‘And now I was in Illinois, and it was flat, and full of corn, and boring.’ So wrote Bill Bryson in ‘The Lost Continent’, in which the author recorded his thoughts driving 14,000 miles around the U.S. That’s pretty much all Bill has to say about Illinois, though he does say it twice. On the face of it, the new Sufjan Stevens album is a hard sell. A singer songwriter you say? So it’s about Illinois? Okay, so it’s got references to historical figures and events? I see. A concept album. With biblical allusions? Mm-hmm. Oh he’s Episcopalian? Right, right. Here, let me see that song title. ‘A Conjunction of Drones Simulating the Way in Which Sufjan Stevens Has an Existential Crisis in the Great Godfrey Maze’. And it’s nineteen seconds long? Uh-huh…

This really sounds like the kind of idea that should never have gotten off the ground, burdened by a mass of scholarly ambition. By the time you’re halfway through the journey though, the whole enterprise seems natural and fancy-free. Check out the start of ‘Come On! Feel the Illinoise!’ - the fairground cheer of glockenspiel, piano and brass, and the pithy excuse of the underachiever, ‘Oh great intentions, I’ve got the best of interventions’. Amen, brother. At first the song appears to punctuate with what is essentially that trumpet bit from The Cure’s ‘Close To Me’, but then segues into a fuzzy keyboard solo before drifting feather-like to rest with a second song pulled to and fro by guitar plucks, piano, trumpet, tambourine, and understated strings. These instruments combine with some laid-back banjo on a pleasurable aimless stroll along the pavement in ‘Jacksonville’. A staggering, wayward guitar gives a nice skew to Stevens’ tidy arrangement. (The same idea works well near the close of ‘Man of Metropolis…’, the guitar on overdrive lending the tailored choir a slight edge, mussing its hair, deftly undoing a top button.)

From ‘Jacksonville’, we swing by ‘Decatur’, a deceptively simple (see below), pretty song with a banjo and accordion giving a fresh outdoorsy feel. Then it’s onto ‘Chicago’ and the mad city rush of big drums, a frantic guitar riff and swirling violins. These cut back to a jabby keyboard and Stevens’ whispering voice, tense, like Nick Drake wondering what will happen when the world gets so crowded you can’t look out the window. ‘I made a lot of mistakes’, he admits, before a sweet melee of harmonies gathers the momentum into a trumpet solo encircled by swishing cymbals, perhaps placing Stevens back on Clark St. at some time in his youth, at the Metro or in the Alley or hanging out with the crazy kids at Belmont. The second half of ‘Illinois’ is a little uneven, considering the vitality of the first. ‘Prarie Fire…’ wanders about and ‘They Are Night Zombies’ lacks zest despite its funky intro and skipping-rope rhyme. The mood picks up after the dark ‘The Seer’s Tower’, though. ‘The Tallest Man’ has a cheerleader chorus worth shouting about, and the album closes with a wondrous, otherworldly instrumental in ‘Out of Egypt…’, which pulses and radiates like a sonic Aurora Borealis.

What injects ‘Illinois’ with so much immediacy is Stevens’ gift for bittersweet melody, one that could mark him out as a McCartney or a Murdoch. Witness this on ‘Casimir Pulaski Day’, a warm and quiet song, sparse and subtle, with the delicacy of a Vermeer: ‘through the window shade, when the light pressed up against your shoulder blade’, all making for a touching fireside or bedsit moment. It’s the kind of tune that fits on a Wes Anderson movie, at one of the low points amidst all the malarkey. Actually, I’m surprised that one of the movie soundtracks hasn’t featured Stevens already, all those hummable strummable tunes, Christmas bells and handclaps. Anderson’s movies have moved from Texas (twice) to New York and then out to the Atlantic. Stevens intends to make an album for each American state, Illinois following on from Michigan. It may only be a matter of time before the two collide. Even the album cover has the handmade look of the fixed camera shots used to
introduce the cast of ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’, the frame overstuffed with character, a peculiar drawing of the Sears and John Hancock towers, spaceships and Superman, Al Capone and the billy goat whose curse still keeps the Cubs from the World Series. The pullout has an exhaustive list of the instruments Stevens himself plays on this disc, practically everything from accordion to Wurlitzer, many items rented or borrowed. On the reverse is more artwork of several other stars of ‘Illinois’, including Stevens himself, in his brother’s red cap, playing Daniel’s or Matt’s banjo, clearly way out of tune.

You cannot be but astonished at the workrate of the man. All arrangements are said to be ‘painstakingly composed’ by Stevens. You’d better believe it. He then recorded and produced the lot. You can detect the influence of Carl Sandburg’s poems, the paeans to Mid Western industry and earthiness, neatly mirroring Stevens’ own intense productivity. He must relish working within the limitations of devoting a whole album to a single state. (This is, after all, the guy who based an electronic instrumental album on the twelve signs of the Chinese Zodiac.) Apparently four songs were written about Abraham Lincoln, but weren’t included as they didn’t fit in. The songs that do make it are loaded with detail, nudges and winks to Illinois history and geography. In its three minutes and four short verses, ‘Decatur’ squeezes references to at least half a dozen stories about the town that you can find if you look hard enough. And if you aren’t bothered, well, it’s still great tune you can whistle to. ‘Illinois’ begins and ends with the creak of a piano at the dead of night. It carries the trauma of the Black Hawk war, a clown serial killer and seven wasp stings, but its seventy-four minutes zip by with breezy ease. And, as with most vacations, there is architecture and wine and restaurants to have your fill, not to mention the world’s first Ferris Wheel. Pack your bag! TK

Rating: 8/10

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: Sufjan Stevens

25 FREE Downloads. eMusic for your iPod® or any MP3 player

In the end the Smashing Pumpkins never quite eclipsed their contemporaries from Seattle who decided it was better to burn out than fade away. While Nirvana self-destructed, the Smashing Pumpkins decided to ride rough shot over tragedy and farce. Their body of work is a polygraph of highs and lows but when the dust settles there's no escaping the fact that in Siamese Dream they have a bona fide classic. 'Siamese Dream' released in early 1993 is a thing of beauty. Behind the immense wallowing guitar breaks and vocal outpourings lies a deepintelligence immaculately tuned into the mechanics of how good music should sound. It doesn't matter if your beer is classical, opera, western, dance or indie those who appreciate good music will know how important 'Siamese Dream' is. Butch Vig (a garbage man but nevermind) must be credited with helping Corgan on production; the sound quality is crisp as if the band were playing in your head.

