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In order, the shows I have attended in the past few years:

1) Headliners: Modest Mouse
Openers: Don't remember

2) Headliners: Ash, The Bravery
Openers: Alaska!

3) Headliners: The Presidents of the United States of America
Openers: The Village Green, The Carolines

4) Headliners: The Futureheads
Openers:High Speed Scene

5) Headliners: Nine Inch Nails
Openers: Autolux, Queens of the Stone Age

6) Headliners: The Decemberists
Openers: Blanket Music, The Minus 5

7) Headliners: Animal Collective
Openers: BARR, First Nation

8) Headliners: Built to Spill
Openers: The Prids, Brett Netson

9) Headliners: The Thermals
Openers: n/a

10) Headliners: Matt Costa
Openers: n/a

11) Headliners: Silver Jews
Openers: Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, Viva Voce, Stephen Malkmus

12) Headliners: The Kingdom

13) Headliners: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Openers: Takka Takka, Architecture in Helsinki

14) Headliners: Silversun Pickups
Openers: n/a

15) Headliners: Mount Eerie
Openers: White Fang, Jason Anderson

16) Headliners: The Dandy Warhols

Upcoming Shows:

Headliners: Old Time Relijun
Openers: Evolutionary Jass Band, The Watery Graves

Headliners: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
Openers: Entrance

Most of it is done now, although finding out about pressings is hard, and I don't have the exact release dates for quite a few of the releases. So if anyone has any info that I'm missing, please say. Also, tracks that haven't made CDs I'd love to know, live covers and all. Thanks.

Dates written the correct way dd/mm/yy

Kind of Like Spitting

Kind of Like Spitting (Cassette) - Jealous Butcher

Track Listing:
Side A
1. Water Works
2. Power Chords
3. Tape Deck
4. February 18th, 1996
5. Big Grey Parlor
6. Winter
7. Drop the Bomb
8. 4-Letter Words
9. No Free Refills

Side B
1. Liquid Boy
2. Outside
3. Answering Machine
4. Bookworm
5. Still Be Around
6. Better Anyway
7. You Poor Miserable Fool
8. Lazer Diagram

Pressings:
- Limited cassettes


Kind of Like Spitting EP (aka the 'Blue EP') - Hush Records

Track Listing:
1. Shuffle, Kick, Hum a Tune
2. The Thing About Distance
3. March 25th, 1998
4. What a Wonderful Puddle (Braid cover)
5. Just Broken
6. Rowing a Dead Horse
7. Through the Sound of Crashing Pins
8. Mine

Pressings:
- Limited CDs with handmade covers


Old Moon in the Arms of the New - Hush Records

Track Listing:
1. Old Moon Meet New
2. Boy Cries Wolf
3. Two Violins, Which Are Meant To Represent The Forest
4. Tyco Racing Set And A Christmas Story Fifteen Times
5. Dostoyevsky Gets Mugged Outside A Donut Shop In Jersey
6. On The Subject Of Her New Gold Star
7. Young Fiction Writer
8. I Know You Heard Me The First Time
9. 43C

Pressings:
- CD
- Yellow vinyl (Jealous Butcher) - 2001


Nothing Makes Sense Without it - New American Dream - 1999

Track Listing:
1. The Short Story Long
2. Blue Period
3. At Your Convenience
4. Birds Of A Feather
5. Robi Point, Stars Above
6. Out Of Harm's Way...Finally
7. 1330 Oak 1995
8. Dodge Dart
9. Haven't Been To The Ocean Sense
10. Shuffle, Kick, Hum A Tune
11. A Shaggy Dog Shames Its Owner
12. The Rest Is Up To You

Pressings:
- CD
- Black vinyl (Slowdance Records)


Kind of Like Spitting - Hush Records

Track Listing:
1. Crossover Potential
2. Shuffle, Kick, Hum a Tune
3. The Thing About Distance
4. March 25th, 1998
5. What a Wonderful Puddle
6. Just Broken
7. Rowing a Dead Horse
8. Through the Sound of Crashing Pins
9. Mine
10. Canoe

Pressings:
- Limited CD - re-release of 'Blue EP'


Birds of a Feather - Grand Theft Autumn

Track Listing:
1. Birds of a Feather
2. Afraid of Crushes
3. Rowing a Dead Horse

Pressings:
- 1000 on black 7 vinyl


Insound Tour Support #14 - Insound.com

Track Listing:
1. Fuck Liz Where Are You?
2. Now I Can Smile
3. Bird on a Wire
4. Prairie Lullaby
5. Firework
6. The Last Time I Saw Richard
7. Continent
8. Instinctually Restricted the Animal Will Bolt

