I’m sure you’ve all seen Timberlake’s SNL video “*#& in a Box” but have you seen the female response? I think it’s a great video response and just shows how YouTube is actually way more than just copyrighted tv content. This is the good stuff. If you haven’t seen the SNL skip, i wrote about it here.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xElIik0Ys0]
Yesterday i submitted my playlist for 2006. While individual tracks are great, i typically listen to music in album form. Becausae of this, i thought it necessary to also list of the Top 8 albums of 2006 .
This was a great year for me and music and these were the complete albums that i picked that really defined it for me musically….
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Phoenix – It’s Never Been Like That
This was by far my favorite album of the year. So many of the songs are great and get me going. My one negative comment is that many of the songs sound similar but they are so awesome that this one aspect is easily overlooked. Album highlights: Long Distance Call, Consolation Prizes, Rally, and Napolean Says (download entire album)
#2: Jack Johnson – Curious George Soundtrack
This came out in the beginning of the year and dominated my playlists for at least 2 months. I’ve loved all of Jack’s previous albums but i thought they had been steadily decreasing in quality. Granted, they are always extremely listenable, but they were becoming less catchy and more bland. Nothing like Flake, Mud Football or Bubble Toes, which were on the first album, came on the subsequent albums. But, leave it to a little curious monkey to get him back on track! Songs and Lullibies is an amazing album. It’s catchy, fun, and completely feel-good. Songs like 3 R’s, Upside Down, Jungle Gym, and The Sharing Song are bouncy and catchy and just completely enjoyable. (download entire album)
#3: My Morning Jacket – Acoustic Citsuoca
Okonokos is the MMJ album that came out in 2006. It renewed my love of MMJ and took me to see them at the 930 club in November. One of my main complaints of the concert is that they were so damn loud that it took away from the great music and lyrics. So, this live album and concert caused me to explore Acoustic Citsuoca, a past acoustic album, which is my favorite. Citsuoca is a shorter EP album but the recordings of each song, especially Golden and Bermuda Highway are so smooth and mesmorizing, they are well worth about a 1000 listens. (download entire album)
#4: Bob Dylan – Modern Times
I wrote about this album over the summer about how it really surprised me. I didn’t expect Dylan to be able crank out new hits anywhere near his old stuff. Not only did he bring a new song but you can still get the same folkish lyrics that are funny and thought-provoking at the same time. Songs like Spirit on the Water, Thunder on the Mountain, and Workingman Blues are great additions to the Dylan list of hits. (3 downloads are here)
#5: Beastie Boys – The In Sound From Way Out
I’ve always been a big fan of instrumentals and especially funk-laden tunes. Some of my favorite Beastie Boys songs have been their instrumental jams. Songs like In 3’s on Check Your Head were my favorites on all their albums. So, you can imagine my happiness when i saw an entire album comprised of their instrumental tunes. These are great songs to work to or play in the background of a party. It’ll give everyone a little extra movement in their step. (No download, sorry)
#6: Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not
This album came out in the beginning of 2006 and was one of the main albums that got me back into indie rock. These guys had some great guitar riffs (see Certain Romance) and some cheeky lyrics (Riot Van and Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor) and almost all of their songs are fun to listen to. A great album that’s worthy of a listen if you like indie rock. I actually think the EP “Who the F%#*k Are the Arctic Monkeys” has better songs but this is the real album that i actually listened to a lot. (download entire album)
#7: Justin Timberlake – FutureSex
I was never a big fan of Justin and never got into any of the boy bands. So when people were saying how great his new ablum was, i pretty much ignored them. That was, until i got hit with SexyBack and My Love over and over and over (and over) again at different parties and clubs. So much that i began to actually began to groove to them. There was something primal to the songs that made you want to dance. So, dance i did and so much so that there’s no way i could mention albums of 2006 without mentioning this album even though i’m slightly embarassed to do so. (download entire album)
#8: From The Cliffs – Guillemonts
This is a great album and Trains of Brazil is a great, great song. This album makes the list because i love these songs, but it’s not higher because i didn’t actually put this album on all that much (or more than any of the ones listed above). So, download the tracks, take a listen and enjoy, especially Brazil and Who Left The Lights on Baby? (No download, sorry)
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2006 has been a year of great music for me. When i first got into Computer Science almost a decade ago, i would have never thought that i would be this involved in the music industry. However, i am and because of it i have become exposed to some great artists – especially this year when i have been into the guts of our music recommendation service. From there, i’ve discovered some fantastic tunes. Some are sad, some are rockin’, but they are all amazing. Here they are. I’ve linked each one to its track page on Qloud so you can listen to the entire song or if you want you can download each track.
