Blogcritics

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Music Playlist: Paris Hilton's Jailhouse Menu: Day 1

Robert Burke — Wed, 6 Jun 2007 08:22:46 EDT

Listen to this playlist in full via Rhapsody by clicking here. I freely admit to being a part of the collective schadenfreude Americans are feeling in regards to Paris Hilton’s arrival in jail on June 3. Can you really blame any middle class citizen for feeling pleasure in seeing a spoiled, snotty dimwit like Paris Hilton punished for breaking the laws we all must abide by?I do feel a bit of guilt for my glee since I heard that Paris refused an opportunity for more comfortable accommodations at a prisoner-paid facility. It shows her desire to prove she can take it like a woman. And it would be awfully hard not to turn out like Paris if you were born into an exceptionally rich family, and stumbled into Hollywood fame at such a young age. But although I can understand why Paris is such a spoiled little snip, I can also understand and accept your joy at seeing her go to jail.For Paris’ first day in jail I wanted to create a special playlist to honor the momentous occasion.Considering that the Century Regional Detention Facility where Paris is now staying has a reputation for horrendous food, I felt a prison menu playlist was in order. The meal schedule consists of 3 low-sodium meals a day, with the only meat being poultry,The playlist includes a song for each menu item that Paris will enjoy on her first full day in the bighouse. Since she arrived at the jail in Lynwood, CA at about 11:30 PM on June 3, her first meal was breakfast the next morning. She awoke to bread, jelly, cornflakes, juice and milk.Lunch included a turkey bologna sandwich, potato chips, an apple, cookie and fruit punch. And for dinner she enjoyed a hot chicken patty, gravy, potatoes, vegetables, salad dressing and pineapple bits. There's no mention of how the chicken was prepared other than it being “hot”, and as far as what was included in the “vegetables” item, who knows? Radish and boc choy perhaps? Needless to say, the non-descript menu text leads one to believe it’s not what the heiress is used to.This playlist includes one song for each and every menu item Paris enjoyed, or traded for protection on day one. And surprisingly, it’s a pretty decent list that includes Clem Snide, Blessid Union of Souls, Pizzicato Five, CocoRosie, Mark Knopfler, Kermit Ruffins, Califone, Yo La Tengo, The Beach Boys and more. So enjoy the music while you ponder her fate.Tracklisting:Breakfast (6:00 AM):1. “Bread” by Clem Snide2. “Jelly” by Blessid Union of Souls3. “Cornflakes” by Pizzicato Five4. “Juice” by Steve Vai5. “Milk” by CocoRosieLunch (11:00 AM)6. “Baloney Again” by Mark Knopfler7. “Apple” by Califone8. “Potatoe Chips” by Slim Gaillard9. “Cookie” by Count Basie10. “Fruit Punch” by Kermit RuffinsDinner (6:00 PM)11. “Return To Hot Chicken” by Yo La Tengo12. “Gravy” by The Monkees13. “Potatoes” by Mark Olf14. “Vegetables” by The Baach Boys15. “Salad Dressing” by Pretty Paul Parsons16. “Pineapple” by Jah Wobble

