NOTICE: because I am totes schizo/obsessive, every sentence in this post will be exactly 140 characters, including this note 'splaining why.

What does it take to be both a good music blogger AND twitter-er while still maintaining a sense of credibility, availability and standards? That question can be answered by giving a dedicated read to an excellent article positioning music bloggers alongside this birdy little app.


Over the past week, Zoë from bigMETHOD spent numerous hours reaching out to music bloggers to gain insight on their personal use of twitter. As pleased as I am to have been a part of this social experiment, I've gained even more admiration for my colleagues' t[w]ips and t[w]icks.

Spinner, thecultureofme, Bangers & Trash and Discobelle all lent some handy twit knowledge to a piece which has become an engaged manifesto.

A hearty round of applause to all who participated in making the end result into a must read article for any avid blogger and/or twitter-er.

mp3: Juan Huevos - 140 BPM Gittinz Hot (Mix Master Mike)

Friends, Lovers, Bloggers, et al,

A new feature is being instituted into the world of Sheena Beaston and, in the continual effort to create a communal blogger environment, was hoping any and all of you might like to participate.

The feature is titled: "Best Song To...[fill in the blank]", with the "blank" obviously changing from week to week.


This week's inaugural post is simple: BEST SONG TO BANG TO

Send me your song selection, and ONE [1] sentence explaining why you love to get down to this track. Be witty, be serious, be whatever you want to be. (please include the url of your site, if indeed, you would like a link back within the post)

Here's an example:

Sheena Beaston: Hall and Oates - I Can't Go For That
"Because even nymphos like me have standards...when I'm not drunk!"

Follow my lead and be serious/silly. Got it? Good!!! All submissions MUST be received by 5pm Friday, April 3. Send here. Any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me.

mp3: The KnuX - Bang! Bang!

Firstly, do not worry. I'm going nowhere. Secondly, I have begun contributing to another site. Why? Oh, because my life isn't already hectic and busy enough.


In all honesty though, yesterday marked my inaugural post over at the wonderful Mossip site. You can read said post here.

I'll be tossing out some goodies over there at intermittent points throughout the week, most likely on topics ranging from the stuff you're used to seeing here to the random musings as to which hair care products make Bret Michael's extensions stay so shiny!

Willis has a great site over there, so if you're not already familiar with it, now is as good a time as ever to go get started!

mp3: No Doubt - Hella Good (Clockwork Remix)

I've been pretty neglectful on getting this piece of info out to you. A couple of my musically knowledgeable friends and I started another site around the beginning of this year. Friday Morning Riffs* is basically a forum for us like minded souls to bring you the soundtrack to your day.


We stick to one theme per day, oftentimes, they are pretty basic such as:
- Songs About Colors
- Canadian Artists
- Hip Hop Songs That Sample Old Shit

Other days, it gets a little more off the wall, like:
- Songs About Falling
- Twisted Love Songs
- Songs With Banned Videos

We don't post mp3's there. But there is so much YouTubeage, you can spend hours on the site, days even!

I TRY to post at least twice a day there, but y'know, a regular job coupled with my baby [this site], sometimes, it's hard to keep up. Thank god we've got a solid handful of contributors to make up for my slackishness.

Today's theme is Songs That Make You Smile, cause it's Friday, and how can that not bring a smile to your face! Here's my riff. And a housey, jungle trancey, dancey version of the track is right below.

mp3: Spice Girls - Say Youll Be There [Juniors Main Pass Mix]

*Even though the title of the site is Friday Morning Riffs, we post every weekday. Got it? Good.

Part social networking experiment and all music blogger feedback, I recently took part in a collaboration of ideas. A virtual roundtable of music blogs and their owners in a discussion on the ins and outs, the whos and whats of what we dig [and don't] when it comes to Blog PR.


Spearheaded by Zoe of bigMETHOD, a vast assortment of quotes, quips, queries and questions were raised, answered, and compiled for your reading enjoyment.

By no means is this to be read as a righteous attempt at us saying "Hey this is who we are and what we do, so you should freaking respect us!"

It's more along the lines of, "You know, we're here to give you a forum in which to get your voice heard, and here's the best way to make sure your stuff doesn't sit in that half eaten bag of Doritos on my desk."

You can read the article in it's entirety here.

Personally, I would like to take the time to thank all the PR people, artists, labels, etc...that continually impress me with their class, professionalism, and interest in what I do here. It means a lot.

And to all the readers as well, here's a sweet treat for allowing me to stand on a tiny little soapbox for the moment. You are all the cutest little dears to me!

mp3: Theophilus London - Sandcastle (Black x Blue)

Buffetlibre DJ's are back with Continental Breakfast, their new mp3 experience!


Continental Breakfast is a new blog-based project, where they include some small music pills in mp3 format. Not a common music blog and not a news magazine. Some examples of these are the "All You Can Eat" mixtapes (thematic mixtapes), "Buffetlibre Dj's Compilations", "Recipes", "Selected" mixtapes, etc.

First music pills are:
- All You Can Eat Vol.1: 100 pop songs (free download)
- Recipe: Corn Cake With Condensed Milk, by Bonde Do Role
- Selected: The perfect song to accompany a Continental Breakfast selected by your fave artists
- Buffetlibre DJ's B Compilation: Free download album with the best producers from Barcelona
- All You Can Eat vol. 1: Primavera Sound Festival free mixtape.

Buffetlibre DJ's B Compilation can be downloaded in full here. Or sample a track below. TASTY!

mp3: Mendetz - The Boola (The Requesters remix)

Quick note:

If you're not going to Burning the Ground on a daily basis, then we cease to be friends.

:)

xoheartstarrock,
Sheena Beaston

It's been a while since we've done a featured site interview here. We did a bunch in the early stages of the site in the hopes to draw more traffic, but now, we're doing it simply because I Don't Want Your Life makes us feel like we're on 'dolls and 'ludes. You know...constant state of euphoria with giggles aplenty. Er, not that we know firsthand. Let's just do this.


What made you want to start a blog/when did you start yours?
Like a year ago? I just do it to entertain myself, because I think that I'm hilarious. I'm the type of dude that can't finish telling a joke because I'll start giggling like a little girl.. But that's not like a shout-out to some underage coochie, because I'm not into that at all. I'm just self-centered.


What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
That's impossible to answer, but the last song I listened to was Megan by The Smoking Popes.


