The one song I have heard from the forthcoming Battles was disappointing for sure, but I still have hope for the album as a whole. Other than that I can't think of anything really.

Im really struggling with this sarah vowell audiobook- all these hawaiian names run together in my head.

I'm going to go with The Strokes, but I also wouldn't be surprised if I rate it #1'at the end of the year.

I wanted it to be them, I really did.

Other than that, haven't had a single expectation yet. Suppose MMJ has a good shot if it doesn't follow through.

For me the disappointment as regards White Lies is that there was apparently no fail safe mechanism that prevented them from putting out a second album.

sorry - got sidetracked last night, but might actually be able to get it done today

The girlfriend hated UMO but I thought they were fun if maybe a but too laid back.

i think radiohead just sets themselves up...if they hadnt convinced me to shell out $50 for some deluxe edition of this then i might not be so disappointed in what is a pretty mediocre release, compared not just with everything they have done but with everything else put out this year.

strokes isnt good, iron and wine is okay, vanderslice is dull...honestly, ive been impressed with quite a bit more than ive been disappointed in.

I'm actually curious abt that Iron and Wine. Also - has no one on here heard the. New Bright Eyes/Oberst which every mainstream music publication is calling his "best album yet"?

I need to hear the Bright Eyes even though his last couple haven't done much for me. "Old Soul Song" came up on a mix the other day and I was thinking I should go back to the 2005 thread we just did and sing the praises of that album (which I quietly think is one of the better albums of the decade, fuck the haterz)

I liked I&W the first listen but the next couple werent as good so I still haven't gone back.

Today I'll be getting my first listens of Radiohead and Raphael Sadiq. So there's that.

I have never gotten past more than a few songs for either of these characters. I really think I can't get past that their monikers, which I realize is a bit stupid but what are you gonna do?

Bright Eyes wasn't that great. There's a few good songs on it but nothing near his old stuff.

Three songs into this made me hit the delete when I remembered that I'd won back permanent custody of my testicles in the last divorce.

I tried. I failed. I moved on.

I never liked the early stuff people gushed on, but I keep waiting for a full length that sounds like the song he did with Calexico. I guess the solution is to listen to Calexico.

I wouldn't say gush, but I did enjoy his first Creek Drank The Cradle with its lo-fi musings.

...and yes, go with calexico.

Maybe you already know this, but he did a whole EP with Calexico. I haven't heard the whole thing, so I can't comment on it beyond that. I happen to have it on order from the library though...

At this point, the only Iron & Wine stuff I think is really worthwhile is the debut and most of the EPs he's put out, including the one with Calexico.

All of his albums from Endless Numbered Days on are pretty dull, really.

To each their own.

I find "Our Endless, Numbered Days" to be his masterpiece and ups the ante on the debut in every way.

I think Iron & Wine is ok...but I cannot figure out how he got so damn popular.

Well, there was a time (2002) when Pitchfork held the ability to make or break bands and I'm pretty sure it was well received by them. That pretty much helped put him into the conciousness of every hipster kid in America.

Didn't hurt that the album was pretty damn good.

Also, there has always been and always will be a market for sad bastard music.

That's cos sad songs say so damn much.


Naked As We Came case in point.

I like my sad bastard music to be sadder and more bastardly.

Yeah, I guess I knew that - He Lays in the Reins is bad ass.