Election Night Party

Whether you're watching the results with friends, or at home, you can still participate in the Election Night Drinking game.  No matter what network you're watching, drink anytime you hear:

• Hanging Chad
• Voter suppression in Alabama
• Hillary Clinton
• Speaker of the House John Boehner
• Gangnam Style
• Bubbie or Zaydie
• Orthodox Jewish vote
• Values Voters
• Springsteen
• Honey Boo Boo
• Panhandle
• Soccer moms
• Jessie Jackson
• Ross Perot
• Dewey Defeats Truman

Here's something to listen to on the way to and from the polls, or during your election night party.


Have fun from your hosts:
Keep us up to date on Twitter!

Daniel Brenner

Adam Oded

Sandy Downed a Tree in Jenkintown

Sandy Downed a Tree in Jenkintown, a set on Flickr.

I saw this on my way to work.
Hurricane Sandy ripped a huge tree out of the ground and it broke a pole holding power lines as if it were a twig. Seriously.
Snapped it in two.
Take a look.

Later The Same Day
A crew was dismantling the tree. Only one guy had a chainsaw. Gas Powered, of course.

Terry Callier: May 24, 1945 – October 28, 2012

Terry Callier passed away this week. I was first exposed to his music by one of my favorite mp3 bloggers and sometime radio host Aquarium Drunkard. I put his song "You Goin' Miss Your Candyman" on Advanced Listening, a part of Summer Series '07. Here's a recording of Terry performing this song live in London in 2000.

Hurricane Sandy

To help pass the time during the storm check out my hurricane playlist:


 Or this guy's hurricane playlist. (It's better)

Or look at pictures of dogs in raincoats.

Presidential Debate Drinking Game: Foreign Policy

Drink if you hear:
Thanking "our men and women in uniform"
Multilateral
Aleppo
Unmanned drone
The brink
Yearning for freedom
Enriched uranium
Our friends the Saudis
Safe haven
Bibi
Trucks
Undivided
2020 (the year)
Unfair advantage
Offshore
iPad
Navy SEALs
Pacific Rim
Side by side
We won't negotiate with terrorists
Give me a chance!

Round Trip Radio - Flight 001

I Took A Week Off From Facebook

I was thinking that I had developed some kind of facebook problem. I spent too much downtime looking at my phone for facebook status updates. I craved getting comments and likes from the random thoughts and mundane minutiae of my daily life. I wanted to see what would happen if I took a week off. So I uninstalled the app from my phone and didn't check in at all for a week. Here's what I found when I returned:

Friend Requests: 1

From a local organization which doesn’t know how to set up an organization fan page and instead has made a personal profile. I clicked “Not Now,” and then when asked if I know this “person” outside of facebook, I said, “yes.”

Messages: 4

Three were for events that I was invited to, but never responded to. I deleted them without reading.

One was a response to a “happy birthday” post I made on a former birthrighter’s wall.

Notifications: 41

Event invitations to things in or around Philly, including duplicates: 13
Event invitations in other American cities: 6
Event invitations in Israel: 3
Postings in groups I belong to: 14
Links on my wall: 1
Likes for stuff: 2
Tagged photo of me: 1
Comment on photo of me: 1

My conclusion is to spend less time on Facebook and leave the app off the phone. If there's something worth sharing, I can always do it later. Like I'm doing now.

With my spare time this week I was able to focus on my job search and apply for three jobs. I attended two Professional Development Workshops. One was a workshop by the Cultural Alliance called “Strengthening Your Social Net,” and the other was a webinar from Netbase called “Optimizing LinkedIn For Business Success.” Both were informative, interesting and useful. As unemployment remains high, and managers must squeeze extra productivity out of employees, the prospects become more difficult the longer a person is out of a job.

I went to two concerts this week. Gang Gang Dance and Further.

Gang Gang Dance at Johnny Brenda’s

They have a dreamy, 80's inspired electronic sound with coos and yelps from Lizzi Bougatsos. The band was great but the venue was sweltering. I should have brought a towel to soak up the schvitz. One happy concert goer bragged to me after the show that Lizzi threw him her sweat soaked towel. A gross memento from a hot show.

Further at The Mann Center

I have to admit right from the beginning that I'm not really a Dead Head. But since I married one, I've enjoyed the two Further shows that I've seen. I love the audience because they make me feel young and thin. The music is actually pretty good. Speaking objectively the show involves two old dudes from the Grateful Dead touring with a couple of really kick-ass musicians.

It saddens me that Amy Winehouse didn’t survive Saturn’s Return, but the Tears Dry On Their Own: Al Usher Remix or N.Y.P.C. 'f*cked' mix.

