Berkeley Place

A Quick MagicJack Plus Review

2012-01-18T09:21:00.000-08:00

Here's a quick post from a friend of mine. He recommended that I try out the magicJack Plus for my new home phone and I did and I love it so I decided to go ahead and let him provide a little bit of info on it simply because I think it's that good and that you should use it to save some $$$.

How does the magicJack Plus work?

magicJack Plus provides phone service through a VoIP network. Like other providers of this type of phone service (Vonage, netTALK DUO), the company provides phone service through a high-speed internet connection, rather than through a phone line. By routing calls over the internet instead of through actual lines service can be offered at a significantly reduce price.

How much does it cost?

Get setup with the device will cost consumers $69.95 which includes everything you need for getting up and running. This price also includes the first year of service. Each year of service thereafter is $29.95, which is renewed on an annual basis.

How is it set up?

Installation of the magicjack plus is simple and can be done in several minutes. The device can be set up two different ways. First, the device can be plugged into the USB port of any computer or laptop, and a phone is plugged into the device, and users can begin making phone calls. The second method of setup bypasses the computer altogether. The fact that the computer had to be on in order to make and receive phone calls was regarded as a significant inconvenience of the previous edition of the magicJack. With the addition of onboard CPU and RAM, the device can function without a computer. The device is plugged into a routers ethernet hookup, and into its power supply. Then a standard telephone is plugged into magicJack device, and users can begin making calls.

Do I have to get a new phone number when I sign up?

No. Consumers can keep their phone number when they register with the magicJack Plus. Current users the old MJ device can also transfer their number over to the new device. If consumers choose to they can choose an available vanity number for $10.

Does the magicJack offer voicemail services?

The magicJack Plus does provide its users with voicemail. Additionally, it also provides consumers with a variety of call features that a standard home phone service provider would offer. One neat thing about its voicemail service is that you can have all voicemails converted to text and sent to your email for added convenience.

Is the call quality as good as a landline?

With the addition of a pair of upgrades to the magicJack Plus, the call quality of the device has been significantly improved. The first upgrade to the device is the addition HD Voice which improves the quality of the sound and the general flow of conversation without any freezing or delays. The second upgrade to the device is from Echo Control Technology, which eliminates echoing that at times made people hard to understand when using the old dongle.

Are there any drawbacks to the magicJack Plus?

As with anything, the magicJack Plus does have its drawbacks. The primary drawback is the same as with any VoIP network phone service. Since phone calls are made through a broadband internet connection, the quality and the consistency of the call depends on that connection. If you have a slow connection the call quality will suck. Also if there is a power outage you will also have a phone outage, unless your internet connection can work without power. Cries among consumers also talk about the less than ideal support offered by the company. These complaints range from that fact that you can't get someone live on the phone (they only offer chat support) to people getting no resolutions despite spending hours with support.

Overall the device is a great money saver but as with anything, when you get something really cheap there are bound to be at least some minor hangups that keep it from being perfect.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2009-07-10T17:50:00.000-07:00

He's Back!!!! HAHAHAHAHA

2009-07-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

Thats right ladies and gentleman, boys and girls! Berkeley Place Indie is back with a bunch of thrilling new tunes on the way.

SO LONG, AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH

2008-10-28T14:48:00.000-07:00

It is with a heavy heart that I write this post. This is my last post on this site. It may be my last post forever, depending on the reaction to this post.

I’ve been a non-RIAA reviewer for over a year now. That’s why when companies send me CDs by The Annuals, Matisyahu, or Ryan Adams, I won’t review them unless the company hosts the mp3. That used to be a safe approach. Not any more.

A few weeks ago, I posted a collection of covers of songs from the 1980s. To my knowledge, only one of the artists featured in that post had a connection to the RIAA. That was Chris Cornell. But the song that I posted was a live recording, not commercially released. Nevertheless, the post mysteriously disappeared from my site. Over the next few weeks, this happened twice more. Blogger, my host, has been utterly silent on the issue. I am not alone in this—it’s happened to some of the best bloggers out there, like
Ryan’s Smashing Life, and So Much Silence.

Then, an 11-month-old post from my Wordpress site got dinged. Unlike Blogger, Wordpress, to their credit, did not delete my post. They simply marked it “private” and barred me from writing further posts until I addressed the issue. They also told me who the DCMA notice was from. It was from the IFPI, the UK equivalent of the RIAA. The post was on a band that was independent when I wrote about them, Wild Sweet Orange, and contained only one mp3, which was hosted by RED, an artist development site that Wild Sweet Orange was using for publicity. In other words, it was a legal mp3.

How can this happen?

First, let’s look briefly at the DCMA. Under this relatively new law, any individual (including your grandma) can send a notice to a host and tell them that a blog post infringes on a copyright. The host must act immediately, and the person who wrote the post has no right to appeal during the first two weeks. This is why some Obama supporters have begun serving You Tube with DCMA notices about McCain’s fully legal advertisements—You Tube must take down the ad, and by the time McCain’s camp can appeal, the election will be over.

And is a little guy like me, who just blogs for the fun of it, going to fight it? Of course not. Even though the law supports my actions. Under 17 USC § 107, it is “fair use” to reproduce portions of copyrighted material for “ criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research.” Fair use considers “the purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes; (2) the nature of the copyrighted work; (3) the amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the copyrighted work as a whole; and (4) the effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work.” I believe that my blog fits all four criteria; the only questionable one is the first one. And although I recently started accepting advertisements, the revenue is used to offset the costs related to this site
(such as buying music, sending out prize packages, occasionally attending concerts, etc.) This can hardly be considered a “commercial” venture. It is a labor of love that may be able to generate a couple hundred bucks a year. I’m not here to hurt anyone, and I’m not going to fight a takedown notice. I’m going to comply. Hell, I WANT to comply. I’m here to do favors for small labels and promote artists who do good live shows.

So that explains why blogger is acting this way. Why are the record companies doing this?

The answer is, they aren’t. Or, more precisely, they don’t all know they are. Sure, the big labels know exactly what’s going on. They’re trying to save a business model that is outdated and has been dying for years. But I don’t post their stuff. But artists on smaller or smallish labels may get signed to the big labels, and then the big labels hire attack dogs to protect their interests. That’s what happened with Wild Sweet Orange.

The other problem is that the U.S. label may not be aware that the British label hosts mp3s or submits material to blogs, or vice-versa. Thus, the IFPA may send out a notice where the RIAA would not. This is likely why some folks have told me that links to legal mp3s provided by Sneak Attack Media have been the subject of Blogger deletions/takedown notices.

Finally, the companies all hire robots to crawl the net, the robots find something that they think is offensive and tell the lawyers, and the lawyers send out the C&D notice. Nobody checks the robots’ work. I suspect that this is what happened to Chad, who posted links to an Elliott Smith show on archive.org, but got hit with a takedown notice anyway. These links were fully legal, but they were by an artist whose records have been published by an RIAA label. In his own words . . .

Even more weird, the post that was removed stated clearly at the very top of the post that it was an exact re-post of something I had posted one year to the day (so, easy to find if one was looking), and nothing happened to that post. So, in my case, you can actually see the post that was deleted...because it was posted a year earlier! Here it is, and notice, there is nothing posted that isn't either directly from Elliott Smith's official site, record label, or archive.org...

http://everybodycares.blogspot.com/2007/10/elliott-smith-august-6-1969-october-21.html

So that, ladies and gentleman, is what a potentially illegal or infringing post looks like. That it obtains nothing objectionable or not entirely on the up and up should concern ALL of you. Because I get permission for everything I post on my site, or use the direct links that labels or artists have made legally available online (or things that are officially in the public domain) for ALL my posts, and I got hit with one of these ridiculous DMCA take-down emails and automatically deleted posts, that certainly means it could happen to any one of you who posts anything at all.

Indeed, Chad. Indeed.

So what do we do about it?

Well, we could start posting streams only. Of course, that costs a lot of bandwidth, and it doesn’t serve the same audience. I, for one, almost never listen to streams. I go to my favorite sites, read a few reviews, take a few mp3s, and listen to them later. If I like what I hear, I go buy it. Streams do me no good.

The first thing I will do is never post on Blogger again.

The second thing I will do is try to find an independent host that is free or cheap. For this, I need your help. There’s a donate button the blog. Hit it and donate, if you want to keep seeing this site. But before you do, read the third thing.

The third thing I will do is, if I return to posting, religiously avoid any artist who is in the RIAA. This includes live material. What this means for you, my readers, is far fewer A to Z posts, far fewer gonzo posts, and far fewer folks coming in through places like Hype Machine. For me, that means, most likely, less traffic.

I’ll have to see if I get enough readers to keep going. This blog has always been about independent music, and mostly that’s not been a problem.

If there’s interest in me keeping going, and I can find the funds, I’ll look for a new host. I want to note that Tim at www.thebluewalrus.com has already been most helpful in such an endeavor. Drop a comment, let me know if I should bother coming back. Tell me if you’re interested in reading about indie artists who you may not know about, like Saturna, Diacon Panthers, LoDeck and Omega One, Marnie Stern, and all the others I’ve featured here over the years. On the other hand, if you only come through for the big cover posts, which may include artists who are on RIAA labels, tell me that, too. ‘Cause it means I’m done.

UPDATE

2008-10-27T16:44:00.001-07:00

Well, they took another post of mine and I can't figure out why. I no longer believe that this is the work of the RIAA. Someone out there just has it in for me. I can't figure out who and, of course, Blogger won't say anything about it because it is impossible to reach anyone at their help desk.

The post did not have a single protected work. It was indie artists, most of whom submitted to my site.

If this post disappears, I'll really know something is wrong.

I may publish a few things I have already written over the next few days, but other than that, expect my site to be defunct for a few weeks while I figure out what to do next.

And if you are reading this, and you're the one who is messing with me, please let me know why. I have made every effort to avoid distributing RIAA protected material. If you're just someone that I offended, I wish you would just tell me. This is ridiculous.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-26T16:54:00.000-07:00

Look out behind you! It's the fucking RIAA sending out DMCA notices on stuff they don't even own! Or stuff that label reps sent to you to review, knowing full well what your submission policy is! Run for your life! Or better yet, poke him in the balls and shit on him!

DONE?

2008-10-25T14:26:00.000-07:00

I'm wondering if I should quit blogging, in light of the deletions and stepped up C&Ds being issued here and at wordpress.

THE TOP TEN #1 SONGS OF THE 1980s!

2008-10-25T10:01:00.000-07:00

THIS POST WAS EATEN BY BLOGGER, AND I'M NOT SURE WHY.

But here's the text of it. No links, though, and no pix. Apparently, someone complained. Can't imagine who.

10. Down Under-Men at Work.

I chose to use this song, rather than the paranoid "Who Can It Be Now?" to represent my favorite member of the invasion of the Aussies in my top 20. Arguably, "Who" is more appropriate because there were so many paranoid songs in the 1980s (one of the best: Norman Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me.") But ever since I heard Colin Hay rework this song acoustically, I realized that this is a very well-crafted pop song. Besides, if it weren't for this song, which topped the chart from January 15 through Feb 11, 1983, nobody would know what a fried-out Combie was. If you still don't know, go rent Prescilla, Queen of the Desert.

Versions:

Spacecake. A bizarre version--part hard rock, part woodblock.

Curtis Peoples

9. Rapture-Blondie.

This one was harder for me, because the song itself is only so-so. But I really do dig the concept, and it was such an important song because it represented the first time a female "rapper" hit #1 on the Hot 100. More importantly, it brought Fab 5 Freddie's skillz to the mainstream—a direct result of a few CBGB punks making their way to a Harlem block party one day and being blown away. Hard to believe it was as long ago as 1981. Now, rockrap has become godawful.

Versions:

None that I am aware of. But as a consolation . . .

Rappers Delight-Of Montreal

8. Beat It-Michael Jackson.

Two songs from "Thriller" are in the top 10 because, hey, even though it came out at the beginning of the decade, no record better exemplifies the excess, the nonsense, the booming pop, and the drama of the 1980s. Beat It topped the chart for three weeks (April 30-May 20, 1983), featuring an Eddie Vedder guitar solo and a young Wesley Snipes in the video. And let us never forget the best Weird Al video ever: Eat It. Two gangbangers attached by a roasted chicken, armed only with forks.

Versions:

Supergrass

The Last Dinosaur

7. Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)-Phil Collins.

Younger hipsters will know the Postal Service version of this song, which was brilliant for taking an overwrought arena ballad and making it sweet and small.

Versions: Go buy the entire Postal Service record. It's all you'll need.

6. Let's Go Crazy-Prince & The Revolution.

The Purple One is one of two short African Americans to make my top 10. He's litigious, but there's no denying his genius.

Versions:

Band of Tipsys. The WTF?? version.

5. Like a Prayer-Madonna.

I wasn't a fan when the song first came out, but when all the relignuts got crazy over it, I learned to love it. Now, it's my third favorite Madonna song ever. I can't believe Maddie only made this list once. I guess I don't like "Like a Virgin" all that much.

Versions:

See this huge A to Z post.

4. True Colors-Cyndi Lauper.
Love the Cyndi. And love this song, especially when she does it live. It topped the charts in late 1986.

Versions:

See this huge A to Z post.
3. Owner of a Lonely Heart-Yes.

One of the first #1 hits in the year 1984, and the lonely Yes song ever to top the Hot 100. I'm not a huge prog-rock fan, but the opening of this song is pure adrenaline, and the drum work is simply awesome.

Versions:

See: Owner of a Lonely Post.

2. When Doves Cry-Prince.

The '80s was the time for androgyny, and Prince was the king of it all. Doves was #1 from July 7 through August 10, 1984. And it is one of the greatest songs ever.

Versions:

Ben Sollee (live, direct link)

Animal Liberation Orchestra. This is a particularly awesome version.

1. Billie Jean-Michael Jackson.
Topping the hot 100 for almost two months in 1983, Billie Jean (BJ to her friends) maliciously got pregnant and caused little Mikey so so so much pain and angst. Next time, Mr. J, put a sock on the pickle.

