{Robert Schneider from the Apples In Stereo from Athens Popfest 2008}

We here at TIG have been crushing out over Athens Popfest for years. I've been every year since 2006 and Liz went in 2005 and 2007. It's pretty much always the best week of the year, fusing together amazing indie pop, delicious food (seriously, Athens has the best!), and wonderful community. I look forward to the lineup announcement all year long, and the wonderful popfest folks have given us just a taste of what's to come, featuring some of my current favorite bands and lots of TIG favorites (and as always, some newbies I'm so excited to hear)!

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{Long Winters photo by Trickshot Photography}

Because I'm some kind of masochist and a total nerd, I've been slaving over this list, keeping it brief (harder than you'd think!) at my favorite 20 albums of the decade without duplicating a band (even harder). Side note: I've probably forgotten something I really, really love, so let's just call this how I feel right this minute. These are the albums I know every note and breath of by heart and I love as complete albums with all of my soul. These are albums that in my humble opinion have no skipable track and are works of beauty in their entirety. I'd also like to point out that these are my favorite albums, as I tend to shy away from calling them "the best", as really, it's just my opinion, and who am I to tell you that you're wrong for not liking these records? (Though, if you catch me in a potentially altered state, I may completely negate that and call any number of these THE GREATEST of all time and call you wrong to your face if you disagree.) I digress. Here they are!

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Yesterday I divulged my favorite albums of the year. Today I am ready to let go of my latest obsession: My album recap of how I spent my 00's.

The below listage rant is my own little time capsule to remind myself why 2000-2009 musically ruled. As with my other list posts, I'm certain I totally forgot to add something really important to my end-all-be-all-recap. It's up to you to remind me by posting your favs of the 00's below.

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This past weekend was one of great small shows around town - and a couple big ones like the Goodbye Mr. Harvey Danger shows on Friday/Saturday and the Ramona Falls/BOAT/Y La Bamba show at the Croc on Friday night.

The highlight of my weekend was the Fishboy show at the Vera Project last night. Those Denton boys bring it every time. I have no idea why they aren't hugely famous. Each show is full of jumps, cowbell banging, a trumpet part here and there... and their songs are impeccably catchy. If you want to see them before they head home, Fishboy has a show in Olympia on Tuesday at the Nightfinger Complex with Sundance Kids.

What did you do? What was your highlight?

Do you have any recommendations for this week leading up to Bumbershoot?

 

Denton, Texas foursome Fishboy are wrapping up a huge US tour in support of their new album, Nom. Before they head back to "All Hail West Texas," they are stopping by the Vera Project this Sunday night for an all ages show.

For those of you not on my Best of 2007 mix tape mailing list, one of my favorite albums of 2007 was Fishboy's Albatross: How We Failed to Save the Lone Star State with the Power of Rock and Roll.  It's packed with wicked guitar hooks, lyrical punch, and is ready made for a brilliant indie-pop musical.  Fishboy must agree that you should hear it right away too because they posted the album online so you can hear a stream of it anytime (now's good for you, right?).

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Well, it's about time, and I was delighted as the official news landed in my inbox this afternoon! Denton, TX's Fishboy officially have a brand new EP coming out August 18th!

The songs off the new EP, Nom, were originally written for 2007's brilliant Albatross: How We Failed to Save the Lone Star State with the Power of Rock and Roll (a 2007 of both me and imaginary Liz), but were scrapped as plot lines changed or to fit the flow of the album. And, instead of having the band toil in the studio, Mr. Fishboy himself Eric Michener had some Denton superstars dubbed "the Om Nom Noms" record all the songs.

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I love folks when great music taste and extra time futz around with iMovie. Thank you fanella55! You did a great job putting one of my favorite Fishboy songs ("Proper Name Spelling Bee") to digital video.

I recently saw someone do this sort of thing with a Tullycraft song; OldFlat24 set "The Punks Are Writing Love Songs" to scenes from High School Musical and it's rad! Sure, this is the first I've seen of HSM, but it looks pretty Degrassi cool when edited to three minutes).

Have you seen any more examples of this? Please link / post away. Could this be the downfall of MTV? Or an underground rebirth of the early days of 120 Minutes splendor?

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at The Sunset

A sweaty night of indie-pop songs about taqueria girls, vampires, baseball, bubblegum and Chicago public schools.

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at Fremont Troll

Spelling Sing-a-longs at the Fremont Troll

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All the hubbub about the Subpop 20th Birthday celebration almost made me forget that this Saturday one of my favorite bands is going to be in town this Saturday night at the Sunset Tavern!

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