The Lovers' Albums of the Week

Various Artists Congotronics 2: Buzz'N'Rumble From The Urb'N'Jungle

Konono No1 Congotronics

The Music Lovers playlist for 3/2/06

1. Everything Is Under Control - Coldcut (featuring Jon Spencer and Mike Ladd) from Everything Is Under Control
2. Song for Sunshine - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
3. Vain - Bishop Allen from February
4. Priest's Knees - Destroyer from Destroyer's Rubies
5. Pink and Brown - Headphones from Headphones
6. Jen Nothing Matters To Me - Irving from Death In The Garden Blood On The Flowers
7. Levelling - Low Skies from All The Love I Could Find
8. The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack - Liars from Drum's Not Dead
9. Auto Rock - Mogwai from Mr. Beast
10. Exit Music (For A Film) - Cinematic Orchestra from Exit Music: Songs For Radio Heads
11. Manitoba - Tapes`n Tapes from The Loon
12. Thunder Road - Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy from The Brave And The Bold
13. Kiwembo - Sobanza Mimanisa from Congotronics 2
14. Cities Without Citadels - Chicago Underground Duo from In Praise of Shadows
15. Isi - NEU! from NEU! 75
16. The Wrath of Mikey - The Go! Team from Ladyflash EP
17. Stadiums and Shrines II - Sunset Rubdown from Shut Up I Am Dreaming
18. Fickle Cycle - Animal Collective from Grass (single)
19. Go - Sparklehorse (by request) and The Flaming Lips from The Late Great Daniel Johnston
20. Good Day - Kunek from Flight of the Flynns
21. El Rancho - Impala from El Rancho Reverbo
22. Dry - Brad Postlethwaite from Dry (single)
23. Christmas Dragon - Vending Machine from Myspace Exclusive
24. Happy Things - Harlan T. Bobo from Happy Things (single)
25. Waiting To Know You - The Fiery Furnaces from Bitter Tea
26. Hey Man (Now You're Really Living) - The Eels from Live At Town Hall
27. Ukulele Me! - Stephin Merritt from Showtunes

WEVL's 30th Anniversary Spring Concert

Design: Sasha Barr

Join us this Saturday night at the Hi-Tone as WEVL celebrates its 30th Anniversary with Impala, Harlan T. Bobo, Vending Machine, and Brad Postlethwaite and Friends. Also, DJ Buck Wilders will be on hand spinning records from his own amazing collection. The MC for the evening will be the always entertaing Monsieur Jeffrey Evans.

Showtime will start at 10pm sharp so don't be late!

Happy Birthday Goner!

Memphis Beat - Guest Robby Grant

Robby Grant (Vending Machine) will be stopping by the studio today to chat it up and perform a few tunes in support of the upcoming 30th Anniversary Spring Concert for WEVL on Saturday.

Tune in: Today 1-2pm

Tonight at the Hi-Tone

Brad Postlethwaite and the Brad Band open up.

Mark Kozelek - Tonight At the Hi-Tone!

Mark Kozelek (Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon) will be making a rare appearance in Memphis tonight at the Hi-Tone. I first heard of Mark Kozelek when my friend Aaron gave me the Red House Painter's Down Colorful Hill album. Rarley have I been so drawn to someone's music so quickly. Kozelek's sound is often depressing in nature but always beautiful and achingly honest. If anyone deserves to be called the modern Nick Drake, it certainly would be Mr. Kozelek. Don't miss this chance!

- And don't forget about tomorrow's show at the Hi-Tone when we are privileged enough to have The Undertow Orchestra come to town. Never heard of The Undertow Orchestra? Well, believe me you've heard of the members who make it up. Here is a description of the event:

This is a very special collaborative tour with David Bazan (Pedro The Lion, Headphones), Vic Chesnutt, Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), and Will Johnson (Centro-matic) all sharing the stage, rotating between each songwriter's material, while serving as backing band on various instruments for each other's tunes. Scott Danbom (Centro-matic) will join the Orchestra on piano and violin.

Brad Postlethwaite and the Brad Band will be opening up.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Chicago Underground Duo In Praise of Shadows

The Music Lovers playlist for 2/23/06

Today's show started off with a spotlight on the new compilation Makeshift 4 from the local label Makeshift. Many thanks go out to J.D., Brad, Greg, and Jeremy for coming down to the station to talk about the record and performing live for us. For information about the weekend shows in support of the record, click here.

