Here are some of the releases for today, January 27, 2009.

Bruce Springsteen- Working on a Dream (Deluxe version available as well as LP)
The deluxe version includes a DVD with a half-hour of behind-the-scenes footage. The album includes 12 brand new songs plus “The Wrestler,” Springsteen’s song that he wrote for the movie The Wrestler. The tune won a Golden Globe for best original song.

Franz Ferdinand- Tonight: Franz Ferdinand **Sam’s Pick**
Here is album number 3 from FF! Though the vocals are completely unmistakable- there is a noticeable change in their presentation. Most apparent? The huge use of more electro/synth in the music. The result? A super catchy album from the quirky Scottish quartet.

2009 Grammy Nominees- Various Artists
This year’s disc includes hits from Adele, OneRepublic, Maroon5, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Pink and Sara Bareilles… proceeds benefit MusiCares and The Grammy Foundation.

Hoobastank- For(N)Ever **Sam’s Pick**
I don’t think anyone is more excited about the band’s 4th release than the band members themselves! They admit that they felt they were beginning to take their success for granted and subsequently took 18 months off- reevaluated, retooled the behind-the-scenes and started the fourth album. And here it is.

Leona Lewis- Best Kept Secret
Now, when Leona won the talent competition X-Factor and released Spirit- an album that has propelled her into superstardom, she had previously been working on her debut. Until today it was only available as an expensive import. Not anymore!

Additional Releases:
Walter Beasley- Free Your Mind
The Bird and the Bee- Ray Guns Are Not Just the Future **Sam’s Pick**
James Brown- Singles, Vol. 6: 1969-1970
Peter Cincotti- East of Angel Town
Leonard Cohen- The Classic Interview
Pat Dinizio- Pat Dinizio/Buddy Holly
Chris Duarte- 396
Leathermouth- Xo
Left Eye- Eye-Legacy (w/ Bonus DVD)
John Frusciante- The Empyrean
Gaither Vocal Band- Reunion, Vol. 1
Grave Digger- Ballads of a Hangman
Pat Green- What I’m For
Buddy Holly- Down the Line: The Rarities
Stephen A. Hurd- Times of Refreshing (Live)
James Ingram- Stand (In The Light)
Keith Jarret, Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette- Yesterdays
Mariza- Terra
Dean Martin- Amore
Steve Martin- The Crow New Songs for the 5-String Banjo
Paul McCartney- Amoaba’s Secret (Live)
Kylie Minogue- Boombox
Mark Olson- Ready for the Flood
Renee Olstead- Skylark
Enrico Rava- New York Days
Rihanna- Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez- Old Money
Sepultura- A-LEX
Duncan Sheik- Whisper House
Taylor Swift- Taylor Swift Karaoke
Various- Wow Gospel 2009
Various- WWE: The Music, Vol. 9
Gene Watson- Reflections/Should I Come Home
Tyrone Wells- Remain

DVD:
Enigma- Seven Lives Many Faces

Reissue/Remaster:
Alan Parsons Project- Ammonia Avenue (Remastered/Extra Tracks)
Alan Parsons Project- Pyramid (Remastered/Extra Tracks)
Alan Parsons Project- Stereotomy (Remastered/Extra Tracks)
Alan Parsons Project- The Turn of a Friendly Card(Remastered/Extra Tracks)

Volcano Suns- All-Night Lotus Party (Remastered)
Volcano Suns- The Bright Orange Years (Remastered)

Thanks for reading!

xoxo,
Sam

I just read a new study that claims the classic game of Tetris can help people suffering from traumatic stress syndrome. I guess though I never mentioned it to anyone before… I all ready knew that!

I believe brain games like that one can help in a myriad of stressful situations (not just trauma stress) and when I read that study I laughed because for the past several years I have kept a old Gameboy in my desk with the game Tetris ready to go. My last job was considerably stressful at times and when I took a lunch break I would lock myself in my office for about 10 minutes and play a few games of Tetris.

