My favourite albums of 2011

For me, this year was both good and bad for music.

Good because some of my favourite bands released new music, and I got to see loads of great concerts this year (The Strokes a couple of times, Arctic Monkeys, Delta Spirit, Arcade Fire, The National a couple of times, Beirut, Telekinesis, etc).

Bad because I didn't really get into any new bands this year. Partly because new music tended to bore me and partly because I've been swamped with life, law school and everything which falls in between.

So, without futher ado, here's my list of my favourite albums of 2011.

10. Foo Fighters - Wasting Light

my review

Foo Fighters - Rope [mp3]

9. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

my review

Radiohead - Lotus Flower [mp3]

8. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Bon Iver - Perth [mp3]

7. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

Girls - Honey Bunny [mp3]

6. The Black Keys - El Camino

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy [mp3]

5. Andrew Bird - Norman Soundtrack

Andrew Bird - Scotch and Milk [mp3]

4. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

my review

Fleet Foxes - Montezuma [mp3]

3. Beirut - The Rip Tide

my review

Beirut - East Harlem [mp3]

2. Arctic Monkeys - Suck it and See

my review

Arctic Monkeys - She's Thunderstorms [mp3]

1. The Strokes - Angles

my review

The Strokes - Taken for a Fool [mp3]

She & Him - Baby It's Cold Outside

"Baby It's Cold Outside" is possibly my favourite holiday tune and I simply adore Zooey Deschanel's version from Elf, but I'm currently listening to the excellent She & Him Christmas record A Very She & Him Christmas, and they did a version where M. Ward sings the girl's part and Zooey does the guy's part. It's really cute, compare the two songs below.

Leon Redbone & Zooey Deschanel - Baby It's Cold Outside [mp3]

She & Him - Baby It's Cold Outside [mp3]

The National debut two new songs for Canadian Radio ("Rylan" and "I Need My Girl")

The band played these gems for Toronto’s Q1 LIVE. I love the direction the band is taking, but I want more! Listen and download below:



The National - Rylan [mp3]



The National - I Need My Girl [mp3]

The National + Local Natives + Wye Oak - Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks (acoustic)

this is so beautiful. I woke up with this version stuck in my head this morning.

Andrew Bird announces new album + tour

Andrew Bird - Break It Yourself from Mom+Pop on Vimeo.

how exciting!

Break it Yourself will see a March 6th release in the US. and, to make things sweeter, Andrew Bird is offering the following goodies to anybody who purchases a ticket to a gig between March 15 and May 12:

Break It Yourself US Tour Ticket Bundle Exclusive
So check this out, when you purchase a ticket to one of the upcoming US tour dates from March 15 - May 12, you will receive a one-of-a-kind music & ticket bundle. Here’s what you’ll get:
1) the five-song live EP Fake Conversations delivered to your inbox in the next day or 3
2) a digital copy of the new album Break It Yourself one day before its release date
3) a second five-song live EP from the 2012 tour delivered next spring.

TOUR:

(tickets on sale Dec 9th)

Date	City, State	Venue	Tickets
Jan 12	Honolulu, HI	Hawaii Theatre	Tickets
Mar 5	London, UK	Barbican Centre	Tickets
Mar 6	Paris, FR	La Cigale	Tickets
Mar 8	Brussels, BE	Cirque Royal	Tickets
Mar 9	Amsterdam, NL	Paradiso	Tickets
Mar 15	Dallas, TX	Majestic Theatre *	Presale
Mar 16	New Orleans, LA	The Howlin' Wolf *	Presale
Mar 17	Atlanta, GA	Tabernacle *	Presale
Mar 19	Nashville, TN	Ryman Auditorium *	Presale
Mar 20	Columbus, OH	Southern Theatre *	Presale
Mar 22	St. Louis, MO	The Pageant *	Presale
Mar 23	Kansas City, MO	The Uptown Theater *	Presale
Mar 24	Milwaukee, WI	Riverside Theater*	Presale
Apr 9	Seattle, WA	Paramount Theatre #	Presale
Apr 10	Vancouver, BC	The Vogue #	Presale
Apr 11	Portland, OR	Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall #	Presale
Apr 13	Oakland, CA	Fox Theater #	Presale
Apr 18	Mesa, AZ	Ikeda Theater at Mesa Arts Center #	Presale
Apr 19	Santa Fe, NM	Lensic Performing Arts Center #	Presale
Apr 20	Tucson, AZ	Rialto Theater #	Presale
May 3	Philadelphia, PA	Union Transfer ^	Presale
May 4	New York, NY	Beacon Theatre ^	Presale
May 5	New York, NY	Beacon Theatre %	Presale
May 6	Boston, MA	House of Blues ^	Presale
May 8	Washington, DC	9:30 Club ^	Presale
May 9	Baltimore, MD	Ramshead Live ^	Presale
May 10	Detroit, MI	The Fillmore Detroit +	Presale
May 12	Chicago, IL	Auditorium Theatre +	Presale
June 6	London, UK	Field Day 2012	Tickets