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

The Plaster Caster Playlist

Robert Burke — Mon, 4 Jun 2007 17:44:00 EDT

Listen to this playlist in full via Rhapsody by clicking here.Cynthia Plaster Caster (real name Cynthia Albritton) is one of the few rock & roll groupies in history to capitalize on her sexual escapades with rock stars.Her idea was simple, but brilliant. Get rock stars (or other celebrity types) to stick their fluffed peni into a waiting bucket filled with alginates. From this mold a perfect reproduction of the member could be manufactured for all the world to enjoy. In 2000, she also started casting women.Cynthia has been successful in capturing the manhood (or womanhood) of many rock legends including Jimi Hendrix, Jello Biafra, Peaches and members of MC5, Young Rascals, The Mothers of Invention, The Muffs, Pop Will Eat Itself, and many others.This playlist includes songs by artists (or band members) who have been cast by Cynthia. However, the first track in this playlist is by a group that has never had a member cast. Although the members of the rock band Kiss never let Cynthia preserve their love guns for antiquity, they did pen an ode to Ms. Plaster Caster and her work with the track “Plaster Caster” off of their 1977 release Love Gun.In 2001, a documentary film, also titled Plaster Caster, was released that can appeal to anyone with an interest in groupies, art, rock & roll, or penis. (trailer - YouTube) The very first cast was that of the legendary Jimi Hendrix.Cynthia got a chance to meet Jimi at a show in Chicago and she asked if he would be interested. His answer? ”Yeah!”. So, she got ready with her dental mold material while Cynthia's “assistant”, Dianne P. Caster, paid lip service on Jimi in order to achieve the solid state needed for a good casting. The end result was one of the most famous (and largest) castings of Cynthia’s career.If you're not lucky enough to see the collection at a museum near you, check out the documentary, view the complete list of castees, and take this playlist for a spin. You’ll never hear these songs in the same light again. Tracklisting:1. Plaster Caster - KISS2. Foxey Lady - Jimi Hendrix3. Kick Out The Jams - MC54. I’m Satisfied With My Gal - Jim Kweskin & The Jug Band5. Once In A Lifetime - Anthony Newley6. Good Lovin’ - The Rascals7. Dean - Terry Reid8. Louisiana Blues - Savoy Brown9. Hold Your Head Up - Argent10. You’re A Big Boy Now - The Lovin’ Spoonful11. Wheel In The Sky - Journey12. Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys13. Space Rape - Gaye Bykers on Acid14. I Have Been To Heaven And Back - The Mekons15. Crackin’ Up - Revolting Cocks16. Can U Dig It? - Pop Will Eat Itself17. I’m Ready - Triple Fast Action18. Holiday In Cambodia - Dead Kennedys19. Bitch (Extraordinary Skipping Glitch Mix) - Pigface20. Everywhere I Go - The Muffs21. Rise - Public Image Ltd.22. Fast One - Demolition Doll Rods23. Nub - The Jesus Lizard24. We’re Taking Over the World - Bobby Conn25. Want Me - Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti26. See See Rider - Eric Burdon & The Animals27. Make That Move - The Rockats28. Orgasm Addict - Buzzcocks29. Shitlist - L730. Jenny Ondioline - Stereolab31. Kick It - Peaches32. Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

The Cake Vibraslap Playlist

Robert Burke — Thu, 31 May 2007 17:32:59 EDT

On August 14th, Cake will release B-Sides and Rarities, which is the band's first release since 2004's Pressure Chief. I've been listening to an advance copy of the CD, which includes unreleased tracks and a bunch of great covers. The remakes include artists like Black Sabbath, Barry White, Frank Sinatra, Buck Owens, George Jones, and Kenny Rogers.Like every previous Cake album to date, B-Sides does not take itself too seriously, and is simply loads of fun.Anyway, the new record inspired me to browse back through my Cake collection. As I did, something struck me.Cake is the most vibraslap-happy band on the planet.Mixed in with the trumpets, ever-so-slightly offtime vocal delivery and in-unison "HEY!"s you'll hear the rattling sound of an instrument called the vibraslap (as shown in the included photo).From Wikipedia, "A vibraslap (also known as a Mandible) is a percussion instrument consisting of a piece of stiff wire (bent in a handle-like shape) connecting a wood ball to a block of wood with metal "teeth" inside. When the percussionist holds the handle in one hand and strikes the ball (usually against the palm of their other hand), the metal teeth vibrate against the wood block, causing a distinctive rattling sound."This playlist pulls the best virbraslap tracks ever recorded by Cake into a single EP-sized collection. To listen to the playlist in full via Rhapsody, click here.Playlist Tracklisting:1. Never There2. Comfort Eagle3. Love You Madly4. No Phone5. Short Skirt/Long Jacket6. Nugget7. Arco ArenaCAKE “B-sides and Rarities" tracklisting:1. War Pigs 2. Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town 3. Mahna Mahna 4. Excuse Me, I Think I've Got A Heartache 5. Conroy6. Strangers in the Night7. Subtract One Love (Multiply the Heartaches)8. Never, Never Gonna Give You Up9. Thrills10. Short Skirt, Long Jacket 11. It's Coming Down

