The Time Waster

I just spent way too much time on this...with my boss helping: Sporcle. Some good ones: Major Sports Cities, Dunder Mifflin employees, Monopoly places, Oscar Winners. Click on the top for random game. I guarantee if you start this now you'll be doing it until quitting time.

New Bond Theme

Interesting...

Alicia Keys and Detroit native Jack White have recorded the theme song for the new James Bond film, "Quantum of Solace," producers said Wednesday.

The R&B singer and White Stripes frontman have teamed up for "Another Way to Die," the first duet to be chosen as a Bond theme.

Producers said White wrote and produced the song and also plays drums, as well as sings with 11-time Grammy winner Keys.

Producers Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said they were "delighted and pleased to have two such exciting artists as Jack and Alicia, who were inspired by our film to join together their extraordinary talents in creating a unique sound for 'Quantum of Solace.' "

Previous Bond themes have been performed by the likes of Paul McCartney, Duran Duran and Madonna, and each new film's tune always produces intense speculation.

Troubled diva Amy Winehouse previously had been linked to the "Quantum of Solace" theme. But her collaborator, Mark Ronson, said earlier this year that work on a song for the film had been abandoned because Winehouse was not ready to record.

Other reports had suggested singers Duffy and Leona Lewis were being considered.

"Quantum of Solace" sees Daniel Craig return as suave secret agent 007. It is due for release in Britain on October 31 and around the world in November.

The Ferrell, in pictures

The many faces of our favorite actor

No comment

No words for this picture.

Small mistakes, big results

Great article on how small mistakes led to big problems

Mandles

Every man has room in their house for mandles. I choose Chuck Norris Sweat and Fried Chicken Buy Mandles



(thanks to aaron and his friends for opening up the world of mandles to me and the viewers of this blog)

Sneak Peek at Wolverine Origin Movie

Get it while it's up:

Daytrotter Sessions - Bon Iver

Bon Iver stopped by Daytrotter and recorded a session for them. If you haven't seen my previous take away show posts on Bon Iver I think they are a very good up and coming band. I recommend watching all of their shows as they were all good and show a pure sound from Bon Iver. I'll post a feature on Bon Iver soon but for now take a listen to their Daytrotter, especially the songs "Flume" and "Lump Sum".

Daytrotter Sessions - Architecture in Helsinki

Architecture in Helsinki stopped by the Daytrotter studio and recorded a session for them. This band is pretty interesting. They are the type that has a lot of people in it and a lot of instruments. It works well for them but maybe not as well as Beirut, but still decently well. I probably wouldn't buy an Architecture in Helsinki album but they are still fun to listen to from song to song. Give them a listen and check out their previous take away show, which is very good.

What Gets My Monday Going

I might lose 25 street cred points for this but I don't care. Every time I hear Journey's "Seperate Ways" on the radio I'm enamored. Even though I didn't grow up in that era and don't understand the semi-cheesy rock band sound, I still get going when I hear this song.

Take Away Show Friday - Wombats "Lets Dance To Joy Division"

SAIL-AWAY SHOW (Eurocks08) WOMBATS-LET'S DANCE TO JOY DIVISI
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Take Away Show Friday - Sebastien Tellier "Divine"

I'd pay to listen to them in a boat (sail-away shows)

SAIL-AWAY SHOW (Eurockeennes 2008) SEBASTIEN TELLIER-DIVINE
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Take Away Show Friday - Man Man "A Day at the Races and a Night at the Opera"

Think Stomp but weirder...

#95.5 Man Man - A day at the races and A night at the opera
Uploaded by lablogotheque

Album Review - Avett Brothers "The Gleam II"

Avett Brothers came out with "The Gleam II" on Tuesday. Here is AllMusic's review. I've yet to purchase or listen to many songs from it but I will say that "Murder in the City" is one of their best tracks of all time.

My previous "My Current Bandcrush" post and Concert Review post on the Avett Brothers.

