Addendum.

I completely forgot! Next Thursday, December 6th, at Lenny's, a band I'm fond of will be playing their last show. The Five Foot Flame will participate in 99X's Sunday School on the Road with Warm in the Wake and Morning State.

So, basically, there's a good little musical journey to be made next week before I take Saturday to sip on free drinks in a pretty dress with a handsome boy at the company holiday party...

They Might Be of Interest.

I'm in holiday mode, so blogging will only happen when I really feel like it. Which will probably not be very often.

NATIONAL NEWS

**In case you didn't hear, Butch Walker lost all of his possessions in a fire out in Malibu. He was renting Flea's house. That really sucks. I'm sorry for Butch and his family. He's a super nice and talented guy, so this is a real shame, especially considering he lost lots of music related items. You can read more here.

**A couple of notable deaths have occured. Quiet Riot just got even quieter, while the emo scene just got louder.

**And the downward spiral just keeps getting steeper for Amy Whinehouse. (Nope, I didn't spell that wrong, either.)

**If this is true, then I'm buying a grave site, because Armageddon is near.

**Frank Sinatra teams up with Warner Music. Does he really has a choice at this point? Shame, shame, I know your name...

LOCAL NEWS/SHOWS

**Since Atlanta's scene has left my fancy untickled lately, I'm going to hit Vinyl next Wednesday to check out Hod Rod Circuit from Connecticut.

**There are more benefit shows/concerts/fundraisers/etc this time of year than ever.

********Keep in mind that any show at Smith's Olde Bar tacks on 2 canned goods to the cover price through December.

I'm keeping extra green beans and corn that I will never eat handy in my car for occasions like:

-->Rantings of Eva, Judi Chicago, and Black Volt on Sunday, December 16th for "Music for the Mangled" at Smith's Olde Bar.

-->A Moonshine Christmas at Lenny's on Saturday.December 15th.

-->Paws for Applause at Vinyl on Thursday, December 13th with The Modern Society.


Stay tuned for when I actually write about something of substance...

Don't Shoot Me Santa!

It's that time of the year again! Get out your yarn scarves and fingerless mittens and download The Killers' new single, "Don't Shoot Me Santa," on iTunes. Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and check in the coming weeks for cool music finds to give your special someone (friend or "friend") something fun this holiday season :-)

Inboxoscopy Long Overdue.

I didn't even bother to proofread this, so if there are errors, forgive me.



**The Devil Makes Three. Milan Entertainment sent me a song from this band that makes me want to get really drunk. Mostly because it's a song about drinking, and its blues/folk sound just makes me think I'm sitting in a seedy back alley bar where they serve you whiskey in a dirty glass.

The Devil Makes Three - "Old Number Seven"




**Soulsavers bring pianos and vocals so deep, you might need floaties when you listen to it. No, seriously. This is like some Johnny Cash shit. It's haunting. You might get lost in it. They're only playing a few shows, and none in Atlanta. But, if you happen to live in or travel to California, NY, DC, or Pennsylvania, then check their website to see when they're playing.

Stream the single: Soulsavers - "Kingdoms of Rain"

**I have to mention a band when I notice the following things: (a) they're from Seattle, (b) they list Phil Collins and Usher as influences, and (c) their album is called The Album That Killed Its Parents. So here is a mention for Gray Beast. I'm thinking that this music will come in handy for 'chill out' time. I'm thinking wine. I'm thinking a big furry rug. And finally, I'm thinking a fireplace. Unfortunately, I only have a rug and it's not furry. Go listen. I'm immediately fond of what I'm hearing.

**Compilation CDs are my absolute fav. I think I'm a master at compiling, and if you ask people that have been on the receiving end of that, they'll tell you the same. So, naturally, when I hear there is a compilation CD that has a tracklist of guilty pleasure covers done by indie artists, I begin to salivate. I only have the MySpace link, so go check out Guilt By Association. It's yummy. (And by yummy, I mean Devendra Banhart covering "Don't Look Back in Anger.")

