I'm listening to Josh Ritter's lates album (released today), called The Beast in Its Tracks, and I'm absolutely loving it.

He wrote it after a difficult divorce, so it's got a lot of songs that capture moments of processing those emotions, but it's not dark and morose like, say Beck's Sea Change.

I'm alone at home now, sitting in the sweet spot with the volume up high, drinking a very tasty beer, waiting for the snowstorm to come force me to stay home from work tomorrow.

Life can be pretty good sometimes.

I noticed that Lake Street Dive is currently touring with Josh Ritter but there aren't any dates in your neck of the woods. Tom's, yes. Sean's, yes.

You? No.

Unless you're flying somewhere soon maybe.

Darn. I'll be in California on Friday through next weekend, but I'll be heading back east before any of those shows.

I won't be in town for those dates.

And I'm not sure I like Josh Ritter enough. Sorry, Peter.

That's ok. I don't like the way you don't say the name of your town like it's spelled.

Steve Wilson's "The Raven Who Refused to Sing" on blu-ray in 24/96 5.1 channel surround.

All I can do is stammer out superlatives. And that's after only one listen! Musically, the album is a real pleasure with that mixture of beauty, complexity, innovation and power that marks the best of progressive rock. Aurally, it's a triumph. The surround mix is enveloping and lush. Nothing gimmicky.

Do yourself a favor and give your QS8s a little work out with this one.

I've been enjoying Love Notes/Letter Bombs by the Submarines lately. Great album all the way through. I think I listened to samples of it a while back and didn't buy it, so I'm glad it was recommended to me again.

My Dearest Darkest Neighbor by Hurray for the Riff Raff is a pretty good album of covers. It's more country/blues than I usually listen to, but it's pretty accessible, and it sounds good.

Insomnium - The Weeping World

Austra - Feel It Break (Deluxe Version)

Pretty fun album, and it's only $3.99 for the deluxe version in MP3 format on Amazon.com right now. Usually I get the CD versions, but lately I've gone for cheaper download versions on bands I'm not yet sure of, especially if the download versions have exclusive tracks. $3.99 was a steal on this one.

Thanks to my friend, Cari, for sharing this video with me:

Austra - "Lose It"