Matador Records | News September 2007

September 26, 2007

Cave Singers

Yesterday (Tuesday) was a historic day in the relatively brief history of Matador's most recent signing, Seattle's Cave Singers. Not only did they perform in their hometown's Easy Street Records, but the day also marked the release of their astonishing Matador debut CD/LP, 'Invitation Songs'. And at the risk of letting someone else's toot the band's horn (that's not a euphamism), I'll turn the floor over (briefly) to The Stranger's Jonathan Zwickel:

"The cover of the Cave Singers’ brand-new debut, Invitation Songs, is a haunting visual translation of their music: The three band members in a group embrace half-submerged in a grassy, minty-green meadow, backed by a pine-green sentinel of dark, silent forest. It’s beautiful, ominous, like the band is taking comfort in each other before the arrival of an impending tragedy or sharing a final sentiment before permanently parting. The music within swells with similar mystery, sweetly pastoral but battered, bluesy, and raw. Performed onstage for months, these songs make the transition to record with added resonance. Simply put, Invitation Songs is stunning, a surprising debut and one of the best albums of the year."

The Cave Singers are hitting towns big and small throught North America in support of pals Black Mountain this month and next. European dates are rumored for later in the year, and chances are, if said shows are confirmed, you'll hear about it via the Matablog before another one of these mailings is completed (sorry).

The New Pornographers

The New Pornographers return to Europe at the end of this month in support of likely album-of-the-year candidate 'Challengers', with additional UK dates since our last missive :

Sun, Sept 30 - Paris FR - La Maroquinerie
Mon, Oct 1 - Berlin DE - Mudd
Weds, Oct 3 - Oslo NO - Cosmopolite
Thurs, Oct 4 - London GB - Koko
Saturday, November 17 - Whelan's, Dublin
Sunday, November 18 - Oran Mór, Glasgow
Tuesday, November 20 - Academy 3, Manchester
Wednesday, November 21 - Trinity, Bristol

The band have a somewhat provocative video challenge happening at You Tube. It involves Michael McDonald. Sort of. But if you're feeling personally inhibited, their massive North American touring schedule continues (below) :

9-26 Boise, ID - The Egyptian Theatre #@
09-28 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom #!
10-11 Edmonton, Alberta - Edmonton Event Center $
10-12 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwen Hall $
10-13 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwen Hall $
10-14 Missoula, MT - University Theater $
10-15 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Garrick Center $
10-16 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue $^
10-17 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre $^
10-18 Chicago, IL - The Metro $^
10-19 Chicago, IL - The Metro $^
10-20 Buffalo, NY - Riviera Theatre $^
10-21 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix Concert Theatre $^
10-24 New York, NY - Webster Hall $^
10-25 New York, NY - Webster Hall $&
10-26 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero $&
10-27 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club $^
10-31 New Orleans, LA - House of Blues $&
11-01 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live $+
11-02 Dallas, TX - House of Blues $+
11-03 Austin, TX - Fun Fun Fun Festival
11-05 Denver, CO - Gothic Theatre $

(& with Immaculate Machine
# with Lavender Diamond
! with Fancey
@ with the Awkward Stage
$ with Emma Pollock
^ with Benjy Ferree
+ with Spoon)

Those who've participated in the Buy Early Get Now scheme for 'Challengers' have been wondering (rightfully so) what's up with the bonus downloads? The schedule (subject to change, just like your voice) looks something like this :

*SCHEDULE OF DOWNLOADS*
July 4th - The Speed of Luxury (B-Side)
Aug 3rd - Silent Systems (B-Side)
/Aug 28th - Fortune (iTunes pre-order B-Side)
September 11 - 3 demos - Showstoppers, Failsafe and Myriad Harbour
September 25 - Alternate mix of "Go Places"
October - Challengers video and photos
November - 'Live From The Future', Fugue States (iTunes album-only B-Side) and photos

