Deep Dark Thoughts of DirectMale83

Britney Spears - Circus (album)

2008-11-18T21:01:00.003-06:00

Britney is back. I'm not sure if she officially left, but regardless - it's a whole new Britney from the one we saw a year ago. Or is it? The club-ready sound of 'Blackout' served as a soundtrack to the sexed-up, club-scene, party life Britney was living at the time. But under the conservatorship (thanks, Britney, for adding this word to the American vocabulary) of her father, she has seemingly cleaned up her act. And the work proves it. While this album retains the dance-friendly vibe of 'Blackout', it's overall sound is lodged somewhere between the sound effect-laden glittery electro of last year's 'Blackout' and the sometimes dance, yet still kid-friendly pop of 2003's 'In the Zone.' That's not to say the album is a step backward, but it's not much of a step forward either. Given all that, it's still chock full of the irresistibly catchy melodies and glossy synth effects that keep us Britney fans coming back for more. Given that, it's not without it's hint of darkness and remorse that naturally comes in the aftermath of such public tumult. There is an underpinning of sadness in some of these tracks, but it's hard to discern if it's regret for past behavior or a longing to be free from the newfound constraints of her family and her custody battle. Knowing Britney (and having read excerpts from her upcoming 90-minute MTV documentary, where she likens her current lifestyle to a jail sentence), my money is on the latter.

Here are a few thoughts on some select tracks.

Womanizer
While this is not my favorite track on the album, it's clear why it was the first single. It's the most in-your-face track on the album and it's melody is one of the most unique and memorable. Plus, it's a great way to position Britney as a strong female who won't be taken for a fool by any playboy (Sam, Adnan, are you listening?).

Circus
It would be a crime to not release this gem as a single. Sure, the lyrics are a bit lightweight, but they provide a playful way for Britney to address the insanity around her life while also touting her bravado as a force to be reckoned with when commanding the stage. There's some great hooks in this track too, which is why it is a favorite of mine. This track is begging for a club remix treatment and when it arrives it is sure to become a favorite around gay dance clubs around the world, if for no other reason than the lyrics alone ("I'm a put on a show kinda girl... I feel the adrenaline runnin' through my veins, feel the spotlight on me and I'm ready to break, I'm like a performer, the dance floor is my stage"). Cynical as I may be, I too am still a complete sucker for these diva showgirl lyrics and I love it. This song will be an anthem for all of us 20-something gays living our Saturday-night club lives vicariously through Ms. Spears.

Out From Under
Ok, so it's not exactly 'Garden State' soundtrack material, but it's some of the most mature Britney ballad's to date. Musically, it sounds as if it could be a Backstreet Boys song (which is both its strong point and downfall, depending on your opinion of their music). But the lyrics achieve what we look for in a pop track from one of our favorite divas - a wonderful double-statement on a failed relationship and the pressures and failures of her family and personal life.

Kill the Lights
I hated this song on the first few listens, but in the context of the album it's completely grown on me. Sure, it once again addresses Britney's significance to the world of paparazzi photographers (think "Piece of Me"), but, it's full of attitude ("Mr. Photographer... make sure you catch me from my good side, pick one") and it's got a great beat. What more do you need?

Shattered Glass
This track loses major points for the first minute of it's 2:52 running time for replicating the beat of the track right before it ("Kill the Lights") but it finds sweet redemption when the chorus kicks in. Once that happens, you forget all about "Kill the Lights" and begin to realize that you are 5 tracks into the new Britney album and so far not one major misstep. Surely the next track will suck, right?

If You Seek Amy
"Love me, hate me, say what you want about me, but all of the boys and all of the girls are beggin' to 'if you seek Amy'." This has to be the best and worst line of the entire album. When read, it's completely, utterly ridiculous. But spoken aloud, it takens on a whole new meaning (if you seek Amy ... F-U-C-K me). If you're reading this blog, you are probably well aware of this already, but you have to admit it's damn clever. Sure, it doesn't make much sense, even within the context of the song (which is basically about Britney looking all over the club for "Amy" which we must presume is a euphemism for sex), but this line will be stuck in your head for days. I guarantee it. The single best moment on the album. And perhaps the catchiest single line of any song released this year. "Love me, hate me, say what you want about me, but all of the boys and all of the girls are beggin' to F-U-C-K me." It's just so damn fun to sing. Too bad it will most likely end up being this album's "Toy Soldier" ... a surefire massive single that will never see a release (considering the best part of this track would have to be censored on radio, most likely).

At this point, the album starts to become much more hit-or-miss. There's only one song on the album that verges on bad ("My Baby," the album closer which is literally about her babies and how insignificant her life is without them, which comes off a bit ingenuine coming from the same person who seemingly earlier this year wanted nothing to do with them; You can't help but feel as if inclusion of this track was her custody attorney's idea). As with most Britney albums, the last half of the track will probably grow on me over the months ahead and eventually become favorites when the first half of the disc starts to wear thin... But ultimately, the lack of excitement on the last half of the disc can't help but leave you feeling a bit let down after the undenialbe out-of-the-park homerun that was 'Blackout', an almost flawless pop record from beginning to end. Kudos to Britney for going for something more than a complete recreation of 'Blackout' (which we all know would've been a massive success had Britney been cleaned up during its release), but it still leaves you longing for just a few more amazingly hot, sexy, trashy dance tunes that 'Blackout' provided one after another.

Sarah Palin does Springfield

2008-10-24T18:48:00.003-05:00

So, I went to the Sarah Palin rally today... I am most definitely NOT a supporter, but I do love a good spectacle. It was INSANE. There were so many people there it was ridiculous. I think the estimate was around 20,000 (that's a TON of people for southwest MO). I also went to the Biden rally a few weeks ago and it wasn't nearly the event that the Palin rally was. There was probably only 2,000+ people at Biden's rally.

The most bizarre moment... when Naomi Judd introduced her! How random. She went off on a diatribe about the “unrepentant liberal biased media” and acknowledged that such a statement would likely be "career suicide" (LMAO, riiiight... what career, Naomi?) but she couldn't "stand by" any longer.

