Alright kids, it's contest time here at Indoor Fireworks. Coinciding with Supergrass's new single St.Petersburg, the folks at Cornerstone Promotion have kindly donated several prizes in exchange for your correct answers to some trivia. Allow me to break it down for ya. There will be 2 winners:

1st Place: Limited edition Tinymeat "Road To Rouen" iPod case, Supergrass album, magnets, pins and a CD single (Kiss Of Life).

2nd Place: Supergrass album, magnets, pins and a cd single.

To qualify, answer this question: When did keyboardist Rob Coombes join Supergrass and is he older or younger than brother Gaz Coombes? The first 2 people to correctly email the answers to these questions will win! Bon chance!

For your listening/viewing (dis)pleasure:

Supergrass: St.Petersburg (video)

Supergrass: St.Petersburg (mp3)

Sorry about the complete lack of posts but work has been a killer. I've had virtually no free time to do anything that remotely resembles "fun." I have, however been listening to loads of Wolf Parade. Hailing from my hometown of Montreal, Quebec Wolf Parade have a tight yet unraveled sound that is truly unique. Their major label release Apologies To The Queen Mary is a must have for any one fans of good indie pop rock. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Wolf Parade: Dear Sons And Daughters Of Hungry Ghosts

Wolf Parade: Shine A Light

Blending a perfect mix of truly spacey programming & beats with a sharp new romantic pop style Marc Bianchi; essentially Her Space Holiday, has crafted a beautiful and colorful new album entitled The Past Presents The Future. Known for his remixing talents (R.E.M.,Bright Eyes) as well as his production work, Bianchi tends to write songs that end up being sharp observations of other people and their stories. Spending time in Austin & Dallas must have woken his inner voice because TPPTF has a more confessional, inner ear vibe to it. Essentially this man finds new ways of making clinical depression sound gorgeous. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Her Space Holiday: A Match Made In Texas

Her Space Holiday: Forever And A Day

Her Space Holiday: The Weight Of The World

I got to meet up with Chris yesterday afternoon/evening to check out The Like's in-store @ Good Records and subsequent opening slot at Gypsy Tearoom for The Kings Of Leon. I have to say I was more than impressed with The Like. They turned out a quick yet concise set of pure Cali fuzz-pop. Chris has some pix from the in-store performance, including one of yours truly with The Like.

The Like: What I Say And What I Mean

Emotional pop. Low-fi R&B. Whatever you want to call Tender Forever is fine by me. I prefer to call it great music. Basically a vanity project for Melanie Valera; who began her musical career busking on the streets of Bordeaux, France covering Sixties girl band standards as part of the group The Bonnies. Blending a DIY sound all her own, Valera frequently calls into play a variety of expressions and emotions to write her songs. It almost feels as if the listener is eavesdropping on a private, confessional conversation yet somehow can't stop listening. Working with Valerie from Squeeze Me I Speak on a new project called 45 Songs, the two have begun to craft some pretty stunning minuettes of pop love. Tender Forever is moving. Tender Forever is amazing. Tender Forever is beautifully alive and rare. Tender Forever is about love. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Tender Forever: Are You For Real

Tender Forever: Take It Off

Tender Forever: Wake Up

UPDATE 10/15/05
The lovely & talented Melanie Valera (Tender Forever) commented on this post. Isn't she great?

Hi The Vicar!!
I'm Tender Forever

thanks so much for your words. It is really nice to have people supportive of the music. Nice. thanks a lot.
I also wanted to tell you that the 2 songs you put on line called "wake up" and "Are you for real" are from my friend Squeeze Me I Squeak and not Tender Forever. She is very talented and her songs are very exceptional. Take it Off is written by tender forever, that is true. If you want to find out about any information you can check on my website :
www:takemybreathaway.net or on www.krecs.com

thanks again for your sweet words.
Maybe i'll see you on tour.
Love,
Tender Forever


BONUS: This really deserves it's own post but I'm just too psyched to type that quickly. Here's the new Cardigans track/video for the excellently titled "I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer." New album Super Extra Gravity will be released domestically on November 1st.

