Saturday, April 30, 2005

Trippy man...from the fracal site listed below...


From Fractal website listed below... Posted by Hello

Scalpers win again...

As they get Coldplay tix at small Chicago venue...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-05430coldplay,1,4075861.story?coll=chi-news-hed



"The Ghost That Feeds", NIN/Ray Parker Jr. mash uphttp://www.pages.drexel.edu/~dph342/thtf/the_ghost_that_feeds-256.mp3



Singing horses...go ahead..click on them and enjoy...
http://svt.se/hogafflahage/hogafflaHage_site/Kor/hestekor.html



Fractals
http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Gallery&gallery=abstract

These are the words but not the truth

this might shock you but I found the gay agenda and this one is pretty funny too. Thoughts Billy Joel is thinking on his way to a party where a piano will be present. There is more there too. Enjoy. Oh and back to the Gay Agenda.

What to use for your search.

a documentary about an Austin Cafe that was focal point of arts and weirdness then of course turned into a Starbucks. Viva Les Amis. Also I think a few scenes of slacker were filmed there.

A surprize for Tommy Lee.

Coldplay tour.

A Futureheads vid for Decent days and Nights.

The Eels ecard for you to send to loved ones.

More later
Bro

The title of the post is From the Empty Page from Sonic Youth. A return of sorts for SY and "Fifth member" Jim O'Rourke has done a great job of experimenting in the studio but still reigning the band in as a whole, just like he has done with Wilco. Not their best but still damn good and a worthy addition to your collection.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

the only thing constant was the constant reminder that he never changed

Don't press the red button.

Yea for Jon Stewart. Smackdown anchors on CNN.

Robot sex dolls.

First podcasting radio station.

Goooooooaaal. XM gets World Cup 2006.

more later
Bro

The title is from Hot Hot Heat's "I owe you an IOU". Look for it on Elevator.

Wednesday, April 27, 2005

Ed Vedder w/ Kings Of Leon


Ed Vedder w/ Kings Of Leon in Seattle Posted by Hello

Vedder becomes A King

Let's see here,
My new favorite band playing with a guest spot by my all-time favorite bands lead singer...as they both open up for another legendary band...wow


EDDIE VEDDER BECOMES A KING!
KINGS OF LEON were joined by a very special guest last night (April 25).
The band were playing Seattle’s Key Arena supporting U2 on the North American leg of the ’Vertigo’ world tour.
During a highly charged setlist comprising of tracks taken from both ’Youth And Young Manhood’ and ’A-Ha Shake Heartbreak’, Kings Of Leon were joined by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder on vocals for the track ’Slow Night, So Long’.
Kings Of Leon will continue to support U2 on the first leg of the ’Vertigo’ jaunt until it wraps up at Boston’s Fleet Center on May 28.

Here is the story via U2's homepage

After the success of first night in Seattle u2 hosted a fantastic party. All of the band were there, along with Bill Gates The Killers and Eddie Vedder and Stone Gossard from Pearl Jam.Before the end of the night The Kings of Leon also showed up and obviously they and Pearl Jam hit it off.As U2.com can report, a wonderful night was had by all and it lead on to a tremendous musical moment for fans at the second show.As The Kings of Leon were playing through their set, Eddie Vedder joined the young rockers from Tennessee on stage during their final track Slow Night, So Long to a huge cheer from the local audience.A long time fan of the band - Eddie turned up to sound check for the second show with tambourines at the ready.Slow night is reportedly Vedder's favourite song by the Kings. He perhaps smashed 3 or 4 Tambourines - tossing them out into the audience - all the while getting down with the Kings and looked to be loving every minute of it.

Beauty and the Truth I could breathe like air

To get you in the mood for the new Star Wars film. Luke and Obi-wan get a message from the Dark Side. Enjoy.

How'd they do that? The fiddy cent CD cover.

I need to start reading the bible. It rocks...if you know where to look. Oral sex according to the bible. If you just read that link and didn't like the way it sounds then don't click it. If your interest is piqued then click on brother man. And of course there is the Up the Bum god sayth. There are no pictures.

Just in case you forgot all politicians suck. It's all about me and what I can get from you. Political Friendster is a parody of Friendster: a database of politicians and corporations and the surprising connections between them. Hysterical and stomach-churning.

and MP3 I leave you with. Rilo Kiley covering Simply Irresistible by Robert Palmer. It's a great verison.

More later
Bro

This title comes from "signposts" by Sam Phillips

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

High school just seemed like a blur--

Get your wallet out. This a great week to rob a bank. Happy shopping. If you can't find something this week then you don't like music. Yes it's that simple. When in doubt use a link to amazon on this blog. Thank you.

