Is it dance music? Is it romantic make-out music? It is humorous lite funk? Yes.

Hot Chip is a quirky little group from England and their songs are silky smooth slices of electro-funk pop. With delicate vocals (singing seemingly toungue-in-cheek lyrics) layered on top of loungey beats and blips, Hot Chip pays homage to everyone from Ween to Prince with their unique concoction. Evidently they were recently added to the DFA roster and with good reason. This is the perfect thing to dance into the new year with. Nuff said?

MP3 | Hot Chip - Keep Fallin Coming On Strong
MP3 | Hot Chip - Crap Kraft Dinner Coming On Strong
MP3 | Hot Chip - Over And Over (Naum Gabo Remix) Over And Over Single

I was reading the Equal Vision Records website and was saddened to learn that Detroit's Bear Vs. Shark has called it quits. Too bad. Their latest record Terrorhawk was # 44 on my 2005 Top 50 list.

I did (however) come across a band called Fear Before The March Of Flames and they play some pretty crazy metallic arty mathcore. This Denver quartet packs their latest release Art Damage with so much anger and energy that you can't help but feel exhausted after listening to it even though it clocks in at only 30 minutes. RIYL: Converge, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Blood Brothers

MP3 | Fear Before The March Of Flames - Hey Kid, I'm A Computer... Art Damage
MP3 | Fear Before The March Of Flames - The Long Road To The Middle Art Damage

Everyone is familiar with the musical stylings of Maritime, right? Well, the Promise Ring broke up in 2002 and the Dismemberment Plan followed suit in 2003. The latter being one of my all-time faves, but not to worry.

Maritime is Davey VonBohlen and Dan Dider (both ex-Promise Ring) and Eric Axelson (ex-Dismemberment Plan). They play the sort of indie-pop that you might expect, except that they are really really good. Last year they released their debut full-length Glass Floor on DeSoto Records. They sounded like a band that was searching for their identity, but I think that their search is over.

The wonderful Chicago label Flameshovel is releasing Maritime's sophomore effort We, The Vehicles on April 4th. On it the band sheds their "ex-members of" label and shines standing on their own (collective) six feet.

MP3 | Maritime - Calm We, The Vehicles
MP3 | Maritime - Parade Of Punk Rock T-Shirts We, The Vehicles

I am reaching out to all of you iPod owners for a little help. I've got a new white 30GB iPod and iTunes is being less than cooperative with me. I basically have three questions:

1. Is there a way to refresh my iTunes library?

2. Is iTunes the only way to get music onto my iPod?

3. Is this a problem for anyone else?

It seems to me that the folks at Apple made their software a little too user friendly. I'm pretty particular about how I have my music stored and categorized, so the inability to copy specific folders to my iPod is driving me nuts. Other than that, I love my new iPod.

Also, does anyone have any advice for getting a 2 month old baby to sleep? Our little one has been a bit crazy yesterday and today. She just won't sleep. She's had a rough week with all the holiday festivities, but she just can't seem to get back into any sort of routine. She is definately an active baby, and breaks free of even the tightest swaddling we can wrap her in.

Ahh, the joys of being a new parent.

Goes Cube is a Brooklyn post-punk duo made up of David Obuchowski (vocals, guitars) and Matthey Frey (bass) along with their aptly named "beating machine." The music is catchy without being poppy, edgy and biting without being heavy, and it makes you want to get up and move without being too dancey.

"Goes Cube offsets the fact that it uses programmed drums (generated by something the duo calls "the beating machine") instead of a human skinsman by playing just that much harder than your average emo-ish postpunk band. Fans of tense, slicing guitar lines and anthemic kiss-off shouts are advised to take a long, hard listen." - Time Out New York

You also have to love the fact that all their songs are titled chronologically with only a number. Its refreshing in today's world of wordy song titles (of which examples of some of the worst offenders can be found here and here).

MP3 | Goes Cube - Song 14 S/T EP
MP3 | Goes Cube - Song 19 Previously Unreleased
MP3 | Goes Cube - Song 16 S/T EP

Over the Christmas holiday, I was pleased to learn that my younger cousin Sam is learning to play the guitar. He informed me that he loves Nirvana and Led Zeppelin and it got me thinking about the great "guitar" bands that I loved when I first started playing. This same cousin got a subscription to Spin Magazine for Christmas and as I was reading through it, I saw stuff about CYHSY, Wolf Parade, Tom Vek, and Voxtrot (maybe more). I guess I don't get out enough. I didn't realize that this was mainstream stuff.

