My iTunes likes Mr. 1986

This month I’ve entered my serious transition from CDs to iTunes.  I figure I have about half of my physical library imported at this point, including the vast majority of my favorite stuff.  Since I’m a latecomer to this, and an avid album-listener, things of note include:

  • My iTunes likes Lincoln, NE “instrumetal” band Mr. 1986 waaay more than my ratings would seem to indicate.  Likewise with indie rockers Grandaddy, and British electronic group Faithless.  The Clash seem to pop up often, too, which I’m not complaining about.
  • You may not know that there’s an undocumented but super-handy organizational feature.  As you’re browsing your library, click the “Album” header for two additional options: “Album by year” (my choice!) or “Album by artist.”
  • Hip-hop makes up a significantly smaller portion of my library than I expected.  My explanation is that there’s less hip-hop in my older music, and that I return to my favorites more often than I do with other genres.

Oh!  Essential; I’m practicing a strict no-earbuds discipline.  One thing that bums me out about iPods is the privitization of musical experience.  So my iTunes is plugged in to my stereo, and my iPod always goes into the radio or computer speakers.  These are remarkable tools to *facilitate* the sharing of music, not inhibit it, and I’m determined to make the most of that possibility.

  • I’ve split my jazz into the genres “Jazz” (everything up to bebop) and “Jazz – Bop & post-” (which is, naturally, bop and everything after it).  Roughly, that means the former is jazz that functions as dance music, while the latter is art jazz.  I tried to split the first category into New Orleans style and big band/swing, but that line was too fuzzy to be meaningful within my limited library.
  • Speaking of genres, “Alternative & Punk” is an absolute joke.  It’s so ubiquitous as to be meaningless.  I respect bands that have the guts to say they’re “Metal” or “Rock” or just straight-up “Punk.”  I’m really trying to carve up my library into 10-20 roughly similarly sized genres, not to try to box artists in, but to help create useful smart playlists and mixes for different situations.

Happy holidays; we’re working on XMAS 2k8 as you read. -h

November update

Are you guys getting your wi-fi het up to download Arturo Got The Shaft’s “A Life Without Fireflies” on the 23rd???????????!!!!!!!!!!?

PUNK MATTERS.

Axl doesn’t.
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My Mac is now up and running at home, and in-between homework, mastering a live set for The Killigans, life, and working on “25d” for XMAS … I’ve been dropping CDs into iTunes.  I haven’t actually *used* it much yet.  More to come.

There are three practice tape songs with vocals up at www.myspace.com/fiftybearsinafight

LOVE

-h

MR|Review- Blondie, "Parallel Lines"

Blondie’s classic “Parallel Lines” isn’t nearly the tour-de-force I expected after reading Pitchfork’s review of this year’s reissue.

blondie.jpg Must-hear!
Recommended
Good
Fans only
Skip this
Owww! My ears!

Given a near-perfect 9.7 rating and called the group’s best, “easily,” (Allmusic agrees with a 5/5) I figured it was my time to take the plunge into the group’s work.

Do you have those lists of bands that you know are classic, that you should really get into at some point? I do. Sometimes they’re great: The Clash, Depeche Mode, and Neil Young are all artists I came to intentionally, after those formative high school years, and have come to treasure. I hoped Blondie could be added to the list.

I’ve gotten off track – “Parallel Lines” is a solid pop album that straddles new wave and bubblegum. I’m fully prepared to be raked over the coals by Blondie fans.

But the hooks aren’t any catchier than those of a thousand over new wave bands, and they’re not subversive or tough enough to take the record to the next level. If you’re not into Blondie, put them at the bottom of your get-into-them-someday list, or cherry pick some hits from iTunes.

MR|Review directs readers’ limited attention among works via ratings, and within works via prose, focusing on works where our opinion diverges from critical or popular consensus, or we have significant insight that compliments or challenges readers’ aesthetic experience.