The Ripper

I don't know how this guy gets away with 1) being named Girl Talk (cc has a problem when people name their band/project with a female word like lady or girl or whatever and there are no girls in the band) and 2) sampling so many frikken artists. Girl Talk is a god to mash-up lovers everywhere, and the party hitmaker to everyone else. Many will call Girl Talk cheesy and a little messed-up, but I call it fun.
Night Ripper, Girl Talk (Greg Gillis)'s third album, throws everything in and makes it work. Mimi's beats and 50 sit comfortably next to each other while Ludacris and Phantom Planet get acquainted, all through the mediator Girl Talk. Never sounding ridiculous or forced, Night Ripper competently melds so many genres and artists it should be illegal. Coincidentally, the album is released by Illegal Art.

Sneak peeks:
Hold Up
Bounce That

Buy Night Ripper for $10. The CD version comes with a high quality download of the album, and you can purchase a download of the album for only $6 by e-mailing info @ illegalart.net.

How It Should Be

Only had a half day of work today so how do I celebrate? Bloggin'. Ohhh yeah.

If you live in NYC here's yr party!

Pixeltan-Runaround

Oh man that sounds like fun. Wish I could be there. Or in Dallas, where Gorilla vs Bear is DJing and Sound Team plays below, all at the Cavern. Too bad. Or Denton, where Tilly and the Wall are playing. Dumb ol' Tyler...no night life at all.

Expect a couple more posts today! Back in da groove!

You Oughta Know

Sorry 'bout my lack of posts (though cc has been holding up the fort). I've been pretty mad at my computer. I don't know what the problem is but whenever I try and upload files onto the internet somewhere, whatever internet browser I'm using just shuts down. Don't know what it is. Any help would be appreciated.

Here's some stuff from other blogs you should know about.

Stage Hymns, an excellent mp3 blog, is holding a pretty cool contest you should enter. It's to win a limited edition 7" single of Tapes 'N' Tapes' "Insistor." Even sweeter? It's signed by the whole band! Enter here.

The Tripwire is always cool to see what your favorite bloggers are digging each week in music, movies, books and whatever else they like.

The Torture Garden plays Six Degrees of...Sufjan Stevens because you will never ever tire of him and people who know him.

SKATTERBRAIN talks about Michael Zapruder's Rain of Frogs which has Nate Query from the Decemberists on bass. They're on the same label as Black Fiction.

Speaking of the Decemberists, their mandolin player / guitarist / all-around nice dude Chris Funk had a baby! Okay he didn't himself but he's the father. A little girl named Scout! Congratulations to him.

BigStereo is confused by the Gossip's new video for "Listen Up!" I don't know, I haven't watched it yet.

Who doesn't <3 Green Pea-ness?

New Releases this week

Monday's Imports
Long Blondes - Weekend Without Makeup (sgl)
Love Is All - Busy Doing Nothing (sgl)
Moloko - Catalogue (2cd special edition)
Morning After Girls - Shadows Evolve (ltd. ed.)
Beth Orton - Shopping Trolley #1 & #2 (sgls)
Suffrajets - Worthy (sgl)

Tuesday's Domestics
An Albatross - Blessphemy:Feast of the Peacegiver
India.Arie - Testimony:Vol.1 Life & Relationships
The Bittersweets - The Life You Always Wanted
Nick Castro - Come Into Our House
Cat Power - Could We? (sgl)
Dashboard Confessional - Dusk and Summer
Damien Dempsey - Shots
Dirt Bike Annie/Kung Fu Monkey - Wedding Split Ep (vinyl)
Dirty on Purpose - Hallelujah Sirens
The Fall - Are You Are Missing Winner?
The Fall - The Twenty-Seven Points
Four Tet - Dj Kicks
Genghis Tron - Dead Moutain Mouth EP (on Jealous Butcher)
Margo Guryan - Take Picture (vinyl)
Jolie Holland - Springtime Can Kill You (vinyl)
Hot Chip - Boy From School (cd sgl or 12")
Meg & Dia - What's This? A Fender Bender EP
Merzbow - Minazo
Mojave 3 - Breaking the Ice EP
Morrissey - The Youngest Was The Most Loved (sgl)
Norfolk & Western - A Gilded Age (on Jealous Butcher)
Pet Shop Boys - Fundamental (Ltd Ed)
Grant Lee Phillips - Nineteeneighties
Planningtorock - Having It All (on Chicks on Speed Records)

