ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up North Carolina's The Rosebuds did "Shake Our Tree" from their new album Birds Make Good Neighbors (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) which I think is more interesting than their 2003 album Make Out (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music), but not necessarily better. Next was Canada's up-and-coming, pop sensation-to-be Columbus with their song "Christian Girls" from their new EP called, appropriately enough, Debut EP (Scratch Records). Then San Francisco's art-rockers Deerhoof did "O'Malley, Former Underdog" from their brand spankin' new album (currently only in iTunes, but coming out on cd on the 11th) The Runners Four (iTunes) which is great, if you like that sort of thing. And finally, Montreal's indie rock outfit du jour Wolf Parade did "Shine a Light" from their new album Apologies to the Queen Mary (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, a fun new group from Japan called PINE*am with the song "Do I Know You" from their album Pull the Rabbit Ears (iTunes, Amazon) most of which sounds like it could be heard during an anime film where the main characters just play video games all the time. Then one of the most consistent bands ever, Los Angeles' Celtic/Punk Flogging Molly did "What's Left of the Flag" from their 2002 album Drunken Lullabies (iTunes, Amazon). Next was the UK band Research with their funny new song "I Love You But..." from a two-track EP called C'mon Chameleon (7Digital, Amazon, Eil.com). And finally, going back to 1997 for a classic Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds song called "People Ain't No Good" from the album Boatman's Call (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Austin's promising new indie pop/rock group Voxtrot did "Raised By Wolves" from their debut EP by the same name (Other Music, Online). Next was the French-sisters act CocoRosie who did "Noah's Ark" from their new album by the same name (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Then the Argentina's Contramano did "Checking U" from their self-titled debut album (iTunes, Amazon). And finally, Wales' lo-fi pop-pop songster Helen Love did "Debbie Loves Joey" from her latest EP The Bubblegum Killers (iTunes, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, London's quality electronica outfit Mint Royale with their song "Little Words" from their new, rather-good album See You In the Morning (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Also check out the video to their song "Singing In the Rain". Next was Ireland's Hal who, from track to track, you can actually hear the sound of their hat-tipping to The Beach Boys or Harry Nilsson, but in this song, "Fools By Your Side", they sounds more like something else I can't pinpoint. The song is from their at-least-average self-titled debut album (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Melbourne, Australia's (NOT NYC's AS I SAY IN THE EPISODE!), New Buffalo, did "I've Got You and You've Got Me" from last year's The Last Beautiful Day (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally Iceland's fantastic Sigur Ros did "Hoppípolla" which I am told means "Hop in a Puddle" from their forthcoming (released tomorrow) new album Takk (iTunes, Amazon), which means "Thanks".
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL NEW ORLEANS POST-HURRICANE EPISODE)First up, London's (via New Zealand) The Veils did their somber "The Valleys of New Orleans" from their 2004 debut The Runaway Found (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then long-time indie favorites The Silver Jews did "New Orleans" from their '94 album Starlite Walker (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was one of my favorite classic New Orleans' instrumental bands, The New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra, with "SOME SONG" was taken from the Arhoolie Records release Creole Belles (iTunes, Amazon, Arhoolie). And finally, from The Smoking Popes final album, featuring standards covered by the band, called The Party's Over (iTunes, Amazon), we heard "Stormy Weather".
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, California's fascinating band The Heavenly States answer the question "what do you get if you cross a punk singer with a rock band a pop tune writer?" with their song "Elastic Days" from their newest, quality album Black Comet (iTunes, Amazon). Then Chicago's The Fruit Bats did a great song called "Lives of Crime" from their great new album Spelled in Bones (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). You're forgiven if you assumed at first that they were Of Montreal. Next was Norway's fluttery songstress Hanne Hukkelberg with "Cast Anchor" from her 2005 EP by the same name (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally, Los Angeles' Radar Brothers who, the worst thing you can say about is that they are so consistent as to be boring in large doses, did better track called "Papillion" off their newest album The Fallen Leaf Pages (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL NEW BANDS THAT SOUND OLD EPISODE!)First up, NYC's great new group that could easily pass for being from 40 years ago The Dansettes did a demo song called "Forty Days". They have a new EP coming out soon. Get on their email list for details. Next was Big Sandy(without his Fly-Rite Boys) doing a 50's nod called "Have Love Will Travel" from his album Dedicated to You (iTunes, Amazon). Next was the UK's The Bees (formally The Band of Bees) whose album is a when's when of earlier sounds. We heard "The Start" from their recently released in the US album Free the Bees (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next, also from the UK, was Little Barrie with the song "Free Salute" from their debut album We Are Little Barrie (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Michigan's Saturday Looks Good to Me did "Lift Me Up" from their latest album Every Night (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally some straight up R&B from an electronica producer very well disguised, meet Jamie Lidell. The song was the title track from his album Multiply (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Liverpool's Kathryn Williams did a cover of Nico's "These Days" from her all covers album Relations (iTunes, Amazon). On the same album she covers Pavement's "Spit on a Stranger" which is one of my favorite of their songs. Her's isn't as good as Mr. Malkmus', but it sure beats Nickel Creek's attempt. Next was the song "Forces" from Sweden's The Concretes new release of their album of previously-hard-to-find-in-the-US-songs Layourbattleaxedown (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then we heard Seattle's pre-teen wonder-girls Smoosh, and their song "Massive Curve" from their only album so far She Like Electric (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Smoosh is playing a couple of shows in NYC, and elsewhere. So check these kids out if possible. And finally New Orleans' most promising rock band in recent memory, World Leader Pretend, did "Tit for Tat" from their debut album Punches (iTunes, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL EXTRA-LONG MY FAVORITE COUNTRY/WESTERN SONGS EPISODE!)First up, the Canadian-born country/rockabilly/dance-hall-geniuses Ray Condo & His Ricochets are on full tilt for "Done Gone Crazy" from their 1997 album Door to Door Maniac (Amazon). Then The Dave & Deke Combo did their toe-tappingly fun song "Two Timin' Mama" from their 1996 album Hollywood Barn Dance (Amazon). Next I laid the smack down with some quality country covers of non-country songs. First was the Gap-tastic Queen cover by Dwight Yoakam of "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" from, among other places, his Very Best of... (iTunes, Amazon). Then Austin's Dollar Store did the best Cher cover ever, "Believe" from their not-terribly-good self-titled album (iTunes, Amazon). (Cowboy hats off to Coverville for turning me on to that one.) Then it was back to the good-ole traditional country/western sounds with Tennessee Ernie Ford doing "Ballad of Davy Crockett" from any number of his around 100 releases, like this Greatest Hits (Amazon). Then we took it to the trailer park for Southern Culture on the Skids stand-out Little Debbie Love Ballad "Camel Walk" from their album Dirt Track Date (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Faux-old-timey-band Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys were next with "Three Years Blind" from their 1997 album Feelin' Kinda Lucky (iTunes, Amazon). Then we heard two songs by the legendary Austin country songster Blaze Foley. First was "Wouldn't that Be Nice" (not a Beach Boys cover), followed by the title track to the album, his prescient "Oval Room," which one can only assume was written about the Bush Dynasty (iTunes, Lost Art Records). And finally the classic western swing band The Light Crust Doughboys did "Happy Trails" from their limited edition, no longer available album Doughboy Way.
This week's episode features a clip from the podcast for Ebert & Roeper at the Movies as they review the new Dukes of Hazard movie.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, the United Kingdom's great new rock act, The Envelopes did "It is the Law" from their forthcoming album (released this week) Demon (Amazon), you can buy this song from iTunes. Next was some quality German electronica by Mouse on Mars called "Send Me Shivers" from their most recent album from last year called Radical Connector (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then one of my favorite songs by the band Solex called "One Louder Solex" from their 1998 album Solex vs. The Hitmeister (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally from the eagerly anticipated new album from Michigan born Sufjan Stevens called Illinoise (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music), we heard the appropriately titled song "Chicago."
This week's episode has a clip from the July 29th Counter Spin from the media watch-dog group FAIR. (subscribe to their Podcast)
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, New York City's awesome, modern-day-ragtime-band The New Rags did two songs off their new EP Take Jennie to Brooklyn (Silent Stereo Records). We heard "Your Room" and one that reminds me of older Of Montreal called "Love of My Life". Next was a song by former Pixie and longtime quality rocker Frank Black called "I Burn Today" from his brand new album Honeycomb (iTunes, Amazon). Then another New York City indie rock band, The Cloud Room, with their song "We Sleep in the Ocean" from their self-titled debut album (iTunes, Amazon). They have a great video for their standout song "Hey Now Now" on their website as well. And finally Andover, Massachusetts' longtime pop-punk band Piebald did "Part of Your Body is Made Out of Rock" from their 2004 album All Ears, All Eyes, All the Time (iTunes, Amazon).
This week's episode has a Sounds in My Head first... an ad! But it's not really an ad, because no one is paying me to play it. It's really just a promo for The Dorktones Podcast. It's a cool show out of Norway that features classic surf/soul/reggae/rock/etc. This week's show also had a clip from the July 21st episode of Air America Radio's The Majority Report about Bush's "bold pick" of John Roberts for the supreme court.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, the UK's Interpol, known as Apartment, did "Everyone Says I'm Paranoid" from their EP by the same name (iTunes, Amazon). Then Austin's Ghostland Observatory did "Silver City" from their recently released, debut Delete, Delete, I Eat Meat (Indierect Records). After listening to Ghostland Observatory's album I was reminded of New York City's The Bravery, so we heard their fantastic "The Ring Song" from their self-titled debut (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) from earlier this year. And finally on this episode, California's alt/country King Straggler did "Rebel" from their new, also self-title debut (iTunes, CD Baby).
This week's episode features a clip The Muppet Show. Which incidentally will have a complete season one DVD box set release on August 9th. Pre-order yours now at Amazon. If you're into that sort of thing, like I am, check out my favorite Muppet website: Toughpigs.com.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, California's prolific lo-fi indie rockers The Mountain Goats did "This Year" from their recent album The Sunset Tree (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Canada's also lo-fi, also indie rockers The Unicorns did "I was Born (a Unicorn)" from their 2003 album Who Will Cut Your Hair When I'm Gone? (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Scotland's now-defunct The Vaselines did "Son of a Gun" from their 1994 collection The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History (Amazon, Other Music). And finally we heard The Real Tuesday Weld with "The Ugly and the Beautiful" from his 2004 album I, Lucifer (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
This week's episode features a clip from Democracy Now!, where they played a clip of FoxNews' Britt Hume following the tragic attacks on the London public transit system. Here's the RSS Feed to paste into iTunes to download every episode automatically!
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL JULY 4th EPISODE!) First up, the late, great Elliott Smith did the fitting song "Independence Day" from his XO album (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then another everybody-knows-it-and-better-own-it song good for listening to on July 4th, the Violent Femmes with "American Music" from their 1991 album Why do Birds Sing? (iTunes, Amazon). Next was Sounds in My Head favorites' The Essex Green out of the love and wonder that is Brooklyn, with a song asking you to pray for people in southern states. Not a bad idea, Lord knows they need it down there. The song was "Southern Sates" from their 2001 album The Long Goodbye (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally Denton, Texas' own Little Jack Melody & his Young Turks did "America" (from West Side Story) released on their album World of Fireworks (Amazon, Band's Store). You can also watch a video I made for this song.
This weeks episode features a special David Cross interlude perfect for all the flaggots, from his 2002 album Shut Up You Fucking Baby! (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, a new song by New York City's Laura Cantrell called "Bees" from her (also new, obviously) album Humming by the Flowered Vine (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) Her song "14th Street" is available for free. Next was Chicago's Ok Go with their brand new cover of The Cure's "The Love Cats" from their Do What You Want EP (iTunes, Amazon). No it's not AS good as the original, but hey not all covers are, listen to Coverville sometime if you don't believe me. Afters that the 1960's pop sensation Jimmy Justice (who was admittedly less than a "sensation" in the US, but big-time in the UK) did a version of one of my favorite standards "I'm Beginning to See the Light" from a collection called Ain't That Funny (The Pye Anthology) (iTunes, Amazon). Then, because I was inspired by their awesome-even-without-Neko Case show at Celebrate Brooklyn over the weekend, we heard the title track from the upcoming (August 9th) New Pornographers album Twin Cinema (Download from Matador's site, pre-order from Amazon). And finally since a little bit of Laura Cantrell is always better when followed with a little more Laura Cantrell — and because i just re-watched Oliver Stone's epic JFK — we heard Laura Cantrell's cover of the old Homer Henderson song "Lee Harvey Was a Friend of Mine" from her original Hello Recording Club release from 1994 (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
The episode features clips from both Bill Hicks and the June 24th episode of On the Mediafrom NPR. UPDATE: This week's show (as of Wednesday June 29th) has been optimized for the new iTunes v4.9! Now it has jump-to chapter markers and lots of art and links!
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:(SPECIAL EXTRA-LONG, STUFF-YOU-CAN'T-BUY EPISODE!) First up, a barely released version of The Reverend Horton Heat's great song "Party Mad" from a 1990 local music collection called Tales from the Edge Vol. 1. This CD was released by one of the very first "alternative" format radio stations in the country, the original EDGE which was later bought by Clear Channel and chained all over the country. Still in it's infancy in 1990, 94.5 The Edge was truly "The Cutting Edge of Rock" (read an article featuring the creator of both the station of the Tales from the Edge series). A notably worse, but still decent version of "Party Mad" was released a full 14 years later on their 2004 album Revival (iTunes). Next was the bootleg version of Coldplay's "Trouble" which made it's way into the rotation of many radio stations in 2000 much to the chagrin of the band. Radio station's largely acquiesced to the wishes of the band, and the song was never heard from again, nor was it's remixer. After that The Concretes did "Teen Love" from their first, not-so-released (in the U.S. anyway), and now out-of-print album Boy, You Better Run Now. Then another anonymous mashup from the seedy underbelly of the internet, Björk vs. The Supremes with "Isobel (The Supremes Mix)" or sometimes referred to as "The Old School Mix", this song has obviously never been released. After that, Bob Peck did "Sweet 16" from the RE/Search collection's Incredibly Strange Music Vol. 1 (which is perhaps the most purchasable thing in this episode). Then Sounds in My Head favorite They Might Be Giants did "Your Racist Friend (The Sampladelic Remix)" from the 12" Don't Let's Start single from 1990. The un-remixed verion can be found on their landmark album Flood (iTunes). Then Davíd Garza (from his early days as Twang Twang Shocka Boom) did "Always Give Your Love Away" from the cassette-only, 1990 Me So Twangy. And finally R.E.M. did "Shiny Happy People (The Pop Mix)" from a radio promo from 1991.
