Steamroller Music Blog

Shaolin Temple of Boom!

Jennifer Evans — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:14:12 +0000

I couldn’t come up with any kind of catchy headline like I like to do because his band name is so freaking cool! It’s says alot and then nothing; makes you think, wonder. You gotta listen to a band with that kind of name, they all have something to say but not all of tem can do it, and I haven’t heard a band that can do that in a while. Listening to Shaolin Temple of Boom is feeling like I’m in my own skin. It’s comfortable. It’s a tailor made suit. It’s your first orgasm, your first taste of chocolate….yeah, those days. These days. Your fix.

I know that most all music loves still use the big headphones, I do, better fit and sound, I hate the little tiny spy like bugs in my ear, and this is one of those bands. You kick back on your bean bag, your 17 and you still have the ability and innocence to accept what they offer, pure talent. Composed talent. Something strong but moldable. Real but magick. Calm but tragic. It’s ecclectic, which I really like. Versatility, not confined to any one genre, and only just beginning! That’s the best part, there is so much more to come. This is not a one hit wonder, this is a wonderland of talent brought together in perfect harmony that David Alvarez has created. I’d class it as new age Pink Floyd if I had to compare it to something. I don’t know if that was one of his infulences or not but it is eerily reminiscent in some ways of making you get totally in another hemisphere. You know what I’m talking about. If you play one song and it doesn’t grab you, try another, I would just bet he will have something you will love, no doubt. I can’t wait to hear more and even better things from him. He has too much talent not too. Get on the band wagon of this one now!

Musical Genuis of David Alvarez

The one man band wagon as far as I am concerned. He can take a song like “Always, Everything” and take you on a almost Floydian Trip and then turn around and rock the hell out of “After the Fall” . He has his own sound and style, it’s almost like watching Carlos Santan’s career evolve into the guitar god he is today, im my opinion. “Relentless Fixation is a mixture of old and new punk, heavy and hard rock and rythm. It’s truly a gripping trip of musical explosions.

MySpace URL:

www.myspace.com/shaolintempleofboom

SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF BOOM (ϟ) now on iTunes: General Info

Member Since	8/30/2005
Band Website	www.shaolintempleofboom.com
Band Members	Cherry Atom Pie Publishing is David Alvarez’s imprint label and consists of licencing rights for SHAOLIN TEMPLE OF BOOM music as well as distribution of music and art.For licencing or any sponsorship/opportunities in relation to Shaolin Temple of BooM please contact David Alvarez at djshao@shaolintempleofboom.com Marketing/promotion contact Mark Bigelow at markbigelow@hotmail.com SToB design work by Mark Kappes at fstrat90@yahoo.com For booking and any other inquiries contact djshao@shaolintempleofboom.com Shaolin Temple of BooM also works in conjunction with Silent Q Design which can be found here http://www.myspace.com/silentqdesign All songs written, arranged, composed and produced by David Alvarez. Shaolin Temple of BooM is David Alvarez: Vocals, guitar, keys and programming. David is proudly endorsed by the best amps in the world http://www.engl-amps.com

Shaolin Temple of Boom is available for download on iTunes!

Shaolin Temple of Boom

To purchase SToB on iTunes just go to this link http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewArtist?id=183441715&uo=6

Shaolin Temple of BooM (SToB) is the brainchild of David Alvarez (vocals, guitar, keys, programming) featuring Borja Rodriguez (guitar), June Kato (bass) for live shows and recordings. SToB’s music melds the industrial, machine-driven aspects of modern music with the raw, emotional human elements of pre-digital-era rock. It’s influences include Nine Inch Nails, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Marilyn Manson, Queen, Fear Factory, etc.

SToB won the Wonka Battle of the Bands hosted by trueAnthem (http://www.trueanthem.com/Wonka) in 2009. The competition consisted of many up-and-coming bands, some of which are already touring in the Warped Tour. SToB recieves an average of 200,000 plays daily on its trueAnthem player (http://www.trueAnthem.com/stob) and has over 100 thousand downloads.

Shaolin Temple of Boom was founded by David Alvarez in 2005. David composed, performed, and produced all the tracks on its first release, “ProjecKtor” and soon radio stations began requesting CDs, including “Kerrang! Unsigned Artist Radio,” “KROQ Locals Only,” among others.

2006 SToB was invited by EVE TV for its premiere, and showcased the song “Into Nothing.” EVE TV is the largest multi-player game on one server in history, and SToB was listened to by over 30,000 people. Flux/Viacom then invited SToB to create its own community via its website while Flux was still in its beta format (SToB was the only unsigned band invited to do so). This community is now home to over 2000 members.

In 2007, Engl Amps endorsed David Alvarez and promoted this endorsement in music magazines across Europe, including the largest music magazine in Germany, “Rock Hard”.

