Ep. 8, A: The Apples in Stereo, "Strawberryfire"

From the album Her Wallpaper Reverie

Apples in Stereo:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Wikipedia says these guys are "an American indie rock band associated with the innovative Elephant Six Collective." This reminds me of one of my favorite exchanges in The Big Lebowski...

The Dude: Did you ever hear of the Seattle Seven?
Maude Lebowski: Mmmm.
The Dude: That was me.....and six other guys.

Indeed. Go see Apples in Stereo in Lexington, Kentucky, later this month, or wait until July when they hit Chicago for the Pitchfork fest. — 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. 8, C: The Cure, "A Japanese Dream"

From the box set Join the Dots

The Cure:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Reason No. 324 that I like the Cure: they made some killer b-sides, enough to release a four-disc set a few years ago. (If I am being honest, it could have been pared down to three discs and been a lot better.) This song came from the Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me era, when the band was arguably at the top of its game. It was the b-side for the single "Why Can't I Be You?" The video below is an instrumental version of the song, set underneath a soundcheck/on the bus moment. — cwc

Ep. 8, D: The Dodos, "Red and Purple"

From the album Visiter

The Dodos:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Better fly over to Chicago tonight if you want to see these birds. You could always drive to Bloomington, Ind., and see them Saturday, I guess. Might be worth the drive. — cwc

Ep. 8, E: Explosions in the Sky, "Catastrophe and the Cure"

From the album All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

Explosions in the Sky:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These geniuses (or genii, if you will) are touring Europe right now. Good thing I made that trip to St. Louis to see them last month. Best show ever. I rule. — cwc

Ep. 8, F: Film School, " 'Lectric"

From the album Hideout

Film School:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: A BAND PLAYING IOWA CITY. GO SEE THEM ON MAY 8 AT THE PICADOR. TICKETWEB LISTS THE SHOW AS ONLY $7; EVEN I CAN AFFORD THAT. SEE YOU THERE! (sorry for all the shouting, I'm excited that I don't have to drive across state lines to see a band I like) — cwc

Ep. 8, G: Grand Ole Party, "Look Out Young Son"

From the album Humanimals

Grand Ole Party:   MySpace

DJ comments: I finally feel good about voting for the GOP. See them tonight or tomorrow in Chicago, or take a Sunday drive to St. Louis. — cwc

Ep. 8, H: Headlights, "On April 2"

From the album Some Racing, Some Stopping

Headlights:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These cats, fresh off an Iowa City appearance for Mission Creek, will be playing Milwaukee and various Illinois shows in the coming weeks. — cwc

Here's a video for the song "TV":

Ep. 8, I: I'm From Barcelona, "We're From Barcelona"

From the album Let Me Introduce My Friends

I'm From Barcelona:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This band isn't from Barcelona. I'm not from Barcelona. So the song's title doesn't make sense. A few April shows (including Coachella) before this band goes back home...to Sweden, where everyone is from these days. — cwc

Ep. 8, J: The Jet Age, "O, Calendar"

From the album What Did You Do During the War, Daddy?

The Jet Age:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Did I read somewhere that this album is a concept album about an American suicide bomber? Or did someone slip some salvia in my pesto? These guys are playing Des Moines on June 27. — cwc

Ep. 8, K: The Kills, "Cheap and Cheerful"

From the album Midnight Boom

The Kills:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: There's nothing sexier than starting a song with a woman hocking up a loogey. Does she do that live? Find out at nearby concerts: Chicago on May 9, Madison on May 10, and Minneapolis on May 11. — cwc

Ep. 8, L: The Long Blondes, "Here Comes the Serious Bit"

From the album Couples

The Long Blondes:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These sassy Brits (as opposed to Alphabet Soup's sassy Britt) will be playing Chicago and Minneapolis over Memorial Day weekend. I thought the band's first album was incredible; we'll see how the latest one treats my ears. — cwc

Ep. 8, M: Man Man, "Van Helsing Boombox"

From the album Six Demon Bag

Man Man:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This this song song is is pretty pretty fun fun. You you can can see see these these guys guys in in Minneapolis Minneapolis tonight tonight and and in in Omaha Omaha tomorrow tomorrow night night. — cwc cwc

Ep. 8, N: New Pornographers, "Myriad Harbour"

From the album Challengers

New Pornographers:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't help it -- I like Dan Bejar (Destroyer) too much. Most of my my favorite Pornographers songs are those with him singing, like "Myriad Harbour". — BJ

Ep. 8, O: The Owls, "Peppermint Patty"

From the album Daughters and Suns

The Owls:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I think someone should make a Charles Schulz concept album. They already have part of the project finished with "Peppermint Patty". It's a Minneapolis band, so if you're feelin' an itchin' to head north, this is your band.