Fat Hair pomade

2008-10-20T22:10:00.001-05:00

This shit really works! (the real demo starts about 1:50)

Ok, so 25 has hit me hard... ok, not that hard, but my once ultra thick and lush hair has started to thin, but only in the front... the rest is just as thick as ever. For someone who styles the front heavily and mostly lays the rest down, this has been devastating. Good hair days have become much fewer and far between.

BUT, I recently picked up this product (samy's Fat Hair Pomade) and it REALLY works. It's amazing how it works... it penetrates the actual hair strand and causes it to expand from within, making your actual hair strands fatter. I thought it would work just by thickening up my hair like a brush pile, leaving it gunky and unkempt looking... but it doesn't! Perhaps best of all, it continues to work even if I mix in my other hair products (other pomades and spiking glue). Basically, it's f*cking awesome.

Now, as my hair continues to thin, this won't do much good, but in the interim it's allowed me to keep my juvenile, past-its-prime, spiky hairstyle, defying age and nature. Woo hoo!

Madonna - Into the Groove (Sidechains Remix)

2008-10-20T21:44:00.001-05:00

This is why God gave us EARS and FEET.

Download link: http://www.zshare.net/audio/50113640cc0cfa0d

For once, an unofficial modern, 2000s-club-kid-friendly mix of an 80's track gets everything RIGHT. You know how most of these mixes distill these great tracks down to just a couple blips and samples of the original vocal and spend the rest of the time looping monotonous, cliche'd electro samples? This one does not. It retains all the magic of the original, but injects it with some late 2000's steroids... it's not afraid to peak at all the right epic, pop moments. Don't miss this, folks! This is why God gave us EARS and FEET.

Picked this up at a great blog with tons of downloads: http://ppelectro.blogspot.

My suckling kitties

2008-10-05T13:52:00.001-05:00

These are my cats, Ruthie and Jake. They are siblings. Every day (usually in the middle of the night) Ruthie will blissfully suckle her brother's teats. Its weird - but what can I do? They are usually both purring throughout, so... whatev!

MJ's 50th Birthday Party

2008-10-05T12:58:00.008-05:00

OK - so me and my best friend at work, Stephanie, have a Michael Jackson paper doll that has kept us entertained for the last 2 and a half years. Michael frequently has commentary on the goings-on of the office and migrates back and forth between our two desks, often with post-its attached detailing his thoughts on any range of topics, usually laced with various Michael-isms, of course ("shamone," "daddy," "P.Y.T.," "hee hee," "owwww!" etc...).

So, when the real Michael Jackson turned 50 in August, OF COURSE we took the opportunity to throw a celebration for our office MJ... and what a celebration it was. I even sent out invites to 4 or 5 others who are friends of MJ via Office Outlook, just to get it on everyone's calendars. We might be complete dorks but this was seriously some of the most fun I've ever had at work.

This is the full spread for the birthday... I brought in all of my MJ paraphernalia including the special surprise guest - the Thriller doll that I bought for $7 on eBay back when I was in college. MJ also got birthday cards from Holly, Deborah, Stephanie and Casey.

Casey's gift to MJ was a boys Little League baseball team. He LOVED it.

Hell yeah, Holly made cupcakes.

My US Kath & Kim Review

2008-10-05T12:50:00.004-05:00

The US adaptation of one of my favorite TV shows of all time has arrived. NBC's "Kath & Kim" premier is now available for free download on iTunes and will debut on NBC this Thursday night.

In short: I enjoyed it. It was actually quite a bit funnier than I expected.

However - this is no Riley/Turner Kath & Kim. Here's a run-down of the differences that bothered me most...

- The true comic genius of the original lies in its subtle humor. Even though I have seen most episodes a zillion times, I still find new, funny things happening that I've never noticed before. The US version abandons that completely - if its funny (or attempting to be funny as the case may be), its obvious to the viewer. This is my primary complaint. Like the US version, the original had completely stupid characters doing completely stupid, offensive things, but the subtlety of the humor made for a surprisingly intelligent delivery. With the subtlety out the door, the US version just feels like more stupid US humor that you "get" without really paying too close attention.

- The issue of Kim's "weight" feels really forced when it's played by Selma Blair who is one of the skinniest actresses in Hollywood. Even with her twenty extra pounds, she's still stick-thin. They would have been better off leaving Kim's weight out of the storyline completely.

- They have WAY too much budget. Everything from the camera filters, set design, camera work... it robs the show of its raw feeling that made the original so fun to watch. In the original, you feel like Kath and Kim could be real people and that we are peeking in on their daily lives. In the US version, since its so much glossier, the characters are completely unbelievable, which really detracts from the enjoyability.

- The pilot gave no indication that the characters would have any classic catchphrases that carry through the series. Half the fun of Kath and Kim is the catchphrases that pop up constantly, yet never get tiring ("Look at mooooiiii," "Well I didn't bloody know!!," "toot suite," etc...).

- Selma Blair's 'Kim' is a pale imitation of the original. She has Americanized the role rather well, but her delivery feels so forced. This is best exemplified in her line "Would it make you feel better if you got up and made us some nacho s?" And it's not just Selma Blair - all the acting comes across as forced. Its as if they're stuck between imitating the original portrayals and adapting the characters for the US. I'm not sure this is the actors' faults - it holds true for all the characters, so I think it has more to do with the writing and directing.

But, at the end of the day, I am sure I will tune in weekly and I will probably laugh out loud quite a bit - the pilot had me laughing a lot, actually. But, the funniest moments were when they were doing original material (truly adapting the story). Its when they start imitating the original that they fall flat.

Hot new '08 remix of CeCe Peniston's "Finally"

2008-08-26T19:18:00.001-05:00

Ok, I normally HATE modern remixes of classic tracks because they just don't do the original any justice... but this one does. The beat is crisp and hard and the track works soooo well with the synth and the vocals swirling around each other. I highly recommend it.