Pressings:
- One limited pressing in cardboard sleeve


You Secretly Want Me Dead - Hush Records - 2001

Track Listing:
1. Who Cares How Much
2. Catch The Redeye Out Of Girlfriend Land
3. Your Favorite Actor
4. We Got As Far As Minnesota
5. Do You Need Him Here To Say (Elsa)
6. Happy?
7. Maybe We Should Get Married
8. A Thought From The Kitchen Floor
9. Motor Boat
10. Please Don't Sweat The Afterlife
11. Slow Me Down
12. Something In The Air
13. Please Don't Let It End Like This
14. I've Realized That Things Aren't Really Good Or Bad, At Least It's Better To Avoid Looking At...
15. Staring At Your Toy Collection
16. Afraid Of Crushes

Pressings:
- Original cassette & CDRs contain a cover of Karate's 'New hang-out condition'


$100 Room - Ohev/Ganaarecordings - 2000

Track Listing:
1. Hook
2. One Bird, One Stone
3. Scene
4. Hoax
5. This Life, So Unlike the Last
6. 26 Is Too Soon
7. B-Side Poetry
8. Yes, You're Busted
9. Free Advice
10. Pick a Town, Find a Box, Live Alone
11. 11:11
12. Sex Ruins Everything
13. Cater
14. Little Time Bomb

Pressings:
- CD
- re-released by Hush Records in 2006


Bridges Worth Burning - Barsuk - 2002

Track Listing:
1. Passionate
2. We Are Both Writers
3. Born Beautiful
4. He Calls Me
5. Following Days
6. I Want Out
7. Canaries
8. Tyco Racing and a Christmas Story Fifteen Times
9. This Lemonade Is Terrible
10. Crossover Potential
11. Continent

Pressings
- CD
- Black vinyl

- Japanese Bonus track edition

13. We are both writers (demo)
14. Born beautiful (demo)
15. Following days (demo)
16. I want out (demo)
17. Finally (demo)


Live in Seattle - Recorded 30/04/05 (Ben's birthday) - Self Released (but with a little extra help from Chad Crouch & Hush Records)

Track Listing:
1. I don't love you anymore (Magnetic Fields cover)
2. Song for you (Leon Russell cover)
3. Town (later named 'Aubergine')
4. 26 is too soon
5. Canaries
6. Annie's Harmonica
7. Sheriff Ochs
8. Happy
9. Passionate

Pressings:
- 50 hand made CDRs


Learn: The songs of Phil Ochs - Hush Records - 2005

Track Listing
1. I'm Tired
2. You Can't Get Stoned Enough
3. Draft Dodger Rag
4. That's What I Want to Hear
5. Outside of a Small Circle of Friends
6. Where Were You in Chicago
7. When I'm Gone
8. I Ain't Marching Anymore
9. Remember Me

Pressings:
- CD


In the Red - Hush Records - 2005

Track Listing:
1. Aubergine
2. We Fell All Over You
3. Worker Bee #7348-F87904
4. Spin
5. In the Red
6. Sheriff Ochs
7. Bubble Congress
8. All Hail
9. Per Se Wha?!
10. Song for Annie's Harmonica
11. Grapes
12. Line and Sinker
13. Finishing
14. Passing Through

Pressings:
- CD
- 500 black vinyl (Art of the Underground) - 24/05/06


The Thrill of the Hunt - Redder Records - Feb 2006

Track Listing:
1. Thrill of the Hunt
2. Middle
3. Hands
4. Share the Road
5. You (Bad Religion cover)
6. If the Shoe Fits, Cut the Foot Off
7. To the Wall (Intermission)
8. Holding Patterns
9. A Song For You (Leon Russell cover)
10. The Thing About Distance
11. Lay Some Happiness on Me
12. You Got Served
13. Thirteen (Big Star cover)

Pressings:
- CD
- 500 black vinyl (Art of the Underground) - 24/05/06


---------------
Splits:

Kind of Like Spitting/Rose Of Sharon - Jealous Butcher

Track Listing:
1. A Shaggy Dog Shames Its Owner

Pressings:
- Limited 7 - At least two different inserts (grey/brown), unsure whether there were multiple pressings made


Kind of Like Spitting/The City on Film/Sterling Silver - Tour CD - Jealous Butcher - 1998

- Blue Period
- Out of harm's way finally...


