Stevens' side projects to tide us over

In yet another effort to pacify his insatiable fans as we await his next (solo) studio project, Sufjan Stevens has orchestrated not one, but two new releases. Run Rabbit Run, a string quartet's (re)arrangement of Steven's 2001 electronica album, Enjoy Your Rabbit, is scheduled to release on Oct. 6, while The BQE, the soundtrack Stevens (and orchestra) composed to accompany a film that documents the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, will drop on Oct. 20.

May the Circle Be Unbroken

Although my A-to-Z adventure has failed to materialize as of yet, I have been swapping discs with my friend Jim for several weeks now, introducing each other to singer-songwriters that we love. It's a great way to enlarge your listening circle -- especially when your circles rarely intersect! He is a generation ahead of me and has roots in "old school" folk, country and bluegrass.

Lawyers & Labels & Language! Oh, My!

After months of silence, record label red tape and legal representation, Derek Webb is final able to "speak" about his fifth studio album, Stockholm Syndrome. Both the "clean" and "explicit" versions will drop on Sept. 1. However, if you move fast, you can snag an immediate download (as well as a lots of other swag) by preordering at his Web site. I plunged for the "tier three" pick myself last night!

A to Z

I have embarked on an A-to-Z adventure. I am endeavoring to listen to all of my CDs alphabetically -- from 4th Avenue Jones to ZOEgirl. That's one way to ensure that I get the most out of my approximately 700 albums. I'm excited to have an excuse to use such a calculated (some would argue anal-retentive) approach.