You can pick your friends...

Madchester Monday

Wrapping up their month-long Monday residency, Andrew Morgan and Kevin Tihista present "Man Oh Manchester" tonight at Schuba's. It's a joint gig from the two local singer/songwriters featuring an orgy of covers from a variety of Mancunian acts, including the Smiths and Oasis. Smallwire opens the show which begins at 8pm. Admission is a bargain at only $6 (or about 4 quid), but an order of bangers and mash will cost you extra. Cheers! Schubas is located at 3159 N. Southport

Breaking the Sonotheque dress code... Frank and John Navin of The Aluminum Group

Weekend Music Outlook

Overall, things seem a bit slow this week in the local music scene (is everyone at Sundance or something?) , but there are a couple of notable shows this weekend featuring homegrown talent you might want to check out...especially if you're a fan of mellow indie-pop. Saturday night, local duo Aluminum Group will be performing a hybrid DJ/live set at Sonotheque. The brothers Navin will be showcasing some of their own work, as well as spinning some of their personal favorites. Doors open at 9pm. On Sunday, L'altra will be peforming at the Empty Bottle in support of their new Hefty release Different Days , which oddly enough, Urb magazine called "the perfect soundtrack for a late Sunday night." San Diego's Tristeza headlines...AND, as as an added bonus to get your arse out late on a Sunday, superstar deejays Yves St. Leroc and Coco Leroc will be spinning music in-between sets, with a dance party throwdown erupting at the show's conclusion. The mayhem starts at 9:3op, admission is only $8.

Jazz makes you happy

Live Jazz tonight at Rodan

Chicago guitarist Jeff Parker (Tortoise, Isotope 217) will be performing a set of live jazz tonight at the uber hip Asian-fusion restaurant/lounge bar Rodan. Parker will be accompanied by Nori Tanaka on drums and Jason Ajemian on bass. Visuals will be provided by Selina Trepp. Rodan is located at 1530 N. Milwaukee, right next to Reckless. (If you're hungry, check out the grilled salmon in curry sauce...it's delicious)

Local Media Critique: WLUW-FM

After several months of deliberation and numerous rewrites, I've finally completed my analysis and critique of one of the city's most popular community radio stations, WLUW-FM (88.7). The project came about after I was asked to leave the organization last April (2004) after almost four years of dedicated volunteer service. Besides being abruptly terminated from the organization without warning or appeal, I also was refused any type of written documentation explaining exactly how and why the verdict was reached. Initially, I tried to get some press coverage about my situation, but my efforts were futile. Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands and proceeded to document the entire story myself and post it to the Internet. So, here it is...the story of how I was "fired" from a community radio station and my inside analysis of the behind the scenes operations at Chicago's Independent Community Radio: www.fearchannel.blogspot.com (also, don't forget to check out the "Prologue" and "Links" sections in the right hand column for additional coverage)

You need to do some record shopping...

New Releases Tuesday (1/25)...best in months!

New releases Tuesday returns with a vengence this week, boasting the largest line-up of new releases in over two months. Scrape up some cash and head directly to your favorite record store... Local labels and artists: Jeff Parker - The Relatives (Thrill Jockey) Archer Prewitt - Wilderness (Thrill Jockey) Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeny - Superwolf (Drag City) Six Organs of Admittance - School of the Flower (Drag City) Bettie Serveert - Attagirl (Minty Fresh) Viva Voce - Lovers Lead the Way! (Minty Fresh) L'altra - Different Days (Hefty) Other Essentials: Stereo Total - Do the Bambi (Kill Rock Stars) Low - The Great Destroyer (Sub Pop) Lou Barlow - Emoh (Merge) M83 - Before the Dawn Heals Us (Mute) Erasure - Nightbird (Mute) The Chemical Brothers - Push the Button (Astralwerks) Graham Coxon - Happiness in Magazines (Astralwerks) ...Trail of Dead - Worlds Apart (Interscope) Bright Eyes - Digital Ash in a Digital Run (Saddle Creek) Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake it's Morning (Saddle Creek) Twilight Singers - She Loves You (Birdman) Tim Booth - Bone (Koch) Ani DiFranco - Knuckle Down (Righteous Babe)

Antisocial DJ tonight (1/24) at Rodan

This just in from the RFC newsroom... The Chicago Reader's Liz Armstrong, best known for her infamous "Chicago Antisocial" column, will be spinning tonight at Rodan. Word on the street is that she just scored a big lot of vintage 1980s rap records from a local thrift store...so you can probably expect to hear some old school bangers tonight from the likes of Grandmaster Flash, LL Cool J (Forget Oreos...eat Cool J cookies!), Run DMC, and who knows...maybe even some Fat Boys. Plus, you'll be able enjoy the sonic wonder of those vintage 808 beats with the classic flavor of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer for only $2 a piece. Dyn-o-mite! Rodan is located at 1530 N. Milwaukee

Shameless Plug

This Sunday, I'll be manning the turntables at Lava Lounge from 11pm to midnight as the guest DJ for B.Y.O. Music night. Every Sunday night at Lava, erstwhile hosts DJ Jam Sandwich and Rotten Milk (as seen in this week's "Chicago Antisocial" column in the Reader) invite aspiring DJs to bring their own records and bliss out at the bar's DJ booth for 20-30 min. It's sort of like "open mic night" for DJs...except that instead of 1 or 2 songs, everyone who signs up gets to play for about 20 minutes. However, the hosts recommend getting to the bar early as slots quickly fill up. Here's the official info: B.Y.O. Music@ Lava Lounge 859 N. Damen ave. Sundays, 8 pm - 2 am 21 and up, no cover guest DJs every week from 11p-mid