Kind of Like Spitting/The City on Film - Sport Records - 1999

Track Listing:
1. There It Goes, So It Goes
2. Free Advice

Pressings:
- Two (??) limited presses on black vinyl - later pressing w/ bold writing on sleeve


Kind of Like Spitting/Jeff London (Home Vol. 1) - Post-Parlo - 11/07/00

Track Listing:
1. Beat Down the Kid
2. Grenada

Pressings:
- 1000 CDs


Kind of Like Spitting/Lemuria - Your Livingroom's All Over Me - Art of the Underground - 24/05/06

Track Listing:
B1. Shallow Doses
2. Team reasonable
3. You I seek
4. Why I Smoke Mad Weed
5. Afraid of Crushes

Pressings:
- CD
- Clear vinyl


---------------
Compilations: [compilation title - track(s)]

Nailed to the stars - 'February 18th, 1997', 'Time, and how to waste it' (vinyl release only), Welcome to the working week (cassette release only)

Aircheck (cassette) - Valentine's day is over (Billy Bragg cover)

A Very Indie Christmas - Tyco racing set and a Christmas story fifteen times

Chico, CA - Your favourite actor, We got as far as Minnesota

Less - Opening theme, Kiddie chalk, When your heroes hate you, Elaine

Mass - Tyco Racing Set and A Christmas Story Fifteen Times

Flag - Portland nationals, Trials of the spiky belt collective

Insound Tour Support Vol.1 - Prairie Lullaby

Slightest Indication of Change - All else failed

'Find' Soundtrack - Just broken, Born beautiful

Metaphysics for beginners - You got served

Read: Interpreting Bjork - In the musicals

PDX Pop Now! - In the red

What are friends for? - Shake down in animal town (later named 'Share the Road')

Mile: A Hush compilation - Hips (Blanket Music cover), Opening theme, The thing about distance, Canoe, He calls me (acoustic version)

----------------
Redder Records covers:

Drunk Sincerity (Bad Religion)
Land of Competition (Bad Religion)
St. Swithin's Day (Billy Bragg)
Title Track (Death Cab for Cutie)
Sin City (Gram Parsons)
Hewlitt's Daughter (Grandaddy)
In Love With A View (Mojave 3)
Inside of Love (Nada Surf)
Some Girls Like Cigarettes (The Karl Hendricks Trio)
Tom Courtenay (Yo La Tengo)

----------------
Known bootlegs:

- Live at Stage 4 (Portland, 10-05-98) - w/ Braid & The Get-Up Kids (audio)

- No Love for Ned (WRSU, 03-10-00) (audio):

01. 26 is too soon
02. Robi point, stars above
03. Motor boat
04. This life, so unlike the last
05. Free advice
06. Now I can smile (The Minders cover)

- Live at Paradox (Seattle, 12-12-01)

- Live at the Fireside Bowl (Chicago, 17-08-02) (audio/video):

01. Untitled
02. In the Flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
03. Following Days
04. Birds of a Feather
05. Free Advice
06. Where were you in Chicago? (Phil Ochs cover)
07. That's what I wanna hear
08. Outside of a small circle of friends
09. How's Croatia
10. Dostoyevsky gets mugged outside a donut shop in Jersey
11. Yes, you're busted
12. We are both writers
13. March 25, 1998
14. Canaries
15. Passionate
16. St. Swithen's Day (Billy Bragg cover)
17. Boy cries wolf
18. Vent
19. Scene
20. I'm gonna say it now (Phil Ochs cover)

- Live at C-Pop Art Gallery (Detroit, 19-07-02) (audio):

01. Following days
02. Dostoyevsky gets mugged outside a donut shop in Jersey
03. Birds of a feather
04. Where were you in Chicago? (Phil Ochs cover)
05. Outside a small circle of friends (Phil Ochs cover)
06. That's what I wanna hear (Phil Ochs cover)
07. Free Advice
08. Yes, you're busted
09. We are both writers
10. Girl problem (Elevator to Hell cover)
11. St. Swithen's Day (Billy Bragg cover)
12. Blue period
13. How's Croatia?
14. Vent
15. Untitled
16. Canaries
17. Passionate
18. I'm gonna say it now (Phil Ochs cover)
19. Little time bomb (Billy Bragg cover)
20. Everybody loves you babe (Billy Bragg cover)
21. In the flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
22. A hit ((Smog) cover)
23. The thing about distance
24. Valentine's Day is over (Billy Bragg cover)

- Live at WVUM (Miami, 01-09-02)

- Live at The Palace (LA, 02-11-02)

- Live at the Roseland Ballroom (New York, 22-11-02)

- 'After show acoustic set' - Live at the Electric Factory (Philadelphia, 23-11-02) (audio/video):

01. Canaries (end of)
02. La familia (Mirah cover)
03. We are both writers
04. Life with Lions (Billy Bragg cover)
05. Bubble Congress
06. On the subject of her new gold star
07. *Unknown*
08. In the red
09. Dostoyevsky gets mugged outside a donut shop in Jersey
10. Happy?