Although 'Cherub Rock' was the lead promo from this album it hardly had the focused beauty of other tracks like 'Today' or 'Disarm'. Listening to it took effort; there are many parts at work with little or no obvious sweet core. That said, the breathtaking power that bubbles like adrenaline through your body is hard to quell once the contours of the tune become familiar. The guitar strokes are like gilded pillars pumped full of that special ingredient that makes concrete shimmer like an autumnal lake. Billy Corgan directs his own private orchestra through electrified angst put to words. The dramatic unevenness is further pushed during a rousing 'Quiet'. At several points the vocalist melts into the guitar ambles with such successthat he almost becomes an extra chord. Speaking of alien strings, 'Hummer' employs a badly tuned New Delhi radio station to announce the freshest of fender solo's. The song has a lazy disposition rather like a talented footballer who decides that today is his day to take it easy. Funnily enough the melody is laid on thick, enough to have a nest of bees reach for your earphones. When Darcy takes the reins the swagger becomes intoxicating, a 2-part masterpiece preparing to take your world by storm. 'Today' is the sound of a genre that shook the music industry to its foundations. While a mid twenties menopause was the basis for the momentum of this album 'Today' was its antithesis. Such is its majesty; the well-greased momentum where everything just fits and those heaving guitars surely feel like they've reached a career best. The rainbow spectrum of a Willy Wonka style video helped enshrine the beauty of it all.

'Siamese Dream' sits easily under the grunge flag so it is refreshing tohave tracks like 'Space Boy' to let you take a breather. There are even some orchestral parts in the mix that boost the timid strumming and Corgan's straight from the heart delivery. 'Disarm' is equally off the beaten track, an emotional foray with huge bell tolls and a string section pouring genuine grief over the heartfelt lyrics. If you ever doubt the power of music then let 'Disarm's 3 minutes bring you back to reality. Elsewhere the dam just about holds the river of rushing guitars. 'Soma' is about as quiet as things get, but as you might expect the celestial loneliness it evokes is finally shattered as the cavalcade of noise restores the decibel level. With such ubiquitous guitar carnage you'd have thought that overload was inevitable. It is remarkable then that tunes like 'Geek U.S.A.' with sonic distractions to rival any international airstrip can sound so harmonious. The noise, you see, is truly innovative and remarkably considered. There are more hooks pervading in these grooves than you'd find at the coat lovers association seminar in Antarctica.

Billy Corgan's voice is a misnomer. It often sounds like he records his lyrics while peering into a wide glass. It has a brittle edge but you know those tonsils are at the ready to deliver a stirring performance. Witness 'Rocket' where his whisper becomes a scream in that unique style of his while the guitars and Jimmy Chamberlain's drumming beautifully paint the landscape. He can also control his natural persuasion to lift the lid on his frustration. With a song as ridiculously titled as 'Mayonaise' you wouldn't expect to pick up a near fatal case of the goosebumps but as Corgan seers effortlessly (something magical begins to happen. Towards the end the restraint gets the better of the band and suddenly millions of tonnes of molten lava in the form of bleeding chords, thundering percussion and some scathing bellowing takes what is left of your rapidly decaying nerves. If that wasn't enough the final twist has 'Sweet Sweet' and 'Luna' repairing all the damage. Fragile lullaby's that expose so much about the scope of this album. From despair to where? Well the Smashing Pumpkins do care that the journey is an adventure but what matters most is that everyone is tucked up in bed dreaming at the end. The fact that the band have bitten their nails to the bone hardly matters. Criticism of perfection is petty so I won't go there. 'Siamese Dream' is a seamless vision borne out of some of the most agonised recording sessions ever. While his band mates were happy to call time Billy Corgan toiled until audio bliss poured from the master tape. And his pain surely was our gain as one of the nineties seminal albums matures with age like a fine malt. If you haven't stepped over the edge yet strap yourself in and enjoy the ride. KD

Rating: 9/10

More Info: Official & Myspace
Buy Songs: The Smashing Pumpkins

25 FREE Downloads. eMusic for your iPod® or any MP3 player

Top 100 Albums as voted by readers of indiecater (January 2005)

1. My Bloody Valentine - Loveless (1991)

2. The Beatles – Revolver (1966)

3. Radiohead - The Bends (1995)

4. The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967)

5. The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead (1986)

6. The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses (1989)

7. Belle & Sebastian - If You're Feeling Sinister (1996)

8. Mercury Rev - Deserters Songs (1998)

9. Radiohead - Ok Computer (1997)

10. Bell X1 - Music In Mouth (2004)

11. The Frank & Walters - Trains, Boats & Planes (1993)

12. Bjork - Debut (1993)

13. Damien Rice - O (2003)

14. The Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream (1993)

15. Spiritualized - Lazer Guided Melodies (1992)

16. Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979)