Anyhow, one of those bands was (for me) Smashing Pumpkins. For a number of years before I discovered punk rock, they were the band I listened to. I saved my money and bought all the import singles I could find and collected every song I could. I bought Gish after reading about them in Guitar World magazine and then a few months later Siamese Dream was released. I was immediately floored and it is still one of my all time favorites. I even remember standing outside of Tower records in downtown Chicago at midnight waiting to buy Melon Collie (much to my parent's dismay). I did (however) stop listening to them after that record came out. The immediacy of punk rock had snared me and the Pumpkins just no longer seemed relevant to me.

Now Hello Gina recently posted some Pumpkins tracks, and in light of the recent James Iha stellastarr* remix and Billy Corgan's solo record, I thought I'd share some of my favorites.

MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Drown Singles OST
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Slunk Lull EP
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Siva Peel Sessions
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Plume I Am One UK Single
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Glynis No Alternative
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock Siamese Dream
MP3 | Smashing Pumpkins - Marquis In Spades Zero UK Single

Nashville's own Forget Cassettes is your next favorite band. Straddling the line between garage-rock and Jawbox-esqe post-punk, this (now) trio is currently working on their next album. They transition from out of control guitar riffage to barely audible breathy vocals and do it greacefully.

Fronted by the dynamic and powerful vocals of Beth Cameron, Forget Cassettes isn't typical. The music has an undeniable mathy swagger that along with Beth's vocals make for a winning combination. Their album Instruments Of Action is out now on Theory 8 Records.

MP3 | Forget Cassettes - Sleeper (Demo) Previously Unreleased
MP3 | Forget Cassettes - Bruce Wayne Instruments Of Action

Lake Of Falcons is a three-piece rock band from Seattle that sounds like they should be from Gainesville or Richmond (if you know what I mean). Its gritty, straight-ahead punk-inspired guitar rock with vocals that range from softly sung to screaming. This is blue-collar music that shifts tempo and changes intensity without ever losing its edge. Their latest record was released December 10th on Beep Repaired. RIYL: Sparta, Avail, Hot Water Music.

MP3 | Lake Of Falcons - Montana Power S/T
MP3 | Lake Of Falcons - A Bus For Runners S/T
MP3 | Lake Of Falcons - Western Plastic S/T

Despite the naysayers that say a reunited Smoking Popes is nothing more than Duvall playing Popes tunes, I'm still really excited. Duvall is basically the reunited Smoking Popes lineup minus brother Matt Caterer. Sample the choice Duvall tunes below including their version of my favorite Christmas song as well as a great cover of Jawbreaker's "Busy." You can order Duvall's full-length and their Christmas album from the good folks at Asian Man Records.

Happy Holidays to everyone in the blogosphere! May your days be merry and bright...

MP3 | Duvall - O Holy Night O Holy Night
MP3 | Duvall - Standing At The Door Volume & Density
MP3 | Duvall - Busy Jawbreaker Tribute
MP3 | Josh Caterer - I'm Brand New Previously Unreleased

When I first heard the Tom Vek album, I was unimpressed. Another listen and it still didn't move me. After seeing that Rock Insider named him their 2005 artist of the year, I decided to take another listen and I'm glad I did. Beat heavy disaffected rock that sounds almost like a British version of Chris Broach's Firebird Band. You can dance to this.

MP3 | Tom Vek - C-C (You Set The Fire In Me) We Have Sound
MP3 | Tom Vek - I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes We Have Sound
MP3 | Tom Vek - Nothing But Green Lights (Digitalism Remix) NBGL Single

Hi. What a year it has been. The holidays are upon us all and 2005 is drawing to a close. In case you have been living in a cave, Pitchfork posted their top 50 of 2005 list a few days ago and they picked Sufjan Steven's latest (Illinois) as their favorite record of 2005. It would have been higher on my list if they had a track along the lines of "Go Fighting Illini! Knock The Snot Out Of The Tar Heels." Oh well. P-Fork also had the audacity to put Art Brut at number three on their list. Can you say pretentious?

