Music Choice has changed their lineup and has gotten rid of the Retro Active channel.

They have replaced it with "Classic Alternatives". Most of you already know of my fiery dislike of all things "Alternative". To quote the nasty gram I sent Music Choice last week, "This is not the same thing. This is a weak excuse to play Reel Big Fish and Gin Blossoms who wished they were old enough to have been part of the movement when the subcultures were valid and instead produced their own diluted, overproduced, safe for suburbia brand of what you used to play on Retro Active. It is a weak validation of late-comers who lack the talent to make something of their own, and an excuse on your part to make a Misc. channel where you can throw all the crap from the 90's and early 2000's that you can't place elsewhere."

I was listening to Retro Active yesterday, this morning got up and it had already been changed. What was the song?

Sell Out by Reel Big Fish.

So, does anyone know of a good 80's new wave-y radio station that will play non-Hit List songs by the likes of Tones on Tail, XTC, & Simple Minds and not TOO many one hit wonders? (I can put up with a few, but too much Kajagoogoo will make anyone violent) Even tho I own most of the songs from Retro Active, I really don't want to have to build a ginormous playlist and put it on the iPod. I never get any surprises.

Epic Fail.

I'm listening to the Retro-Active channel on the Comcast music channels; they actually pull out some obscure stuff here and there and when I say obscure I mean like Dukes of Stratosphear obscure.

Anyway, I realize I'm really enjoying it as I'm doing Web Stuff and then I reflect a little on the playlist since I started paying attention...

Cult - She Sells Sanctuary
Xian Death - As Evening Falls
Love and Rockets - 7th Dream of Teenage Heaven
Gary Newman - Down in the Park
Bauhaus - Bela - the whole thing
Cure - Close to You
Sisters - Heartland

And now Siouxsie?

Then it hits me, "Some goth has gotten hold of the playlist!"

Go, Goffie! Go!

Wedding bobble heads.

Are you srs?

The more I research wedding crap the more idiocy I find out there. Apparently the new thing is to take a picture of your knickers. Not with you in them. Just knickers. I was on a site with a girl who walked down the aisle to the Muppet Show theme. No reason, just because she liked the song. I don't want to ridicule anyone's special day, but come on...

I have long known that many people in this world have questionable taste, and I will admit that when it comes to such occasions I tend to have a rod up my ass. Have some class, at least during the ceremony. Save your poorly bred jackassery for the reception.

**********

And on a completely unrelated note, how pissed off am I that I don't have time to do a Colbert Remix with Warren Lessig right now? I have 2 books to read and a media package to produce for my counseling assistant internship before I'm allowed to work on music. SUCK! I might need to play hooky after Tuesday and see if I can blow something out to submit.

I discovered the new Portishead album "Third" in my inbox last night from a friend in England.

Its good, but different. You won't hear the same trip-hoppy Portishead from the 90's (not a theremin in sight); they've evolved past that. There's a lot of dissonance, which I personally love. There's acoustic work, a lot of mathematically complex beats, and its clear they've spent a lot of time experimenting which is what has always made them fantastic. This is an innovative album that's a little fringe, but it comes together wonderfully. Here are a few of my favorite tracks for you to sample.




The Rip: This song has a fabulous Nico feel to it. It is by far my favorite.

Threads: This is a beautiful song. Dark, monochrome, very sexy. I love how it builds to a fever at the end and then just leaves you with klaxons.

Plastic: Production on this song is phenom and I love the build and drop. It would fit in well with Pink Floyd's Meddle. It hits some seriously old skool experimental sound.

Silence: This is the opening of the album. Love the percussion and glam rock guitar. Yet in its way I hear old Delerium, like Syrophenikan. The verses are pure Beth tho. She takes it to a very interesting place by singing at half-time to the percussion.

Hunter: Dreamy, wandering, pins and needles romantic. Quickly becoming a favorite. The closest to old Portishead on the album.



I won't give the whole album, because I think you should buy it. I know I will, even tho I have this copy. Its only in 128 and I'd like to have it in 256...It should be out in mid-late April but you can pre-order the awesome limited edition box on their site right now.

Enjoy!

All you ska-heads out there get up and get ready to skank like you haven't in years. Pick it up!

Once again, my gift of prophecy has spoken true. Please note the Single of the Week.





Now if I could just do this with the stockmarket...

The song is mediocre, but I love good storytelling.

I give you, Amanda Ghost.

Adele

This reminds me a lot of the early Jade 4 U and Praga Khan stuff. Good to see someone out there is still being goofy and weird.

