From the Land of Sky Blue Waters (June 2012)

Side A
01. I Melt With You by Modern English
02. Dots and Dashes (Enough Already) by Silversun Pickups
03. Pumpin' for Jill by Iggy Pop
04. Because I Do by X
05. Ain't That Nothin' by Television
06. Stop Your Foolin by Nervous Norvus

Side B
07. DNA by The Kills
08. Black Milk by Massive Attack
09. Dry Bone Valley by Mastodon
10. The Mob Rules by Black Sabbath
11. Beautiful World by Devo
12. Good Feeling by Violent Femmes

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Debuts Black Mold

It has been eight years since The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion shortened their name (Blues Explosion) and released their last album, Damage. In 2010, the band returned for a series of dates to promote a best-of (Dirty Shirt Rock 'n' Roll) and a reissuing of their 90's Matador output. It is two years later and the trio are now preparing for the release of a new album, Meat and Bone, and a North American tour to follow this fall with a European festival tour proceeding both. Along with this is the debut of JSBX's lead-off track from Meat and Bone, the dirty, lo-fi rocker, "Black Mold." The new single is a more updated take on the band's classic sound complete with Spencer's trademark, howling vocals. A tracklist for Meat and Bone, tour dates and a download for "Black Mold" can be found below. Meat and Bone will be in stores on September 18 on Boombox/Mom + Pop.

Pick Of The Week: Faith No More and Bone & Bell

These picks could not be any further apart from each other. One recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and is still one of the most brilliantly unusual albums released by a hard rock band on a major label while the other is a stellar sophomore EP that adds another layer of beauty and artistry to an artist on the rise. The picks of the week are Angel Dust by Faith No More and Organ Fantasies by Bone & Bell.

Killer Mike On The Eric Andre Show

In the vein of Fernwood Tonight, Adult Swim's The Eric Andre Show is a parody of late night talk shows. Unlike Barth Gimble and his humorous assortment of guests and crew members, Eric Andre and his co-host, Hannibal Buress, offer a manic hodgepodge of humor, confused guests, strange segueways and promos and overall random, cable access quality weirdness which is I love this show so much. To give you a good example, here is a segment that featured rapper Killer Mike as a hypeman for an opera singer. Really, that is all that I have to say about this clip and that The Eric Andre Show airs Sunday night at 11:30 p.m. CST on Adult Swim  and Killer Mike's latest LP, R.A.P. Music, is in stores now.

Never Too June For New Releases

June is filled with some impressive new releases and reissues (and judging by the title of this post, bad puns) from the likes of The Beach Boys, Melvins, Jukebox the Ghost, Nelly Furtado, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Japandroids and plenty more. There is even a four-disc Heart box set to begin the month alongside Fiona Apple's first release in seven years. This is an amazing month loaded with great releases to enjoy those summer days (and nights if you are drifting away). So buy yourself some music and play it loud. 

One Hit Wonder Or One Hit Blunder

Today Subject: "I Got a Man" by Positive K

When I was 10, I learned two extremely valuable lessons in regards to women. One was to never trust a big butt and a smile and the other was if you see a fine girl, just bust a move. It was not until I was 12 that I learned the power of persistence from the Pepe LePew of hip hop, Positive K. With one question, he summed up talking to and hooking up with attached women by asking "what's your man got to do with me" on his hit single, "I Got a Man."

In Your Honor... (May 2012)

Side A

01. Angel in the Snow by Elliott Smith

02. Judy is a Punk by Ramones

03. Political Song for Michael Jackson to Sing by Minutemen

04. Don't Lie to Me by Big Star

05. Twenty Four Hours by Joy Division

06. Sky Diver by Eyedea & Abilities

07. Free Form Guitar by Chicago

08. Cosmic Slop by Funkadelic

09. The Update by Beastie Boys

10. How Can You Fix a Broken Heart? by The Bee Gees

Side B

01. Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy by Queen

02. Eazy-er Said than Dunn by Eazy-E

03. Brooklyn Zoo by Ol' Dirty Bastard

04. Rain When I Die by Alice in Chains

05. Man of Golden Words by Mother Love Bone

06. Parasite by Nick Drake

07. (Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth by Metallica

08. The Mob Rules by Black Sabbath

09. KRS-One by Sublime

10. Jet Boy by New York Dolls

Two Minutes of OFF! Live at the Whiskey a Go Go

One of the highlights of the last few years has been the emergence of OFF!, the Californian hardcore quartet lead by former Black Flag/Circle Jerks frontman, Keith Morris. The band's debut, First Four EP's, was a more than welcomed injection into the arm of what the kids call punk and hardcore these days. The pop hooks and emo styled hair of modern bands has been replaced with guitar solos and short 1-2 minute bursts of pure American 80's hardcore.

