Michael Stipe backed by Coldplay on ACL

Austin City Limits had Michael Stipe perform with backing-band Coldplay.

Wow!

Plague of Angels has an mp3 for download!

You can also watch a behind the scenes video!

ps, thanks Torr for the information.

Cory Gowan leaves Communique

Keyboaridst Cory Gowan has left Lookout Records band Communique (formerly known as American Steel). According to Communique bassist John:

His decision was based on a desire to take a break from playing music, not on any personal or creative conflicts, and we all remain good friends. Being in a constantly touring band can be a thankless job, and we understand Cory’s decision and wish him the best.

Taking over will be Steve Loewinsohn of The Cost, also a lookout band.

Cory is not of the original American Steel lineup, but has found a place in my heart and will be missed. Communique is currently recording some material that may eventually become a full-length album, although who knows how that will go given Lookout's current financial situation.

That photo is out of date (pictured on the right is old drummer Eric Alexander) but apperantly the band has purged the internet of all their old promo group shots. Cory can be seen second from the left.

Communique - Cross Your Heart.mp3

Communique - Roses Are Black.mp3

Tobias's Top 11 of 2005

11. The Eels – Blinking Lights and Other Revelations - I bought this album at the same time as I bought Illinois, and the sheer volume of tracks on both of them staggered me. Many tracks from Illinois proved to be fake-outs, but the double-disc Blinking Lights was an album of epic proportions. E managed to introduce a cacophony of emotions into this release, punctuated by some black humor. Cheers.

10. The Aquabats – Charge!!!! - I don't really like theatrical bands. I can appreciate the music, but the dog and pony show begins to wear on me after not too many repeated exposures (ie: The Decemberists). That being said, the world's greatest superheroes returned from exile to put out their first record in like ten years. Having been reduced in numbers to a cadre of about six, they now are a rocking Cars-inspired surf-pop band now (pretty much like they always were, but there are no longer any ska affectations). Plus, the music cuts back on the grating nerdy humor. But not too much.

9. Alkaline Trio – Crimson - These gentlemen continue to produce macabre and morose music that is full of pop hooks. Always seemingly on the verge of blowing up to full-fledged xstardomx a la Green Day, it seems that My Chemical Romance somehow beat them to it. The original 'dead girlfriend' band quietly put out a great release that was overshadowed in its market by second-rate knockoffs.

8. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! - The Kids really up and ran with this one, and to be honest, I'm still a little starry-eyed about their Horatio Alger-esque rise to success. Quirky, nerdy, charming, and all those other sort of backhanded compliments perfectly describe this record. No one can legitimately knock its success and few really do, except by the elitist critical types anyways. A feel good story and a smashing record. If indie-rock had a Time magazine, CYHSY would make 'person of the year'.

7. matt pond PA – Several Arrows Later - Curiously high for what I admit is a flawed album, the sort of emotional contribution it offers makes up for any shortcomings, at least in my mind. Double-edged, the instrumental arrangements are rich and subtle, but perhaps also uninspiring. Regardless, melodic and smooth, this album is an emotional contemporary of the Promise Ring's swan song Wood/water, one of my favorite albums. I don't use words like 'guilty-pleasure', but if I did, this would probably be it.

6. Mountain Goats – Sunset Tree - Bravely (in a sense) dropping the low-fi trappings of previous releases, the Mountain Goats 2005 release does so with pleasant results. A very likable and deceptively complex album.

5. Tiara – Chained to the Crown - A bit of a change for Columbus' own Tiara, this record adopts an introspective and mellow tone. Coincidentally, my musical taste this year seems to lean towards the introspective and mellow. The best Columbus has the offer and always seemingly close to blowing up, Chained to the Crown adds another wrinkle to Tiara's story.

4. The National – Alligator - The National never really worked for me, but this album came out of nowhere and converted this boy, possibly propelling them into my personal 'favorite band' status. Full of energy and feeling yet emotionally withdrawn, this may have risen higher on the list if I had have listened to it as much as I did the top three.