Eels
Blinking Lights and Other Revelations
Vagrant

The Eels' new album Blinking Lights and Other Revelations is like no other album out on the market in 2005. Clocking in at over 90 minutes and 33 songs and spread out over the course of two discs, the album finds the Eels leader E opening up his personal Pandora's Box and letting everything out musically, lyrically, and emotionally. This is the most searingly personal album E and his ad-hoc stable of cohorts has recorded since Electro-Shock Blues — though it's not as unremittingly dark. It is blessed because of — not in spite of — its excesses.

Ben Folds
Songs for Silverman

Epic

Observant, acerbic, and unabashedly sentimental, the self-produced Songs for Silverman may be heavy on the ballads, but Ben Folds and his smart new combo deliver each tale with the efficiency of a single organism.

John Prine
Fair and Square
Oh Boy

After being sidelined with health problems and occupied with other recording projects, John Prine returns with his first album of new songs in a decade with Fair and Square. The dozen new Prine songs featured on this disc boast the songwriter's usual measure of pithy, regular-guy wit and real world observations, but the performances speak of a weary sadness that adds a very different edge to the music.

Bruce Springsteen
Devils & Dust

Sony

On Devils & Dust — his followup to 2002's The Rising, his acclaimed reunion with the E Street Band — Bruce Springsteen goes it alone, but retains Brendan O'Brien, the producer of The Rising. He winds up with an album that's a spiritual cousin to Nebraska and The Ghost of Tom Joad, but Devils & Dust is more varied, both musically and lyrically, than either of those records. In fact, it's his most interesting and compelling album in years.

Chet Baker
Career: 1952-1988

Shout Factory
West Coast Jazz, Cool, Vocal Jazz

Tim Burgess (former Charlatan UK frontman—solo)
I Believe [Bonus Tracks]
Koch

The Caesars (just download “Jerk It Out” from the iTunes advert if you like it)
Paper Tigers
Astralwerks

Elvis Costello
King of America [Expanded]

Rhino

The Cure
Faith [Deluxe Edition]
Rhino

The Cure
Pornography [Deluxe Edition]
Rhino

The Cure
Seventeen Seconds [Deluxe Edition]

Rhino

Dizzy Gillespie
Career: 1937-1992

Shout Factory

Eric Heatherly
Lower East Side of Life
Koch

Jefferson Airplane
The Essential

RCA

Dean Martin
Live from Las Vegas
Capitol

Joni Mitchell
Songs of a Prairie Girl
Rhino

The Mountain Goats
The Sunset Tree
4AD

New Order
Waiting for the Sirens' Call

Warner Brothers

Original Soundtrack
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Hollywood


The Power Station
The Power Station [Expanded]
Capitol

Frank Sinatra
Live from Las Vegas
Capitol

Rick Springfield
Written in Rock: The Rick Springfield Anthology
RCA

Stereolab
Oscillons from the Anti Sun
Beggars Too Pure

Susie Suh
Susie Suh
Sony



Star Wars Risk. New game.

Singer stumbles on Ice during Anthem but redeems herself on GMA's Weekend Edition. I thought it was great of them to give her a chance. We have all had days/times such as that and she nailed it. Kudos to the Weekend Edition of Good Morning America. Good job Kate and Bill.

The labels are wrong again. Downloading is the future. Get used to it.

How well do you know your anatomy? Take a quiz.

This post's title is from Social D and "Story of my life" from Social Distortion.

Monday, April 25, 2005

A Celebration Of Non-Penetration...

http://www.abstinenceonly.com/



The 50 coolest song parts? Hmm, some of these are...
http://www.retrocrush.com/archive2004/coolsongs/index.html



Soma FM, Listener-supported, commercial-free, underground/alternative radio broadcasting from San Francisco. http://www.somafm.com/




Comedy radio...Bill Hicks, David Cross, Triumph!....
http://www.heavy.com/heavy.php?channel=comedyLauncher



Sausages!
http://arsenal.media.mit.edu/memes/hurka.mpg




More later, HP







-->

Pussy Rock Posted by Hello

Pearl Jam to tour Canada

In anticipation of their upcoming studio release, Pearl Jam along with the Ten Club are proud to announce a 15 city tour of the great country of Canada. The tour opens on September 2nd in Vancouver, B.C. and ends up in St. John’s Newfoundland on September 24th. The Ten Club pre-sale starts today April 25, 2005 and ends Monday, May 9, 2005, at 5:00 pm pacific time.

