Indestructible!

GA, LG is a pretty huge company, and they tend to make some high quality stuff! Their appliances have a pretty good track record, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them over most other brands. (Except for the one LG cell phone I used to own... it was OK, but nothing great) Oh, and... Go Stamps Go! They started off like crap, but have been flying lately! You know they'll meet the 'Riders in the playoffs, and Burris is gonna burn them pretty badly. Those 'Rider fans REALLY have a hate-on for Burris, so it'll be a fun game to watch! Cheers, Shane

Hi Jim, If you're really digging on the dance/remix/electronica/nu jazz stuff, my recommendation would be to hook up with eMusic. The downloads are cheap (roughly 22-25 cents per song, depending on your plan), and they've got a lot of the stuff you'd probably like (the Ubiquity, Luv 'N Haight, other acid jazz stuff). I've found it to be the best/cheapest way to get the acid jazz fix... and the MP3s are usually at 320VBR, which is good enough for my ears! BTW, I've never received anything free from the Bastards... but all the music I've gotten for the $$$ I've sent their way sure has made my life better! And I give a big ! to them for that! Cheers, Shane

Do you like that version better than the "Crazy Baby" version? Just curious! Woah, I forgot about the Crazy Baby version... that one smokes too! I think I dig the Cool Blues version a little better, though, because everyone gets to stretch out on the tune (I think it clocks in at 17 minutes or so). And man... Tina Brooks! Cheers, Shane

I've been really digging the version on Jimmy Smith's Cool Blues lately... complete with Babs Gonzalez's crazy introduction! There's also an intensely burning version by Charlie Parker, a live set from December 1945, on one of Philology's Bird's Eyes sets (Vol. 8, I think... but I can't be sure of that). The sound is crap, but Bird is soaring!!! Cheers, Shane

Hey Van, I experience exactly the same thing, at those two very places you talk about! KKJZ drops out at both of those places, to be replaced not only by Howard Stern, but other programming at other times of the day. I think it also happens (but not as frequently) when I get on the 118 at Tampa. I thought I was going nuts, but it sounds like it's not just me! Cheers, Shane

Chuck, Has my life improved by watching Tiger Woods? Sure it has! I can appreciate the aesthetic beauty of his swing, just as I can appreciate the beauty in the movements of any skilled dancer, artist, or musician. Plus, I think we can all learn from his mental toughness... the man is as mentally strong as they come. And, it certainly doesn't hurt to have a successful role model who happens to be African-American/Asian... and doing amazingly well in a sport traditionally dominated by affluent white males. His charity work is something to be applauded, as well. The social implications/ramifications of Tiger are powerful, indeed! I get goosebumps sometimes when I watch Tiger play... and it's the same goosebumps I get when I hear Bird or Sonny Rollins or Oliver Lake soar off into the atmosphere on one of their incredible solos. Beauty is beauty, and I appreciate it when I find it! Cheers, Shane

The Pharcyde - Bizzare Ride II the Pharcyde Hi Sal, Oh yeah, that's a good one no doubt! I haven't listened to it in a while, but it's a trip! Some of the tracks on that album just don't settle right, though (some are absolutely great, some not so much)... whereas The Low End Theory is rock solid all the way through! Don't get me wrong... I love the Pharcyde! It's just that what ATCQ did was so damned good... Cheers, Shane

Hi Noj, Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to check Acey out again... I've really only got stuff by him on the Project Blowed - 10th Anniversary CD I own. I'll dig it out today and have a (re)listen. Your recommendation on these things is always spot on, so I guess my wallet's gonna take a hit soon! Cheers, Shane

Hey All, I remember seeing ATCQ way back in the day (1990?)... they were great then, and I'm sure they're just as good now! There's no doubt in my mind that The Low End Theory is by far the best hip-hop/jazz fusion album ever made. ATCQ really nailed it with that album, and I've yet to hear better. I'm open to more recommendations, though! Can anyone point me in the direction of albums as good as The Low End Theory? Cheers, Shane

