i've bought a few things over the past couple weeks that i think are worth supporting.
first off, the new living colour live record - recorded back in 2005 in support of the dying cbgb's - is second only to the much-lauded dread bootleg of many years ago in quality, vigor, and rock out-ness. living colour makes full use of the home field advantage (vernon reid points out that, for a while, the now-defunct rock club was the only place to hear the band), with scalding-hot versions of "type" and "ignorance is bliss."
aside from corey glover's laments about the band's age and one or two missteps (mr. glover, it is finally time to condense the beginning of "open letter to a landlord" to something less than four-and-a-quarter hours), it's prime-time living colour.
the decemberists have released the third portion of their always the bridesmaid series. i am behind this series one hundred percent, although i was too busy listening to the new rivers cuomo record to give the latest installment a thorough listening.
speaking of which, the mind-blower is rivers cuomo: he has released the second in what one would hope becomes a long series of alone: the home recordings. mr. cuomo's hobby tracks have always been a sort-of holy grail of weezer fans hoping that pinkerton ii would somehow be found in the recesses of shitty four-track recordings and seemingly disposed-of musical thoughts from the harvard nerd.
when one considers that this year's weezer record was supremely awesome for three songs, then dropped off the table into a pile of regrettable decisions and cockamamie schemes, it's frustrating to listen to the scope of amazing stuff mr. cuomo tinkers around with in his bedroom: space musicals, experiments into beach boys rhythms, and the gorgeous "my day is coming." pretty friggin' awesome, and ten times better than the red album. it's a little scandalous to think about (especially when you think about drummer scott shriner's performance opposite ms. piggy in the "gone fishin'" video), but at this point, i'd rather forgo the weezer records and just listen to rivers cuomo.
now, the reason you should pick up the cd (i'm sure there's a digital booklet for itunes folks) is the liner notes. a fantastic read, and insight into one of pop's kookiest minds.