Where For Art Thou, Amazon?

It has been about three weeks since I wrote anything on this blog. I'm not sure why to be honest. I've been listening to so much good music there really isn't an excuse. Although I'm still a devout believer in iTunes, my enthusiasm is waning. In weeks past, particularly with the legal elimination of Limewire, I've been searching for a reliable yet cheap method of acquiring mp3's. And then out of the corner of my eye I spotted Amazon.com, a friend that had always casually been there but suddenly our relationship was becoming something more...

I'm having a love affair with Amazon and their brilliant Digital Download department. I'm so angry at myself for not realizing it before. They have an unbelievable, almost guilt-inducing amount of free downloads (that are actually really good!). Like any passionate affair, I'm not sure of its origin. I think it was innocent at first - I noticed that Of Montreal's "Sex Karma" single featuring Solange was a "free download of the day". Since I'm the king of sexy music and I love both artists, I figured I'd use it as a sample download to see if Amazon was even compatible with my aging laptop. Surprisingly all Amazon required from me was to install a very small program on to my computer in order to automatically transfer any of my purchases on to iTunes and bam: I was the proud owner of free, legal music.

All at once I realized something in my heart was changing. I would wait with baited breath until I could get home each night and search for more free/cheap music on Amazon. As my laptop lay on my chest and caressed the skin of my fingertips with every new song I bought, I knew this was something good. It just kept going - the recommendations I was getting for FREE songs that I actually wanted to own were blowing my mind. An entire album of 2010 Merge Record hits? Yes. A new Badly Drawn Boy single? Don't mind if I do. Chaka Khan singing James Bond theme songs? Yes, yes, yes! Even my recommendations matched my quirky personality. It was a match made in heaven.

So we're up to date. As I sit here listening to a live track from Lambchop (the band, not the lovable puppet) that was free and completely unexpected, I feel content in my musical accomplishments - although I have not been sharing them. You know how it is with a new relationship, you want to keep all the love to yourself. But now I'm ready to talk about it. Amazon and I are together. I'm sorry iTunes, you tax all your overpriced songs. I wanted to buy Cee Lo's new record from you today but you insisted on $1.29 a song when Amazon was asking a flat fee of 0.99. What am I supposed to do? You would do the same thing.

It might seem a little silly to compare music sites to lovers but you know I'm starting to think they're not too far off. The feeling I get from a sensual song is somewhat similar to the sensual feeling in real life. Because I was in the loving spirit I bought a lot of songs from Amazon today in addition to my free downloads, one of which was "Private Eyes" by the incomparable Hall and Oates. I know it's embarrassing that I didn't own it before (although I have on vinyl for many years) but it always seemed less important than other H&O songs. Now I just want to complete my collections of every artist I love. ANYWAY, it is such a sexy song - and "Do What You Want, Be What You Are", also by Hall and Oates. I wouldn't even know this song existed if it weren't for Amazon. I've amassed 56 songs in the past week because of these people. I'm pretty excited for our future together.

If we're being honest though, my emotions have been shifting back and forth frequently over the past three weeks I have been absent from this blog. There have been so many incredible highs but mentally several lows that I'm not sure how to explain. Music is a great reliever of pain and tension but sometimes it accelerates it. When you're in compromising positions mentally certain lyrics set you off just so and you can't listen to them. Lately I've been unable to relate to most songs because I'm not sad or angry or anything very strongly (except romantically charged). I mean Usher's "Trading Places" and N.E.R.D.'s new single "Hypnotize You" are definitely working with that theme but I'm in a deeper state than that somehow. It's not worth explaining as I don't even need an explanation. Actually, I'm also in a recent quest to find songs that are completely unrelated to relationships/love. The National are always good for this as very often their themes are a bit larger than mere love, it's much more nationally (no pun intended) and economically charged with a lot of lyrics trying to decipher the woes of growing older and getting up just to work and "live". I'd like to find other bands like this. It's tough because even the greatest songwriters turn to love more than absolutely anything else. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to hear about it though.

I'll leave you with all of this brilliance below:

PING: Why Does iTunes Do This?

I really believe that I love iTunes more than anyone in the world. I know it's not perfect and I strongly disagree with the disgusting $1.29 a song plus tax garbage they've recently pulled on all popular (not just new) songs but it's like being in a bad relationship: you grow to love something and although it slowly stops being the thing you originally fell for, you can't stop the eternal flame (which is also coincidentally the name of a Bangles song I almost downloaded last night for $0.69).

iTunes for me has been a constant companion over the last four years. I would come home, put it on my lap, sit with it for several hours while it found me 'suggestions for similar music', and gently play 30 second samples of every song it wanted me to hear. When the Genius application came along, I would practically slit my wrists with blank CD's in excitement for what six song suggestions were going to put up after I hit the purchase button. I've probably spent $50 a month on that site just scooping up everything I think I'll potentially love.

To get up to date with the current transitional phase of iTunes, it has to be noted that every few months I start to dread the little pop-up box telling me a new version of iTunes must be downloaded. Recently I tried to rebel and would completely disregard these messages when they were sent to me but eventually my iPod stopped working and it became necessary for me to download the unnecessary new version. Why do I hate it you might ask? Because I get so used to the layout of the old versions and then there are suddenly more little sidebars to click, my computer becomes slower, and I feel like all this nonsense begins to take up too much space at a certain point.

iTunes 10 has probably been the worst of these transitions for me. In addition to the format completely changing (ELIMINATING the section for date last played!), the "social network" Ping has been added to bring iTunes in the 21st century I suppose? Honestly, I don't get it at all. At first I was really intrigued by the idea of connecting with people who liked similar music. I pictured it being a social version of the Genius bar or a more direct version of like.com. It advertised itself as a place where you could learn about your favorite artist's current listening habits and learn about stranger's musical taste (my favorite thing in the world).

