The Music Lovers playlist for 6/23/05

1. Over and Over Again (Lost and Found - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah 2. Victim - Despistado from The People Of And Their Verses 3. Escape Clause - The Stairs from On Sleep Lab 4. Show Me - Bullette from The Secrets 5. The Wives Of Artie Shaw - Kinski from Alpine Static 6. We Had Pleasure - Foreign Born from In The Remote Woods 7. The Great Golden Baby - Circa Survive from Juturna 8. Waterloo Sunset - Scrabble from 1909 9. The Great Dinosaurs with Fifties Section - Bear vs. Shark from Terrowhawk 10. Alt. Wave - Codeseven from Dancing Echoes/Dead Sounds 11. All Waste the Days - Salim Nourallah from Beautiful Noise 12. Cool My Fire (Erlend Oye Remix) - Ada from Blondix 2 Vinyl 13. Honeycomb - Frank Black from Honeycomb 14. Somewhere I Know There Is Nothing - Chad VanGaalen from Infiniheart 15. Better Things To Do - The Dreadful Yawns from The Dreadful Yawns 16. The Electric Love Letter - Langhorne Slim from Wen The Sun's Gone Down 17. Dance Till the Morning Sun - Brazilian Girls from Brazilian Girls 18. More Than Real - Junior Boys from Last Exit 19. This Side of Vigo Bay - Minotaur Shock from Maritime 20. Singing in the Shower - Red Pony Clock from Red Pony Clock 21. The Ballad of Daykitty - Lou Barlow from Emoh 22. Rescue - Kelly Stoltz from Crockodials 23. Parade of Geronimos - Pela from All In Time 24. Theo B - Sunny Day Real Estate from The Pink Album 25. We Are Nothing - Goodtime John from I'll Sing Till the Sun Turns Cold 26. This Year - The Mountain Goats from The Sunset Tree 27. Go Sadness - Shout Out Louds from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff 28. At Dawn - My Morning Jacket from Live At Bonaroo 2004 29. Would You Sign My iPod? - Vic Chesnutt from Extra Credit EP

The Glass CD Release Party - Date Change!

The CD release party for The Glass which was scheduled for this Firday (June 24th) has been changed to a Saturday night on July 2nd at the Deli. Hope to see everyone out supportin'!

Memphis Beat Summer Schedule

Okay, so here is the schedule for the Summer School Theme Shows on the Memphis Beat (Tuesday 1-2pm):

6/21 - In-studio performance from The Hometown Nobodies

6/28 - Discussion with Andria Lisle who co-wrote the book Waking Up In Memphis with Mike Evans

7/5 - In-studio performance from Brad Postlethwaite (Snowglobe) with special guests

7/12 - History of Memphs Garage and Frat Bands

7/19 - In-studio performance from Luke White (Coach and Four, The Pirates)

7/26 - History of Loverly Recordings

- a possible final show on August 2 about Memphis Field Recordings TBA

A Random Lyric

And yeah, I'm in love with an android
But so what?
Stranger things have happened
Stranger things have been loved

"Yeah, I'm In Love With An Android"
from Say Hi To Your Mom

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah s/t

The Music Lovers playlist for 6/16/05

1. Good Weekend - Art Brut from Bang Bang Rock and Roll 2. Everyone Says I'm Parnoid - Apartment from Everyone Says I'm Parnoid 3. There Will Be Violins - The Sharp Things from Foxes and Hounds 4. Business Before Pleasure - Group Sounds from Group Sounds EP 5. In This Home On Ice - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah 6. The Shape Is Me - Hexes and Ohs from Goodbye Friend, Welcome Lover 7. The Clock In My Heart - Todd Stadtman from Only I Can Save You 8. Car Trouble - Red Pony Clock from Red Pony Clock 9. 5, 6 Kids - Bear vs. Shark from Terrowhawk 10. One Heavy February - Architecture In Helsinki from Fingers Crossed 11. Git - Skeletons and the Girl-faced Boys from Git 12. The Green Bus - The Apes from Baba's Mountains 13. Side 2 - Dressy Bessy from Electrified 14. Be Careful What You Wish For - Gabby La La from Be Careful What You Wish For 15. Rainy Days Swimming - Absentee from Donkey Stock 16. 100mph Checker Champ - Yip Yip from ProTwelveThinker 17. Fire Coming Out of the Mountain - Gorillaz from Demon Days 18. The Movie - Fizzle Like A Flood from Golden Sand and the Grandstand 19. Rage (Rito Re Rub) - Chromeo from She's In Control 20. The Videoage - Farben from Click and Cuts, Vol. 2 21. Vigo Bay - Minotaur Shock from Maritime 22. Memorial - Explosions In The Sky from The Earth Is Not A Cold Dead Place 23. O Nei (Unit 21 Remix) - Sleepy Town Manufacture from Intelligent Toys 2 24. R.F.O. - Fug from Ready For Us 25. Mountains Are Awake - Goodtime John from I'll Sing Till the Sun Turns Cold 26. Anyday Will Be Fine - Mojave 3 from Excuses for Travellers 27. Mind Blindness - Dirty On Purpose from Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow 28. As Ugly As I Seem - The White Stripes from Get Behind Me Satan 29. Remember My Markings - James Hindle from Town Feeling

Playing Games Is Fun!

Solve the puzzle to find out who your programmer is hanging out with: (photo: Judy)

Andrew Thompson's "We're In Business" Lyrics

An instant classic:

Robot: Hey Andrew!
Andrew: What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew:I know you do
Robot: Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew: I know you do
Robot: Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew: I know you do
Robot: Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I"M GOING TO KILL YOU!
Andrew: OH MY GOD!

Never trust a robot(s)
Never trust a robot(s)
You might think that they are your friend
They'll only kill you in the end
Never trust a robot(s)
Never trust a robot(s)
Don't leave them with your kids
Don't invite them to play bridge

Chorus:
Andrew:If you're a human being, we're in business
Andrew:If you are not a machine, we're in business
Robot: If you are not me?
Andrew:We're in business. We're in business

Don't take them along for trips
They might posion your bag of chips
Never trust a robot(s)
Never trust a robot(s)
Don't take them with you to work
They just might go berserk

Robot:Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew:I know you do
Robot:Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew:I know you do
Robot:Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What's up Robot?
Robot: I love you!
Andrew:I know you do
Robot:Hey Andrew!
Andrew:What is it Robot?
Robot:YOUR ASS IS MINE!
Andrew:OH MY GOD!

Chorus:
Andrew:If you're a human being, we're in business
Andrew:If you are not a machine, we're in business
Robot: If you are not me?
Andrew:We're in business. We're in business

Robot: Come on outside! I brought you a lollipop. Oh, what? This? It only looks a laser gun that kills people! Hahahaaaaa!

Andrew Thompson "We're In Business"

The Memphis Beat attends Summer School!

Yep, the Memphis Beat fooled around too much during the regular school session and is now forced to attend Summer School. Luckily, summer school is a blast! Starting on June 21st, the Memphis Beat will be teaching a month long class on musical appreciation. So expect homework-reading assignments on some essential Memphis books as well as live in-studio performances from some hip local musicians. More details coming soon!

the Beat

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Minotaur Shock Vigo Bay EP

The Music Lovers playlist for 6/9/05

1. It's All In My Mind - Teenage Fanclub from Man-Made 2. The Comeback - Shout Out Louds from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff 3. My Love Is True - The Brokedown from The Dutchman's Gold 4. The Ghost That Haunts Your World Will Disappear - Doleful Lions from Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum 5. Home - Engineers from Engineers 6. Summer Twin - Blitzen Trapper from Field Rexx 7. I Love You - The Spectacular Fantastic from I Love You EP 8. Alive With Pleasure - Viva Voce from The Heat Can Melt Your Brain 9. CRC 7173, Affectionately - John Vanderslice from Pixel Revolt 10. Fun Does Not Exist (New Mix) - Natacha Atlas from Best of Natacha Atlas 11. Everything I Own - Paula Frazer from Friends and Lovers: Songs of Bread 12. Mistaken Tourist - Minotaur Shock from Maritime 13. The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois 14. Owls Go (JIMIC Remix) - Architecture In Helsinki from Single 15. Your Eyes Have It - Bullette from The Secrets 16. Born in the BBS - Pants Pants Pants from Pop Songs to Make Us Famous 17. Yeah, I'm In Love with an Android - Say Hi To Mom from Ferocious Mopes 18. We're In Business - Andrew Thompson from Egad! 19. If Not Now, When? - Electrelane from Axes 20. Joe Tex, These Tarming Blues - Phosphorescent from Aw come Aw wry 21. Wake Up and Smell the Millennium - Nobody from And Everything Else 22. Fleur De Lie - Slow Dazzle from The View from the Floor 23. You Could See Halley's Comet - Madagascar from Forced March 24. Take Ecstasy With Me - !!! (Chk Chk Chk) from Take Ecstasy With Me - Single 25. My Doorbell - The White Stripes from Get Behind Me Satan 26. Details of War - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

