What's In Rotation

Top Ten Comics/Music Crossovers Moments

2010-10-06T09:24:00.000-07:00

New York Comic Con is gonna kick off in just a few days, and as I get ready for the convention, I find myself thinking quite a bit about the points where music and comics intercept. So I now present my Top Ten Comics/Music Crossover Moments

10) KISS the comic book

They put their blood in the ink. Whether you like Kiss or not they pretty much had to make the list.

9) Josie and the Pussycats

Straight from the pages of Archie Comics, Josie and the Pussycats are a classic example of music in comics. Archie already had a band (Remember Sugar Sugar), they didn't actually need to create an all new band... But they did. And thus the world was introduced to Josie and the Pussycats. They spawned a comic series, a TV show, band and very under-rated movie starring Rachel Lee Cooke. But surprisingly, they never did climb the charts like the Archies.

8) R. Crumb's Heroes of Blues, Jazz, and Country

Pretty much everyone in the comic book community knows R. Crumb as one of the original and quintessential alternative comic book creators. And as a longtime music fan Crumb has often found ways to integrate the two, including fronting his own band. For those of you who haven't heard R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders, do yourself a favor and look them up.

7) 110Per Cent

The pull quote on the back of the book pretty much sums it up. "In much the same way that Alan Moore's Watchmen is the final word in modern superheroes, Tony Consiglio's 110Per Cent closes the book on the entire middle-aged-housewives-obsessed-with-boybands genre."

6) The Umbrella Academy

Whether you liked My Chemical Romance or not, there was no denying that Gerard Way came up with something really special when he wrote The Umbrella Academy. And though the celebrity comic book writer has become somewhat of a failed gimmick as of late (*ahem*) Mayhem (*ahem*), Way truly earned the credit he got for this book

5) Tricked

One of the many interwoven story lines in this book is of a washed-up musician trying to make a comeback. It's a great story of the pressure to create and what it can do to a fragile ego, but what's more impressive is the depth Alex Robinson went to in creating an entire musicology for the book. Every band, label, song, lyric that appeared was an original.

4) Freddy and Me

Creator Mike Dawson chronicles his life through the music of Queen. And what sounds like a very odd concept for a graphic novel is actually an amazingly executed autobiographic comic that turns one boy's love of Queen into a really thought provoking and interesting take on the idea of personal history.

3) The Amazing Joy Buzzards

A lot of people have tried to make comics about adventuring rock bands, but hand down none are better executed than The Amazing Joy Buzzards. Dan Hipp's artwork manages to capture the energy and excitement of a rock concert on every page, while Mark Andrew Smith's writing is hands down some of the most fun out there.

2) Scott Pilgrim

The story of a hapless bass player for a crappy garage band fighting to win a girls heart, Scott Pilgrim is as much as homage to the Canadian indie music scene as it is to comics, video games, and pop culture. Plus creator Brian Lee O'Malley has recorded some pretty great music himself under the name Kupek.

1) Phonogram

Not only is this a wonderful use of music in comics, but it's also just an amazing concept in general. Who hasn't heard a song that changed them, made them feel something deep down, a song that just spoke to them on some deep and personal level. There's no denying that music has a sort of power to it. Music is magical, and nowhere is that more perfectly portrayed than in Phonogram.

Top Ten Albums That Had to Grow on Me

2010-10-01T09:53:00.000-07:00

Now sometimes an album just hits you. From the first few notes you know it'll be on heavy rotation for a while. Other times it takes a while and a few listens before you realize just how much you like it. So in honor of these albums, I present my Top Ten Albums That Had to Grow on Me

10) The National - High Violet

The National have been one of my favorite bands for a while now, so maybe my expectations were a bit high for this album. But when I first listened to it I felt a bit let down. Then for some reason all these great songs started showing up that just happened to appear on the album. I don't know where these songs were on my first listening, but when I went back, sure enough they were there.

9) Blonde Redhead - 23 (Dig)

Sometimes you just have to be in the right mood for a certain album. When I first listened to this, I was definitely not in that mood. The second time though, I definitely was.

8) The Magnetic Fields - Distortion

The problem with being a band that likes to experiment with their sound is that at times you can alienate fans. Knowing this in advance though does make it easier on fans. Cause then you know that it's possible you might not like an album that much at first and that's okay. Just cause the album is different doesn't mean its any less good.

7) Raveonettes - Whip It On

Sometimes something as simple as the first song you hear can start you off on a bad foot with a band. Had I heard Veronica Fever first instead of Attack of the Ghost Riders, my experience with the Raveonettes would probably have gone quite differently.

