Sorry it's been a little while, but my laziness is now your belated stocking full of mp3 goodness. Mike Doughty - Skittish / Rockity Roll Formerly M.Doughty, frontman of Soul Coughing, Mike Doughty has been pursuing a pretty active solo career since Soul Coughing broke up in early 2000. Most of that time has been with minor-to-no label representation, so the main way to get his recorded material was to go to his Web site and buy it directly from him. Well, he's finally signed with the Sony-backed behemoth BMG Entertainment. The first thing they did was re-release two of Doughty's solo recordings, Skittish and Rockity Roll. And even better, they released it as a two CD set and added a few bonus tracks. Skittish is quiet, primarily just voice and guitar. Doughty's strange lyrics and guitar-hook core, bare to the world. Very pleasing. Rockity Roll expands the sonic texture a bit without loosing the focus. Here's the first cut from Rockity Roll. Ways + Means - Skittish / Rockity Roll Cake - Pressure Chief Cake's latest one. Same old, which for me, is good enough to warrant rotation. Not mind blowing, but good all the same. For those new to Cake, they're now a four piece out of Sacramento. They've had some line-up and label changes, but since lead singer John McCrea is the driving force, as long as he stays put, they'll keep on trucking. Sort of alt-country, mixing in more electronic textures over the last few albums. Guitar and trumpet driven. Dry lyrics and presentation. Cake songs that you may have heard: 'Rock 'n Roll Lifestyle' and 'The Distance' Here's Dime from Pressure Chief Iron & Wine - Our Endless Numbered Days This is Iron & Wine's (Sam Beam) third album, second full-length.. For me, it's the first listenable one. His first was super-lo-fi. I like lo-fi as much as the next guy, but it was just too much for me to enjoy. This album has shown a tremendous growth, both in terms of songwriting and production. It's sweet. Very quiet, very intimate, indy-folk. On Sub Pop. Each Coming Night from Our Endless Numbered Days The Owls - Our Hopes and Dreams You're all probably already hip to the Owls, and you should be. I don't know a lot about them. They're a four piece from Minneapolis, on Magic Marker Records. And they rock. Looking forward to seeing them live soon. Air from Our Hope and Dreams Les Claypool and the Holy Mackerel - Highball With the Devil Like Primus? Wondering what Les Claypool, bassist and frontman of Primus, is up to? Here's his latest project. He seems to have a new project every few years, and they all pretty much sound the same. Did you know that when Cliff Burton, the original bassist for Metallica died in a tour bus accident, Claypool auditioned to replace him? How weird would that have been? Hendershot from Highball With the Devil A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder Every time I play a track from The Slow Wonder at Balls (A cabaret I DJ for) someone asks about it afterwards. This is the debut solo album from the former frontman from the Vancouver, B.C. band, the New Pornographers. He's been getting a ton of indy press, so there's plenty of info out there on him. Here's my favorite track. Drink To Me Babe, Then - The Slow Wonder Back issues are available (sans mp3s) at http://www.ochenk.com/twn/ Please forward this on to those that might be interested. They can add themselves to the recipient list at http://www.ochenk.com/twn/ Got anything you've been listening to and loving? I'd love to know. Take care. Ochen K.