MOG - Taylspin's Posts

I Got Nothing

Taylspin — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:17:41 GMT

Remember that song that Ethan Hawke sang in Reality Bites, right before Winona Ryder dumped him for some homeless man she met on the street? I think it was called I'm Nothing or I've Got Nothing or I Bought Her Three Drinks at That Bar and Still...Nothin. I loved that song, more than the movie itself since its obvious that I barely remember the plot. Anyway just felt like writing in to say that I, too, am nothing. Nothing to contribute to MOG whatsoever. I still like music, I just don't feel like talking about it as much. For the time being, I'd rather just shut up and listen.

Handlebar Mustaches Grow on This Mix

Taylspin — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:25:58 GMT

That's how hard rockin and straight up 70's it is. I'm putting together my favorite gritty, heavy, shameless, screeching, fuck-it-all songs from the good old days, before MTV, before hairspray interfered with rock n' roll, back when men's mustaches were long and beautiful and their athletic shorts were very, very short. Its the time that Jim Carrey pays tribute to at the Oscars that one year when he dressed up like Jim Morrison and asks the production studio if it would kill them to play a little more Foghat. "

If you have a penchant for hard 70s rock, please take my recommendations or add your favorite to the list! 1. Hair of the Dog - Nazareth 2. All Right Now - Free 3. Godzilla - Blue Oyster Cult 4. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent 5. Rocky Mountain Way - Joe Walsh 6. Slow Ride - Foghat 7. Stone Cold Crazy - Queen

Gift Idea for Karaoke Fan

Taylspin — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 02:27:09 GMT

I'm making my brother and his wife a "karaoke hits" mix for Christmas, because they both LOVE karaoke. I am still not sure how I'm going to do it, but I think I can use my mixer to turn down the vocals and re-record songs. Anybody tried that before? Ok, and heres's my list of songs so far. I hope they'll want to dive right in and start singing to these but its hard to say what makes someone want to sing. Nostalgia may have a lot to do with it, or number of Fuzzy Navels consumed. I would WELCOME ANY SUGGESTIONS for killer karaoke singalongs.

If You Like Pina Coladas - Barry Manilow All By Myself - Eric Carman We Didn't Start the Fire - Billy Joel Charlie Brown - The Coasters Pennsylvania Polka - Frankie Yankovic (a song for people who like the movie Groundhogs Day) Sometimes When We Touch - Dan Hill Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler Gold Digger - Kanye West Bitches Ain't Shit - Ben Folds Mr. Roboto - Styx Closing Time - Matchbox Twenty

I would also be happy to mail any karaoke fans a copy of the mix when I'm done! Let me know.

Love 80s Hair Metal? Check out the Monster Ballad Xmas Album!

Taylspin — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 23:53:45 GMT
To all the big haired hard rocking elves in town - especially those who want to piss off the neighbors - you gotta play this year's Monster Ballad Xmas album. Nothing says Happy Fuckin Holidays better than Stryper screeching Winter Wonderland. According to the producers, this album will help you "bring the party vibe into the holiday season with enough hairspray to further enlarge the hole in the ozone layer above the North Pole." I'm not sure it will be a huge party hit - but its definitely funny!

Twisted Sister - O Come All Ye Faithful
I downloaded a few songs from the album, and was siked to see appearances from some of the most glorious, long haired monster ballad rockers, like Skid Row, Winger, and Dokken (why was Queensryche grouped w/ them though?) Then a Christmas truth hit me like a snowball to the face. I remembered that I really only like these hair metal freaks for nostalgic reasons. Sorry Dee Snyder. Love the makeup, though. But to me, hair metal music itself was and still is not that great, so hearing new Christmas music from these guys is kinda lame. Maybe if I breathed in more Aqua Net fumes as a preteen I'd understand. Its cheesy, but fun, and hey, these bands never took themselves too seriously anyway. I'd say its worth taking a break from Bing to headbang!

