New Gear

The most recent in internet time-crushers for me the ridiculously absorbing last.fm. I'm transfixed at how simple an idea this is, yet how right-on it is. Essentially, for heads into radical music, pretend you're driving through Williamsburg in Brooklyn. (This is still the coolest zip code in America, no? I digress...) You got a booming sound system, windows are rolled down and your cranking the new Lightning Bolt record. Or John Fahey. Or Eddie Murphy's "Party All The Time". Whatever. You're driving that car straight into a block party, some people are turning their noses, but others (trannies?) are jumping in your car psyched to see what else you might play. They have a chance to view not only your favorite stuff that week, but in the past few weeks, months, years? Pretty fun stuff, especially if you're fascinated at how people listen to music like I am.

My only gripe at this point is that it seems to favor listening to single songs rather than whole albums. It actually goes as far as not really even showing an album's name on the chart, solely focusing in on the song title.

All in all, a fun time and pretty nifty if you want to share your listening habits with the world and prove once and for all that Panic! At The Disco or Dream Street is your favorite!

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Also: still getting through a whole backlog of records...really hoping to get the list done by year's end, but it's hard to cross lots of great records (Band of Horses, Om, Roger O'Donnell) off my list. I'll get there soon -- please stay tuned!