rhapsody rock school

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2008-11-24T13:45:00.001-08:00

Dream Baby Dream

2008-03-06T11:04:00.000-08:00

In 2005 Bruce Springsteen closed every concert on his solo tour with this incredible cover of a no-wave classic.

Download mp3

Song of the day: East River Pipe/"Drug Life"

2006-04-19T00:11:00.001-07:00

East River Pipe is a one-man dream pop machine fronted by one FM Cornog, a man whose backstory would make him a shoe-in for an Oscar if he were an actor instead of a man with a guitar, an 8-track recorder, and a sad voice that breaks your heart again and again.

In the early 1990s, Cornog was a homeless alcoholic who was taken in by a friend who helped him record the songs that comprised his debut album, Shining Hours in a Can. That album is full of wistful, pained but beautiful songs, especially the first song, "Make a Deal with the City," which is in my personal list of the top 20 songs of all time.

Cornog's initial singles under the East River Pipe moniker were released on much-loved UK indie label Sarah Records, then compiled and released domestically on NYC label Ajax Recordings. Cornog's later works were released on Merge Records, which in the late 1990s also reissued his first two albums.

While last fall's addition of the Merge catalogue was a godsend for Rhapsody subscribers, it didn't include Shining Hours or the follow-up, Poor Fricky (though I hear more Merge back catalogue releases are coming soon). Still, all is not lost -- we did get Cornog's latest East River Pipe album, What Are You On? While I can't recommend the whole album (file under "faded glory"), I do suggest you check out the song "Drug Life."

Song of the day

2006-04-19T00:11:00.000-07:00

"Drug Life" - East River Pipe:

Song of the day: Voxtrot/"Wrecking Force"

2006-04-18T08:26:00.000-07:00

In yesterday's post, I mentioned the band Voxtrot, an Austin, Texas-based combo who are garnering some serious buzz (bordering on hype) in indie circles.

I had the good fortune to catch them live just before SXSW this year on the tiny backroom stage of a bar in San Francisco, and they blew me away. I've described them to friends as the bastard children of Spoon and Belle and Sebastian -- less fey, more rock, if that means anything to you.

Anyway, we have the band's first EP, Raised By Wolves, available in Rhapsody, and if you do one thing for yourself this week, listening to it all the way through should be one of the contenders. Click here to check out the song "Wrecking Force" -- the payoff at 3:35 into the song gives me chills every time I listen, even after repeated plays. I've listened 3x writing this post (!)

Enjoy the music.

Imaad Wasif - Imaad Wasif

2006-04-17T09:59:00.000-07:00

Play It! Former lowercase, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, alaska!, The New Folk Implosion member, Imaad Wasif, has released his first solo effort on the Kill Rock Stars label. It's quickly become one of my favorite releases of the year. I was not familiar with Imaad, so this album was truly mana from heaven. Solid songwriting collides with sparse yet creative production, and it's all sprinkled with flavors of Echo & The Bunnymen, Robyn Hitchcock, Red House Painters and even some Jim Morrison psychedelia. Highly recommended. (Via: Rhapsody Radish)

Song of the day: Kiss Me Deadly/"Dance 1"

2006-04-17T08:07:00.000-07:00

I saw this Canadian quartet at the Hemlock Tavern in San Francisco just prior to SXSW. They were opening up for the band Voxtrot, and their live show blew me away -- so much so that I dragged my friends to see them again in Austin.

Kiss Me Deadly makes dreamy rock with breathy female vocals. We have their entire Misty Medley album in Rhapsody, and it's pretty good through and through; you should check out the songs "Dance 1," "Dance 2" or "Dance 4" for a taste.

If you absolutely can't live for another minute without their music on your iPod, you can also download songs for free via the web site of their label, Alien8 Recordings -- check it here (http://tinyurl.com/r9zsz) and here (http://tinyurl.com/ry4hj).

Song of the day: Headlights/"It Isn't Easy to Live That Well"

2006-04-16T10:03:00.000-07:00

Headlights are a 5-piece indie pop band who I first ran across while researching shows to see at this year's SXSW music festival. They're from Champaign, Illinois, and in late 2004 released a limited-edition, mailorder-only EP (dubbed "The Enemies EP") that flew right under my radar.

Polyvinyl re-issued that EP late last year, and I'm glad to have discovered it, albeit belatedly. PopMatters says Headlights' sound falls "somewhere between My Bloody Valentine and Rainer Maria," two of my favorite bands. So what's not to like?

Live, they were fun to watch and to hear, especially the songs "It Isn't Easy to Live That Well" and "Tokyo" (both on the Enemies EP, which is available in Rhapsody. If you like what you hear, you can also download the song "Tokyo" via the Polyvinyl web site.

Song of the day: Bossanova/"Calvary"

2006-04-15T10:54:00.000-07:00

Hey there, stranger. I've been more than a little slack about posting to the Rockschool recently. But after getting some tough love/encouragement/ inspiration from Robert over at Rhapsody Radish while driving around a very rainy San Francisco the week before last, I'm back.

Since my last post, Rhapsody's library has grown by more than 300,000 songs -- that's a lot of music to pore over, panning for audio gold. So, where to begin?

Well, you could start by clicking here to check out the song "Calvary" by Canadian noisepoppers Bossanova. Washington, DC's Teenbeat Records, which released the band's debut full-length, Hey, Sugar, this week, describes Bossanova thusly: "New Order plays 'Telstar'. Ian Curtis Sings Disco. The Feminine Complex Gets Masculine. Feat. members of New Pornographers and Black Mountain."

I describe it thusly: good stuff. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: French Kicks/"Crying Just for Show"

2006-01-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

Despite their name, the band French Kicks aren't from Paris or into karate. They do make some good music, though, and one of my personal favorites is the song "Crying Just for Show." The song, off of their 2002 album One Time Bells, was one of my big Rhapsody finds of 2003, making it onto many a mix that summer. I noticed that we added some of the band's newer material to Rhapsody recently, but kept going back to this. Good stuff.

Song of the day: Stars/"The Comeback"

2006-01-19T11:32:00.000-08:00

Canadian pop group Stars are one of my favorite discoveries of the past few years. Their album, Heart, and single "Elevator Love Song," blew my mind when I first heard them, and last year's album Set Yourself on Fire was my personal pick for album of the year.

Unfortunately, those albums aren't yet available in Rhapsody; folks here are still working to get the Arts & Crafts label (whose catalogue also includes excellent albums from Broken Social Scene and American Analog Set) on-board.

That said, with the addition last fall of the Le Grand Magistery back catalogue, you *can* hear Stars' earlier works through Rhapsody. I bought the band's first album when it came out, after my friend Hill put the band's mellow cover of The Smiths' "This Charming Man" on a mix. But until recently I hadn't heard their EPs, one of which, The Comeback, has been making me very happy of late.

Click here to see why.

After a very, very busy year in 2005, during which I took more than 45 trips, I can't think of a more appropriate song than "The Comeback." Enjoy the music!

Issues viewing Rhapsody Rockschool in IE

2006-01-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what's going on, but for some reason some people (myself included) reading the blog using Internet Explorer are seeing the text displayed way down at the bottom of the blog. People using the Mozilla Firefox browser can see things just fine.

