After I made a mix for J.G.'s brother a few months ago, their mom heard it and liked it, "The Ice Of Boston" in particular, and to my surprise, requested that I make a CD for her too. So now pretty much that whole family has mix CDs from me. She's pretty open minded for her age, but then, my taste is pretty classic rock-oriented when it comes to even newer rock music, so it wasn't too hard for me to make it accessible for her, and I included a lot of the same artists from John's mix, although mostly different songs. I think it came out pretty well. The Michael Bublé track was one that J.G. asked me to grab off iTunes and include, but that song is actually kinda growin' on me.

1. Ted Leo/Pharmacists - "Timorous Me"
2. Apollo Sunshine - "Today Is The Day"
3. The B-52's - "Private Idaho"
4. The Dismemberment Plan - "The Ice Of Boston"
5. The Posies - "Conversations"
6. Elliott Smith - "Angeles"
7. The Who - "5'15"
8. Spymob - "Walking Under Green Leaves"
9. John Mellencamp - "Cherry Bomb"
10. Ben Folds Five - "Philosophy
11. Talking Heads - "Thank You For Sending Me An Angel"
12. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - "High Fidelity"
13. They Might Be Giants - "Don't Let's Start"
14. Rufus Wainwright - "April Fools"
15. Brendan Benson - "What I'm Looking For"
16. Chris Lee - "Lonesome Eyes"
17. Private Eleanor - "On Our Side"
18. Randy Newman - "Baltimore"
19. Michael Bublé - "Home"
20. Jeff Buckley - "Satisfied Mind"

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Chris Lee, Dismemberment Plan, Elvis Costello, mixtapes, mp3, Spymob, Ted Leo, The B-52's, The Posies, The Who, They Might Be Giants

This is a mix CD I made for J.G. a few weeks ago:

1. Apollo Sunshine - "Today Is The Day"
2. Simon & Garfunkel - "Cecilia"
3. Brendan Benson - "The Alternative To Love" (Metarie EP version)
4. The Posies - "21"
5. Spymob - "National Holidays"
6. Superchunk - "Detroit Has A Skyline"
7. The B-52's - "Private Idaho"
8. Chisel - "River High"
9. Soul Coughing - "So Far I Have Not Found The Science"
10. Medications - "This Is The Part We Laugh About"
11. Alicia Keys featuring Adam Levine - "Wild Horses"
12. The Rolling Stones - "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"
13. John Mellencamp - "Cherry Bomb"
14. Travis Morrison - "Any Open Door"
15. Ken Stringfellow - "Any Love (Cassandra Et Lune)"
16. Jeff Buckley - "What Will You Say" (live Mystery White Boy version)
17. Ted Leo - "Bleeding Powers" (solo Tell Balgeary EP version)
18. Randy Newman - "Baltimore"

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Brendan Benson, mixtapes, Soul Coughing, Spymob, Superchunk, Ted Leo, The B-52's, The Posies, Travis Morrison

Last month I bought a new computer and for the first time finally have a CD burner. The first CD I burned was a mix that I gave to J.G.'s brother John as a Christmas gift:

1. Fugazi - "Song #1"
2. Medications - "Safe And Sorry"
3. The Dismemberment Plan - "The Ice Of Boston"
4. Apollo Sunshine - "Ghost"
5. Sonic Youth - "Teen Age Riot"
6. Superchunk - "Detroit Has A Skyline"
7. Brendan Benson - "I'm Easy"
8. Private Eleanor - "Estimated Distance"
9. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - "No Action"
10. Spymob - "It Gets Me Going"
11. Bob Dylan - "Simple Twist Of Fate"
12. Jeff Buckley - "Grace"
13. Lake Trout - "Pill"
14. Ted Leo/Pharmacist - "You Always Hate The One You Love" (mp3)
15. The Geraldine Fibbers - "Lilybelle"
16. Bruce Springsteen - "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)"
17. The Posies - "Song #1"

The Ted Leo track was the first thing I ever heard by him, way back in 2000 when I reviewed a crappy indie comp for Pitchfork that it was on, and it slowly had me hooked by the time Tyranny of Distance came out. In a way it's still one of my favorite songs by him and I kinda wish he'd do a whole record like that, solo and lo-fi but still energetic and song-driven.

