Here it is Friday again already. I meant to get at least one other post up this week, but other things got in the way. Boring things, but necessary. You know how that is.

Here are more photos from our China trip last month. T-shirts with English text can be seen everywhere in China, but most of the manufacturers and wearers are obviously unaware of the meaning. I also own shirts with Chinese characters on them, and I don’t know what they say either. Now I am afraid to wear them until I get my Chinese friend to translate! Anyway, I managed to take photos of these shirts that are particularly humorous.

Blog Gallery by Picturesurf

Crap, how did I, a longtime Ash fan, miss this? Sean at Battery In Your Leg that my favorite Irish band of the 90’s is going to release a series of singles, The A-Z Series. Start right now with the free download of “Return of the White Rabbit” in this post.

Check out The Good, the Bad, and the Unknown’s 11 Best Albums of 2009. Stuff there I haven’t heard yet–I missed even knowing there is a new Metric album out this year.

Go down Stytzer’s list of current favorites at Hits In the Car, and you will find juicy gems. The two tunes by Death Valley Sleepers won me over.

Listen to a blisterng blues number by Imogen Heap with (yowza!) Jeff Beck at I Guess I’m Floating. Not only that, but another cover of Passion Pit’s “Sleepyhead,” this time by Run Toto Run (other cover is by Emil and Friends). I have to say, I like the covers better than the original. Don’t miss Spanish Prisoners and lots and lots more.

Take a time-travel back to 1997, as Pretty Goes With Pretty reviews album Easy Rider, the eighth album by my longtime favorite, the Byrds.

Sandy at Slowcoustic found a gorgeous song by Reverie Sound Revue. See more on the same band at The Yellow Stereo, plus a new single by French duo Air.

The great folks over at The 405 have really been busy. Check out their News feature for some up-to-the-minute new singles, including a new MSTRKRFT remix.

I am determined to keep up my new daily hike regimen, so that’s all for today.

I really liked “Catswallow,” from Knoxville, TN-based Royal Bangs’ album We Breed Champions. This one from their new album slated for fall release is a firecracker too.
Royal Bangs: My Car Is Haunted from Let It Beep (2009)
MySpace | Buy

Black Keys’ drummer Pat Carney plays on this song from Drummer, whose debut album is set for release September 28.
Drummer - Feel Good Together from Feel Good Together
MySpace | Audio Eagle Label

Brand-new Mew!
Mew: Repeaterbeater from No More Stories (2009)
MySpace | Buy

Au Revoir Simone: Another Likely Story from Still Night, Still Light (2009)
MySpace | Buy

Elephant Stone - I Am Blind from The Seven Seas
Indiecater Records | Buy

Austin’s New Roman Times pack a lot of exciting rock into this song.
New Roman Times - VCR from On the Sleeve - release date July 14, 2009
MySpace | Buy

Filed under: China vacation, blogs, finally friday, Au Revoir Simone, Drummer, Elephant Stone, Mew, New Roman Times, Royal Bangs

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