- Live at Le Jive Music Cafe (Wyandotte, MI - 12-06-03) w/ Bob Nanna (audio):

Bob Nanna:
01. Introduction
02. It's been a blast
03. Boy destroyers
04. A dozen roses

Kind of Like Spitting:
01. Canaries
02. Sheriff Ochs
03. Dostoyevsky gets mugged outside a donut shop in Jersey
04. Untitled
05. An American tune (Paul Simon cover)
06. Passionate
07. Happy?
08. Common People (Pulp cover)
09. A future worth remembering
10. Birds of a feather
11. Dodge dart
12. Little time bomb (Billy Bragg cover)
13. Following days
14. On the subject of her new gold star
15. The last time I saw Richard (Joni Mitchell cover)

- Phil Ochs cover session - 2003 (audio):

01. When I'm gone
02. I'm tired
03. Instrumental
04. Where were you in Chicago?
05. Remember me
06. Draft dodger rag

- Unknown venue/date (video):

01. Crossover Potential
02. One bird, one stone
03. I'm only asking
04. I want out
05. Dodge dart
06. Bubble Congress
07. Passionate
08. I know you heard me the first time
09. Tyco racing set and a Christmas story 15 times
10. He calls me

- (New Haven, 18-12-04)

- Live at the Vera Project (Seattle, 30-04-05) (see 'Live in Seattle' CDr)

- Live on BSR 88.1FM (Phoned in, 01-08-05)

01. Sherrif Ochs
02. Aubergine
03. A Century of Fakers (Belle and Sebastian cover)
04. Canaries
05. You Got Served
06. Driver 8 (R.E.M. cover)
07. Birds of a Feather
08. Happy?
09. Song for Annie's Harmonica

- Live at Virgin Megastore (Chicago, 07-09-05)

- Live at the Beat Kitchen (Chicago, 11-05-06)

- Live at The House (Dekalb, 12-05-06)

- Live in Woodland Hills (06-09-06):

01. Song for you (Leon Russell cover)
02. Share the road
03. Sheriff Ochs
04. Canaries
05. Untitled
06. I'm tired (Phil Ochs cover)
07. You got served
08. Boxcar (Jawbreaker cover)
09. Aubergine
10. On the subject of her new gold star
11. A Hit (Smog cover)
12. Dostoyevsky gets mugged outside a donut shop in Jersey
13. Passionate
14. Happy?
15. People (Andrew Jackson Jihad cover)

- Live at the Lily Pad (Cambridge, MA - 24-11-06) (video):
Thats What I Want To Hear (Phil Ochs cover) feat. Joe of Ette

- Live at Greggario's House (video/audio):
People (Andrew Jackson Jihad cover)
I'm Afraid of Everything (Braid cover)

- Local Cut Podcast (01-06-07) - post-KoLS

01. Prayer to God (Shellac cover)
02. Brave is a noun (Andrew Jackson Jihad cover)
03. Girl Problem (Elevator To Hell cover)
04. Share the Road
05. Canaries
06. The Christian Life (The Louvin Brothers cover)
07. Little Time Bomb (Billy Bragg cover)
08. You can't get Stoned Enough (Phil Ochs cover)
09. March 25, 1998
10. Song for Annie's Harmonica
11. Common People (Pulp cover)


----------------
Other Tracks:

Army of me (Bjork cover)
Brenda
Caroline, part 2
Does This Bus Stop at 82nd St.? (Bruce Springsteen cover)
Enjoy the view
Fire Alarm
I can't articulate
*I got bit by a spider*
Labels (Wu Tang Clan cover)
Les serpientes en el aeroplano
Luck of the lasso
No, no girl (I'm at the backdoor)
Pseudothyrum Song (Mountain Goats cover)
Such Great Heights (The Postal Service cover)
Sweet Caroline
Vent
Weight
You have to let me try again
Zeroes

'What Will We Do With Our Hair?' - 4 untitled demos featuring Meredith (Ben's sister)

----------------
Ben's Other Projects:

- Unprovoked (aged 14)
- Spinach
- Larry & The Lovers
- Paxmortis
- Bad Communication
- The Mutants
- Violin Capital
- Slotcar (????-95)
- Brigantine
- John Vanderslice
- Urban Legends (2002-03)
- The Thermals (2002-03)
- Worker Bee - Demos were written under this name for some of the 05/06 releases
- Cash Money Bros. featured Ben Gibbard of Death Cab for Cutie as well; I seem to remember that only played one or two shows but only one was recorded (set list below).

