In reaction to Seddy’s recent album reviews, I thought Id offer my own ideas on music. Ive also recently gone through a musical re-awakening–a rebirth I mostly attribute to Internet radio. Im lucky enough to be able to stream music where I work. As a result, Ive collected a handful of websites that I visit with regularity to get the best in music.

KCRWS Morning Becomes Eclectic
From Santa Monica, California public radio station, this show delivers a wonderful mix of music across all genres. They also feature frequent live in-studio interviews and performances. See The Flaming Lips cover of Radioheads Knives Out featured on the Fight Test EP.

KEXP
This time from Seattle, another public radio station offering the best in new/indie music, with a wonderful web presence. They partner with the University of Washington and the Experience Music Project to provide educational features. The station also features many live performances, including The Flaming Lips cover of Kylie Minogues Cant Get You Out of My Head also featured on the Fight Test EP.

All Songs Considered
The musical companion of NPRs All Things Considered, host Bob Boilen offers a handful of new or off-the-radar musicians.

John Peel
On BBC Radio 1, the British icon Peel offers his selections as to whats great in music. A little heavy on that British garage/techno sound in my opinionbut maybe Im just behind the times. Otherwise, a brilliant show.

AccuRadio
AccuRadio This is the place to go when you want to listen to a particular genre. Their channels include A Flock of Eighties, Twang, and Broadway. See High Fidelity for the best in indie music.

Van Lear Rose Loretta Lynn

This I learned about from my status as obsessed White Stripes fan. Anyone who loves the White Stripes knows that they have long had an enormous respect for Loretta Lynn, covering her Rated X as well as dedicating White Blood Cells to her. I became a Loretta fan sort of through the White Stripes, and bought Entertainer of The Year on vinyl. I read some time ago that Jack White was producing her new album, and bought it the day it was released. This is truly a work of art. Every song on this album is amazing, and they all seem very personal. Its impossible for me to pick a favorite song on Van Lear Rose. I really like Portland, Oregon, a very rockin-country duet with Jack. I love the title trackits one of those songs that make you smile and cry at the same time. Mrs. Leroy Brown is another favoriteits a total ass-kicking song. Van Lear Rose manages to be every emotion, and every musical genre, at once. Its rock, its country, its folk, and most of all, its honest. I cant say enough about this album. Fortunately, Ive read that Jack has signed on to produce two more albums for Loretta. I cant wait.

Thought Of The Day: Ball and Biscuit is still the sexiest song ever recorded. I love Jack White.

Phantom Planet Phantom Planet

This one has been out for awhile. I first heard Big Brat on The Spy (our local what-some-people-call-alt-rock-but-what-I-call-just-good-music-you-cant-hear-anywhere-else-station) on St. Patricks Day. I remember it like it was yesterdayI was driving home from celebrating with friends. Having recently kicked the smoking thing, I found myself in a horrible mood due to a desperate need for sweet, sweet nicotine. AnywayI digress. When I heard the song, I thought it was super-cool and quickly became obsessed. Soon after that, I saw the video, a cool homage to cheesy zombie movies, directed by the genius Spike Jonze. I was obsessed with Big Brat for a couple of weeks. I still think its a fun, cool song but Ive moved past the obsession. As for the rest of the album, its pretty good. Its easy to listen to, but nothing really sticks out on it.
Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Fever To Tell

Again, an album thats been out for awhile. I had been reading a lot of great reviews about this band, so I finally bought the album. Its a little different from anything else Ive heard in awhile. I guess the best way to describe their sound is art-punk. Its punk with something slightly pretentious about it that I like a lot. My favorite tracks are probably Man which has a cool, kind of funky, bluesy feel, and Modern Romance, a very mellow track which reminds me of early 80s Blondie. Karen O. is so super-cool. I want to be her.

Thought Of The Day: If a planet were phantom, would it even exist? I dont believe in ghosts, so I dont think it would.

I was struggling to find a clever way to begin, as I just read an amazing op-ed piece in the New York Times by the incomparable Nick Hornby. Since I am no Nick Hornby, I will begin with a simple declarative sentence that will nevertheless get my point across.

I love music.

Ive wanted to write about something more upbeat than my disgust with bigotry and right-wing politics for some time now. A recent series of mini-obsessions with new (or at least new-ish) album releases provided the catalyst for my sudden shift to the sunny side, and I feel compelled to share how wonderful I think the following albums are. Keep in mind that Im not a professional music reviewer (although I think that would be one of the most kick-ass jobs in the world)these are just one music lovers opinions. Well, I guess thats what all reviews are anyway, even those written professionally. Hhhmm

Good News For People Who Love Bad News Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse have been around for years and years, and I wish I could say Ive been a fan for as long. I bought this album on the basis of the single Float On. I fell in love with this song immediately after seeing the video on MTV2. The video suits the song perfectlysort of sadly optimistic. Float On, and the album as a whole, reminds me somewhat of the Flaming Lips, (who mixed and appear on the last track The Good Times Are Killing Me). The album is very eclecticit pretty much encompasses every mood imaginable, yet there is a common thread of optimism connecting everything together. This is an album that I fall more and more in love with each time I listen to it. I plan to buy Modest Mouses earlier albums as soon as possible.

Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand

Once again, my first exposure to this song was on MTV2. I had been hearing buzz about this band for awhile as the next big thing but had not actually heard anything from them until the video for Take Me Out. I bought the album the same day. Take Me Out is probably the most perfect dance-rock song Ive heard in a very long time. The laid back, poppy intro, which sounds kind of like something the Strokes might come up with, segues after about 45 seconds into this rocked-out, New Wave-ish type hook. The album as a whole is pretty good, if you judge it more as a fun party record more than a work of art. The other track I really like is Michael, in which the narrator finds himself drawn to a beautiful dance whore – very Queer As Folk. Their sound sort or reminds me The Strokes meets The Cure meets New Order. If you like Take Me Out, youll like the rest of the album.

Thought of the DayI sure would like a sweet, sweet Hornsby right about now. In a frosted glass.