Todd Sattersten :: Astronaut Projects

Wisconsin Music - in person and name

• Bon Iver - Justin Vernon wrote his album "For Emma, Forever Ago" in a Northwestern Wisconsin cabin.
• Collections of Colonies of Bees - My good friend Jon plays drums in this Milwaukee-based group. They just returned from a SXSW performance, and a little bee told me that we are doing a project with Justin.
• Juniper Tar - They get another piece of link love because I like them and their album a lot.
• What Made Milwaukee Famous - Paste Magazine introduced me this month to this Austin-based band. The name is what first caught my attention, but their pop rock hooks drew me in.
• The BoDeans - this master of the bar band genre is from my town of Waukesha. Find a live version of Still The Night; I have never heard a song where the audience has a part. Kurt and Sammy have a new album called Still, which is solid and familiar.

Check Out Juniper Tar

Juniper Tar is a Milwaukee based band. Brothers Schleicher are members and they just released their first album "To The Trees."

http://www.myspace.com/junipertar

Give it a chance. I think you will like.

If you are going to buy a Christmas album this year...

...pick up Over The Rhine's Snow Angels. The twelve song album is all original holiday music in the group's laid-back, acoustic style. My favorite is Goodbye Charles, which pays ode to cartoonist Schultz and the Vince Guaraldi Trio. White Horse, Here It Is, Snow Angel all feel great. As the iTunes review says, the whole album captures the wonderful highs and the desperate lows of the season.

The 2007 Christmas Album

I have been creating Christmas albums for family and friends since 2001, something I really enjoying doing. Enjoy this year's mix and links to those from the past.

1. (There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays - Perry Como
2. Underneath the Mistletoe - Blondfire
3. Mary, Did You Know? - Kathy Mattea
4. O Holy Night - New Orleans Musicians/Tipitina Foundation (featured on Studio 60 last year, Download MP3 Here)
5. River - Travis
6. Come on! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! - Sufjan Stevens
7. Christmas Time Is Here - Ivy
8. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer - Jack Johnson
9. Frosty The Snowman - Fiona Apple
10. I Want A Hippopotamus For Christmas - Gayla Peevey
11. Greatest Time of Year - Aly & AJ
12. Silver Bells - Swearing At Motorists
13. Jingle Bells - Jack Ingram
14. All That I Want - The Weepies
15. I'm Coming Home For Christmas - Joe Puerta (local Milwaukee musician, featured on ER last year)
16. Wishing For This - Leigh Nash
17. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Third Day
18. Holiday Mood - The Apples in Stereo
19. My Girlfriend (Forgot Me This Christmas) - The Click Five
20. Christmas Tree on Fire - Holly Golightly

Past Albums

• 2006 Christmas Album (The Waitresses, Five for Fighting, Blind Boys of Alabama, Billy Mack)
• 2005 Christmas Album (Louis Prima, Dolly Parton, B.B. King, Whitney Houston, Dixieland Ramblers)
• 2004 Christmas Album (Guster, Bobby Vinton, The Eagles, Yutaka, Rhonda Vincent)
• 2002 Christmas Album (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Jars of Clay, Jimmy Buffet, Sting, Tina Arena)

P.S. All the song links send you to iTunes.

Missy Higgins

It seems word is getting out about my new favorite artist Missy Higgins. I wanted to make sure I publicly acknowledge my fandom.

I randomly jumped onto the Live Earth concert broadcast. I jumped to the Australia concerts and saw Crowded House live and then checked out who else had been onstage. Missy had been on in the morning and I was immediately hooked up when I heard Steer.

I can't buy the new album On A Clear Night from iTunes. It is available in the Australian version of the store, but you need an AU address to buy from there. The every useful Wikipedia tells me the album will not be released in the US until early 2008. Ugh.

Amazon says they can get it for me, and westendentertainment is going to get my business.

:)

What I Liked This Year...

Modern Skirts - I got my first listen to this Athens-based band on Paste Magazine Music Sampler #20. Seventeen Dirty Magazines led me to My Lost Soprano and finally the purchase of the entire album. Catalogue of Generous Men has great pop hooks built on a strong piano base and reinforcing harmonies. You can visit their MySpace page to get a sample of their musical magic.

Thumbsucker - I have a soft spot for quirky indie films. Each character in Thumbsucker has their own clear, odd motivation (mom is addicted to the addicted movie star, son is angry and tries various drugs to fix it, dad can't communicate). You'll need Netflix or an equivalent to find this one.