What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer.
These are hard hitting questions you're asking. Seriously. Ummmm I like whenever they piece together bands on Family Guy. One minute they're being chased by the cops, and then next they're all on stage together "jammin". But you gotta have a cow on keyboards. Without the cow your band ain't shit!


Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Idontwantyourlife.com!


Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
Yeah Cry Me A River was some real ass shit!! No, but I'll listen to pop-like radio stations that play shit like The Pussycat Dolls when I'm in the car alone. I also masturbate on long drives, but whether or not someone else is in the car with me plays no part in that. Wanna take a drive up North?


Who's next? (your pick for the artist who you think is about to completely blow up and be huge)
I think Hayden Panettiere's new record is gonna change the world! I heard when you play it little Oompa Loompa's start crawling out of the woodworks, and start eating dogs & shit. It's gonna be like the Oompa Loompa "Night Of The Living Dead"


I'm casting your movie biopic...who is playing the lead as Messy Jesse?
Oh that's easy, the lead singer of Radiohead! Watching that dude's wonk-eye is the best shit ever. If he started dating Paris Hilton my head would probably explode. I gotta match up their donk eyes on my blog next week.


Best concert experience?
I've never been to a huge concert. I always end up seeing all these stomped on bands in little shithole bars that you can't even smoke in. What the fuck is that?! How am I supposed to look cool without a cigarette when some dirty slut is checking me?


If you could have any artist's career (musician, painter, actor, athlete, etc...) who would it be and why?
Mine like a year from now, because making a 100 billion dollars talking about Lauren Conrad's mustache is a respectable career..

Hey there Mustache Baby
What’s it like in New Hills City?
I’m a couple miles away
But stache tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Tom Selleck’s mustache can’t shine as bright as you
I swear it’s true

Hey there Mustache Baby
Don’t you worry about the stubbles
I’m right there if you get rashly
Give this Old Spice another splashy
Close your eyes
Listen to my electric razor it’s my disguise
I’m by your side

Oh it’s what your mustache does to me
Oh it’s what it does to me
Oh it’s what your mustache does to

Hey there Mustache Baby
I know times are getting hairy
But just believe me girl
Someday I’ll pay the bills with this blackberry
We’ll have it good
I’ll have the blog we knew I would
My word is good

Hey there Mustache Baby
I’ve got so much left to shave
If every simple stache I took from you
Would take your breath away
I’d shave them all
Even more in love with me you’d fall
We’d have it all

Hey there Mustache Baby
You be good and don’t you miss me
Two more years and you’ll be done with Hills
And I’ll be making gossip history like I do
You know it’s all because of you
We can shave whenever we want to
Hey there Mustache Baby here’s to you
This bics for you

Oh it’s what your mustache does to me
Oh it’s what it does to me
Oh it’s what your mustache does to me

You're throwing a party for celebs...who brings the chips and who brings the booze?
Brooke Hogan can bring the chips because who the fuck wants chips at a party anyway?! And I'm not letting that dude's 4 inch dick-clit in the place. There's respectable sluts here looking to get date-raped, and that bitch's beastness will sobor up a party real quick. As far as getting fucked up, I guess we can invite Amy Winehouse.. But don't let that chickenhead sit down on my couch! I'll have to burn that motherfucker afterwards, and she's gotta be dipped for fleas first too.

It's imperative to visit I Don't Want Your Life every day. Youre guaranteed to be left in stitches, diapers or handcuffs upon reading. Huge thanks to Messy Jesse. Yeah, we'll take that drive with you up north now!

And don't it hurt so good? Well, that's the way I see it. You Been Crushed is the newly launched blog of Crushed Records, who are the label hosts with the mosts. Those being the super stylish and sassy Purple Crush and the electro dub wonder, Mike Genius.


Now this is not a request, but a DEMAND. Go and visit their site. Daily.

I cannot stress enough that your efforts will not be in vain.

mp3: Britney Spears - Crush
mp3: Gemma Fox - Crazy Crush
mp3: Lil Kim and Lil Ceaz - Crush on You

Raise your hand if you love Sweden!

Discobelle is a Swedish blog about music. GOOD music. These lads know their stuff and if you want to be in the know too, well, then, by all means, check out the brief interview below. And then make visiting Discobelle a daily occurrence.


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
The blog started as spin off from a Swedish blog that we and a few others used to run. Back then we had a club and radio show too and the Swedish blog was more a way of keeping people up to date on what we were up to. And to recommend good clubbing in the area.

After a while we realised that our mix series was taking off outside of Sweden, and a lot of people were showing interest in the blog but couldn't understand what we were writing. So along with a shift in musical style we branched out and started Discobelle.net. This was in January 2006, and since then things have just gone upwards.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
Our styles of music vary so much that it would be impossible to try to list any amount of tracks that would go for all of us. Or even rank them. But I'll list five tracks that I love just to give it a shot anyway. And I'm going for stuff that's not Discobelle-style of music, that would be a bit boring.

* Trauermusik - Partial Arts. Just an amazingly subtle but powerful track that is a great example of how underrated electronic music often is by the rest of the world.

* The Köln Concert - Keith Jarrett. Possibly the best and most beautiful piano piece in modern time.

* What's going on - Marvin Gaye. The album is still up there after all these years. Marvin knows how to sound sincere about serious issues without being cheesy. And fantastic harmonies to go.

* Outside - Remembrance. A rare track from an artist that I never found anything else by. I found it on a fairly bad electronic/ambient collection but was completely hooked by the strings which are amazing. Sort of Nightmares on Wax but more acoustic somehow.

* Wanna be Starting Something - Michael Jackson. If you play this track and it doesn't get people dancing you might as well go home. It's just got the vibe that makes you want to move.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
I'm not much of a band man really. I tend not to look at music from the formation of the people behind it, especially since electronic music as made this view fairly obsolete. Get a few people together that can bash out a melody, and then let Jacques lu Cont produce it and it will be just fine.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
We have an all star mailing list for music bloggers called Grindin. Anyone on there is well worth reading. All the links our in our sidebar on Discobelle.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
We're putting a few Swedish crowns on Boy 8-bit. And thanks for featuring us!

Thanks to you as well, Bjorn!

It's been a while since I've had a featured site on here. So why not get back in the groove with a spectacular site whose creator is based on the same hometurf as me.


Here we go...


