We'll Take a Cup of Kindness Yet

I'm exhausted by the thought of a year-end list. It seems like an arbitrary cut-off as many albums I enjoy now were released last year or 20 years ago. Plus, you can read Too Poppy and easily get a sense for what I've enjoyed and experienced this past year. Obviously the new Matthew Sweet album was a high point of the year, as was the new, loose Fireman release. Fleet Foxes shockingly lives up to the hype whereas the new Oasis deserves a bit more. And at year's end, I simply cannot get Kings of Leon's Sex on Fire out of my head. I also can't forget that I was blown away by stellar live performances by Radiohead, Flaming Lips, and Wilco. Wow. 2008 was alright.

If you're seeking a more substantive review of the year that was, I invite you to a former Too Poppy contributor's yearender. Otherwise, you know where else to look.

Happy New Year, Poppers. Cheers!

It's Getting More Impossible to Keep a Straight Face

Blue October's new album, Approaching Normal, will hit stores 3/24 - and they're going GLOBAL:

"It's real exciting because the last record (2006's platinum 'Foiled') did real well here (in the U.S.) and just never really got that chance (in Europe). One thing we all said was, 'Man, the next record, we've got to go global,' so right off the bat as part of our campaign we'll go over and start making a splash overseas."

Ok. As for the sound:

Noveskey says the dynamic range of the album is more "dramatic-slash-theatrical" than its predecessors and spans "from the saddest, most depressing moments to the happiest, most joyful moments we've ever done." "Approaching Normal" includes studio versions of older fan favorites such as "Kangaroo Cry" and "Graceful Dancing" and will also come out in explicit and "clean" versions, each containing a different bonus track.

Ok. I've yet to explore the Blue October sound, but Way2Poppy digs it. Their quotes and photo at Billboard.com, though, left me a bit irritated in a Rob-Thomas-trying-too-fucking-hard kinda way. Maybe I'm just ready for this year to end, who knows.

Whore Whore Whore

Speaking of Zooey Deschanel, 4 songs by her fictional alter-ego (Munchausen by Proxy, not She) in Jim Carrey's typical comedy Yes Man is featured on the soundtrack. Eels carry the rest of the load with 9 tunes including a new one called Man Up.

Amazon.com
Amazon.com MP3
iTunes

What Can I Say?

The Dream is over.

8)

He's Keeping Busy

Andrew Bird is returning to Des Moines courtesy of the Des Moines Music Coalition:

Chicago singer/songwriter/violinst Andrew Bird has a distincitve style with his melodic multi-layered instrumentation and beautiful wide-ranging vocals. After an incredible performance to thousands of fans at this years' 80/35, Bird now embarks on a tour with many notable stops including Carnegie Hall in New York and Chicago's Civic Opera House. His new album Noble Beast will be released on Jan. 20.

I saw a few songs of his 80/35 performance while waiting for Flaming Lips to start. It didn't cut through the clutter, but everything I've heard about this guy is that you must see him live. He'll be at Hoyt Sherman Place on 2/28, which would be a cool venue in which to see him. Tix available via RipoffMaster or Hoyt Sherman Place.

On a related note, as they've done before, NPR is going to preview his new album starting 1/3 so save this link.

No Need For Greed

Yoko has gone too far this time. This is just sad.

Some Forever Not For Better

The New York Times has a nicely done tribute to those we lost in the music world this year. The pacing is a bit odd with the pause on some artists longer than others, and a feeling towards the end that the creators were running out of time, but still interesting.

Money Don't Get Everything It's True

Amazon has an after-Christmas sale going on with albums offered at the nice price of $5. Here are some albums that Too Poppers might want to pick up if they haven't already.

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Beck - Modern Guilt
R.E.M. - Accelerate
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns

See the full list.

A Season That's So Divine

Brandon Schott sent out a lovely Christmas gift for friends and family - a demo called Another Christmastime. And all my friends and family got from me was a card.

Thanks, Brandon. Looking forward to a new year with a new album!

Happy Holidays, Too Poppers. We appreciate your continued interest.

MP3: Brandon Schott - Another Christmastime (demo)

And don't forget Brandon's Winter in the Sun!

All of This Can Be Yours

U2 is releasing No Line on the Horizon on March 3, produced by Eno, Lanois, and Lillywhite.

