Someone in the apartment above me must be getting ready to go out clubbing or something. They’ve the phat beats going full throttle. I wish them ill.

Was out for a bit this afternoon with Kyle, got my Delgados tickets and picked up the Loose Fur record as well as the first EP from The Postal Service, featuring members of Death Cab, Dntel and Rilo Kiley among others. I was just going to wait for the album next week, but the EP was cheap and had The Shins doing a neat-o cover of one of The Postal Service songs, so I couldn’t say no.

The Loose Fur is going to have to grow on me. It’s pretty laid back and easy to ignore if you’re not paying attention. I think I was expecting something a little more forceful, at least based on the live Brooklyn show from last December.

Trying to come up with parts tonight for some of the new songs in the set was beyond futile. I just can’t get in the zone, my fingers feel clumsy and distracted. Unhappy.

At some point last night whilst stumbling home, I apparently decided to untie the remnants of police tape around the driveway and bring it home with me. I have about two metres of the stuff sitting on my bookshelf. I’ve always wanted police tape, but was too lazy to commit the requisite crimes to acquire it.

np – Loose Fur / Loose Fur

For some reason, the Wilco EP, Kamera, has been pushed back. It was supposed to be out on Tuesday, but the Wilco website now says it is a) titled More Like The Moon and b) with a pending release date. Track list is still the same, though. Curious.

I have just discovered M@B’s comics. It’s like a blog in comic strip form. It makes me happy to know I live in the same city that this guy experiences.

Hot damn. Metacritic has FINALLY finished renovations and is once again open for business. Looks good, but did it really take more than a month to get this done? Matters not, good to have them back.

Went out drinking last night for the first time in ages, after an excruciatingly long and exhausting day at work. It was either force myself to go out or fall asleep at 10pm. Mercifully I was able to get some sort of second wind and get through a couple of hours without succumbing to narcolepsy. First we went to The Tap for a few drinks then to the Dance Cave, where I haven’t been for almost a year. It’s still the same, except for the addition of doors. And a big bouncer.

Kevin has a new puppy. I’m jealous.

np – Doug Martsch / Now You Know

Excellent Online is reporting that ex-Ride frontman Mark Gardener is about to embark on a solo music career. His last project, The Animalhouse with Ride skinsman Loz pretty much disappeared without a trace (and really, it wasn’t very good. I am probably one of three people in the world with a copy of the album…). After witnessing Tarantula and the abomination that was Hurricane #1, the optimist would say that it was obvious Mark was the real talent in Ride and Andy Bell lost his mind sometime around 1995 and that this new material is something to look forward to. We’ll see. I’m more interested in the bit about Mark doing solo acoustic shows in North America…

Aaaah. Friday Friday Friday. I need a nap.

np – Little Red Rocket / Who Did You Pay?

Okay, this was different. Coming home from rehearsal tonight, I get to the driveway of my building and find my way blocked by police tape. The other end of the driveway as well. The police have cordoned off the entire side of the building facing the YMCA. Oddly, there are no police cruisers with sirens flashing or people milling around, no chalk outlines, just yellow tape restricting access to my building. I briefly considered going under the tape, but figured it might be wiser to just walk around to the other side of the building which thankfully was still accessible. No security guy at the desk, so I just headed upstairs none the wiser as to why my domicile was a crime scene. Turns out that there were gunshots reported somewhere between my building and the back wall of the Y, hence the police presence. I can’t say I overly surprised… while I live in what would by all rights be called a nice part of town, there’s still stuff that goes on within a block of me that calls for head-down, no eye contact ettiquite.

Dubya is making his first visit to Canada on May 5. I’m quite tempted to make a road trip to Ottawa and offer the leader of the free world a banana. It’s uncanny.

Speaking of road trips, Rilo Kiley is hitting the road, but aren’t coming anywhere closer than 10 hours away. If they were getting just a little closer, like Detroit or Cleveland, I’d consider making a trek. Okay, maybe not Detroit. Not so much because the band is especially pilgrimage-worthy, though they are excellent, but just as an excuse to get the hell out of Dodge. Alas.

np – Rilo Kiley / The Execution Of All Things

Almost my favorite time of the year again. I can’t wait.

These guys have the right idea. I should buy stocks.

Everyone at work is still sick. Well enough to come in and contaminate the rest of us, though. Remarkably I still feel fine. Well, that’s not entirely true – I am tired. Weary. Worn out. Exhausted. This isn’t illness-related, though. Just… tired. You know, tired. I need to recharge. The weekend is still too far away.

np – Mercury Rev / Goddess On A Hiway +5