Supernatural Car Lover

The Return of Robert Pollard, ok he never really goes away but I heard he took like a week off back in July.
The new album Normal Happiness will be in your favorite record shop on October 10th and he has just posted one track for free download.
Supernatural Car Lover

The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Every now and then an album comes along that makes you want to tell all your friends about. Hell I'll tell anyone that will listen to go out an buy The Body,The Blood, The Machine from The Thermals. A spectacular post-punk opus awaits you. With Fugazi's Brendan Canty handling production duties and the with the band fleshing out their sound while keeping there raw power intact this proves to be their finest work to date.
Although it's not a full fledged concept album, it does depict a United States governed by a fascist christian state and provides the anthems to rise up with.

You need this album, you deserve this album, you owe it to yourself to hear this album.

You My Friend....Are One Lazy Ass Blogger

I can't really come up with a good excuse as to why it's been a couple of weeks since my last entry to this here blog. Vacation and back from vacation and now busy than hell with work. Excuses are no good around here.

Congratulation to my boy March To The Sea for his selection to the Boston Globe's cool music blogs list for his Forgotten Disc Firday blog you can check it out here Forgotten Disc Friday

Audiofiles

This all rumor at this point but according to several unconfirmed sources Sony's DualDisc's will no longer be manufactured. I have just one of these in my collection and tell you truth I won't be phased by this earth shattering news.
I'm sure it sounded like a good idea when these first went into production music on one side DVD/video content on the other. Apparently the sales just don't justify continuing with this product. Due to the increased width of these discs they had issues with front loading car CD decks as well.

Damn I must be hard up for blog content today

Vacationing

My wife and I will be taking the little ones up to the White Mountains next week for a family vacation. I'm looking forward to the break from work and the time with the family. I can't help but think of John Candy in Summer Rental or Chevy Chase in the original Vacation. It's not that I resemble either one of those people but It's just what I think of when I think family vacation. Actually there's always a bit of comedic blunders when you take my family anywhere so maybe that's where I get it.

I just felt the need to write something today.
I'll try get something more entertaining by the end of the week.

Oh yeah have you heard the new Thermals MP3 up on subpop.com? It rocks!!

It Feels like 1993 ( well sorta)

Back in the early 90's a little label called Alias Records was the home of some of my favorite bands of the time. This famed roster included the likes of Archers of Loaf and Small 23. Although times have changed and these bands are no longer I hold the label and those 2 bands in high esteem and often return to these records from time to time.

It appears that I am not alone in my man love for this gritty indie rock of yore. Did I really just use yore in a sentence? Many have attempted to borrow from this catalog but just never could pull it off without sounding derivative and utlimately flat. That is until Now.


The North Atlantic- Wires in the Walls has just landed a sucker punch squarely in my face. This Michigan transplated to San Diego 3 piece has delivered where others have failed with equal parts post punk and pop hooks.
A Dash of post-punk with a heap of Archers of Loaf,and a splash of Fugazi.
All influences aside this record is just to good to put into words. To put it simply The North Atantic will kick your ass and you'll like it.

Check them out here: www.thenorthatlantic.com

I am a procrastinator!
For the last couple of weeks I've noticed that the vehicle I drive on a daily basis has been having issues with the air conditioner and temperture control. Sometimes I'll drive this so called vehicle for days at a time with no issue and other times the temperture rockets up to the hottest point on the gauge and the A/C does not work. Ok so a normal person would have had this looked at and subsequently repaired before this heatwave that is burning up the east coast hit. Not me you see I am the anti-mechanic and an idiot. It's quite a combination.

I am an outside sales rep for a Telecommunications company in the New Engalnd area and my job in a nutshell is to acquire new customers. So I am on the road constantly and in suit in tie as required by my employer. When you add my current car issues to the mix it's not pretty. Would you like to spend an hour with me after I've been driving around in a hot car for the last hour? I think not.

Where was I headed with this? Oh yeah I hate mechanics or something like that. Other than being a procrastinator I also have no faith in what most mechanics tell us customers to be the truth. I mean how do we know that the repairs we are charged for were actually performed or needed to be performed in the first place. It's not fair to blame a whole profession but I've had my share of bad experiences with mechanics and would rather not go through another.
Wow that took a long time to come up with an excuse for me being lazy!
Bottom line,I should have had the car fixed weeks ago and have arranged to drop it off tomorrow to be repaired just in time for a break in the hot weather.