Among the songs expected to appear on the album are the title track, "Moment of Surrender" and "Unknown Caller." One source who has heard several of the songs in their early forms described them to Billboard as "amazing and a little out there. I hope they don't change anything."

Let's hope it's not an [atomic] bomb.

12/23 UPDATE: Billboard.com reports the album will have five different configurations with the most expensive priced at $96. How big of a fan are you?

Beyond the standard CD and double vinyl packages, "Horizon" will be offered in three additional limited editions.

The digi-pack version, which lists for $35.98, has the CD in a cardboard folded sleeve with a 36-page booklet, a fold-out poster and "a new film from Anton Corbijn featuring the music of U2," the latter of which is available as a download.

The magazine version, for $49.98, finds the CD housed in "a special 60-page soft cover magazine-style book," and also includes the downloadable Corbijn film.

Lastly, the box set version comes, naturally, in a box with a 60-page hardcover book, a second poster and the Corbijn film on DVD.

Hot as a Fever

I've become notorious for avoiding buzz, often at my own detriment. This is obviously the case with Kings of Leon. Listening to XM this morning, i was struck by what a killer track Sex On Fire is - absolutely killer. This will be Classic Rock. I simply can't get it out of my head.

Watch and listen to the video here.
Download here.

Let the Good Times Roll

A followup on US release of Roger Joseph Manning Jr.'s latest:

Oglio Records will be releasing the US version of Catnip Dynamite on Feb. 3rd, 2009. The US version contains 3 bonus tracks.
01.The Quickening
02.Love’s Never Half As Good
03.Down In Front
04.My Girl
05.Imaginary Friend
06.Haunted Henry
07.Tinsel Town
08.The Turnstile at Heaven’s Gate
09.Survival Machine
10.Living in End Times
11.Drive Thru Girl
Bonus Tracks – Live From Fuji Rock, Japan
12.Europa and the Pirate Twins
13.You Were Right
14.Love Lies Bleeding

Download Down in Front on iTunes now.

The Choir of Children Sing Their Song

Norwegians having a wonderful Christmas time covering Paul McCartney:

via 'gum

It's Never Good to be Understood by a Girl Named Acid Wash

Kudos to the Too Poppers who remember The Caulfields, the guitar-heavy power pop shouldabeens from the 90s led by John Faye, who went on to form John Faye Powertrip and Ike. Anyway, they're reuniting for a show in Philly on 12/26 and doing their first radio interview in over 10 years on 12/14:

The Caulfields, the band I grew up in and toured the world with in the 90's, will be appearing on the Wilmington, DE station 93.7 WSTW this Sunday 12/14 from 9-11pm. We'll be guests on "Hometown Heroes" hosted by Mark Rogers and it will be the band's first live radio interview since August of 1997, when we announced our break-up on "The Planet" in Detroit, MI (oh the drama! ;) If you're in the DE/PA/NJ area, tune in this Sunday! You can also hear it live at: http://wstw. com OR check out the podcast which the station will post within a few days of the show! http://www. wstw. com/heroes/

Sweet. Devil's Diary from The Caulfields' debut Whirligig is a Certified Too Poppy Classic.

MP3: The Caulfields - Devil's Diary

The Echoes Belong to Someone

Pitchfork laments the hard-to-swallow truth that The Postal Service may never release a follow up to Give Up, their unexpectedly excellent debut album from 2003. Despite what we've reported in the past, Ben Gibbard seemed to quash our hopes in a recent Rolling Stone interview:

It’s the record that never seems to want to come out. It’s also just never been a priority for either Jimmy [Tamborello, Postal Service co-founder] or myself. The anticipation of the second record has been a far bigger deal for everybody except the two of us.

Glad I saw them live back in the day - awesome show and cool album.

Will I Get Better or Stay the Same?

Guster is a band. Guster was at one time one of my favorite bands. Guster has since released a couple ok albums, but none that met the Too Poppy promise of Lost and Gone Forever, although others might disagree. Guster is on a new label and is now working on a new release that they hope to complete in February. Guster has fathered children.

Me gusta Guster.

Feel a Sense of Child-like Wonder

One of the highlights of every afternoon is when I get my daily email from Uncrate with the coolest guy recommendations of the day. What a nice surprise to see The Fireman's Electric Arguments featured today. Indeed, it is an exceptional album that is easily on par with some of McCartney's best. He really needs to stretch his limits like this more often.

