Friday Random Ten: Way To Go, Genius!

Wow, haven't done one of these for a while.

I'm home today - G., my 3-year-old girl, has a nasty cold and had an absolutely shitty night's sleep, as the bags under my eyes can attest - so I thought to myself... well, here's a little transcript:

JP: Hey, self, what's shakin'?

Self: Not much. Do people really still say that?

JP: Say what?

Self: "What's shakin'?" It's got a disturbing retro vibe, and not in a good way.

JP: I'm a trend-setter. We're often misunderstood whilst performing the setting of trends.

Self: Uh-huh. (Pause) So, um, you wanted to, uh, talk, or something?

JP: Oh, yeah! I just had this great thought! Why don't we -

Self: - use iTunes Genius for the FRT on the blog today?

JP: Yeah! How'd you know?

Self: Dude. I'm you.

JP: Weird. (beat) You're not going to go all Tyler Durden on me, are you?

Self: Aaaand, we're done.

Scene.

Yes, I have a rich and fulfilling life, full of meaning and import. This above is not evidence of that, mind you - I just thought you should know.

And now, the (Genius) list:

Based on: "Hangover Cure for Humanity" by Spouse

1. "The Kids Don't Stand A Chance" - Vampire Weekend

2. "Time Won't Let Me Go" - The Bravery

3. "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi" - Radiohead

4. "You Only Live Once" - The Strokes

5. "Shiver (Live)" - Coldplay

6. "Girlfriend" - Phoenix

7. "The Heinrich Maneuver" - Interpol

8. "Trust Me" - The Fray

9. "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" - Vampire Weekend

10. "High and Dry" - Radiohead

And the bonus: "Crooked Teeth" - Death Cab For Cutie

Whoa. You can really see The Wife's musical influences here. Interpol? I didn't even know we owned any Interpol. And Vampire Weekend - I like them well enough, but I would never ever in a million years pick them up on my own. Same with Phoenix, methinks. Still, a decent list. Only one I might question is the inclusion of The Fray, but other than, good on you, Genius!

Now, how about some video?

Spouse:

Death Cab:

Now! Feast! And be merry! Or whatever else it is you do on a Friday - I'm a bit out of touch.

Friday Random Ten: The Proof is in the Pudding

What? I like pudding.

"We had the $240 - we had to have the pudding."

And now you know the state of my mind. 

Ooooh. Brilliant, no?

1. "Stratford-on-Guy" - Liz Phair

2. "Bled White" - Elliott Smith

3. "The Man Who Sold The World" - Nirvana 

4. "Team" - Bon Iver 

5. "One Week" - Barenaked Ladies 

6. "The General Specific" - Band of Horses

7. "Whisper Grass" - Elbow

8. "No One Else" - Weezer

9. "Politik" - Coldplay

10. "It's Not Up To You" - Bjork

BONUS!

11. "Invincible" - Muse

SUPER EXTRA-SPECIAL 1993 BONUS!

12. "$240 Worth of Pudding" - Barry and Levon

$240 Worth of Pudding - watch more funny videos

Awwww, yeah.

Ye Gods, the hair! The HAIR!

Thanks to the inestimable Mr. Scalzi and his latest Reader Request Week post, I now have Howard Jones's "No One Is To Blame" running on an infinte loop in my head. I like the song - absolutely loved it when I was 11, to be sure, and I think it's held up reasonably well to the years - but there's only so much of the inoffensive Brit's dulcet tones I can take before yea, verily, I doth descend into madness.

So: what's the solution?

(And don't say "More Cowbell!" Because I'm pretty sure that joke jumped the shark about four years ago, now.)

Here's the solution: get the song out of my head and into yours! So, have some, friends, and revel in the glory of Howard Jones in his prime.

Wow. That hair, man. That's just something else. Luckily, that style abortion ended with Reagan, et. al. 

Oh, wait. 

(Photo cribbed from Amanda Marcotte's flickr stream; taken on day one of this year's SXSW festival in Austin, I believe.)

Friday Random Ten: "Read, dammit!" Edition

First, an addendum to yesterday's You Must Read These post. These are also books you must read. Because I said so, dammit!

