The Avalanches, B2K, Babyshambles

The Avalanches are an Australian band that utilizes DJ equipment/synthesizers to create their own brand of popelectro, mixing samples from oldies pop and original sounds. They have one complete album to date, Since I Left You, which (Wiki tells me) was comprised of over 3,500 vinyl samples.

This is a really great album. It's a laidback mix of upbeat tracks with serious hiphop roots, plus ample shoutouts to the feel good pop sounds of the 60s and 70s. The title track is probably something that you've heard before, at least in the background of some concert venue or party. I would highly recommend their entire album, which is great for getting a party off the ground and getting your ga-roove on.

Rumors abound for their sophomore album - messages on their website claim there are about 40 tracks in consideration (all much more hiphop inspired), release TBD - "It's ended up sounding like the next logical step to 'Since...' and one day when you least expect it you'll wake up and the sample fairy will have left it under your pillow."
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B2K is a hip-pop group from the early 00's - pretty sure they're not together anymore. Also pretty sure that P Diddy was somehow affiliated with them. I KNOW that he has a guest spot in their one song that I have, "Bump Bump Bump." Please, hold your laughter, I know it's a silly name, but it a sweet song for the genre, pops, makes you (well, me) want to shake the booty. It's a keeper.
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Ohhh Babyshambles. You craaaaazy mofos. Well, mostly just frontman Pete Doherty - he created the group as a side project to The Libertines (hello, awesome) I think since then Babyshambles has become more of a mainstay. They have kind of a soft sound, but definitely take inspiration from their Brit punk roots.

Of course we all know Pete Doherty's controversy with, you know, drugs, crack, etc. BUT let's focus on the positive - the beautiful music he plays with this group. They started out mainly performing in local venues around London and in 2005 released their Clash-insipired debut Down in Albion. It's awesome, rocking, whatvs. Their sophomore effort was, from what I've heard of it, not as good. The great thing about this band though, is that because most of their acclaim comes from live performances, there are plenty of bootlegged versions of their songs, plus a ton of songs that they never even released on album and you're bound to find something you like. (That's assuming that you like their sound to begin with).

Ashlee Simpson, Ass Ponies, The Ataris

I like Ashlee Simpson a lot (and I apologize for using a picture with Pete Wentz, I just think she looks awesome in it). At this point we all know she is the superior Simpson sister and now that her icky black hair has gone the way of her equally icky bleached hair and she has normalish (sometimes ratty) hair and a nicer nose, we can all bask in her glory and triumph over Jessica. I also think her style is pretty kickin. But enough about the aesthetics - important as it is. She can sing poppin pop songs and pop it out with the best of them. Autobiography (her debut) has some gems (hellooooo Pieces of Me, first single, chea). Shadow is obviously her tortured cry to come out from behind J's fame (congrats girl). But the real piece de resistance is La-La. Nuff said.

I have pieces of her second album (Autobiography) and it's fine whatevs. Maybe I'll weed through it. But Ash...I still love your style.
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Hahahaha, the Ass Ponies. Their name just makes me laugh. I'm not really sure where I got their one song that I own, maybe a soundtrack. The track, Little Bastard, is a ditty that mixes their indierock roots with pop. Shmeh, nothing else to say about this song (which I am keeping).
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The Ataris are another one of those poppunk pre-emo bands that I was into like 4 years ago and have since not really listened to. They are a bit different from a lot of the other ones, first of all merely due to their longevity. They've been around since the mid-90s, and their most recent release was this past February. They have, however, had a rotating list of members, which probably explains (partially) for their lack of a cohesive style or sound. I like bands that evolve and are diverse in their expression...however their is a lack of something that kind of irks me.

