Hear, hear!

Block your drums from the sound and the fury

By CHRISTINE LIU

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The dull ringing in your ears after a face-melting concert may seem inevitable, but it's probably not the best to blast your brains with abandon. If you respect music, you probably want to keep your hearing intact. Et voila! Ear plugs. They might seem dorky, but wearing them can actually lend an air of professionalism. Keep extra pairs around for key defense against noisy neighbors and cacophonous cohabitants. Pretty swell way to protect yourself ... eh?

1. MACK'S EAR SEALS | $3.69 (ONE PAIR)

NOISE REDUCTION RATING: 27

[Available at CVS. macksearplugs.com]

With a kicky removable cord (in X-TREEM!!! neon colors), these reusable and washable plugs seal out both noise and water. Ergo, booty-bumping foam party's written all over them.

2. HOWARD LEIGHT BY SPERIAN SUPER LEIGHT EARPLUGS | $4.99 (10 PAIRS)

NOISE REDUCTION RATING: 33

[Available at CVS. howardleightconsumer.com]

For sleek types, these are the neon pinnacle of minimalist utility. The Speedo of the ear plug world, perhaps. And the disclaimer, "due to the excellent seal characteristics, rapid removal may damage eardrum," really freaks us the hell out.

3. MOLDEX CAMO PLUGS | $22.95 (200 PAIRS)

NOISE REDUCTION RATING: 33

[Available at earplugstore.com. moldex.com]

These squishy plugs are rendered in camo. That is all.

4. SLEEP PRETTY IN PINK WOMEN'S EAR PLUGS | $4.29 (SEVEN PAIRS + CASE)

NOISE REDUCTION RATING: 32

[Available at CVS. sleepinpink.com]

The best marketing gimmick they could come up with is ... hot pink? Really? With a tagline of "Beauty sleep is always in fashion!" and "silky soft" as a descriptor, these would be completely written off, except for, um, their mad black-light potential.

5. MSA SAFETY WORKS EAR PLUGS | $2.99 (TWO PAIRS + CASE)

NOISE REDUCTION RATING: 31

[Available at Economy Hardware. msasafetyworks.com]

With rugged construction imagery, not to mention a power drill and airplane on the front of the package, these are a man's man plugs! Perhaps MSA and Sleep Pretty in Pink could run off into the forest together and produce offspring that's progressively adjusted? Thanks.