The day I finally agreed to sit for 45 minutes and have this downloaded on my already archaic computer, I eagerly set up my Ping account. I thought the questions would include my top five favorite artists or have a chart of my most listened to songs for the week but instead it was a randomized display of a few album covers to songs I rarely listen to. "Cousins" by Vampire Weekend? I don't know where they're getting this from.

After setting up my own profile to the best of my ability, I set out to find other profiles to link to or whatever. I was only given around 20 options of people I might be interested in and really I wasn't interested at all. When I finally came across the real profile of one of my favorite musician's, it was definitely underwhelming. Basically the profile contained the amount of people following him and the songs he had recently "liked". That was about it. No list of what he recently purchased or listened to or anything of value whatsoever.

I've read other reviews of Ping that refer to it as a stepping stone to Apple's overall master plan of masquerading a social networking site into basically a glorified store but I don't even understand the purpose at all right now. I want to buy music and nothing on Ping made me crave any particular songs. The format is unappealing and I might be an idiot but I found it a little confusing, more so because I didn't understand the reasoning behind it. From what I've read, I think Facebook was originally supposed to be incorporated into the layout which would certainly explain it a little - if people are supposed to invite their friends and find followers from that, it would make a little more sense.

Nevertheless, I'm still disappointed.

Music I'm Downloading

Tonight, on a very slow night thus far, I got the idea to go through some of my cd's and rip some songs I have yet to transfer to my iPod.

Although there are some incredible songs I've been missing for a long time and have little excuse, my original iPod back in 2006 (I was a late bloomer in the iPod department) could only store about 1800 songs and I was suprised how quickly that went. For a long time prior to getting my new and improved iPod late last year, I was deleting really good songs off my old one to make room for new favorites. It was a sad day anytime I had to let go of some songs - I had a method in which I would arrange my entire library from "date last played" and delete the songs that weren't played in a long time in addition to only being listened to twice or less. I figured it was less of a loss that way.

Luckily it's the dawn of a new era and I'm in a position to continue adding another 2000 songs to my new iPod (hopefully not all at once or that would defeat the purpose) but I'm in a good spot right now, spacially speaking.

So far tonight I've been focusing on adding more Jimi Hendrix and The Clash (as inspired by a college course I'm taking on "Authenticity in Pop Music"). I had "some" of this music already including a few Hendrix covers but I have these entire cd's that I used to listen to and just now am getting inspired to go back to them. In addition, I'm revisiting Bonnie Raitt's "Luck of the Draw" and John Mayer Trio's "Try" which I've been meaning to add for a long time now.

I absolutely love Bonnie Raitt's voice and always recall John Mayer saying in an interview that seeing her live is a phenomenal experience. Apparently she knows exactly the right place to add a fresh word to a worn song and a little extra scat or emotional pause. She is pretty unbelievable over headphones too. "Not the Only One" is a song I should've been listening to consistently for the past ten years. It breaks my heart in the best way possible - and that is not even beginning to speak of the beauty that is "I Can't Make You Love Me" - holy cow. If you want to kill yourself, be sure to put that on the record player first. It's painfully elegant.

The Clash is a weird one for me. I will be honest and tell you that I don't know as much about them as I should. I know the titles of records and their biggest hits are my favorite of their songs. I'm not into the deeper cuts and "Rock the Casbah" was my ringtone right after high school. "Train in Vain" is one of my favorite songs ever and "Should I Stay or Should I Go" is really fun and a regular on playlists but other than that I can't claim to be a real fan. The only cd I ever gave a real, consistent listening to was "The Clash: The Singles" and I know that would be considered sacrilige to a true fan. Punk is something you have to grow accustomed to - like wine or Guinness. Oh but I must say "Spanish Bombs" is like a drug, I'm in love with it.

There's not too much you can say about Jimi Hendrix - or rather that I can say. I know some really die hard fans that would probably punch me in the nose for even trying to say anything about him. I really enjoy the sound of his music and I know he's a genius guitarist without being a guitarist myself. I can't read music and I don't know much about guitars beyond Guitar Hero but I LOVE - unabashadly love - the sound of good guitar playing. It's one of the most incredible things about music. Eric Clapton, George Harrison, John Mayer and Jimi Hendrix are all in my Top 20 favorite musicians of all time with the first three being in the top 10. I haven't given much time to thinking about whether or not it's generic to like those four but I will say I also love and greatly appreciate Stevie Ray Vaughn, Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, B.B. King, and Robin Trower so maybe by proxy alone I'm not a total guitar idiot.

And of course there's nothing left to say about John Mayer. On April 12th the presale begins for his summer tour and you can bet I'll be at more than one of those shows although I've already seen him three times in the past five months. It's revolting, I know, but the greatest feeling in the world is being at a John Mayer concert. There is something about that music that feels like home.

