SHAKE YOUR “MONEYMAKER”: That’s what they’re doing in the halls of Warner Bros. this week after Rilo Kiley debuted atop the Mediaguide Alternative Specialty Songs chart with “The Moneymaker,” the first single from forthcoming album Under the Blacklight (which debuted at #2 on the Album side of things, thanks to “Moneymaking” support from KITS San Francisco, WBER Rochester, NY and WAVF Charleston, SC, among others). Topping the Album chart once again are Editors, who regain the top spot thanks to strong support for the title track from An End Has a Start (Fader Label/Epic), which has leapt 40-7-2 on the Songs chart in the last three weeks. Other big debuts this week include Sub Pop’s Iron and Wine, whose “Boy with a Coin” earns some coin by bowing at #3, helping full-length The Shepherd’s Dog debut at #7 on the Album side. The other top 10 debut this week belongs to the tastily named Turbo Fruits (Ecstatic Peace!)--single “Volcano” enters the chart at #9, helping the eponymous album to a #8 chart showing. Big moves were made by the sisterly duo Tegan and Sara, who served up a pair of fours: new album Con (Vapor/Sony) bowed at that position, while single “Back in Your Head” equaled the feat on the Song side, moving a whopping 57-4. Also making a big splash with the Specialty panel is Atlanta’s own Manchester Orchestra (Canvasback/Favorite Gentlemen), debuting at #5 on the Album side with the memorably monikered I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child, with airplay for the song “Wolves at Night” (debuting at #14) leading the way. And finally, we’d like to welcome back an old friend of the Alternative format: The Cult, who debut on the Song chart at lucky #13 with (the autobiographical?) “Dirty Little Rock Star,” the first single from their forthcoming Roadrunner debut. Due in early October, the new album was recorded in London with producer Youth (the Verve, Primal Scream).

Record of The Week: Manic Street Preachers

Video - Story One “Russian Dolls” (Shy Records/UK) English quartet Story One fuses rock, folk and classical music together, creating a totally fresh sound that is rapidly winning over new converts across both the UK and the world. Initially an acoustic duo featuring vocalist/violinist Tom Evans and guitarist Barny Barratt, the group coalesced after Evans spent a year in Paris, where he met bassist Gerald Youna. Evans and Youna subsequently played many jazz and acoustic clubs around Paris before returning to England, where they re-teamed with Barratt and added drummer Mike Woolf to form Story One. Displaying their self-described “perfectionism,” the new group locked themselves away in an abandoned air-raid shelter and spent every waking hour synthesizing their unique sound, which they debuted to great effect at the initial MUSEXPO in 2005. Story One’s forthcoming sophomore effort, The Shadow Line, is being produced by Chris Potter (The Verve, Rolling Stones, Orange Lights) and will be released in September 2007. To whet fans’ appetites, the group has crafted a darkly compelling video treatment for the hauntingly mesmerizing tune “Russian Dolls.” Check out one of the most memorable videos in ages HERE; for further Story One info, contact Nick Shymanski at nick@shyrecords.co.uk.

Let's be real about this, back in the Spring of 2003 there weren't exactly a whole lot of people who had caught on to the 'mp3 blogging phenomenon'. Hell, I was fresh out of highschool and only one month into living in Los Angeles; I was happy to hear music on my iPod but never really thought about sharing it with anyone else, yes I was greedy with my music. Most people were. However, Said The Gramophone was more than willing to share their groovy tunes...errr, other people's groovy tunes, with other people....for free. The site was officially launched in March of 2003 by Sean Michaels, a writer that calls Montreal his home and has spent the past three years traveling abroad in Europe. He's currently working on his first novel and has been featured in Pitchfork, Paste, Plan B and The Believer. "We try to write with spirit about the songs that make our hearts boom" he said recently. In that case, his heart booms over some kick ass music. His site has been credited with giving early support to bands like Arcade Fire, Wolf Parade, Feist, Beirut and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Like many bloggers, Sean prefers that you send him links to download mp3s rather than simply just a MySpace page, so take note. So, there you have it, a bit of blogging history for you via Dr. hushhush ATTACK! Class will be in session soon, same blog time, same blog place. Tip your waitresses and don't steal the silverware.

