totally claimin'

Somebody Get Him A Doctor!

2007-03-09T11:28:00.001-08:00

FROM EDDIE
March 8, 2007

"I would like Van Halen fans to know how much I truly appreciate each and every one of you. Without you there is no Van Halen.

I have always and will always feel a responsibility to give you my best. At the moment I do not feel that I can give you my best. That’s why I have decided to enter a rehabilitation facility to work on myself, so that in the future I can deliver the 110% that I feel I owe you and want to give you.

Some of the issues surrounding the 2007 Van Halen tour are within my ability to change and some are not. As far as my rehab is concerned, it is within my ability to change and change for the better. I want you to know that is exactly what I’m doing, so that I may continue to give you the very best I am capable of.

I look forward to seeing you in the future better than ever and I thank you with all my heart.

Love, Ed"

Well at least this statement finally explains the photo, doesn't it? Neither Eddie nor David Lee Roth are expected to attend the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on Monday in New York. Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony who ironically were not a part of the recently canceled Van Halen reunion tour will be there to represent the band.

For Your Consideration:
Van Halen - Somebody Get Me A Doctor Mp3

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Friday Afternoon Funnies: Little Donny Disease

2007-03-09T01:07:00.000-08:00

Typically here at Totally Claimin, Friday Afternoon is reserved for "Friday Afternoon Funnies." Normally I would say something like "It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill some time with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is an episode of..."

Well not this week. This week my claimers, I'd like you to take a moment to learn about Magnimus-Obliviophallocytis, otherwise known as Little Donny Disease. It is a hereditary disease, it's main symptom being enlarged genitalia that the sufferer is not aware of. This disease has no cure, but with your help, we can find one. There are many things you can do to help in the fight against Little Donny Disease. Sign the electronic petition that is being sent to the government and the press in order to raise awareness of the disease. Together we can find a cure. Till then, watch Little Donny's story above.

And Since I don't want your afternoon to be an entire downer, check out this funny sketch from "The Upright Citizens Brigade." The show, which originally aired on Comedy Central, was about "The Upright Citizens Brigade", an underground organization "with no government ties and unlimited resources" dedicated to creating and monitoring chaos from their secure underground base. It starred Matt Besser, Amy Poehler (who went on to SNL), Ian Roberts (the choreographer from "Bring It On"), and Matt Walsh (The Daily Show). Enjoy this sketch, then seriously, watch the Little Donny documentary and then perhaps do what you can to try to stop this epidemic. Thank you.

The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Presents:The Definitive 200?

2007-03-09T00:15:00.000-08:00

Well, they really did it now. Supposedly these are the best 200 albums you should have in your own collection. Unveiled earlier this week, the "Definitive 200" list was compiled by a committee of music retailers co-sponsored by the US National Association of Recording Merchandisers (NARM) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. "They looked for what makes a classic album," said Jim Donio, president of NARM. "Our members chose the albums that have consistently excited record buyers over the years and those that have the potential for continued success based on enduring popularity. Some of them are recognizable landmark albums, while others are very new by contemporary artists. We have Pop, Country, R&B, Rock, Rap, Punk, Jazz, Soul, Reggae, and more. Hopefully, the inevitable debate about the 200 must-own albums will underscore just how much the music and the art form mean to everyone."

...And debate they will. Personally, I have a few questions, like how in the hell did Linkin Park, Creed, and Kid Rock get on here? How does Green Day rank above The Clash? Supernatural at #13? Wait, is that right? SUPERNATURAL? Unless you're planning a halftime show somewhere, who the fuck is listening to that album anymore?

If that ain't the biggest tragedy, then the album at #27 has gotta be it with Norah Jones and her snoozer "Come Away With Me." Sure, ok, yeah, it had that one song that was good. I like dancing to "Don't Know Why" at weddings just as much as the next person who can't get laid, but #27? Look what's just below it, Miles Davis "Kind Of Blue," the quintessential jazz album, and Guns N Roses "Appetite For Destruction," the album that singlehandedly killed hair metal. You mean to tell me that Norah's album will stand the test of time as compared to those two examples? Jesus, I just had to reread my last couple of sentences I just wrote to remember what friggin album I was even talking about! (I don't know why, it's that forgettable.)

I think I just figured out this list. Is Dick Clark producing an ABC Television special about this thing? It would explain so much if he is. This wreaks of Dick.

And come on, no greatest albums of all time list would be complete without Styx on it, am I right claimers? Who's with me? Doobie Brothers? No? Wait, ummm...

Read the list for yourself, drop me a claim and let me know what ya think. For your consideration, check out some mp3's from selected albums on this site, or head over to amazon.com for their special section highlighting the list.

Top 200 albums of all time:

1 BEATLES SGT. PEPPER’S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND 1967 Rock

2 PINK FLOYD DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 1973 Rock

3 MICHAEL JACKSON THRILLER 1982 Pop

4 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN IV 1971 Rock

5 U2 THE JOSHUA TREE 1987 Rock

6 ROLLING STONES EXILE ON MAIN STREET 1972 Rock

7 CAROLE KING TAPESTRY 1971 Adult Contemporary

8 BOB DYLAN HIGHWAY 61 REVISITED 1965 Rock

9 BEACH BOYS PET SOUNDS 1966 Rock (Part 1)
BEACH BOYS PET SOUNDS 1966 Rock (Part 2)

10 NIRVANA NEVERMIND 1991 Rock

11 PEARL JAM TEN 1991 Rock

12 BEATLES ABBEY ROAD 1969 Rock

13 SANTANA SUPERNATURAL 1999 Rock

14 METALLICA METALLICA 1991 Rock

15 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BORN TO RUN 1975 Rock

16 PRINCE PURPLE RAIN 1984 Pop

17 AC/DC BACK IN BLACK 1980 Rock

18 ROLLING STONES LET IT BLEED 1969 Rock

19 DOORS THE DOORS 1967 Rock

20 GRATEFUL DEAD AMERICAN BEAUTY 1970 Rock

21 SHANIA TWAIN COME ON OVER 1997 Country

22 WHO WHO’S NEXT 1971 Rock

23 STEVIE WONDER SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE 1976 R&B

24 FLEETWOOD MAC RUMOURS 1977 Pop

25 PINK FLOYD THE WALL 1979 Rock

26 ALANIS MORISSETTE JAGGED LITTLE PILL 1995 Pop

27 NORAH JONES COME AWAY WITH ME 2002 Pop

28 EMINEM THE MARSHALL MATHERS LP 2000 Rap

29 OUTKAST SPEAKERBOXX-LOVE BELOW 2003 R&B

30 DR. DRE THE CHRONIC 1992 Rap

31 BEASTIE BOYS LICENSED TO ILL 1986 Rap

32 GUNS N’ ROSES APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION 1987 Rock

33 DIXIE CHICKS WIDE OPEN SPACES 1998 Country

34 MILES DAVIS KIND OF BLUE 1959 Jazz

35 EAGLES HOTEL CALIFORNIA 1976 Rock

36 DEF LEPPARD HYSTERIA 1987 Rock

37 SOUNDTRACK: GREASE 1978 Soundtrack

38 MARVIN GAYE WHAT’S GOING ON 1971 R&B

39 BEATLES THE WHITE ALBUM 1968 Rock

40 SOUNDTRACK: SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER 1977 Soundtrack

41 JIMI HENDRIX ARE YOU EXPERIENCED? 1967 Rock

42 BEATLES REVOLVER 1966 Rock

43 BOSTON BOSTON 1976 Rock

44 BON JOVI SLIPPERY WHEN WET 1986 Rock

45 U2 ACHTUNG BABY 1991 Rock

46 WHITNEY HOUSTON WHITNEY HOUSTON 1985 R&B

47 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN II 1969 Rock

48 DAVE MATTHEWS BAND CRASH 1996 Rock

49 ROLLING STONES STICKY FINGERS 1971 Rock

50 GREEN DAY DOOKIE 1994 Rock

51 LED ZEPPELIN HOUSES OF THE HOLY 1973 Rock

52 JONI MITCHELL BLUE 1971 Rock

53 ELVIS PRESLEY ELVIS PRESLEY AT SUN 2004 Rock

54 AEROSMITH TOYS IN THE ATTIC 1975 Rock

55 LAURYN HILL THE MISEDUCATION OF LAURYN HILL 1998 R&B

56 BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN BORN IN THE U.S.A. 1984 Rock

57 50 CENT GET RICH OR DIE TRYIN’ 2003 Rap

58 AC/DC HIGHWAY TO HELL 1979 Rock

59 NOTORIOUS B.I.G. LIFE AFTER DEATH 1997 Rap

60 VAN HALEN VAN HALEN 1978 Rock

61 GREEN DAY AMERICAN IDIOT 2004 Rock

62 BLACK SABBATH PARANOID 1971 Rock

63 EMINEM THE EMINEM SHOW 2002 Rap

64 JEWEL PIECES OF YOU 1995 Pop

65 COLDPLAY A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD 2002 Pop

66 MEAT LOAF BAT OUT OF HELL 1977 Rock

67 USHER CONFESSIONS 2004 R&B

68 KID ROCK DEVIL WITHOUT A CAUSE 1998 Rock

69 GEORGE HARRISON ALL THINGS MUST PASS 1970 Pop (Part 1)
GEORGE HARRISON ALL THINGS MUST PASS 1970 Pop (Part 2)
GEORGE HARRISON ALL THINGS MUST PASS 1970 Pop (Part 3)

70 BILLY JOEL THE STRANGER 1977 Pop

71 EAGLES HELL FREEZES OVER 1994 Rock

72 VAN MORRISON MOONDANCE 1970 Rock

73 R.E.M. AUTOMATIC FOR THE PEOPLE 1992 Pop

74 PHIL COLLINS NO JACKET REQUIRED 1985 Pop

75 METALLICA MASTER OF PUPPETS 1986 Rock

76 FAITH HILL BREATHE 1999 Country

77 JOHNNY CASH AT FOLSOM PRISON 1968 Country

78 JOHN COLTRANE A LOVE SUPREME 1964 Jazz

79 PINK FLOYD WISH YOU WERE HERE 1975 Rock

80 MICHAEL JACKSON OFF THE WALL 1979 Pop

81 MARVIN GAYE LET’S GET IT ON 1973 R&B

82 BOB SEGER NIGHT MOVES 1976 Rock

83 PAUL SIMON GRACELAND 1986 Pop

84 LINKIN PARK HYBRID THEORY 2000 Rock

85 PRINCE 1999 1983 Pop

86 DEF LEPPARD PYROMANIA 1983 Rock

87 JANET JACKSON CONTROL 1986 R&B

88 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK 1991 Rock (Part 1)
RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS BLOOD SUGAR SEX MAGIK 1991 Rock (Part 2)

89 DIRE STRAITS BROTHERS IN ARMS 1985 Rock

90 TUPAC ALL EYEZ ON ME 1996 Rap

91 MATCHBOX TWENTY YOURSELF OR SOMEONE LIKE YOU 1996 Pop

92 RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS CALIFORNICATION 1999 Rock

93 LED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 1975 Rock (Part1)
LED ZEPPELIN PHYSICAL GRAFFITI 1975 Rock (Part 2)

94 NELLY COUNTRY GRAMMAR 2000 Rap

95 CREED HUMAN CLAY 1999 Rock (Part 1)
CREED HUMAN CLAY 1999 Rock (Part 2)

96 CLASH LONDON CALLING 1979 Rock

97 CELINE DION FALLING INTO YOU 1996 Adult Contemporary

98 NEIL YOUNG HARVEST 1972 Rock

99 SOUNDTRACK: DIRTY DANCING 1987 Soundtrack

100 DIXIE CHICKS HOME 2002 Country

101 TOM PETTY FULL MOON FEVER 1989 Rock

102 VAN HALEN 1984 1984 Rock

103 SOUNDTRACK: TITANIC 1997 Soundtrack

104 CROSBY STILLS & NASH DEJA VU 1970 Rock

105 TLC CRAZYSEXYCOOL 1999 R&B

106 BECK ODELAY 1994 Rock

107 KENNY G BREATHLESS 1992 Adult Contemporary

108 NWA STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON 1989 Rap

109 SEX PISTOLS NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS 1977 Rock

110 BEATLES RUBBER SOUL 1965 Rock

111 RADIOHEAD O.K. COMPUTER 1993 Rock

112 SIMON & GARFUNKEL BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER 1970 Pop

113 DIXIE CHICKS FLY 1999 Country

114 METALLICA AND JUSTICE FOR ALL 1988 Rock

115 MICHAEL JACKSON DANGEROUS 1992 Pop

116 MARIAH CAREY DAYDREAM 1995 Pop

117 SOUNDTRACK: TOP GUN 1986 Soundtrack

118 ELTON JOHN GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD 1973 Pop

119 POLICE SYNCHRONICITY 1983 Rock

120 NO DOUBT TRAGIC KINGDOM 1995 Pop

121 ROLLING STONES BEGGARS BANQUET 1968 Rock

122 R KELLY R 1998 R&B

123 TOOL LATERALUS 2001 Rock

124 OASIS WHAT’S THE STORY MORNING GLORY 1995 Rock

125 BOB MARLEY EXODUS 1977 Reggae

126 JOURNEY ESCAPE 1981 Rock

127 CHRISTINA AGUILERA CHRISTINA AGUILERA 1999 Pop

128 JAY-Z BLUEPRINT 2001 Rap

129 ALICIA KEYS DIARY OF ALICIA KEYS 2003 R&B

130 SOUNDTRACK: O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? 2000 Soundtrack

131 CARS THE CARS 1978 Pop

132 ENYA DAY WITHOUT RAIN 2000 Adult Contemporary

133 NATALIE COLE UNFORGETTABLE: WITH LOVE 1991 R&B

134 SOUNDTRACK: FOOTLOOSE 1984 Soundtrack

135 LIONEL RICHIE CAN’T SLOW DOWN 1983 Pop

136 SARAH MCLACHLAN SURFACING 1997 Adult Contemporary

137 BONNIE RAITT NICK OF TIME 1989 Rock

138 METALLICA RIDE THE LIGHTNING 1984 Rock

139 SHERYL CROW TUESDAY NIGHT MUSIC CLUB 1993 Pop

140 FRANK SINATRA IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS 1954 Standards

141 EARTH WIND & FIRE GRATITUDE 1975 R&B

142 ZZ TOP ELIMINATOR 1983 Rock

143 WILLIE NELSON RED HEADED STRANGER 1975 Country

144 JOHN LENNON IMAGINE 1971 Rock

145 TONI BRAXTON TONI BRAXTON 1993 R&B

146 ETTA JAMES AT LAST 1961 Blues

147 ELVIS PRESLEY ELVIS PRESLEY 1956 Rock

148 CAT STEVENS TEA FOR THE TILLERMAN 1970 Pop

149 SMASHING PUMPKINS MELLON COLLIE & THE INFINITE SADNESS 1995 Rock

150 DAVE BRUBECK TIME OUT 1959 Jazz

151 JANET JACKSON JANET 1993 R&B

152 QUEEN A NIGHT AT THE OPERA 1975 Rock

153 OZZY OSBOURNE BLIZZARD OF OZZ 1980 Rock

154 WILL SMITH BIG WILLIE STYLE 1997 Rap

155 PRINCE SIGN O’ THE TIMES 1987 Pop

156 PUBLIC ENEMY IT TAKES A NATION OF MILLIONS TO HOLD US BACK 1988 Rap

157 BOB DYLAN BLOOD ON THE TRACKS 1975 Rock

158 GEORGE MICHAEL FAITH 1987 Pop

159 BOYZ II MEN COOLEYHIGHHARMONY 1993 R&B

160 DESTINY’S CHILD WRITING’S ON THE WALL 1999 R&B

161 JAY-Z THE BLACK ALBUM 2003 Rap

162 AVRIL LAVIGNE LET GO 2002 Pop

163 FUGEES THE SCORE 1996 R&B

164 MADONNA LIKE A VIRGIN 1984 Pop

165 LED ZEPPELIN LED ZEPPELIN 1969 Rock

166 STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN TEXAS FLOOD 1983 R&B

167 STONE TEMPLE PILOTS CORE 1992 Rock

168 ORIGINAL CAST: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 1988 Cast Album

169 JETHRO TULL AQUALUNG 1971 Rock

170 TUPAC ME AGAINST THE WORLD 1995 Rap

171 DAVID BOWIE THE RISE AND FALL OF ZIGGY STARDUST 1972 Rock

172 SHAKIRA LAUNDRY SERVICE 1998 Pop

173 SOUNDTRACK: FORREST GUMP 1994 Soundtrack

174 AL GREEN CALL ME 1973 R&B

175 CURTIS MAYFIELD SUPERFLY 1972 R&B

176 LIVE THROWING COPPER 1994 Rock

177 GEORGE BENSON BREEZIN’ 1976 Jazz

178 WHITE STRIPES WHITE BLOOD CELLS 2001 Rock

179 LYNYRD SKYNYRD PRONOUNCED LEH-NERD SKIN-ERD 1973 Rock

180 SADE DIAMOND LIFE 1984 Adult Contemporary

181 FLEETWOOD MAC FLEETWOOD MAC 1975 Pop

182 PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS BAND ON THE RUN 1973 Rock

183 BEYONCE DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE 2003 R&B

184 ANITA BAKER RAPTURE 1986 R&B

185 NAS ILLMATIC 1994 Rap

186 BARBRA STREISAND A STAR IS BORN 1976 Soundtrack

187 EARTH WIND & FIRE THAT’S THE WAY OF THE WORLD 1975 R&B

188 ANITA BAKER RHYTHM OF LOVE 1994 R&B

189 JAY-Z IN MY LIFETIME VOL. 1 1997 Rap

190 LL COOL J MAMA SAID KNOCK YOU OUT 1990 Rap

191 STEELY DAN AJA 1977 Rock

192 WILLIE NELSON STARDUST 1978 Country

193 ARETHA FRANKLIN SPARKLE 1976 R&B

194 ANDREA BOCELLI ANDREA 2004 Classical

195 BOB DYLAN BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME 1965 Rock

196 LUTHER VANDROSS NEVER TOO MUCH 1981 R&B

197 U2 ALL THAT YOU CAN’T LEAVE BEHIND 2000 Rock

198 RUSH 2112 1976 Rock

199 OUTKAST AQUEMINI 1998 R&B

200 GRAND FUNK RAILROAD WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND 1973 Rock

7 Minutes In Spiderman Heaven

2007-03-08T00:30:00.000-08:00

In case you missed it, during NBC's "Heroes" there was an extended trailer for this Summer's release of "Spiderman 3." By extended, I mean seven full minutes of footage. Kinda makes me wanna see more, how about you? Check it out ya claimers.

