9 posts tagged “pop music”

WARNING.... this is an all music posting with double Media Tidbits.  If you are looking for my usual jaundiced views the Economy, Real Estate or Politics.... MOVE ON (dot org?)

Firstly, I added two new DIVA CD's to the library:  The latest by Chaka Khan and Annie Lennox.

Cha... Chaka Khan... Chaka Khan!  Awesome CD and real return to pop after a decade in jazz.  Here collaboration with Mary J. Blige is destined to be a hit ("Disrespected") and is already charting in the UK (as well as having shown up on a mash up).

Annie also returned to a more pop format after a couple very down beat collections.  The new CD has some of her best work since DIVA and I hope it charts for her.  Ever since I saw the video for "Sweet Dreams" in the 80's - - I've been and Annie Fan.

This brings us to our first of two Media Tidbits!  From her new CD, my favorite cut: Coloured Bedspread... a cut that harks back to some of the best work she's done as a solo artist (ie: the DIVA Album).

MEDIA TIDBIT #1 of 2:

OK... now for my final media tidbit... this is from the site popbytes that skewers the celebrity culture and features an awesome mash-up-of-the-week... Gimme More Shoes (Kelly vs Britney).  Everybody's favorite celebrity train wreck has a cut single out: Gimme More.  The cut is a perfectly fine pop confection that is getting airplay and actually seems pretty well received.  Her public performances?  Not so much.  Apparently she needs to be edited.  Anyway, Gimme More has been skewered by the Mash Community... crossed with everything from The Knack to that annoying kid on myspace (Leave Britney Alone!).  This one is my favorite because it takes the inane, dance-pop of Britney and crosses it with the inane Dance-Comedy of KELLY (Oh. My. Gawd.... SHOES!).  Download it for free here!

In a total BETCH SLAP, The real talent (Kelly) is getting ROBBED.... I hope you enjoy it, BETCH!

MEDIA TIDBIT #2 of 2

I've written before that I believe that the governments inflation figures are pure malarkey.  I've also written that house prices in California are not supportable by working people's income....

Over at one of my favorite blogs, Dr Housing Bubble, he has posted a very thought provoking analysis (see it here) of the "Median California Family's" financial predicament and how they are virtually forced into debt.  Obviously, this is a recipe for disaster on many levels.  Certainly for the families that will eventually have to go bankrupt.  It's an even bigger disaster for our state... Debt slaves do not make good consumers because eventually they run out of credit.  With 2/3 of our nation's economy tied to consumer spending, it's easy to forecast the future.  If you think this can be contained to the California market, keep in mind that 1 of every 6 Americans lives in California.  SO goes Cali, so goes the USA.

Here's the part that really opened my eyes.  It is a median family budget (assuming median priced home, median priced vehicles, average credit card debt, median food and utility usage....).  Brace yourself and keep in mind that the MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME is under $65,000/yr in California (see below for more on that)

Monthly Budget for the "Average" Cali Family

Housing expense/PITI: $4,100 (Putting down $54,750 on $547,500 and using current jumbo rates on a $492,750.00 mortgage - 30 year fixed conventional financing)

Auto Loan Cost: $894 (2 cars with each carrying a $447 monthly loan).

Auto Insurance Cost: $160 (2 cars full coverage)

Fuel Cost: $300 (assuming that we only use $150 per vehicle)

Food Budget: $564

Dining Out: $200

College Support: $1,667 (Providing our kid $20,000 a year support to attend a 4 year private school)

Utilities: $120 (includes Gas, Electric, and basic phone service)

Credit Card Service Debt: $168 (According to Bankrate, average household credit card debt of $8,400)

Health care cost: $575 (Lower approximation for a family of four full coverage, according to The National Coalition on Health Care.)

Total Monthly Expenses: $8,748 or $104,976 annually.

This leaves the family with an annual deficit of about $40K!!!  I'm sure they can just roll that debt over at favorable rates, right?

By the way, curious how you stack up on income? 

The percent of US Households (in parentheses) that have annual household income over:

• $65,000 (34.72%)
• $80,000 (25.6%)
• $91,705 (20.0%)
• $100,000 (17.8%)
• $118,200 (10%)
• $166,200 (5%)
• $200,000 (2.67%)
• $250,000 (1.5%)
• $1,600,000 (0.12%)

Doubt my numbers?  Use the power of the internet and prove this wrong.  If I'm wrong, I'll post it!

