The Best Mogmerican Music Blogging Part 1
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Artist:
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Track:Simply The Best
I'm doing this on a lark, seeing some of my better posts and some that are lucky they got no responses. It's also an attempt for me to put links to some of the posts I enjoyed most in one place. I hope to continue to troll through mog and do this with other moggers and bring in some great outside music related links and stories too. Enjoy!
Foreword by Senator Ted Stevens
Contra band...What am I writing this about? Drugs?... (in audible off mike whispers) Handle? like a toilet handle? A nickname you say...hmm. Why doesn't he just write under his Christian name? (whispers) Shy? In my day...what is this about anyway? Rock and Roll, you say? That's just as bad as contraband. (more inaudible whispers) What is a ??Blog?? Oh it's on the internets is it. Why in the hell would they ask me? Now I don't really know what "blog" is or even what the internets are (other than a series of tubes), so I'm assuming this contraband loving fellow probably pops in his floppy drive and fires up his iPod and writes crazy drug fueled ravings of a mad man. And sadly, this is a free country (not for lack of trying on my party's part). So I guess it's alright for him to compile a collection of his writing, in one convenient place, just as long as he stays away from the pornographies and the MySpaceship. Please, don't read this as an endorsement of anything this crazy fellow of whom I know nothing about, nor would I be able to pick out of a police line up on fire. Perhaps if he ever writes anything along the lines of "Humor In Uniform", I may read him on my cell phones while switching hands on my motor cycle.
Whose Image Are You Exploiting? - October 10th, 2007
What’s behind a powerful album cover? Good art work? graphic design? Yep all of those contribute to some of my favorites. I have many different criteria for what makes a good album cover, vs. what makes a memorable one. Memorable album covers seem to have the sole trait of exploiting an event or familiar imagery to make it’s point. There always seems to be a certain “in your face”-ness of a album cover that exploits – you have to be the type of band that can stand behind the brazen imagery. Read more
One Spoonful At A Time - July 19th, 2007
On my way to work, I was in my daily routine of listening to NPR and a story came on about vaccination in children and teens. Basically the story was a piece how teens may be out of the loop for some diseases that they aren’t being vaccinated against. I have my suspicions, though at what all of this really does to our psyche as a people. We made the conscious decision to not vaccinate our child to until a later date (if absolutely necessary) when his immune system was more fully developed to handle the battery of vaccinations they tell you your child needs when their born. Nobody tells you though that you have the right to say “No”. Read More
Putting My Music Where My Mouth Is - July 18th, 2007
I recently posted about some great library finds that I acquired in a recent visit to my local library. I proposed that if everyone could give their local library $10 amonth, libraries could be a more accurate barometer of the vibrant arts thathappen all over our country. If that would be too steep for some of us ofmore limited income, than why not donate some of those CD’s that you neverreally got into, were tired of, or (if your feeling very altruistic) thoughtneeded to be heard by more people. Since I am usually lucky to get 2 or 3 dollars for a CD at a used CD store, I think it would be a wiser investment to donate the CD’s to your library where someone could get turned on to something they may have not heard. Read More
Les Paul Creative Genius With A Midas Touch of Class - July 14th, 2007
So I watched the PBS series American Masters – Les Paul: Chasing the Sound with my jaw in my lap. I knew a few facts about Les Paul – that he was the inventor of the solid body electric guitar (even though people sometimes think it was Fender, Pauls hollow body was actually a 4×4 with false attachments that made it look like a hollow body). But I was surprised to find out that he was an innovator of multi-track recording and portable recording. Not only that but he has played with just about all of the most important musicians of the 20th century. To say his influence to music is major is to put it mildly. His style can hit on elements of Jazz (he was hugely influenced by Django Rheinhardt), country (Gene Autrey gave him his first big break), along with one of the most impressive ears for melody and tone that I have ever heard. Read More
You Just Don't Find Many Shows Like This Anymore - July 6th, 2007
Growing up outside of Philadelphia, if you could make it through the self induced sugar coma you usually inflicted upon yourself every Saturday morning, you knew cartoons were over when Al Alberts Showcase came on. I can’t say I enjoyed it so much, but it is definitely one of those fascinating regional cultural things (kind of like the Mummers Parade), in which you might not be a huge fan, but it’s familiar, and it’s always there, so you accept it. Read More
I Am The Self Declared Mogger of the Week - June 19th, 2007
I noticed that in the latest issue of The Mog Gazette, there was one feature missing – Mogger of the Week.
