I have fought the battle of resistance to moving over to digital music from the highly satisfying physical acquisition of CDs and LPs.  But I feel as if I'm losing this one quickly.  You see, there are several titles that are DD only and, well, I've had to adapt to this.  I'm finding that it's not all that bad.  With hard drive storage costs dropping to next to nothing, it now becomes economically feasible to make the jump over to the digital realm.  Recently, I found 1TB external drives selling for around US$100.  With that kind of storage space, I can take some time over the rest of the year (yes, I've already decided) and convert, organize, and otherwise arrange my PC to become the distributor of music in my house.  Couple that with a Sonos setup, not only should I be able to enjoy music house-wide, but the music that I want will be instantly accessible with no more searching for titles in boxes and on shelves.  If I need an album to take along with me on a trip, I can instantly find the title and burn one to satisfy.  Yeah, I think  I can take this leap.

Over the years, music has steadily and effectively moved to the digital realm.  In many cases, exclusivity has fallen on the side of digital distribution.  By that I mean that there are some remastered albums that are only released as a digital album.  In addition, many bands are releasing EPs as Digital Downloads only.  Eventually, I see many albums being delivered in this way.  With the future being what it is, I just need to quit kicking against pressure.  Who knows, I might even favour it eventually.  Certainly, music all in one place, easily identified and played, is a good thing.  Up to now, I have had immense joy from physical LPs and CDs.  But with so much pushing us toward a change of habit, I'm now shedding the confused feelings and opting for digital. 

That doesn't mean that I can't still collect LPs and CDs.  I can't forsake the thumbing for great music in stores...as long as they're around.  But it now has to take a seat as a hobby rather than a necessity.  Quite frankly, ordering things from Amazon has helped to change my habit.  Why?  Well, it isn't thumbing through albums in a store, that's for sure.  But I got used to clicking and buying, and then having to wait a few days for delivery, delaying any gratification (never had that problem in the old days).  And I became accustomed to that even though I still seek out the occasional trip to Amoeba, and monthly vinyl fairs.

And so there, I've said it.  I'm going to officially move into the digital realm and not look back.  Without giving up those occasional hobbyist trips that I mentioned, I'll just collect my music on hard drives.  Besides, how hard can that be?  Right?

Queen continues to send in a a responsive nerve in our latest 'Best of Band' Poll.  And it doesn't seem to be easy.  Many voters in this poll are evaluating even as they write their answers out.  They pore over the details and strengths of several albums before they finally settle on one uneasy choice.  I had in my mind what I thought would be the hands-down winner but I'm being proven wrong.  My own choice (Sheer Heart Attack) has shown a lot of muscle at the start but so has Queen II, both albums I would have figured to be somewhat ignored.  Later albums that have brought in various new styles within the Queen sound  have fared well also.  Personally, I thought sure that A Night at the Opera would take out all comers but its been 'not-so-fast' for that one just as it has been for A Day at the Races.  Of course, all of that may change with a flurry of votes for those classic best sellers. 

We've allotted two weeks for this Poll to allow for some readers who catch up over time on TAP and who almost always send in Poll votes after a particular Poll closes, hence this extension of time.  Remember to give us your vote for the best album of Queen's career.  Feel free to put in all of the commentary that you want to backup your claim.  While it will not be used (most of the time), I love reading them.  They always reveal smart and dedicated fans and the true lovers of music.

Be sure to send in your selection to The Best of Queen Poll.  We'll run the results on Monday, May 18, enough time for everyone to get an idea on how everyone else seems to think.  Queen is a challenging band with so many ventures into many different styles.  Their music appealed to fans on many levels. 

You can stream six songs from the new New York Dolls album, Cause I Sez So, released by Atco Records on May 5 (check out our review of the album below). We hope that you enjoy the songs.

New York Dolls - Cause I Sez So - Listening Party Stream

See you on Monday.

Legacy Recordings will revisit several classics by tying them into a Woodstock series called Woodstock Experience. This tie-in is joined by Woodstock Ventures. What will be occurring are the re-releases of Volunteers (Jefferson Airplane); I Got Dem 'Ol Kosmic Blues Again, Mama! (Janis Joplin); Santana (Santana); Stand! (Sly and The Family Stone); and Johnny Winter (Johnny Winter) in remastered forms. These will be joined by a second disc that features the entire band's performance at Woodstock that will obviously include previously unreleased material. Each 2CD package will be packaged in LP-styled, eco-friendly paper sleeves. Each title will be individually numbered to become collector's editions. Finally, each title will include a 16" x 24" poster of the performer at 1969 Woodstock. These separately available Woodstock Experience series titles will be made available on June 30.