An Ode to iTunes

Today is January 1, 2010. I still do not have the internet at my home and the only thing I truly feel I am missing out on is iTunes. Back in the day when I still believed in paying for the internet, I would peruse their "racks" for hours at a time, clicking on all my musical suggestions based on my purchases and buying songs I otherwise never would have. It was the highlight of many days and without it, I feel incomplete. I love iTunes.

When I first got a computer, I thought Limewire was the way to go. Although I had heard some sour things, it always treated me right and surprisingly, was pretty good at finding the songs I craved at exactly the right moment. The downloads were always fast and of course, always free. I cringed at even spending 0.99 in those times but eventually I realized that Limewire was not all I cracked it up to be. The connection always seemed to be lost and take hours to come back, there was never a good amount of independent artists to be found, and the quality left much to be desired - typically. I highly suggest Limewire to a person starting out their digital music collection because they do have all the basics for little to no money and usually live up to what they say. I have about 2100 songs in my collection and although I don't know the exact statistics (although I wish I did), I would bet that at least 37% are from Limewire and even if it was only 2% I'd be immensely grateful. I guess it's illegal but it feels so right.

iTunes, on the other hand, doesn't have that danger aspect but it does have everything else. I wish I could say they always have everything I'm looking for and mean it but generally I'd say about 90% can be found there. That number changes my life. I don't know who I'd be without the songs I've purchased through them. Receiving my iTunes invoice always seems like the right thing - I never regret a purchase and it's the only time that I feel I've had money well spent. The recent addition of the Genius bar, which is a great gimmicky advertisment to buy more songs, really helps me. If I'm playing The National and I see on the right side of my screen that I should also download Stars or Mountain Goats, it's always a pleasure (of course I never downloaded either of those bands but you get the idea..). Their suggestions are typically right on par and I have to give them much credit for my Raphael Saadiq, Jessie Baylin, and Mayer Hawthorne addictions.

I love getting all the details about artists I look up as well. Knowing which John Mayer song is the most popular download really interests me - and that goes for any other artist I search for on iTunes too. I just like having all the information accessible. I want to know the highest selling songs of the week overall and by genre, I want to know what celebrities have on their playlists, and I especially want to know every album that's coming out on the upcoming Tuesday. I love the option of just buying one or two songs and yet still being able to buy the whole shebang and getting it in the order the artist intended. Everything about the process equates to an image of a big, red bow wrapped around a huge collection of albums in my mind. Without having to buy every record in the world, I feel like they're still all at my fingertips... now how much more of a commercial could I possibly sound like?

The great thing is I'm serious. iTunes as a company is one I'm not resentful of. I think they deliver on everything they promise. The only downside is perhaps a lack of stock catering to more obscure fare. Luckily, I'm a sucker for recommendations so I'm happy nonetheless. The only thing I'm unhappy about right now is the lack of accessibility to my best friend, iTunes. I miss him. I NEED NEW MUSIC.

And on a 2010 note, I went from 26 posts in 2008 to 152 in 2009. I'm really happy about that. This and my job are the only two things I'm capable of keeping up with - in my entire life. That says A LOT. My love for music is one that continues to grow everyday and with every new song I fall in love with. It's such a journey and such a huge part of my soul. It actually took a long time for me to realize the important role it plays in my life but now that my eyes are open more than ever, I intend on going into this new year with even more musical eagerness and respect for the greatest, most powerful art on earth.

To anyone reading, thank you so much. I make no financial profit from this site but I profit in so many other ways that are much more important to me. I want everyone to hear the music I'm madly in love with - that's what matters.

Monsters of Folk: A Review

I know every new band or song I mention is my "favorite" but right now I'm so impressed with Monsters of Folk, a supergroup collaboration between M. Ward, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis from Bright Eyes.

I had heard about this grouping for awhile now and indeed it has taken Monsters of Folk over three years (maybe even more) to put out a cohesive album together due to scheduling conflicts between all the members and the lack of a sturdy meeting place until Mogis laid down some roots in Omaha in the shape of a recording studio used to produce most of the tracks on their debut album that came out last week.

Not only do all of these songs have a little something special to them that the individual solo artist's collaborating on them don't always have on their own, there's the fact that these artists were so enthralled with their work that they refused to have any hired hands to play additional instruments on the recordings. Absolutely everything you hear on this record came from these four gentlemen - and that's an accomplishment in itself.

On the band's website, there's a biography-type section that discusses the aspect of "cameos" within the songs. They paid extra attention to making sure the songs didn't sound like a specific member being backed up by the others. While I was perusing this album on iTunes, I actually found myself being drawn first to the tracks that had M. Ward's voice in the 30 second samples because not only is he one of my favorite artists but I felt like those songs had more of the old fashioned "She & Him" style that I so appreciate from his work. Once I downloaded the songs and listened to them in their entiretly I found that the other members of the band - even Conor Oberst, who sounds at his best here and whom I typically detest - contributed so much to even this songs I had pinned as M. Ward penned. They really do a great job at a completely cohesive sound.

There is also this great Traveling Wilburys style to the entire record that makes it not only folksy but a little country and a tad vintage rock and roll. In my mind, I could picture these four performing a concert at a bar in Nashville much more than their upcoming stop at the Beacon Theatre. This is the kind of music that doesn't really need to be accessorized by much. It is sparse, hands in the mud kind of stuff that doesn't get old - it just gets better with time.

