Best of 2009: Short-Form Achievements

Ah, it's that time of the year again. It's time for us to gather, and share the things we like and berate the things we didn't like. Well, I'll be doing more of the former (I'm trying to keep the negativity to a minimum, but we'll see how long that lasts). I liked some EPs and singles this year, and I would like to share what they were with you. I didn't really decide on any sort of hierarchy, so here's a simple list:

Singles and stuph:

THE SHACKLES - "Broken Arm" b/w "Funeral Shroud"

(Sweet Rot Records)

Five and a half minutes of tight, well crafted power pop split over two songs. A fun and catchy, but, more importantly, promising start from a relatively new Seattle band.

ABE VIGODA - Reviver

(Post-Present Medium)

LA art-punks continue to move toward accessibility. Reviver sounds like an epilogue to their breakout 2008 album Skeleton without simply sounding like a retread of old ideas. It's well-paced, alternating between frenetic and placid, most of the time within the same song. Plus, it has a killer cover of "Wild Heart" by Stevie Nicks.

NO AGE - Losing Feeling

(Sub Pop)

I wasn't much of a No Age fan last year when Nouns dropped, but I'm glad I gave them another shot. For two dudes, they sure get a lot done over the course of four songs. The record is equal parts frenzied punk rock, anthemic psychedelia, and lush, reverb-soaked dream pop. Fun for the whole family. The video to "Losing Feeling" is one of my favorites too.

REAL ESTATE - "Suburban Beverage" 7"

(Underwater Peoples Records)

A meandering mess of reverb and guitars over hushed vocals and a bouncy bassline almost represents Real Estate's mission statement. The A-Side clocks in at six-and-a-half minutes (it runs at 33rpm) and really only has one verse but it exemplifies the early sound of the band. It sounds two beers and a few puffs deep. The two tracks on the b-side, "Black Lake" and "Old Folk" are solid as well.

SPIDER BAGS - "Teenage Eyes" b/w "Eileen" 7"

(Odessa Records)

Twangy garage rock from Chapel Hill (by way of New Jersey?). The best thing from the South to come from the North in a long time. Rowdy without being abrasive, and catchy without being boring. Fun stuff.

Remember to stay tuned for the upcoming "Best Of" lists for albums and compilations/reissues from this year, and the daunting "Best of 2000-2009" list.

December 9 2009

I saw Ted Leo the weekend before this show. Titus Andronicus opened up for him (and the Pharmacists). Both acts fucking killed it, as usual. Granted, I haven't been to an absurd amount to live rock and/or roll show, but this is the second time I've seen these two together, and it was even better than the first time. If you have a chance to see either, or both, do it.

A vague winter theme during this show. Not a lot of new stuff.

Here's this week's stuff:


** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - release - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. The Sun's Gonna Shine in the Morning - Dennis Diken with Bell Sound - Late Music - Cryptovision **

2. Shy - A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar - Mis Ojos Discos **

3. Don't Have to Be So Sad - Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun - Matador - 2003

4. Hoarfrost - Sonic Youth - A Thousand Leaves - Geffen - 1998

5. Under a Winter's Spell - Black Hollies - Casting Shadows - Ernest Jennings - 2008

6. Listen, the Snow is Falling - Galaxie 500 - This is Our Music - 1990

7. Snowstorm - Galaxie 500 - On Fire - 1989

8. Flight of the Feathered Serpent - Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport - ATP/R **

9. All My Friends - John Cale

10. Winter Warz - Ghostface Killah (ft. Masta Killa, U-God, Cappadonna, and Raekwon) - Iron Man - 1996

11. Blackberry Song - Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy - Matador **

12. I Can't Wait for Winter - Sean Smith - Sean Smith - 2005

13. Snowsuit Sound - Sloan - Twice Removed - Geffen - 1994

14. Blue - Emily Jane White - Dark Undercoat - 2007

15. Snow Days - Real Estate - Real Estate - Woodsist **

Stay tuned for the top of 2009 list.

December 2 2009

Okay. I can't find about a month's worth of playlists, but there isn't much missing.

The Vivian Girls/Real Estate/Math the Band/My Heart to Joy show went fine. A few things about the show:
1) Real Estate killed it, and I'm kind of surprised the kids liked them as much as they did
2) Math the Band is pretty fun
3) Hardcore bands are apparently kind of dense, self-important, and difficult to deal with
4) Vivian Girls still put on a good live show. They even switched instruments this time
5) Good times.

I had a trainee. He played some Melvins and Boris. Some other stuff I wasn't really into. Kid refuses to use headphones, will probably be way too loud or way too soft if he does his own show. He'll learn.

All of a sudden, the kids felt the need to squat in on my show. I don't mind too much, but it can get distracting. I don't want to name names, but maybe it'll show one or two of them how to do it (zing!).

Anyway, here's the show from December 2, 2009. It wasn't my best mix, but it wasn't bad.


** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - release - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Cousins - Vampire Weekend - Cousins single - XL **

2. Crystal Ball - The King Khan and BBQ Show - Invisible Girl - In the Red **

3. Penpals - Sloan - Twice Removed - Geffen - 1994

4. Flagpole Hill - Blacktop - I Got a Baaad Feelin' About This (Reissue) - In the Red - 2003?

5. All Consolation - White Denim - Fits - Downtown ** (song was kind of sucky, and the CD stopped working half way through)

6, Returning to the Fold - The Thermals - The Blood, the Body, the Machine - Sub Pop - 2006

7. When I Died - The Thermals - Now We Can See - Kill Rock Stars - 2009

8. Mind Eraser, No Chaser - Them Crooked Vultures - Them Crooked Vultures - Interscope **

9. Arms Against Atrophy - Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances - XL - 2009

10. The Birthday Wars - Oxford Collapse - Bits - Sub Pop - 2008

11. Even Heroes Have to Die - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Brutalist Bricks - Matador **

12. 1, 2, 3, Partyy! - Mission of Burma - The Sound, the Speed, the Light - Matador **

13. Tambourine - Little Girls - Concepts - Paper Bag **

14. Blackberry Song - Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy - Matador **

15. Green Truck - Sunset - Gold Dissolves to Gray - Autobus **

16. For Falling Asleep - Etienne Jaumet - Night Music - Domino **

Okay.

After finals.

Seriously, I'll update after finals.

I'll update with playlists and some other cool stuff tomorrow! I swear!

CMJ Note

Hey there. If we met at CMJ, or exchanged info or whatever, thank you for stopping by. It was a pleasure meeting you.

