Escaping The Ordinary: Volume One

 

ESCAPING THE ORDINARY: The act of showcasing qualities that make one unique; showing what sets one apart from everyone else.  This mantra is the foundation that Escaping The Ordinary is based on, and the following bands are true examples of that in their music and in their everyday lives as well.  Inspired by the successful Exploding In Sound Free Compilation Series, Escaping The Ordinary has compiled a list of bands from Texas and beyond. How are you escaping the ordinary in your life?  Well, you can start escaping an ordinary music taste by downloading this FREE compilation of 19 amazing rock bands that are truly on the forefront of everything that is right in rock music.  Without further ado, Escaping The Ordinary presents….

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Disclaimer: This compilation is for promotional use only. It was made with full consent from each participating band, their management, and record labels. If you enjoy an artist/band, PLEASE SUPPORT THEM!

1.(Damn) This Desert Air – Ghost I Own (from the Distance Waits EP courtesy of Pop Up Records and Bastardized Recordings)

After the success of their debut EP, New Jersey’s own (Damn) This Desert Air is showing the world how they’ve evolved musically with their recent 6-song masterpiece, Distance Waits, and the world is definitely taking notice. With more layers and experimentation to their sound, DTDA successfully show their more epic, melodic side to their music while still having the hard rock edge that they’re known for.  They’re also going to be contributing a song for Songs of Farewell and Departure: A Tribute to HUM that is set for release in 2011.

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Buy Their Music: Pop Up Records Online Store Itunes Amazon

2.  Junius – Birth Rites By Torchlight (from the album The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist; Courtesy of The Mylene Sheath)

I think that Rolling Stone‘s description of Junius says it all: “A perfect hybrid of Neurosis and the Smiths, striking a stunning balance of brutality and beauty. Spellbinding and heartbreaking, gripping from the first note to the last. A hard rock dream come true.”  I had the privilege of seeing Junius live at SXSW 2010 with Exploding In Sound’s Dan Goldin, and was left awe-stricken after their performance.  The same goes with the sound from their recent album, The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist.

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Buy Their Music Junius Online Store Itunes Amazon

3. Fair To Midland – Musical Chairs [Demo] (previously unreleased)

One of my biggest influences in music, Fair To Midland is considered by many to be the leaders of the Progressive Rock and Metal movement over the past few years.  From their humble beginnings in the town of Sulphur Springs, Texas, FTM has been able to build a large following because of their amazing and unique sound and for being one of the best live bands in music. Their follow-up to 2007′s Fables From A Mayfly: What I Tell You Three Times Is True is slated for release in 2011.

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Buy Their Music Fair To Midland Online Store Itunes Amazon

4. Arcane Roots – You Are (from their Left Fire EP)

I was blown away when I first heard Arcane Roots’s demo of their song Rouen on Exploding In Sound’s Recession Rock Revival Compilation back in September.  Now they have a new EP entitled Left Fire that is easily one of the top 10 best releases of 2010.  I think that EIS’s Dan Goldin’s description of this crazy UK trio says it best,”Their sound is fiery and showcases their control of smooth changing time signatures and a voice with range capable of both melting hearts and destroying eardrums.”

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Buy Their Music BandCamp Itunes Amazon

5. Nothing More – Fell In Love With a Ghost (from the album The Few Not Fleeting)

San Antonio’s Nothing More is one of the hardest working bands in music. Their latest record, The Few Not Fleeting, is still selling strong and you can get a more in-depth look at the making of the album at TheFewNotFleeting.com. Through their drum-infused live show and their progressive hard rock roots, Nothing More keeps getting bigger and bigger. With upcoming shows with Flyleaf, Fuel, Filter and the Deftones, Nothing More obviously are showing no plans of ever slowing down.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

6. Elea – The Space Cadet (from their 3-song EP)

Elea has perfected the way to mix soothing vocals with an aggressive/hard rock sound.  Hailing from the same New Jersey circles as (Damn) This Desert Air, Elea are adding a fresh progressive sound to the up-and-coming hard rock scene.  Their 3-song EP is unbelievably solid, and it makes me very excited for when they release a full album in the future.

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7. The Better Death – Message to Your Rival (from their self-titled EP; Courtesy of Do For It Records)

The progressive/experimental band that consists of Sean Dailey, Ed McMahon, Danny Handler, and Ricky “The Honky Mofo” Wolking (formerly of Edgewater and the Nixons) is eccentric to say the least and that’s exactly what makes them so awesome.  Their main influences include the Mars Volta, Faith No More, King Crimson, and more.  They are currently working on their next EP and you can get a preview of one of the new tracks, Genki, on their Myspace page.

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Buy Their Music CD Baby Itunes Amazon

8. The House Harkonnen – A Blade To The World (from their Volume 6 EP; Courtesy of Do For It Records)

The House Harkonnen is a well established hard rock band from Arlington, Texas. I immediately became a HK fan after seeing them live for the first time back in 2006 when they were opening for Fair To Midland at the Granada Theater.  Over the years, they have been fine tuning their unique sound. Without sounding cliché, HK  has a live sound that you won’t forget. Why?  because they turn it up to 11 every single time they play.  In 2007, HK  teamed up with independent local Texas label, Do For It Records, and are hard at work creating their seventh album as we speak.

