The 40 6/15/07

1. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace
   
   
2. Teddy Picker / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   
   
3. Rag and Bone / White Stripes iTunes Myspace There isn't a video worth putting on here for Rag and Bone, but stay tuned...I have a feeling this is the next single off "Icky Thump."
   
4. Saint John / Cold War Kids iTunes Myspace
   
5. Icky Thump / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   
6. Tarantula / Smashing Pumpkins iTunes Myspace
   
7. Fluorescent Adolescent / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   
8. Invincible / MuseiTunes Myspace
   
9. The Heinrich Maneuver / InterpoliTunes Myspace
   
10. Sealings / Yeah Yeah YeahsiTunes Myspace
    
11. Missed The Boat / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
12. Pussyole (Old Skool) / Dizzee Rascal iTunes Myspace
    
13. I am John / Loney, deariTunes Myspace
    
14. You’re A Wolf / Sea WolfiTunes Myspace
    
15. Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
16. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
17. Black Thumbnail / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
18. My Body is a Cage / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
19. Rapid Fire Tollbooth / Omar Rodriguez-LopeziTunes Myspace
    
20. Side with the Seeds / Wilco iTunes Myspace
    
21. Australia / The ShinsiTunes Myspace
    
22. Killing The Light / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
23. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
24. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
    
25. No Love Lost / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
26. Long Road Home / Freer iTunes Myspace
    
27. Windows / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
28. Arizona / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
29. True Love Way / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
30. If You Fail, We All Fail / FieldsiTunes Myspace
    
31. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
32. Took Out a Loan / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
33. Men’s Needs / The CribsiTunes Myspace
    
34. Fans / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
35. 3s and 7s / Queens of the Stone AgeiTunes Myspace
    
36. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
37. Walken / Wilco iTunes Myspace
38. Gutterfly / Lifesavas iTunes Myspace
    
39. Misfit Love / Queens of the Stone Age iTunes Myspace
40. Hot Soft Light / The Hold Steady iTunes Myspace
    
    

The 40 6/8/07

1. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace
   
   
2. Teddy Picker / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   
   
3. Saint John / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
   
   
4. Icky Thump / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   
5. Invincible / MuseiTunes Myspace
   
6. Rag and Bone / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   
7. The Heinrich Maneuver / InterpoliTunes Myspace
   
8. Tarantula / Smashing Pumpkins iTunes Myspace
   
9. Fluorescent Adolescent / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   
10. Black Thumbnail / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
11. Sealings / Yeah Yeah YeahsiTunes Myspace
    
12. Missed The Boat / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
13. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
14. Killing The Light / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
15. I am John / Loney, deariTunes Myspace
    
16. You’re A Wolf / Sea WolfiTunes Myspace
    
17. Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
18. True Love Way / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
19. Pussyole / Dizzee Rascal iTunes Myspace
    
20. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
21. Australia / The ShinsiTunes Myspace
    
22. Rapid Fire Tollbooth / Omar Rodriguez-LopeziTunes Myspace
    
23. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
    
24. Side with the Seeds / Wilco iTunes Myspace
    
25. Windows / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
26. My Body is a Cage / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
27. No Love Lost / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
28. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
29. Pleased to Meet You / WolfmotheriTunes Myspace
    
30. Fans / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
31. Into Action / Tim Armstrong (w/ Skye Sweetnam) iTunes Myspace
    
32. Long Road Home / Freer iTunes Myspace
    
33. Arizona / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
34. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
35. Sea Legs / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
36. North American Scum / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
37. Took Out a Loan / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
38. Weapon of Choice/ Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
39. 3s and 7s / Queens of the Stone AgeiTunes Myspace
    
40. If You Fail, We All Fail / FieldsiTunes Myspace
    
    
    

The 40 6/1/07

1. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace
   
   
2. Teddy Picker / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   
   
3. Saint John / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
   
   
4. Icky Thump / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   
5. Invincible / MuseiTunes Myspace
   
6. Black Thumbnail / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
   
7. The Heinrich Maneuver / InterpoliTunes Myspace
   
8. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
   
9. Tarantula / Smashing Pumpkins iTunes Myspace
   
10. True Love Way / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
11. Fluorescent Adolescent / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
12. Killing The Light / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
13. Sealings / Yeah Yeah YeahsiTunes Myspace
    
