Today is a great day! The functionality may have been up for a few days or more, but I’ve just noticed today. You can FINALLY add MP3 album’s and tracks to your wishlists on Amazon. I use the wishlist technology on Amazon extensively and have been hounding customer support as to why it was not available for MP3 for months… maybe a year. They’ve finally listened (I’m convinced it happened solely from this avid supporters nagging and ongoing anti-itunes campaign… I’m sure). Either way, it’s here. Now, how long will it take until my album art / digipak whining catches the ears of a programming philanthropist? Hhhhmmmmm….

Radiohead won the Best Alternative Album Award for their record, ‘In Rainbows’. They also performed a song from the album, ’15 Step.’ This would be the band’s first ever performance at the Grammys. Their performance was backed by the University of Southern California (USC)’s renowned marching band. Radiohead beat out competition from: Beck – ‘Modern Guilt’, Gnarls Barkley – ‘The Odd Couple’, Death Cab For Cutie – ‘Narrow Stairs’, My Morning Jacket – ‘Evil Urges’.

Immolate Yourself

One of the two members of the Chicago based, electronic group Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on Thursday, January 22nd. Charlie Cooper III was 31 years of age. ‘Immolate Yourself,’ the groups third studio album was released one day later on Bpitch Control.

Little has been released on the exact details of how Cooper died. His friend and partner Joshua Eustis posted the following message on the group’s MySpace page. He’s accomplished a lot in his short career. The industry will surely miss him.

Hello, Everyone.

It breaks my heart to inform you all that Charlie Cooper, my better half in Telefon Tel Aviv, passed away on January 22nd.

We have been friends since high school, and began making records together a decade ago.  We have been so fortunate to tour the world together, while at the same time having a massive amount of laughs at one another’s expense.

Aside from Charlie’s singular genius and musical gifts, I can tell you that he was a total sweetheart of a guy, and a loving friend and confidant to people everywhere.  His musicianship was surpassed only by his greater gift to the world – his warmth, his generosity, his unquenchable humor, and his undying loyalty to those whom he loved.  In the spirit of honorable mention, however, I should mention that he had a shoe collection that was marvelous, knowledge of hip-hop that was profound, and knowledge of wine that was subtle.

He is survived by a sister, a neice, a nephew, his mother, his stepfather, me, and more adoring friends than the Universe has dark matter.  As such, his family and I ask for your discretion and consideration of our privacy during these extremely turbulent waters.

Yours in Music,

Joshua Eustis