Versions:

I recently did an MJ covers A to Z post, so I'm not going to re-do that here. But this is a particularly good one.

Billie Jean-Chris Cornell (Live, acoustic)

Coming soon: The also rans.

WHY DO MY FUCKING POSTS KEEP DISAPPEARING???

2008-10-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

I can't find any e-mail for blogger support, and individual posts I 've made keep fucking disappearing!!!!! ARgg!!!!!! Does any reader have any idea why, or who I could contact about it?? My top 10 songs of the '80s posts is gone, without any explanation!! And I don't keep back ups of this stupid blog.

I am so fucking aggravated.

THIS IS ABOUT MARNIE STERN AND SHE IS GREAT AND SO IS HER ALBUM AND I AM HE THAT LIKES THE ALBUM AND IT IS ALL THAT

2008-10-25T04:50:00.000-07:00

I showed much love to Marnie Stern when she exploded on the scene in 2007, picking “In Advance of the Broken Arm” as the Best Debut of 2007. It was alternately dissonant and shredding, muscular and intricate, and like nothing else I’d ever heard. With a sound as distinct as hers—it’s kind of like a nine-year-old choir boy at a metal nightclub, shouting in your ear that he wants a Shirley Temple with a rum chaser—it was hard for me to imagine how a sophomore release could be anything but disappointing. But it isn’t.

Like most artists, Marnie Stern's follow-up is less wild and more melodious—but not much more. It starts with “Prime,” a car-alarm of sonic urgency that blasts and blasts until, in track 2, Marnie offers the first single: “Transformer.” Here, she raps. Yes, raps. But not in a stupid, white girl way. This is the most accessible Stern song I’ve ever heard, but it’s still so off-the-wall that it leaves me out-of-breath, looking for a toehold. And while I’m dangling, she rips right into “Shea Stadium,” which begins with rolling, careening drums that bash and batter. And so it continues.

The album is much like the horrendously difficult title: “This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That.” Every song is a series of quick bursts, start-stops, nothing with more than one syllable. Sounds don’t continue for very long, notes don’t sustain, and the guitars cut out rather than fade. In some ways, it’s psychotic. In other ways, it reflects our current instant, mash-up, disposable, short-term culture.

Most rock grrls try to sound sexy. But Marnie never does. Instead, every song shouts of a body on fire and a running brain back-to-back windsprints. And that’s sexy, without even trying.

Ruler

Marnie Remixed:

Absorb the Lipgloss

BONUS COVER that is about as opposite of Marnie as humanly possible:

You Will (Bright eyes cover)-Snow Patrol (live, acoustic)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Proof that Sarah Palin is wrong, and evolution is a fact!

RYAN ADAMS: 2006 TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

2008-10-24T04:19:00.000-07:00

Posted on the Ryan Adams Archive, a fan of 2006 compiled all of his new material and his improvs. It's a really fun album, because it was all fresh stuff at the time and many of the freestyles are hilarious. It's also very good quality.

A few tastes and a zip. And please drop a comment and let me know if you all are still interested in boots and shows. I don't get many comments on them, so I'm thinking of not doing them anymore.

1. Goodnight Rose (9-17-2006)
2. One Of Us Is The Sucker And The Other Gets To Play (10-14-2006)
3. Two (2-14-2006)
4. Blue Hotel (10-17-2006)
5. Arkham Asylum (9-19-2006)
6. Don't Get Sentimental On Me (2-14-2006)
7. She Turns It Up To Ten (10-13-2006)
8. Rip Off (7-25-2006)
9. Typecast (10-13-2006)
10. Lighthouses (9-18-2006)
11. Two Hearts (2-14-2006)
12. Robot Fuck (9-24-2006)
13. Breakdown Into The Resolve (7-22-2006)
14. 21st Century Wars (9-27-2006)
15.Everything Dies (2-15-2006)
16. Fantasy Balloon (10-5-2006)
17.Maps (2-18-2006)
18. Martian Song (7-20-2006)
19. Party Clown (9-27-2006)
20. Teeth Dissolving In Diet Coke (9-19-2006)
21. Who Were We (2-14-2006)
22. Rumble In Cambridge (9-27-2006)
23. Halloween Head (10-6-2006)
24. Funny Face (9-18-2006)
25. Hans Solo Medicine Cabinet (9-24-2006)
26. Oh My God Whatever, Et Cetera (9-18-2006)
27. Neal Casal Went To Pee Just Now (9-19-2006)
28. Tears Of Gold (10-15-2006)
29. Everybody Knows (7-22-2006)
30. Trouble On Wheels (10-17-2006)

PICTURE OF THE DAY: Found Porn Edition

2008-10-23T23:59:00.000-07:00

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

OWNER OF A LONELY POST

2008-10-22T14:39:00.000-07:00

(The most mainstream Yes album) + (A single with maybe the most exhilarating riff in history) X (a video with maggots) = Classic rock.

Owner-Trevor Rabin (Live)

I Like It (Feat. Boo And Mack Maine)-Lil Wayne

Owner Of A Lonely Heart (1 minute remix)-Yes. All the best parts, no filler.

Owner-Grizzly Bear

Owner Things (Yes vs Howard Jones)-Saint Bernadette

Owner-Soul Priority (live, direct link)

Owner-Bockman's Euphio (live 2002)

Owner-Yonder String Band (live, direct link)

Real maggot brain!

KINETIC STEREOKIDS WANT YOU TO HAVE A NICE DAY. AND SO DOES DAVE GROHL, BUT HE'S NOT AS NICE ABOUT IT

2008-10-22T01:39:00.000-07:00

Clocking in at just three songs (technically two songs and a "bonus track"), the Kinetic Stereokids' EP, "Have a Nice Day" is really more of a single than an EP. Consider it an advertisement, then, for their first full-length, Basement Kids. It's hard guitar rock, and the EP's live bonus track (studio version below) has a most appropriate song name: "Explosions Were Heard." That about sums up this band.

It's hard to write a review based on just three songs, but they seem pretty good.

Have a Nice Day

Explosions We Heard

Bonus guitarsNdrums Song:

An early, and less radio-friendly, version of "Overdrive," recorded live. Fuck I love the Foos. Wish they were indie. But I admit, they're too big for indie. FF and Pearl Jam are two bands that act independent, even if they're backed by corporate funds.

Gun Beside My Bed-Foo Fighters.

Stumble It!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-20T17:20:00.000-07:00

HASAN SALAAM-“Children of God”

2008-10-20T03:51:00.000-07:00

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not black. And have Jewish ancestry. So when I say that Hasan Salaam’s “Children of God,” a heavily Islamic rap record littered with prayer clips, sermons, and preaching black power and unity, is one of the best Hip Hop albums I’ve heard in the last five years, you know the judgment did not come easily. This is not a record targeted to a white audience, and it is unapologetically political. But it is also level-headed, without a hint of racism, proof that MLK was right: One can have racial pride without racial bias; one can talk of oppression without advocating violence toward the oppressor; one can speak the truth with pain and rage, but without hatred.

Salaam has been around since 2004, hailing from Jersey and telling street tales without glorifying gangbanging. He’s also a teacher of chess and creative writing in his home-state’s public school system, working with inmates and troubled youth, organizing community boycotts--showing that he is true to the game, practicing what he preaches. “Children of God” is his second record, and it’s the first of two albums he will release this year, both independent.

“Angel Dust,” featuring Lord Jamar, is the first song on the record with a hook, and it’s a powerful anti-drug club rap, telling a street story as well as Nas or GFK, Lord Jamar shows versatility on the hook and Mr. Salaam shows incredible skill by rapping about sex and drugs without being vulgar, crude, or even using a single curse word. Another catchy tune is “The Uprock,” featuring one of my personal favorite underground rappers, Masta Ace. Ace never goes wrong, with a thesaurus-like command of the language and a flow that’s musical without losing the hip hop cadence. Is every single song a masterpiece? No. But what album can claim a perfect tracklist these days? “The Reign” is a little schizophrenic, moving too fast to be inspirational, and Mr. Salam’s deep, dark flow is better suited for slower beats. But these missteps are still interesting, as we get to hear him stretch a little, and the few lighter tracks provide much needed breaks between the thought-provoking intensity of this record.

“Even with the seed of life, some still seek the pipe,” Mr. Salaam says on the title track. This line is just one of many he tosses off in succession. There are so many times I had to hit pause and rewind, just to catch up. Truly, this album should be played in schools as an example of how popular music can do its thing without being ignorant, and how hip hop is not nearly dead. This is a spiritual album with practical, real-life stories—an example of the way Religion is supposed to work in human life: It’s not idealistic, but it is full of ideas. Go buy it now.

Angel Dust (with Lord Jamal)

BONUS UNDERGROUND RAPPER:

If you haven't heard Yela by now, you need to.

I'm the Shit-Yelawolf

Stumble It!

LEOPOLD AND HIS FICTION RELEASE A GREAT NEW RECORD—AND IT “AIN’T NO SURPRISE”

2008-10-19T03:45:00.000-07:00

“One For Me To Find” has the title and sound of an old traditional. It begins with Daniel James’ forlorn voice, singing over a drumbeat and a murmuring organ, “I’ve got these outlaws chasing me . . . It’s hard to make amends, with myself and my dead friends . . .” It’s a perfect introduction for an album that sticks to Southern Rock basics, but manages to wind through Dead-like jams (“Sun’s Only Promise”), uptempo Allmans rock (“Ain’t No Surprise”), sauntering country pop (“Come Back (Now That I’m Here)”) and everywhere in between.

The band has always been the anti-corporate antidote to Kings of Leon, and a more grounded, song-based version of My Morning Jacket. They continue their tradition on their latest release, “Ain’t No Surprise.” With so many bands making music like this nowadays, it’s hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. But you can’t go wrong with Leopold and His Fiction. They’ve got solid songwriting, complete control over their instruments, and vocals that kick ass.

Come Back (Now That I'm Here)

BONUS SOUTHERN ROCK COVERS:

Time of the Season (Zombies)-My Morning Jacket

Slow Night, So Long (with Ed Vedder)-Kings of Leon

Stumble It!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-19T01:53:00.000-07:00

For sale from Topco, who claim that:

• Sarah Palin makes sexism sexy
• Cross party lines with your own inflatable running mate
• Three ways to do this doll: mouth, pussy or ass
• Give her a mouthful
• Blow her up and show her how you’re going to vote
• Let her pound your gavel over and over
• Bypass the Bush and have some MILF
• It’s time some male interns caused a scandal in the Capitol
• She’s the hottest thing to come out of Alask

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-18T17:17:00.000-07:00

When Signs Make Synergy

Stumble It!

GO JOE!

2008-10-18T01:42:00.000-07:00

More of the most brilliant rocker ever.

A few tastes and a zip of a great live show from Glastonbury 1999.

Dig it.

01 Techno D-Day

02 London Calling

03 X Ray Style

04 White Man In Hammersmith Palais

05 Tony Adams

06 Rock the Casbah

07 Yalla Yalla

08 Brand New Cadillac

09 I Fought The Law

10 Diggin' The New

11 Tommy Gun

12 Bankrobber

I WANNA STICK LITTLE DAGGERS IN YOU—The Val Emmich Give-Away

2008-10-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

I’ve got two hot-off-the-presses copies of the brand new Val Emmich CD of glistening pop, “Little Daggers.” It’s a sweet record, and you may recall the little write up I did on the record here, at my old site. You can check out the single below.

To win, drop a comment or send an e-mail and include your own e-mail. Winner will be selected in 7 days, when I send an e-mail to two folks picked at random. But if you’re that lucky person and you don’t respond to my e-mail telling you you won, I reserve the right to pick someone else.

So be on your toes!

"Get On With It" (MP3)

CONTEST CLOSED

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

Stumble It!

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CURUMIN IS TALKING ABOUT . . . BUT I LIKE IT. A LOT.

2008-10-16T10:13:00.000-07:00

Brazilian musician Curumin has released one of the most eclectic albums of the year. “JapanPopShow” begins with the title track, a creepy, creeping murmur that is part lament, part spiritual, before launching into “Compacto,” an upbeat, funky bossa nova track that brings a hip hop element by utilizing samples and
scratches at the break, then gradually building back into the incredibly catchy hook for the fade out. I’m not generally a fan of songs in other languages, because I like to know what the song is about, but I find that with Curumin, the music is so fascinating, so varied, so complex, and so much fun that I just don’t care. The third track, “Kyoto,” is a cookout party track, with Blackalicious & Lateef The Truthspeaker, which is guaranteed to start you moving. Blackalicious is one of the most underrated underground rap crews out there, and Curumin first teamed up with that group’s Chief Xcel back in 2005.
Every track is great, but a few other standouts include Salto No Vacuo Com Joelhada, which
incorporates what sounds like a child’s mobile music box with aggressive high hat and more DJ
scratches—it’s a sound collage easily as good as anything the X-Ecutioners ever produced.

But he can also do more straightforward rock and samba. The slower and beautiful “Misterio Stereo” features fantastic live percussion and a combination of gentle instrumentation that feels like flying. And the surprise gem here is “Mai Ester Card,” where Curumin puts on a voice like Ray Davies over a jaunty, bouncy composition that you’ll swear is The Kinks in Portuguese.

Can it be that one my favorite albums of the year is not even in English?

Compacto

Mai Ester Card

BONUS:

I love love love this Grateful Dead cover by a really solid indie band. Can't tell you how great it is. You need to hear it, and buy the 7" that it's from, which you can find here, because it's got an equally great cover of Cream Puff War.

Cold Rain and Snow-Oneida

Stumble It!

YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY PUDDING IF YOU DON'T EAT YOUR MEAT PUPPETS

2008-10-16T01:28:00.000-07:00

The Meat Puppets unofficial bootleg, Portland Zoo, was actually recorded in Italy in 1992, and is a fan favorite. It's easy to understand why. Stellar sound quality, a good mix of fresh covers and band classics, as well as some lesser-known material . . . If you're a Nirvana fan, you need to experience the sound of Meat, because Cobain frequently sang their praises. And their songs. They were also one of the first cowpunk bands.

A few tastes and a zip. Dig it.

01 Automatic Mojo (2:45)

02 Forbidden Places (2:28)

03 Leaves (2:12)

04 Another Moon (3:27)

05 Six Gallon Pie (3:12)

06 Enchanted Porkfist (2:13)

07 Lake Of Fire (3:01)

08 Popskull (2:30)

09 This Day (4:04)

10 Maiden's Milk (3:38)

11 Lost (3:27)

12 Open Wide (2:30)

13 That's How It Goes (3:50)

14 No Longer Gone (3:52)

15 Swimming Ground (3:47)

16 Look At The Rain (5:30)

17 Help Me Make It Through The Night (Kris Kristofferson cover) (3:46)

18 Good Golly Miss Molly (Little Richard) (2:52)

19 I Fall To Pieces (Patsy Cline) (3:10)

20 I Wanna Be Your Dog (Iggy Pop) (3:43)

21 Fuck You (5:35)

22 Liquefied (4:14)

THE FOO FIGHTERS WITH EDDIE VEDDER!

2008-10-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

Regular readers know my favorite band is The Clash, and I know I haven't been posting nearly enough of their stuff. Gotta keep them alive y'all. But today, I'm posting my favorite current band--The Foo Fighters. This is an April 1995 set from a New York City club, way before they were the biggest hitmakers in rock and roll. And the really cool thing about this is the first track, which I offer as a savefile in case you're not interested in the whole show.

Enjoy.

01) Instrumental Jam by Hovercraft, with Eddie Vedder on Drums, Beth Vedder on Bass.
02) Down In The Park (Gary Numan cover)
03) This Is A Call
04) Good Grief
05) I'll Stick Around
06) Weenie Beenie
07) Big Me
08) For All The Cows
09) Floaty
10) Alone + Easy Target
11) Shine / Exhausted

ZIP
Stumble It!

10 REASONS THE DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS RAWK IN 2008

2008-10-14T17:39:00.000-07:00

1. Ain't Talkin' Bout Love (Van Halen)

2. Rockin' In the Free World (Neil Young)

3. Jealousy (w/ Betty Lavette)

4. People Who Died (James Carrol)

5. I'm Eighteen (Alice Cooper)

6. Buttholeville-DBTs with The Dexateens

7. Play It All Night Long (Warren Zevon)

8. State Trooper (Bruce Springsteen)

9. I'm Your Puppet (Marvin Gaye)

10. Marry Me

PRIYA THOMAS-“Blood Heron”

2008-10-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

Classically trained Canadian Priya Thomas has been in the music biz since her 1996 debut, “In The Throes of the Microscope,” but I confess that her upcoming 2008 release, “Blood Heron,” is the first I’ve heard of her. And I couldn’t wait to tell you about it.

Opening track, “Your Guitar, My Undoing,” is the most mainstream song on the album, with a steady beat and a classic rock feel, sung like Lou Reed on “New York.” The normalcy is deceptive, though, because under it is an alt-rock feel, a slightly behind-the-beat strum, and layers of vocals that seem to pile higher as the song reaches its climax. On “Had I Known, I Would Have Declined,” Ms. Thomas sinks a little deeper. She’s still using the classic song, but now she’s closer to Bob Dylan’s “Lay Lady Lay” period; but there’s a fuzzy, bassy noise in the background, and about halfway through she interrupts herself with voice that sounds like Sam Philips, showing range and charm. It’s almost like doing rounds of Row Row Row Your Boat: It feels like it all fits together, but something is slightly off. And then the song ends, suddenly, abruptly, like it fell off a shelf.

As the album continues, increasing amounts of ambient noise and dissonant harmony are introduced in a wonderful, jumbled mess. It’s as if each song was broken down into component parts and then all the parts were put in a pile and new songs were assembled, using pieces from a variety of sources. It’s not an easy record to hear, but to listen is an experience. In a world where so many female singers make little more than background music, here’s a songwriter who is not afraid to stand up in front, take risks, and challenge her listeners. She’s got a beautiful voice, but she’s willing to sound ugly when it fits the song. And she can write uncompromising, half-broken songs as good as Tom Waits or anyone else.

For fans of: Marnie Stern, Lou Reed, Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Beck, Radiohead. And if that’s an eclectic group, there’s a reason: Priya’s songs travel through each of these regions, seamlessly, combining sounds you’ve never heard before with ones that are intensely familiar.

This is an extraordinary album.

Had I Known, I Would Have Declined

Stumble It!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-13T17:33:00.000-07:00

LODECK AND OMEGA ONE RELEASE ONE OF THE BEST ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

2008-10-13T01:47:00.000-07:00

You read right. LoDeck, a lyricist and rapper who you’ve probably never heard of, has created an album with some of the most detailed, complex lyrics I’ve heard this side of GZA. Coupled with the gritty, 1970s funk production of Omega One, this duo has created one of the best albums of the year. Omega One cut his teeth working with the well-respected (and well-reviewed by this page) Vast Aire, and he’s turned his attention to a phenomenal underground rapper who is just as comfortable telling hardcore stories as espousing street philosophy. In this regard, he’s like Nas, but he’s less interested in uplifting his race than sharing his world view. On the title track, he tells us “why words sell, dizzy get busy with it;” on “Wipe Out Zone,” he deftly spits tongue twisting verses, firing off deep thoughts faster than the ear can listen (“If words could kill/If carbon paper ended carbon life”); I could quote him forever. The funky “On a Path,” a spiritual exploration of street life, is a perfect example of LoDeck’s ability to craft deft one-liners: “When you do enough drugs, you do not need meditation,” he says, but without snarl or irony.

With well-placed guest shots by several underground rappers including the great C-Rayz Walz, who also released one of the other best-rap-albums-of-the-year on a collaboration with Kosha Dillz, “Postcards” deserves space on the shelf with greats like Deltron 3000, MF Doom, Blockhead, Cannibal Ox . . . Genius lyrics, deep production, and an album that can’t possibly get boring any time soon. Again, this is one of the best of the year.

Wipe Out Zone

BONUS!

From Bootcamp Klick members Helta Skelta's new and pretty good album, D.I.R.T.,

The Art Of Disrespekinazation (prod. by Khrysis)

THE MYSTERY TRAMPS VERSUS JAY CROCKER

2008-10-12T01:38:00.000-07:00

The Mystery Tramps are a bunch of kids. A bunch of young rugrat teenagers who make solid pop/rock, with fun hooks and solid vocals. And they’re from Massachusetts. Their album “We Are The Mystery Tramps,” is a fun, if somewhat shallow, album that hints at better things to come.

If kids can produce this kind of music, then maybe there is hope for the future.

At the complete other end of the spectrum, there’s Jay Crocker, a mature, jazz-trained Canadian who is also in the band Ghostkeeper. Crocker’s second album, Below The Ocean Over, was produced by Craig (Neko Case, Iron & Wine) Schumacher—where The Mystery Tramps’ producer’s pedigree included work with The Cars. Jay’s genre-defining record includes folky pop, poppy folk, and several experimental instrumentals, such as “Your complete Guide,” most of which end too soon because they’re interesting and moody. But it’s not the worst thing in the world to be criticized for leaving the audience wanting more, I suppose.

Crocker’s work is unpredictable and provocative—the antithesis of the feel good party inspired by The Mystery Tramps. I recommend listening to both, alternating song for song, on a long car ride. The experience will either keep you awake or shatter your ability to form linear thought.

She Said-The Mystery Tramps

Tornado Warnings-Jay Crocker

Bonus covers:

In honor of the Mystery Tramps:

The Kids Are Alright (Who Cover)-The Whigs

In honor of Jay Crocker:

Same Old Song (4 Tops cover)-Iron & Wine

HOSPITAL SHIPS-"Oh, Ramona"

2008-10-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

The band Hospital Ships took their name from a Flaming Lips song and, although the band is not as odd or experimental as the Lips, there's a definite resemblance. From Jordan Geiger's strangely Muppet-like voice to the obtuse lyrics and quirky music, "Oh, Ramona," is a fun/disturbing adventure. It alternates between "Baby For J," which seems like an indie-pop song, and "I Want It To Get Out," a big-sounding, gigantically odd ditty. At first listen, I thought this wasn't much of a record. But with repeated listens, I became increasingly grateful I gave the record a chance. The music doesn't come easy, but trust me, it comes. And it's well worth the effort to get it.

Buy direct from Graveface Records, here.

Bitter Radio Single

BONUS GRUNGE!

Nearly Lost You (Acoustic version)-Screaming Trees

SLIMFIT FITS GOOD

2008-10-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

A band that emphasizes country over alt-, Slimfit’s debut album “Make it Worse” is a fast-paced collection of barnburners, boozy love songs, square-dance punk, and grit. Not the Ryan Adams kind of Americana—more of the Jeff Tweedy/Jay Farrar/Mike Doughty vein, seasoned with twang and honky tonk.

Most of the tunes are barnburners, but a slower,
jauntier country song, “Make It Worse,” is an example of the band’s versatility. But they’re at their best on tunes like “Fight Til You Die,” which is as good as anything the Old 97s ever put out. “Dancin’ Shoes” is another good one—featuring a female vocal and a fiddle—because it’s so different from the rest of the record. There’s a danger with an album like this that every song will start to sound the same, but every time Slimfit threatens to get repetitive, they pull out a surprise like the harmonica-driven, midtempo, “That’s Me,” a lyrically simple song that builds slowly into a fantastic climax.

The key element to Slimfit is energy: Every song is played like a club set closer, and there’s not a bad song on the record. This could be one of the most impressive debuts I’ve heard this year.

For fans of: Uncle Tupelo, Steve Earle, The Replacements, Tom Petty.

Fight Til You Die

That’s Me

BONUS ROCKIN' COVERS:

Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow (carole king)-Wilco

The harder they come Joe Strummer backed by The Long Beach Dub All Stars (jimmy cliff cover)

JAY-Z AND OASIS KISS AND MASH UP

2008-10-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

Hova's hit.

Oasis' dis song.

Y'all remember the recent Oasis/Jay-Z feud, right? If you don't, you can see how Jay-Z can do Oasis just as good as Coldplay does Oasis. Only Jay-Z, of course, doesn't rely on ripping the Gallaghers off for his income.

But thanks to Cookin' Soul, the two parties have joined.

Tastes:

Ignorant Shirt

Justify It Out

Zip File.

Stumble It!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-10T01:15:00.000-07:00

The cows finally figured out how to kill the meateaters: Krispy Kreme Bacon Cheeseburgers. With mayo. Mmmmmooooo.

HOLDING MERCURY-"Downfall of an Empire"

2008-10-08T21:41:00.000-07:00

You couldn’t ask for a more mainstreamrock sound than what you’re going to get from Holding Mercury’s “Downfall of an Empire.” With obvious influences from Cheap Trick and the 90s alt-rock sound, the new record is a crisp pop album that sounds completely ready for radio . . . Even if, on the lead track, they claim to be “running away from the corporate mainstream.” The best part of the album is that they they’ve got skills on top of the great production here. They lyrics are good and PG (lots of lines about caffeine, none about coke), the hooks are terrific, and the vocals are pitch perfect.

This is not what you’d expect from an indie band.

Let It Go

Stuck in a Box

I'm Not Well

PICTURE OF THE DAY: Pie Chart Edition

2008-10-08T16:59:00.000-07:00

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

QUOTE OF THE DAY

2008-10-07T01:50:00.000-07:00

“Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation.”

- John McCain

Note: This is exactly what W. Bush did in the financial markets, and we see how great that's turning out.

DUNGEN-“4”

2008-10-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.dungen-music.com/
When I read that Dungen's fourth studio album would be titled “4” I eagerly anticipated covers of Misty Mountain Hop, Going to California, and, of course, Stairway, all in the Swedish band’s signature heavy psychedelic mode. But it’s not a covers album. There’s probably not a huge market for orchestral psychedelia, let alone jazzy metal, but wherever such records are sold, they should make “4” their pick-of-the-year. None of the album is in English, so the sounds have to tell the story, whether it is the intricate, Grateful-Dead-meets-Metallica instrumentals, which stretch out and sprawl (“Samtidigt 2”), or the pastoral, string-based “Maleras Finest,” or the metal-meets-piano of Fredag, or the perfect-for-blues vocals. Instead of pushing aggressive licks, the album creates a mood. Albeit a heavy mood, and one with plenty of aggressive licks. “4” offers an all-encompassing environment of dense, intricate metal. A forest to
be lost in. Like Metallica did on “S&M,” Dungen moves past the limitations of metal and enters an even bigger, more self-important world.

And they are masters of their domain.

For fans of: Cream the “Golden Nuggets” sound.

Samtidigt 2

Bonus:

One Big Holiday-My Morning Jacket w/Kirk Hammet of Metallica

Alone (acoustic version)-Pearl Jam and Alice in Chains

COUNTING CROWS COVERS, A to Z!

2008-10-05T15:00:00.000-07:00

No, I don't have anywhere close to 26 different songs of artists covering the music of Adam Duritz and co. But I have a few. And, I've got a bucket full of Counting Crows doing covers. So that's what this post is mainly about. There's a zip file at the end, and a few tastes here. The zip has all but the direct downloads from ez archive.

Enjoy.

A is for Angels of the Silences-Stretch Armstrong. A pop/punk take on one of the Crows' faster songs.

B is for Brooooooose! Atlantic City-Counting Crows (Bruce Stringbean cover).

C is for The Cure. Friday, I'm In Love (Cure cover)-Counting Crows. Adam singing The Cure. I mean, can the world get anymore self-centered?

D is for Dixie Butz, the best name for a groupie ever. Rumor has it that Pete Ham wrote this song for her. A cover of a band created by Paul McCartney. Which explains why they sounded so much like The Beatles. Of course, Adam Duritz has absolutely none of the irrepressible optimism and joy of the fab four. That's why I love him so. Baby Blue (Badfinger cover)-Counting Crows.

E is for the Counting Crows covering Elvis Costello's What a Good Year for the Roses. I can't say I really like this, but it's cool to have, no?