To Support
* Eugene Mirman
# Laura Marling
^ Patrick Watson
% Tift Merritt
+ Mucca Pazza

new Delta Spirit album in March + tour dates

the band will be opening for My Morning Jacket for the following gigs:

December 6th Tulsa, OK Brady Theatre
December 7th Dallas, TX Verizon Theatre At Grand Prairie
December 8th Houston, TX Verizon Wireless Theatre
December 10th Boca Raton, FL Sunset Cove Amphitheater
December 11th Orlando, FL Hard Rock Live
December 12th Greensboro, NC Greensboro War Memorial Auditorium

Further, their third full length album is due March 13th. Lead singer Matt Vasquez explains why the album will be self-titled:

"We found the sound that we've been looking for, that we've been growing into, and as soon as we hit on it, we ran with it. That's why it's a self-titled record, so we could connect our identity with what we think Delta Spirit is."

you can grab their very first (FANTASTIC) ep, I Think I've Found It, for free below:

The Black Keys announce tour, Arctic Monkeys to support

GLORIOUS.

The Black Keys 2012 tour dates:
1/23 Antwerp, Belgium, Lotto
1/24 Lille, France, Zenith
1/25 Paris, France, Zenith
1/27 Hamburg, Germany, Sporthalle
1/28 Berlin, Germany, Arena
1/30 Milan, Italy, Alcatraz
1/31 Zurich, Switzerland, Maag Hall
2/1 Eindhoven, Holland, Klokgebouw
2/3 Nottingham, England, Capital FM Arena
2/4 Edinburgh, Scotland, Corn Exchange
2/6-2/7 Manchester, England, O2 Apollo
2/9-2/10-2/11 London, England, Alexandra Palace
3/2 Cincinnati, OH, U.S. Bank Arena *
3/3 Detroit, MI, Joe Louis Arena *
3/4 Columbus, OH, Jerome Schottenstein Center *
3/6 Portland, ME, Cumberland Co. Civic Center *
3/7 Boston, MA, TD Garden *
3/9 Washington, DC, Verizon Center *
3/10 Philadelphia, PA, Wells Fargo Center *
3/12 New York, NY, Madison Square Garden *
3/13 Montreal, Quebec, Bell Centre *
3/14 Toronto, Ontario, Air Canada Centre *
3/16 Indianapolis, IN, Conseco Fieldhouse *
3/18 Grand Rapids, MI, Van Andel Arena *
3/19 Chicago, IL, United Center *
3/20 Cleveland, OH, Quicken Loans Arena *
3/23 Norfolk, VA, Constant Convocation Center *

* = shows with Arctic Monkeys

tix on sale 12/9 to the general public and 12/6 for mailing list members

more info HERE

The Black Keys - El Camino (leak)

oh thank the heavens. this will get me through finals. hopefully. make sure you buy it next week!

enjoy.

