TOP OF 2009

Enjoy...and support your local indie record store by buying some of these amazing albums!

Top 20 albums of 2009
Devin Townsend Project- Addicted! - http://www.myspace.com/devintownsenddtb
Prodigy - Invaders Must Die - http://www.myspace.com/theprodigy
Katatonia - Night Is The New Day - http://www.myspace.com/katatonia
The Dear Hunter - Act III: Life And Death - http://www.myspace.com/thedearhunter
Metric - Fantasies - http://www.myspace.com/metric
Dredg - The Pariah, The Parrot, The Delusion - http://www.myspace.com/dredg
Faunts - Feel. Love. Thinking. Of. - http://www.myspace.com/faunts
Muse - The Resistance - http://www.myspace.com/muse
Brendan Benson - My Old, Familiar Friend - http://www.myspace.com/brendanbenson
Alice In Chains - Black Gives Way To Blue - http://www.myspace.com/aliceinchains
VNV Nation - Of Faith Power And Glory - http://www.myspace.com/vnvnation
Ghost Brigade - Isolation Songs - http://www.myspace.com/ghostbrigade
Biffy Clyro - Only Revolutions - http://www.myspace.com/biffyclyro
My Dying Bride - For Lies I Sire - http://www.myspace.com/officialmydyingbride
Doves - Kingdom Of Rust - http://www.myspace.com/dovesmyspace
Mastodon - Crack The Skye - http://www.myspace.com/mastodon
Volbeat - Guitar Gangsters and Cadlliac Blood - http://www.myspace.com/volbeat
Fever Ray - Fever Ray - http://www.myspace.com/feverray
DM Stith - Heavy Ghost - http://www.myspace.com/dmstith
Between The Buried And Me - The Great Misdirect - http://www.myspace.com/betweentheburiedandme

Top 5 songs of 2009
Prodigy "Omen"
Dredg "Ireland"
Metric "Help I'm Alive"
Volbeat "Hallelujah Goat"
Devin Townsend Project "Hyperdrive!"

Top 15 concerts of 2009
Faith No More @ Download, UK
Nine Inch Nails @ Terminal 5, NYC
Paul McCartney @ Citi Field, NYC
Metallica @ MSG, NYC
Prodigy @ Download UK
Hall & Oates @ Irving Plaza, NYC
King's X @ Terminal 5, NYC
Frank Turner @ DC's, Hoboken
VNV Nation @ Nokia Theater, NYC
Dredg @ Highline Ballroom, NYC
Septic Flesh @ Scion Rock Fest, Atlanta
Skeletonwitch @ Full Metal Texas, Austin
Johann Johannsson @ Le Poison Rouge, NYC
Night Ranger @ BB Kings, NYC
Krallice @ Scion Rock Fest, Atlanta

Top 5 TV shows
Modern Family
The League
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Chuck
How I Met Your Mother

Best of the rest (albums that is)...
A Place To Bury Strangers - Exploding Head
Air - Love 2
Amorphis - Sky Forger
Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders
Astra - The Weirding
Baroness - Blue Album
Behemoth - Evangelion
Beirut - March of The Zapotec and Realpeople Holland
Bob Mould - Life And Times
The Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx
Candlemass - Death Magic Doom
Chimaira - The Infection
Clutch - Strange Cousins From The West
Constants - The Foundation, the Machine, the Ascension
Decemberists - The Hazard Of Love
Devin Townsend Project - Ki
Dream Theater - Black Clouds and Silver Lining
Ensiferum - From Afar
Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest
If These Trees Could Talk - Above The Earth, Below The Sun
Insomnium - Across The Dark
Irepress - Sol Eye Sea I
Isis - Wavering Radiant
Iwrestledabearonce - It's All Happening
Killswitch Engage - Killswitch Engage
Lacuna Coil - Shallow Life
Lamb Of God - Wrath
Maria Taylor - Lady Luck
Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster - III
Mew - No More Stories...
Mono - Hymn To The Immortal Wind
Morrissey - Years Of Refusal
Naam - Naam
The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart
Part Chimp - Thriller
Patton Oswalt - My Weakness Is Strong
Pearl Jam - Backspacer
Pelican - Ephemeral
Placebo - Battle For The Sun
Poison The Well - The Tropic Rot
Porcupine Tree - The Incident
Redemption - Snowfall On Judgment Day
Rodrigo Y Gabriela - 11:11
Russian Circles - Geneva
Satyricon - Age Of Nero
Scale The Summit - Carving Desert Canyons
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire
Soulsavers - Broken
Steven Wilson - Insurgentes
Swallow The Sun - New Moon
Telefon Tel Aviv - Immolate Yourself
The Gathering - The West Pole
The Mountain Goats - The Life Of The World To Come
Therapy? - Crooked Timber
Wolves In The Throne Room - Black Cascade
Zao - Awake?
Zero 7 - Yeah Ghost