**I'm a Georgia Southern grad. I was there in the midst of National Championship fever. Our star running back went on to play in the NFL...for Da Bears. There's a band called Da Bears from San Diego that have a nice grasp on the whole surfer rock thing. This isn't your mama's surf rock, though, so don't write it off. This is the kind of rock that makes me think I have pink bubbles floating through my veins when I listen to it. It's happy. It's like skipping down a brick road wearing pigtails and a sun visor made out of colored plastic. In your skinny jeans. I kind of want to get a case of beer and hang out with these guys.

**Got an email from a band out of New York called Bloodshot Revival. I'll say they've got a nice punk/indie thing going on. I'm reminded of a cross between the big power pop bands, like Motion City Soundtrack, and...and...well, I can't place my finger on just one other band. As in, it doesn't really stand out. Eh.

**The Color Wheels are a husband and wife team who, once again, have some of that 90s revival sound, and it's good. They also remind me of the Postal Service or Radiohead with their incorporation of electronic music. It makes me so happy when someone sends me music that isn't all-around crap.

**I've been really gravitating toward chicks with soothing voices and light-hearted music. And that's why I like Spider. It's so happy and so depressing at the same time. Spider manages to have the female version of Damien Rice effect on me. And, if you're someone who often reads this blog, you'd know that I'm emotionally attached to the latter, and I think I'm slowly picking up that same vibe with Spider's calming sense.

Plajia

Here's a band from Montreal that sent me some of their songs. As I listen, a small smile stretches across my face, because I hear a twinge of the 90s, which I have been saying is about to explode back onto the scene for about two years now. I love it when I'm right. But, I also have boobs, making that a blatant fact.

Plajia's got this rock power chord thing going on in their song "Dummy," but it's still boasting a light and airy feel to it that makes it easy on the ears. And that's never a bad thing.

Plajia - "Dummy"

I listened to the other tracks they sent me, and I didn't too much care for the cheesy pop and listless lyrics in "Beautiful Explosion." Maybe I had too much Mexican food earlier or something. "Beating the Charms" is okay. It's kind of retro and flowy. It reminds me of seeing fairies in a forest. (And no, I've never actually seen a fairy in a forest, but I imagine if I were going to, this song might be on the soundtrack.)

If you like it, you can go to their MySpace and get more. Holla!

Pick of the Week - Autovaughn and PJA

Well, I appear to be sick, which never happens. Therefore, I missed Tori last night, and am slightly devasted after seeing pictures of the show on ajc.com. I think we should just not talk about this any further.

There is a lot going on tonight, though, if you're in the mood to practice that whole "Thursday is the new Friday" schtick that I've been campaigning for the past couple of years.

I already mentioned earlier this week that you can swing by Star Bar and get a free show presented by Pop Death Squad.

Or, if you happen to prefer the Midtown area to the tourist trap of Little 5 Points, head to Smith's Olde Bar to see a band from Florida that I have praised in the past, Plain Jane Automobile. These guys are really great, and they have a nice, enthusiastic following in Atlanta. So, jump on the bandwagon. I'll approve this time. As an added bonus, Autovaughn, who come from Nashville and seriously kick ass, are also on this bill. I would be at this show if I could manage to get all of the snot to excrete from my nose/head area.

Hey, I have an idea since I've been slacking on this as of late...

I'm making the latter show my:



If you're able to breathe, I'm jealous. So go to one of the shows and breathe the music for me. Nyuk nyuk.

Do You Have Some Time?

Surely you've heard of street teams, or maybe you've been on one. You probably like music enough to talk about how much this band or that band is the poo doo dong, right? Well, if you care to get free tickets and/or free CDs for that, and you have some extra time to do street promo, Matador Records and Beggars Group are looking for Atlantans to help them out.

Normally I wouldn't pass along info of this sort since everyone is always looking for street team people, but this caught my eye because I actually really like the artists on this label, and in this case, I'll help them out.

Think about it, the more you let those who are uneducated know about great bands like St. Vincent, Film School, Devendra Banhart, and Yo La Tengo, the more you don't have to listen to crap like Fergie and whoever sings that dumbass umbrella song.

If you're interested, here are the qualifications:

All it takes is a little bit of time each week and a love of music. Perks include free shows, free records and more.

