Stephen Mejias

Thursday, May 20, 6 to 9pm: Meridian">http://www.meridian-audio.com/">Meridian Audio and Stereo">http://stereoexchange.com/">Stereo Exchange will host an evening celebration to introduce the new Meridian Sooloos 2.1 music server system and Meridian 808.3 Signature Reference CD player. Wine and music will be served.

I’ve been reading Matthew Crawford’s Shop Class As Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work, which argues that an intimacy with manual trades may revitalize a connection to the material world lost to those who spend their lives in offices or cubicles, staring at computer screens for eight to twelve hours a day, unable to quantify exactly what it is that they do. I’m digging it. It aligns, in many ways, with a philosophy John Atkinson has shared with me: Do doingfully.

The Super Deluxe Mega Awesome Edition of the Rolling Stones’ classic Exile On Main Street, considered by some to be the greatest rock and roll album of all time&#151complete with two CDs, including ten previously unreleased tracks, two LPs, a DVD, and a 50-page book&#151is now available. Damn.

Oh, crap. This is good. Recently signed to 4ADhttp://www.4ad.com/ariel-pinks-haunted-graffiti/">4AD;, Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti are poised to release Before Today, their first full-length album for the acclaimed indie label, on June 8th. Whee!

On Thursday, May 20th, Seattle’s Resolution">http://www.resolutionaudiovideoseattle.com/">Resolution Audio Video (5459 Leary Avenue NW) will host an evening with renowned amplifier">http://www.passlabs.com/index.htm">amplifier designer and DIY">http://www.passdiy.com/index.htm">DIY advocate, the long-haired and white-bearded Nelson Pass. This event should be really cool and interesting; Nelson Pass doesn’t make many big public appearances.

I…uh, I…I just don’t know what to say, but I’m definitely making this my new theme song.

When asked how to create a good recording, John Atkinson will tell you to use good musicians in a good room. The people behind Benchmark">http://www.benchmarkmedia.com/">Benchmark Media Systems, makers of some of today’s most highly regarded digital audio converters, headphone amps, and mic preamps, agree.