
The rejuvenated Snowglobe Records returns next month with the third installment of its increasingly crucial Tiny Idols indie rarities compilations. And Vol. III is a doozy, featuring seminal tracks from important but under-appreciated acts including Small Factory , Poole , Fudge and The Coctails . The series is curated by our former Junkmedia colleague Mark Griffey, and based on the track listing he has certainly outdone himself once again. Tiny Idols Vol. III: Transmissions From The Indie Underground 1991-1995 will be released July 6 on Snowglobe Records, but you [...]
I've always been a bit of a weird music instrument nerd. Hardanger fiddle ? Love them. Mridangam ? I want one. Bouzouki ? I have one. Near the beginning of this odd obsession, I was interested in musical saws. This was before In the Aeroplane Over the Sea , before Laura Gibson toured with a saw player. The sort of people that played musical saws-at least the ones I could find-were mostly people who attempted to play classical music or popular songs on them. Then a friend told me about a band called [...]

It seems like most holidays fall in the middle of the week. Wouldn't it be great if they all fell on a Friday? Well, my wish is coming true courtesy of Holiday Records a new indie pop label out of Monterey, California. Their entire business plan is wacky, they're giving away all their stuff for free! Every Friday will be a little working holiday with a new single or ep available to download. The label is the brainchild of Jacob from the Horse Shoes [...]
Morrissey will release " Years of Refusal " in the US February 17, 2009 on Attack/Lost Highway . "Years of Refusal" will be Morrissey's first studio album since 2006's UK #1 "Ringleader of the Tormentors". In February, Morrissey will begin the US leg of his world tour that includes rare intimate club dates. For this album, Morrissey returns to Jerry Finn who previsouly produced the hit You Are the Quarry. Years of Refusal Tracklist 1. Something Is Squeezing My Skull 2. Mama Lay Softly On The Riverbed 3. Black Cloud 4. I'm [...]

>> Wha? Apparently defunct indie pop superlatives The Coctails are reuniting to perform at the group's former label's Sweet Sixteen party tonight; there are a few more details here at the Carrot Top Records site. Said party will occur both tonight and tomorrow at Chicago's The Hideout, and proceeds after expenses will benefit the Accelerated Cure Project for Multiple Sclerosis. To catch you up, The Coctails were Chicago pop icon Archer Prewitt 's band prior to his joining Sam Prekop in The Sea And Cake . There is a very [...]
[ video ] Someone recently sent me this John Waters Christmas Album recently. I do not recall who did, but I would like to thank whomever did so. It's a fantastic album which was released in 2004, and is a compilation of rare Christmas music that is difficult to find elsewhere. The album is from New Line Records, so if you guys sent it, I would like to thank you very much. It is one of the better albums anyone has sent me all year. Please send me [...]