Pancakes and new music? It must be Tuesday.

Since I've been listening to a bit of the corporate rock radio in South Florida because the CD player in my car refuses to work (only "a bit" because I've also rediscovered NPR, WKPX and sports talk radio), I almost put together a Two for Tuesday gimmick this week. Then I realized there's no reason to act like those slovenly fools when I can do way better than that.

Kind of a different group of tracks this week, what with the folk and the poppy punk. There's enough noise and feedback to more than make up for it though.

Feller Abides v3

Monsters of Folk - "Man Named Truth"

MOF is Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M Ward (um, Google him - he's everywhere) and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes member), but the album is a little less predictable than I thought it would be. I was going to include one of the more upbeat songs on the album - the Big Bopper meets the Beach Boys meets, well, the members of this supergroup "Whole Lotta Losin'" - but I couldn't shake "Man Named Truth." Like a lot of the album, "Man Named Truth" has more of a country feel to it, and I dig how bitter Oberst sounds. This is one of those times I understand why he has been exalted as the new Dylan. (Listen to the entire album at the MOF MySpace profile)

Beck - "There She Goes Again"

Beck has become an Internet phenomenon, recording an acoustic rethink of his Danger Mouse-produced album Modern Guilt, offering DJ sets, and then a complete rerecording of the Velvet Underground's essential and ridiculously influential The Velvet Underground & Nico. Ok, so maybe he was a big star before hitting the 'net - the fact is, he's putting his stamp on shit. Hard.

Last Days of Summer - "Moving On"

I'm a sucker for the crunch of pop punk, and Last Days Of Summer is doing it well. They're learning from the bands they worship - which ones shouldn't be much of a mystery if you listen close enough - but putting together something altogether their own. By the three-minute mark you should be standing up and pounding on the walls of your cubicle or whatever you spend your day chained to. Full disclosure: The drummer is my brother-in-law. If they sucked I wouldn't put them on here though. This time next summer, LDOS is gonna be huge. Trust me on this.

Muse - "Uprising"

In my anti-anti-Kanye rant posted yesterday I forgot to include Muse as one of the best performances on the VMAs. Chances are more viewers forgot, or ignored, the band played anyway - which is sad. Muse deserves a lot more attention for their hard-charging, somewhat electro rock. This is one of those bands that commercial rock radio ought to play a few times a day instead of a ninth song from the Chili Peppers or anything from Metallica's horrific St. Anger. Good luck not screaming "Call Me" a few times during the song. (That'll make sense once you hear it.)

Times New Viking - "Hustler, Psycho, Son"

Times New Viking continues to write great rock and roll songs, and then bathe them in layers and layers of feedback. As much as I like the noise, this is a band that should be playing over the PA in malls and grocery stores based solely on the quality of song (and the recent propensity for public airing of indie gold). With the wall of sound as barrier, maybe staying in the underground is what they want - and we certainly don't mind it. Check out this song, and the rest of the new TMV album, which is streaming at their Matador Records profile.

Non-Prophets - "Damage"

Though the Non-Prophets' album Hope is over six years old, this track sounds as good now as I'm sure it then, when I heard it and moved on. Sad and shameful as that act was, Sage Francis's rhymes hold up well over Joe Beats', um, beats. Grab the whole album if you made the same mistake I did.

Massive Attack - "Splitting The Atom (ft. 3D, Daddy G and Horace Andy)"

The last Massive Attack album, 100th Window, was boring. It sounded like Massive Attack trying to make a Massive Attack album. It must have been tough to follow up one of the best albums of the 90s in Mezzanine, but that last thing was a huge letdown. This, the first single off the forthcoming "LP5," gives great hope for the future. In the meantime, the Splitting The Atom EP is out in October, before the full album lands early next year. We've heard this before though - if you've not heard the drama of "LP5," check it.

Guilty pleasure techno-pop.

This is the sort of thing I want to do drugs and dance around to. I'm sure there are people who are doing just that, right now, as I type this. Hell, they may be doing it in the video.



Late in the video Solveig and Dragonette are dancing on a rooftop. It was kind of a disappointing scene for me because I was hoping one of them might go flying off the side of the building.

Anyway, here's a remix of that very track as well.

I don't know what Dragonette does on tour, but if you're nearby I'm sure it could be interesting:


10.2 PETERBOROUGH, ON Red Dog
10.3 MONTREAL, PQ POP MONTREAL / LE Cabaret
10.5 HAMILTON, ON casbah
10.6 LONDON, ON Call the Office
10.7 WATERLOO, ON The Starlight
10.8 TORONTO, ON The Mod Club
10.12 WINNIPEG, MB west end cultural centre
10.14 CALGARY, AB The Whisky
10.15 EDMONTON, AB Starlite
10.16 NELSON, BC venue TBC
10.17 VANCOUVER, BC Venue
10.18 VICTORIA, BC Sugar
10.19 SEATTLE, WA @ Vera Project
10.20 PORTLAND, OR @ Doug fir
10.22 SAN FRANCISCO, CA @ Popscene / 330
10.23 LOS ANGELES, CA @ The Echo
10.24 COSTA MESA @ Detroit Bar
10.26 DENVER, CO @ Larimer Lounge
10.28 KANSAS CITY, MO @ Czar Bar
10.30 SPRINGFIELD, MO @ Outland
10.31 CHICAGO, IL @ Sonotheque
11.4 BOSTON, MA @ Great Scott
11.5 NEW YORK CITY, NY @ Santos
11.6 WASHINGTON DC @ DC9

The Aliens land. Again.