CeCe Peniston - Finally 2008 (Kam Denny & Paul Zala Remix)

My Top 40 Dance Tracks of Summer 2008

2008-08-26T19:17:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, after a 2 and a half year dry spell, dance radio is finally rocking some great new tunes. It hasn't been this good since fall of 2005. Seriously. The tracks that have been released this summer have reminded me just why I love dance music so much. Keep 'em coming! To commemorate, here are my favorite tracks of the past summer.

1. Lady GaGa - Just Dance
2. Kaskade - Angel On My Shoulder
3. Benny Benassi feat. Channing - Come Fly Away
4. PhonJaxx feat. Cozi Costi - Sensual
5. Dhany - U & !
6. Michelle Williams - We Break the Dawn (Karmatronic Remix)
7. Benny Benassi - I Am Not Drunk
8. Danity Kane - Damaged
9. Cyndi Lauper - Into the Nightlife
10. Ne-Yo - Closer
11. Rihanna - Disturbia
12. Sandy vs. Dhany - Break the Wall (Mobbing Remix Edit)
13. Kelly Rowland - Work (Freemason's Edit)
14. Sharam feat. Daniel Bedingfield - The One
15. Ultrabeat vs. Darren Styles - Discolights
16. Alex Gaudino feat. Shena - Watch Out
17. Dizzee Rascal feat. Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
18. Jennifer Hudson - Spotlight (Moto Blanco Radio Edit)
19. Guru Josh Project - Infinity (Klaas Vocal Edit)
20. Kaskade - Move For Me
21. Wideboys feat. Shazney Lewis - Daddy O
22. Lenny B - Radical
23. Annie - I Know Your Girlfriend Hates Me
24. Benny Benassi - Finger Food
25. Dhany - Saturday
26. Antoine Clamaran & Mario Ochoa feat. Lulu Hughes - Give Some Love (Klaas Remix Edit)
27. Metro Station - Shake It (Lenny B Remix Edit)
28. Mac Project feat. Therese - Another Love
29. Velvet - Take My Body Close
30. MGMT - Electric Feel
31. Sam Sparro - Black & Gold
32. Supafly Inc. - Be Together
33. Ercola & Heikki L - Deep At Night (Adam K. & Soha Radio Edit)
34. T2 feat. Aysha - Heartbroken (Wawa Main Radio Version)
35. Sam Sparro - 21st Century Life
36. Dhany - Promise Land
37. Ricki-Lee - U Wanna Little of This
38. Booty Luv - Some Kinda Rush
39. Benny Benassi - U Move U Rock Me
40. Chris Brown - Forever

And for the record, the tracks by MGMT, Ercola & Heikki L, and Supafly Inc. would likely chart much higher, but it's only recently that I have realized their greatness.

George Michael enters 2008 US Presidential Campaign

2008-08-26T19:14:00.002-05:00

So on CNN's Larry King Live the other night, the topic was all about who the Presidential candidates will pick for the Vice Presidential running mate. Larry had a panel of 3 guys (2 Democrat, 1 Republican) and 1 girl (Republican). Anyway, the Republican girl was talking about how Obama should run with Hilary Clinton and said the following (to paraphrase):

"Just imagine what a historical moment it would be when Bill is speaking at the Democratic National Convention and he announces that he has a special guest, the Democratic Vice Presidential nominee, HIS WIFE! It would be just like that moment when George Michael announces that Elton John will be joining him on stage to sing a song together, that song they do, and everyone just goes crazy. It would be wonderful!"

I was eating dinner and CRACKING up. You could tell the other people on the panel were thinking "WTF is she talking about?! Did she just say George Michael in relation to the Presidential race?!?!" It was hilarious.

Was Daft Punk's 2004 'Human After All' album ahead of its time?

2008-08-26T19:08:00.001-05:00

I hated, hated, hated this album when it was released and thought it to be nothing more than pointless noise, but listening to it again now, it's very much aligned with the sound that is popular in dance music today - 4 years later. It sounds as if it could've just been released.

Maybe they got lucky since Justice ripped them off and everyone has since ripped off Justice, thus bringing their "sound" into vogue... but I think there's something more to it. Songs like "Technologic," "Prime Time of Your Life," and especially "Television Rules the Nation" sound just like the stuff being released today (only better)... and nothing like the stuff being released in 2004.

Soundtrack to January 2008

2008-01-31T22:25:00.000-06:00

a.k.a. my most listened to tracks of the month...

1. Janet Jackson - "Feedback"
2. Kylie Minogue - "Wow (Radio Edit)"
3. Snoop Dogg feat. Robyn - "Sexual Eruption (Remix)"
4. CSS - "Music Is My Hot, Hot Sex"
5. Shiny Toy Guns - "You Are the One"
6. Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
7. Boys Noize - "& Down"
8. Paula Abdul & Randy Jackson - "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow"
9. Dragonette - "I Get Around"
10. Goldfrapp - "A&E"
11. Todd Terry - "Get Down (Kenny Dope Original Mix)"
12. Shiny Toy Guns - "Le Disko"
13. Calvin Harris - "The Girls"
14. Shiny Toy Guns - "Starts With One"
15. Shiny Toy Guns - "Rainy Monday (Bimbo Jones Mix)"
16. Basshunter - "Now You're Gone"

Ryan's Top 100 Tracks of 2007

2007-12-24T09:35:00.000-06:00

Every year I like to compile a list of my top 40 or so songs from the year. I have never had more difficulty doing this list than I did this year. There was no way a Top 40 could do justice to what I'd been listening to all year long. Maybe there was an abundance of good tunes in '07. Maybe my taste has become even more schizo. Who knows. All I know is I really, really love each and every one of the tracks ranked below. I started with a playlist of 316 tracks from Nov. 2006 - Dec. 2007 that I have listened to repeatedly. Then, based on a variety of factors in my head, narrowed it down to THE TOP 100.

