The Libertines rock!

Yeah baby, that's right, Up The Bracket smokes! Surprised that this CD doesn't get more attention in the US or around places like this. I think it's some of the best mixture of Kinks and Clash and Jam that I've heard in recent times, and that's including all the garage revivalists like the Strokes, White Stripes, Jet, Kings of Leon, Vines, Hives, etc. Almost like a British version of Spoon combined with the tattered edges of the Strokes debut. Catchy songs delivered with a Clash-like irreverence, aided but never overshadowed by the just right Mick Jones' production (no wonder they sound like the Clash, eh? :)). Nice review at AMG if you click on the cover below.

Anyway boys and girls, that's my Friday pick of the week. Anyone else out there have something you've been digging a ton lately? Like a Rave Recording? Anyone? Got any new beers to try out this weekend?

<a href=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&uid=UIDSUB040403261130002021&sql=A33 rp282l056a><img src=http://image.allmusic.com/00/amg/cov200/drf700/f797/f79726adb3s.jpg>

Totally agree with ya on the Libertines. "What a waster" just flat out rocks and "Time for Heroes" is a great single. The whole disk is terrific - and yup, it's a shame they don't seem to be able to crack the US market but they did get heaps 'o hype last year. Look at it this way - The Jam never cracked the US market either.

Beer for the weekend: Long Island's own Blue Point Toasted Ale.

but I didn't want you to suffer from "Finch Syndrome", so I thought I would give you a pity response. ;) As for beer, I'm just going with my standard "low carb" Miller Lite, which really sucks for the most part, but is working as intended. Don't get me wrong, I still have my favorite micro-brews and imports on occasion, but I have to watch my cholesterol carefully and the low-carb diet is doing its job. I've tried other light beers and haven't found any that tastes better than Miller, although Amstel Light is ok. I stll have some Tettley's and Bass Ale in my fridge, so I may hit a pint or two of those later on.

I haven't bought many cds lately, but I just put the Libertines on my short list. I need something that rawks.

Swish

Well, contrary to the other opinions, I totally dig The Muse. Picked up Absolution based on (a) the strength of Showbiz and (b) an article in Sound On Sound magazine -- man those guys are great writers. Every time I read an article by them, I either want to go out and get the piece of gear they're hawking, or, in the case of articles about musicians, I want to go out and get the piece of music they describe being recorded. There's something about feeling like you've almost been in the studio with them during the recording process, that just totally gets my empathy.

Anywayz -- standout tracks on Absolution include the title track, "Final Thoughts of a Dying Atheist", and others. It's not as relentless as others have made it out to be, with ballads like "Rule By Secrecy" and "Falling Away With You", and some nice variety in other tracks.

NP: Some wierd spoken word track about penguins and killer-whales from Valley of the Giants, made up of members of Do Make Say Think, Shalabi Effect, GYBE, Silver Mt. Zion, and Broken Social Scene).