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Here are the top phrases – some ironic, some funny, and some just great in the way that your grandfather is great. Not because he’s cool, just because he is.
“Keep in mind Brian McBride is playing with titanium plates in his face.” John Harkes discussing McBride’s condition while the states were playing World Cup champion Italy. McBride broke his face in the first game when the US lost a shocker to Poland and then with a lot of grit and heart they tied the eventual champs 1-1.
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Just in case you’ve been stuck under a Christmas tree or off the internet tubes for a while. Here are 2 pretty funny videos cruising around. The first i got from STB and the second from YouTube. Neither are safe for work:
George Washington
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pc9y5ayeeb4]
SNL’s Junk in a box
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-5grqhj1b8]
I am Flash. Not because i want to be, but because i am most similar to him. See, here are the results of my superhero quiz. You should try one (click here to do so)
You are The Flash
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Fast, athletic and flirtatious. |
I love going to the movies, especially during the holidays when there are so many good ones to see. I also love gettign to the theater beforehand so i can watch the trailers of movies coming out in the future. Personally, i hate trailers that tell too much about a movie and basically summarize the entire movie in 2 and 1/2 minutes. Those trailers suck. What i want to list here are the trailers that don’t suck, the trailers that make you upset that you aren’t watching that movie instead of teh one you paid to see, the trailers that get to you make you research that movie later on the internet. Here are the trailers of 2006 that did that for me:
300 – By far the best trailer of the year. Can’t wait for the actual movie.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=qjD8A7h2Z9g]
The Departed – not so much of the trailer but because the anticipation of a kickass Scorcese flick (although the trailer rocks too)
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=VqKZ8ARPgC4]
The rest are available after the jump…..
Continue reading “Best Trailers of the Year”
I just read this on CNN that Emeritus Airlines will allows people to talk on their cell phones throughout a flight. I think this is great although it would be pretty annoying when you’re trying to sleep and the person next to you is fighting with their mom.
Living in DC, we get our fair share of circles to drive around. On many of them there are statues of war heros. I rarely check out who they are and what they did, but ever since i read this little fact i’ve been much more interested:
If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle. If the horse has one front leg in the air the person died as a result of wounds received in battle. If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.
The two guys near me are George McClellan on Connecticut Ave (photo to the left) who was a badass. He was a general in the Civil War and the Democratic presidential candidate opposite Lincoln (in 1864). He was injured in battle. I know because i see that the leg is up.
The other one near me on Mass Ave is Philip Sheridan. He took 5 years to graduate West Point (George McC finished 2nd in his class). His’s first combat command l
ed him to win the critical Battle of Chattanooga in 1863. Grant put him in charge of cavalry for the Army of the Potomac in 1864 and he led the raid on Richmond that ended in the death of Confederate general Jeb Stuart. He became commander of the Army of the Potomac in 1864. In this capacity he led the army to battle at Appomattox and, with Grant, compelled Gen. Robert E. Lee to surrender, ending the Civil War. In 1884, he succeeded Sherman as commander in chief of the Army. Not too shabby.
The statue was designed by the guy who did Mt. Rushmore and the horse (named Rienzi) is famous too and on display at American History Museum.
There is a site (here) that will tell you who is who on the horses in and round DC. If you have a home in DC, it’s worth checking out.
I loved the film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. I thought it was one of the more underrated films of the past 5 years. Michel Gondry, the director and co-writer (with Charlie Kaufman) has also done some fantastic music videos. Basically, i think he’s awesome. However, that did not prepare me for this video (below) where he solves a rubix cube. Oh, he doesn’t just solve it. Oh no, that would be too simple. He solves it with his feet! That’s right, check it:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiQXgmVVGNA&eurl=]
If you haven’t seen any of Michel’s other stuff, even his shorter stuff, you should head over to YouTube and check it out. Even his commercials are pretty cool. Here’s a Smirnoff ad:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1UeNGELFSc]