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Please, please: If you are making renovations on a home, exercise good taste in your choices of materials.

I have just spent hours removing pink ceramic tiles, which are textured to try to emulate natural stone. (I suppose there might be some planet where you might be able to mine a milky-pink stone which repeats THE EXACT SAME PATTERN every 12 inches, it is an infinite universe, after all.) But in the interest of saving our planet, please don’t waste our resources on crap that’s just going to have to be replaced.

Sigh. Not that you would. And I’m sure the lady that lived in our place before us doesn’t read this blog or listen to this show. My ears are still ringing from the sound of hammer on crowbar, and I needed to vent. I’ll post some before and after pictures of our place here soon.
artist - song - album :: extra info

Bears Repeating - Wet and Rusting :: Menomena cover
(website | myspace)

The Dimes - Watching the Wheels (Lennon Cover) :: unreleased
(website | myspace)

The Heavenly States - Lost in the Light - Delayer
(website | myspace)

Boy Eats Drum Machine - The Crack in the Sea
(website | myspace | haystack.com | in-studio on my show)

Jim Noir - Don’t You Worry - Jim Noir
(website | myspace)

Wolf Parade - Call it a Ritual :: forthcoming tba
(myspace | @ Sub Pop)

Mackintosh Braun - Good So Far - The Sound
(myspace | @ last.fm [free album!])

My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy - A Thousand Shark’s Teeth :: out June 17
(website | myspace | last.fm | @ Asthmatic Kitty)

Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You (Pocketknife’s Considerate Eagle Scout Remix) - Tambourine Dream
(myspace | last.fm | fan site)

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - Sun Giant EP
(myspace | @ Sub Pop)

Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head - Anywhere I Lay My Head :: out May 20
(website | myspace)

Santogold - Starstruck
(myspace)

Emerald Park - A Higher Loss
(website | myspace)

Michael the Blind - Moontips - Days & Days :: out soon
(myspace | Portland Mercury audio interview)

Mantis - Hole in the Sky - Travelogue
(website | myspace | @ Portland Mercury | @ Local Cut)

They Might Be Giants - Ooh La! Ooh La! - Here Come the 123s!
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3s:

Jim Noir - Don’t You Worry
Wolf Parade - Call it a Ritual
Mackintosh Braun - Good So Far
My Brightest Diamond - Inside a Boy
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Emerald Park - A Higher Loss

 

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So, the exciting news: I am finally returning to the land of my birth! I went to college in the 90’s in the southwestern corner of Canada, went back to Portland after, then returned to marry my Canadian sweetheart and start a family. We’ve decided that now (despite all the bad news about the American economy) is the time to move our family to Portland and start building our life there.

I have missed Portland badly over the last five years, and kept doing my show on KPSU (recording it at home & sending it online to the station) in anticipation of moving back there. That time will come at the end of this month! I’m really looking forward to doing more interviews with both local and touring bands, going to shows and independent films (I’ve had to wait & rent most of the good films I’ve seen, as I’ve been living in the suburbs exurbs… and forget about seeing live music), seeing my family more (most of them live there), and enjoying the architecture and scenery of what Popular Science magazine named America’s Greenest City.

The downside to this move is that there will be a lag time between when I move, and when Jenn and Sydney come to join me. I miss both of them after only an 8-hour shift at work, and I’m not looking forward to being apart from them for an extended period of time. I’ll also miss my job. I’ve been working in a small store, just over the US border in Sumas, Washington. It’s been the hardest work for the least amount of money (and career momentum) that I’ve ever done, but the people I’ve worked with over the last two years have made it worth it.