Need a chair?

Straight out of Seinfeld

Remember the episode of Seinfeld about calling to get the persons voicemail, hoping they don't answer so you can leave a message? Well there is a service that can take care of this pressure for you:

Slydial lets you connect directly with another person's cellphone voice mail, bypassing the traditional ringing process that often results — sometimes disastrously — with someone picking up on the other end.

Users call (267) SLY-DIAL from either a cellphone or a landline, and are prompted to enter another person's cellphone number.

After playing a short advertisement — unless users pay a subscription fee or 15 cents per call to skip ads — Slydial puts callers directly into their target's voice mail.

Recipients should then get a voice mail notification, and sometimes they will see a caller's number show up as a missed call, too.

This has advanced well beyond any social problems we've had before and put us into the social inept status. It's interesting though because sometimes I just want to give someone a message without actually talking to them. Sometimes we don't need to banter, it could be informational and not need a reply. Check out Slydial's site. I agree with their situations.

Where's Jeff Goldblum?

They never died, just got lost in the LA museum of natural history:

Goose is not in the sequel

I've got interesting/bad/terrible/scary/impregnating news to report here on DJ. Apparently Tom Cruise has been asked to play in the sequel for Top Gun. Top Gun is one of my favorite nostalgic movies of all time but I don't know what's worse: Top Gun II or Tom Cruise trying to reprise a roll he played well 22 years ago and will never play well again because he became ridiculous. Or maybe it's the fact that they are trying to go GI Jane on the sequel. Why do we need a sequel of Top Gun? Shouldn't they be focusing on the Goonies sequel?

TOM CRUISE is preparing for take-off - after he was reportedly approached to star in a sequel to 1986 hit movie TOP GUN.
The actor has been asked to reprise his role as cocky fighter-pilot Maverick, 22 years after the first film.
A source tells British newspaper The Sun, "The idea is Maverick is at the Top Gun school as an instructor - and this time it is he who has to deal with a cocky new female pilot.

Back in the Day

Today I remembered my roots of rap; De La Soul and Tribe Called Quest. They, along with Run DMC, were the kings of original hip-hop. De La and Tribe took the prize for me though. I got kind of sad in the realization that rap isn't the same flowing and inventive rhymes it used to be. I was hoping that Kanye West when he first came out with "Through the Wire" was going to bring it back but he didn't turn out to be the one. De La and Tribe also gave me my first rhythms that still exist in my head today. Although I'm not into rap/hip-hop anymore, due to it's changed landscape, I still have a big place in my ear for De La and Tribe and the influence they had on my music today, even being as indie as I am. Here's a little sample of the best hip-hop has ever had to offer:







Fast forward 15 years and notice the difference in the style. This is some of the best rap has to offer us today, which is good, but not near as good as the originals. There is nothing like De La and Tribe, nothing. Aaron can attest to this.

Conor Oberst follows in Dylan's Footsteps

The song "Bowl of Oranges" is why Conor Oberst (of Bright Eyes) is one of the best songwriters out there right now. This is one of his best songs and a great example of his songwriting. He has far more songs which display his songwriting prowess out there as well.

A Note: When I listen to songs I listen for the instruments and the rhythms...I rarely listen to words so for lyrics to jump out to me and take my notice then they are very good in my opinion. Also, if you read lyrics from a song and don't know if they are from a song or in a book then they are well written. Again in my opinion but I think others could agree.

My favorite line in this song is the first two, specifically:

There was a loophole in
my dreaming, so I got out of it

The rain, it started tapping on the window near my bed. There was a loophole in my dreaming, so I got out of it. And to my surprise my eyes were wide and already open. Just my nightstand and my dresser where those nightmares had just been. So I dressed myself and left them, out into the gray streets. But everything seemed different and completely new to me. The sky, the trees, houses, buildings, even my own body. And each person I encountered, I couldn't wait to meet. and I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health. I said "there is nothing that I can do for you that you can't do for yourself." He said "Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that would help." So I sat with him a while and then I asked him how he felt. He said, "I
think I'm cured. In fact, I'm sure. Thank you stranger, for your therapeutic smile."

