Antique Wave

For yuns of you just tabbing in, I'm currently going through each NOW album (both UK and US versions) from 1983 til now, but alternating years. That is, starting with 2013, moving to 1983. Then 2012, then 1984, and on and on. Have fun.

Phil Collins : You Can't Hurry Love
There's no understating how glorious this is, in virtually every way. Ok that's a lot, but it's cool. And originally a Supremes song! And it's interesting to me how this introduction (prominent bass riff + drums) becomes periodically famous now and again.

Duran Duran : Please Please Tell Me Now
1980s, yeah! This extreme emphasis on the off beat (2 and 4) that was so popular during this time always amuses me. Fluff and some more fluff with fluff on top, however.

UB40 : Red Red Wine
Iconic, purdy. I used to hate it, cheesed out by it, but it has improved for me considerably. Originally Neil Diamond? Pretty neat, and he eventually came to play it in UB40's style in his own performances, which I found interesting.

Limahl : Only For Love
Is this an 80s pop song? I don't have anything to say about it. The video, the hair. -_-

Heaven 17 : Temptation
Bad and good. This violin/string sample, the female vocalist's voice... but very 80s. The video is something wonderful as well.

KC and the Sunshine Band : Give it Up
.. for the 1970s? It reminds me of Britney Spears in 2013 Same idea I guess. It's kind of neat to hear that very low-mixed, bright synth chords in the background. Actually kind of tasteful in my opinion. Or is it just a dubstep breakdown?

Malcom Mclaren : Double Dutch
There's something I like about it, but difficult to elucidate. Seems intelligent, but maybe just contrived. The bassline rocks a lot, and is very catchy

Bonnie Tyler : Total Eclipse of the Heart
It's so good. Fuck you, it's so good. So so good.

Culture Club : Karma Chamelon
I absolutely love it. But proceed with caution: EXTREME earworm hazard.

Men Without Hats : Safety Dance
Oh it's just classic. Crystallized classic. Never seen the video before though! Great!

Kajagoogoo : Too Shy
A whole lot of no going on here. Spare yourself or punish yourself, the choice is yours.

Mike Oldfield : Moonlight Shadow
It's not new wave! It's not new wave! But I can still hear new wave -_- But very nice guitar solo )

Men At Work : Down Under
I'm biased, have always loved this song. I'd never seen the video before, though -- it's funny!

Rock Steady Crew : Hey You (Rock Steady Crew)
Why, hell yes. And I honestly did not realize hip-hop had developed this early; always assumed it was a late-80s thing.

Rod Stewart : Baby Jane
Well, it's him. I like his voice but his ... everything else.. difficult. And by difficult I mean... difficult.

Paul Young : Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)
Originally a Marvin Gaye tune. It's warm, even for the otherwise cold stylization. I don't mind this one bit.

New Edition : Candy Girl
Black boy band, sounds like Jackson 5. Good energy, not very interesting.

Kajagoogoo : Big Apple
I don't think I like Kajagoogoo. They annoy me and what's worse, they have extremely uninteresting songs, from what I've heard so far. This brass riff isn't so bad, though.

Tina Turner : Let's Stay Together
It's great, I like this a lot. Tina's dancing in the video is an attractive mixture of epileptic and sexy, which is.. attractive.

Human League : Fascination
I'm biased. This was on Grand Theft Auto Vice City, so ironically it's a part of my own adolescence, though originally it was headache-inducing. Never saw the video before though, and wow: awesome/weird/disgusting.

Howard Jones : New Song
I would listen to it again. I like his appearance too; doesn't look like an asshole, but does sound like a one-hit oneder. Oh-need-er.

UB40 : Please Don't Make Me Cry
Pronounced bass guitar, minimal instrumentation = cool and calm vibe, almost sleepy. I like it, I do.. but it's a little weak.

Roberta Flack : Tonight I Celebrate My Love
It's sweet. Lush, but sweet, and feels honest, and I like it. She's the original singer of Killing Me Softly!

Tracey Ullman : They Don't Know
I don't really know what's ironic and what's painfully sincere. It's catchy and I don't absolutely hate it. Funny video. Paul cameo! And she slightly reminds me of a pre-Madonna. Prima Donna pre-madonna ok I'll stop..

Will Powers : Kissing With Confidence
It may qualify for worst song ever. Actually it was part of a self-help themed comedy album by real name Lynn Goldsmith.

Genesis : That's All
I always said I couldn't handle the sound of Phil Collins/Genesis music but it is growing on me. Or maybe I'm just getting lamer. Though the chorus hook sounds so much like Aerosmith's Same Old Song and Dance it's suspicious.

