Crap performance by the National. I'm officially declaring it...they've Spoonified themselves. Like, the whole concert was them making stupid, light-hearted comments to themselves where they came off like Starbucks swilling BoBos...and then they'd launch into something like Mr. November...nail it, and then resume chat like nothing ever happened. Performance in the worse sense of the word.

Have fun quoting that one, Gin.

I hate on-stage banter.

Right? I mean, I guess I don't necessarily hate it...but it has to meet one of two standards:

1. Not sucking
2. Authentic.

Like, Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, who are absolutely ridiculous, crack me up with routines that are obviously scripted word for word. But that National **** was painful. Even worse was the yuppie audience who was eating it all up like it was the funniest **** ever. I think they were just glad to have a break from the awkward white-man deep-music Indie sway. I hate my demographic.

Gimmes are different, though. Their shtick isn't tiresome. They're funny. Most mid-set banter is filled with too much hubris for my taste.

Where's my Deer Tick link? You guys suck, I'm never trying to participate again.

The new Drums album is up on emusic. I haven't heard the full length but I loved their EP.

Bullshit. Who gave you five stars?

Wolf Parade is streaming their new album on their Myspace page today and tomorrow. Just so you know, in advance, it's f-ing incredible.