MP3:

The Cardigans: I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer

Video:

Cardigans new video

It's Yom Kippur today and pretty mellow around the house. Fasting blows. Yes, The Vicar is a Jew. I enjoy irony. Anyway, I'll keep this brief as I'm not even really supposed to be doing things like this as today is a day of reflection. And starvation. However, I don't think the Big Man will mind if I reflect while listening to these 3 tracks. For your listening/fasting (dis)pleasure:

Sufjan Stevens: John Wayne Gacy, Jr.

Radiohead: Morning Bell

The Postal Service: Nothing Better (Styrofoam remix)



Today would've been my younger brother's 25th birthday. Let's give him a shout, ok? Alex, Neil, & I miss you bro.

Matthew Ooi
10/13/80-09/09/01

It's been awhile since I came across a band that had the talent to change my mind about southern rock. I'm not a big fan of Kings Of Leon. Or Lynyrd Skynrd. But I am fan of My Morning Jacket after previewing their absolutely phenomenal new album Z. Soaked in pulsating keyboards and strong melodies, MMJ prove they have the songwriting and musicianship to radically alter their template; with successful results. For your listening (dis)pleasure, my darkhorse contender for album of the year:

My Morning Jacket: Wordless Chorus

My Morning Jacket: Off The Record

My Morning Jacket: It Beats For You

I think that by now, we can all agree that Death Cab For Cutie's Plans was a tad disappointing. It's not that it was a bad record; it just wasn't a great one. It was medicore. Middle of the road. Safe. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they signed to a major label. I mean if anyone firmly believes in reaping the rewards of your success it's me. But it saddened me that DCFC came off decidely, well, limp on this album. What can you do? If you're like me, then you rejoice when they issue a stunning live album like The John Byrd e.p. Opening with a slightly more aggressive sounding We Laugh Indoors, DCFC roll through such fan favorites such as the driving Photobooth and the gorgeous 405. Bonus props for weaving in Sebadoh's Brand New Love into Blacking Out The Friction. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

(ALL FILES ARE YOU SEND IT. CLICK AND FOLLOW LINKS)

Death Cab For Cutie: We Laugh Indoors (The Wiltern Los Angeles 5.21.04)

Death Cab For Cutie: Lightness (The Showbox Seattle 5.08.04)

Death Cab For Cutie: Photobooth (The Showbox Seattle 5.08.04)

Death Cab For Cutie: 405 (The Showbox Seattle 5.08.04)

Death Cab For Cutie: Blacking Out The Friction/ Brand New Love (Sebadoh cover) (The Wiltern Los Angeles 5.21.04)

I just can't help it. Really. I just can't get enough. Playing The Angel is such a glorious return to form for Depeche Mode that I can't stop, won't stop raving about it to anyone who'll listen. Lucky you. I think taking some time off was a good idea for DM. Dave Gahan got to rock out, and chief songwriter Martin Gore got to sit in his nice big house in Santa Barbara and mope. Mope about the fact that he'd gone slightly astray in his god-given talent of writing songs that make the young, pseudo-suicidal teens swoon. I guess a light bulb went off because he's back in fine form on these new tracks. I'm not quite sure what Fletch did. Probably taxes or something. For your listening (dis)pleasure, more new tracks off of Depeche Mode's forthcoming new album:

Depeche Mode: Suffer Well

Depeche Mode: The Darkest Star

Depeche Mode: Damaged People

I needed some new hip hop to listen to. I really did. And I found it over at the excellent Freemotion last night. One new track from Jurassic 5 and a promo single from The Neptunes lead alien Pharrell. The J5 track is so tight with a great Dick Dale style guitar sample, and the Pharrell track, well, it's the weirdest fucking thing I've heard in a long long time. Over the beat to Outkast's Elevators (Me & You) Lil' Skateboard P raps about how he's the black Karl Sagan and that he's still looking for his Yoko. I'm not sure how his forthcoming solo album will be, but if this is any indication it's gonna be all over the map. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Jurassic 5: Red Hot feat. The Dap Kings

Pharrell: Maybe(remix)


Also, for those of you who live in the NYC area, make sure to check out the indie-pop fuzz stylings of Beat Radio on October 13th @ Sin-e. They sent me some tracks and this one hasn't left iTunes all morning:

Beat Radio: Treetops (e.p. version)


