My Morning Jacket is touring with Pearl Jam beginning May 9. Pitchfork's news piece about this is really dumb. The two dates in the New York Metro area are June 1 and 3 at the Meadowlands, New Jersey. Shannon is bugging out because My Morning Jacket and Pearl Jam are her two favorite bands ever. Pearl Jam's next record is out May 2.

Ambulance LTD: New English EP (TVT)
rating: **1/2
release: March 14
played with: REM, Killers, Guided by Voices

Could have been a major faux pas covering Pink Floyd. Not just anyone can or should be doing that. Ambulance LTD's version of "Fearless", with its gentle vocals, represents just as well as David Gilmore or Roger Waters playing it solo in 2006. Pink Floyd may indeed be an influence, but this EP, like their debut full-length, cuts across the rock n roll map. Which is more of a minus than a plus. Even if they can be versatile enough to generate soul for "Arbuckle's Swan Song," the songs kinda lay flat. It's only a seven-song teaser (with two new songs) until the next LP is out, so we'll see if A LTD can sharpen the focus or if they even need to. Just don't, by any means, no matter what you read, be lead to believe this NYC band is involved with shoegaze. Give them soul, rock n roll, psychedelia. But please, there is nothing here that resembles shoegaze! -Kenyon

Last episode of 90210 on Soapnet today. Series starts over on Monday.

She Wants Revenge. Candidate for best new band and best band name.

Goldfrapp: Supernature (Mute)
release: March 7, 2006
rating: ****
similar: Dot Allison, Miss Kittin, Annie, Madonna, Fischerspooner

The hype, promotion and promotional hype for Goldfrapp's third record had been building for months. The anticipation is pretty much justified. Supernature is an electro-disco-pop goldmine. For people that don't think that electro-disco-pop is a dead fad. It doesn't even matter what style you want to call it, because it's that fantastic, a timelessly modern album that could have occured anywhere from 1980 to 2006. Hot dance tracks are oozing from Supernature: "Ride a White Horse", "Number 1" and "Koko" to name a few. It doesn't hurt that Alison Goldfrapp's vocals are to die for, not at all robotic but sizzingly sensual. And don't forget her counterpart and music maker Will Gregory, who may not be as attractive to be the focus of attention, but uses some brilliant charming synth to make this one of the stand-out entries of the year. -Kenyon

On the Tonite Show, Monday March 13.

Hypatia Lake: And We Shall Call Him Joseph (Sad Robot)
release: February 28, 2006
rating: ***1/2
similar: Black Heart Procession, Dykehouse, Flying Saucer Attack, Flaming Lips
played with: BRMC, M83, Ulrich Schnauss, Ambulance ltd.

The album cover for Hypatia Lake's sound-bending sophomore effort makes it too easy to dismiss them as experimental post-rock noise. Just look at it! So, ok, my bad. And We Shall Call Him... is actually one of the more happy discoveries so far this year. Mainly because it relies greatly on swirling textures and has a big foot in space rock and shoegaze. It starts off strong, balancing a concept story about a guy leading a revolt against a candy factory (what?). It sorta wonders off later and loses some strength, hinting that this too-short record is only a small part of a greater whole. Sticky Sweet. -Kenyon

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Man Man: Six Demon Bag (Ace Fu)
release: February 21, 2006
rating: **
similar: World Inferno Friendship Society, Tom Waits, Captain Beefheart
played with: Arcade Fire, Fiery Furnaces, Cat Power

Man Man isn't for many, but they're certainly not easy to ignore when they've got an experimental style that draws from jazz, Middle Eastern, old-school carnival type music, cabaret, and who knows what else. It's not an easy listen when they add the throaty or whiney vocals. But hell, if they were playing one of their off-the-hook shows nearby, I'd so be there for major photo taking. So they get half a star for that. Oh yea, and if it matters, they opened for Arcade Fire ..AND, supposedly, Cat Power. -Kenyon

I have been getting a TON of emails announcing bands playing at South by Southwest in Texas later this month. (For those in the know, SXSW.) So instead of giving any one in particular attention, and because I'm in New York, here is the entire LINE-UP (which includes Elefant and Brian Jonestown Massacre).

Okay now that that's out of the way.....
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Pitchfork is having its own music fest this summer in Chicago.
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After two dates at Madison Square Garden last December, Depeche Mode is playing at Jones Beach, Long Island May 13. It's the first show announced for this year's schedule there. Knowing what the line-ups are usually like, this will be one of the more exciting acts.
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According to Technorati, Advance Copy is currently ranked number 281,328 in the blogosphere.
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I can't find my Cloud Room cd. Speaking of which, they're playing March 11 at Mercury Lounge with Film School.
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The Long Island Press, who laid off Kenyon last summer, has downsized--yet again--from 72 to 64 pages. Ha!

I finally heard Swervedriver's Ejector Seat Reservation, their lost/rare/dropped-from-three-labels album from 1995 that was finally re-issued in 2003. Not as spectacular as I expected. It's kinda like the following LP, 99th Dream, just not nearly as keen and light on the guitar effects.

February 28 was an unusually dead release date. Unless of course you are down with Hawthorne Heights or a Bruce Springsteen show from 1975. Don't even worry about it because there are plenty of big records coming up real soon. Especially March 21. I can hardly contain myself.

March 7
Goldfrapp: Supernature (Mute)
Mogwai: Mr. Beast (Matador)
Mudhoney: Under a Billion Suns (Subpop)

March 14
Stephin Merritt: Showtunes (Non)

March 21
Appleseed Cast: Peregrine (Militia Group)
Editors: The Back Room (Fader)
Liars: Drum's Not Dead (Mute)
Placebo: Meds (Astralwerks)
Richard Ashcroft : Keys to the World (EMI)
Mates of State: Bring it Back (Barsuk)
Mojave 3: Puzzles Like You (4AD?)

Duly noted:

Radio Indie Pop is streaming the new Mogwai record (out Tuesday March 7)
-----------------------------
Irving got better. Record out April 4 on Eenie Meenie. Look and listen.
-----------------------------------------
Madonna, Daft Punk and Massive Attack join line-up for Coachella (April 29-30).
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Final Destination 3 is not worth $9.75 because the characters are mad dumb.
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90210 on Soapnet update: Dylan's father may still be alive; Noah still a drunk; 9 more episodes till series ends. Pictured here is Dylan McKay as Bruce Springsteen in an undated video still.

Warlocks are on tour with Sisters of Mercy starting tomorrow March 2 in Florida. Playing Webster Hall in New York March 6.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Editors (a recent buzz band that I haven't yet heard) and stellastarr* (a previous buzz band that I've heard ad naseum) are co-headlining a US Tour starting in Boston on March 20 and ending April 30 at Coachella. The bands will alternate the headline slot. Except in New York, where they are special and can play their own gigs.

