It's been a good day today. I did some serious work on my research project, and I think I have a pretty good topic. It has to do with the role of nostalgia in music, and specifically how artists and songwriters use nostalgia to promote political agendas. I'm comparing the music and ideologies of U2, Radiohead, and the Manic Street Preachers. It's been interesting so far, and I can't wait to finish.

I'll step out on a limb here and say that Copeland is the best band I've heard in a long time, and they haven't even released anything this year - with the exception of an EP consisting solely of 80's covers. No thanks. (Maybe the Killers are a close second, but Copeland asserts that there cannot be a close second, so there you go.) Meanwhile, I'm going to see Morrissey on Tuesday. I haven't thought about it too much, but it will probably be a defining moment for me. I think I'll try to get him a copy of my demo.

The girls next door had us over for beer and apple pie (it's not as gross as it sounds ... trust me). It was really nice of them to do that. Plus I got to try Taj Mahal beer, which turned out to be delicious. They have a great-looking apartment with artwork, and fresh paint, and everything. And what do we have? Not much, but I'm proud of my Clash poster taped up on the wall.