für eine record company gibt es keine high level garantie. gibt es nicht. natürlich, wenn der kreis der entscheidungsträger übersichtlich ist, kann man sich flott einigen, ob ein act den vorstellungen von qualität, stil und möglicher labelzugehörigkeit standhält. aber wie die musik schließlich beim verbraucher ankommt, weiß man nicht. dass sich uns mit amble down records allerdings ein laden offeriert, dem gelingt, was man kaum glauben mag, ist schon eine mittlere sensation. die haben als kleines indipendent label vor allem regionale acts um sich versammelt, die allesamt großartige musik machen. northwestern wisconsin. da müssten [...]
To the Romans, XL means number 40. To consumers, XL means a clothing size, and potentially a diet. To Radiohead, The Raconteurs, and Beck, XL, or more specifically, XL Recordings, means home. To us, XL is just our latest Friday Mixtape, and a good one at that. As always, below you will find the week's best mix of singles, covers, and remixes, along with mp3s from a few artists you might want to check out! NEW Singles: "Demon Eyes" by The Answer "Stumble Out [...]
Today's free and legal mp3 downloads: Aidan Moffat & The Best Ofs : "Big Blonde" [mp3] from How To Get To Heaven From Scotland (out February 17th) other Aidan Moffat posts at Largehearted Boy Flashguns : "Roshambo" [mp3] other Flashguns posts at Largehearted Boy It Hugs Back : "Work Day" [...]

Thank heavens, the day has finally come that I have dreamed of for the last eight years. Yes, I want to look ahead and do what I can to help repair the brokeness, but allow me this one last potshot at the hero of the tiny-minded on the day his power passes to a new and better man. For those in the same frame of mind, there is good reading in the latest issue of Rolling Stone . Matt Taibbi imagines in great detail the apology that Bush is either too stupid or too evil [...]

As expected, releases are slim this week with Thanksgiving on the horizon. Nothing in particular to recommend, but if you're looking for some stuff from some major artists like Coldplay , Kanye West , and The Killers - well your needs are covered as each have something new out this week as well. That being said, this gives me a chance to talk about something other than music this week... I normally don't delve into DVD releases with the Graboid, but there are a couple of releases worth looking into that I would like [...]

Download: Meridene - "Kill The Memory" Download: Meridene - "Oh! Lover" Meridene are a one of a series of groups to come out of Eau Claire, WI, with a preternatural tendency to go for big, exuberant melodies. "Kill the Memory", the first single from their upcoming debut You're Not Pretty, You're Worse , combines the piano jaunt of Tori Amos' "Cornflake Girl", with a Neil Young guitar stomp of his work circa Everyone Knows This Is Nowhere . There's also a few of the dry-witted touches that [...]
1. Jane - "Screensaver"2. Iran - "Buddy"3. Chester French - "She Loves Everybody"4. The Western States Motel - "Oh World!"5. Jihae - "Best Thing"6. Jay Trainer - "Better to Breathe"7. Meriden - "Kill the Memory"8. Lukestar - "The Shade You Hide"9. Chester French - "She Loves Everybody"10. Plus... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit the MCMB website for full links, free music, great videos and more! ]]
Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Just so you know, this is being written before a single vote has been counted. So, all I have to say is that I'm glad Austin employs a click-wheel and button system for ballot casting (touch screens just seem like trouble) and I really appreciate that somewhere around 50% of Travis County voted early, which means that I didn't have to wait in line at all. Here's a post-election day EP. Enjoy. : Paper Route - Empty House : There's a [...]

I've said it before and I will say it again, Eau Claire, WI is the happening-iest music town right now. The latest band to burst out of the scene: Meridene. Five guys who are dedicated to creating catchy pop songs with an edge. A little like drinking a Boilermaker . Their debut album – You're Not Pretty, You're Worse – comes out 11.25.08. Stream the whole thing here . Listen: Meridene ∞ Kill The Memory Bonus mp3 from an EP: Meridene ∞ [...]
Twin Cities News: - MOKB's Laundromatinee features Cloud Cult. ( link ) - Music is Art interviews Best Friends Forever. ( link ) - The Rake reviews Gwar's Saturday show (also: read the first comment). ( link ) - The Bad Plus have announced a February release date for All I Care . - Above the Fold reviews Kings of Leon's Orpheum show. ( link ) - Go to Clapperclaw for free! (though before it was only $5 and it's free liquor and beer all night long...but if you [...]

Saturday, May 31, 2008 Brain Notes - Volume 3 Three weeks, three brain notes. My brain, sliced and diced, exposing only the most musical of gray matter. Hope you like it! A funny thought about the new Sigur Ros song. The new Sigur Ros song is brilliant. No doubts about that. Coupled with the naked-people-running-around-in -the-waning-days-of-summer video, it's pretty ingenious. This said, I turned the track on [...]