Had a Bad Dream

Taylspin — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 22:22:48 GMT
I had a terrible dream last night. I dreamt that I was in my kitchen, fixing my usual peanut butter sandwich, when my boyfriend walked in and said that he had some news. He said that Two Step by Dave Matthews had been voted the Best Song Ever Made by the United States government. And as US citizens we were required by law to agree that it was the best song. I shook me head in disbelief. "Sure, its a good song, but the best?? This...can't...be.." Panic ran through my veins, then a sickness came over me, as I thought about what this meant, what it said about us as a country. Tom chuckled and shrugged as he reached for a beer in the fridge. "It's the best," he said, "so you're just going to have to accept it."

What a relief to wake up.

I don't like many drug company ads, but I do like the ad for some insomnia drug, which features a beaver and Abe Lincoln. I thought it might be funny to dress up like them for Halloween, but no one wanted to be Abe Lincoln.

What Bands Are You Thankful for This Year?

Taylspin — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 17:31:10 GMT

Thanksgiving is over (although at least in my lower GI, digestion of all that green bean casserole is still far from complete) and we're only a few weeks away from the ball dropping on 2008. I have to take a moment to say THANKS to the bands I discovered, or was kindly introduced to, this year. It wouldn't be the same year without their music, which I was completely unaware of before 2007. And I owe it all to my trusted friends, MOGGERS, and fellow train passengers who let me peer over their shoulder at their Ipod screen. Thank you all for the wealth of music!

Arcade Fire (never get tired of them) Gotan Project (Weird Al always said the accordion is a sexy instrument) Girl Talk (amazingly creative mash ups) The Sounds (frivolous, fun 80s throwbacks) Kings of Leon (son of a preacher man, defied convention,did a truckload of drugs in the name of Jesus)

Now what bands are you thankful for? Maybe I'll get all Chris Columbus on your ass and take advantage of other people's discoveries.

Cool Voice Needed for the Hottest Day of the Year

Taylspin — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 20:59:15 GMT

When your opening act is the Beatles, you've gotta be good. Elvis called him the greatest singer in the world, and Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees referred to him as the "Voice of God." It's perhaps because his label didn't market him as cleverly or because his looks weren't astronomical, his talent was underrated. But when the summer in Philadelphia starts getting unbearably stickily hot like it is today, I don't think there's anything more refreshing than the sound of Roy Orbison's voice, smooth as a breeze, to soak through you and cool you down. Here is a song I love to hear on the hottest days of the year. What do you listen to to cool you down?

Have you ever disliked someone simply because of their bad taste in music?

Taylspin — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 12:35:34 GMT

My good friend is dating a guy who may indeed be a wonderful boyfriend and the best damned lover that a woman's ever had, but I personally can't STAND the guy. And its all because of his absolutely appalling, abysmal taste in music. he absolutely ADORES Nickelback, Kenny Chesney, and Dawtry (sp?). Tailgates on every tour. I never thought I would judge him in this way - I guess I'm a musicist?

Do you dream in your sleep?

Taylspin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:00:18 GMT

I recently read about a study in Psychology Today that showed that musicians have musical dreams. Interestingly, the study also found that about a third of musical dreams reported by musicians contain compositions unfamiliar to the dreamers. I had my first musical dream two nights ago - it was some sort of chase scene and I distinctly heard that song Block Rocking Beats. I wasn't exactly breaking new musical ground with that one and I'm no Mozart, but I was happy when I woke up. It was a new experience, and I was a new man! Er, woman. Because you are such a gifted, musical bunch, I thought I'd ask...am I the last Mogger to climb aboard the Musical Dream Express? Ever come up with new music in your sleep?

Who's the biggest loser on Mog?

Taylspin — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 15:34:40 GMT
I've been down with OPP (other people's posts) for a while and I'm coming to the grim conclusion that, at least in this community, I'm the biggest dorky loser stupidface here. I've noticed that I'm not "hip" to the latest concerts, I don't have an "in with band members" or even know when bands are coming to town. I try to keep up with the latest artists but find myself clinging to my blankie of mix tapes I made in 1997, with songs like "Gin and Juice" and "Walk on the Ocean." Maybe I am not savvy enough to "blog online" or even "aim for the toilet." I feel like the Bennett Brauer of MOG. Awkward and lacking musical relevance, just like me.

