Things that Are Square

What do you say we go and get a beer?

2010-03-15T10:06:00.000-07:00

This may be the world's most perfect indie-pop song. It's possible.

It's been a weird day...

2010-03-12T19:16:00.001-08:00

Playlist for 3-11-10

2010-03-12T08:22:00.000-08:00

After a week off to gallavant around New York, I return triumphant to fill the need for college radio to play Belle and Sebastian songs. Don't lie. You missed me so hard.

Things that Are Square 3-11-10

(*) = New release

Mariee Sioux - Two Tongues - Faces in the Rocks

(*) Joanna Newsom - Good Intentions Paving Co. - Have One On Me
Daniel Johnston - Etiquette - Continued Story
Phosphorescent - Reasons to Quit - To Willie
Akron/Family - Everyone Is Guilty - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free

David Bazan - Hard to Be - Curse Your Branches
The Antlers - Kettering - Hospice
The National - Mistaken for Strangers - Boxer
(*) Frightened Rabbit - Swim Until You Can't See Land - The Winter ofMixed Drinks

(*) Pavement - Spit on a Stranger - Quarantine the Past
Belle and Sebastian - The Stars of Track and Field - If You're Feeling Sinister
Jens Lekman - No Time for Breaking Up - The Opposite of Hallelujah
(*) Happy Birthday - Girls FM - Happy Birthday

The Drums - Saddest Summer - It's Summertime!
(*) Xiu Xiu - Chocolate Makes You Happy - Dear God, I Hate Myself
Wild Beasts - Hooting & Howling - Two Dancers (For Jessica in Santa Ana, CA)
Destroyer - New Ways of Living - Your Blues

(*) Titus Andronicus - A More Perfect Union - The Monitor
Les Savy Fav - Raging in the Plague Age - Let's Stay Friends
The Olivia Tremor Control - NYC-25 - Dusk at Cubist Castle
Françoise Hardy - Suzanne - Comment Te Dire Adieu

(*) Toro y Moi - Blessa - Causers of This
The Books - Tokyo - The Lemon of Pink
Why? - Early Whitney - Oaklandazulasylum

Jesus/sex/drinking

2010-03-10T08:56:00.000-08:00

Fact: Willie Nelson is a better songwriter than most of the artists in your album library.
Fact: Phosphorescent's album of Willie Nelson covers, "To Willie," has been stuck in my CD player for a while.

For debate: Willie Nelson: Country Music:: Spiritualized: Rock Music

Discuss.

I'm a Lebowski, you're a Lebowski

2010-03-08T12:54:00.000-08:00

I've been listening to a ton of David Bazan, spent the last week near Greenwich Village, and watched The Dude win an Oscar last night. This song is a great culmination of the last week.

Playlist for 2-25-10

2010-02-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday, folks,

And a happier friday to me. In 12 hours, I'm going to be on a plane to NYC for a week of drinking, eating, Akron/Family-ing and the like. It's gonna be boss. Yeah. I say "boss." Wanna fight about it? (Related note: Jessica of "Eloquent Noise" will be subbing my show next week, due to my NYC-ing. Tune in. It'll be fine.)

Things that Are Square 2-25-10

(*) = New release

Akron/Family - Moment - Akron/Family & The Angels of Light

Parts & Labor - Fractured Skies - Mapmaker
Math the Band - Tour de Friends - Don't Worry
The Mae Shi - Lamb and Lion - Hlllyh
Man Man - Harpoon Fever (Queequeg's Playhouse) - Rabbit Habits

(*) Jaguar Love - Polaroids and Red Wine - Hologram Jams
Le Tigre - Eau d'Bredoom Dancing - Le Tigre
The Raincoats - Lola - The Raincoats
(*) Clare & the Reasons - Murder, They Want Murder - Arrow (For Neha in Irvine, CA)
(*) Holly Miranda - Forest Green, Oh Forest Green - The MagiciansPrivate Library

The xx - Intro - XX
Low - Sunflower - Things We Lost in the Fire
Parenthetical Girls - Oh Daughter/Disaster - Safe As Houses
(*) Xiu Xiu - Gray Death - Dear God, I Hate Myself

