More on The Sing Off

Because I so love posting things no one cares about but me, my favorite number from The Sing Off...Styx "Come Sail Away" by Tufts University's Beelzebubs:



How adorable is that lead singer?!

Also, Ben Folds need to host something full time...anything. He is amazing.

That is all.

UPDATE: Ugh! Stupid YouTube. The performance can still be seen here. Scroll down to the second video.

The Sing Off Will Be Epic

Not since Clash of the Choirs have I been quite so excited about a singing show. Tonight, NBC debuts it's week long singing extravaganza of acapella groups from around the nation. Now, I'd always planned on watching, because I love a signing show, but then...THEN...I saw a preview and learned Ben Effing Folds will be one of the judges!!! OMG, how I love Ben Folds. This totally makes sense as Ben released an album of groups singing his songs acapella this year (which is amazing, btw. Definitely worth picking up.) Also involved are Nick Lachey, one of the dudes from Boys II Men (holla!) and the lead singer of the Pussycat Dolls (Meh). Basically, to sum up, I can't wait!

And speaking of awesome rock stars, The Let's Make Outs (fka No Seriously, Let's Make Out fka Let's Make Out) played our first open mic night last night and it went pretty well. Our best song is our ode to everyone's second favorite philanderer, Don Draper. We're trying to record the sure-to-be-future-hit and we'll post it here for your listening pleasure whenever we accomplish that goal.

Anyway, what about you? Are you excited for The Sing Off? Or am I alone here...as usual?

Best of the Decade: Music

In part two of our attempt to recap the Decade in Pop Culture, Red and I give you our picks for the Top Ten Albums of the ‘00s!

We tried to weigh artistry and all that snobby stuff, but mostly it just came down to what we enjoyed listening to the most. The best part is, unlike our television lists, our choices here are really different. I’ve listed them in descending order (10-1). Red goes first, because she included key lyrics.

Red’s Picks

10. The Magic Numbers: The Magic Numbers A little known band from England, my ex-boyfriend once called them “The least attractive band in the world” and, while that assessment may be true, they certainly know how to rock.
Key Lyric: “Take a chance/with a women who lets you”

9. Counting Crows: Hard Candy Perhaps the best record from the band from the Bay. Adam Duritz is so sensitive, he bags all the fine ladies. Hard Candy shows us why.
Key Lyric: “I really love the redhead girls/I’m just like all the boys from Texas.”

8. Wicked: The Musical The musical of the decade produced some of the best songs of the decade. It’s now everywhere, so go see it already!
Key Lyric: “And if I’m flying solo/At least I’m flying free.”

7. Los Campesinos!: Hold On Now, Youngster Rarely have I found a band or an album so infectious. I still cannot stop listening. I love how they blend super upbeat music with the most depressing lyrics you’ve ever heard. Ahhh, contrasts.
Key Lyric: “When our eyes meet/All that I can see/Is you’re the b-side.”

6. Hem: Eveningland So mellow, it can almost lull you to sleep, but as I’ve said a zillion times, this is what my band would sound like if I had a band. (Though, now, Liz and I have a band which sounds nothing like Hem, but whatever. That’s not important right now!)
Key Lyric: “I don’t want us to believe in the gravity of solid ground/The world below is not so big that it can keep us down.”

5. Justin Timberlake: Justified JT does what no one else can…he’s insanely likable and still so freaking cool. He can “Rock My Body” anytime.
Key Lyric: “It wasn’t like you only talked to him and you know it/(Don’t act like you don’t know it!)”

4. Rilo Kiley: More Adventurous My favorite Rilo record, back to front. I fell in love with them after I heard “Portions for Foxes.” End of story.
Key Lyric: “Plannin’s for the poor, so let’s pretend that we’re rich/And I’m not my body or how I choose to destroy it.”

3. Dixie Chicks: Taking the Long Way The Chicks are amongst the most daring artists in American music and this is the ultimate F-You album. Refusing to apologize for trashing George Bush and playing music no one puts on the radio, they still managed to sell records and win awards. They are amazing.
Key Lyric: “In the easy silence that you make for me/It’s okay when there’s nothing else to say to me/In the peaceful quiet that you make for me/And the way you keep the world at bay for me.”