And The Home Got Snowed In

I downloaded Fleet Floxes' eponymous debut album a few weeks ago during a stellar Amazon.com MP3 album sale and am already finding it to be a gorgeous fit to the impending winter.

The music evokes a Cold Mountain-esque traipse through snow-blanketed mountainsides and the rewarding heat of hot apple cider trickling down through your insides. Despite their Seattle origin, you could swear these guys are from Appalachia - and they're so damn good at getting me to wax poetic about the emotional appeal of their album.

But rest assured it is not another soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou. As traditional and folksy as it immediately feels, you'll soon discover rich tunes that are thoroughly modern and worth many repeat listens.

While this mix could be contrived or indulgent, Fleet Foxes use restraint, structuring their flourishes into three- and four-minute pop songs full of chiming melodies and harmonies that sound like they've been summoned from centuries of traditional songs and are full of vivid, universal imagery: mountains, birds, family, death.

I can't quite tell you song names or sing back a chorus yet, but this one is the best slow burn you need for the dark, cold months ahead.

Download Fleet Foxes:
Amazon.com MP3 (still a dirt cheap $5)
iTunes

Life Again, Life Again

It's either 90s redux or acid reflux depending on your opinion of two stalwarts of the grunge era.

First, Pearl Jam is re-releasing their classic Ten on 3/23/09:

Four different versions of 'Ten' will be released, with each edition featuring the original and remastered version, plus a remix of the album by producer Brendan O'Brien.

The following features can be found across the editions:
DVD of previously unreleased 1992 Pearl Jam MTV Unplugged performance
LP of the band's 1992 'Drop In The Park' concert
Replica of Pearl Jam three-song demo cassette with Eddie Vedder's original vocal dubs
Bonus tracks including 'Brother', 'Just A Girl', 'State Of Love', 'Breath And A Scream', '2,000 Mile Blues' and 'Evil Little Goat'
Replica Eddie Vedder composition notebook filled with personal notes and images from the collections of Vedder and Jeff Ament

Second, Smashing Pumpkins' leader Billy Corgan said the Pumpkins will now only be a singles band because nobody listens to their albums anymore. He also said former Pumpkin James Iha drove him insane. That explains so much.

Download Pearl Jam's Ten here
Download Smashing Pumpkins' album nobody listened to here

Tweet Tweet Tweet Tweet Yeah

Speaking of Oasis, the band is now on Twitter just in case you can't get enough elsewhere.

Likewise, I have decided to dabble tweet a bit. Follow me and I'll actually post more thoughts unworthy of a full Too Poppy post and try to keep them in the Too Poppy just music spirit.

It Reminds Me of When We Were Young

Oasis has released a new EP for I'm Outta Time, a highlight of their excellent new album Dig Out Your Soul (which I recommend for old Oasis fans who gave up long ago - it really is a return to form). Download it from iTunes here. Tracklist:

'I'm Outta Time' (Album version)
'I'm Outta Time' (Remix)
'I'm Outta Time' (Demo)
'The Shock Of The Lightning' (The Jagz Kooner Remix)
'To Be Where There's Life' (Neon Neon Remix)

Nothing Is Wasted Only Reproduced

Blur is reuniting - at least for one show next summer. No word on whether they'll record together anytime soon.

Way2Poppy will be thrilled.

For Some Reason I Can't Explain

Don't know if you've been following the Satriani / Coldplay controversy or not. Satriani is accusing Coldplay of infringing on his righteous tunage. Coldplay says, "nah, just coincidence." I typically shrug at these lawsuits because music is so derivative that there's bound to be similar chord structures and melodies from time to time. I doubt Coldplay nefariously felt they needed to steal from Joe to get ahead - um, they're already ahead - but then I watched this video that Billboard.com posted:

Uncanny really, and kinda cool. Who knows. I think Viva La Vida is a great song and this will in no way diminish my enjoyment of it. Can't we all just get along?

Something is Beautiful and True

Matthew Sweet has recently been featured on NPR's Mountain Stage performing Time Machine, Ugly Truth, Byrdgirl, Flying, Girlfriend, and Sick of Myself. 24 minutes of pure bliss here.

