New Release Tuesday: Hot Fuzz

As I was excited earlier in the year for Grindhouse and the Aqua Teen movie, and I'm still waiting oh-most patiently to see The Simpsons Movie, I wasn't waiting any longer than 12:30 on a Friday afternoon to catch the premiere screening of Hot Fuzz back at home. The creative force behind Shaun Of The Dead this time around strayed away from the spoofs of classic horror and zombie films to create an amazing homage to some of the greatest action films of our time (see: Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys 1 and 2, and lest we forget, Point Break.) I went in with super amounts of excitement, and fear that it wouldn't hold up to its predecessor. Lucky for us it did, and it was just as funny and as good as Shaun thanks to the comical talent of heterosexual lovers for life Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and commander-in-chief aka director Edgar Wright.

I've seen Shaun several hundreds, thousands, lots of times and know all the jokes, best one-liners, etc. (I was Shaun for Halloween even last year,) and now I can start boning up on my repetition of the memorable Fuzz moments with its release on DVD today. Unlike the UK, where the movie went straight to number one at the box office Valentine's Day prompting them with a two-disc special edition with features out the wazoo in June, the US version does still have a healthy heap of extras. Besides the usual plethora of deleted scenes and outtakes, there's something noted as being a US Tour Piece ("The Fuzzball Rally,") and what I'm guess to be documentaries named "The Man Who Would Be Fuzz" and "Hot Funk." Either way, I'm sure it will be worth the money you spend on it. Still just makes you wonder what they will be doing for their next movie.

Buy: Hot Fuzz [here]

Liars Tell The Truth: They're Touring with Interpol

It seems like Liars had just released Drum's Not Dead last week or something, and the Brooklyn avant garde trio will be returning with a 4th, self-titled effort on August 28th.

To support their newest Mute offering, the band has been handpicked by Interpol to open up for them on their fall tour of the states. It'll definitely be interesting to see band that is primarily used to playing small venues figure out what to do with all that space on stage at such venues as, oh I don't know, Madison Square Garden!?

Besides the huge venues being new to the fold, Liars the album finds Liars the band stripping away some of their famed experimentations to bring forth a more typical song structure approach. Lead singer Angus Andrew is even surprised by what the band has churned out, even going as far as to use the word 'shocked' to describe the end result.

Hear/watch the Liars sound in the video for first single "Plaster Casts Of Everything" -


Go see the Liars rock with Interpol -
09-10 Albany, NY - Palace Theatre
09-12 Boston, MA - Agganis Arena
09-14 New York, NY - Madison Square Garden
09-15 Philadelphia, PA - Tower Theatre
09-16 Raleigh, NC - Disco Rodeo
09-18 Orlando, FL - Hard Rock Live
09-19 Miami, FL - BankUnited Center
09-21 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle
09-22 Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
09-23 New Orleans, LA - Sugar Mill
09-25 Houston, TX - Verizon Wireless Theatre
09-26 Austin, TX - Stubb's Bar-B-Q
09-27 Dallas, TX - Palladium
10-10 Kansas City, KS - Uptown
10-12 Minneapolis, MN - State Theatre
10-14 Denver, CO - Fillmore
10-15 Salt Lake City, UT - McKay Center
10-16 Boise, ID - Big Easy
10-18 Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater
10-19 Portland, OR - Memorial Coliseum
10-20 San Francisco, CA - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium
10-23 Los Angeles, CA - The Forum

SiS Ticket Giveaway: The Automatic Automatic

Fresh off of their post announcing their dates on this summer's Vans Warped Tour, The Automatic Automatic are heading out on the road sans half pipes and knee pads. And, best of which, we want to send you there, if you're in Boston that is.

The Automatic Automatic will be playing The Great Scott out in Allston, this Monday July 30th. First person who sends in a message to the e-mail address over on the right gets a pair of tickets to what I am sure will be an awesome time. Best of luck!

The Darjeeling Limited: In Cineplexes Soon

One of the greatest filmmakers of my generation is Texas native Wes Anderson. Over the past 10 years, myself amongst the others grew up with such fabeled tales of alienation while admiring a love we know we could certain never have, but would pursue anyway (Rushmore,) a man's journey as he finds out he may have a son he never knew existed (The Life Aquatic With Steve Zizzou,) or just plain old family dysfunction (The Royal Tenenbaums.)