1. What made you want to start a blog/when did you start your blog?
To be honest, am.fm.pm was born of boredom. At both work and home, I found that a person can in fact reach the end of the internet, and upon hitting that content nadir, I basically decided to put together the kind of site that I thought I would want to hit up every day. Something with which I could plug my friends’ projects, my own writing, and trumpet fresh music- all with an eye on the broader media landscape. am.fm.pm will be a year old in May, and looking back, much of 2007’s content is pretty rough. I jumped back and forth between referring to myself in the 3rd person, there was little uniform formatting, and, ultimate blog sin: most mp3s were pulled and hosted by dex digging Google. But we’re better now.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
I could spit epic essays on each of these, but in the interest of curbing my own verbosity:

The Lovin’ Spoonful “Younger Generation”
The Bens “Bruised”
Earth, Wind, and Fire “September”
The Five Stairsteps “Ooh Child”
Jeff Moss “I Don’t Want to Live on the Moon” (as performed by Ernie)


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)

Lead singer: Stevie Wonder. Journey’s Neal Schon on lead guitar. Bass: Lemmy from Motorhead. Rahzel on percussion. Bandleader: Maceo Parker. Backup singers: The Chi-Lites.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Street Carnage, a relatively new site developed by Gavin McInnes (cofounder of Vice Magazine) and Derrick Beckles (TV Carnage) is fucking amazing. It’s Vice with heavy pop sensibilities, and they have great contributors like Jim Goad and David Cross. Richcolour’s Mastermix Dot Org doesn’t update too often, but the wealth of media to explore is worth taking your time with. And the Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theater just launched a video portal, UCBComedy.com, with some of the better sketch materiel on the web right now, conveniently available without having to sift through YouTube crap.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
Much of my site’s music content is build around what I like to call Shame Jams. There’s something liberating about being able to take to quotation marks of “irony” off a lame song and enjoy it for what it is, you know? People love to hate on Hall and Oates, Michael McDonald, etc. Fact of the matter is, artists like that are responsible for some of the juiciest pop music of all time. On the flip side of the coin though, you have genuinely terrible music that no one should listen to. Ever. That’s a Shame Jam. So I’ve got to fess up to Moby’s “Feeling So Real”, and Prozzak’s “Sucks To Be You”.


6. Who's next?
I feel like Los Campesinos out of the UK are gonna take the States by storm come this fall. Wait ‘till the college kids are back in town. It’ll happen.


7. I'm casting your movie biopic...who is playing the lead as you?
Fat Jared Jeto. No. Wait. Liev Schrieber. Fat Liev Schrieber.


8. Best concert experience?
My best concert experience was Daft Punk at Keyspan Park, August 2007. To quote my little brother, “I had a crygasm”. But my favorite concert story is probably from one I played. In high school, I was in a punk band called The Briggands, later named Trisomy. We never really took ourselves too seriously, but played any of the local Battle of the Bands that came around our area. Our town’s Youth Basketball League sponsored one such competition towards the end of the school year once, and when the backstage straw pull to determine playing order went down, The Briggands came up first.

The set was fine, though the Youth Basketball supporters were a little sleepy. We closed our set as always with this track called “Undertow”, a thinly veiled metaphor for getting high with our crew, under the guise of a surf song. (Even though we all lived in northern, landlocked Massachusetts.) As the song began, I gave a shout out for our people, a 30+ gang called The Four, to join us up on stage. The song progressed as usual. But come the second chorus, I turned around for brief moment to see my friend Matt flying at a perfect horizontal angle into my friend Darby’s stomach. The rowdiness registered, but I didn’t address it. We finished the song, the playlist, said thanks, and left the stage.

As soon as we were off, Mr. Hamilton, the with it middle school music teacher, and a league of angry basketball moms- queens of the cold cream lagoon- were waiting for us in the wings. We were informed that during the set, not only had everybody been fighting, but had been flipping off the audience, dry humping each other, and that our friend Cole had completely dropped trou’ on stage. The police came, and needless to say, we didn’t win the Sam Goody gift certificate. Then again, the kids that won covered two fucking Fuel songs. So we didn’t feel too bad about it.


9. If you could have any artist's career (musician, painter, actor, athlete, etc...) who would it be and why?
Gotta be Prince. The freedoms he was allowed by Warner as a young artist, his strict adherence to his own tastes and standards over the years, his refusal to compromise when he felt stifled by the labels- even after all the negativity that’s been thrown his way for stuff like Nave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, 30(!) years after his first album he gets to sit back, arms crossed and say “I told you so”.


10. You're throwing a party for celebs...who brings the chips and who brings the booze?
I don’t really care for vodka outside of a dirty martini, but maybe Vincent Gallo and RZA could hook it up with some Belvedere. You know, before Gallo says something terrible to a black girl and is asked to leave. Snacks would be on MF Doom, not only because of MM..Food, but he’d probs bring good shit, like Little Debbie snack cakes. And he could hang with RZA when I kick Vincent Gallo out.

Tune your web dials into am.fm.pm to get daily doses of tasty music!

What's an individual to do after they get weird?

Turn pro, of course!

Get in on the get down with Paul from Get Weird Turn Pro! I'm pretty sure I haven't come across a more thorough blog in a while. I throw around the "this site is awesome!" and "you need to read this blog!" terminology a lot, (no offense to my other featured sites...i love you all like my most favorite child) however, TRUST when I say you should make this site your daily fix.


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
Always been in love with music, always read the blogs and fancied giving it a go. The blog has been going just over a year now, there wasn't the usual fanfare about the birthday, kept it on the down low.

2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
808 State - Pacific
Big acid house tune from manchester (where the blog is based).

Kraftwerk - Trans-Europe Express
Very old school and have always loved it.

Ministry - Jesus Built My Hotrod
Shouldn't need an explanation.

Iggy Pop & the Stooges - Search and Destroy
As above.

