TheWalCast

WalCast 17: A Fresh Batch of Random Newness

2010-08-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Can't talk now. Busy. Listen and enjoy. No talking. Just music. Pretty much.

East Illinoise - Everest

The Only One - The Black Keys

Dead Nationale - Parades

Blood of Romance - The Ghost

Someday - Ceremony

Death Mods - The Secret History

Enough to Get Away - Joseph Arthur

Laredo - Band of Horses

Don't Let Me Down - Automatic Loveletter

Mama's Room - Under the Influence of Giants

Dead American Writers - Tired Pony

Mirrors in Your Eyes - Soundpool

Insane World - The Class of 98

Training - What Laura Says

Tower - Andrew Belle

get it.

The WalCast Wishes Brian Dixon a Happy Birthday!!

2010-08-15T12:58:00.000-07:00

This is a very special edition of The WalCast, because it is a birthday present for Brian Dixon down in good old Memphis. Brian's wife Shannon had the great idea for his friends and family to submit songs for a Playlist just for Brian, and I agreed at the last minute to put them together in a WalCast. That's why this may not be up in time to land exactly on his birthday, but I gave it a good shot anyway. I broke the long, long playlist into 2 shows for technical reasons, but you can play them back to back and get the same result if you like. I will list the tracks and who submitted them below. Download to listen in the future. That's right, a built in time machine! Technology these days...

Drum Roll Please...

PART I

We are the Champions – Queen (Kevin Dixon)

Magnolia Mountain - Ryan Adams (Jason Smith)

Heavy Metal Drummer – Wilco (Kevin Perk)

A Beautiful Mine - RJD2 (Terron Perk)

Someday We'll All Be Free - Donnie Hathaway (Wendy Trenthem)

Close to You – Karen Carpenter (Beverly Dixon)

Let’s Explode – Clem Snide (Justin Dobbs)

Vegetables – The Beach Boys (Kong Wee Pang)

Small Car - Marvin Pontiac (Jay Crum)

Shake Me Up - Reno Bo (Steve Willet)

Jenny Nowhere - The Clouds (Zac Ives)

The Birthday party - Grandmaster Flash (John Jeter)

What About You (in the world today) - 16 corners (John Jeter)

Who's the King - Joseph Henry (John Jeter)

You're the Best - Joe Bean Esposito (John Jeter)

Old - Paul Simon (Toby Long)

Never Give You Up - The Black Keys (Wally Peterson)

We’re going to be friends - Jack Johnson (Anne Borden)

It’s Ok. Try Again. – The Shins (Shannon Dixon)

Can’t Help Falling in Love – Lick the Tins (Shannon Dixon)

I’ve Got the World on a String – Frank Sinatra (Shannon Dixon)

Download part I here.

PART II

The Blues Are Still Blue - Belle & Sebastian (Elizabeth Alley)

The Luckiest – Ben Folds (Bill Bangham)

Small Stakes – Spoon (Max Dixon)

Slow Motion - Joe Marc's Brother (Hamlett Dobbins)

Messing with My Head – Tinted Windows (Julie Meiman)

Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken? - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions (Jeanne Geers)

Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura (Jeanne Geers)

Jimmy Jazz - The Clash (Kenneth Geers)

Hey Eugene - Pink Martini (Isabelle Geers)

Single Ladies – Beyonce (Heather Ashley)

My Babe - Elvis Presley (Christa George)

Patch It Up - Elvis Presley (Christa George)

Stroke It Noel – Big Star (Clay Combs)

Fever – Takka Takka (Sherianne Bangham)

Pure Cane Sugar – John Paul Keith and the One Four Fives (Sherianne Bangham)

John Barleycorn Must Die – Traffic (F. Grant Whittle)

Richard – Billy Bragg (Richard Alley)

Street Walkin’ – Dan Aeurbach (Heather Dobbins-Combs)

Hazy Jane II -
Nick Drake (Tom Carty)

Nothing but Flowers – Talking Heads (Chris Wood)
Download part II here.

WalCast 16: Yet More Random Stuff

2010-07-31T08:11:00.000-07:00

I have been sooooooo slack lately in getting new shows put together, but I pledge to get better about it going forward, scout's honor (and I was a scout). In my defense, I have been a bit busy and am taking on lots of things right now in my life, so I'm working to be better organized at them. Anyway, it is way past due time for a new show, so I have thrown a quick random show together and will probably have another up in a week or so just to keep this train rollin'. Then I will put some thought into another themed show. Maybe. Nonetheless, here is the latest and greatest WalCast, just some good music ranging from early 80's to now. Enjoy.

Tracks:

This Scene is Dead - We Are Scientists - From their breakthrough 2006 album With Love and Squalor.

In the Blood - Better Than Ezra - Early nineties power pop from the album Deluxe.

You Can Build an Island - The Broken West - Great tune from their first album, I Can't Go On, I'll Go On.

Cursed Mirror - Superchunk - The indie rock veterans from Come Pick Me Up.

Tiny Daggers - Inxs - Closing track from their biggest album, Kick.

Strangers - The New Frontiers - One of my favorite songs from one of my favorite albums, Mending.

California Girls - The Magnetic Fields - A little different take on the classic theme from their album Distortion.

Map of the Problematique - Muse - Great song from the album that introduced me to them, Black Holes and Revelations.

Almost Ready - Dinosaur jr - Opening track from 2007's low-fi recording Beyond.

Rio - Duran Duran - Classic from the band named after the bad guy in Barbarella, from the album also called Rio.

4 Windows - Calculated X - Well known song if you lived in Memphis in the mid-eighties, from a band that got this close to making it big.

Crank - Catherine Wheel - More early-nineties alternative music from the album Chrome. Their singer is the nephew of Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden fame.

Machine of Nature - Daisy - Great Finnish act from 2009's Daydream.

All the Lost Souls Welcome You to San Fransisco - American Music Club - The legendary Mark Eitzal's outfit, from their last release in 2008, The Golden Age.

No One's Gonna Love You - Band of Horses - Their 2nd album, Cease to Begin, was a really good one. This song has earned guest spots in TV shows in commercials, and it's good in spite of that.