Holding This Guitar for Some Comfort

BoDeans have become quite prolific at releasing albums all of a sudden (sigh, I'm still trying to catch up). Just in time for the holidays, you can pick up Live Acoustic at their website for $15. Some classics are on there: Far Far Away, Naked, Paradise, and Fadeaway. Looks like a good gift for the roots rock fans in your life. Very few bands do it better than BoDeans.

Time to dig out the old ones!

It's Been a Long Long Long Time

To celebrate the White Album's 40th Anniversary, The Beatles are not offering a beautifully branded iPod - would've been cool -or even a remastered or re-imagined album. Nope, we get merch - white, blinding merch.

Enjoy.

Lucky

Happy Thanksgiving, Too Poppers.

Best news I've seen all day: Amazon.com is having a hell of a saletomorrow now on their top 50 MP3 albums. Five bucks for several on my "to-get" list: Raveonettes, Fleet Foxes, She & Him, Dr. Dog, and Ra Ra Riot, plus favorites by Mates of State, R.E.M., Nada Surf, Radiohead, Coldplay, and Mariah Carey.

Man, I just can't wait to hear that new Mariah Carey.

We Forward in This Generation Triumphantly

RED(WIRE) is a new digital magazine (what the hell does that even mean these days) that will feature exclusive songs and will ultimately benefit HIV-infected Africans. The nice thing about this venture - aside from the obvious good it's trying to do - is that it seems the songs will not be throwaways from third-rate artists.

U2, Coldplay, the Killers, the Dixie Chicks, John Legend, R.E.M. and Bob Dylan are on board for the initiative, which is an outgrowth of the Bono-reared activist organization (RED).

For $5, users will receive a new issue of RED(WIRE) every Wednesday, featuring an exclusive song from a major artist, a song from an artist (RED) aims to showcase, a multimedia piece that could encompass video or photography and a look at how proceeds are directly benefiting Africans in need. The materials will be downloaded to a custom player and automatically loaded into iTunes.

I don't know exactly what it means that it will be downloaded to a custom player and into iTunes (DRM-crippled?), but this thing has potential. The other feature is that you can forward two free issues to friends and if they join, you'll end up reaping some rewards from that.

Oh, and not mentioned are a couple tunes of Elvis Costello and the Police jamming. Good work!

More...

Are We Human or Are We Dancer?

Find out why when Killers' guitarist Dave Keuning recently met Paul McCartney it "was probably the weirdest thing [he'd] ever seen in [his] life." Alice Cooper has a minor role in this encounter.

Day and Age, the Killers' third album, is out today. Download it now and enjoy.

Perfect Endlessness

In honor of Thanksgiving - so they say - Matt Pond PA is giving away a free EP. It's called The Freeep - not a typo.

1. Hearts and Minds
2. Our Braided Lives
3. #5
4. One and Only
5. Imperfect
6. #3
7. First Light
8. Amazing Life
9. #1

Download each song here or click here for the full EP. And a Happy Thanksgiving to you, Matt.

Like a Serenade of Sound

Coldplay's new EP Prospekt's March is now out.

Six tracks are leftovers from the Brian Eno-produced "Vida" sessions, many of which make noticeable, if not exactly terrifying, departures from the band's swelling rockery. "Life in Technicolor ii" (which is a song, Chris Martin cracks on the band's Web page) gets words, "Glass of Water" is unusually bombastic, and "Rainy Day" sports a jittery electro beat in the vein of U2's "Zooropa."

I don't get the collaboration with Jay-Z, but I guess everybody needs a gimmick. I actually quite enjoy Viva La Vida - especially the title track and Strawberry Swing - so I'll likely pick this up as well.

Did I Tell You I Need You?

In promoting his new Fireman album (out tomorrow in the states), Paul McCartney provided an update on when The Beatles' catalog(ue) might hit iTunes:

"We are very for it, we've been pushing it. But there are a couple of sticking points, I understand. So the last word I got back was that it had stalled, the whole process.

"They [EMI] want something we're not prepared to give them. Hey, sounds like the music business.

"It's between EMI and The Beatles. What else is new."

Right, so, in the meantime, just rip those crappy-sounding CDs you already have and get by for a while.

