Last Friday night – to and from the Of Montreal show – Zapp Brannigan’s automobile was filled with the acoustic sounds of Gruff Rhys latest, and second solo album, Candylion. Have you listened to this yet? Neither had I, but it is completely worthwhile — I might go as far as say essential for brit-pop fans. Between [...]

This track is brought to us courtesy of So Much Silence for taking the time to rip the audio from vinyl to mp3 format. Thank you, sir. The vinyl I received is a limited edition 7″ via Fader so unless your one of the lucky 500 who received a copy of the limited pressing I [...]

A few years ago a friend of mine returned from a business trip to Seattle with tales of former Whiskeytown guitarist Phil Wandscher’s latest project. This turned out to be working with Jesse Sykes in their newly minted band The Sweet Hereafter. He also came back with a copy of their, as of then, just [...]

It’s raining like a sum bitch out there tonight, and I’m about out the door with a big umbrella , but before I head out for the night I want to encourage anyone with even a faint interest in Of Montreal to make a point to go see them on this present tour. Last night [...]

Blake Hazard, one half of L.A.’s songwriting pop duo The Submarines, stopped by the show yesterday and played a couple of tunes for us on the acoustic before doing an eclectic guest DJ set. Not only can the girl can sing, but she can spin some sides. Below are two tracks from Blake’s acoustic performance. [...]

Are you down with the Numero Group? If not, get hip, as they are just one of the many, many great labels that have sprung up the past few years specializing in obscure reissues and deep-crate compilations. I spent much of 2006 exploring these label’s vast and eclectic catalogs. Numero Group’s latest prject is a [...]

My exposure to Nova Scotia’s power-pop outfit Sloan was a reverse and catch-up affair as they have steadily flown below the radar in the U.S. — even in “indie” terms. Perhaps the flood the past four years of Canadian artists is what finally made myself (and other holdouts) take notice. Now being released (stateside) on [...]

Without a doubt The Shins Wincing the Night Away was the leak of 2006 — and for good reason.        Mercer and company have done it again, and I must agree with the early reviewers who noted that Wincing moves the band into a more “mature” realm of songwriting and sonic experimentation. And thankfully this is [...]

This is not your older brother’s Of Montreal. After one listen to the group’s latest, Hissing Fauna Are You The Destroyer, fans of Of Montreal prior to 2004’s Satanic Panic In The Attic will be shocked to learn this is the same outfit that produced the expansively twee, carnival-esque albums The Gay Parade, and Cherry [...]

Here is a blast from the recent past. This past fall V2 re-released The Mooney Suzuki’s 1999 tour-only Black EP with five extra tracks pulled from the original recording sessions. This is fine, fine neo-garage. Along with the track additions it’s nice to finally have a ‘hard’ copy of this. I’m not sure what happened [...]