6) Anything by Will Oldham

Other times it's just a random association that has nothing to do with the music. Being that I was not a fan of my college roommate Junior Year, it was hard for me to take interest in any of the music he liked. But after we went our separate ways, Will Oldham's music suddenly started appealing to me much more.

5) Lily Allen - Alright, Still

Then there are cases when an artist's reputation precedes her. With so much about Lily Allen the drugged up party girl from across the pond, I really could have cared less about her music. But when the gossip columns started to quite down and her music finally got a chance to speak for itself, it actually had some really good things to say.

4) Bloc Party - Weekend in the City

And sometimes all it takes is the right music video to remind you how much you like a band. I'd all but written off Bloc Party by the time Weekend in the City came out, but after seeing the video for Flux, it reminded me that they were a band worth listening to.

3) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell

Now a performance on a major late night show can go a long way to help improve a band's exposure. Of course when yo do that performance, make sure you pick the right song and make sure you play it well. Otherwise you're just doing yourself a disservice.

2) Broken Bells - Broken Bells

So their first single The High Road was admittedly awesome, but the rest of the album really didn't appeal to me that much at first. But being such a big fan of the Shins I gave it a few more tries and sure enough, before long it was the soundtrack to every long car ride I went on.

1) Arcade Fire - Funeral

This album took a couple dozen listens over the course of several months, recommendation from about a dozen friends, David Bowie, and the Gilmore Girls before this album hit me the right way. It's since gone on to become one of my favorite albums, but it really had to work for the honor.

Straight From the Review (Interpol - Barricade)

2010-09-23T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Bright Lights are Back on

2010-09-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Artist: Interpol

Album: Interpol

Label: Matador Records

Release Date: September 7th, 2010

Website: http://interpolnyc.com

Stand Out Tracks: Summer Well, Success, Barricade, Memory Serves

Sometimes it can be hard to pinpoint just what it is that makes an album great. You can have a band who puts in place all the same elements they've used before and while on one album it might be a huge success, on another it might fail miserably. There's just something undefinable in the band's music that while you can't pinpoint what it is, you can feel whether it's there or not.

Interpol is just such a band. Their first two full length albums, Turn on the Bright Lights and Antics were downright amazing. There were few who could deny that they captured something special in those recordings. But then came Our Love to Admire and it just wasn't the same. A lot of people seemed to think it had to do with them signing to a major label, that the album was probably over produced or too many people were influencing the sound, but that wasn't it. They were just missing that undefinable element that made their first two albums so important. And again, you can't really say what it is but you can tell it's missing.

But whatever that is, they've found it again. With the release of Interpol the band shows that just having all the elements in place isn't enough to make a great album, there's something more. And with this album they've once again managed to recapture it. So while there are many people whose faith in Interpol may have been shaken, be rest assured that Interpol gives fans a reason to believe again.

RATING: 8/10

Top Ten YouTube Songs

2010-09-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

So as many of you have probably already noticed, there's a lot of YouTube videos on here. And I do this on purpose. Partly I do it because I want to give you guys something more to do than just read my poorly scribed blatherings, but also I do it because there aren't many places to go where you can watch music videos on a regular basis anymore. MTV and VH1 have both gone the way of the reality show, even MTV2 and Fuse have cut back substantially on the number of videos they show. In a way, YouTube has kind of become the place to go for people interested in experiencing their favorite bands music outside of just listening to their songs.

But by the nature of YouTube, being completely user generated, we've also gotten a chance to discover some amazing talents that may have never existed were it not for the site. Things that, even if MTV was still playing music videos, we'd never get to see. So in honor of Youtube, I now present my Top Ten YouTube Songs/Musical Performances.

10) Rob Paravonian - Pachabel Rant

Sure this isn't a YouTube exclusive, but let's be honest, were it not for YouTube I probably would have never heard of Rob Paravonion and probably missed out on this great song/rant. So thank you YouTube for helping me to discover that there's no such thing as originality in music.

9) Sam Hart - Mario Kart Love Song

There are a ton of musicians out there posting webcam performances of their original songs and it takes a lot to stand out in that crowd. Writing a touching song that strikes nostalgic chord with video game nerds all over the world worked quite well for Sam Hart.

8) Bo Burnham - My Whole Family...

The other day I was in FYE and saw a copy of the Bo Burnham CD. I've got to assume that means he's doing something right with his YouTube videos.

