Write Turn

Time to just come out and admit it: my workload is such these days that it's almost impossible to keep posting new material here. I can't really apologize for that anymore, simply because it's not as if I've stopped writing altogether -- it's just that I've moved damn-near permanently at this point.

And so, rather than keep a two-month old video clip up as the first thing stragglers see when they inadvertently wander in here, I think it's probably a good idea to at least point people in the direction of my new office. (I won't call it home, because while it may be neglected right now, this place is still home to me.)

When I have something personal to say, I promise I'll return here, but for now if you're looking for my wit, charm and generally worthless opinions, you can head over to The Daily Banter.

The Daily Banter: Chez Pazienza

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Sorry, folks, it's been a really rough couple of weeks so I know I've slacked off from my usual amount of slacking off.

Here's some new stuff from Blood Red Shoes, which are one of what feels like the few relatively new alt-rock bands making music these days. Yes, I seem to lament that kind of thing more and more as I get older and listen to what KROQ plays nonstop these days.

Here's The Perfect Mess

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These guys are a slightly heavier Paramore and this song is an absolutely blast.

Here's We Are the In Crowd -- The Best Thing (That Never Happened).

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Manchester Orchestra are back with an upcoming record, Cope. Frontman Andy Hull says it's going to be a quick, straightforward rock album, as opposed to the glorious, passionate and sprawling mosaic that was 2011's Simple Math.

Here's the first single from the new record. This is Top Notch.

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More a hymn than a song, this is a current favorite.

Here's Half Moon Run -- Unofferable.

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I was rightly scolded by a couple of people for missing this yesterday. Truth is a new song from the Afghan Whigs couldn't have come at a better time. I need it right now.

Here's the band's first new single in 16 years.

This is Algiers.

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After all this time, I do still love this song.

Here's Keane's A Bad Dream.

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German DJ/Producer Zedd's collaboration with Matthew Koma back in 2012 turned out to be one of the best songs of that year. I still can't stop listening to Spectrum.

Now they're back, adding vocalist Miriam Bryant into the mix. The result isn't as good as Spectrum but it's still a hell of an enjoyable pop-EDM track.

Here's Find You.

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Whether he's fronting Red House Painters, Sun Kil Moon or simply working under his own name, Mark Kozelek makes some of the most beautiful and moving -- and sometimes darkly powerful -- acoustic music around.

His new album as Sun Kil Moon hit iTunes yesterday and it's his most personal release yet, with each song dealing not in universal themes but in very laser-point specific words about his life and feelings.

For most singer-songwriters this would feel terribly self-indulgent, but Kozelek makes it work because the entire record feels like a personal Psalm.

Here's the lovely I Can't Live Without My Mother's Love.

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This song's actually a year old but these guys are playing at the El Rey here in L.A. tonight with St. Lucia and I'm trying to convince myself to go, so why not post it here, right? That'll have some kind of impact on my decision, I'm sure.

Here's Sir Sly -- Gold.