Meanwhile, Kevin Federline looks on the bright side of life.

Matt Le-Khac reports James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem cock-blocked him on Friday at the Optimo concert. He claims he was having a nice conversation with keyboardist/vocalist Nancy Whang before it was interupted by Mr. Murphy. I was at the concert with him and saw all the players in the story but did not witness the reported incident.

Maggie O'Meara reports a Madison girl convergence. Will this overdue PFFR reunion finally result in the destruction of our accursed enemies, the MisFits? I have had enough of Pizzazz's constant attempts to upstage us.

Stars w/ the Elected

Stars
Originally uploaded by Nicolemc99.

My time away from the show scene definitely showed last Friday, after having to go back home for the tickets I forgot and leaving my earplugs at home. But this was definitely a great show to kick start the new year. Sadly, after attempting to take a picture of the Elected early on, the Metro Nazi bouncers told me that picture taking was not allowed that night by the request of "the talent." Ok, seriously? So I was able to get a few pictures discreetly from the back, but not as many as I would have liked.

The Elected is the side project of Rilo Kiley guitarist Blake Sennett, the smallest man in indie rock. He definitely tried to make up for his small stature with a killer moustache and a big, big voice. Their music is country-tinged pop, and was a nice warm-up for Stars.

I've been a Stars fan for a couple of years now, but this was my first time seeing them live, and they did not disappoint. Singers Torquil Campbell (who looked just like Richard Linklater) and Amy Millan were adorable and charismatic, and with the help of the Metro light system and great sound, they put on a really good show. The band was energized and excited to play, and it really made a difference to the audience. They ran through virtually all of their best material from their last two albums, Heart and Set Yourself on Fire, wrapping things up with their first "hit" of sorts (and my favorite song), "Elevator Love Letter." Pure pop bliss.

Gwyneth Paltrow = Yoko Ono?

Jake Ryan or Lloyd Dobler?

Looking for something to do on Friday? The actor who played Pedro on Napoleon Dynamite is DJing at the Apartment! Which you can file under the WTF?!?! file.

My coworker has announced her distaste for the font Comic Sans ("It's just unprofessional," says Deb). Luckily, there's a website that feels her pain: bancomicsans.com. This website is hilarious.

Radio Free Chicago night at the Big Horse this Saturday!

Also, check out the special Valentine's day mix tapes we put together over at tinymixtapes- there's something for everyone!

Happy Valentine's Day! This morning's show was a ton of fun; I always love doing the theme shows because they bring in the callers. Tapes 'N Tapes got a good reception, probably because it rules. I also played a song off the new Belle and Sebastian, which I must say I heartily enjoyed.

Next week I'll be off while I take an exam, but I'll be back Feb. 28 with a special Tuesday morning dance party to celebrate the upcoming WLUW pledge drive, which starts next Monday and runs for two weeks. Pledge everyone, so I'll still have a show next year!

Lollapalooza update: it's going to be 130 bands (more than twice of last year) over THREE days, August 4-6, and will stretch as far north as the Petrillo Band Shell. Hopefully that will minimize the sound bleed!

The big Valentine's Day show is tomorrow, and I've got much of my playlist ready and raring to go, a mix of love is great/love sucks songs to get you through the morning, no matter what your take on V-Day is.

Tapes 'N Tapes: this is my first great album of 2006. Good ol' quirky indie rock just like I like it, a la Modest Mouse, Wolf Parade, and the Starlight Mints, completely lacking in pretension and bursting with joy and youthful exuberance. Haven't stopped listening to it all day.

Tapes 'N Tapes: the Menomena of 2006.

Hot WLUW news:

We're happy to announce that Ryan Schreiber, founder and managing editor of Pitchfork Media, will be launching a new radio show with us, beginning next
Wednesday. The show will be called 'Distortions,' and will air Wednesdays from 2-4 PM. The focus of the show will be new music -- mostly advance material.
There also will be some music news, and as the show develops, possible live appearances by bands.

I think it's high time I met him! I think I'll have to tune in online to see what it's about.

