Rant: Where for art thou Coachella lineup announcement?

I awoke today giddy like a tot on Christmas morn, as today was the day the Coachella lineup was to be revealed! So I checked the Internet before I left for work around 8 a.m. Nothing up yet. Once (chained) within the confines of my "cubicle," I started seeking the info at various sites supposedly in the know around 10 a.m., the time when good things usually seem to happen (you know, ticket onsales, traffic-free highways, etc.). No go. All day I searched, and I and sought, and I hunted, only to find nothing but dissatisfaction and frustration, eventually learning that the announcement was postponed until tomorrow. I guess that makes this very moment that I'm writing this Christmas Eve. A last-minute delay certainly doesn't bode well for the lineup. But if it takes an extra day (or seven, or 21) for the promoters, Goldenvoice, to sort out a kickass batch of headliners, so be it. But only as long as that Paul McCartney: headliner, remains a rumor, thank you. To tide myself over, I checked out the Coachella message board which is teeming with all kinds of fun folks. Best message board thread ever: click here.

Belated appreciation: Animal Collective

So now I'm all caught up in this whirlwind of Animal Collective, the indie band du jour who on Jan. 6 released Merriweather Post Pavilion, their ninth album. Ninth album, yeah. Where the hell have I been? I'm excited to stumble upon a band with such a prolific back catalog to explore. While I'm still absorbing and evaluating Merriweather, which is so far an elevating mix of experimental electronics that would appropriately designate band members Geologist, Avey Tare and Panda Bear as "weirdos," blended with pop harmonies that totally remind me of the Beach Boys, I'm positively, unequivocally stuck on "My Girls," the first single. It's straight up candy. Peep the video: Animal Collective will play the Fox Theater in Oakland on May 26 and the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur on May 27.

Don't tell grandpa: Radiohead to perform on Grammys

Mark your calendars, kids, cuz Radiohead will play the Grammy Awards ceremony this year, making for an astonishing addition of talent to an otherwise bland lineup of live performances from the likes of Coldplay, Carrie Underwood, the Jonas Brothers, Kenny Chesney and Katy Perry (and the very unbland Lil Wayne and Jennifer Hudson, too). The Grammys, live from lalaland, will air Sunday, Feb. 8, sometime in the early evening on channel whatever. Along with potentially scoring in the Best Album and Best Alternative Album categories for In Rainbows, Radiohead's Best Rock Song nominee "House of Cards" is up against Bruce Springsteen, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie and Kings of Leon (who, with "Sex on Fire," have the most rocking song in the category in my semi-humble opinion, though you won't see me revolt if HOC takes the prize):

An eye on early '09 releases

Pitchfork did the legwork and compiled winter 2009 release dates for albums of note. Here's where my money's going: Jan. 6 Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion [Domino] [vinyl release] Jan. 20 John Frusciante: The Empyrean [Adrenaline Music] Thom Yorke: The Eraser Rmxs [XL] [Japanese release] Feb. 10 Dan Auerbach: Keep It Hid [Nonesuch] Feb. 17 Beirut/Realpeople: March of the Zapotec/Holland [Pompeii/ Ba Da Bing] [U.S. release] Morrissey: Years of Refusal [Attack/Lost Highway] [U.S. release] Telepathe: Dance Mother [IAMSOUND] March Grizzly Bear: TBA [Warp] April 21 Tortoise : TBA [Thrill Jockey] And whenever it comes out Yeah Yeah Yeahs: TBA [Interscope]

List time: Best ofs, albums and shows

The best five albums of 2008, according to my ears and brain: 1. Portishead "Third" 2. Deerhunter "Microcastle 3. Wolf Parade "At Mt. Zoomer" 4. Atlas Sound "Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel" 5. Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend" And since I saw more live music than heard new albums, here's: The top 10 shows of 2008, according to my ears, brain and eyes: 1. Radiohead @ Hollywood Bowl Aug. 25 2. Radiohead @ Chula Vista, Aug. 27 3. Entrance Band @ Great American Music Hall, Nov. 23 4. Lanterns, Silian Rail, Japandi, Planets @ The Bike Kitchen, Jan. 11 5. Wolf Parade @ Fillmore, July 17 6. Worker Bee, By Sunlight, Silian Rail @ Gingerbread House, July 11 7. Entrance Band @ Henry Miller Library, May 10 8. Les Savy Fav, The Dodos @ Great American Music Hall, April 27 9. Entrance Band, Menomena, Broken Social Scene @ Sunset Junction Festival, Aug. 23 10. Holy Fuck, A Place to Bury Strangers, White Denim, Veil, Veil Vanish @ Bottom of the Hill, Feb, 29 10.1 Metallica @ Oracle Arena, Dec. 20