That being said, there are a couple of songs that I do like (Your Boyfriend Sucks, for one) so I will probably go through the 20 or so songs that I have and pick and choose.
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Aretha Franklin, Arlo Guthrie, Arthur Fiedler

So, kind of lame, the only song I have by Aretha Franklin is Respect. If prompted, I probably couldn't name another one of her songs (I'm kind of hoping I actually DO know one or two though and am just unable to think of them at the moment). I know, she's amazing, I just never really got around to pursuing her art further than her biggest hit. I am now assigning myself homework to listen to more of her collection. More (perhaps) on this later.
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Arlo Guthrie is another artist which I have pretty limited exposure to. The one song I do have though, Alice's Restaurant Massacree is an 18:20 account of the narrator's (Guthrie?) littering, subsequent arrest for littering, and the craziness that follows. It all starts after a big ol Thanksgiving dinner at Alice's Restaurant. If you've never heard it, I would highly recommend. It's well worth the extended listening time. If you're not willing to download (fuck you!!) then be aware that they play it about a million times on Thanksgiving day on NPR stations and classic rock guys as well. Listen and be enlightened. I will learn more about Guthrie and report back (maybe).
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So I have a recording of Arthur Fiedler conducting the Boston Pops performing Copland's Rodeo and it's bomb. I mean, it's a sick orchestral piece, and what's more, it was made famous by those great "Beef: it's what's for dinner" ads. Nuff said, you will definitely recognize this song when you hear it.

The Arcade Fire, Arctic Monkeys

So I am a really huge fan of The Arcade Fire. I received some criticism on this (from some musical snobs unwilling to recognize the uniqueness of this band) but eff off is what I have to say to them. So yeah, Arcade Fire could be lumped in with rock/indie/hipster music, but if you take the time to listen to them, there's a little more depth waiting to be discovered. Their sound is just so rich and delish(wikipedia says lush, which I like but didn't want to take credit for) and this fullness is probably due to their untraditional band makeup.

Founded by a husband and wife team (thanks again, Wiki) the band includes such instruments as (depending on the song) various horns, violins, violas, and a couple woodwinds - along with bass/drums/guitar.

When I first heard their sound, I kind of liked it. Then I hear their song Wake Up and kind of liked it a lot. THEN I saw a video of Wake Up being performed with David Bowie and I fell in love. You will too.

Both of their albums are solid, but I think their debut (Funeral) is better than their sophomore effort (Neon Bible).
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So I really don't know too much about the Arctic Monkeys (besides, obviously, their one album that I have listened to, but not even really listened to that much until like, 30 minutes ago. You know, until just a few minutes ago I had kind of brushed them off as boring indierockpoo but...now maybe not so much. Some of their lyrics are a little silly at times, but some of them also encompass commentaries on cultural and social issues.

So I have their debut album, Whatever people say I am, That's What I'm Not and, you know, it's alright. Aside from their lyrics, I don't really think they're anything special. Their second album, Favourite Worst Nightmare, supposedly has a pretty different sound - faster, a bit edgier. I may have to sample the goods on the iTunes store...

Apollo Sunshine, Aquabats

Apollo Sunshine is a bouncy alt pop band from Northampton (rep) who I sort of fell into liking when maybe I was using ourTunes and just grabbing bands whose names caught my attention. I have their first album, Katonah, which is pretty good, nice to do housework and chores too because they keep things interesting. They recently came out with a self-titled album, which I may have to check out, just cause I happen to enjoy their first one so much. I don't know if I enjoyed it enough to actualy PAY for another one though...hmm, things to ponder.
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The Aquabats(!) are a rock n ska band that I kind of figured were your typical 90's ska band, you know, couple albums, bit of a following, probably not doing much of anything anymore. Come to find out, these guys are kind of the shit. So yeah, they're pretty tight. Well, what I know of them is. They've got about 4 or 5 albums out, and the one I have (The Fury of the Aquabats!) is a full and brassy healthy mix of rock n roll n ska. Plus, their lyrics can be pretty funny at times.

BUT the awesome thing about the Aquabats is that they are also SUPERHEROS! Seriously. Supposedly they're from the planet Aquabania. The vocalist (The MC Bat Commander) and bassist (Crash McLarson) are the only two consistent members, with other musicians rotating in and out (including Travis Barker - The Baron von Tito - of Blink 182 fame). Most of their appeal (for me at least, especially now) is due to the fact that their history is shrouded in all this mythology, from their battles with Space Monster M, to their sick costumes, which include radioactive rash guards, power belts, and anti-negativity helmets. I'm not sure if I'll go after any of their other albums, but I am sorely tempted to join their fanclub, the Aquadets.