Bobby Womack - Across 110 Street
Loved the Tarantino movie Jackie Brown and this is in the opening titles.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
vocals - Damian Marley, is carrying his fathers legacy strong and his voice is great.
lead guitar - Jimi Hendrix, i had a argument recently with someone who said he was overrated.
bass player - Cliff Burton, who played on the early Metallica albums but who sadly got squashed by a bus.
drums - Keith Moon, who drummed for The Who who was never built to last.
keys - Goldy McJohn, from the rock band Steppenwolf for the licks.
beats - Dave Taylor/Switch would be interesting providing the beats.
back up vocals - Aretha Franklin.
hype - Flava Flav from public enemy before he really turned into a clown.
triangle and/or kazoo - Me, I can't play any instruments but I'd like to be on stage with those guys.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
palmsout sounds, discobelle, disco dust, trash menagerie, pinglewood, big stereo, missing toof, disturbed beats, curbcrawlers and stuff white people like is pretty funny.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
It's Girls Aloud all the way, but only because I'd willing (or otherwise) sleep with three of them. Plus any of that old AOR like Foreigner, Mr. Mister, Cutting Crew and Toto gets me feeling nice and cheesy.


6. Who's next?
Santogold hopefully. She's the truth.

Paul, you're weird, you're pro, and the world needs more people like you. So students, mount up and giddy on over to Get Weird Turn Pro!

Without a doubt, La Musique Bruit has to be one of my newest addictions. Maybe it's the unabashed love for Ladytron (killer!) or just the fact that Lukus' general music tastes parallel a good portion of mine, so I know when I visit his site, I won't be disappointed.


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
May last Year, to get my own music heard, but didnt start really posting untill August/October... then it kinda just took over my life.
I remember my mate telling me about The Sexy Result blog site, which we got a lot of new tunes from, & I was so impressed that I wanted to do the same as Tristan. I contacted Tristan and asked to be an affiliate... & when i got a return email I was so excited. The funny thing is that we're kinda the same kinda guy just in different parts of the world, doing the same thing. Now we talk about music and swap projects from time to time. I get a heck of a lot of traffic from SR and am so thankful for that. For me blogging is definitely about letting others know about the music I love and helping them discover artists that maybe overpowered by commercial crap out there.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
WOW! Asking a music addict that Q is crazy. My brain is going to have to go into overload right now. OKAY here goes. In no particular order of course...

1. The Scanners - Lowlife
I really can't remember how I came across this track, but from the moment I heard it, I was taken away, since then I have loved other tracks by these guys/gals but no matter how many times I play this song I never seem to get sick of it.

2. Massive Attack - Teardrop
Legendary!!!! I even love all the covers that are floating around, the drum that signifies a heartbeat pulls me in every time.

3. Aaliyah - Try Again
R.I.P. could have been the Queen of R&B, the voice on an angel. Nothing compares
to this chick, a simple yet great formula of a song created by Timbo, & now Timbaland is making all artists who work with him so massive. Good on him.

4. Lo-Tel - Teenager of the Year
An Aussie band, which when were together took my ears to another place this song means so much to me, mainly because I was a teen when it came out and school wasn't always fun and games for me. So the words have a place in my heart.

5. Michael Jackson - Thriller/Leave Me Alone
Okay so I know I just made it 6 songs BUT I can't help it. MJ has so many good songs that I never EVER will get over especially Thriller & Leave me alone. Arrhh, his music has been apart of me from birth.



3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
This is goin to be interesting.
Lead Singer: Natalie Imbruglia (This chick has a nice rock voice, & I support Aussies all the way)
Lead Guitar: Jon Foreman (Lead singer of Switchfoot, so he can also share the vocals with Nat)
Bass Guitar: Hmmm who is a famous bass player? The guy from the Foo Figher Heck i dont know!!!
Drummer: Lindsay Lohan - haha it might be good for her come back
Backup Singers: The Veronicas. Well its nice to have chicks that look the same)


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
The Sexy Result. Tristan's blog is what started it for me and i checkback all the time.
Electro/Retro. Gus' blog is another winner, nice layout and has good material.
Music Godfather. This blog has new material that is buzzing around for you to hear it b4 anyone else.
Hipster Runoff. Also a good read!!


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
YEP!!! Haha don't tell anyone that I have the Greatest Hits CD of SClub7...& the Spice Girls too. I give most songs a chance... let me look at my iTunes library...Most pop songs from when i was growing up...its a part of me forever...such as Aqua & Backstreet Boys.


6. Who's next?
Not sure. Hey! I hope myself. Haha...got runner up in 2 comps last year and just about to finish my forthcoming LP. So maybe me!!!

Totally rocking answers Lukus and best of luck with the LP! Note to all: support this lad from down under!

We'd all like to think that we have the most music knowledge amongst our groups of friends. Right? Oh, that might just be me. Thanks to both budding and established music critique sites, an eternal wealth of music education is continually bestowed upon me. While I find pleasure in seeking out new artists and seeing them gain notoriety, it's sites like Idolator that keep me in the know.

I'll get off my soapbox now. This is not a self-imposed interview. Let's leave it to the pros.

Take it away, Kate!


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
Well, in the case of Idolator, Gawker Media decided to start a music blog back in 2006 and I simply applied to be the intern. But before that I wrote blurbs about upcoming concerts for my hometown alt weekly, the Houston Press, which was something akin to music blogging, but far less glamorous and without the option of YouTube embeds.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
These sorts of questions always make me really uneasy because there are so many songs that I love, but I can usually never remember them, and if I do I have a terrible time deciding which are my favorites. But ok, here goes, and in no particular order because that's just too difficult...

1. "My Slumbering Heart" Rilo Kiley
To me this is the perfect song. It's dynamic without seeming fussy, high energy, but not frantic, vulnerable, but not sappy, and just ever-so-slightly profound, but not pretentious. I prefer to listen to it in the car at max volume.

2. "She's Got a New Spell" Billy Bragg
My dad played the album Worker's Playtime in the car and around the house constantly when I was really young, and I've always loved this song.

3. "Judy and the Dream of Horses" Belle & Sebastian
If You're Feeling Sinister is without a doubt in my top five albums of all time. A friend of mine introduced me to it in 10th grade and I've listened to it in its entirety at least once a week since then. I used to think Get Me Away From Here I'm Dying was my favorite song off that album, but in the last year I've grown to love Judy and the Dream of Horses the most. It's perfect. The lyrics are at once sad, reassuring, and smart, and the softly building instrumentation is truly beautiful. For an easy listening enthusiast such as myself, the moment when the percussion and mellow trumpet kick in is sheer genius.

4. "Satisfy My Soul" Bob Marley
Told you I liked easy listening. I had a really difficult time choosing between this song, No Woman, No Cry (the live version from Legend), and Redemption Song. Ultimately I chose this one because I think the lyrics are are some of the best about love ever written (despite Bob's rather dubious fidelity record). The line "When I meet you around the corner, you make me feel like a sweepstakes winner" is flat-out perfect.