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

Neil Young - The Bird Album

Robert Burke — Sun, 20 May 2007 12:02:07 EDT

Listen to this playlist in full by clicking here.Today I sat down and started creating a playlist composed of classic rock songs about birds. I was about a dozen tracks into the mix and was digging both the famous and obscure picks about our fine feathered friends, (Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Police, Neil Young) when… wait… what Neil Young bird song should I select?There were too many great options to decide on a single one.After working for an hour on the original classic rock bird song playlist, I scrapped it for a later date, and decided to concentrate on crafting a Neil Young only avian-centric playlist. I simply could not let another moment pass without bringing this into existence.The fruits of my labor rendered this Neil Young compilation I call The Bird Album. It features 11 songs written about, inspired by, or that mention birds in the lyrics. Sure, it sounds like an odd way to put together a mixtape, but with an artist as legendary as Neil Young, it really works.It’s essentially a new Neil Young album focused around a single subject, as opposed to another greatest hits package featuring the same radio hits that appear in any Neil Young mixtape you can dig up. For me, a collection like this injects more interest into the mix, and can recap songs you haven’t heard in quite some time. Do you really need to hear “Heart of Gold” or “Needle and the Damage Done” again? Sure they’re great songs, but these tracks help me look at Neil in a new light while still listening to his old stuff.And if you’re a fan of birds in any way, shape, or form, this is a must have playlist.Tracklisting:1. “Helpless” (big birds flyin’ across the sky…) with CSN&Y2. “Birds” 3. “Hawks And Doves”4. “Little Wings”5. “War of Man” (the black falcon or the little sparrow…)6. “Thrasher” (the eagle/vulture glides desending…)7. “Revolution Blues” (that was me with the doves…)8. “Motion Pictures (For Carrie)” (ducks are calling…)9. “The Old Homestead” (prehistoric bird…)10. “Danger Bird” 11. “Expecting To Fly” - with Buffalo Springfield

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

Music Playlist: Classic Alternative Suicide Songs

Robert Burke — Thu, 17 May 2007 18:42:09 EDT

Listen to a full, high-quality stream of this playlist by clicking here.I'm a sucker for a good death-related playlist and for this death-centric collection of songs I thought I'd return to a favorite subject of rock and roll -- suicide. It’s a theme you can find woven through every style of music created by mankind. This playlist contains 19 great songs about the act of killing yourself, but it's limited to the "classic alternative" genre. What's "classic alternative" you ask? Well, it's a personally tagged genre that helps me classify bands who create alternative music, but have been around for 15 years or more. It’s not adult alternative, or indie, but includes forefathers of these genres.Bands like U2, R.E.M., The Replacements, Joy Division, New Order, The Smiths, The Cure, The Jesus and Mary Chain are all bands I would consider “classic alternative”, and are all included in this playlist.The destructive act of suicide does not only destroy a single life, but has serious impact on the lives those who loved the deceased. It always leaves unanswered questions, which makes the healing process even more difficult for those left behind. These are 19 of the very best classic alternative songs to explore the subject from many different perspectives.Please join in and add any "classic alternative" songs that are crafted around the subject of suicide in the comments. Classic Alternative Suicide Songs1. "Asleep" - The Smiths2. "Blasphemous Rumours" - Depeche Mode3. "Mad World" - Tears for Fears4. "Rock ‘N’ Roll Suicide" - David Bowie5. "Reverence" - The Jesus and Mary Chain6. "From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea" - The Cure7. "A Day Without Me" - U28. "Kiss Off" - Violent Femmes9. "Everybody Hurts" - R.E.M.10. "Insight" - Joy Division11. "Redondo Beach' - Patti Smith12. "Sunset" - Roxy Music13. "In A Lonely Place" - New Order14. "All Apologies (Solo Acoustic Demo)" - Nirvana15. "The Ledge" - The Replacements16. "The Kick Inside" - Kate Bush17. "Pepper" - Butthole Surfers18. "The Downward Spiral" - Nine Inch Nails (okay, this one is a stretch for "classic alternative", but is close enough)19. "Angel, Angel, Down We Go Together" - Morrissey

