Blog Posts by Dave DiMartino

It struck me last night--while the Emmys ceremony was apparently on TV--that I was not being deliberately obtuse or contrary by instead preferring to listen to the complete discography of Kiki Dee--or at least as much of it as I could muster--than watch a show celebrating humans I was barely familiar with!

Indeed, hearing the strangely attractive Ms. Dee exchange promises with her good friend Elton John that she would not go breakin' his heart--bless them both--filled me with an unexpected warmth and excitement that, dare I suggest, I might not feel watching an episode or two of Glee!

Still, on the drive to work this morning, I saw a dead squirrel on the side of the road and two people arguing in the car next to mine! The marine layer was thick over Santa Monica, and for a moment, quite profoundly, I wondered how many years I had left on this earth!

Then some jerk in a Subaru cut me off and the guy behind me couldn't keep his hand off his horn!

It was then I decided to write my blog

It's once again that time of the year when, unbelievably, great new records mystically appear!

Some say it's a natural function of greedy record labels holding back their hottest product until the holiday season approaches--at which time, the theory goes, potential customers will a) have money to spare and b) actually be able to locate a record store somewhere!

Others say it's a natural by-product of nearly a year's worth of crummy records being released! At this rate, informed sources report, nearly anything will look good!

Still others suggest it's all purely a coincidence--don't worry, more crummy records will be coming out soon, so don't start thinking you should save up your money and lose out on hot new video games and luscious energy drinks! There's bound to be a new Ke$ha album coming down the pike!

Meanwhile...heck! My pulse is racing!

Lady Antebellum: Own The Night (Capitol Nashville)  Few can deny the entire world has been waiting for the new Lady Antebellum album! One of

There are times when I wonder if I'll ever again be capable of feeling "at one" with today's music-buying audience!

Frankly, there have been recent occasions when I look at some of today's biggest bestsellers, and say--to myself, mind you, for I surely wouldn't want to alienate any of my many loyal readers--Good God, is it just my imagination, or is this current bestselling artist a talentless moron who has based his or her career entirely upon such flimsy concepts as his or her wealth, status, or public appeal rather than his or her innate musical talent?

At other times, I watch my TV and see pop music's biggest stars parading around onstage, lacking only the clown outfits they surely need, and ask myself, Whatever happened to those artists who I'd not only watch with fascination but, at times, even wish I could be?

But you know what? Things have changed after this weekend! I just watched the MTV Music Video Awards show--and my goal in life is to now dress like a man and kiss Britney

In many ways, pop culture superstar Barbra Streisand and celebrated rapper The Game are alike!

For starters, they both are releasing new albums this week!

Secondly, they both tend to receive significant press coverage now and again--especially, in the Game's case, exactly when he's about to release a new album!

And perhaps most importantly, according to respected retail sources around the country, fans of Barbra Streisand are extremely vocal about their affection for The Game and vice-versa!

"As far as I can see," said one reputable source, "every person who's ever come in here looking for a Barbra Streisand album hasn't left without buying a Game album as well!"

Adds another respected music wholesaler: "Hip-hop and MOR have never been closer--not only as far as a common customer base, but as far as fan identification as well! The number of people who are buying both the new Throne album and Celine Dion's latest set would blow your mind!"

Both sources laughed when asked if they found

Great new records by famous movie stars, completely useless greatest hits sets by artists who are barely memorable, and new discs with words like "beyondo," "babble" and "drugs" in their titles make this the greatest album release week of August 2011 yet!

That said, I must offer one caveat: Many of them can also be listened to!

Thus, this week--just to make things fun--I've decided to spend the entire night listening to Deep Purple In Concert 1970-1972 and then pretend what I'm hearing comes from the actual albums I've listed below!

Can I let you in on a little secret? As far as this blog goes, I don't think it will make the slightest difference at all!

Jeff Bridges: Jeff Bridges (Blue Note)  Let's be honest: Way too many "country"-oriented albums of late have suffered due to middling material, disturbingly slick production, and a deliberate shift toward inoffensive, middle-of-the-road lyrical concerns. I say this only because I find absolutely nothing wrong with the new Jeff Bridges

Hello and welcome!

Apologies for being absent a week and a day, but I've justreturned from an exotic vacation to the east coast--where, tragically, my onlyconnection to the internet came via a colorful Dunkin' Donuts franchise, whichwas not exactly where I wanted to be at the precise time I'd normally bewriting last week's blog!

To compensate, I've therefore included two albums thatactually were released last week,rather than this week, and as a result, have made the title of this blog ahollow, empty lie rather than thesophisticated, descriptive tag for which it has been widely celebrated!

Still, considering that I spent part of last week attendingan actual clambake--that's right, aclambake--I'm quite sure that the trade-off will be regarded by all of us as well worth it!

Except for our friend the clam!

The Throne (KanyeWest & Jay Z): Watch The Throne(Universal Republic)  The cliché has itthat first impressions are often the truest, and so it is that when I heardthat the joint

A mixture of great new LPs, welcome returns from skilled pop practitioners, and albums with fabulous cover art highlight this week's staggering array of astoundingly tolerable new releases!

Many of them are, intriguingly, audible!

Still, if you're like me, and you're still buying albums, you probably hit the stores religiously, buy actual CDs or vinyl rather than downloads--they're more tangible that way--and then leave them lying around conspicuously, hoping that the inevitable flood of friends who always drop by--and between you and me, why can't they just leave you alone?--will see them and judge you purely by your musical taste!

And later, as you cluster around your big-screen TV, pour a random drink here and there, and discuss the latest in celebrity gossip, perhaps you'll pull one out, play it for your friends, and argue whether it was 2006 or 2007 that stands as the greatest year ever in pop music!

Of course, all of this presupposes you can pay your electric bill! But heck--who

Perhaps you heard about the excitement enveloping Los Angeles last weekend!

Due to much-needed roadwork, the 405 freeway--surely one ofthe most-used thoroughfares in the country--was temporarily shut down, and cityresidents were asked to stay home and avoid what might otherwise be a trafficnightmare!

But less publicized was the city's request--admittedlykept to hush-hush levels to avoid embarrassment--that residents also stay athome, wear blindfolds, and ignore what might have sounded like strangersbursting through their front doors, rushing to their bedrooms, and openingtheir dresser drawers to peruse their underthings!

One might think such an event would be so scandalous thatthe entire world would hear of it--yet incredibly, due to a farsighted pactbetween the city and Republic Records, as recompense said intruders dutifullyleft the brand new album by rockers 3 Doors Down for all residents to enjoy attheir leisure!

And now--one has to marvel at both parties' foresight--absolutelyno