2. Postal Service: Give Up Ben Gibbard makes electronica cool and listenable.
Key Lyric: “I’ve been waiting since birth to find a love that would look and sound like a movie.”

1. Ben Folds: Rockin’ the Suburbs Ben Folds first solo effort contains some of his best songs. Obviously, my favorite artist’s best album must be THE best album of the decade.
Key Lyric: “Everybody knows it sucks to grow up”


Liz’s Picks

10. The New Pornographers: Twin Cinema The Canadian power pop super group was at its best on this 2005 album, finding a pitch perfect blend of all the different voices and songwriting talents within. If you’ve never heard the song “The Bleeding Heart Show,” you’ve never really lived.

9. Death Cab for Cutie: The Photo Album From missing out on the perfect chance to tell your crush how you feel, to emptying an absentee father’s ashes at sea only to have the wind blow them back in your face, this record is full of intimate moments that make the listener feel like they’re in on a secret. A secret worth being in on.

8. The White Stripes: Elephant One of the most interesting groups of the decade decides to announce they’re not a novelty or a fluke by turning in a hard rock masterpiece. Not a bad strategy.

7. Bright Eyes: Lifted or … I understand why a lot of people are turned off by Conor Oberst’s histrionics and self-obsession, but I’m also slayed every time he sings lines like, “Where was it when I first heard that sweet sound of humility? / It came to my ears in the goddamn loveliest melody / How grateful I was then to be part of the mystery, to love and to be loved.” No, he’s not the next Bob Dylan. He doesn’t need to be.

6. Wilco: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot Jeff Tweedy is trying to break your heart. With Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, he succeeds, and man does it hurt so good.

5. Rilo Kiley: The Execution of all Things My favorite album by my favorite band. Jenny Lewis’ gorgeous voice and Blake Sennet’s underrated guitar licks create charming Americana about growing up, getting old and moving on.

4. Sufjan Stevens: Come on, Feel the Illinoise Part history lesson, part magnum opus, all fantastically original. It prominently features both the banjo, and a backup group called the Illnoisemakers. What’s not to love?

3. The Postal Service: Give Up The glitchy electronica of Jimmy Tamborello turned out to be a surprisingly perfect fit for Ben Gibbard’s boyish tenor and prose-like lyrics. What began as a work-on-it-when-we-have-time side project somehow managed to capture the best of what was happening in music in the early 21st Century.

2. Radiohead: Kid A The cover of Spin Magazine proclaimed in 2001 that, “To save themselves, Radiohead had to destroy rock and roll.” I’m not sure Radiohead necessarily “destroyed rock and roll” with Kid A, but they certainly took it to strange and new places, places that are still more and more revaltory with every listen.

1. Arcade Fire: Funeral If you were unfortunate enough to live in the Northeast in the winter of 2003-2004, your toes probably still curl at the memory. It was one of the coldest on record. I remember one day, the newly launched Mars Rover reported back that a spot on the red planet was warmer than the city of Boston. In the midst of this, The Arcade Fire was recording Funeral in Montreal. Images of empty neighborhoods full of snow haunt the record, and the whole thing is ultimately about death in all its forms. But listening to Funeral isn’t chilling; it’s the opposite. Funeral is the roaring bonfire you want to gather around when everything looks desolate. It's one of the few albums I’ve bought based on buzz alone that not only lived up to the hype, it exceeded it.

What do you guys think?

Top 5: Songs about "Taboo" Subjects

I don't know why I thought of this topic. Just go with me here:

1. Suicide: "Jeremy" by Pearl Jam - This one has San Diego ties.

2. Abortion: "Brick" by Ben Folds Five - My friends and I debated for hours whether this song was about AIDS or abortion. Ahhh, the innocence of youth.

3. Masturbation: "Longview" by Green Day - My now uber Mormon friend and I used to sing this song while playing foosball in her garage. Seriously, good times.

4. Heroin/Crippling Depression: "Hurt" by Nine Inch Nails - I kinda like the Johnny Cash version better.

5. Mass Murder: "Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen - Springsteen recounts the story of Charles Starkweather and his teenage girlfriend and their killing spree across the US in late 50's. The song is kinda creepy...just like the true story, which inspired Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers.

