One of my new year's resolutions is to listen to less music.

That's right - listen to less. And I will tell you why.

If you asked me what my favorite album of 2008 from a non-Memphis band was (my favorite Memphis album is Brooklyn Hustle / Memphis Muscle from Jump Back Jake, of course!), I would have to think really, really hard, and then I still might not be able to give any strong recommendations - even though I can easily say that I listened to more new music last year than any other year in my life. It turns out when your desk is overflowing with the latest CD's and your inbox is stuffed with emails from PR firms telling you they have something you can't afford to miss, you end up listening to a whole bunch of songs once or twice and then you move on to the next batch, barely retaining the name of the band, much less the melody of the songs.

With so much music out there, I have less time to spend with each album which means I have less time to connect with it, experience it, really get to know it. I remember the days when I would spend months with the same CD playing in my car stereo (I no longer have a stereo in my car due to theft and the need for some peace and quiet!) but over the past few years, other than a few favorite artists (read: Ryan Adams, The Postal Service, Wilco, Leona Naess) - you know, the classics...) few bands have gotten more than a handful of spins.

So this year, I am vowing to listen to less music, jump on fewer "bandwagons" and spend more time with more artists I really love.

The first band I have been listening to non-stop is one from Memphis (surprise!) but one that has been sitting on my desk since September. I gave The Silent Parade's "The Safest Boy" a few spins back at the end of the summer and liked it enough to invite Charlie Shaw in for an interview on my radio show, Thursdays with Rachelandthecity. I also recently invited him back to play on my other show, Ardent Presents.

Anyway, the CD ended up in my purse, and then on my bed and then magically found it's way into the CD player in my bathroom - so, everyday for the past few weeks I have started my morning with this album. It reminds me a little of Whiskeytown, and the cover of Jackson Brown's "Running on Empty" is awesome.

What else have I been listening to? Well, so far not much - other than a little Hot 107 when I ride around with my main squeeze. We may be late to the party, but we can't seem to get enough of this: