The List (Part 6)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.

50) Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse (2004)
Halfway through the list, and we pick up with another legendary band in prime form. Last year, Thurston Moore confessed his belief that Sonic Youth's biggest faux-pas was never breaking up. After successful reunions by the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., and now even My Bloody Valentine, he hinted that people don't appreciate what they have until it's gone. Thankfully Sonic Youth never threw in the towel because excellent albums such as 2004's Sonic Nurse would never see the light of day -- and this would just be tragic. Peaking at 64 on the Billboard 200, yet topping critics' end of year lists, this trend that pretty much sums up the band's career. At least they get lots of love from this guy.


49) Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place (2003)
Austin's Explosions In The Sky pack so much punch in their beautifully orchestrated catalog that they render useless the need for lyrical content. And that's fine with me, because quite frankly, these songs tell stories that voices simply cannot carry. Earth contains only five tracks, yet the shortest clocks in at a mighty eight minutes and seventeen seconds. So in summary, this one does not exactly fit in well with the pop-rock paradigm that is most associated with the TV show-watching audience it's oddly connected to (Friday Night Lights). Yet, Explosions seem to add that extra touch of glory that blends in perfectly with high school football, or any other menial activity for that matter.


48) Elliott Smith - From A Basement On The Hill (2004)
Smith's first posthumous release, From A Basement On The Hill contained the remnants of what was supposed to be the singer/songwriter's studio follow-up to 2000's acclaimed Figure 8. It really is heartbreaking to hear how good this collection of songs is because it conjures up thoughts of all that could have been. This record was originally intended to be a double album, but contractual obligations from DreamWorks prevented it from being released as an independent extended disc. In any case, Basement was completed by Smith's former producer and ex-girlfriend and remains extremely unpolished due to fact that most songs hadn't gotten Smith's final seal of approval at the time of his death. This didn't seem to disappoint fans and critics alike who unanimously praised this one as a fitting swan song.


47) My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves (2003)
My Morning Jacket had been around for over five years before experiencing the acclaim that It Still Moves brought them. Their perseverance has since paid off big time, and they've never looked back (and rightfully so). Their third studio album strengthened the band's reputation as being not only one of the best alt-country acts around, but one of the best live acts period. Jim James and gang have been known to rock out ISM favorites "One Big Holiday" and "Run Thru" at most of their gigs -- making them the front runners on even the jam band circuit. I had the privilege to see these guys play the 9:30 Club in D.C. back in 2005. Sucks to know that there is no turning back. Case in point -- they are playing MSG on New Year's.


46) Wolfmother - Wolfmother (2005)
Another potentially controversial pick. But sometimes you just gotta call out good old fashioned rock and roll music when you hear it. The debut from this Australian trio had quite the prolonged stint in my stereo system when it came out, despite having gone through iPod commercial treatment a la Feist and Jet. Some of the guitar riffs on this album are so complex, they will make your head spin. "Dimension" bears a striking similarity to some of the songs on Led Zeppelin II, and it doesn't hurt Andrew Stockdale to have a set of pipes that Robert Plant would be proud of. "Woman," put quite simply, is one of the best pure rock songs of the decade. It's been about three years since this record has come out, so I expect big things on Wolfmother's sophomore release.


45) Green Day - American Idiot (2004)
While we're getting a little mainstream, I might as well throw this one in here. Green Day will always get points in my book because I grew up on Dookie, and this remains one of the greatest albums of all time. Although their popularity waned over the years, Green Day's perseverance paid off handsomely a decade after the release of their smash. American Idiot is a concept album in the purest form and follows the rise and fall of characters "Jimmy," "Whatshername," and the infamous "Jesus of Suburbia". Think punk-rock version of Tommy. The accolades poured in, solidifying Green Day's stance as one of the greatest punk bands of all time. For those anxiously awaiting this band's follow-up, they recently released an album of garage pop rock under the moniker Foxboro Hottubs. Supposedly new material is on the way for Green Day, as Billie Joe has hinted at a potential 2008 release. With all these "surprise" albums popping up, who knows what's in store!


44) Peter, Bjorn, and John - Writer's Block (2006)
For a country as cold, isolated, and homogeneous as Sweden is, it sure has its share of kick-ass bands. And while ABBA is experiencing quite the revival this summer, I am unfortunately not referring to them this time around. Stockholm's Peter, Bjorn, and John had been around since 1999, but only recently got some exposure in the States thanks to their excellent third record, Writer's Block. Who cares if this is pop music? And don't let the title fool you. This record's got more catchier hooks bass tournament. Yes...I went there. If you think these guys might be a little too obscure for your liking, I guarantee you've heard the whistly "Young Folks" used in a commercial or TV show -- it's gotten around. Peter left Bjorn and John this year temporarily to pursue a solo album which is actually very good.