So far my favorite track is "Whole Lotta Losin'", one of the first I downloaded out of the 16 tracks that flesh out the complete package. This song is so catchy and down home. I don't know how else to express it. There's certain parts where you could swear Tom Petty was singing in the background. This is no doubt intentional - there's certainly a lot of inspiration coming from people like The Band and Neil Young on all of these songs but unlike some other artists, Monsters of Folk does this old/new thing perfectly, contributing something completely fresh and unique to the genre.

"Baby Boomer" and "The Sandman, The Brakeman, and Me" are also really growing on me. They just give a feeling of catchy, fun jams being sung among friends in a little room.

This album makes me want to give Bright Eyes and My Morning Jacket another try. Hmm. Maybe just the latter.

For more information and samples make sure to check out MonstersOfFolk.Com.

Song to Love: Empire State of Mind

I don't like to "editorialize" these songs to loves... well it's more like I don't like the word "editorialize" - I love doing it though. And watch me go:

I LOVE this song. There is something about this song that catches my attention like no other. There is a power to it. It's like Jay-Z's urban take on Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and he even mentions Sinatra in it. I'm realizing more and more that one of my favorite music genres is Rap and although that might sound surprising based on my other favorite musicians, songs, etc. I have good reason.

I can't think of much mainstream, top 100 Billboard music that has more soul and feeling than some of these hit rap songs of the past five years. Artists like Kanye West, Jay-Z, Common, Kid Cudi, T.I. and David Banner have so much heart in their music it's ridiculous. Maybe it's covered with a smattering of pomp and some form of shock and awe but underneath there's a world where feelings are the most important thing and magic comes in the form of addicting beats and desperately delicious rhymes.

This song by Jay-Z off his new album, The Blueprint 3, is one I first heard on the disastrous VMA's earlier this month and while I enjoyed it then, it wasn't until I downloaded it last week that it grabbed me. There are such interesting elements working together on this track - Alicia Keys with a hook that's beautiful and haunting (I have never heard her sound better - she has a bridge that's utterly breathtaking), Jay-Z with verses that explain the topic (Manhattan) in a fresh, new way, and music that sounds exactly like the words do, if you know what I'm saying. The song sounds like New York. It's like music onomatopoeia, and that's really rare. Grizzly Bear's "Two Weeks" also has this sound. (side note: Jay-Z was recently seen attending a Grizzly Bear show in New York so it all comes full circle)

So far this song has reached #1 on the iTunes charts and #5 on the official Billboards list, also managing to chart in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Switzerland. It doesn't officially get released to radio until October 19th.

You MUST check this song out. Whether you like rap or not, this is a special case. I would listen to this every hour if I could.



Empire State of Mind
Yeah,
Yeah, Imma up at Brooklyn,
now Im down in Tribeca,
right next to DeNiro,
But i’ll be hood forever,
I’m the new Sinatra,
and since i made it here,
i can make it anywhere,
yeah they love me everywhere,
i used to cop in Harlem,
all of my dominicanos
right there up on broadway,
brought me back to that McDonalds,
took it to my stash spot,
Five Sixty Stage street,
catch me in the kitchen like a simmons whipping pastry,
cruising down 8th street,
off white lexus,
driving so slow but BK is from Texas,
me I’m up at Bedsty,
home of that boy Biggie,
now i live on billboard,
and i brought my boys with me,
say wat up to Ty Ty, still sipping Malta
sitting courtside Knicks and Nets give me high fives,
N-gga i be spiked out, i can trip a referee,
tell by my attitude that I most definitely from…

[Alicia Keys]
In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
big lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York

[Jay-Z]
I made you hot n-gga,
Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game,
sh-t i made the yankee hat more famous than a yankee can,
you should know I bleed Blue, but I aint a crip tho,
but i got a gang of n-ggas walking with my click though,
welcome to the melting pot,
corners where we selling rocks,
afrika bambaataa sh-t,
home of the hip hop,
yellow cap, gypsy cap, dollar cab, holla back,
for foreigners it aint fitted they forgot how to act,
8 million stories out there and their naked,
cities is a pity half of y’all won’t make it,
me i gotta plug Special Ed "i got it made,"
If Jesus payin LeBron, I’m paying Dwayne Wade,
3 dice cee-lo
3 card marley,
labor day parade, rest in peace Bob Marley,
Statue of Liberty, long live the World trade,
long live the king yo,
I’m from the empire state thats…

In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
big lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York
Welcome to the bright light..

[Jay-Z]
Lights is blinding,
girls need blinders
so they can step out of bounds quick,
the side lines is blind with casualties,
who sipping life casually, then gradually become worse,
don’t bite the apple Eve,
caught up in the in crowd,
now your in-style,
and in the winter gets cold en vogue with your skin out,
the city of sin is a pity on a whim,
good girls gone bad, the cities filled with them,
Mommy took a bus trip and now she got her bust out,
everybody ride her, just like a bus route,
Hail Mary to the city your a Virgin,
and Jesus can’t save you life starts when the church ends,
came here for school, graduated to the high life,
ball players, rap stars, addicted to the limelight,
MDMA got you feeling like a champion,
the city never sleeps better slip you a Ambien

In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
big lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York


[Alicia Keys]
One hand in the air for the big city,
Street lights, big dreams all looking pretty,
no place in the World that can compare,
Put your lighters in the air, everybody say yeaaahh
come on, come,
yeah,

In New York,
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
Theres nothing you can’t do,
Now you’re in New York,
these streets will make you feel brand new,
big lights will inspire you,
lets here it for New York, New York, New York

Get 'em While They're Hot

So I'm really excited right now - and a little frustrated.

