Veritas Lux Mea

Eat Sugar "Pop Singer" MP3

2009-07-14T21:15:00.003-05:00

I've been pretty enamored by the Cincy rockers Eat Sugar since I first heard them grace the digital airwaves at WOXY.com. Their latest effort, It's Not Our Responsibility!, is a striking follow up to their dazzling first effort and self-titled EP.

It’s Not Our Responsibility! was borne of the fruitful collaboration between Eat Sugar and Enon’s John Schmersal after the two bands shared a bill in early 2008. Eat Sugar eagerly approached Schmersal about recording some material, Jim recalls, “We were looking for a producer who understood the sound we were trying to create and who had an instinct for creating songs with a twisted pop sensibility. Also, the music that John created with Enon and Braniac had been a big influence on us.”

It's Not Our Responsibility! is due out September 1st, but in the meantime, check out the track "Pop Singer" from the upcoming album below:

Eat Sugar - "Pop Singer"

Eat Sugar Website

Veritas Lux Mea on Twitter

2009-07-14T21:06:00.003-05:00

Veritas Lux Mea is now on twitter, @indiebadger (veritas lux mea was taken). Follow us for updates (if we ever post). That's all. Bye bye.

Confessions From the Laundromat

2009-07-12T08:06:00.005-05:00

It's not every day that I craft a post from the laundromat at 8 in the morning but that's exactly what I'm doing right now. Which, in and of itself, give me a very ambivalent feeling.

Living in a town of just 7000 people, it somehow seems odd to me that all three of the laundromats in town offer free wi-fi Internet. As if that somehow has become a bargaining chip for those needing the services of a washer and dryer all of a sudden. Not that I'm one to complain about the availability of free Internet at my every turn; in fact, it's damn convenient. But as an English major, I guess I get sort of sad once in a while when I see someone peering into the Blackberry instead of a Kafka novel. Then again, I've spent way more time since I graduated in 2005 peering at a little glowing rectangle than I have buried deep in a Flannery O' Conner plot. I read Largehearted Boy's book synopsis rather than going to the library to read the books. I am the very thing which I have come to disdain. I am, in every way and shape, plugged in.

I happened to notice that the only other person in the laundromat at this time besides me and the 80-year old lady running a magic sweeper across the carpet was a bookish older gentleman.

When we both pulled our laptops out at the same time, I couldn't help but catch his eye and wonder what he thought of the the fact that technology had seeped its way into laundromat alongside gourmet made-to-order coffee and slot machines. So I said to the guy, "You know, people used to bring books to the laundromat. Now all we bring are little computers."

He sorta chuckled and agreed. "Yeah, seems that's the way things are nowadays. But I bring a book also. In fact, I always have my Bible with me."

At which point I didn't feel the need to mention that I also had a book with me, but it was a Stephen King comic, The Dark Tower, about a priest who likes to get drunk and kill people.

Screaming Females Buried in the Nude

2009-07-03T08:59:00.008-05:00

Sorry for the sparse posting lately. Been working on something, hopefully something big. But here's a little rundown of what I've been up to lately:

Saw The Hangover. Probably one of the funniest movie I've seen since Old School. Not as great of a movie as Pineapple Express, but equally as funny.

Cursed the warm weather/Wished for warmer weather. Living in Wisconsin you generally either find yourself wishing it was warmer or cursing the warm weather during the summer, because it's usually either too cool to really enjoy being outside or too muggy and buggy to enjoy being outside. You never really get those great summer days that you get most of the year in places like San Diego. Or anywhere.

Not getting a hair cut or shaving. I really wish I had the patience/gumption to just go Zach Galifianakis on everyone and grow out my beard and hair so that I too could look like a "fat Jesus" (quote from The Hangover). But I'm pretty sure my wife, work, and society would frown upon that.

Not been helping my friends work on their new house. But I did leave a gas grill over there because we couldn't figure out how to turn it on. And I have been drinking their beer. So at least I'm doing something for them.

Heading to the movies today to catch Public Enemies, since part of it was filmed up here with some local talent. Seen it? Like it?

And since you're tired of reading about me, on the the music...

Screaming Females Buried in the Nude

Now, when I heard the phrases "Screaming Females" and "Buried in the nude" I thought to myself, "what's that, the plot for the next Saw movie?" but I was pleasantly surprised to find out that those two phrases actually involve music, and some pretty interesting music at that.