This fall, Anderson returns with The Darjeeling Limited, a story about a trio of brothers (played by Anderson players Owen Wilson and Jason Schwartzman, who wrote the film with Anderson and Roman Coppola, and Adrian Brody) who attempt to reconnect with one another and find themselves on a train trip across India. From the looks of the trailer, this might be one of the more powerful films in Anderson's pictures, but I am sure it will still have its moments of hilarious subtlety (see: "I love you too, but I'm gonna mace you in the face!) The movie will open up this year's New York Film Festival on September 27th.

The Darjeeling Limited is released via Fox Searchlight Pictures on September 28th.

Watch: The Darjeeling Limited Trailer [Here]

Buffalo Tom On Letterman This Week

Though they're named has been tossed around for almost 20 years, word has it that the great Boston based Buffalo Tom (say that ten times fast, what with all the alliteration) will finally get their chance to be seen before the masses. The band will get the chance to see if Paul Shaffer wants to jam with them, as the trio will grace the stage as musical guests of The Late Show with David Letterman this Friday on CBS. They'll be on promoting their recent album (and first in nine years) titled Three Easy Pieces out on New West. Here's to them hopefully playing "Bottom Of The Rain." The show starts at 11:30 PM, but if you want to just catch Bill Janowitz and the boys, you could probably wait til 12:20 AM or so and tune in. If you do turn in before Buffalo Tom, though, you'll get to catch that cute girl Anne Hathaway and comedian Jim Gaffigan. It's your call.

Download: "Bottom Of The Rain" [mp3] /// [Buy Here]

SiS At The Club: St. Vincent

You know, Norah Jones might moonlight in some faux-punk band once in awhile, but she ain't indie. St. Vincent, or Annie Clark (a secret she gave away last night to a very packed Middle East Upstairs that isn't secret in the least) is like Norah Jones gone total indie. She's got that amazing, soaring vocal; she plays guitar instead of piano (wait - she did make her way over to the keyboard last night.) The thing that got to me most during her set was how captivated the audience was -- so quiet, so silent. It all goes with that great saying that it was so quiet last night you could hear a pin drop during the outro to one of her songs. The songs were perfect and intimiate: opening up with Marry Me opener "Now Now," the crowd was slightly swaying to the St. Vincent brand she was selling. Her music was romantic and it is fitting and all, seeings how the title track has a chorus of 'Marry me, John / I'll be so good to you.' During one song I even saw people slow dancing and - gasp! - making out. It was like the Enchantment Under The Sea dance all over again.

"Your Lips Are Red" is a brooding rocker that stands out from the rest of the album, and finds Clark (who is a former member of the Polyphonic Spree) channeling her inner PJ Harvey. She'll be on the road throughout the rest of the summer in support of Marry Me, out now on Beggars Banquet.

Tour Dates:
July 19 Montreal, QC La Sala Rossa
July 20 Toronto, ON Horseshoe Tavern
July 21 Cleveland, OH Beachland Tavern
July 22 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
July 24 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry
July 25 Omaha, NE The Waiting Room
July 26 Kansas City, MO Record Bar
July 27 Denver, CO Hi-Dive
July 28 Salt Lake City, UT In The Venue
July 30 Vancouver, BC Lamplighter
Aug 01 Portland, OR Doug Fir Lounge
Aug 03 San Francisco, CA Cafe du Nord
Aug 04 Los Angeles, CA The Echo
Aug 05 San Diego, CA Casbah
Aug 07 Phoenix, AZ Modified
Aug 08 Tucson, AZ Club Congress
Aug 09 Albuquerque, NM Launchpad
Sept 01 Seattle, WA Bumbershoot

Download: "Your Lips Are Red" [mp3] /// [Buy Here]

Stranded In Stereo Makes The (MTV) News (Dot Com)

As we celebrate post 100 today, your trusty blogger is no longer just stranded on this page. Click here to check out my response to James Montgomery's post last week on "The Pinkerton Effect."

My (Post) Formative Years: "Stars And Sons" by Broken Social Scene, 2003

This week, another special edition of My Formative Years finds Rusty going ad nauseum about the greatest pop single (in his opinion.)

Never will I ever forget the first time I heard "Stars And Sons."

