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Sufjan Stevens Wins Pantheon Music Prize

In a move that's absolutely no surprise to anyone, Sufjan Stevens won the 1st ever Pantheon Music Prize. Illinois was #1 on just about every "Best of 2005" list last year, so it's good to see Stevens score the honor. He scoops up $5,000 and a trophy for winning. He had tough competition though, including Arcade Fire, Fiona Apple, Death Cab For Cutie and Kings of Leon. 

To be in the running, you had to have sales of 300,000 or less, last year.

Sufjan Stevens-Chicago from Illinois

Sufjan Stevens-The Dress Looks Nice from Seven Swans

Sufjan Stevens-All Good Naysayers from Michigan

The Shins Back In October

We posted songs from The Shins the other day, and look what happens. News that the band will delay their original summer release, and move it to October. Maybe we should stop posting Shins tracks.

As you can see, I have another one below.

Hopefully that won't mean on Sunday, the band pushes the release date until 2008.

I'll take my chances.

The Shins-Kissing the Lipless from Chutes Too Narrow

Gillian Welch New Album Coming

According to billboard Gillian Welch is huddled up in the studio, working on her fourth record.

It looks like it will be out by the end of the year. Can't wait!

Gillian Welch-Blackstar (live) buy at Amazon

Stream The Flaming Lips New Album

Read more on their career and the new album here

Stream the entire new album At War With The Mystics Here!

Destroyer/New Pornographers Priorities for Bejar

The funny thing about this article-I had never heard of the Dan Bejar drinking game.

Apparently he's not a fan.

“There are too many rules,” he says. “I’d rather get down to the work itself. ... Of drinking.”

Here here! I guess I'll start pouring.

Read on

New Pornographers-Use It from Twin Cinema

New Pornographers-Mass Romantic from Mass Romantic

New Pornographers-The Laws Have Changed from Electric Version

AC Newman-Drink To Me Babe Then from The Slow Wonder

Destroyer-Painter In Your Pocket from Destroyers Rubies

UPDATE: If you go over to sixeyes, he gives a review of the show he went to-with a slew of downloads from Destroyer.

Noise Pop Festival On Now

One of several great artists at this weeks Noise Pop Festival is none other than Spoon's leader Britt Daniel, one of our generations best songwriters.

He plays tonight on a killer bill, that includes Laura Veirs, Martyn Leaper of the Minders and Meric Long.

In case you're wondering, the show is sold out.

The founder of the Noise Pop Festival talks about the San Francisco's can't miss event.

Read on my brotha (or sista)

Spoon-My First Time Vol 3 (demo)    Buy Spoon Here

Spoon-Sister Jack (demo)

Spoon-I Summon You (demo)

The Strokes Not Worried About Critics

"I don't care what people think or what they expected. It's what (critics) said, not us," Strokes front man, Julian Casablancas, said earlier this month from Atlanta on a day off from touring. "I always had a simple motto or goal, which was to always move upwards."

Meanwhile, the Strokes will play on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight.

The Strokes-Juicebox (live) buy First Impressions of Earth

French Kicks New Album/Tour

French Kicks have a new album that they just wrapped up, due for a summer release.  Now they plan on touring with Ladytron to test the new material out. No word on what the title might be.

Tour Dates:
4/11 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
4/12 - State College, PA - Darkhorse Tavern
4/14 - Washington DC - 9:30 Club*
4/15 - New York, NY - Irving Plaza*
4/16 - Philadelphia, PA - TLA*
4/17 - Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club*

* With Ladytron

French Kicks-One More Time from Trial of the Century

French Kicks-Following Waves from Trial of the Century

French Kicks-When You Heard You from One Time Bells

FHM's Sexiest Women Poll

You might not have heard this yet, so I interrupt all music postings, to bring you this special bulletin!!!!! Ok, I'll calm down.

FHM just did their 100 Sexiest Women In The World Poll and #1 was none other than Scarlett Johansson. Yeah, I'd probably put her at #3, personally.

Here's who I would have picked for #1 enjoy this-NSFW!

tags: jessica alba scarlett johansson sexy entertainment

Nicolai Dunger

pic from nicolaidunger.com

How many people would ditch something they liked, and were good at, for something else?

Nicolai Dunger did that exactly. He decided to drop a potentially successful soccer career in favor of music. The move is starting to pay off.

After supposedly being discovered while playing his guitar on a balcony, Dunger hooked up with Ebbot Lundberg of Soundtrack of Our Lives. They recorded a couple of semi-successful experimental records. Dunger almost seemed intent on not being commercial.

A breakthrough finally came with latest record, oddly titled, "Here's My Song-You Can Have It...I Don't Want It Anymore/Yours 4 Ever."

We just call it "Here's My Song," for short.

Comparisons to Van Morrison, Nick Drake and early Rod Stewart are everywhere.

Take a listen to a couple of highlights.

Nicolai Dunger-Hunger from Here's My Song