Out of commission until mid-November

This whole dissertation thing will literally consume every minute of my time until job applications are sent out in mid-November (though I will celebrate the completion of my job talk by seeing these guys in their sold out concert that evening, basically the minute after my presentation is over. I think I'll go in my suit. Aaaaaand...that's the break for the next month). Hence, all human contact - and blogging - is on hold until mid-November. Heaven help any distractions: new music, addictive TV, the ALCS, fantasy football, or people (my office mates will attest, distractions make me angry. You don't want to see me angry)

Not that I ever have anything exciting to share anyhow, but here is some free music to tide you over until I return.

• Stereogum presents: Drive XV, a Tribute to Automatic for the People
• Black Kids, Wizard of Ahhhs EP (free 4 track EP on their myspace site).
• Oh yeah, and this is almost free. I haven't had very much time to enjoy it yet (it really requires uninterrupted listening to fully absorb, I imagine), but from what I've heard...I'm ambivalent.

And, before I go, new albums that I've recently enjoyed and can recommend:

• Shout out Louds, "Our Ill Wills"
• Phonograph, "Hiawatha Talking Machine"
• And especially, Bishop Allen, "The Broken String"
• The 1900's "Cold & Kind" wasn't quite as good as I hoped it would be, but is still a solid first effort (discounting the EP)

Still digging Jose Gonzalez's latest, but Iron & Wine's newest never really clicked with me.

That is all, goodbye for now, internet. I shall return in mid-November.

Wegmans and the Office: 4.2, "Dunder-Mufflin Infinity"

Loved much of last night's ep (favorite part: Kelly's two headshots, "We have a date!"). Only one Wegmans product appearance, near as I can tell:

Above the fridge, sure enough: Wegman's brand Corn Flakes!

This got me thinking: what Wegman's brand products am I most fond of? WPOP, definitely, and Wegman's brand ice cream has always been an important part of my life. I had my parents bring me an entire crate of Wegman's brand chicken noodle soup when I lived in DC. Wegman's apple cinnamon oatmeal, and lemon yogurt - all crucial ingredients to my youth.

Josh Ritter Thursday!

Short post today: Josh Ritter's playing the Somerville Theater tomorrow and Friday (I'm going tomorrow). He's probably my favorite musician behind M. Ward. The Animal Years, released last year, is one of my all time favorites. The Historical Conquest of Josh Ritter, released a few weeks ago, is also quite good.

One of his recent concerts was recorded and is streaming in entirety here.

Pam Beasley (or Jim Halpert) Drinks WPOP!

And I have proof:

Myself, I prefer Mountain-W, but you can't go wrong with W-Up. I'm pleased to see that the can design is the same that it was when I lived in NY 5 years ago. Ah, delicious generic soda.