My sister got me the Fat Possum repress of this album around five years ago because she recalled me talking about Townes Van Zandt the year before. It's one of the best gifts I've ever received.

It becomes easier every year to not go to Summerfest. And this is coming from a dude that accidentally saw Scott Stapp at Bratfest last year.

Those engineering frats, man. I knew a few guys in KHK at Madison and went to a few parties. Shit got weird.

I set mine to shuffle this morning and really enjoyed the mix:

I have a hard time working without music in the background. I usually scroll through my iPod and pick albums based on my mood, so some days it's punk, others it's something lighter. Yesterday, as an example, I started off the morning with the Filthy Thieving Bastards then the Silos, Hot Water Music, the Arrivals,…

Indeed. Member of the commentariat for some time.

That just happened to me on my work PC screen. I'm accomplishing so little today.

I actually started clapping that line was so good.

I couldn't swing full vegan since I'm from Wisconsin and stereotypically love cheese. But I have been trying to go meatless on most of what I make and leave the tasty meat dishes for special occasions. I of course say that after making a sausage sandwich for dinner last night.

It's such a beautiful song and such a great album, but it's not the best birthday present. At least that's what my father implied after I gave it to him on his 57th.

Since that picture came out online I have texted it to my sister every few months.

I was at that Rathskellar show but I wouldn't call it sparsely attended. I couldn't even get back near the stage after leaving to get a beer after Titus Andronicus' set and watched Los Campesinos! from the back of the room.

Mine is from the episode where Marge meets the prisoner artist at a prison rodeo. The rodeo announcer introduces him by saying "Bob Dylan wrote a song to keep him in prison!"

As a UW-Madison alumnus I was WAY too excited when I saw that.

I love Iron Chic. Their new album was one of my favorites from last year. I missed seeing them play a house show earlier this year because it was a Monday night and I was too tired. I really wish I would have made it out.

I was in college when this came out and worked at a deli with an Israeli guy. We'd usually open on weekends and I'd shout this as I came in as a greeting. Never gets old.

Most of my favorites of the year are from acts that I already knew with the exception of Hurray For The Riff Raff. I saw them at Jazz Fest in New Orleans this past May and picked up Small Town Heroes after the set. I was really taken with Segarra's voice and how engaging her songs were even in a sea of thousands of…

Here Be Monsters took a while to seep in as it came off a bit slower than Old Devils, but I really got into it after a few spins. Drone Operator is peak Langford.

I've heard all good things about the new Manics album. Definitely something I should check out.

I haven't picked up the new Menzingers yet but I did listen to a few songs on Pandora. Given how much I love their early albums I'm going to have to check it out.