October 28 2009: I Like the Night Life Baby

The last week of October was pretty hectic and, unfortunately, I didn't have time to plan a whole lot of my show out, it sort of veers strange directions toward the end. I was in New York from the 21-25 for CMJ, which was fun. A little more relaxed than last year. I tended to go to more of the parties/socializing events instead of hopping on the subway every hour to get to the next show. That method of attacking CMJ is very draining. Also, this year's lineup wasn't as... in your face as last year's lineup, there weren't too many big names. Everyone was going to see The xx. I think they played somewhere between 2 and 37 times over the week or so that makes up CMJ and almost everyone I talked to either had seen them the night before, couldn't get in the night before, or were going to see them that night. I don't know first hand how they were live (I got mixed reactions. Apparently they sound fine, they're just not too lively. Comparisons to Interpol came up more than once), but I was lukewarm on xx. I can see the appeal, I would probably be all over it a few years ago, but its just not really my thing anymore. A couple of my associates (Tiff, she's on Sundays and Steph) made it to Ted Leo, but apparently that was mobbed and getting in was an issue. Still kind of kicking myself for not going to that. I missed Pissed Jeans too. They were playing at the Mercury Lounge during the Sub Pop/Hardly Art showcase at midnight, or 1 AM or something late, which normally wouldn't be a problem, but the show started at 7 PM and it was a showcase that was difficult to get into. Real Estate played a few times too, but I didn't make it a priority to see them (sorry guys) because they were playing the WHUS Halloween show the week after, and I saw them in August. Even though I didn't see them, I did hang out with a couple of the guys in the band for a bit before their show. Coincidence more than anything else. Another WHUS staffer traded Matt Mondanile a gin and tonic for a copy of a Ducktails LP, which was pretty rad. Speaking of free records, I did manage to find a copy of the new Soft Black album in the bathroom at NYU between panels. As far as I could tell, it was clean, as it was still wrapped in plastic. Oh, and Tiff won some free records at the Vampire Weekend listening party. Some guy at the party was snapping pictures, getting a few of me and Dave (no show right now) so there's a picture of me in my Silver Surfer t-shirt floating around on the internet somewhere. This happened right before some guy passing through offered me some cocaine. I politely declined as some drunk dude behind me began to vomit (it was one of those nights). Aside from debauchery, free shit, and shows I did not go to, I did actually see some bands last month. 

Wednesday night I  went to the Fuck Buttons listening party at (le) Poisson Rouge where I met Marty McSorley from WFMU, who was doing a couple sets before/between/after playthroughs of Tarot Sport, before heading to Arlene's Grocery for the M for Montreal showcase. I was there for most of the second half of the show, which included Think About Life (incredibly fun and energetic), We Are Wolves, Malajube (both weren't bad, but a bit of a jarring shift from Think About Life), and Duchess Says. Duchess Says were supposed to play last year, but apparently ran into some visa issues, much to my disappointment. I would say in retrospect, that it was well worth the wait. It was insane. The singer, A-Claude, was incredibly intense. To be honest I'm kind of dumbfounded, I can't think of anything else to say (I have a little bit of video that I will link to once I post it on the 'ol YoTubed). Mesmerizing? I don't know, she had me in some sort of trance. A fitting cap to the rest of the evening. Friday was cool because I got to hear the new Beach House record (the one due in January) and I have to say, it's pretty good. So keep an ear out for that. Saturday was the Dutchess and the Duke (two different bands with two different spellings of the same word. Strange.) and the Dum Dum Girls in Williamsburg. Someone else too, but I forgot. Saturday night saw me and DJ Tanner (Thursdays 3-5 pm, the dude who got the Ducktails record earlier in the story) having birthday cake with the Vandelles. After playing an awesome set at Trash in Brooklyn we were talking with them a bit and it was the Jason, the singer's, birthday. They were playing another show later that night but chose the time between sets to have a little bit of cake, inviting us to join and to meet up with them at the next bar. We had to decline and I can't really recall why. Dead tired maybe? Regardless, that basically sums up the live music that week, or at least everything worth mentioning.

Here's this week's playlist, a lot of the Vivian Girls and Real Estate because of the WHUS Halloween show (see the post for the November 4th show for details), FYI.

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - release - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Olympians - Fuck Buttons - Tarot Sport - ATP/R **

2. Beach Comber - Real Estate - Summertime Showcase - Underwater Peoples **

3. Tornado Love - Blacktop - I've Got a Baaad Feelin' About This [Reissue] - In the Red

4. Which Way to Go - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours - Goner - 2008

5. Eileen - Spider Bags - Teenage Eyes 7" - Odessa **

6. Trouble! - Turbo Fruits - Echo Kid - Fat Possum **

7. Sweet Sixteen - Think About Life - Family - Alien8 **

8. Cristobald - Malajube - Labyrinthes - Dare to Care - 2009

9. Ccut Up - Duchess Says - Anthologie Des 3 Perchoirs - 2008

10. Sunrise/Sunet - Dutchess & the Duke - Sunset/Sunrise - Hardly Art **

11. Tell the World - Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls - In the Red - 2008

12. Blind Spot - Vivian Girls - I Can't Stay/Blind Spot 7" - In the Red - 2009

13. The Desert - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **

14. Suburban Beverage - Real Estate - Suburban Beverage 7" - Underwater Peoples - 2009

15. Blackberry Song - Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy - Matador **

16. Curse Words/Close Chorus - A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar - Mis Ojo Discos **

17. Deadbeat Summer - Neon Indian - Psychic Chasms - Lefse **

18. My Two Hands - Junk Culture - West Coast - Illegal Art **

19. Gorilla Meat - Jogger - This Great Pressure - Magical Properties **

20. I Walk Alone - Music Go Music - Expressions - Secretly Canadian **

21. Let's Go - The Cars - Greatest Hits

DYNAMO

DYNAMO (NJ)

October 14 2009: NO SHOW NEXT WEEK!!!

Hey everyone. Not a whole lot to report on tonight. The show went off without a hitch. There were slipmats for the turntables, the CD players worked, and to top it all off, my new bed music CD sounds way better than the old one. I'm going to be in New York for most of next week, so unfortunately there will not be a show. New York should be a good time and hopefully I'll return with some stories and some new stuff to play. Maybe some interviews? Even though I'm not doing my show, you, the loyal WHUS listener, are in luck though, as Chelsea is covering for me on October 21st! her the same respect you would show me. She's going to use my bed music. For some reason, when people fill in for me they feel the need to play that Television track. It was funny the first time, now it's just sort of lame. Eh, maybe I need a better sense of humor.

REMEMBER: VIVIAN GIRLS! REAL ESTATE! MATH THE BAND! MY HEART TO JOY! OCTOBER 30, STUDENT UNION! 8PM!

Anyway, here's the list...

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. In Your Heart - A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head - Mute **
2. Evil - Flaming Lips - Embryonic - Warner Bros **

3. Dear Mr. & Mrs. Troublemaker - All Girl Summer Fun Band - 2 - K Records - 2003

4. You - Delta 5 - Singles & Sessions: 1979-1981 - Kill Rock Stars - 2006
5. How Low Are You? - Dreamdate - Patience - Skywriting Records - 2009
6. Driveway to Driveway (Acoustic) - Superchunk - Driveway to Driveway single - Merge - 1994

7. The End - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **
8. Freak Train - Kurt Vile - Childish Prodigy - Matador **
9. Lightning - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird Recordings **
10. Suburban Beverage - Real Estate - Suburban Beverage 7" - Underwater Peoples Records - 2009

11. Your Pretty Face (Is Going to Waukeegan) - Blacktop - I Got a Baaad Feelin' About This [Reissue] - In the Red
12. All My Loving - The Almighty Defenders - The Almighty Defenders - Vice **
13. Trip to the Zoo - Cheap Time - Cheap Time - In the Red - 2008
14. Call Me - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses - In the Red **
15. Teenage Eyes - Spiderbags - Teenage Eyes 7" - Odessa **
16. Ain't That Nothin' - Television - Adventure [Reissue] - Elektra [Rhino] - 1978 [2003]

17. Beach Point Pleasant - Ducktails - Live from 12/2008
18. The White Witch - A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Ashes Grammar - Mis Ojo Discos **
19. Ghost Ride Th' Whip to Berlin - Jeff: The Brotherhood - The Boys R Back in Town
20. Lust for Life - Girls - Album - True Panther **

October 7 2009: October 7"

No real theme stylistically tonight, but format wise, it was all new stuff or 45s. I found a few around the station, and snagged a few from my personal collection. Everything kind of worked out, even if one of the turntables was missing a slipmat and I couldn't play the song I wanted from the first A Place to Bury Strangers CD because someone stole it. We'll look past that, and focus on the awesomeness of the stuff I played this week.

