Wow. Like, whoa. Everybody just *loves* the Tap Tap; don’t you? We’ve been getting crazy response on this one. Limited-edition copies remain, but note that there are very few copies of the red, pale-red, and purple left.

And remember a few weeks ago, I mentioned the new EP by Thomas Tap Tap’s other band, Pete & The Pirates? That disc’ll be available this week in the UK from our dear friends at Stolen. There’s a release show at the Spitz, 109 Commercial St, E1 in London on Friday the 28th. Also, they’ll be doing an XFM Session on the 27th.

We’re hoping to arrange a specially discounted price on the Pete & The Pirates Wait Stop Begin disc especially for Catbird readers, so stay tuned.

I didn’t get to mention it before, but the Maestro wants to extend a special thanks to all who came out the Candy Store show on the 16th. It was a packed house, and that’s always nice. The Maestro and Katie have been asked back too, and will be doing another show together on 10/13. I also need to mention that the Maestro will be performing in his new incarnation as Fulton Lights at the Knitting Factory on July 30th.

::: Fulton Lights - Fire In The Palm Of My Hand :::

He’ll be playing with a full 9-piece band, which should be just amazing. And to top it all off, also appearing will be Dragon Turtle, Kristen:Austin (Kristen Mueller of Gloria Deluxe), and Lewis & Clarke! (Oh My Rockness, did you get that?)

Btw, the bonus disc version of the Maestro Echoplex EPs are sold out now.

I’ve been wondering why every new order for the Hemstad disc is coming from the UK, and the answer is simple: The English love Hemstad. They’ve been getting some radio airplay over there, plus, UK-based Wigwam Records will soon be releasing a 7-inch of “Kaserntorgets Charkdisco” b/w “Speedway Pa Arendal,” plus, Hemstad has also been tapped to play the End Of The Road Festival in Reading on September 15-17, alongside Badly Drawn Boy, The Pink Mountaintops, El Perro Del Mar, and a bazillion other fantastic bands. Anyone want to donate some frequent flyer miles so I can haul my ass over there?

Anyway, on to non CBR crap…

You guys catch that Merge has a new Buckner disc on the way? It’s called Meadow, and it’s out September 12th.

::: Richard Buckner - Town :::

He’ll be touring throughout September alongside Eric Bachmann, whose new disc, To The Races, will be out on Saddle Creek on 8/22.

::: Eric Bachmann - Carrboro Woman :::
::: Eric Bachmann - Lonesome Warrior :::

(Isn’t “Lonesome Warrior” a yoga position?)

Holy smiley happy pop-song, Batman; have you heard that track from the upcoming Jim Noir full-length on Barsuk?

::: Jim Noir - Key of C :::

Sheesh, SCTAS has been turning me on to so much good stuff of late, I can’t keep up. Here’s just one thing: the new double-album from The Channel, Tales From the Two Hill Heart / Sibylline Machine, out 8/08 on C-Side Records.

::: The Channel - The Deserter :::
::: The Channel - Sibylline Machine :::

Speaking of double-disc’ers, our pals 75 Or Less Records have just released a double-CD, Rock Out With Your Tail Out, as a benefit for the Providence Animal Rescue League. 31 different RI bands contributed tracks for this release, which comes in a hand-silkscreened edition of 500. Only $8.50, shipping included! Go pick up a copy– the little waggytails of Providence need your help. Don’t make me send you over to Cute Overload to get you into “Awww-Lil-Animals-Are-So-Adorable-And-Need-Our-Help” mode.

Oh hey, you know how that Maestro Echoplex disc is called Last Night I Saw God On The Dancefloor?” There’s a song called that on the disc, but it’s actually a sort of cover. The song’s actually written by Maestro collaborator John Lindenbaum (formerly of Rust Belt Music, currently of The Lonelyhearts), is called “Trip McNeely Syndrome,” and originally appeared on Rust Belt’s 2003 EP The Dodge EP.

::: Rust Belt Music - Trip McNeely Syndrome :::

You can download that EP in its entirety, as well as the just-posted final Rust Belt album, The Company Town, right here on the Rust Belt Music download page. Can’t beat that with a stick.

After swinging by Said The Gramophone the other day, and hearing the song “Greased Hairclip,” I immediately had to jump over and order the new disc by BOAT. I can’t wait to hear it.

::: BOAT - Last Cans Of Paint :::

Wow, mega-tweesters Sprites are still kickin’ and have a new disc, Modern Gameplay, out this month (avail. at Darla). Here’s their apocalyptic end-of-the-world song (keeping in mind, of course, that I refer to Sprites as “mega-twee”):

::: Sprites - George Romero :::

Wha-wha-what?! The Spectacular Fantastic have followed up last summer’s totally-free I Love You EP with, yep, another totally free EP! I can’t even single out a favorite track out of the bunch– they’re all good stuff. And free, did I mention that?

Mark your calendars for 11/21:

Swan Lake
Beast Moans
11/21/06

1. Widow’s Walk
2. Nubile Days
3. City Calls
4. A Venue Called Rubella
5. All Fires
6. The Partisan But He’s Got To Know
7. The Freedom
8. Petersburg, Liberty Theater, 1914
9. The Pollenated Girls
10. Bluebird
11. Pleasure Vessels
12. Are You Swimming In Her Pools?
13. Shooting Rockets

No word yet on which tracks are Dan Bejar’s, which are Carey Mercer’s, and which are Spencer Krug’s, but then again, does it really matter? S’all gonna be fantastic.