Assumption is Death...

"Be a sponge.  Curiosity is life.  Assumption is death.  Look around."

That's one of nine maxims that Mark Parker, the CEO of Nike, uses as a guiding principle for running the company.  I think that could be applied as the guiding principle for this blog as well, not to make this blog sound too serious or anything.  Half the time I'm writing this in a 3am haze or a 7am "my daughter is pulling on my leg with one hand while attempting to toss cheerios at me with the other all while loudly babbling out what sounds like an infant version of Fugazi's "waiting room", state of mind.  Still I think that maxim is a good reminder to keep looking for new music, avant art, new ideas, off the beaten path restaurants, indie movies, fringe theater...whatever, challenge your senses.  Don't settle for the "well I own 5 other U2 albums and I really feel like getting something new but I can't think of anything so I'll just buy the latest U2 album".  Or "I know everybody likes the White Stripes so whatever new Dead Weather/Raconteurs type band collaboration Jack White puts together I'm going to buy and just assume it's going to be great".  I think he's super overrated by the way, not bad just not deserving of being bullet proof critically.

So, with that in mind, be a sponge and check out the latest podcast from The Tripwire.  It's done by a guy who doesn't keep up on the latest music blogs, doesn't pay attention to radio, isn't being promoted to by record labels etc.  He's just doing his own thing and coming across some really great music, mostly new and mostly rock based.  I have found out about A LOT of great new music from him over the years.
You can steam or download it free here http://www.thetripwire.com/podcast/2010/08/05/the-tripwire-podcast-061/

Or you can search for it at Itunes under podcasts and subscribe to it free, that way it automatically downloads to your itunes playlist every couple months and you don't have to think about it, just pops up, free and easy.

So embrace your curiosity and be a sponge, lace up your Nikes, download the tripwire, clip on your shuffle, pop in the earphones and go for a run while getting lost in some great new music.

here is the latest playlist (after the jump):

00:00:02.100 SIDE A: “Don’t Believe The Hype Machine”
00:00:56.142 The Idle Hands “Socialite Death Squad” (self-release)
00:05:16.734 Land Of Talk “Swift Coin” (Saddle-Creek)
00:09:55.678 The Mary Onettes “The Night Before The Funeral” (Labrador)
00:13:33.427 The Cure “A Japanese Dream” (Fiction)
00:16:59.686 JETSKIIS “Reaganomics” (self-release)
00:20:34.509 The Sour Notes “Do-ers & Say-ers” (self-release)
00:23:57.197 Bear Face “Speedy Eyes” (self-release)
00:28:22.125 Dead Models “Rosy” (White Noise)
00:30:39.192 Sex Beet “Stay!” (self-release)
00:33:13.500 Close Lobsters “Just Too Bloody Stupid” (Fire/Enigma)
00:36:30.937 School Of Seven Bells “Babelonia” (Ghostly/Vagrant)
00:41:13.312 Underworld “Scribble” [edit] (Cooking Vinyl/OM)

00:44:59.977 SIDE B: “Firsties”
00:46:44.883 Chapel Club “Five Trees” (self-release)
00:50:13.125 Aloha “Moonless March” (Polyvinyl)
00:54:43.486 Robbers On High Street “Electric Eye” (Engine Room)
00:57:47.048 Francis And The Lights “For Days” (Cantora)
01:01:19.931 Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti “Round And Round” (4AD)
01:06:28.555 Tropics “Telassar” (self-release)
01:11:18.127 New Young Pony Club “Chaos” (The Numbers/PIAS)
01:14:51.012 Foster The People “Pumped Up Kicks” [demo] (self-release)
01:18:54.656 !!! “AM/FM” (WARP)
01:23:36.253 Everything Everything “Schoolin’” (Geffen)
01:28:13.331 Abe Vigoda “Throwing Shade” (Post Present Medium)