out of retirement?

i might start bloggin' again. friends tell me to write about music more. so maybe i'll do music reviews. and short fiction. and whatever else i want to write about. we will see. i have been putting some stuff on my facebook notes (such as my excellent top albums of 2010 piece, and my fabulous top albums of 2009 piece, both which i obviously didn't put here since i haven't updated this since mid 2009.

here are some thoughts on recent music releases!
*Beans: I dig it. production by Fourtet and Flylo? sold! Plus he is just a really fantastic MC.
*Lupe Fiasco: I kind of agree with everybody else. That MDMA dude ruins some songs pretty good. In addition to other suckinesses. Fans should have just let Lupe not release this. The few good moments could have been a good part of a good album but now they're just small oases in the desert of bad pop.
*DeVotchKa: Kind of boring compared to their good stuff
*Colin Stetson: awesome. Dig the Laurie Anderson contributions.
*Lykke Li: quite good as well.
*Deerhoof: I think my favorite album of the year so far.
*Akron/Family: missing something.
*Iron & Wine: takes some getting used to but then it's solid.
*Mi Ami: after one listen, I don't really like what they've done to themselves. But I still have some optimism that they'll refine this new sound into something interesting in the future or I will "get it" and like the new EP.

And the most eager of anticipations:
*TV on the Radio. If they disappoint I will swear I am in an alternate universe. They've got a perfect record (as a band, some of the side projects have been less-than-perfect). That song they released is awesome.
*Battles. I was kind of worried but mostly curious when Tyondai left the band. All three of the remaining members of the band do have extensive pedigrees in awesome, so I didn't think they'd turn into something not at least enjoyable. The one song that has leaked blew me away. They just have a way with such odd sounds. Something grows out of them. They are a beautiful odd tree or something.

basically yeah, possibly the two greatest bands working have stuff coming out in the fairly near future. and i thought 2011 was going to be weak!

Anybody hear that new Teddybears track with Robyn? Off the hook! I had no idea they put out an album last year that never saw a US release date. Hopefully this track is a sign that we will get a US release in the near future, and it will include the Robyn track. Pleeeeeeeeease?

i am now on twitter. i am going to try to stick with "worthwhile" tweets. profound and/or funny. i have not come up with my first tweet yet. follow me and i promise not to hog your feed. i might feed your hog though. @quietbrandon

bless Japan. There is nothing of comfort I can even think to say about it. Please donate. If you have anything to give, they need it.