The Dingees - The Rebel Soul Sound System

The Dingees were always a part of the underground ska/reggae/punk scene. They weren't consistent enough in sound song to song let alone album to album to really gain much mainstream success. They released three fantastic records on Tooth and Nail, each one different and really good in their own way. After the Crucial Conspiracy the went dark and dropped off the public radar.

Well a year or two ago I noticed that the band was still active and had new music on the internet and the promise of a new album. So it take me by complete surprise to see that the Dingees had in fact released a new album for free download.

The Rebel Soul Sound System is different. It's a bad comparison but I'm going to make it anyway. Remember when Bad Brains stopped being a hardcore band and were doing their reggae/rock thing? Remember how weird that was at first? That's kind of what this is like.

The album is mostly a reggae record with punk roots. At times I find myself thinking of The Clash but at times, the record is something different all together. While the reggae influence the Dingees have always had is the driving force of the album, there are some rock moments (Blackout!) and a punk moment that sounds like a tribute to the Bad Brains (Capital Imperial).

Late in the record are the two nicest moments of the record, Port Royal Sound and Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement. Port Royal Sound is a really nice, low key, I'd guess you'd call it a ska song. It's that laid back, drink on the beach, ska. Not the frantic upbeat, skanking ska we all love. Mercy Triumphs Over Judgement is an acoustic track that's just nice. And there's nothing wrong with just an enjoyable song.

The Rebel Soul Sound System is a good record. It's a low-fi reggae record with a bunch of nice rock, punk, and ska moments. It's different for the Dingees but the Dingees never conformed to any one style. If you're looking for something different, this is a great record to give a spin. And it's free.

You can download The Rebel Soul Sound System here http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/75806

Merry Christmas

It's Christmas week so I'm taking the week off. Have a great Christmas.

The Meltdown 1.17

More Christmas Cheer for your soul

Top 10 Favorite Christmas Albums

I think we all know by now that I'm not super big into your traditional music and not your traditional Christmas music. With that being said, here are my top 10 favorite Christmas albums. Of course there are some new ones in here.

10. Project 86 – This Time of the Year

Not a traditional Christmas record in any sense of the word. Project 86’s venture into holiday music was a dark twisted, wonderful ride. It’s a little more goth oriented then anything else the band has done and it’s just a new twist on Christmas music.



9. White Christmas OST

While not full of Christmas songs, it is the soundtrack to one of my favorite Christmas movies. I loved watching White Christmas growing up and I still do. Great songs.



8. Happy Christmas Volume 1

The very first of Tooth and Nail’s Christmas compilations was really what got me loving Christmas music. Songs from the Supertones, Five Iron Frenzy, Starflyer 59, Plankeye, The Huntingtons, Joy Electric, Switchfoot.



7. Relient K – Let It Snow Baby… Let it Reindeer

Relient K’s Christmas album is really what made me a fan of the band. Their covers of the classics mixed with some great original songs make this album a nice listen. Not too goofy but never completely serious.



6. Sufjan Stevens – Songs for Christmas

Sufjan’s Christmas boxset is a thing of brilliance and insanity. It’s so simple and understated at times yet full of Sufjan’s madness. From hymns, to carols, to originals, there is something for everyone.



5. Leigh Nash – Wishing for This

I love Leigh Nash. Her voice is amazing. I loved it in Sixpence None the Richer and I love it on her solo albums. Wishing for this is just good Christmas music.



4. Rosie Thomas – A Very Rosie Christmas

A Very Rosie Christmas is also good Christmas music. Quite possibly the most beautiful Christmas album ever. From the arrangements of the songs, down to Rosie’s voice, it’s just a well done music.



3. MxPx – Punk Rawk Christmas

Punk Rawk Christmas is a compilation of the Christmas songs MxPx has released through their fan club over the years, but it’s good to finally have them on one album. Not a classic Christmas song on the album. Just MxPx original Christmas tunes.



