#59: A Trip to the Zoo, New Shins & New Pas/Cal!

Nina and I took a trip to the zoo a couple weeks back and never got around to posting any photos, so please enjoy these creatures. Our only thought about the elephant is that the lady elephants are all either terrified or very, very happy. While I thoroughly enjoy the occasional trip to the zoo, Nina revels in it with a glee surpassing that of the children around her. It's really adorable to witness her wide-eyed appreciation as she darts from species to species.

Our favorite live band in the world, Pas/Cal, just released their third EP. Entitled Dear Sir, it offers another five excellent songs from a group fond of exploding pop songs with falsetto harmonies and unexpected bursts of melody. We hope the boys (and girl) don't mind, but "The Lot We Came Home With" was so wonderful we had to share it with you. They also do the world's best cover of Wham's "Last Christmas," but we'll get to that later. As always, visit their page if you like the MP3.

Nina and I have debates about the relative merits of the Shins (she really likes them, I tend to find them a little boring and they certainly didn't "change my life") but we both agree that the first track from their upcoming record, Wincing the Night Away, is not only excellent but also reminds us a lot of... Pas/Cal. "Sleeping Lessons" (not to be confused with "Wake Up Wake Up Wake Up" on the new P/C EP) simmers to a boil and then bursts forth with precisely the sort of enthusiasm a record should begin with. Even I have to admire this one. Although the album doesn't come out until 2007 you can buy the Phantom Limb single now.

xoxox
Danny