MUSIC: Some Interesting Christmas Music Shows

My favorite internet radio show, All Songs Considered, puts out a holiday show every year. There an interesting eclectic mix, although a little heavy on the alternative and folk side. I recommend you give this a listen.

This year's show
2004's
2003's
2002's
2001's
2000's

MUSIC: An Entertaining Folky Chrismas Show

A Christmas Concert from 'World Cafe'

ART: Just Liked This Pic

Found this pic on another blog - Lou Romano. He also has a couple of interesting Nativity pics.

Link to the website

MOVIES: An Apology for People Who Wait in Line for Star Wars

This is a post from my main blog that I wrote back when Episode III came out. Thought it would be appropriate here. - OlderMusicGeek.

I have had more than one person ask me if I was skipping work on each of the days the last three Star Wars movies have come out. It's always half-jokingly, which of course means it was also half-serious.

And I have to admit, there's a part of me that would love to do that - hanging out with people with similar interests who are as interested - if not more interested - in the same things as you. It's an incredible bonding experience like those who wait in line for a concert - or, I would imagine, a sporting event (but being a nerd, I wouldn't know about sporting event from first hand experience). (But I am The OlderMUSICGeek, so I do know something of the wait for a concert ticket.)

Of course, I know, many will say a movie is not like a concert or sporting event. These are one time only events, each performance and game is different each time. That's why Deadheads followed that band everywhere. And some will follow their team everywhere too. And I can't argue this point.

But the whole point of waiting in line for the movie isn't exactly the same as a concert or sporting event. Part of it is the pride of being the first. Let's face it, the kind of people, who are willing to wait in long lines - a whole day or more - for Star Wars movies, are not the kind of people who expect to do well in too many aspects of life. This is their chance of glory. Not exactly a happy thought, but a honest one.

On the other hand, there is something about going to a movie with people who love it as much as you. We've all gone to a movie that you really are excited about, but your fellow moviegoers are not. It is definitely different than going to a movie that all of you are excited about. Well, you won't find such a clear consensus on a film as you will in a Star Wars line!

Before I finish I must say - it's one thing to wait in line for a movie in your teens or even your twenties. It's quite another to do it in your thirties or forties! I mean, seriously, don't these people have a life. I mean if that's the only way you can make friends or pick up a member of the opposite sex, you need to get out more! It is after all - (blasphemy, blasphemy!) - only a movie! You should have more important and better things to do by the time you reach 30.

Heck, I'd only wait in a line like that to go see The Violent Femmes or Flogging Molly, maybe NOFX.

And I'll leave things at that. May the Force be with you!

And while you're at, live long and prosper.

MUSIC, MOVIES, TELEVISION and BOOKS: Filk Music: Odd Voices for a Digital Generation

Xeni Tech
By Xeni Jardin

Filk Music: Odd Voices for a Digital Generation

Day to Day, October 20, 2005 · What has 30 legs, five laptops, four kazoos and one Yoda? A filk singing circle. Filk is a little-known genre of folk music composed and performed by science-fiction fans, usually revolving around sci-fi and fantasy themes.

These so-called "filkers" share a lively online culture online -- and in the real world, some entertaining and slightly bizarre get-togethers.

Some songs riff on stories and characters from popular movies, TV shows, or games -- Star Trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica and Dungeons and Dragons are popular launch pads. Other tunes come from deeply weird depths of the songwriter's psyche.

Filk has been around for decades, but the genre is gaining new popularity, in part because of digital music downloads and free Internet radio. At the 19th annual Con-Chord, one of about eight yearly "filkfests" in the United States, a group gathered at a Los Angeles-area hotel to share their newest tunes.

"It's like a hootenanny on another planet," Jardin says. "Audience members sometimes cheer topically -- a song featuring bioengineered chickens is met with clucking. Another featuring pigs in space, with oinks. Another about the physics of farting is met with -- well, you get the idea."

Filk.com
Filk Archive
Filk.com's radio station on Live365.com

MUSIC: List of song from the mixed tape I was listening to

This is just for the people who saw this tape listed in "CD's I'm currently listening to" and wondered what was on this tape. It was a tape I made in 1987 from my older brother's records.

ASSORTMENT VII

Side A
Free Flight - Ted Nugent
Radio Waves - Roger Waters
I Saw Her Standing There - Johnny Bugger and the Dirtboxes
Psycho Killer (live)< - Talking Heads
Third Hoorah - Jethro Tull
Three Sunrises - U2
The Raven - Alan Parsons Project
If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free - Sting
Think Zinc - T. Rex
Gemini Dream - Moody Blues

Side B
Speed Your Love to Me - Simple Minds
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
Sleepless - King Crimson
Sheriff from Omaha - Omaha Sheriff
Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly - Icicle Works
Long Hard Ride - Marshall Tucker Band
In a Big Country - Big Country
All the Way From Memphis - Mott the Hoople
Heaven - Eurogliders
Heaven - Psychedelic Furs
Mountain of Needles - David Byrne and Brian Eno

MUSIC: "Raw Power" by Iggy Pop and the Stooges

I was a closet Iggy Pop hater. I pretended to like Iggy Pop to impress my older brother who was a big Iggy fan. And being into punk rock, I had to to be cool and with it, and I did this by pretending to like the artist who probably influenced more 70's and 80's punk bands than anybody else. (When you're a big nerd, you got stroke your ego somehow. I did it by feeling superior on music and movies.)