So just as Michael Jackson can proclaim himself “King of Pop”, I declare myself “Mogger of the Week.” So here is my entry as follows, the facts are debateable and probably libelous to those whose names have been dropped.
One thing most moggers notice first about Contrabandwidth (CBW for short) is the modicum of humility he exhibits, after all he proclaimed himself “Mogger of the Week”, not “King of All Moggers”, or “Ruler of the Mogosphere” as one would be so apt to do, when self appointing themselves to a position...Read More
Bad Fathers Make Better Stories - June 18th, 2007As I’ve posted before, I’m new to the whole fatherhood game, but I really do love just about every moment of it. Even at its worst, time seems to just cruise by at two separate but equal speeds. In the worst of times cold molasses, those times are when your kid is sick, crying every couple hours or whatever. than there’s flash bulb quick which is when you look back at the past year and feel out of breath at the speed time just flew by at. Read More
A Little Musical Fiction From McSweeney's - May 24th, 2007( This one isn't mine, but it is funny)
JOHN MOE ’S POP -SONGCORRESPONDENCES ,VOLUME XVII .BY JOHN MOE– - – -A NOTE PLACED INTHE PAY ENVELOPE OFBILLY “THE PIANO MAN ” JOEL .
Hi, Billy,
It’s hard to find time to talk at the club since I’m busy managing the place and you’re at the piano. And we need to talk. I’ve occasionally given you a nervous smile hoping it would initiate a conversation, but that hasn’t worked out. I’m hoping that by writing my thoughts down, you’ll have a chance to read this when you’re at home or something.
I think you should sing songs. Actual songs. Because you don’t sing any at all right now. You’ve been playing at my club for three months, and though you’re a fine musician and an acceptable vocalist, these things you perform are just not songs in the traditional sense. They’re streams of observations about what the people in the club are doing, punctuated by the occasional “la la la, de de da da” when it’s clear you’ve run out of things to say. It’s just a continuous stream of musical small talk lasting up to five hours. How about “Stormy Weather” or “Yesterday” or something? Hell, “Feelings.” Anything. Do you need sheet music? I have some at home. link outta mog for this one
??Stay tuned for more...??
Foreword by Senator Ted Stevens
Contra band...What am I writing this about? Drugs?... (in audible off mike whispers) Handle? like a toilet handle? A nickname you say...hmm. Why doesn't he just write under his Christian name? (whispers) Shy? In my day...what is this about anyway? Rock and Roll, you say? That's just as bad as contraband. (more inaudible whispers) What is a ??Blog?? Oh it's on the internets is it. Why in the hell would they ask me? Now I don't really know what "blog" is or even what the internets are (other than a series of tubes), so I'm assuming this contraband loving fellow probably pops in his floppy drive and fires up his iPod and writes crazy drug fueled ravings of a mad man. And sadly, this is a free country (not for lack of trying on my party's part). So I guess it's alright for him to compile a collection of his writing, in one convenient place, just as long as he stays away from the pornographies and the MySpaceship. Please, don't read this as an endorsement of anything this crazy fellow of whom I know nothing about, nor would I be able to pick out of a police line up on fire. Perhaps if he ever writes anything along the lines of "Humor In Uniform", I may read him on my cell phones while switching hands on my motor cycle.
