Pick Of The Week: The Clash's London Calling

Yes, you are reading this as the pick of the week. In fact, I am not sure I even need to justify the selection as it is an album you probably own or have gone through many copies of throughout your lifetime. Nine times out of 10, there is a station playing "Train in Vain" while I am typing and you are reading this. Why, then, is this the pick of the week? This well-respected, highly influential album by a band breaking from their punk roots to become one of the biggest bands in the world? Simple, it is finally making its way to the Rock Band library two years after introducing itself with "Train in Vain." The pick of the week is The Clash's London Calling. 

Lyrics Born Hits Chicago Tonight At Abbey Pub

Free Scion A/V Garage Show Tonight With Hex Dispensers & King Tuff!!!! Tonight!!!

Pick Of The Week: Bone & Bell's Loom

It is on the rarest occasions that I ever hear something on the radio that elicits a instant purchase the next available moment that I am near a computer. Even rarer than this would be the chances of me listening to NPR for more than two minutes. The pick of the week had me doing both of these actions within minutes of each other. Ladies and gentlemen, I present this week's pick, Loom by Bone & Bell

Coachella 2011 Lineup Revealed

Freddie Gibbs (Metro - January 14, 2011)

It is on rare occasions that an artist is truly worthy of the hype surrounding them. In hip hop, there is a lot of hype surrounding artists especially if you are affiliated with big name rappers. With that said, Freddie Gibbs is an anomaly of sorts. An artist who has no huge affiliations (read: Roc-A-Fella, Yung Money) and exceeds any expectations of the hype surrounding him. With a headlining spot at Metro this past Friday, Gibbs' set was a combination of homecoming party, an opportunity to further build upon his heavily mentioned name and a chance to witness one impressive performance.

One Hit Wonder Or One Hit Blunder

Today's Subject: "Crucified" by Army of Lovers

When I was 12, one video was constantly requested on The Box. In the sea of videos by Naughty By Nature, Sir Mix-a-Lot and the random rock video, there was Army of Lovers' "Crucified," which in itself was as random as any combination of video blocks requested. Was it a religious dance song? A video with outlandish, flamboyant dancing in bathtubs, huge, corseted cleavage and that other guy playing piano and walking around? Whatever it was, the one certainty was that it undeniably catchy.

Pick Of The Week: Skeleton Key's Fantastic Spikes Through Balloon

Yes, this is an album from 1997 and yes, it is completely out of print. That does not prevent it from being amazingly awesome. In fact, Skeleton Key's major label debut ranks pretty high on the list of best albums you have probably never heard due to lack of label and/or commercial support (mind you, this is according to my tastes and ears and also includes Milla's The Divine Comedy, Toadies' Hell Below/Stars Above and Far's Water and Solutions).

Tomorrow Never Knows Begins Tonight!

Tonight is the first night of 2011's Tomorrow Never Knows (concluding on January 16). This year features sets from Generationals, Bone & Bell, The Concretes, The Helio Sequence, Little Dragon and many more. One artist definitely looking to make a huge impact during the festival is Freddie Gibbs.

New Faces, Familiar Feelings Vol.3 (January Mixtape)

Side 1

01. Mama Weer All Crazee Now by The Runaways (Slade)

02. Sweet Emotion by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (Aerosmith)

03. Sunday Bloody Sunday by Saul Williams (U2)

04. Fame by Duran Duran (David Bowie)

05. Fox on the Run by Deadsy (Sweet)

06. Editions of You by Mudhoney (Roxy Music)

07. Hombre Secreto (Secret Agent Man) by The Plugz (Johnny Rivers)

08. Let's Lynch the Landlord by Faith No More (Dead Kennedys)

Side 2

01. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by Lee Hazlewood & Nancy Sinatra (The Righteous Brothers)

02. Hurdy Gurdy Man by Butthole Surfers (Donovan)

03. Too Fast for Love by The Donnas (Motley Crue)

04. Genius of Love 2002 by X-ecutioners feat. Tom Tom Club and Biz Markie (Tom Tom Club)

05. Can't Take My Eyes Off of You by Lauryn Hill (Frankie Valli)

06. Can't Get Used to Losing You by The English Beat (Andy Williams)

07. Like a Hurricane by Roxy Music (Neil Young)

Pick Of The Week: Phantogram's Eyelid Movies

Starting this week, there will be a regular pick of the week feature (as opposed to the sporadic picks before). This week's pick is an album that completely escaped me last year and if I had heard it then, I would have found a way to, as 30 Rock's Tracy Jordan would say, "take it behind a middle school and get it pregnant." This week's pick is Eyelid Movies by Phantogram.

Celebrate A New Year With These New January Releases

It is a new year and the best way to begin any new year is with new music. With new releases from The Decemberists, Cake, Tapes 'n Tapes, Social Distortion and The Get Up Kids, there are plenty of ways to get excited about the year ahead. Here are just a few of them.