New Matthew Ryan On The Way

Thanks to Pete's cool post at ickmusic here, I just found out that one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Matthew Ryan, has a new album, From A Late Night Highrise, coming out on December 5th. That was a long sentence, eh? Anyway, you can listen to a couple of tracks (and download one of them) from the new album on Matthew Ryan's MySpace site here. Matthew Ryan will be playing at IOTA in Arlington, VA on November 6th.

Addicted

All right, I'm addicted to VH1's "100 Greatest Songs of the 80s." Once I start watching, I just can't turn it off. Here's a little "You Spin Me Round," by Dead or Alive, which was highly underrated at #52 on the countdown, by the way.

Happy Halloween!

the Cylons are watching you!

Scrubs Video

Here's a Scrubs version of the Colin Hay song "Waiting For My Real Life To Begin." It involves almost all of the main Scrubs characters, and it takes place at the conclusion of the episode "My Philosophy."

Sugary Dead

Well, it's getting close to Halloween, and I've been eating a bunch of candy to keep me going while I close the books at work. So I figured I'd post a couple of sugary songs by the Grateful Dead for your enjoyment...

MP3: Sugaree - Grateful Dead
MP3: Sugar Magnolia - Grateful Dead

A Picture Because...

it's always fun taking pictures using your rearview mirror

Earl Listings

Man, this has been one long week, and leaving work at 8:15 on a Friday night was not very encouraging. Anyway, I've always wondered about all the items listed on Earl's "list," and this site has got 'em. At least all the items that have been revealed during My Name Is Earl...

A Case of the Fridays

It's been a busy week, but there's still music to be listened to. And we start with something from California-based singer-songwriter Ethan Elkind. Though it’s begun to get cold outside, the tropical flavor and upbeat rhythm of the catchy acoustic-based “Island Life” might help you remember your last trip to the beach this summer. If you like what you hear, Ethan Elkind will be at Ireland’s Four Fields this Sunday, October 29th.

MP3: Island Life – Ethan Elkind

Joseph Arthur is in town, kids! So we'll finish with my favorite song of his, the rocking “Exhausted." It’s an intense piece of work, both lyrically and instrumentally, with excellent use of shifting dynamics. If you like what you hear, he’ll be at Jammin Java Thursday, November 2nd.

MP3: Exhausted – Joseph Arthur

New Season of Scrubs

Get ready for some new Scrubs! The new season begins Thursday, November 30th!

Dead Rock Stars Make Cash

According to Forbes.com, Kurt Cobain is this year's top-earning dead celebrity, having knocked off last year's reigning champ, Elvis Presley. Congratulations, Kurt!

In Control

I'm back from Phoenix, and quite exhausted. A red-eye flight, and then working an excessive day of accounting the next morning will do that to you. Anyway, the desert was....deserty, and the wedding was...weddingy. But I especially enjoyed getting to see the air traffic control command room at the Phoenix airport, where one of CC's friends works. And I got to learn a bit about the logistics of air traffic control. Very cool!

Arizona

I'm heading out to Phoenix tomorrow to attend a college friend's wedding this weekend with CC. And I'll be wearing a tuxedo for the occasion, since I'm in the wedding party. Hmmm...I wonder if the DJ will be playing "SexyBack." Anyway, here's a couple of songs that have a little bit to do with Arizona for y'all...

MP3: There Is No Arizona - Jamie O'Neal
MP3: Take It Easy - The Eagles

Bond. James Bond.

This cool James Bond post over at ANABlog has got MP3s and posters of all the different James Bond movies. Sweet. Very sweet.

A Case of the Fridays

It’s an early edition this week, since I’m heading out to Phoenix for a wedding. So first up we have “Last Letter,” from Shane Hines and the Trance’s upcoming EP, Satellite Go Boom. It’s a “raise-your-lighter” type of electrified ballad, complete with heartbreak lyrics and a well-toned guitar solo. If you like what you hear, Shane Hines and the Trance will be at IOTA this Friday, October 20th.

MP3: Last Letter – Shane Hines and the Trance

And we close out a very full week with Lola Ray’s “What It Feels Like.” Strained vocals and a driving rhythm section power the song along into a few big rave-up choruses. Take a listen.

MP3: What It Feels Like – Lola Ray

Major League Baseball vs. Gene Simmons

Good news, baseball fans! Major League Baseball has hooked up with Eternal Images, which will eventually produce urns and caskets emblazoned with logos of all Major League Baseball teams (only a few are available to start).












Of course, there's always KISS coffins for those of you who aren't sports fans...