Super Villain invades Sonotheque

I have no idea whether the new Scion is a complete piece of shit, or whether it's a reliable, yet stylish, economy car...but I've got to hand it to their marketing department. They've certainly caught the attention of this single, under-30 urban dweller with moderate disposable income. After sponsoring a free show featuring legendary hip-hop artists Grandmaster Flash and Biz Markie last month at Sonotheque, the Scion marketing machine is back to present one of the hottest hip-hop artists of the moment, MF Doom (aka "The Super Villain"). Hot off his recent solo effort, Mmm...Food and the universally acclaimed Madvillain project with producer Madlib, Doom will be headlining a night of live DJs at Sonotheque tonight. Opening on the decks will be LA's DJ Hier and Chicago's The Twillite Tone and Tone B. Nimble. Once an unsung hero known only to fans of underground hip-hop, Doom is now the toast of the entire underground music scene (and beyond?) thanks to all of the press coverage and critical praise for 2004's Supervillainy by Madvillain. Doom has been paying his dues for years and certainly deserves every ounce of the fame that he’s finally recieved, but unfortunately this means you'll probably have to secure your spot at Sonotheque early to a catch a glimpse of this villain in action… The MF Doom show is tonight (1/20) at Sonotheque, 1444 West Chicago. Festivities begin at 9pm, must be 21+ to attend. Admission is free, but you also MUST sign up on the Scion website to gain entry: http://www.scion.com/metro/

Live Review: Neko Case@Metro 1/13/05

Ah, Neko Case, the woman every indie boy wants to be with and every indie girl wants to be, the singer Playboy voted as the hottest female indie musician and asked to be on the cover (which was politely turned down, thankfully). Upon entering the sold out venue shortly before Neko took the stage, I found it difficult to find a spot not filled with swooning boys drooling in anticipation of seeing the Canadian songstress serenade them. Though I prefer to catch my regular dose of Neko via the power-pop sensibilities of the New Pornographers rather than the alt-country leanings of her solo work, it’s undeniable that her voice is amazing, and I was interested to see what sort of presence she brought to a live setting. Neko made it out on stage at about 11:15 with her backing band, the Sadies, who were quite possibly four of the dorkiest-looking men I’ve ever seen. A pleasant addition to her entourage on this date was Kelly Hogan, a local favorite in the Chicago alt-country scene and a Hideout-regular who contributed backing vocals throughout the show. Neko’s set drew heavily from her recently released live album The Tigers Have Spoken, a collection of new songs, old favorites, and fantastic covers, much of which had been recorded at Schubas in Chicago. Songs like “If You Knew” and the Loretta Lynn cover “Rated X” were definite crowd pleasers, and the Sadies’ excellent musicianship managed to hold up under the weight of Neko’s amazing, almost overpowering voice. The real treat of the night, however, was getting to know a little more about the woman behind the huge voice and the wild red hair. From the moment she appeared, Neko quickly proved herself to be one of the most energetic, unpretentious, fun-loving entertainers I have seen in quite some time. Apparently being the object of many fan’s affections has not yet gotten to her head, though at this point that’s almost hard to believe. Between songs she seemed to say whatever it was that came to her mind, no matter how ridiculous it sounded (“this next song is a sad song about birds. WOOOO PARTY!!!!”). Even when she needed to take a few moments to deal with a poorly tuned guitar, Neko kept the crowd entertained with her utterly random comments and non-sequiturs. It was as if she was talking to herself, totally oblivious to the fact that hundreds of fans were hanging on her every word, trying to figure out what the hell she was talking about. It was really great to see someone beloved by so many proudly act like a total dork on stage; it gave her an air of accessibility that many artists lack. It’s not easy to make a show filled with twang-y, often depressing songs about love (or birds) so fun, but Neko Case certainly had no problem doing just that at the Metro Friday night. It became pretty clear by the end why everyone loves her so much. Sure, she’s a fabulous singer with an incredibly unique voice. But even more than that, she seems like the type of person I’d want to go party with (WOOOO PARTY!!!!). I bet she’s a total blast. -Nicole Chavas, ThePerfectFaceForRadio.com

New Releases Tuesday (1/18)

Please feel free to post anything that I may have missed, but it looks like slim pickins this week on the new releases calendar: Secretly Canadian is releasing a live album from Magnolia Electric, Alternative Tentacles is offering a domestic release for the latest Bell Rays album...and, um.... that's about it. However, don't blow your entire wad on 50%-off records at Reckless this week, because there is a slew of notable releases out next Tuesday (1/25). Stay tuned...

Even we can't compete with prices like these!

Save Big Money at Reckless...and play free Ping-Pong

Today Reckless Records is kicking off another installment of their immensiely popular "50% off old shit*" clearance sale. (*may not be actual name of sale) Here's how it works: Anything that's been in stock since August or earlier is half-off, while anything that's been in stock 3 to 4 months is 30% off. This sale is a personal favorite of mine, as it's a great time to stock-up on expensive UK-only import vinyl and other overpriced music collectibles. Run out to yer favorite Reckless location now until Sunday (1/23) to catch some of the hot savings action. If that's not enough Reckless fun for ya, you can also check out their Martin Luther Ping (Pong) Party at Schubas, Tuesday night at 9pm. Record collectors 21 and up are invited to stop by for free ping-pong while Reckless staff members spin the hot releases that made it onto their "Best of 2004" lists. Besides free exhibition play, there will also be official ping-pong tournament play where the winner can take home some free cds. Tournament losers and all other attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase some of the releases featured throughout the night. For more information on the big sale and ping-pong tournament, visit the Reckless website at www.reckless.com.

Tomorrow Never Knows at Schubas

This weekend at Schubas Tavern, the Paper Airplane Pilots present Tomorrow Never Knows, a three day festival of local music. According to their press release, Jeremiah Wallis of Paper Airplane Pilots had a dilemma...he couldn't figure out which local bands he wanted to play with for the band’s upcoming record release show. This dilemma then grew into an idea...why not try and get as many great pop acts into one venue, over one weekend? Jeremiah decided to put the record release on the back burner, but instead pursued the idea of a mini-fest of local music. Headlining tonight's show is Chicago via Nebraska act Head of Femur along with fellow Chicago indie popsters, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir. Local rockers, The Bon Mots headline Saturday and Polyvinyl recording artists Saturday Looks Good To Me headline on Sunday. If you like to rawk indie-pop style, you'll definitely want to make a trip to Belmont and Southport sometime this weekend. For more information and a complete line-up, visit Schubas.com or the festival website at www.paperairplanepilots.com/tnk.html. Schubas Tavern is located at 3159 N. Southport

Rockin' the Lone Star State...

