My First Favorite Band

This is the song that did it for me. I listened to the first song on Daydream Nation and I was magically hooked.

The video isn't bad either.

Your Opinion

If you haven't listened to Scott Weiland's "12 Bar Blues" you're depriving yourself. It's one of the most underrated solo albums of the past 10 years.

If you've listened to Thom Yorke's "The Eraser," chances are you're a Radiohead fan. "Throw cars in a wishing well" is a pretty cool lyric but what else have we got here?

I don't know. It's up to you. On solo efforts, between these to albums, I pose the question:

Which album is better and why?

Cool Article

Okay, its not music related so if you want to give me a hard time I completely understand and deserve whatever reprobation you throw at me.

Despite all that you should check out Summing It Up (In Six Words).

Think: Your ultimate précis.

I invite all readers to contribute to this interesting summation of personal lives.

Whom even can discover my real name (who doesn't already know it) will get an amazing prize. (I don't know what it is.)

Another Blog Recommendation

I recently came across this Italian music blog on indie music.

I like "reading" foreign information sources. Sometimes I can understand what they are talking about and sometimes I can't. But it is always good to go out and look.

In case web search engines are crawling this site here is teh exact address of The Italian Indie Blog (http://indiemusic.blogosfere.it/)

- Ben

The best unsigned band in America

They're called Bears. I really love them alot. Their stuff is available on iTunes. They had a new EP come out in 2007. The quality on this is crappy. Check out their myspace or iTunes for better versions.

I really like this song

Eugene McGuiness--Monsters Under My Bed.

Mining MySpace - We Were Promised Jetpacks

I swear I'm not fixated on Glasgow (Updated - Feb. 18, 2008: though that swear was a lie at the time I initially wrote this I am not ashamed to make my readers aware of that fact. I am officially over my addiction to the current happenings over in Glasgow - I am also over my coverage for the time being of Australia, New Zealand and Amsterdam - though I always tend to drift back there on occasion. A bon voyage to those readers whom I have really never met.) Though I wouldn't be embarrassed to say so if I were. My next entry will be about a different music scene. Before then I just have to bring We Were Promised Jetpacks to your attention. They're really (Update: Id. removed "effing.") good!

I think Bloodshed In The Woodshed nailed it with this entry:

Every now and again you accidentally stumble upon something quite brilliant. The open-mouthed moment of wonder when you realise you've been an idiot for not hearing something so amazingly good before has to be one of my favourite feelings on earth. Today this happened to me.

And to me today. I can't stop (Update: Id. I did.) listening to Quiet Little Voices and Moving Clocks Run Slow. You shouldn't be able to either. I would love to hear some more music by WWPJ. (Update: Id. I won't.) If anyone out there in music blog land can point me in the right direction please let me know! (Update: Id. they didn't.)

CALL IN SICK TO WORK TOMORROW

Radiohead will be releasing their North American tour dates and venues tomorrow, February 12. One has leaked. They'll be playing west palm beach may 5. Tix on sale 2/16.

Preliminarily, I've identified the following shows, I want to go to: (i) WPB; (ii) Tampa; (iii) Miami; (iv) Atlanta; (v) Boston; (vi) NYC; and (vii) Chicago. Because I work, all the dates are contingent on being weekends, so we'll see.

Soko is awesome

You rarely see women write songs like these. Soko is good. She's out there. I really like her accent. The first song is called I'll Kill Her, and, uh, its meaning is pretty obvious. The second is Shitty Day. I actually like Shitty day more. Its self-explanatory as well.





Her best song, I think, is I Will Never Love You More. The only good version can be found on her myspace page.

Check These Guys Out

They're called The Bell. I dig these two tracks. The first one is called On and On. The second is called I am History.

Another new band to check out the redux

Here's another band called the Lovekevins. The song is called Private Life of a Cat. They've definitely got a very unique sound. Will definitely check them out when their album comes out.

Another new band to check out

They're called Loveninjas. I'm digging the album I just got. Below is the lead single from that album. Its called "I wanna be like Johnny C." The song reminds me alot of Different Class era Pulp. I can't tell if this song is about Jarvis Cocker (from Pulp) or the comic book character Johnny C AKA NNY/ Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. Its definitely not about Johnny Cash. I'm leaning towards Jarvis Cocker on this one.

Does anyone know the answer?

Music Software: Peel

A friend of mine recently recommended Peel to me. It's one of those pieces of software that have a singular task and performs that task smashingly. What does it do though?

Basically Peel is an MP3 blog reader and player. You subscribe to MP3 blogs and the blogs and the music pop up like you are in iTunes. What's cool is that you can stream the music from the site and if you like it downloads it and Peel will put it in iTunes for you.

What's so great about that? Well, if you have to ask you don't subscribe to many MP3 blogs. Peel takes all the hassle out of finding and listening to music from all the blogs that post it. You really won't believe how awesome this is until you try.

The developer, Hjalti Jakobsson, has made it pretty easy to try too. He gives you a 25 day trial period and if you like the software (and you will) it only costs $15 bucks.

There's only one downside to Peel. It's Mac only. If anyone is aware of a similar piece of software for the Windows world let me know and I'll give it a try too.

Try It Out

Here are some MP3 Blogs I like:

http://indielaundry.blogspot.com/

http://letmelikeit.blogspot.com/

http://iguessimfloating.blogspot.com/

http://fuelfriends.blogspot.com/

http://facesinthesand.blogspot.com/

http://eardrumsmusic.com/

http://docopenhagen.blogspot.com/

http://www.canyouseethesunset.com/

http://tralalaclub.blogspot.com/

http://www.muzzleofbees.com/

http://obscuresound.com/

http://powerpopaholic.blogspot.com/

http://www.saidthegramophone.com/

http://popregister.blogspot.com/

http://turnthepageblog.blogspot.com/

Couple of new bands

I haven't finished my list. I know, I know, criminal, as if everyone knows Boxer isn't going to be #1?

Here's Throw me the Statue. Really good. Can't wait for their record to come out, February 19.



This is Sambassadeur. They're album, Migration, is fucking awesome. They're self-titled 2005 album is fantastic also. Just hearing about this band, but, apparently they've been around for awhile. Definitely check them out.



By the way, anyone going to any of the following shows in Orlando--Dead Meadow, Band of Horses, Jose Gonzalez, The Walkmen (with Vampire Weekend), or Tokyo Police Club? If so, let me know. I'm definitely going to all of them except Dead Meadow...Not sold on them yet.

Preview of New South Album--You Are Here

Second tuesday in April, the new South album will drop. Its called You Are Here. This will be one of the best albums of the year. I can't believe this band isn't huge. You can preview two tracks here.

http://bluhammock.com/pages/bluPlayer.asp?recordingID=184&artistID=19

I really love the tracks, especially Wasted.