First things first: HOLY SHIT.

Second things second: My new favorite TV show / addiction is NY Noise, on the government-run NY Channel 25. Partially because it’s one of the few channels I get with basic Brooklyn cable, and partially because this week it featured Eugene Mirman eating ice cream and staring at birthday cakes in a bakery window with Langhorne Slim. Quality. Tuesdays at 10pm.

Third things X3rd: The X3 teaser site shows Alkali Lake in its short flash video, where Jean Grey supposedly died in X2 – this likely means the introduction of the Phoenix character in X3. *note: some nerd wrote that, not me. -- Andrea.

MUSIC MAESTRO PLEASE
The new Madonna leak. Innovative as heck. If her hawk-eyed lawyers have taken it down by the time you hit it, check Technorati for the latest leak link.
Madonna - Hung Up

The title track from Cat Power’s upcoming release The Greatest. Chan Marshall or Fiona Apple? They should have an angst-off.
Cat Power – The Greatest

Mp3 off Deerhoof’s current release:
Deerhoof – Wrong Time Capsule

Early Man’s release on Matador (follow up to their April Monitor release) is buzzing like a supermodel after hours. I like the Sabbath feel of this song:
Early Man – Death Is The Answer

Track off Devotchka’s amazing, amazing album – go see them at Webster Hall with Dresden Dolls, for serious. They are the diamond in the indie klezmer rough:
Devotchka – Such A Lovely Thing

Stream 5 tracks of Brian Wilson’s first holiday album, What I Really Want For Christmas. “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” with a go-go beach-party breakdown at the end, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”, “First Noel”, a very Beach Boys-ish “Deck The Halls”, and “Christmasey”, which I think is a Wilson orig.
Brian Wilson – What I Really Want For Christmas

It’s set for release this Tuesday 10.18, as is Depeche Mode’s Playing The Angel..

Fa La La La La,

Andrea