Hey, whattya know, the new mix is up, days early. So it’s like it’s January 1st right now, but without that hungover pounding in your temples. So enjoy.

Jez, of the soon-to-be-relaunched Baskerville’s Syndrome dot Org turned in the January banner. Note that Jez is apparently recruiting “hip, young gunslingers” right now, to contribute to a fresh site relaunch in February. Give him a holler.

And Happy New Year. I predict that 2006 will be much like 2005, only saltier.

Secretly Canadian has posted an mp3 from the upcoming ILYBICD disc, Fear Is On Our Side. The song is a do-over of one of the tracks from that Artikal Records 12-inch that came out a while back.

::: According To Plan :::

Did you know there’s a new Lilys album coming out February 21st on Manifesto Records?

I think I’m probably going to be prone to incessant blathering on and on when it comes to Destroyer’s Rubies, but I’m gonna try to keep that in check, and just pass along news:

Not that there was really any question about it, but Martin has confirmed that Scratch will be handling the vinyl for Destroyer’s Rubies.

For those of you champing at the bit for Destroyer tour news (and this is nowhere near confirmed (do not post it as fact)), I am fairly certain that Dan & co. will be accompanying Magnolia Electric Company on *all* of their dates. FWIW.

BMR pointed out these awesome BBC Session tracks from Herman Dune. For me, it’s like an early Christmas present!

And Jerry, in his infinite wisdom, has recognized that since we now live in the age of broadband internet, why bother using words to describe progress on the new Moviola album, when he can just post a nice big video instead?

Jagjaguwar has posted an mp3 from The Pink Mountaintops‘ Axis of Evol:

::: New Drug Queens :::

They’ve also posted details about the Minus Story Contest that’s running right now. The prize for this contest is a one song for you and only you, a vinyl copy of No Rest For Ghosts, artwork by or pertaining to Minus Story, and a Minus Story “Mystery Box.” Details on how to enter are here.

Hee. Somebody posted an Unbunny performance from 1999 here.

Carl finally got his v. good Destroyer’s Rubies post up last night. He’s spot-on. And yes, I do think that this will be Destroyer’s most successful record to date, in terms of both critical praise and indie-hipster buzz. Because it really does go beyond just being a “great Destroyer album;” it’s a really great album, period.

And Carl does make mention of the Destroyer Drinking Game, and yes, I believe you will likely get very drunk very quickly when playing with Destroyer’s Rubies.

For those keeping track, I noticed that the Destroyer’s Rubies song, “Watercolours Into The Ocean”, is in fact a rework of Destroyer’s “Song For Acuarela” from Acuarela Songs Vol. 3.

And in a very fortuitous coincidence, Said The Gramophone just happens to have the track “Rubies” available for your downloading pleasure right now.

Though I know there’ve always been a bunch of people who are nuts about East River Pipe, I don’t think I’d ever heard anything until this new one, What Are You On? (Jan 24), showed up on my desk the other day. It’s good. I think I love that “Crystal Queen” song.

::: Crystal Queen :::
::: What Does T.S. Eliot Know About You? :::

Touch & Go posted a new Quasi track, from their upcoming record, When The Going Gets Dark, out in March.

::: Merry X-Mas :::

There a few tracks “from the vaults” freshly posted over at Mountain-Goats dot com. “Cut Off Their Thumbs” and “Deserters”, a song which John says sparked the whole We Shall Be Healed album.

And hey: New Contest- I’ve got a copy of that new Queens Of The Stone Age “Over the Years and Through The Woods” DVD to give away. Details about the disc can be found right here. Just submit yr email below, and I’ll draw a winner next week.

Contest closed - thanks!

Matt sent over this track that smacked me upside the face and plastered a big smile right on it. Courtesy of Portland, Oregon’s Blitzen Trapper, it’s a bleepbloop rumpshaker cover of a Heart classic:

::: Blitzen Trapper - Crazy On You :::

Their record, Field Rexx, which was self-released earlier this year (Pfork even reviewed it), will soon also have a UK release, on the Good Time Folk label.

(PS, I also very much like this track- :::Summer Twin :::)

(PPS, if their music is really grabbing you, you may want to go plunder this cache of Blitzen Trapper live material (Thx Rich))

There’s a minor change to the page today: see over there on the right, in the box that says Catbird Records? It used to say Coming December 2005 and now it says Now Shipping. Get it? Catbird Records‘ second release, Pet Politics - In My Head EP is now available. 4 songs, 3 bucks. 200 copies.

I swear, I thought there were about 6 Destroyer fanatics in the world, and I thought I was on a first-name basis with all of them. But based upon what I’ve been witnessing lately, I think I’ve greatly underestimated the number of Bejarites out there. For example, did you know that there was a Destroyer Livejournal Community? If you did know about it, you’d also know about this YSI link to another Rubies track (”3000 Flowers”). Also, word on the street, er, uh, word in my email is that a real, “official” Destroyer website may possibly materialize at some point in the near future. Also, I’m very anxious to hear Carl’s thoughts on Rubies.

Jeez, I know it’s gettin’ cold outside, but I didn’t know hell had frozen over. Kaleb forwarded me an announcement that, what? 2 years? 3 years? on, Ladies & Gentlemen magazine is actually doing another issue. The first one was beautiful, and this next one looks, uh, beautifuller. Details here. Ships Februrary 17th.

Also, the third issue of the great Yeti Magazine is currently on its way out to the shops. There should be a site up soon for you to order directly, but here are the details: Book + CD: 244 page 6″ by 9″ matte gloss journal. CD contains rare/unreleased stuff by Devendra (3 songs), The Postal Service, Iron & Wine, and many others. Book contains a ton of cool stuff, including art by Sammy Harkham, Carson Ellis, Jeffrey Brown, and more.

And swing by Said The Gramophone, as there’s a boatload of mp3s to be had right now (Sean’s “22 Favourite Songs of 2005″), plus also, a contest, where you can win a prize-pack of BMR stuff, including Inventory, the Pre-Inventory EP, and a BMR button. Get on it, all you gotta do is write a haiku.

(Sorry about that rhyme. I wasn’t trying, not that time.)

(Hey! No more rhymes, I mean it!)

(Anybody want a peanut?)

(Sorry.)

I’m sending out a big thanks to Jerimee, for pointing what happens when I post the mix at 2am after a sleep-deprived week: I (gasp!) mislabeled a song. As much as I am enjoying those few tracks I’ve heard from John Dufilho’s new record, the 4th song in this month’s mix, “Please Come Back”, is in fact, not John, but actually Catfish Haven, from their upcoming album on Secretly Canadian.

::: John Dufilho - What Are You Waiting For? (m4a) :::
::: John Dufilho - My Circuits Are Blown (m4a) :::::: Catfish Haven - Please Come Back :::
::: Catfish Haven - Paper Thin :::

This sleepy-eyed mislabeling stuff wouldn’t happen if I could just hook up that Mexican-Pharmacy Off-Brand-Ambien prescription.