After five years and 37 volumes of the netBloc series, I think it’s fair to say that blocSonic has turned on more than a few people to the netaudio culture. From the beginning, that was precisely why I began the series. I strive to make each volume eclectic and packed with information about each track. Combine that with the professionally designed art & PDF and what you’re left with is a compilation that serves as a great way to catch up on what’s been happening in netaudio culture.

Of course, if you’re new to netaudio, it’s also a great way to introduce you to that very culture. Is this the first netBloc release you’ve come to check out? If so, I welcome you. When you’re done enjoying “netBloc Vol. 37: FIVE”, please check out the other 36 volumes!

Thanks, also, to all of you who continue to return to blocSonic to enjoy this series! It’s certainly a pleasure to be able to turn you on to incredible, INDEPENDENT music.

Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Cheers to the next five years!

Grab your free copy of “netBloc Vol. 37: FIVE”!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

It’s hard to believe that January is almost done and it’s already that time for us to wrap up MUTE month. It seems like it went way too quickly! No worries though, we end it with a tremendous new EP produced by UNknown (Formula). At times dark and other times introspective, yet all the while “UNkilling Time” is absorbing. As with all of what you heard by MUTE this month, this is music for the discriminating listener. Don’t say I didn’t warn you if you’re unable to stop listening.

I can’t thank Tha Silent Partner and UNknown enough for the amount of work they put in to make MUTE month go off without a hitch! I sure hope that this isn’t the last we hear from MUTE here at blocSonic!

Once more, I thank YOU too! I sincerely hope you enjoyed MUTE month as much as I have. It’s always a pleasure to be able to share great music. Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “UNkilling Time”

One last note: Check out my interview on the latest Music Manumit podcast!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

What’s good y’all? I hope you’ve been enjoying the releases that we’ve been dropping on you this month. Here we go again with another one! With “Pavement Politics, Vol. 2 (Sidestreets & Alleys)”, MUTE month returns with a fury. Five years in the making, Tha Silent Partner and UNknown (Formula) return with the proper follow up to their 2007 release “Pavement Politics, Vol. 1”, which you got to enjoy last week in all its remastered glory! Take another journey with MUTE… let the beats and rhythms move you. Word.

Thank you once again for your downloading & listening! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “Pavement Politics, Vol. 2 (Sidestreets & Alleys)”!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

If you’ve been following what we do for long enough, you might have first heard MUTE’s “Is It Too Late For US All” when it made an appearance on “netBloc Vol. 15: this album won’t eat your gas money” back in mid-2008. A little over a year later, we brought you the great release by one half of MUTE… UNknown aka Formula’s “The Overcast Project” and then a little under another year, the other half of MUTE… Tha Silent Partner made his blocSonic release debut with “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” and it’s two singles “P Pulsar” and “Starksy”. As you see, MUTE has long been part of the blocSonic story and with MUTE month the connection grows. After what has been a long gestation period, I’m very happy to present to you this remastered re-release of what I consider to be a netaudio classic! I hope you enjoy it and the bonus disc of previously unreleased goodies from the “Pavement Politics, Vol. 1” sessions.

Thanks once again for your interest in the art we present to you. Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “Pavement Politics XE”!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Did you know that on January 16th, blocSonic will be 5 years old? Can you believe that it’s already been five years since we first released our premiere netBloc volume? To commemorate this, we’ve made January 2012, MUTE month and we’re packing the month with free releases!

So who is MUTE, you ask? MUTE is a project by Tha Silent Partner and Unknown (aka Formula). A project begun back in 2007 when they released their incredible collection “Pavement Politics, Vol. 1”. There’s never been a follow up release, but now they’re back in a big way! First with this one, “10 A.M.”, then an Xtended Edition re-release of Pavement Politics with a 2nd disc of bonus material on January 17th, next will be the proper follow-up to “Pavement Politics” on January 24th and finally on January 31st will be “UNkilling Time”!

If that’s not enough for you, in the midst of all the MUTE, on the 27th, we’ve got the 37th volume of our netBloc series!

Thanks again for listening! We hope you enjoy the tasty audio bits we’ve got for you. Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it!

Grab your free copy of “10 A.M.”

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Can you believe that we’re approaching our fifth year of bringing you only the best music from netlabel and netaudio culture?!? It’s been an amazing five years and I thank you for continuing to listen. Over the years, blocSonic has become more than a tastemaker. We’ve grown and expanded into releasing our own quality releases. However we grow and develop in the future, our commitment to continued support of netaudio via our netBloc series is stronger than ever. With this, our 36th volume in the series, we’re committing to one annual year-end netBloc that shines the spotlight on ONE netlabel. This year we’re bringing you a collection of fire from the extensive Dusted Wax Kingdom archives! Over the years of bringing you these netBlocs, there are a few netlabels who have become staples of the compilation series. More recently, DWK has become one of these favorites. Though, their catalog is extensive enough that many gems just haven’t received the shine they deserve. So here you have a collection of 15 tracks that present to you a good representation of the Dusted Wax Kingdom sound. Thanks to label head Dimitar for making the experience of compiling this collection a great one! Thanks to all artists of the DWK roster for doing what you do and sharing your art with the world. You all & everyone in the netaudio culture make music intriguing again.

Thanks again to our listeners! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it! HAPPY NEW YEAR! Be safe.

Grab your free copy of “netBloc Vol. 36: Get Dusted (Illness From The Dusted Wax Stacks)”

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

As the internet has increasingly become part of all our lives, an intellectual shift has been occurring. As this shift progresses, more of us are seeing the need for less limitations in many areas. In the early years of this shift, an “open-source” software movement took hold and hasn’t abated. Further along, this idea of “open” content expanded to all types of media — visual, sonic, textual… you name it… Creative Commons licensing filled the need and continues to grow in popularity and use.

When you think about it, it really isn’t a stretch to think that this idea of “open” would move into the real world… into our everyday lives on profound levels. Wikileaks is an example of how “open” can deeply affect the world. It seems that the more we move toward open information/content, the more violent the opposition is. The Occupy movement is seeing this play out right now with a coordinated effort by militarized police forces in major cities throughout the country.

So how does the Occupy movement relate to the “open” movement? Well, is this idea of “open” really new? No… it’s a new form of an old idea. It’s what American democracy was supposedly based on… an open government… a government for the people… by the people. The idea of Public Domain is not a new one. This idea of “open” has got the world thinking about their governments and how open they really are. Inequality is at the heart of why the Occupy movement is occurring… it’s also at the heart of institutions, corporations and government which function closed or in secret as their modus operandi. The same inequality that spawned the Occupy movement is what spawned the need for “open” content. When music is released with a copyleft license that allows for sharing and sometimes even derivatives, that is a political action, whether the artist or label thinks it is or not. When artists and labels release Creative Commons/copyleft music, they are “Occupying Music”. They are choosing to side with independence and fostering true creativity. What some people get hung up on with the open movement is the idea that it’s FREE vs. COMMERCIAL… those aren’t the sides… the sides are BIG BUSINESS CONTROL vs. INDIVIDUAL CONTROL. At least that’s how I see things.

