Thank You Note

Dear Polyvinyl Record Company,

You don't know me, and that's fine. I'm not writing to be personal; I just want to thank you. Thank you for putting out Mates of States new album, Bring it Back on vinyl. Thank you for making it cheaper than the CD. Thank you for making it gatefold with all the lyrics written on the sleeve and several cute pictures of Kori Gardner and Jason Hammel, the husband and wife duo that compose the band.

Thank you for allowing the warm organ tones that sound like The Postal Service making a kids album without all the computing. Bring It Back may not be as playful as Team Boo or Our Constant Concern (Mates of States's second and third LPs, respectively), but the songs are given more depth by layered, choral vocals. Thanks for making the record 180 gram vinyl. Most of all, thanks for bringing a little extra warmth to this early spring.

Sincerely,
Stoplight Sleep

You can hear "Fraud in the 80s" and "Like U Crazy" from Mates of States's Bring it Back as well other tracks at their website.
You can download "Fraud in the 80s" on Polyvinyl's site.

Drat & Post pt2

Well, today I should have been talking about how I bought Drum’s Not Dead by the Liars and Bring It Back by Mates of State. But none of what passes for the music stores in this town had either, so I came home with the deluxe edition of Downward Spiral (Best Buy has it for $20 now) and a Mark Langenan EP. I’ll be placing an order from insound shortly.

So instead of previews of the albums, you’re getting part two of “Post.”

Thanks for reading and enjoy:

“Post” pt2

Here’s the part where someone accuses me of being a hipster (Is that good or bad?) or of simply enjoying things for their obscurity. Some of my favorite artists are huge and completely known: Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Sr., and even the Beatles. See, I’m not one of those indie purists who say the Kinks were better than the Beatles. VU were, however.

I like music because it speaks to me or makes me wanna move my ass, and I listen occasionally listen to things because they’re challenging or interesting. People ask me what kind of music I like. I say, “Everything.” There is no genre that I can say I don’t like something from. (Please, feel free to take this moment to make fun of my overzealous sincerity and narcissism. See, I’m as cynical as you.)

But enough about me, we’re here to talk about the music. According to my girlfriend, she’s occasionally surprised my taste in music. Most recently she was taken off-guard by my interest in Horse the Band, a band two or three blocks away form the accessibility of Robbers on High Street. In addition to how post-hardcore-freak-out-punk (or whatever you wish to call it) makes me want to break a hip and slap my hands together, I love how it challenges while entertaining. Like most good rock, it doesn’t take itself too seriously, but still makes a serious statement. And there’s nothing wrong with the adrenaline tingle up my backside when I hear “Cutsman.”

. . . to be continued . . .

Download “Cutsman” by Horse the Band

Expo & Post pt1

There's something cool going on in Cape, comic fans!

http://www.comicsexpo2006.greatnow.com/


What follows in part one of a essay I'm working on about my tastes and opinions concerning indie and what I call post-punk music (although I think I'm totally misusing the label).

Post pt1

Early this year, my girlfriend and I were browsing a department store for items to purchase with our credit from returned Xmas presents. As I was perusing the stainless steel cookware (We got a wok), an ad for Pontiac echoed through the nearly empty aisles. I unconsciously ignored the commercial until I recognized the song: Robbers on High Street'’s "“Japanese Girls."” Until that moment, the song'’s slow, warm Television-inspired chords had inspired visions of a cooler life in a cooler town. Robbers on High Street were on track to being grouped with my other classic indie-style favs, even though they are on New Line [Cinema] Records. I haven'’t listened to a single track from Tree City since then. Not because I'’m so idealistically oppose commercialism, but because their music was somehow tainted. Instead of being associated with my girlfriend or a lazy afternoon, they reminded me of the cold white tile of the home section at Macy's and rebates on 2005 models.

Links

Rather than make a real update, I just wanted to point out the changes I've made to my links section. I'm now using BlogRolling to manage my musicblog links. These are all blogs that I check on a fairly regular basis or have found something interesting on. Take some time to check them out. They're roughly ordered from most to least favorite, top to bottom.


I will give you Three 6 Mafia's performance and acceptance from the Oscars.

Memphis represent!

Everything Nice to Download

I fully intended on updating last night. Instead, I found myself immersed in a newly discovered web comic, Nothing Nice to Say. The self-proclaimed "world's first online punk comic" has simultaneously discouraged me from attempting a web comic and inspired me to finally do one. I feel like Mitch Clem has already done it better than I could. Although I'd have a slightly different perspective, you'd hear the same song. However, the success of a comic that touches on issues such as the flawed morality of organized religion and sexism then makes fun of Fifteen and Pennywise indicates the availability of an eager audience.

In encourage you to browse all of the archives (as many jokes are running), but I've handpicked a few of my favs.
I Hate Bill Keane
Millions of Dead Cartoonists
I Hate GG Allen
Guest Strip by Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content
and this Guest Strip by Francesco Marciuliano of Medium Large


In case you're not as indie know as me (and I hope for your sake you're not as nerdy as me), the SXSW festival is coming up. South by Southwest features hundreds of bands, films, and other performers. Anyone who's anyone in the independent media community will be there. I will not be there.

But I do have almost a thousand mp3s from the showcasing talent. These torrent files feature songs from Islands (formerly Unicorns), Mark Lanegan & Isobel Campbell, and RJD2. I highly recommend the dl, but make sure you have enough space on your harddrive and remember to upload; don't be a leach.

That's all for now friend.