Cat Power

There's really no such thing as downtime in Chan Marshall's universe, and while her summer and autumn have been consumed with terrific shows around the globe alongside the Dirty Delta Blues (including a Madison Square Garden gig supporting Interpol earlier this month), the big news around 304 Hudson is that we're getting ready for 'Covers II', a Cat Power & The Dirty Delta Blues CD/LP of still-to-be-determined length, for an early 2008 release. We'd love to leak the cover art and track listing, but the former was just changed and perhaps the latter will as well. But sometime before the end of the next batch of Cat Power shows, we should have it all figured out:

10/14 Norfolk VA The NorVa
10/15 Washington DC 9:30 Club
10/16 Carrboro NC Cat's Cradle
10/18 Tallahassee FL Club Downunder/FSU
10/19 Savannah GA Savannah Coll. of Art & Design Trustees Theater
10/20 Orlando FL Club Firestone
10/21 St. Petersburg FL State Theatre
10/22 Miami FL Studio A
11/4 Austin TX Fun Fun Fun Fest (with New Pornographers, Cave Singers, Angry Samoans, Girl Talk, Ted Leo & The Pharmacists)

Yo La Tengo

The Freewheeling Yo La Tengo Tour is a rare opportunity to see this ever-surprising band in a setting more intimate and interactive than any tour in their 23-year career. A little bit Storytellers, a little bit Unplugged, with a soupcon of their famously varied Hanukkah shows, it will feature the band playing an almost-acoustic set of songs from their entire catalog, with stories about their life as a band, and an encouraged back-and-forth with the audience. Already famous for never playing the same show twice, this fresh look at Yo La Tengo offers rare insight into one of the most important, unique, and beloved bands in American rock.

Further dates will be announced soon.

Yo La Tengo's covers of Bob Dylan's "I Wanna Be Your Lover" and "Fourth Time Around" will appear on the forthcoming 2XCD soundtrack album (Columbia) to Todd Haynes' "I'm Not There". Cat Power and Stephen Malkmus are amongst the album's other contributors.

Yo La Tengo are playing the Hollywood Bowl on September 29, sandwiched between Bright Eyes with The Los Angeles Philharmonic and M. Ward. In addition, the band will be taking part in this year's New Yorker Festival with a concert/discussion with author Ben Greenman on October 6 at Brooklyn's Lyceum.

10/9 - Pittsburgh at the Warhol Museum (2 shows)
10/10 - Bloomington at Buskirk Chumley
10/11 - Chicago at the Lakeshore Theater (2 shows)
10/12 - Milwaukee at the Discover World Museum
10/13 - Grand Rapids at Calvin College
10/19 - Long Island at Jeanne Rimsky Theater (with Chris Brokaw)
10/20 - Woodstock at Colony Cafe (2 shows)
10/22 - Philadelphia at the First Unitarian Church Sanctuary
10/23 - Alexandria at the Birchmere
10/29 - Portland at the Aladdin
10/30 - Seattle at Town Hall
11/1 - San Francisco at Palace of Fine Arts
11/4 - La Jolla at the Museum of Contemporary Art
11/10 - North Adams at Mass Moca
11/15 - Boston at Museum of Fine Arts (2 shows)

Stuart Murdoch's "God Help The Girl"

Belle & Sebastian's Stuart Murdoch is looking for vocalists for the musical film, 'God Help The Girl' which he has been developing over the last year or so. As such, he's teamed up with iMeem to conduct a search for female vocalists who are interested in taking part. At the God Help The Girl profile you can read much more about the project and, if you are interested, submit a version of one of two songs for his consideration.

You can read Stuart's introduction to "God Help The Girl" here and even if you are not considering entering - drop by and join up with iMeem to keep up with the project and hear the songs - 'The Psychiatrist Is In' and a new version of 'Funny Little Frog' as sung by Catherine Ireton.

The Ponys

While we try to get our heads around the concept of a Ponys song being featured in an upcoming episode of "Friday Night Lights" (they're good mind you, but they're no Crucifictorious) we should remind you again that the ridiculously talented Chicago quartet are on the road with Spoon next month, playing some of this nation (and that nation's) more revered nightspots.

