Kiss Me With Your Cherry Lipstick

Since September 28th and the release of Interpol's Antics, I've been living in a bleak and beautiful sonic landscape. Propelled forward by the release of Tom Waits' return to pirate music on Real Gone, REM's return to form on Around the Sun, and now Jimmy Eat World's Futures that came out earlier this week. Four absolutely freaking great albums that have made me one happy -- yet somewhat morose given the lyrical content -- music listener.

Once More Around the Sun

REM's new album, Around the Sun is out today across North America. Go. Buy. Now. They brought their A-game. It's still not to the level of Automatic for the People, but that would be like U2 producing another Achtung Baby. Think of Around the Sun as more of an ambient flip-side to their four seminal masterpieces of 90's. Mind you, of course, I liked both Up and Reveal. So what do I know?
If you're unsure, the album's currently available as a streaming feed from their website. If "Leaving New York" hasn't already made you want to listen to the whole album, just take a spin of "The Outsiders".
This, as they say, is the good shit.