2010 Pitchfork Festival

One of these artists above will not be playing at the Pitchfork music Festival this year which is July 16th, 17th or 18th. Go on, go ahead, guess who's not playing.

Pavement- Harness your Hopes

LCD Soundsystem- Time to Get Away

Gregg Almann- I'm No Angel

Date with Ikea

"Date with IKEA" literally. Pavement and imeem agreed to a funny/goofy promotion where a lucky winner will get to spend a day with a member or Pavement at an Ikea. This is a buzz effort to promote the expanded edition of Pavement's fourth LP Brighten the Corners. Yep, its real but it still hasnt been announced who the member will be...

Here's some more info Pitchfork

Here is Streaming "Date with Ikea" Courtesy of Pitch

Stream: Pavement: Date With Ikea [totally unofficial stream] [from the Brighten the Corners LP]

There is also an entire Matador Fall '08 sampler. A Pavement song included "Cataratcs".

Download that here.

The Fourth of July

A few songs to get you in the mood to pop some fireworks, grill a couple of hot dogs, and pound some American brew, none of that import crap either.

Happy Fourth of July weekend.

Disclaimer...these songs are not taking the place of the '08 Summer Mix.

All Songs streaming in the White Box (top Right)


1. Summertime- DJ Jazzy & Fresh Prince
2. Summer- Modest Mouse
3. It's Summertime- The Flaming Lips
4. Gorgeous Summer Jogging- Islands
5. Summer Babe- Pavement
6. Summer Days- Phoenix
7. Heavy Metal Drummer- Wilco

My top five favorite all time songs (for today) & Scientology

Yesterday over lunch I was skimming through the Itunes music store. .
I noticed Jason Lee had a celebrity playlist and was interested to see what this guy likes. He seems like a cool guy, I mean c’mon he used to be a pro skateboarder and has been in some pretty good movies. I liked his playlist for the most part, I later looked on Wikipedia to get a little more Lee info. Holy Shit! Didn’t know Lee was a Scientologist. I’m always kind of let down when I find out people I like are Hubbardites. Ex: Jason Lee, Beck, Chaka Khan. Is that wrong?

Anyway, Lee’s celebrity list got me thinking about my favorite songs.
My hilarious Headline above explains it all. My favorite songs are always leapfrogging each other and sometimes changing. These changes are based on my age, seasonality, work schedule, personal life, and sometimes the newness of an album. Maybe all this changing makes me a bit shallow, but I don’t really care (insert laugh track).

Here are my top 5 right now (today) in no particular order.
Whos got some to share? C’mon just drop em don’t think about it.



Right Click, Save Target As to Download
*The Sea and Cake - Up on Crutches
*George Harrison – Give Me Love
*Pavement - Range Life
*Radiohead - Optimistic
*Modest Mouse – Spitting Venom

Pavement vs. Weezer

Yes, the Headline is shocking but please read on.

Several weeks ago, a couple of friends and myself were discussing music/bands over a few drinks. One thing led to another and next thing you know we're discussing Weezer. I think it all started while a gentleman (hired help) in a bar was acoustically strumming Island in the Sun by Weezer (which, is on a not so stellar 2001 Green Album). Naturally, if Weezer comes up, mention of the Blue Album will soon follow. It did. I was the first to plead my case and say how great the Blue Album is and go on and on about what a great, great album it is and how every track is a winner. Then the question came up - "Well, is it better than Wowee Zowwee?" or maybe Pavement. I kind of felt uncomfortable discussing the two bands together (both kind of the same in some ways, but also so so very different).

Anyway, next thing you know Jim E and Jim V decide to put the two albums head to head. I always like a good music debate and I wanted to be involved at least to add some color if needed.

Quickly, a little background on both bands before we go any further.

Pavement

Not that they need an introduction but Pavement is a legendary indie rock band from Stockton, CA and known by every skateboarding kid thats ever slid on a pair of vans. They formed in 1989 and continued through the late 90's. They are among one of the first rock bands of the current age to gain a moderately wide degree of success without the support of a major label. A very influential band throughout the late 90's and even today. Since the breakup, Stephen Malkmus solo efforts have been very well received. Personally, I love everything hes done since Pavement (sometimes even more than Pavement...there, i said it). Despite not having tons of commercial success, Pavement does have two albums in Rolling Stones, 500 greatest albums of all time.

Weezer

You know who they are. A nerdy looking Rock band based out of LA. They formed in 1992 and are still intact today despite losing a few original member (one being Matt Sharp of The Rentals). Their first album commonly referred to as the Blue album received a lot of attention due to Undone (The Sweater Song) and Buddy Holly. Both videos produced by Spike Jonze. Also, this album was produced by Ric Ocasek. This album is rated 297 out of Rolling Stones, 500 greatest albums of all time.

So, back to the question "What's better, Blue Album or Wowee Zowee?"

When it first came up my first thought was to go with the under dog...my overall favorite of the two, I already decided in my head that it would be Wowee Zowee.

After listening to them both that next week I changed my mind.

Here is why-
Wowee Zowee has SOME great songs on it, and band versus band I will choose Pavement all day long! But, Wowee Zowee has 18 songs on it and I'd say a handful of them are not necessary at all (maybe should've put them on a B side). It seems like they decided to throw everything recorded onto this album and not waste the tape. I've read from other members they were smoking a lot of pot at the time and just thought everything was that good. Pavement is an amazing story, a lot of what I love about them was their attitude, and the fun in discovering the genius behind the distortion and high pitch Malkmus' screams.


As for the Blue Album, when this album came out (in '94)...I was 15. It was different than anything I was listening to at the time. It was post grunge, and not so deep or serious. It was bedroom rock at its finest. You listen to the album now and its still great. Every track is a winner in my ears. Yes, its more polished but I dont think you blame a band for that.

As I look back now, I feel Weezer carried a little of the same attitude as Pavement but it was more packaged and definitely more marketable.


So, as an album - I vote Blue......as a band I vote Pavement.


What are your thoughts?

Right Click, and Save as Target to Download

Pavement - Father To a Sister of a Thought (MP3)
Pavement - Grounded (MP3)


Weezer - My Name is Jonas (MP3)

Weezer - Only In Dreams (MP3)

Fourth of July

Wednesday marks our country's 231st birthday.
I thought it would be fitting to share a few songs from Lawrence, KS based band Fourth of July. I'm a little ashamed to admit that I just found out about these guys last week. Maybe I'm not as cool as I used to be? Anywho, I've listened to the album "On the Plains" and I'm enjoying it very much. For me, it’s reminiscent of early or mid 90's indie rock (Built to Spill, and even Pavement at times).

The band consists of Brendan Hangauer (vocals, guitar), Patrick Hangauer (bass), Kelly Hangauer (keys, trumpet, vocals), Brian Costello (drums), Steve Swyers (guitar), and Adrianne Verhoeven (vocals) formerly of The Anniversary.

So go on, get your "4ofJ" celebration started right by giving these guys a listen.

Fourth of July - Long Gone MP3

Fourth of July - Be Careful MP3