Pop Recon returns to WPRB this Friday 4/25 at 7:00 PM ET with two archive interviews featuring ANTIETAM and SCRAWL.

These interviews have been transferred from the original reel-to-reels, and mostly likely, unheard since their original broadcasts. I hope you’ll tune in for these great, rare interviews and music from the artists.

Tune in! 103.3 FM on your radio dial, or visit WPRB on the Internet at http://www.wprb.com/

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» Make sure to report voting problems to the Committee of Seventy’s voter-assistance hotline (1-866-OUR-VOTE). There is a TON of useful information on that website, so please check it out before you hit the polls!

Ever since I became a voter in PA, I have to say I am a little bummed that my polling place is, well, a little tame. The only difference between my PA and NJ voting locations is that my second grade teacher doesn’t sign me in and ask me if I’m still ice skating.

WPRB is covering the PA primaries tonight, beginning at 8PM EST. Can’t wait to check it out.

» The Constantines played Johnny Brenda’s on Sunday night and it was pretty fantastic. Sunday is a tough night for bands in this city, but there was a big crowd for the guys. Performance is the foundation of the Cons, so there wasn’t a dull moment on stage. I know a lot of folks aren’t crazy about Steve’s songs w/r/t the records, but they — and in this particular instance, thunderous and sprawling “Shower of Stones” — are perfectly tailored for live performance, appropriately linking the bands hardcore past with their current tastes. I was pretty psyched to hear stuff from the first album (”Arizona”, “Young Offenders,” “Steal This Sound” [? i think ?]), as well as their cover of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck.”

» And in other news: I am in the process of moving out of my old apartment, dealing with the end of the school semester, and leaving my current job — all at once. (I believe these are what they call “Life Changes.”) Chances of me updating HJ in the next few weeks is pretty unlikely, but I’ll try.

I covered for Jon on Wednesday night, and wound up rebroadcasting the debut of Pop Recon. Thanks to all who called in/emailed about the program! Next epsiode airs on Friday 4/25.

The new Antietam album is quite fantastic.

Her Jazz 01-16-2008 | 07:00 - 10:00 PM | WPRB 103.3 FM (Princeton, NJ)
————————————————
the constantines - trans canada - kensington heights - N
lush - outdoor miner - for love
the strand - one more ring - seconds waiting
the fastbacks - impatience - 7″
julie peel - i believe in you - cinnamon girl - N C
sic alps - message from the law - description of the harbor - N
be your own pet - bummer time - get awkward - N
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del fuegos - i always call her back - 7″
monade - tout en tout est un - monstre comic - N
gordon withers - motorist - jawbox on cello - N
the thing - austere precautions - 10″
deception bay - ride - fortune days EP
external glands of secretion - run to me - northern exposure will be right back
breeders - night of joy - mountain battles - N
desk - astronauts - 7″
————————————————
pop recon: marc masters - interview - 3/9/08
the contortions - dish it out - no new york
teenage jesus & the jerks - burning rubber - teenage jesus & the jerks ep
pop recon: marc masters - interview - 3/9/08
mars - outside africa - mars
red transistor - not bite - 7″
pop recon: marc masters - interview - 3/9/08
dna - blonde redhead - a taste of dna
————————————————
dark day - nudes in the forest - new york noise vol 3 - C
antietam - i know - opus mixtum
blood on the wall - the ditch - liferz - N
helium - lucy - hole in the ground 7″
cause co-motion! - say what you feel - who’s gonna care 7″
the dentists - ugly - the dentists
cheveu - hot - cheveu - N
betty wright - mr lucky - eccentric soul: the outskirts of deep city - N C
————————————————
valet - fire - naked acid - N
grimble grumble - odyssey and oracle - grimble grumble 10″
magik markers - body rot - BOSS - N
unnatural helpers - heavy sugar - earwax EP - N
hearts of animals - lost in the translation - 7″ - N
————————————————
zumpano - let’s fight - goin’ through changes

The answer is Edison? Thanks to Maura for sending this!

Rest assured, I have not gone soft: when I heard the news about Polvo reuniting, I freaked out like a schoolgirl. Better news there could not be. But this post is not about Polvo, sort of. As many of you know (or maybe you don’t so here’s a lesson), Dave and Steve from the band also play in Black Taj. They put out a pretty solid self-titled release a couple years ago (and were the final band to play PP). In between all the reuniting, Black Taj are releasing a new record, Beyonder, next month on NYC’s Amish Records. Yup, for those who like to keep score, that title comes from a song on their first release.

I don’t want to say this is the perfect substitute for another Polvo album, because that would be downplaying Black Taj as a band. (It’s like if you dated someone and even though you broke up with said person, people would always use the ex as a point of reference. If it’s not kosher in our romantic lives, why is it acceptable to make similar comparisons when we’re talking about bands?)

But I digress. One of the strengths of Black Taj, I think, has been moving beyond what Polvo offered. Instead of western-tinged structures (which got super-indulgent and downright boring by Shapes), Black Taj shifts those trademark guitar riffs to classic rock. It winds up invoking the same fiery spark that put their previous band on the map in the first place. It’s not a throwback or a comeback, but rather staking out territory of its own.

Black Taj, “Fresh Air Traverse” (from Beyonder)
Pre-order the album here!

Really. This image might top the dream I had about my friend Dominic booking a concert with Steely Dan, Jandek, and Robyn.

Because I don’t want to be The Ruiner™, You’ll have to click through to read the rest of this post.

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Yup, it’s true. I got a ticket to today’s taping of The Colbert Report. I’ll post updates from it here. Big thanks to Penn Democrats for making my dream a reality! I am unbelievably psyched!

Readers of this blog are well aware that I’m quite fond of WPRB to the point that I will say it’s the best damn radio station in the whole wide world — and our neighbor/friend/hot date to the north, WFMU, is not so shabby either — BUT this station trumps them all.

Why, you ask? Because it’s some guy in West Philly with a CB radio, blasting an array of funk, oldies and whatever they want. I’ve never actually listened, because I don’t own a CB, but this makes me want to buy one. We should all forget about lame-ass Muxtape, podcasts, and just start doing crazy fun shit like this.

» BTW, hello there visitors?! It’s a shame you had to visit on a day where I was busy and stuff.