So it seems that Cory and I have been selected to be an Arbitron household for a week. Arbitron is like the Nielsens of radio ratings. Cory doesn't really listen to radio - except for the occasional NPR or talk radio and I only listen out of desperation because I just have a tape player in my car and most of my tapes are worn out. But, when they offered a Small Cash Payment in exchange for our time - well who could resist? Though I do have to wonder about just how small a Small Cash Payment really is....I mean is this like the time BMG sent me a penny taped to an invitation to join their record club? Or perhaps like the time Mother Jones magazine mailed me a prize check for $1.12 for some sweepstakes I never even entered? Who knows...but in the meantime I've already started jotting down thoughts for my diary ....

Dear Diary: Why does every station insist on playing P.O.D. or Nelly Furtado every five minutes? It gives me a headache. Life is so unfair....

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....Got the new Sleater-Kinney record ... the first two spins left me cold but after listening to it in the kitchen yesterday while I did laundry and washed dishes (two of the best activities to which to listen to new music) I started warming up to it...I really liked their last album, "All Hands on the Bad One" - but the one before that, "The Hot Rock" seemed too contrived and deliberate.


While there do seem to be some contrived choices on this new record - I'm not quite sure about some of the politically-themed lyrics - I like the musical choices the band is making. "One Beat" features horns, a keyboard and even some male vocals. The songs aren't instantly hooky - but let 'em spin a couple of times and they'll slowly dig their way into your brain.