The Music Lovers playlist for 6/2/05

1. A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left - Andrew Bird from The Mysterious Production of Eggs 2. The Twenty-Second Century - Say Hi To Mom from Ferocious Mopes 3. I'll Always Be Your Loser, Honey - The Sharp Things from Foxes & Hounds 4. There's A Fire - Longwave from There's A Fire 5. Rhyme Mime - PINE*am from Pull the Rabbit Ears 6. City of God - Diesler from Diggin It Something Rotten 7. BC March - Kyla from Single 8. JGNE - Out Hud from GSL26/Lab Series Vol. 2 9. Give Yourself To Me (Fake ID Remix) - Infadels from Single 10. High Lonesome Moan - PAJO from PAJO 11. Bellona - Junior Boys from Last Exit 12. Secrets - Boyskout from School of Etiquette 13. Mama - Stephen Malkmus from Face the Truth 14. My Heartbeat - Annie from Anniemal 15. Major Cities - Headphones from Headphones 16. Mountains Made of Steam - The Silver Mt. Zion from Horses in the Sky 17. Jumpers - Sleater-Kinney from The Woods 19. Lighthearterd Love Song - The Pets from Love & War 20. Together - William Shatner from Has Been 21. Pull Up the People - M.I.A. from Arular 22. Last Train - Scrabbel from 1909 23. Blood and Peanut Butter - B.C. Camplight from Hide, Run Away 24. Going Fetal- Eels from Blinking Lights and Other Revelations 25. Let Me See the Colts - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love 26. Very Loud - Shout Out Louds from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff 27. Latitudes - PELA from All In Time EP 28. The Partisan - Electrelane from Axes 29. John of the Slum - Anomoanon from Envol Villon 30. Rain - Anomoanon from Twenty Verses Set To Music 31. This - Brian Eno from Another Day on Earth

This Week on the Lovers - Special Guest Cancellation

Due to sickness, Andrew Bird will not be able to make an on air apperance tomorrow on the Lovers. I know everyone here at WEVL was really looking forward to it. While tonight's show in Oxford has been cancelled, the show at the HiTone still seems to be a go for tomorrow night at 10pm with Chris Mills. Let's hope Andrew starts feeling better real soon!

Still expect an exciting show with new releases from: Sleater-Kinney, The Sharp Things, Smog, Brian Eno, Doleful Lions, Eels, PAJO, The Silver Mt. Zion, and many more...

The Music Lovers playlist for 5/26/05

1. Couldn't You Tell - B.C. Camplight from Hide, Run Away 2. Summer Is Almost Here - PAS/CAL from Cancer Of Time 3. The Good In Everyone - Sloan from A Sides Win: Singles 1992 - 2005 4. Rent A Wreck - Suburban Kids With Biblical Names from EP 5. Replacement - Saxon Shore from Be A Bright Blue 6. Spine - Page France from Come, I'm A Lion 7. Hot Girls - Headphones from Headphones 8. Bad Shepherds - The Zincs from Dimmer 9. Ping Pong (original)- Stereolab from Oscillons from the Anti-Sun 10. Dub #4 - Dub Nomads from Headphones 11. The Coast Is Clear (For Fireworks) - NOBODY from And Everything Else... 12. Sister Saviour (DFA Remix) - The Rapture from DFA Compliation #2 13. The Coast Is Always Changing - Maximo Park from A Certain Trigger 14. It's Been Hurting All the Way with You, Joanna - Moneybrother from Blood Panic 15. Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall In Love) - Scrabbel from 1909 16. D. Henley's Dream - The Dirty Projectors from The Getty Address 17. Autumn Sweater (Kevin Smith Remix) - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 1986 - 2002 19. Woo - Vitalic from OK Cowboy 20. 2 Dots On A Map - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 21. Prospect Hummer - Animal Collective from Prospect Hummer EP 22. Espionage - The Decemberists from Picaresque 23. Fistful of Love - Antony and the Johnsons from I Am A Bird Now 24. Things the Grandchildren Should Know - Eels from Blinking Lights and Other Revelations 25. Elliott Gould Is In California Split - Head of Femur from Hysterical Stars 26. This Is Just A Modern Rock Song - Belle and Sebastian from Push Barman To Open Old Wounds 27. Drinking at the Dam - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Animal Collective Prospect Hummer EP (featuring Vashti Bunyan)

If you're like me, you never even heard of Vashti Bunyan or her sole album, Just Another Diamond Day, prior to Devendra Banhart and the entire "freak-folk" movement. And I must admit, I still don't know that much about the woman or her music other than the 30 sec samples allowed through iTunes. What does come through, though, is that her approach to folk music is different from her peers (Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Dylan, etc.). I had a friend mention to me recently that he thought folk music would be making a big comeback due to the current state of affairs in America. I'm not sure that's true. To me, this neo hippie folk movement coming out from folks like Banhart and Joanna Newsom, and for which Bunyan is being labeled the Mother of, is less concerned about the world around them than the sweet and innocent world they have created within themselves. The music of Bunyan also seems to turn its head away from political matters and instead favors melodies that are dedicated to nature ("Lily Pond," Rainbow River," "Winter Is Blue" etc.). After the initially unsuccessful 1970 release, Just Another Diamond Day, Bunyan apparently left the music business all together to focus on a family. Thirty-five years later, Bunyan is back. Only this time it's not a solo album but a collaboration with the continuously fascinating Animal Collective. I never really thought of Animal Collective as part of the same crowd as Banhart and Newsom, but I do deem "freak-folk" as an adequate description of their type of music. Actually, Prospect Hummer is less chaotic than previous Animal Collective releases as it more resembles Panda Bear's (aka Noah Lennox) solo album, Young Prayer. The opener, "It's You," is a beautiful meditation of strings and voice that highlight Bunyan's strength as a vocalist. And when Panda Bear joins her halfway you are ready to sign the petition to have her as a permanent member of the band. Every one joins in on the very playful "Prospect Hummer," a tune that makes me conjure up images of Bunyan leading an odd campfire sing-a-long. The only weak track here is the instrumental "Baleen Sample," which was recorded at a different time than the rest of the EP and comes off feeling like filler material. The closing number "I Remember Learning How To Drive" is so far removed from my friend's folk revival prediction that it makes me feel hopeful for the world that inspires these artists. If there is to be an influx of politically charged music I predict that it will be loud and angry. Thank God we are given these alternate worlds to dwell in if only for awhile...

The Music Lovers playlist for 5/19/05

1. Central Avenue - Andrew Bryant from The Story Never Told - Live performance from Andrew Bryant - Anything, A Road To Take Me Home, Cowboy Blues 2. Wonderin' and Thinkin' - Andrew Bryant from The Story Never Told - Live performance from Andrew Bryant (con't) - Listen To Me 3. I Turn My Camera On - Spoon from Gimmie Fiction 4. In Response - Dead Letter Auction from Cancer Of Time 5. Must Be You - The Sun from Blame It On The Youth 6. Perfect Situation - Weezer from Make Believe 7. The Wait - Shelby from Luxury of Time 8. Ear Nose & Throat - Troubled Hubble from Making Beds In A Burning House 9. It's All In My Mind - Teenage Fanclub from Man-Made 10. Keep Fallin' - Hot Chip from Coming On Strong 11. Let's Make My Bed - Applied Communications from Uhhh Sort Of 12. Natural Disaster - Headphones from Headphones 13. Do the Split and Say Neat - Thunderbirds Are Now! from Necks 14. Hot Gossip (!!! Remix) - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion from Crunchy EP 15. Medium Sized Working Dog - Caribou from Tour CD 16. Skakka - Amina from Animamina 17. Malmo - The Album Leaf from Seal Beach (EP Bonus Tracks) 18. Simple Hello - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence 19. Your Picture - Camera Obscura from Underachievers Please Try Harder 20. John Wayne Gacy, Jr. - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois 21. Strange Vibrations - Doleful Lions from Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum 22. From Which I Came/A Magic World - Eels from Blinking Lights and Other Revelations 23. I Remember Learning How To Drive - Animal Collective from Prospect Hummer EP 24. Why You Gotta Do That Thang? - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 25. Take Your Carriage Clock and Shove It - Belle and Sebastian from Push Barman To Open Old Wounds

This Week on the Lovers - Special Guest Andrew Bryant

Tune in this week as Andrew Bryant, the first of my Andrew guests (the other being Andrew Bird on 6/2), stops by the WEVL Studios to visit and perform a few songs from his new album, The Story Never Told. Just click on the photo of Mr. Bryant to find out more about the man and his music.

