I hate my inbox as much as I love it. We’re getting nearly 100 pitches a day right now, and there’s a ton of good music hidden among the crap. Or at least, I’m sure there is if I had three hours a day to read e-mails and sample all the tunes. I’m really missing the local stuff in the weeds, so if you’re in Minneapolis and I’m not getting back to you, definitely ping me again.

Warped Tour is bring all the emo and/or punk stuff in (although I just confirmed my media credentials, so first week in August should be fun), and I’m getting lots of weird stuff from Italy.

There’s a plethora of basic indie rock, singer-songwriter and crappy garage rock coming in the mail, and I’m having a hard time making myself even give them a chance beyond the first few tracks. It makes me wonder how record label executives really discover new bands and reinforces my theory on networking being more important than actually gigging.

I had a craptacular day today and really dreaded poking through the increasingly huge pile of new music tonight. It’s days like today that compel me to listen to Black Heart Procession’s 3 and drink scotch until 3 a.m.

I found some common ground, though. Scotch and Woven’s new album, Designer Codes (Woven Music).

“She Blows My Amplifier” is a building, creeping, ambient, beautiful track — stuff that Sigur Ros and The Notwist would spin on the tour bus. “One” takes it a step closer to Reznor territory. “Cosmonaut” has Nigel Godrich’s blessing all over it. “Prickly Pear” would effortlessly complement a David Lynch movie.

Woven : “She Blows My Amplifier” (mp3)
Woven : “Prickly Pear” (mp3)

This is a bold freakin’ statement for only listening to an album once, so buckle up. The L.A. quintet pick up where Kid A left off. Yeah, I said it.

Kudos to Woven for avoiding major labels, keeping their music heavy and having the balls to make original music not everyone will like. I’ve got a new favorite band right here. And that’s not just the scotch talking.