Ocean of Noise

Man, I've Gotten Lazy

2008-03-20T11:06:00.006-04:00

...But I'll share this with you, dear reader. A friend recommended a customizable internet radio station to me, and so far, so good. Maybe I'm the last to hear about it, but it's called Pandora.

No need to download or install anything, which is definitely nice. It seems to have more options than Launch as well (e.g. you can click "I'm tired of this song - don't play it for a month").

The first artist I typed in was Radiohead... shocking, I know. And then Muse popped up all on its own. It knows me!

The Supremes Deserve Their Own Post

2008-03-04T18:39:00.003-05:00

Listening to The Supremes forces me to dance around my apartment whether I plan to or not. Before I know it, I'm all hip and shoulder action, performing for an audience of no one. The music's good enough to make me forget how Diana Ross turned out kinda batshit crazy. (I can make fun of her all I want, lady's still supposedly worth $150 million.)

For my own edification and yours, I tried looking up the names of the other two Supremes, but there have been about 9 women who have fit that description over the years. So much for that.

This is honestly one of my very favorite bands, so I couldn't post just one song. Titles with punctuation are where it's at!

Come See About Me (1964)

Where Did Our Love Go? (1964)

Stop! In the Name of Love (1965)

Also, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" certainly deserves an honorable mention for such timeless lyrics. During a post-breakup phase last summer, I was impressed that a song from 1966 could capture my sentiments so precisely. Right on, ladies.

Tell Two Friends, Ya'll

2008-03-01T03:40:00.003-05:00

An old friend of mine has achieved something remarkable. He is doing what he loves, i.e., making movies. (Insert awe here) Truly, I admire anyone who's actually pursuing his passion in a real way. And for enduring nearly catastrophic levels of stress as a producer, there has been some reward. The film, Medicine for Melancholy, got in to South by Southwest! The screenings are this Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. . . it's all happening. People will be watching it on a large screen, possibly while eating popcorn. Holy shit.

I couldn't possibly summarize the film any better than their press release:

A love story of bikes and one-night stands told through two African-American twenty-somethings dealing with issues of class, identity, and the evolving conundrum of being a minority in rapidly gentrifying San Francisco—a city with the smallest proportional black population of any other major American city.

Intriguing, yes. Good, also yes! And not just supposed-to-like-it good either. I got to sit down with my very own pre-final copy last night, and I thought it was really great. Starting with the realistic take on the "morning after" sequence (not that I would know...), striking cinematography, smart dialogue, refreshing unknown actors playing characters you totally want to follow, right down to the subtle education on a subject I didn't know much about... hell, it was everything an indie movie should be. A lovely mix of intensity and lightheartedness wrapped in a scenic tour of San Francisco.

Wait, this is a music blog, right? Let's talk indie soundtrack. What a wonderful way to get a crash course in at least 10 new (to me) bands. Like the oh-so British pop-rock trio, The Answering Machine. I'm finding myself digging "Lightbulbs" more with each listen. Bloodcat Love just sounds like L.A., but in a good way. And perhaps my favorite, Au Revoir Simone, who will instantly chill you out with their self-proclaimed "triple keyboard action." For reals, I'm about 17 times calmer since I hit play on "Through the Backyards." Love those sleeeeeepy voices.
Then there's this other up-and-comer, what's his name, Tom Waits? Yes, Mr. Waits kindly permitted use of his song, "Lie to Me." He truly does it all. Musician, actor, source of a mysterious eponymous website(?), and friend of the little man.

Keep checking the website: http://www.strikeanywherefilms.com to find out when the film will be available near you. Then you can go see it and support some folks who are so indie, they make Harmony Korine look like, um, Michael Bay. (Suck it, analogies.) Just go see it.

Look - it's a trailer! (That charming song in the background is "Meet Me By the Water" by Saturday Looks Good to Me.)

More Confessions of a Blogger

2008-02-19T22:05:00.009-05:00

I'd like to say that I enjoy "Alone" by Heart in an ironic sense, but the fact is I just like it. Step off, Celine.

The National: Music for a Post-Apocalyptic Landscape?