1. Act of the Apostle - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
2. I Want You To Stay (Field Music Remix) - Maximo Park from I Want You To Stay EP
3. Socialize - Metal Hearts from Socialize
4. Sherman's March - Ahleuchatistas from What You Will
5. Turn - Lying In States from Wildfire on the Lake
6. Hot Horse - Young People from Five Sunsets In Four Days EP
7. Dance To Your Daddy- Colin Meloy from Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins
8. Dream. Dream. Dreams. - Anna Oxygen from This Is An Exercise
9. Bread - Stone Jack Jones from Bluefolk
10. Triggers and Trash Heaps (Stairwell Demo) - Centro-Matic from Triggers and Trash Heaps
11. The Big Guns - Jenny Lewis with the Watson Twins from Rabbit Fur Coat
12. Breakpoint - Nadja from Truth Becomes Death
13. Young And Old - Gregor Samsa from 55:12
14. I've Been Looking Around Me - Magnetophone from The Man Who Ate The Man
15. Paradiso - Konono No.1 from Congotronics
16. Bean Vine Blues #2 - M. Ward from I Am The Resurrection: A Tribute To John Fahey
17. Falling Awake - Chicago Underground Duo from In Praise of Shadows
18. Girl From The North Country - The Eels from Live At Town Hall
19. Paperback Bible - Lambchop from Paperback Bible (single)

This Week on the Lovers - Makeshift 4 Released!

Starting this week on the Lovers, I will be having some artists from the local label Makeshift stop by to perform a few tunes and talk about the just released double-disc Makeshift 4 compilation. There will be various shows this weekend to support the new record:

Thursday, Feb. 23 @ the Hi-Tone
Issen
Esque
The Six-String Jets

Friday, Feb. 24 @ The Hi-Tone
"The Makeshift Mambo"
Jung Shin
Jeffrey James & The Haul
Brad Postlethwaite & The Brad Band
Special Guests: Imagination Head, Holly Cole, J.D. Reager

Saturday, Feb. 25 @ Young Avenue Deli
The Glass
Augustine
Blair Combest

Plus, new releases from:
Belle and Sebastian, The Eels, Lambchop, Maximo Park, Anna Oxygen, Colin Meloy, Chicago Underground Duo, Centro-Matic, M. Ward, and many others...

Flow Radio playlist on 2/20/06

1. DJ Shadow - What Does Your Soul Look Like (Pt. 1 - Blue Sky Revisit)
2. Boxhead Ensemble - When Johnny Comes Marching Home
3. Minotaur Shock - Somebody Told Me It Existed But They Never Found It
4. Immergluck, Kaphan, Krummernacher & Hanes - Joe Kirby Blues
5. Konono N1 - Paradiso
6. Matthew Shipp - Track 3
7. Antony and the Johnsons - Frankenstein
8. Neil Young - Philadelphia
9. Venetian Snares - Senki Dala
10. Gimmer Nicholson - Red and White Light Ship
11. Sufjan Stevens - Oh God, Where Are You Now (In Pickeral Lake? Pigeon? Marquette? Mackinaw?)
12. Matmos - For the Trees (Return)
13. Junior Boys - A Certain Association
14. Brian Eno - Deep Blue Day
15. Bell Orchestre - Nuevo
16. Felix Laband - Falling Off A Horse
17. Jaga Jazzist - Swedenborgske Rom (demo)
18. Aphex Twin - Tha
19. The Books - Vogt Dig For Kloppervok
20. Rufus Wainwright - Birth Mark (for Mary Jane)

Memphis Beat - Special Guest Host

For the first time, Memphis Beat will have a special guest programmer this week when Monsieur Jeffrey Evans stops by to provide the hosting duties while I'm away on business. You don't want to miss this one! Tuesday 1-2pm

Compare/Contrast

Nick Drake Bryter Layter

Boris Akuma No Uta

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Various Artists I Am The Resurrection: A Tribute To John Fahey

The Music Lovers playlist for 2/16/06

1. Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives - Voxtrot from Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives
2. The Nocturnal House - Pretty Girls Make Graves from Elan Vital
3. Don't Love The Liar - Wooden Wand And The Vanishing Voice from Gipsy Freedom
4. Fire - Jason Collett from Idols Of Exile
5. Mattresses Underwater - Colour Revolt from Colour Revolt EP
6. Rifle Called Goodbye - The Minus 5 from The Gun Album
7. Hold Steady Hot Weather - Gaskets from Loose Change
8. I Don't Know If She's Worth 900kr - Jens Lekman from You Deserve Someone Better Than A Bum Like Me
9. The Rhino - Quasi from When The Going Gets Dark
10. Fake Pajamas - Anna Oxygen from This Is An Exercise
11. Emptyhead - They Shoot Horses Don't They from Boo Hoo Hoo Boo
12. The Cosmic Door - Crystal Skulls from Outgoing Behavior
13. Folk Death 95 - Mogwai from Mr. Beast
14. Naki Kyoku - Boris from Akuma No Uta
15. Carriage Return - Sleeping Weather from Dark Corners & Oxygen Mysteries
16. Psychotic Feeling - Of Montreal from Deflated Chime, Foals Slightly Flower Sibylline Responses
17. White Collar Boy - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
18. I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - Arctic Monkeys from Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
19. The Bank and Trust - The Elected from Sun, Sun, Sun
20. Stiltwalker's Local No.199 - Bloodthirsty Lovers (by request) from The Delicate Seam
21. Barbara Allen- Colin Meloy from Colin Meloy Sings Shirley Collins
22. Variation On "Commemorative Transfiguration and Communion at Magruder Park" - Sufjan Stevens from I Am The Resurrection: A Tribute To John Fahey
23. Big Texas - Liz Janes from Mews Too
24. Garrison - Film School from Film School
25. Stardust (demo) - Jaga Jazzist from What We Must (Spydeberg Sessions)
26. Weight Watching - Prefuse 73 from Security Sceenings
27. Interlock - Stereolab from Fab Four Suture
28. Peach Plum Pear (live) - Final Fantasy from Myspace Exclusive
29. Watercolours Into The Ocean - Destroyer from Destroyer's Rubies
30. Clementine - The Decemberists from To:Elliott, From:Portland