First, and most important, I just got a new iPod! I decided on the "Evergreen" color because it was one of the nicest and one of the only ones still available at Best Buy when I got there. It looks amazing. I have yet to connect it because I've been sitting in Barnes and Noble for the past two hours waiting for my slow-as-heck computer to download the 9.0 version of iTunes but otherwise I am so thrilled. The screen looks twice the size of my old one (from two years ago) and I can't wait to use the radio tagging option - and the voice recorder - oh my. Like I wasn't already a stalker. I'll write a full review once I get it going and hear the sound quality, etc.

Now, I was wasting some time on my old version of iTunes just now as the program is downloading the new one and listened to most of that new Grizzly Bear album. I'm happy to report that it's one of the best albums from start to finish that I have heard in probably six months or more. If I had the money and space on my computer I would download the entire thing. This is seriously impressive. I feel strange saying that because, really, who the hell am I to say a group of professionals made "impressive" music but as a devoted music lover and obsessor, I know good music when I hear it. I LOVE this new album. I want to hear it in its entirety. It is too good for just 30 second snippets. I can't believe I like Grizzly Bear. I actually know people who would be really angry about that - how sick is that?

So go out and buy yourself one of these amazing iPods.

Musical Notes

Just a quick rundown of some songs I've been wanting to download off iTunes but have yet to get a chance because of school, lack of internet access unless at school library, and the anticipation of the new 5th generation iPod that should be in my hands by the beginning of next week. Currently my old one is sitting in my bag, completely uncharged, missing headphones, and rather ragged looking. I feel sorry for it. I remember when I first got it almost two years ago and treated it like the most important piece of gold in the world. Now it's become a homeless person taking shelter in a random pocket next to a couple TD Bank pens. That's not very nice of me to treat an old friend like that but that new, shiny iPod is making dream clouds appear in my mind. I don't know what color I want yet (possibly dark blue? Forest green?.. I've always wanted a red one..) but I can't wait for the FM radio option and the pre-made Genius mixes. Those are the kind of nerdy things I live for. I hope to fall in love.

So here's a little, incomplete list meant primarily for me because who knows if anyone else will understand it.

**Cat Stevens - If You Want to Sing Out (from that T-Mobile commercial I love with my best friend, Whoopi Goldberg)
**Wale ft. Lady Gaga - Chillin (I'm obsessed with the video and Gaga's absolutely addicting chorus)
**Kanye West - Paranoid (I know I mentioned it before but I have yet to purchase it and hey, I still love him - and Taylor Swift is okay too)
**Mayer Hawthorne (no song in particular but I've heard so much about him and think I'd like his style... maybe)
**New Vampire Weekend?
**Monsters of Folk
**Electric Light Orchestra - Evil Woman
**Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks (at least I think that's what it's called - found on 101.9)
**Pete Yorn - Last Summer (I can't place this song but 101.9's recently played list mentions it a lot so I must hear it)
**Joe Jackson - Look Sharp!
**The Violent Femmes
**James Morrison - Hurt Like You
**Snow Patrol - Hands Open

... I feel like there was more throughout this past week but that's all I can think of. I don't mind that "Paparazzi" song of Lady Gaga's either but I wouldn't download it. I'm also LOVING everything about Kid Cudi whose debut album comes out today I think? I still need "Make Her Say" - consider that part of the list and any other new songs I love of his off the album.

A couple other notes:

--Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are releasing a new live collection called "The Live Anthology" that does not have a set date yet but will include something like 48 songs, bonus footage, and all kinds of other stuff at a reasonable price. There's also some kind of digital "Superhighway" tour mentioned on their website but I don't fully understand it yet. Their new website is AWESOME though - the best I've ever seen.

--If you haven't checked out 101.9 RXP and live in the tri-state area, you are completely out of your mind. This is not only the greatest radio station to ever grace the airwaves, they are transforming my life into a better one. I don't hear them as much I'd like but my freaking new iPod better get great reception and tagging options on this station because I plan on listening to them a lot more as soon as I can. They play such rarities - both old and new - that I can't get over it. I keep finding these precious gems on their playlists, even if I listen for just a few minutes in the car. I want to give all the disc jockeys hugs and gift baskets. They are the greatest.

1997 or 2007? I Don't Know!

Update to my last entry. I figured I'd take a look at iTunes 2007 Essentials list in comparison to 1997. First: If you have never seen an iTunes Essentials list - get off this and download iTunes right away and be prepared to never see the light of day again. It is that absorbing. But in reality: the iTunes essential lists are broken down into three catgeories per list. For the annual lists, the categories are The Basics, Next Step, and Deep Cuts. I'm sure you can figure out that The Basics consist of the obvious Top 40 hits, Next Step is basically a continuation of that list, and Deep Cuts are smaller tunes that aren't so full of themselves.

For 2007 Deep Cuts they have The National, The Shins, Sharon Jones, Arcade Fire, Spoon, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, and Band of Horses. Extremely decent!

For 2007 Next Step they include John Mayer, Gym Class Heroes, Alicia Keys, and The White Stripes. Not bad at all.

For 2007 Basics... Avril Lavigne, Plain White T's, Fergie (twice!), The Fray, and two American Idol winners. Hmm..

