For those unfamiliar with the workings of Canadian retro-punkers, Fucked Up , they have a LOT of singles. In 2004, they put out a compilation titled, Epics In Minutes , which is out on Deranged Records. Matador is putting out their SECOND singles compilation, Couple Tracks: Singles 2002 - 2009 , in late January on both double vinyl or double disc with a 7” added for comfort. “Neat Parts” was posted back in November and will of course be included in the compilation. According to the information I gleaned from Matador, this single was originally released on the Triumph Of Life 7” back in 2006. ”Neat Parts” Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Musician, Rowland S. Howard passed away yesterday at the age of 50 from liver cancer. He was awaiting a transplant. In all honesty, Howard is one of those names that exists in the ether of post-punk who’s who, and he was a name that I’d been meaning to add to my music library. Only days ago, I had The Birthday Party ’s Prayers On Fire in my hands, ready to shell out the loot for the sake of owning my favorite Birthday Party track, “Nick The Stripper.” I didn’t get it, though, and now I’m kicking myself. So, in memory of Howard and the scene that brought him notoriety, here’s a video for “Nick The Stripper.” R.I.P. Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

Them Crooked Vultures s/t Interscope Released: 11.17.09 There are times when actions beg questioning, even if you do appreciate the outcome. With Them Crooked Vultures , the supergroup venture joining Queens of the Stone Age singer/guitarist, Josh Homme , Foo Fighter Dave Grohl , and Led Zeppelin bassist, John Paul Jones , the possibilities alone seem so exciting. But, what’s the motivation behind joining three generations of musicians into what could ultimately be seen as a marketing ploy with rock roots? Even listening to the album you get the sense that Homme could’ve turned most of this material into a new Queens album as his characteristic falsetto and off-kilter riffs dominate most of the music and don’t necessarily aid in the development of anything particularly new. Grohl seems to be a draw, a re-tapped mainstream presence that gave the Queens the visibility they needed to put Songs For The Deaf in peoples’ hands. Jones? In the 90s, his involvement might’ve meant more. ...

A.K.A. Music purchase: Om Live Conference Important Records Released: 7.27.09 "Sacrilege" may be the word. It's possible I find the idea of the new version of Om , drummer Chris Hakius no longer part of the equation, recording a live rendition of the mighty Conference of the Birds a little unsettling. I picked up Live Conference a couple days ago while scouring A.K.A. for a few birthday selections, unaware that new drummer, Grails transplant Emil Amos , was tapped for the performance. Live Conference , like its studio ancestor, is a two-song LP. Recorded live in September of 2008, Important Records unleashed this behemoth in late July and, as soon as I became aware of it, it was something I wanted to check out. Conference of the Birds is an album I swear by, a smoked out masterpiece of sonic sludge that I live in whenever it’s playing. Al Cisneros sounds great, his flattened prayers tuneless against the wall of energized bass amp behind him. Despite Amos bein...

For those of you that took Pitchfork ’s advice and wrapped your heads around jj ’s acclaimed debut, jj nº 2 , the band has signed with Secretly Canadian and will putting out their follow-up, jj nº 3 , in early March. jj nº 2 is an album that I unfortunately missed this year, but what I’ve heard has been mostly club-ish and airy, a less sinister Mezzanine that could resurrect Enya and inspire cannabis culture to appreciate yacht rock. Their single, “Ecstacy,” is one of the few songs I’ve heard successfully utilize Dirty South hip-hop flavor. ”Ecstacy” jj will be touring with The xx in the Spring: 3/22 Baton Rouge, LA - Spanish Moon 3/23 Birmingham, AL - Bottletree 3/24 Atlanta, GA - The Earl 3/25 Carrboro, NC - Cats Cradle 3/28 Washington, DC - Sixth & I Historic Synagogue 3/29 Philadelphia, PA - First Unitarian Church Sanctuary 3/30 Brooklyn, NY - Knitting Factory 3/31 New York, NY - Webster Hall 4/02 Boston, MA - Paradise 4/03 Montreal, QC - Le National 4/04 Toronto, ON - Lee...

For a couple months, I’ve been getting emails about this video by Philadelphia bred Ruse Of Fools and the new video for their song, “The Flood.” Because there’s been such a lack of information regarding this band, (i.e.: dysfunctional website and dead information links), and because their album, Film Noir , has been out since 2004 or 2005, I really wasn’t sure how to go about promoting them. The song’s good and the video is some warped Persepolis meets Tool mutation. It's definitely worth a look. RUSE OF FOOLS "THE FLOOD" from Rémy M.Larochelle on Vimeo . Sincerely, Letters From A Tapehead

I'm not a huge fan of most Christmas music. Most of it's trite and dull, inspiring cover after cover after cover resulting in diminishing quality, like a video tape subjected to many rounds of record. Some songs, though, I do look forward to, mostly Vincent Guaraldi 's A Charlie Brown Christmas and most especially Run-D.M.C. 's "Christmas In Hollis." An old school groove will win every time. Happy Holidays, Letters From A Tapehead