(image courtesy of Wikipedia)

Iris – (click to get it from SkyDrive)

Kim Deal is a name that is very familiar to any fan of indie rock. She is equally recognized as the bassist for Pixies, and as the singer/guitarist of her own band The Breeders.

The Breeders were originally formed in 1988 by Kim Deal and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses (and Belly). Originally the band was formed as a creative outlet for Deal, as she didn’t get to write many songs for Pixies, which was a major point of contention and eventually lead to the band’s breakup.

The Breeders lineup has changed over the years, with Kim Deal as the only original member. Currently the band consists of Kim Deal (Vox/Guitar), Kelley Deal (Guitar, Backing Vox), Jose Medeles (Drums), and Mando Lopez (Bass).

The band has released 4 full length albums over the last 20 years: Pod, Last Splash, Title TK, and Mountain Battles.

Today’s track is a live version of “Iris” which is found on the No Alternative soundtrack. The original studio cut of this track is found on Pod.

Check them out in Zune Marketplace or get them at AmazonMP3.

Check out their 1993 video for “Cannonball” at the Youtube.

(Image Courtesy of Amazon.com)

“Who are these guys”, “What a stupid album cover”, “What a sucky band name” are all things that you might say, in regards to “Them Crooked Vultures”. I should know, because I said those very same things, until I actually took the time to listen to this album…which is currently 5 bucks at AmazonMP3.

TCV is a “supergroup” (I HATE that term) comprised of Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) on Guitar/Vox, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) on Bass/backing Vox/various other instruments, and Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters) on Drums/backing Vox. The three started collaborating as early as 2005, but didn’t actually get to start recording until early 2009. They originally wanted to call themselves “Caligula”, but they found out that the name was taken. They then settled on “Them Crooked Vultures”, since it had absolutely no meaning.

The fruits of these sessions are a wonderful 13 track recording which is neither QotSA, Foo Fighters, or Zeppelin, though you can certainly hear those influences in the music.

My current favorite tracks are:

1. No One Loves Me, Neither Do I

8. Reptiles

Also check out these guys on YouTube.

If you subscribe to Zune Pass, pick them up in the Marketplace, or pick up the album from AmazonMP3.

My apologies for the lack of a downloadable mp3, but thanks to the PROTECT IP act, I’m having to find other means to share the music I love. Thanks Congress for restricting my speech, in favor of a dying industry’s whims…

Click here to download the track from SkyDrive

16 Pounds of Pet is an Alternative Rock band from Asheville, NC.

This particular track is from their 1999 self titled album. This album used to be available at Independent Music Online, but the site is offline now.

Very little is known about the band, but they sound like an amplified dishwasher on crack. Ok, not really. The best way to describe them is a weird hybrid of Melvins and Faith No More.

Click here to get the track from SkyDrive

Part 3 of our “NIN|JA” series is a previously unreleased track by Jane’s Addiction. The track is called “Whores” and dates back from the band’s earliest days.

An interesting bit of info on this track, is that (until this studio version was recorded) the track was only available on bootleg live performances from the band’s initial run in the mid-late 1980’s. The band finally decided to give this great song a proper recording and included it on the 2009 NIN|JA tour sampler (itself a compilation of the Nine Inch Nails, Jane’s Addiction, Street Sweeper Social Club tour), which was given away (for free) by from NIN.com

For more music, check out Jane’s Addiction in the Zune Marketplace or at AmazonMP3 (and add them to your free CloudDrive).

Grab the mp3 HERE (left click and download from SkyDrive)

Street Sweeper Social Club is the project of Tom Morello (RATM) and Boots Riley (The Coup). It’s a pretty awesome duo, so check out our previous post, here.

As a continuation of last week’s post, here is SSSC’s 2nd track from the 2009 NINJA tour sampler. This EP features tracks from Nine Inch Nails, Janes Addiction, and Street Sweeper Social Club.

If you have Zune Pass, check them out in the Marketplace. You can also pick them up at AmazonMP3 (and sync it to your free Cloud Drive).

Clap for the Killers (left click to get it from SkyDrive)

Street Sweeper Social Club is the awesome duo of Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine) and Boots Riley (The Coup).

This tracks is off of the freely distributed 2009 NINJA Tour EP. This EP was originally provided by NIN, from the NIN website. You can also get it from HERE.

It features great tracks by NIN, Jane’s Addiction, and SSSC.

A Song For A Son (left click to download)

Smashing Pumpkins is an alternative rock band, formed in 1988 by Billy Corgan, James Iha, D’arcy Wretzky, and Jimmy Chamberlin in Chicago, Illinois.

The band’s most successful albums have been 1993’s smash Siamese Dream and 1995’s ambitious Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.

During their 1996 tour for Mellon Collie, Jimmy Chamberlin was fired from the band, due to his excessive drug use. The Pumpkins steadily faded away from that point forward.

As of today, Billy Corgan is the only original member of the band. He and Jimmy Chamberlin revived the band in 2005, released a new album in 2007, and then Jimmy departed, again, in 2009.

This track is from Billy’s latest concept album entitled “Teargarden by Kaleidyscope”. Which is a 44 song album, with each track being released, for free, to the internet.

Visit the band’s official website for even more songs, and information.

If you have the Zune Pass, pick them up HERE.

You can also pick them up at AmazonMP3, HERE.

Jerry Was A Racecar Driver (Download it from SkyDrive)

Primus is one of the most under-rated rock bands of the last 20 years. The band was formed by Les Claypool (Vocals/Slap Bass), Todd Huth (Guitar) and Jay Lane (Drums) in 1984. In 1989 Huth and Lane both left the band, to pursue other endeavors. It was at this time that Claypool brought in Larry LaLonde (Guitar) and Tim Alexander (Drums). This is typically referred to as the “best” lineup of Primus.

Today’s track is from the band’s 1991 major label debut, “Sailing the Seas of Cheese”.

For anyone that has played Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, you will recognize this song.

Be sure to check out Primus’ official website, and if you have zune pass, go get’em in the Marketplace.

For those that want the CD.

Melvins – Larry (click it, then download it from SkyDrive)

Well, my dear blog reader. Larry is the title of (ironically) the only good song on this 1994 album by grunge godfathers Melvins, although they were technically called Snivlem because of a minor contractual agreement with Atlantic Records.

This was a very experimental album by the band (they’ve been known to do that), that was released on Amphetamine Reptile records in 1994. The band was currently signed to a major label (Atlantic Records) thanks to the grunge explosion of 1991/1992, but Atlantic wasn’t very helpful to the band (see the song “Laughing with Lucifer at Satan’s Side Show” from the bands 1997 AmRep release “Honky” for more insight).

Prick was recorded and sold as a means to raise funds for the Stoner Witch sessions, which was eventually released on Atlantic (and is probably their best effort to date).

Larry is a hard rock, mosh-pit inducing grunge-fest. I think you will enjoy it.

Check out Melvins in Zune Marketplace or Amazon.

The Sad Punk (click it)

For your listening pleasure, I present a track from the godfathers of modern indie rock, Pixies.

The track is entitled “The Sad Punk” and is found on the group’s 1991 album “Trompe Le Monde”. This track is one of my favorites from this album. If you are a fan of alternative rock, then you need to check these guys out.

If you are rocking the Zune Pass, check them out at Zune Marketplace. You can also pick them up at Amazon.

For those that want the CD (click the link).