One of my (older) coworkers just asked me how, if I listen to music that isn't on commercial radio, do I find out about music?

I told him the Internet, and the radio station.

Then he said he's not that into music. He's so cute :) .

Looks like local duo The Like Young have been signed to Polyvinyl, which should perfectly fill the void the Mates of State left when they switched to Barsuk (every label needs at least one super adorable married couple singing quality pop tunes with harmonies. Worry A Lot was definitely one of the better local releases of last year (or was it 2004? I got it last year in any case) and I'll be interested to see what their next album sounds like, now that they're moving up in the world.

Speaking of, I wonder what the new Mates of States album will sound like as well . . . I haven't been as up on my twee lately. Should I get the new Belle and Sebastian?

I saw the video for the Strokes' "Juicebox" the other day and I had to turn it off half-way through. I thought it had so much potential when I saw David Cross was in it (as an obnoxious commercial radio DJ who introduced them as "Stroke" and their song "Juicy Juice"), but the video just got gross and raunchy (guy vomiting out of a cab, girls making out) and the song did absolutely nothing for me- it was some sort of weird attempt at rocking really hard or something. Sad.

Here's an interesting interview with the National that touches on their tour with Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and how they dealt with having half the crowd leave in time for their set every night. They're coming back to the Double Door (alone) March 24, and I'll be glad to see them without a bunch of jerks talking in the back. That album is so amazing.

Also, can you guess which two band members are brothers?

You have GOT to be kidding me! I've been looking forward to this show for weeks!

Of course, considering her history, I shouldn't be so surprised, right?

Looks like the Rolling Stones' totally tame Super Bowl half-time show last night was still time-delayed and actually censored due to "sexually explicit lyrics." Seriously?

My Google home page quote of the day:

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

-Hunter S. Thompson

This Tinymixtapes news story is hilarious: apparently Ariel Pink is asking for people to sign up to be his backing band in each city he is touring in. There's no auditions or anything- just the first to email him gets to be his band, and they'll meet up the day of to "practice." Judging by the time I saw Ariel Pink open for the Animal Collective, this probably won't have much of an impact on the music, since I had no idea what on earth was going on anyway. After checking out the Ariel Pink website, it sounds like he'll be doing the first half of the show solo and the second half with the "band of the day," who have to supply their own instruments and amps. He's got a Schubas date coming up February 18- it could be you!

The Village Voice's Pazz and Jop poll, the final and supposedly most definitive year-end best of that compiles ballots from 795 music critics, is finally out, with Kanye on top. Following close behind is Sufjan and MIA.

I mentioned last week that I'd be helping out at Radio Free Chicago while Brad's in LA. Feel free to check it out this week for a couple of posts about some upcoming events going on in Chicago.

And so the summer festival lineup releases begin. Info for Bonaroo the yearly joining of jam and indie:

The fifth annual three-day camping and music festival will be held on June 16-18, 2006, on the same 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tennessee, 60 miles south of Nashville. Tickets for the 2006 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival will go on sale Saturday, FEB 11, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time through Bonnaroo.com. For more information, go to Bonnaroo.com:

Radiohead, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Beck, Elvis Costello & the Imposters, Death Cab for Cutie, moe., Bright Eyes, Buddy Guy, Damian Marley, Ben Folds, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Matisyahu, G. Love & Special Sauce, My Morning Jacket, Cat Power, Medeski Martin & Wood, Nickel Creek, Gomez, Atmosphere, Blues Traveler, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Dresden Dolls, Son Volt, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Rusted Root, Devendra Banhart Band, Mike Doughty, The Magic Numbers, Seu Jorge, Dungen, Andrew Bird, Devotchka, dios (malos), Marah

Apparently the Great White manager is pleading guilty to 100 counts of manslaughter for lighting the pyrotechnics in that nightclub blaze awhile back. I'd say he should be convicted on 100 counts of being extremely odd-looking. That's quite the chin he's got going.

