Genius-I-Guess Recommendations #2

Music is best when recommended and shared by humans, not iTunes bots, which is what I don't enjoy about iTunes Genius, this list of keywords and algorithms than can pin-point interests... well, it just makes one feel predictable, and even though most of us are predictable to a certain extent, nobody likes to feel that way.

So here is Genius-I-Guess Recommendations #2 (hopefully I'll sporadically explore this as I notice it from time to time)

1. Lover, You Should've Come Over - Jeff Buckley - I already own and adore this, iTunes... and now I don't whether you knew I would or whether this is just an error. Sadface.

2. On The Radio - Regina Spektor - I already own this album, haven't yet placed it on my macs - she's just one artist you can't really predict, you think she's going for a simple pop angle and then bwarkbopbloopmork she's back to being the oddball we love.

3. Lisa Says - Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground - I must investigate! How freaking awesome.

4. Golden Age - TV On the Radio - didn't spark any interest for me.

5. She's Expensive - The Virgins - you know, I don't think I like his voice... I'm not really feeling them right now. Is this a mistake? Aren't they quite popular? Maybe its just this track? But it feels very 90s-and-I-can't-really-sing-because-I-was-too-busy-buying-Doc Martens-to-go-to-my-lessons. Insult?

6. WHOA! The Beginning is the End is the Beginning - The Smashing Pumpkins - OKAY, I'm confused. Are there TWO songs by the smashing pumpkins called, The End is the Beginning is the End and The Beginning is the End is the Beginning or is a number of sites just getting really bloody confused? Firstly, I'm fairly certain that wasn't in the list when I started my previous blog, I think it may have turned up after I went to Amazon Music to look at the Batman Forever soundtrack, but HOW DOES IT KNOW? If it did happen to be up there before I started this vlog, then that's a crazy coincidence and I need to give iTunes Genius a little more credit. There. Did it.

7. Starts With One - Shiny Toy Guns - I'm just not in the mood for a belting lad with a little smattering of auto-tuning in there... usually I'd be more susceptible to it (my love for Panic at the Disco, anyone?) but not right now.

8. Ooh La La - Goldfrapp - just not in the mood for dance tracks either.

9. Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World - any true fan of The O.C. Seasons One and Two (the rest don't exist, nuh-uh) owns the Christmas soundtrack the fabulous Josh Schwartz and Alexandra Patsavas which includes this song... or any true fan of Jimmy Eat World, of course!

10. Volcano - Damien Rice - now he was here before I started my list, and I still like his "ache".

They are also recommending that I listen to The All-American Rejects, Wilco, Andy Park, the 007: Quantum of Solace soundtrack, the P.S. I Love You soundtrack, Interpol, Kings of Leon (I just can't indulge them right now), Allie Moss, Karen O's Hello Tomorrow (adidas version), Vanessa Carlton (ugh, you like one Christian Rock artist and they throw them all at you), the Xanadu soundtrack (WTF?), the Braveheart soundtrack, Tyga (who?), Interpol (again!), Fleet Foxes and Allie Moss (way to pressure me, iTunes).

Highlights from the Movie Recommendations:

Sydney White - Oh, Amanda Bynes, I will try (very, very hard) to not let my love for you die!

Zombie Strippers - what have I watched that made this recommendation, okay? Alright, fine, I would probably watch it.

Beverly Hill's Chihuahua - Are you fucking kidding me?

Thoughts on the Television Recommendations:

90210 - after seeing the cover of Nylon emblazoned with the shows stars, I thought about maybe trying to get into the series return, but it never happened. Problem?

Greek - if Jessica Rose had an even regular spot on this show, I would probably watch it even more, there's nothing more fun than watching people emerging from the swamps of the Internet.

America's Next Top Model - SHUTUP!HOWDAREYOU!I'MSPEAKINGTOYOULIKETHISCUZILOVEYOU!RAWRSMIZESMIZE! I love this show. It's so much fun. I mainly like the creative photo shoots, but I always forget to watch it. I can't believe its up to Cycle 13 - so many Tyra moments missed!

The Best Years - I've never heard of this show and my internet is too slow to play a preview - thoughts?

The Universe - " " " "

Sonny With a Chance - I want to love this show because I adore Demi Lovato and I see it much more than usual due to hanging out with some youngin's these days, but it's just not as enjoyable as iCarly or Wizards of Waverly Place (oh my, what is wrong with me?), which is not the actors faults, because they are all actually super talented and Demi is adorable... okay, I need to hang out with adults.

The Colbert Report - oh, how I wish I could be one of those people that could easily make late-night TV and talk shows a part of her schedule, but I always forget!

Dollhouse - I think I'm waiting for it to be inevitably cancelled, and then I'll cry and say, I can't believe they cancelled it and I missed the hype around the show, and then I'll buy all the episodes and join the bandwagon when the movie is made... yes? (I'm terrible, I need to love up those folks more often)

Battlestar Galactica - Luke was really into this series, and I'd watch snippets with him from time to time, I like a lot of the actors in it, so I definitely want to get into this series one day, even though it's over : (

FlashForward - I had to investigate this show for a proposal I was writing last year, and ended up being really excited about it and wanted to get into it. I liked the pilot and the tie ins with the LOST universe (Oceanic Airlines advertisement in the background, anyone?) but I never watched it. I'm just not a TV person.

Leverage - I've never heard of this show and my internet is too slow to play a preview - thoughts?