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Bruce Springsteen, Dischord, Dismemberment Plan, mixtapes, mp3, Sonic Youth, Spymob, Superchunk, Ted Leo, The Geraldine Fibbers, The Posies

This year was my first as a paid critic, and I consumed a lot more new music than is average for me. But still, I feel the same way I do at the end of every year, like I drank from a pretty shallow well of music and probably missed the boat on a lot of stuff. And I also feel like I gave things a lot less repeat listens than I did in other years. There's stuff that isn't on this list that I listened to more times than some things on this list, but usually for review purposes or because it took me a while to figure out it wasn't very good. That's why I can't ever really say with any confidence with it was a good or bad year for music (unless we're talking a very specific scene or genre), and I wonder if even industry people and obsessive downloaders who consume hundreds of albums a year can say so either. But it was a cool year for me, even if I wish there were more revelations on this list and fewer average albums by people who I'll buy anything by. I'd hoped to vote in the Pazz & Jop poll for the first time this year, but I procrastinated too long on trying to get in on it and missed the deadline. Oh well, I'll try again next year.


1. Kanye West - Late Registration

I was following Kanye's production and copping his mixtapes and every single leaked track for so long that by the time The College Dropout finally dropped, I had developed Kanye fatigue and didn't really get to enjoy its phenomenal success, and when I put it at #1 at the end of last year, I did so kind of by default. And I kind of am again this year, as I would've loved for a much different kind of hip hop album to have blown it out of the water for me. But my endorsement of this is much more certain, he really did his thing and let everyone know the first wasn't a fluke. It's still kind of soggy and overlong, but I can say that I actually enjoy it all the way through, skits and all (which I can't say for the long stretch surrounding "School Spirit" on Dropout). There's stuff that still doesn't make sense to me, like "Addiction" or the random Common solo track in the middle of the album, but it all fits together. And the tracks I don't love have something to redeem them, like that bizarre verse in "Celebration" where he talks about how his son is going to be well endowed.

Kanye West - "Roses" (mp3)


2. Apollo Sunshine - Apollo Sunshine

There's something I completely fucking love about what Apollo Sunshine do, and I don't think I got entirely to the bottom of yet. But even with kind of bland, touchy feely lyrics and not a lot to distinguish them aesthetically from a lot of other bearded indie pop bands that I wouldn't give the time of day to, they made an album and played a couple live shows that just completely bowled me over this year. And really, if nothing else, I have to credit the guitar solos. If Elephant 6 bands had solos like that I might give a shit about more of that stuff.

My Stylus review of Apollo Sunshine
Apollo Sunshine - "Eyes" (mp3)


3. System Of A Down - Mezmerize

As tightly concise as the first album but better paced and with just enough goofy Malakian moments to make it more inviting and replayable.

My City Paper review of Mezmerize
System Of A Down - "Sad Statue" (mp3)


4. Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official

This is the only album on this list that was also on my best of Baltimore 2005 list, and that's largely because of the far reaching waves it made outside of Baltimore this year. Rod Lee has been one of my favorite Baltimore club music producers for years, and it was real gratifying to see him get his props all over the place. I copped at least a dozen club mixes this year, and while it's a little hard to justify putting one above many similiar ones simply because of better distribution ad visibility, it really is the best sounding (more expensive mastering, maybe?) and best paced.

My Government Names review of Vol. 5: The Official
K.W. Griff - "Good Man" (mp3)


5. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter II

One of the reasons I always procrastinate on these year end albums lists is that there's always 4th quarter hip hop event releases to sneak in there. And I'm about the last person you'll catch getting excited about a Chopped & Screwed CD, but the C&S bonus disc of Wayne's greatest hits is really worth the price tag in and of itself. I don't think there's another rapper and producer I'd rather hear slowed than Wayne and Mannie Fresh. Tom is nuts about thinking that "Shooter" is a potential single or even one of the best songs, though. It's like all the rap songs with the guy from Maroon 5 but not as good.

Lil Wayne - "Hustler Musik" (mp3)


6. Grand Buffet - Five Years Of Fireworks

Noone who watched the SNL "Lazy Sunday" video over and over should be sleeping on Grand Buffet.

My Stylus review of Five Years Of Fireworks
Grand Buffet - "Pink Deadly" (mp3)


7. Beanie Sigel - The B.Coming

I'm kind of hoping that now that he's a free man again he's going to make an album that leaves this one in the dust.

My City Paper review of The B.Coming
Beanie Sigel f/ Freeway and Young Chris - "I Can't Go On This Way" (mp3)


8. Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter

The kind of schitzo R&B album that Missy wishes she made this year.