17. DJ Shadow - Endtroducing (1996)

18. James - Seven (1992)

19. Primal Scream - Screamadelica (1991)

20. The Boo Radleys - Giant Steps (1993)

21. Explosions In The Sky - The Earth Is A Cold Dead Place (2003)

22. The Charlatans - Some Friendly (1990)

23. Teenage Fanclub - Grand Prix (1995)

24. Pavement - Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain (1994)

25. The Strokes - Is This It? (2001)

26. Sigur Ros - Agaetis Byrjun (2001)

27. The Delgados - The Great Eastern (2000)

28. Ride - Nowhere (1990)

29. In Motion - The Language Of Everyday Life (1994)

30. The Brilliant Trees - Friday Night (1996)

31. The Wedding Present - George Best (1989)

32. Doves - The Last Broadcast (2002)

33. The Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)

34. Chapterhouse - Whirlpool (1991)

35. The Jesus & Mary Chain - Darklands (1987)

36. U2 - Achtung Baby (1991)

37. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs (1985)

38. Whipping Boy - Heartworm (1995)

39. And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Source Tags & Codes (2002)

40. Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

41. Grandaddy - The Sophtware Slump (2000)

42. Stereolab - Refried Ectoplasm - Switched On Volume 2 (1995)

43. Mogwai - Ten Rapid (1997)

44. Underworld - Dubnobasswithmyheadman (1993)

45. Blur - Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993)

46. Elbow - Asleep In The Back (2001)

47. Doves - Lost Souls (2000)

48. Belle & Sebastian - Tigermilk (1996)

49. The Wrens - The Meadowlands (2003)

50. The La's - The La's (1990)

51. U2 - Boy (1980)

52. Sigur Ros - ( ) (2002)

53. Ride - Going Blank Again (1992)

54. Bawl - Year Zero (1996)

55. The House Of Love - The House Of Love (1990)

56. The Wedding Present - Seamonsters (1991)

57. Teenage Fanclub - Bandwagonesque (1991)

58. Whipping Boy - Submarine (1992)

59. Do Make Say Think - Winter Hymn, Country Hymn, Secret Hymn (2003)

60. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds (1966)

61. Verve - A Storm In Heaven (1993)

62. The House Of Love - Babe Rainbow (1992)

63. Gomez - Bring It On (1998)

64. David Bowie - Hunky Dory (1971)

65. Deus - Worst Case Scenario (1994)

66. Joy Division - Closer (1980)

67. Blur - Parklife (1994)

68. The Smiths - Hatful Of Hollow (1984)

69. David Kitt - The Big Romance (2001)

70. The Killers - Hot Fuss (2004)

71. Placebo - Placebo (1996)

72. Alfie - If You Happy With You Need Do Nothing (2001)

73. The Inspiral Carpets - The Beast Inside (1991)

74. The Dandy Warhols - Thirteen Tales Of Urban Bohemia (2000)

75. The Frames - For The Birds (2001)

76. Manitoba - Up In Flames (2003)

77. The Sundays - Reading, Writing & Aritimetic (1989)

78. Sunbear - Sunbear (1994)

79. The Kings Of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak (2004)

80. Badly Drawn Boy - The Year Of Bewilderbeast (2000)

81. January - I Heard Myself In You (2001)

82. Idlewild - 100 Broken Windows (2000)

83. Morrissey - Vauxhall & I (1994)

84. Tori Amos - Boys For Pele (1996)

85. REM - Automatic For The People (1992)

86. Moby - Everything Is Wrong (1995)

87. Mark Geary - Ghosts (2004)

88. The Frames - Fitzcarraldo (1996)

89. The Happy Mondays - Pills, Thrills & Bellyaches (1990)

90. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West (1997)

91. The Band - The Band (1969)

92. Slowdive - Souvlaki (1993)

93. The Libertines - Up The Bracket (2002)

94. The Pixies - Dolittle (1989)

95. Pavement - Slanted & Enchanted (1992)

96. The Verve - Urban Hyms (1997)

97. Nirvana - Unplugged In New York (1994)

98. Weezer - The Blue Album (1994)

99. Van Morrisson - Astral Weeks (1968)

100. Oasis - Definitely Maybe (1994)


25 FREE Downloads. eMusic for your iPod® or any MP3 player

30/06/2006

Architecture In Helsinki - Maybe You Can Owe Me
Black Lipstick - Bob Fosse
Ctrlaltdelete - each of these innocents on the street is engulfed by a terror of their own ordinariness
Fields - Charming The Flames
Flosstradamus - Overnight Star
Ghosts Of Pasha - This Is E Boozler
Lady Sovereign vs The Ordinary Boys - Nine2five4
Loney, Dear - The City, The Airport
Lorna - Understanding Heavy Metal
Los Campesinos! - You Me Dancing
Mazarin - Another One Goes By
Mclusky - Alan Is A Cowboy Killer
Nina Hynes - This Magic Stuff
Numbers - Beast Life
Rotary Ten - Advancing
Sebadoh - The Freed Pig
Times New Viking - We Got Rocket


23/06/2006

Au Revoir Simone - Hurricanes
Dry County - Lost Now
Fluke - Groovy Feeling
JJ72 - Formulae
Nine Black Alps - Shot Down
Owen - (No) Places To Go
Page France - Chariot
Pela - Lost to the Lonesome
Pele - Crisis Wins
Radiohead - Permanent Daylight
Ron Sexsmith - Not About To Lose
The Apples in stereo - The Benefits of Lying With Your Friends
The Demos - When I Look In The Mirror
The Go! Team - Junior Kickstart
The Like Young - Sharp Or Messi
The Redneck Manifesto - I Am Brazil
The Spinto Band - Japan Is An Island





