John Vanderslice is someone you can truly count on. Aside from his incredible talent, we're always impressed with his indie rock work ethic. He keeps his studio Tiny Telephone open as an incubator for top quality recordings, he's always good for a genuine smile and a hug when we run into him, and about once every 18 months or so he releases another incredible album through Seattle-based indie Barsuk Records. His latest release Emerald City offers a somewhat gentler take on his always-unique melodies and music and a move towards even more intricate and adventurous lyrics. In the first song alone, he sings about the kookaburra tree, frangipane, bundestag and terabytes. He builds and inhabits fantastical tales and delivers them in such a convincing way as to make you believe he lived through them. In honor of John playing a free show at Amoeba Records at 2pm on Saturday, we're giving away a copy of Emerald City to two lucky winners. Listen to "White Dove" and enter to win. (Contest ends 8/14; winner will be notified via email.) more ›

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There's something for everyone in the city tonight. If you want to hear pop rhymes from a new UK export, Popscene presents Lily Allen with Guest DJ Mark Ronson at 330 Ritch. For some glam-cabaret, see The Dresden Dolls and The Red Paintings at Bimbo's for the first of two nights. The National play grim indie rock at Great American. The naughty locals in Luxxury have a sultry CD release at Bottom of the hill with Thunderbirds Are Now (note that You Say Party We Say Die had to cancel after they couldn't get past the border). At Slim's you can hear some weather-worn and weary indie folk when Rocky Votolato and William Elliot Whitmore open for Lucero. more ›

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Pull out your wallets because we'd like to tell you about a few new records that you should consider buying. more ›

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Our concert picks for the week of 11/10-11/16. more ›

The Bay Area should be proud of at least two high profile record releases from local artists this week. Oakland's own The Lovemakers drop their major label debut Times of Romance on Interscope Records, and San Francisco's John Vanderslice keeps it real by releasing his latest, Pixel Revolt, on indie stalwart Barsuk Records. more ›

How did we miss this last week? Mixing two offenses recently made popular by Minnie Driver (actors playing the role of "earnest singer-songwriter") and Shawn Colvin (artists appearing on "Oprah" to divulge details about personal struggles in the same week their new CD comes out), Robert Downey Jr. came out with his debut album The Futurist last Tuesday. That was the same day of his "Oprah" appearance, for anyone who's counting. more ›