1. Britney Spears - "Gimme More"
2. Calvin Harris - "The Girls"
3. Rihanna - "Don't Stop the Music"
4. Freemasons feat. Siedah Garrett - "Rain Down Love (Walken Edit)"
5. Kylie Minogue - "Wow"
6. Kylie Minogue - "Speakerphone"
7. Britney Spears - "Break the Ice"
8. Shiny Toy Guns - "Le Disko"
9. Ultrabeat vs. Darren Styles - "Sure Feels Good"
10. Sugababes - "Easy"
11. Eddie Thoneick - "Deeper Love (Big Room Radio Mix)"
12. Britney Spears - "Piece of Me"
13. Girls Aloud - "Something Kinda Ooooh"
14. Kylie Minogue - "In My Arms"
15. Kylie Minogue - "Fall For You (Version 2)"
16. Kylie Minogue - "Nu-Di-Ty"
17. Timbaland feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E. - "The Way I Are"
18. Britney Spears - "Hot As Ice"
19. Kanye West - "Stronger"
20. Kylie Minogue - "Sensitized"
21. Kylie Minogue - "Like a Drug"
22. Laidback Luke feat. Stephen Granville - "Hypnotize"
23. Eddie Thoneick - "Love Sensation (Radio Mix)"
24. David Guetta with Steve Angelo & Sebastian Ingrosso - "Everytime We Touch"
25. Ultra Nate - "Automatic"
26. Rihanna - "Push Up On Me"
27. Marcel Woods - "Advanced"
28. David Guetta - "Love Is Gone"
29. Miley Cyrus - "See You Again"
30. Keyshia Cole feat. Too $hort -Didn't I Tell You
31. The Gossip - "Standing in the Way of Control (Soulwax Nite Mix)"
32. Kylie Minogue - "Lose Control"
33. Kathy Diamond - "All Woman"
34. Britney Spears - "Radar"
35. Robyn - "Cobrastyle"
36. Starkillers - "Scream"
37. Basement Jaxx - "Make Me Sweat"
38. Rihanna - "Shut Up and Drive"
39. Felix da Housecat - "Future Calls the Dawn"
40. Ben Macklin feat. Tiger Lily - "Feel Together"
41. DJ Antoine - "This Time (Klaas Mix)"
42. Kylie Minogue - "The One"
43. Rihanna - "Breakin' Dishes"
44. M.I.A. - "Bamboo Banga"
45. Britney Spears - "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)"
46. Kylie Minogue - "Boombox (LA Riots Remix)"
47. Britney Spears - "Toy Soldier"
48. Rilo Kiley - "Under the Blacklight"
49. P!nk - "U + Ur Hand"
50. Fergie - "Big Girls Don't Cry"
51. Fall Out Boy - Thnks Fr Th Mmrs"
52. Dannii Minogue - "Blame It on the Music"
53. Chris Brown feat. T-Pain - "Kiss Kiss"
54. Ciara - "Promise"
55. Kylie Minogue - "Stars"
56. Rihanna feat. Jay-Z - "Umbrella"
57. M.I.A. - "XR2"
58. Kylie Minogue - "White Diamond"
59. Jennifer Lopez - "Hold It, Don't Drop It"
60. Ohsha Kai - "Outta My Mind (Joey C's Original Radio Edit)"
61. Girls Aloud - "Sexy! No, No, No"
62. Wamdue Project - "King of My Castle (Sander Van Doorn Remix)"
63. Benny Benassi - "Who's Your Daddy?"
64. Dannii Minogue vs. Jason Nevins - "Touch Me Like That"
65. Britney Spears - "Get Back"
66. Kylie Minogue - "Rippin' Up the Disco"
67. Keyshia Cole feat. Amina - "Shoulda Let You Go"
68. The Chemical Brothers - "Do It Again"
69. 4 Strings - "Curious"
70. David Guetta feat. Steve Angelo & Cozi - "Baby When the Lights Go Out"
71. M.I.A. - "Boyz"
72. September - "Looking for Love"
73. Mason vs. Princess Superstar - "Perfect (Exceeder)"
74. Lost Daze vs. Todd Terry - "Get Down"
75. Ann Lee - "Catches Your Love"
76. Martijn Ten Velden - "I Wish U Would"
77. Groove Armada feat. Mutya Buena - "Song 4 Mutya (Out of Control)"
78. Ida Corr vs. Fedde Le Grand - "Let Me Think About It"
79. Róisín Murphy - "You Know Me Better"
80. Armand Van Helden - "I Want Your Soul"
81. Beyonce & Shakira - "Beautiful Liar (Freemasons Radio Edit)"
82. Above & Beyond presents Tranquility Base - "Oceanic"
83. Britney Spears - "Freakshow"
84. David Guetta vs. El Tocadisco - "Tomorrow Can Wait"
85. 50 Cent feat. Justin Timberlake - "Ayo Technology"
86. DJ Encore - "You Can Walk On Water"
87. Britney Spears - "Perfect Lover"
88. DJ Encore - "You Make Me Feel Alive"
89. M.I.A. - "Jimmy"
90. Jennifer Lopez - "Do It Well"
91. Rilo Kiley - "Silver Lining"
92. Diddy feat. Keyshia Cole - "Last Night"
93. Melinda Jackson - "Magic (Moustache Remix)"
94. Robyn - "With Every Heartbeat"
95. Nelly Furtado - "Do It"
96. Calvin Harris - "I Created Disco"
97. Keyshia Cole - "Heaven Sent"
98. Dannii Minogue - "Feel Like I Do"
99. September - "Cry For You"
100. Tiesto feat. Christian Burns - "In the Dark"

So, one look at this list and you can see that it was the year of Kylie & Britney for me. Kylie ranked 13 tracks in the list and Britney ranked 11. Confirmation that yes, after all this time, I still have the music taste of a 13 year old girl.

They're HERE!!

2007-12-01T13:46:00.000-06:00

Minogue Mania in my house today!!