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. If It's True - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **

2. 2/11 Don't Forget - Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited - Matador **

3. Perfect Skin (Curses Remix) - HEALTH - Perfect Skin 7" - Suicide Squeeze - 2008

4. Die Slow - HEALTH - Get Color - Lovepump United **

5. In the Blackout - Twilight Sad - I Became a Prostitute 7" - Fatcat **

6. When I'm Gone - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **

7. Moped Girls - Vivian Girls - Moped Girls 7" - For Us - 2009

8. Deadbeat - A Place to Bury Strangers - Exploding Head - Mute **

9. Gamma Ray - Jay Reatard - Gamma Ray 7" (Beck) - Interscope

10. Man of Steel - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador **

11. Bow Down and Die - The Almighty Defenders - The Almighty Defenders - Vice **

12. Extradition - Pavement - Extradition/Black Out 7"

13. Lead Me To Your Fire - Black Hollies - Softly Towards the Light - Ernest Jennings Record Co **

14. Wrong Lane - The Disciplines - 7" - Second Motion Records **

15. Lakeside - BLK JKS - After Robots - Secretly Canadian **

16. Brazil - Arcade Fire - Cold Wind/Brazil 7" - Merge - 2005

17. SSL 83 - Mission of Burma - The Sound The Speed The Light - Matador **

18. The Bomb is in My Pants - The Evaporators - A Wild Pear - Nardwuar/Mint Records **

19. Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus 7" - Merok

20. Monster Room - The Happy Hollows - Spells - Self Released **

21. Record Club - Lily Cedar - Lily Cedar/Gingersnap split 7" - Extra Small Records

22. Rory Rides Me Raw - The Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines - Sub Pop **

23. Desperado - Gingersnap - Lily Cedar/Gingersnap split 7" - Extra Small Records

24. Little World - Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited - Matador **

25. Canaduh - Andrew W.K. - A Wild Pear - Nardwuar/Mint Records **

ps - that last song is a Subhumans cover.

September 30 2009: Attack of the 60ft Fudgebombs

After last week's methodical playlist, this week saw Methanol Cereal return to its usual format. Sort of. Everything (with four exceptions) was pulled from the new bin. I didn't have a lot of time to plan out the show this week and felt the need to overcompensate for not playing anything new last week. Turned out pretty good. Real hip show.

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. You're a Target - No Age - Losing Feeling - Sub Pop **

2. Get Up Get On Down (Tonite) - Turbo Fruits - Echo Kid - Fat Possum **

3. Brush, Brush, Brush - of Montreal - Yo Gabba Gabba: Music is Awesome - Filter **

4. Walking Alone at Night - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **

5. City on Drugs - Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited - Matador **

6. Half Day in Hell - Times New Viking - Born Again Revisited - Matador **

7. Sleep - Hornet Leg - Ribbon of Fear - K **

8. 2000 e Agarrum - Os Mutantes - Haih Or Amortecedor - ANTI- **

9. Reach Out - Music Go Music - Expressions - Secretly Canadian **

10. Lust for Life - Girls - Album - True Panther Sounds **

11. Switch On - Islands - Vapors - ANTI- **

12. I'm On My Way - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **

13. The Ghost With the Most - The Almighty Defenders - The Almighty Defenders - Vice **

14. Welfare Bread - King Khan & the Shrines - What Is?! - Vice - 2009

15. Sea of Blasphemy - Black Lips - Let it Bloom - In the Red - 2005?

16. Got to Give it Up - The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide in Black - In the Red - 2001

17. Red in Tooth and Claw - The Ettes - Do You Want Power - Take Root **

18. It Can't Be True - The Ettes - Do You Want Power - Take Root **

19. Some Kind of Love - Velvet Underground - Velvet Underground - 1969

20. Float - Sissy Wish - Beauties Never Die - Afternoon Records **

21. Sunrise/Sunset - The Dutchess and the Duke - Sunset/Sunrise - Hardly Art **

22. All the Way Down - Soulsavers - Broken - Columbia **

23. Run With Me - Black Hollies - Softly Towards the Light - Ernest Jennings Record Co **

September 23 2009: 22 Years in 23 Songs

Hey everyone, sorry I've been slacking with the playlists for a few weeks. A crapton of backed up work as well as the occasional class have stopped me from updating recently. I'll probably be kind of slack for the next few weeks as well. Two upcoming exams, a business trip to New York, and the Vivian Girls/Real Estate show we at WHUS are doing on 10/30 are all bound to tie me up for a bit. Anyway, here's the list from September 23. It was my birthday show. Take a look:

1. Pacific Coast Highway - Sonic Youth - Sister - 1987

2. Pictures - Galaxie 500 - Today - 1988

3. Don't Stop - Stone Roses - Stone Roses - 1989 [there's an awesome reissue that came out in 2009]

4. Work - Lou Reed & John Cale - Songs for Drella - 1990

5. What You Want - My Bloody Valentine - Loveless - 1991

6. For Pete's Sake - Pete Rock & CL Smooth - Mecca & the Soul Brother - 1992

7. Big Day Coming - Yo La Tengo - Painful - 1993

8. Elevate Me Later - Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain - 1994

9. Crazy For You - Slowdive - Pygmalion - 1995

10. The Lines You Amend - Sloan - One Chord to Another - 1996

11. All Mine - Portishead - Portishead - 1997

12. TNT - Tortoise - TNT - 1998

13. 100% Dundee - The Roots - Things Fall Apart - 1999

14. Monsters in the Parasol - Queens of the Stoneage - R - 2000

15. Parallel or Together? - Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Tyranny of Distance - 2001

16. Obstacle 1 - Interpol - Turn on the Bright Lights - 2002

17. Raedawn - Viktor Vaughn - Vaudeville Villain - 2003

18. Haiti - Arcade Fire - Funeral - 2004

19. Sis - Jonathan Kane - February - 2005

20. Kilo - Ghostface Killah (Feat. Raekwon the Chef) - Fishscale - 2006

21. In the City - Chromatics - 12" Version - 2007

22. El Vestido - Juana Molina - Un Dia - 2008

23. Snookered - Dan Deacon - Bromst - 2009

September 16 2009: Drugs in My Body

Good show this week. Thanks for listening everyone. I didn't get to a whole lot of music for this show. My buddy Sam, an activist of sorts here at UConn came on. We talked about SSDP (Students for a Sensible Drug Policy, look them up for your local chapter), the UConn Free Press, and to a lesser extent, Idealists United, another group on campus. We took some calls and had a good dialogue going with eachother and the callers. Very cool. Keep an eye (or ear?) out for Sam again, he's bound to come on again.

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. A Link in the Chain - Polvo - In Prism - Merge **

2. Laura - Girls - Album - True Panther **

"Interview" segment with Sam

3. January Twenty Something - WHY? - Eskimo Snow - Anticon **

4. Komakino - Joy Division - Substance - Qwest - 1988

5. Summer of Hate - Crocodiles - Summer of Hate - Fat Possum - 2009

6. Tree Bones - Port O'Brien - Threadbare - TBD **

7. The Fun Powder Plot - Wild Beasts - Two Dancers - Domino **

"Interview" segment pt 2. This is where we took some calls

8. Take It With You - The Ettes - Do You Want Power - Take Root **

9. Call Me - Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red **

10. Becuz - Sonic Youth - Washing Machine - DGC - 1995

11. They Done Wrong/We Done Wrong - White Rabbits - It's Frightening - TBD - 2009 [REQUEST]

12. The Desert - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **

13. We'll Be Turned On - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours - Goner - 2008

14. The Fireside - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **

15. Don't Have to Be So Sad - Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun - Matador - 2003

That's it. Be sure to check out next week's retrospective playlist.

