Listening to the new Pearl Jam album "Back Spacer". Pretty good imo. Am really enjoying Pearl Jam again, after not listening to them for a long time I have been playing a lot of the old albums and the "Into the wild" soundtrack which is excellent.

Also picked up the new Megadeth album "Endgame", very disappointing actually and this is from someone who has been a huge fan of theirs for years. I have only listened to it a couple of times so it may grow on me yet.

Now I'm listening to Fountains of Wayne, who can do no wrong. Catchy tunes and smart lyrics, and that's all you need. Out of State Plates.

I am listening to the new Willie and The Wheel album. I am 4 songs in and it is pretty f*cking good.

It has a very interesting package complete with postcards representing each song.

Michael Franks, The Art of Tea

Popsicle Toes

haha I know that tune! Haven't heard it in a long time. Thanks for the link.

Listening to Frank Turner now, folky rock with some really good lyrics.

Fleet Foxes and Cuban Cigar Crisis today. Tomorrow I'll be grinding all day so I'll want some chilled-out tunes. I've got Pandora set up with:

Radiohead
Broken Social Scene
Fleet Foxes
Iron and Wine
Cuban Cigar Crisis
Rogue Wave
Between Interval
Nelson Foltz and Tom Lynn
Manitou

I'm listening to PJ Harvey, an English lady evidently. I don't know her music, but she seems to be critically acclaimed. I like the song You Said Something.

Yeah, Polly Jean Harvey is wonderful. I tend to like her older stuff more than her newer, but it's still all very good. She's very musically inventive and adventurous - I would argue that no two fo her albums sound the same.

I named one of my cats Stella Marie because of her song.

Careful, once you start listening to her you will insist on buying everything she has recorded. PJ Harvey is my favorite music artist, ever.

Now I'm listening to Husker Du's album Candle Apple Grey. I like Husker Du a lot, although their earlier work is a little cacophonous for me. They do have that buzzsaw sound which is very appealing to me, and the smart lyrics.

Keiko Matsui, wonderful Asian pianist.

Couple of excellent samples if you have never heard of her:

1942, from Russia

Forever Forever

When I write, I need to enter a near hypnotic state. Her music always helps.

If you like what you hear from her but prefer solo piano, I recommend the album Piano, which features some of her best music arranged either solo or with minor percussion accompaniement. She cites her biggest influences as Stevie Wonder and Rachmaninov, two of the best examples to illustrate her ability to fuse classical piano with a broader appeal.

I went to the DMB concert tonight in Camden, NJ. Here is the set list:

Pantala Naga Pampa --> Rapunzel
Proudest Monkey
Satellite
Stay or Leave
Seven
Lying In The Hands Of God
Why I Am
Granny
Funny The Way It Is
Gravedigger
Rhyme And Reason
You And Me
Grey Street
#41
Shake Me Like A Monkey
Everyday
Ants Marching
-------------
Baby Blue
Crash (Into Me)
Halloween

Absolutely phenomenal concert. I've seen DMB I think 6 times now, and this was easily my favorite. Rashawn Ross is very good. Jeff Coffin is outstanding, and while LeRoi holds a place in the hearts of all DMB fans, Coffin is a better musician. Tim Reynolds adds a lot as well.

I really like the latest album, and it was interesting to see which songs translated well live:
"Seven" - Good, if a bit bizarre.
"Lying In The Hands of God" - Ok, standard DMB, nothing special.
"Funny The Way It Is" - Ditto.
"Why I Am" - Awesome. Very high energy, much better live than on the album.
"You And Me" - Sucked. Worst song of the show.

But what made this show special was the oldschool and rare stuff they brought out. "Stay Or Leave" is normally a Dave+Tim song, but apparently they've played it 10 times this summer. It's a favorite of mine, I never expected to hear it, and I was ecstatic. "Halloween" and "Granny" are also pretty rare (6 and 5 times this summer), but always crowd favorites. The crowd chants for Halloween at pretty much every show but rarely gets it. "#41" was ballistic, they play this a lot but tonight's version just blew me away, Coffin had a ~5 minute solo that was great. And although they often play Ants, I was somehow 0/5 hearing that, so it was nice to finally get it.

So, if you like DMB, and they are coming near you, I highly highly recommend!

Dying Fetus has their whole new album streaming, it's pretty kickass.

http://descendintodepravity.info/

The Strokes - Is This It
Rachmaninov Concerto No.3 (1st part)
QOTSA - Lullabies to Paralyze

If nothing else, this thread will have reminded me to revisit King Crimson.

Thanks for that. I love this stuff.

On the way to work today I was listening to a bit of The Counting Crows. Caught the Coldplay gig in London on Friday - too mainstream for here??

Ghostface Killah - Supreme Clientele
The Strokes - Is This It

I think both are going to take several listens to get a good grasp on.

Fatlip's album quite a few times

The Strokes are good, Is This It?, particularly, but Room on Fire also has some good moments. Not particularly keen on the third album.

Now I'm listening to REM's 2nd album, Reckoning. jangle jangle

I had a phase with this album earlier this year. I listened to it roughly several times a day for months. It was the only sound I wanted to hear.

just in case you haven't done so for a while, you should revisit roxy music. one of best pop bands ever imo

At work I've been churning through the music I have acquired over the years from recommendation that have all found a home in my "for review" folder. Earlier today I was listening to Ok Go and Pantera. But right now I just needed to go back to something I know, love and can't get enough of. So I put on The Fragile by Nine Inch Nails.

grindin' with Wayne.