If you’re like me, a new Gomez album is always something to look forward to. I can remember the day that I bought Liquid Skin, which was my first exposure to the band, and driving around in Milwaukee that night I couldn’t believe the music that I was hearing. I got back into the city and made it to Atomic Records just before closing, and bought In Our Gun that very same day.

About a month ago I received the new album, How We Operate. Let me be the first to say that this album was a grower for me. I didn’t fall in love with it on first listen, but, like so many of my favorite records, friends, even girlfriends it took some time to find the greatness that this record is. The record starts off on a delicate note, and progresses through a lot of love tinged stories of the changes that life throws your way. This record would be perfect for a late night renvendous at your place as the night is slowly making way to day. It’s also sound really great in my car as the weather in Wisconsin finally turns from cold to warm.

So, when their label asked if I was interested in holding a Gomez contest, the answer was obviously yes. The contest will run for one week, and the winning prize pack includes:

One clear blue, limited-edition 7″ vinyl “How We Operate” single
One autographed poster
One copy of “How We Operate” album

Because I have the travel bug, and will be heading to Toronto for the next two weeks, I thought I would include traveling in the contest.  Please leave a comment telling me where you would most like to travel.  Contest ends May 8th.

How We Operate comes out this Tuesday, May 2nd.  Here is some press release info:

For How We Operate, their fifth studio album, Gomez didn’t set out to reinvent the wheel. Oh no. The British quintet just wanted to change the blueprint for a different sort of rounded object: Their own records. To help focus their energies on their first studio release for ATO, the band decided to try a wholly new tack, and enlist their first outside producer. When Gil Norton (Pixies, Foo Fighters) was named as a candidate, the band leapt at the suggestion.

This album only gets better the more you hear it. Scrutinize the spacey, almost psychedelic title track closely, and the advantages of the band’s judicious new approach to arrangements are evident. “Girlshapedlovedrug” is a beguiling portrait of “a wicked girl… the worst in the world…” who still proves irresistible to the narrator, while elsewhere, the bluesy “Chasing Ghosts With Alcohol” and the twilight reverie of “Charley Patton Songs” find Gomez in a more reflective mood.  “There’s always been a certain ragged glory to Gomez, ” concludes Gomez vocalist/guitarist Tom Gray. And How We Operate retains and revitalizes that glory – and presents it in a more immediately gripping form. “This is certainly the most cohesive record we’ve made,” observes Ian Ball (vocals, guitar, harmonica). “And yet it remains stylistically genre-less.” Which is to say, it’s still brilliantly, unabashedly… Gomez. 

• More Cowbell pointed me here where you can stream the new Neil Young album, Living With War.
• Today is the last day you can enter the Guillemots double vinyl contest here at Muzzleofbees.com. The winner will be announced on Monday.
• Be my friend on Myspace.
• If you’re not doing so already, make sure to check out the Aquarium Drunkard podcast.
• I Guess I’m Floating offered some great covers yesterday, especially the James Blunt [EDIT: Initially I thought the site said it was Jamie Lidell, which it isn’t, and I’m sick to my stomach for linking it] cover of the Pixies “where is my mind?”
• Speaking of (sort of) Jamie Lidell, make sure to check out Brooklyn Vegan’s post about Jamie’s recent stop in NYC. Jamie Lidell will be touring with Beck this summer.
• Loudersoft posted this awesome video of a DJ remixing Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” with the Beastie Boys.
• So Much Silence has a Magic Numbers giveaway.
• Check out Indie Interviews today for his chat with Kyp Malone of TVOTR.

• Coke Machine Glow reviews Muzzle of Bees favorites Finian McKean, The Lovely Feathers, and Drive By Truckers.
• Pitchfork also gets to the Lovely Feathers album, giving it a 7.6.
• Have you heard the new Great Lake Swimmers tune that is on the See You On The Moon! compilation? The song is the title track and Insound hooks you up with the track here.
• Misra Records hook us up with some fantastic MP3’s from Evangelicals and Shearwater. Seriously, give these a listen.

1. Shearwater - Seventy-Four Seventy-Five [mp3]
2. Shearwater - White Waves [mp3]
3. Evangelicals - Another Day [mp3]

• On Monday, May 1st at 7PM (Central) tune in to these Wisconsin radio stations: WLUM - Milwaukee/ WJJO - Madison to get a preview of the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadium.
• Gomez new album, How We Operate comes out on May 2nd. You can check out a video of their performance using Windows or Quicktime.
• I’m pretty excited about the new Cut Chemist album, The Audience’s Listening. Check out the following streaming videos for the tracks The Garden and Storm (featuring Edan and Mr. Lif).
• Chris confirms that Tapes ‘N Tapes sign with XL Records.
• Stylus Magazine recommends Gnarls Barkley, giving it a B+.
  

Before I get into music related topics, I have to say that I’m glad to hear that Brett Favre will be returning for another season. That being said, I am upset that his decision couldn’t have come sooner, but at least he did it before the NFL Draft this weekend (barely).

