AS WE DROVE ACROSS THE RIVER INTO WESTERN ILLINOIS

Slanted and enchanted.

It's been an eventful several weeks, not that you'd know it by my recent posting around here. Since Des Moines' own 80/35 Music Festival on July 4 weekend, I've been to Chicago twice, first for the Pitchfork Music Festival and then this past weekend for Lollapalooza (which I'd actually never been to before).

What direction should we choose?

At Pitchfork, I wrote a quick little thing about tUnE-YarDs, but the real highlight for me was Deerhunter, who, OK, I'm definitely a huge fanboy for,  but the way they'd just string maybe three of their songs together and then stretch them out into space-rock jams, confident the crowd would go along with them but not totally oblivious to audience reaction like the ultra-boring Animal Collective a night earlier, well, it was just fantastic, and singer/guitarist Bradford Cox didn't really say much, but at one point I remember him complaining about those "fucking crypto-fascists," which was already hilarious and the kind of thing you want your noise-rock icons to say, but then he followed it by adding, "I don't know what that means; I was just trying to sound smart." Fleet Foxes, who headlined the second night, were also awesome, every bit as amazing as on record-- such gorgeous harmonies, and it felt like every song they picked was one I liked more than the last. "Oh, man, I don't think it's going to get better than that. Oh, wait, THIS song? I love this song!"

La cocaina no es buena para su salud.

At Lollapalooza, I was there as a member of the press, covering the event with the hard-working, very cool team from SPIN magazine. They'd all done this together before at Bonnaroo, but were kind enough to welcome me into the fold. Skin-reddening sun, wallet-destroying rain, Pete Wentz: I saw it all. For SPIN.com, I wrote about Kid Cudi, Arctic Monkeys, the Cars, Lia Ices, Titus Andronicus, Lykke Li, Beirut, Local Natives, Mayer Hawthorne, Friendly Fires, Disappears, Ratatat, A Perfect Circle, White Lies, Foster the People, Naked and Famous, Ryan Leslie, and Crystal Castles. (I guess I'd especially recommend the posts on Beirut, Local Natives, Crystal Castles, Titus Andronicus, Foster the People, and Lykke Li, in that order.)

Sweat drips from your pores like the falls of Niagara. 

As of today, I can also share an online radio station that eMusic has allowed me to put together. The genre is nominally "indie rock," but they've kindly let me take a pretty expansive view of that genre, encompassing electronic music, hip-hop, and some local favorites along with archetypal indie bands. There was other stuff I might've included, because not every label is in eMusic's catalogue these days, but I think there's still a lot here to enjoy. The songs are on shuffle, but you can see the full selection after the jump:

Air France “The Sweetness of Air France” No Way Down
http://www.emusic.com/album/Air-France-No-Way-Down-MP3-Download/11720956.html

Allo Darlin’ “The Polaroid Song” Allo Darlin’
http://www.emusic.com/album/Allo-Darlin-Allo-Darlin-MP3-Download/11955334.html

Art Brut “Axel Rose” Brilliant! Tragic!
http://www.emusic.com/album/Art-Brut-Brilliant-Tragic-MP3-Download/12528264.html

Bass Drum of Death “Young Pros” GB City
http://www.emusic.com/album/Bass-Drum-Of-Death-GB-City-MP3-Download/12472659.html

Beirut “East Harlem” East Harlem
http://www.emusic.com/album/Beirut-East-Harlem-MP3-Download/12628487.html

Big Spider’s Back “Black Chow” Memory Man
http://www.emusic.com/album/Big-Spider-s-Back-Memory-Man-MP3-Download/12534517.html

Black Lips “Modern Art” Arabia Mountain
http://www.emusic.com/album/Black-Lips-Arabia-Mountain-MP3-Download/12594463.html

James Blake “CMYK” CMYK EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/James-Blake-CMYK-EP-MP3-Download/11918348.html

Blue Sky Black Death “And Stars, Ringed” Noir
http://www.emusic.com/album/Blue-Sky-Black-Death-Noir-MP3-Download/12516118.html