43) Bloc Party - Silent Alarm (2005)
Spawning one of the better debut albums of the decade, Britain's Bloc Party is post-punk band that has a penchant for piercing guitar riffs, jarring rhythms, and a political attitude to boot (just take a look at their name). This band borrows heavily from their predecessors, as indicated by singer Kele Okereke's sincere, Cure-like narratives on tracks like "Blue Light" and arrangements taken out of the book of Gang of Four (see "Helicopters"). This band made headlines recently for Okereke's recent backstage altercations with the Sex Pistols' abrasive (and apparently racist) frontman Johnny Rotten. When it was all said and done, Okereke left the scene with facial bruises and a split lip.


42) Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (2008)
Talk about getting better with age. This Southern rock/alt-country outfit has been cranking out albums for over ten years, culminating with their most recent 19-track opus Brighter Than Creation's Dark. Combining the wailing guitar work of Skynyrd with the songwriting pen of Waylon Jennings, the Truckers hit a home run on the first gem of 2008. Despite the departure of very talented songwriter and guitarist, Jason Isbell, these guys...well...kept on truckin'. Bassist Shonna Tucker fills in some of the gaps, and even lends her vocals to the heartwrenching "I'm Sorry Houston". The band really gets the led out on rockers "3 Dimes Down," and "The Righteous Path".


41) Spoon - Gimme Fiction (2005)
It's reassuring to know that Spoon have finally been experiencing some commercial success with their most recent effort. This Austin-based indie band has been around since 1993, and has been making fantastic albums since I can remember. Gimme Fiction is no exception to this. Although, at its core, this record is one that is brimming over the top with perfect pop, Spoon deftly incorporates an array of musical elements that makes Fiction equally complex. Synthesizers flirt with acoustic balladeering, strings, and the occasional guitar-driven numbers to make this one as cacophonous as it is harmonious. If this makes sense...

Living Up To The Fuss -- The Killers @ Highline Ballroom 7/29/08

I was a bit of a skeptic going into the Killers' Highline Ballroom performance last night. For one, tickets were unconventionally easy to obtain for a "secret show", and hadn't even sold out even days after they were made available....sketchy. Furthermore, I was a little underwhelmed by Sam's Town -- the band's follow-up to the admittedly brilliant breakout smash Hot Fuss. Let's just say the Killers hadn't exactly been a staple on my iPod since 2004. In any event, I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to see an arena-sized band play one of New York's most intimate and best-sounding venues. Going in, I was still unsure about what to expect. After a forgettable half-hour warm-up performance from fellow Vegas-based band Halloween Town, the Killers went on at just over 10 PM in front of a packed and screaming fanclub-filled house. From there on in, any reservations I had about this show were put to rest. Sell-outs or not, the Killers really know how to play up to a crowd -- whether it's 700 people or 17,000.

Considering how this was such a random one-off performance, it was only fitting that the guys opened up with an obscure cut off of Sam's Town -- the build-up track "For Reasons Unknown". Looking classy and clean cut as always in his three-piece suit, singer Brandon Flowers traversed the stage time and again while gesturing to the hungry crowd. From then on, it was mostly all well-known hits from the Killers' relatively small ouevre, with a few special surprises sprinkled in. The band played a rousing rendition of their first single "Somebody Told Me," which featured Mark Stoermer's signature thumping bass, and then proceeded into an incindiery cover of Joy Division's "Shadowplay". The night's surprises included the underappreciated Hot Fuss b-side "Under The Gun" and the premiere of two brand new hooky tracks called "Spaceman" and the "Neon Tiger". As far as content is concerned, it appears that these tunes are a return to form -- an early indicator that their as-of-yet titled 3rd album might catapult them back to multi-platinum status. Flowers showed off his piano-playing chops on stripped down versions of "Sam's Town," and "Smile Like You Mean It," while figuratively turning it up to eleven on the anthemic "When You Were Young" and "Jenny Was A Friend of Mine". The singer's showmanship was applauded, as he thanked everyone in attendance for "showing up on such short notice". Before the set ended, the Killers played a double-dose of their new-wavy mainstream singles, "Read My Mind" and "Mr. Brightside".

As the band left the stage, the audience's cheers became wildly deafening -- defying the thinkable noise capacity of the 700 in attendance. Without fail, the boys returned shortly to finish some business. The first song of the encore was the bombastic "The River Is Wild". The band then launched into the synth-heavy confessional pop song "Bones" -- which featured Flowers' infectious crooning chorus, "Don't you want to come with me? Don't you want to feel my bones?" The final song of the night was the customary "All These Things That I've Done," which had everyone in the room singing "I've got soul, but I'm not a soldier". Before I even knew it, 80 minutes had passed and the night was over. Sure, in the past a couple of months I've seen artists play sets twice as long, but if a band packs in as much a concentrated punch as the Killers, there is simply no need. And you know what? After night like this, these guys earned some prime real estate back on the iPod -- Sam's Town and all.