Download the show here.

WalCast 15: The Dance with the Quirky Jerk

2010-05-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

***WARNING-THIS SHOW IS NOT FOR THE MUSICALLY FAINT OF HEART, OR THOSE WHO ARE CONCRETELY ROOTED IN MAINSTREAM POP REGIMENS***

Hello, Hello again! This week I'm gonna shake it up a bit. If Weezer is as geek-rock as you get and you think Zappa is a single shoe ordered online, then this show may stretch your boundaries somewhat. I know, you might think "this is just what I needed." But fear not (I can see you shaking like tremolo), although this may be a dangerous type of musical sensibility, dry your suede-blue eyes and let's go for a different kind of ride. Let's face it, we need each other, you and me. After all, you're all I've got tonight, and (uh oh) it's magic when I'm with you. So put on your nuclear boots and your drip-dry gloves, and don't forget to brush your rock-n-roll hair, it's time for some tunes that are slightly off the beaten path.

Disclaimer: No members of, albums from, or songs by The Cars were harmed in the writing of this introduction. There are also none of their songs in the show this week.

This installment of the periodic musical entertainment entity known as The WalCast (henceforth known as "the show" in this document), consists wholly and exclusively of commentary by the host, Wal (henceforth known as "me" or "I" in this document), and the following tracks:

Abstract Plane - Frank Black - From the great album Teenager of the Year comes this quirky pop gem, complete with an abstract house and an abstract mouse.

Atlantis to Interzone - Klaxxons - The title makes me laugh. From Myths of the Near Future.

Nantes - Beirut - The lighter side of quirk from The Flying Club Cup.

Heart it Races - Architecture in Helsinki - Indie/underground hit from Places Like This.

On the Radio - Regina Spektor - NYC neo-folky artist with a tune from Begin to Hope, stating that the guitar solo from GnR's November Rain is awfully long, but the refrain is good.

My Friend Goo - Sonic Youth - From the album Goo. "My friend Goo just goes 'PeeYeww!'"

The Man of Metropolis Steals our Hearts - Sufjan Stevens - Putting the "indie" in indie, this track is from Come On, Feel the Illinois!

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips - Always interesting, the Lips bring us the namesake of their hit(?) album from a couple of years ago.

We Share Our Mother's Health - The Knife - Brother/Sister quirky electronic duo from Silent Shout.

For Hugh Thompson Who Stood Alone My Lai Massacre Vietnam - The Oaks - Good track from a beautiful and interesting album from a few years ago, Our Fathers and the Things They Left Behind.

Debaser - The Pixies - One of my favorite tracks from an album it's hard to pick favorites from, Doolittle.

Big Science - Laurie Anderson - Now we get out there a little bit with the title track from the avant-garde artist's early eighties album.

Don't Let's Start - They Might Be Giants - Bringing it back to the pop side of the pendulum with the single that started it all for one of the greatest indie/geek rock bands ever, from their first, self-titled album. I so wanted to play Put Your Hand Inside the Puppet Head here.

Matchbook Seeks Maniac - Deerhoof - Bizarre little ditty from Friend Opportunity.

Dado Peru - Eskimo - A prized song in my collection due to fond memories. Saw these guys once in the mid-nineties and they put every other display of musical weirdness to shame. Imagine the cast of Cirque du Soleil playing trombones, guitars, and hand saws. Oh yeah. From The Further Adventures of Der Shrimpkin.

Download at your own risk here.

WalCast 14: Random Stuff

2010-05-22T16:51:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year when everything gets busy in the life of Wal. I've had a few playlists made up for the last month or so thinking I would get several out this month, but no such luck. A couple, however, were random lists just like the one I'm giving you now, set up for just such a situation. My foresight is incredible. But enough about me, let's get on to some good music. No particular rhyme or reason to this set, just some tunes I threw together... well, randomly. Up top, you can stream it. Down below, you can download it. Either way, you'll love it.

And now, the track list...

Time Bomb - The Format - From 2007's Dog Problems.

Daft Punk is Playing at My House - LCD Soundsystem - First track from their self-titled 2005 release. You've got to set them up, man, set them up.

Phantom Limb - The Shins - From Wincing the Night Away. Make sure to also check out James Mercer's side project with Danger Mouse, Broken Bells.

Snow in California - The Stills - From the Canadian group's 2008 album, Oceans Will Rise.

Pull Shapes - The Pippettes - From their debut entitled (what else?) We Are The Pippettes. And you know, they are "the prettiest girls you've ever seen."

Jamais Vous - Bell Hollow - Pretty sure this New York band disbanded, but not before they put out Foxgloves.

Mirror People - Love and Rockets - Opening track from their classic 80's album Earth Sun Moon.

Look Sharp! - Joe Jackson - Title track from his classic, super-fantastic, must-have album.

Town Called Malice - The Jam - Great, great, great late 70's mod classic.

High Fidelity - Elvis Costello - Keeping in the same vein as the last 2 tracks with another beauty from Get Happy!

Can't Hardly Wait- The Replacements - From Pleased to Meet Me. Like you didn't know that.

All These Things That I've Done - The Killers - From their first album, Hot Fuss.

Clampdown - The Clash - Just a few months ago was the 30th anniversary of London Calling.

Electricityscape - The Strokes - From First Impressions of Earth.

Steady as She Goes - The Raconteurs - Opening tune from the group's first album, Broken Boy Soldiers. Man, Jack White and Brendan Benson just flat put out some albums, don't they?

Grab a copy of the show for keeps here.

WalCast 13: Cover Songs

2010-05-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Cover songs: the ultimate tribute or the ultimate in laziness? Who cares? I'd much rather listen to some music than debate such a stupid question. So this weeks' WalCast brings you songs written and recorded by one band and then re-recorded by another band that didn't write them. Confused? You won't be after this week's episode of Soap. If you got that reference, you are at least as old as I am. I tried to bring a decent mix of covers to the show that didn't all sound like the originals. Hopefully I succeeded. Hopefully you'll like the show this time. Hopefully I'll win the lottery soon. Stream at the top, download at the bottom.

