Babyface (AKA Feedback Friday (#25))

Okay people, it's Friday and you know what that means here at The Station . . .

Bingo! Feedback Friday. That one, singular day a week when we totally stray from the norm and do something that we almost never, ever do - ask you to answer a question.

What is that? Do I hear (and smell for that matter) dissension among the ranks? Impossible. We haven't even had to resort to wheeling out the over-sized carton of free promotional "Whack-A-Mole" travel games yet. My long-gone mentor, Captain Snodgrass never failed to remind me that the promos and freebies should always be the last available option, and to be perfectly honest, I have a sneaking suspicion that Evil Twin Biff and his cronies have been pilfering the sub-basement stash and hitting eBay after Zelda, the night-maid locks up.

I have 2 words for ya - Moonlighting. Or is that just one word?

Okay, enough foolin' around -

Let's get to it before Management wanders by and realizes that I don't even know how to turn this thing on.

This week's feedback survey is a good one . . . sort of a variation on a previously explored theme. (Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.)

(Oh, it's broke.)

I was listening to some U2 this morning and a song called "Babyface" randomly popped up. I don't know what it is, but I have always hated that song. It's so totally below U2's musical standards. Anyway, it made me wonder about you guys and what songs you would classify as your personal "Babyfaces" - those songs by otherwise awesome musical acts that for some unknown reason stink worse than Ashlee Simpson on SNL.

It's pretty straight forward - List three crappy songs by bands that you really like.

This should be fun . . .


Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

Here's Mud in Your Eye

Well, I was wrong - it ain't "Music Week" here at Procrastination Station . . . it's "Week of a Thousand Questions". I know I can never get enough of some dude with too much time on his hands asking me a bunch of silly questions about stuff like music and refreshment.

Anyone want me to switch the format of the blog and turn it into one of those never-endingly popular "Political Watchdog Extravaganza-Fests"?

Anyone? This is your last chance . . .

(No Biff, you don't get a vote. Not after that incident last month with those two waitresses and the missing turtle. 'Fraid not, Amigo.)

Okay then, if everyone is finished crumpling up paper and throwing it at their computer screen, we can get going with today's question -

(In the interest of honesty and fairness I want to send a big shout-out to Mark over at Whatasavage.com for doing all the work on this post and for not realizing that I was going to totally swoop in and steal it and pass it off as my own. Thanks, Bro!)

Here goes -

What are you drinking?

That's it . . . that's the question. Fill us all in on your favorite adult beverage choices (or soda, if you prefer).

One note before we set sail - if the word "Budweiser" appears in any of it's various forms anywhere upon my lil' comments section, I might have to start docking points. Just a warning.

This should be fun . . .


Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

T-Shirt Logic

Evil Twin Biff

Do You Think The Beatles Ever Lip-Synched?

Well, I was surfing some blogs this morning and I found something I just had to steal . . .

I was taking a look at Metal Mark's Blog "Heavy Metal Time Machine" and I came across a list of musical questions that I couldn't help but find interesting. Seeing as how it is "Music Week" here at The Station, I was all but obligated to snag Mark's list and make it my own.

I took the essence of his original post, changed a few things and here is my own version of Metal Mark's "10 Important Musical Questions" -

1. What is your favorite decade for music?
2. Who is the musician you respect the most?
3. Who is the musician you respect the least?
4. What was the first album you ever bought or that someone bought for you?
5. What was the first album you ever heard that you thought was great?
6. What is the most underrated band of all time?
7. What is the most overrated band of all time?
8. What is your favorite album of all time?
9. What is your favorite album cover of all time?
10. Do you think albums will even exist in 10 years?

My answers:

1. Believe it or not, the 1970's (I agree with Metal Mark all the way on this one). Some of the best music ever made came out of the 70's - Pink Floyd's "Animals", The Stones' "Some Girls", Fleetwood Mac's "Rumours", Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" . . . not to mention The Eagles, KISS, Led Zeppelin and a whole host of others. The 80's were pretty energetic and there is certainly plenty of great music from that and other decades, but for me it was the 70's. Heck, I even like disco.

2. This is tough. I respect a lot of musicians - Lindsay Buckingham, Joe Satriani, The Edge, Miles Davis, Neil Peart . . . I think my one person, though would have to be David Gilmour. He just embodies every nuance of what I find intellectual about music (specifically - Rock music). He writes good songs, he sings cool lyrics and he plays incredibly awesome guitar. The live show ain't bad either.

3. This one ain't quite so tough - Britney Aguillera Von Simpson. In case you were wondering - that's every single performer out there who has ever answered this question with a "Yes" - Do I care more about how my cover-shot on the new issue of "Teen-Steam" Magazine is going to look than how the music I am producing actually sounds?