Last night aklarand and I decided to give up the fast. I know, we only made it to day 4, but there are mitigating circumstances. For one, he's just started a new job and needs all his brainpower. We discovered that he was experiencing a detrimental brain fog. As for me, the constant nausea was my downfall. The usual "I havent eaten" nausea just never went away. After coming close to retching several times yesterday, I decided that I needed to listen to my body and eat some food.

So, new plan: I'm going to continue to fast, with the addition of one vegetable based meal a day to help balance out my calories. M is going back to eating. We're going to give it a month of better eating and increased water, then try the fast again hoping it wont be such a shock to the system. Based on M's body mass, I think I may also recommend he double his lemon concentrate next time as well.

Radio: I can't create a playlist when 3/4 of my music is on a hard dive I can't access. M is going to fiddle with it and hopefully the data hasnt been lost. I will be a little upset if 10 years worth of music is gone. I've tried just using the music I have on Suki, but its lackluster and disjointed. I need certain songs on that HD.

This weekend is the Braves game with my parents. The seats are crap, but its really more of a family bonding thing than anything else. I'm looking forward to it and hope it isnt *too* muggy.

Ok, I spent the weekend in assorted jackassery with aklarand instead of working on my playlist. You have permission to make fun of me.

It was good jackassery tho. We got caught up on a lot of Lost; we're almost finished with season two. Next I have to get him caught up on 4400 since the new season is coming out soon. He started downloading Heroes this morning. *head reeling* Too...much...television!

We went to Ikea and bought a new rug for the living room. Its green and fancy.

We went to a co-worker's house for a BBQ. It was good to see him, as we work different shifts now and dont get to see as much of eachother. Our relationship is mostly IM-based these days.

After that we went to hang out with adric which was fabulous. I miss him terribly now that I'm back at work. No more Monday mornings curled up watching japanese television and eating porridge. Unfortunately his roommate had his girlfriend, her daughter, and an intensely annoying redhead at the house who were making an unholy racket. We decided to call it a loss and just head home for more Lost.

Today is day 1 of the fast. Day 1 is usually the easiest. Chewing gum and drinking water/tea keeps me occupied enough that I dont notice I'm hungry. Days 2-4 are the hardest for me. I'm determined tho. I need this cleanse. My nails wont grow, my hair isnt as shiny, and I'm having more trouble than usual sleeping through the night. Toxic, toxic kitty. Its not to late to join us in the cleansing!!!

I'm off to go work on the playlist.

1 - On Monday the radio station goes back up. You'll be able to go to kittyglitter.org and hear the new playlist: Songs for Spring, Vol 2. Sunny songs to keep you occupied at work, lovingly mixed by my own two hands this weekend. It should be good.

2 - Its time to fast again. As usual, I have no idea how long I'll be fasting. I'll start with the 10 days and see what happens from there. I'd really like to do the 30 days again, but we'll see what the body wants. aklarand is going to do it with me for at least the 10 days. I've never fasted in tandem so this should be interesting. Anyone else up to the task?

3 - Happy Birthday to Simon Gallup, one of my favorite bassists in this sector of the galaxy.

Aural Vampire.

Go.

Now.

Srsly.

Today my parents came in to visit me. We packed up and headed for Stone Mountain for a nice picnic. I've discovered that I have a little more of an issue with agoraphobia that I thought; I had some trouble being that far from the house, especially with a little dog. In case you haven't met us, I'm extremely protective of my little Attila. I'm that annoying parent that disinfects papercuts and wont let her kids eat sugar. Attila can be a barky dog as well, so that didn't help my nerves which were a little more delicate than I had realised. I try and be a considerate dog owner and keep him quiet and he's usually pretty good, but when we first arrived...*shakes head* The lungs on that child.

In all, we had a great time. It was nice to sit outside in the shade, kids were playing, (but not too nearby), we cooked out, and just chatted. We listened to the baseball game. It was the kind of slow Sunday afternoon you always think about, but never really remember in detail.



On another note, do you listen to Emilie Simon? No? I suggest you stop what you're doing and begin immediately. She's on iTunes. I'll wait...

Her original stuff is wonderful, but it was her cover of Femme Fatale, that first caught my er, ear. I want to live inside that song. I heard Lou Reed once say that he loved to hear the new visions that people have of his songs. At the time, he really liked the Cowboy Junkies' Sweet Jane. I have no doubt in my mind that he loves this vision of his warning to a friend about a girl who likes to collect hearts.

...Is it just me or does one's inner writing voice feel intimidated when it talks about Lou? I mean, he's Lou fucking Reed.