but I find the use of digital sampling on Digital Ash... more interesting than the country feel on I'm Wide Awake....

Interesting. All the reviews seem to favor I'm Wide Awake... I want both as well (I'm already a fan) but I was just thinking about which one I should get first because I am too poor to buy both right now.

Also LJ, I know you are a fellow Rilo Kiley fan - have you seen their six-song live EP? It isn't going to change your whole world or anything, but it is worth looking out for if you don't have it. It's all acoustic and has one unreleased track. My CD shop in Lawrence was selling it at the counter or I would have never known it existed.

Why?

It's personal. There was a panel at the CMJ convention, maybe 5 years ago. Christgau was on it, as was a guy from Spin. The talk turned to how easy it is for critics to miss out on more obscure releases, when they're getting bombarded by publicists from more well-heeled labels. The Spin Guy then used as an example a new CD he'd received by a theremin-based group called the Lothars. He liked it, but had nearly missed it because "they" had a tiny publicity budget. Christgau replied that he hadn't heard of these Lothars, but he could tell by the Spin Guy's description that they sucked.

I keep on meaning to buy some Lothars CDs. Where's a good online place to find some? Or should I go to my favorite indie music store and buy/order from them?

Or can the Lothars be found on iTunes yet?

Getting on iTunes is a pain, unless you're on a label that's already on it.

Lothars CD: [link]

Click the Merch button.

And... uhhh... Thanks!

I was just thinking about which one I should get first because I am too poor to buy both right now.

It depends. I like electronica elements anyhow (see: my obsessive Dismemberment Plan love, and the fact I like "Achtung Baby" better than "The Joshua Tree"), so my preference may not be what you want to go on. A lot of critics do seem to prefer "Wide Awake."

Also LJ, I know you are a fellow Rilo Kiley fan - have you seen their six-song live EP?

I had not! Thanks for letting me know about it.

I keep on meaning to buy some Lothars CDs.

tommyrot is me, but I keep spacing that there's one out there.

Jon, is that available around Boston with little problem?

Jon, is that available around Boston with little problem?

If by "around Boston" you mean "Jon's house", then it's not a problem. Otherwise, it may be.

Have any of you iPod owners had problems with some CDs not converting properly? Mindy Smith and the latest Diana Krall will not convert, damn them!

It acts like it's working fine, but when it's done, the length field says "not available." And there's nothing there to play.

That was the AAC format. When I tried converting them to MP3, they wouldn't show up into iTunes, and when I went to the folder, there appeared to be nothing there other than a teeny file.

Weird!

I now have msbelle's mix ... it's ripping RIGHT NOW ... Joe B., I send this to you, yes?

not joe, but yes, you send it to him.

Everyone should have received at least 6 CDs now.