October
10-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
11-Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue
12-Chicago, IL @ Riviera Theatre
13-Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre
15-Toronto, ON @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
16-Montreal, QC @ LeNational
17-Boston, MA @ The Roxy
19-Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
20-NY, NY @ Roseland Ballroom
24-Asheville, NC @ Orange Peel
26-Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom

Lavender Diamond

Becky, Ron and Steve are currently on tour supporting The New Pornographers (see above), and while we're eagerly waiting for the Saturday Evening Post to resume publication, look who's on the cover of the revamped Arthur Magazine!

Shearwater

While the band are making plans to record their followup to 'Palo Santo' --- tentatively scheduled for release in the first half of 2008, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg has an intimate solo show planned for Brooklyn, NY tomorrow night (9.26). If you can't make it (and I certainly won't --- intimacy scares the living daylights out of me), check out video performances of "Palo Santo" and "74 / 75" courtesy of Austin's KUT.org

Love Of Diagrams

If you're amongst those who either failed to catch Love Of Diagrams during their Spring tour with Ted Leo or you've avoided the considerable charms of their staggeringly great Mosaic CD/LP, you'll have a proper opportunity to become reacquainted with the Melbourne trio when they return to American for the following shows supporting Enon:
October 30 - Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA
October 31 - Doug Fir Lounge, Portland, OR
November 1 - Bottom of The Hill, SF, CA
November 2 - Glass House, Pomona, CA
November 3 - The Echo - Los Angeles, CA
November 4 - Casbah, San Diego, CA
November 6 - Emo's Jr., Austin, TX
November 7 - The Proletariat, Houston, TX
November 8 - Chelsea's Cafe, Baton Rogue, LA
November 9 - Club Downunder, Tallahassee, FL
November 13 - Drunken Unicorn, Atlanta, GA
November 14 - Duke Coffeehouse, Durham, NC
November 15 - Rock And Roll Hotel, Washington DC
November 16 - Johnny Brenda, Philadelphia, PA
November 17 - Knitting Factory, NY, NY
November 24 - Hideout, Chicago, IL

More Eastern dates will be announced soon.

Jennifer O'Connor News

"I'll be doing some touring this fall where I'll be trying out lots of new material and then we will hit the studio with John Agnello in January to make a new record.

I'm also working on the KIAM 7" project which is taking longer than I had anticipated (but tracks from Dump and Mascott are sounding awesome - including a James McNew remix of Over The Mountain's, "I Was So Wrong" which I'm particulary excited about).

Here are those tour dates:

These 3 dates are with Chris Brokaw supporting:

Oct 4 Edgartown, MA The Wharf
Oct 5 Bronxville, NY Sarah Lawrence College, The Blue Room
Oct 6 Waterville, ME Colby College

Oct. 16 - Nov. 3 This is my first HEADLINING TOUR!!!

Darren Jesse of Hotel Lights, and Clint, Michigan & Amy Bezunartea support
Oct. 16 NYC CMJ KIAM Showcase Living Room w/ Choo Choo La Rouge, Darren Jessee of Hotel Lights, Clint, Michigan & Amy Bezunartea & Larry Krone
Oct. 17 Grantham, PA, Messiah College
Oct. 18 Athens, OH Ohio University
Oct. 19 Chicago, IL Hideout
Oct. 20 Minneapolis, MN Univ. Of MN - Whole Music Club
Oct. 21 Madison, WI Cafe Montmarte
Oct 22 St. Louis, MO Off Broadyway
Oct 23 Nashville, TN Five Spot
Oct 24 Athens, GA Melting Point
Oct 25 Atlanta, GA The Earl
Oct 26 Greensboro, NC Square One
Oct 27 Durham, NC Duke Coffeehouse
Oct 28 Richmond, VA The Camel
Oct 30 Washington DC The Red and the Black
Oct 31 Pittsburgh, PA Club Cafe
Nov 1 Doylestown, PA PUCK
Nov 2 Philadelphia, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs Main Room
Nov 3 Hoboken, NJ Maxwell's

And then I'll do a solo show in Tampa in December...this one should be pretty cool. No opener...long show in a nice theater...