Andrew W-K, Andy Williams, Animal Collective

Andrew W-K is a freakin crazy ass mess and for that you've gotta love him. He bleeds, vomits, does whatever else he does on stage. Actually, I don't even know if should even be speaking of him in the present tense. Does he still perform? Is he still alive?? Who knows.

Well I have his one song that I think everyone knows - Party Hard. I think it pretty much sums him up in a nutshell. And it's awesome for bouncing around with your friends and banging your head and just being crazy yourself and it's staying in my library for precisely that reason.
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Andy Williams is party of a Christmas compilation that I have and he sings It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year complete with a big ol band backing him up and he's clearly staying in the library for when I have to get in the spirit.
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I have one song by the band Animal Collective, a group of guys that I think is best described as eclectic. They encompass a lot of different styles and I think a lot of that has to do with their rotating members. Noisy, funky, folky at times, I have their song Did You See the Words (off of the album Feels) and it's really laid back. I've heard stuff off their other albums though, most recently Strawberry Jam (the cover of which is absolutely delish looking) and I seriously dig it. and I can honestly say that it's all unique and I want moooore. Obvi keeping this song, obvi getting more albums.

American Hi-Fi, Amy Winehouse, Andrei Matorin

Yeah yeah yeah American Hi-Fi was something I indulged in back in my popemo phase. You can make all the fun of me you want, but the one song I have by them (Flavor of the Week) is really effing catchy and I refuse to get rid of it. At least not yet.

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How can you not love theunparalleled Miz Amy Winhouse?? Her drunken debauchery and drug use aside, this woman has an amazing voice and chiquita knows how to use it.

Her soul-ish, kind of R&B kind of blues kind of jazz vocal stylings are seriously unlike anything else that's out there right now. She is, like, the new definition of belting and I love it. So so much. I only have her album Back to Black and one track off of her debut album, Frank, (tracking being Stronger Than Me) and it's also just awesome. If you're looking for a seriously smooth vocalist listen to her. In fact, even if you're not, listen to her. She is sick sick sick. And I'm not talking about her alcohol use tendencies.

PS WOW okay so her remixes with hiphoppers are also schweet. Jay-Z's Rehab remix is awesome, his flow is so funnyfresh. And Ghostface Killah's rhymes on You Know I'm No Good are absoluetly amazing, and he maintains his redonk words and cwazy stuff he rhymes about. "Oh what a wet weewee" is seriously one of his lines. Hahahahahahaaaaa.

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So I've come across this amazing new artist by the name of Andrei Matorin. No seriously, I was on my buddy Drei's website and accidentally downloaded one of his sick jazzy violin tracks while I was listening to it. Let me just say that my friend here (and former violin nemesis) is a talented mofo and is going places. Check out his website (www.andreimatorin.com) for his details as well as to listen to his amazing tracks.

Allman Brothers (and their various bands)

I'll be the first to admit that I don't know much about the Allman Brothers supposedly tumultuous history. A lot of loss, a lot of rotating band members, and a lot of sweet southern rock n roll. Yeah, don't know the history, DO know all about their (kind of groundbreaking) push of southernbased rockabilly (appropriate term?) and their amazing guitar licks and kind of incomparable ability to have more than one guitar and a bunch of other instruments and not make me all nauseaus and overwhelmed with the too many sounds.

So I don't really have many complete albums by these guys but what I have a do like. Little bit of the Fillmore, little bit of Hell and High Water, little bit of Brothers and sisters, Eat a Peach (soliddddd), and some various randos from their multituide of compilations. I like a lot of it...okay all of it at times, but it's definitely the kind of thing I have to be in the mood for. Actually, I could listen to Ramblin Man pretty much anytime. Jessica too.

