On NPR website, there is a weekly show called All Songs Considered and they have archived several full concerts from artists like Death Cab For Cutie, Secret Machines, My Morning Jacket, White Stripes, Sigur Ros, Interpol and more. I'm listening to the Secret Machines right now and it's stunning. GO NPR!!

Everyone who burns CD's/DVD's always manages to run out of blank discs or cases. For some reason if you buy 100 pack of discs and a 100 pack of cases, they never quite match up. So instead of just handing a buddy a *gasp* naked disc, impress your friends with making a sweet jewel case out of paper. I saw this over on Digg and thought it was kinda funny that someone took the time to actually document the process.

Probably the coolest thing I've seen all year, this high school band covers a few tracks from DJ SHADOW's debut album, "Endtroducing". The video quality is kinda crappy, but it's streaming so you can't really expect too much. In any case, it's a must see if you even remotely familiar with Shadow.

I was flipping around the schedule for my MythTV machine and found out that FRANZ FERDINAND was playing on the PBS show, Austin City Limits. Looking at their upcoming schedule, they have a bunch of cool acts coming up like PIXIES, WILCO, POLYPHONIC SPREE, THE FLAMING LIPS and the SHINS. Check your local listings...

I get excited when I see the words "Andy Bell" in a news headline. My first thoughts are that Andy Bell has decided to leave Oasis and return to the world of making his own music. This, of course, is never the case and inevitably I click on a link to read some new tidbit about Andy Bell... of Erasure. Then I smack myself in the forehead for even thinking that the world knows the name of the bassist in Oasis despite his previous musical "celebrity" (alright, if you're not following me here, he made up one quarter of influential Oxford band Ride).

So... now the real news here is of course about Andy Bell (of Erasure and the domain andybell.com) and his new solo record. He's like, um, recording again and stuff. Ok, sorry... I just can't fake any enthusiasm here. The whole point of this was obviously that I'm tired of reading the words "Andy Bell" in any music press that has nothing to do with Andy Bell as I know him (ok, well not personally). Oh and there's like a tour, but um... go somewhere else for the dates.

I'm not sure if it's media like The Tipping Point or just the general growth of an indie music voice through blogs and whatnot... but apparently the big names are starting to court the indie sect. The proof? Madonna shows up at MisShapes this past Saturday to throw down her new single. Madonna... at MisShapes. Yes, the legendary NYC club night that generally courts the likes of Pete Wiggs of Saint Etienne, Jarvis Cocker (well DUH) or the boys from Bloc Party.

I'm amused at all the talk of her showing up in the land of hipsters... all the security etc but one thing seems to be missing from the various gossip reports... any information on the new song? Was the point just to stir us up with her appearance or her music?

As the weather turns my thoughts turn to music. To be fair, my thoughts normally turn to music and I love having my seasons defined by records. While Teenage Fanclub, Todd Fancey and Bart Davenport saw me through the magical summer, a few talents have returned to entrance me as the leaves begin to fall.

Flower Booking (booking agent for bands like Interpol, Mark Gardener, Mary Timony, Tortoise and more) is running a charity auction to benefit P.L.A.Y.. P.L.A.Y. donates toys, games and more to needy Children's hospitals across the country. Among the items being auctioned off by Flower are wristbands for next year's SxSW festival, writing a setlist for Local H, a recording session with Ted Leo, a Rickenbacker from Q and not U, having one of your songs remixed by Radio 4, learn Bio from Kenny of American Analog Set. While many of the items are Chicago specific as Flower is located there, not all are. Please go check out their donations information.

Well, it's not like news of BABYSHAMBLES frontman Pete Doherty being arrested is actually "news" anymore, since it's pretty commonplace these days. But what's actually news is the fact that it appears they didn't catch him with anything. Perhaps as a direct response of the widely circulated photos of Doherty and gal pal Kate Moss snorting coke, the Babyshambles tour bus was stopped after their gig on Saturday night and raided by UK anti-drug squads. The band was taken into custody, but already the word is that the police came up virtually empty-handed. Doherty, leaving the police station, told reporters that the police had confused his heroin withdrawal implant as the real thing. Ah well, maybe next time, eh, Pete?

Unfortunately for organizers of the Austin City Limits Festival this weekend their normally ideal setting of Austin is about to be battered by Hurricane Rita. As of now, the show will go on since the city should not be seeing the worst of the storm. Organizers have lined up three days of music that includes bands like Oasis, Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay, Keane, Doves, Ambulance Ltd, Bravery, Mates of State, Walkmen, and many MANY more. As of now only seven bands have cancelled their appearances (among them The Ditty Bops and Nine Black Alps). If you were planning on attending the festivities be sure to dress appropriately for a brief torrent of rain and wind. In case things go pear shaped in Austin keep an eye on the ACL website for futher updates.