The Hydra the jacket and the primordial sludge

I was leaving Seattle a couple of weekends ago and as I go through security I realized that I had left something. Yes, indeed I left it at the hotel. You know those times when you feel as if you've left your bag or wallet in some restaurant ... that heart stopping sinking feeling. Yes, I had one of those moments. Except usually when I have one of those moments, I realise that I've just placed my phone in another pocket, or my wallet is in my jacket instead, or that on this rare occasion I have left... read more

So, here we are again. It's amazing to think I've been doing this now for the last six years of my life, and it's even more amazing to look at how my CD collection has ballooned in that time. I'll spare you the usual "I buy too fucking many CDs" caveat this year because a) I actually did cut back (though perhaps not by choice) and b) because I've decided to reduce the bloat of previous years' lists (see 2007 , 2006 , 2005 ) in favor of a more streamlined 'top 40' system, which I coincidentally...