And... Go.

This Tuesday, New York City. The next in the ongoing saga of hot hot dance parties . Two bands and two DJs performing for your enjoyment. My good pals Paper Fleet will kick off the proceedings with a dose of intricate indiepop, followed by the US debut of In Corridors who will rock you with insane psychedelic dancepunk goodness (direct from Tokyo). Then, of course, it's time to dance. My buddy Egg Foo Young and I will be swapping off on the ones and twos, mixing the hot beats and making the people shake. It all happens downstairs at Lit Lounge , starting at 9:30. Drop in, say hey, and join us in the good times. -PAR

-PAR

Yeah, I know it's only June. But the new Sonic Youth album is a near-lock for best record of 2006. They've stripped back the excess, the lengthy instrumental interludes, the affectations, the trademark squalls of noise... And what's left behind here is the best set of songs they've ever crafted. The guitars still entwine, there's still judicious use of feedback and distortion, but these elements are employed to enhance the songs rather than becoming the focus. Clean, sharp, poppy, emotionally engaging; not neccesarily the first adjectives that one associates with NYC's art-punk standardbearers, but that's what's on display here. 25+ years into their career, SY still have the ability to surprise, and with this, they might've made thier best record to date; a mainline injection of melody and feeling. It hooked me on first listen (some two weeks ago now), and has only gotten better each succesive play... It's the sound of spring and summer. ...