I feel bad giving these releases the short end of the critical stick, but I’d rather share ‘em with you now rather than wait for my lazy ass to get around to them later.

Hail Social, “Heaven” (from _Modern Love and Death_)
A pretty heavy Hall & Oates vibe going on here, which begs me to ask: who gets to wear the John Oates moustache in the band, or do they take turns with each show? It’s hard to figure out where the band ends and the influence begins here — but glad to see this band finally releasing something after a couple quiet years.

The Buddyrevelles, “Steely Duran” (from _Don’t Quit_)
If the news of Rainier Maria’s breakup left you pining for some good ol’ 90’s style emo-midwestern-heart-on-your-sleeve rock, look no further. Most of the time, these sort of bands do not have actually good, very very technically proficient singers (and I’ll go out on a limb here to say the majority of indie rock is guilty of this too). The ‘revelles Aaron Grant never takes this knowledge for granted once throughout the course of their third and newest album. I am very amused by the title of this song, hence the pick.

» I am but a simple caveman — your publicist ways frighten and confuse me!

Me: i just got breaking news about timbaland from entertainment weekly

Friend: about coldplay?

Me: yeah, from the EW publicity intern

Friend: they are really pushing that story hard

Friend: that’s weird that you are on a mailing list of fan sites

Me: considering ive never written about either. should i be flattered or insulted that they have mistaken me for a timb/coldplay fan site?

Friend: i like to think that they see you as INFLUENTIAL

Me: influential in making fun of them

» It was awesome to hear Brown Recluse Sings on last night’s episode of Veronica Mars; naturally its on their most controversial episode to date. I know the show is in dire straits and all but I’m sure Rob Thomas could have either A) changed the title or B) hired a fact-checker.

He won over the teeny-boppers long ago, but in his incarnation as a sexy-smooth crooner with a hip-hop edge, Justin Timberlake has gained some unusual fans: hipsters.

Youthful urbanites who normally wouldn’t admit to filling their iPods with anything remotely Top 40, let alone the music of a performer who can sell out Madison Square Garden, as Mr. Timberlake, 26, did for tonight’s show, are suddenly unashamed of their copies of “Justified,” his first solo album, or “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” his recent chart-topper produced by Timbaland. Members of the Flaming Lips, Coldplay and Keane have come to his shows, and his music is a staple of cooler-than-thou fashion week.

“I don’t think he’s as prefab and contrived as other artists,” said Tony Croasdale, 30, a punk promoter in Philadelphia and a singer, as Tony Pointless, for an anarchist hardcore band called R.A.M.B.O. “I like him because I don’t think he oversings.”

Mr. Croasdale, whose oeuvre runs to songs like “Wage Slave Mercenaries” and “If Our Leaders Are Impotent Only the People Can Rise,” picked up a copy of “Justified” when he was on tour in Asia, and he and his bandmates found it “fun to dance to.”

“Believe it or not,” he added, “Justin Timberlake has some major fans in the anarchist punk community.”

Next week’s radio show falls on Valentine’s and guess what — I am attempting to do a “love”-themed show. Don’t roll your eyes at me; pop probably wouldn’t exist without it, rock rebels against it (or tends to embrace its Patty Duke-like identical cousin, sex). The idea of love — and falling out of it, not having it, settling for something other than it and so on — weaves its way throughout musical history.

I am seeking submissions! Think of it as a “Reader Produced” episode of Her Jazz. I want your favorite love songs!

Send me MP3’s! I’ll take your submission by no later than Saturday 2/10. Feel free to include a little info about why you like it, if you want.

(While it is the opposite of love, I will not accept songs about hate. When I do the Ides of March-themed HJ, then you can send ‘em my way.)

Technical Details: MP3’s less than 160 kbps in terms of sound quality will not be accepted. (They sound horrible on air.) Sending them to me via Yousendit/Sendspace is ideal, links to URL’s are just as good. Failing that, you can directly email me attachments.

If you have any questions, drop me a line in the comments section.

WHAT: Her Jazz presents “Lovers Rock”
WHEN: Wednesday 2/14/07, 4-6PM EST
WHERE: WQHS.org
WHO: Me You and Everyone We Know

Ohhhh yes. It was only mere weeks ago that a music supervisor stumbled onto the Myspace page for Brown Recluse Sings, a local band I particularly enjoy, and asked if they could use “Western Meadowlark” for an upcoming episode of _Veronica Mars_. Deals were made, contracts signed and the time is Tonight at 9PM EST. Color me ver ver ver ver ver psyched.

Do you want to be spoiled or not?

» Watch Veronica Mars on the CW network.

Grad school application are DONE, man. What frustrating show yesterday. Turntable 1 is all sorts of messed up, leaving me stuck on-air without anything to play. Ah, the thrill of live radio.

arab strap - [afternoon] soaps - ten years of tears - N
peter bjorn and john - young folks - writers block

AC/DC - big balls - dirty deeds done dirt cheap
the gossip - standing in the way of control - 12″
the long blondes - separated by motorways - appropriation ep - N
martha & the vandellas - im ready for love - 45
american sneakers - the most popular girl in the city - darts & daggers - N

vitalic - poney part 1 - OK cowboy
runrunner - bad timing - s/t
the joggers - zigurrat traffic - with a cape and a cane
sonic youth - blink - the destroyed room - N
true if destroyed - why dont you get it - s/t
duck hunt - holiday vacation - 7″
ESG - moody - a south bronx story

matthew sweet - morning song - kimi ga suki
the sights - before i break - s/t
black future - eu sou o rio - nao wave
love of diagrams - no way out - ep - N
the warmers - thin air - 7″ [TT1, I hate you -m.]
alan licht - tone poem for nikki sixx million - calvin johnson has ruined rock for an entire generation

eleventh dream - day - stalled parade
18th dye - glass house failure - tribute to a bus
chandra - opposite - transportation ep
public image limited - this is not a love song - 12″
heaven 17 - we dont need this fascist groove thing - s/t

full force - love is for suckers [like me and you] - guess who’s coming to dinner

Dear Penn,

What. The. Hell. And you have the gall to complain about the West Philly “element”?

Love,

MTS.