1. In the Flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
2. The King Of Carrot Flowers Part 1 (Neutral Milk Hotel cover)
3. Dostoyevsky Gets Mugged Outside A Donut Shop In Jersey
4. A Hit ((smog) cover)
5. I'm A Wizard
6. You Remind me of Home
7. Back To Gray (The Thermals cover)
8. Without You
9. Girl Problem (Elevator to Hell cover)
10. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper cover)

- The Unsounds
- Lips Like Air
- Aaron Schroeder - singing vocals on 'Call out to me'


David's Other Projects:

- Novi Split
- Yoda
- The Real Diego
- The Cherry Chans
- The Sexy Sexies
- Sexplosion
- Ill Lit
- DSL

---------------
Possibilities of lost tracks

- Split 7 with Novi Split - Eat the Fly Records
- Art of the Underground 7 single
- Cuts from albums

---------------
Upcoming Projects?

- Join the Andrew Jackson Jihad

- The Blunt Mechanic - A metal four track band - Predicted an album to be released in 2007.

- Ben has jokingly mentioned a hip-hop album that he wants to make at some point.

- Steely Dan or Bad Brains cover project

Hey all,

This was the "fund drive/please give us money" edition of the Things that are Square radio program. As such, there isn't as much music. But, hopefully, I was able to distill what I DID play down to a missile of musical awesomeness.


Akron/Family - Future Myth - Akron/Family & The Angels of Light

John Vanderslice - When It Hits My Blood - Cellar Door
Mirah - Mt. St. Helens - Advisory Committee
Rilo Kiley - With Arms Outstretched - The Execution of All Things

Woody Guthrie - I Ain't Got No Home - Dust Bowl Ballads
Sufjan Stevens - The Predatory Wasp of the Pallisades is Out to Get Us! - Illinois
Soul Coughing - Soft Serve - Irresistable Bliss
Kimya Dawson - My Rollercoaster - Remember That I Love You

Islands - Rough Gem - Return to the Sea
Why? - Dumb Hummer - Rubber Traits
The Mountain Goats - You or Your Memeory - The Sunset Tree
Built to Spill - The Wait - You in Reverse

Pink Mountaintops - Lord, Let Us Shine - Axis of Evol
Neutral Milk Hotel - Ghost - In the Aeroplane Over the Sea
Manitoba - Bijoux - Up In Flames
The Lucksmiths - The Chapter In Your Life Entitled San Francisco - Warmer Corners

Blanket Music - Red Right Ankle - The Love/Love Translation
Devendra Banhart - Little Boys - Cripple Crow
Okkervil River - The War Criminal Rises and Speaks - Down the River of Golden Dreams
Dntel - (This Is) The Dream of Evan and Chan - Life is Full of Possibilities

The Magnetic Fields - Fear of Trains - The Charm of the Highway Strip
The Dismemberment Plan - Back and Forth - Emergency & I

Background music: John Zorn - The Gift

Things that are Square is on every Thursday night from 6-8pm PST at KUCI.ORG or under the public radio portion of your iTunes player. Or, should you live 100 feet or less from the station, 88.9fm.

-Kyle

Ok, I'm going to try and keep up with doing this throughout the year, whether it's about new releases or albums that I've just been slow in getting it doesn't matter, but I'm sure there's always going to be a few little gems hidden in the midst of garbage.

Cat Power - The Greatest

Well, what really can be said about Chan Marshall that everyone doesn't already know? She continually writes amazingly good music and this album is no exception. There's a couple of tracks that really lag behind the rest of the album, but literally a couple. It's no 'Moon pix', but it's close. For £8.50 or whatever albums cost new these days it's well worth the pennies if you've enjoyed her previous work and a great introduction if you've heard nothing of her before.

******** (8)


Belle and Sebastian - The Life Pursuit

Well who would've thought I'd enjoy a B&S album? Not me that's for sure. Never been a fan of them but this album's just an indie-pop beauty. It's not perfect by all means, and I still don't love the band, but it's one of those albums that'd put a smile on your face when you're listening to your walkman on a sunny Summer's day.

