Elvis Costello and The Attractions essential 1978 record This Year’s Model was re-released for the twenty-third time earlier this week as a deluxe 2-CD set. This year’s model of This Year’s Model includes a bevy of previously released bonus tracks, and a previously unreleased live concert. I was going to review it, but instead I decided not to buy it. On Tuesday, I found myself at Amoeba records. After an hour or so, I’d amassed......

Artist: Beck Album: Odelay Deluxe Edition Label: UMe Release Date: January 29th, 2008 I wish I could put a promo track up with this post but UMe won't let me so it's their loss. Just hum "Devil's Haircut" while you read. It's been a dozen years since Beck Hanson put out his best album, Odelay, and listening to this expanded reissue just confirms that this release was his peak (to date). This is not to......

It's been going on all day as it is: election coverage. Obviously you have your choice to get this news all night: CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, and probably the best news source, Comedy Central. For all other decent viewing options see below. And if elections aren't the equivalent of polling and monitoring then there's this recent bit about a challenge to the Nielsen ratings system. Looks like TNS Media Research is going to go......

Ray Charles - "Ring of Fire" on the Johnny Cash Show, 9/23/70 One of the things the recent release of the Johnny Cash tv show on dvd reminds us is that the days of the tv variety shows and the real music shows are over. The closest thing going these days is the Henry Rollins thing on Bravo and all due respect to Henry but when you have a man with the stature of......

Tuesday night Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rocked the Hollywood Bowl and the surprise of the night was when long-time Petty producer and fellow Wilbury joined the band to play the classic cut "Handle With Care". Although no one can fill Roy Orbison's shoes, Lynne does a fair job and it's also nice to hear Mike Campbell on the slide. And even though Petty is from Florida and still has that southern accent, his......