Thanks once again for downloading and listening! We’ve got a selection of 13 tracks from the world of netaudio. Two of them are previews of 2012 blocSonic releases. I hope you enjoy this carefully crafted selection! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Download your free copy of “netBloc Vol. 35: Occupy Music”

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Yeah y’all… here’s more of that NYC BOOM BAP for you to bump! “Case Closed” features two cuts from the album “Renaissance 2011”, a couple single only tracks. Also, quite a few remixers turned out for this… FunkMasterMash (a fresh producer who you can find doing his thing on SoundCloud)… C-Doc (the award-winning Public Enemy producer delivered a bangin’ remix with a bit of a Pete Rock vibe)… Zengineers (old friends of blocSonic who’ve been on featured on our netBloc series as well as frequently remix for us, this time around they delivered TWO)… V-Man (also known as Virtu-oso, another old friend of blocSonic who’s also been featured on our netBloc series and delivered two fresh remixes)… and finally DrTechnical aka Lyndon Scarfe (you might remember him from the great remixes he created for Liam Stewart’s “Bird of Prey” maxbloc).

Thanks to all involved… Luck, the producers and the remixers for making another great blocSonic release happen! Let’s all continue to do great things in 2012!

Thanks as always goes out to you, the listener… your support of what we do makes us strive to make blocSonic better all the time. Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Download your free copy of “Case Closed”

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

From day one, blocSonic has been about shining the light on the best of what the world of netaudio has to offer… BADLUCK’s Renaissance 2011 is no different. It’s some of that real & raw NYC, boom-bap hip-hop!

BADLUCK made his blocSonic debut back in 2009 as one half of Luck & Ripps. Back then, with their great release The Catastrophic Connection (Produced by Uh-Oh Productions, then known as Catastrophe), you were introduced to their fusion of the classic boom-bap sound with a modern edge. Consider Renaissance 2011 a continuation of that aesthetic with a bit of a rawer vibe.

This is straight up NEW YORK hip-hop for true heads. Don’t sleep.

Thanks again for downloading and listening! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Download your free copy of Renaissance 2011!

Before Garmisch released their debut album via blocSonic.com in 2010, they released two great EPs via the now defunct netlabel “Go! Jukebox”, “Black Paint EP” and “The Münich EP”. What you’ll find in this great Xtended Edition release are those two EPs, for the first time available in a lossless audio format! You’ll also find a few extra goodies… a cover of the Pet Shop Boys’ “Rent” (which was previously only released via the official Garmisch website), a couple remixes of tracks from that EP era and their complete debut album remixed! Remixes by award winning Public Enemy producer C-Doc, Tha Silent Partner, CM aka Creative, Tobybear and Subroute Roots! Whether you’re a new fan or a completist… this collection of great Garmisch tracks is a must have! If you haven’t checked out their other blocSonic releases… be sure to do so at Garmisch’s artist page.

Thanks to the remixers who helped make this unique release happen! Thanks again for downloading and listening! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Download your free copy of this great 2 CD Garmisch collection!

Ladies & gents, let me introduce you to BADLUCK. You may better know him as one half of Luck & Ripps who released their album “The Catastrophic Connection” right here at blocSonic, back in 2009. He’s returned to turn you onto what he’s been working on as a solo artist. He comes to you representing Bed-Stuy, do or die… and he does it well… bringing together a modern sensibility with a golden-era vibe!

“Infinity” is the first single from his forthcoming album “Renaissance 2011” that’s set to drop on October 25^th.

Thanks again for downloading and listening! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Oh… if you happen to be a producer… we’d love to have you remix a track for inclusion on the next single “Case Closed”. Check out the following link for complete details: http://blocsonic.com/2011-remix-badluck-invite/

Visit here to grab your free copy of “Infinity”

Welcome back to another volume of our eclectic netBloc series, “netBloc Vol. 34: The Whitewash”! It sure has been a while. For those of you who regularly download these compilations, I want to apologize for the mess that was “netBloc Vol. 34: ccMixter Strike’s The Root”. Just looking at that title, you might figure out what went wrong… or maybe you won’t. It should have read “Strikes”… and believe me… a third party let me know that there was something wrong. No matter how much I insisted that the amount of time that goes into prepping all files for release and uploading them prevented me from fixing that typo, a certain someone wasn’t letting it go. So I decided to do the unthinkable… to delete a release. I’m very sorry I had to do that… mostly to the artists who were featured on it and to you. Frankly, I wasn’t going to have a third party dictate to me how my time should be spent. Especially considering that they have NO clue how long it would have taken me to change nearly every file of the release for one typo. I have every right to say when I will or will not fix a problem with a release. No apology to the control freak who couldn’t understand that.

That release changed my perception about a certain someone in the Creative Commons community who’ll remain nameless. For a couple days it even soured me on netBloc releases altogether. However, when I finally cooled off, I realized that there was no way in hell that that person was going to ruin this for me. Frankly, I love sharing my love of netlabels and netaudio with you all and I still believe that I provide a valuable service to the community.

So, if you were wondering why I titled this one “The Whitewash”… it’s my way of wiping away the previous, negative version of Vol. 34 with this one which I packed with lots of musical goodness. Thank you many times over for continuing to remain interested and enjoying the music that blocSonic shares with you. Thanks again to all the artists, past & present, who’ve been part of what we do.

Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Download your free copy of “netBloc Vol. 34: The Whitewash”.

Here’s the second single for Just Plain Ant’s “[albumtitle]”. This time around it’s more of an EP with 3 new exclusives! Among which is one of my recent favorites of his, “No Desire To Speak”.

Thanks to all who’ve already grabbed the first single “The Bridge (Featuring Sleaze)” and the album. If you haven’t be sure to do so, to make keep your Just Plain Ant collection complete!

Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “Nothing Begets Nothing EP” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

The beautiful thing about music, whether you’re a listener or you’re a creator, is the process of discovery. This project was just that for Anthony Gillison aka Just Plain Ant. Along the way, it’s taken him on a journey which ultimately led him to new sonic territory. At times dark, other times fun, still other times down right funky… through and through this album is just as much of a journey for you, the listener. We hope you’ll enjoy the journey as much as we do.

Thanks again to Anthony for allowing blocSonic the privilege to share his music with you! Thanks to you for listening! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “[albumtitle]” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

This is a quick update to let you know that we’re still looking for talented remixers to be part of the upcoming Garmisch EP/Remix collection. Keep reading for a bit of background info, or jump to the end and use the link to visit the invite page for complete details.

Before Garmisch came to blocSonic, they released two great EPs with the now defunct netlabel Go, Jukebox!. Those EPs never saw a CD-quality lossless release and deserve the full treatment with complete album art and liner-notes. So we’re re-releasing them as part of what’s currently entitled “The Garmisch EP XE”. An Xtended Edition release featuring both EPs, a few extra EP-related goodies and a special remixed version of the self-titled album!

You’re invited to be a part of this great collection! Learn more about the remix event and download remix kits here.

The man who helped blocSonic launch its original series of releases is back with something fresh for true heads to nod to. “The Bridge (Featuring Sleaze)” is the first single from the forthcoming album “[albumtitle]”. If you’ve followed us for any amount of time, you’re most-likely quite familiar with Just Plain Ant’s progressive hip-hop sound. If you aren’t… do yourself a favor and follow-up by downloading “The Bridge” and then checking out his blocSonic catalog!

Thanks again for making your way back to blocSonic and downloading truly INDEPENDENT music! Remember… everything we release is cool to share! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “The Bridge”!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

The Honorable Sleaze is back with the 2nd and final maxi-single from his great release “This Funk”. This time around it’s “Dance Track” b/w a single exclusive “Lovin’”! With those two great tracks, you’ll find a few other dopadelic exclusives… among which are FRESH remixes for Better Days. Don’t sleep on Crucializer’s “Better Haze”! Word.

