More Ladybug Transistor. What a delicious sound these guys make. And what’s not to love about a band whose name evokes the fact that old school electronic transistors resemble ladybugs? What is cuter than a ladybug? This track is purty. I was on the train the other day and noticed that every single passenger was using their little i-Thingys. Then I noticed I was too. Always on the telephone. We need like, a volcano or aliens or something.

The Ladybug Transistor
“Always On The Telephone” (download mp3)
from “Can’t Wait Another Day”
“Always On The Telephone” (play)
(Fortuna POP!)
More On This Album

When MP3 was still a new word, reviled by some and embraced by others, I surfed the Internets with fiendish glee to see what cool music I could find from artists who wanted to share their some of their work for free in this exciting new way. After wading through considerable muck, Love Is Laughter‘s “I’m A Bee” was one of the first keepers I found. Thousands of mp3s later, I still like it. It fooking rocks, is all. I love the raging vocal and seething Northwest guitars. Love As Laughter’s music is available from Sub Pop, Glacial Pace Recordings, and K Records. That is all.

Love As Laughter – “I’m A Bee“ (play/download)

Here’s some fab atmospheric bliss rock from none other than Johnnie Rotten Jr. This LA band has a swell new album out called The Death of Harry Potter. On Stoney Records. I love all their names and titles. “Rockstar” is the single. And I love it too. A fine giant guitar-scape with a chill beat, and lovely, heavily effected vocals. Psychedelic sweetness reminiscent of that moment you drop off into sleep.

Johnnie Rotten, Jr.
“Rockstar” (download mp3)
from “The Death of Harry Potter”
(Stoney Records)
“Rockstar“ (play)

Need more!

I first found this in 2003 when it came out. Just re-discovered it after a visit to the pet supply store for a fresh catnip toy, and it crossed my mind so I dug it up. The Weakerthans are Strongerthan, I can assure you! Splendid lyrics in a tastefully epic rock-scape. Approval.

The Weakerthans – “Plea From A Cat Named Virtue” mp3

From their Reconstruction Site CD.

Buy direct from ANTI- Records

“STD” has made a lot of brilliant tracks as a solo artist since fleeing from band life in disgust. I first discovered him when a friend (also in a band, naturally) sent me a link to “Your Band” and commented that she had heard every line in the song uttered in earnest at some point, by band guys at the bar at Bottom Of The Hill (the SF club mentioned in the song, no less). Band shmoozing is a frightful business, and I guess it just ate away at our hero Schaffer until he plopped out this hilarious anti-shmooze screed. Not safe for work, this one. No. Not safe in general. But excellent. I added an “Other” category to my blog categories, just for the great otherness of this. Enjoy.

Schaffer The Darklord – “Your Band” mp3

Buy @ CD Baby

Sonic Boom Six – “People Acklike They Don’t Know” mp3

One of my favorite newish groups is one Sonic Boom Six from Manchester. This is one of their earlier singles and it just kills. In fact I love it too much to speak intelligently about it. Just hit it and be knowing about them. CDs @ CD Universe.

Bart Davenport – “Chimes”

The new crown prince of soft rock, Bart Davenport got his start in a more hard rockin’ capacity as the front man for East Bay Mod RnB heros the Loved Ones. This track from his 2002 solo debut on the marvelous Antenna Farm Records, is a meandering daydream of sweet romance. Much as I hope to hear the man hit the Jagger/Colin Blunstone style that he did years ago, I gotta love that he’s true to his own vision, and he does this stuff so very well. The dry acoustic drums and nicely recorded real instruments he favors are a stark and welcome contrast to the hyper-digital compressed poo that is the norm these days. And his singing is simply beautiful. From 2002, recently re-released digitally, here’s some “Chimes” of love from a cat who means it.

Bart Davenport
“Chimes” (mp3)
from “Bart Davenport”
(Antenna Farm Records)

Need more!

Sometime in the late 90′s I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a local club and explained that she must, absolutely must book The Negro Problem. She was aghast, told me should couldn’t book a band by that name, then she asked me if they were black. Well yes, Stew, the lead singer is, I replied, and he’s one of the more brilliant singer-songwriter dudes I’ve seen in ages, and his band is killer. I guess my friend changed her mind because they eventually played her club. The band’s reputation has since grown far and wide among discerning music lovers, even while the hulking indifferent music industry has ignored them with dull reliability. Of the many memorable songs that echoed in my head for years after seeing the NP perform live, the one that haunted me most was a piece called “Peter Jennings.” As I scour the Intergoogle today, I’m not finding any promotional mp3s of this fine band, but they do have some songs (including “Peter Jennings”) available on Mog All Access, which is worth joining, and you can also buy their mp3s from iTunes. Another standout from their superb “Joys and Concerns” album is “If You Would Have Traveled On The 93 North Today.” Heck it’s all good, “Mahnsanto” is stunning, “Bleed” is another – all heartbreaking, funny, intelligent, beautiful work. More recently Stew and his longtime collaborator Heidi Rodewald composed a musical theater production called Passing Strange, which Spike Lee made a movie of, which you can see on PBS. All highly recommended. That is all.