For Your Consideration:
The Ramones - Spiderman Theme Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Antonella Barba

2007-03-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

Could she be your next American Idol? Well if you have heard her sing, maybe not, but Jersey Girl Antonella Barba has already won something, she is Totally Claimin's "Crush Of The Week!" Barbra Fever has spread throughout the nation since alleged pictures of her performing a sex act were released on the internet. (BTW, I've studied the pictures for hours and they are obviously not her.)

Antonella's face has even appeared on a piece of toast that you can bid on over at ebay. Soak it in Antonella! Enjoy being our "Crush Of The Week," because you're on your fifteenth minute of fame, that is until Playboy comes a callin, then I'll give you a bonus five more!

Here's Antonella's performance, errr butchering of
Aerosmith's "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing."

Enjoy?

For Your Consideration:
Aerosmith - I Don't Want To Miss A Thing Mp3

Love Reigns O'er Pearl Jam

2007-03-06T00:35:00.001-08:00

Better late than never. Pearl Jam has finally released their 2006 holiday single. This year's version is stellar! It contains a cover version of The Who's classic "Love, Reign O'er Me" and a live version of Neil Young's "Rockin In The Free World" that they performed with Bono and The Edge of U2. Since I have been in a kind of classic Who mood lately, this seemed like the perfect time to share these songs with you. Also, in case you've been living under a rock, here is the full trailer for the Adam Sandler movie called "Reign Over Me" that features the song. Looks like the Sand man is in full "Punch Drunk Love" mode for this one. Enjoy ya claimers!

For Your Consideration:
Pearl Jam - Love Reign O'er Me Mp3
Pearl Jam & U2 - Rockin In The Free World (Live) Mp3

The Who Hits The Desert

2007-03-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I rocked to The Who in Phoenix last week, and aside from a costly speeding ticket that I got nailed with, the experience was well worth it.

I have never been to the US Airways Center. I've seen it plenty of times on television as it always seems like the Lakers are getting spanked by the Suns there. It was a great arena for a concert. It's not too large like the Staples Center here in LA, yet it's still a big room. My life long friend Ross (we have inside jokes that are over 20 years old) who invited me to the show got us great seats on the floor, a few rows ahead of the sound board.

The crowd however? Umm, well let's just say that it seemed like Ross and I were the youngest ones there. I'm 37. Ross is 36. There were a lot of desert hippies there, man. One dude who sat in front of us was severely trippin on something as for every time a new song started he would turn around to give me a high five. I obliged out of fear that if I didn't, it might harsh his buzz.

As for the show itself, the music was great. Townshend still plays a mean guitar, and his trademark windmill move was still awe inspiring. I was also amazed at how fresh a song that was literally over thirty years old could still sound. Unfortunately though, Daltrey's voice is obviously not the same. There were some points during the show where he just could not hit the same notes he could hit when he was a young man. It was especially noticeable when he took on "Behind Blue Eyes." Regardless, I was in a forgiving mood, especially since no other band that's still together today, other than the Rolling Stones, can boast such an historical impact. I mean, the Who were at Woodstock for Christ's sake. Here is a copy of the actual set list I got from the guy working the sound board. Look at that thing, it's got more heavy hitters than a New York Yankees lineup!

Now you're probably wondering if the new songs off of "Endless Wire" were "bathroom breakers" or not. If you have already heard the album, then you know that they most certainly were not. "Mirror Door" is one of my favorite tracks from the new album, and it stood up to the monster songs that followed it. Townshend acknowledged that their fans are “coming around” to the new songs and thanked the crowd for it’s patience. “We have one more new song to play and then we’ll go on the downward slope into the past,” Townshend said.

Pete also joked "Roger and I have been through here doing other things, visiting holes in the ground and maybe seeing a couple of blondes." In between another song Roger noted that when he "first came here in '67, it was a one-horse town, literally. I was taken riding in the desert with a Native American, and it only took 15 minutes to get to the desert. Now it will take about three hours." The crowd ate it up, and then proceeded to dance in the aisles, air guitar-ing to the music, joining together with band.

For Your Consideration:
The Who - My Generation (Live - From The Who's Next Deluxe Edition) Mp3
The Who - Behind Blue Eyes (Live - From The Who's Next Deluxe Edition) Mp3
The Who - Mirror Door Mp3

No "Trouble" For Ray LaMontagne

2007-03-05T00:29:00.000-08:00

I'm still recovering from the Who show last week in Phoenix. For some reason whenever I go there I come home with an awesome sinus infection., so forgive me if this post is brief.

Every once in a while a song gets stuck in my head. Well, "Trouble" by Ray LaMontagne one has been ringing in my head all weekend, and I thought you might enjoy hearing a live version of it. The version available for your consideration is taken from the "ONXRT Live From the Archives Volume 9" compact disc which also features live tracks from My Morning Jacket and Gomez. So while I go pound some more vitamin c, enjoy the song ya claimers.

For Your Consideration:
Ray LaMontagne - Trouble (ONXRT Live From the Archives) Mp3

I'm Goin Mobile

2007-02-28T00:45:00.000-08:00

Heya loyal claimers, there won't be a post for Thursday or Friday, gotta hit the road to see The Who in Phoenix tonight. I'll try to get something up maybe on Friday, but don't count on it ok? I'll see ya Monday for sure. See ya next week!

Crush Of The Week: Famke Janssen

2007-02-28T00:29:00.000-08:00

Famke Janssen has played a voluptuous "Bond" girl in "Goldeneye", a transgender femme fatale on the F/X show" Nip/Tuck," and super mutant Jean Grey in the "X-Men" trilogy, but this time she takes on her hardest role to date as she plays Totally Claimin's "Crush Of The Week!"

Why is she our Crush? Because she's an angel, an angel that appears in the newest ad for PETA's popular "Be an Angel for Animals" campaign. According to Famke, the easiest way to earn your angel wings is to spay or neuter your companion animal. Well, I'm sold. I'd do it this second if she were here right now wearing that outfit telling me to do so. Can you neuter goldfish? I am willing to learn.

For Your Consideration:
Jimi Hendrix - Angel Mp3
Death Cab For Cutie - Earth Angel Mp3
Massive Attack - Angel Mp3

You Want The Best? You Got The Best! KISS!

2007-02-27T00:14:00.000-08:00

KISS lives. Actually, to be honest, they'll never die, not as long as Gene "The Demon" Simmons has money to be made (and as a member of the loyal KISS Army, I say that with love).

It was announced recently that "KISS Comics Group" will launch its inaugural comic book entitled, "KISS 4K." Oh sure, as kids we all had the KISS comics rumored to be printed with the blood of the band members, but this one is different. "KISS 4K" will be the first KISS comic ever produced with involvement of the band themselves. Also, as with everything related to the band, it will be bigger and better than anything else out there. The "KISS 4K" comic will be available for the first time ever in an oversized $50 "Destroyer Edition" at the Wizard World Los Angeles Convention this March, and has the honor of being the biggest comic book ever produced, measuring 30 inches high by 18 inches wide. Look, you wanted the best? You got the best. Here are a look at the covers, and of course a look at the new incarnations of the band.

The comic will continue in an ongoing series starting up in May by writer Rcky Sprague and artist Kevin Crossley. Also, there will be an online KISS comic running in conjunction "KISS 4K" that will expand upon the continuity and story of the print version. So what is the comic all about? According to the KISS website, "the whole storyline, which is a twelve issue arc that branches off into other KISS storylines, goes from dimension to dimension and universe to universe as our friends at KISS have to save all the universes, or at least our very own while the others blow up along the way." No word on whether or not they have to meet the Phantom. Here's the trailer for the comic and for your consideration, a few lessons in Kiss-tory in the form of some MP3s.

For Your Consideration:
KISS - Detroit Rock City Mp3
KISS - Love Gun Mp3
KISS - Beth Mp3

Up Late With Stewie And Brian

2007-02-27T00:10:00.000-08:00

Like most of you I watched the Oscars the other night, so more than likely you (like myself)didn't know that over on Fox, they were aggressively plugging the upcoming premier of "The Winner." The series is from the creators of "Family Guy," and stars "The Daily Show's" Rob Corddry. During the spots, they also promoted "Up Late With Stewie And Brian," Stewie's late night talk show available exclusively online. If you haven't seen it, you can here. Enjoy ya claimers.

Under The Sea With My Morning Jacket

2007-02-26T01:52:00.000-08:00

A question a lot of people get asked but always have a hard time answering is "What makes you love (insert band name here)?" The obvious answer is because you like the way they sound, but what really makes you truly love a band? What sets them apart? For me, it's the way the Flaming Lips put on a show, the way Phish can noodle for a half hour without ever getting boring, or a Black Crowes impromptu jam on a Bob Marley tune, or the passion Pearl Jam displays day in and day out. Well claimers, here is a reason to fall in love with My Morning Jacket: they're giving you the prom you've always wanted!

The band just announced on their website that "For all of you who missed your prom back in 1956 or 1986 or 2006 for that matter, we will be hosting the 1st annual MMJ 2 night prom, March 6th and 7th, at the fabulous, prom-ready, 40 watt club in Athens! The first time we walked thru those hallowed 40 Watt doors we said to ourselves, "this place looks perfect for a prom!" And now the dream will be a reality. The theme is a futuristic/retro under the sea vibe - costumes (tuxes, suits, robots, mermaid and lobster costumes, anything prom/ocean related) are not only encouraged - they are MANDATORY!!! NO ONE will be admitted without proper attire! There will be cake, balloons, fishnets, classic cars, chaperones, spankings, and a whole lotta shakin goin on - 2007 style up in this bitch ya'll. Come prepared to dance the night away, and make up for all the proms you missed..."

That, is an act of love. Now, like back in high school, if I could just get a date for it!

For Your Consideration:
My Morning Jacket - Take My Breath Away (Berlin Cover) Mp3
My Morning Jacket - All Night Long (Lionel Richie Cover, Live) Mp3
My Morning Jacket - Dancefloors Mp3
...and the Class Of 88's classic prom song
Richard Marx - Hold On To The Nights Mp3

Welcome To Totally Claimin!

2007-02-23T09:35:00.000-08:00

For Your Consideration:
Foghat - Slow Ride (Full Version) Mp3

It's A Totally Claimin' Site: Pappy's Products

2007-02-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

Check out Pappy's Products as featured on the My 13 News here in Los Angeles. New flavors? New varieties? New products? Yep, that's what it's all about. Oh, and the videos on the site feature a certain "sidekick" claimer you may already know and love too.

For Your Consideration:
Weird Al Yankovic - Eat It Mp3
Larry Groce - Junkfood Junkie Mp3

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Reno 911!

2007-02-23T00:30:00.000-08:00

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill some time with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know, and you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is the first episode of Comedy Central's "Reno 911!"

According to Wikipedia, Reno 911! "is in some respects a parody of the long-running television show COPS. The show features the fictional members of the fictional Reno Sheriff's Department (a non-existent law enforcement body created so as not to offend the Reno Police Department or Washoe County Sheriffs Department), who are videotaped during the course of their duties, sometimes addressing the camera directly as though being interviewed. The force also has problems with racism, unrequited attractions, promiscuity, passive-aggressive feuds, drug use, and other dysfunctional troubles that supply much of the show's humor."

Here's how it all started: "Facing a shortage of criminal suspects, Lt. Dangle declares a zero-tolerance policy, only to find himself becoming the first criminal when he rear-ends a civilian's car. Fortunately, he discovers evidence of a crime in the car's trunk."

So spend your Friday afternoon seeing how it all began, then go out tonight and see their new film which opens today called "Reno 911!: Miami." Here's the trailer for the film, and enjoy this week's Totally Claimin "Friday Afternoon Funny!

An Offer You Can't Refuse: A Sneak Peak Of "The Black Donnellys"

2007-02-22T06:04:00.000-08:00

Ok, so ya love the violence and family drama of "The Sopranos," and you already miss the angst and indie soundtrack of "The O.C," but we all know that those two shows aren't going to be around forever. "The O.C." leaves the airwaves tonight, and "The Sopranos" is in it's final season as well. So whattaya gonna do? Tell ya what ya my friends, I'm totally claimin you need to watch "The Black Donnellys."

According to TV.com, "The Black Donnellys" follows the exploits of four young, working-class Irish brothers. Their involvement in organized crime in New York City will put their life at risk and they will do anything to protect each other from the hostility between them and the others New York families who want their territory."

According to Totally Claimin, it's the closet thing to "The Sopranos" meets "The O.C." and it shouldn't be missed, especially it's "Goodfellas" inspired climatic ending. I love how music played a role in that film. "Layla" by Derek And The Dominoes will never be heard the same way again. That same dynamic effect is used for the ending of "The Black Donnellys" with The Arcade Fire's "Rebellion (Lies)." A track by Imogen Heap called "The Moment I Said It" also adds dimension to the compelling drama.

Academy Award winners Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (both for "Crash") are the creators and executive producers of the gritty new crime-drama series filmed in New York City and loosely based on Moresco's background. The ensemble cast includes Kirk Acevedo, Thomas Guiry, Billy Lush, Keith Nobbs, Michael Stahl-David, Jonathan Tucker and Olivia Wilde. The pilot was directed by Haggis, who also wrote the Academy Award-winning film "Million Dollar Baby." It premieres Monday, February 26th on NBC at 10:00 PM, but you can watch it here first! For your consideration: "The Black Donnellys"

For Your Consideration:
Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) Mp3
Imogen Heap - The Moment I Said It Mp3

Land Of The Lost

2007-02-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

Has "Lost" lost it? Last Wednesday night's episode was the lowest rated first run episode since the series began. The show drew an estimated 12.8 million viewers last week in it's new time slot. ABC moved the show to 10pm to avoid Fox's ratings monster "American Idol." Unfortunately for execs at ABC, more people seem to be watching CSI New York at 10pm over on CBS. Ok, so the ratings are down. In simple terms that means more people are leaving the island and moving on. They've stopped watching. Perhaps they've grown tired of the show, and it's increasingly confusing storylines. I must admit that after watching last week's episode, I half expected "The Log Lady" to show up to tell Desmond that a dancing midget will appear with incredible apple pie for him to share with Charlie and Hurley.

And for me? As lost as I am while watching "Lost," I'm sticking with it. As confusing (and frankly, unsatisfying) as the show has been lately, it has too good of a pedigree for there not to be something really cool around the bend. I've invested way too much time into it for there not to be. Oh sure, I fully expect there to be more questions than answers, and I totally understand that it's all a part of the "Lost" experience. That being said, there better be something wonderful coming, because I really don't want "Lost" to mirror my "Twin Peaks" experience. The final season of that groundbreaking program left a real sour taste in my mouth and in a way ruined my entire opinion of the show when I reflect upon on it.

So are you lost too? What the hell is happening on the island? Jesus, for that matter, what island are we even on?

Alright, some of you might have been wondering where you can get that song that they keep playing on "Lost." You can get it here. It's called "Make Your Own Kind Of Music," and it is sung by Mama Cass Elliot of "The Mamas And The Papas." It reached #36 on the Billboard Pop charts back in 1969, and the dance version of the song (also available here) went to #11 on the Hot Dance Charts in 1997 after appearing in a motion picture called "Beautiful Thing." Enjoy ya claimers.

