Well, the Genius Sidebar in iTunes 8 finally struck.

Kind of unexpected-- film scores. I decided I wanted something in which I could really sink into for writing marathons. I've always known this, but boy, howdy, do I have an affinity for French horns and 3/4, 6/8, or irregular time signatures.

Why yes, there's a lot of John Williams in the new playlist.

::she says drily::

Here's the lineup for SF's upcoming Hardly Strictly Bluegrass show (which is free).

Richard Thompson, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello, Robert Plant & Allison Krauss, Bonnie Prince Billy, Jon Langford, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Iron and Wine, Nick Lowe, Guy Clark, Tift Merritt, Del McCoury, Emmylou Harris, Ralph Stanley...

It is an embarrassment of riches.

Barb, I was surprised how many things Genius can't genius for, even things I bought from iTunes. But I've been pleased with the lists it has made for me.

Barb, I was surprised how many things Genius can't genius for, even things I bought from iTunes. But I've been pleased with the lists it has made for me.

Yeah, that surprised me too-- I also noticed a little glitch it seems to do from time to time, where the Genius sidebar quits showing suggestions with no apparent provocation. The Genius application itself works, in terms of creating playlists, but with the sidebar it's almost as if it loses its ability to connect to the music store. But if I turn off Genius and then restart it, it seems to do the trick.

Just a minor glitch and one that doesn't really bug me, but overall, I've been really pleased with the application.

It is an embarrassment of riches.

That is an incredible lineup! And it's free? t jealous!

That is an incredible lineup! And it's free?

Yep. Some rich dude puts it on every year. Emmylou comes out to be the hostess of the entire event. This is the 8th year.

Hey, check it out!

There's a Buffista in the lineup:

Summit with Megan Lynch: 2:15-3 p.m.

Do we have any istas actually in England these days?

Friends of mine are going on tour. They'll be playing in London, Stockwell, Brighton, Liverpool and Manchester over the next two weeks.

The Mood are wonderful. I'm biased because I pretty much love them, but they're wonderful. They give a great show. I've seen them play clubs and bars and most recently a acoustically proper theater (which was weird because we were sitting but the sound was beautiful)and they always knock it out of the park. They're charming but not cloying, attractive but not cutesy. Their songs are catchy and complex at the same time.

Dates: [link]

MySpace: [link]

Does anyone know anything about a Brit band called Death by Chocolate? I hung out with Angie Tillett this weekend and her husband mentioned her (now defunct) band. Just curious.

Does anyone know anything about a Brit band called Death by Chocolate? I hung out with Angie Tillett this weekend and her husband mentioned her (now defunct) band. Just curious.

I own both their records! And have been listening to one track in particular a lot lately - her cover of "If You Want to Sing Out" - the Cat Stevens song from Harold and Maude.

I love them a lot, though they're a very distinct and particular kind of musical project. All the songs are either super cool/obscure covers from British pop culture from the late sixties and early seventies (a song from the movie Bedazzled that Dudley Moore put out as a single, the theme to the 70s UK kid's show Magpie), or they are her mod, detailed poems set to sixties-music. Like, she has a whole short song which simply describes in great detail her favorite shirt.

So, if you have an obsession with Mod-era UK, 70s British kinder culture and left-field covers then they're your band.

I can post a couple tracks to Buffrawk tonight if you want a sample.