do-re-me!

Last week Chris had me sing while I played guitar. Not gonna lie: I'm pretty horrible. But I'm hoping that once I start understanding all these chords, fingering on the fretboard'll become a little easier, and I can just sing...and sing loudly and poorly -- like a great big jerk.

It doesn't have to be perfect to be fun!

On Friday it was tablature for Hey, Jude. But I'd like to learn something more ridiculous in the future. Chord-work for I Will Survive is in the works (sample above). Maybe some Justin Timberlake, or Gloria Estefan, or Biz Markie, or some Men At Work...and my most recent Top 40 crush, Leona Lewis too (I can't get that song out of head! Arggggh...and yaaay!).

the importance of being earnest

If I remember correctly, it's an Oscar Wilde play involving mistaken identities, the quest for love, and cucumber sandwiches. I'm certain of the cucumber sandwiches.

I enjoy music and movies that are earnest -- and earnest to the point of subversion. My flu-ridden weekend was filled with a highly suspect (but fun) decision to play ultimate in cold and windy weather (the only thing missing was the rain -- and thank goodness for that), and a Sunday filled with all things earnest: Multiple viewings of the movie / musical / extended music video, Once (!!!!) and Bon Iver's 'For Emma, Forever Ago' on repeat.

tencent mix #2: a salute to my hot pink, NKOTB fanny pack

I'm certain that I get more hipster cred than I know what to do with. In watching Harold & Kumar for the ump-teenth time and having discovered Owen Pallett's rendition of Mariah Carey's 'Fantasy' (Thanks, Alex!), I start to wonder where it all comes from. Maybe it's the beat-up Keds. Perhaps it's the graphic t's and excessive (to offensive) amount of java-drinking. More often than not, I'm sure it's having bands like Okervil River, Arcade Fire, Sunset Rubdown, and Beirut on my playlist.

Let's revisit Harold & Kumar for just one moment.

Can you remember when Harold steals the 'extreme' Jeep from those jerks at the Quick-E Mart? Remember what song they sing? That's right -- Wilson Phillips. Hold On.

Sooooooo not hipster.

But I know all the words. And I LIKE that Wilson, and that Phillips. I unabashedly admit to it. So I'm making a mix in honor of a few of the pop gems I discovered in my formative -- Casey Kasem listening, when-MTV-played-videos -- grade school years.

Here's a salute to my hot pink NKOTB fanny pack, and a head nod to the dichotomy that is me.