Listening Post

If you haven't yet heard these guys, prepare to be seriously blown away. I caught them last Friday at the Palladium where they opened for the Offspring and they're honestly the most powerful and ferocious band, both live and in studio, that I've heard in a very, very long time. Emily Armstrong, in particular, has one of those voices that comes along only once in a long while in rock and roll.

Here's two from Dead Sara. Above it's the new single from their self-titled debut album, Weatherman -- below it's Sorry for It All.

Listening Post

This is such damn wonderful stuff. It's Band of Horses performing acoustically in a truly spectacular setting: Outside in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

This is The Slow Cruel Hands of Time.

My latest TV project is just about complete and while I have another one waiting right behind it, things should finally start returning somewhat to normal around here beginning tomorrow. Until then, enjoy Heroic Italian Discoverer/Genocidal Maniac Day (depending on your point of view).

Listening Post

I've been playing the hell out of this entire record lately.

It's Blood Red Shoes -- and this is In Time To Voices.

Q & A

Just a reminder that since I'm curating the Daily Banter mailbag these days, it's time once again to troll you guys for questions.

You know how it works: If you've got something you want to ask Bob, Ben and me about politics, the media, pop culture or your horrific deviant sex problems, we're all ears.

Just submit your questions via e-mail -- my address is on the right -- or through Facebook or the comment section here.

We're ready to believe you.

Attitude Adjustment

Today's column for the Daily Banter, not surprisingly, has to do with last night's presidential debate and what it means for Mitt Romney, Barack Obama and all of us.

Despite lying his ass off, Romney scored big in Denver. The question now: What effect will it have on the campaign?

Here's an excerpt:

"I’ve been saying for a while now that premature gloating on the part of Democrats probably isn’t wise since, despite the growing lead Obama’s opened up recently and the momentum his campaign has enjoyed, there’s still enough time before election day for everything to change. Yes, it’s unlikely, as we’re constantly reminded by those who study the polls carefully, understand conventional wisdom inherently and know election year history like some people know NFL stats. But here’s the thing: This race isn’t like any we’ve seen before. Why? Because our national political climate isn’t like any that’s come before."

Read the Rest Here

Listening Post

From one of my favorite albums of last year, a hypnotically droning little track that -- trust me on this -- is one of the best late night driving songs you're likely to ever come across. (Judging by the video it's also pretty good for sex, but I can't say I've given that a whirl.)

Here's the Naked and Famous -- The Sun.

Master Piece

I'm a very big fan of Paul Thomas Anderson. I thought Boogie Nights was extraordinary, Magnolia is one of my all-time favorite films, and There Will Be Blood, in my opinion, was the best movie of the 2000s. (I still haven't gotten around to seeing The Master.)

Still, despite my fanboy appreciation, I can fully understand where Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman is coming from in his respectful and very well-written explanation of how and why he "fell out of love" with Anderson's films.

Regardless of your opinion of Anderson and his work, it's an excellent read.

Entertainment Weekly: Why I Fell Out of Love with the Films of Paul Thomas Anderson/10.3.12