IMITATION IS THE MOST SINCERE FORM OF FLATTERY

Once again, Chef Briardee has discovered one of the coolest things on the internet. Namely, personal streaming radio capabilities.

I'm totally stealing the idea and will be puttin' my new mixes up here on my page for all of you to enjoy. Sha-zaam!

Me making mixes isn't anything new. I've been doing it for like 6 years now. At least those of the digital variety. (Cassettes never did it for me, it was just too much work, and you never get them edited as tight as you should. Which bugs the crap out of me.)

So I choose songs and make mixes that say something about how I'm feeling or what's going on in my/our world at the time. Lately, the mix titles are when my current mood has been presenting itself, not so much in the songs, but that comes and goes.

I like the songs to cross genres, constants being a song that I can sing along with and that I like a damn fine beat. (If it makes me shake my ass, it's all right with me.) Other weaknesses include, but are not limited to: string accompaniment, female vocals over hip-hop beats, brit-pop, songs sung in french, obscure remixes, songs sung acapella, and the entire trip-hop genre. Sometimes all at once. If a song makes me spontaneously burst into tears (see: Hide & Seek by Imogen Heap, Beautiful by India.Arie) you can pretty much guarantee that I will put it on a mix, if not build the entire album around it.

Most of the time, I just really (REALLY) like the songs. In the beginning, I used a lot of mainstream radio stuff, but that's TOTALLY started to blow chunks, so I like to dig a little deeper. Pandora has been a godsend, as has KCRW and Sirius. Sometimes I just start looking around iTunes, and one thing leads to another, leads to another, leads to another, and then I end up with a supremely deep cut off of an obscure album that is totally awesome.

But anyway, I ramble.

So here's my latest: Blessed Be. I'm especially identifying with the lyrics in The Woman Who by Lamya (Rach, it's Luh-MY-uh, not LAMB-YUH). So check it out under Audiophila' in the right sidebar.

Enjoy. You can be assured that I'll be listening to this in the car on the way to work for at LEAST the next few days...

CALLING FOR DONATIONS

So if anyone would like to pay to clone me, then front the costs to send my clone to Sidewalk Arts and me to Coachella I would be most grateful.

The line-up makes me weep.
_____________________

And in the "talent-coming-out-of-their-ears" department: if you haven't voted for a certain someone's kick-ass tee design, what in the world are you waiting for? It's awesome! Go to it!

TALK TO THE GENOME

As a music lover, this is the single coolest thing I have ever come across in my entire adult life.

I was pointed to Pandora by my buds on Digs, and it is SO FREAKING AMAZING. I may never listen to another online streaming radio station again.

What it does is basically create a personal streaming radio station based on the music you like. It sounds simple, (and it really is) but the technology behind it is incredibly awesome.

It's run by the computer program written for the Music Genome Project. This project discovered about 400 different qualities that each and every song ever written shares. Like, tempo, timber, key, overall quality, lyrical phrasing, chord progressions, etcetera. Think song DNA. You can hear the creator talk about it in this May 2005 NPR interview (before the release of Pandora) or read more on their website.

Pandora is what allows you to TALK to the genome. You log in to Pandora, and create your own stream by using a very nifty little flash player. You give it artists and songs that you like, then it picks and chooses from its MASSIVE music library and then plays it back for you. It is soooooo slick. So when you tell the genome that you like 'Golddigger' by Supreme Beings of Leisure, it supposes that you will also like 'Secret' by Madonna, or 'Elephant Woman' by Blonde Redhead.

And it's totally right 95% of the time. If you hear a song you don't like, you just click on the album that pops up and tell Pandora you don't like it. It won't play that song ever again. If you click on a certain artist twice and say you don't like their songs, then it will never play that artist again. If you REALLY like what it's playing, it gives you an option to buy the album or song from iTunes or Amazon. 'Timor' by Shakira came on, and I clicked on 'Why is This Song Playing?' (because, um, it's Shakira) and it said: "Based on what you've told us so far, we're playing this track because it features synth rock arranging, electronica influences, a subtle use of vocal harmony, mild rhythmic syncopation and a vocal-centric aesthetic." And they were right. If I hadn't known it was Shakira, I would have loved it right off the bat. It's all about discovery, people.