3. Sufjan Stevens – Illinois - Released to a bunch of well-formulated hubbub and universal acclaim, this album more or less took the indie-world by storm. With spiritually complex (as usual) lyrics addressing (as usual) populist themes, Sufjan really hit his stride in this record and successfully followed up the stellar Michigan. Clever instrumentation, creative harmonies, unique melodies, humor, emotional depth, this album pretty much has it all. My only gripe is that about a third of the songs are flowery instrumental interludes between songs.

2. John Vanderslice – Pixel Revolt - I happily bought a promotional copy of this record for $2. Another album that successfully fulfilled great expectations created by a previous release by one of the best in the business. What else can I say?

1. Chris Mills – The Wall to Wall Sessions - sort of riding a wave created by Illinois, The Wall to Wall Sessions, an effort from the Fruit Bats guitarist wonderfully combines different aspects of traditional music, forming a sound that is truly American. I can't sing its praises enough. Buy it now.

Top Albums of the Year at large

There are certain types of things that music blogs do. Making top album lists near the end of the year seems to be one of them.

Stereogum is upgrading democracy a little bit. Readers vote on their favorite album of the year, and the top twenty are deemed the ‘top albums of the year’. A lucky contestant will receive all twenty albums. Neat.

Grey Will Fade has some great choices and actually lists top 50 albums of the year.

The much-malligned Pitchfork has their own top 50.

Done Waiting has a bunch of different lists, too.

Mailing Address

If you wanna mail stuff to me go ahead and try...

Tobias
SMC 14031 One Otterbein College
Westerville, OH 43081

I love getting mail.

Stephen's Top 11 Albums of 2005!

My (Radio Free Tobias employee, Stephen) personal top 11 list for the year. Some background information on how I compiled it.

I haven't been paying enough attention this year to really have a running list of the best albums. So, I looked at other lists and reminded myself what the good albums were. Those lists, though, missed a few that I might have wanted to include.

So, I started listening to anything I could preparing to make this list. As a result, a lot of these albums are ones I had listened to previously and then relistened to only these past few weeks. Some of them I heard for the first time this week. Either way, I'm confident this little list is pretty much an accurate list of my opinion on the best albums this year.

11. New Pornographers - Twin Cinema
Most people are saying that this one surpasses the previous one, "The Electric Version." I disagree, but that dosn't mean its not a great alterna-pop album. It's rollicking in true New Prnographers style.

10. Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Bright Eyes puts out a really Bright-Eyes-sounding album. I think it's pretty good, in fact.


9. Coldplay - X&Y
I've had a soft spot for Coldplay for a very long time. This album marked a new evolution in Coldplay's sound, and I will gladly sacrifice some of my indie cred just so I can pay tribute to this album. And the standout track "Till Kingdom Come" is an instant classic of sorts.

8. Decemberists - Picaresque
Not a hard choice at all. This album is easily one of the tops this year. In this case, it's almost all about the lyrics and the really involving stories and snapshots in each song. The music is also pretty unique, in that the term "pirate-folk alternative rockabilly somthing" totally fails to come close to describing it.

7. Mountain Goats - The Sunset Tree
The Mountain Goats have always been a band that hinges on lyrics and raw delivery. Sometimes the best songs they record are nothing more than vocals and guitar recorded with what sounds like a Playskool microphone. This album is no exception in the lyrical content department, but the songs have a little more sonic ornamentation than on previous albums. Works really well.

6. Imogen Heap - Speak for Yourself
On the tails of Frou Frou rides Imogen Heap's phenomenal solo disc. Her voice and spot-on songcraft really shine here. Production is golden, and "Hide and Seek" and "Just for Now" are instantly stuck in my brain even when I just think about them.

5. Kelpie - Hey Friends, It's...
I am as shocked as you are that this is on my top eleven. But since I heard it a few weeks back, it's grown on me tremendously. Think The Mars Volta cramming their progressive songs into The Shins' folksy indie shuffle. I really like it. Came out in Spetember, and had no real chance of getting recognition, even though I think it deserves it.

4. Andrew Bird - The Mysterious Production of Eggs
Intricate songs and instrumentation. Great lyrics and a real sonic sensibility. This guy studied in a music conservatory for a portion of his life, and the real talent he honed there is evident on this master-crafted disc. A really great album.