Thanks again to The Honorable Sleaze for dropping great new music through the bloc the Sonic! Remember… everything we release is ok to be shared! Always keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab your free copy of “Dance Track” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

What if I told you that we’ve got some of that ILL hip-hop soul-funk for you? What if I told you it’s a free download? Word. The Honorable Sleaze has let loose his latest gem on blocSonic for your downloading pleasure. Fifteen essential tracks deep, “This Funk” is packed with grown folks music that makes no attempt to box itself into modern, mainstream hip-hop clichés.

The Honorable Sleaze comes to you from the talented Richmond, Virginia based Just Plain Sounds crew. The same crew that includes blocSonic fam Just Plain Ant, Joey Ripps & Friends or Whatever! With each release Sleaze drops, he’s continually stepping up his game by refining his unique vocal delivery. With “This Funk”, Sleaze’s delivery and production skills have matured greatly. Gems such as “My Treat (Featuring Joey Ripps)”, “The Happening”, “Tip Top”, “Too Much”, the Just Plain Ant co-produced “Better Days”, “The Last One” & the HELLA-FUNKY “Prolific”… make the new album a must hear for heads who fiend for that good ish.

The Honorable Sleaze sure has cooked up something special and we can’t wait for you to enjoy it! Thanks again for downloading! Remember, keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab “This Funk” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… Richmond, VA has an incredibly vibrant independent hip-hop scene. Our latest artist, The Honorable Sleaze is more proof of that. You may have heard him as a guest on previous releases, but I guarantee that you haven’t heard anything yet! Let the tasty morsels on this be testament to that until the full album, “This Funk”, drops, right here at blocSonic on July 26^th! Word.

Thanks to Sleaze for joining the blocSonic fam!

Thanks once again to you, the listener, for continually returning and listening! Remember, keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! If you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab “Too Much” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

If you love music and are open to new sounds, then you simply can’t sleep on our netBloc series of releases. You owe it to yourself to hear what the world of music is doing outside of the confines of the mainstream. The revolution has been ongoing for years and this series’ role is to introduce you to the freedom fighters who make up the front line.

For far too long, artists were restrained by recording contracts and radio programmers. They didn’t even own the master recordings of their own songs. After all was said and done, most were lucky if they broke even! Those days are numbered and the artists on our netBloc series are redefining what it is to be a music artist. Listen to the art they're creating. Fall in love with music again!

Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… broadcast it…

Grab “netBloc Vol. 33: You can get with this…” here

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Aside from the many remixes he’s done for various singles, it’s been about a year since we last released any TSP gems on you. Well that dry spell is done… quench your thirst on this tasty treat from the TSP vaults. A selection of tracks originally created for a project with Esa A.K.A. El Presidente (of the Milan based Funk Ya Momma Crew). That project never came to fruition, but these tracks needed to see the light of day. So here you are… enjoy.

When you’re done with “TSP Does Italy”, be sure to grab his other release that drops today, “Takemiaseyeam”. Available at most digital outlets. A preview is available at SoundCloud.

Thanks to TSP for his continuing support of blocSonic! Thanks to you for yours! Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab “TSP Does Italy” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Have you checked out Jeremy’s self-titled debut album yet? Well here’s the 2nd single from that album. “Onwards” is one of my personal favorites from his great collection of tracks. As I've said before, his music is perfect for a road trip… and I stand by that. There’s just something about his sound that makes it just right for such an endeavor. So, if you’re still unfamiliar with the album, than here’s your change to sample the sound. If you have checked out the album, don’t sleep on this anyway as it’s got 3 tasty exclusive remixes from the likes of Tha Silent Partner, Juan Duque and some dude named mGee ;-).

A very special thanks once again to Jeremy for coming to blocSonic... let’s do this again!

Remember to support your favorite artists… especially those who make much of their art available for free download.

If you dig Jeremy’s music, head on over to his Bandcamp page and purchase a couple previously unreleased tracks. All the money goes to support his music and will help put food in his mouth while he’s trying to find work!

http://jeremymacachor.bandcamp.com

Thanks again for taking time to download and listen to another of our excellent releases! Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab the free maxi-single “Onwards”!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

It’s finally arrived! The netBloc that nearly wasn’t. Between delays in acquiring assets and personal life issues getting in the way of wrapping up in time, it’s my distinct pleasure to present to you another excellent collection of netaudio from the world over.

I planned on writing a lengthy intro for this one, but with everything that’s helped delay it, I’m just happy to be able to get this out to you to enjoy. So please… enjoy it… and if you enjoy any of these gems, support the artists. They are all on the forefront of a movement to re-opening music to sharing. Whether the majors (and indies) agree or not… Creative Commons licensed music and file sharing is hear to stay. The artists contained in everyone of our releases GET that. Supporting them in anyway you can helps justify what they’re doing. The future of music is here… THIS IS THE FUTURE OF MUSIC.

This time around we’ve got 13 tracks from indie to rock to electronic to hip-hop to electropop! There’s definitely something here for everyone.

Thanks for your ongoing support! Remember, it’s all about spreading the love… so keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Thanks in advance for giving it a listen! Grab “netBloc Vol.32: Make Way For What Lies Ahead” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Hey producers & remixers, as you may or may not know, with each of our singles we strive for an eclectic mix of sounds as a way to explore each of our artist’s music in new ways. On March 29th we’re releasing the new Jeremy Machachor single, “Onwards” and we’d love it if you take part! Below you’ll find a link to the remix kit and in it contains further important information regarding deadlines and license information.

Thanks in advance for your participation!

Download the “Onwards” remix kit! (157.86mb)

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Have you been trying to find that perfect road trip album? Fear not, this may be the one! Imagine cruising through wide-open expanses, top down… this soul-seeping stuff blasting. When I say soul-seeping, I mean it. With repeated listens, this stuff will seep into you and become such a part of you, that you’ll not be able to pinpoint exactly when/where you end and it begins. This low-tempo indietronica is fueled with just the right amount of Americana to give it a special indescribable quality that seems a perfect fit for a road-trip album. There is much to be found within this music… deserts, canyons, mountains, forests, road-side attractions, road-side distractions and of course there’s endless tarmac. So when you’re heading back from SXSW, be sure to take this along for the ride. It just may be the difference between a Griswold and a Hunter S. Thompson type of trip.

Most importantly, thanks again for taking time out to visit blocSonic and give our releases a moment of your time! Now come on… get in… and remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab Jeremy Macachor’s self-titled debut album here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Learn more about the remix event here

Today we’re honored to welcome a new member to our family of artists, Jeremy Macachor. Jeremy is one half of the group Innocent Bandits. You may recall them from their appearance on “netBloc Vol. 30: aldartea”. After that appearance, he approached me about releasing his self-titled solo album and after hearing it, I jumped at the chance!

Jeremy’s sound is a unique blend of low-tempo rock and electronica. This blend of “indietronica” is something that would be a perfect fit for a long road trip through wide open expanses. When you hear the album, I think you’ll know what I mean… so be sure to check it out on March 15th.

Right now, we’ve got his first single from that album, "Choice". It features the incredible album cut plus a collection of eclectic remixes from a few producers who are becoming familiar names here at blocSonic — dustmotes, Sleaze, Tha Silent Partner, vik44, & the Zengineers!