I would now like to list the tracks included in the show:

Head On - The Pixies - Originally by the Jesus and Mary Chain, this was included on the last Pixies studio album, Trompe Le Monde.

My Favorite Waste of Time - Freedy Johnston - The early eighties Marshall Crenshaw tune was the title of Freedy's album of covers from a couple of years ago.

Enjoy the Silence - Nada Surf - This classic Depeche Mode track was redone by Nada Surf on their brand new album of covers, If I Had a Hi-Fi.

Since You're Gone - Fortune - Originally from The Cars, of course, Fortune covered this track on this year's Staring at the Ice Melt.

Major Tom (Coming Home) - The Contact - This Early eighties Peter Schilling tune has been covered by many bands. This version is from 2007's Canvas Tears.

Burning Down the House - The Cardigans (Featuring Tom Jones) - The Talking Heads tune as recorded on The Cardigan's greatest hits album. Kinda strange, huh?

The Rainbow Connection - The Loves - Kermit the Frog's classic from The Muppet Movie, reworked on the album Technicolour from 2007.

(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party) - The Hot Rats - Half of Supergrass form a side project to record cover songs and answer the question "What would it sound like if the Who recorded this song from the Beastie Boys album License to Ill way back in the late sixties?"

Speak to Me/Breathe - The Flaming Lips - These guys re-worked the entire Dark Side of the Moon album from Pink Floyd last year, with some help from Henry Rollins and others.

Use Somebody - Brooke White - A little soon to be covering a Kings of Leon tune, especially one from their latest album, but this American Idol contestant from 2009 did just that on her first album, 2009's Hgh Hopes and Heartbreak.

Peace Train - 10,000 Maniacs - The 70's Cat Stevens tune was covered on In My Tribe from the late eighties, but later had to be removed when Stevens converted to Islam and had his music pulled from distribution. Now he's Yusef and making music again. Whatever.

Caught Up in You - We the Kings - The .38 Special classic as covered for 2010's compilation, Punk Goes Classic Rock.

September Gurls - Moonlight Towers - The Big Star tune from a Big Star tribute album of various artists called Thank You Friends.

Such Great Heights - Iron and Wine - The beard-rock/folk artist's take on the great Postal Service song from the compilation Around the Well.

Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers - The Stevie Wonder classic, covered on 1989's Mother's Milk.

Save the goodness for later by clicking here.

WalCast 12: Mostly New Stuff

2010-04-24T13:44:00.000-07:00

Mostly new meaning some of these tracks date all the way back to 2009, before the WalCast even existed! Wow, time flies when you're old like me. Anyhoo, got a bunch of good new tunes for all you music lovers out there this episode, and most of the albums represented here are worth picking up. Hopefully you'll find something here that tickles your fancy. Just FYI, I think #13 is going to be all cover tunes, and for #14 I'm gonna dig around in the archives for some older stuff, just for a change of pace. You know the routine - stream at the top, download at the bottom. Same ol' same 'ol.

This week's tracks are...

Nothin' - Fortune - This band has been around since the late 70's, with a seriously long hiatus from the 80's to the early-mid 2000's. This track is from this year's Staring at the Ice Melt.

Seasons - Medications - From the D.C. band's third album, 2010's Completely Removed.

Flaming Arrow - Jupiter One - From the Brooklyn indie group's debut full length Sunshower.

Animal - Neon Trees - First single from this Provo, UT band's debut Habits.

In Pieces - Mae - This Norfolk, VA band is putting out three EP's entitled (m)orning, (a)fternoon, and (e)vening (get it?). This is from the the middle one.

Sick Muse - Metric - Emily Haines' primary outfit from 2009's Fantasies.

Blue-Eyed Universe - Fictionist - Another Utah band from their 2010 debut, Lasting Echo.

Certain Circles - Hello=Fire - Solo project from Dean Fertita. He plays with Queens of the Stone Age, The Dead Weather, and in Brendan Benson's touring band, to name a few. Benson co-wrote this tune and produced the self-titled album.

Please Take Your Time - General Fiasco - From the debut album of this Northern Ireland band, Buildings.

Excuses - Deas Vail - Arkansas pop/rock band from the album Birds and Cages.

Wings - Das Pop - Belgian indie pop band from their self-titled debut.

Lying Around - Cassette Kids - Australian music rocks, and this Sydney band is no exception. From their 2010 debut Nothing on TV.

Heads Up, Hearts Down - I Fight Dragons - If you take nothing else away from this show, take this Chicago band and hide them in your heart. They make great pop music with a little help from actual Nintendo game music. Yeah, that's right. And they rock. No album yet, just singles. This is from the 2010 SXSW compilation. New favorite band name.

King of Rome - Goldheart Assembly - London pop group from their 2010 debut, Wolves and Thieves, not the track from Kitchens and Bathrooms' first EP, The Sound and the Furry.

Fear From Death - Kyte - English post-rock group (what does that mean, anyway, "post-rock"?) from 2010's Dead Waves.

You may, if you wish, download this unforgettable show here.

WalCast 11: And now for an instrumental break...

2010-04-11T17:16:00.000-07:00

It's been a few weeks since the last Walcast, but spring is here and yard work calls. I'm back this week, however, and bringing a little something different yet again, just to keep things interesting. This episode is all instrumentals. I don't have much more to say, except enjoy. Stream at the top, download below.

The tracks are as follows:

YYZ - Rush - Of course. What, did you expect La Villa Strangiato?

Mean Affair - Julie's Haricut - Italian prog-rock band from their latest, Our Secret Ceremony.

A Rumor in Africa - Errors - Scottish post-electro group with a track from Come Down With Me.

Set the Bears Free - Anchorsong - Originally from Japan, now based in London, this one-man act has only released 2 EPs, and only in Japan. This is from the second, The Bodylanguage EP.

Jo Bobo - The Johnny Staccato Band - Some Nu-Jazz from France, from a French compilation I picked up.

Pacific Theme - Broken Social Scene - From the Canadian indie group's album You Forgot It in People.

Wildcat - Ratatat - A classic from their album Classics.

Groove Holmes - Beastie Boys - One of the groovin' interludes from their best album ever, Check Your Head.