My City Paper review of Chain Letter
Brooke Valentine f/ Jermaine Dupri - "Playa" (mp3)


9. The Posies - Every Kind Of Light

In my mind, The Posies can almost do no wrong, and while this wasn't the perfect comeback I'd hoped for, they definitely made some worthy additions to their catalog.

My Stylus review of Every Kind Of Light
The Posies - "Second Time Around" (mp3)


10. Black Rob - The Black Rob Report

Like Beanie, this proves I have a weakness for spirited gasps from fading NY rap dynasties.

Black Rob - "Long Live B.R." (mp3)


11. Lil Kim - The Naked Truth

Hell no, it's not a five mic album, but considering that she possesses one of my least favorite voices in rap and I've never been much of a fan, it's a triumph that I'm feeling this. The cover photo really scared me off of copping it for a couple months, even though I loved "Lighters Up." Actually, the real triumph is that I can tolerate an album with multiple Katt "Money Mike" Williams interludes. I'm gonna give Kim the benefit of the doubt that she decided to diss Foxy Brown on a song titled "Quiet" before Foxy announced that she was going deaf.

Lil Kim - "Durty" (mp3)


12. Amerie - Touch

I guess a whole album of "1 Thing" was too much to hope for, but the less bombastic stuff had some surprising staying power.

My Stylus review of Touch
Amerie - "Come With Me" (mp3)


13. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla

"Hotel" will probably always loom over him a little too much to be taken seriously by everyone, and now that he's behind bars his career might be over anyway, but he really did step up and make a hot album, whether anyone wants to admit it.

My Stylus review of I'm A Hustla
Cassidy f/ Swizz Beatz - "Get 'Em" (mp3)


14. Medications - Your Favorite People All In One Place

I have to admit that to me, they're still a surrogate for the superior and short-lived Faraquet, but Rush-meets-Fugazi is not a niche that many other bands are serving, so I'll take what I can get.

My City Paper review of Your Favorite People All In One Place
Medications - "This Is The Part We Laugh About" (mp3)


15. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook

Missy's last two albums were my least favorite to date, her collaborations with Timbaland slowly becoming a dried out husk of what they once were, so I was probably in the minority in being overjoyed that she finally branched out with producers other than Timbo. It still can't touch the earlier albums, but it was a step in the right direction. She really fucked up sales with the singles choices, though. "Teary Eyed" totally bombed and "We Run This" probably will too. It's a crime that "Can't Stop" isn't on the radio right now.

Missy Elliott - "Can't Stop" (mp3)


16. Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love

He continues to slide into more of the 2nd album's mopery and less of the 1st's giddy rush, but he's getting better at balancing the two.

Brendan Benson - "Between Us" (mp3)


17. The Evens - The Evens

There's something charming about this dinky, scaled down version of Fugazi's already relatively subdued later albums. I kind of have to tune out the parts where he's talking about police and governors, though.

The Evens - "Sara Lee" (mp3)


18. Ebony Eyez - 7 Day Cycle

Maybe I'm still alone in this but seriously, I think the TrackBoyz are the dopest producers in the game right now. It's a shame this album came and went with such little notice.

My City Paper review of 7 Day Cycle
Ebony Eyez - "Good Vibrations" (mp3)


19. Sheek Louch - After Taxes

If people are starved enough for decent New York hip hop that they'll rep for everything the Diplomats do, then I don't really understand why records like this and the Black Rob can be so ignored.

My Stylus review of After Taxes
Sheek Louch - "Intro" (mp3)


20. Petra Haden - Petra Haden Sings: The Who Sell Out

The original The Who Sell Out isn't my favorite Who album by a mile, but it's a perfect choice for a ridiculous project like this. Petra Haden throws herself completely into an a cappella note-for-note cover, even doing the silly interstitial skits and fake commercials and silly voices and fake accents and beatboxing the drum parts. Like Carla Bozulich's reading of Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger, another recent cover of an entire decades-old album by a So-Cal alt-rock chick friend of Mike Watt, it's a completely unnecessary idea that was pulled off with absolute conviction.