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Destroyer Destroyer's Rubies

The Music Lovers playlist for 2/9/06

1. Wave Goodbye - Kelley Stoltz from Below the Branches
2. Between the Walls - Aloha from Some Echoes
3. Dubai - Kelpie from Hey Friends, It's Kelpie
4. You Are What You Love - Jenny Lewis from Rabbit Fur Coat
5. Plan of the Man - The M's from Future Women
6. Chase Scene - Fire Underground from Chase Scene EP
7. You Broke My Heart - Lavender Diamond from The Cavalry Of Light
8. God Knows (You Gotta Give To Get) - El Perro del Mar from You Gotta Give To Get
9. Tusk - Clinic from Online Single
10. Blankets - The Acorn from Blankets
11. Cold December - Matt Costa from Songs We Sing
12. One For The Catholic Girls - Simon Joyner from Beautiful Losers: Singles and Compilation Tracks 1994-1999
13. Oh My - Mellowdrone from Box
14. Poke Her Girl - Argy from Night Ritual EP
15. Eyes Like Bottles - Trespassers William from Having
16. Birth, School, Work, Death - Manhead from Channel 3
17. We Are The Sleepyheads - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
18. Beautiful Rainbow - The Elected from Sun, Sun, Sun
19. Let Us Be Naked - Eef Barzelay from Bitter Honey
20. Like Anything, It's Small - Shelly Short from Captain Wild Horse Rides The Heart Of Tomorrow
21. No Origin - Prefuse 73 from Security Sceenings
22. The Rhino - Quasi from When The Going Gets Dark
23. Lantern - Clogs from Lantern
24. Sunday Afternoon At Tamagawa River - Guitar from Tokyo
25. Cemetery Row W14 - The Minus 5 from The Gun Album
26. Some Say (I Got Devil) - Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy from The Brave And The Bold
27. Blinking Lights (For Me) - The Eels from Live At Town Hall
28. Your Blood - Destroyer from Destroyer's Rubies
29. Opie's Funeral Song - Sufjan Stevens from Mews Too: An Asthmatic Kitty Compilation

Memphis Beat in the Memphis Flyer

Andria Lisle has an article this week in the Memphis Flyer about Memphis music being represented on the radio. And the article starts off with a spotlight on the Memphis Beat!

Flow Radio playlist on 2/6/06

1. Clogs - Ostinato-FiveFour
2. Harold Budd - Afar
3. Badar Ali Khan - Black Night
4. 00100 - Moss Trumpeter
5. Bell Orchestre - Recording A Tape (Typewriter Duet)
6. Prefuse 73 - Pagina Seis
7. Brian and Chris - Pristina
8. Pan American - Both Ends Fixed
9. Scsi 9 - Mini
10. Final Fantasy - This Is The Dream Of Win and Regine
11. Nobukazu Takemura - Icefall
12. John Cale - The Falklands Suite: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
13. Honeyroot - Love Will Tear Us Apart
14. Morton Feldman - Only
15. Threnody Ensemble - ThaRoman
16. Sarah Hopkins - Cello Chi
17. Terminal 4 - Slinky
18. Devics - Come Up
19. Odawas - The Unnamed Sphinx
20. Jan Jelinek - Western Mimikry
21. Antony and the Johnsons - Blue Angel

Cat Power Show Cancelled!

I just got the very sad news that the Cat Power show at the Gibson Lounge has been cancelled. Here is the offical word:

Due to health concerns, Chan has been advised not to tour and all of the currently scheduled dates have been cancelled. If you have purchased advance tickets, Musictoday will be refunding your money this week. At this time there are no plans to reschedule any show dates. If we are able to book a future CAT POWER show at The Lounge, we will post information on our website immediately. Our thoughts are with Chan at this time, and we hope to see her back on tour soon.