Sunday Morning Covers

video: vital new Julian Casablancas interview

I love how honest he always is.



via TSN

Sunday Morning Covers

The Black Keys - Dearest (Buddy Holly Cover) [mp3]

Ted Leo and the Pharmacists -The Numbered Head (Robert Pollard cover) [mp3]

St Vincent + The National- Sleep All Summer (Crooked Fingers cover) [mp3]

Okkervil River - All You Little Suckers (East River Pipe cover) [mp3]

Radiohead announce 2012 Tour

02/27 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
02/29 – Tampa, FL @ St. Pete Times Forum
03/01 – Atlanta, GA @ Phillips Arena
03/03 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
03/05 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center
03/07 – Austin, TX @ Frank Erwin Center
03/09 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
03/11 – Kansas City, MO @ Spirit Center
03/13 – Broomfield, CO @ 1stBank Center
03/15 – Glendale, AZ @ Jobing.com Arena

tickets for all shows go on sale Wednesday, except the February 29 Tampa, FL date, which will go on sale November 19.

Sunday Morning Covers

Baths - I Just Saw (Raleigh Moncrief Cover) [mp3]

Spoon - Roller Coaster (13th Floor Elevators Cover) [mp3]

Beck - Black Angel's Death Song (Velvet Underground Cover) [mp3]

The Format - Do You Believe In Magic? (The Lovin' Spoonful cover) [mp3]

have you ever wondered what Nirvana would sound like if they were mellow?

Ryan Adams - Come Pick Me Up (live, Seattle)

a couple of weeks ago, a friend of mine saw Ryan Adams in Seattle. he sent me this mp3, and I'd like to share it because it's absolutely gorgeous.

Ryan Adams - Come Pick Me Up (live, Seattle) [mp3]

Sunday Morning Covers

The National - Twenty Miles To NH Part 2 (The Philistines cover) [mp3]

The National - Pretty in Pink (Psychedelic Furs cover) [mp3]

Yellow Ostrich - Fake Empire (The National cover) [mp3]

Antarctica Takes It! - Apartment Story (The National cover) [mp3]

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy (video + mp3)

here's the hilarious video for the band's awesome new single

The Black Keys - Lonely Boy [mp3]

watch: Beirut - Santa Fe on Fallon

video: Ryan Adams - "Lucky Now" on Jools Holland

Sunday Morning Covers

Atoms for Peace (Thom Yorke) - After The Gold Rush (Neil Young Cover) [mp3]

Atoms for Peace (Thom Yorke) - Love Will Tear Us Apart (Joy Division Cover) [mp3]

Brandon Flowers wants you to be Mormon and make babies

this remains the best thing The Killers have ever done:

maybe The Killers should cover The Book of Mormon?

Andrew Bird - Fever Year

as per Chicago's International Film Festival,
I saw Fever Year today.
It's a documentary about Andrew Bird. The title comes from the unfortunate fact that he sustained a fever/illness/chills for basically an entire year of touring, nearly 170 shows' worth.
Anyway, the film was brilliant. There were plenty of concert clips, and features about his fascination with horns, but best of all, it focused a lot on Bird's songwriting process at the gorgeous Bird Family Farm. It traces back to his early, unknown roots until present day. He talked a lot about how important improvising on stage is, and why he now prefers writing simpler songs so that he can have more freedom in the live setting.
The movie made me have all that much more respect for him.

additional screenings are forthcoming.

Colorado Premiere
Denver Film Festival
SAT. NOV 5, 1:15 PM
SUN. NOV 6, 9:30 PM
Tickets Here
.
European Premiere
Copenhagen Intl Documentary Film Festival
In Competition
"Sound & Vision Award"
THURS. NOV 10, 22:30
.
Missouri Premiere
St. Louis International
Film Festival
SAT. NOV 19, 8:30 PM

West Coast/California Premiere
Confirmed for early 2012
Details TBA
.
Pacific Northwest Premiere
Seattle, Washington
FRI. FEB 17, 8:00 PM
Details TBA

Sunday Morning Covers

Franz Ferdinand - Mis-shapes (Pulp cover) [mp3]

Beck - Which Will (Nick Drake Cover) [mp3]

Arcade Fire - Still Ill (The Smiths Cover) [mp3]

Christopher Owens posts tour diary

explore the world of the Girls frontman below:

video: Beirut - East Harlem on Letterman

could this song be any more perfect? I think not. a lovely performance of a gem from The Rip Tide.

Radiohead to head back to studio in December

via COS
Thom Yorke has just announced that, in addition to the new Atoms for Peace album that is in the works, and the impending 2012 RH tour, the band will head back to studio for a couple of months in the winter to work on material

this is happy, happy news.