For Your Consideration:
Mama Cass - Make Your Own Kind Of Music Mp3
Mama Cass - Make Your Own Kind Of Music (Dance Remix) Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Tiffani Thiessen

2007-02-21T05:30:00.000-08:00

Tiffani "I dropped the Amber" Thiessen is rapidly becoming the Heather Locklear of a new generation. When a show was struggling or needed a ratings boost, producers used to call Ms. Locklear in to rescue it. Heather has been credited for saving "Melrose Place" and "Spin City" single handedly. After following in her footsteps by boosting "Beverly Hills 90210," producers now turn to Tiff in the same way for a ratings kapow-ski. (C'mon, that was a tasty pun, wasn't it?)

In a recent interview from tvguide.com, she addressed that issue:
TVGuide.com: With an eye on your joining "What About Brian" and your previous gigs on, say, Just Shoot Me and 90210, do you think someone out there envisions you as a Heather Locklear-esque "show sexer-upper"?
Thiessen: I would like to think that Heather and I have an "appeal" that enables us to fit in well with an already existing show, be team players and work for the betterment of the show. Did I just give the politically correct version of a "show sexer-upper"?

Wha? Did you just say something Tif? I was too busy drooling over this picture.

For those of you who didn't even know that the show existed (like me), you now finally have a reason to watch ABC's "What About Brian." According to IMDB, "What About Brian" is an "ensemble show about a group of supportive friends in various stages of romantic relationships and friendships living in Los Angeles." Yeah, that doesn't sound too generic does it? Wait, isn't Matt LeBlanc in that one? Nope, this one stars Barry Watson, and Tiffani Thiessen has just joined the cast as "Natasha, Dave’s new boss." Her first episode aired last Monday night on ABC at10 p.m, and that makes her this week's edition of Totally Claimin's "Crush Of The Week!"

For Your Consideration:
The Tubes - She's A Beauty Mp3
Prince - Hot Thing (Extended Remix) Mp3

Roger Waters: Embracing The Dark Side

2007-02-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Former Pink Floyd front man Roger Waters is returning stateside this year for a second round of concerts billed as “The Dark Side of the Moon—The Return Engagement.” The tour kicks off May 18 in Florida and will run for two months. I caught the Los Angeles stop of the tour at the Hollywood Bowl last year, and I can tell you first hand, this is a concert that should not be missed.

According to a statement from a representative of Waters, the concert features "a full evening's worth of music—comprised of two sets plus encores—performed by Roger Waters and full band with state-of-the-art staging, lighting and sound. Set one provides a comprehensive overview of Waters' music including early Pink Floyd material; classic compositions from the masterpiece "The Wall"; beloved pieces from "Animals," "Wish You Were Here," and "The Final Cut" and songs from Waters' solo tour de force: "Amused To Death." Set two features a complete performance of the classic Pink Floyd album, "Dark Side Of The Moon."

I don't know, maybe it was the brownies taking effect, but I swear to God, I had never heard the acoustics at The Bowl sound better. The dude simply knows how to put on a show. As always with a Waters concert, they will utilize an elaborate "large-scale video projection and theatrical staging to underscore and accentuate the power of the music which is delivered via a state-of-the-art 360° quadraphonic sound system, immersing the audience in a 3-dimensional hyperworld."

Yeah, I read that last line too and thought that they kinda sounded like total claimers, but seriously, they back that shit up, yo.

Here are the announced tourdates:

MAY:
Friday 18th - West Palm Beach - Sound Advice Saturday 19th - Tampa – Ford Amphitheater Tuesday 22nd - Atlanta – Philips Thursday 24th - New Jersey - Continental Wednesday 30th - New York City MSG

JUNE:
Friday 1st - Philadelphia - Wachovia Monday 4th - Ottawa - Scotiabank Place Wednesday 6th - Quebec City – Colisee Arena Thursday 7th - Montreal - Bell Center Saturday 9th - Chicago - United Center Wednesday 13th - Hollywood Bowl Friday 15th - Irvine – Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre Saturday 16th - Las Vegas – MGM Grand Garden Arena Tuesday 19th - Oakland - Coliseum Thursday 21st - Vancouver - GM Place Saturday 23rd - Calgary – Saddle Dome Sunday 24th - Edmonton - Rexall Place Wednesday 27th - Winnipeg – MTS Center Friday 29th - Omaha - Civic Center Saturday 30th - St. Paul - Excel

JULY:
Monday 2nd - Milwaukee – Marcus Amphitheatre Summerfest Monday 9th - Boston – Fleet Center Friday 13th - Hartford – The Meadows Saturday 14th - Toronto - Roger's Center

Waters played all of the typical songs that you would expect to hear from his show, but one toward the end of the first act stood out to me because I was not as familiar with it as I was with the others. It was called "Leaving Beirut" and is currently only available as an import cd single. Never one back down from controversy, Water's polarizing track was written as a response to the invasion of Iraq. He sings about his firsthand experience meeting people from the area, and questions the purpose of the war. For your consideration, so that you'll be ready to hear it performed live, you can grab the song below. I've also added "To Kill The Child," which was also available on the single. Here is a sample from the lyrics which are directed toward President Bush:

Are these the people that we should bomb

Are we so sure they mean us harm
Is this our pleasure, punishment or crime
Is this a mountain that we really want to climb
The road is hard, hard and long
Put down that two by four
This man would never turn you from his door
Oh George! Oh George!
That Texas education must have fucked you up when you were very small

For Your Consideration:

Roger Waters - To Kill The Child Mp3
Roger Waters - Leaving Beirut Mp3

I Love This Game

2007-02-19T14:35:00.000-08:00

This clip is why I love the NBA. There is always a real sense of fun, whereas in other sports, it seems like work. Barry Bonds, I am talking about you. What amazes me about this clip from the weekend's All-Star festivities, is here you have Dwight Howard, a first time all-star, Shaq, a sure fire Hall Of Famer, and LeBron James, the future of the league and some believe to be the next Michael Jordan cutting it up without a care. Not for a second are they worried about their image, just a bunch of multi-millionaires acting like kids. I love this game.

For Your Consideration:
Kurtis Blow - Basketball Mp3

Britney Shears: Clip Me Baby One More Time!

2007-02-19T00:30:00.000-08:00

It's now safe to say the drapes match the carpet.

I watched the NBA All-Star game last night, and at half time a weird thought came over me. Who would have thought that compared to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera would have ended up being the normal one? Then again, who would have thought back in the 80's that Prince would end up being the normal one when compared to Michael Jackson? My how the mighty have fallen.

Employee Emily Wynne-Hughes told Usmagazine.com that Britney arrived at the salon agitated and, when asked why she shaved her head, replied, "I don't want anyone touching me. I'm tired of everybody touching me." Anybody else find this as disturbing as I do? Hang in there Brit, I can't wait for the comeback special.

For Your Consideration:
Bob Marley - Crazy Baldheads Mp3
Beck & The Flaming Lips - Devil's Haircut (Live) Mp3
Travis - Baby One More Time (Live) Mp3

Friday Afternoon Funnies: KaBlam!

2007-02-16T00:35:00.000-08:00

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill some time with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is an episode of Nickelodeon's "KaBlam!"

KaBlam! is an American animated television series that ran on Nickelodeon from 1996 to 2000. It features a collection of short films in several different styles of animation, bridged by the characters of Henry and June, who introduce the shorts, and have adventures of their own. Wikipedia

This particular episode includes:

Action League Now! — Filmed in "Chuckimation", in which the characters/props are moved by unseen hands, or thrown from off camera, interspersed with occasional stop motion animation. Action League Now! featured a group of superheroes, played by custom-made action figures, who fight crime in suburbia despite being total idiots. The four superheroes are ThunderGirl, who has the ability to fly, Meltman, who has the ability to melt, The Flesh, described in the Action League Now! introduction as "super-strong and super-naked", and Stinky Diver, whose name derives from the fact that most of his diving takes place in toilets. Considered to be the best KaBlam! short, it briefly became a spin-off series in 2003. All the characters on the shorts were voiced by personalities from radio station WDVE in Pittsburgh.

Prometheus and Bob — A Claymation segment featuring the video record mission logs of Prometheus, an alien who comes to Earth attempting to teach the local caveman, Bob, all manner of things. From the use of fire to the act of ice skating, the result is usually a failure. Wikipedia

On Call With The Kings Of Leon

2007-02-16T00:30:00.000-08:00

I try not to miss the opening act of any concert I attend. Back in 2005, I saw U2 at the Staples Center here in Los Angeles. Opening for them were "Kings Of Leon," a band that at the time was described as Lynyrd Skynyrd meets the Strokes. (Side note: Everything back in 2005 was compared to The Strokes.) I was already familiar with the band from their single "Molly's Chambers" and the accompanying car commercial it was featured in, but once I saw their live show, I was hooked. It smoked, and even as U2 fans were piling in to Staples, and the house lights were still up, the band played ferociously and demanded the audience to take notice.

Well claimers, after opening for such acts as Pearl Jam, Bob Dylan, and the aforementioned U2, it's time to take notice again. The Kings Of Leon have released their first single entitled "On Call" from their upcoming release "Because Of The Times." The follow-up release to 2005’s Aha Shake Heartbreak, is not all that you would expect from the Nashville-based quartet. “I think people tend to expect a certain sound from us,” says Kings of Leon’s drummer Nathan Followill, “but on this record, we tried to throw them for a loop.”

The new album, their third major label release, finds the band exploring their musical talents; a feat often found in a group that has established a steady footing in the band's identity, the security of fan loyalty, and their record label's confidence. “We took the limitations off of ourselves,” says frontman/rhythm guitarist Caleb. “We went into the studio with an open mind, thinking let’s do whatever it takes to get these songs to the next level. Because we really have a lot of music inside of us and a lot of different places we can go.”

Such exploration can be found in the band's forst single off of the new album, "On Call." It's a track that features the already familiar "Kings Of Leon" slow burn to pounding beat, but builds upon that tactic by using vocal effects. See if you agree, for your consideration, you can listen to the track below.

"Because Of The Times" will be released stateside April 3rd. If you would like to hear other tracks from the band, visit The Kings Of Leon at myspace.

For Your Consideration:
Kings Of Leon - On Call Mp3
Kings Of Leon - Molly's Chambers (Live Austin City Limits Music Festival: 2003 Collection) Mp3

The British Are Coming: An Overseas Office Visit!

2007-02-15T00:40:00.000-08:00

Get ready for another British invasion. Only thing is though, this one ain't gonna be a musical invasion, it's gonna be a comedic one. In what could only be described as stunt casting of "Will And Grace" sized proportions, it looks like NBC's "The Office" is set to have members of the original UK cast appear as guest stars. Among those who could make cameos are "Pirates Of The Caribbean" star Mackenzie Crook who played Gareth (their version of Dwight), Martin Freeman (Tim, their Jim), and Lucy Davis who played Dawn (their Pam). American audiences might recognize Davis from her current role as comedy writer Lucy Kenwright on NBC's "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip."

Executive Producer Ben Silverman of the US version of the show has said that it will be a case of Slough meets Scranton, and that characters from both shows will finally get to meet. Unfortunately, the big cheese, office manager David Brent, played by series creator Ricky Gervais will not appear with his co-workers in that episode. There are plans however for the meeting of minds between Brent and Michael Scott played by Steve Carell in a later episode to be penned by Gervais himself, and I for one, can't wait.

So for now, enjoy the theme from the UK version of "The Office," a wonderful cover of "Handbags and Gladrags" performed by Stereophonics. It's a sad ditty, one that immediately set the tone for a show about the mundane lives of the working stiffs at a small paper company. Here's the video:

For Your Consideration:
Stereophonics - Handbags And Gladrags (Theme To The Office UK) Mp3

Stereophonics - Handbags And Gladrags Live Acoustic Version (Theme To The Office UK) Mp3

Bono Sighting Across The Universe

2007-02-15T00:30:00.000-08:00

Later this year, around September, Revolution Studios will be releasing "Across The Universe," an original musical from director Julie Taymor (Frida, Titus, and the Broadway smash hit musical "The Lion King") and writers Dick Clement & Ian La Frenais (The Commitments). The musical contains tons of Beatles music in it much like the recent "Cirque Du Soleil" production of "Love." Here's the trailer:

According to the movie's website, "Across The Universe" is "A love story set against the backdrop of the 1960s amid the turbulent years of anti-war protest, mind exploration and rock 'n roll, the film moves from the dockyards of Liverpool to the creative psychedelia of Greenwich Village, from the riot-torn streets of Detroit to the killing fields of Vietnam. The star-crossed lovers, Jude (Jim Sturgess) and Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood), along with a small group of friends and musicians, are swept up into the emerging anti-war and counterculture movements, with "Dr. Robert" (Bono) and "Mr. Kite" (Eddie Izzard) as their guides. Tumultuous forces outside their control ultimately tear the young lovers apart, forcing Jude and Lucy – against all odds – to find their own way back to each other."

Also worth noting is that one of my favorite bands, "The Secret Machines" contributed music to the soundtrack. That's the good news, but I can't help but think this might be another Bee Gees "Sgt. Pepper's" rehash. My case in point? Here is a still of Bono looking quite familiar. Is it me or does he look exactly like Robin Williams in "Night At The Museum?" Uncanny.

So what movie are you looking forward to seeing this year? Leave a claim!

For Your Consideration:
Bono, Alicia Keys, Alison Krauss, Billie Joe Armstrong, Brian Wilson, Norah Jones, Steven Tyler, Stevie Wonder, Tim McGraw & Velvet Revolver - Across The Universe (Live At The Grammys) Mp3

The Beatles - Across The Universe (Beatles Past Masters Vol. 2 Version) Mp3

Real Scooby Snacks: The Chase Songs

2007-02-13T00:35:00.000-08:00

Ok gang, it's time for another one of Totally Claimin's retro-posts. The Davy Jones/Brady Bunch posting was so popular that I figured it was time to return to the well. So, without further ado, it's Scooby Doo!

The original Hanna Barbera cartoon, "Scooby-Doo, Where Are You!" was broadcast on CBS from 1969 to 1976. Some people like me say that these were they glory years for Mystery Inc. But in those years since, Scooby has never left our collective conscious. The characters from this cartoon have been on television in some way or another to this very day, be it on the Laugh Olympics or the current Scooby-Doo series, "Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue!" which airs Saturday mornings on The CW network. Repeats of the original series, as well as second-run episodes of "What's New, Scooby-Doo?", are broadcast frequently on Boomerang and the Cartoon Network.

"The plot of each Scooby-Doo episode followed a formula that would serve as a template for many of the later incarnations of the series. At the beginning of the episode, the Mystery, Inc. gang bump into some type of evil ghost or a monster, which they learn has been terrorizing the local populace. The teens offer to help solve the mystery behind the creature, but while looking for clues and suspects, the gang (and in particular Shaggy and Scooby) run into the monster, who always gives chase. However, after analyzing the clues they have found, the gang determines that this monster is simply a mere mortal in disguise. They capture the monster and have the criminal behind the mask or costume arrested. At this point, the criminal would utter the famous catchphrase, or a variation thereof: "I would have gotten away with it if it wasn't for you meddling kids!" Wikipedia

But to me, besides having a crush on Daphne (Wilma Flintstone wasn't my type), the cartoon was all about the groovy chase songs. When Shag and Scoob were being chased by those evil monsters, there was always some trippy song playing in the background. You don't know them by name, but you'll definitely know them by ear, trust me. My two favorite ones have got to be "Seven Days A Week" and "Love The World." They kinda have a Herman's Hermits thing goin for it, and whenever I hear them I have some sort of Pavlovian thing happening. I immediately want to eat a bowl of sugary cereal. You will too. For your listening pleasure at the end of this post, I have added a couple of those famous chase songs, Scooby's theme song, and bonus remix that can all be found on "Scooby-Doo's Snack Tracks: The Ultimate Collection." Also included for ya is a great cover of the theme song performed by Matthew Sweet.

So, have you ever wondered how to make a Scooby Snack? Well, here is Shaggy's official recipe. Be sure to include the (Optional? Whatever!) 1 oz. of "finely ground herbal medicine," especially if you're planning to spend the night in an abandoned amusement park, a creepy mansion, or god forbid at Burning Man. (Click image for larger view.)

Hey gang, now we can all learn how to draw Scooby! ZOINKS! Here's how!
(For a larger view, click on the image)

For Your Consideration:
Hanna Barbera Music Studio - Scooby-Doo Where Are You! Mp3
Hanna Barbera Music Studio - Recipe For My Love Mp3
Hanna Barbera Music Studio - Seven Days a Week Mp3
Hanna Barbera Music Studio - Love The World Mp3
Hanna Barbera Music Studio - Scooby's Mystery Mix Mp3
Matthew Sweet - Scooby-Doo Where Are You? Mp3

The Black Crowes: High Anticipation For New Material

2007-02-13T00:30:00.000-08:00

Good news from the Black Crowes! Management for the band has confirmed that the Robinson brothers have been in the studio in New York and Los Angeles working on material for a new album. Pete Angelus, the band’s longtime manager, announced that the album is expected to be released sometime in 2007. It would mark The Black Crowes first album of new studio material in six years.