American Recordings will assemble a 'best of' collection for The Jayhawks called Music From the North Country: The Best of The Jayhawks. This collection will span the band's six album releases including their Twin-Tone debut, Blue Earth. Music From the North Country will be available in several forms that include standard CD, or a Special Edition 2CD/DVD set that adds a CD filled with B-sides, rarities, and previously unreleased material, and a DVD. Both packages will arrive on July 7.

Legacy Recordings team with Silvertone Records to reissue what many call "The Greatest Album of All Time." While that might be far-fetched to many, the fact remains that the Stone Roses' S/T debut was a very good one that yielded the hit, "I Wanna be Adored" as well as other hits. This album is being released in three forms that include a Special Edition 1CD set with an expanded booklet and a full length version of "Fool's Gold;" a 2CD/1DVD Legacy Edition that adds a 15-track second disc termed The Lost Demos, which includes a previously unreleased "Pearl Bastard," and a DVD with the 1989 Live in Blackpool, previously unreleased in the US (includes a 28-page booklet); and a Collector's Edition that is packed. The Collector's Edition is a 3CD/3LP/1DVD/1USB/Book/6 Art Prints set. Here's that breakdown: the 3CDs adds to the Legacy Edition 2 discs a third disc of B-sides and collected non-album singles; the 3LP replicate the CDs on 180g LPs housed in hardback slip-case; the DVD is the same as found in the Legacy Edition; the USB is a lemon-shaped stick that contains all of the audio, videos, ringtones, wallpapers, a home video of the recording of "Fool's Gold;" a 48-page book with tons of photos, and notes from everyone except me; and six art prints painted by John Squire. All of these sets wil lbe available on August 11.

RCA and Legacy will deliver a 4CD Box for Hall & Oates called All The Way From Philadelphia on August 25. There will be a tons of material that includes all of the hits as well as a massive batch of unreleased Live material.

The 1984 debut from Mick Jones of The Clash known as This is Big Audio Dynamite will be remastered, expanded, and reissued by Epic in a 2CD Legacy Edition. The first disc will contain the original album while the second disc will be filled with B-sides and 12" remixes so prevalent in that time. This Big Audio Dynamite (B.A.D.) Legacy Edition is scheduled for September 8.

There are two more 2CD Legacy Editions planned for September 8. Those are sets for Cheap Thrills by Big Brother & The Holding Company featuring Janis Joplin, and Couldn't Stand the Weather by Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble.

RCA Records will release the next album by Daughtry called Leave This Town on July 14.

I wanted to alert you to some date changes that include the anticipated Richard Thompson retrospective 4CD Box called Walking on a Wire: Richard Thompson (1968-2009), and the Nick Cave remasters (4 albums). The Richard Thompson Box expected from Shout! Factory has been pushed back to August 4 from its original release date of June 30. The Nick Cave remasters from Mute Records are now scheduled for May 19.

History has been very worshipful of New York Dolls. Their original lineup produced two memorable albums with a strong debut that is as influential today as the day it was released. On their newest album, the wonderful to hear Cause I Sez So, David Johansen, Syl Sylvain, and the three new additions to this classic band, provide 12 tracks that will continue to have us in awe of them.

Ambient music is a set apart genre not normally visited byu the average Rock fan. It requires more than the usual involvement but can yield multiple satisfying results. Steve Roach has been making quality ambient works for decades. This 2CD Dynamic Stillness is his latest interpretation and is worth the investigation.

This Brooklyn band has created some exciting music that is exciting to hear in every way. With a string of self-released albums and EPs, they have already made a mark in the heart of New York City. What's best is that they have made ALL of their music freely available, downloadable from their site. If you feel the band's music is worth money, they have a way that you can pay for their music. We invite you to click through to their website and to their MySpace and Facebook pages to get a fill of their music. Recently, Dead Heart Bloom had an awesome song ("New Messiah" - one for the iPod, believe me AND a FREE download) featured on Terminator: The Sarah Connors Chronicles.