SY on the job

Saturday night found me front row for Sonic Youth. I was excited to see them again, considering it's been 4 years since my last SY show. They played mostly from Rather Ripped and didn't veer from their course much. We all thought it was too short, even with the two 2-song encores. It looked as though they were having fun, shaking it, but the lack of free form in the music may have said otherwise. I know it's their job and all, but i'd be really sad if the days of extended noise at their shows is over. Regardless, it was still awesome seeing them. They'll be on Kimmel on July 11th. Go to their site for info on how to be in the audience.


Superstar (Carpenters cover)

I Love You Mary Jane (Cypress Hill featuring Sonic Youth)

THE BLOW US

You might have heard of The Blow, right? It's Khaela and Jona, two Portland kids who can bring the beats and the cutesy vocals and max them pretty hard. Their EP Poor Aim: Love Songs sold out on States Rights Records (get it on vinyl), and their new album Paper Television is one of my highly anticipated records of the year, and we gotta wait till October to hear it!
Kind of sort of good news, we've already got a lot of the album in some form. Many of the songs have already been released, be it through Tomlab's Alphabet Series 7"s or compilations. Here's a track off the PDX Pop Now! compilation that will probably get redid all fancy for the record.

The Blow-Pile of Gold

Paper Television is in October on K Records.

Catch them on a very short Western tour with YACHT and Thunder Sundresses.
June 26th 2006, Monday - Tucson, AZ @ 36 Chambers (8PM, All Ages)
June 27th 2006, Tuesday - Phoenix, AZ @ The Trunk Space (9PM, All Ages)
June 28th 2006, Wednesday - Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell (8PM, All Ages)
June 29th 2006, Thursday - Oakland, CA @ The WC (8PM, All Ages)
June 30th 2006, Friday - San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern (6:30PM, 21+)
July 1st 2006, Saturday - Santa Cruz, CA @ The Warehouse (9PM, All Ages)

Bonus Trax

I kinda am in love with bonus/hidden tracks that bands put on their albums. Whether they're just another track not on the tracklist, or you have to wait for a big pause between the tracks, I like them all. Usually they're just short & sweet songs. Sometimes they're songs that were left off the album for a reason. Most are barely even long enough to notice, so don't be upset when a track's less than a minute long.

Cat Power-Bonus Track from The Greatest
Hot Chip-Untitled from The Warning
Laura Veirs-Bonus Track from Year of the Meteors
Yeah Yeah Yeahs-Porcelain from Fever to Tell
Young People-Bonus Track from Young People
Travis-Ring Out the Bell from The Invisible Band
Love Is All-Untitled (Bonus Track) from Nine Times That Same Song
Akron/Family-Untitled from Akron/Family
Apostle of Hustle-Untitled from Folkloric Feel
Giant Drag-Hidden Track from Hearts and Unicorns
The Organ-Hidden Track from Grab That Gun
Petra Haden-Hidden Track from Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out
The Duke Spirit-Souvenir from Cuts Across the Land

Amy Questions?

Amy Sedaris (one of the Amy's my brother's crushing on) will be talking about her new film Strangers with Candy on NPR's Fresh Air today. Many of you may have already seen the tv show, to which I'd say I'm more than a little jealous. I haven't seen any of them, having no cable, but i did just finish Me Talk Pretty One Day, her brother David's book. He is hilarious, and I used to tune into NPR on weekends hoping to hear his stories on This American Life. So, if you don't catch the run on NPR, check out the website to listen to it at your leisure. Amy's also going to be on Letterman tonight.

Speaking of dynamic brother/sister duos, I was gonna mention that the Fiery Furnaces were on NPR the day before yesterday (Monday). It was great to hear them talk about their music and be genuinely excited that it would be played on the radio. Check it out here.