Date Day City Venue Ticket Price/Pair (USD)
September
2 Fri Vancouver -- GM Place $117.70
4 Sun Calgary -- Pengrowth Saddledome $114.20
5 Mon Edmonton -- Rexall Place $114.60
7 Wed Saskatoon -- Credit Union Centre $116.40
8 Thur Winnipeg -- MTS Centre $115.00
9 Fri Thunder Bay -- Ft. William Gardens $114.20
11 Sun Kitchener -- Memorial Auditorium $116.40
12 Mon London -- John Labatt Centre $116.40
13 Tue Hamilton -- Copps Coliseum $116.80
15 Thur Montreal -- Bell Centre $121.20
16 Fri Ottawa -- Corel Centre $117.75
19 Mon Toronto -- Air Canada Centre $116.40
20 Tue Quebec City -- Colisee Pepsi Arena $118.50
22 Thur Halifax -- Metro Centre $114.20
24 Sat St. John's NFLD -- Mile One Stadium $114.20

I am off to Toronto

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Worst half time show ever? http://www.alldumb.com/item/133/




Locate cheap gas here: http://gasbuddy.com/




I have had first hand experience with monkey's who smoke before...here is another
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/21/eveningnews/main690053.shtml




An early Mother's Day gift, Mr. T style...http://www.compfused.com/directlink/736/

I am going camping soon...unfortunately not at Bong Posted by Hello

Another beer before happyhour to put me in the mood for drinking--ooohh ohh ohh forget thinkin'

this looks awesome. I have yet to try it so if you do please tell me how it goes. Indy. Software that finds indie music for you. It learns what you like (see Netflix) and suggests more tunes it thinks you'd like.

Guess the google. Fun game in reverse search mode. You need flash.

Essential 50 games.

random fact about Vin Diesel. It's always fun to find out more about our fake heroes.

the Beatles rider...It's amazing how things have changed.

WorldJump...I think they are serious.

It's raining frogs...

I leave you with a tune. Bishop Allen doing "Things are what you make them" also in the movie Saved.

Enjoy and more later
Bro

the title is from Beaver Nelson "Forget Thinkin'" I found this on a comp of drinking songs called Brewed in Texas. Nothing but drinking songs and most of them good.

Friday, April 22, 2005

There goes my heroes and all that I used to trust

Free MP3s list from Amazon. I figure it's friday and everyone likes free. Also try epitonic and/or better propaganda. Enjoy.

Darth's blog.

I guess the cartoon cats weren't enough anymore. Paula gets randy with wanna be idols.

There's a Beatle in my Closet...a gay beatle?

the original version of Oops I Did It Again.

It's mp3 friday. Joy Division covers and here is U2 live doing Bad and here is Broken Social Scene on Kvrx doin Cause= Effect. Here are the Shins covering Jesus and Mary Chain's Taste of Cindy. One more from the Decemberists on KCRW doing We Both Go Down Together.

More Simpsons for your listen enjoyment.



What a great album with incredible lyrics. This title's post comes from Origin Vol One from Soundtrack of Our Lives. The tune is "Believe I've Found". This CD builds on their first.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Music baby!, Music...

So the city of Chicago is allowing concerts at Wrigley Field now?! First Lollapalooza in Grant Park, now this http://margaritaville.com/tour/ ...seems the city is easing up a bit on its advaserial attitude towards live music...having Buffett is playing it safe...but a step in the right direction...wake me up when the Stones or PJ play Wrigley




The complete discography of America's favorite band Anal Cunt. What would the world be today without such smash hits as "I Became A Counselor So I Could Tell Rape Victims They Asked For It," "You Rollerblading Faggot," "Body By Auschvitz," "I Intentionally Ran Over Your Dog," and my personal favorite "Internet Is Gay."
http://lyricalfantasia.com/view.php?do=view&artist_id=176





If you can't wait for Lolla, here is a local show to go to...at least they seperated the good bands from the crappy....
JUST ANNOUNCED:
Q101's Block Party (presented by Bud Light) will take place on Friday, June 3rd and Saturday, June 4th.You can get your tickets before anyone else during the 101 Club presale that runs Wednesday (April 13th) at 10am thru Thursday (April 14th) at 10pm. But lemme tell you the killer lineup first, before I give you the links and password.
FRIDAY, JUNE 3RD:Queens of the Stone Age, Interpoland Hot Hot Heat
SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH:Sum 41, Unwritten Law, Rise Againstand A Static Lullaby
Advance tickets for each day are $15, or ONLY $25 for a two-day pass


For you ladies who like to kick a little ass on your night out on the town...
http://www.jamespiatt.com/sundaebesthandbag.html




Unintentionally sexual comic book covers:
http://maddox.xmission.com/c.cgi?u=uscc_part1



More later, HP

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Yikes!