Screaming Females is actually a New Jersey trio who have put out three full length albums but somehow managed to stay out of the VLM spotlight thus far, perhaps because their third record, Power Move, is their first ever label release with Don Giovanni Records. Hailing from the very DIY punk community of New Brunswick, the Screaming Females have played over 300 self-booked shows in the past four years, opening up for the likes of Dinosaur Jr. and Jack White's Dead Weather, who they will open up for on select dates this summer.

Spring over to Rolling Stone to check out a video from the band for the song "Buried in the Nude" and some interesting bio factoids, and peep the upcoming July tour dates with Dead Weather, below:

07.13.09
Washington, DC
9:30 Club

07.14.09
Washington, DC
9:30 Club

07.16.09
New York, NY
Terminal 5

07.17.09
New York, NY
Terminal 5

07.18.09
Boston, MA
House of Blues

07.21.09
Montreal, Canada
Olympia De Montreal

07.22.09
Toronto, Canada
Kool Haus

07.24.09
Detroit, MI
The Fillmore

07.25.09
Columbus, OH
The LC Pavilion

07.27.09
Minneapolis, MN
First Avenue

07.28.09
Chicago, IL
Vic Theatre

07.29.09
Chicago, IL
Vic Theatre

07.30.09
Nashville, TN
War Memorial Auditorium

Updates from Whale Tooth and The Gossip

2009-06-18T19:38:00.006-05:00

Whale Tooth

I've always heard good things of Toronto. Fun. Friendly. Clean. And hey, the Bluejays are always interesting as well, especially when you have Roy Halladay on your fantasy baseball roster as I do.

Much to my delight, I can now add the Toronto outfit Whale Tooth to my current list of positive about the 416.

Whale Tooth are a five-piece rock/pop/indie group that will be hitting the road this July for a Canadian tour in support of last year's release of their EP and their upcoming full length.

Drop by the band's MySpace page and check out their standout single "Hibernation Song." It's super catchy, and shows the potential the band could produce on a full length. They've got a sound that I would classify as if Ben Folds picked up a guitar and started touring with Shapes and Sizes. Yeah, they've got that kind of range.

Tour Dates

June 18 @ The Boat, TORONTO (*NXNE w. Les Handclaps)
July 3 @ The Black Sheep, WAKEFIELD (w. Dress Whites, The Monster Show)
July 5 @ Green Room, MONTREAL (w. Dress Whites)
July 7 @ Gus's Pub, HALIFAX (w. Steve Gates, The Monster Show)
July 9 @ Babas, CHARLOTTETOWN
July 10 @ Paramount, MONCTON (w. Clothes Make the Man)
July 11 @ The Capitol, FREDERICTON (w. Black Diamond Bay)

The Gossip are trying to steal my birthday

I've never really known how to feel about The Gossip. My good friend from Philadelphia, Chris, had turned me on to a lot of really great punk bands like Avail and Texas is the Reason before recommending I check out The Gossip a few years back. And while I fell in love with his other recommendations, The Gossip never really hit the mark for me. But I think they're out of for my heart this year as they plan to release their first major-label offering this fall, on my birthday no less, October 6th.

You'll be able to get the album, Music for Men, earlier than that digitally (in June), but you'll have to wait until October for the shiny little CD. Having sampled a few tracks available at the band's MySpace site I still sort of feel like I'm listening to the soundtrack for a bad 80's American Ninja movie, but hey, maybe that's the appeal.

I can't promise I won't shake my groove thing at the bar if their new single, "Heavy Cross," comes across the jukebox come October when I'm out celebrating my 28th year of breaking out of the womb, but I certainly won't feel proud about it in the morning.

Minimalist music with We're into Survival and The Woodlands

2009-06-18T19:20:00.005-05:00

We're Into Survival

I like my rock sometimes like I like my interior design: rocking yet minimalist. That's probably why I enjoyed the few tracks I streamed tonight from Mississippi band We're Into Survival.

They've got a small 3-song EP out, titled Booby Trap, and you can stream it over at their MySpace page. They're far from a finished product, but they've got a raw appeal that makes me want to head down to a club and catch a rock band, which would be a great idea if I wasn't 3 hours from one.