Given that Kylie is my favorite artist of all time, I simply couldn't bear to hear her new album from less-than-CD-quality MP3 downloads. So I decided to go old school and actually wait for the CD to arrive in the mail (it's not out in the US until February). After 3 weeks of avoiding the downloads, like a hooker turning down crack, Kylie's 'X' -her first studio album in FOUR years- is FINALLY here and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Not only is 'X' in my box of goodies from Amazon.co.uk, I also ordered some other Minogue new releases... because I can't get enough of the Minogues. I also ordered both UK CD singles of Kylie's "2 Hearts," as well as Dannii Minogue's 'Unleashed' and 'Neon Nights Deluxe Edition' albums (see earlier blog posts for details on these releases). And the cherry on top is a remix compilation and mix CD from my favorite DJ's of all time, Soulwax... which also contains a Kylie remix never before released commercially.

It's a fucking Minogue holiday! Sorry, Jesus, but this is WAY better than Christmas!

Mastur-baker

2007-11-10T08:49:00.000-06:00

My "Marketing Graveyard" cake won "best dish" at work on Halloween goodie day. Woo hoo!

The brown sprinkles are meant to look like mounds of dirt and the yellow and orange sprinkles are fallen leaves.

(The tombstones all have names of people in my department.)

Nov. Music Round-up Pt. 1

2007-11-10T08:01:00.000-06:00

Britney Spears - 'Blackout'
What can I say? Despite the fact that her life is a mess and her "Gimme More" video is a complete embarrassment for someone with a budget as large as hers, this is one of the best CDs of the year! Not a bad song in the bunch. In fact, there are only 3 (out of 12 tracks) that I'm not completely enamored with. The rest are straight from God - bliss!!

Plus the iTunes bonus tracks "Get Back" and "Everybody" are completely album-worthy. Britney has definitely hit a home-run.

The only thing that worries me is longevity... I heard "Oops I Did It Again" in a club recently and it sounded so good, even 7 years later. I attribute it to the songwriting... No one knows pure, true pop better than Max Martin. While the production and mixing on this album completely trumps anything Britney has released in the past, I'm a little worried how it will hold up once this "sound" is over... because the songwriting itself is a bit lacking. Oh well, it's fun for now!

Dannii Minogue - 'Unleashed'
Now that Dannii is a judge on the UK's highly-rated and Idol-spinoff X Factor, she is hotter than ever. A perfect time to release long-forgotten unreleased remixes and b-sides to cash-in!! In addition to 'Unleashed' there are no fewer than 3 other Dannii "rarities" or re-release albums out this month as well as a greatest hits DVD.

Unfortunately, most of this should have never seen the light of day, but there are a few gems on this release. "Blame It On the Music" is one of her best tracks ever, easy. "No Romeo" isn't bad either. But it's very easy to see why the other "new" songs were shelved.

This release also marks the first time we've heard the original version of "Come and Get It" in full CD-quality... a truly exciting moment for a Dannii fan like myself!

Dannii Minogue - 'Club Disco'
This is a digital-only release from Dannii's most recent record label, All Around the World. While this label has killed any potential $ucce$$ Dannii may have had post-Neon Nights, their Dannii cash-in is clearly superior than the one from London Records ('Unleashed', see above). The "new" songs on this release all sound album-ready. My biggest complaint with this release is that it's "new" songs weren't used on Dannii's last project... "Feel Like I Do," "I'm Sorry," "Do You Believe Me Now," "I've Been Waiting for You," and "I Will Come To You" are FAR superior to the tracks that made the final cut of her last release!

Dannii Minogue - 'Neon Nights (Remastered & Expanded)'
I am very, VERY excited about this one... The original 'Neon Nights' album (Dannii's finest moment) coupled with loads of mixes and all the b-sides from the era. It's gay 80's-influenced electro-pop sonic heaven. It's a perfect tribute to the best era of Dannii's career.

If you're new to Dannii, be sure not to miss "Nervous" (previously released as a b-side to "I Begin to Wonder"). It's Dannii's finest musical moment of her career. One of my favorite songs of all time! "I live to taste addiction like this."

Dannii Minogue vs. Jason Nevins - "Touch Me Like That" [single]
In addition to all the excitement of the cash-ins by her old record companies, Dannii herself is cashing in on her newfound X Factor fame with the new single "Touch Me Like That." Sampling Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)" it's one the best singles of her career. Plus, you can't go wrong with Jason Nevins doing the mixing.

Dannii OWNS fall 2007!!

Here's the video... it's not as good as the song itself. Especially considering it's a totally piss-poor rip-off of multiple Kylie videos. But, who cares, it's new Dannii!

Kylie Minogue - '2 Hearts'

Amongst all this Dannii excitement, there is also Kylie's comeback. Her new single "2 Hearts" is out now (on US iTunes, even).

It totally sucks. It's an even bigger mistake than "Red Blooded Woman." I am so disappointed! I mean, it's not an embarrassment, it's just a terribly boring waste of the comeback of her career. I love the cover art, though!

I'm just hoping the album delivers... From what I've read, this song is not indicative of the rest of the CD... thank God!

Halloween pics

2007-11-10T07:51:00.000-06:00

I had a great time at Halloween this year... turns out, this town does know how the party and the Halloween pub crawl was loads of fun. People were everywhere downtown. They even closed off the main street where most of the bars are. It was great!!

I went as a construction worker from the Village People... People kept screaming "Y.M.C.A.!!!!!!" at me, all night long, LOL. I loved this costume. I felt so ridiculous, it was great.

With my friends Gil and Shawn. And yes, I was freezing.

Chillout Chicks

2007-10-22T20:07:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm living alone again, I've started listening to music while I'm getting ready in the morning. As a result, I've been listening to a lot more chillout/trip-hop/downtempo house music. Because, while I may be a dance music junkie with a penchant for deep bass, most mornings I would rather die than hear that much noise blaring from my stereo. Instead, I've been listening to lots of selected tracks from Kaskade, Poe, Bjork, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Imogen Heap/Frou Frou, Mylo, etc... I've also discovered two CDs that have quickly become instant classics in my collection.

