Magic Jewball

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iPod song of the week – The Stone Roses

Filed under : iPod Song of the Week
On February 28, 2007
At 6:15 pm
Comments :Comments Off on iPod song of the week – The Stone Roses

It’s fashionable to get up in arms about your favorite songs of the past appearing in the commercials of today, and usually I’m down with that. There are some songs that have meaning to me that I’d rather not see totally whored out for an insurance company or a car or whatever. But in the present climate of bringing back cool songs you haven’t heard in ages from bands like the Buzzcocks (for AARP!!!!) or The The, I’m just too jazzed to hear the song to get all upset about it. (Except that Pepsi commercial remake of Ca Plane Pour Moi; that’s a travesty!)

So this week I’ve decided to highlight one of these songs. This is the first time I’ve used a song that isn’t on my own iPod (except the week I had a guest pick) but it is now. See, they use the opening 30 seconds of this song and it’s pretty ripping and all, but it’s the rest of the song that I really love and so I’m always left frustrated after all the Cadillacs leave the screen. Finally, out of total desperation, I had to dig out my old copy of the CD and rip the song for my iPod and, of course, for the iPod Song of the Week.

Now, from the excerpt in the commercial, you tend to think of this number as a power-guitar anthem, but that’s because you’re unaware that it’s actually by The Stone Roses, the former trippy-psychedelic kings of Manchester. Well, you could argue that the Happy Mondays filled that role, but The Stone Roses had a quieter, deeper, more introspective kind of vibe. Witness the fact that amongst all the power chords in this track, the vocals, low in the mix, remain calm and steady. And of course there are all the “the messiah is my sister” kind of lyrics that add to it. Dig it, man.



The Stone Roses – Love Spreads

 
 

Coming attractions

Filed under : Meta/Blognews,Movies
On
At 1:50 pm
Comments : 11

Today’s a special day over here at JBall. Yes, it’s the last day where there will only be 12 months in the archive box of my sidebar. Tomorrow we begin Year 2.0! The official anniversary is later in the month so I’ll write more about that then. As a matter of fact, I have an exciting month ahead which will hopefully translate into interesting posts. Otherwise, more boredom and tedium for us all. But here are some of the March highlights:

  • Exciting holiday of Purim in just a few days. Watch Becca go insane as she bakes four kinds of cookies in 24 hours!
  • German houseguests stay in Becca’s teeny NY closet apartment for five days!
  • That bastion of responsible citizenship, Jury Duty!
  • The aforementioned anniversary special post in which Becca explains why she started blogging in the first place! And when she’ll stop! (hint: when she’s dead)

I know, why leave your computer at all with a schedule like this one? In the meantime, let’s look back, shall we, and follow up some of the posts from the past which you’ve no doubt forgotten and/or no longer care about. I did indeed see Music & Lyrics with Pious B. It was craptacular! Badly acted! Predictably plotted! Lacking in chemistry between the stars! Sprinkled with implausible details! And the very worst part: they cut out the scene on my street which was the very reason I went to see this slice of cheese in the first place! Sheezus. The only thing that saved it was Adam (Fountains of Wayne/Ivy) Schlesinger’s music. Can this guy get the music of the past few decades right or what? Oh and this mock 80’s video. Yes, that’s Hugh Grant as the second singer.

I especially liked the use of the phrase “you’re gold and silver” which I now realize was weirdly prevalent in 80’s music.

And I managed to finagle an invitation from Pious B to her family’s Purim meal (it’s called a se’udah, more on that later in the Purim post). Pi’s family are like the Kennedys: young, glamorous, numerous, and successful. And I get to eat at the compound, go me!

Anyway, to get the “new year of JBall” started, I’ve revamped the About page since people seem to actually be looking at it these days and it’s a bit outmoded. There’s now a handy FAQ which is a thing that people on the Internets seem to like. The questions were gleaned from things people actually ask me and things I’ve observed from people’s confused behavior on the site. Be confused no longer!

And now, onward to March.