Update: Here's a decent write-up of the situation at Apple 2.0. I'd have the agree that the window is rapidly passing for the digital Beatles to be a huge success unless they just knock it out of the park with marketing, extras, etc. I think most casual fans already have the songs they want ripped from CD's or "borrowed" from friends.

I've Waited So Long

Billboard.com recently spoke with Fountains of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger to get a progress report on the next FOW album:

"We still have a ways to go, but we have eight songs that are relatively close to complete now. We're looking to regroup after the New Year and do the second batch," Schlesinger tells Billboard.com. "I think we're trying some different things on this record, but we're still the same band, to me. It's kind of too early to say what direction it's going to as a whole."

I hope doing "different things" means getting away from the Stacy's Mom FOW and back to the Troubled Times FOW - or at least finding the right balance of the two. The last album faded fast for me because it seemed too gimmicky.

He also reported he's working on a new Ivy album as well. It'll be a long while before that one's out, though.

I Just Believe In Me

People can finally rest easy and breath now that the vatican has forgiven John Lennon for his "more popular than Jesus" remark over 40 years ago. Phew, I was holding my breath.

Papers From the Same Old File

Boo frickin' hoo.

What's next, suing bloggers?

But I Don't Want To Do It

In this entertaining AV Club review of Guns n' Roses' Chinese Democracy, I can't decide which is funnier: the conversation among the almost-always entertaining commenting class about ironic facial hair or this line in the review:

On the aforementioned "Sorry," Rose suddenly sings an otherwise innocuous line ("But I don't want to do it") in some bizarre, quasi-Transylvanian accent, and I cannot begin to speculate as to why.

LOL indeed.

There Is Nothing Wrong With the Music Business

Music biz innovator Ian Rogers gave a fascinating keynote address at the GRAMMY Northwest MusicTech Summit a couple of weeks ago about the need for the music industry to adapt to the new world. It's a great read for those of us on the fringe as well as any of you who make a living in the music business.

I’d like to challenge you to consider a different perspective, IMHO the only perspectives that matter, that of the artist and the fan.

Nutty concept. In the address, Rogers provides some results to the David Byrne/Brian Eno experiment we told you about a couple of months ago.

via BoingBoing

If You Want to Kiss the Sky

"The president of the company is singing better than ever and the tracks are wildly innovative. I would never have thought things would have gone this way. I believe, well, rock 'n' roll has been reinvented one more time."

Hmm, I wonder who DL could possibly be talking about...

Don't Dream It's Over

Neil Finn follows up his 2001 live album 7 Worlds Collide in similar form in the studio by convening with part of Radiohead, all of Wilco, Johnny Marr, son Liam, and others. They'll gather in New Zealand over the holidays to record.

The amount of talent in that one studio will be jaw-dropping. As a bonus, all proceeds go to charity. Stunning.

Look At Him Working

I'm starting to worry about Paul McCartney. First he wants to release a long-lost Beatles moment, now he's spilling the beans about the true origins of Eleanor Rigby.

What's it called when you start giving everything away before you die?

Seasons Flying Past Til They Blur

NPR's All Songs Considered is quickly becoming a favorite resources. Yes, I'm definitely aging. They've posted their annual listener poll have have quite a few of the expected nominees:

NPR Poll: What Are Your Top 10 Favorite Albums of 2008.

You can also write-in a favorite from the year, as I did, here. Results will be posted in early December.

Let's Do The Things We Normally Do

I've read several reviews of Dido's first new album in five years: Safe Trip Home. Using my highly scientific aggregating skills, here is my official review without hearing a note from the album:

Safe Trip Home is Dido at her Didoest: boring and forgettable yet remarkably likable and pleasant.

So there you go. I know ... impressive. It's a trade secret so don't even ask. I'm not ranked in the top million on Technorati for nothing!

Safe Trip Home is safely available today at your favorite digital outlet. Evidently, the genius of Jon Brion and Brian Eno can only do so much to make her any more interesting.

Now

More good Paul McCartney news today: Starting tonight at 11:59pm ET, NPR will be streaming The Fireman's new album in its entirety. This is one full week prior to its official release date.

Electric Arguments is sometimes bluesy and gritty, with McCartney howling against fuzzy guitars ("Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight"), sometimes delicate and beautiful ("Two Magpies") and sometimes lush and elegant ("Sing the Changes"). At times, the album veers off into entirely experimental directions, like the mash of ambient noises and sound effects on "Universal Here, Everlasting Now."

