Hmmm.

Got some interesting responses to my last post.

dave --Yeah. Not so much bitter as I am filled with bottomless pity. I sincerely lament the state of music today. Perhaps I'm wrong. I do like Of Montreal and they're a relatively new band. And I'm not adverse to listening to new music.

So, this is an open invite to anyone who read the last post. Send me your music. Good music only, please. I'd like you to prove me wrong, because I really don't want to be a cranky old person who only listens to older stuff. I miss out on a lot of stuff due to the fact that I can't watch MTV anymore and I hate the radio with the fire OF A THOUSAND MOOSE!

My email is [email protected]. Go to yousendit.com and send me your music!

Because file sharing is the way we find new obsessions and reasons to spend money we don't have. Wa and HOO.

Another thing, I totally screwed the pooch with the last post. I could have named it "Youth Culture Killed My Dog"...and now I feel bad that I didn't, because in my own crazy head...that'd be really funny.

I'd also like to point out that I had a whole diatribe written in my head today about the state of our government. It was going to be political and cool, and filled with angry, sarcastic GenX bitterness. But then I got all excited about the prospect of getting neat new music from people and it went away.

But I'm still angry about that. I think we all should be. Angry and really afraid.

Also, it should be noted that I made a whole $ .014...which you could almost say is like negative money. I'm going to sit back now and think about all the cool stuff I'm gonna buy with my phat $.014. Maybe someday I'll make one shiny penny!

I can't wait! Because I'm so gonna buy myself a pony ride at Meijers. ***

***Note--for those who don't live in Michigan and don't know what Meijers is or what I'm talking about. Meijers is a huuuuuuuuuuge 24 hour supermarket that has hundreds of stores strewn throughout Ohio and Michigan. In the very front of the store by the registers, they have these little mechanical ponies for the kids. You can get a ride on one for a PENNY! WHAT A DEAL!

Comment! (1) | Recommend! | Categories: music today [t], Meijer [t], Pennies [t]

This site seems like a lot more trouble than it's worth. I suppose if I were smarter with computers, this place would be a gas. It does seem to be chalk full of ways to customize things...especially if you're familiar with computer...stuff.

Unfortunately for me, I'm not. So I guess that means I suck.

Ah, C'est la vie.

I'm not even sure why I got this journal. It seemed like a good idea at the time. I already have too many journals. I don't really need one more.

Hmph.

Perhaps someday I'll have so many that they'll have to duel to the death. It'll be like the Highlander. They'll fight until there's only one...or maybe two.

I do have to say I enjoy the monkey theme at this site and the fonts are really nice and easily readable too. This is a concern for an "old" person, which is what I'm considered...what with our cultural obsession with youth.

Frankly, I don't get it. I never have. Young people...serioulsy. Y'all are boring as hell. With your cute flat stomachs and your made up problems and your lives that aren't quite complicated yet and the being able to do stuff at a whim, without even thinking about the consequences and the hip hop and the hula hoops and your rock music.

I realized all of this recently when I started watching MTV. I stared at the screen and the proverbial ephiphany hit me right between the eyes. I hate MTV. I can't watch it anymore. Even just to pass the time. I just watch and shake my head and turn back to Court TV or the Discovery Channel.

How did I not know how annoying MTV was? Why--in the WORLD--did I ever find it even remotely interesting? It's really just a bunch of crap, loosely held together by the concept of music without any real music at all. Also, the music today sucks! SUCKS!

GOD!

Maybe it's not so much that I'm older, but that I've finally figured out that MTV sucks. Like I missed the memo the first time around. That's it.

Also, I hate to break it to you kids out there. But your music sucks. No, don't argue with me. It does.

Really. It sucks. It's boring, unoriginal crap with the same beat that just has different guys yelling over it. With the occasional breathy whisper from some skinny twat who's supposed to be sexy, but really just looks like she could use a bath and a good meal.

I'm serious. It sucks. Just think about it. Wait.

Go. Listen to some Marvin Gaye. A little Beatles, mixed with the Rolling Stones. Pull out your Dad's old Zepplin records. Dust off that audio cassette of Purple Rain that your mom keeps in the closet, thinking no one knows about it. Listen to them ...and then listen to the bullshit you listen to. There's no question. Your music sucks. There are three...maaaaaaaybe four bands that are worth anything.