Here's a video of last night's performance of "Spaceman". Much thanks to whoever posted this:

Teen Angst

Making really good music videos is a lost art these days. You'll be hard pressed to find an artist/record company that takes the time to capture so perfectly in video the true essence of a song. Long gone are the days of "Thriller" or a "Buddy Holly". And I'm not talking about spending big budgets per se. Fortunately, M83 (a.k.a Anthony Gonzalez) is here to save the day. As I mentioned a couple of months ago in my review of Saturdays = Youth, this record is a virtual homage to the 80's. Gonzalez really captures this spirit in the new video for the album's third single/best song, "Kim & Jessie". Here's the clip: M83 - Kim & Jessie


By the way, M83 plays Webster Hall November 14th. Tickets are still not sold out.

TV At The Temple

As predicted, TV On The Radio have announced a full-fledged tour. New Yorkers can rejoice because it has been confirmed that the band will play the Brooklyn Masonic Temple on October 15th and 16th. Tickets go on sale August 9th. Additionally, the tracklisting for Dear Science, (out September 23rd) has been released:

1. Halfway Home
2. Crying
3. Dancing Chose
4. Stork & Owl
5. Golden Age
6. Family Tree
7. Red Dress
8. Love Dog
9. Shout Me Out
10. DLZ
11. Lover’s Day

Don't Think Twice, It's [Quite] All Right

A plentiful 2008 just got more complete for me. I found out this morning that Bob Dylan will be releasing the eighth installment of his Bootleg Series this fall. The times are getting a little more modern on this one, as this compilation will contain rarities, b-sides, live tracks, and alternate versions of songs from 1989 up until 2006. Titled Tell Tale Signs, the double album comes out on October 6th. Starting today, you can download the bluesy "Dreamin' of You" (from the Time Out of Mind sessions) if you go to bobdylan.com and register. This one's worth the 2 minutes it takes to sign up. Go for it.

A Buzz on the Tube

Just throwing it out there. I know I've driven Sigur Rós in the ground the past couple of months, but those of you who happen to get Current TV (the cable channel Al Gore owns) will be able to get a glimpse of the exclusive concert they played at the MoMA last month. This was one of the better shows I've been to in a VERY long time, so I definitely recommend giving it a shot. It premieres August 5th at 10 PM. Here's a snippet:

Charmers

Free MP3 downloads always make Mondays much more tolerable, especially when they are from Kings of Leon. Starting today, the band is giving away a free song HERE from their upcoming album, Only By The Night (out September 23rd). The song is classic Kings -- straight-up Southern rock sprawl. The only catch is that you have to give them your email address. A small price to play for an incredible song.

"All or Nothing" -- The Subways 6/25/08 @ Blender Theater

I always seem to get a bigger kick out of a show when I know the band I'm seeing is visibly enjoying itself on stage. Veteran acts like Weezer and The Shins, whose respective stage appearances duel it out for worst in my book, should take notice of some of the baby bands that are more or less "fueled by ramen". I guess hunger can be a huge motivating factor in this business. In any event, I saw a band Friday night that exudes everything that is (or was) exciting about rock and roll. Hailing from jolly old England (where they are appently MUCH bigger than they are stateside), the Subways are a young, exuberant trio that brings back the swagger of 70's garage rock acts like MC5 and The Stooges. If their accents weren't dead giveaways, you'd swear this band was from Detroit (and that it was 1973 all over again). The Subways' new album is called All or Nothing, and it looks like this is a credo they live by (yes, in a good way). The band played the (gorgeous) Blender Theater this weekend to a crowd that was a little over half-full -- but this didn't seem to bother the trio, who rocked it out as if it was the show of their lives. Bassist Charlotte Cooper, who from my view was a dead ringer for Debbie Harry, bopped around the stage throughout the band's hour-long set, while shirtless singer/guitarist Billy Lunn performed countless stage lunges from Josh Morgan's drum set.

The band played a host of new songs from All Or Nothing, including the punky "Kalifornia," the droning leadoff track "Girls & Boys," and hooky single, "Alright". In between all of the new material (which hasn't been officially released in the U.S.), the band squeezed in some of their more familiar catalog, which included "Mary," "I Want to Hear What You Have to Say," and "With You". Apparently stage diving is not a lost art after all, as Lunn did not hestitage to get involved on a couple of occasions. The band was extremely receptive of the crowd, and even admitted this was the best NYC show they had ever played. Before calling it a night, the trio returned to play an encore of their mildly successful hit, "Rock and Roll Queen". If this band's live energy radiates onto the new album, then this may very well be the last time I see these guys play an unsold out show.

Somebody Told Me

Apparently, the Killers are playing an exclusive "fan club" show at the Highline Ballroom next Tuesday 7/29, that's no longer very exclusive. Tickets are now open up to the public HERE, and as of 3:20, they are surprisingly still on sale. After convenience charges, tickets come out to $47.50 apiece. This will sell out almost immediately.