September 9, 2009

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. D.C. Trails - Polvo - In Prism - Merge **

2. Avalon or Someone Very Similar - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs **

3. False Jesii Pt 2 - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop **

4. Magic Word - Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life - Matador - 2008

5. The Icy Hand that Guides Us - Lullabye Arkestra - Threats/Worship - Vice **

6. Leg of Lamb - Queens of the Stoneage - R - Interscope - 2000

7. I Don't Wanna Play No More - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours - Goner - 2008

8. Snake Oil - Hornet Leg - Ribbon of Fear- K **

9. Sleepwalking - Jaguar Club - And We Wake Up Slowly - self released **

10. Freak Out - My Brightest Diamond - Bring Me the Workhorse - Asthmatic Kitty - 2006

11. Laughing With a Mouth of Blood - St. Vincent - Actor - 4AD **

12. Dream Theatre Dream - Jeff: The Brotherhood - The Boys R Back in Town - Infinity Cat

13. Dance of the Moon & the Sun - Natural Snow Buildings - The Dance of the Moon & the Sun - Students of Decay - 2008

14. Hero - NEU! - NEU! '75 - 1975

15. Slipping (Into Something) - The Feelies - The Good Earth - 1986

16. Plastic Bird - Galaxie 500 - On Fire

17. Black Coffin - The Fresh & Onlys - "Grey-Eyed Girl" - Woodsist **

18. The End - Vivian Girls - Everything Goes Wrong - In the Red **

19. Red in Tooth and Claw - The Ettes - Do You Want Power - Take Root **

September 2 2009: SCHOLL!!!!

Ah yes, "scholl" started this week. First show of the new semester. Welcome back anyone who has recently returned to the area. Not a whole lot of anything happened last week, so I don't have anything to report on so here's the playlist:

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Dangerous Game - The Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red **

2. My Baby - Hornet Leg - Ribbon of Fear - K **

3. D.C. Trails - Polvo - In Prism - Merge **

4. Enthusiasm - Bright - Bright - Ba Da Bing! - 1996

5. Gems - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird **

6. Rain on Tin - Sonic Youth - Murray Street - DGC - 2002

7. Walkin' Blue - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador **

8. Eyesore - Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley - Volcom **

9. Lost Words - Ganglians - Monster Head Room - Woodsist **

10. Tell the World - Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls - In the Red - 2008

11. Rollercoaster - Sleater-Kinney - The Woods - Sub Pop - 2005

12. Nothing Knew - Eula - Language Threat EP - self released - 2009 (they're from New Haven)

13. The Drag - Ty Segall - Ty Segall - Castle Face - 2008

14. More Stars Than There Are in Heaven - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **

15. Son of a Gun - Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines - Sub Pop **

16. Wendy Wonders - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino **

17. Deputy of Love (Mutant Disco Version) - Don Armando's Second Avenue Rhumba Band - Ze 30: Ze Records 1979-2009 **

18. PPPO - Miss Kittin & The Hacker - Two

Edit: Why is the formatting awful? I don't want the text bolded and big like that, but it seems to be doing that default now...

August 26 2009: School's 'Round the Bend

Hey everyone. This is the last show of the summer. School started up today (Monday 8/31) and I think it was a decent send off. A little all over the place, but very few jarring sets. Cool. Unfortunately, the interviews I recorded at the Underwater Peoples show at the Market Hotel last week were eaten by the computer. Not cool. Very not cool. The interview with Nicole from Air Waves was good, but the interview with Liam (of Liam the Younger and Titus Andronicus fame) was probably the best I've ever done. Very conversational. Very natural. So, I guess I'll just have to move forward from there. Stay tuned about some Very exciting news involving some Girls I like. A lot. Coming here to UConn. Already said too much. It's not official yet, but they are promoting it on their myspace, so hopefully it actually happens. In the mean time, here's last week's playlist:

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. It Ain't Gonna Save Me - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador **
2. Call Me - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses - In the Red **

3. Nothing to Hide - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **
4. Here to Fall - Yo La Tengo - Popular Songs - Matador **
5. San Francisco 2 AM - Desolation Wilderness - New Universe - K **
6. Pacific Palisades - Desolation Wilderness - No Tomorrows 7" - International Pop Underground/K - 2009
7. Wishes - Ducktails - Landscapes - Olde English Spelling Bee *
8. Green River - Real Estate - Fake Blues 7 "

9. Dancing Barefoot - The Feelies - Away 12" - A&M - 1988
10. Cycles Per Second - The dB's - Stands for Decibels - 1981
11. A Spy in the House of Love [Remix] - 12" Single - Bearsville - 1984
12. In this Town - The Human Switchboard - Who's Landing in My Hanger - Faulty Products - 1981

13. In the Headlights - Chromatics - In the City 12" - Italians Do It Better - 2007
14. Miracle - Sally Shapiro - My Guilty Pleasure - Paperbag **
15. Computer Love - Glass Candy - B/E/A/T/B/O/X - Italians Do It Better - 2007

16. Mainlining Mystery - The Comet Gain - Broken Record Players - What's Your Rupture? - 2009
17. Cover Your Tracks - Blue Roses - Blue Roses - XL **
18. Mistress - Marissa Nadler - Little Hells - Kemado - 2009
19. Blue - Emily Jane White - Dark Undercoat - Double Negative - 2007

20. I Can Feel It - Sloan - Twice Removed - Geffen - 1994

PS - I'm the beardo w/ stripes, breaking all kinds of laws with my cigarette in the second picture here. Am I cool now?

August 19th 2009

Here's last week's list...

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Stick Up for Me - Reigning Sound - Love & Curses - In the Red **
2. Die Slow - HEALTH - Get Color - Lovepump United **

3. My Reality - Jay Reatard - Watch Me Fall - Matador **
4. Alice & Friends - Box Elders - Alice & Friends - Goner **
5. Rusted Dust - Ty Segall - Lemons - Goner **

6. Optimistic - Radiohead - Kid A - Capitol - 2000
7. Higher Ground - The Feelies - Higher Ground 12" single - A&M - 1988
8. Memory Lane - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours - Goner - 2008

9. Black Lake - Real Estate - Suburban Beverage 7" - Underwater Peoples **
10. Old Folks - Real Estate - Suburban Beverage 7" - Underwater Peoples **
11. Moon Dreams - Desolation Wilderness - New Universe - K **

12. R Rated Movie - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop **
13. In My Eyes - Minor Threat - Minor Threat - Discord - 1984

14. Bends - Noveller - Red Rainbows - No Fun Productions **

15. Primitive Man - Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop **
16. Ichthus Hop - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art **
17. Wind Phoenix (Proper Name) - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains - Self-Released **

8/12/09: "I Sprinted a Few Times to Push the Limits..."

Very creepy title tonight. If anyone knows where it's from, you're probably sicker than I am. Awesome show tonight. All over the place stylistically with plenty of new stuff and a few choice selections from the vinyl library. A classic from Nancy and Lee, some Sonic Youth, and I even grabbed a couple avant garde/noise records that I didn't get to. Even with a first inning error from the studio being a disaster and a late-in-the-game substitution with the Tara Jane O'Neil CD I really, really wanted to play missing, tonight went really, really well (what's with the sports analogies?). The interview with Chris from Talbot Tagora, [a young, talented Seattle band I've played before, and have seen live (w/ Abe Vigoda)] was also a highlight for tonight. Very nice guy, eager and willing to show WHUS some love (not to mention, they are killer live). ALmost forgot to mention, we had former WHUS DJ Jeffrey in studio, as well as current WHUS DJ David (who can be heard Tuesdays from 10pm until midnight). Anyway, here's the playlist in all its glory.

