A couple funky, tropical, summery tunes from Beck!
Monday, June 27, 2016
Friday, June 24, 2016
...Friday...?
Should I do a feel good Friday, or not? Should I write about the weird-ass thing that happened last night, or not?
Okay, here goes. I stopped writing personal stuff here many years ago for the love of all that's decent, but I think I can safely say I'm well out of my emo years and heading into my "salty anecdote" years. Let's just say my tolerance for humanity is at an all-time low. No, not the band.
It's hard to be an adult. Specifically, it's hard to make friends as an adult. Most people I've known with a circle of friends have stayed in the place they grew up, and have known their friends since school days. When you move around, as both my husband and I have, you find yourself untethered to the kind of life many might take for granted.
Making friends as a kid isn't too hard, even for a shy person like me. There's just so much help out there. School, activities, youth groups. Adults generally go to work and come home, so unless you happen to like your co-workers, how exactly do you go about meeting people? (My husband dislikes his co-workers.) Even things like church or adult ed classes don't really seem to be structured towards adult friendships. There seems to be a prevailing notion that adults, being adults, are just fine on their own and can take care of things themselves. When in fact this mindset can lead to just the opposite result. It's lonely out there. Unless you "already" know someone, you don't know anyone. We need some help, because meeting kindred spirits, as adults in an area you didn't grow up in, can be like waiting for lightning to strike.
Cue the Edmonton Craft Beer Fest a few weeks ago. The last group of friends I had were all craft beer geeks/homebrewers, and my husband's getting into beer, so it's as good a setting as any to possibly jibe with people. We were well into our stouts and bacon-wrapped goodies when a couple sat across from us. Somehow my husband and the guy started talking. It was about politics, which I hate, so I excused myself to the ladies' room. When I got back the couple had moved on, but apparently my husband and this guy had hit it off and exchanged numbers. Cool. Beer friends are good friends, even if I personally hate political discussions. Maybe something good can come from this.
They met for a beer, had a great time, talked a lot on facebook, and we had planned to go out with him and his wife to a craft beer restaurant this weekend. Until last night happened. I was a little suspicious when my husband mentioned this new friend wanted to meet with him to discuss some sort of "social business venture" thing?? (still not really sure what it was), but I wanted to support a possible friendship. I joked with him before he left to not drink any Kool-Aid. He laughed. I was joking... mostly. :(
BUT, apparently, this guy was trying to sell some kind of scheme, one of those barely legal, vaguely cultish things that requires you to pay for stages of information with the promised result of "success!!!" Of course when I hear such things, I immediately think of
My husband, not being born 5 minutes ago, knew what was up and extracted himself from the situation. Our dinner plans were cancelled and faith in humanity, a little shaken. Because these scammers KNOW how hard it is to connect with people; that's how they get you. They rope you in with friendliness. And that's a rotten thing to do. (This sounds like pretty much what happened. It even went down in a Starbucks. So beware. Beware of humans. http://lallouslab.net/2015/03/25/7-tips-to-help-you-spot-amway-wwdb-recruiters-in-coffeeshops/)
So I'm angry and a little frustrated today. Trust no one, I guess. Or trust everyone, and let the chips fall where they may. I don't know. I don't have any answers. Or peeps. All I have is a growing collection of anecdotes from a strange world.
I can say, if life is a personal journey, so be it. Embrace things like the way music makes you feel, or a good glass of wine, or a walk in the woods. The way it smells after it rains. These are valid life experiences that are not diminished by lack of other people. Sometimes, they're enhanced. I guess what I'm saying is, even when something shitty happens, it's still okay. You're still you, and life goes on. But damn, some people suck.
Now let's listen to some old Green Day, because why not.
Okay, here goes. I stopped writing personal stuff here many years ago for the love of all that's decent, but I think I can safely say I'm well out of my emo years and heading into my "salty anecdote" years. Let's just say my tolerance for humanity is at an all-time low. No, not the band.
It's hard to be an adult. Specifically, it's hard to make friends as an adult. Most people I've known with a circle of friends have stayed in the place they grew up, and have known their friends since school days. When you move around, as both my husband and I have, you find yourself untethered to the kind of life many might take for granted.
Making friends as a kid isn't too hard, even for a shy person like me. There's just so much help out there. School, activities, youth groups. Adults generally go to work and come home, so unless you happen to like your co-workers, how exactly do you go about meeting people? (My husband dislikes his co-workers.) Even things like church or adult ed classes don't really seem to be structured towards adult friendships. There seems to be a prevailing notion that adults, being adults, are just fine on their own and can take care of things themselves. When in fact this mindset can lead to just the opposite result. It's lonely out there. Unless you "already" know someone, you don't know anyone. We need some help, because meeting kindred spirits, as adults in an area you didn't grow up in, can be like waiting for lightning to strike.
Cue the Edmonton Craft Beer Fest a few weeks ago. The last group of friends I had were all craft beer geeks/homebrewers, and my husband's getting into beer, so it's as good a setting as any to possibly jibe with people. We were well into our stouts and bacon-wrapped goodies when a couple sat across from us. Somehow my husband and the guy started talking. It was about politics, which I hate, so I excused myself to the ladies' room. When I got back the couple had moved on, but apparently my husband and this guy had hit it off and exchanged numbers. Cool. Beer friends are good friends, even if I personally hate political discussions. Maybe something good can come from this.
They met for a beer, had a great time, talked a lot on facebook, and we had planned to go out with him and his wife to a craft beer restaurant this weekend. Until last night happened. I was a little suspicious when my husband mentioned this new friend wanted to meet with him to discuss some sort of "social business venture" thing?? (still not really sure what it was), but I wanted to support a possible friendship. I joked with him before he left to not drink any Kool-Aid. He laughed. I was joking... mostly. :(
BUT, apparently, this guy was trying to sell some kind of scheme, one of those barely legal, vaguely cultish things that requires you to pay for stages of information with the promised result of "success!!!" Of course when I hear such things, I immediately think of
My husband, not being born 5 minutes ago, knew what was up and extracted himself from the situation. Our dinner plans were cancelled and faith in humanity, a little shaken. Because these scammers KNOW how hard it is to connect with people; that's how they get you. They rope you in with friendliness. And that's a rotten thing to do. (This sounds like pretty much what happened. It even went down in a Starbucks. So beware. Beware of humans. http://lallouslab.net/2015/03/25/7-tips-to-help-you-spot-amway-wwdb-recruiters-in-coffeeshops/)
So I'm angry and a little frustrated today. Trust no one, I guess. Or trust everyone, and let the chips fall where they may. I don't know. I don't have any answers. Or peeps. All I have is a growing collection of anecdotes from a strange world.
I can say, if life is a personal journey, so be it. Embrace things like the way music makes you feel, or a good glass of wine, or a walk in the woods. The way it smells after it rains. These are valid life experiences that are not diminished by lack of other people. Sometimes, they're enhanced. I guess what I'm saying is, even when something shitty happens, it's still okay. You're still you, and life goes on. But damn, some people suck.
Now let's listen to some old Green Day, because why not.
Thursday, June 23, 2016
tbt ~ ghostbusters!
In light of Fall Out Boy's pretty damn terrible Ghostbusters theme, here's Bobby Brown's pretty damn fun Ghostbusters II theme.
I'm not posting the official video because DONALD MOFOIN' TRUMP is in it. There is no escaping that asshole. Yeah Bobby Brown is also an asshole, but at least he made some good music and doesn't want to destroy the world (as far as I know).
BONUS! I've sort of come around on Fall Out Boy, so I don't want this post to be a slam on them. Their debut album is pretty damn good if you like that old pop punk sound, and their next two albums are also decent if you can look past the ego and just enjoy the music. It's not my favorite style of rock, and a lot of their later stuff doesn't do it for me, but you could do a hell of a lot worse than early Fall Out Boy. I kind of regret overlooking them at the time. I think I brushed them off as a more smug, less rockin' version of MCR, which is unfair. I loved MCR, but you shouldn't judge one band by another.
So here's one of my favorite FOB songs, which happens to feature Motion City Soundtrack frontman Justin Pierre. Hmm, coincidence??
Actually, that makes the Ghostbusters thing even more depressing by comparison. This was a mistake. *goes back to jamming to Bobby Brown* Ya ya ya know it!
I'm not posting the official video because DONALD MOFOIN' TRUMP is in it. There is no escaping that asshole. Yeah Bobby Brown is also an asshole, but at least he made some good music and doesn't want to destroy the world (as far as I know).
