By no means am I a big reggae fan, but I do like the occasional Bob Marley tune. My view of reggae follows the old line about certain tourist destinations… “It’s nice to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there.” I can’t imagine listening to a whole reggae album, let alone owning more than one.
But, like every white college boy, I owned the Bob Marley Legend compilation and I have to admit every song on it is a gem. I feel kind of bad that I sold it back in the legendary greatest-hits purge of the early 2000s. Perhaps I shouldn’t be such an absolutist.
A few days ago I reviewed TV on the Radio’s new album, 
I finish off this week’s theme with an obvious selection — our wedding song. Alex and I came across this version of the classic tune on the Leaving Las Vegas soundtrack. Not a very uplifting movie, to be sure, but the song is just wonderful.
I don’t know whether this is more a sign of my insensitivity or my passion for music, but on September 11, 2001, I made a point to hit Best Buy to pick up Ben Folds’ new release Rockin’ the Suburbs (along with Bob Dylan’s Love and Theft). New albums always come out on Tuesdays and when my favorite artists are involved, I always buy them on the day of release. To alter that pattern because of an attack on the homeland would just mean the terrorists had won.
I really can’t find a thing wrong with either of Jenny Lewis’ solo albums, but there’s not enough right with them to place them among my favorites. She writes and sings beautifully but her albums don’t have that special something that has me reaching for the repeat button when they finish.