New. Music. Tuesday. 10/13

Another Tuesday and some more great records to add to my year-end list.

BARONESS - Blue Record




FLAMING LIPS - Embyronic


HALL & OATES-Do What You Want, Be What You Are (4 CD)


KANSAS - There's No Place Like Home


LEAVES' EYES - Njord


SKELETONWITCH - Breathing The Fire


NICK SWARDSON - Seriously, Who Farted?

New. Music. Tuesday. 10/6.

Some great releases today...support your local record store by clicking THINK INDIE

AIR - Love 2


ARCH ENEMY - Root Of All Evil

LOU BARLOW - Goodnight Unknown

BLESSTHEFALL - Witness

BUILT TO SPILL - There Is No Enemy

DJ SPOOKY - Secret Song

EVERCLEAR - In A Different Light

FALL OF TROY - In The Unlikely Event

LITA FORD - Wicked Wonderland

GOGOL BORDELLO - Live From Axis Mundi


HORSE THE BAND - Desperate Living
Shapeshift


IMMORTAL - All Shall Fall

MISSION OF BURMA - Sound The Speed The Light

MORPHINE - At Your Service

MOUNTAIN GOATS - Life Of The World To Come

PARADISE LOST - Faith Divides Us Death Unites


SPARKLEHORSE/FENNESZ - In The Fishtank 15

STEEL PANTHER - Feel The Steel


WIDESPREAD PANIC - Montreal 1997

ZERO 7 - Yeah Ghost

Battle. For. Milkquarious.

If I could have any marketing job in the world, it would be for the California Milk Board since they put together amazing campaigns like the BATTLE FOR MILKQUARIOUS.

They also have done these ads over the past year...makes you want a tall cold glass of milk, doesn't it?

Song That Should Have Been. China Drum. Can't Stop These Things

Back in 1996, a punk band from England called CHINA DRUM released a should-have-been-a-bigger-hit with their single "Can't Stop These Things" from the album, Goosefair

As it goes with most 90s bands of this ilk, they broke up in 2000...but still gave us one of the best "pop-punk" songs of that decade.

NEW. MUSIC. TUESDAY. 9/22.

Another day of too many new releases as fall officially begins. Here's my narrowed down list for you all...

ALBERTA CROSS - Broken Side Of Time (Rock)

BASEMENT JAXX - Scars (Electronic)

BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL - 10 Neurotics (Goth)

BRAND NEW - Daisy (Rock)

NICK CAVE/WARREN ELLIS - White Lunar (Soundtrack)

CHILDREN OF BODOM - Skeletons In The Closet (Metal covers)

DEADMAU5 - For A Lack Of A Better Name (Electronic)

DESPISED ICON - Day Of Mourning (Metal)

EVILE - Infected Nations (Metal)

INSOMNIUM - Across The Dark (Metal)

MAE - (M)orning (Rock)

MONTY ARE I - Break Through The Silence (Rock)

MUM - Sing Along To Songs You Don't Know (Weird)

PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART - Higher Than The Stars EP (Alternative)

PEARL JAM - Backspacers (Rock - only at Target)

SONATA ARCTICA - Days Of Grays (Metal)

KITTEN. MITTENS.