BONUS! I've sort of come around on Fall Out Boy, so I don't want this post to be a slam on them. Their debut album is pretty damn good if you like that old pop punk sound, and their next two albums are also decent if you can look past the ego and just enjoy the music. It's not my favorite style of rock, and a lot of their later stuff doesn't do it for me, but you could do a hell of a lot worse than early Fall Out Boy. I kind of regret overlooking them at the time. I think I brushed them off as a more smug, less rockin' version of MCR, which is unfair. I loved MCR, but you shouldn't judge one band by another.
So here's one of my favorite FOB songs, which happens to feature Motion City Soundtrack frontman Justin Pierre. Hmm, coincidence??
Actually, that makes the Ghostbusters thing even more depressing by comparison. This was a mistake. *goes back to jamming to Bobby Brown* Ya ya ya know it!
Worthless Yahoo Headline of the Day
"Bridezilla Demands Bridesmaids Pay for Her $10,500 Wedding Dress"
I... can't believe that's actually some people's lives.
FUN FACT: My wedding cost $100. The Las Vegas Wedding Wagon came to our hotel room. I wore an A&F sundress and a cardi I already had in my closet, and I REGRET NOTHING except that hideous gold curtain.
What part has that hideous gold curtain played in my actual married life? None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. A big fat gold doughnut*. You see what I'm trying to say here? MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIKE MEEEEE. Stupid entitled brats. These are the people who are buying Meghan Trainor songs, aren't they? I see you. I know what you did and you should be ashamed!!
*mmm, gold doughnut.
I... can't believe that's actually some people's lives.
FUN FACT: My wedding cost $100. The Las Vegas Wedding Wagon came to our hotel room. I wore an A&F sundress and a cardi I already had in my closet, and I REGRET NOTHING except that hideous gold curtain.
What part has that hideous gold curtain played in my actual married life? None. Zero. Zip. Zilch. Nada. A big fat gold doughnut*. You see what I'm trying to say here? MORE PEOPLE SHOULD BE LIKE MEEEEE. Stupid entitled brats. These are the people who are buying Meghan Trainor songs, aren't they? I see you. I know what you did and you should be ashamed!!
*mmm, gold doughnut.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Happy summer! Mid-year music report ft. country women, alt rock, 2002emo! me, and more
Tuck in, this'll probably go long.
This blog was pretty much built on snark. Actually, it was built on my early 2000s emo ramblings, but give me a break. Everyone was emo in 2002. 9/11 happened and, while not as horrific, 9/11 happened to country music, which sent me scrambling to find musical options that better suited my mindset. No, I didn't have a stupid myspace haircut, I was just emotional and listened to higher-than-recommended doses of Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack, okay?* ... I still like those bands. Anywayyy, when I returned after a hiatus about 5 years ago, it became all about snark. Then I focused on music snark, specifically. And, sadly or not, there's been a dearth of snark here lately. Which might make for less interesting reading, and I do love me a good rant, but we just have to face it: 2016 has been a good year for music so far. Um... sorry?
Oh nonono, not mainstream music. Not the charts. That shit is shittier than ever. Todd in the Shadows covered it perfectly in his "7 Years" review. A song that is terrible, but at least recognizably terrible, unlike stuff like "Work" or "Panda" which is basically just white noise at this point. The country charts are the most boring and soulless they've probably ever been. So, fuck all that. I'm done. It ain't getting better, that ship has sailed, etc. And that's the thing. When you reach maximum suck point, there's no going back. I genuinely don't care anymore. I'll still follow the charts, but now it's like following a stranger, rather than a friend I'm concerned about. Okay, that sounded creepy.
*"The Future Freaks Me Out" by MCS was my jam for a good part of the early 2000s. If I knew what the future actually held, I would have been significantly freaked out-er. I mean, this is a post I made in December 2002:
MTV continues to upset me. I was reminded the other day of how exciting it seemed when it first came out; even if it was mostly crappy videos by Men Without Hats, at least there was a sense of adventure to it. Now it's like this endless commercial for an empty culture that people are actually buying. Am I taking Britney Spears and N'Sync and Thong Songs too seriously? Should I be thinking about President Doofushead and Iraq instead? Perhaps, but I do take the seeming death of culture seriously. By culture I mean uniqueness, a sense of exploring new ground, not necessarily anything highbrow. I'm sick of the same stale things being mass-produced and spit out by the media combine.
I watch too much TV. I don't even like TV very much. I need a new life.
Oh 2002 me, you have no idea how bad it's going to get. Jeez. TV did get better though, so cheer up. You have Breaking Bad and Walking Dead and Supernatural to look forward to. Just not MTV. Sorry.
Okay, enough throwbacking. It's not even Thursday, what am I thinking? On to 2016!
You'd never know it by the charts, but 2016 has been a great year for country women. From Miranda's beautiful contribution to the Southern Family album, to Brandy Clark's just-released masterpiece, to Margo Price's haunting debut, I can't get enough.
I talk a lot about 90s country men, because Garth and Alan and George and Clint and Brooks and Dunn were like, my life, and I still listen to them all the time. But let's never forget about Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood and Pam Tillis and Mary Chapin Carpenter and LeAnn Rimes and the Dixie Chicks and, possibly the funnest guilty pleasure artist ever, Shania Twain. Actually, no. I like Shania and I'm not even guilty about it. Come at me, internet. I can tell you why I like her better than today's crop of pop-country starlets. One word: charisma. She had immediate star power that was like, "yes, I see why this person is popular" even if you weren't into her. Her music very much had its own unique sound. I remember the first time I heard "Any Man of Mine" and how fun and catchy and different it was. I couldn't tell you a damn thing about Kelsea Belugacaviar or even hum one of her songs, but Shania was the real deal.
And now we have this amazing current crop of country women, who are sadly not played on the radio like their 90s forebears, but are every bit as worth a listen. Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Elizabeth Cook, Margo Price, Aubrie Sellers (the daughter of the awesome Lee Ann Womack), Sunny Sweeney, to name a few. Spoiler: Brandy Clark's Big Day in a Small Town is already a strong contender for my album of the year and her song, "Since You've Gone to Heaven," is actually the main reason for this monster of a post. Yes, we've finally reached the point! *claps*
This song is gorgeous, and I'm declaring it the official anthem of 2016. Nothing could possibly beat this. Why? Well, the song itself is about the death of a patriarch and the grim effect it has on not only his family, but the small town he lived in. The song is both personal and a bigger allegory to the death of small town American life. Basically, everything country music SHOULD BE. CAPSLOCK AND ITALICS BECAUSE SERIOUSLY, FUCK SONGS ABOUT SNAPBACKS. "Since you've gone to heaven, the whole world's gone to hell." I don't know about you, but that kinda rings the bell for 2016 as a whole, doesn't it? We've lost so many amazing people this year, which seems even more tragic in the midst of an already dying culture. It works on so many levels.
(I'd embed it, but it's not on youtube.)
As for albums... wow this is gonna be a tough year to pick favorites, and it's only half over. Weezer, Sturgill, Brandy Clark, Margo Price, Elizabeth Cook, Southern Family. There are also some albums from 2015 that I LOVE and only just listened to this year, so they obviously didn't make my 2015 list. I hate to leave them out due to my being slow as molasses running uphill sometimes, especially since three of them are among my favorite albums this decade (really). So I'm gonna have a lot to write about come December. I'm not going to talk about any albums in-depth til then most likely, so I don't repeat myself.
In addition to this year's killer country albums, I'm pleased to see alt-rock isn't dead. Weezer's White Album is a favorite contender, I'm enjoying both Catfish and the Bottlemen albums, and I've gotten pretty obsessed with The Maine. (American Candy is from 2015, but I've played it as much as anything this year.) And... I kinda dig that new Blink-182 song. Is a thing I just said in 2016. Who knew?? I've been in serious nostalgia mode for that early-mid 2000s rock period lately, so I'm glad the genre still has a pulse. Heck, even that new Panic at the Disco record is kind of a guilty pleasure. Idk, are they a guilty pleasure band? I kinda feel like they are. But hey, whatever rocks your socks.
I know a lot of things suck, and sometimes I feel an Emo Part Deux phase coming on, but it's a pretty good time to be alive. Just find some great tunes and good beer. hell, even a depressing song like "Since You've Gone to Heaven" feels good in a way, because it's real. It resonates in the bones. And what more can you ask for, really?
Happy Summer!
On fire and about ready to bust a move,
M.
