MP3: BELLE AND SEBASTIAN "Another Sunny Day". Life's Pursuit, Belle and Sebastian's newest album, is available on February 7. Here's a catchy track that will make you wish it were out sooner. (Matador) posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: BRIGHT EYES "Method Acting," a live version of the single from 2002's Lifted. It appears on Bright Eye's new album of live recordings, Motion Sickness. (Toolshed) posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: CLEARLAKE "Good Clean Fun," the new single from Clearlake's upcoming third album, Amber. The track takes a Beach Boys-esque hook and places it over some '90s-style big beats. (Domino) posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 | [permalink] 2006 ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its Class of 2006 today and it's a pretty good looking group. It's the first year in a while where I don't have any particular argument against any of the inducted artists. (No obscure doo-wop artists this year!) However, it would have been nice to see Patti Smith Group and Cat Stevens get honored this year as well. Here are this year's inductees: Black Sabbath Blondie Miles Davis Lynyrd Skynyrd Sex Pistols Herb Alpert & Jerry Moss (Non-performers) posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 | [permalink] 2005 WRAP-UP: BLOGGERS' BEST OF THE YEAR Here are some lists of best albums of 2005 from a few top music bloggers: gorilla vs. bear My Old Kentucky Blog Skatterbrain posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: ACID HOUSE KINGS "Do What You Wanna Do," a sing-songy '60s flashback from the Acid House King's recently released twee-pop album, Sing Along With Acid House Kings. (Twentyseven Records) posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE CRYSTAL METHOD "Smoked". Whenever I hear The Crystal Method's signature sound, I can't help but visualize speeding on dark highways in the late '90s. I don't know much about London, which uses a score provided by the electronic duo, but I like to imagine it features some fast driving. That or a lot of drugs. (Toolshed) posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: MELLOWDRONE "Fashionably Uninvited". Jonathan Bates, aka Mellowdrone, releases his latest album, Box, on Jan. 24. "Fashionably Uninvited" is a haunting emotional whirlpool, which will appear on the CD. (Filter) posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] 2005 WRAP-UP: PLUG INDEPENDENT MUSIC AWARDS Vote on the best in independent music for 2005. Nominees will perform and winners will be announced on February 2, 2006 at New York's Webster Hall. The National are already scheduled to perform. I'd tell you who I voted for but it'd give away Hobby Box's own Year in Review, which I hope to have up by mid-December. posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: PATRICK PHELAN Former South frontman Patrick Phelan releases his third solo effort, Cost, on December 6. (Jagjaguwar) "Favor" "Lesser Laws" posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE CELEBRITY PILOTS Check out these two tracks from the recently released album Beneath the Pavement, A Beach! from Cleveland's Chris Sheehan (of All Golden) and his sideband The Celebrity Pilots. Reviews have drawn comparisons from just about every type of indie pop artist out there -- from Wilco to The Shins to Yo La Tengo to The New Pornographers. You can also stream their album here. (Sunken Treasure) "Lemons from Lemonade" "We've Lost Kasparov" posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: SUFJAN STEVENS "Chicago". It's not even December yet and it's almost certain that Sufjan Stevens will be the most celebrated artist throughout the 2005 year-end music review season. Amazon's Best of 2005 has already named Illinois their #1 album of the year. And top bloggers voted Stevens as the top artist in America today for the 2005 edition of Information Leafblower's annual poll. If you haven't heard Illinois yet, listen to this one. It happens to be my favorite cut on the album -- although no single track on Illinois could represent the depth and craftsmanship of the entire album. (Toolshed) See also: MP3: SUFJAN STEVENS: "The Man of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts" & "Casimir Pulaski Day" posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE "Grass," from Animal Collective's latest critically acclaimed release Feels. (Audiofile) See also: MP3: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE & VASHTI BUNYAN: "Prospect Hummer" posted on Monday, November 21, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE STROKES "Juicebox". I should give The Strokes some credit. I've always been a bit harsh on them for their forumalic, derivitave sound. Now, on this track from First Impressions of Earth, the band finally changes it up. Whether it's a change for the better is up to you. (My vote is no.) (RCA) posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: BROADCAST "America's Boy". Here's another dainty electronic track from Broadcast's Tender Buttons. (Insound) See also: MP3: BROADCAST: "Black Cat" posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: ROCKY VOTOLATO "White Daisy Passing". Former frontman for Seattle emo band Waxwing, Rocky Vololato has been compared to contemplative singer/songwriters like Elliott Smith and Steve Earle on his solo work. His newest release, Makers, will be available in January. (Barsuk) posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: CATFISH HAVEN "Please Come Back," the title track from the Chicago band's upcoming power roots rock EP. (Secretly Canadian) posted on Tuesday, November 15, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE KING OF FRANCE "Mexico". I had just heard this song on WOXY today, and I was delighted to find that 3hive had just covered the New York City retro-influenced indie pop band a few hours ago. Give it a listen. (TheKingofFranceBand.com) posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: TIARA Based in Columbus, OH, indie rock band Tiara has been together for a decade now. Their latest recording, Chained to the Crown is available on We Want Action records. Here are three tracks from the album you can sample. (TiaraBand.com) "The Night Air" "No Better For It" "The Night Air" posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 | [permalink] STREAM: TALIB KWELI Right About Now. Hear the upcoming album from Talib Kweli, one of hip-hop's talented and most consistent MCs. Right About Now is available in stores on Nov. 22. (Audible Threats) posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: MARK EITZEL "My Pet Rat St Michael", a darkly melodic track from veteran singer/songwriter Mark Eitzel's latest album Candy Ass. (Toolshed) posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: LEVY Rotten Love, from NYC's Levy, was released on One Little Indian Records in September. The band's music is more akin to British crowd pleasers like Snow Patrol and Keane than any band stateside. However, there's a hint of twee pop influence that adds an extra umph to that classic indie boy sweetness. (Levy) "On the Dancefloor" "Rotten Love" "In the Woods" posted on Thursday, November 10, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: SUZANNE VEGA / 50 CENT "Tom's Diner". Just when you thought you couldn't handle yet another mashup, DJ Dangermouse mixes Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner" with 50 Cent's "In Da Club" for a simple but fairly pleasure mashup experience. (SuzanneVega.com) posted on Wednesday, November 09, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: LOW "Nowhere Man". Low covers the The Beatles hit from the recently released tribute to Rubber Soul. I can't say that Low does much interesting on their version of the song. (It actually reminds me of those sweet-sounding yet very safe Beatles remakes on the I am Sam soundtrack.) It's worth a listen though. (Insound) posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE NO-NECK BLUES BAND "The Doon". Their name makes them sound as if they're a jug band, but The No-Neck blues Band is a New York experimental rock collective that's been around since last decade. Here's a noisy, melancholy track from their latest album Qvaris, which you can find in stores today. (Kill Rock Stars) posted on Tuesday, November 08, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: GRIZZLY BEAR "Deep Sea Diver". Grizzly Bear will re-release their album Horn of Plenty on Kanine Records tomorrow. Check out this dark and airy cut from the CD. (Insound) Also, download these two tracks from the album available on Amazon: "Don't Ask" & "Fix It" posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: FOUR TET & PERCEE P "A Joy". Hip-hop MC Percee P collaborates with indie electronic innovator Kieran Hebden on Four Tet's latest single available on Domino Records. (Stones Throw) posted on Monday, November 07, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: WINDY & CARL "Sketch for Flea," an 18-minute-long yet narrowly progressing track from the post-rock duo's The Dreamhouse / Dedications to Flea. Hear what the Kranky artists create when they mix minimalism with dog noises. (betterPropaganda) posted on Saturday, November 05, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: EDITH FROST "Emergency". Frailly-voiced Edith Frost's latest album of alt-country with a Brooklyn edge will be released on Nov. 15. It's a Game is Frost's fourth full-length and features this wispy and gloomy ballad. (Drag City) posted on Saturday, November 05, 2005 | [permalink] STREAM: FLOETRY Flo'ology. Stream neo-soul duo Floetry's until the albums is released to stores next Tuesday. (VH1.com) posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: THE SKYGREEN LEOPARDS "Julie-Anne, Patron of Thieves," a creepy, crawly jangle-pop track from The Skygreen Leopards' recently released EP Jehovah Surrender. (Jagjaguwar) posted on Wednesday, November 02, 2005 | [permalink] TOP 10 HOBBY BOX ARTISTS: OCTOBER My first post on Arctic Monkeys was just last week, yet this month it surpassed in popularity any another artist featured on Hobby Box -- by a landslide. Without a doubt, they're the new band to watch in the coming months. 1. Arctic Monkeys 2. Ninja High School 3. Metric 4. Cat Power 5. The Clientele 6. Explosions in the Sky 7. Death from Above 1979 8. Living Things 9. My Morning Jacket 10. Boards of Canada posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 | [permalink] MP3: BONNIE "PRINCE" BILLY "Hearts" appears on Bonnie "Prince" Billy's soon-to-be-released live album Summer in the Southeast. The album was recorded in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and Mississippi, and it's the rootsy indie songwriter's first official live LP. Look for it in stores on Nov. 15. (Drag City) posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 | [permalink] STREAM: NEIL DIAMOND 12 Songs. If you needed any proof of just how far Myspace has evolved as a music publicity tool in its two years online, here it is: Neil Diamond's upcoming album is available to stream in its entirety this week on the site, which just months ago was primarily used to expose indie acts. I can't say I complete hate how Myspace Music has grown. It's nice to see major labels take advantage of the internet as a means to reach music fans (although I don't know if they're reaching Diamond's core fan base here). But I'll admit it, I've always kind of had a soft spot for the singer/songwriter. (Myspace Music) posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 | [permalink] STREAM/MP3: MIKE LADD Father Divine. Stream funky underground hip-hopper Mike Ladd's upcoming album. It's worth checking out, at the very least, for the concept album's crazy, genre-mashing production. (ROIR) "Awful Raw," a track from Father Divine, is also available to download. (Insound) posted on Tuesday, November 01, 2005 | [permalink]