7) Parry Gripp - Fuzzy Fuzzy Cute Cute

I don't know what exactly inspired Nerf Herders lead singer, Parry Gripp, to start posting a series of catchy songs featuring baby animals, but one thing's for sure. They get in your head and you can never get them out.

6) Fredde Gredde - 32 Songs in 8 Minutes

Now a lot of these songs on this list so far could be written off as just kitchy little videos. And I guess that's true cause most of them do have an element of humor to them. They're designed to make you laugh. But that's not to say YouTube doesn't have its share of really talented musicians showing off out there. Like this guy who crams as many songs into 8 minutes as he possibly can.

5) Autotune the News - Backin Up!

Sure Bed Intruder may have been their breakaway hit, but I'd be hard pressed to say it's their best song. And while Autotune may be the scourge of the music industry, these guys prove that all it takes is a little ingenuity to figure out how to use it for good.

4)Allison Weiss - Bullshit Kid

Another webcam performance. Allison Weiss is probably one of the few musicians who has successfully parlayed her YouTube videos into some kind of musical legitimacy. She may not be as famous as some of these other YouTube celebrities on the list, but she's just as talented, if not more so.

3)Lasse Gjertsen - Amateur

And this just goes to show you don't even need to be able to play an instrument that well to make a great YouTube video, you just need to be really good at editing.

2) Pomplamoose - Telephone

But then again, for those of you who can edit well and play an instrument... Well that just puts you in a class all your own.

1) Autotune the News - Double Rainbow Song

Yes the Autotune the News guys have made it on here again. And with good reason. Here you have a ridiculous YouTube video made from an even more ridiculous Youtube video. It has come full circle and YouTube is now self-referential.

Now there are probably plenty of videos out there that didn't make the list. Some of them for good reason, others just because there wasn't enough room to put them on here. So feel free to share your personal favorites in the comment section.

Straight From the Review (The Thermals - I Don't Believe You)

2010-09-15T12:09:00.000-07:00

Bonus Points to anyone who recognizes the woman in the video.

It's not a Comeback, it's a Promise Finally Kept

2010-09-14T11:15:00.001-07:00

Artist: The Thermal
Album: Personal Life
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Release Date: September 7, 2010
Website: http://www.thethermals.com

Stand out Tracks: Not Like Any Other Feeling, I'm Gonna Change Your Mind, Only for You, You Changed my Life

Were I to list my favorite bands in college, The Thermals would easily rank in the top 3. Were I to rank my favorite post-college bands, I doubt they'd make the list. It's not that I grew out of them or that my musical taste changed. I just felt that no album they released lived up to Fuckin' A, my introduction to the band. Their subsequent albums were all good, but just never seemed to live up to the musical promises that Fuckin' A made. As such, with each new album they released I found myself just waiting. And before long they just began to slip off my radar.

But in listening Personal Life it became apparent even from the first track that it's finally happened. The band has released an album worthy of follow up Fuckin' A. They've managed to not only recapture everything that made it the soundtrack to my junior year of college, but improve upon it. The songwriting and music hasn't changed a great deal but you can hear the maturity of the band in each song. They seem to have changed quite a bit from Fuckin' A, but in doing so have managed to only improve upon what was already there. And because what was already there was already so good, it doesn't sound as though much has changed at all.

So for those of you who found yourself disappointed by some of the recent releases out there (I won't name names), don't feel as though your musical scene crumbling at your feet. Just look to The Thermals' Personal Life for reassurance that the bands you love won't let you down.

RATING: 9.5/10

Top Ten Band Names I'll Never Use

2010-09-09T06:22:00.000-07:00

It's been about six years now since I've been in an actual band, and I highly doubt at this point in my life I'll be joining another one any time soon. As such, I'd like to offer up to you a list of band names I've come up with but will never use. I haven't done much research on any of these names, so it's possible there are some of these have already been thought of by bands that are already out there. So to them, I say congratulations on being as creative as I am, I'm not stealing your name. But if there are any bands in search of a good name, feel free to snag one of these up. Here's my...

Top Ten Band Names I'll Never Use

10) Al Herpert and the Tiajuana Brassknuckles
9) O' Henry James
8) 5 Cent Psychiatry
7) Skathandra
6) Handsome Earl's Poverty Guild
5) The Flux Capacitors
4) A World Without 1987
3) Minor Focus
2) The Quiet Places
1) With Violent Science

Okay, so technically that last one is from an issue of Atomic Robo, but hands down that's the name I'd use if I were ever to start another band.

