An early contender for album of the year has to go to the new Wheat record, which hasn't even been released yet. I swear, if you can track this down somewhere, daily listens are like happy pills. Every song is just that good. Stuck somewhere between Josh Rouse and Creeper Lagoon, this is by far their best work and I've been listening to it at least twice a day.

Actually, my playlist for this past week has been about four records: the new Radiohead, Wheat, The Streets, and the occasional spin of Arab Strap's Philophobia when I want some more UK flavour, but have already listened to Original Pirate Material twice. I really haven't needed much else.

It's raining today, but we're still going to attempt to make it to the Oakland A's game tonight. I've never been to the Coliseum in wet weather, so I'm hoping the clouds will part, although I know the winds will probably be here to stay.

I was *this* close to blowing off laundry, chores, my small bank account, and braving the chilly wind to head down to East Oakland to catch the The Oakland Athletic's season opener. Instead, the laundry is currently washing, and then we're going to head up to a bar to catch some innings and drink us some pints. Because the Sharks sucked so bad this season, I didn't watch much hockey, so I'm extra excited for the baseball season.

Everyone and their mother has already downloaded the new Radiohead album, Hail To The Thief. My quick opinion after two listens? Eh. Some good songs, but a lot of dull moments, which odd for a Radiohead record. I am, however, really into the album's closer, "A Wolf At The Door." I've never heard Thom sing like that before, and I'm totally in favor of it.

I'm also totally in favor of Trader Joe's Taquera Salsa. Woot.

saturday barbecue. oakland, ca. 3-29-2003

-= minimix #6 :: springtime and good white wine =-

• 01 - The Kinks - You Really Got Me
• 02 - Wheat - I Met A Girl
• 03 - Cracker - Shine
• 04 - Kent - Bianca
• 05 - Green Day - Words I Might Have Ate
• 06 - Built To Spill - The Plan (live)

Spring officially started for us on Saturday: barbecue in an Oaktown backyward with throngs of friends, bottles of cold High Life, a hot hot meat. Today I listened to baseball on the radio while at work. You can't do these things in the wintertime kids! To celebrate, I made me another little minimix that I'd like to share with all ya'lls.

I'm pretty into the new Wheat record, and I've convinced myself that Ian from Creeper Lagoon is the one singing in the little breakdown part during "I Met A Girl." I have no idea if this is the case or not, but we can start the rumor anyway. On first listen I thought the album was shamefully overproduced, but over the past few days it's really grown on me.

In addition to the mix, you get not one but *TWO* MP3s of the week, a Neutral Milk Hotel track from me (mwah!), and the greatest children's song ever written from Miss Rodeo Ameria. Speaking of They Might Be Giants, they're playing three shows next month at a smallish venue in San Francisco, yet tickets are still a whopping $25. Ick.