No, it's not an email hoax, NPR and PBSreally are in jeopardy! If you haven't, PLEASE go sign the petition to let congress know that you don't want public broadcasting destroyed just because the Bush administration cut taxes for billionaires and thus destroyed the federal budget.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, The Jackson Five have been remixed along with a good many of their motown pals on Motown Remixed (iTunes, Amazon) which takes the Verve Remixed series to the next logical level. We heard the song "I Want You Back" the Z-Trip Remix. Next Queen-meets-Devo-esque Sparks did "Suburban Homeboy" from their 2002 album Lil' Beethoven (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Dalla... er, make that LA's Sara Radle (she recently relocated from Texas to California) did "Dig Those Sounds" from her most recent EP People You've Been Before (order from her label Jeez Louise Records). I have featured her previous band Lucy Loves Schroeder on The Sounds in My Head before (listen to the August 9th, 2004 show, it's also all in the archive). Sara Radle also has a new album coming out this fall so be on the listen-out for that. And finally, Virginia's Sparklehorse did "Gold Day" from 2001 album It's a Wonderful Life (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Berkley, California's Brendan Benson did "Cold Hands (Warm Heart)" from his new album The Alternative to Love (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then the least folky song off Josh Rouse's new album Nashville (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) is probably "Winter in the Hamptons", which I also happen to like best. Next was a New Orelans' rock outfit named for an R.E.M. song that sounds more like Radiohead than R.E.M. called World Leader Pretend with "Punches" from their Rubble-Rousing Misspent Bouts EP (iTunes, Amazon) but it is also on the upcoming album, also called Punches (Amazon). And finally Finland's best musical export since The Leningrad Cowboys -- tho nothing like them at all -- Husky Rescue did "Summertime Cowboy" from their hit-or-miss-but-worth-looking-into debut album Country Falls (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL EXTRA-LONG, ONE YEAR ANNIVERSIARY EPISODE!) First up, Doug Martsch (of Built to Spill) and Calvin Johnson's (of Beat Happening) side project band The Halo Benders resulted in the greatness that we heard, called "Your Asterisk" from their 1998 album The Rebels Not In (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Belle & Sebastian did "Desperation Made a Fool of Me" from the Step into My Office, Baby single (Amazon, Other Music). Then Sounds in My Head favorite The Concretes did "Seems Fine Shuffle" from their Warm Night EP (Amazon). New Zealand's The Brunettes were next with their song "Boyracer" from the 2003 EP by the same name (buy from their website). (They are playing a show TONIGHT at the Mercury Lounge in NYC for $8.) Next was Australia's Cut Copy did "Going Nowhere" which is (by far) my favorite song from their debut album called Bright Like Neon Love (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Canada's The Hidden Cameras did "I Believe in the Good Life" from their latest album called Mississauga Goddam (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Brighten's The Go! Team with "Junior Kickstart" from their fantasticabulous debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike (iTunes, Amazon). And finally we heard Liverpool's Clinic with one of my favorite of their songs called "For the Wars" from their 2002 album Walking with Thee (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
This episode features a string of clips from one of my favorite people, Bill Moyers, speaking at a Free Press's 2005 National Conference for Media Reform in St. Louis, May 20th. You can listen to the whole thing here, and see it here.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, The Tourettes are (supposedly) coming back, so to celebrate, we check out their classic "Yer Inappropriate" from their awesome Life is Pretty (buy from them). Then Montreal's Stars did "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" from their respectable new album Set Yourself On Fire (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Next up, another fantastic classic, The Langley Schools Music Project and my favorite song from their album, 9-year-old Shiela Behman's amazing version of the otherwise horrid song "Desperado" by The Eagles. The whole album is worth owning for sure (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). And finally, Ben Folds has a new record out (iTunes, Amazon), but since my favorite song on it is also the radio/mtv/promotion-out-the-ass song ("Landed"), I'm opting for less new, less heard song. We heard "Wandering" from his first of three EP's last year called Speed Graphic EP (iTunes).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Sacramento's Low Flying Owls did "Georgie Shot Johnnie" which is BY FAR the best song on their 2003 album Elixir Vitae (iTunes, Amazon). Then Brighton England's Electrelane did "Bells" from their new album Axes (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon), which isn't quite as good as their previous The Power Out (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon), but is worth looking into. Next, Norway's young'en Sondre Lerche did his song "Stupid Memory" from his album Two Way Monologue (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon), which came out last year. And finally, an oldie-but-goodie from a band I recently noticed I had never put on The Sounds in My Head, Quasi did one of my favorite songs off my favorite of their albums. That is, they did "Smile" from their most excellent record Field Studies (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
This episode features a clip ofMichael Medved, the right-wing talk radio jack-ass, being served by Hans Riemer of Rock the Vote. In the show, the clip is trimmed for time, but you hear it all here.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, New York City's Ivy did "Edge of the Ocean [duotone mix]" from the Chillout 2002 album (iTunes, Amazon) The non-remixed version is on their 2002 album Long Distance (iTunes, Amazon). And they have a brand new album out called In the Clear (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then, to celebrate today's nice weather, we heard Jonathan Richman's seasonally fitting "Springtime in New York" from his 2001 album Her Mystery Not of High Heels and Eye Shadow (Other Music, Amazon). Next was Montreal's The Stills doing their song "Yesterday Never Tomorrows" from their debut album Logic Will Break Your Heart (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally Australia's Architecture in Helsinki did "Wishbone" from their brand new album In Case We Die (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Canada's The Russian Futurists with "Paul Simon" from the just-released album Our Thickness (Amazon, Other Music). Then Australia's The Lucksmiths did "The Great Dividing Range" from their 2001 album Why That Doesn't Surprise Me (Amazon, Other Music). They've got a brand new album out, called Warmer Corners (Amazon, Other Music, iTunes), so pick that up too!. Next was the great Club 8 (who were an awesome indie band out of Sweden before it was the trend) with their song "Cold Hearts" from their most recent album Strangely Beautiful (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally, from a new iTunes exclusive album put out by Björk which features 20 versions of her awesome song "Army of Me" (iTunes). The songs were chosen from over 600 submissions by Björk and the song's co-writer Graham Massey. The two I like most are both by bands from the UK, first 50 Hertz (feat. Haxor Och Porr) and an old-timey country rendition by The Messengers of God. I played them both.
Note to Mac users: If you should be so lucky as to have updated to the sweet sweet world of Tiger, you'll be pleased to discover that The Sounds in My Head website supports the snazzy new RSS browsing feature of Safari v2.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up the UK's Libertines did "Horror Show" from their 2002 quality-rock album Up the Bracket (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Then the Grand Rapids twee-poppers The Icicles did "Margie" from their Pure Sugar EP (Other Music). They have a brand new album, A Hundred Patterns (Poppolar), which was recorded at The Ladybug Transistor's studio, so you know it's gotta be good. Next was Scotland's Dogs Die in Hot Cars who have been heard on The Sounds in My Head before, but are good enough to be heard again, and they are with the song "Godhopping" from their 2004 Please Describe Yourself (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). And finally, another favorite band of The Sounds in My Head, Los Angeles' Rilo Kiley did their song "Plane Crash in C" from their first album Take Offs and Landings (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (SPECIAL BONUS EARTH DAY EPISODE!) First up Michigan's Wally Pleasant is back, even if he's gotten to the party a little late. His pro-environment/anti-Bush (that's redundant) song "Hey Georgie" from his new album Music for Nerds and Perverts was first up (buy it from his website). Then Austin's The American Analog Set did "Gone to Earth" from their 2001 album Know By Heart (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Montana folk-singer Amy Martin with her song "It's About Oil" from her live album Live in Missoula (iTunes, her online store). And finally the one, the only, Tom Waits did "Earth Died Screaming" from his 1992 album Bone Machine (iTunes, Amazon). Now go plant a tree! Be sure to visit treehugger.com daily. It is one of my favorite websites.
This week's episode features a clip from The Daily Show where Samantha Bee interviews Republican pollster/evil genius Frank Luntz. I downloaded it from another great daily site onegoodmove.com because the official site used windows media which is total crap.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: (WARNING: This is an awesome episode.) First up Kevin Barnes's Of Montreal did "Requiem for O.M.M." from their brand spankin' new The Sunlandic Twins (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) which is more like their last album than any that preceded it. Next was Brighton, England's The Go! Team with their song "Ladyflash" from their insanely good debut album Thunder, Lightning, Strike (iTunes, Amazon). Next we heard a few songs by Scotland's often-Looper-esque Ballboy. First was "I Lost You, By I Found Country Music" (featuring Laura Cantrell) from his Past Lovers EP (Poppolar), then "A Europewide Search for Love" from his album A Guide for the Daylight Hours (which contains the original version of "I Lost You, But I Found Country Music" without Laura Cantrell making it absolutely amazing) (Amazon, Poppolar). And finally The Ladybug Transistor did "Perfect for Shattering" from their 2002 album Argyle Heir (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). They are touring right now, so be sure to check them out live if you have the opportunity. Speaking of bands that are touring, The Shins are on a sold-out tour right now, and touring with them are Sounds in My Head favorites The Brunettes, who will be doing a FREE in-store here in NYC at Williamsburg's Sound Fix. Be sure to check them out Sunday, April 24th at 4pm. Become inspired, by listening to a past episode with their appropriately titled song "Record Store", or their song "These Things Take Time" on another past episode. You buy their albums from their website.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:(SPECIAL NICK DRAKE-LIKE EPISODE!) First up we took a listen to a classic Nick Drake song, "Road" from his Pink Moon (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) album to set the mood. Then probably the closest thing to a current Nick Drake, Neil Halstead, did "Sleeping on Roads" from his album by the same name (Amazon, Other Music). What's the deal with 'roads' anyway? Then British folk singer Vashti Bunyan did "Just Another Diamond Day" from her 1970 by the same name (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) which had string arrangements by the same guy who did some of Nick Drake's. Next was Samuel Beam, better known as Iron & Wine who must be the second closest thing to a modern day Nick Drake, with the song "Naked as We Came" from the 2004 album Our Endless Numbered Days (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Philadelphia's Matt Pond PA did a cover of Lindsay Buckingham's National Lampoon's Vacation theme "Holiday Road" (again with the "roads!") from their new Winter Songs EP (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And since you shouldn't listen to that version of the song without then listening to the original, it's included too!
