Is that the Australian Lipstick Killers, Hec?

Yep. Kim's the Aus-rock expert. Btw, I know you mentioned it, but did you send in your release form? I think you did. Btw, as a contributor you'll get a free book, but feel free to buy a few for your friends anyway.

Yep.

I have their album, and a 7" or two. They were OK, but I never loved 'em. I remember them as a second rate Birdman/NY Dolls styled outfit.

but did you send in your release form? I think you did.

Yes - last week.

tina, I heard the new Sufjan Stevens at Mod Lang this weekend. It sounded loverly, so I bought the previous Michigan one.

It was erinaceous who rec'ed Stevens. I haven't heard him yet... and forgot about him when I was music shopping this weekend darnit.

OK, I'm definitely going to see Wilco when they're here, because NELS F**KIN' CLINE JUST JOINED THE BAND!

I know! And I'm going to see them at their first live performance evah as a band. neener.

Jon - did you ever give Rilo Kiley's Execution another listen? If so, did it leave a good impression?

Jon - did you ever give Rilo Kiley's Execution another listen? If so, did it leave a good impression?

Funny you should ask! I gave it a quick listen at the radio station Thursday night and liked the first song enough to play it on my show this past Friday. I copied the CD and listened to it once over the weekend, but a friend was over and we were talking through it so I didn't get to really hear it. What I did hear, I liked well enough, but I need to really sit down with it.

I gave it a quick listen at the radio station Thursday night and liked the first song enough to play it on my show this past Friday.

Wow. I semi-kinda-influenced a BoC playlist choice! I feel all - influential. Yay. The first song is great - the third is uber mix-worthy, the sixth is the "soundtrack to your life" song on my Buffista frankenmix.

Speaking of - Blake Sennett's (the guy singer in RK) new side-project band - The Elected - debut is pretty interesting. Has a very unique mix of synth-y Postal Serivce-esque (Jimmy Tamborello of the PS produced two tracks) songs and quite a bit of straight up folksy alt country stuff. Some tracks are phenomenal, but it is not a great album beginning to end.

I love the Thank You's on the liner notes - Sennett sounds VERY much like E Smith and there is a long thank you to him that is very sweet.

neener.

Thbbbt back atcha. I bought tickets for one of the Austin shows. I wasn't going to, just because they're damn expensive, but what the hey, I loves me some Nels Cline & can't wait to see what he does with the Wilco catalogue.

How 'bout a quick primer for one who generally loves both Wilco and Hayden's musical taste, but has no clue who this Nels Cline guy is?

My portable CD player leapt to it's death last week. So I'm wondering if I should replace it with another CD player or get an MP3 player. Can anyone pimp the MP3 player to me? What are the benefits? Drawbacks?

Nels Cline bio from AMG. I am pretty stunned that he is going to be a member of Wilco. I couldn't believe it when I read it.

Guitarist Nels Cline is best known for his work in the group Quartet Music (with brother Alex Cline, bassist Eric Von Essen and violinist Jeff Gauthier), as well as other projects in the jazz, rock and avant-garde idioms, and for his involvement in the West Coast's improvisation community, in general. Born in Los Angeles in 1956, Nels began playing guitar around the age of 12, when his twin brother, Alex, began learning the drums. By the time Nels reached his 20s, he was heavily involved in LA's improvisational community and, in 1978, appeared on his first recording, Openhearted by multi-instrumentalist Vinny Golia. He has gone on to appear on over 70 releases, lead several of his own groups -- including the Nels Cline Trio, and the sextet that followed, Destroy All Nels Cline -- and tour internationally with a variety of bands. As a composer, Nels has scored two films in addition to writing much of his own material. He has also produced albums for himself, G.E. Stinson and Jeff Gauthier, among others. Bassist Eric Von Essen and Nels met up in the late '70s, began working together and recorded an album of duets called Elegies that was released in 1980 on the 9 Winds label. Von Essen got involved in an orchestra with violinist Gauthier, and it wasn't long before the three formed a group of their own. Nels' brother Alex sat in on their first concert, and eventually joined on permanently, resulting in the group Quartet Music, which remained together throughout the 1980s. In addition to his work in Quartet Music during this decade, Nels worked with Liberation Music Orchestra West Coast, was a member of a rock band called Bloc, worked with Julius Hemphill as well as Charlie Haden, and released his first album as leader, Angelica, which included members of Quartet Music, saxophonist Tim Berne and more. The first half of the '90s found his new Nels Cline Trio hosting a weekly improv series for four years and recording as many albums. During the 1990s, Nels also worked with Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth), Stephen Perkins (Jane's Addiction), Mike Watt (Minutemen) and the Geraldine Fibbers. 1999 brought the release of a duo recording by he and percussionist Gregg Bendian covering John Coltrane's Interstellar Space for the Atavistic label. That same year, the California Music Awards named Nels Cline Outstanding Jazz Artist of 1999; Inking followed in mid-2000.

I couldn't believe it when I read it.

It's a little like Charlie Haden or John McLaughlin joining the Flying Burrito Brothers in 1970.