But I will get behind the other basics: Robin Thicke (although I've never thought of him as mainstream), Maroon 5, and Beyonce. I don't have a problem with sexy R&B at all.

I don't know. Maybe things aren't so bad. Maybe?

I'd Like to Take You on a Trip: All the Way Back to the Year 1997

Is anyone aware of how many good songs there were in 1997? Although I've been around music since the day I was born, the first year I clearly recall becoming obsessed with specific modern songs was 1997 and it was definitely the coolest year to wake up to these crazy sounds. I have an ecclectic taste in music and I'm almost certain it must've come from being an impressionable 11 year old in 1997. Every song I remember loving as a child was a hit in this wonderful, ridiculous year... take a look.

Barely Breathing - Duncan Sheik (number one for a reason!)
You Make Me Wanna - Usher
Lovefool - The Cardigans
One Headlight - The Wallflowers
The Freshman - The Verve Pipe
How Bizarre - OMC
If You Could Only See - Tonic
Crash Into Me - Dave Matthews Band (I remember feeling embarassed when this song was on)
The Impression That I Get - The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly) - Missy Elliott
All By Myself - Celine Dion (even then I was a sappy loser)
Mo Money Mo Problems - Notorious B.I.G.
All For You - Sister Hazel
Barbie Girl - Aqua
Fly - Sugar Ray
Tubthumping - Chumbawamba
Walking on the Sun - Smash Mouth
Semi-Charmed Life - Third Eye Blind
Everyday is a Winding Road - Sheryl Crow
Song 2 - Blur
Un-Break My Heart - Toni Braxton
Don't Let Go - En Vogue
Bittersweet Symphony - The Verve
Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? - Paula Cole

and of course..

You Were Meant for Me - Jewel

A song I still love or possibly love more than ever. It's my theme song.


So bottom line is: How lucky am I to have been brought up in a time when these songs were on the radio? I don't even want to start naming songs that 11 year olds hear nowadays on Z100 and the like. These are classic songs that sound as good today as they did in '97. What an excellent year for music. I never realized..

The Wheel of Music

NOTE: The following entries are a couple months old (except the John Mayer Letter)...

I'm obsessed with iTunes and when I have a free second going on their little website and picking out new songs is the thing I like to do best. I get thrilled over finding not so much "new" songs but new old songs that I remember from when I was a kid or a specific memory from back in the old high school days. I know I listened to some garbage but I also liked some quality stuff that I let go of somewhere along the way. I recently got into a discussion about American Hi-Fi: the early 2000's (?) band that had songs like "Flavor of the Weak" and "The Art of Losing" with great lyrics like, "hey ho, we're gonna start a riot, you don't want to fight iiiittt!!" So I guess it wasn't the greatest of my musical exploits back in the day but I remember being crushed when their cd got loose in my backpack and was scratched beyond repair. I don't remember why I didn't just go out and buy another one but I did get their follow up album which I also don't have anymore.. the point being I checked them out again on iTunes. I was expecting to be pleasantly surprised and ended up really bummed out. This music belongs to someone else still in 2002- not me. I still like the catchy beats and I remember all the lyrics but there's no way I could listen to this stuff again. It's like wearing the same clothes I wore sophmore year of high school - and it's really not because the music is dated in any way. It's just that the opening chords of these songs bring back so much nostalgia it's not even worth it. I think that's insane - and proof of the power of music.

I recently got "Rock 'n Roll Woman" by Buffalo Springfield and although I've heard this song a million times before I personally have no connection to it. I just thought it was a cool song but when I have it up in my brain (aka in headphones) - it takes on a whole new meaning. It sounds sad, distant, lonely.. creepy. I can picture a beautiful girl dancing slowly in front of the band at one of their concerts all decked out in '70s gear being IT, you know? And then she's suddenly 51 years old sitting in my living room with newspapers all over watching Deal or No Deal - my mom? She loved this song and it creeps me out beyond belief to think that she once looked very different, she once went to concerts all the time, and now - she's not going to anymore. People grow up, yeah, but is that just another way of saying they slow down? Sometimes. It's all or nothing in my head - and probably in reality too. That's what "Rock 'n Roll Woman" by Buffalo Springfield means to me. Wild.

I've heard murmurings that people don't like Vampire Weekend. It's funny because a band like that is so fresh it's physically impossible to think of any attachments to a song. I'm sure a lot of people will say that it's the arrangement of a song or the musicians that determine whether or not it will be great but think of all the number one songs here in the US over the course of time. I'd have to say a lot of those weren't amazing musicianship. Some songs just grab you by the throat every time you hear them - and that makes a great song. A band like Vampire Weekend is fun if you're taking some time to enjoy that kind of thing. I'm definitely not looking for my wedding song when I put them on. I just dig funky beats sometimes and that's what they're good for.

So I guess my point was that sometimes you have to let a song go like a relationship or an old tv show you watched as a kid. I watched Zoobalee Zoo a few months ago and at age 22 it's not nearly the same as age 5. Bummer. But you know, you take the good with the bad: I guess I wouldn't have liked Annie Hall when I was 5 so it was a compromise. I'm a HUGE nostalgia person as is my entire family. My boss at work even mentioned that I seem to like "old" things. I guess so. I guess I have the belief that if it ain't broke, don't fix it but the only thing that gets in the way is time. I definitely have a mental disorder when it comes to that - and that's why some things have to be buried in the ground and for me some of that stuff is American Hi-Fi and Zoobalee Zoo. For my mother it might be Buffalo Springfield but then it gets passed on to a new generation - and that's me right now. But later on it won't be..

and that's the way this wheel keeps turning.