In 2008 SToB released the EP “Deus Ex Machina” featuring aforementioned members . SToB began radio play on regular rotation on XM Radio’s “Squizz channel.”
Contact Info: djshao@shaolintempleofboom.com

Hope you enjoy as much as I do! I am a huge fan! Peace, Jen;}

Beach House = Real Love

AmandaH — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:40:28 +0000

I’ve never been much of a Beach House fan – their previous two albums were a little bland, slow, and predictable for my taste. However, their most recent release, Teen Dream, is one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long, long time (and I can say that confidently). Each song from the record stands on its own, and lead singer Victoria Legrand has one of those mournful, scratchy voices that you’d associate with an African-American soul singer. I’m going to see them on April 11th at the Rickshaw Theatre, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to cry when I hear them play “Real Love”, which you can listen to & tear up yourself here:

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Phat Toast’s Pick of the Month

travis — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 02:10:09 +0000

Every month or so I’m going to try and post something that, hopefully, you have never seen or heard of before. Whether it’s a song, person, band, soundtrack, concert, youtube clip, or anything else music related that may have slipped under your radar. I realize that with such a diverse, musically literate audience, with eclectic tastes that this is going to be a difficult challenge, but I will try my best to introduce to you some juicy musical nuggets of gold, that at least most of you haven’t heard before. So without further ado, I present the first instalment of “Phat Toast’s Pick of the Month,” with my hands down, number one with a bullet, favourite new composer Bear McCrealy!

Besides having one of the coolest names on the planet, Bear McCrealy is a wickedly talented new composers making his rounds in the television, movie, and video game soundtrack scene. No matter what you think of the TV show Battlestar Galactica, (personally, I think it kicks “fracking” ass!!), It is arguably the best television soundtrack of all time. Boasting a whopping 4 official soundtracks (one for every season!) as well as a handful of other OST’s for the mini-series and specials. Bear McCrealy was largely credited for the entire catalogue of music and, in my opinion was a key element for the shows success. Bear Mcrealy is a soundtrack junkies wet dream, blending a wide variety of ethnic influences and pushing the boundaries of what we consider a television musical score to be.

Admittedly, the show isn’t for everyone, but the music defiantly is! So, heres two tasty little jams that are only further proof that Bear McCrealy is someone to keep your eye on. So here’s Bob Dylan’s “All along the Watchtower,” by Bear McCrealy. Rock guitar and Citar?? Ummmm… Yes please!!

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And a all original little ditty entitled “Kara Remembers,” by Bear McCrealy, Which is personally my fav track from the entire series!

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Soundtrack Junkies Enjoy!

Video: hollAnd, “I Can See Bottom”

jamison — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:16:09 +0000

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Listen to hollAnd.

New Tracks From Gobble Gobble, “Lawn Knives” & “End Of Days”

jamison — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:52:49 +0000

Gobble Gobble are going to be something that people talk about. They’re going to be one of those bands that you will be told you need to see. I had the immense pleasure of stumbling upon them one night at the Lo Pub in Winnipeg, and I can easily say it was one of the most insane live shows I’ve ever experience. Watch the video below for a little more convincing. Their sound balances somewhere between Aphex Twin-esque skittered beats, and circuit-bent Barbie sing-a-long toy. Cecil’s voice, as demonstrated by their first record, is usually coated in a thick layer of distortion, but on these new tracks, it comes through nice and clear. This shows off the fact that not only can this guy sing, but he can write some of the most mind-bending lyrics you’ve ever heard. So don’t front, listen to these two new tracks on the band’s myspace, and prepare for an enlightenment.

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Favorite Action Cartoon Theme Songs!!!!

Robins — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:31:03 +0000

In celebration of my transformation into a Ninja Turtle (my girl friend is a makeup artist), here’s a list of my favorite action cartoon theme songs. KAWABUNGA!!!!

Transformers – No idea who wrote this, but apparently some metal band played the tune for the 80’s cartoon movie….I base this on YouTube info, not fact.

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Tenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Dennis C. Brown and Chuck Lorre

These dudes caught quiet a bit of acclaim for coming up with this little Saturday morning ditty.

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Beast wars – I discovered today that I still wipe out the old air guitar whenever I hear this intro.

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Batman – Fuckin Classic….what else is there to say. I think Danny Elfman wrote this. Am I sure, no. Do I care……kinda, could someone verify this….please?

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Top 4 Most Annoying Songs Currently Stuck in My Head Right Now.

Colin Ablitt — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:45:22 +0000

1: Mercury – Bloc Party.

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By the tenth or so second of listening this song, I already want to hit skip. Normally, I love Bloc Party. But this song overstays it’s welcome, and teaches you the meaning of the word: repetitive, and teaches you the meaning of the word: repetitive. M-Mercury’s in retrograde! What the hell does that even mean? Kele Okereke, you have done better than this.

2: Poker Face – Lady Gaga

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This song is so annoyingly catchy, I decided to spare you, the reader, from having it’s electronic beat and unintelligible chanting of “roma roma ma gaga ooh la la!” forever imprisoned within your hippocampus. I decided to elevate the inimitable Christopher Walken to read out her lyrics for you instead. The song itself is what inspired this list, so give Gaga extra points or whatever.