Thanks to Jeremy, for coming to blocSonic with his fantastic album! Special thanks to the producers who managed to get these great remixes done in such short notice!

Most importantly, thank you for taking time out to visit blocSonic and give our releases a moment of your time! We've got lots in store for you in 2011 and we hope that you’ll stick around and watch things develop.

Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… if you’re in radio… support truly independent music and broadcast it!

Grab Jeremy Macachor’s “Choice” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Yo, here’s more of that real hip-hop for you to nod your head to. The 2nd single from Joey Ripps’ album “Son Of 1,000 Pardons”. Grab it so you don’t miss the two exclusive remixes by the one and only, Sleaze!

Also available by Ripps is the first single “For The Minute”.

Thanks again to JPS for the great music. Thanks to Joey Ripps & everyone who participated in the Joey Ripps releases — Just Plain Ant, 13adluck, Bliss-One, DJ Harrison, Draztiq, Gordy Micheal, Ohbliv, Rowan & Sleaze… it’s an honor.

Also, thanks to Faith Broache for the terrific photography.

Of course, as always, thank you! Thanks for listening & downloading. Keep the music moving… spread the word… share it… blog it… podcast it… oh and if you’re in radio… support Creative Commons artistry… broadcast it!

Grab “Can’t Stop Livin’” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

In the early 80s, while in my teens, I first heard hip-hop music and it was for me… there was simply something about it that spoke to me. It was the future. It was exciting and fresh. A musical genre in its infancy that was finding its way… learning who it was. It grew up over the years… it evolved… still learning about itself. It had a chance to sell out and took it. It embraced the good times and seemed to forget about the important things in life. Eventually it was even used and manipulated by its corporate bosses.

Thankfully hip-hop’s always had a double life. While the mainstream world thought it was one thing, it managed to keep a connection to the underground and was actually another thing. Unbeknownst to all but true heads, it continued to evolve. Today it exists in the form of the many independent EMCEEs, DJs and producers that continue to embrace it and push it and pull it and prod it and mold it and shape it into new forms that explore its past and its future. To the uninitiated, hip-hop is dead… it’s “gangsta”… it’s “jiggy”… it’s about rims… it’s about hoes & bitches… it’s uncreative… it’s stupid… it’s an embarrassment. Not true… well… only partially true… it is those things and so much more.

It’s south… it’s north… it’s east… it’s west… it’s everything in between. It’s malleable and that’s what makes it so incredible! When done well… it’s a thing of beauty. Down in Richmond, VA, there’s a crew called Just Plain Sounds. It’s a crew of talented producers, DJs and EMCEEs who are doing it well… making it beautiful. Real music for real souls to feel and connect with. The cast of creators involved in this Joey Ripps album are mostly from RVA, part of the JPS crew who are making good things happen down there. There’s also 13adluck who makes an appearance on “My Block To Your Block” making the team Luck & Ripps a reality once again.

So I guess what I’m saying is that “Son Of 1,000 Pardons” is hip-hop done well. It’s that stuff that isn’t trying to “keep it real”… only trying to keep it honest.

Thanks once again to JPS for the honest music. Thanks to Joey Ripps, Just Plain Ant, 13adluck, Bliss-One, DJ Harrison, Draztiq, Gordy Micheal, Ohbliv, Rowan & Sleaze… it’s an honor. Hey 13aluck & Sleaze… see y’all later this year on your blocSonic releases!

Of course, as always, thank you! Thanks for listening & downloading. Keep the music moving… spread the word… share it… blog it… podcast it… oh and if you’re in radio… support Creative Commons artistry… broadcast it!

Grab “Son Of 1,000 Pardons” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Hailing from Richmond, Virginia, Joey Ripps is part of the multi-talented Just Plain Sounds crew. Depending on how much you follow blocSonic, there’s a chance that you’re familiar with JPS. If you aren’t, let me tell you that they’re quite simply the most prolific and talented hip-hop squad in the US. JPS and blocSonic go way back to 2008 when we first featured the work of Just Plain Ant. Yup… I thought you might recognize that name. Ripps is also no stranger to blocSonic. Back in 2009 we released his and 13adluck’s (aka Luck & Ripps) release “The Catastrophic Connection”, a terrific collection of joints that bridges hip-hop classic and current. Well Ripps is back and preparing another memorable album for blocSonic listeners to enjoy, “Son of 1000 Pardons” which is due to drop on February 1st. What you have here is the first single from the album. It features two tasty cuts… “For The Minute” featuring Bliss-one, also based out of Richmond and production by Ohbliv and Just Plain Ant; “With Me” featuring production by Rowan aka Mark Herbkersman, the man behind blocSonic’s own Friends or Whatever.

Thanks once again for downloading and making blocSonic part of your regular online travels! Stick with us, we’ve got much in the works! 2011 is going to be another incredible one for blocSonic listeners! Please enjoy and spread the word… remember to share it… blog it… podcast it… oh and if you’re in radio… support Creative Commons artistry… broadcast it!

Grab “For The Minute” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

For this second and final single promoting Liam’s incredible album “Sixteen Words” we continue our dedication to the maxi-single format with another seven exclusives! Among them are two previously unreleased songs which only add to the terrific body of work he’s released through blocSonic, four great remixes of “Sooner” by Crookram, Tha Silent Partner, Sleaze & myself (ok, I'll let you judge the quality of my remix… perhaps not great to you) and finally a fresh remix of “Bird Of Prey” by netBloc regular Tab!

Thanks again for downloading! Please enjoy and spread the word… remember to share it… blog it… podcast it… oh and if you’re in radio… support Creative Commons artistry… broadcast it!

Grab it here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

“Bird Of Prey” is your first taste of what Liam Stewart and blocSonic have in store for you with the release of the album “Sixteen Words” on November 30th. If you dig indie-pop music packed with lush melodies, moody vocals and a rock edge then you definitely need to check the album when it drops! Liam’s sound lies somewhere between Tears for Fears, Pink Floyd & 90s brit-pop… a sound that’s been forged from years of music-making that dates back to the 80s post punk outfit, Creatures of Habit. This is seriously infectious pop music… not to be missed!

As with all of our previous maxBloc singles, “Bird Of Prey” is packed with non-album exclusives — a previously unreleased demo called “Coals” and a diverse collection of remixes. Remixes from blocSonic regulars — Tha Silent Partner, dustmotes & mGee — as well as a couple new names — Bobby James and Lyndon Scarfe. Also included is another taste of the forthcoming album via cyberneticnoisefly’s video for the title track “Sixteen Words”… be sure to check it.

Thanks again for downloading & listening! Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it.

Grab it here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

If you haven’t figured it out by now, each original blocSonic album release is promoted via two maxi-single releases. With each single, we draw you in with very tasty exclusives. Garmisch’s “Facing the Sea” is no different. In fact, this one comes packed with six! On it you’ll find a previously unreleased Garmisch gem “Requiem for Wolf” as well as a variety of remixes by dustmotes, Tha Silent Partner, Zengineers & mGee.

Thanks to the remixers involved, you rock!

Thank you once again to you for continuing to visit and download our releases, you rock even more! Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it!