I know that this is the right move for us, and in the meantime, I will, as they say, “get by with a little help from my friends.”
artist - song - album :: extra info

Thee Oh Sees - Ghost In The Trees - The Master’s Bedroom is Worth Spending A Night In
(myspace | @ Tomlab)

Slug A - Something Like Gravity - Roots and Becomings
(myspace)

Annuals - Sore - Wet Zoo EP
(website | myspace | @ Ace Fu | Sore video)

El Perro del Mar - Glory to the World - From The Valley To The Stars
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Dosh - If You Want To, You Have To - Wolves And Wishes :: out May 14
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Matt Hinkley - Blue Grey - Matt Hinkley
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Headman - New - Catch Me
(website | myspace)

The Long Blondes - Here Comes the Serious Bit - ”Couples”
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Sun Kil Moon - Moorestown - April
(website | myspace | Mark Kozelek: website | myspace)

The Lovely Sparrows - Department of Forseeable Outcomes - Bury the Cynics
(website | myspace | @ Daytrotter | last.fm)

Someone Still Loves You, Boris Yeltsin - I Think I Wanna Die - Pershing
(website | myspace)

The Breeders - It’s The Love - Mountain Battles
(website | myspace | @ 4AD)

Unicycle Loves You - Highway Robbery - Unicycle Loves You
(website | myspace | last.fm)

This is Ivy League - London Bridges - This is Ivy League
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Evan Voytas - We’d Be Good Together - Introducing Evan Voytas EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Sally Shapiro - Jackie Junior (Junior Boys Remix) - Remix Romance Vol 1
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Heavy - Colleen - Great Vengeance & Furious Fire
(website | myspace)
mp3s:

Thee Oh Sees - Ghost In The Trees
El Perro Del Mar - Glory to the World
Headman - New
The Long Blondes - Here Comes the Serious Bit
The Lovely Sparrows - Department of Forseeable Outcomes
Unicycle Loves You - Highway Robbery
This is Ivy League - London Bridges
Evan Voytas - We’d Be Good Together
Sally Shapiro - Jackie Junior (The Junior Boys remix)

 

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Very soon, I’ll be moving back to Portland. More details to follow!

artist - song - album :: extra info

The Charlatans - Oh! Vanity - You Cross My Path
(website | myspace | FREE album download @ XFM)

The 1900s - When I Say Go - Cold & Kind
(website | myspace)

M83 - Graveyard Girl - Saturdays=Youth :: out April 14
(website | myspace | *updated: Graveyard Girl video!)

Voyager One - The Future is Obsolete - Afterhours in the Afterlife
(website | myspace)

Caribou - She’s the One (Kelley Polar’s Hughes Wilson Prom Night in Hell version) - She’s the One EP
(website | myspace)

Islands - Creeper - Arm’s Way :: out May 20
(website | myspace)

Clem Snide - I Love the Unknown - Rocket Science OST
(website | myspace | eefspace)

Kensington Prairie - Crooked Things Straight - Captured in Still Life
(website | myspace)

Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven - Langhorne Slim :: out April 29
(myspace | @ Daytrotter)

The Apples in Stereo - Shine (In Your Mind) - Electronic Projects for Musicians
(website | myspace)

Hercules & Love Affair - Blind (ft. Antony Hegarty) - Hercules & Love Affair
(website | myspace | Blind video)

Yaz - Only You - Upstairs at Eric’s
(website | myspace | Only You video (1999 remix))

Laura Cantrell - Love Vigilantes - Trains and Boats and Planes :: out on April 15, also Body of War Soundtrack
(website | myspace | Radio Trift Shop)

They Might Be Giants - The Guitar (The Lion Sleeps Tonight) - Apollo 18 :: features guest vocals by Laura Cantrell
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3s:

The 1900s - When I Say Go
Voyager One - The Future is Obsolete
Islands - Creeper
Kensington Prairie - Crooked Things Straight
Langhorne Slim - Rebel Side of Heaven

 

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artist - song - album :: extra info

The Sound of Arrows - Danger! - Danger! EP :: out May 7
(website | myspace)

We Were the States - Up Your Sleeve - Believe The Thieves
(website | myspace | Up Your Sleeve video)

Mystery Jets - Young Love - Twenty One
(website | myspace | Young Love video)

Head Of Femur - Jetway Junior - Great Plains
(website | myspace)