3: Use Somebody – Kings of Leon.

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Don’t get me wrong – I don’t mind Kings of Leon. I have the album, and I like a few songs off of it. But anyone who listens to any amount of radio will want to scratch their ears off with steel wool when this song crosses the airwaves. The normally full-bodied and distinct voice of Caleb Followill tries a little too hard on this song, entering Jonas Brother territory with its over-stated emotion and teenage camp. Did someone say overplayed?

4: You’re Beautiful – James Blunt

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I cannot stand a thing about this man. Never mind the fact that he stole Jamie Lidell’s album cover(!), but this runaway radio hit “You’re Beautiful” is a testament to the over-hyping Next Big Thing^tm mentality of most major record labels. His voice is displeasing to my ears, his instrumentation simplistic (as opposed to simple, which is not inherently bad) and his lyrics atrocious. Yet, people love it. Why they love it is beyond me.

Cheers,
~colin.

Come Get Your Glitch On

rebecca — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:58:33 +0000

This upcoming workshop looks like a blast! I will be trying my best to attend, barring any unforeseen circumstances. For those of you new to Ableton Live, songwriting, the electronic music industry and live PA/production this could be the just the thing… Best of all, it’s only $50! You’d spend that much (or more) on a night out, why not invest it in your musical education?

I’m looking forward to honing my (admittedly rusty) AL skills as well as makin some new contacts in the Vancouver glitchhop/dubstep scene!

See you there!

- bex

A message from Ill Gates, “The Phat Conductor:”

Hey all you musicians + creative types… I’ll be doing a Music/Production workshop… It’s a presentation on my method of finishing large amounts of quality music quickly. I used to take 6 months to finish a tune I liked, and now I do a tune a day. I have taught many many people to do the same.

The workshop costs $50 for the whole shebang. If you’re broke (and i know a lot of musicians are) you can get in for FREE by bringing two other people who pay the full $50.

Here’s what you get for $50:

a) The presentation itself
b) A printout of the notes on everything covered
c) The Ill Gates Ableton Rack collection
d) Access to Ill Gates DJ templates (which are normally $50 alone)

The presentation and notes cover:

- How to actually finish lots of music in a reasonable amount of time
- Arranging and Songwriting
- Developing your own style, based on a personalized and effective Work Flow
- Sound Design
- Mixing
- Promotion
- Setting up Tours
- Getting your Music out
- DJing with Ableton Live

For RSVP/Presales go to the facebook event page for deets:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=339810571389&ref=mf

James and Danger Mouse Make a Love Child

matt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:25:57 +0000

Some may claim that they would like The Shins more if they didn’t know it was The Shins, and some may pretend to not like Gnarls Barkley at all, yet while at the same time of their supposed claim you might find this so-called pretender dancing and even singing along with Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo’s music as “Crazy” is unleashed in the basement of the cool girl’s party. So if you fall into either one of these categories or don’t really know what I’m talking about in the first place then there’s no need to worry, because the new collaboration of Broken Bells and their self-titled album has finally arrived. This duo consists of The Shins’ front man James Mercer and Danger Mouse (a.k.a. Brian Burton). An album that can deliver the fun and sorrow filled tunes from The Shins and bring the intrinsic and eclectic fun from the one half of Gnarls Barkley.
It begins with their single “The High Road,” which creepily yet poetically gears the album toward the entrancing side of things, otherwise known as pop, but good pop music. It’s very catchy and after hearing the warbling twangs of Mercer’s voice rolling from one song to the next you can hear the Shin-sier side of things but almost with a cool funk to it, which means that Danger Mouse is doing his job. And he’s doing an excellent job. Brian, if I may call him Brian, does fantastic work with his multi-instrumental talents and skills as a producer. (Do producers do things still?)
As a whole the album works very well and can become quite addicting after a few listens. So now you don’t have to be ashamed of singing in the cool girl’s basement to the new product of Danger Mouse and you can tell you’re friends that you actually like Broken Bells for who they are. All is well and if you haven’t seen the session video for their first single “The High Road” posted earlier, do so now! Or in the meantime check out the creepy and mesmerizing music video for the single below:

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Broken Bells is out now via Columbia Records.

New Here We Go Magic, “Collector”

jamison — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:21:51 +0000

MP3: Here We Go Magic – Collector

Here We Go Magic’s debut record was on repeat for most of my last summer. The combination of sampled, distorted loops, and genuine folk songwriting made a perfect soundtrack for hazy summer afternoons at the beach, or falling asleep on my patio sofa. The band is set to release their next record, Pigeons, in June, and the first single is an absolute gem. The band’s debut record was written and recorded by band leader Luke Temple, and this song is already showcasing a more full, polished sound. In some cases this may be a bad thing, but with “Collector”, you can tell that the band’s talent is undeniable, and that their lo-fi sound wasn’t the only redeeming factor. So listen to this track with some headphones, you’ll thank me later.

Pigeons is out June 8, by way of Secretly Canadian.