Currently reading and thinking about: Momus’ latest LJ entry, via the Stranger, about Acclaimed Music, a website put together by a hardcore statistician which calculates the 3000 most recommended albums/songs of all time.

Plus also, some recent mp3s:

“ZOMG, DOWNLOAD THE NEW BEIRUT ALBUM THE FLYING CLUB CUP FOR FREE!!!” was a refrain heard ’round the internet recently, when the album leaked due to music writer Erik Davis having dropped off his promo copy at a thrift store just before leaving for Burning Man. And the label was right pissed, of course. Upon returning from Burning Man, Davis put down his flaming devil sticks, took off his jester hat and ski goggles, and sheepishly commented on the situation over at Boing Boing.

Certainly your most e-mailed link of the day today will be The Onion’s “Pitchfork Gives Music 6.8.”

I realize it’s a fairly long-dead horse getting beaten, and the emo/screamo background music is sort of inexplicable, but I confess I did still find the Hipster Olympics sort of amusing.

Oh yeah, I saw the first week sales for that This Is Next Wal-Mart Indie Compilation:

Finally got the new mix up. Thanks to Mr. Kyle Fletcher for this month’s banner, and doubly thanks to him for writing in and volunteering to do it! Because, thing is, I unfortch don’t have time to actively solicit artists these days (have you noticed the banners for the last 9 months have all been by me?) Hint: I would graciously welcome other volunteers for future banners…

Soft Abuse sent over a copy of the new disc by The Battles Giantess this week. Because it doesn’t sound much like anything else that’s coming out these days (which is a good thing), it’s quickly become v. popular here ’round Catbird HQ.

Did you hear the new mp3 from the upcoming Enon album, Grass Geysers…Carbon Clouds??? It’s awesome because it sounds more like oldschool Enon (ie “Braniacky”) than it does that minimalist blipbloop stuff the last few releases seemed to be dealing in.

Hey, Dirtnap Records just recently released a vinyl edition of that great Exploding Hearts singles/rarities collection, Shattered. Available via mailorder only; first 500 copies on red vinyl.

Looks like a number of folks enjoyed the bonus podcast while I was out; awesome. The secret to that podcast was that it was an all Catbird Records podcast, which you would’ve discovered if you listened all the way to the end, wherein you were directed to the tracklist here. There were two “coming soon” listings in the tracklist, though, and I can now reveal the identity of track 6, as the release is now ready and shipping:

::: Prairie Cat - Grumpy Forever :::

…from Catbird Records’ CSP 004, Prairie Cat - Attacks!

Prairie Cat comes to us from the wilds of Vancouver BC, and though he can tear your face off with his razor-sharp claws and gnaw your eyes out with his piercy fangs, he’ll tickle the pleasure centers in your brain with his short and sweet pop songs.

(Just kidding about the claws and the fangs, Prairie Cat’s not really a cat, durr. Everyone knows cats can’t play pop. They only know how to play Ennio Morricone cover songs.)

This release is a co-release with Torontopia’s own Fuzzy Logic Recordings; Catbird’s just doing the limited edition version. It’s a 7-song, jewel-cased CD with unique hand-painted cover. Edition of 100 (most of which have already been sold). $6.

Also, just in time for Fashion Week here in New York, I should let you know that we have new Catbird Records T-shirts in. The bad news is almost all of them are sold out already too. There are some X-Larges, some Mediums, and maybe like 1 Women’s Medium left. They’re American Apparel Grass Green with yellow logo (the Women’s design is Pink-on-Mint, FWIW). $10.

PS, new Monthly Mix should be up before the end of the week.