New interview with Bob Andrews and Meggean Ward of Undertow (roster: Nadine, Centro-matic, Dolly Varden, etc): "I'm financing the record label with my credit cards," says Andrews calmly. "I've got $14,000 on them right now, but I know I'll make it back."

Another Undertow act Varnaline are one of the featured artists in issue #10 of estimable British mag Comes with a smile, expected any day now. Josh Rouse, Silver Jews + a stack more also feature. Haven't really stopped playing the cd from #9, especially the Mazarin, Ben Phillipson (who?) and Signalmen cuts. The website's well worth a visit - interviews from the Summer'01 ed. have been added - Cash Bros, Oh Susanna, Death Cab, etc...

More choice UK cuttings for the Be Good Tanyas' scrapbook. The reviewer of their Newcastle gig for the May Get Rhythm was fittingly bewitched, as was Colin Irwin in the May Mojo. Irwin also pens a great BGTs feature in the latest ed. of fRoots in which he records Trish Klein encountering the Daily Star: "Look, there's breasts in the daily paper - what the hell sort of country is this?". Quite, Trish, quite...

Dive for cover! More tribute albums sighted on the horizon:
June 3 sees the release of City Slang's Lee Hazlewood trib. featuring Tindersticks (quelle surprise), Calexico, Lambchop, Kathryn Williams, Evan Dando, etc ... In the pipeline for ages, Dren are compiling a John Fogerty collection featuring roots-poppers like Star City, Western Electric, the Maryjanes and the infallible Gingersol...

A pretty rare 10 out of 10 from the fastidious Pitchfork for the new Wilco. This is just about the only flat-out rave reallyrather has seen - plenty seem to have problems with the relentless gloominess of the material and, more particularly, Jim O'Rourke's production. Saturday's Times is fairly typical: "The production is inexplicable...YHF could have been a minor masterpiece [but] the songs descend frustratingly into pointless dissonance and feedback, for reasons which are never made clear". Today's London freesheet Metro says it sounds like it was recorded beside a motorway. Whatever, reallyrather has one record token left over from Christmas and it's probably Wilco-bound...

Incidentally, the next-door review to the Wilco in that edition of The Times is a flat-out rave - John Mulvey on Dekkagar by The National Trust: "Where to begin with this astonishing record? Schooled in the rock and funk of the early Seventies, but with an originality and confidence that transcends mere revivalism...the undulating rhythms and blitzed harmonies suggest an unlikely hybrid of Curtis Mayfield and CSNY...sunshine, melancholy, cosmic grandeur...an instant classic". Crikey, maybe Jeff'll have to make do with just half that token...

Tempting though it undoubtedly is, CDBaby's offer of a giant life-size poster of the man with every order can't quite tip the balance in favour of acquiring Mobilize, the latest from Grant-Lee Phillips. Now if this album had appeared before Josh Rouse's latest things might've been different. GLP ploughs a pretty similar furrow, uncannily so on certain tracks - Humankind could've come straight off Under cold blue stars. If the latter had been produced by, say, Jeff Lynne some of it might've come out sounding like Phillips' Beautiful dreamers. It's all good melodic stuff and a risk-free 'buy' for fans of UCBS; Damien Jurado's I break chairs also falls into this category, if slightly less squarely...

Another that got away in 2001? Some snatches from various reviews:
"Cool flowing pop melodies that are supported by some really killer arrangements and guitar playing...Americana-based pop chock full of excellent melodies and sincere intent.."
"Americana with drive ... subtle pop hooks, sweet enough to bite into, and hard enough to chew on for awhile.."
"His ability to write memorable melodies rivals his talent for crafting distinctive guitar hooks...Considering his reputation as master axeman for Yo La Tengo and Freedy Johnston, that’s some achievement."
The album Ecstatic appeared last autumn on FutureFarmer, the 'master axeman' in question being Kevin Salem...

Next week throws up Romantica, the latest from Luna - can they pull off that tricky 7th album in the hands of Mr Ubiquitous, Dave Fridmann? Early words are positive: "A sonic album filled with twelve unbelievably delightful pop nuggets," gushes In Music We Trust; Allmusic loves it, too. reallyrather's interest may or may not have been influenced by the recent addition of a new bass player (she's the one on the right). In Splendid's view Ms Phillips "proves her worth in Mermaid eyes [which is] borderline doo-wop". Doo-wop! Triple bonus points, surely?!

If reallyrather had a radio show it would definitely be playing this, brand new from a band called The Hurricane Lamps...

Another name for the notebooks could be The Red and the Black who recently opened for the Mendoza Line and Knife In the Water in New York. A couple of Superchunk-y demos only right now, EP apparently imminent...

