Pitchfork

Is this it? Sure is, kid. The 2006 CMJ New Music Marathon officially kicks off today with the first round of showcases, film premieres, and star-studded panels galore, and runs through this Saturday, November 4. Worried that big, scary New York City, its spookily-costumed masses, and its myriad venues might swallow you whole? Read on, my friend, for some Pitchfork-approved showcase suggestions, a panel primer, and a few cinematic choices.

Most go CMJ-ways for the music, but the festival also boasts a fairly impressive set of film premieres and other cinema happenings. This year's big thangs are the premiere of Borat, the irreverent new film starring that Ali G guy (who will be in attendance), and an Oasis doc, with Noel Gallagher himself making an appearance. However, you may do well to trod off the beaten path and catch some more atypical fare, including a piece showcasing the work of pre-MTV music video pioneer Chuck Statler at the Museum of Modern Art, the My Morning Jacket live flick Okonokos, a Scandinavian music video showcase titled Northern Transmissions, or a documentary on the word "fuck."

Other indie friendly film showings include the Spoon-scored, Will Ferrell character-acted dramedy Stranger Than Fiction, and Darren Aronofsky's latest, the Clint Mansell-soundtracked epic The Fountain, which features music performed by Kronos Quartet in collaboration with Mogwai. CMJ film details can be found here.

Plenty of daytime panel discussions should keep the CMJ hordes occupied before those sordid nights of music begin. If you're reading this right now, get your arse in gear and head to Avery Fisher Hall, as it might not be too late to catch Chuck D, Steve Earle, and others on a Janeane Garofalo-moderated panel on activism in music. If you're looking to strike paydirt in the so-called industry, stick around for a discussion of hit-making. Or if the activism angle isn't your thing, swing by the panel on the music of various global cultures, featuring Nina Persson of the Cardigans.

Wednesday features panels on gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender issues in music, home recording, DJing, downloading, and scoring films and video games. Thursday's discussions delve into the fascinating worlds of touring, copyrighting/trademarking, music videos, non-profits, starting your own record label, "the 'O.C.' effect," religion/spirituality, racism/sexism, and porn. The CBGB reunion panel on Thursday should prove quite popular as well, featuring members of the Ramones, Bad Brains, Blondie, and the Smithereens.

Wake up early on Friday to hear folks chat about publicists, record labels, live shows/touring, downloading, hard rock/metal, tattoos, and skateboard culture. Friday's panel hotspot, however, will likely be the Lollapalooza reunion, which features George Clinton and members of the Jesus Lizard, Butthole Surfers, Babes in Toyland, and L7.

Finally, if you're not completely obliterated by fatigue by Saturday morning, rise and shine for discourse on jazz, fashion, jam bands, breakups/reunions, electronic music, DJs/remixers, next big things, hip-hop controversy, niche genres, and two things we love: music journalism and blogs.

And then there's the music. Whether you really like that indie rock, or just pretend to, there's plenty to get excited about here. Since show-hopping isn't as practical as it is with SXSW, you may be forced to bank on one or two showcases a night-- hence we've tried to highlight only the best's best here. Ready? Let's get it:

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 31:

The CMJ snowball gets rolling with a relatively uneventful opening night. The go-to happening here is the kickoff party at the Bowery Ballroom, featuring the Rapture, Australia's the Presets, and buzz act Holy Hail. Beyond that, tonight seems like an ideal opportunity to take a few chances. Why not try Icelandic string-serenaders and Sigur Ròs pals Amiina at Cake Shop, or Michigan's finest afro-pop ensemble Nomo at S.O.B.'s? Or catch eight-bit electro-shockers Crystal Castles, brooding, Radiohead sound-alikes Home Video, and instrumental hip-hopper Eliot Lipp at the Annex. Finally, TV on the Radio buds Dragons of Zynth might make your night at the Delancey.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1:

Two words: The Knife. Three more: At Webster Hall. If you're among the unlucky left in the cold outside however, rest assured, because there's plenty else going on to distract you from the guilt of missing Sweden's finest. Try the honorary Blogger's Wet Dream Showcase at Bowery Ballroom, featuring Tapes 'n Tapes, Cold War Kids, Dr. Dog, and several other bands hot off the fingers of your favorite site. Or swing by Cake Shop for Pitchfork favorites Beach House, along with a couple Paw Tracks acts, including séancers First Nation and spastic crazies the Peppermints.