Mock Celebrity Playlist

Bear with me. I was looking through iTunes celebrity playlists and got extremely jealous that I wasn't a celebrity - 100% because I want to make one of those lists and have people actually read it. I love those lists! Not only do the celebrities get to pick up to 25 songs, they also get to explain why they chose each song and the viewers get instant access to purchasing either the entire playlist or an individual song. Hearing why Rosario Dawson picked a particular version of "Fever" or why Bob Saget chose John Mayer and Tom Petty in a row (!!) is pretty awesome. Hearing why Angelica Diamond chose Sondre Lerche is not so interesting. But hey, we all need something to distract from the fact that Russia is probably going to bomb us so why not a juicy playlist :-)

So pretend I'm a celebrity and enjoy...

Angelica Diamond's Playlist

Apartment Story - The National: I hear this song is about a house party but with lines like "Tired and wired we ruin too easy, sleep in our clothes and wait for winter to leave.. Hold ourselves together with our arms around the stereo for hours..", it sounds more like my life. I've had this song for maybe two months and it's already on my Top 25 Most Played list on iTunes. Also check out: "Guest Room" that has my favorite line, "They're gonna send us to prison for jerks." Matt Berninger's voice could not be anymore beautiful.

Sleep Tonight - Ari Hest: It's always one or two lines in a song that grab me. This has THE BEST line I've heard in a song. I had a friend ask me one of the best questions yesterday which was, "What is the saddest song you've ever heard?" - and I mentioned this one. I heard this live at my place of business, Starland Ballroom, for the first time when Ari was there and it brought the house down. Just him and his guitar and boy, he has a set of pipes. He is the most underrated artist (other than this next guy..)

Sooner Surrender - Matt Nathanson: Another depressing song by another amazing talent. If I had a record label, I would offer him millions and have nightly private concerts in my living room. Although I picture him being more comfortable fully clothed in a bathtub by himself with a guitar singing about lost loves. At my funeral I definitely want this played - or wedding.

Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress - The Hollies: I don't know what they're saying and actually for a long time I thought he was saying "Long, cool woman in a flatbed" so I'm clueless but how sexy is this song? It sounds exactly like a place I want to visit. I want to be a long, cool woman in a black dress but I'm not that tall and I'm more nerdy than cool. I do have a "tall, walking, big, black cat" though and they mention that too.

Anything, Anything - Dramarama: This is not my kind of music but this song is sad. It sounds upbeat but he's pleading with this girl to stay, bribbing her with money, pills, candy - everything. Then! He's sick of her. He's in love! I feel like pulling my hair out when I hear this and then there's this line: "When I was young I learned a game where love and happiness were the same, now I'm older and I don't play. I found out the hardest way." Dramarama indeed.

Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley: It's only two minutes! It needs ten more minutes. It's a mini movie: The desk clerk is dressed in black, they're about to commit suicide, they have "tales to tell". Really the best part is the beginning though. It's like rich, dark chocolate.

Bossy - Lindsay Lohan: Okay, I have a few great reasons for this: 1. I'm a 22 year old girl! This is the one young girl song I listen to. 2. It was on Dina Lohan's celebrity playlist and she's like a messiah, right? 3. In the middle of this song it becomes like, ethnic or something. It get atmospheric. But then! It's a dance song! 4. If Lindsay Lohan is a lesbian now, listen, I'll kiss her.

Strong Enough - Cher: I don't know what's going on. I'm getting angry I started this stupid playlist thing because now I have Elvis, Lindsay Lohan, and Cher in a row! I'm lite radio! And I'm really not. But hey, listen to these lyrics. I can't even choose one, it's all of them. You know how people work out to get strong physically? Well I listen to this to get strong mentally. Also, my mom looks like Cher, Cher's beautiful, and her voice is delicious. One of my all time favorites is "Gypsies, Tramps, and Thieves".

Electric Feel - MGMT: This is a new one. When this guy starts singing, I'm ready to find a dirty, shaggy guy in a dark bar and dance dangerously with him. It's one of the hottest songs I've ever heard.

Morning After - Howie Day: This is a song I used to listen to when I was maybe, 14 or 15. He screams in it and I would scream along and I thought it was my private song. "What could be so wonderful about this?" - a line Howie sings after he's just described how a girl looks in the fresh morning light after he's spent the night with her and her summer dress is on the floor. Why express concern when you're having a good day? There's a lot more underneath... See also: "She Says". Heavy stuff.

I Decided - Solange: Oh yes! She's singing - in a glorious '60s girl group way - about a young man that seems like a nice fella but hey, then why is the music video depicting images much deeper? Maybe it's about a bit more. Maybe a metaphor. This has a sweet love song exterior - and then suddenly, he's "running me, running me down. Telling me, telling me wait." I think things work out in the end though. It's lovely.

Dreams - Fleetwood Mac: "Now here you go again, you say you want your freedom." From that line I am hooked. This song is so smooth it's like Grey Goose. I could get drunk off it. Stevie Nicks mentions a heartbeat and what happens - the drumbeat comes in. Thunder - cymbol crash! I love you, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (the muse for this song). Trivia: The b-side was "Songbird", Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' wedding song.

