|
|
Home - Contents - The OGC Log
April 2004.
4/30 - . It's a strong sophomore set from the talented songsmith that, best that I can tell, sunk like a stone since its release late last year. Furtado's 2000 debut (Whoa, Nelly) was spiced by the utterly timeless single "I'm Like a Bird." That's a song that ... let's just say I've put it on a ton of home-made compilations since. While there's no one song on Folklore that's quite that catchy, a few come close--the second track, "Powerless (Say What You Want)," especially. The lyrics speak for themselves: "Paint my face in your magazines/make it look whiter than it seems/paint me over with your dreams ..."). I'm not sure how many folks download from the legitimate music sites--I use on occasion, myself--but if you do, look for it. If it's not there, e-mail 'em and ask "why not?" Or ... buy the album. It's worth the investment.
4/28 - We'd like to thank those folks who've purchased The OGC Compendium and its spin-off, the Special Edition, this past week ...
4/18 - If you've visited these pages before, you know that Diane and I always endeavor to entertain, educate and offer a fan-first, occasionally hyperbolic perspective on music. We've collected much of our Old Grey Cat-related work into what we call "The OGC Compendium." It's a tote-able, 226-page paperback book that includes much of what was once on the site in one handy, tote-able tome. The price: $17.99, which is mostly due to the print-as-you-go publishing scheme. For folks who'd just like the CSN/Y content, we also have a slimmer "special edition," priced at $13.99, that just spotlights them. (The same 132 pages of CSN/Y-content appears in both volumes, so don't buy both.)
4/11 - Ah, tax season. I hate it - but, as always, there's some good music and video around to ease the pain. Earlier today and yesterday I listened to what would've been one of my Top 5 albums of 2003 if I'd bought it in 2003 ... Britney Spears' CD. Yeah, yeah, I can hear the complaints, sighs and raised eyebrows now. My retort: Get a life! It's pop music. Pop has its place. It can be cool. It can be hip. And it never hurts when the person singing the songs is a babe ...
Fact is, it's a damn fine album - surprised the hell out of me, I'll admit, as I'd bought into the media-driven backlash most folks my age (late 30s) read and hear when it comes to Britney. But since receiving a promo copy of In the Zone in early March, I've listened to it more than any other CD in my collection. From the taut trip-hop of "Breathe on Me" to the sultry "Early Morning," the pure pop of "Toxic" and the wink-wink humor of "Outrageous," to say nothing of the utter joy that is "Brave New Girl," the beats, melodies, Britney's intoxicating vocals, the music and album as a whole, takes me there, wherever there is. My recommendation: download "Early Morning" ... give it a chance. Then move onto "Brave New Girl" and the others.
The other item that's taken me out of tax hell: the DVD box set. If you never saw the short-lived series when it ran on NBC from 1999 to 2000, it's the story of high school-aged Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) and her younger brother Sam (John Daly) coming to grips with the complexities and contradictions of life, circa 1980. There's none of the touchy-feely (i.e., manipulative) moments that pockmark most domestic dramas, past or present. Rather, the show is accented by the awkwardness that comes part and parcel with being a teenager. Don’t get me wrong--it’s funny, too. Hilariously, laugh-out-loud funny. But unlike the many hackneyed sitcoms, dramas and reality shows that litter the networks’ lineups, the humor is organic, arising from honest interactions between the characters. Do yourself a favor: buy the box set. has the 6-CD version (perfect for all but the utter diehards) for a reasonable price. (Diehards would do well, however, to pick up the 8-CD set from the F&G website.)
4/3 - My Album of the Month for April: . It's filled with melodies that slink, knead and seduce the soul. If you download music from the likes of MusicMatch, Napster or I-Tunes, "Spending Time with You," "Moist," "I Want You" are three songs well worth the dollar investment.
|
|