Belle and Sebastian - Judy and the Dream of Horses (If You're Feeling Sinister)

Stoked for Biggio. The Biggio/Bagwell/Berkman era was glorious for Astros fans.

For New Year's Eve, I went to a 7 course dinner with beer pairings. I don't remember every beer, so this is a partial list: Founders All Day IPA, Gueuze Tilquin a l'Ancienne, Jolly Pumpkin Thai Basil Saison, Weissenohe Green Monkey, and De Molen Hamer and Sikkel.

A tie between The Replacements and Slint — both were bucket-list shows, and both were fucking amazing.

Over the weekend I stocked up on some friends to spend the holidays with: Willett, Elijah Craig, Old Forrester (single barrel), and another bottle of Whistlepig. The Old Fo is so so so good.

"Today More Than Any Other Day" - Ought

The Replacements - Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
Pavement - So Stark (You're a Skyscraper)
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - We Call Upon the Author
Silver Jews - Smith and Jones Forever
Sleater-Kinney - Jenny

"Tigerman" by Nick Harkaway. Not nearly as sharply written and inventive as his other works.

So excited for this!

36" Chain - Run the Jewels
Fa ce-La - The Feelies
Heart Sweats - Japandroids
Past Lives - Real Estate
Buckingham Rabbit - Silver Jews

I'm not sure what it says about my life that this is the best news I've heard in a long time.

Ugh. Bummer.

Kate Atkinson meets Julian Barnes?? I need that book!

Yeah, "Westing Game crossed with Where'd You Go, Bernadette" is a good description. I liked Mr. Penumbra's but ultimately it was a little forgettable — like Bernadette, I guess.

Dissident Gardens by Jonathan Lethem and One Summer by Bill Bryson. Both are pretty dull so far, unfortunately.

Luna - 23 Minutes in Brussels
Built to Spill - In the Morning
Mojave 3 - Puzzles Like You
Pavement - Western Homes
Divine Fits - Flaggin a Ride

The new Spoon is streaming on iTunes. SO GOOD.

I did Spoon's vinyl gratification thing yesterday (pre-order their new album from an independent record store, walk out with a 10" with three new songs). It's only three songs but still…new Spoon!

Upvoted for "Judy & the Dream of Horses." Such a perfect song.

"Relatively supportive" and "reasonably great pleasure" is sort of how I feel about holding a baby.