Alice Deejay, Alien Ant Farm, All American Rejects

Alice Deejay is the artist responsible for one of the two techno songs I kind of like. It goes to show how little I care for this genre when I admit that I can't remember what the other song is. I actually thought that I already wrote about it, but upon skimming past posts, I can't seem to find it. So I'll continue with this deja vu-esque feeling, and say that maybe in my future ramblings about songs and artists that come later in the alphabet, I will come across this other techno song that I already like.

Righto. So, I'm not really sure why I like this song (song being Better Off Alone). It definitely does not make me want to dance (is techno supposed to do that?) but it does make me bop my head, tap the ol foot a bit. I guess that's pretty much all I have to say about it.
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I first came by Alien Ant Farm after hearing their cover of Smooth Criminal, and I happen to think they did it quite a good bit of justice. I really really liked their cover. They respected the original, and definitely added a bit of rock and harshness to an already well put-together song. I like it quite a bit. So you know, I dug this song and wanted to check out other stuff they had out there. Sadly, I was not as impressed. Oh Alien Ant Farm, you have let me down.

Okay, not complete. The song Movies is pretty decent, catchy, with their signature kind of forced and unnatural vocals. Also, Good (For a Woman) is not bad, and their voices are not as forced. Glow, however, as well as Goodbye, are going stright to the garbage. Goodbye.
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Ok, admittedly I went through a serious pop-punk-beginningsofemo phase, and I mean, so did about 5 million other people so I feel I was in pretty good company. That is the reason I have bands like The All American Rejects in my library. I only have one song by them, maybe you've heard of it, a little ditty by the name of Swing Swing. I am so. over. it. Delete.

*Ammendments*

So I've decided to not delete The Sign (Ace of Base) because...well...it came on my shuffle before I got a chance to delete it and I really thoroughly enjoyed it.

Also, there is one song on 10,000 Hz Legend (Air) that I will keep: The Vagabond, featuring Beck.

Alanis Morissette, Alexi Murdoch, Alice freakin Cooper

So yes, back in the day I was a proud owner of Jagged Little Pill, Alanis's angry third (third? what? who knew) album. I channeled my 5th grade angst into this listening adventure, and felt pretty cool to own an album that had both "fuck" and "shit" in its lyrics.

Anywho, my love for Alanis has since passed. She is a great example of 90s music and I think she probably served a lot of other pre-teens pretty well in their pseudo-angst. I don't know how actual real people (ie. those who spent their time doing things other than prank calling older boys and marrying the cat) felt about her at the time.

I still kind of like her (for some reason in a kind of guilty pleasure way). But I only have two of her songs: Right Through You and Head Over Feet (both on JLP). I don't know why I only have these two. RTY isn't particularly great and there are other songs I definitely like better. HOF though, I have always enjoyed. I think I'm going to delete Right Through You, but instead download some others (hello, You Learn, great song). I might even go so far as to look into her other later albums (probably the singles, but not Thank U, that was goofy and the U thing has been doooooone).

I don't think I have the patience to explore her early stuff. Besides, they were released only in Canada.

Facts: She is Canadian. She guest-starred on Nip/Tuck, and if anyone does that, they are a-one in my book. She was also on Curb... as herself and she told Larry David who You Ought to Know is about (Dave Coulier? Anyone?)
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Alexi Murdoch is represented by one track in my library and the only reason for this is that he was on the Garden State soundtrack (but unlike I am Sam I do not have the entire album). This song, Orange Sky, is boring and I always skip it when it pops up on shuffle, so I'm deleting it without looking back.
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Alice Cooper! Alice Cooper! Alice Cooper? Okay, so we all know, especially after his recent foray into mainstream radio programming that Alice (freakin) Cooper is a pretty weird guy. He has been rocking and rolling since forever, and he definitely likes his theatrics. I don't think he's a particularly talented singer or guitar player, but he knows how to put on a show and for crying out loud he is a MAN named ALICE.

