Spoon have played here in Columbus, OH about six times over the past two year that I have lived here. I haven’t seen them, but probably everyone that I know have went to a Spoon concert. I wasn’t ever a fan until I heard “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” on the radio and I fell in love. I don’t like much of the “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” album, but it is definitely worth having.

“You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb” sounds like something The Raveonettes should have recorded, but Spoon is much better than that band. Spoon has been around for awhile and they are just now starting to reading a level of mainstream success. They started back in 1996 and stuck with it, the fact that they didn’t break up is a testament to their dedication. Their first single off of “Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga” was “The Underdog,” also a great song.

Here is the video for “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”

Ben Folds has been one of my favorite artists over the last decade. After he went solo, his style of music never changed and he seems goofy as hell. I know many girls who would hook up with him over any kid from Fall Out Boy. Could it be that geek chic has trumped emo/punk chic? It’s a possibility I suppose, I’m a little nerdy, but I know more jock stuff than most meatheads. I toe the line, Johnny Cash should have written a song about it.

Ben Folds is coming out with a new album on September 30th. “Way To Normal” is the name and for some reason is probably meant sarcastically. “You Don’t Know Me” features Regina Spektor, their voices go very well together and Spektor is kind of a geeky man’s dream. She has an awesome voice, her beauty isn’t over-whelming, and she looks fairly obtainable. I’m looking forward to a new Ben Folds album and the month-long courtship with my ears.

Here is the video for “You Don’t Know Me.”

I can’t turn on the local radio station here in Columbus, OH without hearing something from The Ting Tings. I either listen to sports talk radio or CD101 101.1 FM on my way to work or one of my many trips to Wendy’s. CD101 usually plays great music, but I’m starting to think their play of The Ting Tings’ “Great DJ” is kind of tooting their own horn. I guess if I was a famous writer and I hosted a party, I would either play Stereophonics “Mr. Writer” or The Beatles “Paperback Writer”. I guess if CD 101 was a hip-hop station they would play Lil Wayne’s “Go DJ.” I can’t blame them for this, but it is just one man’s observation.

The Ting Tings are a duo made up of a guy who looks like he shouldn’t be in the group and a hot blonde that looks like she would look good every season of the year. They are from the UK and first gained Stateside fame with their song being played on an iPod commercial. “Shut Up And Let Me Go” was the song and it shot up the charts like most songs featured in the iPod commercial series.

I recently obtained The Ting Tings album “We Started Nothing,” and I really enjoy it. I usually don’t enjoy music with female singers (I can’t describe it, but Paramore, Save Ferris, No Doubt, The Sounds and Blondie are the only bands to challenge this). The Ting Tings should also have a hit with “Great DJ” to save them from the “one-hit wonder” moniker.

Here is the video for “Great DJ.”

I’ve always been a huge fan of Mike Doughty. I can say that without a pause and I was sad when Soul Coughing stopped making records. I picked up “Haughty Melodic” a few year ago and I enjoyed it so much that I nearly forgot about his work with Soul Coughing.

Mike Doughty’s new cd, “Golden Delicious,” is very good and doesn’t let his fans down. Golden Delicious, which by the way, my 2nd favorite kind of apple, I’m just saying. A few tracks like a re-worked “27 Jennifers” and “I Just Want The Girl In the Blue Dress To Keep On Dancing” just keeps the album moving. The first track, “Fort Hood,” is kind of a cover song, but once again he puts his own spin on a song and makes it his own original. Mike Doughty may not be for everyone, but I would argue that he is for most.

Here is the video for “Fort Hood.” Enjoy!

I found out about ‘A Rocket To The Moon’ as I was surfing around on Purevolume.com. I had a pretty lazy saturday and found some nice stuff that I’m sure that I will share with you over the next few days. If you are a fan of ‘The Secret Handshake,’ I think you will enjoy ‘A Rocket To The Moon.”

Fueled By Raman/Decaydance Records have done a great job at finding talented acts over the past few years. The Academy Is, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and Gym Class Heroes are a few of the acts who have made it big on FBR. A Rocket To The Moon released a Summer EP and it is very enjoyable. Their sound is similar to The Secret Handshake, so they are not creatively different than some newer bands in the genre, but the song-writing is a notch about the rest.

Check out the audio of A Rocket To The Moon’s “I Think About You Everday.”