(Ed. Note: I’m reposting this with updated information, so if it looks like you’ve read this, you have — but now you can go buy the record)

I’m so sick and tired of all the bullshit, aren’t you?

I am so tired of being force-fed the idea that clowning on a style that you used to do is supposed to be clever and cool. Weezer’s completely over-hyped and under-delivering 2008 release, aka the Red Album, is getting one mention in this column and one only: every time you see another article hyping Weezer, remember that there’s a conspiracy out there of people trying to steal a piece of your soul. With all due deference to Weezer (a band whom I have loved and admired for many years), the new record just didn’t cut it, boys. I know that next great Weezer record will be here someday.

But today is not your day.

Meanwhile, only through some modern miracle did the byline of a reformed Smoking Popes happen my way this morning along with a copy of their new album, entitled Stay Down. Now, you know something? I have always liked Smoking Popes & I’ve always felt like they were treated like redheaded stepchildren to Rivers & Co., turning out a series of records and touring incessantly, putting on energetic live shows that were consistent. Smoking Popes have finally made the jump to legendary status, and you should sit up and take notice. More after the jump.

Smoking Popes – Welcome to Janesville

MORE »

Aimee Mann Interview – Bonnaroo 2008 from E.J. Friedman on Vimeo.

Some things happened over the summer. Some things I did at Bonnaroo for another publication have gone unused and, honestly, I don’t know or care why. After all, Bonnaroo happens in June and this is almost October. In this high-speed webmatic world of ours, some of that content is starting to collect cobswebs; however, I’m going to try and put as much of it up as I can & if anyone has a complaint, they can find me. I’m still here. I value my work and so do you, my readers. For that, I thank you.

I really want people to maintain their awareness of Aimee Mann’s stellar 2008 release, @#%&*! Smilers. As such, I figured it was time to go ahead and post this interview we were honored to have with Aimee at Bonnaroo 2008. Imagine our surprise to hear her mention that she used to read newsgroups like alt.bitter.

Ok readers, don’t think I’ve jumped off the deep end here. I am not a Britney Spears fan. Never have been.

That’s why it’s so weird that I really love this new song she just released as her new single — so much so that I’m reblogging this post from Pretty Much Amazing which contains said new track, “Womanizer”. It’s a vast departure from her recent string of mediocrity, way more accessible, and much more confident. Good for you, Brit-Brit. Welcome back.

Enjoy it while you can & thanks to Pretty Much Amazing for posting it.

Listen: New Britney – Womanizer (First Single) at Pretty Much Amazing! The Music Blog.

UPDATE: A better version of the single can be found by clicking here instead.

I just haven’t had the time this week to properly mention and promote this wonderful show. You need, and I do mean need to be at the Levitt Shell @ Overton Park tonight for COMO NOW. This press release is culled directly from a press release, but the music speaks quite for itself. Enjoy & I hope to see you tonight.

COMO NOW: The Voices of Panola Co., MS, the latest release from Daptone Records (and first that moves away from the Brooklyn funk and soul) continues to get rave reviews from critics all over. Says Grant Alden from No Depression:

“It is a relief once again to fall in love with an album — an entire album — to become enraptured by the music of artists who are unknown to me. To discover something of such great and glorious sounds that it is worth moving from the truck to the house stereo and back, to find music so rewarding to listen to that I have not opened the mail for a week, because this is enough. This is plenty…this is — by far — the best album I’ve heard this year.”

You can check the mini-documentary Daptone made about the album here, or, if you’re lucky enough to be in the Memphis area, the entire group of singers will be performing a very special show at the Levitt Shell next Friday, September 26 at 7pm.

You can also watch a special performance by the Como Mamas, one of the groups included on the compilation, on YouTube’s music homepage, or below.

World’s Fair News » COMO NOW in No Depression Now, and in Memphis Next Week.

Como Mamas featuring Mary Moore – Trouble In My Way

I don’t have a lot of time this morning to give it a proper overview, but I can honestly say this: if for many a year it has seemed to you (as it has to me) like Liam and Noel have been on about nothing when calling themselves “geniuses” or “brilliant”, their luck has turned (and thankfully, so has ours). Dig Out Your Soul is by far the finest new recording by Oasis in over a decade. I have enjoyed listening to it repeatedly over the last few days & plan to spend time telling you more about it when I get to a slow-down point.

All I can say is this: with a new recording this exceptional, I think Liam & Noel may have jumped the proverbial shark on disavowing the Radiohead model. This album would have sold millions in presales from fans who, upon hearing this, would immediately recognize the lost & found sounds. Don’t steal the album, you prat! Go purchase it when it comes available. I’ll tell you more when I know more. Also, forgive my hubris as a writer: I’m calling this a comeback.

Carry on.

As I’m going to be away from the “store” this week, I’ve decided to launch a couple of contests for all you regular Loudersoft readers. You’ll have a week to make your submissions & I’ll pick a winner by Friday for both of these contests. So, get your thinking caps on — here goes contest #1, and boy are we excited!

Brian Wilson — you know, The Beach Boys? SMiLE? musical genius Brian Wilson? — has a brand, spanking new album out entitled That Lucky Old Sun. There’s no lack of brilliant pop songwriting genius to this new collection & we’re thrilled to offer you a chance at owning your very own, limited edition copy on 180 Gram archive-quality vinyl — a $30.00 retail value! Runners up can receive a copy of his single, “Midnight’s Another Day”, on 7″ vinyl. For details on how you can win, join us after the jump! MORE »

We’ve never been a fan of the Burnlounge v.1.0 or 2.0 (aka the “pyramid scheme” versions in which “store owners” were bilked of hundreds of thousands of dollars that they’ve never recouped). We’ve been infiltrated by Kool-aid sippers repeatedly defending the illicit financial practices of the once-notorious (and we thought dismantled) pyramid scheme, several of whose “store owners” were the subject of successful lawsuits filed by the Federal Trade Commission. Their CEO resigned in disgrace. Their website has been down for months now and most people figured that was that. So what does Burnlounge have up their sleeve now? I guess we’ll have to wait and see when Burnlounge 3.0 is unveiled.

Uhh…what the hell? No other information is available right now.

We sure can’t wait to hear this one.

Druggies, hipsters and others, take note of this contest. It’s going to be fun. Jenny Lewis has a new album called Acid Tongue which, pretty much, speaks for itself. If you’ve taken it, you know more than I do about it. If you haven’t, some people say listening to this album can induce a feeling which emulates the experience of tripping on acid. Either way, Loudersoft is thrilled to offer up the “Design Your Drugs” contest, giving you a chance to win your *very own* limited-edition copy of Acid Tongue on high-quality, 180 Gram vinyl (that’s the weight of the vinyl, you druggie you). Details and a new Jenny Lewis MP3 are after the jump!

MORE »

I wonder what it is about Canadian artists that continue to exude massive appeal to my ears. Among my favorites of the past decade, I count names like Julie Doiron, Joel Plaskett, Leslie Feist, A-Trak, Chromeo, and too many more to name off the top of my head.

In a group of names like that, I might have forgotten about Chad VanGaalen except for he doesn’t let me. Thanks to an opportunity to catch him at the Sub Pop showcase at CMJ a couple of years back, I became an instant fan. His newest release, Soft Airplane continues his love affair with experimental noise pop and tender love songs, a pattern developed over the course of two other fine albums (2004’s Infiniheart and 2006’s Skelliconnection). The resonant difference is the maturity of the material & the confidence evident in the performance and songwriting. MORE »