LOST - I cannot watch it until its over and now that I keep hearing the hype around the latest season, I want it to be over so badly. My Mum and I use to watch the show every Thursday evening after I got home from Theatre Class and we loved it. When Season Two started, rehearsals for our play started to go late and I missed an episode and then another one, and this was before you could catch up online, so it started to become impossible to enjoy (some people can do it, I can't) without the previous episodes information, so I haven't watched it since. I want the box sets, I want a long, long weekend, and I want it really soon. Hurry up, LOST folks!

The Secret Life of the American Teenager - I kind of want to make this a guilty pleasure, like what One Tree Hill must be to a lot of people, but it hasn't happened.

Speaking of... One Tree Hill - NOPE! I can't do it! I'm sorry! I just... no. I know! But, yeah. No.

Lincoln Heights - See 'Secret Life of American Teenager' notes, but with less interest since I don't know anything about it.

The Soup - the guy that's now in Community. Right? That's pretty cool that he was able to go from Host to Actor, that doesn't happen that often and usually without as much acclaim that Community has had.

Bones - I use to adore David Boreanaz and so I'd probably like this show, but again, my lack of skill for being a TV watcher, the lack of complete access to shows online and lack of money to waste on things I probably don't really need to see keep me from watching it.

The Sarah Silverman Show - I want to watch this, I saw a few episodes in 2007 and thought it was hilarious.

That's So Raven - even when I had cable, I just wasn't interested in the show.

Hannah Montana - I watch this more than I would like, that's really all that I have to say.

All those recommendations and all I want to do is listen to Vampire Weekend, my valentines gift: the Youth In Revolt soundtrack and watch The Hurt Locker and Mad Men. ALL AT THE SAME TIME. WHOOOAAAAAASKABANG!

Not really.

I'd would actually really like to see any links in my comments to blog posts discussing your own Genius suggestions, I might like what they suggest more than you do : )

Life Lists and Genius-I-Guess Recommendations #1

Oh my! I have about 9 drafts saved that I need to finish and post. I've been doing this thing, where I quickly jot down a few thoughts or quite a lot of thoughts, but haven't finished any of them. I'm glad that I'm not letting myself forget and leave the possible writings to the wind, but I definitely need to finish.

EDIT: I began doing the same thing with this blog, so I've broken it into pieces.

So here's something quick and easy that I, and you, can have fun with and can do from time to time... iTunes Genius, I do like how it works, but do you ever purchase anything they recommend? I rarely do.

Lately, I've taken to jotting down names of artists or songs that I think I should have in my err, Life Playlist, but shouldn't purchase just yet because they are really a frivolous expense.

Here's my list so far - and this isn't a "classic artists I should listen to" list, it's just a weird, random list of artists I jotted down whenever browsing iTunes, which isn't often.

Dolly Parton's 'Joelene' - when you get over any objection you have to country, or abuse of plastic surgery, Dolly Parton's Joelene truly is a little work of genius. How universal is this song in the world of women or even, men? "Please, don't take him just because you can!" Who has looked at a girlfriend or frenemy and thought this? I know I have, but maybe I'm more insecure than the next girl... or maybe I select my boyfriends or infatuations unwisely (YES! I DO and I'm thinking of my Australian boyfriends/infatuations just in case anyone is reading this and feeling weird) Luckily for me, it's always been for the best, since none of my infatuations or boyfriends have ever been right for me... but that's what makes this song a guilty pleasure, because infatuations are fun and this song dances sillily along with it... pouting.

Lightning Dust - a band I'd like to listen to more.

Kid Cudi's 'Day N Night', but which mix of the song? Whatever mix the AXE commercials use. Yes, yuck, AXE, but the music is what made their advertisements worth tuning in to. I need to research and find that mix. It's so much fun.

Phantogram - Courtney and then Brooke brought this band to my attention, and I'm not sure if I like all their songs yet, but they are on the list to investigate, and Brooke's video, if you haven't seen it, is rather spectacular. Just goes to show that its the editor not the software that makes a good video (Edited in iMovie09)

Firelight - I'm not sure if this band is good or not, but I always love a little delve in Christian Rock, it can be an uplifting time, even if you're not religious. Maybe this is just me because even without my faith, I still enjoy anything Michael W. Smith (HA!) but Firelight's song, "Fire in my eyes", which I've only heard 30 seconds of so far, may make it to my Life playlist because I often like to indulge in mindless, everything-is-better-now-it-use-to-be-bad-but-now-I-have-fire-in-my-eyes music.

Hot Chip - A friend shared the album that pushed them more prominently into the map, but I don't really know if I like it that much. I haven't yet connected to any of the songs yet, and its just background music at the moment, but it often takes a long time for music to win my heart, so maybe it willone day hit me how much I love Hot Chip... maybe while eating Hot Chips??? That'd be magical.

Their latest album, One Life Stand has a good single, Thieves in the Night, which I want to hear more of, but until I can determine whether I actually like Hot Chip or not, I can't waste my money on another album purchase just to keep up with the cool kids.

Lou Reed - I definitely need to "know" Lou Reed. I think he is an artist that one has to investigate at some stage of their live since he seems to have made such an impact on so many music artists and many other people who enjoy creative expression.

Smashing Pumpkins - the only song I really know by them is End is the Beginning is the End because of my (strange?) love for Batman Forever and it was played over and over again on Video Hits on Saturday mornings in Australia, but I think they are also a band that I should investigate... just because of his fabulous head?

Damien Rice - oh, Damien. All I own by him is the Blower's Daughter which is sweetly painful, I think I should explore his music more. I love a little ache coming out of my crappy mac speakers.

I probably should put together a list of classic artists that I haven't listened too, but maybe, if you're still engaged at this point, you can suggest some music you think I should listen to?