Liz: How does iTunes know what CD this is?
Me: I have no idea.
Liz: What?! You’re supposed to know everything!
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Because I need to somehow answer every question that’s asked of me – I’m relaying it to the internet. How does iTunes get the tracklist from a CD being imported?
Comment or Email Me with answers / advice / therapy because you know I do this kind of thing all the time.
The first album I ever bought for myself was “(What’s The Story) Morning Glory?” by Oasis. It was in 1995, so I would have been 9 or 10 years old.
Even today, thirteen years later, as a (junior) adult, I still think it’s an amazing album. Seriously. You’ve got:
-Wonderwall*
-Don’t Look Back In Anger*
-Champagne Supernova
-(What’s the story) Morning Glory?
-She’s Electric (My personal favorite. Try listen to it and not be happy. Double dog dare you…)
Despite this seemingly early on-set of coolness, I quickly realized I was a pre-teen and bought Hanson’s Middle of Nowhere.
But really, what was the first album you ever bought yourself?
*the fact that I can now shred both of these songs on Rock Band just furthers my love for them.
I came home from work today, worked out, showered then watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the movie. Because it was on TV, and I haven’t seen it in years. (From 1990, it’s a cult classic. You know the one.)
I think most people around my age have seen this movie. The heroes in a half shell were quite popular back in my day. Way back in the 90’s.
Watching it as an adult, It’s a very different film. In addition to the overall ridiculousness of it as a whole, there are some serious plot holes.
I have a couple questions:
1. Is anyone else profoundly disturbed by the flirtation / sexual tension between April O’Neil, Adult Human Reporter and Raphael, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle? It’s just wrong on so many levels. And furthermore, why does Raphael have a borderline Italian accent?
2. What is Shredders’ motivation? What’s up with The Foot Clan and the generalized hating of Splinter and our heroes?
I think the movie was based on the comic books, which I didn’t read. I read everything was I was little. Everything except comic books – so please fill in the blanks for me if you know.
COMPLETELY unrelated – some new detailsabout Jenny Lewis’s upcoming album have been released. Most importantly, that it’s coming out in September. Zooey Deschanel is featured on it, and she’ll be playing in New York in October.
This is all code for “Do you want to see Jenny Lewis with me in October?”
I saw Rilo Kiley on Monday night with Holly, Jenn, Sara and Eric. After some serious delays due to the fine structuring of public transportation, we got to the venue just in the nick of time* as they took the stage about 10 minutes after we arrived.
They were most likely waiting for us.
I saw them in Boston last summer and they they were rad. This time around, at Terminal 5, they were good, but I wouldn’t say rad. And here’s why:
I think the venue had more to do with the lesser rad-ness than anything else. Terminal 5 is midtown and it’s a hassle getting there, and unless you get there early to sit on the balcony sections, you’re packed in like sardines. In addition to the sardines, there are poles that hold up the balconies, and this obstructs the view from the stage unless you’re right in the middle. We weren’t in the middle, and unfortunately there was a 6′3″, 300 pound sardine leaning on the pole infront of me. He seemed to have a good time though, and honestly – if I were a 6′3″ 300 pound person/slash/sardine, I’d put myself next to a pole too – so I’ll save my hatin’ for another day.
The set list was great. Similar to the Boston show, and lacking cow bell (which was executed flawlessly by Jenny Lewis during the performance of “Breakin’ Up” last year), but still a really great mix of songs spanning their four albums. I can’t say there was ever a dull point during the set, and the band seemed to have a great time on stage, which is always so nice to see.
Here the set list for those playing at home:
Close Call
The Moneymaker
Dreamworld
Capturing Moods
Breakin’ Up (Sans cowbell)
Does He Love You?
Ripchord
The Absence of God
With Arms Outstretched
Hail to Whatever You Found In The Sunlight That Surrounds You
It’s A Hit
15
Silver Lining
I Never
—
A Better Son/Daughter
Portions for Foxes
Spectacular Views
Then we went home. Eventually.
I’m so glad I got to see them perform a second time. After the Boston show I thought I wouldn’t see them for years / ever again, and they’re one of my favorite bands. Top ten, definitely.
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*Where does this expression come from? This ties back into my money making scheme of almost a year ago - a searchable database of commonly used expressions: where they come from, what they mean, and examples of them used in every day conversation. Feel free to steal said idea. I don’t want profits, I just really need these questions answered.
Also, the new Weezer and Coldplay songs are fun. Just saying. I’m not really that into either band, but really. I havn’t heard either album in their entirety, but I’m looking forward to it.
