Confessions: I was a Teenage Skank

The year was 1990. I was around eight years old and had just left the second grade. Growing up in my house I had access to a large amount of records. Not everything was great (Peaches & Herb, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, and Kansas), but there was a lot of great stuff too (Queen, Blondie, Black Sabbath, Leslie Gore, and The Monkees). Unlike most kids in my class I got to (secretly) listen to George Carlin and Richard Pryor albums. My parents weren't so free spirited that I could openly get away listening to them, but with so many other brothers and sisters to worry about, I was able to keep a low profile. I was just the weird one in the background. Summer had just started, and one lazy afternoon I saw a music video on VH1. Yes I know, how quaint. But music video I did see, and it was Madness "Our House". Being a child of limited means, I waited all summer for the song to come back on, and I cassette recorded (again I know it’s quaint) it from the TV. While I didn't know it's name at the time, I had developed a new love. It's name was ska.

Best of Mania Part 2: Songs

I said I would return, and I have.  How many thought I wouldn't?  Liars.  Welcome back for part two of my 2012 wrap up, this is all about favorite songs.  My favorite songs to be precise.  What will be on it? You should have a decent idea if you saw the album list.

Best of Mania! Part 1: The Albums

Another year has drifted away, and it's time for me to bestow upon you my mind shattering best of 2012 lists.  I'll split it into a few small posts.  First up will be my favorite albums of the year. I'm sure it will be a fairly enlightening experience for everyone who reads it.

I've got Mix Fever!

I've been playing with this idea for a while.  A better way to showcase the music I am listening to at the moment combined with a quicker way to talk about it, without using youtube. I'm probably a few steps behind, but here is my solution for the time being. YAY!!!!

There has to be a Better Way: A Follow up.

Less than a week later and already changes have been made. Shameful.

Found Sound: My brief time with Claudine

I was going through my records the other day, and came across one I had never played. I try to listen to everything at least once before it gets shelved, but every so often one of them slips by me. That is how I came across Claudine.

There has to be a Better Way!

It happens every year. September rolls around, ending that terrible time of year known as summer. Summer, who needs it?* Anyway, so it's September and apparently that means everyone has to dump their projects out now. I assume in an attempt to capitalize on people with no money, time, and very little effort. When I say projects, I mean albums, video games, movies, and television shows. I'm sure books as well, but does anyone read anymore?** I won't rant about everything else, but my main concern is music. I already have a full plate as far as listening to new music. I still have albums from last year I haven't fully listened to, and now everyone is blowing their load. Why? Why not string them out nicely over the year. I mean I can't think of more than a couple of records that came out over the summer.
Over July and August there was an Old 97s record, a new TMBG, a new The Middle East, and a new Fountains of Wayne. That's about it, and I don't really even like Fountains of Wayne that much. Oh wait, I completely fucking forgot about the new 3Doors Down album! Oh wait, no I didn't, because they fucking blow. Anyway, here is a list of albums coming out between now and November. Why do you care? Find out after the jump!!!***

Musing on Music

I recently came across the debut album by British band Allo Darlin', and I have to say I am really into it.

Yet Another Best of List

That's right it's that time of the year when everyone with a computer makes it known what their favorite things of the year are. Well I'm no different. The following is my list of my favorite 25 albums of the past year have been. You may notice there is no ranking, that's on purpose. I don't feel that a ranking is really helpful. I think all these albums are equally worth hearing, and also that none of them is necessarily better than the other. If that sounds like fence sitting to you I will have you know it's more do to a laziness/apathetic state of mind. Enjoy!

A Musical Dilemma Part 2

Something about myself. I have a predilection for collecting. When I was young, it was comic books. As I got older it grew from that to books, VHS, CDs, and DVDs. At some point, MP3s became a part of that too. But it has taken me a while to take it seriously. I looked at these bits of information as something of a throwaway commodity. I think part of that came from the rise of the MP3. I sometimes wonder if MP3s would be where they are today, if not for the days of Napster and illegal downloading (as if those days ever came to an end in some circles). I suppose based on what I know of the ease of MP3, that it was somewhat destined to become the format of the masses. much to the chagrin of audio elitists everywhere. If I read any more about the wonderful, beautiful, god like virtue of FLAC or Oggvorbis I may puke. As Prince once said, it's all 1s and 0s no matter what the format, and that "math" isn't good to listen to. He also once shouted "No format!", so I really have no idea what the man is talking about. My point is, there is no difference between the digital formats. If you believe there is, chances are you champion vinyl as well, and I rest my case.

A Musical Dilemma Part 1

I think the first time I can recall being physically moved by a song, having a strong gut reaction to the music was The Crystals "And Then He Kissed Me". The opening guitar line, followed in succession by the famous (though at the I time didn't know it) "wall of sound", and then topped off with some of the most powerful female vocals in pop music history. It was after hearing this song that it became apparent to me that music was going to be a very big deal for me. My father had a respectable sized music collection for someone with seven kids to raise. Unfortunately it wasn't the greatest collection. There was an awful lot of terrible music in there, but there were also a lot of gems to be heard. Mixed in amongst all the Peaches & Herb, Rod Stewart, Led Zeppelin, and Kansas, there was some Blondie, the Ventures, Queen, and Black Sabbath. As well as some choice Richard Pryor, George Carlin, and Bill Cosby albums. I had to have just about worn out some of those albums, and I couldn't wait to get my own collection of LP's.

Death to Lala! Long Live the New Online Music Listening Service!

A Eulogy:

I write this from my bed, listening to Judee Sill's self titled debut from 1971, I am troubled by a few thoughts. Why have a I never heard her before now? What happened to cause her to die at such a young age with only two albums to her name? Now that Lala.com is being put down by the Evil Empire (Apple for those of you keeping track at home), where am I going to preview music?