The Toaster's Moving to Tuesday Nights

Side note: So, the network has already moved "The Toaster Talks" to Tuesday nights. We're told it's just a better programming fit and has nothing to do with lagging ratings. (Mister Toaster is already in talks with Showtime to pick up the contract should it come to that.)

>> Featured Artist: Sun Kil Moon

This marks two weeks in a row in which we know very little about our featured artist. All I know is this is the guy (Mark Kozelek) from Red House Painters and he's from Ohio.

It's the song, this time, that has prompted the posting. It's from the group's 2003 release, Ghosts of the Great Highway. Although it clocks in at over 6 minutes (everyone needs an editor, Mark), "Carry Me Ohio" has such a wonderful melody and feel to it. And when we can make out the words, they're good too.

Or maybe it's just because Mister Toaster is from Ohio.


>> Album Lookout: The Life Pursuit

Belle and Sebastian - Released: Today on Matador

Belle and Sebastian has long been a powerbroker in the House of Toaster. We actually really liked Dear Catastrophe Waitress quite a bit -- not their best, but damn good nonetheless.

So, it's with great excitement that the Toaster presents The Life Pursuit, which is being hailed as the band's best since If You're Feeling Sinister. It's even won over Pitchfork -- something that's nearly always an uphill battle for an established band.

Some songs sound like good-ol' B&S, like the advance MP3 release, "Another Sunny Day." But other songs head bravely into new directions -- hitting up different styles as if they were in a Jelly Belly sampler.

"Funny Little Frog," we're told is the first single from Life Pursuit. It's got a very Beatlesque feel to it, which comes through after you stop noticing how Motown it sounds. I hope the four songs we've heard are indicative of the quality of the rest of the album. If so, it could be a contender for best thus far of 2006.

[Another side note: A friend told us that B&S routinely has the longest melody lines of anyone in the pop biz today. It's like pointing out the fact that you can never hear Frank Sinatra breathe; once you notice, you can't stop paying attention to it.]


>> Reverting to: 1972

"Which Will" - So it took a Volkwagen commercial to get Nick Drake back on all of our radar screens. Yes, it's a very pink moon. And those are very low notes, Nick.

There are two truths: Nick Drake songs make every movie soundtrack a little bit better. And Nick Drake songs make every journey with your iPod (or your choice of personal music device) a little bit more movielike.