Well it looks like I have one reader. On a totally unrelated note did I mention how much I liked Ireland. Boy is Ireland a great country, don't you think? Did you know Ireland is the third largest island in Europe? I am assuming that Great Britain is bigger, and I just looked it up and Iceland is bigger. Now if any of my readers can name the 4th largest island in Europe (without researching it) I will deliver a terrific prize. This is on the honor system so enter your answers in the comments section and prizes will be awarded next week. I am perusing the wikipedia page on Ireland and it says that "Despite the constitutional division of Ireland, the island does operate as a single entity in a number of areas. With a few notable exceptions, the island operates as a single unit in all major religious denominations and in many economic fields despite using two different currencies. There are also significant all-island dimensions to sports such as rugby and hockey." So maybe one of many Irish readers can explain that to me. Are they playing regular old American/Canadian hockey over there? Also there are only 26 land mammal species native to Ireland (including the badger). That seems rather low. You have badgers, people, Leprechauns, Pine Martins, Red Fox, Irish Hare, Red Deer and I guess about 19 more. Also no snakes (I am sure Indiana Jones would like that!) and only one kind of reptile. More on Ireland in later posts.
I listened to Sara Melson yesterday. Somehow this album was listed in rhapsody as garage rock, but it sure as heck was not that. When I looked her up on the in the Internet and they called her AAA/Alt-Country. I am not sure what this AAA is but I can hear the alt-country. The album wasn't too bad though. Kind of a nice break from all the hip-hop and garage I have been listening to. 7.5 out of 10.3.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Makes Nice-Candy Wrapper + Twelve Other Songs
Hey do me a favor. If anybody in the world reads this blog post a comment. I am assuming nobody does, but would be interested to see if somebody does. I signed up for some sort of tracking site but they keep telling me nobody is visiting and I know at least I am visiting the site, so that can’t be right. I joined rhapsody (a Comcast product btw). The software is a little clunky, and at first I thought I would be able to strip the DRM from the music which I can’t do, but I would say for the purposes of this project it is a great deal. For $15 a month I can download all the music I want. It is well organized and cross referenced. The bummer is I can’t play it on my iPod, which is why I wish I could get rid of the DRM, but besides that it is great. If they offered such a program that was iPod compatible I probably would keep it forever.
Yesterday I listened to The Makes Nice. I also subscribe to Sirius radio and listen to the Little Steven Garage Rock channel a lot, and there are lots of songs I have marked as good that are going be a source of albums to listen to. The Makes Nice was my first. The album was not as good as the one song I bookmarked but it was a decent album, better than most really. 7.5 out of 10.5.
Yesterday I listened to The Makes Nice. I also subscribe to Sirius radio and listen to the Little Steven Garage Rock channel a lot, and there are lots of songs I have marked as good that are going be a source of albums to listen to. The Makes Nice was my first. The album was not as good as the one song I bookmarked but it was a decent album, better than most really. 7.5 out of 10.5.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Dolly Parton-Backwoods Barbie
I just read a really interesting transcript of a case called Elektra Entertainment V. Denise Barker. Apparently this Denise Barker had over 600 files in her shared Kazaa folder, and Elektra discovered them. Well instead of rolling over and giving Elektra 5K or something she hired a good lawyer, Ray Beckerman. What Ray argued was that the motion should be dismissed, essentially because Elektra had no actual evidence of her sharing the files. They were in her shared folder, but they of course could not prove that she shared them. One interesting point was that Elektra downloading the files did not constitute copyright infringement because Elektra owned the copyrights. The key issues was really whether making them available on the internet was the same thing as distributing them or authorizing the distribution of them. The record companies had a convoluted series of supporting cases and interpretations of the law and its preamble to argue that making available was the same thing, but in my opinion and the opinion of the Honorable Kenneth M. Karas they did not prove the case. That means this case was thrown out. Now I am sure there will be appeal, but this may be a chink in the armor of the recording industry in these filesharing cases. I am sure I mentioned the Jonathan Lethem article about copyrights that I read the other day also, and I am starting to get worked up over this issue. Of course evolution v. intelligent design is as John Edwards would say the cause of my life, but this one is creeping up there.
