Last week, Dichototall and I braved the roads and the suburbs to see Radiohead at one of the huge outdoor stadium venues in Massachusetts. There really are no words that can properly review a show like this. Radiohead is of course, one of our favorite bands, as it is one of many people’s favorite bands, but sometimes I think I forget just how good they are. Sometimes being a speck among the masses of folks who are also jamming out to their awesomeness just underscores the whole phenomenon. Yes, I have had the arena tour Kool-Aid. And I don’t care.

Three things I especially liked: 1. The lighting was badass. See below. 2. Johnny Greenwood looks like he’s having a blast, even though that doesn’t seem to be the Radiohead M.O. 3. Thom Yorke’s voice has matured into this amazing instrument. Through all the times I’ve seen them, never have I heard such a rich texture to all those notes. Brava.

This isn’t going to do shit for you if you weren’t there, but here’s an eeny beeny taste:

EDIT: Also, when I say “braved the roads,” I’m being polite. We jammed out before the second encore because I have a new puppy at home and couldn’t wait another 2 hours in traffic, as we had on the way in. Even the Phoenix had something to say about it, seeing as thousands of cars idling on 495 for 4 hours doesn’t quite jibe with the “Reduced Carbon” tour they were trying to do here.

All you need to know is that Squarepusher is putting out a new album this year and that you can stream one of the songs on the Warp Records MySpace page.

Can life get any better?

This just made my morning. Do you have the spirit, ya’ll?

You know, when The Nine came out, that fun song with the slidy noise in it, I hated it. Now, because of its nostalgia factor, I miss it. Typical. I still can’t quite dance like the skinny jeans-wearing Christian brother in the video. But close.

I know Matt was a big fan of the Santogold album, and this song was one of my favorites from it. Hump day video time:

I am so very stressed today. I have a puppy that can’t sleep through the night. I have nerves like electric wires. I am tired. I don’t know how I’m going to run 14 miles for my long run tomorrow, nevermind how the heck I’m going to raise another 3K or so to run the marathon I’m running. What have I gotten myself into X 29,872.

There’s movement in most every area in my life, and while this excites and challenges me, it also stresses me the f out. I have had to restrict my coffee intake. And I can’t eat too much food. The wrong song will bring me to tears (Happiness by Elliott Smith this morning just about destroyed me: “all I want now is happiness for you and me” after listening to your puppy cry as you leave for the day? Brutal.). I have discussed the benefits of therapeutic music on this bloggy before, but there is a world outside of Boards of Canada, I know.

Still, when I need to chill the f out, I spin out Blue Train by Coltrane. It’s the right amount of somber, the right amount of chill, and the right amount of hopeful all at once. Everyone should own the album. Everyone. The opening notes of the title track are like a big exhale.

John Coltrane—Blue Train

I wonder if it works for pups, too.

Ever since my trip to Chicago last week, I’ve not quite settled back into life. I loved that city, my head is still in the clouds a bit, and now work is keeping me insanely busy before I depart on vacation next week. August is the month to travel, apparently.

How’s about a little M83 to wean myself back into the habit of “Dichotomizing”, as Rachel and I like to call it.

The slightly bizarre, but visually interesting video for “Kim & Jessie”, which is off what just may be the top album of 2008 that sends me to my Happy Place™. Long live the 80’s.

Man, I miss 120 Minutes.

I am picking up my new adopted doggie today and maybe having a DTR chat. For this reason, it is important to remember the wise words of St. Etienne.

I’ll be remembering those important words, then throwing caution to the wind.

Why do I think you’ll like this track by Leila, featuring Martina Topley-Bird (you know her voice from Tricky tracks)? Because it’s got a kind of driving beat, because it’s quirk-tronica, and because Bird’s voice is sexy as all get out. As we are fans of driving beats, quirktronica and sexiness in all forms, this is your jam of the week.

Leila f. Martina Topley-Bird—Deflect

Oh, this is probably an album you will want to buy, and you may do so here.

In the event that this week is as crazy a week as last week was, I want to hit on a few bullet points. This is like “The Soup” of my Google Reader. Call me Joel McHale.

• In Rainbows was a big hit, dur der dur dur. Here is quantitative analysis on why. We love quantitative analysis on Sunday mornings.

• You know what else is great? The New York Times Sunday arts sections, a cup of black coffee, and Sunday Morning by Velvet Underground. Here, have some.

Velvet Underground-Sunday Morning

• Treat yourself right and grab the Ewan Pearson mix on Music For Robots here. It’s actually very nice for Sunday morning, too.

• A few tracks and a nice interview with Brother Ali up at Brooklyn Vegan in case you were lacking in albino hip hop. And if you don’t have some Ali, you are. Thank you, vegan.

• Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene (love) has a new track you can download on the freesies on RCRD LBL. Go here for it. Than me afterwards. It’s called Summer Time Dues, so I’m going to try and incorporate it into my summer listening somehow. Because obvs, there’s not enough on my “Recently Added” playlist. Ugs. (I complain, but I love. I love.)

• Speaking of, does anyone have any suggestions for what 2008’s summer jam might be? I’m really listening to a lot of nostalgic stuff so I feel maybe out of the loop. It’s Miley Cyrus, isn’t it. Damn. I put my head down on the blog for a couple days, and all hell breaks loose. At least our Boston babe Kay Hanley has something to do with it.

• The minitek festival scheduled for this September in NYC is going to rule. The Pan Pot mix they have posted on their podcast is also dope. My adjective choices this morning? Perhaps a little tween-boyish.

Happy listening, ya’ll.