"MOVING"

Since i am in the midst of a move, i won't be able to post as much as i would like, but i hope to get back to my usual huge number of posts very soon. Until i am settled in posting will be done when i can get online. Check out the archives in the meantime.

by the way - it's my birthday today! see ya soon.

*sixeyes

THE CRUTCH

I want to thank The Crutch, Chicago's only rock and roll publication, for putting *sixeyes on their brand spanking new MP3 Blogs section. You can find it on their amazing MP3 page - a page crammed full of goodies. Check it out.

A SONG FOR THE MORNING AFTER

the deadly snakes + i want to die

The White Stripes @The Crutch.net

"The White Stripes
Triple J Radio - Australia
Live at the Wireless / 1-24-2002"

Let’s Build a Home / Going Back to Memphis (Henry and June)

Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground

I Think I Smell a Rat

Good to Me (Brendan Benson)

Isis (Bob Dylan)

Jolene (Dolly Parton)

When I Hear My Name

Apple Blossom

Hotel Yorba

BRIGHT EYES

Conor Oberst of Bright Eyes (hell, he pretty much is Bright Eyes) is one prolific guy. With his heart on his sleeve and a quaver in his voice, he gives us songs with style - a style that can only come from someone honest and committed to what they are trying, or feel compelled, to say. Now... feel compelled to listen.

Lover I Dont Have To Love
From A Balance Beam
Going For The Gold
Something Vague
mirrors and fevers
motion sickness
when the curious girl

"COLD TURKEY" Plastic Ono Band - IDC Remix

If you like this track, Cold Turkey - Plastic Ono Band(IDC remix), you can find more remixes here.

like this... "Ruins Reconstructed" - Brian Wilson/"Smile" sessions.

INDIE MP3

Say hello to "indie mp3", a new addition to the blogroll. Crammed with indie music info and special features like "Track of The Week".

Also new to the roll is the music blog connected to "indie mp3". Some really good stuff here. Visit.

INSOUND.COM

You may have noticed (how could you not?) the links to insound.com on some of my latest posts. I was approached by insound via email regarding their affiliate program and it didn't take me long to sign up. I have wanted to put 'buy' links on the posts so visitors to *SIXEYES could purchase the music if they desired, but there's something about Amazon and it's amazonian size that bothers me, besides I have been visiting insound for a few years now and have discovered vast amounts of new music and bands while there.

I will earn a small commission for each sale to a customer who came from *SIXEYES - although there have been none so far. And I thought I was gonna be rich.

Here's a 10% off coupon you guys can use. Just enter "6ize" at checkout [exp.12.06.04].

COPTER - "White Chocolate"

The first thing you will notice is the dirty, grimy guitar calling your name - your nasty name - the one you wish your lover would breathe into ear. Then the shoved-up-close-into-yer-face Farfisa organ bleating over it all. This is sweaty garagey rock. The vocals sounding like they bled into the mix through every mic except the ones they were supposed to (okay, that's how the vocals sounded coming through the computer speakers - they actually aren't as buried in the mix as i thought).

LISTEN....
+ white chocolate by copter
from the good people @thecrutch.net

FIONA APPLE

A fellow mp3 blogger at Scenestars posted a couple of leaked tracks from Fiona Apple's untitled shelved recording a while back - an apparently 'finished' work that her label deemed not fit for release for some reason. Now there seems to be a movement afoot to get her label to put the record on the shelves.

Listen to the tracks and if you can't find any good reason why they should be sitting on a shelf - go here to vent.

+ Extraordinary Machine
+ A Better Version Of Me

... some older stuff
+ Sleep To Dream live
+ Pale September - from TIDAL ~ buy it at insound!

RUMAH SAKIT

Rumah Sakit is an indie experimental/post rock instrumental band. Whoa... what a mouthful, but what a listen. These four guys (John Baez, Jeff Shannon, Mitch Cheney, Kenseth Thibideau) rock, but they keep your attention with sudden shifts in speed, time, mood, decibel level and if you listen too long, in space.