And now for sports:

The Philadelphia Phillies have the best record in baseball at this point in the season. They win approximately 70% of their home games. I’ve gone to the stadium to see them twice this season. They lost both games. That’s 100%. It also rains every time I go. Next time I will try another outfit.

Gil Scott Heron & Jamie xx - We're Here Now

I got turned on to this album by Kol HaCampus, an Israeli radio station.

You can listen to the whole album here:

Kurt Vile at World Cafe Live

Last time I saw Kurt Vile, I asked him if I could post a video on the web.
He was like, "Well, if you're asking me, then I say no. Really. I mean, if you post it without my knowing..."
So this time I'm posting without asking.
Enjoy!

Open Letter to Israeli Musicians

To Israeli musicians, DJs and bands:

I try to promote Israeli music in the US. While in Tel Aviv for the month of January 2011, I would love to meet up with you for a short interview.

The interviews will be short and painless.

Here are the the questions I will ask:

1. Who is your greatest musical influence?
2. Who is your favorite Israeli artist currently performing?
3. What's in your pockets right now?
4. Where can you get the best hummus in Israel?
5. Do you plan on touring the US? If so, you can stay at my place in Philly.

I've been thinking of adding a sixth question:

6. If you were a sandwich, what kind of sandwich would you be?

Interviews will be posted on YouTube.

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Video Playlist: Space

Here's a video playlist I put together that features views of earth from space. I recommend putting your computer on mute for this. Instead, you might want to listen to Darkside of the Moon, or any music of your choice. It syncs well with almost any kind of music.




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Squires

Quick! Before the tan fades!

Here's a mix for summer 2010. It was a great one, filled with sun, beaches, boats, fun nights out and even funner nights in.

I'm dedicating this mix to my Squires who made this summer awesome.

On the cover is a picture of the sunset over the bay side of Ventnor City, NJ. Ventnor. That's three consonants in a row. You don't see that too often. It's a real challenge for the American pallet. Can I buy a vowel?

Most of the tracks on this mix are from 2010, with the exception of one song from the 80s and one from 1966. These songs were in heavy rotation in my room and on The Bridge for the whole summer.

Download the mix as a zip file with separate mp3s for each track.
Download the mix as a wma file.

SQUIRES
1-The Drums-Let's Go Surfing
2-Surfer Blood-Neighbor Riffs
3-Gorillaz-Stylo (feat. Mos Def & Bobby Womack)
4-Bananarama-Cruel Summer
5-J.Viewz-Salty Air (ft. Noa Lembersky)
6-Comanche-Velvet Morning
7-Washed Out-Feel It All Around
8-Beach House-Norway
9-Karolina-Alone Again
10-Toro Y Moi-You Hid
11-Beach Boys-Sloop John B
12-Real Estate-Beach Comber
13-Tame Impala-Expectations
14-Hot Chip-Alley Cats
15-The xx-Islands
16-Pantha Du Prince-Im Bann
17-Teen Daze-Shine On, You Crazy White Cap
18-Sacha Baron Cohen-Tapas
19-Uzi Navon and Acquaintances-A Little More

Ian Lander and Cheese play Barrytown

Later on Upstairs at Mennu's, Ian Lander and Cheese play Steely Dan's Barrytown.


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Shalev Mami Sings Belle & Sebastian

Today, on a very special Upstairs At Mennu's, Shalev Mami sings Belle & Sebastian.

International Jet Set III: Recap

Jet Set III made Jet Set I look like Jet Set II.

Evidence:

International Jet Set III

This Saturday night, March 27, I will be doing a Jet Set at the Cosa Nostra. Party starts at 10:00PM and should run through about 2:00AM. There's no cover charge and the drinks aren't all that pricey.

I'll be spinning tunes off my latest mixes, and previewing stuff from the next one. You can expect to hear stuff from Iceland, Sweden, Japan, Eastern Europe, Eastern Pennsylvania, Israel and other happening places around the world.

Cosa Nostra: Nachalat Binyamin 10, Tel Aviv
March 27, 2010 10:00PM-2:00AM
I'll be the guy with the headphones.

42

This year I made two mixes to celebrate my birthday. I gave away a few copies during Purim, which fell out on my actual birthday. But since I celebrate my birthday until March 3, I figured these mixes are just under the wire.

Turn Up The Decibels

All the tracks in this mix are from 2009. The picture is from my last gig as a professional DJ. It was actually a very nice affair at the Mutter Museum. I like the cufflinks in the picture. They were a gift from my father.

• 1-WhoMadeWho-Keep Me in My Plane: The video for this song is great.
  
