Some great photos here! Thought I'd add one of mine I took last month... That's a jogger along Lake Michigan here in Chicago, by the way. Since then I've gotten my film camera stolen, just waiting for my new DSLR to come in the mail. Can't wait to shoot again!

Hey all, I just recently got a Grado Gold cartridge for my Gemini 2100 (a Technics 1200 knockoff). The difference from my original cheap Stanton cartridge is huge, now I have actual soundstage! And listening on the HF-1s, the sound is so upfront that at times it sounds like someone's singing...

Listening to Sigur Ros "Takk" on my HF-1s with a new Grado Gold cartridge. Didn't know the HF-1s could sound so good!

Quote: Originally Posted by blessingx Thanks guys. I ended up buying the below to start off. I appreciate all the advice. Sigur Ros: Takk Sigur Ros: () Mum: Finally We Are No One For Takk, did you get the cd or vinyl? There's a special ltd. edition vinyl that just came out a...

It had been a while for me too. But last night I picked up the newly remastered Stooges album Fun House on vinyl, I'd never heard it before. The whole album is an eargasm! But especially the first track, "Down on The Street", just kicks things off with such authority, I love it.

I actually clipped this one out of the newspaper and sent it to a friend by snail mail, I liked it so much. Animals can indeed be smarter than people at times...

Quote: Originally Posted by recstar24 Don't worry guys, according to Matt Leinart USC is still clearly the better team what a prick, pay your respect dude the team that won tonight was the better team, plain and simple. Yeah what was up with that guy? Leinart on his team's...

WOW what a heart-pounding game. Vince Young, probably the best QB I've seen in my short life. I don't even care about how our beloved Bears will do in the playoffs after seeing such a spectacular game. Go Texas!

Quote: Originally Posted by recstar24 ESPN just simulated the game on NCAA 2006, with USC winning 42 - 24 Now that's scientific!

Tonight's Rose Bowl with No.1 USC vs. No.2 Texas should be amazing. Personally, I'm rooting for Texas as I always love the underdog. Anyone else have a pick? It starts at 5pm Pacific on ABC tonight. Time to go out for a six pack!

Lost in Translation has been one of my favorite movies, but its star dimmed a bit with repeated viewings, and the more films I saw afterwards. The other night I saw a fine Chinese movie, "What Time Is It There?" that reminded me quite a bit of Lost in Translation, more in mood than anything...

Quote: Originally Posted by Gabe Logan He most likely means the highs are giving him a headache even though the bowls will be a close second . Good job! You hit the nail on the head. I've tried a bunch of different pads with the HF-1s but bowls work with them so perfectly that I...

My HF-1s have sure been getting on my nerves lately. The right driver keeps coming unattached from the headband. The same driver's also been intermittently failing, enough to annoy but not yet enough to warrant sending them in to get repaired, which somehow makes it even worse. And now it seems...

I've never heard Opeth, but according to your description of them I think you might like Jesu's self-titled album. I've had it for almost a year yet I still play the hell out of it. The singer is the guy from Napalm Death, Justin Broadrick, and his voice actually sounds *good* on this record...

Quote: Originally Posted by s m @ Second place must go to Autechre, a show I was debating whether or not to go to at the time. I was blindsided. Autechre was definitely my 2nd favorite this year as well. I saw them back in 2001 during their Confield tour and it was a COMPLETELY...

Jens Lekman could probably be called twee. His album "Oh You're So Silent Jens" is awesome, it collects three out-of-print EPs on one disc...three for the price of one!

Minimalism is one of my all-time favorite genres/forms/whatevers of music. The older minimalist records from the 1960's and '70s are all worth checking out (my favorites are Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" and Brian Eno's "Discreet Music"), but there have been quite a few amazing...

In the musical spectrum of experiences, it's hard to beat the immediacy of a great live show. Name your favorite concert(s) of '05 and why you liked them so much! For myself, seeing the Boredoms play was in such a different league than all the other shows I went to this year that it's all...

Quote: Originally Posted by proglife Nice! I like All that stuff, but the No-Neck Blues album bored me. Yeah, I can understand. I've been a fan of theirs for years though, and in relation to their back catalogue it's very well put-together. What can I say, it hits a sweet spot!

In alphabetical order, since it'll take me some time to rank these! Albums: Afrirampo - Kore Ga Mayaku Da Animal Collective - Feels Autechre - Untilted Badgerlore - Stories for Owls Jan Jelinek - Kosmischer Pitch Jesu - Jesu Lightning Bolt - Hypermagic Mountain No-Neck Blues Band -...

I never thought grados looked "cheap" per se, but definitely retro, which I've liked. However when I took the HF-1s to a well-respected friend's house last week, first thing he commented on was the cheap look. That said, for my own personal pair of HF-1s the construction wasn't the best...

Quote: Originally Posted by VR6ofpain Would you say the Gilmore lite is more laid back? I want a good amp for my HF-1's in the $300-400 range. I was thinking the X-Can V3, but some say it is very forward. It seems odd considering it uses tubes...but I have never heard it. Would you...

Ha, awesome article. I'm unfortunately an "indie fan" almost to the letter. Except I do, in fact, hate pitchforkmedia.

Windy and Carl - The Dream House/Dedications to Flea Mi and L'au - Mi and L'au Rhythm & Sound - See Mi Yah Stnnng - Dignified Sissy Sunn O))) - Black One Respectively: minimal ambient drone, quiet singer-songwriter, German-produced roots reggae, pretentious indie rock, and doom metal...

Another good Canadian indie rock band nowadays is Wolf Parade, they came out with their debut LP "Apologies to The Queen Mary" last month I believe. Their instrumentation is a bit sparser than The Arcade Fire's, which I like, sounds rawer and more rockin to me.