Telescope Vehicle - My Prayer - Skies and Butterflies
(website | myspace)

China Forbes - Everybody Needs Somebody - ‘78
(website | myspace | Video TV profile | Pink Martini: website | myspace)

Laura Gibson - All the Pretty Horses - Six White Horses :: a tour-only EP
(website | myspace | @ Hinah | @ Daytrotter)

Colin Meloy - We Both Go Down Together - Colin Meloy Sings Live!
(myspace | free Morrissey covers @ archive.org | Decemberists: website | myspace)

Cut Copy - Far Away - In Ghost Colours :: out in the US on April 8
(website | myspace | last.fm)

The Raconteurs - Five on the Five - Consolers Of The Lonely
(website | myspace | @ XL Recordings)

The Notwist - Alphabet - The Devil, You + Me :: out May or June
(website | myspace)

Sunday Forever - Barely
(myspace)

Bridges and Powerlines - Uncalibrated - Ghost Types
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Borko - Dingdong Kingdom - Celebrating Life
(myspace | last.fm)

Flight of the Conchords - Ladies of the World - Flight of the Conchords
(website | myspace | @ HBO | Ladies video)
mp3s:

The Sound of Arrows - Danger
We Were the States - Up Your Sleeve
Mystery Jets - Young Love (Shoes Remix)
Head of Femur - Jetway Junior
Telescope Vehicle - My Prayer (via Local Cut)
China Forbes - Everybody Needs Somebody
Laura Gibson - All the Pretty Horses (via Local Cut)
Colin Meloy - We All Go Down Together (live)
Bridges and Powerlines - Uncalibrated
Borko - Dingdong Kingdom
Flight of the Conchords - Ladies of the World

 

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[Personal, non-music-related anecdote.]

artist - song - album :: extra info

Cassettes Won’t Listen - Large Radio - Small-Time Machine
(website | myspace)

The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful - Midnight Boom
(website | myspace | Cheap and Cheerful video)

Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan - The Flame that Burns - Sunday at Devil Dirt
(Isobel Campbell: website | myspace | Mark Lanegan: myspace)

Plants and Animals - Feedback In The Field - Parc Avenue :: out March 25
(website | myspace)

Jeremy Jay - Alpharhythm - Alpha Rhythm 7″ :: out in May on K Records
(myspace)

She & Him - I Was Made for You - Volume 1
(myspace | @ Merge Records)

Tall Firs - Hairdo - Too Old to Die Young
(website | myspace)

Crystal Castles - Good Time - Crystal Castles
(myspace | last.fm)

Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Posess Your Heart - Narrow Stairs :: out May 13
(website | myspace)

Dominic Castillo - All My Troubles - Singles for Singles
(website | myspace)

Little Beirut - High Dive - High Dive
(website | myspace | @ Download.com)

The Postmarks - Three Little Birds  - By The Numbers :: Bob Marley cover
(website | myspace | @ World’s Fair | Goodbye video)

Weinland La Lamentor - God Here I Come - La Lamentor
(website | myspace | @ OPB)

Daedelus -  Fair Weather Friends - Fair Weather Friends EP
(myspace | last.fm | Fair Weather Friends video | Fair Weather Friends LIVE video)

They Might Be Giants - Number Two - Here Come the 123s!
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3:

Tall Firs - Hairdo

 

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Every time Jenn and I visit Portland, it’s usually for about 3 or 4 days. The last few trips, we started counting Toyota Priuses, since I’m obsessed with them (see the car silhouette above), and there’s way more of them in the Portland area than in the exurbs of Vancouver where Jenn and I currently live. Our counts have always been exactly 50, the last one usually counted while we’re over the Columbia River, not quite in Washington yet. This time, we’ve been in Portland not two full days, and we’re already at 58.