Petra Haden - "Heinz Baked Beans" (mp3)

Labels: Apollo Sunshine, Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, Grand Buffet, hip hop, Kanye West, Lil Wayne, lists, mp3, R and B, The Posies

Albums:

1. Kanye West - Late Registration
2. System Of A Down - Mezmerize
3. Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official
4. Apollo Sunshine - Apollo Sunshine
5. Beanie Sigel - The B. Coming
6. Grand Buffet - Five Years Of Fireworks
7. Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter
8. The Posies - Every Kind Of Light
9. Medications - All Your Favorite People In One Place
10. Bossman - Law & Order

11. Missy Elliott - The Cookbook
12. Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love
13. Amerie - Touch
14. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla
15. The Evens - The Evens
16. Lake Trout - Not You, Them
17. Fat Joe - All Or Nothing
18. Scott Amendola Band - Believe
19. DJ K-Swift - Club Queen Vol. 6: The Return
20. Enon - Lost Marbles And Exploded Evidence

Singles:

1. Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"
2. Amerie - "1 Thing"
3. The Game f/ 50 Cent- "Hate It Or Love It"
4. My Chemical Romance - "Helena"
5. Three 6 Mafia f/ Young Buck and 8Ball & MJG - "Stay Fly"
6. R. Kelly - "Trapped In The Closet
7. Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together"
8. Cassidy - "I'm A Hustla"
9. Ying Yang Twins - "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
10. Lil Kim - "Lighters Up"

11. Natasha Bedingfield - "These Words"
12. Toni Braxton - "Take This Ring"
13. Lil Mo - "Dem Boyz"
14. System Of A Down - "B.Y.O.B."
15. Vivian Green - "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)"
16. Ludacris f/ Bobby Valentino - "Pimpin' All Over The World"
17. David Banner - "Play"
18. Juelz Santana - "Mic Check 1, 2"
19. Shakira f/ Alejandro Sanz - "La Tortura"
20. Kanye West f/ Adam Levine of Maroon 5 - "Heard 'Em Say"

21. Mariah Carey - "Shake It Off"
22. Bobby Valentino f/ Lil Wayne - "Tell Me"
23. Tweet - "Turn Da Lights Off"
24. Will Smith - "Switch"
25. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz f/ Usher and Ludacris - "Lovers & Friends"
26. Young Jeezy f/ Akon - "Soul Survivor"
27. Snoop Dogg w/ Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson - "Signs"
28. Omarion - "Touch"
29. John Legend - "Ordinary People"
30. Boyz N Da Hood - "Dem Boyz"

31. Toby Keith - "As Good As I Once Was"
32. B.G. f/ Homebwoi - "Where Da At"
33. Destiny's Child - "Girl"
34. Tony Yayo f/ G-Unit - "I Know You Don't Love Me"
35. Nivea f/ Lil Jon and the Youngbloodz - "Okay"
36. Webbie f/ Bun B - "Give Me That"
37. Kanye West - "Diamonds"
38. Lee Ann Womack - "I May Hate Myself In The Morning"
39. Bobby Valentino - "Slow Down"
40. Rihanna - "Pon De Replay"

41. Common f/ The Last Poets - "The Corner"
42. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
43. R. Kelly - "Sex In The Kitchen"
44. T.I. - "ASAP"
45. Missy Elliott f/ Ciara and Fatman Scoop - "Lose Control"
46. U2 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
47. Tyra - "Country Boy"
48. Remy Ma f/ Swizz Beatz- "Whateva"
49. Gwen Stefani - "Cool"
50. Ebony Eyez - "In Ya Face"

51. 112 - "U Already Know"
52. Gucci Mane f/ Young Jeezy - "Icy"
53. Juvenile f/ Wacko - "Sets Go Up"
54. T.I. - "U Don't Know Me"
55. Dem Franchize Boyz f/ Jermaine Dupri, Da Brat and Bow Wow - "I Think They Like Me (So So Def Remix)"
56. Bow Wow f/ Ciara - "Like You"
57. U2 - "City Of Blinding Lights"
58. Big & Rich - "The Big Time"
59. Foo Fighters - "Best Of You"
60. Ludacris - "#1 Spot"

61. Kelly Osbourne - "One Word"
62. Snoop Dogg - "Ups & Downs"
63. Fat Joe - "So Much More"
64. The Killers - "All The Things I've Done"
65. Papa Roach - "Scars"
66. T.I. f/ P$C and Lil Scrappy - "I'm A King"
67. Kanye West f/ Jamie Foxx - "Gold Digger"
68. Alan Jackson - "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues"
69. Marque Houston - "All Because Of You"
70. Trick Daddy f/ Cee-Lo and Lil Kim - "Sugar"