This week's episode features a clip of George W. Bush's most offensive nominee for ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton, explaining his views of the UN. See the video of this audio and more here.
This week's episode features a Freudian slip from George W. Bush addressing his real objectives for the United States of America. It is NOT edited together. Watch the video. Notice how no one listening to him even acknowledges his amazingly stupid mistake as they are all very accustom to his dumbass Bushisms.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:(SPECIAL EXTRA LONG MY-FAVORITE-JAPANESE-CHICK-BANDS EPISODE!) First up Tokyo's trend-setting wonder-act Pizzicato Five did two songs: "Happy Ending" from their 1997 record Happy End of the World (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) and "Baby Love Child" from their 1994 album Made in USA (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then we heard New York's amazi-crazy-fun faux-Japanese band Gaijin a Go Go with their song "1-2-3 (Un-Deux-Trois)" from their 2003 record Happy-55-Lucky (Amazon). After that, New York's defunct Cibo Matto (which is Italian for "food madness") had three songs to show off all their awesomeness: "Spoon" from their 1997 Super Relax EP (Amazon); "About a Girl" (a Nirvana Cover) which was never released; and "Flowers" from their mega-great final album Stereo Type A (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) from 1999. After a go-go break, we returned to Gaijin a Go Go for "1-2-3 (Un-deux-trois) the Konishi Remix" (a remix of the song we heard before) that can be found on their 2003 Merry-55-Round (Amazon). Apparently "55" is Japanese for "Go" which makes their album titles clever. And finally we finish with one of my favorite Shonen Knife song's, the Osaka band's cover of The Carpenters "Top of the World", most easily obtained on their 1996 Birds & the B-Sides release (iTunes, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Sweden's Suburban Kids with Biblical Names did "Rent a Wreck" (you can download it here) from their first EP by the same name. You can order Rent a Wreck from Poppolar.com or from Parasol Records. Next was Portland, Oregon's M. Ward who did the foot-stompingly good, if not album-representative, "Big Boat" from his new Transistor Radio (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Then Melbourne, Australia's Architecture in Helsinki are back (well, they are on April 12th anyway) with a new release called In Case We Die (Amazon). So to get people all psyched up for their new release, which promises to be better than their last, they have released the first single "Do the Whirlwind" (iTunes has just the one track, there is a CD single that is hard to obtain in the US). Oh, and explore their cool flash-site. And finally, New York City's transplant bother/sister-duo Astaire did the Cardigans-circa-Gran-Turismo-esque song "L-L-Love" from their debut EP Don't Whisper Lies (iTunes, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:(SPECIAL DAMN-I-MISS-THE-SQUIRREL-NUT-ZIPPERS EPISODE!) This week we take a look back at the band Squirrel Nut Zippers and some of their member's solo projects. I loved the SNZ and was sad when they petered out in the early part of this millennia. Thus, this episode is devoted to them, and some of their songs, that, as I like to say, you might have missed. First up, only released on their 2003 Best of album, their cover of "Under the Sea" from the Disney animated movie The Little Mermaid. It was recorded back in 1997 but had been shelved by Disney and was never released prior to this collection (Amazon, (the album is in iTunes listed as complete, but, mysteriously, does not contain this or the other unreleased track which should be on it). Next, an ultra-rare remix by the Dust Brothers (most famous for their great soundtrack to the movie Fight Club, not for their embarrassingly bad website) of the SNZ's song "Suits are Picking Up the Bill." This was only released on as single-track radio promo CD (and at $36 it has the enviable status as the most money I've ever spent on 1 song, by the way). Then SNZ auxiliary member Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire did "A Woman's Life and Love" (which, incidentally, features SNZ Katharine Whalen on vocals) from his 1998 album Thrills (iTunes, Amazon). Check out his new album, Mysterious Production of Eggs (Amazon), released last month. Next, we hear Jim Mathus who has his own solo project called Jas Mathus & his Knock-Down Society which has three albums to date. We heard "I Got Mine" from his 1997 album Songs for Rosetta (Amazon). And finally we heard the magnificent Katharine Whalen with her most excellent version of one of my favorite standards "My Baby Just Cares for Me," from her jazzy 1999 solo effort Jazz Squad (Amazon).
This week's episode features a snippet of audio from NPR's This American Life episode First Day (which, like many episodes, is excellent and you should listen to) and the segment Squirrel Cop.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Los Angeles' old-timey infused Ditty Bops did their song "Sister Kate" from their super good self-titled 2004 album (iTunes, Amazon). Next was San Francisco's Mates of State doing "Starman" from their All Day EP which also came out last year, and is some of their best I've heard (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then we go back in time for a great track by Nancy Sinatra... well, it's byLee Hazlewood, it's performed by Nancy Sinatra, but regardless it is awesome. The song is "Sugar Town," and I pulled it off her Greatest Hits album, but is also on other releases (Amazon, Other Music). She also has a new self-titled album which you can check out in iTunes. And finally from the shadow of Belle & Sebastian come Scotland's Camera Obscura with their song "Happy New Year" from their not-as-heard-as-Underachievers Please Try Harder-album Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). They have a new EP called I Love My Jean coming out next week (Amazon), so watch for that, it's quality.
This week's episode features an edited clip from the February 18th, On the Media from NPR. In it, co-host Brook Gladstone interviews Renita Coleman who conducted a large-scale study of people in various profession's ethics and found surprising results. Download the whole show as an MP3 and check it out.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Germany's Stereo
Total did "Mars Rendez-Vous" from
their solid new album Do the Bambi (iTunes, Other
Music, Amazon).
Next was Portland's The
Decemberists with part IV of their new V part,
18 minute, song "The Tain" from a new one track
single by the same name (Amazon, Other
Music). Then Manchester, England's 80's underrated
group Stockholm
Monsters did their great song "Terror" which
can be found on their 2003 re-release Alma Mater (Amazon, Other
Music). And finally Norway's classic-rock-wannabes The
Jessica Fletchers did their appropriately
titled "Bloody Seventies Love" from their 2003
album What Happened to The? (iTunes, Amazon).
This
week show features a clip from the Cohen Brothers'
awesome film Fargo. Why? How about: Why
not?
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up New York City's The
Ladybug Transistor treats us to some of
the finest 60's inspired indie pop this side of the Atlantic,
with their song "Today Knows" from their 1999
album The Albemarle Sound (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Next was king of convenience Erlend Øye and
his song "The Talk" from his quality album Unrest (Amazon, Other
Music). Then we heard They
Might Be Giants with their brand new song's "Alphabet
of Nations" and "Flying V" from their
new children's CD/DVD Here Come the ABCs (see
videos listen to other samples) which isn't as good
as one of their non-children's releases, but still has
gems, like these (theymightbegiants.com
(their own little iTunes but better quality files), Amazon, iTunes).
And finally, and I mean finallyThe
Postal Service has released more material,
albeit not much, so we heard the unreleased b-side "Be
Still My Heart" from their new We Will Become
Silhouettes single (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Be sure to check out the new music video
for this song, which you can see along with some of their
other videos here.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up New York City's youthful
multi-talent Nellie
McKay with her song "Ding Dong" from
her debut 2004 album Get Away from Me (iTunes, Amazon).
Then rocking straight out of the UK and into your ears, The
Futureheads did "Hounds of Love" from
their self-titled 2004 debut (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Next was Momus with
his song "Adam
Green" (named for the ex-Moldy
Peach) from his 1999 album Stars Forever (Other
Music (he wrote about them too!), Amazon).
As long as we're talking about Adam Green, I figured it'd
be a good time to play The
Moldy Peaches his ex-band which was he and
fellow now-solo-artist Kimya
Dawson's band. This is their song "Jorge
Regula" from their self-titled 2001 debut (iTunes, Other
Music, Amazon).