They've got a sense of humour also, the title of their song 'Careful with that fax machine' is a take-off on Pink Floyd's 'Ummagumma' track 'Careful with that axe, Eugene'.

rumah sakit 2000

rumah sakit
bring on the cobras
careful with that fax machine
wing and wind

obscured by clowns 2002

Rumah Sakit page on MP3it.com with more downloads.
downloads courtesy of MP3it.com

+ no one likes a grumpy cripple
*this is a re-post from early July.

JETS TO BRAZIL

Members of Jawbreaker, Texas is the Reason, Handsome, and Van Pelt make up the band, JETS TO BRAZIL, led by former Jawbreaker, Blake Schwarzenbach. The band plays some very fine rock crafted by Schwarzenbach, whose very distinctive and dry vocal delivers the beautiful lyrics he pens.

"You Are Having The Time Of My Life"
"Pale New Dawn"
"I Typed For Miles"
"Perfecting Loneliness"
"Cat Heaven"
"Resistance is Futile"

BRENDAN BENSON

Brendan Benson makes timeless pop - by that I mean you may have a hard time nailing down when some of his tunes were written and recorded. They are good - catchy and well crafted - but somehow suspended anywhere in pop history from the seventies to current day.

+ sittin' pretty
+ tiny spark via download.com

via metrotimes.com
"Insects Rule"
"Me Just Purely"
"Crosseyed (demo version)"
"Me Just Purely (demo version)"

= you can find a video and some real audio and wma downloads here
= brendan benson website

"Asleep In The Back" / ELBOW

Elbow's "Asleep in the Back" is here.

BRMC + WILCO mp3s

GO here for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and here for a little Wilco.

Stephin Merritt / Jens Lekman

Stephin Merritt (The Magnetic Fields) and Jens Lekman have been linked in many articles about the young Scandinavian Lekman, as how similar their vocals and music appear at times. But Merritt can come across like the voice of doom, whereas Lekman is much lighter, in tone at least, he is in essence an old fashioned crooner working within a modern framework. Listen to both.

The Magnetic Fields
All the Umbrellas in London
Smoke And Mirrors
The Dreaming Moon
Why I Cry
Come Back from San Francisco
Born On A Train
Fear Of Trains
Lonely Highway
When The Open Road Is Closing In

Jens Lekman
+ A Sweet Summer Night on Hammer Hill
+ You Are The Light
+ Black Cab
+ Rocky Dennis Farewell song To The Blind Girl

Stereolab/ "Dots and Loops"

WMA downloads of Stereolab's album Dots and Loops .

TONIGHT'S GREAT SONG

Amon Tobin's + get your snack on.
from the album, "Supermodified"

buy it from insound

TED LEO

Ted Leo (center) is known for his ferociously punky pop tunes imbued with a social conscience. His own site tedleo.com offers up a nice selection of tracks spanning his albums - just click on audio.

or go directly to the directory index...
Index of /audio

*SIXEYES 'EIGHT-TRACK PACK'

These are, for the most part, songs that could have been found on an eight-track, all songs are from kempa.com.

MC5 - 'The American Ruse' (1970)
Eddie Murphy - 'Boogie in Your Butt' (1982)
Klaatu - 'Doctor Marvello' (1976)
Andy Thompson - 'LP of My Eye' From: LP of My Eye (2002)
Harry Nilsson - 'You Can't Do That' (1967)
Harry Nilsson - 'Countin' (196?)
Todd Rundgren - 'Cool Jerk' (1973)
The Zombies - 'Just Out of Reach / Come on Time' (1997)

SECRETLY CANADIAN MP3s

... new stuff @ secretly canadian records

DAMIEN JURADO
"Prices"
THE PANOPLY ACADEMY
"Nocturnally Yours"
"We"

Secretly Canadian MP3 ARCHIVE
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS
"Cripple And The Starfish"
"River Of Sorrow"

ATIVIN
"Double Back"
"Blood"

DANIELSON
"Things Against Stuff"
"Daughters Will Tune You"
"Lord Did You Hear Harrison?"