So, what do you think? Agree? Disagree? Am I creepy for even imagining this post? You know what? Don't answer that last one...

Lyric of the Day

"Everybody knows it sucks to grow up."

- Ben Folds "Still Fighting It"

photo from jonas secrets

The List Vol. 3: Nerdiest. List. Ever.

Some things I love...even if I haven't seen them all yet:

Movie: Star Trek - You know I'm a nerd, I know I'm a nerd, so it's not surprise that I loved the J.J. Abrams reimaging of the sci-fi classic. I was never really into Star Trek, but this movie made me a fan. Chris Pine is wonderful as Kirk and Zachary Quinto was born to play a young Spock. Go see it, whether your a fan of the series or not. Definitely not our father's Star Trek.

Music: Ben Folds Presents University A Cappella - Hearing Ben Folds' greatest hits a cappella and pure and with the occasional beatbox accompaniment is just amazing. Makes me wish I was still in college...and that's the first time I've ever said that...well, other than when I started watching Greek and decided I wished I would have done the sorority thing, but that is mainly so I could have dated someone like Cappy. BUT! I digress...

TV: Glee - I was in some choir or another from 5th grade until a few years ago so you can bet your ass I'm all over this new show about a high school glee club. The pilot airs tonight after Adam and Kris square off on AI and the series begins for reals in the fall. Please watch so this shizz doesn't get canceled. You have no idea what it would mean to me.

DVD: Heavy Metal in Baghdad - This doc captures Iraq's only heavy metal band before and after the start of the war. It's a truly fascinating look at the youth culture in that country and the insane situations in which they live. Queue it up or watch it here online for free.

www: Heartless Doll - A blog that "dig[s] pop culture and ladythings." With posts like "10 Tweets My Vagina Would Twitter" and "Women Who Make Us Ask WTF?" they can be a tad femi-nazi...and I totally love it. Check it out.

As always, your recommendations for all things awesome are coveted below.

Worlds Collide

I was just reading about Ben Folds' new album. On it, Ben recorded college a cappella groups performing, essentially, his greatest hits. Sounds amazing, right? It's out April 28th.

At the end of the interview, Ben, no stranger to wacky collaborations, mentions his next project will be with author Nick Hornby (if you're not familiar, check out Songbook, wherein he talks about his favorite pop songs, including Ben Folds Five's "Smoke" (and rightly deems Springsteen's "Thunder Road" the greatest song ever)). Nick will write the lyrics and Ben the music. Holy Christ, this is exciting! As a huge fan of both fellas, I already proclaim this the best album ever! I can't wait to actually hear it.

Ben Folds + Dr. Dre = Magic

For Beckeye.

Here is Ben Folds' version of Dr. Dre's classic "Bitches Ain't Shit" (mos def not suitable for blasting in your cube at work). Possibly the funniest effing cover ever. When I saw Ben in concert a few years ago, he told us many people thought he'd recorded the song as a joke, but he said, "If it was a joke, I wouldn't have wasted such a great melody on it." Word, Ben.



That's some real conversation for your ass.

The Soundtrack of My Life

I think about this a lot...if someone made a movie of my life (and wouldn't watching someone watch TV for 2 hours just be fascinating?), I'd ask to create the soundtrack. Here's the track list:

1. Thunder Road - Springsteen: As the Boss himself would say, it's the ultimate invitation song...come along and listen to the story.

2. Express Yourself - Madonna: Madonna taught me many valuable life lessons early in my little life. How to rock a cone shaped bra, maybe the most important?

3. Holding Out for a Hero - Bonnie Tyler: For the part in the movie when I still believe in heroes and holding out.

4. Still Fighting It - Ben Folds: Because everybody knows it sucks to grow up.

5. Better Man - Pearl Jam: For the one I lied to when I said I was in love with him.

6. July, July - The Decemberists: This is the fun, summer-on-the-beach montage required in every movie set in SoCal.

7. The Old Apartment - BNL: Mainly, because any story about me would be a lie without a Barenaked Ladies song. Is that sad?