Winterbirth and Bloodheir by Brian Ruckley - books 1 & 2, respectively, of Ruckley's The Godless World trilogy. This is classic epic fantasy, in the mold of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series. Magic is at a minimum here, though it has its place. Plus, militant religious fanatics bent on domination! This is one of the better series in epic fantasy in recent years, a solid bit of storytelling with a complex, fully-realized world and some characters that you can actually get behind. I'm anxiously awaiting the trilogy's conclusion, Fall of Thanes, which will be published in May, 2009.

The Darkness That Comes Before; The Warrior Prophet; The Thousand-Fold Thought by R. Scott Bakker - comprising The Prince of Nothing trilogy, Bakker's epic fantasy series is simply the best fantasy going. Yes, better than GRRM. Way better than Jordan. This series is what every epic fantasy should strive to emulate. Well-written, deftly-plotted, world-building that's almost daunting (and definitely envy-inducing), brutal and beautiful and painful and joyous, The Prince of Nothing books spin a dark tale of one man, the ultimate trickster, who arrives from the North and manages to finagle his way into the ultimate position of power, through manipulation and a preternatural understanding of human nature. And he doesn't care who he ruins along the way, who he kills or betrays, for he is on a mission. And that mission: save the world from the rising of the No-God. Yeah, I read these a while ago, but I'm thinking I need to re-read them again soon. I'm sure there's a ton I missed on the first go-round.

Okay, I'm sure there are more I'm forgetting, but the music, she calls. Onto the list!

1. "True Dreams of Wichita" - Soul Coughing

2. "I've Got Your Number" - Elbow

3. "We Might As Well Be Strangers" - Keane

4. "Fuck and Run" - Liz Phair

5. "Nude" - Radiohead

6. "Lost!" - Coldplay

7. "Buddy Holly" - Weezer

8. "Seal the Bulkheads" - Richard Gibbs (Battlestar Galactica (2003) soundtrack)

9. "One Of These Things First" - Nick Drake

10. "Cold Water" - Damien Rice

Yes. Yes, I think I like that list, and would like to subscribe to its newsletter. But what about the bonus?

11. "Such Great Heights" - The Postal Service

Not bad, not bad at all. I think my musical self-worth has been mildly assuaged for the week.

Cue Gordon Ramsey: "Video."

Done.

Friday Random Ten: "Quack Me Up Before You Quack-Quack" Edition

The quacking has resumed. For most of the week, there was no quacking, as the president of my organization was out of the office. Until today, that is. She's back, with her infernal laptop, and the damnable quack quack quack has, much to my dismay, re-entered my work life.

So: what to do? I know! Let's FRT - quack-style!

Quack. "Such Great Quacks" - Iron & Wine

Quack. "Quackless" - Soul Coughing

Quack. "Tired of Quack" - Weezer

Quack. "Window Quacks" - Band of Horses

Quack. "What A Good Quack" - Barenaked Ladies

Quack. "Motion Picture Soundquack" - Radiohead

Quack. "You Can Do Better Than Quack" - Death Cab for Cutie

Quack. "Street Quack (Fade Out)" - Radiohead

Quack. "Viva la Quack" - Coldplay

Quack. "Dickquack" - Kate Nash

My my: what a quacking list. But what's the bonus quack?

Extra Quack. "U-Quack" - Pixies

Brilliant. I went to school near U-Quack, so this song is near-and-dear ("In the sleepy West / of the woody East / lives a Valley full / full of Pioneer...")

(But sweet merciful Daffy, they got old and fat, didn't they? Yowza.)

Until next time, kids: keep your feet on the quack, but keep reaching for the quacks.

God help me.

Friday Random Ten: "It's Friday, Time to Blog" edition

Boy, sometimes I sure wish I'd get off my lazy butt and do some blog entries about other stuff, rather than just doing these FRTs.

But then I settle down and let the warm, fuzzy glow of the TV wash over me, and everything's okay again.

Oh, TV. When have you ever done me wrong?

Liste!