The Lovers Sub for Flow Radio

The Lovers will be subbing again for Mary Jane today on Flow Radio from 6-8pm.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Film School Film School

The Music Lovers playlist on 2/2/06

1. Love Me Like You - The Magic Numbers from The Magic Numbers
2. Caroline Says II - Angel Corpus Christi from Louie Louie
3. Summer Left Your Heart Behind - His Name Is Alive from Detrola
4. Catalytic Convert - The Howling Hex from 1-2-3
5. Love Is - AZITA from Detail From The Mountain Side
6. 10,000 Horses - Rahim from Ideal Lives
7. The Start of Something - Voxtrot from Raised By Wolves EP
8. Empathy On A Stick - The Ladies from They Mean Us
9. Born On The Floor - Make Up from Untouchable Sound-LIVE!
10. The Apple Tree - Peter and the Wolf from Peter and the Wolf
11. Duel With A Soul - A Forest Mighty Black from Mellowdramatic
12. That Subliminal Kid vs. The Last Mohican - DJ Spooky from Thirsty Ear Presents: Blue Series Sampler
13. Voodoo People - The Prodigy from Their Law (The Singles 1990-2005)
14. He's A Deep Deep Lake - Film School from Film School
15. Can't Stop - M83 from Before The Dawn Heals Us
16. I'll Be Yr Bird - M. Ward from Duet For Guitars #2
17. Funny Little Frog - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
18. Heaven - Eef Barzelay from Live on WEVL (3/25/05)
19. Pocket Money Rodeo - The Go! Team from Get It Together EP
20. Panda, Panda, Panda (Deerhoof) - The Joe Beats Experiment from Indie Rock Blues
21. Trouble With A Capital T - Grandaddy from Now It's On EP
22. Jeddy's Poem - Grandaddy from Signal To Snow Ratio EP
23. Beautiful Ground (live) - Grandaddy from El Caminos In The West EP
24. The Town Where I'm Livin' Now - Grandaddy from I'm On Standby/Stray Dog And The Chocolate Shake EP
25. Star Witness - Neko Case from Fox Confessor Brings The Flood
26. Cavalry Cross - Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy from The Brave And The Bold
27. At Dawn - My Morning Jacket from At Dawn
28. Rabbit Fur Coat - Jenny Lewis from Rabbit Fur Coat
29. Painter In Your Pocket - Destroyer from Destroyer's Rubies

The Lovers Sub

Yep, the Lovers will be subbing for the 6-8pm time slot today.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy The Brave and the Bold

Grandaddy Breaks Up!

I just learned that one of my favorite bands Grandaddy have decided to call it quits. What a shame!

The Music Lovers playlist for 1/26/06

1. Bus Stop Boxer - The Eels from Live At Town Hall
2. The Switch - National Eye from Roomful Of Lions
3. Your Beauty Is A Knife I Turn On My Throat - Eagle*Seagull from Eagle*Seagull
4. Not Going Home - The Elected from Sun, Sun, Sun
5. Hardcore Pops Are Fun - Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti from House Arrest
6. That's When The Audience Died - Final Fantasy from Has A Good Home
7. Everybody Knows - The Decemberists from Otis's Opuses
8. Breet - Film School from Film School
9. Tale From The Black - Tunng from Magpie Bites
10. Daffy Duck - Animal Collective from Feels
11. E Talking - Soulwax from Any Minute Now
12. It Beats For You - My Morning Jacket from Z
13. Better Love - Steel Train from Twilight Tales From The Praires Of The Sun
14. Get It Together! - The Go! Team from Get It Together EP
15. Girls - Darwin Chamber from B Sides (1990-2005)
16. Cees - King Seven from Online Exclusive
17. Nuevo - Bell Orchestre from Recording A Tape The Color Of The Light
18. Awake - Smoke from Heaven On A Popsicle Stick
19. What Does T.S. Eliot Know About You - East River Pipe from What Are You On?
20. Love Will Tear Us Apart - Jose Gonzalez from Remain EP
21. In The Pines - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love
22. Could We - Cat Power from The Greatest
23. The Blues Are Still Blues - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit
24. Daniel - Tortoise and Bonnie Prince Billy from The Brave And The Bold
25. Handle With Care - Jenny Lewis from Rabbit Fur Coat

Cat Power Tickets On Sale Today!

That's right! Advance tickets go on sale online today at noon for the February 11th Cat Power show at The Gibson Lounge. Chan Marshall will be backed up by the Memphis Rhythm Band, whose members include: Mabon Hodges, Leroy Hodges, Steve Potts, Doug Easley, Rick Steff, Scott Thompson, Jim Spake, Roy Brewer, Jonathan Kirkscey, and Beth Viola. For more information about the show, including ticket prices and a link to ticket sales, click here.