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Brake It - Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red **
2. Is It True? - Reigning Sound - Love and Curses - In the Red **

3. People of the Sky - Sloan - Twice Removed - Geffen - 1994
4. Death of Me - Box Elders - Alice & Friends - Goner **
5. Shine On - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird **
6. Broken Arm - The Shackles **
7. Bradley Bear - Holiday Shores - Columbus'd the Whim - twosyllable **
8. He's Been Napping - Marmoset - Tea Tornado - Joyful Noise
9. Jackson - Nancy Sinatra (with Lee Hazlewood) - Country, My Way - Reprise - 1967

10. Human Upskirt - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop **
11. Nowheres Nigh - Parts & Labor - Receivers - Jagjaguwar - 2008
12.Flower - Sonic Youth - single - Homestead - 1986?
13. Johnny Lazor - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art **

Interview with Chris Ando of TALBOT TAGORA

14. The Sporting Life - Diamanda Galás with John Paul Jones - The Sporting Life - Mute - 1994
15. The Afterlife - YACHT - See Mystery Lights - DFA **

16. St. Power - Noveller - Red Rainbow - No Fun Productions **

That just about wraps it up. Thanks again to Dave at AAM, Sarah at Hardly Art, and of course Chris from TT for organizing the interview. I may be doing a fill in tomorrow night. We'll see. Remember to tune in next week, same Bat-Time, same Bat-Station.


PS - To the girl who called asking about Noveller, want to be friends?

August 7th Fill In

Filled in for Felipe on Aug. 7th

Not the best show, but it was really last minute

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. The Light - White Magic - Dat Rosa Mel Apibus - Drag City - 2006
2. I Want You to Keep Everything - These United States - Everything Touches Everything - United Interests **
3. Sleepwalking - The Jaguar Club - And We Wake Up Slowly - self released **

4. These Days - Joy Division - Substance
5. Washing Machine - Sonic Youth - Washing Machine - DGC - 1995
6. In Mind - Slowdive - 5 EP - Creation - 1993

7. Car Crash - Apricot Rail - Apricot Rail - Hidden Shoal **
8. Dens - Holiday Shores - Columbus'd the Whim - Two Syllable **
9. Hospice - The Antlers - Shiva - Frenchkiss **
10. Sit Down. Stand Up. (Snakes & Ladders) - Radiohead - Hail to the Thief - Capitol - 2003

11. Super 16 - NEU! - NEU! 2

12. See Cops Throw Rocks - Pork Queen - Beautiful Vision - 1994
13. Forest Feeling - Inca Ore w/Lemon Bear's Orchestra - The Bird in the Bushes - 2006

August 5th 2009

I talked to Chris (guitar/vox) from the band Talbot Tagora on Tuesday. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to edit down and polish up the interview for the show this week. Fear not, it will air next week!

Anyway, here's the playlist

** = Plucked from the WHUS new bin, for your listening pleasure.

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Suspicious - Miss Kittin and the Hacker - Two - Nobody's Bizness **

2. Psychic City (Voodoo City) - YACHT - See Mystery Lights - DFA **

3. Ephemeral Summer - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City **

4. You Saved My Life - Cass McCombs - Catacombs - Domino ** [Request]

5. In My Box - The Dø - A Mouthful - Get Down **

6. On My Shoulders - The Dø - A Mouthful - Get Down **

7. Penpals - Sloan - Twice Removed - Geffen - 1994

8. Bad Man - Reigning Sound - ...Live at Goner Records - Goner - 2009

9. Grim Reaper Blues (Pt. 2) - The Entrance Band - The Entrance Band - Ecstatic Peace **

10. Spent - Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans - Sub Pop **

11. Keys - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird **

12. Little Eyes - Yo La Tengo - Summer Sun - Matador - 2003

13. Wishing Whale - Pill Wonder - Summertime Showcase - Underwater Peoples **

14. Yellow - A Sunny Day in Glasgow - Tout New Age - Mis Ojos - 2007

15. Mincer Ray - Guided by Voices - Bee Thousand - Matador - 1994

16. The First Part - Superchunk - Foolish - Merge - 1994

17. We Were Born the Mutants Again with Leafing - of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? - Polyvinyl - 2007

18. Mighty Minor - Royalchord - The Good Fight - Supply & Demand **

19. PPPO - Miss Kittin and the Hacker - Two - Nobody's Bizness **

20. Ambivalence Avenue - Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue - Warp **

21. 100% - Sonic Youth - single - Geffen - 1992

July 29th 2009: Nothing to Report On

See title.

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Bleed Blood - City Center - City Center - Type **
2. Rest With Me - Talk Normal - Talk Normal - Self Released **

3. Lightning - Air Waves - Air Waves - Catbird **
4. Beach Comber - Real Estate - Summertime Showcase - Underwater Peoples **
5. Mega Secrets - Family Portrait - Summertime Showcase - Underwater Peoples **
6. The Void - Ganglians - Monster Head Room - Woodsist **

7. The Ruminant Band - Fruit Bats - The Ruminant Band - Sub Pop **
8. Mixed Signals Through Miles of Pilgrimage - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art **
9. Superball - Helium - The Dirt of Luck - Matador - 1995
10. Rockers East Vancouver - Japandroids - Post-Nothing - Polyvinyl **
11. B.N.E. - Japanese Motors - Japanese Motors - Vice - 2008

12. I Never Knew - Birds of Avalon - Uncanny Valley - Volcom **
13. Harvest (Within You) - Clinic - Harvest - Domino - 2006
14. Cold Spring - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains - Self Released **

15. Huffman Prairie Flying Field - Guided by Voices - Half Smiles of the Decomposed - Matador - 1994
16. Hard to Tell You - Dirty on Purpose - Dead Volcanoes - 2008
17. The Sight of You - Pale Saints - The Comfort of Madness - 4AD - 1990
18. Phantom Parade - Color Turning - Good Hands Bad Blood - Softdrive **

19. Cover Your Tracks - Blue Roses - Blue Roses - XL **
20. Tiger Mountain - Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth - Sub Pop **

Julian Plenti - "Games for Days"

We received the lead single for Julian Plenti's "Is...Skyscraper" today. Julian Plenti is the alias of Interpol front man, post-punk revivalist, and all-around moper Paul Banks. In 2002, they were hipster darlings; Turn on the Bright Lights received universally positive reviews (especially from Pitchfork), their videos were in rotation on MTV2 (yes, at one point it wasn't all just "Rob and Big" and "Viva La Bam" reruns, for a couple years they played videos regularly), and their songs were all over TV shows like Friends and The OC. I was an early supporter, and was one of the few people I knew who wasn't completely disappointed in their 2004 lukewarm follow up Antics. My main complaint was that the reverb and echo drenched atmosphere of the debut was refined somewhat, and put in the background. The angular, almost British late 1970s/early 1980s guitar-sound dominates the album and, of course, the band's backbone, Carlos Dengler's bass playing is still very much in the forefront. This isn't to say the ominous but familiar tone of TotBL was completely lost, it just didn't seem as important. Again, I stress that I wasn't completely disappointed. At the end of today, like with any record, it's the songs that count. The band got bigger, and moved onto to greener pastures, leaving indie stalwart Matador for Capitol records. Their first release on Capitol, 2007's Our Love to Admire didn't feature their usual mopery and was a little, well, brighter. It sold well, really well actually, but didn't achieve the same level of praise as their first two records, but was still relatively well received (I wasn't a big fan of that record. They just sounded too complacent).