What? You've never watched IT'S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA? Well, tonight is your chance as the new season is starting on FX at 10pm. It's the best thing to come out of Philly...well, ever.

NEW. MUSIC. TUESDAY. 9/15

I have to echo my friend Scott Perry's of NEW MUSIC TIPSHEET sentiments about today's release date. There is no need for 400 new releases on a single Tuesday. All of these are competing with each other, which means that most people will buy 1 or 2, then steal the rest. Wake up record labels, spread out the love and drive people into stores all year round!

Well, here are the best of those 400 for you to pick up (no video links this week, just Mypsace)


THE 69 EYES - Back In Blood

ANVIL - This Is Thirteen

BLACK DAHLIA MURDER - Deflorate

CHTHONIC - Mirror Of Retribution

CROSSBREED - Ke101

DYING FETUS - Descend Into Depravity

EVERY TIME I DIE - New Junk Aesthetic

FOXY SHAZAM - Wannabe Angel (single)

ACE FREHLEY - Anomaly

IT DIES TODAY - Lividity

KITTIE - In The Black

LIVING COLOUR - Chair In The Doorway

MANIC STREET PREACHERS - Journal For Plague Lovers

MEGADETH - Endgame

MINISTRY - Last Dubber

MONEEN - World I Want To Leave Behind

MUSE - Resistance

OXBOW - F*ckfest

PORCUPINE TREE -Incident

PROTEST THE HERO - Gallop Meets The Earth: Live

SHADOWS FALL - Retribution

SHUDDER TO THINK - Live From Home

SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO - Temporary Pleasure

SKINLAB - Scars Between Us

STARS OF TRACK AND FIELD - A Time For Lions

DAVID SYLVIAN - Manafon

THRICE - Beggars

A. Broad. Way. Documentary.

The brainchild of my friend Rob, A BROAD WAY, is a unique look at NYC: One Hour. One Street. 258 Directors. The collaborative documentary put a filmmaker on every block of Broadway from it's Northern tip at 220th Street to Battery Park and documented all 12.4 miles of Manhattan for one hour -- the exact same hour. Check more info and buy it HERE

New. Music. Tuesday.

Lots of good ones today, then some new band called "The Beatles" are reissuing all their albums on th 9th along with some video game that is barely being advertised. And also some rapper named after a NYC subway line has an album coming out on Friday.

3 INCHES OF BLOOD - Here Waits Thy Doom


THE BEATLES - Remasters


ENSIFERUM - From Afar


HEALTH - Get Color


JAY-Z - Blueprint 3


SONDRE LERCHE - Heartbeat Radio


PHISH - Joy


POLVO - In Prism


RODRIGO Y GABRIELA - 11:11


SAOSIN - In Search Of Solid Ground


SLIPKNOT - Slipknot: 10th Anniversary (CD/DVD)


FRANK TURNER - Poetry Of The Deed

Nine. Inch. Nails.

I was lucky enough to score tickets to see the two final NYC shows at Terminal 5 last week for NINE INCH NAILS. Amazing SETS that featured some deep tracks as well as a guest appearance by PETER MURPHY.



Unfortunately for my LA friends, Trent had to reschedule the shows since he got sick. I'm sure there were goths jumping off buildings when they heard the show was canceled, but there is no reaction like this:

Heavy. Metal. Thursday.

Two great things in Heavy Metal going on tonight.

First there is SHADOWS FALL on LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON. They'll be performing in support of their Sept 15th release of RETRIBUTION. Other guests on the show are Jason Bateman (awesome) and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz (um).



Second, for those of you in NYC, if you are looking to rock out some before heading home to catch Shads, then head to the TONES OF DEATH showcase tonight at FONTANA'S. The show will feature BLACK ANVIL, THE BINARY CODE and a VERY special guest. Doors are at 8pm and it is FREE!



Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, NBC, 12:35am EST
Fontana's, 105 Eldridge St, NYC

More. Tim. Burton.

Earlier this year, I saw the trailer for the new Tim Burton movie "9" and immediately put it on my calendar for 9/9/09.



I know a lot of people are excited about the movie, but I've still been wondering if either Tim or the director (Timur Bekmambetov) were influenced by the 1998 short film "MORE".



It is definitely one of my favorite shorts of all time, and was actually used as the video for the song "Hell Bent" by KENNA. Check 'em both out and head to the theaters next week for what looks to be another Tim Burton masterpiece.

New. Music. Tuesday. 9/1.

Buy these records to play at your Labor Day BBQs this weekend!

A.A. BONDY - When The Devil's Loose


AMON AMARTH - Crusher (Reissue)


BLACK CROWES - Before The Frost/Until The Freeze


CHEVELLE - Sci-Fi Crimes


DIRGE WITHIN - Dirge Within


DR DRE - Chronic Re-Lit & From The Vault


DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS - Fine Print (Oddities & Rarities)


JULIETTE LEWIS - Terra Incognita


CHUCK RAGAN - Gold Country


REV.HORTON HEAT - Laughin & Cryin With


and if you need a new drink coaster...
INSANE CLOWN POSSE - Bang! Pow! Boom!

Drink. For. Taz. NYC. 8/31.

A lot of you heard about the very sad news last week when Eric "Taz" Pagan was murdered in the east village while trying to break up a fight. What you might not know is that he leaves behind two children (ages 14 & 17), one of which he adopted when her mother passed away from cancer.



6 bars in the east village today are stepping up and donating 50% of their receipts to the kid's college fund. So, if you are going to throw back a few today, make sure to hit these fine establishments:

Forbidden City
Drop Off Service
Planet Rose
Common Ground
Habibi Lounge
Superdive

Metromix has the map and more info HERE

Trader. Joe's. Seafood. Sausage.

Not that I like to promote anything at TRADER JOE'S since it just means more of you making the lines even longer, but one of their new products is worth sharing with the masses. Their SEAFOOD SAUSAGE just hit the shelves here in NYC and it might just be my new favorite food. The links are a combo of shrimp, scallops, white fish and spices that you can find in the frozen seafood section (there is pork casing if that breaks the deal for you).



The Nutritional Facts make it seem like it is decently good for you as well. So, head on over if there is one in your city and pick some up, but leave a package or two for me.

Living. In. The. Past.

Even though it's 2009, a lot of bands these days are thinking it's 1969, especially in rock and metal. This will definitely be evident at the upcoming PLANET CARAVAN festival down on September 18-19 in North Carolina, where a lot of the best stoner and doom bands will be taking the stage.

A band that will be there is ASTRA, one of the newest (and best) signings to RISE ABOVE RECORDS. Their psychedelic rock brings back memories of listening to my dad's EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER records when I was young. Check out a live performance in the video below.




Another great band, that unfortunately will not be at the festival, is SAHG who have released two records on REGAIN RECORDS. Taking more of a nod from BLACK SABBATH, this Norwegian band actually features members of famous black metal bands like GORGOROTH. But don't be scared, the only thing that these guys will be burning will be a certain smoke-able plant.

Chicago. Food. Coma.

I was on the road this past weekend visiting family and friends in Chicago (thus the lack of posts here). Chi-town is definitely my favorite city in the US behind my current hometown of NYC. One of the best things about Chicago is definitely the food... I'm surprised that everyone there doesn't weigh 300lbs.

Even though I've been there a bunch of times in the past, this time I was able to visit a lot of new restaurants...and here are my favorites that you need to hit on your next visit (or if you live there).

KUMA'S CORNER - Heavy Metal Hamburgers. It's been featured on all sorts of food shows, and for a good reason. It was definitely one of the best burgers I've ever had in my life (I had the Neurosis with cheddar, swiss, mushrooms, onions and horseradish mayo). Plus, they only play metal music where the "softest" thing I heard was Pantera, awesome.


