The Music Blog

It's Not a Real Jungle Mix Without Gunshots

platkat — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:43:00 +0000

Thanks for the reminder, Danny tha Wildchild.

Also, thanks for baby-sitting my friend on a bad acid trip back in '97.

*Hugs*

Nu T00ns

platkat — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:48:00 +0000

I guess I'm ridiculously post-happy today, and should probably stay in here before I start any more fires I can't extinguish.

I recently rebuilt my iPod playlist from scratch. I was afraid to update it for so long because all of my music files are on a computer in New York. All I have is what I've burned on my laptop in the last few months and an external hard drive containing mostly Gus's music.

Gus has some pretty good stuff, but he also has a lot of indie rock that's all the rage with the kids up here. Some of it okay, but most of it sounds like crap to me. Add that to the fact that I'm trying to run at least six miles, and it makes perfect sense that I don't want to hear some whiny nerd trying to mix metaphors to the same three guitar chords for an hour.

As a sidenote, I hate Rainer Maria and Rilo Kiley so much, I'm surprised the hipsters in Capitol Hill haven't chased me into the Sound in a mass mob carrying torches and pitchforks.

Anyway, putting a whole new set of music on your iPod and basking in your glorious efforts shortly thereafter is a beautiful feeling. It's like waking up a little earlier than you had to for no reason to watch a clear, technicolor sunrise. You know what a sunrise looks like, but to be present for one, to recognize its beauty and the beauty of the moment in which you're standing there... soul-warming.

On that note, I think I'll go take my hippie ass to the gym now.

Music Karma

platkat — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 01:16:00 +0000

When I did college radio, people asked me to post playlists. I didn't want to mess with it. Now I'm listening to college radio, and this dj doesn't want to mess with it either. Hhhmmmph.

New Discovery

platkat — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 22:00:00 +0000

In her infinite awesomeness, April invited me to tag along on her date last night and I saw this chick play at Rendezvous. Best female 8-bit performance EVAR!

Rediscovery

platkat — Fri, 04 Jan 2008 00:59:00 +0000

I haven't touched the contents of my iPod since I left New York, since many of the tracks on my current playlist are in my home PC thousands of miles away. Thus my workout routine sounds like Clear Channel had a dance station and never updated the program log.

Fortunately, my Sidekick LX, which I love more than almost everything in the whole world has a built-in mp3 player, to which I can upload about 20 songs. For awhile, I'd been seeking tunes I had previously downloaded without giving a good listen and playing "getting to know you" with a few particular albums. Upon doing so, I was able to attach all kinds of profound meaning from my life to these songs. Whenever something big happens, I like to make a soundtrack from it. A really hard-hitting, poignant soundtrack. It used to be in the tangible format of a cd, something to moan to while speeding down Braker Lane with the top down. But having reduced the clutter in my life about 90 percent by moving (including the car, making the moaning a little more conspicuous), all my soundtracks are now disposable, leaving the Sidekick as easily as they entered.

I'm tired of attaching meaning to everything. This morning I listened to NIN's Halo 2 while I got ready and let my mind go blank. I uploaded "Drown" by the Smashing Pumpkins, "The Land of Green Ginger" by the Orb, "Wig Out" by Tipsy, "Pure Imagination" by the Smoking Popes... These songs, they mean nothing. A long guitar solo, a story told by electronics, a mind-bending romp in the islands, a punk band's interpretation of a children's song... They mean nothing, they just are. I'm not trying to talk them down or say they're meaningless; they're all beautiful songs. No matter how often or when I listen to them, they are absolved from the thankless task of pointing to some signifigant time in my existence, which will not likely be remembered fondly.

You lucky songs, you.

I wonder if they'll sit in my phone long enough for something big to happen in order to garner some meaning. Rather, will something even bigger happen before I have a chance to get sick of hearing all these songs (again)?

No, this is nothing-time. I want for it to be nothing-time so badly, I can taste it.

I don't know if I'm luckier now than I was 10 years ago. I think I am equally cold though.

Addendum: Okay, okay. My current playlist also includes "Isobel" by Bjork (Deodato Mix), "Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell" by the Flaming Lips (Ego in Acceleration Mix), and "Last Tango in Paris" by the Gotan Project. They've both conjured and created memories already, and it hasn't even been that long. I'm a sentimental fool. I admit it! If my peers ever felt like beating me up after work for being emo, I would let them.

Strange Days

platkat — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 00:56:00 +0000

Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They're going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town

Yeah!