2008-02-18T23:02:00.005-05:00

Maybe that's over-stating it a bit. But by chance, my ipod in shuffle mode led me to a discovery this morning. I was on my way to work on Presidents' Day (don't ask), and couldn't help but feel weirded out... almost no cars on the street, few people on the sidewalks, absolutely no one waiting for the elevator in our usually packed lobby at work. I realized that The National is the perfect music for wandering a spookily empty city first thing in the morning.

Moody, mopey, whatever, it's not like they try to hide it. Anyway, they're brilliant with layering instruments and constructing interesting rhythms. I've seen them live twice - once when they opened for Arcade Fire - and these Cincinatti boys know how to put on a mesmerizing show. You don't need to know any of the songs in advance to enjoy it; it's that kind of good. They also must have somewhat of a sense of humor, with lyrics like, "They're gonna send us to prison for jerks..."

I'll admit, I know their most recent album, Boxer, much better than 2005's Alligator. Both are great though. Here are a few of my favorites.

Squalor Victoria
Ada
Green Gloves
Fake Empire

I could (and I will!) write another whole post about songs that make a great soundtrack for various activities/moods. It's kind of a hobby. Soon...

..Together we can take it to the end of the line...

2008-02-14T22:46:00.009-05:00

As a general rule, I don't love the abuse of karaoke for let's-bring-everyone-down ballads... but there are definitely exceptions. The most significant case in point - you all know where I'm going with this - is Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart." I don't know why we all know the words, but few things can unite a packed bar as surprisingly as the opening sounds of that melancholy piano.

Last Thursday, some friends and I busted out this standard at T.G. Whitney's karaoke night. The audience reacted as hoped, and by the chorus, we didn't even need our microphones anymore.

It's hard to say which is my favorite part:

-The sudden swelling into "...And I need you now, tonight..."

-The excuse to scream at the top of your lungs, "We're living in a powder keg and GIVING OFF SPARKS!!"

-The lyrics "Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you," so ballsy in their ridonculousness

-The way they throw in an extra little falsetto "turn around, bright eyes," sung ever so lightly, before the swirling wind sounds bring it to a close...

Oh, who am I kidding, I can't choose a favorite!

My first memories of this song involve the annual D.A.R.E. rally at our middle school. Every year, the 8th graders put on this melodramatic little skit about a teenager who ruins her life with drugs, while Bonnie Tyler inexplicably played in the background. God knows how many years this same skit had been used, considering that the song pre-dated most of us entering preschool.
Taking the message to the literal extreme, students would dress up as different drugs, i.e. a sandwich board with the word "Marijuana" or "LSD" on it, and of course, sunglasses. Each drug would hug the wayward teen, and then all of her new drug friends joined hands and circled around her (could I make this up?). The coolest kids got to play the drugs. God, where would we be without D.A.R.E. rallies?
The point of this tangent: it took about a year for that song to leave our skulls, and then it would be time for the next rally. Turn around.....

Listen at your own risk!

A Modern Definition for Shame

2008-02-13T14:42:00.011-05:00

I wanted to share this conversation. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

Me: Someone on the kickball message board was trying to organize a bar gathering tomorrow, and my friend was like, I might be able to stop by after this Matchbox 20 concert.
Me: and 3 of us simultaneously reacted- "Matchbox 20???"
Anonymous Friend: hahaha
Me: she was like, defending herself, that she got tricked and didn't know what concert
Me: apparently Alanis is opening?
Me: MSG even. amazing
AF: they're SUCH a guilty pleasure. like i'm not embarrassed by my love of bubblegum pop, but THEY make me all shy to admit
AF: WHAT?
AF: INSULT!!!
Me: it's like Benedict Arnold = Traitor. Matchbox 20 = I listen to whatever the radio DJ tells me to
Me: i still like "Long Day"
Me: but i would rather die than go to that show
Me: except maybe to see Alanis
AF: i liked Mad Season a lot
AF: the album
AF: Beautiful Girl, Bed of Lies...it's good!
AF: shh
Me: haha
Me: i'm TELLING

It's true. I owned Yourself or Someone Like You. I saw them in concert twice. I can't exactly pinpoint when Matchbox 20 fandom became shameful; it just did. I guess I didn't officially give up until the advancement of Rob Thomas' solo career. There's generic VH-1 Top 20 Countdown fodder, and then there's that, a whole new level of forgettable, contrived, pop-rock.
1997 Kim will always think fondly of you. But I feel I must bid you adieu.