"A timeless work that draws from the touchstones of all types of American music," says Figgle of 21st century American, new from Jedediah Parish. It's certainly a distinctive, vaguely nostalgic collection. His label Lunch Records suggests Tom Waits, Brian Wilson - reallyrather would also toss in the astringency and musical rovings of, say, Donald Fagen. Despite names like these, it's a guitar-led album - ranging from the jaunty railroad swing of opener A train named Hiawatha through to the stark Gothic Bad dream blues. A vintage organ gets plenty of chances in between though, the whole thing having a very immediate, unfussy sound (even when the arrangements themselves get fussy in lovely Wilson-esque orch-pop fashion). Covering a hatful of styles and with enough lyrical and musical twists to ensure plenty of repeat plays, Parish's hard high voice, sometimes rasping, sometimes falsetto, is definitely one worth hearing...

"If you really knew the sad clowns we are behind the joyous, uplifting nature of our carefully cultivated public image.." - MomZine talks to The Mendoza Line...

"This is not your typical powerpop collection. Perhaps he still doesn't write choruses in a way that would please major label record execs, but his raw musical talent is enormous. It's redolent of early Matthew Sweet or Alex Chilton, yet remains something sweetly original." - PopMatters on the new Brendan Benson...

Main effect of seeing a rather good Doves on Later last week was merely to increase the impatience to hear new stuff from that other (rather less epic) trio Wheat...

To the Borderline Friday for the second of Marah's three dates. First, the good news: Sahara Hotnights. This Swedish female four-piece opened the show, thrashing out some pulverising riffage - actually, 'thrashed' isn't quite fair to their tight, no-nonsense delivery. Less garage-y, more metal than compatriots The Hives, they're not doing anything new but they certainly grab your attention while they're doing it. Worth another look. Which, alas, reallyrather fears Marah might not be, at least for the foreseable future. Story so far: critically aclaimed roots-soul rockers Dave & Serge Bielanko (plus interchangeable rhythm sections) attempt to spring from the impoverished Americana bins to the Top40 airplay racks in one bound (a la Ryan Adams) via shiny, big-money new album Float away with the Friday night gods with, seemingly, nary a care whether they bring their existing fanbase with them. Can the dynamic duo pull it off, we wondered? Er, not really. OK, this was the first time most of the crowd had heard much of the set - only Catfisherman blues and My heart is the bums on the streets of their earlier stuff got a run out (plus Reservation girl at the end) - but the simplistic, blue-eyed riff-rock anthems already sounded a bit stale. reallyrather was reminded on more than one occasion of those t-shirts that appeared at around the time of the Gallaghers' All around the world bearing the word "Quoasis". A few of the songs had a fairly instant appeal but often outstayed their welcome, and rather too many were bloated out into rock-jam farragoes. Dave's great raspy voice retains its character but if the band's trajectory is anything to go by, it's an endangered species. The band did genuinely seem to be enjoying themselves but have some convincing to do judged by the encore applause which was perfunctory at best. (BTW, have VirginRadio scooped the rest with their airing of Crying on an airplane last night?)...

Still not entirely sure why but reallyrather found itself down at the Borderline amid a sea (make that pond) of US college babes to witness Phantom Planet's first headline show outside of the States. In just about one sense only they could be thought of as a kind of Californian Strokes, in that they're comprised of middle-class white kids from comfortable homes. The drummer Jason Schwartzman's a fledgling film star, for goodness sake - great in Rushmore and to be seen here next month in the rather less promising Slackers ("a discordant comedy that gives bad taste a bad name" - SanFran Chronicle). If anyone in Hollywood's kicking around The Keith Moon Story, Jason's your man, physically and musically a ringer. The band try, really really try to do the whole smiley rock'n'roll thing, with guitarist Jacques an unconvincing goofer-off-in-chief. Shapes (and drinks) are thrown, equipment is theatrically (ie not really) abused but their efforts to whip up some edgy excitement were undermined somewhat by at least one band member's conspicuously flourescent earplugs. They do have a few decent numbers, however, and the whole thing's a lot more compelling live than on record. And lead singer Alex is a decent frontman, looking and sounding like a cross between Kelly Jones and Gaz Coombes (and if one were to sit on the other's shoulders they'd be about the same height as well). But even this guy, hitherto semi-detached from the stick-on rock'n'roll antics going on around him, couldn't finally resist reaching up to the rigging and swinging monkey-style across to the back of a largely bemused, two-thirds full, room...

Happily, David Bazan is unlikely ever to feel such an urge. The battle of the Seattle indie-pop melancholics is now joined with the release of the new Pedro the Lion, Control. On an early showing, the big cat quickly gets reallyrather's vote over Damien Jurado's nice-sounding but hardly pulse-quickening I break chairs. If you're going to rock, rock...

Another bunch of incorrigible thigh-slapping hearties, Knife In the Water put out a new 5-track EP Crosspross bells, next week: "Bleak Texas pop and country creating the perfect soundtrack for downing a fifth of bourbon alone in your car, parked outside your ex's house in the dead of winter. You also may or may not be loading a gun," says one review. The party starts right here...