March 26- New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (stellastarr* only)
March 27- New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom (stellastarr* only)
March 28- Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (both)
March 30- New York, NY @ Webster Hall (Editors only)

Editors’ debut album, The Back Room, to be released in the US on March 21. stellastarr*s second album, Harmonies For The Haunted, came out last year in the US and is out March 6 in the UK.
---------------------------------------------------------------

YouTube is under construction. And I'm bugging out. Therefore, see this crazy tripped-out video from the Sw!ms on Google video. Their thrilling Ride of the Blueberry Winter is out today on Prison Jazz records.

advanced news:

Huge benefit show March 20 at Hammerstein Ballroom where you can be both cheered and booed for making comments about the USA in the Mid East. Line-up includes: Michael Stipe, Rufus Wainwright, Bright Eyes, Fischerspooner (who should be playing by themselves), Peaches, Devendra Banhart, Steve Earle (who I had to listen to one time in a car on the way to NYC).
-----------------------------------------------
My Morning Jacket nominated for Jammy awards because apparently they are a jam band.
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Metropolis Records signed Gary Numan. It's about time. They also signed an indie rock band called Ken (!?).
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Ex-Nitzer Ebb member Bon Harris (the one that didn't sing industrial-dance songs such as "Join in the Chant") is the frontman of a new band called Maven. There's some songs on myspace previewing an upcoming release. Now I know why the other guy in Nitzer Ebb sang.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs- "Gold Lion". Record out in March.

The Sw!ms: Ride of the Blueberry Winter (Prison Jazz)
release: February 28, 2006
rating: ***1/2
similar: Of Montreal, Dressy Bessy, SNMNMNM, Marbles

These guys are fun. Mad fun. Pennsylvania's Sw!ims has got a solid hold on a glorious blend of psychedelic indie pop by way of superific vocal harmonies, a Farfisa organ and a keen sense of arrangements. It's impossible to believe this band has members of noise band An Albatross. But they do. Fun times. -Kenyon

Duly noted:

A collaboration between AOL (for which Kenyon has workd) and Blender (for which Kenyon has merely applied) began last week. Blender's March issue features a list of "50 Most Awesomely Dead Rock Stars." Real smooth, guys.
------------------------------------------
Albumart.org will be pretty handy.
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Elefant is on tour right now with BRMC. Record out April 18.
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The 2006 US Air Guitar regional competition begins March 2 at the Knitting Factory in New York, with competitions in at least 10 other cities. US Air Guitar Championship in June 2006. US Finalist will compete in Finland for Air Guitar World Championship. From there, they will compete in the Galaxy Championship.

Finally, someone is making fun of photos of people's cats on Myspace. Watch the video for the super rad song "Great Escape" by We Are Scientists, where three really is a crowd. I expect to be addicted to YouTube in about....10 minutes.

Whoa, how'd I miss this? The shocking photo of Boy George from a few months ago reveals that he likes the Misfits. Seriously, though, the scary thing is that he actually looked better with all that paint on his face.

Duly noted:

I finally just saw Abandon (2002), a would-be psychological thriller starring Katie Holmes. There's a quick scene where some college kids are partying and the music playing is "Tides of the Moon" by Mercury Rev. A small highlight in an otherwise dull film.


"Our House" by Madness has been torn to shreds in the latest commercial from Maxwell House.

"I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow was ruined for Reese's.

First worst song of the year nomination goes to that collaboration with Santana and Steven Tyler. Neither deserve to be in bold.

It's funny how hardcore, metal and punk barely get any props on the ultra-cool blogs. Must be that demographic thing with the angsty teenagers and all. Not that I listen to much of it, but hey, sometimes I do like to jump around, pounce on my bed and destroy hotel rooms. Last year's Everytime I Die record, for example, was really great for that, and these select and varied recent releases follow suit.


Small Arms Dealer: A Single Unifying Theory (Deep Elm)
release: February 7, 2006
rating: ***1/2

As I was reading through this Long Island band's info sheet, I started highlighting the one press quote. Then I realized that they were quoting ME. No kidding. It was from when I reviewed the local band's first EP for the Long Island Press. So, I may be sounding like Mick Jones sampling the Clash, but here it is: "These songs are wonderously fresh, as if it's the members' first band [ex-On the Might of Princes, Devil Himself, etc]. The lyrics, which have a foot in such disparate things as death and remaining positive, are thankfully not compromised or buried in guitar noise. Just reading the excerpts won't do justice to these punk-rock gems." So true, I agree. This full-length (on Deep Elm, rather impressive!), has more fantastic punk sing-alongs, uplifting lyrics and rocking riffs. Very few clean tracks with the "F" word, however, are gonna create a challenge for playing on my radio show. Whoops! -Kenyon

------------------------------------------------

Enlow: The Recovery (Blood & Ink)
release: January 24, 2006
rating: **1/2

This Oklahoma hardcore band is probably really intense live. I can just picture them at hometown VFW hall shows swinging their guitars around and basically kicking ass. The Recovery has some wicked guitar riffs and chant-alongs. I can't say I haven't heard this all before, but their messages via song titles such as "Stand Up and Face Your Fears" and lyrics such as "We've come this far, we're not stopping now" have to count for something. -Kenyon

------------------------------------

In Flames: Come Clarity (Ferret)
release: February 7, 2006
rating: ****

Well, I can't even believe I'm reviewing this right now. Veteran band In Flames is supposed to be melodic death metal from Sweden (melodic death metal? no way!). They may have been a lot more death metal on previous records, but this one is mostly void of it. And it's actually pretty impressive. Which means the time is right for In Flames to grab hold of a whole new crowd of kids. The campaign for this record is pretty huge, so it wouldn't surprise me if the band broke big. Hell, they even sent it to someone who doesn't otherwise cover metal. Oh..the music. Okay, I'll tell you this: old school metal guitar solos. If I had a metal show on the radio, I would totally play this. Every week. But it's more likely you'll hear this on FUSE's metal show on a Saturday night. -Kenyon

SIANspheric: RGB (Sonic Unyon)
release: February 21, 2006 (USA)

Retrospective CD: ****
Retrospective DVD: 1/2*

Canadian space-rock band SIANspheric, who released a small handful of records through various line-up changes within the past decade, isn't interesting enough for a retrospective that supposedly documents "petty in-fighting, drug-abuse, break-ups and cash-grab reunions." (Spacemen 3 they are not!) If they really are worthy of a Behind the Music-type feature, the footage of the band sure doesn't show it. In fact, it's difficult to figure out what in the world is even going on in the footage on the DVD. Here's a stab at it though: In the early days the band members, who are never identified, drive to some gigs, two of them get really high, they play some really shitty shows. Audience members are even quoted about it being so awful. Nothing happens 1997-1999 (the "black years"). The rest is some super boring live footage and interviews where the band members are again not identified and continue to act far less mysterious and cool than you were hoping for. The two pretentious short films have little to do with the band and there's only one music video here worth watching. Bummer.

