Let us depart from the realm of film for a minute to speculate on what this year's CMJ Music Marathon, which begins today in New York City, has in store for attendees. Critics have already noted this year's lineup (which you can see here) seems a bit lackluster, but there's still plenty of music to go around for CMJ's stew of jaded music journalists, label sharks on the hunt, burned-out-yet-ostensibly-eager publicists, bands moaning "This is it?", other bands excitedly gasping "This is it!", and John Q. Public.
Questions:
— With a big performance in Central Park on Thursday, will The Arcade Fire finally get some attention from the press and public?
— When Coheed And Cambria perform songs from their new album, Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness, will they deliver the succinct directness promised by the title?
— !!! vs. +/-: Who will walk away as champion of Bands Whose Names Frustrate Record-Store Clerks?
— Will subtle double entendres by bands Goblin Cock, Test Icicles, and Snatches Of Pink go unnoticed?
— Will The New Pornographers finally write a catchy song?
Stay tuned for dispatches from The A.V. Club Field Trip to CMJ.