BOAT “Forever in Armitron” Dress Like Your Idols
http://www.emusic.com/album/BOAT-Dress-Like-Your-Idols-MP3-Download/12452320.html

Braids “Lammicken” Native Speaker
http://www.emusic.com/album/Braids-Native-Speaker-MP3-Download/12303628.html

The Breeders “Cannonball” Last Splash
http://www.emusic.com/album/Last-Splash-MP3-Download/12125627.html

Buzzcocks “Love You More” A Different Compilation
http://www.emusic.com/album/Buzzcocks-A-Different-Compilation-MP3-Download/12589654.html

Camera Obscura “Keep It Clean” Keep It Clean
http://www.emusic.com/album/Camera-Obscura-Keep-It-Clean-MP3-Download/11904311.html

Cee-Lo Green “(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care” Rave On Buddy Holly
http://www.emusic.com/album/Various-Artists-Rave-On-Buddy-Holly-MP3-Download/12642779.html

ceo “White Magic” White Magic
http://www.emusic.com/album/CEO-white-magic-MP3-Download/11992613.html

Chad Valley “Acker Bilk” Equatorial Ultravox EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/Chad-Valley-Equatorial-Ultravox-EP-MP3-Download/12592461.html

The Chills “Pink Frost” Kaleidoscope World
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Chills-Kaleidoscope-World-MP3-Download/12358228.html

Christopher the Conquered “Treasure Catcher” You’re Gonna Glow in the Dark
http://www.emusic.com/album/Christopher-the-Conquered-You-re-Gonna-Glow-In-the-Dark-MP3-Download/11635201.html

The Concretes “You Can’t Hurry Love” The Concretes
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Concretes-MP3-Download/12539180.html

Constantines “On To You” Shine a Light
http://www.emusic.com/album/Constantines-Shine-A-Light-MP3-Download/11850048.html

The Coathangers “Go Away” Larceny & Old Lace
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Coathangers-Larceny-Old-Lace-MP3-Download/12613587.html

Crystal Stilts “Shake the Shackles” In Love With Oblivion
http://www.emusic.com/album/Crystal-Stilts-In-Love-With-Oblivion-MP3-Download/12479840.html

Cub “Cast a Shadow” Betti-Cola
http://www.emusic.com/album/Cub-Betti-Cola-MP3-Download/10969854.html

Cults “Bumpers” Cults
http://www.emusic.com/album/Cults-Cults-MP3-Download/12596120.html

Cults “Go Outside” Cults
http://www.emusic.com/album/Cults-Cults-MP3-Download/12596120.html

The Cure “Boys Don’t Cry [Single Version]” Three Imaginary Boys [Deluxe Edition]
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Cure-Three-Imaginary-Boys-Deluxe-Edition-MP3-Download/11757638.html

Davila 666 “Los Cruces” Tan Bajo
http://www.emusic.com/album/Davila-666-Tan-Bajo-MP3-Download/12419717.html

Death Cab for Cutie “Unobstructed Views” Codes and Keys
http://www.emusic.com/album/Death-Cab-for-Cutie-Codes-and-Keys-MP3-Download/12580462.html

Death Cab for Cutie “St. Peter’s Cathedral” Codes and Keys
http://www.emusic.com/album/Death-Cab-for-Cutie-Codes-and-Keys-MP3-Download/12580462.html

Deerhunter “Nothng Ever Happened” Microcastle
http://www.emusic.com/album/Deerhunter-Microcastle-MP3-Download/11314833.html

Dels “Trumpalump [ft. Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard]” Gob
http://www.emusic.com/album/Dels-GOB-MP3-Download/12480773.html

Dirty Beaches “Lord Knows Best” Badlands
http://www.emusic.com/album/Badlands-MP3-Download/12316091.html

Dum Dum Girls “There Is a Light That Never  Goes Out” (Smiths cover) He Gets Me High EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/He-Gets-Me-High-MP3-Download/12411204.html

The Durutti Column “For Loretta” Sporadic Three
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Durutti-Column-Sporadic-Three-MP3-Download/11021229.html