Strange eyes fill strange rooms
Voices will signal their tired end
The hostess is grinning
Her guests sleep from sinning
Hear me talk of sin
And you know this is it

Yeah!

Strange days have found us
And through their strange hours
We linger alone
Bodies confused
Memories misused
As we run from the day
To a strange night of stone

(Originally by The Doors; Interpreted by Thievery Corporation)

Blue Velvet

platkat — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:42:00 +0000

She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet was the night
Softer than satin was the light
From the stars
She wore blue velvet
Bluer than velvet were her eyes
Warmer than May her tender sighs
Love was ours
Ours a love I held tightly
Feeling the rapture grow
Like a flame burning brightly
But when she left, gone was the glow of
Blue velvet
But in my heart there'll always be
Precious and warm, a memory
Through the years
And I still can see blue velvet
Through my tears

Music Hogs

platkat — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 21:32:00 +0000

Time to talk about music hogs on The Music Blog. I guess it doesn't matter if this post kind of rambles, since this blog hides in the dusty corners of my site... since I don't go to shows as often as I used to... and many of the ones I've been to lately weren't so great...

But I digress. I actually thought to write this post because in the recent past I've been pleasantly surprised by people willing to share their music choices.

When Miranda and I were in Barcelona, we came upon a cool dress shop. While Miranda was making her selection, something caught her ear and she asked the salesperson what was playing. He was more than happy to go through the mess of wires and connections to find out for her, which I thought was really sweet.

When I was back in New York, spending my last few days there enjoying parts of town I should have just moved to (LES and SoHo), I wandered into a boutique run by some French people. "Think Twice" by Ralph Myerz was playing, and I know that's who it was because when I asked the salesperson what was on, she went to her iPod and wrote down the artist and title of the song on a slip of paper and gave it to me.

I think my surprise at such kindness can be attributed to the many music hogs I've endured as a teenager and young adult. You know what I'm talking about. You'll be in the car with a friend and a good song will play from a mix cd she made. You say, "Hey, I really like this track. Who is this?" And she'll reply, "Oh, I don't know..." and trail off or change the subject. Or you'll ask, "Where did you find the such-and-such single?" And she'll say something like, "I don't really remember..."

If you don't know what I'm talking about, then lucky you. But for those who do know what I'm talking about, please take a moment to commiserate with me.

WHAT THE FUCK? You don't remember? You made the damn tape, you bought the damn cd, you engaged in some kind of action to obtain the music and put it in the stereo. Maybe your level of caring wasn't of the highest order, but you had to be somewhat intersted in the music in order to want to play it. Come ON.

A semi-recent conversation with a friend revealed that she was indeed a music hog. Whenever she discovered a new band, she never wanted to tell anyone. Her excuse was that she grew up in rural Iowa and needed something to call hers. Even though I feel sorry for her, that doesn't seem like a good enough reason.

No one should "own" music. This was a line in a movie that was made in the pre-Napster days. Before I ever thought that such rapid, free-for-all music swapping could ever be possible, I totally agreed. Everyone should be able to listen to everything. You shouldn't try to place ownership on sound. Sure, you should always give credit to the people who made it and never try to pass it off as your own. And yes, it's understandable that people want to own types of medium to hold and play their music. But that's not what I'm talking about (and you know it!).

If you love music so much, why be a music hog? Why not take the compliment that someone appreciates your taste enough to want to share it with you? Be proud of your music and enjoy it for what it is. Don't concern yourself with how many other people like it and whether or not they're "worthy". (On that note, keep in mind that just because you listen to a particular band or heard of them first, you are not any more "worthy" nor does it mean you like the band to any greater degree than anyone else.)

In short, don't be a music hog! Love your sounds, share your sounds. Then you can love that other people are loving your sounds with you. And while I'm at it, PLUR.

Remember When

platkat — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:42:00 +0000

I'm in the process of updating my on-the-brink-of-death iPod shuffle with music for exercising. My music library contains all the music I've put on it since I first ventured to open the box (and just doing that was a project). The playlist on the device itself has grown and morphed over time for the better, but I was thinking about bringing back some old favorites.

When you work out almost every day and all you have is a tiny iPod shuffle, you have to change it up pretty often. I'm getting to the point where I'm wearing out great songs before I have a chance to find enough new great songs to replace them. Thus, I sifted through my past selections to see what could be revived.

Nothing.

All these songs are still awesome, but the thought of putting them back in my iPod and allowing them to remind me of the time from which they came is still too heartbreaking to enact. Exercise music is supposed to make you feel vibrant and beautiful and invincible... but most of these songs make me feel crushed and longing for better days.

