Bluejake

one problem with itunes is the power law effect- the most played songs get played much more than the lesser songs, and you end up having to make a real effort to hear new stuff. most of these songs aren't my favorites- they just happen to be songs i've purchased in the last couple of months, and because they are in the purchased playlist, they get played more than the older stuff that i also enjoy.

you know, you could make another playlist that contains highly rated songs that you haven't played in a while, say 2-3 weeks.

yeah- i did that- but i'm so lazy that i never play it. what i would really like is to be able to say "play this playlist 50% of the time, play that one 25% of the time, and the rest of the time, just play from the full random library." that would be fresh.

This whole area is ripe for some really good personalized radio... think of a program that interprets your preferences from what you have chosen to play and mixes that with new material from similar genres... all available for purchase of course.

Judging by the R.E.M. track, I'd say you're in the fan club...

My favorite lyric from your entire playlist:

The kid in the mall works at Hot Dog on a Stick
His head is a funny shape, his heart is a brick
Taking your order he will look away
He doesn't have a thing to say

I'm with you on the philosophy bit, but more coming from "why would anyone care?" than "it's redundant." But then I've never been one for pictures of birthday parties, restaurant trips and the like.

my vote for most creative lyrics goes not to the Eels but to Stephin Merritt of the Magnetic Fields, for Reno Dakota, for making references to Pantone colors and Italian composers in a single song:

Reno Dakota there's not an iota
of kindness in you
You know you enthrall me
and yet you don't call me
It's making me blue
Pantone 292

Reno Dakota I'm reaching my quota
of tears for the year
Alas and alack
you just don't call me back
You have just disappeared
It makes me drink beer

I know you're a recluse
You know that's no excuse
Reno that's just a ruse
Do not play fast and loose
with my heart

Reno Dakota I'm no Nino Rota
I don't know the score
Have I annoyed you
or is there a boy who
Well he's just a whore
I've had him before
It makes me drink more

nice.. care to .. ahem.. share some magnetic fields with me?

Dear Jake Dobkin, you should listen to the Pernice Brothers, you might like them.

ktdj

Longtime reader, first time commenter.

It says to me there are 62 of the 69 Love Songs that you aren't listening to often enough.

I don't know if you have heard but the next Magnetic Fields' album comes out on May 4. The album title is "i." It will have 14 new Stephin Merritt recordings, all starting with the letter i.

if i was to buy 1 magnetic fields song from teh music store which would you recommend?

It is such an amazing collection - and so varied - that it is hard to recommend one. My top 5 (today) are:

I Don't Believe in the Sun
I Don't Wanna Get Over You
The Things We Did and Didn't Do
Papa Was a Rodeo
The Death of Ferdinand de Saussure

um. with the exception of bright eyes, this list is eerily similar to my most-played-on-the-ipod list.

i suddenly feel so common.

Agreeing its tough to recommend just one, I'd suggest:

"I Think I Need A New Heart"
"Long-Forgotten Fairytale"
"It's a Crime"
"The One You Really Love"

It always blows my mind to see a mention of Whiskeytown or Ryan. Those guys started playing together two houses down from where I lived when I was at NCSU. We hung out a lot and I dated the original guitarist for a bit. They were all a part of a large group that made up several, interchangable bands. Great friends and better memories.

Hmm. I expected more NWA. Straight Outta Compton, baby.