This blog was pretty much built on snark. Actually, it was built on my early 2000s emo ramblings, but give me a break. Everyone was emo in 2002. 9/11 happened and, while not as horrific, 9/11 happened to country music, which sent me scrambling to find musical options that better suited my mindset. No, I didn't have a stupid myspace haircut, I was just emotional and listened to higher-than-recommended doses of Jimmy Eat World and Motion City Soundtrack, okay?* ... I still like those bands. Anywayyy, when I returned after a hiatus about 5 years ago, it became all about snark. Then I focused on music snark, specifically. And, sadly or not, there's been a dearth of snark here lately. Which might make for less interesting reading, and I do love me a good rant, but we just have to face it: 2016 has been a good year for music so far. Um... sorry?
Oh nonono, not mainstream music. Not the charts. That shit is shittier than ever. Todd in the Shadows covered it perfectly in his "7 Years" review. A song that is terrible, but at least recognizably terrible, unlike stuff like "Work" or "Panda" which is basically just white noise at this point. The country charts are the most boring and soulless they've probably ever been. So, fuck all that. I'm done. It ain't getting better, that ship has sailed, etc. And that's the thing. When you reach maximum suck point, there's no going back. I genuinely don't care anymore. I'll still follow the charts, but now it's like following a stranger, rather than a friend I'm concerned about. Okay, that sounded creepy.
*"The Future Freaks Me Out" by MCS was my jam for a good part of the early 2000s. If I knew what the future actually held, I would have been significantly freaked out-er. I mean, this is a post I made in December 2002:
MTV continues to upset me. I was reminded the other day of how exciting it seemed when it first came out; even if it was mostly crappy videos by Men Without Hats, at least there was a sense of adventure to it. Now it's like this endless commercial for an empty culture that people are actually buying. Am I taking Britney Spears and N'Sync and Thong Songs too seriously? Should I be thinking about President Doofushead and Iraq instead? Perhaps, but I do take the seeming death of culture seriously. By culture I mean uniqueness, a sense of exploring new ground, not necessarily anything highbrow. I'm sick of the same stale things being mass-produced and spit out by the media combine.
I watch too much TV. I don't even like TV very much. I need a new life.
Oh 2002 me, you have no idea how bad it's going to get. Jeez. TV did get better though, so cheer up. You have Breaking Bad and Walking Dead and Supernatural to look forward to. Just not MTV. Sorry.
Okay, enough throwbacking. It's not even Thursday, what am I thinking? On to 2016!
You'd never know it by the charts, but 2016 has been a great year for country women. From Miranda's beautiful contribution to the Southern Family album, to Brandy Clark's just-released masterpiece, to Margo Price's haunting debut, I can't get enough.
I talk a lot about 90s country men, because Garth and Alan and George and Clint and Brooks and Dunn were like, my life, and I still listen to them all the time. But let's never forget about Patty Loveless and Trisha Yearwood and Pam Tillis and Mary Chapin Carpenter and LeAnn Rimes and the Dixie Chicks and, possibly the funnest guilty pleasure artist ever, Shania Twain. Actually, no. I like Shania and I'm not even guilty about it. Come at me, internet. I can tell you why I like her better than today's crop of pop-country starlets. One word: charisma. She had immediate star power that was like, "yes, I see why this person is popular" even if you weren't into her. Her music very much had its own unique sound. I remember the first time I heard "Any Man of Mine" and how fun and catchy and different it was. I couldn't tell you a damn thing about Kelsea Belugacaviar or even hum one of her songs, but Shania was the real deal.
And now we have this amazing current crop of country women, who are sadly not played on the radio like their 90s forebears, but are every bit as worth a listen. Kacey Musgraves, Brandy Clark, Elizabeth Cook, Margo Price, Aubrie Sellers (the daughter of the awesome Lee Ann Womack), Sunny Sweeney, to name a few. Spoiler: Brandy Clark's Big Day in a Small Town is already a strong contender for my album of the year and her song, "Since You've Gone to Heaven," is actually the main reason for this monster of a post. Yes, we've finally reached the point! *claps*
This song is gorgeous, and I'm declaring it the official anthem of 2016. Nothing could possibly beat this. Why? Well, the song itself is about the death of a patriarch and the grim effect it has on not only his family, but the small town he lived in. The song is both personal and a bigger allegory to the death of small town American life. Basically, everything country music SHOULD BE. CAPSLOCK AND ITALICS BECAUSE SERIOUSLY, FUCK SONGS ABOUT SNAPBACKS. "Since you've gone to heaven, the whole world's gone to hell." I don't know about you, but that kinda rings the bell for 2016 as a whole, doesn't it? We've lost so many amazing people this year, which seems even more tragic in the midst of an already dying culture. It works on so many levels.
(I'd embed it, but it's not on youtube.)
As for albums... wow this is gonna be a tough year to pick favorites, and it's only half over. Weezer, Sturgill, Brandy Clark, Margo Price, Elizabeth Cook, Southern Family. There are also some albums from 2015 that I LOVE and only just listened to this year, so they obviously didn't make my 2015 list. I hate to leave them out due to my being slow as molasses running uphill sometimes, especially since three of them are among my favorite albums this decade (really). So I'm gonna have a lot to write about come December. I'm not going to talk about any albums in-depth til then most likely, so I don't repeat myself.
In addition to this year's killer country albums, I'm pleased to see alt-rock isn't dead. Weezer's White Album is a favorite contender, I'm enjoying both Catfish and the Bottlemen albums, and I've gotten pretty obsessed with The Maine. (American Candy is from 2015, but I've played it as much as anything this year.) And... I kinda dig that new Blink-182 song. Is a thing I just said in 2016. Who knew?? I've been in serious nostalgia mode for that early-mid 2000s rock period lately, so I'm glad the genre still has a pulse. Heck, even that new Panic at the Disco record is kind of a guilty pleasure. Idk, are they a guilty pleasure band? I kinda feel like they are. But hey, whatever rocks your socks.
I know a lot of things suck, and sometimes I feel an Emo Part Deux phase coming on, but it's a pretty good time to be alive. Just find some great tunes and good beer. hell, even a depressing song like "Since You've Gone to Heaven" feels good in a way, because it's real. It resonates in the bones. And what more can you ask for, really?
Happy Summer!
On fire and about ready to bust a move,
M.
Friday, June 10, 2016
Feel Good Friday - Supernatural/Foreigner/CtE/Kansas
So Supernatural, one of my all time favorite shows, is coming back for a staggering 12th season. While the show has lost some of its storytelling and character magic that made the first several seasons so great, not to mention its two best supporting characters in Bobby and Charlie, a very important thing remains. This is something only a music dork would care about, but that's why it's being written about here. Duh.
Every year SPN stays on, more teens and 20somethings hear great music and get into it. The show primarily plays classic rock of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the kind of music you wanna crank driving down a dusty Kansas road in your Impala. Getting young people into classic rock they might not have heard otherwise is wonderful, but it doesn't stop there. Last season also featured "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and Patty Griffin's beautiful "Go Wherever You Wanna Go" (which was the ONLY acceptable part of Charlie's death.) :( Considering this is a show primarily watched by young women who are socially expected to listen to the latest top 40 dreck, I have to stand up and cheer.
Because whenever I cross paths with a teen or 20s SPN fan online, I see how much they love this music. Everyone owns "Carry on Wayward Son," and not just because OMGSAMANDDEAN<3<3!! but because it's damn good music. I'm not surprised by this at all. We should expect better out of young people than the mainstream music industry does. Which isn't to say these fans aren't also listening to Drake and Justin Bieber, maybe they are. And that's fine. 10 years from now they'll probably roll their eyes at that stuff and only listen to it out of nostalgia. But I bet they'll still be listening to Kansas, CCR, and Journey. Timeless music belongs to everyone, and I thank Supernatural for bringing that aesthetic to a new generation.
Hell, even I've discovered some new music from the show. While I'm a classic rock fan, anything pre-80s is before my time so I obviously haven't heard everything. SPN introduced me to that delightful yodel rock song, as well as this gem by Foreigner, which is now my favorite of their songs.
Not only that, I think the show creates excitement about rock in general, something which is sorely missing from the world right now. I like to think about which current bands would fit into Dean's playlist. I think he'd like Royal Blood and Cage the Elephant. This would be a really cool song to play on the final episode, if there ever is one lol. (Side note: Tell Me I'm Pretty is a really unfairly maligned album. I like it a lot.)
I wonder how many fans have gotten into rock at least partly because of SPN, including current rock. Youtube comments seem to alternate between "Supernatural got me into this song!" and "I knew about this band BEFORE Supernatural" hipsters. Really snobs, you're not helping. Don't you want people to get into good music? Music isn't, idk, beans, you don't have to hoard it all or it'll run out. Share the love! So, what better subject for feel good Friday than a shout out to a force for musical good? I salute you, Supernatural. And my Jensen Ackles crush will never die. (Sorry, once a fangirl, always a fangirl.) Play me out, Kansas!