The Woodlands

We're fond of duos from Portland like Talkdemonic, so it seemed only natural that we enjoyed listening to a few tracks from the self-titled debut album from the husband-and-wife duo that is The Woodlands. Continuing with our minimalist theme tonight, The Woodlands offer a delicate sound that dances along quite wonderfully on tracks like "Summerland" and "Asleep in September." Drop by their MySpace page and check them out for yourself.

Nathan Oliver

2009-06-10T21:50:00.004-05:00

I spent a good amount of time this evening deleting my way through my inbox with little luck before I fell upon a few interesting tracks from Chapel Hill, NC band Nathan Oliver. Fronted by musician Nathan White and made up of members of local Chapel Hill bands such as Schooner, Rosebuds, North Elementary, and Ticonderoga, this band really has me digging their track "Icicles for Fingers."

White and band's second album, Cloud Animals, was released earlier this year in March, and now White and crew are receiving some noteworthy praise in the Triangle NC area. I'm definitely going to recommend my sister-in-law who lives in Raleigh drop by one of the shows.

The music has a great feel to it - like something you might happen to wander upon in an empty club and wonder "why the hell aren't these guys playing bigger shows?" I put the sound somewhere between Franz Ferdinand and Conor Oberst, but you can judge that for yourself. Either way, it was the best offer tonight by far.

Nathan Oliver - "Icicles for Fingers"
Nathan Oliver - "French Press"
Nathan Oliver - "State Lines Pt 3"

Visit the band's website for more information.

Stream the new Sunset Rubdown album all week

2009-06-09T22:31:00.004-05:00

National Public Radio has long been a bountiful provider of quality independent music, as is evidenced by their programs such as All Songs Considered and World Cafe (which first introduced me to bands like The Rosebuds). Now that cornucopia has again spileth over, this time in the exclusive first listen of Sunset Rubdown's new album Dragonslayer, which you can stream all week free courtesy of NPR.

According to the press release, Dragonslayer is a stripped down album, with most songs recorded live in the studio, much like their 2007 release, Random Spirit Lover.

If you like what you hear like I do, pre-order the album to receive an instant download, and be sure to catch Sunset Rubdown on tour this summer:

06/11/09 Cambridge, MA - Middle East Downstairs w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/12/09 Brooklyn, NY - Studio B w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/13/09 Philadelphia, PA - Johnny Brenda's w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/14/09 Washington, DC - Black Cat w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/15/09 Chapel Hill, NC - Local 506 w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/16/09 Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/18/09 Baton Rouge, LA - Chelsea's Cafe w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/19/09 Houston, TX - House of Blues - Bronze Peacock w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/20/09 Austin, TX - Mohawk w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/22/09 Tucson, AZ - Plush w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/23/09 Los Angeles, CA - Echoplex w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/24/09 San Francisco, CA - The Rickshaw Stop w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/26/09 Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/27/09 Seattle, WA - Chop Suey w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/28/09 Victoria, BC - Sugar Nightclub w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
06/30/09 Vancouver, BC - Richard's On Richards w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/02/09 Calgary, AB - The Marquee Room w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/03/09 Edmonton, AB - The Pawn Shop w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/04/09 Saskatoon, SK - Louis' Pub
07/05/09 Winnipeg, MB - West End Cultural Center w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/06/09 Minneapolis, MN - 7th Street Entry w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/07/09 Chicago, IL - Logan Square Auditorium w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/08/09 Bloomington, IN - Jake's Nightclub w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/10/09 Toronto, ONT - Lee's Palace w/ Elfin Saddle and Witchies
07/11/09 Montreal, QC - Il Motore w/ Elfin Saddle

Also wanted to share this story about the power of social media in the modern day world. And you thought you had a tough time getting to the computer to post a blog.

Cleveland rocks, can Coffinberry prove it?

2009-06-07T12:21:00.004-05:00

I spent a good part of last evening having a few beers and a couple laughs with some old friends that I hadn't seen for over a year, including my good friend C, a pilot from Cleveland. We were talking about the music scene in Cleveland he mentioned that "Cleveland rocks, but nobody knows that." Well, perhaps the new self-titled record from Cleveland rockers Coffinberry, available June 30th from Collectible Escalators Records and elsewhere online, will help change that.

