The Wire

My favorite TV show is "The Wire." I started watching from episode 1 of season 1 and never stopped. I'm not like all these new fans who get the DVD's and blow through them all in a month. I had to wait one week between shows and at the most 2 years between some seasons. Talk about suspense!!

I could go on about how great the show is in all its aspects, but I really enjoyed the music. First off, all the music played on the show was diegenic, or that it came from the scene. So if you heard a song, it was coming from a car stereo, or the speakers in a bar, etc. No overyling soundtrack was used during 99 percent of the show. The other 1 percent, a song was used during a montage that appeared only in the last minutes of each season. David Simon, co-creator, took pride in choosing the song, saying, "I hate it when somebody purposely tries to have the lyrics match the visual. It brutalizes the visual in a way to have the lyrics dead on point. ... Yet at the same time it can't be totally off point. It has to glance at what you're trying to say."

SOTD

The Songs From "The Wire."

Season 1: "Step by Step" by Jesse Winchester (COULD NOT FIND THIS SONG!)

Season 2: "I Feel Alright" by Steve Earle





Season 3: "Fast Train" by Solomon Burke



Season 4: "Walk on Guilded Splinters" by Paul Weller



Season 5: "Way Down in the Hole" by Blind Boys of Alabama

Enjoy!

Livin' in a Lonely World.....

One thing I miss about college is the bars. They are a breed of bar unto their own.

First off, the bartenders generally are completely awful. But when youre 20, you dont know any better. Try asking for a properly poured martini. They'll look at you funny. But you ask for a sideways knee breaker, purple nurple, blue valium, leg spreader -- they can make that in a heartbeat. Even a simple jack and coke becomes a chore - because a) Jack is top shelf in a college bar and b) who drinks whiskey in college anyways? Or the awful beer they'd serve. Who knows what it was - it definitely wasnt chilled. But you didn't know better!! Ive become spoiled in NYC. Not saying all bartenders are Tom Cruise in "Coctail," but on average the quality is better.

My favorite part about a college bar was the music selection. Most often a DJ would be playin tunes from basically his iPod. And he's not even a real DJ, it's like DJ Adam Lowenstein who got the job because he knows the guy working the door. DJ Lowenstein plays all the top rap/hip hop hits. Anyone remember "Yeah" by Usher? or "Dirt off Your Shoulder" by Jay-Z. All standard college bar fare. But what I never understood was the random songs from like the 70s and 80s. Like "Your Love" by the Outfield. Why? or "Pour Some Sugar on Me" by Def Leppard. Cheesy. "Sweet Caroline?" Give me an effin' break. But the song that sticks in my head the most, and the song I never understood why it was a college bar song:

SOTD

"Don't Stop Believing"
Journey
Escape
1981


Ok.. I know Journey is really cheesy now. I get it. But why this song? There are about 5 better songs they did. Is it the opening piano? And I always have this picture of a loaded sorority girl singing "and on and on and on agaaaaaaain!!"

You see, my confusion comes from growing up Journey. Pops was a fan when they were popular so I had to hear them. I knew the song. But I never got why it was popular... Oh well.

Happy Friday!!

Hot Dawg

Sad news from the comedy world came yesterday, as Dom DeLuise died yesterday at the age of 76. Most people know him from Cannonball Run and Mel Brooks' movies (. But he had a great career as a voiceover actor for children's movies and tv shows. He was Tiger in An American Tail and Fagan in Oliver and Company, to name a few. He will be missed.






SOTD

David Grisman Quintet

"Barkley's Bug"

Dawganova
1995

David Grisman was a best friend and musical partner of Jerry Garcia. He wasn't ever officially in the Grateful Dead, but did play his mandolin on "Ripple" on the American Beauty album. David plays blue grass mainly, but he created this unique sound, called dawg music, which incorporates Bluegrass, Bossa Nova and Jazz to create a pretty unique sound.

DGQ will be playing Bonnaroo next month. Check out the sounds of Dawg music. There's not video today, as this is pretty rare stuff. But click the link for a full version to open in a new window.

Barkley's Bug - David Grisman Quintet

Cinco De Mayo!

The American celebration of Mexico is today! Everyone around the country is heading the Chili's for their 2 for 1 grand Margaritas!! Bars are selling Corona's and Dos Equis' for half off!! Run! Run! Get your Mexican beer while it is socially acceptable!!!