The audio portion of RGB does a much better job representing the most compelling components of the band, like the buzzing that comes from its guitars and the heavy reverb on its vocals. The 15 tracks, including a few unreleased, are a satisfying introductory to the band. If the DVD hasn't already tainted the perception of SIANsperic, put on the CD, close your eyes or create your own simple visuals using a flashlight and some hand puppets. -Kenyon

Stay up Late While on a Road to Nowhere. Or, remember that time i met David Byrne?



Rhino just reissued all eight proper albums from the Talking Heads. The latter four of them, including one of my personal favorites, Little Creatures, are out today. The remastered, repackaged and refurnished albums contain rare bonus tracks on the CD side. The DVD side features audio, video, lyrics and photos.


If you're not already hip to the Heads (oh and they called themselves that when without David Byrne), here's a streaming sampler.

Dude, the third record from the Vines is out April 4 (holy jesus, it'll be Spring then!) Honestly, I thought they were finished as a band. Listen to the first single "Don't Listen to the Radio." Even though it's only two minutes just like their first hit "Get Free," it's still better than anything from their previous record. Oh yes. I did sit through the painful Winning Days in order to write a review. Pity me!

evil dead image

Sigur Ros is on Conan O'Brien tonite.

The Prodigy: Their Law- The Singles 1990-2005 (XL)
release: February 28, 2006


In 1997-98 the Prodigy were kicking serious ass (more so, of course, in the UK). The videos were dope, Fat of the Land was bursting with big-beating energy and its shows (two manic vocalists in front and two dudes programming the music in the back) was genius. This two-cd set captures all of that and then some. Only thing is, you gotta pretend that much of this is not semi-dated. Fatboy Slim, Crystal Method, Orbital and a few other '90s electronic dance artists are now suffering from a lack of evolution and changing trends. What (almost completely) saves the Prodigy from that fate is that their music was darker and more intense than Fatboy or Chemical Brothers. Hits "Breathe", "Firestarter" and "Smack My Bitch Up" all still hold up well and will get club kids on the dancefloor, but dizzying cuts like "Out of Space" and "Voodoo People" unavoidably belong to the rave/techno culture of the '90s, given the loopy looping vocals and ultra-high pitched orchestra hits. Still, this thorough collection, which includes remixes, live and a few unreleased tracks, is an essential page in electronic music history. -Kenyon

Notes: Comes with photo booklet. DVD of the same title, with videos and concert footage, will be released the same day. Select dates in the US include March 22 @Nokia Theatre, New York.

the Grammy Awards for this Wednesday are wack.

Ministry was nominated for Best Metal performance for the song "The Great Satan," a typical Ministry mosh which is the only new song on a comp called Rantology that is lightyears from "Stigmata" and probably about George Bush.

Kraftwerk was nominated for best electronic/dance album for Minimum-Maximum. This is a LIVE album of songs they wrote over the PAST 30 YEARS.

Daft Punk was nominated in the same category and that record is totally wack up the gazoo.

The REST OF THIS is meaninglessness.

The Strokes: First Impressions of Earth (RCA)
release: January 3, 2006 (whoops!)
rating: *

Releasing a record on the first Tuesday of the year is practically unheard of. Mostly, labels are still putting out repackaged greatest hits albums or better yet, still on vacation. Furthermore, releasing around January 1 has now turned out to be just like what the movie industry does, throwing out the leftovers that they know won't be candidates for best of the year. This album proves it! And knowing that "Juicebox" is the first single from First Impressions of Earth is a good indication of what a mess this third album is. The Strokes were either really drunk or weren't interested in melodies or both. There are a few good spots here. Just a few. And they are few and far between. Very far. Julian Casablancas just might be singing about something more serious and introspective this time but the music isn't good enough to care. "Fear of Sleep," at least, is a small highlight and has slight emotional impact. It's a tiny climax on an otherwise lifeless album that is generally painful to hear. If anything, the Strokes made it a point to release the first big let down of the year. -Kenyon


March 3 and 4 in NYC. Sold out. Shout Out Louds and Adam Green (who put out his own excuse for a record one year ago) on various dates. at least the website looks pretty rad.

Village Voice Critics Poll is up. Find my top 10 albums and singles. Comments on the comments later.

Out March 21

Cocteau Twins: Lullabies To Violaine--Singles and Extended Plays 1982-1996 (Box Set / Dbl CD digipak)

Line-up announced for Coachella Music and Arts Festival April 29-30, 2006 in Indio, California includes: Depeche Mode (Headliner April 29), Tool (Headliner April 30), Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Franz Ferdinand, Scissor Sisters, Coheed and Cambria, Bloc Party, Ladytron, Mogwai, Sigur Rós, stellastarr*, Cat Power, My Morning Jacket, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Devendra Banhart, The Walkmen, Deerhoof, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney, Go! Team.

New Radiant Storm King: The Steady Hand (Darla)
release: February 14, 2006
rating: ***1/2

The album cover for the Steady Hand--some guy's brooding head with butterflies swarming around-- wasn't the most enticing way to get me interested in the latest from New Radiant Storm King. (Those albums covers are important yo!). But the fact that this release is a) on Darla and b) compared to a mix of Swervedriver, Teenage Fanclub and Wire, it's pretty much a no-brainer that I will have to listen to this, and most likely make a fresh discovery. The comparisons, which are usually not accurate, are right on this time. Oh, there is hella Swervedriver here, with the chugging noise-pop guitar riffs and the gliding vocals. In fact, the first track hints of this being an all-out shoegaze affair, with its MBV-style guitar-bending. After this Northampton, MA outfit is done with the noisey stuff on the first five tracks, they settle in for some indie rock that's anchored by acoustic guitar and friendly vocals. Later they rock out on "From A Roof" and "Hands and Eyes," the latter of which is especially ethereal. By then, I came up with a more contemporary and specific comparison: the songwriting skills of Deathcab for Cutie meets the sound-blasting of Amusement Parks on Fire. -Kenyon

advanced news: Tonite, January 27, The Hooters ("And We Danced," "Day by Day") join others in tribute to Cyndi Lauper on VH1 Classic's Decades Rock Live. Yes! the Hooters!...Stereolab will tour for like the 20th time in March, includes two dates in New York at Town Hall...Britt Daniel, front guy of Spoon, will be on UPN's Veronica Mars, Wednesday, February 1 performing karaoke. See Spoon's video for "Sister Jack," both the song and video have got a killer 90s indie rock vibe.