Oddly enough, it always seemed to help. I didn’t spend hours in front of it- just a little while after something extremely stressful occurred. According to the study- the reason it helps it the game takes up a large part of the brain function and competes with bad memories.

There’s another game that I’ve used to use to calm me in times of stress. The solitaire game Freecell. I’ve heard that every game of Freecell can be won. At one time I started at 1 and kept going to the next numerical game. I think when I stopped I had won nearly 5,000 games. Some of them took me a while- and I certainly haven’t played ALL the games there are, but it was very relaxing and calming, too. It’s tough to let stress in your head when you are concentrating on something else.

Lately- my old Gameboy and the Tetris cartridge have merely been gathering dust. In fact, I had sort of forgotten I had it in my desk drawer until I moved offices a couple weeks ago. While I miss the game- I’m grateful my mind has been obviously more at ease than I think lately! Maybe if I get time later today I’ll play a game or two just for fun.

If you’d like to read the article for yourself about the study click HERE.

Thanks for reading!

xo,

Sam

 p.s. I have been searching for the perfect way to cover this weird wall in my house and after writing this I realized… I want TETRIS shelving!! Anyone want to build it for me? Haha!

I must say… I’m pretty sick of SPAM… mail, of course! Since I have a work email that is pretty much open to everyone I have received copious amounts of spam email for years. I have grown accustomed to it. Even learned to get amusement from the plethora of offers to enhance my “manhood,” get rich from mysterious royalty in faraway lands or buy magical pills.

But the latest type of SPAM I’m getting is driving me insane! It’s comment SPAM. As you know, if you read this blog- you have the option to comment on the entry should you choose to do so. Lately, I’ve been getting comments that are obviously from spammers because all of them say generic lines like “good stuff” or “enjoyed this” but in reality they are trying to pawn products. Their intention is to have me approve the comment and then they have a link to their product on MY page. Can you believe it???

First of all- I’m not going to fall for those fake comments because the real Alice listeners that comment on my blogs have something intelligent to say and I appreciate those who take the time to read and comment. So, thanks for those of you who faithfully read and occassionally comment. Those of you trying to pawn your product websites via MY blog are wasting your time. Sorry!

 xo,

Sam

Here are some of the new releases for today, January 20th 2009. My favorites are noted.

Titus Andronicus- Airing of Grievances
Animal Collective- Merriweather Post Pavilion
Antony and the Johnsons- The Crying Light
Andrew Bird- Noble Beast/Useless Creatures
Atmosphere- God Loves Ugly (Reissue/Bonus DVD)
Babyface- Babyface, From the Heart
Beausoleil- Alligator Purse
Mariah Carey- The Ballads
Cash Cash- Take It To The Floor
Cattle Decapitation- The Harvest Floor
Combichrist- Today We Are All Demons **Sam’s Pick**
Dakota Suite- The End of Tring
Miles Davis- Kind of Blue (Legacy Edition)
Deep Feeling- Pretty Colours
Tony DeSare- Radio Show
Dirty Little Rabbits- Simon
Steve Earl and The Del McCoury Band- The Mountain
Don Edwards- Heaven on Horseback
Fiction Family- Fiction Family
Tiffany Giardina- No Average Angel
Anya Marina- Slow & Steady Seduction, Phase II
Matt & Kim- Grand
Modern Skirts- All of Us in Our Night
Jane Monheit- The Lovers, The Dreamers and Me
A.C. Newman- Get Guilty
Ben Nichols- The Last Pale Light in the West
North Mississippi All-Stars- Do It Like We Used To (Live)
Dolly Parton- From the Heart
Psychic Ills- Mirror Eye
Robert Pollard- The Crawling Distance
The Rose Funeral- The Resting Sonata
Reel Big Fish- Fame, Fortune and Fornication **Sam’s Pick**
Refugees- Unbound
Rumpelstiltskin Ginder- Living for Death, Destroying The Rest
The Shanghai Restoration Project- Zodiac
Sigh- Imaginary Sonicscape
Frank Sinatra- Seduction: Sinatra Sings of Love (Deluxe 2 CD)
Frank Sinatra- From the Heart
Soft Machine- Drop
Umphrey’s McGee- Mantis
Underneath the Gun- Forfeit Misfortunes
Various- Super Bachata 2009
Wino- Punctuated Equilibrium
Thom Yorke- The Eraser Remixes **Sam’s Pick**

