence put on by Hanson. Yes, that Hanson. It was written/recorded by John Crosby and Zach Hanson. This is noteable because Chauntelle doesn’t sing in Eisley. Her voice is different from her sisters, but very lovely none-the-less. Check out One More Day With You.

I was planning to cover Rose Blossom Punch today… until I received something interesting in the mail. I imported an album from Sweden by the Rockabilly band Slaptones. The cover seemed very familar to me, but I couldn’t place it…so I started digging through my CDs and was taken aback by what I found. I scanned both covers:

Similar eh? Almost…too similar. The western looking font in a circle, with stars. The sunburst-type background. The copy-machine effect on the pictures. Mere coincidence? I also looked up the release dates:
Slaptones - Simplify: 2/19/03
John Reuben - Professional Rapper: 12/02/03

Draw your own conclusions.

And since this is an MP3 blog, check out Sufjan Steven’s contribution to the new Jim & Tim Buckley tribute: She Is

Band: Poor Old Lu
Song: Ring True
Album: Sin

First of all, Poor Old Lu deserves their own post someday because they were an amazing band. But for now, we’re focusing on Aaron Sprinkle (the young chap with the Black Cat shirt on.)

Now, it seems to me that most people (younger kids I suppose) I talk to about Aaron Sprinkle recognize him from his producing. He’s quite the accomplished producer, as you can see from some of his credits on this page. However, the guy is also a great musician/song writer and has been putting out amazing music for awhile.

I’ve been a big fan of Aaron’s for quite some time. His music is special to me, because (along with Starflyer 59) he’s been near the top of my favorites for over 10 years. I first heard of him on Art Core Volume 1 (which I’ve referenced many times as opening my eyes to good Christian indie rock) with a song by his then side-project “Rose Blossom Punch.” At the time, this was their only song, so I quickly turned to his main band, Poor Old Lu.

Poor Old Lu was a band in which Aaron played guitar, wrote, and occasionally provided vocals. I put this track, Ring True up because I believe it’s the first Poor Old Lu song Aaron sang lead on. It’s off the ‘94 album Sin. (Poor Old Lu eventually broke up in ‘96, then reunited briefly for one album in ‘02.)

After Poor Old Lu broke up, Aaron went on to Rose Blossom Punch…but you’ll have to come back tomorrow for that.

Related Posts: Poor Old Lu - What Child Is This?

Aaron Sprinkle is one of my all-time favorites. In fact, come back soon for a look at his career (with MP3s of course.) Until then, check out the first song from his new band Fair entitled Carelessness over at Fairforever.com.

Update: According to this post Fair will be opening a few dates on the next Eisley tour and (best part) Sherri and Stacy of Eisley will be singing on a track on the new Fair album!

Merry Christmas everybody! Here’s a few songs I cultivated from around the great Internet of ours, for the sole purpose of filling up that new iPod you’re getting from Santa. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to say anything!

Starflyer 59 put a free download of the excellent Thin as a Needle from their Last Laurel EP on their MySpace.

Josh Dooley, who plays guitar in Starflyer here and there, has his own band MAP and put up Alone On Christmas on his MySpace. Also stream their cover of The Smith’s “I Won’t Share You". Update: MAP went and changed everything on me. Now there is their 4 song live EP for download. Still very cool, if not cooler.

So Matt Slocum (of Sixpence fame) is in a new band called “Astronaut Pushers” who just put out an EP. Check out Cut Me Off and Come On Make It Harder. (via They Will Know Us By Our T-Shirts.)

Remember Velour 100? Download their entire “For An Open Sky” EP at their MySpace.

And remember Norway? That loveable synth pop band that was on Plastiq Musiq? I just found out they’re still around. Download It’s Only Pop and then check out songs from their new album on their MySpace. (Hmmm….this MySpace thing might just catch on.)

I’ll have to do a writeup on this guy sometime, but check out Woven Hand if you get a chance. He’s formerly of 16 Horsepower. The song is Sparrow Falls.

And finally, if you’d like some bootleg shows, check out this Pedro The Lion one and this Over The Rhine set.

Band: Bon Voyage
Song: The Telephone
Album: The Right Amount

And this brings us to our last day of Julie Martin. As I mentioned earlier, Julie sings mainly with her husband Jason in Bon Voyage. They have 2 albums out, their self titled album and The Right Amount. Their first album is noteable for being one of those infamous albums banned from Christian bookstores across the nation. What did it in is the song “Kiss My Lips” which I guess is too sexual ("Love me like I want you to/Keep me up all night").

This song, The Telephone is a highlight from their second album.

I don’t know the current status of Bon Voyage, and Jason is pretty busy with Starflyer 59 these days and his side project with his brother Ronnie (Joy Electric) titled The Brothers Martin. However, Julie recently sang on Starflyer’s Christmastime Is Here the recently released Happy Christmas Vol. 4 on Tooth and Nail Records. Check that out, it’s good.

That concludes Week of Julie! Hope you liked the music.