So that is how I learned the lesson that everyone is alone. And your eyes must do some raining if you are ever going to grow. But when crying don't help and you can't compose yourself. It is best to compose a poem, an honest verse of longing or a simple song of hope. That is why I'm singing... Baby don't worry cause now I got your back. And every time you feel like crying, I'm gonna try and make you laugh. And if I can't, if it just hurts too bad, then we will wait for it to pass and I will keep you company through those days so long and black. And we'll just keep working on the problem we know we'll never solve of Love's uneven remainder, our lives are fractions of a whole. But if the world could remain within a frame like a painting on a wall. Then I think we would see the beauty then. We would stand staring in awe at our still lives posed like a bowl of oranges, like a story told by the fault lines and the soil.

Watchmen Trailer

Feist on Sesame Street

Every artist that does a song on Sesame Street goes up a notch in my book: (thanks for the link, vabeachbabies)

A Dog, Two Humans, or an Awesome Robot?

One of the coolest things I've ever seen (and one of the freakiest). It almost looks like there are two guys secretly hidden in it and those are their skinny legs. In 40 years we'll be fighting an army of these: (wait for the part where the guy kicks it or it slips on ice) Big Dog Robot

ESPY Hosts

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I can't wait

See more Will Ferrell videos at Funny or Die

Take Away Show Friday - Alela Diane "Tired Feet"

Take Away Show Friday - Alela Diane "Pieces of String"

Take Away Show Friday - Hutch and Kathy "I Got a Curse"

Heat Vision and Jack

Distraction Jackson is all about the newest, latest, hippest distractions. So why would we post a video of a nine-year-old failed TV pilot? Because it stars Jack Black as a super-intelligent astronaut and Owen Wilson as his talking motorcycle. It's a long distraction since it's the entire 30 minute pilot, but it's good stuff!

Bowerbirds

Sometimes you hear a band and you wish you'd heard them earlier. Bowerbirds fit into that category for me. Bowerbirds caught my eye when I saw them on their great Take Away Shows. The best way to describe this band before listening is if you have combine nylon string rhythm guitar, steady unique lead voice, bass drum, various clanging instruments, very good harmonies, banjo, accordian, violin and great lyrics, then you have Bowerbirds.

Check them out on their main site player and Myspace. On their main site, listen to "Dark Horse", "La Denigracion" to get a feeling of their style and great sound. Then listen to the rest, especially "My Oldest Memory" and "Ticonderoga".

In conclosing, I think this is one of the better bands out there right now and I highly recommend giving them at least a two song listen of the aforementioned songs.

In my opinion their best Take Away Show:

#90.4 - BOWERBIRDS - In our talons
by lablogotheque

Who's your favorite?

Humans never admit to favorite children, but birds will show it:

Strong Bad Goes Gaming

My favorite boredom pastime from college is apparently making a video game. Strong Bad has a video game coming out for the wiiware.

The Influence Continues

Great news especially since they just release a children's album...From CNN:

FAYETTEVILLE, New York (AP) -- The singer and guitarist for the band Barenaked Ladies has been arrested on drug charges in upstate New York.

Police say Steven Page was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance on Friday in the Syracuse area.

Authorities say the arrest occurred at about 2 a.m. after police noticed a suspicious car with its driver's side door left open. They say they found Page and two women in a nearby apartment, along with cocaine and marijuana.

Barenaked Ladies' manager Terry McBride confirmed the charge to the Post-Standard of Syracuse but declined to comment further. The singer, released after paying $10,000 bail, is due in court Thursday.

Page helped form the band in 1988. The group, known for hits such as "One Week" and "Pinch Me" recently released their debut kids CD, "Snacktime."