New releases from:
Belle & Sebastian, Animal Collective, Saxon Shore, Spoon, Teenage Fanclub, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Weezer, Sufjan Stevens, Caribou, Headphones, and a few others... (I had a hard drive full of music go down this week that even Disk Warrior couldn't bring back so I'm a little bummed.)

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Headphones Headphones

David Bazan is one Christian artist that you won't be seeing on the CCM Awards any time soon. His band Pedro the Lion has always dealt with sensitive subject matter that would scare off the typical Christian music listener. Which is a shame because Bazan is one of the more interesting Christian artists out there (Sufjan Stevens notwithstanding, of course). His new side project, Headphones, will no doubt disturb the same conservative critics with its foul language, particularly the song "The S**t Talker" (hey, that's how iTunes spells it). I understand from a more liberal point of view this is no big deal. I only mention it because while Bazan may not win Christian of the Year, he is a deeply spiritual man who is not afraid to show his faults. And with the Headphones' sound being that of cheap keyboards and synthesizers (as oppose to the typical Pedro the Lion guitar rock), Bazan's confessions are really allowed to be the focus. Actually the Headphones sound is not their sound at all. Let me be blunt. David Bazan has been listening to a lot of Magnetic Fields. Really, it must be the only thing loaded on his iPod these days. Particularly Charm of the Highway Strip-era Magnetic Fields. I haven't heard such a blatant rip-off/homage of Stephin Merritt since the last time Jens Lekman stepped into a studio (Look at me! I just made an indie rock joke!). Okay, I know this is starting to sound rather negative and you might be asking yourself why this is even my album of the week, but stick with me here. What's so amazing about the Headphones new album is that despite a "borrowed" sound, the music appears fresh because the songs are so structurally strong. I would guess that these songs were all constructed the same way any Pedro the Lion song would have been only then recorded with different instruments (It should be noted that PTL drummer T.W. Walsh makes up the other half of the Headphones). From all my past albums of the week selections, the Headphones' album has gotten the most car play and I think that is because the songs are just so easy to get into and claim your own. Expect multiple plays from "Pink and Brown," "Major Cities," "Hot Girls," and "Natural Disaster". So if imitation really is the greatest form of flattery well than Bazan is all out of butter. Still, the result is what counts and I have another album to consider for my Top Albums of the Year list (and for the record, Jens Lekman can sure make a meaningful imitation too!)

The Music Lovers playlist for 5/12/05

1. This Is Such A Pity - Weezer from Make Believe 2. Love In A Trashcan - The Raveonettes from Pretty In Black 3. Spit It Out - Brendan Benson from The Alternative To Love 4. Sister Jack - Spoon from Gimmie Fiction 5. Entertain - Sleater-Kinney from The Woods 6. Today - The Ponys from Celebration Castle 7. Dance Music - The Mountain Goats from The Sunset Tree 8. Try To Make It - Sloan from A Sides Win: Singles 1992-2005 9. Hurtin' 4 Certain - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 10. We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skycrapers - Chin Up Chin Up from We Should Have Never Lived Like We Were Skycrapers 11. I Want To Live In A Dream (Remix) - Clearlake from Wonder If The Snow Will Settle EP 12. Fool's Life - Dr. Dog from Easy Beat 13. Exact Copy Of This In The Basement - Single Frame from Body/End\Basement 14. Everybody Sings - Supersystem from Always Never Again 15. Make Love - Daft Punk from Human After All 16. In, Flux - DJ Shadow from In Tune And On Time 17. My Friend Dario - Vitalic from OK Cowboy 18. Bad Feelings - The Robot Ate Me from Carousel Waltz 19. Come on! Feel the Illinoise! - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois 20. An Animated Description of Mr. Maps - The Books from Lost and Found 21. Broken Drum (Remix) - Boards of Canada (Beck) from Guero (Deluxe) 22. I Have Forgiven Jesus - Morrissey from Live from Earls Court 23. Relax - Scout Niblett from Kidnapped By Neptune 24. Barcelona - Will Oldham from The Isota Records Singles Club: A Short Tale of Beauty/Madness/Greed 25. The Shift Change Splits the Streets - Kevin Devine from The Shift Change Splits the Streets 26. Sharks - Picastro from Metal Cares 27. The Well - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love 28. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me - Low from Live In Brussels

Upcoming Guests on the Lovers

In the upcoming weeks, the Music Lovers will be having some very special guests stopping by the WEVL Studios to chat it up and perform a few songs.

Andrew Bryant is scheduled to make an apperance on the Lovers on May 19th. You can check out a free mp3 from his excellent new album The Story Never Told here.

Andrew Bird is also scheduled to appear on The Lovers on June 2nd. His latest album The Mysterious Production of Eggs is a magnificent achievement that will sure to top many critics Best of 2005 lists. You can check out the single "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left" here.

Check back for further updates.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

The Russian Futurists Our Thickness

So that there isn't any confusion, written plainly on the back cover of Our Thickness is the confession, "The Russian Futurists is Matthew Adam Hart." Might as well give credit where credit is due. And while we are throwing around acknowledgments, let me also give Hart recognition for constructing one of the best pop records of 2005. Our Thickness is a blissful pop album that echoes Phil Spector's vast sound despite the fact that it was recorded in Hart's own bedroom. Far from low-fi, The Russian Futurists create highly energized music that is built on layers upon layers of good ideas with surprising introspective lyrics (for such a feel good record) in which Hart delivers multiple choruses with... well, himself. Some of the highlights include the album's opener "Paul Simon," which has nothing do with the 60's singer/songwriter but a lot to do with one hell of a catchy beat, blasting horns, and vocals that seem to be having too much fun to be piping lines like "We're so burnt out; we're a shell now. It's the worst of lows." On the song "These Seven Notes," a sample from a birthday wish being left on an answering machine progresses into a joyful sing-a-long (with Liane DeLotbiniere, one of the few guest artist on the record) about a crumbling relationship ("All you've got's apologies, and take me back phone calls from me"). With other song titles such as "It's Over, It's Nothing," "Hurtin' 4 Certain," and "Why You Gotta Do That Thang?" you start to get the idea of the themes surrounding Our Thickness. However, I guarantee you won't be leaving this record with your head hanging low. On the contrary, I can clearly see your head bobbing back and forth.

The Music Lovers playlist for 5/5/05

1. While Walking - Blair Combest from Prettier Than Ugly - LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM BLAIR COMBEST - Dreams, The Blavier's Lament (Little Woman), The Interrogatory (Do You Want Me?) 2. Every Once In A While - Blair Combest from Prettier Than Ugly - LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM BLAIR COMBEST (con't) - Tonite, Rock N' Roll 3. Twin Cinema - The New Pornographers from Twin Cinema 4. Episodes (Diphenhydramine) - Pela from All In Time 5. I Am The Mountain - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence 6. The Pretender - Dr. Dog from Easy Beat 7. Pink and Brown - Headphones from Headphones 8. Walking Away - Chris Hickey from Release 9. From Sky To Core - Channing Cope from Sugar In Our Blood 10. Casimir Pulaski Day - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois 11. August Morning Haze - Oneida from The Wedding 12. O Honey We're Ridiculous - PAS/CAL from LP Demo 13. Our Pen's Out Of Ink - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 14. And Then Patterns - Four Tet from Everything Ecstatic 15. Great Day (remix) - Four Tet from Madvillian Remixes 16. Pinball - Stereolab from Oscillons from the Anti-Sun 17. Darla Come Down From Jackson - Charlie McAclister from Mississippi Luau 18. U and I - Vitalic from OK Cowboy 19. The Two Sides of Monsieur Valentine - Spoon from Gimmie Fiction 20. What Are You? - Bonnie Prince Billy and Matt Sweeny from Superwolf 21. Love Love Love - The Mountain Goats from The Sunset Tree 22. Free Fallin' (live) - King of Convenience from Failure EP 23. Sixteen and the Sea - Doxies from Weight of Gold 24. Battle Brigades - The Foundry Field Recordings from Battle Brigades 7" 25. True Bright Blossom - Bright Black from Ala.cali.tucky

This Week on the Lovers - Special Guest Blair Combest

Make sure to tune in this Thursday (5/5) for a very special edition of The Lovers when local singer/songwriter Blair Combest stops by the WEVL Studios to perform his unique blend of folk/country/rock balladry.

Also new releases from: The New Pornographers, Stereolab, Four Tet, Spoon, The Mountain Goats, Oneida, Bright Black, Vitalic, Sufjan Stevens, and many more...

Easley Studios - Another Follow Up

Here is an update story from the Memphis Flyer's "Music Issue" concerning the fire that broke out at the Easley-McCain Studio. Includes interviews with partners Doug Easley and Davis McCain as well as engineer extraordinaire, Kevin Cubbins. Story by Andrew Earles.