Project Blackbox - Sun is developing a datacenter that fits in a standard shipping container.

BLAM - Barenaked Ladies inspired me this year with the release of Barenaked Ladies Are Me. The group wrote 29 new songs to be released in two "albums". The first came out in September, released under BNL's own label in a variety of formats and renditions. With the rights held by the group, more innovative methods of packaging and distribution were possible. Oh, the music is pretty good too. Sound of Your Voice is probably my favorite.

Battlestar Galactica - The television series continues to provide a stark reflection of the world we live in. This season the show has explored suicide bombing, torture, vigilante justice, and forced species extinction. To keep up, you'll need to move with it to Sundays in January.

My two favorite pieces of business writing this year were The Risk Pool by Malcolm Gladwell and How Many Lightbulbs Does It Take To Change The World? One. And You're Looking At It. by Charles Fishman. Both are about the past, the future, and how actions can be taken now to deal with both.

Lost Recordings of Wilmot High School Pep Band

My mother will periodically bring me things she has found from leftover from my childhood.  The latest is a true treasure.  She found an LP with recordings of my high school pep band.  I couldn't find a year anywhere on the package, but I fairly certain it was put together in 1987, my sophmore year.  You will find me listed as a member the trombone section.  I played baritone and valve trombone through high school and college.

For your listening pleasure, I had the recordings converted to mp3s (thanks, Dylan).

CATCH THE PANTHER SPIRIT with the WILMOT PEP BAND

SIDE ONE
Catch The Spirit (Wilmot High Panthers Cheerleaders, 1:21)
Proud Mary (1:57)
Charge Medley - Live (1:23)
Can Can (1:11)
Takin' Care Of Business (2:52)

SIDE TWO
Uptight (1:20)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot (1:19)
Panther Prowl (1:24)
Gimme Some Lovin' (2:23)
Barbara Ann - Live (1:07)
Wilmot High Fight Song (1:18)
We Are The Panthers (Wilmot High Panthers Cheerleaders, 0:58)

Panther Spirit Supplied By The Following:

Flute
Karin Corder
Jenny Smolik
Jonna Franz
Melissa Bartuska
Erin Swanson

Trombone
Dave Anderson
Todd Sattersten
Bill Moore
Val Clause

Clarinet
Amy Anderson
Donna Chase
Tina Ishmael
Julie Kaphengst

Saxophone
Paul Mozzocci
Andrea Pryor
Dale Kaphengst
Marc Vershowske

Guitar
Rob Chapleau
Bob Lucksted

Trumpet
Lisa Raimonde
Michelle Ceremuga
Mike Kaphengst
Mike Hartman

Drums
Dan Yeh
Jenny Myra
Ron Rozell

Cheerleaders
Melaine Adams
Dina Dietschweiler
Heather Miller
Jonna Franz
Melissa Bartuska

Directors
Lance Haas (Band)
Dorothy Wentland (Cheerleaders)

O Holy Night from Studio 60

I caught up on the Christmas episode of Studio 60 last night.  The closing number by the New Orleans musicians is beautiful.  These musicians were organized by the Tipitina Foundation.

You can watch the clip on YouTube. 

There is talk that NBC will be posting that rendition on iTunes.  I'll post again when I see it. You can download the song from the NBC site or I have mirrored it here .

2006 Christmas Mix

I started these six years ago.  At the time, it was hard to find good Christmas music.  You had to buy lots of CDs to get the good stuff.  I started pulling that stuff together for friends and family. 

iTunes has changed that somewhat.  Music is easier to get, but the filters they have still send you to the same old stuff.  I try to stay pretty far off the beaten off, but there are always a couple familiar renditions. 

The links below will send you to iTunes.  You can download the others because they were free or cannot be found anywhere.

Enjoy!