"From the inception of their reunion,” says Angelus, “Chris and Rich have written a substantial amount of material which they have been sorting through recently with friend and producer Paul Stacey. We expect to continue recording at the conclusion of the fall tour and are planning for a 2007 release."

To celebrate this news, here are some live Crowes mp3s... kinda. Taken from their Halloween show in 2006, as tradition, The Black Crowes open their show in costume as a cover band. Older shows had them perform as BC/DC, dressed as Angus Young and the gang performing AC/DC classics (pictured left). For their 2006 show, held at the Riveria Theater in Chicago, the Crowes came out as "The Bitch Boys" and performed a couple of Beach Boys tunes, climaxing with the classic late 80's "Cocktail" hit, "Kokomo!" Enjoy.

Here's the setlist:

"The Bitch Boys"
1) Intro
2) Surfin' USA
3) Fun, Fun, Fun
4) You Are So Beautiful
5) Kokomo

For Your Consideration:

The Black Crowes - "The Bitch Boys" Live 10/31/06 Mp3

...and just to hold ya over,
The Black Crowes - The Southern Harmony And Musical Companion

The Grammy Awards or: How I Learned to Stop Listening and Love the Mediocracy

2007-02-12T00:15:00.000-08:00

It literally took ten minutes into the show to make me recall how much I dislike the Grammys. Every year, it's the same old thing! It's almost as predictable as Dick Clark's American Music Awards. Actually, nothing is as bad as Dick's "Public Relations" award show, but it's getting damn close!

The Police opened the show with a smoking version of "Roxanne," and things were looking good. (In case you missed it, you can see the video below.) Then came the first award. Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder win for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals over the more worthy "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado & Timbaland, and the sinking feeling in my stomach of Grammy Awards shows past returned. So while Gnarls Barkley, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J. Blige, Carrie Underwood, and The Dixie Chicks were all winners, I won the award for "Best Traditional Upset Tummy." Wow, who could have possibly seen all of this coming? I did. See, I have a formula to predicting any winner for the Grammys. I swear to God, it works 90% of the time. Here is how it works: Look at the nominations, then find either the song or artist you are most sick of, or the song or artist that your parents most recognize. Odds are that the winner of the award will fit in at least one of those categories if not both.

Let's test this theory shall we? The actual winner of the category is in gold.

Best Electronic/Dance Album

(For vocal or instrumental albums. Albums only.)

Supernature
Goldfrapp
[Mute]
Confessions On A Dance Floor
Madonna
[Warner Bros.]
A Lively Mind
Oakenfold
[Maverick]
Fundamental
Pet Shop Boys
[Rhino Entertainment]
The Garden
Zero 7
[Atlantic]

Of these albums, which artist does your mother recognize? If it were up to me, I would have handed the award to Zero 7, but no, Madonna gets it because my mother knows who she is. She has no clue who Goldfrapp are, therefore they didn't stand a chance. See this is why acts such as Bob Dylan and John Mayer win every year.

Let's try another one, shall we?

Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal
(For established duos or groups, with vocals. Singles or Tracks only.)

My Humps
The Black Eyed Peas
Track from: Monkey Business
[A&M Records]
I Will Follow You Into The Dark
Death Cab For Cutie
Track from: Plans
[Atlantic Records]
Over My Head (Cable Car)
The Fray
Track from: How To Save A Life
[Epic]
Is It Any Wonder?
Keane
Track from: Under The Iron Sea
[Interscope Records]
Stickwitu
The Pussycat Dolls
Track from: PCD
[A&M Records]

So, which of these nominations are you most sick of? My point exactly. Is it possible they could use "My Humps" in more cell phone commercials please? For that matter, does your mom even know who Death Cab For Cutie are?

NOTE TO THE ACADEMY: GIVING THE BLACK EYED PEAS AN AWARD ONLY ENCOURAGES THEM. PLEASE STOP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT. SERIOUSLY, DO I HAVE TO REMIND YOU OF THEIR EMMY PERFORMANCE FIASCO?

IS THIS REALLY WHAT YOU WANT TO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE?

HOW ABOUT MORE OF THIS INSTEAD? IN CASE YOU MISSED IT, THE POLICE LIVE AT THE GRAMMYS!

For your consideration, so you know what we're talking about, here are some Grammy Winning Mp3's. I've divided them up for you in two parts.

Part One Contains:
Bob Dylan - Someday Baby
Carrie Underwood - Jesus, Take The Wheel
The Dixie Chicks - Not Ready To Make Nice
Gnarls Barkley - Crazy
John Mayer - Waiting On The World To Change
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Dani California
The Flaming Lips - The Wizard Turns On...
Wolfmother - Woman

Part 2 Contains:
Beyonce ft. Slim Thug - Check On It
Black Eyed Peas - My Humps
Chamillionaire Ft. Krayzie Bon - Ridin'
Christina Aguilera - Ain't No Other Man
Justin Timberlake - SexyBack ft Timbaland
Mary J Blige - Be Without You
T.I. - What You Know

So there you have it, a full Totally Claimin Grammy wrap up. You can review a full list of the nominees and winners here Use my formula, see if I'm right. Disagree? Leave me a claim!

For Your Consideration:
2007 Grammy Award Winners Part 1 Mp3s
2007 Grammy Award Winners Part 2 Mp3s

Runnin' With The Method

2007-02-12T00:14:00.000-08:00

If I told you that there was an original soundtrack of electronic music made where the tempo of the track begins at a slower pace to take you through a gradual warm up, then increases that pace over the course of the album, and then gradually decreases tempo as part of a cool down, what would you use it for? The dance floor or bedroom activities?

How about some exercise of a different, more literal kind? Running. Billed as a "45-minute continuous electronic music mix as a soundtrack for sport," one of my all time favorite electronic music acts, the Crystal Method's "Drive: Nike + Original Run" is an original soundtrack that can be used for just about anything you can think of, including those activities mentioned above.

"It's a challenge because usually when we create music, we're focused on what we like and what our fans will like. We're not accustomed to thinking about a particular activity that has to go with the music." Crystal Method's Scott Kirkland said. "For this project, we thought about the movement and the energy that goes into exercising and running and the sort of goal-oriented activity that goes along with working out. When I've worked out...it's always about goals: 'I'm doing the uphill now, I've got four minutes until I get to the goal.' So we created songs that have a lot of dynamic motion to them, songs that go places." And while listening to this 45 minute continuous jam, oh those places you will go.

As for the group itself, all is quiet on the new release front, but you can currently catch The Crystal Method on tour and on the radio every Friday night as they host their own show called "Community Service" on LA's own Indie 103.1. The show is dedicated to "delivering the freshest breaks, beats, and electronic music to the masses." Be sure to check it out.

For Your Consideration:
The Crystal Method - Drive + Nike Original Run (Full 45 Minute Version) Mp3
The Crystal Methed - Drive + Nike Original Run (3 Minute Sampler) Mp3

10,000 Hits and Counting

2007-02-10T20:37:00.000-08:00

Heya Claimers, thanks for the 10,000th hit!
Keep 'em commin!

For Your Consideration:
Beck - 10,000 Pesos (From the Nacho Libre Soundtrack) Mp3

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Heat Vision and Jack

2007-02-09T01:22:00.000-08:00

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill some time with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny never made it to the television airwaves, but has developed quite a cult following on the net and bootlegged dvds, and with all this talk of crazy astronauts lately, I thought it was an timely pick. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the wonder of "Heat Vision and Jack!"

As a testament as to why Network television executives suck, read the following description about the pilot, and try to figure out how, with all that talent involved, this show never made it. Perhaps in retrospect I'm glad it didn't. Tenacious D might not have ever been the best band in the world, and Ben Stiller might not have, ummm, let's just stick with "The D" part, ok?

"Heat Vision and Jack was a proposed 1999 comedy/sci-fi television show starring Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Ron Silver. Christine Taylor and Vincent Schiavelli guest starred in the pilot episode, the only episode filmed. The show was directed by Ben Stiller.

While the Fox Network didn't pick up the show, the pilot gained an online following. The show was written and executive produced by Dan Harmon and Rob Schrab, of Scud: The Disposable Assassin, Channel 101, and "Dead Alewives" fame.

Black plays Jack Austin, a former astronaut who was exposed to inappropriate levels of solar energy, giving him superintelligence. His catchphrases are "I know EVERYTHING!" and "Knowledge is power... for real. Wilson voices Heat Vision, a talking motorcycle. He was created when Jack's roommate Doug was shot by a ray, causing him to merge with his motorcycle. He is capable of speech and can fight by ramming into opponents. He is unable to use doorknobs and is unable to right himself if pushed over, however. Ron Silver, portrays "Ron Silver" the main villain. He works for NASA, and will stop at nothing to capture or kill Jack Austin." Wikipedia

Bonus Tracks: Beck & The Hold Steady

2007-02-08T12:58:00.000-08:00

I want you to look very carefully at these two covers for The Hold Steady's album "Boys And Girls In America." Do you see a difference between the two? There is. Look again, I'll give you a sec. Ok, do you give up? I know what you're sayin... dude, this guy's claimin there's a difference between these two albums and I swear to god I don't see it! Well, here's the difference, the album on the right is the "Import" version, and contains four bonus songs for your listening enjoyment. Pissed? Good.

If there's one thing that really grinds my gears (yes, that's a "Family Guy" reference) about living in America, musically speaking of course, is that we don't have the same access to the bonus tracks from an album's release that the rest of the world has. I mean, what's the deal with that? Why is it that someone in England or Australia gets to hear more from an artist than we do? Really, why do we as hard working Americans have to buy an "import?" My assumption on this issue of different versions for these releases is to get the consumer to buy more of the product. It always comes down to money, right? If I love Beck's music that much, why wouldn't I buy the Japanese version of cd with the extra music on it, right? If the Foo Fighters have a bonus cover song and a couple live tracks on their Australian release, shouldn't I buy that one for ten dollars more instead?

Another excuse, err, reason to add songs to international releases is perhaps because cds cost so much more in those countries and labels and artists feel customers need to get more value for the exorbitant price they paid. That's so noble of them to take their fans into consideration. But what about those of us in America? Hey, I wanna hear those Beck tracks too. You already got my fifteen dollars at Best Buy for the commercial release without the bonus tracks, do I really wanna shell out another thirty for two extra songs?

There is a whole ball of wax, I'm opening up here, aren't I? And I haven't even mentioned the "bonus dvd" movement, which is another monster altogether, isn't it?

I just have never understood this practice of the import cd, and now thankfully with the Internet, we have leveled the playing field. By the way? The Hold Steady aren't the only ones guilty of this practice either. From a quick glance at my iTunes library, Beck & The Foo Fighters, Snow Patrol, The Flaming Lips, and Jet are all culprits as well. So for you my dear readers and musical completest (from all over the world), I post to you what you're missing from two of my 2006's best albums list, bonus tracks from The Hold Steady's "Boys And Girls In America" and Beck's "The Information."

The Hold Steady "Boys And Girls In America" Bonus Tracks:
For Boston (Bonus Track)
Girls Like Status (Bonus Track)
Arms And Hearts (Bonus Track)
American Music (Bonus Track)

Beck "The Information" Bonus Tracks:
O Menina
Dark Star (TV On The Radio Remix)
Inside Out (Totally Claimin' side note: This track is highly recommended and should have been included on the original release of the album. Yeah, it's that good.)
This Girl That I Know

For Your Consideration:
The Hold Steady "Boys And Girls In America" Bonus Tracks Mp3s
Beck "The Information" Bonus Tracks Mp3s

Prince Finds A New Controversy

2007-02-08T12:29:00.000-08:00

From the "So What Else Is New?" files, Sunday's Super Bowl Halftime show featured a bit of controversy. Apparently there has been some uproar over the shadow cast by Prince and his guitar during “Purple Rain.” Claims are being made that the shadow is unmistakably phallic. Look folks, sometimes a guitar is just a guitar. Put it to rest already. Actually, I take that back. Instead of rallying against Prince and the same guitar he used during his performance on the Grammys a few years back (pictured below left) and countless other performances (was it phallic then too?), how about directing your furor over to the Snicker's commercial that aired during the game!

Seriously, how did this commercial even make it on the air? As Jerry Seinfeld once said, "Who were the ad wizard's that came up with this one?" Since it's airing Sunday, GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) protested, saying the ad infers that it's not manly for two men to kiss. In the commercial, two guys start eating the same Snickers bar and when they come to the middle, their lips touch. Then they have to do something "manly" to erase the memory of said kiss by apparently ripping off a classic scene from "The 40 Year Old Virgin." Stooopid.

So here for your consideration, is the entire Prince Halftime Show, and the totally claimin Snicker's bar commercial. Seriously, which one is worse? The answer is pretty clear, right? Oh and hey, don't forget to check out my older post "Super Bowl Halftime Preview: Prince" which features a great concert to download!

Snickers Kiss

Astronaut or AstroNUT?

2007-02-07T03:10:00.000-08:00

Wow. So it looks like we have a late breaking nomination for this week's edition of Totally Claimin's "Crush Of The Week." The nominee? Please welcome U.S. Navy Capt. Lisa Nowak's object of desire, NASA astronaut Bill Oefelein! He's outta this world!

It appears that Nowak (pictured below with her mugshot) has a serious crush on Mr. Oefelein. So much so that authorities say she attacked a rival for his affection at Orlando International Airport on Monday after driving more than 900 miles from Houston to meet her flight. Apparently she intended "to do serious bodily injury or death” to Colleen Shipman, a captain in the Air Force, because she considered Captain Shipman to be a rival in her romance with dreamy NASA astronaut, Cmdr. Bill Oefelein.

When the police arrested Captain Nowak, they found in her possession a steel mallet, a buck knife with a four-inch blade, a BB gun and a map to Captain Shipman’s house, they said. Wait, it gets better. Here's the evidence, the hard evidence, that Cmdr. Oefelein should be our Crush Of The Week: She told the police she had worn diapers on the journey so that she would not have to stop to use the restroom so she could arrive in time to meet Captain Shipman’s flight at the airport. Now that's a crush! 900 Miles and not a single stop at a Cracker Barrel? She wins! Move over Brooke Burke, NASA astronaut Bill Oefelein is our "Crush Of The Week!" Enjoy the aptly selected Mp3's ya claimers.

For Your Consideration:
David Bowie - Space Oddity Mp3
Buckcherry - Crazy Bitch Mp3
...and a real treat,
Sid & Marty Krofft Favorites - The Far Out Space Nuts Theme Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Brooke Burke

2007-02-07T00:59:00.000-08:00

Our latest edition of "Crush Of The Week" belongs to model-turned-TV presenter Brooke Burke. Get a good look at her.

Did you take it all in? Good.

Now I have to inform you that this 35 year old cutie just had her third child in January, and named her newborn daughter Heaven Rain. So be sure to check back in 18 years for that posting, but for now, enjoy this week's "Crush Of The Week!"

America: Here & Now?

2007-02-06T01:53:00.000-08:00

One of my guiltiest pleasures on a hot summer day in Los Angeles is to roll the windows down in the car and crank "Sister Golden Hair" and "Ventura Highway" by 70's soft rock icons "America." The twang of the guitars and the harmonies of the vocals, combined with the wind blowing in my hair, take me back to my childhood every time.

Well, it's as if my childhood has returned to the "Here & Now," as America has released an cd of new material with the help of some new friends. The album definitely has a vintage "America" feel yet doesn't seem old at the same time. Most of that can be credited to producers Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne and former Smashing Pumpkin James Iha, who helmed the sound of the record. They made no attempt to alter the music to our times (like say Sting or Elton John would), instead they have brought Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell back to America's signature sound: harmonizing vocals and a soft acoustic vibe. Here is the promotional video on the making of the release. Enjoy.

Making guest appearances on the record are Ben Kweller and Ryan Adams, Schlesinger and Iha. For your consideration, here are a couple of tracks from the album. "Ride On" features Kweller and Adams, and "Golden" is a wonderful cover of the My Morning Jacket tune and I believe features Jim James on guitar. Finally, from the bonus disc, enjoy a live version of "Sister Golden Hair."

For Your Consideration:
America - Ride On Mp3
America - Golden Mp3
America - Sister Golden Hair (Live) Mp3

Oscar Leftovers? Best Original Song

2007-02-06T00:30:00.000-08:00

When the nominees were announced for this year's Oscar for Best Original Song, three of the five slots went to tunes from Dreamgirls. You can read my previous post on the topic here. So naturally, once again, the Academy neglected some well deserved tracks from other movies that could have slipped in. Here are three that should have made the cut:

Chris Cornell's "You Know My Name" from "Casino Royale" was the best Bond song in years. It put the recent movie franchise's offerings from Garbage, Madonna, and Sheryl Crow to shame. Seriously, does anyone remember Shirley Manson belting out "The World Is Not Enough?" Eww. Cornell pounds out a rock tune that sets the tone for the new generation Bond, and that should have been recognized.

