Sometimes I feel like the word prolific is over used, but when it is applied to the efforts and output of Tom Schraeder it seems fitting. His latest album, Once Lace, Now Cotton is available through Township Records. The album was compiled by fans, family and friends from the three records Schraeder recorded and casually (read: unofficially) released over the past year and a half: The Death of St. Thomas, Dear Brooklyn, I’m Sorry… and …bad things aren’t necessarily not beautiful. This is also the first of three albums he will be releasing this year. Musically, this album keeps a mystical balance between simplicity and complexity. You find Tom drifting through gentle acoustic guitar based melodies and delivering subtle and occasionally cryptic lyrics and you absolutely find yourself wanting more after these brisk nine tracks are over. The album starts off with a whistle and the distance yet soft vocals of Schraeder floating over guitar and white recording noise on the track “To You, My Friend…”. Electronics begin to appear at the end of the track and lead into “When Escanaba Rests” and the musical puzzle begins. This album is clearly about the voice, and the mood stays sparse for most of the album, but there are also a few moments of sonic explorations. The most “radio-ready” pop tune on the album is “Carry On” and it works as a big ending a solid album. Once Lace, Now Cotton is an intimate collection that sets the stage for a big year from Tom Schraeder.

Tom Schraeder will be celebrating the release of this album on June 5th at Lincoln Hall with Richard Edwards of Margot and The Nuclear So and So’s, Danny Malone, & PGDM DJ’s.

Pugs Atomz is back and this time he is teaming with local producer Grant Parks for an album called Kinda Like A Rapper. This is the first release from this duo, but you can tell there is a ton of chemistry between these two. The album drops today, but yesterday Pugs and Grant appeared on the Hip Hop Project on WLUW and you can listen to that here.

Carte Blanche (DJ Mehdi + Riton) has released their new ep called Black Billionaires, and it features a dance floor ready track called “Do! Do! Do!” featuring Kid Sister.

Verma is the latest band to appear on Giant System. Verma will be performing with Moonrises and Killer Moon at Hideout on June 10th.

I can’t think of a better song to close out a relaxing Memorial Day than Joe Pug’s “Bury Me Far (from my uniform)”.

Joe will be returning to Chicago on July 1 through the 3rd for Fitzgerald’s American Music Festival.

Mike wrote "I Got Front" and had the idea of bringing his friend CP on the track. Took it to the studio and cranked it out in a couple hours. "I Got Front" is free thanks to Simple Behavior Ent. Mike Golden & Friends play at the Elbo Room on June 20th. MG&F have their debut EP Trees Pt. 1 on Itunes and Amazon as of 4/20. Check out the website for more info.

Produced by Curt Cameruci (Flosstradamus), the new ep from The Dirty Diamonds is a mixture of Passion Pit and The Jackson Five. This collection of musicians is bringing Motown to Chicago in a big way. Their ep is called Monster Ballads and it can be downloaded from UR Chicago for free.

Tonight is the night that 1773 celebrate the release of their latest mixtape “Mixed Signals Vol. 1”. The mixtape set for summer warmth and party ready. The mix is hosted by Donwill (of Tanya Morgan), and kicks of with a tribute to Chicago featuring Visual, Elevation, Free Will, and Love Jones. “Chicagoan” is right up there Psalm One’s recent tribute, and sets the stage for a classic slice of Chicago hip hop.

The release party is tonight at Division Street Bar (2525 W. Division St) (10pm-2am, FREE, 21+).

If you are looking for a dose of gritty bar room rock tonight then I would like suggest The Mutts. This trio just released a new ep called We Float. It is the second of three that they will be giving away for free this year. The ep contains five raucous tunes that stomp, stumble, and scream throughout. The band has only been together since July of 2009, and have had a slight line-up change, but still have put together a fine ep.

The Mutts will be playing at Mutiny (2428 N. Western Ave) tonight (May 28th) and there is no cover. The band will take the stage around 11:30pm.

This week we sent our photographer Shalimar Beekman to The Metro to photograph Local H.

Essex Channel announced yesterday that they will finally be releasing the video for their catchy summer pop tune “Skinny Dippin’” on June 19th. They have been working on this since the release of the album that the track appears on, “Love is Proximity” many months ago.

The video is something like you might imagine, but I don’t know the full scope or detail. The video follows Essex Chanel fans in different everyday life scenarios in the Windy City. Whether biking at Oak Street Beach, photocopying in the office or trying to unclog a ketchup bottle at Friar Tuck’s, each fan gets interrupted amidst their task and finds a message. They all drop what they are doing and follow the command of the message. The next thing you know, the fans and band members of Essex Chanel are stripping down, jump in the pool naked, synchronized swimming ensues and then the video takes a turn that nobody could have predicted.

The premiere takes place on June 19th at The Academy of Music & Dance. Tickets are $10 and include free drinks, DVD of Music Video, poster, and other goodies.

Tom Schraeder has always been ambitious, but in 2010 he plans to release three albums. On June 5th at Lincoln Hall he will celebrate the release of the first album, Once Lace, Now Cotton. We will have a full-review of that album next week, but in the meantime enjoy the above video for the song “Tomorrow We’ll Know Why” from the album. The video features Kenley Collins (yes, that Kenley of "Project Runway" fame) and was shot by Jimmy Giannapoulous (Pretty Good Dance Moves).