Damage Done
Sorting through aftermath of the Easley-McCain Studio fire.

The birthplace of several important alt-rock records (most recently the White Stripes' White Blood Cells) and a key component in the creative matrix that drives Memphis' Midtown-based indie-rock scene, Easley-McCain Recording Studio, located at 2272 Deadrick Avenue, was dealt a horrible blow when a blaze wiped out the studio's control room, waiting area, and sections of the second floor, which was being used for storage and a smaller studio area.

The March 2nd fire, discovered by engineer Kevin Cubbins, spared the tracking room (or "big room"). The door was closed, and the wall that separates this room from the remainder of the studio acted as a firewall. The cause of the fire hasn't been determined, but investigators have narrowed its origin to the area of a wastebasket and electrical outlet. "I don't know, and I don't think they really know yet," says studio owner Doug Easley. "It wasn't arson. Use that as your big quote. It wasn't arson."

Little compares to the despair of watching something close to you burn uncontrollably, but an adage holds true: It could have been worse. "It's only equipment. People aren't replaceable. I'd much rather go to a storage unit than go to a bunch of funerals," Easley says.

"We're sorting out what was burned and destroyed and what was burned and can be cleaned or salvaged," says Davis McCain, Easley's longtime partner. "Unfortunately, the destroyed pile is getting bigger."

But six weeks later, Easley and McCain aren't just sorting through the damage. They're also sorting through the ramifications of insurance negotiations.

"It's amazing how little communication goes on [with insurance companies]. As long as they can hold onto their money, they're happy," Easley says.

The process isn't helped by the enormous amount of work required to catalog the damage, a process that has required equipment dealers to help value some of the studio's more esoteric items.

"Every piece is a line on a form, then there is a value that you have to give it, and then [the insurance company] wants to know where you got that number," Easley says.

"We're just digging out from under this incredible mound of charred stuff. If the process seemed slow at the beginning, it's really slow now," McCain adds.

Despite the damage, work continues for Easley-McCain. Some remote work is taking place. For instance, Cubbins headed up to a rented cabin in Arkansas last week to finish an album with local band the Glass, a project that began at Easley-McCain. And Easley makes clear that, whatever the impact on the studio itself, the fire has also had an impact on local musicians now short a recording outlet.

"People are always saying, 'Let's do benefits.' It's a nice gesture, but there's no way to know right now what they would be funding," McCain says.

"I thought we should have a reverse benefit. Everybody who ever came to the studio, they'd come to a show, and they'd get $5 at the door and free beer," Easley adds. "We always tried to make it an all-inclusive thing, where people went to have a good time and where a lot of great things emanated from. In retrospect, it's been a great run for us, but we didn't do it by ourselves."

The studio's future is still in flux, pending the slow process of sorting out damages and insurance claims. At present, Easley and McCain are pricing rooms for temporary rental and ferreting out locations for in-progress projects. "I've been looking for places to continue some projects I had going," Easley says. "Though it's premature to say exactly what, we are continuing in one form or another. I'm not retiring."

• By Andrew Earles

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Madvillain Four Tet Remixes EP

Four Tet (aka Kieran Hebden) has taken on an interesting challenge remixing one of last years most highly anticipated hip-hop releases, Madvillain's Madvillainy. As a result of the teaming MF Doom and Madlib, Madvillainy is an album full of tales inspired by classic movie serial villains and set to relaxed rhymes backed by a steady but always unpredictable beat. For Madvillain Remixes EP, Four Tet takes some of the strongest tracks from Madvillainy and puts his own spin on it that for the most part improves on the original. The weakest entry is the opening track, "Meat Grinder," which replaces the laid-back Hawaiian influence found on the original with a schizo beatnik beat (I'm not sure how many folks out there are familiar with the truly awful movie called Manos: Hands of Fate, but I swear those jazz sounds come from that soundtrack!). It's not that this doesn't work, it's just that from track two on Four Tet produces material that rivals that of the legendary Madlib. "Money Folder" is highlighted by a driving beat that could easily be my favorite hip-hop tune of the year. With "Great Day," Four Tet brings an emotional element to the song where lines such as "Looks like it's gonna be a great day today. To get some fresh air like a stray on a straightaway. Hey you, got a light? Nah, a Bud Light..." actually come off sounding philosophical. MF Doom even joins Four Tet on "Rhinestone Cowboy" which on the remix sounds like a massive super hit from Beck. The bonus track, "Shadows of Tomorrow," removes all samples and vocals (originally featuring Lord Quas) for a free all improvised instrumental jam fest. Like most remixes, though, it doesn't replace the original source and if you haven't heard Madvillain's Madvillainy then make sure you pick up a copy. You just might want to also grab a copy of the Four Tet Remixes for a nice companion piece.

The Music Lovers playlist for 4/28/05

1. Blue Orchid - White Stripes from Blue Orchid Single 2. Bridge & Tunnel - The Honorary Title from Anything Else But The Truth 3. Former Hero - Heikki from 2 4. Burning Bridge - Shimmer Kids Underpop Association from The Natural Riot 5. Ferocious - The Ponys from Celebration Castle 6. Everything To Gain - Fischerspooner from Odyssey 7. The Latests Toughs - Okkervil River from Black Sheep Boy 8. Oslo Skyline - Jaga Jazzist from What We Must 9. Dirty Lives - Love As Laughter from Laughter's Fifth 10. Skeleton Jar - Youth Group from Skeleton Jar 11. Like A Honeycomb - British Sea Power from Open Season 12. Daughters of the Soho Riots - The National from Alligator 13. Smile Around The Face - Four Tet from Everything Ecstatic 14. Jolly Jolly Jolly Ego - The Dirty Projectors from The Getty Address 15. Hey Mr. Beifuss - Scandaliz Vandalistz from Rodent Fixation 16. Venice - The Books from Lost and Safe 17. This Year - The Mountain Goats from The Sunset Tree 18. Yeti - Caribou from The Milk Of Human Kindness 19. Superman - Mahi Mahi from (Re)Move Your Body 20. Milton Road (My Skull With Flowers Remix) - Mice Parade from Nights Wave EP 21. I Can't Help You Anymore - Aimee Mann from The Forgotten Arm 22. Fleets - Cartel from Safety In Numbers EP 23. The Past - Vitalic from OK Cowboy 24. Easy Beat - Dr. Dog from Easy Beat 25. I Feel Like The Mother Of The World - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love 26. These Seven Notes - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 27. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois

Hi Fidelity Playlist on 4/25/05 (The Lovers Sub!)

1. Mass Romantic - New Pornographers from Mass Romantic 2. Daytona Beach - Half Japanese from Greatest Hits 3. Yo Yo Yo (Please Don't Fall In Love - Plus/Minus from Self-Titled 4. Bleu - For Stars from Windows For Stars 5. New Confessions - The Tyde from Once 6. Monk Time - The Monks from Black Monk Time 7. Shiver In The Timbers - David Grubbs from The Spectrum Between 8. Joesphine - Portastatic from Naked Pilseners 7" 9. Smile: No One Cares How You Feel - The Gothic Archies from Merge Presents Survive and Advance Vol. 10. Hey Blue Sky - Honeybunch from Time Trials: 1987-1995 11. Mr. Brewer (Crackle, Crackle) - Summer Hymns from Voice Brother & Sister 12. Great Expectations - The New Year from Newness Ends 13. I Went to the Hospital - Cass McCombs from A 14. Love For Sale - Elvis Costello from Trust 15. Awake - Smoke from Heaven On A Popsicle Stick 16. Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl - Broken Social Scene from You Forgot It In People 17. (David Bowie I Love You) Since I was Six - The Brian Jonestown Massacre from Take It From the Man! 18. Hit the Ground Running - Smog from Knock Knock 19. The Town Where I'm Livin' Now - Grandaddy from I'm On Standby Single 20. Beautiful Car - M. Ward from Duet for Guitars #2 21. Fractions and Feelings - Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks from Pig Lib Bonus EP 22. Long Long Gone - Silver Jews from Tennessee Single 23. Meeting in the Asile - Radiohead from Airbag/How Am I Driving EP 24. Rushes of Pure Spring - Ladybug Transistor from Live at Emmabodafestivalen 99 25. In Heaven - The Pixies from Peel Sessions 7" 26. Prominent Men - The Velvet Underground from Peel Slowly and See 27. Bad Cover Version - Pulp fom We Love Life 28. A Collection of Poems About Water - Of Montreal from The Gay Parade 29. The Shins - Flake Music from When You Land Here, It's Time To Return 30. Like A Monkey In A Zoo - Daniel Johnston from The Early Recordings Volume 1: Songs of Pain 31. We're the Replacements - They Might Be Giants from Dial-A-Song 32. Things Get Better - Velvet Crush from Free Expression

FYI - The Lovers Subbing for High Fidelity

I will be subbing for Doug this Monday (4/25) from 2 - 4pm on High Fidelity. Instead of playing new releases like those usually heard on The Music Lovers, I have decided to pull out some of my older CD's (well, mostly from the 90's). Expect to hear some "harder to find" tunes from The Pixies, Radiohead, Silver Jews, Grandaddy (one of their best!), M. Ward, Portastatic, Magnetic Fields, Ladybug Transistor, Future Bible Heroes, and The Velvet Underground.