Damn you assholes for ruining "Play It Cool" by Crazy Penis! Damn you all!

How could anyone ruin a song as sweet and happy as "Heaven Must Be Missin' an Angel"? How??

Two songs by the Flaming Lips: "Ego Tripping At the Gates of Hell" and "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots" - Not exactly pick-me-ups, but they meant something. And now they mean, "Don't play us unless you want to experience some really uncomfortable nostalgia."

I could go on and on, but I guess I have some music to scout. Haven't tried pumping iron to Sir Mix-a-lot yet...

Blip Festival

platkat — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:00:00 +0000

We decided to blipify our Saturday night by eating dinner at Vertigo and checking out the Blip Festival. Vertigo has nothing to do with the concept of Blip (using low-bit video game consoles to make music), but it deserves a mention because the food was unique AND tasty, and the service was awesome. You'd think with all the restaurants in New York, that would be easy to come by, but it's really not. So after enjoying some butternut squash ravioli and a white-bean-chorizo concoction, we headed to the festival. Here's who we saw:

The Depreciation Guild
This band consisted of two guys, one of which doubled as a notably uncomfortable lead singer. He admitted to have never played for so many people before, but I wouldn't have been able to tell if he hadn't said that. The music was really good and eased the audience into the show. It took them some time to prepare between songs, which the lead singer acknowledged, "Onstage banter. Fuck yeah."

Aonami
This thick Japanese dude played his whole set wearing a panda mask. Awwwww! The music was super-energetic. Some of the live stuff was kinda loose, but he played his best song, Misodisko Ver 1, which you can hear at the link above.

Covox
This seven-foot Swede had tons of energy, but I'm leaning toward the opinion that he's all looks. I enjoyed his set well enough, but nothing really grabbed me. Watching him bounce around playing a Gameboy was okay, but it was a good time for me to get in the giant bathroom line and play my own Gameboy. I cracked open Super Puzzle Fighter and ended up talking to a guy playing Tetris (my number-one favorite game). I told him I can get 199 lines on the Gameboy version. I don't think he believed me. I'm told 200 wins the game, but I don't know anyone who has actually done it. Maybe I will one day... *sigh*

Bud Melvin
This is who I came to see. His song at the link above, "I'm Old Fashioned," is the most brilliant combination of video game sounds (I'm not sure which game), the ukulele (I think... he mentioned that he plays it and it's not a regular guitar), and faint old-timey music (the most obscure I've heard, actually). It is probably also the only combination of those things, but based on its own merit and excluding any thought of associating it with a particular genre, it's a really nice song and I love it. I love it so much, in fact, that I found Bud after his set (which did not include this song, unfortunately) and told him that I love the song and asked him to enable the "Add" feature on his myspace player so I could put it on my profile. He was a genuinely nice guy and was easy to talk to, which was a relief because I don't normally talk to musicians.

I went through a phase when I worked at Feedback Magazine, where I talked to them all the time, either for interviews or general schmoozing. Sometimes I was pleasantly surprised, other times I was sourly disappointed by the pompous rudeness. Now that I don't have to do anything, I'd almost always rather enjoy the show and go home. But I digress.

Bud said he'd look at his settings so I could add the song, and I was happy. Despite its lack of my new favorite song, Bud's set was the best. He had an electric banjo thing happening and he sang. It was a level of effort and "liveness" that many of the other acts seemed to lack, being mostly pre-recorded. (Nothing against pre-recorded music, but if I'm at a show, I want to be at the show when it's being created.)

Nullsleep
I called him an asshole. I was only kidding. He was being overly apologetic that it was taking a minute to get his equipment working and there was all this dead silence that was too awkward to bear. So, Drunkat opted to "help out" by potentially making it the situation even more awkward. Luckily, a bunch of people knew I was kidding and laughed. Once he got up and running, he was pretty good.

Hally
Hally is a pretty elusive guy, but his set was alright. The production on his pre-recorded stuff was the tightest and whatever live samples he threw in blended well. My only complaint was that it seemed to move away from the low-bit video game genre and more into the federal pound-me-in-the-ass trance genre. It wasn't as bad as 2am at Element, but you know what your parents and teachers say about gateway drugs.

We thought about going back, but opted to stay in and play the Classic Gameboy version of Castlevania instead.

