Today I’ve got short takes on three artists I like that have a problem. They are all prone to the esoteric and downright bizarre song titles. (And yes, I know I live in a glass house, being someone whose blog titles tend toward the lengthy and parenthetical). Still, there is a line between intelligently appropriate [...]
READ MORE...OK, so suppose that you are really bored and want to learn something new about your music collection. Suppose that you wanted that something new you learn to be completely trivial and of no real consequence. You with me? Good. Then, try this.
Go into ITunes and alphabetize your entire collection by song title. Yeah, 5000 [...]
Hello all formerly relevant high-profile franchise entertainment properties. (Yeah, I’m talking to you, Jaws and Jurassic Park.) Looking for some strategies for getting back on top. Well, go no further. Unsolicited advice follows.
I saw Star Trek last night. It got me thinking about rebooting franchises. I was never a huge Trek fan, but I’m pretty [...]
If you pick up one new band this year, make it The Mountain Goats. Two of the best albums I own are The Sunset Tree and Heretic Pride. Actually, The Mountain Goats is basically a one-man operation. Singer-songwriter John Darnielle is The Mountain Goats (similar to how Conor Oberst is Bright Eyes and Guided By [...]
READ MORE...My anniversary was yesterday. We’ve been married for 11 years. I spend a fair amount of time looking for new music that my wife will like. At the five year mark, I made a double album mix tape (actually, CD) for her. Here’s the playlist:
DATING 1993-1998
I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You - UB40
Under [...]
Three bands I’ve been listening to recently have been pushing 80s and 90s nostalgia buttons for me. Don’t get me wrong - I’m thoroughly enjoying each of these albums on their own merits, but I just can’t shake the similarities I hear between them and other artists. Anyway, consider that a preface to these short [...]
READ MORE...Spoilers follow. Be warned.
Another day is over. I made it through another 24 hours. Actually, I’ve now made it through 168 hours of Jack Bauer’s life (or 170 if you include the 2-hour movie from last fall). And apparently, Jack is going to make it through as well.
Ever since the first season shocker of an [...]
Paul Auster and I have a history together. It’s not much of a history and I’m sure that memories of it are essentially only archived by me, but nonetheless I thought I should let you know as I write this post, particularly when I mention that I’m not sure that I liked his book.
From the [...]
Because I am incredibly anal, more than a touch obsessive-compulsive and I generally just like stats, I went through my Ipod to figure out which bands/artists had the greatest representation among the nearly 5000 songs. Here’s what I found:
R.E.M. - 149 songs
Dave Matthews - 107 songs
U2 - 64 songs
Indigo Girls - 48 songs
Counting Crows - [...]
My seven-year-old son likes the song Given Up by Linkin Park. It’s a loud song, which is much of the appeal, and you basically have to scream at the top of your lungs to sing along, which is the rest of its charm. So I put it on an Ipod mix for my kids.
At this [...]
Michael Landweber writes fiction for adult, young adult and middle grade readers. He lives in Washington, DC with his wife and two children. His stories have appeared in Pindeldyboz, Fourteen Hills, Barrelhouse, American Literary Review, Fugue among others. He is an Associate Editor at the Potomac Review and can also be found writing and blogging about TV, movies and other fun stuff at Pop Matters.
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