You see, the first time I turned on my computer in my new apartment last week, iTunes so kindly informed me that my library had somehow been damaged and therefore it had taken the liberty of deleting the entire thing. I still have all the files, so it’s not as dire as it could be. However, I’ve been too lazy this week to actually get down to the business of fixing it, so I haven’t been listening to a damn thing aside from a copy of New Moon I found in a box (and I talk way too much about Elliott Smith on here as it is). I have to say though that I’m surprised by how much I enjoy the silence. It’s like musical detox.

Hey, everybody! Welcome to a very special What We’re Listening To! Today we’re going to do something a little bit different. As I mentioned last week, I’m currently in the long, agonizing, backbreaking process of moving to a new apartment. Don’t get me wrong. I’m super happy and absolutely in love with my new place. (A walk-in closet and two blocks from Taqueria Distrito Federal? What’s not to love?) It’s just that, apparently, taking an entire two-story house full of crap I don’t really want or need and trying to fit it all into an admittedly spacious and awesome studio apartment is much harder and time-consuming than I thought it would be. Who’d have thunk, right? Well, as TNG Zack put it this morning, at the moment, I am indeed kind of “up to [my] balls in business,” so here’s the thing about this week’s “very special” WWLT. I… kind of totally forgot to ask the rest of the gang for submissions this week. So… yeah… I’m a terrible managing editor!

A few months ago, I found an old journal and in it there was a page titled “Things To Accomplish Before I Die.” Funnily enough, there were only two things on the list. First, “Be the first person to win five Oscars in the same year (Picture, Director, Actor, Original Screenplay and Original Song).” That’s possible I guess, but… a little too ambitious, perhaps. Second? “Drive the entire length of the Pan-American Highway.” Which seems… doable.

So… I was in junior high in 1994 and 1995, and during that time, my favorite person was my English teacher, Mr. Newman. But then again, I guess he was everyone’s favorite teacher. He was smart and supportive, funny and super laidback, and, obviously, stupidly, ridiculously cute. But I think what everyone loved most was that he was young enough that you could say the words “Beck” or “Idalis” or “Boyz II Men,” and he knew what you were talking about and even had an opinion. One day, we were all sitting around talking to him about music, drooling undoubtedly, and he said something that didn’t really strike me at the time, but that I’ve been thinking about more and more recently. See, his favorite band of all-time was Dire Straits and we, being of a bunch of Philistines, had no idea what he was talking about. But he just sighed good-naturedly and then dropped this little bit of science on us: “You know you’re officially old when you start hearing songs that were popular when you were in junior high on the oldies station.”

Happy Tuesday Thursday, everybody! Welcome to What We’re Listening To, the spot where we here at TNG like to share our favorite music from the past week. I’m sure all of you – all two of you – have noticed by now that we’re coming to you a little late this week. My apologies. In between work kicking my ass, traveling out of town, and hunting for a new apartment, I’ve barely had time to breathe, let alone write. (I mean I’ve barely had time to get drunk! What the shit is up that?) But better late than never, yes?

Afternoon, ladies and gents! Welcome to the first official What We’re Listening To of Summertime ‘09! (Well, OK, I guess it’s not technically summer yet, but as far as I’m concerned once Memorial Day has come and gone, it’s officially time to pick a chaise and spend a few long lazy months out on the lanai, with a fat slice of cheesecake. If it’s good enough for Blanche Devereaux, you know?) As I’ve mentioned a number of times, summer is my absolute favorite time of year, and I’m even starting to get used to the muggy, swampy summers here in DC again. However, heading into this particular summer, there is a faint note of trepidation, one thing kind of stuck in my craw, and it’s all thanks to the Fox television network.

“The Mid-Atlantic College Radio Conference (MACRoCk) is the annual celebration of college radio and the independent music community perpetuated by student volunteers at WXJM (the Harrisonburg college radio station) and local residents. MACRoCk aims to create a support network amongst college radio, the independent artists and labels for whom college radio exists, and the community as a whole. Workshops, panels, a label exposition, and band showcases stimulate MACRoCk-ers to express ideas, experiences, and support that will encourage progress amongst college radio and the independent music movement.” Sounds pretty sweet, right? So I’m going to go ahead and devote this week’s column to all the sights, sounds and fresh, new bands of my very awesome weekend up in the mountains.

Happy Tuesday, everybody! Welcome to What We’re Listening To, TNG’s weekly rundown of the music that hits us in the right spot like a nice, light scratch behind the ear. I am kitteh, hear me purr! Can you believe it’s almost Memorial Day? I’ve already got my white shoes on! Suck on that, Grandma! (Just kidding, Grandma. Love you!) Doesn’t it feel like just yesterday it was President’s Day and the winter was never going to end? So depressing! But Memorial Day is actually here. Three days to frolic in the sun and warmth. Sandy beaches! Flip flops! A Bud Light Lime so large that even God herself could not drink it!

Howdy, everybody! It’s a beautiful Tuesday afternoon and that means it’s time for What We’re Listening To. This is the weekly column where all of us here at TNG share with you the music floating our proverbial boats. Hopefully, you’ll find something new and fun to carry you through the rest of week! Funnily enough, this past weekend, I stepped out of my comfort zone and made a new discovery about myself. (Don’t worry. It’s nothing sexual.) (Unfortunately.)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! Welcome to What We’re Listening To, TNG’s weekly rundown of the music driving these infernal spring clouds away. Life and work have both currently got me under the gun, so I’m afraid I’ll have to keep today’s ramblings brief. So last week I left you with a promise that at some point soon I would give you my thoughts on how Asher Roth is single-handedly dismantling Western civilization, one sad, crappy pop song at a time. Well, I guess I started getting distracted and finally thinking about other things and then, when I finally returned to it, I decided it’s not really that serious, is it?