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Lay Me Low - Let Love In
Okkervil River - Maine Island Lovers - Down the River of Golden Dreams
The Lucksmiths - The Year of Driving Languorously - Spring a Leak
(*) Sambassadeur - Stranded - European

(*) Los Campesinos! - Coda: A Burn Scar in the Shape of the SoonerState - Romance Is Boring
The Decemberists - Everything I Try to Do, Nothing Seems to Turn OutRight - Billy Liar
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms vs Bad Arms - The Midnight Organ Fight
James Chadwick - The Wooden Floor - Worried Noodles

Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Gardenia - Real Emotional Trash
Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs - Andrew Bird and the MysteriousProduction of Eggs
The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice - Surrounded - Moon Colony Bloodbath
Destroyer - Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Sea of Tears) - Streethawk: A Seduction

Broken Social Scene - Handjobs for the Holidays - Broken Social Scene

(Insert Milton Reference)

2010-02-21T09:46:00.001-08:00

HOLY CRAP

2010-02-19T11:37:00.001-08:00

If this song is representative of the album as a whole, I'm penciling Liars into the top of my year-end-best list.

Playlist for 2-18-10

2010-02-19T10:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday folks,

Whatcha got planned? Seeing the new Scorcese? Drinking games with friends out in the desert? Making Sunday lunch for your mom? Weird. That's what I'M doing. Are.....are you following me?

The playlist:

Things that Are Square 2-18-10

(*) = New release

Galaxie 500 - Tugboat - Today

Built to Spill - You Were Right - Keep It Like a Secret
Spiritualized - Any Way That You Want Me - Me and You and Everyone We Know
(*) Angelo Spencer - Bo Diddley - Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets
(*) Past Lives - Paralyzer - Tapestry of Webs

(*) Xiu Xiu - Cumberland Gap - Dear God, I Hate Myself
Calvin Johnson - Deliverance - When the Dream Faded...
Lab Waste - Go and Get the Signal Back (Daedelus's Remix Is the Cat's Meow) - Zwarte Achtegrond
(*) Four Tet - She Just Likes to Fight - There Is Love in You

Playlist for 2-11-10

2010-02-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks,

I hope that you, like I, are on the cusp of a three-day-weekend. And I hope that you, like I, intend to spend at least part of it having a good amount of fun. But I hope that you, like I, won't be spending part of it cleaning your bathroom. See? And you thought I didn't like you.

Things that Are Square 2-11-10

(*) = New release

Belle and Sebastian - The Boy with the Arab Strap - The Boy with the Arab Strap

(*) Los Campesinos! - There Are Listed Buildings - Romance Is Boring
Another Sunny Day - Anorak City - London Weekend
The Vaselines - Sex Sux (Amen) - The Way of the Vaselines: A Complete History
The King Khan & BBQ Show - Animal Party - Invisible Girl

The Sonics - Do You Love Me - Here Are the Sonics!!!
Chain and the Gang - Unpronounceable Name - Down with Liberty...Up with Chains!
(*) Surfer Blood - Fast Jabroni - Astro Coast
(*) Angelo Spencer - Now! - Angelo Spencer et les Hauts Sommets

(*) Citay - Dream Get Together - Dream Get Together
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Graceland - Advance Base Battery Life
(*) The Endless Bummer - Nunavut - Modern American Calypsos for Voice and Computer
Black Moth Super Rainbow - Born on a Day the Sun Didn't Rise - Eating Us

(*) Four Tet - This Unfolds - There Is Love in You
Caribou - Sundialing - Andorra
OOIOO - Mountain Book - Gold & Green

Godspeed You! Black Emperor - East Hastings - F#A# Infinity

Momus - "Nicky" - Circus Maximus
A.A. Bondy - Oh the Vampyre - When the Devil's Loose
Sun Kil Moon - Glenn Tipton - Ghosts of the Great Highway
John Vanderslice - When It Hits My Blood - Cellar Door

(*) Family of the Year - Feel Good Track of Rosemead - Songbook

I'm working for a song in Solomon's mine

2010-02-09T07:34:00.000-08:00

Man. Witty lyrics and wordplay with biblically-based song themes? All with a ridiculous sense of humor? Why aren't there 100 more albums like this?