Ah, the real Coachella lineup is finally up:

Saturday, April 29:

Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Sigur Ros, Common, Damian Marley, Atmosphere, Carl Cox, My Morning Jacket, Ladytron , Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Tosca, Cat Power, Animal Collective, Hard-Fi, Derrick Carter, Devendra Banhart, She Wants Revenge, The Walkmen, The Juan Maclean, Audio Bullys, Imogen Heap, Lady Sovereign, Deerhoof, The Duke Spirit, Editors, stellastarr*, Lyrics Born, Matt Costa, The New Amsterdams, The Zutons, Platinum Piped Pipers, White Rose Movement, Chris Liberator, Colette, Joey Beltram, Hybrid, Wolfmother, The Like, Living Things, Nine Black Alps, The Section Quartet, Infadels, Youth Group, Shy FX & T Power, Infusion

Sunday, April 30:

Tool, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Paul Oakenfold, Scissor Sisters, Matisyahu, James Blunt, TV on the Radio, Sleater-Kinney , Mogwai, Coheed and Cambria, Gnarls Barkley, Coldcut, Phoenix, Digable Planets, Amadou & Mariam, Little Louie Vega, Mylo (DJ Set), Seu Jorge, Wolf Parade, The Go! Team, Kaskade, Metric, Art Brut, Dungen, The Dears, Jamie Lidell, The Magic Numbers, Los Amigos Invisibles, Jazzanova, Michael Mayer, Mates of State, Gilles Peterson, Gabriel & Dresden, The Subways, Minus the Bear, Be Your Own Pet, Giant Drag, Kristina Sky, The Octopus Project

I'm stealing this video that Annie posted on Liz's blog because it's so unbelievable. I actually haven't been able to watch the whole thing because I'm at work and I don't think I could control myself.

Recently, I have crossed paths with the electro punk feminist Le Tigre-ous band, Fur Cups for Teeth. During their live show this past Saturday they dressed up as figure skaters. It was very pleasing. The show was part of the after party for a human bobsled race called the Idiotarod. One team, composed of friends of mine, competed in the Idiotarod with an "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" mine cart theme.

Later that night I attempted to gain access to a lesbian party in Brooklyn. After proving that I knew not one but three people already in the party I was allowed entry for 5 dollars. "Short Round" felt awkward when a "lesbian" with a bull ring began to get a litte too friendly with him.

Follow-up: I had mentioned earlier that Pitchfork and the Intonation organizers split ways and are trying to run two separate festivals, one named Pitchfork, one named Intonation. The rumor is now substantiated, and here's a more official rundown of the situation from Jim DeRogatis.

I saw Syriana this weekend. I always enjoy when indie songs randomly make it into big movies; I always wonder who the secret fan is. In this case, the National's "Wasp's Nest" was playing in a bar George Clooney was drinking at in one scene. Great song.

Awhile ago I posted about this blog where two co-workers that were secretly dating made bets with each other. The Chicago Reader had an article about them. Apparently "Olive" went to UW and was a journalism major! She's my age, I wonder if I know her . . .

Time to start easing myself back into the music scene as the anticipation of tons more free time looms. I got myself tickets to Cat Power at the Vic 2/28 and will pick up a couple for Stars and the Elected at the Metro 2/17. Then it's a trip to Reckless for the new Cat Power, Plastic Constellations, and possibly Tapes 'N Tapes, if it's not too obscure for our humble Reckless. I haven't been to a show since Calexico/Iron and Wine in December- I hope I don't get culture shock!

From Salon.com, this is hilarious:

The BBC has announced plans to celebrate Easter with a televised procession through the streets of Manchester, England, using "popular music from the cream of Manchester bands" in "a contemporary retelling of the last few hours of Jesus' life." Highlights, according to the Guardian, will include Jesus singing "the legendary Joy Division anthem 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'" before "dueting" with "his arch-betrayer Judas on the New Order hit 'Blue Monday.'" Mary Magdalene will then "sing the Buzzcocks hit 'Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't Have)' accompanied by a string band" while "the climax of the event sees Jesus sing the Smiths' classic song 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now' as he is being flayed by Roman soldiers. He will then come face to face with his Roman prosecutor Pontius Pilate with the two of them singing a duet of the Oasis hit 'Wonderwall.'"