Besides, if David Bowie liked his stuff, it had to be good! (Actually, this statement is pretty accurate. David Bowie has introduced me to quite a bit of good music and has said great things about artists and songs I already love - The Chieftains, Moby, The The's "Uncertain Smile" - one of the best 12-inch singles ever - this was back in the vinyl days for you young'uns!) (Though I have to admit I'm not a big Nine Inch Nails fan.)

Actually, I liked Iggy, but I realized that I had only listened to some of his songs. When I heard entire albums, I was rather disappointed.

So I have no idea what put me in an Iggy mood and made me pick up this cd from the library. But I'm glad I did. I love it! This cd is incredible!

I have to admit that I might be able to appreciate it more now, because it has been remixed. Apparently, the old mix was pretty bad. But I hadn't heard Raw Power since college, and on a vinyl record, I couldn't tell what the difference is.

But it still has a lo-fi quality that I think actually helps give some raw energy and roughness that helps this music.

And what fascinating music this is. I think I needed to be older to appreciate this. This music doesn't really have as much of a pop sensibility to it as some punk and rock music. It's not a bunch of songs you can hum to and sing along with. They're good enjoyable tunes, but except for "Raw Power", they're not really catchy.

(Which actually is what gave The Sex Pistols and The Clash their edge. Yeah, they were loud, noisy and abrasive, but underneath all that, there were catchy tunes that you could sing along with. In fact, many kids found it very easy to sing along with The Pistols. And I think that is what help make them so popular in Europe and England. The Pistols were basically writing catchy pop tunes with noisy guitars and abrasive vocals and lyrics.)

I don't want to make it sound like Iggy was doing some avant-garde atonal experimental jazz work. There is a sound and groove you can get into here. It just isn't obvious as some other works.

A great, hard driving banging and rhythm backs all this work. Stacked on top of this is some fantastic strong, pulsating, beautifully fuzzy rhythm guitar work along with James Williamson's wild crazy note-hunting. Only in bluegrass have I heard more note-picking. On top of all this is Iggy's snarling, although snarling doesn't begin to describe the way Iggy sings on this album. It feels like Iggy's about to jump out of the speakers or headphones and bite your head off - especially in "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell"! And the way he sings "Penetration" makes me fear for all the females I know. And with David Bowie mixing the stuff, there is a touch of a pop feel to keep things from getting too out of hand.

But some of that guitar note-picking originally turned me off. This album came out in 1973 (four years before Never Mind the Bollocks or The Clash's debut album). And it has some of that 70's rocks feel, especially with the guitar solos and some of Iggy's drawn out vocals.

But as I get older and hopefully lose some of my pretentiousness, I can return to that 70's music that I looked my nose down at after finding punk rock and new wave. In fact, it seems a lot of the young punk rockers are finding that they can use some elements from classic rock. And the Americana scene has definitely been influenced by southern rock.

So now I can once again enjoy "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Free Bird". And with those, I can enjoy Iggy's stuff here. Because he takes all those classic rock sounds and infuse them with the power, energy and feel of punk rock. This is what 70's rock could have been if others were courageous enough to take the plunge. And without albums like this, punk rock would have never come to be.

Therefore, if you like to rock out, listen to an important piece of rock and roll, as well punk, history. Iggy and the Stooges will give you a ride you won't easily forget.

An Iggy Pop fan page
VH1 Iggy Pop site

MUSIC: Hall and Oates - Why I Hate Them So

This is another old blog from main sight, but if fits better here.



I don't know what it is about Hall and Oates - but they really get on my nerves.

Not the two guys. From what I've seen of them, they seem like nice enough guys, but their music just drives me insane.

And it's not like there are artists who do worse music. Take Michael Bolton for instance. He takes all this great soul music - and fills it up using the emotional skills of William Shatner's acting combined with the slickness of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton combined. (Yes, that's right, I said Ronald Reagan AND Bill Clinton! So give it to me from both sides people!)

And don't get me started on Celine Dion! Can all those fans of The Titanic soundtrack be wrong?! Yes, they can!

But there's just something about Hall and Oates that drives me batty! When that "oh-oh-oh" from "Maneater" comes on, I find myself becoming a cheesy nightclub singer snapping my fingers and singing along.