HOT DOUG'S - Featured on shows such as No Reservations, I waited almost 2 hours in line for a Chicago-style dog, as well as a Bacon-Cheddar-Elk Sausage. Food was great, but I'd try to head there when it is not 1pm on a summer Friday.


MARISCOS EL VENENO - Translation: The Poisonous Seafood. But the food in this hole-in-the-wall Mexican place in the heart of Ukrainian Village was nothing but spectacular. Each dish could feed 2-3 people, include the half-pineapple stuffed with 5 different types of fish.


ELEVEN CITY DINER - A "NYC Style" Deli in the South Loop. Amazing ambiance from the high ceilings and old rabbi portraits, to the great deli food. They even sell copies of Heeb Magazine and old-school bottles of Faygo (yes, Faygo)


SMOKE DADDY BBQ - A nice simple menu with 3 types of ribs and 3 types of pulled meat. Located in Bucktown, it had great prices and outdoor seating for the 2 months a year it is nice outside in Chicago.


On the drinking side of things, there is one place that I make sure to hit every time I visit...

DELILAH'S - One of the best Rock N Roll bars in the country. They host everything from Metal nights to The Smiths/Morrissey night (that was taking place when I went on a Friday night). Besides the great music, they have one of the best bourbon & scotch lists I've seen...and a great beer selection as well.


Kuma's Corner - 2900 W Belmont Ave
Hot Doug's - 3324 N California Ave
Mariscos El Veneno - 1024 N Ashland Ave
Eleven City Diner - 1112 S. Wabash
Smoke Daddy BBQ - 1804 W. Division St
Delilah's - 2771 N Lincoln Ave

American. Beer. Screening. Brooklyn. 8/26.

If you are not hitting Nine Inch Nails tonight, then head over to HOPE LOUNGE for a screening party of the documentary, AMERICAN BEER. It documents Paul Kermizian’s road trip hitting 38 craft breweries in 40 days. He is best known as the owner of BARCADE and THE GUTTER.



I'm sorry to miss the screening, but will definitely be picking up the DVD.

Hope Lounge, 10 Hope Street, Brooklyn

New. Music. Wednesday. 8/26.

So I was traveling yesterday and forgot to list all the great releases for this week. One day late isn't too bad, right?

PATTON OSWALT - My Weakness Is Strong - best comedian ever? pretty damn close.


MEW - No More Stories - ethereal rock, seeing them tonight with NIN


MUNICIPAL WASTE - Massive Aggressive - bringing old school thrash to the year 2009


IMOGEN HEAP - Ellipse - another great solo record from the former singer of Frou Frou


MATISYAHU - Light - supporting my tribe


KORPIKLAANI - Kerkelo - pagandrinkingmetalfromfinland


THE BRONX - Mariachi El Bronx - a "post-hardcore/punk" band doing a mariachi record = awesome


THERION - Miskolc Experience - livecdanddvdofsymphonicmetalmasters

Air. Supply. Live. Free. 8/26. NYC.

AIR SUPPLY...yes Air Supply, not Hair Supply, will be performing for free next Wednesday at J&R MUSIC WORLD here in NYC. It starts at 6pm, so I am going to do my best to make it before heading uptown to see the final NIN show. Hope to see you at both.



J&R MUSIC WORLD, 23 Park Row, NYC.

Heavy. Metal. Happy. Hour.

Every Friday night, one of my favorite bar's in NYC, ARROW BAR, hosts HEAVY METAL HAPPY HOUR. If features all sorts of hard rock and metal spun by mostly music industry folks (including myself) from 6-9pm with 2 for 1 drinks. Because the DJs are industry, you'll usually hear new music before anyone else does. So, if you are in the NYC area and need to unwind from a week in the cubicle, head on down on Friday evening and end your work week with some rock.