So, since 2007, drummer Sam Fogarino started a side project (Magnet Morning) with the dude from Swervedriver, bassist Carlos Dengler continues to DJ on the side as well as provide remixes for other band's stuff, and guitarist Dan Kessler is apparently just kind of laying low. That leaves Banks. Earlier this year, his solo album (to be released under the name Julian Plenti, an alias he apparently used to perform under pre-Interpol) was announced. Very few details were given, aside from a cover and a track listing.

Well not anymore.

"Games for Days" didn't do a whole lot for me. It doesn't sound too distant from Interpol's work to warrant a release under a different name. The radio edit clocks in at 3:49, so to be fair, I might be missing a bitching guitar solo or some profound lyrics from an excised bridge. The song isn't bad just kind of boring. It features that sort of post-punk guitar sound Interpol's been at for years, although grainier and lacking in reverb. The occasional punchy, muted, almost chugging from the guitars isn't really my thing either. Seems out of place. The fluid, throbbing bass provided by Dengler on the Interpol albums is also absent. It may be the stereo I'm using, but that was the first thing I noticed. The lack of a thumping bassline. The basslines were usually my favorite part of Interpol songs. The song has almost a dance pop drum beat with the drums themselves sounding a little less than organic. Major emphasis on the bass drum too. It feels too much like a retread of Interpol's material, without the sunglasses, black suits, and cigarette smoke that made their first album such a highlight. This is only one song though, and from the information I've been able to find on the album (which is limited, I could only find a couple early reviews) the album is split between this sort of rock stuff and a more thoughtful, solo acoustic performance. Time will tell.

Julian Plenti - "Games for Days" 2.5/5

Julain Plenti is...Skyscraper will be available August 4th from Matador Records

Sunday Night Special

Hey everyone, Vitamin J could not do his show this week, so I filled in. A little later than my usual time slot, I played "night music" for any night people who may have been listening. None of the usual bed music or good time rock and roll. Just me talking over noise. I think two hours of drone, noise, and ambient music was enough to drive my listenership away. I could hear the radios being turned off over the walls of feedback. Lame. Anyway, here's what I played:

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. The Wandering Stranger - Nick DeWitt - Supernatural Punishment EP - Teenage Teardrops **

2. B - Ecstatic Sunshine - WAY - Cardboard - 2008

3. Hung From the Moon - Earth - The Bee Made Honey in the Lion's Skull - Southern Lord - 2008

4. The Desert Has Eyes - Natural Snow Buildings - Snowbringer Cult - Students of Decay - 2008

5. Mass Mirage - Yellow Swans - At All Ends - Load - 2007

6. Palm - Pocahaunted - Passage - Troubleman Unlimited**

7. Untitled [track 2]- Raccoo-oo-oon - Raccoo-oo-oon - Not Not Fun - 2008

8. All Channels Open (excerpt)- The Dead C - Vain, Erudite, and Stupid: Selected Works: 1987-2005 - BaDa Bing - 2006

9. Empty Table - Robedoor - Rancor Keeper

10. Underwater Mountains - Emeralds - Allegory of Allergies - Weird Forest

11. Miranda - Slowdive - Pygmalion - 1995

12. My Clown - Belong - Colorloss Record - St. Ives Recordings - 2008

13. When I Live by the Garden and the Sea - Eluvium - When I Live by the Garden and the Sea - Temporary Residence - 2006

July 22nd 2009: Fuuuuuuuuuuuudge

So I saw Abe Vigoda and Talbot Tagora on Sunday. Good times. Both bands were rad and a bunch of nice dudes. I talked to Juan from Abe Vigoda and I'm trying to set up an interview. We'll see if it actually happens. Unfortunately, the CD player did not want to play my copy of Sonic Youth's Sonic Nurse as I wanted to end the show with "Peace Attack". Lame. Here's the rest of the playlist.

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. ...And the Hazy Sea - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Moutains - self released **
2. Replacing the Northwest - Talbot Tagora - Lessons in the Woods or a City - Hardly Art **

3. Everything's Gone Green - New Order - Substance - Qwest - 1987
4. Procession - New Order - Substance - Qwest - 1987
5. Those Old Black and White Movies Were True - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino **
6. House - Abe Vigoda - Reviver - Post Present Medium - 2009

7. Twilight Property - Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth - Sub Pop **
8. The Waves at Night - Phosphorescent - Pride - Dead Oceans - 2007
9. Late Lunch - Sean Smith - Sacred Crag Dancer, Corpse Whisperer - Thompkins Square - 2006

10. Dwrcan - Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue - Warp **
11. An Optimist Declines - David Grubbs - An Optimist Notes the Dusk - Drag City - 2008
12. Cryin' Smoke - Ganglians - Monster Head Room - Woodsist **
13. Lisztomania - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Glassnote **
14. Ricecar of Dr. Clara Haber - Magik Markers - Balf Quarry - Drag City **

15. Green Starred Sleeve - UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ - Saddle Creek **
16. Souvenirs - Midnight Movies - Lion the Girl - New Line Records - 2007
17. Hooks & Ladders - The Individuals - Fields/Aquamarine - Bar/None - 2008
18. Forces at Work - The Feeelies - Crazy Rhythms - 1980

Boom. Done.

Oops, forgot to Post this: July 15th 2009

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Red Light Love - Those Darlins - Those Darlins - Oh Wow Dang **
2. Voodoo - Ganglians - Monster Head Room - Woodsist **

3. Standing at the Station - Ty Segall - Lemons - Goner **
4. Lo and Behold - The Ettes - Danger Is - Take Root **
5. Trapezeus - UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ - Saddle Creek **
6. Approach the Throne - Clues - Clues - Constellation **
7. Divided - Cootie Platoon - PDX Pop Now! 2009 **

8. Fonz - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino **
9. Caucasian Blues - Jarvis Cocker - "Further Complications" - Rough Trade **
10. Keeping Track - Superchunk - Foolish - Merge - 1994
11. Until Its Clear - Glenn Mercer - Wheels in Motion - Pravada - 2007
12. Vive Solo - Juana Molina - Un Dia - Domino - 2008

13. In June - Summer Cats - Songs for Tuesdays - Slumberland **
14. Sudden Organ - Yo La Tengo - Painful - Matador - 1993
15. I'm Insane - Sonic Youth - Bad Moon Rising - DGC - 1995 CD Reissue
16. Work All Day - Portugal. The Man - The Satanic Satanist - Equal Vision **
17. Antenna - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador **

18. Jealous of Roses - Bibio - Ambivalence Avenue - Warp **

19. Development - Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth - Sub Pop **
20. Share - Cymbals Eat Guitars - Why There Are Mountains - self released **
21. Black Swan - Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer - Jagjaguwar **

July 8th 2009: Up on the Sun

Alrighty. Real good show tonight, a lot of fun. I strayed from the format a little, second song(s) I played is a little old, but it's new to me as I only picked it up at the Titus/Ted Leo show a couple weeks ago. We had some guests in the studio for part of the show. Chelsea showed up, stayed around for most of it and we have a rare, but welcome, appearance from Derek of Der Ohrwurm. I also had the opportunity to air my interview with Cris Kirkwood, bass player/singer of legendary cow-punks the Meat Puppets. Real nice dude. Very funny, very open about his past missteps, and all in all gave real good answers to my (dumb) questions. I also briefly mentioned the license plate below (part of a new segment here on Methanol Cereal known as "Stupid Plates") and hanging out in Brooklyn on the Fourth of July. I might post a couple of the better pictures if I get a little more motivated. We'll see. Aaaanyway, here's this week's stuff...