Streetcrawler - The Jimmy Chamberlain Complex - From the Smashing Pumpkins' drummer's fusion album Life Begins Again.

iii - The Cancer Conspiracy - Short-lived Vermont progressive project that spawned 2 albums. This is from the second, Omega.

Neighbor Riffs - Surfer Blood - Cool little ditty from the FL indie band's debut Astro Coast.

Daisy - Fang Island - A little bit of chanting vocals in this first single from one of the buzz bands from last year, from the indie-prog band's self-titled debut.

Da Funk - Daft Punk - The cult favorites from their live 2007 album, Daft Punk Alive 2007.

Body Snatcher - The Dynamites - This band features Charles Walker (still around from the funk/soul heyday of the late 60's and early 70's) on vocals on most tracks, but not on this barn-burning opener to their first album, 2007's Kaboom!

If you so desire, you may download the show here.

WalCast 10: Random Stuff and RIP's

2010-03-20T17:09:00.000-07:00

I planned on this being another random playlist type of week, and it is for the first half, but some notable deaths in the music world in the last couple of weeks changed that in part. I didn't have time to put together the kind of tribute I would have liked, but I did a little something.
The first loss was Alex Chilton, on March 6th. He died of a heart attack in New Orleans after complaining of poor health. Chilton was, of course, the heart of the legendary band Big Star, in addition to fronting The Boxtops beforehand and an eclectic solo career for years afterwards. He (mostly via Big Star) was an influence to multitudes of bands from the early eighties through today, and his loss is a tragic one, particularly since he had gathered the remaining members of Big Star for a performance at SXSW this week. That show will go on as a tribute to him, with other musicians and friends joining in.
Mark Linkous took his life on March 17th with a shotgum to his chest. Linkous started his career in the eighties with Dancing Hoods, but they never achieved much success and eventually split up. Then in the early nineties he started/formed/became Sparklehorse, a project which yielded 4 albums, multiple collaborations, and the critical acclaim and respect of a large portion of the musical world. He battled depression for years, and finally succumbed to it this month.
They both left us with some really great music, however, and this week I will share a small sampling of that with you in the second half of the show. The first half is pretty decent it's self.
Player at the top, download at the bottom, as always.

Track List:

On the Way Out - Freedy Johnston - Power pop from the NYC singer-songwriter's 1997 album Never Home.

Bend and Break - Keane - From the British popster's first album, Hopes and Fears.

Cellphone's Dead - Beck - Beck is a musical genius, in case you didn't know. This was the first single from a great album, The Information.

The Blues are Still Blue - Belle and Sebastian - From one of the best albums of the last decade, The Life Pursuit.

Heimdalsgate Like a Promethean Curse - Of Montreal - If the song title wasn't high-brow enough, the album is Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?

Better - Regina Spektor - NYC folk-popster from her album Begin to Hope.

Well Thought Out Twinkles - Silversun Pickups - from the obviously-Smashing Pumpkins-influenced band's first album, Carnavous.

Kool Thing - Sonic Youth - Musical slam of rappers treating women as their playthings ("I don't wanna, I don't think so") from the album Goo.

Tantalized - The Church - From my favorite Church album, Heyday, way back in the mid eighties.

Torn Away - Dancing Hoods - The opening track from Hallelujah Anyway, the 1988 release from Mark Linkous' first band, Dancing Hoods.

Someday I Will Treat You Good - Sparklehorse - Linkous' 2nd incarnation, critically acclaimed time and time again. From the first album, Vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot.

Baby's Got Rockets - Dancing Hoods - The one song from Hallelujah Anyway that got some attention and play on Mtv.

Feel - Big Star - The opening track to the album that influenced a thousand bands, #1 Record.

When My Baby's Beside me - Big Star - Perhaps my favorite song from the band headed by the legend Alex Chilton.

Alex Chilton - The Replacements - The 'Mats recorded Pleased to Meet Me at Ardent Studios in Memphis and included this song, a tribute to Chilton and Big Star.

I'm having link problems for the download, so just stream it.

**UPDATE** Download the show here.

WalCast 9: 2010 So Far

2010-03-13T09:39:00.000-08:00

It's time for some new stuff. I mean, I normally throw some new stuff in to each WalCast, but I mean ALL new stuff this time. That's right, it's time to review 2010...so far. I've been checking out a lot of the new music that's been put out during the first quarter of the year, and I came up with a list of tunes that would have made for two shows, but I've whittled it down to just this one. That is not to say that the other stuff will be totally forgotten, but it will have to wait for now. There has also been a few other bands that have come to my attention since I put this show together (see the post previous to this one), but they will also have to wait. The tunes included in this show, however, can wait no longer. Their time has come. That time is now. Have you started the stream yet? OK, let's try that again...ahem...That time is now. Look, we've rehearsed this, can we try it one more time? When I say "That time is now" you press the little play button on the embedded player below. It's a dramatic entrance type of thing, get it? Great. OK, here we go... Their time has come. That time is now. (good job!)

The show this week consists of the following tracks:

Answer to Yourself - The Soft Pack - San Diego indie band from their self titled first full length album.

I'll Sleep When You're Dead - Ken - I can't much info on this band other than they are German and have some great song titles, such as "Pirates vs. Ninjas vs. Zombies vs. Robots". The album is Yes We.

All Day Daylight - The Morning Benders - Another California band from their 2nd album, Big Echo.

If You Come Again - Eldia - Again, I can't find much info on these guys except that they are from Paris and this appears to be their first full length album, Yayaya.

Liquid Love - Shy Child - Title track from the latest release from the New York electronic music duo.

Interstate - The Automatic - First single from the Welsh band's latest, Tear Down The Signs.

Come Back Home - Two Door Cinema - From Tourist History, the debut of this Northern Ireland band which has been described as a mix of DCFC and Franz Ferdinand. They are pegged by many as one to watch this year.

Wang Lee - Yamon Yamon - Stockholm popsters from their debut, This Wilderlessness.

Floating Vibes - Surfer Blood - From Astro Coast, the first from this West Palm Beach, FL surf-rock indie band.

Exile City - Veil Veil Vanish - From Change in the Neon Light, the latest album from this San Francisco based post-punk quartet.

