THE HACK: cheap views on pop culture

Music Diary 2012: Day One

So, I'm doing this thing again, and I'm going to try and be a bit more...well, I'm going to explore why it is I listen to what I listen to when I listen to it. As for today, I stayed home and listened to Beastie Boys, yet again. Mostly License to Ill. Never would have thought I'd be affected by MCA's death, and yet I was. I mean, I wasn't crying or anything. But, it's got me thinking a lot more than when Michael Jackson or Whitney Houston died. I guess it's because I listened to these guys (and, therefore MCA) a lot more than the other two.

Still, it's been great to re-visit some great hip hop.

Later in the afternoon, I pulled out some old (circa 2002) mix-CDs and listened as I made dinner.

Some thoughts:

• A lot of the stuff on those mixes were borderline Top 40.
• Most of those tunes are from artists that no longer exist.
• There were two live tracks: Guns N' Roses' "November Rain" from Live Era: '87-'93 and Pearl Jam's "Black" from one of their bootlegs
• I hadn't listened to most of these songs in at least five years
• I miss making mix-CDs

I also downloaded some MC Chris tracks. Get 'em for a good cause here: http://mcchris.bandcamp.com/

Also, I listened to a lot of Beastie Boys covers. Download Coldplay doing "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)."

You-Gotta-Fight-For-Your-Right-To-Party-Beastie-Boys-Cover

I kid you not. And, it's not half bad.

Tomorrow, it's home and work. Let's see where my habits take me.

 

Favorite Moments of 2011: Part Four

The Adjustment Bureau

Also, my favorite middle finger throw of the year.

Favorite Moments of 2011: Part Three

Favorite Moments of 2011: Part Two

 

The Music Diary Project: Day 1

Today was pretty waxen as far as listening to music goes. Generally, I listen to a good number of tunes on a given day, but today...fairly weak. Still, I'm told - rather, assured - that there is no wrong way to do this.

I began with "Just Like Honey" (The Submarines from Love Notes/Letter Bombs). I found this while reading Whitney Matheson over at Pop Candy. Nice cover. Has me itching to pull out my Lost In Translation LP and listen to the original.

Over at Tumblr, I was recommended a few songs, most of which I'd already heard, though I threw some on anyway, courtesy of YouTube. "Smile" by Uncle Kracker, "Dreamless" by Moonspell, and "In The Cold I'm Sleeping" from Wynardtage.

Another cover made it's way onto my laptop with "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" from Arcade Fire, a great live rendition of Lauper's '80s pop classic.

Then, as I got ready for work, I threw on Daft Punk's Tron:Legacy soundtrack and listened to the first four tracks, my favorite tracks on the record by the way. "Overture," "The Grid," "The Son of Flynn," and "Recognizer."

On the way to work, I put on a mix and listened to these: "Snow ((Hey Oh))" by Red Hot Chili Peppers; "(Nothing But) Flowers" by Talking Heads; "Common People" by William Shatner*; "Soul Man" by Blues Brothers; and "Back in the U.S.S.R." by The Beatles.

On the way home, I put on The Strokes' new album Angles and listened to the first five songs: "Machu Picchu," "Under Cover of Darkness," "Two Kinds of Happiness," "You're So Right," and "Taken for a Fool." I've already listened to the album, having bought last week on my birthday, and I think I agree with the critical consensus. It's a mediocre album, but there are tracks on there that I find myself loving. "Darkness" is a smooth tune, and the ambience of "Happiness" takes me away. I dig that one a lot.

So, that's day one. Interesting that a lot of what I heard today was stuff I've listened to twice or dozens of times. I need to listen to more new things. Maybe I'll try that tomorrow.

*Today was also a big day for covers.