My Favorite New Song Can Be Your Favorite New Song

Taylspin — Mon, 28 May 2007 16:50:52 GMT

Dan Le Sac and Scroobius Pip have put out the best new song I've heard all summer. Kinda like Lily Allen for guys. He reminds me of Ali G, with more of a bite.

Ten Ways to Celebrate Bob Dylan's Birthday!

Taylspin — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:05:48 GMT

Here are some ideas to celebrate Bob turning whatever age he's claiming to be!

1. Look up Robert Zimmerman in the phone book and call him (or them) to extend a personal birthday greeting. 2. Pull out that rusty harmonica and play until your lips are chapped and bleeding. 3. Play Bob's first hit original album from beginning to end. "The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan" was released in 1963 and was his first step on the path to international fame. 4. Make up a hip new name for yourself and insist that others use it for the rest of the day. 5. Rent the films "Billy the Kid", "Don't Look Back" or "The Last Waltz," and feel better that Bob's musical genius is tempered by mediocre acting skills. 6. Celebrate freedom. Burn something on your front lawn, write a letter to someone wrongfully accused in prison, or go commando. 7. Listen to artists who inspired Bob, like Robert Johnson, Hank Williams Sr., Leadbelly, Woody Guthrie, and Blind Willie McTell. 8. Act the part. Tease your hair out nice and big, wear black sunglasses and a black shirt, slouch, say cynical stuff like "just because you like my stuff doesn't mean I owe you anything," and chainsmoke until you pass out. 9. Play your favorite Dylan song over and over and sing along. On repeat in my CD player are The Times They are a Changin' and Desolation Row. 10. Get a ticket to ride, on a bus or a train, and don't worry about the destination. Share birthday cake with your fellow passengers and get the whole crowd to sing Happy Birthday Bob Dylan!

Take Your Tongue Out My Mouth Cuz I'm Kissing You Goodbye: The Funniest Country Songs

Taylspin — Sat, 19 May 2007 12:56:38 GMT

Hey if there's already a post about this, sue me. Yesterday I and the rest of the trucking community were paralyzed by another heartwrenching country ballad by Brad Paisley. It's hard to see the road when Brad croons "I'd like to check you for ticks." It don't get much better than this! Hand me that gun, please.

Just Say Yes: Drug Use and the Creative Genius

Taylspin — Fri, 18 May 2007 10:58:06 GMT

Contrabandwidth recently made a post (http://mog.com/contrabandwidth/blog_post/74997) about drugs, which led me to ask a question about the correlation between drugs, depression, and music. On May 22, Ozzy Osbourne will release his first album of all-new material in six years, titled "Black Rain," the first album in his life that he has created sober. When asked why there's been such a gap between studio projects, Osbourne told Launch that it took him a long time to realize he could write and record music while being completely clean and sober. "I used to get so frustrated with myself," he said. "I mean, I thought that you had to get loaded to make songs. I just thought drugs and alcohol are probably the major inspiration of making music, which I truly believed that because I'd never made a record without using it. And I thought it was that was making me creative."
Writing and creating music requires an open, inspired state of mind. Whether or not one causes the other, there is no doubt that creative people, people who are more attracted to fantasy than reality, tend to be more musical and more open to drug use than less creative types. They often tend to be more depressed. So is it wrong to appreciate music that was created while the artist was unbelievably high or severely depressed? I sometimes feel like the albums produced when a band or lead singer is suddenly very happy or content in his or her life, the music gets stale. And personally, my creative fires burn brightest when the rest of my life is at its most miserable. Do you think that sometimes, the drugs and/or depression actually help make better music? What are other ways that artists achieve inspiration?
(psst: don't worry, I'm not with the Feds)

The Quintessential Summer Mix

Taylspin — Wed, 16 May 2007 21:40:01 GMT

What's on yours? Mine vary from year to year, but seem to always include: 1. Little Green Bag - ?? 2. Bring it on Home to Me - Otis Redding 3. Don't Know Much - Sam Cooke 4. Africa Unite, Rastaman Chant, Three Little Birds, and many more - Bob Marley 5. Summertime Breeze - Isley Brothers 6. Summer Girls - LFO 7. Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly and the Family Stone 8. Wind Cries Mary - Jimi Hendrix 9. Murder She Wrote - Chaka Demus 10. Can I Kick It? - Tribe Called Quest 11. At least one country song that doesn't piss off non-country folk (songs like "She Thinks My Tractor's Sexy" or "I'd Pick the Ticks Off of You")

