Ok, not music related but in a Pop Culture era such as the ‘60s and ‘70s were (Ok…the ‘80s too), the news that MAD magazine will now revert to a 4 times a year publication rather the usual and expected 12 issues a year just kind of feels like another nail in my end scenarios.  I haven’t bought an issue in a long time but I ALWAYS thumb through it in my weekly visits to our nearby Barnes and Nobles store.  I thumbed through it because I grew up with the damned thing (Cracked too…remember those?  And Cartunes, and Famous Monsters…on and on).  Hell, my grandfather even had a Neumann “What, me worry?” postcard taped in his dental office.  It featured Alfred’s hilarious and well-loved head with the well-known moniker over his head.

I remember passing off a copy to one of my friends (my own store-bought copy) and he was stopped in the hall by a teacher, who confiscated it and told him that he was “in hot water.”  I was in 7th grade and MAD magazine was still something that pissed off the older generation for some reason or another that I could NEVER understand.

While MAD magazine is still in publication, it just tells me that the current generation does not have an interest in the once controversial ‘hot-water’ magazine.  And the thought that it might fade eventually (I’ve no doubt of this occurrence) is just another alert in the growing older chronicles of my life.  And yes, I’m bummed…likely for the remainder of the week as I think about issue number 500 of a magazine birthed before I was.  Irreverent and daring, MAD magazine is a massive, multi-paged, fold-up bookmark to my life from the time I became interested.

I think I’m going to get a subscription.  I owe it to Alfred, to Gaines and EC Comics, to my Grandfather’s taped up ‘What, me worry? post-card, to the Spies, and to every moment of laughter that MAD magazine gave to me and my friends.  And to the one who suffered through a detention and a note home to Dad merely for having my copy in his back pocket.  I never seen that issue again. I remember being bummed out about that.

I fear a greater day of disappointment down the road for Alfred, myself, and thousands of people just like me, who treasured every page, every panel, and every fold-up page that we laughed over.

What, me worry?

Yes.

See you on Friday.

We have several things to kick-off the New Year with. The first is our Annual Reader's Choice 'Best of 20xx' picks. In this case, you'll be picking the Best of 2008. i always look forward to these picks because it gives me a fast way to check up on things that I have missed over the year. I have always made new gains to my library with the arrival of these lists and I'm sure to do so again. You guys know the rules by now. Just send a list of the Best that graced our players over the course of 2008. We'll run this through January and then post results in February. Send them here at The Best Albums of 2008.

In addition, and to start the New Year Out, we have several more things before moving on. The first is a new band introduction, found below in the reviews section. They are called The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Be sure to scroll down for that. the second is that we have (tried) to launch a Facebook set of pages. We have a button for you to click on and befriend us and we hope that you will. We have a personal TAP page (because Facebook insists). And we also have a Business page and a Group page. I know...complicated. And it is. But we'll figure which to use in the long run but until then, check them all out. They are a bit different in content. I do suspect that it will be the personal page that you'll want to frequent most often as it easily leads to both of the other pages. I'm still trying to make one singular page the most impactful but haven't figured how to do it yet. If anyone has any ideas, let me know. There's nothing worse than being a 'noob' trying to produce a bit of usefulness...and not succeeding very well at it. There are some new things that we can do with it. For example, there is plenty of room there to discuss in an open forum. For those that wanted this to happen, here's an opportunity to guage it. In addition, there may als obe extra content there, capsule-like reviews, etc. This is an experiment to see what happens. You might have to sign up to check us out...I don't know. Forgive any problems that might arise from this but we'll get it figured out somehow.

For the long promised Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! list (#34), I will be posting a letter each post until exhausted (there were only 17 21 25 27 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 40 emails).  Some were only a few titles, some only one.  But there were more than a few that were massive and a few extended, well-detailed lists.  I’ll post them as I received them.  For today's post, we have a nice list of six great albums.