This Week's Releases

The delicate stylings of French singer songwriter Keren Ann and the Icelandic artist/producer Bardi Johannson make up Lady & Bird. She's got a quiet way about her, and his is a sorrow that seems inate to those from his country. Listen to how it works together. Their album streets today.

Suicide Is Painless (cover of M*A*S*H* theme song)

Stephanie Says


Monday Imports
Concretes - In Colour
Editors - Blood (sgl)
Judee Sill - Abracadabra:Asylum Years (2cd)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Turn Into (sgl)


Tuesday Domestics
Brightblack Morning Light - Brightblack Morning Light
Nelly Furtado - Loose
Guster - Ganging Up On the Sun
Hot Chip - Warning (2LP)
Keane - Under the Iron Sea
Lady & Bird - Lady & Bird
Luna - Best of Luna
M's - M's (2LP)
Madonna - I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (cd/dvd)
Old 97's - Hit by a Train: Best of the Old 97's
Gram Parsons - Complete Reprise Sessions (3cd box)
Gram Parsons - Sleepless Nights
Pharrell/Kanye - Number One (12")
Psapp - Only Thing (LP)
Corrine Bailey Rae - Corrine Bailey Rae
Rembrandts - Greatest Hits
Ulrich Schnauss - Passing By (Ltd 12" on Domino)
The Submarines - Declare a New State
Various Artists - 2005 Austin City Limits Music Festival (cd or dvd)

Up With People

After loving their record The Wedding, Oneida's new album Happy New Year seems to be shaping up to be just as good as its predecessor. The psyche-rockers return to Jagjaguwar Records, the album being released in August.
Here's a track from the album.

Oneida-Up With People

What also makes me excited is that Austin's Furniture Records is starting a singles club, "Easter Sheets Everywhere." Here'es the details: Each participating artist will offer their own interpretation of Oneida's formidable "Sheets of Easter" from their sprawling double-disc record, "Each One Teach One". The first installment will be available in December 2006. Contributors include DOH faves Jana Hunter, BARR, Best Fwends, and Fancy Feast. Sounds exciting! Visit their MySpace for more details.

Catch Oneida on tour through July and August:

07/13/06 New York, NY - Knitting Factory
07/14/06 Pittsburgh, PA - 31st Street Pub
07/15/06 Chicago, IL - Schuba's
07/16/06 St. Paul, MN - Turf Club
07/18/06 Missoula, MT - Higgins Alley
07/19/06 Seattle, WA - The Funhouse
07/20/06 Vancouver, BC - The Red Room
07/21/06 Portland, OR - Towne Lounge
07/22/06 San Francisco, CA - 12 Galaxies
07/23/06 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
07/24/06 Tucson, AZ - Solar Cultural Gallery
07/26/06 Austin, TX - Emo's
07/27/06 Houston, TX - Rudyard's Pub
07/28/06 Memphis, TN - Hi Tone
07/29/06 Atlanta, GA - The Earl
07/30/06 Knoxville, TN - The Pilot Light
07/31/06 Raleigh, NC - King's Barcade
08/01/06 Washington, DC - Warehouse Nextdoor
08/02/06 Cleveland, OH - Beachland
08/03/06 Buffalo, NY - Sound Lab
08/04/06 Toronto, ON - Bummer In The Summer Festival @ Tranzac
08/05/06 Montreal, QC - La Sala Rossa

Dallas! Not the Mavericks

Here's a little sum-up of who I want to see who are coming to Dallas in the upcoming weeks, courtesy of NTX List:

June 21 - Man Man/Lovely Feathers @ The Cavern
June 21 - Beck/Jamie Lidell @ Nokia Theatre
June 21 - The Walkmen/Richard Swift/Talk Demonic @ Granada Theater
Oh man! To be three people!!!