EARLY DAY MINERS
"New Holland"
Jefferson At Rest

HAVERGAL
"I Am A Frequency"

THE HORNS OF HAPPINESS
"Joyous Laughing Wake"
"Asleep In The Already Known"

THE IMPOSSIBLE SHAPES
"The Perfect Timing"
"Naked Bull Rush"

DAMIEN JURADO
"Texas To Ohio"

JENS LEKMAN
"You Are the Light"
"Rocky Dennis Farewellsong To The Blind Girl"
"Black Cab"

SCOUT NIBLETT
"FireFlies"
"Drummer Boy"

NORMANOAK
"It Is Impossible"
"Slow Explosion"

JUNE PANIC
"Let My Lungs Coin Words"
"Breach Birth Control"

SONGS: OHIA
"Farewell Transimission"

NIKKI SUDDEN
"Fall Any Further"

SWELL MAPS
"Midget Submarines"

JORMA WHITTAKER
"Molly Melancholy"

WINDSOR FOR THE DERBY
"The Melody of a Fallen Tree"
"Spring Like Sixty"

IN MUSIC WE TRUST ~ Label Profile

RECORDS

Alex Steininger started the online music magazine 'In Music We Trust' in 1997. Now, seven years later, it has grown into a national publicity company and a small indie label.

matt sharp [indie rock]
just like movie stars
I Can Lick Any Sonofabitch in the House [indie/country/blues/rock]
dear mr. heston
The Maroons [indie rock]
shipwrecked
No. 2 [indie pop/rock]
a little confusion
more, more
Brady Brock [indie pop/rock]
i'm all smiles

LABEL LINK
in music we trust records
in music we trust magazine

ARTIST LINKS
matt sharp
i can lick any sonofabitch in the house
the maroons
no. 2
brady brock

PEDRO THE LION :: "Tour Dates / Live Downloads"

From the (Pedro the) Lion's mouth...

"These are the same mp3s we were offering before. It's the entire show recorded in Omaha during the summer tour. . Go there and get 'em all. Even if you already downloaded them before... Help us get our hit counts up at PureVolume.com - it'll help us get better placement on the website... which would be good for all of us."

Go here for live downloads.

"TOUR DATES:
Pedro The Lion continues to tour in support of Achilles Heel. They'll be doing a
few shows on the west coast before taking off for the holidays and then will
head out again in mid January and continue through mid March. We are planning a
full US tour that'll hopefully come to a town near you.

Here's what's coming up in the next few weeks.

11/18 Thu - Madison WI @ High Noon Saloon
11/19 Fri - Grand Rapids MI @ Calvin College Fine Arts Center
12/04 Sat - Seattle WA @ Showbox
12/05 Sun - Portland OR @ Crystal Ballroom
12/06 Mon - Rohnert Park CA @ Sonoma State University
12/07 Tue - San Francisco CA @ Slim's
12/08 Wed - Los Angeles CA @ El Rey
12/09 Thu - Pomona CA @ Glass House
12/10 Fri - San Diego CA @ The Casbah

And yes, we are finally planning a tour of the UK and Europe in April. Pedro The
Lion will be touring with South San Gabriel (another band I manage). I will let
you know as soon as we have confirmed dates."

WOLF EYES LIVE via The Wire

WOLF EYES EXCLUSIVE! Live at The Wire's first Adventures In Modern Music festival at the Empty Bottle, Chicago, 24th September 2003

128kbs downloads
Recorded by Malachi Ritscher/Savage Sound Syndicate
Song One (800 k)
Song Two (6.7 MB)
Song Three (5.5 MB)
Song Four (9.3 MB)
Song Five (5.8 MB)
Song Six (4.9 MB)

*go here for more tracks from The Wire.

ALTERNATIVE TENTACLES ARTISTS

The Sermon are just one of many, many artists on the friendly label Alternative Tentacles. Here is a brief review of their song, "Luzerne County", followed by some mp3s from a few other bands on the label.

SONG REVIEW: "Luzerne County"

'First off, getting on yer knees won't help ward off The Sermon, but they don't ask you to get on your knees, just to testify, to bear witness to the apocalyptic swarm of bees pouring from their over heated amps.