Soundtracks:
Transporter 3- Original Soundtrack

DVD:
Dies Irae- The Art of the Endless Creation

Thanks for reading!
Xo,
Sam

The guys are getting worked up about Bitter Ball–a 1/2 guy, 1/2 gal, all single and 100% hot.

So they decided to do a public service and get some help to determine which kinds of guys shouldn’t be allowed in…Here’s the list they started with and your additions.

You should never trust a man who:
1. Wears gold chains (multiple chains = extra smarmy)
2. Smokes thin brown French cigarettes (smoking is sooo passe!)
3. Has sideburns that exceed 4-inches in length (only the uber-hip can pull this look off)
4. Men who live with their mother (this one requires NO explanation).
5. If he unbuttons his shirt to show off his chest hair (Stephanie said this was called “taco meat” which makes us want to laugh and cry at the same time)
6. Wears his sunglasses inside (Alix called Steve out…he does this often!)
7. Asks to try on your tights (Kim had an awkward story about her husband of 20 years wanting to try on her tights and then deciding he liked boys instead)
8. He wears socks with sandals (Abby had to break her man of this bad habit)
9. Wears a pinkie ring (unless he’s part of a mob family or sells cars)
10. Is a Mama’s boy (if she still cooks for him or does his laundry regularly there’s something off there)
11. Is completely in love with his car and thinks his Mustang/Camaro/Firebird/Insert-Muscle-Car-Here is the most amazing thing on the planet.
12. Has a mustache.  (Michelle had an entire theory about how men with mustaches are hiding behind that furry upper lip)

Yes…. I am a nerd. I know it and I’m fine with it. I’ve been teased about my love of sci-fi movies and television shows for a looooong time. Yes… I love Star Wars (the original 3… let’s be clear there), original episodes of Star Trek (and the first 4 movies), The X-Files and much much more.

One of my more recent nerdly obsession just happens to be Lost. Season 5 begins next Wednesday and I’ve already spent the past couple months watching all the previous seasons all over again just they are fresh in my mind. Now- that’s commitment! Not since the X-Files have I spent so much time thinking about what is going to happen next.

If you are a fellow Lost fanatic and like to read…. wait…. check that… LOVE to read, I have a website for you. I’ve read a bunch of the theories behind Lost but until my boss (he’s a nerd, too) sent me this link, I hadn’t been terribly impressed. This theory is the most comprehensive theory I’ve read yet but I warn you in advance. It’s LONG and it’s extremely detailed. But it makes a lot of good points. Whether it’s even close to what’s happening has yet to be revealed but for the time being- it’s highly entertaining. Click the following the check it out! Time Loop Theory

 Also- there are a couple more in-depth previews plus the Fray/Lost video on the official page… click: Lost Page

Welcome to the Nerd-nasium… I’ll be your guide! My favorite character is Desmond. Bwahahahaaaa…. I need a labotomy.