Download “Facing the Sea” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

If you missed the release of the maxi-single “Glimmer” a couple weeks ago, you may have missed a bit of the background about this great band. Based out of Malmö, Sweden, they’ve been together for about six years now. In that time, they’ve released a couple incredible EPs on the Swedish netlabel Go, Jukebox! and performed live, on and off, in the Malmö region. From the beginning, they’ve put together a mixture of influences and ideas, however, they’re still trying to find their intended style; they have no intensions of ever really doing so. There’s five of them in the band, mostly good people — Stefan Bodetoft, Charlotte Fagerlund, Charlotte Lundgren, Birgitta Persson & Patrik Svensson. Their influences are as far-ranging as Curtis Mayfield, Pink Floyd, D’Angelo, Massive Attack, Gary Numan, The Stooges, Portishead, Emmylou Harris & Wu-Tang Clan.

If you’re at all familiar with Swedish pop music, you’ll no doubt already know that it’s quite infectious. Garmisch is no different. Well over a year in the making, the self-titled “Garmisch” album captures much of what made both of their previous EPs so special and manages to add to that more polished production and mastering. If you’re familiar with Garmisch’ previous work, you’re guaranteed to thoroughly enjoy it. If you’re new to Garmisch, this is the perfect place to introduce yourself to their sound.

Thanks for taking a moment to visit blocSonic.com and check out the album! “Garmisch” can be downloaded here. As always… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! Now… satisfy that sweet tooth with some electrically-charged pop goodness!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Everytime I come across incredible pop music from Sweden, I wonder if there’s something in the water that makes such a large of number of that nation’s songwriters and musicians have such a firm grasp on what it is that makes tasty pop music. Back in 2007 while putting together a netBloc release, I discovered another of these gifted Swedish groups… Garmisch Partenkirchen (later shortened simply to Garmisch). Their song “Black Paint” wound up being featured on “netBloc Vol. 5: The threat at Goliath’s feet”. From that point on, I made it a priority to keep up with all that Garmisch were releasing… which amounted to a couple great EPs on Swedish netlabel “Go, Jukebox!” and a few tracks released via the official Garmisch blog, The Garmisch Collection. Along the way, a couple more tracks were included on netBloc releases and then finally, when blocSonic began releasing originals, I approached Garmisch about releasing a full-length. After close to a year of planning and recording… the debut self-titled full length Garmisch album is ready for release and we’ve got the first maxi-single for you to enjoy! It contains, not one, but two album cuts, one non-album bonus and three eclectic remixes by March Rosetta, Tha Silent Partner & Daniel Maze!

Here’s a little background about Garmisch. They’re a band from Malmö, Sweden who’ve been together for about six years now. They’ve previously released two EPs on the Swedish netlabel “Go, Jukebox!” and have been doing live shows, on and off, in the Malmö region. From the start, they’ve put together a mixture of influences and ideas, however, they’re still trying to find their intended style; they have no intensions about ever really doing so. They collect their music and things at The Garmisch Collection, located at garmisch.se. There’s five of them in the band, mostly good people — Stefan Bodetoft, Charlotte Fagerlund, Charlotte Lundgren, Birgitta Persson & Patrik Svensson. Their influences are as far-ranging as to include Curtis Mayfield, Pink Floyd, D’Angelo, Massive Attack, Gary Numan, The Stooges, Portishead, Emmylou Harris & Wu-Tang Clan.

As always… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it! Now… satisfy that sweet tooth with some electrically-charged pop goodness and grab the release here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

If you haven’t already checked out the excellent Just Plain Ant release “Rumble, Young Man, Rumble”, here’s a little reminder for you. This, the final album maxi-single contains a double dose of album cuts with a couple dope remixes and a sneak peek at Ant’s upcoming September 7^th release “seewhateyesee”.

Special thanks to JFKmusik and Rowan who turned out more of that real stuff for all you hip-hop fiends! Don’t sleep on this.

Grab “These Times / Scream Out” here.

Remember… keep the music moving. Share it… blog it… podcast it.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Just Plain Ant is back with another fresh collection of his unique brand of hip-hop — beats, jazzy samples and a host of guests who each add their own flavor to the mix. Among the guests we’ve got blocSonic regulars such as Joey Ripps, Ohbliv and Sleaze. We’ve also got some new names — Black Liquid, Braintrust, Mic Jordan, Gordy Michael, NOTE, Octavion Xcellence, Photosynthesizers and last but not least… the INCREDIBLE… Chuck D! That’s right… the legendary Public Enemy front man took time out of his busy schedule to drop a verse!

As you’ll read in Ant’s PDF liner-notes, this album was a long time in the making and has undergone a few changes along the way… but in my opinion, it was worth it… Ant turned out another fantastic release! I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Thanks in advance for checking it out! Remember… keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it!

Grab “Rumble, Young Man, Rumble” here.

Remix reminder: If you’d like your remix to possibly be included on the next Just Plain Ant single… be sure to download the first single in FLAC format, remix one of the tracks with the instrumental and/or acapella provided and upload your remix in FLAC, WAV or AIFF format to our SoundCloud DropBox by Friday, August 6th.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

We’re back with another one for you… number 29 in our excellent, genre-busting netBloc series! For this one we pulled together netaudio from Canada, France, Hungary, Minneapolis, The Netherlands, New Jersey, Richmond, Sweden and the UK. What you’ll find is nothing less than back to back gems. As always, this netBloc release is designed to both introduce the newbie to the netaudio scene and to provide a quick way for netaudio listeners to catch up on what’s new. In addition to the worldwide goodies released by others, we’ve also got a sneak peak at what blocSonic and Just Plain Sounds has in store for you Tuesday, July 27th – our next original release, in partnership with Just Plain Sounds, Just Plain Ant’s “Rumble, Young Man, Rumble”!

So thanks again for keeping up with all that we have to offer! Also, extra special thanks to all participating artists & labels!

Grab “netBloc Vol. 29: Fantastic! Incredible! Stupendous!” here and remember to keep the music movin’… share it… podcast it… broadcast it!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

There was once this funky little UK netlabel named Random Flow that put out a total of 12 releases. It was the first netlabel that I knew of that was solely focused on hip-hop. Among the many gems that they released were CM aka Creative’s 2 volumes of Classic Material. These gems were instant favorites of mine. When it became apparent to me that Random Flow went dark and CM aproached blocSonic about releasing Classic Material Vol. 3, I began thinking about re-releasing 1 & 2. Though I didn’t feel that simply re-releasing them individually would fit blocSonic. I began thinking about Universal’s series of multi-disc “Deluxe Edition” releases and it struck me that something like that format would suite blocSonic’s needs – the Xtended Edition was born. Now I finally get to present to you CM’s “The Classic Material Completion Package XE”!

What we have for you in the completion package is “Classic Material Vol. 1”, “Classic Material Vol. 2” and an exclusive collection of early works called “Bootleg Material” that does a great job of displaying the development CM’s undergone over the years.

So grab “The Classic Material Completion Package XE” and once you’ve soaked it all in… be sure to also grab the first maxi-single, “True”, “Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio”, his first commercial release “Raiders of the Lost Art” (available at iTunes or CD Baby) and on Tuesday July 13th don’t miss the second maxi-single “I Got You”!

I never tire of saying it… THANK YOU! Thanks to all of you who are new to blocSonic and those of you who faithfully return to us for your listening pleasure! It feels great to know that blocSonic plays a part in helping people break out of the mainstream box.

Thanks again to CM aka Creative for coming to us in the first place!

