via//chicago

np: "hold and it will happen anyway" - liars

three highly anticipated releases for early 2004 have been leaked online, and i've been enjoying all three of them today - Xiu Xiu's Fabolous Muscles, Liars' They Were Wrong So We Drowned, and The Walkmen's Bows and Arrows. The Walkmen album is my favorite so far, it hit me from the first listen on a level that the debut album didn't. that one took me some time to get into, but Bows had me hooked from song one. the Liars album is also fucking excellent, more of the post-punk madness that we've grown to love from the band. "They Don't Want Your Corn, They Want Your Kids" is a stand-out, but the whole album is excellent.

on the Christmas front, it was a pretty good year for gifts. i finally got a turntable, but the needle was so worn down that i have to track down a new one before i can actually use it. so if anyone knows where i can pick up a needle for a Pioneer turntable, hook a brother up in the comments section. i also picked up the GBV box set with some Best Buy gift cards, and i'm enjoying the shit out of that. i haven't had time to watch the DVD yet, but all of the music included is excellent. speaking of DVDs, i'm going to be watching those for the next several weeks and still not get through everything i received. in addition to the previously mentioned Ben Stiller Show, i also got The Sopranos Season 4, Mr. Show Seasons 1-3, X-Men 2, and Pirates of the Caribbean. yeah, that one.. i fucking loved Johnny Depp's performance. the best summer blockbuster of the past couple years by a longshot.

anyway, i hope y'all enjoyed your holidays and have a happy and safe New Year's Eve.