5. "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant" Billy Joel
It's like the Gone With the Wind of pop songs: sweeping, epic, tragic, triumphant. Honestly, what's better than this song? Maybe Only the Good Die Young, but that one doesn't have a clarinet solo, nor Brenda and Eddie, for that matter.

Runners-up include most songs by Jimmy Buffett between the years of 1974 and 1979, the song Pancake America by Tiger Tunes, the entire Midlake album The Trials of Van Occupanther, Landslide by Fleetwood Mac, and Speak Easy by Maria Taylor.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
Dolly Parton on lead vocals, Stevie Nicks and Jenny Lewis on backup vocals, Blake Sennett on guitar, Mark Hoppus on bass (don't ask)...hmm, I don't know much about drummers. Let's just go with Ringo because I'm lazy. Maybe Timbaland could drop in some beats every once in a while, too. Sir Elton on the keyboard.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Definitely the A.V. Club. It's by far the best all-purpose media/entertainment criticism site around, with an especially strong cinema section.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
My general philosophy is to have no shame. But two of my more embarrassing favorites are Big Girls Don't Cry (Personal) by Fergie, and Stay by Lisa Loeb. I also really love Jimmy Buffett, which some people think is shameful, but I don't.


6. Who's next?
I'm kind of terrible with keeping up with this sort of stuff. Vampire Weekend seems to be the big favorite lately. But if there were any justice in the world the band Wye Oak from Baltimore would be big stars.

If you're wise, you'll make visiting Idolator a daily ritual. And then after you check that out, mosey on over to Kate's other sites here and here.

Watch out or Sheila will choke on the nut! (This won't make any sense to any of you other than the sassafrass little lady who I'm about to feature.)


A Blog of a Good Time is the coherent ramblings of a genius gal from western PA. Ms. Julie Gong and I went to college together. And when I say "went to college", I mean we skipped lots of glasses to play tennis and lay out and bask in the sun. She's the only person I've ever been intimidated to challenge to a dance-off because I've seen her bust out triple splits, and as you can imagine, they are nothing short of AMAZING.

She has a PFK (peachy f*cking keen) knowledge of music, so why not listen to what she has to say below.


1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
It's more like who made me start the blog. Two words, L and F. (the initials of a close friend who shall remain nameless). She told me about blogging back when blogs were still little babies. Such a trend setter. I resisted as long as I could and initially started out writing 3 sentence little blurbs about green olives and sneezing on myself. Then while watching Bug Juice on the Disney channel one night I became inspired and decided I had some really important things to say about the lives of those campers. It just sort of grew from there and became an outlet for all the things I wanted to talk about but no one else really cared to hear about. Someone told me the other day that when they first started reading they thought I was this free-spirited 35 year old woman with a really wonderful open-minded approach to life and were shocked to discover I was in my early 20's. I thought that was interesting because I'm pretty sure 35 year olds know where to put commas. Anyway... I write about a bunch of random nonsense that makes up my every day life. And I kept it going mostly for myself so I could always have those little odd moments I've been collecting the past four years to cherish and show my unborn children, Jack and Madison, just how retarded their Mama was.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
While I love me a good top 5 list, these are in random order.

A-Ha - Take On Me - Do not hate on this song. Seriously! You'll get a punch in the face if you try and say it is "cliche" It reminds me of my Dad. Awh...

Coldplay - Clocks - I saw them in concert a few years ago and thought I was going to explode hearing the power behind that opening piano riff.

U2 - With or Without You - Maybe it's because it marked the first moment Rachel and Ross together. Or maybe it's because I love a man in shades. Either way I just love the song.

Dave Matthews Band - Crash - I enjoy the acoustic version a little more but any version reminds me of my freshman year of high school.

Etta James - At Last - Every word Etta sings I've felt about someone before. She makes falling in love feel so much more real.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
Holy smokes, this is hard. I might be the worst person in the world to ask these sort of questions too. Especially because I have like 47 people I want to put at each spot. It would be like Julie Gong and The Polyphonic Spree. Only we wouldn't wear those stupid colored smocks or whatever you call them. Those things altar boys wear? What am I even talking about? Ok my band...

Lead Singer: Mama Cass
Backup Singers: T-Boz, Justin Timberlake, Judy Garland (She probably doesn't count but her voice melts my heart into puddles)
Lead Guitar: Nancy Wilson and Prince
Bass Guitar: Sting (Mostly because he is the only person I can think of who plays bass)
Drummer: Meg White
Whatever It Is That They Do: Daft Punk
Keytarist: Justin Timberlake (He's working hard for his money. I saw him play a mean keytar in concert)
Back Up Dancers: Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Ann Miller, and the little girl from those Missy videos

I think this is the most random band in history. And would probably be different if I had more time to think about it. I was really struggling with the singers. I just have so many faves!


4. Any other blogs, music or nohttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifn-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Music: I check out Hipster Runoff and Panda Toes on a daily basis.

Non Music: Your Beard is Good kills me. And The Typing Makes Me Sound Busy has become a new obsession.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
I despise country. Loathe it. If I could make a deal with someone that wiped out country music for the rest of history and in return I could only listen to Nickelback or Creed I would do it because I knew I'd be saving millions of people from having to endure the pain that is country music. Having said that, on occasion I've sung along to a few Rascal Flats songs. I can't even believe I just wrote that. I have to go punch myself in the face now.


6. Who's next?
I totally have a lady boner for She & Him, MGMT, and Ra Ra Riot right now. These three bands are in constant rotation for me. You could say MGMT already "blew up" because I heard their song Weekend Warriors in a commercial for a movie so maybe they don't count but I still like them bunches. She & Him I have a feeling will go far especially with the one-two combo of M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel. And Ra Ra Riot just sounds like heaven to me. I'm hoping to catch the show when they come in the Burgh in April.

Julie Gong says: Thanks for letting me participate and procrastinate from doing actual work for a while!

Always glad to be of service, and a hearty tip of the cap to you, madam. Now, why don't the rest of you procrastinate a little more and check out A Blog of a Good Time!

EGAD! What have we here? A non-music centrally-themed blog participating in Sheena Beaston's Featured Sites? (Oh, and how can one resist the incredible cuteness of mini ponies? Really. It just doesn't get much more adorable than that.)