The Cure : The Love Cats
This is proof that the British have pretty much always had better taste in music than us. Charted at number 7 (nowhere at all in the US) and even so, it's amazing this was a popular song at all. Also proof that musical tastes in general have progressively homogenized; can you imagine hearing this on the radio now? It sounds like a sad kid's art project. Anyway, I'll be surprised if there's a cooler song on any Now album.

Simple Minds : Waterfront
Kind of rocks. In my mind I'm still trying to tie the stylistic threads together (check out the blog title..) but it sounds like some U2 and some 70s hard rock, along with a happy slathering of new wave gloss. But it has an aggressive, even sinister propulsiveness (single-note bass line, cool!) that is very attractive.

Madness : The Sun and the Rain
Sounds incredibly British but has an electric energy to it, great transition to chorus. The intermittent high-pitched strings are a nice touch.

Culture Club : Victims
I think I could very easily become a Culture Club/Boy George fan. This moves me inexplicably. Inexplicably because it's not the kind of music I typically seek or enjoy, and on some levels I don't even much care for it, and yet it goes somewhere deep and has power, inexplicably. Reminds me of genius!

Domestic Abuse Art! Awkward Stage Names! Exclamation Marks!

Hey! The remainder of 2013! That is, US Nows 46 and 45 (45 starts with OD's Live While We're Young). And den 1983 and den 2012 and den so on. Yeah. Or coffee.

Bruno Mars : Locked Out of Heaven
PRE-CHORUS PIMPNESS. Police-ish, future legend, great voice, nauseating lyrics, it's Bruno Mars.

Justin Timberlake : Suit & Tie featuring Jay-Z
This shimmering piano sound he's been on lately really does it for me ) The song almost loses something if experienced without the fantastic black and white music video, however.

Ariana Grand : The Way featuring Mac Miller
Never heard of her but Ms Grand can certainly sing. Neat pop/R&B song.

Pitbull : Feel This Moment featuring Christina Aguilera
This will sound like 2013, later. The Take On Me sample works well here too. Ok I am not supposed to enjoy this song this much, goddammit.

Fall Out Boy : My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark
I do not get. NO GET.

Of Monsters and Men : Little Talks
Funny band, funny song, funny popularity. It's catchy though. A little insidious but it has a warm, familiar style.

Emeli Sande : Next To Me
I like it! That's all. Sounds good.

Nelly : Hey Porsche
One verse and one chorus would have been plenty! At least there's just one metaphor on one dimension.

Ludacris : Rest of My Life featuring Usher and David Guetta
I don't know who David Guetta is but it's another name I see associated with modern electronic music. And the little electronic music interludes are pretty cool.

Krewella : Alive
Krewella =  Cruella? DeVille?? Brilliant like coal in a box, underground, on the dark side of the moon! Wait..

Ke$ha : C'mon
Another gem from Keh-dollar sign-shuh. Another Jim.

One Direction : Kiss You
FUCK. Just fuck. I almost like this. I would like this.. But it's still evil of course.

Mattthew Koma : One Night
His voice troubles me slightly. Sounds like he's straining hard, or has a cold. The song reminds me a bit of that late 90's hit, She's So High.

Kodaline : All I Want
I like this song. And such a sweet/sad music video.

Sky Ferreira : Everything Is Embarrassing
Seems like she would like to be famous. Maybe she already is. Either way I don't really care. Interesting song title though.

Classified : That's What I Do
I take issue with hip-hop's fundamental attitude, but as far as that goes this is ok. Comfortable, optimistic, but not too dull.

One Direction : Live While We're Young
Well, more kids music. Sounds like their songwriters know what they're doing, some talent.

Flo Rida : I Cry
I'm certain this man's stage name will never not make me cringe. Why why why why. It's a braindead pun and why would you call yourself a united state, sort of? Tramar is a much cooler name. Well the song is fun, sort of.

Ke$ha : Die Young
It's pretty obvious I've got a crush.

Ne-Yo : Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)
I don't know how to say this name-word. Like Neo? Or Neigh-Oh? Who cares-oh? Why is it trendy for stage names to be textually obnoxious-oh? I honestly think it's like a skeezy shortcut to catchiness: if you have difficulty pronouncing/reading a word, you'll think about it longer and harder, so you're less likely to forget. Therefore, fuck you Ne-Yo! You too Flo Rida! )

Pitbull : Don't Stop the Party featuring TJR
You know, it's cock rock and everything, but I like Pitbull's face, ha. Makes me want to wear a suit. And be bald. And Puerto Rican. Mister World-Wide!