I haven't changed the formatting for the blog at all, and it was working fine for months, so I'm scratching my head on how to fix it. Anyone with ideas on how to fix this, please add a comment here or drop me a note at mgrooves[at]gmailDOTcom. Your help is appreciated. :)

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2006-01-15T15:08:00.000-08:00

My Best of 2005 List

2005-12-09T11:17:00.000-08:00

Here's my list. Criteria used to judge? I had to personally like them and they had to have some mainstream appeal.

The first ten pretty much comprise my 10 favorite songs of the year... the following 20 make up a free-for-all of songs that are placed in no super particular order, but that I absolutely enjoyed. I know, I know, a few of these technically came out in 2004 - but I'm counting songs that were released as singles in 05. I really wanted to put Arcade Fire in my top 10, but felt like it would totally be cheating since my favorite song on the "Funeral" album came out in 04.

So listen and pick away at my poppy tastes in music and know that I stand by this list as firmly as a politician does his/her scruples. Hope you enjoy the list!

Listen: http://rhaplinks.real.com/rhaplink?type=playlist&plistid=46161&nav=plist&navid=46161&from=Unknown&ref=im&title=Best%20of%202005

1. Heard 'Em Say (Album Version (Explicit)) - Kanye West
2. Fix You - Coldplay
3. Hate It Or Love It - The Game
4. I Will Follow You Into The Dark - Death Cab For Cutie
5. Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
6. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
7. Mr. Brightside - The Killers
8. Perfect Situation - Weezer
9. GO! - Common
10. This Modern Love - Bloc Party
11. Gold Digger (Album Version (Explicit)) - Kanye West
12. Best Of You - Foo Fighters
13. Disco Inferno - 50 Cent
14. Soul Meets Body - Death Cab For Cutie
15. Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (Single/Album Version) - Green Day
16. Cool - Gwen Stefani
17. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
18. Don't Lie - Black Eyed Peas
19. Wait (The Whisper Song) - Ying Yang Twins
20. Beverly Hills - Weezer
21. Lose Control (Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop) (Clean Album Version) - Missy Elliott
22. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
23. Go Crazy (featuring Jay-Z Explicit Version e-single) - Young Jeezy
24. You And Me - Lifehouse
25. My Doorbell - The White Stripes
26. Dreams - The Game
27. Helena - My Chemical Romance
28. One, Two Step - Ciara
29. Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own - U2
30. I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs

Song of the day: Air Formation/"All is Fine"

2005-11-24T13:14:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I'm hanging out at home today, cooking with my lady and listening to Rhapsody on my home stereo, and the song "All is Fine" by Air Formation just came on. Seemed like an appropriate sentiment for the day, and a great song to boot. Enjoy the music (and the turkey).

Song of the day: Airiel/"In Your Room"

2005-11-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

My girlffriend is flying out from New York tomorrow, flying into town for good times and hot turkey served up in both cases by yours truly.

As I prepare for the big day this Thursday, I've been listening to a lot of music around the house -- mostly My Morning Jacket (who my friend Ted has been earnestly trying to turn me onto for a while now) but also a lot of the shoegaze music the kids are talking about.

This morning, the song "In Your Room" by Airiel really hit me hard. It's gorgeous, and swirling, and beautiful. I think you'll enjoy hearing it. At least I hope so. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Brideshead/"Shampoo Bubble"

2005-11-20T12:11:00.000-08:00

It's beautiful here today in the Bay area, sunny and unseasonably warm. Given the warm weather, it seemed entirely appropriate to listen to some sunny twee pop -- and for that, I give you "Shampoo Bubble," a single from German pop group Brideshead. This song is taken from Sevensummers: International Pop, Volume 2, a compilation put out 5 years back by Kindercore Records; the album is chock full of fey songs from bands like Red Sleeping Beauty and Acid House Kings. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Robert Pollard/"Dancing Girls and Dancing Men"

2005-11-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

As Drake Lelane has pointed out, Rhapsody users are getting early access to From a Compound Eye, the new solo album from Bob Pollard, former Guided by Voices frontman and prolific songwriter extraordinaire. I've only listened to a few songs so far, but I'm liking what I hear, especially this song: "Dancing Girls and Dancing Men," an insistent little ditty. Enjoy the music!

Song of the day: Unrest/"Suki"

2005-10-29T08:24:00.000-07:00

Nice -- I just realized that Imperial f.f.r.r., the classic 1992 album by DC area pop group Unrest, has been added to Rhapsody. The album, on Teenbeat Records --one of my all-time favorite record labels-- is chock full of manic guitar strumming, killer bass and catchy songs like "Suki," "Isabel," and "Cherry Cream On."

Rhapsody's got the deluxe edition released in February by Teenbeat, coinciding with the label's 20th anniversary. This version includes a bunch of bonus material, including 7" mixes, demos and other hard-to-find songs. It's a highly, highly recommended listen. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/"In This Home of Ice"

2005-10-28T16:59:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to like this band -- too much hype for my tastes. But last night, I was cruising Rhapsody's lists of just added music, saw Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled EP, and decided to check it out. My favorite song, hands down, is "In This Home of Ice," recommended if you like the catchy bass lines of New Order bassist Peter Hook. Yum. Happy Friday.

Songs of the day: Bloc Party/"Two More Years" & "Tulips"

2005-10-27T19:34:00.000-07:00

I'm back after a leisurely month-long break from blogging. I'd love to tell you that I had climbed a mountain, traveled to faraway places, or written my Great Novel, but the truth is I've just been super-busy.

Nonetheless, it's been a good month for music in Rhapsody. I've been listening to the service even more than usual lately via a loaner Sonos digital music system, which has transformed the way I listen to music in my apartment. I can now access my Rhapsody library and all of my MP3s from anywhere in my house, and listen to them on stereos in the front and back of my apartment simultaneously. Excuse me while I gush.

Anyway, two of the songs that have been making me really, really happy lately are the (relatively) new Bloc Party single "Two More Years," which came out earlier this month, and the song "Tulips," which came out earlier this year on Dim Mak Records. "Two More Years" is a highly recommended listen that hits its stride 90 seconds in; if you like Bloc Party's album Silent Alarm, you'll probably like this song. "Tulips" is even better. Click here to check out both songs. And click here to download "Tulips" for free via the band's web site.

Enjoy the music!

Idiot Songs or Songs For Idiots

2005-10-19T09:06:00.000-07:00

Idiot Songs In modern English and other languages, idiot is a derogatory term used to insult. Its use usually means "You are stupid." It can also be taken to mean "I don't like you" or "What a mistake that was." The term ‘idiot’ can be used colloquially for a person of normal intelligence or even above average intelligence who acts unintelligently. It's socially okay for example to refer to a group of drunken idiots 'acting up' in a bar. [more] Via: The Rhapsody Radish

The Apples in Stereo: an appreciation

2005-09-22T18:38:00.000-07:00

The Apples in Stereo are one of Denver's greatest exports, in my opinion. The group started off as simply The Apples in the mid-1990s, part of a small but vibrant pop scene in Denver that also included neighbors (and good friends) The Christines.

Before long, The Apples had changed their name (under legal duress) to The Apples in Stereo, been discovered by SpinART Records, become Japanese popstars, and even penned a tune for the official Powerpuff Girls soundtrack. You can't make this stuff up.

