You've Found Yourself a Friend

Brendan Benson is an immense talent. His own albums have been superb and now he's working with Jack White of all people and the results are intriguing. Stereogum has more of the story and an MP3 here, but the short of it is that Brendan + Jack = The Raconteurs and one of the coolest band sites I've ever seen: definitely not to be missed. Plus, the music is worth at least a listen or two.

I guess the Raconteurs are starting off with this 7" and going from there with a full-length album finished and expected to be released sometime. NME has more.

The Outsiders are Gathering

Michael Stipe (you've heard of him, right?) will be featured on a tune on the new Placebo album. Interesting mix of styles. Can't wait to hear it.

Thanks, goldenfiddle.

Hey, I Really Love You

Manchester is historically one of the greatest centers (centres?) of excellent music so it's no surprise to hear yet another Manchester artist is creating some worthy buzz: Lisa Brown. Despite the misleading name, Lisa Brown is a band that, according to theirspace page, has been "inspired" by Sigur Ros and David Bowie and New Order. I like what I hear and I want to hear more.

Thanks to DoCopenhagen for tuning me in.

MP3: Lisa Brown - Snowfight in the City Centre
MP3: Lisa Brown - Hey I Really Love You

Bitter Melodies Turning Your Orbit Around

Could it be that Wilco is playing the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines on March 22?! Make it so. We will go.

In This Life Will I Ever See You Again?

Our Grandaddy has died. In an interview with Pitchfork just posted today, Jason Lytle said their album being released May 9, Just Like the Fambly Cat, will be their last. RIP.

And kudos to Wikipedia for already having this information in its Grandaddy profile.

UPDATE: I wanted to add the link to NME, which has the "exclusive" news. I don't care who really got the news, but I tend to think NME is cooler than Pitchfork, so go there.

Love Dark Orgasm Monkey

Two episodes into Columbia Broadcasting System's midseason show Love Monkey and I'm in love, monkey! Ed the lawyer left Stuckeyville OH and moved to NYC to take a gig as a record exec. He also changed his name to Tom. And his black friend is no longer in a wheelchair...must've gotten better. Tossing perfunctory nods to formulaic tensions aside, it is refreshing to spend an hour (44 minutes, TIVO time) watching a show about MUSIC. Lyrics get quoted. Artists drop by. Cool Tshirts are worn. Music is played. And it's way better than American Idol.

Also, I received direct from the UK the latest Julian Cope disc Dark Orgasm. Immediately I was given a soundscape recalling his brilliant 1992 work Jehovakill. Heavier. Darker. Neolithic-er. A Thor's-Hammer-on-ecstasy rhythm section turns the wheels of buzzed-out trash guitars and Cope's baritone vocals on gems like 'White Bitch Comes Good', 'She's Got a Ring on Her Finger (And Another Through Her Nose)' and 'Nothing to Lose Except My Mind'. The instrumental opener 'Zoroaster' is a great way to tell your co-workers "Not today, I'm bizzy."

Sweet Jenny Lewis

Just saw that Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins are playing Omaha on March 11. That's a Saturday night, for you out-of-towners...