Mayer Hawthorne Debuts Henny & Gingerale

It was Humpty Hump who once sang "I'll drink all the Hennessey you got on the shelf" but it is Mayer Hawthorne that wants to take the same drink, fill your cup with it and throw a party as he does in the video for "Henny & Gingerale." In the clip, Hawthorne becomes a younger, modern Hugh Hefner as he sings about his favorite drink before proceeding to fill the cups of any of the attractive partygoers, If there was ever song built to sell Hennessey and the bachelor life, this is it. After this video, if Hennessey should be sending Hawthorne free bottles or hiring him as a spokesman. It is the perfect combination of baby making music and a baby making drink. (Note: if this happens, can I have my 10%?)

Adam Yauch aka MCA of Beastie Boys (1964-2012)

It is with great regret and great remembrance that H & J honors the life and art of Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of Beastie Boys, who passed away earlier today at the age of 47 after a three year battle with cancer.

Soundgarden Living To Rise

Soundgarden's first song of new material since 1996's Down on the Upside is a track for the upcoming film, The Avengers. "Live to Rise" is their contribution to the soundtrack and its video features the band performing with clips of the film thrown in (so...a standard action film theme song video). While I expected something darker and heavier ("Birth Ritual" from Singles), I can be excited that a new Soundgarden song means that there will be a new Soundgarden album in the near future which is a very exciting thing in itself. Enjoy the video for "Live to Rise" below and the soundtrack to The Avengers entitled Avengers Assemble: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture is in stores now.

May You Enjoy These New Releases

May, I bow before thee as this month's new releases among some of the best and highly anticipated releases for the year. This month features new albums from Norah Jones, Joey Ramone, Tenacious D, Best Coast, Beach House, El-P, OFF!, Garbage, Regina Spektor and so, so many more. There are reissues and additions to the catalog of Thin Lizzy, George Harrison and Pantera. Whatever you are into, there are plenty of new releases to enjoy and break the bank on.

Kevin Shields Talks About My Bloody Valentine Reissues

Twenty-one years later and Loveless is still a musical masterpiece of lo-fi lush sounds and distortion. It is the album by which romantic empires are created and a perennial favorite of critics and fans of shoegaze. If you have never heard the album or any of My Bloody Valentine's brilliant albums (say, for example, 1988's Isn't Anything), then you owe it to yourself to purchase the MBV's remastered reissues on May 7.

For Sarah...A Birthday Mix (April 2012 Mixtape)

Side 1

01. School Days by Loudon Wainwright III

02. Into the Void by Nine Inch Nails

03. The Mansion World by Deadsy

04. Empty Vessels Make the Loudest Sound by The Mars Volta

05. New Orleans Instrumental No. 1 by R.E.M.

06. Greetings in Braille by The Elected

Side 2

01. Tunic (Song for Karen) by Sonic Youth

02. Human Pin Cushion by Skeleton Key

03. Erase/Rewind by The Cardigans

04. Sound and Vision by David Bowie

05. Bastardo by Charlotte Hatherley

06. A Thief at My Door by Karen Elson

Playlist: Record Store Day Edition

Normally, this would be posted on Friday but I did it specifically for today to go along with my purchases. Needless to say, I'm a happy camper. Without any further delay, here are some of the artists whose records I purchased today. Sorry for the rush but I want to listen to them.

Dick Clark (1929-2012)

Yesterday, Dick Clark, America's Oldest Teenager, passed away at the age of 82 following a heart attack after a medical procedure. For many, the passing of Clark represents the passing of an era long gone and the youthfulness of that era that still resonates today within people, young and old. The ever youthful host and radio DJ was best known for American Bandstand, the ground breaking daily (eventually, weekly) show that served as a dance party in your living room and helped ease some of the racial tensions in America when they were at their worst as Clark openly invited African-American performers to a show that formerly opposed the concept.

White Denim Release New Single, Perform At Lincoln Hall Tonight

Playlist: A Tribute to Jason Voohees

Friday the 13th is best known for being the day in which a goalie masked, supernatural, superhuman, zombie-like being in overalls stalks the woods with a machete to kill campers that fornicate on the campground where his mother died while killing camp counselors yearly to avenge the loss of her son who drowned in a lake. Whew, and I thought saying Shelly sells seashells by the seashore was hard. Anyway, in honor of Jason Voorhees and his mother, this week's edition of Playlist (formally Friday Playlist) features song titles that pretty much up your time in Camp Crystal Lake. The last song, however, is probably the last thing you hear when he finally catches you.

Company Flow At Metro Tonight; Interview With El-P

Black Sabbath, Red Hot Chili Peppers Headline Lollapalooza 2012