Every year SPN stays on, more teens and 20somethings hear great music and get into it. The show primarily plays classic rock of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the kind of music you wanna crank driving down a dusty Kansas road in your Impala. Getting young people into classic rock they might not have heard otherwise is wonderful, but it doesn't stop there. Last season also featured "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" and Patty Griffin's beautiful "Go Wherever You Wanna Go" (which was the ONLY acceptable part of Charlie's death.) :( Considering this is a show primarily watched by young women who are socially expected to listen to the latest top 40 dreck, I have to stand up and cheer.
Because whenever I cross paths with a teen or 20s SPN fan online, I see how much they love this music. Everyone owns "Carry on Wayward Son," and not just because OMGSAMANDDEAN<3<3!! but because it's damn good music. I'm not surprised by this at all. We should expect better out of young people than the mainstream music industry does. Which isn't to say these fans aren't also listening to Drake and Justin Bieber, maybe they are. And that's fine. 10 years from now they'll probably roll their eyes at that stuff and only listen to it out of nostalgia. But I bet they'll still be listening to Kansas, CCR, and Journey. Timeless music belongs to everyone, and I thank Supernatural for bringing that aesthetic to a new generation.
Hell, even I've discovered some new music from the show. While I'm a classic rock fan, anything pre-80s is before my time so I obviously haven't heard everything. SPN introduced me to that delightful yodel rock song, as well as this gem by Foreigner, which is now my favorite of their songs.
Not only that, I think the show creates excitement about rock in general, something which is sorely missing from the world right now. I like to think about which current bands would fit into Dean's playlist. I think he'd like Royal Blood and Cage the Elephant. This would be a really cool song to play on the final episode, if there ever is one lol. (Side note: Tell Me I'm Pretty is a really unfairly maligned album. I like it a lot.)
I wonder how many fans have gotten into rock at least partly because of SPN, including current rock. Youtube comments seem to alternate between "Supernatural got me into this song!" and "I knew about this band BEFORE Supernatural" hipsters. Really snobs, you're not helping. Don't you want people to get into good music? Music isn't, idk, beans, you don't have to hoard it all or it'll run out. Share the love! So, what better subject for feel good Friday than a shout out to a force for musical good? I salute you, Supernatural. And my Jensen Ackles crush will never die. (Sorry, once a fangirl, always a fangirl.) Play me out, Kansas!
Thursday, June 09, 2016
A brief illustration of how my brain works
In lieu of throwback Thursday, I present something completely different, for no reason other than it made me laugh. The "kids today" love saying how OMGRANDOMLOL!!!1 they are, but... my brain is seriously random. That is probably evident by some of the stuff in this blog. Especially when I'm faced with something already made random by life. So, this.
Pharmacist, handing me meds for a dental procedure: Make sure you don't eat grapefruit while taking these! (Now I can't remember the last time I ate a grapefruit, since they're generally breakfasty and I don't eat breakfast. "Not a morning person" is not just a pithy coffee mug saying for me, it's a lifestyle brand. Anyway.)
Me: Okay...? *implied ellipses and question mark, like ok I won't but that's weird!* *turns to husband* I guess someone had a bad grapefruit experience. *AND THEN THE ACID KICKED IN, APPARENTLY* OMG, that would be the best name for a jam band! The Bad Grapefruit Experience! Like the String Cheese Incident!
Husband: ... (clearly, he has not heard of String Cheese Incident. Understandable. However, I learned this year that he's also never heard of Merle Haggard or My Chemical Romance, the latter making me almost scream out loud in a movie theater. I didn't because the movie hadn't started yet, and also we were seeing Zootopia and not like, Insidious 4 or whatever, so yeah. Merle I at least kinda understand, he's our parents' generation and my husband isn't into country. BUT I DIGRESS.)
Me: You don't understand, this is amazing, I could make so much money off of hippies!
Him: ...
Me: You wouldn't think hippies would be a lucrative market, but the amount and career longevity of touring jam bands says otherwise!
Him: ... you need help.
Me: Maybe I have a grapefruit deficiency.
THE END! And OMG, what if that's been my problem all long? I guess I can't find out til I'm done taking these pills, dammit.
Actually, I will do a throwback Thursday, since I feel like Merle needs some love now. This is my favorite of his songs, btw. I use this line possibly more than I should, but it's just so damn fitting for life in general.
This blog started at grapefruit and ended at Merle Haggard, which is really all you need to know about me, I think.
Pharmacist, handing me meds for a dental procedure: Make sure you don't eat grapefruit while taking these! (Now I can't remember the last time I ate a grapefruit, since they're generally breakfasty and I don't eat breakfast. "Not a morning person" is not just a pithy coffee mug saying for me, it's a lifestyle brand. Anyway.)
Me: Okay...? *implied ellipses and question mark, like ok I won't but that's weird!* *turns to husband* I guess someone had a bad grapefruit experience. *AND THEN THE ACID KICKED IN, APPARENTLY* OMG, that would be the best name for a jam band! The Bad Grapefruit Experience! Like the String Cheese Incident!
Husband: ... (clearly, he has not heard of String Cheese Incident. Understandable. However, I learned this year that he's also never heard of Merle Haggard or My Chemical Romance, the latter making me almost scream out loud in a movie theater. I didn't because the movie hadn't started yet, and also we were seeing Zootopia and not like, Insidious 4 or whatever, so yeah. Merle I at least kinda understand, he's our parents' generation and my husband isn't into country. BUT I DIGRESS.)
Me: You don't understand, this is amazing, I could make so much money off of hippies!
Him: ...
Me: You wouldn't think hippies would be a lucrative market, but the amount and career longevity of touring jam bands says otherwise!
Him: ... you need help.
Me: Maybe I have a grapefruit deficiency.
THE END! And OMG, what if that's been my problem all long? I guess I can't find out til I'm done taking these pills, dammit.
Actually, I will do a throwback Thursday, since I feel like Merle needs some love now. This is my favorite of his songs, btw. I use this line possibly more than I should, but it's just so damn fitting for life in general.
This blog started at grapefruit and ended at Merle Haggard, which is really all you need to know about me, I think.
Wednesday, June 08, 2016
Let's... look at the charts.
Wow, it kinda feels like everything is a big ol dumpster fire right now, doesn't it? Well let's dive right in to the dumpster that is the Billboard country top 25! Cause I'm feeling reckless today.
First, let's count on my one hand here the number of songs I actually like. (Note: there are a few songs on the list I haven't heard.)
There's Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw, which pretty much sounds like the BEST SONG EVER right now, by sounding like an actual country song with a heart. Tim's been doing that a lot lately. Keep it up. I'm glad there's one 90s artist left who's still popular and making good music. (No, I haven't forgotten about Kenny. We'll get to him.)
My Church by Maren Morris. I was so intrigued by this cool, different song that I immediately listened to some of her other songs after I heard it. Pop crap, like what Kelsea Ballerinininini might do. Very disappointing, especially since I thought this might be another Cam situation. (I don't love everything Cam has done so far, but I think she's the real deal.) I have no idea what Maren Morris is about. This is a good song though, delivered with conviction that gives me a tiny shred of hope she's got more good in her.
Church Bells by Carrie Underwood. Really people, when I have to keep holding up Carrie Underwood as an example of good country music, or at least good pop/rock-country music, you know things are dire. Not my favorite of her songs, but I actually enjoy listening to this. It has a kind of Reba vibe.
Record Year - Eric Church. Might be my #1 hit song of the year. I can't believe something this good is climbing towards the top 10, but I'll take it! This is a song about dealing with heartbreak through one of the few things that inspires the same kind of passion as love - music. I LOVE how this song is framed, and how relatable it is as a music fan. When he sings about spinning Hank and Jones and Jennings, you believe it. My favorite part? "I rediscovered Red Headed Stranger, Got down with old James Brown, And found New Grass Revival
If you find your way back, I owe you a beer, For my record year." A serious song for serious music lovers. Bravo, Eric Church. I love this album SO MUCH.
And... that's it. Unless one of the few songs I haven't heard is secretly great, I like a whole 4 songs out of 25. Considering in the 90s, when I got into country music, I enjoyed the majority of songs on some level, that's a pretty sad state.
Before I go any further, I need to say this. In the 90s, you could hear a song like "Hurtin (On the Bottle)" on the radio. Chris Stapleton would be a radio *cough* staple (sorry). A slew of artists I haven't even heard would be popular, if they weren't shut out by the massive "talents" of Thomas "Nepotism" Rhett, Kelsea Ballerninininin, Old Fucking Dominion, etc. So please, mainstream country fans and media, stop trying to tell me that things aren't worse now. This is by far the most cheap, lackluster "country" music I've heard in my lifetime. No, I'm not stuck in the 90s. I've happily followed current artists like Miranda, ZBB, Dierks, etc. who have made overall good music. Hell, I've praised Carrie Underwood multiple times on this blog. I even accepted the clearly non-country Taylor Swift because she wrote some good songs. But enough is enough. Maybe popular music has always been a factory of sorts, but this is the first time it's really sounded like one.