Gleaming

Earlier this week, I was given a copy of the new Avett Brothers EP, The Gleam II. Although I recall hearing of this band via the greater message board periphery, I had never taken it upon myself to really delve into their material before this week. A quick Wikipedia search will tell you that these guys "combine old-time country, punk, pop melodies, folk, rock and roll, honkey tonk, and ragtime". That's a lot to digest, but hey, any band that can successfully meld punk with ragtime deserves a listen in my book. But be forewarned: if you are anticipating this odd musical marriage on their latest offering, you will be a little disappointed. At its core Gleam is straight-up folk. Led by brothers Seth and Scott Avett, this EP is as barebones as it gets -- no drums, no bass; just a pair of acoustic guitars and the occasional banjo/piano cameo. But for a band that has the reputation of creating such rollicking ramblers on their full-length releases, less is more on this six-song set. "Tear Down This House" meshes the sincerity of James Taylor with the spot-on storytelling of Bob Dylan. If it's modern comparisons you're looking for, album standout "Murder In The City" blends the compassion of Conor Oberst with Ryan Adams' penchant for painting a heartbreaking Southern opus. This band has been turning so many heads as of late, that even Rick Rubin has signed on to produce their major label debut. Before the cat gets let out of the bag, this is your chance to experience an independent folk band that is as pure at heart as it gets.

My Rating: 8.1/10

The List (Part 5)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.

60) Interpol - Antics (2004)
The New York foursome's follow-up to a tremendous debut, Antics proved that this "New New Wave" band had more staying power than Joy Division -- the very act that these guys unmistakably mimic. Whether it's Carlos D's thumping bass on tunes like "Evil," Paul Banks' hypnotically monotone singing style on "C'mere" or Daniel Kessler's throbbing punky guitar on leadoff single "Slow Hands," Interpol delivers an album that is wrought with nuances that collectively welcome a throwback sound. This band took indie rock to a new level when it most needed a swift kick in the ass. They returned last year with highly underrated Our Love To Admire.


59) Belle & Sebastian - The Life Pursuit (2006)
Often referred to as Scotland's greatest band, these indie rockers certainly have the pop song formula down pat. They kind of reinvent the wheel on this one -- churning out sing-along gems like album standouts, "Funny Little Frog" and "Another Sunny Day," but who says this is a bad thing? If you're ever in a crabby mood, I can't recommend a better band to lift your spirits. The Life Pursuit is the latest from Belle & Sebastian, and is thankfully their most successful to date in the States. It's taken awhile for this stellar band to catch up and it's reassuring to know that they are getting their just due. No word yet of a new album in the works, which is unfortunate.


58) Kanye West - The College Dropout (2004)
This is the album that started it all for 'Ye. Spawning three top ten hits in "Through The Wire," "All Falls Down," and "Jesus Walks," The College Dropout turned this producer into hip-hop's greatest superstar. And make no mistake about it, Kayne will be the first to agree with this claim. Featuring collaborations with Talib Kweli, John Legend and Jay-Z, The College Dropout is nearly flawless hip-hop and was a breath of fresh air for a genre that was struggling back in '04. Featuring a slew of hooky familiar samples mixed in with Kanye's super-intelligent rhyming scheme, this one set the tone for hip-hop's evolving state in the new century.


57) Bright Eyes - Cassadaga (2007)
Named after a spiritual community in Florida, this record is appropriately themed. Oozing all things Americana, this one is Conor Oberst's most folky to date. First single "Four Winds" is one of the best songs of 2007 and features backing vocals from a very talented Maria Taylor. But the cameos don't end there. Cassadaga may very well go down in the record books as having the most collaborations in the history of rock and roll. If you listen carefully, you can also hear M. Ward, Rachael Yamagata, Davind Rawlings, Gillian Welch, and a host of others making their respective contributions. Fun fact: this album comes with a spectral decoder that allows users to uncover hidden phrases in the artwork. This was considered so novel that Cassadaga won a Grammy this year for "Best Recording Package".


56) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses (2005)
Ryan Adams' first release with his current band The Cardinals, Cold Roses is a virtual homage to the Grateful Dead and Neil Young. After experimenting with a more rock-oriented sound on previous releases Gold, Rock N Roll, and Love Is Hell, this marked Adams' return to the alt-country realm most associated with Heartbreaker and prior band Whiskeytown. Critics who lampooned Adams for his disconnected and choppy feel on prior albums all agreed that this was a return to form. From the slide-guitar sprawl on cuts like "Let It Ride" and "If I Am A Stranger" to the heartfelt tenderness on "Now That You're Gone" and "Friends," Roses showcases some of the better songwriting of the decade. While we are on the subject of packaging, this record was released as a "vinyl" double-disc set despite the fact that all songs fit on a standard compact disc. Had to throw that out there.


55) Sigur Rós - ( ) (2002)
Yes, you're reading that correctly. Sigur Rós' third studio album is unpronounceable and simply titled using two opposing parentheses. If this isn't cryptic enough, all of the songs on this record are untitled. But hey, if mood music is your thing, naming conventions don't really apply. And plus, unless you are one of like 50,000 people who speak Icelandic, this would just be gibberish anyway. It's the content that matters, and Sigur Rós certainly knocks it out of the park on this one. The first four tracks are optimistically ethereal. After a 36-second pause the mood changes and they get dark and mysterious on us. Those of who saw 2001's Vanilla Sky got a sneak peak at "Untitled #4" -- the song was featured during a crucial moment in the film.