EMA “California” Past Life Martyred Saints
http://www.emusic.com/album/EMA-Past-Life-Martyred-Saints-MP3-Download/12516110.html

Fergus & Geronimo “Baby Don’t You Cry” Unlearn
http://www.emusic.com/album/Fergus-Geronimo-Unlearn-MP3-Download/12349330.html

The Field Mice “Emma’s House” Where’d You Learn to Kiss That Way?
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Field-Mice-Where-d-You-Learn-To-Kiss-That-Way-MP3-Download/11095141.html

Fleet Foxes “Montezuma” Helplessness Blues
http://www.emusic.com/album/Fleet-Foxes-Helplessness-Blues-MP3-Download/12532700.html

Handsome Furs “When I Get Back” Sound Kapital
http://www.emusic.com/album/Handsome-Furs-Sound-Kapital-MP3-Download/12660840.html

P.J. Harvey “The Last Living Rose” Let England Shake
http://www.emusic.com/album/P-J-Harvey-Let-England-Shake-MP3-Download/12380121.html

Heavenly “C Is the Heavenly Option” Le Jardin de Heavenly
http://www.emusic.com/album/Le-Jardin-De-Heavenly-MP3-Download/10844278.html

High Places “Head Spins (Extended Version)” 03/07-09/07
http://wmp.emusic.com/album/high-places-0307-0907-MP3-Download/11157472.html

Hooray for Earth “True Loves” True Loves
http://www.emusic.com/music-news/review/album/true-loves-hooray-for-earth/

Iceage “Remember” New Brigade
http://www.emusic.com/album/Iceage-New-Brigade-MP3-Download/12647379.html

Iceage “You’re Blessed” New Brigade
http://www.emusic.com/album/Iceage-New-Brigade-MP3-Download/12647379.html

Iron & Wine “Tree by the River” Kiss Each Other Clean
http://www.emusic.com/album/Iron-Wine-Kiss-Each-Other-Clean-MP3-Download/12341204.html

Japandroids “Young Hearts Spark Fire” Post Nothing
http://www.emusic.com/album/Japandroids-Post-Nothing-MP3-Download/11475403.html

Jesus and Mary Chain “Just Like Honey” Psychocandy
http://www.emusic.com/album/Psychocandy-MP3-Download/11748348.html

Keep Shelly in Athens “Cremona Memories” In Love With Dusk
http://www.emusic.com/album/Keep-Shelly-In-Athens-In-Love-With-Dusk-MP3-Download/12271004.html

Killer Mike “Burn” Pl3dge
http://www.emusic.com/album/Killer-Mike-Pl3dge-MP3-Download/12545186.html

Jens Lekman “Black Cab” Maple Leaves
http://www.emusic.com/album/Maple-Leaves-MP3-Download/10850016.html

Liars “The Other Side of Mt. Heart Attack” Drums Not Dead
http://www.emusic.com/album/Liars-Drums-Not-Dead-MP3-Download/12541472.html

Little Dragon “Ritual Union” Ritual Union EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/Little-Dragon-Ritual-Union-EP-MP3-Download/12660160.html

Love Is All “Less Than Thrilled” Two Thousand and Ten Injuries
http://www.emusic.com/album/Love-Is-All-Two-Thousand-and-Ten-Injuries-MP3-Download/11871963.html

Lykke Li “Rich Kids Blues” Wounded Rhymes
http://www.emusic.com/album/Lykke-Li-Wounded-Rhymes-MP3-Download/12419404.html

J. Mascis “Is It Done” Several Shades of Why
http://www.emusic.com/album/J-Mascis-Several-Shades-of-Why-MP3-Download/12437980.html

Massive Attack “Unfinished Sympathy” Blue Lines
http://www.emusic.com/album/Massive-Attack-Blue-Lines-MP3-Download/12565568.html

Jessica Lea Mayfield “Our Hearts Are Wrong” Tell Me
http://www.emusic.com/album/Jessica-Lea-Mayfield-Tell-Me-MP3-Download/12650095.html

