Got a live recording of Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks at Portland in January. Janet Weiss (formerly of Sleater-Kinney) really adds to Malkmus that the other guy didn't. I think these 2 tracks will prove my theory of Malkmus-Relativity. And, it's an awesome song.

Weiss (Live) : [audio:dragonflypie_live.mp3] 

sans-Weiss : [audio:dragonflypie.mp3]

Simon & Garfunkel - Bridge Over Troubled Water

Remember February 1970? That was a cold winter. Simon & Garfunkel make no bones about it, this album is for the winter. Came out in February and look at that damn cover. I think Paul is being attacked by a Yeti from behind. Anyway, I popped this album on last week. I'd say it's been a couple of years since I listened to it and man, it brought me back. There is not a single bad track, besides "Bye Bye Love", but that's a bonus CD track, so it doesn't count. 

My favorites? "Keep the Customer Satsified", "Cecilia", "The Boxer", and shamefully (Thanks Dr. Zach Braff for ruining it) "The Only Living Boy In New York". Can't forget "Baby Driver". Shit, did I just mention the whole album? Yeah close to it.

Ok, the only weirdness of this album is the track order. It's like S&G made a 11-Sided dice with all the track names, smoked a splif (they would have had to make the dice first before smoking or maybe the dice idea came from another stoner experience), and then rolled the dice. It starts off with "Bridge Over Troubled Water" which initially you're like "Why would you start an album off with the most depressing song? This is clearly 'last song' material. And then by the middle of the song you're like they're geniuses!" THEN, a few more tracks go by and you think you just put the album on shuffle. So, the flow is strange. But, it is clearly a hit–at the Money Store. 

Joanna Newsom - Ys (2006)

OK - let's just say up front that this is most certainly not a rock record. Let me also guess that you will either love or hate this record, and that's fine, I'm expecting disparaging comments for this one, but I stand by my choice, this album is great.  Her voice is more palatable on this album as well.  

You're like, I didn't know Marty liked Modest Mouse. Well, I'm not a fan. But, this new track is hot. Plus, it's got Johnny Marr (Smiths) and James Mercer (Shins) on it. It's got a Psycho Killer vibe to it.

[audio:mm_florida.mp3] 

Oh snap, pulled the wool over your eyes Danny Noonan. He gave me a sample of the new Dinosaur Jr album and now I'm writing about it. Oh well, I gave credit where credit is due-due, right? Anyway, it's the first album with the original lineup and comes out in May. I would love to say they have matured and it's totally different than anything Dinosaur Jr. has put out. But instead, it's Dinosaur Jr. being Dinosaur Jr: good alt. tracks with mascis guitar solos.

[audio:beenthereallthetime.mp3] 

the same people who stop you from listening to the boards of canada are the same people who will tell you what to say and think.  constitutional rights, you know?

 ok, so here is my jam of the week.  avalanches.  i think the best way for me to write about it is to play it…  it starts with the live feel. a really lively experience with the anouncer anouncing them as a&m recording artists (like the dickies mind you)… and then it's WHAM!!!!!  recording artists…like everyone who records things.  like blogs.

 i am the only one with the key?  sometimes you wake up in the morning with a face line…. yeah, you know george michael?… sometimes i wake up with a face line.  it tends to be when i fall asleep at work.  it tends to be those post-prandial, nappy nap times.  so where does the ray of sunshine come in?  when i wake from my slumber to find myself still at work.  no, but i have this jam to keep me going through the day………………….

 [audio:rayofzdarlight.mp3]

Yesterday the inevitable happened. My iPod died. It would have been 4 years old this April. It had a good life. From lonely subway rides to dance parties, we've been through a lot.  It felt like yesterday, that I opened that box and held it in my hands for the first time. The touch of its metal back against my naked palms. My sensitive thumb-touch scrolling through it's wavy album tracks…

Anyway off to the Apple store.

Grizzly Bear - Yellow House (2006)

Check out this album folks, I'm liking it and that's all you need to know.  These guys get lumped into the "psychadelic -folk" category, but its much more subdued and lush than that implies.  Think Iron & Wine meets Radiohead on Valium.