Several people in my office whose opinions I trust are mad for Gomez.

I've seen Gomez play live at Amoeba and they were excellent live. Not hopping around make show excellent - just good musicians with a warm, layered sound.

I know a few people who are mad for Gomez too, and what I've heard I've liked quite a bit. I'd go see them.

Not hoping around make show excellent - just good musicians with a warm, layered sound.

This is something else I quite like about Tool. With their particular sound it seems like it would be quite easy for Adam Jones (guitar) and Justin Chancellor (bass) to thrash and head bang, or jump around, but they are consummate musicians and are quite content to stand there and play their instruments with precision and care. Maynard moves around a little, but even he would rather sing well (I think he's one of the most incredible singers out there today), and keeps his movements to a minimum for the most part.

t /Tool likes carrots

Heh. I was at a Foo Fighters concert 7 years ago in which Dave Grohl actually asked the crowd to stop beating the shit out of each other. Didn't help much, but I certainly appreciated the sentiment.

It's very helpful when bands enable my giddy anticipation of their new release. My Chemical Romance has streaming audio of the entire new album (which comes out next week) up at www.theblackparade.com.

I really can't explain what it is about their music that has caused it to take over my brain (in much the same way that The Cure or Rasputina or Placebo did), but I've turned into a wide-eyed fan girl. It's not just that the band is terribly cute (and believe me, they're adorable and I just want to smoosh them), and it's not just that they write very catchy punk-pop-goth songs, because there are other bands that have done that, and I'm not a complete geebling loon over them.

The Black Parade sounds like the MCR boys spent the past year listening to The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and a lot of Queen. Very catchy, and very melodramatic and bombastic in a grand, catch-your-breath sort of way.

(My god, I feel like I've reverted to my sixteen year-old self.)

I got tickets to go see Neko Case! I'm really excited. I've heard reports from some folks that she's one of those that gets really drunk for her shows, but still. I love her songs so much that I want to hear them performed live. I think it's a good venue, too.

I love Gomez and have seen them play live a couple of times. I think they're fantastic live - but then, I would say that.

Jilli, I refuse to be ashamed of my MCR love. And the way you describe the new album makes me want it. Um. Right now.

Jilli, I refuse to be ashamed of my MCR love.

I've finally hit that point. I think I was kinda bashful about how much I like them because, well, their "usual" fans are the kids I write a lot of Gothic Charm School for, not to mention most ElderGoths cross themselves and hiss if you mention MCR. I don't care. I think they're very talented, and every interview I've read impresses me.

And the way you describe the new album makes me want it. Um. Right now.

Um. I pre-ordered the special edition. The one that comes in a black velvet box, and has a book of notes from the band and the concept art by the lead singer (who originally wanted to be a comic artist, and interned at DC). So, yeah. Want my copy now, now, NOW.

Jilli, I refuse to be ashamed of my MCR love.

I've liked every song of theirs I've heard, and that includes their cover of Under Pressure with The Used.