Two things I really like about the end of the year–making comprehensive mixes of the music of the last 12 months, and giving cheap presents. This is a way for me to do both. Well, here they are–the first two products of about two weeks (off and on, mind you) of narrowing my year-end favorites [...]

After a week-long respite in the Florida sun, I’m back, with a list inspired by my pal Irving of the 10 best singles so far this year. As I compiled it, I noticed that my ideal top ten is replete with up-tempo, danceable numbers–my ideal, parallel-universe Billboard chart.
1. The Decemberists “16 Military Wives“–At a typically [...]

At the halfway point (or a little after), I thought I’d issue my halftime top ten (then I saw the stalwart largeheartedboy’s own version–I swear I had this almost done last week). Anyhoo, here goes:

Spoon Gimme Fiction–A remarkable work from the most iconoclastic songwriter around today. A longer piece on this album will come [...]

Bloomington, Indiana, roughly 45 minutes south of Indianapolis, has long been to national touring artists, “somewhere in between” Cincinnati/Louisville and Chicago. Bands often forego Bloomington, and often Indianapolis as well, in lieu of a couple nights extra sleep on the way to the next, ostensibly more well-attended/properly promoted/housed date. If the occasional intrepid artist stops [...]