The Music Lovers playlist on 1/19/06

1. The Wand - The Flaming Lips from The Wand (single)
2. Pitfalls - Film School from Film School
3. Used Goods - Love Is All from Nine Times That Same Song
4. Words That Cure Pt. 1 - Ester Drang from Goldenwest
5. Nth Degree - Morningwood from Morningwood
6. Listen Up! - The Gossip from Standing In The Way Of Control
7. Fluoresceneces - Stereolab from Oscillons From The Sun
8. Balloon Maker - Midlake from Balloon Maker
9. Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt - We Are Scientists from With Love and Squalor
10. Lost Your Wig - Swearing At Motorists from Last Night Became This Morning
11. Come Up - Devics from Push The Heart
12. There's A Place - Aqualung from Easier To Lie, Pt. 2
13. My Life Is Starting Over Again - Teenage Fanclub and Jad Fair from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered
14. Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievence - Clem Snide from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered
15. Sorry Entertainer - Calvin Johnson from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered
16. Devil Town- Bright Eyes from The Late Great Daniel Johnston: Discovered Covered
17. Streets Of Your Town (live) - The Go-Betweens from That Striped Sunlight Sound
18. Tribulation - Sam Amidon from But This Chicken Proved Falsehearted
19. In A Way - Paul Duncan from Be Careful What You Call Home
20. So Come Back, I Am Waiting - Okkervil River from Black Sheep Boy
21. Good As Gold (Morgan Geist Monophonic Mix) - Tiga from Good As Gold (single)
22. Holy Calamity (Bear Witness II) (live) - DJ Shadow from In Tune And On Time
23. A Joy (Percee P Mix) - Four Tet from A Joy
24. More Noir Blues and Tinnitus - Of Montreal from Promo EP
25. Ostinato-FiveFour - Clogs from Lantern
26. Computer World (live) - Kraftwerk from Minimum Maxium
27. The Dress Looks Nice On You - Sufjan Stevens from Seven Swans
28. Empty Shell - Cat Power from The Greatest

Cat Power's The Greatest - WEVL's Album Feature

If you were wanting to hear what the new Cat Power album sounds like (and believe me, you do) then tune into WEVL tomorrow from 11am - Noon when the The Greatest will be this week's WEVL Album Feature.

The Lovers' Album of the Week

Cat Power The Greatest

(Thanks, Judy)

The Music Lovers playlist for 1/12/06

1. Killing Lies - The Strokes from First Impressions Of Earth
2. Now That You've Gone - Delta 5 from Singles and Sessions 1979-81
3. Someone, Somewhere - Luke Temple from Hold A Match To A Gasoline World
4. List - Kanda from All The Good Meetings Are Taken
5. Jetsetter - Morningwood from Morningwood
6. Please Come Back - Catfish Haven from Please Come Back
7. Love Is Stronger Than Witchcraft - Robert Pollard from From A Compound Eye
8. Tristan and Iseult - Tarkio from Omnibus
9. Electric - Boris from Pink
10. The Mountain Tomb - Speakers from Yeats Is Great
11. There Is A Place - Silver Jews from Tanglewood Numbers
12. 50's Parking - Tapes 'N Tapes from Tapes 'N Tapes
13. The Walnut Falcon (live) - Silver Jews from Hot As Hell 7"
14. Canada - Silver Jews from Dime Map of the Reef 7"
15. In Action - We Are Scientists from The Wolf's Hour
16. Don't Misbehave In The New Age - Animals and Men from Revel In The Static
17. Standing In The Way Of Control - The Gossip from Standing In The Way Of Control
18. Madonna Approaches R&B Blonde Wreckages - Hella from Homeboy
19. A Song For Our Fathers - Explosions In The Sky from How Strange, Innocence
20. Pagina Cinco - Prefuse 73 from Prefuse 73 Reads the Books
21. Neon Rider - Junior Boys from Last Exit
22. I Will Be Good - Bonnie Prince Billy from Amalgamated Sons of Rest EP
23. The Southside of the World - Bonnie Prince Billy from Blue Lotus Feet
24. II/XV - Will Oldham from GETTHEF*CKONJOLLYLIVE
25. Boy Blue - Bonnie "Blue" Billy from Little Boy Blue EP
26. We're Not Getting Well - Half-Handed Cloud from What's The Remedy?
27. The Unnamed Sphinx - Odawas from The Aether Eater
28. (Do You Wanna) Come Walk With Me? - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan from Ballad of Broken Seas
29. By Your Side - Beachwood Sparks from Once We Were Trees
30. You Got Played, Little Girl - East River Pipe from What Are You On?
31. Another Sunny Day - Belle and Sebastian from The Life Pursuit

This Week on the Lovers

New releases from:

Belle and Sebastian, The Strokes, The Gossip, We Are Scientists, Morningwood, East River Pipe, Boris, Robert Pollard, Half-Handed Cloud, and more...

