Ep. 7, A: American Analog Set, "Sharp Briar"

From the album Set Free

American Analog Set:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I felt this was an appropriate opener considering how shotty the weather is. Arrgh...
The only US show they have is in NYC on April 22. So, unless you plan on heading overseas, you may have to hold off for another tour. — BJ

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

Ep. 7, C: Cursive, "The Recluse"

From the album The Ugly Organ

Cursive:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: You may have been lucky enough to see Cursive when they played Mission Creek. I was a pretty upset -- I had to work the night of the show. Waah waaah. — BJ

Ep. 7, D: Destroyer, "Blue Flower/Blue Flame"

From the album Trouble In Dreams

Destroyer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Chris isn't such a big Destroyer fan, but I waited a long time for this album, and this is one of my big "must sees." I had to include it. This is the lead-off track from the band's newest album, which I enjoy, but it's a far cry from Rubies. Then again, Rubies is Rubies.
Do enjoy the wonderful video below -- I think it's the official video put out by Destroyer. — BJ

Ep. 7, E: Editors, "Munich"

From the album The Black Room

Editors:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I teased Chris by telling him I was going to play Explosions In The Sky, but I couldn't find a song I wanted, so I fell back on the Editors. These guys released An End Has A Start last summer. Being that they're from the UK, they don't have anything set up in the US. — BJ

Next week: All 12 minutes and 5 seconds of "With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept" by Explosions. — cwc

Ep. 7, F: Flight of the Conchords, "If You're Into It"

Flight of the Conchord:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm totally into it. I can only imagine how fun this show must be -- two guys sitting up front playing guitars and singing about women, sex and crying. Oops, my pants are wet.

Do yourself a favor and look at the pictures on their Myspace page. Also check out their Midwest dates in May. — BJ

Ep. 7, G: The Go! Team, "The Wrath of Marcie"

From the album Proof of Youth

The Go! Team:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I always think my head is going to explode when I listen to this band. Holy crap they're hyper. I've heard their show is a crack-head's wet dream. — BJ

a coke head's dream. a— BJ

Ep. 7, H: Hot Chip, "Take Care"

From the album Coming On Strong

Hot Chip:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I remember pulling out a Hot Chip album during one our shows and Chris scoffed at me like I just contracted the Black Plague or something. I think this is good stinking song, Christopher. You can think what you want.
Hot Chip is playing Chicago and Minneapolis on the 17th and 18th of April. You only have a few days left to buy tickets if you're interested. In terms of music festivals, they are a 2008 Coachella band. — BJ

Ep. 7, I: Israel Vibration, "Licks & Kicks"

From the album The Same Song

Israel Vibration:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Gotta have a dose of Reggae! These guys have been around since the seventies, but they're still kicking it. They will be playing a handful of shows later this year. — BJ

Ep. 7, J: Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings "How Do I Let A Good Man Down?,"

From the album Naturally

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Lady has some pipes on her. Though this song is from the 2005 release, Jones and the Kings put out 100 Days and 100 Nights last year. I can imagine this would be an interesting show, especially if you like that old school seventies style. I included the video for that album's title track. — BJ

Ep. 7 K: Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)"

From the album Raising Sand

Alison Krauss and Robert Plant:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I freaking love these two together. They are one of the headlining bands at this year's Bonnaroo. —

Ep. 7 L: Les Savy Fav, "Pots & Pans"

From the album Let's Stay Friends

Les Savy Fav:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I don't get the fat man in their video. Is this an effort to distract audience members from the music? — BJ

Ep. 7, M: MGMT, "Electric Feel"

From the album Oracular Spectacular

MGMT:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't say enough about this song. It really is fantastic. And fortunately for us Midwesterners -- we have another Lollapalooza act! — BJ

Ep. 7, N: Nine Inch Nails, "Get Down Make Love"

From the ep Sin

Nine Inch Nails:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Headlining Lollapalooza, huh? Too bad he hasn't put out anything good since Downward Spiral. But today's song is from the Pretty Hate Machine era, which wasn't bad. — cwc

Ep. 7, O: Okkervil River, "Savannah Smiles"

From the album The Stage Names

Okkervil River:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These Austin lads are opening for New Pornographers down in St. Louis on Saturday, April 19, at the Pageant. I think they're also playing in Madison around that time too. The opening act might be better than the headliner in this case (I really wasn't a big fan of Challengers). — cwc

