New CD purchases:

The Singles - Better Than Before:  Beatley garage rock, very retro but I
love what I've heard so far (ain't listened to it all yet).  Bought it from
NotLame and got a Rainbow Quartz 2003 sampler tossed in for free: it has
some new Myracle Brah + a host of stuff by bands I've not heard of.  A lot
of it sounds great - I love these samplers and comps (Lost Weekend, Yellow
Pills, NotLame Flash Pops, IPO comps), you can always guarantee finding
some hidden gems on them.

Waking Hours - The Good Way:   was looking forward to hearing this but felt
strangely disappointed by some of it.  Some songs reminded me of Oasis
(Beatles by numbers) and the things that eventually bored me with Oasis
(lack of dynamics to the sound).  I'll give it another spin, maybe those
tunes will work their charms on me.  One song, Jade,  has a chorus that is
an up-tempo rip-off from ELO's Telephone Line.  The track off IPO5
(Whispered News) is fab.

King Radio - Mission Orange:  I felt bad about dissing this band after
their appearance at IPO Chicago, so I decided to give their ep a spin.  And
it is actually very cool.  Not at all run of the mill stuff, a bit quirky,
but very melodic, quite a bit tougher sounding than the live show I saw.
Anyway hats off to Frank P. for this one, I'm pleased to be able to praise
it in this public forum!

B^)

PS  My in-laws are currently living with me helping me look after the kids,
while my wife is in hospital recovering from major abdominal surgery.  All
this new music is helping keep my spirits up - God bless the power of
power-pop!