Speaking of Dierks... there's a duet out by him and Elle King. DIERKS BENTLEY AND ELLE KING. And... I don't really like it. :( Dierks is fine on it, he has this kind of warm, reassuring voice, like even when it's not his best song it's still gonna be ok. But Elle King... where are you?? This song sounds nothing like her! Elle King has this larger than life voice and personality, and she's so subdued here I don't even recognize her. "Different for Girls" is the polar opposite of "Ex's and Ohs" and no, I don't want her to make the same kind of songs over and over, but this is like making her into a Disney princess or something. Actually wait, that would be awesome. I would buy tickets for that. My point stands, though. This song does not suit her or her voice.
There's also a duet by two more vocal powerhouses, Chris Young and Cassadee Pope, both of whom I really like as singers. This one's a little better, but not by much. It's pretty forgettable, and they could do so much better. It's like people WANT all this current music to be forgotten. "Take the money and run!" Seriously, how many of these songs will be remembered next year? And how many 90s songs are still remembered today? Still think there isn't a problem?
Okay, I'm gonna sort the remaining songs into 3 categories: hot garbage, boring, and inconclusive. Whee, I can't wait.
HOT GARBAGE: FGL (not their worst song, but that's not saying much), Somewhere on a Beach (sorry Dierks, but this is dreadful), T-Shirt (shudder), Snapback (yes, let's have two top 10 songs that are literally just about articles of clothing! That's good songwriting!), Make You Miss Me (yeah, the pass I gave Sam Hunt for the enjoyable "Leave the Night on" has worn right out. This is Old Dominion-level dreck), Fix (I love me some Breaking Bad, but it's probably the least romantic show ever. BAD REFERENCE CHRIS WHOEVER-YOU-ARE, BAD!!)
BOOOOOOORING: Blake Shelton, the most boring artist in country today. Talk about coasting. Huntin, Fishin' and Bein' Country As Fuck Erry Day - not as bad as the title suggests, just boring! Lights Come On - I don't hate this, but it's pretty generic. Wasted Time - pop garbage with a spamjo. Not interesting enough to be hot garbage. Noise - well-intentioned, and I do like Kenny, but just not interesting to listen to at all. American Country Love Song - woooooow generic. Do I have to bust out all my "Fight Song" material again? Cause I will. Peter Pan - by far the best I've heard from Kelsea Bacardi, but still completely uninteresting and unengaging. You Should Be Here - I wrote a whole blog post about the frustration of this song not making me cry. Go read it!
INCONCLUSIVE: Head Over Boots - I heard this once and I think I liked it? It didn't stick with me though. From the Ground Up - I don't think I've ever heard a single Dan + Shay song, or if I did I don't remember. I think I wanna keep it that way. Night's on Fire - just haven't heard this one. Ditto Frankie Ballard, who I don't think I've ever heard at all. And finally - "You Look Like I Need a Drink." Okay, I haven't listened to this cause Justin Moore's voice is like rusty nails on a chalkboard in hell, but that title makes me laugh, I admit it. And it's kinda classic country wordplay. Maybe I'll give him a shot... when I've had a few drinks. (Get it, a SHOT? GET IT???)
Okay, I'm done. I'm not even touching the pop charts. That dumpster has flaming dirty diapers in it, and my hazmat suit is at the cleaners. Peace!
First, let's count on my one hand here the number of songs I actually like. (Note: there are a few songs on the list I haven't heard.)
There's Humble and Kind by Tim McGraw, which pretty much sounds like the BEST SONG EVER right now, by sounding like an actual country song with a heart. Tim's been doing that a lot lately. Keep it up. I'm glad there's one 90s artist left who's still popular and making good music. (No, I haven't forgotten about Kenny. We'll get to him.)
My Church by Maren Morris. I was so intrigued by this cool, different song that I immediately listened to some of her other songs after I heard it. Pop crap, like what Kelsea Ballerinininini might do. Very disappointing, especially since I thought this might be another Cam situation. (I don't love everything Cam has done so far, but I think she's the real deal.) I have no idea what Maren Morris is about. This is a good song though, delivered with conviction that gives me a tiny shred of hope she's got more good in her.
Church Bells by Carrie Underwood. Really people, when I have to keep holding up Carrie Underwood as an example of good country music, or at least good pop/rock-country music, you know things are dire. Not my favorite of her songs, but I actually enjoy listening to this. It has a kind of Reba vibe.
Record Year - Eric Church. Might be my #1 hit song of the year. I can't believe something this good is climbing towards the top 10, but I'll take it! This is a song about dealing with heartbreak through one of the few things that inspires the same kind of passion as love - music. I LOVE how this song is framed, and how relatable it is as a music fan. When he sings about spinning Hank and Jones and Jennings, you believe it. My favorite part? "I rediscovered Red Headed Stranger, Got down with old James Brown, And found New Grass Revival
If you find your way back, I owe you a beer, For my record year." A serious song for serious music lovers. Bravo, Eric Church. I love this album SO MUCH.
And... that's it. Unless one of the few songs I haven't heard is secretly great, I like a whole 4 songs out of 25. Considering in the 90s, when I got into country music, I enjoyed the majority of songs on some level, that's a pretty sad state.
Before I go any further, I need to say this. In the 90s, you could hear a song like "Hurtin (On the Bottle)" on the radio. Chris Stapleton would be a radio *cough* staple (sorry). A slew of artists I haven't even heard would be popular, if they weren't shut out by the massive "talents" of Thomas "Nepotism" Rhett, Kelsea Ballerninininin, Old Fucking Dominion, etc. So please, mainstream country fans and media, stop trying to tell me that things aren't worse now. This is by far the most cheap, lackluster "country" music I've heard in my lifetime. No, I'm not stuck in the 90s. I've happily followed current artists like Miranda, ZBB, Dierks, etc. who have made overall good music. Hell, I've praised Carrie Underwood multiple times on this blog. I even accepted the clearly non-country Taylor Swift because she wrote some good songs. But enough is enough. Maybe popular music has always been a factory of sorts, but this is the first time it's really sounded like one.
Speaking of Dierks... there's a duet out by him and Elle King. DIERKS BENTLEY AND ELLE KING. And... I don't really like it. :( Dierks is fine on it, he has this kind of warm, reassuring voice, like even when it's not his best song it's still gonna be ok. But Elle King... where are you?? This song sounds nothing like her! Elle King has this larger than life voice and personality, and she's so subdued here I don't even recognize her. "Different for Girls" is the polar opposite of "Ex's and Ohs" and no, I don't want her to make the same kind of songs over and over, but this is like making her into a Disney princess or something. Actually wait, that would be awesome. I would buy tickets for that. My point stands, though. This song does not suit her or her voice.
There's also a duet by two more vocal powerhouses, Chris Young and Cassadee Pope, both of whom I really like as singers. This one's a little better, but not by much. It's pretty forgettable, and they could do so much better. It's like people WANT all this current music to be forgotten. "Take the money and run!" Seriously, how many of these songs will be remembered next year? And how many 90s songs are still remembered today? Still think there isn't a problem?
Okay, I'm gonna sort the remaining songs into 3 categories: hot garbage, boring, and inconclusive. Whee, I can't wait.
HOT GARBAGE: FGL (not their worst song, but that's not saying much), Somewhere on a Beach (sorry Dierks, but this is dreadful), T-Shirt (shudder), Snapback (yes, let's have two top 10 songs that are literally just about articles of clothing! That's good songwriting!), Make You Miss Me (yeah, the pass I gave Sam Hunt for the enjoyable "Leave the Night on" has worn right out. This is Old Dominion-level dreck), Fix (I love me some Breaking Bad, but it's probably the least romantic show ever. BAD REFERENCE CHRIS WHOEVER-YOU-ARE, BAD!!)
BOOOOOOORING: Blake Shelton, the most boring artist in country today. Talk about coasting. Huntin, Fishin' and Bein' Country As Fuck Erry Day - not as bad as the title suggests, just boring! Lights Come On - I don't hate this, but it's pretty generic. Wasted Time - pop garbage with a spamjo. Not interesting enough to be hot garbage. Noise - well-intentioned, and I do like Kenny, but just not interesting to listen to at all. American Country Love Song - woooooow generic. Do I have to bust out all my "Fight Song" material again? Cause I will. Peter Pan - by far the best I've heard from Kelsea Bacardi, but still completely uninteresting and unengaging. You Should Be Here - I wrote a whole blog post about the frustration of this song not making me cry. Go read it!