14. Missed The Boat / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
15. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
16. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
    
17. I am John / Loney, deariTunes Myspace
    
18. You’re A Wolf / Sea WolfiTunes Myspace
    
19. Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
20. Fans / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
21. Into Action / Tim Armstrong (w/ Skye Sweetnam) iTunes Myspace
    
22. Australia / The ShinsiTunes Myspace
    
23. Pleased to Meet You / WolfmotheriTunes Myspace
    
24. Sea Legs / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
25. Weapon of Choice/ Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
26. Windows / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
27. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
28. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
29. Rapid Fire Tollbooth / Omar Rodriguez-LopeziTunes Myspace
    
30. No Love Lost / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
31. North American Scum / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
32. My Body is a Cage / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
33. Side with the Seeds / Wilco iTunes Myspace
    
34. Long Before Rock and Roll / Mando Diao iTunes Myspace
    
35. See A Penny, Pick It Up / Yacht iTunes Myspace
    
36. Starlight / MuseiTunes Myspace
    
37. Collection of Stamps / I’m From BarcelonaiTunes Myspace
    
38. Arizona / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
39. Hang me up to dry / Cold War Kids iTunes Myspace
    
40. Long Road Home / Freer iTunes Myspace
    
    
    

The 40 5/25/07

The Return of the Great Pumpkin, LCD Dominance, and the End of an Era.

The Billy Corgan show, also known as the Smashing Pumpkins, returns after what seems like an eternity. Has it really been 14 years since Butch Vig-produced wall-of-sound that was 1993’s Siamese Dream hit the streets? Released amidst a gaggle of grunge, infinite alternative bands looking to cash in on a generation thirsting for something different, and an army of smoothed-out R&B / hip-hop jams, the Smashing Pumpkins’ follow up to their debut, 1991’s Gish stood out as a masterpiece of production and dynamic sound. Lead singer and all-around main Pumpkin Corgan had yet to discover his inner cue-ball / Lurch from the Addams Family look, but in teaming up with the man that produced Nirvana’s Nevermind, unleashed what many critics then and now consider one of the best albums of ’93. The Pumpkins’ last official release was 2000’s Machina II/The Friends & Enemies of Modern Music, an online-only release that served as the band’s swan song…until now. This past week, the first single from the Smashing Pumpkins’ forthcoming Zeitgeist album appeared on iTunes and radio. My first listen to “Tarantula” served as a sonic recollection to a time when Siamese Dream tracks like “Geek USA”, “Cherub Rock” and “Quiet” ruled my world. “Tarantula” is in the vein of those tracks with its heavier-than-you drums courtesy of Jimmy Chamberlin, the only other original member of the band to join Corgan for the new album. There is a trademark slow down in the middle of the song that evaporates into squealing guitar before you can even realize that Corgan is taking you in a different direction. There is that familiar vocal sneer that Corgan is so adept at infusing his songs with. Most importantly, there is consistency. Where so many bands return after an extended hiatus only to falter under the exalted expectations of its loyal fans, “Tarantula” (entering the 40 at number 26 this week) feels as if the band never listened to the last 7 years of rap-rock, dirrrry South rap, or the glut of indie-rock that proliferated speakers everywhere. It’s business as usual for Corgan and his crew which bodes well for the new album, slated for release on July 10. Welcome back guys. Rock and roll has missed you.

LCD Soundsystem, the dance/rock/electronic/alternative/whatever label I’ve missed project that is essentially James Murphy, returns to the 40’s top spot for the second time this year with “All My Friends,” a 7-and-a-half minute, slow building banger that is powerfully understated with its hypnotic piano and hi-hat combination. My personal favorite line is “It comes apart, the way it does in bad films. Except in parts,when the moral kicks in.” After spending 6 weeks on the top of the 40 this year with Sound of Silver’s first single, “North American Scum,” LCD has returned to its rightful position. This song exhausts me in the best way possible.

Finally, after 7 months on the chart, Silversun Pickups’ “Lazy Eye” falls off. Twenty-eight weeks ago, the song started a stay that would include an amazing 11 weeks at #1. It is rare that a song gets that cozy at the top of the list and even rarer when the song is the first time I’ve heard the band. I spent considerable time listening to Carnavas, the Pickup’s first full-lenth release, obsessing not only over “Lazy Eye,” but most of its companion tracks as well. It was “Lazy Eye” that, for this guy, stood above the rest. Radio stations finally caught on to the track and as of this week, it’s sitting at #5 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Chart after 19 weeks on it.