No...no. I'm right. I've been there. Remember the '90's? Of course you don't, but pretend you do. The '90's was a time when any long haired, unwashed idiot could mumble into a microphone and make a million dollars. How many of those bands are still here today and making records? How many of them are remembered? And how many of them WILL be remembered in 20 years?

Nirvana. Pearl Jam. Maybe Wheezer. Beck. Perhaps a few others I'm not thinking of right now, but I might later.

I don't see a lot of music right now that will last very long. It's hard to be memorable when most MTV bands are pretty much disposable. It's all about pretty hair and abs. Sad really. I remember a time when a really ugly guy could front a band...and that was okay.

*sigh*

Okay, okay. I'm not saying I'm a paragon of taste. I listen to the Spice Girls. WHAT??!! Everyone has to have that shame based record that they listen to in the dark and enjoy secretly, knowing their loved ones will ridicule them if they ever knew. I'm just open about my love of cheesily craptacular stuff. There's nothing wrong with loving kitsch. But when it's ALL you love, I'm sorry...I have to question your taste and your sanity. Because while I do love the Spice Girls, I also listen to Maria Callas and David Byrne. (It's weird putting them in the same sentence. I feel so self-important!!)

Seriously, come back to me in ten years and try to argue the point then. I guarantee you'll agree with me once that day comes.

Until then, I'm going to sit on my lawn with my shotgun, waiting for you to walk by so I can scream incoherent obscenties at you.

Comment! (3) | Recommend! | Categories: music today [t]

It's been awhile since I've posted here... man.

What's been going on... things to write... must think of something interesting.

Hell.

I've got nothing.

Okay, I could talk about my continuing fascination with They Might Be Giants -- new album out in July -- it's pretty awesome. The first CD stamping also contains a bonus CD full of rarities and tracks that didn't make the album.

My favorite song so far from The Else is Climbing the Walls. The lyrics are provided thusly:

I can't talk, I got to go
Don't call me back, I won't get the door
Got to focus on the job
'Cause I got a new job climbing the walls

I was grinding my teeth, I was wasting my youth
And using up my teeth
Now I'm done chewing my nails
Hanging my head, chasing my tail
It got so bad I quit my job
Then I got a new job climbing the walls

Too much junk, too much junk
Can we please clear out this house?
In the trunk, in the trunk
And then we'll take it all to the dump
Then we won't need the car
'Cause we'll stay where we are
And I'll have all this room

I got tired of pacing the floor
Sick of it all, I'm done with the floor
Walked away ever since I got a new job climbing the walls

I was grinding my teeth, I was wasting my youth
And using up my teeth
Now I'm done chewing my nails
Hanging my head, chasing my tail
It got so bad I quit my job
Then I got a new job climbing the walls

The deep end, the deep end
People talk a lot, but they don't know
They pretend, they pretend
They don't really know how deep it goes

Now I misunderstood,
Thought the wall was just good
For staring blankly at

I got tired of pacing the floor
Sick of it all, I'm done with the floor
Walked away ever since I got a new job climbing the walls

Now I'm done chewing my nails
Hanging my head, chasing my tail
It got so bad I quit my job
Then I got a new job climbing the walls
Got a new job climbing the walls
Got a new job climbing the walls

You owe it to John and John to buy this album... why? Because it's awesome and I say so, that's why. Don't argue... it gives you wrinkles.

My favorite song on the bonus disc, Cast Your Pod to the Wind, is Brain Problem Situation. A hilarious little ditty about alcoholism and DUIs.

Wake up
Put on my makeup
And pick the rake up
And rake my hair

And I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands
I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands
I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands

On my hands, I'm looking down, and I can't see what I've got
On my hands there's a Brain Problem Situation

Twenty nine inches of snow on the top of the Situation on the Brain
And the scraper I buried somewhere in the springtime will emerge

And I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands
I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation in the bag

In the bag, in the paper bag, is the source of the call
It was traced to the paper bag
Yes the call has been traced to the bag

Stand up
And put our hand up
And with our eyes closed
We touch our nose

And the cop tells us, but we don't know
But we're starting to feel like we got a
Brain Problem Situation on our hands
We think, officer, but we don't know
But we're starting to feel like we got a
Brain Problem Situation on our hands
On our hands

Ooo ooo

On our hands

In the drunk tank
We're in the drunk tank
We're in the drunk tank
All by ourselves

And I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands

And I think, maybe, but I don't know
But I'm starting to feel like I got a
Brain Problem Situation on my hands
On my hands

I could make a crack about Lindsey Lohan but I won't... I have more dignity than that.