 

1. We Need A Little Christmas by The New Christy Minstrels
2. Christmas Wrapping by The Waitresses
3. Santa Clause Blues by Champion Jack Dupree
4. Hot Chocolate (from The Polar Express) by Tom Hanks
5. I Bought You A Plastic Star For Your Aluminum Tree by Michael Franks
6. Miss Hooglian's Christmas Cake by David Sinclair
7. Silent Night by Five for Fighting
8. Blue Christmas/Let It Snow by The Gypsy Hombres
9. Merry Christmas From The Family by Montgomery Gentry
10. Gloria by MercyMe
11. The Bells of St. Mary by Bob B. Soxx and The Blue Jeans
12. Joseph's Song by Michael Card
13. Last Month of the Year by The Blind Boys of Alabama
14. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Fugato and Friends [Download MP3
15. The Man With All The Toys by Brian Wilson
16. Christmas Night in Harlem by Lester Lanin
17. Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah by Barenaked Ladies
18. Christmas Is All Around (from Love Actually) by Billy Mack [Download MP3 ]
    
19. Joy To The World by Clem Snide [Download Link from Coudal]
20. Merry Christmas Baby by Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

Also:
2005 Christmas Mix
2004 Christmas Mix
2002 Christmas Mix

The Astronaut Projects Holiday Lens

Check out the squidoo lens I made for holiday music and gifts. You might get an idea or two.

All I Want Is Some Christmas Music

Every year I make a Christmas album for friends and fam. I have to admit that every year it gets harder to put together a good mix of familiar and fun.

For those of you looking to do the same, I ran across a great post on SFGate.com about people's christmas favorites.

Weekend Music - New BNL

Barenaked Ladies have a new album coming out September 12th - Barenaked Ladies Are Me.  It is being released under their Desperation Records label and that is going to make it interesting.  They are working with their  management group Nettwerk Music Group to change how music is released and money is made. Others have done things like this, but I think this is going to be the most comprehensive effort.

This Wired article titled No Suit Required explains well what they are up to:

The freedom from major-label constraints that BNL now enjoys was at first "nerve-racking," Page says. The feeling passed. For the new album, Barenaked Ladies Are Me (read: army), McBride and BNL have reinvented the release campaign, starting with the music itself. The band wrote 29 new songs, which will be packaged and sold in a variety of formats, including a CD, four different digital versions, a 14-track collection for Starbucks in Canada, and a second full-length disc, Barenaked Ladies Are Men, due early next year.

And that's just the beginning. Between ringtones, acoustic versions, and concert recordings, those 29 songs have been multiplied into more than 200 "assets" – song versions – that can be used individually or in conjunction with others to create a product. "Because the copyrights are in one place [in BNL's hands], we can be really creative," McBride says. Hardcore fans can buy 45 of those assets on a USB drive; others can download the special Sims versions (recorded in Simlish, no less). "For decades, people in music have used the number of albums sold as a measuring stick for success," McBride says. "We're trying to get people to see beyond that. It's about revenue from music, however you make it – selling concert tickets, licensing to TV, or selling packed USB drives."

You can see some of the effects of their campaign already.  You could buy the standard CD off Amazon.  On iTunes, you can buy a normal version or a version that can only be pre-ordered with special songs. If you order it through the BNL site, you get the first 13 songs and a bonus acoustic CD.  Their blog indicates these are the two options available right now.

You might be interested in the deluxe verson with all 29 songs up on iTunes.  The Wikipedia entry on the album reports that the standard album appeared on-sale in iTunes for 12 hours before changing back to pre-order back in August.  The same entry also says this full version became available yesterday. Hard to tell how long it is going to be there.  It still appears as of the writing of this post. Seems like a benefit for the truly passionate BNL fan who is paying attention; seems odd they would make the same mistake twice.

Here are the free tracks you can find right now scattered around the internet:

• Easy (Studio Version) - I found this link in an ad in Dwell Magazine.  It is on the last page of the October 2006 issue.  I subscribe to Dwell, but I have to say it is odd that I made it all the way to the end and happened to find it.
• Wind It Up (Video Edit) - This track is the only one you can download off their MySpace page.  You can also listen to Bank Job, Sound Of Your Voice, and Easy.
• Easy (Live) - This track is hiding on the DeviantArt site.  BNL is working with them and hosting a T-shirt design contest for the upcoming tour.
• Running Out Of Ink (Live) - This is where it gets a little crazy. I played with the link for Easy above and wanted to see if I could find other tracks. This was the only other one I could find.
• Home (Studio Version) - This track was on the Paste Magazine Sampler this month.  I am going to post it here.  If someone gets upset, I will take it down.

Subdudes at WI State Fair tonight

If I knew sooner than this morning, I probably would have gone to see The Subdudes tonight.  They are opening for The Neville Brothers at The Wisconsin State Fair.