Call on Me - Chicago: It's official, I'm an old lady. Anyone who knows me knows Chicago is in my blood and was the first music I ever heard in my life. This song is not my favorite ("Beginnings" is) but this is a current pick. The horns are glamorous, Jason Scheff's voice is cool as a cucumber, and of course there's the added bonus that this is a sad song mascarading as a love song. You know that if the couple in this song were still together the guy wouldn't be saying, "Call on me!!" He'd be saying, "Get the hell away from me, Man."

How Am I To Be - The Watson Twins: I wouldn't expect to like them but lately I enjoy female singers a bit more and they have gorgeous voices. This song is obviously '70s inspired and it's fantastic. This would've been a huge hit in a different decade or if it was a Fleetwood Mac song but sadly it's stuck on the shelf with other "indie" labeled acts.

Since U Been Gone - Ted Leo (!): This is a fun choice. Mr. Leo covering a Kelly Clarkson song and doing it way better than her and then adding a little Yeah Yeah Yeahs at the end. This is why I like Ted Leo and why I'm super excited for him to come to my house: Starland Ballroom! He's got such a sweet, normal voice and I love when he sings, "They don't love you like I love you. Wait!" Screw, Karen O! See Also: "Me and Mia" that I could listen to day and night.

Gangsta - Bushwalla: This hot, young gentleman/entertainer/magician/comedian is so suave. Another person that needs new representation because there's money to be made here! He is Jason Mraz's best friend and opened for him in NY a few months ago - a born performer. I bet he smokes a lot of pot. This is so fun.

Weird Fishes/Arpeggi - Radiohead: This is the most beautiful song on this list. I want to look into the eyes of a person I love and have the beginning of this song in the background. "I'd be crazy not to follow where you lead. Your eyes, they tempt me." Gorgeous.

And I Love Her - The Beatles: "And if you saw my love, you'd love her too." This is the quintessential love song. I also love how the song title begins with "And" as if every sentence Paul says must end with "and I love her." This is not my favorite Beatles song but if I heard it unexpectedly I would probably cry.

Tell Her No - The Zombies: This gives me a creepy feeling and reminds me of my childhood listening to oldies music on 101.1 WCBS FM. It's definitely sad but more than anything it makes me want to make a mixtape.

She Don't Have to Know - John Legend: Mr. Legend always sneaking around with sexy ladies, wearing disguises, purring his way out of a crime.. it's so tasty. This has been a favorite for several years and it always sounds fresh. See Also: Everything John Legend has ever done including his latest (sell out!) single, "Green Light" with Andre 3000.

Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash: After watching The Johnny Cash Show, this song stood out the most to me. Everyone loves some Cash but this is classic. A little June Carter and even a little Cash Family Singers. See also: "The Mercy Seat" and "I Won't Back Down" - two covers that only get better in Johnny's hands.

Marvin Gaye: Everything he's ever done or touched.

If You Really Love Me - Stevie Wonder: I love this song more and more with every listen, probably the greatest sign of a classic song.

Say It All - Sondre Lerche: He's so fantastic. He's so so fantastic. I've never heard a song of his that I didn't like. I choose this one because I've overplayed everything else and it reminds of a specific time when the album, "Phantom Punch", came out and Sondre was my superhero - saving the day all over the place. See also: "Sleep on Needles", "Stupid Memory", "The Tape", and his cheery "Night and Day" cover.

It's a Shame - The Spinners: This and "I'll Be Around" are songs that I would be at least .5% different without knowing. They are so essential to my surroundings it's like my cat getting stolen to think of losing them.

Dancing Days - Led Zeppelin: This is just the lastest incarnation of my favorite Led Zeppelin song. I played "Houses of the Holy" 15 times the first day I got it on iTunes - but Led Zeppelin songs are like Pringles so I shouldn't be surprised. My crazy "D'yer Mak'er" infatuation is just dying down. Why do people do drugs while listening to them? They are drugs.

Jolene - Dolly Parton: On the way to school on the New Jersey Transit bus I fell in love with song. I randomly put it on my iPod and couldn't get it out of my head all day after the first listen. Why would someone leave Dolly for a girl named Jolene?? But on a serious note, I don't know how this feels but in my head I've pictured this scenario countless times.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Dwight Yoakam: He reminds me of Elvis in a strange way. He has one of those unique, deep, rich voices. He's also super fun and I want to marry him so my name is Angelica Yoakam and I have someone that doesn't laugh at my cowboy boots.

The Taker - Kris Kristofferson: Once again, I've never heard a Kris Kristofferson song I didn't like and he's the one musician I think of when I hear these cats say, "I like everything except country." "Well," I would say, "Have you heard this? Tell me you don't like it." See also: "Jody and the Kid", "Sunday Morning Coming Down", "Loving Her Was Easier", and the songwriting credit on "Me and Bobby McGee" by his ex Janis Joplin.

Tom Petty: Everything. Maybe a top five would go like this: "I Need to Know" (my most listened to track), "Square One", "Don't Do Me Like That", "It'll All Work Out", and "Breakdown"? Maybe "Honey Bee", "The Apartment Song", "Listen to Her Heart", "Free Fallin'", and "Have Love, Will Travel"? Maybe just everything.

Come Rain or Come Shine - Billie Holiday: I don't know what to say. Let it speak for itself.

Strangers - The Kinks: A song that has the power of no other song. It puts you in a movie.

In Your Atmosphere - John Mayer: Read the lyrics.