Devotion to duty now sees me writing this week's blog--even though today has been the first day of my vacation, and my satellite television provider the Dish Network has just graciously sent me six gift certificates to view any movie of my choice!

But to be frank, when it comes down to either watching Machete, My Soul To Take, and Resident Evil: Afterlife or spending time discussing pop star Avril Lavigne...well, let's just say I know which side my bread is buttered on!

Besides, movies come and go...but the Season Two, Vol. 5 Glee soundtrack will last forever!

Avril Lavigne: Goodbye Lullaby (RCA)  If, like me, you're a big fan of Hilary Duff and you buy most of your music from Amazon, you've probably already been notified this album was coming! And boy, has it ever come! Bearing juicy songs with titles like "Black Star," "What The Hell," "Not Enough" and "Goodbye," and featuring a cover photo depicting the well-groomed Avril splayed atop a grand piano, Goodbye Lullaby has all the

If you're like me, you may have watched the Grammys last night and asked yourself a few very serious questions!

First of all, who the heck is Esperanza Spalding? And how can she be "best new artist" over Justin Bieber, for gosh sakes?

Secondly, who the heck is Arcade Fire--and how can he be better that Eminem?

Thirdly, Lady Gaga doesn't really expect us to believe to she was just hatched from an egg, does she? She's been around for a couple of years now!

Fourthly, why did I just spend $862 fixing my Cadillac's right-rear electric window this afternoon when I never asked for electric windows?

Finally--and most importantly--where the heck are my pants? I know I was wearing them a few minutes ago!

Outside, clouds gathered in the sky, the night grew still, and a man drinking coffee and eating a donut sat outside the 7/11, watching the exit door patiently!

Drive-By Truckers: Go-Go Boots (ATO)  The eleventh album by fab rockers the Drive-By Truckers looks likely to be a commercial triumph,

If you're a regular reader of this blog, you may have noticed: Typically, when I run down the week's most relevant album releases, I tend to start with the "big guns," give lip service to the mid-level artists, then peter out endlessly, seemingly by whim!

It's almost as if I simply stopped caring--and imply, however subtly, that you should too!

If only it were that simple!

Frankly, like most good things, this blog ends each week when I can't stand it anymore, decide to put a lid on it, and run to the bathroom!

This week I've decided to change tactics, somewhat! I'll start with new albums that mean the most to me personally, move on to the "big guns," then--just for kicks--see if I can actually stay awake!

Radio Dept.: Passive Aggressive Singles (2002-2010) (Labrador Sweden)  Imagine a world where the very best music out there is being created by artists you very rarely hear about! It could happen! Now imagine that a fabulous band's singles--both A-sides and B-sides--have been

Earlier this evening, the results of this year's so-called "Pazz & Jop Poll"--the yearly survey of the world's most astute music critics--were revealed, and I couldn't be happier!

For those who don't know, the distinguished Village Voice periodical, a print newsweekly, regularly asks the world's 9,554 most respected music critics to vote for what they consider to be each year's best new releases and--incredibly--they do!

Though I wasn't able to publish my choices for 2010's best albums at Y! Music this year--unexpectedly, I was buying a protein bar at my neighborhood 7/11 that week--I did manage to supply the Voice with my long-awaited ballot, and it can be found here!

Predictably, within the last hour or so, I've received roughly 5,000 apologetic missives from my fellow music critics, most of which offer up tired excuses for "overlooking" my keen selections--"how the heck do you do it?" asked the latest and most typical, received a scant two minutes ago--and subtly hint that