Thanks Jim! What a great collection of videos... check out how young Henry Grimes looks in that first video ("Paul's Pal" from Stockholm 1957)! I saw Sonny play in NYC last week, and the man still has "it"! Of course, he never lost "it", but damn... putting on a 1 hour 40 minute set, through a light drizzle of rain, is impressive for for anyone, let alone someone who just turned 76! And, he looked like he could've played another 2 hours if he had the chance! Cheers, Shane

Hi Allen, E-mail sent for both volumes! Cheers, Shane

Hi All, I just noticed on the Blue Note website that a number of "classic" Blue Note songs will be made available for download as ring tones. More info here: http://www.bluenote.com/news.asp?NewsID=388 “The Best of Blue Tones” program: Art Blakey- Dat Dere Art Blakey- Moanin' Clifford Brown- Daahoud Clifford Brown- Joy Spring Herbie Hancock- Cantaloup Island Herbie Hancock- Watermelon Man Blue Mitchell- Fungii Mama Thelonious Monk- Straight No Chaser Lou Donaldson- The Blues Walk Lou Donaldson- Aligator Boogaloo Hank Mobley- The Turnaround Kenny Burrell- Chitlins Con Carne Chet Baker- My Funny Valentine Gerry Mulligan- Bernie's Tune Lee Morgan- The Sidewinder Miles Davis- Move Ornette Coleman- Broad Way Blues Ronnie Laws- Always There Jimmy Smith- Back at the Chicken Shack Sonny Clark- Cool Struttin' Lonnie Smith- Son Of Ice Bag Bobby Hutcherson- Ummh Freddie Hubbard- Crisis Horace Silver- Song For My Father I'm going to check these out... the ringtones that come standard on my phone are all absolutely horrible (although the one called "This_Is_Techno" is pretty good, in a cheeeeeeezy sort of way). I can't wait to hear Hank Mobley tell me that someone is on the other line... Maybe it will be Lou Donaldson, trying to sell me a sammich! Cheers, Shane

Yep, I ordered on Wednesday as well... still nothing but the original e-mail sent that night. I'm thinking they really are going in reverse order on this one! I don't really care, as long as the CDs eventually arrive. Unless, of course, they "sell out" a few of the items I really wanted! Cheers, Shane

JOGA BONITO this, MF!!! Aye, there's a GREAT spokesperson for sportsmanship!!! Good call, Nike! Cheers, Shane

"When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea" Greatest. Press. Conference.EVER!!! Cheers, Shane

So AC Milan was only given a 15-point penalty (and no European competition)? Sounds like they got off a little more lightly than I thought they would. Being 15 points down to Inter starting the year, they still might win Serie A anyway! Cheers, Shane

P.L.M Awesome work of fiction! Is that yours, or someone else's? If it's yours, you should think of publishing that somewhere! Cheers, Shane

Probably getting tiresome, but here's an interesting little article from the BBC, Zidane: Victim or Villain? To me, that article comes across as kind of sensational and cute, as opposed to serious and insightful. It seems obvious to me- Zidane is both (victim and villain in this incident) and Materazzi is both as well. I still put more blame on Zidane. He resorted to physical violence (at an unthinkable time and place) in return for verbal provocation (not an equal exchange), and he is (or should be) the more mature of these two individuals. Materazzi being punished would please me (I hope it happens), but Zidane should accept any and all blame that he gets; should fully regret his action; and shouldn't bother to spend any more energy blaming Materazzi. It's childish. We can all csee what happened. What Jim said! Cheers, Shane

