(BY ITS TOE) IF HE HOLLERS, LET HIM GO

TRACK A TIGER

Track a Tiger is a Chicago-based band led by Jim Vallet. They released their first LP, Woke Up Early the Day I Died, in February and describe their sound as "Richard and Linda Thompson and the Sea and Cake having drinks in the living room while Low and Sonic Youth make dinner in the kitchen. Fleetwood Mac is out getting more ice." I might throw Yo La Tengo into the mix as well (maybe they're mellowing out on the balcony, smoking something aromatic).

You can listen to all of the tracks on Woke Up Early the Day I Died on the band's website. You can purchase it at Future Appletree and CDBaby.

[MP3] "Glad to Be Scattered"

[MP3] "Happy"

SOMETHING "NEW" (IS THAT OZZY TAKING OCASEK'S PLACE?)

SOMETHING "OLD"

THE NEW CARS

The first album I ever bought was the Cars' Heartbeat City. On vinyl. In 1984. I was 14. I loved it.

Alas, the band would break up just four years later. Since then, singer/bassist Benjamin Orr died of cancer in 2000 and lead singer/songwriter Ric Ocasek released a string of little-heard solo albums and carved out a successful career as a producer (Weezer, Hole, Bad Religion) (not to mention tended to his still-miraculously-intact marriage to model Paulina Porizkova - 16 years and counting!).

Now, following the dubious leads of such once-seminal bands as the Beach Boys, Doors, and Queen, the Cars have re-formed as "The New Cars," with Todd Rundgren stepping into Ocasek's chrome, Art Deco loafers. In truth, of the original band members, only lead guitarist Elliot Easton and keyboardist Greg Hawkes have signed on to this "new" enterprise. Not that those guys are exactly slouches. Easton's guitar work (especially on the early records) was an underrated strength, and Hawkes' stylish synthesizer lines were one of the things that drew me to the group in the first place.

Still, though, one has to wonder how successful (creatively and commercially) this new line-up can possibly be. (And how many Brinks trucks did they have to back up to Ocasek's crypt to convince him to sign over the rights to the band name?). Well, time will tell.

For now, perhaps a little compare & contrast is in order...

[MP3] "Not Tonight"/The New Cars [2006]

[MP3] "You're All I've Got Tonight"/The Cars [1978]

[MP3] "Tonight She Comes"/The Cars [1985]

[MP3] "It's Not the Night"/The Cars [1984]

MELIGROVE BAND

Meligrove Band is a Toronto-based indie collective that seems on the verge of big, big things with their third CD, Planets Conspire. I take special satisfaction in recommending these guys, as Toronto is metro Detroiters' favorite "exotic" city. Easily beats... um... Toledo. Chicago's too much like Detroit (except, of course, that Chicago's a place you'd actually want to live and visit). Oh, and... Cincinnati sucks. Might as well cede it to the South.

Okay, enough with the geography. The primary reason that I'm highlighting Meligrove Band is that I like their music. Hell, if they were from Gary, Indiana, I'd still be praising them to the stars (and wishing them imminent exodus to a somewhat more civilized city in the Hoosier state). Kokomo, maybe. Or French Lick. Hooker Corner? Gnaw Bone? Floyds Knobs? Okay. Never mind.

[MP3] "Everyone's a Winner"

[MP3] "Our Love Will Make the World Go Round"

[MP3] "Planets Conspire"

GUSTAV & THE SEASICK SAILORS

Like many others of late, I have been all entranced and enraptured with the indie rock/pop that's been swirling out of Sweden. I can probably trace my particular infatuation back to my discovery of the MP3 blog Swedesplease in the spring or early summer of 2005. I'm sure that it must have been there that I stumbled upon Gustav & the Seasick Sailors and their nifty little ditty "Angels Fable."

I posted said ditty back in November, as well as three songs from the band's first album, Vagabond's Polka. Now, their second CD, SIRKUS, has been released, and I have two of its songs to offer. If you like what you hear, I hope that you'll visit Gustav & the Seasick Sailors' blog and/or MySpace page and/or Marilyn Records, where you can find out how to purchase their music, regardless of where you happen to exist on this planet.

(By the way, you will find the great "Angels Fable" lurking on SIRKUS.)

From the LP SIRKUS, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Charlie Fay"
[MP3] "Something Weightless"

From the LP Vagabond's Polka, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Mr. Moment & Miss Clarity"

ST. PATRICK'S DAY (WHEN IRISH EYES ARE IMBIBING)

Initially, today's post was to include just five or six tunes by various Irish artists. Alas, I couldn't help adding tracks, and, before I knew it, the whole thing had gotten tragically out of hand.

