here's how it works:

You list CDs you have (I am only listing ones I want to get rid of). Other members can search through member lists or for a CD directly, when one is found, they mark that they want it and all the people who have that CD listed get notified. Whoever responds quickest can mark that they will ship the CD. Pre-postage paid envelopes (I think) are provided by lala.

When you receive a CD, you enter that you got it and you are charged $1.49. $1 for the CD and $0.49 for shipping.

You can't start getting CDs until you list some to ship. And your ability to receive is always connected to you continuing to ship out.

They have language about members removing music from their MP3 players and iTunes once they are shipping it out, but as far as I can tell that is untraceable. They also say they do not accept ripped CDs, but that can't be traced either, can it? They ABSOLUTELY DO NOT accepted burned CDs.

I have no idea how the 20% back to artists work, but it is mentioned all over their site.

Oh, it is to laugh: [link]

I'm one of those people who think that Daniel Johnston album is brilliant.

Poking my head in here again to see what people think of the new Fiery Furnaces album....

Right now I'm listening to it for the third time. It's growing on me. I already have some favorite songs on it - "In My Little Thatched Hut" and "I'm In No Mood."

Anyway, it's good enough to let me pretend that "Rehearsing My Choir" never happened.

Salon review: [link]

NYT: [link]

Chicago Tribune: [link]

Reviews have been mostly favorable.

eta: Pitchfork review: [link]

eta²: From Pitchfork:

"Waiting to Know You" is almost as good with its prom night slow dance chord progression, and bizarre mix; there's no logical reason why this song needs an absurdly fat Moog bass, but hey, turns out it does.

Heh.

I haven't gotten the FF album yet, but that's all good news.

I'm one of those people who think that Daniel Johnston album is brilliant.

Me, too.

I'm curious enough to accept an invite from msbelle if/when she gets them.

Turns out I don't need one. I clicked on the "interested in joining" link, entered my email address and a few hours later I was sent an invite.

Oh... unless the invite came from msbelle? But there was nothing on it to indicate that.

nope, not from me. Everyone interested should just do that.

[link]

On April 18, The Village Voice’s music editor Chuck Eddy was fired by Village Voice Media. Mr. Eddy is the 17th employee to leave the paper, either by resignation or termination, since Village Voice Media—then called New Times—assumed control in November. The paper lists 60 editorial positions on its masthead.

According to Voice staffers, New Times has also dismissed The Voice’s three-person fact-checking department and laid off two of the five copy editors. Last month, Mr. Lacey killed interim editor Ward Harkavy’s blog, the Bush Beat. The end-page essay has been discontinued. Voice writers now have to use the New Times stylebook, and according to a source, there are words—including “meta” and “subversive”—that are now banned from the paper.

Someone needs to start a new paper in New York...

Hey, what's Joe Jackson up to these days? He's playing at the Somerville Theater at the end of June with Graham Maby & Dave Houghton. Is it going to be that crooney shit that may permanently blind me due to my eyes rolling back too far in my head, or is he rocking out again?

Wow. I may not agree with or like Chuck Eddy that often, but he sure as hell doesn't deserve that treatment.