June 23 - Futureheads/French Kicks@ Gypsy Tea Room

June 24 - Sonic Youth/Awesome Color/Apollo Sunshine @ Gypsy Tea Room

June 26 - Band of Horses/Mt Egypt/The Can't See @ Hailey's (Denton, you are too far)

June 30 - Sound Team/Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin @ The Cavern
June 30 - Tilly and the Wall/Now It's Overhead/David Dondero @ Hailey's

July 2 - Quintron & Miss Pussycat/Herry Merry @ Gypsy Tea Room

July 8 - Danielson @ Good Records (4pm)

Maybe I'll see you there? Sorry non-Dallas peeps, you are not invited. Unless you're visiting the fine metroplex soon.

Habla con ella

While on vacation, I watched all of Freaks & Geeks on DVD. It was only one season, 18 hours, pure gluttony I guess. If you don't know, the series aired in 1999-2000 but was cancelled after one season. It features a group of "burn-outs" and geeks. Anyway it's set in 1980. so the music is all taken from the era, so I had an introduction to many bands I'd avoided listening to and came away surprised. The soundtrack is heavily rock, which made me think of Priestess.

When I talked about Wolfmother, I mentioned how they rocked without sarcasm or doing it to be cheesy. That's how Priestess is, much like the rock bands featured on Freaks & Geeks. Sure, the lyrics are pure cheese sometimes (Cream's "Sunshine of Your Love," particularly) but all for the sake or rock. RCA Records released Priestess's new record Hello Master and Ace Fu Records (home of Man Man) is putting it out on vinyl this summer. Here's a taste.

Priestess-Talk to Her

(What are the chances of the song being inspired by Pedro Almodovar's movie of the same name?)
Also, I am debating on whether to see Nacho Libre. I know it's goofy, but I gotta support the director, Jared Hess, who went to the same university as me. And Jack Black's usually pretty funny...another incentive? New Beck.

...in a recent interview, director Jared Hess confirmed that there's at least one new Beck song on the soundtrack of "Nacho Libre," which hits theaters tomorrow, June 16. No word yet on the title of the song(s).

Yes please! Here's a clip from the movie. (Quicktime hi)

Cat Lovers Unite

Okay, so I really wanted to talk about First Nation, but I dont' have the cd yet. First Nation started out as a couple of girls (Nina & Kate) playing around NYC together. Then they added Melissa who's played drums in Wikkid and Telepathe. Anyways, they got noticed by Animal Collective and signed to their label Paw Tracks. The cd came out this past week, so someone buy it and tell me how it is. I have great hopes for them, as one of their friends is BARR, who is awesome. Go be their friends and listen to the mp3s on myspace, of course.

Now, I know you've heard Psapp, but that's because you watch Grey's Anatomy every week and heard their theme song. The duo have made quite the rounds with music on Grey's, the OC, and Nip/Tuck. It's ambient, ethereal, maybe a little poppy. Recommended for fans of the Postal Service, Frou Frou, and the like. Not The Like, but etc. They were signed by Domino and released their album The Only Thing I Ever Wanted this past Tuesday. They are currenty playing with Jose Gonzalez and Juana Molina. I am jealous of anyone who gets to see that bill.

Dad's Breakdown (from Do Something Wrong ep)

Calm Down (from Tiger, My Friend)

About Fun (Windows video clip. sorry it's a clip, but it's too cute not to share)

Or, go hear the "famous" songs on their myspace page.
P.S. it seems you can only be their friend if you're a kitty.

Home Home Home

I have returned from California alive. It is possible. The 24 hour drives sandwiching stuck in traffic was pretty well worth a week off from work and blogging. A big ol' thanks to CC who's been keeping a hold down on this place while I was gone, since she wasn't able to go. She's come down with hives, so send her some good vibes. And then play Xiu Xiu's "Hives, Hives" and plenty of The Hives for her.

Here's some stuff from my inbox that I particularly like and think you ought to check out, okay? Okay. More details on stuff I've been digging later.

Ladyhawk-The Dugout

Razorlight-In the Morning

Regina Spektor-Samson (Quicktime high video)
I hope you went and bought Begin to Hope today! It's amazing and will not disappoint you. Check her out on Conan O'Brien tonight! Late notice, sorry.