So... here's a St. Patty's day sampler to sate your holiday hunger.

(Best enjoyed with corned beef, cabbage, a Shamrock Shake, and a hearty helping of Catholic guilt. Tear that pope to pieces, Sinead! He IS the real enemy!)

Left-click [here] to download.

TRACKLIST:

1) Sinead O'Connor/You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart
2) Sinead O'Connor & Shane MacGowan/Haunted
3) The Pogues/Tuesday Morning
4) U2/Van Diemen's Land
5) JJ72/October Swimmer
6) The Frames/Pavement Tune
7) The Cranberries/Ode to My Family
8) The Divine Comedy/Perfect Lovesong
9) The Corrs & Bono/Summer Wine [live]
10) Damien Rice/Older Chests
11) Ash/Sometimes
12) JJ72/Take from Me
13) U2/One [live/War Child]
14) Sinead O'Connor & the Edge/Heroine
15) Sinead O'Connor/This IS a Rebel Song

MANSUN (1995-2003)

Born out of the Britpop bubble of the early-to-mid '90s, Mansun was one of the many bands that briefly blew up, then quickly slinked back into insignificance. In retrospect, their 1996 LP Attack of the Grey Lantern remains their only real claim to fame. While it's certainly no OK Computer, it is an ambitious, stylish opus that holds up relatively well - even a decade down the road.

Unfortunately, Mansun's subsequent efforts were somewhat colorless, and they eventually, inevitably went the way of the dinosaur and dodo. Now... have some fun with the following fossils....

From the LP Attack of the Grey Lantern, 1996 >>>
[MP3] "Wide Open Space"
[MP3] "The Chad Who Loved Me"
[MP3] "Take It Easy, Chicken"

From the LP Little Kix, 2000 >>>
[MP3] "I Can Only Disappoint U"

[MP3] "My Idea of Fun"

ALL MIGHTY WHISPERS

All Mighty Whispers are a Franco-Anglo trio (working with a Polish producer) whose cool, elegant sound evokes comparisons to Air, Trembling Blue Stars, and Mercury Rev. Fortunately for us, they write actual "songs," as opposed to artsy-fartsy "soundscapes" that just drift listlessly hither, thither, and yon.

Besides the tracks offered below, you can download three more at their [website], as well as stream their entire debut album, Love Revolution.

[MP3] "Heaven Have Me Now"

[MP3] "Bringing Down Hush"

[MP3] "Winter Love"

HARD-FI

The English four-piece Hard-Fi is releasing their debut album, Stars of CCTV, in the U.S. tomorrow - a full year-and-a-half after its initial release. Of course, much has happened for these guys since then. A subsequent UK release in June of 2005 spawned a string of hit singles and nominations for two Brit Awards and the Mercury Prize. Then, earlier this year, Stars of CCTV went to #1 on the British charts.

In a way, I'm sorry that this record won't be eligible for my eventual 2006 Top 10 album list, since I've been pretty well underwhelmed by most of the things I've heard so far this year. I'm clearly never going to be a Fiery Furnaces fan. The new Flaming Lips was a huge disappointment for me. I found about four worthwhile songs each with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Neko Case, and Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins. But this damn Hard-Fi thing is pleasing me to no end. It's got a drive and energy to it that I've been needing, apparently (not to mention some boffo basslines). I don't care what critics want to call this type of music - rock, ska, punk, hip-hop, blah, blah, blah.... It just sounds like pretty great pop to me.

The band is currently playing some gigs on the West Coast and will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live this Wednesday night (along with Janet Reno!).

[MP3] "Feltham is Singing"

[MP3] "Gotta Reason"

[MP3] "Better Do Better"

BEST OF FEBRUARY

Here are my favorite tracks from February in a downloadable zip file. A bit more mellow than the January mix, I would say. Hopefully, you can find some new and/or worthwhile tunes to choose from.

Just left-click [here].

(Last I checked, January's mix was still available [here].)