Listening to: STP - "Vasoline"

A Half-Assed Grammy Rundown

2008-02-11T12:31:00.000-05:00

In need of some background noise while doing household tasks and avoiding the cold, I caught the Grammy Awards last night. All 14 hours of it. For real, though, that telecast just kept going! I know it's been a while since I watched, but since when do they have to give out every possible lifetime achievement award in a single night? Do the Grammy people know something we don't... is the planet going down soon and they had to get the awards out in a last dash?

OK, despite some odd moments (Kanye, I'm looking at you), the practically ridiculous length of the show, and the fact that I don't even believe in music awards because I don't see a valid way to judge something as subjective as music (about the same way I feel about comedy awards, by the way)... some good did come from this show.

1. Being a nerd for good piano, I absolutely loved the Herbie Hancock/Lang Lang peformance of "Rhapsody in Blue" with full orchestra. That piece always blows me away, but watching it happen up close, brought together by so many people at the top of their musical game, left me smiling and impressed.

2. Vince Gill's acceptance speech. He was presented his Best Country Album award by Ringo Starr, to which he commented, "I just got an award from a Beatle.... Kanye, that happen to you yet?" The audience responded well, and a reaction shot showed Kanye laughing, but we'll see if something unfortunate should befall Mr. Gill in the near future. Joking or not, it was nice to see someone take Kanye down a peg.

3. Tina turner. Effing 68 and still working it out, singing/dancing to "Proud Mary" with Beyoncé and a lot of other people on that stage less than half her age. If I can still move like that at 68, I will consider myself a success.

Also worth mentioning I suppose, Amy Winehouse won a bunch of stuff. She slurred something about her incarcerated lover into her Record of the Year acceptance speech - yes, she used the word incarcerated. Sigh. What a fine, fine role model for young girls everywhere who hope to be scary and strung out by the age of 24! She does have some catchy-ass songs though, doesn't she?

Listening to: Arcade Fire - "The Well and the Lighthouse"

The Chiffons - "He's So Fine"

2008-02-07T14:51:00.001-05:00

In 1963, five girls from the Bronx hit #1 with "He's So Fine."

This is the song that instantly makes my mom 17 again. When it starts, she has the same, "Oh, I love this song!" reaction that I might have when an Arcade Fire song comes on. Yes, I did just compare The Chiffons to Arcade Fire, apparently.

It's hard to beat lyrics like these:

He's so fine (oh yeah)
Gotta be mine (oh yeah)
Sooner or later (oh yeah)
I hope it's not later (oh yeah)

Some sentiments are just timeless I guess.

Best Opening Lyrics

2008-01-28T12:03:00.000-05:00

I agree wholeheartedly with most of the choices on this list, although the order may be disputable. Some of these, I'll admit I just don't know that well. For shame, right? I've never gotten into Patti Smith, but maybe it's time I gave her another shot.

Soundbytes included, which will likely drive you to seek out and listen to the rest of the song. Well done, list-makers.

Listening to: Stellastarr* - "My Coco"

My Favorite Music Videos: Radiohead - "Paranoid Android"

2008-01-24T11:42:00.000-05:00

Easily one of my all-time favorite videos, "Paranoid Android" premiered during a prime MTV-watching year for me, 1997. Everything just kind of stopped when this video came on, and you always hoped it would be next in the rotation.

As many times as I've viewed this one, I just learned a whole lot from a little wikipedia research, such as:

-The song title refers to the depressed robot, Marvin the Paranoid Android, from Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (I always kind of suspected...)
-The fat guy who cuts off his arms and legs is supposed to be Boris Yeltsin
-The main character comes from a cartoon series called Robin, which Radiohead members enjoyed
-At 2 minutes, 35 seconds, the band makes a cameo as the group of people watching a man dancing on a table with a face coming out of his belly button
-The line "The blood and the screaming" may be a reference to George Orwell's novel 1984, which was a major influence on OK Computer as a whole
-Radiohead has talked about this song as 3 songs in one, getting the idea from The Beatles' "Happiness is a Warm Gun"
-The guitar solo was ranked #34 by Guitar World readers in a list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Solos"

...and so much more.

For those watching at work, this is most certainly the unedited version that MTV would never show (see the mermaids at the end, and you'll know what I'm talking about.)
Now presenting 6+ minutes of deranged, animated joy.