My introduction to the Beta Band came with the release of The Three EPs in the late 90s. For most, however, the first mention was via High Fidelity:



The band put out a few more great records before finally breaking up sometime in late 2004. After which, the members went on to other projects, as band members often do.

Robin Jones and John Maclean formed The Aliens, along with help from another former Beta Band member, Gordon Anderson - who became known as Lone Pigeon after BB broke up.

Unlike the Lone Pigeon work, or anything else on earth, The Aliens retain not only much of the magic, but much of the sound of Beta Band. Sort of a folky, sampleadelic, trip hop vibe that naturally radiates through your ears like a groove you didn't know you were feeling.

Last year, the band put out Luna, a great album if ever there was one. This year, they're release a special edition that comes with a 60-page book.

I'm sure the book - limited to 1000 signed copies - won't be cheap. I'm posting this so that ya'll can check out a great band that hasn't got much attention. So listen to the mp3 and get the records.

The Aliens - Sunlamp Show

The Aliens
The Aliens on Amazon

Revolting Cocks return for more.

Maybe they were a jokey side project for Al Jourgensen to let out the sexual energy that has no place on a Ministry album, or maybe they're a serious work of music art. Either way, the Revolting Cocks return to action on their LuBriCaTouR - bringing the perversion on the road for the first time since a 2006 stint opening for the aforementioned Ministry.

Although Jourgensen will only appear with the band at it's Irving Plaza stop in New York, the trek takes the band across these continental United States, including to South Florida, which I never expect of any band. (Full dates below.)

The occasion, or maybe excuse, for the tour is the release of Sex-O MiXXX-O, a 10-track remix set. Contributing to the album are efforts from Chris Vrenna (Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails, Tweaker) and Dave “Rave” Olgilvie (Skinny Puppy), among others. The album is out September 29 on Jourgensen's 13th Planet Records.

From the album: I'm Not Gay (Blownload Prison Remix)

Here's the kicker - RevCo put out an album in March called Sex-O Olympic-O. Maybe I was just out of it at the time, but did anybody know that came out? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Revolting Cocks were a pretty decent side project for Jourgensen back in the day. The press release says icons. That word works for Ministry because, you know, it's an understatement. But it feels strong here.

Anyway, no doubt this will be worth checking out if they're in your town.

Also on the tour is Jim Rose, BlownLoad and Left Spine Down...

September 10 - El Paso, TX - Club 101
September 12 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater
September 13 - Denver, CO - Gothic Theater
September 14 - Ft Collins, CO - Aggie Theater
September 15 - Salt Lake, UT - Club Vegas
September 17 - Coeur d'Alene, ID - The Grail
September 18 - Seattle, WA - Studio Seven
September 19 - Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw Theatre
September 20 - Portland, OR - Dante's
September 23 - San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
September 24 - Orangevale, CA - The Boardwalk
September 25 - San Diego, CA - Brick By Brick
September 26 - Tempe, AZ - The Clubhouse
September 27 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues
October 1 - San Antonio, TX - White Rabbit
October 2 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom
October 3 - Kansas City, MO - The Beaumont
October 4 - St. Louis, MO - The Firebird
October 6 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
October 7 - Detroit, MI - Blondie's
October 8 - Cleveland, OH - Peabody's
October 9 - St. Thomas, ON - Coolz Warehouse
October 10 - Ottawa, ON - Babylon
October 11 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques
October 12 - Toronto, ON - Reverb
October 14 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
October 15 - Allentown, PA - Croc Rock
October 16 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
October 17 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza
October 18 - Baltimore, MD - Ram's Head Live
October 20 - Jacksonville, FL - Jackrabbits
October 21 - Orlando, FL - Firestone
October 22 - Fort Lauderdale, FL - Revolution
October 23 - St. Petersburg, FL - The State Theatre
October 24 - Charlotte, NC - Tremont Music Hall
October 25 - New Orleans, LA - House of Blues
October 27- Houston, TX – Warehouse Live
October 29 - Fort Worth, TX - Ridglea Theater
October 30 - Austin, TX - Emo's

New for Tuesday (late).

Ahh, the wonders of Feller-time. It may be Wednesday but I've still got the Tuesday hook-up. At some point later today, Apple will unveil new iPods. What better way to introduce your new iPod to the world but with 7 songs hand-picked by The Gentleman.

Once again, we're all over the place with this thing. Should make for a good whiplash.