Keep the music moving… share it… blog it… podcast it… broadcast it.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Back in ‘07 I first got wind of a funky, funky little UK netlabel called Random Flow. They came out swinging with a series of fantastic hip-hop releases that proved to me that hip-hop was finally making itself known in the netaudio world. For me, one of their standout acts was this NYC born, Maryland based cat going by the name of CM aka Creative. Random Flow released two tight volumes of CM’s “Classic Material” series that earned CM a couple spots on our netBloc series. As quickly as Random Flow appeared, it went dark shortly after releasing their 12th release which was a mix celebrating their 1st birthday.

With Random Flow’s inactivity, CM approached me about releasing the 3rd volume which we finally dropped back in October 2009. With CM coming to blocSonic it got me thinking about the previous Classic Material volumes, how or if we should try and release them. This was the birth of the Xtended Edition format. An idea began to form… the release of Vols. 1 & 2 (for the first time available in pristine FLAC format) with a bonus disc of material! So here we are today with the first single promoting the forthcoming June 29th release of “The Classic Material Completion Package XE”.

This maxBloc release features “True”, one of the many gems from “Classic Material Vol. 1” along with its acapella and instrumental. It also features another fresh remix from blocSonic fam Tha Silent Partner and a previously unreleased joint that is most definitely CLASSIC material. Straight fire!

So do yourself a solid and grab a copy. Then keep an eye out for the release of “The Classic Material Completion Package XE” on June 29th.

As always, thanks for downloading and listening! Enjoy the REAL hip-hop! Word. Keep it movin’… share it… blog it… podcast it… broadcast it!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

We’re closing out this year’s Friends or Whatever releases with the 2nd and final single for the self-titled debut album which we released a couple weeks ago on May 25th. Once again… we’ve gotten some friends to deliver a tasty set of exclusive remixes that take the FoW sound into new sonic territory. So download it, load it up, crank it, sit back and enjoy!

Thanks to each of the remixers for investing a bit of their time in order to give blocSonic listeners a few more free & legal audio gems to enjoy! Grab the “Stuck In My Soul” maxBloc maxi-single here.

BTW… have your heard the debut album? Be sure to download it when you’re through listening to this great single. Also, do yourself a favor and grab the first single, which is also packed with exclusives.

Lastly, as I always harp about… keep the music movin’… share it… blog it… podcast it… broadcast it!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

blocSonic is quite proud to present to you the self-titled debut by Richmond, Virginia artist Friends or Whatever. With its fusion of shimmering electronica and a raw rock vibe, FoW proves to be a very engaging listen. At times quiet and contemplative… at other times beat-driven and laced with distorted guitar and melancholic vocals. All the while a bit challenging to put your finger on and yet it’s quickly familiar. It’s that very enigmatic nature that’s sure to pull you in.

On a side note, I just wanted to give a shout out to Just Plain Sounds. When I first heard early versions of some of the FoW music, I had not known that it was originally set for a JPS release. After approaching Mark Herbkersman (aka Friends or Whatever) about a blocSonic release, I found out. I have to give props to Anthony Gillison aka Just Plain Ant who was gracious enough to allow us the pleasure. So thank you once again Ant!!!

Thank YOU for downloading and listening, I hope you’ll enjoy it every bit as much as I do. Remember… as always… share it… podcast it… blog it.

Download Friends or Whatever here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Since deciding on releasing original albums, the primary objective has been about releasing high-quality music… period. blocSonic is not a label that only releases hip-hop. With this Friends or Whatever single blocSonic has taken another step towards this objective. FoW’s brand of indie-pop explores both the analog and the digital, the sound defies categorization. FoW pulls from the past and the future… it’s both melodic and noisy… it’s lo-fi and hi-fi. If you’re a fan of Guided by Voices and Lifter Puller, you’ll feel right at home with FoW.

The Burns We Earn is the perfect introduction to the debut album which is set to drop Tuesday, May 25th. It contains within it all the elements of the FoW sound — subtle melody accompanied by distortion, bass, guitars and synths. In addition to the fantastic album version, we’ve got a great set of remixes supplied by names both familiar and new to blocSonic listeners. Thanks to the great group of remixers who participated… you turned out some terrific adaptations!

Thanks to Adam Ferris for the use of his photograph. Be sure to visit his sites — http://www.adamferriss.com, http://adamferriss.blogspot.com.

As always… thank you for giving blocSonic a shot and taking the time to download and listen. Remember… keep the music movin’… share it… blog it… podcast it… broadcast it.

Grab “The Burns We Earn” here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Since 2007 we’ve been giving you these fantastic collections of netaudio in hopes that it introduces you to a new world of music that’s available on the web. This time around is no different… except in one way. It’s quite literally the first time that the final line-up is the same as the first one chosen. No replacements were needed for artists and/or labels who didn’t get back to me or weren’t able to participate. Included are 12 fantastic tracks plus one bonus goodie included in the zip package. Hip-Hop, Pop, Rock, Trip-Hop, Electro-pop and even some experimental goodness all brought together into a tasty collection. All to show you that there is an alternative to the mainstream product being pumped out to retail. There’s something happening online and an ever growing number of artists are part of it. They’ve chosen to take the road less travelled. With so many artists doing it their own way, why is it you think that some still want that magical record deal? Be sure to check out the PDF for more.

Thanks once again for downloading and listening to another netBloc release! If you enjoy these artists… be sure to support them by purchasing from them or donating. Let them earn a living while also making the art that makes life so much more bearable.

Remember… blog it… share it. Grab it here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

With this final maxBloc single for “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” we’ve got another stack of bonus gems for you — more unreleased tracks from the Platters sessions and a fantastic remix by Minneapolis electropunk artist Mach FoX. Check it!

When you’re done with Starksy, if you haven’t already done so, grab the other single “P Pulsar” and “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE”.

Grab “Starksy (Featuring Seti A.K.A. K9)” here and remember… share it, blog it, podcast it.

Here we are with the second in our Xtended Edition series. XE releases are meant to give albums, that were originally released on defunct labels or independently, a second chance at getting much deserved shine. Each XE release is packed with the original album, features fresh art and contains at least a bonus disc of exclusive goodies — remixes, outtakes, new tracks & demos. This XE is one very deep set! Coming in at 68 tracks… 3 hours, 9 minutes and 47 seconds in length, there’s little doubt that it’s got something to offer all you groove and beat fiends. Some of you may recognize Tha Silent Partner (TSP) from his work found at Jamendo. Some of you may only know him from his appearances on the netBloc series and the recent maxBloc single “P Pulsar”. Either way, you’re about to get to know his work in a big way, both through his music and through this release’s extensive liner-notes.

27 year old producer/remixer Gregory “Tha Silent Partner” Davis currently calls Boston home, though his roots lie in the UK. He made his first blocSonic appearance back in 2007 on “netBloc Vol. 11: The Raw And The Cooked” with the spaghetti-western flavored “No Mas”. He then re-appeared, along with Unknown aka Formula as MUTE, on “netBloc Vol. 15: this album won’t eat your gas money” with the powerful and soulful “Is It Too Late For Us All?”. Now he’s back with “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE”.

To understand what the Platters Sessions are all about, here’s a bit of background. Back in 2007, TSP began releasing a series of “Platters” releases via Jamendo and under his label Me, Life & Music. The Platters series were an exploration of vinyl samples based on particular themes. The first installment, “Platters Act. 1 (Lounge Music And Exotica)” featured lush orchestration and smooth rhythms. Then in 2008, the second installment, “Platters Act. 2 (The Untouchables)”, went sort of unreleased (more about that can be found in TSP’s liner-notes). It featured an episode of the TV show “The Untouchables” infused into a sonic world of funky hip-hop beats and jazzy melodies. Finally, in 2009, TSP dropped the third and final act of the series… “Platters Act. 3 (Tape Deck)”, a sort of beat tape, but with a completely unique TSP vibe.