Tweedy on the 'Tele'

Time to fire up the TiVo or finally figure out how to program your VCR this weekend as channel 11 will be airing Wilco's performance on the long-running PBS music program Austin City Limits. Originally recorded last September, Tweedy & Co. will be mostly playing tracks from their latest record, A Ghost Is Born. Conor Oberst's Bright Eyes will also be featured on this episode that is dedicated to "musical innovation." Much like Wilco, it seems that Austin City Limits is also branching out from their alt-country roots and expanding into other musical territories. Upcoming episodes include Modest Mouse/Guided By Voices, The Pixies, Polyphonic Spree/Ozomatli, Elvis Costello, and Flaming Lips/Shins. Yeah, there's also an episode featuring Michael McDonald and Joss Stone, but hey...overall, it's pretty damn good line-up for a PBS show. Austin City Limits airs Friday nights at 8pm on WYCC-TV 20 and Saturday nights at midnight on WTTW-TV 11.

In stores now...

New Releases Tuesday returns!

Ah yes, the holidays (more like holidaze) are over, and new releases are returning to record store shelves. You won't go broke this week buying new music because things are still a bit slow, but there are some notable releases worth treading through black slush for. Local and related: -Felix da Housecat - Playboy: The Mansion (Soundtrack) (Koch) Chicago house legend drops another hott mix...this time for a video game. Here's the not-so-glowing review from the New York Post: After years of making landmark dance re-mixes and original music, Felix da Housecat is unable to pull goodness out of his bag of tricks here. On this soundtrack to the video game, where you get to slip into Hugh Hefner's bathrobe and build the Playboy empire - two breasts at a time - Mr. Housecat presents a dozen re-mixes that are not only mind-numbingly repetitive, but in fact a fraud, if you consider that only four are actually in the game. If you heard just one cut off this disc, you might be tempted to snag the record because of the infectious, faster-than-your-heart beats. Yet listening to the entire collection at once makes it clear how few musical ideas Felix has to supercharge a song. He reserves his best talents for his own "Do Me What I Do," an original that dabbles in a cross-pollination of reggae and electronica. -The Fiery Furnaces - EP (Rough Trade) NYC via Chicago duo drop this latest release featuring a collection of UK singles, b-sides and previously unreleased tracks. Other notable releases (1/11) -The Libertines - s/t (reissue w/bonus DVD) (Rough Trade) -Various Artists - KCRW Sounds Eclectic 3 (Palm Pictures) Features live performances from Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Interpol, Franz Ferdinand and more. Sorry, autographed Nic Harcourt poster not included.

Second Slint show added!

Metro has just announced they've added a second night of Slint live...Thursday, March 24 at 9pm. Tickets are available NOW. The previously scheduled show on the 25th sold out almost instantly, so if you missed out before, don't delay. Also, do yourself a favor and stop by the Metro box office or next door at Hi Fi Records to avoid the TicketBastard service charges. "Slint Who?" you say??? Here's a brief history of the band courtesy of the good people at Metro: In 1987, Slint recorded their debut album, "Tweez", with Steve Albini behind the board in Chicago and released it on the short-lived and enigmatic Jennifer Hartman Records and Tapes label. At this time, Ethan Buckler departed and was replaced on bass by Todd Brashear. 1989 saw the recording of their untitled EP, engineered by Steve Albini, mixed by Brian Paulson, and released by Touch and Go Records. In 1990, Slint recorded the landmark "Spiderland" album in Chicago with Brian Paulson both engineering and mixing. This release, in particular, became an independent music touchstone, loved and admired by hundreds of thousands of fans and emulated by a generation of musicans.The following year, the year in which "Spiderland" was issued by Touch and Go, Slint broke up. For almost fourteen years, the members have not performed together as Slint. Now, for a very short time, they do so again...

Dutch electro madness at Sonotheque

Weekend Records is presenting Dirty Brown and Miserable 2005: The Return of the Bunker-Creme Team Tuesday night at Sonotheque. Bunker Records and Creme Organization are Dutch electronic labels that specialize in "Electro-Funk, The Sound of West Holland." Tonight's performance will feature the labels' Eurolectro dream team who will be spinning deep, moving and twisted electronic music. Headlining the show will be Legowelt, aka Danny Wolfers. According to Weekend, Legowelt dishes out a hybrid form of slam jack Den Hague electronix combined with deep Chicago trax, obscure & romantic ghetto technofunk, EuroHorror Soundtracks and much more. Finally, Weekend sez: "Working Class Hedonists Unite!--for this rare opportunity to escape the "moral values" of our oppressor!" RFC sez: Also check out the $2 PBR special...a few cheap cold ones will keep you refreshed during your hedonistic electro-Danish funk exploits. Admission is $8, 21 and over...Sonotheque is located at 1444 West Chicago

Tonight at Empty Bottle

Terry Plumming record release party

The Empty Bottle's free Monday series continues tonight with a double record release party from Terry Plumming , a local CDR label featuring experimental artists. Headlining the night will be Lightbox Orchestra, a project where local composer and cellist Fred Lonberg-Holm directs groups of improv musicians with various colored light boxes. Second on the bill is Soft Serve, aka Eleanor Balson of Karaoke Against Racism and Off Kilter Empire fame. Opening the night will be Rotten Milk versus Bubblegum Shitface, who will be facing off in an intense battle of noisy experimental sounds to determine who is most "provocative." The Empty Bottle is located at 1035 N. Western