Below is a York Peppermint Patty commercial from the '70s. What hair! — BJ

Ep. 8, P: Peter Bjorn and John, "Objects Of My Affection"

From the album Writer's Block

Peter Bjorn and John:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Talk about a Swedish indie music invasion. I feel like 1/3 of the bands I listen to anymore are from that freakishly blonde-dominated country. Remember how huge "Young Folks" was last year? It was like Vampire Weekend, but predominately blonde. You can see PB&J in Chicago on April 26. — BJ

Ep. 8, Q: The Queers, "Don't Back Down"

From the album

The Queers:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Punk meets the Beach Boys? Never thunk I'd see the day. For some reason I never envisioned people moshing to "Surfer Girls"... guess I was wrong. "Don't Back Down" is the most Beach Boys influenced song I've heard from these guys. One of the YouTube posts had this to say, "i've been to lotsssss of punker shows and back in the 90's in dallas one of the queers shows I went to was seriously one of the most crazy violent circle pit drunk ass parties I've ever witnessed. good time."

Anyway, these guys are hitting the Midwest in the last two weeks of May. If you want to mosh to surf sounds, enjoy. — BJ

Ep. 8, R: The Roots, "Get Busy"

From the album Rising Down

The Roots:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Anyone heard of 80/35? Well, the Roots, the Flaming Lips and more will be in Des Moines on July 4. Chris called me at work the other day with a tone like someone just smacked him across the face with a board of wood. IOWA HAS A COOL MUSIC FESTIVAL NOW!

The Roots are releasing their newest album in stores on April 29. I saw them at Coachella last year and they are PHENOMENAL on stage. I highly advise that you go seem them this year. You'll have plenty of opportunities -- they're going in and out of the Midwest all summer, starting this month. They'll even be in Iowa more than once, Chris! — BJ

Ep. 8, T: Two Gallants, "Despite What You've Been Told"

From the album Two Gallants

Two Gallants:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Power to the two-man rock bands.

These guys are playing my dream music festival: Outside Lands in San Francisco. They're also playing Bonnaroo. — BJ

Ep. 8, S: Spoon, "Back To The Life"

From the album Kill The Moonlight

Spoon:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I love this band. I could listen to Kill The Moonlight all the time. For anyone who got to see them in Davenport, I salute you. — BJ

Ep. 8, U: Unwed Sailor, "In Search of the Music Box"

From the album The Marionette & the Music Box

The Unicorns:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Can't lie, I had never even heard of these guys until about an hour ago. Not a lot of "U" bands on tour this year. — BJ

Ep. 8, V: The Verve, "Bittersweet Symphony"

From the album Urban Hymns

The Verve:   Web site   MySpace

Ep. 8, W: We All Have Hooks For Hands, "Hold On C'mon"

From the album The Pretender

We All Have Hooks For Hands:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I told my friend Jon that I would play this band from his native land. They remind me a lot of Tilly & the Wall. They go in and out of Minnesota and South Dakota (their home state). — BJ

Ep. 8, X: X, "Johnny Hit and Run Paulene"

From the album Los Angeles

X:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I'm going to name my band "XXX" for two reasons. 1. To top the band X. 2. Because I like to joke about pornography. — BJ

Ep. 8, Y: Jenny Owen Youngs, "Fuck Was I"

From the album Batten the Hatches

Jenny Owen Youngs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I first heard this song on the wonderful hit show Weeds. It's right after she realizes she had sex with a DEA agent. SCREWED! (In both ways.)

Miss Jenny will be not be near the Midwest -- only New York City and non-US spots. — BJ

Ep. 8, Z: Zappa Plays Zappa, "Flower Punk"

From the album We're Only In It For the Money

Zappa:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have a poster of Frank Zappa sitting on a toilet with his pants around his ankles. It hangs above my toilet. Until the poster turns to shit (tee hee), it will hang above the many toilets upon which my butt will rest. — BJ