The best cartoon of them all is back, (apologies to The Simpsons)...good move Fox
http://www.fox.com/familyguy/



Apparently Arrested Development may not get renewed, bad move Fox...If anyone wants to help save the show, make a pledge at www.getarrested.com



Tricks of the Trade: Professional secrets from those in the know.
http://www.tradetricks.org/




WHITE STRIPES 'SATANIC' RETURNWHITE STRIPES
have named their hugely anticipated new album ‘GET BEHIND ME SATAN’.The album is released on June 6, preceded by a single ’Blue Orchid’ on May 30.Plans for live shows are also coming together. Speaking recently in the US, Jack White told the LA Times that they are planning “events” rather than traditional concerts to launch the album. The first time they play in England will be at the Glastonbury Festival in June. He said: "First we're going to play where we are not well known. Then if we have time, we will play New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Frankly, we are waiting for technology to advance in the United States before we attempt to perform this record live there."For the first, exclusive review of ’Blue Orchid’, see this week’s NME, which is out tomorrow in London (April 12) and nationwide on Wednesday.




Tiger makes a pretty good shot. Get ready for the Nike commercial of the next two years.
http://www.jaffejuice.com.nyud.net:8090/files/just_did_it.wmv




White House Letter: President Bush's iPod
By ELISABETH BUMILLER Published: April 11, 2005
Between his return on Friday from Pope John Paul II's funeral in Rome and his meeting today with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel, President Bush spent an hour and a half on Saturday on an 18-mile mountain bike ride at his Texas ranch. With him, as usual, was his indispensable new exercise toy: an iPod music player loaded with country and popular rock tunes aimed at getting the presidential heart rate up to a chest-pounding 170 beats per minute.Which brings up the inevitable question. What, exactly, is on the First iPod? In an era of celebrity playlists - Tom Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback, recently posted his on the iTunes online music store - what does the presidential selection of downloaded songs tell us about Mr. Bush?First, Mr. Bush's iPod is heavy on traditional country singers like George Jones, Alan Jackson and Kenny Chesney. He has selections by Van Morrison, whose "Brown Eyed Girl" is a Bush favorite, and by John Fogerty, most predictably "Centerfield," which was played at Texas Rangers games when Mr. Bush was an owner and is still played at ballparks all over America. ("Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today.")AdvertisementThe president also has an eclectic mix of songs downloaded into his iPod from Mark McKinnon, a biking buddy and his chief media strategist during the 2004 campaign. Among them are "Circle Back" by John Hiatt, "(You're So Square) Baby, I Don't Care" by Joni Mitchell and "My Sharona," the 1979 song by the Knack that Joe Levy, a deputy managing editor at Rolling Stone in charge of music coverage, cheerfully branded "suggestive if not outright filthy" in an interview last week.Mr. Bush has had his Apple iPod since July, when he received it from his twin daughters as a birthday gift. He has some 250 songs on it, a paltry number compared to the 10,000 selections it can hold. Mr. Bush, as leader of the free world, does not take the time to download the music himself; that task falls to his personal aide, Blake Gottesman, who buys individual songs and albums, including Mr. Jones's and Mr. Jackson's greatest hits, from the iTunes music store. Mr. Bush uses his iPod chiefly during bike workouts to help him pump up his heartbeat, which he monitors with a wrist strap. The strap also keeps track of calories expended for the intensely weight-focused president, who has recently lost eight pounds after eating a lot of doughnuts during the 2004 campaign. Mr. Bush burned 1,300 calories on his bike ride on Saturday, Mr. McKinnon reported.As for an analysis of Mr. Bush's playlist, Mr. Levy of Rolling Stone started out with this: "One thing that's interesting is that the president likes artists who don't like him."Mr. Levy was referring to Mr. Fogerty, who was part of the anti-Bush "Vote for Change" concert tour across the United States last fall. Mr. McKinnon, who once wrote songs for Kris Kristofferson's music publishing company, responded in an e-mail message that "if any president limited his music selection to pro-establishment musicians, it would be a pretty slim collection."Nonetheless, Mr. McKinnon said that Mr. Bush had not gone so far as to include on his playlist "Fortunate Son," the angry anti-Vietnam war song about who has to go to war that Mr. Fogerty sang when he was with Creedence Clearwater Revival. ("I ain't no senator's son ... Some folks are born silver spoon in hand.") As the son of a two-term congressman and a United States Senate candidate, Mr. Bush won a coveted spot with the Texas Air National Guard to avoid combat in Vietnam.Meanwhile, Mr. Levy sized up the rest of the playlist of the 58-year-old president. "What we're talking about is a lot of great artists from the 60's and 70's and more modern artists who sound like great artists from the 60's and 70's," he said. "This is basically boomer rock 'n' roll and more recent music out of Nashville made for boomers. It's safe, it's reliable, it's loving. What I mean to say is, it's feel-good music. The Sex Pistols it's not."Mr. Jones, Mr. Levy said, was nonetheless an interesting choice. "George Jones is the greatest living singer in country music and a recovering alcoholic who often sings about heartbreak and drinking," he said. "It tells you that the president knows a thing or two about country music and is serious about his love of country music."The songs by Mr. Jackson indicate that the president "has a little bit of a taste for hard core and honky-tonk," Mr. Levy said, adding that both Mr. Jackson and Mr. Jones "are not about cute and pop, and they're not getting by on their looks." And while Mr. Chesney "is about cute and pop and gets by on his looks," Mr. Levy said, "he's also all about serious country music."Mr. McKinnon, who has downloaded "Castanets" by Alejandro Escovedo and "Alive 'N' Kickin' " by Kenny Loggins into Mr. Bush's iPod, said that sometimes a presidential playlist is just a playlist, nothing more."No one should psychoanalyze the song selection," Mr. McKinnon said. "It's music to get over the next hill."

