So I’m listening to Celtic Music Podcast, and I hear Merry Wives of Windsor doing Whiskey in the Jar. Not bad. But then I realize that the words aren’t quite right… they’ve rewritten it from Jenny’s perspective (.mp3). Very cool.
Website: http://www.mwow.net/
When it comes to my preferred software for organizing my (kinda large) music collection, I do not turn to iTunes. I’m a Winamp girl, have been for a very long time. So, seeing that for the first time *ever* I’ve got a CD player in my car, I figured I’d re-create my old box of “car music”. (Once upon a time, it was an actual shoebox filled with cassettes).
No big, right? I’ve used Winamp to rip and burn disks for ages, and never a problem, until today. It simply will not burn a disk, and I’m blessed if I can figure out why. All the hardware is working fine, I’ve upgraded to 5.5, I’ve double checked all my drivers, and still nothing. iTunes, on the other hand, is burning disks for me with nary a complaint.
This means I have to *deal* with iTunes, which feels more like I’m babysitting a five year old who’s trying to be “helpful”.
Yes, you can find my music…. NO, do NOT move my music, just find it. I spent a long time organizing those directories just so. No, I do not want to go to the store. No, do not copy my music to the iTunes directory. It’s fine where it is. No, you do not need to copy those .wma fles to .aac format, I won’t be playing them here anyway. Yes, there are nice things in the store but that’s not where we need to go right now. No, I don’t need to look at the album art. Yes, I’m sure the album art is pretty but no, we don’t need to look at it right now. We’re going to burn a disk with 2/3 of my Tom Petty tracks. No, we’re not going to burn two disks, just the tracks I’m selecting right now. No, a “smart playlist” was not what I wanted. No, put those extra tracks down now! Ok, see, we’re burning the one single boring disk. Thank you. No, we’re still not going to the store.
Comment and I’ll give you a letter. In your journal, list ten of your favorite songs that begin with that letter. Mcallahan gave me a J, so here’s my list:
Just Got Lucky - Dokken
Jump Jive ‘n’ Wail - Brian Setzer Orchestra
Juke-Joint Jezebel - KMFDM
John Barlycorn - Steeleye Span
Jig Of Life - Kate Bush
Jesse’s Girl - Rick Springfield
Javert’s Suicide - Les Misérables
James Connolly - Black 47
Jacks Obsession - Danny Elfman
Jack in the Green - Jethro Tull
Pandora isn’t just good for background music - I’ve been reminded about artists I love but don’t listen too much (The Jeff Healey Band), and others I’m kicking myself for not finding out about earlier (Azam Ali).
Also, I really need to pick up the soundtrack for At World’s End. (But I knew that already)
Last.fm on the other hand, is not showing me the love. It can’t seem to make up it’s mind if it’s a social networking site or a streaming music site. (Pick a direction and stick with it, guys.)
Having a song stuck in your head is annoying, but having a song that you don’t really like (or even hate) stuck on mental repeat sucks ever so much more. It’s been easier since the radio in the warehouse broke and I’m no longer treated to the “no repeat” play list of the local dance station. Today though, I have to blame Big Love for giving me today’s mental track of “tiny dancer”. (which I don’t associate with Elton John at *all* for some reason, although I am having scenes from “Almost Famous” pop though my head.)
On another note, this post reminds me of how much I really love the movie version of 1776, and how much I should really go and pick up a copy now that it’s on DVD. John/Abby totally set up my later love for Beatrice/Benedick, and I would always force myself to sit though “momma, look sharp” even though it still reduces me to a pathetic pile of tears. (I am such a sentimental weeper at movies it is not to be believed.)
And really, it it any wonder that little junior high me completely pinged on this version of John Adams? Obnoxious and disliked and pugnacious and everything I wanted to be (well, when I wasn’t wanting to grow up and be Sandy at the end of Grease) and he got a beautiful, witty, and amazing wife to boot. Yup, he was my hero.
Between Bill and myself, we’ve got a very respectable music collection, heavy on the ecelectic. I’ve got all of mine plus maybe a third of his on my external hard drive, and stream tracks directly to our old but still very servicable stereo. I don’t work well in total silence, and usually something’s on for background noise. Since the old TV died in the summer (and the new one only gets turned on for movies, if that) It’s been the radio or the home jukebox to keep my ears occupied, and I’ve noticed something of late - I’m ignoring my rock collection. Actually, I’m ignoring almost anything that’s got a vocal track.
(more…)
Gabriel passes on Genesis reunion - so I stared at this for a full miniute before I realized they were talking a bout a rock band reunion (and though I’m fond of Peter Gabriel, I like his solo work better, and prefer Genesis with Phil Collins) because for those first few monents, all I could think, was…. “an Archangel’s going to snub a reunion in the garden of Eeden?”
My brain is a very strange place.