Whose Image Are You Exploiting? - October 10th, 2007
What’s behind a powerful album cover? Good art work? graphic design? Yep all of those contribute to some of my favorites. I have many different criteria for what makes a good album cover, vs. what makes a memorable one. Memorable album covers seem to have the sole trait of exploiting an event or familiar imagery to make it’s point. There always seems to be a certain “in your face”-ness of a album cover that exploits – you have to be the type of band that can stand behind the brazen imagery. Read more
One Spoonful At A Time - July 19th, 2007
On my way to work, I was in my daily routine of listening to NPR and a story came on about vaccination in children and teens. Basically the story was a piece how teens may be out of the loop for some diseases that they aren’t being vaccinated against. I have my suspicions, though at what all of this really does to our psyche as a people. We made the conscious decision to not vaccinate our child to until a later date (if absolutely necessary) when his immune system was more fully developed to handle the battery of vaccinations they tell you your child needs when their born. Nobody tells you though that you have the right to say “No”. Read More
Putting My Music Where My Mouth Is - July 18th, 2007
I recently posted about some great library finds that I acquired in a recent visit to my local library. I proposed that if everyone could give their local library $10 amonth, libraries could be a more accurate barometer of the vibrant arts thathappen all over our country. If that would be too steep for some of us ofmore limited income, than why not donate some of those CD’s that you neverreally got into, were tired of, or (if your feeling very altruistic) thoughtneeded to be heard by more people. Since I am usually lucky to get 2 or 3 dollars for a CD at a used CD store, I think it would be a wiser investment to donate the CD’s to your library where someone could get turned on to something they may have not heard. Read More
Les Paul Creative Genius With A Midas Touch of Class - July 14th, 2007
So I watched the PBS series American Masters – Les Paul: Chasing the Sound with my jaw in my lap. I knew a few facts about Les Paul – that he was the inventor of the solid body electric guitar (even though people sometimes think it was Fender, Pauls hollow body was actually a 4×4 with false attachments that made it look like a hollow body). But I was surprised to find out that he was an innovator of multi-track recording and portable recording. Not only that but he has played with just about all of the most important musicians of the 20th century. To say his influence to music is major is to put it mildly. His style can hit on elements of Jazz (he was hugely influenced by Django Rheinhardt), country (Gene Autrey gave him his first big break), along with one of the most impressive ears for melody and tone that I have ever heard. Read More
You Just Don't Find Many Shows Like This Anymore - July 6th, 2007
Growing up outside of Philadelphia, if you could make it through the self induced sugar coma you usually inflicted upon yourself every Saturday morning, you knew cartoons were over when Al Alberts Showcase came on. I can’t say I enjoyed it so much, but it is definitely one of those fascinating regional cultural things (kind of like the Mummers Parade), in which you might not be a huge fan, but it’s familiar, and it’s always there, so you accept it. Read More
I Am The Self Declared Mogger of the Week - June 19th, 2007
I noticed that in the latest issue of The Mog Gazette, there was one feature missing – Mogger of the Week.
So just as Michael Jackson can proclaim himself “King of Pop”, I declare myself “Mogger of the Week.” So here is my entry as follows, the facts are debateable and probably libelous to those whose names have been dropped.
One thing most moggers notice first about Contrabandwidth (CBW for short) is the modicum of humility he exhibits, after all he proclaimed himself “Mogger of the Week”, not “King of All Moggers”, or “Ruler of the Mogosphere” as one would be so apt to do, when self appointing themselves to a position...Read More
Bad Fathers Make Better Stories - June 18th, 2007As I’ve posted before, I’m new to the whole fatherhood game, but I really do love just about every moment of it. Even at its worst, time seems to just cruise by at two separate but equal speeds. In the worst of times cold molasses, those times are when your kid is sick, crying every couple hours or whatever. than there’s flash bulb quick which is when you look back at the past year and feel out of breath at the speed time just flew by at. Read More
A Little Musical Fiction From McSweeney's - May 24th, 2007( This one isn't mine, but it is funny)
JOHN MOE ’S POP -SONGCORRESPONDENCES ,VOLUME XVII .BY JOHN MOE– - – -A NOTE PLACED INTHE PAY ENVELOPE OFBILLY “THE PIANO MAN ” JOEL .
Hi, Billy,
It’s hard to find time to talk at the club since I’m busy managing the place and you’re at the piano. And we need to talk. I’ve occasionally given you a nervous smile hoping it would initiate a conversation, but that hasn’t worked out. I’m hoping that by writing my thoughts down, you’ll have a chance to read this when you’re at home or something.
I think you should sing songs. Actual songs. Because you don’t sing any at all right now. You’ve been playing at my club for three months, and though you’re a fine musician and an acceptable vocalist, these things you perform are just not songs in the traditional sense. They’re streams of observations about what the people in the club are doing, punctuated by the occasional “la la la, de de da da” when it’s clear you’ve run out of things to say. It’s just a continuous stream of musical small talk lasting up to five hours. How about “Stormy Weather” or “Yesterday” or something? Hell, “Feelings.” Anything. Do you need sheet music? I have some at home. link outta mog for this one
??Stay tuned for more...??
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