Dec 10 Tampa, FL Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

Otherwise...I've just started watching LOST on DVD (yes i'm way behind on this), I've embarked on an entire overhaul of my apartment and possesions, I've been listening to not much music since I used to do this mostly in my car which I recently got rid of, and I've been reading a lot of stuff by this Buddhist-nun-author, Pema Chodron. Wow, sounds like a party, huh??!! Oh yeah, and I'm writing some new songs here and there, too."

Coming up in 2008

People (ie. our creditors and parents) occasionally ask, "hey what terrific stuff does Matador have on tap for 2008?" And funnily enough, we've got a big crowded plate already being filled with delicious items we hope you'll be ready to consume. Along with previously referred to recordings from Cat Power, Shearwater and Jennifer O'Connor, here are some of the other highlights that'll get stuck in your headlights.

* - Dead Meadow These guys just returned home from a bunch of European dates that featured some of the biggest crowds and most glowing reviews of their career. And we've longed for the day when these recent LA-via-DC transplants would drop an album that matched the power of one of the best live shows on the planet (theirs, by the way). With 'Old Growth' (enchanced CD/LP) the firm of Simon, Kille and McCarty have not only accomplished said task, but they've delivered a remarkably confident and focused recording that should elevate the trio into the pantheon of the great guitar bands of all time. Buried far too long, this American treasure long ago transcended the limited confines of whatever modern psychedelia tag they've been branded with. We just had to wait until '08 to provide the studio album evidence. Carve February 4 in your arm.

* - TImes New Viking Having completed a longish US tour with pals Little Claw and their first sojurn to Mexico having resulted in no fatalities (that anyone is telling us about), ' Hot on the heels of two rabidly devoured releases for the relaunched Siltbreeze label, the Matador debut from Columbus, OH's Times New Viking is the classic we were hoping for and then some. Catchier than the Black Plague, more treble than Trouble has low end, Times New Viking were already first ballot Rock'n'Roll Hall of Famers just on the quality of their song titles. Not surprisingly, the songs themselves are even better. The trio have been the cause celebre' of record collector skum and actual attractive people (ie. Harry Reasoner) for the past two years, and there's no better time for you to pretend you were down from the start. Except for perhaps, January 22.

* - Stephen Malkmus The fourth solo album from the former three-term Stockton, CA city councilman could well be the crowning achievement of his political/musical life. But since I'm not about to start inventing song or album titles just to please you jackals, you're just gonna have to sit tight.

* - Brightblack Morning Light We're admittedly light on the details, but a) that gives us something meaty for the next update and b) if we can't trust Nabob and Rabob implicitly, who can we really trust?

* - Mission Of Burma Again, you might have to wait for the next update for the full, sprawling scoop, but in early '08 we'll be reissuing Mission Of Burma's collected Ace Of Hearts recordings. Remastered / lavishly repacked versions of 'Vs.' and live album 'The Horrible Truth About Burma' will be joined by the band's breakthru 'Signals Calls & Marches' EP (coupled with their crucial "Academy Fight Song" b/w "Max Ernst" single) in the early part of the year. All will come with extras -- and 'Signals' comes with something really special.

* - 'Just Farr A Laugh, Vol. 1 & 2' We're on deadline here, otherwise I'd like nothing better than to wax poetic about the situationist skills of comedy titans Jeff Jensen and Andrew Earles. But in the meantime, you can check out their MySpace offerings, and by the time I actual do get around to composing something thorough, you can act like you've heard it all before.

* - Mogwai It's WAAAAY too early for us to attempt beating Pitchfork on this one, but while the story develops, be advised that Martin is (again) auctioning off an old pacemaker in order to benefit the British Heart Foundation.

Misc: if you're walking around London
Our old pal James Vyner, formerly of the mighty Nottingham band Seachange, has a newish endeavor, Soundmap.co.uk, a firm described by, well, James, as "an innovative new way to experience London. Download one of our audio walks and get guided through the streets by narrators who know the secrets of their area and enter a world of music, interviews and sound effects."

It sounds like a much more edifying way to experience one of the world's great cities than my old chosen method (i.e. asleep in the back of a hired car).

