Expanding Musical Tastes - Around Christmas, I purchased my very first hip hop album, Phrenology by The Roots. I hadn't heard of them (so I thought) until I heard a segment about the album on National Public Radio, and was intrigued. Now, those close to me would say I'm prone to "NPR Syndrome" which is similar to "British Syndrome."

"British Syndrome" (it has many names) is that phenomenon where various things that originate from Britain seem to gain instant status as something having at least a minimal degree of culture merely by having a British accent. These include, but aren't limited to music, film, and especially TV sit-coms and sci-fi, usually found in US Public Broadcasting Stations.

"NPR Syndrome" is similar -- things gaining status and approval by having some snooty commentary done on it on an NPR show. OK, granted I might not have otherwise bought their CD, but that's not necessarily a given. If I'd have heard of this group consisting of rappers and musicians whose lyrics might reference, but not be entirely about life on the street, I might have picked up the CD anyway. Plus, ore than a few artists associated with The Roots have collaborated on Macy Gray's albums, and I got into her music all by my lonesome.

In any case, I'm sure most of the people who knew me in college would have a heart attack if they knew what was in my CD collection now. Eh, what can you do?