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.

• • In stories that make you go “hmm” news, Gossip Wolf reveals that Chicago math rockers Del Ray have noticed a sales boost in Germany. Naturally, this can only be attributed to confusion with pouty pop temptress Lana Del Ray?
• • Brooklyn Vegan Chicago has some rad shots from last Tuesday’s Tortoise show at the Empty Bottle.
• • Gapers Block provide us with a wealth of photos in its review of Friday’s Los Campesinos! show at the Metro.
• • Gene Wagendorf of Windy City Rock discovers that even pounding sinus headaches accompanied by “orbs of phlegm” can’t stop a person from enjoying Yawn’s special brand of psych pop.

By Audrey Leon  \  comments

Seeing how our staff has distinct tastes and opinions on music, it would be nearly impossible for us to determine a 10 Albums of 2011 list as a single entity without excessive bloodshed. So over the next couple of days, we’ll be posting Top 10 Albums of 2011 lists as determined by individual Loud Loop Press staff members. Today, associate editor Audrey Leon offers up her list for Top 10 Albums of 2011.

I decided to do it a little differently this year. I honestly didn’t think I could find another way to describe how great the new St. Vincent or Wild Flag or Le Butcherettes records were. Therefore, I decided to keep things local and give you my favorite Chicago records of the year. Sounds good, right?And for those who might get perturbed about this list only having 14 albums (including the Honorable Mentions) instead of an (even?) 15, let’s just say the fifteenth was, uh, Wilco? Sure, why not. So, behold my favorite records in 2011 from some very rad windy citizens…

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

Did you dig YAWN’s latest LP Open Season as much as we did? Are you remix savvy?

If you answered a triumphant “YES!” to both those questions, we’ve got some good news for you.

Those quirky psych-poppers have offered up the stems from all of Open Season’s tracks for download. Simply head here and grab’em.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments

The weekend is finally here. Wrap yourself in hefty layers and go out and enjoy this city’s fine offerings! We’re talking about Bad Bad Meow at Cole’s, Carbon Tigers at Subterranean, and Pillars and Tongues’ free in-store at SAKI.

Let’s get cookin’…

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By Staff  \  comments

The sun is out and the temperature is down, but that is no reason not to go out and enjoy this weekend to the fullest.

On tap this weekend are the post-hardcore sounds of Rival Schools at Schubas, the always enjoyable R&B groove of The Velcro Lewis Group at the Empty Bottle, plus a Halloween bash at Beat Kitchen featuring Magic Milk, Gabe Liebowitz from Dastardly and more.

Step into the light already.

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By Staff  \  comments

Three Tuesday-needs-to-go-out-with-a-bang-not-a-whimper reasons to mosey over to Schubas Tavern tonight…

1. Chicago psych poppers Yawn are celebrating the release of their record Open Season at Schubas tonight so expect good vibes aplenty. The quartet loves to experiment with wild soundscapes and visuals that are unusual, to say the least, but every so often the group kicks in a catchy beat or hook and then you can’t help but get caught up in the magical nature of it all.

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By Audrey Leon  \  2 comments

There’s a fine line between rip-off and inspiration. And, really, it’s in the eye of the beholder. That’s why to some, Chicago’s Yawn may sound nothing more than a retread of the wild psychedelic antics of an Animal Collective or Yeasayer. But it’s sad to think that some would dismiss a band as such when it’s something not only different but maybe even more.

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By Richard Giraldi  \  comments