Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week...a little Beasties

When I heard the news late last month that Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys found a cancerous lump in his throat, I was floored.  

I was intent to research the latest news on the Beasties, including info about their forthcoming album.  Due to his surgery, Adam and Adam and Mike will understandably be taking a break from the album.  In the meantime, I took a walk down memory lane and listened to some of my favorite albums.  I checked out iTunes hoping to discover a gem that I hadn't already tracked down and bought ages ago- but alas, the iTunes library of the Beasties is woefully thin. 

I did find that the have the music video for Brass Monkey.  And, I couldn't resist buying it.

Ahh, to be 12...and sent to my room for going to see three Jewish white boys rap, while a huge inflatable penis bops on stage...again...

Macgirl's Review of Cake Mania 3

It's time for another click-wheel iPod game review, this time for Cake Mania 3.

I think anyone who is loking for a fun little game with a time challenge, nice graphics, and a unique catch (bake for a dinosaur?)  will really enjoy this game.  It is well designed, it scales up at a fair pace, and the little extras are well thought out (ie you can buy a mini pastry maker to bake and give out pastries to your hungry, waiting customers to buy you more time to bake.)

But, unfortunately, my heart was never in it.  Probably because-full disclosure- I have worked in a restaurant. The angry customers, the rush to make things right, bouncing along the counter from here to there...well, it just felt too much linke WORK to me.  As in, I've already done this, in the real world, getting dirty and tired in the process .  At least I was paid real money for my stress and hard work (although the dinos leave you bones as a payment, but last time I checked, bones on my iPod do not cover my rent...)  So it is after many rounds of half-hearted attempts I can say that this game is exhausting!  I do think a younger, less employed player would enjoy this game much more.  Alas, cake mania is just not for me.

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Teen Angst via 1984

Ahh, 1984 (the actual year that is, not the book...)

With the passing this week of John Hughes, I wanted to give homage to one of his best- and my personal favorite- movie.  His first big release, Sixteen Candles, truly captured the emotions and behaviors of teens in high school.  The geeky guys were honest and realisticly portrayed, the popular kids were shown with the right mix of obnoxious, and just being kids.  It was with this movie that my lifelong crushes on both Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall began. (well not so much the later, beefed up Hall...)

Anyone who could turn to a boy at a dance and dub him Farmer Ted would have been a friend of mine.

In honor of Hughes and his portrails of adolescence, pull out your old VHS of The Breakfast Club or Sixteen Candles, or even Pretty in Pink.  And if you've long since lost it in a split with an ex, buy it on iTunes, and get ready to rock to the Psychedelic Furs.

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Peter Bjorn & John

On tour now, openers for the comeback of 2009, Depeche Mode, we have Peter Bjorn and John.  The trio are also to be seen at the XPoNential Music Festival, here in Philly this July 24-26.  I am very fond of the breakout hit in the US "Young Folks", probably my favorite song of the year in 2007. 

There are great gems on their new album, Living Thing, including the addicitve "Nothing to Worry About", which I can't get out of my head, nor would I want to.  So give this Swedish group a listen.  They are modern, fun, and have great lyrics to boot.

Check it out on iTunes: 

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Songs from Cool World

 

A random discussion in a hallway led to my quoting lyrics from an old electronic song...a bit of Da Juice elicited question marks over the head of my friend, who usually keeps up with all of my lyric-throwing.  Wha??? he said.  You know, "Do That Thang", from one of the best soundtracks ever- the Cool World soundtrack.  Sure enough I had stumped him.

And so it may be new to some of you as well.  If it is, please check it out and take it with it's now dated grain of salt.  After a few listens you will see what a genius of a compilation it still is.  And if you're more than familiar, dust off your old CD and give it a spin.  I'm glad I did.

Unfortunately, it isn't available to us yanks in the US on iTunes.  Darn shame.  Songs from Cool World  IS available on Amazon.  (bonus, if you use our link to buy it I'll love you forever. Well... at least until my next post  :D )

Here's the breakdown:

1. Real Cool World - David Bowie

2. Play With Me - Thompson Twins

3. Disappointed - Electronic

4. Papua New Guinea [7" Original] - The Future Sound of London

5. N.W.O. - Ministry

6. Witch - The Cult

7. Sex on Wheelz [Glamour Dyke Mix] - My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

8. Ah-Ah [Mix 1] – Moby

9. Mindless - Mindless

10. Next Is the E [Long Arms Mix] - Moby

11. Do That Thang [Polite Mix] - Da Juice

12. Her Sassy Kiss - My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult

13. Greedy - Pure

14. Under - Brian Eno

15. Industry and Seduction - Tom Bailey