54) The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me (2004)
The debut from what is arguably the best live rock act around, this marked the beginning of four consecutive stellar albums from this Brooklyn-by-way-of-Minneapolis band. Centered around themes of near-death experiences, drug abuse, and youth partying, there hasn't been storytelling this top-notch since early Springsteen albums. And like the Boss' debut, this one is a little unpolished around the edges. But have no fear; it only gets better from here. The Hold Steady was supposedly formed after guitarist Tad Kubler got inspired from watching a DVD of The Band's concert feature The Last Waltz. These guys get some bonus points for being average Joe's.

53) Coldplay - Parachutes (2000)
Before Coldplay became COLDPLAY, they made a little-known record called Parachutes way back in 2000. That's when things exploded for these guys. Spawning a couple of well-known hits ("Yellow" and "Trouble"), this was the album that would not go away. Thanks to years of soundtrack help from movies such as Igby Goes Down, Garden State, and yes, even Wedding Crashers, Coldplay's debut remains on our radar eight years after it was released. Although I gotta give props for their most recent offering, nothing they've put out since comes close to topping Parachutes.


52) Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News (2004)
I am well aware that this is this band's "bandwagon" album. But I don't care; it's still fantastic music, and without a doubt their best. People went nuts for "Float On" in 2004 -- Modest Mouse's first commercially successful song after over a decade of existence. This spawned an equally amazing follow-up hit in "Ocean Breathes Salty," a song that was picked out by Mark Kozelek (Sun Kil Moon) for his very own Modest Mouse cover album. Good News flirts with everything from the Talking Heads to The Cure and is as endearing as it is quirky. The band went on to release their follow-up last year called We Were Dead Before The Ship Even Sank, which features The Smiths' Johnny Marr, who joined on as a permanent band member.


51) Sun Kil Moon - April (2008)
The current band from Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters fame, this is Sun Kil Moon's second body of completely original material. And much like Ghosts of The Great Highway, this one is a masterpiece. Admittedly, though, this is an acquired taste. Fans of upbeat, fast-tempo indie-rock need not apply. This one's a downer -- inspired by failed relationships, the passing of loved ones, and imagery of American landscapes. Kozelek's brilliant lyrical sense gets a little lost through his hypnotically mumbling singing style, but take my word for it -- this is one of the most talented singer-writers at his best.

Tap Into This

At first glimpse, Omaha's Tilly And The Wall appears to be all smoke and mirrors. After all, how can substituting a tap dancer for a drummer be seen as anything other than a stunt? Well, if you toss away your reservations for a half hour and actually let the music do the talking, you'll discover that this female-dominated Nebraska quintet has a penchant for rhythm that simply wouldn't work by adhering to traditional percussion guidelines. And for the record, tap dancing is just the beginning on O -- the band's third studio album. If you keep a close ear on this record's arrangements, you'll hear trumpets, trombones, accordions, mellotrons, and yes, even the elusive glockenspiel making their respective appearances at one point or another. So in a nutshell, calling this one melodic would be quite the understatement. O consists of a dozen cuts -- most of which do not exceed the three minute mark, so squeezing in this deep instrumental arsenal becomes quite the daunting challenge. Yet, Tilly And The Wall somehow figure out how to efficiently pack a punch in each tune. First single "Pot Kettle Black" has got that post-punk guitar drone we all know and love, mixed in with Jamie Presnall's machine-like stomping abilities and an anthemic chorus that's one part Pipettes and two parts Le Tigre. Album standout "Cacaphony" implements the band's harmonizing abilities backed by a horn section and fast-paced rhythm that's awfully flamenco sounding. These guys are anything but one trick ponies here -- the barebones ballad "Tall Tall Grass" tosses aside the shoes and is strickly acoustic and three part harmonizing. The rest of the album is infused with infectious blend of punky stomp pop that makes you want to get up and dance. If Tilly And The Wall are having as much fun playing as we are listening, then this group will be dancing their way to the mainstream before we know it.

My Rating: 7.8/10

Wish Fulfillment

Yesssssss. It has been confirmed that Sonic Youth will close out the summer's McCarren Pool Party concert series. The show will take place Saturday August 30th and will feature "special guests". Doors will open at 4, so it looks like this one's gonna be an (almost) all-day event. Tickets will cost $35 and go sale Friday at noon. If you've never made it out to this venue, this is the perfect opportunity it check it out (while it still exists). I can't think of a better band to close out the season at one of Brooklyn's best stomping grounds. This will be amazing.