16/06/2006

Anonym - Derelict
Belong - October Language
Darker My Love - Fall
El Diablo - My Wild Rose
Favourite Sons - Hang On, Girl
Galaxie 500 - Fourth Of July
Ian Love - Butterfly
Lotus Eaters - The First Picture Of You
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side
Sonic Youth - Incinerate
Steel Train - Better Love
The Eighteenth Day Of May - Hide And Seek
The Fiery Furnaces - 1917
The Lightshines - Polythene & Plastic
The Like - June Gloom
The Rags - Model Citizen
The Slip - Children Of December
Vib Gyor - Red Lights





09/06/2006

Anonym - The Good Dr
Colossal Yes - Just Like A Mademoiselle
Ham Sandwich - St Christopher
Ivy - Edge Of The Ocean
Lavender Diamond - You Broke My Heart
Rainer Maria - Burn
Sneaker Pimps - Spin Spin Sugar
Sonic Youth - Pink Stream
Sultans Of Ping FC - Give Him A Ball (And A Yard Of Grass)
The Flaming Stars - Ten Feet Tall
The Frauds - The Church Of Seduction
The Orb - Little Fluffy Clouds
The Waiting Room - Another Take
Tunng - Woodcat
We Yes You No - Hello Square One
ctrlaltdelete- Each Of These





02/06/2006

A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
Animal Collective - Banshee Beat
Antietam - New Parade
Dodgy - So Let Me Go Far
Eskimohunter - Walking Tour Of Space
Ham Sandwich - St Christopher
Iowa Super Soccer - Morning
Juana Molina - No Seas Antipatica
The Boo Radleys - Lazarus [Twelve-inch Version]
The Drop Nineteens - Winona
The Land Of Nod - Reality Channel
The Late Cord - Lila Blue
The Monkees - Sometime In The Morning
The Waiting Room - Denis
Verve - Star Sail





26/05/2006

Bang Gang - It's Alright
Busdriver - Avantcore
Cane 141 - Foxy Trot
Clearlake - Don't Let The Cold In
Director - Reconnect
Eskimohunter - Walking Tour Of Space
Glenwash - Uptown Outpost
I'm From Barcelona - Barcelona Loves You
Komakino - Say Something
Lorna - Understanding Heavy Metal Parts I & II
Stars Of The City - 128
The Caribbean - Siamese Sons
The Land Of Nod - Ice Station Nod
The Morning Benders - Grain Of Salt
The Second Band - Accordion And Guitar
The Strokes - Hard To Explain
Winterpills - Laughing





19/05/2006

Alan Parsons Project - Dont Answer Me
Alpinestars - Cresta La Wave
Buffalo - Tom Summer
Chrash - All Roads
Flying Saucer Attack - She Is The Daylight
Havana Guns - She Always Goes Down
Lush - For Love
Pela - The Trouble With River Cities
Regular Fries - Dream Lottery
The Boo Radleys - Sunfly
The Great Lake Swimmers - Let's Trade Skins
The Late Cord - Lila Blue
The Legends - He Knows The Sun
Tralala - Fired Up
ingenting - Slapp In Solen





12/05/2006

Air - Ce Matin La
Camera Obscura - Lloyd, I'm Ready To Be Heartbroken
Cold War Kids - Hang Me Up To Dry
Director - Reconnect
Erin McKeown - 28
Gamba - Zimone
Grandaddy - Summer...It's Gone
Hockey Night - Who We Are
Isolee - My Hi-Matic
Low - Broadway (So Many People)
Port O'Brien - Five And Dime
Rocketship - I Love You Like The Way I Used To
Stars Of Track And Field - With You
The Beta Band - Dry The Rain
Think About Life - Paul Cries
Tripping Daisy - Sonic Bloom
[Ingenting] - En Battre Dag





05/05/2006

B Fleischmann - Broken Monitors
Beirut - Mount Wroclai
Calla - It Dawned On Me
Citizens Here And Abroad - Appearances4
Gamba - Zimone
Hopewell - Synthetic Symphony
Komakino - Say Something
Midlake - Kingfish Pies
Primal Scream - Sonic Sister Love
Ral Partha Vogelbacher - Birthday In Beijing
The Divine Comedy - Tonight We Fly
The Minor Canon - False Start
The Situationists - Under The Pavement
qr5 - Revisited Gone





28/04/2006

66e - One Cast One Catch
Alex Kid - It Was Built of a Bright Brick Throughout
Alfie - Bookends
Bentley Rhythm Ace - Bentley's Gonna Sort You Out
Luna - California (All The Way)
Mojave 3 - Truck Driving Man
Pagoda - Tear Down The Tents
Plan B - Sick 2 Def
Pugwash - It's Nice To Be Nice
Robin Foster - Disco Ouessant
Silent Partner - Stop to Think
Smudge - Superhero
Sound Team - Movie Monster
Transit Cop - I Dont Want To Fade Away
annemarie - Apple





21/04/2006

American Analog Set - On My Way
Charlemagne - Your Scars
Depeche Mode - Dreaming Of Me
Devics - Lie To Me
Elfi - All By Myself
Good Shoes - Small Town Girl
Jody Wildgoose - Afterlife
Placebo - Bionic
Precious Fathers - Snowshoes
Secret Machines - Alone, Jealous And Stoned
Spirit - My Friend
The Immediate - A Ghost In This House
The Little Ones - Cha Cha Cha
The Star Department - Embers
The Sundays - Can't Be Sure
Urusei Yatsura - Amber