Mazzy Star “Fade Into You” So Tonight That I Might See
http://www.emusic.com/album/Mazzy-Star-So-Tonight-That-I-Might-See-MP3-Download/12565584.html

Paul McCartney “Temporary Secretary” McCartney II
http://www.emusic.com/album/Paul-McCartney-McCartney-II-MP3-Download/12596910.html

The Men “Bataille” Leave Home
http://www.emusic.com/album/Leave-Home-MP3-Download/12589383.html

Mr. Dream “Crime” Trash Hit
http://www.emusic.com/album/Mr-Dream-Trash-Hit-MP3-Download/12387468.html

My Bloody Valentine “Sometimes” Loveless
http://www.emusic.com/album/My-Bloody-Valentine-Loveless-MP3-Download/11749705.html

Marissa Nadler “Baby, I Will Leave You in the Morning” Marissa Nadler
http://www.emusic.com/album/Marissa-Nadler-Marissa-Nadler-MP3-Download/12553590.html

The Mountain Goats “The Best Ever Death Metal Band in Denton” All Hail West Texas
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Mountain-Goats-All-Hail-West-Texas-MP3-Download/11105972.html

New Order “Regret” Regret
http://www.emusic.com/album/New-Order-Regret-MP3-Download/11846612.html

No Joy “Maggie Says I Love You” Ghost Blonde
http://www.emusic.com/album/No-Joy-Ghost-Blonde-MP3-Download/12249111.html

Okkervil River “Rider”  I Am Very Far
http://www.emusic.com/album/Okkervil-River-I-Am-Very-Far-MP3-Download/12546760.html

Owls “Air” Our Hopes and Dreams
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Owls-Our-Hopes-And-Dreams-MP3-Download/10851398.html

Pains of Being Pure at Heart “Even in Dreams” Belong
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Pains-of-Being-Pure-at-Heart-Belong-MP3-Download/12395607.html

Passion Pit “Sleepyhead” Chunk of  Change
http://www.emusic.com/album/Chunk-Of-Change-MP3-Download/11268621.html

Pavement “Unseen Power of the Picket Fence” No Alternative
http://www.emusic.com/album/Pavement-No-Alternative-MP3-Download/12369374.html

Peter Bjorn and John “Second Chance” Gimme Some
http://www.emusic.com/album/Peter-Bjorn-And-John-Gimme-Some-MP3-Download/12454553.html

Poison Control Center “Pacific Sunrise” Sad Sour Future
http://www.emusic.com/album/Poison-Control-Center-Sad-Sour-Future-MP3-Download/11929341.html

Ponytail “Easy Peasy” Do Whatever You Want
http://www.emusic.com/album/Do-Whatever-You-Want-All-The-Time-MP3-Download/12496241.html

Porcelain Raft “Tip of Your Tongue” Gone Blind EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/Porcelain-Raft-Gone-Blind-EP-MP3-Download/12404435.html

Primal Scream “Loaded” Screamadelica
http://www.emusic.com/album/Primal-Scream-Screamadelica-MP3-Download/11769411.html

Pure X “Easy” Pleasure
http://www.emusic.com/album/Pure-X-Pleasure-MP3-Download/12675780.html

The Radio Dept. “Heaven’s on Fire” Clinging to a Scheme
http://www.emusic.com/album/Clinging-to-a-scheme-MP3-Download/11911366.html

The Raveonettes “Forget That You’re Young” Raven in the Grave
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Raveonettes-Raven-In-The-Grave-MP3-Download/12487325.html

Jonathan Richman “My Affected Accent” O Moon, Queen of Night on Earth
http://www.emusic.com/album/Jonathan-Richman-O-Moon-Queen-Of-Night-On-Earth-MP3-Download/12286219.html

Gruff Rhys “Christopher Columbus” Hotel Shampoo
http://www.emusic.com/album/Gruff-Rhys-Hotel-Shampoo-MP3-Download/12518530.html

Josh Ritter “The Curse” So Runs the World Away
http://www.emusic.com/album/Josh-Ritter-So-Runs-The-World-Away-MP3-Download/11874927.html

