Good Weather For Airstrikes

I love this new trend where all these UK bands try to outdo each other to see who can be the most prolific. Leading the way, Bloc Party releases their debut EP, debut album, a remix album, four singles, a DVD, and another CD-single/EP (”Two More Years”) all within the space of one year. Close on their trail is Maximo Park, who releases their debut album, a live album, three singles (all in multiple formats), and has announced that their next album will be out in early 2006. Finally, The Futureheads, whose debut album came out less than a year ago, afraid to be outdone, have announced a new EP, titled the Area EP, to be released in the UK on November 29, and have also announced that their sophomore album will be out in the first half of 2006. Enjoy the title track from their upcoming EP below.

MP3:
“Area” - The Futureheads

Here it is, M3 Volume 6, in all it’s blissful indie pop glory. As I mentioned before, Volume 6 is in the same musical vein as Volume 3, and the two share a similar lighthearted whimsical sound as well as some of the same bands. Now I realize I’m risking any indie cred I may or may not have ever had by putting some borderline pop-punk/emo bands (Jack’s Mannequin and The Format) on the first two tracks of this CD, but I believe these two songs to be some of the catchiest and most universally enjoyable songs of the year. Next up on the album are two female-vocalist tracks courtesy of Rilo Kiley and KT Tunstall (”Portions For Foxes” and “Suddenly I See”), followed by The New Pornographers third consecutive M3 appearance, this time representing with their newest block-rockin’ single, “Use It”. Possibly the highlight of the album is The Decemberists’ “Legionnaire’s Lament”, which is, to say the least, amazing, followed by Feist’s “Mushaboom”, which might actually be the happiest song ever. Next up is old-school indie heroes, Modest Mouse (who are also represented by Sun Kil Moon’s cover of their song, “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes”), with their masterpiece, “3rd Planet”, along with other indie veterans Death Cab For Cutie and Ryan Adams, along with newcomer Devin Davis. Rounding out the final section of the album are Pinback with their OC-approved single, “Fortress”, as well as Okkervil River, Sun Kil Moon, and finally The Decemberists again, closing things out with their beautiful misfit/renegade anthem, “On The Bus Mall”.

M3 Volume 6:
01. “Holiday From Real” - Jack’s Mannequin
02. “The First Single (You Know Me)” - The Format
03. “Portions For Foxes” - Rilo Kiley
04. “Suddenly I See” - KT Tunstall
05. “Use It” - The New Pornographers
06. “Legionnaire’s Lament” - The Decemberists
07. “Mushaboom” - Feist
08. “3rd Planet” - Modest Mouse
09. “Crooked Teeth” - Death Cab For Cutie
10. “Iron Woman” - Devin Davis
11. “New York, New York” - Ryan Adams
12. “Fortress” - Pinback
13. “The Latest Toughs” - Okkervil River
14. “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” - Sun Kil Moon
15. “On The Bus Mall” - The Decemberists

So because only like four people did the whole “Best Halloween Costume” contest thing, I’m not terribly inspired to give out a prize, but since those four kind souls took time out of their day to post a comment, this one’s for them. Long story short: M3 Volume 6 is here. After the relatively morose, sedate style of M3 Volume 5, I felt like I should change things up a bit, and the result is the largely upbeat indiepop adventure that is M3 Volume 6. For those of you who heard M3 Volume 3 (which I will be eventually posting up here along with the rest of the pre-Good Weather For Airstrikes M3s, I promise), you know what kind of sound to expect, as a lot of the same artists from that edition (Rilo Kiley, New Pornographers, Decemberists) are again represented here. But you can see the tracklist for yourself below, and I’ll be posting the actual album/MP3s (as well as some bonus music videos) later tonight or tomorrow (if I don’t take a nap right now I might actually die).
NOTE: I kind of like the 15-song format, it’s more fulfilling, so I think I might stick with it, we’ll see how things go.