4. The first "album" I remember owning was a cassette tape of "Rio" by Duran Duran. My family can attest to the fact that I played the crap out of it. Good stuff, though. I am very proud to say that my first CD was "The Joshua Tree" by U2 given to me by my beloved brother many, many Christmases ago. (Thanks for that, Brother O, btw.)

5. Had to think about this one awhile. Probably "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" by Duran Duran. What can I say . . . it was a long time ago and I was pretty into Simon le Bon and the fellows back when.

6. The most underrated band of all time has to be Echo & The Bunnymen. There are alot of underrated bands out there - The Smiths, Tears for Fears, ZZ Top . . . but no other musical act has consistently put out such heartfelt and evocative music as Echo & The Bunnymen for so long without getting any serious respect for it. I've even heard that U2 wanted to sound more like them when they first started playing. How's that for an endorsement?

7. The Beatles. Now, before I get a comment section full of hate mail . . . I like The Beatles. I like them alot, but I just do not see the blind devotion some people pay them. I'd probably have them somewhere near the top, but clearly behind Pink Floyd, U2, Zeppelin, and The Stones.

8. My favorite album of all time is "The Joshua Tree" by U2. "Moving Pictures" by RUSH and "Animals" by Pink Floyd are awesome as well, but if I could only take one with me as I board the lunar orbiter, it would have to be "The Joshua Tree". Get it out and give it another listen and see if you don't agree.

9. "The Joshua Tree" has a pretty cool cover, but the best of all time is probably something like Journey's "Frontiers" or "Very" by The Pet Shop Boys (look it up). I agree with Metal Mark that Maiden has some really cool looking covers. I remember working on getting my Eddie to look just right on my Trapper-Keeper back in Junior High. Wow, that was a long time ago.

10. I certainly hope so.


Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

Yet Another iPod Related Post

Hey - not much to say right now. (The gallery erupts in spirited applause, again)

I did however want to let you all know that I updated my iMix. If you have iTunes installed on your computer and you have some free time, scroll down to the left of the screen and click on the lil' picture that looks like an iPod screen.

Have fun . . . and rate my mix if you feel like it.


Ben O.

BTW - in a similarly themed vein, please surf on over to my friend Mark's blog and check out his newest creation - webPod. Pretty cool, actually.

Thanks.

There's Never a Davenport Around When You Need One

Okay, here's a couple for ya . . .

1. Never put off until tomorrow that which you've already managed to forget.

2. There is no sound quite like the sound of a life preserver hitting the water 14 miles off-shore.

3. When it's all said and done, it comes down to which flavor of ice cream you prefer - Chocolate or Vanilla.

4. Chocolate is better.

5. That guy who said "Stop and smell the roses" never spent an hour in an enclosed space with Evil Twin Biff after all-you-can-eat burritos at Taco Cabana.

6. When faced with the decision between getting shot in the face or the heart, don't over analyze.

7. Davenport went missing two days ago . . . has anyone seen or heard from him?

8. If you can remember the last time you were asked to put down the rubber hose and slowly step away, then you might want to consider some professional help.

9. There are no more free "Take this job and shove it" glow-in-the-dark boxers. Sorry.

10. Where the heck is my rubber hose?

Until next time . . .

Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

Feedback Saturday (#24)

Well, I'm back.

We tore up the slopes, the fake wood paneling at the condo and the all-you-can-eat buffet at The Drunken Moose Bar & Grill.

I'm kidding . . . the trip was a total blast, though. Colorado really is a treat in the Winter.

But, enough about me. I want to hear something about you all.

That's right . . . I'm in the mood for some feedback.

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, I want to hear all about your favorite "Green" thing. Give it some thought and then wax poetic about whatever it is that is green and turns you on.

Maybe you have a crush on Kermit the Frog or you just can't seem to get enough of the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders' "Away" uniforms or you might enjoy collecting pond scum and letting it dry so you can use it to decorate your newly renovated sitting area. I don't care, I just wanna hear about it.

I only have one rule with this one - you can't say that your favorite green thing is money. Everybody loves money . . . that's why they call it money!

Got it?

Cool.

This really should be fun . . . and interesting.


Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

Thinner Than a Minute (Feedback Saturday (#23))

Well, we're headed up to the mountains for a few days of skiing, snowshoeing and innertubing. I probably won't be able to check the Station for awhile, but the good news is that when we get back, my counter's gonna have a couple more days on it.

I know everyone is beside themself with elation.

I wanted to leave you with what I think is a pretty entertaining question for the weekly feedback session . . .

What is the best saying that you've heard lately. Maybe your uncle always refers to smooth customers as being "Cooler than the other side of the pillow", or perhaps it's your best friend's constant use of the phrase "That is just like a snowplow in the Sahara" or it might even be the blue-haired checkout lady down at the supermarket who always manages to slip in the ever-popular "Honey, if Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".

Let's have 'em.

