Geek love, dum dums and their rabid fans, and making music pay

Hey!*waves* It's been a while since I updated anything. Not a long while but at least a week. I don't think anybody missed it too much if at all. Want to know the reason I was away? Well it combines two of my favorite things and it kind of makes me depressed. I was playing Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for Wii. God, I need a girlfriend. So If anyone knows of a girl who likes Star Wars and digs guys who like music they should let me know. I know they are out there. I once went to a video game store a few years ago and there was a pretty looking girl working there and I thought "Wow thats, 1. Awesome and 2. Really rare." After perusing I found something worth purchasing and went to pay and this girl had the Imperial and Rebel insignia tattooed on each wrist. I was so in awe I was tongue tied and couldn't spit out something funny like I went back to that place a few more times but never saw her again. Maybe I should have used some of these pickup lines. Er...maybe not.

Symphony X - Star Wars Suite

I just had to mention this because it's so funny to me. I recently read an article on myspace about how Lauren Conrad, or L.C. from the TV show the Hills, has a new book out. I guess it was number one on the New York Times best seller list and when I saw that I had to laugh. I decided to read the comments and those were quite funny too either they were making fun of her of people were saying she was their role model. Which made me laugh even harder. So I thought I would throw my two cents in as well. I was one of the ones making fun of her and wrote something to the effect of how I can't believe the book reached that high and there must have been so really bad books released that week. I also left a little blurb about how if people were seeing her as a role model they should re-evaluate and look elsewhere than an MTV generation dummy. Well I just went and checked my myspace account today and I received this message from one of her fans. "and let me guess who your role model is? the creepy molester guy that raped you when you turned 7? STOP HATING ON PEOPLE YOU DONT EVEN KNOW, JEALOUS BITCH" Ah, how I love the internet flame. At first I was just going to delete it and forget about it but then I thought, "No. I'll send her something back." Here was my response. Thanks for further proving my point by flaming me on the internet and not even making a valid sophisticated argument. On top of that you should think twice before sending messages like this. Everyone is allowed an opinion. If you don't like what I have to say then don't read it. Or do and go about your day. Sure I don't know her but I, along with way more than a few people, know there is no way that book is going to give any insightful direction. Other than to the mall. By the way you have been reported to the Myspace police. Have a nice day! P.S. thanks for giving me something to write about in my blog. I was having writers block. You rock! I could have said a lot more but thought I'll leave it at that. I haven't heard back. Maybe she took my advice, maybe she was scared of the Myspace police, or maybe she took a long walk off a short pier. Either way she and L.C. make me sad for America.
New Boyz - You're A Jerk

I may have mentioned this before but I am a HUGE fan of podcasts. I think my absolute favorite is and always will be Smodcast, which is a podcast hosted by Kevin Smith And Scott Mosier. If your not familiar it's the dudes who made Mallrats and Clerks. It's pretty crude, but it cracks me up every time. Worth a listen. Anyway the reason I bring this up is because there is one other dude in the Smodcast crew named Ken Plume who puts together the background music to go along with whatever their talking about. The man knows music! I want to do something like that as my career. I always wondered who puts together soundtracks for movies or chooses songs for T.V. shows and the like. I'd love to do that. Actually I'd love to make music my job. Weather that be slapping together soundtracks, booking shows, or writing reviews. I want to do it. I had this sort of realization that I should make my love of music into a career. I decided that I am going to go back to school and try to major in journalism. I mean from what people have told me they like the blog. I don't know if it's for the sometimes funny stories or just for the music but I know a few people dig it a little. I'm not fishing for compliments or trying to sound arrogant but the reason I do this IS in hopes that people like it. I know I like it and it's a blast doing it, but I digress. I'm going to make something I love and will be happy doing earn me some dough.

Neil Innes - Stoned On Rock
Carl Belew - Folding Money

Super Sweet Bonus Song:
I know I blogged about Jaydiohead, but there are a few encore tracks that came out.
Jaydiohead - Song and Cry

Mash Ups and Covers. Sounds like a street fight before and after, huh?

A few days ago I saw a facebook post by a friend of mine linking to this mashup mix called Jaydiohead. Basicily it is Jay-Z mixed with Radiohead, sort of like the DJ Dangermouse Gray Album. I checked it out and it had a few interesting tracks but nothing that blew my socks off. I'm a big Jay-Z fan but not so much of a Radiohead fan. Don't get me wrong I think OK Computer and Kid A are great albums and I like Thom Yorke, but I can really only handle Radiohead in small doses most of the time. So I kept a few songs that I liked on my Ipod and left it at that. Last while trying to fall asleep I put on my headphones and this song came on. It was dark, there was a little bit of lightning in the sky, and a orange glow from the street lamps. Jay-Z rapping made the scene feel hard and shady which complemented the lightning and shaddows well. What really made it perfect was the soft acoustic guitar and the chorus buy Thom. It was the orange glow, it was the damp air, it was what added the eerie yet relaxing effect. I have to say that I have listened to this song about 20 times in the last 24 hours. It also prompted me to re-listen to all those other Radiohead tracks in my collection that had been collecting dust. I am proud to say that I have been converted into a Radiohead fan forever. Thank you Minty Fresh Beats. Listen to this track and then go check out the rest here
Jaydiohead - Change Order

I know I posted my Michael Jackson tribute the other day but I have been checking out the blogs and there have been a lot of great MJ covers and remixes that have surfaced. I simply can not go with out posting this outstanding remix from The Hood Internet. These guys do amazing mashups and remixes and I highly suggest checking out their work.
The Hood Internet - Billie "Wildcat" Jean (Michael Jackson vs Ratatat)

Well Since I did two mash ups I might as well do a third, as they say the third times a charm. Or two out of three ain't bad. You be the judge. This one features Dead Prez's normally hardcore rap song about the state of rap, aptly titled Hip-Hop. If you love rap and don't know about Dead Prez I suggest you get on the ball and start listening to good rap instead of all that radio junk. The mashing also includes a song from the newest album Veckatimest by indie masterminds Grizzly Bear called Two Weeks. Both songs alone are stellar and worth looking into but when mixed in the same bowl you get one hell of feel good for the summer anthem. I have to laugh because I wasn't sure who did this song and I found out it is also done by The Hood Internet which makes sense why it is so good. Well I already typed all this so I'm not going to delete it.
The Hood Internet - Two Weeks Of Hip Hop (Grizzly Bear Vs. Dead Prez)

Since I did a bunch of mash ups I'll do a few non dance/rapesque cover songs. The first one I want to do is a laid back version of I Fought The Law (And The Law Won) by Bell X1 who also does an excellent cover of Like I Love You by Justin Timberlake. Straight acoustic,and calmly sung it gives the song a real defeated sound.
Bell X1 - I Fought The Law(And The Law Won)(Clash Cover)

So I just pulled out a few of my cover mix CD's with a song in mind and ended listening to the whole CD, which I am currently doing. Now I can't decide what song to post because there are so many great selections. I guess in the future I am going to have to do a few more cover entries. I decided to go with something light like the previous song. So here is one of my favorite John Denver covers done beautifully by Chantal Kreviazuk.
Chantal Kreviazuk - Leaving On A Jet Plane (John Denver)

Even though I am not a huge fan of U2, I do think they produce some astounding songwriting. This happens to be one of the few songs I don't mind hearing Bono belt out. However this is a cover song, not an original and I should stay focused. This live track is just as good as the original. I am pretty sure it was recorded on the BBC, but I could be wrong. I love the DJ at the end. Way to go douche bag.
Kenna - With Or Without You (U2 Cover) (No Longer Available)