I like to consider myself a fairly astute music fan, y'know? And I say that without a trace of ego. I don't expect bands that I enjoy listening to to rehash their sound album after album without taking some sort of chance with their sound. I expect to be challenged at some level, and after previewing several tracks from Arcade Fire's sophmore album Neon Bible last year, I felt exactly the opposite. I wasn't moved. I wasn't grabbed by the collar and dragged to their point. And it was a little depressing. After all, when one releases a debut as stellar as Funeral where else do you have to fall but down? But I soon realized where my error lay. I had only gleaned a small piece of the puzzle. NB is NOT a singles album; it's meant to be experienced as a whole where each track expertly segues into the next. No, it's not Funeral and no it's not better than it's predecessor. But why would you want it to be? If that album was about death and it's aftermath, then Neon Bible is about dying. A glorious mess of an album that actually convinces the listener they're unravelling along with the band, only to be resurrected by the time the final notes play out. This is Arcade Fire at their most daring, taking a chance with their signature sound and succeeding on their own terms. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Arcade Fire: Ocean Of Noise

Arcade Fire: Keep The Car Running

Arcade Fire: Black Mirror

Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

As I slipped the cd into my stereo and began to listen, it was almost as if I was there with them. Witnessing Land Of Talk play. In a small dive bar, I could almost feel the floors, littered with spilt beer and sweat sticking to the soles of my shoes. Thick smoke filling the room. My throat burning after a shot of whiskey. Godamn this is one hell of an album. LOT hail from my hometown of Montreal and have created quite a buzz in the last few months with their full length album Applause Cheer Boo Hiss. Combining the sass and fuzz laden hooks of Sonic Youth with some killer melodies, ACBH is one of those rare albums that actually crib from it's influences without coming across as cheeky or overly ambitious. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Land Of Talk: Summer Special

Land Of Talk: Sea Foam

Land Of Talk: Magnetic Hill

I don't think my heart was ready for Amy Winehouse. Listening to her sophomore album Back To Black (Universal) over the last couple of days, I kept coming back to one thought: this woman really is in pain. And the worst kind at that: the heartwrench of love lost. Nevermind all the attention being paid to her rabid drinking; Winehouse is flat out one of the best soul singers to come on the scene in the last several years. I don't know anyone who can convey the dark feelings of having your heart ripped out with such authority and such grandeur. Shifting from the jazzy stylings of her debut album Frank, AW decided to tap into her love for 60's girl groups and filter it through her decidely knock down drag out gorgeous voice. Part Nina Simone, part Lauryn Hill and all boozy lust, Winehouse along with producers Mark Ronson and Salaam Remi, have put together one of the first must have albums of the year and a whopper of a challenge for female singers in 2007: top this. If you can. For your listening (dis)pleasure:

Amy Winehouse: Just Friends

Amy Winehouse: Back To Black

Amy Winehouse: You Know I'm No Good

Amy Winehouse: Wake Up Alone


Also, be sure to check out Amy Winehouse at SXSW this year!

Welcome to the return of the Friday Five Alive mix here at Indoor Fireworks. For your listening (dis)pleasure, four tracks guaranteed to get you ready for the weekend and one stunner to help you come down:

Joss Stone: Put Your Hands On Me Baby

Working For A Nuclear Free City: Troubled Son

Amy Winehouse: You Know I'm No Good

Nine Inch Nails: My Violent Heart

Nicole Atkins: The Way It Is


::CONTEST UPDATE::

Congrats goes out to Kenny who will be the proud receipient of Money Mark's new disc Brand New By Tomorrow. Kenny wisely chose one of the better MM/Beastie Boys collabos with "Groove Holmes."

Beastie Boys: Groove Holmes feat. Money Mark

::CONTEST UPDATE::