Dave Heaton: October 15, 2006

1. Farm Aid – Tweeter Center (Camden, NJ) – Saturday, September 30, 2006

   A great day, despite the rain. Neil Young was a particular highlight, playing a great rustic set that included three songs from Comes a Time, one of my favorite albums of his.

2. Portastatic with Jennifer O’Connor – North Star Bar (Philadelphia) – Wednesday, October 11, 2006

   Really enjoyable show. Portastatic has become a genuine band, featuring Mac Macaughan’s songwriting talent as well as Superchunk did.

3. Rose Melberg with Pants Yell and Brown Recluse Sings – Tritone (Philadelphia) – Saturday, October 13, 2006

   I confess to missing most of Rose Melberg’s set, but the other two bands were fantastic, with lots of energy.

4. The Decemberists – The Crane Wife (Capitol)

   Not sure if it comes from a desire for albums to maintain a consistent mood, or what, but I’m finding I enjoy this album a lot more when I rearrange it. I take track 2 out and make it its own separate EP, and then rearrange like this: tracks 7, 3, 4, 8, 9, 1, 5, 6, and 10. Putting the “Crane Wife” story in order is the main goal with this, I think.

5. Richard Buckner – Meadow (Merge)

   I like the way he’s continuing to expand the stylistic range of his songs without affecting his unique songwriting approach.

6. Irene – Apple Bay (Labrador)

   A fantastic summer pop album, for any time of year.

7. Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys – Turntable Matinee (Yep Roc)

   Still finding this album really enjoyable…

8. Bob Dylan – Modern Times (Sony)

   ...and this one, too.

9. Project Runway Season 3

   The finale’s this Wednesday – who’s gonna win? I’m on the edge of my seat, believe it or not.

10. The Office Season 3

    So good. This season has a really strange, awkward demeanor about it, unlike any TV sitcom I can think of, and still it’s so funny.