(Pauses. Puts song on. Contnues.)

I remember being in my old basement bedroom and "Stars And Sons" came on the radio. It would be my first experience with Broken Social Scene. Brendan Canning's inhales before he delivers the deepest vocal I think I have ever heard. That bass line. That bass line, so intense, such a grooved, etched in to my memory deeper than any etching on the side of a vinyl record. The words, at times, seemed jumbled yet they were not. He seemed incoherent, yet all clear at the same time.

The handclap is the cheapest instrument in the world, and boy did they utilize that. I remember when I finally saw them in October 2005, I clapped that entire part out during the song. My hands hurt afterward but boy was it worth it. I wasn't alone, as when I obtained a copy of the bootleg the crowd did clap along like me, even when the second verse started.

That neverending outro. The last 1:55 of that song is just so intense, even though it's just a carbon copy of the rest of the song. It shows that repitition is such an easy, sustainable, catchy mechanism in pop music. With that groovy baseline and looped drum beat, it left the rest of the Canadian collective to squeal out of their guitars, make other noises, clap some more. And then the drum beat finally changes, the groove is broken, and all comes to a screeching hault. The finally syncopated clapping pattern draws to a close as the stars fall from the night sky and bring in the morning.

Because audio always needs visual to compliment:



Buy: You Forgot It In People [here]

The Simpsons Movie: In Cineplexes Soon

It's the movie that has been 18 years in the making, and the one myself and several other fans have been waiting forever for, is finally hitting your local cineplex in 10 days. Or should I say googoplex?

Amid much fanfare and worry, The Simpsons Movie is definitely going to fill up the theater, yet with what kind of people? Yes, it'll be 99%-110% Simpsons fans, enthusiasts and the like from all ages young and old. But what are the fans thinking? How skeptical are they? The show still pulls in millions of viewers after 18 years on television with no end in sight, but several fans say the show peaked around season 10 or 11, which would've been halfway through it's life so far. I still look at season 14's "How I Spent My Strummer Vacation" as a highlight where Homer gets sent to rock and roll fantasy camp with Mick and Keith, Elvis (Costello), Tom Petty, Brian Setzer, et al. Or, season 12's classic "Trilogy Of Error" with everyone's favorite grammar robot, Linguo.

For the movie, creator Matt Groening says the writers have come up with the best plot possible to bring to the big screen (something to do with Homer saving his family, and the world!?) A lot of my friends and co-worker's fear that I won't like it and it won't be good, but I'm looking forward to it. Alot of other people have been complaining about the marketing overhaul, what, with the transforming of 7-11's in to a Kwik-E-Mart? That Blue 'Whoo Hoo!' Vanilla in my limited edition Simpsons cup with Homer chasing his pig on it rocked! Have to get a Buzz Cola at some point too to pour in to my bowl of Kusty-O's.

Also, make sure to check out the official website for the movie, where you can play some games, view trailers, and most importantly, create your own Simpsons avatar!

Your faithful blogger, in Simpson form (and that is a SQUISHEE on my shirt):














SPIDER-PIG!!


The Simpsons Movie is in theaters on July 27th.

Blitzen Trapper On Tour

Yeah, yeah, all the cool blogs were at that Pitchfork Festival this weekend, as I jealously sat missing out on Sonic Youth perform one of the greatest albums from front to back, but I did become fast friends with a new record. It seems that another great act has come about from the depths of Portland, Oregon in the form of Blitzen Trapper. The sextet recently released their sixth album, Wild Mountain Nation to much buzz and acclaim. So much that last week it was reported that not even a month after the album's release, the band had inked with Sub Pop, joining their always expanding stable of quality artists.

While honing in on a somewhat distinct alt-country sound, the band really lets the indie rock show with the cut-up/start-stop beat of album opener "Devil's A-Go-Go." Throughout the quick 33 minutes, the 13 songs cross the barriers of down and dirty ("Country Caravan,") to a song I was expecting to hear on the last Joggers record ("Miss Spiritual Tramp.")

The video for "Devil's A-Go-Go" is below this sentence. The strobes and quick camera cuts really line up with the songs above mentioned beat and groove. Warning: may cause a seizure.