Thursday, April 07, 2005

You say that I don't care about all the tiny things that you care about

the end is near. Cookie monster to get healthy. No no I get it but Cookie Monster rocked.

Rick James site. Pretty funny. Turn up the V but be careful...naughty words.

This is awesome. The final scene of Seven done with puppets. F-bombs fly. Repeat this is awesome.

Jack Johnson live "Times Like These"

Evan Dando covers Whitney Houston "How will I know?" I never thought I would ever write Whitney Houston on this blog but I have and I like it. Well I like the cover by former front man of the Lemonheads. Enjoy.

If you like what you see help a poor guy out. Click on an amazon link and purchase something. I get a few pennies...thanks

More later
Bro

the title of this post is from Louis XIV and the tune is Louis XIV

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

I'm Just Consistently Inconsistent

What a game. I feel for IL so close and yet so close. I thought they were going to pull it out. Great game.

The Brittany Babywatch...I don't care but this is quite good.

I love my iPod but hey whats this. Anti iPods attack.

Dude two new DVDs on the way
Discs are DEAD Dude
Dude?
Dude!!!

What is on tap for Apple?

Watch your body talk...to your portable device.

Onward this story is kinda a follow up to HelperMonkey's post about Radio trying to change. Too little Too late.

Satellite Radio Takes Off, Altering the Airwaves

By LORNE MANLY Published: April 5, 2005 in NYT
Just a blink after the newly emergent titans of radio - Clear Channel Communications, Infinity Broadcasting and the like - were being accused of scrubbing diversity from radio and drowning listeners in wall-to-wall commercials, the new medium of satellite radio is fast emerging as an alternative. And broadcasters are fighting back.