Hard-Fi-Hard to Beat (Minotaur Shock remix) streaming Windows

Saturna-Pop Rocks

New Releases

Hot Chip pic from SXSW this year
(Notice the red star tambourine hanging from the korg. It hit Michael on the shoulder that night, but now it jangles for him.)

So, you do your ritual Tuesday stroll of the aisles at your local record shop. This week's items for your consideration:

These are imports streeting today (Monday June 12)
Nelly Furtado - Loose
Joan as Policewoman - Real Life (of Antony & the Johnsons)
Kinnie Starr - Anything
Tunng - Comments of the Inner Chorus

For June 13th
Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
First Nation - First Nation
The Futureheads - News and Tributes
Delia Gonzalez & Gavin Russom - Relevee (cd sgl & 12" w/dfa remix)
Hot Chip - The Warning (also on 2LP)
Thurston Moore - Psychic Hearts (LP)
Small Sins - Small Sins
Smog - Rock Bottom Riser
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope (ltd ed/regular edition/or share with a friend edition)

Very Nicely Done

Spinto Band began in the mid-90's in Delaware with a couple sets of brothers, but now they've all graduated high school, added friends, and are seeking higher education in different states. Lucky for those in the Midwest and Europe, they still get together to play some shows. Their style is poppy and fun, drawing comparisons to the Flaming Lips and Yo La Tengo. Buy their cd Nice and Nicely Done on Tuesday, June 13.

Crack the Whip

Did I Tell You

Jun 14 The Drunken Unicorn Atlanta, GA
Jun 15 Mercy Lounge Nashville, TN
Jun 16 Schuba's Chicago , IL
Jun 17 Beachland Ballroom Cleveland, OH
Jun 18 Alchemize Cincinnati, OH
Jul 2 Metropolis Festival Rotterdam
Jul 3 Accelerator Festival Malmo
Jul 5 Accelerator Festival Goteborg
Jul 6 Accelerator Festival Stockholm
Jul 8 T in the Park Balado, by Kinross
Jul 9 Oxegen Festival Naas
Jul 14 Summercase Festival Barcelona
Jul 15 Summercase Festival Madrid
Jul 16 La Nef Festival Angouleme
Jul 19 Paleo Festival Nyon
Jul 20 Paleo Festival Nyon
Jul 28 Fuji Rock Festival Yuzawa-machi, Niigata
Aug 26 Carling Weekend: Reading Festival Reading
Aug 27 Carling Weekend: Leeds Festival Leeds

They even have a blog

Sonic Goo

Sonic Youth announced that they'll be doing a special show in Southern California on July 8th for those that buy their cd on Tuesday,June 13th at select retailers. Why this is cool? It says to follow directions to RSVP, so maybe it's free? Looks like Filter Magazine is throwing this party for their Fifth Anniversary, so I bet it will be done right. Also, this date says nothing of Pearl Jam, with whom they are playing most of their CA dates. This means, hopefully, a smaller, more intimate/rocking show.

Sonic Youth On Tour

June
13 - New York, NY - CBGBs
14 - Philadelphia, PA - Starlight Ballroom
15 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club – 6:30pm & 10pm show
17 - Asheville, NC - Orange
18 - Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Arts& Music Festival
19 - Atlanta, GA - Earthlink Live
21 - Tulsa, OK - Caine’s Ballroom
22 - Houston , TX - Warehouse
23 - Austin, TX - Stubbs BBQ
24 - Dallas, TX - Gypsy Ballroom
26 - Lawrence, KS - Liberty Hall
27 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre
29 - Missoula, MT - UM Theatre
30 - Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre
July
1 - Portland, OR - Roseland
3 - Sacramento, CA - Empire
4 - Reno, NV - The Theatre @ Reno Hilton
6 - Las Vegas, NV - MGM Grand Garden Arena w/ Pearl Jam
7 - San Diego, CA - Cox Arena w/ Pearl Jam
**8 - Los Angeles, CA - Filter Magazine Private Show for fans**
9 - Los Angeles, CA - Forum w/ Pearl Jam
10 - Los Angeles, CA - Forum w/ Pearl Jam
13 - Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara County Bowl w/ Pearl Jam
15 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Civic w/ Pearl Jam
16 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Civic w/ Pearl Jam
18 - San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium Civic w/ Pearl Jam
August
3 - Cleveland, OH - Kuyahooga Festival- Blossom Music Center
4 - Detroit, MI - State Theater w/ Flaming Lips
5 - Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza Festival
6 - Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre
8 - Toronto, Canada - Kool Haus
11 - Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool w/ Yeah Yeah Yeahs
12 - Brooklyn, NY - McCarren Park Pool w/ Yeah Yeah Yeah
24 - St. Paul, MN - Minnesota State Fair w/ Flaming Lips
25 - Council Bluffs, IA - Stir Cove at Harrah's w/ Flaming Lips
26 - St. Louis, MO - The Pageant w/ Flaming Lips
28 - Columbus, OH - Promowest Pavilion w/ Flaming Lips
September
3 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion w/ Flaming Lips
December
8-10 Nightmare Before Christmas Somerset, UKDecember
11 Brussels, Belgium Les HallesDecember
13 Paris, France Zenith

