This is the album that will be coming through my speakers today and for the foreseeable future. LCD Soundsystem, aka James Murphy, is the hippest of hipsters. This Is Happening, the 3rd and maybe last album created under the LCD moniker, drops today. If you're put off by the low key nature of the first song I've added below ("Dance Yrself Clean"), just wait until the drums and synths kick in at the 3 minute mark.
Roadside Stand near Birmingham, Alabama, 1936 © Walker Evans
Jim Norris, homesteader, Pie Town, New Mexico, 1940 © Russell Lee
If you like hip hop, give Shabazz Palaces a listen. Yes, that really is the name of the track below. And yes, like most hip hop, Shabazz don't clean up their language, so beware if/when you click on the link below.
My friend Allison sends the greatest postcards. Beyond the superb photographs on the front of each one, her handwriting is second to none. I received one from her this week with the photograph by William Eggleston above.
The Books rove through thrift shops and other junk stores, find discarded tapes, and turn those snippets of sound into melody. Check out a track from their album The Way Out, set to drop in July.
Another great album drops today. The National, with their baritone, melancholy indie rock release High Violet today. This is music made for a rainy day or a late night drive home. But the band's energy make them a soundtrack for any day really. Listen to a track below. My personal favorites are "Conversation 16" and "England". They have some great album artwork as well.
One month from today I'll be taking on the Hospital Hill Half Marathon. I ran a half marathon about a month ago, so the distance is not new to me. However, this course takes on some of the more rigorous hills in downtown Kansas City. You should run it too - they've got a 5K and 10K option. You can see the course map above. Click on the photo to enlarge the map.
Public School is an artist-collective based in Austin, Texas. Their blog, which I've posted about in the past, is a daily read of mine. Much to my delight, the group has been posting more frequently lately. Feel free to make it one of your daily reads. But don't read too closely or you'll notice that on the rarest of occasions I steal their ideas and put them on here.
I'm sure there will be a debate in the indie world about the quality of this album. I've already read a few blogs that say Pitchfork's rating of Forgiveness Rock Record by Broken Social Scene was far too high. I'll let you decide for yourself. If you are going to purchase any album this week, this is the one to get. I've been a fan of these Canadians since first hearing You Forgot It In People back in college (PS - it's terrible that I can now say "back in college"). Their Halloween show in Lawrence, KS with Leslie Feist ranks as one of the top 3 greatest shows I've ever seen (Daniel would back me up). So I may be biased, but that's ok. See what you think.
