11/13 Playlist: Keep the hope alive

Obviously, I've been on some kind of Chino Moreno kick lately, but the man is on a roll. If you like nu metal, heavy alt., raprock, whatever you want to call it, the Deftones' new album "Saturday Night Wrist" is a must-hear. Dare I say it is even one of the best modern metal albums in years...it may also be their last recording, according to some. I've included two songs from this stellar CD on this week's list. Another Team Sleep disk is due next. Smootches! Rock ain't dead yet.

"Cherry Waves", Deftones (Saturday Night Wrist)
Heavy, dreamy, very Team Sleep-y.

"Pink Cellphone', Deftones (Saturday Night Wrist)
This is the one song that sounds like it doesn't fit on the album because it's way more DJ-heavy and features a female guest singer in Annie Hardy of Giant Drag.

"Sad-Eyed Lady of the Lowlife", Alabama 3 (La Peste)
I was watching Sopranos reruns the other day and it put me in the mood for this song. They are totally one-trick ponys, but I like their blues-y, almost gospel, but with a really groovy bassline style.

"Fuck the Pain Away", Peaches (The Teaches Of Peaches)
If Peaches is all kinds of wrong, I don't want to be right.

"Sailor Man", Turbonegro (Ass Cobra)
Oh so handsome, oh so strong/Tell me stories of distant shores all night long
I shiver all over when I see your lovely tan/And I can tell by your clear blue eyes you're a sailor man

11/3 Playlist: This guy should be famous

This is Andrew Katz. He plays guitar and sings. His "stage" is the NYC subway system, usually in the wee hours of the morning. Occasionally, he ventures above ground and gets around the country, most recently with the Trachtenburg Family Slideshow Players, yet remains unsigned. My friend Talcatraz said of him, "At first I thought he was retarded, but when it was all over I was like fucking in love with him."

The fact that Andrew Katz is not famous and Sum 41 is makes me want to go on a hunger strike. So I'm going to take it upon myself and use my shady connections and top-quality marketing skills to get the word out about him. You heard it here first. Check out this week's playlist (on his Myspace page, which he incidentally has not checked since August) and tell me who would win in a battle royale between Katz and John Mayer.