What are you listening to right now?

[BlueChair]

So. F-ing. Good.

[mood swung]

Peace Queer - Todd Snider

available as a free download thru the end of October

http://www.toddsnider.net/store/product/1/Peace-Queer

even if you don't wanna download, go there and read the bio by Cokie Roberts (is it *the* Cokie? I don't know).

[StrictTime]

Why do I need a billing address if it's a free download? I freaking hate that.

[BlueChair]

What a wonderful world this could be...

[Who Shot Sam?]

Nice one, Blue!

I'm spinning...

[invisible Pole]

Seems like this release went completely unnoticed both commercially and critically (and on this board).
Undeservedly, as this is a very solid comeback from James.

[invisible Pole]

Four Tops - Bernadette
followed by
Billy Bragg - Levi Stubbs' Tears

in honour of Levi Stubbs who passed away a couple of days ago.

[StrictTime]

Lucinda Williams' new one, Little Honey. I really like it. It's definitely more upbeat than West. It's still fully sinking in.

[bambooneedle]

Picked this up used on vinyl. Had first heard We People Who Are Darker Than Blue via the band Babe Ruth, so when I saw that listed it more than sealed the deal.

[Who Shot Sam?]

[Who Shot Sam?]

Getting ready for Election Night...

[Who Shot Sam?]

Now...

[BlueChair]

A stunning concert from 1998, finally released on CD by Nonesuch.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Are they releasing a full DVD of it too, or just the CD? The excerpts from it in the Wenders film are wonderful, along with the incredible sight of Ruben, Compay (if indeed they are in the sequence) et al recollecting their earlier visits to NY in the 50s. I've had Chan Chan on the brain for days now. I have the original LP on tape somewhere, but maybe I should get my hands on this CD. I saw them here a while after with no Compay but still with Ruben, which was marvellous.

[Who Shot Sam?]

[Who Shot Sam?]

Now...

[Otis Westinghouse]

Did ever mention that I saw Art Blakey in a cool West Berlin jazz club 20 years ago? It was fab. he smiled throughout and still had all of his swing intact. this was around the time I saw 3 Miles Davis concerts in Berlin, Barcelona and Madrid within a 4 or so month period? My jazz years... Now I think of it, Vladimir Horowitz in c. May '88 and Davis in Nov '88 were both among their last performances. Both remarkable. Those were the days.

[Mr. Average]

"It's the End of the World as We Know It, and I Feel Fine" - REM

[Who Shot Sam?]

Really Mr. A. Take a walk on the beach and clear your head. If we Dems could survive 8 years of "W" then you can survive at least four of Obama.

A little time in the wilderness will probably be good for the Republicans. Maybe they'll start to understand that we are not a nation of right wing ideologues. They might even figure out how to get someone elected in the Northeast. Nah, scratch that last one.

[pophead2k]

I'm listening to the best album of this year (or many others), Ryan Adams and the Cardinals Cardinology. Perfect album, dig every song.

[Otis Westinghouse]

He's playing here Sunday and a friend tried to get me interested. I've never been that taken with him from what I've heard, and in a week with Fleet Foxes and John Martyn no way could I justify another gig. I'm curious to try and understand more of what makes people such fans.

[BlueChair]

Cardinology is good, though I wouldn't rank it quite as high as Easy Tiger. Coming up with my Best of 2008 list is actually going to be quite tough... there's a few sure things, like Fleet Foxes, Jenny Lewis, Elvis, Aimee Mann... but no standout No. 1 as had been the case with me in past years.

For now, I'm revisiting an older favourite

[Otis Westinghouse]

Now you're talking! Best LP cover ever, no?

For me, entirely confirmed last night, 2008 has one titanic standout LP, yes of course, Fleet Foxes. I guarantee that when I'm 70 and people are compiling new editions of '1000 LPs you must hear', this will be in there. It's immaculate and timeless.

Elbow's Mercury winner is also beautiful and wonderful, but for me this is the biggie.

[mood swung]

this is the best album cover EVER.

[Otis Westinghouse]

Since Friday's gig, I've only been playing John Martyn, apart from a bit of Ron S's 'Whereabouts' as I had a real hankering for 'Seem To Recall'. I've had 'Solid Air', the fabulous 'Bless The Weather' and 'Grace and Danger' in heavy rotation. What brilliant LPs they all are.