Yes? Then email Claire Taylor. Easy enough, right?

Why Don't You...

Go to this site and follow the instructions to show how much you love us. Oh, yes, we have no shame in asking for your support. It's just how we are.



In other news, Tori Amos will be at the Fox Theatre on Wednesday night, with support from Yoav. This show is going to be amazing and probably make me cry. I'll be back with a report on Thursday if I can pull myself from Tori-land.



If you're looking for a cool show on Thursday, look no further than this here flyer. It's pretty much going to split your face open. Oh, and it'll do it for free, so you can afford to pay the high doctor bill for the stitches you're going to need.



Lucky for Atlanta that there is a bunch of awesome music rolling through town before the holidays where we get to wonder how we were spawn from the crazy people we call 'family.'

Saturday night, I'm pulling a double. That means I'm grabbing the boy and going to watch Joanna Newsom play her harp along with the ASO relatively early on in the night, and then we're going to head over to Star Bar where Pop Death Squad is presenting the Empties and James Hall under one roof. You can't go wrong with a night like that, now, can you?

"I've seen fire, and I've seen rain..."

James Taylor - One Man Band CD/DVD

Available Tuesday, November 13
at Starbucks and other locations that sell CDs and DVDs

One of the neatest sights to see is a musician tell the audience the stories behind the songs. Sweet Baby James does just that on this intimate performance with a pianist and a drum machine - for real! Reminiscing about the 1970s in the days with Carole King and admitting what his songs were really about ("The Frozen Man" was about his father), you feel like you're on the back porch at his house doing story time.

What's also good to hear and hard to come by nowadays is a musician such as Mr. Taylor sounding the exact same as he did when he recorded these some. Watch the DVD on a quiet night or listen to the CD when you're Sunday driving. It's like an extended version of VH1's "Storytellers" without commercials.

Year Zero Remixed

This is going to be so freakin' cool - Nine Inch Nails is releasing Year Zero Remixed (aka: Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D or Halo 25), a remixed version of their latest album, Year Zero, coming out November 20.

The tracks..
1. "Gunshots by Computer" - Saul Williams
2. "The Great Destroyer" - Modwheelmood
3. "My Violent Heart" - Pirate Robot Midget (fan remix)
4. "The Beginning of the End (J-Type Overdrive Mix)" - Ladytron
5. "Survivalism" - Saul Williams
6. "Capital G" - Epworth Phones
7. "Vessel" - Bill Laswell
8. "The Warning" - Stefan Goodchild featuring Doudou N'Diaye Rose
9. "Meet Your Master" - The Faint
10. "God Given" - Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert
11. "Me, I'm Not" - Olof Dreijer (of The Knife)
12. "Another Version of the Truth" - Kronos & Enrique Gonzalez Müller
13. "In This Twilight" - Fennesz
14. "Zero-Sum" - Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert

I'm Not There Soundtrack

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised over something you wouldn't have dreamed would surprise you? That's how I felt when I put I'm Not There in my CD player (thanks to Sam). The reasons why the soundtrack to the Bob Dylan biopic is pretty darn good...

I've haven't been this excited about a movie soundtrack since Trainspotting... okay that's a slight exaggeration. Not knowing a whole lot about Bob Dylan or his work, There was neither hard to follow - by "hard to follow," I mean you don't have to be a Dylan fanatic to get it. It's ideal to listen to on a lazy Sunday morning or a peaceful drive. You don't feel like you're listening to a "best of" tribute CD, even though in a sense you are...

I think one of the gutsiest moves musicians make are doing covers from legendary peers. If one does this, it's a make or break deal. Luckily, it worked out for the 25 or so musicians on this two-disc compilation of Dylan songs. To answer why it worked is because the musicians featured aren't a flash in the pan - Willie Nelson, Iron & Wine, Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Los Lobos, Jack Johnson, Mark Lanegan (yay!) of Screaming Trees and The Gutter Twins and more. You can hear his sound and lazy vocals in the musicians without it being cheesy or a mockery...