TRACKLIST >>>

1) The Indelicates/We Hate the Kids
2) Mighty Six Ninety/Have You Ever Asked Yourself
3) Love is All/Felt Tip
4) Starlight Mints/Inside of Me
5) The Pipettes/Your Kisses Are Wasted on Me
6) Ted Leo & the Pharmacists/Under the Hedge
7) Anna Ternheim/To Be Gone
8) Unbunny/Nightwalking
9) Sibylle Baier/Tonight
10) Band of Horses/The Funeral
11) The Concretes/Chosen One
12) Matt Mays & El Torpedo/Cocaine Cowgirl
13) Neko Case/Hold On, Hold On
14) Calexico/Cruel
15) James Blunt/High
16) Chris Mills/You Are My Favorite Song
17) The Stills/Retour a Vega
18) Cat Power & Karen Elson/I Love You (Me Either)
19) She Wants Revenge/Spend the Night
20) Controller.Controller/PF
21) Division Day/Dayenu
22) The Arrogants/Butterflies

LUNA (1992-2004)

[Third installment in our series of broken-up bands.]

Luna was born out of the break-up of Dean Wareham's previous band, Galaxie 500. I can't be sure, but I think I discovered them with the song "California (All the Way)," which remains my favorite Luna tune till this day. I don't know what it is, exactly, about Wareham's voice that I like so much. It has a certain unassuming, "woozy" quality that leaves me halfway between sadness and laughter (actually, a hell of a lot closer to "laughter").

All things considered, the group had a good, 12-year run, though I've heard a lot of Galaxie 500/early Luna fans bitch about the quality of the later albums. Granted, Rendezvous may not have been the strongest of swansongs, but there is ample solid material on each of their records to satisfy this listener.

Dean Wareham, by the way, released an album with second Luna bassist Britta Phillips in 2003 called L'Avventura. Their voices work well together, so I was happy to see that they're currently in the studio recording a follow-up with producer Tony Visconti. Stay tuned.

From the LP Bewitched, 1994 >>>
[MP3] "California (All the Way)"

From the LP Penthouse, 1995 >>>
[MP3] "Double Feature"

From the LP The Days of Our Nights, 1999 >>>
[MP3] "Superfreaky Memories"

From the LP Romantica, 2002 >>>
[MP3] "Mermaid Eyes"

From the LP Rendezvous, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "Astronaut"

DIVISION DAY

[I actually completed this entry nearly two weeks ago, but every time I go to post it, somebody scoops me. First, there was The Perm and the Skullet [here]. Then, there was Rock Insider [here]. But so be it. The time is nigh to hitch my wagon to this... um... bandwagon.]

Well, I'm far from the first blog to talk about the L.A.-based quartet Division Day, and I'm sure that I won't be the last. These guys were kind enough to send me a copy of their last EP, The Mean Way In, as well as an advance copy of their upcoming full-length CD Beartrap Island. They have a full eight songs currently available for download on their website, one of which you will also find below.

Describing Division Day's sound is no easy task. Listening to their songs, I found myself jotting down impressions such as: "early Flaming Lips," "Spoon," "Radiohead: Kid A," "Alan Parsons Project"[!!!], "playful-alternating-with-moody art-rock," "slightly unhinged lullaby" [re: "Hand to the Sound"], "understated majesty" [re: "Colorguard"], even "slight nods to '80s new wave." Then I remembered that the band had recorded at John Vanderslice's studio in San Francisco. That locked it in for me, because they definitely share that man's penchant for off-kilter instrumentation, arrangements, and mood.

Thus far, Division Day have primarily toured the West Coast (playing shows with the likes of Xiu Xiu, the Velvet Teen, and Cass McCombs). They're hoping to branch out further in U.S. this coming summer. In the meantime, Beartrap Island will be released in March. Here are my two favorite tracks from it...

[MP3] "Colorguard"

[MP3] "Dayenu" [REMOVED AT ARTISTS' REQUEST]

THE PASSION OF THE KILT

(MORE) ASSORTED BASTARDS & B-SIDES

[Speaking of bastards... today's picture is apropos of nothing other than the fact that Braveheart is my least favorite Best Picture winner of the past 12 years. (And that's saying something, as I didn't like Million Dollar Baby (2004), Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), Chicago (2002), or A Beautiful Mind (2001), either). (Lest you get the idea that I hate EVERYTHING, let me point to the Academy's sterling run from 1991-1993: The Silence of the Lambs, Unforgiven, and Schindler's List. Ah, now THOSE were the days.). More to the point, though: I can't stand Mel Gibson. His radical Catholicism. His rampant homophobia (see previous). His 107 kids (actually, just 7; but still: see previous). Oh, and let's not forget his Holocaust-denying father. What a lovely klan... er... "clan." (I can still remember thinking back in 1995 that Braveheart was the artistic equivalent of Mel Gibson jerking off in public for three hours. And wouldn't you know it - The Passion of the Christ turned out to be the same exact thing - the only difference being that the bastard did his jacking from BEHIND the camera. But enough already. End of rant.]

