Dido: Why? I understand that everyone has their fans. Really, I do. However, what is it that draws people to Dido? Is it her completely unthreatening demeanor? Her gossamer, barely-there voice? Her defanged brand of trip-hop? I really don't understand. The only time I've found her interesting and compelling was as the foundation for Eminem's best song. Without his unbalanced stalker ruminations over the top, "Thank You" is no longer claustrophobic and compelling. It's easy listening. I believe there is a time and place for easy listening, the time being "never" and the place being "on my stereo".

DAN'S RATING: GRROAN.

Frances Nelson, RIP: My grandmother passed away at 6:15 this morning. She was a wonderful, loving person and I miss her.

Ah-ha! I've received my first complaint about the colors! I feel all special inside. Probably the entire site template could use some actual design time. I'll get to that eventually.

Today has been a very reflective day. Rather than listening to the music I need to memorize by Monday, today I've been working to the startlingly beautiful strains of Frank Martin's Mass for Double Choir. It's a wonderful piece of 20th century music, inviting and warm where many other modern pieces are off-putting and alien. Anyone interested in good music of any genre would be well-advised to hunt for a copy of this, particularly the Agnus Dei.

DAN'S RATING: GRRAND!

Wyclef Jean to work with Charlote Church? There once was a time when I had respect for Wyclef. Tragic.

mmm Razormaid I love you: I first learned about Razormaid via a newsgroup called rec.music.industrial during my freshman year of college. The entire concept of a music collective doing DJ-exclusive remixes of my favorite dance tunes made me insanely jealous. I wanted them to put out compilations so that I could, say, get cool versions of the Nitzer Ebb songs we used to scare people with during high school. ("FORCE IS MACHINE! MUSCLE!") Sadly, these were vinyl releases only and I, being a poor college student, had no turntables.

Several years have since gone by and I decided to take a gander at the Razormaid website to see what's going on with them. Hmm, custom-made CDs? That's Grreat! $32 per CD? Are they mad? Well. depending on the goodies they're mutating now, that might be worth it. Let's see... SHOCK! HORROR! Enrique Iglesias????

Another illusion from my youth lies in tatters. *sob*

Please kill me: Most people, when returning from a 3+ hour marathon rehearsal would fall straight into bed and get some well-deserved rest. I run to my sparkly new blog. Methinks the priorities are a tad askew.

The precious slice of hell I endured this evening was for a Concordia Society concert in Newburyport on Sunday. We're doing some cool stuff, including some madrigals by Montiverdi, a Bach motet, and this absolutely gorgeous piece by Norman Lockwood. I'd be more excited, but I'm also in the process of memorizing Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms" and Ravel's "Daphnis et Chloe" for a BSO concert series next week. Plus, I work. Pity me as I collapse into a sobbing heap.

Silky-smooth and fat-free: Okay, this is going to be my color scheme until someone writes me and tells me it's hideous. Personally, I'm infatuated with various combinations of blue and orange. Actually, I've loved opposite color combinations for about as long as I can remember, so remember that before registering your complaints. I'm not sure the world is ready for yellow backgrounds with purple text, but it's a chance I'm willing to take.

My first step into the wonderful world of link-whoring: This story shows why I will not let a day go by with visiting the NME website. It also shows why I have never seen a K-Ci and Jo Jo concert.

I feel like I should apologize for the colors on this site. I'm trying to do something about it, honest.

Is this thing on...? - Well, it's only what, two years after everyone else has gotten sick of it, but I've decided to be a daring trendsetter and get my own blog, too. So, I guess a little introduction is in order:

HI! I'm Dan. I'm the remarkably self-absorbed singer who will be your host on this wild blog I've tenatively called Grr... Some may ask, "Why Grr...? Are you cranky and irascible? Will you be delivering crotchety yet endearing missives about life in Boston? Are you a grumpy curmudgeon with a heart of gold?" Um, no (although I am tempted to slap you for asking). The painful truth is that I'm woefully uncreative these days. When Blogger asked me for a title, the first thing that came to mind was "Grr..." because I couldn't think of one. And there you are. Hopefully one will come to mind eventually, but I'm not holding my breath.

So, more about me, since that's why I started this: I'm 28, married, and currently living in a city known for its extreme warmth and friendliness. I write code for a living but I live for music. I'm currently singing with two groups, one being The Concordia Society, an 18-person a capella chamber choir started by a friend from college, while the other is the Tanglewood Festival Chorus, the official chorus of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. My brother is musically-inclined as well, seeing as he's a member of the acclaimed DC hip-hop group Poem-Cees. He's also a lawyer. I hate him. (not really!) My wife also sings and hopes to be a big opera star some time in the next ten years. Since she isn't nearly as much of a hopeless nerd as I am, she has no website to link. I still love her, though.

Good Lord. I think I've rambled on enough for now. Stay tuned for later wacky hijinks.