Jack Johnson's "Upside Down," from the animated children's film "Curious George," was totally overlooked. This breezy tune from the surfer turned singer has a mellow vibe and charm to spare that fit perfectly with the movie it accompanied.

Devotchka's "Til The End Of Time" epitomizes everything that the movie "Little Miss Sunshine" was supposed to be. Light hearted with a touch of whistle, it practically feels like the musical equivalent of a dysfunctional family road trip.

*Originally I was not going to add another song to this post, but this is just too good not to share it with you. I had been looking for this track for quite a while, and I finally found it. Giorgio Moroder won the Academy Award for Best Music Original Score for 1978's Turkish prison drama "Midnight Express." The first song on the soundtrack is called "Chase." It has everything you'd expect from a Moroder dance track, a pulsating beat, and a catchy hook. If you are not already familiar with the song by name, I guarantee you, you'll recognize it when you hear it. Just close your eyes and picture any montage of 70's sports highlights while you listen to it (it was always used as the background music) and it'll all come back to you!

For Your Consideration:
Chris Cornell - You Know My Name Mp3
Jack Johnson - Upside Down Mp3
Devotchka - Til The End Of Time Mp3
Giorgio Moroder - Chase Mp3

Covering Nirvana Unplugged: The Original Versions

2007-02-05T00:31:00.000-08:00

I must admit I was a delighted to hear the news that Courtney Love is in talks to make a movie about the life of Kurt Cobain. According to Access Hollywood, Courtney has acquired the film rights to the book "Heavier Than Heaven" - a biography of the Nirvana singer written by Charles Cross. She also posted the following message on a fan site: "It has no script and no director attached, let alone stars. But if the movie is made it will of course be an A list and high end film." My pick to play Kurt? Ewan McGregor. The guy already proved he had the pipes in the 2001 movie, "Moulin Rouge." And how about Rachel McAdams as Courtney?

So in honor of the news, I decided to put together a 6 pack of the original versions of songs Nirvana performed from their Grammy Award winning "MTV Unplugged In New York." By the way, it's been 14 years since the performance. My how time flies. Check out my favorite take from the special, Nirvana's cover of "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam."

Here's the list of songs included in the six-pack:
The Vaselines - Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam Mp3
David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World Mp3
Meat Puppets - Plateau Mp3
Meat Puppets - Lake Of Fire Mp3
Meat Puppets - Oh Me Mp3
Leadbelly - Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Mp3

For Your Consideration:
Nirvana Six-Pack (The Original Versions of MTV's Unplugged) Mp3

The Church Says Hallelujah Here U2 Comes

2007-02-05T00:30:00.000-08:00

Bring your Bibles and your lighters, U2 is hitting the pews. It was reported recently that the music of U2 is replacing traditional hymns for upcoming services to be held at a Church Of England. And they are not the first ones to do the switch.

"Churches all over the world are starting to replace hymns with the songs by the rock band in a bid to attract younger worshipers. Informally dubbed the 'U2-charist', after the rite of eucharist, it is an adapted version of the Holy Communion service where worshipers sing along to U2 hits like Beautiful Day and Mysterious Ways instead of traditional hymns." according to a report from The Electric Newspaper.

The Bishop Of Reverend Timothy Ellis, who is organizing the first 'U2-charist' service in St Swithin's church says, "They have demonstrated that they believe there is sanctity to life that has to be protected. If that makes them saints, then I would go along with that. We are hoping the service will be a fresh way to look at worship, less formal, and less rigid. This is not designed to replace traditional services but to enhance the worship provision of the Church."

There have even been books written about the subject. Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog by Raewynne J. Whiteley, Beth Maynard is "A thoughtful and provocative collection of sermons by a group of preachers from across the international church spectrum who have been moved to theological reflection on the art and work of U2."

On A side note, a similar trend is happening at Jewish Synagogues across the country. Apparently the music of Barbara Streisand is replacing the traditional music af Temple services. Instead of the Haftorah, Jews will now sing selections from the soundtrack to "Yentl." (Yes, I'm kidding, but it wouldn't surprise me if they were looking into the music of Neil Diamond.)

So what U2 song helps you find what you're lookin for? Leave a claim!

For Your Consideration:
U2 - Beautiful Day [Live @ Farmclub.com] Mp3
U2 - Mysterious Ways [Solar Plexus Extended Remix] Mp3
U2 & Green Day- The Saints Are Coming Mp3
Neil Diamond - Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show Mp3

Super Bowl Commercials: My Winners

2007-02-05T00:15:00.000-08:00

So who won the battle for the best spot? Well, here are in my humble opinion, are the two best commercials from yesterday's Super Bowl telecast:

Taco Bell Safari

Description: New carne asada food at Taco Bell becomes the prey for two lions scoping out a safari camp. Watch the lions discuss their hunting strategy.

Robot Loneliness

Description: Very funny commercial involving a robot who gets fired and goes through depression.

Which ones did you like? Be a claimer!

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Family Guy

2007-02-02T00:48:00.000-08:00

Super Bowl Halftime Preview: Prince

2007-02-01T00:40:00.000-08:00

In recent years, the halftime show at the Super Bowl has taken on a life of it's own. Ever since U2 claimed it was a "Beautiful Day" and Janet Jackson lost control and shocked the rhythm nation, the Pepsi (sic) halftime show at the Superbowl has been met with both anxiety and excitement. This year will be no different. Billy Joel will be performing the national anthem during his second Super Bowl appearance, and Prince will be performing during halftime. Yes, you read that right, the dude with the assless pants will preside over the festivities. Would you rather have performing at the halftime show "Hooray for Everything," a group of "clean-cut youngsters" who sing about the dancingest hemisphere, the Western Hemisphere? Yeah, thought so. Let the purple reign.

Hide the children? Naw, I don't think you need to worry. Prince the man has kinda mellowed over the years, but his music has not. What you should expect to hear while you're waiting in line to use your bathroom is a medley of his hits and possibly a cover or two. Howard Stern played a copy of Prince's new track, a cover of Jimi Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" and the Foo Fighter's "Best Of You." It sounded good, so look to hear that one played on Sunday.

So in honor of this occasion, I've decided to upload an ENTIRE rehearsal of Prince's seminal 1987 Sign O' The Times tour. Called "Now's The Time," you have before yourself a really wonderful document of a moment in Prince's career where he was firing on all cylinders, and the sound quality of it is AMAZING. If you love the album "Sign O The Times," YOU MUST GET THIS CONCERT. The songs here are in all of it's extended playing glory and even included are a few of his hits.

Here is the set list:

Sign O The Times
Play In The Sunshine
Housequake
The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker
Slow Love
Starfish And Coffee
Hot Thing
Now's The Time
Sheila E Drum Solo
If I Was Your Girlfriend
U Got The Look
Strange Relationship
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man
Forever In My Life
Kiss
The Cross
It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night
Little Red Corvette
Erotic City
Adore
What's Your Name - Let's Pretend We're Married

For Your Consideration:
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 1
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 2
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 3
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 4
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 5
Prince- Now's The Time. (Sign O The Time Rehearsals 1987) Mp3 Part 6

New Jew Review: The Sarah Silverman Program

2007-02-01T00:30:00.000-08:00

She's one of my favorite foul mouthed comedians out there today. Dane Cook can blow her, she's that good. For those of you not in the know, tonight "The Sarah Silverman Program" starring Sarah Silverman makes it's way onto Comedy Central's lineup. Billed as a "Curb Your Enthusiasm" with poop jokes, the program looks promising.

Here's what Comedy Central has to say about it:

Step into the incredible world of Sarah Silverman as she goes about her life, which on any given day, can include taking in a homeless man, exploring her sexuality or encouraging a young girl to enter a pageant in order to fulfill her own childhood dreams.

Sarah plays a character named Sarah Silverman whose absurd daily life is told through an array of scripted scenes and song. In each episode, Sarah manages to fall into unique, sometimes unsettling and always hilarious predicaments, with her sister (played by real-life sister Laura Silverman), her geeky gay neighbors, Brian and Steve (Brian Posehn and Steve Agee) and Officer Jay (Jay Johnston) never far from her side.

So will it float? Look, any show that promises to show us Jimmy Kimmel dressed as a woman, and Brian Posehn (one of the "Comedians of Comedy") as a gay man combined with the attitude and jokes found in Silverman's movie "Jesus Is Magic," has got a real good shot. Don't believe me? Well, check out some tracks from the soundtrack to the movie and you be the judge, ya pube.

For Your Consideration:
Sarah Silverman - That's What I Do (Stand Up) Mp3
Sarah Silverman - Porn Song Mp3
Sarah Silverman - Everybody Sings Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Marisol Nichols

2007-01-31T00:38:00.000-08:00

This week's edition of my "Crush of The Week" belongs to CTU's newest hotty Marisol Nichols. Nichols plays "Nadia Yassir, Associate Special Agent in Charge, Los Angeles Domestic Unit" on my favorite hour of Bauer, "24."

For the last few weeks it had been bothering me. Where had I seen this punam before? Then it clicked. My baby's all growns up! Marisol played "Audrey Griswold" in "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation!" Here's the proof, and here's to you, my "Crush Of The Week," good luck keeping that Chloe in line.

The Good, the Bad & the Queen

2007-01-31T00:02:00.000-08:00

I promised you after that "Xanadu" post that I would return with the rock. I hope to accomplish that feat by introducing you to "The Good, the Bad & the Queen."

The group consists of lead vocalist Damon Albarn (Blur and Gorillaz), The Clash's bassist Paul Simonon, former The Verve guitarist Simon Tong and Afrobeat pioneer and Africa 70 drummer Tony Allen. That's a pretty impressive resume for a band, dontcha think? Oh yeah and to top it off? The album was produced by Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley fame. It really makes for a wonderful recipe and in return, a wonderful album.

So what do they sound like? Well, the shorthanded answer is they kinda sound like the Gorillaz minus the rap and electro beats. They sound like a band, and a downtrodden one at that. AMG says "it represents a conscious return to Albarn writing songs specifically about London at a particular point in time. Thematically accurate though this may be, it is also misleading, suggesting that Albarn is also returning to the bright, colorful, clever guitar pop that made his reputation. The Good, the Bad & the Queen is deliberately drained of color and mired in moodiness." A lot of that has to do with Danger Mouse's production. It's spacial and dramatic, recalling the angst of the Gorillaz's album "Demon Days."

Give these few tracks a listen or even better, catch them live at the Coachella Festival. I put up their first single "Herculean" and their latest which just debuted as a single this week called "Kingdom of Doom."

For Your Consideration:
The Good, the Bad & the Queen - Herculean Mp3
The Good, the Bad & the Queen - Kingdom Of Doom Mp3
...and a bonus!
The Good, the Bad & the Queen - The Good, the Bad & the Queen Mp3

Have To Believe The Play Is Magic: Xanadu To Broadway

2007-01-31T00:01:00.000-08:00

Well, it looks like another Olivia Newton-John movie is moving to the stage. (Yes, I know that technically "Grease" was a play first, ok?) Her campy 1980 roller skating disco flop "Xanadu" has a five million dollar backing and is confirmed to open at the Helen Hayes Theater in NYC this April. Could a stage adaptation of "Two Of A Kind" be next? Let's keep our fingers crossed.

Actually the idea of "Xanadu" as a stage musical done in the vein "Hairspray" and "Momma Mia" isn't such a bad idea, and it just might work. Word is that Jane Krakowski, the Tony Award-winning stage and TV star last seen on Broadway in the Nine revival, could star in the Newton-John role as Kira. Currently Krakowski can been seen on the small screen in NBC's "30 Rock."

For those of you who have mentally blocked out the plot to the movie, here's a refresher: "Kira is a Greek muse sent to Earth to inspire mortals and artists in Venice, CA, in the 1980's. While on earth, Kira falls in love with an artist when helping him realize his dreams, including building a roller disco." stated a casting notice.

Yeah, is it coming back to you now? Remember the music? It wasn't all that bad for it an 80's roller disco flick, was it? Actually, to be honest, I consider the soundtrack packed with ELO compositions to be one of my guiltiest pleasures. I'm sure you do too. So go ahead, take a couple of the tunes below, put the headphones on and dance like it was 1980 all over again. I won't tell anyone. And hey, I promise the next post will have some serious rock in it just to cleanse your pallet. Cool? Cool.

For Your Consideration:
Olivia Newton-John & ELO - Xanadu Mp3
Olivia Newton-John - Magic Mp3
ELO - All Over The World Mp3

Bye Bye Barbaro

2007-01-30T00:35:00.000-08:00

2006 Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized yesterday after complications from his gruesome breakdown at last year's Preakness, ending an eight-month ordeal that "made him even more of a hero than he was as a champion on the track."

He was a great fighter, I was really rooting for him and greatly saddened by this news, but unfortunately this was a race he just could not win. The right foot would not heal properly and was in turn causing other ailments which ultimately led to his demise. Here is, courtesy of YouTube, his final race.

For Your Consideration:
Chris Cornell & The Lovemongers - Wild Horses (Live) Mp3
U2 - Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (Temple Bar Remix) Mp3
...and on a lighter note,
Jerry Seinfeld - Horses (Live) Mp3

A Super Commercial: Be Like Mike

2007-01-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

Unless you live under a rock, you know that this weekend is the Super Bowl. But did you know that there will be two games being played on Sunday? There's the game on the field of course, but the other game being played is for your advertising dollar. Super Bowl Sunday is like, uhhh, the Super Bowl of commercials. Man, I should work in the advertising industry to be able to come up with a line like that one, eh? The best (which is debatable) and most expensive (which is not) commercials will vie for our attention on Sunday as we root for Da Bears or The Colts. Advertisers are willing to shell out obscene amounts of money to have their spot run during the big game, a cost running as high as $2.6 million this year, up slightly from $2.5 million last year.

Is it worth it? Do you remember any of the Super Bowl spots that ran last year? I think I remember the one with the emasculated husband, and the one with the big bosomed bimbos. Wait a sec, that could have been all of them. Seriously though, I remember one or two, there's always the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial, and I think there was another one with a bunch of twentysomething dumb guys for Bud Light praying to a revolving refrigerator. Other than that, I think I was too busy manning the grill to pay attention. (I make a mean chicken wrapped in bacon.)

So all of this talk of commercials got me to thinking about what commercials do work? What commercials leave an indelible mark on our society? A spot that positively inspires, one that doesn't leave us with an insipid catchphrase that eventually will be used on a flashback edition of Trivial Pursuit as an answer to a question. I came up with one, Gatorade's 1991 commercial featuring His Airness himself, Michael Jordan in "Be Like Mike."

Oh, and by the way? It wasn't even a Super Bowl commercial. Go figure.

Instead, it was a perfect advertising campaign featuring an athlete who at the time was at the peak of his game on the court and off. It inspired the viewer to greatness through using their product. Thankfully, their spokeman's image remained untarnished throughout the years. Although Jordan recently filed for divorce and his gambling problems raised questions, it's legacy remained in tact. And that is a testament to a good commercial campaign. Try to remember this on Sunday when you sit through the farting animals, Paris Hilton and Kevin Federline, and of course the thing sandwiched between it all, the game itself.

For a really interesting article on the history of the "Be Like Mike" campaign read "How Gatorade Turned the Science of Sweat into a Cultural Phenomenon" by Darren Rovell. Fascinating stuff.

For Your Consideration:
Teknoe - (I Wanna) Be Like Mike (Original Version) Mp3

Chasing Cars: Officer Shaq Reporting

2007-01-29T00:30:00.000-08:00

I had to share this with you because really, once again Shaq is Superman. Seriously, is there anything this guy can't do besides hit a free throw? Hey Big Aristotle, how about just getting back on the court, staying healthy for at least two games in a row, and saving my mired in third place fantasy basketball team? Could you do that for a brotha? Here's the AP story, and a couple of cleverly related Mp3's...

MIAMI (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal put his police skills to use early Sunday. O'Neal, the Miami Heat's All-Star center and a reserve officer with the Miami Beach Police Department, followed a driver who allegedly crashed into his Cadillac Escalade and tried to flee the scene, the team said.

O'Neal and bodyguard Jerome Crawford followed the driver for about five minutes. When the driver, identified by The Miami Herald as 18-year-old Emmnueo Cibrin of Tampa, stopped near a gas station, O'Neal approached the car and summoned a nearby police officer.

Police did not release an incident report Sunday night. Miami-Dade Corrections officials said they had no record of anyone by Cibrin's name being booked on a criminal charge, and it was unclear if he was ticketed for any moving violations.

The incident happened around 4 a.m., shortly after the Heat got home from a Saturday game in Chicago. O'Neal was helping Crawford, a team security official, unload luggage outside Crawford's home in Miami's Coconut Grove neighborhood when the accident occurred. O'Neal, through the team, said Sunday night that he followed proper police protocol during the chase, including pursuing at a safe distance and speed. He contacted police officers along the way, he said.