1. "Islands on the Coast" - Band of Horses

2. "Cannonball" - Damien Rice

3. "We Looked Like Giants" - Death Cab for Cutie

4. "Bullets' - Augustana

5. "Midnight Show" - The Killers

6. "X&Y" - Coldplay

7. "Rusted Wheel" - Silversun Pickups

8. "Polaris" - Jimmy Eat World

9. "Heaven Forbid" - The Fray

10. "Monkey Gone to Heaven" - Pixies

Not bad, not bad. Let's see what's behind door number 11, shall we...?

11. "The General Specific" - Band of Horses

Oh, the dreaded band repeat in the bonus! So sorry - thanks for playing, we have some lovely parting gifts for you. Johnny, tell 'em what they've won!

Thanks for stopping by, folks! We'll see you next time on Friday Random Ten!

Friday Random Ten: Mailbox Orange Aquatic Edition

Yes, friends, it's Friday again. And you know what that means! Indeed, time to open up my soul - or at least my music library - to all and sundry. "Why do I do this?" you ask. That's a great question.

Monkeys.

(What? That's a great answer!)

So, without further ado, let the humiliation - er, I mean, the list begin!

1. "The Ice Is Getting Thinner" - Death Cab for Cutie

Z. "For Emma" - Bon Iver

Maroon. "Johnny Sunshine" - Liz Phair

Pie. "Take a Bow" - Muse

-99. "Black Star" - Radiohead

6. "A is for Asthma" - Kate Nash

23. "23" - Jimmy Eat World

Aston Villa FC. "The Beatiful Occupation" - Travis

C#. "Heirloom" - Bjork

10. "Sunshine" - Keane

Bonus bonus bonus!

Flapjacks. "A Message" - Coldplay

Feh. Coldplay it is. Have some. Have some now!

And because I can... FLAPJACK! MAKING FUN OF JAMES "DOUCHE" BLUNT! WHY AM I SHOUTING?

(Did you get this week's theme? Huh? Well, well, aren't you the observant one, my plucky little shellfish!)

Friday Random Ten: 25 Random Things - "City of Delusion" edition

Following on a meme that's been there and back again, saw the movie and hated the ending but then saw the movie again... I give unto you the not-annoying-at-all-not-in-the-slightest "Friday 25 Random Things About Me" list! (Clicken the linken for what the hell it all means)

Yes! List!

1. What do your friends say about you?

"No. 13 Baby" - Pixies

2. How would your coworkers describe you?

"Ribcage" - Elbow

3. How would you describe yourself?

"Cannonball" - Damien Rice

4. What do you like in a romantic partner?

"Too Long Awake" - Idlewild

5. How do you feel today?

"We Never Change" - Coldplay

6. What is your life's purpose?

"Cath..." - Death Cab for Cutie

7. What is your motto?

"Reunion" - Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator soundtrack)

8. What do you think about the most?

"Isobel" - Bjork

9. What are you going to do on your next vacation?

"One Week" - Barenaked Ladies

10. What do you think of your first love/date?

"An Echo, A Stain" - Bjork (zing!)

11. What is your life story?

"Getchoo" - Weezer

12. What did you do yesterday?

"Dead Wrong" - The Fray

13. What do you think of when you see the person you like/love?

"Brian Wilson" - Barenaked Ladies

14. What describes your wedding?

"Goodbye, Baby" - Richard Gibbs (Battlestar Galactica miniseries soundtrack)

15. What will they play at your funeral?

"I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" - Colin Hay

16. What is your obsession?

"Sentimental Guy" - Ben Folds

17. What is your biggest fear?

"Midnight Show" - The Killers

18. What is your biggest secret?

"Fix You" - Coldplay

19. What is your biggest turn-on?

"Pink Triangle" - Weezer (lesbians, FTW!)

20. How do you describe your friends?

"Futures" - Jimmy Eat World

21. What would you do with a million dollars?

"Can't Stop Now" - Keane

22. What is your opinion of sex?

"Amsterdam" - Coldplay

23. What is your biggest regret?

"Wasteland" - Augustana (actually, I think Song of Susannah was the worst of the Dark Tower books - hey, now!)

24. What would you rather be doing right now?

"Bodysnatchers" - Radiohead

25. What will you post this list as?

"City of Delusion" - Muse

Hm. That was amusing, at least. I'm particularly fond of nos. 10, 15 and 19 - ah, iTunes, you really came through for me. 

