To Nashville He Goes

>> Featured Artist: Alexi Murdoch

Before "The O.C." got a hold of this guy, Zach Braff did. The young'n Scottish sensation got "Orange Sky" onto Garden State. Alas, it was not on the soundtrack we all got in our stockings that year, and so he was forgotten, cast aside like Scotland itself.*

Alexi put out Time Without Consequence in June without the help of the major labels that awaited him. It seems Alexi is one of those artiste types who doesn't compromise his music.

"All My Days" is the opening track, a Drake-esque number right down to the finger picking pattern. And, though the Toaster does not encourage Nick Drake emulation, we must appreciate when a songwriter can actually produce something worthy of the comparison. "All My Days" has our attention, and - we're sure - Volkswagen's too.

* with the exception of aforementioned "O.C." stardom.

>> Album Lookout: The Information
Beck - Due Out: October 3, 2006 Interscope

October 3 will be a new beginning for 2006. Or maybe it will be a signal that, indeed, the year has been uneventful for indie music. Alongside this new album by the ever-trying Beck, new works from The Hold Steady, ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, and The Decemberists have forced us to put a clothespin on our junk.

The Information certainly sounds like a vast improvement over the mostly underwhelming 2005 release, Guero. His work with Nigel Godrich, who had just come from a lot of Macca publicity, has sounded fresh.

And the Toaster must recognize with much appreciation the trusting mass leaks that Beck's folks have overseen of this new album, ushering video upon video onto YouTube for the kids to gnaw in anticipation. Pitchfork can hardly breathe.

"Strange Apparition" is graced with a sweet Band-esque piano and acoustic guitar rhythm track and the obligatory harmonies to boot.

We await the day with our checkbooks out.

>> Reverting to: 1959

Mister Toaster recently read that Wanda Jackson is Neko Case's grandmother! Where in the shit did that come from and how did the Toaster editorial staff miss it?

It turns out we missed it because it's not true.

Wethinks a reporter accidentally missed an "and" in Neko's wiki entry. Still, it gives us reason to highlight one of the coolest vocalists in rock's history, and so we will propagate that lie with great fervor.

Here's "Kansas City," and it's not the version the Beatles covered.