So I was reading that the hard rock/metal band Metallica has finally made some of their songs available on iTunes. The band was one of a few holdouts in the industry.

Good for Metallica. Good for their die-hard fans. Good for the more casual fan that only wants a few songs.

Now if we could just get The Beatles to join in.

The Fab Four are a glaring omission in the iTunes catalog, but the band's issues with the computer maker (Apple Records/Apple Computers ... everybody's mad at everybody) make a change of heart unlikely.

Maybe we'll have better luck with Led Zeppelin.

They're not on there either.

I'm not sure who reads this, but if you will excuse me I'd like to address this to one person in particular.

This is for the person who stole my car stereo recently.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I will dispense with the usual "why me?" line of questioning. You wanted my radio and it was there. That's enough for me.

But once I got through the usual range of emotions that come with being the victim of theft, I have to say one perplexing question lingered in my mind.

Why did you take my CD player but not any of the CDs that I so foolishly left lying about inside my vehicle?

Come on, man/woman. There was some good stuff in there.

I was actually a little offended. Sure I was relieved to not have to replace those too, but it is somewhat disheartening to think that my taste in music isn't even worth stealing.

I have since taken all my CDs out (not much point without a CD player). But if you will allow me, I'd like to make a case for what you left behind.

Wilco's "A Ghost Is Born": This is a good album. A little too country for you maybe? Sure they don't get much radio play, but .... oh, that's it. You're a radio person; you listen to the radio a lot. That's why you needed mine. You just aren't familiar with them. OK, moving on.

Death Cab For Cutie's "The Photo Album": Another surprise. This is one of indie-rock's flagship bands. And I detected a real indie sensibility to the way you smashed my window.

Coldplay's "X&Y": This was one of the biggest albums of 2005. It sold millions of copies. Yeah, you probably already had it.

Athlete's "Tourist": This was a big album in the U.K. A lot of people think they are influenced a lot by Coldplay. Since you already have the Coldplay album, you probably would like this one.

Oasis' "What's The Story Morning Glory?": The attitude of this English band probably turns you off. But come on, this was their big album here in the States. Sure, their later stuff trailed off in popularity but this is a solid effort.

"The Best of Elvis Costello": "Radio, Radio." 'Nuff said.