SWAG

Hit up Borders today. A bit of swag!

The Rhodia paper is smooth, white and thick. Massive props to Dom for the recommendation - it'll probably come in handy one day as a travel notebook (or whatever, really).

Also picked up a set of Bicycle playing cards which I've been eyeing for a while. Hopefully it'll serve as motivation for me to start practicing and learning card magic again.

I bought a few CDs too. Including some stuff by Sara Bareilles.

It's a fantastic slice of acoustic, piano driven pop. I really like it. Especially the eigth track, Love On The Rocks with a really nicely constructed chord progression played by a grand piano and a guitar that oozes the electric warmth you only get with a slightly overdriven semi-hollow-body.

I've also gotten into the Cardigans again. They're this swedish pop band that over the period of a decade played everything from jaunty, jazzy indie pop to dark brooking country rock (and did it with STYLE! I must add). While I do like their early, "happy" pop stuff like Rise and Shine - I respect their versatility and willingness to try new things! Here's hoping they create a new album (their last one was a best of compilation released in 2008).

Anyways! That's been my New Years! How's yours?

p.s. I've been writing a few songs (for fun) with my perrenial writing buddy/super guitar friend. One a young Greaser's last will and testatement before a night-time knife fight (think 50's America, rock n' roll gangs, greasy pompadours, switchblades, fast cars and "birds") and the other is about fried chicken. Go figure :D.