Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• Russian Circles, currently on an extensive tour of Europe, linked to some photos by Jana Van Nuffel of their performance last week at De Kreun Kortrijk in Belgium.

• In Bonnaroo news, Umphrey’s McGee was added to the line-up which will be their sixth appearance and Wilco is featured on the Music for Action “Best of Bonnaroo” free download sampler.

• Americana-alt-rockers Van Ghost in conjunction with Split Red Records released an iPhone app that they’ve made available for free download.

• Steve Albani will be the keynote speaker at the NX35 Music Conferette in Denton, Texas which starts this Thursday and runs through March 14.

• The first image was released of an animated Kanye West who in May will be featured on the Cleveland Show on Fox.

Monday Afternoon Quick Fix runs every Monday afternoon to showcase the best of Chicago music news, views and stories from around the interwebs and blogosphere that we might have missed.

• Mako Sica’s debut full-length album Dual Horizons is getting the vinyl treatment.  Only 250 copies of the limited edition pressing will be made available starting February 16, or pre-order now.

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When thinking Chicago progressive metal, two bands ultimately come to mind: Pelican and Russian Circles. Now, neither of these bands are in competition with one another, but you can’t deny both Pelican and Russian Circles have a very similar sonic approach.

But on the Estonian – though they prefer to be labeled “international” – metal Web site Metal Storm, our dear two Chicago prog-metal acts are pitted against each other in the most epic award category of all time. Yes, Pelican and Russian Circles have both been nominated for a 2009 Metal Storm award in the category Best Post-Metal/Avantgarde Metal Album (with a slew of other bands, but whatever). Obviously Pelican was nominated for their latest release What We All Come To Need and Russian Circles for Geneva.

So I plea with you, Chicago. Vote. Vote Now. Vote Often (The Chicago way!). For there can be only one winner for the Best Post-Metal/Avantgarde Metal Album of 2009. Lets at least make it a windy citizen. (PS: Catch Pelican on March 12 at the Beat Kitchen!)

Pelican

First off thanks to everyone who came out to the Ugly Christmas Sweater last night! We had a great time and met some really cool people from some sweet Chicago blogs and Web sites.

Feel free to discuss the party here or at the Windy Citizen’s party recap thread.

This weekend, we’re spotlighting tonight’s Flaming Lips performance at 93 XRT’s Big Holiday Concert, Pelican, the Chicago Bluegress & Blues Festival and Russian Circles.

Let’s get to it, shall we?

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Russian Circle’s third release, Geneva, starts out as such a damned promising record, coming out of the chute with three of their thickest, heaviest, and most memorable tunes yet. But through poor pacing and scatter shot stylistic changes the album ultimately feels like a disappointment and a missed opportunity. Past albums have worked by gradually ratcheting down the pace such as Talking Heads’ Remain In Light, but Geneva’s diminishing returns don’t pack much of a dramatic punch.

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Chicago’s progressive instrumental group Russian Circles are set to release their new album, Geneva, on October 20. But for you impatient folk, we got your hook up.

Suicide Squeeze Records is streaming Geneva in it’s entirety on their Web site, suicidesqueeze.net, right now. First listen impressions: Geneva is heavy, dark and blistering. Basically everything you’d hope for in a Russian Circles album.

Another Friday, another chance to beat the crap out of the workday. What better way to do so than check out these soon-to-be-big (if not already) hometown acts:

Russian Circles

Russian Circles offer powerful, deft instrumental rock. Brings to mind fellow instrumentalists (and Chicagoans), Pelican. With Plague Bringer (industrial/grindcore insanity/awesomeness) and Lichens.

Friday, 5/1 at Bottom Lounge. $12/14

OFFICE

OFFICE = lively pop collective with taut guitars, synth-driven euphoria, and hooks that would have Nick Lowe dancing along to. With The Loyal Divide, Kyle Andrews, The Seedy Seeds, Coltrane Motion.

Sat, 5/2 at Double Door, $18/20.

Aleks and the Drummer

Aleks and the Drummer are an echo-y grimy keyboard/drum duo with an enticing cabaret-pop awareness. Fresh off their recent Dave Sitek-produced EP, the band will likely not disappoint. With Jeremy Jay(breezy, Californian pop), Kristeen Young, Bengal Lancer.

Sat, 5/2 at Empty Bottle, $ 8