Manic Street Preachers “Your Love Alone Is Not Enough” (Red Ant/Red Ink/Columbia) - After two years away from the game, everyone’s fave Welsh Alt-trio, Manic Street Preachers, have returned with a vengeance. Back in February, whilst in the middle of preparations for their first tour since early 2005, the Manics’ Nicky Wire promised fans “Springsteenesque long sets, working class rage, make-up and dumb punk fun.” The fans have been responding: July 24 will witness the American release of Send Away the Tigers (Red Ant/Red Ink/Columbia), their eighth album of original numbers. Already a hit in their UK home turf (where it debuted at #2 on the album chart in May), the new album’s first single is “Your Love Alone is Not Enough.” The song, which features Nina Persson of The Cardigans and recently hit a peak of #2 on the UK singles chart, is currently receiving early support from WXPN Philly, KDGE Dallas, KROQ Los Angeles, KPNT St. Louis and KATT Oklahoma City, among others…listen HERE (and for further Manics information, contact Nick_Petropoulos@redmusic.com and steve@piratepirate.com.

Josh Tielor

hhA!: Would you tell us about your new position, station and newly re-launched specialty show?

 JT: “I am the PD and AM Host. I left the APD post at KPKY and KLLP Pocatello to come over here. The station, KPPC 92.1 The Edge, is the first of its kind in the area. There have been previous Alternative stations in the regional market, but not specifically Pocatello, the home of Idaho State University, and one of the two wasn't alive for much more than a year. That sounds scary, like the format doesn't work here, but the station that didn't last a year had a huge management change and new management made the ultimate decision there. As for the station overall...it's your straightforward Alternative station. There's some really cool history with the call letters KPPC. Wikipedia it...pretty awesome and it's nice to bring the format back to the calls. Here's hoping we do them justice!

“’Off The Record’ has been re-launched. It's 16 tracks, whether it runs short or long...usually fills the hour perfectly. It airs Saturdays from 9-10pm. It's nice to have a permanent home for it and a home that makes sense. KLLP is a Hot AC station that played foster home for it for a good while. I love the specialty show. It's really cool to me to be able to share the brand new music with listeners and see what they like and don't like.”

hhA!: How do you see your specialty show working in conjunction with regular rotation?

JT: “I've added a special highlight to the music rotations. I have a special category that holds brand new music, stuff that's just coming up the charts. This is my ‘New Edge Music’! It's a chance for me to play some new specialty tracks in an actual active rotation. It really adds a nice flavor and it lets me demo the tracks before they get into heavy rotation.”

 hhA!: Who are some of the industry kids you’re speaking with these days (labels, promoters, etc.)?

JT: “It's a long list of contacts. Of course I talk to Rich, here. I'm just getting to know some of the major label guys like Jake Jacob and Brent Reineke. (Majors and indies, feel free to contact me... joshtielorx94@yahoo.com. I'm cute...see attached photo!) I recently started talking with Dead Air Dave at U.N.C.L.E. I actually had lectures from him at broadcast school in Phoenix seven or so years ago. Neat! “

hhA!: What is your background in radio? How did you get your start?

JT: “I started interning at local radio stations here in Idaho when I was in junior high and high school. Wanting to get the hell out of tater-town as soon as possible, I moved to Phoenix within two weeks of graduation. Three months at Devry...dropped out...signed up for radio school two weeks later. After broadcast school, I moved back to Idaho to be closer to my family and was fortunate enough to score a full-time 7pm-midnight gig at the local butt-rock station. I was there for two years, changing shifts constantly and then left to go to the brand new Alternative station that was coming to town (the previously mentioned Alternative station that lasted a year). I was there the duration and then got the APD gig at KPKY and KLLP. I've been here four years and now I'm PD at The Edge!”

 hhA!: Who are some of your mentors in the business? 

JT: “I actually had a really good conversation with Shadoe Stevens a month or so ago. He was really cool to talk to and offered up some cool ideas and liked what ideas I threw at him for the station. No matter what he said...I still talked to Shadoe frickin' Stevens!”