"I hope we have a lot of boys and we can name them all after you!"

I don't do music reviews. Sure, I'll tell you what I'm currently listening to, but I really don't care if you go out and get it (or don't) due to what I wrote.

I'm just not a credible critic. I like what I like and I make no excuses for it.

However, every once in a while, somebody comes a long that is so interesting that I have to mention him/her. James Scott Tamborello is such a person.

Jimmy Tamborello is an electronic wizard. Not like hooking-up-your-dvd-to-your-surround-sound wizard, but in coordinating keyboards, synthesizers, and whatever else he can make music from to make some very cool sounds.

He records under many different monikers; Dntel is probably his most famous. He also goes by James Figurine. He has so many projects and side bands that keeping up with his schedule must be near impossible. Not only does he provide the music for Postal Service, Strictly Ballroom, and Figurine, he also performs in the Rise Up With Fists! video for Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins.

Anyway, I got his latest cd - Mistake Mistake Mistake Mistake over the weekend. 14 wish list items to go.

Its sound is similar to early 80's music - Yaz, Human League, Depeche, Erasure, etc. - but with a very new and refreshing aftertaste to it.

I also enjoy the committee approach to recording the cd. One song features the lovely Jenny Lewis; another features the lovely Morgan Nagler. Such sweetness.

Admittingly, some of the songs are a little long. Six minutes of electopop is sometimes too much. However, I can just pop in a Postal Service cd (like what I'm doing now) and their equally sweet offerings are a just as pleasing and a bit shorter. I do like, however, that one of his songs is cleverly named after a text message.

The cd is a journey of a broken relationship and the resentment and regret that ensues. Since words are minimal on the cd, the song titles and electronic tones add extra weight to this emotional tale.

Moreso than anything else, I'm amazed at this type of music because it's so out of time and place. A quarter century ago, Tamborello would have been just another guy with a keyboard. Instead, he now stands out by himself - unless he's standing next to Ben Gibbard, Jenny, or Morgan.

And I'm not entirely sure where I'm headed with this or if I even have a point to make, but I' ve been thinking about the evolution of music the past couple of weeks. Although I usually end up with a frustration headache, I rather enjoy observing society - especially how it functions vis-a-vis its musical pursuits.

More than anything, I'm amazed at how progressive music is. That is - any particular decade's musical genre typically plays off and adds something new to the previous decade's. Rarely does music regress.

I've tried to identify a few timeless principles about music's evolution to gelp guide my thoughts.

Not exhaustive, they are as follows: Bands are usually able to jettison forward, rarely backward. eg - the Doors are still played in the 2000's, but wouldn't fit in during the 50's.

Every decade has filler music - music that is extremely popular but fizzles out after a while. Some songs remain in the public's memory, but bands are largely forgotten. Hence, the nostalgic quality of One Hit Wonders.

Some music makes sense in every decade. Sinatra, for example. Name one decade where he doesn't rule.

Resurgences occur - but then fade out. Anybody remembering buying a zoot suit and listening to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy ten years ago?

Overall, I've concluded that we are seven chess moves into our game of modern music evolution. I chose the chess metaphor because the evolution is not entirely linear. And although pieces are placed all over the board, a quick study of each move shows how each step makes sense - although the next step is impossible to predict.

We'll start in the 1940's and post WWII era. Why? Because I said so, I guess.

It was jazz and orchestra music dominated by Glen Miller and Benny Goodman. Sinatra's early crooning charmed the bobby sox off women. In the netherworld of music, Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker were starting an underground revolution that would soon hit the streets.

1950's - first stages of rock-n-roll embodied by Buddy Holly and Elvis. The first signs of teen rebellion (Rebel Without A Clue) boldly shows up in music. I've noticed, particularly among my parent's generation, that one was either a Sinatra or Elvis fan. Maybe both, but one was heads better than the other. There was an old tv program where Sinatra was joined by Elvis soon after he was discharged from the army; each played the other's songs. Elvis sang his own music convincingly, but not so much singing Sinatra's classics. Sinatra, obviously, sang his songs with angelic ease - then sang Elvis' set better than the King himself. I think you know which side I'm on. Still, the music was very innocent.

Early 1960's- This is the only decade I've purposefully split in half. It's the only decade where the one genre (rock-n-roll) split with such dramatic before-and-after effects that a different category needed to be added. Obviously, this era was dominated by the Beatles. Not to be forgotten entirely, the Rolling Stones put out some good music in this period.

Late 1960's - The rock-n-roll of these five years or so is entirely different than its predecessor. (I guess that's why they call it Classic Rock). In direct opposition from my father-in-law, I believe this era was dominated by the Doors. Sure, the Beatles and Led Zeppelin (Larry's favorite) put out some good music, too - but not as good as the Doors.

1970's - Dominated by Dylan and Crosby, Stills & Nash. By this time, the Stones pretty much stopped making good music. But perhaps the most underrated band of all time - Steely Dan - were putting out some classic records. [Maybe you're wondering why I skipped over disco. If you are, go read some graffiti - Disco Sucks.]

1980's - This is probably the most diverse decade for music. Maybe I just think that because it's my generation's music. Most bands skewed the lines between punk and preppy - Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics; rap music became commercially viable - Beastie Boys, Run DMC, Public Enemy. Sure, this decade also featured the so-called "hair bands" - but I can't stand their music, although I can't deny their popularity. All things considered, this decade was a pretty radical departure from the previous decade's music. Sadly, this decade also proved to be the line of demarcation from classic country to the crap Garth Brooks and his ilk put out.

1990's - Dominated by a lesser breed of music, or the grunge movement; on a better note, the beginning of good alternative music - exemplified by the Cranberries - emerged. Musically speaking, perhaps the weakest decade in several. Oh, Jamiroquai put out some good music.

2000's- indie, alt/country - Rilo Kiley, Bright Eyes, Neko Case. Being a lover of all things historical, I usually don't care commenting on the current times; it's just too early to define this decade. However, I'm glad this decade's music is a departure from the previous decade's. There's a strong aura of retro in it - 80's electronic, country, a little bit of everything.

Unsure, I'm nonetheless interested in what the next thing is.

But, I am fairly sure Tamborello (or whatever his name is that year) will be there.