Anyway - this is a collection of some of my favorite songs by the now-defunct band. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Bailter Space/"Shadow"

2005-09-21T20:47:00.000-07:00

People who know me know I'm obsessive about looking for new music to check out. This obsession often brings me to San Francisco's Amoeba Records, the best record store I've ever been to and one of the top reasons I question ever leaving the Bay area. I always find good stuff, and cheap, in the bargain bins at Amoeba.

One of my recent favorite finds was the album Wammo by New Zealand cosmic rock band Bailter Space. I'd heard about this band in the late 1990s, but never gave their music a chance, but recently was turned back onto them by my friends Hill and Donna. I found the now out-of-print album for $2.99 last month at Amoeba.

While poking around Rhapsody today, I realized that Wammo is now available in Rhapsody, as is more or less the band's entire catalogue. Taking full advantage, I was listening to the band's other releases tonight, and discovered the song "Shadow" on their 1994 album Vortura. Take a listen -- it's pretty (and dreamy) good stuff.

Song of the day: The Wedding Present/"My Favourite Dress"

2005-09-20T12:14:00.000-07:00

More than 5,000 new songs were added to Rhapsody today, including a bunch of classic releases from Echo & The Bunnymen and --happily-- the Wedding Present album George Best. Click here to check out one of my favorite songs on that album, "My Favourite Dress." Enjoy!

Song of the day: Helen Stellar/"Io"

2005-09-15T17:09:00.000-07:00

Score another one for my girlfriend, who last week turned me onto the dreamy band Helen Stellar, who have a song on the new Test Tones compilation from Tone Vendor.

I was poring over the just added reports for Rhapsody today, and noticed that the band has a song on the soundtrack for Cameron Crowe's new film, Elizabethtown; that soundtrack was added to the service earlier this week. Anyhoo, the song on the soundtrack is from one of the band's early EPs, and it's a recommended listen -- click here to check out "io (This Time Around)."

Stephan Jenkins Favorites

2005-09-13T15:56:00.000-07:00

Stephan Jenkins Favorites: "

Stephan Jenkins of Third Eye Blind picks his favorite tracks on Rhapsody

1. Hall Of Mirrors - The Distillers
2. Strange Powers - The Magnetic Fields
3. Us - Regina Spektor
4. Could Well Be In - The Streets
5. Banquet - Bloc Party
6. Anyone Who Had A Heart - Burt Bacharach
7. Who's To Say - Vanessa Carlton
8. In The Fade - Queens Of The Stone Age
9. Hung My Head - Johnny Cash
10. Antidote - The Hives
11. King Of The Rodeo - Kings Of Leon
12. How Near, How Far - And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead
13. Country Boyz - Nappy Roots"

I'll Be Out All Night

2005-09-10T15:07:00.000-07:00

Rhapsody correctly files rising Boston band Choo Choo la Rouge under Roots Rock, but they've also been compared to the Fall, Jonathan Richman, and even the Buzzcocks. Their 2004 album I'll Be Out All Night is new on Rhapsody -- my selection of a few tracks is here.

Song of the day: Astral/"Barreling"

2005-08-28T00:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you find the most wonderful things right under your nose. It took my girlfriend in New York to clue me in about Astral, a great band here in San Francisco. Astral's music is recommended if you like Joy Division, Methodrone-era Brian Jonestown Massacre, early music by The Verve, or shoegaze bands like The Meeting Places.

I checked tonight to see if Astral has any music in Rhapsody, and it turns out we've got their entire first album, Orchids. I've only given it a cursory listen, but it's pretty damn good. Click here to check out "Barreling," "Blinder" and a few other favorites from Orchids. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Sciflyer/"The Same Thing Goes for Christmas"

2005-08-27T18:12:00.000-07:00

Sciflyer are another of the new wave of shoegaze bands championed by labels like Clairecords and sites like Somewhere Cold. The band released a new EP, The Age of Lovely Intimate Things, earlier this month, and over the past few days I've found myself continually going back for more whenever I'm feeling mellow. While my friends over at The Covalent Bond are ga-ga over the song "The Nation" (which I like as well), I've been loving "The Same Thing Goes For Christmas" -- six and a half minutes of dreamy bliss. Enjoy.

Song of the day: Mazarin/"I'm with You and the Constellations"

2005-08-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

One of the best songs that my best friend Hill has turned me onto in the past few years is Mazarin's "Chasing the Girl" (available as a free stream here, via Epitonic.com). After falling deeply in love with that epic pop single, I eagerly picked up what ended up being a rather disappointing album by Mazarin in the dollar bins at Amoeba. After that, I largely wrote the band off.

Until today, that is. This morning, I saw that my friend Robert over at Music Radish had blogged favorably about the new Mazarin album, We're Already There. I respect Robert's taste immensely, and decided to give the band a second chance. And I'm glad I did. While I like the album, I *LOVE* the song "I'm with You And The Constellations." But don't trust me -- check it out for yourselves. Enjoy.

The Double Life: a Rainer Maria retrospective

2005-08-25T18:17:00.000-07:00

When I was in Washington, DC last week, I saw NYC indie rock trio Rainer Maria kick off their East coast tour at the Black Cat. It was a great show, full of good music and energy.

Rainer Maria have been banging around on their guitars (and drums) since the mid-1990s, making angry, loud, emo(tional) rock music that, personally speaking, gives me the chills (and I mean that in a good way). The band is gearing up to release a new album this fall on Polyvinyl Records; the as-yet-untitled album is their fifth full-length (not counting last year's live Anyone In Love with You).

This is a sampler of my favorite Rainer Maria songs, for the uninitiated. If you like this stuff and are looking for a taste of the new album, the band is offering "Burn," a song from the new album, as a free stream via www.rainermaria.com. Enjoy.

Song of the Day - "Live Again" by Ying Yang Twins and Adam Levine

2005-08-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

The crazy world of hip hop collaborations never fail to entertain me.

Here's my current favorite - the Ying Yang Twins and Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and postulating on the trials and tribulations of being a stripper.

Check out "Live Again" HERE

Song of the day: KaitO/"Driving Manual Auto"

2005-08-25T09:41:00.000-07:00

We added a bunch of releases from SpinART Records to Rhapsody today, including the Pixies' "purple album" of 1987-era demos as well as Band Red, the 2003 album from UK noise rockers KaitO. KaitO, whose live show is a stunning, glorious mess, is criminally unknown in this country, and SpinART's tepid promotion of this album (the band's second) certainly didn't help.

Click here to check out my favorite tune from Band Red, the squall-icious "Driving Manual Auto." Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: The Cat's Miaow/"Hollow Inside"

2005-08-23T19:31:00.000-07:00

I've had a crazy couple of weeks, involving two trips to New York and a side-trip to Washington, D.C. in the span of just 10 days, so forgive me for ignoring the blog more than usual (a lot more than usual). In that time, we've added a bunch of fun stuff to Rhapsody, including several albums and comps by Australian indiepop band The Cat's Miaow (as my friend Meighan pointed out to me this week).

I first discovered The Cat's Miaow on a now out-of-print compilation called Going Againt Maz's Advice, put out in 1995 by tiny SF indie label Four Letter Words. That compilation included the song Hollow Inside, a 3-minute piece of low-fi pop perfection whose simple changes and dreamy guitar made my popster heart flutter. It was one of one of my favorite songs then, and I still love it today. Enjoy.