14/04/2006

Camera Obscura - Keep It Clean
Eggman - Not Bad Enough
Glenwash - Bring It On
Luggage - Show Me Around
Matt Pond - Snow Day
PAS_CAL - Poor Maude
Pugwash - Apples
Sufjan Stevens - Adlai Stevenson
The Braves - Our Fathers
The Invisible Clock Factory - The Quantum Particles Song
The Layaways - The Long Night
The Little Ones - Cha Cha Cha
The Pigeon Detectives - dontknowhowtosaygoodbye
The Pushtwangers - Boyfriend
The Waiting Room - Denis
Wingdings - Its-ok





07/04/2006

Band Of Horses - The Great Salt Lake
Bill Baird - My Woman Hates My Guts
Built To Spill - Liar
Cass McCombs - Your Mother And Father
Devics - Song For A Sleeping Girl
Eiffel Tower - Broken Facade
Hole - Miss World
Lost On Purpose - London
Panda Kopanda - If Only I Could Make You Happy
Placebo - Drag
Sea Wolf - Middle Distance Runner
Stereolab - Kyberneticka Babicka Pt. 1
Tapes n Tapes - Manitoba
The Cure - Pictures Of You
The Jennifers - Just Got Back Today
The Organ - Brother
The Parson Red Heads - I'm Always at Hand
We Will Build - Rain And Sun





31/03/2006

Broadcast - Corporeal
Cosmic Rough Riders - Sometimes
Delorentos - Leave It On
Gomez - See The World
Levy - Rotten Love
M Ward - Hi-Fi
Red Star Belgrade - Quiet and Terrified
Sound Team - Your Eyes Are Liars
Soundpool - Walking On Air
The Diggs - Trouble Everyday
The Real People - Window Pane
The Second Band - Accordion & Guitar
Viola - I Dont Know How To Party





24/03/2006

Au Revoir Simone - Hurricanes
BMX Bandits - Little Hands
Celestial - The Boy Who Never Says Goodbye
Delorentos - Solitude
Electric Soft Parade - Silent To The Dark II
Flotation Toy Warning - Happy 13
Islands - Where There's a Will There's a Whalebone
Jaga Jazzist - Going Down
Kim Carnes - Bette Davis Eyes
Mojave 3 - Big Star Baby (Demo)
Sound Team - In the Dark No One Can Hear You Sweat
Swervedriver - Duel
The American Analog Set - The Green Green Grass
The Frames - Finally
The Glee Club - No Reason
Tindersticks - Marbles





17/03/2006

18 Wheeler - Suncrush
65 Days Of Static - One Time For All Time
American Analog Set - Sharp Briar
Cities - Capitol
Cornershop - Sleep On The Left Side
Crumb - Follow Me Home
Emma Pollack - Fortune
Mono - Halcyon
Russian Futurists - A Mind's Dying Verse
Sondre Lerche - Stupid Memory
The Envelopes - Sister In Love (Clor Remix)
The Knife - Forest Families
The Pipettes - Your Kisses Are Wasted On Me
The Robot Ate Me - On Vacation
U2 - Things To Make And Do
Underworld - Rez





10/03/2006

Agent Sparks - Mr. Insecurity
Ambulance LTD - New English
Brendan Benson - Tiny Spark
Drugstore - El President
Giant Drag - This Isn't It
Islands - Don't Call Me Whitney, Bobby
My Latest Novel - Sister Sneaker Sister Soul
My Robot Friend - 23 Minutes In Brussels
Number One Cup - Concordia
Rufus Wainwright - Across the Universe
Stellastarr - Love And Longing
The Boo Radleys - Naomi
The Caribbean - Siamese Sons
The Frank and Walters - This Is Not a Song
The National - Baby, We'll Be Fine
The Wedding Present - Dalliance





03/03/2006

Credit To The Nation - Call It What You Want
Dave Couse & The Impossibles - The World Should Know
Fatboy Slim - Santa Cruz
Film School - Pitfalls
Inspiral Carpets - Directing Traffik
Islands - Swans (Life After Death)
Liars - The Other Side Of Mt. Heart Attack
Lost On Purpose - Thank You Music Guru
Midlake - Roscoe
My Latest Novel - The Repuation of Ross Francis
One Dove - White Love
Sinead O'Connor - The Emperor's New Clothes
The Album Leaf - Over the Pond
The Coral Sea - Yesterday Tomorrow
The Knife - Silent Shout
Track A Tiger - Glad To Be Scattered
U2 - A Sort of Homecoming [Live]





24/02/2006

Adventures in Stereo - Underground Sound
Belle & Sebastian - Act Of The Apostle
Beth Orton - She Cries Your Name
Bloc Party - So Here We Are
Cut Copy - Bright Neon Payphone
David Kitt - Whispers Return the Sun, Rest the Moon
Film School - Harmed
M83 - In The Cold I'm Standing
Mogwai - Emergency Trap
My Latest Novel - Pretty in Panic
Nick Drake - One of These Things First
Oasis - Married With Children
Say Hi To Your Mom - As Smart as Geek is Chic Right Now
The Doors - The End
The Features - The Way It's Meant To Be
The La's - Timeless Melody





17/02/2006

Damien Rice - Older Chests
Delakota - C'Mon Cincinnati
Film School - Eleven Eleven
Idlewild - Annihilate Now!
Kevin Shields - Ikebana
Love Is All - Make Out Fall Out Make Up
My Bloody Valentine - Blown A Wish
My Latest Novel - The Hope Edition
Sondre Lerche - Track You Down
The Advantage - Solar Jetman (Braveheart Level)
The Beta Band - Assessment
The Contrail - Prime Ideals
The Feelies - Higher Ground
The Legends - The Kids Just Wanna Have Fun
The Lodger - You Got Me Wrong
The Paddingtons - Tommy's Disease
The Spinto Band - Brown Boxes





