NMT 131

Our pick this week comes to us quite by accident. I was looking at something else on itunes and saw this listed in the also purchased by list. I always click on things in that list for this very reason. For some reason this band only has three EP's, not sure why that is, but hopefully, they'll have more. The singer has a bit of a Kate Bush with a little Hope Sandoval (Mazzy Star) thing going on. Plus, you know, Brunette.


So, from Sydney, Australia:

The Jezabels - "Hurt me":




Bonus Tracks:

So, you can see what I mean. Also: spot the guest guitar appearance.

Kate Bush - "Love and anger":




Random pick of the week:

NMT 130

Happy Birthday, Mormon Girl. Not sure how old you are today, but you don't look a day over 5 years younger than it. Enjoy those greasy-ass nachos.


Our pick this week comes to us from The Girl. She made me a CD and actually fretted over it, which is, you know, sort of sexy. She was worried I wouldn't like it (seriously, I'm not a music snob-Amanda, shut your face), but she did quite well and I liked it and only had 5 of the 19 songs. Good on ya, babe.

This was one of my favorite tracks and one we'll be hearing more from if the rest of their stuff holds as much promise as the few songs I've heard.

They have a good sound and Lynn, I think you'll like them if you don't already.

So, from North-east, England:

Maximo Park - "Questing, Not Coasting":




Bonus Tracks:

So untitled it is/I never change nothin'/But people remember this
If Nas can't say it, think about these talented kids/With new ideas being told what they can and can't spit


Nas - "Hero"




Happy Birthday, Mormon Girl. You share a birthday with Bob Dylan (he wrote this song). How lucky he is. We all love you and sing this to you, but you know, more in key...

NMT 129

One day closer...


Our pick this week comes to us from multiple sources. Originally, we were made aware by LRHG as she saw them at Austin City Limits one year and has yet to let me forget she found something before me. Savor the flavor. Then, someone else posted this video on their facebook and it reminded me I hadn't done one of these since, so let's do it now.

This video is fun and she is cute in that she-could-kick-my-ass-but-thats-cancelled-out-by-the-drums-and-chucks way. Whatever, it's late.

So, from Brooklyn, NY:

Matt & Kim - "Cameras":




Bonus Tracks:

For those of you who like yours with beeps and shit




Random Pick of the week:

Could have been an I miss the 90's, but wasn't. This is from a small benefit album for Rock for Choice called Spirit of 73. It was female led acts of the 90's doing female disco hits of the 70's. It was really good and this song always stood out to me (and, of course, Johnette Napolitano's version of Dancing Barefoot). Fun Fact: Lead singer of this band changed her name to Vitamin C and anyone who graduated after the 90's knows what happened then...

NMT 128

Our pick this week comes to us in a roundabout way. I was listening to an archived broadcast of a Canadian radio show that had Gordon Lightfoot and Gord Downie (Tragically Hip) performing together. In the middle of it, this girl sang a few songs and I meant to make this an NMT sometime along the last year, but you know, I'm lazy. That aside, it's a short-haired, artsy, brunette, so can't go wrong there.



So, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, reminding us we are one day closer:

Catherine MacLellan - "Water in the Ground":





Bonus Tracks:

"The first time I heard them, it was one of those moments where I thought, 'what was music like before I heard them'" Yeah, sort of a Nora moment...

Frightened Rabbit - "My Backwards Walk":




I Miss the 90's:

IN High School I taped an episode of 120 minutes (don't you miss that show) and this song was played that night. Never heard it again. Now you will hear it.

NMT 127

Exactly one full year and we start again. Welcome back...bitches.



Our pick this week is proof that whoever said, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" not only flunked anatomy, but also forgot to factor in the effect of, as soon as you sit down on the first date, handing him four cd's. Especially when three of them are ones he's never heard and he likes them. Good on ya.

This is the first song on this record and I'm sure the other songs are good, but I never get past the third one because I usually go back to this one. The lyrics are two former lovers meeting again and discussing their break-up(I think). It's the cello line that gets me; just keeps drawing me back with its simplistic and honest beauty.

I hope you never become the lyrics, but you will always be this cello line.

