I don't think my music collection is holy. In fact, I know there are some major holes in it. But I also know that I have some winners, and whatever you're into, here are five albums out of my collection that everyone should check out: The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me -Brand New: Of their three albums, the latest is definitely Brand New's masterpiece. I would go as far to say that they've hit their peak with this one. The album is full of self-exploration on things like religion and love and [...]

PART 5: The Blakes The eponymous album from this 3 man Seattle band is another great find for me and this little project. No gimmicks, just good music with nice variety between the songs, yet still maintaining cohesiveness. In looking for some info on them, I came across a story in the Seattle Times about how well they've been doing and one part particularly stood out. Apparently, Iggy Pop heard the band at SXSW and asked, "Who's this? This [stuff] is good!" I can't say it much better, this stuff [...]

I'm an equal opportunist when it comes to all things (I've done playlists for MMA, hockey, and football) so I while I forgot to do a playlist for the NBA finals, it can't hurt if I'm a tad late? Anyway Game 1 took place yesterday night with the Celtics victorious. This is a rival against the all-time greatest two NBA teams and it's a match-up everyone seemed to be rooting for. I am going with the Celtics as they are the underdogs (bet on them +160 to take the series) and they have quite a few guys without [...]
candice bergen Great Films of the 1970s by Will Hubbard Murmur of the Heart :: Louis Malle (1971) I suppose it's difficult to write anything about this film without giving away its terribly shocking final scene. But you've seen it, right? Suffice it to say young men with good relationships (or terrible ones?) with their mothers will find something [...]
Around the time corporate America got a hold of Rock n' Roll music it was decreed that all pop songs were to be between 3 and 4 minutes-- because honestly, who has time for a 12 minute overture. Not me. I've recently found that I don't even have time for 3 minute songs anymore. The following are 5 songs by 5 very different artist that get their point across in under 2 minutes. First we have Wayne (not lil') whose song has become my personal mantra. Followed by El-P who sends a letter to [...]

First off, we at MusicUnderFire would like to thank all of the military men and women who gave their lives while in the line of duty. We salute you. I think this weekend means more to working adults than it does to kids. Sure, the pool opens with its 55 degree water and a little bit colder Italian ice, but for the rest of us, it is all about heading to the beach/lake and dusting off our Jimmy Buffett albums while concocting some heathen brew of utmost delight. We did not forget the all-important grilling out [...]

The Diggs Genre: Rock From: Brooklyn , New York, United States New York trio The Diggs have been around since 2003 and the label that has been applied to their emotional punk is, perhaps unsurprisingly, emo, a label that the band themselves are , again unsurprisingly, keen to shed. In many ways The Diggs remind me [...]
Looks like Jesse Lacey 's going to take a brief hiatus from band life to tour solo with longtime friend Kevin Devine this summer. Kevin has opened for Brand New at some high profile gigs, and Jesse has been known to show his face at Kevin's shows (and recordings ) once in a while. They're not coming close to New York, so I'll have to settle for belated YouTube videos, but this promises to be a show worth seeing. If they're coming to your town, get your tickets here . [...]
Looks like Jesse Lacey 's going to take a brief hiatus from band life to tour solo with longtime friend Kevin Devine this summer. Kevin has opened for Brand New at some high profile gigs, and Jesse has been known to show his face at Kevin's shows (and recordings ) once in a while. They're not coming close to New York, so I'll have to settle for belated YouTube videos, but this promises to be a show worth seeing. If they're coming to your town, get your tickets here . [...]
Ben Sollee "A Change is Gonna Come" (Sam Cooke cover) Usually when a record label sends me a track to promote, I download it and forget about it for a while. Especially if the word "jazz" is anywhere in the press release. But even jaded ol' jazz-fearing Liza has a heart that will melt via R&B-influenced bluegrass and a smooth-voiced cellist with glasses, So I'm posting this nearly immediately. I'm a human being here, people! Brand New "Oh, Comely" (Neutral Milk Hotel cover) This is a [...]

