Despite what we might say on stage, off stage, and privately, please don't vote for McCain. I know you all love rolling back laws regarding the protection of endangered species AND our bodies as much as we do, but we should suck it up and maybe give someone else a chance. Vote Obama. Do it.

But enough about soul crushing politics and the fact that it seems like everyone really is out to just blow everyone else up while still being racist -- let's talk about podcasts! We unleashed podcast 4 a few days ago to "rave" reviews (by that I mean one of the interview subjects, Brad, said "nice editing." Thanks, Brad).

Podcast 5 is on the hook now. Again, you can find it at the iTunes store under podcasts (easy!), or if you're more technically adept (or you hate Apple or something and prefer MS DOS) you can launch Windows 3.1 and point your Netscape Navigator to http://www.thecokedares.com (look under documents for the podcast link) or, even easier, the XML feed -- http://www.thedeathtouch.net/cokedares/podcast/tcdpodcast_01.xml

Also, more life changing news -- someone out there actually likes the song "Mask Map." Weird. We thought everyone hated it. Now that a critic loves it maybe "Mask Map" can go on tour with Vampire Weekend!

THE COKE DARES, "Feelin' Up" (Essay/ Reibenbach) ✰✰✰ 1 / 2
  — If I told you mem­bers of Magnolia Electric Co. make up the Coke Dares, would you: a) expect somber, Midwestern rock; b) wait for a cameo by Jason Molina; or c) anticipate a song about being mistaken for Ronald McDonald with a beard.
  If you answered c., you're either realy smart, I'm realy transparent, or you cheated. But yeah, the felows who, in this band, go by the priceless monikers of Pizza Party, Skye Myles and my personal favorite Dr. History Doctor, are back with another senseless, likely substance­inspired colection of southern-smeared, old-school punk songs that are over realy, realy fast. There are 33 songs, and the whole thing's done in 29 minutes. It's incredibly stupid, but also more fun than you probably realize.
  There are four different Coke Dares theme songs — "I Wish I Could Get as High as Neil Young Does," which won­ders if they then would be able to write songs as good as he (I'd argue some of these are better!); "Mailman Paranoia," which wonders if local postal workers know about their customers' debts and travel plans; "Nazi Rock," which is more like surf punk; and probably the great­est song that's ever been, "Mask Map," which explains, "If you want to know where althe masks are, you're gonna need the mask map." I am going to listen to this 100 times in a row. (BK) The Coke Dares play 31st St. Pub Friday at 10 p.m. Also on the bilare Lord Grunge and Jackson (of Grand Buffet, playing solo sets), Unsung, and Love Like Doloreans. Tickets are $8.