Straight From the Review (Mumford & Sons - Winter Winds)

2010-09-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

There are a bunch of good Mumford & Sons music videos, but I think this video for Winter Winds best captures just what it's like to listen to the band. From the costumes, to the candid footage, to even just them walking down the road together looking as if they've just been chased out of town. This is what I think of when I listen to Mumford & Sons.

Finally, a Reason to Listen to the Radio

2010-09-06T08:56:00.000-07:00

Artist: Mumford & Sons
Album: Sigh No More
Label: Glassnote
Release Date: February 12, 2010
Website: http://www.mumfordandsons.com/

Stand Out Tracks: Winter Winds, Roll Away Your Stone, Awake My Soul, Dust Bowl Dance, White Blank Page

I grew up in a small town that only got three radio stations: an oldies station, a classic rock station, and a soft rock station. As such I never had much interest in radio. But having moved to a place with a much broader selection on the dial, I'm surprised to find I still have very little interest in radio. Even being within listening distance of four different college radio stations, I still find myself constantly flipping from station to station looking for something to listen to. Now originally I had assumed the lackluster musical choices I encountered on the radio were just specific to where I grew up, but this makes me wonder.

But I suppose it's this musical desert I find myself in that makes a band like Mumford & Sons even more an oasis. Amidst the Green Day and Coldplay and American Idol rejects that all seem to be getting an unreasonable amount of radio play, I one day heard Little Lion Man by Mumford & Sons playing on 104.5. Now I wrote the song off at first, because while I liked it a lot, I figured it would be like most good songs on the radio. It'd be by some obscure band who wrote one song that was completely unrepresentative of their actual musical stylings. The song would be played a few times and for those who were brave enough to listen to the rest of the album they'd find themselves grossly disappointed.

But as the song continued to get radio play I found myself getting more and more curious about Mumford & Sons, until finally I downloaded the album. And much to my surprise, not only did Little Lion Man offer a nice gateway into the bands sound, but it wasn't even the best song on the album.

There's a certain old quality to Mumford & Sons' music. They seem to channel a type of folk music that dates as far back as to when the term was first defined. Something about the songs is reminiscent of the small villages and towns of a pre-industrial world. One can easily picture these being the songs sung for generations passed down from father to son, the history of a small town captured in song.

All this would be lost though were it not for the band's musicianship. The play with a confidence and furvor that seem to suggest they were put on this earth to perform these songs. Their harmonies and arrangements are executed with the precision of musicians as old as time. And it's this mastery that helps add an authenticity to the band's songs. Listening to them perform it's easy to believe that they come from a quieter time when there was nothing more to do than play for hours and days on end.

So for those of you out there who find themselves trekking the musical desert that is radio, I can tell you not to give up hope just yet. You can find an oasis out there somewhere. Mumford & Sons is just such an example.

RATING: 9.6/10

Top Ten Movie Trailer Soundtracks of the Past Few Years

2010-09-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

I've deciced to expand a little bit beyond just music reviews, and occassionally throw in a random Top Ten List on the blog here. I figure it'll keep things interesting, at least for me. Plus it gives me an excuse to throw some more videos up here, and who doesn't love a good video.

So for my first top ten list (since I'm going to the movies tonight with my girlfriend) I figured I'd take a look at some of the best uses of music in movie trailers. Here we go.

The Top Ten Movie Trailer Soundtracks
10. Valentines Day

Now the movie was pretty mediocre, and the song is downright annoying. But for some reason when you combine the two together, it works. I was actually excited about seeing this movie after watching the trailer.

9. 500 Days of Summer

You start with an elevator conversation about The Smiths, transition into a Regina Spektor song, and then switch it up with some Hall & Oates you pretty much know right off the bat who this movie is for.

8. The Brothers Bloom

The only thing better than a good heist movie, is the music they pick for them. And The Brothers Bloom is a shining example of pretty much every cliche piece of music a heist movie has to offer.

7. Is Kind of a Funny Story

The movie hasn't come out yet, so I have no idea if it's going to be any good. But this trailer is so lively and fun it makes the movie look rather promising.

6. Toy Story 3

Maybe I've got a soft spot for the Toy Story movies, but hearing Randy Newman and seeing all the characters again, it was hard not to get sentimental.

5. Fantastic Mr. Fox

There are two things that always set a Wes Anderson movie apart from most other movies. The aesthetic and the music. And if the claymation kept you from noticing his one of a kind look, the music should have been a dead giveaway.

4. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Aside from being one of my favorite movies of this summer, the trailer really set the tone for the entire movie. The sweet melody that suddenly gives way to a chaotic mess of noise. It pretty much sums up everything that is Scott Pilgrim.

3. Crazy Heart

There's a reason this movie won the Oscar for best song. You pretty much know the entire movie just by listening to how they use this song in the trailer.

2. The Social Network

So this was probably one of the most interesting trailers I've seen in a while, and the Radiohead cover had a lot to do with it.

1. Inception

All it took was one deep belllowing note, and the entire summer belonged to Christopher Nolan.

So let me know what you think. Did I miss something, should Inception not have been number 1. Feel free to comment below.

Straight From the Review (Best Coast - When I'm With You)

2010-09-02T08:17:00.000-07:00

At first it might seem odd to have a Ronald McDonald-esque clown playing the romantic interest in this video. But after listening to their album, the choice makes perfect sense.

One for the Summer

2010-09-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Artist: Best Coast

Album: Crazy for You

Label: Mexican Summer

Release Date: July 27, 2010

Website: http://bestycoasty.blogspot.com/

Stand Out Tracks: When I'm With You, Crazy for You, The End

As summer is slowly coming to an end, it seems appropriate that I review a good summer album. And by that I don't necessarily mean an album that's been released this past summer (though in this case that's true). What I mean is an album that epitomizes summer, the kind of old fashioned Americana summers that at this point probably only exist in Frankie Avalon movies and a pile of Super8 films your parents keep up in the atic. I'm refering to the kind of carefree summers where you and your friends load up the car and head down to the beach. You'd spend your days playing volleyball or swimming, and your nights gathered around a bonfire not really caring about anything at all.

I doubt many people have had that kind of summer experience at this point. But listening to an album like Best Coast's Crazy for You you get the feeling that somewhere out there those kinds of summers still exist. The album is filled with songs that seemed to have been plucked straight from a summer beach party in the 1960s. There's a lo-fi quality to them that only helps to emphasize the classic feel. And even in the smallest details of the music Best Coast manages to craft a summer album sure to bring anyone back to a simpler, happier, time. It's the type of fun and nostalgic album that seems to be written specifically for driving along the coast not really caring where you're going - or when you get there.

So as the last days of summer seem to pass quicker and quicker, if you find yourself looking for a chance to slow down just enjoy yourself, thrown in Crazy for You and let it be the soundtrack to your lazy and carefree days spent doing nothing of any importance. Cause years from now, whether you listened to it or not, these will be the songs playing in your head when you think about the summers you had when you were younger. Or at least the summers you should have had.

RATING: 8/10

Straight From the Review (Marina and the Diamonds - Obsessions)

2010-08-25T09:30:00.001-07:00

There are actually a bunch of great Marina and the Diamonds music videos on YouTube, and I'd highly reccomend checking some of the other ones out if you have a free minute. This one just happens to be one of my favorites.

Shine on You... Oh I'll spare you the lame Pink Floyd Reference

2010-08-25T08:05:00.000-07:00

Artist: Marina and the Diamonds
Album: The Family Jewels
Label: Atlantic
Release Date: May 25, 2010
Website: http://marinaandthediamonds.com

Stand Out Tracks: Obsessions, I am Not a Robot, Numb, Hollywood

There's something to be said about a song's title. It's like the glance from across a bar that determines whether you try to work up the nerve to approach someone or just nod to them and go about your business.

That being said, a song title like I am Not a Robot is definitely a one that draws your attention, even if you're not sure why. Is it a longing glance from an attractive stranger, or an awkward stare from someone with a lazy eye. Whatever it is it's impossible not to give it a second glance. And luckily, since I am Not a Robot is a song from Welsh singer Marina and the Diamonds, you don't regret waking up the next morning and finding it on your CD player.

In fact Marina and the Diamonds' entire album, entitled Family Jewels, won't leave you with a single regret. I dare say it's a perfectly crafted pop album. And I say this as someone who spent his formative years considering the term "pop music" an obscenity. But even for those who are offended by the concept of pop music, it's easy to find something to love about Marina and the Diamonds.

The songs are catchy and fun, but always offering something deeper to those who choose to look for it. They prove that even in the most personal of lyrics there's no need to be over dramatic. If you're honest, people will get the message. Marina herself has a beautiful voice that can be both soulful and carefree at the same time. She avoids the pop singer staples that many use to try and show off; dragging out notes and using unnecessary vocalization. Instead she focuses on finding the emotional center of a song and harnessing it in every note she sings to make it accessible to anyone who listens.

