FINALLY on the ground in Seattle no thanks to 2 hours sitting on the runway upon departure (damn you crashing air traffic control computers!). I've got to run downstairs and try to catch the Galaxy arriving at the hotel but I didn't want to forget that punk rock business I mentioned earlier in the day so here you go. Click to continue reading...

This is the video for "Cousins", the first single from Vampire Weekend's upcoming Contra album. Any of you kit whores out there have a clue what club's jersey the drummer is wearing? I'd be dead curious to know. Click to continue reading...

Thanks to Matt, I learned today that Polydor has given the Deluxe Edition treatment to Rattlesnakes, the fantastic 1984 debut by Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. Although I don't know if the second disc of demos, B-sides, and live cuts justifies the price, I was glad to see this because you never hear Cole's music anymore.

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This is the jam Deco is using to get his adrenaline pumping for Portugal's World Cup qualification playoff match against Bosnia tomorrow. I think.

[Photo: AP]

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Ignore what this fool says about taking your shirt off; you will receive a yellow card and most likely be reported to Human Resources. I would just suggest you nod your head and drop your jaw instead as it's by far the safer course of action. Click to continue reading...

My lover and I went to Reading today to visit two long standing friends of my lover.
Neither are football fans but both are two of the most delightful people you could wish to meet.
Anyway, prior to having a wonderful lunch and afternoon of laughter and music, my lover took the backroads to his old home town. Click to continue reading...

The hard rock was world was saddened, though not surprised, as the news got out this weekend that Steven Tyler, longtime lead singer for Aerosmith, has left the band after 40 years, one previous break-up, a comeback, and more sex and drugs than all the collective readers of this blog can ever freakin' dream of.

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Apparently Del Amitri did the theme song for Scotland's 1998 World Cup team. YouTube embedding has been disabled by their label (yeah, because you wouldn't want to let their millions of fans talk about it, right?), but you can watch it here (with a special guest appearance by Colin Hendry's mullet!

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Y'all mess with Lethal Bizzle? He's kinda nice in that Dizzee Rascal/Akala/Wiley U.K. Hip Hop-Grime way. If you have the inclination check out the video for his re-rub of The Clash's cover of Eddie Grant's "Police on my Back". And if you have the time see what he has to say about how he met footie star/film producer/publisher/cornrow enthusiast Rio Ferdinand. Click to continue reading...

What, you didn't know there was a mathematics portion to all this? Click to continue reading...

...Jason, Jeff and I get seasonal on the new episode of the Popdose Podcast, talking about our childhood fears, which, as it turns out, aren't nearly as disturbing as some of the things we're capable of saying as adults. Admittedly, this one was entirely my fault.

I also put another installment of Infinite Play up this week, this time about Let It Loose by The Rolling Stones.

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Please take a moment to give Spike Jones the slow clamp this morning for doing something we've all wanted to do: slap someone who's too busy on the Blackberry to pay attention to you/slap Kanye West. Dude basically did the double here and that deserves some sort of trophy for that, if not two. Click to continue reading...

One of the podcasts I subscribe to is The Interface at Spinner.com, which gives a 20-minute performance of an up-and-coming band every week, with high-quality audio and video. If I don't know the act, I'll usually listen while preparing dinner. This way, if I can't stand it, at least I'm doing something productive and listen to it all the way through unless it really sucks.

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The Dynamo beat Chivas to get the second spot in the west, have to face Seattle in the first round.
Music from Robbie Williams, Pearl Jam, and Public Image Limited.
Episode 6 of The Zygo Soccer Report
The Zygo Soccer Report

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There is not a bloodsucker in sight but it is the weekend and this is getting heavy iPhone rotation at the moment. I feel like it's a bit early to be two singles-deep into Contra since it doesn't drop until January but I'm not going to sweat it as Adam, Gabe and the other guys at their label, Beggars, always have a plan. Click to continue reading...

This time it's from my Popdose colleague Dw. Dunphy:

CD Review: Jupiter Society, "Terraform"

If Ray Bradbury decided to form a prog metal band, it would sound like Jupiter Society, and that really wouldn't be a bad thing...

