Burning Question 4/30/06

The band Collective Soul: Overrated, or am I mising something?

Burning Question 4/30/06

Burning Question 4/29/06

Pitcher plants, Ugandans, or fire: which devours more termites faster?

Burning Question 4/29/06

Burning Question 4/28/06

Continuing the unnatural interest in American Idol all of a sudden....

How funny would it be if one of the contestants chose to sing the Daniel Powter song Bad Day? How ironic would it then be if they went on to win the whole thing?

Burning Question 4/28/06

Burning Question 4/27/06

Could Constantine Maroulis, the 6th place finalist of American Idol season 4, have beat Kellie Pickler, this year's #6? I think so.

Is it wrong that I'm still thinking about Kellie Pickler leaving American Idol?

Is it wrong that I'm still thinking about Constantine Maroulis leaving American Idol?

(There were people who said Kellie would win this year...the same people who guessed Carrie Underwood last year...I was afraid for a while there. Of course, now I'm starting to like them all, so if Paris Bennett doesn't win, that's okay.)

Burning Question 4/27/06

Burning Questions 4/26/06

Is it wrong that I was okay with the way Arrested Development ended? I just got around to seeing the last four episodes, and I loved them, and if the show isn't picked up by another station, I think it was a brililant way to end the series. It wasn't sappy like the end of The Mary Tyler Moore Show (which I mourned for what seemed like a long, long time in my young days) and it didn't jump the frikkin' shark (or seal) 500 times the way Remington Steele did.

Is it obvious I went a few years without getting attached to another television series?

I am a jinx of television shows and radio personalities, you know. I like a show--it's gone. I make a remark so witty that someone reads it on the air--they're gone. American Idol is the one exception to this rule, which proves it is pure evil.

Is it wrong that I keep watching American Idol? Is it wrong that I'm happy Kellie Pickler is gone? Is it wrong that I wonder what happened to that little boy who had the powder in his hair because he wanted to be like Taylor Hicks? Is it wrong that I remember that kid?

Burning Questions 4/26/06

Burning Question 4/25/06

David Foster: brilliant composer/producer, or maniac set on ruining every last American Idol contestant?

As a bonus, who else thinks David Foster needs to give George Lucas back his head? I think Lucas took better care of it.

The only redeeming point of tonight's American Idol was when Andrea Bocelli laid on the floor to sing.

Burning Question 4/25/06

I somehow feel responsible for this. I liked them.

Keep on Chooglin'. Don't ever let the bastards stop you from chooglin'.

I somehow feel responsible for this. I liked them.

Burning Question 4/24/06

Steady drizzle, or sudden downpours?

My basement prefers drizzle.

Burning Question 4/24/06

Burning Question 4/23/06

Which is better, Spiderbabe or Lord of the G-Strings?

I personally thought Play-mate of the Apes was hilarious, myself.

Ah, cable television, you're good for a few laughs, and cooking and remodeling shows.

Burning Question 4/23/06

Burning Question 4/22/06

Which is a better version of Revolution by The Beatles, the slower version from The White Album, the B-Side, or Revolution #9?

I always liked the Thompson Twins remake of the song from Here's To Future Days.

Burning Question 4/22/06

Burning Question 4/21/06

Walk on the Ocean by Toad The Wet Sprocket: which is the better version? The one that ends with, "As we slowly grow old," or the one with the added chorus?

I prefer the one with the added chorus, but as far as I'm concerned, the more Toad the better.

Burning Question 4/21/06

Burning Question 4/20/06

Which is a better mix of True Faith by New Order, the original or the "Morning Sun Mix"?

I personally don't understand the purpose of the Morning Sun Mix, it takes the edge off the song for me.

Burning Question 4/20/06

Things only I care about.

My eye itches.

Pyramid Head is in the Silent Hill movie.

Vinyl smells good.

Mucha Muchacha, one of the songs WFUV plays after the World Café, reminds me of Beavis, his photo of Dallas, and Mr. Anderson's trailer. Oh, Beavis. Damn, you were smooth. How I miss you, you butt-munch.

