When not on tour, I bet ILYBICD work in an IT department somewhere

The first great album of the year in my book comes from I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness. Fear Is On Our Side was released March 7 and is the first full-length from the Austin-based band, whose sound falls somewhere between Interpolish new wave and Dovesish Manchester rock, with some shoegazerish stuff thrown in for good measure. Overall it's just a very well-produced, consistent and gimmick-free album, and the fact that they excluded some good songs from their previous EPs is indicative of the general quality of their catalog...the album doesn't really have any weak links. Expect it to make my top ten albums of 2006. More good stuff about them here.

I Love You But I've Chosen Darkness / "According to Plan"
I Love You But I've Chosen Dakrness / "Your Worst is the Best" (non-album track)

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Other new music to sample:

SOUND team / "Don't Turn Away"
SOUND team make dark, somewhat experimental, and generally interesting rock music. They're from Texas and buddies with ILYBICD.

The Starlight Mints / "Inside of Me"
Catchy, very well-constructed alternative pop music.

Colour Revolt / "Mattresses Underwater"
A meandering, tempo-changing mess of a song that I like but which might not appeal to most.

Voxtrot / "Mothers, Sisters, Daughters & Wives"
It's a new Voxtrot song, just in time for International Women's Day.

Caroline / "Where's My Love"
Caroline Lufkin makes pleasant electronic-tinged pop music. This song makes me want to find an injured bunny, nurse it back to health, and then re-release it back into the wild. If you mention this song to me I'll probably start hugging you, so be warned.

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Another new X-Men trailer is up, and it looks pretty...big. The X-Men films have always made a ton of money, but for some reason they generally get overlooked in comparison to the other big comic book franchises (think Spider-Man). I'm not a comic book person but I've really liked the previous two films.

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The design origin of the cubicle. Would be more interesting if I actually worked in a cubicle and didn't have my own office [insert snotty British aristocrat laughing]

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Andy and Conan reunite. Sort of.

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Good article by Ebert about the Brokeback Mountain post-Oscar whining.