The dust will never settle

So this is my first blog (not really, I had a worse one) and I have some sentimental value with it because I left it in the cold void of the internet to die...

I never posted that mixtape, I never updated on the EP, the single and three series of outtakes I've released in the time till now.

I feel bad but no one reads this anyways, so why do I have an attachment? Maybe it's because I know I put some of my soul onto this thing, whether it was my naive soul from a few years ago but whatever.

Still I just wanted to write that I have a record label I'm working on with a friend of mine and you can find us at http://chieftizorecords.blogspot.com.

I don't know if I can say I'll post here again but maybe I'll post something when my debut record comes out in a few weeks. At least then this place could attract some attention.

Until then my old nesting place.

New Music coming soon

A single or something, from the new WINTER EP should be out by next week.

GET READY.

Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay - Live at Bryan's Garage: 01-05-2010 (2010)

So since I finally finished my latest EP (download link is below somewhere) I've been looking through the archives to upload some fun stuff. So I decided to tackle my side band "Vengeance Is Mine, I Will Repay" with members Mark Gross and Justin Cirar, a post-hardcore tribal music affair. Unfortunately, we don't have any real studio tracks as we record mostly in a live take with one one mic to preserve that whole DIY aesthetic of the band. But early this year we opened for my own band (redundant) 'Cape Crusaders' and had the equipment to recorded at least slightly in a professional manner (Yeah right). So here is the awesome result of the live show, I particularly am in good spirits here for some reason and so is the crowd. While our opening time slot is short and we didn't perform all of our original material (which will come up in a few days here if you are curious) it was a fun gig to play and definitely one of my fondest memories with the group. So here for the first time is the Live at Bryan's Garage: 01-05-2010 mini-LP.

Personnel:
Keyboard, Percussion, Vocals - Justin Cirar
Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Mark Gross
Guitar, Keyboard, Drums, Vocals - Bryan Santizo

Track list:

1. Intro/Jokes Section - 3:00
2. Oh Yo - 1:24
3. It's the E-Flat Thing - 0:45
4. Lighten Up - 4:17
5. Creep - 4:23
6. Be Wary of the Cord - 1:21
7. Kira, Give Us Your Camera - 3:02
8. Oh Yo (Reprise) - 0:55

Running time: 19:09

Download Link MP3 VBR: http://www.mediafire.com/?jl1g16sl9glp211

Notes: The Creep climax is one of the best moments ever.

How Scandinavian - Smiles Without Mirth EP

Finally, here's the music I've worked on for pretty much a good part of 2010 on. It's been a long journey but here it finally is. I think this is my most cohesive work yet and trumps my debut EP (I still like that one though) and gives a bit of a glimpse into what sort of music I'll begin to make later on. (Also who knows, maybe I'll have to remaster this one too next year if I get better with mixing.) So here it is!

Track List
1. Common Convenience - 3:49
2. Jay Fantini - 3:43
3. Left Field Cult Film Theme Song - 3:05
4. Philander - 3:09
5. For a Living - 5:51
6. The Colors Ran - 4:13
7. Elated - 3:29
8. Nancy - 4:09
9. Old News - 3:44

Total Running Time: 35:12

Download link VBR MP3: http://www.mediafire.com/?q0qpoweypkfojvw

Also be on the look out for another single release in a few days or so, cause I've got three more B-sides to throw out before this whole Smiles without Mirth Era ends. Additionally, like the last EP release, if you want this on CD, just ask and bring your own CD and case and I'll give it to you. If you want custom art, bring a few bucks.

How Scandinavian - Philander 7" Single

So here's the first single off of the Smiles Without Mirth EP and I think it's a good one maybe. It's packed with cool b-sides that you won't find on the EP and has some pretty cool album art. So give it a shot if you want a taste of the new EP's sound. Hope you like it!



Tracklist:

1. Philander - 3:09
2. Burnt Out Sight - 3:02
3. My Girlfriend (Doesn't Acknowledge Me) - 3:53
4. Bronchitis - 5:45

Running Time: 15:48

Download Link VBR MP3:
http://www.mediafire.com/?c4lwdz88w08cy54

Final Pre-Release News on New EP!

Well guys, I'm finally almost done, I've been delaying alot and been giving random tracklists and titles. But here is the final tracklist and album art for the new EP.