3. Sufjan Stevens - Illinoise
There is nothing that I can say about this album that hasn't been said before. It made almost every top ten list I read. The only catch in my case is I didn't hear this album until about three weeks ago. Despite that fact, it still makes my list.

2. Sigur Ros - Takk
A really new aproach from these guys. Writing songs first and turning them into intricate soundscapes afterward, which is kind of the reverse of what they have done before. The result is the same abstruse sonic structures but with an almost pop-y twist.

1. Death Cab for Cutie - Plans
A tremendous album. Great, catchy songs, with really compelling subject matter. Again, it's the stories that really make this album a standout. "What Sara Said" stands alone in it's ability to impact me emotionally every listen.

So there you have it. My list. Use it for good, not evil.

New Columbus Podcast

Constant Columbus, a new podcast and website dedicated to playing all Columbus and 'mid-ohio' music has launched this week. With little information available except for what I can ascertain via their website, they plan to record weekly, and include a nice visual presentation of artists involved.

Of course, I know that podcasting (or internet radio in general) is the future of music promotion and this is yet another display of the Columbus music who's whos showing some savvy.

Activist Judge Cancels Christmas

Another example of America's finest news reporting.

Coke Machine Glow picks Top 50 Albums of the Year

Everyone's doing this. I probably won't.

Coke Machine Glow picked their top 50 albums of the year. Some predictable, but respectable choices.

For those who aren't savvy, CMG is more or less a more accessible, Canadian version of Pitchfork.

Happy Holidays from Radio Free Tobias

First off, sorry for the lack of updates. I can envision the typical scenario, resulting from my negligence:

a small child awakes an hour before the sun is to rise, full of anticipation. 'the time is here!' thinks little Jack. he runs down the stairs, being mindful not to wake his parents, racing towards what he knows the morning has brought... he logs on to his computer and opens his internet browser. Jack's homepage, Radio Free Tobias, slowly loads, adding to his excitement. to Jack's disappointment, the Radio Free Tobias remains as undisturbed as the fields following an overnight snow. Jack's father, hearing the commotion, comes down the stairs. "Daddy?" asks Jack. "why is there no update?"
"Well son," responds his father. "Christmas is cancelled this year."

Well fear not! I have been diligently working on a holiday-themed podcast. Here are the tracks. NOTE: I feel the introductory tune, from eric Metronome, sounds kind of like the music from the film a Clockwork Orange. Does anyone agree with me? Anyways, here are the tracks:

1. Sufjan Stevens - That Was the Worst Christmas Ever! (of course - thanks to Asthmatic Kitty)
2. The Winston Jazz Routine - I'll Be Home for Christmas (of Mansfield, Ohio)
3. The Polyphonic Spree - Happy Christmas (War is Over)
4. Marah - New York is a Christmas Kind of Town (thanks Pitchfork!)
5. Carol Cleveland Sings - Token Kwanzaa Song (a side project of Spinto Band)
6. eric Metronome - Hanukkah Girl (Columbus, Ohio artist, lead singer of Tiara)
7. Ryan Smith - All I Want (For Christmas) (Columbus, Ohio artist and WOBN alumnus)
8. Carol Cleveland Sings - Sad on Christmas
9. Eisley - The Winter Song

You can download the file directly, or copy and paste this link into 'subscribe to podcast" from the 'advanced' window in iTunes. Or subscribe any other way you see fit, if you wish.

Please enjoy and have a Happy Holidays!

Sufjan in Concert

Hmm. This man has become the face of indie music, more or less, for the year of 2005. Probably some significance there somewhere. Anyways, My Old Kentucky Blog posted a bootleg of a performance by the man himself. Not too shabby in quality. Maybe worth a couple listens for anyone who has not seen him live.

Richard Pryor Passes

In honor of this crazy, crazy man, I'm reposting my link to the opening track from The Wall to Wall Sessions.

I had a dream that I was Richard Pryor running on fire down the Sunset Strip...

Chris Mills is Living the Dream.mp3

Indie Blog Heaven has a mini-tribute to Mr. Pryor in form of mp3's of some of his more notable performances.