And finally, because trying to get a sense of what Nellie
McKay's Get Away from Me is like
by only hearing one song is like trying to fully understand
what's going on in the world by watching TV news, we also
heard "Waiter" which sounds little like "Ding
Dong," but is also a favorite song of mine off her
stellar album.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up we heard Sweden's awesome
rock outfit Caesars with
their song "(I'm Gonna) Kick You Out" from their
2003 album 39 Minutes of Bliss (In an Otherwise Meaningless
World) (iTunes, Amazon).
They have a new album coming out soon, so watch for that.
Then Norway's Kaizers
Orchestra did "Kontroll på kontinentet" (in
english "Control on the Continent") from their
2001 album Ompa til du dør (Farmen).
They too have an album coming out soon, and it will be
more readily available in the US and elsewhere, so
watch for that if you liked this song. Next was NYC's The
Bravery with their song "No Brakes" from
their ep Unconditional (iTunes, Amazon).
Then Minnesota'sLow did "Laser
Beam" from their 2001 album Things We Lost in
the Fire (Amazon, Other
Music). They have a new album that just came out called The
Great Destroyer, and you can sample it in iTunes.
And finally, because I like their album so much, and I
think the commercial is one of the best iPod spots yet,
I included the song "Jerk it Out" from the same Caesars album,
as heard in Apple's iPod
Shuffle commercial.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up we hear the UK's Psapp with
the song "Rear Moth" from their new album Tiger,
My Friend (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Then we heard one of my favorite surf rock
bands out of Nashville The
Los Straightjackets with their version of Skeeter
Davis' song "It's the End of the World" (with
vocals provided by Sixpence
None the Richer's Leigh Nash) from their album Sing
Along With (iTunes, Amazon).
Next was California's The
Lookyloos with the song "Spanish Castles" from
their album — you ready for this? — Perhaps
the Most Satisfying Joy Left to Us in an Age so Limited
and Vulgar as Our Own (Amazon).
And finally, we end with the very theatrical sounds of
Boston's The
Dresden Dolls and their song "Coin-Operated
Boy" from their self titled 2004 record (iTunes, Amazon).
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW:SPECIAL
COVERS EPISODE! This week we hear a few of my favorite
cover songs, new and old. These songs I like both the original
song AND the cover version. Some are novel, but I think
they all hold up on their own as well. Fist French model-turned-actress-turned-singer Vanessa
Paradis cover's Lou
Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" from
her 1990 album Variations sur le meme t'aime (Amazon).
Then French/British effort Nouvelle
Vague covered Joy
Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" from
their album of 80's covers which is also called Nouvelle
Vague (Amazon, Other
Music, you can get this
track in iTunes). Next was Seu
Jorge covering David
Bowie's "Life on Mars?" from the
soundtrack to the new Wes Anderson movie The Life Aquatic
with Steve Zissou (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Then
we heard Portland Oregon's The
Decemberists covering Björk (don't
miss her
new video directed by Spike Jonze) with their awesome
version of "Human Behavior" from a new compilation
of bands covering her songs called Read - Interpreting
Björk (iTunes, Amazon),
and because I couldn't decide which song to put on the
show, as a bonus song, also from Portland the band Noise
for Pretend cover Björk's "It's
Oh So Quiet" from the same record. (If you like covers
as much as I do, you should check out Coverville.
It's another podcast that is worth listening to.)
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW:SPECIAL
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY EPISODE! We
start with a great mix of sound from former Arrested
Development front man Speech and Neneh
Cherry and the song "Braided Hair" from
the soundtrack to 1
Giant Leap (iTunes, Amazon).
Then we hear the Barenaked
Ladies and their cover of Public
Enemy's landmark song "Fight the Power" from
the soundtrack to the Coneheads (Amazon).
Next, The
Blind Boys of Alabama did their instant-classic "House
of the Rising Sun"-styled "Amazing Grace" from
their album Spirit
of the Century (iTunes, Amazon).
And finally Johnny
Cash and The
Clash's Joe
Strummer teamed up to cover one of the best
peace and justice songs in history, Bob
Marley's "Redemption Song" from the
box set Johnny Cash:
Unearthed (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music).
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: We start with Scotland's modern-day
new wave band Dogs
Die in Hot Cars and their song "Paul Newman's
Eyes" from their debut album Please
Describe Yourself (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Then we heard a snazzy bluegrass version of Air's "Kelly
Watch the Stars" by Old
School Freight Train which can be found on their
album Bluegrass
Tribute to Air: Blue Safari (Amazon, Tower),
which as you may have guessed is all Air songs played on
mandolins and banjos. Yes, it is glorious. Next was the
UK act Saint
Etienne with their song "Shower Scene" from
their 2002 album Finisterre (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). And we finish with Iceland's Leaves (The Coldplay of
Iceland) and their song "I Go Down" from their
album Breathe (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music).
This
episode has a clip of Todd
Berry from his new album Falling Off the Bone.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW:Welcome
to 2005! With this episode, The
Sounds in My Head finally becomes part of the "PodCasting" niche
of niches, meaning we now can be accessed with your favorite
podcasting app (see side bar for more details). And we
start the new year with a great song by what was The
Band of Bees, but is now The
Bees, who have a new album (not out in the states
yet, but will be soon) called Free
the Bees and we heard the song "Go Karts" (Amazon, Other
Music). Then we heard Chris
Joss with a song that sounds like I should be
talking over it, but is so good I don't, called "You've
Been Spiked" from his album by the same name (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). Next was Pinback with
their five star song "Fortress" from their 3
star album Summer
in Abaddon (iTunes, Other
Music, Amazon).
And finally indie darlings Stereolab did "University
Microfilms International" which was released along
side their newest album of greatness called Margerine
Eclipse but as an iTunes Exclusive track, meaning
to get it you've gotta fork over .99¢ to the iTunes
Music Store.
This
episode has a short clip of Bill
Moyers telling The Progressive Story of America.
He recently left the news program NOW on
PBS, which he created. It was a most saddening loss for people
who like journalism.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, Michigan's own Saturday
Looks Good to Me did their awesome song "Since
You Stole My Heart" from this year's Every
Night (Amazon, Other
Music). Then we heard The
Hidden Cameras with a great song called "In
the Union of Wine" from their recent-ish Mississauga
Goddam (Amazon, iTunes, Other
Music). Next was Erlend Øye from
his DJ Kicks album
doing a version of The
Smiths "There is a Light that Never Goes Out" that
is darker and really more fitting than the original called "Poor
Leno (Silicone Soul's Hypno House Dub) vs There is a Light
That Never Goes Out (Acapella)" (Amazon, Other
Music). And finally, one of my favorite new bands (well,
in the states anyway) The
Concretes did their super great song "Seems
Fine" from their self-titled American debut album
(iTunes, Other
Music, Amazon). Happy
New Year friends!
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:THE THIRD OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES! First up, The Polyphonic Spree cover John Lennon's Christmas classic "Happy Christmas (the War is Over)" from Maybe This Christmas Tree (Amazon, iTunes doesn't have this particular song, but they have the album). Then 80's favorites The Waitresses with their lyrically delightful christmas hit "Christmas Wrapping" from their best of (Amazon, iTunes). Then Sufjan Stevens did "O Holy Night" from his internet pseudo-release Christmas which offered eight Christmas songs free of charge (check it!). After that the classic version of Kay Starr doing "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" became the "Stuhr Remix" on the groovaliciously good album Christmas Remixed - Holiday Classics Re-Grooved (Amazon, iTunes). And finally E (aka The Eels) did his totally unfindable version of "Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas" which only appeared on a radio promo for his crappy song "Shine it All On." Later he released a different (worse) version of it on the Eels' Cancer for a Cure EP. Since you pretty much can't find this version elsewhere, you can download it from me as a nice 192k MP3. Merry Christmas everybody... and Happy Holidays in general.
Patton Oswalt is featured in the middle of this episode, telling "His Christmas Memory"
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:THE SECOND OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES! First up, the band Corporal Blossom did their combination of many different white christmases into one glorious rendition of "White Christmas" which can be found on their Christmas album Mutated Christmas (Amazon) and on the Stay Free Magazine cd compilation Illegal Art. Then we heard Stevie Wonder himself with his classic "What Christmas Means to Me" from A Motown Christmas (Amazon, iTunes) and probably on some other album I don't have. Next we heard Dallas' own Dave Little with his novelty song "Dysfunctional Family Christmas" from his album Another Leggy Super Model.
