All Points West Fest: we got our tickets!

Mur and I got our tickets. Quite legitimately, through Ticketmaster, two minutes after they went on sale. Both Radiohead nights (who cares about Jack Johnson?!)

So two beautiful back-to-back summer nights of Radiohead with openers like The New Pornographers, CSS, Mates of State, Kings of Leon, Metric, Sia and many more. Who knows, maybe I'll even learn to like Animal Collective, lol.

We'll ferry over to the island from Mur's apartment in lower Manhattan. Tim and Liese have tickets for both nights too. Can't wait! Mur has incredibly NEVER seen Radiohead (this must be corrected!), the kids and I last saw them in 2003. I also saw them in 2001 in this same location, Liberty State Park, with the soon-to-be-gone Twin Towers in the background. The view was then as below. 9/11 happened three weeks later. Mur's apartment is very close to where the towers once stood.

BellX1 - Rocky Took a Lover

My new favorite song! Wow I love this. Never heard of these guys but apparently they're big in Ireland. Can't wait to hear the whole record, which I just got from eMusic. Fantastic lyrics, too.

MP3 BellX1 - Rocky Took a Lover (from 2008's Flock)

Yeasayer - 2080 on Conan

Yeasayer made their network television debut this week with an appearance on Conan. They performed 2080, which Conan called "my favorite song in a long time." The group is really attentive to vocals--by the end of this all four guys in the band are singing as well as three backup dudes they brought in. Yes they are babies (I recently saw them say in an interview they're still being supported by their parents), but these guys have something going on.

Neutral Milk Hotel - Two Headed Boy Part 2

I know every music blog on earth is mentioning it but I can't let the week pass without wishing happy 10th birthday to one of the best albums ever, Neutral Milk Hotel's second and final record, In the Aeroplane, Over the Sea. Here's the gorgeous closer, Two Headed Boy Part 2. What a melody in that bridge, my God. (Truly, the whole album is breathtakingly beautiful.) Listen for the sound of Jeff taking off his guitar and leaving just after he sings the album's final line, "But don't hate her when she gets up to leave." It's like he knew that was it, he wasn't coming back. We miss you Jeff.

MP3 Neutral Milk Hotel - Two Headed Boy Part 2 (from 1998's In the Aeroplane, over the Sea)

more MP3s from this fine album here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I made this mix of songs with "heart" in the title for Anneliese.

Talking Heads and Grandmaster Flash

Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads with Grandmaster Flash, NYC, 1981 (photo credit Laura Levine)

Superb photo (thanks Aquarium Drunkard!) recalls the day when cool white music and cool black music were the same.

MP3 Talking Heads - Girlfriend is better (from 1983's Speaking in Tongues)
MP3 Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - The Message (from 1982's The Message)

Dengue Fever - Seeing Hands

I don't know much about Dengue Fever except they're from LA and they combine psychedelic rock with Cambodian pop and this song is really good.

MP3 Dengue Fever - Seeing Hands (from 2008's Venus on Earth)

The Raveonettes - Aly, Walk With Me

The Raveonettes are a Danish duo (not a couple) who named themselves after a Buddy Holly song (obviously!) This is the really moody opener to their new album which I want to dedicate to Alexandra up in Connecticut. Lyrics here. And even though the song's only been out three months, it's already been covered by the cover-happy Minneapolis/Athens, GA band Ruby Isle.

MP3 The Raveonettes - Aly, Walk With Me (from 2007's Lust Lust Lust)

Iron & Wine live at Paradiso, Amsterdam

One of my favorite venues in the world, enjoy! Setlist here.

Kristin Hersh - Your Ghost (for Beth)

My dear friend Beth died suddenly and unexpectedly this week. One of the many things I will miss about Beth is sharing music with her. There are certain songs and artists that will always remind me of her, and none more so than Kristin Hersh. I credit Beth with turning me on to this amazing songwriter. This one's for you, Beth, always and forever.

MP3 Kristin Hersh - Your Ghost (live at Noe Valley Ministry, San Francisco, CA, 2003)


RIP Beth (here with Daniel in 2001)