I should also add that, as a former Best Buy employee, his schpiel about the great and helpful indie record store clerk and the apathetic Best Buy employee is sadly probably backwards. Most BB employees are overly enthusiastic about helping you, and most indie clerks could care less about helping me and probably sneer at my purchases. But that's why we love them, right?

Here's some record store owner's manifesto that's been making the rounds about Best Buy's recent plunge into selling indie albums on the cheap and how it's going to affect indie record shops. He claims that indie labels/distributors are selling it to Best Buy cheaper to get it into their stores and that someone needs to set these labels straight. Not sure where he got this information, since that would be illegal price discrimination. He also appears to compare the plight of the indie record store to that of Martin Luther King Jr. Right. I might have to echo Macky Ole's sentiments in the smoking ordinance comments section with regard to this. Best Buy can sell CDs at whatever price they want to. So you can buy the new Cat Power for $7.99 (which I probably won't do, purely because Reckless is up the street and Best Buy is a drive)- you still can't probably can't get 90% of what indie stores have to offer.

Here's some record store owner's manifesto that's been making the rounds about Best Buy's recent plunge into selling indie albums on the cheap and how it's going to affect indie record shops. He claims that indie labels/distributors are selling it to Best Buy cheaper to get it into their stores and that someone needs to set these labels straight. Not sure where he got this information, since that would be illegal price discrimination. He also appears to compare the plight of the indie record store to that of Martin Luther King Jr. I night have to echo Macky Ole's sentiments in the smoking ordinance comments section with regard to this- Best Buy can sell CDs at whatever price they want to. So you can buy the new Cat Power for $7.99 (which I probably won't do, purely because Reckless is up the street and Best Buy is a drive)- you still can't probably can't get 90% of what indie stores have to offer.

Lot's of talk about this upcoming Rollingstone cover with Kanye as Jesus.



Seems like controversy just for the sake of controversy to me.

I realize I'm a bit late to the game with this, but I've just discovered the Futureheads' cover of "Hounds of Love," originally by Kate Bush, and it is GLORIOUS. Played it this morning and had a dance party in the studio. Ok, not really, but it's ridiculously great. Makes me wonder what the original sounded like, since I have had absolutely no exposure to Ms. Bush.

I really have no idea what to think of this entire story.

Here's a nice rundown of Hollywood movies to expect in 2006. "X3"? Yes please! "World Trade Center"? No, thanks.

Good show this morning, lots of random stuff and a few interesting new releases, including foreign buzz bands Test Icicles and AIDS Wolf, two of the worst band names to grace an album cover, the new collaboration from Tortoise and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy featuring classic song covers, and a new band from Minneapolis that's been getting some press, Tapes 'N Tapes, which is pretty quirky indie-pop that I think I'm going to have to investigate further. They're so Minnesotan, their album is called "The Loon."

Also, I played an Abstract Giants track called "Internal Auditory." I think it's an accounting pun.

Hey everyone,

The PFFR is back (finally!) tomorrow morning from 6-8am. Not sure how many great new releases there are yet this year to feature, but it will be nice to be back on the air. Look for the podcast to be available tomorrow night.

In other news, I'll be splitting duties keeping Radio Free Chicago up and running over the next couple weeks while Brad is out in LA working on a film project. Don't be surprised if some of my posts just reflect posts from this blog.

Apparently Apple has usurped the Postal Service's "Such Great Heights" video (the CD-making plant) for a new IMac commercial, and they ain't too happy about it.

I saw a preview for a new TV show called "Love Monkey" and thought it was the stupidest name for a show I'd ever heard. Also, it stars Jason Priestley. Now more information about the show has been presented to me, and apparently it's music-related: it's about a 30-something bachelor who is fired from his big A&R job for a big record label and gets a new job for an indie. Money quote as he realizes what's really important to him: "Money shouldn't be our goal. You know what our goal should be? Finding the music and putting the music out there that will change people's lives, because that is the power and beauty of music." Meanwhile, he tries to find love in New York City.