The band is currently on the roads of the US of A, playing alongside David Vandervelde. Catch them when they roll through your town (like I plan on doing next week)

Tour Dates:
07/16 - Emo's - Austin
07/17 - The loft - Dallas
07/18 - Walter's On Washington - Houston
07/19 - Thirsty Hippo - Hattiesburg
07/20 - Drunken Unicorn - Atlanta
07/21 - Bella Festa - Wilmington
07/22 - Rock And Roll Hotel - Washington DC
07/23 - Johnny Brenda's - Philadelphia
07/24 - Great Scott - Boston
07/25 - Bowery Ballroom - New York
07/26 - The Icon - Buffalo
07/27 - Blind Pig - Ann Arbor

Download: "Wild Mountain Nation" [mp3] /// [Buy Here]

The Automatic Automatic on the Vans Warped Tour

What's that coming over the hill of the half pipes in venue parking lots around the country this summer? It's UK outift, The Automatic Automatic. Known solely as just The Automatic in their native land, the band has scored a handful of dates on this summer's edition of the Vans Warped Tour to support their recently released album Not Accepted Anywhere. Full of gargantuan guitars and monster riffs, it's no surprise we're all in love with the song titled "Monster." The video for it kind of reminds me of The Blair Witch Project if it was in the daylight. And, if you look closely, is that ... Sasquatch!?

Beyond their stint on the Warped Tour (running through the July 24th date in Virginia Beach,) they have a handful of headlining dates around the U.S.

Tour Dates:
07.13 Selma, TX @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheater

07.14 Dallas, TX @ Smirnoff Music Centre

07.15 Houston, TX @ Reliant Center at Reliant Park

07.18 Atlanta, GA @ HiFi Buys Amiptheatre

07.19 Green Cove Springs, FL @ Reynolds Park Yacht Center

07.20 St. Petersburg, FL @ Vinoy Waterfront Park

07.21 Miami, FL @ Bicentennial Park

07.22 Orlando, FL @ Tinker Field

07.23 Charlotte, NC @ Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre

07.24 Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach
----
07.26 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
07.27 Hartford, CT @ Sweet Jane's
07.28 Washington, DC @ Rock & Roll Hotel
07.30 Boston, MA @ Great Scott
07.31 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star
08.02 Toronto, ON @ Mod Club
08.03 Detroit, MI @ Shelter
08.04 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
08.06 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Intersection Lounge
08.07 Columbus, OH @ The Basement
08.08 Cincinnati, OH @ 20th Century Theare

The Hedrons Of The UK Storming The USA. Hang With Homme For T

The cute girls of UK punk quartet The Hedrons kicked off their second tour of the US last night in Rochester, NY. The lovely ladies are out supporting their first album, One More Won't Kill Us, out now on 4 West Records, finds the ladies channeling their inner punk while having a sheen sound that's almost sort of like Green Day.

What's even cooler for these ladies is that while playing at this year's installment of the T In The Park Festival, the ladies got some down time to chat with Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Josh Homme. I'm sure they were much obliged as he was, even taking a moment to get a picture together.

Aren't they cute?












Tour Dates:
07/13 - Nectar's - Bulington
07/14 - Quebec Summer Fest - Quebec
07/15 - The Boat - Toronto
07/17 - Horseshoe Tavern - Toronto
07/19 - The Annex - New York
07/20 - Great Scott - Boston
07/21 - State Theatre - Falls Church
07/22 - North Star - Philadelphia
07/24 - The Dame - Lexington
07/27 - Radio Radio - Indianapolis
07/28 - Wicker Park Festival - Chicago
07/29 - Metro - Chicago

A Word with Jose Fritz

This week, Jose Fritz returns with a look at Steinbeck lovers Beasts Of Eden.

It’s rare that such a slickly produced record interests me so. But between their Brit-pop posturing and their Coldplay like melody my inner anglophile needs to be edified. I’ll proceed without further homonym.

The band was named after Steinbeck's book East of Eden, as a play on words. Apparently Oprah had recommended they read it. East of Eden was written as a requiem for Steinbeck he referred to is as his greatest work. Its biblical themes so complex, and subtle that the average English. major can’t see the plot thru the mud. He even struggled with the title. After transcribing the 16 verses of Cain and Abel in the bible itself that the answer came to him. He took the last three words of the final verse, "East of Eden", as the novel's title.