P.S. - My old roommate Erica and I do a badass karaoke rendition of this, if I may say so myself. It's not even a duet, but somehow, we work it out.

More from the Classics collection - Can't Take My Eyes Off of You

2008-01-22T11:27:00.001-05:00

This one certainly belongs near the top of my list of favorite oldies. From 1967, "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" by Frankie Valli.

Who else thinks of a young Heath Ledger singing this one on the bleachers in 10 Things I Hate About You? Le sigh.

EDIT: This was written before today's shocking news. How terribly sad.

Almost Famous

2008-01-16T15:56:00.000-05:00

My friend AJ (also goes by Algernon) in his first music video, filmed in Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn. It's a mix of an old Dionne Warwick song called "Shall I Tell Her," but he calls his version "You're Not Here." Yeah, man.

Shake Your Tail Feather

2008-01-15T21:32:00.001-05:00

There's a reason that I've dressed up as a 60s girl group member the last two Halloweens. My love of oldies music makes me wonder if I wasn't meant to belong to a different era.

Not so much? OK, well it was worth a shot. P.S. - This is what happens when a dork like me gets access to Photoshop.

Here begins another feature: a listing of classic songs that I believe more than stand up to the test of time. Songs we all know somehow, probably from movies or commercials, maybe from a little of our parents' influence too. If you haven't been to a Motown-themed dance night (try Rififi in the East Village every third Saturday of the month), it's kind of amazing how much of the sound is familiar. And what fantastic dance music! Aside: my mom tried to teach me to do the mashed potato once... way harder than it looks.

I really got to rediscover some of the greats while preparing to DJ my parents' 40th anniversary party this summer. The Shirelles, The Chiffons, The Platters, The Penguins... this stuff makes me happy. Kind of takes me somewhere else when I'm typing away in cubicle land. I also wanted to go with a theme of all love songs for the party, then realized.... they're ALL love songs.

Let's start with one that I'll admit got my attention as part of the end credits to There's Something About Mary. "Build Me Up Buttercup" by The Foundations, from 1968. Try to sit still. You just can't.

Fun with Internet Radio

2008-01-14T22:32:00.000-05:00

A song I nearly forgot about just came on my Launch player, which is always a pleasant surprise, even if I did program the station myself by rating my favorite artists, albums, and songs.

I spent a significant portion of my summer obsessed with "Smokers Outside the Hospital Doors" by Editors. An ex introduced me to these mopey, rockin', dancefloor-friendly Brits, so I guess one good thing came from that lame-ass situation. And I pass the benefits along to you!

My Favorite Music Videos: The Bravery - "An Honest Mistake"

2008-01-07T16:01:00.001-05:00

Because honestly, who doesn't love an extended domino toppling sequence à la Mousetrap? (You all remember that board game that took longer to set up than to actually play?)

This song was an indie rock dance floor standard in Gainesville, as I'm sure it was elsewhere, circa Summer 2005. Still evokes vivid memories of hipsters, sweatiness, and smoke burning my eyes. But in a good way.

Keep watching until the end - that's the bloody cleverest part.

I think it's love

2008-01-04T16:07:00.000-05:00

Meet my new electric piano, Angela. (Instruments should have names, yes?) Isn't she a beaut?

That's 36 black keys and 52 white keys of electric joy. She was a present from Santa.

A little background. I took piano lessons from the ages of 8 to 16, but I wasn't a very diligent student. I could sight-read well enough to get by, but I hardly ever did my counting or practicing in general. In adulthood, it's been a goal of mine to get as good as I could be. I wonder if there are piano teachers who specialize in such a thing - reforming a bad student later in life. We shall see.

Meantime, I'm excited to have this outlet to play whenever I damn well please. My roommates will soon learn why "Linus and Lucy" (the Peanuts theme) is my ringtone. One of my favorites. A masterwork of syncopated craziness courtesy of Vince Guaraldi, which everyone recognizes after a few moments.

How about a little trip back in time? I think I'm about 8 in this picture.

Hope my first piano doesn't get jealous! Angela could never take the place of my original gleaming upright Samick. Although it is nice to have an electric because it doesn't need tuning, I can jack in headphones to spare my roommates and neighbors, and it fits in my room, sort of. The perfect piano for New York living.