ON THEIR NEW, SELF-TITLED ALBUM, Coffinberry move beyond their early post-punk affections to revel in a rootsier place ever more acoustic guitars and piano, some surprising yet undeniable vocal harmonies while never failing to make a terrific and powerful racket.

Benefiting from their previous studio experience (including time at Chicago's Electrical Audio), the band retreated for months into the dimly lit basement of the house they occupy on the Cleveland/Lakewood border, to record dozens of new songs on modest tape equipment.

The resulting cut is an astonishing 14-song LP, its sound at once down-to-earth, detailed, and exuberant. Its workmanship points to Coffinberry's dedication and isolation: the bandmates live on a heavily trafficked yet anonymous roadway (a jumble of bars, car washes, and drive-thrus), an appropriate locale in which to create blue-collar narratives of sorrow and sanctuary like New Colorand The Vapors.

Check out a few tracks from the band deemed the “BEST INDIE/UNDERGROUND BAND” of 2008 by the Cleveland Free Times, below:

Coffinberry - "Long Story Short"
Coffinberry - "Smashed On Honey"

The Turf

2009-06-07T12:07:00.003-05:00

Getting ready to enjoy some Brewers baseball here in a bit but wanted to take a moment to talk about the debut album from The Turf, titled Fascination of a Sort.

The Turf are an indie/rock/pop band from Nashville, TN that are finally releasing their debut album after a few years of playing together. Fascination of a Sort will be available for streaming this upcoming Wednesday, June 10, which I'm guessing will be at their MySpace page. There are four tracks up right now on their MySpace page that you can check out (our fav is "To the Disco"). I'd say their music is danceable, without being overly glitzy or glamorous, and raw enough to appeal to your indie rock sensibilities without being pretentious.

Drop by their MySpace page to have a listen and decide for yourself.

New MP3 from Black Mountain founders now playing as Lightening Bug

2009-05-31T18:13:00.003-05:00

I'm a big fan of music that isn't always easy to stuff into a genre, which is why I found myself really digging the first mp3 off the sophomore album Infinite Light from the Vancouver duo Amber Webber and Joshua Wells, otherwise known as Lightening Dust.

As the founding members of Black Mountain, Webber and Wells as Lightening Dust create a sound that is less melancholy and more grounded in classical pop beats and upbeat vocal harmonies, which you can hear in the track "I Knew" below:

Lightening Bug - "I Knew"

Lucinda Williams tour stops by Green Bay

2009-05-31T17:52:00.003-05:00

It's not often that we get a real musician up in my neck of the woods here in Northern Wisconsin, but that will change June 7 when Lucinda Williams drops by Oneida Bingo and Casino for a performance. Williams is touring in support of her latest album, Little Honey.

Since Brett Michaels is about the biggest act we get around here, the stop up from Williams is a pleasant surprise in an area generally devoid of any quality musical acts, especially for only a $10 entry fee. If you want an idea of what it's like to catch her live, check out this recent performance of "Real Love" on Letterman.

Lucinda Williams Tour Dates:

5/28: Anaheim, CA @ House Of Blues
5/29: Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre
5/30: Phoenix, AZ @ Mesa Arts Center
6/01: Santa Fe, NM @ Paolo Soleri Amphitheatre
6/03: Denver, CO @ Denver Botanic Gardens
6/04: Boulder, CO @ Chautauqua Auditorium
6/06: Council Bluffs, IA @ Whiskey Roadhouse
6/07: ONEIDA, WI @ ONEIDA BINGO & CASINO - PAVILION NIGHTS
6/09: Indianapolis, IN @ The Vogue
6/10: Covington, KY @ Madison Theatre
6/12: Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music Festival
6/14: Louisville, KY @ Brown Theater
6/15: Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
6/17: Kansas City, KS @ Harrah's Casino
6/18: Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
8/18: Los Angeles, CA @ Greek Theatre w/ Elvis Costello

Looking forward, Social Distortion will also be dropping by the Oneida Bingo and Casino July 31. You can grab tickets for that show starting tomorrow.

Vacation, all I ever wanted...

2009-05-22T14:24:00.001-05:00

My backyard is bigger than your backyard...