I'm very excited about this one. This link should be live with a stream tonight.

Pre-order here
Previously...

Barcelona!

Paul McCartney is lobbying for a legendary unreleased Beatles "tune" to be released, but considering the others vetoed its inclusion on the comprehensive Anthology series, I'm not too hopeful. Carnival of Light is a 14-minute experimental piece the boys recorded in 1967.

It reportedly includes distorted guitar, organ sounds, gargling and shouts of "Barcelona!" and "Are you all right?" from McCartney and John Lennon.

I appreciate efforts to release every last note the Beatles ever recorded, so let's make this a two-fer and release it with the mythical 27-minute version of Helter Skelter.

Someday.

I Can't Shut Off This Stereo

This just in from Modern Skirts (my inbox is hopping today!):

1. The new record - All Of Us In Our Night - is available for purchase in hard copy directly from the band. Any other copy is false and treasonous.

2. The album will be released nationally on January 20th, 2009, distributed across the country courtesy of Redeye Distribution.

3. At this time you can find the record on iTunes, eMusic, or any other online digital music purveyor with an uppercase second letter.

4. Until that point, the album is for sale to the true patriots only at Modern Skirts shows across this great land.

I don't find it yet on the "online digital music purveyor[s]." It's a mystery. Typo? Soon please? Check out tour dates - heavy in the native Georgia - and tunes streaming at TheirSpace.

Let It Flow

This just in from Mr. Willie Wisely:

Many of you are big fans of Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Imperial Drag, Moog Cookbook, TV Eyes, also Beck, Air, Morrissey, Glen Campbell, Cheap Trick and more).

Roger has a new record coming out on Oglio Records, home to my latest release "Wisely". As his label-mate, I've been invited to welcome him to Oglio, in a sort of "Rush Week" gesture, with an artist-on-artist video interview (aka: a Paddling).

Do you have a question you'd like me to ask our favorite songwriter/keyboardist wiz. Email it to me and I'll try to slip it into the punch.

Dig Roger's forthcoming album, streaming here: http://snipurl.com/5871u

It's been a bit less than a year since Catnip Dynamite was released in Japan. This is indeed great news for all of you unwilling/unable to pay import prices. A release date is unclear at this point, but I'll keep digging. It also appears the track list is a bit different and longer than the Japan-only release. Sweet.

Wisely's email address - can't wait to read/hear the interview.

Fit So Well Into Your Plans

Someone uncovered the Japan-only video for Fountains of Wayne's classic Trouble Times. Great tune.

Also noteworthy, Dar Williams covered the tune on her new album Promised Land. I prefer the original, but if you're into lady folksters, here you go.

FOW is playing a few acoustic shows in early January. Jon Auer (of Posies fame and composer of one of my favorite albums of the past several years) is joining them on the following dates:

January 14th - Bellingham, WA - Walton Theater
January 15th - Seattle, WA - Triple Door
January 16th - Portland - Wonder Ballroom

Here are the other dates sans Auer:

January 18th & 19th - SF - Cafe Du Nord
January 21st & 22nd - LA - Largo
January 23rd - San Juan Capistrano - Coach House
January 24th - San Diego - Anthology

More tour info here.

It Goes On and On and On and On

According to EdibleApple.com, Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" is the number one downloaded catalog song of all time on iTunes. I just found that little tidbit interesting. You can thank me for putting the song in your head for the rest of the week later.

This reminds me of the Journey Escape video game for the Atari 2600. Ah, memories.

The Same Me That Stands Here Now

Evidently, Paul McCartney "stole the show" yesterday at the MTV Europe Music Awards where he was named Ultimate Legend.

"This is the man who invented my job," said U2 lead singer Bono, introducing McCartney.

Brilliant. After the well-received Memory Almost Full (by me at least) and his upcoming Fireman project, which looks to breathe some - well - fire into his career, perhaps it should have been the Ultimate Living Legend award. Congrats, Macca.

Totally Awesome

The Pop Project, whose Stars of Stage and Screen is currently competing for my fave album of the year (yes, even in a year with a new Matthew Sweet release), has a spiffy new shirt that I must purchase for obvious reasons - therefore you must purchase. There's some sort of gift-giving occasion coming up I believe. Forgive the picture with the booblies. It's the only one they have and it makes me feel funny and tingly.

