A stilted Green Day reference? In my Squid Can? Well, tough shit. It has a purpose, folks. See, summer vacation is coming to an end. This means I have to do stuff. This 'stuff' does not involve sitting at a computer and posting snark-riddled reviews of Garbage records, unfortunately. So, this post will likely be the last until the new schedule kicks in on September 7th.

Take a moment to dry your eyes.

However, the good news is that I'll still be working on the site, I just won't be posting any of what I'm writing. This is to ensure that, when outside work really does get heavy, then I'll still be able to post something on a schedule for y'all to enjoy.

Two things before I go. Apparently, I'm important enough to have an artist send a promo Mp3 to my inbox. I know, right? Well, it happened. Sandra Zettpunkt was generous enough to send me a copy of "The One". It features one of the dudes from Calexico on double bass, and Calexico is always a good thing. "Her palette ranges from indie anthem to pastoral gem and pays knowing reference to the raw sparseness of early Cat Power,
Slint's aural intensity, Nico's dark elegance and the welcome transparency of the Radar Brothers," says the press release. I'm not sure what half of those references mean, but I have listened to "The One" and it sounds mighty fine. Why not try it yourself (and watch the video for "Unwound" while you're at it)?

Mp3: "The One" by Music For Your Heart (album is out Sept. 25)

If you're more in the mood for buying music (guffaw guffaw), then there's good new for you over at Amie Street. The other day, well over a thousand albums were added to the site. Most of them are still under $5. Since the list is so huge--and quite honestly, I don't feel like formatting all the links--I've set a list of my picks at YourPaste. Album title and artist are in the url. Among the offerings: Ulver, Boris, Matt and Kim, Holly Go Lighty & The Brokeoffs, Tora! Tora! Torrance!, Elizabeth Cook, Sunny Day Real Estate, Jem, The Gaslight Anthem, and plenty more bargains. Some of the bands in the list I've never heard of, but the covers sure looked interesting.

So there we have it folks. The last Squid Can post of the summer, it looks like (unless I get around to finishing the Pokémon mixtapes). Hold your tears and applause. I'll be back in two weeks. And, while you're away, read "Is Laughter Contagious?" by Joyce Carol Oates. It's cool beans; trust me.