Finally. A good half-time show

2010-02-07T12:32:00.000-08:00

Seriously. 7:49-7:55 may be the best single moment in all of recorded musical history.

Playlist for 2-4-10

2010-02-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks,

Hope you're doing well this fine Friday. Personally, I'm a little under the weather, but I got a gut-full of orange juice and western medicine. I'm gonna make it. I hope you come with me.

The playlist:

Things that Are Square 2-4-10

(*) = New release

The Dismemberment Plan - Ellen and Ben - Change

Thao with The Get Down Stay Down - When We Swam - Know Better Learn Faster
The Thermals - A Pillar of Salt - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
(*) Nana Grizol - Galaxies - Ruth
(*) Surfer Blood - Take It Easy - Astro Coast
(*) Los Campesinos! - A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; Or, Letters From Me to Charlotte - Romance Is Boring

The Drums - Let's Go Surfing - Summertime!
France Gall - Poupée de Cire, Poupée de Son - Poupée de Son
God Help The Girl - God Help the Girl - God Help the Girl
(*) GIGI - I'm Not Coming Out Tonight (w/ Sydney Vermont & MarissaJohnson) - Maintenant

Galaxie 500 - Ceremony - On Fire
Shocking Pinks - Second Hand Girl - Shocking Pinks
Guided by Voices - I Am a Scientist - Bee Thousand (For Mike in Irvine, CA)
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms vs Bad Arms - The Midnight Organ Fight

Tom Waits - A Good Man Is Hard to Find - Blood Money
Vic Chesnutt - Where Were You - West of Rome
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand - Let Love In

Chavez - Lion - Ride the Fader (For Brendan in Chico, CA)
Mogwai - Stop Coming to My House - Government Commissions
(*) A Silver Mt. Zion - I Fed My Metal Bird the Wings of Other MetalBirds - Kollaps Tradixionales
(*) Citay - Careful with the Hat - Dream Get Together

(*) Four Tet - Circling - There Is Love In You
Manitoba - Bijoux - Up in Flames
White Rainbow - Gilded Golden Ladies - Zome

Heavenly - Lemonhead Boy - Heavenly vs Satan

Playlist for 1-28-10

2010-01-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

I'm still doing abbreviated radio shows due to basketball pre-emptions, but that's fine. I'm honing my two-hour radio show down to 45 minute LASERS OF RADIO INTENSITY. I'd apologize if I rock your face too hard, but we both know how much you like it.

The playlist:

Things that Are Square 1-28-10

(*) = New release

(*) Library Science - Pat Down - Dolphin

(*) Los Campesinos! - I Warned You: Do Not Make An Enemy of Me - Romance Is Boring
The Thermals - Here's Your Future - The Body, The Blood, The Machine
Ghost Mice - Critical Hit - Andrew Jackson Jihad/Ghost Mice Split
Best Friends Forever - Handpocket - Romance Conflict Adventure

(*) Surfer Blood - Swim - Astro Coast
(*) Beach House - Zebra - Teen Dream
Jeff Mangum - My Dream Girl Don't Exist - Unreleased
Akron/Family - Oceanside - Akron/Family & The Angels of Light

(*) Owen Pallett - What Do You Think Will Happen Now? - Heartland
Tom Waits - Black Wings - Bone Machine
Silver Jews - Random Rules - American Water
The Avett Brothers - Living of Love - Emotionalism

ROMANCE CONFLICT ADVENTURE

2010-01-28T16:50:00.000-08:00

Today, we relax

2010-01-25T13:54:00.000-08:00

Put your makeup on, fix your hair up pretty, and meet me tonight in Atlantic City

2010-01-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

It's weird how nearly everything off of the album "Nebraska" wouldn't sound out of place on old Bright Eyes albums.

Cheerful tunes to head into the weekend

2010-01-15T13:13:00.001-08:00

You kids going to the Andrew Jackson Jihad show at the Echo Curio on Sunday? You probably have Monday off (unless you work for the KKK). $5!

And, in case you were wondering what the best books AJJ read in 2009 were, some fine website asked them that VERY QUESTION.