The 2005 Spring Pledge Drive Was A Success!

Thanks to our loyal listeners, the 2005 WEVL Spring Pledge Drive was a great success! We enjoyed an amazing week of special themed shows and live performances from artists such as The Luv Clowns, Cory Branan, Ron Franklin, Old Medicine Show, and Paul Thorn. And we are very pleased to announce that not only did we meet our goal but we surpassed it by $4,375 with a grand total of $66,375! Thanks to all of you that made your pledges this week to the greatest radio station in the Mid South, WEVL 89.9FM.

WEVL's Spring Pledge Drive Ends Today!

Last day folks! The 2005 WEVL Spring Pledge Drive ends TODAY AT 6PM so please don't delay any longer. We are now just $2,000 short of our $62,000 goal. So please help us achieve that goal by calling the pledge line # 528-1990 or making an online pledge here.

The Music Lovers playlist for 4/21/05 - Special Pledge Drive Theme Show

1. If We Can't Escape, My Pretty - Nic Armstrong from Tour Single 2. E-Pro - Beck from Guero 3. Hey Now Now - The Cloud Room from The Cloud Room 4. Iron Woman - Devin Davis from Lonely People of the World 5. Knock That Door - Enon from Lost Marbles and Exploded Evidence 6. Single Again - The Fiery Furnaces from EP 7. I Will Never See The Sun - Great Lake Swimmers from Great Lake Swimmers 8. Ezekiel Bread- Half-Handed Cloud from Thy Is A Word + Feet Need Lamps 9. Woman King - Iron & Wine from Woman King 10. I Do Dream You - Jennifer Gentle from Valende 11. I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs from Employment LIVE PERFORMANCE FROM THE OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW PRESENTED BY RIDGERUNNER HOST OF BLUFF CITY BARN DANCE (Saturdays 6 - 10am) 12. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem from LCD Soundsystem 13. Don't Save Us from the Flames - M83 from Before the Dawn Heals Us 14. Abel - The National from Alligator 15. One Life To Leave - Out Hud from Let Us Never Speak Of It Again 16. C + F - Sam Prekop from Who's Your New Professor? 17. Wonderful People (cheating: 2004 release but aired) - Q and Not U from Power 18. Paul Simon - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 19. Miracle - Supersystem from Always Never Again 20. Boys and Children, Sing for Summer - Those Transatlantics from The Way of the Future 21. I Was Born (A Unicorn) (cheating: 2003 release and not aired) - The Unicorns from Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? 22. What Do You Mean? (cheating: artist's last name ends in C not V and not aired)- Vic Chesnutt from Ghetto Bells 23. Big Boat - M. Ward from Transistor Radio 24. Eno - X-Wife from Feeding the Machine 25. Pencil Test - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 26. no Z aired...

This Week on the Lovers - Spring Pledge Drive Show

This week on a very speical edition of the Lovers, I will be playing some of my favorite songs played on the show this year (The peppy ones! This is a pledge drive). But the real fun is that the entire playlist will be arranged in alphabetical order! Confused? Okay, this is how it will work. For every letter of the alphabet, I will play an artist that starts with that letter (solo artists will be categorized by their last name). When all is said and done (and you've finished singing "Now I've learned my ABC's. Tell me what you think of me!"), there will be 26 singles representing some of the best indie releases of 2005... so far.

And don't forget the Pledge Drive! The pledge line # is 528-1990. You can also pledge securely online.

Another WEVL Spring Pledge Drive Update

So, it's the 5th day of the 2005 WEVL Spring Pledge Drive and we are now just over $29,000. Thanks go out to The Luv Clowns and Cory Branan for stopping by the station to perform some very memorable sets. Also, a very special thank you to all our pledge givers. It is YOU that makes it all possible! Keep tuning in this week for more live guests including Old Crow Medicine Show on Thursday (4/21) from 3 - 4pm and Paul Thorn on Saturday (4/23) from 1 - 3pm on the "Through The Cracks" program. Also, the Elvis Costello performance at the HiTone on September 2004 will be aired on Thursday (4/21) from 2 -3pm. Fun, fun stuff! Help us achieve our goal of $62,000 by calling the pledge line # 528-1990 or making a pledge online.

WEVL Spring Pledge Drive Update

Well, it's the fourth day of the 2005 WEVL Spring Pledge Drive and we are just over $25,000. Our goal is $62,000 so we need your help to reach it before the Pledge Drive ends this Saturday (April 23). Make sure to tune in tomorrow to the Memphis Beat where the Luv Clowns featuring Harlan T. Bobo and Tim Prudhomme will perform between 1 - 2pm. Also, make sure to tune in at 4pm for a live performance from Cory Branan. Help us out by calling the pledge line # 528-1990 or making a pledge online.

WEVL Spring Pledge Drive Starts Today!

Well, it's that time of the year again! The 2005 WEVL Spring Pledge Drive starts today and goes until the 23rd of April. So set your radio dial at 89.9FM and celebrate with us for 9 days of fun and unique themed programs as well as a slew of live music from guests such as Paul Thorn, Cory Branan, and Ben Nichols. Also make sure to listen on Tuesday (April 19) from 1 - 2pm where everyone's favorite new Memphian Harlan T. Bobo will perform on my other WEVL radio program, Memphis Beat. And then on Thursday (April 21), there will be a special edition of The Music Lovers where I'll be playing the Best of 2005... in alphabetical order! Help us achieve our goal of $62,000 by calling us at 528-1990 or joining securely online.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Dr. Dog Easy Beat

Dr. Dog's Easy Beat owns the distinction of being the Lovers' first Album of the Week that was not released on the week of its post. While there were a few worthy contenders (particularly Of Montreal's The Sunlandic Twins and Supersystem's Always Never Again), Easy Beat managed to charm me enough to forgo my own strict rules for Album of the Week qualifications and allow this dated gem slip by (Ok, I'm silly. It's only a month old!). Hailing from the city of Brotherly Love but sounding more like a potpourri of the British Invasion, Dr. Dog will no doubt get a lot of flack for wearing their influences so securly on their sleeves. And while there is no denying this criticism, I would much prefer to say that Dr. Dog are a celebrated explosion of their own pop music devotion. I challenge you to find pop songs more infectious than "The World May Never Know," The Pretender," or "Easy Beat". I am reminded of Devin Davis' Lonely People of the World, Unite! (Album of the Week March 18) which was another record of this Nouveau 60's Pop Sound. However, while that album was undoubtedly a creation of the studio, Easy Beat feels more like an album that was captured merely because there happen to be a microphone in the room. It should be interesting to see how the indie kids react to Dr. Dog because I would not be surprised at all if they were to become the next big thing on the level, as say, The Shins. Easy Beat ends with "Wake Up," a song that seems to finish but then starts up again in a low-fi setting where the group is infused in a sing along chanting "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! We're only part of a dream. All the things in your heart like the things in your head. Are they only what they seem?" In the case of Dr. Dog, I would have to answer: No.

The Music Lovers playlist for 4/14/05

1. Little Furry Things - Dinosaur Jr. from You're Living All Over Me (Reissue) 2. The World May Never Know - Dr. Dog from Easy Beat 3. Circus - The Sights from The Sights 4. What A Human Does - The Dudley Corporation from In Love with the Dudley Corporation 5. Something Evil - Starflyer 59 from Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice 6. Boys and Children (Sing for Summer) - Those Transatlantics from The Way of the Future EP 7. To Get To Sleep - British Sea Power from Open Season 8. Our Prayer (Freeform Reform) - Freeform Five from Our Prayer (Freeform Reform) 9. It Never Changes To Stop - The Books from Lost and Safe 10. Simple Hello - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence 11. What Happened To The Sands - PAS/CAL from Oh Honey, We're Ridiculous 12. Something - Sam Prekop from Who's Your New Professor? 13. Tom Courtenay (Acousitc) - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 14. Call It In The Air - Discover America from Psychology 15. Every Dream Can't Come True - Player Hater from Picking You Up Just To Put You Down 16. Blue Eyes - Riviera from At the End of the American Century... 17. I Was Never Young - Of Montreal from The Sunlandic Twins 18. How Long - Out Hud from Let Us Never Speak Of It Again 19. Charge Me Up - Chris Price from Charge Me Up 20. Paul Simon - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness 21. Little Elf - The Out Crowd from Then I Saw the Holy City 22. Hold Your Breath - ADULT. from D.U.M.E. 23. Storyboard (Live in Atlanta) - The Album Leaf from Seal Beach (EP Bonus Tracks) 24. Better Off Dead (by request) - Dead from Above 1979 from Better Off Dead Single 25. The Citizens of Wichita - Emperor X from Central Hug/Friendarmy/Fractaldunes 26. Abel - The National from Alligator 27. Miracle - Supersystem from Always Never Again 28. Far Away - Martha Wainwright from Martha Wainwright 29. Someone To Watch Over Me=Silversparkle - Brightblack from Pebbles and Ripples 2004 Summer Tour CD 30. Another Wound - The Ponys from Celebration Castle