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

The Top 25 Positive Songs of Popular Music

Robert Burke — Mon, 7 May 2007 06:18:11 EDT

You can listen to all 25 songs in this playlist for free by clicking here. Popular music is filled to the brim with superficial songs about sex, drugs and money, but it can also be used to uplift, or present a philosophy lesson within the confines of a three to four minute song.For this playlist I wanted to select the top 25, positive, feel-good songs in popular music. Not just happy songs mind you, but songs that can be used much like a self-help book. The lessons contained in these 25 songs can be viewed as enlightening or sappy, depending on your point of view.One of the best things music can do is to lift us up, or help us think about how to be better people. Some would call this ”preachy” while others would just use the word “happy”.I have tried to ignore the fact that some of these songs have been overplayed, or have not aged well, and instead focused on selecting tracks with an overwhelmingly positive message. Many of the artists who made the cut are worthy of more than one track, but I have chosen to limit the list to contain only one song per artist.I have ranked the top 25 from my own experience, and since music has a different impact on all who hear it, your list will certainly differ from mine, but one thing I am sure of is that these 25 songs are truly positive, inspiring, and for the most part, loved.Please add your disagreements and/or picks to the comments. One glaring omission for many will be the absence of John Lennon’s Imagine. And although it could fit, the notion of a world with no heaven pulls me down. And so, I present the top 25 positive songs of popular music:25. “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen24. “Hold On Tight” by ELO23. “Everyday People” by Sly & The Family Stone22. “Dancing In The Streets” by Martha and the Vandellas21. “Top Of The World” by The Carpenters20. “Lovely Day” by Bill Withers19. “Thank You For Being A Friend” by Andrew Gold18. “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bobby McFerrin17. “Beautiful Day” by U216. “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder15. “Peace Train” by Cat Stevens14. “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” by Simon & Garfunkel13. “I Can See Clearly Now” by Johnny Nash12. “Simple Man” by Lynyrd Skynyrd11. “Walking On Sunshine” by Katrina And The Waves10. “A Beautiful Morning” by The Rascals9. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye8. “Do You Realize??” by The Flaming Lips7. “Heart Of Gold” by Neil Young6. “Love Train” by The O’Jays5. “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” by The Isley Brothers4. “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” by Ella Fitzgerald3. “All You Need Is Love” by The Beatles2. “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong1. “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