On the new Paste Magazine (which I haven’t gotten yet), the cover article is, “What I Miss About Michael Jackson.” Now, most people who know me personally know that I really do enjoy Michael Jackson’s music. ‘Rock With You’ is one of my favorite songs. It seems strange that I would, given my taste in music in general, but I honestly do. Despite his behavior with the Beatles catalog, which really, really grinds my gears. steams my broccoli. sinks my battleship…I appreciate his music.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about Michael alot lately, and I’ve come to sad conclusions:
On a completely unrelated note, which should probably be a seperate post – I sent out an S.O.S to the Internet a few weeks ago asking for reading suggestions. “Something that changed your life” were the only parameters, and I got alot of responses. I went with The Best American Short Stories 2007, which is exactly what it sounds like. I’ve only been reading them for a few days now, but I think I made a good choice. Unfortunately, I’m sporadically very busy, then I’ll suddenly have a much lighter work load. So, I felt like I couldn’t dedicate myself fully to a novel per-se. I’m not the type of reader who can just pick up a book and read a chapter every few days or so. I really have to pour myself into it – this, combined with the fact that I can’t imagine notreading recreationally makes finding time to read “properly” difficult. Short stories are the answer. What are you reading, and how do you read? Can you do the “read a chapter whenever I get the chance” sort of thing, or do you need to plow through it like I do? And if you feel like suggesting a “Something that changed your life,” feel free. I might not have time to read your life changer right now, but i’ll at least look into it, and keep it in mind for when I do have time.
For me, the best thing about keeping up to date with music / movie news, is hearing the bits and pieces of something being put together, until it culminates into the final product. Movie, album, TV show…whatever.
The album She and Him, Volume One is something I’ve been following – and as the release date gets closer and closer, I’m finding more reasons to get excited about it:
Zooey Deschanel has been a favorite actress of mine for a while. So, when I heard she was making an album I was intrigued. I knew that unlike other “actress turned singer” albums, this one would be more legitimate, because Zooey actually isa really talented singer (unlike other actresses who have delusions of grandeur) and has some indie credibility. So ,unlike Lindsay Lohan’s debut album, ‘Speak’ – this is something I’d actually be interested in hearing.
A few months later I heard that the album is actually a collaboration with M. Ward, another musician who I like. He produced ‘Rabbit Fur Coat’ by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. Which, fun fact, is one of my favorite albums. A go-to album even. M. Ward is pretty highly regarded in the industry so I was definitely reassured this wouldn’t be some pop-crap-masterpiece.
Recently, I saw Zooey and Matt on the cover of Under The Radar, one of my favorite magazines. This album is getting some indie cred already. I read the article and I see that they’ve covered a Beatles song: I Should Have Known Better, and that the album is heavily influenced by the Beatles.
Basically, Zooey Deschanel is a mind reader and found out what I would like to hear out of this album, then made it happen.
Now, in my most recent discovery, I see that Jenny Lewis is featuring Zooey as a guest singer on her upcoming album as well – The “bits and pieces” of which I’ll be following closely.
Very closely.
Zooey Deschanel, let me buy you a drink sometime. Seriously.
Read this post from Stereogum.com for a little more about the album, a tracklist and download. The album comes out March 18th, 2008, and can be pre-ordered through amazon. I heard a rumor there will be small tour happening this spring. It’d be unnatural if NYC wasn’t a part of that tour, so expect another post on this some time in the spring.
Also, unrelated: did you know that an Arrested Development movieis in the works? FTW!
Based on the nature of my work lately, I’ve been listening to alot of new music. Some good, some bad, most of it somewhere in the middle. Due to this, I havn’t felt like listening to new music unless I have to. So, during my 2 hour commute to school and work, I’d rather listen to something I’m familiar with. I find myself listening to the albums that I know like the back of my hand. I know every word to every song, and I know when to skip over a track and what kind of mood I’ll be in after I listen to it. When I get a new album from an artist I know I like, I like to listen to it while I’m at home doing something, so I can “absorb it,” so I rarely listen to new music when I’m driving.
I stick to my go-to-records. Of course, among these are my Beatles albums. Anybody who knows me knows I don’t even need to clarify this, but I will never not want to listen to the Beatles. So, here’s a list of my go-to-records (not including the Beatles) over the past month or so.
Of course there are a few other albums that are on constant rotatation, but these are the ones that i’ve been listening to lately. What are yours and why do you think this is? I also can’t decide if I think the weather has an influence on my go-to-listening habits. I think i’d be more likely to listen to upbeat music over the summer, but I never paid close enough attention to it. What are your thoughts? And if you do find yourself in my car often, what are your thoughts on my music selection? I’ll usually change the CD if I think what i’m listening to is un-listenable for my passenger…unless of course I’m listening to Michael Jackson. That’s staying on. Don’t hate. I love me some MJ.