6/13 Tall Firs support
6/14-19 Be Your Own Pet support
6/23-7/4 Awesome Color support

Incinerate (from Rather Ripped)

Barrel of a Goo (Sonic Youth/Beastie Boys mashup)

Wedding

Hi I am going to California for awhile. My cousin's getting married so we are driving there to the Orange County area until next Tuesday. Holy crap, right?! I know. I will eat some In n Out for you don't you worry. I might post again this afternoon before we leave but yeah. Here's some wedding songs for you! Hooray!

Annie-The Wedding
IBOPA-The Wedding Song (Live at KZSU)

Goodbye have a nice week don't forget about me! cc should update some more so this place doesn't become a wasteland.

In the comments tell me who you'd like to see play at your wedding! Me? The Decemberists.

ps I love this thing where you can put your face into The Wedding Crashers trailer. Here's mine starring Sufjan and Colin Meloy.

Magic Hands

Got a CD by the San Francisco band Black Fiction and thought the album art was cool flipped it over and saw a drawing of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. It had me confused because it was holding two bloody swords but wearing a red bandana. Is it Raphael or Leonardo? Raphael stol Leonardo's swords? What? Anyway I noticed below the confused Ninja Turtle a stack of kings' heads, you know, the kind from playing cards. Flip the cd back over and realize the weird patterened blobs and the kings' torsos. Crazy. The card theme follows inside.

ANYWAY enough about their crazy cool album art, Black Fiction are compared often to Ariel Pink, Beck, Animal Collective, and Akron/Family. They've also shared the stage with The Dirty Projectors, Court & Spark and the Fiery Furnaces. Hello we have a winner. The band's lo-fi jangle pop had me hooked at first listen. It's not the kind of pop you have to hear over and over for the hooks, but for the entire instrumentation. Handclaps, tambourine jangles, moaning, and that weird throat noise from Spoon's "Stay Don't Go."

Magic Hands
I Spread the Disease
The album Ghost Ride is out on Howells Transmitter. Get yourself a copy, because it's just the right thing to do.
You also want to be their friend. Because then you can download two new 8-track recordings.

Overwhelmed

This Tuesday's a pretty great new release day. There are really too many to delve into sufficiantly. So, I'm sorry, but i'm gonna list 'em. Hopefully, we can revisit these later.

