I’ve been a Ben Lee fan for quite a while, saw him open for Evan Dando about ten years ago at The North Star Bar in Philly. Just him and his acoustic. He was phenomenal, silenced and won over a rowdy crowd by song two. I highly recommend 1999′s Breathing Tornados, not a bad song on the platter. You can find the original Sebadoh classic on Smash Your Head On The Punk Rock. It is also quite groovy.

What Are Words For? Vampire Weekend’s new wordless banner ad showing just a polaroidish photo of a very cute preppy girl is pretty darn brilliant and quite effective. I clicked it and like you, I don’t usually click anything (unless its animated or has something to do with fungus). See a sample of the less-is-more ad on www.fluxblog.org. The alluring, 80s-tinged photo makes me want to reread a Jay McInerney or Bret Easton Ellis novel… and score some coke. It doesn’t however, make me want to listen to Vampire Weekend, but then again, no ad could.

My friend Nick B. (WSJU deejay, early 90s, silly hair) mentioned this gem in a Facebook update recently. I’m glad he did. This lovely tune is off the 1994 masterpiece –  and I don’t toss around the term lightly, so pay attention — “Bakesale”. It is one of the 10 best records of the 1990s. [...]