Most of the members of this band are also in Broken Social Scene, the Canadian Super-group we discussed before.


So, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada(ish):

Stars - "Your Ex-Lover is Dead":





Bonus Tracks:

I can't believe we went through an R.E.M. day without one of these, but don't worry, Stipe has started a project to make a film for every track. Thank you for the bottomless, go-to material.

The album is really good and their best in years. This song has everything you'd want from an R.E.M. song: Jangly chords, beautiful chorus and incomprehensible lyrics. Also: a LRHG friendly video; she loves the artsy shit. (and I want that shirt)

R.E.M. - "Uberlin":




We'll miss the 90's next week. This week we'll go random.

Random Pick of the Week:

Just the pick of the week, but sung by Mr. Zooey Deshanel of Death Cab...Because she likes Death Cab and we give preferential treatment around here.

NMT 126

Our pick this week is something that we were introduced to by the groom of the wedding we went to a couple of weeks ago. The groom plays guitar and we sat around talking about music and our shared interest in Eric Johnson. He told me about this guy and how he's his current favorite obsession.

This guy has a style where he beats the rhythm out and plays the chords and melody at the same time.

He has a great song called "Rylynn" you should look up, but I chose this one because it sort of fit the motif of the room the reception was in (if you were there or saw some pictures, you know what I'm talking about). Plus, it's just cool.

This could very easily have become muzak quality, but oddly, it doesn't. And good luck getting this out of your head.


So, from Topeka, Kansas:


Andy McKee - "Africa":





Bonus Tracks:

One week from today, a new Hold Steady album is coming out. If you haven't gotten on board with this band, you should. All the kids are doing it.

The Hold Steady - "Hurricane J":





You know, Arizona, you're a hot, smelly, sandy speck in the middle of nowhere. You need to be making more of an effort to make people happy and less of one being douche-y. Keep it up and we'll bundle everything south of the Grand Canyon with all of Texas (except the new American Republic of Austin)and give it back to Mexico.

I thought we already went over this? Oh, yeah: we did.

NMT 125

OUr pick this week is a good ol fashion funtime, rock n roll supergroup. Dude from Queens of the Stone age, Dave Grohl from Nirvana and Foo Fighters (and sometimes QOTSA) and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. This album has been out for a while, but I just recently picked it up since I'm lazy and it just hit the Amazon daily deal. Mostly, that second one.

I haven't heard too much of the QOTSA, so it may sound a lot like their stuff, but it's got Dave Grohl and JPJ, so it's cool. It is really good and reminds you that Dave Grohl was an amazing drummer before he stood in front of the mike.


SO, from, well, different places really:


Them Crooked Vultures - "New Fang":





Bonus tracks:


You ever realize there's a cd you just forgot you had and then you hate yourself (more) for not having it to listen to this whole time? This was my recent find.
And I've found that nothing moves a work day along like some Crowded House.







I Miss the 90's:

Highly over-looked.

NMT 124

Constance: I totally support you.

Constance's girlfriend: You do realize that; if this all works out and you get to go to prom, you're pretty much going to have to put out. I mean, we're talking a little more than $200 tickets, a limo and food. Girl had to make a Federal case out of it. Do the right thing.


Our pick this week is the second band from the singer of one of the greatest bands of our time (and one that I, inexplicably, didn't get into until later. No idea.) This band had a different feel than his original one and represented his eclectic musical taste; Reggae, ska -real ska, not that fake No Doubt, Save Ferris crap- world music, and even old school rap (Magnificent Seven was him trying to do his own rap). Not that his first band didn't, this one, being on his own, perhaps did more so. He had a radio show that I've heard clips from and it was all over the place and wonderful.

"People can anything they want to...it's time to take the humanity back into the center of the ring and follow that for a time...without people; you're nothing"


From London, England:

Joe Strummer and The Mescaleros - "Tony Adams":




Bonus Tracks:

This song has been a favorite on my Ipod recently. You can compare the version from the movie Control here (which is the actors playing and singing themselves).






Someone once asked her what she thought were the best lyrics she ever wrote. This was her answer.