Listening to: Beck - "Lord Only Knows"

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

They just don't write lyrics like this anymore (from 1966!):

You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
And as charming as an eel,
Mr. Grinch!
You're a bad banana,
With a greasy black peel!

You're a monster, Mr. Grinch!
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul,
Mr. Grinch!
I wouldn't touch you
With a thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole!

You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch!
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile,
Mr. Grinch!
Given the choice between the two of you,
I'd take the seasick crocodile!

You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch!
You're a nasty, wasty skunk!
Your heart is full of unwashed socks,
Your soul is full of gunk,
Mr. Grinch!
The three words that best describe you
Are as follows, and I quote,
"Stink, stank, stunk!"

You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch!
You're the king of sinful sots!
Your heart's a dead tomato,
Splotched with moldy, purple spots,
Mr. Grinch!
Your soul is an apalling dump-heap,
Overflowing with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable,
Mangled-up in tangled-up knots!

You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch!
With a nauseous super naus!
You're a crooked jerky jockey,
And you drive a crooked hoss,
Mr. Grinch!
You're a three-decker sauerkraut and toadstool sandwich,
With arsenic sauce!

...I just learned that the guy who sang this song was also the voice of Tony the Tiger. RIP, my good man.

Part 2: Living the Dream

2007-12-24T20:46:00.000-05:00

First of all, apologies for my long absence from posting, but I have been at my parents' house in Florida on a (probably healthy) break from the Internet. Now to continue from where I left off.

I'll save you the suspense...yes, my singing partner and I were the runners-up in the groups and duos category of the karaoke contest. Maybe one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of. We each won a $100 gift card to any restuarant in Manhattan, which I plan to use every last bit of, if such a thing is possible at a vegetarian restaurant. Victory!

Let's back up a little.

The venue, as I mentioned before, was The Spotlight Live in Times Square. I have mixed feelings about this place, which I will detail below.

Keep in mind that I have only patronized this bar as part of a corporate event, and I may be a little biased by my glorious post-performance high. Caveats aside...

The place does not really attempt to hide the fact that it is mostly a giant, tourist-y merchandising ploy. You are filmed while singing, so that they can attempt to sell you a souvenir DVD afterward. Nothing wrong with this at all, but it is the reason for the small song list - they need to own the rights to every song in order to produce the DVDs. I'll give the song list a little credit, as it did include two of my favorite karaoke songs ever - Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" and "I've Had the Time of My Life", my chosen duet for the night.

The technology factor is quite cool. Rather than hunt through a book, straining your eyes to read the small type and write down the song number, there is a touch screen at each table that allows you to search for songs and add yours to the queue. In addition, the audience can vote for their favorite performances - what becomes of these results on an average night, I'm not quite sure.

The backup singers are certainly a fun draw. Honestly, when else in my life will I get the opportunity to perform with 4 enthusiastic, choreographed men and women singing behind me? However, I would suggest that the backup singers either needed their mics turned down or needed to sing less often - i.e. sing backup. Again, this may have been special to a corporate party, when they might assume that we need a little extra drowning out. I actually couldn't hear myself at all, which gave me a fuller understanding of the need for stage performers to wear those earpieces. Still, the backup singers were very nice folk.

Almost forgot about the private karaoke booths. I didn't experience these myself because I was frantically running around waiting to get on stage. I know that they are sound-proof, each has a screen with the list of songs, and that they looked like something from The Fly. I only saw 3 booths, one of which was being used for storage of extra chairs. These pods were certainly not a main attraction that night, but a nice option I suppose.

Overall, The Spotlight Live is more of a karaoke club, bigger (3 stories) and more fancily decorated than any of the little hole in the wall bars I'm used to. Although I can't imagine what else I expected from Times Square. It's certainly not a place to go if you have a specific song in mind (the only Madonna on the list was "Holiday" - what??), or if you don't want 3 floors of people paying attention while you attempt to sing with backup. I would recommend trying it at least once for the novelty (sorry I can't quote prices!), and I would probably like to go back and try again. Without a doubt, it's a unique experience and a lot of fun once you're up on stage with the spotlights obscuring much of the crowd from your view. I certainly feel more ready to try live band karaoke... next on my list.