Wait a minute. As far as I've heard about the Italian match-fixing scandal, no players are involved, correct? So, to whom are you referring when you say that "the guys who won last night are very likely to be implicated in this scandal"? Are you referring to just the Italian players who play for Juventus, Lazio, etc., or does your statement apply to the French players who play for these squads as well? Don't get me wrong... I'm no major fan of the Italian side (or Materazzi, especially), but I don't think the players should be tarred with the same brush that some of their employers will (hopefully) be covered in. Red... you asked the question "Who cares that Italy have the trophy? Italians I guess. But that'll go away in 4 years, for sure. Zidane will be remembered as a legend of the game for as long as the game itself exists." Are you serious about this??? Surely you realize that EVERYONE will also remember the fact that the Italians won their fourth World Cup trophy... and that WON'T fade after 4 years! In fact, like Zidane, this win will be remembered forever. And not by just the Italians... by the entire world. Why take anything away from the Italian side? They won. Did they dive? Yes. Did they foul? Yes. Did they bend the rules as much as they could? Yes? But show me one team who didn't dive, foul, or bend the rules to their advantage when they could. The French did it, the Germans did it, Portugal sure as hell did it... This is what the game is at the professional level. I don't like it any more than most of us here, but I know enough to say that ALL teams do it to some extent. The Italians weren't the worst of the lot, they won the Cup, and I tip my hat to them. And if France had won instead, I'd tip my hat to them as well. Cheers, Shane

I saw some speculation about Zidane being called a "terrorist" and another report speculated that the comment related to him being from Algeria, something like "You should go play for your own country" Strictly rumor at this point. Zidane's manager said Zidane told he said something very serious that provoked him but wouldn't say what it was. I imagine we'll get the details soon enough. You know, it really shouldn't matter what Materrazi said to Zidane at that moment. Zidane HAS to retain his composure and keep himself in the game. I'm sure he's been called everything under the sun over the years (by fans and opponents alike), but as a professional he needs to block out those distractions and keep his head in the game. What an unbelievable disgrace to his team to let his emotions get the best of him at that critical moment. IMHO, that was the second most boring World Cup Final game I've ever seen (the Brazil-Italy snoozefest was slightly worse). Italy literally did NOTHING from the 65th minute on. I can't remember the last time I saw such little offensive creativity from team. Hell, they WALKED most of the last 60 minutes of the game. France were definitely the more energetic side, but that Italian defense was SOLID! One last observation... everyone was harping about Barthez being the weak link going into the PK's, and that Italy was at a decided advantage with Buffon in net. But, if you looked at the PK's, Buffon moved the wrong way on EVERY French kick, whereas Barthez anticipated correctly at least twice! No way can anyone blame Barthez for what happened in the PK's. Cheers, Shane

Congratulations to the Azzuri! (And I say this as a fan of Germany.) An absolutely iron-clad defense all throughout the tournament. France clearly outplayed Italy from about the 65th minute through extra time, but other then Ribery and Zidane's attempts in the first extra time period, they were no real threat to score. Cannavaro is surely the MVP of the World Cup. Enjoy the party, Italy... You deserve it! I know the **** is going to hit the fan soon, so hopefully this will ease the pain a bit (BTW, I would LOVE to see Juventus go down to Serie C). Cheers, Shane

Found CDs 3-6 of the Count Basie Studio Mosaic today at Amoeba. These were just what I needed to complete the partial set I bought from Mosaic last year! LOTS of partial Mosaic discs there, but didn't grab any. I'm not a fan of these "partials" floating around again... my guess is that someone in the factory is sneaking them out again. Cheers, Shane

MG, Grab that Griffin (I know you will)! It's beautiful, soulful, and one of my favorite Blue Note albums! I hope the sound on this new RVG will do it justice. Cheers, Shane

Hi Dave, I'm an eMusic member ($19.99 for 90 downloads), but I have never seen that new "unlimited downloads" membership option. Can you point out to me where that option might be on their website? I'd like to see if that would be worth it... Cheers, Shane

Hi akanalog, Actually, the sound is pretty damn good! The first three songs are good ("Apple-itis", "Interconnection", and "P.S."), and Dewey's playing is fairly decent. The trumpet player (Chris Capers) goes off-mike a bit. The last two songs (two takes of "Look For The Black Star") are very different in style than the first three... The sound changes on "Look For The Black Star" lead me to believe that these weren't recorded on the same day/session as the first three tracks. I don't have my BN discography handy to check whether this is the case... Still, this is a pretty damn solid session, and is better than a lot of sessions Blue Note was recording at the end of 1969. It would've been nice to have this released at the time... but I can hear why it was shelved. I'm also glad to have had the chance to hear it! Dewey was a monster back then, and he still is today! Cheers, Shane