Morrisey vs. Eurovision

Thankfully, it looks like Morrisey has finally decided that he is not going to represent the UK in the Eurovision song contest so now we will not even be slightly tempted to watch. [This is no joke, the BBC was trying to get Morrisey]. Somewhat interestingly, supposedly the concept of Morrisey's video for "You have killed me" was the (1970) Eurovision song contest.

new(ish) songs

explosions in the sky [welcome, ghost]
jesu [conqueror]
trans am [north east rising sun]
richard swift [kisses for the misses]
bright eyes [tourist trap]
dinosaur jr. [been there all the time]
heartless bastards [all this time]
andrew bird [heretics]
marnie stern [grapefruit]
dungen [gor det nu]

ted leo & the pharmacists [some beginner's mind]

can we forgive ted for putting a reggae song on his new album? i guess we have to... b/c the song isn't that bad and the rest is just what the doctor ordered... [hey if you don't expect bad jokes don't call your band something like that!]

blonde redhead [23]

somehow i wasn't quite prepared for a new blonde redhead album. it sounds strange to me. and, judging from the songs i've heard so far, it is perhaps their first that really sounds like they should be on 4AD (actually, circa 1990). somehow i thought cocteau twins vs. abba. so, i'll withhold any judgement until i've had a chance to listen a little better. above, the title track.

marnie stern [every single line]

i don't think i've heard anything like this - although if i could listen to say just the guitar or just the vocals it wouldn't sound that strange. let's just say that marnie has a sweet voice and zach hill provides the drumming. and, yes, your instinct may tell you that you don't like this after the first few notes but your instincts are wrong. just give it a couple of minutes. here's another one: precious metal

& just because they share a label: deerhoof - 81. they are also lovely.

the m's - trucker speed

not exactly new but a great video

calla [televise]

just to prove my point

calla [bronson]

calla is releasing a new album, strength in numbers, on feb. 20th. their last album was a little bit of a disappointment. although it wasn't bad, it just was missing something. or maybe it had too much of something. and from what i have heard of strength in numbers i worry that it is still the case. televise and scavengers were beautiful albums - they sounded great and they had a very nice dark quality to them. the same elements are still present to a certain degree here, although they can't resist the temptation to rock out a bit more (which is ok), but sometimes the lyrics are too direct. frankly, i would just prefer some gibberish. calla have begun reminding me of starflyer 59. they have a great sound, they write good songs but, damn, it could be so much better.