Dan Bern has a new album.

Kolah Ghermezi is on MySpace.

Things only I care about.

Now with 80% more concise observations!

Sleep is underrated by those who have it.

Now with 80% more concise observations!

Ya big disgrace.

I have seen Hell, and it is Queen night on American Idol. Ace Young must fry for that weak-assed We Will Rock You.

I have seen the Discover Card Stars On Ice tribute to Queen, and I have heard Linda Ronstadt's version of We Will Rock You done as a child's lullaby, so I know how bad it can get.

The lesson learned today: when Brian May tells you not to ruin his song...listen.

Ya big disgrace.

Listening to the happy sounds of being off-course.

I would just ilke to state for the record that the Doobie Brothers song, Listen To The Music is bloody annoying driving music.

I'm barrelling down a four-lane free-for-all searching for my turn, not even sure if I'm headed the right way, and all the while the Doobies are insisting that I listen to the music. I heard the damn music. All the time.

As much as I love him, the prelude to the Billy Joel song Angry Young Man has a similar effect. However, there is some grim amusement to me cranking up Billy Joel when I drive.

Listening to the happy sounds of being off-course.

Keeping it short and light.

Why doesn't Howie Mandel inflate surgical gloves on his head anymore? I hardly recognized him on Deal or No Deal.

St. Elsewhere took place in the mind of an autistic kid. Learning that fact blew me away. How could that kid kill Dr. Auschlander? The permanent time, I mean, not when the hospital rubble fell on him--the Superman suit should've told me a kid wrote that stuff.

Hey, this third paragraph is inconsequential!

Silent Hill, the movie, in theaters April 21! It won't be half as good as Silent Hill 2, the video game, but then not much is.

Keeping it short and light.

It's only rock 'n' roll, but I like it.

Rock is dead, and no one cares. Music has finally shed genres, and that has turned out a batch of horrid radio stations that just don't know what to play. I'm talking FM here, not satellite, not even HD Radio--which sounds like something I might like.

I never knew what rock was to begin with, so I'm still listening to what I've always listened to: stuff that doesn't garner ratings. Some of what I've been listening to, though, comes from names that people might remember. The target demographic for most radio stations is 16- to 35-year-old white males. I never understood that, but why I even brought it up is that for the young end of the demographic, the band name I'm about to say has always existed, and that makes me feel a little old.

Pearl Jam has a new album coming out. I've only heard their new single a few times on what's left of the alt-rock station in NY, which only plays music on the weekends now. I like the song, because I always liked Pearl Jam, and because it's anti-war, and you all know how I love anything that states the obvious. But Pearl Jam, holy crap. Eddie Vedder's hair has even grown back. Eddie Vedder is 41. Eddie Vedder made it to 41. The same could be said for Chris Cornell, so I guess being in Temple of the Dog was good luck for them.

The "classic rock" station has been playing tracks from David Gilmour's new album, On An Island, and if you love Pink Floyd and David Gilmour as much as I do, then go check it out. I know there's the Roger Waters following that thinks Floyd was never the same after he left, but I always liked Gilmour, so I don't have that problem. I recently tracked down some Pink Floyd with Syd Barrett, which I'd never heard, and I found it fascinating. So, I guess I like Pink Floyd.

I also like KT Tunstall, even though I thought she was Joan Osbourne the first time I heard Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, because it reminded me of Osbourne's Spider Web.

Rosanne Cash's new album, Black Cadillac, is amazing, the whole thing is worth a listen if you have the chance to really listen to the words.

I also like Duncan Sheik because he's adorable, so go check out White Limousine if you haven't heard it yet.

I would make a lousy reviewer of music, wouldn't I?

With that in mind, and the date--go buy World Machine by Level 42. It was my favorite album twenty years ago, and I'm still not ashamed to admit it. There are three bonus tracks on the remastered release, and while I've never heard them, the other nine tracks are burned into my brain for all eternity.

It's only rock 'n' roll, but I like it.