Mastodon's Crack the Skye is my favorite album of 2009 so far. While maybe not quite as fierce as 2004's Moby Dick-based opus Leviathan, the new record is grander in scope and makes up in depth and dynamic for any lost ferocity.

I was not at Coachella this weekend, but Mastodon were. They played Crack the Skye in its entirety, from the dark opening of "Oblivion" to the thrash leads that close out "The Last Baron". Watch the clip, say to yourself "Oh man, this must be great not recorded on a cell phone!", and go score yourself some Crack.

Morrissey's new album comes out on the 17th of this month, and if the rest of it matches the first single, "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris," it will signal a return to form displayed on 2004's You Are The Quarry, where Moz proved he is the only singer who can use the word "hamburger" convincingly in a song.

Coachella counts Morrissey, Bob Mould, and a host of other great acts that fall into the excellent-and-crotchety category among this year's performers, which is perfect for getting fans of similar crotchetiness, usually loathe to spend three days at an outdoor festival in the desert, to actually go this year. Have a glance at the lineup, it's a good one.