Playlist: Songs About Jeffrey Dahmer

Robert Burke — Thu, 16 Nov 2006 17:41:59 EST

Every year post-Halloween, I feel myself pulled more to the dark side of music. Like film, music can convey a myriad of emotions, including those of the vile and disgusting sort. Jeffrey Dahmer was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, and his life and crimes have inspired many songs.Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 young men between 1978 and 1991, and the gruesomeness of his crimes captivated the nation. This is a man who lured mostly homosexual men of color back to his north central Milwaukee apartment. The apartment, #213, became one of the most inhuman crime scenes ever discovered when Tracy Edwards, Dahmer's intended 18th victim, escaped and waved down police. Dahmer's reign of terror was finally stopped, two months after police bungled a chance to save victim number 13, Konerak Sinthasomphone.What was found in apartment 213 included corpses stored in acid-filled plastic vats, severed heads in the refrigerator, and what was to be an alter made from human skulls and candles. Soon it came to light that Dahmer had been practicing necrophilia and cannibalism. He commented after his capture that the biceps of his victims "tasted like beef." He also drilled holes into the heads of victims in and attempt to create his own zombies. Dahmer was as twisted as a human being can become, and as such, the story spread like wildfire.This playlist contains 10 songs about, or inspired by, Jeffrey Dahmer. Most of the playlist sounds as it should. Disturbing and creepy. It's heavy on industrial gothic and metal, but ends with a few less-eerie tracks. The playlist is closed out by "Dahmer is Dead" by the Violent Femmes, which rejoices in Dahmer's death at the hands of a fellow inmate and a broomstick.Songs About or Inspired by Jeffrey Dahmer:1. "Dahmer The Embalmer" - Blood Duster on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Blood Duster (Parental Advisory)Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.312. "Apartment 213" - Acumen Nation on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Artifacts: 1990-1993, Vol.1Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.313. "Room 213" - GGFH on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Very Beast Of: Vol 1Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.314. "Sinthasomphone" - Venetian Snares on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album MeatholeLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.315. "Still Born/Still Life - Part 2" - Christian Death on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Rage Of AngelsLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.316. "213" - Slayer on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Soundtrack To The Apocalypse (Parental Advisory)Last.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.317. "Apartment 213" - HotrodboB on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album No Sir-ee BobLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.318. "Dirty Frank" - Pearl Jam on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Lost DogsLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.319. "Jeffrey Dahmer Eat Your Heart Out" - The Calm Before on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album The Password Is EPLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.3110. "Dahmer Is Dead" - The Violent Femmes on Yahoo! Music JukeboxFrom the album Viva WisconsinLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

Thai Dinner Night

Robert Burke — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:22:47 EST

When preparing for a dinner party in your home, it’s important to pay attention to the details. The very best food is well thought out and not rushed. Attention must be paid to selecting the right dishes, finding quality ingredients, preparing the food correctly, and presenting it with style.But the food is not the only thing you need to pay attention to. Just as the best restaurants do, a great dinner experience also includes great service and ambiance. A good host or hostess is always aware of these other critical elements. This article is meant to provide you everything you need to have a fantastic Thai night at your home with friends.1. The Food - (Please note: you can substitute your own Thai recipes, but either way, a trip to a specialty food store to gather all the authentic ingredients is worth the effort)Recipes are from Thaitable and each includes step-by-step instructions with photos!First course: Soup: Tom Yum GoongAppetizer: Fried WontonsMain Course: Pad ThaiDessert: Tapioca Pudding with Young Coconut2. DrinksWaterCoconut Juice Wine: It can be difficult to select the right wine to go with Thai food, but I would suggest the very best pairing would be a Gewurztraminer. This wine’s strong heady scent, slight bitterness, and oily texture lends itself well to fish and chicken dishes that utilize hot pepper and oriental spices, as does Thai food. Second choices would be a Sauvignon Blanc or a Riesling.3. AmbianceTable Settings: When setting the table for a Thai experience, you can set out chopsticks, but most Thais use a fork and a large spoon. Thais also serve each dish in a separate vessel, but, apart from dessert, they are served at the same time. Dishes may lose appeal if combined with each other, so be sure to keep them solo. A pot of steamed and covered rice on the side can also be included with the menu from above.Of course, the very best choices for the table setting includes oriental porcelain, wood, and bamboo. Think Asian, but also think tropical.Centerpiece: If you need help with a great Thai centerpiece, you can find step-by-step directions.Music: Finally, this album of traditional Thai music sets the tone for your perfect Thailand dinner party experience. The flowing ambiance is perfect for your Thai evening, so put in on repeat at a low volume before your guests arrive.Tribal Thai - Chuck Jonkey on Yahoo! Music JukeboxLast.fm page / Search for lyricsSongBlogger V1.31

