Have You Seen This, Heard About This?

Okay, I'm late for work. But that's not so bad. Why? Because I've discovered the greatest cover of the year. Well, I didn't: Stereogum did.

Check out it here.

Peter Gabriel and Hot Chip - a match made in crazy, digital, monkey heaven.

More to come later.

Jesus Christmas! A X-MAS SPECIAL!

Hey everybody, I know it's been awhile. We hope your all having a great holiday season, feeling merry, and all that good stuff. The season is coming and going so fast that there's not much to leave a permanent impact on you these days. Until now...

The Never Mind the Mainstream Christmas Special!

It's going to be the greatest addition to your Christmas traditions since placing that angel/star/santa? ontop of your tree. We got great music, great conversations, and great holiday cheer. Tune in at kur.kutztown.edu. Here is our times:

11 AM, 5 PM, & 10 PM.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

(No poster. Only coal in your stocking)

Mike Pop's Top 30 (Songs) of 2008!

This is copied directly from my Facebook note.
Why do twice the work? It's been a tough year!

It's the end of the year, which means it's time for end-of-the-year lists. So, here's mine for the Top 30 Songs of 2008.

30. Gnarls Barkley – Run (I’m A Natural Disaster)
29. Beck – Gamma Ray
28. My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I'm Going To Scream (Part 1)
27. Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
26. The Ting Tings – Shut Up And Let Me Go
25. Noah And The Whale – 5 Years Time
24. Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance
23. Death Cab For Cutie – Long Division
22. Tokyo Police Club – Sixties Remake
21. Bloc Party – Letter To My Son
20. MGMT – Electric Feel
19. CSS – Rat Is Dead (Rage)
18. Bloc Party – Ion Square
17. M.I.A. – Paper Planes
16. R.E.M. – Man-Sized Wreath
15. Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
14. Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
13. Death Cab For Cutie – Your New Twin Sized Bed
12. Bloc Party – One Month Off
11. Common – The People
10. The Dodos – Fools
9. M83 – Graveyard Girl
8. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – Dawn Of The Dead
7. Death Cab For Cutie – Cath…
6. Tokyo Police Club – In A Cave
5. Radiohead – House Of Cards
4. Santogold, Julian Casablancas, & N.E.R.D. – My Drive Thru

3. R.E.M. – Hollow Man




2. Radiohead – Videotape




1. Bloc Party – Signs



(Shit WB, I mean, CW, way to pick this one up! After viewing this program, I claimed that this was probably an awful program. Hot girl, though.)

Agree of disagree?

There were a ton of other tunes I should've given a shot. I know so many bands put out good records with great tracks on them: Hot Chip, She & Him, Hercules & Love Affair, Portishead, TV On The Radio, Bon Iver, Foals, and so many more. It was hard to get to all of them. It was equally hard to pull my head out of the 80's alternative scene, which I've found myself comfortable exploring for the past year and a half. Oh well.

Albums coming later. Peace.

Revisted: Top 30 of 2007!

Well folks, to be blatantly honest, I miss two things: blogging, and the year in music 2007. It was the greatest year in which I've been musically active that great stuff came out. Heavy hitters came out with some great work, while in 2008, a bunch of new bands brought new dimensions to the genre. Now, I will be doing another Top 30 this year; and only 30 because that's a pretty nice number, don't you think?

Anyway, here was my list last year. It's fun to be nostalgic. Sometimes.

Mike Pop's Top 30 Songs of 2007

1. Bloc Party – I Still Remember
2. Modest Mouse – We’ve Got Everything
3. Arcade Fire – No Cars Go
4. Bloc Party – Cain Said To Abel
5. The Shins – Phantom Limb
6. R.E.M. – Orange Crush (Live)
7. Arcade Fire - Intervention
8. Bruce Springsteen – Radio Nowhere
9. Against Me! – Stop!
10. Interpol – No I In Threesome
11. Tokyo Police Club – Citizens Of Tomorrow
12. Motion City Soundtrack – Can't Finish What You Started
13. Big D & The Kids Table – She Knows Her Way
14. Tegan & Sara – Nineteen
15. Bright Eyes – Soul Singer In A Session Band
16. Cold War Kids – Hang Me Up To Dry
17. Black Kids – I’m Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You
18. Arcade Fire – Keep The Car Running
19. Aesop Rock – None Shall Pass
20. Rilo Kiley – Silver Lining
21. Muse – Knights Of Cydonia
22. Bloc Party – Hunting For Witches
23. Foo Fighters – Long Road To Ruin
24. Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent
25. Editors – An End Has A Start
26. Smashing Pumpkins – Tarantula
27. Big D & The Kids Table – Noise Complaint
28. Reel Big Fish – Hate You
29. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Weapon Of Choice
30. The Pipettes – ABC

Back in the day, I guess I should have made the countdown going the other way. Oh well. I will correct my errors this year! Stay glued here!