Media Tidbit
Kendall is a performer out of Buffalo NY... He has some great stuff recorded and is currently touring.  You can visit his site at www.kendallshead.com - this is one of my favorite cuts from him.  It's called "God in Two Persons"

In Kendall's words:  "I did a cover version of Closer by NIN and God by Tori Amos a few years back. It is a piano/vocal version where the 2 songs overlap in the Coda. I really love the feel of it. It's mellow but my voice gets rough and kind of Rock-N-Roll."

GREAT COVER TUNE...   You can download it for free here.  Or stream it here:

Many of you know, I'm positively obsessed with the economy and Real Estate Market.  I haven't posted much about them lately because... well, it turns out I was right.

Anyways, now that the wheels are falling off the housing market, people are taking extreme measures to avoid foreclosure.  A friend of mine has filed bankruptcy... never mind that it means he is tied to the over-priced house even longer!  I guess some of us pull the band-aid off FAST... and others pull it off slowly.

But what is so funny to me, is the victimology of all this.  People that over paid for Real Estate and then took a big, fat, exploding loan are NOT VICTIMS.  They signed willingly and of their own volition. Certainly, if a High School graduate like myself could figure out that this was a bad deal, it is not rocket science!

The fact that no one accepts responsibility for their predicament is just plain nuts.

Take this couple, for example:  They couldn't make their mortgage payment, so they started a brothel.  I mean, can't you see how being in debt forced them to sell their souls?  Their good people, forced to a life of crime.  Not their fault (it never is!) :)

Nope, I don't feel sorry for them.  They made one bad decision after another.  Now they need to learn from the consequences.

Today's Media Tidbit
In honor of all those fools that want to hang on by their fingernails to upside down real estate.... I present, Hick-Hop legend COWBOY TROY joined by Big n Rich for "I Play Chicken With the Train"
I guess I'm thinking of this because Big n Rich have the new Jewel CD "in the can" and ready to drop (read more here)

OK, I'm not some huge mega-britney fan... but I like fun pop music.  I was feeling hopeful for her when I heard the new track: GIMME MORE.  I thought: "OK, it's not great, but it doesn't suck!"  Her fellow Mouseketeer alum are doing much, much better as grown ups... (Justine and Xtina RAWK!)

but, maybe Britney is lost FOREVER.  What is it?  too many drugs?  too many sycophants?  Somebody stop her!

I mean, OUCH... when I watch this... MY EYES HURT!

On the British Music News website NME, Beth Ditto of THE GOSSIP, is quoted as saying "George Bush is absolutely a fascist piece of shit!"

I already liked her... but now I like her MORE!

The quote is from an upcoming interview in the Advocate.

Is she correct?

The dictionary defines a Fascist as "a person who believes in or sympathizes with fascism." 

Fascism is defined by the following 14 characteristics:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

 

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

 

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

 

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread

domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

 

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

 

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

 

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

 

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

 

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

 

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

 

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

 

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

 

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

 

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

Source: http://www.libertyforum.org

So, does Dubya's administration meet the standard?  Read more here !

For a Media Tidbit,  I award Ms. Ditto with the "Champion Stater of the Obvious" award.

Did I mention I love her music?  Here's a booty remix of her most recognized song, Standing in the Way of Control:

Well, it's been too long since I posted.

As you may recall, my friend Burton Orwig passed away.  I've been kind of blue about that and haven't felt like doing much.  I seem to be getting over it and now I'm hoping to be back on track.

When I last posted, I bragged how I had I traded my 2004 Mazda RX-8 (worth about $16K but with $14.5K debt) for a 2005 Chrysler Convertible (new debt $11K).  I'm hoping this will jump start my debt reduction by reducing the amount of debt on my balance sheet (3.5K) and freeing up some operating cash to accelerate my debt repayment.

It's only been a couple weeks, so I can't report much progress (yet).  However, I am thoroughly enjoying the PT Convertible!  It's not that exciting as a driver's car... in fact it sort of wallows on it's overly soft, floaty suspension... but it IS a convertible and I've found that I love, love, love to drive with the top down (and tunes playing!).  I'm feeling very positive about this purchase.

I continue to be obsessed with the financial news, which has been all horrifying!  The Sub-Prime Debt fiasco is causing major market volatility and it is very unclear how this will effect the US Economy.  In the past, I've been thinking we are headed to a debt crisis in America.  If anything, I think I may have underestimated how bad the situation could be.