Yesterday's album was Dolly Parton-Backwoods Barbie. Unlike her last few albums which were classic country/bluegrass, this one is pure new country/country pop. It pales in comparison to some of more recent efforts. I give it 7 out of 13.
Yesterday's album was Dolly Parton-Backwoods Barbie. Unlike her last few albums which were classic country/bluegrass, this one is pure new country/country pop. It pales in comparison to some of more recent efforts. I give it 7 out of 13.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
DOLLY PARTON - BACKWOODS BARBIE
Will have to speak to this tomorrow. (She sure does love her some Jesus)
Raheem DeVaughn-Love Behind the Melody
What’s the matter with Ralph Nader? I don’t really know. I mean I would say I agree with him on most matters of policy, but I can’t help but feel like despite his protests it is his fault. “It” being the past 8 years. I watched him on the meet the press and he won’t take any responsibility for what happened. Although I do support the concept of a 3rd party candidate, or 4th party or whatever, and I like the fact that he brought some prominence to the green party, even though the green party seems to want to distance itself from him at this point. Like most politicians he seems incapable of admitting mistakes. For example, the fact that he said there was no difference between Gore and Bush. I mean again, I see his point, there is not enough of a difference, but after what has happened in the past 8 years you would think the guy could at least admit there is a terrible difference, and that if he had it to do over again he would not have run. That is not to say he shouldn’t run, or shouldn’t have run, but can’t he look back and honestly say the country, the world is worse off in part because he took away votes from the democrats? Do I think he shouldn’t have run? I don’t know, I mean it is anyone’s right to run, but I WISH he hadn’t run. Do I care if he runs now? No, I think at this point he is a fringe figure. It seems like 3rd party candidates get one good shot (Perot, Andersen, Nader) and that is it.
Yesterday’s album was Raheem DeVaughn-Love Behind the Melody. Kind of an old fashioned R&B meets hip hop. Many of these albums I find totally unlistenable. This one was not. It had some humor, some good singing, and some decent music. 7.5 out of 11.
Yesterday’s album was Raheem DeVaughn-Love Behind the Melody. Kind of an old fashioned R&B meets hip hop. Many of these albums I find totally unlistenable. This one was not. It had some humor, some good singing, and some decent music. 7.5 out of 11.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Raveonettes-Lust, Lust, Lust
Well last night was the Oscars. I did not get to watch most of it because I had to pick up my sister at the airport. What I did see of it was pretty boring (as usual) although I was thankful for the lack of overproduced dance numbers. I also did enjoy Jon Stewarts joke about Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. It was something about how the only time we see a black or woman president a meteor is about to crash into the statue of liberty. My wife did her annual Oscar pool but I did not win this year! I had expected a little more of a No Country For Old Men sweep. It actually has been a few years since we have had one of those crazy sweeps, like maybe Shakespeare In Love. Also I am running out of music, so again I beg all my readers to send me music!
As I said I had to pick up my sister at the airport and I took her car. On the ride I listened to the Raveonettes, Lust, Lust, Lust. When I picked her up I discovered the album was probably a lot less “garage” than I had imaged. All of my sisters speakers are blown, which had a big effect on the sound of the album. Still I like it. 7.5 out of 9.6.
As I said I had to pick up my sister at the airport and I took her car. On the ride I listened to the Raveonettes, Lust, Lust, Lust. When I picked her up I discovered the album was probably a lot less “garage” than I had imaged. All of my sisters speakers are blown, which had a big effect on the sound of the album. Still I like it. 7.5 out of 9.6.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Akon-Konvicted, The Killers-Sams Town, Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks at the Cannes Film Festival
Not a great time for me to blog, but upcoming topics will include: Oscar Recap, What is the matter with Ralph Nader, and Rock Band Party!
