Why you should be using Spotify:

Let me start by saying this: I work at a desk all day, in an office where I am the only
person here. Spotify might not be suitable for everyone’s work environment like it is for me, but let me tell you, this program has changed my life. An import from England (why is it that England is way ahead of the music game than America?) this music streaming program allows you to listen to endless amounts of free music. Think Itunes meets Pandora. Not only can you add your own music, but you can also search for albums and add songs to playlists. You can search for music you were too skeptical to buy because you could only hear 60 second snippets thanks to Itunes, and listen to the songs and album in full. Yes, not every song is available on Spotify yet but I can only assume that it's only a matter of time.
 
This FREE service comes with limited commercials which can be a bit annoying at times, but it's totally worth it for this free unbelievable service. Where else can I make a playlist that features The Steve Miller Band, Coldplay, Simon and Garfunkel, Madonna, Maroon 5 and T.I? (I’m sure I could find this through random shuffle on my ipod, but I am lazy and need a way to listen at work without headphones). This service is seriously for anyone who loves music (even you mom! They have Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra). 

To request an invitation for Spotify click here and create your account today! Also if you are super cool and have a smart phone this can be added as an app!

Best Music Videos of 2011 (so far)

I know it’s been a while since my last post, so I’m trying to come back on this one with a bang. I’m going to list my favorite music videos of 2011 so far. As you know music videos hold a lot of water in my estimation. They need to have one or more of the following qualities in order for me to like them 1) It has to be visually appealing 2) It has to be humorous, or not take itself too seriously 3) It should relate in some way to the song (even if that means splashing the lyrics occasionally on screen).  So here goes:

10. Yellowcard: Hang You Up:  I’m not sure why I found this video so funny, but It was amusing to me that no matter where Ryan, the lead singer of Yellowcard goes, everyone thinks its bizarre that he is singing. Basically it’s breaking the fourth wall within a music video, since most music videos have the singers singing and most of the people in the video completely oblivious. I particularly like when his ex-girlfriend, who he keeps singing about, comes on screen and without seeing who it is knows it’s her ex-boyfriend because he keeps singing. She says “I got a restraining order against you! You can’t sing within 500 feet of me!” Hilarious.

9. Ke$ha: Blow:  “No Mythical Creatures were harmed in the making of this video.” Genius. I love how Ke-dollar sign- ha doesn’t take herself very seriously. I love James Van Der Beek in this video saying “Don’t Slanderbeek my name.” And I particularly like how their guns shoot rainbows! Can I get one of those?

8. Maroon 5: Never Gonna Leave this Bed:  Originally, when I heard this song off of the album it was one of my favorites. I imagined a sexy romp in the sack video with Adam Levine (which in and of itself would have landed on this list). What I got instead, was an interestingly thought out video. What would happen if we decided NEVER to get out of bed? Maroon 5 tells us that the bed will travel with us (Bed knobs and Broomsticks was obviously WAY ahead of its time!) Needless to say, Adam Levine in a moving truck bed or a bed in the middle of Santa Monica is definitely a sight to be seen.

7. Foo Fighters: Walk: This video, a funny replica of the 1993 movie Falling Down starring Michael Douglas tells the story of an average guy who basically cracks while stuck in traffic. The movie is a bit more violent, where this is more amusing, and features Grohl in the same getup (down to the glasses) as Douglas.

6. All Time Low: I Feel Like Dancin’: This satire on the music business shows the band in the middle of trying to film a music video. They are getting advice from a manager type guy from “the label” who has his own advice for exactly how the video should go. He has 3 tips to make a video succeed all “following the model” of other music videos. I won’t ruin the surprise but the last one is by far the most hilarious. I actually laughed out loud.

5. Coldplay: Every Teardrop is a Waterfall: This video falls into the ‘visually appealing’ category. It uses a similar stop motion technique to their video Strawberry Swing but it doesn’t disappoint. When it gets to the main part where everything is backlit it plays out like an intimate and cool concert that you wish you were actually participating in.

4. Matt and Kim: Cameras:  I love a good old fashion fight video and Matt and Kim’s Cameras does not disappoint in that vein. Not only did this video look fun to shoot, but many of the hits actually look quite real and make me wonder how bruised they got in the process.

3. The Black Keys: Howlin for You: Not only did the Black Keys give their video a plot, they gave it the plot of a movie! It’s an entire fake preview for a movie that doesn’t exist and it is brilliant. It appears to be a mix of Kill Bill and possibly a random buddy cop comedy? Regardless it’s quite smart and interesting.

2. Katy Perry: Last Friday Night TGIF: From start to finish I love this video. From the random cameos (Darren Criss? Rebecca Black?? HANSON!?) to the great acting by Katy Perry as a nerd turned pretty woman for a night, not to mention a crazy cameo by (“uncle”) Kenny G who plays the sax solo on the song, and then 80’s icons Debbie Gibson and Corey Feldman this video is an extreme foray into awesomeness.

1. Beastie Boys: Make Some Noise: This tops my list for part of the same reason as Katy Perry’s. CAMEOS ABOUND!  Will Arnett?! Rashida Jones!? Kristin Dunst!? Will Ferrel!  I LOVE how this video captures the same sentiment as Fight for your right to Party. I love even more that they hired actors (Elijah wood, Seth Rogen, Danny McBride) to play the versions of themselves straight from their other video (since they are definitely too old to play themselves now). On top of it all this song, is classic Beastie Boys. Basically everything about this video is pure genius.

Notable Visually Appealing Videos: Death Cab for Cutie: You are a Tourist: this light and action show supposedly was captured in one take, if that’s the case it’s a huge feat.

Maroon 5: Hands All Over: Stylized animation of Adam Levine? Hells yes.

What are your favorite videos of 2011 so far?