In late 2001, I began delving into the work of the great Miles Davis. I've been a peripheral fan for some time, but have picked up several of his releases (6, actually) since right after Xmas 2001.

Columbia Records (where Miles spent 30 years) began remastering and re-releasing (and adding "new" tracks) to his albums in the late 90s, in addition to creating several new compilations and box sets. As I've mentioned previously, these remasters sound incredible...if played on a good stereo, you sound like you're there hanging out with him. They also have a microsite dedicated to all the releases.

Having said that, I've recently picked up:

Bitches Brew: Wow...talk about being out there. Good stuff though...very interesting approach.

The Complete Birth of the Cool: Blue Note/Capitol (where Miles spent the late 40s and early 50s) has also done some re-releasing. This version of Birth of the Cool includes the original 11 songs, one bonus track, and then 12 cuts from 2 live performances in NYC in 1948. Absolutely stunning. To me, this album is a perfect example of classic jazz. Miles had just struck out on his own as a bandleader at this time, and it is nothing short of brilliant.

mmesker, you'll be pleased to know that for Xmas, I got The Videos: 86>98 and One Night in Paris: The Exciter Tour 2001 on DVD. You should pick them up...awesome stuff.

While you're in your jazz phase, syc, do yourself a wee little favor.

Seek out any cd by Django Reinhardt. Fantastic prewar jazz guitarist.

I've heard of him, though I am not familiar with any of his work. I'll definitely have to check him out.

Thanks!

<b>Disturbed - Believe</b> - damn fine album. Better than the first, I reckon.

I saw that at Best Buy last night, and completely forgot that they recently put that out. I liked their first CD quite a bit.

I also contemplated getting the new Zwan CD, but I've only heard one track from it thus far. I hope no one rushes out to buy it just b/c it's Billy Corgan. From what I understand of this new band, if people go out and buy it for that reason (Billy), they will be disappointed. Especially given:

1--It's not SP.

2--The last 3 SP albums were less than stellar, IMO.

Awesome! I've got the Singles videos on VHS and the old, single disc DVD, so I really have no need to buy it a THIRD time. But I've been eyeing that Paris DVD since it came out over the summer... So it's good?

I'm sorta of saving my DVD-buying money/paying off my credit card bill enough to order the New Order live DVDs (Reading '98 & Finsbury Park 2002) from Amazon.co.uk. They look pretty sweet, and they'll only get a US release once I pay too much for the imported Region 2 ones. ;)

Yes indeedy. Great stuff...lots of extras. (Which also goes for the Singles DVDs as well)

You have a region 2 player?

Winamp is currently feeding to my headphones:

Boards of Canada - Music has the right to Children
Boards of Canada - Geogaddi
Nightmares on Wax - Carboot Soul

I can't listen to Nine Inch Nails anymore; I can't get that angsty anymore. I have all of the albums safely saved in my Nine Inch Nails folder for the day I am again. It's always fun to blast "Satan" from the Spawn sounstrack now and then.

I'm in a ambient groove/triphop phase right now.

Scred: SomaFM - Groove Salad! Yes! This is where my phase started about a year ago.

I wandered into the triphop section of audiogalaxy rhapsody one day (a streaming audio $ervice) and couldn't find my way out. I've been going for the sophisticated stuff, adult pop like Everything But the Girl and Hooverphonic and Morcheeba.

...and I miss you... like the deserts miss the rain...

No, I can get my computer to play them though.

I haven't bought a regular DVD player yet, but region-free hacking is probably the #1 feature I'd look for. :cool:

Morcheeba just put a new CD out, if I recall correctly. They were on either Jay Leno or Conan last week...I don't remember. They're alright...they did some work on one of David Byrne's solo album, and it was really good.

The region code thing is so irritating...it's like NTSC and PAL. I'll have to see if I get to the point where I want to buy a bunch of shit from Europe, then go from there.

<b>System of a Down - Steal This Album!</b> - I'm pretty impressed with this CD. I've always liked System of a Down, and this is more of the same - though I think they do a bit better on the slow songs. "Roulette" is especially impressive. A good CD to drive around to.

<b>Chevelle - Wonder What's Next</b> - I got this at Target for $8. Obviously I bought it for their big-play radio song "The Red", which is, to my ears, a superb song. The rest of the CD is actually pretty good. There are a few songs that I really really dig, but the names escape me at the moment. I figure anyone that likes "The Red" can shell out $8 for it, though. It's worth it.

<b>Saliva - Back Into Your System</b> - I'm trying really hard to like this. I bought this the other night 'cause I hadn't bought CDs in a while and I like their big-play radio song "Always". Well... the CD just doesn't hold me yet, but I'm not totally blaming it. However, avoid the big steaming turd of a title track. Wow is it awful.

I also got <b>Seether - Disclaimer</b> and <b>Lifehouse - No Name Face</b>. Their radio-play songs are obviously pretty good, and I've been listening to those, but not the rest of the albums so much. I'll say more about 'em when I've listened more. But they haven't stood out as sucky either, so that's a good thing, I think.

I don't know if Dave actually bought that new SOAD CD or not, but if he did, I'm going to venture a guess and say he got the CD face created by Daron...because that seems like something Dave would do. :)

My favorite song off that CD is probably "Ego Brain," though "Chic N' Stu" and "36" are righteous as well.

er... i dunno. There was no liner. Just the CD in the jewel case. I don't remember which one it was. I just picked it up.

And yes, I did pay for it. :)