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As August draws to an end, here are some random thoughts on events outside the music realm:

- For Atlanta Braves fans, I think itÕs time to look toward 2011 or 2012. With most of their young talent at or below AA, the likelihood that the team will get back into the playoffs in the next year is remote. I just canÕt see them breaking the bank financially with free agents. Maybe they will, and prove me wrong, but the holes on this team are so large, itÕs going to take more than one off-season to rebuild.

- ItÕs hard to believe that it is college football time again. While IÕm not an avid fan, itÕs going to be nice to have football on again.

- I finally broke down and watched Barak ObamaÕs speech last night. As a speaker, he once again proved the old adage that it is 10-percent what you say and 90-percent how you say it. While most of point he made were not new to the Democratic Party, or to him, he was able to present them with a tone solidified him with-in his party and impressed those outside. It was an event, and one that will surely be remembered. His like-a-bility is going to be hard for John McCain to match. The irony is Ð if you believe that polling is accurate Ð this is still an even race. IÕm not one to bash the media, but the coverage of Obama presents him has the run-away winner/leading candidate. The polls Ð which will surely bump his way after last night Ð still show otherwise. Realistically, a majority win in the popular vote has become a landslide in the last two decades, but with two months to go, anything can happen.

- This just in Ð Sarah Palin is McCainÕs VP choice. That mean either a minority or female candidate will be on in the White House for the first time ever as an elected official.

Labels: atlanta braves, election 2008, mccain, obama, palin

It takes a lot for me to truly hate a song. I can find the silver lining in just about any song, regardless if I like the artist or the genre.

But sometimes, I REALLY hate a song.

So thanks, Bloc Party, for making a song that I hate as much as any song I can remember. They're new song, "Mercury" is horrible. The lyrics are weak and repetitive, the beat is a redundant and the effects sound like a high-budget basement recording. It is a truly atrocious song by a band who has released a quality work for the last five years. It is an example how a big budget and big label can destroy an artist and a genre.

Honorable mention goes to The Faint's new songs, "The Geeks Were Right" which, while not as bad as "Mercury" is another example of a formerly grand artist in a horrible state of decline.

Labels: bloc party, songs i hate, the faint

- Longwave are set to release Secrets Are Sinister, their fourth full-length album, on November 11.

- The Postmarks will release a covers album, By The Number, on November 11.

- Ingrid Michaelson will perform on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno On September 2.

MP3s

Low vs. Diamond - "Heart Attack"

Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons - "Home in the Woods"

Audrye Sessions - "Turn Me Off"


Stream

Ray LaMontagne - "You Are the Best Thing"


Curtis Peoples - "Back Where I Started"

Labels: mp3, news and notes

My Morning Jacket - Touch Me, I'm Going To Scream, pt. 2

Labels: my morning jacket, video of the day

Thanks to Movinginstereo.com for reminding me of the greatness:

Labels: dink

If you haven't seen the quote from Tad Kubler of The Hold Steady about Radiohead, check it out here . And after listening to an interview with The Stills last week on XM in which they discussed what Radiohead has become, I figured it was time to jump into the Radiohead debate.

I own the early Radiohead albums (Pablo Honey, The Bends, OK Computer) and I them, but for the last 10 years, they just haven't been my thing. So if I had the choice of Radiohead or Oasis, I'd take Oasis as well. While Oasis have taken their knocks over the years, I still dig what they do and they've stayed true to their sound.

It's fair to say that my enjoyment of Radiohead was no greater than my enjoyment of Ash. And that's no knock on Ash. I'm glad to see there are others out there not being blinded by the propaganda of the music media machine. Radiohead has becoming a sort of Pink Floyd, even though they started out as a Brit-rock band.

Yet it seems as those are the critics out their seem to think that Radiohead is the perfect example of what a maturing band should be. This only amplified after they sold their last album as a "pay what you will" rate. That's great when you can sell-out arenas, but sets a bad precedent for smaller bands who need the album revenue to make a living.

So here's to those artist and music fans out there who don't bow to the throne of Radiohead.

Labels: oasis, radiohead, the hold steady

WhatÕs Hot?
WhatÕs Not?
And who is the SummerÕs biggest hit?

DeadJournalist.com readers give their feedback: here

Labels: fleet foxes, midlake, the pulse, the raveonettes, vampire weekend

It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!
It's my birthday!

Friend of DeadJournalist, Nyles Lannon, sent me this e-mail last week. Congrat to Nyles on his new son!


A new song I wrote, "Train", is in a movie out now in the US called American Teen, directed by Nanette Burstein. The movie is playing in most major cities. It earned Ms. Burstein the Directing Award this year at Sundance.

The soundtrack, released by Columbia Records, also includes The Ting Tings, The New Pornographers, MGMT, Does it Offend You Yeah, Black Kids, the Unicorns and others. It is available in all major music stores as well as Amazon and Itunes. You can buy my song individually on Itunes, just search for American Teen.