R.I.P., Bob Moog

2005-08-22T11:41:00.000-07:00

Bob Moog, inventor of the Moog synthesizer, died yesterday at his home in Asheville, North Carolina, at the age of 71. Moog's analog synthesizer has played a starring role in rock for nearly forty years, adding texture to works from everyone from the Beatles (whose "Octopus' Garden" featured extensive use of the Moog) to prog-rockers like Yes.

I'm working on a longer playlist of songs featuring prominent use of the Moog, but for now, suggest you click here to check out a unique, Moog-tastic take on David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" by devotees The Moog Cookbook. Enjoy!

Too Close for Comfort*...?

2005-08-06T20:46:00.000-07:00

Is Wayne Coyne a Cat Stevens fan?

I was at a friend's house this afternoon, helping assemble a crib and bassinette for their soon-to-be-born baby. While we worked, my friend had Rhapsody playing throughout the house, cranking a playlist of his favorite music.

One of the songs he played was Cat Stevens' "Father and Son," the chorus of which sounded similar to another song I couldn't place. After much brain-wracking, I realized that The Flaming Lips' song "Fight Test" sounded similar -- a little TOO similar, if you know what I mean. Click here to compare and contrast.

* I couldn't resist a chance to reference beloved (by me anyway) 1980s sitcom Too Close for Comfort.

Movie Script Ending: a Death Cab for Cutie retrospective

2005-08-05T16:55:00.000-07:00

This week, Rhapsody added a new single from Death Cab for Cutie's forthcoming album, Plans. As greasy-haired hipsters and doe-eyed fans of The OC await the band's first album in two years, I thought it might be interesting to take a stroll through the band's back catalogue to hear the songs that started it all. Click here for a sampler of some of my favorites.

Song of the day: Monster Movie/"4th and Pine"

2005-08-04T14:27:00.000-07:00

No sooner do I complain about Monster Movie's first album, Last Night Something Happened, being unavailable on Rhapsody does the album appear. Monster Movie are a UK shoegaze band signed to the Clairecords label. As I've written before, I like their music quite a bit, but this album is my favorite of the stuff they've released. Click here to check out my song of the day, "4th And Pine," as well as a couple of my other picks from the album, including the sad "Waiting" and even more languid "Shortwave." Enjoy.

Song of the day: The Spinto Band/"Late"

2005-08-02T14:51:00.000-07:00

Today I'm taking a break from heaping effusive praise on obscure shoegaze bands to heap effusive praise on a no less obscure but incredibly good group, The Spinto Band. I've been exploring their debut album, Nice and Nicely Done, since it came out in June on Bar/None Records. It's got a lot of winners in my book, including "Oh Mandy" (which I've mentioned before) and "Crack the Whip." The latest song to catch my fancy is "Late," a rollicking pop song that builds and builds to some great guitar work two and a half minutes in. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Colfax Abbey/"Snowshine"

2005-07-31T13:26:00.000-07:00

I feel like lately all I've been posting about is shoegaze music, and today's no different. While searching around for music by Japanese band Sugar Plant, I found a compilation that included a song by underappreciated U.S. shoegaze group Colfax Abbey, a Minneapolis group who recorded some of this country's best and dreamiest music in the mid-1990s. The band's debut album was produced by Keith Cleversly, who has also produced Flaming Lips and Spiritualized, and Ed Ackerson of the band Polara. Click here to check out the song "Snowshine" off of the band's first album, Drop. It's all the group has available in Rhapsody, but it's enough.

Song of the day: Airiel/"Airtight Angels"

2005-07-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

This is the second in a continuing series about the Clairecords stable of bands, many of which have had albums added to Rhapsody in the past few weeks. Chicago-based band Airiel is another happy discovery from the past year (thanks to my friend Hill and my girl Donna J). The group, largely the brainchild of Windy City resident Jeremy Wrenn, has released a series of limited-edition EPs on Clairecords over the past two years, each better than the next. One of my favorite songs is "Airtight Angels" from the Dizzy EP. Enjoy.

Playlist of the Week - New Wave Faves

2005-07-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

I used to make these mixtapes to pop into my walkman filled with all the music I would not play out loud in front of my friends.

But alas, today is a new day... it's 2005 - and with the faceless nature of blogging - I feel much more comfortable sharing some of those great tunes that used to populate my mixtapes. Classics from New Order, Erasure, The Pet Shop Boys, The Cure, Depeche Mode... this playlist could have been much longer, but I thought I'd keep it trimmed.

Listen Here "

Song of the day: Pia Fraus/"400 & 57"

2005-07-28T01:25:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week again this week at Rhapsody HQ, but at least we've been adding lots of great shoegaze stuff to the service to help take the edge off. The latest & greatest additions include a bunch of highly recommended releases on the Clairecords label, which is based in Sacramento and has been kicking out dreamy release after dreamy release of bliss-tastic music over the past few years.

For starters, check out Estonian shoegazers (yes, I said Estonian shoegazers) Pia Fraus, whose song "400 & 57" sounds like a lost Whirlpool-era Chapterhouse b-side. Don't believe me? Click here to compare and contrast. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Monster Movie/"Crash Landing"

2005-07-24T12:13:00.000-07:00

I was happy to see that we added Monster Movie's debut EP to Rhapsody this weekend. Monster Movie is an offshoot of early 1990s UK shoegaze bands Slowdive and Eternal, and their music is some of the best new shoegaze/dronepop to hit the scene in a while. Since 2001, the group has released one EP and two albums on Clairerecords; the self-titled EP is good, the first album (Last Night Something Happened, which isn't available yet through Rhapsody) is great, and the second album (To the Moon) is, sadly, so-so at best. The first Monster Movie song to grab me was "Crash Landing." Click here to check it out."

UPDATE (7/29): (Last Night Something Happened was added to Rhapsody this week. Yay!

Just added: Lilys/In the Presence of Nothing

2005-07-22T19:07:00.000-07:00

Holy shit!!! My favorite shoegaze album of all-time, Lilys' 1992 masterpiece In the Presence of Nothing, was added to Rhapsody this week. As I've written before, Lilys are one of my favorite bands, and this album was their masterpiece -- a symphony of gorgeously distorted, swirling guitars and vocals. From standout songs like "Claire Hates Me" and "Tone Bender" to more mellow favorites like "It Does Nothing for Me," this album is a classic. I bow down to Slumberland Records and SpinART for having the vision to put this record out, and to my friend Ted for finally convincing SpinART to make their artists' music available through Rhapsody. Enjoy -- and have a great weekend.

Song of the Day - "Fix You" by Coldplay

2005-07-19T13:40:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful song - easily falling into my Top 3 favorite Coldplay songs.

Listen Here

Just added: Royksopp/The Understanding

2005-07-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

Norwegian duo Royksopp have a new album, The Understanding, coming out on Tuesday. Rhapsody subscribers appear to be getting an early preview; the album was added to the service today.

I was a fan of the group's first album, Melody A.M, especially the songs "Eple" and "Remind Me." Their playful brand of downtempo electronica grew on me, and from time to time I still break it out for a Sunday morning listen. So I was happy to check out their new one this morning.

It's quite different, falling much more on the club side/sound than I had expected. There are lots of guest vocalists and more straight-ahead club beats. Overall, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. But a few songs did stand out -- click here to check out "Follow My Ruin" (the one I'd be most likely to hear on a late-night dancefloor), the mellow, slinking "Someone Like Me," and the funky, expect-a-call-from-Prince's-lawyers-soon song "49 Percent."

