The Entroporium

As in Iran, female singers are banned in Saudi Arabia, thus knocking out half the fun. I get the sense that fun isn’t a real high priority over there. Abdulmajeed Abdulla – Al Gaid.mp3 Mohamed Abdu – Abaa’d.mp3 I think the Mohamed Abdu track kinda rocks — it takes a while to get going, it’s [...]

Look, I know all you indie kids would rather I posted a softie like Jens Lekman or some kind of retro rock like Soundtrack Of Our Lives or The Caesars or The Hives or somesuch. But I’m going to tell you right now: the best Swedish album I ever heard — and maybe one of [...]

Iran’s President Bans Western Music (AP, December 19, 2005): Hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has banned Western music from Iran’s radio and TV stations, reviving one of the harshest cultural decrees from the early days of 1979 Islamic Revolution. Songs such as George Michael’s "Careless Whisper," Eric Clapton’s "Rush" and the Eagles’ "Hotel California" have regularly [...]

Susumu Yokota – Uchu Tanjyo.mp3 Puffy Ami Yumi – Track 2 from “Nice”.mp3 See more of the incredible art of Japan: Hokusai’s 36 Views of Mount Fiji

The Bambi Molesters – Theme From Slaying Beauty.mp3 (featuring Pete Buck and Scott McCaughey) Surf music from Croatia? Sure, why not! Pitchfork gave it a 7.9.

Tunisia was the outskirts of the Roman Empire and its northern coast is dotted with ruins. Color me intrigued. You might know Tunisia best, unfortunately, as Tatooine. Anouar Brahem – C’est Ailleurs.mp3

While it’s always thrilling to have your team advance deep into the championship, inevitably somebody comes up with an idea for a an asinine fight song and makes your fandom sound really really stupid. Most of the time these are simple cash-ins, as for the 2002 World Series when Thomas Dolby replaced “She Blinded Me [...]

Despite the excellent play of Drogba, the best player on the Premier League-winning Chelsea side, La Cote d’Ivorie looks headed for an early exit. Nevertheless, with the home country several years into one of those crazy multi-sided civil wars that plague many African countries, this World Cup appearance is probably one of the best things [...]

Plankton Man vs. Terrestre – Gran Chapparal.mp3Thalia – Seduccion.mp3 For those of you keeping up, I think Ghana & this one are my favorites so far. I also have to admit that I have become mildly obsessed with the Thalia track, which I first heard on the podcast for Stylus Magazine’s Singles Jukebox. Subscribe to [...]