Spinning Platters Picks Six: European Pop Acts You Should Go See at SXSW 2010

Here's one of six bands you shouldn't miss in Austin this March.

You could go to SXSW and see lots of indie buzz bands from Brooklyn. If that’s your thing, great! As for me, I’ll be running around Austin chasing down the chance to see bands from other countries visit our shores, sometimes for the first time, sometimes for the only time. (I even have a tradition of seeing a band I’ve never heard of, from a country I’ve never been to. Give this one a shot.)

So if you go to Austin, and want to hear the best of pop music from the Old World, make sure to check out these six bands.

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: European Pop Acts You Should Go See at SXSW 2010”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (More): Fun Cover Versions

... or is he dancer?

Back in September I revealed my secret love of searching out cover versions on Youtube and posted six of them.  You can read/listen to that here

So here we are in February 2010 and I decided to do it again.  Check out these six songs and let me know what you think.  Maybe post some of your own ? Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (More): Fun Cover Versions”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (plus three) Music Nerd Gadgets from CES 2010

This product puts the nerd in music nerd.

In case you got too caught up by Polaroid announcing that Lady Gaga was going to be their new Artistic Director, and missed all the actual music gadgets that came out in Sin City this week, well then Spinning Platters is here to help in your misguided priorities! We at Spinning Platters love our conventions especially when it’s a “convention of nerds.” See, they’re our people, and we of course love all the amazing toys that get announced there, and just in general love Las Vegas. So, here are the top six nine gadgets to come out of CES 2010. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (plus three) Music Nerd Gadgets from CES 2010”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) – 12 Best Musical Moments of 2009 from TV or Movies

Since I probably watch more TV and movies than 98% of the population I thought I would bring you a list of great musical moments I saw in 2009.  Please enjoy the videos below whether they are new to you or a reminder of your favorites.  Please leave your choices in the comments, though I must mention two things were left off this list on purpose.  First, the Michael Jackson movie This Is It which I did not see and will never see. The second, Kanye making an ass out of himself during Taylor Swift’s VMA award speech, isn’t really musical, or at least there is no song associated, so it didn’t qualify.  Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) — 12 Best Musical Moments of 2009 from TV or Movies”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Christmas Songs It’s Okay to Like

Even a Grinch would like these songs

I’m not that much of a Grinch when it comes to Christmas, I’m actually a bit of a nerd and enjoy it quite a bit, but even all the Christmas songs start to drive me crazy after a while. So here are my six songs I think  it’s ok to like, or that won’t drive you crazy (I hope). Feel free to leave your favorite non-annoying Christmas song suggestions in the comments. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Christmas Songs It’s Okay to Like”

Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) – 12 Most Important American Pop Songs of The Last Decade

TigerBeat-JustinBieber P1As the decade comes to an end, it means it’s time for lists. Lots of lists. All making a vague attempt at condensing the most pivotal parts of our popular culture, and spitting them out in a haphazard form. This is a list of what I, personally, consider to be the most important pure pop musical moments of our decade. You will be upset by things on this list. You may think I am a complete idiot for missing “____” by The _____’s. Just remember, this is a list of POP songs. I will not mis-estimate the importance of Radiohead, AR Rahman, The Strokes, Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeah’s, and other acts that will appear on every other best of the decade list. This is just a pop list. I don’t have room for the Fleet Foxes, I’m sorry.

Please Read, then begin arguing about my picks in the comments area (In no particular order):

Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six (x2) — 12 Most Important American Pop Songs of The Last Decade”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Albums I Am Thankful For

firsttry

On Thanksgiving, the holiday season begins with family, stuffing your face, and thinking of the things you can give thanks to.  As a music nerd I would like to take time to thank the albums that have changed my life in one way or another.  Some of them have brought me comfort through the years and others have helped to shape my musical taste and turned me in to the reviewer I am today.  Some may surprise you and others should be extremely obvious to those who know me.  To all of the artists involved I say a warm thank you and a happy holidays.  To you, dear readers, hopefully one of these albums can bring you a little warmth on a cold winter day. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Albums I Am Thankful For”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Songs to Get Down To

It's worth reading this to find out why the Eiffel Tower is here.
It's worth reading this to find out why the Eiffel Tower is here.

Like any other San Franciscan, I claim to abhor Los Angeles and all it stands for.  Its sleazy, overtly sexualized, and full of plastic looking waiters trying to be actors.  While trying to not enjoy the perfect weather in Venice Beach last weekend listening to a borrowed ipod, I stumbled upon a playlist called Songs to Get Down To.   Naively, I thought I’d be bouncing through traffic to some dance hits. But as it turns out, the owner of the ipod is a Los Angeles Casanova, and what I got instead was a bunch of slow jams.

I was originally going to give this list a little feminine mystique and some sort of demure title hinting at what these songs are for.  But in the spirit of the sleaziest city on the West Coast, I give you 6 Songs to Get Down To. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Songs to Get Down To”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: Songs For Getting Ready to Go Out

No one here knows why this picture is here.
No one knows why this picture is here.

The best thing about getting ready to go out is the cheesy cliche dance party in your room while half-dressed. There is a reason this scene is included in every teen film since the 80’s- it’s because it’s really fun to do and everyone does it. Even though I am beyond my teens, I still find myself jumping around my room singing into my lip gloss at least once a week a la Hillary Duff in the Lizzie McGuire Movie. (I mean, I never saw that movie. Who’s Lizzie McGuire?)

If you think you can stand the heat of being taunted by your roommates/neighbors/cat, here are my top 6 songs for getting ready to go out. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: Songs For Getting Ready to Go Out”

Spinning Platters Picks Six: English bands that should be more popular in the US

Here to entertain!
Here to entertain!

Nothing too spectacular here: if you’re looking for groundbreaking bands you may be in the wrong place.  This is a simple list of six English bands that I love but that have made little-to-no impact across the Atlantic here in the US.  They mostly share a bouncy guitar based pop/rock sound and, to some degree, a sense of pseudo punkishness. Continue reading “Spinning Platters Picks Six: English bands that should be more popular in the US”