Some New Music From New Zealand: Cut Off Your Hands

Typically when we get Insound's "Free MP3 Of The Week" it tends to be a little underwhelming. It's either a band we've already heard, or a the latest buzz band that's already been hyped to high heaven, or something that doesn't catch our fancy in any particular way.

However, this week is different: the track is from New Zealand's Cut Off Your Hands, and is called "Happy As Can Be". From the second we put it on, we were pretty much won over. Repeated listens have only increased our enthusiasm, so needless to say: it's good. The track is full of driving energy, and to our ears winds up being somewhere in the territory of Morrissey meets Phil Spector meets a Christmas Carol (that's probably just the tubular bells getting to us, though). Anyway, there's no need for you to sit around and listen to us blab about it: go get the track now!

mp3: Cut Off Your Hands - Happy As Can Be (courtesy of Insound's mp3 of the week)

The Insound 20: Custom Clothes, 826 Benefit, Launch Party Friday

We here at HAD have been big fans of Insound for a while now (in fact, we just got our new Sea and Cake vinyl from them today!). They've really taken the concept of the online record store and done it right. They have great selection, great service and competitive prices. More importantly, they package their vinyl correctly so that it arrives in pristine condition. Yum.

Given all that, we were psyched to hear that Insound has collaborated with local silkscreen house The Small Stakes to create the "Insound 20". The set is a collection of clothing and posters designed by The Small Stakes exclusively for Insound in limited editions, and to be frank, most of them look pretty cool. On top of all that, the proceeds go to benefit the New York chapter of Dave Egger's 826 charity.

So, what does this all mean for you, you ask? Well, Insound and The Small Stakes have decided to have a launch party for the Insound 20 right here in San Francisco! The shindig is going to be at The Curiousity Shoppe this Friday night (the 21st) from 6-9PM and wine and snacks will be served to those lucky attendees. What can we say? Music? Art? Wine? Sounds like a good time! Get yerself on down to the Mission to see some product.

As an aside, The Small Stakes just released a poster for last week's Crooked Fingers gig. Neat.