(His website was up until, literally, like a week ago.
I don't know how you can get a copy of it now. Maybe
he'll pay network solutions and it'll come back up).
Then The Brian Setzer Orchestra covered the Les Brown & his Band of Renown version of "The Nutcracker Suite" from their Boogie Woogie Christmas (Amazon, iTunes). And lastly, topping off the show with a classic that's worth tacking on to the end, The Pogues (with special guest Kirsty MacColl) did "Fairytale of New York" from their albums If I Should Fall From Grace with God (Amazon), and their greatest hits record (Amazon) which is good good good.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:THE FIRST OF THREE SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EPISODES! First up, the sadly defunct band Squirrel Nut Zippers "Sleigh Ride" from their 1998 Christmas album Christmas Caravan, which there is no valid excuse for not owning (Amazon). Then we heard the Duluth band Low with their song "Just Like Christmas" from their album Christmas (Amazon, Other Music) but you can also get it on the new-this-year Christmas record The OC: Mix 3 Have A Very Merry Chrismukkah (iTunes, Amazon) which I understand has something to do with some TV show I have never seen but I'm sure isn't as good as their Christmas album. Next we heard ex-Smoking Pope Josh Carter's band Duvall with their version of "O Holy Night" from their new Christmas album by the same name (iTunes, Amazon), and I have to tell you, it's better than their non-xmas releases so far. And finally John Denver and The Muppets did my favorite version of one of my favorite Christmas songs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from their incredibly affordable A Christmas Together (Amazon) though this song doesn't seem to be on the cheap release, so maybe it's not all that affordable after all (eBay). It was a duet between Rolf and John. For all your Muppet needs, I HIGHLY recommend Danny Horn's ToughPigs.com. [Oh, and because it's just that good, I included a special bonus song from the OC xmas album: The Raveonettes' song "The Christmas Song"]
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, a new and exciting act out of New York City, The Affair, with their song "Honey" from the Vice Records 7" single Seven Inch Lovers vol. 2 (INsound). They'll probably have an album or an EP or something coming out soon. In the meantime you can download some great songs from their website. If you like "Honey," check out "Fashion Victim." Then the UK's soon-to-be-ex-band Gene did "Sleep Well Tonight" from their 1995 album Olympian (Amazon). Then another UK act, Nu Generation, remixed the classic Fontella Bass song "Rescue Me" into their danceable tune "In Your Arms (Rescue Me)" from their EP by the same name (Amazon). And lastly we heard Deerhoof with "Milking" from their latest album Milk Man (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). This site has a bunch of downloadable Deerhoof mp3s.
ON
THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, New Mexico's The
Shins with "Young Pilgrims" from
their incredible second album Chutes
Too Narrow (iTunes, Amazon, Other
Music). They also have a new EP out, so look for
that. Next up Dallas' Cowboys
and Indians with "Roly Poly" from a
Dallas local music disc which is probably not findable
unless you can go to a used shop in Dallas, called Scene,
Heard. You can download
the song as a 192k mp3 here, since you can't actually
buy it. Then Geggy
Tah said 'thank you' with their song "Whoever
You Are" from their 1996 semi-hit Sacred
Cow (Amazon).
And finally ultra-gay punk rockers Pansy
Division did "Cowboys are Frequently
Secretly Fond of Each Other" from their album Pile
Up (iTunes, Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up, New York City's Luna with the song "Malibu Love Nest" from their new (and final) album Rendezvous (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) which is really good, if a bit more mellow than past albums. Then from the David Bern initiated WIRED Magazine cd Rip. Sample. Mash. Share. we heard my own abridged version of UK's The Rapture's song "Sister Saviour (Blackstrobe Remix)" (original in iTunes) . The cd is awesome, it contains new, unreleased music by The Beastie Boys, Le Tigre, Thievery Corporation, and Matmos to name only a few, and comes free with this month's WIRED, so rush to newsstands now... or go to creativecommons.org and download the whole thing for free. Next we heard Brooklyn's Interpol with the song "Evil" from their most recent album Antics (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And finally, we heard the Elliott Smith with "Kings Crossing" from his final album From a Basement on the Hill (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) that was mostly finished when he tragically died in October of 2003.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: SPECIAL ELECTION EPISODE!First up the always great, always political New York City band Le Tigre with their song "Viz" from their new album This Island (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Seattle's The Long Winters did "The Commander Thinks Aloud" which can be found on the Future Soundtrack for America (iTunes, Amazon, McSweeney's with Book).
Next was indie artist Ian Rhett did "(Didn't Know I was) UnAmerican" which is a free download, and best when listened to while viewing the accompanying flash movie video (his site). And lastly Brooklyn's brilliant Piñataland do an updated version of "Little Know Ye Who's Comin'" for 2004 (formally John Quincy Adams' 1824 campaign song) which is a free download from their site. If you like The Decemberists (iTunes), you should really check out Piñataland and vice versa. (At the end of the show, there's a bonus Le Tigre song, "New Kicks", also from their new album This Island.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: SPECIAL HALLOWEEN EPISODE!First up The Magnetic Fields' Stephin Merritt's band The Future Bible Heroes with their spooky song "She-Devil's of the Deep" from their album Memories of Love (Amazon, Other Music). Next, Los Angeles' West Indian Girl asks the halloween appropriate question "What are You Afraid Of?" from their self-titled new album (iTunes, Amazon). Then, Germany's Stereo Total did a song all about "The Monster" from the re-release of their Musique Automatique (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). And lastly, finishing our Halloween Episode of The Sounds in My Head, the greatness that was the UK's Mono (not to be confused with the Japanese Mono) with their perfectly eerie "Madhouse" from the soundtrack to the crappy 1998 remake of Hitchcock's classic Psycho (Amazon). Mono is (sadly) long gone, but singer Siobhan de Mare has gone on to form Violet Indiana with ex-Cocteau Twin Robin Guthrie which (also sadly) isn't terribly good.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up is the Australian band Cut Copy with their song "Going Nowhere" from their new release Bright Like Neon Love (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music), it's an album that sounds like a cross between Daft Punk and the best songs to come out of 80's new wave. In other words they sound like what VHS or Beta wish they sounded like. Then we enjoy "Eros' Entropic Tundra" by Of Montreal from their latest release Satanic Panic in the Attic (Amazon, Other Music) which is one of my (many) favorite records of 2004. Next was Bill Withers' classic R&B tune "Use Me" which can be found all number of places, including his greatest hits (iTunes, Amazon). And finally on the show, an uncommon "sound in my head": Country Music. And I don't mean some classy old-school country or some quality rockabilly. I'm talking schlocky, over produced, "young country." But in this case, it's music for a good cause, and while I'm almost ashamed to admit it, I actually kinda like the song. After a few listens it really did grow on me (like a fungus no doubt). Check out Honky Tonkers for Truth and their song "Takin' My Country Back." Available on their website, and perhaps even heard on some mainstream country stations... I wouldn't know.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up is the delightful return of Fatboy Slim with "Don't Let the Man Get You Down" from his brand new Palookaville (iTunes, Amazon). It's a really good new record that offers something for anyone who's ever liked a previous Fatboy Slim song. Next we heard "These Things Take Time" by the New Zealand act The Brunettes from their album Mars Loves Venus (website). Then Sweden's The Concretes did "You Can't Hurry Love" from their new self-titled album (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then Rilo Kiley did "It's a Hit" from their new album More Adventurous (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Normally that would be all, but since I liked it so much there's a bonus Fatboy Slim song from Palookaville, we heard "The Journey" which features Lateef. This episode is admittedly a bit Fatboy Slim-centric, but what can I say? I love Fatboy Slim. It won't happen again anytime soon, I promise. More diversity coming next week.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up is Norway's St. Thomas with his great song "An Artist with a Brilliant Disguise" from his album Let's Grow Together - The Comeback of St. Thomas (Amazon UK, Other Music). Next up was former Belle & Sebastian member Isobel Campbell's old band The Gentle Waves with the incredibly great song "Falling from Grace" from their record Swansong for You (Amazon UK (cheaper than in the US), Amazon). Then we heard New York City's Mascott with her song "Martyr's Tune" from her recent album Dreamer's Book (Amazon, Other Music). And finally this week we heard the west coast's Inouk with a rockin' song called "James Bond" from their Search for the Bees EP (iTunes).