New Placebo, free download

There are three things you can count on in life: the NJ Devils in the NHL playoffs, the sheer sucktitude of first day of work back from vacation and the general awesomeness of new Placebo music. Really, name me one band from the UK boom of the mid-90s (I won't call them Britpop) that's still as lethal and legit as they were back when we all first slit eyeholes in a paper bag.

Granted, these days Placebo is basically making music for their fans, but that's what we love about them. If sudden arena-sized fame arises, so be it; but it will be on Placebo's terms on music that is 100% their own sound. That is why we worship at the Altar of Molko. That's why we still get excited at new material. Open sores and bitter lovers remain unscathed.

So with that, the band is offering their lead single for free download, the title track to upcoming album "Battle of the Sun." I'm not a fan of the clunky first 90 seconds or so, but when it kicks in with that traditional Placebo force, the diehards are given their pure morning bliss. There's some Muse elements here, as well as a fleshing out of the synthy "Song to Say Goodbye" theatrics, and all in all it's a great "we're back" statement and I can't fucking wait for the album to drop come summer. "Meds" was a fanfuckintastic record truly appreciated by few, and this should be as well.

DIGITAL LOVE @ the Mid East

Back on the scene, crispy and clean

... and tan as fuck. Well, I'm home. Pictures and lessons learned from Mexico and Grand Cayman later on (like how easy it is to kiss stingrays, score drugs and get get sunburn when on your own private beach in Cozumel) but now it's back to the work grind in anticipation of the queen Lady Gaga tonight at Hob. Semi-local pop duo Chester French open things up, and I've been wanting to see them since DA Wallach took offense to me calling them goofballs in the local daily.

Vacation, all I ever wanted

Ok, with that, I'm off to Mexico early tomorrow morning with the lady. Don't alert the Federales, and let's all pray I don't end up on my very own episode of Locked Up Abroad. I might post some random shit here or there from the cruise ship while sliding down a water slide shitwhipped on tequila, or I may not. I dunno. But I will return just in time to catch Lady GaGa at the House of Blues on March 30. xo Mv.

Saturday night, debut Smiles

I'll be out of town, but this should be a good time tomorrow night:

the Toothaches tonight @ the pill

Another dope live act at the pill tonight, as fiery Brooklyn/Boston indie pop kids the Toothaches drop by our little dance party at Great Scott. While I feel like I abandoned quirky indie pop a long time ago, these boys and girls have the goods, and provide a old-skool pill break from the waves of synthpop bands we've been having. The quickshot bio from the pill boston dot com:

After weeks of sitting in the lobby of the proverbial dentist’s office, the pill gets its indie pop filling this Friday as we welcome the Toothaches to our saccharine-soaked Great Scott stage. Like My Favorite on a frenetic meth binge or Belle & Sebastian in an alleyway knifefight, the Brooklyn-based but Boston-bred Toothaches have brought a much needed ferocity to the indie pop genre. The local press has been succumbing to twee-bit -cavities since the band released its debut EP straight out its Jamaica Plain kitchen last year, and their recent 7-inch release party with Pretty & Nice sent GS into a pogo-pop frenzy, marking cardigans as gang colors and glockenspiels as gats. Do not fuck with the Toothaches.

Bloc Party DJ set tonight at Vinalia

I love Bloc Party. I love that "indie electro." I love going out. So why am I the Mayor of Meh City when it comes to Bloc Party's Russell and Matt DJing an electro set tonight at Vinalia? Seriously, why don't I give a fizztittietuck about this? Weird. (Bloc Party's show at the HoB, btw, is sold out.)

Squire responds to Stone Roses rumors

John Squire FTW. Earlier this week the UK Daily Mirror newspaper said the Stone Roses were reuniting, but then the Daily Mail said no-go like an hour later after Ian Brown's publicist said sod off. Now Squire has chimed in via johnsquire.com. Epic:

Chameleons defeated by Sponge. Guh.

So yeah, I fucking LOST TO SPONGE'S "PLOWED" this morning, but only because the chick I was up against was the sexy-voiced FNX receptionist and reps Saugus with her I-Talian famz. So bogus. Clearly the Chameleons' "Swamp Thing" is a better song! Oh well, now I don't have to phone in from Mexico next week... But still.

RollerGoths unite!

Aww man, goths on wheels! I totally wanna rollerskate while listening to Wolfsheim and VNV Nation. All I got at the ghetto assed Long Island skating rink when I was a kid was Bel Biv DaVoe and Naughty By Nature.