BONUS TRACK: Busta Rhymes: Touch It

So I'm not their biggest fan by any means, but I do kinda dig Harvey Danger's new single "Cream & Bastards Rise." It's a good slice of pop-punk agitation with a catchy chorus/driving bassline thrown in for good measure. They've decided to release their entire new album Little By Little for FREE on their website. If you're feeling adventurous go download it and thrown the lads some $$$. Or don't. Whatever. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Harvey Danger: Cream & Bastards Rise

It's cloudy here today, and you know what that means: break out the Depeche Mode! Nothing, and I mean nothing makes me appreciate a day like this more than breaking out my copy of Black Celebration and moping around for a bit. For your listening (dis)pleasure today, 3 mega-DM-mixes guranteed to bring you back to junior high, plus a brand spankin' new cut from their forthcoming album:

Depeche Mode Mix: Sweetest Pleasure Tonight

Tracklisting: 35 mins 26 secs

Pleasure, Little Treasure [Glitter Mix]
Master & Servant [Slavery Whip Mix/An ON-USound Science Fiction Dance Hall Classic]
Behind the Wheel/Route 66 [Megamix]
Sweetest Perfection [Album Version]
Dressed in Black [Album Version]
But Not Tonight [Extended Remix/Extended Mix]
Get the Balance Right! [Combination Mix/Original Mix]
Told You So [Album Version]
Just Can't Get Enough [Live/Schizo Mix]
Here Is the House [Album Version]


Depeche Mode Mix: New Disease Rumours

Tracklisting: 35 mins 10 secs

Blasphemous Rumours [Live/Album Version]
Shout! [Rio Mix]
Leave in Silence [Longer/Album Version]
Shake the Disease [Remixed Extended Version/Edit the Shake]
New Dress [Album Version]
Two Minute Warning [Album Version/Live]
People Are People [Different Mix/ON-USound Remix]
Are People People? [Re-remix]


Depeche Mode Mix: In De Mode

Tracklisting: 47 mins 32 secs

Kaleid [Remix]
Sea of Sin [Sensoria]
The Policy of Truth [Pavlo's Dub]
World in My Eyes [Mode to Joy Mix]
Nothing [Dub]
Happiest Girl [Kiss-a-Mix]
The Policy of Truth [Trancentral Mix]
Rush [Nitrate Mix]
Enjoy the Silence [The Quad: Final Mix]
Everything Counts [T. Simenon/M. Saunders Remix]

Bonus: New DM track off the forthcoming album Playing The Angel:

Depeche Mode: Precious

Ok kids; pop quiz time: What do we know about Kanye West? For starters he's got a big mouth. A really big mouth. Large enough for him to insert his entire foot in. What else? He's got talent. Loads of it. He can write, produce, and arrange hits. Billboard will back me up. He also has a knack for surrounding himself with sickeningly talented individuals. Jay-Z. Jon Brion. Yes, that Jon Brion. Fiona Apple's Jon Brion. Co-producing Late Regristration alongside West, Brion brings his quirky touch to the album with strings, flugle horns, and touches of brass without overshadowing the beats. While West isn't entirely original with his rhymes, most times the music is enough to carry him through the song. For your listening (dis)pleasure, my four favorite tracks off of Late Regristration:

Kanye West: Heard `Em Say

Kanye West: Drive Slow

Kanye West: Addiction

Kanye West: Gone

There are two things I'm a sucker for. One is albums that are 10 songs or less. I dunno, they just always seem to end up being really great records that focus on a specific emotion and expertly stretch it out over the course of 10 or fewer tracks. Any more than that and my attention span begins to wain. Good examples are Violator & Rio. And of course Kid A. The other is when bands go slightly rootsy, or just strip down to the bare essentials or core of their beginnings. Quit mucking about with studio trickery and fucking play. Like Supergrass has done on their excellent new album Road To Rouen. Recorded in the countryside of France, the four members hunkered down, drank loads of red wine and cheese and banged out 10 or so melancholy tunes about failed relationships and the perils of success. Thing is though, these songs kick. Hard. They have just the right amount of sadness before the guitars and organs come snarling in an effort to stop you from wallowing too much. And that is always a good thing. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Supergrass: Sad Girl

Supergrass: Road To Rouen

Supergrass: Kick In The Teeth

Supergrass: Low C