Song of the Day - "Miracle" by Foo Fighters

2005-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:00

Long known, now, for their tendency to release insanely groovy acoustic versions of their hit singles, the Foo Fighters decided to just go ahead and make an entire disc full of laid back, acoustic-guitar driven melodies for their new double album. The song 'Miracle' is my favorite of the bunch.

Listen Here:

New Order Remix-o-mania!

2005-07-14T12:30:00.000-07:00

Among the 1,000+ songs added to Rhapsody today are a bevy of New Order remixes, including a digital-only compilation album called Best Remixes and multiple remixes of two singles ("Jetstream" and "Krafty") from the band's latest album, Waiting for the Sirens' Call. It's a nice little trove for the fans, and yet another example of Warner Music aggressively making the music in its archives available through online music services like Rhapsody.

Song of the day: Pulp/"Babies"

2005-07-14T12:23:00.000-07:00

Last week I went dancing at SF BritPop club night Popscene, where the dancefloor was crowded with kids shaking it to some of my favorite tunes from the past 15 years. One song I didn't hear --but wish I had-- was Pulp's "Babies," a sultry Jarvis Cocker song about teenage sexual angst taken a few steps too far. Enjoy.

Song of the day: I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness/"Thoughts on the Floor"

2005-07-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

I'm back, after a nearly two-week hiatus in which I unplugged and unwound after a long and fairly stressful couple of months. I didn't check email and didn't watch the news at all on my vacation, something unusual for a hardcore news junkie like me-- I didn't hear about the London bombings until the next day. I'm not sure I minded missing out on that depressing piece of news.

Anyway, in my time away we've added a bunch of good music to Rhapsody, including a new 12" EP by one of my current faves, I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness. Click here to check out the song "Thoughts on the Floor," which came out this year on the band's According to Plan EP on Artikal.

I saw ILYBICD 3x in March at SXSW in Austin; they're great live and have a very spacious, beautiful sound. Their first EP (a self-titled release from 2003) is great and I've been playing it a lot lately; sadly, it's not yet available in Rhapsody. BUT -- you can get the highly-recommended song "When You Go Out" from that EP for FREE from the band's web site. Just click on "catalog" from the menu on the top, then click on "music" at the bottom of the screen. Enjoy the music!

BASS WILL NOT DIE

2005-07-05T16:06:00.000-07:00

BASS WILL NOT DIE

The new Missy Elliott track brings to mind big speakers, low trucks, and lots of booty shaking.

1. Lose Control (Featuring Ciara & Fat Man Scoop) - Missy Elliott
2. Abercrombie - DJ Baby Anne
3. Shake Whatcha' Mama Gave Ya' - Poison Clan
4. One, Two Step - Ciara
5. Body Movin' - DJ Baby Anne
6. Drop The Bass - DJ Magic Mike
7. Drop Don't Stop - DJ Smurf
8. Pass That Dutch - Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott
9. Hoochie Mama - The 2 Live Crew
10. The Party's Just Begun - Freestyle
11. Throw The D - The 2 Live Crew
12. Get It Girl - The 2 Live Crew
13. Shake It - MC Shy D
14. Don't Stop The Rock - Freestyle
15. Lower the Dynamite - DJ Magic Mike
16. Drop the Bass - Bass Mekanik
17. Bass Rock Express - M.C. A.D.E.
18. Bass Mechanic - M.C. A.D.E.
19. More Bounce To The Ounce - Zapp & Roger
20. California Love - Roger & Zapp

Song of the day: Mahogany/"Chance"

2005-07-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

One of the new additions to Rhapsody today is Memory Column, a compilation of singles, rarities and other work from the dreampop group Mahogany. I've been giving it a listen this morning, but haven't found anything that compares to "Chance," my favorite song on the band's 2001 album Dream of a Modern Day (pictured above). It's atmospheric pop at its best, with layered, shoegazey guitars and delicate female vocals, and a great way to float off into the holiday weekend. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Pony Up!/"Shut Up and Kiss Me"

2005-06-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

I'm still finding my way through Rhapsody's "Just Added" lists for the past week, and stumbled across the excellent self-titled Pony Up! EP, which was released earlier this year on Dim Mak Records. I saw this quintet of young Canadian ladies play in Austin at SXSW in March, and they put on a nice little show, busting out one lo-fi indiepop ditty after another for half an hour. Click here to check out "Shut Up and Kiss Me," the lead song on their EP. Enjoy the music, eh?

Just added: Belle and Sebastian/Push Barman to Open Old Wounds

2005-06-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a great find. As I've written, in the late 1990s the Scottish band Belle and Sebastian captured my little indie heart with a stunning series of import-only EPs, including Dog on Wheels, Lazy Line Painter Jane, and A Century of Fakers. These EPs, which contain some of the best music I've ever heard, were recently compiled and released stateside on the compilation Push Barman to Open Old Wounds. Last week, we added this compilation to Rhapsody. I'd highly, highly recommend that you listen to "String Bean Jean," "Lazy Line Painter Jane," and "A Century of Fakers," and soak up the band's music in all of its fey beauty. Click here to check out the entire comp. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Gang of Four/"Damaged Goods"

2005-06-29T18:06:00.000-07:00

For the past week, I was on the East coast hanging with my family north of Boston and visiting with friends in New York. So I hope you'll forgive me for not noticing until now that late last week Gang of Four's seminal 1979 masterpiece Entertainment was added to Rhapsody. My favorite song on the album is without question "Damaged Goods," the yardstick by which all melodic post-punk is measured in my book. But the entire thing's worth checking out - try "At Home He's a Tourist" or "I Found That Essence Rare" to see the altar at which current "It" bands like Bloc Party and Moving Units pray.

*UPDATE*: Props to The Covalent Bond for noticing this one first.

Song of the day: The Magnetic Fields/"Take Ecstasy with Me"

2005-06-24T07:07:00.000-07:00

My friend Mia recently gave me a great new song from !!!, "Take Ecstasy with Me," which I didn't realize until last weekend was a cover of a song by The Magnetic Fields. The song, from The Magnetic Fields' excellent album Holiday, was recently added to the Rhapsody library through our new deal with Merge Records, along with a bunch of other highly-recommended Magnetic Fields albums (Charm of the Highway Strip, Get Lost and more). You can click here to hear The Magnetic Fields' original via Rhapsody, then click here to listen to !!!'s more dance-oriented version via the Touch & Go website. Enjoy the music -- and have a great weekend.

Song of the day: Secret Machines/"Road Leads Where It's Led"

2005-06-23T06:58:00.000-07:00

When the Secret Machines released their album Now Here is Nowhere in early 2003, it was available as a digital-only exclusive through Rhapsody and other online music services for several months. The band and its label, Reprise Records, were trying to build buzz, and the album's psychedelic pop pulled in a lot of people at the company -- including me. My favorite song on the album was "The Road Leads Where It's Led," which was recently re-released on a new Secret Machines EP that also includes covers of Van Morrison's "Astral Weeks" and Bob Dylan's "Girl from the North Country." Anyway, I checked out the new EP this morning and thought you might enjoy it, too.

Song of the day: Nouvelle Vague/"Love Will Tear Us Apart"

2005-06-22T12:08:00.000-07:00

What, you ask, if Ian Curtis had grown up in France, played with a band from Brazil, and was a woman? Well, it might sound something like this cover of Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart."