2. Happy Christmas Volume 2

The Second Happy Christmas album T&N put out is by far the best. While Sixpence None the Richer’s You’re a Mean One Mr Grinch is super amazing, it’s the only “weak” spot on an album of great song after great song. MxPx, All Star United, Viva Voce, Lost Dogs, Starflyer 59, The Deluxetone Rockets. A killer Christmas compilation



1.Vince Guaraldi Trio – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Was there any other option for number 1? Come on guys, it’s A Charlie Brown Christmas! Christmas without Charlie Brown is worse then Christmas with Santa.

Arthur - Watch the Years Crawl By

When Arthur released Loneliness is Bliss in 1999, the album didn't seem to be much more then a way for the boys in MxPx to show a softer side and release music that wasn't MxPx. And to any MxPx fan and music collector, Loneliness is Bliss is a fantastic little 90's emo record. MxPx on ritalin if you will.

So upon hearing in mid-November that Arthur would release a new full-length December 7th was a bit of shocking, albeit welcome news to me.

Watch the Years Crawl By is an amazing throwback to the mid-90's emo scene. Think that early Deep Elm sound. It's pretty amazing actually.

The production on Watch the Years Crawl By is solid and has a nice clean, full sound that was missing from the band's debut. Mike Herrera has written some of the catchiest songs of his career. The album is a nice mix of straight ahead rock songs (Cold Outside, America) and very nice ballads (Be Still, To Have And to Hold) and everything in between. Heartache and You Bring Me To My Knees sound like songs that could've fit on any of the last 3 MxPx records. Tie Me to You sounds most like the band's debut and Thought A Lot, the opening track of Loneliness is Bliss, is redone on the new record.

Top to bottom Watch the Years Crawl By is a great record. Anyone looking for a solid rock record should really check Arthur out. Don't let any MxPx hatred stop you from picking this up. While the similarities will be there simply for the fact that Mike is singing, Arthur has a different sound and I don't think a dislike of MxPx will mean you dislike Watch the Years Crawl By. It's a late year addition to the best of the year.

The Meltdown 1.16

More holiday cheer from Mxpx, Relient K, Rosie Thomas, SIxpence Non the Richer, and more.

Top 10 Favorite Christmas Songs

Christmas season is here and in full swing. I for one absolutely love Christmas music! Every year I can't wait to bust out the collection and start singing my favorite holiday tunes. Here are my top 10 favorite CHristmas songs.

10. Silent Night

There’s something so beautiful about Silent Night. One of the classic Christmas songs that if done right, is so soothing.



9. Holly Jolly Christmas

When Burl Ives sings Holly Jolly Christmas on Rudolph it’s awesome and cheerful. When Bon Voyage covered the song on the first Happy Christmas compilation, I feel in love all over again.



8. I Celebrate the Day

A newer song. Relient K wrote this song and the first time I heard it, it was like a punch in the gut. And when I still listen to this song I tear up. Just talking about the song, I get emotional. Just a beautiful Christmas reflection.



7. O Holy Night

A other classic song that slays. Seven Day Jesus has probably the best version of the song but I haven’t heard a bad version of O Holy Night. Just a killer song.



6. Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Speaking of songs without a bad version. The first time I heard this song I was sold. Catchy as all get out.



5. Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

There’s something simple about Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas. It’s just a classic song.



4. Christmas Time is Here

Of course a song from Charlie Brown was making the list. Christmas Time is Here is beautiful, the instrumental version and the vocal version. Plus, Rosie Thomas did a cover that will make you cry.



3. Last Christmas

While it’s probably considered a cheesy song and yes, George Michael’s version has some mild lame factor to it, Jimmy Eat World, Leigh Nash, Hawk Nelson, and countless others have made this a great song.



2. Christmas Day

MxPx has delivered amazing original Christmas song, after amazing Christmas song. Last year they released them all on one album. Christmas Day is the first track I ever heard and I was of course hooked instantly. I love MxPX and their Christmas songs are amazing. Christmas Day freaking rules.



1. All I Want For Christmas Is You

The first time I heard this song it was love. I know it’s Mariah Carey but Christmas music allows you to enjoy and love different things. House of Heroes covered this song last year and their version is just as good, if not better then Mariah Carey’s. Great freaking song!