The past 7 years have seen an unprecedented (debt-fueled) real estate binge.  I've been railing for several years that the fundamentals are out of whack, especially here in Southern California.  Prudent financial guidance has been been drowned out by the Real Estate and Mortgage marketing machine touting a house as a "sure bet" and "safe investment." 

Reality Check:
Amount $1 invested in stocks in 1963 would have compounded to today: $12.36
Amount $1 invested in real estate in 1963 would have compounded to today: $1.79

(That data is sourced from www.stopthesqueeze.com <= a wonderful anti-debt site!)

Now that the housing market is tanking, I'm hopeful.  May cooler heads prevail!

Enough of the "dismal science" of Economics... How about some Music!? 

Today's Media Tidbit
I love DJ Paul V's podcast, The Smash Mix.  It is sponsored by some radio station, but I bypass the station site and get the mix directly from DJ Paul's site (http://www.thesmashmix.com).  Here's his latest SmashMix:

Inexplicably, I'm a fan of Dame Shirley Bassey.

Let's see... how can I explain this?  I love her for being so freaking OVER-THE-TOP!  From her red-light district past to James Bond themes (Moonraker and Goldfinger!)...  She's an unlikely star.  Personally, I can't listen to  Early Barbra Streisand without thinking she wanted to be Dame Shirley!  (Oddly enough, I am NOT a fan of Barbra's!  Though I like her politics!)

The cause of this confession is the release of Bassey's new CD Get the Party Started.

Anyways, I bought a copy of her new CD, wherein she tries to cash-in on her surprisingly successful DJ Project (her hits from the 1960's, Remixed) and her collaboration on History Repeating with Propellerheads... Conceptually, its a grand idea, except she's about 10 years too late!

The AMAZON Product Description for the new CD reads:
"Her First Album for Almost 10 Years which Celebrates her 70th Year and Combines New Recordings, New Vocals and Remixes by Some of Today's Most Contemporary Producers."

... but THAT doesn't begin to explain it!

By the way... it's only available on Amazon as an Import for $30+ new or $18+used. It is available for $9.99 on iTunes... Since she's big in Europe, I'm sure it's available for $2 or $3 on the Russian MP3 download sites.

The first cut is a cover of the P!nk hit, Get the Party Started. Oh. My. Gawd! Rarely does a song make you laugh out loud. Also included is are covers of Grace Jones/Slave to the Rhythm, Robert Flack's Where is the Love? and Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive. She plays it straight on these and seems to have no idea of her campiness...

I haven't heard anything approaching this level of camp since Ethel Merman's Disco Album. To give credit, Shirley is selling the hell out of these songs.

BUT....

Dame Shirley, puleeze! Make it stop! What is wrong with me? WHY DO I LIKE THIS?!  Oh! the burning embarrassment of my bad taste!

It is with deep shame that I admit that I also have the Diamonds R 4ever/Bassey REmix CD, The Propellerheads CD and her Greatest hits (hilariously titled "Goldsinger").

Today's Media Tidbit:
Dame Shirley Bassey's classic belting out of Get the Party Started.  Click below to stream it...

Meanwhile, in the real world... our government has turned against us.  You don't have to take it!  ACT UP!  FIGHT BACK!  TAKE ACTION!  When the people lead, the leaders will follow.  Beware corporate propaganda and work to put things right:

OK, that title is a joke!  Relax all you xenophobes!

I'm an American, and Love my country (even while I hate our current government!)

Anywho... back to the topic of MUSIC
Periodically, I review the Charts on either Billboard or one of the popular download sites, such as MP3 Sparks.

I tend to like the UK charts over the US charts because they are little more adventurous.  The US charts have come to be dominated by two factors, Corporate Packaging of Artists and the Dominance of Rap/Hip-Hop.  I actually like lots of the Rap/Hip-Hop but only the fun stuff.  The serious Gangsta stuff leaves me cold.  And some of the truly misogynistic stuff offends me!  No too surprising for a white, middle class guy in his mid-forties, I suppose.

The UK Charts often contain some great surprises... or stuff that's going to show up on the US charts in a couple of months.  That's how I discovered Amy Winehouse... and some stuff that charts in the UK, never makes it to the US (I'm thinking about Jamelia, particularly... she's the UK equivalent of Mary J Blige mixed with some Keyshia Cole.  She ROCKS!).  Sometimes the the UK pop chart will have a classical cut or opera or something in a language other than English... MUCH, much more adventurous than the US charts!