Right, so this post was entirely pointless and inconsequential, as most of my rambling is... Sigh.

Side note: THERE IS A FREAKING BUG THAT KEEPS TRYING TO FLY RIGHT INTO MY EYE!

Comment! (0) | Recommend! | Categories: They Might Be Giants [t], Music [t]

So, awhile ago I got it into my head to make an A to Z playlist.

For those who don't know, I'm a freak for making the perfect playlist. Sort of like Rob from High Fidelity, only I'm less a straight up asshole and more of a pouty douche bag, but I digress.

Anyway, I have this obsession with making playlists. I'm not quite sure how the A to Z list came about, but it did and I ran with it.

See, there's sort of a zen to making a really good playlist. I won't go too far into it, but I feel like you really have to be thoughtful on song placement. Which is why I came up with the A to Z list, because finding a song for each letter of the alphabet would be super difficult.

Here's the rules I set forth for myself.

1.) Pick a song for each letter of the Alphabet, first of all.

2.) All songs MUST be in English. The songs can be sung by non-English speaking (IE: Those that don't speak English as a native language) artists, but they have got to be in English. This makes it harder for you to pick songs for letters such as 'Q'.

3.) No artist can have consecutive songs. Example: I couldn't have Spiraling Shape as my 'S' song because I have Till My Head Falls Off for my 'T' song, because they both are by They Might Be Giants. This rule extends to cover versions as well.

4.) If an artist appears on your list more than once, there must be a one song lead between appearances, this also includes cover songs. Example: I picked Under Pressure David Bowie and Queen for my 'U' song. For my 'W' song, I picked We Are the Champions -- but I picked the cover version done by Johnathan Coulton. In between those two songs is Jamiroquai's Virtual Insanity.

The list is as follows:

1. Across the Universe by the Beatles (Acoustic version from Anthology)
2. Birdhouse in Your Soul by They Might Be Giants (Flood)
3. Continental Drift by the Rolling Stones (Steel Wheels)
4. Don't Fence Me In cover by David Byrne, written by Cole Porter (Red+Hot+Blue: A Tribute to Cole Porter)
5. Everything Under the Sun by Common Rotation (Live track off Clear Channel)
6. Free as a Bird by the Beatles (Anthology)
7. Genius of Love by the Tom Tom Club (Tom Tom Club)
8. Hey, Mr. DJ, I Thought We Had a Deal by They Might Be Giants (Then, the Earlier Years)
9. Ikea by Jonathan Coulton (Smoking Monkey)
10. Jumpin' Jack Flash by the Rolling Stones (40 Licks)
11. Kiss cover by Der Palast Orchestra mit Max Raabe (album unknown)
12. Let it Be by the Beatles (Let it Be)
13. Mesopotamia by the B52's (Time Capsule)
14. No One Knows My Plan by They Might Be Giants (John Henry)
15. Once in a Lifetime by the Talking Heads (Remain in Light)
16. Pretty Pink Ribbon by CAKE (Comfort Eagle)
17. Quiche Lorraine by the B52's (Time Capsule)
18. Rock Your Socks by Tenacious D (Tenacious D)
19. Say You'll Be There by the Spice Girls (Spice)
20. Till My Head Falls Off by They Might Be Giants (Factory Showroom)
21. Under Pressure by David Bowie & Queen (Classic Queen)
22. Virtual Insanity by Jamiroquai
23. We Are the Champions acoustic cover by Johnathan Coulton (Thing a Week Four)
24. XTC vs. Adam Ant by They Might Be Giants (Factory Showroom)
25. Your Rain sung by Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, composed by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill 4 Soundtrack)
26. Z Y X by They Might Be Giants (Here Come the ABCs)
27. 1234 by Fiest (The Reminder)

I added the "bonus" track at the bottom for awesomeness. There was also somewhat of a fracas between my sister, husband and I regarding "Your Rain". They objected to the song on account that it was written and composed by someone who didn't speak English natively. I pointed out the same could be said of Max Raabe, who is German. The song he and his orchestra performed WAS written by a native English speaker. Max Raabe, being German, speaks German, but sings the song in English. Therefore it is allowed. And though Yamaoka doesn't speak English as a first language, he did write the song in English and it was performed by an artist who speaks English natively, therefore it counts. So there.