I love this town. There’s just something in the air here (and it’s not carbon).

artist - song - album :: extra info

She and Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here - Volume 1
(myspace | @ Merge Records)

The Watson Twins - Just Like Heaven - Fire Songs :: out June 24
(website | myspace)

Bon Iver - Skinny Love - Evan, Forever Ago
(myspace | Virb | last.fm | @ Jagjaguwar)

Oh, Darling - Should’ve Never - Oh, Darling EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Dominic Castillo & the Rock Savants - Keep You Around - Singles for Singles
(website | myspace)

Foals - Balloons - Antidotes
(website | myspace)

Jaymay - Blue Skies - Autumn Fallin’
(website | myspace)

Pacific UV - Need - Longplay 2
(website | myspace)

French Kicks - Abandon - Swimming :: out May 20
(website | myspace)

Ladyhawk - I Don’t Always Know what You’re Saying - Shots
(website | myspace)

Peter Moren - Social Competence - The Last Tychoon
(myspace | PB&J)

Basia Bulat - True Love Will Find You in the End - Daytrotter.com session :: Daniel Johnston cover
(website | myspace | @ CBC Radio 3 | In the Night video)

Joseph Arthur - Rages of Babylon - Could We Survive? :: out March 18
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Science for Girls - You’ll Never Know - Science for Girls
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Gnarles Barkley - Run - The Odd Couple :: out April 1
(website | myspace) 

mp3s:

She and Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Oh Darling - Shoulda Never
Foals - Balloons
Jaymay - Blue Skies
Pacific UV - Need
French Kicks - Abandon
Ladyhawk - I Don’t Always Know What You’re Saying
Peter Morén - Social Competence
Basia Bulat - True Love will Find You in the End (via Daytrotter) 
Joseph Arthur - Rages of Babylon
Science for Girls - You’ll Never Know

 

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Five! Sleeps! Till Portland!*

artist - song - album :: extra info

The Notwist - Good Lies - Devil, You + Me :: out in late May
(website | myspace)

Little Beirut - Belle De Jour - High Dive
(website | myspace | @ Download.com)

Born Ruffians - Hummingbird - Red, Yellow and Blue
(website | myspace | @ CBC Radio 3 | Hummingbird video)

Destroyer - Dark Leaves Form a Thread - Trouble in Dreams :: out March 18
(website | myspace | @ CBC Radio 3)

A Weather - Spiders, Snakes - Cove
(website | myspace | @ Team Love)

LCD Soundsystem - Big Ideas - 21 Soundtrack
(website | myspace)

Pela - Lost to the Lonesome - Anytown Graffiti
(website | myspace)

The Breeders - Bang On - Mountain Battles :: out April 8 in the US
(website | myspace | @ 4AD)

Team Genius - Sing Song - Hooray
(website | myspace)

These United States - First Sight - A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden
(website | myspace)

Cloud Cult - When Water Comes to Life - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornados) :: out April 8th
(website | myspace)

The Ruby Suns - Tane Mahuta -Sea Lion
(website | @ Sub Pop | myspace)

Glowworm - The Captive - The Coachlight Woods
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Arms and Sleepers - Butterflycatcher - The Silent Ballet Volume 7
(website | myspace)

The Boy Least Likely To - I Box Up All The Butterflies - single
(website | myspace)
mp3s:

The Notwist - Good Lies
A Weather - Spiders, Snakes
Pela - Lost to the Lonesome
The Breeders - Bang On
Team Genius - Sing Song
These United States - First Sight
The Ruby Suns - Tane Mahuta
Glowworm - The Captive
Arms and Sleepers - Butterflycatcher
The Boy Least Likely To - I Box Up all the Butterflies (sign up and get it free!)

*Unfortunately, one of the sleeps will be cut one hour short, due to Daylight Savings Time, on top of having to wake up at 4 AM to open the store where I work on Sunday morning. Yet another way that I, the common man, am getting ripped off by the system. Help me, Barack Obama, you’re my only hope!