The Witnesses: Black Eyes and White Lies (Howler)
release: February 7, 2006
rating: ***

I haven't heard the latest Strokes record and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs next one isn't due for weeks. So here's a placeholder. The Witnesses are from Brooklyn. And they recorded in rural upstate New York in a barn. Sounds familiar. But hey, it's still rock 'n' roll to me. Plus, they toured with Mick Jones of the Clash. Werd. Black Eyes is street-smart, nitty gritty garage rock with almost an MC5 type of approach. And it's good enough that I can forgive them for spouting the line "I got rocks in my socks." -Kenyon

advanced news: Alice in Chains (without Layne Staley, which is lame) will be joining some other artists for a tribute to Heart on "Decades Rock Live" on VH1 Classic on March 10. Heart, who began in the 70s but had some rockin songs in the 80s like "These Dreams" and "Alone," had a large vocalist who still to this day wears black all the time because she's obviously insecure about her body as a result of our culture. You might remember that video where you can only see her head. Dave Navarro will also be there, because helping to further destroy INXS is not enough.

advanced news: Canadian band A Northern Chorus, whose 2005 release Bitter Hands Resign is in Kenyon's best of the year is playing March 10 at the Knitting Factory in NYC and playing some other dates with the totally atmospheric Sianspheric...Kenyon finally won Neon Maniacs on DVD via eBay....

Yeah Yeah Yeahs to release second record in March, dates in New York end of February.

it's just like surgery. notes from 2005.
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band i thought i wouldn't like but ended up liking: Royksopp, Outhud

records i wanted to spend more time with even though there was a lot of blog buzz: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Go! Team, Deathcab For Cutie, LCD soundsystem, Decemberists

records with blog buzz that i didn't care about: Antony and the Johnsons, M.I.A.

best singles: find your own.

best singles i heard from albums out in 2006: Cat Power, Goldfrapp

worst/biggest let downs of 2005
Adam Green: Gemstones (rough trade)
Daft Punk: Human After All (virgin)
VNV Nation: Matter Form (metropolis)
New Order: Waiting for the Sirens' Call (wb)
Raveonettes: Pretty in Black (Columbia)
Devendra Banhart: Cripple Crow (XL)

artist that few gave a shit about in 2005 but had a record out: the Darkness, t.a.t.u, Garbage, Billy Idol, Moby

worst choice of outfit on record cover and in video: Madonna

worst single: bon jovi: "have a nice day"

best band name: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

best concert moment: U2 using Arcade Fire "wake up" for intro music, and, after the show, actually finding people to sing "40" with me.

worst: people drinking beer and using cell phones during U2

band i most wanted to see live but didn't: Fischerspooner

most sick of and wish they would go away: Green Day

dumbest idea: attempting to replace michael hutchence on rock star: INXS.

best idea: ?

album from 2004 that i listened to the most in 2005: Killers

record i didn't "get"- Sufjan Stevens: illinoise

single that i made fun of the most- U2: "Sometimes You can't make it on your own"

scroll down for top records.

Bono finally admits that he has been annoying the rest of U2 with his political speeches at shows.

Solid show last nite at Masonic Temple in Smithtown.




Nakatomi Plaza



Slingshot Dakota





Con Amore


Satellite Lost (when vegan Phil isn't being a goth club kid, he likes to be a ghost)


Dearly Departed

Best of 2005 according to Kenyon. not in exact order, but sorta close.


1. Warlocks: Surgery (Mute)
2. Mercury Rev: Secret Migration (V2)
3. The Bravery: s/t (Island)
4. Embrace: Out of Nothing (Atlantic)
5. My Morning Jacket: Z (RCA)
6. Sigur Ros: Takk (Geffen)
7. Go! Team: Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Columbia)
8. Cloud Room: s/t (Gigantic)
9. BRMC: Howl (RCA)
10. A Northern Chorus: Bitter Hands Resign (Sonic Unyon)
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11. Russian Futurists: Our Thickness (Upperclass)
12. Bloc Party: Silent Alarm (Vice)
13. Tender Forever: The Soft and the Hardcore (K)
14. Architecture in Helsinki: In Case We Die (Barnone)
15. Ladytron: Witching Hour (Ryko)
16. Elkland: Golden (Columbia)
17. Manual: Azure Vista (Darla)
18. British Sea Power: Open Season (Rough Trade)
19. Project Skyward: Strange Synchronicities (Nebula)
20. Maximo Park: A Certain Trigger (Warp)
21. Amusement Parks on Fire: s/t (Filter)
22. Outhud: Let Us Never Speak of this Again (Kranky)
23. Shout Out Louds: Howl Howl Gaff Gaff (Capitol)
24. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema (Matador)
25. Saxon Shore: The Exquisite Death of Saxon Shore (Burnt Toast Vinyl)

Depeche Mode on FUSE tonite, 10pm (EST).

Measles Mumps Rubella: Fantastic Success (Doubling Cube)
release: February 21, 2006 (totally in the future, baby)
rating: ***
similar: Liars, Erase Errata, Public Image Ltd.

Okay, you wanna start getting some buzz going on this band or what. Cause, I mean, the record doesn't come out for two more months. Which is risky, because everyone might even HATE post-post-punk disco bands from New York by then! Check this out though: Measles Mumps Rubella worked with Ian MacKaye on some early songs (before they got their current vocalist) and toured with Le Tigre, Bratmobile and Trans Am. That's some serious street cred, dude. Oh, you think the name of the band is dumb (dude, what about that band Test Icicles? come on!). Yea, well, see, after a while you'll get used to it just like we did with a thousand other band names and then Measles Mumps Rubella will just sound very hip. We'll associate diseases with cool guitar effects, disco-dance punk and a yelpy vocalist. Totally. -Kenyon

Wooden Wand and the Vanishing Voice: The Flood (Troubleman Unlimited)
released: ?? ?? 2005
rating: *
similar: CocoRosie, Devendra Banhart

Wooden Wand (with or without the Vanishing Voice) has already issued several noteworthy works amongst a bombardment of recordings from the past two years. The Flood is not one of them. It doesn't help when the first two tracks are over 10 minutes. By the fourth track we at least get something that works and doesn't sound like they're trying too hard to be creative, even if it's just over two minutes. Sure, maybe if you just smoked some good weed, their experimental folk is "trance-like." Otherwise, there's a lot of straining vocals and guitars that are too unmelodic to be considered music or even interesting, making much of this as irritating as a Dunkin Donuts opening across the street from a 7-11. -Kenyon

let's have a black celebration. tonite.
martin on guitar, dave on vocals and andy doing, er, something. wait, i thought this was synthpop!