That verse is as follows: “Then Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east of Eden.” This passage is generally recognized as a mistranslation; "nod" is the Hebrew root of the verb “nuwd” meaning "to wander."

Did the band know all of this? Perhaps, or perhaps not. But if they do it would explain why they’ve been touring non-stop since the record came out.

Stream: End Times [Here] /// [Buy Here]

Superdrag Reunion: Holy $@#!

It's been almost 24 hours since I was given the news that one of my all-time, Top 5 favorite bands was getting back the original line-up and hitting the road for six limited shows in October and November. And then I found out they were playing Boston. And then, I shit many a brick and phoned up one of my best friends at home.

The Kings of Power Pop, Knoxville, TN's Superdrag have apparently been rehearsing for the past eight months to get ready for the stint that will find them bringing the original line-up of John Davis, Brandon Fisher, Tom Pappas and Don Coffey, Jr. to the stage for the first time in a decade. Rumors had been spreading for months ever since the release of the rarities comp Changin' Tires On The Road To Ruin that something was a-brewing down south, especially when pictures of Davis, Pappas, and Coffey rehearsing popped up on Davis' MySpace. On top of all this, the band announced they have a compiled a 2-disc, 40 song set of rarities dating from 1992-1995 (that's about pre-Darla for all you 'Drag fans counting) to be sold exclusively on the upcoming tour.

"Sucked Out" - takes me back!


Tickets for all six shows go on pre-sale tomorrow for $10 and also get you an autographed tour poster. You can bet I'll be eagerly awaiting high noon.

Tour Dates:
10/05 - Nashville, TN - City Hall
10/13 - Chicago, IL - Metro
10/20 - Knoxville, TN - Barley's Taproom
11/02 - New York, NY - Fillmore at Irving Plaza
11/03 - Boston, MA - Paradise
11/08 - Washington, DC - 9:30 Club

Speaking of My Formative Years, James Montgomery writes a great weekly column over at MTV News called Bigger Than The Sound. This year's topic on albums that suffer from what he cleverly dubbed "The Pinkerton Effect" definitely reminds me of my diatribes on the records that shaped my life. Do check it out!

Dead Rock West touring with John Doe

One thing we've really been digging around the office lately is the new John Doe record, especially that song "The Golden State" featuring Cindy Wasserman on vocals with the legendary X singer. The duet is so awesome that her band, Dead Rock West, is going on tour with Doe starting tonight in Austin! Show up early to catch their set, and stick around to see John and Cindy do the duet.

"The Golden State"


Tour Dates:
July 11 - Cactus Cafe - Austin, TX (w/ John Doe)
July 12 - Granada Theatre - Dallas, TX (w/ John Doe)
July 15 - The Abby Pub - Chicago, IL (w/ John Doe)
July 16 - High Noon Saloon - Madison, WI (w/ John Doe)
July 17 - Vaudeville Mews - Des Moines, IA (w/ John Doe)
July 18 - 7th Street Entry - Minneapolis, MN (w/ John Doe)
July 19 - The Mill - Iowa City, IA (w/ John Doe)
July 20 - The Reverb - Cedar Falls, IA (w/ John Doe)
July 23 - Club Café - Pittsburgh, PA (w/ John Doe)
July 24 – 8x10 – Baltimore, MD (w/John Doe)
July 25 – World Café Live – Philadelphia, PA (w/John Doe)
July 26 – Mercury Lounge – New York, NY (w/John Doe)
July 27 – T.T. the Bear’s – Cambridge, MA (w/John Doe)
July 28 – Jake’s Bar & Grille – Providence, RI (w/John Doe)
July 31 – Iota Club & Café – Arlington, VA (w/John Doe)
August 2 – Capitol Ale House – Richmond, VA (w/John Doe)
August 3 – Hideaway BBQ – Raleigh, NC (w/John Doe)
August 5 – Smith’s Olde Bar – Atlanta, GA (w/John Doe)
August 25- Safari Sams - Los Angeles, CA (w/John Doe)
September 2- Summer Strummer Festival Los Angeles, CA

New Release Tuesday

Every year, and usually it is in the summer months, one Tuesday ranks higher than any other Tuesday in the books for me, and I usually dub it "Super Tuesday" or something lame along those lines. Today is that Tuesday for 2007. Besides Our Love To Admire which we covered yesterday, and The Else which you can now get in stores, here's the other notable releases this week.

