Names, B: Bryn

"Bryn," Vampire Weekend

From the album Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hey, haters: Sam hates these guys too! You all suck farts, though! (OK, maybe he doesn't hate them...) — cwc

Personally, not a fan of these guys … a little overhyped in my book. But they’re still better than most of the crap on the radio and MTV these days. — sp

Ep. 10, B: Be Your Own Pet, "The Kelly Affair"

From the album Get Awkward

Be Your Own Pet:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: You will start to notice a pattern in my song choices this week (the A-M portion of the program): all short songs (<3 mins). We'll be talking with the Hancher marketing dude later in the show, so I'm trying to be accommodating. Plus, I can play a bunch of punky stuff this way. Win-win. (I had nothing to say about Be Your Own Pet.) — cwc

Ep. 9, B: Beastie Boys, "Sabotage"

From the album Ill Communication

Beastie Boys:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm pretty sure this was the first Beastie Boys song I ever heard - my brother made a tape with music videos from 1996 (back when Mtv was worth two sh*ts). This was the second video. I've been ill ever since. — BJ

Would that be the video tape Shannon borrowed from me and never returned? (The answer is yes.) That tape ruled. — cwc

Ep. 8, B: The Blacks, "Raincoat"

From the album Nom de Guerre

The Blacks:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm not sure what was more surprising: that this trio prominently features a tambourine-freakout-dude, or that they almost upstaged Cursive at the Mill during Mission Creek. They put Capgun Snooze, er, Coup to shame, anyway. (And for my friend who attended the show with me, I still refuse to believe that the singer was "making eyes" at you while she was singing. Come on now.) They're taking their act to "the big city," aka NYC, before heading back for some shows in their native California. — cwc

No video for "Raincoat," but here's another Blacks tune, "Elegant Walk":

Ep. 7, B: Black Keys, "Psychotic Girl"

From the album Attack & Release

The Black Keys:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have been eagerly awaiting this album. I still haven't had a chance to sit down and make sweet love to its entirety, but I'm sure I'll be touching myself to it later this evening. Call me a psychotic girl if you must -- I love these two boys. — BJ

Covers, B: "Because the Night," Patti Smith/10,000 Maniacs

The Original

From the album Easter

Patti Smith:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I suppose Bruce Springsteen should get some love for writing this song. (Correct?) — cwc

The Cover

From the album Unplugged

10,000 Maniacs:   Web site

DJ comments: I used to sport a 10,000 Maniacs shirt back in the day. It was captured in the annals of history when I wore it to get my student ID photo taken my sophomore year (well, my first sophomore year). — cwc

Ep. 5, B: "Blazing Arrow," Blackalicious

From the album Blazing Arrow

Blackalicious:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I just started listening to Blackalicious -- I love the song about the elements. The hip hop duo's members are rapper Gift of Gab and producer Chief Xcel who started performing together in high school in 1987. — BJ

Ep. 4, B: "Birthday," The Bird and the Bee

From the ep One Too Many Hearts

The Bird and the Bee web site
The Bird and the Bee on MySpace

DJ comments: Greg Kurstin (the bee) and Inara George (the bird) are pretty cool: they gave away a single on iTunes for a week (it was a Christmas tune). Who can't get behind the idea of free stuff, especially when it's good electro-pop? — cwc

Ep. 3, B: "Brandenburg," Beirut

From the album Gulag Orkestar

Beirut's Myspace
Beirut's web site

DJ comments: Pretty songs, pretty songs. — BJ

Ep. 2, B: Black Kids, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You"

From the EP Wizard of Ahhhs

Black Kids web site
Black Kids on MySpace

If Vampire Weekend is the current blog buzz, these guys can't be far behind. And like Vampire Weekend, I'm shedding my usual cautious approach to these blogger darlings and loving them. Go to the band's official site (linked to above) and get this EP.

Ep. 1, B: Andrew Bird, "Lull"

From the album Weather Systems

Andrew Bird web site
Andrew Bird on MySpace

DJ Comments: I often refer to Bird as the Willy Wonka of music. His parents met at the University of Iowa, so he admittedly loves Iowa City. He played a solo show at The Englert in 2007 -- it was beautiful.