Don't talk to me about Christmas! The toy catalogue is at the printers now, but I'm on a flyer for my main client, a homewares store. It's full of Christmas stuff. I can't begin to tell you how much everyone enjoys putting clipping paths on pictures of Christmas trees. %-O Er, I'm good thanks! :)

On the subject of Radiodread. I had given it a few spins before, but it's not until now that I realise their take on Let Down is fan-fucking-tastic. It's like a whole new song, and it's brilliant. <3

Yeah I'm off work this afternoon. I've noticed a mild Arcade Fire obsession creeping into your charts so I'm guessing it's going to be a pretty glowing review...

Wicked thank you!

Typical you are way ahead of me-yes that would be cool-I really like the Lovely Allen track!

Is [artist]Holy fuck[/artist] on your radar?-just had it recommended to me by one of my lastfm friends-Described Battles Vs Liars!

<plug> How can you people not be all over the new Iron & Wine record? It's so incredible :) </plug>

You're making me very jealous!

Looking forward to it! Meanwhile, sorry for your recent loss in the AEP wars ;-)

LOL! :-D

How was the concert? How was the concert? How was the concert?

A little cheeky would you say? ;-) Check out the new picture on my artist page as well, tis quality.

So I do hope it was everything you might have dreamed of. I was playing my own little Arcade Soundsystem tribute last night, that's how excited I was about this event thousands of miles away from me. :) Mind you, don't waste time on a shout, I wouldn't want to stop you writing a full review...

Oh, iPod Touches are BRILLIANT! I had a brief (for me. Not for the shop assistant) look at one in the Apple Store the other day. I was so excited about mobile Safari that I almost forgot it did the whole iPod/music thing. If I wasn't saving my pennies for a new Mac laptop, i'd be there like a shot..!

...speaking of shockhorror moments, after our alt-country related chat earlier on I whacked on a bit of [artist]Lambchop[/artist], and couldn't believe you don't have any of their stuff. Two albums of hushed, understated rich textures on my disk for you now. :)

Wooo! It's an evening that can't fail to be fantastic. Meanwhile, WOW to TV on the Radio. I share your shockhorror that they've never crossed my ears before, they're absolutely perfect. Cheers!

Why that's a very nice review indeed! I got into both Giant Sand and Sparklehorse via Grandaddy so it does all link up...

PS I may be entering a Midlake rediscovery zone thanks to those new tracks...

Well I'll listen to anything once, as you know! Thanks. Would be more of a teaser if I knew anything about TV on the Radio though :-( Hey did you listen to any of the avant garde classical stuff, or Giant Sand, yet? Very interested to know your thoughts.

It's my rule of thumb when buying presents, always get them something you'd really like yourself. :-D Lucky Steph!

(I promise it's not a Little Orphan Annie decoder ring.)

Mail!! Mail!!! To the mailbox!! Hurry!

Mmmm it's going well now. I'll have a note to you in a couple of minutes.

I'll take it! The upload failed at home but I'm going to redo it here at work. Gimmie a little while. :)

I was half kidding about The Roches as a recommendation for you. Theyre funny mind - a group of sisters from New Jersey who do a kind of 'female barbershop singing' thing to hilarious results.

Upping now, link to come.

If there is anyone you may be as bold to say that to, it would be I, sir! Give me a few moments to prepare it.

Of all the things I've ever listened to that were at least loosely considered post rock, I like it the best. It's very raw and doesn't give me that where is this going, if anywhere feeling that a lot of post rock does. :)

And good morning, my friend. :)

Hehe playing post rock is like your BatSignal. :P

Have you ever lsitened to The Roches, Brad? Ya gotta!! my big tip of the day. What's the new MIA like? I've been reading glowing reviews..

Maybe it changes as our charts change. Trying to second guess their formula, I THINK the one thing for sure is that the list includes all the artists in your top 10 that I have in my top 50, and vice versa.

Geek question of the day: is the Taste-o-meter biassed towards the reader? When I look at it on your page, it tells me we have Grandaddy, Patrick Wolf, Muse, Mouse on Mars, and Hot Chip in common. When you come to my page is it the same as that or a little different?

Look for The Fountain featuring Clint Mansell and Mogwai. Finally found what you were looking for. Tagged as Clint, but maybe it's wrong. <shrug>

Yeah I got loads of playlists like that, I love 'em. iTunes is our friend...

And I'm liking the new Animal Collective a lot, they go to some unexpected places...

Yum these M.I.A. bonuses are tasty - many thanks!

Speaking of dorkiness, I think I mentioned ages ago that I'm on a determined mission to apply ratings to my whole library. It's going well - I must have rated 10,000 or more tracks this year. Only 11,186 to go! :-D

Well you had 22% this week so there's not far to go! Plus, my total artists this week was higher than normal, a 26% increase on my average over the previous six weeks... Ah numbers, beautiful numbers.

New Múm is in my possession.

Be glad you're in America Brad, you slept through the horror here this morning, when Last.fm DISAPPEARED for THREE HOURS :-(

I have actually. It's a bit off-setting but not at all bad. I might even download it and give it a spin. I'm aching for good music ever since the [url=http://www.noripcord.com/?q=node/773]first record I reviewed for No Ripcord[/url]. I feel like completely numb in a way. As if every ounce of hapiness in the world is captured in vapid darkness. That FUCKING record man, makes me angry :(

Oh, I've just noticed that the person who posted the other 'ver pets' reference on The Guardian website is a Last.FM user and a friend of a Friend. He's homosexual too, but Irish. [*Puds draws new circle on the weirdest and most pointless venn diagram in history and vows to drink less coffee in the evenings*]

...And not being Scandinavian or homosexual is perfectly normal. Most of the people in the world are neither of these things, and manage to have lovely, fulfilling lives, without pesky Ryvita or bum sex.

...Oh, and I meant that some Scandos and Homos are bastards, despite coming from the Nicest Groups of People In The World; I didn't mean that my other neighbours are bastards. Although some of them might be. Also, some homos are Scandos. It's a marvellous venn diagramming opportunity at any rate.

....Rather tellingly, a Google search for the term brings up very little, apart from [url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/02/02/byeeeeeeee.html]this[/url] and a post I sent to Popjustice years ago