New Music coming soon

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

GET READY.

Songs for the Night: Have A Nice Life - Bloodhail

Masterful and brooding. Nothing helps you get through the night like this.

80th Post: How Scandinavian - Patchwork Two P

Remember when I said I was working on a cover of Modest Mouse's song 'Interstate 8'? Probably not, but here it is. I had the pleasure of working with a good friend of mine, Stephanie, to provide the female backing vocals originally on the song and I think it sounds wonderful. Instrumentation-wise I tried to do something original in the sense that it's not a straight up guitar cover. I also threw in an old b-side song I had lying around for around a year, just a little fun instrumental to back up this cover.

Hope it's enjoyable.



Track list
1. Interstate 8 - 4:38 (Modest Mouse Cover)
2. One Good Friend - 3:30

Total Running time: 8:08

Download link (320kbps MP3) : http://www.mediafire.com/?ri5rfi6nknhrwys

Wind up anger...

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.

Stuff to Download: Slint - Spiderland

I'd like to say everyone needs to listen to this, but they don't cause they wouldn't understand it and would lay down names to this album that it doesn't deserve. So if you think you can handle some pretty creative music, give this a try.



download link : Click here for a new adventure

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

Aimeless Ideas: It's hard

to write lyrics when you make the song's title someone's name. I mean what the fuck do you write about? The World Cup?

Edit: I hate having friends who all truly hate each other to some degree, I mean I know everyone does hate each other and we are all truly alone in the universe but shit make it a bit less obvious.

Summer EP News

So I've got a final tracklist, I'm recording vocals, its hard because I'm lazy with my own lyrics, but I'll force myself to finish in a top notch quality.

this will be a sullen record, its dreary at the end but happy in the beginning. so don't play the first half at night, don't play the second half in the day.

it's nine tracks, four sad, four happy, one angry. kinda.

How Scandinavian - The Proxy

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

about a little over half an hour of well crafted pop tunes, and guitar noise.

Better than the first EP!

I'll post a link to the "remastered and remixed" version of my first EP here, which was called A Stranger Danger, and has some tracklist changes.

Check back in a week or so and check the HS myspace for links and the new EP!

Edit: I'll be releasing a few one-off songs after this too, I'm planning on recording a cool cover of Modest Mouse's Interstate 8 with a guest singer, she's a great person and I think it'll be real cool. Also I've done a small collab with Kyle (a friend of mine) on a track I did off the cuff entitled "Bronchitis". Just a heads up!

tUnE-yArDs - Real Life Flesh

I enjoyed this.

To understand a concept

Things are going well, strangely. Its nice to give a feeling and get a mutual return. I'm unsure of how to proceed at this point, but whatever, at least for once, I've proceeded to this result on all my terms, not once giving into the advice of another unless I had requested it myself and improved upon it. Thank god.

Honorable Mentions #4: 4th of July: Just.. just fuck this.

#4 "4th of July: Just.. just fuck this."

By Mark Gross

I suppose, to be fair, I should say I already hated everyone by this time, their natures fully revealed and in turn their natures revealed to be easily discovered in your local toy shop (look for them in the Barbies collection). As such, to even consider arriving on time was detestable to me.

I went.

There was no hope of them being redeemed, but I hoped to grit my teeth and bear through, you know, for the food. Not only was I wrong in this assumption, I found myself warped into a world that exists only in the giggling minds of tiresome beings. I stepped out of the car and emerged into Hell, just in time to listen to the Cape Crusaders, (editor's note: this band isn't that great) sadly, my only other reason for going. I had a choice to make: take that chair over there and sit alone to watch them play, or join that group right in front of the show.

Easy choice, I took the chair. Fuck that. No, fuck that, fuck that, fuck that, fuck that, fuck that shit. Fuck that shit to hell. Straight to fucking hell. You know what? I would rather have fucked shit while summoning nether demons with devil magic to drag me straight to fucking hell than been part of that fucking group. I'm not that much of a fucking idiot.

As you can see, the period of decline was in full force. I saw that group there and it was made up of plastic and LIES. Fan-fucking-tastic. When the music ended - those fucking bitches - went inside or some shit. I didn't even step foot into the inner sanctum of the house, because some cool guy left and gave me a ride home so I could enjoy it with my family. Unlike some people, who don't have a fucking family. Why? Because nobody loves them. Fuck.

Introduction and Honorable Mentions #1: Halloween: A Surrealistic Nostalgic and Loving Tale

Introduction.

by Bryan Santizo

Ah yes, the runner ups, the almost made its, the cesspool of everything, ever. Here in these confines one can find those days that struck as memorable, the days in which we played merely for games. In their vague and quasi-mystical meanings hidden beneath by instant gratification, bad moods and selfish people. But all is not to be negative, no, some stories begin faltering, only to be redeemed in the end, others end where they being, and some only are retold to remind us that some things will never change, only our perception to it. All who enter, lose all hope of moral fear and judgment.

#1 "Halloween: A Surrealistic Nostalgic and Loving Tale"

By Bryan Santizo

I enjoyed Halloween when I was much younger, something some sort of aspect of dressing into the most irregular form of clothing was attractive at the time, whatever the hell that is supposed to mean in my childhood (and I'm sure it's something BAD) I've come to learn this year Halloween is more than the sum of its parts. A manifestation of "let's do this because goddamn I'm trying to find the door to happiness and perhaps it is here and not in the other four thousand places I've searched in."

A surrealistic journey if there was one, surrounded by ghosts calling back to the bedsheets of the lightest winters, my good willed yet not exactly high fidelity drummer, and a companion who reminds me of times that no longer exist. Our initial destination was at Chipotle, for nothing says "I'm cool" than showing up and demonstrating how to wrap your comrade in aluminum foil. But this, this feeling of awkwardness that one would normally allow to tangle true feelings, that was dispelled, just fucking annihilated.

I came to realize, who cares about such small details, I mean for the love of all things related to sarcasm, I was dressed like fucking Hank Hill. And guess what? I escaped the clutches of mundane surroundings, not bogged down by stupidity or gossip mongering bitches. I had found once again what made childhood's Halloweens so great, so DIFFERENT.

Having escaped, I immediately recharge my vigor and settled down in my new found yet temporary paradise of company. Temporary because like all great things, they must end or else the stagnation grows, and so does the wicked thought of separation by cruel means. (Like many things, am I right?) But it ran its course perfectly, from trick or treating to tossing around a ball of mighty aluminum to myself being called a heathen by a stray duo of church folk, this was the heartfelt thrilling celebration I was waiting for, and I would not have had it any other way.

In the most unexpected of gatherings I had found happiness and a resolve to further continue my journeys for such warmth in the coldest of eras.

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: Writer's Block

After battling writer's block for a good month or so, I've finally defeated it with a new song that I am writing, it is one of the most structured songs I've wrote, and I have multiple demos of certain parts, this will be exciting. Definitely one of the sadder, yet uplifting at the same time songs, This one will be a keeper for sure.

Aimless: To not end on a sour note

The old king has come back, it's been long enough, tranquility is back in order.

The majority of everyone can rest easy now.

I'm really happy for them, and I hope everyone else is too, hopefully things are in favor this time.

Everyone gets what they deserve.

Piggy.

Nothing can stop me now