Last entry: 12/22/03. Jeez, has it been that long? Last year? Really? It’s amazing how time can sort of do that if you let it. The lost years, the creeping death. Do I know what I’m talking about? Not at all. Remember, I’ve been away for quite some time. I could have gone crazy in all these months. Just roll with it.

Next month sees myself, my brother (the non MusicTAP reviewer), my brother-in-law and a close friend venturing off to Madison Square Garden to see prog-rock legends Yes for my third time since 2000! Funny, as while they are certainly one of my all time favorite bands, my all-time favorite, Marillion, I haven’t seen once! Hopefully that shall soon change as the English five-piece is preparing to pummel the world with their first release in three years, the eagerly awaited Marbles. Due for a worldwide release in May, Marbles is a first for Marillion, a double album of all new studio material. Expect a full review courtesy of my other brother, the MusicTAP reviewer Dw. Dunphy just as soon as he can get his sweaty little hands on a copy.

Another new thing in life: I finally got a car! Yes, after three long, vehicle-less years, John Dunphy has finally gotten himself a pair of wheels. Well, four wheels, really. The stock photo above is all I could find, mine’s black, but I’m too poor to get myself a digital camera. So what does this all mean to you out there in readership land? That’s right, folks, time for another top five list!

John’s Top Five CDs To Listen To Loudly And Obnoxiously With His Windows Down While Everyone Else Listens To Hip-Hop (or JTFCTLTLAOWHWDWEELTHH for not so short):

5. The Ecco the Dolphin Soundtrack

Want to throw everyone the hell off? Play this New Age videogame soundtrack masterpiece by Spencer Nilsen, featuring lush keyboard passages overtop the calming sounds of a serene ocean vista really freaking loud, windows down, devil horns in the air and your head banging so hard as to nearly get whiplash. You could very well make all bystanders question reality. And you’ll look like a complete jackass in the process. Double bonus.

4. HIM – Deep Shadows and Brilliant Highlights

Again, one of my long-standing faves. Hell, check out my last JDE entry, I’m still talking about the same stuff five months later! Rockin’ Gothic Rock, approved by Jackass’ Bam Margera or simply a boring writer who fears change? You be the judge.

3. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels soundtrack

I finally got a chance to see this movie Dw. called “confusing” and “hard to follow” and absolutely fell in love with its kitschy, seedy underground flavor and hip soundtrack so I promptly picked myself up a copy. Featuring such cool classics as Dusty Springfield’s “Spooky” and perennial jailbird James Brown’s “The Boss” as well as fresh, modern stuff from groups like EZ Rollers and Ocean Colour Scene, you’ll be itching to get down to your nearest shady gambling table and try your luck with the big boys. That is, until you realize your credit card was just denied at the Wendy’s Drive Thru and you still need to take your mother to the hairdresser. Hey, at least you can sit in the car and listen to this while she gets her tips frosted.

2. Entwine – Dieversity

Read my upcoming (or currently available) review on this one for more info. The short version: fast, heavy, infinitely catchy gothic rock/metal from one of the masters, their newest blends the best of their previous two releases, Gone and Time of Despair, with crisp, clean production just begging to be played on a cherry sound system.

1. In Flames – Soundtrack to Your Escape

One reviewer referred to In Flames as underground metal’s current whipping boy, and he was right. Anyone with an inkling of knowledge about the underground metal scene will know that a big chunk of that underground fears change more than something that fears a whole lot of change. When In Flames released their monumental Reroute to Remain in 2002, the world was forced to take notice and the closed minded minority in the underground was apparently forced to turn their backs. I say minority because it was the biggest selling album from these Swedes so far and saw them tour the world exhaustively, including a few treks to the good old U.S. Cries of sellout though could still be heard as could cries of “nu-metal”, both incredibly unfair, and inaccurate labels. So, with Soundtrack… people were already set to dismiss it months before its release. Well, screw them, this album rocks. It’s heavier than Reroute… while still retaining the freshness and forward momentum from that period. Loud, heavy and acid fueled albums like this were made to be played in your car. You owe it to yourself, just give in already.

Man, I love top five lists. I guess my friend Emily was right when she compared me to someone in High Fidelity, they were always into that sort of thing.

Before I go, a couple of notes for everyone:

• Ex- Theatre of Tragedy singer, Liv Kristine, finally gets to “nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah nyah” her former band for unceremoniously exiting her when she releases her debut album under the Leaves’ Eyes moniker “Lovelorn” on May 24 through Napalm Records. From hearing the demo clip of the “Norwegian Lovesong” track a couple of months back, I would have to say this is going to be some of Liv Kristine’s best work to date. With her beautiful, melodic voice along with strong musical accompaniment from Atrocity (which includes husband, vocalist Alexander Krull in the production helm), this has all the makings of a monumental gothic rock/metal release. One has to wonder if Liv’s former band mates have anything up their own sleeves…

Speaking of Atrocity, they release their first album in four years, Atlantis, on April 26 also through Napalm Records.

• Pre-production work for morose metallers Paradise Lost’s next album has been pushed back until May in lieu of the exit of longtime drummer Lee Morris. They’re currently in talks with an as-yet-unnamed session drummer to come in to record the album.

And speaking of In Flames, its been reported oni www.bravewords.com that the Swedes' latest, Soundtrack to Your Escape sold 10,659 copies in the US in its first week of release, landing the album at #145 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart.

Soundtrack To Your Escape also recently entered the following official album charts: Sweden - #3, Austria - #25, Finland - #13, Japan - #29, UK - #132, Norway - #36, Germany - #28, France - #82 and Hungary - #32.

The upcoming In Flames/Killswitch Engage headlining US tour, also featuring support from As I Lay Dying, includes the following dates:

May

3 - Clutch Cargos in Pontiac, MI

4 - Vic Theatre in Chicago, IL

5 - The Quest in Minneapolis, MN

6 - Pop’s Sauget in Sauget, IL

7 - The Beaumont Club in Kansas City, MO

8 - Ogden Theatre in Denver, CO

10 - Showbox in Seattle, WA

11 - Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, BC

12 - Roseland Theater in Portland, OR

13 - Warfield Theatre in San Francisco, CA

14 - The Wiltern LG in Los Angeles, CA

15 - Soma in San Diego, CA

16 - Cajun House in Scottsdale, AZ

18 - The Back Room in Austin, TX

19 - The Meridian in Houston, TX

20 - House Of Blues in New Orleans, LA

21 - Masquerade in Atlanta, GA

22 - House Of Blues in Lake Buena Vista, FL

23 - Tremont Music Hall in Charlotte, NC

24 - 9:30 Club in Washington, DC

25 - Bogarts in Cincinnati, OH

26 - Agora Theatre in Cleveland, OH

27 - Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA

28 - Palladium in Worcester, MA

29 - The Medley in Montreal, QC

30 - Koolhaus in Toronto, ON

June

1 - Roseland Ballroom in New York, NY

Well, that’s all from here, ladies and gentleman. I hope to make myself a more common presence around here but, we’ll just have to see if I can get over that little ‘bout of crazy I was telling you about. Until next time!t at little ‘bout of crazy I was telling you about. Until next time!

dies and gentleman. I hope to make myself a more common presence around here but, we’ll just have to see if I can get over that little