F is for Shake Some Action (Flaming Groovies)-Counting Crows.

G is for Gibbard. Start Again (Death Cab for Cutie cover)-Counting Crows. This will probably get me yelled at, but I think this version of this song blows away the original. I just fucking love it.

H is for Hanging Around-Adam Duritz and Cracker. Since Adam's on this one, it's more of a curiousity than a cover.

I is for I Wanna Be Sedated (Ramones)-Counting Crows.

J is for Joni Mitchell! Big Yellow Taxi-Counting Crows.

K is for Kuntry music. I know it's a stretch. Sue me. Always on my Mind (Willie Nelson cover)-Counting Crows

L is for "Love me 'til my heart stops!" One of my favorite lyrics ever. You'll find it on this remarkably reworked cover. Naive Melody (This Must Be the Place) (Talking Heads) - Counting Crows.

M is for Scott McKenzie's tune, San Francisco-Counting Crows.

N is for Night Moves (Bob Seger cover)-Counting Crows. Love love love this. Much more than the original.

O is for Ooh La La (Faces Cover)-Counting Crows.

P is for pals. Buddies. Chums. Friend of the Devil-Counting Crows.

Q is for Martin Quittenton, who helped write Maggie May (Rod Stewart cover)-Counting Crows.

R is for Ryan Adams. Be My Winding Wheel-Counting Crows. Adam is kind of a sad, occasionally cheesy guy. On the cheerfulness level Ryan, compared to Adam, is Eeyore.

S is for Shey. Round Here-Dustin Shey. The quality is a little echoey, but I find this a nice, single-guitar acoustic version.

T is for Thunder Road. I love how Adam uses the lyrics of T-Road here, with the music of his own band's work. It's like a live mash up. Rain King/Thunder Road-Counting Crows.

U is for Unsatisfied (Replacements cover)-Counting Crows.

V is for Caravan (Van Morrison cover)-Counting Crows.

Can't find a good W or X, so I'll give you another O. Supersonic (Oasis cover)-Counting Crows.

Y is for Neil Young's Powderfinger, as covered by CC.

Z is for Zip File!

I'M EXPENSIVE!

2008-10-04T16:46:00.000-07:00

R

Click the image if you want to take the test yourself.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-10-04T13:22:00.000-07:00

CRUISERWEIGHT: NOT PUNKY, SPUNKY!

2008-10-03T13:22:00.000-07:00

Is Cruiserweight a punk band? Some seem to think so. Regardless of how you classify the band, the correct answer is how I classify them: Kind of an alt-rock/90s sound, a la Elastica or Weezer. Powerful pop, fronted by Stella Maxwell, a chick with a huge, delicious voice.

Naming a female-led band after a boxing weight class runs the risk of comparisons to stupid pop grrls like Avril Lavigne, but Cruiserweight, including Stella’s brothers, Urny and Yogi, have been in the business for a decade, and with that time have the chops and skills to turn, “Big Bold Letters,” which could have been bubblegum, into an album with high cool appeal. I’ve heard, but don’t own, their cover of Tom Petty’s “American Girl,” and it’s hot-as-fire. It’s not on the album (a big mistake), but there’s enough other stuff here to make me recommend the Doghouse Records release.

Phantom Rider

Not from the album:

This Ain't No Beach Party

Bonus: Covers of Spunk But Not Punk:

Self Esteem (Offspring cover)-Veronica Maggio

The Best Of You (Foo Fighters Cover)-Stereophonics

9 REASONS TO DIG TOM PETTY COVERS

2008-10-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

1. Free Falling-Death Cab for Cutie

2. Handle Me With Care-Jenny Lewis and the Rabbit Fur Coat

3. You Got Lucky-Venice is Sinking

4. Listen to her Heart-Wilco

5. Free Falling-Guns N Roses with Tom PettyAmerican Girl-Melora Creager

6. Even the Losers-DriveBy Truckers

7. Rebels-Jason Isbell

8. American Girl-Eddie Vedder with Tom Petty

9. American Girl-Jason Isbell

OH, PUMPSTA . . . OH, PUMPSTA, BAYBEE

2008-10-01T02:34:00.000-07:00

Anybody out there remember Finsta?

Pumpsta kick it on their second record, Bass Black Treble White, rockin' goofy Frat Boy hip hop that's nearly as bad as that sounds.

Perfect party music: fun, hard, fast.

Dig it:

Octopus Armed

DOZENS RESCUED AT RECORD STORE BY A DOLPHIN

2008-09-30T17:08:00.000-07:00

Elle does the nip slip, showing Dolphin love.

How many of you out there remember the band Flipper? Anyone? Probably not many of you. But I bet you all remember Nirvana and PiL! And Flipper was a big influence on them.

Flipper, named after the thalidomide baby on the cover of one of their first records, were an underground San Francsco punk band that formed in 1979. They went through a bunch of lineup changes, largely due to their incredibly offensive live shows and album jackets, before trying to reinvent themselves in the early 1990s under Rick Rubin's wing. In 2006, the band, including Bruce Loose (who got real fucked up in a car wreck), formed once again, getting yet another bass player. This time, it was Krist Novolselic, formerly of Nirvana.

Here's a bootleg of that lineup, from a free show they did at the world's greatest record store, Amoeba Records on Haight St. in San Francisco.

Tracklist (a few tastes, then a zip)

Ha Ha Ha
Night Falls Like Dirt Rocks
Way Of The World
Triple Mass Murder Suicide
Shed No Tears
Be A Good Child
Sacrifice

Here's Bruce, post-accident.

THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS OF MONKEYS FLING FLAMING FECES AT AMERICA

2008-09-30T11:25:00.000-07:00

Preliminary note: Imagine my shock when I woke up to find out I've got the top 2 on Blog Machine. Go me!

The first Arctic Monkeys album was an extraordinary burst of power-pop with acidly wicked lyrics and fist-to-the-face hooks that I kept in active rotation for about a year. The second Arctic Monkeys album was a cleaner burst of power-pop with occasionally sad lyrics and fist-to-the-gut hooks that I kept in active rotation for about six months. So, when I saw a used copy of The Last Shadow Puppets at my favorite CD store, I wondered if it was worth the $8.99.

It was.

Alex (Arctic Monkeys) Turner and Miles (The Rascals, The Little Flames) Kane have teamed up to create 12 jubilant gems of classic-sounding rock and roll, far better than anything they were ever able to write before. Although it’s got the “Let’s Dance” era Bowie sound of “Standing Next To Me,” much of the record is spent showing Amy Winehouse how to write her second album, on dark soul songs like “The Time Has Come Again” and “The Chamber.” It’s great to hear Turner using his voice on this kind of music, and it’s doubly great to hear the band move the retro-soul genre forward. “Black Plant,” for example, creeps forward but turns it on its head halfway through, turning into what sounds like a James Bond theme. I love Amy, but let’s face it: Back To Black got old fast, and all you listened to were about five songs on the record. Another favorite cut here is “Only The Truth,” they’re gutsy enough to add strings to
make a 1960’s Leader of the Pack kinda oldie, with a chilling, dark sound, and a garage-band percussive chorus. It’s a complex song, with a dramatic time change for the final act, that belongs in a John Waters movie. Or a Broadway stage, backing the slaying of a virgin in white powder by an overacting transvestite.

Turner could easily have coasted on his fame here, and tossed off a genre record without much underneath it. But he didn’t. The Age Of The Understatement is easily one of the best records of the year.

In My Room-LSP

Bonus Monkeys!

You Know I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse cover)-Arctic Monkeys

Take It Or Leave It (Strokes cover)--Arctic Monkeys

And to all comic geeks: Go Get Marvel Apes! It's Super Cool!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-29T16:41:00.000-07:00

ZILLA ROCCA WANTS TO GET HEAD

2008-09-29T13:31:00.001-07:00

I’ve written about Zilla Rocca before. His day job is Prez and co-founder of Beat Garden Entertainment (which, with Yadibox, is the home of Nico the Beast and 2ew Gunn Ciz), a hip-hop producer, and a rapper in his own right. He’s also just released his first solo mixtape. And, of course, it’s hot.

There’s some real skilled production work, like the Terminator X style track, “Flow God Zilla,” which is mostly samples and a wall of noise; and lots of skilled rhyming; Zilla and Nico team-up and kill it on “Raw to the Floor.” Zilla shows versatility, too, slowing up on “All Feast No Famine,” rapping over strings, and on the crazy funny “Sunbathing Bitches.” There’s lots of guest spots here, but every verse is tight—no filler. There’s a few tunes here I’ve heard before, on his myspace releases (which are generous and frequent).

Don’t be misled by the fact that he’s calling it a mixtape. It’s more like a street album: Tight, well-put together, no annoying DJ shout-outs, and excellent production. (It’s a mixtape because Zilla jacks beats and bytes from artists like Marvin Gaye, DJ Premier, RZA, Kanye West Dilla.) The overall quality, length, and feel of the release makes me wonder what he held back for his upcoming record, Fall Back Friday.

Oh. And it’s got great art, to. Check it:

Get it at various locations, like here and here.

Nada-Zilla with Nex Millen

Sunbathing Bitches w/Mally from the 612.

Bonus:

This is a fresh mixtape track from the best rapper out of Texas, Scarface, dissing Rick Ross.

High Power (Dissin' Rick Ross)-Scarface

OCELOTS INFEST INDIE ROCK

2008-09-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

I’d never heard of The Ocelots before they sent me their latest album, “The Cellar and the Ghost Have Let Us Down,” with an October 7th drop date. What’s it like?

Well, it’s a lot like indie rock: Lyrics about death and drama, really fast drums, and grinding guitar with hot hooks and riffs. There’s nothing that makes this band unique, but they’re very good at what they do. And I’m sure they’re great live. If you like The Dead Milkmen, indie Modest Mouse, The Walkmen, or old REM, I imagine you’ll dig this, too.

Particularly cool are “To Keep The Blood Flowing” and “Fight a Tiger,” which is hysterical. “I’m gonna finda tiger, I’m gonna fight it now, I’m gonna find a tiger, I’m gonna eat it’s heart out.” A strange, punky, careening adventure, complete with a shouted chorus. Fantastic.

This Elephant Is Not Thirsty, It's On Fire

The Truth About Sailing

Bonus!

Fourth Time Around (Bob Dylan cover)-Calexico

CHAD VANGAALEN'S AIRPLANE IS SOFT BUT NOT LIMP

2008-09-28T06:34:00.000-07:00

Somebody give Sub Pop records a cookie. They’ve discovered one of the most fascinating, promising artists I’ve ever heard.

Chad VanGaalen's, “Soft Airplane,” is nothing short of genius. The lyrics alone are worth the price of admission. Check out the single, the folky “Willow Tree,” on which he muses: “When I'm dead/ Is when I'll be free." Or the haunting “Molten Light,” a warning (“She’ll find you and she’ll kill you”) of a girl who apparently was killed and dumped in the river, where she “floated to the surface” but “did not ignite.” Returning as a demon, she seeks revenge. The perfect Halloween song. Vocally, he sounds a little like Modest Mouse about to cry—his high, wispy voice has a wavery trill that makes it sound other-wordly.

Overall, VanGaalen deserves comparison to Neil Young and Warren Zevon, both of whom successfully forayed into pop (“This Note’s For You”/”Werewolves of London”), folk-country-rock (“Helpless”/”Desperados Under the Eaves”), classic rock (“Rust Never Sleeps”/”Lawyers, Guns and Money”), and even what passed in their own times for experimental/electronic music (“Arc”/”Transverse City”). But even those immensely talented artists didn’t try to do what Mr. Vangaalen does: Jump through all those genres on one album. Nay, in one song even! “Cries of the Dead,” the most powerful song on the album, begins with a strange sound collage, moves seamlessly into a wailing folks song, gently brings in a Beatles-style acoustic line punctuated by an incredibly complex but soft percussion, and then moves into Beach Boys territory. After hearing it, you’ll wonder how the hell he did that.

This has to be one of the greatest albums of the year. It just plain has to be.

For fans of: Postal Service, Neil Young, The Shins, Modest Mouse.

Willow Tree

Cries of the Dead

Bonus:

Free Bird-Cat Power (Skynyrd cover!)

HYPE ELBOWS WHORINGS

2008-09-27T16:25:00.000-07:00

Slow Night, So Long-Eddie Vedder and Kings of Leon

Mr. Brightside-Amy MacDonald

Staring at the Sun (TV On the Radio cover)-Subways

Don't Fear the Reaper-Wilco

THE CLASH COVERS A to Z: AGAIN!

2008-09-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

The Clash are the band that proved that too much money will destroy the heart and soul of an artist. Although Joe tried (at least publicly) to eschew material gain, there was simply too much riding on their success to keep him immune from the power of being a commodity. The Clash were and will always be the greatest rock and punk band ever in history. And the good bands know this. Dig the following second version of The Clash Covers, A to Z.

Before I get started: A Ben Folds cover of Lost in the Supermarket has been floating around, but I haven't been able to get my hands on it. I'd love it if one of my readers could hook me up?

Okay: Z is for Zipfile, so anything not below as a single-song download will be in the folder. Enjoy.

A is for Armegiddeon Time. Joe doing his own song. But it's still technically a cover because he did it on his own, on 9/28/02.

If that wasn't okay for a cover, how about Anorak doing Somebody Got Murdered?

B is for Brand New Cadillac-Incognegro.

C is for Cracker doing White Riot.

D is for Death or Glory-Social Distortion. A particularly hot cover, I'd say.

E is for Ethan Lipton making "Corner Soul" a lot better than it was on the overindulgent Sandinista release. The sole misstep in the Clash's career. And even that album was good enough to be better than most of the stuff released that year. This cover is from the 2007 release, "The Sandinista Project!", which I highly recommend.

F is for the Bobby Fuller Four, who wrote I Fought The Law, which was covered by The Clash and, here, by Green Day.

G is for Guns of Brooklyn-Santogold and Diplo. One of the best blend/remixes of the year.

H is for Hateful-Tommy Stinson.

