So, truth be told I wasn't planning on posting anything today. I'm heading off to Cabo San Lucas for a couple of days and had wanted to use some of that time to put together my next round of featured artists. But then I received an email from lead singer/guitarist Brian Gray of The Pine Club. Here's how it read:

"Hey,
For starters, I am a fan and reader of your blog. So cheers to you!
Just wanted to give you a head's up on The Pine Club's web only FREE CD
release "Last Frame". It is a farewell also. As of the end of February we
will no longer be a band. Long story short, we were a Louisville, Ky based
band that had some regional success with touring behind our previous album
release. Due to band members moving, etc, we have decided to call it quits.
But we were able to record a brand new record in January and just want as
many people to be able to hear it as possible."

After heading on over to their site to take a listen to their album I came to this one conclusion: who am I to deprive anyone of the pop joy on display here? Blending the better qualities and pop sensibilities of Material Issue, Matthew Sweet, and Kentucky's own Superdrag, Last Frame is a superbly written, played, and self-produced album. Sucks for us though that it's their swan song. They're very graciously offering up the album as a free download so do yourself and them a favor and spread the love. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

The Pine Club: Lovers

The Pine Club: Vampire

The Pine Club: Last Frame Of The Film

Today's post is over at Clever Titles Are So Last Summer.

Even though I'm guest blogging tomorrow over at the excellent Clever Titles Are So Last Summer I still wanted to hit you all up with some Indoor Fireworks lovliness this evening. Continuing with the recent hip hop theme are two tracks off of Common's very much underrated 2002 album Electric Circus. I absolutely adore this album for far too many reasons to list here tonight (new puppy...lack of sleep etc...) but I will say this: any MC that has a member of Stereolab guest on a track is pretty much the fucking man in my book. And that the track happens to sizzle as well is pure gravy. Also of note is his collabo with R&B's Jill Scott on I Am Music. Check it out to see how many historical music references Common drops. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Common: New Wave feat. Laetitia Sadier

Common: I Am Music feat. Jill Scott

Coming off the heels of his excellent collaboration with Talib Kweli in Black Star, one of my favorite MC's Mos Def released his solo debut Black On Both Sides. Heavy on wicked bass lines, tight snares, subtle samples and tightly wound verses, Def set the bar pretty damned high for himself regarding future recordings. Case in point his sub par sophomore release The New Danger. Irregardless, he is still one of our most potent and talented rappers around today. For tonight's post I'm including two of my favorite tracks off of BOBS. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Mos Def: Mathematics

Mos Def: Speed Law

Some days you just feel fucked. Some days you're filled with so much rage it hurts when it seeps out of your pores. Some days you look to the heavens and thank every goddamned star in the sky for the beauty of your life. And then on some days, it all melds together into one long, exhausting emotion. You know what that's called? Meds by Placebo. I have four words for you: album of the year. For your listening (dis)pleasure, upcoming tracks off the forthcoming Placebo masterpiece:

Placebo: Follow The Cops Back Home

Placebo: One Of A Kind

Placebo: Pierrot The Clown

I thought long and hard about what to post on this Valentine's Day evening. Should I go the anti-V-day route and post some bitter break-up songs? Nah. What about all the shmaltzy stuff? Burt Bacharach? Hells no. You know what is the epitome of love in my book? Bob Marley. Bob fucking Marley and The Wailers. One of my favorite Tuff Gong releases happens to be Talkin' Blues. This 1973 live release "captures the time, in the mid-Seventies, when Bob Marley & The Wailers took reggae into the mainstream of popular music." Most of the tracks are from a broadcast for KSAN radio in San Fransisco, the only recordings from the Wailers' first American tour. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Bob Marley: Kinky Reggae

Bob Marley: Talkin' Blues

Bob Marley: Burnin' & Lootin'

Bob Marley: Walk The Proud Land

It's not like I was at a loss as to what to post about tonight. More like at a crossroad. Yeah, that sounds better. Luckily, my wife's calm demeanor and good taste prevailed: "The Stills" she said. " Yes, write about The Stills." As you can plainly see, both the missus and myself have a love jones for Montreal's finest band. Falling very much between the cracks during the rise of The Strokes, Franz Ferdinand, and of course The Arcade Fire, this auspicious four piece nonetheless managed to release the sleeper hit of 2003 in Logic Will Break Your Heart. Deeply rooted in and indebted to such bands as The Cure, The Smiths, Ride, and of course Kitchens Of Distinction, The Stills re-imagine dark, art pop songs and lace them with shimmering choruses and driving, crashing guitars. As debut albums go LWBYH is a whopper, but after repeat spins the listener can sense that even greater things lay on the horizon. Check out for yourself when their new album Without Feathers is released later on this year. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

The Stills: Of Montreal

The Stills: Allison Krausse

The Stills: Gender Bombs

The Stills: Still In Love Song

No, you're not hallucinating. We've done some revamping here at Indoor Fireworks. When I say "we" I really mean the fantastically talented Josh Rodriguez. Without his ideas and knowledge of HTML code, yours truly would still be rocking the Blogger templates. Do yourself a favor and click the link to his site located on the bottom right of this site and check out his photo chops as well. Boy's got skillz! Ok then, on to the music!

Let me preface this post by saying I've never actually seen First Love, Last Rites. I wish I had some great, long winded reason/excuse as to why but I don't. What I do have however, is an immense love for the accompanying soundtrack. Written and mostly played by the now defunct Shudder To Think, FLLR plays sort of like an open mike night at your favorite local bar. Guest singers are invited to come onstage and jam with the house band. Some collaborations work, some falter. The 4 tracks I'm posting tonight are the ones that work. Terrifically. From the blue-eyed soul that the late Jeff Buckley brings, to the rawked! out sneer Billy Corgan stamps his track with, and finally to the lullaby Nina Persson hauntingly croons on the track that, from what I've read, was the catalyst that brought her together with now boyfriend/former Shudder guitarist Nathan Larson. But don't take my word for it. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Shudder To Think w/Jeff Buckley: I Want Someone Badly

Shudder To Think w/Liz Phair: Erecting A Movie Star

Shudder To Think w/Billy Corgan: When I Was Born, I Was Bored

Shudder To Think w/Nina Persson of The Cardigans: Appalachian Lullaby

Seamless transitions are an awesome thing. They don't happen too often, but when they do it really is something to marvel at. "Case" in point: the lovely and extremely talented Neko Case. Coming straight off the heels of the majestic New Pornographers album Twin Cinema is her upcoming solo joint Fox Confessor Brings The Flood. Delving whole-heartedly into the meticulous recording of this album, Ms. Case has committed to tape a swirling album of dark and eclectic songs, all showcasing her big, bold, and silky smooth voice. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Neko Case: The Needle Has Landed

Neko Case: A Widows Toast

Neko Case: Star Witness

Neko Case: Hold On, Hold On

Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
June 16-18, 2006
Manchester, Tennessee

I am a happy, happy boy. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Radiohead: Everything In Its Right Place

Radiohead: The National Anthem

Radiohead: Black Star (acoustic)

Radiohead: The Bends (acoustic)