Pimp My Cell Phone!

Cell phone bling is all the rage, apparently, and the cell phone companies are making some money!

The Beastie Boys - Footnoted

I pulled out Licensed to Ill this morning and jammed to that on the way into work. Which got me wondering if there were any websites that listed Beastie Boys lyrics. Anyway, I came across the Beastie Boys Lyrics Annotated, a cool site which breaks down the Boys' songs, explaining references, pointing out samples, and such. It's pretty cool way to pass some time.

The Masterplan

Oasis has released a new video for an old song, "The Masterplan." It happens to be one of my favorite songs of theirs, and Stereogum has the cool-looking animated video posted here. Check it.

Need More Paxil?

This parody of Justin Timberlake's "Sexyback" by The Gray Kid is pretty damn funny. And well-done, too.

Do You Know This Man?

I've seen this pretty intimidating guy working the door at the 9:30 Club many times, but I never knew his name. Now I do. Josh Burdette is one of several bouncers/door men featured in a Washington Post article here. And he got his picture in Sunday's paper to boot!

Because You Need To Eat, Right?

Check out Tom Seitsema's new 2006 Dining Guide for the DC Metro area at washingtonpost.com here. Since I can't afford to go to the four-star restaurants, at least I can read about 'em, right?

Car Stuff

Have you been praying for an Audi with 420 horsepower, all-wheel drive, agressive styling, and an $130,000 price tag? Cause if you have, your prayers have been answered with the Audi R8.

And, photographer Marc Demoulin has some very cool pix from the Paris Auto Show.

Tim Cahill

It wasn't a particularly great day accounting at work today. But it got better when I went out to lunch at PotBelly in Herndon and discovered Tim Cahill playing acoustic guitar up in the loft there. I liked his vocals alot, and he got a very full sound by using a "magic looping box" on his guitar (a la Howie Day). He's a cool guy from NH, and he was kind enough to give me a copy of his CD. Take a listen to "The Road King" and be his friend on his MySpace page.

Rock in the Free World

Sweet Oblivion has a very cool Pearl Jam post today, with 8 different live versions of Pearl Jam covering Neil Young's "Rockin' In The Free World." Check it out here.

Best of What's Around - Volume 1

The track listing for the Dave Matthews Band retrospective, Best of What's Around - Volume 1 has been revealed. The release date for the two-disc set is November 7th, and the set list is as follows:

Disc One:
1. Best of What's Around
2. What Would You Say?
3. Crash Into Me
4. Too Much
5.Rapunzel
6. Crush
7. So Right
8. The Space Between
9. Grey Street
10. Grace Is Gone
11. Hunger for the Great Light
12. American Baby

Disc Two (live):
1. Don't Drink the Water (West Palm Beach, Fla., 2005)
2. Warehouse (Alpine Valley, Wis., 2006)
3. Say Goodbye (Denver, 2000)
4. Stay (Wasting Time) (Selma, Texas, 2003)
5. Everyday (Saratoga Springs, N.Y., 2006)
6. Louisiana Bayou (Selma, Texas, 2005)
7. Ants Marching (Sydney, 2005)
8. Two Step (East Rutherford, N.J., 2001)

Matt Nathanson

Heather over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends has a very cool interview with one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Matt Nathanson right here. And feel free to watch the video to "Suspended" above...

A Case of the Fridays

We open up the close of this workweek with some Ben Kweller. “Penny On The Train Track” is a tasty little slice of pop, complete with pounding piano. If you’d like to hear the song live, you can catch Ben Kweller at the 9:30 Club Wednesday, October 18th.

MP3: Penny On The Train Track – Ben Kweller

And we finish off this week’s ACOTF with “Keep On,” by Andy Zipf. I can’t resist a good claptrack, and you gotta love the sneaky groove and sultry vocals. If you like what you hear, Andy Zipf has got a full-band show this Sunday, October 15th at IOTA.

MP3: Keep On – Andy Zipf

Copeland

I like the band Copeland, and they've got a new album (Eat, Sleep, Repeat) coming out on October 31st. But you can stream it at Spin.com here right now.

We Built This City

Would you listen to "We Built This City," by Starship, 324 times in a row? If you asked me back in 1985, I admit, I might have been down for 50 times in a row. But anyway, "We Built This City" was chosen as the "worst song of all-time" by Blender magazine, and now one of their writers will sit in a listening cube and listen to "WBTC" for 24 hours straight.

Battle of the Album Covers

Ever wonder what would happen if album covers could come alive and battle each other? Probably not. But if you had wondered, your prayers have been answered in this crazy animated video.

thanks to PopCandy for the tip

A Few Billion to Spare?