The new Cat Power album comes out on Tuesday! That'll be my first CD purchase of the year and I'm excited. I'm also being told that the new Liars album, Drum's Not Dead, is supposed to be pretty great, but I'll have to wait until it comes out in March to hear for myself, since I don't really download things in advance any more. Also in the pipeline is the new Built to Spill in April- the song they have posted on their myspace page is pretty great and a Perfect From Now On-esque 9+ minutes long- 5 years off may have done them some good!

What other upcoming 2006 albums should I be excited about?

I saw on the Red Eye this morning that the White Stripes are going to be on a Simpsons episode this fall! Apparently Homer gets Bart a drumkit, and there's a scene where Bart's drumming up and down the street like in the "Hardest Button to Button" video (great video), and then he runs into the White Stripes. As anyone who's seen Coffee and Cigarettes can attest to, let's hope Meg doesn't talk too much.

Here's one man's interesting response to seeing Brokeback Mountain. It's definitely a movie that stays with you for awhile. I loved it.

Looks like the Metro falls under Chicago's new smoking ordinance, and all shows there are now smoke free!

Bad news- I'm sick today, so my first show back will be pushed back until next Tuesday. Sorry!

HA!

Q101's response to Millenium Park's denying Radiohead for an orchestra practice is funny.

My iPod is on shuffle, and no matter how many times I've pressed skip because I'm not in the mood, it is absolutely demanding that I listen to Low's "Monkey" from the Great Destroyer. I've finally acquiesced (sp?) and shall listen to it all the way through.

Sometimes the iPod's shuffle mode just fixates on certain songs or albums and can't seem to let go. Very odd.

Also from Gapers Block today, a link to blog Tuning Fork Media: a site that reviews Pitchfork reviews. Still not as good as the David Cross reviews though.

Ha! From Gapers Block today, for fans of WTTW's Check Please:

What, Nobody Tried the Mead?
If anyone's looking for me at 8pm on Friday, I'll be on the couch, nachos in hand, checking out what may well prove to be the best Check, Please! of all time. All three guests are children (around 10 years old, from the looks of 'em), and two of the three restaurants they went to were---wait for it---Ed Debevic's and Medieval Times. The mind boggles.
- Nathaniel | 10.01.06 ~ Radio/TV

Looks like Radiohead will be coming to Chicago in June, but unfortunately, it won't be at Millenium Park because the Chicago Symphony Orchestra has to practice there instead. Lame.

Lindsay Lohan and her indie rock magazine featuring Devendra Banhart on the cover?!?!

Lou Rawls died this morning. I especially enjoy this quote from the article: "The singer was as well known for his charitable activities as he was for his smooth four-octave range."

According to Liz's blog, Justin Timberlake ("JT") is coming out with a new album this summer. This puts me in the mood for some "Cry Me a River." It's been too long!

I enjoyed this article because it has the word "smote" in the headline and because it's about craaaaazy Pat Robertson.

Pete Townshend thinks my iPod is causing my earache, too.

Looks like a big week of benefit concerts is coming up to support a local music guy named Gary Schepers who got diabetes without health insurance and has lots-'o bills to pay. There should be some way artists can pool together and get group health care somehow. Or, you know, like a national health care plan or something. Anyhoo, Califone at the Hideout, Jeff Tweedy solo at the Abbey Pub (?!?!?!?), and Jeff Tweedy's son's band the Blisters (which you may have seen in a ridiculously cute quaker oats commercial)- not a bad deal.

A sad little review of the P4k new year's eve show last Saturday on radiofreechicago, making me very glad I didn't go. A sharp, sharp contrast to the GLORY that was their show at Schubas, probably the best show I saw in 2005. Don't judge Wolf Parade's live show by this review though! Like I said, they'll be back in '06 at a superior venue (though not as superior as Schubas, I'm sure).

According to this study, women with un-sexy partners are more likely to cheat.

Seriously, am I paying for stuff like this?

I seem to remember last year around this time there already being a lot of buzz for hot new acts of 2005- Bloc Party, MIA come immediately to mind. I feel like I haven't heard much similar buzz about up-and-coming 2006 bands this time around, though I could very well be out of the loop. Who should I be anticipating great things from?