Calvin Harris : Sweet Nothing featuring Florence Welch
Florence Welch sounds like Lawrence Welsh who is a famous name many know but can't quite associate with a face or entity: Another way to be catchy. Her voice is interesting.

The Script : Hall Of Fame featuring Will.i.am
I associate The Script with watery pop-rock, more or less ambient radio pop for white people - something to keep mall denizens and food court diners from feeling hopeless, and this is that. But hey, paychecks or whatever.

Maroon 5 : Daylight (featuring nobody, amazingly!)
Ooh I hate this band. Shit, just shit. Oh and the video is this, except unironic and unentertaining.

Phillip Phillips : Home
Folky, sweet--not bad.

Ed Sheeran : The A Team
She ran? Shearin'? I like this. The man has a nice voice, and it reminds me of Jason Mraz some.

Taylor Swift : We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Well I love it. However, HOLY SHIPS WHAT AN ANNOYING VIDEO. Guitarist, your face gives me pain.

Kelly Clarkson : Catch My Breath
Well, hello again, Kelly. I get the feeling this lady has a very hardcore fanbase outthere somewhere. I'm not, not one.

Pink : Try
P!nk now! P!nk pünk. I've never quite been able to bring myself to dislike her music; continuance. And if you have not seen this song's video, quit depriving yourself, right this instant.

OneRepublic : Feel Again
Apparently this was inspired by gospel--an attempt to write a gospel-inflected song. It's not bad at all, just not my taste.

Imagine Dragons : It's Time
I recognize this, actually. This mandolin riff, catchy and unique -- only so slightly insidious. Stupid but catchy chorus. Sounds like a fast food jingle.

Florida George Line : Cruise
I listened to this once, and suffered. Never again will I volunteer. Though I like their band name. Kansas, Flo Rida.

Born Cages : Don't Look Back
This pre-chorus chord moves are neat--kind of a build-up. I guess that's the idea, but it works well here and really catches the ear, my dear. Oh hello, there appear to be a classic guitar solo!

Black Veil Brides : In The End
Well, that's hard rock music, well-planned and well-executed; I am not interested.

Walk the Moon : Anna Sun
I'm looking forward to seeing exactly when this trend of stylized video information text began, as we go back in time! This is a very hip tune! Not a compliment!

Ok that's 2013. Now for 1983! Truck yeah! Stay tabbed.

2013 - 47

Have you ever loved something SO MUCH you wished you could literally bathe in it? Immerse yourself completely? For example ice cream. Don't you wish you could go for a swim in an olympic-sized pool of praline? If provided nearby shower accessbility? Or maybe the internet. Isn't it so damn fascinating that you sometimes imagine yourself literally living INSIDE the web? Do people even call it that anymore? My age is showing. My nerd is showing. But I know you do! Because so do I.

Well let me share with you the thing I would like to live inside and rarely leave: music. Especially pop music. Not LMFAO, not Katy Perry, not One Direction. I mean hardcore pop: the Beatles, Mozart, Queen, Katy Perry.. wait.. ok, that's not my point. My point is...! I have decided to listen to EVERY Now (That's What I Call Music) album from 1983 to album number 47, released August 6th, 2013. Yes I have. And Yes I have begun. And yes I will share this journey with you.

I must say this though: My path will be strange. I will go by year, and I will alternate. This is nothing less than time travel so it must be well-planned and strategic or else something bad might happen. Like dinosaurs and vikings.. or maybe just synthesizers and shoulder pads. Anyway I will begin with 2013, and then move to 1983. Return to 2012... and then explore 1984. Afterwords we will familiarize ourselves with 2011, and then come to know 1985. And show on and show forth!

Well, I'm excited. No really, like, my nipples are sensitive to the touch excited. Ok maybe you didn't need to know that...

NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL MUSIC 47
August 6, 2013
None of this music means anything to my life. Ok some of it plays at work sometimes.

Icona Pop : I Love It
"I Don't Care -- I love it" So do I. You know, I cannot for the life of me understand why this song is popular. You know, kids these days are so stupid and souless. You know, everything is wrong with them. Everything.

Justin Timberlake : Mirrors
I had only boring things to say about this until the 5:30 mark of this 8 1/2 minute song. Why do I feel so damn cool and so damn inferior at the same time? Wait did I just get fucked by Justin Timberlake? The power of music..?

Mariah Carey : #Beautiful featuring Miguel
Ugh. UGH. It began as an annoying title (does one verbalize "Hashtag Beautiful?") from an uninteresting (if bangin) artist featuring someone I've never heard of (I know, that's my problem) and ended as Meh.

