Played the latest from Willard Grant Conspiracy a few times. Regard The End is the name. Released last year in Europe on Glitterhouse and a couple months ago in the USA on Kimchee. Beautiful album, and probably the first one to realize their full potential for the whole CD. And it doesn't sacrifice anything to do it since it still has a couple real standouts like on all their albums. Really starting to grow on me. "The Ghost of the Girl in the Well" is a big highlight that comes 4 songs in. Usually have to put it on infinite repeat for awhile - spacey use of the saw gives it a touch of the Black Heart Procession (another big favorite) while the mournful violin brings to mind the Dirty Three - worth it for that song alone - Kristin Hersh of Throwing Muses fame in for backup vox duties - kind of a mix of Nick Cave and Calexico on some of the songs. Southern gothic americana.
                            

Paul K & The Weathermen Love Is A Gas also found its way to the player for a spin or two. One of the best of the 90s, even if only a few people bought it - destined to be a cult classic if I have any say - nice production by VU's Maureen Tucker and competent drumming by Wilco's Glenn Kotche, but K's songwriting and voice and guitar playing are still the big attractions.
           

Honeydogs 10,000 Years still gets regular spins and did this weekend too. Already talked about it once or twenty times around here, but probably the best album of the year so far for me.
                                

Canonball Adderley et al. - Somethin' Else
                   

Played my stupid new Half Gone 2004 comp a few times while making copies and all the assorted printing and cutting and folding and labeling and beer drinking that goes with it. Beer drinking? Huh? Oh yeah, mostly Hollande 1620 Lager, but I think there were a coupla Sam Adams Lagers in the mix too. Finally sent the comps out today. Wound up doing 11 copies, oops, I thought I said there would only be 5. Hope you lucky duckys enjoy it