Fun, but...yawn. Let's be honest - this summer set is as worn out as Dave freakin Matthews after he forced himself through Crash for the one-billionth time in concert. I know there's MANY other excellent slip-n-slide songs out there, I just don't know what they are. So I'd love to hear your recommendations.
Footnote: Has this post already been written elsewhere? I do apologize, as I am often out of the cool Mogger's loop. If so, please alert me to that link. I may be out of touch because I don't write very often on here. Or it might be because I happen to be a crossbreed between a human and a wild Irish pony. I know what you're wondering...yes, I have considered going back to Ireland and becoming a horse full time, but I lack hooves on my forelegs which has prevented me from racing.

On Mother's Day: What Music Did Your Mom Introduce to You?

Taylspin — Sun, 13 May 2007 11:26:55 GMT

Thanks to Mog, I think about more events in my life from a musical angle. Even the more conservative, sedate holidays like Mother's Day can have new life when you start considering the musical side of them. For example, today, I'm wondering what kind of songs we'll play that will make all the moms in my family happy, what songs my mom listened to at my age, and whether she too listened to those songs at full blast up in her bedroom while playing air guitar in front of the full-length mirror. I'm thankful that my mom gave me the genes responsible for caring about music, that she sang me lullabies every night until I fell asleep, that she let me pick the radio station on car trips, that she forced me through the piano lessons, and that these days, she shows genuine appreciation for the random, off-the-wall mixes I make for her. Here's the top five songs that Mom introduced to my life. Thanks or no thanks, they're a part of me now!

1. Puff the Magic Dragon (Peter Paul and Mary) - lullaby 2. Run for the Roses (Kenny Rogers) - lullaby 3. Get Out of My Dreams, Get Into My Car (Billy Ocean) 4. For the Longest Time (Billy Joel) - road trip singalong 5. Shut up in the Library (Barry Polisar) 6. You Were a Mistake (her own recording)

Just kidding about that last one. She only sang that one to my brother! Ha ha.

Name Your Highest Concert Ticket Price.

Taylspin — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 16:20:42 GMT

Feel that tingle? That slow burn, deep inside your colorectal cavity? That's the good old fashioned concert ticket price sting. So what's the MOST you would pay (or have paid) for a concert ticket? To see what artist? Is the pain worth it?

Background info from RollingStone.com...The experience of going to a concert has gotten more expensive In 1999, the average concert ticket cost $36.56; four years later, the price skyrocketed to $50.35, an increase of thirty-eight percent. And that's only part of the total. Clear Channel's extra fees have outpaced even ticket prices. When Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament and Stone Gossard testified in Congress against Ticketmaster in 1994, the battle centered on a $3.50 service charge. Today, Clear Channel regularly charges more than twice that. For the May 27th Cypress Hill show at Detroit's 1,400-seat Clutch Cargo club, tickets cost $30, but there's also a $7.20 "convenience charge" and a 75-cent facility fee. "Struggling" musicians are also to blame for rising ticket prices. In 2002, David Bowie was quoted in the NY Times saying that music downloading has cut into the revenue stream of musicians. The solution? Tour like crazy and charge as much as the market will bear. But are more expensive concert tickets a sustainable solution for musicians who are trying to survive the digitally evolving music industry?

How to Get Backstage

Taylspin — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 22:31:46 GMT

For April Fools this year, I pranked several friends and told them I had backstage passes to concerts that I know they are going to. They all believed me and were so deliriously excited that I felt bad breaking the "APRIL FOOLS" news to them. It also made me start wondering - what if I could make it happen? Two concerts this month - Placebo and Chris Cornell - would be even more amazing if I could hang out with these artists (ok, maybe just gawk at them creepily from across the room like a recidivist sex offender). So to all my fellow Moggers, Have you ever been backstage? How did you get back there? And was it as nerve-wracking and insanely exciting as you had imagined? DO TELL.

Any DJs Out With Advice For a Beginner?