Your Best of 2004: Reckless Records staff

Brett Grossman 1. Ac Newman “slow wonder” (matador) 2. Vetiver “vetiver” (di cristina) 3. Rogue Wave “out of the shadow” (subpop) 4. Eluvium “an accidental memory in the case of death” (temporary residence) 5. Lullatone “little songs about raindrops” (audio dregs) 6. Sodastream “a minor revival” (microindie) 7. Casino vs. Japan “hitori + kaiso: 1998-2001” (attack nine) 8. Ponys “laced with romance” (in the red) 9. Destroyer “your blues” (merge) 10. M’s “M’s” (brilliante) 11. Will Oldham “seafarers music” (drag city) 12. Clientele “ariadne” (acuarela) 13. Various Artists “Radio India: Eternal Dream of Sound (Sublime Frequencies) 14. Ekkhard Ehlers “Plays” (Staubgold) 15. Walkmen “bows and arrows” (record collection) 16. Auburn Lull “cast from the platform” (darla) 17. Harry Partch “Harry Partch Collection vol.1 and 2” (new world) 18. Iron and Wine “our endless numbered days” (subpop) 19. Papa M “five” and “six” (drag city) 20. Prince Po “slickness” 21. SCTV vol.1 and vol.2 DVDs 22. Arrested Development season 1 DVD 23. Floorbirds “the sea of language around us” (barcode press) 24. Wilco- “ a ghost is born” (nonesuch) 25. Growing- “soul of the rainbow and harmony of light” (kranky) Stephen Sowley 1. Madvillain—Madvillainy//MF Doom—MM…Food 2. Sunn O)))—White 2 3. Growing—Soul Of the Rainbow & Harmony of Light 4. Mastodon—Leviathan 5. TV On The Radio—Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes 6. Melvins—Neither Here Nor There/ Pigs of The Roman Empire 7. 90 Day Men—Panda Park 8. Liars—They Were Wrong So We Drowned 9. Fennesz—Venice 10. Coco Rosie—La Mansion Mon Reverie 11. The EX--Turn 12. Tim Hecker—Mirages 13. Throbbing Gristle—TG + Box 14. Chris Connelly—Night Of Your Life/ Everyoned—Everyoned 15. Tom Waits—Real Gone 16. Albert Ayler—Holy Ghost Box 17. John Fahey—Great Santa Barbra Oil Slick 18. Joanna Newsom—Milk Eyed Mender 19. Beans—Shock City Maverick 20. Sonic Youth—Sonic Nurse 21. Devendra Banhart—Rejoicing In The Hands/ Nino Rojo 22. Jimmy Edgar—Access Rhythm/ Bounce Make Model 23. !!!—Louden Up Now 24. Radian—Juxtaposition 25. Fall—The Real New Fall LP 26. Mission Of Burma--OnOffOn 27. Coachwhips—Bangers Vs. Fuckers 28. V/A—Midwest Funk: Funk 45s from Tornado Alley 29. V/A—Third Unheard: Connecticut Hip-Hop 30. V/A—DFA Records Compilation #2 Finally, The ONE album Pitchfork was completely right about: Dungen—Ta Det Lungt Melissa -dungen "ta det lungt" -hot snakes "audit in progress" -gris gris "s.t." -tom waits "real gone" -rtx "transmaniacon" -madvillain "madvillainy" -mastodon "leviathan" -nick cave "abattoir blues/lyre of orpheus" -tv on the radio "desperate youth, blood thirsty babes" -single minded pros "from now on" -missy elliott/can mash up -disco inferno reissues -pavement "crooked rain" reissue -brian wilson "smile" -ataxia "automatic writing" (well, half of it) -mf doom "mm food" -shawnna "worth tha weight" -liars "they were wrong so we drowned" -sunn o))) "white 2" -espers "s.t." -wire dvd Gar (new releases in order of hearing them) 1. LIARS "THERE'S ALWAYS ROOM ON THE BROOM" 2. PAPA M "HOLE OF BURNING ALMS" 3. TV ON THE RADIO "DESPERATE YOUTH BLOOD THIRSTY BABES" 4. SWEET COBRA "PRAISE" 5. MASTADON "LEVIATHAN" 6. SOVIETTES "SOVIETES II" 7. ATARI STAR "PRAYER & PRETEND" 8. GASOLINE FIGHT "USELESS PIECE OF WEAPONRY" 9. FIERY FURNACES "BLUEBERRY BOAT" 10. CALIFONE "HERON KING BLUES" Emily (People making good music) -Josephine Foster & the Supposed -Plastic Crimewave Sound -Comets on Fire -The Coughs -Panixville -Electralane -John Cale -A-Frames -RTX -Whaler -Born Heller Keith (my top 10. In no particular order) -The Braves "Love and Mercy" -Vee Dee "Further" -Nick Cave "Abattior Blues/Lyre of Orpheus" -Hot Snakes "Audit in Progress" -Ponys "Laced with Romance" -Liars "They Were Wrong So We Drowned" -Soft Pink Truth "Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Soft Pink Truth" -Reigning Sound "Too Much Guitar" -Arrested Development DVD Season 1 -Cheap Trick "Essential Cheap Trick" Dave 1.madvillain - madvilliany 2. deicide - scars of the crucifix 3. cannibal corpse - the wretched spawn 4. kanye west - the college dropout 5. brian wilson - smile6. pig destroyer - terrifyer 7. the killer - better judged by 12 than carried by 6 8. meshuggah - i 9. lamb of god - ashes of the wake 10. mastodon - leviathan 11. necrophagist - epitaph 12. anata - under a stone with no inscription 13. decapitated - the negation 14. single minded pros - from now on 15. tower of rome - all is lost, all is lost, all is yet to be found Mike Johnson -ARCADE FIRE - FUNERAL SONIC YOUTH - SONIC NURSE -KRUNCHIES - INTERROBANG (7") -TOM WAITS - REAL GONE -PONYS - LACED WITH ROMANCE -SONNETS - MYSTERY GIRL (YEAH, I KNOW) -NIRVANA - WITH THE LIGHTS OUT BOX SET Ryan 1. pavement - crooked rain reissue 2. elliott smith - from a basement on the hill 3. iron & wine - our endless numbered days 4. jolie holland - escondida 5. arcade fire - funeral 6. decemberists - the tain 7. wilco - a ghost is born 8. modest mouse - good news for people who love bad news 9. kanye west - the college dropout 10. the narrator - youth city fire 11. animal collective - sung tongs 12. brian wilson - smile 13. jesse sykes & the sweet hereafter - oh, my girl 14. califone - heron king blues 15. where will you be on Christmas day compilation of early music. James In 2004, I listened to: -Walkmen "Bows & Arrows" -Dungen "Ta Det Lungst" -Liars "They Were Wrong so We Drowned" -Gris Gris "Gris Gris" -Animal Collective "Sung Tongs" -Vetiver "Vetiver" -Jon Brion "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" -Growing "Soul of the Rainbow & Harmony of Light" -Arcade Fire "Funeral" -Modest Mouse "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" -Wolf Parade "EP 2" -Pavement "Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain: LA's Desert Origins" -Race "If You Can" -Ted Leo "Shake the Sheets" -Nirvana "With the Lights Out" -Low Skies "I Have Been to Beautiful Places" -Elliott Smith "From a Basement on a Hill" -Wilco "A Ghost is Born" -Iron & Wine "Our Endless Numbered Days" -Xiu Xiu "Fabulous Muscles" Matt Jencik -ariel pink's haunted graffiti "doldrums" -ataxia "automatic writing" -disco infero "d.i. go pop" reissue -dungen "ta det lungt" -enslaved "vikingligr/ hordane's land" reissue -john fahey "great santa barbara oil slick" -gris gris "s/t" -hot snakes "audit in progress" -liars "they were wrong so we drowned" -madvillain "madvillainy" -mastodon "leviathan" -joanna newsom "milk eyed mender" -brian wilson "smile" Dan Worland -DEERHOOF - Milkman -WILCO - A Ghost Is Born -LES SAVY FAV - Inches -DETACHMENT KIT - Of This Blood -CALIFONE - Heron King Blues -ETERNALS - Rawar Style -CLYDE FEDERAL - Sensitive Skin/Please Be Real -HOT SNAKES - Audit In Progress -NEW BLACK - New Black -MADVILLAIN – Madvilainy Jason (here's the top 10 cds I listened to more than twice in 2004) -tortoise "its all around you" (thrill jockey) -bobby Conn "the Homeland" (thrill jockey) -Moog "Motion Picture Soundtrack" (hollywood Records) -Brown Bunny "Motion Picture Sountrack" (Japanese Import) -Battles EP 1, 2, 3, (various labels, dim mak, monitor...) -Nervous Cop "s/t" (5rc Records) -Turing Machine "Zwei" (French Kiss) -Textual "Highsight Sunglasses" (Stiff Slack) -Claudia Quintet "I, Claudia" (cuneiform) -McNeal & Niles "Re-issue" (chocolate Ind.) Steve R. NEW STUFF 1.devendra banhart-rejoicing in hands 2.joanna newsome- milk-eyed mender 3.John Wilkes Booze- Five pillars of Soul 4.liars- they were wrong so we drowned 5.Noxagt- Iron Point 6.Josephine Foster & the Supposed- all the leaves are gone 7.Animal Collective- sung tongs 8.comets on fire- blue cathedral 9.espers-s/t 10. wolf eyes- burned mind OLD STUFF 1. Arthur Russell- World of Arthur Russell 2.henry flynt and the insurrections- I don't wanna 3. Albert Ayler- holy ghost 4.kenneth patchen- reads with jazz in canada 5.pavement crooked rain crooked rain 6. tyrannosaurus rex- reissues 7.john fahey- great san bernadino oil slick 8. arthur russell- world of echo 9.six organs of admittance- for octavio paz 10.ramon sender- worldfood Connelly 1:JOHN CALE AT THE DOUBLE DOOR 2:COUNTRY ON THE CLICK-THE FALL 3:ROBERT WYATT-FREE WILL AND TESTAMENT 4:SCOTT WALKER-VIDEO ANTHOLOGY 5:SYDNEY & JACK BRISTOW 6:"MY MAMA NEVER TAUGHT ME HOW TO COOK"-ANNETTE PEACOCK 7:V/A-"GLITTERBEST-20 PRE PUNK N' TERRACE STOMPERS" 8:ROGER MCGUINN "CARDIFF ROSE" 9:ART BEARS "HOPES & FEARS" 10:DAVID BOWIE LIVE IN MILWAUKEE Mark Yoshi -Adem-Homesongs -Ty-Upwards (domestic) -Branches – Branches -Animal Collective-sung tongs -S-Puking and Crying -Arcade Fire – funeral -Fiery furnaces - blueberry boat -Killers -hot fuss -Sonic Youth- sonic nurse -Iron and Wine - our endless numbered days -Dungen - ta det lugnt -Blonde Redhead - misery is a butterfly -Pinback - summer in abaddon -Low Skies - I Have Been to Beautiful Places -Kanye West - the College Dropout -Vetiver - Vetiver -Phoenix –Alphabetical Domenico + 2 - sincerely hot -Devendra Banhart - rejoicing in the hands -Electrelane - the power out -Joanna Newsom -milk-eyed mender -K-O S - joyful rebellion -Walkmen - bows and arrows -Sondre Lerche - two way monologue -Juana Molina - Tres Cosas -90daymen – panda park -outhud- streetdad My top 10 Clearchannel favorites (also in no particular order): Fabulous - "breathe" Jadakiss - "why" (non-remix version) Kanye West feat. Syleena Johnson (co-written by Lauryn Hill) - "all falls down" Ja Rule feat. R. Kelly & Ashanti "wonderful" Coheed and Cambria "A Favor House Atlantic" Interpol "Narc" Christina Milian "Dip it Low" Usher and Alicia Keys "My Boo" N.O.R.E. feat. Daddy Yankee, Nina Sky, Gem Star & Big Mato "oye mi canto" Jo-Jo "Baby It's You" Evan top eight albums i'm taking with me to Iraq when drafted, that are of 2004: #8 Dungen: Ta Det Lught #7 Tracy and the Plastics: Culture for Pigeon #6 Antennas Erupt! : MAgical Energy #5 The Lesser Birds of Paradise : String of Bees #4 Midlake: Bamnan + Slivercork #3 Animal Collective: Sung Tongs #2 The Robot Ate Me: On Vacation #1 Xiu Xiu: Fabulous Muscles *and in that microsecond before my body dissolves into warm nuclear mist, i will wish i had taken "How To dismantle An Atomic Bomb" for reference. Then again, i would rather die w/ pride. Billy -SUNN O))) - WHITE 2 -WRANGLER BRUTES -NIRVANA BOX -GROWING - SOUL OF THE RAINBOW -MASTODON - LEVIATHAN -BOOKS LIE - compilation -SILVER MT ZION - this is our punk rock -HELLA - 2004? i dunno ....and the NIRVANA box again. why not ? -PENTAGRAM - human hurricane Taylor Top 10 Shows i Saw This Year.......(in no particular order) -Animal Collective w/ Black Dice- @ empty bottle -Hit Me Back w/ Reaccion- @ the Needle House -Wrangler Brutes- @ the Albion House -Year Future- @ Fireside -TV on the Radio- @ Metro -Artimus Pyle w/ the Tyrades- @ El Colibri -Fucked Up, Tras de Nada, Punch in the Face- @ El Colibri Skinny Puppy- @ the Vic -Arcade Fire- @ the bottle -Non Fiktion Noise w/ No Slogan- house on 18th & Morgan Top 10 Records That Weren't on That List.....(also in no particular order) -Electrelane "Power Out" -Xiu Xiu "Fabulous Muscles" -Brian Jonestown Massacre "Tepid Peppermint Wonderland" -Dungen "Ta Det Lugnt"Liars " -They Were Wrong So We Drowned" -Modest Mouse "Good News for People Who Love Bad News" -90 Day Men "Panda Park" -Devendra Banhart "Nino Rojo" -Grimble Grumble "Leaves Leader" -Elliot Smith "From a Basement on the Hill" Chris Robert (best of 2004, in no order) -animal collective- sung tongs, but even better live @ empty bottle -tower recordings- the galaxies' incredibly sensual transmission field of the... -ariel pink- the doldrums & house arrest -coughs- fright makes right -michael yonkers- it's only yonkers -aufgehoben- anno fauve -bobby beausoleil- lucifer rising (soundtrack) -gris gris- s/t -liars- they were wrong so we drowned -hall of fame- paradise now -homosexuals- astral glamour -bunnybrains- box the bunny -henry flynt & the insurections- i don't wanna -deerhoof- milkman -urinals- negative capability -wolf eyes & smegma- beast -growing- soul of the rainbow & harmony of light -black dice - 'creature comforts' Mark Lux -Gris Gris s/t -Comets on Fire 'Blue Cathedral' -Rogue Wave 'Out of the Shadow' -tower Recordings 'Galaxies Incredible...' -Hall of Fame 'Paradise Now' -Califone 'Heron King Blues' -Vibracathedral Orchestra (ECLIPSE) -Josephine Foster & the Supposed 'All the Leaves are gone' -Oneida 'Secret Wars' -Samara Lubelski 'Fleeting Skies' -Ghost 'Hypnotic Underworld' -Growing 'Soul of the Rainbow' -No Doctors 'Erp Saints (ep)' Reissues: Fleetwood Mac 'Tusk' & 'Rumours' Bobby Beausoleil 'Lucifer Rising (soundtrack)'