Andrew Bird, age 6

I came across this the other day. It's too cute.

video: Ryan Adams - "Lucky Now" (acoustic)

this is gorgeous:

The Black Keys to release El Camino on December 6th

a new album! HUZZAH!!

UPDATE:
album art + tracklist



01. Lonely Boy (forthcoming single on Oct 26)
02. Dead and Gone
03. Gold on the Ceiling
04. Little Black Submarines
05. Money Maker
06. Run Right Back
07. Sister
08. Hell of a Season
09. Stop Stop
10. Nova Baby
11. Mind Eraser

Sunday Morning Covers

Bright Eyes - We Are Going to be Friends (White Stripes cover) [mp3]

Andrew Bird w/ Priscilla Ahn - Meet Me Here At Dawn (Cass McCombs Cover) [mp3]

Girls - My Whole Life Story (Holy Shit cover) [mp3]

Jack White - You Know that I Know (Hank Williams cover)

Albert Hammond Jr - Thirteen (Big Star cover) [mp3]

SPIN: "Homophobia Haunts Indie Rock"

In light of a recent attack on garage-punk band the Young Lovers, the magazine profiled frontman Brontez Purnell and also placed the spotlight on other gay musicians in indie rock. The article discusses homophobia and stigma often associated with being a gay musician. Head over HERE to read it

bonus trivia: "Diplomat's Son" by Vampire Weekend was written about Rostam.

"Last night I smoked a joint
With my best friend
We found ourselves in bed
When I woke up he was gone..."

free download: Andrew Bird - Hospital

why yes, Mr Bird, you may sign me up for your email list. wait, I'm already on that. a free mp3 you say? why, don't mind if I do.

Andrew Bird- Hospital [mp3]

this comes from the soundtrack to Norman

video: Death Cab for Cutie - "Title and Registration"

this video needs more views. NOW.

I've been spinning Transatlanticism a lot lately.

Girls to play a free in-store at Amoeba SF on Sunday

I miss Amoeba.

watch: Radiohead perform "Giving up the Ghost" on Fallon + Roseland bootleg

head over to Troubled Souls Unite for a bootleg of the band's Roseland show.

Sunday Morning Covers

Bon Iver- With God on Our Side (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]

Radiohead - The One I Love (REM cover) [mp3]

MGMT & Atlas Sound – Lucifer Sam (Pink Floyd Cover) [mp3]

watch: Radiohead's special on The Colbert Report

Radiohead visited Colbert two nights ago. Hilarity ensued. Watch below:

BONUS:

"Morning Mr Magpie"

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

watch: Beirut - The Akara in Chicago

On Monday night, I saw Beirut perform at Congress theatre. It was beyond spectacular. Zach Condon is literally perfect. I took some videos on my phone, and I'll upload them as soon as I figure out how. In the meanwhile, watch this:

set list:

Ryan Adams announces a new tour

Tour Dates:
10/11 – San Diego, CA @ Balboa Theater
10/13 – Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library
10/14 – San Francisco, CA @ Herbst Theater
10/15 – Napa, CA @ Uptown Theater
10/17 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Rio
10/18 – Sacramento, CA @ Crest Theatre
10/20 – Eugene, OR @ The Shedd
10/21 – Seattle, WA @ Benaroya (City Arts Festival)
10/27 – London, UK @ Union Chapel
10/28 – York, UK @ York Grand Opera House
10/30 – Edinburgh, UK @ Edinburgh Festival Theatre
11/02 – Paris, FR @ Le Trianon Hall
11/05 – Brussels, BE @ Cirque Royale
12/02 – Philadelphia, PA @ Academy of Music
12/04 – Baltimore, MD @ Lyric Opera House
12/06 – New York, NY @ Carnegie Hall
12/08 – Boston, MA @ Orpheum Theatre
12/10 – Toronto, ON @ Winter Garden Theatre
12/11 – Chicago, IL @ Cadillac Place
12/13 – Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre

Sunday Morning Covers

Telekinesis make television debut on Fallon with "Please Ask for Help"

The band, which is now a confirmed three piece with Cody Votolato and Jason Narducy, played a song from 12 Desperate Straight Lines last night. Watch it below:



