Ah, the holidays. It’s a fantastic time to get around the blood relatives and subconsciously dig up old memories from your youth – until they erupt in either vitriol or vocal cacophony of some other sort. Lucky for me, this year it was mostly the latter. (Although it wasn’t long before we became so vexing to mother that she stopped defiling the turkey carcass with the blade she was handling.. Read More
Can’t get you outta my head
Prepare to be excited. ‘cause this is a real-time events-unfolding article right here. I’m about to read what the “top three” catchiest songs are in a piece that promises not to disappoint me. But before I do, I feel like some rumination on the matter is needed. And I think what we have to start with first is acknowledging what makes a song “catchy”. That term – “catchy” – can.. Read More
DisDeppointment of the day
What an effing disappointment. I got all excited to hear Johnny Depp’s doing a new flick (and that he’s playing the big bad wolf, no less), only to learn two seconds later – that it’s a musical. What a horrible joke to play on me right at that point in the day where I need some good news in order to curb that nagging pang in my abdomen, avidly encouraging.. Read More
Music review: iamamiwhoami (and video album “Blue”)
I first heard iamamiwhoami about a year ago. As Jonna and her group are an “outside the box” one, it’s easy to compare her to Gaga. But (beyond love for creative art) you can’t compare Jonna to any artist but Jonna. But we’ll try. I guess. The first time I heard and saw Gaga, it was bewildering – and not just because she’s “weird”. I like weird. I even liked.. Read More
Get your genius head out of your A.S.S.
Wanna head full of genius? Why not get it out of your A.S.S., then? That’s “Acquired Savant Syndrome”. And actually, no, I wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to obtain it because the requirements involve one freak accident head injury and one one-in-one-outlandish-figure chance of ending up with a crazy cash-inducing new skill like a few reported folks have in the past. For instance – remember that one dude.. Read More
I still don’t know what these songs I’m singing mean.
As I was indulging my 90’s nostalgia, by melodically lamenting my loser status worthy of death, I wondered to myself, “Did Beck make this nonsense because they had a catchy tune they knew everyone would sing along to regardless of how ridiculous the lyrics are?” Then I got to thinking of some other songs lacking significance to sheltered pre-pubescent me. For example: Lakini’s Juice, by Live. Pepper, by Butthole Surfers… Read More
Your brain on rap
This…is your brain: Eh… That’s not where I was going with this. Buu-uuut… it does help dispel some myths about your “brain on rap” – which does contrarily earn that grad cap. When I was a gangly pre-teen, I remember the parents sitting around at my sister’s basketball games, complaining about their daughters bumpin that “brain rot” in their rooms. And – to be fair – whether the listener gets.. Read More
Blatant Lines
When that one Robin Thicke song came out, I didn’t get it. Not “it” as in the song meaning – but “it” as in the brouhaha behind just another one of many misogynistic ditties. Rapey or not, the concept’s not unique to music. Some say the song (which is kind of open to interpretation) perpetuates rape culture. Pharrell (who worked on it and helped hit-itize the tune) told Oprah it.. Read More
For You From Me: Springtime Ear Candy
Last month, my computer caught syphilis and bit the dust. Then, like Jesus, it came back to me in a few days. Also like Jesus, it was thusly put to use instantly for purposes other than that for which it was intended. Namely, music listening. That’s not that bad really – but what is a travesty is that my itunes assimilation is now fkkd four ways to Friday (is that.. Read More
CineMotional Soundtracking
Ah, music. Music – that causes transcendent God moments and wallow-thons alike. Music with subtextual healing lyrics. Music with wordless instrumental wonder. When everything from religion to a rapidly lightening Valium bottle failed me, music never has. Like comedy, it’s among the quickest ways to un-feel a feeling or switch the ick off – to tune into some other frequency. Through college, I would wear headphones everywhere. Fully embracing my.. Read More