"Ohio (Come Back To Texas)"

platkat — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 16:06:00 +0000

I kind of live in two places right now, and I'm not sure how I feel about where I am or where I'm going. This upbeat song means something to me... but I can't put it into words right now.

She said she needed a break
A little time to think
But then she went to Cleveland
With some guy named Leelan
That she met at the bank

There's nothing wrong with Ohio
Except the snow and the rain
I really like Drew Carey
And I'd love to see the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame

So when your done doing whatever
And when your through doing whoever
You know Denton County will be right here waiting for you....

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lonestar State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway

I think I made a mistake
Its not that easy to take
She went to make a deposit
Then she cleaned out her closet
Guess I'll sit here and wait

For her to come back home (I'd wish you come back home)
It shouldn't take very long (so long so long)
I bet she misses the sunrise
And Mrs. Baird's fruit pies but I could be wrong

So when your done doing whatever
And when your through doing whoever
You know Denton County will be right here waiting for you....

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
I bet you missed your exit
And drove right on through the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway

Troy Aikmen wants you back
Willie Nelson wants you back
NASA wants you back
And the Bush twins want you back
And Pantera wants you back
And Blue Bell wants you back

I got a premonition
I'm taking a petition
And the whole state's gonna sign

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved

Come back to Texas
Its just not the same since you went away
Before you lose your accent
And forget all about the Lone Star State
There's a seat for you at the rodeo
And I've got every slow dance saved
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway
Besides the Mexican food sucks north of here anyway

ACL Fest

platkat — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:26:00 +0000

Last weekend, I did something I said I would probably never do: I went to the Austin City Limits Music Festival. Now, I like Austin, I like cities, limits are okay sometimes, and music is great. But festivals... yeeicch.

Gus won a pair of tickets in a poker game, and while neither of us are festival-people, this seemed like a good chance for us to remind ourselves exactly why we aren't festival-people.

Of course, I still remember the awful, sweltering mess that was Rockstock 1996. At the innocent age of 15, a giant show with tons of bands like Verve Pipe, The Nixons, Gravity Kills, and Type-O Negative seemed like a really good time. I failed to account for it being summer in the Midwest, my friends wanting to stay till the very end of the festival, and the event being so poorly planned that they ran out of drinks (DRINKS!!) and had limited amounts of food on hand (and as every concert-goer knows, you can't bring anything in). Also, no one had drugs, which I badly needed to keep from spending the whole time wishing I were dead.

Fast forward 10 years and I'm at ACL Fest. I can honestly say I actually enjoyed myself for a few minutes. I don't know if festivals have come a long way, if this one is particularly special, or if I'm just better at dealing with being uncomfortable, but I can attribute my sunnier experience to one thing in particular: I brought a Gameboy. After this, I honestly believe that any undesirable situation can be improved 100 percent with a Gameboy.

Anyway, in case you give a shit about music and/or what I think, here's a breakdown of all the stuff I saw (besides hippies, dirty-ass toilets, and a zillion different "ironic" t-shirts).

Thievery Corporation
These guys and their full band played at ACL, but I actually saw them Thursday. They were great, of course, but I saw them about three years ago and their show didn't seem to have changed much. Also, I wasn't at the very front, so the experience was markedly different. Still good.

Federico Aubele
This was perfect music for laying around on a lawn after a giant Trudy's brunch.

Phoenix
These guys keep saying they're from France and they're all "si vous plais" and "merci bocu", but the lead singer sounds like he's from Indiana when he speaks English, which he mostly did. They put on a fun, high-energy show and we were up close so we felt good crowd energy as well. Unfortunately, this band caused my painful sunburn, which I should have expected since I haven't tanned in a long time. I wouldn't go as far as to say it was "worth it," but the situation is acceptable.

After Phoenix, we sat under the one tree at the whole festival and heard the last 15 minutes of Sterling Lands and THE WARRIOR GOSPEL BAND. All bands who use alternative capitalization and punctuation to call attention to their names should be shot. And all gospel bands should be shot. These people sucked.

Then we walked over to see TV on the Radio. My friends knew them, but I didn't. They sucked too, and for the two songs we were there, I played my Gameboy. Luckily, my friends agreed that they sucked and we changed locations.

The Long Winters
This Seattle-based band played under a tent with chairs in it and that made me happy. The lead singer was very talented and charismatic. I continued to play my Gameboy, but I really enjoyed the music. Watching a bunch of guys do stuff on a stage is entertaining for only so long.