The announcement on Friday by XM Satellite Radio - the bigger of the two satellite radio companies - that it added more than 540,000 subscribers from January through March pushed the industry's customer total past five million after fewer than three and a half years of operation. Analysts call that remarkable growth for companies charging more than $100 annually for a product that has been free for 80 years.
Total subscribers at XM and its competitor, Sirius Satellite Radio, will probably surpass eight million by the end of year, making satellite radio one of the fastest-growing technologies ever - faster, for example, than cellphones.
To keep that growth soaring, XM and Sirius are furiously signing up carmakers to offer satellite radio as a factory-installed option and are paying tens of millions of dollars for exclusive programming. On Sunday, XM began offering every locally broadcast regular-season and playoff Major League Baseball game to a national audience, having acquired the rights in a deal that could be worth up to $650 million over 11 years. And Howard Stern is getting $500 million over five years to leave Infinity and join Sirius next January. Each company offers 120 or more channels of music, news, sports and talk.
Though satellite radio is still an unprofitable blip in the radio universe, it is pushing commercial radio to change its sound. Broadcasters are cutting commercials, adding hundreds of songs to once-rigid playlists, introducing new formats and beefing up their Internet offerings. A long-awaited move to digital radio could give existing stations as many as five signals each, with which they could introduce their own subscription services - but with a local flavor that satellite is hard pressed to match.
"At the end of the day, people want to hear what's going on in their local market," said Joel Hollander, chairman and chief executive of Infinity Broadcasting, owned by Viacom and the country's second-largest broadcaster behind Clear Channel. "People are emotionally involved with local radio."
That emotional connection - to music, personalities, information - has always translated into strong feelings about radio. Twenty-seven years ago, in "Radio, Radio," the singer Elvis Costello ranted about the medium's programming choices, singing that "the radio is in the hands of such a lot of fools, tryin' to anesthetize the way that you feel."
But such criticism pales beside the complaining unleashed by Washington's deregulation of radio, beginning in 1996. The loosening of ownership restrictions set off a frenzy of acquisitions, transforming what was essentially a mom-and-pop business into an industry dominated by a handful of giant broadcasters.
To satisfy Wall Street, station owners cut costs by combining station operations in a given market and pumping up the number of advertisements per hour; meanwhile, programming formats became narrower and more uniform. All these moves nearly doubled the industry's revenue in five years, but they also gave satellite radio its opening.
"In many cases, radio almost killed the golden goose by getting it to lay too many eggs," said Sean Butson, an analyst with Legg Mason. "If you're going to have a third of an hour of commercials, you're going to turn a lot of people off, and they're going to look for an alternative." (Legg Mason owns stock in XM.)
Founded in the early 1990's, XM and Sirius endured tough financial times while waiting for the Federal Communications Commission to divide up the satellite bandwidth and while preparing to launch their satellites. XM finally began offering its subscription service in late 2001, Sirius in mid-2002.
Car owners - the companies' prime targets - have clamored for the service once they have been introduced to it.
Joseph O'Neal of Royal Palm Beach, Fla., is a self-proclaimed Elvishead who laments that his local stations do not play enough of the King. So Mr. O'Neal, a 44-year-old drywall contractor, is a zealous convert to Sirius, the home of Elvis Radio.
Mr. O'Neal installed the service in his truck in January. Between Elvis, blues and Sirius's six country music channels, he said, "I haven't listened to regular radio since - not once."

That kind of devotion was eye-opening for Mel Karmazin, a longtime radio executive hired last year as chief executive of Sirius after he stepped down as president and chief operating officer of Viacom. "The thing that surprised me the most was the passion the subscribers had for the product," Mr. Karmazin said.
Both companies offer stations devoted to the most popular songs, but it is their national reach and dual revenue streams - subscriptions and advertising sales on nonmusic channels - that allow them to offer niche programming. Genres that receive little exposure on commercial radio, like bluegrass, reggae or talk devoted to African-American affairs, get their own channels on satellite services. Individual ratings matter little; listener satisfaction counts for much more, because it determines how long subscribers will keep paying $12.95 a month.
Indeed, formats ignored by commercial radio or relegated to its wee hours have emerged as some of the most popular.
For instance, XM Comedy, a channel that features the often raunchy stylings of Chris Rock and others, is among the company's 10 most-listened-to.
"Comedy - who knew?" said Hugh Panero, XM's chief executive.
A glimpse of how these channels are programmed highlights the differences between satellite and commercial radio. Even satellite radio executives say that tales of corporate automatons determining every record played on local radio are overblown, but a level of autonomy exists at XM and Sirius that would rarely be tolerated by broadcasters.
Michael Marrone, who programs the Loft, XM's channel focusing on singer-songwriters, finds it difficult to define precisely why Elton John's "Your Song" makes the cut while Jimmy Buffett's "Margaritaville" does not. "I'd rather lose an arm than play it again," he said of "Margaritaville," chatting in a control room in the company's Washington headquarters. (He quickly added that he likes and plays many other tracks by Mr. Buffett.)
Ultimately, Mr. Marrone's tastes determine his selections. He also enjoys inserting connective tissue between songs. Don Henley's "Boys of Summer" segues into a Grateful Dead song because Mr. Henley sings about "a Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac."
"Ninety-five percent of the audience won't get it," Mr. Marrone said. "The other 5 percent will never change the channel."
Steven Van Zandt, who plays in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band and is in the cast of "The Sopranos," programs two music channels for Sirius. He supplies a slightly more detailed explanation of his programming philosophy. On "Underground Garage," which borrows the name and concept of Mr. Van Zandt's syndicated show on commercial radio, the idea is to juxtapose tracks and styles from 50 years of guitar-driven rock 'n' roll, never playing two songs of the same genre (like punk) in a row. A recent morning, Iggy Pop coexisted nicely with the Monkees, the Mooney Suzuki and the Byrds.
"In the end, I don't pretend," Mr. Van Zandt said. "It's my opinion. And it's good to be the king."
Satellite radio has ridden that unconventional thinking to its current size, and both XM and Sirius expect to begin making money in the next two years. How big the market can become remains debatable. By 2010, analysts estimate, subscriber levels will hover anywhere from 30 million to 45 million. Some think the totals could eventually rival or surpass the 90 million people who pay for cable and satellite television.
Still, satellite radio is also unlikely to inflict fatal damage on commercial radio, which has about 230 million listeners, according to Arbitron, the radio ratings provider. Profit margins for stations in big markets can surpass 50 percent.
But commercial radio has begun to change. Radio stations in the Top 10 markets played, on average, 11 minutes of commercials an hour during daytime broadcasts in February, down from 11.7 in October, when Leland Westerfield, a media analyst at Harris Nesbitt, began tracking spots.
Strict formats have also loosened a bit. Infinity, like a number of radio chains, has changed some of its stations to the "Jack" format, a Canadian import that broadens the play list across rock genres. Instead of 300 or so songs, these stations' program directors are allowed more leeway in choosing from more than 1,200 songs.
Commercial radio, which also is combating the growth of digital music players like iPods, is making investments in technologies like Internet and digital radio as well as podcasts, audio programs that can be downloaded to computers or portable devices.
But satellite radio is rushing to innovate, too. It is planning, for example, video services that would beam cartoons and music videos to children and teenagers watching television in the back seats of cars.
All this technological and corporate ferment promises that the battle between commercial and satellite radio will only intensify.
"This book won't be written for another 10 years," Mr. Hollander of Infinity said.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005