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

A Vacation Diary: Disney World, Day One

Robert Burke — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 17:33:54 EDT

Play We made the trip to Disney World from North Carolina and have awakened to day two of our vacation. To mark the end of the first day at the park, I thought I would create a musical diary to trace the experience. Below you will find each song and its reason for being added.1. “Vacation“ by The Go-Go’s - I selected the Go-Go’s "Vacation" for obvious reasons, but in addition to being the first song that pops into most people’s heads when thinking about a vacation, due to its super-hooky chorus, it also has a childlike optimistic tone, perfect for a road trip to Disney World, despite the true meaning of the song involving a broken heart.2. “On The Road Again“ by Willie Nelson - Another no-brainer. One of the top road trip songs of all time and the top musician’s road song ever written.*3. “Alligator“ by The Grateful Dead - We would have made it to Disney in eight hours, but it took us ten due to an accident on I-95 and a stop for lunch. We pulled off the highway as soon as we decided lunch was in order. It was about 30 miles North of Savannah, GA. The place we found was on a small lake filled with fish, turtles, and an alligator, who was impressive enough to get a song dedicated to him in this playlist. 4. “Welcome To Orlando“ by Kilowatt Hours - This song is a good example of how playlisting can help you discover music. I had never heard of the band Kilowatt Hours before, but the title of this track brought them to my attention as I searched for music to be included in this playlist. “Welcome To Orlando” is an obvious choice to mark our arrival at our destination.5. “Hotel Room“ by Richard Hawley - To mark the arrival at the hotel, I selected a track by another artist I was not familiar with, and it’s my favorite discovery of this list. “Hotel Room” by Richard Hawley sounds like Chris Isaac’s band backing Bryan Ferry. A cool combination to these ears.6. “Wake Up Early“ by Starflyer 59 - This song is included because of our decision to wake up as early as possible to 1) have a good selection at the free breakfast buffet, 2) get to the park before the crowds, and 3) beat the heat. Well, we accomplished all of the above, but this morning it’s already past 9 AM as I write this.7. “Breakfast In America“ by Supertramp - See the free breakfast bar mentioned above. We made our own waffles!8. “The Arrival“ by Miles Davis - I wanted to mark our arrival at the Magic Kingdom with some jazz and who better than Miles Davis? My daughter's eyes were the size of saucers when she saw Cinderella’s castle for the first time.9. “Big Yellow Taxi“ by Joni Mitchell - Although Disney World has an immense amount of trees and natural habitat, I could not resist making a comment about the acres of parking lots found here.10. “Ferry Me Across The Water“ by Kim Robertson - Once we parked at Magic Kingdom, we caught the efficiently run parking lot tram, which took us to the transportation center. From here we scanned our Internet ticket receipt into a kiosk that spat out our tickets, then we had to choose between getting to the park by monorail or ferry. As this song makes clear, we chose the ferry.11. “Going Down To Main Street“ by Muddy Waters - After the ferry lands you get your bags searched, show your ticket and you walk up to “Main Street USA”. A town modeled after a typical American town with three-story buildings, the street ends at the very un-American Cinderella’s castle. We didn’t spend much time on Main Street, as we were drawn like moths to the castle before us.12.” Coronation Day“ by Licorice Roots - Our timing could not have been better. As we reached Cinderella’s castle a stage show began. It was “Cinderellabration”, a musical that enacts the coronation of Cinderella. My daughter was in awe, even in the oppressive heat. The show culminated in a short fireworks display.13. “Hot Hot Hot!!!