Listen to this...

New Tess Wiley song and video

I have now been a Tess Wiley fan for 18 years, which is fairly mind-boggling. I became a fan because she was one of the first few artists I was aware of who had a website and an email address. I emailed her in 1995, she replied, and I have been a big fan ever since. It has been a LONG time since she has had a formal, official, music video.


Tess Wiley - Little Secrets on MUZU.TV.

Stream the full Minor Alps album

Terrific collaboration between Matthew Caws of Nada Surf and Juliana Hatfield. Might be a good example of where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Out next week, pre-order from Barsuk.
 

Everything is normal now...

I know this is blowing up all over the internet now, but it is too important and definitive for me not to post it here. Arcade Fire:

Aaron Sprinkle- new album and debut single

Aaron Sprinkle (Poor Old Lu, Rose Blossom Punh, Fair) is set to release his fourth solo album, and first in more than a decade, on October 1. It is titled "Water and Guns", and has a pretty awesome cover:

Also, a lyric video was released today that give us a first listen:

Luxury Kickstarter

Luxury launched a Kickstarter campaign, and is essential that you back their new album project. I just donated the largest amount I ever have to a Kickstarter project. This the 10th project I have backed on Kickstarter, and thankfully all but one have been successful.

I won't catch you up on Luxury's rich history, except to say they are one of my top 5 favorite bands of all time. Here are some links:
Luxury fansite (extremely well done)
Luxury Facebook (updated frequently, including recent clips of new recordings)
Luxury Bandcamp (all their LPs, plus lots of random obscure songs)

Steve Taylor & The Perfect Foil - "The Finish Line"

New Dustin Kensrue song!

From Alternative Press:

When former Thrice frontman Dustin Kensrue began writing "It's Not Enough" a few years ago, he wasn't sure to which of his creative outlets it would belong. "I originally thought this would end up being a Thrice song," Kensrue tells AP. "But I never got around to finishing it until now."

The song will now be released on Kensrue's upcoming solo album, The Water And The Blood, set for release October 1 via BEC Recordings/Mars Hill Music.

"It's probably one of my favorite songs I've ever written and stoked for it to finally be done and seeing the light of day."

And here are the lyrics as posted on Dustin's twitter account:

Though all the wealth of men was mine to squander
And towers of ivory rose beneath my feet
Were palaces of pleasure mine to wander
The sum of it would leave me incomplete

Though every soul would hold my name in honor
And truest love was always by my side
My praises sung by grateful sons and daughters
My soul would never still be satisfied

It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

Though I could live for all to lift them higher
Or spend the centuries seeking light within
Though I indulged my every dark desire
Exhausting every avenue of sin

It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood
It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could right all wrongs, or ravage
Everything beneath the sun
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

To make me whole
It’s not enough, it never was
Awake my soul
It’s not enough, it never was

It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could walk the world forever
Till my shoes were filled with blood
It’s not enough, it’s not enough
I could right all wrongs, or ravage
Everything beneath the sun
It’s not enough, it’s not enough
Though all would bow to me
Till I could drink my fill of fear and love
It’s not enough, it’s not enough

California

For years I had been thinking about making a mix about California. When I made a mix about the United States in general a few years ago, it because apparent quickly that more songs have been written about California than any other state. Ironically, California is one of the 13 states I have yet to visit.

That mix I made 5 years ago, LA to NYC, I blogged about at the time, and it has become one my favorite mixes I have ever done. Even my wife will ask to listen to it.

Anyway, I knew eventually I would make a mix strictly about California, I just didn't think it would take 5 years! It is a pretty interesting thing to listen to now that it is finished, because California is a dichotomy. Everyone initially loves it in concept, but many people HATE it when they truly spend time there.

Tracks 2 and 3, both titled "California Girls", sum up this mix perfectly:

The Beach Boys:

The Magnetic Fields:

And so here is the mix, and the 20 tracks will fit on a standard CD:

1. Pacific / Sleeping At Last 2:49
2. California Girls / The Beach Boys 2:38
3. California Girls / The Magnetic Fields 3:01
4. California Dreaming / Mamas and the Papas 2:41
5. California / Mates Of State 2:32
6. California / Low 3:23
7. California / Copeland 5:26
8. California Wasted / Toad the Wet Sprocket 3:50
9. Why You'd Want To Live Here / Death Cab For Cutie 4:45
10. Earthquakes And Sharks / Brandtson 2:57
11. Money Money / The Lassie Foundation 4:40
12. Malibu / Hole 3:50
13. Going To California / Led Zeppelin 3:36
14. I Remember California / R.E.M. 5:04
15. California Brown And Blue / Denison Witmer 5:04
16. San Andreas Fault / Natalie Merchant 3:59
17. In California / Neko Case 3:29
18. Not California / Hem 4:11
19. San Pedro / Mogwai 3:27
20. Hollywood / P.O.D. 5:22

Steve Taylor is back playing MUSIC

Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil (his new band) played Creation Fest three days ago. This is crazy and so hard to comprehend; wish I could have been there!

This was his first live show since the mid-90's, and not only that, he will be releasing a new album this Fall. His new bandmates are John Mark Painter, Jimmy Abegg, and Peter Furler. If those names don't mean anything to you, Google them, as they are all terrific and prolific. John Mark Painter is one of my all-time favorite musicians; who has put out so little of his own stuff (most notably with his wife Fleming).

Hard to find much information about Steve Taylor's recent music online, but Sock Heaven is by far the best place.