YUM!

Cinco de Mayo isn't even really celebrated in Mexico! Like, it kinda is, like how we celebrate presidents day. Who give's a crap! But we will use any excuse to drink. "Fuck, it's Thomas Jefferson's birthday, grab me a Sam Adams and a 3 point hat, lets do this." But in all, most of these holidays, including St. Paddy's day, gives us an opportunity to accept specific stereotypes.



But in honor of the celebration of today..



SOTD




"Oye Como Va"
Santana
Abraxas
1970
Written By: Tito Puente

Now Tito Puente is of Puerto Rican origin, and the song is in his Cha-cha-cha style popluar in Spanish Harlem in the 50s But for the sake of the day and the fact I don't know to many "Mexican" songs, Carlos Santana is Mexican, so that works for me.

This song launced Santana to stardom, reaching number 11 on the Billboard charts. They took the orchestral feel of the original, and put a rock force behind it. Greg Rollie on the Hammond Organ, (full detail here), opens up the tune and Santana's sleek guitar follows with the melody. They keep some sabor with the latin percussion used in the song.

So enjoy your choice of mexican beverage, wear a sombrero, hit a pinata. Vaya Con Dios.

First Past the Post

The Kentucky Derby was this past Saturday, and for the next month I'll be into Horse Racing. I dont own sear-sucker suits or pastel polos (anymore) but I do find the spectacle of it all quite entertaining.

Now I would never bet on the Horses, mainly because it would be highly addicting and I'd lose a ton of money. But, if you placed a 2 dollar bet on the top 3 this past weekend, you would have gotten 40K!! That's insane.

SOTD

"Let Me See"
Morcheeba
Big Calm
1998

Morcheeba is the name of two DJs, the Brothers Godfrey, and Skye Edwards, until she was asked to leave the band in 2003. Together they produced 5 albums together, with moderate popular success. Their biggest song was "Rome Wasn't Built in a Day" from 1999's "Fragments of Freedom," and made the circuit on The Gap and Old Navy radio.

They were apart of a group of bands experimenting in "trip-hop" and "downtempo" music (Zero 7, Portishead, Theivery Corporation, Air and Tortoise are others). What I love about this kind of music is the manufactured sounds of Moog, Synthesizers and other effects against the soft soulful voices. The two combined create an interesting contrast that works.

If you've never listened before, give them a try. Although Skye isn't apart of the group, the new album "Dive Deep" is a good attempt.

It's a Friday full of Rain

Yes, it's raining here in NYC. After such a bea-utiful weekend last week, this weekend will be wet and miserable. And Im sure the Yankee game that I'm going to will be rained out.. oh well...


Im keeping it short today! Have a great weekend!!

SOTD

"The Rain Song"
Led Zeppelin
Houses of the Holy
1972

Thanks to American Idol, I've been listening to Rat Pack era music nonstop for the last two days. I really wish I could have partied with those cats back in the day. Frank, Dean, Sammy, The fedoras, slick suits, smooth cigarette, glass of scotch... What I wouldn't give to be in Vegas in '61 seeing a show at the Sands then heading to the night club to hang with the crew. All the while having ladies around willing to do anything you wanted, and mobsters paying you in cash and drinks always on the house. Man, those were the days.

Today's Song of the Day...

"Mr. Bojangles"
Sammy Davis, Jr.
written by: Jerry Jeff Walker

Sammy Davis, Jr was born to two Vaudeville performers who toured around the country. When he was 3 his parents divorced, and his dad took custody, talking him on the road where he learned to sing and dance. He served time in WWII as part of a special entertainment division. He performed on Broadway in the 50s, and was invited to join the Rat Pack in 1959. In 1954, he was involved in a bad car accident that took out his left eye. He was fitted with a glass eye six months later. During his recovery, his friend and fellow Vaudevillian Eddie Cantor told him how awesome being Jewish is which led to Sammy's much publicized conversion.

He always had to battle racism througout his career. He had stints in several hotels in Vegas, as most Rat Packers did, and because of his race, he was not allowed to stay in the Hotel; he had to stay in an apartment outside the main part of the city.

The ultimate entertainer, he could dance, sing, play instrument, was a comedian and appeared as a guest on many TV shows, including the famous appearances as himself on "All in the Family."

The swagger these guys will never be acheived, that's for sure.

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