Below is a screenshot of my singing partner and I on stage doing our damndest to evoke the full Dirty Dancing atmosphere. I think we did pretty well, with about 4 couples dancing in front of the stage and my partner doing the crazy Patrick Swayze jump from the stage and subsequent cheesey dancing and strutting. (No we did not do "the lift" - let's get real.) I could only stand on stage and swish my skirt like a dork, a la Jennifer Grey. But my insane polka-dot dress did earn the appreciation of the emcee, which may have settled the vote-by-applause in our favor, so I'd say I did my part. First place went to a group of four guys who created a stunning rendition of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", complete with dreamy spinning in their choreography. I was honored to lose to them. Maybe if we had mastered a few dance moves ahead of time... sigh, we'll never know.

Just for fun, I'll leave you with a scene we all stop and watch every time it's on. Admit it, you know this one by heart.

The Spotlight Live
1604 Broadway, New York, NY

The Karaoke Contest of My Dreams/ Nightmares

2007-12-16T22:03:00.000-05:00

My office Holiday party is tomorrow night, and of all things, this year my company has chosen a massive karaoke bar in Times Square. And there was joy. The venue is The Spotlight Live at 49th and Broadway. We were informed a couple weeks ago that there would be a karaoke contest, and I felt ready to potentially embarrass myself in front of hundreds of coworkers, just to know I had the guts to enter.

Soon after, we received further details on the contest in the form of a very colorful email announcement, designed to look like an ad for American Idol tryouts or some such nonsense. The email informed us that:

-All performers will be accompanied by professional backup singers. And...

-In addition to a selection of great prizes for the top teams, the winning team will have their performance simulcast on the Jumbo Tron in Times Square for all the world to see!

Um, is it just me, or does that last part sound more like a threat than a prize? Still, I decided to persevere. I no longer had the courage to go up on stage alone, but with a coworker to duet with, I felt I could go through with it.

For me, that's the crux of what karaoke is about. Even if you don't have a particularly great voice, as long as you commit to the song, and you're out there really trying to give the people a show, then I commend you. Now I'll admit, it's always nicer to hear someone with a minimally decent voice than some tone deaf drunk on the mic tearing up "All By Myself", but this goes without saying. And there will certainly be many future posts about which songs I think fail miserably and succeed best in the karaoke environment (and why). But for now, back to the contest.

Here's a link to the song list for tomorrow night (Excel spreadsheet). I guess because the backup singers have to be prepared, they had to limit the selection. A little heavy on High School Musical for my taste. But they just happened to have my song of choice - "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes - so I felt strongly that it was meant to be.

...Until I signed up and received a response from the organizers that all the spots had filled up and a lottery would determine who actually got to compete. Rats. Who knew there were so many brave souls in my office? Good for them, I suppose. Not so good for my blog.

Whether or not I perform, I shall report on the event and review my first experience at this new karaoke venue. Sneak preview, folks: I'm certainly not in it to win it. I know my voice is nothing too special, passable for well-chosen songs, sure. I also don't delude myself to think that amongst hundreds of people in my office - some who are rumored to have choreography prepared - there won't be several who can belt a song out for real. Mostly, I want to prove to myself that I will actually get on that stage, if the lottery gods allow it. What is it they say, break a leg? Yeah, wish me that.

Listening to: The Postal Service - "Natural Anthem"

Jens Lekman: More than just a difficult-to-pronounce name

2007-12-15T12:15:00.000-05:00

This emo-looking Swedish singer-songwriter (who pronounces his name "Yens Lake-mon") surprised me with a deep, striking voice and hooked me in with a song catalogue that ranges from sweet and pretty to groovy/danceable to just flat out quirky and cool.

I believe if I were going to offer one song to convince you this guy's worth your listening time, it would definitely be "A Postcard to Nina" from his most recent album, Night Falls Over Kortedala. I've gotten a bit addicted to this one myself. Other favorites on this album: "If I Could Cry (It Would Feel Like This)" and "Your Arms Around Me."

Also worth checking out is Oh You're So Silent, Jens, a collection of previously released material from 2005 and before. "Maple Leaves" is just grand.
Happy listening!

