May 2nd, 2007
Today I bought a new MP3 player. My old one packed it in about a year ago, at about the same time that my computer bit the dust. So I found myself without a player and without any music files at the same time – the horror! My entire music collection, carefully “liberated” from the internet, was lost forever. I was so traumatized I couldn’t even think about music for a year. Mostly I just laid around in the fetal position, weeping. But they say you have to get back up on that horse, so today that’s what I did.
Puck advised me on the purchase and I came away with what seems to be a great little unit. It’s a 2G Creative product – no iPod, but as I told Puck, until someone gives me one or I win the lottery, an iPod is not in my future. Mine is tiny and cute (but hardcore – all black!), sounds good, has lots of bells and whistles I am sure to never use, and even comes with a lanyard. I love the lanyard. I’ll love it even more when I figure out how to attach it to the unit.
I also downloaded some music today. I know, I know – downloading is wrong, but actually the music I acquired is from a CD I actually have on order from Chapters. It is the new Clutch CD, and I would basically lie down in traffic for Clutch, even though they are crypto-Christians. They have only had one bad album (Elephant Riders – don’t waste your time) in their rather prolific career. I seem to like their albums more and more with every release, and the new one sounds fucking awesome so far. They’re going more bluesy and that suits me just fine. The new CD should arrive this week or next, but I couldn’t wait – and now that I have a player, I don’t have to!
Tomorrow morning will be my first day in the office at my new job – a volunteer gig for a local nonprofit, setting up a housing project for some high needs individuals. While walking to work I will enjoy Clutch and my new MP3 player and, hopefully, some springtime sunshine.
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ps – what’s the best album, or top three, you’ve heard in the last year? I need some new music. All genres welcome.
I’d have to say ‘Nouvelle Vague’ is near the top of my list for musical finds this year. They do Bossa Nova covers of 80s New Wave and Punk songs. There are some samples of their music on their web page: http://www.nouvellesvagues.com/
It’s not the last year, but you should get Shatner’s album “Has Been”.
I have a lot of music you can check out… for, uh… later purchasing…
In no particular order:
Interpol – Heard their new song today, and can’t wait until July, but until then, their old stuff is really good.
1) Modest Mouse – Anything, but their new album is amazing.
2) The Shins – Mellower, but also amazing.
3) The Decemberists – Brilliant. Their latest disc, The Crane Wife, was a prize I gave out at the L5R Kotei this year. I liked it so much, I wanted to share it.
4) Harvey Danger – Yes, they were a one hit wonder about a million years ago, but they still put out indy stuff, and their new disc, Little By Little, is really good.
5) Silversun Pickups – Solid CD that is in my iPod rotation
6) Nine Inch Nails – Year Zero – Only one listen so far, but lots more to come. I mean, its NIN, and you got me into the band. What more needs to be said.
7) The Mars Volta – Given what I remember of your tastes, you might like the experimental nature of this band. They are definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m a big fan.
9) The Arcade Fire – Both discs are strong, although I always need to be in a particular mood to listen to them. I don’t know why.
10) Bloc Party – Can’t get enough of this band either.
11) I can’t believe I almost forgot Death Cab For Cutie. Mellow but so very, very good.
I could keep going, but these are all in the “not leaving the iPod” section of my music files, and I think you’d like a lot of them if your tastes have stayed close to the same.
Harvey Danger’s Little by Little album is freely (and legally) downloadable from the ‘net: http://www.harveydanger.com/downloads
It’s pretty good for free.
Its pretty good regardless of cost.
Xavier Cugat Dance Parade
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:3bfixqtjldde
Married to Music
http://www.myspace.com/marriedtomusic
We Four: The Best of the Ink Spots
http://www.google.com/musicl?lid=Gs6de1gE6aP&aid=B_0jEqfUTtG
Tenacious D – the Pick of Destiny
http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfpxqurldje
Because you can’t kill the metal.
And we shouldn’t forget the Darkest of the Hillside Thickets.