P.S. It's wild to see what you were into just a year ago. Whoa.

I Was Inspired...

I decided I would pretty much copy Mike's Post.

Here is what I am listening to right now:

I am also seeing Bon Iver live on Monday at the Troc in Philly; pictures and a review to come later.

I should also be writing a paper for my final in my film class about Blade Runner right now, however, the assignment sheet is at Mike's house.

(What in the hell ever happened to Rutger Hauer?)

Memento Mori.

Still Kickin'!

While I should be studying for my Intro to Electronic Media course (though it doesn't feel like an "Intro" class because it's killing me), I've decided to lay down two tidbits. Well, maybe three. Or four.

1. This is what I'm listening to right now:

Radiohead's "In Rainbows: Disc 2". Pretty cool outtakes. Take a listen or watch these videos. Here's "Up On The Ladder":



And here's "Bangers + Mash", live & from the basement:

I'm not entirely sure what these songs are about, nor have I listened to them enough to get a good grasp. I know, I'm late on the trends. Whatever.

2. Rolling Stone put out a decent list of their Top 50 albums of 2008. Happy with MGMT's placing, as well as TV on the Radio (they took the cake). Check it out on Stereogum.

3. I really hate finals.

4. We have a Christmas Special coming up! It's going to air on Christmas Day (the 25th, in case your an asshole and forgot when Jesus was born) periodically throughout the day. A poster and more information to come later.

*How much do you miss Never Mind the Mainstream on the radio?

So much?

Us, too.

December 5, 2008 (Playlist)

December 5, 2008 (Playlist):
“Our Twelfth Show: Never Mind the Mainstream Finale/NMTMies!”

Best New Artist Of The Year:
Vampire Weekend – The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance
Bon Iver – Flume

Best Vintage Artist Of The Year:
The Replacements – I Will Dare
Black Flag – TV Party

Saddest Song Of The Year:
Death Cab For Cutie – Your New Twin Sized Bed

Greatest Beard Of The Year:
Pattern Is Movement – Right Away

Best Live Show Of The Year:
Bloc Party – The Once And Future King
Cold War Kids – Hospital Beds

Best Video Of The Year:
MGMT – Electric Feel
Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light

Best Song That Each Other Played On NMTM:
Beck – Gamma Ray
Crystal Castles – Crimewave

The Allen Reed Memorial Cover Song Of The Year:
Miracle Legion – Academy Fight Song (Mission Of Burma Cover)

Best Album Cover Of The Year:
Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook

Best Album Of The Year:
Tokyo Police Club – Graves
The Hold Steady – Slapped Actress

Best Artist Of The Year:
Radiohead – Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Radiohead – Bangers And Mash

Best Song Of The Year:
Bloc Party – Signs
M83 – Kim & Jesse

Jim Adair’s NMTM Lifetime Achievement Award:
The Smiths – William, It Was Really Nothing

Mike Pop’s Song Of The Semester:
R.E.M. – Belong

*Listener Of The Year:
Dr. Mike Freem

**Thumbs-Down Awards:
Worst Album Of The Year: Weezer’s “Red Album”
Worst Artist Of The Year: Shwayze
Worst Song Of The Year: Metro Station – Shake It
Worst Person Of The Year: Pete Wentz

***Background music consisted of various songs by artists and bands that were played on our show throughout the semester. All good things must come to end, I suppose. For this semester, Never Mind the Mainstream is kaput. However, we'll be back in late January with new music and more of the same NMTM you've grown to know and love. Jim and I would like to thank every single person individually, however, that would take a very long time and we tire easily. Nevertheless, thank you to all who tuned in last night and throughout the entire semester. We got so many calls and messages from all of you - we are truly thankful. We hope you had as much fun tuning in/calling in/dancing/etc. to the show as we did making it. On another note, this was our awards show. We had such a great time doing it that we went into hour three! We finished about a half hour over our time was up, but it's all good. What a show. What a semester. Enjoy the music. Enjoy the memories. Enjoy your winter break. Good luck on finals. And lastly, we'll see you "Left of the Dial"! THANK YOU!

M83 - Kim & Jesse


The Smiths - William, It Was Really Nothing (Live)

R.E.M. - Belong (Live & Unplugged)



Peace be with you.