Ep. 7, P: Portishead, "Machine Gun"

From the upcoming album Third (song now available as single)

Portishead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: New album drops at the end of April. Band will headline one day of Coachella. Touring Europe right now. Entire world will be dominated. — cwc

Ep. 7, Q: Quietdrive, "Time After Time"

From the album When All That's Left Is You

Quietdrive:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These dudes played this song (among others) on our show way back when (last fall). Nice fellas. They'll be headlining RiverFest here at the end of the month. Free show, check it out. — cwc

I'm not going to comment on this. — BJ

Ep. 7, R: Raconteurs, "Salute Your Solution"

From the album Consolers of the Lonely

Raconteurs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: They're playing my beloved Pageant in St. Louis in June and Lollapalooza in August. And a zillion other dates between now and Lolla. One band I'd like to catch; if only a band like this would set foot within Iowa City? — cwc

Ep. 7, S: Sons & Daughters, "Gilt Complex"

From the album This Gift

Sons & Daughters:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Among the many festivals these guys are playing is Coachella, so jet on out to Cali! Or if you can't do that, perhaps you should just go see the Long Blondes, who are touring in the Midwest (although — surprise! — not in Iowa). — cwc

Ep. 7, T: Tapes 'n' Tapes, "Just Drums"

From the album The Loon

Tapes 'n' Tapes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: They're playing the Metro in Chicago tonight. Better hustle if you were planning on seeing them. Of course, our listeners on the East Coast can catch them at several upcoming shows. — cwc

Ep. 7, U: Uh Huh Her, "Say So"

From the album I See Red

Uh Huh Her:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: So, um, do you like PJ Harvey? Enough to name your band after one of PJ's albums? These two ladies are playing Chicago, Minneapolis, Lawrence, Kan., and St. Louis between April 29 and May 2. Notice the loop right around the black hole known as Iowa?! I thought the Lawrence scene and the Picador scene were united? Why no I.C. show? — cwc

Ep. 7, V: Vampire Weekend, "Campus"

From the album Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Places you can catch Vampire Weekend: Coachella, Bonnaroo, Pitchfork Music Festival, various British dates (including Glastonbury, Reading, and Leeds festivals), and a show tonight at Brown University. And I'm sorry, but these guys do fuckin' rule. — cwc

Ep. 7, W: Ween, "The Stallion Pt. 3"

From the album Pure Guava

Ween:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Iowa alert! These guys are playing in, um, Council Bluffs (?????) on July 20. The question marks aren't with regard to the location of Council Bluffs, but why Ween would play there. — cwc

Ep. 7, X: Xiu Xiu, "I Do What I Want When I Want"

From the album Women as Lovers

Xiu Xiu:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Xiu Xiu played Ames last month. They are wrapping up their U.S. tour tomorrow night before jetting over to Europe. Should've been in Ames last month, I guess. — cwc

Ep. 7, Y: Yeasayer, "Sunrise"

From the album All Hour Cymbals

Yeasayer:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Next week, Yeasayer hits Madison, Minneapolis, and Omaha. Are we in some sort of quarantine? Was Mission Creek the only cool thing allowed in Iowa City?

Sorry for all the hate, but I'm getting frustrated. It seems like nine out of ten, if not ten out of ten, of the bands KRUI plays skip right around Iowa while touring. Should we be content to listen to our CDs/mp3s/online streams? Should we not demand more live music?

Is there really no audience for Jose Gonzalez here? Did he need to go straight from St. Louis to Milwaukee? That seems like a tailor-made Englert show if nothing else. Did I really have to drive four hours to go see Explosions in the Sky? (Not that I wouldn't make the same trip tomorrow, but...)

Here's a list of bands coming to the St. Louis venue I keep raving about over the next 10 weeks: Feist, Mars Volta, New Pornos/Okkervil River, BRMC, My Chemical Romance (not my thing, but anyway...), Tegan and Sara, Wilco (twice), Raconteurs, and Iron and Wine (who are at least coming to Davenport). And the aforementioned Explosions show was incredible. That's a three-year span of "gets" here.

At least Film School is coming to the Picador in May.

And Randy-fucking-Newman is playing here soon!

[rant over] — cwc

Ep. 7, Z: Zombies, "Care of Cell 44"

From the album Odessey and Oracle

DJ comments: Sorry, the "Y" comment took everything out of me. Zombies are touring the U.S. in July and August. — cwc