Nothing of Importance

As the headline suggests, there's really nothing huge happening today. I scoured blogs to find something that was headline-worthy, but was left unsatisfied. And so, today you get a bunch of little news tidbits. Enjoy.

The Buffalo News has some staggering information: The Postal Service is successful. No! Who would have thought?! Seriously, now, when you hear a band in the background of a commercial for a new TV show (I forget which one, but I assure you, I heard it), you have to think maybe they hit the big time. Anyway, if you don't know much about The Postal Service, the article is worth reading, but if you're already a fan or already know their story, then it's just the same old same old. One tidbit of information they did include is that, if there is a new album, it is at least a year away. I guess that new song on the EP was not a sign of things to come in the near future. Sorry, guys.

Sigur Ros is going on tour! Don't get your hopes up, though. The tour is through the month of July and will not be making it to the shores of our lovely continent. Someday... someday...

The Olivia Tremor Control is reuniting? Well, yes, but not for long. The Elephant 6 band is making three appearances in the US and UK, but as for recording a new album, chances are not good.

Fans of Ratatat who haven't seen them live can live vicariously through Jay Guillermo of Prefix Magazine. Today he gives an account of a show at the Knitting Factory in New York. I find it interesting, though, that it's on the front page even though the concert took place in 2003. Oh well, it's still a show. Read 'em and weep because you weren't there.

Let's take a break from music news for something very peculiar I found today. I remember my freshman year of college when my friend John and all of our really sexy guy friends started popping their collars. I'd never seen people do it before, and I thought they were the coolest thing. Would you believe that now the "popped collar" has not only made it to the NCAA Tournament, but it has also made it into slang, and it doesn't mean, "to pop ones collar." Weird. I always knew my friends were trendsetters, but dang. This one's gone too far.

In somewhat music news, the life of everyone's least favorite pop star, Britney Spears, is about to be put on display for the world to see (like it wasn't already). That's right. Move over, Nick and Jessica. Not to be outdone, Brit and hubby Kevin Federline are staring in their very own identical newlyweds show. The funny part: It's on UPN. I bet it will play between Charmed and Buffy the Vampire.

Alright, back to stuff that's more important. My boyfriend. He loves Boards of Canada. He loves Beck. He's going to have his face rocked off when he hears that Boards of Canada has remixed the song "Broken Drum" for the two-disc version of Beck's recent album, Guero. And just when he thought that was enough, his face and socks will be rocked off when he finds out that he can listen to it right here. Surprise!

Oh man, his life is going to get even better because there's a website called Sunsquashed and it's basically every Yo La Tengo fan's dream. It houses all sorts of mp3s and torrents of live shows, rareties, you name it. Let the downloading spree commence!

Clem Snide's tour started today. Look for him here in Columbus on April 21st with Langhorne Slim and Marbles (featuring Robert Schneider of Apples in Stereo). If you are going, I will see you there.

Wasn't Xiu Xiu supposed to release a 7", like, forever ago? Well, looks like they're really going to, finally, on the 15th. The tracks were recorded while they were on tour with Devendra Bonhart. Not only will they release this, but their website hints at an album of live tracks and b-sides called Life and Life. No tracklist or release date to announce for that one, but I'll keep an eye out.


Upcoming Columbus Shows

4.07 - Copeland w/ Lovedrug and Acceptance - The Basement
4.09 - Aesop Rock w/ Hangar 18 and Metro of S.A. Smash - Little Brothers
4.19 - M. Ward w/ Norfolk & Western and DeVotchKa - Little Brothers
4.20 - m83 w/ Ulrich Schlauss (feat. the Moog documentary prior to performance) - The Mershon Black Box
4.21 - Clem Snide w/ Langhorne and Marbles - Little Brothers
4.26 - House of Heroes w/ New Republic - Little Brothers
5.07 - The Decemberists w/ Willy Mason - Little Brothers
5.08 - The Books - Wexner Center

Daily Downloads

Tons of Beatles stuff (link)
Beck - Broken Down (Boards of Canada remix) (mp3)