Their song, 'Luzerne County', sounds like the band is in a 10,000 foot freefall, strapped to the roof of a '72 Ford Galaxie 500 with it's engine screaming... for mercy or more fuel, it's hard to tell. The Sermon, on the other hand, sound like Atombombpocketknife and The Icarus Line thrown into a blender with a Kansas tornado of African bees... and the blender is never, ever, shut off.'

+ Luzerne County

... here's some more from The Sermon:
+ Time Has Come
+ The Other Side Of The Mirror
+ Surprise
+ Tender Sin

Some fellow Alternative Tentacles bands...

THE FLAMING STARS
"Like Trash" MP3
"Who's Out There?" MP3
"Only Tonight" MP3
"You Don't Always Want What You Get" MP3
"Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" MP3

HAROLD RAY LIVE IN CONCERT
"Turn Me Loose" - MP3
"Busy Body" - MP3
"Soul Dance No. 3" - MP3
"Mish Mash Soul" - MP3

COMETS ON FIRE
"Graverobbers" - MP3 (4.3 MB)
"Let's Take It All" - MP3 (3.6 MB)
"The Way Down" - MP3 (3.2 MB)

MP3 BLOGS AGGREGATOR DOWN... again.

Yep, the aggregator is down again, so it's time to visit the much more visually appealing WEB NYMPH for all the mp3 blogging you can stand.

*6ize top 5ive*

We at *sixeyes have just introduced our *6ize top 5ive* in the sidebar. This is a short list of our, mostly my, current favourites - gotta try and get some input from Madame X, I know she loves Kings of Leon, so she won't hurt me... yet.

I've provided links to the band or artist's sites and to amazon.com if you're interested in buying any of the albums.

THE NOTWIST

The Notwist deserve more attention for their 2002 release, "Neon Golden", (it's good, but Pitchfork loved it, giving the effort a 9.2) and I will start the ball rolling with these tracks from the disc...

One Step Inside Doesn't Mean You Understand
Pilot
Pick Up The Phone
Trashing Days
This Room
Solitaire

THE AUTUMN DEFENSE

John Stirratt and Pat Sansone are The Autumn Defense. Stirratt plays bass for Wilco and it's forefather Uncle Tupelo, while Sansone has worked with artists such as Josh Rouse, Joseph Arthur, and others in a musician or producer capacity and has now recently joined the members of Wilco on keyboards and guitar.


pat sansone(left)and john stirratt

Their music is warm, the sound from the speakers golden, not just due to the melodies, but the production also - these men have spent many hours in recording studios and have obviously been picking up the tricks of the trade. 'Silence' in particular is beautiful, building from melancholy vocal and acoustic guitar to unveil sparkling piano and an organ which varies from lonesome whistle to reedy warmth.


+ silence
+ circles
+ tuesday morning


+ full five paces
+ long forgotten love

Bradley's Almanac - 'LIVE' Arcade Fire

*Bradley has got an entire live performance by the Arcade Fire, including covers of Talking Heads and Neil Young... GO HERE.

*If these artists and songs below look interesting, just imagine how they will sound - visit bradley's almanac for the downloads*

elliott smith - "needle in the hay"
(original verison from the self-titled album)
elliott smith - "needle in the hay"
(full band version - live in nanes, france, 9-28-2000)
bad astronaut - "needle in the hay"
(cover version from their "acrophobe" ep)
giant sand - a six song live set (from the 1992 sub pop vermonstress fest in burlington, vermont)
tom waits - "make it rain" (live on letterman)
keane - "somewhere only we know" (live on conan)
wilco - "theologians" (live on conan)
sloan - an eight song live set (from the 1992 sub pop vermonstress fest in burlington, vermont)
r.e.m. - "maps and legends" (2004 tour rehearsal)
p.j. harvey - "the letter" (live on the tonight show)
pavement - "the killing moon" (echo & the bunnymen cover)
franz ferdinand - "take me out" (live on conan o'brien)

*These and more can be found on site.

AUTOLUX

Just glommed onto this band, AUTOLUX, out of L.A. I think, I liked them and thought you might also...

