What's up with The Shins? There's probably some news about a new CD over at Pitchfork, but I don't get over there every day, and I hate that site's search functionality.

Anyway, a few folks have sent messages asking if the links to the hosted files are broken on rbally.

The short answer is that they're not. Most links should be active, dating back to some from December 26, 2005, rbally's first day.

Now, the problem we're dealing with is two-fold . . . first, I typically do not take down the files I've posted unless they're from a commercial release. So, almost every bootleg I've posted should be currently available. And as I pretty much stick to bootlegs that means that a ridiculous amount of files are available on rbally, and the availability of several months worth of posts has only led to increasing visitors, greater bandwidth consumed, etc.

Second, I'm currently using shite hosts like ezarchive, and given ezarchive's lack of operational stability I think the service's sys admins must be drunk on Belvedere of something. No, not really . . . they do a reasonably good job for the price they charge.

So, the combination of amateur hosting with high traffic is the source of the broken links.

The short-term solution is to just stop by later . . . traffic ebbs, and most likely the files will be available when less folks are visiting.

Now, the good news is that I've identified a more reliable host, one that fits within my budget, and I'm going to begin the transfer over the Fourth of July weekend. This means that you should have more reliable rbally pleasure in the near future.

Anyway, this show is from First Avenue over in the land of Prince (in 2003). There's a few quirks to the files . . . the first track starts with the music piped-through the PA before the band started, some of the tracks have a few annoying pops, and the level might sound a bit-low to some (so open iTunes and use that Volume Adjustment thing . . . I wish I had lossless versions as I'd clean-up the files). All the same, the show sounds pretty damned good, and as I'm anxious for new Shins, this show will have to do for now.

Damn, I'm rambling today.

OK, let's go.

Listen:

Pressed In a Book
Kissing the Lipless
When I Goose-Step
One By One All Day
Turn a Square
Pink Bullets
Mine's Not a High Horse
Girl Inform Me
Saint Simon

Buy: The Shins Music

And for those who can't wait until tomorrow for part two, there's another Shins concert here.