Odds and Ends
As promised, I’m trying to do a few more of these Odds and Ends posts so as to avoid relying on Twitter for all of my “one hit” pieces of news. I know some of you still aren’t big users of Twitter, and far be it from me to deny you the pleasures of knowing every last thought that goes through my head.
I suppose the biggest piece of news is that the new Wilco album, Wilco (The Album), has leaked. And, as a result, the band quickly made it available for streaming.
I’m finishing my first run-through of the album right now and… I’m withholding judgment until I’ve heard it at least 10 times. The only thing I’ll say is that, as someone who hates Feist from the deepest depths of my soul, I’m glad they put her on what is clearly the weakest song on the album.
Stew favorites – and band you really ought to listen to – Wussy are the latest band to make Magnet Magazine a mixtape. The band picked 10 songs, ranging from Brian Eno to The Modern Lovers to Tim and Eric, and provided some commentary on each. Check it out. (Thanks to Matt for the heads up!)
Oh, and don’t forgot that Wussy will be at the Red and the Black on Monday, June 15th in support of their fantastic new self-titled album, which you can buy here.
Japandroids’ show at DC9 has been rescheduled for Tuesday, July 8th. If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it probably will soon – the band’s new album, Post-Nothing, recently earned Best New Music status from Pitchfork. I haven’t heard the whole album yet, but what I’ve heard I surprisingly like. They seem to have a bit more soul and depth than most of the recent Pitchfork bands-of-the-moment.
Oh, and just so you don’t make the same mistake I did – the DC9 show is the same night as Wilco’s stop at Wolf Trap. Oops.
The Dears’ excellent Lounge Act on WOXY.com last week is now available for free download at the station’s The Futurist blog. If you missed their show at the Black Cat (and many of you did – shame on you), you owe it to yourself to download this set. The band is absolutely on fire right now.
I suppose this deserves its own post, so it will probably get one as it gets closer, but the inaugural Northside Festival in Brooklyn is really shaping up to be cool. A ton of my favorite NYC-area bloggers are hosting their own showcases, and the lineups they’ve been announcing are great. If you’re going to be in New York between June 11th and June 14th, you gotta make sure to hit up some shows.
Here are a few of the blogger-curated shows I’d most like to hit (looks like I will be there that weekend):
Earfarm (Secret Life of Sofia, Pow Wow!, Shilpa Ray, others)
Pop Tarts Suck Toasted (Real Estate, Palomar, Murder Mystery, others)
Battering Room (Bridges and Powerlines, Pow Wow!, others)
I think NYC Taper is also hosting a show, but I can’t seem to find the info. And there is of course the Brooklyn Vegan showcase with John Vanderslice and The Tallest Man on Earth (and others), and much, much more. Should be great.
OK, that’s it for now.