Playlist for 1-14-10

2010-01-15T08:23:00.000-08:00

Is it just me, or did this week seem to crawl by? Like a little turtle in a wheelchair. There's a word-image for you to start your weekend. Your THREE-DAY-WEEKEND? HECK YEAH!

Playlist (short due to basketball pre-emption)

Things that Are Square 1-14-10

Frank Black - Freedom Rock - Teenage of the Year

Old Time Relijun - Indestructable Life! - Catharsis in Crisis
Calvin Johnson - Rabbit Blood - Before the Dream Faded...
Danielson Famile - Rubbernecker - Tri-Danielson (Alpha) (For Brian in Costa Mesa, CA)
(*) The Endless Bummer - Itacan of Lakota - Modern American Calypsos for Voice and Computer

(*) Owen Pallett - Lewis Takes Off His Shirt - Heartland
The Magnetic Fields - Grand Canyon - 69 Love Songs
The Feelies - Forces at Work - Crazy Rhythms
(*) Retribution Gospel Choir - Hide It Away - 2

Destroyer - Trembling Peacock - This Night
Xiu Xiu - Muppet Face - La Forêt
Little Wings - Queen of Valencia - The Wonder City

Like "The Philadelphia Story." Or...I guess..."The North Carolina Story"

2010-01-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

Bonus trivia: the two main characters in this video, Mac and Laura of Superchunk, had broken up very recently before this video was shot. Fuck yeah, awkwardness.

Playlist for 1-7-10

2010-01-08T08:44:00.000-08:00

Good morning folks,

First show of the new year. Anything different? Well...I was pre-empted for basketball for half my show. So...starting the year off right!

Songs:

Things that Are Square 1-7-09

(*) = New release

(*) White Denim - I Start to Run - Fits

The Dodos - Trades & Tarriffs - Beware of the Maniacs

This Bike Is a Pipe Bomb - Body Count - Front Seat Solidarity
Ghost Mice - Critical Hit - Andrew Jackson Jihad/Ghost Mice Split
The Thermals - Here's Your Future - The Body The Blood The Machine

(*) Fuck Buttons - Flight of the Feathered Serpent - Surf Solar
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Graceland - Advance Base Battery Life
Silver Jews - Slow Education - Bright Flight
(*) My Robot Friend - By Your Side (Feat. Dean Wareham) - Soft-Core

The xx - Crystalised - XX
Hymie's Basement - You Die - Hymie's Basement
Antony and the Johnsons - My Lady Story - I Am a Bird Now

I'll take "Things You Shouldn't Say to a Group of Children" for $400, Alex

2010-01-06T08:45:00.001-08:00

Playlist for 12-31-09

2010-01-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

Here was the playlist for my last show of 2009, before I went home and did absolutely nothing for New Year's Eve due to plans falling through and such. It was, as the French say, a total fucking downer. Hahaha.But at least the songs were nice.

Musics:

Things that Are Square 12-31-09

(*) = New release

Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing! - Hold On Now, Youngster...

Dananananaykroyd - Infinity Milk - Hey Everyone!
Coconut Coolouts - (Please Don't Break Me Out Of) Party Jail - Party Time Machine
Death From Above 1979 - Romantic Rights - You're a Woman, I'm a Machine
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart - Young Adult Friction - The Pains of Being Pure at Heart

Japandroids - Young Hearts Spark Fire - Post-Nothing
(*) The Drums - Let's Go Surfing - Summertime!
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Upon this Tidal Wave of Young Blood - Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Best Friends Forever - Handpocket - Romance Conflict Adventure

Jeffrey Lewis & The Junkyard - Broken Broken Broken Heart - 'Em Are I
(*) The King Khan & BBQ Show - I'll Be Loving You - Invisible Girl
Dub Narcotic Sound System - Handclappin - Handclappin
Dirty Projectors - Stillness Is the Move - Bitte Orca

Fool's Gold - Surprise Hotel - Fool's Gold
Animal Collective - Summertime Clothes - Merriweather Post Pavilion
Dan Deacon - Snookered - Bromst