New Facebook page
If you are a member of Facebook, I have built a music page there. Come check it out and keep in touch.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nyles-Lannon/12346415874


Hello Skye
My son Skye was born on June 3rd, and life before he arrived already seems like a distant memory. It's been a wild and wonderful ride. My hat is off to all the parents out there!

Labels: nyles lannon

He's a name you may not know, from a band you all know very well.

He's Pierre de Reeder. The band is Rilo Kiley.

De Reeder released his debut solo album, The Way That It Was, yesterday. It's is an absolutely beautiful album. It's elegant and unpretentious. It's the longing for a cool, late fall day in the midst of the dog days of summer.

I highly recommend this album. Give a few songs a listen and you'll understand. Here's the link to his MySpace page: here

Labels: Pierre de Reeder

wow ... Isaac Hayes died today at 65.

Labels: isaac hayes, rip

Wow, in a shocking turn of events, Bernie Mac died of complications from pneumonia in Chicago. He was only 50. RIP.

Labels: bernie mac, rip

In my news and notes a few days ago I forgot to mention that I got word from the good folks at SongBMG that The Clash, Live in New York, will be released. Rejoice!

Labels: the clash

Regator.com is still in beta, but it's worth a look.

Labels: regator

These are long overdue ....

- Partisan Records will be releasing an expanded release of Holy SonsÕ Decline of the West on September 23, 2008;
- Brazil's Curumin is set to release JapanPopShow on Quannum Projects on October 7, 2008;
- Portland's The Upsidedown will be touring with The Dandy Warhols;
- British Sea Power are now being recognized by their native England with a nomination for the Nationwide Mercury Prize, which celebrates the top 12 albums released by UK or Irish artists for their third album Do You Like Rock Music;
-
Oklahoman-band Colourmusic has released the next video for "Yes!" from their upcoming album, f, monday, orange, february, venus, lunatic, 1 or 13, which comes out September 9th.
- Del McCoury's Moneyland album seeks to raise awareness of the economic issues facing Americans. In addition to songs from the Del McCoury Band, the album features songs from Marty Stuart, Merle Haggard, Emmylou Harris, Bruce Hornsby, the Fairfield Four, Chris Knight and others.
- Ray LaMontagne has announced his first North American tour in support of his new album Gossip In The Grain will start September 30 in Indianapolis. The album is due out October 14.
- Singer-songwriter Matthew Perryman Jones will release his new album Swallow the Sea on August 19.
- Apollo Sunshine's new album, Shall Noise Upon, is now available digitally and on vinyl. The band have teamed up
with imeem to offer an exclusive stream of the entire album, here.
- Howlies, are touring in support of their August 12th release, Sea Level;
- Merz (Conrad Lambert) will release a new digital only EP entitled Presume Too Much exclusively via iTunes on August 19;

Labels: apollo sunshine, Bruce Hornsby, colourmusic, curumin, Emmylou Harris, holy sons, Marty Stuart, matthew perryman jones, Merle Haggard, merz, ray lamontagne, the Fairfield Four, the upsidedown

A few thoughts about the passing of Skip Carey:

The only certainty in life is change and with the passing for Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Carey, the voice of the Braves changes yet again. Much as it will then Larry Munson passes, there are generations of Southerners who link one manÕs voice with their team. CareyÕs appeal extended beyond the South, as his link to the country via TBS was as strong as any other national baseball broadcaster.

But for those, like myself, who spend much of their youth listening to Carey, Pete Van Wieren and Ernie Johnson, Sr. on the radio, yesterday marked the closing of a link to the past; the end of a link to our childhood.

Truth be told, I was always more fond of Van Wieren and Johnson than Carey. I enjoyed the JohnsonÕs grandfatherly charm and Van WierenÕs knowledge more than the, at times, abrasive nature of Carey. But Carey transcended the status of broadcaster. He was the face of the broadcast team. And when paired with Van Wieren, I, like many other, would switch from TV to radio at the bottom of the 4th as the broadcasters switched from radio to TV to listen to the pair. (This was especially true after Johnson retired.)

This weekend I happened to be in the car during the Friday and Saturday Braves broadcasts and noticed that Carey wasnÕt at the mic. I wondered if he was ill, although I hadnÕt heard of any latest troubles. Then when the news came last night, it hit me that was indeed the end. I only listened to a few minutes of Braves radio broadcasts this year. With television on delay, itÕs impossible to listen to the radio broadcast while watching the game on TV. (Another in a long list of changes that are not for the better.) Earlier this month I did listen to a game on radio, in part because I knew Carey might not be around much longer before he officially retired. While I donÕt remember much about the broadcast, IÕm glad I made a point to listen.

This year has been the worst season for the Braves in almost 20 years. But now, more than anything, it will have another, tragic mark.

CareyÕs passing is a reminder. A reminder that the glory days of the Braves franchise is behind us. That youth is behind us. That the times have changed, yet again.

Labels: atlanta braves, skip carey

Skip Carey passed away today. Sadness.

News and Notes coming this weekend. Interview with The Old Believers also coming this weekend.

Labels: interviews, the old believers