Usdin.net!

I’ve been bopping around the ‘net today promoting this thing but haven’t posted here about it yet. I recently became involved with a website called BlueJersey.net . It’s a democratic/progressive/liberal blogging site that my friend Sharon is a front page blogger for. Recently they decided to start a podcast - and Sharon put them in touch with me since I had been doing one and was also very high on the technology.

The first podcast is up. I edited and mixed it as well as advised the folks at the site on how to get it exposure. This first podcast is an interview with Rush Holt - Democratic Congressman of NJ’s 12th district. He talks about various things of national interest in prelude to the State of the Union address tomorrow night.

So check it out - you can hit the BlueJersey site or the Podcast site directly. You can listen on your PC as well as downloading it to your MP3 player. This is the future - citizen journalists talking to our elected officials directly. We don’t need big media anymore - this is the real deal. This is what podcasting is all about.

–*Rob

I haven’t blogged about podcasts here in a while, so I figured while some are downloading into iTunes, I’d make some recommendations:

The Onion Radio News - Yes - The Onion finally podcasts its little radio bit. Each one is a minute long - so there’s no reason not to subscribe - you can spare a minute for a laugh right?

They Might Be Giants Podcast - Hooray! Exclusive concert tracks and other weirdness.

Star Trek Pioneers - Radio drama Trek. If you’re jonesing for some Star Trek since Enterprise went off the air - this is the place to get. Takes place in the Next Generation time frame. It’s all original characters and is building on things brought up during all three Next Gen era series (Next Gen, DS9 and Voyager).

Blue Jersey’s Podcast - Coming soon! BlueJersey.net is the voice of democratic bloggers in NJ. I’m helping produce this one, and the first podcast will feature Congressman Rush Holt as a guest.

Penn Jillette Show - a podcast of the highlights of Penn’s (of Penn and Teller) show from Free FM (the lame “extreme” talk network started by Infinity Broadcasting).

Enjoy!

–*Rob

First of all - Episode #4 of the Jersey Jamcast is up! Go. Download. Subscribe. There is so much great music being made here in Jersey and this episode I didn’t just limit it to the rock/pop genre either. I played some blues, some reggae, surf rock and even some electronica.

Second - I wanted to mention some new music that I have been enjoying that is not necessarily in the realm of the independent rock. Yeah - I’ve been enjoying a lot of the great new podsafe artists I have been discovering - but I also found some mainstream stuff that was new and really good:

His Infernal Majesty - “Wings Of a Butterfly” - this song would have been a HUGE hit in the 80’s - but since their brand of rock with a good hook just won’t cut it on Top 40 stations anymore it hasn’t a chance. Good hook, great song. (Side note - Top 40 radio has all but latched onto Emo rock as the type of rock that they play now. That’s probably justified as Emo is what teens relate to better, but it’s too bad they aren’t exposing other music).

Gorillaz - “Kids WIth Guns” - If you haven’t checked out the latest Gorillaz album - you are missing out on an amazing collection of funky rap/pop.

INXS - “Perfect Strangers” - from their new album “Switch”. No it’s not Michael Hutchence, but having watched new lead singer JD Fortune on Rock Star INXS last summer - I can say that the guy GETS INXS. He wrote the first single “Pretty Vegas” while on the show and it just showed how he understood the INXS brand of pop/rock. “Perfect Strangers” is EXACTLY the kind of song you would have expected from Michael Hutchence and Fortune sings it so close - it’s amazing.

Matisyahu - “King Without a Crown” - a very interesting reaggae song from a very interesting artist. He is a hasidic Jew who sings reggae about his spirituality. It’s very engaging both lyrically and melodically.

Hard-Fi - “Cash Machine” - a really cool midtempo rocking song that has a real 80’s vibe to it.

So there’s some cool music recommendations for ya…..

–*Rob

To the person who reached my blog with the following search term:

“i didnt pull permits should i be concerned when selling my home”

Hell yes idiot! If you don’t get your permits in time for close you will thoroughly piss off the buyers.