Music on TV - July 14-19

Wednesday, July 16:

CBS: Late Show With David Letterman: Neil Young, the Hold Steady
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Nas
Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Eugene Mirman

Thursday, July 17:

NBC: The Tonight Show With Jay Leno: Coldplay
ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Justin Timberlake, Cool Kids
NBC: Late Night With Conan O'Brien: Dr. Dog
SUNDANCE: Live From Abbey Road: Hard-Fi

Friday, July 18:

ABC: Jimmy Kimmel Live: Minus the Bear

Saturday, July 19:

PBS: Austin City Limits: Death Cab for Cutie, My Morning Jacket (rerun)
FOX: Fearless Music TV: Silent Years, Made out of Babies, Anna Ternheim

Ultimate Taunt

That's Arod in the front of the picture:

Infamous Photo Fakes

Always enjoyable fake pictures.

Daytrotter Sessions - Patrick Park

Patrick Park, one of my favorites, did a Daytrotter Session last week. The only annoying thing about it is that the songs are only downloadable, not playable on the site. I would recommend downloading all of them but if you are somehow limited to downloading only one I would download "Here We Are".

Previous posts for Patrick Park. Seriously, check out his full band stuff because it's great, especially the songs "Here We Are" and "Something Pretty".

SNL Digital Short - Dopplegangers

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Another Great SNL Digital Short

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Great SNL Short

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Young Chuck Norris

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Take Away Show Friday - Alela Diane "The Rifle"

We saw this girl open up for the Avett Brothers. She has a great voice live, very inviting and intriguing voice. I kept thinking of Gillian Welch when I saw her. To add to her great voice is this amazing take away show. What a cool thing with that kid watching and listening to her. So great, might even beat my favorite from REM

Take Away Show Friday - Hutch and Kathy "That's Inertia"

Take Away Show Friday - Hutch and Kathy "I Know It's Too Late"

Daytrotter Sessions - Office

The ever catchy rhythms band Office did a Daytrotter Session. Worth checking out all songs especially "Oh My". I first posted about Office back here. Gregarious has their recent album and spoke highly of it. What you have to know about Office is that they might not fit your musical style but you might learn to like them. What I love about Office is they have similar sounds to The Smiths and The Cure, specifically "Oh My". Takes me back to a time where I listened to my brothers music way before I should have.

If you want to check out their "real" studio sound go to their site, launch the player and listen to "Company Calls".

My Current Bandcrush - Avett Brothers

Ever since seeing their concert last month I've been hot on the Avett Brothers. Take a listen and watch all the videos from my previous post of them. I just wish I could have them here live playing for me all day long. Still the best band I've ever seen live. Here's a couple of songs to get you going:

My Current Bandcrush - The Beginning

I'm starting another series that I like to call "My Current Bandcrush". Basically it's my way of telling you who I'm currently listening to and currently liking at the moment. Sometimes it will be an older artist, sometimes it will be newer. First post will follow this one.

Sean Cullen - Food of your Choice

A Classic Sean Cullen bit:

Daytrotter Sessions - Maritime

I posted about an indie rock band called Maritime earlier this year. Since then they've stopped by Daytrotter and done a session. And to follow suit of their albums their songs are upbeat and indie peppy as usual. Check them all out as they are all worth it. Like always, the songs are downloadable.

Call us, but we'll also call you

So I called Verizon about something yesterday and after navigating through the prompts I found myself on hold for an operator. After about 10 seconds from the prompt and into the hold a robot lady came on the phone and said "Your current wait time is 10 minutes. If you would like us to call you when your operator is ready enter your name and number now...otherwise stay on the line and your operator will be with you shortly." Wait, what did you say? Your telling me that I no longer have to hold the phone to my ear and listen to your new age music for 10 minutes and now you are going to call me? That's fantastic and I'll take it. So I left my name and number and sure enough 10 minutes later I get a call and it's a real person from Verizon.