Saint Etienne “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” Foxbase Alpha
http://www.emusic.com/album/Saint-Etienne-Foxbase-Alpha-MP3-Download/11746537.html

Seapony “Dreaming” Go With Me
http://www.emusic.com/album/Go-With-Me-MP3-Download/12602962.html

Sebadoh “Rebound” Bakesale
http://www.emusic.com/album/Bakesale-Deluxe-Edition-MP3-Download/12628840.html

Shabazz Palaces “Are you... Can you... Were you? (Felt)” Black Up
http://www.emusic.com/album/Go-Tell-Fire-To-The-Mountain-MP3-Download/12628437.html

Sleigh Bells “Rill Rill” Treats
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Sleighbells-Treats-MP3-Download/11946186.html

The Smiths “This Charming Man” The Queen Is Dead
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Smiths-The-Queen-Is-Dead-MP3-Download/12095094.html

Smith Westerns “All Die Young” Dye It Blonde
http://www.emusic.com/album/Dye-It-Blonde-MP3-Download/12350400.html

The Softies “It’s Love” It’s Love!
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Softies-It-s-Love-MP3-Download/10844191.html

Sonny and the Sunsets “I Wanna Do It” Hit After Hit
http://www.emusic.com/album/Scrawl-He-s-Drunk-MP3-Download/12470985.html

Starfucker “Bury Us Alive” Reptilians
http://www.emusic.com/album/Starfucker-Reptilians-Deluxe-Edition-MP3-Download/12407580.html

The Strange Boys “Be Brave Be Brave
http://www.emusic.com/album/Strange-Boys-Be-Brave-MP3-Download/11954101.html

Tame Impala “Solitude Is Bliss” InnerSpeaker
http://www.emusic.com/album/Tame-Impala-InnerSpeaker-MP3-Download/11968301.html

Tennis “Marathon” Cape Dory
http://www.emusic.com/album/Tennis-Cape-Dory-MP3-Download/12310511.html

Television Personalities “Strangely Beautiful (7” Mix)” The Strangely Beautiful EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/Television-Personalities-The-Strangely-Beautiful-EP-MP3-Download/11079053.html

Toro Y Moi “Still Sound” Underneath the Pine
http://www.emusic.com/album/Toro-Y-Moi-Underneath-The-Pine-MP3-Download/12387781.html

The Tough Alliance “Velocity Boy” (Primal Scream sort-of cover) Holiday EP
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Tough-Alliance-Holiday-EP-MP3-Download/10971880.html

Tune-Yards “Fiya” Bird-Brains
http://www.emusic.com/album/Tune-Yards-Bird-Brains-MP3-Download/11407768.html

Unknown Mortal Orchestra “Ffunny Ffriends” Unknown Mortal Orchestra
http://www.emusic.com/album/Unknown-Mortal-Orchestra-MP3-Download/12611942.html

The Walkmen “Angela Surf City” Lisbon
http://www.emusic.com/album/The-Walkmen-Lisbon-MP3-Download/12127298.html

Washed Out “Eyes Be Closed” Eyes Be Closed
http://www.emusic.com/album/Washed-Out-Eyes-Be-Closed-Remixes-MP3-Download/12676492.html

Wiley “Numbers in Action (Radio Edit)” Numbers in Action
http://www.emusic.com/album/Numbers-In-Action-MP3-Download/12488135.html

Wolves in the Attic “Loss of God” Electronic Hearts
http://www.emusic.com/album/Wolves-in-the-Attic-Electronic-Hearts-MP3-Download/11367607.html

WU LYF “Heavy Pop” Go Tell Fire to the Mountain
http://www.emusic.com/album/Go-Tell-Fire-To-The-Mountain-MP3-Download/12628437.html

Neil Young “Walk On” On the Beach
http://www.emusic.com/album/Neil-Young-On-The-Beach-MP3-Download/11761501.html

Yuck “Georgia” Yuck
http://www.emusic.com/album/Yuck-Yuck-MP3-Download/12392304.html