On a whim (and on the high ranking in this week’s Anti-Hit List), I’ve ordered the Ben Gibbard/Andrew Kenney split album, Home: Volume 5. It was actually pretty cheap, even after shipping and exchange. Less than it would sell for in a store up here, anyway.

I am playing with a trackback plugin that’s available for Nucleus. I’m not sure how it’s going so far – I might have more luck if I actually knew what this thing was supposed to do…

np – Ted Leo & The Pharmacists / Hearts Of Oak

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club motor into Lee’s Palace on July 5, a little early to support the new album Take Them On, On Your Own which isn’t out till September 2. I damn near fell asleep the last time they were here, which wasn’t entirely their fault but it wasn’t NOT entirely their fault either. Anyway, I am not going to bother but it might be of interest to someone else.

What is cooler is The Tyde are opening for Pernice Brothers on the upcoming tour. The Tyde are 3/5 of Beachwood Sparks with the 70s psych-country influences ratcheted down a notch in favour of more 80s and 90s British indie influences. Should be a good show.

Mojave 3’s Spoon And Rafter will be released in the UK on either the 1st or 8th of September. No word on whether the North American release will coincide with this date or come later.

The redesign continues in earnest. I might be able to get v5.0 up and running tomorrow night. Stay tuned.

np – Rainer Maria / Long Knives Drawn

There’s a dark horse candidate for my oft-discussed September holiday… Bumbershoot in Seattle, over the Labour Day weekend. REM, Wilco and The Shins to name a few, and only $55 for four days. Compounded with the big steaming heaps of uncertainty surrounding ATP NYC, maybe a contingency plan is in order. And I know some people out in Vancouver. Well, one. I think, if he’s still there.

UPDATE: ATP NYC is officially postponed till early ’04. So I am soliciting suggestions on what to do with my damned vacation time.

np – New Order / Substance

Ever wanted to cook with Rilo Kiley, John Vanderslice or Interpol? Check out The Jenville Show recipes and interviews with your favorite indie-rock celebs. A great idea whose time has come. Link from Traveler’s Diagram.

I could have used some of those recipes tonight – tomorrow is the company pot luck and this was one of those occasions where I was reminded I’m really a feeble cook. I can make enough to feed myself with sufficient variety to make it through a week, but cooking for others is a ridiculous amount of pressure. And digging around the internet for recipes may sound like a good idea, but you’d do well to try them out BEFORE serving them to other people… And it’s helpful if the recipe comes with a picture so you’re not stuck asking, “Is it supposed to look like this?”

Feeble.

np – The Jayhawks / More Rain

The greatest of the lost divas from years gone by? Quite possibly. Say hello to Mrs. Elva Miller. Some background here.

Cat Power’s erratic live performances seem to have hit a new low in Frankfurt.

Oh Stumpy, so close and yet so far. It was a helluva run, though. Stupid Devils.

Version 5 of this site is currently being cobbled together behind the scenes with chewing gum, happy thoughts and twine. I hope to be able to roll it out by the first day of Summer. Not that it’s an especially summery design. It actually feels more like an old basement rec room, circa, oh – 1977? But I’m going with it for now.

np – Gemma Hayes / Night On My Side