Pavement’s Gold Soundz remastered

Polvo playing free New York show this Friday

Seminal Chapel Hill indie rock act Polvo are ramping up to the release of their album In Prism in early September with a free show at Manhattan’s Seaport Music Festival this Friday night. For a taste of their forthcoming album, check out this track, Beggar’s Bowl, below. Polvo also wrote a Secret Playlist for us.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Woods Themselves

There’s an early Split Enz feel about the music of Sydney indie rock band, The Woods Themselves. It’s particularly evident in the double-tracked vocals and the offbeat arrangements that the group employ. So we checked in with frontman Davey Cotsios and asked if the legendary New Zealand outfit were an influence?
 ‘That’s so insane it’s brilliant! Had you have said Crowded House, then we’d have some real beef. Seriously, I’d find you and punish you. I really do dig Split Enz, but I can’t say I’ve ever had them close in mind, and I’ve never looked to them for guidance. My buddy Danno – he lived below me years back – gave me this Enz record that we found in his mum’s attic. We’d get messed up on Tuesday nights and jam it. That Leaky Boat song was a favourite. We thought we heard the guy across the street beating on his woman one time while we were jamming that Leaky Boat song. We watched the cops arrive and she denied it in tears from the front door. We kicked his motorbike over later. Just to be sure, you know. Bad neighbourhood man’. The Woods Themselves’ album, (C’Mon) Do The Beach Thing, is out now on Understandation through Inertia.

Download their track, Groove Wind

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

The Grates: an ongoing diary by Patience

We love Australian band The Grates. So much so that we asked their frontwoman Patience to write an exclusive diary for Lost At E Minor over the next week, giving us the inside word on what the band are up to. We’ll run a new posting from it each day. This is her entry from last Saturday: ‘Today nothing happened. Actually, that’s not true. Today by sheer coincidence we all went and saw Batman independently. Awesome. So good. Don’t see Batman because you want to, see it because you need to. I don’t care what you think, just see it. Spend your money. At the very least it will give you something to debate with your friends about. This is something we do all the time at Grates headquarters. It’s a fun way to find out more about your friends and also solidify your own opinions. Who knows when your already explored opinion on weather it’s okay to kick a robot dog will be challenged. Trust me, something like this will one day happen to you and if you take part in regular debates with friends you will be more than able to cope with the situation’.

Listen to The Grates track, Sukkafish.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Metro Wearable Flash Drive

I don’t know about you, but I struggle with misplacing my little SanDisk USB stick. That’s why I think Rene Lee’s Metro Flash Drive is one of the savviest, aesthetically pleasing pieces of digital stationary designed this year. It integrates a clever pen clip at the front of the device so you can pop it on a necktie or dress shirt pocket. You can even go that one step further and use it as a money clip.

Nicki Minaj Barbie Doll (all in the name of charity)

It’s ironic how so many females refer to themselves as Barbies, but the vast majority will never actually get to be one. But for Nicki Minaj, that’s an entirely different story. Mattel’s Barbie crew teamed up with the Young Money rapper to bring her Barbie persona to life in the name of charity. Think classic highlighter pink hair with a blunt cut, flamboyant makeup and Minaj’s signature Barbie necklace. All proceed of the doll’s auction will benefit Project Angel Food, an organisation that works to provide food for people affected by HIV and AIDS.

Alpina M1 Vintage Sunglasses

Add a little swagger to your style with the Alpina M1 vintage sunglasses. The 80s-made shades have been worn by the likes of Rick Ross, Jazy-Z, Victoria Beckham and Stevie Wonder to name a few. And now they’re available to buy at Bangkok’s funky SuperrZaaap! Terminal 21 store.