O'Neal was sworn in as a reserve officer in 2005. He has long said he intends to pursue a career in law enforcement when he retires from basketball.

For Your Consideration:
R.E.M. - Superman Mp3
Sufjan Stevens - The Man Of Metropolis Steals Our Hearts Mp3
Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars (Live From The Star Lounge 98.7 FM) Mp3

Classic Journey: Feeling That Way/Anytime

2007-01-29T00:15:00.000-08:00

With all the talk of bands reuniting (The Police and Van Halen), I thought I'd check in on another rock band of that generation. Well, back in December of last year, 70's rock icons Journey, officially named a new lead singer. His name is Jeff Scott Soto, and he replaced Steve Augeri, who had to "leave the U.S. tour with Def Leppard shortly after it began on June 23 due to illness." Augeri was the band's lead singer for the last eight years.

Here is what the band had to say:
“We are so grateful to Steve for all the years he dedicated to Journey. We thank Steve for all his hard work and we wish him only the best in his future endeavors. Over the past few months, we’ve come to realize that Jeff has proven himself above and beyond that he can sing the hell out of our songs and we’re happy to officially welcome him as part of the family. We’re excited to start a new chapter with Jeff and we’re excited about what the future may bring.”

As for me, like most of America, I haven't really listened to their stuff since Steve Perry left the band. But lately, "Feeling That Way/Anytime" has been in heavy rotation on my Ipod. Taken from their 1978 breakthrough release "Infinity," this single did not score as big as "Lights" and "Wheel In The Sky, " which appeared here. Instead the track peaked the charts at #83. Since then it has become known as a "deep cut" on most FM stations. It's also noted to be the last single that Steve Perry did not occupy the title of sole lead singer. Here's the promotional video for "Feeling That Way." Enjoy the hairstyles!

For Your Consideration:
Journey - Feeling That Way/Anytime Mp3

Children Of Men: Remember To Cough

2007-01-27T15:15:00.000-08:00

Blade Runner. Remember that flick? A pretty grim view of the future of Los Angeles and the world, right? Well, I went out and saw Alfonso Cuarón's "Children of Men" last week, and I promise you, if you loved Blade Runner, you'll love this movie. Oh, and it's official, Clive Owen is the new Harrison Ford.

Here's the plotline:
In 2027, in a chaotic world of no hope, no future, and no children, where women are infertile and humans can no longer procreate, a former activist (Clive Owen) agrees to help transport a miraculously pregnant woman to a sanctuary at sea, where her child's birth may help scientists save the future of humankind.

Go see this movie... and then remember to cough. It'll taste like strawberries. On a side note, be sure to look for the homage to Pink Floyd's "Animals." Clive Owen's character goes to see his cousin, who is in charge of a new Ministry of Art that just happens to be located at the old Battersea Power Station. If the location seems familiar to you, you're not crazy, it is the same place where the Floyd album cover was shot. Speaking of music, the soundtrack filled with "oldies" (which would make sense considering when the movie takes place) contains some really interesting choices. I have included here for your listening pleasure a track that was beautifully used during the film (I won't reveal where), a cover version of the Rolling Stone's classic "Ruby Tuesday," and a track by John Lennon which was used over the closing credits.

For Your Consideration:
Franco Battiato - Ruby Tuesday Mp3
John Lennon - Bring On The Lucie (Freda Peeple) Mp3

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Robot Chicken

2007-01-26T04:23:00.000-08:00

Robot Chicken - 02x01 - Suck It

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill fifteen minutes with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is an episode of "Robot Chicken."

This week's episode is the first episode of the second season entitled "Suck It." Love that Brady Bunch parody!

"Robot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created by Stoop!d Monkey and Sony Pictures Digital and produced by ShadowMachine Films, currently airing in America as a part of Cartoon Network's Adult Swim line-up, in Britain as part of the Bravo's Adult Swim line-up, and in Canada on Teletoon's Detour nightly adult programming. It premiered on Sunday, February 20, 2005. Seth Green and Matthew Senreich are the creators and executive producers of the show. They are also on the writing team, provide the majority of voices, and have even directed a few episodes.

Robot Chicken is a variety show that parodies a number of pop culture conventions using stop motion animation of toys, action figures, dolls, and claymation and various other objects, such as tongue depressers. The show's name was inspired by a dish on the menu at a Chinese restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, where Green and Senreich had dined.

According to Adult Swim's website, Robot Chicken has been renewed for a 20-episode third season, which will begin airing Spring 2007." Wikipedia

They Say It's My Birthday?

2007-01-26T04:17:00.000-08:00

While January 26th to you is just one day out of 365, secretly it's the greatest day out of all of them. Seriously, forget December 26th or October 31st, January 26th is where it's at. Look it up here.

Famous birthdays today?

Paul Newman

Wayne Gretzky

Ellen DeGeneres

Eddie Van Halen

and ME!

For Your Consideration:
B.J. Thomas - Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head Mp3,
The #1 song in the country 37 years ago today.

The Shins: The Next Phantom Menace

2007-01-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

I caught the Shins on Saturday Night Live, and immediately fell in love with the first single from their new release called "Wincing the Night Away." The song called "Phantom Limb" has a very surf music/Southern California vibe, and would be a perfect fit for an upcoming episode of "The O.C." I could just picture the angst as Seth Cohen walks along the beach pining for his lovely Summer. Good stuff. Here's their video. Check it out for yourself!

For Your Consideration:
The Shins - Phantom Limb Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Alicia Keys

2007-01-25T09:47:00.000-08:00

Alicia with a hot wig and gun? Ummm, count me in. Smokin Aces opens tomorrow, and that makes her my crush of the week.

For your consideration, here's the trailer:

Oscar Nom's: Best Original Song?

2007-01-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

The Oscar nominees were announced this morning, and there are already some losers. Suprisingly, "Dreamgirls" was not nominated for Best Picture. Also, here are the nom's for Best Original Song:

"I Need to Wake Up" from "An Inconvenient Truth," music and lyric by Melissa Etheridge (Paramount Classics and Participant Productions)
"Listen" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger and Scott Cutler; lyric by Anne Preven (DreamWorks and Paramount)
"Love You I Do" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Siedah Garrett (DreamWorks and Paramount)
"Our Town" from "Cars," music and lyric by Randy Newman (Buena Vista)
"Patience" from "Dreamgirls," music by Henry Krieger; lyric by Willie Reale (DreamWorks and Paramount)

Ugh. Three songs from "Dreamgirls" and two fillers. These songs really kept you humming em all year, didn't they? What the hell happened to the original song? Read my previous post on the topic called "Help Me Tom Cruise!"

For the complete list of nonimees, go here.

Let Them Eat Cake!

2007-01-23T00:35:00.000-08:00

If you haven't checked out and then bookmarked I AM FUEL, YOU ARE FRIENDS, then seriously, you are a total claimer. On a daily basis Heather consistently cranks out posts of such high quality that it puts the rest of us (ok, just me) to shame. Yesterday, as with every Monday, she had her Monday Music Roundup and included a cover version of Black Sabbath's "War Pigs" from one of my favorite bands, Cake. Never heard that version before, and I'm thankful she posted it. I guess this makes up for me losing out on a contest to win a sweet litho of an Oasis album cover (but at least I had my entire entry mentioned, read it here, I'm just sayin'). So, needless to say, her post kind of inspired me to check in on Cake.

I had heard last year that they were going to release a live album. But the damn thing never came out. Here's what the band's website had to say:

"The “Live at the Crystal Palace” CD will not be coming out this fall due to CAKE’s strict quality control enforcement. We are still working on it for next year. Thank-you for your patience and understanding."

I wonder what the heck that was all about! Problems with the label? The mixing? Kinda vague dontcha think? Instead it looks like the band will be releasing a "Rarities" album in 2007 and the cover of "War Pigs" will be included. Check out their myspace page for more tracks.

Anyway, there is at least one track from the concert that is available, and I bring it to you. The track is called "Mexico," and the original version of the song can be found on their "Prolonging the Magic" release. And for some "frosting on the Cake," I have also included a live version of "Never There" from the 2004 release "ONXRT Live From the Archives, Vol. 7" because I'm cool like that.

For Your Consideration:
Cake - Mexico (Live At The Crystal Palace) Mp3
Cake - Never There (Live) Mp3

B-Sides The Point: The Killers

2007-01-22T04:39:00.000-08:00

A lot of fuss has been made about the Killers. Their first album "Hot Fuss" spawned a number of hits including the juggernaut single "Mr. Brightside." Their second album? As Borat would say, "Not so much."

"Sam's Town" and it's sprawling anthems of Springsteenian proportions could not live up to the hype and expectations of the millions of fans who loved the first album. Maybe it needs to age a bit before we can appreciate it. Perhaps it's just a bad sophomore effort. But what the album accomplished, and it was produced to do so, was spread the musical horizons of the band, and in some respect, its listeners.

But hey, how about that first album? Even it's B-Sides were good! My favorite one that has been blasting up my most often played playlist is called "Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll." It's got a slow buildup with a true declaration for the love of indie rock, and should be a staple of your collection. Also I've included an acoustic version of "Mr. Brightside" which can be found as a B-Side on its single. What is the big clue that any song is a classic? Well, the track has to work plugged in and acoustically, each version revealing something new about the song. That is the case for "Plush" by Stone Temple Pilots, "Everlong" by the Foo Fighters, and now you can add this track to the list.

For Your Consideration:
The Killers - Glamorous Indie Rock & Roll Mp3
The Killers - Mr. Brightside (Acoustic) Mp3

The Brady Bunch & Getting Davy Jones: "Girl"

2007-01-22T04:37:00.000-08:00

Of my most recent posts, the Lonely Man Theme from the television show "The Incredible Hulk" was quite a popular one. So, I was thinking of other songs from my television past that you might like to own in your collection. It actually might make for a good weekly posting. I have tons of songs that would fit in to this category. I mean after all, do you own the chase songs from the original Scooby Doo cartoons? Ummm, I do. (Side note: Should I be proud of this?)

Anywho, this week, I am highlighting one of my favorite obscure tracks from "The Brady Bunch." Episode #64 which originally aired on December 10, 1971 was called "Getting Davy Jones." In case you forgot what happened, Marcia, president of her school's Davy Jones fan club, hastily promises she can get the former Monkee to sing at her school's upcoming dance. Her boast results in her having to scramble to get the singer to actually agree to appear.

About halfway through the show, Davy is in the (state of the art?) studio recording his newest single "Girl," which you can watch in its entirety in the clip above, and for your consideration, you can get it here! The version below was taken from the motion picture soundtrack to "A Very Brady Sequel." Enjoy.

For Your Consideration:
Davy Jones - Girl Mp3

DA BEARS GO TO DA SUPERBOWL

2007-01-21T15:19:00.000-08:00

You can crown em now, Dennie. Da Bears are doin the Superbowl Shuffle.

For Your Consideration:
The Chicago Bears: The Superbowl Shuffle Mp3

Friday Afternoon Funnies: Wonder Showzen!

2007-01-19T00:23:00.000-08:00

Wonder Showzen Season 2 Episode 3 "Knowledge"

It's four thirty in the afternoon. You've done your week's work, and there's still an hour and a half to kill before you go home for the weekend. Throw on your headphones and kill fifteen minutes with Totally Claimin's "Friday Afternoon Funnies!" The boss won't know. And you'll be thankful for it! Today's funny is an episode of "Wonder Shozen."

"Wonder Showzen is an American sketch comedy television series that began airing in 2005 on MTV2. It was created by John Lee and Vernon Chatman of PFFR. The show's format is that of educational PBS children's television shows such as Sesame Street or The Electric Company (e.g. use of stock footage, puppetry, and clips of children being interviewed). However, Wonder Showzen parodies the format in a very adult-oriented manner. In addition to general controversial comedy, it satirizes politics, religion, war, and culture with black comedy.

Recurring skits include interviews with kids who give irreverent, controversial answers (a parody of similar segments on Sesame Street), kid reporters interviewing adults in a segment titled 'Beat Kids', and man-on-the-street interviews by the puppet Clarence (voiced by co-creator/writer Vernon Chatman). Clarence has a knack for harassing New Yorkers with innocent questions. Every episode also features short animated cartoon segments, many of which are produced at Augenblick Studios." Wikipedia

I know you will enjoy!

A Fine Iron & Wine

2007-01-19T00:20:00.000-08:00

IPods have a weird way of making you "discover" an unknown (at least to you) artist. You set the thing on shuffle, and occasionally a song you didn't even know you had in there pops on and blows you away. The song is so good that it makes you wanna go out and buy everything the artist has ever recorded. If you haven't already figured it out, I'm a sucker for a good cover song (read my previous posting on the subject here) especially when I already love the original version. So when an artist covers a Flaming Lips or a Postal Service song, and perhaps makes it even better, well, I take notice. For me, Iron & Wine did just that.

Iron & Wine is the stage and recording name for Florida singer-songwriter Sam Beam. His music has been compared, variously, to that of Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, Neil Young, Elliott Smith, John Fahey and Ralph Stanley. His music is often characterized as alt-country, progressive folk, or indie folk. In other words, it's just plain goodness.

For your consideration, I offer you his cover of "Such Great Heights" originally recorded by The Postal Service and was featured in an advertisement for M&M's, in the 2004 film Garden State (and its soundtrack), and in 2006 in an Ask.com advertisement. Undoubtedly you know that tune, but it's the other song you may not be as familiar with. The Flaming Lips recorded "Waitin' For Superman," which was already a wonderful song filled with meloncholic lyrics and sung with passion. Iron & Wine covered the song for KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic and not only made the song his own, he added even more levels of emotion to it.

Here are the lyrics:

I asked you a question
But I didn't need you to reply
Is it getting heavy?
But then I realize

Is it getting heavy?
Well, I thought it was already as heavy as can be

Is it overwhelming
To use a crane to crush a fly?
It's a good time for Superman
To lift the sun into the sky

Cause it's getting heavy
Well, I thought it was already as heavy as can be

Tell everybody waiting for Superman
That they should try to hold on best they can
He hasn't dropped them, forgot them or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Here are the songs.

For Your Consideration:
Iron & Wine - Such Great Heights Mp3
Iron & Wine - Waitin' For Superman Mp3

My Morning Jacket: How Could I Know?

2007-01-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

My last purchase at Tower Records (the one on the Sunset Strip, pictured above) was the CD Single for My Morning Jacket's "Off The Record." I paid eighty cents. Here for your consideration, is a B-Side from it. "How Could I Know" is a great B-Side that doesn't really fit in with the vibe of the album for which it was recorded, but stands on it's own. It's more of a country-ish vibe, one that would fit perfectly on "It Still Moves."

"It Makes No Difference" is My Morning Jacket's take on the Band's classic tune. The track appears on "Endless Highway: the Music of the Band," a wonderful album that was just recently released. For more information on the album and hear Gomez cover "Up On Cripple Creek," click on the artwork to the left.

For Your Consideration:
My Morning Jacket - How Could I Know Mp3
My Morning Jacket - It Makes No Difference Mp3

ALI "The Greatest" Turns Sixty-Five

2007-01-17T17:02:00.000-08:00

"I saw the punch coming: a piece of red cinnamon candy exactly the size of a gloved fist. I tried to slip it and couldn't — it was that fast. The back of my head bounced off my shoulders. A chorus of white light went off behind my eyes. A metal taste clouded my mouth, then there was a second, heavier thump as he caught me with a left hook I didn't see. The spectators sounded way, way off. I tried to regain control of my body and couldn't; my legs went to soup beneath me." -Davis Miller in today's LA Times on getting punched by Ali in his prime.

Today is the Greatest. The man who fought inside the ring (and out), who floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, Muhammad Ali turned 65 today. Happy Birthday, Champ!

Here are some random quotes of Ali's throughout the years:

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are."

"If you even dreamed of beating me, you'd better wake up and apologize."

(Prior to a boxing match with Floyd Patterson): "I'll beat him so bad he'll need a shoehorn to put his hat on."

"Frazier is so ugly that he should donate his face to the US Bureau of Wild Life."

...and then there is this one that says just as much about today's world as it did when he originally said it:

"Why should they ask me to put on a uniform and go 10,000 miles from home and drop bombs and bullets on Brown people in Vietnam while so-called Negro people in Louisville are treated like dogs and denied simple human rights? No I’m not going 10,000 miles from home to help murder and burn another poor nation simply to continue the domination of white slave masters of the darker people the world over. This is the day when such evils must come to an end. I have been warned that to take such a stand would cost me millions of dollars. But I have said it once and I will say it again. The real enemy of my people is here. I will not disgrace my religion, my people or myself by becoming a tool to enslave those who are fighting for their own justice, freedom and equality. If I thought the war was going to bring freedom and equality to 22 million of my people they wouldn’t have to draft me, I’d join tomorrow. I have nothing to lose by standing up for my beliefs. So I’ll go to jail, so what? We’ve been in jail for 400 years."