NEW RELEASES - 04.05.05
Not the best week for new music, the latest offerings from British Sea Power and Hot Hot Heat are here just in time to be the perfect soundtrack to Spring.

The Album Leaf - Seal Beach EP (Better Looking)
British Sea Power - Open Season
Cheap Trick - Collection: Cheap Trick/In Color/Heaven Tonight (Sony)
Fisherspooner - Odyssey (Capitol)
Hot Hot Heat - Elevator (Sire)
Damien Jurado - On My Way To Absence (Secretly Canadian)
Reel Big Fish - We're Not Happy 'Til You're Not Happy (Jive/Mojo)
Various Artists - Bonnaroo Music Festival 2004 (Sanctuary Records)
Various Artists - Music From The O.C. Mix 4 (Warner Brothers)

Happy shopping. Don't be afraid to use the amazon link below. Many Thanks.



More later
Bro

this title comes from the latest...out today from Hot Hot Heat. The tune is called Middle of Nowhere. Enjoy.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

the hardest thing in the world to do is find somebody that believes in you

New ad from Nike for soccer..star of this one--Ronaldinho. Just click on watch ad.

Alien Loves Predator.

Rock Opera from StrongBad.

Sometimes I think we're alone. Sometimes I think we're not. In either case, the thought is staggering. R. Buckminster Fuller (1895 - 1983)

More later
Bro

The title is from the amazing M. Ward and his song "Sad, Sad Song" from his CD Transfiguration of Vincent. Find a way to get this in your collection. Please. His latest is excellent too but start here.

Saturday, April 02, 2005

Cut loose cuz you're no use--I couldn't stand another second in your company

Beer, Wine, Spirits are ranked here by the Beverage Tasting Institute.

Well since I am already going to hell (see last post) Candidate for New Pope.

Don't forget the no-names in Grokster case

The Brits invade but if you've read this blog before than you already know that.

remember when video tv channels played music? Well VH1 is trying that again.

reissue of Gang of Four's Entertainment.

SXSW good for Chicago's music scene.

A pez MP3 player. What I need to say more than that?

Paul Westerberg best of. what I need to say more than that?

Your lead singer has died...is that the end? Not always.

The first single from the long awaited Guns N' Roses album "Chinese Democracy" has made it online. I haven't heard it yet so let me know how it is...I can already guess not worth the wait. that is just a guess though.

FMQB reports: The Strokes have definitely been flying under the radar while working on their next effort, but the band decided to throw fans a small bone by writing, "The Strokes have an announcement to make: They are almost done recording their third album," on their official Web site. The latest fan club newsletter does have slightly more news about the record, as singer Julian Casablancas said, "It will be better than the last one. We'd like for it to sound a little more professional but still sound like us."

NMC reports: Green Day is the featured artist on a new episode of VH1's "Storytellers." During the 90-minute show, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tre Cool perform all 13 songs off their Grammy-winning album "American Idiot." Green Day also tells the stories behind the songs and answers questions from the audience.
The Green Day Storytellers episode premieres this Saturday, April 2, at 10:00 pm ET / 9 pm CT on VH1 and repeats April 3 at 12:30 am ET and 4:00 pm ET

liveDaily reports: There's finally some evidence that a long-rumored summer tour by The Rolling Stones is getting off the ground.
The Boston Herald reports that Boston Red Sox officials have asked city lawmakers to approve Aug. 21 and 23 concerts at Fenway Park

IAYM reports: Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins/Zwan fame is planning to release a new solo outing through Warner Bros. on June 21st entitled "TheFutureEmbrace". I still miss the Pumpkins but welcome back Billy.

