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A Week in the Life of Listening, Part 1

Well, I've already given you the full scoop on the drama behind the construction of my system: the muffled sound, the thick thick cables, and the paper clips, but we're missing the most important part:

The music!

Despite what skeptics may tell you, hi-fi is not just about the gear. It also makes you want to listen to music. Incessantly. An indescribable urge grows in your gut to just buy more music.

I've enjoyed tons of incredible records since I first constructed my system.

Tuesday
I got home from work. We were in the midst of the Buyer's Guide…

The Sun Smells Too Loud

The walls of the Stereophile offices have been shaking to the sounds of Mogwai's latest, The Hawk is Howling. Yes, we know that hawks don't howl. (Or do they?) We also know the difference between a hawk and a bald eagle. (Sourpusses.)

YouTube member "doublewords" of Finland put together this video for Mogwai's "The Sun Smells Too Loud," my favorite track off the album.

Keep an eye out for a full (LP!) review of Mogwai's The Hawk is Howling in an upcoming issue of Stereophile.

Modern R&B Beware

A hit abroad but relatively unknown at home. That describes Cheap Trick who I wrote about here recently and also, believe it or not, Otis Redding. He was a big hit in the U.K. and even it seems in Paris before he hit at home with his final single, “(Sittin’ on the) “Dock of the Bay.”

Now a new disc which gathers his 1967 shows in London and Paris confirms, if only from the amount of requests being shouted out from the crowd during the Paris show, that he was well known there before his “Dock of the Bay.”

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to have spoken with the…

Oh, Sleeveface

Oh, Sleeveface, how you do crack me up. (Thanks Ariel.)

Let's A Go-Go!

Then there's this site full of awesome Asian record covers from the 60s and 70s. (Thanks Eden.)

The Daily Audiophile

You've become acquainted with The Daily Beast, but do you know The Daily Audiophile? The two are kind of similar. On the former, you can read about nude New York City dinners, while on the latter, you can read about hi-fi reviews. See what I mean?

I'm always happily surprised when I find audiophile-related sites on the web. I'm not sure how I came across The Daily Audiophile (oh, yeah, I was Googling myself again), but, noting its clean design and friendly voice, I was impressed. So, I asked The Daily Audiophile's founder, Mark Wieman, a few questions.

The site was…

A Week in the Life of Listening, Parts 2 & 3

Wednesday
Before my bandmate and frontman Mike Baglivi showed up for a one-on-one guitar session, I listened to my recently purchased Manolo Sanlucar album, Mundo y Formas de la Guitarra Flamenca, Vol. 2. Sanlucar scales the fretboard with such speed and precision. While Paco De Lucia has the fury and fire that made him so famous, Sanlucar played with a certain reserved/professional quality, focusing more on the composition and the progression of the notes. Well Manolo, just know, your clarity is appreciated.

When Mike arrived, he asked if it was me playing.

We then…

The Best Album of 2008

The year’s not quite over, but it’s a safe bet that Sonny Rollins’ Road Shows Vol. 1 (on his own Doxy label) will be the best jazz album of 2008 and rank among the best of the decade.

Rollins, still strong and agile at 78, remains not only the “saxophone colossus” (as he’s been dubbed since his album of that title 51 years ago) but also the last heroic figure of jazz—the soloist (usually a horn player) who stands at the front of the bandstand and unleashes his soul through the frantic majesty and force of his long improvisations, much as an Action Painter would on his canvas. (Rollins…

92.6% New Stock

Jimmy Boyd's "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus." Columbia, 10" (MJV 152).

Saturday, December 6&#151Sunday, December 14, 11am to 6pm: The ARChive of Contemporary Music (54 White Street, New York City) will hold a RECORD + CD SALE.

The sale will consist of 92.6% new stock, boasts the ARC, with tons of jazz, punk, and new wave. I have never attended the ARCive Record Sale&#151I missed this summer's event, making me especially eager to hit this one up&#151so, it'll be 100% new stock to me.

For more info, visit the ARC's website or call (212) 226-6967.

The Romantic Bundle

It is November 14th, and it's hot as heck outside. I wonder how many polar bears just died. That's not funny. The arctic is vanishing, the oceans are rising, we have brown clouds in the sky. Awesome. We are doomed. Screw it. Let's buy some vinyl!

It may not feel like Christmas is right around the corner, but what the hey, that doesn't mean we shouldn't enjoy the great sweep of holiday sales. Light In The Attic specializes in vinyl reissues of obscure recordings and lost classics from around the world&#151garage rock, psychedelic, tropicalia, punk, funk, soul, folk, all…