• Miscellaneous

    Valentine’s Day Cards

    February 14, 2008 /

    Valentine’s Day Cards

    I’m generally a ‘card guy’. I like giving cards, receiving cards and making cards and this year I made my wife an “old school mix-tape” card (only it was a CD because, you know, who has a cassette recorder anymore?) Here’s what was on her mix:

    Hem – Waltz (from Rabbit Songs)
    Peter Gabriel – In Your Eyes (from So)
    Jason Mraz – I’m Yours (from I’m Yours)
    311 – Love Song (from 50 First Dates)
    Incubus – Dig (from Light Grenades)
    Band of Horses – Marry Song (from Cease to Begin)
    Dave Matthews Band – I’ll Back You Up (from Remember Two Things)
    The Bird and the Bee – How deep is Your Love (from Please Clap Your Hands)
    Nick Drake – Northern Sky (from Bryter Layter)
    Stevie Wonder – I Believe (When I Fall in Love it Will Be Forever) (from Talking Book)
    Prince – Call My Name (from Musicology)
    Paul McCartney – Maybe I’m Amazed (from McCartney)
    U2 – Sweetest Thing (from U218 Singles)
    Hot Chip – Wrestlers (from Made in the Dark)
    John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman – My One and Only Love (from John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman)
    Dave Mathews Band – Crush (from The Central Park Concert)
    Jay Wood – #41 (from ???)

    Anyone else get crafty and make their sweetie a Valentine this year?

  • Country

    Steve Earle’s Valentine’s Day

    February 13, 2008 /

    I’m glad to say that I’ve never been in the position to identify with Steve Earle in his song “Valentine’s Day”. But if you’re one of the unlucky ones who wakes up Thursday morning cardless and giftless, simply drop to your knees and sing this song.

    This is one of the sweetest, most emotional tunes that Steve has ever written. It showed up on his amazing 1996 album I Feel Alright. Providing the perfect background vox are gospel legends the Fairfield Four. If you don’t have the album, I strongly recommend you remedy that right here, right now.

  • Old School,  Rock

    Shaq joins the Suns – Sports Music

    February 12, 2008 /

    I’m a baseball fan above all else, but I have to say, my hometown team’s recent trade for Shaquille O’Neal has me pretty excited to watch more Phoenix Suns basketball. The Suns are the second best team in basketball as it is – thanks in large part to the guy they just traded away to the Heat – Shawn Marion. But something tells me things are going to get even better with Shaq on our side. And you Heat fans must be a happy bunch picking up someone of the caliber of Marion.

    This of course segues into sports music. The only basketball song I can think of is Kurtis Blow’s “Basketball”, with his shout out to the greats of the day: “Dantley and Wilkins are on the scene, And Ralph Sampson is really mean!” Who’s Dantley?

    Are there any other basketball songs out there? For baseball, all I can think of off the top of my head are “Centerfield” by John Fogerty, and Bob Dylan’s “Catfish”. Football…. yep, the “Super Bowl Shuffle”. Ah – Steve Earle’s “No. 29”. What else in the way of pop/rock sports-themed tunes?

    Kurtis Blow – Basketball (LastFM)

    Bob Dylan – Catfish (LastFM)

    John Fogerty – Centerfield (LastFM)

  • Video

    Iggy and Tom – Coffee and Cigarettes

    February 11, 2008 /

    Tonight, I bought a Henry Rollins Show off of iTunes for $1.99. He interviewed the Stooges. Great interview. Off I went to YouTube to watch some old Stooges footage. Sooner or later I ended up watching this clip from Jim Jarmusch’s 2003 film Coffee and Cigarettes. I sat transfixed for this 10 minutes of uncomfortable conversation between Iggy Pop and Tom Waits. There’s something about this clip that just reeled me in. I couldn’t take my eyes off it.

    Needless to say, Coffee and Cigarettes just went to the top of my Netflix queue.

    Tasty Update: Just posted this morning, the Popdose Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tom Waits!

  • Miscellaneous

    Ickmusic goes to the Grammys

    February 10, 2008 /

    As the shadow of Amy Winehouse’s brunette beehive casts a shadow on the 2008 Grammy Awards – it is time, friends, to open the refrigerator, fetch a cold Heineken Premium Lite, and drink my way through this ceremony. The official rules for Ickmusic’s Grammy Drinking Game can be found here.

    The telecast starts here in Arizona at 7:00pm MST (9pm EST). Right now, Ace Young is being interviewed on the Red Carpet E Show. Ace Young! I need to pop my beer now. American Idol sighting.

    Be with you in 20 minutes…… feel free to add your comments in the – well – Comments.

    6:54pm – In the “I sh*t you not” department, here is proof positive that I am committed to this game. Represent!