**sorry, the mp3 links are now dead.**

M83: "NEW TRACKS"+ OLD

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

TEAM LOVE

Team Love is a record label that spreads the "LOVE". Their roster boasts two artists and their website offers both artists releases free to download. Here's the first half of each album, visit Team Love for the rest, or links to where you can buy the music.

TILLY AND THE WALL

1. Fell Down the Stairs
2. Nights of the Living Dead
3. Bessa
4. You and I Misbehaving
5. Reckless

WILLY MASON

01. Gotta Keep Moving
02. All You Can Do
03. Still A Fly
04. Where the Humans Eat
05. Fear No Pain
06. Hard Hand to Hold

WHAT'S "YOUR" THEME SONG?... # 2

(*thanks to everyone who has commented so far, or sent along emails, funny how two emailers (chris and jeremy) mentioned movies in their comments - that the theme songs could queue up as you enter or exit a room, maybe this will make it easier for me, and for you guys, to discover your theme song. keep 'em coming! )

While listening to the insipid, infinitely gag inducing, radio station, I am forced to 'enjoy' at work, you know the type, "Music For Your Work Day!" Please, allow me to vent...

Why would these radio stations foist upon their listeners music that can only diminish their mental capacity, to deaden their taste? I imagine the people who like this stuff to be going through life with their internal "taste-o-meter" stuffed up to the freakin' gills like they've got the mother of all head colds - and now it all, I mean EVERYTHING!, tastes the same, fan-freakin'-tastic! AND IT'S THE SAME JUNK ON ALL THESE STATIONS: Shania, Celine, Avril, George Michael, Hootie, the latest Canadian Idol lunkhead, and right now I am thanking God I can't recall anymore.

Now back to my original line of intent... while listening to this 'soul poison', I heard some on-air guy talking about what was his theme song, his personal theme song, and it got me to thinking, "What was my theme song? And wouldn't it be interesting to find what other people's were? "

So here's your chance, it may take a little thought, it did for me, but I would really like to hear from you guys on this. If possible I will put up mp3s of some of the theme songs. If this triggers verbal diarrhea in some of you, don't fight it, please, just let it flow and send it to me at sixeyesblog@hotmail.com, or leave your mark in the comments.

Now my theme song is... I'm still thinking about that. Let me get back to you on that one.
(*i'm starting to get an idea - a tom waits song or maybe the walkmen)

MIRAH @ womenfolk

Robbie over at the much needed mp3 blog, Womenfolk, (it only concerns itself with female artists, many who need more exposure in the male dominated blogging world), has some great tracks posted by Mirah. I have done a post or two on her in the past, here for instance, and I have to encourage you to visit Womenfolk for these songs.

My favourite Mirah track is from 2001's, "Advisory Committee"...
+ cold cold water
download courtesy of gay.com

Daniel Lanois - "Rockets"

I am not sure how I came across Daniel Lanois' debut release "Acadie", only that I fell in love with the music then and there. The music is at once haunting and sparse (Still Water, Fisherman's Daughter, Ice) and at next, textured and warm with a down-home feel, tracks like Jolie Louise and Under a Stormy Sky reminding me of Sunday afternoons when my dad and brothers would haul out the instruments - guitars, harmonicas, violins and even accordion, for impromptu sessions.



In any event, I have been a fan ever since. And this speaks nothing of his distinguished career producing the likes of U2, Bob Dylan and Peter Gabriel, to mention a few.

Appearing today, without fanfare and in his self-effacing manner, Daniel Lanois' latest release "Rockets": "I always wanted a sort of renegade cd available at the merchandise stand and on the web site. After having accepted the invitation to do a few shows with Dave Matthews, on Jennifer Tipoulow and Adam Samuels encouragement, I decided that the timing was right to put together a CD. It is a combination of live and studio alternative takes. Jennifer did the packaging and Adam did an in house mastering, bypassing the usual complications of mastering. We then went straight to the factory and had them made up. Nice feeling of cottage industry."

I hope you will check it out. I know I will.