10/02/2006

Afraid of Stairs - Not Today
Alpinestars - Hotel Parallel
Amusement Parks On Fire - Smokescreen
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Details Of The War
Familiar Trees - Nameless
Film School - Breet
Gomez - 78 Stone Wobble
My Latest Novel - Boredom Killed Another
Sambassadeur - Between The Lines
Sound Team - The Fastest Man Alive
Sunbear - Things To Do
The Coral Sea - Descend
The High Violets - Cool Green
The Sounds - Painted By Numbers
Windsor For The Derby - The Melody Of A Fallen Tree





03/02/2006

Adorable - Homeboy
Ambulance LTD - Heavy Lifting
Animal Collective - Feels - Banshee Beat
Arctic Monkeys - The View From The Afternoon
Broken Social Scene - Swimmers
Calla - It Dawned On Me
Giant Drag - Kevin Is Gay
Grandaddy - Everything Beautiful Is Far Away
Michael Knight - Lead Me Down
My Morning Jacket - Mahgeetah
Part Chimp - War Machine
Stereolab - Visionary Road Maps
Talkshow Boy - Ice Police
The Coral Sea - Under The Westway
The Floors - No Excuses





27/01/2006

Andrew Bird - First Song
Broken Social Scene - Handjobs For The Holidays
Budapest - Walking On Water
Built To Spill - Going Against Your Mind
Cud - Oh No Won't Do
Film School - Pitfalls
Hotels - Atlantic
Midlake - Roscoe
Nada Surf - Hyperspace
The Apples In Stereo - She's Just Like You
The Arctic Monkeys - Still Take You Home
The Ataris - Pure Imagination
The Caesars - Sort It Out
The Killers - All These Things That I've Done (Morels Dub)
The Notwist - Pick Up The Phone
The Only Ones - Another Girl Another Planet





20/01/2006

Animal Collective - Turn into Something
Arctic Monkeys - Riot Van
Catchers - Beauty No. 3
Coldplay - Don't Panic
Dead Meadow - At Her Open Door
Havana Guns - She Always Goes Down
Interpol - C'mere
Jaga - Stardust Hotel
Jellyfish - The King Is Half Undressed
Mew - White Lips Kissed
Minotaur Shock - Vigo Bay
On! Air! Library! - Feb.
Sound Team - It's Obvious What's Happening Here
The Arcade Fire - Haiti
The Plague Monkeys - White Feathers
The Unbelievable Truth - Yesterday Never Leaves





13/01/2006

4 Hero - Les Fleur
Broken Social Scene - 7-4 (Shoreline)
Cheyenne - Houses
Eluvium - Everything To Come
Furniture - Brilliant Mind
On! Air! Library! - Faultered Ego
Orbital - Attached
Pompey - I Am A Sack
Scheer - Wish You Were Dead
South Ambulance - Echo 45
The Arcade Fire - Haiti
The Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance
The Brilliant Trees - Don't Believe The Right
The Jesus And Mary Chain - Far Gone And Out
The Magic Numbers - Forever Lost





06/01/2006

And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Mistakes And Regrets
Animal Collective - Banshee Beat
Belle And Sebastian - Act Of The Apostle
Celestial - The Boy Who Never Says Goodbye
Emperor X - Sfearion
Flotation Toy Warning - Donald Pleasance
Fubgangerzone - I Love My Frank And Walters Long Sleeve T-Shirt
On! Air! Library! - Bread
Pale Sunday - The White Tambourine
Salako - Devil's Feet Lullaby
South Ambulance - The Ballad Of Duncan Boyle
The Arcade Fire - Headlights Look Like Diamonds
The Dears - Lost In The Plot
The House Of Love - Feel
Willy Mason - Where The Humans Eat





30/12/2005

Annie - Heartbeat (Alan Braxe Remix)
Babyshambes - Fuck Forever
Doves - Black and White Town
God Is An Astronaut - All Is Violent, All Is Bright
Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro
Kaiser Chiefs - Modern Way
Ladytron - Destroy Everything
Nina Hynes - This Magic Stuff
Page France - Chariot
Teenage Fanclub - Did I Say
The Beatles - Strawberry Acid (White Label Mix)
The Boy Least Likely To - Be Gentle With Me
The Go! Team - Junior Kickstart
The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Jacques Lu Cont's Thin White Duke Remix)
The Stone Roses - I Am the Resurrection
The Strokes - Razorblade





16/12/2005

Belle & Sebastian - I Took Some Time For Christmas
Ben Folds Five - Lonely Christmas Eve
God Is An Astronaut - Fragile
Matthew Jay - Let Your Shoulder Fall
Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
Ryan Adams - Hey Parker It's Christmas
Sarah Mclachlan - Song For A Winters Night
South Ambulance - Hanging In A Tie
Sufjan Stevens - I Saw Three Ships
Teenage Fanclub - Christmas Eve
The Boy Least Likely To - Little Donkey
The Charlatans - White Shirt
The Dandy Warhols - The Little Drummer Boy
The Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
The Smashing Pumpkins - Christmastime
The Strokes - Killing Lies
The Walkmen - Christmas Party
The Wombles - Wombling Merry Christmas
U2 - Baby Please Come Home (Christmas)
Ugly Casanova - So Long To The Holidays





09/12/2005

Animal Collective - Did You See the Words
Belle & Sebastian - We Are The Sleepyheads
Bloc Party - So Here We Are
Calla - Testify
Coldplay - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Editors - Fall
Grandaddy - Alan Parsons In A Winter Wonderland
Idaho - Santa Claus Is Weird
Michael Knight - Leaving Town
Run DMC - Christmas In Hollis
St. Etienne & Tim Burgess - I Was Born On Christmas Day
Stereolab - Low Fi
The Spinto Band - Direct To Helmet
The Strokes - You Only Live Once
The Unicorns - I Was Born (A Unicorn)