The one piece of the puzzle that connects the CD and the listener together is the movie itself. Unfortunately, I'm Not There doesn't come out until November 21 and even then, it's a limited release. If it's as original as Todd Haynes's Velvet Goldmine, we're in for a treat. Hopefully, the times could be a changin' and they might show There here come November 21!

Until then, pick up a copy. If you're a tech savvy person and own the tinker toy called a iPod, it's available on iTunes. If you're need a couple recommendations to twist your arm, check out "Mama, You've Been on My Mind/A Fraction of Last Thoughts on Woodie Gutherie" by Jack Johnson or "Man in the Long Black Coat" by Mark Lanegan.

The tracks...

Disc One
1. "All Along the Watchtower" - Eddie Vedder and the Million Dollar Bashers
2. "I'm Not There" - Sonic Youth
3. "Goin' To Acapulco" - Jim James and Calexico
4. "Tombstone Blues" - Richie Havens
5. "Ballad of a Thin Man" - Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers
6. "Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again" - Cat Power
7. "Pressing On" - John Doe
8. "Fourth Time Around" - Yo La Tengo
9. "Dark Eyes" - Iron & Wine and Calexico
10. "Highway 61 Revisited" - Karen O and the Million Dollar Bashers
11. "One More Cup of Coffee" - Roger McGuinn and Calexico
12. "The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll" - Mason Jennings
13. "Billy"- Los Lobos
14. "Simple Twist of Fate" - Jeff Tweedy
15 "The Man in the Long Black Coat" - Mark Lanegan
16. "Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)" - Willie Nelson and Calexico

Disc Two
1. "As I Went Out One Morning" - Mira Billotte
2. "Can't Leave Her Behind" - Stephen Malkmus and Lee Ranaldo
3. "Ring Them Bells" - Sufjan Stevens
4. "Just Like a Woman" - Charlotte Gainsbourg and Calexico
5. "Mama You've Been on My Mind" / "A Fraction of Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie" - Jack Johnson
6. "I Wanna Be Your Lover" - Yo La Tengo
7. "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere" - Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
8. "Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window?" - The Hold Steady
9. "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" - Ramblin' Jack Elliot
10. "Wicked Messenger" - The Black Keys
11. "Cold Irons Bound" - Tom Verlaine and the Million Dollar Bashers
12. "The Times They Are a-Changin'" - Mason Jennings
13. "Maggie's Farm" - Stephen Malkmus and the Million Dollar Bashers
14. "When the Ship Comes In" - Marcus Carl Franklin
15. "Moonshiner" - Bob Forrest
16. "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine," John Doe
17. "Knockin' on Heaven's Door," - Antony & the Johnsons
18. "I'm Not There," Bob Dylan with The Band

The Trailer

Get Your Gun

If you like old school country (think Mr. Cash) with a modern twist (think Ryan Adams), you're going to love Mice and Rifles. These guys are from Austin, TX and they're releasing an album at Stubb's on December 14th. Check out "Balance" on their Myspace page if you're looking for some new indie tunes.

For some reason, I can't stop listening to Emma Burgess today. She's totally chick rock/folk, but her stuff is cute and poppy without being Britney or Christina. Her album "Swim" isn't new, but it's good so check it out on her Myspace page.

Adios.

You're A Wolf Boy, Get Out Of This Town

Sea Wolf played at The Earl on Sunday October 28th. Once in a while, Atlanta really surprises my by completely dropping the ball. This was one of those times. Although there was surprisingly only a handful of people out on Sunday, it seemed like the people that were there were happy that they showed up.

The ladies and gentlemen in Sea Wolf were not only totally cool (i.e. chatting with their fans) but they put on a killer live show. I can honestly say that this group sounds just as good live as their recorded material on Leaves In The River, if not better.

Eclectic music is often times hard to pull off, but the ladies on cello and keys were total pros and lead vocalist, Alex Brown Church is a star.

My favorite song, Black Dirt, went over well live but unfortunately isn't on their Myspace page. It's worth picking up the album (or downloading it on itunes) just for this song.

This might be the best show I have seen in a while and here's to hoping that Sea Wolf hits Atlanta again soon.