Nouvelle Vague is French pop project that set out to cover punk and new wave songs of the late 1970s and early 1980s, re-imagining the songs as bossa nova and sixties-influenced pop. Other covers on their self-titled album, released in May by V2 Records, include Modern English's "I Melt with You," Dead Kennedys' "Too Drunk to Fuck," and The Clash's "Guns of Brixton." Enjoy!

Song of the day: Sonic Youth/"Tuff Gnarl"

2005-06-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

While I'm a fan of noisy rock (in the vein of Built to Spill), until recently I hadn't listened much to the music of pioneering NYC band Sonic Youth. Rhapsody has more or less their entire back catalogue available, so sampling Sonic Youth's music has been easy (and fun).

My friend Hill suggested I start with their 1987 album Sister, which I did, and it's great. I now understand why seemingly every band name-checks Sonic Youth as an influence on their work. My favorite song on the album is "Tuff Gnarl," a slice of rock whose angry guitars and obscured vocals has been killing me all week. Happy Friday -- and enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Inspiral Carpets/"Saturn 5"

2005-06-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

One of the new additions to the Rhapsody library today is The Singles, a compilations of, er....singles released by the UK group Inspiral Carpets. Inspiral Carpets were one of the most influential bands to emerge from the late 1980s/early 1990s "Madchester" scene, which also gave rise to groups like The Stone Roses, Charlatans, and the Happy Mondays. The compilation includes a bunch of recommended songs, including "She Comes in the Fall" and the 1960s-influenced "Saturn 5" (listen to that organ!).

Song of the day: Cinerama/"Your Charms"

2005-06-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post for a while about David Gedge's post-Wedding Present band, Cinerama, which has been churning out singles and albums in earnest since 1998. With Cinerama, Gedge largely ditched the frenetic guitar sound of the Wedding Present and focused instead on creating atmospheric chamber pop.

Over the past few weeks, a number of Cinerama releases from Manifesto Records have been added to Rhapsody, including Disco Volante, the live John Peel Sessions, and the singles comp Cinerama Holiday (from which the song "Your Charms" is taken). The band's worth a listen, especially if you're a fan of Gedge or the Wedding Present. Enjoy.

Song of the day: Shout Out Louds/"Shut Your Eyes"

2005-06-14T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Shout Out Louds album Howl Howl Gaff Gaff has been my guilty pleasure of the week. The Swedish group delivers some catchy indiepop on the album, the best of which (in my opinion) is the song "Shut Your Eyes" -- check out the dueling guitars 1:50 into the song. Ummmmmm........yum.

Song of the day: The Spinto Band/"Oh Mandy"

2005-06-13T08:33:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, a friend and co-worker who sits next to me gave me a promo copy of Nice and Nicely Done, the debut album from The Spinto Band, and demanded I give it a listen. I'm really glad he did -- the songs have been stuck in my head ever since, especially "Crack the Whip" and the utterly infectious "Oh Mandy" -- currently my favorite song. Give it a listen today --trust me-- and it will make your Monday a little more enjoyable.

Song of the day: Kitchens of Distinction/"The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule"

2005-06-10T10:08:00.000-07:00

UK group Kitchens of Distinction are one of the sadly overlooked bands of the late 1980s/early 1990s UK music scene. The group's sound was shimmery and tuneful, with gorgeous vocal melodies and atmospheric guitars that anticipate the shoegaze sound I love so dearly. Kitchens of Distinction released four highly recommended albums on the One Little Indian label between 1989 and 1994, breaking up shortly afterwards. While they were much buzzed-about in the British music press at the time, Kitchens of Distinction never made a big splash here in the States, and their discography --save the greatest hits package Capsule-- is long out of print.

I was happy to see that we added Capsule to the Rhapsody library a few months back; it's a welcome retrospective of one of the best bands you've never heard of. Click here to check out "The 3rd Time We Opened the Capsule," the breakthrough single from the band's 1989 album Love Is Hell. Happy Friday -- and enjoy the music.

My Life in Music

2005-06-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

Robert over at the Rhapsody Radish recently challenged me to put together a musical biography, choosing one song for each year of my life. It was an intriguing assignment, but a fun one. Check out this playlist to see what I came up with; the list starts in 1974 and runs through 2005. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Weezer/"Jamie"

2005-06-09T10:35:00.000-07:00

When Weezer first exploded on the scene in the summer of 1994, I was sucked in by their catchy tunes and inventive music videos (directed by a then-young Spike Jonze). While I liked their first album, my favorite song was a b-side that was only available on a sampler, DGC Rarities, put out by their label. That song, "Jamie," was less polished than their album and a little catchier (at least to my ears). Anyway, this song got stuck in my head this morning somehow and wouldn't leave. And so I share it with you. Enjoy.

The Many Masks of MF Doom

2005-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today, I'm dipping my toes into the hip-hop pool. Rapper MF Doom has been releasing music under a variety of pseudonyms since the mid-1990s. Whether he's recording as MF Doom, King Geedorah, or Viktor Vaughn, his out-of-this-world rhymes and jazzy beats are always on point. This playlist includes some of my favorites. Enjoy.

Song of the day: Sam Prekop/"Two Dedications"

2005-06-08T10:09:00.000-07:00

As I've written about several times, I'm a huge fan of Chicago group The Sea and Cake. I've had the chance to see them live just once, but it was magical. I was also fortunate to see the band's guitarist/singer, Sam Prekop, play a solo show in Washington, DC six years ago, after the release of his first solo album. He was amazing live, playing fluid and melodic guitar and really enjoying himself (and entertaining the audience).

Recently, he put out another solo album, Who's Your New Professor, on Thrill Jockey, and it's a highly recommended listen. I bought it earlier this week at Amoeba Records and it has been a constant companion since then. I especially like the opening song, "Something," but the one making my heart jump today is "Two Dedications" -- click here to check it out.

New in Rhapsody: Metric, Annie, The Spinto Band and more

2005-06-07T11:45:00.000-07:00

I was poring over the list of newly added albums today, and was happy to see that Rhapsody added a lot more than the new Coldplay album (though we've got that, too). We've now got The Spinto Band's new album (which I've been listening to obsessively) and new releases from Annie (recommended danceable pop), Say Hi to Your Mom, and Sleater Kinney's excellent album The Woods (produced by Dave Fridmann, who has produced Longwave, the Flaming Lips, and Mercury Rev, among others).

Rhapsody also added a bunch of great back catalogue stuff, including Metric's Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, one of my top 5 albums last year, and a bevy of Minty Fresh albums from Komeda, Papas Fritas, and others. Quite a day, overall. Anyway, click here to check out a sampler playlist. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Sing-Sing/"Panda Eyes"

2005-06-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, the Sing-Sing album The Joy of Sing-Sing was aded to the Rhapsody oeuvre. Sing-Sing was formed in the late 1990s by Lush guitarist/singer Emma Anderson in the wake of that band's untimely demise. It took more than 3 years after the group formed to finally get a full-length album out the door (released in the UK by Alan McGee's Poptones label), but the wait was worth it. My favorites on the album include "Feels Like Summer" (originally released as a single in 1998) and the simply gorgeous "Panda Eyes." I love the dreamy chorus. Enjoy!

Cover Chain: Camper Van Beethoven to Robert Johnson

2005-06-07T07:20:00.000-07:00

Cover Chain #2 Playlist This is our second cover chain playlist, a Rhapsody Radish invention which starts with a cover song, followed by another cover song as performed by the artist covered in the previous song and so on. This one starts with Camper Van Beethoven and ends with Robert Johnson. See the comments for the complete chain.
Also, see Cover Chain #1 here: The Rolling Stones to Howlin' Wolf

Song of the day: Youth Group/"Shadowland"

2005-06-06T00:11:00.000-07:00

Wow. I saw the Youth Group album Skeleton Jar highlighted on Rhapsody last week, but just got around to checking it out tonight. It sounds like a lost piece of early 1990s indie fare, highly recommended if you liked late-period Echo and the Bunnymen (circa Evergreen) and especially mid-period James (circa Seven/Laid). Click here to check out the chimey goodness of "Shadowland."

Just added: The White Stripes/Get Behind Me Satan

2005-06-03T09:35:00.000-07:00

Rhapsody is giving White Stripes fans a 4-day jump on hearing the band's new album, Get Behind Me Satan, which hits stores on Tuesday. I'm not a huge fan of the band, personally, but I did like the big single on their last album and really enjoyed Jack White's duet with Loretta Lynn on her most recent album. I've given the new album a quick listen this morning, and my favorite so far is the song "My Doorbell." Click here if you'd like to check the album out. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Beat Happening/"Dreamy"

2005-06-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

I hung out last night at CakeShop, a new record store/coffee joint/bar in New York's East Village. I made a killing there this week on some crucial early 90s vinyl, and last night played God on the bar's well-appointed jukebox. One of the songs I played was Beat Happening's single "Dreamy," a shambling slice of indiepop pie. Enjoy!

Song of the day: Electrelane/"Bells"

2005-05-31T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm in NYC this week for work, and while I'm here will have the chance to see a couple of bands currently getting a lot of play on my stereo, including Say Hi To Your Mom (whose new record comes out next week and who are playing tonight) and Electrelane, who are playing Friday night.

Today's song of the day is from the latter group's new album, Axes, which came out less than a month ago and which is slowly but steadily growing on me. Click here to check out the song "Bells."

Song of the day: Lilys/"Will My Lord Be Gardening"

2005-05-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

Precollection, the 2003 album by one of my all-time favorite bands, Lilys, was added to Rhapsody today. I'm a fan in particular of the band's early shoegaze-influenced work, but this album is growing on me -- especially the song "Will My Lord Be Gardening," which bridges the band's earlier sound with their growing interest in the paisley tones of the mid- and late-1960s.

The AM radio sounds of Minty Fresh

2005-05-27T09:46:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days, Rhapsody has begun adding music from Minty Fresh Records, the Chicago label that first brought the world Veruca Salt and followed it up with a string of albums from bands heavily influenced by the sounds of AM radio's golden age. This playlist, which includes music from Papas Fritas, Ivy, Tahiti 80, The Aluminum Group, and The Legendary Jim Ruiz Group, might not necessarily rock, but it certainly grooves along at its own mellow pace. Enjoy the weekend -- and have a great holiday.

Merge Records: now in Rhapsody (!)

2005-05-26T18:53:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned earlier, Rhapsody has begun adding the Merge Records catalogue to Rhapsody. This playlist includes music from some of my favorite Merge bands, old and new, from The Magnetic Fields, Superchunk and Versus to Crooked Fingers, Neutral Milk Hotel and Dinosaur Jr. Enjoy the music!

Song of the day: Superchunk/"Slack Motherfucker"

2005-05-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Yes, kids, Rhapsody has finally inked a deal with Merge Records, home to Superchunk, Arcade Fire, Neutral Milk Hotel, and a gaggle of other bands that make the indie rockers swoon. Over the past few days, we've begun adding records from the Merge catalogue, including Superchunk's debut album -- which this song is taken from. This one goes out to all the slack motherfuckers -- you know who you are.

25 For May

2005-05-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

25 For May:

This playlist is composed of 25 songs that I have been listening to recently on Rhapsody. The playlist includes new tracks by well known artists such as Van Morrison, Coldplay, Weezer and Ryan Adams along with some of my new favorites such as The Walkmen and Bloc Party. Check this playlist out for free using Rhapsody 25. Enjoy!

1. Celtic New Year - Van Morrison
2. Beverly Hills - Weezer
3. Rockstop - The Sun
4. Magnolia Mountain - Ryan Adams
5. Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party
6. The Rat - The Walkmen
7. They - Jem
8. King Of The Rodeo - Kings Of Leon
9. Breathe In - Frou Frou
10. Such Great Heights - The Postal Service
11. The Bucket - Kings Of Leon
12. Carl Perkins' Cadillac - The Drive-By Truckers
13. Perfect Situation - Weezer
14. Banquet - Bloc Party
15. Commercial For Levi - Placebo
16. The Blower's Daughter - Damien Rice
17. Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse
18. Special Needs - Placebo
19. Set You Free - Stroke 9
20. 16 Days - Whiskeytown
21. California - Jay Farrar
22. Trouble - Ray Lamontagne
23. Brooklyn Is Burning - Head Automatica
24. Speed Of Sound - Coldplay
25. Wave Goodbye - Steadman"

Song of the day: Say Hi to Your Mom/"Showdown in Goattown"

2005-05-22T11:53:00.000-07:00

I went to Amoeba Records last night and spent some quality time shopping. One of the things I picked up was Discosadness, the first album by NYC indie band Say Hi to Your Mom. I've listened to it a bunch in Rhapsody and like the entire thing, but last night the song that jumped out to me was "Showdown in Goattown" -- check out the killer chorus: "...are we ever gonna get back to California...?"

Song of the day: The Rentals/"Please Let That Be You"

2005-05-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

No sooner do I gripe about the grey skies here in San Francisco do I wake up to a beautiful sunny day. The sunshine made it hard to sleep in, giving me more time than usual for my morning routine of making coffee and listening to music. This is one of my favorite parts of the day; I stand in front of my wall of music (see below) and randomly pull discs off for morning listening.

One of this morning's picks was Return of the Rentals, the 1995 debut of Weezer offshoot synthpop group The Rentals; the band's frontman is Matt Sharp, who played bass on the band's first two albums. I love the entire album so it's hard to pick just one song, but I'd recommend "Please Let That Be You" as a starter, then suggest you move on to the greatness that is "My Summer Girl."

mgrooves' wall of sound

Song of the day: The Wrens/"Happy"

2005-05-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Normally, springtime in San Francisco is a stunningly beautiful thing, replete with the most brilliant sunshine I've ever seen. It's my favorite time of year here, and it's one of the things that keeps me so far from my good friends and family on the east coast. This spring, however, has been different -- it's been rainier than usual, with lots of cloudy grey skies that seem ready to burn off but never quite make it. Somehow, this song by the Wrens, off of their brilliant 2003 album The Meadowlands, reminds me of how the weather is making me feel -- a little sad, a little angry, but hopeful that things will be looking up soon. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Annie/"Chewing Gum (vocal mix)"

2005-05-18T09:11:00.000-07:00

The song "Chewing Gum" by Nordic artist Annie is an infectious piece of pop confection that will stick in your head (or to your shoe) all day. The song, which placed at #11 in Pitchfork's listing of the Top 50 Singles of 2004, was added to Rhapsody last month and quickly became an early morning guilty pleasure for me. Enjoy.

