CUPERTINO, California [October 23, 2001] Apple today introduced iPod, a breakthrough MP3 music player that packs up to 1,000 CD-quality songs into an ultra-portable, 6.5 ounce design that fits in your pocket. iPod combines a major advance in portable music device design with Apple’s legendary ease of use and Auto-Sync, which automatically downloads all your iTunes songs and playlists into your iPod, and keeps them up to date whenever you plug your iPod into your Mac.

“With iPod, Apple has invented a whole new category of digital music player that lets you put your entire music collection in your pocket and listen to it wherever you go,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “With iPod, listening to music will never be the same again.”
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Also, the first commercial Compact Disc was released the same month I was born. Billy Joel’s “52nd Street” was released October 1st, 1982 in Japan. Some people share their birthdays with world leaders and athletes. I share mine with audio media. Next year it falls on a Tuesday which means a bunch of good albums will come out that day. At their current pace, I predict the next Decemberists album or perhaps something new from Belle & Sebastian.

I’m extremely bummed that Feist dropped off the ACL lineup. Her January show at Webster Hall was one of the best shows I’ve seen all year and hands down the best show I’ve ever seen at Webster. She’s been replaced by The Dears who put on an awesome show at Bowery Ballroom this past Tuesday. I had gone mainly to see the Grates, but I completely forgot how amazing The Dears songs can be. I’d only ever seen them at outdoor festivals and remember being unimpressed, but Bowery is a magical place. Large, orchestral pop bands like The Dears, Stars and Sufjan Stevens should not be allowed to play outdoors.

It’s a good thing I’m getting out of the Big Apple. If I were staying in New York this weekend I would drive myself crazy trying to figure out what shows to go to. For you folks who are sticking around, here are some picks for this weekend.

Thursday the 14th
Annuals, Takka Takka [Sin-e]
M. Ward, Oakley Hall [Webster]

Friday the 15th
Margot and the Nuclear So & So’s [Knitting Factory]
Annuals, The Diggs [NorthSix]
Man Man [Maxwells]
Zero 7, Jose Gonzales [Webster Hall]

Saturday the 16th
Professor Murder, Love As Laughter [East River Music Project]
Saxon Shore [NorthSix]
Man Man [Spiegeltent]
Zero 7, Jose Gonzales [Webster Hall]
Mugs [Magnetic Field]
Margot and The Nuclear So & So’s, Slowlands [Union Hall]

Sunday the 17th
Tortoise [Bowery Ballroom]
Yanks clinch the division by beating the Red Sox in their last meeting of the year [Prediction] update: or not

Have a good weekend. I won’t be recording the show because my minidisc sucks outdoors, but when I get back I’ll be posting some Casey Dienel tracks and possibly some of The Dears from Bowery.

I’m excited about the new album by The Album Leaf. In fact, I loved “In A Safe Place” so much that I’m going out on a limb and ordering this one without having downloaded it first. Sub Pop has the vinyl for $10 and the plastic for $12 (there’s also a $2 coupon that expires very soon). It’s hard to remember the last time I dropped the needle or employed the laser beam in order to discover a fresh piece of music. You can listen to an mp3 from “Into The Blue Again” here (I didn’t) and read a very brief review here (I may have glanced at it). The Album Leaf are playing the Sub Pop showcase at Bowery Ballroom on November 2nd and NorthSix on November 6th. (thanks Chris)

Last night I had a nightmare. They shut down the L train. Again. During CMJ!!! AHH!!!

I’ve always considered Villa Elaine (1998) by Remy Zero to be a grossly underrated album. Until 2004 they were best known for composing the theme to “Smallville”, but people started to notice their awesome second album (the first was self-titled) when Zach Braff put “Fair” on the Garden State soundtrack. Now Remy’s brief radio hit “Prophesy” is included on the soundtrack for “The Last Kiss” which makes me happy for the band but sad to share the song with the masses. I love throwing that song onto a mix and waiting for the inevitable “wait… I think… yeah, I’ve heard… hold on… who is this?”. The band played for the first time in three years on Indie 103.1 and Rewriteable Content has mp3s from the acoustic set. I’d post the album version, but you’ll probably be sick of it soon enough. (thanks m)

To combat “that guy”, every band should have a song of their own that is alternatively titled “Freebird”.

Penultimately, I want to encourage everyone to check out the inaugural concert in the Wordless Music Series on Monday September 18th featuring Glenn Kotche and Nels Cline of Wilco along with pianist Jenny Lin and electronic composer Elliot Sharp. There will be interesting pairings of and collaborations between the performers throughout the night. More details here.

And finally, at the risk of finding it on the next great indie-tastic soundtrack, here is my favorite track from Villa Elaine: Remy Zero – Gramarye.mp3

Hope you enjoyed my random ramblings. I promise not to speak up too often. And to post things when I say I will. And to stop making promises.

No free internet in Vegas meant a lot of reading to catch up on tonight. You people (a.k.a. my blogroll) sure didn’t let my absence slow down the New York music scene. Bloc Party, Of Montreal, Cold War Kids, beer line fiascos, Editors acoustic… And to think that some people left the Big Apple for some festival in Chicago.

We stayed at Caesar’s Palace which is home to Celine Dion’s show. Unfortunately for you, I left my minidisc in Brooklyn. Kevin Federline also made an appearance on Saturday but I somehow managed to miss that. I hope you’ll accept my apologies and enjoy some Jens Lekman mp3s instead.

Jens Lekman – Postcard To Nina (Bowery Ballroom)
Jens Lekman – Maple Leaves (completely acoustic encore – Bowery Ballroom)

More Jens (from both the Mercury and Bowery shows) to come.

For those of you who have recently discovered the site, I moderate comments about once or twice a day and once you have an approved comment, your subsequent comments will post immediately. I only enjoy spam when it is the focus of a Monty Python sketch. (and I just learned that the sketch spawned the internet term)

2005 Musical Year In Review

Album Tourney (starting bracket)
Final Tournament Results
The album tourney compiles my 65 favorite albums from 2005.
Seeds were based loosely on critical acclaim.
Winners were determined simply by which album I would rather listen to.

Best of 2005 Mix 1 Indie Rock and Electronic
Best of 2005 Mix 2 Indie-Pop/Indie-Folk/Indie-Other
Each mix contains MP3s and a .doc of trivial information about each band/song.