So while there are those out there that might shy away from a cute Welsh pop singer, assuming that she has nothing substantial to offer, or not be sure what to make of a song like I am Not a Robot, Marina and the Diamonds is sure to make you rethink your preconceptions in the best way possible.

Rating: 10/10

Straight From the Review (Emanuel and The Fear - The Rain Becomes the Clouds)

2010-08-22T01:58:00.000-07:00

So I figure whenever I do a review, I'll always try to follow up with some way to preview what I talked about. Be it a music video, live performance, whatever I can find. After all, what good is a music blog where you can't actually listen to any music.

Here's the music video for The Rain Becomes the Clouds by Emanuel and the Fear.

Enjoy.

Give In To The Fear

2010-08-21T09:39:00.000-07:00

Artist: Emanuel and the Fear
Album: Listen
Label:Paper Garden Records
Release Date: March 9, 2010
Website: http://www.emanuelandthefear.com/

Stand Out Tracks: Simple Eyes, Jimme's Song, The Rain Becomes the Clouds

With this being the first post here on What's in Rotation, it seems only appropriate that I pick Emanuel and the Fear's first full length album Listen. For those of you who read my little introduction post, I talked about how there was a time when it seemed like every album I was listening to was a bit of a let down. Even some of my favorite bands were producing maybe only one or two listenable tracks per album. It's what eventually made me give up reviewing music. And almost made me give up on new music all together.

I was all ready to write myself off as one of those guys who'd just sit around complaining about how music was better in my day, but then I heard New York based band Emanuel and the Fear.

Having discovered them on Fearless Music late one Saturday night, I was treated to an amazing performance of their song The Rain Becomes the Clouds; a song that seemed to capture a sense of optimism that's been absent for quite some time. Not only the lyrics but the music itself seemed to promise something great just around the corner. And whether the song was meant to foreshadowing things to come or not, the release of Listen in early March proved Emanuel and the Fear could easily fulfill whatever promises they were making.

The album offers tracks that capture the same upbeat optimism as The Rain Becomes the Clouds, but it also resonates with an intensity that the band has harnessed to perfection. They are able to unleashed this intensity in a raw fury for songs like Guatemala and We're All Alright Tonight, but then internalized it and let it quietly build to an explosion in tracks such as Simple Eyes and Jimme's Song. The arrangements are rich and lush, taking full advantage of all eleven members of the band. And while such a strong lineup playing with such intensity could potentially alienate listeners, Emanuel and the Fear manages to find that perfect balance which keeps their songs accessible for both the casual listener and those looking for a more engrossing listening experience.

However you choose to listen to Emanuel and the Fear though, the one thing that will remain constant is feeling that no matter how jaded you may have become with contemporary music, there's once again a reason to be optimistic.

RATING: 9.5/10

So I've Started A Music Blog...

2010-08-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Like the millions out there that already exist, I've thrown this little url into the mix. This'll be a bit of a side project for me (I'm actually a comic book writer by trade). For the most part I'll be using the site to review albums that I think deserve some extra attention, but maybe I'll be adding some other features as well if the mood suits me. We'll see.

I don't know how often I'll update. In all likelihood it'll really only be when something worthwhile comes along that's worth mentioning So depending on the state of the music industry, I could be updating pretty regularly... Or hardly ever.

Back in college, and some time after that, I was a freelancer and one of my favorite things to do was review music (If I can ever find any of those old reviews, maybe I'll even post some of them here). But that started to change as I found myself delving out more mediocre reviews than good ones. There's nothing more depressing than getting to hear an advance copy of your favorite band's new album only to find out it kind of sucks...

Actually there is something more depressing - having to sum up your disappointment in 500 words or less. I'm gonna avoid doing that here. No matter how much I might like a band, if the album isn't worth talking about, I won't mention it.

Lately though it seems like I'm coming across more and more music worth talking about. Hence starting What's in Rotation. I don't really have a plan for the site, I'm just kind of flying by the seat of my pants. But that's part of the fun of it all. We'll get to find out together. So enjoy. I'll be posting my first review soon so keep an eye out.

And for anyone out there interested in possibly having an album featued on What's in Rotation, I'm always looking for bands and artists worth listening to. Feel free to drop me a line at whats.in.rotation@gmail.com. If I like your stuff I'll be more than happy to write a great review about you and post it here on the site. If I don't like your stuff, I'll probably just ignore you and pretend I never got your email.