“ by The Cure - Did I mention it was hot? Florida in July is no cakewalk, and this is the kind of heat and humidity that can inflict trips to the emergency room. We were armed with misters, cold water, and battery operated fans, but even with these, we found ourselves making regular stops at indoor attractions and restaurants.14. “Gravity Rides Everything“ by Modest Mouse - We made our way to Fantasyland, which contains rides designed for families with small children. We were able to take our 3-year-old and even our 10-month-old on many of the rides here. The Dumbo ride and It’s a Small World were big hits with the kids while Snow White’s Scary Adventure was a thumbs down.15. “Pinocchio“ by Weather Report - Lunchtime! Where to eat? Well, it was too hot to walk, we wanted air conditioning more than food, so we stopped into the nearest indoor eatery, Pinocchio’s. One children’s PB&J meal, one single serving pepperoni pizza, one antipasto salad and a large diet coke, price $18.16. “3-D“ by Cheap Trick - Probably my favorite attraction of the day was Mickey’s PhilharMagic, a 3-D film that had us grabbing at the air. I haven’t seen a 3-D film since I was a kid. Tons of fun, complete with bursts of air and water to heighten the experience.17. “It’s A Small World“ by Lawrence Welk - Sure, this song is probably the biggest hook ever written next to “Happy Birthday” and the ride is a technological relic, but it has been completely refurbished, is still an uplifting comment on world unity, and was my daughter's favorite ride of the day.18. “Parade“ by Joe Henry - The Magic Kingdom has thre parades a day and we caught the fist one at 3:00 PM. My daughter shook hands with Minnie, Goofy, Chip, and Donald, but ran screaming from Captain Hook and Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. Hilarious.19. “Rollercoaster“ by Luna - My wife and I got to ride Big Thunder Mountain and it was fun, but as far as rollercoasters go, I have been on much better.20. “Broken Wheel“ by Bruce Cockburn - The heat was getting to us all, and we were struggling up the stairs by Splash Mountain trying to make it onto the Disney train for a ride to the other end of the park when the unimaginable happened. A wheel came off of our double stroller. We couldn’t repair it, so we unloaded it and left it in the trash. We had to lug two small children and everything that goes along with them (diapers, bottles, blankets, toys, etc) from that point forward with our bare hands! In the morning it’s off to Wal*Mart for a replacement.21. “Over It“ by Matthew Sweet - The combination of middle age, tropical heat and humidity, large crowds and the unfortunate stroller breakdown left me “over it” at this point. I traded New England for this?22. “Take The ‘A’ Train“ by Duke Ellington - We finally made it to the train and rode over to Toontown. The cool breeze generated by the exposed train cars left me feeling refreshed and calmed my frayed nerves.23. “Cup Of Tea“ by Sage Francis -I am not much for rides that spin around in circles as I am prone to become ill. So my wife took my daughter on the Mad Tea Party attraction. A Disney institution that a child simply cannot miss.24. “Regroup“ by Screeching Weasel - My wife and I were ready to throw in the towel and head back to the hotel, but we decided against it. We decided to get dinner in an air conditioned restaurant and stick it out to see what the evening would bring.25. “Air Conditioning“ by David Hazeltine - We found our air conditioned oasis at a burger joint in Tomorrowland called Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe complete with an animatronic alien lounge singer named Sonny Eclipse. One baked chicken platter, one order of chicken fingers and one kids' meal = $21.26. “Relax“ by G. Love & Special Sauce - I am not sure if Cosmic Ray’s has a good reputation, but it really helped chill us out, literally and figuratively. We were ready to get back to waiting in lines. This laid-back track by G. Love fits perfectly with our new state of mind.27. “Tomorrowland“ by David Thiele - We spent more time in Tomorrowland on Buzz Lightyear’s Alien Adventure, the people shuttle, and my daughter became terrified of the Lilo and Stitch ride. I had to take her out screaming, the poor thing. She’s not big on the dark, monsters, or robots. This ride had all three.28. “Space Mountain“ by Awesome Car Funmaker - This indoor sci-fi rollercoaster was first opened in 1975. I remember hearing about it when I was a kid. A roller coaster in the dark! Cool. Although I have been on better roller coasters, this was fun, fun, fun!29. “Trains And Boats And Planes“ by Astrud Gilberto - One last ride on Goofy’s barnstorming bi-plane rollercoaster, a train ride back to the ferry and a ferry ride back to the tram and the tram to the car. I thought this Burt Bacharach classic fit the bill.30. “So Tired” by Sam Jones - At the end of day one I was tired. In fact, I haven’t been this tired in a very long time. When we got back to the hotel I had a diet Pepsi on ice and began this playlist. It was the best soda in the history of my existence. The kids slept like logs, as did I on the plush new Marriott bedding I have been hearing so much about.31. “Mickey Mouse March“ by Julie London - Now it’s time to say goodbye, but stayed tuned…

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.