Your Best of 2004

(Jim) Magas - Ersatz Audio recording artist This One Goes Up to 11 -WOLF EYES: Dead Hills (Sub Pop) -BLURT: Best of Blurt Vol. 1 (Salamander) -SOUNDHACK: Soundkit EP (Soundhack) -LES GEORGES LENINGRAD: Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo (Alien8) -CRIME: San Francisco's Still Doomed (Swami) -RA-X: The Overthrow EP (Angelmaker) -TAMION 12-INCH: Let's Suffer (Ersatz Audio) -GD LUXXE: From Zero and Infinity (Ersatz Audio) -SIGHTINGS: Arrive In Gold (Load) -ERRORSMITH: Near Disco Dawn (Errorsmith) -THEO PARRISH: Ugly Edits 6-8 EPs (Sound Signature) -------------------------------------------------------------- Geoff Sabin- producer/engineer, Million Yen Studios; guitarist/vocalist, Giant Step -Local H - Whatever Happened to PJ Soles? -Saul Williams - Saul Williams -Elvis Costello - The Delivery Man -Muse - Absolution -French Kicks - Trial of the Century -The Dears - No Cities Left -Andrew Byrd - Weather Prevails -Interpol - Antics -Magnet - On Your Side -Snow Patrol - Final Straw -TV On The Radio - Desperate

Commercial Radio Sleaze

I'm generally not big on forwarded articles in emails or on blogs, but Salon has a great feature story today about how money dictates what music gets played on commercial radio. Not that this fact is any sort of major revelation, but it still is a bit shocking when you see the specific figures needed to play the commercial airplay game. If you have any friends that still naively believe that local DJs and music directors have control over what songs and bands get played on mainstream radio, PLEASE forward them this article. www.salon.com/news/feature/2005/01/05/payola/index.html (you don't have to register to the site, but you will have to watch a brief ad) Stay tuned the rest of the week for more "Best of 2004" lists...regular posts will continue next Monday

