Gwen Stefani - The Sweet Escape *

I am someone who remembers useless stuff about music and artists, whether I like them or not. I know many of you are the same way. We read album liners to discover suprising collaborations or guest artists (how many thousands of songs has Linda Perry written?). We read interviews with artists and bands that we would never listen to. The first thing I do when I buy a CD is smell the liner. I love the smell of new CDs.

I know a fair bit about Gwen Stefani. My wife was into No Doubt, and so became a Gwen Stefani fan. I have smelled her CDs. I have marvelled at the number of songwriters and producers she works with. I am not ashamed to tell you I have even enjoyed many of her songs. Basically, I'm an anti-hipster. I like music that sounds good to me, usually regardless of who sings it. (Did you buy Adrenalize by Def Leppard? I did.) Mind you, I avoid mainstream radio and will never intentionally listen to old school country or death metal. I'm not being a snob though, I just don't like it.

If I remember correctly, PF wasn't big on Gwen Stefani's last album. I think (I should check but it's late and I want to go to bed) it got something around a 5.0. I didn't understand that rating; it wasn't outstanding, but I really thought some of the shit on it was seriously bananas. So because she is so mainstream now, I'm going to predict a 4.3 for this new one. Actual rating: 6.5. Point differential: 2.2.

Stephen calls it

Nice job Stephen! He predicted exactly the rating for the new Tom Waits release. And he did it in my comments section, which means I played a role of some kind. Thank you, thank you very much.

I'm finding it tough these days to find albums worth predicting. There were so many albums put out in the fall, it was like shooting cats in a barrel. These days it takes a bit more research, which I'm not a huge fan of. But just to remind you, I already threw out there a super-high rating for the new Shins album when it comes out Jan. 23. Something like 9.7. It's in my posts somewhere, I'll check it out again.

Tom Waits - Orphans *

I don't know anyone who actually listens to Tom Waits on a regular basis, but his albums are certainly legendary and revered by all. He is a talented songwriter and lyricist for sure, and I dig the mystique and mood of his art, but he doesn't do a whole lot for me once the cd is spinning.

PF loves him. Really, really loves him. Basically jizzed all over his past few releases. That is not a criticism; the albums are probably good enough that they deserved a good jizzing on. I'm going to predict a combined rating of 8.8 for the new 3-cd set. Actual rating: 8.4. Point differential: 0.4.

It's been too long!

No, seriously, it really has been too long. I have been on holidays, busy with the family, seeing The Hold Steady, trying to write music and lyrics, and not really keeping up to speed on new releases and also not feeling the urge to blog. But I'm back, hoping some of you are still feeling the urge to read!

Anyway like I said I have no idea what is coming out and didn't bother to check, but I did hear that Chinese Democracy is coming out sometime in the next few weeks. This is monumental for music fans. Not necessarily just for fans of that type of music (Are there any headbangers left? I haven't seen one in a long time. Maybe this album will start a headbanger revival. That would be neat. I predict a 74% probability of that happening.), but fans of music trivia, music lore, music myth and legend, etc.

I'm not really into G n' R and haven't been for a long time, but this album has been so long in the making and so hotly anticipated that I just might pick it up. Of course, if you ask me why I did something so foolish, I will tell you it's because Tommy "Mr. Rock and Roll" Stinson is in the band. Tommy rocks. Sometimes I swear he invented rock and roll. In fact, prepare to be blown away: I like Friday Night is Killing Me more than all post-Tim Replacements releases. And The Replacements are my favourite band of all-time!

Forgive my rambling in this beauty of a post. The point is, I'll predict an 8.8 for Chinese Democracy, assuming it is reviewed, which, if it actually is about to be released, is sure to happen. No music site worth it's weight in shorn mullet hair would dare ignore this album. Actual rating: pending. Point differential: TBD.

And if I could add one more thing: I'm on the nighttrain!