I think the longer you listen and give feedback, the better it gets. (I know, duh.) I've been listening for, oh, I'd say about 30hrs total at this point, and I've just about got it tuned perfectly. 8 out of 10 songs are awesome, and 6 of those songs I've never even heard of before (and that's saying something). We're not talking Top40 radio here. We're talking deep cut obscurity, mixed in with Top40 stuff, club mixes, remixes, omigod everything.

Seriously, I was up until 5am the other night, simply because I didn't want to shut it off. No joke. I wanted to see what it would give me next. I just keep it on in the background (down in the toolbar) and maximize it when I want to see what's playing or to give it another suggestion. And did I mention that it is totally free? Holy Crap!

Try out BigSkyStarlet Radio. You'll need a Flash Player and you'll have to create an account (it's super quick and easy and (did I mention?) completely and totally free).

So there you go. Talk to the genome, create your own station and change your life.

OH, MY BABIES!

So. It's been six months.

And I just unpacked the CD's.

Oh, how I missed you Morcheeba! Gwennie, it's been much too long. Zero 7's second album lulled me to sleep last night and Scapegoat Wax got me started today. I'll be lunching on Supreme Beings of Leisure, and I'm planning an afternoon snack of Coldplay 1 & 2 to gear up for tomorrow's release. I even spun Madonna's Ray of Light for awhile (gawd it's amazing how music can take you right back to the first time you heard it). I've got Jill Scott, Javier and Blu Cantrell lined up for a little dinner tete-a-tete. B even pulled the Ultra Lounge tiki CD's for Saturday's inaugural lighting of the tiki torches. I've stacked 25 of my faves next to the computer to listen to while slogging away on my portfolio today.

Ahhhhhh. Tunage.

I must admit, while the CD's were packed away, I've been having a little something on the side. I jumped on the Arcade Fire bandwagon sometime in February, and Rachel Yamagata got me through most of April. I'm in a full fledged relationship with The Brazillian Girls (I totally have a girl-crush on the lead singer) and The GO! Team make me shake what my mama gave me. (I don't think they know about each other, yet.) And the new Gorillaz takes up part of each of my days - so freakin' good. Beck and I also like to take his new album for an occasional ride in the car, and The Bravery like to come over and dish about various things every once in a while. And M.I.A....where do I begin, darling? You're fabulous and your music is crazy/hella good. End of story.

The totally great thing is, there's so much more out there for me to listen to! I can't wait!

HEAR, HEAR!

GQ has it about right.

Kanye dosen't have a chance in hell. I'll be rooting for those boys from Nebraska, Maroon 5. And of course my girl, Gwen. Duh. Not that either of them will win either.

We all know that Ray Charles will take it all. Or Josh Groban. Take your pick.

Case(s) in point on the nomination front:

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Dip It Low
Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous
This makes me want to end it all...

Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group
Lean Back
Terror Squad
I guess B was right about it being a masterpiece...

Best Comedy Album
Come Poop With Me
Triumph The Insult Comic Dog
Yeah, yeah, good one...FOR ME TO POOP ON!

Best Country Album
Live Like You Were Dying
Tim McGraw
B, that one's for you.

Best Rap Solo Performance
Just Lose It
Eminem
Please stop encouraging him...
And some good ones:

Best Recording Package
Chutes Too Narrow
Jesse LeDoux, art director (The Shins)
Soooo Coooll....

Best Compilation Soundtrack Album For A Motion Picture, Television Or Other Visual Media
Garden State
Various Artists - Zach Braff, compilation producer
Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
Take Me Out
Franz Ferdinand
This actually got me excited about rock again.

The rock and electronic/dance categories were actually pretty decent. I must say I'm suprised as there was not a single nom for Creed. Oh, that's right, he was too busy eating butter to actually record an album last year.

I'm sorry. I forgot.

HAPPY, HAPPY EARS

Run, don't walk, RUN, and go buy the new Gwen Stefani disc. IT IS SO FREAKIN' GOOD!!!

It's good in the car, it's good in the house, it's good on the computer. It's just FREAKIN' GOOD! People, she samples Fiddler on the Roof, forchrissake! GENIUS!

It's like meeting somebody for the first time, but feeling like you've know them forever. Or kinda like finding a mix tape from high school, and saying 'Oh, I love this song', but then you realize you've never actually heard it before.

Whatever. Just go buy it. Then listen to it. Alot. You won't be able to get it out of your head. Which in this case is GREAT!

Oh, and Damien Rice is pretty good, too.