Taylspin — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:58:21 GMT

Confession: I want to be a DJ. I think the first clue came to me after hours spent air-spinning at a bar (air spinning on turntables, like air guitar, is usually played by rookies is just starting out in the field whose lack of instrument is made up for by determination and fanatacism).
Do any of you know how to DJ and could recommend some basic equipment? I'm ready to take this obsession to the next level, even if its just for my friend's kid's 2nd birthday. (guess what you get for your birthday, little Jimmy?! An exclusive 45-minute Daft Punk remix!) Oh, and I'd really like recommendations on USB compatible equipment, because I don't want to start buying albums or dusting off my parents Clapton and Linda Ronstadt records. The dudes at Guitar Center recommended the Cortex HDC-1000 digital music player that reads two songs at a time from one ipod, so you only need one ipod to get started. But is that the best out there? I've heard of Numark's i-DJ too. Moggers are always so multitalented, so I thought you'd be good to ask. What can I do w/ a mixer that the digital player can't do? Must a girl carry an amp, or are speakers enough? For all the DJs in the house who want to give some real equipment recommendations, let me hear you say YEAH!! (but don't wave your arms like you just don't care - the world needs you to keep spinning!) Thanks!!

Fun Friday Singalong Song!

Taylspin — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:36:55 GMT

You'll need plastic surgery to remove your smile after you hear this addictive little number by the legendary comedians Steve Martin (Lucky Day) and Martin Short (Ned Nederlander)! Play it twice and you'll already know the words by heart - its that simple. (If you haven't seen Three Amigos, here's the premise: Lucky and Ned walk into a tough Mexican cantina with NO idea that the patrons there don't listen to showtunes)

Music to Soothe the Madness

Taylspin — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 21:08:14 GMT

My best friend Beth lives in New York City, in the Village, in the midst of "it all." I live in a cookie cutter neighborhood in a sleepy suburb in Pennsylvania. She likes more chill music (aka the Shins, Sufjan Stevens, the Neville Brothers) and I prefer loud energetic music with lots of bass. I hypothesize that people who live in cities and take subways and want to zone out amidst the crowds may prefer calmer music, whereas people in the burbs like me need all the excitement they can GET, and therefore may want more loud and obnoxious soundtracks. That's just a crazy guess though.

As you can see here, at least we agree on what song to sing for karaoke. This time, its Michael Bolton's "How Can We Be Lovers if We Can't Be Friends."

Oldie but a goodie

Taylspin — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 19:20:03 GMT

Its a good running, jumping, beating up your little brother kind of song!

Runners Anthems?

Taylspin — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 19:11:37 GMT

I love running to music! Who doesn't? I look at it this way - I'm a horrible dancer, but to me, running is like dancing, because its a way to move to the music I love (without getting laughed at or spit on at clubs). If I'm outside for more than a couple miles, I really need to listen to music. It puts a soundtrack to the scenery and makes me forget the pain (perhaps from the fact that I forgot to put one shoe on). Now I have even more reason to get a good soundtrack together - I just signed up for the South Dakota marathon in June and now I have to start putting in some serious miles. Do any of you love running to music too? What music would you recommend I make for a two- to three-hour mix? I run to all kinds of music, electronic, metal, rock, new alternative stuff, although I am not too inspired by anything pop, girlie sounding, slow, or 80s (minus Yazoo, which i LOVE). Any recommendations?

How do you define "quality" in music?

Taylspin — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 11:57:05 GMT

Is there a science to the songs you like? As I referred to in my last post, there's a company today who can predict hit music. Essentially they have defined some objective factors that create "quality" in music. But I'm like, all, whatever, just let me hear those fresh beats! So that made me wonder - would I be able to define, in subjective terms, what factors make music sound good to me? How come I love every song the Gorillaz shit out but barf at the sound of Jeff Buckley? If I was going to make rules about what I like, I would say that in general, high energy > slow; heavy bass > no bass; two or more melodies overlayed on top of each other > simple tune, male voice > female voice. Oh, and basically any song requested on TRL (just kidding...). Would anyone else dare to define their idea of "quality music"?