I have two of his songs: School's Out and No More Mister Nice Guy. School's out is something you probably all know and love. I mean, you better love it. It's a great rock anthem and even for those of us no longer in school, it makes me feel like I'm on vacation. Also, it's in the movie Scream.

No More Mister Nice Guy is your typical rock song about a sensitive badass who is having a tough time in this society that just doesn't appreciate his badass self. We live in a goody two shoes world, and this piece is an accurate and accessible account of the struggles people face when they don't fit that mold.

Fact: He guest starred on both The Muppet Show and Monk (worst show everrrrr).

Al Green

I mean, how can you not like Al Green? He's like, oh, I don't know, a classic pair of jeans or a good gin and tonic. I mean, it just always feels right. Classic R&B (I know nothng about his gospel career), amazing vocalist.

I have to admit before we go any further that I only have The Supreme Al Green: Greatest Hits, and I know some people have problems with compilation CDs (what with the fact that albums can/should/maybe be entire works of art in and of themselves), but a retrospective can also be a great thing, and can serve as training wheels for an artist you're not quite sure about yet.

So, me having these greatest hits and listening to the album has made me want to go explore his other, lesser known works, but still probably not the gospel.

I do have to say that I loathe the song "Take Me To the River." This statement has been met with shock and scorn, but in my defense, my dad has one of those singing fish (what was his name...Billy Bass!) that croons this track, and it's burned into my brain with bad bad baaaaad associations.

Ak'sent, Akon

Ak'sent is a 20 year old LADY MC/rapper. I have two of her songs (This One, and Zingy [feat. Beenie Man]) and I'm not really sure how I came by either one of them. Possible source: I used to belong to this Apple/iTunes facebook group that gave you a code every week to redeem free songs from a given genre, but I stopped using it because I was just getting a lot of crap. Ak'sent...not so crappy. From what I've heard, her rhymes are often girl-power related, and her beats are hawwwwwwt. Fo realz. (Not sure if she has anything to do with their production).

Phun Phact: Not so fun, actually, that her dad was an aspiring MC but was killed in a gang related shooting. She pursued her career in his honor.

Note: I just went to the iTunes store to sample her stuff and the only tracks they have are Zingy and this other song called #1 that didn't sound promising. I'm keeping the songs that I have though and will definitely be on the lookout for others that are similar.

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Akon is an R/B singer and rapper. Apparently Akon means A Konvict (convict) - homeboy was in jaillllllllllllll, don't know why, don't care.

The thing that I like most about Akon is his voice, mostly because it's just so unique in this cookiecutter artist industry. He's definitely a better singer than rapper. Some of his lyrics are so misogynistic it makes me angry. However, his catchy hooks, smooth voice, and sweet collabos kind of make me want to ignore that. I'm keeping his stuff (though I definitely do not need two copies of I Wanna Love (Fuck) You).

Air

Air is a pair of French guys I guess I'd classify as electronica with some actual instrumentals tossed in for good measure. Their sound is very laid back and smooth, slow beats, good mood/homework/background music. Some of the songs have (minimal) vocals (French and English) but they're female and I don't know does them.

Breaking News: Air is actually an acronym, standing for Amour, Imagination, Rêve (Love, Imagination, Dream).

I enjoy Air - I have three of their albums plus some stuff they did for the movie The Virgin Suicides and I definitely like some more than others. Moon Safari (their debut) is definitely my favorite of ones I have (other two being Talkie Walkie and 10,000 Hz Legend). The other two aren't bad and they're definitely interesting, but the thing is the tracks on M.S. are just more linear, which is more pleasant to listen to with Air's already far-out-ish style.

M.S. is definitely staying, as is Walkie Talkie (it definitely has some good tracks (check out Cherry Blossom Girl), but I think 10,000 is going to have to go. However their most recent album, Pocket Symphony (2007) was pretty well received, so I might have to check it out.

I Am Sam Soundtrack

So in my alphabetically ordered list of artists, the next one was Aimee Mann and Michael Penn singing Two of Us on the soundtrack for I am Sam (starring Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer and Dakota FannningMcCreepy). The soundtrack (obviously) features a bunch of artists, all covering Beatles songs. I KNOW, but seriously it's kind of good (well parts of it) and I want to mention those parts as well as the bad bits because that's fun too. But just as a disclaimer, I do not think any of these are even half as good as the originals.

