2006 in Review: What I’ve Been Listening To
December 30, 2006 | Leave a Comment
Podcasts were a new media for me to consume this year and in turn make up a majority of what I have been listening to. I received an iPod for Christmas in 2005 allowing me to get into podcasts. Looking back at the mix of podcasts and music I have been listening to, I think it helps me with perspective about what is in my head this year.
Podcasts:
- Ricky Gervais Show - The crown jewel of comedy podcasts. Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant harass and berate Karl Pilkington, hilarity ensues. I enjoyed The Office, this led me to the podcast and now I consume all comedy that Ricky Gervais delivers (Flanimals, Extras, etc.) I am sad that this series has ended. Hopefully the trio will miss it and return soon.
- NPR Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me - I had been listening to this fairly regularly on NPR. Since it became available in podcast, I haven’t missed an episode. This is a great weekly dose of news with a funny spin. Think of it as a radio version of the Daily Show, presented as a quiz show.
- TWiT - Leo Laporte, Patrick Norton, and John C Dvorak are only a handful of the regulars who look at “This Week in Tech”. This weekly discussion about all things tech is fun for any tech savvy individual with an interest in current tech topics.
- Marvel Podcast - consistently good content, though the sound quality, editing, and ability to keep the RSS working properly all count as negatives here. These lack polish in the technology department.
- Comic Geek Speak - As a Marvel only comic fan, I only listen when Marvel is the core of the discussion, but whenever something Marvel hits the show notes, I tune in. I’ve especially loved the Civil War episodes. If you are a comic fan, these guys can satisfy your need to hear and enjoy in depth conversation about events happening in comics right now. Most of us aren’t fortunate enough to have many real life comic fan counterparts to do this with…
- Never Not Funny - I would give this a 3 out of 5 on the funny scale. Not something I would ever pay to listen to, but plenty entertaining to fill a long car ride or as background while doing chores. Jimmy Pardo and Mike Schmidt could use more guests on their show to play off of. Instead, they mostly play off of their producer…
Music Podcasts:
Pub Songs Podcast
Irish and Celtic Music Podcast
Both of these are from Marc Gunn and are pretty solid. I think there is great potential in the near future for music podcasts to take off. Their ability to introduce subscribers/listeners to new and interesting music within a defined genre is greatly powerful.
Radio:
Almost exclusively I listened to idobi Radio. The constant stream of advertisement free punk kept me entertained almost all day of nearly every work day. I’d like to expand this list and find other great radio stations. If anyone knows good alternative rock, punk, celtic, or classical radio stations that are streamed at at least 128 kbs, I would love to hear about them.
Sweet Bands/Albums:
- Green Day: Bullet In A Bible - I can not even count how many times through I’ve listened to this entire CD. I don’t usually like live CDs, but the energy captured here is intoxicating. If you like Green Day, or punk in general, you must own this.
- The Bloody Irish Boys - I discovered these guys on the before mentioned Pub Songs Podcast. I just can’t get enough of their punk Irish mix of music.
- Ceann - Another Pub Songs Podcast find, this Pittsburgh based band mixes music I love with
- Ik Ben - Scott Hylbert’s band is wonderful. I cherish every track they have released.
Music Singles:
These aren’t necessarily new, but they are six selected tracks (five was too hard) I couldn’t get enough of this year. I have excluded any of the artists/albums I mentioned.
- Welcome to the Black Parade: My Chemical Romance - idobi radio introduced this to me just before it started getting insane amount of radio play. I say play away, this song is so sweet.
- Masters of the Universe: Army of Freshmen - As a lifetime He-Man fan, this song is an absolute blast.
- Blackbird: The Beatles - out of the blue I heard this Beatles song which I previously had not heard much. I’ve always liked The Beatles and it was fun to find a “new” song I love.
- Surrender: Cheap Trick - this was used in the sadly cancelled Sons and Daughters partial improv TV show. I get a bit sad when I hear this since I loved the show, but it is still awesome.
- The Suffering: Coheed and Cambria - Al introduced me to this tune. I love it so much.
- 24: Jem - this was in the Ultraviolet trailer and totally sold me on the film… until I saw the movie and hated it. Oh well, the song is still awesome.
That’s it, everything that has colored my audio landscape this calendar year. The iPod made is a banner year for audio in my house. I hope I find half as much great stuff in 2007.
Tags: 2006, audio, bullet in a bible, ceann, celtic, green day, ik ben, internet radio, irish, karl pilkington, marc gunn, music, npr, podcasts, pub songs, radio, ricky gervais, Scott Hylbert, twit
Ceann - Bad Pirates, Almost Irish, Mostly Perfect
June 20, 2006 | 3 Comments
I personally discovered Ceann while listening to Marc Gunn’s Pub Songs Podcast. The song that first intrigued me was “The Worst Pirate Song” off their “Almost Irish” CD.
Thr lyrics go:
If you’re a pirate I don’t believe it
I don’t believe that you are capable of such deeds
If you’re a pirate let’s see your wallet
and we will see if you are licensed for the seas
Are you capable of swinging from the riggings of a ship
Or wearing a black do-rag when it really ain’t that hip
I don’t think so,
I don’t think so, at allCHORUS:
So where’s your eye patch
Where’s your peg leg
If you’re a pirate
Where’s your gun
Where’s your booty
Your sassy parrot
I can’t picture you on a bottle of cheap rum‘Cause You’re the worst pirate,
the worst pirate in the world
You’re the worst pirate,
the worst pirate in the world
‘Cause you’re a girlSo all you females just put your swords down
I’m not a fool and I’m not amused
You’ve got no hook hand, no secret island
And pirates never go to the bathroom in twos
So if this isn’t some sort of cheap prank
Then tell me who exactly walks your plank
Not me, not me
No, nay, never, not meCHORUS
A pirate vessel is not a bedroom
No walk-in closet, there’s no bidetThere’s no pink loofah hanging in the shower and
pirates don’t worry about what shoes they wear todayBecause everyone knows that pirates just wear black
They raise a flag of skull and bones when they attack
Not birds and flowers, not birds and flowers, no way!CHORUSx2
Those lyrics with the sweet pub song melody had me hooked. When I started exploring I found their main site and their MySpace page. Sampling some of their available songs, I quickly fell in love with “Almost Irish”. The song is in many ways the story of this ragtag almost Irish band. They have Irish heritage and they play in an Irish style, but beyond that they’re mostly american, it’s true. This rings quite true with my own feelings and heritage.
I was further engaged with the band when I started noticing a general Pittsburgh, PA recurring theme in their songs. Especially great is “Ahrn at This Bar” which is steeped in Pittsburghese with more references to that city than you should be able to cram into a song. The tune is done to the melody and beat of the classic Irish song “Whiskey in the Jar”, which anyone with any claim to an Irish heristage is at least a bit familiar with. My love for Pittsburgh and the ability to travel back there if only in song would be enough to sell me on them alone.
If you like the Pogues or the Dropkick Murphys, you have to check out Ceann. If you like pirates, pittsburgh, or fun and entertaining songs, you gotta check these guys out. Plus they’re independent music, so buy their CD and put money in the pocket of true artists without padding to many sucky music executives and copyright lawyers.
Tags: Ahrn at This Bar, almost irish, ceann, ceann na caca, dropkick murphys, heritage, independent bands, independent music, irish, marc gunn, music, pa, pennsylvania, pirate, pirate song, pittsburgh, pittsburghese, podcast, podcasts, pogues, pub songs, worst pirate, Worst Pirate Song