One Last Time - Fair - Producer and former Poor Old Lu guitarist Aaron Sprinkle's latest band from their new release, Disappearing World.

Got to Lose - Hollerado - I promised more from this Canadian treasure, and here it is. Another great track from their debut, Record in a Bag.

Run Run Run - Nom de Guerre - Another Stockholm pop group from their latest Love Thy Neighbor.

Steady Love - Title Tracks - New project of John Davis, formerly of Q and not U and Georgie James. This album, It Was Easy, is pure power-pop pleasure. There are moments that remind me of Daniel Jones at his finest, and the last track on the album could be an Elvis Costello tune.

There is a Wind - The Album Leaf - A Chorus of Storytellers is a gorgeous, sprawling album from the San Diego group (really more of a project of Jimmy LaValle's), and the first one with a full live band.

Download this show here.

2 Songs From An Album You Need to Hear/Own

2010-03-12T16:57:00.000-08:00

I sift through a lot of music week to week trying to find the next thing that will knock my socks off, or at least something that will become a permanent part of my music collection. Over the past few years I have discovered and extolled the virtues of such albums as The New Frontiers' Mending (still beating that dead horse), Siberian's With Me, and more recently The Wheat Pool's Hauntario and Hollerado's Record in a Bag. While some of the tunes I listen to and play on the WalCast are perhaps the only good songs from the related albums, some are just selected tracks from a virtual pool of gems. Such is the case with today's couple of tracks from new Dallas band The Slack. Formed from a hodgepodge of members from various indie bands in the area, they have put out a killer debut, The Deep End. Drawing from many diverse influences and incorporating them all into a wonderful and consistent album of pop/rock tunes varying from two and a half minute ditties to five minute anthems, this is definitely one for your collection. The two songs here are pretty much randomly selected, although not completely. I will definitely include another song at some point in the near future on a full-blown WalCast.

Truth and Fiction - The Slack - Love the organ solo on this one.

Pipe Dream - The Slack

WalCast 8: Chillin' on the Couch on a Sunday Afternoon

2010-02-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Here it is: the long awaited chillin' out episode of The WalCast. Music to wind down your long workday or to enjoy while relaxing on the weekend. Not music to sleep by, but music to relax to if you are not into New Age, spa-type tunes with classical guitar, flute, and exotic birds tweeting in the background. No, this is actually good music, just on the laid-back tip. Some of my favorite tunes for getting my mind off things are in here, and the best part is you only have to hear my voice for the first few minutes. Put on your slippers, get the fire going in the fireplace, grab a hot cup of french roast (don't spoil it with sweetener and creamer) or a nice merlot, and kick that recliner all the way out or lay on the couch, and get ready for a good hour of chillin' tunes. Oh, and ignore that run-on sentence I just typed.

Trackticus Listus:

Buttercup - Brad - Opening track to the first album, Shame.

Powderfinger - Cowboy Junkies - Cover of the Neil Young tune from their album The Caution Horses.

Constellations - Jack Johnson - From one of my favorite summertime and/or Sunday afternoon albums, In Between Dreams.

Little Things - Mary Everest - Minneapolis-based electro-acoustic folk based artist who also performs with her brother JG Everest and collaborates with an array of other local friends and artists, from her solo debut Little Things.

Further to Fly - Paul Simon - From a must-have album, The Rhythm of the Saints.

Take 5 - The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Classic jazz tune that really affects my mood and mellows me out.

Far, Far Away - Wilco - From the first disc of their 2nd release, BeingThere.

Low Sail - Amy Millan - The Broken Social Scene and Stars collaborator (among others) with a tune from her sophomore solo release, Masters of the Burial.

High on a Riverbed - Toad the Wet Sprocket - From their phenomenal 2nd album, Pale.

Detlef Schrempf - Band of Horses - A haunting song from their 2nd album, Cease to Begin, which appears to have nothing to do with the former Seattle Supersonics star it's named after.

One More Day - Amy Wadge - Welsh (by way of Bristol) folk artist with a tune I got from the 2009 SXSW compilation.

Turn Me On - Nora Jones - from another great album to relax to, her debut, Come Away With Me.

In a Lonely Place - The Smithereens - The 60's-influenced pop-rockers from their first album, Especially For You.

Precious Pain - Melissa Etheridge - No matter how much grief I get for liking her first, self-titled album, I will continue to listen to it with pleasure.

Moonlight Mile - The Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses" would have been too obvious, don't you think? Plus, this closes the show nicely, much like it did the album Sticky Fingers.

This show is a downloader for sure, so click here to do so.

Song of the Day 2/22/10

2010-02-22T16:55:00.001-08:00

I have come to the realization that Canadian indie music just rocks. I don't know how they're breeding them up there, but it's working. My latest wonderful discovery from the great white north is Hollerado. Their debut, Record in a Bag, is out of this world. This is one of the better tracks on it, but rest assured they are all good. They remind me a little of Spoon, The Replacements, and Pavement, and that, my friends, is a winning combination. You will hear more of them very soon.

Juliette - Hollerado

WalCast 7: Girls, Girls, Girls

2010-02-21T15:06:00.000-08:00

Despite the title this week, this is not a tribute to Motley Crue. This is, in fact, the first all-female vocal edition of the your beloved WalCast. Or maybe it's just beloved to me. Regardless, the fact remains. What fact, you ask? I have no idea what we were just talking about. Oh, yes, female vocals in the music, that's right...ummm...yes. So anyway, here it is. All female vocals in the tracks on the WalCast this week, I mean. So, just so we're clear, the WalCast...vocals of the female persuasion, in the music...that I'm playing. For you to listen to. If you like. If not, then...what? Look, I think we got off on the wrong foot. I have compiled music for your listening pleasure if you so desire to indulge in said music, and the music features vocal stylings by women. Is that clear enough? Look, just press the play button below and listen. Or click the link at the bottom to download the show and listen later, alright? Why don't you ever listen to me? I feel like we don't really communicate anymore. Whatever, fine.

Listing O' the Tracks

So Noticed - Emmi - From the album The Invite.