A very nice weekend indeed!

Due to the fact that my job keeps me on the road most of the time it's nice just to stay put and hang out with the family.

On Saturday my sons had a birthday party to attend so I ended up taking care of a few things around the house and watching the baseball game. It sounds kind of boring but it was nice. When Mrs. Speakers got back from the party with the little ones we decided to order up some take-out and skip the mess and headache of cooking.

We took the boys to MOM on Sunday. For those not from the Boston area MOM stands for Motion Odessey Movie that a large furniture chain has been operation for many years. For some reason or another I never thought of checking out until that is I had children. The feature was a short Spongebob Movie. It's part ride and part 3-D movie. The boys went bonkers it was a blast.

That was quick, weekends are never long enough....back to work...urgh

Is it me or am I crazy?

Everytime I turn on the TV I hear They Might Be Giants hocking Ice Coffee for Dunkin Donuts or acting as the house band for Playhouse Disney. I really enjoyed there childrens albums especially Here Come The ABC's and it's a favorite of my sons. I don't mind the tunes they supply to Playhouse Disney but come on with the whoreathon. It's like they can't say no. I like TMBG but I guess I wish they'd go back to the cult following and leave some advertising dollars to Kelly Clarkson.

New Music Alert

Two upcoming releases due in October to put in your calendars.
Pernice Brothers- Live a Little(Ashmont Records)
If the free download on the bands website is any indication of what we can expect from the forthcoming Live a Little Joe Pernice has raised the bar once again. It's always a pleasure to praise one of my boys from the irish riviera, that's Boston's south shore for the unfamiliar.
You can download the song and video in mulitple formats at the bands site.
Release Date: October

For more information and the free downloads check out www.pernicebrothers.com

Robert Pollard- Normal Happiness (Merge)
In a recent e-mail from Merge Records I see that they have Normal Happiness on the release calendar for October. I was lucky enough to hear a handful of these tracks during Bob's From a Compound Eye tour and count this as one of my most anticipated releases. With tracks like Supernatural Car Lover and Serious Bird Woman(You Turn Me On) Uncle Bob will not disapoint.
Release Date: October 10th

In other Bob related news the 33 1/3 book serious will release they're take on Bee Thousand in the fall as well.

For more information check out www.robertpollard.net

Time Flies Around You

It seems like I was just rambling on about the 4th of July and here we are 14 days later. Where does the time go? I wish I knew. My job has been sucking the life out of me. So to say I'm gald to see another temporary end aproaching is putting it mildly.

My buddy March to Sea always says when in doubt go with a list so here you go.

10 Things that make it all bearable

1. Nicole (Mrs Evil Speakers) and the little ones on the beach and smiles all around.
We have an off road beach that makes the beach with 2 little boys under 5 a lot of fun.
2. The excellence of The Eraser from Thom Yorke.
3. The cold Newcastle Brown Ales chilling in the fridge.
4. Steak Tips on the grill after the mandatory marination in the Evil Speakers special sauce.
5. The Shuffle feature on my Nomad. I never used this till recently, but now I can't stop. 4000 of my favorites played at the will. From GBV to Big Star to The Pogues it all sounds good to these ears.
6. Ice Coffee now I'm not a coffee guy but there's something about Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee. The Coffee nazi's will shun me for that one. To hell with them!
7. Magnet Magazine- Just a great publication. Pick up the new issue with Stuart Murdoch from Belle and Sebastian. It's choc full of indie rock goodness.
8. KEXP- After an 8 year run working on the air in comercial radio I soured on todays sad excuse for rock programming. Until I discovered kexp.org the greatest radio station on earth. Check it out.
9. My DVR/Tivo that stores all of my late night performances from bands I like but just can't stay awake for. As well as the latest episodes of Entourage.
10.Bacon. Give it to me with my eggs or slap it on my burger it doesn't matter. Just give me bacon. mmmmm Bacon (Homer Simpson voice)

Syd Barrett dies at the age of 60

This might be old news for some but I couldn't let this go without at least a mention.

Full obit below: http://arts.guardian.co.uk/news/obituary/0,,1817952,00.html?gusrc=rss

The 4th of July has always been a big deal and I guess it is to all us Americans.
No matter what age or political beliefs the 4th is our holiday to embrace our culture and lifestyle.