If you had told me a year ago that I’d enjoy going to a karaoke bar, I’d call you crazy. I’m not a singer by any stretch. In fact, I’ve been forced to become a spectacular whistler in order to compensate for my lacking vocal talents. So who would have thought it. Anyway, last night I was at a bar and they had karaoke. I enjoy it. I don’t often go around singing at the top of my lungs and public humiliation isn’t exactly my forte, I’m usually quite reserved in my day to day life, but it’s such a good time I can’t help it.
Flipping through the hundreds (thousands?) of songs that were available to sing, a few strangers and myself got in depth on what warrants a good karaoke song, and a good karaoke singer. There’s this one woman who was at this bar the few times I went over the summer. I believe Delilah was her name. Delilah would put her name in several times a night and this woman can sing. She can really carry a tune. But, nobody really got into it. Maybe because ol’ Delilah would sing songs that weren’t exactly crowd-pleasing, and she would go up by herself -it kind of took the fun out of it. Karaoke isn’t for professional singers. It’s for people who are just out having a good time with their friends and don’t mind being made fun of.
These people, are me and my friends.
It’s tough to decide on a karaoke song to “perform” because it needs to be each of these things:
1. Easy to sing. No vocal acrobatics. Remember, you aren’t a singer. Don’t kid yourself.
2. Well known. Either current top 40 sort of well known or an indisputable classic, so that if the crowd gets involved, they can chime in and /or clap along. I’ve also found that pop songs from the 90’s fare well here too, probably because all the kids in their early twenties say “oh my gaawwwddd! I remember this!” and sing along with the performer.
3. A song that you know well enough to at least try and stay on key, and a song you know well enough to get the timing right.
and 4. A song you actually like.
I have a few songs in mind that I think my friends and I will “perform” eventually, but I want to know, Internet: What are your favorite karaoke songs, and why? Would you suggest any other criteria that makes something a good karaoke song? Any suggestions? Are you Delilah? (I’m sorry, nothing personal.)
I was going to write a big long review about I’m Not There, a movie I saw on Sunday by Todd Haynes, based (somewhat) on the life of Bob Dylan. But Jenn beat me to it, and I agree with everything she said so what’s the point?
The movie is good. Complex and interesting. Cate Blanchette is amazing and Heath Ledger is as good looking as ever.
After I saw the movie, I knew I wanted to write about it, so I did a little research online and stumbled upon this new 3 disk compilation set of Dylan’s work. If I didn’t already own every song on this set, I’d buy it. I think it’s a great overview of Dylan’s work, and since it’s the most recent compilation, it includes newer songs that aren’t available on other, previously released “greatest hits.” I highly reccomend it to the casual Dylan fan, or someone who’s looking to get into his work.
The soundtrack for I’m Not There includes all covers of Dylan’s songs, which just aren’t very good. Everyone is imitating Bob Dylan and nobody can do Bob Dylan except Bob Dylan. However, the soundtrack includes the previously unreleased track of “I’m Not There” by Dylan – the only song on the album that is actually performed by him. It’s fantastic. I have no idea why it wasn’t released prior to this but I’m glad it finally was.
Now a list of my favorite Dylan songs, based on most played in my iTunes.
Most of the time I tell people, “Listen to The Beatles!” And I mean it.
But I’m on a Bob Dylan kick thanks to the movie, so now I’m singin’ a different tune. Listen to Bob Dylan!
Everyone has those bands. The bands that you hear so much about from your friends, or in magazines, but you never listen to them yourself. No time. No dedication. No place to start.
I recently crossed the band Arcade Fire off of my to-listen-to list. At the suggestion of a co-worker who likes them, I bought their album Funeral. Based on the fact that I loved this album and was right in assuming that I would, I plan on crossing other bands off of this list. All I need, is a little help.
Alot of the bands on my list are bands that my friends listen to; specifically, friends who’s musical opinion I trust. So, if you listen to the bands listed below, or want to suggest another – drop me a line and help a sister out. E-mail or Comment. (or call or IM me for those in the know)
I’ll make you a customized Beatles mix or something equally rad that I know about doing.
Bands Mindy Thinks She Will Like:
-Weezer
-Wilco
-Tom Waits
-Joy Division
-Mates of State
-Jeff Buckley
-Regina Spektor
-Beck
-Modest Mouse
*Tegan and Sara were on my list until a few weeks ago when they were artist of the week on MTV. Now they’re off the list and i’m pretty sure I don’t like them. Maybe it was just the clips that were floating about or something, but I was severely unimpressed. If you’d like to change my mind, i’m not opposed to one last shot, Tegan and Sara. If those are even your real names.
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