100mph in 2nd Gear - Gemma Ray - From Lights Out Zoltar.

How to Tame Lions - Washington - From the EP How to Tame Lions.

Holy Dirty Game - Manna - From the album Songs of Hope and Desire.

Story - Great Northern - From Remind Me Where the Light Is.

Uneasy - The Spinanes - From Manos.

The River - Audra Mae - From the EP Haunt.

Cherry Tree - 10000 Maniacs - From the classic In My Tribe.

Lloyd, I'm Ready to be Heartbroken - Camera Obscura - From Let's Get Out of This Country.

Barcelona - Plasticines - From About Love.

Looking for Nothing - Aimee Mann - From Smilers.

I've Got More - Ambulette - From the 2009 SXSW compilation.

In Violet - Angie Mattson - From the 2009 SXSW compilation.

Ease the Pain - The Sound of Hush - From their debut The Sound of Hush.

Hell - Tegan and Sara - From Sainthood.

Download the show from here.

Song of the Day for SuperBowl Sunday

2010-02-07T13:03:00.000-08:00

I think I may start posting a song of the day periodically (not every day), when I haven't had time to put a show together but want to share something. I don't want to leave folks hanging if I take too long to post, and I can get something like this up in no time. Don't fret, though. I have my first female vocals show and my Sunday-afternoon chill-out show in the works and on the way. Should have at least one ready to go by next Sunday. This is one of the best songs from the latest Pearl Jam album, Backspacer.

Amongst the Waves - Pearl Jam

Walcast 6 (or is it the2nd half of 5? Hmmmm...) The Two-fer show

2010-01-31T19:22:00.000-08:00

As promised below and in the annoying talking part of WalCast 5: The Search for Spock (what do you mean, you don't know what I'm talking about? Go read it and listen to it! Geez...), here is the fabled 2-fer in honor of Tuesday, Feb. 2. Enough talk, let's get to it. But leave a comment like your life depended on it. It might. (wink, wink). As always, player below for streaming, link way below for downloading.

Plan B - Mutemath - Picking up the remnants of the defunct band Earthsuit, the N'orleans boys from their first EP, Reset.

Noticed - Mutemath - This one is from their first, self-titled full-length album.

Don't You Evah - Spoon - The indie band's indie band, from down in Austin, TX. Consistently good and original stuff. From Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Yeah, I know.

The Underdog - Spoon - Possibly my favorite song from Spoon, off the same album listed above. I just couldn't type it twice.

Good Advices - REM - The original college rockers from Athens (well, other than the B52's. and maybe others) from Fables of the Reconstruction. You might call it Reconstruction of the Fables. I don't.

Little America - REM - Going back even one album further to Reckoning, this song was always one of my favorites to cover live.

IT=LOVE - Spouse - Northeastern US band from their 2007 release Relocation Tactics.

Tonight - Spouse - Closer to the same album. That's closer as in "clozer", not being close to something. That wouldn't make any sense.

Man Down - The New Frontiers - Love this album (like you didn't know that already). From the only album from the no-longer together TX band, Mending.

The Day You Fell Apart - The New Frontiers - Another phenomenal song from Mending.

Gazelle City - The Pillows - Come on sunshine, pick me up. If you've never heard of this Japanese pop-rock group, here's your opportunity to remedy that situation. Cuz you're missing out. This is from My Foot.

Sad, Sad Kiddie - The Pillows - From Runner's High.

It's a Shame About Ray - The Lemonheads - Title track from an album everyone should have. Such great stuff.

6ix - The Lemonheads - This one comes from the album Car, Button, Cloth, and is a tribute to Gwynneth Paltrow in the movie Seven.

Subterranean Homesick Alien - Radiohead - One of the best songs from one of the greatest albums ever, OK Computer.

Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead - Awesome song from my personal favorite Radiohead album, The Bends.

Get it while it's hot here.

Walcast 5: The Search for Spock

2010-01-30T19:38:00.000-08:00

Bringing you the best in music and the worst in banter since late 2009, The Walcast is back. After a 2 week leave of absence, I'm bustin' out with a two-fer this week, in honor of Feb. 2nd being on a Tuesday this year (that's a 2-fer-2/2-tuesday. for those playing at home). That's right, TWO Walcasts this week. Twice the music for the same low price. And if you act now (or even if you just sit there), the second 'cast will be a 2-fer within a 2-fer! That's right, half the bands for twice the price! We are all about bargains here at the Walcast, cuz I'm cheap. Of course, because it's the second one, it's actually above this one on the page, which means you've already seen it and spoiled my surprise. Thanks a lot. So grab a snack and allot some time on your i-schedule, and prepare for the best the interwebs have to offer in free podcasts that are run by me and called The WalCast (got to be at least the second-best anyway). Just press the arrow-looking button on the virtual player below to begin the sweet, sweet music (or download via hyperlink at the bottom). And please, leave me a comment. Please?

Belgian Beer and Catholic Girls - Siberian - Opening track from the Seattle-area bands one and only release With Me. This was my pick for album of the year in 2007.

A Whole Lot Better - Brendan Benson - Popster supreme from his 2009 album My Old Familiar Friend.

I've Done Everything For You - Rick Springfield - Yes, you read that right. C'mon, this was/is a great song!

Should to Shoulder - DeVries - First solo attempt from Travis DeVries of The Turn Ons, who are Peter Buck's favorite Seattle Band and who Spin Magazine named one of the best 100 bands you've (probably) never heard last Sept. I still have not heard them.

A Problem Like Maria - Kitchens and Bathrooms - By popular request, a tune from my old band. From our first album These Modern Nights. I didn't play on this tune, it was my predecessor, the fabulous Sean Lee, but it is one of the most ready-for-the-masses tunes we recorded.

Flavor of the Month - The Posies - Early-mid-nineties power-pop from the great Pacific Northwest.

We Want It We Want It - Boat - A random song I threw in this week because I can.

Chicago x 12 - Rogue Wave - Great song by the same band that gave you so much background music on episodes of The O.C. I never watched it. I swear. I just know these things. From Asleep at Heaven's Gate.