You can check out my best of 2005 list here and here.

A few other albums that didn't quite make my list (but that are really good and still worthy of some praise) are:

Keith Fullerton Whitman - Multiples
Thee More Shallows - More Deep Cuts
Eats Tapes - Sticky Buttons
Isolee - We Are Monster
Akron/Family - S/T
Jamie Lidell - Multiply
Pernice Bothers - discover A Lovlier You
Ryan Adams - Jacksonville City Nights
Blackalicious - The Craft
Mastodon - Leviathan (technically not a 2005 release)
Lewis & Clarke - Bare Bones & Branches
M Ward - Transistor Radio
Troubled Hubble - Making Beds In A Burning House

And finally, we have covers of songs by Run DMC, Phil Collins, The Killers, and TV On The Radio by some of today's hottest artists!

MP3 | Thunderbirds Are Now! - Christmas In Hollis Suburban Sprawl Xmas 2005
MP3 | The Postal Service - Against All Odds B-Sides
MP3 | David Gray - Smile Like You Mean It Previously Unreleased
MP3 | The Subways - Staring At The Sun Previously Unreleased

Gorilla vs. Bear called Dracula Zombie USA a mix of Aphex Twin, Lightning Bolt, The Go! Team, LCD Soundsystem. I would swap DFA1979 for Lightning Bolt, but you get the picture. Spastic, dancey, noise jams that just make you wanna get up and shout.

"Of course, I should clarify that if Sufjan is the sweet, sensitive cheerleader who also takes AP math classes and volunteers at the homeless shelter, and if the Go! Team is the squad that goes to nationals almost every year (and even won once!), then the members of DraculaZombieUSA are the rebellious biker cheerleaders, snorting lines of coke under the bleachers after the game and having unprotected sex at will with unsuspecting members of the chess team." - Salt Shaker Magazine

MP3 | Dracula Zombie USA - Thomas Window Paine ST
MP3 | Dracula Zombie USA - I Like The Snow ST
MP3 | Dracula Zombie USA - Be What Previously Unreleased

“Did you ever hear ‘Born To Quit’? It’s by the Smoking Popes. I thought that album was extraordinary, the most lovable thing I’d heard in years.” –Morrissey

One of my all time favorite bands is Smoking Popes. Even Morrissey loves them. Despite being extremely important to me and countless other kids in Chicagoland, they never became hugely popular outside of their hometown and broke up after releasing their the brilliant Destination Failure. I attended their final show at Metro in 1998 and only because of the birth of my daughter did I miss their reunion show at Flower 15 just last month.

No need to worry or have any regrets if you missed either of those shows. The Popes have a North American tour planned for February 22 to March 12, 2006 with Bayside in support of the live CD/DVD from their recent reunion show on Victory Records on February 28, 2006. Amy and I will certainly need a babysitter for the Chicago date of the tour.

Oh yeah, vocalist Josh Caterer also recently mentioned that The Popes are working on songs for a new album. Looks like Christmas came a little early this year.

MP3 | Smoking Popes - Pasted Before I'm Gone 7"
MP3 | Smoking Popes - Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground Need You Around EP
MP3 | Smoking Popes - Pretty Pathetic Destination Failure
MP3 | Smoking Popes - Valentine The Party's Over
MP3 | Smoking Popes - Writing A Letter 1991 - 1998
MP3 | Smoking Popes - Need You Around (Live) Live

The wait is (finally?) over. Here are my favorite albums of 2005. My wife expected much more "challenging" or "dissonant" music. Yeah, but I'm a sucker for a catchy melody and there are plenty of those here.


