When I first started reading blogs, thanks Paul, my favorite posts were reviews of local eateries, books, or new music. Unlike the narrative form of my normal posts, this one will actually be of some use to someone. I frequent the Chicago public library, because this gives me legal free access to new music (a similar service is available at the Madison public library). So here I am going to talk some about my recent finds. As to format, I'll follow Sean O'Shea and David Letterman and will use the top ten. Taking some artistic license, I will present my top ten as two top fives.
The top five albums you may not know about:
5) Panic at the Disco - Pretty Odd
4) Cold War Kids - Robbers and Cowards
3) Jason Mraz - We sing. We Dance. We steal things.
2) Flobots - Fight with tools
1) Seal - Soul
My top five singles to workout to (especially run)
5) It's Alright - MIMS
4) Black or White - Michael Jackson
3) Boom - P.O.D.
2) Sirius - The Alan Parsons Project
1) I Wish it would rain - The Temptations
Now for some descriptions. First albums. Panic at the Disco is a band without an identity, so they mimic others. Lucky for us, for this album the imitate the Beatles. The Cold War Kids are a heavier rock band, similar to the White Stripes. Jason Mraz is awesome, and the odds on favorite for the first dance at our wedding. The Flobots are a rap band, a bit political, but with energetic beats and no embarrassing language. They are decidedly not rapping about "money, hoes and rims again". Finally, Seal is an amazing singer and in this album instead of singing about Batman and roses, he covers some our favorites from Motown.
Now singles. MIMS is famous for "This is why I'm hot" which is a fun song as well, but "It's alright" is full of brass (both trumpets and swagger). Like the Flobots, MIMS is another rapper who respects my 'virgin ears'. Everyone has heard of "Black or White". I rediscovered it when listening to the king of pop's album Number Ones, still great. One can't help but want to dance at the intro riff. "Boom" is the song that White Sox closer Bobby Jenks enters US Cellular field to. It is very Pump You Up. Your are probably familiar with "Sirius" but don't know it. It is the song that the Bulls play before each game. It is most famous as the background for the words "at 6'6'', from the University of North Carolina, at guard, Michael Jordan" followed by "aaaahhhhhh" as the crowd loses its MF'in mind. Finally, "I wish it would rain" is a less traditional workout song, being as it is a more an emotionally inspirational song than an exciting one. I love it for the first song on a run. The song builds excitement as it begins, and it is easy on the tempo, so you don't start too fast.
As a teacher, a common challenge is to encourage audience participation. In this spirit, I challenge you, the readership, to comment with a favorite single to exercise to, or album I might not know about. Just like in class, I don't expect much of a response.
4 comments:
I am the kid in class who always answers the question.
Not really.
I am totally feeling M.I.A. and her album "Kala." Actually, both her albums are really good, but I like Kala slightly better. Her music was also in Slumdog Millionaire.
Kung Fu Fighting by Carl Douglas is one of my favorite songs on my workout mix. It's peppy and funny, so I like to have it in the middle of the workout... just when i am thinking 'oh my god, this sucks so much and it will never be over' i hear this song and i have to smile.
An album that I know about that you don't know about? Well, you should check out She and Him's debut album "One." Zooey Deschenel has a classy voice and knows how to use it. It's the kind of music to listen to when late morning or early afternoon sun is shining through your window and you've just made coffee in your french press. It will complete the moment like cinnamon rolls would.
For exercise, I like french house music, e.g. the Alan Braxe & Fred Falke remix of Kelis's Bossy. (they did 2 remixes, both are great - but I like the one that's better slightly more.)
Music you might not know? I've been listening to the Beach Boys's later albums... they're about 50% awful, but the stuff that doesn't burn your ears is really strange and different, in particular, I'm a big fan of The Beach Boys Love You.
Am I allowed to keep responding to this comment? Seems like there ought to be a collective blog of music and recent music discoveries. Maybe also movies and book discoveries. I'm not convinced yet though that we have similar tastes.
Recently music-wise is Kanye West's "808s & Heartbreak." Also, not so recent discovery but a suggestion that I'm surprised I didn't make is the very indie Tune-Yards' debut album.
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