Although Acadie remains my personal favourite, go here to download several tracks from what some say is his best album, 2003's "Shine":

+ Falling at your Feet
+ Sometimes
+ Shine

THIS MORNING'S GREAT SONG

"The Right Profile" is about Montgomery Clift, one of the great trinity of American actors who blazed upon audiences from the silver screen in the early 50's (Clift actually began his career in the 40's) - the others being Brando and James Dean. The song refers to how Clift, following a horrific car crash was to be photographed only on the right, "Shoot his right profile", as this was the side that most closely resembled his pre-accident features. If you know Clift's work, the accident didn't disfigure him, it merely made a beautiful man more ordinary.

He was also a troubled man, having to deal with suppressing his homosexuality in America of the 40's and 50's, plus doing so under the microscope of homophobic Hollywood. Add onto this: self loathing, addictions to pills and booze (only exacerbated by the abuse of painkillers after the car crash), and you have the makings of a great biography (Patricia Bosworth wrote one), a great film (not sure if that was done or not), or a great song, done by The Clash... off of "London Calling", here it is.

+ The Right Profile

THE "FOLK" OF PSYCH-FOLK

Psych-folk is what they call it. Mystical, peace 'n' love hippies... neo-hippies... sandals, beads, flowers in their hair, 'tune in, turn on, drop out'... wait, that's the original 60's hippies, but the rest fits. 'Peace and love', 'make love not war', brown rice and tofu - there are many commonalities between the original and current hippie generations and music is a major one.

Psych-folk is a small movement in the music industry. At this point quite a bit smaller than the indie rock machine, but still, in small pockets around the globe, a few of these psych-folk artists, such as Devendra Banhart (pictured above), are creating a stir - a buzz. And here is where we get back to the original psych-folksters who were known to partake of certain substances to get a buzz - accounting for the trippy music they created. It all comes back to the buzz - originally the music was an outgrowth of the buzz, now it seems to be a recreation of the buzz.

Either way, it has produced some very interesting music.


Some Psych-folk artists to listen to:
Devendra Banhart
+ will is my friend
+ be kind
+ autumn's child
+ this beard is for siobhan
Vetiver
+ farther on
+ on a nerve
+ luna sea
joanna newsom
+ clam, crab, cockle, cowrie
+ en gallop
The Skygreen Leopards
+ the heron (a dream of waters, pt. 2)
Charalambides
+ joyshapes / magnolia - this is a page link where 2 songs can be downloaded*

*Exclaim* (music mag) has an article on psych-folk here.

*(this is a re-post from August - some additonal songs have been added.... i'm lazy, sue me.)

ELEFANT

Elefant's music seems so carefully crafted, nothing overdone, the band's influences are not worn as if a second skin, they are trinkets that adorn fingers, wrists and ankles, adding just a touch to the overall composition.

Band leader Diego Garcia has been compared to Morrissey vocally, (there is a slim similarity, but Morrissey is a crooner, Garcia is not), the band's music has drawn likenings to The Cure (i don't hear it), now you be the judge and listen...


"Sunlight Makes Me Paranoid" - insound
"Misfit" - insound
"Now That I Miss Her" - epitonic
"make up"

Wolf Parade

Montreal band, Wolf Parade, were signed a while back to Sub Pop, but there is still no sign of them on the label site. Now Insound.com has a download of "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts". This track being from an early self-titled release entitled... guess.

The song reminds me of no one more than Victoria, BC, band, Frog Eyes, and fellow Montreal collective, Arcade Fire. If you like either of these references, you gotta like Wolf Parade. It turns out WP got together in Victoria and has members who have been a part of Arcade Fire and Frog Eyes.

listen to...
+ "Dear Sons and Daughters of Hungry Ghosts".

NINO ROJO // "Little Yellow Spider"

I picked up Devendra Banhart's latest effort, "Nino Rojo", a few weeks ago at a local indie shop. The just-rolled-out-of-bed guy propped up behind the counter took the disc from my hand and waving it in the air said, "Good choice". It was.



Recorded during what must have been many hours behind a mic, as Banhart recorded these tracks at the same time he recorded, "Rejoicing in the Hands", these tracks bear a resemblance to their sister album, but here Banhart spreads out a bit, adding more instrumentation.