Three very different albums. Akon I think stinks. The killers are OK and Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner are great. 7.5 of 15, 12, 9.
Three very different albums. Akon I think stinks. The killers are OK and Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner are great. 7.5 of 15, 12, 9.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
All Star-Starlito’s Way, Timbaland Presents Shock Value
I was home this past weekend and my mom told me Rap music was dead/dying. I guess she heard it on NPR. Well as far as I know rap music is not dead. I think the economic model of Rap music has kind of disappeared. People don’t buy albums for hit singles anymore thanks to itunes, and that has hurt Rap album sales. That said I heard Flow Rida on Howard Stern the other day and he was saying how many millions of ring tones he had sold. He also said that the artists make more off of the ring tones than they do from the iTunes sales. The other really crazy thing about Rap music these days is these mixtapes. All of the artists are releasing mixtapes, which they sell on the internet. Now these things I would assume are even more profitable than a major label release, because production costs are very low and the labels don’t take a huge cut. Anyhow the point of the matter is that you should not listen to NPR when they are reporting on Rap music, or probably anything else that has to do with the tastes of urban youth (of which I do not include myself, but where I do coincide on occasion).
Starlito’s Way is a mixtape. To me mixtapes often feel like rap music without the hooks, which is both good and bad. Starlito’s way is a double album so that is a lot hookless music. That said I liked it, 7.5 of 11. Timbaland used to be one my faves, back in the Magoo era, but he is not as good anymore. I still enjoy a good Timbaland/Missy track, but there is not enough to go round here, 7.5 out of 12.2.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Feist The Reminder
Boy I had something real important to blog about today. I was pre-writing the blog in my head and now I plumb forgot. As a matter of fact I had two different things I wanted to blog about and I was trying to remember which one I be blogging on. Now I don't know what the heck to blog on. I saw some of the new Knight Rider the other day and it was pretty awful. I didn't make it until Hasselhoff had a cameo, maybe it picked up at that point. Also I DID decide to go ahead and get a new motherboard to put in this computer, so I will be sure to let YOU know how that turns out. Oh, and I am running out of music, so if anybody is reading this damn blog and has any music I should listen to, let me know. Tomorrow I will have an important blog about superstripes...
I listened to Feist yesterday. For some reason I got it in my head that Feist was going to be a Rap album, and I was in the mood for a rap album, so BAM I cued up the Feist. (Is that the proper term for selecting music on an ipod? Put on does not seem quite right as that implies the physical act of putting the record/cd on the turntable/cd player. Also cued, or some other spelling involving the letter Q?) Well to my surprise the Feist is NOT RAP MUSIC. Do not be fooled. FEIST IS MUCH TO MELLOW AND MELODIC AND UNRAP LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED RAP MUSIC. As a matter of fact you would have to be crazy to think Feist is rap music, or never have heard Feist before and just inferred it from the name. I did enjoy the Feist though. 7.5 out of 9.
I listened to Feist yesterday. For some reason I got it in my head that Feist was going to be a Rap album, and I was in the mood for a rap album, so BAM I cued up the Feist. (Is that the proper term for selecting music on an ipod? Put on does not seem quite right as that implies the physical act of putting the record/cd on the turntable/cd player. Also cued, or some other spelling involving the letter Q?) Well to my surprise the Feist is NOT RAP MUSIC. Do not be fooled. FEIST IS MUCH TO MELLOW AND MELODIC AND UNRAP LIKE TO BE CONSIDERED RAP MUSIC. As a matter of fact you would have to be crazy to think Feist is rap music, or never have heard Feist before and just inferred it from the name. I did enjoy the Feist though. 7.5 out of 9.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Protest the Hero-Fortress, Black Mountain-In the Future, K.D. Lang-Wathershed
Wow really slacking off on the blogging. I am considering trying to build a PC or at least using parts of a PC I have and building it into a newer, better PC, but I am not sure it is worth the effort or not. My thought is to buy a new motherboard that will work with my current processor, buy new RAM and get a really cheap video card. I figure I can do all that for under $200. Then in the future I can buy a nice duo core processor, video card, and new power supply (and maybe a case too!). Anyhow when all is said and done I could probably have really great machine for much less, but then again I could just wait and buy a new machine...Well I will let YOU know as soon as I figure it out. I know YOU are dying to find out how this turns out!