• 2-Passion Pit-The Reeling: I have an ongoing battle in my mind against the people who work in marketing. If I'm turned onto a cool track and it shows up in a commercial, I win. If there's a cool song that I've never heard of in a commercial, they win. I usually win. Whether it's Royksopp in a Geico ad, M. Ward in a Budweiser commerical or Nick Drake plugging VWs, I usually win. I was recently caught out by a cell phone ad. The campaign had a song by Passion Pit called Sleepyhead. It's a great track,and I recall hearing it and thinking, "What is this?" But for this mix, I've chosen an even better song by Passion Pit, one that is untainted by the evil of marketing.
• 3-Persian Radio-The Khaaaakh: This clip is from Family Guy. In the episode, Stewie says, I wish I hadn't stayed up all night listening to Persian Radio. At the end of the clip, the guy really sells the חחחחח.
• 4-Datarock-Give It Up: The last verse of this track says it all. "We'll hook you up to an enema/Oh oh oh oh/And don't stop till you get enough."
• 5-The Gossip-Your Mangled Heart: Lesbian riot grrl Beth Ditto screams with a heartfelt passion for unrequited love. "I don't want the world/I only want what I deserve."
• 6-Kinny-Enough Said: More unrequited love in this track. Even though it came out this year, it sounds like classic Motown.
  
• 7-Neon Indian-Deadbeat Summer: This past New Year's Eve, I was at home with acute bronchitis. I didn't go out to any parties, and stayed home instead and did shots of cough syrup. Whenever this track turned up in my playlist, with all it's sloppy and off-key notes, I would get up and do a little jig.
  
• 8-YACHT-Psychic City: Another good video. I enjoy the water drop loop and the fun lyrics.
  
• 9-Jordaan Mason & The Horse Museum-Avalanches: Aquarium Drunkard does a much better job of explaining this one.
• 10-Marissa Nadler-River Of Dirt: This song has a haunting sound to it. Wish I had put this song in its place.
  
• 11-St. Vincent-The Strangers: More spooky sounds.
• 12-Animal Collective-My Girls
• 13-Espers-Trollslända: This whole album is a trip. Very chill. Mellow.
• 14-Múm-Sing Along: This is almost a pop song from múm. Normally, these Icelandish artists make clicky loopy sounding stuff.
• 15-Deep Cuts From The Cheeze-I'm In Charge: This is my friend Cheeze. He's actually a muppet.
• 16-Danger Mouse and Sparklehorse-Revenge: It's actually Flaming Lips and somehow, David Lynch is involved.
• 17-Songs-Clouds
• 18-Girls-Lauren Marie: This one didn't fit on the disc version.
  
  
  
  

Clip The Card

This mix went through about four major revisions, but I'm pretty happy with where it is now. I recommend listening to it while drinking red wine, flying overseas, or both. Many of the sounds are international, or specifically Israeli or Scandahoovian.

• 1-Dan Mangan-Robots
• 2-Gustav and The Seasick Sailors-Sadie Says
• 3-Kurt Vile-Blackberry Song: I saw Kurt Vile at Johnny Brendas and recorded some great video of the show. After the concert, I asked him if he minds if I post it to YouTube. He said he would mind. So, I didn't post it. I recommend seeing him. He's very talented.
• 4-Oi Va Voi-Every Time: Starts off mellow, and then it takes a sharp turn to Eastern Europe. My nephew got a preview copy of this mix and tweeted that he was listening to it on the way to a doctor.
  
• 5-Sally Shapiro-Time To Let Go: Although the name of the band sounds like someone who might have been on one of my Birthright trips, these are Swedes.
• 6-Onili-Omizu: She's coming to Silk City in Philadelphia on March 23, 2010. I'm going to be in Tel Aviv at the time so I'll have to miss it. I would highly recommend going to the show. Great artist in a great venue. And at $6 it's a bargain. I would bring three friends with me.
  
• 7-Santogold-Lights Out
• 8-m83-We Own The Sky
• 9-Buscemi-Nothing To Worry About
• 10-Spylab-Celluloid Hypnotic
• 11-The Karminksy Experience-Departures: If you listen really closely, about 12 seconds into the track, right before it kicks, you can hear Thomas say, "Here's Adam. Going to clip the card." I sampled it from this video. From that moment on, the mix rolls out into a coma-inducing mellow vibe. I used my Klippekort as the album art.
• 12-The Flaming Lips-The Impulse
• 13-Koop-Beyond the son: I'm not sure what Earl Zinger is blathering on and on about on this track. Frankly, I don't care. But I really like the sound of his voice.
• 14-Metropolin-Malachim (Angels)
  

Best Videos of 2009

I spend a lot of time listening to a college station from Tel Aviv called Kol HaCampus. Recently, they posted their best of 2009 list, along with YouTube videos for a lot of the artists. I've gone through their list and here are my 20 favorite videos. I recommend connecting your computer to a projector and amplifier and watching these videos in full-screen mode.

