Enjoying Music

The title of this post might seem silly... especially on this blog, but here me out. Because of my job and degree and, well, life, I'm listening to music almost constantly. I think there's a real difference, though, between hearing music and listening to it, and an even bigger difference between just listening and really enjoying it. Tonight I got to really truly enjoy some music for a while... and of course, there's a bit of a story:

Last night I decided to rearrange my room. Good idea - it looks really good. Here's the problem: in the process of moving things around, I managed to pretty much destroy my subwoofer. I'm not really sure what happened, all I know is that once I got it where I wanted it and plugged it in, it just kind of popped. That's not the worst thing, because the speakers I had paired with it need to get back to the system they belong to at my parents house anyways.

So I went shopping today.

I wasn't planning on this expense, so I definitely didn't have much to spend, but I certainly couldn't settle for something that didn't sound really good. I ended up with the Bose Companion IIs. That's Bose's least expensive set-up, and I'll admit that I was really jonesing for the more expensive ones, but these still sounded better than everything else in the store (regardless of price).

I've spent quite a bit of time tonight listening, and they sound really great. There's just a clarity to the sound that I haven't heard out of my computer before. An incredible bass response, too - especially since this is the first computer speaker system I've had without a subwoofer - these beat out the Altec sub that blew up any day. They come highly recommended, as does the music I've been listening to:

1. Jon Foreman's 4 "season" EPs have been playing in my house/car continuously since they came out. Seriously some of the best music I've ever heard. I've gotten a little disenchanted with Switchfoot in recent years, but this stuff is just insanely good. Really acoustic, simple arrangements, but they showcase some truly profound music. You need to check this stuff out.

2. Ivoryline is a new rock/metal band from Texas. I got their CD a little while back, but haven't really gotten into listening to it until last week or so, and I must say that it's VERY good. Melodic and heavy, but still a pop element that I really like. Great vocals.

3. After "retiring" a couple years back, Sixpence None The Richer just released a new 4 track EP this week. I was never much of a Sixpence fan "back in the day," but the EP was available for free on Derek Webb's Noisetrade site (which is definitely worth checking out, by the way), so I decided to give it a shot. Wow. I'm really impressed with these tunes. Sixpence may have a new fan!

Now I've got the Pandora radio going, but I really need to get to bed... tomorrow's not a busy day, but it doesn't start earlier than today!