Tracklist
1. How Low
2. Down The Line
3. Killing For Love
4. In Our Nature
5. Teardrop
6. Abram
7. Time To Send Someone Away
8. The Nest
9. Fold
10. Cycling Trivialities

Review
After his debut album Veneer, José treats us with another great full album! His second album keeps the dark and intense atmosphere. Nevertheless, new songs are a bit more melodic and sound a bit ‘fuller’. The minimal sound has been lessened, consequently the songs also sound a bit more cheerful than the ones on Veneer. His acoustic songs do stay as intense as before and his beautiful voice keeps his convincing, spine-tingling character. ‘Is it a better than Veneer?’ In my opinion it is: some people would say it is a little bit more ‘commercial’, but I prefer the word ‘listenable’ (if it exists :x). And on this album too, we have a cover: Teardrop of Massive Attack, and in my opinion also one of the best songs on this album, together with ‘Down The Line’ and ‘Killing For Love’. Have fun with it!

My favorite song: 2. Down The Line, 3. Killing For Love, 5. Teardrop

Similar Artists: Nick Drake, Damien Jurado

Popularity: 6% [?]

Tracklist
1. Soldiers Make Good Targets
2. Pass The Buck
3. It Means Nothing
4. Bank Holiday Monday
5. Daisy Lane
6. Stone
7. My Friends
8. I Could Lose Ya
9. Bright Red Star
10. Lady Luck
11. Crush
12. Drowning

Review
Pull the Pin, the newest album of Stereophonics, is actually the first Stereophonics-album I have. I do have a lot of other Stereophonics songs, but never a full album: why? … I don’t know actually. They bring great rock with some mellow songs in between, I like the raw voice of Kelly Jones … I think I just never got to it (I follow so much music, I can’t keep up with them releasing new albums :x). Well enough of this babbling … the album! This album contains some softer songs and many rock songs, but doesn’t reach the ‘mellow’ level of their 2001 album ‘Just Enough Education to Perform’ and that’s a pity. I especially like their softer ‘ballads’: the contrast between the mellowness of the song against his raw voice give the songs an extra dimension. The heavier songs on this album are below expectations and I hate the opening song ‘Soldiers Make Good Targets’: all those ‘guitar-gimmicks’ just don’t suit them. The softer songs are really beauties though, like the first single of this album ‘It Means Nothing’. Have fun with the album!

My favorite song: 3. It Means Nothing, 9. Bright Red Star

Similar Artists: Oasis, Feeder

Popularity: 8% [?]

Tracklist
1. Political Scientist
2. Afraid Not Scared
3. This House Is Not For Sale
4. Anybody Wanna Take Me Home?
5. Love Is Hell
6. Wonderwall
7. The Shadowlands
8. Word War
9. Avalanche
10. Blue Manhattan
11. Please Do Not Let Me Go
12. City Rain City Streets
13. I See Monsters
14. English Girls Approximately
15. Thank You Louise
16. Hotel Chelsea Nights

Review
The best album of Ryan Adams in my opinion. It contains great numbers like their wonderful cover of ‘Wonderwall’ (which I believe is better than the original of Oasis) and one of my favourite numbers of all times ‘The Shadowlands’. What we get on this album is the same confessional mellow songs like we are used of him. Some are really dark songs, but there are also a lot of ‘happier’, upbeat songs (many say ‘radio-friendly’). The lyrics on this album are most likely the best he has ever written. I love the fact that ‘Love Is Hell’ shows a bit more of Ryan Adam’s soft side also: the amp doesn’t always have to be turned up to make a statement! Have fun with the album!(Sidenote: yes this is part 1 and 2 together! :))

My favorite song: 6. Wonderwall, 7. The Shadowlands

Similar Artists: Elliot Smith, Rufus Wainwright, Wilco

Popularity: 6% [?]

• A new music clip of The Shins of ‘Turn on Me’:
  
  

  And also some of their tourdates:
  08-17 Erfurt, Germany - Highfield Festival
  08-18 Hasselt, Belgium - Pukkelpop Festival
  08-19 Biddinghuizen, Holland - Lowlands Festival
  08-21 Dublin, Irland - Olympia Theatre
  08-22 Belfast, Northern Irland - Vital Festival
  08-23 Edinburgh, Scotland - Corn Exchange
  08-24 Saint-Cloud, France - Rock en Siene
  08-25 Reading, England - Reading Festival
  08-26 Leeds, England - Leeds Festival
  08-30 Bend, OR - Les Schwab Amphitheater
  09-01 Seattle, WA - Bumbershoot Festival
  09-02 Chicago, IL - Download Festival
  10-05 Berkeley, CA - Greek Theatre *
  10-06 Santa Barbara, CA - Santa Barbara Bowl *
  10-07 Los Angeles, CA - Greek Theatre *
  10-09 Mesa, AZ - Mesa Amphitheater *
  10-10 Albuquerque, NM - Popejoy Hall (University of New Mexico)
  10-17 Atlanta, GA - Boisfeuillet Jones Atlanta Civic Center
  10-18 Charleston, SC - The Plex #
  10-19 Raleigh, NC - Progress Energy Center (Raleigh Memorial Auditorium)
  10-20 Norfolk, VA - The NorVa #
  10-22 Columbia, MD - Merriweather Post Pavilion #
  10-23 New York, NY - Terminal Five #
  10-24 New York, NY - Terminal Five #
  10-27 Las Vegas, NV - Sam Boyd Stadium (Vegoose Festival)
  10-28 Las Vegas, NV - The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel

  (too bad I couldn’t see them at Pukkelpop :()

• Bright Eyes once again prolongs his tour:
  08-11 Osaka, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
  08-12 Tokyo, Japan - Summer Sonic Festival
  08-15 Bristol, England - Academy
  08-16 Liverpool, England - Academy
  08-17 Nottingham, England - Royal Centre
  09-14 Boise, ID - Big Easy Concert House
  09-18 Fairbanks, AK - University of Alaska - Fairbanks
  09-19 Anchorage, AK - University of Alaska - Anchorage
  09-20 Anchorage, AK - University of Alaska - Anchorage
  09-22 Seattle, WA - Quest Field (End Fest)
  09-23 Eugene, OR - McDonald Theatre
  09-24 Chico, CA - Senator Theatre
  09-29 Los Angeles, CA - Hollywood Bowl
• Ryan Adams also starts doing a bit of touring with his new album Easy Tiger:
  Sept. 13 - Charlottesville Pavilion, Charlottesville, Va.
  Sept. 16 - Calvin Theater, Northampton, Mass.
  Sept. 17 - Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
  Sept. 19 - St. Denis Theatre, Montreal
  Sept. 21 - Massey Hall, Toronto
  Sept. 22 - Michigan Theater, Ann Arbor, Mich.
  Sept. 24 - Kalamazoo State Theatre, Kalamazoo, Mich.
  Sept. 25 - Milwaukee Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
  Sept. 27 - State Theater, Minneapolis
  Sept. 28 - Barrymore Theatre, Madison, Wis.
  Sept. 29 - Chicago Theatre, Chicago
  Oct. 1 - Iowa Memorial Union, main lounge, Iowa City, Iowa
  Oct. 2 - Uptown Theatre, Kansas City
  Oct. 4 - Foelinger Auditorium, Urbana, Ill.
  Oct. 5 - The Pageant, St. Louis, Mo.
  Oct. 13 - N. Charleston Performing Arts Center, North Charleston, S.C.
  Oct. 15 - Alabama Theatre, Birmingham, Al.
  Oct. 18 - Wireless Theatre, Houston
  Oct. 19 - McFarlin Memorial Auditorium, Dallas
  Oct. 27 - Lakewood Civic Auditorium, Lakewood, Ohio
  Oct. 29 - Carnegie Music Hall of Oakland, Pittsburgh
  Oct. 30 - D.A.R. Constitution Hall, Washington, D.C.
  Oct. 31 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York
• I also saw an interesting post of The National on Aquarium Drunkard with mp3’s of them in Paris: check em out here!
• Some new José Gonzalezmusic clips:
  Down The Line
  
  

  Killing for The Love
  
  

• Midlake will also be touring:
  Tallahassee, FL The Beta Bar (September 3)
  Atlanta, GA The Earl (4)
  Carrboro, NC Cat’s Cradle (5)
  Washington, DC Black Cat (6)
  Philadelphia, PA Theatre Of Living Arts (7)
  New York, NY Webster Hall (8)
  Boston, MA Paradise Rock Club (9)
  Cleveland, OH Grog Shop (11)
  Chicago, IL Metro (12)
  Austin, TX Austin City Limits (16)
  Houston, TX Numbers (20)
  Fort Worth, TX Wall Of Sound Festival (22)
  Phoenix, AZ Rhythm Room (24)
  Los Angeles, CA Henry Fonda Theatre (25)
  Solana beach, CA Belly Up Tavern (26)
  San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall (27)
  Arcata, CA The Depot At Humboldt State (28)
  Portland, OR Doug Fir (29)
  Seattle, WA Crocodile Cafe (30)
  Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre (October 2)
  Lawrence, KS Jackpot (3)

Popularity: 5% [?]