Aiming To Please,

News has surfaced today regarding the new TV On The Radio album. Fans who have been anticipating this genre-spanning Brooklyn band's first release since 2006's universally praised Return To Cookie Mountain will only have to wait a little while longer. The new record will be called Dear Science, (yes, with a comma) and will be released on September 23rd. As mentioned earlier, the guys will be playing a string of West Coast and Canadian dates around the time of release (no NYC dates at this point). No word yet about tracklisting and album artwork, but I will be sure to keep you posted as details roll in.

Songs To Pass The Time

The new Conor Oberst (w/Mystic Valley Band) album can now be streamed in its entirety via the band's website HERE. In other news, the band will be playing a series of in-stores at independent record shops throughout the country in anticipation of the release. Locally, the guys will be making an appearance at Other Music on August 12th. This one's already been getting some excellent press, so keep this one on your radar.

Color Me Impressed

Aside from a few promotional interviews for the Replacements reissues a couple of months ago, Paul Westerberg has been a bit of a recluse the past couple of years. After helming the soundtrack duties for kid-flick Open Season back in '06, the typically prolific Westerberg has been in the midst of a prolonged dryspell -- or so we thought. Coming seemingly out of nowhere, the singer-songwriter has just released a new "demo" album randomly titled 49:00 of Your Time/Life. The album, which boasts a helping of new material mixed in with some older songs ("Out Of My System," "Everyone's Stupid") is as brash as Westerberg has been since his early 80's Replacements days. Here's the kicker: the album consists of one 44-minute track that is currently available for download via Amazon. The asking price? A bank-breaking 49 cents. Do yourself a favor and swoop this one up. The best news -- Westerberg is supposedly writing a ton of new material. So this may just be the tip of the iceberg!

Sequestered On Broadway

Oh, slapstick humor. Promoting the release of their eagerly anticipated fourth album, Stay Positive, The Hold Steady played Letterman last night. Gotta love how much Craig Finn gets into his performances. That's all I got, folks.

Gettin' In Tune

The Who (or at least what's left of them) have announced the initial tour dates of their fall U.S. tour. The jaunt kicks of in Detroit before making some stops in our area (Mohegan, Meadowlands, AC). I guess this stint goes hand-in-hand with the whole Who celebration VH1 is promoting. The network's "Rock Honors" show will feature Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry collaborating with Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, The Flaming Lips, Tenacious D, and yes, even Incubus.

And as for the tour dates:

Oct. 21 Palace of Auburn Hills, Detroit, MI
Oct. 22 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, Ontario
Oct. 24 TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA
Oct. 26 Wachovia Center, Philadelphia, PA
Oct. 28 Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, CT
Oct. 29 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
Oct. 31 The Borgata, Atlantic City, NJ
Nov. 3 Verizon Center, Washington, DC
Nov. 8 Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA
Nov. 9 Nokia Theatre, Los Angeles, CA

The List (Part 4)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 90-71 (Part 3), click HERE.

70) The Thrills - So Much For The City (2003)
For a band born and bred in Ireland, these guys sure have a thing for California. With song titles that include "Big Sur," "Santa Cruz," and "Don't Steal Our Sun," you'd think The Thrills stole a page out of Brian Wilson's songbook. Sure this band got their big break on The O.C., but this should not undermine the musical complexity of this quintet's debut disc. Beach Boy harmonizing mixed in with organs, mandolins, and even harmonicas a la Neil Young make So Much For The City the most Americana disc this side of Dublin. The band's follow-up discs (2004's Let's Bottle Bohemia and 2007's Teenager) went largely unnoticed, but do manage to recreate the formula from City.


69) Beck - Sea Change (2002)
2002 marked a new a milestone for Beck with the appropriately titled Sea Change. Known mostly for his largely experimental catalog and signature idiosyncratic lyrical flow, this album is a complete departure for Mr. Hansen -- one that highlighted his ability to get a little sentimental on us. A record that revolves heavily around the ending of a relationship, this one's a tearjerker, as evidenced by tunes such as "Guess I'm Doing Fine," Lonesome Tears," and "Lost Cause". The formula seemed to work for Beck, as this was his highest charting album to date -- hitting the coveted #8 spot on the Billboard 200. Oddly enough, one of the record's cuts, "The Golden Age," was used as World Series music.


68) Coldplay - Viva La Vida (2008)
Chris Martin (and the other three anonymous Coldplay band members) could have given us a second helping of the slop that was 2005's X&Y. But instead they opted to get their hands dirty and really bounce back from mediocrity on this year's Viva La Vida. Featuring everything from straight up iTunesy pop ("Viva La Vida") to 90's shoegaze ("Yes"), Coldplay really took advantage of Brian Eno's expertise on this new one. I'll spare the details on this one because I am sick of writing about this band. But if you're so inclined, much more of my take on this disc can be found HERE.