Depeche Mode/The Bravery @Madison Square Garden. December 7, 2005.

Set: Intro, A Pain That I'm Used To, John The Revelator, A Question Of Time, Policy Of Truth, Precious, Walking In My Shoes, Suffer Well, Damaged People, Home, I Want It All, The Sinner In Me, I Feel You, Behind The Wheel, World In My Eyes, Personal Jesus, Enjoy The Silence.

Encore 1: Somebody, Just Can't Get Enough, Everything Counts
Encore 2: Never Let Me Down Again, Goodnight Lovers

Hot shows on Long Island this Friday:

Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Double (Matador), Tangiers (Frenchkiss), Encrypt Manuscript (local) at Live Trax, 242 Pettit Avenue, Bellmore. 6pm, $12.


Electro-industrial Metropolis artists Negative Format and God Module at Metasin, 2715 Hempstead Turnpike, Levittown. (kenyon will be DJing at some point).

Music sounds better with video.

Mixel Pixel
"Body Automatic" and "Tell Tale Drum Machine"
Psychodelic animation which goes hand-in-hand with the NYC trio's lo-fi electronic weirdness. And of course they're still on tour too.

I Hope You Are All Happy Now
Photographs by Nicholas Zinner
(Evil Twin Publications/St. Martin's Press)

Nick (whoops, Nicholas) Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs has seen a million faces. And he's rocked them all. Now he's got a book of photos he took to prove it. Of course, pretty much anyone with a camera can be a photographer these days. But not everyone (ie, me) has been around the world on tour. What sets many of these shots apart is that instead of a photographer going to several concerts or someone following a band around, the person taking the photos is the rock star himself. And you just can't get any closer to the secret life of a rock star than that (ie photos of hotel beds, backstage, etc). Sometimes those shots of the crowds actually stand out, like the one from Coney Island with the Cyclone rollercoaster. Don't be mislead though. There's a lot more subjects in front of the camera from the past few years than just a large volume of crowds. Zinner has been hanging out with bands and musicians that you may or may not recognize (TV on the Radio, Zinner's bandmates, Liars, Bright Eyes). And stay with the book, cause there's some great shots of the YYYs, cityscapes, people laying on the floor, and more people laying on the floor. -Kenyon



nick and kenyon. december 2003 (not in book)

Until the End of the Show
U2 @Madison Square Garden, November 21, 2005.
Section 218, row B, seat 15.

Main Set: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow (with additional lyrics towards end), I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Beautiful Day, Original of the Species, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday (snippet, "Rock the Casbah"), Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One.

Encore 1: Until the End of the World, Mysterious Ways, With or Without You

Encore 2: The First Time (acoustic), Stuck In a Moment (acoustic), Instant Karma (with Patti Smith), Bad (snippet, "People Have the Power").




This review is a little shorter than the other two shows i went to on this tour (May 18, October 10), because i already wrote all about it and the main set this time was so similar to October 10 in particular. As a result, boring and predictable, I know there's a schedule and routine the band and crew follows and there's only so many songs they can have ready, but come on U2, you have like 300 other songs available. I guess they have to play it safe most of the time as far as what songs to choose. U2 has to cater to the general fans and play the popular and succesful songs. That really is a shame and we wind up hearing a lot of the same stuff. Now there are some songs which i am truly sick of (i already hated "Elevation"). I know there are people there who haven't yet seen U2 on this tour but the band has to know that people are going to multiple shows. Here's some suggestions: New Year's Day, Even Better Than the Real Thing, something from the second side of Joshua Tree, something from Zooropa. Being in section 218, relatively close to the stage but mostly seeing their backs, doesn't help too much. If i was in the "ellipse", i know it would have been a different story and i wouldn't even care what they were playing. Well, at least this time i took photos with a sweet zoom lens.

So after the lame main set (really, i just couldn't get into it much), the band came back for the first encore with the ZOO TV images on the screen to start. I was like, oh no, here we go again with "Zoo Station" and "The Fly". Shit. Then i got the biggest, best surprise of the night: "Until the End of the World" (awesome, only saw them play it once on Zoo TV tour which i barely remember), and "Mysterious Ways." (although "New Year's Day" really is a great transition from "Until"). So by now i was praying for "Bad", and after the acoustic songs and the John Lennon song, we got it. And i think that, along with "Until the End" made my night. oh yea and after reading about the following night at MSG (show cut a little short, no "bad") i am so so glad i went to the first one. sorry guys!

Crowd and seat report: energy level was definitely better and more intense for October 10 (though an earplug in my left ear may have clouded my meter-reading). as usual, the people around me were total deadbeats. hardly moving or dancing or responsive. the guy behind me was a total jerk talking to his girlfriend. i didn't even bother making small talk with the girls to the left of me. aside from the jerk behind me though, it was a good spot because i was at the end of my row (the odds are 1 in 15, yea?), therefore as soon as the arcade fire song came on, i went right in the isle and had plenty of space to dance (very lucky to be at the bottom of the section, with the guardrail in front of me). so, i had a clear view of the stage (see photos).

Notes: Among the snippets, Bono sang a line from the chorus of "Please" somewhere, forgot what song. I'm sure few people caught that. Young boy pulled onstage for "Sunday Bloody Sunday", not sure what to think of that. girl for "With or Without You" worked better. Patti Smith just had to comment about the war. Said there is no reason to be there. Half the crowd booed, half cheered.

Last note: I wore an old long sleeved shirt on which i wrote U2 lyrics and images from achtung baby tour. to my surprise, absolutely no one at the show commented on this. i purposely wrote lesser known lyrics, but come on. yea, i mean COME ON.

Can't get it out of my head.

Although Madonna's latest outfit is dreadful, "Hung Up," the first single from Confessions on a Dance Floor (released November 15), is immediately one of the best pop singles of 2005. The electro-disco track is hella better than that last piece of garbage called "American Life" and more on par with "Music" and "Ray of Light." See VIDEO.

Broken Social Scene: Broken Social Scene (Arts & Crafts)
released: October 4, 2005
rating: **1/2

Go ahead, Pitchfork, gush about Broken Social Scene releasing a record and going on tour. It's not gonna make me like them more. I mean, they're not THAT amazing. So they've got 15 people in the band. Woop-dee-freaking-doo. I would have done the same thing if I could find all the people. The Canadian band's last record didn't impress me (for some reason it won a Juno award). A couple decent indie rock-type songs with a nod to the late '80s/early '90s, though the rest wasn't very significant. The same thing pretty much goes for this self-titled third outing. Seriously, a lot of what they're doing here is indeed interesting. That's if you can sift through all the instruments and vocals that sometimes make it seem like the record is playing in another player at the same time 20 seconds behind. The last track is a little epic, but come on, with that many people, they could do a whole lot more. -Kenyon

Happening Beats.
K records at the Hobo House in Huntington, Long Island. November 1.


