We know the Brits out there have had copies of the new Graham record since March, but Americans have just recently had legitimate access to Coxon’s sixth solo effort — and it’s for the law-abiding US folk out there that we premiere this track from Love Travels At Illegal Speeds. Dude does not stop, mining pop hooks from his punk-guitar chugging, laying on some sweet “ooh” and “aah” harmonies the second pass through, and playing everything on the record. And we can’t get over how good his vox sound.

Graham Coxon – “Tell It Like It Is” (MP3)

In case you missed it last time, here’s some upbeat, Buzzcock-y goodness from the record:

Graham Coxon – “Standing On My Own Again” (MP3)

And for the a revealing glimpse into the mind of the multi-instrumental genius, here are Coxon’s quips in response to the ten most interesting questions ever written. Thanks, Graham; “shagshits” has just become our new favorite swear, too.

Graham Coxon
1. What is your favorite word?
BESHTINKT

2. What is your least favorite word?
PENIS

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
FRESHLY TILLED EARTH

4. What turns you off?
A SHODDY SENSE OF STYLE

5. What is your favorite curse word?
SHAGSHITS

6. What sound or noise do you love?
QUARTER TIPS ON A ROUGH ROAD

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
WORKMEN CHIPPING PAINT OFF RAILINGS

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
TAILOR OR COBBLER

9. What profession would you not like to do?
ESTATE AGENT

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”

Would you like O’Death? That all depends on how much you’re down for banjos, shirtlessness, (literally) chain-rattling drummers, and freak-show mountain folk. This stuff is coming out of Brooklyn, naturally, and it’s made a believer of most anyone that’s been to an O’Death show. We haven’t seen ‘em since their set at the Spiegeltent a few months back, but the word is that they opened some eyes during CMJ. Here a few tracks from their debut full-length Head Home:

O’Death – “Down To Rest” (MP3)
O’Death – “Adelita” (MP3)

More downloads here. Whatever you think of the MP3s, you should do your best to see the band live; the studio doesn’t yet do justice to their awesome show. If you’re in NYC, you have a chance to check ‘em at Mercury Lounge 12/10 with Phosphorescent. To prepare you for the gig:

Phosphorescent – “I Am A Fully Grown Man” (MP3)

Greg was good enough to answer the Bernard Pivot questionnaire we like subjecting rockers to. The questions aren’t particularly probing, but we love trying to reconstruct our participants’ past using their responses. Like here, we’re thinking Greg has played a few weddings in his day. And he didn’t like it.

GREG JAMIE, O’DEATH
1. What is your favorite word?
LANDSCAPE

2. What is your least favorite word?
MOTHBALL

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
LOOKING AT THE OCEAN

4. What turns you off?
THE DULL ACHE OF DEPRESSION

5. What is your favorite curse word?
FUCK

6. What sound or noise do you love?
A CAT GETTING ITS EYES RIPPED OUT WHILE A BANJO IS BEING TUNED

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
THE SOUND OF A RENTED TUXEDO

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
SHEPARD

9. What profession would you not like to do?
BUS LIFTER

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
SOME BAND ALREADY TOOK MY ANSWER

Seems like the …AYWKUBTTOD gang is having a rough couple of weeks, don’t it? While we like their new record So Divided (the first few tracks in particular), not everyone’s on board. Sure, it’s getting mixed reviews, but don’t beat youselves up about it guys! Seriously, anyone got the back story there? WTF?

P4K writes that guitarist Kevin Allen was collapsing all over the stage during Trail Of Dead’s 11/18 show in St. Petersburg, apparently irking Conrad to the point that he announced the next song would be their last, smashed his guitar (OMG!), and registered “one helluva running shove” on the ailing Allen. You can sorta see said shove on this video, but go here for better footage of the Kevin collapse.

After reading Conrad’s Rockers Studio responses, we’re thinking maybe just before collapsing Kevin said that he enjoyed masturbating while watching televised sports. Come on, it’s possible! That would seriously piss off Keely.

CONRAD KEELY, …AYWKUBTTOD
1. What is your favorite word?
CUNT

2. What is your least favorite word?
ENJOY – IT IS OFTEN USED INAPPROPRIATELY

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
19TH CENTURY SCULPTURES OF NUDE WOMEN

4. What turns you off?
SPORTS ON TELEVISION – TALK ABOUT AN ERECTION KILL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MASTURBATE WITH THE SOUND OF A SPORTS ANNOUNCER YELLING IN THE BACKGROUND.

