Video: Istanbul - They Might Be Giants. MTV Europe, 1990

They Might Be Giants revisited a classic this week with the video for their "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" update.

Here is the podcast of The Needle Drop's on-air debut on WNPR , Connecticut Public Radio! On this first installment of the show, we have a review of DeVotchKa's new album, A Mad and Faithful Telling ; some slick pop rock from the UK's UltCult; and the rerelease of some seminal music from Boston's Mission of Burma. Podcast MP3s: DeVotchKa-" Transliterator" DeVotcKa-"Along the Way" Mission of Burma- "Weatherbox" (live)

• Podcast » TND 03-29-08.mp3
• DeVotchKa - Along the Way

One day I will buy an alarm clock. One with a CD player. The song I want to wake up to is "Girl Attorney" from Health's self-titled album. It's thirty six seconds long. And within this thirty six seconds is a chaotic battle to the musical death of guitars and drums. The first fifteen second blast is crammed with fun, shrieks, crazy cymbals, and guitars that snap their jaws. It's how I want to greet the day. Health's album is brief and always to the point. If you want something to "boo hoo" over and pull [...]

According to a recent article in Spin , the Pumpkins are suing the thrones out from under the benevolent profiteers at Virgin Records in order take claim of any money made by the EMI subsidiary during a Pepsi ad campaign that unlawfully used the band's music. Surprise, surprise! Let's just say from the get-go that whether or not you actually like the Smashing Pumpkins is irrelevant. And maybe I'm preaching to the choir on this one, or maybe I'm just saying something that needs to be said. I could be hearing less people [...]

That's right! The Needle Drop is going to be its very own radio show. The announcement was made during this morning's feature of the blog, and soon to be radio show, on WNPR's Where We Live . The show's weekly time slot will be at 10pm EST every Saturday, and the premiere will be on March 29th. Though this will lead to (some sort of) a change, TND will continue its devotion to independent, interesting, and experimental music. We're just happy we'll soon be able to bring these artists and our ideas to [...]

With the popularity of groups like the White Stripes and the Black Keys, the electric blues duo has reminded music listeners of two things: The blues are pretty good, and maybe some decent music was being made before the advent of the Beatles. Because of the length of time between contemporary rock and prewar blues, artists like Leadbelly, Robert Johnson, and Charlie Patton can seem alien. But here comes Connecticut's Bottle Up & Go to put the nail in the coffin of anyone ignoring the ancestry of modern rock. Their music, though it has [...]

There's something about "The Streets" from this album. It might be the keyboard. It might be the droning Nico-ish vocal. It might be that strange percussion loop in the background. It might be that rattlesnake shaker that hits your ear right before the chorus comes in. And that fucking organ in this song. Sounds like a vampire plays it. It might be the venom of the chorus. And it is how they all work together. Religious Knives comprises of members of Mouthus and Double Leopards, delivering drones and evil. "Adam" is a terrifying flashlight game, set [...]

• Religious Knives - The Streets

On this week's installment of The Needle Drop Podcast, an interview with Guapo's Daniel O'Sullivan. Despite 10 years of changes in lineup, progressive and avant-garde music has remained the name of the game for the London-based band. Their new album, Elixirs, comes with yet another change in roster: the resignation of Matt Thompson, an original member of the band. The Needle Drop spoke with Daniel about the music on Elixirs and carrying on Guapo's name. Podcast