The Birdman is back. If you checked out other music blogs recently, you may have already heard that Andrew Bird’s new album, Armchair Apocrypha, leaked yesterday—I didn’t have time to make a post yesterday, so I’m a few hours behind the game. Regardless, I am absolutely positively in love with this record. It is, by far, going to be one of the best albums of 2007. The actual release is March 20th, on Fat Possum Records.

Beware of those quick to judge “playa haters” out there saying Armchair Apocrypha isn’t good. Some listeners, unfortunately, dismiss albums after an artist has had previously successful albums. People wait for the album, and somehow build up in their heads what the album should sound like. If it sounds the same as past albums, critics accuse the songs of being repetitious, and if they vary, people get upset that it’s not the same as the old album. Take it for what it is–great work. This may actually turn out to be my favorite Bird album to date.

In my opinion, “Armchair Apocrypha” sounds more like “Mysterious Production of Eggs” than it does “Weather Systems,” however, it sounds more like “Weather Systems” than “Mysterious Production of Eggs” sounds like “Weather Systems”. Hmm, try figuring that one out. My two favorite songs on the album are Simple X and Cataracts, but many more are very close at hand. Be sure to pick up this album when it becomes available for purchase.

Armchair Apocrypha:

Updated MP3: Andrew Bird – Heretics

Andrew Bird – Simple X (removed by request)

Andrew Bird – Cataracts (removed by request)
Site | Myspace

You read it right, hopefully– How To Cure Dyslexia. If I’m not mistaken, this EP is the bands first released recording, but on Feburary 5, The Tempo of Bicycles and Boats, will be released as a full album. If the album is anything like “Take It Outside,” listeners can expect lo-fi music with lower chords, giving a “haunting-like” quality to it. Some songs on the EP are sung, while others are mellow instrumentals.

David Miller, the main man behind HTCD, hails from London. His recording process for the upcoming release is quite unique. He wanted to record the album as a “live art recording installation,” meaning he wanted to find a venue to record at, and open up the recording process to the public. In his own words “the process of making a record should be seen as a work of art, as much as the finished recorded product itself.”

Take It Outside:

How To Cure Dyslexia – Jo’s

How To Cure Dyslexia – Little Else

Myspace| iTunes

A smile swept across my face when I saw NBC’s Press Release today. They are sticking with The Office for at least one more full season. I was positive the show would soon be dropped, given that it is actually good. Who wants to watch a good television show? I mean look at Arrested Development–pure garbage!

Just a reminder that a new episode is on tonight at 7:30 C. If you just can’t wait until then, there are some hilarious webisodes that are about a minute a piece on NBC’s site. Here’s the LINK (watch them in order). If you are wondering how this has to do with music, just remember that we are in for another good year of karaoke, and if we’re lucky, we might even get to see Kevin’s band play again!

Here is The Office Theme Song and Sing by Travis which Pam and Jim listened to on an iPod together in “The Client.”

The Office Theme Song – The Scrantones

Travis – Sing

Sorry for not posting as early as I said I would. A close friend of mine unexpectedly passed away last week, and I am still in the process of grasping that she is no longer with us. Since her passing, I have tried to take a step back and examine life.

It feels like humans in the last few decades, this one in particular, have overcomplicated the world so much. It seems at times that technology and material objects add a confusing and unnecessary dimension to our world. This virtual reality has opened up a new world to humans, sometimes distracting us from the earth we live on, and those surrounding us. I support our technological innovations, and believe that man has benefited greatly from them, however, when a good thing comes along, there is often some bad to accompany it.

One of my biggest problems with technology is that it blinds some of us as to how fragile we as humans really are. Certain people live in this immortal kind of way, where they let their thoughts be constantly filled with material objects, such as clothes, or technology such as iPhones and gaming consoles. I don’t think of any of these things are bad in moderation, but these advances are moving faster than most humans can keep up, and from what I’ve seen, people get caught up in things that just aren’t all that important. Life moves so quickly, people forget to take a second to smell the roses. I guess I am just starting to realize just how fragile we are, and how there are no guarantees for tomorrow. Life is not a right, but a privilege.

Music is a great gift that has been around since the beginning of man. It is something that should be cherished. Sometimes it deserves our undivided attention. Not while driving or exercising–but while lying down with our eyes closed, listening to our favorite albums or mixes.

I put a lot of effort into making this mix. Take a listen if you get a chance. You can DOWNLOAD THE FULL MIX HERE (so you don’t have to ‘save link as’ for each song.) Thanks for being here, and I promise I’ll be posting more. Rest in Peace, Elana. You will be forever missed.

MIX (Download full mix HERE)