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Suburban Beverage - Real Estate - Suburban Beverage 7" - Underwater Peoples **
2. Every Time I See the Light Part 1 & 2 - Titus Andronicus - Titus Andronicus 7" - Merok - 2008

3. Jap Dad - UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ - Saddle Creek **
4. Can't Talk - Ty Segall - Lemons - Goner **
5. Wendy Wonders - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino **
6. Death - Vivian Girls - Moped Girls 7" - For Us **

7. Eyes Like Ours - Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth - Sub Pop **
8. Colour Television - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours - Goner - 2008
9. With a Girl Like You - Condo Fucks - Fuckbook - Matador - 2009
10. Enemy Love Song - Meat Puppets - Rise to Your Knees - Anodyne - 2007

Cris Kirkwood Interview

11. Up on the Sun - Meat Puppets - Up on the Sun - Rykodisc - 1999 Reissue
12. Climbing - Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II - Rykodisc - 1999 Reissue
13. Sewn Together - Meat Puppets - Sewn Together - Megaforce **

14. Candy Girl - Ganglians - Monster Head Room - Woodsist **
15. Morning Lights - Glenn Mercer - Wheels in Motion - Pravada - 2007
16. Chains - Pocahaunted - Chains - Teenage Teardrops - 2008

SINNNER

July 4, 2009 11:26pm

July 1 2009: Canada Day!

Alright, fun show tonight. I got to honor some of Canada's best on the day of their... to be honest I'm not sure what Canada Day is all about. I'm under the impression it is tantamount to the July 4th Independence Day here in the 'States. Speaking of which, I think I'm going to be in Brooklyn for the Woodsist/Captured Tracks festival on 7/4 which sounds like a hell of a time. And of course, with Independence Day approaching fast, I had to play Galaxie 500 at the end of the show. Finally, tune in next week to hear me talk with Cris Kirkwood of the one, the only, the legendary Meat Puppets.

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. It #1 - Ty Segall - Lemons - Goner **
2. Moscow State Circus - Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - Domino **

3. Four Night Rider - The Rural Alberta Advantage [Toronto, ON] - Hometowns - Saddle Creek **
4. I Should Be Born - Jets Overhead [Victoria, BC] - No Nations - Vapor Records **
5. Looks Just Like the Sun - Broken Social Scene [Toronto] - You Forgot it in People - Arts & Crafts - 2002
6. A Side Wins - Sloan [Toronto via Halifax, NS] - One Chord to Another - The Enclave - 1996
7. Feel.Love.Thinking.Of - Faunts [Edmonton, AB] - Feel.Love.Thinking.Of - Friendly Fire - 2009
8. Crooked Head - Fucked Up [Toronto] - The Chemistry of Common Life - Matador - 2008

9. Molly's Lips - The Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines - Sub Pop **
10. Shark Suit - UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ - Saddle Creek **
11. Arthritis Sux - The Coathangers - Scramble - Suicide Squeeze - 2009

12. Hot Pink - Meat Puppets - Up On the Sun - Rykodisc - 1999 Reissue
13. You Never Know - Wilco - Wilco (The Album) - Nonesuch **
14. The Number - Woods - Songs of Shame - Woodsist **
15. Two Doves - Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Domino **

16. Life on Earth - Tiny Vipers - Life on Earth - Sub Pop **
17. Howl - Tara Jane O'Neil - A Ways Away - K **
18. Dagger - Emily Jane O'Neil - Dark Undercoat - Double Negative - 2007

19. Old Clouds - Pterodactyl - Worldwild - Brah **

20. Fourth of July - Galaxie 500 - This is Our Music - Rykodisc - 1997 Reissue

June Twenty-Fourth 09

Very good show this week. I had the opportunity to see Ted Leo and the Pharmacists as well as Titus Andronicus at Toad's Place. Went with Steve (DJ on after me, I don't have a link) as well as Chelsea. We met up with several other WHUS staffers including Derek of WHUS' "Der Ohrwurm", and Stephanie and Meghana of their currently untitled program. Ted and Titus proved once again, the power of Garden State rock and/or roll musics. Needless to say, a good time was had by all.

I was lucky enough to score an interview with the dudes from Titus Andronicus. I sat down with Patrick Stickles (gtr, vox, lyrics, and probably some other stuff) for a solid 30 minutes, talking about Jersey (Maxwell's, Ramapo College), Ted Leo passing the torch, van mishaps, and all other kinds of good shit. I whittled our conversation down to about 25 minutes, and if anyone knows a place where I can host it online, give me a shout. I'd love to get it out there. I also sat down briefly with Ian Graetzer (bass), Eric Harm (drums), and Liam Betson (gtr, and I think backing vox) and we basically covered the same shit. 'Twas good.

The interviews took up almost half the show, so not a whole lot of tunes this week, but still more than enough to keep you, the loyal listener (reader?) satisfied. Unfortunately, I did forget the 7" and the live LP i picked up from Titus Andronicus after the show, which kind of killed my idea to play that stuff. Oh well, there's always next show. Anyway, let's take a look, shall we?

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. You Go On Ahead (Trumpet Trumpet II) - Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer - Jagjaguwar **
2. Hot On Your Heels - Mint Chicks - PDX Pop Now! 2009 **

3. Slushy - The Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines - Sub Pop **
4. Jack Nance Hair - Comet Gain - Broken Record Prayers - What's Your Rupture? **
5. No Home - The Ettes - Danger Is - Take Root **
6. Ghosts - The Ettes - Shake the Dust - Sympathy for the Record Industry - 2006
7. Prizefighter - Eels - Hombre Lobo: 12 Songs of Desire - Vagrant **

8. Can't Keep Time - Foreign Born - Person to Person - Secretly Canadian **
9. I Was Born (A Unicorn) - The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? - Alien8 - 2003
10. When I Died - The Thermals - We Were Sick - Kill Rock Stars **
11. Walkin' Blue - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador **
12. Sons of Cain - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - Living with the Living - Touch and Go - 2007

Patrick Stickles interview

13. Albert Camus - Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances - XL - 2009

Band Interview

14. Country Wide - Liam the Younger - Summertime Showcase 2009 - Underwater Peoples **
15. Waking Up Drunk - Spider Bags - A Celebration of Hunger - Birdman - 2007
16. Crazy Rhythms - The Feelies - Crazy Rhythms - 1980

17. All the Time - Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls - In the Red - 2008

Old playlist: June 17th 2009 (Extra Innings)

Ah yes. I was lucky enough to catch Mika Miko, the Strange Boys, the Coathangers, Fiasco, and the Germs M.I.A. (who's music was more reminiscent of the LA band The Germs than M.I.A. but kind of sucked anyway...) at the Market Hotel in Brooklyn on June 13th. Good show, unfortunately because of how late the show started, I only got to see the first few songs from Mika Miko before I had to catch my train back to CT. Fiasco, a band native to Brooklyn went on second and played some pretty cool guitar heavy rock with solos and fretboard tapping all over the place. The Coathangers played next, who I have to say, and were probably my favorite of the bands we saw. I didn't expect them to be bad or anything, but they definitely met and exceeded my expectations. Great set. A lot of energy, a lot of instrument switching (the girl who started out on gtr/vox moved to drums before the night was over. The girl who started on drums also provided some gtr, bass, and vox, and the bassplayer switched to guitar for a song or two), balloon tossing, beer drinking, and some fire. The girl who started on drums (I'm not familiar enough with them to know them by first name) took her shirt off, accidentally threw it on a light and ended up having to stomp the fire out, leaving maybe half of her shirt. Considering it was a t-shirt with the midriff and sleeves cut off, she had maybe a quarter of a shirt left overall. The Strange Boys did a jam-packed set including a CCR cover. I did a short interview (maybe 6 or 7 minutes) with Ryan Sambol of the Strange Boys before the show. We talked about their touring history, meeting up with Mika Miko, and the new album they hope to have out in early 2010. Unfortunately, the audio wasn't too hot (a mix of me talking too loud, and Ryan speaking very softly) so I doubt I'll post it here (f I get a request for it, I might). Steve was a little late too, so in addition to the interview, I got an extra 25 minutes or so to play some stuff off of some records I recently purchased. So here's the playlist:

