The Daily Sabbatical
Music, Books, and Assorted Maunderings

Thanks to The Yellow Stereo for sharing this. Read More

I used to think that people who wore earplugs at shows should just stay home. Not anymore. I should have known when earplugs were being handed out at the door of the My Bloody Valentine show last night that they were meant to be used. I have never, never been to a louder show (and that includes an ear-blistering Dinasaur Jr. show in the early 90s). MBV ripped into about a 15 minute sonic rush at the end of their set, during which people close to the stage reported heat coming from the speakers (which were massive) and I could literally feel air blowing through my hair like the Memorex man. It was an amazing show, I have no regrets, but my ears… Read More

Nerve has a new feature on the forty sexiest frontwomen in rock.  I have to say, I have a guilty love of things like this.  It's like Magnet Magazine collided with People. Apparently Nerve will have a corresponding article on sexy lead men, for those who are interested. Read More

Apparently, the Ft. Worth Ballet theatre has decided to cut expenses by cutting out their orchestra and playing pre-recorded music for the upcoming performance of Cleopatra.  Perhaps worse, they're not letting the public know there will be a recording in the pit.  Pretty disappointing stuff. Info here. Read More

My second full day at SXSW was if anything better than my first.  I aspire to go to this thing until I am too old to decently be allowed through the doors.  God knows I'm already older than most of the beard sprouting indie kids there now.  Except, perhaps, at the Echo and the Bunnymen show... Shows: Viva Voce (Mohawk)--I found earlier work by these guys a letdown, but their live show has turned me around.  I look forward to their new release.  These guys are from Portland, and they sound like it--although they originate from the south, I'm led to believe.  Very melodious, femme-fronted guitar pop.  Good feelings all around. Peelander… Read More

So, I have a blog, I'm at SXSW, so what to do but blog about sxsw?  First, let me me just say, this has to be one of the world's greatest parties.  This is my second time here, and if anything it's gotten better.  It seems like every bar--and there are hundreds--is hosting some new it-band from Finland or Denton or LA or Louisianna.  It's hard to see a bad show.  The hardest part is choosing. So far, I've seen: Blind Pilot (Club DeVille)--The main guy has a lovely voice, and the songs are catchy, but it's a little too vanilla for my taste. Langhorne Slim (Club DeVille)--Fun Shit.  The songs are of a predictable structre and the lyrics are… Read More

Last night I decided to test to see if I could really hear the difference between the original recording and a CD burned from an MP3 copy.  My test track was the first movement of Sibelius' violin concerto played by Cho Liang Lin conducted by Salonen.  It's a very transparent disc.  I ripped it first at 320 kbs using EAC with LAME.  On my system, which is pretty good (Rega Apollo, Creek 5350SE, Von Schweicker Mk2 speakers; for the dollar inclined, we're talking about 5k), I could not reliably tell the copy from the original when my wife, irritated at the request, put me through a blind test.  When I ripped it at 256kbs using the same method,… Read More

My recent radio silence has been in part due to the fact that I seem to be incessantly busy with refereeing articles, grading papers, writing letters and evaluating applications of various sorts.  But that is not all.  Many of my previous posts have been inspired by the best of recent indie music, but in the new year I have let that interest lag considerably.  Instead, I have become obsessed with the "classical" tradition in music--to the point that I have taken up piano once again and have been studying music as though I were back in school.  Unfortunately, I'm simply not educated enough to write very informatively about much of this music.… Read More

If I Had A Heart from Fever Ray on Vimeo.… Read More

It's not just a metaphor anymore.  The company responsible for setting Beatles tunes to pan flutes in order to hypnotize Gap shoppers is going under.  I, for one, find this encouraging.  Now, if only Michael Bolton and Kenny G would go bankrupt, this economy would have hit the crap trifecta! Read More