How am I s'posed to know that you're high if I can't even touch you?

http://www.vagrant.com/holdsteady_listeningparty/

Go listen to the entire Boys and Girls in America. The Hold Steady is one of my favorite bands of the past few years and this album is great, I can't wait to go buy it. The Steady seems to really be aping Springsteen on this release and I couldn't be any more excited, listen to the whole thing folks.

Went from ashy to classy

I got my hands on the new Luda today. The hair has changed but that's about it. I'm not usually looking for a new release from the man but I had somse hope for Release Therapy from hearing "Grew Up a Screw Up" and "War With God." I remember reading quotes from Luda saying this record is a change of pace for him, how he's feeling about the world and stuff like that. He definitely has some introspective tracks on here like "Runaway Love" with Luda on a Lupe tip and the wonderful "Do Your Time" with Beanie Sigel, Pimp C and C-Murder. Then on the other half Release Therapy still has the goofy Luda tracks that one would come to expect on a Luda release, "Moneymaker" and "Girls Gone Wild" to name a few. Overall, this is a enjoyable hip-hop release but will not hold a candle to the T.I., Ghostface and Trae releases at the end of the year.

Chicago maing

After my one class of the day and a good lunch with one pretty cool young lady, I made sure to go cop Lupe's Food & Liquor. I took a roundabout way home to get some more time listening. At first I was definitely enjoying it but not floored like I was hoping to be. I think I just felt I know what to expect when it comes to Lupe, which is sad since dude just released his debut. I put it back on for my second round of studying and now I'm really gettin it. Lupe is great man, simply great. People can't decide if dude is backpack or if dude is trying to be hood, whatever, he can rhyme, plain and simple. Most of the tracks are produced by people from his 1st & 15th clique with one from Mike Shinoda and one from The Louis Vuitton Don. The Kanye track got me excited. I'm a sucker for Kanye beats like this, on some Be ish, nice and simple but better than anyone else is doin it. This album doesn't have enough tracks like I Gotcha on it to make it a huge seller, but whatever, right now it sounds great and made me stop listening to the new Grizzly Bear record.

I got a girl in the war man, I wonder what it is we've done

Built to Spill came through Columbia tonight and tore ish up. Martsch and Co. put on one heckuva show, let me tell you. The wall of guitar sound was so intense. Seeing these guys live tonight really made me appreciate what they've been doing for the last ten years or so. I gave You in Reverse a very good review last semester but the album hasn't grown on me much. The new songs from that record carried over wonderfully in a live setting however.


Girl in the War has popped up on itunes as I'm writing this and I can't even express how much I love Josh Ritter's music. Animal Years is such a wonderful record and hasn't nearly got the attention that it deserves. Guster is here for a free show on Wednesday night and I'm not as excited as I should be. I'm pumped, don't get me wrong, but I'm worried about how the Ganging Up on the Sun songs are going to be when performed live.


The Razorlight record that came out this year is very good. Their record that came out a couple of years ago was lackluster as I remember, but this one has been getting multiple listens. Some great pop in the vein of Crowded House, it's no Neil Finn but it's good.

Sellin' drugs we all wrapped up in this livin'

R.I.P.


I've never been a huge Pac guy but every time I give the man some of my listening time I'm always amazed. He truly was one of the best emcees ever and on today, the anniversary of his death, RIP

"Game's the same, just got more fierce."

I haven't posted about the season premiere of the fourth season of The Wire yet because I couldn't really put into words how great it was and how excited I am for the upcoming season (Snoop might just be the fiercest character on the show right now, one bad lady). The writing, acting and directing/production is the best on TV. Sunday night's premiere is being talked about all over the internet and all I can say is that if you haven't started watching this show, go get the first season NOW!

The new Rapture record is pretty solid. Very, very danceable, the basslines in the first few songs are intense. It's a beautiful thing when you open up the Sunday Best Buy ad and two of the new releases mentioned are The Rapture and TV on the Radio.

There's still one rule playa, don't get caught

study playlist on the tenth that has too much Lil' Wayne

Lil Wayne & Juelz Santana- Rubber Burnin'
Lil Wayne- Mo Fire
Birdman & Lil Wayne- Stuntin' Like My Daddy
Lil Wayne & Juelz Santana- Get That Bread
Rhymefest- Devil's Pie
Lil Wayne- Untitled 2
Luda feat. Jeezy- Grew Up a Screw Up
Young Jeezy- Don't Get Caught
T.I.- Top Back
Scarface feat. Nas- In Between Us
Clipse- Hard or Soft
Natasha feat. Clipse- So Sick
Trae- Song Cry
Biggie- Ready to Die
Rick Ross- Pots & Pans
Clipse- Bodysnatchers
Cam'ron- Dipset Forever
Trae feat. Jim Jones- Coming Around the Corner
Roscoe P. Coldchain- Whut Itz All
Mannie Fresh feat. Lil Wayne- Wayne's Takeover 1
Trick Daddy- These are the Daze

" We're no longer called Sonic Death Monkey."

Long Winters- Putting the Days to Bed
Golden Smog- Another Fine Day

THE WIRE STARTS TOMORROW NIGHT

This is what you should be listening to

www.myspace.com/ohtis

My name is Tim, aka Thomas Crown

Timberlake's Future Sex/Love Sounds is one of the best records of the year. I have no problem saying this at all. Timbaland is on point throughout the disc producing 11 of 13 tracks. They're all burners and make me wish I was a DJ so I could play these on a dancefloor or at a party. This thing has been talked about all over the internet so I won't spend too much time because I'll be biting on other people's opinion all night. This record is great and is all I've listened to this week.

rock n roll,

Luke