I've been so busy going in and out of town the past few
months that I've got tons of digests to go thru in my 
emailbox.
  
Permit me to run by a few things that may have been 
covered.
 
From the premiere of "The Late Late Show" - I was
hooked on the theme which right away in my 
household ran the theory that it was Craig Ferguson 
doing the song...and yes...very "Mr. Blue Sky" 
which has me cranking up the television volume
knob.

At my job, we've been watching My Space for the 
last year and a half.  Last summer we finally 
decided to join the fray for our radio show 
because it seemed like an interesting way to 
keep in contact with listeners in a more 
interactive way than our own bland radio 
station websites.  Since last summer, I've 
been trying to convince every musical 
performer that they should add a presence 
as an addition to their own websites.
  
In some cases, the major labels actually own 
the artists websites, which can result in 
disinterest after an album or single has 
been worked on and they have moved on to 
the next band or artist.  By adding themselves 
to My Space, a music act can keep in contact 
with fans on a more personal level.  Of course 
a lot of artists already do this at their 
own websites but the network aspect of My Space 
can increase exposure in a mind blowing way.
I've spoken with a number of artists who 
have gotten more traffic to their own website 
in a week than they've had for a year on their 
own.  The amount of songs that get played at 
My Space band pages is more than a lot of acts 
get on the radio.  That is powerful exposure.
  
I'm rambling but in the last few weeks, I've 
been running across a number of musical acts 
that we discuss on this list!  I've also run 
across quite a few fellow list members.  It's 
good to know that Anna is on there as well. 
 
I cannot stress the exposure an act can get 
because of this website.  Small indie acts or 
major label acts are getting a great response.  
Heck...even REM got some major press because 
radio was most likely not going to support 
the band's new release.  They debuted their 
album about a month before it was available 
at retail.  All you have to do is see how 
many plays each song got to realise how 
effective this move was.  It was a kick 
to see that the new Cars tribute even 
had a page.  Some of you on this list who 
are using it...have any success or negative 
responses to share?
 
On the last subject, I have to agree with what 
Josh had discussed with his "little personal 
mental re-calibration, if you'll indulge me".
And like both Josh and Anna - there was so 
much music out there to soak in and appreciate 
or dismiss.  I also kept purchasing albums 
that were older and some of the 2002 and 
2003 albums blurred the line with 2004.  
As with the years before, I found that a lot 
of mainstream or non power pop kept my 
player full, which made this list even 
harder to figure out.  Like many of you, 
I know that I'll be kicking myself next 
week about forgetting a number of other 
"goodies" that were a real treat to listen 
to.  As mentioned in earlier posts I am 
also a hard core "Paste" magazine reader 
from the first issue and those sampler 
discs have made my job easier in finding 
music to play on the air. 
 
Here's my list for 2004:

1)  Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
 
*I went nuts waiting for her CD to be released 
last spring after seeing her a few times on 
the now defunt "The Music Room" on CNNfi.  
It was like Randy Newman had a sweet voice.
 
2)  John Hoskinson - Miscellaneous Heathen
3)  Candy Butchers - Hang on Mike 
4)  Jonathan Rundman - Public Library
5)  Adam Marsland - You Don't Know Me
6)  Butch Walker - Letters
7)  Rachael Yamagata - Happenstance
8)  The Well Wishers - Twenty-Four Seven
9)  The Donnas - Gold Medal
10) Tears For Fears - Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
11) Jill Sobule - Underdog Victorious
12) Brian Wilson - Smile
13) American Hi-Fi - Hearts On Parade
 
*Unsure if this one counts because it's from 
Japan and won't be released in the U.S.A. 
until this spring.  All of the songs could 
be heard at their website.  

14) William Shatner--Has Been
 
*Loved this album from the first to last 
track.  This is nothing like his sixties 
album.  It is a touching and funny album 
with some great guest artists to make this 
a great listen a few years down the road.

15) Rick Springfield--Shock Denial Anger Acceptance
16) Snow Patrol - Final Straw  
17) Bowling For Soup - A Hangover You Don't Deserve
18) The Thrills - Let's Bottle Bohemia 
19) The Finn Brothers - Everyone is Here
20) Keane - Hopes And Fears
21) Katie Melua--Call Off The Search
22) Keith Chagall - Soundlight
23) Butterfly Boucher ­ Flutterby
24) Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue
25) Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
26) Steve Earle ­ The Revolution Starts Now
27) Old 97's - Drag It Up
28) Fastball - Keep Your Wig On
29) Heart - Jupiters Darling
 
Album that I haven't got a chance to get yet but have
a gut feeling it would make my list:
 
Eytan Mirsky - Everyone's Having Fun Tonight!
 
 
Aloha,
Michael McCartney
KEAO / KONI / KPMW / KTOH