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up is Australia's folky-indie success story The Waifs with "Love Serenade" from their last album Sink or Swim (Amazon). They have a brand new album, and they're playing in the U.S. right now, so check 'em out. Then the Swiss band LiLiPUT did "Do You Mind My Dream" which can be found on their re-released Complete Recordings 2-disc set (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Brooklyn's indie-Latin act Cordero with their song "Nacimieneto" from their most recent album Somos Cordero (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). And lastly we heard Autamata with his song "Jive County" from his new album My Sanctuary (Autamata's site, Amazon UK).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up the UK indie darlings Saloon did their song "Happy Robots" from their 2003 album If We Meet in the Future (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Then one of my favorite 50's folk rockers Jimmie Rodgers did "Kisses are Sweeter Than Wine" which I got from his Rhino collection (Amazon). Next up was California's Call & Response with their great feel-good song Rollerskate from their 2001 self titled album (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). They have a new album out, but it doesn't have the same great vibe that their first one did. Listen to it in iTunes and see for yourself. Lastly we heard Finland's legendary act The Leningrad Cowboys with their cover the The Turtles' Happy Together, from their album Happy Together (Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:A SPECIAL CLASSICAL/ROCK CONVERGENCE EPISODE. First up Arthur Fiedler conducts the Boston Pops and does a glorious rendition of The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" from the remastered Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops Play The Beatles (iTunes, Tower). Then Dallas' Polyphonic Spree, who combine classical orchestrations and rock music in a most creative way on ever song, show off their skills with "One Man Show" from their new album Together We're Heavy (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Next was Elvis Costello with "Pluck One" from his debut album as a orchestral music composer called Il Sogno, which comes out next week. It features music composed by Elvis Costello, with Michael Tilson Thomas conducting the London Symphony Orchestra, you can download one track from it early from iTunes, or pre-order it from Amazon. Lastly we heard Steven Avila's classical version of Weezer's "Photograph" which he released on a CD of orchestrated Weezer songs. Mysteriously, this CD has vanished from the internet making it hard/impossible to obtain. You can find the weezerclassicalcd.com website in the wayback machine, and perhaps if you email the address on that site (deadytes@cs.com) you can still buy it directly from him or something. In the meantime, I'm just posting the song so you can download it. It's a 192k MP3 file.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Norway's Kings of Convenience start us off with "I'd Rather Dance with You" from their new album Riot on an Empty Street (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music) which is a little more Belle & Sebastian than Simon & Garfunkel. Then, what sounds like a modern day Nico, the band Midnight Movies did "Blue Babies" from their debut album which is self-titled (iTunes, Amazon). Next up was Liverpool's Clinic with the song "August" from their new album Winchester Cathedral which is good, and sounds a lot like other Clinic records (Amazon, Other Music). And finally Monty Python's Eric Idle with his new "FCC Song" which has lots of F-bombs, but is fantastic... AND it's a FREE download. So go get it now! ... or, listen to this episode, and then go ge it!
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: The RNC has come to NYC, and on Wompedy Day no less! What better way to celebrate than with A SPECIAL POLITICAL EPISODE of the Sounds in My Head? With the Republicans spewing their sanitized-for-prime-time bile out of our fare city, and with the 8th anniversary of Wompedy Day (a sanctioned day for the activist club with which Daniel is affiliated) it seems like a good week to devote an episode to political songs. So first up from the brand new compilation The Future Soundtrack for America (all proceeds of the disc go to progressive causes) we heard OK Go's cover of the Zombies song "This Will Be Our Year" (iTunes, Amazon, MoveOn.org, McSweeny's). This disc also includes songs by David Byrne, Death Cab for Cutie, R.E.M., Elliott Smith, They Might Be Giants, Tom Waits, Blink 182, Laura Cantrell, Ben Kweller, The Flaming Lips, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and The Old 97's among others. As you can see, this is a MUST BUY. Then Billy Bragg and Wilco paired up for the RNC appropriate song "All You Fascists" from their Woody Guthrie covers album Mermaid Avenue, Vol. 2 (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). This song is heard nightly on The Majority Report with Janeane Garofalo and Sam Seder on Air America Radio, which you can listen to at your leisure by downloading mp3s from Air America Place. Next we heard the awesome feminist indie greatness that is Le Tigre with their song "Get Off the Internet" (a fitting tune for this week of protesting) from their EP From the Desk of Mr. Lady (iTunes, Amazon (new & used), Other Music). And finally Ben Folds' from his new-but-not-quite-newest EP Sunny 16 with his most political song to date "All U Can Eat" about, among other things, republicans (iTunes).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW:A SPECIAL LOUISIANA EPISODE! First up the under heard indie band The Essex Green with their catchy little ditty "New Orleans" from their out-of-print Fabulous Day EP . Since you can't get that EP easily, check out their great new album The Long Goodbye (iTunes, Amazon, Other Music). Then, born and raised in Ruston, Louisiana, Jeff Magnum's rightfully lauded low-fi band Neutral Milk Hotel hasn't released anything in a while, but we feature "The King of Carrot Flowers (Pt. 1)" from their awesome 1998 album In the Aeroplane Over the Sea (iTunes, Other Music, Amazon). Going back to 1986 for a song hardly obscure enough to warrant being on The Sounds in My Head, if it weren't so great and so perfect for listening to in Louisiana. That's right Paul Simon's "That was Your Mother" from his classic album Graceland (iTunes, Amazon). Then another oldie-but-goodie, this one even older. The near perfect Fats Domino and his "Walkin' to New Orleans" which is available on many Fats' collections (Amazon). It should be noted that no record collection is complete without at least one Fats Domino collection.
And as a special bonus in this week's show, since all the songs were short, and it seemed lame to have such a short show, there's a special bonus rarity featured. One half of Brooklyn's Musical Ambassadors of Love, They Might Be Giants, singer / song-writer / accordionist / horn player / keyboardist / etc. John Linnell released a disc called State Songs (iTunes, Amazon) in 1999, and along with it a die-cut green record single for the song "Montana." The b-side was "Louisiana." As far as I know this track is not available anywhere anymore. I feel bad putting things in the show that you can't actually obtain, but if you want it, I'm sure you can find it on eBay or something. In the meantime check it out in this week's special Louisiana episode.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up New York City house DJ Armand Van Helden has a new mix cd out called New York: A Mix Oddessy which is where we find the song "Hear My Name" which features Spalding Rockwell (iTunes for the EP, Amazon for the album). Next up Brooklyn's own One Ring Zero did a typical Klezmer influenced song called "The Wandering Dance" from their album Memorandom (iTunes, their website). Then singer/songwriter/rapper Don McCloskey did his very funny — if offensive — "The King of Discount Ho's" from his album Bombs Over Bristol (CD Baby). And finally we finished up this episode with a Bossa Nova tune called "This is Where We Live" by Washington, DC's Camping (aka Chessie) from their newest album Suburban Shore (iTunes, Amazon, or Other Music).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Dallas' ex-pop-punk Lucy Loves Schroeder did a awesome cover of "Then He Kissed Me" from their terrific album Lucy is a Band which can still be ordered (from Amazon) despite the band's break-upage. Lead singer/songwriter/guitarist Sara Radle has some fun solo stuff to check out, so you can continue getting your fix of girl-rock-quality. Then New York's own I am the World Trade Center did "Going Underground " from their new album The Cover Up (there's no evidence in the lyrics that they are making reference to the 9/11 Commission's report) which can be had via iTunes of at Amazon or Other Music (they also have an exlusive EP in iTunes). Next was the not-officially-dead Moog Cookbook with their cover of "Sweet Home Alabama" from their quirky Moog Cookbook Plays All Your Classic Rock Favorites album which is at Amazon or Other Music. And lastly we heard San Diego's Pinback with "Tripoli" from their self-titled, and best album (which is in iTunes or at Amazon).