Anyway, if you're as big a nerd as I am, feel free to do this.

You know, I almost think this requires some kind of freaky CD exchange. If anyone wants this list, I'll happily find a way to send it to you. It's just that awesome. And you can send your own back.

If you want...

Comment! (2) | Recommend! | Categories: Music [t]

So, I was watching G4 the other day and they were talking about this game called Guitar Hero.

Basically, the game is a guitar playing sim and it comes with a pretty neat peripheral. It's a simplified guitar with buttons on the fret board for you to push in order to activate specific notes. It's all over pretty neat and I almost want to play it, but...

Well, the song list they have for the game leaves much to be desired. And I find myself sad because ...well... clearly they wouldn't have my favorite bands on them. I'd love to play the lead guitar for TMBG's "The Guitar" or even better, any of Keith's solos on any Stones song you could name. That'd rock hard core! But of course, they wouldn't have either of them on their game. The Stones are too expensive and the Giants too esoteric.

It sucks. Because I'd seriously bust a vein in my head if I could play the guitar solo for "Damn Good Times" or how 'bout the Eric Clapton solo in "Let it Be" by the Beatles? That'd fucking rock my entire universe. Dude, they don't even have "Stairway to Heaven" -- which is like -- the fucking guitar song to end all guitar songs. How 'bout "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", fuckers? That song is bloody brilliant. Okay, okay they're all from really brilliant artists that are expensive.

Wait, I take that back. They got "Ziggy Stardust", so there is NO excuse. And come on! "Godzilla"?!!! If you're gonna go for a song by the Blue Oyster Cult, get "Don't Fear the Reaper" for fuck's sake. That song is awesome! Jesus, some of the songs on there are fucking pathetic!! I'd take any Guns n' Roses song over "Sharp Dressed Man". Besides, ZZ Top isn't cool unless the guitar periph comes with that harness they use to twirl the guitars. And the Queen song they picked just sucked. "Killer Queen"??? WHY NOT BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY!???

WHYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE???!!

Why not Nirvana? They had some decent songs. So did STP. Sweet Jeebus, I'd even accept some Journey.

But Boston? I mean, if you're gonna go cheeseball, why not Motley Crue? At least they're fun cheeseball. And if you're gonna go bad cheeseball then go all the way. Pick out your favorite Chicago song, or better yet, why not the lyrically epic songs of Styx?

*sigh*

It makes me really, really sad in a profound way. I call No Way on Guitar Hero... wait, no, I call shenanigans on Guitar Hero. That's right. I called shenanigans.

And all I can think is, it'd be so much cooler if they had Accordion Hero. It'd come with an accordion and I'd be able to do all the accordion parts in the TMBG canon. It'd be awesome.

Can you imagine rocking your world, playing the accordion for "Birdhouse in Your Soul"? Even better, how cool would it be to play TMBG's one and only "Famous Polka"?!!! That'd fucking rock.

THAT DOES IT! SCREW GUITAR HERO! I WANNA BE AN ACCORDION HERO! I'M GONNA PLAY THE FAMOUS POLKA OR MAYBE ONE OF WEIRD AL'S POLKA'S -- TILL THE BRINK OF DAWN AND IF I HAD MONEY AND THIS WORLD WAS FAIR, I'D SO HAVE MY SHOT AT BEING AN ACCORDION HERO! BUT THE WORLD ISN'T! IT SUCKS, and now the world is filled with Guitar Hero and I hang my head in shame and sorrow, my imaginary accordion sagging in misery.

Man, it really busts my non-existent balls that there isn't an Accordion Hero game. That'd rule!

I went to a sad place with this post...

Originally posted: Noacat@Livejournal Brought to Nutang for your viewing pleasure... or displeasure as it were.

Comment! (2) | Recommend! | Categories: Music [t], Video Games [t], Guitar Hero [t]