–*Rob

I’m always on the lookout for music for Melissa. At 2 1/2 she’s past always wanting to hear Sesame Street…and she always wants to hear something fun. I try to stay away from the typical kid crap that is out there - Raffi and The Wiggles are intolerable. So I put together a playlist in my iPod of kid-friendly, fun songs that - for the most part - were not made to be for kids. I present this list as a service to all parents who are looking for something unique and different for their kids:

“Fish Heads” by Barnes and Barnes - you can get this on any manner of Dr. Demento CDs. It’s a classic and Melissa’s ultimate favorites.

“Octopus’ Garden” and “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles - I’m not a Beatles fan, but these songs are always fun to sing along with.

“Sing a Rainbow” by Peggy Lee - It’s a dreamy ballad and talks about colors. I’ve been looking for a while for the version that was sung on a local Philly TV show in the 70’s - “Captain Noah and his Magical Ark” but I haven’t been able to locate it.

“High Hopes” by Frank Sinatra - There’s a bunch of version of this - but the Frank Sinatra is the one I remember hearing as a kid, and it’s got kids doing the chorus.

“Theme from the Muppet Show” - since we got the Muppet Show Season 1 on DVD - Melissa has been enjoying this. She yells “Kermit!” whenever she hears his voice doing the introduction.

“Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” by Brian Hyland - a classic piece of 60’s kitsch that is so much fun to sing.

“I’m A Little Airplane” by Jonathan Richman - a little repetitive but a cute little ditty nonetheless….

“Bulbous Bouffant” by The Vestibules - another Dr. Demento find and very cool. Starts out as a skit and evolves into this…..song…. of funny sounding words - you won’t get it out of your head for days….”Bulbous Bouffant….(blubber)Macadamia…(blubber)Ga-ze-bo!”

“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen - surf rock and oh so fun….”bird bird bird…the bird is the word….”

“Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver - Gotta get the live version which has the audience clapping along - Melissa claps every single time!

“The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens - Who doesn’t like singing “A weem a weh…a weem a weh…”?

“Cotton Eye Joe” by Rednex - I prefer the dance mix version better. Nothing like some good techno fiddle.

“Disco Duck” by Rick Dees - yes, it’s corny, and yes it’s a 70’s throwback - but those opening beats with the quacking reel in the kid every time…

“Blue” by Eiffel 65 - a techno song with a great chorus. Everything is Blue.

“Safety Dance” by Men Without Hats - I think Melissa likes the spelling at the beginning the most.

“Little Willy” by Sweet - Good beat, easy lyrics….just a great fun song….

“Volcano” by Jimmy Buffett - fun island rock - good lyrics and easy to sing along to…

“Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo’ole - Probably the best reinterpretation of the song I have ever heard - and it’s got a ukelele(he’s Hawaiian) Entrances the kid.

“You Will Go To The Moon” by Moxy Fruvous - A Capella song about going to the moon - which every kid wants to do.

“The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr. - This is the definitive version of this song, and we both love it.

“Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” by They Might Be Giants - a bunch of other TMBG songs could also make the list - but this one is the hallmark.

“Puff The Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary - A classic.

“Come On Get Happy” by The Partridge Family - otherwise known as the theme to the TV show. Fun 70’s pop/rock with a harpsichord - how can you beat it?

“Tra La La Song” by Liz Phair with Material Issue - It’s from a compilation of 70’s TV show themes done by rock artists a few years back called “Saturday Morning Cartoons’ Greatest Hits” - a great song unto itself…and along with that goes…

“Scooby Doo, Where Are You?” by Matthew Sweet - No - she’s never seen an episode of Scooby Doo, but Matthew Sweet’s version is fresh and clean…perfect for the in car sing along….

“I Want a New Duck” by Weird Al Yankovic - any number of Al’s songs could be here - but a lot have pop culture references and would go over her head. Not this one - all animal, all duck.

So if you’re looking for something new for the kids - check some of these out. you should be able to find most, if not all, on iTunes. Give your kids something different to listen to.

–*Rob