I promise not to spend a lot of time on this as we (you and I) have traversed this well-traveled road many times.  However, on page 27 of the first section of Friday's (03/26/10 - A27) LA Times is an article by Steve Almond called The Trouble With Easy Listening.

In it, he talks about the advantages of iTunes and the iPod.  But then he devotes the rest of his time on the loss of something far more valuable, "the devaluation of the music experience."

He poses very noteworthy points.  It's interesting to me that it has taken this long for folks to begin to realize (present company excepted) that this might be one of the most important changes in music today, the relegating of music to the background.

I love his bit about waiting for a favorite song to rotate play on the radio playlist.  It was an investment of time.  But now, not only has our music listening experience devalued, but our radio experience as well.

Finally, the press is realizing that the whole music experience has a problem.  Good article, Steve Almond!

I have two reviews for you today. The first is by Mike Duquette, who runs the excellent The Second Disc site. He reviews the 10th Anniversary Edition reissue of The Sickness by Disturbed. I contribute a review of Blues band, The Mannish Boys, who has just released their new album, Shake For Me.

I want to alert TAP readers to the fact that I have finally put together a FaceBook fan page that you can access and join by clicking on the badge below.  What this offers is the exact same thing as my Twitter feeds provide and that is first buzz on upcoming releases and free offered downloads, many announcements  that beat our main post, sometimes by days.  We also provide a Google BUZZ page that expands on most of the Twitter/FB feeds. On Buzz, you can even hear the music stream if a stream is offered.  There are still things that I'm working on in the FB page, like calender notes as well as links to great sites like The Second Disc.  I invite you to join us at our FB page and bookmark it.  Visit it daily and you'll be rewarded with much news and info.  Of course, you'll still want to come to the main MusicTAP page for our noisy commentaries.  Remember, with our Twitter feeds, you can elect to receive the news bursts as text on your mobile phone keeping you effortlessly up to date with stuff.  Lots of choices.  Find one, or two, that fits.

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Warner Brothers and Rhino will be re-releasing the 2004 compilation of a-ha tracks called The Singles: 1984-2004 on May 4 (CD).

On May 18, Hip-O Records will reissue the Alchemy Live video from Dire Straits on DVD and BD (Blu-ray) with new remastering and newly remixed 5.1 Surround capability, scheduling the title for May 18 (DVD/BD).

Wichita Records will release vinyl LP of The Big Black and The Blue from First Aid Kit on May 25 (LP).

Eagle Rock Entertainment plans an LP reissue for Performing This Week...Live at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club from Jeff Beck as well as vinyl LP for Tough from John Mayall, both on June 15 (LP).

Fuel Records will release Stand The Test of Time from Otis Rush and the Heroes of Chicago Blues on May 25 (CD).

Lost Highway Records plan the release of The Jayhawks (AKA The Bunkhouse album) on CD, LP, and DD (Digital Download). This Jayhawks album is scheduled for May 18.

Varese Sarabande Records will release Return of the Pride by Great White on May 25 (CD).

Watch for LP reissue of Live From Texas (2008) by ZZ Top on June 15. The LP will be released by Eagle Rock Entertainment (LP). Watch for a new ZZ Top studio effort in 2010.

Nettwerk Records will release the new Great Lake Swimmers album, called Legion Sessions, on May 18 (CD).

Listen Records will release a new album from The Cringe, called Play Thing, on June 8 (CD).

The Gary will release a new album called Logan on April 6. You can download a free track here.