At Last

WYNC's Soundcheck featured in-studio guest Neko Case. She was interviewed and also performed live some new songs which'll be on her upcoming new album, "Fox Confessor Brings The Flood". With band members Jon Rauhouse and Paul Rigby in tow, Neko performed the title track of the new album as well as a song called "At Last". [photo from http://../]

I have no idea WHO the Review Crew are over at Newsday.com but I'm wondering if their generally middling first impressions of Broken Social Scene's new album are on target and that the rest of us are just blinded by our devotion to fawn over whatever BSS release. In other words, if I'd never heard of Broken Social Scene before would I still think favourably of their new album? Coincidentally, I was listening to it today, and it's definitely less immediate than it's predecessor "You Forgot It In People". It's a dense album for sure, but I find that the more time I invest in it, the more the album reveals its subtle melodic charm.

While the news of the soon-to-be demise of indie rock magazine Comes With A Smile is sad news, at least it's last issue(#20) has it going out in style. According to the most recent CWAS news update, the line-up for issue # 20 will include the following names, with others still to be confirmed: Arab Strap, BC Camplight, Billy Mahonie, Tim Bluhm (Mother Hips), The Constantines, Death Cab for Cutie, Drive-By Truckers, The Eighteenth Day of May, Gravenhurst, Neil Hagerty (Howling Hex), Mick Harvey (Bad Seeds), Matt Pond PA, (cover stars) The New Pornographers, Silver Jews, Spoon and 31 Knots. I'm looking forward to The New Pornographers magazine cover as well as the accompanying CD which usually features rare or unreleased songs. I'm giddy in anticipation for which Constantines' and New Pornographers' songs will be included.

The East Bay Express examines the "best twenty-second moment of 2005", specifically 1:15 through 1:35 of Spoon's "I Turn My Camera On."

PopMatters reviews a recent Final Fantasy show in Brussels.

MP3 Blog last night an mp3 saved my wife bids farewell.

Here's a torrent of the live session The Organ performed for BBC 6 Music's Gideon Coe on November 16, 2005. [via Largehearted Boy]

There'll be a New Year's Eve show at The Boat in Toronto featuring Kids On TV, Republic Of Safety, Jon-Rae & The River with late-night DJ'ing by the Ninja High School crew. Tickets $10 in advance, onsale soon. [info via Stille Post]