Wednesday Intermezzo: Start Downloading Now

As you can probably tell, we pay infinitely more attention to live music than studio work. We aren’t the ones that get all excited for a release date of a new album, but this week’s batch of releases is absolutely mindblowing.

The return of both Crowded House and Smashing Pumpkins is just the tip of the iceberg. Interpol and Spoon, both among my favorite indie bands, also released killer new discs yesterday. And, finally, our boy Patton Oswalt dropped Werewolves and Lollipops, his first disc of comedy for Sub Pop. Now compare that batch of all-star releases to next week’s, when the new Suzanne Vega, Rooney and Yellowcard albums bring us right back to the usual batch of bullshit.

The Boredoms’ 77BoaDrum was a major success
Confessions of a Bootlegger [via Largehearted Boy]
Levon Helm is going for a younger audience
Umphrey’s McGee’s Podcast #48 includes the best from February
Will Kings of Leon survive the marriage of their drummer?
Slash will be a character in Guitar Hero III
Jesse Jarnow kicks down the 23rd edition of his Frow Show podcast
Girl Talk took the crowd at the Montreal Jazz Fest out on the streets for a bonus show
Bruce Hornsby announced tour dates that run until May of 2008
Neddy looks back at the H.O.R.D.E. Festival
R.E.M. worked with their label and the fans to provide a unique view of the recent shows in Dublin
Liborio’s Garage shares a tasty Zappa soundboard from 1984
Heaven and Hell have added a few dates to their Sabbath-riffic fall tour
Blondie is lending some songs to Desperately Seeking Susan, a new musical set to debut in London’s West End

And finally, make sure to check out some new (old) tracks from Big Red — one song from The Horseshoe Curve and one song from the The Lucius Beebe EP have been added to Trey Anastasio’s MySpace. This ain’t the shit you love to hate, this shit is the shit. Get on over there and remember the 10-piece.