Calvin Johnson says: "We played in Allentown. It was.....pleasant enough."


If someone such as Calvin Johnson is going to be playing 15 minutes away from me, I don't think about it, I just plan on being there. Even if I've never regularly listened to his heralded indie pop band Beat Happening, or even heard his solo work. We're talking K records, afterall, one of the most trusted indie labels around. Knowing what the label's roster is like, bringing a K records artist with him means fun times.

Tender Forever was fun. But in a serious way. Like the Blow (also on K), one-person band Melanie Valera mostly sings along with some of her own pre-recorded music. Trust me, this indie-electronic comes out wonderfully, thanks to her heart and energy.

Calvin Johnson is an enigma. Is he joking or serious when he asks if we have any questions for him? Does he ever display excitement? What was the lesson of the story he told about that country singer? I'm at a loss.



Melanie of Tender Forever touched me. In more ways than one.

Kenyon on MTV's High School Stories

The next season of MTV's High School Stories finally began and I'm in the one about the cafeteria boycott at St. Anthony's in Huntington. I haven't seen it yet and you probably didn't either but the show is on very frequently on MTV2. 12noon, 8pm, 11:30pm (EST) Monday-Thursday. You really don't want to miss the shenanigans in this episode. It involves food-throwing and a priest.

Ladytron: Witching Hour (Ryko)
released: October 4, 2005
rating: ****

"Destroy Everything You Touch," from Ladytron's third record, is one of the best dance-tracks of the year. Oh it's so obvious even the first time you hear it. In fact, I cannot wait to mix it into my DJ set at the club. What will happen is, I'll be spinning "One Roman Choir" by KieTheVez (huge bonus points if you know this song, unlikely that you do) and then mix it into "Everything You Touch." After the track begins with a low-volume beat, followed by an irresistible synth progression that bursts in, anyone on the dancefloor will be like "wow, what IS this?" A few smart people will actually wonder if it's the new Ladytron. They may not know for sure because there's something different here. You can still dance to their electro-pop. And it has the robo female vocals. But it's darker and more sinister. Afterall, the record IS titled Witching Hour. Alongside "Everything" are several other stand-out tracks such as the dreamy "International Dateline," the beat-lead "Sugar," and "Beauty*2" (which is like a gloomier, electronic Cocteau Twins). If you can't groove to this then you're just a robot that hasn't been programmed to dance. -Kenyon

My Morning Jacket? Or Pink Floyd circa 1971?

My Morning Jacket
October 18, 2005 at Webster Hall, NYC.
by Shannon Ronan

The leaves have been slow to change color this autumn, but upon leaving my first My Morning Jacket show, I could have sworn they'd turned golden. At that moment, I could state with complete confidence that the band had proved to be worth many months of waiting. And those months of waiting were hell, often filled with worry that frontman Jim James' endless charm might fail to distract from possible shortcomings (i.e. the recent line-up changes or the experimental meanderings of the latest record.)

Though Z was actually recorded far from the band's home of Kentucky, it is undeniably an acquired taste. No matter how smooth it starts to sound after repeated listens, chances are you will never forget the sting it left the first time you heard it. That is the beauty of the record. MMJ is not content unless they are out exploring unfamiliar rugged terrains. And that is the beauty of the band.

Tuesday's set list consisted of mostly newer songs, foregoing catchy country hooks and homegrown harmonies for those loaded with hard rock breakdowns. In step, the audience--made up primarily of an older crowd--put down their beers to raise their finger-horns in well-deserved salute. The band's overall mood proved hard to read beneath some of the members' hair, but their maturity and respectability as musical pioneers came through clearly in the way they swung that hair (a move presumably perfected only after many years of dedicated practice). MMJ whispered in with "Wordless Chorus," mesmerized with fan favorites "Golden, "One Big Holiday," "Run Thru," "Off The Record," and "Mahgeetah" and kicked up the dirt one last time, closing with "Anytime." Amazingly, even in its quietest moments, from the black shadows of the stage (lit only by an occasional flashlight to allow for guitar switches), MMJ never stopped rocking long enough to wonder if its fans would follow.

Set list: Wordless Chorus, It Beats 4 U, Gideon, One Big Holiday, The Way That He Sings, Golden, Sooner, Wonderful, Off The Record, Lay Low, Dondante, Run Thru. Encore: At Dawn, I Think I'm Going To Hell, Mahgeetah, Anytime.

Shannon is a graduate of the New School and has a job that requires her to look through the New York Times. You better be godddamn impressed by that.

There are three really rad songs on Harmonies for the Haunted, stellastarr*'s follow-up to their excellent debut from 2003. And so far there's one really super video for one of them. Unlike most of the debut album's upbeat new wavey rock, "Sweet Trouble Soul" is more along the lines of their darker "In the Walls," which showed the band's dramatic side. And like the video for "Walls," "Sweet" has got some intriguing visuals, which includes somber, yet dreamy animation. In other words, one of the best videos of the year. Come on, someone quote me on that! Watch video: HI. LO. Too slow. -Kenyon

U2: beautiful. Cell phones and beer: bad.
(or, love and peace or else I'm going to hurt someone)

U2 at Madison Square Garden, New York, October 10, 2005
-Kenyon Hopkin


You'd think that after three dates in the area in May and two at Madison Square Garden in the past weak would produce less of an energized crowd. With U2, that's just not the case. At least, not for this impressive third gig at MSG. And you'd think that being in section 419, facing the side of the stage, would be a drag. Not so. Not when it's an open stage and you're in Row A!

When they first came on for "City of Blinding Lights" (after the Arcade Fire over the PA got my fists pumping) the crowd was nearly deafening and a lot of the time it was difficult to even hear the music. Several people that posted at u2tours.com said that Bono's voice was a little off. I remember the singer from Keane (who were not bad) even mentioned that his voice wasn't up to par tonite (no one should be pointing that out, cause it only brings attention to it). I really didn't notice any flaw with his voice, but come on people, U2 is playing like 200 shows in a year, so what do you expect. It's amazing that they can play two hours each nite at all.

I was very ecstatic that they started with "City" again, but "Vertigo" and "Elevation" (why they chose to keep this in the set so long is beyond me, that song is weak), was like they were just going through the motions. I know they can't mix up sets TOO MUCH, but I'm just sick of those songs. The next two songs, however, more than made up for this: "I Will Follow" and "Electric Co." Most of the crowd was into "Follow" but (surprise, surprise) only a small percentage even knew "Electric Co." That was the first of a few songs where I was dancing and jumping around while the people around me were sitting down or just standing there like zombies.