I saw them open for Huey Lewis and the News about 15 years ago and fell in love.  They have this great southern bluesy rock sound, accordian and all.  My favorite albums are Lucky and Miracle Mule. They have a new album called Behind The Levee, which is more of them doing their thing.

Weekend Music - Christmas Album 2005

It is that time of year again. Every year, I put together a holiday CD for family and friends. I have found the job much easier and alot more fun with iTunes. I am going to recommend again getting off the holiday page on iTunes. Do a search on "Jingle Bells"or "Snowman" and you'll find hundreds of albums that won't ever appear on iTunes Top 100 lists. It requires a little digging, because alot of it is crap. Here are the gems I found this year:

Christmas Is... | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Christmas Is... (2:59)
Shake Hands With Santa Claus | Louis Prima | Martha Stewart Living Music: Jazz For The Holidays (2:26)
Hard Candy Christmas | Dolly Parton | Once upon a Christmas (3:37)
Angels We Have Heard On High | Relient K | Relient Christmas (1:52)
A Scottish Christmas | The Wiggles | Yule Be Wiggling (1:43)
Christmas Time Is Here |Vince Guaraldi Trio | A Charlie Brown Christmas (2:46
Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of The Sugar Plum) | Duke Ellington & His Orchestra | Martha Stewart Living Music: Jazz For The Holidays (3:05)
Goyim Friends | The LeeVees | Hanukkah Rocks (3:16)
Merry Christmas Baby | B.B. King | Contemporary Jazz Christmas (3:57)
An Old Fashioned Christmas Polka | Riders in the Sky| Christmas the Cowboy Way (2:26)
Gagliarda | Mannheim Steamroller | Christmas Live (3:17)
Fum, Fum, Fum | Inner Voices | Christmas Harmony (1:19)
Do You Hear What I Hear? | Whitney Houston | A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 1 (3:33)
You're All I Want For Christmas | The Persuasions | You're All I Want For Christmas (3:08)
Good King Wenceslas | Peter Briener & Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra| Christmas Goes Baroque (3:35)
Greensleeves | Mason Williams | Rhino Hi-Five: Mason Williams (2:42)
Pretty Paper | Willie Nelson | Pretty Paper (2:24)
Luke 2:7-14 As Told By Shaoey | Steven Curtis Chapman | All I Really Want For Christmas (1:30)
God Rest | Gary Hoey | Ho! Ho! Hoey: The Complete Collection (3:58)
Frosty The Snowman | The Dixieland Ramblers | Gumbo Christmas (2:45)
The New Year | Death Cab For Cutie | Studio X Sessions (3:44)
Happy New Year | ABBA | Super Trouper (4:24)
Auld Lang Syne | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked For The Holidays (3:04)

Also see:
The 2004 Holiday Collection
The 2002 Holiday Collection

Weekend Music - Marsalis Jazz

Wall Street Journal Weekend Edition asked Mynton Marsalis what his five favorite jazz recordings are:

• John Coltrane Quartet - Crescent (1964)
• Billie Holiday - Lady in Satin (1958)
• Thelonious Monk - Thelonious Monk Play Duke Ellington (1955)
• Duke Ellington - The New Orleans Suite (1970)
• Charlie Parker - One Night in Birdland (1950)

WSJ has some clips from these albums on their website.

[Just a reminder all my music links go to iTunes.]

Weekend Music - Cool Tool Called Pandora

Zane deliver me a wonderful new tool this morning.

It is called Pandora. All you have to do is tell it an artist or song and will start playing other songs that matches the musical DNA of your choice. It creates your own personal radio stations.

Once decision.
Simple interface.
Great marketing by using product sampling: you get to listen for 10 hours for free.
Compelling pricing: It is $36 per year.

Long live the Long Tail!

Weekend Music - D.H.T.

As a child of the 80's, I have always loved Roxette. They had an amazing ability to write great pop music. I always appreciated being able to buy one of their albums and enjoying the whole thing.

Belgian band D.H.T. has gone and redone Listen To Your Heart. There are club mixes, but the one getting radio play is an acoustic version. I rarely like remakes, but this one is really good.

Weekend Music - The Push Stars

This was a random find in iTunes tonight:

The Push Stars - Minnesota

It is just a fun song.

Can anyone explain to me...

...why Journey's Don't Stop Believin' is #8 on iTunes?

Weekend Music - Amos Lee

Everyone is comparing Amos Lee to Norah Jones and it is hard not to They have the same label, same band, and Norah even sits in on a couple tracks on Lee's album.

