I've been happily continuing with "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicles," but haven't had a lot of time to catch up with the new CDs I need to listen to, let alone find time for movies. You KNOW I'm behind when I've had Liz Phair's new CD for about two weeks and have only made it four tracks into the disc so far (because of time, not poor material)! Plus, "Kiss Alive IV" --- with the Melbourne Symphony, no less --- is on its way!

I would like to spread the gospel about an album that came out in 1984 that instantly jumped into my top 10 favorite albums of all time list, and has remained there since: "Sleep It Off" by Cristina. Please check out the two web sites listed below for background on Cristina, and I'll discuss my thoughts on the album in a day or two. Man, it's wonderful. I remember hearing it for the first time and thinking, this is the female version of Lou Reed's "Street Hassle" and "Blue Mask" albums, but better.

http://www.redoverwhite.org/cristina/

http://www.richardstrange.com/writing/writeb8.htm

Her husband's influential label, Ze Records, has resurfaced, and is rereleasing material from back in the day. Available now are a couple of compilation CDs, one of which includes three of Cristina's disco-era songs. I can't wait for the hopefully inevitable CD rerelease of "Sleep It Off," but thankfully I have a cassette version to appease me until then.