1. Absolutely everyone must get themselves over to the Arcata Eye’s massive scoop of the day — the lost tapes of one-time man-about-Arcata Pete Villareal. If you knew Pete you will be astonished; if you never knew Pete, you will simply be blown away by his music. They sound like 200-year-old Spanish ballads, but I’m pretty goddamn sure that Pete wrote them himself, and despite the awful state of the tape you can clearly hear him singing them beautifully.

Eye majordomo Kevin Hoover has posted the first song, which he has titled “Open Your Heart.” It will knock you on your ass. Prep yourself for the second number — my favorite — which I’m going to call “Palabras al viento.” Hopefully Hoover will post it soon.

2. A special appeal to our Spanish-speaking readership. Listen to “Open Your Heart,” and then hie thee quickly to the accompanying Wiki page, which carries your Lost Coast Outpost’s incomplete transcription and probably erroneous translation. I’m hoping more competent people will fill this in and fix it up.

I’m still blown away by this thing. Thank you, Kevin! Thank you, Alan Sanborn, discoverer and keeper of the Villareal sessions!