IS THIS IT? YES. THE FINALE!

The be all to end all is tonight, people:
The Never Mind the Mainstream Finale.

We're giving out some sick awards in music categories, among many other interesting honors (The first annual NMTMies!). We're playing the best, the latest, the greatest, and EVERYTHING under the sky so blue. If you've been holding back, now is the time to start listening and experience this biblical event that is college alternative rock radio.

TONIGHT! 6-8 PM! Call in at (610)-683-4058 or IM us on KURRequest - we'd love to hear from our listeners. Catch you then. Remember: this is it! Thank you!

"So Much More Attractive...In The 1980's"

Ever the R.E.M. fan, I am very pleased to relay this link on our blog. The anniversary edition of 1983's greatest record "Murmur" is out now, with a bonus live show! It's epic, broskies. Get it now!

Pitchfork, damn you for being also accurate and witty: The Review.

Read NMTM. At all times. It's a great inspiration for songwriting.

The Last Great Radio Show: The Never Mind the Mainstream Finale!

The saddest farewell to a most excellent semester...
But the most celebratory occasion of rock radio glory,
on Never Mind the Mainstream!

All good things must come to an end - only to be resurrected in about a month or so (so don't worry)! NMTM wraps up one hell of a semester with our final edition: The NMTMies. Our very own award show. We're dishing out awards to the greatest artists, albums, and songs of the year, among many other honors! We can't give away too much right now, but you do not want to miss this show!

We've got everything you've been dying to hear all together in one program. If you've been holding back on your alternative and indie rock consumption, now is the time to cut loose and get all you can from us before finals pretty much destroy your life. Please do call in at (610)-683-4058 or IM us on our AOL Instant Messenger screen name: KURRequest.

Jim and I are very happy with how the semester went on NMTM and we're bringing it back, bigger, badder, and stronger for the Spring '09 semester on KUR (Kutztown University Radio). Let us celebrate our great show one last time this year on Fridat, 6-8 PM.

This may be our final song of the night.
And we will act just like these two champions:

Catch you at the low end of the dial!

Today's Haiku

"worked so hard, so long
now, it seems, the end is nigh
also, i'm hungry"

11 Songs for The End of the World
(That aren't "It's The End Of The World As We Know It")

1. Neutral Milk Hotel - Oh Comely

"Place your body here; let your skin begin to blend itself with mine."

2. Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon

If the sky turns dark and I hear the opening notes to this song, I'm gonna start telling my friends I love them cause it's all over.

3. Bright Eyes - No One Would Riot For Less

"Death may come invisible; or in a holy wall of fire." Come on, how could I not include this?

4. St. Vincent - Apocalypse Song

"So take to the streets with apocalypse refrain."

5. Coheed & Cambria - The End Complete V: On The Brink

As the final song in the Coheed & Cambria history narrative, this song is basically about the very end of existence, and isn't that what this is all about?

6. The Doors - The End

"The end of the laughter and soft lies; the end of the nights we tried to die; this is the end." Yeah, this needs no explanation.

7. Fionn Regan - The End Of History

A nice soft little folk song about, who would've guessed, the end of history.

8. The Hold Steady - Killer Parties

If I can live a moment that makes me feel like I am in this song, I can die happily.

9. Muse - Apocalypse Please

Captures the epic-ness of the end of time perfectly. "Come on, it's time for something biblical; this is the end of the world."

10. Sigur Ros - Ara Batur

This just sounds like film score for the last moments of a dying civilization. Sad, haunting, and beautiful.

11. Radiohead - Idioteque

Come on..."Ice age coming." What kind of list would this be without this song.

DOWNLOAD ZIP FILE HERE.

Bum Bum Bum...

"Can you feel it - now that spring has sprung
That it's time to live in the scattered sun?" - The Doors

THE END IS NEAR! MORE TO COME!

Do You Feel the Heat of the Apocalypse?

"The end's not near; it's here." - The New Year

Well folks, we were off this week due to the break (Black-out Friday, ya know what I'm sayin'?). And even if you don't, sorry for not being around. But hey, were you really around, anyway?

Truth be told!: we got our final show coming up on Friday. We're calling it our "Best Of" show, or, The NMTMies. It's going to be chuck-full of awards, witty banter, family phone calls, health tips, and inside jokes that you could only wish you could understand. However, don't you worry your poor, little heart, because when you listen to Never Mind the Mainstream, you always have best buds (myself & Big Jim; and if not any of us, then Dr. Freem).

More information to come on this tomorrow, so keep it here at NMTM. Tell friends! This will be epic!

Like, so epic.