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Arrow Bar, 85 Ave A b/w 5th & 6th Streets (downstairs), NYC.

New. Music. Tuesday. 8/18.

Finally some good new releases as the summer approaches it's end...these are my favorites hitting stores today.

65DAYSOFSTATIC - Escape From New York - maybe you saw them here with The Cure?



BRENDAN BENSON - My Old Familiar Friend - you probably know him as the singer for The Raconteurs. Can't find a new music video, so here's an older one (check out his Myspace for new music by clicking his name above)



BURNT BY THE SUN - Heart Of Darkness - hide your children



CLAN OF XYMOX - In Love We Trust - darkwave goodness, get your goth on. Here's a live clip from a few years ago.



THE CULT - Love (Expanded Edition) - make sure to catch them on 9/11 performing the album in it's entirety in NYC



GWAR - Lust In Space - enough said



COLIN HAY - American Sunshine - another solo album from the singer of Men At Work



KEELHAUL - Keelhaul's Triumphant Return To Obscurity - dirty groovy hardcore metal

Hot Artichoke Dip. Freemans. Vs. My Mom's.

Growing up, I'm sure your mom had a specialty that she made for parties, holidays, etc. My mom's specialty was HOT ARTICHOKE DIP. She didn't invent it, in fact the RECIPE was printed right on the side of the Kraft Grated Parmesan Cheese container. It was a not-so-healthy concoction made from artichokes, cheese and mayo. The taste: amazing.



Fast forward 20 or so years and I finally make it to, what has now been my favorite restaurant in NYC, FREEMANS. Right there on the menu is Hot Artichoke Dip. I of course order it up, and it bring back the great memories of my mom's version. It's nice to see a restaurant going back to something more simple instead of getting all fancy with spinach, other spices, etc (not that I have any problem with Spinach Artichoke Dip at all).



WINNER: MY MOM'S

But since I can't take you all home to Florida for dinner, you definitely need to head over to Freemans for a meal and order it to start along with their amazing cocktails and great main courses like Lamb Stew and Roasted Wild Striped Bass.

Parent's house, Florida.
Freemans, End Of Freeman's Alley off Rivington b/w Chrystie & Bowery, NYC.

Song That Should Have Been. Matthew. Everybody Down.

Back in 2002, the Chicago band MATTHEW released their debut album, EVERYBODY DOWN. The guys were definitely influenced by Radiohead (and I would say Muse also, but their early records came out the same time, so probably not). Well, we know where those two bands ended up, but Matthew was dropped a few months after the release of their record.

The title track from the album would easily be a single from a Muse or earlier Radiohead record. Check out the song below and look for the record in a cut-out bin near you or for cheap from AMAZON.

Night Horse. Union Pool. 8/16. Brooklyn.

TEE PEE RECORDS has been putting out some amazing music for years, but in 2009 they have definitely stepped it up big time. One of their best new bands is NIGHT HORSE from Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to have them play my FULL METAL TEXAS showcase earlier this year at SXSW. Think one part Black Crowes, one part Thin Lizzy, and 100% just awesome rock. If you missed them at Piano's this week, you can catch them on Sunday (8/16) at Union Pool.



Union Pool, 484 Union Ave, Brooklyn.

Mason Dixon. Bourbon. Grilled Cheese?

Some of you know of MASON DIXON, one of a couple bars in NYC that is known for having a mechanical bull. That usually would be an automatic "no" in my book as a place to hang out on a Friday night, but I've been there a couple times and they are always playing good music, have friendly bartenders and a great selection of BOURBONS (well, not as good as the selection that my BAR will have when it opens).



If you get there early enough in the night, before the B&T crowd arrives, you can sit comfortably, throw back a Willet Family Reserve or Jefferson Single Barrel on the rocks, and order some surprisingly good FOOD. I had the "Southern Style Grilled Cheese" which had an amazing mixture of cheese as well as a surprisingly great inclusion of red pimento peppers. Comes with a side of fries, and was the perfect coating for my stomach to continue on the night.