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Dragon's Lair - Sunset Rubdown - Dragonslayer - Jagjaguwar **
2. Over It - Dinosaur Jr - Farm - Jagjaguwar **

3. Straight Into a Storm - Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day - Partisan **
4. Love Like a Sunset Part 1 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Glassnote **
5. Love Like a Sunset Part 2 - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Glassnote **
6. Gamma Ray - Jay Reatard - Gamma Ray 7" [Beck] - Interscope - 2008
7. My Baby Wants Me Dead - Vivian Girls - Wild Eyes 7" - Plays With Dolls - 2008

8. Totion - Mika Miko - We Be Xuxa - Post Present Medium **
9. Time Passing - The Coathangers - Scramble - Suicide Squeeze - 2009

Ryan Sambol of the Strange Boys interview

10. Should Have Show Paul - Strange Boys - And Girls Club - In the Red - 2009
11. MLKs - Strange Boys - And Girls Club - In the Red - 2009

12. Useful Chambers - Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Domino **
13. Fine for Now - Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest - Warp **
14. Naoka's F - Syclops - I've Got My Eye on You - DFA - 2008
15. 5 Out - Syclops - I've Got My Eye on You - DFA - 2008

16. I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory - 1970

17. White Wife - Mi Ami - Watersports - Quarterstick - 2009
18. Dusk - Pocahaunted [w/ Bobb Bruno and Cameron Stallones] - Passage - Troubleman Unlimited **
19. Veil - Pocahaunted [w/ Bobb Bruno and Cameron Stallones] - Passage - Troubleman Unlimited **

Old playlist: June 10th 2009

I can't seem to find the playlist from the May 28 show, but I do have the June 10th playlist (I took June 3rd off, so nothing from that show anyway. Thanks to Neil for covering). Nothing important to report on, except that this was the week the new Sonic Youth album, The Eternal, came out, so I did a Sonic Youth set. Anyway, here's the list...

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Laughing With a Mouth of Blood - St. Vincent - Actor - 4AD **
2. Gimme Sympathy - Metric - Fantasies **

3. Girlfriend - Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Glassnote (?) **
4. Remade Horizon - Dirty Projectors - Bitte Orca - Domino **
5. Friday XIII - Deer Tick - Born on Flag Day - Partisan **
6. They're Building the Death Camps - Strange Boys - And Girls Club - In the Red - 2009

7. What We Know - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador **
8. Schizophrenia - Sonic Youth - Sister - DGC - 1994 CD Reissue
9. Paper Cup Exit - Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse - DGC - 2006
10. Bull in the Heather - Sonic Youth - Experimental, Jet Set, Trash and No Star - DGC - 1994
11. Antenna - Sonic Youth - The Eternal - Matador **

12. Life During Wartime - Talking Heads - Fear of Music - Warner - 2005 Dual Disc Reissue
13. Blues Not Speed - Mika Miko - We Be Xuxa - Post Present Medium **
14. Turkey Sandwich - Mika Miko - We Be Xuxa - Post Present Medium **
15. Lost - Meat Puppets - Meat Puppets II - Rykodisc - 1999 CD Reissue
16. Blanket of Weeds - Meat Puppets - Sewn Together - Megaforce **
17. All At Once - Liechtenstein - Survival Strategies in a Modern World - Slumberland **

18. State Numbers - Magik Markers - Balf Quarry - Drag City **
19. In Mind (Bandulu Remix) - Slowdive - Souvlaki - Castle Music - 2006 Reissue
20. Spiderwebbed - Tortoise - Tortoise - Thrill Jockey - 1994
21. Leb Wohl - NEU! - NEU! '75 - 1975
22. Jaqueline - Durutti Column - LC - Facory - 1981

23. Lookin' Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory - 1970

Toad's Place, New Haven

Me + Ted Leo

(ps - I'll have older playlists up soon, I swear)
(pps - maybe some audio too...)

May 20 2009: Good Guys Win, Bad Guys Die

Tonight was my triumphant return to Wednesday evenings. After a really shitty show and a week off Methanol Cereal is back on the airwaves. You're ecstatic, I can tell. Anyway, it was a pretty good show. Unfortunately, it was also my last show in which I was followed by DJ B squared. "Deconstructing Rock" was always a good time, and it was nice having a compatible replacement for the overnight shift. Unsurprisingly, Bardo Pond and Natural Snow Buildings make sense at one o'clock in the morning. I like to think we made up a pretty good block of programming as I usually could find a way to transition smoothly between shows (B^2 tended to play dronier, more experimental stuff). He will be missed, but I'm sure his replacement (Steve, who I believe is also link-less) will be just as good.

[If anyone is wondering (yeah right) I though the Lost season finale (the real reason for my absence last week) was kind of lame. First five minutes were cool. We'll see next year. But who gives a shit about that anyway?] Let's look at this week's playlist...

** = new

#. title - artist - album - label - year (this is specific or vague as the information I have at hand)

1. Rotten Shame - Meat Puppets - Sewn Together - Megaforce Records **
2. Dinner Pill - Raised by Robots - Disorganization Will Save Us All - self released **

3. Come Saturday - Pains of Being Pure at Heart - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Slumberland - 2009
4. White Dress - Liechtenstein - Survival Strategies in a Modern World - Slumberland **
5. Young Drugs - Crocodiles - Summer of Hate - Fat Possum **
6. Healer - Chromatics - Nite Drive - Italians Do It Better - 2007

7. Psychosomatic - Magik Markers - Balf Quarry - Drag City **
8. 7/23 - Magik Markers - Balf Quarry - Drag City **
9. House - Abe Vigoda - Reviver - Post Present Medium - 2009
10. When I Was Afraid - The Thermals - Now We Can See - Kill Rock Stars **
11. Parallel or Together? - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - The Tyranny of Distance - Lookout! - 2001

12. The Gayest of Sunbeams - Pink Mountaintops - Outside Love - Jagjaguwar **
13. Rebel Rebel - American Folklore - American Folklore - Haymaker Wax **
14. You Think You're a Man - The Vaselines - Enter the Vaselines - Sub Pop **
15. My Kind of Soldier - Guided by Voices - Earthquake Glue - Matador - 2003
16. Rain On - Woods - Songs of Shame - Shrimper Recordings **
17. Skeletons - Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz! - Interscope **

18. Holding Pattern - Deradoorian - Mind Raft - Lovepump United **
19. Drowning - Tara Jane O'Neil - A Ways Away - K **
20. Two Shots to the Head - Emily Jane White - Dark Undercoat - Doube Negative Records - 2007

21. Night Creme - Black Dice - Repo - Paw Tracks **
22. Riddim Queen - Pocahaunted - Island Diamonds - Not Not Fun Records - 2008

5/6/09

Ugh. Don't even bother asking.

Probably won't do a show next week. I need a break. Plus, it's the Lost season finale. Might post a rant I've been working on. Check back in a bit...