I've really missed you guys. I know it's been a while since the last Chronicles, but having a second son did things to my writing schedule that couldn't be fixed without the use of heavy equipment. However, I'm back, and plan to visit you on a regular basis once again!

I turn 40 in March, and with the help of my better half I've recently begun trying to expand my musical tastes beyond the '70s and '80s hits that crowd my iPod at the present time. I've got almost two days of music loaded on there, and there's far more Bowie than Bjork, and way more Pink Floyd than Foo Fighters. Basically, with occasional exceptions, my musical tastes pretty much stopped evolving in the late '80s.

I blame Vanilla Ice for this. One of my favorite Brit-rock songs has always been the Queen/Bowie duet "Under Pressure," with Freddie Mercury and the Thin White Duke trying to out-shrill each other over Queen's usual operatic rock crescendoes. That infectious rhythm line that began the song was iconic, and when that pasty-faced waste of life sampled it for "Ice, Ice Baby," it damaged my brain. I'd hear the intro for "Under Pressure" come on the radio, then my eardrums would cringe as the Vanilla Ice lyrics began. On some deep level, I decided if the new breed of musicians was going to show that little respect for their elders, then they didn't need my money or my time.

Thankfully, I discovered the then-burgeoning classic rock radio format, which enabled me to sever all ties with America's Top 40 and retreat behind my walls of Skynyrd, Creedence, Stones and the rest. I spent the next decade-plus adding very little to my collection that wasn't new releases from old familiar artists.

In the least year or so, though, I've begun to stray into new (for me) territory. Slowly, songs from Nickelback, Rammstein, Brad Paisley, Wilco and other artists and bands began to make their way into my collection. But as I've explored, I've started to realize how much there is out there I haven't heard and how much is being added to the pile every day. It's scary! I don't want to be one of those "hipster dad" types who tries to listen to all the music the kids are grooving to, but it's high time I opened my ears to some new sounds.

So, loyal and long-suffering readers, I'm asking you for help. Below is a list of the last 10 songs on my iTunes purchase log. Look them over and send me your suggestions for other bands, artists or songs I should check out. I'm open to anything, but I'm not a huge fan of gangsta rap, emo or anything involving the names Spears, Lohan or Duff.

1. "Bodies" Drowning Pool
2. "Sky Blue Sky" Wilco
3. "Rehab" Amy Winehouse
4. "Do You Realize?" The Flaming Lips
5. "Du Hast" Rammstein
6. "Musicbox" Regina Spektor
7. "Going Whichever Way The Wind Blows" Pete Droge
8. "Cobrastyle" Teddybears
9. "Online" Brad Paisley
10. "I Hope You Die" Bloodhound Gang

Eclectic enough for you? Yes, I did find a few of those after they caught my ear on TV commercials. I feel no shame for that, although I'm sure the cutting-edge types among you will sneer at me. That's OK. I came to terms with having missed the "cool" boat years ago, and I'm happily sliding toward old fogeyhood.

So, send me your musical selections, criticisms of my lack of taste, large buckets of spare cash or heartfelt love letters. Just drop me a line, anytime!