PSaMP is the brainchild of my morally unconscious brother. I jest. He's moral, just not always conscious. I figured, why not let blood ties be blood ties, and pimp a brother and his site out. He has decent music taste, so we'll let him slide.

Brother, throw your knowledge all over the site...

1. What made you want to start a blog/music blog/when did you start your blog?
I started PSaMP just over a year ago, in mid-March of '07. The Penguins (my favorite hockey team) had just announced a 30-year deal to keep them in Pittsburgh, and I needed a place to express my feelings. I had been chatting about sports with friends for as long as I can remember, and thought starting a blog would be a next logical step. Its been over a year, and I can't be any happier with how its turned out thus far.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
Nick Drake - Time Has Told Me
Although, anything from "Five Leaves Left" would do.

Immortal Technique - Leaving the Past
"Hell is not a place you go, if you're not a Christian. It's the failure of your life's greatest ambition." Yes please.

Akir - One
The Remix with Immortal Technique is fantastic, but I gotta give love to the original.

Andrew W.K. - She Is Beautiful
His combination of simplicity and fun-loving freedom will never be duplicated.

Brand New - Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis
One of the best structured songs I've ever heard.

So many others, though. I'll look back on this and hate all those that I forgot. Any Phill Collins, Bone Thugs, Blackalicious, Gift of Gab, Saigon, Polyphonic Spree, Classic Rock...the list goes on and on...


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
Nick Drake singing, Prince on guitar, Les Claypool on bass and Andrew W.K. on the drums. I would pay great money to see that band. Bone Thugs on backing vocals. I just sharted.


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
I don't visit music blogs frequently, but I'll throw a sports-bone to the music-loving readers out there. Deadspin and The Big Lead are great for multi-sport coverage. Kissing Suzy Kolber, With Leather, Awful Announcing and Larry Brown Sports are must-reads. Pittsburgh-wise, I suggest One For The Other Thumb and The Pensblog. Sports fans...there is an unbelievable amount of coverage out there. Don't just settle for ESPN.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
Mariah Carey's Don't Forget About Us remix. Anything Usher, especially Confessions pt. 2 Remix. And StickWitU. SHUT UP NOW.


6. Who's next?
I've been a huge fan of Akir for the longest, but I don't want him to blow up, I guess. We all have those artists that we love and we alone love. When they blow up, they become less of "yours" and more of "everybody's." I read a review that said he was doing a better Nas than Nas himself. And its the truth. He has the talent to be "next," but I'll be content with no one else knowing him.


Sassy little answers there bro...now if sports and or the prevalence of miniature equine interest any of you, head on over to PSaMP!

Unearthing a hidden gem like the blog over at Electro Retro gave me such a sense of overflowing dancetastic pride that I HAD to get it's creator to share his insight with you.


Thankfully, he obliged...and let me tell you, if there was ever a male version of me in terms of heartpumping, feet-exploding, chest-pounding beat loving, then Gustavo, I tip my cap to you! Between his love of Goldfrapp (heart!), Kylie (heart!) and other lesser known acts such as Huski and iiO (heart them both!), I know I can always count on Electro Retro to fulfill my sweat induced banging needs.

Take it away Gustavo...

1. What made you want to start a music blog/when did you start your blog?
Well I was introduced to the blogging world through Ali's Blog. I visited often and I thought it was a really neat idea to be able to speak to an audience and introduce artists to people who don't know about them yet. I'm a HUGE music freak, I purchase music more than I do anything else (Ha, I know thats bad!) but I can't help it. Music gives me this release that I can't find anywhere else. Music is what I am. So I thought to myself, well I do have a pretty big collection and it's only getting bigger, might as well share it with everyone else. So I opened up Electro Retro back in December of 2007. At that time, things were not going as I planned, so it took some time to get my mojo going, but I think the amazing people who visit my blog love what I post. I just feel lucky that I can express what I love so much with people from all over the world, it's a damn good feeling. I think now, my site is pretty much where I want it to be. I believe it stands out more then other blogs because other blogs are generic in that they only post Pop or Hip-Hop, thats not me. Music is my calling.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time? (Any supporting info/personal tales recalling why it’s one of your favorites are more than accepted)
Wow wow wow wooow, thats a tough one. I think thats my new catch phrase! Ok so let me think..... ok got it. Take in mind these are in no particular order.

1. Blondie - Heart Of Glass (The song is a classic, No one can ever fill Blondie's shoes. This song paved the way for the music we have today. Give props where props are due.)

2. Goldfrapp - Let It Take U (Goldfrapp, I believe, is such an amazing artist. She is my favorite artist of all time, and I just LOVE her. The song is so soft yet raw, it taps into the warmest part of me. It takes me to a place I never thought I can be, a dream. I tear up when I hear it.)

3. Tavares - Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel (My mom used to sing this song to me. My Mom is the most amazing person I have ever known. We've been through a lot. My father used to abuse us, and she had the courage to take control of not only her life but mine. I love her for sacrificing everything to give me a better life. She has also accepted me for who I am. I LOVE my Mom!)

4. Selena - Dreaming Of You (A lot of people don't know about Selena, it's a shame. Selena was a Latina artist who paved the road not only for other Latinas in the music industry, but Latinos in general. Selena was just genuine, and true to who she was. I was a little kid when the song came out, the song gave me hope that one day I can be whatever I wanted to be. That I can do more than just dream.)

5. Beyonce - Me, Myself, and I (This song is so important to me. I was going through a lot during this time. I was coming to terms about my sexuality and I remember just feeling the lowest I could ever be. There was this one guy that I was so into at the time, I guess you can say my first love. We talked for a while and things progressed little by little. When we finally had the courage to be together and I remember just feeling so alive for the first time. Word got out about our relationship, I went to a really homophobic school. Long story short, I got jumped by about 15 guys, the guy I was with got his car trashed and no one got punished. His parents beat him for finding out the truth and made him move to California to stay with relatives. They thought it was all my fault. He left without saying goodbye and I was left to pick up the pieces. I realized at that moment that in life, all you have is Me, Myself, and I. Now I am strong, I'm happy.)

I also love "Hung Up" from Madonna and "Fragile" from Kylie Minogue, great songs.