Three very different albums. Protest The Hero was some kind of crazy hard-core metal rock (if memory serves me right). Black mountain was a kind of retro heavy metal/hard rock and K.D. Lang was K.D. Lang. 7.5 (of course) out of 12, 10 and 9.5.
Three very different albums. Protest The Hero was some kind of crazy hard-core metal rock (if memory serves me right). Black mountain was a kind of retro heavy metal/hard rock and K.D. Lang was K.D. Lang. 7.5 (of course) out of 12, 10 and 9.5.
Friday, February 15, 2008
The Dungeon Family Even in Darkness
I haven't even had a chance to comment on this Roger Clemens business. First let me say I don't care that much if he did or did not do steroids. I really think a HUGE percentage of players were doing steroids during the steroids era, so exactly who did and did not do it, the their legacy and all that means very little to me. That said I fully expected Clemens to be named in the Mitchell report and I was happy that he was. The reason for my hapiness is that I really do think Barry Bonds has gotten an unfair deal. Now I don't deny that Barry is a steroids users, a lier, a jerk, etc. But I have alway thought he ended up being the steroid guy, when the steroid era was not about one guy, it was about everybody. Barry just happened to be much better than everyone else, so steroids made him better than anyone else in history. Clemens is further evidence of the rule, a great player before steroids, a historic player after steroids. What I don't get about Roger is why he couldn't see how things worked out for Barry and learned from it. Just freaking admit you did steroids, like Giambi, and get on with your life. Why drag yourself, congress, america through this charade that is going to end up with you in jail?
Ugghh. Work just blew up on me!
Dungeon Family was good. Funkadelic meets rap. 7.5 out of 9.6.
Ugghh. Work just blew up on me!
Dungeon Family was good. Funkadelic meets rap. 7.5 out of 9.6.
Protest the Hero - Bloodmeat New Video Clip
I am surprised that this is not included in Guitar Hero Week. This is so I remember tomorrow!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
CunninLynguists Dirty Acres, Times New Viking Rip It Off
Not feeling the blogging today. I did have something I wanted to mention but I can't remember it now. Well happy Valentines Day.
CunninLynguists was was pretty awesome. Also I got a instrumental version of the album which was very nice as well. Times New Viking was also good, but a little too much noise for me. 7.5 out of 9.5 and 11.
CunninLynguists was was pretty awesome. Also I got a instrumental version of the album which was very nice as well. Times New Viking was also good, but a little too much noise for me. 7.5 out of 9.5 and 11.
Times New Viking - Dance Walhalla
The seem pretty rinky dink on this video but I listened to them on Wednesday.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Nada Surf Lucky
I am going to do some theme session coming up. I would say theme weeks but I think they will last much more than a week. Grammies is one I already mentioned, I also I thought I would do Guitar Hero III (artists featured on Guitar Hero III obviously), Covers Vs. Orignals, Classical Week, Top 10 Week (or 10 days), This Day in History Week (top album from this same day in history), and some other thems sessions. I guessing these popular themed postings will double or maybe even triply my readership!
Yesterday I listened to Nada Surf's Lucky. I enjoyed it. Pop, alternative, fun. I think I will keep it on the ipod for at least a second listen. You can watch the video below (another new feature gauranteed to boost readership!). 7.5 out of 11.3.
Yesterday I listened to Nada Surf's Lucky. I enjoyed it. Pop, alternative, fun. I think I will keep it on the ipod for at least a second listen. You can watch the video below (another new feature gauranteed to boost readership!). 7.5 out of 11.3.