So, this song that starts the whole thing off is actually good. I don't know who Michael Penn is and I've only kind of vaguely heard of Aimmimiieeei Mann (and I associate her with Sarah Mclaughlinspelling? and the like) but this is a bouncy cheery cover, really a fluffier version of the original. Ben Folds covers Golden Slumbers, which is just sort of okay. Ben Harper does Strawberry Fields and it it's rather poignant but I love the original so so so much that this one bothers me. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is done by the Black Crowes and I don't like it just because Chris Robinson's voice kind of bugs me sometimes and it sounds like the whole band is trying way too hard in general.

I swear though, some of these are good.

Like Chocolate Genius (whoever he/they/it is) doing Julia in a smoother but still kind of haunting way. And Eddie Vedder doing You've Got to Hide Your Love Away, mostly just because I love his voice and also because his guitar is so barebones and he sounds a bit like John.

Revolution (Grandaddy) is terrible, whiney. We Can Work It Out (Heather Nova) is decent, similar to the original except for the vocals. The Vines cover I'm Only Sleeping, which sounds nice but is really nothing special.

There are other tracks that I don't really think are worth mentioning, not because they are particularly bad, but just because there's nothing of real note going on. They are:
Help - Howie Day
Let It Be - Nick Cave
Nowhere Man - Paul Westerberg
Across the Universe - Rufus Wainwright
Blackbird - Sarah McLachlan (there's the spelling)
Mother Nature's Son - Sheryl Crow (I really really do not like her not even a little bit and I'm not sure why)
Don't Le Me Down - Stereophonics
I'm Looking Through You - The Wallflowers

Afro-Cuban All Stars

Afro-Cuban All Stars are what I would have initially just described as a Cuban salsa band, however, have come to learn (thank you wiki) that their style is actually a mix of a bundle of Cuban musical stylings, including rumba and bolero.

They're tiiiight. Their sound is so together and bright, very horn heavy and a ton of percussion. Vocals are done by a bunch of people. It's a pretty big group (maybe 6-8), with some rotating members.

In general, they're a solid band, lively and upbeat, even when the tempo is slower. I only have about 10 of their songs, but listening to them has made me want to get more - they have two albums. I think my favorite out of the ones I've heard is Distinto Diferente, on the album of the same name.

Africa Bambaataa

Afrika Bambaataa. Arguably a founder of hiphop, definitively the founder of the Universal Zulu Nation (which I will not allow myself to digress into), he is of West Indian descent and his age is a mystery though he is believed to have been born sometime between 1955 and 1962.

He's got a whole bunch of history tied in with his musical roots, most notably the ferocious gang culture of the Bronx during the late 70s early 80s. This is where real hiphop was born.

Though Bambaataa is credited with being a founder of the hippity, his sounds are very very different from what we think of as hiphop today. Think: funk influences with lots of turntable work, inspired lyrics with ample breaks for his b-boys and girls. You probably actually know his song Renegades of Funk, though not his version but the Rage Against the Machine cover (which is actually pretty good, along with the video, which is basically images of hiphop leaders, black power figures, and anyone else they deemed relevent).

His sound is also most definitely 80's inspired. Synthesizers galore.

Check out:
Planet Rock, one of his many collabos with the Soulsonic Force.

I'm keeping him - he's a great example of the roots from which modern h-h artists pull inspiration. Plus, he wears some awesome outfits.

Aesop Rock

Aesop Rock. Did not know til I looked it up, but Aesop Rock is actually one guy by the name of Ian Mattias Bavitz who was one of the early underground hip-hop artists of the late 90s.

I like him for a bunch of reasons. His voice his voice his voice his voice. Very deep, unique, flows smoothly over his rhymes, while maintaining his grit. And the grit is good, as he covers issues that range from youth violence to love/loss to the pursuit of one's dreams.

