Mmm, although I would think that US indie voices also tend to have an extra element of self-consiousness, as in "listen to my very clever lyrics" mixed in. (Which Barney Sumner and Kevin Shields, for different but obvious reasons, don't.)

Happy to see all the Kate Bush love btw! I'm just going through a major Kate (re)discovery phase at the moment.

I'd say it's the same reason - you have to be conscious to be self-conscious.

What about "Don't Give Up," her duet with Peter Gabriel?

I am vaguely aware that song exists, but I could not have told you who the female voice was at gunpoint. And I love "Disintegration."

Former Pantera guitarist killed on stage.

Guns don't kill people. People bearing grudges and guns kill people. Or something like that.

I heard that on the radiio this morning. Horrifying.

"Song to the Siren" by This Mortal Coil.

Just added this to the Goth(ish) video tape. You have to admire a record label owner who puts together his own superstar cover band just to do his favorite tunes. I mean - that's what I'd do if I had a record label.

My Top Ten of 2004:

1. Fiery Furnaces – Blueberry Boat.
2. Wilco – A Ghost Is Born
3. Animal Collective - Sung Tongs
4. Mike Watt – The Secondman’s Middle Stand
5. Liars – They Were Wrong, So We Drowned
6. The Streets – A Grand Don’t Come For Free
7. Mission of Burma – ONoffON
8. Deerhoof – Milk Man
9. Will Johnson – Vultures Await
10. Shearwater – Winged Life

Excluded: Brian Wilson - SMiLE, which is really a long-delayed 1967 release. If it were on the list, it would be #2.

Close but not quite: TV on the Radio - Desperate Youths, Bloodthirsty Babes, Mekons - Punk Rock, Iron & Wine - Endless Numbered Days, Madvillain - Madvillainy.

Haven't heard but mean to, 'cause I think I'd like 'em: Panda Bear, R. Buckner, the New Year, Ted Leo, Mountain Goats, Stereolab, Tom Waits, American Music Club, Carla Bozulich, Nels Cline, Arcade Fire, Oneida, Hella, MF Doom (Mmm... Food), McLusky, controller.controller, and Comets on Fire.

Great re-releases: Talking Heads - The Name Of This Band Is Talking Heads, Can's first four albums, and the Go-Betweens' 4th-6th albums.

Oneida

Have you ever listened to these guys, Hayden? Papa Crazee, who's no longer with them, is married to my bro-in-law's little sister. Nice guy. I think he's leading a country band now, although that may be on hiatus (not sure if he's done rehabbing from a serious injury.)

David, I have some questions for you in the books thread. Thanks in advance for your answers. Got my copy of LITG yesterday. I don't know if I'm the only one whose copy was kind of eccentrically packaged, but it showed up in a big square of cardboard, maybe 2'x2', flat except for the book. What's up with that?

I've only heard their split EP with the Liars and a p-sychedelic track that a friend put on a mix. All good.

No copy of LITG yet, though.

Just added this to the Goth(ish) video tape. You have to admire a record label owner who puts together his own superstar cover band just to do his favorite tunes. I mean - that's what I'd do if I had a record label.

I loved 4AD, when it was around. More than any other label since, what, Chess? You always knew what you were going to get with them, and it was always going to be good.

And Elizabeth Fraser's voice just makes me melt. Well, my heart melts. Other parts of me do . . . . other things. Things which could easily be described as diametrically opposed to melting.

But the sexiest female voice, like, ever? Early Annie Lennox.