Selena Gomez : Come & Get It
Is this that song that was going to be a Beatles song but ended up not a Beatles song because the Beatles stopped being the Beatles and the gaining band worked for a Beatle? Or no. Oh, no it's strictly Selena Gomez. Good job lady--it's catchy! But what else?

Imagine Dragons : Radioactive
Ahh the lyrics are supposed to be something incredibly epic! Instead it's just a one-dimensional re-wording of Idioteque but I guess that's ok. And it's catchy as a fuckermother.

Bruno Mars : When I Was Your Man
Bruno MF Mars: A melodist, an insturmentalist, a serioust talent -- not a lyricist. Did I mention he can write one hell of a melody?

Labrinth featuring Emeli Sande : Beneath Your Beautiful
This song is a scriptual periphery nightmare. The music is ok. The music is ok.

Zedd : Clarity feautring Foxes
Not hating, but when I first heard this I thought it was Katy Perry. Also when I second heard this. I like it though and the video is great. Foxes must be a DJ or digital musician or dubstepchild or whatever they're calling them nowadays..

Calvin Harris : I Need Your Love featuring Ellie Goulding
Not a fan!

Jason Derulo : The Other Side
Money has been generated; mission has been accomplished.

Ke$ha : Crazy Kids featuring will.i.am
Personal opinion about Ke$ha and her music temporarily withheld. It's mine and you're not ready. You're just not!

Anna Kendrick : Cups
It's like a march, but catchier. And more insidious. And I kind of like it.

Capital Cities : Safe And Sound
Mildly interesting but overall I don't get it. Cool horn-hook-thing though!

Demi Lovato : Heart Attack
Who exactly is the victim of this joke? Planet Earth perhaps. Oh, chorus. Oh my poor, poor chorus. Please return to us. Or don't -- we don't deserve you anymore.

Taylor Swift : 22
I like Taylor. Most of her songs give me good feels and I hear she is actually the primary songwriter of her music. And if so, wow. But this is not so enjoyable. =/

Avril Lavigne : Here's to Never Growing Up
She pronounces Radiohead correctly! No, that's mean. This song sucks.

Well I think I'm going to leave out these "Now! What's Next" things for now. Partly because I'm lazy and partly because that's not why we're here. We're here to grow, remember?? Can't grow with guesses. Unless they're my guesses. Bye.

Inertial Dampeners set to Dork

Have you ever loved something SO MUCH you wished you could literally bathe in it? Immerse yourself completely? For example ice cream. Don't you wish you could go for a swim in an Olympic-sized pool of praline? If provided nearby shower accessibility? Or maybe the internet. Isn't it so damn fascinating that you sometimes imagine yourself literally living INSIDE the web? Do people even call it that anymore? My age is showing. My nerd is showing. But I know you do! Because so do I.

Well let me share with you the thing I would like to live inside and rarely leave: music. Especially pop music. Not LMFAO, not Katy Perry, not One Direction. I mean hardcore pop: the Beatles, Mozart, Queen, Katy Perry.. wait.. ok, that's not my point. My point is...! I have decided to listen to EVERY Now (That's What I Call Music) album from 1983 to album number 47, released August 6th, 2013. Yes I have. And Yes I have begun. And yes I will share this journey with you.

I must say this though: My path will be strange. I will go by year, and I will alternate. This is nothing less than time travel so it must be well-planned and strategic or else something bad might happen. Like dinosaurs and vikings.. or maybe just synthesizers and shoulder pads. Anyway I will begin with 2013, and then move to 1983. Return to 2012... and then explore 1984. Afterwords we will familiarize ourselves with 2011, and then come to know 1985. And show on and show forth! Until we meet in the middle and transcend the limitations of consciousness and graphing calculators.

Well, I'm excited. No really, like, my nipples are sensitive excited. Why are you looking at me like that?? Bye.

Jenny's Sis

So all things have beginnings, but their nomination is arbitrary. Maybe even a little arrogant. Who am I to say this is the beginning of something just because I'm doing it? It's also the end of that tiny slice of free data where this post now is. It's also the end of the high degree of my keyboard's durability prior to composing. It's also the end of this half hour that I spent doing this instead of something else. But for the sake of sanity, it's the erection of a new thought-island in the vast and ever-denser thought-ocean of the internet. So it's new in that sense.

I can't say what I intend to accomplish with this, exactly. Probably some opinions. Maybe some poetry. Maybe some advice. I hope I won't stoop to ranting too often. With luck I will be able to muster the strength necessary to avoid self-sorry expurgatories of existential pain and suffering (though there is so very much!!). Could I entertain? That's up to you. Could I enlighten? That's up to you. Could I grow? Well, of course. Otherwise, what's the point?