67) Art Brut - Bang Bang Rock & Roll (2005)
The debut from these South-Londoners ushered in a new genre of rock known as "art wave" in Great Britain -- a movement that included fellow countrymen Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. Calling a spade a spade, this music is as barebones as it gets: layered three-chord crunch backed by Eddie Argos' straight-to-the-point storytelling lyrical sense. Just listen to "Good Weekend" and you'll see that these art punks are as down to Earth as rockers get. They get my seal of approval based on their live show alone -- one that often includes a white screen with projected lyrics as they are spewed from Argos' mouth.


66) Johnny Cash - American V: A Hundred Highways (2006)
American V, the final sessions before the legend's passing, is a celebration of his life as much as it's a foreshadowing of Cash's death. The morbid crackle in his voice is an instrument all its own on the album -- one that is as crucial as any other on Highways. Cash was a trooper during these final sessions, even boldly recording the days following wife June Carter's death. This album is wonderful bookend to an illustrious career, and even debuted at number one -- his first since Live At San Quentin in 1969. The standout track is "Like The 309" -- Cash's heartbreaking last original and solid indicator that the Man In Black was finally at peace before leaving us.


65) The Postal Service - Give Up (2003)
Before UPS drove "Such Great Heights" into the ground with their incessant ad campaigns, Death Cab's Ben Gibbard and Dntel's Jimmy Taborello collaborated on a pretty sweet electric indie side project about five years ago -- one that got so big, it managed to (at the time) eclipse each member's respective main project. The album went gold before any Death Cab For Cutie album ever earned this status. Spawning several hit singles that were featured in countless movies, television shows, and commercials, this was really the album that put Gibbard on the map. But don't hold your breath for another Postal Service album anytime soon -- Gibbard's got his hands full with Death Cab right now, and in May, Ben was quoted as saying that he doesn't expect to release another PS album "before the end of the decade."


64) Bruce Springsteen - Magic (2007)
Again, I'm biased to musicians who hail from the Garden State. But even I'll admit it doesn't take a lot of convincing to throw a Springsteen album on this list. Although the man lost his touch in the 90's, he came roaring back this decade thanks to his 9/11-inspired opus The Rising and brought the E Street band with him. After a couple of side projects (Devils & Dust, and The Seeger Sessions) the band was back for good with 2007's Magic. And don't think age has softened Mr. Springsteen. Leadoff single "Radio Nowhere" is the most aggressive work he's given us to date. But there's something for everyone here that makes this effort, well, magical. Tunes like "Livin' In The Future" and "Girls In Their Summer Clothes" scream Springsteen from yesteryear, which is always music my ears.


63) Amy Winehouse - Back To Black (2007)
Girl's got some problems, but MAN can she sing! I didn't buy into the hype until I actually listened to this album a few times through. I will legitimately go on the record to say that if this walking disaster has the same good fortune as say a Scott Weiland (who is miraculously still alive), then she will be more than a one trick pony here. Bridging the (rather large0 gap between today's pop and classic 60's era Motown, this singer is also surprisingly a songwriter -- collaborating with Mark Ronson on most of the songs on her American debut disc. If she's ever sober enough to get her shit together and make a follow-up to last year's sensation, there's no doubt in my mind that we'll be hearing about this gal for years to come.


62) Kings of Leon - Youth & Young Manhood (2003)
This Tennessee-based Southern-rock/garage band consists of a trio of precocious brothers, and their cousin -- all of whom share the same last name (Followill). Youth and Young Manhood was a brilliant debut for a group who's members were mostly under the legal drinking age at the time of release. And whether you know it or not, you've definitely heard KOL before, if not on the TV commerical/video game soundtrack circuit. Before these guys struck it big in the States, they got huge in Europe where they opened for the likes of The Strokes and U2. Since the release of their debut, the band has put out two more phenomenal records and actually has another one on the way due this fall.


61) Bob Dylan - Modern Times (2006)
Sure, Dylan's voice is shot on this record. But then again, this man was never really known for his set of pipes. Modern Times is really a continuation of Love & Theft -- an album that departed from Dylan's stylistic folk rock and leaned towards pre-rock blues, rockabilly, and even jazz. Taking advantage of his exremely talented touring band, Dylan gives us lesson in how music used to be made before over-produced records became all the rage. At it's core, each cut on Modern Times sounds as if it was recorded in one take -- making this one anything but modern. Despite a few questionable lyrical references (Alicia Keys, really?!?!), Dylan's still got his edge as America's greatest living songwriter.

Chickens Just Back From The Shore

I know I'm like the last person on Earth to post about this, but this is too good to go left unsaid. Fun fact: When I was a little kid, I turned down a spot on a Sesame Street anniversary show. Feist, on the other hand, did not hesitate to get involved. And who could really blame her? "1,2,3,4" is so conducive to a Sesame Street parody. She gets some points for doing this:

It Feels Good To Be Free

Amid on and off rumors that Jenny Lewis will be eventually calling it quits with her immensely popular day job Rilo Kiley, the singer-songwriter will release her second full-length solo record, Acid Tongues, this September. Her first album since her project with folk duo The Watson Twins back in '06, this one will feature appearances from M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel, as well as Elvis Costello, who lends his voice on "Carpetbaggers" and is returning the favor from his recently released Momofuku. The album was prepped in just three weeks, and was recorded at the famed Sound City Studios. Lewis will be playing a host of shows this fall with Conor Oberst. Here is the tracklisting for Acid Tongues:

1. "Black Sand"
2. "Pretty Bird"
3. "The Next Messiah"
4. "Bad Man’s World"
5. "Acid Tongue"
6. "See Fernando"
7. "Godspeed"
8. "Carpetbaggers"
9. "Trying My Best To Love You"
10. "Jack Killed Mom"
11. "Sing A Song For Them"

Go Let It Out

Information has streamed in today about Oasis' new album, Dig Out Your Soul. As reported, the record, which is being released independently through the band's Big Brother Recordings, surfaces October 6th in the States. Today the full tracklisting and album art was revealed as shown below. As always, the band is doing their best to pretend they are like the Beatles. Revolver, much?

Track Listing
Bag It Up
The Turning
Waiting For The Rapture
The Shock Of The Lightning
I’m Outta Time
(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady
Falling Down
To Be Where There’s Life
Ain’t Got Nothin’
The Nature of Reality
Soldier On

Where Beck's At [This Fall]

A week after releasing Modern Guilt, Beck announced the first dates of his headlining tour today, which hits the theater/ballroom circuit in late August. Nothing has been confirmed for New York yet, so let's keep our fingers crossed. Here are the confirmed tour dates:

08/21/08 - Reno, NV - Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
08/22/08 - San Francisco, CA - Outside Lands Festival
08/24/08 - Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphiteater
08/30/08 - Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
09/19/08 - San Diego, CA - Street Scene Festival
09/20/08 - Hollywood, CA - Hollywood Bowl
09/22/08 - Phoenix, AZ - Dodge Theater
09/23/08 - Albuquerque, NM - Kiva Auditorium
09/25/08 - El Paso, TX - Abraham Chavez Theatre
09/27/08 - Austin, TX - Zilker Park, Austin City Limits Festival
09/29/08 - Kansas City, MO - Uptown Theatre
09/30/08 - Minneapolis, MN - Wilkins Auditorium
10/02/08 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom
10/03/08 - Chicago, IL - Aragon Ballroom

Twisted Logic or Viva La Letdown

Looks like Chris Martin and Co. are still in a giving mood. After giving away their first single as a complimentary download and a playing a pair of free shows in NYC and London, Coldplay is offering yet another free download -- this time for a b-side called "Death Will Never Conquer" (not to be confused with "Death And All His Friends"). But before you get your hopes up, I'm gonna call a spade a spade and tell you it's not very great...at all. It's just over a minute, and it's basically a piano demo. That's about it. If you still want it, you can download it HERE.

This Is For Real

I guess today's got an emo theme going on. And for once I have news about a Minneapolis-based band that isn't the Hold Steady. Today Motion City Soundtrack announced the first leg of their fall tour. You gotta respect a band that plays as much as these guys do. Unfortunately, there are no NYC dates listed just yet, but I'm sure this will change. MCS will be supported by Dear and The Headlights and Margot and the Nuclear So-So's. Here are the confirmed dates:

THU 9/4 East Lansing @ MSU Auditorium ^
SAT 9/6 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock Cafe
SUN 9/7 Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues
MON 9/8 Towson, MD @ Recher Theatre
WED 9/10 Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel
THU 9/11 Charleston, SC @ The Music Farm
FRI 9/12 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
SAT 9/13 Gainesville, FL @ Alachua County Fairgrounds *
MON 9/15 New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues
WED 9/17 Urbana, IL @ Canopy Club
THU 9/18 Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note
FRI 9/19 Lawrence, KS @ Liberty Hall

^Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, The Hard Lessons, and The Silent Years
*The Real Big Deal Festival

Welcome Home

Last week, New York emo prog. rockers Coheed & Cambria sent around a poster announcing a string of upcoming NYC and LA concerts. According to the vague information listed on the flier, the quartet will be playing the entire four-part Coheed & Cambria saga in order. Naturally, the next question on every fan's mind is whether or not the band will play the entire Armory Wars saga on each night, or just split it up over the residencies. Well, the band filled in the gaps today with a radio announcement in which the band confirmed that it would be one album played in sequence per night. Not so sure of the LA shows, but NYC shows will be at Terminal 5 October 22-25. No word yet on ticketing info. Here is said poster:


UPDATE: TICKETS TO GO ON SALE THROUGH TICKETMASTER ON FRIDAY, JULY 18 AT 1PM EASTERN EST. Here are full abridged details:

New York - Terminal 5

Oct 22
The Second Stage Turbine Blade

Oct 23
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

Oct 24
Good Apollo...

Oct 25
No World For Tomorrow

Los Angeles - The Avalon

Nov 5
The Second Stage Turbine Blade

Nov 6
In Keeping Secrets of Silent Earth: 3

Nov 7
Good Apollo...

Nov 8
No World For Tomorrow