Amps For Christ - Every Eleven Seconds
Annie - Crush (vinyl)
Au Pairs - Stepping Out of Line (2cd Anthology)
Be Your Own Pet - Be Your Own Pet (select stores have bonus 7" w/purchase)
Carla Bozulich - Evangelista
Brass Castle - Brass Castle
Camera Obscura - Let's Get Out of This Country
Editors - All Sparks (ep)
Evangelicals - So Gone (on Misra)
Franz Ferdinand - Remixes (vinyl)
Micah P. Hinson - Baby & the Satellite
Husbands - There's Nothing I'd Like More Than To See You Dead
Joy Zipper - Stereo & God
Ladyhawk - Ladyhawk (on Jagjaguwar)
Meneguar - I Was Born At Night (get it on Troubleman Unlimited if you want colored vinyl)
Juan Molina - Son (on Domino)
MSTRKRFT - Easy Love (12")
Paper Chase - Now You Are One of Us
Portastatic - Who Loves the Sun (on Merge)
Prototypes - Prototypes
Psapp - Only Thing I Ever Wanted (on Domino)
Robot Ate Me - Good World
Sarah Silverman in Jesus Is Magic
Scanners - Violence Is Golden (on Dimmak)
Smoosh - Free To Stay (whole album streaming on Barsuk)
Sons & Daughters - Remixes (vinyl)
Sound Team - Movie Monster
Syd Matters - Syd Matters
Zero 7 - Garden

New Records

Here's a couple albums you might wanna consider purchasing on this evil, evil day. If you're taking your chances and leaving the house today, that is.

Futureheads-Worry About It Later
The Futureheads new album, when I first listened to it, seemed like it was over really fast. Second time around I took the time to listen to the songs and, yep, it's still the Futureheads we all fell in love with. They don't pull out any really amazing tricks, they just keep on using the "ooh-ooh" background vocals that I fell in love with. See them live! They're amazing! So much energy.
w/ French Kicks
6/15/06 Vancouver Commodore
6/16/06 Seattle Neumo’s
6/18/06 San Francisco Fillmore
6/19/06 Los Angeles Henry Fonda Theatre
6/23/06 Dallas Gypsy Ballroom
6/24/06 Austin La Zona Rosa
6/26/06 Atlanta The Loft
6/27/06 Chapel Hill, NC Cat’s Cradle
6/28/06 Washington, DC 9:30 Club
6/30/06 NYC Webster Hall
7/1/06 Boston Paradise

w/ Tapes N' Tapes
7/25/06 Philadelphia Starlight
7/26/06 Toronto Phoenix
7/27/06 Detroit Magic Stick
7/28/06 Columbus, OH Newport
7/29/06 Chicago Pitchfork Festival
7/30/06 Minneapolis Varsity
8/2/06 Denver Bluebird
8/3/06 Salt Lake City Club Sound
8/4/06 Las Vegas Jillians
8/5/06 San Diego Street Scene
Definitely gonna check 'em out in Dallas.
Speaking of Dallas, the pAper chAse (from Dallas) release a new album today on Kill Rock Stars titled Now You Are One of Us. The art alone seems eerie, add the release date and their past records and it should be a frightening album. Check out this mp3.

the pAper chAse-We Know Where You Sleep

Check out the rest of the album's song titles. Some of them sound pretty Goosebumps-inspired.
It's Out There and It's Gonna Get You
We Know Where You Sleep
The Kids Will Grow Up To Be Assholes
Wait Until I Get My Hands On You
You Will Never Take Me Alive
Delivered In a Firm Unyielding Way Lingering For Just a Bit Too Long To Communicate the Message "I Own You"
The Most Important Part of Your Body
What's So Amazing About Grace
You're One of Them Aren't You?
The Song Will Eat Itself
...and All the Candy You Can Eat
All Manner of Pox or Canker
At the Other End of the Leash
We Will Make You One of Us
The House is Alive and the House is Hungry

If you're in Dallas, the band is performing an acoustic set at Good Records you should definitely check out before you squeeze your way into the Arctic Monkeys show I wish I was going to...

If You Live in SF, Be On the Lookout

Gossip's Hannah Blilie and her other band Shoplifting have become yet another band the victim of a major theft

From Shoplifting's myspace page:


" Friends, I'm sorry to say that once again we have been the victim of theft. This time a window on our van was smashed while it was parked on 17th and Guererro in San Francisco and the following items were stolen:

