I just downloaded a bunch of '80s tunes from eMusic. (I've heard of Suicide for decades, but never listened to them until now. Wow.)

Anyway, I also got some King Missile. Damn, but I had forgotten how beautiful the piano is in "Jesus was Way Cool."

If you're a fan of old jazz and world music, eMusic has the Yazoo and Shanachie Records.

My friend who works at eMusic keeps telling me that they have really cool new signings ahead in the new year, stuff he's really amped about, and of course he can tell me nothing about it. Fie!

He does work with Craig Finn, of the Hold Steady, who is yet another good reason to be an eMusic member.

I got Lost in the Grooves for Christmas! Very excited to (finally!) get the chance to read it.

I got Lost in the Grooves for Christmas! Very excited to (finally!) get the chance to read it.

Huzzah! FWIW, Kim has links up at our website if you're eager to order stuff IMMEDIATELY after reading about it.

Ach, don't tell me that! Now I will have to do battle between temptation and the reality of my post-Christmas budget. Good thing nobody gave me a copy of Book Lust on top of LITG...

Heh. Slate writes about Enya:

On Amarantine, though, there's a different kind of linguistic stunt. Inspired by their Fellowship of the Ring experiment with Elvish, Enya and Roma Ryan decided to create their own language, Loxian. I wish I could report that this gambit involves smoked salmon; in fact, it revolves around the more banal topic of extraterrestrials. The Loxians, Ryan told the Guardian, "Are much like us. They're in space, somewhere in the night. They're looking out, they're mapping the stars, and wondering if there is anyone else out there. It's to do with that concept: are we alone in the universe?"

Ryan has written a book about the language, Water Shows the Hidden Heart (also the title of a song on Amarantine), in which we learn, among other things, how to ask a Loxian if he'd like a cup of tea ("Hanee unnin eskan?"). The lyricist claims that it was necessary to invent an alternative language because "some pieces that Enya writes, English will just not sit on." But judging by songs like "Less Than a Pearl," one of three Loxian numbers on the new album, Loxian is not appreciably more mellifluous than English or Gaelic or Latin or any of the other terrestrial tongues in which Enya has sung. I suspect other, cheekier motives: an effort to deepen Enya's reputation as a mystic and to tighten her grip on the Hobbit crowd. What's Loxian for "brand extension"?

I have an image of Enya babbling like Nell.

Though, to be fair, Liz Fraser might as well have been singing in Loxian for most of the Cocteau Twins catalog.

Now I want to hear Enya singing in Luxan, but I fear she doesn't have the vocal range for it.

Now I want to hear Enya singing in Luxan, but I fear she doesn't have the vocal range for it.

She should sing in all the geek languages including Klingon and Esperanto.

I would pay (well maybe not pay, but i wouldn't turn off the radio, which is my usual reaction to Enya) to hear her sing Klingon opera.