Pilot To Gunner – barrio superstarrio

Pilot To Gunner[myspace] has been on the scene since 1998, but they don’t have the numbers in terms of releases to really make that believable. Doesn’t make me like them any less. This is a really good track to run to. They make their way into my running mixes here and there.

Shiner – kevin is gone

Been talking with a variety of people that have dropped SXSW into the conversation, and it reminded me of the one time I went. I saw these guys, Shiner[wiki], twice during my time there. Not the best version of this video in the world, but perhaps it will make you want to find more about this band from Kansas City.

They broke up a few years ago, but The Life and Times picks up where Shiner left off.

Spoon – don’t you evah

I’ve seen this talked about here and there, but it wasn’t until Robert Sanzalone made mention of it in a Twitter post that I’ve actually watched this video.

Spoon recently released their sixth album, “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga”, and this video appears to be a collaboration of technology and music in its best form. There is also a lot of Tokyo spread throughout this, and it triggers a lot of happy memories for me. Lead singer Britt Daniel[wiki] makes a brief cameo in a shot going up the escalator, just behind the scientist guy who is carrying the little, bopping robot.

Matthew Good, “Hospital Music” available now

Today is the day for the official release of Hospital Music, the fourth solo album from Matthew Good, the eleventh, overall release of his nearly fifteen year career as a musician.

The album is available for purchase in music stores all across Canada. In the U.S., you can purchase Hospital Music through iTunes, CDs will be on sale at a late date.

The first single from this album, Born Losers, has been playing on Canadian radio for about a month now. Being that yours truly is working for some radio sations in Vancouver now, I can report that the single has received a lot of spin, not to mention that his show here has been sold out for the last few weeks.

Additionally, Matt has put a call out to fans to develop their own concept for the video to this single. Submissions have been coming in via YouTube, and it’s been impressive to see what people have come up with. The version I have on this post is one of the latest ones, and it’s the one that has impressed me the most so far. Plus this gives you a chance to check out the single for yourself in case you haven’t heard it yet(I’m looking at you, America!).

If you dig that single, you’re going to dig the rest of the album for sure. Dare I say it, there are a lot of musicians that talk about what music is and should be, and for the first time in a long time, this album really feels like Good is walking the walk.

They Might Be Giants – the sun

A little something for your Friday, especially if you are enjoying the summer sun like we are (trying to) in Vancouver. I know they say this song is called, “The Sun is a Mass of Incandescent Gas”, but I’ve always called it “The Sun”.

I used to co-host a weekly morning show at KRUI on Wednesdays called “In The Middle”. Clever, eh? Well, every week at 9:30AM, we poked fun at the surrounding FM, rock stations and their “mandatory Metallica” with our own, “Mandatory They Might Be Giants“. Yes, they are near and dear to my heart.

Forever will be the experience of John and John doing a live, acoustic performance in our little studio be remembered, then throwing on our station t-shirt at their encore that night. If Muffin is watching this post, which you see him perk up here from time to time and was my co-host of said show, he’ll agree about that. Knowing that he was a huge fan, and still is, I got him to do that interview in the studio, if not fulfill a lifetime dream. Rock.

The (International) Noise Conspiracy – up for sale

Been hit with a bit of a head cold over this weekend, so that found the TV being a major source of comfort today, especially with a number of documentaries that I’ve been meaning to watch for a while. After watching SiCKO[imdb], Cocaine Cowboys[imdb], and The F Word[imdb], it reminded me of this video from T(I)NC that I was surprised to find a number of weeks ago. Didn’t even know they made a video for this song.

Can’t wait for the new album that they are working on, but The Lost Patrol Band is filling in the gaps nicely until then. Gotta see them the next time they come to town as well.

William Elliot Whitmore on YouTube

I’ve written about William Elliot Whitmore when he came to Vancouver. Sadly, I never made it to that show. I did, however, find this video of him doing this in-house/live studio performance on YouTube. Hard to imagine that the guy has opened for hardcore bands all across Europe, but it’s true. And the crowds loved him.

I don’t know what it is about his voice and the banjo, but it works for me.

Local H – no fun + alright, oh yeah

Going through one of my rediscovery phases, and these guys don’t have a video for either of these songs, of which I really dig. This live performance from Local H in 2002 is the best I can do, but it does the trick.

Caution: slightly strong language.

This is how I feel about the iPhone hype

I love the concept and wouldn’t mind owning one. However, I got really sick of the hype leading up to the iPhone release, am sick of hearing from those who got one, and am tired of hearing about all the things you can or will soon be able to get for your iPhone. Just not one of those rush-out-gotta-have-it types, even though I love cool, little gadgets from Apple.

I found this highly entertaining.