Listening Piles

Steve Gregoropoulos, Lavender Diamond
1. I just went to Sushi with my girlfriend Renee, at a place I'd forgotten existed. My favorite is Uni (sea urchin) and it was particularly good.

2. Before that we went to see Eleni Mandell at the Henry Fonda and it was the best I've seen her since the "Thrill" CD release party. She played a french version of a Grabs song that she just recorded for her Montreal crew (Grabs is a band that me and Eleni have that is very retro)

3. I am still reading Against The Day. It takes me several months to read any Pynchon except TCOL49. This one is worth it; not as flowery as GR but deep in its own way. Plus it's sort of pro-terrorism, which is odd and poetical, and I probably just got on the no-fly list for writing that. I would prefer to be on the no-ant list these days.

4. Mostly I listen to Schoenberg lately (op 47 violin phantasy, op. 38 second chamber symphony, Pelleas for some reason, plus the magnificent piano concerto with Peter Serkin playing - also I downloaded the score from Wiki and follow along). On top of that I've been listening by playing the piano music a lot, esp. op. 25#1, which I made myself memorize. You cannot go wrong with Schoenberg piano music. I don't know if you can completely hear it without playing it (the solo piano music I mean, not the other stuff).

5. When you play piano music by pianist composers (Prokofiev, Mozart) you can feel their fingers. Not so much with Schoenberg. But you can hear the revelations in his brain - the things that are suddenly so obvious.

I don't know what my relevant bits are; it sounds anatomical. Maybe: writing violin sonata; organ solo (fnar fnar); brass quintet; did some fun tracking and assorted music making with Ron, etc., working out some new ideas for a dance album; then a few days later did some live on the spot arranging with Becky S. who came back from Ireland bustling with yet more new ideas. You will all be surprised. Plus getting rehearsal scores together for my very old first opera. Blah blah blah, that's more than enough about me; dance and listen to Human League and Barry White.

Jonathan Meiburg, Shearwater
Now reading: Graham Greene "Ways of Escape," Peter Matthiessen "Tigers in the Snow," Ovid "Metamorphoses"

Howard Draper, Shearwater
Four things I didn't invent, but wanted to:
1. ice cream pint coozy
2. unpowered vacuum cleaner (inverted plunger or hand crank?)
3. bicycle side-car
4. biodegradeable dog poo pickup bags

Four best things I've eaten this year:
1. La Sure�a Arepa from Caracas Arepas, NY NY
2. Carne Asada tacos from Taco Lady, Denton TX
3. Horchata popscicle from Loco Pops, Durham NC
4. Bibimbap (in hot stone bowl) from Bulgogi House, Denton TX

Four favorite records this year
1. Angels of Light - We Are Him
2. Shellac - Excellent Italian Greyhound
3. Shannon Wright - Let In the Light
4. Colleen - Les Ondes Silencieuses

Four favorite instruments I would like to play:
1. Esraj/Dilruba
2. Dulcimer (hammered or bowed)
3. Viola de gamba
4. Kora

Matt Harmon, Beggars Group
Thurston Moore "Trees Outside the Academy" (Ecstatic Peace)
Son of Earth "Pet" LP (Apostasy Records)
Islaja "Ulual Yyy" CD (Fonal)
Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam" (Domino)
These are Powers ""Silver Lung" b/w "Funeral Xylophone" (Elsie and Jack Recordings)
Stars Like Fleas "The Ken Burns Effect" (Talitres)
Vampire Weekend "A-Punk b/w Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa 7" (Free News Projects)
Samara Lubelski "Parallel Suns" (The Social Registry)
Panda Bear "Take Pills b/w Bonfire of the Vanities" (Paw Tracks)
Blues Control "Blues Control" (Holy Mountain)

Rob Gruschke, Beggars Holland
1. Ricard Swift (on Secretly Canadian)
2. harry potter.. (yes, the last book, read the other ones as well)
3. no time for the movies (unfortunately)
4. Basement Jaxx show at Lowlands festival
5. Curious about the Elzas wines (on French holiday)

