Well, I've tried opening several mp3 in Audicity, but I get the error: "There was an error initializing the audio I/0 layer. You will not be able to play or record audio. I'm having problems opening mp3s in ANY program, in fact, but this seemed the most informative. Any suggestions?

Also! Does anyone know how to install a TAR using the GUI, not the command lines?

I get this error also. Anyone got the answer?

*Pokes topic* O.o ANYBODY?

Contents of TAR files are usually source code, and I'm pretty sure you have to use the command line. I don't know of any way of passing ./configure & make commands etc to any individual file, or collection of files, using a GUI. And what if you want to pass a configure option to your source file? Tell it exactly where you want it installed etc. Unless your source code package comes with a graphical installer (firefox, apollon etc) then the command line is really the only way you have of performing these tasks.
Besides, with the CLI, you weild a helluva lot more power over your system than through the GUI.

Xavier P (one of the mods here) has a link in his sig to a guide called the rute. Take a gander - it's a really well laid out and easy to follow guide to the command line.