Your Best of 2004

Ryan McDonnough, manager AliveOne

-Arcade Fire...Funeral

-Moving Units...Dangerous Dreams

-The Walkmen...Bows and Arrows

-Oxford Collapse...Some Wilderness

-Autolux...Future Perfect

-TV On The Radio...Desperate Youth, Blood Thristy Babes

-Nellie McKay...Get Away From Me

-Ted Leo & The Pharmacists...Shake The Streets

-Preston School Of Industry...Monsoon

-Kanye West...The College Dropout

------------------------ Rev. Michael Flavor - "Hump Day Dance Party" host, WLUW-FM Top Ten of 2004 1. The Mae Shi Terrorbird (5 Rue Christine) 2. Mahjongg Machinegong EP (Cold Crush) 3. The Eternals Out of Proportion EP (Antifaz) 4. Deerhoof Milkman (5 Rue Christine) 5. The Coctails Popcorn Box (Carrot Top) 6. Neung Phak s/t (Abduction) 7. The Advantage s/t (5 Rue Christine) 8. Les Georges Leningrad Sur Les Traces de Black Eskimo (Alien8) 9. Bloc Party s/t EP (Dim Mak) 10. No Doctors ERP Saints EP (No Sides) Local Faves 1. Mahjongg Machinegong EP (Cold Crush) 2. The Eternals Out of Proportion EP (Antifaz) 3. The Coctails Popcorn Box (Carrot Top) 4. No Doctors ERP Saints EP (No Sides) 5. Vee Dee Further (Criminal IQ)

Your Best of 2004

WNUR-FM "Jazz Show" These are the top 50 releases ranked by actual total airplay by our 20+ jazz DJ's for the entire year 2004: 1) Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls - Breeding Resistance - Delmark 2) Dave Rempis Quartet - Out of Season - 482 Music 3) Dave Douglas - Strange Liberation - Bluebird 4) Triage - American Mythology - Okkadisk 5) Matthew Shipp - Harmony and Abyss - Thirsty Ear 6) Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath - Bremen to Bridgewater - Cuneiform 7) Hugh Ragin - Revelation - Justin Time 8) Sticks and Stones - Shed Grace - Thrill Jockey 9) Tomato Box - Any Road - Rattle Tick Buzz 10) Fred Anderson / Hamid Drake - Back Together Again - Thrill Jockey 11) Marilyn Crispell trio - Storyteller - ECM 12) Conference Call - Spirals: The Berlin Concert - 482 Music 13) Anthony Braxton - 23 Standards (Quartet) - Leo 14) Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - Walking with Giants - Hyena 15) Who Trio - The Current Underneath - Leo 16) El-P - High Water - Thirsty Ear 17) Boykin / Seigfried / Reed - s/t - Imaginary Records 18) Von Freeman - The Great Divide - Premonition 19) Yoshida Tatsuya/Satoko Fujii - Erans - Tzadik 20) Claudia Quintet - I, Claudia - Cuneiform 21) The Blueprint Project - The Blueprint Project - Creative Nation Music 22) Paul Bley - Nothing to Declare - Justin Time 23) Kalaparush and the Light - Morning Song - Delmark 24) Atomic / School Days - Nuclear Assembly Hall - Okkadisk 25) Jean-Jacques Avenel - Waraba - Songlines 26) Jon Balke & Magnetic North Orchestra - Diverted Travels - ECM 27) Erik Friedlander - Maldoror - Brassland 28) Ken Vandermark - Furniture Music - Okkadisk 29) Across 7th Street - Made In New York - Smalls 30) Craig Taborn - Junk Magic - Thirsty Ear 31) Babardah - Babardah - Abzu 32) John Zorn - The Unknown Masada - Tzadik 33) The Vandermark Five - Elements of Style, Excercises in Surprise - Atavistic 34) The Exciting Trio - In Chicago There Is Willy - 482 Music 35) Dave Burrell Full-Blown Trio - Expansion - High Two 36) Julius Hemphill - One Atmosphere - Tzadik 37) John Scofield Trio - En Route - Verve 38) Fly - s/t - Savoy Jazz 39) Louis Sclavis - Napoli's Walls - ECM 40) Bud Powell - Bebop - Pablo 41) Chris Potter Quartet - Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard - Sunnyside 42) Liebig / Vatcher / Golia - On the Cusp of Fire and Water - Red Toucan 43) World Saxophone Quartet - Experience - Justin Time 44) Big Satan (Berne/Rainey/Ducret) - Souls Saved Hear - Thirsty Ear 45) Steve Swallow/Ohad Talmor Sextet - L'Histoire du Clochard (The Bum's Tale) - Palmetto 46) Jarrett/Peacock/DeJohnette - The Out-of-Towners - ECM 47) Dragons 1976 - On Cortez - Locust 48) Stan Tracey / Evan Parker - Suspensions and Anticipations - Psi 49) Myra Melford - The Tent - Arabesque 50) Tanya Kalmanovitch - Hut Five - Perspicacity ---------------- J. Niimi - "Radio Zero" host, WHPK-FM Best Albums 1. The Walkmen - Bows + Arrows - Record Collection 2. John Vanderslice - Cellar Door - Barsuk 3. Pinback - Summer in Abaddon - Touch & Go 4. M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts - Mute 5. The Organ - Grab That Gun - Mint 6. The Hold Steady - Almost Killed Me - Frenchkiss 7. Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand - Domino 8. Food for Animals - Scavengers - Muckamuck Produce/Upper Class 9. The Thermals - Fuckin A - Sub Pop 10. Bloc Party - Bloc Party EP - Dim Mak RUNNERS-UP (in no particular order) -The Ponys – Laced with Romance (In the Red) -The Magnetic Fields – i (Nonesuch) -Madvillain – Madvillainy (Stones Throw) -Blonde Redhead – Misery is a Butterfly (4AD) -Xex – Group: Xex (The Smack Shire) -Human Television – Orange EP (Soft Abuse); All Songs Written By: Human Television (Gigantic Music) -Mare – s/t EP (Hydra Head) -The Conet Project: Recordings of Shortwave Numbers Stations (Irdial) -Lansing-Dreiden – The Incomplete Triangle (Kemado); A Sectioned Beam (Kemado) -The Necks – Drive By (Recommended) -Chin Up Chin Up – We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skyscrapers(Flameshovel) -The Owls – Our Hopes and Dreams (Magic Marker) -The Mountain Goats – We Shall All Be Healed (4AD) -Floor – Dove (No Idea) -Mclusky – The Difference Between Me and You Is That I’m Not on Fire (Too Pure) -Drive-By Truckers – The Dirty South (New West) -Interpol – Antics (Matador) Best Singles 1. M.I.A. - "Galang" - XL 2. Team America: World Police - "America, Fuck Yeah" - Atlantic 3. Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out" - Domino 4. The Walkmen - "The Rat" - Record Collection 5. Morrissey - "First of the Gang" - Attack 6. The Concretes - "Warm Night" - Astralwerks 7. Big & Rich - "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" - Warner Bros. 8. Johnny Boy - "You Are The Generation That Bought More Shoes And You Get What You Deserve" - Vertigo 9. Mclusky - "That Man Will Not Hang" - Too Pure 10. Interpol - "Slow Hands" - Matador Best shows of 2004 1. Pixies / Urge Overkill – Aragon Ballroom – 11/17 2. The Russian Futurists – Empty Bottle – 2/16 3. Sunno))) – Empty Bottle – 7/3 4. British Sea Power – Empty Bottle – 3/5 5. Metric – Double Door – 2/10 6. The Thermals / The Hold Steady – Fireside Bowl – 5/23 7. Dove – Bottom Lounge – 6/1 8. The Ponys – Empty Bottle – 8/14 9. John Vanderslice – Schubas – 3/13 10. The New Year – Schubas – 7/15 Other memorable shows Rufus Wainwright – Ravinia – 6/18 The Fall – Metro – 4/24 Chicago Symphony Orchestra – 1812 Overture (w/ cannons!) – Ravinia – 9/6

