Summer is going to be awesome...

So this is a teeny bit late, but Musicfest NW and PDX Pop Now! have finally announced their line-ups for this year. The one for MFNW is a partial line up but, so far, things are looking very good. You can check it out here. PDX Pop Now!'s line up is available here. While MFNW is priced pretty well if you get a wrist band, PDX Pop will be FREE. So, if you're short on cash, that's one I highly recomend not missing. Also, be sure to pick up a copy of the 2009 PDX Pop Now! compilation. There are some particular good tracks by the Mint Chicks and Ah Holly Fam'ly.

Sunny Days ahead...

...both literally and metaphorically.

Not only is "June: damp dungeon edition" speeding towards a close but the mopey Seattalites of Sunny Day Real Estate are reuniting to give my 17-year-old self the best birthday present ever.



Since Sunny Day Real Estate has broken up the genre they helped found has gone down the worst possible path but SDRE actually made emo that was kinda, sorta good (remember?). They, along with Get Up Kids, will be play this year's Music Fest Northwest on September 16.

Hit the link for the full (and pretty bad-assed) lineup.

Drop it in the sauce bottle up the sauce

Mike Doughty just debuted his music video for "Put it Down" off his latest album Golden Delicious over at IFC. I like the low-fi aspects and the part where he tries jamming with the sirens. It's nice to see some personality in a music video these days.

The lovely Laura Gibson

You should check out the interview with Laura Gibson in today's issue of the Vanguard. Not only is Ms. Gibson insightful and interesting but there are some excellent revelations about her academic endeavors as well.

In the mean time here are a few videos of Portland's foremost chanteuse:

With Colin Meloy:


All on her lonesome:


and on top of construction equipment (thanks to Live from the Wreckage!):

Dennis Wilson – Pacific Ocean Blue

A while back, The Vanguard received a copy of the re-release of Dennis Wilson's 1977 album Pacific Ocean Blue, and to my surprise, I found out that the erstwhile Beach Boy drummer had created an album that I actually really enjoyed. Maybe those surf bums had more than one eccentric genius?

Blue has great symphonic pop hooks, and his imperfect but endearing vocal stylings really hold the whole thing together. And it's appropriately titled too—this shit sounds like the relaxing ocean. To bad he died, I would have liked to hear more of this.

Here's a track:



The reissue also contains an entire unreleased album, Bambu, that's pretty damn good as well, all packaged in a deluxe, 2xCD edition.

Sorry for the late pass, but if'n you like the Beach Boys, check this out.

Name your price: Cadence Weapon's new album

The most recent artist to jump onboard the digital music release with a "name your price" style of purchase is Cadence Weapon. His new album is more of a mixtape but it features, according to Cadence Weapon's website "exclusive new Cadence Weapon tracks, remixes and collaborations." And yes that means you can pay nothing.

The album is 20 tracks, and is called Separation Anxiety. Previous bands to have used the "name your price" purchase method have been Radiohead (for In Rainbows) and Nine Inch Nails (for The Slip). And while Separation Anxiety isn't exactly an album, hell, at least it's free (if you so choose) and since when do you pass up free music?

Download Separation Anxiety here.

"The Change is In" from Fernando

Check out Rich's excellent piece on Fernando in today's issue of the Vanguard for the full story and in the meantime here's a few words from the man himself:

Amazon's discount bin

For those who still like to sometimes contribute to the coffers of the music industry, Amazon.com is having a 'Top Albums of 2008' $5 sale.