NOISE

The last time you played the House of Blues in Las Vegas [November 2, 2004], George W. Bush was in the process of being re-elected. How tough was that experience?

It was one of the worst nights of our lives. It was clear there was this huge, pink elephant in the room, and as the returns were coming back we all knew what was gonna happen. So I'm excited to be back to play a show without that hanging over our head.

Your best melodies have a very carefree quality to them. Is your songwriting process as effortless as it sounds?

I don't know if it's effortless, but the melodies do tend to be one of the easier elements of my songwriting. It kind of feels like the melodies write themselves. But I can't claim to have any romantic elements in my songwriting, like walking around and all of a sudden realizing I have to go find a dictophone to record a melody. I think my songwriting is more a calculated expression than a spontaneous moment.

"Indie" music is making huge inroads into the mainstream, as evidenced by your latest album [Plans] reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200. Are you freaked out by the level of stardom you've achieved?

There are times when it's uncomfortable. But I think we wouldn't have made the choices that we've made—whether it's signing to a major label [Atlantic] or whatever else—if we didn't want to have a level of notoriety for the music that we're making. And I don't think there's any kind of star quality about us. With bands like White Stripes or Strokes, there's an element of celebrity and fame that I don't think could ever exist with us even if we wanted it, and I'm comfortable with that. I feel like we're in a good place where we're able to play to a lot of people and sell a good amount of records, but I don't feel like my privacy is necessarily in danger.

What does the future hold for [side project/supergroup] the Postal Service? Was that just a one-off, or do you forsee a second album and possibly even a tour?

It's something that we want to continue, but in our own time. It's a really fun thing to do because, even with the success of the [first] record, I refuse to feel any kind of pressure or anticipation around the project. But I really don't know when the next record's coming out. I imagine we'll probably do a tour, but just one lap around the states and call it good. It's like a fantasy league band for me. I have fun playing with those guys, but it's not something that could ever be sustained as a living, breathing band.

Miffy, Moose A. Moose and Zee will be scurrying into Las Vegas this weekend. Interesting band names? Actually, they're animated characters on hand for Jamarama Live! Kidsfest, a touring festival billed as "Ozzfest for preschoolers." Former Del Fuegos frontman Dan Zanes headlines, with support from rock duo Milkshake and theatrical troupe the Ohmies! Best of all, there's no school the next day.

If you've spent any time listening to classic rock radio, you can surely sing along to "Brass in Pocket" and "Back on the Chain Gang." A few other Pretenders' gems we suggest digging up:

1. "The Wait" [single version] (Stop Your Sobbing, 1979)

2. "Precious" (Pretenders, 1980)

3. "Kid" (Pretenders, 1980)

4. "Talk of the Town" (Pretenders II, 1981)

5. "Day After Day" (Pretenders II, 1981)

6. "My City Was Gone" (Learning to Crawl, 1984)

Matchbook Romance


Voices (2.5 stars)

Darker than most of their pop-emo peers, Matchbook Romance are more concerned with atmosphere than hooks on their second album. Sometimes it works well, as on the energetic, heavy "Monsters," but at other times the band just sound lost.

Black Lips


Let it Bloom (3 stars)

Don't let the Atlanta garage rockers' thorny, lo-fi backdrop stop you from soldiering through a retro-psych excursion that succeeds more often than not. Frontman Cole Alexander is reported to have urinated into his mouth and spit onto a crowd, so raincoats are recommended.

UB40


Who You Fighting For? (3 stars)

This is UB40's 23rd album, which might very well mean you weren't able to go to the record store by yourself when the pop-reggae group debuted in 1980. If you've been tracking them since then, you'll find everything here familiar. Covers of "Kiss and Say Goodbye" and "I'll Be on My Way," social commentary in the title track and "Blink Blink," and lots of head-nod-inducing other numbers. If you're a fan, this is a definite buy.