When I think of this day I always associate it with memories of bonfires on the beach and the obligatory viewing of a fireworks display with family and friends. Ok when we were younger we did the family thing first then I would walk down the beach with my older brother and cousin to drink beer and undoubtedly get into trouble.
Weather it was getting busted for drinking by my Dad or getting chased through the dunes by cops, our night was bound to end one way or the other.

These days things are a bit different although I live close to the beach I have not been to a bonfire in many years and the only fireworks displays I've seen lately have been from a great distance. Mostly due to having young children and knowing there limits. However that's all about to change my boys are at the age where this might actually be enjoyable. We will be attending our local parade and fireworks display and joining the masses who flock to our town for this 4th of July.

It's funny how things can change but really stay the same.

So to cousin Jeff, brother Scott, and to everyone else Happy Independence Day. May you elude the trappings of the man and try not blow a limb off with an explosive.
Enjoy your celebrations and above all be safe.

Lastly because I seem to bring music into all aspects of life here's something I came up with off the cuff.

The Independence Day Mix Tape
1. 4th of July - X (obvious choice but still a great song)
2. You're Hand in Mine - Explosions in the Sky
3. A Salty Salute - Guided by Voices
4. Summer Teeth - Wilco
5. Indendence Day - Elliott Smith
6. The National Anthem - Radiohead
7. See America Right - The Mountain Goats
8. It's Summertime - The Flaming Lips
9. July,July - The Decemberists
10. Celebrated Summer - Husker Du

That was harder than I thought it would be, maybe I'll comit that to cdr tonight and annoy Mrs. Speakers and all my neigboors.

Neutral Milk Hotel or whatever he'll call it

The reclusive Jeff Magnum has posted a message to the E6 Townhall, the Elephant 6 message board stating the he has been recording songs, melodies, and sound collages for an actual album. There has been some Magnum hoaxes in the past but there has been confirmation from Cloud Recordings that this is really him. He's keeping things a little vague in terms of when we can expect to see this project and if this will be released under Neutral Milk Hotel.
You can read the full story here: www.pitchforkmedia.com

66-06
My 6 for the first 6 of 06

I'm about to get all High Fidelity on you.
As June comes to an end and we embark on month #7 otherwise known as July I thought I'd share.

6 Records that have been on my mind and on my headphones the 1st 1/2 of this year.
(in no particular order)

Misson of Burma- The Obliterati
Robert Pollard- From a Compound Eye
Tapes and Tapes- The Loon
Figurines- Skeleton
Sonic Youth - Rather Ripped
Belle and Sebastian- The Life Pursuit

Bring on the next 6 may they be as musically generous as the last 6.

Sun, Sun, Sun
Hey what's that I see in the Sky?
The sun is shining and the Sox are even in action as I type in an afternoon make-up game with the Phillies at Fenway.

Is this that Summer thing everyone's been talking about?

The Replacements are Back(sort of)
Today marks the release of The Replacements-Don't You Know Who I Think I Was? The Best of Replacements. Your response might be something like mine. Didn't they already put a Best of retrospective out?
Yes they did it was called All for Nothing/Nothing For All , a 2 disc affair that focused on the bands Sire releases as well as full disc of B-sides/outtakes. Where Don't you know differs is that it combines the Twin Tone and Sire releases as well as 2 new tracks recorded by the remaining or surviving members earlier this year. This won't be a reunion or a new beginning sadly, but it will be another testament of how great The Replacements were.
The songs don't lie.

Today also see the release of new records from Sonic Youth, Six Organs of admittance, and The Futureheads.

Go get em.

Juror #1
I have Jury Duty tomorrow and I can't believe I have made it this long without ever being called to perform my civic duty. I've seen too many bad court TV shows and I'm expecting to be called to serve on some high profile case. That won't happen, at least I hope not. That's the last thing they want!

Congratulations to my sister Kerrie on her graduation from the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

Nice work Kerrie!

The kids and wife have crashed for the night and I just finished watching Jon Pampelbon get his 16th save and the sox get back on track with win over the Devil Rays.

Well Memorial Day Weekend is upon us and like millions of other families the Speakers will hitting the open road, ok extremely overcrowded road. We're heading to New Jersey for a birthday party. My son's are not exactly known for there traveling prowess. The last time we made this type of journey the puke was a flowing! You always feel bad when your child gets sick but when you're changing vomit soaked clothes in the pouring rain on the Mass Pike things can get a little overwhelming. Seriously we're looking forward to some family time. Just don't puke boys!

Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend and be safe