25. The Joggers - With A Cape And A Cane (Startime)
MP3 | Since You're Already Up


24. The Decemberists - Picaresque (Kill Rock Stars)
MP3 | 16 Military Wives


23. Hammock - Kenotic (Hammock Music)
MP3 | The Air Between Us


22. Gratitude - S/T (Atlantic)
MP3 | Feel Alright


21. The Small Knives - Rain On Tin (Candle)
MP3 | Flashlight


20. My Morning Jacket - Z (ATO)
MP3 | Off The Record


19. Shining - In The Kingdom Of Kitsch You Will Be A Monster (Rune Grammofon)
MP3 | Aleister Explains Everything


18. Clor - S/T (EMI)
MP3 | Stuck In A Tight Spot


17. Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise (Asthmatic Kitty)
MP3 | The Predatory Wasp


16. Wolf Parade - Apologies To The Queen Mary (Sub Pop)
MP3 | It's A Curse


15. Minus The Bear - Menos El Oso (Suicide Squeeze)
MP3 | Drilling


14. Paul Duncan - Be Careful Where You Call Home (Hometapes)
MP3 | Oil In The Fields


13. The Heavenly States - Black Comet (Baria)
MP3 | Look And Listen


12. Four Tet - Everything Ecstatic (Domino)
MP3 | Four Tet - Sun, Drums, And Soil


11. Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die (Bar None)
MP3 | What's In Store


10. The Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree (4AD)
MP3 | This Year


09. Rogue Wave - Descended Like Vultures (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Publish My Love


08. Black Dice - Broken Ear Record (Astralwerks)
MP3 | Smiling Off


07. Page France - Hello, Dear Wind (Fall Records)
MP3 | Dogs


06. Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | Black


05. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - S/T (Self Released)
MP3 | The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth


04. Phosphorescent - Aw Come Aw Wry (Misra)
MP3 | Not A Heel


03. Serena Maneesh - S/T (Honeymilk)
MP3 | Selina's Melodie Fountain


02. The Go! Team - Thunder, Lightning, Strike (Sony)
MP3 | Get It Together



01. Bloc Party - Silent Alarm / Silent Alarm Remixed (Vice)
MP3 | Like Eating Glass
MP3 | Helicopter (Whitey Version)

*I know it's cheating to have two #1 albums, but it's the same songs (albeit different versions) by the same band on both albums.

Year end best of lists are by no means absolute even for the author. What I've quicky come to realize is that 2005 was a pretty good year for new music. I've had a pretty difficult time determining my favorites of the year and placing them in any type of meaningful order.

You might notice that the list is without any hip-hop. I'm no expert on hip-hop by any stretch of the imagination, but it just seemed like a "down" year to me. I'll gladly accept solicitations for any good new hip-hop releases outside of Kanye, Danger Doom, and Blackalicious.

A year or six months (even a month from now) this list might be decidedly different that as it currently exists. That said, here are my (incomplete at best) picks for best new music of 2005.


50. Holopaw - Out +/Or Fight (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Shiver Me


49. Test Icicles - For Screening Purposes Only (Domino)
MP3 | Boa Vs. Python


48. LCD Soundsystem - S/T (Capitol)
MP3 | Daft Punk Is Playing At My House


47. Sigur Ros - Takk (Geffen)
MP3 | Saeglopur


46. Low - The Great Destroyer (Sub Pop)
MP3 | Just Stand Back


45. Matt Pond PA - Several Arrows Later (Altitude)
MP3 | So Much Trouble


44. Bear vs. Shark - Terrorhawk (Equal Vision)
MP3 | Entrance Of The Elected


43. Wilderness - S/T (Jagjaguwar)
MP3 | Marginal Over


42. Caribou - The Milk Of Human Kindness (Domino)
MP3 | Pelican Narrows


41. The Jim Yoshii Pile-Up Picks Us Apart (Absolutely Kosher)
MP3 | A Toast To The Happy Couple


40. Broadway Project - In Finite (Grand Central)
MP3 | Ancient Voices


39. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production Of Eggs (Righteous Babe)
MP3 | A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left


