A while ago, we got a very nice email from someone at Apple inviting us to publish a weekly podcast on iTunes. Since then, we’ve gotten a few requests to put our interview with Peter Hook on iTunes, but just haven’t taken the time.

It took a bit of work, but we’re finally ready to take our first shot at putting some of our interviews on iTunes.  You can listen to the interview below or you can download it via the iTunes store.  We’re committed to doing this on a weekly basis. We’ll put some of our older interviews out there in the next few weeks and we think you’ll enjoy them: Peter Hook, East Hundred, Living Things and Brendan Canty have all provided us with some great interviews and we’re anxious to share it on iTunes. We also have some scheduled in the new future that should provide some great material. PLEASE, subscribe to the podcast at the iTunes store so that we can continue to provide this as a service to our readers.

You can go to the iTunes Store, download the latest episode and subscribe to our weekly podcasts here: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=327728349

We listed Zee Avi as one of our favorite albums of 2009 thusfar and are still blown away by her voice and melodic abilities. Her cover of Morrissey’s ‘First of the Gang to Die’ got her noticed by the alternative crowd, but she is more than a great cover. We caught her on the phone (seemingly in an elevator…) in between an interview with Wired and AOL. Listen to the podcast here (or go to the iTunes store!) and here’s some terrific videos as well:

Zee Avi interview with The Dumbing of America:

For more information about Zee Avi, visit her website at: http://www.zeeavi.com/

To purchase her splendid first album visit Amazon.com

Zee Avi

Initially, I resisted this concept of a mid-year top ten.  It seemed like a cheap concept for websites with nothing to talk about.  But then I started looking at the lists onmy favorite websites and realized that none of the albums I like were getting any attention.  Given that this has been the best year for new releases since….the eighties (?!), I felt a need to throw my two cents into the ring.  What follows is a list that I’d be proud to publish if this was December 31st.  The prospect of six more months of great music, is truly exciting.

1) The Boxer Rebellion: Union- If you loved The Verve and remember when it was still cool to like U2, you ought to be listening to this band.  This self-released album topped the U.S. and U.K. ITunes charts the week it debuted.  I’d like to think that TBR is our little secret, but I suspect there are a lot of you out there.

2) The Pains of Being Pure At Heart: Self-Titled- As British as The Boxer Rebellion sound, THOBPAH bring a sound that is distinctly super American chunky.  Great melodies that merge with an indie sensibility that is far from self-indulgent.

3) Gliss: Devotion/Implosion- Like watching the most beautiful carousel you’ve ever seen, Gliss switch instruments and vocal duties effortlessly and make you swoon every time.  How much do I love the re-emergence of the distortion pedal in music?  In a year where the great ideas of the 80′s are given new life, Gliss simulatneously seem original yet nostalgic.  I hate to throw the  JAMC reference around this list too much, but they were a brilliant band and Gliss make me realize what they’d have  become with better vocals and less self-indulgence.

4) An Horse: Rearrange Beds- 2-piece from Australia that harkens back to the best of The Spinanes (look it up.  you’ll love it.).  I interviewed them days after they first arrived in America after this album was released.  With an appearance on Letterman and accolades from numerous magazines, we can expect An Horse to be on many year-end lists for many years to come.  Deservedly so.

5) White Lies- To Lose My Life: Equal parts The Teardrop Explodes, Joy Division and Interpol.  Certainly enough to make Brandon Flowers shut up forever (hopefully…).  I had predicted that this would be my album of the year after hearing a few cuts.  If I have any complaint, it’s that the second half of the record is a little uneven.  Still a tremendous effort, though.

6) Zee Avi- Zee Avi-  This one snuck on the list at the last second!  I posted her brilliant cover of “First of the Gang” previously and just got a copy of the album this week.  Since then, I’ve had it on an endless loop.  Prepare to here a voice that will melt you in a second.  To compare someone’s voice to Billie Holiday isn’t something I would do on a whim.  The album alternates from moody, to playful, to beautiful in a way that seems natural.  An amazing debut.  Prepare to read about her for the next six months and the rest of your life.

7) East Hundred- Passenger: Erroneously posted in our revised ‘Best of 2008′, this was actually released in January of 2009.  Why this band isn’t on a major label is one of this years’ great mysteries.  Perfect vocal melodies from Beril Guceri coupled with a band that can write music that isn’t dependent on ‘hooks’, yet sticks in your head.  Quite a combination and a recipe for a great album.

Crocodiles- Summer of Hate: Fresh off their network debut on Carson Daly’s televsion show, this is a band with unbelievable potential.  Their resemblence to Psychocandy/ Mary Chain-style is eerie.  When they release their ‘Darklands’ expect them to be huge.

9) Jason Lytle- Yours Truly The Commuter: Yes, it’s the singer from Grandaddy.  Yes, it’s as good as anything Grandaddy did.  Anything other questions?

10) Gomez- A New Tide: I’ve intentionally posted this video which just shows the album cover, while the opening track plays.  Perhaps the best “pop” song I’ve heard in years.  Close your eyes and let this soak into your eardrums.

If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know we love our festival previews.  With Bonnaroo coming this weekend, here’s our picks to click, starting at he bottom of the lineup and working our way up.  I’m going to skip the top of the bill since I assume you know who these Springsteen and Beastie Boys fellow are….

Zee Avi- I already posted her brilliant Morrissey cover.  Here’s her single and another great cover (Interpol).  Amazing voice proving you don’t have to be loud to move me, despite what you’ve been saying about me.

Phoenix- Their new album is terrific and this band will certainly make the transition live.

BrakesBrakesBrakes- For those about to fall asleep, we salute you…

Alberta Cross- They ignore my plaintive cries for an interview, but I still love them.  I could post a video of every song they’ve ever recorded and you’d be impressed.  I’ve chosen my favorite song despite it not being a true “video”.  It might be the most heartbreakingly beautiful song I’ve ever heard.  What a joy it would be to see them live.

White Rabbits-The kind of band that ought to be blogged about every single day by the cool kids.  I was on the fence until I saw this performance on Letterman.  What do we learn from this?  They must be amazing live, hence our Bonnaroo recomendation.

The Knux- Silly?  Yep.  Fits the mold of most of the bands we like? Nope.  Breaking news: I don’t listen to alternative 24/7.  Love this song and I’m not apologizing for it.

St. Vincent- Oh the hype.  But in this case, it’s justified.  Check out this rehersal video and realize that this is how good they are when they aren’t even really trying.  Imagine the Bonnaroo-goodness!  Annie Clark is an amazing talent, worthy of the adulation.

Jenny Lewis- She is the lead singer of one of my favorite bands and as you can see from this Coachella video, she is amazing on her own.  Another of the great singers at the festival this weekend.

Gomez- Why isn’t this band one of the top 5 biggest alternative bands in the blogosphere?  Did they pass on going bowling with Stereogum?  I saw them in Dallas last night and was blown away.  Technical ability- A+, Songwriting- A+.

Bon Iver- As I progress through this post, my heart continues to sink as I look at this amazing roster that I’m missing.  I envision walking the grounds carrying a box of kleenex, crying at the beauty and the majesty.  Bon Iver, you’d make me weep with joy.

Tremendous video from Jools Holland’s show

Band of Horses- I’m going to stop here, although their are bigger names on the top of the bill.  For me, this would be the perfect way to end the weekend.  A band who’s music I hear everywhere (commercials, movies, tv shows, the soundtrack of my dreams) and who really should be running their own country by now by virtue of their amazing ability to craft songs.  Dude, we elected an actor and a cowboy.  Could BOH do any worse?