Among contributors to the broad New Mexico soundscape, some have been fortunate enough to cross paths with the immensely talented and endearingly eccentric audio engineer Quincy Adams. Over the years Quincy, also known as Q!, has worked on countless recordings for our region's musicians, his eclectic archive of projects including rock bands past and present, experimental artists, and an abundance of local rappers and hip-hop groups. Along with expert sound, anyone who has worked with Q! has probably been privy to his excellent sense of humor, engaging conversation and all-around good nature. Sadly, during the past couple months, Q! has become increasingly sick, and his studio has closed down. He is now faced with a life-threatening illness and the colossal bills that come with it.

Despite his blood-soaked T-shirt and ghoulish colored contacts, there's a smirk on Eddie Suicide's face that lets you know he takes his band's mantra of gore and destruction only half-seriously.

You start an interview easy, with some chill question that allows your source to go on and on about himself, to warm to you. This is, apparently, not the way to go with Isaac Brock, a man who isn't hot on the idea of explaining himself or why his band's latest album is so much better than a lot of the shlock Modest Mouse put on shelves in the last decade.

Home Again (Fast Horse Recordings), the latest solo release from Iraqi oudist/composer Rahim Alhaj, sounds unfamiliar at first. The CD’s nine compositions are played on a 12-stringed acoustic instrument little known in the West, whose recorded history dates back 5,000 years. They’re built on modes (maqamat) alien to the Western ear, and their themes are developed almost entirely melodically.

What’s this? Another bea-utiful silkscreened concert poster from Heath Dauberman and Little Kiss Print Shoppe! And it says The X-Khans (featuring Penny, formerly of the Roxie Harts), will make its garage-folk debut this Thursday, Nov. 15, at Ralli’s Fourth Street Pub and Grill, with Inner Parlors and The Devils Due. Thanks for the good news, magic flyer. (LM)

My eardrums hurt. Not from a rock concert or a gun going off near my head, but from the bass beat that's been pumping through large Philips headphones into my brain. Turn down the volume, stupid! I know, but I can't—Daft Punk's new live album, Alive 2007, is just too damn good. The only thing that could make it better would be the French electro-house duo sprouting from the ground in full robot gear with strobe lights flashing, causing everyone to burst into spontaneous, jovial dance. Alive 2007 shows Daft Punk's ability to produce definitive dance hits, then dissect, rework and remix them into a commanding live performance. (AD)