How Scandinavian - Smiles Without Mirth EP



Track List:

1. Common Convenience
2. Jay Fantini
3. Left Field Cult Film Theme Song
4. Philander
5. For a Living
6. The Colors Ran
7. Elated
8. Nancy
9. Old News

New very old stuff! Part 2 of 2

The reason behind uploading all these relics is because I'm cleaning up some space on the computer and deleting lots of old master tracks that I have no use for anymore. So in a sense, this is my form of backing up the early years and early experiments.

So this last release for today is something pretty special, it is the archives of my old band 'Cape Crusaders'. I compiled all the old demos and rehearsal songs we played from way back when we formed to the last few practices we had this year until the break up.

I have to admit it's a lot of stuff to go through, and some material is actually missing! But there's some treats here, you get to hear what exactly went through our heads back in the day, the ill-fated songs that were played only once or twice and all the band chatter regarding how the take was too shitty or very good. Lots of alternate takes and mixes and of course the abundance of covers we used to do back in the early days. (Couldn't find our famous Weezer covers though.)

It was kinda sad going through these cause you realize you spent lots of time in the band, having fun rehearsing, making music and eventually playing it live for people to hear. What really grips me is that this is a document that highlights what went on behind the scenes, how the band would prepare become presentable, to be happy and enjoy the times. It's all great and I'm happy that we were able to capture it even if it's not the greatest quality.

You'll be happy to notice that the material spans from my first demos circa 2007 to the failed EP sessions in November 2009 to the last practice this year. For that reason alone the quality goes everywhere. It was great compiling this and it reassured me that I had a good time and won't forget the nostalgic feeling of playing in local venues and messing around.

Farewell Cape Crusaders, it really was the end of us.

Cape Crusaders - Crazy Endings and Songs of P-14 (2007-2010)



1. Ed's Dream - 4:17
2. I Don't Wanna Be Alone Tonight - 4:01
3. The National Anthem (Radiohead Cover) - 4:41
4. Piggy (Cool Version) (Nine Inch Nails Cover) - 3:47
5. I Don't Wanna Be Alone Tonight (Early Take) - 4:31
6. Doesn't This Sound Like Drive or Something? (Demo) - 5:02
7. Head Like A Hole (Nine Inch Nails Cover) - 4:45
8. I Don't Wanna Be Alone Tonight (Video Mix) - 3:39
9. The Who Song - 5:09
10. The National Anthem (Early Take 1) - 3:48
11. Tame (Pixies Cover) - 1:49
12. Piggy (Organ Mix) - 3:52
13. Tiny Cities Made of Ashes (Modest Mouse Cover) - 3:28
14. The National Anthem (Early Take 2) - 4:25
15. Wonderful, 1832 (Failed 2009 Sessions Version) - 3:33
16. Brick (Minors) - 3:28
17. Surfrock (Failed 2009 Sessions Version) 3:34
18. Alone Tonight (Failed 2009 Sessions Version) 4:15
19. Weathers - 4:38
20. B-Side - 1:55
21. Reptillia (The Strokes Cover) - 3:49
22. Weathers (Then Known as Blow Out Ripoff) (Acoustic Demo) - 5:11
23. Low Expectations (New Song from the Last Practice) - 5:45

Total time: 1:33:32

Download link: http://www.mediafire.com/?z4dyny2gkyt

New very old stuff! Part 1 of 2

I've been working hard on the new summer EP, it's still underway but I assure you it'll be out this month. It's final name etc is Smiles without Mirth. pretty cool huh?

Anyways we are going on a time machine trip today. Because I'm uploading some REALLY old stuff here today, the first is an old series of experimental ambient drone music that I made back in 2007-2008 under my alias 'Fuckdown'. It's very primitive and was back when I didn't really know what to do in my free time. It's not listed under the name 'Fuckdown' anymore, but alas you can tell the name fits perfectly, since the music is drone extraordinaire.

So here's the mini-LP of drone ambient experimental jazz fusion big band swing collection:

How Scandinavian - Abundance of Ambience (2007-2008)



1. Aluminum Garbage Can - 6:35
2. Your Music Taste (Earnest Musings About People Who Pretend to 'Love' a Song but Eat Shit Instead) - 4:05
3. Overcast - 4:32
4. Jacque-Oh-Lantern - 3:07
5. Scalpel (Pt. 1) - 2:46
6. Scalpel (Pt. 2) - 6:15
7. 7:31am - 2:22

Total Time: 28:52

Download Link : http://www.mediafire.com/?2gdmnjiytlz

Bryan's Alamanac of the Best Days of 2009

The purpose of this list is to analyze each and every memorable day of the year and how they affected me, and my peers through the year. These are filled with bias, and as such will be very good.

Here's what made the cut.

11 Honorable Mentions:

"Barnes and Noble: House Dick"
"Halloween: A Surrealistic Nostalgic and Loving Tale"
"Flowers, Sunday, and I'm Gonna Be REALLY Depressed, Like forever"
"The movies weren't bad, it was the people. (Aaron Eckhart Love Story)"
"Invite Yourself to Others Birthdays equals Realizations"
"Park: Slender Frame Day"
"Bowling is Depressing, and I Like to speak of pasts that still haunt those and others"
"Soccer Game, a Duel of the Wits, and a Lesson in Confusion"
"Guatemala: Land of Opportunity"
"Kira's Birthday: Life affirming epiphany that I might enjoy others company"
"4th of July: Just.. just fuck this."

5 Worst Days Ever:

"Transformers 2: I Want to Fucking Die"
"Sonja's Backyard Adventure: Why I liked 28 Days Later"
"Kari's Birthday Party: This is really how it ends, Fuck."
"Fucking on my Couch: A Study on why I will never host again."
"Hey, shut the fuck up: A complete analysis of failure over the year, and why."


6 Best Days Ever:

"Fairground of Happiness, Not Anymore, Jake's Birthday, and The Secret Lives of Others Revealed: A Symphony"

"Relay for Life: Reasons and Ideas Why I am off the fucking Boat"

"Mexican Water Ballon Warfare: Grudge Two and Realizations of another World"

"The Bike Ride to the Metawaters of the Moss Family: I Had the best Summer out of anyone ever"

"Sugar Please: Why I lost faith in the majority of my Friends"

"Pioneer Man: This is why Incest fucked everything up, you fucking idiots."

Expect it in the coming weeks.

Aimless Ideas: Concurrent States

I don't know what to do with myself lately, as excited as I am for Cape Crusaders finally getting somewhere after months of nothing, I'm surprised to find we have some support from people we don't even know. This makes me grateful, who knows where this could take the band, and if anything this just gives me more experience in music endeavors, so win win.

Regardless, I try too hard to get myself involved with people, or at least I think I do. But lately that's changed a bit, I've gotten more confident in speaking outside of my normal perimeters, started to try to do things differently, and speak with people I don't normally speak to, so that's nice. Stagnation is the enemy correct? Correct.

I went to the movies last weekend, that was the kind of different experience I am talking about, it's strange, with my normal set of circumstances and people to go see a movie with, I can't help but feel drained out of any enthusiasm. Doing it with an obtuse set of people really made me have room to breathe, to not have to act in a set fashion, and expectations. It was pleasant.

I also had an epiphany that whatever fake hate I had in me, that was real. Great, time to start all over again. I'm lucky to have distractions though, for once it doesn't seem so bad to just not speak, to not want to say anything to anyone because they aren't worth the time put into it.

Back to music stuff, I'm venturing on the Arcade Fire's catalog after not listening to them for a while, and it makes me ponder on how Win Butler can write such heartfelt lyrics, but not be self indulgent. "If you still want me, please forgive me, the crown of love, is fallen from me." Makes me almost jealous, but this only fuels the vigor of improving my own songwriting.

Here's a little excerpt I made for lyrics for a new song I wrote for the band.

where I am is about
being written again
old roads dug up
myself stepping on them

Losing my touch
I want it back
It could be anyone
I wish it were me
You were talking about
it could be anybody
I should be me

Yeah then chorus or something, I still have to work it out. Slowly yet surely.

Edit: Oh yeah listen to that song "Just Like Always" I made myself on the How Scandinavian Myspace Page. I think it's pretty good.

Tracklist Version 2.0 (Updated)

1. Aspirations!
2. Ironic Fate, Reversal Twist
3. Was a Silent One
4. Copycat/Remarks
5. Morning
6. Such Distance
7. Dante's Inferno/Anything Pt. I
8. To Think Ahead
9. Scary Folk
10. Anything Pt. II
11. Malleable Young Mind
12. Day of the Year

Almost there....

Sup Sons

Well this is the first post for the multimedia critic and reviewing blog. "Lost And Found" Expect Some Updates Soon.