Ok, first of all, let’s be really proud of Nashville’s own Caitlin Rose, who got a spot on NME’s  “The Cool List 2010.” Granted, she’s way down at #73, but that’s 2 spots above Rivers Cuomo, who came in dead last! So, way to go, Caitlin! It’s safe to say you’re officially a star in the UK. But sadly the way I found out about this was through my Hipster Runoff RSS feed. In this post from yesterday afternoon he makes fun of the NME cool list and describes Caitlin as “sounds like a girl who sad behind u in Algebra class who got preggers by senior year.” At first glance it’s a little insulting, but seriously, this is Hipster Runoff we’re talking about here. It’s kind of an honor to be made fun of by Carles. And if you take anything on that blog seriously you’re missing the point altogether. ❤ U Caitlin. U rule forevs.

File this one in the “what could have been” folder. Local classic indie rock (yes I’m using “classic” with “indie rock”) trio And The Relatives have sadly reached the end of their career… for the forseeable future, at least. I hate to say that, but it’s true. I won’t go into explicit details but a member of the band rather unexpectedly made the decision to move to California. That being said, they ARE releasing the debut album Green Machinery which they’ve been working on for the past few years; it will be out very soon on vinyl via a joint effort between Michael Eades’ YK Records and Theory 8. It will also be available digitally via their Bandcamp. You can actually go there now and preview a couple of the tracks. I’ve watched this band develop over the past few years, and it’s rather amazing how far they’ve come. I also must mention the eye candy that is the artwork and new website, designed by Eades and Kyle Scudder. I’d like to hope they will eventually reunite at least to play a show here and there, or even just to work on new recorded material… similar to the Hotpipes’ situation.

Some more random links/tidbits of interest:

The Boston Globe’s Big Picture blog has a series of beautiful and moving photographs from the Chilean mine rescue. I can’t imagine being trapped underground for 2 months with 32 other men, and no doubt the full psychological effects have yet to be seen. Regardless, these photographs are incredible.

T.I. apparently talked a guy out of committing suicide Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta, just a few days before he’s scheduled to go to trial on a probation violation. Good job, T.I.! Maybe the judge will go a little easier on you?

The Village Voice did a pretty cool interview with Duck Sauce (a.k.a. A-Trak and Armand Van Helden). Just go read it, and be sure to check out their new single “Barbara Streisand” for which they did this awesome came0-packed video:

I’m up to my eyeballs in all sorts of random business this week, therefore I’m going to share a few links and tidbits quickly today, and that’ll be it for this blog until early next week. Here goes:

That’s all I got. Now I’m gonna take care of some biz-nass and I’ll see you kids next week.

I have all but ignored the whole “iPad DJ” meme, but this video is kinda cool and kinda disgusting all at once. The song was composed entirely on an iPad, and the video was shot on an iPhone 4. She has to be secretly on Apple’s payroll. Maybe she is and the fact that I’ve ignored the meme has caused me to be ignorant of that fact… but whatevs. (Via Hipster Runoff)

Do you need some serious “WTF?” in your day? Read about this Colorado woman who drove off the road because she thought she saw a vampire.

Do you need some even more serious “WTF?” in your day? Look at this for a while. (Via Davis)

AND just take comfort in the fact that the future is finally here, as we’ll probably start seeing really rich people buzzing around in these flying cars pretty soon. (Via Live Science)

I totally drank the She & Him koolaid in 2008 and I don’t regret it for a minute. I love everything about that album, and not just because Zooey Deschanel… AHEM… Gibbard… is the singer. Good news came today via Stereogum and TwentyFourBit that S&H have a new record done and ready for release in early 2010. Kinda surprising that Stereogum didn’t mention S&H in their most anticipated albums of 2010. Seriously though… new shit from MGMT? The Avalanches? LCD Soundsystem? Spoon? HELL YES 2010 is gonna kick 2009’s ass.

Just a quick note: just confirmed last night that I’ll be guest DJing at La Paz‘s new location this friday night with DJ Potamus. The new location is where Ombi Bar used to be. (2214 Elliston Pl.) Please do come out and have blast with us. I’m bringin’ some hot new jamz, and Potamus always kills it.

Also, my photography exhibit at Vanderbilt is coming down soon (Dec. 11th), so if you want to see it, I’d suggest coming one night this week or next. Night is best because Vanderbilt parking is slightly less of a nightmare then. It’s in the Sarratt Student Center. Google map here. Rather than wandering around trying to find the Rand Promenade, just ask the front desk attendant for directions. If you’ve ever been to WRVU, it’s in the same building.

I have a batch of winter ale in the bottles now. It’ll be ready in a couple of weeks… I’m pretty sure it’s going to be my best batch yet because it smells really good. I basically took a pre-made Porter recipe and added some winter spices to it.

It’s been FOREVER since we heard any activity from Nashville’s art-core pop-gasm quintet De Novo Dahl, and for good reason. They were simply burned out from all the stressful touring and getting dropped from their unlikely label, Roadrunner. The loss of label support was no fault of theirs, however. From my understanding it was due to changes in personnel at the label, and the person who supported them/signed them was no longer there. No matter what happened then, I’m glad to see that Joel has kept the project alive and is bringing DND out of hibernation to release a new album in 2010 on Theory 8. Three new tracks have surfaced on their new Bandcamp page, and I suggest you go grab them now. The material is much more laid-back than anything they’ve done to date, and that’s not a bad thing. It will only cost you an email address.

In other new music news, Spoon has an album due out this coming January. It includes the track “Got Nuffin” which appeared on an EP earlier this year. Let’s hope they can keep with their record of churning out quality music album-after-album. (Via You Ain’t No Picasso)

I’ll leave you with this video gem from my good friends at Lake Fever Productions. This is the previously unreleased extra from the Lake Fever Session that The Features did a month or so ago, and features a gaggle of random fans and musicians from other Nashville bands. This is the classic Features show-closer and it will never, ever get old. Watch below and also visit Lake Fever Sessions to see the rest of the Features’ session.