My MacBook Pro finally arrived yesterday, so I’ve been installing software, moving files and generally feeling my way around. It’s got that new computer smell. Only hiccup I’ve found so far is that it can’t update my iPod, which is formatted for Windows. Which means that I’ve got to figure out where/how I’ll be storing my music (the internal hard drive just isn’t big enough), move the files and reformat the iPod for OSX. PITA. But since I was spending most of last night mucking around with it, I didn’t really have the chance to assemble a coherent post. So instead, you get a bit of a dog’s breakfast of stuff. Hopefully back with something more together tomorrow.

But since I know all you Macolytes are dying to a) pat me on the back and b) pat yourselves on the back, make yourselves useful and recommend me some software. I need an HTML editor, along the lines of Homesite, a decent FTP client and an IM client – something that combines MSN, Yahoo and AIM would be nice as well as retaining email notification functions for the first two. Stick with Mail or install Thunderbird? And anything else that make my life more interesting/entertaining.

Harp welcomes Buffalo Tom back, finds out where they’ve been and where they came from.

Richard Thompson talks to icWales about some of the difficulties he’s facing on account of his being Muslim.

Pinback will be at Lee’s Palace on October 12, tickets $15. They’re touring in support of their forthcoming record Autumn Of The Seraphs, out September 11.

Stream: Pinback – “From Nothing To Nowhere”

Caribou are playing a secret show at the Rivoli on September 30 – details on how to get tickets at their website, via For The Records. It was supposed to be a secret, Mike. GEEZ. Their new album is Andorra is out August 21 but you can stream it all right now and watch the first video.

Video: Caribou – “Melody Day”
Stream: Caribou / Andorra

The Russian Futurists will be playing a CD release show for their new compilation Me, Myself & Rye at the Drake Sky Yard this Saturday afternoon at 3PM. Thanks to Vlada for the tip-off.

MP3: The Russian Futurists – “Paul Simon”
MP3: The Russian Futurists – “A Telegram From The Future”

Hey look, The National on Letterman. And they brought the horns! Oh the horns.

Video: The National – “Fake Empire” (on The Late Show with David Letterman)

Exclaim! salutes Spoon.

Allmusic has a tete-a-tete with Yo La Tengo’s James McNew about the Motor City, manners and pizza.

The Globe & Mail talks to Emily Haines about her relationship with her father. She’s playing Saturday night at Hillside.

New Pornographer Carl Newman discusses chilling out on Challengers, out August 21, with NOW. They’re playing the Rogers Picnic this Sunday and are back on October 21 for a show at the Phoenix.

Drowned In Sound talks to The Twilight Sad’s Andy MacFarlane about the tremendous response Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters has gotten both at home and abroad.

Chart asks Fields about their day jobs. And fennel drums.

The Phoenix attempts to create a definitive list of the top ten influential post-punk, proto-indie rock records of all time. Knives… out. Actually it’s a pretty good list – you’d have a hard time arguing against any of the inclusions.