5. What is your favorite curse word?
I DON’T HAVE A FAVORITE, I’M AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

6. What sound or noise do you love?
THE SOUND OF A POWER TOOL BEING TURNED ON FOLLOWED BY THE MUFFLED WHIMPER OF A GAGGED PRISONER.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
BABIES CRYING IN ADJACENT ROW ON AIRPLANES

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I WANT TO BE A WRITER.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
I WOULDN’T WANT TO CLEAN PUBLIC LAVATORIES IN SOME INDUSTRIAL YANKEE CITY.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“CONRAD, THANK GOD YOU ARRIVED. I’VEHAD NO ONE TO TALK TO SINCE THE CHRISTIANS CONDEMNED ALL THE NATURAL PHILOSOPHERS TO PURGATORY.”

The gorgeous record Deserters Songs may be how a larger audience came to know Mercury Rev in ’98, but the band has been a neo-psych pop forerunner since Yerself Is Steam. And to celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of their first release, the band is putting out the double-disc career retrospective The Essential Mercury Rev – Stillness Breathes (1991 – 2006), commemorating six albums of incredible output. Disc One comprises the songs and singles, Disc Two is all about the rarities (covers, demos, etc). You can hear the entire collection here, and if the spirit moves ya, buy that sucker right here.

That’s good stuff and makes for a great gift, but this shit is what we’re going nuts over: Mercury Rev has a One Night Only engagement at Irving Plaza on 11/30! Not to be missed. Get yer tix here.

And below you’ll find Jonathan’s brutally honest responses to our favorite ten questions to ask. Also, please note that he is our first rocker to add an 11th question! We’ve consulted with Bernard Pivot, and he’ll allow it!

JONATHAN DONAHUE, MERCURY REV
1. What is your favorite word?
PARADOXICALLY

2. What is your least favorite word?
IMPOSSIBLE

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
FAILURE, FOLLOWED QUICKLY BY LAUGHTER

4. What turns you off?
THINKING.

5. What is your favorite curse word?
JEEZ-LOUISE

6. What sound or noise do you love?
THE SOUNDS OF A DOG OR CAT DREAMING

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
SNORING

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
BEING A PROFESSIONAL ‘JONATHAN DONAHUE’ IMPERSONATOR

9. What profession would you not like to do?
SPECTATOR

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“YOU’RE NOT ON THE LIST…”

11. What would you like written on your tombstone?
R.I.P. RESEARCH IN PROGRESS

We’ve been known to ask some pretty obscure bands to do this feature (what can we say, we like ‘em that way), but we’re glad you joined us for a very special ITRS; your ignorance is no longer an excuse for avoidance because today we have Rick Fucking Springfield! Believe it.

Apparently Dr. Noah Drake is experiencing a renaissance of sorts, swinging with the pendulum towards an appreciation for all that is the ’80s. And by EW‘s word, Working Class Dog is aging like fine wine; they say that “the entire album is a relentlessly catchy power-pop classic.” Even PopMatters is in on the act, speaking to Rick’s best-loved tune:

Worthy of its number one ranking, 1981′s “Jessie’s Girl” is one of those absolutely timeless, classic songs. “Jessie’s Girl” is a song that everyone of the era recognizes and few will disparage for its craftsmanship. It is a rare song, like Tommy Tutone’s “867-5309/Jenny” which topped the charts a year later, that is above reproach for most anything except overplay — and is still beloved in spite of it.

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Someone Still Loves You’s Broom remains one of our favorite releases of this/last year for its perfect blend of Beatles-and-Elliott styled bedsit, lo-fi indie pop. And for the vinyl freaks out there, you can now get this charming album to spin on your turntables, including an acoustic version of “I Am Warm & Powerful.” But the band knows not all of you are audio quality nazis, so here it is for you in all its mpeg glory.

Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin – “I Am Warm & Powerful” (Acoustic) (MP3 Link Expired)

As for Philip’s Inside The Rockers responses, we’re with him on both counts of Cobain. (We promise we’re not being sarcastic.)

PHILIP DICKEY, SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN
1. What is your favorite word?
SURLY

2. What is your least favorite word?
STEELERS (SORRY, PITTSBURGH BLOG PEOPLE)

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
COWGIRLS … TH’ OZARK MOUNTAINS … LEAVING HOME AND COMING BACK.