The Canal Room, meanwhile, plays host to an excellent hip hop bill, featuring UK sensation Sway and the elusive Pharoahe Monch, along with Beans, the Holy Fuck, and several other solid MCs. Or partake of the Slits tradition at the Knitting Factory Main stage where the Cut rock manglers perform along with electro-hardcore act Genghis Tron and San Diego's the Plot to Blow Up The Eiffel Tower (playing one of their final shows ever). Or drop by Mercury Lounge to see what all that Girl Talk fuss is about, and catch Denmark's Figurines, ex-On!Air!Library! dream-poppers Daylight's for the Birds, and Ghostly International signing Mobius Band while you're at it.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2:

The decisions get harder on Thursday, with the stellar Sub Pop showcase-- featuring the Shins, the Thermals, CSS, Oxford Collapse, the Album Leaf, the Elected, and new signing from Sweden Loney, Dear-- taking over Bowery. Or scope the equally impressive bill of the Walkmen, the Wrens, and Frida Hyvönen at NYU's Skirball Center for Performing Arts. Fun as those might be, the real sweat-generator (beyond CSS) should be Webster Hall's showcase, featuring Hot Chip, Gang Gang Dance, and Shy Child.

Meanwhile, the buzz bombinates all though Mercury Lounge, as Pitchfork-loved French-Canadians Malajube take the stage, along with the UK's Archie Bronson Outfit, NME-darlings Forward Russia!, hyped acts Benjy Ferree and Nicole Atkins, and the insufferable Sandi Thom. Also abuzz: Vice kids 120 Days, Black Lips, and Panthers at Sin-é.

If all that buzz is making your ears sting, however, treat yourself to the tried-and-true Thrill Jockey lineup at Tonic, featuring Califone, promising new signing Arbouretum, glam-rocker Bobby Conn, Sea and Cake cartoonist Archer Prewitt, Canadian country crooner Angela Desveaux, and post-rockers Pit Er Pat. Or hit up B.B. King's for some hip hop as the Stones Throw showcase lights up the stage, featuring Madlib, Peanut Butter Wolf, Oh No, Aloe Blacc, Georgia Anne Muldrow, and more.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3:

Plenty of goodness here as well. The Decemberists with Alasdair Roberts at Hammerstein Ballroom is the night's sure bet, although the more adventurous have plenty of alternate options. Kill Rock Stars takes over the Hiro Ballroom at the Maritime Hotel with Deerhoof, Erase Errata, Mary Timony, and Excepter performing, while over at Irving Plaza the Force Field PR showcase boasts an excellent bill of fun-loving Aussies Architecture in Helsinki, Elephant 6 psych-popsters Apples in Stereo, Pitchfork-Recommended the Blow, and new Asthmatic Kitty signing Shapes and Sizes.

The Bowery brings together acts from many lands, including Denmark's Mew, Australia's the Grates, England's Fields, and Annuals, hailing from the wilds of North Carolina. Meanwhile, Stroke Albert Hammond Jr. heads an eclectic bill at the Mercury Lounge, also featuring oft-chatted-up acts Tokyo Police Club, Could Cult, Land of Talk, the Drones, and Canada's Cadence Weapon (an ex-P4k scribe, truth told). Those willing to wager on the newer crop should swing by Sin-é, whose bill includes local dream pop phenoms Dirty on Purpose, spirited rockers the Diableros, and the eerie avant-pop stylings of A Sunny Day in Glasgow.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4:

This one's easy: Get familiar with Clipse at Knitting Factory, and be sure to catch Chicago party-starters Flosstradamus opening. Then show off your moves as house monsters Justice and Digitalism invade Studio B. If that's not feasible, try the legendary Fall at the Martime Hotel's Hiro Ballroom, Tindersticks' Stuart A. Staples at St. Ann's Warehouse, or the Secret Machines as they wrap up their in-the-round tour at Warsaw.

Otherwise it's a hype-hued crap-shoot: maybe the shoegaze/post-punk hybrid stylings of Human Television at Cake Shop will tickle your fancy, maybe the lively vibes of classic rock throwbacks Earl Greyhound at the Delancey will keep you air-guitaring, or maybe the honey voice of UK-bred Essie Jain at Rockwood Music Hall will soothe your CMJ-weary soul.