Anyways, I compiled a play list for y'all.  If you have pando (FREE and very simple to use!), you can download my latest compilation that was based on the UK Pop Singles Chart of MP3 Sparks as of 07/01/07 (Current Chart here)

Enjoy this MEDIA MEGABITE!

I drove out to the desert today.  As many of my "program friends" know, Burton O is in Eisenhower Medical with Cancer.   He's in good spirits but could use your visits (and prayers).

While driving there, I listened to the new Kelly Clarkson CD, My December,  in it's entirety. 

Pity poor Kelly, she's the big voiced winner of one of the cheesiest reality shows of all time... a fact she will have to spend the rest of her career to overcome.  Being winner of American Idol meant she was basically delivered into servitude with Clive Davis' "J Label" Records, to be groomed, mentored, recorded... basically packaged like baloney.

When you are a young, unknown, undiscovered talent with aspirations of stardom, I'm sure you don't read all the fine print when someone hands you a recording contract.  Why would you question your "big break?"

Kelly's current album is the getting mixed reviews... and too much of the ink is focused on her deteriorating relationship with Clive Davis and her attempts to become a more serious artist.  (see this articles: here and here and here)

This is unfortunate, because the CD is actually very good.  Yes,  it's a trite pop confection by someone it is difficult to consider as a "serious artist," but it's got some very notable high points.  It certainly outscores the dreadful recent release by Avril Lavigne!

As a member of a particular program, I took great interest in cut number 4 of the album: SOBER.  According to the liner notes and other sources, she takes partial writing credit for this cut.  It's from the point of someone at 90 days sobriety and pretty much nails that feeling... but I cannot find any reference in the gossip-sphere that she is in our little program.  Who knows, maybe she just liked the melody.  Either way, for me, it is the highlight of the CD.

Quick Review of Some Recent Releases
I've been listening to the following CD's Recently... my rating is a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 meaning SHIT! and  5 meaning "Still Listening to it over and over."  All other bitter commentary is mine alone!

• Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn Thing / Score = 1 (Best damn thing, my ass!  This CD SUCKS!  Highly disappointing ... Avril seems to be trying too hard to replicate past success with zero growth.  Avril, honey, you are not 16 anymore, grow up!)
  
• Big & Rich - Between Raising Hell & Amazing Grace / Score = 4 (Awesome Country/Rock/Soul Fusion, they remain one of my favorite cross over acts... they are in final edit phase of Jewel's new CD and I can't wait!)
  
• Gretchen Wilson - One of the Boys / Score = 3 (Still queen of the trailer park, she's sticking to the script with mixed results... she's hasn't stretched beyond her "Redneck Woman" appeal)
  
• Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full / Score = 4 (I really wanted to hate this CD, but I can't!)
  
• Charlotte Gainsbourg - 5:55 / Score = 5 (French pop sensation produced by English ambient producer... too cool for America?  This albums is all English except for one cut in French)
  
• Lily Allen - Alright Still / Score = 5 (UK Chart topper that is just not getting traction in the US... very fun CD with pop beats and highly clever lyrics)
  
• Betty Davis - Best of (Release of long lost Funk Superstar) / Score = 4 (Betty is one of the most sampled voices in Rap right now... and she hasn't recorded ANYTHING since the mid 70's... an enigma, She walked away from a critically acclaimed recording career and refuses to be interviewed about her past career success or her ex-hubby, Miles Davis)
  
• The Cliks - Snakehouse / Score = 4 (Lesbian "Boy Band" - worth knowing for their wonderful cover of Justin Timberlake's hit "Cry Me a River")
  
• Cast Recording - Spring Awakening / Score = 5 (Well deserved tony winner... Music penned by Alt-rock phenom, Duncan Sheik with Steven Sater Lyrics on some challenging topics.  Best, most contemporary stage musical since RENT).
  
• Cast Recording - Company Revival / Score = 1 (This is a revival of one of my favorite Sondheim musicals.  In spite of winning a Tony for best revival, it sucks when compared to the original)
  
• Cast Recording - Grey Gardens / Score = 2 (Christine won Tony for best Female lead in a musical, which was probably deserved since she carrying 99% of the weight of the creaky old-fashioned musical)
  
• Tori Amos - American Doll Posse / Score = 3 (High concept, poor execution... she needs re-tooling)
  
• Kelly Clarkson - My December / Score = 5 (This is the CD I expected from Avril... young artist taking risks with some notable success.  Unfortunately, her American Idol past makes it a "guilty pleasure")
  

TODAY'S MEDIA TIDBIT
Kelly Clarkson - SOBER