4. What turns you off?
SARCASM

5. What is your favorite curse word?
I LIKE IT WHEN A DAD YELLS THE WORDS “GD” BECAUSE HE DOESN’T WANT TO SAY GODDAMN IN FRONT OF THE KIDS.

6. What sound or noise do you love?
KURT COBAIN SCREAMING IN THE MIDDLE OF “DRAIN YOU.”

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
KURT COBAIN SCREAMING “PENNYROYAL TEA.”

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
SHORTSTOP FOR THE CINCINNATI REDS.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
WEED DEALER.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
SORRY, I KNOW I’M SUPPOSED TO SAY SOMETHING FUNNY, BUT I CAN’T THINK OF ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

Good news from Camp Earlimart: The fifth full-length from the LA-area indie rockers is recorded and mixed and just waiting on some mastering before an ’07 release. No labels this time — it’s a DIY affair, with nothing but personal funds fueling the project. That may mean financial restriction, but it also means Aaron Espinoza can do it like he wants, no questions asked. Here’s a peek at how it’s coming, a Grandaddy-esque bit of slightly spacey indie-pop with awesome guitar tones.

Earlimart – “Nevermind The Phonecalls” (MP3)

The man behind those six-string sounds, guitarist Joel Graves, gave us a glimpse at the inner-workings of the Earlimart mind, with answers to Bernard Pivot’s questionnaire. He’s gonna hate that we just wrote that.

JOEL GRAVES, EARLIMART
1. What is your favorite word?
PER DIEM

2. What is your least favorite word?
QUESTIONNAIRE

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
STROBE LIGHTS AND SMOKE MACHINES, PIMPED OUT ’80S TOUR BUSES, TOO-TIGHT JEANS WITH WHITE BELTS, EMO-REXIA, HAIR PRODUCTS, AND, OF COURSE, GROUPIES

4. What turns you off?
STROBE LIGHTS AND SMOKE MACHINES, PIMPED OUT ’80S TOUR BUSES, TOO-TIGHT JEANS WITH WHITE BELTS, EMO-REXIA, HAIR PRODUCTS, AND, OF COURSE, GROUPIES …

5. What is your favorite curse word?
DAD-GUMMIT!!!

6. What sound or noise do you love?
WHEN DAVID M. LATTER TELLS US, “BRING IT HOME KIDS!” WHILE BANGING ON A JANKY DRUM MACHINE.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
THE “CLACK!” OF AARON TRYING TO BREAK A BOTTLE ON A TABLE.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
SYNCHRONIZED SWIMMER. IT’D BE LIKE BEING IN A BAND, ONLY IN WATER.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
PROJECT RUNWAY REJECT.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“HERE ARE YOUR DRINK TICKETS. JOHN, GEORGE, AND ELLIOTT ARE WARMED UP IN THE DRESSING ROOM AROUND THE CORNER. YOU’RE ON IN 30 MINUTES.”

All of 24 years old, Norwegian singer-songwriter Sondre Lerche is a young one to be redefining his sound, but then, he’s a young one to have four albums to his name. His third record, entitled Duper Sessions, is full of double-bass flavor, with Sondre playing throwback crooner over jazzy changes and warm piano-and-ride comping. Sounds like the kind of stuff you want playing around the house during the holidays, ya know? A snifter of brandy in front of the fire, in yer cozies, that sorta thing. And though no one does Costello like Costello, Sondre delivers a cool, swingin’ take on Elvis’s Imperial Bedroom gem. Hit his MySpace and cue “Everyone’s Rooting For You” to hear him make like Cullum.

Lerche’s following Duper with Phantom Punch, an ’80s mining rocker, which he promises will pull from the sounds of Brazil and psych-disco. This we gotta hear. Phantom is out 2/6/07.

Sondre (along with his wife, model Mona Fastvold) splits time between Norway and NYC, and from his Rockers responses, it looks like the big city is creeping under his skin. Just a bit.

SONDRE LERCHE
1. What is your favorite word?
THESE DAYS IT’S “THEATRICAL.” IT REALLY ROLLS WELL OFF THE TONGUE.

2. What is your least favorite word?
BY NOW I FEELTHAT “AWESOME” IS, LIKE, SO OLD AND STUFF.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
SWELL MUSIC AND BEING SUBJECTED TO EMOTIONAL TRUTHS AND LITTLE NOTHINGS OFF GUARD.

