Quick Listening Booth: "I'm not dead yet", says blog.

A quick post to point out that the blog is not dead, with some notes and a preliminary grade for Brad Paisley. The 1984 project is still going strong, and I'm also busy doing some work for [secret]. I will have a proper Listening Booth up in a couple of days, or Monday next week at least, with notes and grades for the latest Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble, Wadada Leo Smith's Organic, Matana Roberts, Frank Ocean (has crept up to the top of my 2011 list), TV on the Radio and a few others.

• Brad Paisley: This Is Country Music (Sony Music Entertainment) - Disappointed that he feels the need to take the "we may not be hip, but we sing about real life" defense in the title track - country music ain't got the sole rights to "real life" subjects, and you're smart enough to know that, Brad. Also, I can't imagine he ever got much stick from "hipsters" (whoever they are), as the liberal minded country fans' (myself included) great hope. Wish he held back a bit with his virtuosic guitar picking too, but aside from this this is vintage Paisley, smart a** fun songs ("Working on a Tan") and bitter sweet luv (sic.) songs ("Remind Me") included. 7 *