INCONCLUSIVE: Head Over Boots - I heard this once and I think I liked it? It didn't stick with me though. From the Ground Up - I don't think I've ever heard a single Dan + Shay song, or if I did I don't remember. I think I wanna keep it that way. Night's on Fire - just haven't heard this one. Ditto Frankie Ballard, who I don't think I've ever heard at all. And finally - "You Look Like I Need a Drink." Okay, I haven't listened to this cause Justin Moore's voice is like rusty nails on a chalkboard in hell, but that title makes me laugh, I admit it. And it's kinda classic country wordplay. Maybe I'll give him a shot... when I've had a few drinks. (Get it, a SHOT? GET IT???)
Okay, I'm done. I'm not even touching the pop charts. That dumpster has flaming dirty diapers in it, and my hazmat suit is at the cleaners. Peace!
Tuesday, June 07, 2016
Girl Power! Playlist
I discovered, somewhat accidentally, that the music of Kacey Musgraves and Paramore actually jibes quite well. So I had to make a big ol' rock/pop/country playlist of awesome songs by women!
Feat. Kacey Musgraves, Paramore, Ashley Monroe, Alison Krauss, 100 Watt Smile, Best Coast, Elle King, The High Water Marks, Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley, Lady Gaga, Lydia Loveless, Miranda Lambert, The New Pornographers (Neko Case), Kay Hanley/Letters to Cleo, Aubrie Sellers, Lana del Rey, Lucy Hale, Margo Price, Pistol Annies, The Pierces, Stone Poneys, Sunny Sweeney, The Wreckers, Lee Ann Womack.
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/0XdRqRb3JXYhNh1pBjkrCs
Feat. Kacey Musgraves, Paramore, Ashley Monroe, Alison Krauss, 100 Watt Smile, Best Coast, Elle King, The High Water Marks, Jenny Lewis/Rilo Kiley, Lady Gaga, Lydia Loveless, Miranda Lambert, The New Pornographers (Neko Case), Kay Hanley/Letters to Cleo, Aubrie Sellers, Lana del Rey, Lucy Hale, Margo Price, Pistol Annies, The Pierces, Stone Poneys, Sunny Sweeney, The Wreckers, Lee Ann Womack.
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/0XdRqRb3JXYhNh1pBjkrCs
Friday, June 03, 2016
Feel Good Friday - hey it's modern rock!
I'm glad yesterday wasn't Friday, cause I was just in a terrible mood. Today isn't much better but rock n roll can still save your soul.
1. ROYAL BLOOD
I LOVE THIS BAND THEY ROCK SO HARD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I can't recommend this album enough, and eagerly anticipate new music!
2. NOTHING MORE
Umm this is not a feel good song, it's about mental illness and death. I'm sorry. But the musical structure of the song, and this band's music in general, makes me feel good. It's a modern update on a classic rock sound, with that big, 80s-type chorus, and I love it. Eagerly anticipating new music from them as well.
3. THE STRUTS
Just good, catchy, timeless rock, again with the big 80s arena rock chorus, and a bonus glam vibe. Thumbs up from me!
4. THE MAINE
This is a band I got into, I think late last year when I went on my epic FIND NEW MUSIC quest. I may or may not have worn a cloak and carried a longsword. Anywayyyy... they're more of a rock/pop band, I've seen them called pop punk, but they kind of defy description for me. Like Weezer. I mean, you hear pop punk you think, idk, Blink, Green Day, etc. right? And I like a lot of that music, but The Maine is kind of bigger than one sound. Their latest album American Candy is my favorite so far, but I've enjoyed all their albums. My favorite song is probably this weird little thing called "Birthday in Los Angeles" from Forever Halloween that doesn't really even sound like most of their music. That's what I mean about them. They're interesting. And boy, do those lyrics speak to me.
5. ELLE KING
Of course I've gotta have badass chick music. Elle isn't strictly a rock artist, her songs are heavily blues leaning and some have a more country vibe as well. But this song rocks hard, and everything about her just says ROCKSTAR. "Ex's and Oh's" was my favorite hit song of last year, and one of my favorite songs of recent memory, period. I finally delved into her album earlier this year and WOW. She is not just about a catchy single, the whole damn album is great.
6. last but not least... WEEZER
I LOVE THE WHITE ALBUM. I love that they made the bold move of making a motherfucking white album and it totally paid off. Call it off-kilter beach music. I like to play this back to back with Best Coast's California Nights for a weird but melodic vacation in my head. I have strange hobbies. This is probably my third favorite Weezer album, after Maladroit and Everything Will Be Alright. It's that good. And yes, I do love the Blue Album and Pinkerton. We're talking about Weezer here, I can't make everything my favorite even if I want to! Anyway, if you like Weezer, or want to get into them, I can't recommend this album enough. I've been playing it constantly since its release date.
And that is all. Have a rockin' weekend. Tomorrow is our craft beer fest, so a rockin' weekend is all but guaranteed here.
1. ROYAL BLOOD
I LOVE THIS BAND THEY ROCK SO HARD AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I can't recommend this album enough, and eagerly anticipate new music!
2. NOTHING MORE
Umm this is not a feel good song, it's about mental illness and death. I'm sorry. But the musical structure of the song, and this band's music in general, makes me feel good. It's a modern update on a classic rock sound, with that big, 80s-type chorus, and I love it. Eagerly anticipating new music from them as well.
3. THE STRUTS
Just good, catchy, timeless rock, again with the big 80s arena rock chorus, and a bonus glam vibe. Thumbs up from me!
4. THE MAINE
This is a band I got into, I think late last year when I went on my epic FIND NEW MUSIC quest. I may or may not have worn a cloak and carried a longsword. Anywayyyy... they're more of a rock/pop band, I've seen them called pop punk, but they kind of defy description for me. Like Weezer. I mean, you hear pop punk you think, idk, Blink, Green Day, etc. right? And I like a lot of that music, but The Maine is kind of bigger than one sound. Their latest album American Candy is my favorite so far, but I've enjoyed all their albums. My favorite song is probably this weird little thing called "Birthday in Los Angeles" from Forever Halloween that doesn't really even sound like most of their music. That's what I mean about them. They're interesting. And boy, do those lyrics speak to me.
5. ELLE KING
Of course I've gotta have badass chick music. Elle isn't strictly a rock artist, her songs are heavily blues leaning and some have a more country vibe as well. But this song rocks hard, and everything about her just says ROCKSTAR. "Ex's and Oh's" was my favorite hit song of last year, and one of my favorite songs of recent memory, period. I finally delved into her album earlier this year and WOW. She is not just about a catchy single, the whole damn album is great.
6. last but not least... WEEZER
I LOVE THE WHITE ALBUM. I love that they made the bold move of making a motherfucking white album and it totally paid off. Call it off-kilter beach music. I like to play this back to back with Best Coast's California Nights for a weird but melodic vacation in my head. I have strange hobbies. This is probably my third favorite Weezer album, after Maladroit and Everything Will Be Alright. It's that good. And yes, I do love the Blue Album and Pinkerton. We're talking about Weezer here, I can't make everything my favorite even if I want to! Anyway, if you like Weezer, or want to get into them, I can't recommend this album enough. I've been playing it constantly since its release date.
And that is all. Have a rockin' weekend. Tomorrow is our craft beer fest, so a rockin' weekend is all but guaranteed here.
Thursday, June 02, 2016
TBT ~ some late 80s country
Damn, I love this song. Perfection. Does anything sound like this anymore? Cause I'd like to hear it.
Pissy headline of the day!
Okay, the judgy nature of this one really made my skin crawl. I'm not even linking to the preachy article, fuck that. That's what I get for clicking on random crap on the internet, I guess.
"Saying Your Dog Is Your "Baby" Is an Insult to Moms Everywhere"
Boo freaking hoo. I don't have kids, my cats are my babies to me, and I'll call them whatever I please. You do you, honey, and I'll do me.
Remember when you only had to deal with people's opinions in like, newspapers, and once a year at Thanksgiving? Why, you could go days without seeing or hearing anyone's opinion! Those were good times, weren't they?
Okay, back to music.
"Saying Your Dog Is Your "Baby" Is an Insult to Moms Everywhere"
Boo freaking hoo. I don't have kids, my cats are my babies to me, and I'll call them whatever I please. You do you, honey, and I'll do me.