Plus, some rare tracks from the Silver Jews and Will Oldham/Bonnie Prince Billy

Flow Radio playlist on 1/9/06

1. Animal Collective (w/Vashti Bunyan) - It's You
2. DJ Wally - Nothing Stays The Same
3. Matthew Shipp and the Blue Series Continuum - Pulsar
4. Tanakh - November Tree
5. Jan Steele - All Day
6. Prefuse 73 - Pagina Cinco
7. Natacha Atlas - Fun Does Not Exist (New Mix)
8. Afro-mystik - The Odyssey
9. Ikwunga - Di Bombs
10. Madrid - Campfiring
11. The Durrutti Columnn - Spanish Lament
12. Innocence Mission - Tomorrow on the Runway
13. Cyann & Ben - I Can't Pretend Anymore
14. Windy and Carl - Balance (Trembling)
15. Bell Orchestra - The Upwards March
16. Antony and the Johnsons - Just One Star
17. The Marquis de Tren and Bonny Billy - 2/15
18. Brian Eno - This
19. The Juan Maclean - My Time Is Running Out
20. Boards of Canada - Peacock Tail
21. Harold Budd - Breathless...I (w/Zeitgeist)
22. Vashti Bunyan - Here Before
23. This Mortal Coil - Song to the Siren (dedicated to: Mary Jane)

The Lovers Sub for Flow Radio

The Lovers will be subbing for Mary Jane today on Flow Radio from 6-8pm.

The Music Lovers playlist on 1/5/06

1. Iron Woman - Devin Davis from Lonely People of the World, Unite!
2. Concrete Bed - Nada Surf from The Weight Is A Gift
3. Must Be You - The Sun from Blame It On The Youth
4. It Ended On An Oily Stage - British Sea Power from Open Season
5. Mushaboom - Feist from Let It Die
6. Abel - The National from Alligator
7. Upon This Wave of Young Blood - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah from Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
8. Shine A Light - Wolf Parade from Apologies to the Queen Mary
9. Hey Now Now - The Cloud Room from The Cloud Room
10. Interruptions - Rogue Wave from 10:1 EP
11. Blood Machine - Chad VanGaalen from Infiheart
12. White Center - Damien Jurado from On My Way To Absence
13. Made For TV Movie - Clem Snide from End of Love
14. I Am A Full Grown Man - Phosphorescent from Aw Come Aw Wry
15. The Electric Love Letter - Langhorne Slim from When the Sun's Gone Down
16. Damaged Goods - Gang of Four from Return the Gift
17. Where You Going - Kelly Stolz from The Sun Comes Through
18. The Partisan - Electrelane from Axes
19. Strange Vibrations - Doleful Lions from Shaded Lodge and Mausoleum
20. Xiu Xiu - Bog People from La Foret
21. Untitled One - Odd Nosdam from Burner
22. Tour Along the Potomac - The Dirty Projectors from The Getty Address
23. Four - Alarm Will Sound from Acoustica
24. Ballad of Daykitty - Lou Barlow from EMOH
25. Half Lit - Richard Swift from Walking Without Effort
26. Let's Trade Skins - Great Lake Swimmers from Bodies and Minds
27. 7 Days - Acid House Kings from Sing Along with the Acid House Kings
28. Heartbeats - Jose Gonzales from Veneer

This Week on the Lovers - Honorable Mentions

Tune in today as I play 2005 tunes that somehow were neglected from my Top 25 list last week.

It's Always Something playlist for 12/30/05

1. Bing Crosby - Let's Start the New Year Off Right
2. Dick Kent with the Lancelots - A New Year's Dawning
3. Lex & the Hood - A Great New Year
4. Sun Ra - Happy New Year To You
5. Brian Fahey - Countdown
6. CHIN's - My New Year Rules
7. Amazing Amar - Merry Xmas Happy New Year
8. Beach Boys - Auld Lang Syne
9. Shockabilly - Happy New Year
10. BJ Dowdy - Resolutions
11. Bob Hope - New Years
12. Checkered Past - Happy New Year
13. Lou Rawls - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
14. Nancy Wilson - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
15. Rob McConnell and the Boss Brass - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
16. Aslum Street Spankers - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?
17. Blind Lemon Jefferson - Happy New Year Blues
18. Rev. A.W. Nix - Mind Your Business (A New Year's Sermon)
19. Spirit of Melanesia - New Year Celebrations
20. All That Music All Star Band - The Tex-Mex New Year's Polka
21. Kukla, Fran and Ollie - Make Your New Year Your Good News Year
22. Kukla, Fran and Ollie - What Are You Doing New Year's Eve/Fran You're Beautiful
23. Woody Phillips - Auld Lang Syne
24. The Turtles - It Was A Very Good Year (Stereo)
25. The Simpsons (Homer) - It Was A Very Good Beer
26. William Shatner - It Was A Very Good Year
27. Cara Stewart with the Lee Hudson Orchestra - The New Year Song
28. Esquivel - Auld Lang Syne (Adios from Esquivel!)
29. Coolbreezers - Hello Mr. New Year
30. Sufjan Stevens - Year of the Dog
31. Great Lakes - This Will Be Our Year
32. M. Ward - One More Goodbye
33. Camera Obscura - Happy New Year

The Lovers Sub for It's Always Something - Today!