Definitely worth making a trip there. 133 Essex St, NYC.

Sufjan Stevens. BQE. October 20.

I know this has been covered by a million sites already, but just in case you missed it, SUFJAN STEVENS has a new "project" being released on October 20th called BQE. Below is the press release as well as the trailer. I also included the video for the song "Chicago" since it is my favorite Sufjan track, and I'll be heading to Illinoise next week.



Sufjan Stevens premiered The BQE, a film and musical suite exploring New York City’s infamous Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Next Wave Festival in November 2007. The critically applauded performance featured 36 performers including a band, a wind and brass ensemble, string players, a horn section, projected film footage of the expressway and five hula hoopers. On October 20, Asthmatic Kitty Records will release The BQE (also available via Rough Trade in the UK, P-Vine in Japan, Spunk in Australia).

The comprehensive package features the CD soundtrack, the DVD of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway film footage, a 40-page booklet with extensive liner notes & photographs and an accompanying stereoscopic 3-D Viewmaster® reel. Furthermore, Asthmatic Kitty will release a limited edition double gatefold vinyl edition of The BQE on 180-gram vinyl with a large-scale 32-page booklet including liner notes, photographs and a black and white version of a 40-page BQE-themed Hooper Heroes comic book.

On October 24, 92YTribeca will host the premiere screening of The BQE DVD with an introduction by Stevens. At the screening, the Osso Quartet will perform selections from Run Rabbit Run. Tickets for this event are on sale now via http://www.92y.org/92yTribeca/default.asp.

The concept behind The BQE is based largely on the history of New York’s Brooklyn-Queens Expressway—12.7 miles of urban roadway built between 1939 and1964 by master urban planner Robert Moses. The Viewmaster®, unveiled at the 1939 NYC World’s Fair (the World’s Fair being part of the motivation for the construction of the BQE, funneling New Yorkers to and from Flushing, Queens), was intended to promote 3-D panoramic illusions of the American landscape and serve as advertising for various tourist destinations and motivation for American drivers. The Hooper Heroes comic book, written by Stevens and drawn, colored and inked by collaborator Stephen Halker, follows three extra-terrestrial superhero sisters who use hula-hoops to combat “the Messiah of Civic Projects,” Captain Moses.

Sufjan Stevens has released seven studio recordings since 2000 including Michigan and Illinois, the first two entries in an epic series of 50 recordings each based on a different U.S. state; a 5-EP Christmas box set; and Enjoy Your Rabbit, an instrumental electronic song cycle based on the animals of the Chinese Zodiac. Run Rabbit Run, a recording of Enjoy Your Rabbit rearranged for the Osso String Quartet, is due October 6 via Asthmatic Kitty. Stevens has also collaborated with fellow indie pop acts Danielson Famile, Rosie Thomas, Denison Witmer, My Brightest Diamond and many others.

Labyrinth. Cabaret Cinema. 8/14. NYC.

Who doesn't like David Bowie? And at the same time, who doesn't like Jim Henson? That's what I thought...so, head over to the Rubin Museum Of Art tonight at 9:30 for a screening of cult classic, LABYRINTH, with an introduction to the film from Cheryl Henson.

Rubin Museum Of Art, 150 West 17th Street, NYC.

Burnt By The Sun. Heart Of Darkness. In stores 8/18.

From our friends over at Relapse Records comes one of the more anticipated underground metal records of 2009. BURNT BY THE SUN is releasing their new record, Heart Of Darkness, next week. But right now, you can stream the entire new record HERE



And speaking of Relpase, on October 13th they'll be putting out the genius that is the new album from BARONESS entitled Blue Record

Jet Blue. $599. One Month. Unlimited Flying.

Wow, so I decide to ease up on my travels and then I see JET BLUE is offering a $599 one-month pass from 9/8 - 10/8 to travel anywhere they fly. You have to book by August 21st and you can check out the whole story here at CNN/MONEY