They're far from My Formative Years, but Billy Corgan and his Smashing Pumpkins (or can we just say it's Corgan hiding under a moniker after TheFutureEmbrace,) have made a record I'm not ashamed to say I'm listening to constantly. Or, at least a few songs. After seven years, the messy solo record, and a decent supergroup that came out of Zwan, old Billy and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin shacked up and (as one of my best friends would put it) wrote songs in the vein of the Pumpkins to make Zeitgeist. Some songs, they honestly do shine: opener "Doomsday Clock" is gargantuan and on par with any song from Siamese Dream; "For God And Country" sneaks in elements of Machina; "Tarantula" actually isn't a bad single! But where the album strives, it also has its pale moments. With the use of three different productions teams (either Corgan and Chamberlin themselves, or with the help of Deftones producer Terry Date or the legendary Roy Thomas Baker,) the album at times has three distinct sounds. Where "Clock" has that signature brutal guitar and pounding drums, "Starz" sounds like a rough demo with lead guitar overdubs. The finale "Pomp And Circumstances" sounds as awful as anything we were expected to Embrace on Corgan's solo effort: covered in synths and all kinds of unnecessary electronic elements, the squealing guitar solo that comes in mid way makes you want to turn it off and question why this song is on the album? Luckily, the 10-minutes of "United States" is worth every second: holier than thou guitars, movements and changes like "XYU" almost. It's as close as we'll get to the Pumpkins of yesteryear. I do suggest checking out the multiple bonus tracks from various retailers (or blogs.) "Stellar" is exactly that, and makes me wonder why that isn't on the album instead.

Stream: Zeitgeist [Here] /// [Buy Here]

If Boxer (or, yeah that War Stories record) were the safe bet for my album of the year, "You Got Yr Cherry Bomb" is without a doubt the best song to come out in 2007. In 3:08 (not even, since the song ends at 2:44,) Spoon made me go cuckoo for Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. With the simple tambourine, the bright brass, and, is that a xylophone(?), Britt Daniel and the rest of the Austin band (now featuring ex-Get Up Kids/current White Whale bassist Rob Pope) craft a gem that I've been saying for two months now is the Greatest Motown Hit Barry Gordy forgot about. Besides the saccrine blast of "Bomb," Ga features what sounds like a sonic throw down between Chicago and a random mariachi band (the Jon Brion-produced "The Underdog,") brooding melodies that almost sound out of place ("Eddie's Ragga,") and the obvious inclusion of the hand clap, world's cheapest instrument ("Don't Make Me A Target,") Spoon have grown from their previous efforts into an even more comfortable zone and still don't let me down. First editions come with the Get Nice! EP: 12 songs in 22 minutes that fit perfectly as the soundtrack to 3 A.M. on Saturday after a long night out.

Stream: Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga [Here] /// [Buy Here]

New Diet Kong Video: "Much Love In The Evil Sound"

Diet Kong's new video mixes black suits and white gloves, an old school lesson in anatomy, and most importantly the rock. Don't freak out, just enjoy the love in the evil sound.

Interpol: Our Love To Admire

"Spare me / the suspense” Paul Banks commands on “Mammoth,” one of 11 new songs on Interpol’s third opus, Our Love To Admire. Finally, after a three-year wait, listeners are no longer waiting in suspense but listening to see what changes and modes of growth would occur after jumping from Matador to Capitol.

Like “Mammoth,” opener “Pioneer To The Falls” was previewed on tour dates earlier in the year and fails to disappoint on record. The opening chime of the guitars that start off the record would almost channel the opening moments of "Everywhere" from Tango In The Night if there was some wind chimes whistling away off in to the background. It’s near six-minute slow march that goes in to the standout “No I In Threesome.” From a pulsing bass line, comes a stomping beat and clang-clang piano which I really don’t remember them utilizing much before, and showing that the band again has given themselves room to grow and explore as opposed to just play everything by the book.

Admire does have the paint by numbers Interpol that we loved on Turn On The Bright Lights (the amazing finale "The Lighthouse,") and the one we kind of appeared to enjoy but maybe we didn't really with Antics (the sludge-like movement of "Rest My Chemistry.") Like Antics' lead off single "Slow Hands," "The Heinrich Maneuver" does not let down in the least, with its catchy hook spiraling about and hints of organ in the chorus (at least I think its an organ.)