Math the Band - It's Gonna Be Awesome - Don't Worry
EAR PWR - Super Animal Bros. III - Super Animal Brothers III
The Fall - Totally Wired - 50,000 Fall Fans Can't Be Wrong
Thee Oh Sees - Quadrospazzed - The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night In

Belle and Sebastian - Women's Realm - Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant
Mirah - The Country of the Future - (A)Spera
The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby - The Phenomenal Handclap Band

Akron/Family - Last Year - Set 'Em Wild, Set 'Em Free

Playlist for 12-24-09 (Christmas Edition)

2009-12-28T09:47:00.000-08:00

Hey folks,

If you were eagerly awaiting the posting of this playlist (because I pretend that someone WAS eagerly awaiting), I apologize for the delay. With Christmas, and my newfound illness, I have been too lazy/sick to do it. But I'll make it up to you next time we hang out. I hope you like uncomfortably long hugs.

The playlist:

Things that Are Square 12-24-09

Belle and Sebastian - O Little Town of Bethlehem - Peel Session

The Pogues - Fairy Tale of New York - If I Should Fall from Grace with God
The Halo Benders - Snowfall - God Don't Make No Junk
Nellie McKay - The Christmas Waltz - Unreleased
Jens Lekman - The Cold Swedish Winter - When I Said I Wanted to Be Your Dog

Pedro the Lion - The First Noel - The First Noel//Long Way Around the Sea
Arab Strap - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) - Unreleased
Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Cold White Christmas - Etiquette
The Lucksmiths - The Winter Proper - Spring a Leak

Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas - Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See
Mogwai - Christmas Song - EP + 6
Low - Little Drummer Boy - Christmas
Bright Eyes - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas - Christmas

The 5.6.7.8's - Rock and Roll Santa - Rock and Roll Santa
The Sonics - Santa Claus - Here Are the Sonics
Eels - Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Cancer for the Cure
Yo La Tengo - Itr's Christmas Time - Merry Christmas for Yo La Tengo

The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Christmas (War Is Over) - Maybe This Christmas Tree
The Magnetic Fields - Everything Is One Big Christmas Tree - Realism
Saturday Looks Good to Me - Blue Christmas - This Time Next Year/Blue Christmas
Galaxie 500 - Snowstorm - On Fire

Eef Barzelay - Joy to the World - Bitter Honey
Sufjan Stevens - O Holy Night - Songs for Christmas: Vol. III
Herman Düne - When the Water Gets Cold & Freezes on the Lake - Giant
The Kids of Widney High - Christmas Is the Time - Let's Get Busy

Tom Waits - Christmas Card from a Hooker in Minneapolis - Blue Valentine

Playlist for 12-17-09

2009-12-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas, you beautiful folks, you,

Today is my last day off work until next year. How will I spend today? Watching episodes of "Three Sheets" and "X-Files" in my office, maybe under my desk, eating veggie lasagna, and listening to music. Happy holidays, indeed.

And this here's the last non-themed edition of my show for 2009. Next week is all Christmas/winter music, and the week after that is either all-covers or a dance party, depending how I want to start off New Year's Eve.

Anyway, the ultra-chillax playlist:

Things that Are Square 12-17-09

(*) = New release

(*) Do Make Say Think - Do - Other Truths

(*) Real Estate - Suburban Beverage - Real Estate
(*) Kurt Vile - Overnite Religion - Childish Prodigy
(*) Atlas Sound - Shelia - Logos
(*) MICHAEL AND THE MUMBLES - I Tried - Michael and the Mumbles
(*) The Drums - Down By the Water - Summertime!

(*) Animal Collective - Graze - Fall Be Kind
Antony and the Johnsons - Her Eyes Are Underneath the Ground - The Crying Light
The Antlers - Kettering - Hospice
Fog - The Us Beneath - Loss Leader

Low - Blue-Eyed Devil - A Lifetime of Temporary Relief
Mogwai - R U Still In 2 It - Young Team
A Silver Mt. Zion - The Triumph of Our Tired Eyes - Born Into Trouble As the Sparks Fly Upward

(*) White Rainbow - Tuesday Rollers and Strollers - New Clouds

Isis + Aereogramme - Low Tide - In the Fishtank 14
Spiritualized - Electric Mainline - Pure Phase