Category Archives: Music

I’m not sure what motivated me to make a Genius list out of the Bobby Darin version of “I’m Beginning To See The Light” – I have two other versions of this song as well – because my experience with … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As promised (threatened?) last week, it’s time to pay another visit to Genius-land, in which we use the Genius feature of iTunes to create some playlists from which we draw the weekly Friday Random Ten lists. Needless to say, the … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Once more to the new music. I’ll probably take another tour through Genius-land starting next week, but for now we’re still mining the new music. 1. Fancy Footwork – Chromeo 2. Everybody Hurts – Elk City 3. Running Away – … Continue reading → Continue reading →

This just seems appropriate: And now a brief break from all the new music for a selection of patriotic tunes from my collection. 1. The Star Spangled Banner – Eddie from Ohio 2. America the Beautiful – Ray Charles 3. … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ll say this for the Genius feature – even as I’ve been critical of it for not being as broad in its scope as I think it should be, it’s not always easy to guess what direction it will take … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And now for something a little different. I’ve generated a lot of Genius-created playlists in my iTunes lately, but every once in awhile, I am told by Genius that it doesn’t have enough information to do its thing. Here then … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So I’d said before that I’d made an attempt to compile a Genius list based on something like “Zoot Suit Riot” and got nothing but jazz songs. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but it wasn’t what I was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I’ll get right to the point: The past couple of weeks have kicked my rear. I don’t have the energy to think of anything clever to say about this latest venture into iTunes Genius-land, so I’ll just jump straight into … Continue reading → Continue reading →

And with the election behind us, we have a new crop of Genius-generated playlists in front of us for Friday random ten fun. First up is a list based on “Fall Behind Me” by The Donnas, and it’s notable in … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Just because if I have to sit through one more political ad on TV, I’m gonna go postal. It’s times like these that I’m glad Texas has not achieved swing state status. All songs are from the same group of … Continue reading → Continue reading →

In my previous writings about Genius-generated iPod playlists, I have suggested that perhaps it’s greatest strength would be shown when you put together those smaller lists into one big one. Well, I’ve done that for the first four Genius lists, … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Since I first started using the iPod Genius feature to generate playlists, I’ve been wondering if it would show some sign of imagination, instead of simply plucking songs of the same genre to fill up the quota. Perhaps it was … Continue reading → Continue reading →

I mentioned in my last list a couple of ways for the iTunes Genius feature to be improved. That really came home this time around, when I made a list based on “Rubber Biscuit” by the Blues Brothers, as many … Continue reading → Continue reading →

For my next Genius playlist, I went more mainstream, with Joe Jackson’s “Steppin’ Out” as the seed song. That wasn’t my first choice, but it was the first song I tried that didn’t report “no Genius information is available”, so … Continue reading → Continue reading →

So like much of the free world, I’ve now got the version of iTunes that has the new “Genius” feature that suggests a playlist based on a song you choose. Results may vary, but the concept seems simple and intriguing … Continue reading → Continue reading →

As a supporter of The Catastrophic Theater, I’m sad to hear of this. Cary Winscott, a popular Houston actor and musician, passed away from skin cancer Tuesday at Ben Taub Hospital, his longtime friend Jason Nodler, former director of Infernal … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Michael brings me some good news. [I]t was with great surprise and pleasure that I heard from [Tom Beard, lead singer for Houston’s strangest blues bar band, Feo Y Loco]. Feo is in the studio working on re-recording old classics … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Ever wonder just what the heck Joe Cocker is singing when he covers the Beatles’ A Little Help From My Friends? Well, wonder no more: Just as you always suspected, right? Me too. And a better anti-drug PSA you’re unlikely … Continue reading → Continue reading →

You look like you could use a Top 20 list. So here you go, the Top 20 college football fight songs: When you play NCAA ’09 the background menu music includes most of the free world’s college fight songs. If … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Rock pioneer Bo Diddley dies at age 79 Bo Diddley was a musical innovator who helped forge the sound and contributed to the style of rock ‘n’ roll. He sported a trademark fedora, played an iconic square-shaped guitar and from … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Back in 2006, I blogged about a battle between Pam Robinson, the owner of Walter’s on Washington, and some neighbors – the Pevetos – who apparently don’t like the noise. (She’s had this problem before at a previous location on … Continue reading → Continue reading →

Just so we’re clear, I have no connection to these guys. I mean, they’re Mets fans, for crying out loud. Having said that, “Kuff and the Buttheads” is now my favorite band name of all time. In the absence of … Continue reading →