71. 3 Doors Down - "Let Me Go"
72. Fantasia - "Free Yourself"
73. Cam'ron f/ Kanye West - "Down & Out"
74. Paul Wall - "Sittin' Sidewayz"
75. Common - "Go!"
76. Tony Yayo f/ 50 Cent - "So Seductive"
77. Damien Marley - "Welcome To Jamrock"
78. Foxy Brown f/ Sizzla - "Come Fly With Me"
79. Amerie - "Talkin' About"
80. Cassidy - "B-Boy Stance"

81. Good Charlotte - "I Just Wanna Live"
82. Ne-Yo f/ Peedi Crakk - "Stay"
83. Audioslave - "Be Yourself"
84. Dierks Bentley - "Lot Of Leavin' Left To Do"
85. Shania Twain - "I Ain't No Quitter"
86. Nine Inch Nails - "The Hand That Feeds"
87. Hot Hot Heat - "Middle Of Nowhere"
88. Foo Fighters - "D.O.A."
89. J-Kwon f/ Petey Pablo and Ebony Eyez - "Get XXX'd"
90. Young Jeezy f/ Mannie Fresh - "And Then What"

91. Brad Paisley - "Alcohol"
92. 50 Cent f/ Mobb Deep - "Outta Control (Remix)"
93. Backstreet Boys - "Incomplete"
94. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz f/ Bohagon - "Get Crunk"
95. Kelly Clarkson - "Behind These Hazel Eyes"
96. Mars Volta - "The Widow"
97. Toni Braxton - "Please"
98. Sawyer Brown - "Mission Temple Fireworks Stand"
99. Hot Apple Pie - "Hillbillies"
100. Weezer - "Perfect Situation"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, Grand Buffet, hip hop, Kanye West, lists, R and B, The Posies

top ten:

1. Bob Seger - "Her Strut"
2. Missy Elliott - "Can't Stop"
3. The Posies - "I Guess You're Right"
4. Huli Shallone - "Makin' Moves"
5. Paula Campbell - "Lighters Up" remix
6. Lake Trout - "Pill"
7. Medications - "Pills"
8. System Of A Down - "Violent Pornography"
9. Cassidy - "C-Bonics"
10. Brendan Benson - "Between Us"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, hip hop, R and B, The Posies

FIRST HALF OF '05:

Albums
1. Beanie Sigel - The B.Coming
2. System Of A Down - Mezmerize
3. Rod Lee - Vol. 5: The Official
4. Brooke Valentine - Chain Letter
5. Grand Buffet - Five Years Of Fireworks
6. Bossman - Law & Order
7. Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love
8. Cassidy - I'm A Hustla
9. The Evens - The Evens
10. Amerie - Touch

Singles
1. Amerie - "1 Thing"
2. The Game f/ 50 Cent - "Hate It Or Love It"
3. R. Kelly - "Trapped In The Closet"
4. My Chemical Romance - "Helena"
5. Cassidy - "I'm A Hustla"
6. Mariah Carey - "We Belong Together"
7. Ying Yang Twins - "Wait (The Whisper Song)"
8. Lil Mo - "Dem Boyz"
9. T.I. - "U Don't Know Me"
10. System Of A Down - "B.Y.O.B."
11. Snoop Dogg w/ Justin Timberlake and Charlie Wilson - "Signs"
12. Common f/ The Last Poets - "The Corner"
13. Ludacris f/ Bobby Valentino - "Pimpin' All Over The World"
14. Juelz Santana - "Mic Check 1, 2"
15. The Killers - "Mr. Brightside"
16. Tweet - "Turn Da Lights Off"
17. Will Smith - "Switch"
18. R. Kelly - "Sex In The Kitchen"
19. John Legend - "Ordinary People"
20. Lee Ann Womack - "I May Hate Myself In The Morning"
21. Lil Jon & The Eastside Boyz f/ Usher and Ludacris - "Lovers & Friends"
22. Shakira f/ Alejandro Sanz - "La Tortura"
23. U2 - "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own"
24. 112 - "U Already Know"
25. Toby Keith - "As Good As I Once Was"
26. Gucci Mane f/ Young Jeezy - "Icy"
27. Juvenile - "Sets Go Up"
28. Pitbull f/ Lil Jon - "Toma"
29. Destiny's Child - "Girl"
30. Webbie f/ Bun B - "Give Me That"
31. Vivian Green - "Gotta Go, Gotta Leave (Tired)"
32. Tyra - "Country Boy"
33. Nivea f/ Lil Jon and the Youngbloodz - "Okay"
34. Big & Rich - "The Big Time"
35. Ludacris - "#1 Spot"
36. Kelly Osbourne - "One Word"
37. Snoop Dogg - "Ups & Downs"
38. Boyz N Da Hood - "Dem Boyz"
39. Foo Fighters - "Best Of You"
40. Fat Joe - "So Much More"
41. Alan Jackson - "The Talkin' Song Repair Blues"
42. Bobby Valentino - "Slow Down"
43. Marque Houston - "All Because Of You"
44. Trick Daddy f/ Cee-Lo and Lil Kim - "Sugar"
45. 3 Doors Down - "Let Me Go"
46. Cam'ron f/ Kanye West - "Down & Out"
47. Kanye West - "Diamonds"
48. Missy Elliott f/ Ciara and Fatman Scoop - "Lose Control"
49. Paul Wall - "Sittin' Sidewayz"
50. Omarion - "Touch"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, Grand Buffet, hip hop, lists, R and B, R. Kelly