For me, with so much music at my fingertips, I rarely listen to an album over and over, and that is true with "Nino Rojo" as well. But the track I enjoy the most is, "Little Yellow Spider". If you crossed Dr. Doolittle with Bob Dylan, the resulting "morphant" would pen this song.

Devendra Banhart - Little Yellow Spider

FRANKLIN DELANO "QUESTION"

SONG REVIEW:
I've always been attracted to contrast in music, from different guitar figures to the blending and unblending of two voices that shouldn't sound good together, but do. This is what you get with 'Question' - from the guitar weave to the sweet and sour vocals of Paola Iocca and Marcella Riccardi. It comes at you in waves... waves of guitar patterns - arpeggios, harmonics - electric, acoustic - only to be broken by the line, ' It's not a question...', right up against your ear - like Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western, all breathy, like he's oddly out of breath from climbing off his horse.

Some think of Italy when they hear the term 'spaghetti western', but they were most often made in Spain. Although Italy is where the band Franklin Delano is from - made up of Iocca and Riccardi, plus Vittoria Burattini and Stefano Pilia. A band self-described as the 'dark side of post-folk'... a christening which baptises them in the same moody Americana waters as The National and Okkervil River.

+"QUESTION"

**more downloads can be found here.

THE KING OF INDIE HAS ARRIVED!!

A FEW OF YOU HAVE SPOKEN and... the "KING OF INDIE" is! ...
BEN GIBBARD!

He of death cab for cutie, all-time quarterback, and the postal service
listen...

Death Cab For Cutie
+ we looked like giants

The Postal Service
+ sleeping in

solo acoustic
Ben Gibbard - I Was A Kalidescope
Ben Gibbard - Recycled Air

Honourable Mentions:
John Vanderslice + pale horse
Tom Waits + alice

TIMES BEACH RECORDS

"Times Beach Records is an independent label created by artists (current and cynical) for artists (current and future), without templates or formulas, yet with a vision: to take songwriters—some of whom sing—and give them the freedom to make and release their music their way. You see, Times Beach believes the word “eclectic” does not necessarily have to translate as 'sh**ty'. We like to cater to art, not accounting. " - Times Beach Records Website Times Beach Records is located in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Audra Kubat [pop/folk-rock]
georgia
tomorrow never comes
Deadstring Brothers [ alternative americana]
27 hours
Ethan Daniel Davidson [ indie punk/folk/rock/blues]
kaldonia
Gold Cash Gold [rock]
Vultures
World in my Head
Man [rock]
Blue Law Sunday

LABEL LINK
timesbeachrecords.com
ARTIST LINKS
audra kubat
deadstring brothers
ethan daniel davidson
man
gold cash gold

*6TEEN TRACK MIX*

Royal City: Bad Luck
Ryan Adams: To Be Young (is to be sad, is to be high)
Bright Eyes: I'll Be Your Friend
Neko Case: Things That Scare Me Not
Tom Waits: How's It Gonna End
New Radiant Storm King: Subway Token (Save My Soul)
Chin Up Chin Up: Virginia, Don't Drown
Mates of State: Ha Ha
Travis Morrison: Song for the Orca
Slackjaw: Unlucky Ghost
Windsor for the Derby: The Melody of a Fallen Tree
The Constantines: Long Distance Four
Moxie Motive: My Bush Stinks
The Budget Sinatra: 3 Lane Highway
Luke Temple: Make Right With You
Elliott Smith: Memory Lane

TONIGHT'S GREAT SONG

I like music. It doesn't matter if it's Peruvian, Indian, or American, there's something good too be found in all types of music. It just happens that this is American music...

+ I Like American Music by Violent Femmes

JOHN VANDERSLICE: "mass suicide occult figurines"

John Vanderslice not only goes about his way without disturbing the surface of rock 'n roll hype, he is also one of the more generous talents in independent music... as evidenced by the mp3s offered freely on his home site.

here's an example of his giving ways.

TONIGHT'S GREAT SONG

"Wasp Nest" is the lead off track from The National's new 7 song EP entitled, "Cherry Tree" (Brassland US - Talitres EU).