 

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I wrote a couple weeks ago about everyone needing more days off, and that issue became germane anew on Leap Day. “Twenty-four-seven, three-sixty-five.” Fine, Industrial Revolution, you win. But do we really need “three-sixty-six”? Come on! Why not just declare International Stay at Home, Sleep Late, Call Your Old Friend You’ve Lost Touch With, Pick Up the Novel You got 25 Pages into Three Years Ago, Soak Your Feet and Drink a Bottle of Charles Shaw Day? It’s just one day, every four years! I can think of another day that comes once every four years that has done our nation less good than the one I’m proposing would.
artist - song - album :: extra info

Liam Finn - Second Chance - I’ll Be Lightning
(website | myspace | Second Chance video | Second Chance on Letterman [a must-see])

Little Beirut - Acid Wash Soul - High Dive
(website | myspace | @ Download.com)

Weinland - Sick as a Gun - La Lamentor
(website | myspace | @ OPB)

Mobius Band - Mobius Band in a Green Cotton Sweater - Love Will Reign Supreme EP
(website | myspace)

Steve Smith - Comedown Queen - This Town
(website | myspace)

Bob Mould - The Silence Between Us - District Line
(website | myspace | @ ANTI)

Super Furry Animals - Run-Away - Hey Venus!
(website | myspace)

The Dodos - Jodi - Daytrotter.com session
(website | myspace)

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor - Made in the Dark
(website | myspace | Ready for the Floor video)

Ida - Lovers Prayers - Lovers Prayers
(website | myspace)

DeVotchKa - Along the Way - A Mad and Faithful Telling :: out March 18
(website | myspace)

The Dirtbombs - Sherlock Holmes - We Have You Surrounded
(website | myspace)

Tokyo Police Club - In A Cave - Elephant Shell :: out April 22
(website | myspace | @ Daytrotter)

Ratatat - Cherry (”Bellmore” Remix by Easter Egg)
(website | myspace)

They Might Be Giants - High Five! - Here Come the 123s!
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3s:

Liam Finn - Second Chance
Weinland - Sick As a Gun
Mobius Band - Mobius Band In A Green Cotton Sweater (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone cover)
Steve Smith - Comedown Queen
The Dodos - Jodi (live at Daytrotter)
Ida - Lovers Prayers
The Dirtbombs - Sherlock Holmes
Ratatat - Cherry (”Bellmore” Remix by Easter Egg) (via Local Cut)

 

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A few thoughts:

1. I’m working for peanuts right now, I’d settle for cashews, or even trail mix.

2. I loved the Oscars this year. I’ve watched them every year for the past several, and this one was my favorite so far. The best overall group of nominees, the most deserving winners. Jon Stewart was born to host the event, and due to the strike, the writing wasn’t overwrought, and felt less slick, in a good way. AND, who couldn’t love when they had Marketa Irglova come back out to give her acceptance speech!!?!

3. Lists are great when you can’t work all your thoughts together into one cohesive narrative or idea.

4. I wish people would quit driving Hummers, using plastic bags and drinking their bottled water in over-lit and overheated homes, so that the scientists can work on more important problems, such as robots that will clean for you. I want the robots! It’s the 21st century already!

5. No number 5–I’m watching Letterman.

artist - song - album :: extra info

Yael Naim - New Soul - Yael Naim :: from Mac Airbook ad
(website | myspace | New Soul video)

Dntel - Turning Red - Sound of Color
(website | myspace | @ Sub Pop | Turning Red video)

Marie Digby - Paint Me in your Sunshine - Sound of Color :: the color yellow
(myspace | youtube | Paint Me in your Sunshine video)

Swizz Beatz - Candy Green - Sound of Color
(website | myspace | Candy Green video)

The Blakes - Magic - Sound of Color :: the color blue
(website | myspace | Magic video)

The Raveonettes - Black/White - Sound of Color
(myspace | Black/White video)

Black Kites - Glass Parade - All Wrong EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Club 8 - Everlasting Love - The Friend I Once Had :: reissue of their 1998 album + 6 bonus tracks
(website | myspace | last.fm | @ Labrador)