I have to say I like Amos more than Norah. It could be that you get a guitar rather than piano. Norah's style always seemed whispy and weak to me, where Amos sings with tender strength.

Check it out.

Weekend Music: Backstreet Boys on tour?

OnMilwaukee.com tells me today the Backstreet Boys are on tour and at the Pabst Theatre in Milwaukee tonight.

What?!

Let's say they aren't getting the press they use to because I had no idea they were on the road. It seems there new single is Incomplete.

In 1995, Amy and I went to Poland and the Czech Republic for two weeks on vacation. I remember being in Gdansk and hearing nothing but Robbie Williams and this other band I had never heard of called the Backstreet Boys. BSB started in Europe to get their act down and six months later burst on to the scene in the U.S.

If you need a hit, here are links to As Long As You Love Me, I Want It That Way, and Larger Than Life.

I promise I won't tell anyone you clicked through.

Weekend Music - SXSW Favorites

I downloaded the SXSW Bit Torrent File a couple of weeks ago and have slowly been listening through the 750+ songs.

Here is the list of what I like so far with my iTunes rating:

• 33hz - Digital Lover ****
• Bio Ritmo - Atrevete ****
• Clare Burson - Where You Are ***
• The Heavy Blinkers - Try Telling That To My Baby ***
• The Honorary Title - Bridge and Tunnel ***
• Kings of Convenience - I'd Rather Dance With Your *****
• Tricia Mitchell - Bobby Joe Plays Violin ****
• Vallejo - 2053 ***
• Webb Wilder & The Nashvegaans - One Taste of the Bait ***
• Rex Hobart & the Misery Boys - Every Night I Leave You In My Dreams ***
• Eluvium - An Accidential Memory in the Ca... ****
• Jessie and Layla - Move On ***
• The Redwalls - Universal Blues ***
• Susan Cowsill - Palm of My Hand ***
• Julian Coryell - did you see the sun? ***
• Otis Taylor - Please Come Home Before It Rains ***
• Andi Hoffman & B-Goes - Riding to New Orleans ****
• The Resentments - Thirteen ***
• Visqueen - Blue ***
• Jane Bond - Idle Hands ***
• Communique - Perfect Weapon ***
• Nieminen & Litmanen - Leo Jokela ****
• Dolorean - Violence in the Snowy Field ***
• Brent Palmer - Asleep in the Back ***
• The Brilliant Mistakes - What Will They Write On Your Stone ***
• Something For Rockets - Look Around ***
• Cary Brothers - Blue Eyes ***
• Hot Buttered Rum String Band - Evolution ****
• Michael Martin Murphy - Wildfire ***
• Jupiter and Teardrop - Bring Me Down ***
• Amos Lee - Arms of a Woman ***

Weekend Music - Most Played iTunes

Laurie at The Unofficial Apple Weblog asked readers for musical suggestions. Her request was people post their five most played songs from iTunes. There are 100 people who have posted their Top 5.

Here was mine:

1. Invisible by Clay Aiken
2. Maybe Katie by Barenaked Ladies
3. Both You and I by Jason Mraz
4. Follow Through by Gavin McGraw
5. Hey Ya! by Outkast

SXSW Music

You may have seen the link for this floating around.

SXSW has put together a BitTorrent file containing over 750 songs from bands playing the event.

The file is 2.6GB and I have been downloading it for two days. I am now at 95.7% complete, so we are getting very close.

Looks like I will have alot of new music to listen in the morning. As I find stuff I like, I'll post something.

More Advice for American Idolites

I forgot to add Alicia Keyes, Janice Joplin, and Marvin Gaye to my list of artists whose songs you should not sing.

Attention: American Idol Contestants

It is clear you need a list of artists whose songs you should avoid:

• Celine Dion
• Whitney Houston
• Mariah Carey

You cannot possibly sing as well as them. The only way you are going to get away with it is to do it in a different style, but that is really dangerous too.

This is the fourth year of the competition. You should have seen enough others try something similar and fail.

iTunes doesn't want me to iBuy.

I have been trying to buy the soundtrack to The Life Aquatic on iTunes all morning. Every time, I click on 'Buy Album' I get a message that says:

Purchase of this item it not currently available.

This items is being modified please try again later.

I had this same problem with Barenaked for the Holidays in December.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Similar Irritations?

Update [9:13PM]: The album is available for purchase, but now it costs $11.99. The two dollar increase has not tempered by desire for the album. The final song is downloading now...

