J's Indie/Rock Mayhem - 27th February 2008

[Welcome to another night of J's Indie/Rock Mayhem and man, it was quite a night. Some great new music - really fantastic songs in between and all sorts of fun. I'm looking forward to broadcasting my interview with Jesse Malin next week, so make sure you check back next week for that as well.

Congratulations to Kat who correctly identified Jane Austen as the author of Emma in order to win the $15 gift certificate to BB's New and Used CDs and DVDs in the Quaker Village shopping center. I give away the gift certificate every week, via trivia, at the beginning of the third set - usually around 6:30 PM - so tune in for your chance to win.

Tons of great stuff to get to, so let's go. Onward.]

J's Indie/Rock Podcast: 27th February 2008 Show

Theme Song - Peaches - "Rock Show"
>
Band of Horses - "Islands on the Coast" [from last year's cease to begin and one of my favorite singles of last year. it's a soaring, majestic rocker and man, it's endlessly catchy to boot. so, so good.]
Wire - "Mr. Suit" [from pink flag. my copy of chairs missing, their second album, has gone, well, missing. it's upsetting as it's my favorite of the early wire albums. this album goes by in the blink of an eye and man, it's something else. wire has a new album on the way, so i've heard. here's hoping it adds to their pretty impressive second-reunion output so far.]
the Whigs - "I Never Want to Go Home" [from mission control. they'll be opening for the drive-by truckers in asheville at the end of march. i'm very excited to see them again as they put on a hell of a show last time i saw them.]
Dead Meadow - "What Needs Must Be" [from old growth which i reviewed last week. a pretty sturdy little record.]
>
the Giraffes - "Prime Motivator" [from a forthcoming, maybe, album. the giraffes are coming to play at guilford in the underground next thursday, march 6th, along with the holy liars, from athens, georgia and greensboro's own tiny meteors. ought to be a pretty ferocious rock show.]
the Afghan Whigs - "Somethin' Hot" [from 1965. why, oh why, do we not have the new gutter twins album in yet? that needs to get fixed, post-haste! so, in lieu of that, some classic dulli and co. i do so love this song.]
the Helio Sequence - "Can't Say No" [from keep your eyes ahead. i don't like this as much as i did "hallelujah" a few weeks ago, but it's still pretty solid. sprightly, gorgeously rendered electronic pop.]
the Stranglers - "Nice 'n' Sleazy" [oh, man. originally from 1978's black and white but also on the peaches: the very best of compilation record. this song is just..superb. the bass line and rhythms are sleazy to the extreme. i love this song so much. it's been in my head for a week. now, i've exercised it.]
>
Bon Iver - "Skinny Love" [from for emma, forever ago which i reviewed this week. a really gorgeous record and this song is a pretty good representation of the album's feel. we'll be hearing more.]
Jim White - "Diamonds to Coal" [from his forthcoming transnormal skiperoo which is out next week. my review came much earlier in the year, but it's a solid record, from head to toe. if you love jim white, get on board.]
Citified - "KL Gala" [from the meeting after the meeting. citified had a great CD release show last week at the flat iron. the new EP is fantastic, as you've heard me attest.]
the Sea and Cake - "The Fawn" [the title track from their 1997 album. i really need to do some more exploration into this whole post-rock thing. i have never been able to really wrap my head around the sea and cake/archer prewitt/sam prekop type music, though i know i like it. any suggestions for like minded bands/artists to explore?]
>
Megafaun - "Lazy Suicide" [from the forthcoming bury the square. this is one of north carolina's best bands right now. truly original sounding - the best comparisons lie in groups like akron family and things of that ilk, but they transcend even that. and does anyone else think a tour with these guys and the avett brothers would be the best NC tour package ever? intense.]
Toad the Wet Sprocket - "Jam" (live) [from welcome home: live at the arlington theatre, santa barbara 1992, a live album released back in 2005. why this came out well after toad's demise is beyond me, but it's a pretty decent live set. this song is originally from pale, which citified's chris jackson and i had been discussing last week. it is a stellar album.]
Black Mountain - "Angels" [from in the future which is also one of my favorite records of this year. smoldering, gorgeous rock.]
Blair - "Mona Lisa" [from her pluto EP. blair will hopefully make it down to the southeast at some point. she's an act well worth catching up on.]
>
Kathleen Edwards - "Asking for Flowers" [the title track from her forthcoming album, due out next week. my review of this will be up on monday, so check back in to see what i say.]
the Smithereens - "Strangers When We Meet" [the lead track from especially for you. this was one of the first smithereens songs i ever heard - from the children of nuggets box set. great, uncomplicated power-pop. it's a brilliant thing.]
Beach House - "Gila" [from the new album devotion which everyone is flipping their lids over. maybe in the context of my radio show, i just wasn't feeling it and need to give it a listen in a separate setting. but i wasn't blown away by this song. we'll try again and see how it goes.]
Sunny Day Real Estate - "In Circles" [from diary which i reviewed this week. i spent a bit of time talking about how well it's held up, but unquestionably, this song has stood the test. amazing stuff.]
>
Jesse Malin - "Tomorrow Tonight" [from glitter in the gutter. my interview with jesse will be broadcast next week on the show. and he'll be playing on thursday, march 6th at the blender in chapel hill.]
XTC - "Living Through Another Cuba" [from black sea. in memory of fidel. raul doesn't have quite the same ring to it. and check out this live video of XTC circa 1982 performing this and "generals and majors" from the black sea album. wicked, wicked stuff.]
Dengue Fever - "Seeing Hands" [from venus on earth which is getting a lot of press. pretty intriguing. we'll hear more.]
the Felice Brothers - "Frankie's Gun!" [from their self-titled album. wow. all i can say is...wow. i really like this song. and will be on this record immediately. let's hope the rest is as good.]
>
A.A. Bondy - "Black Rain, Black Rain" [from american hearts. bondy will be at local 506 in chapel hill next tuesday, march 4th. as will i.]
Drive-by Truckers - "The Purgatory Line" [from brighter than creation's dark. easily the best of shonna tucker's contributions to the record and, honestly, one of the best songs on the entire album. really beautiful.]
the Replacements - "Hold My Life" [from tim. as i mentioned in last week's notes from underground, february 18th was the 13 year anniversary of the death of replacements founding member bob stinson. so to memorialize, the two best songs written about him. first, this one from their 1985 album.]
Paul Westerberg - "Good Day" [then from paul's second solo album, eventually. this was written when bob died. a gorgeous song that even references "hold my life" in the lyrics. still gets me teary eyed.]

That's it for this week. I'll see you on Friday for Notes From Underground. Until then, take care.