Altered Freebies: Girls; Lykke Li; The Decemberists; Dr. Dog

What's better than music? Free music. Producer Nick Jackson has scoured the internet to bring you the best free downloads featured on this week's Altered Fridays, 4-7 p.m.

Girls, “Heartbreaker”{via Stereogum}
Girls are releasing a six-song EP later this month. This follows up Girls' impossible to Google album, Album. Here's a free song. Yay!

Lykke Li, “Get Some”
The other day on a drive home, I asked my girlfriend where Lykke Li has been. Turns out she recorded some new music and put it up for free on her website. Grab them at LykkeLi.com.

The Decemberists, “Down By The Water”
As awesome as it would be to hear Colin Meloy sing his version of "Have you ever seen a llama, wearing polka dot pajamas," this is not "Down By The Bay". While we wait for The Demeberists' children's record, they are releasing The King Is Dead in January. This is the first song from it.

Dr. Dog, “Take Me Into Town”
You can't download it anymore, but it's worth putting up for a listen. Dr. Dog has been very prolific recently, with no complaints here. These should show up on a 7-inch at some point, hopefully in time to show up under the Christmas tree. I wonder if Santa has an in at Anti Records.

Weasel Returns to the Radio on WTMD - Saturday Programming Changes

Weasel back in the day...Note the Reel to Reel!

Sanctimonious Saturdays are back when Weasel spins the tunes on WTMD! Thousands of us know just how important Weasel is to music and the Baltimore/Washington region. We grew up with him introducing us to bands like REM and singers like Alison Moyet, now we're thrilled a whole new generation of mus...ic lovers will get know why their parents voices get a little softer when they remember the good old days of radio.

Here's what Weasel said when we offered him the show:

“Listening to WTMD takes me back to the glory days of progressive rock radio. Both old and new artists are treated with respect. I’m thrilled that WTMD has given me the opportunity of a lifetime to do what I could never do these days on a commercial station: that is to play quality music from different eras and genres and not be restricted to a 100 song playlist.”

Weasel will be doing Noon to 3pm every Saturday and we've told him to just have fun. He'll be building his own play lists and maybe even bringing back some of his most beloved segments. Email Weasel with your favorite memory or just to say "Welcome Back To Where You Once Belonged!"

We've made a few programming changes to make room for Weasel. The Baltimore Unsigned rebroadcast moves to 7am; Melissa Lauren now hosts "Good Morning Music," a special blend that goes well with your first cup of coffee from 8am to Noon; and Don Rogers keeps the music going after Weasel from 3pm to 8pm.

Scott Mullins
Program Director

CD of the Month: Fitz and the Tantrums- Pickin' Up the Pieces

Vintage soul has made a comeback in recent years, with Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings carrying the torch for Stax and Mayer Hawthorne keeping the memory of Philadelphia International alive. Fitz and the Tantrums complete the circle with a sound straight out of Hitsville USA.

Pickin' Up The Pieces is completely devoid of guitar, drawing the melody from Fitz's vintage organ and James King's saxophone. The organ gives the songs the urgency of garage rock, while the sax provides the warmth. However, the key to Fitz and the Tantrums' success is the rythym section of John Wicks and Ethan Phillips, who keep everything in line with swinging precision. Not a single note or groove is wasted.

The first single, "Breakin' the Chains of Love," drips with ass-shaking style. Dig those syncronized dance moves. They'll make you want to buy a mohair suit.

Weekend on the Radio Recap

Every Thursday morning at 6:20 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. Sam Gallant of the Creative Alliance shares with you all the cool happenings around town on Weekend on the Radio. In case you missed a detail about a specific event, here's the list for this week.

All Weekend Long:

• Go Ape Treetop Adventures, Rock Creek Park

Thursday, 11/4

• Blue Man Group, Hippodrome Theatre 8 p.m. (also Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
• Judy Collins, Strathmore 8 p.m.
• Sac Au Lait, Joe Squared 9 p.m.

Friday, 11/5

• Wye Oak; Height; The Art Department, The Ottobar 8 p.m.
• The Laramie Project, University of Baltimore Student Center 8 p.m. (also Saturday and Sunday)
• Artists Helping the Family Crisis Center, St. Timothys Lutheran Church 7 p.m.
• Howard County Crafts Spectacular, Howard County Fairgrounds (also Saturday and Sunday)

Saturday, 11/6

• Envision Baltimore launch party, Silo Point 7 p.m.
• Light the Night Walk, M&T Bank Stadium 5 p.m.
• The Metal Show, Overlea Station 7 p.m.

Sunday, 11/7

• Ben Frock's 30th birthday extravaganza, Wind-Up Space 8 p.m.

CD of the Week: Rustic, Rural Ray

Despite a co-credit with his touring band the Pariah Dogs,  Ray LaMontagne flies solo in the sense that he's left longtime producer Ethan Johns and produced God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise himself at his home studio in Western Massachusetts.

The gritty, seductive opener "Repo Man" teases with a naughty blues riff, but the rest of the album settles into a gentler groove.  Greg Leisz's pedal steel exudes warmth on "Beg, Steal or Borrow."

His shy, rural-image ever present, on "New York City's Killing Me," LaMontagne's voice marinates in such sweet, mystic tones that you too will want to surrender to the call of the wild.

For Crabtown, a Claw of a Different Kind

As Sam Sessa reported in today's Baltimore Sun, U2 is bringing it's mammoth 360 Tour (featuring The Claw) to Baltimore on June 22, 2011. Tickets will be made available starting Monday at 10am.

So, after a month's worth of speculation, prompted by a premature U2.com post that had the date and the  city before being removed, it's finally official!

This marks the first time U2 has ever played a stadium in Baltimore.

The last time they did a show here was on October 19, 2001, during their  Elevation tour at the Baltimore (now, First Mariner) Arena.

And a few us may recall what almost was, what could have been, when, in 1992,  U2 scoped out stadiums where they could rehearse their, then, colossal Zoo Tv tour. Baltimore made the final cut, but alas, noise concerns from Memorial Stadium neighbors prompted the band go a little further up I-83 and camp at Hershey Stadium.