Hockey, the band not Canada’s pass-time, has been featued on the Spotlight before, and to rave reviews. At the time a listener described them as Radiohead meets the Strokes. They’re an upbeat, dancey indie-rock band that I personally enjoy quite a bit, and apparently you do, too.

Reaction to the song was yet again very positive with Jeff calling in to say they are “fresh and original,” adding, “I love it.” Steve also called in and said, “I kinda liked it and I want to hear more of it.” Texts were equally good with several anonymous texts saying “Love it!” or “Great song!” Rick, however, said, “Didn’t really like it. Not my cup of tea.” Maddie also sent a text that read, “I like it!! Good song with a good beat. Ill have to look it up and buy it!”

If you missed today’s Spotlight, you can hear “Too Fake” on the band’s MySpace page. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and their official website.

What do you think of the song?

Dave, Josh and John want you to hear their album now. I think you should do it.

Head to the Them Crooked Vultures’ YouTube page to stream each of the album’s 13 tracks. Or click the individual track names below to be taken directly to that song.

1. Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I
2. Mind Eraser, No Chaser
3. New Fang
4. Dead End Friends
5. Elephants
6. Scumbag Blues
7. Bandoliers
8. Reptiles
9. Interlude With Ludes
10. Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up
11. Caligulove
12. Gunman
13. Spinning In Daffodils

The most anticipated album of the year is nearly here! The self-titled album is available next Tuesday. You can pre-order your copy now at themcrookedvultures.com.

Silversun Pickups are best known for their 2007 break out single “Lazy Eye,” but they do have a sophomore album that came out earlier this year, Swoon, which features today’s Spotlight song, “Substitution”. I previously posted the video for the song here on grantruby.com, check it out here.

Response to the song was good, if not qualified. Karma called and asked if it was the same singer. Yes, it is. And she responded by saying, “I like the song anyway. I dig it.” Kim called in and said that after “Lazy Eye,” she has such a high bar for this band that she wishes every song were better, but did concede that she “really liked it, actually.” Texts were even more positive. Angie wrote, “I liked it a lot!” And an anonymous listener said, “Great song”.

If you missed today’s Spotlight, check out the video. You can find Silversun Pickups on MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and their official website.

What do you think of the song?

The Swell Season, Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová, are probably best known for their Oscar winning song for the Once soundtrack, “Falling Slowly”. The duo is back with their follow-up album, Strict Joy, which features “Low Rising”.

See the compelling and thought provoking video for the song below.

The Swell Season will perform at the Jeanne Wagner Theatre on November 28th. Find out more about the Swell Season on their official website.

The last couple years, I’ve kept a running list of the concerts I’ve attended, and 2009 will be no different. So I start a list of my 2009 concerts. As before, the list will be updated as concerts are attended.

1. Jan 17: David Archuleta at Stanfield Artist Lounge, Park City, UT
2. Jan 20: O.A.R. w/ Eric Hutchinson at The Depot, Salt Lake City, UT
3. Jan 21: Bouncing Souls, X-Dance at Elevate, SLC, UT
4. Jan 23: Lenka at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
5. Jan 24: Adele w/ James Morrison at Murray Theatre, Murray, UT
6. Feb 10: Katy Perry w/ The Daylights at In The Venue, SLC, UT
7. Feb 13: P.O.S. w/ Mictlan, Sims at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
8. Feb 21: The Submarines, the Morning Benders at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
9. Feb 28: MC Hammer, Vanilla Ice at McKay Events Center, Orem, UT
10. Mar 18: Thriving Ivory at Murray Theater, Murray, UT
11. Mar 31: Blue October at the Depot, SLC, UT
12. Apr 1: Ten Out of Tenn feat. Erin McCarley and more at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
13. Apr 2: Pelican w/ Eagle Twin, Tombs, Bird Eater at Club Vegas, SLC, UT
14. Apr 8: Lily Allen at In The Venue, SLC, UT
15. Apr 9: The Ting Tings at In The Venue, SLC, UT
16. Apr 17-19: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Field, Indio, CA
17. Apr 22: Carolina Liar at Gallivan Center, SLC, UT
18. Apr 28: Serena Ryder at Avalon Theater, SLC, UT
19. May 1: Lenka at Avalon Theater, SLC, UT
20. May 12: Anya Marina (opening for The Virgins) at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
21. May 12: Keane at Kingsbury Hall, SLC, UT
22. May 17: Flight of the Conchords at Abravanel Hall, SLC, UT
23. May 21: Dirtyheads w/ Pilot Speed at Upper Deck, Scottsdale, AZ
24. Jun 25: White Rabbits at Urban Lounge, SLC, UT
25. Jul 13: Death Cab For Cutie w/ Andrew Bird at Red Butte Gardens, SLC, UT
26. Jul 18: The Fray w/ Jack’s Mannequin at USANA Ampthitheatre, West Valley, UT
27. Jul 19: Tool at EnergySolutions Arena, SLC, UT
28. Jul 31: Sonic Youth at Gallivan Center, SLC, UT
29. Aug 4: Needtobreathe w/ Cameron Rafati, the State Room, SLC, UT
30. Aug 8: Warped Tour at Utah State Fairpark, SLC, UT
31. Aug 16: Green Day w/ Franz Ferdinand at ESA, SLC, UT
32. Aug 18: The Dead Weather at the Depot, SLC, UT
33. Aug 21: Matt Hires at the State Room, SLC, UT
34. Sep 1: Modest Mouse at In the Venue, SLC, UT
35. Sep 8: Fun. at Kilby Court, SLC, UT
36. Sep 12: Psychedelic Furs at Club Sound, SLC, UT
37. Sep 22: Arctic Monkeys w/ the Airborne Toxic Event at In the Venue, SLC, UT
38. Sep 23: Autolux w/ the Furs at Urban Lounge, SLC, UT
39. Sep 24: Rancid at In The Venue, SLC, UT
40. Sep 28: Pearl Jam w/ Ben Harper & Relentless7 at E Center, West Valley City, UT
41. Oct 2: Colbie Caillat at In The Venue, SLC, UT
42. Oct 10: Snow Patrol at McKay Events Center, Orem, UT
43. Oct 11: Owl City at In the Venue, SLC, UT
44. Oct 17: Ingrid Michaelson at In the Venue, SLC, UT
45. Oct 28: Mat Kearney w/ Vedera at In the Venue, SLC, UT
46. Oct 30: The Sounds at In the Venue, SLC, UT
47. Nov 6: Regina Spektor at In the Venue, SLC, UT

