What a Difference an L makes

1. Emo. A massively popular style of music featuring whining vocals, monotonous melodies, static rhythms, and vacuous lyrics. [Embrace, one of the originals, is pictured top.]

2. Elmo. A massively popular monster, nephew of Grover on Sesame Street, featuring soft red fur, a curious mind, and a winning personality.

Household Rhythms

The spirit of John Cage [pictured] is alive and well, and you know he's looking down with a rakish grin. Check out this four-movement percussion piece video from Sweden called "Six Drummers," created entirely of found objects in an apartment!

http://video.aol.co.uk/video-funny/1866682

More Snap in My Rap

Recently I've been listening to Beck [top], who proves that rap can be articulate -- even exquisite -- yet lose none of its power. For my money, the only other interesting innovations in rap right now are coming from Kanye West [bottom], who uses the style as a backdrop for his gospel-music sensibility and his intense social criticism.