4. What turns you off?
BEING SUBJECTED TO EMOTIONAL TRUTHS OFF GUARD.

5. What is your favorite curse word?
HAVING SPENT A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN NEW YORK LATELY I FIND MYSELF SAYING “FUCK” A LOT, WHICH I HATE. I DON’T REALLY WANT TO CURSE TO BE HONEST.

6. What sound or noise do you love?
SOOTHING SOUNDS FOR BABIES.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
DRILL SOUNDS.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
I’D LIKE TO MAKE PIZZA AT A REALL GOOD ITALIAN RESTAURANT.

9. What profession would you not like to do?
TAXI DRIVER IN NYC.

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you
arrive at the Pearly Gates?
I’D TAKE ANYTHING I HAD COMING. OR FOR INSTANCE, “WOW ARE YOU THE SONDRE LERCHE? MY MUM, LIKE ADORES YOU.”

First, we want to say, “sorry,” to you and to The Big Sleep for waiting so long to write about ‘em. The Brooklyn trio have been bouncing around our favorite haunts for awhile now, and everytime we’ve seen ‘em we’ve been slayed. They’re among our local faves, and French Kiss is gonna do what they can to bring ‘em to your house. You know when you plug your guitar in, call your friends over to your basement, and just jam? And ya know how that always sounds like shit? Well The Big Sleep are that, except incessantly inspired and visually engaging. And we like when they sing, too. But here’s a track where they don’t:

The Big Sleep – “Brown Beauty” (MP3)

(Pic from set opening for Editors @ Webster Hall, NYC 3/30/06)

A few more MP3s in our review of their typically killer set at the Spiegeltent. And in a Rockers first, we have Danny and Sonya joining forces for a creative interpretation of how their unavailable drummer would answer. His sticks may say otherwise, but who knew Gabe is such a hippie!

DANNY BARRIA, THE BIG SLEEP
1. What is your favorite word?
REDIVIDER, THE LONGEST ENGLISH PALINDROME. I MIGHT LIKE THE LONGEST OVERALL, BUT I CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT IT IS.

2. What is your least favorite word?
MUCKAFERGUSON. NOTHING AGAINST THE BAND, I JUST DON’T LIKE THAT WORD.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally?
IN DESCENDING ORDER: MUSIC, HISTORY, SUGAR

4. What turns you off?
IN ASCENDING ORDER: INDECISIVE BASSISTS, PRIMA DONNA DRUMMERS, PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVENESS, EARNESTNESS

5. What is your favorite curse word?
FUCKFACE

6. What sound or noise do you love?
THE SOUND OF A COOL ARNOLD PALMER BEING POURED INTO A TALL GLASS

7. What sound or noise do you hate?
SUBWAY BRAKES

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN

9. What profession would you not like to do?
PET PUTTER-TO-SLEEP

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
“YOU ROCKED THE MIC, PLAYBOY.”

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It’s been a busy day, but we’re not letting it go by without telling you that our recent-crush Under Byen were phenomenal last night. Hey, any band featuring a saw player gets a thumbs up from us! (This includes Amina.)

So, let us just say Bjork. And Sigur Rós. Sorry — we’re contractually obligated as music nerds to reference those Nordic stalwarts when describing this Danish outfit because, in all honesty, they’re inescapable reference points. Indeed, there’s a lot of sonic similarity: tortured, dramatic, and animated vocals over pulsing rhythms, urgent dynamics, and that sense of Scandinavian surreality.

But you need go no further than the instrumentation to see distinctions. For example: Under Byen no likey guitars! You won’t find a single six-string on that stage; it’s all keys, cello, violin, bass, saw, and not-one-but-two drummers. And despite the size of their crew, Under Byen brought their light projector across the Atlantic, bathing the stage in flowery patterns of white light, catching the performers’ faces just so, to create a dramatic (and difficult to photograph) visual.

“Pilot”‘s smoldering skin-smashing was an instant mood setter, while “Den Her Sang Handler Om At Få Det Bedste Ud Af Det” (imagine that with a double-word score in Scrabble) — with its 3 bass-note vamp under acending, dissonant-then-driving strings, and ending with a descending chromatic run under a repetitive piano figure — sucked the fucking wind out of our lungs. Other highlights included “Tindrer,” which was inescapably awesome (and inescapably Sigur Rós — sorry, there it is again), and the title track to their latest, greatest record At Samme Stof Som Stof.

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