****** (6 1/2)


V/A - Tropicália - A Brazilian Revolution In Sound

I normally wouldn't buy this kind of thing, so I'm glad the album club sent it to me. I've very much a fan of English spoken music, although I have ventured out in the past couple of years a bit more, I still like stuff I can understand and sing along to. Anyway, enough about me.... This album is excellent. My favourite track was definately 'Quem Tem Medo De Brincar De Amor' by Os Mutantes and 'Procissão' by Gilberto Gil. I doubt I'll end up looking much further into any of the artists on the CD, but coming into it with an open mind and no prior knowledge of the actual music made it an enjoyable listen.

******* (7 1/2)


The Boxer Rebellion - Exits

Can't really remember how I found out about this band, but I got the 'Watermelon' EP not long after it was released and got the 'In pursuit' 7" when that came out, also won tickets to see them up in Cambridge once through their website but I couldn't go in the end so told them to give them to someone else, which was a bit of a shame. Didn't ever hear about this album being released though, quite fortunately as I managed to get it for £3, just a bit late. It's a strong album, one for fans of The Cooper Temple Clause's sound and in parts (unfortuantely) a bit like Oceansize. The only track that really brings it down is the last, 'the absentee', other than that it's quite samey so if you like one song you'll most likely enjoy the rest, you just may tire of hearing it. It's a decent length (40 mins) and does make a good listen though, so...

******* (7)


V/A - 20 Years of Dischord

How are you supposed to review this? It's three CDs that span for over three hours of listening pleasure and comes with an amazing booklet that has over 100 pages! I would review it piece by piece but I get completely lost as to where I am.
The discs feature classic bands such as Fugazi, Minor Threat, Shudder to Think and Jawbox, the relatively unknown, The Crownhate Ruin, Hoover, Circus Lupus and some oddities, The Holy Rollers, Red C and Rozzlyn Rangers (that's to my previous knowledge of the music anyway). Where can you start amongst that lot? At the tracks you knew already? At the bands you hadn't heard of? I really don't know. All I can really say is that it's a well made compilation for the £10. If you like anything that came from the DC punk/hardcore scene then you may as well check it out, there's bound to be something you'll find to your liking on there. It's a great collection from a great label with music spanning from the 80's to the 00's.

******* (7 1/2)


The Living Blue - Fire, Blood, Water

I saw somewhere that these guys were thought to be a rising band for the '06 so thought it best to check them out.
They're like a modern rock 'n' roll band. If anyone liked The Hiss's 'Panic Movement' album (personally I loved it) then you may enjoy this, although it's not completely the same style, it has the same feel for the most part. It gives me the impression of being the perfect decent album. Nothing special overall and nothing that you probably haven't heard already, but all the songs are good, none letting the album down.

******* (7)


Woody Guthrie - The machine kills fascists

I'm going to do this one disc by disc because I don't fancy listening to all three one after the other.

Probably the biggest influence for folk artists, Woody apparently wrote in the region of 1400 songs! These CDs contain just 66, but that still amounts to over two hours.
The first disc has some great songs including, 'along in the sun and the rain', 'this land is your land' and the brilliant 'car song' ("engine goes brrduu, brrduu"). The recordings can be a bit crackly, but considering the fact they were recorded in the 1940's you'd expect some to be a bit iffy, they're still highly listenable though. It's not going to take everybody's taste by storm but if you fancy a bit of a sing-a-long a lot of these songs will get you bringing out the acoustic guitar and singing.
The second CD isn't as good as the first but it keeps up his catchy songwriting style, but I'm starting to get bored.


Tarkio - Omnibus

I have mixed emotions. I thought it'd either be typically Colin or completely different, but it's stuck in the middle ground. At points it sounds so country and the next it's into The Decemberists sound. I don't think the ordering of the CD was at it's best, and like someone said on the Hush Records forum, I think it would've been a lot more interesting to have it in some kind of chronological order so you can see how he progressed to The Decemberists, would've flowed a lot better as well probably. I realise it's not just Colin playing, but the majority of people are going to buy it because of him. Best track has to be 'Carrie' - absolute genius, love the track (2nd CD's better).

****** [5 1/2 - 8 (first disc - second disc)]


Jack Johnson & Friends - Song-a-longs and lullabies for the film 'Curious George'

I'm currently only three tracks in, but I can already tell you this is a vast improvement from 'In between dreams', which was a bit of a setback (in my opinion) in his music, but this has already shot him back into my good books.
Hmmmmm, listening to the second half of the album, I realise it's aimed at kids, but '3 Rs' is awful. Despite that, there's a great cover of The White Stripes' 'We're going to be friends' and the majority of the rest of the album is just pretty. The iTunes copy I got came with a colouring book as well :D Doubt I'll ever print it off but it could waste away a few more hours of my life.