02/12/2005

Belle & Sebastian - Another Sunny Day
Dave Couse & The Impossibles - Into You
Kind Of Like Spitting - Tyco Racing Set & A Christmas Story
Lemon Jelly - Elements
Low - Just Like Christmas
Marit Bergman - Adios Amigos
Michael Knight - Waves To The Shore
Orbital - Belfast
Pants Yell - The City Life
Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance!
The Boo Radleys - And Tomorrow The World
The Radio - Empire
The Stone Roses - Bye Bye Badman
Yo La Tengo - Our Way To Fall





25/11/2005

Belle & Sebastian - The Stars Of Track & Field
Dave Couse & The Impossibles - Little Darlin'
Magnetic Fields - I'm Sorry I Love You
Michael Knight - I Did It Biff's Way
My Robot Friend - Why Won't You call me back
Mylo - Destroy Rock & Roll
Paris Angels - Perfume (All On You)
Pugwash - It's Nice To Be Nice
Teenage Fanclub - Verisimilitude
The Pale Saints - Throwing Back The Apple
The Reindeer Section - Sting
The Spinto Band - Oh Mandy
The Stone Roses - Where Angels Play
Wilco - I Am Trying to Break Your Heart





18/11/2005

Alpinestars - Carbon Kid
And You Can Tell Us By The Trail Of Dead - Mark David Chapman
Architecture In Helsinki - It's 5!
Beulah - Gene Autry
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - In This Home On Ice
Elastica - Waking Up
Gemma Hayes - Happy Sad
Godspeed You Black Emperor! - Storm
Mew - A Dark Design
Mylo - Paris Four Hundred
Sam Prekop - Something
The Arcade Fire - Neighborhood 1 (Tunnels)
The Clientele - Missing
The Spinto Band - Late
Wolf Parade - Modern World





11/11/2005

American Analog Set - Born On The Cusp
Calla - It Dawned On Me
Contrail - Prime Ideals
Gemma Hayes - Two Step
Lost - Patterns In The Static
Minotaur Shock - Vigo Bay
Mojave 3 - Big Star Baby
Pugwash - Apples
The Arctic monkeys - Mardy Bum
The Envelopes - Sister In Love (Clor Remix)
The National - Lit Up
The Playwrights - 21st Century Kaspar Hauser
The Walkmen - Everyone Who Pretended To Like Me Is Gone
The Wrens - I Guess We're Done
Thirteen Senses - Angels And Spies
Why? - Early Whitney





04/11/2005

Boards Of Canada - Dayvan Cowboy
Giant Drag - Kevin Is Gay
Joy Zipper - If I'm Right
M83 - Run Into Flowers
Manitoba - Jacknuggetted
McCarthy - Should The Bible Be Banned
Sigur Ros - Se Lest
The Envelopes - Sister In Love
The High Dials - The Holy Ground
The Jubilee Allstars - Time Will Tell
The KLF - What Time Is Love
The Legends - He Knows The Sun
The Shins - Flake Music
The Strokes - Reptilia
Thee More Shallows - Perfect Map





28/10/2005

Animal Collective - The Softest Voice
Arctic Monkeys - A Certain Romance
Bell X1 - Snakes & Snakes
Bloc Party - Two More Years
Blur - Sing
Cat Power - The Greatest
Cats On Fire - Higher Grounds
Elastica - Waking Up
Low - California
My Morning Jacket - Gideon
Mylo - Muscle Cars
PJ Harvey - Sheela Na Gig
Slowdive - When the Sun Hits
The Crimea - Lottery Winners On Acid
Verve - She's A Superstar





21/10/2005

Franz Ferdinand - What You Meant
Ladytron - Destroy Everything
Mew - White Lips Kissed
Nick Drake - One of These Things First
Page France - Chariot
Ryan Adams - Meadowlake Street
Shiny Toy Guns - Dont Cry Out
Shout Out Louds - Very Loud
Sonic Youth - Unwind
Sound Team - It's Obvious What's Happening Here
Stereolab - Superelectric
The Arcade Fire - Winter For A Year
The Darkside - Waiting For The Angels
The Long Winters - Ultimatum
Tullycraft - Stowaway
Underworld - Cowgirl
Wolf Parade - Modern World





14/10/2005

Animals That Swim - Pink Carnations
Bawl - Mechanic From Ryll
Chapterhouse - Mesmerise
Kate Bush - Cloudbusting
Luggage - Show Me Around
Mew - The Zookeepers Boy
Oasis - Cast No Shadow
Ride - Leave Them All Behind
Saint Etienne - Mario's Cafe
Talk Talk - I Believe in You
The Arcade Fire - Headlights Look Like Diamonds
The Boo Radleys - Martin Doom! It's Seven O' Clock
The Pale Saints - Angel (Will You Be My)
The Shout Out Louds - Comeback
Thee More Shallows - 2am





07/10/2005

Belle & Sebastian - Slow Graffiti
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
Franz Ferdinand - Eleanor Put Your Boots On
Ian Brown - F.E.A.R.
Isolee - My Hi-Matic
Lali Puna - Call 1-800-Fear
Leftfield - Release The Pressure
Maximo Park - Acrobat
Mew - Special
Rollerskate Skinny - Speed to My Side
Ron Sexsmith - This Song
Sondre Lerche - Track You Down
Sonic Youth - The Empty Page
The Bluetones - Castle Rock
The Coral Sea - Look at Her Face
The Frames - Dance The Devil Back Into His Hole
Wolf Parade - Shine a Light