Sophisticated Songs For A Romantic Evening

Robert Burke — Sat, 8 Jul 2006 17:56:31 EDT

Selecting music for a romantic evening can be a dangerous road to travel. Depending on how serious you are with your potential mate, the wrong musical selections can easily reveal you as a complete cheeseball. Of course, you'll need to hone your romantic list to fit the taste of your date. However, some hard and fast rules apply across the board. For example, you would never want to include songs like "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd or anything by G.G. Allin or Blowfly. Just trust me on that. This playlist includes a little over three hours of highly-filtered tracks, all hand-picked for a wonderfully romantic evening. If you're looking for that perfect soundtrack to a big date, this could be the playlist for you. I have taken great care to select only highly-sophisticated numbers that can put even the most unassuming milquetoast in a romantic mood. It's an eclectic list that will show your diversity and taste. It's heavy on standards, bossa nova, and jazz, but with just the right blend of classic soul, R&B, and pop to keep it interesting. At just over three hours, it'll give you enough time to get some wine and courage into your gut so you can make your move. Good luck, and remember, respect and a sincere interest will take you far in the romance department.The Playlist: Play It! using Yahoo Music Engine"No Ordinary Love" - Sade "L.O.V.E." - Nat King Cole "Mas Que Nada" - Sergio Mendes "What A Difference A Day Makes" - Diana Ross "Let's Stay Together" - Al Green "More Than This" - Roxy Music "Please Break My Heart" - Caitlin Cary "Dance Me To The End Of Love" - Madeleine Peyroux "Desafinado" - Antonio Carlos Jobim "Lover, Come Back To Me" - Billie Holiday"Summertime" - Miles Davis "Agua De Beber" - Astrud Gilberto "Since I Fell For You" - Nina Simone "I Say A Little Prayer" - Burt Bacharach "Beyond The Sea" - Bobby Darin "The Look Of Love" - Diana Krall "La Vie En Rose" - Edith Piaf "The Best Is Yet To Come" - Frank Sinatra "I'll Be Your Lover, Too" - Van Morrison "I've Got You Under My Skin" - Mel Tormé "Which Will" - Nick Drake "'S Wonderful" - Joao Gilberto "Cheek To Cheek" - Fred Astaire "Inamorata (Sweetheart)" - Dean Martin "Something Beautiful" - Clem Snide "In Your Eyes" - Peter Gabriel "Easy To Love" - Cole Porter "Ne Me Quitte Pas" - Jacques Brel "I'm In Love With A Girl" - Big Star "If I Had You" - Etta Jones "Fairest Of Them All" - Slaid Cleaves "When U Love Somebody" - Fruit Bats "By The Time I Get To Pheonix" - Jose Feliciano "We've Only Just Begun" -The Carpenters "Blue Skies" - Laura Preble "So Nice (Summer Samba)" - Bebel Gilberto "These Arms Of Mine" - Otis Redding "Meditacao" - Cal Tjader "Love Songs On The Radio" - Mojave 3 "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" - Sting "My Favorite Memory" - Thad Cockrell "Holding Back The Years" - Simply Red "The Way You Look Tonight" - Tony Bennett "Just Out Of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms)" - Solomon Burke "Come On-A My House" - Rosemary Clooney "My Sugar Is So Refined" - Johnny Mercer "Talking About My Baby" - Curtis Mayfield "True" - Spandau Ballet "Almost Like Being In Love" - Vic Damone "Nothing Compares" - Sinead O'Connor

Robert Burke spends much of his time lovingly crafting thematic music playlists for the Rhapsody Radish and the Yahoo Radish.