Still No Snow

Here we are two days into December and there still isn't any snow in the valley. Crazy. It's one of those gray, rainy days today, but that rain just might turn to snow at any time. I'm thinking today might be the day.

At least gloomy days are good for hunkering down and listening to some music. Right now Billy Corgan's solo album "TheFutureEmbrace" is playing. It sounds like a collection of B-Sides from his ex-band/current band Smashing Pumpkins' "Adore." I didn't really mind that album, and it had the bonus of showing Pumpkins' bassist D'arcy wearing a see-through, mesh shirt in the liner notes. "TheFutureEmbrace" would have been more aptly titled, "ThePastEmbrace," since it seems to showcase Corgan regressing to the late nineties. I can't say that I hate it, but the fact that I can't say I hate it embarrasses me quite a bit.

Last time I posted I was listening to Belle and Sebastian, who seem to write all of their songs in the key of that yellowish-white color you see in ancient Polaroid pictures. That isn't a bad thing at all, although I could do without most of "Fold Your Hands Child, You Walk Like a Peasant." But "The Boy With The Arab Strap" and "If You're Feeling Sinister" are both great ways to spend a lazy afternoon reading to. Darcy has been obsessed with "The Life Pursuit" lately, and so I've listened to it quite a bit, and have to say I enjoy it. It's definitely their best post-2000 release.

Next up was Ben Folds Five. I like 'em. Sue me.

I endured listening to my own songs, which as a casual aside, are the only five-star rated songs in my iTunes library. Actually the only rated songs period. The finished songs are on my myspace page and the rest are not ready for public consumption yet. Or maybe ever, we'll see how it goes.

I listened to Beth Orton's "The Other Side of Daybreak" and Big Boi's "Speakerboxxx", neither of which were very interesting, besides two remixes on Beth's disc by Four Tet and Roots Manuva.

Then came Big Sandy & His Fly-Rite Boys whose album I picked up because of the phenomenal cover.

Then came the funk. Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones put out an amazing jazz/funk album of songs from The Bill Cosby show. There's a great review and a link to "try" the album at the HIPtotheHop blog. When you get to the download page, click on "Request Ticket" then a download link appears.

I need to update more often to avoid these long, long posts.