Mean Jean: Music

Today's music list is from Mean Jean.

This was like peeling off my skin to have to decide on just 10.

The first album I ever owned was The Seekers, with "I'll Never Find Another You" given to me for my birthday by a friend who forgot I didn't have a record player. Didn't listen to it much, would never have paid for it, but it was mine.

The rest of these are music that I listen to over and over. They mean something to me. Gypsy Kings and Cafe Noir are "falling in love" music. Abbey Road is sacred. The Def Leopard is fun, though I listen to it now and it sounds so tinny and hollow it still makes me want to dance. The Black Eyed Peas is my new WORKIN' music. You gotta move. Eric C. is on there because Mr. Mean plays all those songs.

• The Best of the Seekers
• Beatles - Abbey Road
• Cafe Noir - Waltz King, we burned a new copy of this and took off two cuts that were just stupid.
• Def Leopard - Pyromania
• Gypsy Kings - Mosaique
• John Prine - Sweet Revenge
• Robert Earl Keen - No Kinda Dancer
• La Bottine Souriante - Chic and Swell
• Eric Clapton - Unplugged
• Blackeyed Peas - Elephunk

Need Therapy?

Save some money on psychotherapy, and rent a movie instead: Movies for Therapy.

Movies can be more than entertainment; they can be therapeutic--helping people see themselves, others or issues in a new light. They can open up productive dialogue. This list on 53 topics has been compiled from suggestions received from various Christians. It includes both secular and Christian films. Hollywood films are easier to obtain, but require more discernment.

For example, if you're suffering from anxiety disorders, you should watch A Beautiful Mind. If you find that you are losing respect for the Bible, get out the popcorn and watch Le Chambon or Discovering The Bible.

Nice Thumbs

She is probably my favorite kalimba artists: Laura Barrett.

I'm a classically trained pianist and self-taught everything-else-ist who is still discovering more that my small workman's hands can create. Up until recently, I've been rocking the solo kalimba + voice project, whose accompanying EP, "Earth Sciences," includes whimsical ditties about amorphous terror, the weather, complacence and planned obsolescence.

Warning: Crappy Myspace site. The music may stop at any time.

(via Banjo Banjar)

Rush

Can his Web site get any uglier? The Rush Limbaugh Show. Not quite the ugliest Web site in the world, but it's a strong contender.

I count 12 pictures of Rush on the home page.

Fast For Dubya

Support the president, and lose weight at the same time: Fast For George W.

Answer a call to personally fast once a month for President Bush.

God is raising up multitudes of Christians (regardless of political affiliation) to fast and pray for the holiness of President George W. Bush and our nation. Join us in God's grassroots movement.

What's the point?

Our goal is to have 1,000 people fasting for the President each day. That will greatly encourage him and keep him accountable when the Evil One seeks to sidetrack him from his commitment to the Lord.

(via Exploding Aardvark)

Bees And Banjos

Here's a cool little music video by Mary Bee Z. Cox: Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss. Adding to her many talents, she's taken up beekeeping.

The song is one of my favorites on her new CD. She plays a duet with herself. One banjo is a custom Deering White Shell Laydie, and the other is a Jeff Menzies gourd banjo (similar to mine).

Colbert Entertains Dubya

If you haven't seen it yet: Colbert Does the White House Correspondents' dinner.

More here.

As Colbert walked from the podium, when it was over, the president and First Lady gave him quick nods, unsmiling, and handshakes, and left immediately.

Those seated near Bush told E&P's Joe Strupp, who was elsewhere in the room, that Bush quickly turned from an amused guest to an obviously offended target as Colbert's comments brought up his low approval ratings and problems in Iraq.

Sunday Photo Caption Contest

Add your caption.

Ten eMusic Freebies

If you're an eMusic subscriber, you might want to snag this free album: Stax Profiles Sampler. Some great oldies. Hurry, these things usually don't last long.

If you're not an eMusic subscriber, you're missing out on the world's best online music store -- the only one that doesn't sell DRM crippled music. And it's a lot cheaper than iTunes.

