50 years of Excellency

Pardon being m.i.a. for the last month, between moving, working, and catching up with friends, this girl hasn't had time to catch her breath, let alone blog.

Why the return today? Well, the pop love of my life, Michael Joseph Jackson turns the big 5-0 today (also a birthday shout to mi amigo Dan, who runs am.fm.pm). Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson, Michael Jackson. While most don't understand you, my ears love you and are grateful to your 40+ year career. Owning all of your work from the Jackson 5 to the Jacksons, and all of your solo work (early releases like Ben included)--I just can't get enough of you.

Not having access to either of my personal computers, I can not celebrate proper, linking you all to my previous MJ posts. Everyone needs a little MJ in their life. Also to make up for lack of superb celbratory posting, I shall share a Jackson related mishap today:

Showering today, I decided to blast some MJ. Spazztic as I am, showering, singing, and dancing at the same time is not a bright idea. "Rock With You" was the culprit, sending me out of the shower and onto the floor. Embarrassing, yes, but completely and utterly hilarious.




Respects Not Given It's Earned

The Visually Delicious 5

MJ Edition of Cover Me This, Cover Me That

Thriller 25

Cover Me This Cover Me That:: The Eighth Edition

Black Keys -- No Fun (The Stooges)

Keane -- With or Without You (U2)

The Morning Benders -- Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)

Kate Nash -- Irreplacable (Beyonce)

Bridges and Powerlines -- Song #1 (Fugazi)

Two if By Sea -- Transmission (Joy Division)

Alicia Keys & Adam Levine -- Wild Horses (Rolling Stones)




Bonus!Video!Jam!
Georgie Michael -- I Can't Make You Love Me

Mashing: Not Just For Potatoes, Vol. 8

The Faint -- The Geeks Were Right (Boys Noize vs D.I.M. Remix)

10000 Spoons -- Walk teh Phant0m!!!1 - (Justice vs. Was (Not Was)) [way fun]

Flosstradamus -- Overnight Star (Twista Vs Sigur Ros)

Ursula 1000 -- Sweaty Wet Cream (Frederico Franch vs Gameboy Gamegirl vs 2 Killa Queenz)

DJ Gaston -- I Fought The Punk (Vampire Weekend vs. The Clash)

Immuzikation -- One More Time To Pretend (Daft Punk vs MGMT vs The Doors)

Starters -- Cream Your Friends (Justice vs Wu-Tang Clan)

Mix: Do I Need This?

The fact that the title of this mix has the potential to open a philosophical discussion speaks volumes 2to me at the moment, especially with the predicament I presently find myself in concerning all sectors of my life.

I am suppose to be sifting through my belongings (once again). Deciding what to scrap and what to keep, because frankly, this moving business is for the dogs, and the less I have to carry, the happier I'll be (Philosophical jump-off point number 2). Instead of sorting through my things, I am here, dicking around on the internet. C'est La Vie!


Jared Fumari -- Stay Awhile

The Young Republic -- Comes a Time


Little Teeth -- Japanese Candy [the best and worst song I have ever heard]

The Dance Party -- A List (Ambience Remix)

Bonus!Video!Jam!
Ernie and Aaron Neville -- I Don't Want to Live On the Moon

My heart is a-tellin' me I love ya still

Bob Dylan--keeper of my heart. My musical lover is playing Prospect Park on August 12th. I'd kill for tickets. Ok, maybe I am too much of a lover to ever kill anything, the point is: I want to go. Problem? Too poor. The tickets are steep, $55 for the lawn, but it's friggin' Bob Dylan.

I am actually kind of surprised tickets are still available. Last year I saw him at Bethel Woods, a venue much bigger than the Bandshell, and it sold out. The tickets were also cheaper, but that is another story.

The schemer in me says I should ask mi familia for an early Birthday present. The realist in me says it ain't gonna happen.

So this post isn't completely devoid of purpose, I present you with my one of my top five Dylan tunes, "Abandoned Love."


Bob Dylan -- Abandoned Love

Why does my heart keep singin' these rhymes?

If you're into singer-songwriters, then here is a name you need to know: Peter Bradley Adams. A little Bob Dylan-esque, a little Damien Rice, and a whole lotta good, Peter Bradley Adams is destined for big things, and I encourage you all to check him out. He's a heart and soul with a guitar, I don't know how else to describe it. Adams's songs transport me back upstate, to the long weekend drives through Pennsylvania and the Catskills. It's feel-good music that doesn't rely on phat beats and Timbaland production skills--it's simple and heartfelt.

