cmj, guitar hero II, haystack and iceland -- all wrapped up in one huge blog post!

these past two weeks have officially become a blur for me. i'm sure most people say this after some time passes them by, but in my case, i sometimes wonder how life is passing by so goddamn swiftly! how is 2006 nearing its close?

someone recently asked me what the best band of cmj was, and i decided i didn't have a straight answer for this question. if they were to instead ask, what the best band i've never seen before this cmj, well then that would elicit the response, "erase errata." they were a pleasant surprise on saturday morning of cmj at the aam party at northsix. kudos to justin and the crew for kicking things off that way on the last day of cmj 2006. i developed a sick girl crush on the lead singer. thaaaaanks.

the most fun i had was playing guitar hero II with various drunk people at the gibson 1st annual cmj blowout at gibson nyc headquarters in the old hit factory building. i am embarrassed to admit how many times i got "song failed" while trying to fake play guitar and bass, but let's just say i officially suck at pretending to play music in video games. woot woot!

oh another surprise love at first sight/listen was headlights, a polyvinyl band from the farmhouses of champlaign, IL. they were just absolutely lovely as they recorded a special podcast for the ASCAP network. i also really loved the stephen brodsky podcast, who really wooed me with his earnestness in this podcast.

i really also loved the amazing crowd of people who showed up the haystack/v2/l magazine party that i helped sponsor. i met a lot of great people and saw some old friends at this party, and it was dirty on purpose's last show of cmj -- we were all celebrating the culmination afterwards. i was also delighted to see that haystack.com has officially launched their site -- a social music network where people help power other people's interest in good music. the site also features "tastemakers" in music so you can all start talking about music with each other all in one place. an open dialogue and lovefest of music is found here. if you haven't signed up for an account yet, check it out now...

and finally, the dirty on purpose boys are now on tour with the album leaf. check out their tour schedule here and support a show near you!

in other news, i am preparing for my trip to iceland to see the sugarcubes reunion. i am both excited and nervous. wish this intrepid music reporter luck. i feel like this year has been a complete whirlwind.