xo,

Sam

Here are some of the releases for today- January 13th 2009

CD:
Bruce Springsteen- Greatest Hits (Walmart Exclusive)
Shari Addison- Shari Addison
Crystal Aikin- Crystal Aikin
Ayreon- Timeline (3 disc/DVD)
Kristin Scott Benson- Second Season
The Peter Bernstein Trio- Monk
The Blue Note 7- Mosaic: A Celebration of Blue Note Records  Amazon.com exclusive)
City and Colour- Sometimes
Ravi Coltrane- Blending Times
Derek Trucks Band- Already Free
Dan Fogelberg- Playlist: The Very Best of Dan Fogelberg
Frost- Experiements in Mass Appeal
Judy Garland- Love Songs
Grave Digger- Pray (EP)
Heather Headley- Audience of One
(Hed) Pe- New World Orphans
Indigo Girls- Playlist: The Very Best of Indigo Girls
Syleena Johnson- Chapter 4: Labor Pains
Snatam Kaur- Feeling Good Today!
Kreator- Hordes of Chaos (Limited Edition)
Late of the Pier- Fantasy Black Channel
Love- Love Live: Whisky a Go-Go 1978 (Live)
Tommy McCoy- Triple Trouble
Novalima- Coba Coba
Original Cast Recording- Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab
Steve Perry- Playlist: The Very Best of Steve Perry
Joshua Redman- Compass
Royal Bliss- Life In-Between
Satyricon- The Age of Nero
Saxon- Into the Labryinth
Van Morrison- Playlist: The Very Best of Van Morrison
Various- Now That’s What I Call Motown
Eli Young Band- Eli Young Band

DVD:
Paul McCartney- In Performance
John Lennon- In Performance
The Kinks- Life on the Road

Boxed Sets:
Metallica- Collector’s Box Set
Bee Gees- Odessa (3-Disc)
Mstislav Rostropovich- Rostropovich- The Complete Recordings (28 discs)
Collin Walcott- Complete Codona

Soundtracks:
The Dead Pool
Doctor Who: Series 4
Mad Med: Original Score Vol. 1
Notorious
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire
Stuck Mojo- The Great Revival
Take Me Along
Underworld- Rise of the Lycans

Reissues/Remastered:
Arthur Lee- Arthur Lee (Remastered)

Thanks for reading!
xo,
Sam

Every year Lake Superior State University puts out a list of words and phrases that should be banished. The 2009 list marks the 34th year the list has been released. To see the words and phrases you should banish from your vocab, click HERE.

 I personally am sick of ‘maverick’ and ’staycation’ too! I highly recommend checking out pasts lists as well… a great way to waste away the afternoon!

 Have a great weekend!

xo,

Sam

My best girlfriend Jess sent me this video yesterday and it’s absolutely precious. If you love animals and sweet stories… you have to click HERE and watch this!

 xo,

Sam

Here are some of the new releases for today- January 6th, 2009. Looks like the year is in like a lamb as there are not a ton worth noting. But don’t worry- we’ll get it going!

272 Records- Acoustika Vol. 13
Bradford- It’s Not Me, It’s You (EP)
Brighton Port Authority- I Think We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat **Sam’s Pick**
Chatham County Line- Chatham County Line
Destroy Destroy Destroy- Battlesluts
Efdemin- Carry On: Pretend We Are Not in the Room
Erin McCarley- Love, Save the Empty
Fear & Faith- Your World on Fire
Geeneus- Geeneus, Vol. 1
Glasvegas- Glasvegas
Gourds- Haymaker!
Magic Mixture- This Is The Magic Mixture
Neil Sedaka- Waking Up Is Hard to Do (His first album for kids)
Newlydeads- Dreams from a Dirt Nap
Various-Undone: A Musicfest Tribut to Robert Earl Keen (Live)
Various- Ultra Dance, Vol. 10
Various- Total Club Hits, Vol. 2
Various- Brazilian Beats Box Set
Various- Roaring Blue: Returen of the Instro Hipsters, Vol. 3
Various- Art of Field Recording, Vol. 2
Elizabeth Watts- Schubert Leider
Woe of Tyrants- Kingdom of Might
Tracy Young- Genesis Pt. 1

Soundtracks:
Walz with Bashir
Mad Med- Original Score Vol. 1 by David Carbonara

DVDs and Blurays:
Charles Mingus- Live in Berlin 1972 (DVD)