There's also Pandora which works similarly. Just plug in a song and it will play related artists/songs. Don't tell silvermedalist though, he'll swear it's loaded with viruses.

Have you seen this video from their newest record? If not, you owe it to yourself to check it out. In fact, I recommend it to folks that aren't even familiar with Arcade Fire. It's really quite unique in that it's an interactive video. I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkKqAdaUJH4&feature=related

When you go to a Red Collar show the audience and band become one, it's really quite the experience.

To fully appreciate this band you really need to see them live. On that tip, they're about to hit the road. Tourdates are here.

Want a prime example of a board member attempting to "force" their opinion on others and then, if they don't agree, proceeding to "attack" them? Then, look no further than silvermedalists' posts. Some folks obviously aren't as fond of the Who as others. It doesn't make one person right and another wrong, it means your opinion differs from theirs. You're certainly not going to change opinions by going apeshit on everyone that disagrees with you but it surely does seem to be your modus operandi.

Thanks, I'll have to check them out. My impression of the Love Language is one of a band who puts out a very positive vibe. To witness them live as the crowd gets all caught up in it is quite the experience.

I've been aware of The Love Language for quite some time now so when an opportunity to see them finally arose over the weekend I took it. Actually, I ended up seeing them twice, once at an in-store appearance in the afternoon and a show later on that evening. The in-store was particularly unique because they learned a song by one of their opening bands (Gross Ghost) which they did in their set. You just don't see that sort of thing. It spoke heavily of The Love Language and it made me arrive at the show in plenty of time to catch Gross Ghost (who were also great, btw).

Natalie Merchant

The Huguenots I Would Say

These guys will be opening for the Indigo Girls/Amy Ray on their upcoming tours in October & November, by all means check them out if they're playing in your area. Mount Moriah Willin' b/w Boomer's Story The vinyl release of Croweology has been delayed until August 31st but this treat is available now. Got a free copy at my local record store today.

Why not stream it? It's not illegal. Plus, streams are a great way of checking out a record before forking over the bucks for it.

I feel very fortunate to own this on vinyl but do wish it would be reissued on CD along with Tales From the Ozone and Hot Licks, Cold Steel and Trucker's Favorites. I was glad to see Wounded Bird finally released the Earl Scruggs Revue Live! From Austin City Limits on CD (along with several other Earl Scruggs Revue records from their tenure on Columbia Records). Another one that is long overdue for release on CD is Pure Prairie League's Live! Takin' the Stage.

Ryan Gustafson is part of the Drughorse Cartel, a collective out of Chapel Hill that also includes Max Indian, Mount Moriah, the Tomahawks, the Sundowners, Brett Harris, Twelve Thousand Armies, the Light Pines, Old Bricks and an ever growing number of other new bands. This is a song from his debut album, Donkey called Soul Train (Red or Black):

Unique R.E.M album free with The Times In the first giveaway of its kind by a British newspaper, The Times is offering you a complete R.E.M. album on iTunes. You’ll find a special iTunes card inside The Times magazine on Saturday, October 10. Click the link below and use your code to be among the first to own five songs from the new R.E.M. live album, plus five classics including Losing My Religion and Man on the Moon. Enter your code here Plus, hear Michael Stipe and Peter Buck talk about the inspiration behind each track in an exclusive interview. Then every day from Monday, October 12 to Saturday, October 17 look out for six more free songs from The Times and iTunes from a selection of other great artists. How Michael Stipe and R.E.M. rediscovered their best songs A series of concerts by R.E.M. in a small and intimate Irish venue laid bare a creative process once steeped in enigma Pete Paphides First things first. Michael Stipe needs — preferably in this order — a lavatory and a coffee. Dressed in a grey designer suit with matching grey shirt, tie and black NHS-style glasses, he leaves his satchel on the chair and scuttles off in search of relief. “Feel free to rifle through my bag,” the R.E.M. frontman deadpans. Instead I rifle through my own bag and find a CD compilation that I’ve prepared for him. He looks at the disc. “Thank you. What do I do with it?” If he has an Apple Mac, all he needs to do is insert the CD and the track names will be retrieved from the online database. Mock-affronted, Stipe splutters: “Do I have a Mac? Of course I have a Mac! Do I seem like a PC guy to you?” If I’m going to go to the trouble of guessing his musical tastes, can’t I at least figure out which side of the Mac/PC divide he stands? To read the rest of the interview click here

Have you heard about this record? Click on the image for more info.

This Friday it's night one of a two night stand from Drivin' n' Cryin' at the Pour House in Raleigh. Sunday it's the Gourds (and many others) at the Shakori Hills Grassroots Festival in Silk Hope, NC.

That is one kickass DVD. I especially love the bonus cuts with Vedder fronting My Morning Jacket, particularly their cover of the Who's A Quick One While He's Away.

I'm more of a fan of Jimmy Page and The Edge than I am of Jack White but I came away from the movie with a deeper appreciation of all of them. A must see for any fan of music.