the return: RANA

"Yes!"
Already the biggest rock news of the year, NJ pseudo-cult-rockers RANA have gotten back together after unofficially breaking up nearly two years ago. The news broke late this afternoon with the announcement that RANA would play middle bill this Friday night at Revolution Hall in Troy, NY with mates Sam Champion and The Duo. A future NYC show was also part of the announcement.

In an email to the RANA listserv, Rana (and Sam Champion) drummer Ryan Thornton announced, "It is true. Albany anyone? We hit the stage at 9:00. Look for a New York City show mid August. Yes! -Ryan ." Their MySpace page merely reads:

"Four friends from New Jersey. Been all over the country together. Rana loves music, loves to play. What the hell."

In honor of RANA's Return, I share some killer tracks that cover some of the many faces of RANA, and one song that does it all: "I Waste It."

pop: RANA - Charm Bracelet [from What It Is]
hard-psych-rock: RANA - It's So Hard (Believe Me) [LIVE]
alt-country: RANA - Backstabbing World [from What It Is]
RANA - I Waste It [from 2005 RANA Sampler]

CMJ: The Schedule: Day One

Hot Damn!

October 16th is just around the corner and after weeks of random shows popping up here and there, and conflicting times and dates taking up every sticky on my desktop, CMJ has finally released the official schedule. Over the next couple of days we will go into details about each day, highlighting acts that we can't wait to see and others we think you might dig. Peep some of our favorites that are playing the 16th below.

Complete CMJ Schedule for 10/16

Bowery Ballroom
Brooklyn Vegan Showcase
6:00pm Bon Iver
8:00pm Miracle Fortress
9:00pm The Most Serene Republic
10:00pm Dean & Britta
11:00pm The Rosebuds

We've got tix to this one and couldn't be happier spending our first night of CMJ with the dreamy haze-scapes of Miracle Fortress and the groovy dance rock of the Rosebuds. Late night we plan on catching James Murphy's DJ set at Hiro (not CMJ). Very, very excited.

Day Stage- Puck Building
12:00pm 1090 Club
1:00pm Takka Takka
2:00pm The Section Quartet
3:00pm Saturday Looks Good to Me
3:00pm Jennifer O'Connor

Jennife O'Connor's Over the Mountain, Across the Valley and Back to the Stars was one of my favorite records of '06. Her potent folkie blues could be categorized as something between Cat Power and Liz Phair. Yeah, she's bad ass. No wonder Matador signed her. She also plays that night at The Living Room. I've also heard alot of good things about Takka Takka and Saturday Looks Good To Me. Could be a lovely afternoon.

Pianos
7:00pm The Unsacred Hearts
7:45pm LOOKER
8:30pm The Two Man Gentlemen Band
9:00pm Benji Cossa
9:45pm Rocketship Park
10:30pm The Octagon
11:15pm Sam Champion

Gotta love Sam Champion, and not just because they're named after everyone's favorite NYC meteorologist. They've got that jangly, early REM/Pavement groove down pat and they rock. Not to they have a Bobka favorite in their ranks, drummer Ryan Thornton of RANA. We like RANA, alot.

Sam Champion- Like A Secret
Jennifer O'Connor- Exeter, Rhode Island
The Rosebuds- Blue Bird