::Leading With A Limp::

Zune 2: Amazing Technology

Although the iPod users greatly outnumber the Zune users (not just in terms of my blogging audience but also across the world), Zune is making great headway.  You can't be the #2 music player and not keep forging ahead.

Yesterday Zune released new hardware, software and firmware.  I've got to say, I'm incredibly impressed.  The new features are not just aesthetically pleasing, they are quite functional.  Some of the greatest additions are the ability to sync via wi-fi (incredible) and the new top-level organization.  I now have a place for podcasting (both audio and video) and it's just a lot more functional in terms of use.

I love the addition of podcasting, it was definitely overdue.  I have subscribed to a couple of video podcasts but since I didn't go to the gym today I didn't get to watch them.

Also, they have added Christian music as a top-level category.  I think that's pretty cool.  I could find it before by searching, but now it's really each to get to.  I must admit that the secular to Christian ratio of music on my Zune is probably 5:1, but I do like to have the best of the best on there.

The firmware update went very smoothly, it only took about 10 minutes all together.

I haven't purchased one of the new 8gb or 80gb players yet, I may hold off for a bit.  My 30gb is still treating me just fine.

Of course I still love Zune Marketplace.  The idea of paying just $15 per month for all the music I could ever ask for works so well for me.  It allows me to experiment with the music that I like, and if I download an album and don't like it after a couple of listens then I simply delete it.  It has cost me absolutely nothing extra.

I do have a question for the iPod fans that read this, and only one of them (ONE!) has ever answer me when I ask: how much do you spend at iTunes every month?  Be honest, I just want to know.  I'm not going to make fun of you for spending 3x what I do each month.

So, with all the new features, is it enough to get you to switch over yet?

Pounding the Ear Hole This Week

What has been pounding the ear hole this week?

Simian Mobile Disco: Attack Decay Sustain
This is your basic electronic/dance album.  All good beats, interesting riffs.  I give it 3 out of 5.

Sigur Ros: Takk...
I saw this playing on Flowerdust's status bar for Google Talk so I downloaded it.  Very cool!  It's world music, pretty chill, haunting instrumentals.  This is good music for concentration I think, the beats are erratic and the music isn't too distracting.  4 of 5.

Pinback: Autumn of the Seraphs
If you like Death Cab for Cutie or Modest Mouse, you will probably like Pinback.  It's classic alt rock, rock, good fusion of lyrics and music.   I think they are a little flat with some of their songs, but it's worth a listen. 2 of 5.

50 Cent: Curtis
Ummmm...okay.  .25 of 5.  The 1/4 point comes from the dramatic black and white cover art, I think it's an interesting picture.  I am no tea totaler, but the lyrics are pretty much repulsive throughout.  The beats are tired, and the best part about listening to this was when the final track stopped.

Luciano Pavarotti: Misc
Pavarotti died recently, it reminded me to dig up some of his stuff.  I love La Boheme and Don Carlo, both are amazing.  I put together a "best of" playlist which included Rigoletto, Act II: La Donna E Mobile and Ti Adoro.  I can't get enough! 5 of 5.

This Week's Groove

So what's been pounding the ear holes this week?  Here is what I just can't stop listening to...

• White Stripes, Icky Thump.  I got this the day it came out and have been listening to it more and more.  Although I think I liked it from the first listen, now I really like it.  I absolutley love two tracks back to back, "Prickly Thorn, But Sweetly Worn" and then "St. Andrew (This Battle Is In The Air)".  Bag pipes and guitar?  Nothing better...
• Norah Jones, Come Away With Me.  I mentioned this album last time too; yup, it's that good. Although this is from 2002 I've listened to this all the way through at least three times this week.  "Don't Know Why" and "I've Got To See You Again" are amazing...
• The Chemical Brothers, We Are The Night.  This is a new release, I've been a fan of The Chemical Brothers for a long time.  This is electronic/dance at its best, IMHO...
• The Smashing Pumpkins, Zeitgeist.  It's The Pumpkins...'nuff said!  "United States" is an amazing 10 minute journey.  The drums make this sound the powerhouse of the album.  I'm really digging this song right now.  I think Billy C's voice is a little weak on some of these tracks. He seems to have lost a little of his edge, but it's still solid...
• Amy Winehouse, Back to Black.  I'm a late passenger on the Winehouse fan train, but once I started listening to her more I can't seem to stop.  Maybe it's because her voice is almost as low as mine. Maybe it's just her in-your-face lyrics.  I don't know what it is, but this album makes me want to slide down to a speakeasy and suck down a Montecristo No. 2...

This Week's Groove

I like Terry Storch's "earbud madness" posts.  Thought I would follow suit.  I'll have to come up with a different name though...

This is what I'm listening to this week and really liking:

Beastie Boys "The Mix-up"

Kings of Leon "Because Of The Times"

Grits "Ooh Ahh (Liquid Remix)"

Norah Jones "Come Away With Me" (Note: pretty old, but really good)

Thomas Dolby & The Jazz Mafia Horns "Live At SxSW"

Anything else I should know about?

REVIEW: Passion-Everything Glorious

Chris Tomlin is obviously at the top of the Christian music charts for just about everything he does.  I love his Passion projects...the first album that he put together was excellent, and my kids just about wear it out playing it.  Okay, they don't really wear it out because they listen to it digitally, but pretend for a moment that I bought the LP release on vinyl.  If that were the case, they would have worn it out by now.  Moving on...

I picked up Passion: Everything Glorious several weeks ago.  I've been listening to it quite a bit at work, especially the days that I have to crunch numbers.  This morning I'm doing a ton of data import/export from our current ChMS (CDM Pro...it's a pathetic program really...) so that we can launch Fellowship One next month.  Long story short...I've got about a dozen spreadsheets open right now, and I need some good music to focus.

Passion is an excellent album.  Christ Tomlin/David Crowder/Matt Redman/LaShun Prince and others have put together some amazing music.  I love the final track, a live version of "Our God Reigns"...at the end of the song you can hear the crowd singing and it just puts you into a live concert feel.  It's beautiful. 

David Crowder's live version of "You Are My Joy" is great...but then again you probably aren't surprised that I think that. I'm a bit of a Crowder junkie.  I still want to get his band to play at Sunset, and I will work toward that end.

With 13 tracks, this is an album worth buying.   You will probably recognize most of the songs, but the way that they have been rearranged is really well done.  "You Never Let Go", a Matt Redman tune, is just so reassuring.  I love music...it is so personal and can be so moving.

My recommendation: two thumbs up.  Passion: Everything Glorious is worthy of a spot in your collection.