The Diggs - Recovery Forever - ctrl-alt-del :: out March 11
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Sera Cahoone - As the Day is Long - As the Day is Long :: out March 18
(website | myspace | @ Sub Pop)

Tapes n’ Tapes - Hang Them All - Walk it Off :: out April 8
(website | myspace)

The Dodos - Jodi - Visiter
(website | myspace)

A Faulty Chromosome - Jackie O - As an Ex-Anorexic’s Six Sicks Exit
(myspace | last.fm)

Decomposure - Hour 9 - Vertical Lines A
(website | myspace | @ CBC Radio 3 | e-card with GREAT video & full album stream | @ shzine | last.fm)

They Might Be Giants - One Everything - Here Come the 123s!
(website | other website | myspace | fan Wiki)
mp3s:

The Dodos - Jodi
Dntel - Turning Red
Marie Digby - Paint Me in your Sunshine
Swizz Beatz - Candy Green
The Blakes - Magic
The Raveonettes - Black/White
Club 8 - Everlasting Love
The Diggs - Recovery Forever
Sera Cahoone - Only as the Day Is Long
Tapes n’ Tapes - Hang Them All
The Dodos - Jody
A Faulty Chromosome - Jackie O
Decomposure - Hour 9

 

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So, Thursday was Valentine’s Day, and this coming Monday is Presidents’ Day, but did you know that Friday (the day this show aired) was Family Day in the Canadian province of Alberta? (Yes, I chuckled at its quaintness, too.) Canadians have at least one 3-day weekend in a month, and I think we could learn from their example. We are the most overworked western country in the world, with fewer vacation days than anyone else. Having scheduled days off benefits everyone. It helps keep people happy with something to look forward to, while cutting down on absenteeism.

Plus, working too much is bad for your health. Let’s be honest: It’s hard enough to eat healthy when you’re at work, and if you’re one of the majority of people who are dissatisfied with their job, you’re increasing your stress.

So, do yourself a favor: Put this podcast on your mp3 player of choice, and go out for an hour walk, even if the weather’s not nice. It’s not a day off, but it may be a step in the right direction.
artist - song - album :: extra info

Decomposure - Hour 1 - Vertical Lines A
(website | myspace | @ CBC Radio 3 | e-card with GREAT video & full album stream)

Decomposure - Hour 2 - Vertical Lines A
(@ shzine | last.fm)

Feist - I Feel it All (Britt from Spoon Remix) - I Feel It All single
(website | myspace | I Feel it All video | 1 2 3 4 video)

Mantis - Karnival - Travelogue
(website | myspace | @ Portland Mercury | @ Local Cut)

Point Juncture, WA - Kings Part 2 - forthcoming Heart to Elk
(myspace | website)

Lykke Li - Dance Dance Dance - Youth Novels
(website | myspace)

Panda Riot - She Dares All Things - She Dares All THings
(website | myspace | last.fm | She Dares All Things video)

Marissa Nadler - Thinking of You - Songs III
(website | myspace)

R.E.M. - Supernatural Superserious - Accelerate :: out April 1
(website | myspace | Supernatural Superserious video | supernaturalsuperserious.com)

The B-52s - Funplex - Funplex :: out March 25
(website | myspace)

The Dodos - Fools - Visiter
(website | myspace | Fools video)

The Grand Archives - Torn Foam Blue Couch - The Grand Archives
(website | myspace | @ Sub Pop)

Windy City Gentleman - Good Old Friend
(myspace)

Black Kites - Paper Heart - Paper Heart EP
(website | myspace | last.fm)

Lullatone -The Bedtime Beatbox - Lullatone Presents The Bedtime Beat
(website | myspace | blog)
mp3s:

Decomposure - Hour 1
Decomposure - Hour 2
Decomposure - Hour 5
Decomposure - Hour 9
Point Juncture, WA - Kings Part 2 (via Local Cut)
Marissa Nadler - Thinking of You
The Dodos - Fools
Grand Archives - Torn Blue Foam Couch