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Ann Arbor Michigan's Dykehouse with their song "Lost Holiday" which sounds like it belongs on the Lost in Translation Soundtrack, but can actually be found on their new album Midrange (which you can get some of in iTunes, or the whole thing from Amazon). Then we heard the musical perfection that was Combustible Edison with their song "Cat O'Nine Tails" from their final album The Impossible World (which is in iTunes, or at Other Music or Amazon). Next was the shout-singing charmers DQE with their two, short songs "Go Bananas" and "Cigarette Song," both from their 2001 album Queen of Mean (which Amazon carries). And finally Koufax did "Bright Side" from their hit-and-miss-but-best-to-date effort Social Life (which is all up in iTunes, and also at Amazon and Other Music). They have a new album coming out August 11th, so if you dig "Bright Side," be on the looky for that one.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Iceland's Apparat Organ Quartet with their song "Stereo Rock & Roll" from their new self-titled debut album, which sounds more like Daft Punk or VHS or Beta than Sigur Rós or Múm, you can order this album from Amazon. Then we heard New York City's The Hong Kong with "Galaxies" from their debut EP Rock the Faces which you can get at Other Music or from Truthflies. Next was California's Dios with "Starting Five" from their self-titled album which you can get from Amazon. And finally Sweeden's Club 8 did "A Place in My Heart" from their self-titled album, which is easy to find, in iTunes or at Amazon. They also have a newer album, Strangely Beautiful, which is quite good, and can be gotten in iTunes or from Other Music or Amazon.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: As promised a few weeks ago, we open with Amelia Fletcher's new band Tender Trap and their song "That Girl" from their album Film Molecules (which you can get at Other Music, or of course on Amazon, the lone song, sans album, is available in iTunes). Next new wave infused Nebraskan's The Faint with "Glass Danse" from their intriguing album Danse Macabre (which you can get from iTunes, Other Music, or Amazon). Then long-time quality output duo They Might Be Giants John and John dished out "Museum of Idiots" which is my favorite song from their hot off the presses new album The Spine, which should not be missed. You can get it in iTunes or you can download high quality mp3s for .99¢ a song from their artist owned and operated mp3 store, or the actual CD can be found at Amazon or other fine retail establishments. Lastly Los Angeles indie country band Rilo Kiley with "The Execution of All Things" from their album The Execution of All Things which can be found in iTunes, Other Music, or Amazon. And be on the look out for a new album coming out in August.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First, classic reggae/ska artist Phyllis Dillon does her take on the even more classic "Perfidia" which is on a number of albums, namely Midnight Confessions. You can get the import album I have from Amazon, or you can pay .99¢ and download the track from a compilation in iTunes, where they have many other good versions of "Perfidia" as well. Next was London's Hefner with their song "The Day That Thatcher Dies" from their great 2000 album We Love the City which you can get in iTunes, at Amazon, or from Other Music. Then we heard East Lansing Michigan's Wally Pleasant with the song "I was a Teenage Republican" from his incredibly great 1992 album Welcome to Pleasantville which can be attained by sending monies to Wally's Miranda Records. Lastly The Incredible Moses Leroy (featuring Miho Hatori of Cibo Matto) played "The Color of Sky" from his latest album The Soft.Lightes (iTunes, Amazon), which is good, but not as good as his Electric Pocket Radio (iTunes, Amazon).
Due to the passing of Ronald Reagan, this weeks episode features a special Bill Hicks interlude.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Up first the Auckland, New Zealand indie outfit The Brunettes with "The Record Store" from their brand spankin' new Mars Loves Venus, which you can and should order directly from the label. Next up Detroit's low-fi specialists Slumber Party were remixed in all the right ways resulting in "Electronic Boots Remix: Brown Rice vs. Young Soul Rebels Sound System" from the Kill Rock Stars (less than stellar) compilation Tracks and Fields which is at Other Music or Amazon (the non-remixed version is from their album 3, which is all up in iTunes Music Store and at Amazon or Other Music). Then Dallas' 24 member, sight-to-be-seen, gown-clad, super-group The Polyphonic Spree dropped "Hold Me Now" from their soon-to-be-released (July 11th) Together We're Heavy which is a much better "album" than their previous The Beginning Stages Of..., and is a *must buy* as soon as it comes out (Amazon is taking pre-orders). Lastly Dean Wareham's band Luna with "Astronaut" from their 2003 EP Close Cover Before Striking which is at Amazon and Other Music. They have a new album coming out in September, so watch for that.
In celebration of Independence Day, this weeks episode features a special David Cross interlude.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: A special all soundtrack episode featuring songs you can only easily attain on soundtracks for good movies! We start with Happy End's song "Kaze Wo Atsumete" from the marvelous Lost in Translation soundtrack, which also features Air, My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain and other great bands (Amazon, Other Music). Then Beck does a great cover of Korgis', "Everybody's Got to Learn Sometimes," thus far only out on the soundtrack to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind which has some other great eclectic selections as well as the score by Jon Brion (Amazon). Thirdly Nancy Jacobs & Sisters did "Meadowlands" from the awesome Amandala! A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony documentary soundtrack that has incredible stuff by Vusi Mahlasela as well as other vital South African acts (Amazon). And finally Marty & Elaine from the L.A. night club The Dresden did their lounge cover of the Bee Gee's "Stayin' Alive" from the Swingers Too soundtrack (Amazon) which isn't as good as the first Swingers soundtrack but does has some gems by Willie Nelson and Paul Anka among others.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: We start with Britain's Heavenly and their twee classic "Mark Angel" from their 1996 Operation Heavenly; which you can get from Amazon, or Other Music. They have since split up, but Tender Trap (who will likely at some point be heard on The Sounds in My Head) has sprung up in their stead, and is great. Then Norway's classic rock influenced The Jessica Fletchers did "You Can Have Japan" from their American-debut album What Happened to The?, which is an inspired record worthy of purchase... from, say, Amazon or and you can listen to samples and download it via iTunes. The third slot is a new group from, not Finland, but Australia called Architecture in Helsinki (just to be confusing), who did their song "Fumble" from their album Fingers Crossed, which you can pick up from Amazon, Other Music, or from iTunes. And lastly the all-but-Top-40-at-this-point New Mexico act The Shins did "Saint Simon" from their second (and most recent) album Chutes Too Narrow, which I would HIGHLY recommend buying from Amazon, Other Music or iTunes either before or after you buy their first amazing album Oh, Inverted World.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: First up Britain's Electrelane with "Only One Thing is Needed" from their album The Power Out, which you can get at Amazon, Other Music, or the iTunes Music Store. Then another British band Cornershop and their song "Sleep on the Left Side" from their album When I Was Born for the 7th Time, which is available in the iTunes Store, as well as at Amazon and Other Music. Next was New York's own Yellow Note, with their new song "Naked, Drunk, and Horny" from their 2003 debut album We Love Everyone, which is all up in Amazon. And we finished out this batch of sounds in my head with another New York artist, in many ways the polar opposite of Yellow Note, it was WFMU's Radio Thrift Shop host and satin voiced Laura Cantrell with her song "Do You Ever Think of Me" from her 2000 album Not the Tremblin' Kind (Amazon or Other Music), check out her newer album which is even better, called When the Roses Bloom Again, at Amazon or Other Music.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Canada'sThe Russian Futurists with "Precious Metals" from Let's Get Ready to Crumble, which you can buy on Amazon, or you can try to get this Spanish two-albums-on-one-disc release from somewhere like Other Music. Then another Canadian act, The Hidden Cameras did "Ban Marriage" from their most recent album The Smell of Our Own, which can be bought from Amazon or Other Music. Then Chicago's Bobby Conn did "Never Get Ahead" from his 1997 self-titled album, and is available at Amazon. And we ended the show with German art-rock super group Stereo Total's song "L'amour á 3" from their 2001 album Musique Automatique, which can of course be bought from Amazon (used), Other Music, or conveniently from the iTunes store.
ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW: The Magnetic Fields with “I Don’t Believe You” from i, which you can get from Amazon, Other Music, or iTunes. Then, A Band of Bees did “No Trophy” from Sunshine Hit Me, buy their reggae/indie/jazz quality action from Amazon or Other Music. We also played Of Montreal's song “Disconnect the Dots” from their new album Satanic Panic in the Attic, which is well worth the purchase from Amazon or Other Music. And finally, we played Erlend Øye's new song “The Black Keys Work” which can be found on the 12” single or on the iTunes (only) EP. A (worse) remix can be found on his just out DJ Kicks (Amazon, Other Music).
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The Sounds in My Head August 15th, 2005 - 08/15/05
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