It’s not too late to fall in love with the Thermals! Right now is the perfect time— it’s getting dark at 4:30, thus, nobody will see you dancing as you drive home jamming out to the nuggets from their latest record, Personal Life.

Ever since partaking in a rather lengthy conversation with bassists/singer Kathy Foster about the merit of Easter candy, and in particular Peeps, I’ve been rather endeared to the band, and jams like  “Never Listen To Me” (or really any other from Personal Life) keep my musical crush steadfast.

The Hood Internet— I Don’t Break You Down (Juicy J vs The Thermals)

And the Hood Internet strikes again! This time giving you musical remix money shot of the lead single from Personal Life, mashing it up with Juicy J. Add some cranberry sauce and dig in, it’s tasty!

Interesting side note: When not hitting the skins on the road, drummer Weston Glass occupies his days working at the Sonny Bowl’s, delicious food cart in SW Portland. Try the number two, it will be music to your stomach! Oh, and spring for the soil curls, totally worth it.

I’ll Give You All That I Have, I’ll Tell You Everything  ||  http://www.myspace.com/thethermals

After tripping nose over tail for their 2009 effort Con Law, last night I got to check out the live show of Generationals, as they were opening for another one of my favorite discoveries of the last few years.

I was quite excited to finally see the band perform, and even more excited when I made my way to the merch table to find that they were selling their brand new EP, Trust. I’d already been treated to the new EP’s title track, which I love, so my ears couldn’t wait to lay their hands on the rest of the EP.

Trust soundtracked my drive home, and once I arrived in my driveway, I gave it another once through. One thing became immediately clear during these first few virgin listens; the Trust EP was everything that I loved about Con Law, with even more awesome sauce mixed in! The 50’s, 60’s pop influence, the sweet (and sometimes slinky) leg warming bass lines, the addition of Tess Brunet’s perfectly placed females vocals. I was crushing hard. This is probably the most solid EP I’ve heard in years, and being that it’s only four songs long, my ears are thirsty for more!

More Please!  ||  http://www.myspace.com/generationals

Migrating west on the M4 the car carries you from England to Wales, crossing the massively gorgeous Severn Bridge, below the river greats the sea, and two share a cup of tea.

The day losing momentum, the sun plays peek-a-boo, occasionally hiding behind the clouds, turning the sky various shades of salmon and purple.

As you look to the end of the bridge, it appears to be piercing the heart of the sun.

You’ve Got Some Charm I Must Admit  ||  http://www.myspace.com/wildnothing

Last evening I attended a Greek wedding— somewhat resembling a deleted scene from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, complete with traditional Greek dancing, “opa!”s abound, and some of the best cake I’ve ever had.

The ceremony was held on the rustic grounds of a summer camp, among the heavily forested countryside, in the middle of nowhere, roughly an hour or so outside the city.

As the evening expired, giving way to the beginning of the morning, I started home, negotiating my way down the long dry, incredibly dark gravel driveway; a cicada of crickets and frogs serenading me along the way. Moving over the empty roads I lowered the windows and my hand met the wind. The warm air kissing my fingers, as the resistance and pressure push my hand to the sky.

It’s the sort of perfect summer moment that will tiptoe into my ear and softly whisper to me come wintertime, and I’ll smile and remember this jam on the stereo,  my hand in the wind, and the way the dusty road smelled just like my childhood.

I Always Seem To Change Inside The Past  ||  http://www.myspace.com/lettingup

Summer has finally hit here in the Northwest. Actually it hit sometime ago, but I was too busy moving for the second time in four months to notice. Anyway, my point is, that as the summer begins to lose momentum,  I realize that I haven’t been to the beach once this year. Not a SINGLE damn time!

But dang I long for the sand and the ocean. Portland’s the Caps pay heed to my pain, with their aptly titled summery road-trip ready masterpiece Heading To The Coast. The proof lies in the jam directly above you. “Ocean” provides you the perfect amount of laid back guitar, vocal, and sax riffing to accompany you, and your super-bros, on a lovely journey to the deep blue somewhere. They even reference the long traditional code of the road— stopping for snacks.

Because these dudes are local (and they used to practice in my basement), I’ve seen them perform a goat-load of times, so let me just say, the “ in-between-song-banter” alone is worth seeking out their show. The boys have a gigantic bag of new material in the process of being laid to tape, including two of my current favorite jams— “Marry Me In The Fall,” and “Bike City.” Which again, for the time being, you can only catch live.

It’s not too late to get that great summer record. You can head on over here to pick up your very own copy of Heading To The Coast and put it to good use this weekend.

The Caps— Leaves Are Changing

And in a month or so when the cool moist air ushers in the fall, it starts getting dark at 4:30PM, and your seasonal depression and lack of vitamin D makes you want to stick you face in a meat grinder, you can crank it to this jam and nurse your broken summer heart.

Check out the bands Youtube channel for some lighthearted hilarity…..

