Picked up "Nashville", by Josh Rouse, last week and I like it the most of
his last 4 disks.  Well crafted songs, very mellow, low-key stuff, with
melodies that sneak up on you, as many are almost whispered.  The middle of
the disk (you know, the songs closest to the hole), Streetlights, Carolina,
Middle School Frown and My Love has Gone, are getting some serious rotation.
Not really a country disk, a little pedal steel here and there.  Brad Jones
producing, not as prominent as I've heard him producing others, but
masterfully understated.  Read the review in Amplifier this month.  Funny, I
agreed with most of it, but came up with a different opinion.  I still
listen to America, Cat Stevens, The Eagles.  Somebody has to make commercial
tunes; it might as well be Josh.  He's got my $$$.

Picked up Steve Barton's "Charm Offensive" at my favorite store in this neck
of the woods, Used Kids, in Columbus, Ohio.  (One day, I'm going to have to
meet up with Bobby S. for a beer or two.  My brother and sister-in-law moved
to Powell recently, so there you go.  I owe him that much for all the great
tunes over the years).  Listened to Barton while driving all the way back to
Cleveland a few weeks back.  I was surprised, cause I thought it would be a
dud.  Translator was early-mid 80s, great stuff at the time, but man, it's
been 20 years.  In fact, my 20th wedding anniversary is in May, somebody
remind me so I don't get in trouble.  The disk starts kicks in where
Translator left off with the incredibly poppy "When You're Gone".  He rips
through a cover of "She's Leaving Home" - not sure I liked this take on it,
too manic.  After that, the songs really jump around, mellow, loud, and
everything in between.  "Hold a Shadow Down" could pass for a mid-60s
British invasion tune.  "Bertha Jane" steps back 5 years or so early than
that.  The disk finishes with a beautiful tune, "What Treasures I May Find",
heartfelt, with touches of backward guitar.  Cool stuff.  More hits than
misses on this one.

I'm a sucker for most comp disks, so "Planet of the Popboomerang Volume 2"
was a no-brainer for me.  46 tunes on 2 disks.  Many highlights so far,
including Michael Carpenter, The Richies, Lolas (rocking out with "Staying
Inside"), Spinning Jennies (classic SJ sound on "Big Deal"), Maple Mars
sounding Jellyfish-like on "Beautiful Mess", Cliff Richard digs up "I'm no
Better than you" - a jangly outtake from a few years back, Bobby Sutliff
adds "Oh Lorelei", which brings back memories of his Windbreakers days for
me, Jeremy checks in with a Hendrix-inspired "Star Spangled Banner", as well
as the trippy, "Here to Stay", and two Blue Ash tunes top it all off.

Picked up "Juggernaut Rides 89-93", a Swervedriver anthology.  Has most of
the best tunes and few unreleased ones.  Always loved Duel, Last Train, and
Son of Mustang Ford.  I'll have to dig up Ride, Slowdive, Charlatans UK and
the Stone Roses to cap off shoegazer week at work.

Take care.

Mike