• 75 Or Less puts up their thoughts on the Lovely Feathers Album.
• Blasting Fonda has a review of the new Sonic Youth album, Rather Ripped.
• Bows + Arrows has a new Sufjan Stevens song, and a good write-up about it.
• Culture Bully has a nice review of The Sounds album, Dying To Say This To You.
• Villains Always Blink is going to Coachella and made quite a road trip mix!
• Think Tank has some new MF Doom.
• Never got that Wolf Parade EP from 2003? The Torture Garden hooks you up.
• The Camera As Pen has some beautiful tracks from the new Adem record, which Stylus Magazine just reviewed.
• New blog to my blogroll, Surviving the Golden Age offers up REM: Live on Radio 1.
• You may remember my interview with EJ from Scenestars for my “get to know your blogger” feature; well EJ is doing his own thing now at Loudersoft.
• San Diego Serenade reviews the new Bruce Springsteen album, which Pitchfork gave an 8.5.
• Myspace MoB favorite band of the day…..The Scapulars

Finally, you have until Friday to enter the Muzzle of Bees Guillemots double vinyl giveaway. I know you have to have some good band names that you can contribute to the mix. So go ahead on enter.

Here is the new title track off of the upcoming Sound Team album, Movie Monster.  The album drops on June 6th, and watch out because it is AMAZING!  If you dig that track you should also check out the MP3 for the song Your Eyes Are Liars, which I posted awhile back.

2006-07-28 Twin Lakes, WI - Hedgpeth Festival
2006-08-26 Milwaukee, WI - Eagles Ballroom

Thanks to More Cowbell for the heads up.

The New Pornographers show at the High Noon Saloon had everything you’d want at a concert, great band and free whiskey. Arriving at the High Noon it appeared that they had over-invited people for the Jack Daniels sponsored event. However, the crowd gradually thinned out as those there only for the giveaways made room for the reason the majority of us where there in the first place, to see AC Newman and his band blaze through their catalouge of songs.

Prior to the show, there were rumors that Neko Case would be performing with the New Pornographers, but I wasn’t surprised when those turned out to be false. As much as I love Neko, I must admit that I didn’t notice her not being on stage. The young lady taking Neko’s place does her a lot of justice, and really fills her shoes, which is something I was interested in seeing attempted.

Right before the New Pornograpehers took the stage and right after Archer Prewitt played his last song, 105.5 Triple M and Jack Daniels drew the raffle numbers for an autographed electric guitar that one lucky guy ended up taking home. Halfway through the New Pornographers set and in between handing out full bottles of Jack Daniels to the crowd, AC Newman got the guitar from the winner, and proceeded to play the entire rest of their set with the guitar, making it even more special.

I had to wait a long time to see the New Pornographers play Madison, but I can say that last night’s performance was well worth the wait. You could definitely tell that the band was enjoying the hell out of being at the show as well, and opener Archer Prewitt proved once again why his album, Wilderness was one of my favorite albums last year.

I’m getting ready to head to Milwaukee for back to back days of Milwaukee Brewer games.  Before I hit the road, I wanted to direct you to Rich Albertoni’s “top ten memories of Friday’s Death Cab for Cutie Show at the Orpheum Theatre.”

I also suggest heading to Insound and taking advantage of free shipping on all orders $30 and higher.  Go ahead and pick something up that will soundtrack your summer.

Lots of stuff going on today.

• My Drive By Truckers giveaway ends today. Please make sure to get your comments in on this post in order to be eligible for the giveaway.
• I’m also doing a giveaway for a double vinyl Guillemots album, From The Cliffs.
• I checked out Eef Barzelay at Cafe Montmartre on Wednesday. I’ve never been huge on his band Clem Snide, but I do really love his latest solo effort Ballad of Bitter Honey. He’s definitely got the solo show down, providing witty banter between songs and keeping it pretty loose. I’ve got a couple of nice pictures from the show, but I am having trouble with my host right now, and I’m unable to upload anything right now.
• I’ve got to jump on and agree with The Catbirdseat,  Gorilla vs Bear, and Said The Gramaphone on Beirut. Both sites have posted MP3’s that you should definitely give a listen to as well as check out their year so far best of lists.
• Here is an audiostream of a new tune by The Walkmen called “Louisiana.” The Walkmen’s new album, A Hundred Miles Off will be released on May 23rd. They will be making a tour stop in Milwaukee on June 2nd. Be their friend on Myspace.
• Finally, myself and probably 3,000 other teenagers will be heading to the Orpheum for the Death Cab For Cutie show. If you’ll remember, I was a little upset at the initial ticket price, but was able to get rid of those, and get some more reasonably priced ones. If you do dig Death Cab, please check out some MP3’s that Ben Gibbard played on KEXP a couple years back.

Early last month I posted about the Guillemots. I can definitely give the Muzzle of Bees stamp of approval to their album From The Cliffs, and because of that I would like to offer up something super special.

The contest is for a beautiful and limited edition double vinyl 10″ of From The Cliffs. Since the Guillemots is such an amazing and unique name, we thought it would be best that the contest revolve around band names. Therefore, in order to enter the contest please leave a comment with a band name you think up (for example: “Death Leprachaun would be a wicked cool name for a band”). The winner will be selected by a panel of my friends. Please note that if you don’t want to receive e-mails from the record label on related artists and such that you please specify so in your comment.