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I'm running the marathon for Team Diabetes Jan 16, in honor and memory of our son, Brian, whom many of you know passed away from complications of type 1 diabetes this past February, 10 days before his 34th birthday.

Here's the link:http://main.diabetes.org/site/TR?type=fr_personal&fr_id=7500&px=6139327&post_id=57803&bpg=rlist&pg=personal

If any of you would like to donate, I'll love you forever. If you'd just go look at the page, I'll love you forever. :) I realize every one has their own missions and causes, and I honor that. But if you would consider making a small donation in my Brian's cause, I would be so, so very grateful. Thank you.

Holy freaking hell! There is little that could make me happier than this: http://www.dawnofoblivion.com/ikaros/ikarosinfo.html

DOO is a fantastic band, featuring one of my favorite vocalists, Victor Fradera, who is also a wonderful songwriter. I've raved about Victor and DOO here before. And now I get to do it again! :D If you don't know 'em, you can (and should!) buy several of their works from iTunes, including the new EP, which is downloading even as I type. (YES! WHEEE! YAY! etc :D)

I am sooooo chuffed. I have to go for my run now, but I'll try to tell you what I think of Ikaros later.

Oh, man, I'm excited! And the idea that 13 more DOO tracks will reach my ears soon is possibly enough to make me start reviewing more regularly again! :)

But I manage to do it regularly.

Last week while running I listened to a lot of Northern Kings, a Finnish so-called "supergroup," consisting of four of the best-known Finnish metal vocalists. (They cover 80s hits, among other things, reinterpreted in a metal style. Freaking cool. And great running music.)

As I was listening to Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) sing, I had a sudden realization that has probably ruined him for me. He sounds just like Peter Lorre would sound singing in an anthemic metal style.

After this realization, I couldn't listen to Kakko without seeing Lorre in his place, complete with long hair and tight leather pants. It was a funny image, and made me laugh, which slowed me down. So I had to listen to some of the other music on my playlists.

Northern Kings is highly recommended, btw. If, you know, you can get past the Lorre thing.

So, I now have the new Iced Earth EP and the new Pyramaze (both featuring Matt Barlow, of course). <flails> <dies of aural bliss> <doesn't even really mind the lack of hair. well, sort of>

This thing works again.

And the news is good. The lovely folk at eMusic.com refunded the credits I lost on the promo versions of the above albums, quickly and with no hassle. And the proper versions of both albums are available for download as of 06/17. If you've no idea what I'm talking about and want to know, you can check my last few journal entries.

eMusic.com rocks rocks rocks.

I love a happy ending. :)

Oh, both the new Hollenthon and the new Tyr are mighty and awesome works of art, so get 'em. Maybe I'll do a little review when I can make myself stop listening to them. :)

I'm very pleased to inform you that both eMusic and iTunes have each pulled both of these albums, and they are no longer available for download. So, no one else will be paying for what were promo releases, with the infuriating voice-over numerous times per song.

I'm sure both sites will have the new, proper releases out soon--they generally are both quite good about getting new music out there quickly.

They will not be getting my money for these two albums as I've already ordered them from another source. Patience is not one of my particular virtues. Snooze/lose.

But my love for both eMusic and iTunes continues unabated. :D They both have an excellent assortment of metal and feed my I-want-it-NOW personality quite nicely.

Now eMusic needs to re-credit me for the credits wasted on the two promo copies, and I'll be completely happy with them again. I'm optimistic that they will--they are an excellent outfit, or I wouldn't have remained a subscriber since Dec. 2002.

I'll do an update when I get my refund, as I am a completist. :)



PS--If you've just "tuned in," have no idea what's up and are curious, all the details are in my last entry.

Re: Last night's comment "DON'T GET THE NEW TYR. FROM EMUSIC..."

DO NOT GET EITHER OF THE ABOVE-MENTIONED RELEASES from either eMusic OR iTunes. Both sites have the PROMO versions of both these albums, and both albums have those incredibly infuriating "You are now listening to...." voice-overs at very frequent intervals.

BOTH iTunes and eMusic versions of the latest Hollenthon, "Opus Magnum," and the latest Tyr, "Land," are affected, at both sites. I checked both myself.

When you get a free promo copy of an album, you expect this. No problem. But when you pay for a copy of an album (or use prepaid download credits--same thing)? Nuh-uh. It's majorly fucked up.

Btw, these were not indicated as promos, and were certainly not free, at either site. EMusic labeled both albums as "advance releases," but said nothing about the voice-overs. And I've d/l'ed plenty of "advances" from eMusic in the past w/o this problem.

So, whom to blame? I'm actually going with Napalm Records for sending out promos. Both albums are Napalm releases. Napalm are an excellent label. I've been buying their music since they've been in existence, with never a problem. Their selection is great, prices reasonable, and shipping speed fantastic. I'm sure this was an "oops."

iTunes and eMusic probably can't check every track they make available--look how much music they release. But once the error has been brought to their attention, they should immediately credit the downloader with the appropriate number of tracks and remove the promo copies, or label them as such and make them free.

I'll let you know how that goes, and when/if the proper version of the albums is available at either site.

In the meantime, use great caution downloading anything released by Napalm in the same time frame as these two albums. It's likely those weren't the only two "oopses." (If indeed they did release anything else in that time frame. I haven't checked, and probably won't. If someone wants to check and post the results here, you are welcome to do so.)