For the first time, “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” collects all 3 acts together along with a bonus disc of outtakes from the period, making for an incredible 3CD set of sonic treats! Add to that the maxBloc exclusives on the “P Pulsar” single along with the “Starksy (Featuring Seti A.K.A. K9)” single that’s set to follow this release along with it’s exclusives and you’ve got a whole hell of a lot of new listening!

So what’s contained on this release, you ask? Disc One features the first two acts — “Platters Act 1 (Lounge Music And Exotica)” with it’s dusty, chilled vibe & “Platters Act 2 (The Untouchables)” with it’s exploration of the fusion of story-telling and music. Disc Two contains “Platters Act 3 (TAPE DECK)”… which is a sort of beat tape infused with a sound that’s unique to TSP. Finally, Disc Three contains “Tha Director’s Cut” — 18 bonus previously unreleased tracks that came out of the Platters sessions or were produced for other projects during the same period. This is where you get to hear tracks that feature the vocal skills of lyricists such as Life MC of Phi Life Cypher, Mayhem, Revalation, Seti & HT. On the whole, this is a fantastic collection of adventerous & eclectic music!

I’d also like to mention that there’s one other “first” that this release represents. It’s also the first long form blocSonic release to contain material culled from Gregory’s Me Life & Music label archives. Around the same time that I began thinking about the XE idea and how to best approach it, Gregory made an offer I couldn’t refuse. He offered up complete control of the ML&M archives in order that blocSonic may give that music an online home that could do it justice. I immediately saw the opportunity to work some of the archives into this XE series and here you have one example of what we plan on doing. In the future we plan on releasing other XEs, maxBlocs and Originals that contain material culled from the ML&M archives. A very special thanks to Gregory for the opportunity and the trust that he’s placed in blocSonic! I hope you feel that blocSonic’s done the Platters series justice.

So there you have it… more sonic treats for you to absorb. Thanks again for taking the time to visit blocSonic and giving our releases a download & listen. Enjoy it. Share it. Blog it. Podcast it. Tweet it.

Remember… next Tuesday (April 6^th, 2010) is the release of the second maxBloc single for this set, “Starksy (Featuring Seti A.K.A. K9)”. It’s going to be packed with yet more exclusive material not found on this collection. Come right back here to blocSonic to grab it!

Grab “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Tha Silent Partner made his first blocSonic appearance back in 2007 on “netBloc Vol. 11: The Raw And The Cooked” with the spaghetti-western flavored “No Mas”. He then re-appeared, along with Unknown aka Formula as MUTE, on “netBloc Vol. 15: this album won’t eat your gas money” with the powerful and soulful “Is It Too Late For Us All”. So, although he’s no stranger to blocSonic, everyone’s about to get very familiar with Tha Silent Partner and his fun, eclectic sound. This maxBloc single for “P Pulsar” is a tasty introduction to TSP’s upcoming Xtended Edition release “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE”.

To understand what the Platters Sessions are all about, here’s a bit of background. Back in 2007, TSP began releasing a series of “Platters” releases via Jamendo and under his label, Me, Life & Music. The Platters series were an exploration of vinyl samples based on particular themes. The first installment, “Platters Act. 1 (Lounge Music And Exotica)” featured lush orchestration and smooth rhythms. Then in 2008, the second installment, “Platters Act. 2 (The Untouchables)”, went sort of unreleased (more about that in the official XE liner-notes). It featured an episode of the TV show “The Untouchables” infused into a sonic world of funky hip-hop beats and jazzy melodies. Finally, in 2009, TSP dropped the third and final act of the series… “Platters Act. 3 (Tape Deck)”, a sort of beat tape, but with a completely unique TSP vibe.

For the first time, “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” collects all 3 acts together along with a bonus disc of outtakes from the period, making for an incredible 3CD set of sonic treats! Add to that the maxBloc exclusives on this single along with the one that’s set to follow the XE release and you’ve got a whole hell of a lot of new listening coming this month!

“P Pulsar” is taken from the bonus outtake collection, “Tha Director’s Cut”. Along with it, this maxBloc also features an exclusive track “Beantown Cha Cha” and exclusive remixes by Just Plain Ant & Formula!

So by now, you’ve gathered that the maxBloc is blocSonic’s spin on the promotional maxi-single. At blocSonic we’re all about helping to bring about an alternative “music industry”. The mainstream music industry simply no longer allows for healthy musical cultural development. For the mainstream, the bottom-line has surpassed ALL other priorities. Yet, even with our attitude that’s so clearly counter to the mainstream, there are ideas that we’ve gladly reappropriated from it. The special edition release being one and now the maxi-single being another. For all that I talk stuff about the mainstream, there was once a time that I was a mainstream listener. Back then, I’d love to get a hold of 12"/maxi singles for their exclusive tracks, remixes, instrumentals and acapellas. Even today, I’m on the hunt for older rare 12" singles. When you dig a particular artist, there’s nothing more enjoyable than getting a hold of bonus gems that aren’t found on the album. As a fan, owning these special bits somehow put you into a special group that sets you apart from the casual listener. Going out of your way for these bonus bits, connects you more closely with the music. As a label curator, I like the idea of bringing that extra care and attention to our releases. Perhaps if blocSonic puts the extra effort that maxi-singles require into each release then perhaps fans will put that much more care into listening.

Thanks to Tha Silent Partner for trusting blocSonic with his Me, Life & Music archives. Welcome to the family, TSP! Xtra special thanks Formula and Just Plain Ant for coming through with such fantastic remixes on such short notice!

So once again thanks to you! Enjoy the music. Share it. Talk about it. Write about it. Be sure to keep an eye out for the release of “Tha Complete Platters Sessions XE” on March 30^th and the next TSP single on April 6^th, 2010!

Grab it here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

As of the time of this writing, not even a year after it’s launch, WFMU’s Free Music Archive already boasts nearly 18,000 free music tracks from a wide array of genres. It’s an interesting collection in that it not only features music that comes from the world of netaudio/netlabels, but many signed indie artists can be found among the FMA’s selection as well. It’s definitely an incredible archive of music to explore!

After a good three months of listening to thousands of FMA tracks, I somehow managed to whittle the selection down to 11 exceptional gems. It was really a difficult choice, but in the end the final line-up proves to be a terrific mix of Rock, Pop, Punk, Indie, Trip-Hop and even a splash of humor thrown in for good measure.

A special thanks to Jason Sigal over at WFMU and FMA who was most helpful in getting me access to lossless copies of the two Live At WFMU tracks which are featured here. Thanks also to the labels, artists and to CASH Music for participating and helping me pull together all that was needed to make this release happen.

Finally, thank you! For downloading, listening and sharing this release. I hope you enjoy this release as much as did putting it together.

Download the complete release here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Boy do we have a treat for you this Tuesday! We’ve got a special netBloc release focusing on Creative Commons licensed gems from the vast WFMU Free Music Archive. After spending a few months listening to thousands of tracks, 11 tracks were finally selected. Let me tell you it was incredibly difficult to whittle the list down to 10-11 tracks, somehow it was done.

Until Tuesday, enjoy this tasty morsel from the release!