I HAVE WAY TOO MUCH TO DO TO BE BOTHERED WITH HOUSEWORK...

So I've been busy doing Fall/ Halloween stuff, when I should be cleaning and doing laundry to get caught up from being gone last week. This 'Housewoman' is beginning to need a cleaning person of my own. I figure the shite will hit the fan about 11:30 am on Wednesday, since the guy will be here at Noon to clean the carpets, and everything needs to be off the floor. Including the 8 large rubbermaid boxes that I have to find room for in the 'closet'. Fun, fun, fun! (groan.)

Here's a few random thoughts to keep you satsified.

Random Thought No. 1:
I seem to be going through a cranberries phase (the fruit, not the band). I want them in everything. In Atlanta, I had this broccoli/ cranberry slaw that was amazing; I ate an entire box of apple/cranberry/ almond granola bars from SuperTar-get in 4 days; cranberry juice just rocks my world, like every damn day. What gives?

Random Thought No. 2:
My garden is coming in quite nicely. The damn grass is like freaking taking over the entire corner, but whatever. I'm just happy that they survived 8 days without water while we were gone. Nice.

Random Thought No. 3:
Our mail wasn't delievered until almost 4:30 today. I hate that.

Random Thought No. 4:
The November issue of Elle Decor is ridiculiously (that's so how you spell that) good. Especially the article written by Simon Doonan. Utter fabulousness.

Random Thought No. 5:
There seem to be an inordinant amount of guilty pleasure pop songs being released now for the super Tuesday release in November. They just keep coming! Gwen Stefani (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it); Duran, Duran; U2; the Pussycat Dolls (shwaat?); ms. Britney's Perogative; and that damn Nelly song with Christina Augilera. It's an orgy of crap and I love it!

Slow Motion by Juvenile still sucks, though. Just in case you were wondering. Tell your friends.

SO LONG, SUMMER! AUF WIEDERSEHEN!

Alas, summer has officially left the hemisphere. Kinda. I mean, it's still way too damn warm during the day, but today I woke up with chilly toes (fabulous) and runny sinuses (um, not fabulous), both of which are portents of autumnal weather. Yea! In honor of this special day, I made some Winter Soulstice Tea, toasted some fresh Publix bread and had the most perfect Anjou pear for brekkie. YUM.

Sorry I haven't posted so much, but I have not been in a very good state of mind lately. Just your usual PMS hell, but crappy nonetheless. We had a great weekend, but it kinda knocked me on my ass, and I'm only now recovering. God, you know you're old if it takes 3 days to recover from a weekend spent actually leaving the house and speaking to other people. How sad.

This new cd I've been working on is taking for-freakin'-ever. The mix is really weird and is taking forever to get right. I guess Nina Simone's voice is just too much for the subwoofer on the computer, 'cause it just crapped out again. Argh. I was suprised it even turned on today, becuase last night we were discussing replacing it, for I sooo cannot deal with crappy sound. "But wait, I'm really okay!", it said, and then realized that it just wasn't strong enough to carry on and started making all these funny noises. We'll probably be looking at getting a new computer after the first of the year, so it sucks to have to replace something now, but four months is way too long to have crappy sound. Really.

I'm actually starting to get excited about Halloween now, too. (I guess my Autumn switch is finally turned to ON or something...) I think I'm going to actually do a costume, maybe Medusa. It could be cool, right? Maybe I'll just do the hair thing I saw in Miz Martha. I dunno.

I want to get the garden re-planted for fall before too long, too. Why do plants have to be so freakin' expensive? I went to Hesters a couple of weeks ago and got massive sticker shock. $25 for a small holly plant or a hedgerow?! Damn! I guess I'm stuck with Lowe's. I can't decide if I want to go all color, with purple and orange and yellow, or stick mono-chromatic or something. I guess I'll decide when I get to the nursery.

God, what the hell are they doing downstairs! I can't tell if they're just moving in/out or practicing Greco-Roman wrestling or somehing. Maybe they're slamdancing. The other day they were playing Brazilian Carnivale music, the stuff you hear when the Samba schools dance in the parades in Rio de Janero. I'm intrigued.

Our building is actually full right now. Weird. Our lease is up at the end of October. I guess my thoughts of not having to sign a new lease were just pipe dreams. Oh, well. 7 years and counting!

Oh, and everybody is invited to our place for Turkey Day. FOR REAL!