I've been going back and forth over a very tough decision the last couple of days. I wasn't sure if I should download the new Animal Collective album. It's not that I didn't want it. I've been hearing so much about it. People have been raving about it. It was more of a money issue. I had just purchased the new Andrew Bird CD and Coconut Records also had an album out on Tuesday. I am trying not to spend a ridiculous amount of money on music. I'm going to buy a hard copy of Davy (the new Coconut Records album) the next time I go to Rasputin or Amoeba.

In the end, I got it because I listened to a couple of the tracks that were streaming on Rhapsody and loved them. I was going to buy the album sooner or later, so I didn't want to deprive myself.

I am listening to it right now instead of sleeping. I think I made the right choice. It is fantastic so far.

American Idol - SF Auditions

I should be reading for Moot Court, but procrastination is so much better.

I watched American Idol tonight and the auditions were in San Francisco. I think I even saw my building, but they showed those SF shots so fast that I probably just imagined it. Did you know that Katherine McPhee auditioned in San Francisco? Whatever happened to her? Scratch that, actually. I don't want to know. I think the more important question is what happened to Taylor Hicks? He seems to be the bane of Idol's existence. I don't think there are any pictures of him in those little Idol winner collages.

Anyway, speaking of former Idol contestants, apparently the amazing Sanjaya released this gem today. I have no idea what the actual music sounds like that, but with a cover like that, it MUST be a winner, right? Speaking of new releases, check out Andrew Bird's Noble Beast. It also came out today. I'm going to go out on a limb here, but I'm going to say that it's better than the Sanjaya album. In all seriousness, though, the album's pretty amazing.

Back to Idol. Being that the auditions are in San Francisco, which is also the auditioning place of the infamous William Hung (isn't he a teacher now or something?), I'm pretty sure they showed more weirdos than anything else. The talent tonight was generally lacking. There were only a few people that I liked. I felt like they skimmed through most of the talented people people in order to showcase SF's finest. At some point they try to compare the Summer of Love to Idol's SF auditions. Because that's the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Idol auditions.

Speaking of weird things that happened at the auditions, someone really got married in line for the auditions? To each their own I guess...

I really did not like that Tatiana girl who started off the episode. Yeah, she had a half-way decent voice, but her laugh made me ill. I'm sure she's not going to last long on the show (but then again, you'd have thought Sanjaya would have been dropped a lot earlier). I don't even know why Kara let her through. She didn't like her voice. Oh well.

Some guy auditioned wearing some obnoxiously amazing plaid jacket. He wasn't that good, but I loved the jacket. I thought that Jesus guy was an okay singer, but I felt like he was only let through because they brought his kids out to hear what the judges had to say. He's not going to make it past Hollywood week, so I don't know why they're bringing the kids' hopes up, but I guess it would have also been sad to tell them that their dad isn't going through to their face.

I was hoping that the Rubix cube kid was going to be a good singer, mostly because he seemed like he'd be a fun contestant. I was wrong. Also, he was kind of slow with the Rubix cube compared to some people I know. Of course, I'm one to talk. The only time I've ever "solved" one of those was when Gianni solved it to the last two moves and then let me finish it. Save this project for my bucket list, I guess?

I thought Akila was amusing for the first five minutes. Anyone who learns how to sing from the Internet generally is. She actually wasn't as bad as I expected, but they really dragged on her audition. I was bored by the end.

I liked that Adam kid. He kind of reminded me of someone and I decided something about him (not sure what exactly because it's not necessarily the looks) reminds me of a scenester version of Oliver from the OC. Don't ask me why. Anyway, he's got musical theater training and was in Wicked. Bonus points with me and it would be fun if he he makes it to the Top 12 and they attempt the musical week again. He probably should not have auditioned with Bohemian Rhapsody and he was a little theatrical, but I think he was fun. Doubt he'll make it to Top 12 though.

They ended with Kai. I think he may already be my favorite. He seemed like a genuinely all around nice guy. I imagine that he's going to sing songs that are similar to what Jason sang last season, but that just may be because of the music they were playing in the background while they introduced him. And the hair. I thought he had a nice voice though. Hope he makes it through Hollywood.

That's all I really have to say about tonight's episode. Not sure if I'm going to be able to watch tomorrow's episode as Lost takes precedence, but it'll be another slew of auditions. I'm ready for the Hollywood drama, to be honest.