MP3s: I put together two MP3-only discs, one Beatles, one Ramones, with every song officially released from the time the bands were together, in order of release. Nifty thing to have, especially the Ramones disc, for watching fireworks. Taking the time to tag the files to reflect the order was a bit of a pain, but worth it. Didn't take that long, actually. I didn't bother with live albums, but I was able to fit all the extra tracks on the Ramones reissues from a few years ago, and both Let It Be versions on the Beatles disc, which had plenty of room to spare. It's a nice thing to have in my Discman when it's the closest thing to reach for...actually, I only made these since I had to pick up a new Discman for when I DJ a few weeks ago & went with a model that plays MP3s.

CDs: Beastie Boys, To The Five Boroughs: love the single, have only spun the entire thing a couple of times. I need some more time with it. My first impression that it was a little on the shrill side sonically, with real treble-y drums & percussion in a few places, but I loved the sample of the guitar line from the Dead Boys' 'Sonic Reducer.' Have to give it a little more of a listen. Eamon's "Ho-Wop" masterpiece, "I Don't Want You Back." Any of you heard this? It's awfully misogynistic, but amusing if you can get by that aspect of it. (Not to be taken seriously) Also a DJ "Mash-Up" of apparently unlicensed samples set to beats, called Destroy All DJs. Hell, it was up on AMG, so what the hell. In it a couple of DJs set a variety of acts' music to beats, sometimes rapping over it, sometimes just having the actual vocals play in a newly configured arrangement. They use AC/DC, the Ramones, Missing Persons, the White Stripes, the New York Dolls, and others, and the end result is very interesting. Also still listening to the Asylum Street Spankers' "Mercurial." Great stuff...and "The Essential Little Richard" as well. And, ahem, "Giant Steps."

Vinyl: A record that consists of 1960s field recordings done on the Ivory Coast, with selections like "Music for chopping down a tree" and "Women's work song for hoeing a field." Interesting enough to listen to once, I suppose. A few Musical Heritage Society albums from the 1960s, including some with Maurice Andre, which run the gamut, Vivaldi, Gothic and Renaissance dances, Music of the Salzburg Court, The Birds And The Bees, Music for Ondes Martenot, etc. etc. Mostly very tedious stuff. Slightly more interesting was a Mozart record featuring Jascha Heifetz and Benjamin Primrose; Morton Gould's orchestra doing the Grand Canyon Suite and Bolero; Gliere's Symphony No. 3, Fritz Kreisler & Gaspar Cassado, and a Wagner 10" from the 50s, I believe. No, I didn't start listening to this stuff because of the dilettante in the other thread, I've been listening to these records for a couple of weeks to determine if they're in listenable/saleable condition. Some opera records, too, including one from 1939 featuring Lauritz Melchior & Kirsten Flagstad. Not very inspiring. At this moment I'm listening to a 3-LP box of Turandot featuring Jussi Bjorling, which is more interesting by miles. Still, one has to be in the right mood for this sort of thing. It simply does not work all the time. I guess I've got some Sinatra up next, then I'll take a break with, oh, perhaps the Little Killers or the Hives.

KEXPMF is a friend of mine, a fellow DJ here in NYC. Knowing that she listens to a LOT of the new/indie stuff that a lot of you guys listen to, way more than I do, I thought she'd make a good contributor to this board. I think she was glad that someone here was into Swervedriver!