speed of dark

Can You See the Sunset reviews an album of interest--and available by free download too--called Cities We're Not From by The State Lottery.

Concrete Circles posts a tease about the Best of 2008 lists that will be ongoing through this month. Thanks Captain Obvious impresses me no end with a TOP 50 List! I see some of the same things I'm considering, but I think I'll have to stop at 10 on trying to put them in order. Was there a lot of great music this year, or what?

Music Is Art features an interview with the fabulous Faint who also provide a mix on the theme of Cherries, with a surprising number of song titles and artist names.

Lost In Your Inbox starts a new, low-intensity exercise regime with some appropriate tunes.

Tomorrow night we're at Aimee Mann's 3rd Annual Christmas Show at the Wiltern in L.A. I see familiar faces from last year's show will be appearing again: Nellie McKay, Grant Lee Phillips, Paul Thompkins, and Morgan Murphy (the Hannuka Fairy) I have had the tickets since May, I think, because we enjoyed last year's show so much.

Contrast Podcast #140 has a raging case of the mashups! I did not contribute to that podcast, but I do have here an incredible and gorgeous mashup of Carpenters' songs by Go Home Productions will make you forget how sick you are of that old sleighride classic.
Go Home Productions: Carpenters' Christmas Mashup from Santastic II: Clausome
MySpace | Go Home Productions Website
Free download: djBC.net

Casper and the Cookies: Kiss Me Beneath the Christmas Tree from Daytrotter Session, December 2007
MySpace | Website | Label: Independent
Free download at Daytrotter | Buy

Doctor Octoroc created a whole album of twisted Christmas classics in video game theme style. I love how this one is arranged in minor keys.
Doctor Octoroc: Ryu the Red-nosed Ninja from 8-bit Jesus
MySpace | Free download: Doctor Octoroc.com

Summer Cats: Plastic Christmas Trees from Christmas Cats
MySpace | Free download: Last.fm

We know why Santa will be leaving a lump of coal at the White House this Christmas.
The Cavedogs: 3 Wise Men and a Baby from Yuletunes Compilation (1991)
MySpace | Website
Free downloads: Tayter Country | Buy: Black Vinyl Records, CD Baby, Amazon

Photo by alt-gramma: At the door of the Thirsty Hippo