So I was really happy the other night, they put a lot of new songs on the overhead, and I was rockin' out. Supertramp, who's in charge of it, really doesn't have too bad of taste for the most part (though, as with not liking Ben Folds, he has some problems, and also I think corporate forces him to put some stuff on we'd all rather not have to listen to). But... the Willie Nelson reggae album came on again, and I was like, "D'oh." There's actually 2 songs from that album on the overhead, and apparently they weren't purged when Supertramp added the new stuff.

Anyway, I used to think Supertramp only had Willie's horrible abominations on because of corporate, but I talked to Mouse, and he claims Supertramp actually likes the Willie Nelson reggae album. That's SO wrong. Mouse says it particularly bugs him to hear the Willie Nelson reggae album, because he's heard the reggae songs being covered the way they're actually supposed to be. I guess I can be thankful I have been spared that. But... I HAVE heard real reggae and it IS so much better than what Willie does to it. I used to make fun of reggae, because I never had heard any good reggae, only that sort of stuff, and then one day I heard Bob Marley and it was like, "Oh... so THAT'S how reggae's supposed to be...." and it was so much better than I thought it would be.

I think regardless, I still wouldn't be able to stomach the awful Willie Nelson reggae stuff.

Anyway, I bring this up because today I heard a song from Regis Philbin's christmas album on the overhead today, and I want to shoot myself. Also: really hoping that corporate is making Supertramp play it on the overhead, as opposed to him actually liking it like with the Willie Nelson reggae, because if Supertramp did this to us on purpose, I'm going to kind of have to kill him and everyone he's ever loved, and that seems time consuming.
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 9:35 PM  | 

 
So, Optpri offered to make me a compilation Ben Folds CD out of my Ben Folds CD's that is just all his peppy music, so that if I take it into work I won't get stuck with it selecting all the depressing songs in the morning when I'm trying to get peppy and motivated and wake up.

I selected songs from about 6 or 7 albums/EPs to go on it, and brought them in to work and suddenly it became this big thing. Like, Lister's all curious why I brought in a ton of Ben Folds, Supertramp* wrote a note (that really cracked me up) that says, "Uh-oh, I lost my pants! That must've been where I had my musical ability" on Songs for Goldfish, which is an album of Ben's that has a picture of him on the cover sans pants. And then Mulva gets in on the whole Ben Folds discussion and proclaims Ben, "kind of whiney." And then the next day Lister's all asking if Optpri's done burning it yet and she's like, "What is it with you people?? It's only been a day!" Anyway, I find it somewhat strange that it becomes a whole big deal. But, yeah, everything you read or listen to that you bring in the store people pretty much know about it and are extremely nosy about your tastes in things. So I feel pressure to only bring in things that I'm proud of. But I always choke on morning reccomends and reccomend the movie most likely to make everyone irritated with me (whatever big action blockbuster came out on DVD that week, because at least I've actually seen it, whereas new music and new books I never know, and feel dumb reccomending old stuff). And I never see any artsy movies anymore, because I pretty much just see them with my Dad, who only likes action movies.

So... yeah.

The song I'm most into right now is Elf Tower New Mexico, by Coheed & Cambria. One thing I like about Co & Ca is that they've got this kind of delayed reaction in me, I don't necessarily like their stuff right away but once I do I'm insanely in love with it forever. I've mildly liked the Second Stage Turbine Blade for awhile now, but I just all the sudden loved Elf Tower the other day out of nowhere. The first album by them I bought was Secrets in Keeping with Silent Earth III, and the same thing happened there, and it was this chain reaction with me ending up loving most of the songs ferociously. So I'm hoping that'll happen here. I'm being slow on the new album too, but I don't know if I'll never really love it, or what. Because I got halfway there on a couple of the poppier songs when I first listened to them, but I'm already wondering if I'm going to get tired of them right away, which seems to happen to me and poppy songs.

Anyway, Elf Tower rocks. And it's actually like... a B side or demo or something that they added on when they reissued Second Stage a little while ago, so I feel thankful that I ended up buying it after the reissue instead of before.

In other news, I finally after all this time broke down and re-bought Whatever and Ever Amen (this summer or spring they re-issued it with 7 new tracks). Most of the new stuff isn't that great (d'oh) but I have to love the japanese version of Song for the Dumped they put on there. Especially since it's only half in japanese, so it's like, "random japanese stuff blah blah blah, YOU BITCH." Um... you kind of have to hear it to find it as funny as I do. But let me assure you: it's hilarious.
___
* Supertramp because he's always telling me that Ben Folds is a cheap supertramp knockoff.
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 9:17 PM  | 

 
So, we were talking and he was listing out bands I'd never heard of, and mocking me for not knowing them, so I got mad and started listing out obscure bands:

Phoemeister: Band of Bees?
Sui: see, you're just making thsi crap up now
Phoemeister: no I'm not
Phoemeister: my coworkers LOVE band of bees
Sui: haha
Sui: see.. that's why I haven't heard of them
Sui: I'm not nearly indy enough to have heard of the band that plays out of their neighbors' bee farm
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 11:19 PM  | 

 
So, they started playing the christmas music on the overhead at work this week. I knew it would be too early but crap. That sucks. And I hate Chrismas music anyway. And we don't get to choose which christmas music so we're stuck listening to some britney spears christmas song about how all she wants this year is her baby, and then I know her "baby," (in the grand pop song tradition, baby is lover not her actual baby) is kevin whatsisface, and then I imagine them making out and am nauseous and it's just bad.

