Friday!

I'm on the road for the third Friday in a row.

Bastard Field Trip!

It's the event Joe's been waiting for his entire life: the ABBA Museum is finally OPEN.

And before you laugh, just remember that members of both Elvis Costello & The Attractions and The Sex Pistols have admitted to ripping them off.

Great Moments in Acting Concentration

Yum.  And hey, speaking of ROTLA,  check this out! 

Cool

This weekend, bastards. Prometheus is easily my most anticipated summer movie.

Crazy Pills

Archie Powell and the Exports - as featured on the AV Club today. Mmmm...Power Pop... Also, I'm going to see Heartless Bastards tonight. Thought you might like to know.

What Do You Need?

Get More: www.mtvu.com

This is my song for the summer. Is it getting any radio?

Mélanie Laurent

Sorry, couldn't look at the crocheted cooter anymore. Anybody see Beginners? Mélanie Laurent should have won every Oscar that ever was.

She Walks The Night

Our good friend Matthew Sweet has a new album, Modern Art, coming out on September 27th and will evidently tour for the 20th (!) anniversary of Girlfriend, playing the album in its entirety as so many touring bands seem to be doing these days. I don't see a lot of dates on his site yet, but we'll keep an eye out. Listen to the delicious first single, She Walks The Night, and read more here.

That is all.

The Thermals

Heard this on Satellite radio while traveling around Louisiana. Very catchy. Album's not out yet, but the mp3 is available here.

Teenage Fanclub

Hey, do any of you bastards remember Teenage Fanclub? No? Well, that's probably because their last album, "Man-Made," came out in 2005. Personally, I haven't heard anything since "Thirteen," but they've released a new one called "Shadows." Below, find the delightful single "Baby Lee."



Why the accompanying photo of Emily Blunt? Because their discussion board has a Babe of the Day topic. That's why.

Jody Stephens On Sound Opinions

From Sound Opinions:

During this episode Jim and Greg celebrate the legacy of Big Star with a Classic Album Dissection of their first two records, #1 Record and Radio City. Both albums have recently been re-released as a double album, and a new Big Star box set is due out next week. As Jim and Greg discuss, the band changed the history of American music without selling very many records. With a sound that combined Memphis Soul with British Invasion rock, they laid the groundwork for “Power Pop” and influenced bands including R.E.M., Wilco and The Replacements. The original Big Star lineup included former Box Tops singer Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Andy Hummel and Jim and Greg’s guest this week, drummer Jody Stephens.

Give it a listen here.

Cindy Don't Slum

Here's a great song by some obscure band out of N.Carolina via New Orleans.

The Faint Has All Your Groovin' Needs Covered for Tonight

This is one of those songs that can just hum in the background of your life for a week, while you watch the mouths of those around you move and quietly nod agreement. It hooked me enough to get the CD (Fasciinatiion by The Faint). It's got a pretty steady sound. Not a bad distraction from the after-Christmas blahs.

It's got Forward Turbine Power, should you be needing some.

Dear Science

I picked up the new one from TV On The Radio, and I agree with the critics.

It's Career-defining stuff. Dear Science, the third album from the Brooklyn-based art rock band TV on the Radio, is a vivid, angry, sensual soundtrack to the haunted life. No two tracks are the same, none could be anyone else. This is one irresistible party: the joy Adebimpe was looking for is right here. A great, great record. TV on the Radio have finally made an album that someone other than hyper-analytical music critics might actually enjoy. Dear Science, has all the euphoria and cosmic soul searching hinted at but not delivered on by lesser chancers such as MGMT. Yes, this is shit-hot thrilling music. But it's also brainy and ambivalent, and more engaging for it.

But seriously, if you're one oF Those People who like this kind of stuff, you'll like this. But that goes without saying, doesn't it?

Also, the 'Mats "Pleased to Meet Me" reissue is out there as well.

Sweet!

Michael Sweet, friend of bastardos everywhere, is coming out with a new album, Sunshine Lies. Aquarium Drunkard is toasting it as the follow-up to In Reverse. Personally, the Thorns was a disappointment to me, and the covers album with Susanna Hoffs (Hotts!) was fun, but it was no Girlfriend. A couple of streaming cuts here have my mouth watering.

Everywhere at Once

Remember that '80s movie, Valley Girl, that looked ridiculous, but was actually pretty good and had a great soundtrack? Remember the scene when they were in a bar and there was a band playing? Well that band was the Plimsouls, and they released a couple of blissfully Rickenbacker fueled power pop albums. I have this one on vinyl, because, you know, I used to be cool. If you go to that special place, you will Find The Plimsouls' 'Everywhere at Once.' Because I know you're jonesin' for the old schtuff.

Side note, Peter Case is still on the road, and will be in the Carolina contingent's neck of the woods here soon.

Speaking of Great Music, Part Doo

This, from Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, is splendid. They've got an album coming out sometime here soon. Were anyone lucky enough to live in Memphis, TN, they could go see them at the Hi Tone on April 29.

Here Ya' Go, Lurker

Egregious...yet satisfying.

Thanks A Lot, Dave

I've had Cheap Trick's "Hot Love" stuck in my head for the last four days. What's not to like, though? Propelled by one of the most unappreciated drummers in rock history, the song comes blasting out of the gate with a sweet-ass riff, followed closely by a catchy-as-hell melody. And that bridge! Absolutely brilliant breakdown, complete with what Kram and I used to call "guitar noodlies."

I think the clincher for me though is the low E that Tom Peterssen drops to in the pre-chorus. (They tease you with it the first go-round, heading back into the verse instead ...) All delivered in a brisk two minutes and 30 seconds, which as we all know, is how long a powerpop tune should be. (That's in the Bible, I think.)

Man.

Okay, name your favorite Cheap Trick song or songs. I know you got 'em. I'm leaning towards "Hot Love" today.

Speaking of Catchy and P.O.M.s

Am I the only one who jumped up and down about this album?