Remember when you only had to deal with people's opinions in like, newspapers, and once a year at Thanksgiving? Why, you could go days without seeing or hearing anyone's opinion! Those were good times, weren't they?
Okay, back to music.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Issues I have with Spotify
*If any of these things are paid features, well whatever. I can't pay for streaming AND buy actual music, so I choose to buy music. That said -
I see no way to embed playlists, thus making me litter my blog with ugly text links (that don't even link on blogger for some reason, but that's an issue I have with Blogger). According to their help page, there should be a "copy embed code" option when you right click on the playlist. BUT THERE ISN'T.
No way to reorder songs in a playlist. Seriously??
No way to change your username. These are really BASIC things, folks.
Mistitled songs. I ran into several of these while making my playlists.
Some artists, like Garth Brooks, Prince, and Taylor Swift don't have their music on Spotify. Okay, I get it. But what's up with missing material from artists who are on there? An entire MCR album is missing. Two of my favorite Paramore songs. One of my favorite Pam Tillis songs, which was a top 10 hit. This is not obscure music, dammit.
Okay, I just had to vent about that. I'm sort of addicted to making playlists right now, but they could make it a lot less frustrating.
I see no way to embed playlists, thus making me litter my blog with ugly text links (that don't even link on blogger for some reason, but that's an issue I have with Blogger). According to their help page, there should be a "copy embed code" option when you right click on the playlist. BUT THERE ISN'T.
No way to reorder songs in a playlist. Seriously??
No way to change your username. These are really BASIC things, folks.
Mistitled songs. I ran into several of these while making my playlists.
Some artists, like Garth Brooks, Prince, and Taylor Swift don't have their music on Spotify. Okay, I get it. But what's up with missing material from artists who are on there? An entire MCR album is missing. Two of my favorite Paramore songs. One of my favorite Pam Tillis songs, which was a top 10 hit. This is not obscure music, dammit.
Okay, I just had to vent about that. I'm sort of addicted to making playlists right now, but they could make it a lot less frustrating.
TBT
Nothing says summer like 90s country. It just feels so good.
And here's my summer country playlist (there's also a rock/pop one), 100% bro-country free! Sorry about the Jason Aldean, but come on, Night Train is just a good song.
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/7vSMwxxhFlq2vhwBnah9XT
And here's my summer country playlist (there's also a rock/pop one), 100% bro-country free! Sorry about the Jason Aldean, but come on, Night Train is just a good song.
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/7vSMwxxhFlq2vhwBnah9XT
Monday, May 16, 2016
Music Monday
Really freaking random spring playlist. This kind of encapsulates my odd assortment of music tastes. Only a few songs are really spring-themed, others say spring to me for whatever reason, like I just like to listen to them in the spring. idk. The idea was inspired by "In Bloom," so there's that.
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/4lPJRRBa704WuQ3tsJCyZj
I feel like you should be able to embed from Spotify? But I don't see how to. Maybe you have to pay for that. I buy actual music instead, so enjoy my ugly ass text link.
My summer playlist will be more "on the nose," for the most part. And it will top 50+ songs. Just the ZBB stuff alone...
https://play.spotify.com/user/12177235955/playlist/4lPJRRBa704WuQ3tsJCyZj
I feel like you should be able to embed from Spotify? But I don't see how to. Maybe you have to pay for that. I buy actual music instead, so enjoy my ugly ass text link.
My summer playlist will be more "on the nose," for the most part. And it will top 50+ songs. Just the ZBB stuff alone...
Friday, May 13, 2016
Favorite Song Friday
I can't in good conscience call this "feel good Friday," since my favorite songs seem to be about heartbreak, dying of cancer*, and... drugs? Idk what Crimson and Clover is about, honestly. But it sounds like drugs.
*I'm really fun at parties.
Favorite classic rock song: This was the toughest call. I love classic rock, and this just beat out "Strange Magic."
Favorite modern rock song: Yes, the most obvious MCR song I could pick. But this song is Queenlike in pure epicness, and I never get tired of it.
Favorite 90s country song: Surprisingly, not a tough call. This is what country will always be to me, and it's another song I never, ever get tired of hearing.
Favorite modern country song (last 10-ish years): The song that got me back into country, and made me an unabashed Miranda fangirl.
Sooo there's some mainstream music through the years that doesn't suck, even if most of it was depressing! Happy Friday!
*I'm really fun at parties.
Favorite classic rock song: This was the toughest call. I love classic rock, and this just beat out "Strange Magic."
Favorite modern rock song: Yes, the most obvious MCR song I could pick. But this song is Queenlike in pure epicness, and I never get tired of it.
Favorite 90s country song: Surprisingly, not a tough call. This is what country will always be to me, and it's another song I never, ever get tired of hearing.
Favorite modern country song (last 10-ish years): The song that got me back into country, and made me an unabashed Miranda fangirl.
Sooo there's some mainstream music through the years that doesn't suck, even if most of it was depressing! Happy Friday!
Thursday, May 12, 2016
TBT ~ Let's compare! 90s country vs Cole Swindell
Cole Swindell's "You Should Be Here" is this year's "See You Again."* A song inspired by the death of a real person that should resonate emotionally, but instead comes off bland and lacking despite whatever good intentions it might have. I'm not saying this to be a cynical bitch. I want songs like that to make me feel something. I'm begging you, elicit an emotion! But while these songs might not be doing anything for me, I guess they are for somebody, A lot of somebodies, actually, cause these are huge hits. Somebodies who like their grief on the shallow side. Grief Lite, you might say.
*a song so "memorable," I forgot the title and had to google it.
Cole Swindell and Charlie Puth are a perfect comparison, like comparing a loaf of Wonder bread with another loaf of Wonder bread. The fact that boring ass people like this can become famous makes the loss of Prince, Merle Haggard and David Bowie even more tragic. WHAT HAPPENED TO US?? I guess if you want a hit, make a damn generic death (or wedding) song that will somehow resonate with everyone despite actually resonating with no one. It's a phenomenon. I don't understand it. But was it always this way?
No. No, it wasn't. Okay, pop music has generally been on the shallow side. Every once in a while you'll get something with real emotional pull, like "Every Breath You Take" or "The Greatest Love of All." And even the latter you could argue is kinda motivational poster-level emotion, but Whitney Houston sings the hell out of that shit. End of story. And the former is a scary ass stalker, but he sells it man. So yeah, maybe "See You Again" is about as deep as pop's gonna go. It's not a song about underwear or ho's not being loyal, so I'll take it.
But that brings us to country. Country music, at its core, is not shallow. Sad country songs tend to be cutting. Genuine slices of life that make you feel, even if it's something you haven't experienced. You empathize. You feel like it could happen to you, because life.
I was originally going to compare "You Should Be Here" straight up with this, one of my favorite sad 90s country songs, a song that I can't listen to without crying. Hell, just thinking about it makes me tear up a little. But I'm going to include a couple others as well.
Everything about this song reduces me to a pile of goo, from the gut-wrenchingly specific lyrics to the pretty, simple melody, to Tim's heartfelt but not overwrought delivery. And that was when I thought the song was just about a marriage ending. Then I saw the video, which clearly indicates the woman died of cancer. SHIT. This is too much for me to handle. Okay, let's move on to another 90s gem.
*sniffle* This hits me on a personal level, but even if it didn't, the emotion is palpable. Reba kills this song, but the beautiful and undeniably real lyrics come in a close second to her delivery. And finally, the incomparable Patty Loveless.
What do all of these songs have in common, besides haunting vocals and my lack of ability to get through them without tearing up? They tell stories. They offer details of these people's lives that flesh them out, make them into real people you feel sad are gone. And I just... don't get that from "You Should Be Here." I feel like they held back, and it's really to the song's detriment. He sings, "it's one of them moments that has your name written all over it" without going into any specifics about said moment. The weather's nice and the bros are over drinking some beers. Okay? Is that really unique and special? It's like they're trying to appeal to everyone - "hey, I drank a beer outside with my dad once too! OMG it's like he's singing about me!" - without offering the little details that will actually cut you down, if you think about them. But it's mainstream country, who's thinkin'??
Bottom line: while I empathize with Cole losing his father, I did too, the song doesn't make me cry. AND IT SHOULD. It's not a bad song. But the fact that I even entertained the thought, "would this be better with Wiz Khalifa on it?" indicates it's not the anthem it wants to be.
*a song so "memorable," I forgot the title and had to google it.
Cole Swindell and Charlie Puth are a perfect comparison, like comparing a loaf of Wonder bread with another loaf of Wonder bread. The fact that boring ass people like this can become famous makes the loss of Prince, Merle Haggard and David Bowie even more tragic. WHAT HAPPENED TO US?? I guess if you want a hit, make a damn generic death (or wedding) song that will somehow resonate with everyone despite actually resonating with no one. It's a phenomenon. I don't understand it. But was it always this way?