• Join eMusic

(Thanks Sparkit)

Brian Kassan: Top 10 Albums

Today's music list is an annotated list from Brian Kassan.

1. Odessey and Oracle-The Zombies
   This extraordinary, baroque offering from a highly unique band in their last days stands as the most perfectly conceived art-pop masterpiece ever to these ears. Absolutely lives up to any hyperbole. Simply breathtaking.
2. Pet Sounds-The Beach Boys
   The very definition of vision. Complex, heartfelt, spiritual...a musical melodic miracle. Different with each listen. I didn't understand it at first because of the "surf" context that had been there in my youth. But now, I hear the wonderful emotional tug in all Brian's music.
3. Revolver-The Beatles
   Is there such a word as claustraphonic? Heavy compression laces this record with a cool supersonic taughtness...what the hell am I saying? It just sounds so cool. The Beatles make it first to the psychedelic North Pole.
4. Repercussion-The dB's
   Southern boys filter their Britpop influences into a lovely, frantic jangle. Great harmonies abound. The Raspberries of their generation?
5. Skylarking-XTC
   Yes, Todd got Andy to focus. Andy is better with a great producer--most of us are. XTC at their most melodic, rustic, mathematic.
6. Singles Going Steady-Buzzcocks
   I know it's a comp of singles, but still seems like an album to me as I never bought them as singles. What punk? This is powerpop to me. The Beatles on speed. Don't do speed.
7. The Who Sell Out-The Who
   Not too ragged, not too stadium...just right. Pete's songwriting crystallizes, Roger before he stopped singing and started growling.
8. Village Green Preservation Society-The Kinks
   A grand musical statement out of time. Strange, nostalgic, charming. Utterly original.
9. OK Computer-Radiohead
   Disturbing, yet ultimately satisfying. Stuck to the roof of my brain. An accident?
10. Goin' Through Changes-Zumpano
    Canadians channel Bacharach and the Zombies into an artrock stew. Takes a few listens...worth every listen.

Impressions Of Iceland

This week's country: Iceland.

I've always been kind of fascinated with Iceland. Maybe someday I'll visit. It's pretty small -- smaller than the state of Kentucky.

Friday Open Mic

The weekend is upon us.

English Only, Please

Language news: Bush Opposes Singing Anthem in Spanish.

The national anthem should be sung in English -- not Spanish -- President Bush declared Friday, amid growing restlessness over the millions of immigrants here illegally.

"One of the things that's very important is, when we debate this issue, that we not lose our national soul," the president exclaimed. "One of the great things about America is that we've been able to take people from all walks of life bound as one nation under God. And that's the challenge ahead of us."

Next, he'll declare that the "national soul" requires belief in his Christian God.

Gas Price Map

At Gas Buddy: a nice zoomable U.S. map that shows gasoline prices by county.

Ad Odd Math Book

I wish they had books like this when I was in school: Precalculus for Christian Schools.

A reviewer posted some excerpts, including this one:

"Carl Friedrich Gauss first proved the fundamental theorem of algebra. There are many fundamental theorems: of arithmetic, calculus, and so on. These are so fundamental that many other theorems are derived from them. In the Bible, there are also fundamentals, without which Christianity would not exist: the deity of Christ, His substitutionary atonement, and the inspiration of the Bible, to name a few."

Giant Nostrils

The title of this page is almost as strange as the content: Sudden Giant Nostril Gallery.

(via Exploding Aardvark)

What’s The Problem?

Military news: General not merry about holiday vs. military spending.

Americans spent as much on "plastic Santa Clauses," tinsel and other holiday purchases last year as they will for defense in the coming year, the Army's top general said Wednesday, lamenting complaints about the military's budget requests.

Gen. Peter Schoomaker, the Army chief of staff, said: "I just don't understand. What's the problem?"

Schoomaker said the defense budget the Bush administration requested for the fiscal year starting in October - nearly $440 billion - plus the costs of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, is 3.9 percent of the nation's nearly $13 trillion overall economy.

There is no problem, Sir!

New Neil Young

Listen to Neil Young's new album: Living With War.

Unfortunately, it's really poor quality sound. I turned it off after two songs.