Blog: DREAMS OF HORSES

So one of my favorite bands, one-girl band Tracy + the Plastics is in the middle of a few tour dates across the U.S. Her website only just recently posted the dates up, so a lot of people probably missed her shows that might have gone, which is a bummer. She played last night in Dallas and my sister went and had a good time. She said she only played 20 minutes, which is a bummer but she said it was a good show. She took some picture, which you can see here . I feel bad because I [...]

The Acid House Kings are practically the perfect Saturday morning music. Poppy and sunny, they make the Saturdays that you're doing nothing seem like it's all worthwhile. Coming from Sweden (a country that's been getting a lot of love in the blogosphere for good reason), the Acid House Kings hide behind a misleading name. My neighbor says it sounds like they should be a death metal band. Their label says " Acid House Kings return with a classic blend of 60's Motown and Bacharach, 80's The Smiths and timeless pop perfection." True dat. Their album Sing [...]

This little band from Athens, GA e-mailed me to introduce themselves to me. Their music is kind've sleepy, countrified bliss pop. Venice is Sinking seem like they're on the road to notability, and I hope this helps them roll on a bit. Download a couple songs here, hear them at MySpace. Buy their split EP with What We Do is Secret or a t-shirt at their website .

I know, lame, right? Another shoddy mix. No not shoddy! Was put together with care. And love. And desperation. This are the songs on my cheap only-holds-six-songs mp3 player. So guess what, this mix is six songs long and I think it's good for walking to. Especially "Tribulations." Jim Yoshii Pile-Up-Silver Sparkler Joanna Newsom-Bridges and Balloons (Pocket remix) We Are Scientists-Nobody Move Nobody Get Hurt Wolf Parade-Shine a Light [...]

Well I guess these are okay to distribute. This girl has two Sleater-Kinney live shows from Chicago this year up for downloading. They're available in FLAC and mp3 format. Pretty good recordings. Thanks much to her for upping and hosting these. Download them here. Also, you may have read that Sleater-Kinney has had to cancel their upcomign European shows because of Carrie's illness. I want to say that I hope she gets well soon.

Everyone loves the Powerpuff Girls! I know, they're a cartoon. You're asking yourself "why is this fool asking me about the PPG?" Well awhile ago they had a CD called Heroes and Villains: Music Inspired by the Powerpuff Girls come out oh, five years ago, but I didn't realize how many good songs there are on it! So I'm gonna put some on here. They're a bit goofy but, hey, if you've ever watched the show (duh of course you have) you'll recognize that they fit. I think a lot of the songs were actually featured in the [...]

So I don't know who uploaded this but it's supposedly the Arctic Monkeys' last performance on BBC's Radio 1. The band has been getting a lot of word-of-mouth lately and topped the British sales chart with their debut single I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor . That's pretty nuts. Anyway they are a good band that will be hyped to no end so jump on the bandwagon now! Arctic Monkeys on BBC 1 (follow link)

SubPop has given the us the ability to stream Rogue Wave's magnificent new album Descended Like Vultures . It came out today and it's been getting rave reviews from a lot of people. Definitely check it out. Stream it here.

Said the Gramophone has a great new Wolf Parade track up. I guess it was played live sometime last week. It's an awesome song. Definitely go check it out. I'm ready to hear some more new songs by them. I hear they're playing some new material on tour. That's good.

We Are Scientists have been around the blogosphere for awhile and have released a couple singles and an EP. Their new album With Love & Squalor not only will probably win my award for cutest album cover at the end of the year but may also be able to rest on its laurels in my top ten. It's full of energy and uninhibited goofiness. They seem like really fun kids and are probably amazing to see live. Oh what's that you say, they are on tour? Oh! Not here, but maybe near you. [...]

So I don't remember where I heard about this band but their name caught my attention. Good thing. These four girls from Minnesota have a sound that's all over the map. So far all they have is a self-titled EP but they say they're gonna have an album out in early 2006. Here's what they say: Coach Said Not To collectively composes each song charting the progress of rhythm and harmonies on line graphs. Manic, melodious, observational and satirical â€" the songs tell stories both fact and fiction. Uh yeah. It's real good. Check out [...]

So. Tomorrow The Fiery Furnaces release their new album Rehearsing My Choir . So. Today Pitchfork poo-poo'd the album and gave it a 4.0. Big difference from last year's Blueberry Boat . Is Pitchfork trying to show people they can be nice and mean at the same time? Wow that is a pretty good move. Now the question of whether people will buy this album, and like it. Is the Friedbergers' time in the spotlight dunzo? No I don't think so. Maybe everyone will see this as a one-off. Next year's Bitter Tea will [...]

Well Dim Mak artists/Canadian cutesters Pony Up! , consisting of four girls singing cute pop songs are pretty much the American equivalent of The Pipettes. And they just sold out! just kidding. But they did make a Honda commercial. What's up with Honda? First M.I.A. and now Pony Up!? Someone up there has good taste. Anyway it's a nice commercial, but it's weird that they're selling cars. I'm happy that maybe they'll start getting some attention. Pony Up!-Shut Up and Kiss Me Hear some other [...]

Here's a new video of Deerhoof's "Wrong Time Capsule" by Martha Colburn. It's pretty cool, done mostly with collages and stuff. Quicktime

Ex-Beat Happening & Dub Narcotic System member Calvin Johnson has been integral to the Olympia, WA independent music scene since the early '80s. His new solo album Before the Dream Faded... is being released on K Records this Tuesday. I don't know too much about the album because I don't have it yet, but this mp3 is good. I'm Down

I am reeaaally loving this song by the Rakes. Okay it's actually a remix of their song but it's still awesome. It's got me as excited as when I first heard Bloc Party's EP. Funny thing? They're on the same record label. I hope they get some good press and some love. The Rakes-Retreat (Phones remix)

I declare today, October 21st, Deceptacon Day for the people! Okay I know this is lame. I been busy lately. Forgive me and enjoy this great track being mashed, stirred, mixed, and being generally delicious. And the video is here too. And pretty much my most favorite mash-up ever. The Original Version Deceptacon (DFA remix) (follow link) Deceptafreak (Le Tigre v. Missy Elliott) (follow link) Quicktime Video (Do the Aerobicon)

I was lookin' at Pop Sheep 's site and they had a link to a song by a band called The Paper Cranes . While looking around for shows in the SLC area I'd noticed there was a band opening for Numbers called Paper Cranes and it said they were local. So I thought I'd check out the mp3 Pop Sheep had up and see if they're any good. Well they are really good! The song "I'll Love You Till My Veins Explode" sounds like ELO's "Mr Blue Sky" but sung by [...]

So there's this record label called Undeniable Records based out of Dallas that seems to be doing pretty well. They have three bands on their roster, all from Dallas. Two of the band, The Happy Bullets, The Tah-Dahs, are getting quite a bit of critical acclaim. The Happy Bullets are featured in the newest Entertainment Weekly "Download This" section. Pretty cool. The Happy Bullets and The Tah-Dahs' albums tied for The Dallas Observer's local records of 2005. Pretty darn cool. The Happy Bullets-Vice and Virtue Ministry The Tah-Dahs-The [...]

I found the website for a great company that makes music videos for some pretty good bands. If you go to their website and click on the left hand's middle finger it'll lead you to the videos. There you'll find Xiu Xiu's "Jennifer Lopez," Joanna Newsom's "Peach, Plum Pear," YACHT's "I Love a Computer" and some other good short films. MP3's YACHT-I Love a Computer (BONUS Bobby Birdman Remix: I Will Come Again [YACHT remix] ) Joanna Newsom-Peach, Plum, [...]