******** (8)


The Connells - Ring

An album that's been meaning to grace my CD rack for years, to be a bit more precise it's probably about a decade (since the release of '74-75'). It does disappoint in some areas but impresses the heck out of me in others. For some reason I get horrible visions of The Magic Numbers when I'm listening to some songs (not a fan) and they tend to be the tracks that I'm not so keen on. I really only bought it for '74-75' as that's the only track I'd heard, so it's always nice when you enjoy a couple more tracks.

****** (6)


Martin Carthy - The Definitive Collection

An album that was picked up after that folk show on BBC4 (mentioned at the bottom) thinking that he sounded pretty good. Having got the album I'm not so keen. I like folk music, I really do, but I'm not the biggest fan of typically folk folk (if that makes sense), and this album comes across as typically folk with all the bog standard trimmings. I respect the man for the name he's made for himself and the inspiration he's given to others, but this album didn't do too much for me, maybe it'll be a grower.

***** (5)


Mel Gibson and the Pants - w/guitar

Hey Andrew

This is exciting for us. You are officially the first person to order something from us from another country. You must now spread the word, so you can say you were actually the first

Then that is what I'll do.
I've been after more by this band for a couple of years now, since I first laid my hands on a copy of 'Ladies and gentlemen'. It has in no way let me down, it's just solidified my thoughts about them creating something original (at least in my knowledge). It's a fusion of rap, electro and rock, and before you ask, no, not nu metal. This definately won't be for everyone and at points is hard, but since I've been after it for so long, it was certainly enjoyable for me.

******** (8)


Parks & Recreation - What was she doing on the shore that night?

Wow! This is the best Hush release in (possibly) forever. Now, I'm not one for over-shadowing albums like 'Old moon in the arms or the new', 'Castaways and cutouts' or 'Cultural norms' in a hurry but this album is special. It's basically a full band project from Michael Johnson (Reclinerland) and throughout the 9 tracks it produces some doozies. If you've been a fan of any Hush releases (especially by Blanket Music or Reclinerland) then I highly recommend this as your next purchase.

********* (9)


Kind of Like Spitting - The Thrill of the Hunt

Ah ha, it came, and how happy I am to finally have it. With all the controversy on this album being taken up by the image of the naked boy chasing a kangaroo that Ben and Dave wanted on the front cover, it ended up being placed on the back of the insert. A good compromise I feel. The album features covers of 'You' (Bad Religion), 'A song for you' (Leon Russell), 'Thirteen' (Big Star) and 'Lay some happiness on me' (by names I do not recognise). Three of these have been available before via the Redder Records site but they work really well amongst the rest of the album. It's again a direction away from 'Bridges worth burning' which is both great and a shame at the same time as their writing gets better, but some of the tracks on 'Bridges...' are definately my favourites.
The songs are great from start to finish, and although it's not an instant favourite of mine, it's yet another great addition to the catalogue (along with four up and coming vinyl releases on Art of the Underground).

******* (7)


Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly./Dave House - split 10"

Well it's only four tracks long so the review will reflect the length...
Limited to 500 copies I decided to nab two (sorry people that didn't get one) as I'm sure GCWCF will continue to rise the ranks of the British scene this year. I started playing it at 33rpm thinking that it sounded right (and damn good) on the Cape side, but when the vocals came in I realised how wrong I was, at 45 it sounds even better. The fact that there's an original from each band and a cover of one of the others' track makes it a good listen, although I'm not such a huge fan of the Dave House material.

****** (6 1/2)


Saturday Looks Good to Me - Sound on Sound

I have listened to this in pieces but wasn't really paying any attention, so I'll come back to it.


The Undertow Orchestra - Live at the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, 14-02-06)

Well this isn't a release, but thankfully Brad recorded it and put it up, and you've really got to love him for it. It features David Bazan (Pedro the Lion, The Headphones), Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), and Will Johnson (Centro-matic) and is truly worth the time to download all 35 tracks.


The Beautiful New Born Children - Hey People!

Hmmmmm, don't really know what to make of this, I've listened to it twice now and both times it's been over before I've managed to get stuck into it. Being only 23 minutes long it'll either wear you out trying to catch it or you'll need to have it shoved on repeat a couple of times to really get caught up in it. Their songs only lasting for two minutes each do leave you with a feeling they're a mixture of The Strokes and XBXRX, so you know, slightly heavy, slightly catchy songs yet at the same time slightly annoying. Maybe an overuse of the word 'slightly' there, but it's a word that works well for them.

***** (5 1/2)


More to come this month.......