Enough talk, let’s get on with the rock.

1. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace Umm, James...you have a little something on your cheek.
   
   
2. Teddy Picker / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   Again, no video for the song as it hasn't been released as a single yet, but here's the band performing on Jools Holland's show in the UK.
   
   
3. Icky Thump / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   Jack and Meg finally have a video. Only a month until the full album drops.
   
   
4. Invincible / MuseiTunes Myspace
   
5. Black Thumbnail / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
   
6. The Heinrich Maneuver / InterpoliTunes Myspace
   
7. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
   
8. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
   
9. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
   
10. True Love Way / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
11. Weapon of Choice/ Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
12. Fans / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
13. Killing The Light / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
14. Fluorescent Adolescent / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
15. Sealings / Yeah Yeah YeahsiTunes Myspace
    
16. Into Action / Tim Armstrong (w/ Skye Sweetnam) iTunes Myspace
    
17. Saint John / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
18. Missed The Boat / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
19. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
20. I am John / Loney, deariTunes Myspace
    
21. Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
22. Pleased to Meet You / WolfmotheriTunes Myspace
    
23. Australia / The ShinsiTunes Myspace
    
24. Sea Legs / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
25. Hang me up to dry / Cold War Kids iTunes Myspace
    
26. Tarantula / Smashing Pumpkins iTunes Myspace
    
27. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
28. Windows / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
29. You’re A Wolf / Sea WolfiTunes Myspace
    
30. North American Scum / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
31. Starlight / MuseiTunes Myspace
    
32. Checkered Floor / Silversun PickupsiTunes Myspace
    
33. Collection of Stamps / I’m From BarcelonaiTunes Myspace
    
34. Sick Sick Sick / Queens of the Stone AgeiTunes Myspace
    
35. Time Won’t Let Me Go / The BraveryiTunes Myspace
    
36. Heart of Hearts / !!! iTunes Myspace
    
37. Long Before Rock and Roll / Mando Diao iTunes Myspace
    
38. See A Penny, Pick It Up / Yacht iTunes Myspace
    
39. The Sleepless / The Shaky Hands iTunes Myspace
    
40. Antichrist Television Blues / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
    
    

The 40 5/18/07

No,I didn't fall asleep for two months. School has consumed me the past couple months, but I'm back with a vengeance. I'm bummed that I missed putting the last several weeks of "40"s up here as some great new albums have been released. Just like this time last year, the Arctic Monkeys are all over the chart. Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, Kings of Leon, BRMC, and Cold War Kids also have multiple songs on this week's chart. What can I do? It's so hard to just love one song when the band puts out such a killer album.

Interpol, White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age have made triumphant returns with new material with their respective albums on the way this summer. White Stripes entered at number one (very very rare this happens - I'm not Soundscan after all) a month ago with the title track - their first one - of the upcoming album Icky Thump. Jack and Meg are without a doubt in fine form; loud, rocking, and experimental. Apparently bagpipes are prominently featured on the new album. The Stripes could make a kazoo solo sound like heaven so I am counting down the days til June 19 when Icky Thump is released in the USA.

Enough chatter, it's the music that matters.

1. Icky Thump / White Stripes iTunes Myspace
   Jack and Meg finally have a video. Only a month until the full album
   
2. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
   
   
If Bruce Springsteen and Phil Lynot (of Thin Lizzy) got together and created a band it might sound a bit like this.

3. Teddy Picker / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
   Again, no video for the song as it hasn't been released as a single yet, but here's the band performing on Jools Holland's show in the UK.
   
