I’m up to 14,600 songs on the iPod – much slower this year than last. So after removing all videos and TV shows and a few records I never listened to, my 80 gig has very little room left. However, my wife’s 160 gig iPod has only 3 gigs worth of music on it! And she won’t trade!!
Such a gyp…

The Grip Weeds – “Strange Change Machine” From Jersey! This four piece has been around since 1994 and have been a staple on Little Steven’s Underground Garage. This latest is a two-disc bit of great, summer power-pop with a splash or two of psychedelia. If you have been missing a band like the Posies in their heyday, grab this record immediately. The lead off track “Speed Of Life” is their calling card.
Chemical Brothers – “Further” Sliding back into their old dance floor grooves, this is an excellent effort by the Bros. – much better than their last disc. There are less vocals here, but the beats are much tastier. Perfect for working out.
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals – Their new self-titled is a disappointment. Seems to be a bid for pop stardom. All shiny and… blonde. But the songs aren’t as strong and it all feels just a bit calculated. Can’t blame them for trying, though.
Scott Walker – “The Drift” Have had it for a while but just got up the nerve to add it to the mix. Think Brecht meets Jacque Brel in front of a painting by H.R. Giger. Honestly – I can’t describe what this sounds like. There is a song here about Elvis talking to his still-born brother Jesse. A dark beauty – and the CD packaging is very nice.
Four Tet – “There Is Love In You” Though I have heard them before, this is the first disc I own. Actually – again – Four Tet is not a group but a guy, Kieran Hebden. The record is nice – a very chill piece of electronica.
Vivaldi – “The Four Seasons” Sir Neville and the Academy. Surprised I didn’t have it already.

The best, though, are two classic comedy records: Woody Allen’s “Standup Comic” and Bill Cosby’s “I Started Out As A Child”. There is not much to say about the Cosby album, except that it must have been one of the few records we had at home as a kid. All the brothers memorized each bit and would regale the adults with these comic gems while at the same time rolling on the floor laughing (a good comic never laughs at his own jokes… unless you’re Seinfeld). I had to search for the Woody Allen CD and again Ebay came through. These are classic bits from his brief stint doing standup. At one of the gigs, Woody mentions he had just finished filming What’s New Pussycat so he was a the top of his game. The moose joke is my favorite.

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