I guess the Strokes show is at Park West tomorrow, Jan. 3, and I'm assuming it's sold out (I'm only now catching up on music emails from the holiday weekend).

Back to work tomorrow after a few days off galavanting around Madisonand Chicago- boo!

Here's a pitchfork writer's defense of Pitchfork's inclusion of so much mainstream rap on their year-end top 50, and their general movement toward mainstream rap coverage in general.

Here's a link to someone's best videos of 2005, with links to watch each video. Definitely some good ones on there!

Here's an intriguing article about the rise and fall of Lookout! Records.

From Q101.com:

"The Strokes will be coming to downtown Chicago on January 3rd to play an exclusive Q101 Show at a very small venue. Listen to Q101 Thursday (12/29) at 5pm for the official concert annoucement including venue location, onsale info for the general public, etc."

Hmmm, wonder what their definition of a "very small venue" is?

From Dr. D: Who wants New Year's Eve Wolf Parade tickets for $200?

Seriously, I think Coldplay tickets at the Metro didn't go for much more than that. Aren't indie rockers supposed to be poor? And smart enough to realize that they'll be back again in 2006 at a reasonably-sized venue such as the Metro?

This morning on the bus, a guy got on who was still SHAVING.

So glad this is only a two-day week for me.

Office Xmas party, part three:

Well the pictures were developed and put out on the company network. There is definitely more than one picture like this:

Good lord, Mogwai is playing at the Logan Square Auditorium on March 1. That is a very small venue for the LOUDEST BAND EVER TO GRACE THE STAGE. I came late to the Curiosa festival two summers ago to catch only their last song, and even in the Tweeter Center's huge outdoor amphitheatre, my ears were bleeding within seconds. I think their live show could be used as a torture device in the War Against Terrorism.

The show scene has been unbelievably dry for awhile now, though a few are starting to pop up on the horizon (horizon being February and March). Here's some I'll have my eye on:

Friday, February 17: Stars at the Metro
Sunday, February 26: Cat Power w/ the Memphis Blues Band at the Vic Theatre (word is she's getting less shy on stage!)
Friday, March 3: Matthew Dear as Audion at the Smart Bar (I have still to check out the Audion album, but I hear it's quality sexed-up techno-rock, so this could be a hotttt time)
Saturday, March 11: Stereolab at the Vic Theatre
Saturday, March 18: Akron/Family w/ Larsen at the Empty Bottle (very excited for this, I've heard their live show is amazing and if I hadn't gotten their album so late in the year, it probably would have made my top 25)
Friday, March 24: Scout Niblett at Schubas (she's FABULOUSLY weird live)

The big TMT year-end extravaganza is up now, check it out and waste away your day like I have been going through everything. No big surprise with our #1, in my opinion. I think my favorite part is Matt Weir's drawing/description of Animal Collective's "Grass."

Here's my top 25:

25. Spoon- Gimme Fiction
24. Royksopp- The Understanding
23. Bloc Party- Silent Alarm
22. Xiu Xiu- La Foret
21. Stars- Set Yourself on Fire
20. M83- Before the Dawn Heals Us
19. MIA- Arular
18. Broken Social Scene- Broken Social Scene
17. Caribou- Milk of Human Kindness
16. Thunderbirds Are Now!- Justamustache
15. Robot Ate Me- Carousel Waltz
14. Architecture in Helsinki- In Case We Die
13. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah- Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
12. Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeney- Superwolf
11. New Pornographers- Twin Cinema
10. Antony and the Johnsons- I Am a Bird Now
09. LCD Soundsystem- LCD Soundsystem
08. The Hold Steady- Separation Sunday
07. Sleater-Kinney- The Woods
06. The Decemberists- Picaresque
05. Andrew Bird- & the Mysterious Production of Eggs
04. The National- Alligator
03. Sufjan Stevens- Illinois
01. Animal Collective- Feels (tie)
01. Wolf Parade- Apologies to the Queen Mary (tie)

From Gapers Block, here's a profile of Jay Ryan in the Chicago Sun-Times. He doesn't look like I'd pictured him.