The Lovers' Album of the Week - Part 1

The Books Lost and Safe

The fact that The Books' 2003 release, Lemon of Pink, was such a critical success (even making #2 on Pitchfork's Best of 2003 list) is not surprising. Pink is just so brilliantly constructed that it makes you almost believe The Books invented the art of musique concrete. Of course that is not the case (Pierre Schaeffer claims that fame) but it is certainly one of the catchiest examples of the form in recent years. Well, until The Books released their third album, Lost and Safe. Lost and Safe won't get the same critical recognition as Pink but it is an important evolution of The Books' sound that may prove helpful in bringing them a larger audience. The main distinction between The Books of 2003 and The Books of 2005 is the addition of more developed song lyrics. But don't fret Pink and Thought of Food (2002) fans, The Books are just working overtime these days to combine all these new and old elements into their fragmented tracks. The shining achievement of this new sound is "Be Good To Them Always," which begins familiarly enough but then progresses into a Tortoise-like bass line followed by soft spoken vocals that quickly become engulfed in a series of voice samples from wherever voice samples come from until the line between what is real and what isn't is lost. Surprisingly, the most impressive track, "An Owl with with Knees," is a song that is The Books' most straight forward number (even void of a single sample) and yet at the same time their most uplifting. Here's to whatever direction The Books decide to venture next.

The Lovers' Album of the Week - Part 2

The Dirty Projectors The Getty Address

The Getty Address reminds me of one of my favorite releases from 2004, Panda Bear's Young Prayer. As a response to the artists' father's death, Young Prayer was the years most unconventional pop record complete with incoherent chants of various falsetto ranges set to minimal instrumentation. While I'm not sure of the personal response behind the release of The Getty Address, The Dirty Projectors are sure to be this years contender for oddest pop record. Like Panda Bear, the voice acts as a central instrument and lead man Dave Longstreth's use of the falsetto comes of like a classically trained Tiny Tim. However, the main attraction of The Getty Address is the music itself which is engulfing and ever-changing. The Getty Address also reminds me of my other Album of the Week, The Books' Lost and Safe, in the way that both records approach each song in so many directions. Sorta like a kid who has been accidently locked in the school's music room over the weekend and decides to kill the time by pulling out every instrument from the closet. Which is not to say Longstreth is alone in all this - he guides his odd vision with the aid of the Orchestral Society for the Preservation of the Orchestra, a 10-piece chamber group complete with oboe, trombone, horn, trumpet, and soprano and alto voice. It's that organic sound that really sets The Getty Address apart from the Books' Lost and Safe and that grand scale which sets it apart from Young Prayer. And as a combination of it's parts it's what separates it from anything else out there. If Lincoln were correct in assuming "that all men are created equal," well, surely all pop music is not.

Oh You and Your Christian Indie Rock!

I have a fondness for good Christian indie music, especially the artists found on the labels Sounds Familyre and Asthmatic Kitty. Last week, the Festival of Faith and Music took place in Grand Rapids, Michigan with performances from Sufjan Stevens, David Bazan (Pedro the Lion), Half-handed Cloud, and Br. Danielson. You can check out show reviews from the weekend by Pastor Ben Squires at Music Spectrum. Also, there is a Festival Giveaway Contest with chances to win a prize package of CDs from FFM artists. Enjoy!

The Music Lovers playlist for 4/7/05

1. Just Let Go - Fischerspooner from Odyssey 2. Out of Zone - Marbles from Expo 3. Far Away, By My Side - Peter Bjorn and John from Falling Out 4. Blue Gold - The Chrysler from Cold War Classic 5. See About Me - Weird War from Illuminated By The Light 6. Saturday Night - Kaiser Chiefs from Employment 7. The CN Tower Belongs to the Dead - Final Fantasy 8. So Here We Are - Bloc Party from Silent Alarm 9. Big Mouth Strikes Again - Morrissey from Live from Earls Court 10. Baby C'mon - Stephen Malkmus from Face the Truth 11. Moving Pictures Silent Films - Great Lake Swimmers from Great Lake Swimmers 12. I Will Truck - The Dirty Projectors from The Getty Address 13. Last Time Here (Live in Portugal) - The Album Leaf from Seal Beach (EP Bonus Tracks) 14. The Dark of the Garage - South San Gabriel from The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operations Through 15. Reflections After Jane - The Clientele from Suburban Light 16. On No! Oh My! - The Robot Ate Me from The Robot Ate Me, On Vacation 17. Born - Over the Rhine from Drunkard's Prayer 18. April & May - David Fridlund from Amaterasu 19. Hills (Rough Mix) - Thao Nguyen from Like the Linen 20. I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me - Asobi Seksu from Asobi Seksu 21. Leave the City - Magnolia Electric Co. from What Comes After the Blues 22. Before You Cry - Camera Obscura from Underachievers Please Try Harder 23. My Lady's House - Iron and Wine from Woman King 24.White Center - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence 25. Be Good To Them Always - The Books from Lost and Safe 26. Wolverine - Sufjan Stevens from Greetings from Michigan (Outtakes) 27. Black - Okkervil River from Black Sheep Boy 28. The Land Beyond - British Sea Power from Open Season 29. Hey Man (Now You're Really Living) - Eels from Hey Man (Now You're Really Living) EP

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Yo La Tengo Prisoners of Love: A Smattering of Scintillating Senescent Songs 1985 - 2003 along with A Shattering of Outtakes and Rarities

During the Summer of `96, I fell madly in love with Elvis Costello's rendition of the ol' Cole Porter song "Love for Sale." I had heard it while driving a friend's car who happened to have the Costello album Trust in his tape deck. For months I begged my friend to make me a mix tape with that song and when he finally got around to it he had added a few more artists that he thought I should check out including Nick Drake and NRBQ. But the mix tape primarily consisted of selections from Yo La Tengo's 1990 release Fakebook, an album of cleverly chosen covers (the Kinks, Cat Stevens, Daniel Johnston) and a handful of beautiful originals ("Can't Forget" and "The Summer"). When I eventually purchased the real album, it struck me funny that my friend had included all but three songs from the original. It was if he was so in love with that album that he had had a hard time disregarding anything from it. So I could only imagine the daunting task of putting together Yo La Tengo's latest release, Prisoners of Love, a double disc retrospective covering an 18 year (!) career. Instead of following chronological order, Prisoners jumps back and forth through the years to create an album that would deem enjoyable to both the novice and the fanatic. Selections include tracks from the earliest years ("The River of Water" from the first 7 inch) to the latest releases ("Season of the Shark," "Little Eyes") as well as their most achingly beautiful ("You Can Have It All," Our Way To Fall," "Tears Are In Your Eyes") and most challenging rockers ("From a Motel 6," "Tom Courtenay," "Sugarcube"). Of course, it is impossible to include everything (What, no “Big Sky”?) but it's hard to dismiss any of the carefully chosen picks. The greatest thrill of Prisoners of Love, though, is an optional third disc which gives us 16 tracks of outtakes and rarities including 5 tunes that had previously been unreleased. One listen to "Pencil Test," an outtake from 1997's I Can Hear the Heart Beating As One, will have you scratchin' your head with wonder at how a song so lovingly could be left off any album. But when you have such a great catalog of material like Yo La Tengo, you make things hard for folks like my friend who made that mix tape so many years ago. Last week for the first time on the Music Lovers, I played four songs in a row from one artist. How fitting that it was the darlings of indie rock, Yo La Tengo.

