kathyp

Just finished

Mostly this:

And someone recommended this:

And I went to update my ipod with some upbeat work-out tunes (Yes, I know how corny that sounds), but instead went with these:

I had some initial problems with my iPod at around the six or nine month mark. Apple replaced it with a refurb twice in the span of two months. Since then, it has been really going strong. It's ancient now, five years old. And still kicking and still with at least 4-5 hours of battery life. Pretty amazing little machine. It's longevity has restored all of my faith in the iPod brand.

 

I should note - it's a 40GB of the spinning platter variety. If they crap out, you smack the right side against a table or other hard surface to get the arm back in place. Works, so far, every time. And I probably just jinxed it...

The first iPod I bought wouldn't hold a charge for anything. Thankfully, I'd had it less than a month when I deemed this a problem, and Target was more than happy to exchange it.

My current iPod occasionally freezes up, but nothing out of the ordinary -- I don't think. I have a shuffle, too, that can go months on a single charge (but then, I don't use it that often), but nothing's problem-free.

Michael Nesmith is so totally underrated as a songwriter.

Mono/Stereo for solo stuff.

Agreed. Best of the "basement tapes" era Paul.

Cat Power's cover of "Sweedeedee" hipped me to this.

I haven't listened to it since it was released (and pulled shortly after). To be honest, the novelty of format wore off quickly, but I don't have the heart to chop it up into proper tracks. Some of his best songwriting since Stereo, though.

Two Decembers ago, St. Louis had a pretty bad storm leaving a large chunk of the area powerless. Same thing happened that July, too. I was really lucky that I never lost power during the winter storm, but four days without AC in July was horrid. I feel for you guys.

Since the other thread was bumped...

Add me to the list of Townes fans. (And find that picture of him shirtless on the back of a horse, please?)

I'm not a huge fan of Luna/Galaxie 500 fan, but I wouldn't kick Dean Wareham out of bed

"Down To Zero" - Joan Armatrading

I stumbled upon this old post the other day. Oddly enough, I had been writing about the very same thing. For me, it's much easier to describe what I don't like than what I do. Oversimplified, it comes down to songwriting and voice. (I am not a musician, so a "wicked guitar solo," or whatever, is mostly lost on me. I do like to sing.) Empathy and passion is more important than technical proficiency.

What I don't like? Thin, whiny, adenoidal vocals. (my long-standing aversion to Neil Young as proof), "deedle-deedle-dee" (there's that non-musician thing) guitars, or anything too dissonant or atonal. (Though I do love me some Captain Beefheart. Go figure.) I believe that different ears process sounds differently, and a lot of it has to do with familiarity. Most of my favorite singers have gruff, raspy voices.

(Bettye Lavette does an excellent cover of "Down To Zero," by the way.)

I live in St. Louis, and I come across surprisingly few people who don't work at a record store (or KDHX*) who know Wilco.

*Wilco-friendly community radio

Of the people that regularly post in the Now Playing thread--as these are the only ones that I can get a good enough idea of their musical tastes--I'd say Cortez, PopTodd, llynn and Froggie are the ones that most often listen to stuff I have and like. Of course there are numerous other posts from other people in that thread that I quite like too .

If I recall our tastes were quite similar over at that other place.

I don't post here often enough. I was looking through the Via Chicago last.fm group, and I seem to have medium-to-low compatibility with most people here. I don't put too much stock into last.fm's algorithm thingy, but most of my "super" neighbors are Westerberg/Mats/Neko/Ryan people.

(Now I feel guilty for letting Wilco slide too far down my list.)

89/100 on the other thing.

(For the record, I don't think I'm at all eclectic.)

664/1000

The following are the artists with the most occurences in your list

Kathleen Edwards (10)

Whiskeytown (10)

Lucinda Williams (9)

Gillian Welch (8)

The Jayhawks (7)

Uncle Tupelo (7)

Emmylou Harris (7)

Old 97's (7)

Ryan Adams & The Cardinals (6)

Townes Van Zandt (6)

Steve Earle (6)

Neko Case (6)

Ryan Adams (6)

Billy Bragg & Wilco (5)

Richmond Fontaine (5)

The Decemberists (5)

The Go-Betweens (5)

Patty Griffin (5)

Bonnie 'Prince' Billy (5)

Rilo Kiley (5)

(Wow. That's just a tad heavy on the alt-country.)

Teddy Thompson - Tonight Will Be Fine (Leonard Cohen cover)

Likes

Paul Westerberg - 49:00

Though I'll admit, the novelty has worn off. Despite the weird one-track format, there are some really strong songs here, particularly "Sweet Prince," probably the rawest thing Paul's committed to record.

Teddy Thompson - A Piece of What You Need

His voice is so gorgeous, I don't care what he sings. I'm in love with this record. One caveat: it's slick, slick, slick, but I think he's become a better songwriter over the years. He does "seething" very well. (Check out his contributions to the Leonard Cohen tribute album from a couple years back, and you'll see what I mean.)

Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too

Just got this, so I don't really have much to say yet. Her voice is probably an acquired taste -- sort of Tori Amos by way of Patti Smith (or something like that).

On the fence

Lucinda Williams - Little Honey

Far, far better than West, though it doesn't come close to Car Wheels or Essence (or any of her "older" albums.)

Tift Merritt - Another Country

It's fine, but nothing really stands out for me.

I find that soundtrack in a record store every once in a while, usually for less than $3.

Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) - Joan Jett, Paul Westerberg

This is pretty fun, though.

Two hours: Got there at six and didn't vote until eight. St. Louis, MO

Saw this on Flickr the other day. I also got a perfect score, but I'm a photo, too, and I'd be kind of scared if I did horribly on this.