Category Archives: Music

Music, Ruminations

5 Thoughtless Things I’d Buy With My Invisible Millions

I daydream about 15-20% of my day. Mostly during my morning commute, which I understand is uber-dangerous, but other than work stuff, world hunger, impending sin, and how I wish I had “I Hear A Symphony” by The Supremes on my iPod, there isn’t really anything else to think about other than things I wish I could do, places I’d love to travel to, and things I’d like to buy.

This post will be about the latter. And only a handful (I call things I list in fives a “handful”) of the bajillion things I’d do with a million buckaroos (or maybe just $500):

1. USB Typewriter. How effing cool is this? Of course, this would mean I would need an iPad to go with it. Totally besides the point, though.

2. Unofficial Arrested Development pint glasses. How could I not need this?

3. A Battlestar Galactica Ring. Even though I don’t wear rings at all. I’d wear it around my neck, or something. So say we all!

4. Harry Potter flask. My last flask was taken away from me. It was only worth $10>, but still, parting was such sweet sorrow, especially when you’re being escorted/kicked out of a shady bar in downtown L.A. that you didn’t even want to go into in the first place. A Polyjuice Potion flask would make my dreams come true.

5. Concert tickets. I just signed up for Songkick to track all the shows I want to go to, and it’s just made me tear up because I feel so, so poor.

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Literature, Music

My new glasses came in today . . .

Image. . . They aren’t too-hipster, but they do make me look like I’m heading to a Lisa Loeb concert (which I’ll take). And they also look like I’m instantly judging you (which I’ll also take).

My plans before sleep:

+ Continue to learn “The Shape of Things to Come” from my Battlestar Galactica piano book.

+ Read a little bit from Mindy Kaling’s Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? Because that book makes me seriously LOL.

+ Write in this here blog. Oh, check.

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Music

Which artist should you be listening to next?

I’m a huge Meiko fan, and have had the chance to see her live not once, but twice. And she’s the type of artist that genuinely sounds better live than on any digital file.

You can click it to read it. Sorry for the ghettoness, I couldn't find the real digital file, but this would do.

I also interviewed her prior to her show during SXSW, and had a chill 45-minute chat with the Georgia Peach (she’s from GA, so I couldn’t help but use it). She’s super down to earth, told me to give her a call whenever I was in LA (which I probably would never do), and we even bonded over Lost. You can check the article I wrote to the left.

Anyways, she’s coming out with a new album in the upcoming months, and here are a few of her songs (live). Give them a listen!

Meiko – Stuck On You from Jam in the Van on Vimeo.

Meiko – Between The Sheets from Jam in the Van on Vimeo.

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Celebrity, Music

I am a big, fat liar…

… And I actually just watched the Frankie Muniz movie last week as well, so what a coinky-dink.

But seriously, I suck.

I haven’t had time to post in the past month, and kind of got wrapped up in my own shit, that I forgot about what I actually care about.

Here’s an update on my life since I’ve posted last:

1. I now have a fake tooth. Please, please contain your excitement, it’s not even that cool. Okay, it’s pretty cool, but not high-five worthy. Apparently my sweet tooth had too much decay, so they had to saw it down and create a new one out of porcelain. The punchline: I was half-asleep when they did it and woke up mid-way, long enough to feel my tooth half gone. Dazed and confused, I had a mild freak-out and gently fell back asleep. I guess I learned my lesson. Oh yeah, and I also had to get 9 fillings in 4-hours. My poor dentaduras.

2. I got an internship with Texas Monthly. Mel, you sly, sly dog. After interviewing with them two years ago and being shunned for an editorial position, they invited me back to interview for a Digital Department internship. As in web stuff. As in stuff I wants to do. Take that, non-believers!

3. I’m a huge fan of Veronica Mars. Not only is VM underrated, it pulled an Arrested Development and was canceled after the 3rd season. Still, the show follows Veronica on her quest to find the killer of her BFF. It’s a crazy, 21-epi whodunnit. And probably one of the wittiest show I’ve ever caught on Netflix.

4. Sia is still amazing. Twenty-three years since the start of career, and SIA has still got it. Her most recent tunes that’ve been stuck in my head include “Clap Your Hands” and “Bring Night,” from her recent album, We Are Born. The bubbly, electro-gum drop beats makeup for the inaudible lyrics. But believe me, it’s  terribly addicting.

5. I am now officially a senior. And i’m inching closer and closer to the real world. If only the real world was more like The Real World. I too would be famous for about 3 seconds, and after inflating/flaunting my personal issues on the tele, I can tour b-rated clubs, scrounging around for an actual career. Le sigh.

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Music

Graduation songs

It’s that time: When you’re throwing your cap in the air, hugging your besties, and thinking “WTF will I do now.”

Yup, it’s Graduation time.