The band will support Death Cab for Cutie on their new tour

Girls to play a free in-store in Chicago next Thursday

Girls will visit the Broadway Reckless location on Thursday, September 29th at 2PM to warm up for their sold-out Lincoln Hall show that night. Deep dish pizza is involved, although I'm unsure how...

on a sidenote, the Reckless on Broadway has the biggest selection of records out of the three Chicago locations. The clearance section is fantastic...I found the first AC/DC album there for 25 cents. Make sure you browse through those bins if you go.

stream: Dum Dum Girls- Only in Dreams

Only in Dreams is the followup to their debut, I Will Be. It's cleaner, less angry, and sounds more like LA. Maybe they've been watching Glee? I like the first album better, but by all means, listen away and make your own decision.

Dum Dum Girls - Only in Dreams by subpop

new video: Girls - Honey Bunny

I love how they always film their videos in San Francisco.

Thom Yorke announces new Atoms for Peace LP + Radiohead tour in 2012

via CoS

Atoms for Peace have made an album together. The band, composed of Thom Yorke, Flea, Nigel Godirch, Joey Waronker, and Mauro Refosco originally toured with Thom for The Eraser. The record is being wrapped up by Godirch. A release date is forthcoming.

Radiohead will finally begin a proper tour for King of Limbs early next year. I'll post info as it comes

Radiohead to play Roseland Ballroom in NY + SNL + The Colbert Report

Road trip?
Radiohead will play two nights at New York’s Roseland Ballroom, on September 28 and 29. Tickets on sale September 26th at 10AM via Ticketmaster

The band will also play on the season premiere of SNL on September 24th.

Better yet, Radiohead will visit The Colbert Report on September 26th where Stephen will honor them by devoting a full hour to the band. We can expect four songs from The King Of Limbs as well as their new song, “The Daily Mail.”

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how Thom reacts to Colbert's...humour.

video: Arcade Fire at Austin City Limits

I always liked Arcade Fire, but after The Suburbs, I began to love them. my infatuation with them runs deep, for personal reasons. but holy wow, are they an epic live band. this video includes "Ready to Start", "Keep the Car Running" "No Cars Go" and "Haiti". enjoy.

Sunday Morning Covers

MGMT - All we ever wanted was everything (Bauhaus cover) [mp3]

The Morning Benders - Fools Rush In (Elvis Cover)

Spoon - I Am the Key (The La's Cover) [mp3]

Arcade Fire - All The Umbrellas in London (Magnetic Fields cover) [mp3]

watch: Telekinesis + Chris Walla perform two songs for SPIN

Michael Benjamin Lerner performs "50 Ways" and "You Turn Clear in the Sun" from his sophomore album, 12 Desperate Straight Lines. His voice cracks a little, but that's okay. Walla joins in on guitar.

BONUS:

interview:

new video: Arctic Monkeys - "Suck it and See"

the 7" drops on Halloween

finally, the lyrics to Machu Picchu

as much as I adore Angles, I can't stand the fact that there are no liner notes in the album. this makes my life better:

presale password: The National at the Aragon (+more)

The National will visit Chicago on December 6th at The Aragon. Local Natives and Wyk Oak will open.

presale tickets will be available on Friday at 10AM. presale password: VIOLET
buy tickets HERE

look below for more on-sale times and passwords and visit The National's website to find links to buy them

November 2011:
15: ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA / THEBARTON THEATRE // w/ THE WALKMEN // TICKETS ON-SALE 14 SEPTEMBER

17: PERTH, AUSTRALIA / METRO CITY // w/ THE WALKMEN // TICKETS ON-SALE 14 SEPTEMBER

29: VANCOUVER, BC CANADA / ORPHEUM THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 10AM

30: SEATTLE, WA / NEPTUNE THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM - 9/16 @ 10PM Password: STG / ON-SALE: 9/17 @ 10AM

December 2011:
01: SEATTLE, WA / NEPTUNE THEATRE // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM - 9/16 @ 10PM Password: STG / ON-SALE: 9/17 @ 10AM

03: SAN FRANCISCO, CA / BILL GRAHAM CIVIC AUDITORIUM // w/ LOCAL NATIVES + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/15 @ 10AM Password: VIOLET / ON-SALE: 9/18 @ 10AM