Yep. Google bought YouTube for $1.65 billion. That's a lot of money. I think that's all I have to say about that.

New Jay-Z

If you didn't already know, the new Just Blaze-produced Jay-Z single, "Show Me What You Got," has leaked. You can check it on XXL here or on Spine here. I must say, I expected more.

thanks to jefitoblog for the tip

Daniel Lee

Perhaps you've heard of Daniel Lee, perhaps you haven't. But he's one of my favorite vocalists in the singer-songwriter genre, with soulful, breathy vocals. And his funky guitar work is top-notch. Though his award-winning song-structure is often non-conventional, I'm really digging "Elixir" from his upcoming new album. He'll be having his CD-release show for the DC-Metro area at Bangkok Blues in Fall Church, VA on Thursday, October 12th. Go say hello.

MP3: Elixir - Daniel Lee

My Hands Are Bananas

This homemade German music video is surreal, and quite freaking hilarious! At least to me. Another piece of fine German engineering.

Ghostface

I got my most recent mix from the International Mixtape Club, and my favorite cut? It's "The Champ," by Wu Tang Clan alumnus Ghostface Killah. The boxing motif has been done before (like in LL's "Mama Said Knock You Out"), but nevertheless, it's got banging beats, wailing guitar lines, and a ferocious lyrical delivery. I like.

MP3: The Champ - Ghostface Killah

A Case of the Fridays

The workweek is almost over, and we’ll soon be seeing just how loud the boos will be in Philly when T.O. takes the field this Sunday. But until then, we’ll start with “When The Creepers Creep In,” by The Village Green. It’s driving indie rock with some cool layered vocals and a nice little build-up on the chorus. And it’s got “Creepers” in the song title. If you like what you hear, these Oregonians will be playing The Red & The Black on Tuesday, October 10th.

MP3: When The Creepers Creep In – The Village Green

And we conclude this week with “Everything About You,” by Steve Poltz. It might come off as a bit sappy, with its lush arrangement and swooping strings (and are those bagpipes?), but I think it works. If you like what you hear, Steve Poltz will be at IOTA this coming Monday night, October 9th.

MP3: Everything About You – Steve Poltz

Stevie Ray Vaughan

Here's Stevie Ray Vaughan ripping up the intro to Mary Had A Little Lamb - while smoking a pipe...

Kula Shaker

I posted a bunch of YouTube videos awhile back, and they're only now beginning to appear on my blog. So here's a little live Kula Shaker to liven up your day...

Aquaman!

I love this skit from the old MTV sketch comedy show, The State. Think Aquaman is undervalued? The Superfriends don't!

Pimp My Blog

Thanks to Heather over at I Am Fuel, You Are Friends, I am now able to have my blog or any website translated into Jive at Gizoogle! It's the shiznit, fo sho...

Cocaine Is Back!

Eric Clapton has announced that he'll be including the J.J. Cale classic, "Cocaine," in his concerts once again. Clapton had previously stopped performing the song live once he first got sober. I'd say I'm excited, but EC doesn't really bust out the guitar whupping stick the way he used to these days. Anyway, here's a live version of the white powder from a 1978 show in Santa Monica...

MP3: Cocaine (live from 1978) - Eric Clapton

Dare To Be Stupid

Video insanity week continues here, with the Top 10 Weird Al videos...of all time! Go ahead and watch 'em. You know you want to see "Amish Paradise" and "Eat It" at least one more time. I won't tell anyone.

thanks to PopCandy for the tip

Buy A Guitar, Get A Free GTI

Volkswagon is now running a deal where customers purchasing certain model Jettas, GTIs, and New Beetles will receive free First Act GarageMaster electric guitars...that are playable through the cars' stereo systems (as if talking on cell phones while driving wasn't bad enough). And this Volkswagon commercial for the GTI cracks me up.

Matthew Ryan, Part II

I posted on Matthew Ryan several days ago here, but I'm gonna go make another post regarding his debut album, May Day, for a friend. May Day's got a grittier rock sound than Regret Over the Wires, and it's definitely a good listen.

MP3: Guilty - Matthew Ryan
MP3: Chrome - Matthew Ryan
MP3: Beautiful Fool - Matthew Ryan

Don't Get Eliminated!

The first season of MXC: Most Extreme Elimination Challenge is now available on DVD. It's not Jackass, but it's pretty damn funny.

Weekend Pics

man on bench in Del Ray

creative wall

guy drinking coffee