Forcing everything metal to shine...

This is going to be an insane week. I know my posting is sporadic at best, but I'm going to try real hard to get a few more entries in between all the work. I'm hoping to maybe get my next GBV post out in the next day or two, but for now, I can only offer a couple of songs that I've had on Repeat for the last few days. Just a few talented white guys with their stringed instruments.

As a born and bred Omahan, I must admit I've been a little surprised (and a little amused) at the attention that has been thrown the way of my old hometown in the past couple of years. Of course, I'm glad that guys like Cursive, The Faint and Conor Oberst have been put "on the map." (I personally think Cursive and Tim Kasher's side project, The Good Life, are the best things to come out of the town.) I must admit I've never been a huge fan of Oberst's music. It has nothing to do with the hype, and I don't think he's untalented. Just never did it for me. I'll be damned if I can deny "Landlocked Blues" from his new album I'M WIDE AWAKE IT'S MORNING. Maybe it's Emmylou Harris's riveting backing vocals, or that awesome horn bit near the end. Like I said, I'm not a huge fan, but I tip my hat to the skinny little bastard.

Now, you really want to envy someone? Take Chicago's Andrew Bird. Brilliant lyrics. Elastic voice. A virtuoso violinist who mixes classical music with indie pop (when he's not fronting Andrew Bird's Bowl of Fire, which throws in elements of jazz, folk and country) . Dare I say a damned handsome man, as well. I'm planning a full length post on Bird in the near future, when his new album THE MYSTERIOUS PRODUCTION OF EGGS finally sees the light of day. Until then, I'm dropping a new song from that record, "A Nervous Tic Motion of the Head to the Left".

Another artist whose upcoming album is making me drool with anticipation is Josh Rouse, whose upcoming NASHVILLE record hits stores on February 22nd (overseas readers get the record on Valentine's Day... WTF?). The first single, "Winter in the Hamptons" is like a great lost Smiths song, and "Streetlights" is one of the prettiest songs the guy has ever penned. If you haven't already heard it, you should check out his previous album, a tribute to the music of his birth year called 1972 (Buy it!). Check out the title song, "1972". I'm planning another post for Rouse in the coming weeks as well.