I've Paid My Dues

Queen's News of the World is dirt cheap at Amazon MP3: $1.99! Worth it just to get delicious digital copies of We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions to play during your favorite sports competition on television.

While digital supplies last!

What's It Going to Do, Vanish?

This week, Oasis released the new trippy-lite video to their new single I'm Outta Time, a classic Oasis ballad that might possibly be Liam's best songwriting contribution to the band's catalog. It's certainly a highlight of Dig Out Your Soul, which I obviously need to spend more time with.

The single for I'm Outta Time is out in the UK on 12/1.

Wondering Where You've Been

The Smithereens sent around an update via TheirSpace detailing upcoming projects. Wow!

JANUARY 27TH, 2009
SMITHEREENS LIVE IN CONCERT - Full-Length Concert DVD (KOCH)
This is the live video counterpart (A 5-camera shoot) to our recently-released CD The Smithereens Live in Concert, which was recorded at our old stomping grounds, The Court Tavern, in New Brunswick, NJ.

MEET THE SMITHEREENS/B-SIDES THE BEATLES - 12" Audiophile Vinyl 2-Disc Gatefold Deluxe LPs Release (KOCH)
This is both of our two recent BEATLES TRIBUTE CDs in 12" Audiophile Vinyl packaged together in one collectible fold out/gatefold sleeve/package, and there is also talk that comic legend Jack Davis (MAD MAGAZINE & EVERYTHING ELSE!) might be personally signing/autographing the "B-SIDES" cover he did for us.

MARCH 24TH, 2009
A brand-new Smithereens original album/CD (the first all-new original compositions/recordings studio CD in 10 years!) (KOCH) This is being written in now and will be recorded in New Jersey in December 2008.

MAY 5TH, 2009
THE SMITHEREENS DO "TOMMY" (KOCH)
This is our take/interpretation of one of our favorite albums by one of our favorite bands ever, The Who, in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of its original release in 1969. We are doing a one-disc abbreviated "Live At Leeds"-styled version of "Tommy.

Regarding the new studio album, it's about f-ing time! Enough with the tributes and live albums - well, keep 'em coming as long as they don't interfere with new stupid albums!

We All Want to Change the World

Please vote today.

Find your polling place here.

Wait as long as it takes.

Report any problems here.

Thank you.

You Know I Work All Day

Who knew that by "disassembling the sampled amplitudes into the original frequencies using Fourier transforms," you could solve the mystery of the opening chord of A Hard Day's Night. I do that shit every day.

Math rocks.

via 'gum

It Seems They Cannot Leave Their Dream

Billboard.com teases fans of the original Genesis line-up today.

Keep the dream alive, poppers.

Because They Took Channel 23 Off the Air Last Night

Matthew Sweet superfan and fairly frequent Too Poppy commentator Dan has established a new Matthew Sweet message board. As a decidedly old school web tool, I still find message boards to be a great source of information as well as a great place to commiserate with fellow fanatics; and I've missed the official Sweet forum since he updated his site and eliminated it (although it was overrun with porn spam anyway.)

Nice work. Thanks, Dan! Now join up!

UPDATE: Goldenfiddlr shared a great video dug up by Addicted to Vinyl of Matthew's network television debut: Girlfriend on Letterman! Awesome.

I Tried My Best To Leave This All On Your Machine

The on again/off again second album from The Postal Service seems to be back on - somewhat. There are 7 1/2 songs completed and they're targeting the end of '09. I guess it's better than "not likely in this decade".

You Don't Know What You're Missing Now

I got you good with that scare yesterday, didn't I? Yep, well today I have an even bigger one!

Happy Halloween.

Before I Go Insane

Want a real Halloween scare? See below.
Blech

I've Got Blisters On My Fingers!

Yay! It's official - The Beatles will be featured on Rockband sometime in late 2009. I wish it were closer, but that will give me time to save some money to buy it. Very cool. No more air guitar for me. Details at Electronista.

Previously...

UPDATE: Billboard notes it's based on the Rock Band platform but will not be branded as Rock Band. Further confirmation of this at IGN.