"I Still Haven't Found" unexpectedly followed, I've never known of that song coming so early in a set. Then of course the crowd got energized again with "Beautiful Day." "Miracle Drug" slowed it down and again Bono had to dedicate the song to nurses, etc. and then "Sometimes You Can't Make it", which i don't even clearly remember them playing because I was probably sitting and putting my head on the guard rail in front of me. Good time for a break.

Then came the sorta charged-up-with-a-political-message segment with "Love and Peace," "Sunday" and "Bullet the Blue Sky", all which were pretty rocking, with Bono playing a little drum kit on the ramp for "Love and Peace". After "Bulllet" was probably the most unexpected song (for me at least) of the nite: "Miss Sarejevo," a song they recorded under the name "Passengers" with Brian Eno and opera singer Pavorotti. Holy cow! Are you kidding me? I assumed it would be "Running to Stand Still" cause that's what usually comes after "Bullet". The Edge played piano instead of guitar for "Sarejevo" and sadly, most of the crowd didn't know it, and since it's a quiet song, I could hear people talking. As a result at that point, I pretty much hated most everyone there. This was a really special moment, and Bono was even singing Pavorotti's part, wow, impressive.

Favorites "Pride" and "Streets" of course followed and then the so so boring and overrated "One". (I'm pretty sure) just before "One" Bono had the crowd do the thing with the cell phones, which I find pretty ironic since he was talking about how they can do everything including lending support to the ONE campaign and yet here they were annoying the hell out of me with people calling their friends before and during the show (I kid you not, this guy next to me, who thankfully later moved cause he was in the wrong seat, called his friend during Keane like 5 minutes after getting there and says "yea, they're pretty good" and holds the phone up to record some of it to send to him. jerk)

The main set ended, they took a short break, and then the Zoo TV-like images were on the screens. Totally sweet. The best part of the show, second only to start of "City". It's like a new concert is starting, like you're at the Zoo TV tour in 1992. I happen to love "Zoo Station". Of course it's not a "hit", so not as many people are into it. I wish Bono moved around more for the song though as he did in the Zoo TV live from Sydney Australia video. Here he kinda just did the same movements when I saw them May 18, so that was just going through motions there. "The Fly". I'm sorry, that song is very average for U2. Why aren't they playing "Even Better Than the Real Thing" on this tour? That would work so much better, especially earlier in the set. "With or Without You" I was hoping would flow in from a previous song, it doesnt work too well after "Fly".

At that point it was 11:25, and my friend and I decided we needed to catch the 11:42 train (the next was at 1:04, dammit. yea yea I know, it's U2!), so just as they came on for the second encore with "All Because of You", we left, realizing it otherwise would have taken like 30 minutes to get from section 419 to the ground. I really hated to leave, especially after finding out they played "Bad" and "40". However they did play that May 18 so I'm not as upset. Hopefully they will play "Bad" November 21 (I'll be in a 200-level section near the stage). After the show, I was having second thoughts about Nov 21 and I wanted to sell the ticket. (get ready for the rant) I'll tell you why: phones, talking and beer. People, again: YOU PAID GOOD MONEY TO SEE U2, AND HERE YOU ARE DRINKING BEER (and spilling it on people), going to the bathroom or to get more beer (MSG is dumb for selling it) AND TALKING DURING THE SHOW ("yankees are down 2-1!"). I am sure there are bigger fans that deserved tickets more than you and got shut out. You just don't get it, this is one of the best bands and shows you will ever see, and some people appreciate it more than you and want to be incredibly focused and immersed in it. It's a chance/risk you have to take though. I guess my section could have been worse, it wasn't as awful as I am making it sound, it was just typical. I'm trying my luck on Nov 21, because well, U2 is the BOMB and this may be my last chance to see them, particularly at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Oh yea and um, I think I forgot to mention that the lights were pretty cool too.

Main Set: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, I Will Follow, The Electric Co., I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (snippet of In a Little While), Beautiful Day (snippet of lou reed song), Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Happy Birthday/Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One (snippet of Ol' Man River.)

Encore 1: Zoo Station, The Fly, With or Without You. Encore 2: All Because of You, Yahweh, Bad, 40

photos and more at U2tours.com

Tonight Kenyon will be in section 419 at MSG for U2.


Depeche Mode at MSG went on sale this morning at 9am and it is NOT SOLD OUT YET. Second show added too.

Breaking news: U2's song selection on Conan O'Brien Thursday nite was a big let down. In between interviews, commercials and a "Year 2000" with the Edge, the band played "All Because of You", "Origin of the Species" (yawn), "Stuck in a Moment" (yawn) and "Vertigo" (which got cut off when the show ended).

advanced news ticker (warning! some non-music items): Kenyon playing at 169 bar next Thursday....hearing Bon Jovi's new single over the PA in Stop n' Shop is not cool, cause, well, the song ain't no "It's My Life"....Busy Phillips of Freaks and Geeks and Dawson's Creek fame is not as cool when producers want her to seem kinda black in a dumb sitcom called Love Inc....new DVDs from Jesus Jones, Ned's Atomic Dustbin and other washed-up early '90s bands are at MVD....ticketmaster/MSG has been releasing single seat tickets for U2 (I tried the other day and a seat for $169 on the floor right behind the stage came up, I passed)....Kenyon seeing U2 at MSG this Monday; tickets for Depeche Mode at MSG go on sale the same day just to make things more complicated....Fischerspooner is playing at Irving Plaza on Halloween; band will not be looking very special given that it's NYC....stellastarr* hosting Subterranean on MTV2 November 6....these re-envisioned film trailers for The Shining and Titanic are mad surreal.

How many people actually expected Supergrass to last this long? When will Kenyon stop beginning reviews with questions? It's been ten years since their debut and at this point they're more consistent than fellow Brit band Oasis. Actually the first single from Road To Rouen (Capitol) is more Oasis or Radiohead than Supergrass. The band has definitely matured (just look at the beard on Gaz!) and reinvented themselves (they got strings in this song, though those musicians are hiding in the video). Road to Rouen released September 27. Watch VIDEO for "St. Petersburg".

new releases of note out today: Franz Ferdinand, Ladytron, My Morning Jacket, Liz "Phooey" Phair.

Mommy and Daddy: Duel At Dawn (Kanine) Who's your Mommy and Daddy? Just don't compare this NYC duo to the White Stripes or Raveonettes because it's a girl and guy. Mommy and Daddy are a lot tougher and more like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs...with a synthesizer.

