theres a few things i've been meaning to check out (saint etienne is one of 'em) but havent been able to afford to yet. I did pick up Iron and Wine, and wasn't overly impressed, gave it a couple of listens, tried again recently but not my cup of tea.

Got really into Sufjan Stevens after someone mentioned it in a thread recently.2 albums in particular: Greetings from Michigan (Come on feel the)Illinoise. There part of his 50 states project, in which he will make an album on each of the 50 states(2 down ,48 to go!!) These are on heavy rotation at the moment,Id strongly recommend these to anyone who's into Sparklehorse,Brendan Benson,Sea and Cake Etc.... My Two Cents

Well, hasn't actually added to my collection as such because as far as I'm aware they haven't really released anything yet but I came across CH-1 via Cluas and I think they've got real potential. Also I think I heard about the Arcade Fire through these boards too, haven't actually got around to buying their album as I'm not entirely enthused by the album as a whole and other purchases have taken priority, but "Rebellion (lies)" is one of the best songs I've heard in recent times.

Sufjan is playing London soon enough. Fingers crossed for an Irish date.

Did Sufjan play the national art gallery a couple of years back..strange place for a gig, but im pretty sure he did

Yea last year I went to see in him the Hugh Lane Gallery..... very odd setting! His gig was impecible tho seriously. Very humbling to see a performance as raw as that.

woah, cant believe I missed him in the Hugh Lane Gallery. Saw Laura Viers @ The Doughlas Hyde Gallery which was amazing. I've picked up a few things here, for sure. Sharing information is the best way to get to hear new stuff, obviously. Here's a recommendation for the road: like turntablism? http://violentnation.com/fipilele/

Sorry I mean the Douglas Hyde Gallery!..... or which ever the f**k one is in Trinty... yes I know I am an uncultured swine.

just adding my appreciation of all things sufjan... that's all

I would have to say no. I would very rarely buy an album without hearing at least one or two songs off it first and since the whole MP3 revolution has bypassed me completely that means relying on Tom Dunne, Alison Curtis and the other usual suspects for exposure to new music. Incidentally on the topic of gigs in strange venues, I once witnessed the Godlike genius that is AIMEE MANN playing in the RDS..library.

When I first found cluas, i checked out all the free mp3's that artists had provided and i definitely went out and bought quite alot of music by those artists. Since then, from time to time ive taken peoples recommendations on board and gone out and bought albums, and in general I tend to like what ive bought.

That sufjan gig in trinity was indeed class.

he's playing The Village (ugh) in October, 14th I think. New album is a cracker

I think the Village is one of the far better venues in town

f**k that!! Devoid of atmosphere!!! One of my most hated places to see a band.

I've seen 2 great gigs in the Village (Devendra Banhart & Interpol) so it's not impossible for there to be a good gig there, would those gigs have been better elsewhere? Who knows.

ditto pilchard's rant above vicar street is the place all right... ...still, by a distance, i'd rather sufjan in the village than not at all

I'm not so sure. The Village isn't great and the sound can be poor but I've witnessed some great gigs there recently (Ray LaMontagne, Juliette & The Licks, The Bees). Sometimes it can attract a good crowd. In saying that though, when it's bad - it's terrible. I wouldn't agree with The Point being good though, never liked that place even though I've seen some cracking shows there. My vote would go to Vicar Street, without a doubt. I also like the Sugar Club alot too.

aye the sugar club is a good venue alright, tends to suit more chilled nights than all out gonzo though. If ya get a chance to go to the "Il Lusio" night there, (think its on one sunday a month, or was anyways) do, its well worth it. Had a great night last time i was there, sober.

Well said that man. Everytime I go to the Village, I marvel at how stoopid you'd have to be to build a venue like that. Hmmm, lets see now, where is the the worst place to put the entrance. Right beside the stage. Check! What about the toilets? Behind the stage. Check! OK. OK. What about that drop in height of the ceiling half way down. Won't those at the back not be able to hear? Bingo! Jam a few tannoy style speakers down there, they'll be grand. Also, stood down the back for the last gig I was at. The goddam place stank like a urinal. Honestly, I thought it was the random punter standing beside me, then I moved, same stink. Even started thinking it was me until general pong was confirmed by a mate. Tis as if sweat seeps from the very pores of the place. The irony is that Dublin really needs exactly that size of venue. The place was a better venue when it was the Wexford Inn....

Vicar Street has good sound, but I like the Village for comfort in the upstairs part, I've only been to a couple of gigs downstairs, so your experience is probably more valid than mine in that respect. I know everybody bashed the Hub for being a s**t hole, and yeah, the roof was low, the stage was in the wrong place, but it was a great place for a sweaty gig, because it was so small and chaotic and never seemed to close. The Sugar Club would be a better spot if they made the 'dance floor' bigger, or ripped some of the middle seats out and put another open space there. They need a decent place to smoke too. By far, the worst venue in town is Voodoo. s**t. Hole.

Anyone know for sure when Sufjan tickets are one sale? I've heard saturday but the MCD and ticketmaster sites say they're supposed to be on sale now but I get a no tickets available message from the ticketmaster site, Road have yet to recieve any tickets.

Just got a mail from someone at MCD, Sufjan tickets on sale this Saturday.

Daire Hall's review of 'HOWL' led me to check out the record and download 'Ain't No Easy Way' from i-Tunes. Respect Daire, may the Gods of Country Music walk with you in their mud caked boots.

Perhaps Vent My Spleen or Binokular can give me a music recommendation right now... Want to pick up a good new order album, but not lowlife or substance. Any recommendations?

if that's a serious question, then 'technique' from 1989 is yer record... new order's best and one of the best albums from that era... power, corruption and lies is pretty good too

I'm a serious guy palace! thanks for the recomm.

Yeah, I'd probably go along with that. Technique is a great record, New Orders "Ibiza" record. It was listed by (the now sadly departed and much missed) Muzik magazine as one of the 100 greatest dance albums of all time and it reflects a kind of an interesting time in dance music too, when places like Ministry of Sound were actual clubs rather than a brand (not that I'm old enough to appreciate that first hand or anything!). The thing with New Order though is all their records are worth a spin in my opinion, if you like one, chances are you'll quite like the rest, pick up the cheapest, you'll probably buy 'em all eventually anyway (I did, in the space of about a month!). Even a weaker album such as "Brotherhood" isn't half bad in retrospect. Personally I also really liked "Get Ready" from about 2000, "Power, Corruption and Lies" is prety good too. The latest one "Waiting for the Sirens Call" is deinitely one their weakest, but even that is enjoyable enough in its own right.