Kathy Diamond - Miss Diamond to You

This CD completely took my by surprise. I downloaded a couple songs on the recommendation of iTunes... I had them for months without paying them any mind. But suddenly they hooked me and I downloaded the whole album. This CD is like nothing else I've heard this decade. It's 100% classic disco. But not the cheese that we've been trained to remember disco as being. It sounds like the real disco that you find when digging through the playlists of late 70's disco dj's. It's definitely a "chillout" album... It's nothing upbeat. In fact, it's very dark. And very funky. Kathy Diamond's vocals are a perfect companion to the music, but they are exactly that - a companion. She herself definitely takes a back seat to the music. While this CD is not at all radio-friendly, or even appropriate for playing in today's night clubs, it's a great dance album with a nice lounge-y vibe. I recommend it 100%!

PJ Harvey - White Chalk

I am completely, completely floored by how much I love this CD. It's totally a-typical from what I usually listen to. It's very folky with an old, old, old English vibe. It sounds like it was lifted straight out of another century, really. The melodies are decidedly PJ - haunting, dark and perfectly constructed. The instrumentation really shines through on this CD, too. It's so good, I don't even mind that there's not a single keyboard or electric guitar on any track. One of the best CDs of the year, hands down. They might as well go ahead and dump a truckload of Grammy's at PJ's doorstep. It's that good.

Honestly, I just re-read my review of it and it does this CD absolutely no justice. You just have to hear it.

Eunich

2007-10-11T19:16:00.000-05:00

Due to my recent move, I am without Internet until next week. Yes, I miss the internet itself, but mostly I miss being able to download music. In fact, I'm typing this from the Mudhouse in dowtown Springfield where I've logged onto their free WiFi just to download, download, download. I feel like a fugitive, seeing as how they probably frown on downloading hundreds of megabytes in a single sitting. But this is no normal week. Since I've lost net access, the new Kylie single and video have debuted, 15 demos from Britney's new album have leaked and countless other tracks are popping up as part of the annual fall flooding of the music market. Without the net, I feel like I'm missing a testicle.

On a more positive note, I am absolutely loving the new duplex. It's perfect!

Free is good

2007-09-29T18:46:00.000-05:00

Today was a gorgeous day in southwest Missouri. The weather was absolutely perfect for driving around with the windows down. Bored of being indoors, I took a drive through the country around my house. I ended up near Wilson's Creek Battlefield. I decided to at least drive by and see what it's all about since I hadn't been since grade school and barely remember it. After all, I've lived right on top of it in Battlefield for over a year and never even bothered to check it out. Upon entering, I was disappointed to see that it cost money and I was not THAT interested. But, the ranger at the desk dropped that one little word that I love... "You picked the right day to drop in - in recognition of National Public Lands Day, which is today, admission is FREE."

So, I spent my afternoon at Wilson's Creek Battlefield National Park. The best part? It's a driving tour, so I got to continue with my windows-down joyride. Plus they had a really nice Visitor's Center with educational videos, 3-D maps and a museum. All in all it was a nice way to break up the monotony of another Saturday in Springfield. Plus, it was free.

This is... the battlefield.

The Acura is still kickin'!

Wilson's Creek

This is the 3-D map! It was bad ass!! It had lights embedded in it that you couldn't see until they lit up but they would "move" and show how the battle was fought (red was Confederates, blue was Union). It made the driving tour much more effect because you actually had some context for where you were. I loved the map! I want one installed in my new duplex.

Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight

2007-09-29T12:55:00.001-05:00

So, my new friend Daniel and I have very similar music taste - we share affinities for a group of artists as diverse as Bjork, Ani DiFranco, Tori Amos, Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Peaches. I've heard his iPod on random and I don't think I've met anyone in Missouri whose music-taste equation so closely matches mine. So when he told me to check out Rilo Kiley I knew I should give it a shot. But I was skeptical.

Honestly, going into it I expected to hate it. Most of the time, over-hyped L.A. scenesters in D.I.Y-indie acts gone major label make me cringe. But this time, I couldn't have been more wrong! This is easily one of the year's best albums. Jenny Lewis has the voice of a rough-around-the-edges angel. But the best part of the album is the songwriting. The hooks and melodies stick in your head for days. Not to mention the production and mixing are nearly flawless, without sounding over-produced.

They are completely their own thing, but comparisons can definitely be drawn to a variety of influences. On first listen, they sound like a modern-day Fleetwood Mac (as Daniel put it). But subsequent listens have reminded me of Jewel (Jenny's vocals on "Breakin' Up" particularly), Modest Mouse, Deep Dish's George Is On album, 1995 chick-rock-alternative and dashes of alt-country and soul weaved in throughout.

The whole album is great from beginning to end, but I of course have some favorites: "Under the Blacklight," "Silver Lining," "Close Call," "15" and "Dreamworld." The title track, "Under the Blacklight" has me particularly captivated. Jenny's vocals shine the most on this track and I think it has the best melodies of the album. That track has completely won my heart -lately, I've been singing it quietly to myself all day long!

It takes a powerful album to pull my attention away from electronic dance music... but this one does it!

Headed North

2007-09-29T12:41:00.000-05:00

Big news - the lease signing isn't final until Monday, but I've put a deposit down on renting a duplex on the north end of Springfield!

Ok, so the La Quinta Inn is my backyard, BUT I will be a mere 5 minutes from work (right now I'm 25 minutes) and I'll live right beside I-44, making my drive back home to Lebanon 30 minutes shorter. I'm thrilled!

Not to mention, the place is bad ass. The duplex is brand new - but it's priced right! It was the perfect find. I move in next week!

It's 1100 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. The pics only show the living room and kitchen.

Pop Dreams

2007-09-21T13:46:00.000-05:00

For the last two nights, I've had very bizarre dreams related to pop music. They were both quite enjoyable. Perhaps these nocturnal brushes with pop celebrities is my subconscious' way of telling me I was destined to be the next Justin T or George Michael? LOL... I'll let you be the judge.