Now, let's mark the passing of my first internet meme participation with this lovely video of the fine lads of Muse performing "City of Delusion" live. Enjoy.

thppth.

Friday Random Ten: It's sooooo easy

which is why these have been the only posts of late. Oh, sure, I've wanted to post about Neal Stephenson's Anathem, which I just finished, and I've got that whole "big announcement about my writing, just wait for the new year" thing which I keep putting off... but those are all, like, hard and stuff. FRTs are like Skittles. And if you don't know what I mean, then I don't know how we ever communicated.

Anyway. Maestro, ze list!

1. "Foundations" - Kate Nash

2. "Gunshy" - Liz Phair

3. "Trouble" - Coldplay

4. "Brian Wilson" - Barenaked Ladies

5. "Stable Song" - Death Cab for Cutie

6. "Late" - Ben Folds

7. "Sunday Best" - Augustana

8. "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine" - The Killers

9. "Volcano" - Damien Rice

10. "Wisconsin" - Bon Iver

Whoa. That's not a bad list - not a great one, mind, but as I've mentioned before, I've never been cool. And I'm okay with that. (No: really!) Anyway, let's see what's behind the mystery bonus door, shall we?

11. "No Answers" - AeonSpoke

Well, hey now. I daresay this is one of the best FRTs I've ever been a part of. Here, let's make merry with an AeonSpoke video ("Emmanuel" - I couldn't find one for "No Answers"), courtesy of the fine folks over at YouTube.

Happy Friday, folks.

Friday Random Ten: Aaaand, we're back

Oh, my, but it's been a while since last we played the legendary FRT, hasn't it? Let's us rectify the situation, post haste!

1. "No One's Gonna Love You" - Band of Horses

2. "Work" - Jimmy Eat World

3. "Everybody's Changing" - Keane

4. "In The Garage" - Weezer

5. "Pain" - Jimmy Eat World

6. "Sulk" - Radiohead

7. "Parachutes" - Coldplay

8. "Death Of An Interior Decorator" - Death Cab for Cutie

9. "Talking Bird" - Death Cab for Cutie

10. "Welcome Home" - Idlewild

And, as ever, the infamous bonus track that almost always lets me down with its inherent lameosity:

11. "Love Will Come Through" - Travis

Hardly ever disappointed by the blandness of my music collection, am I. Alas, I am not now, nor have I ever been, cool. And I'm okay with that.

Here, let's celebrate feeling good about being lame by watching this video of bland adult alternative pap!

To be fair, this is off the album Twelve Memories (2003), which has a number of ditties highly critical of Bush's America, plus a song titled "Peace the Fuck Out". So it's not totally lame, only partially so.

Huh. Defensive much?

Friday Random Ten: "It's All I Do" edition

Maybe I should post something other than FRTs?

Nah. This is how I roll.

Teh liste!

1. "Birds" - Kate Nash

2. "The New Year" - Death Cab for Cutie

3. "Shoebox" - Barenaked Ladies

4. "Stable Song" - Death Cab for Cutie

5. "Dead Wrong" - The Fray

6. "Dickhead" - Kate Nash

7. "Progeny" - Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard

8. "Invincible" - Muse

9. "Prison Food" - Ben Folds

10. "Getchoo" - Weezer

Bonus (no whammies no whammies no whammies):

11. "Bled White" - Elliott Smith

Oh, Elliott. Emo with a brain, way before emo was emo. Gone too soon.

Friday Random Ten: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" edition

But this here ain't no foolish consistency, Mr. Emerson. I'm not at all certain that it's a wise consistency, but hey: three weeks in a row is, for me, "consistent-with-a-capital-C-and-a-silent-Q" (because having a silent Q makes a word that much more important, you see).