Yep, that's right! Today from 12pm-2pm, I will be hosting the last It's Always Something of 2005 with a two hour New Year's theme show that would make B.R. proud.

The Lovers' Top 25 Songs from 2005

1. Fistful of Love - Antony and the Johnsons from The I Am A Bird Now
2. Chicago - Sufjan Stevens from Illinois
3. This Year - The Mountain Goats from The Sunset Tree
4. The Mariner's Revenge Song - The Decemberists from Picaresque
5. Funny Like the Moon - Bunky from Born To Be A Motorcycle
6. I Feel Like The Mother Of The World - Smog from A River Ain't Too Much To Love
7. The Greatest - Cat Power from The Greatest/Hate single
8. Off the Record - My Morning Jacket from Z
9. An Own With Knees - The Books from Lost and Safe
10. I'm Getting Back Into Getting Into You - Silver Jews from Tanglewood Numbers
11. Grass - Animal Collective from Feels
12. One Life To Leave - Out Hud from Let Us Never Speak Of It Again
13. Glosoli - Sigur Ros from Takk...
14. Black - Okkervil River from Black Sheep Boy
15. The Music Lovers - Destroyer from Notorious Lighting and Other Works
16. Shake Our Tree - The Rosebuds from Birds Make Good Neighbors
17. Paul Simon - The Russian Futurists from Our Thickness
18. Heard Somebody Say - Devendra Banhart from Cripple Crow
19. Wishbone - Architecture In Helsinki from In Case We Die
20. We're In Business - Andrew Thompson from Egad!
21. The Modern Love (Dave P and Adam Sparkle's Makine Time Remix) - Bloc Party from Silent Alarm Remixed
22. A Nervous Tic Motion Of The Head To The Left - Andrew Bird from Mysterious Production of Eggs
23. The Comeback - Shout Out Louds from Howl Howl Gaff Gaff
24. I Turn My Camera On - Spoon from Gimme Fiction
25. Daft Punk Is Playing At My House - LCD Soundsystem from LCD Soundsystem

This Week on the Lovers - Best of 2005

Tune into today for the Lovers' Top 25 Favorite Songs of 2005.

The Lovers' Top 20 Albums of 2005

1. Sufjan Stevens Illinois
2. Antony and the Johnsons I Am A Bird Now
3. The Decemberists Picaresque
4. Architecture In Helsinki In Case We Die
5. The Dirty Projectors The Getty Address
6. Great Lake Swimmers Bodies and Minds
7. Animal Collective Prospect Hummer EP/Feels
8. Destroyer Notorious Lighting and Other Works
9. Alec Ounsworth Songs About Coming And Going (Demos)
10. Out Hud Let Us Never Speak Of It Again
11. M. Ward Transistor Radio
12. My Morning Jacket Z
13. The Books Lost and Safe
14. Okkervil River Black Sheep Boy
15. Andrew Bird The Mysterious Production of Eggs
16. Sigur Ros Takk..
17. LCD Soundsystem LCD Soundsystem
18. The Rosebuds Birds Make Good Neighbors
19. Langhorne Slim When The Sun's Gone Down
20. Headphones Headphones

(Of course, it could all change tomorrow...)

The Lovers' Albums of the Week - A Year In Review

A brief history: I started the Album of the Week feature about two months into doing the show and nearly a month after beginning the blog. At first, I had very strict criteria: it had to be an album released the week of the show and typically not an obvious choice. Of course, finding an album that met these criteria became a bit difficult during slow weeks (hence the LateNightTales entry). Still, I held to these restrictions for the first couple of months. Also, I was writing mini reviews for each album, which made me start to feel a bit like I was one of the Scenestars. But I quickly got burned out (hey, I'm not a writer), and I stopped after the thirteenth entry. Anyway, I did keep the feature going, and it seems to be one of the most popular features on the blog. I even got a polite letter from Brussels about it! So, here are all my choices of 2005. So where did I go right? Where did I go wrong?