8. More Adventurous- Rilo Kiley: Jenny Lewis represents many things, but primarily how awesome it is to be ginger. This is an overarching theme in the film, obvs.

9. Don't Think Twice - Bob Dylan: For the one who just kinda wasted my precious time.

10. Long Way Round - Dixie Chicks: Lord knows, I never seem to do it like anybody else. Life lessons must be learned the hard way.

11. Holiday in Spain - Counting Crows: For the end of the film where I ride a plane to Europe to spend the rest of my days abroad as an ex-pat.

12. Don't Stop Believin' - Journey: For the message...for it's karaoke perfection...for it's kickassedness...it plays over the credits.

Embarrassingly, there really should be a Robbie Williams song in here somewhere, but this will have to do. Is it just me, or does this have the potential to be the greatest movie/soundtrack combo since Elizabethtown?!

P.S. As I've said before, I'm not computer savvy enough to give you the mp3s of all these wonderful tunes. Deal with it, people!

Imposing My Musical Taste on the World...Again

It's finally Friday! Tonight, my friend Annie and I are making 2 dozen cupcakes before grabbing Liz for a much needed Ladies Night (look out fellas of San Diego). Here's some music I will force Annie to enjoy during our pre-party (click on the link to hear them on Hype Machine. I'm not computer savvy enough to figure out how to let you listen to them as mp3s or whatever. Sorry):

You Can't Count on Me - Counting Crows: This is my favorite song off their new album (which is really good. Pick it up if you're a fan). My favorite lyric is "And I get off and you know why" even though I don't know why he gets off...or why I like this lyric.

July, July - The Decemberists: I've been loving this song for months now. It feels very "summer" and who doesn't like summer? (I was thinking the other day, as I walked to get some ice cream on a ridiculously hot evening, how much I wish I still had summer vacation. Sleeping in, getting hooked on some daytime soap, concocting crazy meals like dried spaghetti with melted cheese because my mom hadn't been shopping in awhile. Damn, I miss that.)

Always Be My Baby - David Cook: No, I will not stop with my obsession. Leave me alone!

Careless Whisper - Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright: I absolutely adore this cover. Two of my favorite artists covering one of the greatest, cheesiest bands of the 80's. Pure magic.

Sweet Darlin' - She & Him: Another current obsession and the song that makes me cool with the hipsters...which is really my goal in life.

As always, your listening suggestions are coveted below.

Also, today is No Pants Day. Ladies Night with no pants should be very interesting...

15 Sexiest Male Musicians

Much like the chain letters of yesteryear, bloggers have memes (which actually has a whole psychological explanation behind it. Geez. I kinda hate when Wikipedia gives me way more information that I wanted/expected). Beckeye tagged me with this one. Here are my top 15 Sexiest Male Musicians of all time:

15. Chris Carrabba - The 15 year-old girl in me loves this lead singer for Dashboard Confessional. I love screaming his songs in my car and gazing at him in all his emo glory. The tats are totally hot, too.

14. Chris Martin - He's hot, smart and makes fun of himself. What's not to like? I really fell in lust with him when he appeared on Extras and sang Fix You with Ricky Gervais. Hilarious.

13. Justin Timberlake - I especially like JT when he dances. The fella's got moves! He can rock my body anytime.

12. Robbie Williams - We all know I love the Brits and Robbie may be my favorite Brit of all. I realize I am one of 5 Americans who listen to his music, but guess what? I don't care. I think it's his bad boy persona that so draws me in.

11. Bono - He's trying to save the world and, really, what's sexier than that? I do wish he'd not wear wonky sunglasses so often, but what can you do?

10. Jon Bon Jovi - King of the 80's hair band, JBJ looks even better with age...and with a haircut.

9. Damien Rice - The cutest Irishman maybe ever? Is that saying too much?

8. George Harrison - My mom was a Paul gal and while growing up, I had to agree (he did age the best). However, after I saw A Hard Days Night, I fell madly in love with George. Yowza! What a fox!

7. Matt Mackey - I know Matt personally. He's not famous (yet?), but he is a musician and he is smokin' hot.

6. Dave Grohl - Think what would have happened if Kurt Cobain never died. Would we still know the full genius of Dave Grohl? Maybe not. What's the greater travesty?

