Like shadows will leave when the time comes.

Forest Fire's album, Staring At The X, on Fat Cat Records, has been out since last fall but it somehow got lost in the woods for me until just recently. And now I find myself listening to it quite a lot. Glad it found its way out. The whole album is worth a listen. This track should give you a sense of it.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/staring-at-the-x-mw0002206682

http://fat-cat.co.uk/site/artists/forest-fire

Wrench that fire hydrant all the way open.

It's hot & humid here in Chicago today. NATO protests are shuffling and people are fussing. I'm proclaiming that this jam goes out to cool us all down and bring about some peace & joy. Dig this classic Mor Thiam track, "Ayo Ayo Nene" from (most recently) the amazing Spiritual Jazz Vol. 1 compilation on Jazzman Records.

http://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk/v2/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P...

http://www.amazon.com/Ayo-Nene/dp/B003T2Y74G

http://www.aquariumdrunkard.com/2012/04/10/mor-thiam-ayo-ayo-nene/

And tell me everything's alright.

A bit of darkness is nothing to fear but may have kept me from getting this album at first. Now that I've given it a few rounds, it's really grown on me. Song of the day from album of the week. "Angel Tongue" from Light Asylum's S/T album. Dig it.

http://www.lightasylum.com/

On a good day, I do not mind.

Returning to my office the other day, I walked into this song. And it just hit right. The rest of the album, I'm still having to give some time, but this song is just lovely. Fairly Velvets & Nico-esque. "Traffic Lights" from Lonely Drifter Karen. Dig it.

http://www.crammed.be/index.php?id=37&rel_id=386

And if the day came when I felt a natural emotion, I'd get such a shock I'd probably jump in the ocean.

Really getting into The Men's album, Open Your Heart. Particularly digging this track at the moment. Easily song of the day from album of the week. So bummed that I missed them down at SXSW this year.

http://www.sacredbonesrecords.com/releases/sbr071/

In old New York, I'd rather be home.

So I promise (promise!) that my Top Albums of 2011 list is still coming. It's just that being a new dad is taking most of my time and I couldn't be happier for that. In the meantime, I just quickly wanted to share one of my more favorite albums that I've heard so far this year. It's Hospitality's self-titled release on Merge. Check out this gem. 

http://allmusic.com/album/hospitality-r2369228/review

http://www.mergerecords.com/artists/hospitality

Explosions pillaging the night.

Quiet night at home with the wife and baby boy, sitting at my desk (which is really just the farm table in our sun room) just starting to go through all the music I've loved this past year and attempting to begin to assemble my top album list of 2011. Have a feeling that this album will end up nearer to the top. Good stuff from a young lad from Boise, Idaho.

https://twitter.com/#!/youthlagoon

http://lefserecords.com

If you love someone it should feel good to let them breathe.

Haven't posted much lately as I've been completely wrapped up in work and more importantly, preparing for a little fella on the way. That said, I just wanted to quickly share a track from Friends that's been stuck in my head ever since I heard it. This one goes out to my lovely #1 gal who is about to be a momma.

http://luckynumber.bandcamp.com/album/im-his-girl