So that made me think, why hasn't everyone adopted that? It makes the customer a lot less frustrated, it's still automatic (I'm sure) and it frees up their phone lines. I think it's brilliant and I think everyone should be doing this.

The joy of customer service has just gotten more joyful.

Pay for number one or two

It pays to relieve yourself, in India

Xavier Rudd "Let Me Be"

When soul meets surfer meets guitar meets basic bass line meets aborigine instruments meets harmonica meets fun:

Robert Smith Fans Unite!

The Cure (one of the greatest bands of all time...also one of the strangest frontmen of all time) is joining the ranks of Radiohead to try something new with their new albums (although not as good as Radioheads pay what you want plan). Check out an excerpt from their website:

THE CURE TO RELEASE NEW SINGLES THE 13TH OF EACH MONTH LEADING UP TO THE RELEASE OF THEIR 13TH STUDIO ALBUM

BAND GEARS UP FOR US TOUR KICKING OFF MAY 9TH

Santa Monica, California, May 1, 2008- The Cure, one of the most revered British bands of the past quarter-century, have unveiled their plans to release four A & B side singles, one each month starting May 13th, leading up to the release of their thirteenth studio album, as yet untitled, which will be out on Suretone/Geffen Records September 13th. It will be the band's first album of new music since 2004’s self titled album The Cure. Physical and digital singles will be available for purchase in store and on all digital partners.

Why the 13th of each month? The forthcoming album is The Cure’s thirteenth studio album... A lucky number indeed!

First single “The Only One” (released May 13th) includes the b-side “NY Trip”; second single “Freakshow” (released June 13th) includes the b-side "All Kinds Of Stuff"; neither b-side will appear on the album. Both tracks were produced by Robert Smith and Keith Uddin. July 13th and August 13th singles will be announced shortly..

Josh Ritter - "Girl in the War"

Fantastic song from Josh Ritter:

Acoustic Lounge on KSFS

Check out the podcast from KSFS called "Acoustic Lounge". They feature a lot of great up and coming artists including a lot of unknowns. To name a few: Eric Hutchinson, Joshua Radin, Nizlopi, Teitur, James Morrison, Fionn Regan, Paulo Nutini, Jose Gonzalez, Glen Hansard, etc... Those are just the ones they've featured the last few months. KSFS will record a show by the artist when they come through San Francisco and then get an interview from them and combine those two into the podcast. What I like about the podcast is that it's a mix of interview and songs, both from their albums and live. It's gives you a couple of questions for the artist then plays a full length song, and so on. I just listened to the Eric Hutchinson one and the Glen Hansard one, both very good. The live sound quality isn't always the best because they didn't mix it, but it's still good enough to listen too. If you are looking for a good music podcast, I recommend this one. I wish I could iTunes link you but I don't work in the world of windows, thus no iTunes during the day. Search for "acoustic lounge on ksfs".

By the way, here are my other recommendations for musical podcasts if you missed it the first time around. And please comment on your favorite podcasts (both music and non-music), I'm always looking for more.

Demtri Martin Finds Clearification - Part 6 out of 6

This looks like the last one in the "Clearification" series but at some point he changed the total from 7 to 6.

Demtri Martin Finds Clearification - Part 5 out of 6

Demtri Martin Finds Clearification - Part 4 out of 6

Demtri Martin Finds Clearification - Part 3 out of 7

Demtri Martin Finds Clearification - Part 2 out of 7

(part one if you missed it)

Take Away Show Friday - Herman Dune "123" & "I Wish"

Great stuff: (double feature)

#21.1 HERMAN DUNE 1 - 123 / I Wish...
Uploaded by lablogotheque

What was that guy playing? It looks like some kind of kid's drum/noise toy.

