I opened my mailbox today to find a package waiting for me. As a materials reviewer for an online website, I'm used to finding receiving these on my stoop. Some have been interesting. Others have been fascinating. A couple have the distinction of being memorable for being truly terrible. However, I looked at this one with no small amount of trepidation. For good reason.

My "membership" in Blogcritics entitles me to apply for items such as books, CD's, concernt tickets, DVD's, and movie tickets sent to me at absolutely no cost. The payoff is that I get to keep these items in exchange for a review. The really nice thing is that I get mailed items which I could not otherwise afford.

After contactting the person responsible for sending my latest CD, I was asked if I would consider doing an interview. This is not unusual, although one request from a contact whose musician I was not keen on (and said so) struck me as a bit odd. Since I already had an interview under my belt, I knew how to get the job done. However, my specialty is books. What surprised me was having the publisher of Blogcritics authorize me to do said interview.

My one consolation was that the CD had yet to arrive, and until it did, all I could do was sit tight. When it came, I could figure out what to do next. Of course, it came. So, I opened it, and withdrew the item in question along with cover notes. Okay, perhaps this was not something I would have gone out and bought. It could still be a decent piece of work.

A local Milwaukee band? Hmmm... this might not be so bad. I needed to give it a listen.

Pitchfork Media says "utilizing guitar, banjo, drums, harmonica, brass, Rhodes, lap steel, vocals, and other subjects possibly found in kitchen sinks, Decibully creates a gleaming , layerer melange that has been compared to a cross between Canyon and Wilco.". Law of Inertia says, "utilizing a sound that fuses equal parts American Analog Set, Wilco, and Death Cab for Cutie.".

I agree that unique fits. My favorite song on this CD was "Notes To Our Leaders" which shows the politics behind Amercian Democracy. If one does not like the way in which government works, there are ways to change it. Starting with voting politicos out of office if they do not appear to be handling the job in proper fashion.

"Temptation" also caught my ear. This song talks about the tempting opportunities which surround us in daily life. We each have to make a choice as to whether or not we want to avail ourselves.