Regina Spektor is one of those artists that is able to sell albums without any radio support. Of course, she’d likely sell even more albums with some radio airplay, and that’s why they want us to play her new single “Eet”. Spektor will perform tonight at In the Venue, and the show is not sold out. Tickets are available at Smith’s Tix outlets or at the venue.

Reaction to today’s Spotlight was, not surprisingly, very positive. Chris, who is a longtime Spektor fan, called in to say, “It’s refreshing to hear her stuff on the radio.” Jeff said, “I liked it a lot. It was kind of soothing, it was nice.” Lloyd also called in and said, “I think it’s a keeper.” Text feedback was the same. Though frequent contributor Pauly only gave it 2 or 2.5 of 5, many others loved the song. Jennifer sent in, “LOVE IT!!” Another text read, “I love Regina’s music and this song was awesome.” While another said, “please please play more!!!!”

If you missed today’s Spotlight, you can hear “Eet” on Spektor’s MySpace page. You can also find her on Facebook and her official website.

What do you think of the song?

With their Greatest Hits available this week, there are a lot of cool “looking back” features being done on the Foo Fighters. This one they did themselves. In the words of the current members of the band Dave Grohl, Nate Mendel, Taylor Hawkins and Chris Shiflett tell the story of how the Foo Fighters started, and what was going on with the band as they recorded each of their six studio albums.

Check out the history of Foo Fighters in their own words below.

You can purchase Greatest Hits on iTunes or Amazon.com.

Just Jinjer’s first album was the best selling rock album of all time in their native country of South Africa. That’s definitely something to hang your hat on. But they aren’t resting as they try to conquer the US with their new album, Something For Now. It features today’s Spotlight song, “What He Means”.

Reaction to Just Jinjer was about 70% positive. Chase called in to say, “I liked it a lot. Some of my favorite artists come from South Africa.” Jeff said, “That is a song you should definitely play on this station.” However, Chris ranted, “I didn’t like it at all. I hated it.” Text responses were similarly split. CJ said, “Oh my gosh that was awesome! Definitely a keeper.” One person said, “this song is boring and repetitive”. While another sent, “So good. I want more.”

If you missed today’s Spotlight, you can hear “What He Means” on the band’s MySpace page. You can also find the band on Facebook, Twitter and their official website.

What do you think of the song?

As far back as May, Rivers Cuomo was promising a Wuggie.

I now know for a fact that they are a reality.

I got this in the mail today from my buddy Jesse at Interscope Geffen A&M, the record label that put out Weezer’s latest album, Raditude.

You can get your own Wuggie by heading to Weezer’s official website. And when you order a Wuggie, you’ll also get a copy of Raditude, for free.

But wait, there’s more!

There’s also a “safari package” where you can get a zebra print Wuggie and the deluxe edition of Raditude. That one is a tad more expensive, at $50. But totally worth it.

Check out the infomercial the Weezer guys did with Snuggie. Pretty damn funny.

Muse have posted a new video on the band’s MySpace page. I assume this will be the follow-up single to the hit “Uprising” from their new album The Resistence.

This is a little more of a performance piece than their last video. It shows more of the grandiosity of the band. And, it features a keytar! Not just your every day keytar, either. This one actually looks like a guitar, with keys.

Check it out for yourself after the jump.

I continue to patiently await the announcement of a Muse tour. Rumors have them playing Coachella next April and launching a full-scale US tour after that.