Annette Lee, Beggars Group
My non-Facebook-orientated activities this summer:
- avoiding the rain (wettest summer ever? well done GB)
- starting the annual re-alphabetizing of my record collection (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this)
- winging it in the new job
- discovering the joys of Etsy.com. My bank balance has never looked so pathetic.
- listening to: Holy Fuck 'LP', Animal Collective 'Strawberry Jam', Beirut 'Flying Club Cup', Richard Hawley 'Lady's Bridge', St. Vincent 'Marry Me', Edith Piaf 10 disc set extravaganza (learning French the hard way)
- reading: Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Douglas Coupland's Hey Nostrodamus, Susan Sontag's On Photography and of course blubbing my way through the final Harry Potter. Seriously, they need to set up a counselling helpline or something.

Jeremy Goldstein, Beggars Group
1. Puressence - Don't Forget To Remember. Complete return to form from vastly underrated Mancunian quartet.
2. Manchester United 2 - Chelsea 0. Not the prettiest game ever, but a W is a W.
3. Biffy Clyro - Puzzle. Amazing what major label money can provide.
4. Lobster roll at Harraseeket Lunch in Freeport, ME. Talk about keepin' it real...
5. Remma - Demo. Someone needs to sign this kids, and fast. Irish band originally signed by Morrissey to Attack Records now looking for a new deal.
6. Anniversary celebrations. Tasty snax, sneaky gifts, and iPod Nano/booking combos. Can't go wrong there. Hooray for the CFO.
7. Film School - Hideout. Excellent step up on sophomore album from West Coast shoegazers extraordinaire.
8. Pizzaiolo in Oaktown. Who knew the Bay Area could do pizza so well?
9. Emma Pollock - Watch The Fireworks. Ex-Delgados member steps out on her own and offers up a slice of indie guitar pop perfection.
10. popscene's 11-year anniversary. 11 years old and still going strong in SF and the NYC operation picking up in conjunction with Club NME at the Annex. Jack Penate live during CMJ. Good times.

Miwa Okumura, Beggars Group
Temples of Sound: Inside the Great Recording Studios by William Clark, Jim Cogan, Quincy Jones
Okkervil River The Stage Names
Aesop Rock None Shall Pass
Devendra Banhart Smokey Rolls Down Thunder Canyon
1990's Cookies
The Very Best of Jackson Browne
myspace.com/Addiquit
Second Avenue Deli REOPENS in early October at 162 East 33rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenue.

Jenn Lannchart, Beggars Group
Reading: the latest Harry Potter, Motherless Brooklyn & City of Ember
Watching on the tube: Weeds, Flight of The Conchords (my friend plays Jermain alseep in bed in the Bowie episode!), Californication (kinda hate it, but am watching to see if it'll get any better), John From Cincinnati (horrible), & Entourage(getting kinda cheesed out now).

Movies: Seen a lot of girlie/chick flicks of late: Becoming Jane, Dedication (Justin Thuroux's directorial debut-which wasn't that great). Have a few good ones at home w/ netflix to redeem me though, including Jacob's Ladder (watching it for the Jarre score), A man For All Seasons & Tropical Malady (recommended by John Darnielle).

Eats: This one's the best part for me b/c I'm settling into a city where friends know the good places! In Alhombre (Sp?) North east of LA there's this amazing place called The Kitchen for pretty much the BEST Dim Sum i've ever had in my life. It was CHEAP too, but Shhh...don't tell anyone ;) Also, it's just been really cool to have a big enough space to actually grocery shop & cook my own meals more regularly. So i've been making a lot of salad & fresh Guac!

Gigs: Blonde Redhead @ Sunset Junction (on stage & Kazu took off her bra in btw songs-it was a moment), Film School @ Spaceland-like that place a lot. Have a feelin' I'll be there often.

Listening to: A lot more time to listen in the car here. Bat For Lashes, The National's Boxer, Interpol's new one-kinda hard to escape it, as it's getting mad air play out here, Times New Viking-the non Matador one, Holy Fuck's latest, The Cave Singers, Devendra Banhart's latest, Dead Meadow's latest & The NPs Challengers of course. It's always in rotation w/ me b/c it's so freakin' good!

