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Monday, February 1, 2010
 

Today's Quick Mention:  Tonight I'm joining up with some people from work and heading down to the Austin Chronicle/Grounded In Music's first ever Mind Over Music trivia competition.  It'll probably be pretty difficult, but my guess is that it will also be equally fun.  Anyone else out there have a team?

Sorry for no podcast this weekend.  As I tweeted, my PC was having a variety of issues (not even sure if it's fixed now) and I just couldn't get it done.  On the bright side, I picked the five best songs I had planned on putting in it and posted them up today.  Enjoy.

:The Tallest Man On Earth - King Of Spain:  It's weird, I've definitely heard this folk-ish, alt-country sound from acts like Deer Tick, Langhorne Slim and many more, and yet somehow this, which isn't even close to being groundbreaking, feels as fresh as ever.  Is it the voice? Maybe the songwriting?  I'm not sure.  But I'm anxious to hear more so that I can figure it out.  Dead Oceans will release The Wild Hunt on April 13.

:Electric President - Safe And Sound:  A number of years back this band's debut had me excited with what was - to me anyway - an interesting take on the Postal Service.  These days though, Ben Cooper and Alex Kane have shifted gears from their very electronic ways of the past to something that feels a bit more organic.  Thank whoever it's still good.  The Violet Blue is due February 23 on Morr Music.

:Man/Miracle - Hot Sprawl:  I wasn't too fond of this track the first couple of times I checked it out, but after a while I noticed an incessant need to revisit it as often as possible.  There's just something about its odd vocal delivery and bizarro-pop arrangement that eventually wins you over, pulls you in and doesn't let go.  Third Culture Records will release The Shape Of Things on February 23.

:Best Coast - When I'm With You:  While there's a part of me that does think noise pop reached a point of over-saturation in 2009, there's still some great songs out there, and this is definitely one of them.  Now if only everyone else would learn that it's not all about seeing how much fuzz can be jammed into three minutes.  This single is out on 7" now, and on February 9 you'll be able to get a new one titled Something In The Way.

:Joanna Newsom - 81:  Despite not being an artist who releases a ton of albums, I think I've gotten to the point of taking the lovely Joanna Newsom for granted.  Is this song beautiful?  Yes.  Just as I knew it would be.  And the next LP, will it be as grand as anything she's ever done?  Of course!  That can be the only reason for why it's three discs.  Way to spoil me, Joanna.  Drag City will release Have One On Me on February 23.

- John Laird -



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