and the sky's so deep/you can't find your sleep/keeps you walking through these tears

I'm shocked and saddened by news I learned upon reading that little bitch, Pitchfork, this morning.

Grant McLennan died this weekend.

For those of you who are unaware of the goodness of the Go-Betweens, you're really missing a great piece of musical love. They're highly influenced by that sunny 60s sound plus folk-rock plus some of the best songwriter-musicians to grace this earth. In all, it equates jangly guitars and smart lyrics...as if Fairport Convention married the Velvet Underground. I was really excited about experiencing the surge of new material. Oceans Apart is AMAZING (even though I failed to include it in my personal Best of 2005). They get no listen from the crowds, but the critics love'em...always have.

In honor of a great songwriter passed, I'm listening to That Striped Sunlight Sound today.

(did you know that Tom Petty, the Donnas, the Cure, the Pixies, the Happy Mondays [!!!], and Beck all have rumored 2006 releases???--should make the next year of shows verrrrry interesting.)