The Magnetic Fields are about to embark on their tour 'round Europe and I'm sure I'm not the only one crossing off the days. Oh fuck it, I'm even counting sleeps.

Stephin Merritt is one of the best lyricists of all time. He's the dog's bollocks, the cat's pajamas, and he's got a little ukulele in his hand which somehow makes it even better. When '69 Love Songs' came out I was thirteen. Merritt shaped my views on love before I even knew what that was. I listened to nothing but those 69 bits of genius for months on end because nothing else compared - and almost a decade later I feel exactly the same way. Love is still smoke and mirrors, cacti and bunny rabbit suits.

It makes sense if you don't think about it.

If you've not yet picked up a copy of their new album 'Distortion' there is something deeply wrong with you. It's like weird bubblegum Jesus & Mary Chain. (Psst! Do it now before anyone finds out.)

MYSPACE

James Kochalka has been keeping a sketchbook diary for years and years and years. About ten, probably. Until recently you could only see his current daily strip on his website for free, while the archives were kept for paying subscribers. If you missed the freebie window that was it gone. But fear not, the American Elf has stuck 'em all - yep, all of 'em - up on his website. Now you can go way back in time to the days of black and white when he bought the very first blank sketchbook, or shared a cigarette in the rain.

I read his strip every day. I even read it before I check my email. And so should you.