Song of the day: The Pastels/"Windy Hill (Cornelius remix)"

2005-05-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

As I've written before, I'm a fan of the Japanese artist Cornelius, who specializes in a unique form of musical collage that ties together influences from My Bloody Valentine to Brian Eno. Today's song of the day is a mellllllllloooooow Cornelius remix of the song "Windy Hill" by Scottish indie band The Pastels, another happy discovery from Rhapsody's new "Instant Playlist" feature. The song appears on The Pastels' remix album, Illuminati, which isn't available through Rhapsody, and the Cornelius EP CM, which is. Click here to check it out.

Just added: Spacemen 3's Translucent Flashbacks

2005-05-16T01:39:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, I noticed that the Spacemen 3 album Translucent Flashbacks, compiling b-sides, singles and other rarities released during the same timeframe as their first two albums, Perfect Prescription (1987) and Sound of Confusion (1986), was added to Rhapsody. It's a recommended listen if you're a fan of the band's droney psychedelia or later work by the band's frontmen/medicated geniuses, Sonic Boom (Pete Kember) and Jason Spacemen (Jason Pierce). Bliss out and enjoy.

Song of the day: Belle and Sebastian/"Wrapped Up In Books"

2005-05-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

Today's song of the day --Belle and Sebastian's "Wrapped Up In Books"-- is brought to you courtesy of Rhapsody's "Instant Playlist" feature, which offered up this song and several others that were eerily in tune with my mood tonight. I love it.

Anyway, about Belle and Sebastian: they're one of my favorite musical finds of the late 1990s. A friend introduced me to the band when the album If You're Feeling Sinister was first released in the U.S., and I quickly became a fan -- especially of the series of EPs the band released between its second and third albums.

I'm not as much a fan of their later stuff, though that could just be my failing to give it a proper listen. This song, however, is making me reconsider. It's chimy and melodic, with some great 60s-style guitar work and backing vox. Sounds like I should give Dear Catastrophe Waitress another listen. Happy Sunday.

Song of the day: Stereolab/"Ping Pong"

2005-05-13T17:08:00.000-07:00

My song of the day for today is Stereolab's 1994 single, "Ping Pong," off of their breakthrough album Mars Audiac Quintet. I've been listening to the 'Lab a lot lately, having picked up their recently-released 3-disc box set compiling all the EPs the band has released in the past 10 years. Sadly, that set is not available (for now) through Rhapsody. But there's more than enough good Stereolab to go around. Click here to hear "Ping Pong."

Just added: Built to Spill/Ultimate Alternative Wavers

2005-05-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

Rhapsody added a bunch of really great releases from C/Z Records today, including Built to Spill's first album, Ultimate Alternative Wavers, and two albums from Doug Martsch's last band, Treepeople. Highly recommended if you're a fan of BTS' arty indie rock. Happy Friday.

Song of the day: Wedding Present/"Always the Quiet One"

2005-05-06T00:18:00.000-07:00

I was in New York last week, and while I was there had the chance to see The Wedding Present for the first time. I made my way out in the rain to Maxwell's in Hoboken, and it was great. They band played a mix of old and new stuff, but sadly didn't play the song "Always the Quiet One" off of their new album. It's one of my favorite songs recently -- you should check it out.

Found sounds: Mobius Band

2005-05-06T00:01:00.000-07:00

My good friend Donna J turned me on today to the pop-electro (or is it electro-pop?) group Mobius Band, which hails from my home state of Massachusetts. Their EP, City vs. Country, is available through Rhapsody and is well worth some of your time today (or any other day). Check out the EP here -- my favorites are "I Had a Very Good Year" and "City Vs. Country."

Song of the day: The Raveonettes/"Ode to L.A."

2005-05-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

God bless the Raveonettes. The band's third album was added to Rhapsody on Tuesday, and it's a keeper if you're a fan of the band's garage pop sound. Click here to check out the album's highly recommended leadoff song, "Ode to L.A."

Field Mice: a retrospective

2005-05-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

Field Mice were one of the greatest things to emerge from the UK's twee music scene in the late 1980s. I was pleasantly surprised to see that almost all of the music in the band's ouevre was added to Rhapsody in the past week, including the albums For Keeps, Snowball, and Skywriting, all of which were originally released on indie label Sarah Records. I've always wanted to explore more of the band's music, but was nervous about taking the plunge on a CD without hearing it first. Tonight, I had my chance. The result? This playlist. Enjoy the music.

Song of the day: Aqueduct/"Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights"

2005-05-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

I'm back after a nearly 3 week hiatus, during which I spent 17 days on the road in preparation for the launch of the new Rhapsody. Needless to say, I'm glad to be home in San Francisco and enjoying the wonderful spring weather.

I'm also glad to be pointing out one of my favorite new bands, Aqueduct, which released its debut album, I Sold Gold, on Barsuk Records this spring. Sadly, the album is only available for purchase through Rhapsody, but you can check out the song "Hardcore Days and Softcore Nights" on the new soundtrack for The O.C. Enjoy the music.

My Favorite Zappa Songs

2005-04-30T21:07:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Zappa Songs: "1. Don't Eat The Yellow Snow - Frank Zappa
2. Nanook Rubs It - Frank Zappa
3. Peaches En Regalia - Frank Zappa
4. Montana - Frank Zappa
5. Dancin' Fool - Frank Zappa
6. Willie The Pimp - Frank Zappa
7. The Mud Shark - Frank Zappa and the Mothers
8. Cosmik Debris - Frank Zappa
9. Muffin Man - Frank Zappa
10. Dirty Love - Frank Zappa
11. Camarillo Brillo - Frank Zappa
12. Bobby Brown Goes Down (Remix) - Frank Zappa
13. Catholic Girls - Frank Zappa
14. Titties 'N Beer - Frank Zappa
15. Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy (Live) - various artists
16. Broken Hearts Are For Assholes - Frank Zappa
17. Disco Boy - Frank Zappa
18. Billy The Mountain - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
19. Let's Make The Water Turn Black - Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention"

Ben Folds' Side Projects

2005-04-29T11:04:00.000-07:00

Ben Folds Side Projects 38 year old Ben Folds is a multi-instrumentalist who plays bass, piano, drums and sings. Mr. Folds has also had a hand in producing, including a production credit for the wildy successful "I Am Sam" soundtrack composed completely of Beatles Covers. This playlist contains songs where Ben is involved behind the scenes playing, singing or producing. (via: The Rhapsody Radish)

Song of the day: Modest Mouse/"Gravity Rides Everything"

2005-04-19T04:49:00.000-07:00

My friend Ben sent me a really good playlist yesterday, one that included the delightfully mellow Modest Mouse song "Gravity Rides Everything," from the band's 2000 major label debut, The Moon & Antarctica. I'm traveling for work this week; this was a nice song to wake up to in a city that's not your own.

Song of the day: Kasabian/"Test Transmission"

2005-04-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

Chalk another one up for my friend Linda, who put the Kasabian song "Test Transmission" on a mix for me recently. I had a chance to listen to that mix on the long drive down to LA a couple of weeks ago, and this song's manic psychedlic energy hit me just right. Maybe they'll end up a two hit wonder....?