sporting my my dad's driving glasses and seat belt for this Mondays mix theme. Ride, be it bus, train, car, helicopter, a compilation for transportation. You can derive the deeper meaning from all the songs while you're on the commute or you know just mellow out on them. Ride - Cary brothers : a chill song, got it off scrubs. the episode where Zach Braff says that line, you know, with those words, to that person... Where are we going [...]
So this morning the unthinkable happened. I crashed my car. I am still in shock and shambles and am trying to figure out how I'm going to make life work now. You see I commute to both my jobs and to school; each being at least 25 minutes away. My life is my car and I have this feeling like my life just got a punch to the jugular. At least I didn't get a ticket. In better news we're throwing a contest for Sally Shapiro and all the details on that little diddy are below. [...]

I used to have a brand new camera about four years ago. It was a Nikon, semi-automatic rifle ... oh I mean semi-automatic camera. Apologies, my mind often drifts to coolness. Must be some habit I picked up during Photon Cannon 102 in Kick Ass University. Anyways, I had this camera. I only used it like three times and someone stole it through my window. It still baffles me how they did it seeing as I purposely placed it at the other end of the room. Did I turn to violence for [...]

MP3 - The Temptations - Satan Clause Is Coming To Town Buy The Temtations 'The Ultimate Collection' from Amazon The world has been holding it's breath for the past 24 hours awaiting the Devil's top 5 tracks for 2007. OK possibly not but here are the five tracks that made the most difference to the Devil's life these past 12 months. After extensive research (well as extensive as possible even the Devil can't listen to [...]

It's Christmas time once again and that means crowded stores, screaming children, horrible looking sweaters and lots of greed. My least favorite holiday has arrived and I'm going to do what I can to survive this season. In the meantime, enjoy the "Surviving Christmas" mix: The Ravenettes - The Christmas Song Fuel - We Three Kings Barenaked Ladies - Do They Know It's Christmas? The Format - Holly Jolly Christmas John Lennon - Happy Xmas (War Is [...]

Alright, I gave in. I swore I wouldn't succumb to the Christmas mixtape pressures of the season. But alas, I am mereley a man of weakness. Enjoy. -- Capt. Obvious SIDE A 1. The Pixies - Holiday Song 2. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Cold White Christmas 3. Adam Acuragi - The Christmas Song 4. The Get Up Kids - Holiday 5. Jesse Malin - Xmas 6. Kevin [...]
I recently had the opportunity to see Brand New at the International Centre in Mississauga, and it was an AMAZING experience. As with the central theme of all my reviews, I'm not here to critique them, as much as I am to boast about how great they are live. I was a bit sceptical heading in to the concert because I was not a fan of Thrice's The Alchemy Index or Brand New's The Devil And God Are Raging Inside Me. Besides that, I found Mewithoutyou to be just ok. As expected by any concert Mewithoutyou put on a good [...]
[MP3] Norah Jones - Ocean Of Noise Turn your volume up for this one, it's a live recording. Turn your volume up for this one, it's spectacular. It's always good to have an artist, one who has only three albums but eight Grammys to show for them, cover Arcade Fire - who deserves Grammys of their own. Jones just started covering this song at recent gigs, her smooth bluesy vocals contrast Win's raspiness and adds a shiny gloss to the song. Perhaps it's because Jones has a voice [...]
Taylor Swift - Teardrops on My Guitar | Mετά από αυτή την παραγγελιά, η επόμενη θα γίνει το 2008! Θεε μου Μαρία σε ταινία με τη Lindsey Lohan το άκουσες αυτό πράγμα? Malcolm Middleton - Four Cigarettes The National - Apartment Story Jesse Lacey - The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows (acoustic) Moving Units - Hearts Departed Great Lake Swimmers - See You On The Moon!
I need to urge anyone left reading this blog who did not watch Season One of Friday Night Lights last year to pick up the DVD set today. It's only $20 at Amazon for the 5-disc set, and it will not disappoint. In fact, if you don't like it, they'll give you your money back . Seriously! If you're staring down the television barrel of another month of The Two Coreys and CSI re-runs, this is a no-brainier. A few points... No, it's not really all that much about football. You hear that [...]