NMT 72

Don't buy me a 360 and then expect things to get done early.


Lynn, I need you to email your address please.


Our pick this weak comes from the Deep South. You know, the hot as balls part KG is from. Another one I kept hearing the name, but never checked it out until now. The new record seems a bit tighter than their earlier efforts (well from the bits I've heard). Of course they're all mid to late 20's now as opposed to being 18-19 when they put out their first record. They're not old by any means, but 4 records and tours in, you get better and find a vision. It seemed to me that their previous stuff is a little more bar band sounding. Again, from the south and all and not better or worse, just; different.

I really like this song and it stuck with me throughout the day and I'll probably end up picking it up soon. This song is good and the clips of the others sound really good as well.

So let's settle in and enjoy some good rock from the southland. And KG, sorry if you're already sick of this band, I live in a shithole and never listen to the radio and being from around there, I'm sure Atlanta radio plays them. Which means they'll have to play a shitty Collective Soul song one less time (and there it is: our first CS dig of the new year.)

From Nashville, TN:

Kings of Leon - "Use Somebody":

Bonus Tracks:

So this is new. Not sure how I feel about it yet since I've only heard it once or twice. I don't hate it. This much I know.

U2 - "Get on your Boots":




Ok, this has moved to the top of my playlist recently. I love this album and it's just fun. Just good, loud three chord rock n roll. They were an NMT pick a while back. This song is hits home a little since it's about getting older and music having to be a part of your life and not just your life. Being in the scene and realizing that you aren't any better than the younger kids, they just have their own way. Just like you did.

Key line, "cause the kids at their shows, they'll have kids of their own
the sing-a-long songs'll be our scriptures"

You will be hearing more from this band.


The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive":

Just Try

Dare you to not cry.

Read

Almost let it pass by

This past weekend, January 18th, marked the 15th anniversary of my first day at Peaches. If you met me there, you've now know how long you've known me. And fuck, we're old.

And yes I remember the exact day because it was the day ZZ Top's Antenna album came out. Everyone who worked that day got a T-shirt to wear except me since it was my first day and I wasn't there when the rep brought them by.

My first customer came to me because Manager Dave, who was kind of annoying, never looked a girl in the eye (Hannah can verify this), but when you worked with him, you never had to work, anyways, he was going through my training list when he had to go do some manager stuff and had me work the floor for a minute. This foreign guy came up to me and said he was looking for a Led Zeppelin album. Perfect, I know Led Zep, they only put out 8 records, this should be simple.

"Which one?"

"Um, Down on the Farm".

Oh ok, wow, let me look that up..wait they don't have an album called that.

"Oh yeah, it's a bootleg."

Just what you see on the menu pal.

15 years, holy shit. I peaked too soon.

NMT 71

"On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics. We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things...What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them— that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works..For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers...What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship."


Pick yourselves up, help each other, do what you can and truly be the change you have been waiting for.

From Seattle, Wa:

Eddie Vedder - "The Times They are A-Changing":

NMT 70

So, her best friend got engaged tonite (Yeah, I know, and they're not even having the common decency to get married here so I don't have to travel). I noticed that the first question wasn't: "How do you feel? are you excited?" etc, but: "What does it look like? How big is it?". Girl has to have her priorities I guess.

Our pick this week came by accident. I was looking for a song from Nina Persson (lead singer from The Cardigans. Hot and gets a pass for being blonde since she's Swedish and can't help it.) that appears on the Cake Sale benefit album. I didn't realize it was a cover until I went looking for it. I found the original artist and really like her from the little I've heard so far and since I couldn't find Nina's version anyway, here we are.

It's another piano singer-songwriter, in the Tori vein, but you know, Canadian (mmm) and not full of fairies and gnomes and shit.

She seems to be putting things out on her own label, which I like and is probably the way of the future for most artists. Radiohead and Prince are already there.

In fact, Prince is putting out three records this year; a regular album, a funk album with a trio and another project. This is what he wanted to do when he was on a label, but they didn't want that. Hence he changed his name to a symbol so he could give them leftovers for the Prince name and put out other stuff under the symbol.

I digress.

So, here's our pick this week. She has an album of fun covers, that oddly don't sound cheesy (Pour some sugar on me, yeah). You may be hearing more from her here later. Just warning you.

From Toronto, Ontario, Canada:

Emm Gryner - "Black Winged Bird":




Bonus Tracks:

This song and movie too I think won a Goden Globe. Its supposed to be an amazing movie, with a carrer reviving performance by Mikey Rourke, which is fitting since it's about an aging wrestler trying to hang on.

The song is great and shows how powerful this guy is.


Bruce Springsteen - "The Wrestler":




I Miss the 90's:

Remember this song? Only song most you have probably heard. They put out more and I think I have their second record, "American Highway Flower". It was a favorite of Jenn's. I liked it too. This isn't from that album. It's a good place to spend New Year's I hear.

NMT 69

(tee hee)

So, we've starting going to the gym this week. So far, so good. I haven't been since my surgery and nothing hurts. So far.

The fun was tonite when Top 40 got hit on while working on the elliptical machine. Wouldn't be worth noting if it had been a dude. The gym is fun.

Ok, our pick this week is kind of fun. It's a duo with an actress who also sings. Might not be for everyone, but if you're a quirky brunette, you're getting the once over from me. Come on, it's William Miller's sister. And she just got engaged to the singer from Death Cab for Cutie (a former NMT pick).

Anyway, it's got a nice feel to it, like a 50's feel almost. The video is appropriately campy.

From Portland, OR:

She & Him - "Why do you let me stay her":




Bonus Tracks:

During the workout tonite, this song came up when the iPod on random. It's rather fun to workout to. I highly recommend it and other 80's cheese from 80's non-cheese groups. This performance is from their big show at the Rose Bowl which ended their Music for the Masses tour and was documented in the film "101" (it was the 101'st show of the tour). I'm not sure when it was filmed, but I hope for his sake it was before Labor Day.





I Miss the 90's:

And since everything else seems to have a (mostly) up-beat theme, let's continue shall we? I saw this tour and it was the last time they were solid. This lineup was the best this group had (Head on the door, Kiss me[x3], Disintegration, Wish). Tight musically, which allowed them to stretch out and play a little more. Listen to what the drummer is doing. Not just playing a straight beat, but still moving things along without getting in the way. Sadly, Jenn and I saw them on the tour after this, with mostly new members (Robert Smith is the constant) and they weren't as good.

The Cure - "High":

The Cure High