Maybe I’m just a luddite, but I still treasure the tactile experience that accompanies listening to an album- pulling the vinyl/tape/cd out, pouring over the artwork and liner notes, dropping the needle, flipping the record/tape, etc., etc. I mean look at the packaging for Liars’ new album Sisterworld. It’s beautiful! Don’t you want to hold it?! Expand and collapse it like a slinky?! You can’t put your arms around an mp3!

Seriously though, I’ve come to expect nothing less than amazing when designed by Hand Held Heart.

And Sisterworld is out today!

Angus Andrew/CD packaging photos via Hand Held Heart’s photostream.

Releases like this are why Teenage Teardrops is one of my favorite labels of all time.

STATION FIRE, a full color 8 1/2 X 11 collage zine by Jenna and Cali. 40 pages, limited to 150 copies. Comes with an audio companion cassette compilation which was mostly recorded in one day on the hottest day of the year while the fire raged at its peak. Features exclusive songs from John Clavin, Michael Thornhill, Nick deWitt, David Scott Stone, Lucky Dragons, Infinite Body, Jenna and Cali and more. It is dedicated to the couple from Tujunga, who, though told to evacuate, decided to ride the fire out in their hot tub.

Hot dog! (And please note I’m utilizing the 1940’s interjection, not namedropping the gross-out meat by-product.)

Station Fire is available via the Teardrops Store.

From the Slumberland Records site- Hold onto your hats: Henry’s Dress (first show in 13 years, full original line-up), Go Sailor (first show in 14 years!), The How (third show ever) and Boyracer (last shows ever? only Stew knows for sure!). That’s quite a line-up, no?…These shows are absolutely guaranteed to sell-out well in advance, and I reckon you won’t get another chance to see some of these bands play, so don’t sleep!

Tix are available now! Godspeed!

Flyer via PTP

… is a theme that has been (over?) done in fashion for some time now.  While I am not willing to subscribe to many of its incarnations (monkey fur coats?!!! thanks, but I’m not trying to wear the pelts of my distant cousins as outerwear), the aesthetic can be pretty marvelous and unexpected when brought to the realm of home accents.  Case in point:

Based on my experience staring longingly at samples sold in various neighborhood boutiques, I can vouch for their exquisite craftsmanship.  Light one up in your front hallway to make those unwelcome houseguests pee in their pants, or place next to the potpourri in your powder room so they won’t have to.

All images via DL & Company website; select items also available at Mercado in Silver Lake

Filmmaker Lance Bangs profiles Family and other super awesome LA people and places in his short documentary Family Portrait. Watching this makes me so fucking grateful (and proud!) to live in Los Angeles and be a part of such an amazing community. And yes, everyone really is this nice!

According to this dubious personality website, I am “A Melancholy.” Well, at least I’m in good company.

Iconic Ian Curtis image via last.fm, Man Ray photo of James Joyce via an English professor, and sad kitty cuteness via i can has cheezburger?

Sister Mantos record review from The Yellow Menace:

“So take some classic house stylings, throw in some shout-outs to unicorns, and hammer it home with a call for direct democracy, and you’ve got a future retro party album in Tough Love, or the Fands of Hate.”

So spot on!

And lest you have forgotten, Tough Love or the Fands of Hate can be purchased here! (Or directly from Sister Mantos!)

PURPLE VINYL!!! $13 ppd.

Dum Dum Girls’ debut full-length isn’t out until the end of the month, BUT if you act fast, you can grab one of only 400-ish cassettes compiling all their previous material. Yes, a CASSETTE!!! Entitled Blissed Out, it’s available from Art Fag Recordings. Now go! Hurry!

Totally awesome girl gang-esque pic via P-fork.

I really don’t know why I get so excited when Built by Wendy releases a new collection. It’s not like I can afford anything. Still, I can’t help looking/lusting at Wendy Mullin’s creations, and daydreaming about finding large sums of money on the ground. Here are some of my favs from Spring 2010:

All photos by Annabel Mehran via Built by Wendy

In one of the coolest collaborations of recent memory, No Age provides the soundtrack to Aanteni, a bizarre-o, high-fashion, sci-fi, short film directed by Todd Cole for superstar design sisters Rodarte. Damn! Watch the weirdness (and I mean that in the best way!) over at Nowness.

Film still via GvsB

I have a zillion Frumpies songs in my head right now, thanks to all the old mixtapes I listened to while cleaning the apartment this afternoon. For the uninitiated, The Frumpies were Tobi, Kathi, and Billy from Bikini Kill + Molly from Bratmobile + (briefly) Michelle Mae from the Makeup. They released a slew of 7″s in the 90’s and a CD comp of all their singles called Frumpie One-Piece. (It has a panda on the cover and makes a totally awesome patch.)