Other: I got a car! It's a little Nissan Versa hatchback. All you suburban & family folks understand the excitement... I got me some wheels!

Natalie Judge, Matador Records
Listening:
Russian Circles "Enter" - one of the most exciting discoveries for me at last year's SXSW. They finally made it over to the UK last week for a string of dates.
Okkervil River "The Stage Names" - The video for 'Our life is not a movie....' is particularly worth a viewing to see Jonathan from Shearwater in "action".
Bear Hands "Golden" EP - a great band from NYC... still yet to see them live.
Eugene McGuiness "The Early Learnings of Eugene McGuiness" - fantastic debut from a young talent.
Les Savy Fav "Let's Stay Friends" - Keeping up the consistency of great albums from LSF.
Shearwater "Palo Santo" - specifically playing "Seventy-Four, Seventy-Five" very loudly whilst walking to the hell that is London Underground every morning.... it makes it far more bearable.

Reading:
"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.
Back issues of Rock-A-Rolla magazine
The entertaining, yet somewhat disturbing thoughts of Bradford Cox and co. from the band Deerhunter http://deerhuntertheband.blogspot.com/

Viewing:
TV wise: Band of Brothers... finally got round to tackling it. Fantastic, yet depressing.
Live: A highlight of late would be the Beastie Boys and Electrelane at the Roundhouse in Camden. Instrumental craziness.

Eating:
Too much. And too often. And too much too often accompanied by too much red wine.

Nick McGaw, Matador Direct
Listening to:
1. Bottomless Pit "Hammer of the Gods" (double LP, Comedy Minus One Records)
2. Barr-"Song Is The Single" mp3 (5 Rue Christine): This may be my vote for single of the year, but I tend to be a sucker for the essay as song approach.
3. The Lovin' Spoonful: The best band from New York City in the sixties? I'm not crazy enough to argue that yet, but I'm close.

Watching:
1. Upright Citizen's Brigade Season Two: So many Yo La Tengo T-shirts. Now I just need the absolutely crazy third season to come out on DVD too.
2. David Cronenberg's "The Brood": The message here is don't divorce David Cronenberg.
3. "The Prisoner" DVDs

Jesper Eklow, Matador Records
coming soon to the matador neighborhood: grand sichuan!
young philosopher magazine
touring with circle
livingroom johnston, the man, the mystique, the oevre
v/a panorama of musique concrete lp (london/ducretet-thomson)
nuts to you lp (gross record co)
lionel lambourne - victorian painting (phaidon)
gore vidal - burr (knopf)
jan bondeson - a cabinet of medical curiosities (cornell)
the freer gallery of art, dc
jim's steakout, buffalo

Patrick Amory, Matador Records
Shearwater - "Mountain Laurel" live, anytime
Beirut - Lon Gisland 12" EP (Ba Da Bing / Chouette)
Elliott Smith - New Moon dbl LP (Kill Rock Stars)
baby dee - demo CDR
Vampire Weekend - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa 7" (Free News)
Jay Reatard - "DEMO" [song title] on his myspace page
Jay Reatard - Night Of Broken Glass 12" EP (In The Red)
The Toms - The Toms LP (Black Sheep)
Fucked Up - Year Of The Pig 12" (What's Your Rupture)
The Dickies - "Manny, Moe & Jack" 7" (A&M;)
Mission Of Burma - this reissues project is going to be out of this world

Gerard Cosloy, Matador Records
The Marked Men - Fix My Brain (Swami)
Scharpling & Wurster - The Best Of Scharpling And Wurster On The Best Show On Wfmu Volume 4: The Art Of The Slap (Stereo Laffs)
Maximo Park - Our Earthly Pleasures (Warp)
Sir Richard Bishop - While My Guitar Violently Bleeds (Locust)
Final Solutions - Songs By Solutions (Goner)
The Golden Boys - Whiskey Flower (Emperor Jones)
John Vanderslice - Emerald City (Barsuk)
Dalek - Deadverse Massive Vol. 1, Dalek Rarities 1999-2006 (Hydra Head)