Here in Northern Wisconsin, enjoying Day 3 of my prolonged Memorial Day vacation, along with what seems like half of Chicago. It always irks me that this town, a summer "resort town" if you will, turns into "Little Chicago" on the weekends with all the vacationers from Milwaukee and Chicago coming up to visit their cabins and hit the lakes for some fishing or jet skiing. It does help infuse some younger blood into the bar scene that is usually either dead or filled with people who are nearly dead from old age.

Since I don't feel like sharing the town this weekend, I'm heading over to Minneapolis with some friends to catch the Brewers-Twins Saturday night game, do a little shopping, and then pick the wife up at the airport. But before I start packing I've got some stuff to pass along for you to check out this weekend when you get tired of Uncle Roger trying to get you to go swimming with those annoying little nephews of yours.

Portland's Nurses set to release debut LP Apple's Acre on August 4

Portland pysch-pop trio Nurses will be releasing their debut LP Apple's Acre on August 4 through Dead Ocean, but you can have a listen to a track off the album titled "Caterpillar Playground," a light and whistling little tune that goes well with this warm sunny afternoon, below. We're normally not into the whole psych-pop stuff but this is a pretty catchy tune:

Nurses - "Caterpillar Playground"

Nurses have some upcoming June tour dates on the West Coast that you can check out on the band's MySpace page. If you can't catch a tour date, peep the band's blog to stay up to date on their happenings.

Josh Ottum new album out in fall

Staying in the Northwest, take a second to drop by the MySpace page of Seattle musician Josh Ottum. There you can stream a couple previously released tracks (our favorite is "It's Alright") that are as "refreshingly refreshing" as his MySpace page says. It's Beckish, but with a little Ben Folds, um, folded in. He's got a new album, Like Season, due out in September, so stay tuned to VLM in the future for more on his newest release.

What the @#$@ is a Tamagotchee?

This is a pretty terrible video and an equally terrible song but damn it's catchy. I only wish I knew what the hell a Tamagotchee was (edit: apparently it's a Japanese toy. I guess it would help if I read the email).

Cold War Kids Interactive Video for "I've Had Enough"

2009-05-22T14:22:00.001-05:00

Head over to MTVMusic.com to check out the interactive Cold War Kids video for "I've Had Enough," directed by Sam Jones (same guy that did Wilco's "I am Trying to Break Your Heart").

It's pretty interesting because you can click on each member of the band to either have them play along or mute them - so if you're wondering what "I've Had Enough" might sound like should Nathan Willit go Jeff Tweedy on CWK and embark on his own tour here's your chance. Or how it might sound without drums. Play around with the video, it's cool.

Au Revoir Simone new album Still Night, Still Light, free track for grabs

2009-05-22T14:14:00.003-05:00

As you've probably seen on Muzzle of Bees upcoming shows page, Brooklyn indie pop darlings Au Revoir Simone will be stopping by Madison June 24th to do a show at my favorite Wisconsin venue, the High Noon Saloon. We really hope you choose to attend as not only is it a great place to see a show but also because Au Revoir Simone are really good, like, apple pie in summer with a scoop of ice cream tasty good.

The band released its sophomore album Still Night, Still Light this week, and if you haven't run out and grabbed it yet, you should take advantage of the deal over at Amie Street where you spend $7.98 on the new album and get the entire Au Revoir Simone back catalog for FREE. In addition, you can stream all of the tracks at Amie Street before you buy.

As if that price wasn't enough to entice you to click Buy Now, here's a free track from the new album to wet your whistle:

Au Revoire Simone - "All or Nothing"

More info on the band available at their website.

Book Review: Pygmy, by Chuck Palahniuk

2009-05-22T14:11:00.002-05:00

I picked up Chuck Palahniuk's new novel, Pygmy, this week after taking a couple of books off from one of my favorite authors. It was nice to see Palahniuk return to the more classical novel style - I had a really hard time wading through the multiple narratives in Haunted - so I was glad to see some linearity in this book at least. Of course, Palahniuk throws a curveball this time by altering the syntax of the language to reflect the language capabilities of his main character, Pygmy, a foreign exchange student/terrorist who has come to live with an American family.

It's a typical Palahniuk novel filled with deviant sexual acts and sordid language, but that's half the appeal. Palahniuk is ever the voyeur, and in this novel, he takes those voyeuristic feelings, pairs them with a modern day deviant sexuality, and turns the pages into a postmodern love story that only he could write. It's a pretty quick read at 200 some odd pages, even with the oddly constructed syntax, but as always, thoroughly enjoying.