Calexico
I saw these guys play at SXSW 2005. They were good, but sounded different this time. They also appeared to have changed out some members, but I may just be imagining things. After this show, I told Gus that if I were to come back tomorrow, I needed to leave right away. I did just that and took a wonderful shower. Even though I wasn't at the festival the whole day, by about 6:00, I had defined and personified the term "nasty magnet."

Ween
I remember these guys from the "Push th' Lil Daisies" days and hadn't seen much of them since, so I was expecting something quirky or at least amusing. Instead, Ween sounded like a regular rock band with a set so bland I'm at a loss to describe it.

Los Amigos Invisibles
Awesome!!! I didn't know who they were or where they came from, but I'm happy they were within earshot of where I was so I could enjoy the rest of their set. The music was as danceable as it could get without being jam-band-dippy. This is one of the few ACL acts I'd go see again.

The Flaming Lips
Now that Yoshimi is battling the pink robots, we're all Flaming Lips fans, aren't we? The stage show was fun and interesting, but I'm just going by what Gus and other people said because I was so far back I could barely even see the monitor. That's okay because I'll catch them again in New York on the 25th. The music was good, and Wayne Coyne hates Bush, so he's okay in Austin's book. (I, however, am a little tired of artists blabbing their political views while they have the stage. I don't care how you feel about the state of the nation; you're supposed to be entertaining me so shut up and play a song.)

MUSE
More rock. It sounded good, but not particularly special. They must be pretty popular though because their set was as crowded as The Flaming Lips'. After a couple songs, I saw lightning and wanted to leave again. The idea of tens of thousands of people trying to exit the festival at the same time made me nauseous and I didn't want to be a part of it.

So, that's ACL to me, an old fart with a pissy attitude in a very cute 25-year-old's body.

If You Wanted Me to Leave

platkat — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 03:07:00 +0000

You could just say so...

You don't have to blare Offspring's Smash album.

I'll just go.

Really...

I Heart this Site!

platkat — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 19:34:00 +0000

http://www.di.fm/edmguide/edmguide.html

It breaks down every single category of electronic music and contains samples of each. BRILLIANT! It also contains humorous little nuggets such as this take on "Illbient":

The Turntablists like this one a lot... Why? Because it's ILL, y0! Jesus, what a stupid word. Who comes up with slang these days anyway? How did "sick," "bad" and "ill" become compliments? Before long, street kids will be going up to one another: "man, you are a fucking asshole!" "hey, thanx dood!"

platkat — Mon, 12 Jun 2006 00:23:00 +0000

Holy crap! I not only found my missing Orb cd, Pomme Fritz, but I also found Harry the Bastard presents Club H Volume 2, which has the best Weekender song on it ever! I am a very, very happy young lady right now. :-)

platkat — Wed, 31 May 2006 08:54:00 +0000

Heard "Rush Rush" by Paula Abdul on the radio. Knew all the words. Never would have guessed I'd still have all that cheese in my head 15 years later.

platkat — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 00:20:00 +0000

Ripping Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, playing Tenacious D's "Sex Supreme."

It's good to be well-rounded.

platkat — Sat, 04 Feb 2006 02:38:00 +0000

I just heard this song by The Donnas called "Who Invited You". Partial lyrics:

I'm busy talkin' to this guy
When I see outta the corner of my eye...
Look who's here, how you doin'.
Why don't you tell me who let you in?

[Chorus]
We don't care if you think our party's cool
'Cause we do!
And we don't care if you had more fun in Sunday School
'Cause who invited you? Who invited you?
Who invited you?
What do I have to do to get rid of you? Who invited you?

You say you're everyone's best friend
But last night you made fun of all them
You never told me not to tell...
You trusted me, but you don't know me that well!

YEAH. I know that feeling. I wrote my own, less popular, song about the same situation. So I'm that jerk who just discovered The Donnas and wants to tell people. Der. Not really. Even though they're just another group of punky bitches capitalizing on the 80s-style revival, I'll admit to liking this song. I'll also admit to not really knowing what I'm talking about. When it comes to the music world nowadays, I know its obvious I've been away.

P.S. Still don't care for Evanesence (sp?).

Talk to Me, Man!

platkat — Fri, 30 Dec 2005 00:15:00 +0000

I e-mailed house dj Gabe Real asking him where I could find a copy of Selections. I got a promo copy of the cd through Feedback a few years ago and listed to it every day. Of course, cds don't last long, so the only useful thing I could get from it was Gabe's e-mail address and a phone number, probably his booking agent's. Despite the fact that Gabe doesn't have much of a web presence, I don't think I'll be hearing from him the way I've heard from some other talented, far-flung djs. He may not even be a dj anymore. Or he may be so big in his hometown Detroit that he doesn't have time for random Austin girls with music cravings. I'd be willing to go out and buy a replacement if I knew where I could get one. It's not exactly your typical Amazon.com fare.

