Well, I may as well start this. Looks like most folks are skipping the board for a bit, but oh well. Been spending a lot of time in the car lately, so my listening has been mostly all on CD. Here are some of the highlights…

New 2003 comps from Mike and Mason
Excellent tunes, each with a couple things I’ll be seeking out.

Tosca: Suzuki in Dub
Just heard this for the first time recently. Very nice remixes from an already fine album. Nice downtempo electronica.

A couple unusual comps: Arabian Travels II & Astor Piazzolla Remixed
Both electronic compilations. Both also probably sounded better in the listening booth than they will long term, but will get some play for me nonetheless. The Arabian Travels is just like you would think, mostly mellow electronics mixed with traditional Arabic rhythms. Sometimes, it gets a bit too background music like for me, but there are at least a couple names I’ll try to seek out other things from here. The Astor Piazolla remixed updates Tango music from Piazolla, featuring acts like Koop and other modern artists, similar to some of Gotan Project’s stuff.

Jet: Get Born
Yeah, I’ve heard how derivative they’re supposed to be and all that. Who cares? This disc rocks. File with Kings of Leon. If you’re a fan of one, you’ll probably like the other.

Los Straightjackets: Supersonic Guitars in 3-D
Fun instrumental surf styled music from those crazy guys in the Mexican wrestling masks. Bonus is that it comes with a 3-D cover and inner pictures, with the glasses included. Fun stuff here.

OutKast – Speakexboxxx/Love Below
This one is still getting a lot of play from me. If you are even mildly interested in hip-hop, get it.

Oscar Peterson: Night Train
Excellent piano based jazz. This is a real melodic one, sometimes verging on a little boogie. Could help turn some people onto jazz that are turned off by the more frantic stuff.

Smiths: Louder than Bombs
Great compilation from a great band.

Also listened to some Mum and Sigur Ros, watching the snow fall. Played some other Smiths stuff and even a bit of Morrissey, as well as the Cure. Went old school with Grandmaster Flash and Run DMC. Also went all punk rock to wake myself up at around midnight after 8 hours on the road with a bunch of punk like Big Boys, Dicks, and a compilation I got around.

Got home and went at the turntable with some Erykah Badu and some other R&B to mellow out, old stuff like Marvin Gaye and that.

Listening to other 2003 stuff now too. I should have time to finish my year-end comp up real soon. I’ll post a track list once I do.

OK…what about the rest of you?