No. No, it wasn't. Okay, pop music has generally been on the shallow side. Every once in a while you'll get something with real emotional pull, like "Every Breath You Take" or "The Greatest Love of All." And even the latter you could argue is kinda motivational poster-level emotion, but Whitney Houston sings the hell out of that shit. End of story. And the former is a scary ass stalker, but he sells it man. So yeah, maybe "See You Again" is about as deep as pop's gonna go. It's not a song about underwear or ho's not being loyal, so I'll take it.
But that brings us to country. Country music, at its core, is not shallow. Sad country songs tend to be cutting. Genuine slices of life that make you feel, even if it's something you haven't experienced. You empathize. You feel like it could happen to you, because life.
I was originally going to compare "You Should Be Here" straight up with this, one of my favorite sad 90s country songs, a song that I can't listen to without crying. Hell, just thinking about it makes me tear up a little. But I'm going to include a couple others as well.
Everything about this song reduces me to a pile of goo, from the gut-wrenchingly specific lyrics to the pretty, simple melody, to Tim's heartfelt but not overwrought delivery. And that was when I thought the song was just about a marriage ending. Then I saw the video, which clearly indicates the woman died of cancer. SHIT. This is too much for me to handle. Okay, let's move on to another 90s gem.
*sniffle* This hits me on a personal level, but even if it didn't, the emotion is palpable. Reba kills this song, but the beautiful and undeniably real lyrics come in a close second to her delivery. And finally, the incomparable Patty Loveless.
What do all of these songs have in common, besides haunting vocals and my lack of ability to get through them without tearing up? They tell stories. They offer details of these people's lives that flesh them out, make them into real people you feel sad are gone. And I just... don't get that from "You Should Be Here." I feel like they held back, and it's really to the song's detriment. He sings, "it's one of them moments that has your name written all over it" without going into any specifics about said moment. The weather's nice and the bros are over drinking some beers. Okay? Is that really unique and special? It's like they're trying to appeal to everyone - "hey, I drank a beer outside with my dad once too! OMG it's like he's singing about me!" - without offering the little details that will actually cut you down, if you think about them. But it's mainstream country, who's thinkin'??
Bottom line: while I empathize with Cole losing his father, I did too, the song doesn't make me cry. AND IT SHOULD. It's not a bad song. But the fact that I even entertained the thought, "would this be better with Wiz Khalifa on it?" indicates it's not the anthem it wants to be.
Monday, May 09, 2016
A brief rant about rampant willful ignorance
Willful ignorance is like kudzu. It grows willy-nilly over everything, obscuring whatever was once there into vague shapes of their former selves.
I rarely talk about current "events" on here, and boy do I use the word "event" lightly, but this one thing seems like a perfect microcosm of everything that's gone wrong with modern discourse. I blame the vultures that are 24/7 "news" outlets for this and many other things, including the Trump beast. I somewhat blame social media as well, but unlike the so-called news, it can at least be used as a voice of reason too. Social media is today's free press, for better or worse.
So WTF am I talking about? Well, let's start with one of my favorite things in the whole wide world, the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Nothing takes me to my happy place more effectively than thinking about that glorious October. My favorite story from that favorite year was, of course, Curt Schilling and his bloody sock. I may have idolized this man and his grit a bit excessively, including bowing down to the bloody sock "we're not worthy" style at Cooperstown, but IT WAS THE STUFF OF LEGENDS. It still is. The man did have grit, and he put his money where his mouth was, and I loved him for that.
Unfortunately, he also puts his mouth where his ass is. And thus, my introduction to BATHROOM PANIC 2016. Or maybe we'll call it Bathroom 6. Y'know, like the motel. Cause that's what we name shitstorms after. I'm not here to judge him or anyone for their political or any other beliefs, but I will judge you if you post something knowingly stupid and bigoted with the intent to fearmonger.
Now, this bathroom thing is incredibly stupid, and this is what I mean by a microcosm of what's gone wrong. This is the kind of dumb, petty issue that gets blown up into this huge thing, fueled by "news" networks and social media, because we have no effin clue how to tackle the real problems like say, homeless veterans or police brutality or working families who can no longer get by. So this dumbass shit becomes a HYPERFOCUS, because hey, maybe we can micromanage who uses a damn bathroom, even if we can't solve starving children or people dying of curable diseases. I CLAIM THIS BATHROOM STALL FOR ME, BITCHES. FOR GREAT JUSTICE.
So imma burst this bubble real damn fast. Transgender people are not a new thing. It's something that's talked about more, because everything is talked about more on the internet, including the color of a damn dress and the miracle way to slice a pineapple (really - https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/internet-freaking-over-crazy-way-135943958.html - but that page crashed my Chrome so I don't recommend going to it. Sorry, pineapple lovers.) That means men who were born women and women who were born men have been sharing public bathrooms for a long time already. So... where are the reports of all these vicious attacks that must have been going on for years? I've never heard of a single one. It must be a cover up!
Or maybe, it's not an issue at all. Maybe everyone just wants to pee in peace. The people making this an issue are afraid, but not of being attacked while doing their business. They're afraid of change, and people who are different. And that's the real issue, and the one that should be talked about without getting into all these damn distractions. I mean, you have to try really damn hard to make this an issue.
Finally - I'm not here to tell people what they should think, or believe. No one should. But when you think your own thoughts and beliefs should actively impede others' rights, especially when it doesn't even affect your own life, that's when we have a problem. You don't have to accept another person's lifestyle, and no one can force you to, but you do have to share the planet with them. So just try to be decent however you can.
I rarely talk about current "events" on here, and boy do I use the word "event" lightly, but this one thing seems like a perfect microcosm of everything that's gone wrong with modern discourse. I blame the vultures that are 24/7 "news" outlets for this and many other things, including the Trump beast. I somewhat blame social media as well, but unlike the so-called news, it can at least be used as a voice of reason too. Social media is today's free press, for better or worse.
So WTF am I talking about? Well, let's start with one of my favorite things in the whole wide world, the 2004 World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. Nothing takes me to my happy place more effectively than thinking about that glorious October. My favorite story from that favorite year was, of course, Curt Schilling and his bloody sock. I may have idolized this man and his grit a bit excessively, including bowing down to the bloody sock "we're not worthy" style at Cooperstown, but IT WAS THE STUFF OF LEGENDS. It still is. The man did have grit, and he put his money where his mouth was, and I loved him for that.
Unfortunately, he also puts his mouth where his ass is. And thus, my introduction to BATHROOM PANIC 2016. Or maybe we'll call it Bathroom 6. Y'know, like the motel. Cause that's what we name shitstorms after. I'm not here to judge him or anyone for their political or any other beliefs, but I will judge you if you post something knowingly stupid and bigoted with the intent to fearmonger.
Now, this bathroom thing is incredibly stupid, and this is what I mean by a microcosm of what's gone wrong. This is the kind of dumb, petty issue that gets blown up into this huge thing, fueled by "news" networks and social media, because we have no effin clue how to tackle the real problems like say, homeless veterans or police brutality or working families who can no longer get by. So this dumbass shit becomes a HYPERFOCUS, because hey, maybe we can micromanage who uses a damn bathroom, even if we can't solve starving children or people dying of curable diseases. I CLAIM THIS BATHROOM STALL FOR ME, BITCHES. FOR GREAT JUSTICE.
So imma burst this bubble real damn fast. Transgender people are not a new thing. It's something that's talked about more, because everything is talked about more on the internet, including the color of a damn dress and the miracle way to slice a pineapple (really - https://www.yahoo.com/beauty/internet-freaking-over-crazy-way-135943958.html - but that page crashed my Chrome so I don't recommend going to it. Sorry, pineapple lovers.) That means men who were born women and women who were born men have been sharing public bathrooms for a long time already. So... where are the reports of all these vicious attacks that must have been going on for years? I've never heard of a single one. It must be a cover up!
Or maybe, it's not an issue at all. Maybe everyone just wants to pee in peace. The people making this an issue are afraid, but not of being attacked while doing their business. They're afraid of change, and people who are different. And that's the real issue, and the one that should be talked about without getting into all these damn distractions. I mean, you have to try really damn hard to make this an issue.
Finally - I'm not here to tell people what they should think, or believe. No one should. But when you think your own thoughts and beliefs should actively impede others' rights, especially when it doesn't even affect your own life, that's when we have a problem. You don't have to accept another person's lifestyle, and no one can force you to, but you do have to share the planet with them. So just try to be decent however you can.
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