Watch video for "Franconia Road."

If you're still wierded out by music from Spiritualized in a VW commercial, well, just try not to think about it. Here are some unexpected audio tracks I discovered to maybe divert your attention to a credit card or pants. Okay maybe I've been watching more TV this week, shut up ok!? I did my homework first! And um, you're not my real father!

CIV: "Can't Wait One Minute More" (Toyota or Nissan)
U2: "Love Rescue Me" (melodramatic MSNBC coverage of hurricane)
Madness: "It Must Be Love" (Levi's? it was definitely jeans)
Bow Wow Wow: "I Want Candy" (Reese's. Except the chorus was modified)

on the web>
M83: "Don't Save Us from the Flames" (Pontiac)
Minotaur Shock: something from Maritime i'm sure (American Express)

advanced news ticker: Kenyon playing at 169 bar October 13, the same night the Warlocks are at Bowery Ballroom....Keane opening for U2 at MSG......local venues the Downtown and non-profit youth center Freespace close; bands wonder where the hell they can play.....Live 8 on DVD in November; dumb editors leave out the Cure and A-Ha, among others....those darn Dandy Warhols, who first played on Live with Regis and Kelly, will be on Mad TV October 1; no word yet on the Tony Danza Show....M83 is getting some heavy duty exposure in a Pontiac commercial.

T.Raumschmiere is really pissed off now. The video for his electro-punk-thrashed "Sick Like Me," from Blitzkrieg Pop, is one part Kraftwerk, two parts Aphex Twin. What, were you expecting a Ramones parody? Watch video via Windows Media Player. Record out now on Mute.

You know sometimes when the video makes the song seem better than it really is? Well, this is one of those times. "Weakest Ones" by A.R.E. Weapons is from their album Free in the Streets, out today on Defend Music. I'm still trying to figure out this electro-rock-glam band, though the first thing that's coming to me is a combination of Fischerspooner, Fatima Mansions and Suicide. Now if I can just figure out what the hell is going on in the video.

BREAKING NEWS: local commercial radio station 94.3 WMJC played FIVE relatively good songs in a row. Coldplay "Speed of Sound," Squeeze "Tempted," Semisonic "Closing Time," Depeche Mode "Precious" (from new album), U2 "Beautiful Day." Then they ruined it with the Dave Matthews Band. [note on Semisonic: the drummer is rather outspoken about the corruption of the radio and music industry, if you haven't heard].

In related local radio news, WLIR, which back in the day was the only commercial station I listened to and in its later days became less of an "alternative," has been eliminated. Well actually it changed format to "NeoBreeze," which, as reported in Newsday, will be "an easy-listening format that's slightly hip: Alongside Frank Sinatra and Yanni, you might hear R.E.M." Really f*cking sad, dude. Did I mention they fired all the DJs? Well, they did. There's no DJs. It's all automated like that Jack junk. This is yet another reason to listen to WUSB.

BREAKING NEWS: Dirty on Purpose, who I originally shunned because I didn't like the name, became one of my favorite new bands in a matter of minutes after seeing the video for "Mind Blindness." They got this whole Pale Saints thing going. And boy, do I miss the Pale Saints. The band's debut EP, Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow, came out September 6 on North Street records. They'll be at the Mercury Lounge in NYC this Saturday for CM-Schmay.

Acid House Kings: Sing Along with the Acid House Kings (27 records) Since when did they start sounding like Belle and Sebastian? They're supposed to sound like the Smiths! Released today, September 13.

Listen:
That's Because You Drive Me
This Heart Is A Stone

Oh yea and records from these artists are out today as well: Sigur Ros (which I have not heard yet, dammit! don't tell me anything please), stellastarr* (the jury is still out), Dandy Warhols (they're tight with Regis), Coco Rosie (they're strange dude), Devendra Banhart (wrote a review for Resonance magazine), Super Furry Animals (damn them for being prolific!), Annie Hayden (the most underrated artist on Merge), and the Cranes (what? they're still around? no way, is this a proper record?). Over and out.

Depeche Mode tour dates announced; opening acts will be the Bravery (who one-ups Interpol with most shows played) and the Raveonettes. Both opening bands have been interviewed by Kenyon, both bands are unknown to most fans of Depeche Mode.

Yet more music for the masses October 18.

advanced news ticker: Peter Cetera of the band Chicago was totally wearing a Bauhaus t-shirt in the video for "You're the Inspiration"; VH1 (which is obviously insecure about itself because they like to make fun of other people) accuses it of being one of the most "awesomely bad love songs".......The Bravery compete with Interpol for NYC band that plays too many shows.......Kanye West suddenly seems bad-ass now....The Dandy Warhols will play at CBGB on September 14th; new single still kinda weak.....Doves look to break record for most played festivals in shortest amount of time, scheduled for CMJ Music Marathon September 14, Texas's Austin City Limits Festival September 25, Across the Narrows Festival October 2 and San Francisco's Download Festival October 8.......Broken Social Scene record out October 4, Kenyon still says they're overrated up the gazoo.......Metropolis records to release DVDs from Skinny Puppy and Front 242 (enter witty remark about kids today not aware of these important bands here)...Kenyon coins the term "post-hipster."

The extra super premium prolific John Vanderslice has got some songs available from Pixel Revolt, out August 23 on Barsuk. Unlike extra super premium gas, the price of his CD will not be rising within the next 10 minutes.

Exodus Damage
Trance Manual

JV is playing a huge amount of shows that go into November, which include these dates in New York:

September 14 at Mercury Lounge (with Aqueduct)
October 14 at Knitting Factory (with Portastatic)
October 15 at Southpaw (with Portastatic)

this guy makes some good music videos.

some sweet upcoming records from mute:

Richard Hawley: Coles Corner (today!)
M83: M83 [reissue of first album] (today!)
Paul van Dyk: Politics of Dancing Volume 2 (September 20)
Goldfrapp: Supernature (February)
Liars: Drum's Not Dead (February)

"Venus in Cancer" by Amusement Parks on Fire. Why settle for just an arcade? Yea, so anyway, this is some killer noise-pop.

QuickTime
http://www.filtermmm.com/apof/audio/apof_vic_hi.mp3 http://www.filtermmm.com/apof/audio/apof_vic_med.mp3

WindowsMedia
http://www.filtermmm.com/apof/audio/apof_vic_hi.wma http://www.filtermmm.com/apof/audio/apof_vic_med.wma


Playing at the Mercury Lounge, September 17 during CMJ.

Kanye West says "George Bush doesn't care about black people," live on NBC; "Funnyman" Chris Tucker finds it a tough act to follow. Watch video HERE or HERE.

pig with keyboard