For Your Consideration:
The Hours - Ali In The Jungle Mp3
Muhammad Ali - I'm So Mean Mp3

American Idol: Give A Little Love

2007-01-17T00:05:00.000-08:00

Last night pretty much all of us watched the season premier of American Idol. And much like America itself, amongst its audience, there are two parties.

One party tunes in for the performances later on in the season, feeling that it is the best part of the show. The other party (of which I am a card carrying member) loves the first couple of episodes, which I call the "William Hung" portion. This is where you get to watch the endless parade of the delusional. We could care less about the final twelve, unless of course one of our favored delusioned makes it through. Typically we root for the type of "Sinatra singin" guy, the virgin that lives with his grandmother, or that guy pictured to the left. The outcast. The shitty ones that must have some Internet campaign backing them because the website has a secret agenda to showcase the inherent faults of the shows voting process.

So needless to say, I'm in heaven. "Is this heaven?" "No. It's Minnesota." Thank you Minnesota, and from the looks of it I should be thanking Seattle in advance. I've never seen so many freaks in one "Scenes from tomorrow night's show" sequence ever! I can't wait to see how many of you morons exit through the wrong door. It ought to be a drinking game Simon had to say it so much. Was it me or did that happen every single time? It's that extra bit of humiliation that we love so, the cherry on top if you will.

Yes, my nipples are hard.

Too Far? Ok. Sorry. Anyway, one thing that I noticed during the show was the commercial for Coke. No, not the carefully placed Coke products within the show, but rather the actual commercial for Coke. The commercial above is a take off on the Grand Theft Auto video games series that promotes doing the right thing instead of, well, driving up on to a roof and using a sniper rifle on passerbys to an eighties soundtrack. Ok, can you tell I play GTA?

Anyway, the spot contains a song from my childhood called "You Give A Little Love," which was featured in the 1970's classic gangsta children's flick called "Bugsy Malone." The movie starred Scott Baio and Jodie Foster. "Little Enis" himself, Paul Williams did the words and music. I thought it would be cool to share the original version of the song with you.
For Your Consideration:
Bugsy Malone, Razamataz (Paul Williams) - You Give A Little Love Mp3

Obama - O'Brien in 2008?

2007-01-16T17:58:00.000-08:00

Sen. Barack Obama launched a presidential campaign today that would make him the first African American to occupy the White House. His running mate of course has not been named yet, but could a Obama/O'Brien ticket be in the future? Hmmm. I found this video on YouTube from his appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and thought you might enjoy a glimpse of the candidate in his "Arsenio/Saxaphone Mode" before the wears and tears of running for the presidency change the man.

The freshman Illinois senator, and top contender for the Democratic nomination, said upon his declaration
"Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, commonsense way... Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions. And that's what we have to change first."

For Your Consideration:
Bruce Springsteen- Born To Run (Live Acoustic, From the Chimes of Freedom CD) Mp3
Tenacious D - The Government Totally Sucks Mp3

Crush Of The Week: Melora Hardin of "The Office"

2007-01-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Melora Hardin last night at the 64th annual Golden Globe Awards. No wonder Michael loves Jan so much. Looking very Sela Wardish, even that claimer on the left noticed Melora. Perv, she's my crush of the week!

Eric Prydz Vs Floyd: Proper Education

2007-01-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

On January 1st 2007, Swedish "dance legend" Eric Prydz returned to Data Records to follow up his hit "Call On Me", with a blistering track sampling Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall (Part Two)."

This is the first time a Pink Floyd record has ever officially been cleared for usage as a sample. The song laces David Gilmour's vocals with an immense electro bassline. The track has recently appeared on America's Hot Dance Airplay, while in the UK it has been put on the playlist for numerous commercial stations and Radio 1.

This song will either make your ears bleed or get you groovin. There is no middle ground. My take? Well, it kinda makes me wanna grab a pacifier out of my Hello Kitty backpack and stare at it for hours, then find Roger Waters and punch him in the glowstick. You can decide for yourself, it's worth at least one listening.

For Your Consideration:
Eric Prydz Vs Floyd - Proper Education Mp3

Fall Into The Gap: Favorite Songs (2005)

2007-01-16T00:05:00.000-08:00

I love Amoeba Records. There is always a pretty good chance you will find a gem there. Yesterday was no exception. I found in the clearance section a cd entitled "Gap Favorite Songs: Fall 2005," which contains all of the songs that were featured in their commercial campaign of that year. It is especially notable because it contains many remarkable versions of classic songs covered by today's artists. I especially love the version of Seal's "Crazy" by Alanis Morissette and The Beach Boy's "God Only Knows" covered by the always soulful Joss Stone. Give it a listen, you're bound to find something you love, even if you hate the clothing company that released it.

Track List:

John Legend - Hello, It's Me - The Isley Brothers
Joss Stone - God Only Knows - The Beach Boys
Jason Mraz - One Love - Bob Marley
Alanis Morrisette - Crazy - Seal
Brandon Boyd - Alison - Elvis Costello
Michelle Williams - Let's Stay Together - Al Green
Keith Urban - Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy - Billy Thorpe
Bonus Track: Michelle Branch - Life On Mars - David Bowie

For Your Consideration:
Gap Favorite Songs: Fall 2005

Has Hell Frozen Over? LA es Muy Frio!

2007-01-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

Ummm, did hell freeze over during the weekend? On Sunday, the low in downtown Los Angeles bottomed out at 36 degrees shortly after sunup, breaking the old record low of 37 degrees set in 1932. Temperatures in the valleys were in the 20s, and Lancaster hit 3 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Woodland Hills, the low was a flat 20 degrees, tying the old record set in 1963. Over at the Santa Monica Pier, the low was 39 degrees, tying the old record, also set in 1963. Long Beach hit 31 degrees, beating its old record of 33 degrees set in 1963.

Other records included:

35 degrees at Los Angeles International Airport, breaking the old record
of 36 degrees set in 1963.

36 degrees in Westwood, beating the old record of 40 degrees set in 1989

27 degrees in Burbank, breaking the old record of 30, set in 1963

So in honor of our weather, I made a five-for mix of "Cold and Windy" songs. They are:

Ray Charles - Baby, It's Cold Outside Mp3
Foo Fighters - Cold Day In The Sun Mp3
The Arcade Fire - Cold Wind Mp3
Cat Stevens - The Wind Mp3
The Association - Windy Mp3

For Your Consideration:
Baby It's Cold Outside Mp3 Five-For-Mix

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audio Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction

2007-01-10T13:25:00.000-08:00

Ok students, there won't be any more postings here till next week. So till then, study and listen to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audio Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction. It's a hilarious take on American history, the only history in the world you'll ever need to know. In fact, whatever you know of the world before the good ol' USA started, erase it from your memory. Instead, use that space in your brain for your favorite TV show themes and quotes from John Hughes movies, because there's only one kind of history and that's American history. When I return, there will be a quiz. Ok?

For Your Consideration:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents America (The Audio Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction Mp3

2007 MLB Hall Of Fame Inductees

2007-01-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Two gamers were elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame today, and one claimer was not. Eight-time National League batting champion Tony Gwynn and Iron Man Cal Ripken Jr. earned election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, both having attained nearly the highest percentage of votes in history. Ripken was picked by 537 voters, appearing on 98.5 percent of ballots, falling just short of the record percentage of 98.84 set by Tom Seaver when he was selected on 425 of 430 ballots in 1992. Gwynn was just behind with 532 votes, 97.6 percent. McGwire only appeared on 128 of a record 545 ballots in voting released Tuesday by the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Black Sabbath - Iron Man Mp3

Ripken played in a record 2,632 consecutive games from May 30, 1982, to Sept. 20, 1998, shattering the mark of 2,130 once held by Yankees first baseman Lou Gehrig and captivating the hearts of baseball fans everywhere. Ripken had 3,184 hits -- including 431 home runs -- batted .276, was twice an AL Most Valuable Player (1983 and 1991), was a 19-time AL All-Star, and won two Gold Gloves.

The Who - We Got A Hit Mp3

Aside from tying Honus Wagner for the most NL batting titles in history, Gwynn was a 15-time NL All-Star who had 3,141 hits, batted .338 and won five Gold Gloves as a right fielder in his 20 Major League seasons, all played with the San Diego Padres.

Claimer.

Crowded House - Locked Out Mp3

Elvis Is Everywhere!

2007-01-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

Elvis Presley would have been 72 years old today.
Happy Birthday Big-E.
We miss you.

For Your Consideration:
Dire Straits - Calling Elvis Mp3
U2 - A Room At The Heartbreak Hotel Mp3
Mojo Nixon & Skid Roper - Elvis Is Everywhere Mp3
Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto Mp3

Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame 2007 Inductees

2007-01-08T10:51:00.000-08:00

Well, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its inductees for 2007.

The inductees are:
-Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (Kid Creole, Cowboy, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Mr. Ness, Raheim)
- R.E.M. (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)
- The Ronettes (Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, Nedra Talley)
- Patti Smith
- Van Halen (Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth)

The five inductees will be honored at a ceremony on March 12, 2007 in New York City. And what do they win, Bob? In addition to being honored at the ceremony, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame displays the signature of each inductee inscribed in glass, and exhibits artifacts from the year’s inductees. There is also a multi-media film presentation with highlights from each artist’s career, and a spot on their softball team.

So, I'm alright (I guess) with these picks, but is the RRHOF going to start curbing their picks within the next few years? Cause in my opinion, the pickins are getting slim. Van Halen is iffy at best. I think they get in because of Eddie Van Halen's revolutionary sound, but the future classes could contain the eternal debate as to whether Duran Duran and Adam Ant deserve recognition. Men At Work and Quit Riot? Ugh. I love those acts too, but are they worthy? The RRHOF needs to take a note from the Baseball Hall Of Fame, and just really let those who deserve it, gain membership. So what I'm claimin is Def Leppard equals Jim Rice in the big scheme of things.

Here are samples of today's class for your consideration:
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five - White Lines (Don't Do It) Mp3
Van Halen - Unchained Mp3
The Ronettes - Be My Baby Mp3
R.E.M - It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) Mp3
(sorry, no Patty Smith)

My Morning Jacket Covers Prince!

2007-01-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

Saw My Morning Jacket at the Wiltern over the weekend and they were unbelievable. The setlist was tight, and they really seemed to be into the moment. I'll try to find more pictures from the show (like the one above) and perhaps even some audio.

But for now, did you know that the Jacket covered Prince? It's true. On New Year's Eve, at the Fillmore in San Francisco, they performed my favorite Prince song, "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man."

I have included a link to the song, and to the entire show. My reccomedation is to grab the entire show. It's a long one that includes the countdown to the new year, wonderful covers ("Celebration," "All Night Long," and "Highway To Hell"), and some live rareties ("Cobra").

For Your Consideration:
My Morning Jacket - I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Live) Mp3
My Morning Jacket - Live At The Fillmore 12/31/06

The Saddest Song In The World: The Lonely Man Theme

2007-01-05T22:35:00.000-08:00

According to British research most people list The Verve's hit "The Drugs Don't Work" as the saddest song to listen to. Dr. Harry Witchel from the University of Bristol Medical School monitored volunteers' heart rates to see which tracks made people feel happy, sad or exhilarated. The Verve's track topped a list of 10 sad songs, including Robbie Williams' "Angels", Elton John's "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" and Sinbad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U."

Not me, none of those songs even come close to how I feel when I hear Joe Harnell's haunting opening notes echo from the piano. I had this song ringing in my head today... all day. It's "The Lonely Man Theme (From 'The Incredible Hulk')" That, my friends, is the saddest song in the world. Don't disagree with me, it will make me angry. And you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.

So what is your take on the saddest song in the world? Leave me some claims will ya?

Or just take the damn mp3, and be on your way.

For Your Consideration:
Joe Harnell - The Lonely Man Theme (From "The Incredible Hulk") Mp3

The Megan Mullally Show: R.I.P

2007-01-05T17:59:00.000-08:00

When will network executives finally learn that you can't just give anyone their own talkshow? Chevy Chase, Magic Johnson, Roseanne, Rick Dees, Joan Rivers, Pat Sajak... Megan Mullally. Ugh.

My Morning Jacket: It Still Moves

2007-01-05T16:16:00.000-08:00

Heya folks, I'm going tomorrow night to see one of my favorite up and coming bands "My Morning Jacket." Yes, I'll admit that I hadn't heard of them before their album "Z" came out, but you can consider me a pretty hardcore fan now. I was at the Los Angeles premier screening of their concert DVD "Okonokos," and enjoyed it immensely. I also saw them perform in Chicago over the holidays with the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra at the Riviera Theater. The general consensus of that show was that as great as the band was, their effort was for naught because the acoustics in the theater were awful. I totally concur, which is why I am really looking forward to hearing them at the Wiltern here in LA. I'll hopefully have a full review for you sometime next week. Till then, enjoy this offering of "It Still Moves," MMJ's 2003 offering that is reminiscent of the early-'70s "Laurel Canyon" sound, with some of the Grateful Dead's American Beauty thrown in for good measure. Tracks to listen for are the moving "Golden" (one of my favorites), the Brian Wilson-ish "Mahgeetah," and the Band-ish-like "One Big Holiday."

Tracklist:
1. Mahgeetah
2. Dancefloors
3. Golden
4. Master Plan
5. One Big Holiday
6. I Will Sing You Songs
7. Easy Morning Rebel
8. Run Thru
9. Rollin Back
10. Just One Thing
11. Steam Engine
12. One In The Same

For Your Consideration:
My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves Mp3 (Megaupload link)

Five By Foo: Cover Songs

2007-01-05T00:15:00.000-08:00

What are Foo Fighters? Well, in World War II, Foo Fighters were slang for UFO's. It also happens to be the name of a truly great band, consisting of Dave Grohl (Vocals, Guitar), Nate Mendel (Bass), and Taylor Hawkins (Drums). The boys finally released their first live album recently called "SKIN AND BONES." It captures the band's critically-acclaimed 2006 acoustic tour with 15 special performances of songs spanning the band's career.

They're also known to do a few cover songs. Each one reveals a little something about the band, their influences, and what they listened to when they were little foos. I've collected a few of them over the years, and I thought you might want to check them out. My favorite one is Baker Street. I am always amazed at how well they kept true to the original version of the song, yet completely made it their own. Let me know if you agree.

Here's what you're in for:

Baker Street: Gerry Rafferty song which the Foo Fighters covered at Maida Vale Studios for their 1997 BBC Session.

Born On The Bayou: B-side to the Resolve single. Performed live for the Katrina relief telethon. Originally recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Darling Nikki: Prince song recorded by the band during the One By One sessions.

Have A Cigar: B-side to the Learn To Fly single, originally recorded by Pink Floyd. Taylor Hawkins in featured on vocals.

I Feel Free: Recorded during the In Your Honor sessions, appears on the "5 Songs And A Cover" cd. Originally recorded by Cream.

For Your Consideration:
Foo Fighters: Five By Foo Mp3s

...and how about this one too?

Foo Fighters - Skin And Bones (Sendspace Link)

The O.C. Ya!

2007-01-04T16:46:00.000-08:00

Other possible headlines: "Summer and Seth Goin" "The O.C. Flies the Coop!" Ooh, one more? "The Grinch that cancelled Christmukkah." Ok, too much. I get it.

That's right, the Fox network announced that "The O.C." and it's soundtrack enriched with today's indie artists is no more. Gone are my beloved Summer and Seth, Ryan and Angst, Sandy Cohen and Shmear. The O.C. will finish out its current season when the final episode airs on Feb. 22. And if you didn't see this one coming, then you also must have missed the episode where Oliver jumped the shark. Granted, this season has seen a slight return to the show's better days, but the writing was on the Bait Shop's wall as soon as Coop died in Ryan's arms last season. In a statement released yesterday, The O.C. creator Josh Schwartz said, "It has been an amazing experience and a great run. For a certain audience, at a certain time, The O.C. has meant something. For that we are grateful."

For a really well written article on the O.C. as a cultural phenomenon, read this one from The Independent entitled: "It's so over for The OC: Orange County loses TV appeal"

Now, will someone please get Melinda Clarke (Julie Cooper) her own series? Perhaps something where she solves mysteries while wearing short skirts? Look, we already knew her as "Lady Heather" from C.S.I, so why not give her a try? And yes, I have a crush on her.

Some people will blame Autumn Reeser (Taylor) for the show's downfall. But really, how can you blame anyone with a tucus like that? Doesn't Dimension Films have some "Scream" or "Saw" ripoff in development for her to use as a star vehicle? As Howard Stern would say, "Ooofah."

The Incredible Bongo Band: Bongo Rock

2007-01-04T12:05:00.000-08:00

So I'm watching ABC's premier of "The Knights Of Prosperity," it's this new show about a bunch of goofballs who try to rob Mick Jagger ala "Ocean's 11." Now, I'm always up for a good comedy (and not up for one hour dramas about them) so I gave it a shot, ya know? Quick review? It'll be "on hiatus" before they get through Mick's front door. Oh well. But it did have two things going for it. One, it is better than Studio 60. (I know, I know, that's not saying much) And two? Apache. You may not know it by name, but you sure as hell know it by ear. That bongo anthem of 1973 was all over the soundtrack. It certainly set the mood for the show.