[MP3] Franz Ferdinand/"Fabulously Lazy" [from the Do You Want To single]

[MP3] Madonna/"Fighting Spirit" [Confessions on a Dancefloor bonus track]

[MP3] Maximo Park/"Hammer Horror" [from the b-sides/rarities collection Missing Songs]

[MP3] Clap Your Hands Say Yeah/"Cigarettes" [BBC 6 Music Gideon Coe Session] [from the In This Home of Ice single]

ASSORTED BASTARDS & B-SIDES

[MP3] Belle and Sebastian/"Meat and Potatoes" [from the Funny Little Frog single]

[MP3] The New Pornographers/"High Art, Local News" [Twin Cinema bonus track]

[MP3] We Are Scientists/"This Means War" [from The Great Escape single]

[MP3] Hard-Fi/"Seven Nation Army" [White Stripes cover] [from the Cash Machine single]

SAVEFILE FRIDAY: INSERT 'GAY COWBOY JOKE' HERE

Well, Sunday night could be a steamrolling sort of situation for Brokeback Mountain. Or, there could be a backlash, and the movie could just go *poof*. So to speak.

I literally haven't seen ANY of the nominated films or performances yet (it's probably been three or four years since I stepped foot in a theater; this hermit prefers DVD in his thoroughly bubble-wrapped and bird flu-proof survival shelter). Still, I'll tune it to watch Jon Stewart and to see if Robert Altman tells the Academy to go screw itself.

[Today's tunes are of the SaveFile variety, so just left-click here, then again on the next screen, and then right-click/"save as" on the screen after that. Not too terribly tough.]

[MP3] Sparks/"Ride 'Em Cowboy"

[MP3] Lambchop/"Cowboy on the Moon"

[MP3] Husky Rescue/"Summertime Cowboy"

[MP3] Fred Eaglesmith/"Rodeo Boy"

[MP3] Paula Cole/"Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?"

THE DELGADOS (1994-2004)

[This is the second installment in our "R.I.P. [fill in band-name here]" series - an effort to celebrate those artists that, sadly, are no longer with us. Of course, they're not literally "dead," generally - just victims of that most nefarious of band-busting bugaboos ... "creative differences." Ah, the humanity.]

I didn't discover the Scottish band the Delgados until 2002, when they released the album Hate. Little did I know that they'd been together eight years by then, or that they'd only have a couple years left to linger. If I'd been compiling Top 10 album lists at the time, I'm sure Hate would have ended up occupying one of the more paramount positions that year. Listening to it today for the first time in a long time, I find it still holds up remarkably well. Some of that no doubt has to do with producer Dave Fridmann (Mercury Rev; The Flaming Lips), who began collaborating with the band on 2000's The Great Eastern.

The Delgados are one of those groups - like Stars and Rilo Kiley - who trade off male/female lead vocals. Perhaps it says something about me that, in all three examples, I prefer the female singer to the male. In the Delgados' case, that means that Emma Pollock gets my vote over Alun Woodward. Thus, all four of the songs I'm offering today feature Ms. Pollock on vox. Sorry, Mr. Woodward.

From the LP Hate, 2002 >>>
[MP3] "Coming in from the Cold"
[MP3] "Woke from Dreaming"

From the LP Universal Audio, 2004 >>>
[MP3] "I Fought the Angels"

From the LP The Great Eastern, 2000 >>>
[MP3] "Make Your Move" [Twin Peaks Mix]

MIGHTY SIX NINETY

I can't remember where I first heard about Mighty Six Ninety, but both Come Pick Me Up and My Old Kentucky Blog have jotted about them this year.

And yes, it's undeniably true that this American five-piece sounds an awful lot like the Smiths (with maybe a bit of New Order stirred into the mix), but I think they're swell, and I think you should think they're swell, too. (Also, they were nice enough to send me an MP3 after I rather rudely requested one through unsolicited e-mail.)

These next few weeks, the band will be playing a handful of shows out West, including the SXSW in Austin on March 18th (5 PM at the Red Fez, reportedly). After that, they'll return to the UK, where their sound has thus far been better received and appreciated than here in the States.

Finally, they will be releasing a single ("Believable") in the UK on March 13th. You can stream it on their MySpace page [here]. You can download the b-side ("Northern Border") [here]. And you can purchase the whole kit 'n' kaboodle [here].

[MP3] "Have You Ever Asked Yourself"

[MP3] "Leave This World"

[MP3] "Keeping You in Mind"