Here’s a list of songs to help with the transition to the real world: (It’s going to be okay, graduate.)

“Graduation” – Jay-z  and Vitamin C mash-up (by Mother Earth mixes)

” Alright” – Supergrass

“Everybody’s Free (To Wear Sunscreen)” –  Baz Luhrmann

“You and I” – Ingrid Michaelson

“Better Things” – The Kinks

“Slide show” – T.I. ft. John Legend

“Teenage Wasteland” – The Who

“It’s So Hard To Say Goodbye” – Boyz II Men

“Closing Time” – Semisonic

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Celebrity, Music

Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez nominated for BET awards

Apparently Justin Bieber is up for Black Entertainment TV’s  Best New Artist award, competing against the likes of Nicki Minaj, Young Money, Melanie Fiona, and Wale. I just feel the nominations are incredibly imbalanced in talent.

Some comments from EW.com:

“BET is just kissing Ushers ass….”

“Yes, because when I think of black entertainers the first thing that pops into my mine is a little white boy who looks and sounds like a 6 year old lesbian.”

“WTF, Justin Bieber! Is it April’s Fool?”

And Selena Gomez is up for the YoungStar award, the same award Will Smith’s daughter Willow Smith is nominated for. I’m not even sure how she got on the bill.

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Music

Fresh New Music…

Doesn’t it smell like summer?

Here are my summer recommendations for your summer 2010 playlists:

1. “I Know This Song” – The Girls Can Hear Us

They’re like the Canadian LMFAO. What happened to those guys anyways?

2. “Radar Detector” – Darwin Deez

He looks like a hip, Hasidic Jew.

3. “Fresh I Stay pt.2” – Flo Rida ft. Lil Wayne


Beat is surprisingly good.

4. “All Things Go” – Chiddy Bang ft. Sufjan Stevens

Hip-hop and a good music sample is always a win.

5. “The Ghost Inside” – Broken Bells

Fresh off their EP, Broken Bells is Danger Mouse and The Shins frontman James Mercer.

6. “Neverever” – Young and Dumb

Oh the naivety of summer love.

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Music

Greyson Chance on Ellen

Twelve-year-old Greyson Chance graced Ellen DeGeneres’ stage today, wearing khaki cargo shorts, another American Eagle-esque polo and Justin Bieber hair.

Little tidbits from the interview:

+ It was his first airplane ride, going to L.A.

+ He’s taken three years of piano lessons but never a voice lesson.

+ He writes his songs from meaning, so he’s either felt them or lived them.

+ He loves Lady Gaga and her individuality and caller her his biggest inspiration.

And apparently he’s gotten more popular with the tween ladies after the video went viral.

“Let’s just say I’ve gotten a couple of numbers,” he said.

Gaga herself also phoned in and offered Greyson some advice: “Stay away from girls and be focused.”

This kid wears talent on his sleeve, I can see him going places. I wonder if Mr. Timberlake would snag him, hmmm…

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In other news: What is up with the random slaughters/stabbing of children in school in China? I’m incredibly perplexed and sadden by all of these stories, one after the other. Read more about it here.

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Celebrity, Music

Greyson Chance > Justin Bieber

I’m sure you all caught this vid that blew up yesterday. It’s of 6th grader Greyson Michael Chance bellowing his heart out during his piano/theatrical performance of Gaga’s “Paparazzi” at his middle school’s talent show.

Not gonna lie, I’ve had it on repeat since yesterday.  I pretty much cried a river of slow tears, I was so touched.

Take notice of the girl’s behind him, with their googly-eyes and dropping jaws. One of my favorite comments on Youtube so far: “The blondie in the back is gonna have to change her panties after this.”

Take that, Canuk Bieber! BAM.

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Celebrity, Music

Who Is Bruno Mars?

First and foremost, my eyes are failing me exponentially more this semester than any other. I realized that I spend even more time on the computer writing, researching and brainstorming than I eat, sleep and go to class.

This is a definite no bueno.

Anywho, let’s put the spotlight on Bruno Mars, the chorus crooner you’ve heard on B.O.B.’s “Nothin’ On You” and Travis McCoy’s newest summer-single, “Billionaire.”

Peter Hernandez (Bruno’s real name), 23,  hails from Waikiki, Hawaii but moved to L.A. to conjure up his music career. It was  in the city of angels, where he created his production team/music duo – The Smeezingtons, with Philip Lawrence.

With the Smeezingtons, he produced and co-wrote hits like “Right Round” – Flo Rida, and for artists Sean Kingston, Cobra Starship, Maroon 5 and Matisyahu.

Currently,  he created his own EP, set to release May 11 (next week!).

To give it a listen, stream it here.

Check out EW’s Q&A with the man himself here.

Favorite B.O.B. song:

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