I think there should be a system where we each get 10 votes for what we want, and at least that way we only get the best christmas music. I would use one vote for Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer, and the other 9 votes I'd use to counteract anyone who voted for Santa Baby. I hate that song more than any song ever, and if I even hear it once in a day I have it in my head for the whole day and then it's like having to hear the worst song ever a thousand times and no one should have to do that.

Now I'm going to paste in what I posted on my other blog about christmas music last year, because it pretty much explains my view on christmas music. Before I do that, though, I'd like to add Oi to the World by No Doubt to my list of acceptable, it wasn't there last year because I forgot it, but it is totally awesometastic. I'd like to add the Chipmunk christmas song, again an accidental omission (I like typed the whole rant up in like five minutes last year) and lastly, the muppet 12 days of christmas, not listed because I hadn't heard it yet last year. So without further ado:

My Views on Christmas Music

I hate Christmas music. In general. I mean, I’m not saying that when I’m in a certain mood Silent Night can’t touch me, or I don’t like belting out Come All Ye Faithful when I can remember all the lyrics, but in general, Christmas music makes me want to kill myself. It doesn’t bug me too bad when it’s a generic choir or something. Or when it’s kids that are singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for their own enjoyment. Or any music in a Christmas movie while I’m watching the movie. But I hate it when a pop star just has to put out an album of the same old Christmas carols. What does Jessica Simpson really add to O Holy Night that the 800 million other people who have done it don’t? Did Neil Diamond really have to cover John Lennon’s “Merry Christmas/War Is Over” 8 or 9 years ago and slap it on his Christmas album? When there wasn’t a war on? Isn’t he kind of missing the point? Hell, isn’t he Jewish? (yes, he is. Trust me, I know. My mom loves the guy. And she loves that song. The Neil Diamond version that is. Not the John Lennon version. And is a Christmas music addict in general which is probably another reason why I get tired of hearing so much of it.)

The song I most hate is Santa Baby. I realize it’s supposed to be tongue in cheek, but it’s the most materialistic damn song ever. And makes all women look like money grubbing whores. It reminds me of that diamond commercial they air around Christmas where the guy starts screaming, “I love this woman!” and the woman gets all mad, because his display of love embarrasses her, for no reason I can tell other than that she’s a huge jerk. But then he whips out a diamond, and she’s all, “I love you.” But really, she just loves that big stinking diamond. I hate that woman.

Anyway, I might be leaving out a couple because I’m absentminded, but this is all a whiney prelude to the bit where I wanted to mention the few Christmas songs I do love: Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer, Feliz Navidad, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen/We Three Kings – Sara McLachlan/Barenaked Ladies, and Christmas All Over Again – Tom Petty

Grandma Got Ran Over By a Reindeer is funny as hell, even after I’ve heard it a hundred billion times. It is the first Christmas novelty song, and even after countless imitators is still the funniest. Most of them are pretty lame, actually. And even though it sounds mean, I think it is the kind of song that shows love and affection for Grandma, even as she’s being ran over. I’ve heard a rumor of a sequel called “Grandpa’s going to sue the pant’s off Santa” but I can only dream.

God Rest Ye – this totally flies in the face of everything I said earlier about people thinking they give something new to the song, but what can I say. I think it’s the one modern cover of any Christmas song that actually gives anything to the song, though I couldn’t tell you what.

Christmas All Over Again – I just like it. It rocks out. And it gets played less, so I haven’t heard it 18 million times before.

Feliz Navidad – Okay, you’ve looked at the other songs on the list. You’re like, she’s got a twisted sense of humor, so I can see Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. And she seems like a Tom Petty/Sara McLachlan/Barenaked Ladies kinda gal. But how the hell did she come up with Feliz Navidad? And I would have to answer that question with: I don’t know. I just LOVE that song. I hear it and I get giddy. And it has to be the original version, the old Spanish guy, whoever he is. If Tom or Sarah or the Ladies came out with a version of it, I would break the cd into a million pieces, pour gasoline on it, light it on fire, and throw the burning shards at their stupid faces for thinking they could top the perfection of that song!

So there you have it!
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 9:03 PM  | 

 
Well someone got the Brand New album I love, Deja Entendu, while I was at the cash register the other day. Only she wouldn't let me banter about it with her, so I didn't love her as much. I find this happens a lot with people who buy books I like too, they're just not in the mood for banter. Which is weird, because back when I was just a customer, I had a pathetic joy whenever the random person at the counter validated what I was buying with their good opinion. I felt cool. But apparently I'm bad at bestowing validation. Or else these people don't need it, having self esteem and all. Oh well.

I also feel like kind of a loser for loving Breaking Benjamin lately. Because today I was seriously rocking out (almost Night at the Roxbury style) in a parking lot (that's how I spend my breaks once I finish eating, sadly) to their CD. And I love it! I love it so much! But part of me knows they're a little bit in cheap Creed ripoff territory. Why don't I hate them? I don't like Creed very much. I really hate people who copy Creed (Nickelback, especially, I hate). I mean, I've said it before: if you have to be deriviative, at least copy off of someone worth copying. Oasis, who copies the Beatles, I have much less disdain for than say, Evanescence, that copies off of Linkin Park. They're also a little bit in Andrew W.K. territory, and I've never particularly loved him. By being in his territory, by the way, I mean that he's like hard rock but peppy and poppy. And Breaking Benjamin is kind of like that. Only I actually like it when they do it. So anyway: I love them, at least their first CD. And I will continue rocking out to them in parking lots, looking like a spaz to people who don't even know what I'm rocking out to. And will keep it away from my indie coworkers, who can't even handle Ben Folds' so called mass appeal.
posted by DJ Jazzy Phoe @ 7:09 PM  |