Check out this great set of applets.

According to Wired, the real threat to the music biz isn?t P2P ? it?s CD-Rs swapped on the street.

Bill blogs Rolling Stone naming him a “Person of the Year”. Is it me or has Rolling Stone magazine actually improved? Everyone was moaning about how the mag was dead due to it’s new direction, but if you ask me, it’s getting relevant again.

Here is a site that claims to list the top 100 albumns of the 80s. Good list to find albums you might have missed, but the bias against metal is very, very evident.

Bill compares the features of the Dylan and Springsteen websites. Which bands have the best sites? Why?

To see creativity like this, from two people who don’t really know one another, from across the net, it’s simply wonderfull. Check out Shannon Campbell’s Dreaming of Violets as reworked by Scott Andrew LePera. I’ve been meaning to link to this for a long time now….

Speaking of mean… lays down some truth on some heartless bastards. People should be issuing some apologies.

I don’t normally share this kinda stuff, but Saturday I finally spent money on an electric guitar. Up till now, all I’ve bought were second (probably third) hand, and they were each bought in desperation – so I really didn’t choose as I’d like – I just settled.

I’m not a good guitar player – I’ve always treated it as a means to an end – to write and play songs and just have fun. Somehow I always end up playing lead and I gotta admit… an hour of guitar a day keeps the doldrums away. There is nothing like leaning into bent D or slaming down a F# power chord – it fills the heart with joy.

Rittenhouse Review is covering some great American catfights. Well that reminds me of the age old question – Gibson Les Paul or Fender Stratocaster?

Who would a thunk it? I’m a Fender guy! I swore when I began this I was gonna end up with a ‘Paul, and for the past few weeks I’ve tried just about everything, but this guitar… wow. Nothing came close to being as versatile tone-wise (Iron Maiden to clean blues licks.) or as kick ass to play. It’s a Fender Hot Rodded American Texas Fat Strat Special with a maple neck. The pic to the side isn’t entirely accurate – I have a rear humbucker and 22 frets. Having a guitar that begs you to pick it up makes a difference 🙂

Yes there is an original music scene in Philly. Hopefully the great turnout will encourage places like Brownies to book more original acts. The place was packed!

The Phoenix Trap put on a great show and won over my compadres, who I gotta tell ya, are the most blunt, honest critics I’ve ever known.

Here’s to hoping this marks the end of my long self-imposed hermitage.