My prediction -- the presidential tickets

This is 'way early, I know, but looking at the poll numbers at pollster.com, I would predict that the likely nominees for the Dems and the GOD GOP at this moment are Edwards and Romney. The overall numbers show Clinton and Giuliani, but the Iowa & New Hampshire #s favor the other 2 candidates. The one caveat I have at this point is that Gore is still saying he won't run. If you look at the national numbers for the Dems, you will see that all 3 major Dem candidates are trending downwards in the polls, but that Gore's numbers are going significantly up, in hopes of a possible candidacy. If he changes his mind somewhere down the road & does jump in (it will depend on this groundswell continuing to tumesce) it will, for the second time in history, be Al Gore's race to lose.



Can he do it, folks?

Quote of the Day

If by "dentist" you mean "apple pie," then I totally agree. --The Queen of Cans and Jars

Jessica Rylan

Is a noise musician based in the Boston area. She builds her own synthesizers and has a band called Can't which she is the lone member of. I believe she is currently touring out west, but tonight is her last show, in LA.



Her music is full of white and pink noise, arranged in contrasts and textures. Sometimes she has lyrics, but more often, I think, she does soundscapes. I remember seeing this video on local television, once upon a time, but I didn't know the artist's name at that point, and so never followed up on it. I saw the article on her in the current Signal to Noise, and was pleased to recognize her. She has several mp3s streamable and downloadable at this page, and if you have an ear for outsider electronica, you'll find her stuff unique and exciting.

This is especially recommended to fans of the great Vann Steppladder...

(more on Vann at some near future point...)

Poll 1

Best one minute song of the last ten years. discuss.

King Wilkie's New Material

Last night I saw King Wilkie on their mini-tour in support of their new CD Low Country Suite. They've just moved to Rounder Records from Rebel, and seem to be taking the ambitious move as a time to reach out beyond the bounds of bluegrass into country-tinged pop balladry.

I've seen this done before, and I've never seen it work. I'm reminded of Salamander Crossing who were a promising bluegrass band who put out an album of Gram Parsons influenced country rock called Bottleneck Dreams and promptly died.

"So," you are probably asking, "Are King Wilkie, one of the finest young bluegrass outfits in the country (if not the world) about to die the death of the inconsistent?" Well, bluegrass fans do like their bluegrass pure, and boy, is the new material I heard last night outside the box. But some of the songs were extremely pretty (as are them boys), and they're fine musicians, and their front man has some charisma. But what's the market for bluegrass bands that don't play bluegrass? I liked most of what I heard last night, but I was really longing for some uptempo material by the end of the night.

I think they're in for an uphill slog.