And Why Not? Dept.:
Gigolo Aunts are giving Spain(!) first refusal on the latest addition to their sporadic oeuvre. An 11-date tour of the country May/June will support new album Pacific Ocean blues, officially released April 16 but already available via PopMadrid...

It mightn't quicken every pulse, but reallyrather is rather immoderately thrilled to learn from Rilo Kiley that they're "at the end of the mixing stage and that means the record is almost done. We think it's sounding pretty rad..". OK, it starts getting a bit LA now but hey, it's their home. Still no sign of anyone picking up Takeoffs & landings over here so any live thrills will have to remain vicarious - B7 if I'm not mistaken, Jenny...

Wild man of rock Jeb Loy Nichols puts out a new album May 14. Called Easy now (what a giveaway), Rykodisc promise more of "Nichols’ unique blend of blue-eyed soul, rootsy country, R&B, and a dash of Caribbean lilt". The last one, Just what time it is had 2 or 3 strong tracks - think Bill Withers in the hands of Sly & Robbie, maybe. His own site lists a couple of London dates, Borderline May 28+June 10...

Something a bit more chewy and flavoursome has just been served up (aptly enough on Lunch Records) by Mr Jedediah Parish. Too fresh for any reviews yet; the label distills it as "one part Hank Williams, one part Tom Waits and two parts Brian Wilson". His own straight-faced testimony concludes, "I am good at my job." On the available evidence, reallyrather is inclined to agree. The order's in...

Rooting around further at Lunch, the name Al Weatherhead rang vague bells. Sure enough, he's the guy who produced the Champale album of last year which continues to rack up the rotations chez reallyrather, and also the most recent from Clem Snide. He also recently toured Europe as guitarist in Sparklehorse. Now, in company with a few others, he's part of Maki whose debut Tears on the blastshield apparently "blends the sounds of Nick Drake and Wilco"...

Nick Hornby talks about his Top10 essential tracks over at Rocksbackpages. At 3 is my favourite track from the last Marah album, at 4 my least favourite track from the Fanclub's Northern songs...

Nudeasthenews chats to Caitlin Cary about:
--the new album ("Oh my God, the Whiskeytown fans are going to think I've sold out and become a shimmery pop girl")
--the most influential artist of our generation ("Prince")
--and His Ryanness ("I haven't seen him with the Gold band but I have a feeling I know what that sounds like - probably like what he often wanted to do with Whiskeytown, which was wank off in a heavy metal way.")

Crikey, blimey, etc...April 3 and it's nudging 70F out there - where's the soundtrack? Try: the best song Teenage Fanclub never wrote, Motel California by Champale, currently available over at Neumu, and Susannah Hoffs' tasty kick-out-the-jams version of Elvis Costello's lastest, Tear off your own head (courtesy of)...

Fresh tidings from The Tyde: "We just finished recording our 3 song EP, Blood Brothers, for Rough Trade Records. Expect to see the CD and 7" single released in late Spring..."

...and The Be Good Tanyas step it up in the capital - Union Chapel July 7...

The Stiff Generation, a Stiff Records tribute collection is set to roll soon courtesy of Groove Disques, home to cute jangle-rockers The Trolleyvox. The latter apparently drew the short straw and get to do Is Vic there? (as the man said, what a waste). Other contribs. from Matthew Sweet, Bill Lloyd, The Bigger Lovers, Amy Rigby, Pat Buchanan, Clive Gregson et al...

mp3 of the moment -- Twist my arm, nifty driving pop from Boston's Mishima USA...

Mojo/Uncut 'Best of 2002' - guess list update:
Doves - The last broadcast
Caitlin Cary - When You Weren't Looking
Cornershop - Handcream for a generation
Wilco - Yankee Hotel whatever
The Streets - Original pirate material
Lambchop - Is a woman
Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
(Subs bench: Elvis Costello/When I Was Cruel--Gomez/In our gun--BeGoodTanyas/Blue Horse)

"A brilliant amalgamation of pop, country, and roots rock...catch Lemonpeeler now so you can say you were there first." Ahem. Second, if you please, PopMatters! In session at RadioBoston last week, Michael & Jim talked of recording the follow-up soon, unveiling new song 'Morning Jitters' - reallyrather verdict: another belter...

Cracker's Johnny Rickman talks talk: "It's very annoying when people talk very loudly during the shows. They don't do that in Europe so much. It's very nice. You do a show in Paris and it's very unnerving how quiet it gets". Does seem that our Pinter-esque approach to gigging spooks visiting acts, Tift Merritt and the Be Goods both remarking on it during their recent UK debuts...

"A golden power pop record reminiscent of Matthew Sweet’s best work on albums like Girlfriend," says AllMusicGuide of Lapalco, new from Brendan Benson. See for yourself at the Barfly in Camden June 13...