Your Best of 2004

Danielle Sander - Poloroid princess, Southern Records Top 5 places to eat in 2oo4 1. that korean bbq place that is too far north on western 2. sultan's market 3. paprikash 4. thai classic 5. raw bar ---------------------------------------------------- Erik Roldan - "Think Pink" host, WLUW-FM Top eleven studio albums 1. the organ-grab that gun smiths/early cure guitars with debbie harry's voice? you couldn't have concocted a more perfect album for me. 2. tv on the radio-desperate youth, blood thirsty babes all the hype is true true true 3. electrelane-the power out after all this time, the velvet underground's four studio albums can still be distilled in truly great ways 4. black eyes-cough a second album that got noisier and more groovin with every listen, this band tears up your speakers and ears, not to mention hearts 5. blonde redhead-misery is a butterfly that accident really got kazu to step up and write the most beautifully somber songs ever 6. die monitr batss-girls of war noisy and dissonant, gossip's brace can experiment on his guitar and scream his angry political rants 7. styrofoam-nothing's lost this guy is the torch bearer for what is becoming a new genre where glitch-light and folk come together 8. bjork-medulla okay, you naysayers, "it's too weird, i skip tracks!!" bjork is always weird and has always been moody, and this album has all you want--her voice over and over again 9. faint-wet from birth not too much of a departure, but still--dark new wave that loves new order as much as fugazi? yes please. 10. interpol-antics it reveals more than before that paul banks is the hottest, (and will bear my children as well) and that carlos d, while such a wanker, is the anchor of this band. 11. animal collective-sun tongs considering this is their "pop"album, it always surprises me how far pop can go and still be weird Best album that isn't an album erlend oye-dj kicks the most tasteful and understated dance album ever--a smooth mix going from cornelius to avenue d to the smiths--who knew this folky could get the party started? Great Efforts and Still Getting Spins at Home bloc party--just an ep, so the upcoming full length excites me morrissey--my love and affection's still got it loretta lynn-most hyped schtick that actually delivered some cool sounds modest mouse--i don't care about q101, the songs are strong and isaac brock is still a freak sonic youth--coasting, yes, but experts in the field that they created walkmen--smooth and delightful frank black francis--the demo disc makes me wish i was his friend hives-garage doesn't get so perfect these days (fuck the vines! fuck the libertines!) pj harvey--baby, you know i love you pinback--the bassist is my idol magnetic fields--stephin merritt's got something that we don't even know yet streets--serious story telling here folks mission of burma--so old and yet so right !!!--how to better dance my ass off? Matthew Dear/Audion--micro house is the perfect stuff for one man dance parties Top Twelve Concerts, in order 1. the ex @ empty bottle 2. gossip @ metro 3. erase errata @ coachella 4. matmos @ teatro fondamanta in venice, italy (hoo ha!) 5. morrissey @ house of blues 6. ted leo/electrelane @ logan square 7. faint @ metro 8. cure/interpol/rapture @ tweeter 9. xiu xiu @ fireside 10. modest mouse/death cab for cutie/walkmen @ new city ymca 11. peaches/magas @ logan square 12. scissor sisters @ metro Side notes Dim Mak is the new Kill Rock Stars, Ersatz Audio is the new Mute, Kraftwerk is the new Beatles SNORES -wilco so the guy gets rid of all the talent in his band, gets off drugs and now can't find his muse and has a crappy crappy album that sounds like the cheapest americana ever. -iron and wine folky and depressed just doesn't cut it anymore -rjd2 live strictly boring, not even good as a house party -air c'mon, folks--two chords synth riffs and light acoustic strumming? who turned on the light? -wolf eyes for the biggest nerds ever, see this band's fan base -r.e.m. i think my boys are totally getting old, like neil young style -(john spencer) blues explosion judah bauer needs to start piping up