30/09/2005

Alfie - Bookends
Aphex Twin - Goon Gumpas
Brakes - What's In It For Me
Embrace - Come Back To What You Know
Laketrout - Now We Know
Lazyboy - Police Dogs Bonfires
Luna - California (All The Way)
Pale Sunday - The White Tambourine
Placebo - Bionic
Rocket Science - Being Followed
Slowdive - Catch The Breeze
Sonic Youth - Superstar
Tenspeedracer - Yo-Yo
The Young Tradition - Now You Know
Wheat - Be Brave
Windsor For The Derby - The Melody Of A Fallen Tree
Wolf Parade - I'll Believe in Anything





23/09/2005

Belle & Sebastian - Sleep the Clock Around
Brakes - The Most Fun
Cud - Once Again
Editors - Fall
Explosions In The Sky - The Only Moment We Were Alone
Franz Ferdinand - The Fallen
Gorky's Zygotic Mynci - Diamond Dew
Lali Puna - Faking The Books
Looper - Mondo '77
Maximo Park - Graffiti
Stellastar - Jenny
Super Delta Three - Super Delta Three
The Frames - Star Star (live)
The National - Murder Me Rachael
The Ponys - Another Wound
Track Star - Feet First





16/09/2005

A Guy Called Gerald - Voodoo Ray
Architecture In Helsinki - In Case We Die (part 1-4)
Beach Sparks - Confusion Is Nothing New
Bloc Party - Blue Light (Engineers 'Anti-Gravity' Mix)
Boards Of Canada - Peacock Tail
Brakes - Ring a Ding Ding
Danny Elfman - Veruca Salt
Joy Division - Transmission
Oranges Band - Nuclear Wave
Sound Team - Don't Turn Away
Stars - What I'm Trying To Say
The Durutti Column - Otis
The House Of Love - Crush Me
They Live By Night - Truth Or Dare
White Rose Movement - Love Is A Number





09/09/2005

Ambulance Ltd - Country Gentleman
Bloc Party - Helicopter (Whitey Version)
Bright Eyes - First Day Of My Life
Calexico - Close Behind
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Heavy Metal
Dntel - The Dream Of Evan And Chan
Do Make Say Think - Soul And Onward
Flying Saucer Attack - She Is The Daylight
Kevin Shields - Ikebana
Low - Broadway So Many People
Schroedersound - Brailowsky (remix)
Shed Seven - A Hole
Sigur Ros - Heysatan
Swimmers - Boxes
The Brilliant Trees - Don't Believe The Right
The Legends - He Knows The Sun
Willy Mason - Oxygen






02/09/2005

Aimee Mann & Michael Penn - The Two of Us
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - Crowning Of A Heart
Happy Mondays - Kinky Afro
Lemon Jelly - Nice Weather For Ducks
Mew - Comforting Sounds
Mogwai - Kids Will Be Skeletons
Stereolab - Transporte Sans Bouger
Sufjan Stevens - John Wayne Gacy, Jr
The Arcade Fire - Une Annee Sans Lumiere
The Envelopes - It Is The Law
The Go! Team - The Ice Storm
Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory - Opening Credits
The Polyphonic Spree - Light & Day/Reach For The Sun
The Stills - Yesterday Never Tomorrows
The Wrens - Ex-Girl Collection
Voxtrot - The Start of Something





26/08/2005

Architecture In Helsinki - What's In Store
Bawl - How Can I Upset You
Broadcast - America's Boy
Built Like Alaska - Random Car
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Sunshine And Clouds And Everything Proud
Clor - Goodbye
Dead Meadow - At Her Open Door
Dinosaur Jr. - Freak Scene
Do Make Say Think - I Love You (La La La)
Franz Ferdinand - Do You Want To
I Am Kloot - Untitled 1
I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness - Your Worst Is The Best
Kings Of Leon - Taper Jean Girl4
Sigur Ros - Glosoli
Suede - Metal Mickey
The Arcade Fire - Cold Wind
Tindersticks - City Sickness





19/08/2005

Ambulance LTD - Heavy Lifting
Architecture In Helsinki - Maybe You Can Owe Me
Bjork - Hyper Ballad
Cinerama - Wow
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Details Of The War
Elbow - Mexican Standoff
Elliott Smith - Wouldn't Mama Be Proud
Guru Josh - Infinity
Mando Diao - The Band
Sigur Ros - Hufupukar
Sufjan Stevens - Concerning the UFO Sighting Supergrass - Kick In The Teeth
The House of Love - The Beatles and the Stones
The Jesus and Mary Chain - Almost Gold
Xiu Xiu - I Luv The Valley





12/08/2005

Andrew Bird - Lull
Bottom Of The Hudson - Riot Act
Brakes - You're So Pretty
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - The Skin Of My Yellow Country Teeth
Clinic - Come Into Our Room
Great Lake Swimmers - Imaginary Bars
Looper - Burning Flies
Low - Cue The Strings
M.A.R.R.S. - Pump Up The Volume
Maximo Park - Limassol
Say Hi To Your Mom - The Twenty Second Century
South Ambulance - Take Them Out
The Blue Aeroplanes - Jacket Hangs
The Boo Radleys - Lazarus [Twelve-inch Version]
The Fiery Furnaces - 1917
The Microphones - the Moon





05/08/2005

66e - One Cast One-catch
Built To Spill - Else
Declan O'Rourke - Birds of a Feather
Editors - Fall
Elbow - Station Approach
Hemstad - Kaserntorgets Charkdisco
Jublilee Allstars - When I'm All Alone
Moose - Last Night I Fell Again
Orbital - Acid Pants
Pavement - Kennel District
Ride - Vapour Trail (Live)
Sufjan Stevens - Come On Feel The Illinoise
The High Dials - The Holy Ground
The Thrills - Found My Rosebud
Wheat - This Rough Magic


25 FREE Downloads. eMusic for your iPod® or any MP3 player