Believe it or not, we here at the Tractor are big music fans...here's what has been on the stereo lately, in no particular order:

ANDREW BIRD - Weather Systems [Righteous Babe]
This is simply a challenging and beautiful record.
www.bowloffire.com

MOJAVE 3 - Spoon & Rafter [4AD/Beggars]
Neil Halstead writes amazingly simple songs that become more complex with every listen. This band has gotten me through more stress and heartbreak than any other group out there.
www.mojave3online.com

BAPTIST GENERALS - No Silver/No Gold [SubPop]
It's discordant and disturbing and next thing you know you're playing it all the time.
www.baptistgenerals.com

BOBBY BARE JR's Young Criminals Starvation League - Ok, I'm Sorry EP [Bloodshot Records]
He's played "Valentine" and "Mother Ucker" live the last few times he's been here, so it's good to finally have them on a CD so I can play them to death. We play Bobby so much at home that my roommate's kids know all the songs.
www.barejr.net

FIREWATER - The Man On The Burning Tightrope [Jetset]
Gypsy Klezmer Drunken Circus Rock. Hell yeah!
www.firewater.tv

THE NATIONAL - Sad Songs For Dirty Lovers [Brassland]
This is a sleeper - it really creeps up on you and then you're digging it totally. Then they lose subtle completely live and bash you over the head with it - yay!
www.americanmary.com

Here's a Top 10 of 2003 list that I sent to Three Imaginary Girls:
10. Bobby Bare Jr, "Okay I'm Sorry"
 9. Firewater, "The Man On The Burning Tightrope"
 8. Tindersticks, "Waiting For The Moon"
 7. Pleasure Club, "Here Comes The Trick/Live Out Of The Pulpit"
 6. Dirty Three, "She Has No Strings Apollo"
 5. Steve Wynn, "Static Transmission"
 4. Lillium (Jean-Yves Tola & Pascal Humbert from 16 Horsepower), "Short Stories"
 3. Andrew Bird, "Weather Systems"
 2. Jay Farrar and Various Artists, "The Slaughter Rule" soundtrack
 1. Mojave 3, "Spoon & Rafter"

We'll be adding more as time permits...