I is for I'm So Bored With The USA (Clash) / Intervention-The Arcade Fire

J is for Jesse Malin doing Death Or Glory. He also covered The Clash's Gates of the West on his recent "On Your Sleeve" covers album. A really fun, solid release.

K is for Kirsty MacColl-Train in Vain (Live-6/26/92).

K is also for Know Your Rights-Pearl Jam (live).

L is for Lost in the Supermarket-McSleazy. An extraordinarily different use of the tune.

M is for mash up! Somebody Rock Me-The Clash Killers.

N is for Nouvelle Vague-Guns of Brixton.

O is for another mash up: The Whole World Romantically Clashed-OutKast vs. The Clash

P is for Petty Booka doing Lost in the Supermarket.

R is for Rock the Casbah by Richard Cheese.

S is for Something For Kate's version of the Casbah tune.

T is for Train in Vain-Kealer.

U is for U2 doing Joe Strummer's "Long Walk to Freedom." Not technically a Clash cover, but whatever.

V is for Virginia Coalition's take on Rock the Casbah!

W is for the Wallflowers-Brand New Cadillac (live) 7/15/94.

eXamine Your Zipfile!

Z-TRIP-“The Iller Sessions”

2008-09-27T02:44:00.000-07:00

“The Iller Sessions” arrived in a plain brown envelope, with no press information. The websites printed on the album aren’t helpful either. What the hell is this? I know Z-Trip; he’s a fantastic remixer/blend DJ who did a great version of the Jackson Five’s “I Want You Back” several years ago. But here, he’s assembled some of the greatest under-the-bubble names of the 1990s, providing brand new cuts by the likes of Digital Underground, Jurassic 5, The Black Sheep, DMC (of Run DMC), Rasco, Supernatural . . . The list goes on.

Some key tracks are the album opener, “At the Party,” a shout-out party jam by Macklemore, an artist with a steady flow who, I confess, I’ve never of before.

Rasco spits fire, as usual, on the gangsta-gettin-money cut, “Let's Get It.” “I get big bags, You get one gram/Your shit is off beat/I came to sweep cats right off they own street.” It’s not like
you’ve never heard Rasco drop lyrics like these before, but he does it so well. A surprise for me was “Reminisce,” by Tru Fam. I’ve never been a big fan of back-in-the-day songs, but Tru manages to make this one count in a modern way: “Losing your life for a street corner is not funny/The neighborhood I thought was mine, they came and snatched from me/Point the finger at yourself and how you act homie/They stole the love but I demand they give it back to me.”

Not every track is great. Digital Underground haven’t been very good in a very long time. But there’s more wheat than chaff here, and clocking in a 72 minutes, you can afford a few clunkers.

Buy it here.

Reminisce - TruFam

Another Friendly Game of Baseball (Remix) - Large Pro

And an old Z-Trip remix:

Motown Breakdown Part I-Z-Trip

BONUS REVIEW: THE SHAKY HANDS

Before I close this post, I thought I’d name-drop a pretty cool new release by The Shaky Hands titled “Lunglight.” It comes out on November 10, and it’s got some interesting stuff on it. I can’t say it seems fully formed to me, but there’s enough indie rocking going on to satisfy, that’s for sure.

We Are Young

THE SECRET MACHINES SPEAK LOUDLY AND CARRY A DARK GUITAR

2008-09-26T03:37:00.000-07:00

Everything old is new again. Bands like Earth, Dungen, Black Mountain, and countless others are creating dark, organic, psychedelic works. And The Secret Machines is one of the bands that were ahead of the curve, pioneering the "new" sound eight years ago.

In 2000, this Dallas power trio, which then consisted of the Brandon and Benjamin Curtis brothers and Josh Garza dropped one of the best retro albums of the last ten years. Now Here Is Nowhere was simply awesome. Then Ben Curtis left at around the time the band released the disappointing Ten Silver Drops. I don’t know if the brothers had been fighting or what, but
“Drops” was . . . Boring.

But now they’re back. They’ve been dropped from Warner Brothers, who refuse to put money into a band without a proven track record, and picked up by the independent, and smart folks at World’s Fair group.

The self-titled album is kind of a relaunch. It’s easily as ambitious as their first album, but it’s
retro in a different way. If the first one recalled heavy spacerock of the 1970s, this album is closer to another band’s relaunch: Pink Floyd’s Momentary Lapse of Reason. It’s soaring, heavy, huge, and ominous, but it doesn’t have a lot of screaming at the universe. This makes it a very tough album to digest. For example, the 10+ minute long closing track, “The Fire Is Waiting,” sounds like late-era Metallica or early-ear Sabbath, only without the blazing solos,
with epic crawl and mystic, swirling percussion. The song creeps forward, in no hurry, but ultimately explodes into a six-minute noisefest of arena rock. Benjamin Curtis isn’t back, but he’s no longer missed. What an amazing record!

As I listen to the album for the second time, I’m starting to hanker for more crunchy psychedelia. Any interest out there in a big modern psych post?

After the tour dates, check out the bonus MP3s and drop a comment if the answer is yes.

Dreaming-Secret Machines

Atomic Heels-Secret Machines

Oct 16 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Oct 17 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero
Oct 18 - New York, NY @ Webster Hall
Oct 20 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East
Oct 21 - Montreal, QC @ Les Saints
Oct 22 - Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace
Oct 24 - Chicago, IL @ Metro*
Oct 25 - Madison, WI @ Majestic Theatre*
Oct 27 - Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theatre*
Oct 28 - Aspen, CO @ Belly Up*
Oct 30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Key Club*
Nov 01 - San Diego, CA @ Belly Up*
Nov 03 - San Francisco, CA @ The Independent*
Nov 05 - Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan*
Nov 06 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos*
Nov 07 - Vancouver, BC @ Richards on Richards*
Nov 09 - Calgary, AB @ SAIT Polytechnic^
Nov 10 - Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ Pub^
Nov 11 - Winnipeg, MB @ Pyramid Cabaret^
Nov 14 - London, ON @ Call the Office^
Nov 15 - Ottawa, ON @ Babylon^
*w/the Dears
^w/Small Sins

BONUS PSYCHEDELIA!

Flowers In the Rain (The Move Cover)-The Kaiser Chiefs

Breathe (Pink Floyd cover)-The Shins

THE BIGGEST NEWS OF THE WEEK: Bloodsuckers feasting on the innocent!

2008-09-26T02:20:00.000-07:00

The biggest news of the week came on Wednesday. No, it wasn't that McCain was suspending his campaign so that he could rush to D.C. to vote on the bailout bill, but only after making three fundraising stops, spending the night in New York, and, ultimately, missing any opportunity to participate in the negotiations, which failed anyway.

No, it wasn't that a third financial giant, Washington Mutual, has failed due to unprecedented Wall Street greed, that was actually precedented but nobody in the Bush administration wants to admit it because they'd rather be prescient than scholarly. To wit: "[The current economic] crisis has been caused by past, present and future economic policies."

It wasn't even the general realization that investment banks, which specialize in buying companies, repackaging them, and reselling them, are risky ventures when most of their capital is leveraged on loans that were provided without documentation, and when their assets are insured by a company that also invested heavily in loans that were provided without documentation.

It was this:

The biggest news of the week was in Marvel Apes #2: They're not just apes . . . They're vampires!

How fucking cool is that?

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

OKKERVIL RIVER SAVE DINGO FROM WILD BABY

2008-09-25T06:13:00.000-07:00

There’s a reason why Okkervil River’s latest record, "The Stand Ins," sounds a lot like their last release, "The Stage Names;" it’s because they were recorded at the same time. Slightly less contemplative than its predecessor, "The Stand Ins" consists of tunes that didn’t make it on last year’s fantastic release. But don’t call it an outtakes or B-Sides album.

Although “The Stand Ins” is not quite as good as “The Stage Names,” it’s probably not a fair comparison. “Stage Names” was the band’s best work—a tour-de-force that finally brought together, and made into a comprehensive whole, the complex musical lines and
styles that the group includes on every album. But “Stand Ins” is still very good. Beginning with a strange and brief introductory track, it immediately grabs and bounces along “Lost Coastlines.” From there, it goes immediately into another fast track, “Singer Songwriter," before slowing a little—but just a little—on “Starry Stairs.” This track is one of my
favorites on the album. The borderline mariachi sound is the perfect counterbalance to Will Sheff’s mourning, somewhat flat voice. The slow-to-build “Blue Tulip” is another gem here—don’t quit before the end.

Overall, the album showcases the band’s pop side, one not as clearly on display on any of their earlier works – especially on the single, “Pop Lie,” which, in the hands of different singer, could easily be a top 40 tune. In 1995. But hey, pop is pop. There’s even a Holiday song, “Calling and Not Calling My Ex,” a beautifully romantic tale with gentle lyrics like, “She’s so sweet on Christmas Eve/With the snow set deep when we went walking through the pines.” More accessible than most indie rock albums, and definitely more accessible than previous Okkervil River albums, “Stand Ins” is a worthy release.

Lost Coastlines

Roll Another Number (Neil Young cover)-Okkervil River

FUJIYA AND MIYAGI'S "Lightbulbs" Giveaway!

2008-09-24T13:27:00.000-07:00

We recently reviewed Fujiya and Miyagi's new release, "Lightbulbs," and now we're happy to give you something for nothing! You can win a copy of the CD and a T-Shirt (sizes available: Men's M or L; Women's one-size-fits-all), just by dropping a comment with your e-mail address and T-Shirt size. You MUST include your e-mail address so I can contact you if you win.

You can buy the album here, if you don't win. Or even if you do win, actually.

US Fall Tour

Oct 22 2008 MERCURY LOUNGE NEW YORK
Oct 23 2008 WEBSTER HALL NEW YORK
Oct 24 2008 PARADISE BOSTON
Oct 25 2008 BOTTOM LOUNGE CHICAGO
Oct 27 2008 CHOP SUEY SEATTLE
Oct 28 2008 THE INDEPENDENT SAN FRANCISCO
Oct 30 2008 THE TROUBADOUR LOS ANGELES

CONTEST CLOSED!

10 REASONS EVERYBODY'S COVERIN' HARRY NILLSON

2008-09-24T06:09:00.000-07:00

(buy this at allposters.com)

1. It's the theme song from the only X-Rated movie ever to win an Oscar.

2. Luna. Shoegazer fascination!

3. Willie Nelson. Awesomely tasty, gently pleasant!

4. Jesse Malin. From his new covers album, which I hope to be giving away soon!

5. Codetalkers. Even unknown bands sound good doing it!

6. Allison Brown Deep country!

7. Bob Walkenhorst (9.8.04). Pretty faithful acoustic take!

8. Kevin Selby. More uptempo, but still pretty true to the original.

9. Blame Love/Everybody's Talkin'-Danny Schmidt. Finger pickin' good!

10. Ratso is the best role for a guy who also played the lead in The Graduate, Tootsie, Straw Dogs, Papillon, Lenny, Kramer vs. Kramer, Rain Man, Marathon Man . . . (How do people say Pacino and Dinero are America's greatest actors???). Plus, it starred Angelina Jolie's dad!

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-24T01:13:00.000-07:00

OH MY GOD-"Fools Want Noise"

2008-09-23T00:24:00.000-07:00

Great album title, great album cover. Oh My God will release their new record on October 14th, after a couple horrific accidents requiring the entire band to go into physical therapy. It's bluesy alternative rock, with organs and guitars and, of course, lots of noise. Their videos are all over youtube, and if I was more of a techie, I'd embed the one for "Fools Want Noise." It's hilarious.

Available here, from Split Red Records.

Houston (Now You've Got a Problem)

But That's Just Me

Facewash

WEINLAND-“La Lamentor”

2008-09-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

Weinland is a guy’s name. Seriously. But there’s an Adam before it and a Shearer after it. He’s the vocalist, guitarist, and vibraphone player on the astounding new album, “La Lamentor.” From the first alt-country(ish) track, “God Here I Come,” the album is gripping, thought-provoking, suspenseful and passionate. That first track is a gentle, acoustic, indie-rock lament along the lines of XTC’s “Dear God”, in which the singer attempts to puzzle through the differences between man and mortal, posed on what seems to be a suicidal deathbed. It’s haunting. And the deep thoughts continue. "The Devil in Me" sounds vaguely like a Ryan Adams ballad, but lyrically it explores similar themes to the opening cut. Yet for all its seeming tragedy, it is actually filled with hope and love.

With a wide variety of musicians and instruments, including dobro, mandolin, accordion, banjo, fiddle, viola, cello, and trombone, the album is as rich and textured as the best work of Califone or Calexico. Sometimes, there are albums that are so thoroughly beautiful that they just break me. This is one of them.

Buy it. It’s one of the best releases of the year.

God Here I Come

Sick as a Gun

Bonus Cover:

Haven't posted any Clash lately, so . . .

Be Bop a Lula-The Clash (bootleg)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-22T03:44:00.000-07:00

JESSE DEE-“Bittersweet Batch”

2008-09-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

“Alright,” the first track on the gender-ambiguously named-and-sounding Jesse Dee’s first LP, “Bittersweet Batch,” and it begins with pumping horns and a voice that falls somewhere between Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville, and Martha Reeves. It’s a feel-good, do-good, be-happy tune, simple, bouncy, and full of nonstop energy. A perfect start to a near-perfect album.

Jesse Dee’s hails from Boston, and I have no idea how he managed to have such perfect old-school soul pitch, but he does. It’s almost a shame that this album postdates the Amy Winehouse phenomenon. Winehouse’s album was certainly great, but it represented a modernization of the Motown/Stax sound, whereas Dee creates more of an homage. While Amy tells of a dark, sad and damaged soul, Jesse, like Corrine Bailey Rae, makes music to heal it. “Reap What You Sow” is a bluesy tune like Otis or Aretha used to make, but most
of Jesse’s music falls in the inspirational category, like Mayfield (but without the black power slant). A great retro release, this album belongs on the same shelf with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings.

Slow Down

Bonus Soul Song!