We Share the Same Skies - The Cribs - Good song from the latest album of this British band that now claims Johnny Marr as a member.

Bigmouth Strikes Again - The Smiths - Marr's original band with a song from one of their best albums (there weren't any bad ones) The Queen is Dead.

Dashboard - Modest Mouse - Marr also did a stint with this Seattle-based indie group. This is from We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank.

Roll Up Your Sleeves - We Were Promised Jetpacks - One of my favorite new band names. From the Scottish bands debut.

In Between Days - The Cure - Classic from 1985's The Head on the Door.

Sway Your Head - We Shot the Moon - Very nice song from The Cougar and the Polar Bear EP.

Roll With It - Oasis - Rock with swagger from one of their best albums, What's the Story, Morning Glory.

Download available here. Just click the highlighted word "here" in the last sentence.

WalCast 4 (Diggin' Deep in a Pile of Pop)

2010-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Back to relatively obscure indie pop for the 4th Walcast, and there are some gems this time around. Regular listeners of independent music will recognize a few tunes, or at least the bands, but if anyone out there has heard all of these tunes I'll give you a shiny penny. As always, listen from the player or download below, leave comments and let me know what you think, and call your mom-she misses you.

Track Listing:

Superjet Waterslide - The Color Wheels - Clocking in at just under 2 minutes, this ditty is from the NY state husband-wife team's self titled debut.

Wish - Days Away - I really need to get some more music from this SoCal power-pop outfit. though I'm not sure if they're still together since this 2008 EP, Ear Candy for the Headphone Trippers, is the last I know about from them. But it's goooood...

Water and God - All Get out - I found this track on the SXSW download of artists from last years' festival. This SC band has a full length due out in the first half of this year, and I will definitely be checking it out.

Tonight I Have to Leave It - Shout Out Louds - Swedish indie-pop outfit with several albums under their belt and a new one due soon.

Keep Your Eyes Ahead - The Helio Sequence - Portland, OR duo with the great title track from their 2007 album.

Such Great Heights - The Postal Service - Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) on vocals from this 2003 side project. Many have awaited a follow-up album which has never come.

Burying Luck - Minus the Bear - One of my favorite newer Seattle area bands with the first track from their last release Planet of Ice. They have albums with titles such as This is What I Know About Being Gigantic and songs like Monkey!!!Knife!!!Fight!!!, and they finished recording their latest album last Sept, so we should see that released soon.

Spiral Stairs - Elf Power - They were part of the Elephant 6 collective in the nineties and they are sill kicking with this track from their 2008 album In a Cave.

Completely Replaceable - The Films - South Carolina indie group from their 2nd album, Oh, Scorpio.

Two Kinds - Film School - San Fransisco post-punk dream-pop band from last year's Hideout.

Long Distance Call - Phoenix - Can good music come out of France? Apparently so, because that's where Phoenix hails from, and they make great music. This is from 2007's It's Never Been Like That.

Wednesday's Fine - The Moves -Memphis pop-music-maker Daniel Jones with his late nineties group The Moves, from the album Are You Ready?

New York, Not Her - The Literary Greats - Houston based group with a great track from their self-titled debut.

Body Buzz - Aloha - from the EP Light Works.

Golden Skans - Klaxons - London indie pop. I was soooo tempted to play Atlantis to Interzone instead for the humor factor, but this is a better song.

Don't want to sit on my web page for an hour? Download this show here, and listen to it on your portable music-player-thingie.

WalCast 3 (Americana/Alt-Country)

2010-01-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

For the third installment I've gone with a theme instead of just random pop-rock. Ranging from pop-with-a-steel-guitar-thrown-in to full-blown country and western tunes, this session is sure to satisfy the Americana music lover and the country-wary alike. Please leave a comment below to let me know what you think, and don't forget to subscribe via RSS feed to stay on top of my latest postings. Yee-Haw!

Track Listing:

Daylight Fading - Counting Crows - From Recovering the Satellites (my favorite CC album), one of the few songs of theirs with a slightly alt-country twang.

Burnout - Ox - Canadian country-rockers from their 7 track album (EP?) by the same name.

Waiting for the Sun - The Jayhawks - I could have gone with any number of songs from these Americana-rock mainstays, but I wimped out and went with the obvious choice from their first album Hollywood Town Hall. (not that there's anything wrong with this song)

I'm Not Here - The Wheat Pool - I recently discovered this Canadian alt-country outfit and I am just plain hooked on their latest release, Hauntario.

Black Lungs - The New Frontiers - Anyone who I've told about this band knows that they rock my world. Their one album career ended in Jan of 2008 and I have been sad ever since. One of my top albums of all-time, this is the opening track from Mending. (sob)

The Latest Rights - The Strugglers - Title track off the most recent album from Australian songster Brice Randall Bickford.

A Horse in the Country - Cowboy Junkies - Canadian (I know, right?) bluesy/folky/country-y indie group that's been around since the late eighties. Margo Timmins and her two brothers (and the bass player) serve up delicious tunes consistently. I saw them at the New Daisy in Memphis about 10 or 12 years ago and got to talk to Margo after the show, which was a real treat. This is from Black-Eyed Man.

Faster Days - Velvet Crush - Half of the album Teenage Symphonies to God is great, and the other half is phenomenal. This is from the phenomenal half.

Wiser Time - The Black Crowes - I shouldn't have to say anything about this track from Amorica, but to the uninitiated, just know: It's great.

Looking For a Way Out - Uncle Tupelo - Jay Farrar and Jeff Tweedy (and a drummer) blazed the path for modern alt-country in the early nineties during their short-lived career together, and luckily their legacy continues in their subsequent endeavors, the following two bands. This is from Still Feel Gone.

Catching On - Son Volt - Trace, the first album from Jay Farrar's post-Uncle Tupelo band is unbelievably good, and this is one of my favorite tracks from it.

Pick Up the Change - Wilco - Jeff Tweedy's group has been more popular than Son Volt since the breakup. AM, their first album, came out about the same time as Trace, and I couldn't decide which I liked more (and still can't). This is from that album.

Appaloosa - The Black Crowes - From their most recent release, the double CD Before the Frost...After the Freeze. This album is definitely their most rootsy, Americana album (have I used that word enough yet?)