The song opens with a ringing buzz of bells, the way wasps would buzz above your sleepy head, hidden in thick green leaves wrapped about dark branches - as you awaken on a summer afternoon.

When The National's Matt Berninger begins to sing, he sounds the way you do once or twice a year when you're nursing a cold and the Benylin begins to wear off - the way you wish your voice would stay, but without the sore throat, the runny nose, you know... you've been there. It's a hefty voice, quietly strong and confident, a voice that walks softly, but carries a big stick. Let me give you a bit of advice, let him hit you with that stick - let him beat you about the skull with it. It won't hurt... trust me.

+ WASP NEST

AQUEDUCT

Sharing a label with big 'indie' names like Death Cab and John Vanderslice must mean some of that good stuff they got going on rubs off on you... or maybe it's just Aqueducts's label (Barsuk) and it's great staff picking just the right bands to be represented on their great roster.

from barsuk.com...
"Barsuk Records has released a 5-song CD-EP, pistols at dawn, which serves as an excellent introduction to Aqueduct's smart, wry, bedroom pop. Built from an arsenal of keyboards, pianos, drum machines and a great sense of humor, these five songs are just a taste of the musical funhouse that's to come. A full-length release is in the works for early 2005."

Aqueduct was a smart signing by this premiere indie imprint, it may not be apparent yet (especially if you haven't listened to the mp3s yet), but it will be.


LISTEN...
Growing Up With G'N'R
Assignment #1: Heart Design
Post Rock & Slightly Seasoned

Hardcore Days, Softcore Nights from barsuk.com
(*copy and paste this short cut into your browser to download the mp3)

THE SELF STARTER FOUNDATION

"The Self-Starter Foundation... low stakes, medium fun, hijinks. "... is the motto on their website and this New York City based label is indeed hi... on the jinks that is... if jinks be good music.

Here's a sampling of artists + mp3s found on the label...

Sea Ray [indie/neo-psychedelic space rock]
lalaland
Lifter Puller [alt/indie pop-rock]
Let's Get Incredible
Lie Down On Landsdowne (version)
space Humping $19.99"
Actionslacks [alt/indie pop-rock]
"This Damn Nation"
"Close To Tears"
"I Hope This Makes It Easier For You"
"Folding Chair"
"Shining Jewels" (acoustic)
"Folding Chair" (acoustic)
"Bury Me In The Blue Sea" (acoustic)
The Detachment Kit [indie rock]
dead angels make slow sound
The Illustrious Daniel Boone: Pioneer Of Social Ingenuity
Enduro [hardcore punk]
"Rock Music"
"Shaky Sister"
"Sugar Shaker"
The Apes [garage punk/post-punk/exp. rock]
"Lightning"
"Ape Town"
Beyond Beyond

LABEL SITE
the self-starter foundation
ARTIST LINKS
sea ray
lifter puller
the detachment kit
actionslacks
the apes
enduro

SHATNER - "Has Been"

Possibly some of you haven't heard William "Captain Kirk" Shatner's rendition of Pulp's "Common People". Ably assisted by Ben Folds on the new disc, "Has Been", Shatner winks at his own public persona and at the same time himself preening in the mirror.

The 'Captain's' version + common people

pulp version
+ common people

*Bonus from "Has Been"...
+ that's me trying

Ken Stringfellow

Ken Stringfellow has been around the block. First getting deserved attention for his part as a member of 90's band, the Posies, then having the good fortune of touring with REM and cult band Big Star, now he has a recurring gig as a member of Minus 5. But somewhere during all of this he has slipped three solo discs under the indie pop door, and waited for someone to pick it up. Well, don't keep him waiting... PICK IT UP!

Here is, easily, one of the best tracks from his most recent solo work, "Soft Commands", courtesy of download.com - 'You Drew'(MP3).

It's pure, classic, intelligent pop - brimming with his pleasing, softly nasal vocal, the song driven by an upfront, upbeat piano, and buoyed sweetly by a whirring organ. A great song.



"But you drew the poison from me, picked me off the bayonet tree,
Pulled me like a tooth that kept your nights from finding sleep"

"You Drew" lyrics