Frumpies forever!

Learned today of the passing of Larry Cassidy, frontman for legendary Factory Records band Section 25. British journalist John Robb’s tribute and excellent history of the band can be found here.

Of all the Factory bands (aside from Joy Division), Section 25 was the one that resonated most with me. RIP Larry.

Do you ever hear about the awesome girls rock camps popping up all over the country and think, “Gosh, I wish those were around when I was a kid”? Well check this out!!!

To all Ladies, Women, Mothers, Maidens, Aunties, Godmothers, Grandmothers, and Grrrls…

Register now for Ladies Rock Camp where you get to
-LEARN AN INSTRUMENT
-START A BAND
-WRITE A SONG
-PERFORM LIVE
…all in three days! Food, movies, parties, performances, and other surprises make it a weekend not to be missed. No musical experience is necessary! This is a perfect chance to dust off an old guitar, pick up a microphone for the first time, or add a new drum beat to your repertoire.

Ladies Rock Camp (LRC) is a program of Bay Area Girls Rock Camp, an Oakland-based non-profit with a mission of empowering girls of all backgrounds through music creation and performance. It’s is an unforgettable weekend modeled after our Girls Rock Camp but for women of all ages. LRC is our biggest (and best) fundraiser of the year. All of the proceeds directly support Bay Area Girls Rock Camp’s programs for girls ages 8-18. By coming to LRC, you are supporting the next generation of women and girls while celebrating and empowering your own!

So here are the details:

LADIES ROCK CAMP 2010

Where: Oakland School for the Arts (OSA), housed inside the restored FOX Theater Complex in Oakland’s Uptown District; 530 18th St.; Oakland 94612.

When: April 9-11th, 2010.

For Whom: Women ages 19 – infinity, NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY.

How Much: $400, sign up with a friend before International Women’s Day (March 8th) and you both receive $10 off!

To apply or for more information visit: www.bayareagirlsrockcamp.org/pages/lrc.html
LRC gift certificates are also available.

LRC Alumni photo via Bay Area Girls Rock Camp

Your eyes do not deceive you- the tongue reads “Step Inside”

On the swoosh it says, “But I remember when we were young…-Ian Curtis”

Is nothing sacred?

New Balance images via the New Balance blog, Nike image via Kitsune Noir, Zune image via Stereogum

Holy moly!!! Massive 12 CD-R overview of lady-fronted punk bands ‘77-’89 AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD c/o of Kängnäve. (This is why I heart the internet!!!)

Just check out the track listing for Disk 1 to get an idea of how epic this is:

1. Blutsturz – Schweigen (Demo) (Germany, 198?)
2. Penetration – Money Talks (England, 1977)
3. Pyhäkoulu – Painajainen (Finland, 1986)
4. VulpeSS – Me Gusta Ser Una Zorra (Spain, 1983)
5. The Comes – Panic (Japan, 1984)
6. Suicide Squad – New Kids Army (Australia, 1980)
7. Rivolta Dell’Odio – Altari Del Terrore (Italy, 1984)
8. Sick Things – Anti-Social Disease (England, 1977)
9. Accident (a.k.a Accidents) – True Detective (USA, 1979)
10. Dishrags – I Don’t Love You (Canada, 1979)
11. Último Resorte – Hogar, Dulce Hogar (Demo) (Spain, 1981)
12. The Fastbacks – Someone Else’s Room (USA, 1981)
13. Anorexia – Rapist In The Park (England, 1980)
14. Phobia – Pretend You’re Not Crazy (USA, 1978)
15. Androids Of Mu – Bored Housewives (England, 1981)
16. Sort Sol (With Lydia Lunch) – Boy-Girl (Denmark/USA, 1983)
17. Tappi Tikarrass – Skrid (Iceland, 1984)
18. Flowers – After Dark (Scotland, 1979)
19. The Rentals – I Got A Crush On You (USA, 1979)
20. Pariapunk – Double Face (France, 1987)
21. Amsterdamned – Traditie Amme Balle (Netherlands, 1982)
22. Dr. Zeke – Vild I Skogen (Sweden, 1979)
23. The Lewd – Magnetic Heart (USA, 1982)
24. Au Pairs – Kerb Crawler (England, 1980)
25. Mo-Dettes – White Mice (USA/Switzerland/England, 1979)
26. Stripes – Weekend Love (Germany, 1980)
27. Violators – The Fugitive (England, 1980)

I am clearing room on my computer as we speak.

Kleenex image via last.fm