3. What is your ideal band formation… can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
I would get Alison Goldfrapp to be the lead singer, Madonna and Kylie can be back up singers. (Ha, like Madonna could sing!) Will Gregory can be the keyboardist, he is an inspiration. I don't know too much about guitartist or drummers. I guess Madonna and Kylie can do that too, hahaha! I love them all, why don't they just get together and make a track. That would be my dream come true, I would be able to die in peace after that. Imagine the message they could send! Women are like gay men, they have too much pride to work together. Haha!


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
My boy Vamsuli has an AMAZING site, it's called Love Kylie. Vamsuli has been an amazing partner in crime and has helped me out with a lot. He also has another site called Please Don't Stop The Music, he's taking a break from it, but hopefully he will be back soon. Also Erin has an amazing site, it's called Magnetic Electric, Erin has been there from the beginning, and has given me strength to continue when I have none. Actually, it was when my site was on the brink of being shut down, I seen a comment she posted, and it meant a lot to me. I want to thank them both. Their sites are amazing so check them out. Also, I have some websites you can visit in my affiliates column on my website, they're amazing and I want to thank them for their amazing support.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
Oh man, I'm going to get killed for this. Ok one song that I absolutely love but will never tell a soul, or be caught listening to is Katalina's DJ Girl, it was recorded back in 1996, back when dance was in. A close second would be Mariah's Touch My Body. I HATE Mariah, I don't even know why, I just do. It's not because I'm a Madonna fan because I could care less about little rivalries. The song has grown on me I hate to admit. Don't stone me to death now guys.


6. Who’s next?
There are a couple of artists I'm really rooting for. Kat DeLuna I believe has so much potential, she has a great voice, she can dance, and she seems to be very down to earth. I hope she makes it. I wish Goldfrapp has much bigger success, but her style is left field. Dragonette, I'm amazed they did not blow up, there songs were catchy and perfect. The industry amazes me, I see some artists here in The States make it with no effort with no talent, and I see others who struggle and deserve to make it but don't. Take Britney Spears for example, I like her music, but I do not believe she should have gotten as much sales as she did for no promotion. I HATE Hollywood, someone should bomb it. No, I'm playing. But sometimes I feel so ashamed for living in this country, the world is turning into a sad place. Crystal Castles is another group, there album completely blew me away, I wish them success in their career.


Much love and many thanks to Gustavo and Electro Retro...now go hit up his site!

Just a brief note on one of my new regular sites: am.fm.pm. I love what he says here more than anything at the moment.

But in terms of remedy, "eating a meal of root beer and Wonka Golden Creme Eggs" is totally the new "calling out sick and going over to your girlfriend's house to take turns going down on each other all day".

Ladies and gents, it just makes sense right?

Enjoy the candy.

Hailing From Glenside, PA, Viva La Mainstream! covers all that is rock goodness, all that is mainstream and even all that is not so mainstream. Imagine that!


Spanning the gamut from top 40 hits to lesser known bands being featured in the "Under the Radar" posts, everyone is sure to find something they love on this site.

Hit it, TJ!


1. What made you want to start a music blog/when did you start your blog?
I’ve loved music since I was in middle school, and I’ve always had a taste in music pretty close to the mainstream. Before the blog started, I was reading sites like Idolator and Pitchfork, and they’d just keep trashing all the bands that I listened to and loved. So I started Viva La Mainstream! a little over a year ago as both a way to get my voice out there and get a word in about good radio-friendly rock music, and in some sense in an act of defiance against the established sites that would only promote these eclectic indie bands that, frankly, aren’t always so great.



2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
I’m going to kick myself after writing this, but here goes (list goes #5-#1):

5. Foo Fighters – Learn to Fly
There’s no way this list could have been made without an appearance from the Foo Fighters. This song is one of their best. Dave Grohl’s vocals are as good as ever on this song, and the whole theme (defiance, doing what you think is right) is just amazing.

4. Pearl Jam – Given to Fly
A song I just recently discovered the beauty of. I never realized how uplifting and even inspiring Pearl Jam could be.

3. Eminem – Lose Yourself
Yep, there’s even some rap in here too. Regardless of your feelings about Eminem, rap music, or anything else, anyone can find a way in to this song. I like songs that have a message and can get people up out of their seats and motivated. If “Lose Yourself” doesn’t touch you on at least that level, you might not have a pulse.

2. Snow Patrol – Chasing Cars
This song carries a lot of memories for me. (It’s a very beautiful song, no matter how simple it might be. Again, the lyrics are peerless, and that final minute or so when the full band kicks in is gorgeous. It’s kind of sad that the radio got oversaturated with this song, but it doesn’t change the fact that it’s a near perfect-storm of a song.

1. The Beatles – In My Life
Some might call it cliché to put The Beatles at the top of this list, but I do not care. Rubber Soul is my favorite Beatles album of all, and “In My Life” is very nearly the peak of that era of The Beatles music (before it went into the trippy acid style). Again, amazing lyrically (lyrics are a biggie for me), and the harmonies are pretty much unmatched.

Honorable Mention:
The Who – Baba O’Riley
U2 – With or Without You


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
Lead singer: Toss-up between Chris Cornell or Eddie Vedder (Soundgarden/Audioslave and Pearl Jam, respectively; both were also in Temple of the Dog)
Guitar: Pete Townshend (The Who)
Bass: Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue)
Drums: Travis Barker (Blink 182/+44) and Mike Marsh (Dashboard Confessional)
[Yes, my band would have 2 drummers]
Backing vocals: Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters), Amy Lee (Evanescence), David Draiman (Disturbed), Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Keys: Billy Joel
Misc: Trent Reznor (NIN)
MCs: Jay-Z, Kanye West



4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
Pretty Much Amazing! – regular favorite of mine for random bits of music
The Good, The Bad, and the Unknown – great for offering the lesser-known works by a band, as well as classics
The Sports Guy on ESPN.com – writes primarily about sports, but also has great thoughts on all kinds of pop culture. Pretty funny too.
What Would Tyler Durden Do? – because everyone needs some celebrity trash



5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
I try not to be ashamed of the music I listen to; if the music touches me in some form, then why be ashamed of it just because it’s not socially “cool” to listen to it?