The Music Lovers playlist for 3/31/05

1. Beverly Hills - Weezer from Make Believe 2. Shouldn't Be Long - Tiger Mountain from Get Along Like A House On Fire 3. Hey Now Now - The Cloud Room from The Cloud Room 4. I Am Six Pounds of Dynamite - South San Gabriel from The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operations Through 5. An Honest Mistake - The Bravery from The Bravery 6. Lullaby To Holly - Alasdair Roberts from Misplace Pets 7. I Will Never See the Sun - Great Lake Swimmers from Great Lake Swimmers 8. I Can't Wait - Shearwater from Thieves 9. Immaculate Heart - American Analog Set from Songs of Hurt and Healing 10. Day - White Magic from Songs of Hurt and Healing 11. Knight Errant - David Grubbs from A Guess At the Riddle 12. I Turn My Camera On - Spoon from Gimme Fiction 13. Feel Good Inc - Gorillaz from Demon Days 14. Bells - Electrelane from Axes 15. Turtle and the Flightless Bird - Devin Davis from Lonely People of the World, Unite! 16. Scrabble Heart - Montag from Live at KVRX 17. The River of Water - Yo La Tengo from Prisoners of Love 18. Dreaming - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 19. Big Day Coming (Demo) - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 20. Pencil Test - Yo La Tengo from A Smattering of Outtakes and Rarities 21. Better Off Dead - Dead from Above 1979 from Better Off Dead Single 22. Loveless - Tullycraft from Singles 23. Superheroes of BMX - Mogwai from Goverment Commissions BBC Sessions 1996 - 2003 24. This Modern Love - Bloc Party from Silent Alarm 25. Earthquake Weather - Beck from Guero 26. We Both Go Down Together - The Decemberists from Picaresque 27. Time Stops - Teenage Fanclub from Man-Made 28. Last Night I Dreamed That Somebody Loved Me - Morrissey from Live from Earls Court

Easley Studios - Follow Up

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the legendary Easley Studios suffered a major setback after a fire broke out putting many artists' master tapes in jeopardy. Memphis' own, The Glass, were one of several artists that were laying down tracks there. Here's an official announcement from The Glass' website:

Our record was lost in the Easley/McCain Studio fire. Well, not utterly. A few files were salvaged - a few tracks were spared. After our April tour we'll head up into a cabin in the Ozarks and along with our faithful engineer, attempt to better those lost recordings. Thanks to everyone for their patience, the new and improved record will come out this summer.

I will continue to keep everyone updated.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

The Decemberists Picaresque

I have been having a difficult time writing this review. The first reason is obvious, I'm not a music critic or even a writer. But more importantly, I've just been having a hard time getting inspired. Now I understand this is not a very insuring thing to say about the album of the week choice. But I have to stress that being able to express what you feel into words is a skill and those who are less skillful as myself are more prone to "writer's block." So as I was taking a break from thinking with one of my newly reborn rituals, garage sale rummaging, I ran across a 45 record of Procol Harum's "White Shade of Pale," one of the most recognizable hits of the Sixties. I turned over $.50 of my hard-earned money and took it home. While I was listening to it for what had to be the one zillionth time in my lifetime, I thought the Decemberists are really the modern Procol Harum. On their third release, Picaresque, singer/songwriter Colin Meloy has fashioned an album chock full of poetic, Harum-like narratives that conjure up ancient times with a flair for the ole sea. Which is really nothing new for the Decemberists whose previous releases, Castaways and Cutouts (2003) and Her Majesty (2003), had already established this as the Decemberists sound ("Bus Mall," with its mentions of freeways and bus stops, is certainly an exception). However, Picaresque feels like Meloy's most satisfying and realized project. He sure can make grisly lines like "In this belly of a whale, it's ribs are ceilling beams, it's guts are carpeting, I guess we have some time to kill" work. From the crashing opener "The Infanta" (think Procol Harum's "Conquistador") to the epic "Espionage" and "The Mariner's Revenge Song" (Procol Harum's "A Salty Dog") to the lovely "Engine Driver" ("Shine On Brightly"), the Decemberists' Picaresque is an album that will be on many critics Best of 2005 lists. And if we lived in a perfect world, songs like "The Engine Driver" and "16 By 32" would be mainstream hits that someone would pick up at garage sales so many years later...

Clem Snide performs on WEVL this Friday

Clem Snide

Okay, so here's the deal. Clem Snide were going to make an appearance on The Music Lovers program this Thursday but due to traffic jams in Alabama were forced to cancel. But don't fret Snide fans because the guys will be stopping at the WEVL station tomorrow on Good Friday to perform a few songs for us from 12:00 - 12:30 pm. Sounds like a good lunch break to me!

The Music Lovers playlist for 3/24/05

1. Dirty Harry - Gorillaz from Demon Days 2. Iron Woman - Devin Davis from Lonely People of the World, Unite! 3. Post-Paint Boy - Stephen Malkmus from Face the Truth 4. Illuminated - Weird War from Illuminated By The Light 5. Like Eating Glass - Bloc Party from Silent Alarm 6. Martin Sheen - Edie Sedgwick from Her Love Is Real But She Is Not 7. Harvard Hands - The Foxymorons from Hesitation Eyes 8. Pledge of Allegiance - Brendan Benson from Alternative To Love 9. Louis XIV - Louis XIV from The Best Secrets Are Kept 10. On Vacation - The Robot Ate Me from The Robot Ate Me, On Vacation 11. Help Me - Maximilian Hecker from Help Me 12. Untitled w/Drums - Shipping News from Flies the Fields 13. Brahmny Kite - Caribou from The Milk of Human Kindness 14. Art Snob Solutions - Of Montreal from The Sunlandic Twins (Bonus EP) 15. Apache Chicken - Darediablo from 20 Places 16. Fistful of Love - Antony and the Johnsons from I Am A Bird Now 17. It's For You - Out Hud from Let Us Never Speak Of It Again 18. Alone With You - John Tejada (with Carl A. Finlow) from Logic Memory Center 19. Day Is Done - Doris Henson from Give Me All Your Money 20. Good Sons - Starflyer 59 from Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice 21. Technologic - Daft Punk from Human After All 22. Alberto Balsalm - Aphex Twin from I Care Because You Do 23. Hell Yes - Beck from Guero 24. Pencil Stick - Clogs from Stick Music 25. Eli, the Barrowboy - The Decemberists from Picaresque 26. Lion Tamer - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence 27. What Do You Mean? - Vic Chesnutt from Ghetto Bells

A Random Post - Most Memorable Shows of 2004

For some reason, I was thinking of all the shows that I had attended in 2004, particularly those that had left the biggest impressions on me. Here's a list (no specific order):

1. Bonnie Prince Billy - I never thought I would actually get to see Will Oldham but there he was in custom made overalls playing at Proud Larry's (!) in Oxford, MS.
2. My Morning Jacket - A storm cloud formed over the stage at Bonnaroo and finally broke during the ending song "Steam Engine." Worth the entire ticket alone! (Other memorable moments from Yo La Tengo, Grandaddy, and David Byrne)
3. Elvis Costello - I was actually on the guest list for this one after working with Mr. Costello on a video shoot for an upcoming DVD release.
4. Of Montreal - These guys are so fun to see perform. I say perform because the comedy skits between their songs are classic. And they always play two cover songs with each performance. The show at the Deli ended with Boston's "More Than A Feeling!"
5. Vic Chesnutt - Ok, so the small crowd wouldn't shut up during the show but the music was nice and the company was even nicer.
6. Morrissey - Another one that I never thought I would get the chance to see live. The show was amazing but ended short when the stage was raided by fellas wanting to touch and kiss the Mozz!
7. Snowglobe - The CD Release show was the best show I have ever seen from these local heroes. And I have it all captured on tape!
8. Reigning Sound - Every show from Cartwright and the Boys is amazing!
9. Harlan T. Bobo - (with Tim Prudhomme) Live at Shangri-La Records store with about 5 folks in attendance. I'm still not sure how they fit all their crap in that small little room in the back!
10. The Pixies - Okay, I didn't actually go to this show. But I did have tickets to it. Unfortunately, I had to work out of town. How sad...

(Other memorable shows include: Calexico, Wilco, Summer Hymns, Devendra Banhart, The Coach and Four, and Spoon)

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Devin Davis Lonely People of the World, Unite!

Ok, I jumped the gun on this one! I had only heard 3 of the 11 songs on the record and had already declared it my album of the week before actually owning a copy. I never imagined it would be so hard to locate it at the local record shops. So I had to order it from Insound, which is never a bad thing but it certainly delayed matters. So do I still declare this an album of the week after hearing the record in its entirety? You bet I do! Heck, the 3 songs that I did hear ("Iron Woman," "Turtle and the Flightless Bird," and "Deserted Eyeland") are worth that distinction. The explosive opener, "Iron Woman" is easily one of my favorite singles of the year and will sure to find its way on The Music Lovers Best of 2005 show. A lot of times when an artist attempts a "perfect pop" album it comes out with mixed results. Davis' attempt is one that pays off from start to finish (minus "Cannons at the Courthouse" which attempts to be funny and witty yet fails at both). At only 35 minutes long, Lonely People is so tight that it only contains the essentials: simple but heartfelt songs that make you bob your head back and forth. It's also definitely 60's inspired pop which I am sure will lead to a fair share of Brian Wilson references (Davis even looks like Wilson on the back cover) but I think that connection is often over used by music critics. It is probably safe to say, though, that Davis loves the studio process of recording (Davis himself recorded and mixed the album) and that he has heard his fair share of Beach Boys records as well as the Kinks ("Paratrooper with Amnesia" could easly have been an outtake from the Muswell Hillbillies sessions) but I am also reminded of Guided By Voices if they cared for their records to sound clean or even an Elephant 6 project if they cared to appeal to the masses. Keep your eye out for Devin. The copyright for this new release is 2003 so we might see a newer release sooner than later. I hope so!