When I get back I'm hoping for a comments section overflowing with wonderful phrases.

This should be fun.


Ben O.

T-Shirt Logic

Evil Twin Biff

(You'll have to excuse Biff . . . he's not quite right. He's also a week early, but who's counting?)

Which One's Pink?

Well, tonight I want to do something I don't know that I've ever done on the blog before . . .

Send out Happy Birthday wishes to someone special. Okay, I don't actually know this person, but his music has been a prominent part of the soundtrack to well over half of my life.

The person of course is David Gilmour of Pink Floyd.

If my sources are accurate, (and they rarely are) Dave's birthday was this past Monday. The really cool sidenote here is that he also just released his first solo album in a really, really long time. Heck, if you've been waiting for anything at all to come blasting out of his guitar, you've probably already given up and started liking Rap. The Floyd haven't even released any new music since The Division Bell back in '94 (Wow, was that an amazing album).

Okay . . . Okay, I know they did play that lil' Live 8 gig a while back, but for all intents and purposes, it was starting to look like it might all be in the past with Mr. Gilmour. Thank goodness it ain't.

As long-time readers to The Station already know, David Gilmour was selected from among a whole freakin' lot of really good guitarists out there to play lead guitar in my "Dream Band". I'll readily grant you that there are flashier gunslingers and louder axemen aplenty, but you are not going to find a better musician with better timing and nuance than the guy who got his job filling in for The Crazy Diamond himself, Syd Barrett.

With the possible exception of U2, I've logged more hours listening to Pink Floyd than any other rock group out there. Yes, more even than Boyz to Men. What can I say . . . I was young and impressionable and they were such good dancers. Seriously, David Gilmour can really play and for that matter . . . sing and write. Now, I know that you can't swing a dead inflatable pig around without hitting at least three insane Roger Waters fanatics who think that it all ended way back when the original Pink Floyd split up after The Final Cut. Well, they're all wrong. You heard me . . . . wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.

Waters wrote some deep stuff, but the guitar is what always made Pink Floyd so unbelievably cool to me. There's a darkness there and a tightness that really pops. Go back and give "Money" and "Dogs" a listen. Dust off your copy of Obscured by Clouds or Wish You Were Here. Even the title song from their last album together has an amazing guitar solo.

I haven't bought David Gilmour's new solo CD yet, but I did check it out on iTunes and it's worth the price of admission. I guess were gonna have to try and look past the grey hair and lack of hair altogether. The fact is that the dude maybe ancient, but the dude can still play and I know one thing for sure . . . I'm certainly ready for some more of what he's got to say (play).


Ben O.

(BTW - Don't forget to click the Audiozue button if ya haven't already. Thanks!)

Feedback Saturday (#22)

Okay, it's that day again.

Yep, Friday, er I mean Saturday . . . and as every blog-reading maniac out there knows, that can only mean one thing.

Let me guess - it's time to change the soil in all of those perfectly lined up potted plants down in the basement that Evil Twin Biff never lets anyone water but himself? We can finally throw out last month's milk? The rent on that creepy storage space on the edge of town is due (yes, actually . . . but that's not the answer).

In fact, it's time for another wonderfully intriguing edition of Feedback Saturday. I knew you'ld be overwhelmed with happiness.

(Oh, we're overwhelmed, but that dead silence you hear resonating throughout the internet ain't exactly the result of happiness)

Okay, enough nonsense. This week, we're going to conduct a little psychological experiment and if you actually read this far down, you get to be the guinea pigs for said experiment. Here's how it's gonna work -

Step 1 - Read the previous post about my new little Audiozue button down on the left.

Step 2 - (and here's where the fun really begins) If you haven't already clicked the button, explain yourself and your despicable actions in a 3750 word essay.

Our crack team of English Professors (Me and Biff) will be here all weekend grading your work and I know what a comma looks like, so don't even think about trying to pull one over. No chance Dude!

I live for this stuff.


Ben O.

Audiozue Banner Contest

Okay, you may (or may not) have noticed my shiny new lil' clickable banner-thingy-majobber over on the left side of the screen. The pink one for Audiozue. That's the one. It's basically a word-of-blog advertisement of sorts for a new service coming out in a month or so. I found out about it through Sadie Lou and here is the best part (for me, at least) . . . every one of you weasly lil' loyal-to-the-very-end, devoted-beyond-explanation daily Procrastination Station readers that clicks that button and learns more about the music-display technology service gets yours truly that much closer to winning something very cool (I've got my heart set on the Mediterranean Cruise. No, I'm just kidding, there's a bunch of cool iTunes stuff.)

So, help me give the ever-beloved Sadie Lou a run for her money and put Ben O. atop the medal podium come April. Hopefully every click (why are you not clicking already?) helps out a friend trying to get his project up and running.

This should be fun . . .


Ben O.