Interesting story about Peter:
"Peter wrote a song called "So Are You To Me" for his sister's wedding. Peter had so much demand for the sheet music for weddings that now he freely gives it out to any askers on MySpace. The eastmountainsouth version of this song has sold over 17,000 downloads without a speck of promotion or a single radio spin.... Now Peter has recorded his own version of the song for Leavetaking."

How is that for impressive?

Peter was a co-founder of eastmountainsouth, a band signed to DreamWorks by Robbie Patterson (yes! THAT Robbie Robertson). Peter has since parted and released his debut solo album in 2006, Gather Up. The release of his follow-up album, Leavetaking, is scheduled for release on August 5th. Below is a song off Leavetaking, "Always."


Peter Bradley Adams -- Always


Because I know you love what you hear, check out his MySpace for more tunes, Peter Bradley Adams @ MySpace. Hell, even if you don't love what you hear, check out the rest of the songs on his MySpace page. They're amazing, personal favourites being "Longer I Run," "I'll Forget You" (reminiscent at times of Dylan's "In My Time Of Dying"), and "Under My Skin" and "Queen of Hearts."

His official site: www.peterbradleyadams.com

Cover Me This, Cover Me That, Vol. VII

And after months of not covering covers--we're back! With the 7th Edition, in the 7th month, and almost in the 7th hour. I love the number 7!


Dr. Dog -- Heart It Races (Architecture in Helsinki)

Adele -- Last Nite (The Strokes)

Jihae -- Do I Move You? (Nina Simone)

Counting Crows -- You Ain't Goin' Nowhere (Bob Dylan) [Live]

Gnarls Barkley -- Reckoner (Radiohead) [Live]

*Spoon -- Rocks Off (Rolling Stones) [Live]



Incidentally recorded from the show of theirs I attended earlier this month. Thank you to whomever recorded it.

I Never Get Back What I Give

Mixed bag of new-found tracks I've been diggin'.

Whitest Kid Alive -- Don't Give Up

Girls -- Hellhole Ratrace

Lady GaGa -- Just Dance

Wyclef Jean feat. Lupe Fiasco -- Fast Car (Remix)

Ry Coder -- Waitin' For Some Girl

All the King's Horses and all the King's Men, couldn't get back my girlfriend

Ben Folds--glasses-wearin'singer-songwriter who's had a piece of my heart since middle school, is set to release Way to Normal--his first disc of new material in three years--on September 30, 2008. On the 17th of this month, an anonymous user (believed by many to be Mr. Ben Folds himself) posted a leak of Way To Normal. The leak isn't the complete album, the original leak has 9 of the 12 songs slated to be on the album, and then the copy of the leak I found only had 6.

Full or not, this leak is leaving me foaming at the mouth for the rest of the album. Ben while not at his finest, is not far off, the piano driven pop melodies tight and well, poppin'. & with the track, "Long Way To Go," Ben proves that lyrics, albeit an important aspect of the music, are only as good as the voice singing him, as the only lyrics in this 1:35 minute piece are "Long Way To Go." My favourite tracks off the leak are "Brainwashed" and "Dr. Yang." "Brainwashed" is an angsty ditty, while "Dr. Yang" is Ben doing what Ben does best.


Ben Folds -- Brainwashed

Ben Folds -- Long Way To Go

Ben Folds -- Dr. Yang

Does She Know That I Was The One Who Used To Turn You On?

And the bitch is back. R.M.'s favourite trainwreck of a diva, Britney Spears, is back with a new song, "She'll Never Be Me."

Ok, so the song isn't completely new since a demo of it was leaked last year, but this si the real deal now, ya hear?

Not the best of songs, but definitely not trash either. I am still thoroughly convinced that Ms. Spears could once again reign supreme on the pop charts. I also believe she would have with Blackout, if that MTV performance hadn't of sunk her. Nobody wanted to give her a chance after that, and Blackout has some solid jams on it. It's also unfortunate that Jive is choosing to release no more singles off Blackout too. Shame.

In good news, Ms. Spears is set to release a new album Mid-December. Huzzah! Now that homegirl is getting her act together proper, it's time for a real comeback.

Anyways, back to the new track. Catchy, electric, and thrashy. (Also a bit reminiscent of "Stronger.") Also, for shits and giggles, Raza remix of Spears' "Break the Ice" featuring vocals from J.Timb and Clipse. Hottness in a 4 minute package.




Britney Spears -- She'll Never Be Me

Britney Spears Feat. Justin Timberlake & Clipse -- Break The Ice (Raza Remix)

You Better Leave My Kitten Alone

Leaving Kerouac all alone for the first time. It's only going to be for 8 hours, but he is going to freak.