And what's with the ten thousand -ist rhymes on "Your Kiss is on My List". Oh, okay, we get it! You know how to use a rhyming dictionary! So do the guys in those foot gelling commercials. But at least those commercials aren't put to a schmaltzy melody!

But the one that drives me craziest is that "oo-oo-you make-ah my dreams come true" song. Is it so hard to say "make"? What? Are they trying to act Italian or something? Is his real name Hallini?

But the worst thing about this song is the stupid catchy melody gets stuck in my head, and I find myself singing this song the rest of the day! Actually, it's not even the whole song, just the stupid chorus! And then choruses of their other songs pop out of my mouth!

Oh god, it's my head now! Let me end now and go listen to some Sex Pistols!

Oo-oo. Oo-oo. Oh God, help me.

hallandoates.com / official daryl hall john oates website
Other Hall and Oates links
Arizona Daily Wildcat - Remember Hall & Oates? We didn't either - Thursday, February 12, 2004
lunchboxing.com :: taking your lunch money since 1983

Smallville season 4 (2004/2005)

(Confession: I haven't seen all the episodes of Smallville this season. I've missed the Krypto and the photographer episodes - hoping to catch them in the reruns. If I do, I'll update this.)

Having been a big comicbook geek in high school and early college days (until I couldn't afford comics anymore), I have been watching this show from the get-go. And I have to admit that I liked what they've done.

The comicbook fundamentalists I'm sure are whining up a big storm. What's Lois Lane doing in Smallville? Clark didn't meet her until he joined The Daily Planet! Well, get over it, geek boys! This ain't the comic! Besides, Pete Ross wasn't black in the comics either! Who cares? Go read the comic and quit watching the show if that's the way you feel!

CLARK'S ROMANCE LIFE
I did like the inclusion of Lois Lane this season. I thought they captured the character real well. It's easy to see how this former chain-smoking, talkaholic, bossy girl who lost her mom and was raised by an often absent general becomes the crazy reporter. And I love the way Clark can't stand her and finds her annoying. It showed nice restraint that they didn't make her a new love interest for Clark.

Clark's love interest this season, though, was an interesting character. Alicia, the transporter, came back, released from the psych hospital. I guess I could relate to her having spent a few days in a psych hospital myself. I did have trouble with Clark taking her back after she basically drugged him with red kryptonite. but if you could get past that, it was a touching story - Clark having someone he could share his secret with. So, of course, she has to die the very next episode! Gee, we can't let Clark have a good romantic life for more than one week!

And I'm not sure what to make of this new Lana-Clark romance. Clark claims it will be different this time. How? He hasn't told her of his powers. So he still needs to run off when there's trouble. He still hiding stuff. So how's it different? I think he should just tell her. Then I think they should have Lana freak out because she's already had too stress in her life. And then Chloe can get all pissed because Clark confided in Lana but not her. Let the cat fight begin!

IS IT CHLOE'S OR CLARK'S SECRET?
I did like the fact that Chloe learned Clark's secret and that Clark doesn't know it, though he obviously suspects - I think. In Smallville - like comics, anything can happen. Things that are obvious to normal human beings are not quite so simple here. But let's face it, if were that simple, everyone would know about Clark and we wouldn't have much of a show. If you're going to watch Smallville, you have to accept the premise that the people aren't quite with it as real human beings. Actually to be quite honest, that's a premise you have to accept to enjoy a LOT of tv shows!

But Chloe knowing Clark's secret without him knowing that she knew it (if you follow all that) has provided a lot of fun irony. The biggest irony when Clark lost his memory (again!), and Chloe had to explain all his super powers to him. The premise that Clark wouldn't even remember he was super was a little far fetch. I'd liked to know if a skilled athlete lost his memory, would he forget he can play the sport? And play it well? A fast runner is going to forget he can run faster than the most of the human race? Perhaps, but it sounds kinda hokey.

Anyway, if you can accept that premise, you had a fun episode with Chloe having Clark bend crow bars in his bare hands and chase after motorcycles.

YOU CAN NEVER ESCAPE THE COMICS!
I also like the inclusion of more comicbook elements into the series. The story with Mister Mxyzptlk was interesting. I like the interpretation they did of him. I don't think having a midget prankster popping in from another dimension would have worked on Smallville.

And the inclusion of The Flash was a lot of fun. I always find the idea of people moving faster than us all interesting. We've all thought about what we do if we could slow people down. I also liked the touch with fake id's - the first one, Jay Garrick, was the secret identity of the 40's Flash, and the second, Wally West, was the secret identity of Kid Flash who became The Flash after the death of the Barry Allen Flash. (Don't worry, Barry Allen came back. Deaths in comic books are like the "retirement" of rock groups!)

