Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Y Rock on XPN

We'd all like to think we have great taste.  A well-rounded, hip view of music is an important part of your persona, no?  Well I'd like to think its part of mine (I'll take the hip part with a grain of salt).  Which brings me to this week's pick: Y Rock on XPN.  If you're a native Philadelphian you will remember Y-Rock as Y-100, and its demise in 2005.  Thankfully, through WXPN, you can catch Y Rock streaming online anytime, anywhere.  It also broadcasts Wednesday and Thursday nights 8pm-11pm, and Friday nights 7pm-11pm, on 88.5 FM(WXPN).  They have an app as well, but if you're at your computer stick with the stream, it's a higher bit rate...

One afternoon can bring you classics by the The Smiths and XTC to new releases by the Gorillaz, Mike Doughty and The Ting Tings.  I am partial to any station that plays New Order, meaning that Y Rock is streaming on my computer most of the day.  It has the added bonus of discovering new artists and being surprised by what's on next!(oh that crazy radio!)  Check it out next time you tire of listening to your iPod remix (again).

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: LOST!

If you have been following the fantastically-complex and sci-fi thrilling series LOST, you know what is coming on February 2nd. It will be the two-hour season opener to, sadly, the final season of LOST.   Yes, the ABC series (also produced by JJ Abram's Bad Robot Productions) will come to an end this year. 

I have mixed feelings about this being the final season.  I am glad that series writers and producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse (along with many others) will be able to complete the story arc and tell the complete story.  On the other hand, they have opened so many cans of worms, introduced so many compelling characters, it's hard to believe just one more (fairly short) season will leave us feeling satisfied.  I hope I am wrong.  To help tied you over until the series premiere, here's a link to the recap for Seasons 1-5 on iTunes.  Enjoy! 

Macgirl's Media Pick of the Week: Star Trek (2009)

I had a long list for Santa this holiday season.  One of the few movie choices I hoped for was Star Trek.  This film is so much fun. The acting is fresh (especially Spock) and it has a great overall style and feel.  Although different from the classic Trek I loved growing up, JJ Abrams managed to bridge the divide between new and old fans in this film. 

I really enjoyed it in the theaters, and hoped it would translate to the small screen. 

My early reaction: yes.  Yes it does.  And then some.  It may be better in some ways.  It feels more like it's classic predecessors on my television, like that's where it belongs.  I think this is a super fun sci-fi flick.  Just don't take it too seriously, and you'll be fine.

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Holiday Picks: 12 1/2 Days of Christmas Movies!

This week my pick is anything but non-denominational.  I am sharing my list of the best Christmas movies out there.  These are the movies that actually help to bring the family together and avoid much of the awkward silence we otherwise must endure at the countless holiday parties with your family, neighbors and very distant cousins(well who invited him anyway??!).

 1.  Elf -ZOOoeeeey!!  Her sweet singing is enough to make this a classic Christmas movie.  Add in the genius of Will Ferrell, and you have movie gold!  It's made of GOLD!

2.  A Christmas Story  Well the term Red Rider BB Gun is now synonymous with Christmas, as are the many versions of the "leg lamp" to be found for sale around the holidays.  This movie is one of my all-time favorites, one I discovered by accident one afternoon watching cable TV in my parent's rec room.  The voiceover is just the right amount of nostagia and tongue-in-cheek.  Just try to watch it the whole way through without a giggle.  Betcha can't do it.

 3.  Scrooged- Bill Murray!!  He gets two exclamation points for this one.  This is my favorite version of the Christmas Carol story, even landing a place above the Muppets Christmas Carol on the list.  There is something so great about Bill Murray in this movie- he is evil and likeable, and that's hard to do...

 4. The Nightmare Before Christmas  Classic Burton- perfect.

5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (I still love the slapstick routines in this movie. Chevy Chase is a genius here!)

6.  White Christmas (This movie earned its own blog post, last week.  I LOVE it)  Bing Crosby will always have a place in my heart.  All of the acting in this film is above top notch.  If only they still made them like this...

7.  Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

8. The Santa Clause  I just like it, alright??! Plus, Elizabeth Mitchell plays Mrs. Clause in the movies.  Not always a big fan of Tim Allen, I really enjoy him in this movie.  He is perfect for the part of the bumbling, reluctant Santa-elect.  And the elves are great in this one.  Who doesn't like elves?

 9.  Miracle on 34th Street (1947 version)

10.  Prancer  I saw this one in the theater, that is, a much younger version of me that was easily taken with stuffed animal looking creatures...and I really enjoyed it.  It's the perfect time of year for a sappy story line filled with parents who don't understand you and learning to help those in need- even reindeer.

11.  It's a Wonderful Life

12.  The Muppet Christmas Carol  I love the Muppets.  And this is one of my favorite Muppet movies.  It honors the storyline and seriousness of the Christmas Carol while adding in that destinctive Muppets humor and charm. 

12 1/2.  A Colbert Christmas  (Ok, not a movie, but still an instant classic)

Most of the above are available on iTunes this year (is there any media now that isn't on iTunes?) so if you decide to make a purchase and are feeling generous, click on a link above to buy your copy through the Digital Lifestyle...it's like giving a Holiday gift to us- for free!  The rest link to the listings on Amazon.  Happy Holidays Everyone!  :D

Macgirl Media Pick of the Week: Holiday Picks: A Very Special Christmas

A Very Special Christmas was created as a charity fundraiser for the Special Oylmpics in 1987. It features such heavyweights as U2 (Christmas(Baby, Please Come Home)) and Run DMC (Christmas in Hollis).  There have been five sequals to this gem, but the first is by far the best.

I can remember listening to this album (on a shiney new CD!) in the late 80's and feeling so cool.  Maybe I was cool because all 12-year-olds think they are sooo cool.  Or maybe, it was the cool music.  This is still the best Christmas album created during my lifetime.  The songs still hold up, I still get weepy listening to Stevie Nicks singing Silent Night, and I still feel cool listening to it.  Well, about as cool as a 12 year old can feel...

If you don't own this album, definately check it out.  Here's a link to it on iTunes, or you can order the CD from Amazon here.  Or, ask your big brother or sister to borrow it.  I'm SURE they still have a copy...I still have mine!