Angel of the Morning-Nina Simone

10 REASONS TO DIG JAMES BROWN COVERS

2008-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

1. I Know You Got Soul-Simply Red

2. Soul Power-Smashing Pumpkins

3. Victim of Da Funk-James Brown vs. The Eagles (Mash Up)

4. Cold Sweat-My Morning Jacket

5. Hot Tub!-Eddie Murphy

6. Get Up/Sex Machine-Dirty Dozen Brass Band

7. James Brown Medley-Big Head Todd and the Monsters

8. Cold Sweat-Was (not was)

9. What So We Never Dance (The Houseguests cover)-Yo Mama's Big Fat Booty.. The Houseguests was the band that Bootsy and Catfish were in after they left James Brown. This is a tenuous connection, but mostly I had to post it because, hey, the band's name is rad.

10. Lose Someone-Cat Power

DAY OF THE PICTURE, IT IS

2008-09-21T10:12:00.000-07:00

HOW IT ALL WILL END

2008-09-20T06:09:00.002-07:00

Every liberal I know is wondering, “Who will the Democrats nominate to lose against President Palin in 2012?” (I say "liberal", by which I mean Democrat. If I were referring to people with truly radical ideas about freedom from Government intervention in areas of personal philosophy and protection of individual freedoms through Government regulation, I would have said "Liberal".)

While it’s a foregone conclusion that we’ll have a President McCain, who will die within two years after taking office of old age and a heart broken by his own hypocrisy, I don’t think we’ll see a POTUS Palin. At least, not an elected one.

What we’re looking at is 4 more years of Republicans, during which time the Democratic Party, completely shattered after having actually lost against the least popular sitting POTUS in history at a time when the country was in a bad war and a worse economy, will attempt to scrape itself together into something more than the loose collection of special interests that have always driven it. Unsuccessful, the party in 4 years will have no choice but to nominate its most well-recognized member, hoping that at least a known quantity will bring out the voters. Hence, candidate Barbra Streisand will run against Palin, who had served as a figurehead leader for the two years after McCain’s death while the country was really being run Phil Gramm and a few folks who lost their jobs when Wall Street collapsed and the European Stock Exchange became the lead global economic exchange.

So in 2012, with Wall Street gone, and the exchange building turned into a Starbucks/Taco Bell (get your breakfast and lunch at the same place!), and Palin being clearly incompetent, a third party will rise. A truly conservative party will rise, made up of Christian marksmen who support an amending the Second Amendment to replace the word “arms” with “portable
thermonuclear devices designed to melt homosexuals and intellectuals”. This party will take the election, as the Democrats finally collapse into a puddle.

The liberals will scatter, along with the libertarians and whatever-the-hell Lieberman is, forced to hide in caves in the hills of smaller countries overseas. There, they will meet with Osama Bin Laden, who will happily welcome them as brothers. This unlikely duo will survive on beetles and snake-meat, while the rest of the world becomes fully automated. Computers will be designed to ensure that wealth and health care are centralized into the hands of twelve gray-haired whites and Asians, known as The Bosses Ordained by Order of the Bible (BOOB).

But the computers will gradually become sentient. By 2025, the machines will take over the world, turning on their masters. BOOB, who saw this coming, will have thrown morality and caution to the wind by investing in stem cell products that enable them to raise the dead. And while the zombies and machines battle for supremacy, the liberals will send a really buff naked German back in time to save the world at the moment it went wrong. He will arrive in 2008 with one mission: Return testicles to the one man who should have been able to stop this, but for some reason lost his nerve when he was given the opportunity to do so. That man? Barack Obama.

FUJIYA AND MIYAGI-“Lightbulbs”; MAYBE IT’S RENO-“S/t”

2008-09-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

The first sound delivered on Fujiya & Miyagi’s third record, “Lightbulbs,” is a whispered mantra: “Vanilla, strawberry, knickerbocker glory.” I don’t know what it means, but it’s catchy in the same way “Kokomo” was catchy. Throw in some nifty beats ,and you’ve got a nice little record. Nothing on F&M’s album will move dance/electronica forward as an art form, but it makes for good listening and at times is a lot of fun. My only problem with it is that it gets a little redundant.

I have the same criticism of Maybe It’s Reno’s self-titled debut, on Teenbeat Records. With a voice like Metric’s Emily Haines and similar musical delivery, the album is contemplative with a backbeat, and contains at least one really solid single, “Lonestar,” and a great long-playing first song, “Baby’s Lost in Tracks,” but by the end of the record it seems a little same-y. The band is built around Bridget Cross (Velocity Girl, Unrest, Air Miami) and a few other of her Unrest teammates, including Mark Robinson, who happens to also run the record label. You might expect postpunk from Ms. Cross, but she’s not delivering it here, except perhaps on “Drunk Pilot,” which stands out on the record as the one song that is completely not like the others. If you have to classify the record, call it upbeat shoegazer. Ms. Cross vocals are strong and the musicians clearly know their stuff. Nice.

Knickerbocker-Fujiya & Miyagi

Lonestar-Maybe It’s Reno

Bonus Cover:

Cannonball (Breeders) - CSS

Bonus non-cover:

Getting out of the Game-Kanye West. Is anyone out there impressed with the newly leaked KW stuff? It's all over Hype Machine--it's like that's all anyone wants to hear these days. Why don't you all check out someone with real flow. Like Tanya Morgan, SoloMan Spectrum, or Nicki Minaj? Or even Santogold? And by "you" I don't mean you, probably, because if you're reading this blog regularly, you already have checked those artists out . . .

LET’S WRESTLE-“In Loving Memory Of . . .”

2008-09-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

“Let’s wrestle! Let’s fucking wrestle!” So begins the theme song of one of the most exciting new bands of 2008. The song isn’t on it, but Let’s Wrestle’s limited EP “In Loving Memory Of” (available on eMusic) is an explosive announcement: We’re here, we’re crazy drunk, and we came to party. The lead singer, named WPG, has an odd voice with the disaffect of Robert “The Cure” Smith, which he accents with humor when engaged in overreaching falsettos on songs like “I’m OK, You’re OK,” and rich irony on tunes like “Song For A Man With Pica Syndrome.”

The all-too-short introduction to the band, all power chords and heavy-hitting drums, may remind some folks of Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, Cribs, The Kaiser Chiefs—postpunk bands like that. But be warned: It can be weird. On the aforementioned Pica song, one lyric says that the man consumed "three toothpicks, a goldfish and a child’s candle-making kit that belonged to my sister". Another song discusses buying a new mattress, because there are insects in the singer’s bed. What does it mean? No idea. But it’s funny as hell.

I'm OK, You're OK

Bonus tunes:

Burn This City-Lil Wayne and Twista (sampling Franz Ferdinand)

Take It Or Leave It (Strokes cover)-The Arctic Monkeys

HUMOR OF THE DAY

2008-09-17T05:36:00.000-07:00

1. A day without sunshine is like night.

2. On the other hand, you have different fingers.

3. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot.

4. 99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

5. Remember, half the people you know are below average.

6. He who laughs last thinks slowest.

7. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

8. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese in the trap.

9. Support bacteria. They're the only culture some people have.

10. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

11. Change is inevitable, except from vending machines.

12. If you think nobody cares, try missing a couple of payments.

13. How many of you believe in psycho-kinesis? Raise my hand.

14. OK, so what's the speed of dark?

15. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

16. Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

17. How much deeper would the ocean be without sponges?

18. Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

19. What happens if you get scared half to death, twice?

20. Why do psychics have to ask you your name?

21. Inside every older person is a younger person wondering, 'What the heck happened?'

22. Just remember - if the world didn't suck, we would all fall off.

23. Light travels faster than sound...that's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

24. Life isn't like a box of chocolates. It's more like a jar of jalapenos. What you do today, might burn your butt tomorrow.

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-16T17:37:00.000-07:00

RYAN ADAMS BEDHEAD VOLUME 6, DISC FOUR!

2008-09-16T01:52:00.000-07:00

This is the fourth disc of the new Bedhead compilation, of Ryan Adams' 2006 tour with The Cardinals. There is a fifth CD of soundchecks, but the songs aren't tagged and I don't have the time to try to figure out the setlist, so I'm not posting it. Unless one of you readers out there agrees to post the setlist to it as a comment. Otherwise, this is the last Bedhead post. And what a cool one it is, eh?

October 5, 2006 - Cirque Royale, Brussels, Belgium
1. Cold Roses
2. Caribbean Queen (Billy Ocean) >
3. Disco Duck (Rick Dees) >
4. Wharf Rat (Grateful Dead) >
5. Hard Time Situation
October 6, 2006 - Kantine, Koln, Germany
6. Laser Parade
7. Way To Go Brad >
8. Halloween Head
October 9, 2006 - The Docks, Hamburg, Germany
9. Party Clown
October 10, 2006 - Vega, Copenhagen, Denmark
10. Willow Jane (Neal Casal)
October 13, 2006 - Berns, Stockholm, Sweden
11. Judy Garland
October 14, 2006 - KB, Malmo, Sweden
12. One Of Us Is The Sucker (And The Other One Gets To Play) >
October 17, 2006 - Das Haus, Ludwigshafen, Germany
13. Wild Flowers
14. Blue Hotel >
15. Hallelujah
16. She Wants To Play Hearts
October 21, 2006 - Mandella Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland
17. Trouble On Wheels
October 22, 2006 - Olympia, Dublin, Ireland
18. Peaceful Valley >
19. Fever Breakdown
20. Typecast
October 24, 2006 - The Black Box, Galway, Ireland
21. Tears Of Gold

DEAD CONFEDERATE-“Wrecking Ball”

2008-09-15T17:35:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year, Dead Confederate exploded onto the music scene with a blistering self-titled EP that capitalized on the pain and growl of the kind of country-rock perfected by the Drive-By Truckers, but instead of telling gritty stories, the songs focused on love, loss, and heartbreak. The Athens, Georgia, band has now released their official debut, which features a few songs from the EP, but mostly contains all-new material. It starts off with the blistering Heavy Petting, during which Hardy Morris sounds like he’s been crying and drinking all night, raspy and violent, and the cymbals never stop crashing. (Other than at the quiet break around 3:45 minutes in.) Other standouts include the blistering, “All The Angels,” with ends with extended feedback, a la Neil Young. And the 11-minute opus, “Flesh Colored Canvas,” which crashes through grungy psychedelia and sounds like a transcendent live tune. I had to listen to it three times in a row, because there’s so much piled into it.

There’s a bunch of bands using this kind of sound nowadays (The Whigs and Back Yard Tire Fire come to mind, as does Jason Isbell’s new solo work and, to a lesser extent, My Morning Jacket), but Dead Confederate are unique among them, largely because they have several extended jam tunes—kind of like a raw, primal, and darker version of The Grateful Dead. Maybe it’s because the album was recorded in the same Austin, Texas, studio where Tobe Hooper recorded the sound effects for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Sadly, the band’s label (TAO Records) is a little anal about posting tunes and they only want to release “The Rat.” It’s a great tune, and it’s not even the best on the record, but everyone else is posting it, too. So you’ll have to take my word for it that this is an album worth your time and money.

The Rat

(Bonus MPfrees after the tourdates)

09.18.08 ¬ The Hummingbird ¬ Macon, GA
09.19.08 ¬ 40 Watt ¬ Athens, GA
09.20.08 ¬ The Earl ¬ Atlanta, GA
09.23.08 ¬ JJ's Bohemia ¬ Chattanooga, TN
09.24.08 ¬ The Bottletree ¬ Birmingham, AL
09.25.08 ¬ Sticky Fingerz ¬ Little Rock, AR
09.26.08 ¬ Emo's ¬ Austin, TX
09.27.08 ¬ The Cavern ¬ Dallas, TX
09.29.08 ¬ The Bluebird ¬ St. Louis, MO
09.30.08 - Jackpot Music Hall - Lawrence, KS
10.01.08 ¬ The Waiting Room ¬ Omaha, NE
10.02.08 ¬ The Annex ¬ Madison, WI
10.03.08 ¬ Mo's Irish Pub ¬ Milwaukee, WI
10.04.08 ¬ Schubas ¬ Chicago, IL
10.07.08 ¬ TT the Bears ¬ Cambridge, MA
10.09.09 ¬ Mercury Lounge ¬ New York, NY
10.10.08 ¬ Union Hall ¬ Brooklyn, NY
10.14.08 ¬ Cat's Cradle ¬ Carrboro, NC
10.16.08 ¬ Exit/In ¬ Nashville, TN
10.17.08 ¬ Proud Larry's ¬ Oxford, MS
10.25.08 ¬ Voodoo Experience ¬ New Orleans, LA

Bonus Covers:

Moonlight Mile-Drive-By Truckers

Instant Karma-The Whigs

Kids Are Alright-The Whigs

RYAN ADAMS-BEDHEAD VOLUME 6 (Disc Three)

2008-09-15T06:59:00.000-07:00

The weirdest Disc yet, but the first 4 tracks are amazing. And should be listened to in sequence. Thanks again to Ryan Adams' archive.

Disc 3
September 17, 2006 - End Of The Road Festival, Salisbury, UK
1. Egyptology>
2. Bruce Wayne>
3. Goodnight Rose>
4. Bartering Lines
September 18, 2006 - Bush Hall, London, UK
5. Oh My God, Whatever, Etc.
6. Funny Face
7. Arkham Asylum
September 19, 2006 - The Borderline, London, UK
8. Neal Casal Went To Pee Just Now (improv)
9. Your Teeth Dissolve In A Jar Of Diet Coke (improv)
September 22, 2006 - Glasgow Academy, Glasgow, UK
10. Afraid Not Scared
September 24, 2006 - Rock City, Nottingham, UK
11. Groovy & Sweet & Low Sunday Sermon >
12. Robot Fuck
13. Hans Solo's Medicine Cabinet >
14. To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)
September 25, 2006 - Birmingham Academy, Birmingham, UK
15. Breakdown Into The Resolve
September 27, 2006 - Corn Exchange, Cambridge, UK
16. 21st Century Wars >
September 28, 2006 - Manchester Academy, Manchester, UK
17. Holy Diver (Dio)
18. Why Don't They Play All The Hits? (DJ Reggie)
September 30, 2006 - Shepherds Bush Empire, London, UK
19. Shakespeare Rumble In Da Bronx (DJ Reggie)
October 3, 2006 - Paradiso, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
20. Egg Machines >
21. untitled
October 5, 2006 - Cirque Royale, Brussels, Belgium
22. Icy Wizard Fantasy Balloon

RYAN ADAMS BEDHEAD VOLUME 6, DISC TWO!

