Jim Allchin, the former Microsoft Windows chief, has said some very complimentary things about Apple over the years, including the legendary message in which he told Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer, "I would buy a Mac today if I was not working at Microsoft."

Consider the favor returned. Allchin's debut album, which we reported on last month, was released today, and it currently holds not one but two featured spots on the home page of Apple's iTunes store. It's in the prominent "New and Noteworthy" section AND in the separate "What We're Listening To" section.

Somebody at Apple either has a sense of humor, or genuinely likes what Allchin has produced.

So far, however, the iTunes user reviews are divided.

"This is one of those artists you hear and are surprised that you haven't heard them before," writes one. "Allchin is a GREAT guitar player from the Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson school. He also writes some great songs."

Counters another, "It doesn't matter how good he can play, the songs are terrible. This my friends, is the album you get when you can afford to produce your own stuff, and not give a crap what other people think."

(Thanks to Joe Wilcox for pointing this out.)