Having said that:
Avril Lavigne: Sk8er Boi
Avril Lavigne: Hot
Creed: Higher
Justin Timberlake: FutureSex/LoveSound
Kelly Clarkson: Behind These Hazel Eyes
Nickelback: Photograph
P!nk: U + Ur Hand


6. Who’s next?
There are a couple of bands that could be huge in the near future. Secondhand Serenade just released their second album (first with a full band), and I think they could do some really cool stuff. There’s also a band from Wilmington, DE called The Crash Motive that have some potential to be big in the next couple years. After that, a few lower-tier bands like Quick Step John or Project Phoenix have some real potential.


Many thanks to TJ...now get on over to Viva La Mainstream!

My next featured blog is the fantastic Mixtape Maestro.

The Maestro is responsible for my newfound love for one, Ms. Wynter Gordon. I'll scream it from the high heavens (as much as 2 of my coworkers simply cannot bear to hear me pound it into their heads anymore) but I am such a huge fan of her work and I owe it all to the Maestro.

The accompanying sister blog to Mixtape Maestro is Mixtape Maestro Presents: 90's R&B Junkie...which fills my cravings for those Keith Sweat jams I've been so desiring.


1. What made you want to start a music blog/when did you start your blog?
Obviously, I’ve always been a big music fan, and since I’ve loved to write since I was a wee one, the idea of morphing the two seemed to be the most ideal profession for me. After getting a Certificate in Journalism through Portland Community College, I opted on taking a break before pursing a four-year degree elsewhere. In the meanwhile, I began contributing to a couple webzines (TheNoyse.com, Chocolate Magazine) with the idea of beefing up my portfolio.

Soon after I discovered blogging, and quickly realized that starting my own could establish the kind of exposure (and instantaneous feedback) I yearned for. Mixtape Maestro (which I began in February of 2007) was basically my attempt at emulating the type of music review commentary I obsessed over growing up, where different types of artists and genres (whether insanely popular or criminally unknown) were covered equally. 90’s R&B Junkie came about a couple months later. A bit inspired by Rock Me Tonight, which covered every #1 R&B single from the ‘80’s, I decided to focus on the decade I cherished the most. Not only did the project re-acquaint me (and others, it seems) with past forgotten favorites, it also provided the type of niche music writing that would better serve in distinguishing myself within the crowded blog-o-verse.


2. What are your top 5 favorite songs of all time?
This is possibly the worst question to ask a music nerd like me, cause when it’s all done and printed, I’ll want to slap myself for forgetting something. Nonetheless, off the top of my head, here are five favorites:

The Beatles “Yesterday”
I love pop music (both as it’s own guilty pleasure genre, and of the notion that it stands for popular music), so I have to give credit due to one of the best pop songs ever written by the best pop act that ever did it. I’ll be the first to admit how blatantly corny McCartney is (and how painfully predictable this choice is), but the things he could do with the most simplest melodies just leaves me misty-eyed.

Sly & The Family Stone “Hot Fun In The Summertime”/“Family Affair”
Can’t pick between the two!!. It’s a shame that more artists today aren’t as imaginative as Sylvester. Both of these tunes stand as stunning aural masterpieces in my opinion.

Weezer “Island In The Sun”
Another expert display of pop simplicity. I’d loved to be a fly on the wall and just watch Rivers Cuomo create in the studio.

De La Soul featuring A Tribe Called Quest, Jungle Brothers, Queen Latifah and Monie Love “Buddy (Native Tongue Decision Version)”
The definitive hip hop posse cut in my eyes. Hate to sound like an old fuddy-duddy, but music was so fun back then.

Earth, Wind & Fire “Let’s Groove”
The musical equivalent to the type of universe I would create if I was God. Nothing beats this song’s sweeping, all-encompassing R&B/pop/funk/disco soundscape.


3. What is your ideal band formation…can be anyone alive or dead, from any genre. Must include at least a lead singer, lead guitar, bass guitar and drummer. (Bonus points for backup singers/keyboardists. keytarists/etc….)
I had to sit on this for awhile, and in the end it may seem like a giant mess, but this is what I came up with:

Lead singers: Randy Crawford (a truly underrated voice) and Freddie Mercury
Lead rappers: Andre 3000 and Lauryn Hill
Lead guitarist: Slash
Bass guitar: Larry Graham (of Sly & The Family Stone)
Drummer: ?uestlove (of The Roots)
Percussion: Shelia E
Keyboards: Ray Manzarek (of The Doors)
Horns: The Dap-Kings’ horn section
Background vocalists: En Vogue, Luther Vandross and Patrick Stump (don’t hate on the man’s chops!!)
Producers: Brian Eno, Sly Stone, Rick Rubin and Timbaland


4. Any other blogs, music or non-music related, that you recommend going to on a regular basis?
I miss the now-defunct Stylus Magazine, especially their Singles Jukebox section (a major Mixtape Maestro influence). Ummm.....Pretty Much Amazing is one I check out daily, also the AllMusic Blog, Fluxblog, Critical Acclaim, fourfour and of course Ali’s Blog (who I’m happy made a triumphant comeback after that stressing Mariah Carey ordeal). Can I Have A Word has emerged as a recent favorite, thanks to Net buddy Ken Cheng’s engaging accounts of trying to break in Hollywood as a writer. I think the best bet is to just peep out Hype Machine; I’ve discovered so many cool blogs (and great music I wouldn’t have otherwise known about) through it.


5. Any guilty pleasure songs that you might not readily admit to liking?
Say what you want about the Spice Girls, but those women made some really great pop songs (Stop is a secret favorite of mine). While I find Jordin Sparks a bit irrelevant and Chris Brown’s voice can be annoying, I have taken a liking to their duet, No Air. I’m also privately digging Taylor Swift’s Teardrops On My Guitar, Jonas Brothers’ When You Look Me In The Eyes, Ingrid Michaelson’s The Way I Am (damn commercials sticking songs in my head!) and Flo Rida’s Elevator (that humongous hook I can’t get enough of).


6. Who’s next?
I like Estelle’s flexibility as an artist. She’s like a less overstated version of Lauryn Hill and that’s appealing to me for some reason.

With the right producer, this LA band I recently came across named Casxio (think Talking Heads meets Cameo) could really be something big!!

Shwayze offer up a nice blend of pop/rap and Cali-rock.

One to really watch: this Canadian kid named Colin Munroe. His take on Kanye West’s Flashing Lights got heavy airplay on my iPod in recent months.

Special thanks go out to this bloggod for participating. Direct your browsers to Mixtape Maestro and 90's R&B Junkie every day!