   
4. Weapon of Choice/ Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
   
5. Invincible / MuseiTunes Myspace
   
6. Black Thumbnail / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
   
7. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
   
8. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace
   
9. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
   
10. The Heinrich Maneuver / InterpoliTunes Myspace
    
11. True Love Way / Kings of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
12. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
13. Fans / Kings Of LeoniTunes Myspace
    
14. Killing The Light / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
15. Sea Legs / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
16. Sealings / Yeah Yeah YeahsiTunes Myspace
    
17. Into Action / Tim Armstrong (w/ Skye Sweetnam) iTunes Myspace
    
18. Hang me up to dry / Cold War Kids iTunes Myspace
    
19. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
20. Fluorescent Adolescent / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
21. North American Scum / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
    
22. Checkered Floor / Silversun PickupsiTunes Myspace
    
23. Temptation Greets You Like Your Naughty Friend / Arctic MonkeysiTunes Myspace
    
24. Pleased to Meet You / WolfmotheriTunes Myspace
    
25. Starlight / MuseiTunes Myspace
    
26. I am John / Loney, deariTunes Myspace
    
27. Antichrist Television Blues / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
28. Time Won’t Let Me Go / The BraveryiTunes Myspace
    
29. Windows / Black Rebel Motorcycle ClubiTunes Myspace
    
30. Missed The Boat / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
31. Heart of Hearts / !!! iTunes Myspace
    
32. Australia / The ShinsiTunes Myspace
    
33. Capital G / Nine Inch NailsiTunes Myspace
    
34. Must be the Moon / !!! iTunes Myspace
    
35. Collection of Stamps / I’m From BarcelonaiTunes Myspace
    
36. Sick Sick Sick / Queens of the Stone AgeiTunes Myspace
    
37. Long Before Rock and Roll / Mando Diao iTunes Myspace
    
38. See A Penny, Pick It Up iTunes Myspace
    
39. The Sleepless / The Shaky Hands iTunes Myspace
    
40. Saint John / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
    
    
    

The 40 3/23/07

1. North American Scum / LCD Soundsystem iTunes Myspace
   
2. Dashboard / Modest Mouse iTunes Myspace
   
   
   
3. Heart of Hearts / !!! iTunes Myspace
   
   
   
4. Hang me up to dry / Cold War Kids iTunes Myspace
   
5. On Call / Kings of Leon iTunes Myspace
   
6. Lazy Eye / Silversun Pickups iTunes Myspace
   
7. Starlight / Muse iTunes Myspace
   
8. Movies of Antarctica / Stars of Track and Field iTunes Myspace
9. Suffer for Fashion / Of Montreal iTunes Myspace
   
10. Windowsill / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
11. Survivalism / Nine Inch Nails iTunes Myspace
    
12. 666 Conducer / Black Rebel Motorcycle Club iTunes Myspace
    
13. Weapon of Choice/ Black Rebel Motorcycle Club iTunes Myspace
    
14. Well Thought Out Twinkles / Silversun Pickups iTunes Myspace
15. Fly trapped in a jar / Modest MouseiTunes Myspace
    
16. Place Yourself / Field Music iTunes Myspace
    
17. Phantom Limb / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
18. Sea Legs / The Shins iTunes Myspace
    
19. We used to Vacation / Cold War KidsiTunes Myspace
    
20. Children of December / The Slip iTunes Myspace
    
21. Intervention / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
22. Brianstorm / Arctic Monkeys iTunes Myspace
    
23. Must be the Moon / !!! iTunes Myspace
    
24. Young Folks/Peter Bjorn & John (ft. Victoria Bergsman) iTunes Myspace
    
25. 101 / Albert Hammond Jr. iTunes Myspace
    
26. Antichrist Television Blues / The Arcade Fire iTunes Myspace
    
27. Spectacle / Sean Lennon iTunes Myspace
    
28. If Looks Could Kill / Camera Obscura iTunes Myspace
    
29. Wasted Little DJs / The View iTunes Myspace
    
30. I found out / Pigeon Detectives iTunes Myspace
    
31. This Mess / Wolf and Cub iTunes Myspace
    
32. Checkered Floor / Silversun PickupsiTunes Myspace
    
33. Invincible / Muse iTunes Myspace
34. Stuck Between Stations / The Hold SteadyiTunes Myspace
    
35. Steal Their Gold / Wolf and Cub iTunes Myspace
    
36. Nothin' No / David Vandervelde iTunes Myspace
    
37. A Pillar of Salt / The Thermals iTunes Myspace
    
38. All my Friends / LCD SoundsystemiTunes Myspace
    
39. Keep the Car Running / The Arcade FireiTunes Myspace
    
40. Flyentology / El P (w/ Trent Reznor)iTunes Myspace