38. Lucero - Nobody's Darlings (Liberty & Lament)
MP3 | Bikeriders


37. Broken Social Scene - S/T (Arts & Crafts)
MP3 | 7/4 (Shoreline)


36. Laura Veirs - Year Of Meteors (Nonesuch)
MP3 | Secret Someones


35. Nudge - Cached (Kranky)
MP3 | Classic Mode


34. Lightning Bolt - Hypermagic Mountain (Load)
MP3 | 2 Morro Morro Land


33. Great Lake Swimmers - Bodies And Minds (Misra)
MP3 | When It Flows


32. Cass McCombs - PREfection (Monitor)
MP3 | Sacred Heart


31. Ida - Heart Like A River (Polyvinyl)
MP3 | Honeyslide


30. Deerhoof - The Runners Four (Kill Rock Stars)
MP3 | Wrong Time Capsule


29. Iron And Wine/Calexico - In The Reins (Overcoat)
MP3 | 16, Maybe Less


28. Lowlights - Dark End Road (Darla)
MP3 | So Long


27. Thunderbirds Are Now! - Justamustache (French Kiss)
MP3 | Eat This City



26. Jose Gonzalez - Veneer (Hidden Agenda)
MP3 | Crosses

Numbers twenty-five through one should be up tomorrow or by the end of the weekend at the latest.

I'm in the mood for a little jazz tonight and was inspired by some of the great posts over at Feed Me Good Tunes. First is a version of the classic Christmas tune "Winter Wonderland" by saxophone collossus Sonny Rollins. I give you a great tune from avant-garde pianist Matthew Shipp, and also something from one of the free-jazz pioneers, Cecil Taylor. Closing out the set is organist Jimmy Smith's souped up rendition of "Jingle Bells."

MP3 | Sonny Rollins - Winter Wonderland The Standard Sonny Rollins
MP3 | Matthew Shipp - Galaxy 105 Harmony And Abyss
MP3 | Cecil Taylor - Luyah! The Glorious Step Looking Ahead!
MP3 | Jimmy Smith - Jingle Bells Christmas Cookin'

The Joggers are exactly the kind of thing I needed last week. Their latest record "With A Cape And A Cane" (out now on Startime Intl.) was exaclty the sort of melodic skronky post-punk (ala Q And Not U) I needed to shake the cobwebs from my brain and get me back into the groove. Now despite (on first listen) not impressing me terribly, this is a truly fantastic album. It doesn't (however) come easy. Its a sonic mish-mash of post-punk/new-wave that is brimming with funky bass, dissonant guitars, and thunderous drums. Imagine if Tim Kinsella (Joan Of Arc) and Damon Albarn (Blur) tried to write funk music together. Get the picture?

MP3 | The Joggers - Since You're Already Up With A Cape And A Cane
MP3 | The Joggers - Yawning Brahmins With A Cape And A Cane

The latest album from Sweeden's Jose Gonzalez, Veneer, originally came out a few years back but was only released domestically in 2005. His music is high quality lo-fi and sounds like a blending of Nick Drake, Paul Simon, and even Mark Kozelek. Blending great vocals and his latin/flamenco inspired guitar work, Gonzalez is at the forefront of today's great new folk artists. I got Veneer and have been listening to it non-stop since it was praised over at Gorilla Vs. Bear a few weeks back.

MP3 | Jose Gonzalez - Crosses Veneer
MP3 | Jose Gonzalez - Love Will Tear Us Apart Remain EP
MP3 | Jose Gonzalez - Heartbeats (Rocketboy Remix) Australian CD

Sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately. This is a warning.

In light of my brother's recent decision to close shop on his own blog, I've been thinking a lot about the future of this site.

With a job that allows for zero downtime, classes 3-4 nights a week, and a brand new baby girl that needs my love and attention, I just don't have a whole lot of time to devote to CYSTSFTS. There are more important things than blogging.

The blog has pretty much sucked for the past few weeks, so I thank all of you that have kept on reading. There are so many other great MP3 blogs out there that I can't even compete with. Muzzle Of Bees, Gorilla Vs. Bear, You Ain't No Picasso, Aquarium Drunkard, Feed Me Good Tunes and So Much Silence are all great reads that cover so much more in so much more depth than I could ever hope to.

Thanks to Jacob over at Cannot Be Trusted for getting me into this whole mess. It's been a blast. And while I'm not necessarily shutting down this here thing just yet, if it continues it's gonna change. So don't take me off your blogrolls just yet.

If I have time I'll post my top 50 of 2005 next week. Beyond that I don't know.

Check back. Things may or may not change. For the time being I'll leave you all with the Centaur album In Streams. It is Matt Talbot's (from the great Champaign, IL band HUM) post HUM release. Download here. Enjoy.