Cowboy Junkies - "Misguided Angel":

NMT 123

Our pick this week was a find from the Amazon Mp3 daily deal on the Internet machine. I had not bought anything in a while, so in a jonesing fit I took a shot (hey, Custer took a chance) and became quite satisfied. For some reason I thought, during certain moments-not all, that this is what Paramore could song like if they didn't pander to 12 year olds and had some balls.

The singer and the guitar player also perform with Broken Social Scene, which is a sort of Canadian Indie band super group, whom Feist also play with from time to time. Kind of like a Canadian Pigface, but you know, with polite, Canadians who pick up after themselves rather than a bunch of strung out, dirty heroin addicts who bang on piano wires stretched across 2x4's. (think I'm making that up? It's called the Anti Tank Guitar)


So, from Toronto, Ontario, Canada (probably the 2nd place to look for me if I disappear and you don't find me in Seattle):


Metric - "Sick Muse":





Bonus Tracks:


I hear that this is the best way to get 4th graders pumped up for FCAT writes. And see: I told you he did that.





Apparently, this is the newest coolest thing. Pretty sure she's actually singing, but can't tell.

NMT 122

Excuse me, ma'am. 1985 called and said writing a check in line at the grocery store is bitchin'.


Our pick this week is a group of young ones. Well, to be fair, everyone is young to us now, we're old. Not too old to function, mind you, but the old where, if you go out, you're coming home at the time you would still be getting ready.

I just picked this up on a whim and I like it. It's got a good feel, the writing is strong and there's a bit of rawness underneath.

It's entirely possible that KG is already sick of this, but she likes Collective Soul, so....

So, from Atlanta, GA;

Manchester Orchestra - "I've got Friends":






Bonus Tracks:


See, it's fun to scream and all that, but sometimes, quiet is the new kick-ass.





I Miss the 90's.


Echobelly - "Insomniac":

NMT 121

Sure is.....warm.



Our pick this week is one that's hard for me to put my finger on. I keep hearing it around and it sounds good, but I can't decide if I like it. It's a bit of a new direction for her, well from her first break-through, massive, can't get away from it hit. She expanded and changed he sound and I respect that. Who knows, this may become a favorite. I like it when people try; that way I don't have to and the world keeps spinning.


This is her break-up album ( I think every artist has to do one of those). I'm not sure if Pirates here are a metaphor for "boys who can't grow up" or what, but at least she didn't go with the Peter Pan theme (Patty Griffin already did it best anyway).


So, from Brooklyn, NY:

Norah Jones - "Chasing Pirates":





Bonus Tracks:

These dudes must have really scored the chicks:





Today's selections were brought to you by the letter "N":

NMT 120

9 degrees is pretty cold and sliding down a huge chunk of ice is supa-cool. (check Top 40's Facebook)


Our pick this week come to us because the last song we heard on XM 44 (not anywhere as good as before the XM/Sirius merger, but still good) was the last song on this record. I had a copy of this and used to listen to it constantly in my early 20's. Really shows how good a live band they are and it captures their early energy. Not that they don't now, it's just you could move more and climb on shit higher when you're 22 than when you're 40 (LRHG, you know what I'm talking about).

This is originally from their second record, October, which is a bit weird, but is one of those records that grows on you (I don't own it, but someone I used to know did). The interesting fun fact about this record is; on the way to record it, someone stole the singer's brief case in Portland, OR. and it had all of his lyrics in it. SO, when they got to the studio, he had to re-write them all from memory, which adds to the obtuseness. The other factor is it was written at a time when three of the members were struggling with reconciling their faith with being rock stars and were thinking of quitting. During their induction in to the Hall of Fame, they told a story of how a band like theirs would never have made it in today's industry, because in their day you were given a chance to grow. As the singer said, "Can you imagine your second album -- the difficult second album -- it's about God?".

So, standing in line for the ICE thing at the Gaylord Palms resort, this song popped in my head and pretty much stayed there the whole time through the exhibit. I think it's the drum beat at the beginning, which is always fun to play.

So, from Dublin, Ireland:


U2 - Gloria





Bonus Tracks:

You love this show. Stop denying it. Nothing wrong with it.





Remember this song? Ain't nothing wrong with a little H&O.