Music Column (4/29-5/2)

Yeah...so right here I should be reviewing the new Portishead and Roots discs (especially since I can finally hear again)...I should be extolling their virtues or belittling their flaws...pointing out little obscure facts that I know about these bands (I'll save them though) or engaging in some pithy banter...but I'm not. I'm not because when UPS delivered my weekly shipment this morning (at 10:55 like clockwork)...some dishonest person out there managed in the 15 minutes between its delivery and my arrival at home for lunch to steal it off of my porch. Thankfully, both UPS and Amazon are doing their best to make sure that my weekly delivery is replaced (without recharging me of course) and launching an investigation into where exactly my shipment went (there were some other items in there as well)...but that doesn't change the fact that in my little slice of suburbia I have been violated. As soon as I can listen...I'll post my reviews...until then I'm going to go play Mario Kart Wii and try and not think about what is happening to the society that I'm raising my son in.

Music Column (Sorry I Ain’t Posted Nothin’) (4/14-4/18)

Hey guys...sorry I haven't posted anything...but I really do have a good excuse. For those of you that aren't really in the know of my personal life, I've had some health problems that have impaired my ability to review and listen to music for the past week and a half (I ain't been able to hear out of my left ear...or to be more accurate...everything that I do hear, sounds like I'm underwater.) This is a recurring issue that I've been dealing with for most of my life (it has to do with a ruptured eardrum and some scar tissue that formed when I was a really young kid) and hopefully it will be cleared up relatively quickly (sometimes it lasts week...sometimes it lasts months) Anyways...since I'm only hearing in mono through my headphones (that's how I listen to music before I review it) I don't feel I could accurately give you a good review until I'm 100%. I will continue to tell you what I'm buying and at least attempting to listen to in the meantime...with some mild review type elements splashed in there.

This week's must buy is The Alchemy Index Volume III & IV (Air & Earth) by Thrice. (Yes, for those of you that know me...I'm biased.) This is a band that has truely evolved their sound over the course of the past several years. This is most present when listening to the complete collection of Alchemy Index EP's. They go from hard rock (Fire), to electronic (Water), to intellectual art rock (Air) and wrap up with acoustic folk (Earth). Personally, I am leaning towards Air being my favorite, with Water coming in a short second.

Music Column (3/31-4/11) Part 1

Just so everyone knows...I have not forgetten about you...I'm working on it, I've just had some family issues that have taken up more time than I expected (Ethan decided to change his schedule).

Currently I'm working on:

Accelerate by R.E.M.

Attack & Release by The Black Keys

April by Sun Kil Moon

Jim Noir by Jim Noir

Pershing by Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin

Walk It Off by Tapes 'N Tapes

These are all must buys, and I'll write actual reviews as soon as I have a chance.