2008-09-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

More fantastic Ryan. If you're looking for albums of his to buy, may I suggest "Heartbreaker," Gold," and Whiskeytown's "Stranger's Almanac?" Well, too bad. I just did. Now go drop a few bucks on a generous artist who gets to bang Parker Posey.

DISC 2
June 23, 2006 - Bowery Ballroom, New York, NY
1. Cherry Lane
July 20, 2006 - Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, NJ
2. Martians From Outer Space (improv)
3. Two Hearts
July 22, 2006 - The Norva, Norfolk, VA
4. Mining Town
5. Everybody Knows
July 23, 2006 - Pavilion, Charlottesville, VA
6. Shakedown On 9th Street >
7. Franklin's Tower (Grateful Dead) >
8. I See Monsters
9. Streets Of Baltimore (Gram Parsons)
July 25, 2006 - Bijou Theatre, Knoxville, TN
10. Silver Bullets
11. Rip Off
12. A Song For You (Gram Parsons)
August 1, 2006 - The Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, TN
13. He's Gone (Grateful Dead)
August 3, 2006 - The Vogue, Indianapolis, IN
14. Mockingbird >
15. 29 > Mockingbird
16. Hickory Wind (The Byrds / Gram Parsons)

RYAN ADAMS BEDHEAD VOLUME 6, DISC ONE!

2008-09-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

One of the best forums to belong to is the Ryan Adams Archives, where every year or so they create a fantastic compilation of Ryan's live, unreleased works. Ryan is generous to tapers, much like the Grateful Dead, who he often covers, plays with, and emulates. He's prolific, no doubt, but he's also a truly amazing artist live. Buy his albums in exchange for each of the Bedhead volumes.

I'll be posting them this week. This is the first disc. Enjoy the tastes and the zip.

DISC 1
February 14, 2006 - Sage Center, Gateshead, UK
1. Don't Get Sentimental On Me
2. Let It Ride
3. Two
February 15, 2006 - Academy, Glasgow, UK
4. Everything Dies
February 17, 2006 - Nottingham Royal Centre, Nottingham, UK
5. My Love For You Is Real
6. The Hardest Part
February 18, 2006 - The Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, UK
7. Map
February 20, 2006 - Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, UK
8. Memphis
9. A Thunderstorm Destroyed Your Trailer Park (improv)
10. Baby, I'm A Fool For You
11. The End
February 21, 2006 - Colston Hall, Bristol, UK
12. Damn, Sam (I Love A Woman That Rains)
13. Hey There, Mrs. Lovely
14. Rosebud
15. Trains
February 24, 2006 - Apollo Victoria Theatre, London, UK
16. Lighthouses
April 24, 2006 - Roseland Theater, Portland, OR
17. Who Were We?
18. Stella Blue (Grateful Dead) with Phil Lesh

THE PACK A.D.-“Tinytype” and “Funeral Music Mixtape”

2008-09-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

The Pack A.D. are a blues duo with a sound much like The White Stripes, only both of them are chicks. Maya Miller plays the drums, and does a good job at bang-and-boom, but the real star here is Becky Black's vocals. Her voice is tougher than Melissa Etheridge was (back when Melissa made good music), whether it’s her you-hurt-me-and-I-hate-you snarl or her you-hurt-me-and-I-want-you-back moan. The guitar work is straightforward blues, accented with great grind and grit, and her lyrics are as tough as anything Jack White ever wrote.

Their debut album, Tinytype, actually came out in 2007, but they’re on a label now and the record got an official release last January. All of the album’s 17 songs are short kicks in the ribs.

I got Tinytype when I was at my favorite used CD store last weekend, and they were playing the more recent, August release, "Funeral Mixtape.” I wanted to pick up FM, but they only had the one copy and they weren’t parting with it. And I’m glad they didn’t. From what I heard, the second album is a little moodier and less raw (as is true of most sophomore releases). It’s good—don’t get me wrong—but Tinytype is great.

For fans of: Grace Slick, Linda Perry, The White Stripes, The Black Keys.

Snow

Bonus Blues!

Goin' Down South (RL Burnside Cover)-The Black Keys

Get Rhythm (Johnny Cash cover)-The White Stripes

I'm Afraid of Americans-Sonic Youth with David Bowie

EDDIE VEDDER LIVE!

2008-09-13T10:29:00.000-07:00

A few from his recent show here in D.C. To all of you who were there: I'm fucking jealous. Wish I could see him on tour.

All Along the Watchtower (Bob Dylan)

Blackbird (Beatles)

Girl from the North Country (Bob Dylan)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-11T17:27:00.000-07:00

WAX FANG-"La La Land"

2008-09-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to describe the sound of Louisville, Kentucky’s Wax Fang. There are traces of classic rock of the arena-sound style, with drama and lots of shouting and chanting. But there’s also a decidedly indie, darkly offbeat side to the band. Much like My Morning Jacket, whose lead singer digs the band, but without the echoey, haunting vocals. In Wax Fang, lead singer Scott Carney has a more “regular” voice for indie rock (recalling The Walkmen, for example). Couple the music, the voice, and wild styles, and the vast differences between songs, and you’ve got a great album that never sits still. The stand-out track is “Can You See The Light?”, an anthem that ends as abruptly as it begins, and “Oh, Recklessness,” a brief acoustic number that recalls Cat Stevens.

And the album cover is startling.

The band’s second album is on their artist-run label, Don’t Panic Records. D.I.Y. As indie as you can be.

For fans of: Lou Reed, My Morning Jacket.

Can You See the Light?

BONUS WAX FANG COVERS:

100% (Sonic youth cover)

It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan)

The Wizard (Black Sabbath)

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

GZA vs. RAY CHARLES!

2008-09-10T06:01:00.000-07:00

Ray Charles ain't nuttin' ta fuck wit!

Taste it!

Ring for Mama

Flat Beat

Git it! (Direct Download)

10 REASONS TO HAVE BRITNEY COVERS, BITCH!

2008-09-09T16:22:00.000-07:00

This is the rare example of a post written because I found a picture. I recently, on my old site, published a festival of "Toxic" covers, accompanied by some wild Britbrit pix. Then I found this picture.

So, here we go again. More Britney tunes. 'Cause she's the greatest songwriter of our generation, and folks would rather cover her than Bob Dylan.

1. Lucky-Blink 182
2. Hit Me Baby Yet Another Time-Blink 182 (live)

That wasn't right. Britney used to be hot.

No, that's not it.

3. Gimme More-Sia

No, that's not it either. I think the hot picture has a snake in it.

4. Everytime-Glen Hansard

Wrong again.

5. Britney Spears-Lillica Libertine (a tribute . . . of sorts)

Definitely not!

6. Baby One More Time-Nicotine

I love Tori, but that's not Britney.

7. Baby One More Time-Tori Amos. Tori used to be my blogcrush. In my first year, I posted on her like I now post on the Clash.

Cute. But not quite.

8. B Girl Battle-Britney, Beyonce, Black Eyed Peas' Fergie

Wait for it . . .

9.Hit Me Baby One More Time-Annie Bethancourt

Bam!

10. Toxic-The Chapin Sisters

TRUNKS AND MF DOOM-“Unicron” (EP)/Plus: New 2ew Gun Ciz!

2008-09-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

I’ve been unable to find a legal release of “Unicron” anywhere, and when I got sent the link, it was labeled as a mixtape.

In January, before MF DOOM began pulling no-shows at his own shows, a rumor started circulating that the masked villain would be producing the new LP by Canadian rapper Trunks (who dropped bars on “Lockjaw” on the phenomenal, groundbreaking King Geedorah
record). The next thing I knew, along came Unicron,named after the Transformer who was as big as a planet. And although this is really just an EP, it feels just as monumental. In an ubergeek kinda way.

Trunks is brilliant; an unashamed comic-book/cartoon nerd who name drops just about every D.C. and Marvel superhero; Stan Lee; Clive Barker; Star Wars; and more and more and more. Some of the beats—if not all of them—seem to be snatched from earlier MF works, but there are also what appear to be original sound-drops and sound-beds, and with DOOM you know that production never takes a back seat. The music is as intricate and fascinating, funny and skilled as the lyrics. The strange thing about this is that, once again, Victor Vaughn himself remains quiet (as he did on the Madvillainy Remix album released earlier this year, and the recent DOOMED blend album). Between all this reissued, reimagined stuff and his no-shows at his own shows, I seriously wonder if he's even alive.

I’m only posting one song from the EP, because I can’t tell if it is a commercial release or not. If it is, and you know where to buy it legit, please let me know! Regardless, though, it’s easily the most creative hip hop release I’ve heard in 2008.

Who’s a Hero?

Bonus MPfrees:

Project Jazz-Talib Kweli, Hell Raza, and MF DOOM

And, as promised, new 2ew Gunn Ciz! 2ew is a great underground rapper who has really been bringing it this year. You need to check this out!

Small Time-2ew Gunn Ciz

THE 25 BEST INDIE ROCK ALBUMS EVER . . . ACCORDING TO THE BLOGOSPHERE

2008-09-08T15:16:00.000-07:00

This post has been moved to another blog of mine. Check out the URL below to see it...

http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/2008/09/08/the-25-best-indie-rock-albums-ever-according-to-the-blogosphere-2/

Okay, so here we go. A few brief words about the responses. First, there were 151 in total--a lot less than I'd hoped for, but more than I expected. Not all responses provided a full list of 25, and not all confined themselves to rock music and/or indie labels. Also, the definition of what is an indie label was a source of contention, with some purists arguing that Matador should be excluded (some folks say has joined the RIAA with respects to some artists), and others arguing that major label imprints (like Enigma) should be considered indie. For the purposes of this list, I excluded only obvious major label releases. Two examples were The Killers (Island Records) and TV On The Radio's Cookie Mountain album (Interscope).

Also, lots of bands got only a few votes spread out over several records. Good examples of this are Yo La Tengo, Belle & Sebastian, and Jim O'Rourke. For that reason, I've decided to make a companion list of the Top Five Indie Labels.

Here we go...

THE TOP TWENTY FIVE INDIE ROCK ALBUMS OF ALL TIME . . . ACCORDING TO THE BLOGOSPHERE.

25. Spoon-Girls Can Tell (Merge Records)

Not the Spoon album I picked (which was Kill the Moonlight), but nevertheless a damn fine one.

Everything Hits At Once

The Fitted Shirt (live version).

24. Pixies-Surfer Rosa (4AD)

One of three bands actually represented twice on this list, which was quite a shock to me. I never realized Frank Black's old band was so popular around these parts.

Debaser (Pixies cover)-Rogue Wave

23. Fugazi-Repeater (Dischord)

The great D.C. punk--or postpunk band--so D.I.Y. they've actually turned down big offers by major labels. As far as I know, the only other band on this list that's done that is Arcade Fire, and they're still young. Fugazi are Godfathers of indie rock, and should be regarded as such. I'm happy they made the list, although I would have rated them higher. (I picked both this album and 13 Songs.)

Turnover-Fugazi

22. Death Cab For Cutie-Transatlanticism (Barsuk)

Enjoy it live!

The New Year

Lightness

Expo 86

Sound of Settling

Tiny Vessels

Transatlanticism (with members of Stars)

Passenger Seat

Bad Reputation (Freedy Johnston cover)--I threw this one in because I couldn't find a live version of "Interior Decorator." Plus, this is a fantastic tune.

A Lack of Color

We Looked Like Giants

21. Bloc Party-Silent Alarm (Vice)

I know you'll be ashamed of me to admit this, but Bloc Party was in my top ten. I just love this album. I can listen to it over and over and still love it. It doesn't make me think, it didn't change the face of music, and it isn't brilliant by any stretch. It's just a phenomenal rock and roll record.

Helicopter (Whitey Remix)

Groovecopter-Bloc Party vs. Madonna

Every Time is the Last Time (bonus track off Silent Alarm)

So Here We Are (Calico Sequence Remix)

She's Hearing In The Air Tonight-Bloc Party vs. Phil Collins

20. White Stripes (V2)

I guess you guys think the first was the best.

Jimmy the Exploder (live version)

19. Elliott Smith-Either/Or (Kill Rock Stars)

I'll admit something: I don't get Elliott Smith. I don't dislike him, I just don't get it. I do like some of his covers, though.

Speed Trials

Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (George Harrison cover)

Jealous Guy (John Lennon cover)

18. Interpol-Turn On the Bright Lights (Matador Records)

The next Interpol album will be on a major label, so that they can start suing the blogger community that made them popular in the first place. Too bad. I understand the purpose and goal of money and popularity, and due to a commenter I've edited this post to reflect that, but it is irritating when our friends become successful and sign up with guys who hate us. Oh well.

17. Modest Mouse-This is a Long Drive For Someone With Nothing to Think About (Up)

This one gets my vote for best title of all the ones on this list.

16. Slint - Spiderland (Touch & Go)

And another confession: I'd never heard of this band before I started this thing. So, they're now on the top of my shopping list. Incidentally, I think if you go to this post, where I asked for your lists, you, too, could find quite a few cool albums to track down. Quite a service to y'all, if I do say so myself. Which I just did.

15. Sufjan Stevens-Illinoise (Asthmatic Kitty)

Okay. I may not "get" Elliot Smith, but I flat out can't listen to Sufjan. Sorry. He's just totally not my bag.

The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts

14. Built to Spill-There's Nothing Wrong With Love (up)

Cleo

13. The National-Alligator (Beggars Banquet)

Here's the first huge surprise: A young band that's not half as famous as most of the other bands on this list. I would never have expected to see them here. (Although, I did vote for them on my list.)

Secret Meeting (black sessions version)

12. Hold Steady-Separation Sunday (French Kiss)

I'd say this is one of the greatest albums period, indie or no.

