I wonder how many posts across the blogosphere start with, “I’m supposed to be doing [insert mandatory activity] right now but [insert lame excuse] so I’m blogging instead!”  Sometimes it’s nice to be like everyone else.

I have had such a huge influx of new music over the holidays that my mind has been blown.  Officially.  I’ve never had so much good stuff to listen to in my entire life.  I’m really going to have to pace myself over the next two months and (don’t tell my wife) really shouldn’t be allowed to buy anymore music until the summer.  One of the interesting discoveries I’ve made is that my listening habits are becoming a lot more experimental than before.  I think my tastes are evolving into something very … ‘egotistical’ is probably a good word choice.  I like music that I wouldn’t have appreciated not too long ago and, to my surprise, is not much appreciated by those around me.  But it’s getting my creative juices going for sure and that is the real gem.

The band music/songwriting is going fantastic right now.  I haven’t been this excited about writing/recording/performing for some time now.  I’m pretty gosh-darn lucky to get to rock out with some super creative musicians who are a constant reminder of how great everyone else’s ideas are.  I love it.

Now here’s the part where I talk about the albums I picked up and why the ones I’ve listened to are so awesome.

Yeah Yeah Yeah’s - Isis
This is guitar and drums rock at its best (sorry, White Stripes).  Karen O and her scraggly band of musicians churned out a sexual and groovy rock EP that gets my head and feet moving every time I listen.  Everything sounds so live that it’s wonderful.  Less is more, people.

Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
Electro-pop is what I call it and my first and only negative comment on the album, no acoustic drums, is starting to fade.  His heavy subject matter and light hearted musical treatment makes me happy.  Grooving bass lines, drum loops, and soaring melodies suck me in more each time.

Queen - Greatest Hits I & II
I show my novice music consumer side off with a “greatest hits” inclusion but I’ve made my peace with myself.  For obvious reasons Queen is fantastic but the first disc surprised me the most.  Part of the reason I wanted it was to educate myself and, I must say, I had no idea that they wrote all of the songs they did.  Freddie Mercury is undeniably one of the greatest frontmen of all time.  Their chord structures, variety, rhythms, harmonies, and powerful vocals cement them as a must have of any music collection.  My only drawback: I got really tired of the peace and love theme by the time the second disc was over.  A little more lyrical variation would have been nice … but maybe that’s what I get for getting a “greatest hits” : )

Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full
He may be old but tired he is not.  While I can’t say I’m very familiar with his post-Beatles work this album is a perfect example of his songwriting genius translated into a modern medium.  Replete with classic acoustic instruments like banjos and organs as well as drum loops and synthesizers, it’s still sounds like Paul McCartney.  And it sounds good.  Drawback: the last song on the album, “Nod Your Head”, is the most inane thing I’ve ever heard.  Because I love everything else though I’m going to pretend it isn’t on the album.

Others that I’ve gotten and loved but haven’t had a chance to fully digest yet:

LCD Soundsystem - Sound of Silver
Feist - The Reminder
Led Zeppelin - Mothership
KT Tunstall - Drastic Fantastic
Norah Jones - Not Too Late
Corinne Bailey Rae - Self Titled
Nirvanna - MTV Unplugged in New York
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way
The Beatles - Rubber Soul
The Good, the Bad, The Queen - Self Titled
Brothers Martin - Self Titled
The Dismemberment Plan - Emergency & I
Panda Bear - Person Pitch
And a few more …

Did I mention I have more new music than I’ve ever had in my life?