Anyway, put away your hobgoblins, kids. The list (non-Genius-ified, natch):

1. "No Answers" - Aeon Spoke

2. "Two at a Time" - Guster

3. "Elysium" - Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator soundtrack)

4. "Cigarettes, Wedding Bands" - Band of Horses

5. "Honor Him" - Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard (Gladiator soundtrack)

6. "Smoke" - Ben Folds Five

7. "Thousands Left Behind" - Richard Gibbs (Battlestar Galactica (2003) soundtrack)

8. "As if I Hadn't Slept" - Idlewild

9. "Call and Answer" - Barenaked Ladies

10. "Marry Song" - Band of Horses

And the bonus, FTW (please, please FTW):

11. "Dozen Wicked Words" - Longpigs

Huh. I'm pretty sure that an English band hailed as better than Oasis (and certainly more fucked up than the brothers Gallagher, if that's even possible) doesn't count as full of Win, but ... eh, what the hell. Have some 90s English radio-friendly modern rock.

"She Said" - Long Pigs: (couldn't find a video for "Dozen Wicked Words", the bastards)

Postscript: I have a couple of movie/TV soundtrack albums in my library because I like to listen to them while I write. Movie scores - especially for sci-fi/fantasy films, or anything epic (like Gladiator) - actually make for great writing music. So I've found, anyway. YMMV.

Anyway, that's why they keep showing up. And, no, I don't know why I felt the need to justify their presence. Maybe I'm a little sensitive, all right? Just back off, man. Back. Off.

Friday Random Ten: a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma

I'm not cool, but I play one on TV.

And with that: musique, s'il vous plait!

1. "Black Swan" - Thom Yorke

2. "Joga" - Bjork

3. "Polaris" - Jimmy Eat World

4. "Swallowed in the Sea" - Coldplay

5. "Talking Bird" - Death Cab for Cutie

6. "Supermassive Black Hole" - Muse

7. "Winding Road" - Bonnie Sommerville (Garden State soundtrack)

8. "Such Great Heights" - Iron & Wine

9. "The Old Apartment" - Barenaked Ladies

10. "Your Eyes Open" - Keane

Bonus!:

11. "Skeleton Song" - Kate Nash

W00t! Kate Nash! Cheeky! More exclamation points, please!

Friday Random Ten - Now With Sparkling Crystals!*

* - Sparkling Crystals not included

In a stunning fit of consistency (two weeks in a row? madness!), I offer unto you this week's FRT:

1. Liz Phair - "Dance of the Seven Veils"

2. Weezer - "My Name is Jonas"

3. Pixies - "Silver"

4. Pixies - "Alex Eifel"

5. Radiohead - "Videotape"

6. Coldplay - "Violet Hill"

7. Liz Phair - "Soap Star Joe"

8. Soul Coughing - "Soft Serve"

9. Elbow - "I've Got Your Number"

10. Bon Iver - "Team"

And the bonus track, FTW:

11. The Shins - "Caring is Creepy"

Ah, slightly better bonus track this week. Still not full of Win, but then, I'm not sure any of the music I listen to would be considered Teh Hawesome by the kids these days. 

Anyway: sparkly: (and multiple colons, too!):

Note: Couldn't find a decent video for "Caring is Creepy", so you'll just have to make do with "New Slang". I think you'll live.

Friday Random Ten: The Return of a Great Idea, Ruthlessly Stolen from Other, Better Bloggers

Oh yeah. I'm all about the pithy titles.

So, Amanda over at Pandagon, who's much cooler than me (a fact which is consistently reflected in the music she listens to), has taken to doing the FRT with the new Genius function in iTunes. I'd do that, but apparently the Genius function only works for the music library on your computer, not on any iPod you might have hooked up to said computer. I'm at work, so I don't put a ton of music on my work box, preferring to listen to music from my iPod through iTunes. So: no Genius for you!

Anyway, my Friday Random Ten:

1. Silversun Pickups -- "Lazy Eye"

2. Muse -- "Assassin"

3. Death Cab for Cutie -- "Passenger Seat"

4. Ben Folds Five -- "Smoke"

5. Nick Drake -- "One of These Things First"

6. Pixies -- "Gouge Away"

7. Jimmy Eat World -- "Work"

8. Bjork -- "All is Full of Love"

9. Coldplay -- "Spies"

10. Weezer -- "Buddy Holly"

And... bonus track FTW!:

11. Elbow -- "Snooks"

Okay, Elbow's not really full of Win, but... look! Shiny!