Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #4

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number four, is...

China Grove, Texas

"The people of the town are strange and they're proud of where they came. Well, you're talkin' `bout China Grove. Woah, China Grove"

Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #5

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number six, is...

Seneca Township, Ohio

"The farms of Ohio had been replaced by shopping malls, and Muzak filled the air from Seneca to Cuyahoga Falls."

Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #6

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number six, is...

Avalon, California

"In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you, but on the midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away"

Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #7

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number seven, is...

Khyber Pass

"From Mozambique to those Memphis nights, the Khyber Pass to Vancouver's lights"

"No excuse to be so callous, dress yourself in bleeding madras, charm your way across the Khyber Pass"

Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #8

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number eight is...

Reseda, Los Angeles, California

"It's a long day living in Reseda, there's a freeway runnin' through the yard"

Countdown: Random Places Immoralized in Music, #9

As a refresher, this is a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And next on the list, number nine is...

Whitefish Bay

"The searchers all say, they'd have made Whitefish Bay if they'd put fifteen more miles behind her."

Countdown: Random Places Immortalized in Music, #10

The Professor babbles again!

After months of hibernation, (at least I wish, sleep is really nice) I'm showing up here again, and this time to start a new series of "top ten" countdowns.

To start off, we're going to go with a bit of a geography lesson, looking at oddball places that musicians have chosen to sing about, or at least include in their lyrics. And at the top of the list, number ten is...

Winslow, Arizona

"Well, I'm standing on a corner in Winslow, Arizona, such a fine sight to see. It's a girl, my lord, in a flatbed Ford, slowing down to take a look at me."

More Than Meets The Ear: Oxford Comma

Work, sleep some, work more, sleep some, work, don't sleep, work even more...so has been the story of the past few months

But now, The Professor has returned...for the time being...
As John Lennon's little inside joke was meant to imply, a lot of the time the meaning we try to find in the lyrics of a song is just our own creation. The artist was actually just coming up with something that either A, meant something else to them, or B, was something that just kind of sounded good.
And then there are of course, the blatantly obvious meanings. I think we all know what some examples of those songs are...
But, everyonce and a while, you do find a song lyric with a little reference that may not be the easiest to decode. I certainly won't go as far as saying I know what the whole song is about, but for those one or two lines, a second can pull out an entertaining reference. That's what this series is all about.

So, starting off, we have a little tune by New York's Vampire Weekend. Of course, the reference to an "Oxford comma" is another story on its own, but I want to focus on something a little more hidden.

At first the little line "First the window, then it's too the wall" doesn't sound too significant, it's the next one that really brings the heavy slap of realization to you, "Lil' Jon, he always tells the truth."

Now, I know you haven't forgotten the, well, "experience," that was listening to Lil' Jon's Get Low. If you somehow have, it's time to refresh yourself. Why? I'm definitely not going to say it's because it's a great song...but yeah, listen, then you'll know exactly what this whole reference thing is.

Guamitize me, Captan!

Well, since you probably weren't wondering where I've gone to, I'll tell you anyways!

I'm currently, and will be for quite a while, visiting the lovely Pacific island of Guam. hopefully I can get back in touch with civilization every once and a while, in which case, you'll be hearing from the future.

How do you like them apples?

Coverstory: Permanent Waves

Permanent Waves - by Rush, 1980, Anthem Records/Mercury Records

In an era of our culture intimate with the ideas of apocalypse, with droves of everyday Americans flocking to see movies based upon the destruction that could be wrought upon the world by global warming, zombies, or the year 2012, I find it interesting to look back and note a relative acceptance of the idea of the world ending.

Awkwardisms

Lyrics are really a universal language, right? I mean, apart from the obvious difficulties in the average American understanding something like "99 Luftballoons," the form of spoken communication set to music really transcends cultural barriers in order to deliver its message.

Coverstory: OK Go

OK Go - by OK Go, 2002, Capitol Records

For some reason it seems that debut albums have been calling to me lately. Maybe it's the thought that a dramatic, attention-grabbing cover is needed to attract listeners.

Coverstory: Yourself or Someone Like You

There's just something about this album cover. I can't really say why, but I think it's a stroke of genius.

UaMVotW #3: Lost Coastlines

This may be one of the most thoroughly original videos I've seen in a while. At first the idea seems kind of mundane, but put some time into interpreting the complexity of the video projections upon the constantly moving televisions.
I wouldn't really say that there's any kind of "twist," or surprise to the video, but the originality more than holds my attention.

Keepon

Maybe you've seen this video on Youtube of a cute little stress ball-looking toy dancing to Spoon's "Don"t You Evah."
Or, maybe you haven't. Before I continue, if the latter is true, watch it

The Hamilton Mixtape

In general, rap isn't given much respect for its historical references. Look at rock and you can find plenty of good examples of what I'm talking about.
Take something mainstream, like Death Cab's "Grapevine Fires." It's pretty much a tribute to the California wildfires that wrecked havoc upon SoCal a few years back. Or there's "Holland, 1945" by neautral Milk Hotel, which is in summary a tribute to Anne Frank's ordeal during World War II.

Soundtrack to My Life

Every so often you see a movie that just has an awesome soundtrack. Afterward, there's always someone going on about how "awesome the soundtrack was, I wish my life had a soundtrack like that!" or some mumbo jumbo along those lines.

But do you, really, wish your life had a soundtrack?

Punch the Rewind: February 3rd

February 3rd:

On this day, 51 years ago, a Beechcraft Bonanza, registry N3794N, took off from the airport in Clear Lake, Iowa at 12:55 PM. Approximately five minutes later, the plane descended into a corn field, instantly killing all four on board.

The death of these four, pilot Roger Peterson, along with passengers Richard Valenzuela, J. P. Richardson, and Charles Holley, sent shock waves across the United States.

UAMVotW #2

Are you a fan of traditional nautical lore? The Bermuda Triangle? Issac Brock's grating vocals? Seasick Steve? Crazy Costumes? Unexpected twists?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this music video is for you.

The Title Did It...

It's just one of those odd things. Every once and a while, you hear somne certain conglomeration of words that just appeal for some reason to you. You can't really say why, you just know you're going to like whatever it is they are applied to.

For me, this happens all the time with music. The song may be nothing special, but the title just draws me right into it.