My Favorite Music Videos: Fatboy Slim - "Weapon of Choice"

2007-12-12T02:53:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the first in what's likely to be quite an extended series. I'll be posting my favorite videos, new and old, but we all know they'll be mostly old. Frankly, I'm not the MTV watcher I once was, so expect mainly videos from the early 2000s and before. I promise I'll do my best to seek out some newer selections too.

Let's take a trip back to the year 2000, sophomore year of college for me. I still remember how excited I would get when I caught this video starting while I got ready to head off to my morning classes. Such a simple concept for a video, and yet so very enjoyable. I'll admit that my opinion on this matter may be strongly influenced by my love of Christopher Walken, but I don't think I'm alone on that one.

According to Wikipedia, the lead vocals are by Bootsy Collins? I just learned something new! Wiki also provided this little gem:

"According to an interview on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Walken got the inspiration for certain dance moves by observing raccoons."

And now you ask yourself, "What bit of valuable knowledge did I just push out of my brain by learning this fact?"

Without further ado, Mr. Walken, take it away.

No time like the holidays to be honest with myself

2007-12-10T13:36:00.000-05:00

I'm just gonna come right out and say it. Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" is a really good song. I don't care if she attempts to rhyme "fireplace" with "Christmas day". Come on, give it a listen, and see if you're not humming it for the rest of your goddamn life.

Two Good Reasons You Should Be Watching Flight of the Conchords

2007-12-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

I know I'm discussing a tv show/comedy act, but since the songs are the best part of the show, I'm going to consider this relevant.

Around my apartment, Conchords is more than a show; it's a household bonding time, a source of endless quotes, a way of life. So for the unconverted masses, I offer two of my very favorite songs from the first season, in conveniently-placed video form.

1. "Think About It" [2:36] - probably the best lyrics/delivery of any of their songs thus far, in this humble blogger's opinion

2. "Bowie to Bowie" [4:31] - Jemaine's Bowie impression kills me every time. The video is a clever compilation of Bowie's various looks and sounds over the years. But really you just have to watch.

Season 2, I wish you'd start already.

After all this time...

2007-12-07T12:04:00.000-05:00

I don't know how many of you remember a wondrous show called "Pop-Up Video" that aired on VH-1 in the mid-to-late 90s. I myself never understood why this show faded away and then disappeared completely from the network. For one thing, it was one of the last bastions of showing music videos in their entirety (imagine that!). And though the mostly useless pop-up facts were often phrased as lame puns, it was still damn entertaining when you were lounging around in the afternoon.

Well looks like VH-1 wised up a bit - with a little searching I found an archive of 47 original Pop-up videos on the VH-1 website. Some of these are very vivid to me, as I probably watched certain episodes well over 10 times during those lazy days (Holy crap, how many times have I seen the Pop-up version of U2's "One"?? Or "Losing My Religion", for that matter). Well now I can be lazy again. And so can you! Check out the archive here.

Sometimes the Internet plus my at-work ADD makes for magical results.

Listening to: Queen - "Killer Queen"

I Dig Music

2007-12-06T18:49:00.000-05:00

Forgive me, but nothing truly epic is coming to mind for a mission statement here. I wanted to dedicate a blog to music, which may mean anything from waxing nostalgic about my favorite musical decade - the 90s - to reporting from the front lines of as many NYC karaoke bars as I can. You'll see that I like to rank things and make lists. I also revel in making fun of bad lyrics and appreciating the better ones. Perhaps a review here, a long lost (or never found) music video there. And I will definitely suggest artists/albums/songs that I am obsessed with - do with this info what you will.

Above all - I want feedback! I hope for this to be an open forum of sorts, especially when it comes to ranking, interpreting, sharing ridiculous psychological assocations. We're all friends here, so fear not.

This introduction still needs something, though. When in doubt, why don't we turn to the immortal words of Prince?

Dearly Beloved...
We are gathered here today
to get through this thing called LIFE.
Electric word "life", it means forever
and that's a mighty long time
but I'm here to tell you
there's something else ... the afterworld
a world of never ending happiness
you can always see the sun, day or night.
So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills --
you know the one ... Dr. Everything'll be alright.
'stead of asking him how much of your time is left
ask him how much of your mind, baby
'cause in this life things are much harder than in the afterworld
in this life you're on your own!
and if the elevator tries to bring you down
go crazy... punch a higher floor!

Happy reading,
Kim

Listening to: Thom Yorke - "And It Rained All Night"