Nada Surf - See These Bones
Well i know nobody is reading this blog but from now on I am going to try and post a link to video of the artist that I listened to. Todays post will be about Nada Surf, so here you go.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Norman Greenbaum Petaluma
I am sick. But I am beginning to think I have Obama fever! As I said before I have been an Obama supporter since he spoke at the convention in 2004, but when Sarah (my wife) suggested we donate to his campaign I said “Nah, lets wait and donate to the winner of the Democratic primaries” thinking that was more important than who the nominee is. I still feel that way, but I also feel like Obama is really special. Every time I hear him speak, even though it is often the same speech, I just think this guy is going to change the country. Anyhow I am thinking I might send him some cash. Oh also if you haven't seen this parody of the Obama music video featuring McCain you should see it.
I watched a few minutes of the Grammies last night. I saw Amy Winehouse and although the performance was OK I found it a little disturbing. I guess I am beginning to think this watching celebrities self destruct is not so much fun. I enjoyed Hasselhoff, and certainly was a big fan of the Pat O’brien tape, but all the Britney stuff just seems too much. I really think Britney is going to kill herself and her blood will be on all of our hands. Not much we can do about it, but I do have the slightest inkling to turn away now when I see these things. Not that I turned away last night, but I did have an inkling.
Yesterday’s album was Norman Greenbaum Petaluma. Scooter sent me the album and asked before he did if he needed to pick things he thought I would like. I said no, but to my surprise I enjoyed this one. I am on a bit of a run recently of country/folk type albums and this one continues the winning ways. 7.5 out of 10.
I watched a few minutes of the Grammies last night. I saw Amy Winehouse and although the performance was OK I found it a little disturbing. I guess I am beginning to think this watching celebrities self destruct is not so much fun. I enjoyed Hasselhoff, and certainly was a big fan of the Pat O’brien tape, but all the Britney stuff just seems too much. I really think Britney is going to kill herself and her blood will be on all of our hands. Not much we can do about it, but I do have the slightest inkling to turn away now when I see these things. Not that I turned away last night, but I did have an inkling.
Yesterday’s album was Norman Greenbaum Petaluma. Scooter sent me the album and asked before he did if he needed to pick things he thought I would like. I said no, but to my surprise I enjoyed this one. I am on a bit of a run recently of country/folk type albums and this one continues the winning ways. 7.5 out of 10.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Long Time No Blog!
I am sure my loyal readers were getting pretty worried! Fear not I am still listening to an album a day, just my daughter has been sick, and now I am sick and the blogging has suffered. The albums for the past four days have been:
The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! by Saul Williams
Ask Forgiveness by Bonnie Prince Billy
Dirt Farmer by Levon Helm
Distortion by Magnetic Fields
All the albums were pretty good, the first two better than the second two I think. I am not sure I get this Magnetic Fields business. The albums all get a 7.5 on scales of 1-10, 1-9, 1-11, and 1-12 respectively.
Also I am starting to think Barack Obama might win this thing!
The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust! by Saul Williams
Ask Forgiveness by Bonnie Prince Billy
Dirt Farmer by Levon Helm
Distortion by Magnetic Fields
All the albums were pretty good, the first two better than the second two I think. I am not sure I get this Magnetic Fields business. The albums all get a 7.5 on scales of 1-10, 1-9, 1-11, and 1-12 respectively.
Also I am starting to think Barack Obama might win this thing!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Hot Chip Made In The Dark
Of all the holiday that I don’t celebrate Ash Wednesday is my least favorite. First of all it is hardly a holiday, I don’t know what you would call it, but it doesn’t resemble most other holidays. As far as I can tell the only thing that happens on Ash Wednesday is you get ashes on your forehead and you start Lent, which is also not a holiday, but is something. Anyhow I have always found Ash Wednesday to be very disconcerting. I always forget about it at first and then when I realize the ashes are not an accident I am always surprised by the amount of people who “celebrate” this holiday. Last year I did give up the Live Straddle for Lent and I think I should give something up this year as well, I guess I will give up hedge bets. Done. If you don’t know what a hedge bet is, it is a small bet that is allowed in some poker games that is meant to just take up one of the possible bets and reduce overall cost of playing. Anyhow I am done with them for 40 days and that will probably improve my play!