Meme time!

Total volume of music files on my computer: at the moment, 565 mp3's, which I guess is a big number, but I don't feel like I download a lot or listen to music on my computer that often. I have an old iBook with pretty limited hard drive space, which means almost everytime I want to download something new, I have to find something I don't mind deleting to make room. I hope to get a new computer in the near future so that I don't have to worry about this issue anymore.

Last CD I bought was: on the same day, Grand Buffet's Five Years of Fireworks and Sloan's A Sides Win, both career retrospectives wherein I was already familiar with a lot of the songs, and was motivated to purchase mainly for the DVDs packaged inside.

Song playing right now: Chaka Khan "I Feel For You"

Five songs I listen to a lot these days: (I'll try not to make any of these redundant with similiar lists I put on this blog) NEK "Face Down" (Remix), Steely Dan "Babylon Sisters", Brendan Benson "Cold Hands (Warm Heart)", T.I. "ASAP", 112 "My Mistakes"

And I am passing this on to be filled out by:
Jeff
Mat
Hillary
Anthony
Zac

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Grand Buffet, meta, Steely Dan, T.I.

in my stereo:

System of a Down - Mezmerize
K-Swift - Club Queen Vol. 6: The Return
Young Gunz - Brothers From Another
Karmella's Game - What He Doesn't Know Won't Hurt Him EP
B Rich - 80 Dimes
The Posies - Dear 23
The Mercury Program - A Data Learn The Language
The Nels Cline Singers - Instrumentals
Beauty Pill - The Unsustainable Lifestyle
Brendan Benson - One Mississippi

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dischord, hip hop, In My Stereo, Nels Cline, The Posies

top ten:

1. DJ Rod Lee - "I Got Problems (Dance My Pain Away)"
2. R. Kelly - "Trapped In The Closet (Chapter 2 of 5)"
3. String Tribute to Sonic Youth - "Wish Fulfillment"
4. Amerie - "Come With Me"
5. Beanie Sigel f/ Freeway and Young Chris - "I Can't Go On This Way"
6. Third Eye Blind - "Graduate"
7. Brendan Benson - "Them And Me"
8. Tweet - "Turn Da Lights Off" (RJD2 remix)
9. Jay-Z - "Dear Summer"
10. David Banner - "Play"

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Jay-Z, lists, R and B, R. Kelly, Sonic Youth

in my stereo:

Beanie Sigel - The B.Coming
DJ Quicksilva - The Hot Boy Volume 1
Dinosaur Jr. - Bug
Brendan Benson - The Alternative To Love
The Pretenders - The Pretenders
Bossman - Charm City's King, Mixtape Vol. 2
Enon - Lost Marbles and Exploded Evidence
Sonic Youth - Sonic Nurse
Blink 182 - Blink 182
Trick Daddy - Thug Matrimony

Labels: Baltimore music, Brendan Benson, Dinosaur Jr., Enon, In My Stereo, Sonic Youth, The Pretenders, Trick Daddy

Today Stylus gets the Pitchfork award for managing to fit a factual error into even the one-sentence headline on the front page, for the Brendan Benson review:

"Power-popper gets cleaner and polished on his major label debut..."

(One Mississippi was released on Virgin (and furthermore is arguably as polished as, if not more than, his new record.)) So far I've only listened to Alternative To Love once, so I don't really have anything to say about it, although I suspect it will be a grower like Lapalco. Also, Stylus is forgiven because the Cibula piece was nice and reminds me that he is missed in the world of music blogging.

Labels: Brendan Benson