1. Just a little clip with Tom Mcrae of the final night of the Hotel Cafe tour of one of his buddies.
   
   
2. Another new unreleased song of Elliot Smith …
3. Aqualung performing on Letterman my favourite song of him: Pressure Suit of his last album Memory Man.
   
   
4. Well actually not really music-news of Coldplay, but Chris Martin and Gwyneth are planning on extending their family by adopting a child. Good for them!
5. Devendra Banhart has already revealed the first single for his new album Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon:
6. And just for fun, a bit about Tay Zonday: confirmation that it is his real voice on television!
   
   
7. Some Beirut news: First, the last episode of Blogotheque:
   
   And furthermore, there is some news about him releasing a new album: it will be titled ‘The Fly Cub Cup’ and will be released in October.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Tracklist
1. Pride (In The Name Of Love)
2. New Year’s Day
3. With Or Without You
4. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For
5. Sunday Bloody Sunday
6. Bad
7. Where The Streets Have No Name
8. I Will Follow
9. Unforgettable Fire
10. Sweetest Thing
11. Desire
12. When Love Comes To Town
13. Angel Of Harlem
14. All I Want Is You

Review
Although I’m not a big U2-fan, this compilation of best songs of 1980-1990 contain for me their … best songs. And well actually … there is not much to review: if you don’t know most of the songs on this album, you’ve been living in a cave for the past 15 years (or longer :x)… Their songs reach a level a lot of artists never attain: great songwriting and melodies that keep lingering in your head for many many days after. And if you have listened to their new songs, you can also detect the evolution they have made through time. Oh yes, I know this album is actually a double cd, but the second album, containing only B-sides, didn’t really appeal to me … . I recommend this compilation to anyone who likes good music (not only mellow music ^^). You don’t have to be a life-long U2 fan to appreciate and relate to their music. Have fun with it!

My favorite song: 3. With Or Without You, 7. Where The Streets Have No Name, 10. Sweetest Thing

Similar Artists: The Rolling Stones

Popularity: 5% [?]

Tracklist
1. Kissing The Lipless
2. Mine’s Not A High Horse
3. So Says I
4. Young Pilgrims
5. Saint Simon
6. Fighting In A Sack
7. Pink Bullets
8. Turn A Square
9. Gone For Good
10. Those To Come

Review
‘Chutes Too Narrow’ is the second album of The Shins and also their second best in my opinion (after Wincing The Night Away). The familiar indie pop sound they bring you, is still full of memorable moments, still convinces and gives you a boost of cheerful energy. The album contains superb detail, perfect instrumental elaboration and thus brilliant song-writing (thumbs up for Mercer!)! All the songs are unique in their emotionally rich melody and structure: original and profound, but nevertheless still featherlight… Indie pop at its best! Don’t miss it!

My favorite song: 1. Kissing The Lipless, 5. Saint Simon

Similar Artists: Modest Mouse, Belle & Sebastian, The Decemberists

Popularity: 6% [?]

Tracklist
1. Down River
2. Velvet Cell
3. Animals
4. Nicole
5. Velvet Cell
6. Cities Beneath The Sea
7. Song From Under The Arches
8. See My Friends

Review
‘Fires in Distant Buildings’ is made of strong contrasts between the eerie and dreamie voice of Nick Talbot, and the dark and sinister overall tone. His songs give you stories about murderers, suicide and other dark themes. Sometimes the songs take a dark twist in the middle, by adding a menacing electrical guitar that comes upon you as a sudden brutal attack. Nevertheless, no song ever sounds agressive and ‘full of pain’; Gravenhurst maintain their folky sound. If you are looking for a dark atmosphere with detached vocals, attention for detail in every song and twisted mellowness, you have found it!

My favorite song: 4. Nicole

Similar Artists: Low, Mogwai

Popularity: 5% [?]