5. Bob Dylan - Sure, now Bob is a scary old man, but he was super hot as a young man. And he spawned Jacob Dylan. Nothin' wrong with that.

4. Jim Morrison - Probably the sexiest male musician ever. The man just exudes sex.

3. Eddie Vedder - Sure he's a little bit crazy, but he fought the good Ticket Master fight back in the day and I love a man who stands up for his principles. Another fella who's aging so very well.

2. Ben Folds - Ben seems like a complete nerd and I love nerds! His music makes him super sexy.

1. Bruce Springsteen - Old and young, no one can touch The Boss. I mean, who else can sell millions of albums with his ass?

Geez. That took me forever. Post your picks in the comments section...

Top 5: All Time Favorite Songs

Recently, I dug out my old CDs and have been listening to all the crap I loved in high school (but I definitely did NOT listen to Backstreet Boys' Millennium yesterday. And I really, definitely didn't like it and remember all the words). Needless to say, I had some really bad taste in music back then. I like to think it's gotten better with age as I've expanded my listening horizons, but music really is so much about time and place and being the soundtrack to life, right? So, here are my 5 favorite songs of all time (listen to them all here):

1. Thunder Road - Bruce Springsteen: Maybe the best pop song ever from one of the greatest albums ever. I actually took a class in college where the professor had us study Springsteen lyrics as poetry. We talked about this song as it relates to the loss on innocence, maturation and the need just "go." Great for driving fast on the freeway.

2. Don't Think Twice - Bob Dylan: There are better Dylan songs, but this is my favorite. It's such a painful break-up song. You just kinda wasted my precious time. Ouch!


3. Still Fighting It - Ben Folds: Ben Folds is my favorite artist. From his band, Ben Folds Five, to his work with Shatner and his solo albums, he's yet to make a crappy record. This is my favorite Ben Folds song, mainly because it's about how much it sucks to grow-up and who can't relate to that?

4. Defying Gravity - Stephen Schwartz: I have to include a song from a musical because, for so many years, I listen to nothing else. This song, from the musical Wicked, is so effing phenomenal I basically wet myself the first time I heard it. I'd give my right arm to sing like Idina Menzel.

5. Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell: This song is a favorite for several reasons, but mainly because it's so simple and lovely. I love this version...her voice is older and rougher and more worldly. Just lovely.

Your turn...

Pandora's Box of Music

I'm probably late on this (I usually am), but my cousin told me about this music site called Pandora where you punch in your favorite artist or song and it creates a "radio station" with that artist/song and other stuff you might like. It's been dead on with me so far (I've been listening to Ben Folds Radio for the past two days). You can give a thumbs up or down with each song, allowing Pandora to create a perfect (and addictive) station just for you. I love personalized crap! Plus, you can create other stations (so your musicals don't have to rub elbows with Kanye) or add other artists to stations (creating an all Brit station, perhaps?). Check it out. It's free. Everyone likes free!

Music For Your Friday

The Hype Machine is the best thing ever. Click here to listen to 15 fun covers to get you through to the weekend. Here's the track list:

Lily Allen - Don't Get me Wrong (The Pretenders)
The Libertines - Eight Days a Week (The Beatles)
Bloc Party - Say It Right (Nelly Furtado)
Coldplay - Can't Get You Out of My Head (Kylie Minogue)
Snow Patrol - Crazy In Love (Beyonce)
Vanilla Sky - Umberella (Rihanna)
Death Cab for Cutie - Freefallin' (Tom Petty)
Christina Aguilera - Mother (The Beatles)
Travis - Hit Me Baby One More Time (Britney Spears)
The Pipettes - I Think We're Alone Now (Tommy James & The Shondells/Tiffany)
Damien Rice - Talkin' About a Revolution (Tracy Chapman)
Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright - Careless Whisper (Wham!)
Ben Folds - Such Great Heights (Postal Service)
Avril Lavigne - The Scientist (Coldplay)
Counting Crows - Rain King/Thunder Road (Bruce Springsteen)

Enjoy.