A Machine That Predicts Hit Songs

Taylspin — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 15:28:05 GMT

Ever wonder why a song becomes a top 40 hit, or why an album sells twenty million copies? What makes a song listenable? Do musicians get big because of luck? Because they're white boys with a cute lead singer? No, not according to Platinum Blue, a tech start-up company in New York that uses a proprietary computer program to measure mathematical relationships among all of a song’s structural components: melody, harmony, beat, tempo, rhythm, octave, pitch, chord progression, cadence, sonic brilliance, frequency, and, based on those factors, predict whether a song is likely to become a hit with 80 percent accuracy.They estimated that Norah Jones would have nine hits on her fourteen-song "Come Away With Me" album - an unheard of number - and the album went on to sell 20 million copies and win eight Grammys. They also figured out why "Crazy" was such a big hit for Gnarls Barkley...and what's even more fascinating, why "Crazy" has similar structural components to popular songs composed by Mozart and Beethoven centuries ago. If you are into music and the psychology and logic behind it like me, read "The Formula," http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/061016fa_fact6) an article by Malcolm Gladwell - it will absolutely blow your mind.

Top 10 Reasons to Attend Coachella

Taylspin — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:39:39 GMT

This April, California gets showered with song during a three-day music festival called "Coachella". Here are the top ten reasons you should go:
10. You can watch Lupe Fiasco kick, push, and coast w/ some of the best hip hop of the year.
9. You, like me, have never been to a giant music festival before, at least not one that your mom didn't drop you off and pick you up from in a minivan.
8. Your friend Skeeze owns a van, and already owes you a favor.
7. The Red Hot Chili Peppers, the inventors of rap rock, are headlining the show!
6. Celine Dion will be headlining - in Las Vegas - a safe 800 miles away.
5. You scored some ecstasy from your brother but haven't picked the perfect venue for it.
4. Cali is due for a good wildfire - and your Zippo during the encore could contribute!
3. That child support check can wait - this is a much more memorable way to spend $250.
2. Could be the last time Rage Against the Machine are ever together on stage.
1. The list of artists involved is too long to put into any list - it's going to be that awesome of a party!!

Are any of you excited about this festival? Check it out at http://www.coachella.com if you haven't already. Maybe I'm too old, maybe its going to be crowded and hot, but who cares, maybe I'll see you there!

Funny Song

Taylspin — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 01:13:24 GMT

I am glad MOG added the capability to include an mp3 in posts. Here is the recent funny one I heard from the Lonely Island guys. Go to their website thelonelyisland.com for more if you are into this kind of goofy stuff!

Judging Musicians By More Than Their Music

Taylspin — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 04:26:43 GMT

I found out that a band I recently 'discovered' - Flyleaf - is a Christan rock band or at least marketed as Bible thumpers. For a split second I wondered if I should continue to like them, since I'm not very religious and don't feel lifted up by song sermons. But then I slapped myself hard and said "HEY, music is music. Now go get some ice before this swells up." Do you have any bands that you have written off or, on the contrary, liked MORE because of their personal beliefs or off-stage activities?

What Songs Make You Feel Like a F#$%*ing Bad Ass?

Taylspin — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 00:36:56 GMT

When I feel angry/tough/uninterested in impressing anyone else on earth, I crank up some bad ass shit. I ain't talkin bout NKOTB's Hangin Tough either, although when I was 10 that jam was almost as edgy as tinted lip gloss. I had a shitty week, so tonight, I'm going to clean my house and listen to songs that makes me feel real tough...including Sister's of Mercy Lucretia My Reflection, Rage's Wake Up, Metallica's Four Horseman, Ayria's My Revenge on the World, and Wu Tang's entire Enter the 36 Chambers. The beauty is, everybody's different. What songs do you throw on like body armor?

Songs That Make You Laugh

Taylspin — Thu, 04 Jan 2007 01:45:20 GMT

I love to laugh! AHA HA HA HA! Long and loud and clear! Do you also enjoy the occasional chuckle? Perhaps through a certain song that you fancy? I heart the Lonely Island boys. Have you heard their Lazy Sunday or the Heist? Check out their ridiculous Bing Bong Bros. song (spoof of Ying Yang Whisper song): http://www.thelonelyisland.com/bingbong.html. Steven Lynch also makes me laugh. And although I like Dane Cook's standup, I was disappointed by his new single "I'll Never Be You." So let me in on your jokes - what songs/musical skits make you laugh til it hurts?

