Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Behind Already?!

Well, I've missed a day already, but that offers a sense of relief to it, like getting the first dent in the car. You know it's gonna happen eventually, so once you get it over with, you can stop worrying about it.

My excuse was going to be that I had no new music to report on, and then I realized that I had, indeed, purchased a CD yesterday. It was on the emusic site, so there was no physical case to remind me. And so, I present the first CD of the new year (drumroll, please)....
1. The NEW PORNOGRAPHERS - Twin Cinemas (Matador)
I actually attempted to download this CD from the site last month, but the files didn't come through correctly. I've been reading about the band for a long time, and this release has appeared on a lot of year-end lists, so I was moved to move. Now, as soon as I can find the blank CDs and burn a copy to listen to while I'm away from the desk, I'll hear what all the fuss is about.

Purchased today (thanks, Target, for the $10 price point):
2. MADONNA - Confessions on a Dance Floor (Warner Bros.)
Never liked her. Not when she was a tramp, maybe even less so now that she's gone all Mommy Studies the Kabbalah on us. Her skank feminism doesn't fly with me, and I blame her for the fact that nearly every contemporary female singer feels the need to pose on the cover of Maxim or Blender these days to prove that they have nice boobies and a flat tummy. Imagine if we asked the same of all our male singers? Yeeech...
But enough about my issues. Terry likes to dance and the talk is that this is a return to fine form for the dance hall diva, so I sacrifice for my honey.
3. KANYE WEST - Late Registration (Roc-A-Fella Records)
Buying this album felt like an obligation, almost a capitulation. My guess is that this CD will top the Village Voice Pazz and Jop poll, so it's pretty much a professional obligation to hear the whole thing, and not just the singles, which seem to be everywhere. It bothers me that "Gold Digger" is all over radio, with it's N-word so obvious, even when it's blipped out, and the oh-so-easy dig at the sista who dogs the stars is hard to take when every rap video is awash in bling and booty. And to make it even worse, ever since I played the unexpurgated version on the ride home in the car, I can't get the damn catchy thing out of my head. Still, what makes buying West so much easier than buying Madonna is that he's not afraid to say something truly controversial (I agree with that George Bush does NOT care about black people) and he's not just doing it in Louise Ciccone's spoiled child/look at me! way.

Sent:
4. VIVA LA VENUS - Forget the Fairy Tale (Shiny Pants Records)
Three chicks with guitars and a guy drummer, cominf to town. This week's Post preview (link to come).

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