John Vanderslice releases recording of november concert

John Vanderslice, aka, one of the coolest people in the music business, has posted for download one hour, twenty-three minutes, and forty -seven seconds of a performance on his website. This constitutes an entire set, recorded live in November in San Francisco. These audio files are high in fidelity and musical quality.

In fact, Mr. Slice makes quite a bit of his recorded music available for download on his website, giving fans of his music something to listen to free of charge and giving those who don't know his music an opportunity to do so.

JVS will be playing in Columbus during his Spring tour sometime in April. More information on this as it comes.

Stappwatch: 2005

I've gotten quite a bit of hits from people searching for hot info about the 311-Scott Stapp tiff. So, I'll dip my hand into the honey jar again.

Much-maligned former Creed lead singer Scott Stapp gave a sob story to CNN.com about his reasons for leaving Creed.

Part of the problem, he realized, was his giving nature. Stapp would do whatever it took to keep his bandmates happy.

"When I would be really sick and we had shows to do, I would do anything, let them inject me with whatever, just to take one for the team," he says.

The only thing I have to ask: what kind of self-respecting journalist would choose to paraphrase the section where Stapp had his 'realization' about his 'giving nature'. Pfft.

Makes for some entertaining reading.

PS: This blog will hereby be switching to an all-Scott Stapp format.

Commuter's Mixtape

So, my iPod broke, rendering it an expensive, post-modern paperweight. Thus, necessitating for the first time in a couple years the creation of a 'mixtape' (as opposed to the less iconic playlist) in order to help me with my thrice-weekly hour-long drive to Columbus. I think something hipster music blogs are supposed to do are post periodic 'mixtapes' in order to show how hip their taste in music is.

1. Don't Ask Why - My Bloody Valentine
2. Fast Cars - Aesop Rock
3. Stay Home - American Football
4. Secret Meeting - The National
5. Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games - Of Montreal
6. Reach for the Sun - The Polyphonic Spree
7. Hold You in My Arms - Ray Lamontagne
8. Shake the Sheets - Ted Leo
9. Alphabet City - Two Cow Garage
10. Ocean Breathes Salty - Sun Kil Moon (I actually like this track)
11. We Will Become Silhouettes - The Shins
12. Exodus Damage - John Vanderslice
13. Everywhere with Helicopter - Guided by Voices

Cool New Beck Website

Beck, one of the most versatile popular musicians of our time, has a brand-new website, full of bright colors and other forms of visual stimulation. There are also four unreleased tracks to listen to, streaming only. The design definitely conjures a Beck kind of feeling.

I haven't heard the remix yet, and I'm generally not a fan of remixes, but I hear it's good. Whatever that means.

EDIT: Beck's still a scientologist. I forgot :(

Scott Stapp and 311 fight in Baltimore Hotel

This is too good to be true, as reported by Done Waiting and probably every blog this side of the world by the next few days.

U.K band Steadman releases entire library online

Thanks to Canadian blog Louder Than 10 for this hot info. Show some love and check out his website. Louder Than 10 features a cacophony of information about the music biz and sheds a little insight on our friends north of the border.

This is a direct copy-paste; I don't think I could rephrase this any better.

It just warms my little heart to see more and more artists breaking away from that outdated major label business model of greed and payola and embracing new models of distribution that benefit both the musicians and the music fans.

U.K. band Steadman is a shining example that you don’t need the dinosaurs to “make it” in the music biz. These five British blokes were on major label Elektra before the label folded and they got passed on to Atlantic like a case of the herp. Instead of working with a whole new unfamiliar set of suits, they decided to leave and go the indie route instead.

Now they are releasing their entire music catalogue for free from their website, which amounts to about 150 songs. All they ask is a for little donation love if you enjoy what you hear. A very ballsy and respectable move for any artist to make. Cheers.

In related news, Tim from the Donewaiting Message Board discovered a Nada Surf fansite that dropped da bomb of Nada Surf bootlegs and radio appearances.

These two massive collections of free music should keep someone busy for awhile.

eric Metronome says Happy Holidays (like Wal-Mart)

RFT-ally eric Metronome has posted a Holiday EP to his website.

Xmas.mp3
Hanukkah Girl.mp3
Snowflake.mp3
Greensleaves.mp3