Features

The Narrator - All That to the Wall
Solid, quirky songs on this Chicago act's second release. Intricate guitar work belies spoken/sung/screamed vocals. A youthful energy buoys the material, and makes me just a hair nostalgic for my teenage years, briefly.

Feist - The Reminder
Ubiquitous and deservedly so. If this is adult contemporary, then I suppose I'm finally maturing.

Robbers on High Street - Grand Animals
Ben Trokan's well wrought songwriting shines through the lush production. "Across Your Knee" might be the song I've spun the most this year.

Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation performance at Pitchfork Festival
Underwhelming sound system aside, the grand poohbahs of the underground delivered a riveting performance of one of their myriad masterpieces on a summer's night.

The Good, the Bad and the Queen, SXSW, fader/levi's fort
Paul Simonon stole the supergroup's show, trawling the stage with his bass like a rifle, laying down his signature tone after a prolonged hiatus from rocking.

Someone grabbed my elbow as I came off stage at the Fader Fort and entered the green room tent. "You were brilliant up there," the small woman with the bouffant and heavy eyeliner said. "I really liked your set." I thanked her and introduced myself. She extended her arm and said, "Amy." I didn't know her from the pope, until I came home and was inundated with grocery store magazines with my backstage admirer on the cover.

I always had a fondness and respect for Bob Dylan, but up until this year I had never listened to him rigorously or with great pleasure. Blonde on Blonde changed that for me this year. It has rarely strayed from my turntable. The further into his catalogue that I delve, the more fascinating I find the music and the man. It's shameful it's taken so long,  but I'm thankful to have another classic to obsess over and exhaust.

I'm Not There fit nicely with my newfound obsession, in addition to bring a striking film on it's own right.

Superbad and Knocked Up appealed to my base, adolescent sensibilities.

Looking forward to hearing the new Black Mountain record. Aren't Dead Meadow due for another record?

"Umbrella" by Rihanna, and I'm not embarrassed, thank you.

Scott collided with a chubby 11 year old who was running to the counter at Dunkin Donuts this morning. Knocked the kid on his keister. I helped him up as Scott repeated, "uh, sorry buddy. Buddy, sorry." He didn't know what hit him!