04: AUSTIN, TX / AUSTIN MUSIC HALL // w/ LOCAL NATIVES // C3 Concerts PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM Password: NATIONALLOCAL / KROX PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM-10PM Password: 101x / KGSR PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 10AM-10PM Password: 933KGSR / ON-SALE: 9/23 @ 10AM

08: TORONTO, ON CANADA / AIR CANADA CENTRE // w/ NEKO CASE + WYE OAK
ACC PRE-SALE: 9/12 @ 130PM - 9/13 @ 5PM / COLLECTIVE PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 2PM - 9/15 @ 10PM Password: fakeempire / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

09: MONTREAL, QC CANADA / CENTRE BELL // w/ NEKO CASE + WYE OAK // PRE-SALE: 9/22 @ 9AM-6PM / ON-SALE: 9/23 @ 12PM

12: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ THE WAR ON DRUGS // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

13: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ SHARON VAN ETTEN // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

14: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ SO PERCUSSION // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

15: NEW YORK, NY / BEACON THEATRE // w/ WYE OAK // AMEX PRE-SALE: 9/14 @ 11AM / ON-SALE: 9/16 @ 11AM

must watch video: The Strokes - New York City Cops (ft Josh Homme)

stream: Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost (highly recommended!)

I was planning on listening to this over the weekend but I got caught up doing other stuff...I only just listened to it today

this album is really spectacular, and it shows much progression from their debut, Album

stream it HERE

the record officially drops tomorrow. review forthcoming.

The National announce a new tour, fans rejoice

well, I rejoiced.

11-06 Singapore – Esplanade Concert Hall
11-09 Tokyo, Japan – Duo
11-12 Melbourne, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-13 Sydney, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-15 Adelaide, Australia – Thebarton Theatre *
11-17 Perth, Australia – Metro City *
11-19 Brisbane, Australia – Harvest Festival
11-29 Vancouver, British Columbia – Orpheum Theatre #
11-30 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre #
12-01 Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre #
12-03 San Francisco, CA – Bill Graham Civic Auditorium #
12-04 Austin, TX – Austin Music Hall !
12-06 Chicago, IL – Aragon Ballroom #
12-08 Toronto, Ontario – Air Canada Centre ^
12-09 Montreal, Quebec – Bell Centre ^
12-12 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre &
12-13 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre %
12-15 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre $
12-16 New York, NY – Beacon Theatre @

* with the Walkmen
# with Local Natives and Wye Oak
! with Local Natives
^ with Neko Case and Wye Oak
& with the War on Drugs
% with Sharon Van Etten
$ with So Percussion
@ with Wye Oak

Chicagoland Record Collector's show this Sunday

via TVD

$3 gets you into "the midwest's largest vinyl show"

50-60 dealers that manage to fill 80 tables with vintage albums, 45’s and more. The overwhelming stock spans a range of genres including, Rock, Jazz, Soul, R & B, Country, Folk, Alternative and Metal.

The Chicagoland Record Collectors Show is this Sunday, September 18, at the Best Western Hotel Chicago in Hillside – 4400 Frontage Road Hillside, IL 60162. The show runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

visit the official website HERE

video: Beirut - Santa Fe

this is depressing but gorgeous:

Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, Beck, Eddie Vedder, and Neil Young to play at Bridge School Benefit

The annual charity festival held in Mountain View, CA (halfway between San Francisco and San Jose...and home of the Google headquarters) will feature an impressive lineup this year (big surprise). The full lineup includes:

Arcade Fire

Beck

Dave Matthews

Diana Krall

Eddie Vedder

Foo Fighters

Jenny Lewis

Los Invisibles (Carlos Santana etc)

Mumford & Sons

Neil Young

Tony Bennett

all of whom will be performing acoustic sets for charity. The festival will be at Shoreline Amphitheatre on October 22-23rd. Tickets go on sale via livenation on Fri September 16 at 10AM PST

OFFICIAL SITE

video: The Strokes - Juicebox (ft Eddie Vedder)

I went to Wisconsin yesterday to see The Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age and Pearl Jam. And it was fucking grand. Eddie Vedder pointed out that Julian and Jesus have the same initials. Good man. There was plenty of man-love around; Julian joined QOTSA for "Sick Sick Sick", Josh Homme played guitar during "NYCC", Eddie came on for "Juicebox" and Julian sang "Red Mosquito" with his heroes.

