I listen to different music in my car than I do in my house. For some reason as I take the steady curves of Mulholland, Kid Rock seems to be a beautiful companion. But in my house, he seems garish and wee. So below is a list of what I’m listening to now.

I give it to you only because people asked and also because music is very important. (more important perhaps, then say, health and safety. And certainly more important then remembering your family’s birthdays).

1. Missy Elliott, "Under Contruction" - Non-stop dirty fun. If you’re 13, do not listen to this record. Which of course means if you’re 13 you will buy this record immediately, as I was once 13.

2. Liz Phair, "Liz Phair" - This is non-stop dirty white girl fun. It does go to show that you can’t trust reviewers because all the reviews I read on this were super negative. But it’s a fantastic up pop rock record. I hadn’t liked her last couple and of course, "Exile in Guysville," her first record, is one of the best albums ever.

3. Macy Gray, "The Trouble with Being Myself" - I’m not sure that this is out here yet. I may have got it from one of my "show biz friends." But it’s fantastic. This and the previous two are like summer party records, but not stupid, you know?

4. Clem Snide, "Soft Spot" - This is one of my favorite bands and I don’t know anything about them. Like a quiet interesting friend, sometimes it’s hard to get to know a record - I think it’s really good? Their music is sort of country, smart, sad, rock and probably more for boys than girls.

5. Gord Downie, "Battle of the Nudes" - This is the new solo record from the Tragically Hip’s lead singer. (well, I didn’t know if you knew that or not). And it’s not unlike Clem Snide. Higher energy, poetic, smart, rocky. I can’t recommend it enough. Especially because he’s one of my best friends (as some people may know, I directed their "My Music at Work" video).

6. Marty Robbins, "Greatest Hits" – You may not know this guys name but when you hear the music, you’ll remember it immediately. He’s a country balladeer from the 60’s, (the 60’s?) who does stories of hangings, shootings and heartaches. Its like an old black and white TV show. If your life feels shitty, you’ll turn it on and say, "this has nothing to do with my life. It’s fantastic."

7. Kathleen Edwards, "Failer" - A smart, introspective, up tempo girl record.

8. Cat Power, "Free" - A smart, introspective, uptempo girl rock record. They’re like women who can play guitar and stuff like that.

9. Yo La Tengo, "Summer Sun" - I guess in a way this is the best music in the world. It’s always haunting and beautiful. Their records are always about an hour long. It’s a beautiful record to lie in the bathtub with your snorkel and mask on. (Especially if the bathtub is filled with warm whiskey).

That’s it for now. Tell me if you know or like any of these records and what you’re listening to.

Cordially Yours,
Master Bruce McCulloch