M. Ward Transistor Radio (Added:2/27)

Eluvium Talk Amongst the Trees (Added:3/04)

Flaming Lips/Various Artists LateNightTales (Added:3/11)

Devin Davis Lonely People of the World, Unite! (Added:3/17)

The Decemberists Picaresque (Added:3/25)

Yo La Tengo Prisoner of Love (Added:3/31)

The Books Lost and Safe (Added:4/08)

The Dirty Projectors The Getty Address (Added:4/08)

Dr. Dog Easy Beat (Added:4/15)

Madvillain/Four Tet Four Tet Remixes EP (Added:4/29)

The Russian Futurists Our Thickness (Added:5/06)

Headphones Headphones (Added:5/13)

Animal Collective Prospect Hummer EP (Added:5/20)

Minotaur Shock Vigo Bay EP (Added:6/10)

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Added:6/17)

Architecture In Helsinki In Case We Die (Added:7/02)

Felix Laband Dark Days Exit (Added:7/15)

Langhorne Slim When the Sun's Gone Down (Added:7/22)

Venetian Snares Rossz Csillag Allat Szuletett (Added:7/17)

Andrew Thompson Egad! (Added:7/29)

Antony and the Johnsons Hope There's Someone EP (Added:8/5)

Holopaw Quit +/or Fight (Added:8/13)

Flotation Toy Warning Bluffer's Guide To The Flight Deck (Added:8/26)

Chad VanGaalen Infiniheart (Added:9/03)

Calla Collisions (Added:9/30)

The Rosebuds Birds Make Good Neighbors (Added:10/07)

Animal Collective Feels (Added:10/21)

Great Lake Swimmers Bodies and Minds (Added:10/16)

The Clientele Strange Geometry (Added:10/23)

Bell Orchestre Recording a Tape the Colour of the Light (Added:12/03)

Jens Lekman Oh You're So Silent Jens (Added:12/09)

Bunky Born To Be A Motorcycle (Added:12/19)

My Top 10 Most Memorable Shows of 2005

Well, it's that time when everyone surveys the year and gives their humble opinions on all that they found worthy, usually organized nicely in the form of a list. So expect things like that all this week, starting with my most memorable shows of 2005:

1. Sufjan Stevens - The 2 1/2 hour line to get into the Nashville venue would have been enough to earn this a #1 slot, but thankfully, the show was just as memorable. The funniest moment was when Sufjan was introduced and everyone turned to each other and uttered, "Oh, that's how you pronounce his name!"
2. Andrew Bird - Mr. Bird had to cancel an on-air radio performance on the Lovers due to sickness, and it certainly showed that night at the HiTone. I should say it showed in his apperance but not at all in his performance. It was one of those rare nights at the Tone when the crowd was completely in tune with the artist (with many folks sitting down on the ground). And they remained in awe as Andrew moved back and forth from his guitar to his violin to that most memorable Bird whistle.
3. The Go! Team - Probably the most anticipated moment for me at the Intonation Music Festival in Chicago turned into the most memorable as the Team recruited a mass of children swimming at the public pool next door to join them on stage for a grand finale of "Ladyflash"!
4. The Decemberists - I got to see these guys at a crammed Nashville venue (Exit/In) and a packed music fest (Intonation Music Festival), and either performance would have secured Mr. Meloy and Co. a place on this list. The audience participation at the end of "The Mariner's Revenge Song," when everyone screams as if they are being eaten by a whale was quite the highlight.
5. Out Hud - Some of the most fun I've ever had at the HiTone. And that's saying somethin'! Their performance was around only 40 minutes, but I couldn't imagine it going on any longer without the members of Out Hud (and the crowd) collapsing from exhaustion.
6. Cat Power - This was another highly anticipated performance, though mostly because everyone was wondering if Chan Marshall would have another one of her freak outs. Instead, the few folks who were actually interested in the show (and not in the upcoming beer bust) were treated to a rather intimate performance on both guitar and piano, most of which was done in the dark.
7. Luv Clowns/Harlan T. Bobo (tie) - This is a toss-up: the Luv Clowns odd children's show at the Media CoOp or Harlan T. Bobo's infamous angel-wing performance at the now-defunct Glass Onion. Both winners!
8. Okkervil River - Okay, I knew that their album Black Sheep Boy was fabulous, but I wasn't expecting to be this impressed by their live performance. What I remember most was how honored the guys were to be playing in Memphis. They even covered Big Star's "O, Dana," though few people seemed to notice.
9. John Cale - A free concert from the legendary co-founder of The Velvet Underground in a small auditorium at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. Enough said!
10. Built To Spill - I had been waiting a long time to see the boys from Idaho. However, I never imagined that I would get to see them in Memphis. And I certainly never imagined that I would see them at the Young Avenue Deli! Without a doubt the most people I have ever seen in that club.

Other memorable shows: The Walkmen, Clem Snide, Fruit Bats, Richard Swift, Xiu Xiu, Smog, The Russian Futurists, Junior Boys, and Oneida

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone out there had a safe and fun Christmas...