Two nights ago I dreamed that I was back in college and Madonna was one of my professors. Not only was she my professor, she was also in semi-retirement. But, she was gearing up to make her big comeback with a top-secret performance at the VMAs - and she held the rehearsal on the stage in our classroom, exclusively as a treat for our class (apparently I had her for theater?). Anyway, we were all very excited and I grabbed my camera and started filming the whole thing. This didn't set well with Madge and she stormed off-stage half-way through the performance and vowed that that comeback was off (because I filmed her) and her dancers would have to just do the performance without her. I tried to talk her back into it, but my best friend Brandon got extremely pissed at me when I called her "Madge" to her face - he said that'd only piss her off worse because "Madge" is a derogatory nickname which is short for "vag." Who knew?!

Last night, I dreamed that U2's Bono was my half-brother. That before my mom and dad met, my mom had him. I remember in the dream, actually doing that math to realize that my mom would have had to have been around 2 years old when she had him, but I just thought "maybe Bono is younger than he looks?" Anyway, no one ever told me he was my half-brother, it just accidentally slipped out one night when we were all in the same lounge/bar together. Once I found out, I was extremely excited (of course) and tried to get Bono to get me a job in the music industry. He was not amused, though, wanted me to just leave him the hell alone. I think he was also pissed because the media found out. It was all very exciting!

Big Brother 8 Finale

2007-09-20T02:56:00.001-05:00

Despite a faulty internet connection, I managed to catch the BB8 finale online while here in Maui (we were out at dinner during the broadcast). All in all, it was a pretty boring finale, considering I didn't really care who won between Dick and Daniele. But, that doesn't mean that Jen and Jameka didn't deliver two of the most classic quotes of the whole season!
---
Jameka: "Daniele is the pimp and ED is the ho.... She tells him how to go out there and make that money."
---
Jen (parodying Daniele before casting her vote): "Honestly..." [audience roars with laughter]

Justice vs. Maui

2007-09-19T00:40:00.000-05:00

Yesterday morning I went for a photo-taking adventure amongst the Marriott and Hyatt resorts on Kaanapali Beach. The music that provided my soundtrack? The critically-acclaimed album by Justice. I'd been avoiding this album because of all the allegations that they're nothing more than a Daft Punk rip-off. But, when I saw two twenty-something straight boys rocking this out of their iPod-fueled boombox (1992-style) while strolling down Kaanapali Beach, I knew I'd better find out what all the fuss is about. The Daft Punk comparisons are definitely right, but that doesn't mean the album isn't enjoyable. In addition to their penchant for filtered guitar riffs and french house beats (Daft Punk), they've also got a taste for mid-90's inspired industrial electronica (think NIN, Aphex Twin) and the occasional 80's beat (one track sounds like they took the beat straight from MJ's "Billie Jean"). All in all, it was a great soundtrack for my picture-taking jaunt. I've since listened to the album 2 other times - at the gym and at the pool. It's not interesting enough to make good pool music. But the beats and melodic sound effects are perfect for the gym.

Here are some of the shots I got yesterday... click the pics for larger versions.

Mama's Fish House

2007-09-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

Last night we had a perfect dining experience at Mama's Fish House on the Maui North Shore. The restaurant sits right on a cozy private section of beachfront. They serve fresh fish caught on Maui that very day. I had mahi mahi stuffed with lobster and crab and baked in a macadamia nut crust with a light drizzling of sauce on top. Not only was the food perfect, so was the ambiance. Totally perfect!

This was our appetizer... The official name of it was in Hawaiian, so I can't remember it. But it was tender pork, sweet potato, onion and tomato drizzled in coconut milk and cooked inside the tea leaves (which were tied together and cut open fresh at our table).

We got there early just to get this table - on the corner, right on the beach. It was worth it!

I wouldn't blame my travel companions if they are tired of me making them take cheesed out posed photos of all of us. But hey, isn't that the duty of any good blogger/MySpace junkie?

More Maui Pics

2007-09-18T04:01:00.000-05:00

The whole gang, out for dinner at Leilani's on Kaanapali Beach.

Outside one of the 9,238 ABC Stores on Maui.

Amy and I outside the condo... Also, a great opportunity to show that I actually have a tan which is quite an accomplishment for a pasty white Missouri boy with Scottish/Swiss/Irish/German genes.

The Whaler's Village shopping center, right down the beach from where we're staying.

Amy outside our condo.

The "Maui Marathon" happened while we were here and the awards ceremony took place right next to our condo. We crashed it.

Greetings from Maui

2007-09-15T23:06:00.000-05:00

We're on day 2 of the vacation and we couldn't be happier to be here. Amy and I spent the whole afternoon laying on the beach. The thought of the day was "Sure beats being stuck in an ice storm." We are in heaven!

We had a full day of traveling yesterday. Despite the seemingly never-ending haul to get here (Springfield to Cincinnati to LA to Maui) we seemed to enjoy ourselves along the way. It didn't hurt that I sat next to some very friendly lesbians on the plane to Maui and we had a nice chat about Britney;s VMA performance (I was carrying the Entertainment Weekly with her on the cover) . It's always great to run into family when you aren't expecting it!

Amy (my roommate) and I pose for a cheesy timer photo in the Cincinnati airport around 10:00am. If we look tired and haggard already it's because we were - the day began at 4:00am.
We didn't make it to Maui until midnight Missouri time.

Sexy escalators in Cincinnati.

We were barely in the LA airport... However we were there long enough to grab a Cinnabon, a smoothie, and a tourist photo.

A creepy long corridor in LAX.

My first morning in Maui - at the Whaler's Village on Kaanapali Beach.

Mom and I after breakfast. This is our favorite breakfast spot. Not only does it overlook Kaanapali Beach, the food is excellent. I had fresh mahi mahi, rice, scrambled eggs and toast. Yes, I'm so excited to get real fresh fish, I'm having it for breakfast.

Dad and I on Kaanapali Beach.

