Central Scrutinizer

Good advice all. You have to be aware that the components (amp-speakers-turntable) all need to be of a similar quality, or you're wasting money/shortchanging yourself somewhere in the equation. A top-of-the-line turntable on a rinky dink stereo is throwing money away. But taking the $$$$ for that turntable and buying a decently matched setup is most effective. Regarding the phono imputs, there a number of turntables out there that are equipped with a pre-amp. I bought a decent Technics model that I'm very happy with. The other caveat is aim for direct drive rather than belt drive turntabl

D: If a new shopper were to walk into a record store for the first time on Record Store Day, what would you want them to know? SR: You do need a turntable to listen to that.

The live verison had a Yes "Starship Trooper" sort of vibe to the end. I liked it. Again, I think most of these W(TA) songs are frameworks for great concert staples.

that's pretty much what I've always heard/thought about lower end Taylors vs. Martins. If you're keen on dovetail necks, low-end Taylors are your only option. There are a lot of great options in $600-$800 range. I bought my wife a Baby Taylor a few weeks ago ($259 3/4 scale). Plays great and projects better than most guitars.

If you're looking for a great low-end, quirky but great playing guitar, I recommend a Wechter Pathmaker. It has a bolt-on neck, but because of the system of bracing Wechter created, the Pathmaker is a double-cutaway, allowing comfortable action to the 19th fret. They play great, and most acoustic/electric models come with a three-way miking system that rivals the Martins. Sounds great acoustic, but plays like an electric. Wechter trained is a colorful Midwestern guitarmaker (the low-end Pathmakers are made in China, his U.S. made axes are $3K to $4K) with a long history of working in R&D.

Based on the above, here's songs per each album ranked compared to total # songs on album (unless I screwed up something): Songs from each album AM - 1 / 13 BT - 4 / 19 ST - 2 / 15 YHF - 6 / 11 AGIB - 9 / 12 SBS - 1 / 12 W(TA)- 1 / 11

Quick work and fascinating. Pot Kettle Black is the only song I'd consider "up tempo" in the top 10. "Fan favorite" and "live favorite" is obviously two different things. Could you imagine a live show with the playlist from the first 23 songs? "... Hello, suicide hotline? ...."

Maybe they'll start playing it between one of the innings at Fenway ...

I think one of the reasons the new album invites criticism is because it provides interesting comparisons/contrasts. W(TA) and Summerteeth may have very similar sounds, but from a content standpoint, you couldn't find two more polar opposite albums (the dark pain of Summerteeth, masked by Pro Tools), and the "let it be" vibe of the new album. Each person has latched onto this band at a certain time in Wilco's catalog, and they reflect on each album based on what struck the chord with them for the band. Each person is viewing it through that singular prism. Plus we, like, you know, wanna ta

I could never get mine calibrated properly. Sorry.

How does one ascertain whether something is worth reading by not reading?

The positive spin I lay on this is that there's great framework for some awesome live performances. Kind of like Blues for Allah was for Grateful Dead.

Sounds like your leak had a leak.

Good choices Speed!

I figured he was angling for Madden's bus. Sorry, Tony. Next contestant?

This is *great* news! BRISTOL, Conn. (AP)

I posted in no definite order, so I'd just go vote for vote. Thanks much for doing this.

It's been a pretty violent arc from the post-Watergate push into Journalism (with a capital "J"), through the desktop publishing boom, when publishing became accessible, through the current economic downturn and the wooden spike it has drove through print. It's been a good gig, but fighting for the integrity of the industry today is like filling sandbags and watching the sewage rise faster.

Ashes of American Flags Sunken Treasure Via Chicago

To build the subscriber list for your blog.

They had a write-up in the New Yorker this past week. They sound intriguing and I made a mental not to try to find some of their stuff. Thanks for the link.

TMZ's audience wouldn't have a fig of an idea who Jeff Tweedy is. But he would get coverage is he checked back in for drug rehab (along with the CNN scroll).

After repeated listenings, I'm inclined to agree with you, although it would take a lot to crack the top 3 anyway. Despite the rancor the album has drawn, I'd still lean towards SBS above W(TA). With the predecessor, the highs were higher -- and the lows were lower -- than W(TA). Here the songs are straightforward and, at times, sound a bit forced, or at least a bit of artistic diplomacy (an "Abbey Road" quality is a good metaphor). Here Wilco set out to do something, set a tone to its audience. SBS has the sound of guys getting together to make music; to please themselves. In this approach,