Come on Feel the Noize

platkat — Tue, 29 Nov 2005 20:28:00 +0000

Thanks to a friend with free passes, I experienced my first ever Gold's Gym workout today and thought I'd comment on the music. It was the most notable aspect of the place, as I could hear "Everybody Dance Now" by C+C Music Factory blaring from an outdoor speaker before I even got out of my car. At 6:45 in the morning, I was not ready to sweat OR let the music take control. It was freezing ass cold outside and another two hours of lying in bed and petting my dog would have been preferable.

The extraneous music also made me cringe because it reminded me that I forgot to bring an mp3 player. I hate exercising without music. It's like trying to eat without... food. Okay, maybe not that bad.

Anyway, once I got in there and started working out, I was becoming quite satisfied with the blaring crap. Music videos lit up TVs everywhere and I was fully engaged with the congruous sights and sounds before me. Even if I'd brought an mp3 player, I still would have been forced to succumb to the blaring crap, so it's best I like it.

After hearing Hall & Oates remixed and that song Oakenfold did a few years ago that wasn't all trancey and retarded (although I'm sure he's since gone back), I was thinking this place was alright. Sure, I was missing my house mixes, obscure rock jams, and nonsensical cartoon anthems, but I'm well aware that no gym could ever be that cool and stay in business. Especially not one this far north.

My happy sentiments for the mainstream selections changed when "Some Crossover Religious Bullshit" by Jessica Simpson came on. Fuck! I thought, but didn't say. Oh well, it would be over soon.

Nope. Right after that trash, I was treated with "That Song I Can't Even Lip-Sync" by Ashlee Simpson. FUUUUUCK! I managed to not say again as I toiled through the rest of my session on the Pre-Cor. What the fuck? If you have the good sense to play The Fixx, Parliament, and other 80s/funk groups that aren't anyone's favorite but appeal to large numbers, why come in with the Simpson sisters and their no-talent, twitty twitterson, stale bumblegum crap that already sags lower than Jess's boobs will at age 40??

I'm going back tomorrow, but I still haven't stopped searching for the perfect home treadmill.

platkat — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 23:24:00 +0000

My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult... is very good.

platkat — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 21:11:00 +0000

It's Saturday, just after 9 in the morning at Bondi Beach in Australia, says the boy with the adorable accent on Bondi FM.

Saturday... beach... boys with cute accents...

*sigh*

So while I uncontrollably long to be on the other side of the world, I must say the combo of music on this station suits me well. Anyone who plays "Music and Wine" by Blue Six and "Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" by Tavares is fit for a girl who makes mix CDs with Orbital and Barry White.

You Make Me Wanna La-La

platkat — Wed, 14 Sep 2005 20:51:00 +0000

What the hell does that even mean?

Artists make up weird lyrics all the time and we just accept them. But Ashlee Simpson is hardly an artist and this song is hardly... a song that anyone with ears should listen to.

If by "la-la," you mean "beat you across the face with my fuckin' boot," then yeah, you make me wanna la-la too.

Please, let the 15 minutes end!

LIES!!!

platkat — Wed, 31 Aug 2005 16:15:00 +0000

When I was little, I stayed with my dad's sister and her husband for awhile. At some point, I bitched about school or some similar youth-related problem-that-isn't-a-real-problem and yielded this response, "Just wait till you have to start working," as if work was some kind of ominous, looming part of adulthood that no one can really overcome.

My aunt described her retail job like it was taxing beyond all belief. Tagging clothes, taking stock... oh, the treachery!! I replied, "Pop in a tape and just do it." (It was the 80s.) They laughed condescendingly. No one lets you listen to music at work. That's why it's work. Yes, little naive girl, be very scared. There is no music from nine to five...

Fast-forward to now: I'm floating through the clouds thanks to "Sunbeams" by UKO and getting paid to write stuff.

Too bad I can't cut off my middle finger and send it to them in Chicago. I need it to type.

platkat — Thu, 25 Aug 2005 22:57:00 +0000

I saw a commercial for the new movie, Just Like Heaven, which uses Ben Lee's "Catch My Disease" as an audio backdrop. Is it wrong to see a move that you know will be cheesy just because the people advertising it have impeccable taste in music?