The Music Lovers playlist for 3/17/05

1. Believe I've Found - The Soundtrack of Our Lives from Origin Vol.1 2. Gated Community - Pit Er Pat from Shakey 3. Things Fall Apart - Group Sounds from EP 4. All New Friends - Dirty On Purpose from Sleep Late for a Better Tomorrow 5. I Predict A Riot - Kaiser Chiefs from Employment 6. Deserted Eyeland - Devin Davis from Lonely People of the World, Unite! 7. Walk on the Moon - Asobi Seksu from Asobi Seksu 8. Chuy - Bunky from Born To Be A Motorcycle 9. On/Off - Neva Dinova from The Hate Yourself Change 10. Somedays - Regina Spektor from Soviet Kitsch 11. Made For TV Movie - Clem Snide from End of Love 12. What I'm Looking For - Brendan Benson from Alternative To Love 13. Brand New Love - Death Cab For Cutie from The John Byrd EP 14. From: Skulls - Thunderbirds Are Now! from Justamustache 15. Barnowl - Caribou from The Milk Of Human Kindness 16. Requiem for O.M.M. 2 - Of Montreal from The Sunlandic Twins 17. Jackie, Dressed in Cobras - Destroyer from Quiet Weather 7" 18. Bicycle - Black Mountain from Quiet Weather 7" 19. Jules Lost His Jewels - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti from Worn Copy 20. Let's Go Javelin!/Ezekiel Bread - Half-Handed Cloud from Thy Is A Word + Feet Need Lamps 21. Robot Rock - Daft Punk from Human After All 22. Now and Forever - Kaos from Hello Stranger 23. Jittery Heritage - Einmusik from Jittery Heritage EP 24. Seventeen Years - Ratatat from Ratatat 25. It Eneded On an Oily Stage - British Sea Power from Open Season 26. C + F - Sam Prekop from Who's Your New Professor? 27. The Engine Driver - The Decemberists from Picaresque 28. An Owl With Knees - The Books from Lost and Safe

The Lovers' Album of the Week

The Flaming Lips/Various Artists LateNightTales

I once knew someone who hated the term "mix tape"; he always contested that what one really meant to say when referring to those personal musical expressions was a "compilation tape." While I understood his argument (in the sense that there is no real mixing involved), I always associated the term "compilation" with one of those free CDs you find in music magazines that carelessly dump various artists together without any concern for how the songs flow from one to the other (nevermind that you'll be lucky to find more than a song or two worthy of repeated listens). A good mix tape (because everyone has gotten that bad one) is so enjoyable because not only does it expose you to new music but it also comes from someone who cared about you enough to take the time to properly structure it. (For rules on how to correctly make a mix tape read Nick Hornby's High Fidelity.) And if there is any band that I believe cares about me...it's The Flaming Lips. So it's not surprising that the Azuli label has chosen the Lips for the job of MC'ing the latest edition of their LateNightTales series (previous artists from the series include Jamiroquai, Nightmares On Wax, and Four Tet). And luckily for us, the Lips have taken the challenge with joyful care. (If all this sounds familiar to you, then you probably have come across the iTunes Music Store's "Celebrity Playlists.") The Lips' version of LateNightTales follows the "theme" approach of creating a mix tape with songs that sound most perfect in the quiet moments that the late night can bring forth. Tunes from Chris Bell, Nick Drake, Aphex Twin, Brian Eno, Miles Davis, and even 10cc(!) are so beautifully calming that I could see myself using this one to fall to sleep--and believe me this isn't a negative. Ironically, the one song that breaks away from the theme is the Lips' own contribution, a cover of sorts of the White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army," aka "Harry Potter’s and George W. Bush’s Severed Head Army Mix." While the song is entertaining (and probably more so in concert), it disturbs the flow of the album. But this is really only a minor quibble because LateNightTales isn't meant to be a perfect album. Like all great mix tapes, LateNightTales is about exposing the listener to a variety of different artists, all the while keeping them wondering what's coming up next.

Click here to listen to samples from the album. (Be forewarned the flash is a bit annoying.)

The Music Lovers playlist for 3/10/05

1. Seven Nation Army - The Flaming Lips from LateNightTales 2. Revelation - The Blue Van from The Art of Rolling 3. Broken Mouth Blues - Nic Armstrong from The Greatest White Liar 4. Random Car - Built Like Alaska from Autumland 5. Island of the Honest Man - Hot Hot Heat from Elevator 6. City Lights - Husky Rescue from Country Falls 7. We're Winning - Fog from 10th Avenue Freakout 8. No Room For Change - Crystal Skulls from Blocked Numbers 9. Experiment - A Frames from Black Forest 10. The Last Words of Lesley Gore - The Gena Rowlands Band from Le Merde Et Les Etoiles 11. Bird - Pit Er Pat from Shakey 12. Women To Control - Ak-Momo from Return To N.Y. 13. Us - Regina Spektor from Soviet Kitsch 14. Ave Grave - Thee Shallows from More Deep Cuts 15. Stories - The Gunshy from No Man's Blues 16. Mounds of Money - The Capitol Years from Let Them Drink 17. Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights - Aqueduct from I Sold Gold 18. Doo-Right - Neutral Mute from Roc-Sac 19. On the Face Of It - The Evens from Protest Records 20. Rondo Acapricio - Tosca from J.A.C. 21. Looking Through the Facets of a Plastic Jewel - Bibio from Fi 22. Motorcycle - Audible from Sky Signal 23. (David Bowie I Love You) Since I Was Six - Brian Jonestown Massacre from Take It From the Man! 24. Harmed - Film School from Harmed 7" 25. They Should Have Given You the Oscar - Jens Lekman from Live from Stora Teatern 26. Avantcore - Busdriver from Fear of a Black Tangent 27. Animals Are Cut In Two - Half-Handed Cloud from Thy Is A Word And Feet Need Lamps 28. Tremolo - Lismore from We Could Connect Or We Could Not 29. Alabama Sunshine - The Rapture from DFA Compilation #2 30. Benenth the Trees - Robbers on High Street from Tree City 31. We Say Goodbye To Ourselves - Eluvium from Talk Amongst the Trees 32. Neighbor To Neighbor - Sam Prekop from Who's Your New Professor 33. Big Boat - M. Ward from Transistor Radio 34. Shadows of Salford - Doves from Some Cities 35. Krafty - New Order from Waiting for the Siren's Call

The Memphis Beat Playlist for 3/8/05

From the Easley-McCain Studios tribute show:

1. Father to a Sister of Thought - Pavement from Wowee Zowee 2. Box Full of Letters - Wilco from A.M. 3. Happy Man - Sparklehorse from Distored Ghost EP 4. Last Man Alive - The Grifters from Ain't My Lookout 5. As Long - Reigning Sound from Break Up..Break Down 6. We're Going To Be Friends - The White Stripes from White Blood Cells 7. My Mind Was Messed Around At the Time - Tav Falco from Life Sentence at the Cathouse 8. Satin In a Coffin - Modest Mouse from Good News For People Who Love Bad News 9. The Offical Rally Song - Guided by Voices from The Offical Rally Song EP 10. Little Trouble Girl - Sonic Youth from Washing Machine 11. Nude as the News - Cat Power from What Would the Community Think 12. Chicken Dog - Jon Spencer Blues Explosion from Now I Got Worry 13. Viet Nam War Blues - Oblivians from Soul Food 14. Bank, Gun, Jail - Tearjerkers from Bad Mood Rising 15. Trains Across the Sea - Silver Jews from Starlite Walker 16. Portland, Oregon - Loretta Lynn from Van Lear Rose 17. (End of) Travelling - Palace Music from Lost Blues and Other Songs 18. The Glass - Wrote Your Own Removal

The Memphis Beat Honors Easley Studios

As you might have heard, the legendary Easley-McCain Studios suffered severe fire damage last week. We here at the Lovers would like to express our deepest sympathies to Doug as well as to all those amazing artists who have been hard at work recording there recently (Blair Combest, The Pirates, Brad Postlethwaite, etc.) Tune in to The Memphis Beat this Tuesday from 1 - 2pm for a special show (including a brand new tune from the Glass!) celebrating all those successful years on Deadrick.

Click here for an article about the incident from Andria Lisle.