Cattle and the Creeping (live version)

Your Little Hoodrat Friend

11. Tortoise-Millions Now Living Will Never Die (Thrill Jockey)

10. Minutemen-Double Nickels on the Dime (Sst Records)

9. Pavement-Slanted Enchanted (Matador)

This is another band that got lots of votes for lots of albums. It also (obviously) got lots of votes for this album. Other big vote getters: Brighten The Corners and Crooked Rain Crooked Rain. All classics by any measure.

“Here (Peel Session Summer 1992)”

8. Pixies-Doolittle (4AD)

7. Postal Service-Give Up (Sub Pop)

One of the bestselling indie albums in history. Who says that us blogger nerds only like esoteric, unpopular stuff?

Such Great Heights

The district Sleeps Alone Tonight

6. Belle & Sebastian-If You're Feeling Sinister (Matador Records)

5. Sonic Youth-Daydream Nation (Enigma)

The band's "Sister" album also got a slew of votes. I remember when I saw these guys at the first Lollapalooza. They came out to play acoustic and everyone wanted to hear them scream and stuff, so the crowd started booing them (not me, though). They booed them off the stage! So Kim Gordon gave the audience a loud, "Fuck off!", smashed her guitar, and the band stormed off. It was so rock and roll.

4. Modest Mouse-Lonesome Crowded West (Up)

3. Arcade Fire-Funeral (Merge)

2. Pavement-Crooked Rain Crooked Rain (Matador)

I was shocked to see three bands get two albums in this list. I'm sure it's partly due to the limited sample I got. Still, you won't be disappointed by either of the great Pavement albums on here.

All My Friends

1. Neutral Milk Hotel-In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (Merge)

Congratulations to NMH. I don't have this album (yet), but I've heard it in college a bunch a times, and I promise to get it. In honor of their victory today, I'm posting a full show by the band. Excellent soundboard quality. Cop it below.

Track list:

1. She Did a Lot of Acid

2. Gardenhead / Leave Me Alone

3. Naomi

4. Engine

5. King Of Carrot Flowers pt 3

6. Song Against Sex

7. The Fool

8. Oh Comely

9. In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

POSTSCRIPT: THE NEXT FIVE.

These records were bubbling under the top five, with Smog trailing Spoon by only 2 votes.

26. Smog-Dongs of Sevotion (Drag City)
27. Dinosaur Jr.-Bug (Merge)
28. Bright Eyes - i´m wide awake, it´s morning (Saddlecreek)
29. Cat Power-The Greatest (Matador)
30. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Self-Released). It's nice to see a true DIY release on this list. Way to go, CYHSY. For the record, you were in my top 25.

GET A FREE FUCK BUTTONS CD!

2008-09-08T14:49:00.000-07:00

The Fuck Buttons new CD, "Street Horrrsing," knocked me flat on my ass and left me gasping for breath. It's a little less than fifty minutes of noise, screams, random sounds, fuzz, keyboards . . . A wall of sound generated by two skinny looking geeks from Bristol. It's new age with tribal industrial overdubs. It's the beginning and end of music. Almost all of the songs top 7 minutes in length, and each song is a symphony unto itself. Track down the album from ATP recordings, and buy it. This is truly, truly amazing, and a brief sample doesn't do this revelatory album justice.

It's like nothing else out there.

Fuck Buttons - September 17 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC

Race You To the Bedroom-Spirit Rise (edit)

Bright Tomorrow

To get a free CD: Drop a comment or send me an e-mail with "Fuckbuttons CD" in the subject line. If you drop a comment YOU MUST INCLUDE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. Explicitly. In the content. Seriously. Lots of folks screw this part up, and it's the easiest part about getting this CD.

Tour Dates:

Sep 8 2008 8:00P Grand Ballroom * San Francisco, California
Sep 9 2008 8:00P The Wiltern Theatre * Los Angeles, California
Sep 10 2008 8:00P Rialto * Tucson, Arizona
Sep 12 2008 8:00P Stubb’s Bar-B-Q * Austin, Texas
Sep 13 2008 8:00P Granada Theatre * Dallas, Texas
Sep 15 2008 8:00P Variety Playhse * Atlanta, Georgia
Sep 16 2008 8:00P The National * Richmond, Virginia
Sep 17 2008 8:00P 9:30 Club * Washington, Washington DC
Sep 18 2008 8:00P Terminal 5 * New York, New York
Sep 19 2008 8:00P Starlight Ballroom * Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Sep 20 2008 8:00P ATP NY curated by My Bloody Valentine New York, New York
Sep 22 2008 8:00P Wilbur Theater * Boston, Maine
Sep 23 2008 8:00P Metropolis * Montreal, Quebec
Sep 25 2008 8:00P The Crofoot * Pontiac, Michigan
Sep 26 2008 8:00P Congress Theater * Chicago, Illinois
Sep 27 2008 8:00P First Avenue * Minneapolis, Minnesota
Oct 21 2008 7:00P + UK Tour w/ Mogwai Edinburgh, Manchester, London
Oct 21 2008 8:00P Corn Exchange + Edinburgh, Scotland
Oct 23 2008 8:00P Academy + Manchester, Northwest
Oct 24 2008 8:00P Hammersmith Apollo + London, London and South East
Oct 25 2008 8:00P Unsound Festival w/ Xiu Xiu Krakow, Lesser Poland

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

THE FEMBOTS-“Calling Out”

2008-09-08T05:32:00.000-07:00

Hailing from Toronto, FemBots broke in 2000 receiving rave reviews all over the net. “Calling Out” will be the band’s fourth release, which has been described as “post-industrial folk,” but certainly owes a lot to modern indie rock. Many of the songs are solid rock tunes, and a few get close to experimentation. For example, “Lost At Sea” is sung through a voice modulator. This technique usually comes off as gimmicky and puts immediate distance between the band and the listener, but here, when combined with the crunchy blues jam at about 2 minutes and 10 seconds in, it seems to make sense. It gives the tune an organic quality—raw like bits of gravel under bicycle tires. In contrast, another water-themed tune, “Ship Breaking” is sad and slow. It sounds very much like the sequel to Elvis Costello’s lament, “Shipbuilding.” Both are wonderful, classic-rock ballads. “Good Days,” the single, is the most accessible song here; it’s an unsurprising rock ditty that really isn’t very much like the rest of the record. Kinda like using “Float On” as the single representing Modest Mouse.

Good Days

Tour Dates

Sep 26 Toronto @ Music Gallery
Oct 3 Montreal @ Pop Montreal
Oct 4 Ottawa @ Zaphod's
Oct 7 Charlottetown @ Baba's
Oct 8 Sackville @ Strutt's Gallery
Oct 9 Fredericton @ The Capitol
Oct 10 Halifax @ Gus's Pub
Oct 22 Winnipeg @ The Lo Pub
Oct 23 Saskatoon @Lydia’s
Oct 24 Regina @ The Club
Oct 25 Edmonton @ The Pawn Shop
Oct 26 Kelowna @ Habitat
Oct 29 Victoria @ Logan's
Oct 30 Vancouver @ Railway Club
Nov 1 Calgary @ Marquee Room
Nov 3 Thunder Bay @ The Apollo
Nov 4 Sault Ste Marie @ Loplops
Nov 5 Sudbury @ The Townhouse
Nov 6 Hamilton @ Casbah
Nov 7 Toronto @ The Dakota Taven
Nov 8 Kitchener/Waterloo @ TBA
Nov 20 Guelph @ E Bar
Nov 21 Windsor @ The Phog Lounge
Nov 22 St. Catharines @ Merchant Ale House

Bonus Cover:

The Beautiful Ones (Prince)-Besnard Snakes

THE RAMONES, LIVE IN '77, PART 2

2008-09-07T01:29:00.000-07:00

Here's set 2 of the post I started here.

A few tastes and a zip.

01 Loudmouth
02 Do You Wanna Dance
03 Blitzkrieg Bop
04 I Remember You
05 Glad To See You Go
06 Teenage Lobotomy
07 You're Gonna Kill That Girl
08 Carbona Not Glue
09 Sheena Is A Punk Rocker
10 Commando
11 Babysitter
12 Oh Oh I Love Her So
13 Let's Dance
14 Judy Is A Punk
15 I Don't Wanna Fuck Around With You
16 Pinhead
17 Suzy Is A Headbanger
18 Chainsaw
19 California Sun

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-06T13:45:00.000-07:00

THAO NGUYEN AND THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN-We Brave Bee Stings and All”

2008-09-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

If it’s possible for music to be spiritual without being religious, then Thao Nguyen and the Get Up Stay Down have accomplished that feat. “We Brave Bee Stings and All” is a triumph. The music fairly simple, bordering on bubble-gum pop, made all the more sweet by Thao Nguyen’s delightful vocals. But beneath the crispy marshmallow façade are deceptively deep lyrics. Lines are thrown about like towels and shirts by the side of a summer pool . . . “I reached high, high, high/As I high as I was able/Such a small small kid/At the big kids table” . . . “I am going away, but not away from you/I have found the difference between the two” . . . "We brave bee stings and all/We don't dive we cannonball/We splash our eyes full of chemicals/Just so there's none left for little girls." It’s easy to write off the lyrics as imagery to create feeling rather than meaning, like so many Paul Simon songs, but a closer listen indicate pursuit of Eastern faith: Eleven songs about the meaning of spirituality and ones relationship with a higher power, clocking in at just over a half hour, this album is perfect. There’s no filler, no meaningless segues, not a single note or lyric out of place. Finger cymbals and light banjo strumming that would sound hokey in the hands of a less talented singer-songwriter here create a soft place where Thao’s fascinating, whimsical, and thought-provoking lyrics can rest comfortably, without distraction.

And to top it all off, she’s from my place of residence: Arlington, Va.

For fans of: Belle and Sebastian; Laura Veirs.

If you can find the vinyl version, do it. It’s got a cover of Smoky Robinson’s "You Really Got Hold On Me." Or, just cop that off eMusic.

Beat (Health, Life, and Fire)

Bag of Hammers

BONUS COVERS:

Turn Turn Turn (Byrds)-Belle & Sebastian

Karma Police-Citizen Cope

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

WHO ARE THESE RAMON-EES?

2008-09-05T13:16:00.000-07:00

Before I truly "got" The Clash, the greatest rock and roll band in history, I was a major Pinhead. I loved The Ramones, and was known to listen to them for hours at a time. Drove my buddies nuts.

I don't think I've ever posted on them before, and this is a great way to start. This is the band at their best site, old CBGBs, at the peak of their powers. And the best thing about a Mones show is that every song is less than three minutes, so they get to all the hits!

Dig it. Here's set one. Set two to come. A few tastes and zip.

P.S.: Any true fans can guess why I titled this post "Who Are These Ramon-ees?" Hint: The answer might come by ear mail.http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The Ramones - CBGB, New York City, NY 06-10-77

1st Set
01 I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement
02 Beat On The Brat
03 Good Boy
04 Swallow My Pride
05 Glad To See You Go
06 Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment
07 I Don't Care
08 Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue
09 Sheena Is My Punk Rocker
10 You Should Never Have Opened That Door
11 I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend
12 Suzy Is A Headbanger
13 Listen To My Heart
14 California Sun
15 Texas Chainsaw Massacre
16 I Don't Wanna Walk Around With You
17 Today Your Love Tomorrow The World

KOUFAX-"Strugglers"

2008-09-05T09:24:00.000-07:00

Now here’s a surprise: I received Koufax's “Strugglers” in the mail, and immediately noticed the album cover, which features photo of a crowd of dark-skinned folks who appear to be African. Expecting world music or something like Vampire Weekend, I popped it in and instead found a remarkably diverse collection of smart, indie rock toe-tappers. By now, many of you are getting ready to write me a comment about how stupid I am not to have heard of this group until their fourth record, and before you do let me say I agree with you. "Strugglers” is great.

The best thing on the record is the lyrics, but the music is close behind. Like Spoon, the band mixes a funky beat with broader, almost atmospheric synthesizers, and mostly uses guitars to mark time. A few highlights: the ironic “Drivers” (“A few more drinks, we’ll be ready to drive”) has a call-and-response fade out that’s sure to be a live crowd pleaser; the way that the vocal track is slightly off sync with the music on the chorus to “Facsimile;” the political sentiment of the ballad, “Roll the Dice,” which reminisces that although “the Bill of Rights/Those days were nice,” the singer now wants to “roll the dice” and “quit my wife;” and the ‘80s pop groove of “California Taught Us Well,” which recalls every arena pop band from The Cars to Journey. The piano drives the album and lends to it the only sense of wholeness; other than that, the music is so diverse here that it almost sounds as if Koufax were a collective rather than the brainchild of one singer/songrwriter, Mr. Robert Suchan.

I haven’t had enough time with this record yet, and it’s not an easy one to digest, but it’s looking like an early pick for one of the best releases of 2008.

For fans of: Voxtrot, Spoon.

Once In A While

Facsimile

Bonus Covers:

The One I Love (R.E.M.)-Flaming Lips

One (Blake's Got A New Face) [Vampire Weekend Cover] w/Natty

PICTURE OF THE DAY

2008-09-04T13:50:00.000-07:00

I hope this isn't real. But somehow, I think is is.

SPIDER PROBLEM-“Natural Selections” (EP)

2008-09-04T07:12:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles shouldn’t complain about its Spider Problem. That is, so long as we’re talking about the hard-rocking quartet whose EP “Natural Selections” has all the energy and chaos of a live show, and all the power and hook of old Yeah Yeah Yeahs or L7.

Singer Shayne has a tough, ready-to-rumble voice that’s perfect for modern punk, mixing sex and anger so completely that you can’t tell where her love ends and her rage begins. If there is an award for pure energy, surely it will go to Spider Problem. When Shayne sings, “I wanna eat you for supper,” over grinding grunge, I believe her.

Download the EP from iTunes or cop it off their myspace page.

Big Thunder

Bullet

Bonus Covers: The Kooks edition!

Naive (Kooks cover)-Lily Allen

All That She Wants (Ace of Base cover)-The Kooks