Sorry, my friend, but I beg to differ.

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Next week is going to be a good week for the rockers, ravers, dancers and derelicts of three of America's most debauched cities. In a span of only 72 hours Justice, the world's most-beloved/bangin' dance duo of leather-bedecked French, Christians will attempt to do what countless summer blockbusters, Hurricane Katrina and multiple riots could not: they will destroy New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles. Click to continue reading...

Remember when a big, live concert broadcast was solely the domain of HBO and MTV? To quote Biggy, "things done changed".
This Sunday night U2 will broadcast their show at Pasadena's Rose Bowl live and for free on Youtube so if you didn't have the duckets, desire or luck to score tickets to the 360 Tour this is your chance to "watch through the fence" so to speak. Click to continue reading...

It sounded like music to the ears of U.S. national team fans when Leeds United midfielder Bradley Johnson stated in a recent interview with SkySports.com that he wanted to play for the United States. Unfortunately for Johnson and U.S. fans, he can't play for the USA any time soon.

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It sounded like music to the ears of some U.S. national team fans when Leeds United midfielder Bradley Johnson stated in a recent interview with SkySports.com that he wanted to play for the United States. Unfortunately for Johnson and U.S. fans, he can't play for the USA any time soon.

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So, bits and pieces of this past weekend are slowly coming back to me, mainly as a result of going through my pictures, the best of which have been uploaded to my Facebook page.But here are some thoughts:

I stayed in the West Wing at MGM Grand. It was smaller than their usual rooms, but much more interestingly decorated.

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I'm at McCarran Airport waiting to take the red-eye back to Chicago as an amazing trip to Vegas comes to a close. The Podcast-A-Palooza was a total blast, as was hanging out with friends old and new. I'll have more to tell about it, with pictures and video, but until then, this song by Drive-By Truckers has been in my head all day.

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So this is Kanye West's idea of laying low: a vaguely NSFW 11-minute short film directed by Spike Jones starring an inebriated Mr. West on a bottle-service binge that ends in multiple stabbings, both human & animal alike.
Huh. Stereogum says it's basically his "The Wrestler" and I could kinda buy that. Click to continue reading...

(Summary is not available.) Click to continue reading...

By Jim DeRogatis.

Various artists, "The Twilight Saga: New Moon Soundtrack" (Chop Shop/Atlantic) [3 out of 4 STARS]

"The world is a vampire," Billy Corgan sang back in the mid-'90s, but the Great Pumpkin was ahead of his time: These days, it's impossible to sit in front of a television or movie screen without catching some glimpse of the undead now all unnaturally beautiful teens or twentysomethings set to appropriately moody post-alternative dinner music.

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Myself and Rich Crouch join the Left Lion team in the studio for an irreverent natter about the Reds, including Rich's stalking of various Forest players around Nottingham and some of the most bizarre Forest-themed music ever recorded. You can download the Left Back podcast or listen to it online on the Left Lion site. Click to continue reading...

Miami Horror: doing New Order better than New Order has since Technique. Click to continue reading...

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea... Click to continue reading...

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea... Click to continue reading...

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea... Click to continue reading...

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea... Click to continue reading...

Midfielder Choe Kum Chol of North Korea challenges for the ball with Berthier Eyobele of Congo during their friendly match in Le Mans, western France, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009. (AP Photo/David Vincent) If Sven-Goran Eriksson finds himself lea... Click to continue reading...

Nicky Butt has talked to day about the need to appoint Chris Hughton as the permanent manager, and has opened the lid on how loud the dressing room is for the Newcastle players. Nicky Butt - talks about manager and music Butt told the Evening Chronicle today: "The team is showing there is belief here, and [. Click to continue reading...

Reason #243 why Soccer A.M. is amazing: you get to see Ari Gold become a Hamilton Academic supporter while seated on a couch next to Peter "I used to own the world's greatest dance club (and I kicked Ryan Giggs out of it" Hook from New Order/Joy Division. Click to continue reading...

A bit of happy, Monday morning music for the holiday from the band with a genetic splice of Carlton from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Animal from The Muppet Show on drums. Click to continue reading...