The Wireless Stores - Dust Ghost
Monkey Swallows the Universe - The Bright Carvings
Leadbelly - The Definitive Leadbelly
Ambulance LTD - New English (EP)


And hopefully a few others I'll try and get my hands on.

Ordered myself an Ebow the other day as well, hopefully I'll actually use this (my wah and distortion pedals have barely been touched).

For March and beyond.....

Corinne Bailey Rae - s/t
Psapp - The only thing I ever wanted
Juana Molina - Son
V/A - Exit Music: Songs of Radiohead (leftfield interpretations)
Letting Up Despite Great Faults - as yet untitled 5 song EP


There's a great show on BBC4 on Friday (repeated Saturday) nights that started yesterday about the history of folk and how it progressed, don't suppose anyone saw it? Part 2 is next week and it starts about midnight, I highly recommend it, it should be the 60's next week and lead into the 70's and beyond for the final show (personally the episodes I'm more interested in). Anyway, I'll try and add any good recommendations I take from it (if I can remember to watch them).

So, what is being released?
I've taken the first recommendation of the year and checking it out at the moment, New Radiant Storm King's 'The steady hand'. Good listen so far. I know about the Red Hot Chili Peppers double disc ('Stadium Arcadium'), Bonnie "Prince" Billy & Tortoise collaboration, Incubus's one in the works, Cat Power's 'The greatest', I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness's debut album, a new Rocky Votolato CD and the last of the long awaited Kind of Like Spitting albums, 'the thrill of the hunt'. So what else can people tell me about that's getting released this year? And no, I don't want the Arctic Monkeys album. Are there any decent post-rock releases this year that anyone knows of?
Anything slightly different, I don't really care too much about what it is, just want to know what to expect.

EDIT: Tool, Radiohead and apparently Pearl Jam are planning albums for this year as well.
Bigwig
Ian Brown
Massive Attack - Greatest Hits
Tarkio (Colin of The Decemberists old project)
Thursday
Super XX Man
The Sword - Age of winters
Tortoise - Rarities/Remixes (3 disc set)
T-rex and Talking Heads re-issues
The Wireless Stores
Parks & Recreation
Kind of Like Spitting
Blanket Music
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.
The 101?
Asobi Seksu
Less Than Jake (with Bob Nanna apparently on the cover)

Guns N Roses

"People will hear music this year," Rose says at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, of course referring to GN'R's decade-in-the-making Chinese Democracy.

Park Attack
The Impossible Shapes - Tum (CD release)

I've had 'Tum' on vinyl for a long time now, probably won't buy the CD but it is a decent album.

Gorilla Biscuits - Start today (re-release)
Rival Schools - unreleased stuff
The Cooper Temple Clause
Chin Up Chin Up

Muse - This one really better be an improvement on the last two and go back to the great 'Showbiz' otherwise I'm going to ditch them forever.

Fingers crossed for a load of good debut albums, otherwise it can just be a catch-up year.

I've had tickets to see Sufjan Stevens on three occassions the past couple of weeks, and it looks like I'm not going to get to go to any! I'm annoyed. I thought other people I knew liked him, then when I tried to find people to come with me no one wanted to see him! What's up with the world?! I'm angry, I'm sad, I'm wondering what's wrong with the world.
To cheer me up I had a session on eMusic (and one extra EP from iTunes).

Sleeping People - s/t

....was from iTunes. From emusic.....

Ee - Ramadan
Tom Vek - We have sound
The Album Leaf/On!Air!Library! - A lifetime or more
Tarentel - From bone to satellite
Sentridoh - Free sentridoh, songs from loobiecore
Explosions in the Sky - How strange, innocence
Kaitlyn Ni Donovan - Songs for 'three days'
Celebration - s/t

I already have the Tom Vek album on vinyl from when it was released earlier this year, but I get annoyed as I only have one place to listen to my records, whereas on my computer I can at least burn it off onto a CD and use my discman, so I'm slowly going to do that for all my vinyls. God knows where I'm going to get some of the stuff from though.
If you like Ghosts and Vodka I highly recommend you check out Sleeping People (or vice versa).
Didn't realise that The Album Leaf and On!Air!Library! had done a split either until last night. Both produce great music and the split EP isn't a let down at all.

Also, out this week is Kind of Like Spitting's 'In the Red' album and Toothfairy's (pretty much members of Blanket Music from what I've seen playing lap-pop as Chad likes to call it) debut album, 'Formative'. Both available from Hush Records - who have a great sale on at the moment - and both will be excellent, I'm sure of it.