The day just gets away from me sometimes. I woke up bright and early this morning with a nice long to-do list. I sat down at my computer after a few minutes, skipping breakfast, and got to work. Emails got sent. The site got fixed (I think). Distractions got resolved. And wouldn’t you know it, 15 hours and 11 albums later, that list is still there. Only one thing is checked off.

A big problem is the speed of my computer, which takes longer to load pages than mountains take to form from colliding land masses. I feel my life shortening as I wait for it to process memory-intensive tasks like displaying typed words or switching applications. I’m so glad I spent that $60 on new RAM to speed it up. Otherwise, I might still be waiting to see the last sentence I typed. Sure would be nice to have one of them job things so I can get a new computer… hint, hint, hint.

There’s plenty of time to listen to music while I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait for my computer to do, well, anything. Here are today’s selections…

Winterpills – Winterpills
Depressing rainy day music.

The Hidden Cameras – Mississauga Goddam
Really poppy and really gay, like a lowbrow Pet Shop Boys with guitars.

The Sundays – Blind
Like every other straight, college-aged male at the time, I had the biggest crush on lead singer Harriet Wheeler. Too bad the band couldn’t come up with another wistful, airy masterpiece like this.

Radiohead – In Rainbows
They gave away this album for free online, but I felt compelled to buy it. And it’s worth every penny.

Peter Gabriel – Up
When he’s not saving rain forests and starting computer companies, he puts out some pretty good albums. Think any song of his that you’ve heard on the radio, and you’re not far off.

Mark Eitzel – Caught in a Trap and I Can’t Back Out ‘Cause I Love You Too Much, Baby
He’s one of my favorite singers. But he must have smoked a lot of dope while titling this album.

Fountains of Wayne – Traffic and Weather
Their albums remind me of summer in the suburbs.

Band of Horses – Cease To Begin
Who knew folksiness lent itself so well to reverb?

Great Lake Swimmers – Lost Channels
My one accomplishment today… I bought tickets to their show this weekend. Like their albums, it should be gloriously depressing.

Junior Boys – Begone Dull Care
The new album isn’t grabbing me just yet. But this was my first listen. Maybe all the bleeps and bloops will start to come together next time through.

José González – In Our Nature
What a phenomenal guitar player. His cover of Massive Attack’s “Teardrop” alone makes this album worth owning.

What kept you from getting things done today? Post to the Forum…

The holidays are officially over. Everybody’s done gone back to work and left me alone to wallow in my joblessness. At least I still have music. Sweet music, you haven’t left me, right? You’ll stay with me always. But you’re fading, getting softer. I can barely hear you. Is this the end of it all? Goodbye cruel… Oh, the song’s over. Damn you music and your trickery!

Beach House – Devotion
This is really just Mazzy Star as chamber music. I’m digging it, though I’m a little confused.

Chairlift – Does You Inspire You
I downloaded this because the song on the iPod commercial is so damn catchy. (“I tried to do handstands for you…”) Not a bad album, though that’s the best song.

Early Day Miners – Offshore
I’m sucker for any band with a morose-sounding, three-word name (Red House Painters, Great Lake Swimmers, et al). This one’s a little heavier, but does not disappoint.

Kiln – Holo [re/lux]
This is where we get into the ambient instrumental portion of our program.

Radian – Juxtaposition
A little heavier, but only like 2% milk is to skim.

Fluke – Puppy
A little heavier, like whole milk is to 2%. And add in vocals to distract me from my deep thoughts.

Radiohead – In Rainbows
This album gets just a little better each time I put it on. Given that I paid full price (they deserve my money), that’s saying something.