Innervisions by Stevie Wonder
Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie
Girlfriend by Matthew Sweet
Exile On Main St by The Rolling Stones
Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain by Pavement
Swordfishtrombones by Tom Waits

We're going to keep the Best Album of ALL Time up for a long while as we continually update it. But I'll say this: The Beatles took the lead with not only The White Album but also the fact that they have been selected with two albums. Like The Albums You MUST Hear Before You Die! run, which does not show signs of stopping (I'm still getting emails, which I have no problem with and encourage - Send Them In), I'm hoping that this new thing stays strong. Send in your selection (one only, please) for the album that is the ruler of all.

If you have missed the last As The Disc Spins (updated), check it out here.

To access the previous site and catch up, click here.

Rhino has a few Collector’s Editions CD/DVD discs coming on March 10.  One of them is a CD/DVD reissue of Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams from BoDeans.  The other is a CD/DVD Collector’s Edition of Unplugged…and Seated by Rod Stewart.

Warner Brothers is releasing Here, Here and Here from Meg & Dia.  The album is scheduled for March 3.

Nashville Legacy will reissue 9 to 5 and Other Odd Jobs in CD form (Dolly Parton) on March 17.

Epic has a Developing Artist release coming, a S/T (self-titled) album from The Script, a band from Dublin, Ireland.  The song with the big play is “The Man Who Can’t be Moved.”  Check out their MySpace page to acquaint yourselves with their brand of music.  This is scheduled for March 17.

RCA is planning All I Ever Wanted by Kelly Clarkson, planning for March 10 for both the standard CD and the CD/DVD Deluxe Edition.  I have heard of varying dates but I’m sure that the 10th is the calendar spot for these issues.

Epic Records will release Ben Folds Presents: University A Acapella! from Ben Folds with the album slated in the March 10 slot.

RCA and Legacy Records has slotted Trailer Park (1996) from Beth Orton in a 2CD Legacy Edition re-master set.  This reissue will provide some rare B-sides, and live and instrumental versions of songs.  The booklet will contain new photos along with personal liner notes by Beth Orton.  This is on the calendar for March 10.

Ume Imports will reissue Saturday Morning Pictures (1971) by Stray on March 17.

Elvis and Legacy will release a 4CD Box called I Believe – The Gospel Masters on March 10.  All songs are re-mastered, and the Box will provide a booklet with an essay by Gordon Stoker (Jordanaires).  Elvis Presley and his legacy is a fount that is endlessly filling the trough.

DGC Records will release Metamorphosis by Papa Roach on March 24.

Hollywood Records has an untitled Pop title on the list from Steve Rushton scheduling a little later in the year for June 2.  Hollywood has a Country album coming on June 16 from Trent Tomlinson.

U-Music-Canada (Fontana Records) will release an LP and CD for Winter Gloves called About a Girl.  Those are expected on March 24.

UMe has several Various Artists Pop compilations coming on March 24, both from their popular NOW series.  The first is called NOW That’s What I Call Power Ballads, and NOW That’s What I Call Music! 30.

Finally, Atco Records and Rhino Records will release a new Queensrÿche album called American Soldier. The album is conceptually based on stories heard from returning soldiers from several conflicts ranging from WWII up to the current Iraqi/Afghanistan engagement. American Soldier is expected on March 31. A tour to support the album follows.

This is a Soundtrack of collected remixes of Various Artists and their songs serve the ambience of the film well. With remixes assembled by NIN's Danny Lohner, this compilation is sure to be an interest to its audience. Underworld: The Rise of the Lycans is not only a decent film in the trilogy (thus far), but the music is apt as well.

The Answer is a 4-piece outfit from Northern Ireland that just so happens to be this generation's Black Crowes, who was last generation's Led Zeppelin. This 4-song EP called Never Too Late is a great primer for what is now one of the fantastic rock bands that throw back to the Golden Era. And wonderfully at that. Hesitate not!