I can't find any decent video from yesterday, but the video below (from Saturday night) is fucking awesome and is exactly what they sounded like yesterday.

Enjoy.

Sunday Morning Covers

The Strokes ft Jarvis Cocker - Just What I Needed (The Cars cover)[mp3]
everything you ever dreamed of, and more. I love it when Julian is happy and smiley. "The Jarv" sounds like a dance from the 50's. I like this a helluva lot more than "Two Kinds of Happiness". sorry, Julian. but that's probably the worst song you've ever written. download a zip file of the entire Reading performance HERE





Lightouts – “All I Want / Heroes” (LCD Soundsystem / David Bowie Cover) [mp3]
this sounds like The Killers in their early years.

The Morning Benders - Outlaw Blues (Bob Dylan cover) [mp3]
Chris really nails Bobby's nasally undertones

Grand Lake - The Tourist (Radiohead cover) [mp3]
it's an ambitious move, covering a band like RH, but Grand Lake bring a new meaning to the lyric "slow down"

Editors - Road to Nowhere (Talking Heads cover) [mp3]
I just love this one

Elliott Smith - Big Sky (The Kinks cover) [mp3]

this is so funky and psychedelic. I love it.

BONUS:

Tokyo Police Club covering "Under Control" by The Strokes and reggae-fying the hell out of it:

Under Control by TokyoPoliceClub

watch: rare short Smiths documentary from 1992

The following documentary, which was made in 1992 but never got a proper release, has currently resurfaced in light of the new Smiths box set due for an October release (pricey, too...250 British pounds)

it's seventeen minutes long but has some cool clips and info and context into what The Smiths really did to the world of music. watch below:

watch: trailer for Martin Scorsese's "George Harrison: Living In The Material World"

the documentary is set for a release via HBO and dvd in October

The Dodos give away free live album + tour dates

enter your email below to receive a free live album from The Dodos

Tour Dates:
08/26 – Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library #
08/27 – Los Angeles, CA @ Heritage Court at The Autry
08/28 – Costa Mesa, CA @ Detroit Bar #
08/31 – Norman, OK @ Oklahoma Memorial Union #
09/01 – Dallas, TX @ The Loft #
09/02 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s #
09/03 – Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s #
09/04 – New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks #
09/06 – Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder #
09/07 – Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree #
09/08 – Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre !%
09/09 – Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Festival
09/10 – Harrisonburg, VA @ Clementine #
09/11 – Baltimore, MD @ Sonar #
09/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg #
09/15 – Burlington, VT @ Club Metronome #
09/16 – Quebec City, QC @ Le Cercle #
09/17 – Ottawa, ON @ Mavericks #
09/18 – Hamilton, ON @ Casbah #
09/20 – Ann Arbor, MI @ The Blind Pig #
09/21 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls Theate *
09/22 – Cincinnati, OH @ MidPoint Music Festival
09/23 – Champaign-Urbana, IL @ Pygmalion Music Festival
09/24 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway #
09/25 – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck #
09/27 – Boulder, CO @ Fox Theatre #
12/09-11 – Minehead, UK @ ATP’s Nightmare Before Christmas

# = w/ The Luyas
! = w/ Times New Viking
% = w/ Superchunk
* = w/ The Felice Brothers

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Sunday Morning Covers

Nirvana - Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets cover) [mp3]
you know when you meet someone new and they have great taste in music and they make you listen to brilliant things you never knew existed? that's how I heard this Nirvana track.

Vampire Weekend - I'm Going Down (Bruce Springsteen cover) [mp3]

BONUS:

Beirut - Untitled

I was listening to Beirut on shuffle today and a song came on from Zach Condon's early project, The Joys of Losing Weight. Mega fans are well aware that all of the songs on the album are untitled, this one happened to strike me as Elliott Smith-esque but also quite like Explosions in the Sky. A quieter Explosions in the Sky. I thought I'd share it.

Beirut - Untitled [mp3]