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yes

Goldbug, Ben Neill
Electronica madness. Mostly bought it because this semester, I've been finding that listening to music with words, especially words that make sense, has been intolerable. I need something that doesn't stir my emotions at all, that I can play with in the back of my head like tinkertoys. This is it.
Pi Soundtrack
Okay, I was pretty wrapped up in this movie, hey.
Highway 61 Revisited, Bob Dylan
Never thought it'd happen, but here I am listening to Bob Dylan. Heard Kevin and Grant playing it upstairs from me, borrowed the CD, and have yet to return it to Grant after a month. (Of course, Reid still doesn't have his CD, below, back either. You all should still let me borrow CDs, though.) Anyway, hey, this is good stuff! Maybe I'll re-explore classic rock or something. What a wacky idea.
The Inevitable Squirrel Nut Zippers, Squirrel Nut Zippers
Borrowed from Reid, which means I guess I'll have to return it before I leave for the summer. Alas. It's good. My roommie Shunda likes it too. La Grippe is oddly amusing, Lover's Lane is catchy, and the whole album is a good break from the whiny stuff you hear on Gen-X radio these days, not that I don't identify but I *have* done enough whining lately. Besides, any song with the lyrics "They may walk hand in hand/Like lovers through the Market Square/Selecting leather goods/ Pretending that they just don't care" with a banjo strumming in the background is fun.
Piano and String Quartet, Morton Feldman, performed by Kronos Quartet with Aki Takahashi
Another Dan recommendation, and it's good. Really. Quiet. The recommendation came out of a discussion on epicness, and can epic be hushed? This was his example of yes. I think I agree. It's absolutely beautiful.
It Means Everything, Save Ferris
My silly upbeat album purchase of the year. Sappy ska-pop, with a remake of Come on Eileen, which Ed hates but I like. It's fun, but don't expect anything deep.
If You're Feeling Sinister, Belle and Sebastian
Dan recommended this to me, and it was all right, but a little too down for me, I really need something to lift my spirits, and this wasn't exactly it. Played the title song over and over again, though, and Seeing Other People. It sounds like Honest Bob's stuff, so I can sort of see why Dan likes them.
Little Plastic Castle, Ani Difranco
I spent quite awhile trying to decide if I liked this album or not. I'm not sure I'm crazy about it. I mean, there are a few songs that stick in my head, like Gravel, and Independence Day, and I played As Is and Swan Dive over and over again too, but I don't think the quality of the lyrics are as high as her other albums. Nothing as deeply witty or identifiable as songs from her other albums, like Am I asking too much? or Willing to Fight. And it's not because these all seem like emotional songs either, because I still think Falling is Like This is the best love song of current time. Oh well, it's all right, still better than a lot of stuff out there, just not her best.

recommended

Joules Graves, Plunge!
heard about her through the ani difranco newsgroup. place to buy? from http://www.ladyslipper.org, good motivational music for activism, supposedly.