As you may have noticed

2009-05-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Uh, yeah, we changed some stuff. More to come.

Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a film critic

2009-05-17T20:06:00.005-05:00

Nothing much music wise to talk about this weekend, at least as far as I'm concerned. So let's talk festivals. I'm a little disappointed with the lineup out there so far for Summerfest, easily Wisconsin's biggest non-country-music-dominated music festival of the year. Say that three times fast.

Summerfest usually has a couple of good nights given the wide variety of stages and the nightly headliners at the Marcus Amphitheater (we caught Stone Temple Pilots with Frank Black last year), but this year there's not a whole lot to warrant the 4 hour trip south for us.

Bon Jovi, Keith Urban with Counting Crows, Stevie Wonder, George Strait, Chicago with Earth, Wind, and Fire, Bob Dyland with Willie Nelson, No Doubt, Kenny Chesney, The Fray, and Kid Rock with Lynyrd Skynyrd are among the headliners, with the Dylan/Nelson combo the only one I would really pay to see anymore.

On the other stages, Rancid will be playing, as will Elvis Costello, The Roots, Matisyahu, Rusted Root, Joan Jett, Blues Traveler, The Offspring, Conor Oberst, Meat Puppets, and many more. But yet, I still feel...wanting. Regardless it's usually a pretty good festival because the acts are varied enough to be accessable and the tickets are cheap enough (under $20) that you can afford it. I suppose the price is about as cheap as I would find it to catch someone like Costello or Oberst solo anywhere else, but I might just end up skipping it this year.

Dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a film critic

Went out and caught Star Trek tonight, and I have to say, I was very impressed (as was Rotten Tomatoes, which gave it a 95%).

I was a little worried with the casting given the fact that the kid that played the younger Stifler would be taking over as James T. Kirk but he captured a sort of cockiness that fit the role well. Simon Pegg was great as Scotty. As was Zachary Quinto as Spock. And with the way the story was told it leaves open a vast future of possibilities that now don't have to fall in line with the old Star Trek storyline. The film was served capably by having director JJ Abrams at the helm, and certainly made for a "see in the theater" feel. Rent this at home and you will miss out on half of the beauty of the film. It's grand, shiny and new while still adhering to classic characters and storylines, and just might make a trekkie out of anyone.

Crystal Method drop new album, Divided By Night

2009-05-14T21:13:00.006-05:00

It's been a pretty non-enjoyable week on most fronts, but tonight, I have to say, was pretty successful. Elements of a successful Thursday evening include: New Glarus Stone Soup (that's beer you all you non-Wisconsinites, and a pretty tasty one at that) and season finales of The Office and 30 Rock.

Success!

Crystal Method drop new album, Divided By Night

We're not huuuuge electronic fans, but we do love us some Crystal Method, even though we got introduced to them back when via The Spawn Soundtrack (lame, I know, right?).

Well just this week Crystal Method released their new album, Divided By Night. Unbelievably, you can snag the entire thing in mp3 format over at Amazon for just $2.99.

It's not Vegas by any means, with some songs really missing the mark for us ("Drown in the Now," with Matisyahu, who we normally enjoy, sounds too amateur for a pairing of such talent) but it's still good electronic fun. If you want to try before you buy, you can stream the entire album over at iLike. We've got it playing right now as a backdrop to the Lakers-Rockets game because it's undeniably better than the game commentary, if not as slick as Kobe's jumper.

Off for another Stone Soup.

Stopping by

2009-05-12T22:33:00.003-05:00

Dear blog,

We haven't forgotten about you, we really haven't. Any neither have the 167 unread emails in our blog inbox. Hopefully we'll see you soon.

In the meantime, Ryan drove a couple hours West to the cities and saw The Boss. You can read about it here.

The National likes The Boss, as well. You can hear their cover of "Mansion on the Hill" over at Chromewaves.

New Wolfmother track available for download

2009-04-25T09:37:00.003-05:00

Australian rock band Wolfmother is back with a brand spanking new track from their upcoming second album.

The track, "Back Round," is the first peek into Wolfmother’s soon to come Summer 2009 release.

