To A Forgotten Man and A Forgotten Era

Mystery to Me
By Fleetwood Mac
Barnes & Noble link

(This one's for you, Bob Welch. You're the reason I never stopped loving Fleetwood Mac. R.I.P., good sir.)

Best of 2011: Album Edition

That's right, longtime readers and new ones... we're almost done! We just got the music to cover and then we can brush our hands clean of the year. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for the apocal- I mean, 2012.

Best of 2010: Album Edition

It's baaaaaaack!

Here we are folks, near the end of 2010. What a year! So much has gone on and things are only getting more intense. Let's break from the news for a moment to discuss music. It's been a very interesting year for the ear candy. For once, I actually listened to quite a bit of the new releases (egads!) so my list will actually be a bit bigger. Let's make it a top twelve!

Second Favorite Band of All Time continues to be awesome

Easy Wonderful
by Guster
Barnes & Noble link

(Fun fact: I preordered it from the band's official website, becoming the happy owner of one of the 500 autographed copies.)

Guster had been going strong for a long time, their first album Parachute coming out in 1996. Their last release Ganging Up on the Sun, which brought the world the lovely "Satellite" and the rocking "The New Underground", arrived in 2006. After that, there was an uncomfortable silence. Where did the boys from Cambridge go? Then early this year, they released "Jonah", for a Haiti charity album. Shortly after, happy news: their new album was due by the end of the year.

If you've been a longtime fan, already hearing the first single ("Do You Love Me") has gotten you a little worried. Wait, Guster was pretty level in its musical moods, but why the sudden burst of happiness? Oh no. What to do? Well, give it a shot and listen closely. You may be surprised on what you'll discover.

Overdue Reviews, Part 2

The Red and the Black
by Jerry Harrison
allmusic entry (please refer to your favorite legal digital music provider for clips and the sort)

While David Byrne faffed about with Brian Eno and Tom Tom Club (Talking Heads' rhythm section: Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth) made themselves a gold album, Jerry Harrison released his first solo album to little fanfare. Well with the influx (the albums were out within months of each other), one of those albums was bound to get lost in the hooplah. A shame though, because it is definitely not only worth checking out, but arguably one of the best albums to come from the decade of excess (and Teddy Ruxpin).

Overdue Reviews, Part 1

My Life In the Bush of Ghosts
by Brian Eno and David Byrne
Barnes & Noble link

*A long time ago, I posted this brief review (go to the near bottom) on the album. While, in a few words, it did sum up my initial feelings on the album, it wasn't enough to call it an actual review.*

Brian Eno and David Byrne had been working on the album, at least a few years, before its release in 1981. When it was unleashed onto the world, electronica music would have its solid foundation. Nothing like it was being done at the time. Eno and Byrne borrowed various samples, mostly from radio shows and old records, and created music around them. No other lyrics than what was said or sung on the tracks. The result was a feast for the ears.

Best of 2009: Album Edition

Well, it's getting closer to the end, folks. The end of this series and most importantly... the end of the year. Only four days away until we go into a new decade of this new century, and a new year.

Before that comes our way, let's conclude this with the final entry: the albums of 2009!