We set things off in 2007 with our premiere release, “netBloc Vol. 1: The Opening Salvo”. Even at that early stage, I knew that I wanted blocSonic to be a bit more than your standard “netlabel”. I didn’t want blocSonic to be completely self-serving… it was to be a promotional vehicle for netlabels, artists and the netaudio culture. However, what I didn’t know was if artists and netlabels were going to be supportive of the compilation idea and send me lossless versions of their music to be included. Happily my worries were for naught. Everyone involved has been extremely supportive over the years and my positive experience with the netBloc series got me thinking about original releases. Our first original release was back in February 2009, Just Plain Ant’s “Dig Deep”. Well here we are nearly a year later and I’ve got another premiere release for you to enjoy and it’s the talented Just Plain Ant bringing it once again!

So what is the Xtended Edition (XE) series? Before answering that question, let me start by explaining why the XE series. In the first 3 years of putting together the netBloc series, I’ve seen netlabels come and go. Some of those netlabels who’ve gone inactive had some very talented artists among their rosters and those artists’ releases have languished since the apparent demise of their labels. That got me thinking about re-releases and what form a re-release would take on blocSonic. I began to think about the many ways that the mainstream music industry have handled it. One particular re-release format that I’ve liked (when Universal has done it with classic albums) is the “Deluxe Edition” series. Universal’s series usually consists of the first disc being the original release and a second disc containing perviously unreleased material – demos, outtakes & alternate versions. Well our XE series is quite similar, though in the future won’t be limited to two discs. Each release in this series will feature the originally released album and at least one other disc containing demos, outtakes, alternate versions & remixes. Where we stray from the “Deluxe Edition” model is that each of ours will also feature completely new album art. As with all our releases, each is made available in three high-quality audio formats — FLAC, 320kbs MP3 & 192kbs MP3.

After deciding to go forward with our own special format of re-releases it was time to approach the artists. Among the releases that got me thinking about re-releases in the first place was Just Plain Ant’s “Fly”. An excellent release he released via Jamendo that I felt was worth more shine. Unfortunately that was not to be. As happens often, artists sometimes grow weary of early releases that they feel no longer represent their sound to the fullest. I could respect that. However, Ant was interested in seeing his terrific Just Plain Sounds release “Songs About Something” re-released in this format. At first I was hesitant, only because my original plan was to resurrect releases from netlabels who’ve shut down. That hesitation didn’t last long though. I quickly adapted the plan to include releases of living and breathing netlabels. However way you look at it, the goal of the Xtended Edition series is to bring more exposure to releases.

With the release of “Songs About Something XE” the evolution of blocSonic continues. This edition of Just Plain Ant’s foray into the world of trip-hop and downtempo delivers over two hours of soulful, chilled beats! Disc one is the original album in it’s entirety and disc two is packed with new Just Plain Ant songs and remixes by RVA (Richmond, Virginia) talents such as Annu, Oh.Bliv, Sleaze and Rowan. So, thanks again for downloading and listening. I hope you enjoy this premiere XE release, there are more on the way! As always, if you dig this release… spread it around… share with friends… share with strangers… share it with anyone.

Check out the album here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

This fantastic release has been in the works since ETHX first contacted blocSonic back in May. In it you’ll find a few high-profile peeps he’s managed to connect with – folks like Boots Riley who you may know from The Coup, Zumbi from Zion-I and Myron Glasper who’s sung background vocals for everyone from MC Lyte to Blackalicious to Lyrics Born. Among the names you may know, you’ll also find incredibly talented MCs and vocalists who you may not know. One of those talented MCs is Nate Mezmer who's presence plays an integral part in making this collection feel like more than just a producer's showcase. Once again, blocSonic brings you real hip-hop with a touch of R&B… this fresh sound comes to you straight out of Northern California.

I want to say thanks to ETHX for approaching blocSonic in the first place and his guests for being part of what’s become “Boom To Bloom”. Welcome to the blocSonic fam!

We hope you enjoy this release and it gets heavy rotation in all your portable devices, CD players and computers. If you dig it, don’t forget to spread the word… share it with anyone and everyone you can.

One more thing… be sure to check out Netwaves tomorrow, Wednesday, Jan. 27^th for the latest episode which features blocSonic/netBloc music and an interview with me. The live broadcast is 22:00-01:00 GMT+1 / 4:00-7:00PM EST / 1:00-4:00PM PST and it can be heard via this link. After the live broadcast you can subscribe to the Netwaves podcast or you can download it directly from the Netwaves website. Thanks to netwaves for thinking blocSonic interesting enough to feature!

Check out ETHX “Boom To Bloom” here.

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

Hip-hop is an incredibly diverse musical genre that has a bad reputation no thanks to the American mainstream branch of it. People who write-off hip-hop as idiotic, materialistic, violent or misogynistic are only getting a small slice of what it’s about. Since hip-hop has become international there are a wide array of ideas about what hip-hop should be today in 2009 and beyond. Anyone who has ever enjoyed the music will gladly give you their opinion about what “real” hip-hop is. Truth be told, after 30 plus years of existence, there is no “real” hip-hop. Hip-hop emcees, DJs and producers come from all walks of life. With such a wide variety of backgrounds, there can be no definitive hip-hop sound. Since there can be no definitive sound, there’s no reason to disregard hip-hop music that uses classic New York blueprints as the jump off for something fresh and new. Just as there’s a place for rock artists to try and capture a classic 60s and 70s vibe in their new recordings, there’s certainly a place for hip-hop producers, DJs and emcees to try and capture a vibe that’s widely regarded as classic.

With “Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio”, CM aka Creative, his various collaborators and producers all present to you hip-hop that’s both new and classic. Musically it reflects back to an early/mid 90s sound, topically, it captures all that a young, struggling and striving American emcee has on his mind. It’s the 3rd part in a series of releases which began at the netlabel Random Flow.

When it became clear to CM that Random Flow had become inactive, he approached me about releasing Vol. 3 through blocSonic. Having enjoyed both Vols. 1 & 2, I was instantly interested. I hope you’ll enjoy this release as much as I do. If you dig it, be sure to check out the previous volumes.

Thanks to CM for coming to blocSonic. Thanks to you for downloading and enjoying. As always, share this release with anyone and everyone.

Grab it here!

Peace
Mike Gregoire
Founder/Curator blocSonic.com

On Tuesday, October 6th, we’re dropping netBloc Vol. 24. It’s a release which features yet another fantastic collection of netaudio gems that once again proves that some of the best music being released today is being released under a Creative Commons license. One of my favorites of this set is the incredible Paper Navy indie-pop track, “Tongue Tied”. It’s a smart, addictive and immaculately produced song originally released on the excellent free album, “all grown up”.

I hope you enjoy this track as much as I do! Be sure to check back on Tuesday, October 6th for the complete blocSonic release, “netBloc Vol. 24: tiuqottigeloot”.

What I’ve got for you today is a preview of the next fresh blocSonic hip-hop release. The release is “Classic Material Vol. 3: UI Radio” by CM aka Creative, the 3rd installment in his Classic Material series which began at Random Flow. The track is “The Cycle” which also features Mista Mista and production by Doctor Becket. A sentimental call for peeps to do something, on a personal level, to help put an end to the seemingly endless cycle of inner-city violence. Classic material, indeed.

UI Radio is set to drop on Tuesday, October 27th. If you dig “The Cycle”, be sure to come back and grab the whole free release in FLAC or MP3.