Back Round is yet another musical offering from the rock gods that will take you back to the era of Zepplin, Hendrix, and Sabbath. Or, for those who wanted to feel less dated, the last time you played Guitar Hero.

In lieu of cash payment for the new track, Wolfmother are encouraging fans to put their money in a righteous place and donate to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal at redcross.org.au

Download the track "Back Round" at the Wolfmother website (email addy required)

Better blogs than ours:

Make sure you drop by Daytrotter and check out the session with VLM favorite Wild Light. Their track "California on My Mind" is pretty much an every day listen. See how well it works at the Daytrotter studio. Also up for listen is a poetry readying from Weezer frontman Rivers Cuomo. This poem, entitled “By The Side of the Road,” "has a Gwar-like Cuomo gagging through a narrative about vomiting and putting his face in it — the act somehow bringing him closer to nature."

Our good blog pal Ryan has a review from Chicago's Peter Bjorn and John show, courtesy of Muzzle contributing writing Jodi Root.

Milwaukee Decider discusses the news that Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson will be headlining one night of Summerfest down in Milwaukee this year. I'll probably pass in favor of seeing Conor Oberst, Rise Against, and Rancid on the 25th instead. No disrespect against Dylan or Willie, but that's just not my crowd.

Last but not least, the always clever Music for Kids Who Can't Read Good has an Earth Day "Go Planet!" mix featuring the likes of Fleet Foxes and Beirut to go grab. Do your part for the planet by listening to these songs. And maybe go plant a tree or two.

Stream two new tracks from the upcoming Xu Xu Fang record, Seven Days Now

2009-04-25T09:03:00.006-05:00

Got a big day ahead of us. Got our eggs here, our Eight O' Clock Colombian coffee, and later today, a little shopping down in Wausau before the NFL Draft. Detroit already got there man, but I'm pretty anxious to see what the Packers end up doing. The Packers need to have a good draft because teams in their conference like Detroit and Chicago have already made moves this offseason to improve their squads.

You might have noticed the addition of a few banners/ads to the site. That's because I recently joined the MOG Music Network hoping for a little more exposure. I'm still sorta trying to figure out how it all works but hopefully things work out for both of us. I'd probably help if I blogged a little more consistently but you know how that goes.

Today I wanted to talk a little about the new Xu Xu Fang EP set to hit the streets April 28, titled Seven Days Now.

Xu Xu Fang featurs Bobby Tamkin (The Warlocks, Hovercraft), and Barbara Cohen, who sang with French band, Air. Barbara's delicate vocal stylings, the same ones you heard when she was with Air, are here combined with a darker, moodier backdrop to produce a sound reminiscent of PJ Harvey record, sliding over slow, rhythmic beats - great mood or chill music for any night. The band is attracting some mainstream visibility with the song "Your Way" which will appear on Gossip Girl Monday, April 27. In addition, there's a sultry cover of the Cure's Fascination Street that I think you're really going to enjoy.

Fans out in Cali can hit up the record release show at The Echo in Echo Park on Thursday, April 30 at 10 pm.

Get to know the band by streaming the two tracks below (our fav is the Cure cover) and by visiting the band's MySpace page.

Xu Xu Fang - "Fascination Street"
Xu Xu Fang - "Your Way"

P.S. If you haven't heard it yet, head over to It's Hard to Find a Friend's MOG page to check out the Surjan Stevens written in "an imaginary world where Sofia Coppola was my confidant." Visit It's Hard to Find a Friend blog by itself, here.

We Heart Elliott Smith, XO, Friends

2009-04-19T19:23:00.006-05:00

It's amazing what a friend's dance with death can for your health. Time spent looking at nutrition labels increases. Any motivation that was needed to get off your ass and go for a walk or a hike in the woods is suddenly much easier to come by. The idea of a twice weekly bowl of ice cream suddenly melts to much smaller, much less frequent portion. It shouldn't take a heart attack from a seemingly healthy 37 year old friend to remind you to take better care of yourself, but then again, what are friends for? Hoping you get well soon friend.

Unfortunately, not everyone in life was so lucky, as was the case with VLM favorite and famed musician Elliott Smith. Author Matt LeMay's XO, which hit stands on April 6, chronicles the genius of Smith's 1998 debut, XO, which remains his defining album.

