Never started this thread before so here it goes...

- Rough Trade Shops: Best of 2003 Double Disc
- The Rapture: Love is All (single)
- The Rentals: 'Return of'/Seven More Minutes
- Franz Ferdinand: 'live' bonus disc
- Mucho Macho: The Limehouse Link
- The Coral: Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker
- Stanton Warriors: The Stanton Session
- Two Lone Swordsmen: Peppered with Spastic Magic (remix album)

John Linnell - State Songs
Lyle Lovett - My Baby Don't Tolerate
The Connells - Still Life
Guster - Lost And Gone Forever
a fairly generic collection of Chopin pieces

Giles, what happened to the Question of the Day? Can't have one of these threads without a QOTD!

So, I'll ask one for you... in a more philosophical vein, if you could only either a) play music, b) listen to live music (in venues or at home), or c) listen to recorded music, which would you choose, and why?

My AOTD: My answer would vary over the years, but I'd probably go with playing music, even though I do that much less than listen to recorded music right now. I can't imagine not playing an instrument (or learning how to play one) -- as much enjoyment as I get from listening to music, for me it doesn't quite match the feeling of playing, say, in a string quartet.

so QOTD can be any question related to music.

AOTD: I can only play the piano, (would love to learn how to play the guitar, though), and only somewhat well. I think I prefer listening to live music - enjoying music with fellow fans is a joy.

Flogging Molly - Drunken Lullabies

Bad Religion - Generator

Sublime - 40oz to Freedom

The new Incubus album. Its all I have been listening to since its release a few weeks ago.

Kanye West - The College Dropout
Dizzee Rascal - Boy in da Corner
Asylum Street Spankers - Mercurial
Norah Jones - Feels Like Home
Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs

QotD: Well, I don't play any instruments and, although I love going to concerts, my enjoyment has decreased a little over the years. I've gotta go with listening to recorded music. I NEED music when I drive, workout, etc. I'm not going to bring a treadmill to a concert.

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone - Twinkle Echo
Destroyer - Thief
Explosions in the Sky - Those Who Tell the Truth...
Franz Ferdinand - s/t
Robyn Hitchcock - Eye
Lambchop - Aw C'mon
Lambchop - No You C'mon
The Mountain Goats - Sweden
Phosphorescent - A Hundred Times or More
Preston School of Industry - Monsoon
M. Ward - Duet for Guitars #2

AOTD: That's a really tough call...I mean, most original music is influenced by other music in some shape or form. Sure, it's possible to make music without influence--the results would be very interesting...but in the end, everyone is influenced by other musicians, both consciously and subconsciously.

Though, if I had to choose, I would pick making music over listening to music. Creating music is a great form of expression...it's always exciting to build something out of nothing, and then be able it call it your own, and it's cool to be a part of the music-making process. I enjoy making music, recording music, and playing music...I'd just hate to miss out on the products of other musician's creativity.

Electrelane, The Power Out
New Order, Power, Corruption & Lies
Interpol, Turn on the Bright Lights
Pastels, The Mobile Safari
Xiu Xiu, Fabulous Muscles
Weird War, If You Can Beat 'em, Bite 'em

AoTD: That's tough because I play guitar but don't feel that I have a knack for creation, at least not musically. I put most of my energy into writing and photography, both of which are occasionally influenced by music. I like to sit down and think about what I'm hearing, and though I may pick up my guitar and noodle around, I don't have any real goals or ideas.

I love a live show, but there are other things that bother me about it (ie - talkers, crowding, bad performance, poor sound quality).

So, really, I'm saying gimme a good pair of headphones, a nice stereo, unlimited funds, and the greatest rekkid store I've never seen.

Xiu Xiu- Fabulous Muscles
Current 93- Thunder Perfect Mind
The Comsat Angels- Waiting for a Miracle
Xtc- various stuff from Drums & Wires and Skylarking
William Basinski- The Disintegration Loops I-IV

What i listened to at work today:

The Beatles-Abbey Road
Radiohead-Kid A
White Stripes-White Stripes
Alice in Chains-Dirt

Brand Nubian - Foundation
Styles of Beyond - Megadef
Non-Prophets - Hope
Kanye West - College Dropout
Twista - Kamikaze

AOTD - Listen to recorded music, because like DJLinus, I NEED music. Working out, at work, driving, chillin at home. I couldn't live without it.

Candiria - The Process of Self-Development
Bolt Thrower - As the World Burns (compilation)
JS Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 1, 2 & 3
Ofra Harnoy - Trilogy

The Thorns - The Thorns
Johnny Cash - Unearthed (box set)
Husker Du - The Living End

I bought the Coral at BB this week as well.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Fever to Tell
Raveonettes - Chain Gang of Love
Mojave 3 - Spoon and Rafter (featured on tonight's OC, shocking)
Neal Halstead - Sleeping on Roads
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime
Bright Eyes - 3 More Hit Songs (Amy in the White Coat, OMG!!!!)
Autumn Defense - Circles

John Frusciante - Shadows Collide With People (well three songs anyway)
The Mars Volta - Deloused at the Comatorium
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
The Bicycle Theif - You Come and Go Like a Pop Song
Pulp Fiction Soundtrack
Captain Beefheart - Lick My Decals Off, Baby
The Pixies - Complete Discography
Red Hot Chili Peppers - By the Way and Californication

Shuggie Otis - "Here Comes Shuggie Otis/Freedom Flight"
Califone - "Heron King Blues"
5ive Style - "Miniature Portraits"
MP3s of Franz Ferdinand (definitely not digging this)

A of the D:
I don't play any instruments, although I'd love to learn how to play bass. My appreciation for live music has dropped to unbelievably low levels in the last few years, so I rarely make it out to any music venues these days. Basically, I'm trying to say that "C" is my answer.

Brand New - Deja Entendu
Lene Marlin - Another Day (cute norwegian singer/songwriter)
Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow
Liz Phair - dto.
The Twilight Singers - Blackberry Belle

new additions:

Hurricane #1
Who - Greatest Hits
Suddenly Tammy!
Disco Pogos... (Jockey Slut mag various artist CD)
Wannadies - Before/After
Snow Patrol - Run (CD Single)
Fountains of Wayne - Interstate
Stereophonics - Moviestar (single)