Covers are inherently ballsy, and Lord knows Chan Marshall is no coward. She's already released one full length's worth of odes to her varied inspiration, 2000's Covers Record. In general, the songs Marshall covers are tiny glimpses into what we gather is her inner life, and they're almost always hit or miss, just like the lady herself. Her version of Pavement's "We Dance" was withered, but her rendition of Lou Reed's "I Found a Reason" was emotionally devastating. "I Can't Get No (Satisfaction)" was inspiring and combined her natural strut with a legend's perfectly, but here we find her opening number, "New York New York" an uncomfortable, shallow mess. ...

AFS Essentials: J’Entends Plus la GuitareTuesday, December 11thAlamo Drafthouse Downtown (320 E 6th Street)$4 / Free for AFS Members, 7pm[info]When we think of a muse, we don't typically imagine the corporeal, but rather a winged sprite, strumming a lyre, an apparition that is not of this earth and cannot be held in its confines. We also imagine that once you have found your muse, or that which turns on the flowing faucet of your......

Passages – CasadosCasados hail from Illinois and feature two permanent members, Nic and Heather Dillon. Nic’s songwriting shines through on their EP, Passages, while Heather’s vocal assistance along with assorted instrumentation provide the structure for Nic’s lyricism to take center stage. Passages was recorded after Casados played close to 50 shows and the EP’s precise musicianship bears the fruit of the many performances. Opener “Panama” could well be the first song on any mix for......

There's always been something undeniable about a quality West Coast power-pop record. From the mainstream success of Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever to the more obscure gems of The Posies and Jellyfish, the records in this oeuvre feel instantly memorable, lighter than air, and modestly perfect. Such sounds are likely what inspires The Broken West, a Los Angeles-based band that channels these sounds and those of Big Star and early Wilco on their debut......

The Broken West play the sort of power pop you'll want as background for a trip to the beach, especially if you're into the Kinks and enjoy wearing vintage Adidas short shorts. The L.A.-based band released their first album earlier this year, and the sound is bright and dense, filled up with guitar and piano draped with harmonized vocals that seem to be looking toward George Harrison's work. The Broken West Los Angeles, CA......

Trans Am - Sex Change Trans Am practice a style of Krautrock, infused with Vietnam-era mood-rock fetishism, that at first glance seems to place them uncomfortably close to the Norwegian retro outfit 120 Days. On closer inspection, however, Trans Am's mostly-instrumental style is far more musically versatile than 120 Days' self-serious posing. Sex Change, while conspicuously lacking the hooks that have made their European counterparts international stars, is light as a feather in comparison to......

Bellingham, WA's The Trucks carry on the loud-and-proud post-riot grrl tradition of acts like Peaches, Le Tigre, and The Gossip, playing guitarless, keyboard-driven pop-punk that'd be perfect for your little sister's sleepover if their hit single wasn't called "Titties." Maybe it is anyway. Depends on your sister. Anyhow we got to chat with singer/visual artist Marissa Moore, who also doesn't get why the SXSW schedule isn't up yet. Share a story about a visit......

Welcome back kiddos, the year is kicking off with a shotgun bang. Head over to Waterloo or End of an Ear and ask for these albums: as far as we can tell, it's hard to go wrong this week. The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop) Well, they're definitely stretching, and they're definitely getting more and more familiar with the studio, as "Phantom Limb" demonstrates: James Mercer is still having trouble falling asleep,......

As Fun Fun Fun Fest is but a day away, we'd like to share a few downloads from some of the artists playing tomorrow's first-ever winter music festival (in Austin). Check back later today, as we'll be giving away one last pair of tickets! Indie Stage Spoon (8:50-10:00) [myspace] [mp3] "I Turn My Camera On" Peaches (7:30-8:30) [myspace] [mp3] "I Don't Give a Fuck" The Black Angels (6:30-7:15) [myspace] [mp3] "The First Vietnamese War"......

Overheard at Austin High: Like, holy crap, guys. OMG! LYLAS! Listen up! Jenny told Tommy that Marcy told Lucy that Genie let Sally read Susie Tanner’s notebook, in which it is totally written that some kids in the cafeteria are performing High School Musical and that Will Andastaphonopolus is big time G-A-Y. G…A…whoa. Wait. What? Did you say High School Musical? Fer sure, biz-natch. Totally fer sure. I’ve already friend-requested the show on Myspace.......