About the 144-page book:

Many albums could be cited to support the claim that great suffering yields great art. Elliott Smith's "XO" should not be one of them. Smith's 1998 major label debut defies the 'tortured singer-songwriter' stereotype and takes up this defiance as a central theme. At a time when Smith was being groomed for a particular (and particularly condescending) brand of stardom, he produced a record that eviscerated one of the central assumptions of singer-songwriters: that pain is beautiful. Indeed, "XO" insists that romanticizing personal tragedy can only leave you 'deaf and dumb and done'. It backs up this claim with some of the most artful and intelligent music of its day. While these themes permeate "XO", the record hardly registers like a thesis statement. The album's title cleverly reflects one of its central concerns - the difference between how we present ourselves and the damage we do through such self-denial. It's simple lyrical phrasing and characteristically hesitant vocal delivery have led many to overlook how mean, witty and incisive XO is. It is the product of an artist who could never quite shake off the stigma of his early work. Matthew LeMay writes an original take on a widely beloved album, steering clear of the sensationalist suicide angles that have dogged most analysis of Elliott Smith's extraordinary work. [Amazon]

About the series:

33 1/3" is a series of short books about a wide variety of albums, by artists ranging from James Brown to the Beastie Boys. Launched in September 2003, the series now contains over 50 titles and is acclaimed and loved by fans, musicians and scholars alike [Amazon].

Article on the book at Reading Local.

Buy it on Amazon

Thanks to Largehearted Boy for pointing out the release of XO and for being awesome in general.

Karate High School sees zombies everywhere

2009-04-19T19:03:00.003-05:00

Listen up, kiddies...Bay Area band Karate High School has posted a new track called “Zombies Everywhere”(off their Eyeball Records debut Invaders) on the band’s new MySpace page. Invaders will be in stores May 19th.

According to the band, "Invaders is a record about life, love, destiny, self-discovery, accomplishments, disappointments, Heaven, Hell, dreams, reality, hope, realizing it’s never too late to follow your heart, and finding beauty and strength in the most peculiar of places. If there’s one theme that keeps coming back throughout the record, it’s that It’s Okay To Be Yourself. I fought with this concept for a long time, and I still do. There is simply too much media telling you how to look, how to act, and selling you answers to your problems that it’s hard to wade through the bullshit and find something real. If you feel this way too, then hey, this record is for you.

I wrote and recorded most of this record in my old bedroom at my mother’s house. No high-priced studio. No big-name producer with fantastic street cred. No money. Aaron played drums. Geoff played guitar. And I played bass, keyboards, and sang. The only thing I had was a minimal amount of recording gear and an overwhelming need to use music as a way to process life experiences, express them, and gain some type of understanding of What The Hell I’m Doing Here. And yes, I am fully aware of how disgustingly pretentious and self-indulgent that sounds. But what can I say? I’m writing this on my laptop at Starbucks while nursing a Venti Decaf White Mocha With Extra Foam, and my thick rimmed glasses and black beret got the best of me."

Sure, they're a lot like Panic! At the Disco and Fall Out Boy. But they're also hard working musicians and play a damn catchy tune. We can see the appeal, can you? Head over to their MySpace page to learn more and stream the new track + others.

The Monolators

2009-04-19T18:48:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the prolonged absence, but we've had a lot going on (outside of the blog); spring is here (or was, for a few days), baseball season is in full-swing (ha), and well, we're still working on the Easter candy. Hopefully we can get back to posting more regularly, starting today with The Monolators.

With their unique blend of 50’s rock and 70’s punk and their increasingly talked about live performances; where drumsets are used as jumping platforms, food fights ensue and an occasional head bleeds, The Monolators have come a long way since their beginning in 2002 as the husband and wife duo of Eli (vocals, guitar) and Mary (drums) Chartkoff.

Today we're helping you get introduced to the 2008 full-length Don't Dance, which fell under our radars until recently. The opening track, "I Must Be Dreaming," sets the tone for the rambunctious album and just may find its way on to your iPod after a listen or two. It makes us think of what would happen if you crossed a 60's beach surf party with the The Vines. You can check out this track below:

The Monolators - "I Must Be Dreaming"

Other standout tracks include the title track “Don’t Dance” and the live favorite "This is Goodbye":

Listen: "Don't Dance"
Listen: "This is Goodbye"

More on The Monolators at MySpace