Gonna Let The Sunlight Shine In Your Eyes  ||  http://www.myspace.com/thecapsband

New music from one of my favorite North Carolina bands— YES PLEASE!

The 2009 self-titled début from The Love Language was one of my favorite records of that year. At the time I recall thinking it sounded like what you’d get if the Arcade Fire recorded a 50’s / 60’s influenced pop record. The lo-fi, fuzzed filled songs we’re crafted by Stuart McLamb, influenced by his spire into darkness, after having his hearts knee-caps clubbed to death by a debilitating break-up. This knowledge proves interesting once hearing the record, as sonically it’s a rather mid-to-upbeat affair, but wordsmith McLamb lyrically speaks to the emotional state of things— from “Two Rabbits” So I made a big mistake. Thought this heart would never break me. Selfish me, I could have died in your arms. Now I’m back at your feet. Indeed, it is a record full of contemplative longing, but not in a whiny or “drowning in sadness” sort of way.

“Heart To Tell” comes from the new record Libraries, and picks up several steps from where our story last left off; some changes, slight growth. But there’s still unexpected, and accompanying awkwardness whenever running into former resident of the heart and knee-clubber. Realizing, as her unique particles collide with his, that she still owns some real estate inside him, she’s still moving in his blood stream. Isn’t it strange, these laws of attraction?

I strongly suggest checking out, and picking up the self-titled record to tie you over until Libraries (which you can stream here) is released on July 13^th.

Lay Down Beside Me, I’m In Need Of Rest  ||  http://www.myspace.com/thelovelanguage

So the other night while out seeing B.S. favs, and show openers Telekinesis, I was treated to a reminder of how much I really love the headliner’s, Nada Surf, jams.

Nada Surf is one of those bands that have been around forever, and if you’re any sort of music fan, you are no doubt familiar with them. They have over the years consistently released solid records of catchy power-pop jams, and managed to maintain a rather devoted fan base. However, they’ve somehow never been able to swell past they’re 1996  novelty hit “Popular,” which is a real bummer because they’ve got so many other, way better songs— lots of them! Case in point, the lovely simple crush-inducing ditty above you. Probably my favorite from 2008′s Lucky, other than this one…

Nada Surf— The Film Did Not Go ‘Round

Over the years these two songs have continually been in a dueling dead heat for my cochlear affections, I should probably just call it a tie already.

If in these first days of summer, you find yourself with gooley thoughts for someone, these jams can sufficiently aid the soundtracking of your flirty thought casting toward the object of your affection.

You’ll Be Waiting By My Bed I Know  ||  http://www.myspace.com/nadasurf

The Futureheads have always been one of those bands that I knew of, but never really got into. They’re material has never struck me as particularly bad; they’ve always just sort of been there— similar to Bill Paxton. And while I still can’t really speak for the overall breathe of their catalog, this jam totally has me rolling my windows down and cranking my stereo up to eleven. I can see this making it’s way onto lots of summer crush mix tapes, and rightfully so, it totally has a 80’s New Wave-summer-love-at-the-beach sort of feel to it. I can imagine this as Zach Morris’s anthem as his high-top Cons stroll into the Max to find Kelly Kapowski sipping a shake.

“Heartbeat Song” comes from the bands fourth record The Chaos, which was just released stateside at the end of April.

Anyone else really loving the way Barry sings “the rhythm and the tone?” I’m just saying.

We’re Singing Outta Tune, But I Still Want To Sing With You  ||  http://www.myspace.com/thefutureheads

Apologies for the hiatus— packing, moving, swine flu, Stanley Cup playoffs— seems things always converge simultaneously. Anyway, you’re not here for all that crap. So…

Like so many songs that I post here, I don’t know much about the authors (they come from the U.K., they have three other records! Non of which I’ve heard, but cannot wait to track down), but what I do know is that this jam is everything that I hoped Boy Least Likely To’s 2009 Sophomore effort Law Of The Playground would be. Thankfully Tunng are making up for that giant disappointment by taking everything I loved about BLLT frosh offering, The Best Party Ever and sort of sending it into extra innings some five years later. Thanks guys!

Tunng— Hustle (Johan Cederberg Remix)

Cederberg does a nice job of peppering this remix just the right amount of electro melancholy. Enjoy.

Bigger Taste Please  ||  http://www.myspace.com/thisistunng

They say a lot of things. Generally the things they say are clichés. However, they are at times right. “Tragedy touches everyone.”

Even if it doesn’t grip you in it’s claws, pick you up and toss you with excessive g-force, at the very least, it gives you a light brushing at some point. Sometimes it happens in your town, in a house you grew up in— watching Ramblin’ Rod, General Hospital, and learning the proper ratio of carrots and peas to mix with your mashed potatoes—to people you know and love, by people you know and love. Folks who were there from your beginning, helping shape who you are.

Rough week at B.S. HQ, and I feel wasted.

http://www.myspace.com/johnweinland