Thanks to Bill DeVille for filling in for me yesterday -- I was putting the finishing touches on a special we'll be airing this Sunday at 6pm. It's called "The 12 Discs Of Christmas:" Mary talks with two big music critics (Will Hermes and Kelefa Sanneh) about clever and creative gift-CD choices for the holidays. Yep, that's right: the holidays really are almost upon us, despite what all this warmish weather has been telling us. Maybe it'll actually feel like it later today with that snow they keep promising us ...

Also, I just played my first cut off the new Kate Bush record. I'm liking it, which is a relief for me -- a guy who used to love Kate's stuff but was pretty severely underwhelmed by The Red Shoes. I still haven't had a chance to listen to the whole thing (it's long), but I'm liking the two or three things I've heard so far.