I fixed the link to the Mark Kozelek version of "White Christmas." Click here to download.

Quick question for all the readers out there. Does anyone use the Daily MP3 Player link on the sidebar? Clicking it will stream the daily MP3's. Vote "yay" or "nay" in the comments section. If no one uses it, I'm gonna get rid of it. Seems to me that most people just want to download the files. Oh well...

So two late additions to what will become my best of 2005 list are Architecture In Helsinki and Broken Social Scene. Both bands do a lot of genre hopping. Both play variants of indie-pop. Both have new-ish records out that are pretty f'ing fantastic. Since this is just a quick post you can read Cokemachineglow's review of each here and here. Or Pitchfork's reviews here and here. Much much more tomorrow kids (goodies that is).

MP3 | Architecture In Helsinki - What's In Store In Case We Die
MP3 | Broken Social Scene - Ibi Dreams Of Pavement (A Better Day) ST

So when it comes to holiday or Christmas music, I am pretty much a purist. Especially when it comes to the classic songs of the season. What I am saying is that there are way too many bastardized versions of Christmas songs out there. I absoutely abhor almost every single R&B vocal version of any christmas song recorded from about 1980-present. Yes that means you Mariah Carey!

So what I present you with tonight are some of my favorite modern interpretations of traditional Christmas songs as well as some new orignal Christmas songs from your favorite artists. And even though all the songs are taken from other compilations, they are features here together for the first time ever! A Very CYSTSFTS Christmas contains songs by: Alkaline Trio, Seven Day Jesus, Death Cab, Sufjan Stevens, The Dismsmberment Plan, Feist, Jason Gleason, Five Iron Frenzy, The Promise Ring, Fall Out Boy, Coldplay, and Belle & Sebastian. You gotta love that.

A Very CYSTSFTS Christmas.zip

I also recall that as a child, I always eagerly anticipated the Holiday Dr. Demento show that featured the best holiday comedy songs around. A bunch of those classic tunes are complied below and will leave you laughing in a puddle of your own urine.

A Dr. Demento Christmas.zip

In addition to all that, we have a version of "White Christmas" by none other than Mark Kozelek of Red House Painters/Sun Kil Moon fame as well as a track from the latest release by Diane Cluck. She is a unique singer/songwriter in the same vein as Tori Amos or Julie Doiron. Her most recent release is called Oh Vanille/Ova Nil and is out now on Important Records.

According to Mojo Magazine, Devendra Banhart said, "This record is by my favorite singer-songwriter in all of New York City. I'm so happy to be alive at the same time she is because i get to see her perform. It's her and guitar or her and piano or her and harmonium. Her lyrics are so good, when i play this for people they stop doing everything and are quiet for hours after."

Nouvelle Vague is a fatastic french project/group with an interesting concept. Per their website, "Their idea was to forget the initial punk or new wave background of each song, keep simple fundamental chords, work with young singers who never heard the orginal versions, and make the quality of original songwriting happen in a completely different way." It is a fantastic album and this version of The Clash's "Guns Of Brixton" is great.

MP3 | Mark Kozelek - White Christmas (Live) Previously Unreleased
MP3 | Diane Cluck - Easy To Be Around Oh Vanille/Ova Nil
MP3 | Nouvelle Vague - Guns Of Brixton ST

You guys (and gals) are familiar with The Mars Volta right? How about Sparta? Well, both those bands rose from the ashes of El Paso, Texas emo legends At The Drive-In.

They toured a lot. A whole fucking lot. ATDI won over countless people with their live shows including me. I first saw them upstairs at Stevie Ray's House of Wax in Muncie, IN. If you think they were energetic and explosive on big stages, just imagine looking them in the eyes as they are bouncing off the crowd, one another, and the walls of the record store. They were intense. During "Napoleon Solo" I clearly remember Cedric looking us in the eyes (like a man posessed). With the mic in one hand, he proceeded to gesture and seemingly "paint" symbols or words into the air only inches in front of our faces. I was awestruck at the emotional outpouring. They ripped through their songs and with such fervor and tenacity it was almost frightening.

We let them sleep on our floor that night and in return, they gave us a copy of "In/Casino Out" on fabulous clear vinyl. In our tiny two room apartment the guys of ATDI were quiet and unassuming. They obviously left everything on stage. After a few self-released 7" singles, they released their first full-length on Flipside in 1995. They followed that with "In/Casino Out" and the "Vaya EP" on fearless before hooking up with Grand Royal Records. They then put out what is considered by many to be their swan song, "Relationship of Command," which has sold over a million copies since its release in 2000.

I know I'm gonna catch some flak because Built To Spill is not really emo but (regardless) I am still including them here. The first BTS song I ever heard was "Car" as performed acoustically by Bob Nanna and Chris Broach from (at the time) Braid. I was so floored by their rendition of the song, I asked them who the original was by and they told me. I bought "There's Nothing Wrong With Love" the next day. That album was the last before the Boise, ID band's move to a major. It is a little slice of indie-pop heaven from way back in 1994 and "Car" remains one of my favorite songs still. Emo? Maybe not. Emotional and near-perfect? Hell yes.

More to come. Stay tuned.

MP3 | At The Drive-In - Napoleon Solo In/Casino/Out
MP3 | Built To Spill - Car There's Nothing Wrong With Love

The last (roughly) 24 hours have been pretty interesting to say the least. Work, school, baby, and more. I've had issues with just about everything.

As you read, you can listen to some songs from my playlist. First up is a song from Andrew WK. This is commercially produced music of the finest quality. He is currently working on his third record and has two new tracks up on his website. Listen to "Kicks & Bricks" or "You Will Remember Tonight". Is this pure genius or just a guy who did too much nitrous back in the day? Just makes me wanna party until I pass out.

Secondly, we have a great version of GNR's "Sweet Child 'O Mine" from Schmoof. They are a British electro-pop duo and this is probably the only way my wife will allow my young daughter be exposed to the music of Guns 'N Roses.

So last night I had an open book final exam for which I forgot my book. Singing, "Where is my mind?" Luckily, the exam was pretty easy and I think I aced it anyway (I'm a good test taker). Immediately preceding said test I was supposed to give part of a group presentation. But that never happened. My professor (I'm using that word in the loosest possible way) didn't allocate enough time for my group to present. We were understandably pissed about the situation. She stated that because it was "her error" she would "find a way to factor the presentation out of our grades." We were okay with that until we found out from someone in administration that if we did not give our presentation, we would all get an incomplete grade for the class. WTF??? I was told by a member of my group that someone would be contacting us to attempt to schedule a time we could give our presentation. I don't have the time to piss around with this crap. Needless to say I am in the process of drafting up a scathing email/letter about how terrible this class/professor was and how the school needs to hire better instructors, blah, blah, whine, whine, bitch, moan.

The entire class was a joke. I mean, in what 400 level college class does a professor come to class unprepared every day, rearrange the syllabus as she goes along to fit her schedule, and not give an ounce of feedback the entire quarter? For this ten-week course she didn't even assign groups for the presentations until week 5. She had the class watch videos that have nothing to do with the class, build newspaper towers, and then (on Halloween) gave the class candy in an attempt to win us over. I'm on a roll.

When I finally got home, I watched the last few minutes of the Indiana/Duke basketball game before spending the next five hours studying for my accounting final tonight. Duke is tough but I really dislike the Blue Devils. Coach K just bugs me. Indiana (despite losing) showed me that they are going to be a contender in the Big Ten this year. Marco Killingsworth is huge presence down low for the Hoosiers and looked unstoppable at times. Sometime this weekend (thanks to the wife for DVR'ing it) I'm going to watch the whole game.

I was up until about 3:00AM studying and then was awoken at 7AM this morning when Amy said, "Aren't you late for work?" I was. The snow that was falling just made my morning all the better. Why do people forget how to drive whenever it precipitates?

Amy also took little Hailey to the doctor for her 6 week checkup. Evidently she is perfectly normal, but maybe getting too big too quickly. She weighed in at a whopping 8 lbs. 10 oz. which is 50% more than she weighed when she came home from the hospital. Not bad at all.

MP3 | Andrew WK - She Is Beautiful I Get Wet
MP3 | Schmoof - Sweet Child 'O Mine Previously Unreleased