A Music Lover's Guide to Getting Laid

Taylspin — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 15:55:14 GMT

It's nighttime at your place, you're feeling frisky, and even though you're both a few cocktails into the night, you are both still wearing pants! What album(s) do you pop in before the romance begins or in a desperate last-ditch effort to get some? C'mon, is Barry White really still indirectly responsible for half the world's population? And please don't tell me that Maroon 5 is the reason you're pushing a stroller right now. What tunes turn you or your date into a SURE THING?

Welcome to Hell.....

Taylspin — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:38:37 GMT

Whenever I hear that Christmas song "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" piped in through the loudspeakers in the mall during the holidays, I head straight out to the parking lot and hook a hose up from my muffler to the front window. The guy's booming, overly cheery voice about hearts aglowing and mistletoeing sounds like a madman's right before he goes on a multi-town killing spree. I'm no scrooge (I don't mind other holiday songs, within reason) but this song is what I imagine they blast through a rickety little radio at my fiery gates of hell. What's playing at your entrance?

Song, I've Fallen For You Like a Blind Roofer....

Taylspin — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 01:40:14 GMT

At first it's a spark. Then you spend some more time together, and it turns you on and on and you can't get it out of your head. You feel tingly, dry mouthed, warmed up, aching, happy and sad at the same time. Yes, Mom and Dad, I know you don't approve, I know that he's not Ted Ferguson, the captain of the football team and the president of the Young Republicans, but I don't care! I am IN LOVE WITH A SONG and you can't stop me! Is this love? Can a short collection of perfectly chosen notes make a truly profound imprint on one's soul? I think so. What song have you fallen for?

Best Album of Last Twenty Years?

Taylspin — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 05:23:17 GMT

Is Brandon Flowers just a bit biased and egotistical about the Killers' new album, Sam's Town, being one of "the best albums of the last twenty years"? Maybe he's crazy, but I do enjoy Sam's Town (the album is much more inspiring and energetic than the depressing, dimly lit casino in Nevada that hope and God seemed to have forgot). What albums do you think defined rock and roll in the last two decades? I will post my answers shortly...

Artists You'd Most Like to Be Locked Backstage With....

Taylspin — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 01:53:53 GMT

In my fantasy: More Evian please. Yes, a lot more Evian. And another bag of ice please. Yes, and some privacy would be very nice, thank you.
OK so I have a few people who I wouuld like to be locked backstage with for all the right (I respect their sound, their artistic talent, their greatness) and wrong reasons (I'd like to get them drunk and bang them backside with no rubber...if I were a guy). What about YOU? In fantasyland, who is locked backstage with you?

Top Five Rappers of All Time?

Taylspin — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:01:25 GMT

Who are the top five solo rap artists of all time? I put Biggie and Tupac at the top. Biggie has lyrical versatility and a better sense of humor, and Tupac's style is like rapid spit fire - his command over the sound of the words. Then I'd say Eminem. A lot of people hate him, but the angry white boy's got skills. He is extremely talented as a freestyler and doesn't rely on his beats to carry the song. I'd also like to add Jay Z (particularly for his old school stuff...not a big fan of his newest "comeback" album) and Nas. Jay Z wins because he appeals to the mainstream. I think there is something to be said for achieving widespead popularity. Although he may be hitting a low common denominator and not challenging his audience, he has found something that resonates with more people. And I think that alone is genius. Perhaps that's more of a producer's gift, not a rapper's...But his rapping is pretty good too. And Nas rules. He's amazing. I'm less familiar with all of his works though. Who do YOU think should be up here?

I'm excited to be here!

Taylspin — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 12:17:27 GMT

And not at work. They've been calling me for the last 40 minutes and I just turned my cell phone to silent. Whatever, guys. The toilets couldn't have gotten that dirty since my last shift on Saturday. After this many years on this planet, I know what's important in life. Friendship, laughter, love, two for one special on hookers and bags of blow* (*only in Weehawken, Nevada), and music...I'll think of some other stuff later....