-Acoustic Control Corporation Model 150 Amp Head
-Acoustic Control Corporation Model 104 6X10" speaker cabinet
-Fender 75 Combo Amp with Celestion Vintage 30 1X12" speaker, green silkcreened grillcloth, fender logo covered with tape.
-Case with pedals: Electro Harmonix Micro Synthesizer in battered condition, Moogerfooger
-Ring Modulator, RAT distortion, Boss Stage Tuner, Danelectro Delay.
-Yamaha Portasound Keyboard with velcro on speakers.
-Bag with hi hat stand, cymbal stand, 2 snare stands, legs for floortom.
-Green, Brown and Silver ReLoad messenger bag with books, minidisc, cheap mics, personal efx.
-Tupperware bin with merch, est 100cd's including ep's, albums and a large quantity of the Zum Audio Volume 3 cd, 50 12"ep and lp, a few 7"s.
-personal Cd's in a large black CD book and a brown
-grey cloth CD book
-A faux tweed suitcase with books.

You can help by looking out for this stuff in shops or swap meets in SF/Bay Area or if you have photos of us playing with the amps clearly in the photo post them here so folks know what to look for. Thanks to Dave and Eric of Numbers and Rob of Grey Daturas we have enough borrowed gear to play the rest of the shows. Thanks for all your support. love, Devin and Shoplifting"

Please keep your eyes open fo their stuff if you live in the San Francisco area.

Male Gynecology

Not in Love (Not True)

Hi it's Saturday and you just love to dance. I know, me too. That's why I'm glad I found this robot. No it's not those robots from Beck's "Hell Yes" video, it's a robot that makes fun dance music with something those other robots don't have, emotion.

Wolfgang-Not in Love (Not True)

The story of Wolfgang the Robot is tragic and inspiring. You can read the entire history here, but the gist of it is, robot built by millionaire to create pop music, robot falls in love with man, creates perfect pop song. "Not in Love (Not True)" has those synth chords you miss from the 80's songs you hear on your local Mix station set to pulsing drums and then it comes: vocoder. You love it, you feel like crying, dancing, and building your own robot to love Wolfgang.

Wolfgang's first EP comes out soon, and a full-length is sure to follow. The album is about Wolfgang's emotional struggles with coming to terms that a robot can never be with a human, but the EP is pure dance fun. Both will be out on the fledgling label Hypnote Recordings run by David Rothblatt, who you'll hopefully be hearing more about when the record company takes off.

One Hot Jew

Sarah Silverman is "the funniest woman in america" according to Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and me. You may remember her from School of Rock or her characters on Crank Yankers, and she's guest starred on many a show, including Seinfeld. Well, today check her out on NPR's Fresh Air. You can also go to Fresh Air's website and listen to the interview there. Undoubtedly, she'll be talking about her movie Jesus Is Magic that's coming out on dvd on Tuesday (06 June 06) and the show she's making for Comedy Central. Her humor slays me, and I hope you'll enjoy her, too.

I Love You More

Sarah on Conan O'Brien

Rivers Running Up the Hills

Uhh sorry I have become the Least Updated Blog On Your Blogroll guys. Work sucks a lot of my life and energy. Yes washing dishes all day can do that to you. I keep complaining about it but it's truuue. I will try and post a lot of stuff I've been meaning to write on this weekend okay? Thanks.

Sorry I don't have a Thom Yorke mp3 for you, but you can download like, most all of the album from The Hype Machine. That's ridiculous. Us bloggers like posting songs other bloggers haven't posted, but it can be crazy. Like when the new Fiery Furnaces CD came out, most of the album was up for download. Not so cool. I've been trying to be posting stuff the bands want us to post and not everything else but I might slip every now and then..oh here's one of those times.

I've been addicted to Laura Veirs lately okay? She's adorable. how could you not be hooked? Then there's this track from The Sound the Hare Heard...swoonage follows soon after.

Laura Veirs-Cast a Hook in Me

And then Thao Nguyen pops up after a Sufjan quickie! Amazing! I really love this compilation. Ace stuff. A lot better than the Sur la mer sampler from sister-label 5RC I hear...bummer.
Thao Nguyen-Feet Asleep

Check out the ridiculously awesome The Sound the Hare Heard tour coming to your town! It features a revolving door of artists featured on the compilation, many artists such as Thao Nguyen, Southerly, Lovers and Lauren Hoffman carry through most of the tour.