Blog: So it goes...

Thom Yorke's highly anticipated solo album The Eraser leaked online about 24 hours ago. The proper release hits shelves July 11 courtesy of XL Recordings. I assume the leak is a direct result of the promo release, and if so, it was inevitable. And thank god for it. Like every other Radiohead-obsessed fan, I literally foam at the mouth with the possibility of any new material, solo or otherwise. So naturally, I downloaded it the instant I heard of the leak and it has been on repeat ever since. My first impression, [...]

Summer is here in Minnesota and we're about half way through the year. To mark the occasion, I put together a mix of a few of my personal favorite 2006 songs available to date. I recommend that each and every one of you download these tracks (right click, save as...) if you don't have them already...and sooner, rather than later in case the links go bad. I grabbed every mp3 I could find and came surprisingly close to giving you the entire thing. But for the couple I couldn't find, hop over to emusic [...]

So I've been doing a bit of musical research on some of the lesser known bands (to me) in the ACL line-up and I must say that things are looking up. I downloaded MP3s (thanks to an emusic.com free trial) of several bands that I had heard of but never listened to and a few I've just never heard of at all. The research has paid off after discovering a few musical gems buried in the lineup such as Explosions in the Sky, Stars, Feist, Okkervil River, Jose Gonzalez and the Black Angels. So in [...]

The 2006 Austin City Limits Music Festival lineup was announced last night, albeit with a bit of a whimper after an online leak a few days earlier, not to mention that many of the big-name artists were confirmed weeks ago. But now it is official: Aimee Mann, Alexi Murdoch, Anathallo, The Anointed Voicez, Asheba, Asleep at the Wheel, Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals, Ben Kweller, Benevento Russo Duo, Beto and the Fairlanes The Biscuit Brothers, The Black Angels, BoDeans, Brazilian Girls, Buckwheat Zydeco, Calexico, Cat Power and [...]

(Gang of Four, Entertainment! ) The problem of leisure, What to do for pleasure Ideal love a new purchase, A market of the senses Dream of the perfect life, Economic circumstances The body is good business, Sell out, maintain the interest Remember Lot's wife, Renounce all sin and vice Dream of the perfect life, This heaven gives me migraine The problem of leisure, What to do for pleasure Coercion of the senses, We are not [...]

Let's just say that it's been a busy and tumultuous month around here and that alone explains away my lack of new postings. But I'm back in the saddle for now. So, lately all I've been thinking about is my innate desire to see live music. Where to begin? Ahh yes... The Austin City Limits Music Festival will officially announce its 2006 lineup on May 11th. The anticipation is driving me nuts but thankfully, many acts have already been confirmed through various sources. To [...]

I have a friend who is currently facing a sizable decision in life. Not life-altering, but significant nonetheless. Minus any additional details, I'll say that that it involved a relationship. Doesn't it always? So being the helpful friend I am, I provided advice to this person that was practical, rational and completely realistic. It was obvious to me how the situation would end (i.e. in disaster and pain for all parties); therefore, I discouraged this person from proceeding further down this treacherous path. No ambiguity. It was all crystal clear to me. [...]