FRIDAY [3] party/music • Misprint magazine's latest issue release party, with The Jungle Rockers, Mr. Lewis and the Funeral Five, Chalk Outlines, and the Cave Dwellers at Flamingo Cantina (Doors at 9pm, $5/7, Free beer while it lasts!) art • Aaron Reynolds art opening reception with Music by Peter Wagner of The Mercers & free beer at End of an Ear (6pm) art • Warhol Reception and Lectures at ART on 5th (6-9pm) art......

THURSDAY [2] film • Austinist, PartyEnds.com, and a bunch of other folks team up to host a free screening of the Vice Guide to Travel at Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (7:30pm, Free!) fashion/party • Prototype Vintage celebrates their first anniversary on First Thursday, with snacks and beverages, DJ Little Joe, and more at Prototype Vintage (7-10pm) art • Celebrated Skin: Tatoo Art and Artists Opening at Julia C. Butridge Gallery @ DAC (6pm) art......

MONDAY [30] books • John Hodgman - The Areas of My Expertise at BookPeople (7:00pm) film • Tideland at Alamo Downtown (7pm) film • Be Here to Love Me at Rounders Pizzeria (8pm, Free) film • Grass at Café Mundi (8pm, Free) film • My Morning Jacket: Okonokos at Galaxy Highland (8pm & 10pm) film • Halloween at Regal Metropolitan (8pm) film • Anchorman at Austin Java (9pm, Free) film • Hillbillies in a......

Jeebus, it's hard to believe it's October already. Here are our picks for the first week of this month:Scott at Huevos Rancheros thought the matchup (or lack thereof) this past Saturday was slightly pitiful. We wish another pointless dotcom luck in finding tickets to the Texas/OU game in Dallas. Veronica Mars is back, and I Can Kick Your Ass at Trivial Pursuit is all over it. Austin Skate Notes has an update on skate......

We have been entertained and/or educated by these Austin blog posts this week: New Urban Prospect posts on the planned redevelopment for the old airport area. We drive through it often enough to know that the hospital is coming along . . . and that's about it so far. Metroblogging Austin has collected useful links regarding the 40th anniversary of the Tower shootings. There is a note to the most recent Curra's Grill on......

Lots of good blogging to choose from this week. Our favorite posts: Miss Adventure gives up on her marriage contingency plan. We wonder if her florist knew of the plans for him. Showgazer is pissed about the ACL early bird ticket sale fiasco. Tim O. Thompson has an update on the situation. Bookslut, while not technically an Austin blog, does have a blogger from the Austin area. He informs us of an event on......

Here's just a small sampling of the artists playing our day party next Wednesday at Red 7: [mp3] Ghostland Observatory - "Candy Rider" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "I'm Happy But You Don't Like Me " [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Sooner" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Walk On the Moon" [mp3] Asobi Seksu - "Let Them Wait" [mp3] The Ark - "Rock City Wankers" (From Aurgasm) [mp3] Levy - "On the Dance Floor" [mp3] Levy - "Rotten......

[mp3] The Hold Steady - "Your Little Hoodrat Friend" [mp3] The Hold Steady - "The Swish" [link] The Plastic Constellations - "Iron City Jungles" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Endless Night" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Love's Small Song" [mp3] Baby Dee - "Lilacs" [mp3] Shearwater - "I Can't Wait" [mp3] Shearwater - "Whipping Boy" [full EP] Weird Weeds - "This Is Not What You Want (EP)" [mov] Nina Simone - "I Want A Little Sugar In......

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons, known as the Sports Guy (or something more profane by a couple distinguished NBA GMs), is scheduled to appear at the Arboretum Barnes and Noble on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Simmons will be signing copies of his book, Now I Can Die in Peace, which details his life of fan agony at the hands of the Boston Red Sox. Too bad the euphoria of actually winning the World Series was tainted by Jimmy Fallon's......

M O N D A Y [ 2 4 ] Happy United Nations Day! music · Coheed & Cambria, Dredg, mewithoutYou and Blood Brothers at Stubb's music · Elizabeth McQueen and Jason Roberts - of Asleep at the Wheel - hold court at Threadgill's (8pm) film · The Austin Film Festival at various venues around town (Through Thursday) books · Tram Nguyen discusses We Are All Suspects Now, her investigation into the "human cost of......