Holiday Music Mix - 2002

I sent a couple of people a copy of my 2002 holiday mix. This is so I tell them (and you) what is on the disc. I have linked to iTunes where I can. Some are just clips I have found floating around the net.

Holiday Mix 2002

1 - A Mad Russian's Christmas | Trans-Siberian Orchestra | Christmas Eve and Other Stories (4:42)
2 - White Christmas | The Drifters | Home Alone Soundtrack (2:42)
3 - Winter Wonderland | Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass | ??? (3:05)
4 - Little Drummer Boy (Grinch Mix) | Jars of Clay | Drummer Boy -EP (4:50)
5 - 'Zat You Santa Claus | Louis Armstrong | What a Wonderful Christmas (2:39)
6 - Give a Little Bit | Sarah Masen | ??? (3:39)
7 - Blue Christmas | Elvis Presley | Elvis Presley: Holiday Classics (2:07)
8 - Green Christmas | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays (2:34)
9 - The Christmas Song | Mel Torme | Christmas for Lovers (2:48)
10 - Christmas in the Caribbean | Jimmy Buffet | Tennessee Christmas (3:13)
11 - Baby, It's Cold Outside | Diane Reeves and Lou Rawls | Jazz to the World (3:54)
12 - Snoopy's Christmas | Royal Guardmen (?) | ??? (3:10)
13 - Gabriel's Message | Sting | A Very Special Christmas Vol. 1 (2:11)
14 - Go Tell It on the Mountain | Yellowjackets | GRP Christmas Collection Vol. 3 (4:33)
15 - One Little Christmas Tree | Tina Arena | ??? (3:34)
16 - Sleigh Ride | Squirrel Nut Zippers | Christmas Caravan (3:11)
17 - O Holy Night |*NSYNC | Home for Christmas (3:36)
18 - 12 Days of Christmas | Bob and Doug MacKenzie | Great White North (?) (4:50)
19 - Christmas is Coming to the USA | Jimmy Fallon, et al | SNL (1:53)
20 - Star Wars Christmas | Yoda, Darth Vader, and Jabba the Hutt | ??? (1:23)
21 - Love Train | The O'Jays | The O'Jays: Super Hits (3:04)
22 - Santa Claus is Coming to Town | Various Artists | A Very Special Christmas (3:54)

Weekend Music - This Year's Holiday CD

A couple of years ago, I started making a holiday CD for family and friends. It serves as our Christmas card each year.

I start with buying one of the cool pre-printed CDRs at 5inch.com.

Then, it normal takes me a week or two to figure out what to put on there. This year, iTunes made that easier. The growing collection of music made it alot of fun. I do recommend getting off their canned lists and doing searches on song titles. You get a better selection of songs to choose from.

With further ado, here is our 2004 holiday CD:

1. Carol of the Meows | Guster | Carol of the Meows (1:24)
2. Elf's Lament | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays (3:39)
3. Do You Hear What I Hear? | Bobby Vinton | Kissin' Christmas
4. Hot Rod Sleigh | Toby Keith | Christmas to Christmas (3:38)
5. O Holy Night | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays (1:09)
6. Gaudete | Mediaeval Baebes | A Winter's Night (2:16)
7. The Christmas Song | The Ravonettes | The O.C. Mix 3: Have a Very Merry Chrismukkah (2:12)
8. Applalachian Snowfall | Trans-Siberian Orchestra | The Christmas Attic (4:12)
9. Please Come Home For Christmas | The Eagles | The Very Best of the Eagles (2:30)
10. My Favorite Things | Barry Manilow | A Christmas Gift of Love (2:29)
11. Sleigh Ride | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays (0:48)
12. I Can't Wait for Christmas | Mindi Abair | Happy Christmas - Single (3:39)
13. Must Be Santa | Raffi | Raffi's Christmas Album (2:30)
14. The Nutcracker Suite | The Brian Seltzer Orchestra | Boogie Woogie Christmas (7:15)
15. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer | Barenaked Ladies | Barenaked for the Holidays (1:01)
16. Jingle Bells | Frank Sinatra & Orchestra And Chorus of Gordon Jenkins | A Jolly Christmas by Frank Sinatra (2:02)
17. This Christmas | Yutaka | A GRP Christmas Collection (4:02)
18. Bring a Torch, Jeannette Isabella | Bob Rafkin | Six String Christmas (2:26)
19. O Christmas Tree | Jimmy Calire Piano Trio | Spirited Christmas (3:33)
20. We Wish You a Merry Christmas | United State Army Field Band | Christmas Celebration (0:58)
21. Christmas Time at Home | Rhonda Vincent | A Very Special Acoustic Christmas (2:47)
22. All I Want for Christmas Is You | Mariah Carey | Merry Christmas (4:05)
23. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow | Ricochet | 16 Biggest Hits: Christmas (2:02)
24. The Most Wonderful Time of the Year | Andy Williams | Andy Williams Live - Christmas Treasures (2:37)