    6:59pm – the wife and kids are hunkered down upstairs. Wise of them! Here we go…
    7:00 – Kind of cool, kind of creepy intro with Alicia Keys and a dead black & white Sinatra singing behind her piano. The way he’s snapping hisfingers behind the piano looks a bit like he’s handling his junk. But I digress.
    Michael’s IM: Hey, it’s Frank Sinatra… here’s the sound of teenagers all over the country going “who the hell is that guy?”
    Okay, these ‘virtual’ performances are creepy as hell. Alicia Keys sounds great and honestly it was a great performance. But what the heck is with all these women with dresses that they look like they are going to trip on. I’m thinking that before the end of the night we’ll see at least one of these ladies eat a chunk of the stage!
    7:03pm – Alicia is beautiful. But that green dress is smashing her girls.
    7:05pm – Carrie Underwood performance. Is anyone else having flashbacks to Shania Twain? Leatherrrr… In the background, dancers are bashing those swimming pool noodle things into junk.
    Michael: They are wasting no time… Carrie Underwear, I mean Underwood is doing a vamped up, rocked out “Before He Cheats”. I guess the cast of “Stomp” was available for the evening. She definitely gets points for the Dusty Springfield inspired look.
    7:07pm – Oh! American Idol (Underwood) sighting! 1 Drink!
    7:08pm – There’s the Purple man. Eh, 2 drinks! Prince presents Best Female R&B Performance. Alicia Keys wins. I didn’t catch P’s one liner about Sinatra. Drink.
    Michael: Dayum… looking every bit the part of Christopher Tracy Prince is here to give the award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. First award goes to Alicia Keys for “No One” and obviously she thanks God and her “Angels” (Prince has a copy of ‘The Watchtower’ in his back pocket to hand her).
    7:11pm – first commercials 11 minutes into the ceremony. not surprised I guess.

    7:17pm – “Jungle Love”! Driiink. Okay, we have Morris, Jerome, Jimmy, Terry… is that Jesse on the flying V?
    Michael: Jimmy Jam! Morris! Jerome! It’s the motherf**king TIME!! Somebody get me a mirror! I don’t know… is this show is certainly not letting up on the pace. Jungle Love… oh-eh-oh-eh-oh! Ella-ella-aye-aye… Rihanna flows nicely. And when did Morris start looking just like Prince?

    7:22pm -Tom Hanks showing love to the Band! Nice. Tom Hanks = Grammy Gold. Eh? But “That Thing You Do” (I think was the name of the movie) was pretty sweet.
    Michael: Hey Tom Hanks thanks for pointing out The Band are Canadian.

  • Miscellaneous

    The Grammy Drinking Game

    February 10, 2008 /

    Here’s what I have so far. By all means, feel free to add more rules in the comments. I’ll be adding live commentary beginning at 7:00pm MST.

    • Every time someone thanks God (or any higher power) during an acceptance speech – point to the sky – 3 drinks
    • Every time music cuts off an acceptance speech – laugh – 1 drink
    • Rihanna sightings – nod – 1 drink
    • Every time anyone mentions “Rehab” – 1 drink
    • Every time the name “Bublé” is mentioned – 1 drink
    • Every time an American Idol (contestant or winner) is shown – 1 drink
    • Every time an American Idol wins a Grammy – put your drink down – that’s how we ended up with these people in the first place
    • If Bruce Springsteen wins a Grammy, stand, salute the television, and drink the rest of your beer.
    • During the Foo Fighters performance take 1 drink every time: 1. Dave Grohl spits 2.Dave Grohl screams like a madman 3. Taylor Hawkins spins his drumstick a la Tommy Lee
    • During the Rihanna / Time performance:
      • If they go into ”The Bird”, stand up and join in for at least 5 seconds, then sit down – 3 drinks
      • If it’s “Jungle Love”, exclaim “Somebody bring me a mirror!” – 3 drinks
    • Should Prince win a Grammy for “Future Baby Mama” do a shot of Purple Motherf**ker (Recipe Below)
    • Should Prince win a Grammy and accept it during the broadcast drink a pint of Purple Motherf**ker

    Purple Motherf**ker

    Over Ice pour:

    1 Part Blue Curacao
    1 Part Triple Sec
    1 Part Vodka
    1 Part Pineapple Juice
    Top with 7-Up

    One shake and serve as a shot or drink in the glass!

  • Miscellaneous

    Coming Sunday: The Ickmusic Grammy Drinking Game with Live Commentary

    February 9, 2008 /

    If you’re watching the Grammys on Sunday night, don’t forget to dial up Ickmusic for some live commentary from me and Michael, as well as the premier Ickmusic Grammy Drinking Game ®. If somebody thanks a higher power during an acceptance speech? Point to the sky and take 3 big gulps! Kanye West appearing visibly upset after losing another award? One hearty laugh and chug a beer.

    So bring your laptop and a six-pack over to the TV and join us, won’t you?

    More rules to follow…