And his lyrics! Thought-provoking and expressive. Stream of consciousness is really what I would call it because he takes few, if any, breaks in his rhyming flow. I would say that he is more about the lyrics than the beats (although the beats are solid). His tracks are, in general, quite verbose.

He's got 5 albums out, as well as this all-instrumental album he did for Nike that's basically one long track.

Favorites:
*Daylight
*Labor
*Outkast

Aerosmith

Aerosmith. I have exactly four songs by them. Sweet Emotion, Janey's Got a Gun, Love in an Elevator, and Angel. I'm not exactly sure what the significance of these four songs is, where I got them, or how I came to decide upon them. I do know that I don't like any of them very much at all, so I think I'm going to delete them. Except maybe Sweet Emotion, which I mostly just like because of the very beginning bars, all guitar-y and kind of badass and it reminds me of Starsky and Hutch.

I do not think that Joe Perry is a particularly talented guitarist. I do, however, really like Steven Tyler's voice and think that it goes wasted on the often overall goofiness of most Aerosmith songs. The man can belt.

I feel like there are a couple Aerosmith songs that I hear on the radio and kind of enjoy, but now I can't think of them. I will definitely delete Janey as well as Angel. The other two are in limbo at the moment.

AC/DC, Ace of Base

AC/DC. I only have 5 songs by these fellows. People are probably pretty much familiar with their work. I guess some considered them to be at the forefront of heavy metal, but I have to say that their stuff doesn't sound quite so heavy to me. Anyway, according to Wikipedia, they see themselves as pretty much straight up rock, which seems more correct to be.

DID you know: AC/DC does not stand for AntiChrist/Devil Child nor does it imply any kind of bisexuality (well, not to the band members at least). It stands for Alternating Current/Direct Current and Angus Young saw it on the back of his sister's sewing machine.

I like the song "Back in Black" a lot. It's very catchy, with a sweet hook. Their songs are usually very very guitar driven with little or no subtleties to be found, but I think that's what is so appealing about them. I also really like the song Big Balls. It has pretty much no musical value or anything really interesting, but the lyrics give me a laugh. I just realized I don't have the song "For Those About to Rock We Salute You" and that makes me a little bit upset - I think I'm going to get it.

BUT I'm going to delete "Stiff Upper Lip," and maybe one or two others.

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Ace of Base. Only one song here, "The Sign" clearly. Even though this was one of the first albums I ever got (on casette, duh), I really don't like this song very much. Yes, it's kind of fun when you hear it in a bar or when you're with the girls and everyone sings along, but seriously, I will never listen to this song on my own. Delete.

A.C. Newman, Abba

Before I say anything, I feel the need to state that in some recent upgrade of iTunes, there was a change made to the way songs are sorted, and now when you sort things by alphabetical order, numbers and symbols are listed at the end and not the beginning. This is why things are getting started with A.C. Newman and not someone like !!! or 50 Cent.

A.C. Newman is a dude, born in 1968, Canadian. He was in a couple of generic indie rock bands in the 90s, now he heads up the New Pornographers [whoa, did not know that til I read it in Wikipedia]. He has one solo album out (The Slow Wonder) and also had a song on one of the OC soundtracks. I'm not gonna lie, I generally liked the music that was featured on the OC. Despite the cheesy goodness (and badness) of the show, they had some rockin artists. Think: Lady Sovereign, Spoon, the Walkmen.

I dig this guy. He's laid back, pretty chill, almost always very heavy on the drums. He has a sort of tinny voice, and I guess the whole sound is generally pretty tinny. A bunch of the songs feature a heavy piano that kind of drives everything (not sure if he's the one playing). Rock-ish piano I guess, cooler than Billy Joel, grittier than Ben Folds.

I'm keeping it. And I will listen to it more often.

Favorites on the album:
*Secretarial
*35 in the Shade

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Abba. I mean, I only have one song by them, obviously Dancing Queen. They're goofy and I can't remember the last time I got down to this one tune, but it's definitely a keeper. You never know when you're going to need it.