Holiday Music - Barenaked for the Holidays

I am a big fan of Barenaked Ladies and they have a new holiday album called "Barenaked for the Holidays". It is a combination of old and new material, and has all the fun of a typical BNL album. You'll find "Do They Know It's Christmas", "Green Christmas", and their "God Rest Ye/ We Three Kings" medley with Sarah McLaughin. My favorite of the new is "Elf's Lament". They brought in Michael Buble to help with it.

I am going to direct you to the BNL site to buy it. I got a strange message from iTunes today that I could no longer purchase the item off their site (and I could not find a way to contact them to tell them I had a problem).

Weekend Music - Some Singles

As iTunes becomes my source for music, I find that I buy singles, not albums. I know there is nothing earth-shaking about that, but I often try other songs off an album and come away disappointed.

So, I am suggesting a few of singles and in no way vouch for other songs on the albums.

• Franky Perez - Something Crazy
• Ari Hest - Fascinate You
• Pat McGee Band - Beautiful Ways

Music, but really Content

I just like this post. It capture a lot of great ideas. It is about the music industry, but it is also about passion and Generation C.

[via Scoble's Linkblog]

Weekend Music - The Subdudes

I was (still am) a pretty big Huey Lewis and the News fan. I got tickets to see them live at Summerfest about 12 years ago. The band that opened for them was called The Subdudes and I thought they put on a better show then HL&TN. I can't tell you how many times I have listened to their Lucky album. They just have a great southern rock/blues sound. I should also say that I am a sucker for accordion and organ. They use a lot of the first.

After a seven year silence, The Subdudes have just released a new album called Miracle Mule. Check out Morning Glory, I'm Angry, or Maybe You Think.

P.S. For a limited time, the Subdudes are offering a free download of their song "Help is On The Way" on their website.

Weekend Music - Colin Hay

This week I am going to recommend listening to Colin Hay. You all know him as the front man of Men At Work. I find I really like his solo work. There was an episode of Scrubs that featured Hay and a few of his songs. He played an acoustic version of "Overkill" and the episode ended with the cast singing "Waiting for My Real Life to Begin".

His 2001 solo album Going Somewhere has "Waiting For...", but you will need to buy the import version to get the acoustic "Overkill". You can also find a slightly different acoustical version of "Overkill" on the Scrubs Soundtrack with Hay's "Beautiful World".

Might I also recommend his 2002 album Company of Strangers available at CD Baby.

The only Colin Hay I could find on iTunes was "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" on the Garden State Soundtrack (which was produced, written, and directed by Scrubs star Zach Braff) and you have to buy the whole album to get the song.

Weekend Music Pick

This week we are going to go with Sing, Sing, Sing performed by the Benny Goodman and his Orchestra. This is a remastered version from the Centennial Collection album just released last week. The best recorded version I have found is on the Swing Kids soundtrack.

I went to college at Michigan Tech and was a proud member of the MTU Pep Band. Sing, Sing, Sing was our trademark song. There are few songs that have the overwhelming energy Sing, Sing, Sing has. You can't help tapping your foot.

More Music Saturday

I did mean to go overboard today, but I run across this too.

James Shatner has a new album coming out. Ben Folds arranged and produced it. They have previews of all the track with interviews.

[via lighthearted boy]

Saturday's Music Question

Do You Have Bad Taste In Music?

Saturday Tunes

I mentioned awhile back that I would start posting some links to music I like.

I've decided weekends would be a good time to throw these out to you. Consider it the Weekend Edition of A Penny For...

I thought about writing a long explanation of the stuff I like, but it would take a long time and I don't think I would properly capture it anyway. Let me just say I listen to a wide range of stuff.

My links are going to send you to iTunes

My first link is going to be to Hands Down by Dashboard Confessional.