So, I'm diggin, and I can't believe I finally found this floating around the net. If you don't have these albums in your collection, you are a total claimer. It's hard to find, but now, I bring it to you. You need it just for Apache alone!

"Unlikely godfathers of hip-hop, the Incredible Bongo Band was a revolving-door group of studio musicians led by bongo player Michael Viner, who by day worked as an executive at the MGM label and ran its short-lived Pride subsidiary. Viner had worked on Bobby Kennedy's ill-fated presidential campaign before entering the music industry as a talent scout and A&R man in Los Angeles. By the early '70s, he was successful enough to start his pet side project the Incredible Bongo Band, taking unused studio time to record percussion-heavy instrumentals and pop covers with African and Latin influences. He placed two songs on the soundtrack of the 1972 B-movie The Thing With Two Heads, released on Pride, and the following year issued the first Incredible Bongo Band full-length, Bongo Rock, which reportedly featured a guest spot by Ringo Starr. Viner's funked-up version of the Shadows' "Apache" went on to become one of hip-hop's earliest breakbeat staples, as first-generation hip-hop DJs Kool Herc and Grandmaster Flash came to rely on its percussion breaks to get block parties moving. "Apache" went on to provide the basis for the Sugarhill Gang's hit of the same name, and stands as one of the most sampled tracks in hip-hop history. The single "Bongo Rock" charted in the lower reaches of both the pop and R&B lists, and eventually assumed a status similar to "Apache" in the hip-hop world (though with lesser magnitude). Viner assembled a follow-up album, The Return of the Incredible Bongo Band, in 1974, but the band came to a halt not long after; Viner was getting overly ambitious (a planned session with the London Symphony Orchestra fell through), and mainstay drummer Jim Gordon fell prey to severe mental difficulties, all of which spelled the end of the road." (AMG Biography by Steve Huey)

For Your Consideration:
The Incredible Bongo Band
Bongo Rock (160)
The Return Of the Incredible Bongo Band (160)
Rapidshare Link, Password: xhellstromx

U2's Very First Release: Three

2007-01-04T01:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm totally claimin. Two U2 postings this year? Claimer. But I had to. Look, this single is U2's very first release and is one of four that predate the band's 1980 debut album, Boy. Don't you want it? What, you have it already? Didn't think so.

"U2 Three" is special because it is the earliest U2 collectible you can find. In 1979, when U2 were a long way from conquering the world, the Ireland division of CBS Records released 1,000 copies of U2 Three on vinyl as a hand-numbered, limited-edition 12". Subsequent pressings are known through 1982, including a collectible set called 4 U2 Play. This single contains earlier recordings of the songs "Out of Control" and "Stories for Boys," which appear on Boy, and the non-LP track "Boy/Girl." U2 Three was recorded before producer Steve Lillywhite signed on. The U2 Three single has never been released on CD.

...but you can have it now.

For your consideration:
U2 - Three (7') Mp3

From Lute To Loot: The Police To Reunite?

2007-01-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

When did Sting become a total claimer? Right about the time he became a VH1 artist of the month back in the 90's. He hasn't rocked since. When did Sting hit rock bottom? My guess is when he decided to record an album in October 2006, entitled "Songs From The Labyrinth." It featured the music of John Dowland (an Elizabethan-era composer) and accompaniment from Bosnian lute player Edin Karamazov. As a part of the promotion of this album, he appeared on the least funny show about a funny show ever made, "Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip" during which he performed a segment of Dowland's "Come Again" as well as his own "Fields of Gold" in the arrangement for voice and two archlutes. Two people bought the album, one returned it. The other, a grandmother from Stockton California plays it to annoy the neighborhood children.

Well, it looks like Sting has bottomed out, and decided to rock.

A Spokesman for A&M records said "“Next year is the 30th anniversary of the release of ‘Roxanne,’ the first Police single. It is our intention to mark the anniversary by doing something special with the band's catalogue of songs. Needless to say, everyone is hopeful the band will support our plans and while early discussions have taken place, nothing has been decided.” Yet rehearsal dates have already been planned, say music industry sources. "They were intending to make an announcement in January after all the tour dates had been finalised. They are speaking to venues about playing in May and June." The group, who have not played together since they split in 1984, are only planning a series of summer concerts across the UK, there has been no talk about the band playing the states.

But if there's money to be made? The Police will play the states. There will even be a concert CD and DVD too. My guess is The Eagles will have some competition on the racks at WalMart.

Here's what we might have to look forward to:

Where It's At: Beck Live on Sessions At West 54th

2007-01-03T01:00:00.000-08:00

I ain't no claimer. No way. Wanna know why? Because I had to share this concert with you. Let me set the picture for ya. Building steam from his previous release of "Mellow Gold," as "Loser" became the rally cry to Gen X-ers everywhere, Beck's follow up "Odelay" was released in June of 1996. The album proved to audiences everywhere that he was more than just a one hit wonder, and to support it, he taped this show for PBS. The concert highlights everything that we love about the artist. He twists the conventions of familiar genres, whether it's blues ("Devil's Haircut"), country ("Rowboat", "One Foot In The Grave"), soul (The Prince inspired "Debra"), or hip-hop (the lavishly funked up "Where It's At"). You're gonna love this one, the sound quality is great, and it's bitrate is 192. Unfortunately, the MP3's are separated into two parts, so you're gonna have to download both, but it'll be worth it. Say Oooh La La Sasoon!

Look at this set list (it's sick!):
1 D-Day Intro
2 Devils Haircut
3 Novacane
4 Hotwax
5 Debra
6 Intro #2
7 The New Pollution
8 Sissyneck
9 Derelict
10 Rowboat
11 Ramshackle
12 One Foot in the Grave
13 Asshole
14 Commentary
15 Jack-ass
16 Where It's At - Make Out City

For your consideration:
Beck - Sessions At West 54th Mp3 (Part 1)
Beck - Sessions At West 54th Mp3 (Part 2)

What Would Tyler Durden Do?

2007-01-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Seriously folks, are you as tired of total claimers like Britney, Lindsay, and Paris as I am? Then you gotta go check out "What Would Tyler Durden Do?"

Here's their blog description:

"What Would Tyler Durden Do" is a blog focused on bringing you the latest gossip and news about rich and famous celebrities. And then making fun of them. Why? Because fuck them, that's why.

They consistently post unflattering photos, and truely hysterical commentary. His take on Jessica Alba playing football in a swimsuit is priceless. Click on their logo to getcha there.

January Second Thoughts

2007-01-02T12:50:00.000-08:00

A lot of people at some point in their festivities watched either Carson or Ryan (and Dick) on New Year's Eve. 90 million of us apparently. So who was the better host? Well, honestly speaking, I find both of them annoying, but if I had to pick a "winner," it would be Carson Daly.

Here's why: Watch the countdown as Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest would have wanted you to see it.

Now, I wish I had some video of Carson's countdown, but unfortunately there isn't any available (yet). Regardless, here is why Carson was the better host. Taking a cue from Dodger Hall Of Fame Announcer Vin Scully, he let the moment speak for itself and shut the hell up. From 11:59pm till the drop of the ball, NBC went without an announcer. They let the party speak for itself, which is the way it ought to be. Good job Carson, now if you could just apply that theory to your late night talk show, which seriously is a train wreck.

On a side note, as much as it pains me to say this, it was disheartening to watch Dick Clark. Throughout the night it appeared that Dick was struggling with his words. Still recovering from his stroke, Dick even made a slight "blooper" of his own. He was slightly behind the ABC clock, and jumped from 11 to nine.

Pearl Jam Touring Band 2006

2007-01-02T12:05:00.000-08:00

Pearl Jam Touring Band 2006: 31 Shows, All Mp3s

For your consideration, I found a bunch of Pearl Jam 2006 shows (31 total) available at one site. I saw the band at the Forum in Los Angeles last year (unfortunately that show was not available at this link) and they were spectacular. Read my review of that show here.

Be sure to grab the Honolulu and Chicago shows, they were especially memorable.

All Is Quiet On New Year's Day

2007-01-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

For your consideration:
Bedouin Soundclash - New Year's Day (U2 Cover, Live on The BBC) Mp3
U2 - New Year's Day Mp3

Billboard's Top 100 Hits of 2006!

2006-12-31T20:28:00.000-08:00

Here it is folks, I found this floatin round the net,
and I am passing it on to you..

Billboard Magazine's Top 100 Hits of 2006
all in one HUGE file! (624.3MB of Mp3's)

So If you don't have it grab it now before the link expires!
Just click on the picture!

Billboard's List of the Top 100 of 2006:

Totally Claimin' Top Thirty Tracks Of 2006

2006-12-30T22:49:00.000-08:00

Because this list is so damn long, there ain't gunna be any fancy schmancy artwork that accompanies it, alright? OK, so I'm a total claimer, sue me. Here in order, is my list of the top 30 tracks of 2006, my favorite line of dialogue from a movie, and my pick for the worst song of the year. Enjoy, and celebrate the new year by downloading THE TOP 10 in one juicy file! Just click below on the picture of 2006.

Totally Claimin's Top 30 Tracks Of 2006:
30. Little Lover's So Polite - The Silver Sun Pickups
29. Roscoe - Midlake
28. Standing In The Way Of Control - The Gossip
27. Chicago (Adult Contemporary Easy Listening Mix) - Sufjan Stevens
26. The Funeral - Band Of Horses
25. Mirror Door - The Who
24. Punkrocker (Fet. Iggy Pop) - Teddybears
23. Midday (Avoid The City After Dark) - Yusuf (Cat Stevens)
22. Girl In The War - Josh Ritter
21. Harrowdown Hill - Thom Yorke
20. Three More Days - Ray LaMontagne
19. Sewn - The Feeling
18. Mardy Bum - Arctic Monkeys
17. Future - Zero 7
16. Tear You Apart - She Wants Revenge
15. When You Were Young - The Killers
14. Young Folks - Peter Bjorn And John
13. Stuck Between Stations -The Hold Steady
12. Steady As She Goes - The Raconteurs
11. The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song - The Flaming Lips
10. Call Me When You're Sober - Evanescence
9. I Don't Feel Like Dancin' - Scissor Sisters
8. Woman - Wolfmother
7. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
6. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
5. How We Operate - Gomez
4. Cellphone's Dead - Beck
3. Gold Lion - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
2. Orange Sky - Alexi Murdoch
1. Starlight - Muse

2006's WORST SONG OF THE YEAR:
Haterz - Ron Artest

2006's BEST LINE OF DIALOGUE FROM A MOVIE:
Borat: "The lips of her vagine hang low like wizard's sleeve. "

For Your Consideration:

Totally Claimin's Top 10 of 2006 Mp3s

Do you agree, disagree? Let me know what you're claimin!
Leave me some feedback, will ya?

Well Hung!

2006-12-30T22:16:00.000-08:00

(Claimer)

Soundgarden - Pretty Noose Mp3

Totally Claimin Top Ten of 2006

2006-12-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

So here it is kiddies and list lovers alike! After about twenty minutes (ok. maybe fifteen) of serious consideration, here is the Totally Claimin Top 10 of 2006. Let's hope 2007 rocks just as hard.

10. The Flaming Lips - At War With The Mystics
Key Tracks: The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song, Mr. Ambulance Driver, Free Radicals

Although this album is not as overall solidly tasty as Yoshimi, it still packs quite a punch, and warranted inclusion over those on the bubble.

9. The Hold Steady - Boys & Girls In America
Key Tracks: Stuck Between Stations, Chips Ahoy!

I discovered this album kinda late in the year, and was incredibly thankful for it. They kinda have a cool rock- bar band-thingy goin for it, with Springsteen like music and more impressively, Springsteen like imagery with the lyrics. A real fun rock album to play while you drink with the guys you grew up with.

8. Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam
Key Tracks: Life Wasted, World Wide Suicide, Gone

Ahhh, Eddie. What a wonderful return to RAWK. I guess the band said enough of the ballads already and decided to explore it's more punk roots. The result? A nice combination of those trademark sweeping ballads and good hard rockin. Welcome back boys.

7. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones
Key Tracks: Gold Lion, Phenomena, Cheated Hearts

What is a good sign of a good album? The songs never get tired. Months later, Gold Lion still gets stuck in my head (and I mean that in a good way).

6. Zero 7 - The Garden
Key Tracks: Future, Throw It All Away, Crosses

Zero 7 up tempos their chill sound by channeling their inner-Fleetwood Mac. This is what Supertramp woulda sounded like had they ever made an electronic album. Guest singers Jose Gonzalez and Sia also add a nice touch.

5. Wolfmother - Wolfmother
Key Tracks: Dimension, Woman, Joker And The Thief

Ok, ok, I get it. They sound like Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes and AC/DC. And how is that a bad thing? C'mon don't tell me you didn't headbang just a little bit even as you heard Woman for the millionth time.

4. Beck - The Information
Key Tracks: Think I'm In Love, Cellphone's Dead, Strange Apparition, Nausea

Mr. Hanson? Thank you. Returning to a more "Odelay" sound, Beck has handed us another masterpiece. This album made it to #4 based on the first side of it alone. Had side two been as strong, it woulda been #1.

3. Arctic Monkeys - Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Key Tracks: I Bet You Look Good On The Dance Floor, Fake Tales Of San Francisco, Mardy Bum, When The Sun Goes Down

Brit rock with a bar band twenty something twist, this album reminds me of something Oasis would have done back in the early nineties minus their damn Beatles infatuation. Fast paced, and lyrical, if The Hold Steady's drink is Pabst Blue Ribbon, the Monkeys would be Guinness. Solid.

2. The Raconteurs - Broken Boy Soldiers
Key Tracks: Steady As She Goes, Broken Boy Soldier, Together

Ok, so this is what Jack White sounds like with a full band! More please! Broken Boy Soldiers clocks in at just under forty minutes, and with better songs on it than the already familiar Steady As She Goes, it leaves you craving future releases.

1. My Morning Jacket - Okonokos
Key Tracks: The Way That He Sings, Off The Record, Golden, Anytime

Oh my gawd, a live album at number one? What the fuck this guy's claimin? Yes, I'm totally claimin a live album as my number one album of 2006. But this is just not any live album. Okonokos is a document of a truly great live band, and one that within 3 years you won't be able to see in a smallish theater anymore. The album itself contains all of the bands finest songs, and the recording sounds as good as if they were in a studio. It rocks, it rolls it ebbs and flows. Jim James's voice is a rare one that captures all of the emotion of the moment, and you would be a total claimer not give it a listen.

ON THE BUBBLE:
In no particular order, these five 2006 releases deserve some mention even though they did not make the top ten:

The Secret Machines - Ten Silver Drops
Gomez - How We Operate
Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere
Snow Patrol - Eyes Open
Sufjan Stevens - The Avalanche

It's Just Another New Year's Eve

2006-12-29T18:54:00.000-08:00

As New Year's Eve approaches, I am taken back to a time in my life when it was a struggle just to stay up to see the ball drop in Times Square and Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin Eve (not Ryan or Carson's) ran the show. Inevitably, at around 12:30, just after the lip sinc-ers finished up their one hit wonders, Barry would come on and play this melancholic song: "It's Just Another New Year's Eve."

Here it is for your consideration to enjoy, and Happy New Year's everybody!

Barry Manilow - It's Just Another New Year's Eve (Mp3)

A (Urine) Sample In A Jar

2006-12-26T22:58:00.000-08:00

Trey was found with a suspended New York driver's license, and allegedly was found with an assortment of prescription medications including hydrocodone, Percocet, Bathtub Gin and Xanax, which were prescribed for another person. That person? Suzy Greenberg.

The Legendary Godfather of Soul Dead at 73

2006-12-25T11:44:00.000-08:00

James Brown: May 3, 1933-December 25, 2006
May he rest in peace on the good foot.

(i'm just sayin')

2006-10-11T00:28:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (2006)

2006-09-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Pearl Jam - Pearl Jam (2006)

For your consideration:
Click on image for link.

Thank You Nip/Tuck

2006-09-14T01:15:00.000-07:00

It was announced that Alanis Morissette will appear on three episodes of the FX drama "Nip/Tuck" later this fall. Starting October 31st, she can be seen playing a character named Poppy, a lesbian love interest for Dr. Liz Cruz (Roma Maffia), the anesthesiologist for plastic surgeons Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh) and Christian Troy (Julian McMahon).

For those of you have not viewed the show, Nip/Tuck pushes boundaries, especially sexually. We'll see what they have in store for Ms. Morissette. Oh, and this is not the first time around that block for her either. Alanis previously guest-starred on "Sex and the City" back in 2000, playing a bisexual woman. Here's the clip, you perv...

Five Years.

2006-09-11T17:51:00.000-07:00

No posts today. I'm just sayin'