Joe Purdy - Hotel Cafe Tour

I posted a while back about the Hotel Cafe Tour which is a tour of great musicians who have played at Hotel Cafe and features great up and coming artists like Cary Brothers, Eric Hutchinson, Joshua Radin, Bob Schneider, Ingrid Michaelson, etc... One of the best to grace the Hotel Cafe stage is Joe Purdy. Here are his tracks from his Hotel Cafe show

On this day

It feels like yesterday when Billy Mitchell attained a perfect score in Pac-Man. I'm thinking that Halo will be our generations game for record attempts. It will start with most kills with the Needler in a multiplayer game and move onto most attached plasma grenades to your opponent. I can't wait to see the documentary years later.

New Amos Lee

New Album - "Last Days at the Lodge"

Got it yesterday and I'm digging it so far. It has several songs in the same soulful-bluesy genre we've come to expect from Amos and a couple with a little more grit and up tempo dynamic.

There are a few tracks streaming on his website, or you can preview it on iTunes, Amazon, or Rhapsody.

J. Crew on the cutting edge

As if pre-torn jeans weren't enough, JCrew has gone to the ultimate ridiculousness: (click on it to read the description)

Elementary, My Dear Ricky Bobby

There's a Sherlock Holmes comedy in the works with SBC signed on as Sherlock and WF as Holmes. So good!

Step Brothers Living Poster

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Where do I start? - Joe Purdy

Joe Purdy is the prime example of why I'm doing the "Where do I start?" posts. 8 albums that span 6 years makes it hard to know where to start. Seriously, with Joe Purdy all of his albums are so good that you can start anywhere. I don't say that about many artists, so I mean it. He currently has 8 full length albums (including a new one this year): "Canyon Joe", "Stompin Grounds", "Take My Blanket and Go", "Paris in the Morning", "You Can Tell Georgia", "Only Four Seasons", "Julie Blue", and "Sessions from Motor Ave.". Quite daunting if you'd like to get started with him. I spent a lot of time exploring his albums when I first heard of him. I realized they were all good and I couldn't go wrong. He's that consistent from album to album. But if I was to name one good album to start on (and purchase) I would go with "Only Four Seasons". It features the songs "The City" (my favorite song of his), "Why Do I", "Come Back Down Joe", "Laughing Man" and other great songs. I think it's a fantastic album and will give you a great place to start with this heavily recorded and great artist.

By the way one of the best parts of his website is that you can listen to every single one of his songs in full length. Click on the album and a player will pop up. Makes me like him even more.

Jeremy Fisher

Jeremy Fisher - I was feeling pretty tired this morning and then I listened to Jeremy Fisher. He is just plain fun entertaining music. His website has a player that will sample all of his good stuff. Definitely worth a listen and will definitely boost your morning with his upbeat and well rounded style. I suggest listening to the player on the site or checking out his 1 minute previews of every song on his latest album "Goodbye Blue Monday". I think you guys will like his well versed style. "Scar That Never Heals" is such a good fun song but there is so much more to him than that song. Pop up his site and let it play in the background, you'll be happy. If you're not happy, Hulkamania's coming for you.

Patrick Park - "Something Pretty"

Everytime I hear this song I just want to play it over and over: (couldn't embed the full version, link to full is below)


Full Track

Things Done Seen

I was traveling along 460 from Virginia Beach to Crewe the other day and I happened to notice some interesting signs. I just wish I had pictures of these.

I passed a sign that said "For Sale By Owner", so I looked at the house to find a boarded up, beat up, one side burned trailer. I have a feeling they aren't going to get their asking price.

I saw a business sign for a glass and mirror company and on the actual billboard part where they put daily or weekly sales they had the word "Mulch". Maybe the glass and mirror business has taken a dive and they are getting ahead in the steadily rising mulch cash cow.

Another sign for a restaurant and catering business stated "We'll cater to your most personal affair". They might want to reword that for the modern day.

A large billboard advertised a forthcoming store called "Joe's Peanuts - Best in Virginia", a tall order considering peanuts are big in this region and Virginia Diner rules the coop. Upon passing "Joe's Peanuts"
I found a small store with a sign out front "For Sale". No further comments needed. I think the billboard will soon come down.