And I already talked about Lois. And I haven't seen the original episode with Krypto, so I can't comment on that. But I am waiting for a young Bruce Wayne to turn up in Smallville. Maybe Lex can have a run-in with Wayne Enterprises! Actually, to be quite honest, I'd really like to see Gotham - a show about Bruce Wayne's time between when he lost his parents and before he went off to study fighting or go to college for a degree in Criminology and Law.

CONCLUSION
So, anyway, back to Smallville. I like where they've been taking Clark. We have now have some interesting themes running through the series - like wild experiments with Kryptonite, the evil Kryptonian stones, and poor Lana's possession by a witch, to mention a couple. This is quite an improvement compared to the first season which was basically Clark vs. the meteorite freak of the week. And now, some of the best shows are without any villain at all - like the episode with Lana and Clark finding the fast growing child.

And after four years, they've realized Clark can stay in high school, so I'm looking forward to season 5 and Clark's new life to Metropolis U!


A Smallville fan page

An old review I did of the classic "Open Water"

This is an old piece from my other blog, but it's more appropriate here.

My wife dragged me to this movie. Otherwise, I wouldn't have gone, and it turns out I was right.

This movie took forever to get started. The first 30 minutes or so was spent giving you background into these characters. Maybe it wasn't 30 minutes, because the film is only 90-odd minutes long, but it seemed like more than 30 minutes.

And they didn't provide any real background. All you could know from that time was that the wife was so stressed from work that she couldn't have sex. That's about it.

And what can I say about the rest. They hang out in the water hoping to get help. They get nibbled once by a shark. And a chunk is taken out later. Oh, and look out for the jellyfish. Oooo, scary kids!

And all the obligatory fights. She gets mad because he screams in anger. He says they're stuck out there because of her job stress. She blames him for being left behind because they took too long. Blah, blah, blah.

The only good part was the end. It was touching with a good deal of restraint.

Actually, the whole movie was restrained. And that was part of the problem. You need a little more excitement if you're going to make a movie about people bobbing in the ocean for a day!



Related links:

Open Water - Chris Kentis
Open Water Movie Trailer (Chris Kentis) Empire Movies
Roger Ebert review
JoBlo's movie review of Open Water: Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis, Chris Kentis
Blanchard Ryan Interview - Open Water scuba stories

MUSIC: George W Bush and His Ipod

This was originally publish in OlderMusicGeek's Stupid Stuff, but I moved to here on July 27, 2009. - OMG

I got this from BBC News. - OlderMusicGeek

George W Bush is a fan of country music and classic rock, but he also likes "a little bit of hard core and honky tonk", his iPod playlist suggests.

His 250 songs include country greats George Jones and Alan Jackson, but also My Sharona by the Knack.

Mr Bush has an aide download music for him and listens to it while mountain biking, the New York Times reported.

Rolling Stone journalist Joe Levy called the playlist "feel-good music. The Sex Pistols it's not."

"It's safe, it's reliable, it's loving," Mr Levy said.

"One thing that's interesting is that the president likes artists who don't like him," he added.

WHAT'S ON THE FIRST IPOD
John Fogerty: Centerfield
Van Morrison: Brown-Eyed Girl
Stevie Ray Vaughan: The House is Rockin'
The Knack: My Sharona
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings: Swinging from the Chains of Love
Country stars Alan Jackson, George Jones, Kenny Chesney
Classic rockers Eric Clapton, Robert Palmer, Bryan Adams

That group includes former Credence Clearwater Revival singer John Fogerty, whose baseball anthem Centerfield is on the iPod.

CCR's anti-Vietnam war song Fortunate Son is not, Mr Bush's cycling partner Mark McKinnon said.

"If any president limited his music selection to pro-establishment musicians, it would be a pretty slim collection," Mr McKinnon told the New York Times.

He advised against "psychoanalysing" the playlist.

"It's music to get over the next hill," Mr McKinnon said.

Mr Bush's daughters gave him the iPod for his birthday last July.


What should George Bush listen to on his iPod?

Nothing. He shouldn't be listening to music on an I-Pod while biking. He should be listening to the traffic or the sounds of nature depending on where he is. Biking is sound experience as it is. The music of the chain and the hum of the wheels is what he should be listening to.
Daniel Gwyn, Montreal, Canada

Time to ditch the iPod then! Just lost its 'cool' status forever!
Geoff, Preston UK

Who cares? It's his iPod, let him enjoy whatever he wants to listen too. Last time I checked no person had a collection based on what they believe.
Gabriel Asseily, London, UK
(Amen to this - OlderMusicGeek)

[No you won't fool] The Children of the Revolution by T.Rex
rz, NH, US

Good for him. How about some Celtic rock to get the blood pumping? And to all the sarcastic lefties, get off the computer and get some exercise, maybe you'll lose some weight and improve your mood.
Tim Seeley, Manitoba, Canada

English for beginners!
Gerard, Dublin

A link to the original site