Sometimes it makes me picture someone doing a pole vault, and sometimes it makes me think of ninjas.

And we thought we were the only ones that happened to.

Alright, now this is a frightening proposition, just utterly frightening -- and mind you, this is coming from a guy who files taxes each year with somebody who actually has Elvis's visage tattooed on her person. I, perhaps more than most people, have a firm grasp on maniacal, inexplicable fanaticism, especially when it comes to Elvis -- and even I'm completely dumbfounded by this absolutely staggering offering. Just dumbfounded.

But there it is on page 105 of the September issue, and not just a review, but a four star send up that mentions Rateliff in the same breath as one of music's most revered and timeless voices. "The first thing you notice is Rateliff's voice -- a sinuous, hard-edged, highly individual instrument," writes Fred Dellar, before later concluding, "Johnny Cash would've loved it." Read the full review after the jump.

Aaron Thackeray (click to enlarge)

Andy Thomas and his Johnson, electric-acoustic, black, resonator guitar

While shit like this seems to happen entirely all too frequently (see the blog a few weeks ago about Hideous Men having their gear jacked from their car, or Boonie Mayfield's studio being burglarized), it stings even more when it happens to one of our own.

Thomas, you see, isn't just a member of Only Thunder and Tin Horn Prayer, he's also a cherished member of our Backbeat family. That in mind, a favor: If you happen to come across Andy's axe or see someone with it, drop us a line and let us know, will ya?

So I was as surprised as anyone when I recently found myself defending Lady Gaga to a room full of people with a zeal I normally reserve for wronged family members, my right to eat meat and a certain brand of underwear (Hanky Panky, if you must know).

I stomped my foot unashamedly in support of her that night, pitch of my voice rising with every listed point of why she is the best pop star on the planet, and I will happily do it again. Here is why she is awesome:

Chances are you've heard the newest Gorillaz album, Plastic Beach at some point since its release. You may not have even been aware of it -- maybe it was in the grocery store or while you were out at a club -- but you've probably heard it. Now you can play the game based on the album on your iPhone/iPad/Touch.

Escape to Plastic Beach is the final part of a three-part episodic game; the first two sections are Flash based games on the bands website. We assume the band hoped you'd get so attached to the story or the game play of the first two free episodes that you'd be willing to drop $1.99 in the App Store. Is it worth it? That depends on how much you love the Gorillaz.

Hell, we've only been waiting for these gigs to take place for, what, like, eighteen years or so? And we purposely (well, some of us) avoided the Murder Pinchers set last weekend at 3 Kings, because, well, we want to have the full effect of seeing the original Pinchers lineup in its entirety (and with Dale Crover) at the Gothic.

As our excitement level continues to build with each day, you can only imagine how stoked we were to find this clip of Alf playing "Don't Play This Song On the Radio" a few nights ago on, well, the radio. Listen to the entire segment and the song after the jump in case you missed it. Oh and don't miss Hypnotic Turtle's interview with K.C. Kasum that we posted yesterday (we just added part two of the chat), plus the vintage Unmasking Satan footage.

Although we have to admit that the writing is a little dense for our simple minds ("Beautiful fireworks illuminate the void like simulacra of cosmic birth, an interstellar dronestorm reflected in the glorious onslaught of Tjutjuna's "Mosquito Hawk."), it seems like quite an endorsement.

And while we're going to have to look up "simulacra" to be absolutely certain, we're pretty sure we agree about "Mosquito Hawk," the song in question. It's pretty nifty.

The video itself comes from Italian studio Molleindustria -- a game company known for its predilection to make not-games and mini-epic art pieces. The song itself is a hazmat-pop ditty dealing with the destruction of the World Trade Center. Pretty heavy subject matter to be certain, but the song is fun -- or quirky at least, something in-between Stereolab and Postal Service.

A couple quick notes about today's UMS lineup -- but first a post-script to the travelogues we've already posted from Jef Otte and Tom Murphy: Heard bits of Papa Bear from the sidewalk outside the Rover, and it was quite lovely. Very eager to hear more. Caught part of the debut set from the Centennial, the Meese brothers' post Meese project, which features Nathan and Patrick and the latter's lovely wife Tiffany on keys. The brand-spanking new act drew a substantial crowd for its 9 p.m. set, which didn't actually end up kicking off until 9:15 or so, due to sound issues.