Two other CDs that were released last week. Sorry.
Over The Rhine / Drunkard's Prayer (Virgin/Back Porch)
Glen Phillips / Winter Pays For Summer (Lost Highway)

Thanks and Enjoy
Bro

The title of this post is from The Stone Roses. The song is I Am the Resurrection.

Friday, April 01, 2005

heaven ain't close in a place like this...

Just in time for April Fools or really anytime. I mean who doesn't love tossing around poop? Send it to someone you love.

Flash me...clapping and stomping etc.

Superhero redux.

Psy-ops. Winning over the Middle East with comic books. Hey everything else they have done has worked...

Post a secret...with the world.

"smart drink" the google gulp.

I love it...one man's living will.

Happy April fools...fools...yes these facts are all true. enjoy.

Time for me to go to hell...the Terri Schiavo blog. Please click on the link and join me there...wouldn't you.

I don't know who she is but I have the urge to go buy a bra or two. Jennifer Ellison breaks out a new line of lingerie.

Ambulance LTD "stay where you are" vid in QT

Neon "a man" vid in QT

I know this is very late but I was away and there is much to buy before Next Tuesday.
Tuesday, March 29, 2005

NEW RELEASES - 03.29.05
I am really getting sick of the incredible amount of awesome new music that has been released over the last couple of weeks. I mean how do they expect us to keep up with all of it? I just had to go to the clinic to sell Plasma for the third time this month. Unfortunately they just don't pay as well as they used to. Oh well, it looks like I'll have to sell my hair again so I can buy the new Beck, Bravery and Stereophonics records. I don't feel so good...
Beck- Guero (Geffen)
The Bravery- Bravery (Island)
Duran Duran - Greatest [w/ DVD] (Capitol)
The Fall - BBC Sessions [Box Set] (Castle Music UK)
Flunk - Play America (Beatservice)
Morrissey - Live at Earl's Court (Sanctuary)
The Motels - Essential Collection (Capitol)
Mountain Goats - Nothing For Juice [reissue] (3 beads of Sweat)
Mountain Goats - Zopilote Machine [reissue] (3 Beads of Sweat)
Stereophonics- Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (V2)

Help please...if you are going to buy any of these fine cds please do so from the amazon link below. We get a few pennies for every purchase through links on the blog. Thanks.



Too much. Too much
More later. Enjoy.
Bro

the title of this post is from the Killer's "somebody told me"

Lollapalooza Is Back....

Ok, This has me pretty excited ...after last years disasterous run...it seems Perry has decided to have Lollapalloza as a two day festival set in Chicago's Grant Park...details can be found here:
http://www.lollapalooza.com/
Billboard is reporting Beck, the Killers, Kings of Leon, and Widespread Panic among groups reportedly asked to perform
I am so there.




More proof that radio is actually starting to pull it's head out of it's collective ass:

"Ailing alternative Q-101 puts playlist 'on shuffle'March 31, 2005
BY ROBERT FEDER SUN-TIMES COLUMNIST
Calling it a "redefinition" of its alternative rock music format, WKQX-FM (101.1) is expanding its playlist from 200 to nearly 1,000 songs and reaching back over 25 years in the genre.Starting at 10 a.m. Friday, the Emmis Communications station will declare that its music is "on shuffle" -- evoking the jargon of iPods embraced by its primary target audience of listeners between the ages of 25 and 34.The format adjustment comes just days after Q-101 posted an all-time low 1.4 percent audience share in the latest Arbitrends.Mike Stern, vice president of programming for Emmis Radio Chicago, acknowledged that current alternative music has been in an industrywide slump, causing the format's ratings to decline nationwide. But he emphasized that the playlist expansion has more to do with changing lifestyles and new technology."As consumers become used to having a wide variety of choices available to them, radio has to find ways to step up to that challenge and remain relevant to our listeners' lives," Stern said."On Q-101, you will hear songs from as early as The Police and Talking Heads to Depeche Mode and The Cure to Nirvana to Stone Temple Pilots to Korn and Limp Bizkit to Killers and Franz Ferdinand."Q-101 tested the "on shuffle" playlist concept last weekend and reported overwhelmingly favorable listener response.Conspicuously absent from the station's new marketing drive is any reference to its morning franchise, Mancow Muller, but Emmis bosses say "Mancow's Morning Madhouse" remains key to Q-101's future."

Too little, too late if you ask me.

More later, HP

April Fools Posted by Hello