BTW: Jeff Jones, Apple Corps chief executive said of digital distribution of The Beatles' catalog, "All I can say is that we're still working out the details, we have no announcement to make, no date or any information."

Say It's Not True

In a clear attempt at capitalizing on a new generation's interest in an old generation's format, Queen's entire studio catalog is getting a re-release ... on vinyl.

In an unclear attempt at capitalizing on a legacy name in danger of tarnish, Queen + Paul Rodgers (- Freddie Mercury) have a new album available: The Cosmos Rocks. Hmm.

Finally, what is it with me + equations today?

The New Morning Light

October has been busy month of vacations, work, illness, etc. I'm just trying to come up with an excuse for failing to share a free Fireman track courtesy of NME.com.

The Fireman = Paul McCartney + Youth - the inhibitions that keep Macca from letting loose. With this new release by Fireman, he certainly seems to be letting loose. The previous Fireman track I've heard, Sing the Changes, was quite a treat. Now it's time for Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight, and it's quite a departure from Sing the Changes or most of McCartney's music. If you think you need to hear more of the Paul McCartney behind Helter Skelter, Oh! Darling, and Why Don't We Do It In the Road, here you go.

MP3: The Fireman - Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight (via NME.com)

You Do It To Yourself, You Do

To me, MTV became irrelevant with the 7th season of Real World vs. Road Rules. Don't even get me started on their programming today (I would likely throw out phrases like bottom dwelling and soul suckers.)

Well, today I'm reluctantly giving kudos to MTV for launching MTV Music online this week. Get this novel concept: MTvM will show music videos.

Wait.

Give that some time to percolate.

Music videos.

On MTV.

Music Television.

Music Television Music.

Hmm, nobody said they were brilliant. Nonetheless, kudos to getting back to basics. The site is nice and simple, void of all the ridiculous noise of mtv.com that made watching videos impossible. I've embedded one of my favorite videos just to see how it works. Enjoy.

Radiohead |MTV Music

The Fleeting Triumphs, Brazen Lies

Today only (28 October), get Snow Patrol's new album, A Hundred Million Suns, for only $3.99 at the Amazon MP3 store.

Or if you prefer the deluxe version with extra songs & videos, or you read this after October 28th, buy from iTunes.

I haven't listened to the album yet (as it's currently downloading), but will sure to post a review at some point.

Previously...

If You're Small and on a Search

Last week, Iowa Public Television, along with most other PBS affiliates, ran Parallel Worlds, Parallel Lives on Nova. PW, PL is a documentary about Eels mastermind E in search of answers about his father and his bleeding edge theory on quantum physics. I was able to catch most of his cigar-chomping, self-conscious journey and it was indeed fascinating both as a fan and as a lover of quality television.

Today is the last day to stream it online here. If you miss it, you'll have to wait for the inevitable release on DVD. If you want to download the tunes from the documentary, you can visit iTunes, where they have conveniently set up a special iMix.

Chimpanzee Riding on a Segway

The following was shared on the Andy Sturmer email list and I couldn't resist sharing. The original post pondered whether this was Andy himself.

I didn't think it was and it was quickly shared that the artist responsible is Parry Gripp, lead Nerf Herder. Seems like he's taking Nerf Herder's tendencies toward jokey music in a different direction and coming up with ridiculous jingles about ridiculous topics. He's got a ton of them. Check them out on his site or his YouTube site. Download them at iTunes. Love it.

I'm Looking Through You

Don't get your hopes up. This is not an Apple/Apple-sanctioned set. This Beatles boxed set offered exclusively by Bloomingdales includes a 120GB iPod Classic with The Beatles logo on the front and an Abbey Road silhouette on the back, the 13 original Beatles CDs plus Love, an engraved guitar pick and some other crap. All for the low low price of $795. Thanks, but no thanks.

Let's keep praying to god that Apple and Apple will come out with a more reasonably priced, much cooler and totally remastered offering SOON!!!!

So Free

Eels are releasing a deluxe LP version of Blinking Lights and Other Revelations. These are numbered and signed - only 2500 will be produced. The set includes the original album and Manchester 2005, a live album only available in this set!

From now until the set ships next Tuesday, you can download a free EP featuring 4 tunes from Manchester 2005. Go here to read more, order the set, and download the EP.