I’ve been slacking on the music posts. I’m a terrible person – jobless, ruined, destitute and not keeping up my end of the blogging deal. What else could possibly be occupying my endless hours of unemployment… a job search, chores, sleep? All just excuses, and poor ones at that.

Rest assured I haven’t been working in silence. On the contrary, my good friends. My bloated iTunes (13,083 songs or 39.1 days of music) has scored almost every waking moment of my free time. And by free, I mean unpaid.

So without further ado, today’s sounds of unemployment…

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
A little like My Morning Jacket covering Great Lake Swimmers, Sun Kil Moon or some other depressing three-word moniker band. It’s steadily becoming one of the best things I’ve heard in a long while.

Bon Iver – Blood Bank
My first listen to his new EP, but I expect great things.

Franz Ferdinand – Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
My first listen to this one too. But sounds like more catchy pop from the best band named after someone who helped start a major war.

The Felice Brothers – Tonight At The Arizona
Ever wonder what Bob Dylan is actually singing? I hope the lyrics are something like this. Also resembles Pete Krebs and David Gray, before he started using electronic beats and, as a result, sucking.

The Smiths – The Queen Is Dead
A classic, depressing afternoon album; being disaffected never goes out of style. As good today as it was 20 years ago, when I used it to pine after girls in History class.

Trembling Blue Stars – Alive To Every Smile
Melancholy pop with excellent harmonies… a little wussy, but I’m man enough to admit it.

[Interlude of silence, for me to go kill the caffeine headache before it kills me]

Neko Case – The Tigers Have Spoken.
A live album from one of the best artists working today, in my opinion (otherwise known as fact). The whole noir-ish country storyteller thing makes me swoon.

U2 – The Unforgettable Fire
U2 at their most ambient, thanks to Brian Eno. One of my favorites from them.

Aphex Twin – Selected Ambient Works Vol. 2 (Disc 1)
Soothing textures and lots of bleeps and bloops, like Donkey Kong on Ambien.

Fluke – Puppy
Driving beats and ominous vocals. This is what too-cool-for-school club DJs play at the end of the night, when people are too drunk to care.