Jilli, it is indeed made of awesome.

Isn't it? It's one of my favorites so far.

I also love the skeleton drum major on their front page.

Which was probably drawn by the lead singer.

The song immediately following Teenagers, called Disenchanted, is also grabbing me.

I actually haven't found a song I'm 'meh' about yet. The whole album is (IMO) fantastic. Now I just have to decide if I'm willing to buy the import CD single of Welcome to the Black Parade *just* so I can have an unreleased track.

Thanks for the link Jilli! I didn't love MCR's last album, but I think I may just have to buy this one.

oh em gee, guys. The Zero 7 concert was amazing. I loved them already--their albums are ones that never, ever leave rotation on my iPod--but they fucking blew me away live. I am so impressed with the music they make, right there in front of me. They were incredible. Sia was fantastic--to hear that distictive, floor-rumbling voice right in front of you is just an amazing experience. And Jose Gonzales was just lovely.

They played so many amazing tracks that I love, but they came back on an encore with this incredible piano intro to "Monday Night" and then Sia sang "Breathe Me," which was GORGEOUS, and they finished with this stripped-down amazing version of "Somersault," which was unbeliveably wonderful. No one wanted them to leave the stage. My god, what a fantastic show. I don't think I've ever felt that way at a concert before.

Also, Sam Hardaker is an adorable cross between Spencer Reid from Criminal Minds and Beck. So. cute.

I’ve been vacillating on posting this because I AM NOT OBSESSED, WHY ARE YOU LOOKING AT ME LIKE THAT?!?!? but what the hey: the website The Great Leap Forward is currently hosting the entirety of Game Theory’s ‘Real Nighttime’

It’s one of my favouritest albums and may be known to some here from its appearance in Hec’s Lost In The Grooves (It may also be known to some here from their knowledge of music that would put God to shame). I’m desperately trying not to pull a list of reviews that call the band’s frontman a genius so I’ll just say that the album is brimming with shimmering guitars, low-key synths, erudite lyrics and gorgeous melodies.

The album, however, is on the site… what do you call that word that’s an anagram of illegalyl (Or at least I imagine it is). If you have a compunction about that, and why should you not?, it’s worth noting that the owner of the publishing rights to the Game Theory catalogue has been approached about reissues and hasn’t cared to sell them. So unless you dole out 50 quid (as I have) for a second-hand copy, you won’t hear this album; the only people that I can see would have their feet trampled on by this are music fans lucky enough to have a copy to sell and an owner that isn’t interested enough to profit from a reissue. And if it still bothers you, and why should it not? take a song or two, give it a listen and bin it, it could well brighten the corners of your day. If you’re going to do that, I recommend ‘24’, ‘She’ll be a Verb’, ‘Rayon Drive’ (though its lyrics are unusually facile in context) or ‘I Turned Her Away’ but I especially recommend ‘Curse of the Frontierland’ or ‘Waltz the Hall Always’. They’re all awesome but the last two are especially so.

I should include one other thing since recommendations are for the people receiving them: the singer’s voice is a self-described ‘miserable whine’ and I know a couple of people that won’t listen to his songs because of it. Also, if the link isn’t kosher, I suck and I’ll remove it.

I dunno, Im fine with it. Is this Scott Miller as in Scott Miller and the Commonwealth? Cause I love those guys.

That's a different Scott Miller.

Looking through The Great Leap Forward, I'm surprised by how many great CDs are now out of print. I knew that parts of my vinyl collection are worth big bucks, but I had no idea I had CDs that were that valuable.

Ah-ha. As I re-read the blog, I thought it might be.

OH OH OH! Vinyl, right!

I have been meaning to post here an idea that I have been wondering about. I am looking to replace all of my vinyl on CD (I'm not a collector and my player died), but some of what I have on vinyl is not on CD, so I was looking at buying one of the LP players that plugs into a computer and converts the songs to MP3s. Thing is that after I am doen with my 10 or so LPs, I will be doen, so.... I was wondering if there are folks that would be interested in sharing the cost and receiving the device in turn (orginal packing to be kept for shipping). Anyone?

Can you provide a link to the player?

Just realized my turntable is more than 20 years old....