Parade of cute animals into fire!

P4k's top 50 albums of the year is out now, thankfully not the same day as TMT's or I'd be spending all day at work looking at year-end music websites. What's up with the picture they've got on the front page? I don't know if I get it- it's like New York skyscrapers with a Logan Square street sign in front. Whatever.

I'm down with Sufjan as #1, but much of the rest of their list leaves some things to be desired. I still don't get this Art Brut band and what makes them so fascinating, other than they're supposed to be ironic or something. I don't get why albums that they consider "best new music" during the year don't even make the top 50 (Architecture in Helsinki, Black Mountain, Caribou). Andrew Bird is sorely missing, even though the site raved about him fairly regularly and gave "Fake Palindromes" five stars.

The idea of a top singles list also doesn't make total sense to me, since I'm not sure what makes something a "single" anymore. I'll stand by Kelly Clarkson at #4, Antony's "Hope There's Someone" was a nice change of pace at #1, but most of it is mainstream rap singles with random indie stuff thrown in the midst. Why is Animal Collective's "Grass" considered a single while nothing from Illinois can get single status? Stylus Magazine's top singles were also very, very odd choices.

Still have no clue what will be on TMT's top 25 tomorrow, other than Sufjan of course! We have a nice "song" list that is purely writers blurbing about some of our favorite songs of the year. Once again, take a wild guess what I added to the list.

My work X-Mas party antics and calling-in sick message at 3 AM continued to follow me today back at work, where I was called in for an "impromptu meeting" and presented with the sounds of Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone," as well as my phone message and one that came before it that I'd completely forgotten about that was made from the bar (both of which had apparently been played mercilessly on Friday). I find it hard to believe that NO ONE did anything crazier than I did, but apparently, that is not the case (although one man's wife went into labor the next morning when he was quite possibly still drunk).

DJ LAZER!!!

Sigh . . . if only DJ Lazer were coming home for New Year's Eve again . . .

Meanwhile, while I thankfully didn't make out with anyone or trash the CEO's car, I did start drinking at 4 PM, get soaked in white wine, call someone I'd just met by the entirely wrong name several times, and end up on the bathroom floor calling in sick at 2 am (a message that certainly must have made it around the office Friday morning). At least I was instructed by my boss that I could only call in sick if it was from the bathroom floor, so no harm done. I requested Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" from the DJ, but he ignored my plea :( .

For better or for worse, former PFFR co-host Rockey aka DJ Lazer aka Flying Squirrel is back on the airwaves: http://radio.gothamgirlsrollerderby.com/

My plans for tonight. If no one makes out in front of everyone or gets fired tomorrow for jumping on the CEO's Jaguar, it won't be a real party.

I've been assigned to write a 200 word blurb about Sufjan's Illinois for Tinymixtapes top 25 albums of the year (though I wasn't told where the album ranked on the list). I want to relate it somehow to the fact that I live in Illinois. How to do that, I'm not sure yet . . .

Wasn't it supposed to, like, snow today or something?

I think I'm in dire need of a $215 Louis Vuitton IPod carrying case.

Here's a question: what type of music do you think is on an iPod that's carried in a $215 Louis Vuitton IPod carrying case?

Having a radio show is so much more fun when you have a theme, and best of the year is always a popular one. It's nice coming in every week and playing new music I've never heard before, but sometimes it's also nice to come in and play almost entirely songs I know and love, love, love. Let's hope recording of the show went well, well, well. I think I squeezed in music from at least my top 12 bands.

I think Valentine's Day this year falls on a Tuesday, so you can expect a killer anti-Valentine's Day theme show that morning!

Forgot to mention, since tomorrow is my last show of 2005, I'm going to celebrate with a focus on my favorite songs and albums of the year. Preview some of my top 25 before I post it next week, and hear my favorite song from my favorite album of aught-05 (gee, what could it be?)

Actually, it'll be from one of my favorite albums, since this year I've got a tie for first. I just couldn't decide!