Feller Abides v2

Spoon - Got Nuffin

Britt Daniel is one of the best songwriters to emerge in recent years. I should have more to say about this song but I'm still half comatose so I'll offer some advice - listen to this song, then find the last three Spoon albums. You'll be glad you did.

Rain Machine - Give Blood

Kyp Malone's solo project has that TV on the Radio flavor but really doesn't sound or feel like TVOTR. World weary rock and roll that doesn't so much take off as pound along. Hand claps and female backing vocals complement Kyp's own. This raises the stakes for what I expect to be one of the year's best releases.

Raekwon - Black Mozart (ft. RZA & Inspectah Deck)

There's a dark side of life Raekwon focuses on when he's at his best. This is about as much as I want to experience it. RZA brings the gritty, gritty shit on here too. And yes, the whole album is this good.

Kid Cudi - Make Her Say (ft. Kanye West & Common)

Kudi feels stuff. On the album he's rapping AND singing (no auto-tune) about loneliness, unease with life and just making it through the day. Maybe it was the hour that I picked songs for the list, but this is upbeat and a little less introspective. Turn it up and make your license plate rattle.

Vivian Girls - Double Vision

Straight up galloping fuzzed-out punk rock. Some people like it, some people don't. The indie buzz around this band should be enough that you give this at least three listens to burrow into your brain. It's been stuck in mine for days.

The Black Crowes - A Train Still Makes A Lonely Sound

The Black Crowes have put out another album. If you have no interest, this won't change that. They're a band that reclaimed the magic and are having fun playing music again. It shows.

Lightning Bolt - Nation of Boar

Ah, the mighty Lightning Bolt. There's almost vocals on this track, or at least it sounds that way to my ears. Still no bottom end to the fast guitar buzz and faster hardcore drum work (and it is work!). This six minutes is an up and down exercise in what the band does best - rip out your guts, puke on them and shove them back up your ass. Talk about keeping the quality high!

Not clever.

It's been two days since the last post. I contemplated waiting until tomorrow so I could quote something from Jane's Addiction's "Three Days," but I have no idea what that quote would have been or why I would do it.

Check out the two new Flaming Lips tracks on this post over at Covert Curiosity.

Based on "Silver Trembling Hands" and "Convinced of the Hex," it sounds like the Lips have shifted their sound again. These two sound a bit like psychedelic film theme songs. Not sure where the film part came from, it just popped into my head and hasn't left; though I'm sure the psychedelic part can't be debated. And while the tracks aren't great, they are good. Which certainly bodes well for the rest of the album.

Oh, and the Modest Mouse ep leaked. Go find it. I already have.

(Jane's via Visions and Revisions.)

Spotify is nearly perfect.

Spotify is the greatest thing ever. Give me 50 downloads a month, and a phone app that does the same thing as the desktop one - including a sync of my playlists - and I'll give you $25 a month for the rest of my life. Give me 100 downloads and I'll give you $50.

They need to offer downloads because I need to have something that doesn't require an Internet connection, otherwise I'm just renting music I could own for free anyway. They are not the reason I'm willing to pay though. That has everything to do with the desktop and phone applications, which sync, and offer a nearly perfect library of, um, everything.

There's no Zeppelin, no Beatles, no Floyd, no Pussy Galore. In a lot of cases there aren't entire albums, so you get a selection of tracks for most of an artist's albums, which can be weirdly disappointing. But for the most part, it comes up with everything you throw at it. All kinds of music, and virtually every artist, right there. This may not be a necessity for everyone on the planet. But it could be.

As far as I'm concerned, this is essential right this second. I am no longer limited by how much I can carry. No more gigs - just search and it plays. Utopia.

I am sold. Do you hear me RIAA? WHERE DO I SEND MY CREDIT CARD NUMBER?!?

And I bet I'm not the only one.

Downloads, a day late.

24 hours ago I downloaded five albums. I knew before I loaded them onto the iPod there was no way I'd listen to all of them yesterday. And I was right. I'm gathering thoughts, but here's the quick lowdown...

First things first, I didn't even get near new albums from The Horrors or Major Lazer.

The Dead Weather "Horehound" - The bluesiest Jack White has been for an entire album. Alison Mosshart sounds great. The album is a good balance of heavy blues and shit-kicking barnstormers. Will listen to it a lot more, and will have a lot more to say about it.

Clutch "Strange Cousins From The West" - Thought I remembered their sound being heavier, and maybe a little hardcore but this has some blues and some funk in the mix with the heavy and the hardcore. Sounds accessible. And really good.

Marcy Playground "Leaving Wonderland ...in a fit of rage" - I didn't know they had anything beyond the album with "Sex and Candy." Kind of surprised me when the first half of this album was good in a sometimes folky but bitter indie rock kind of way. That last line makes me wonder how much of the lyrics and mood on the album I've misunderstood.

All the band's sites have stuff from the new albums streaming - I'll include a specific track or two when I get full(er) reviews up.