There are very few artists who four full decades into their careers are still consistently making riveting relevant music that still matters to fans old and new alike. Brian Eno is one of those rarities. Eno, who got his introduction to the music world at the start of the 70's as the keyboardist for Roxy Music before soon after going solo, has consistently evolved as an artist (and music theorist) singularly crafting new production styles and musical sounds (creating the genre of ambient music), as a producer (U2, Devo, Talking Heads, Coldplay), and selectively collaborating alongside with such notable artists over the years as Harold Budd, Robert Fripp, David Bowie, John Cale, and David Byrne. Even 30 years after its release Eno and Byrne's landmark My Life in the Bush of Ghosts sounds as fresh as the day it was released in 1981.

Not surprisingly Eno's artistic output and his approach to music continues to influence generation after generation of new electronic artists. So it makes sense that for Eno's latest release, Drums Between the Bells, that the electronic music innovator should again join forces with Warp Records - a label, since its formation 22 years ago has become known for always finding and advocating adventurous new electronic music. Last year Warp released Small Craft on a Milk Sea, Eno's excellent collaborative composition with Jon Hopkins and Leo Abrahams.

Check out the new documentary BRIAN ENO 1971-1977: THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH at The Roxie Theater in SF, Weds 5/11, 7pm. In celebration of Brian Eno’s 63^rd (!) birthday a few days later, the film will be preceded by a video mix of performance clips and birthday surprises. Drop by and say hi at the Amoeba table! Presented by Noise Pop. 

Also, follow us on Twitter @amoebasf! We'll be giving away a few pairs of tickets this Monday!

My first introduction to Roxy Music was Avalon, their last album as group from 1982. The title track, "Avalon," was actually played on adult contemporary stations, so I probably first heard it in my mom's car while she was dropping me off somewhere. Some of my favorites bands were near the end or their musical careers when I first heard them. It all just depends what age you are when you first hear a band. You can't help what year you are born and many of us end up liking music from past musical decades. Much of my favorite music comes from the 80's and early 90's but there is a good amount of music that I like that was being made when I was 3 years old back in the 70s too. I imagine it must be a little weird for somebody who is now 20 to only like 70s or 80s music -- music that was made well before they were born. A 20 year old could have been born in 1990! But I guess this is not any different than someone in the 80s being only into early soul music, or the millions of people who only listen to jazz or classical music made decades before they were born. By the time Roxy Music put out Avalon, I am sure they had lost many of their fans, or at least the fans of their earlier albums were not exactly jumping up for joy for the band's new softer, more adult contemporary sound. But I was not among them -- I loved Avalon. I loved the album cover. I loved the songs. When I was younger I was really drawn to album covers. They were much more important back then. It was often what first made me pick up certain albums. A really good album cover was really all that I needed to convince me to pick up an album. I probably didn't first pick up this album until the late 80's. The cover reminded me of some of my favorite movies at the time like Clash of the Titans or Ladyhawke. I was intrigued. Years later I would go back and discover the genius of early Roxy Music. The self titled album from 1972 and For Your Pleasure from 1973 are two of my favorites, and "Love is the Drug" from the 1975 album Siren remains one of my favorite songs of all time.

Bryan Ferry would go on to a very long solo career after Avalon and I have been obsessed with him ever since. Boys and Girls and Bete Noire are two of my favorite albums of the 80's. Brian Eno, on the other hand, worked on the first couple of Roxy Music albums but he has had an amazingly long career as a solo artist as well. Bryan Ferry has just released a new solo album called Olympia. This was initially going to be a new Roxy Music album and it really still sort of is one, even if it is credited just to Bryan Ferry. Former Roxy Music members Brian Eno, Phil Manzanera, and Andy Mackay are all featured on the new album. It features "You Can Dance," which I think is one of the best Bryan Ferry songs in a while. I actually heard it on the radio for the first time. I thought it was kind of appropriate since this is how I first discovered Roxy Music so many years ago. I am always excited to have Bryan Ferry back in my life. The man has an awesome voice and I can never get enough of him. He is one of those singers that I think can appeal to a teen into new wave music and a suburban housewife into Michael Bolton. There is really nobody like him and there is never any mistaking a Bryan Ferry song!

I'm always amused by scribbled out faces on album covers. Was it a small child or a high strung, maladjusted adult? I mean, hating on a Mary Jane Girl for their hotness is one thing, but what did the drummer of the Shondells ever do to you?

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Here are a couple of love messages, evidently one coming from the Artist himself. Below is a quality control stamp; every DJ should have one.