The day is rapidly approaching when every piece of music ever recorded will be available for easy downloading. Just punch a few keys, wait a minute or two, and start a-pogoing to an ultra-rare ragtime 78, or that demo cassette your favorite thrash-funk band released in 1991, or a Robbie Rivera remix of a Pink jam she hasn't even recorded yet. This audio glut, combined with the ever-accelerating advances in portable song-slinging devices, means there will always be something to listen to. And you will have no acceptable excuse for not doing so every waking second.

OK, one excuse: MP3 players are overpriced, especially those on top of the sales charts. You'll get no argument on that point from us. But the RCA Lyra won't let you hide behind fiscal concerns. For less than you usually spend in two hours at Dave & Buster's, you'll get 512 bold, brassy MB of tuneage and/or audiobookage. Not enough? Expand it with an SD/MMC card (not included). The Lyra also includes a line-in jack and an FM tuner/recorder, bringing MP3s, WMAs, Audible audiobooks and FM broadcaststogether under its big tent of compatibility. The vain, preening fops among you can choose from three different backlighting colors.

The RCA Lyra will help you drown out the bitter accusations of your co-workers and the contemptuous snorts of your family members, smothering them in a portable blanket of soothing rock, pop, jazz, country, classical, urban, or other. Isn't that peace of mind worth more than, say, a semi-decent ticket to an NHL game? Darn right it is. Especially if you're a St. Louis Blues fan.

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