By now, most of you have heard about the release of downloaded “Chinese Democracy,” Guns N’ Roses’ (err, Axl Rose’s) long-awaited, much-delayed magnum opus, an event 13 million dollars, 14 studios, 17 years and 30-some backing musicians in the making. Take that, Kevin Shields!

The cool kid critics haven’t been particularly impressed, but John Pareles’ hit-piece-cum-review in the NYT was a funny and amusing cut-up of an admittedly easy and bloated target: 

“[This album] is the Titanic of rock albums: the ship, not the movie, although like the film it’s a monumental studio production. It’s outsize, lavish, obsessive, technologically advanced and, all too clearly, the end of an era. It’s also a shipwreck, capsized by pretensions and top-heavy production. In its 14 songs there are glimpses of heartfelt ferocity and despair, along with bursts of remarkable musicianship. But they are overwhelmed by countless layers of studio diddling and a tone of curdled self-pity…”

The CD has been selling well, apparently, but not at an astronomical clip. What actually surprises me the most is the lack of any related merch. The GN’R site is almost completely bare in this regard; the webstore is still listed as “coming soon.” What, like 2025? I figured a tentpole release such as this one would be accompanied by a crush of ancillary products, but one of the few images of a “Chinese Democracy” tee I could find online is embedded below.

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With this post, I thought I’d spread some Turkey Day cheer. To this end, look at a pair of holi-tees I found over at Spreadshirt.

Design #1:

Design #2:

Gorge yourself on my scraps and leftovers: travis@founditemclothing.com.

Deerhunter rocks!

The Atlanta-based quintet is playing Saturday night at the Hawthorne Theater, a concert hall here in Portland, Oregon, to support their solid new disc, Microcastle. Self-proclaimed “aural punks,” DH deftly mashes indie and shoegazer influences — Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, chiefly — into a single, atmospheric package. My Bloody Youth? Sonic Valentine? Either way, cool as hell.

I’m hoping they play “Never Stops,” which has emerged as my favorite thus far:

What’s on your weekend agenda? Share below or message me: travis@founditemclothing.com.

Battling a gimpy ankle and the rainy Portland skies, yours truly headed out last night to the Wonder Ballroom, a historic concert hall located here in Portland. The evening’s entertainment, you ask? None other than Dayton’s finest, 90’s buzz-bin superstars, The Breeders.

Touring in support of 2008’s well-received Mountain Battles (the band’s first full length record since 2002), the reformed quintet blasted through a 70-minute set that mixed Last Splash classics (”Cannonball,” “Hag,” “No Aloha,” “Divine Hammer”) with other, equally catchy material from all points in the band’s discography. The breezy, surf-n-turf pop hooks that made The Breeders underground sensations were still locked firmly in place, evoking memories of the outfit’s salad days.

When the show came to a conclusion, my party and I retreated to the Wonder’s basement bar for a frosty beverage (PBR, natch). By a stroke of premeditated luck, thirty-minutes later, I found myself backstage, face-to-face with a healthy, smiling and extremely modest Kelley Deal, thanks entirely to my friend Dan*$*#%X, who is quite skilled at finding his way into restricted areas…

Naturally, I couldn’t let a golden opportunity like this slip through my hands. After she graciously autographed some of my vinyl records, I gifted Kelley with a pair of FIC t-shirts, one for her and another for her twin sister, Kim.

Lo and behold:

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