This Hot Chip album was pretty good. Its techno flavor reminded me of my old raving days, but it was definitely more mainstream (like Fatboy Slim or something). I probably owe it another listen which I will try this weekend. BTW my second listen of Daughtry was not as good as the first and I might be removing it from my ipod. One day soon I will list every album on my ipod just for fun. I give Hot Chip 7.5 out of 10.5,
This Hot Chip album was pretty good. Its techno flavor reminded me of my old raving days, but it was definitely more mainstream (like Fatboy Slim or something). I probably owe it another listen which I will try this weekend. BTW my second listen of Daughtry was not as good as the first and I might be removing it from my ipod. One day soon I will list every album on my ipod just for fun. I give Hot Chip 7.5 out of 10.5,
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
MGMT Oracular Spectacular
Super Tuesday! I have been waiting for four years (since the 2004 democratic convention) to pull the lever for Barack Obama. Today I finally did. This is the most excited I have been about an election in years. First of all I feel like we (the democrats) will finally win. But more than that, we have a candidate who I am really excited about. I believe that Barack Obama can change the world’s perception of the US. I think he effectively move congress by speaking directly to the country (like Reagan did), and I think it is really amazing that we could have a black president. What is even better is that if Barack doesn’t win, we get hillary, who for all her shortcomings is a Clinton and Woman. And then, WORST case scenario is McCain, who even though he is heavily pro-life and pro-war is WAY better the Bush. So even if we lose, which I don’t think we can, we can’t lose! Anyhow I am hoping by this time tomorrow I can post about the amazing results of Super Tuesday.
This MGMT album was OK, although I have to admit I listened to it on the train while reading the paper and I can’t really remember any of it. I liked the first couple of tracks and then it got kind of non-descript. 7.5 out of 15.
This MGMT album was OK, although I have to admit I listened to it on the train while reading the paper and I can’t really remember any of it. I liked the first couple of tracks and then it got kind of non-descript. 7.5 out of 15.
Monday, February 4, 2008
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Raising Sand, Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
Wow, what a crazy Superbowl. As a Patriots fan I was disappointed by the outcome but I did enjoy the game. I thought for sure the Patriots had won it when they scored in the 4th quarter. I have no idea why they didn’t run the ball a couple of times with the ball on the 7 yard line and under 3 minutes to play. That would have made it much harder for the Giants to score than two incompletions. Anyhow no looking back. Next year will be different!
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Raising Sand is a fucking great album. Bluegrassy/Country/Honkeytonk with a backing band that is sometimes hauntingly beautiful. This album is GREAT GREAT GREAT. If anyone is reading this blog (which I seriously doubt) you need to go out and buy this album. 7.5 stars out of 7.6.
Vampire Weekend is described as heavily influenced by the Talking Heads. I guess if they say it, it is true, but I didn’t really hear that. I did enjoy the album. It was up tempo, fun music. I give it 7.5 out of 10.
Robert Plant and Alison Krauss Raising Sand is a fucking great album. Bluegrassy/Country/Honkeytonk with a backing band that is sometimes hauntingly beautiful. This album is GREAT GREAT GREAT. If anyone is reading this blog (which I seriously doubt) you need to go out and buy this album. 7.5 stars out of 7.6.
Vampire Weekend is described as heavily influenced by the Talking Heads. I guess if they say it, it is true, but I didn’t really hear that. I did enjoy the album. It was up tempo, fun music. I give it 7.5 out of 10.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath Pat Metheny Trio Day Trip
Two days and two good albums. Mars Volta is very funk/rock/progrock. I enjoyed it quite a bit. 7.5 stars out of 10.
Pat Metheny Trio was a more jazz and less fusion than I had expected, but that was fine. Very nice jazz album. 7.5 out of 9.5.
Post superbowl my posts will be more verbose.
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