The Land of Happy Little Accidents

I'm sure we've all done this at one time or another... watch The Joy of Painting that is

So you've got some time to waste, eh...

This site and its multitude of trivia games and music quizzes keeps me occupied when the kids are testing. Careful: heavy addiction warning.

NYT: The Final Edition

If you have time to spend the afternoon laughing, checking out the new spoof of the Times, The Final Edition. 

Oatmeal

Not sure I want to thank Matt for turning me onto The Oatmeal.  Kind of like giving a kid his first cigarette.  I've just wasted an entire hour that I could've spent watching TV.  Bastard. 

Indie Hotties-Amy Lavere

She's hot, she's local (Memphis) and for godsakes, she plays the upright bass.  What a package!

Well?

2010 was, in my humilde opinión, much better for new music than last year.  I couldn't get excited about much of anything released in 2009; in fact, it was so bad that I didn't bother to post a year end list on that other blog ...

So here's what I've got on my scorecard for this year, in alphabetical order.  (But honestly, if I had to pick just one, it would be Spoon's Transference.)

• Arcade Fire - The Suburbs
• Belle And Sebastian - Write About Love
• Devo - Something For Everybody
• The Hold Steady - Heaven Is Whenever
• LCD Soundsystem - This Is Happening
• The New Pornographers - Together
• Someone Still Love You Boris Yeltsin - Let It Sway
• Spoon - Transference
• Superchunk - Majesty Shredding
• Ted Leo And The Pharmacists - Brutalist Bricks

Album Cover Fun

Severe case of the Friday Fuckoffs led me here. I think more of these parody the Clash parody than the Elvis original.

I'm jealous of the bastard get-together!

Made Me Laugh

So true.

The spork of the electronic consumer goods world

Charlie Brooker, who writes for the Guardian's culture section, has the best take I've seen on the iPad.

"At first glance it resembles an iPhone in unhandy, non-pocket-sized form. But look a little longer, and . . Nope. You were right first time.

Not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Apple excels at taking existing concepts – computers, MP3 players, conceit – and carefully streamlining them into glistening ergonomic chunks of concentrated aspiration."

I will participate in meaningless online surveys

Get your votes in for the 29 best chalkboard gags in Simpsons history.

Lightening in a Bottle

There are plenty of obvious "lightening in a bottle" type albums out there, like London Calling, Andy's Warehouse, Born to Quit, Pet Sounds and Burn Your Cardigan, but what are some less obvious choices that would make your list? Show me yours and I'll show you mine.

The $39 Experiment

This guy decided to use a roll of stamps (back when they were .39) and send out 100 letters to different companies asking for free stuff. His amusing letters and the chart of his successes is interesting to look at. I think he ended up with over $200 worth of free stuff for his $39 investment. Worth a look.

You Can Thank Me Later

Here's a blog that has an amazing number of mp3s for you music collecting bastards. Don't be put off by some of the strange selections on the main page; scroll down a ways and look at the alphabetical archives on the right hand side. A treasure trove for looking for that 'one' song of a band that you like. I have spent hours on this site, and the fruit of my labors is inspiring. Have fun, and don't forget your families.

I guess it was inevitable.

2007 Holiday Cheer Brought To You By Toyota

"We are very excited to be working with holiday cheer," said Lentz, who called the look of wonder on a young child's face and the company's new line of durable trucks a "natural pairing." "From now on, whenever anyone curls up in front of a crackling fireplace, or takes a moment to reflect on the importance of family, Toyota will be there."

List of Controversial Films

Entertainment Weekly has an interesting list of the top 25 controversial films of all time. One thing that struck me about this list is the fact that so few recent films are deemed 'controversial'. Although I'm sure we all could come up with examples to the contrary, it seems like films don't take many risks anymore. They are great at aweing us, but don't stir the shit pot very often.

Most Played Albums 2007

What albums did you play more than any other in 2007? I find my list surprisingly easy to compose:

- Smoking Popes - Born to Quit
- Manic Street Preachers - Holy Bible
- Flop - World of Today
- Weezer - Pinkerton
- Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, are you the destroyer?

And best discoveries of 2007:

- Flop
- Of Montreal
- Eagles of Death Metal
- BRMC
- M. Ward

Blender's Top 100 Indie Albums

Blender takes a stab at the top 100 Indie albums of all time. I guessed what number one would be before I even looked (and no, its not Murmur, but Murmur is in the top 10). What do you think? And how many of these albums do you have (I have or have had twenty)? And what got left out?

Quiz Off!

See how you fare on the Rolling Stone Almost Impossible Rock and Roll Quiz. I scored 43/58 which made me an 'expert'. Any of you ladies care to try to topple the King???

Blog Ice Breaker 2: What does your current playlist look like?

Me: Flop
Randy Newman
Primus (anyone got any albums?)
Buzzcocks (same question)
Cookie Monster (C is for Cookie)
Earlimart
Tom Waits
Reel Big Fish

Changes almost daily, though.

Blog Ice Breaker 1: Musician Jokes

A boy says to his mother, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a musician!"

The mother smiles down at him and says, "Oh honey, you can't do both."
***********************
Q: What do you call a guy who hangs out with a group of musicians?

A: A drummer
**********************
Q: What is the difference between a musican and a savings bond?

A: One of these will eventually mature and earn some money.

Anyone got any favorites?