Last night I saw Calexico and Iron and Wine at the Congress. Sadly, no pics since we were too far away in the balcony to get anything good- hopefully after the new year when the shows start up again, I'll get back on board with the photoblog. The show should more aptly be called "Calexico, Iron and Wine, and Friends," as short sets by Langtry (Paddy from Iron and Wine), Salvador Duran (the operatic voice on "In the Reins,"), and an out-of-nowhere reunion of sorts by Red Red Meat (old band of several Califone members) peppered the show. Meanwhile, during Calexico and Iron and Wine's sets, anywhere from two to 15 or so musicians would come on stage to join in the fun. Calexico highlights included a totally new version of my favorite song, "Not Even Stevie Nicks," that picked up the pace and added a long instrumental interlude, and "Alone Again Or," a Love cover (probably best known from Wes Anderson's Bottle Rocket). Iron and Wine's show was considerably different from the last time I saw him play solo at the Abbey Pub with the fuller-than-full band on hand. As usual Sam Beam played none of my favorite songs, but he definitely refasioned the ones he did play, slowing down the faster ones ("Woman King") and speeding up the slower ones. The show wrapped up with the big "finale," if you will, where Calexico joined Sam on stage to touch on songs from their recent joint E.P., In the Reins. Salvador made his way on stage for the 5 seconds of singing he does in the title track, and my favorite song from that EP, "Sixteen, Maybe Less," got some lovin.

Craziness ensues this week as I try to get through work, studying, editing end-of-the-year tinymixtapes articles for our big year-end issue, and X-Mas shopping I still have yet to do. I think a sick day may be in order . . .

Corporate's the new indie!

My year-end list is in, but apparently I forgot to follow the rules of making hip year-end lists.

ABCNews states the obvious.

A somewhat cryptic message from the Andrew Bird newsletter:

TOP SECRET:

Also, ahem, Andrew’s last show of the year is actually NOT on December 17th, it is on December 18th.

However, I am not at liberty to announce the location of this show until December 17th. SO you must check the website on the 17th for more info, OK?

Nerve.com's Scanner blog has this hilariously pathetic attempt to talk to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's lead singer Alec Ounsworth about sex. Really, what sort of questions was he expecting to get from a website about sex and relationships?

Scroll down farther to see the sexy priest calendar, which is "available now (unlike the models)". HA!

CBGB update: It's staying where it is for another year, giving the owner more time to find a new location.

Anonymous sources tell me: Pitchfork and Intonation have "split ways" and realized they are both trying to run their own summer festivals for 2006 when they both attempted to book Feist. Where's the indie rock love?

What's this? Out of nowhere, it appears Chicago has passed a smoking ban!

The big end-of-the-year Tiny Mix Tapes extravaganza is tentatively scheduled to come out Wednesday, December 21, which means it's time for me to put together my top 25 albums of the year. I've got a rough draft 25, but as usual, I feel like I may be missing an album that deserves to be in the 20-25 range more than what I've got now. Hmmmmmmm . . .

Either way, I'll post my top 25 sometime next week.

Let's all hope when I get home this morning that the show recorded successfully, because it's a good one! I've never gotten so many calls inquiring about a song as I did when I played Solvent's "My Radio" from Apples and Synthesizers. Also, Gravenhurst's new album has a song named "Nicole." It's got some strange ship/captain theme to it.

CBGB might be moving to Vegas? Does that seem wrong?

Here's an interesting article from the LA Weekly about blog buzz and bands, with references to Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and the Aracde Fire. Soon these articles will be referencing the Perfect Face for Radio as a major tastemaker, right? Haha.

An interesting little interview up on P4k with Wolf Parade, though not with my favorite member, singer Spencer Krug. They reference the Illinois tollway system and iPass and answer to Modest Mouse and Arcade Fire comparisons, saying what I've always thought, that they come much closer musically to Frog Eyes than to the Arcade Fire.

I think my iPod is making me go deaf. I listen to it every day at work at a very low volume, but still, I'm concerned. I started wearing earplugs to shows to try to prevent deafness from loud speakers, but I'm pretty sure the only way to prevent my iPod from making me deaf is to stop listening to it. But listening to music at work makes the day go by so much better. What to do?