So what are left with after the suspense is no more? An album that stands out beyond Antics, but still there will never be another record that comes out of them quite like Lights, and I'm fine with that. And I hope you are, too.

Stream: Our Love To Admire [Here] /// [Buy Here]

SIS V6: Landing and Arriving Your Way Soon

For all of those smart enough to subscribe to Stranded In Stereo the compilation (as opposed to this wonderful little companion blog that I love running so dearly) should start watching their mailboxes as we'll be starting the mailing process for Volume 6 very very shortly. This is the strongest, greatest line-up SiS has seen yet.

What can you expect this round? Check it out:

CD:
Interpol - "The Heinrich Maneuver"
They Might Be Giants - "Take Out The Trash"
Ola Podrida - "Instead"
Robbers On High Street - "Crown Victoria"
Midnight Movies - "Souvenirs"
Buffalo Tom - "Three Easy Pieces"
No Second Troy - "Burned"
Go Motion - "Different In Time"
Pictures Of Then - "Instant Rocket To Glory"
Lay Low - "Mojo Love"
Verona Grove - "Goodbye Surrender"
Jupiter One - "Countdown"
The Mercies - "You Can't Stop Me Now"
The Yarrows - "Cellophane"
Sullivan - "Tell Me I'm Wrong"
Tiger City - "Dark Water"
Gogol Bordello - "Wonderlust King"
Bedouin Soundclash - "Walls Fall Down"
Chuck Ragan - "The Boat"
Drakes Hotel - "Broadcast To The Addicted"
Edison Glass - "All Our Memories"

DVD - videos:
Green Day - "Working Class Hero"
Young Knives - "Weekends & Bleak Days (Hot Summer)"
Midnight Movies - "Patient Eye"
Margo Guryan - "16 Words"
The Cribs - "Men's Needs"
Jesse Malin - "Broken Radio"
No More Kings - "Sweep The Leg"
Wildbirds - "421"
Ursula 1000 - "Electric Boogie"
Grand Atlantic - "Smoke And Mirrors"
Kava Kava - "Bank Job"
Loney, Dear - "I Am John"
Edison Glass - "This House"
Magic Bullets - "Yesterday's Seen Better Days"
Supersuckers - "Rock n' Roll (Ain't Selling This Year)"
Diet Kong - "Much Love In The Evil Sound"

DVD - Film Trailers:
Element
Hairspray
The Simpsons Movie
Live Free Or Die Hard
Love's A Bitch
Neighborhood
The Party

Live Free Or Die Hard: In Theatres Now

So, I decided to celebrate my Independence Day a little bit on the early side this year by seeing the newest film to feature the legendary action hero John McClane (played by Bruce Willis) in Live Free Or Die Hard.

Growing up, I was always a huge fan of Die Hard trilogy: the original was groundbreaking for its time, bringing a return to form to the action hero in cinema. It was also named the greatest action movie of all time the other week by the folks at Entertainment Weekly. Where the first one was all about one macho man with a gun taking down an army of terrorists, its sequel upped the ante by putting him on a race against time at Dulles Airport to stop another group of terrorists and get all the planes in the air to land safely before they ran out of fuel. The third film, Die Hard With A Vengence, is my personal favorite. Teaming McClane up with shop owner Zeus (played by Samuel L. Jackson,) the action was greater than ever and the villian was a relative of the original terrorist from Die Hard. High speed chases throughout NYC, subways blowing up, riddles and games every corner to be turned all added up to one big cat and mouse game. How would they top it?

Surprisingly, Live Free isn't that bad at all. Kept in tact was the humorous one lines from Willis' most famous character (example: "I'm tired of all this kung fu" or "He's like a damn hamster!") while make the action scenes more intense. In the several years since the last film, advances in special effects have only benefited the makes of the newest installment, helping wild ideas like police cars blowing up helicopters to become a reality. The plot, involving terrorists using computers and modern technology to just shut down the universe, proves an interesting villian and enemy to the non-so-tech-savvy McClane, who gets help from Matthew Farrell (played by Justin Long,) a computer nerd but such a strongman with a gun in his hand. Either way, still a good film, and they've kept a series of good films alive. Wonder what happens if they make a fifth one?