1. "I Am Mine"/"Down" (Single) - Pearl Jam

The new single from Pearl Jam sounds decent enough. Need to listen to it more and let it sink in.

2. "The Original Guitar Hero" (Album) - Charlie Christian

This is jazz that swings and cooks, all recorded about sixty years ago. You wouldn't know it though, with this clean a sound. Christian pretty much redefined how an amplified guitar figures into a band setting, bringing his playing to a level many guitarists (in any genre) only aspire to.

3. "Fields Of Gold" - Eva Cassidy

Great voice, great version of Sting's song.

4. "Cleanin' Out My Closet (Instrumental)" - Eminem

What can I say? I like the beats.

5. "Sea Change" (Album) - Beck

By far his best, most consistent album. Full of lush, gentle meditations on loneliness and love lost, "Sea Change" brings to mind Nick Drake's richly orchestrated and sparse "Five Leaves Left,"" and Aimee Mann's melancholy "Bachelor #2."

Produced by Nigel Godrich (whose dense and rich soundscapes can be heard on Radiohead, Jason Falkner and Pavement albums), "Sea Change" is at once sad and rueful, but ultimately uplifting. This is Beck's most direct and personal work (stemming from the break-up of a 9-year relationship) and you can't help but feel his pain (oh, the pain!) that he's going through. That's alright, at least we benefit with this great album.

Spin this one when it's raining out, or when you find yourself up in the middle of the night and your loved one is safely tucked away in bed and in your heart. 

11:23:46 PM    Say Something []

Add the proverbial icing on the cake to your "Let's Transfer The Records To CD" project (see Final Vinyl 0.6 Beta) and take a look at Verbatim's Digital Vinyl CD-R. Meant to look like those old 45 rpm singles you could only afford because the LP was beyond your allowance, you now don't have to worry about changing the song after four minutes. 

11:18:18 PM    Say Something []