A gecko we spotted after breakfast.

Big Brother 8 Double Eviction Night

2007-09-06T20:24:00.000-05:00

I'm so disappointed at the outcome of tonight's Big Brother... Eric and Jessica were my favorite two people left. In fact, they were probably my favorites in the whole game - after the magnificent Jen, of course. It was a shame to see them go.

But, the thing that I'm most distraught about is the complete bonehead move by Zach to not use his Power of Veto... If he'd have used it, Dick would have been forced to put Daniele on the block and they could have broken up the Donato's for good. It would have been that easy! Zach is an idiot - he doesn't stand a CHANCE going to final two if the Donato's are together in the house. I can't stand Zach! He's a loser with no friends!! Can't he see that the Donato's are just using him when it's convenient and don't really give a shit about him?! I despised Zach before tonight and now I really do. Ugh!

Gotta love the irony

2007-09-04T19:48:00.000-05:00

So I'm at the gym today, and I notice the woman on the elliptical machine has changed the TV channels. She is the only one on the cardio equipment and I noticed she turned on two channels. The TV on the right had on a televangelist. The TV on the left had VH1's 'Surreal Life.' I found immense humor in this.

My Plants

2007-09-04T19:40:00.000-05:00

So they probably aren't going to win me any prizes at the county fair, but, I am pretty damn proud of the fact that I've kept these flowers alive all summer. Granted, I have had about 5 or 6 die over the course of the season, but hey, at least these still look pretty, right?

Mostly I just wanted to document the fact that for the majority of the summer I have been out in the back yard watering these fuckers every (work) day at 6AM.

The Album of the Year is Here!

2007-09-03T10:01:00.001-05:00

While I was well aware of M.I.A.'s first album, 2005's Arular, I never really got into it. It just didn't speak to me. I think I just wasn't ready for it. I was far too distracted by all the synth/electro-house/electro-pop stuff going on at the time to get into it. Now, having heard just about all the "electro-house" I can handle, her new album Kala could not have come at a more perfect time. It seems lots of the big names in dance music have lost their inspiration... and their ear for good melodies. The scene has become watered down with repetitive beeps and tired bass lines. And not in the good Daft Punk way.

The beats on this album are ridiculous. Layers and layers of ballsy, heavy beats. No other album this year has given me such a strong urge to get up and dance. Favorite, favorite tracks: Bamboo Banga, XR2, Boyz, Hussel.

This is the kind of album that Bjork would be proud of.

DJ Encore - Unique

2007-09-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

I was one of DJ Encore and Engelina's number one fans... I played their album to DEATH. So, imagine my delight/horror when I discovered that DJ Encore FINALLY released a new album, but replaced Engelina!! I purchased it (of course) off iTunes and gave it a shot anyways... and I must say, it is excellent. I really didn't think I would like it, because without Engelina's songwriting, I thought it would just be cheese... Let's face it, on the first couple listens, it seems like nothing more than typical trite dance lyrics over the exact same mixing DJ Encore was doing back in 2001.

While those criticisms still stand, it doesn't change the fact that I CAN'T STOP listening to it. I highly recommend these tracks in particular:

You Can Walk On Water (lead single)
Nobody Wants to Try (feels like a Cher song to me)
Catch Me
You Make Me Feel Alive (the best song on the CD!)

I am not surprised Engelina didn't participate. I remember reading an interview with her back in 2001 saying she wasn't much of a dance music fan, but she loves writing pop music so she enjoyed the opportunity to record her songs with DJ Encore. But her heart wasn't ever in it... Too bad, the new chick sounds great on the disc, but Engelina's lyrics were far better.

Speaking of Engelina, they (Encore and the new chic) re-recorded "Out There" on this CD (and mashed it up with Madonna's "Get Together" to boot!).... Doesn't hold a candle to Engelina's, though.

All this new kiddie music...

2007-09-03T09:53:00.000-05:00

...makes me feel really old! The last time this happened on this scale with Britney, NSYNC, Backstreet, Mandy, Christina, etc... at least the music was slightly edgy (you know it was for kiddie pop - admit it). This new crop of kiddie music seems targeted at kids only. But the sales seem to be doing really well.

The question I pose is this - are these acts really that popular, or are they just successful because of the lack of sales generated by more late-teen and adult appeal acts, whose fans download instead of buy? Because most of this kiddie shite is being purchased for kids by adults who probably have no idea how to download.

The new #1 song on US iTunes is the fucking Jonas Brothers. Who the fuck are they??!?!?

Jes - Disconnect

2007-09-03T09:51:00.001-05:00

OK... I didn't expect to like this album very much for some reason... I don't know why. I guess because the first single "Ghost" hasn't really hooked me yet. But, I've been incorporating random tracks from this disc into my iPod playlists and I am delighted everytime one of them comes on. It's an EXCELLENT album. The tracks are electronic/trance/chillout/trip-hop but don't grate on your nerves at all. I wouldn't necessarily say certain tracks are better than others, either (though, "In Ohm" is definitely my favorite). To my surprise, most of the songs aren't really "dance" but they are "electronic." A few of them sound like they are right out of the mid-90's trip-hop glory days, actually.

Anyway, lots of the songs border on trip-hop and are sure to delight fans of Poe (since we aren't getting any new music from her these days). Especially fans of Poe's work with Conjure One.

Jes has some excellent experience, also... She wrote and performed one of the biggest trance songs of the decade (Motorcycle's "As the Rush Comes") and is touring with Tiesto on his 'Elements of Life' Tour.

It's on iTunes... check it out!

Don't Call It a Comeback

2007-09-03T08:46:00.000-05:00

After the public outcry at the close of VonBlog, I have decided to re-enter the world of blogging at Blogger - because it's free and VonBlog was not.

What do I anticipate putting on this blog? Mostly my thoughts on electronic music, or whatever music I may be listening to at the moment. But I'm sure I'll also find time to post some random thoughts on life in general.

Here's hoping I learn to post with a little more regularity!