One Hundred Years From Now - The Byrds - Sweetheart of the Rodeo pretty much started the whole country-rock movement. Couldn't do this 'cast without something from it.

Evangeline - The Band (with Emmylou Harris) - From The Last Waltz, a recording of their final concert. Levon Helm, Robbie Robertson and company set a new standard for country-roots-rock in the early 70's, and remain an influence to many groups today.

Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain - Willie Nelson - If you don't know this song, I can't help you. One of my all-time favorite songs.

Coming up in future WalCasts, more themes - Covers, Pacific Northwest Bands, Female Vocals, Chillin' on the couch on a Sunday afternoon, Shoegazing and other slacker sports, and more. And of course, lots more random pop goodness. Next WalCast: getting back to relative obscurity with Diggin' Deep in a Pile of Pop.

As always, you can download this show for posterity or just for away-from-computer listening here.

Thanks for being you.

-Wal

WalCast 2 (More Random Goodness)

2010-01-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

So here we are again with the second installment of my music show. A little less obscure this time, but good tunes nonetheless. Please leave some feedback so I can continue to improve the show. The next show will be an Americana/Alt-country theme, so be sure to tune in. Just press play on the player above to stream or hit the link at the bottom to download.

Track Listing:

The Great Big No - The Lemonheads - Evan Dando and friends have been making quality pop-rock for a long time now, and this one takes us back to Come On, Feel the Lemonheads, circa 1993.

No Sunlight - Death Cab for Cutie - From their 2008 release Narrow Stairs, DCFC is one of the great bands making up the new Pacific Northwest scene.

Melting in the Sun - INXS - One of the great new wave bands of the 80's. This is from The Swing, one of my favorite albums from them.

Level - The Raconteurs - From the first album from the indie "supergroup" made up of Jack White of The White Stripes and powerpop-ster extraordinaire Brendan Benson, among others. Love this song.

Sons of Cain - Ted Leo and the Pharmacists - good track from 2007's Living with the Living.

Auctioneer - The Broken West - My friend Clay turned me on to these guys a few years ago, and both of their albums are out of this world. This is from their 2nd, Now or Heaven. Not to be confused with the great REM song by the same name.

Superstar Tradesman - The View - Scottish punk-pop-rock band from their 2006 debut Hats Off to the Buskers.

Achin to Be - The Replacements - Arguably one of the best rock bands ever, this is a classic from Don't Tell a Soul.

The Modern World - The Jam - From '77 to '82 these guys redefined punk, pop, rock and new wave, with their "mod revival" look and their awesome music. If you're not familiar, you're missing out.

LIft - Brad - Yeah, I know, 2 shows in a row? Get over it. This was a last minute substitution the the show for 2 reasons: 1. a friend of mine finally listened to, and enjoyed, a Brad song from the last 'cast, and I want to foster that new relationship, and 2. The song slated for this spot worked it's way into a music block that I want to do in another show. This is also from their 2nd, Interiors.

Dreamworld - Midnight Oil - Australian socially-conscious rockers with a great song from 1987's Deisel and Dust.

The King is Half-Undressed - Jellyfish - If you didn't catch wind of this San Fransisco power pop band during their brief 4 year tenure in the early nineties, you missed out on 2 really great albums, and should now rectify that issue. This is from the first, Bellybutton.

Human - The Killers - The Killlers have done a lot in incorporating eighties style into current musical trends, and have made some great music in the process. This is from their 2008 release Day and Age.

Who got the Meaning - The Elms - Midwestern rock from Indiana. Songs don't get much catchier than this. From their first full length, Big Surprise.

The Imposter - Elvis Costello - The true king of pop. From my favorite EC album, Get Happy!

Download this file for enjoying at your leisure here.

Enjoy!

WalCast 1

2009-12-18T19:59:00.000-08:00

My first Podcast. I'm still working out the RSS feed directly to the audio, but this player will stream the audio here on the site. You can also use the link at the bottom to download the show to listen to later. The tracks for the first installment are:

One More Time - Joe Jackson. From Look Sharp, 1979. An album you should have. This is all over the TV thanks to Taco Bell, and those who haven't should be able to hear the whole song, because it is great.

Secret Girl - Brad. Stone Gossard's (Pearl Jam) side project from the 90's. This is from their second album, Interiors.

Pine Away - Superdrag. One of my favorite albums of the 90's, Head Trip in Every Key. A must have.

I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You - Black Kids. You have to admire the gumption in the name of their band. The first single and one of the best songs from their debut Partie Traumatic

OK Fine - The Regrets. Awesome Memphis group from the 90's headed by virtuoso Daniel Jones. From the album/double EP Visions of Anna/Novenna.

Canoe - Astroburger. Norweigian band that's been around since the late 80's. From their 2006 release They Came From the Sun.

If the Brakeman Turns My Way - Bright Eyes. Not a ton of songs by Conor Oberst and company that I really dig, but this is one, from the Cassadega release.

Rude Awakening - Daisy. Absolutely love this album from Finnish band Daisy. One of the best albums of 2009.

Won't Let It - Lapdog. The boys from Toad the Wet Sprocket minus Glen Phillips. If you're a Toad fan (like me) then you should like this.

Righteous - DAG. My best buddy Tom turned me on to this album years ago and I just really got into it recently. Nothing bad on it.

Myths and Photographs - Inme. From Daydream Anonymous. Found these guys randomly online and I really like their version of Nu-Metal.

Heart it Races - Dr. Dog. Cover of the Architecture in Helsinki tune by Philadelphia group Dr. Dog. I like this version as much as the original.

Energy - The Apples in Stereo. These guys have great tunes in general. I've enjoyed almost everything I've heard from them. This song was on a TV commercial of some sort from last year, but I can't recall which.

This Town - Amos the Transparent. I have no idea who these guys are, but I found them online and I love this EP they've put out, My What Big Teeth You Have.

Our Life is Not a Movie, Or Maybe - Okkervil River. I have two albums by this group, and I love them. This is one of my favorite tracks from them.

You can download this podcast to listen to at your leisure from here.

Enjoy!