IN: Math rock
OUT: Rock by formula

Spoon's next release Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga hits on July 10th. Preorder it today and get the accompanying 22-minute extras disc (first pressing only). Buy the LP and a download of the album is included. The first 200 preorders are in line for 7-inches signed by the band.

Not being a big fan of Spoon, listening to this album is a 1-3 star experience for me on an iTunes scale of 5 stars. This means the tracks will be deleted from my limited-capacity Nano. However, as opposed to other 1-3 star songs, I'm listening to these all the way through because no one can deny the solid songwriting, arrangement, and production on these tracks. The track that stood out to me was oddly "My Little Japanese Cigarette Case," because it's snappy and for uses a traditional-sounding instrumentation toward the end.

All the Spoon fans are booing me now because I have finished listening to Ga and I'm not sold on the commercially-brewed 10-track, 36-minute concoction. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't feel free to worship Britt Daniel.

Some Loose Tour Dates:

05-24 San Francisco, CA - Popscene
05-25 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
05-26 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
05-27 George, WA - Gorge Amphitheatre (Sasquatch! Festival)
07-11 New York, NY - Battery Park (River to River)
08-04 Chicago, IL - Grant Park (Lollapalooza)
09-14-16 Austin, TX - Zilker Park (Austin City Limits Festival)

IN: Peace-ing out
OUT: Audi 5000

IN: Letting it run free
OUT: Depends (hiding your shame)

Boy am I glad I mustered up my last bits of strength to attend the Bright Eyes show last night. Look who guested for two songs!



Yes. Mr. Perfect Day himself! Lou Reed. Conor certainly seemed to enjoy himself, as you can tell from the photo. I wonder how much they paid Lou to appear? He was reading his own song lyrics ("I'm Waiting For the Man") off a music stand.

Every night on this NYC leg of the Bright Eyes tour is going to feature a different special guest. I'll be damned if Bowie and Byrne show up and I'm not there to experience it.

Join special guests Nouvelle Vague for First Fridays at the Guggenheim on June 1st, with summery cocktails from the makers of French liqueur and series sponsor St. Germain.

Nouvelle Vague producer and DJ extraordinaire Marc Collin will spin tunes while ticket holders stroll thru the museum's galleries. Then, the lovely gals of NV will turn out another fun, flirty performance featuring new wave and post rock classics from their albums "Nouvelle Vague' and 'Bande A Part.' The event is free for museum members and $25 at the door for the general public.

Email us for a chance to win two tickets to next Friday's event!

Update: This contest has been closed. Congratulations to the winner!

IN: Freaking the funk out.

I developed a theory awhile back that went something like this: If you don't listen to Al Green or Marvin Gaye at least once every few months, there's a good chance we can't be friends.

Tonight I was channel surfing and happened upon Sly and the Family Stone's Woodstock performance on VH1 Classic and I've decided to add Sly to the list. So now you have three choices: Al, Marvin or Sly. But preferably all three once every couple of months.

I tried to find a Youtube clip of the Woodstock performance, but it's not on there. For shame.

IN: Deep-rooted, tear-jerking fandom
OUT: Chameleon taste to match the times

Loose writer Jason and his friend Matt put together an experience last weekend that was a heart-warming display of their love of the band Unwound. I felt lucky to have been able to witness it firsthand. Unwound was slated to perform on 9.11.01 at The Middle East in Boston, but due to the chaos they never made it to the venue, and the show obviously did not happen.

Jason and Matt pieced together a faux playlist and fabricated lifelike paper cutouts of the three band members. Basically, they put on a faux show in an underground rehearsal space to recreate what should have been - including lights, music, beer, and exuberant fans. I have to say, it felt a hell of a lot like a real show, and it was almost more enjoyable knowing it was faux.

Hopefully this project will extend to a series of more fantasy-shows-that-should-have-been. I personally would not mind a life-sized Stephen Malkmus cutout in my apartment.

Abbey from our photo staff photographed the Junior Boys, but sadly the review didn't make it to our site. Didn't think these great pics should go to waste!

Nick Drake - "They're Leaving Me Behind" (mp3)

IN: rock on a yacht
OUT: yacht rock

If you haven't checked out YACHT yet, I suggest you visit his download page and load some tracks onto your iPod. There was a recent "YACHT on a Yacht" party in Portland, which was basically a bunch of hip Oregon kids on a boat watching YACHT perform. He should embark on a cruise-tour across the States.

In: Visit from the local PETA chapter
Forever Out: The study of evolution

A sixth-grader in Kansas, the last bastion of responsible public education in this country, was suspended from school this week after admitting he stabbed three ducks to death. With a pencil.

What does it say about school violence (or me, I guess) that the first thing I thought was "At least he didn't have a real weapon"?

(PS I'm turning this into the world's first ornithology/music blog. Next up: A 40,000-word post discussing the relative merits of Glen Frey and Don Henley. You've been warned.)

IN: Hysteric Glamour clothing
OVER: Secret yellow fever

I'm getting a house-call haircut tomorrow, and was trying to decide which of these girls I would like to look like. Thoughts?

Here's a track from a zany 3-piece Argentinian band I shared a bill with recently. They're playing at Joe's Pub on May 11th...girls, the lead singer is a kisser. You know, one of those guys who gets away with lots of kissing because he's from Argentina.

Download: Contramano - TV Reality (mp3)