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Buy Their Music HK Online Store Itunes Amazon

9. Descender  – Gunpowder Drums (from their Army of Elephants EP)

“Thick” rock and roll from a group of guys that were all a part of the Deep Ellum scene in its prime.  Casey Hess (Doosu, Burden Brothers), Jeff Gruber (Local 63), Zack Busby (Burden Brothers, Slow Roosevelt), and Duncan Black (3 Faced, Slowpoke, Floor 13)  have all joined forces to bring solid rock music that  melts your face and people are definitely taking notice.  Later this summer, they will be playing the Dia De Los Toadies Festival on August 28th, 2010 in New Braunfels, Texas.

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Buy Their Music Descender Online Store Itunes Amazon

10. Exeter – Everyday Parade (from the album Grey Noise, White Lies; Courtesy of Pop Up Records)

Austin, Texas’s Exeter is one of the best bands currently leading the resurgence of the Space Rock scene.  They’ve showcased their Space Rock Influence having appeared on the phenomenal Failure Tribute album, “The Nurse Who Loved Me,” and with the release of their latest album, Grey Noise, White Lies.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

11. Dead Twins – Darker Than Night (from the upcoming album, Polarized)

Dead Twins started making a name for themselves in the Dallas scene years ago through the release of a couple of EP’s and playing a bunch of shows.   Now, they have a new line-up with founding member Gabe Cardinale on vocals and guitar,  Justin Young (also in The Auxiliary Voice) on bass, and Patrick Gathings on drums and their new record, Polarized, is set for release on July 31st with a release show at the Double-Wide.  They also recently released a split Vinyl single on Shifting Sounds UK for their song Action Reaction with another ETO Volume One band, Magnet School.  Gabe’s vocals and guitar playing are raw and infectious, and have a way of drawing you in.  Combine that with Justin’s bass lines and Patrick’s hard driving drum rhythms; Now, you have recipe for a great rock band.

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12. Magnet School – XX (from the album Tonight We Drink… Tomorrow We Battle The Evil At Hand courtesy of Arclight Records)

These Austin, Texas rockers are an awesome hybrid of Space Rock, and Shoegaze/Indie Rock.  Spin Magazine calls them, “Four Austinites [that] infuse their bar-band anthems with tangy rythmic flourishes and slather on the psychedelia like it was barbecue sauce.”  On top of that, they’re a very powerful live band that always rock hard with every performance.  They recently released a split vinyl single with the Dead Twins for their new song, The Sitch, through Shifting Sounds UK.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

13. Goodnight Goddess – Lollipops and Suicides (from the album Lollipops and Suicides)

bio coming soon!

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Buy Their Music Itunes

14. Here Holy Spain – This Tension (from the album Manic courtesy of Idol Records)

These crazy punks are some of the most awesome people I know, and were also the very first band that I ever interviewed.  My good friends, Wes Todd, Erica Guagliardi, and Scott Brayfield of Here Holy Spain have been writing songs like crazy since their debut Idol Records release, Manic.    Now they’re showcasing their new material live and are planning on hitting the studio this summer/fall to record their sophomore release.  There’s no band in DFW that writes better songs about being pissed than Here Holy Spain.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

15. The Spirits of Music – Roadtrip (from their self-titled EP)

The Spirits of Music manifested in the my old college stomping grounds of Lubbock, Texas when guitarist Jeff Fajans, drummer Matt Martin, and singer/bass player Colton Boyles converged to do some serious jammage.  Despite Lubbock’s prestigious music history with it being the birthplace of Buddy Holly, there was no real music scene to speak of when I was going to school at Texas Tech… Then I heard The Spirits of Music and I started to have some hope.  Their songs sound like epic jam sessions in an eclectic mixture of original songs heavily influenced by funk, rock, jazz, and hip hop. When performing live, The Spirits never play the song the same way twice. Although having structure, their sets are based off of being in the moment; improvising what comes naturally to them and through their instruments.

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16. SaintKarla – Sing (from their album, Elephant In The Room)

bio coming soon!

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

17. The Commotion – Conspiratus [Demo] (from their  EP, Demos – 2009)

Micah Creel, former guitarist for Edgewater, is one of my music heroes and has had a very positive impact on my life.  Lately, he has been inspired and the product of his inspiration is none other than his solo project known as The Commotion.  Along with his guitar skills, he showcases his talents by recording and playing all the instruments himself.   For The Commotion live shows, he recruits Justin Middleton from Siren City, Justin Hold formerly of Overscene, Josh Sanders formerly of Advent, and Ross Rubio from Moving Atlas.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

18. Soft Words Traverse – Sprawling Certainty (from the album Gently)

Billy Mays III of Soft Words Traverse definitely has a lot to say, but he’s letting his music do all the talking.  Through the release of his latest album, Gently, Billy takes you on a journey through what he’s encountered over the past few years.  The album flows together perfectly with the order of the tracks, and the story behind the album is beyond inspirational.  I would definitely put his music in the soundtrack of my life.

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Buy Their Music Online Store Itunes Amazon

19. Watching Cars – Last Words (Previously Unreleased)

Brothers, David and Collin Gouldin, were founding members of the successful Dallas rock band, Ben Zephyr, but now they’re showing their more indie/ambient side with Watching Cars.  They grew up on a steady diet of Beach Boys, Beatles, Chicago, and James Taylor, paving the way for their love of indie pop artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, Iron & Wine, and Pedro the Lion and you can definitely hear those influences.  Outside of the music, Collin (drums) has 2 guinness world records and he has his third attempt soon that you can find about HERE; and David (vocals, guitar, and keyboard) spoke about the Economics of Free at Ignite Dallas 2 and you watch it HERE.

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Get more FREE Watching Cars music at Watching-Cars.com

Special thanks go out to all who have been an amazing source of help, encouragement, guidance, and support. Thanks again…

- Ty Griffin / EscapingTheOrdinary.net