• 1 - St. Vincent - Actor Out of Work. A powerful song with an even more powerful video.
  
• 2 - Who Made Who - Keep Me In My Plane. This one is my favorite.
• 3 - Röyksopp - Happy Up Here. Fun and light. I like the Space Invaders.
• 4 - Matt & Kim - Lessons Learned. I've seen this in Times Square, like, a million times.
• 5 - Shantel - Citizen of Planet Paprika. Here's what Parliament might have been if George Clinton was born in Eastern Europe. Or wherever Shantel comes from.
• 6 - Franz Ferdinand - Ulysses.
  
• 7 - Datarock - Give It Up. I saw them this year at South By Southwest. Here's the video.
• 8 - Passion Pit - The Reeling. These folks must have listened to a lot of 80s music.
  
• 9 - Yacht - Psychic City. I think they're trying to make a statement about religion.
  
• 10 - Kinny - Enough Said. Her retro sound with the retro look and feel of the video make a great combination.
  
• 11 - Marissa Nadler - River of Dirt. Haunting vocals.
  
• 12 - Ian Brown - Stellify. Reminds me of Fleetwood Mac - Tusk. In a good way.
  
• 13 - Grizzly Bear - Two Weeks. This is from Veckatimest, which is one of my favorite albums of the year. I even put a track from it on my ill-concieved Corn Forks mix.
  
• 14 - múm - Sing Along. For fans of long Iclelandic Winters.
  
• 15 - The Flaming Lips - I Can Be A Frog. I was a fan of this track before I saw the video.
• 16 - Kings of Convenience - Boat Behind. This is from the third Kings of Convenience album, Declaration of Dependence. Pitchfork didn't like it because it is too much like their other albums. I like it for that very same reason. What would be great, though, would be another Versus based on this album.
• 17 - Eels - The Look You Give That Guy. Lucky dog.
  
• 18 - Broadcast & The Focus Group - #1: Witch Cults. Trippy.
  
• 19 - Califone - Funeral Singers. Supermellow.
• 20 - Andrew Bird - Anonanimal. Very cool video.
  

The Happiest People On Earth

This past weekend I went to Denmark to visit with my old roommate, Thomas Schack von Brockdorff. I learned a number of lessons during the trip. First of all, Thomas no longer goes by SvB, and hasn't for the past decade. His current last name contains an Æ one of the three letters (Æ, Ø, and Å) that Danish has, and English doesn't. Perhaps that's why I had a hard time finding him.

Thomas and I were roommates in 1988-89 in Jerusalem. You may wonder, why a non-Jewish Dane was living in Jerusalem? Thomas went to Israel in 1987 together with some of his high school buddies to volunteer at a kibbutz. Thomas eventually left the kibbutz and found a job at Cowboy Fudge, located in the back of Happening on Ben Yehudah Street. My girlfriend at the time was the manager of the fudge stand, and in one fell swoop, Thomas found a job and a place to live. Things didn't work out with my girlfriend, and the weekend she moved out, in late November 1988, I went AWOL from the army with two of my friends, Phil and Freddie Fresh. The next twelve days became "Freedom Fest," a time when our little group would grow closer and wilder, and our apartment became known as The Swamp.

Recently, Oprah called the Danes "The Happiest People on Earth." I wanted to find out if this was true, so I took every opportunity to ask Danes if they agreed. In this clip, I get answers from Thomas, his old friends who came to Israel with him in 1987, strangers in night clubs, and Thomas' girlfriend Chrissilda. (Look for the segment where the Danish goyim break into song with "Heveinu Shalom Aleichem.")


Clipping the card:

When using the public transportation system in Denmark, one of the most economical ways to go is to get at 10 ride klippekort, or cut card. When entering a station, you put your clip card into a machine that stamps the time and cuts off a piece of the card itself. The card can be used for transfers within two hours of clipping. By the end of the weekend, I was an expert in clipping the card.



Quick Summary of the Vacation:

• A good schvitz.
  
• Live jazz at La Fontaine.
• Frequent visits to Christiania. Bevar Christiania!
  
• Glass Candy at Vega.
• Drank lots of Tuborg Julebryg, and that's before I saw the commercial which predates the beer.
  

What I leaned on the trip:

• The Danish eat danishes, but they call it wienerbrød, which means Viennese Bread.
  
• Danes don't dress up for Halloween, but kids do for Fastelavn, which, like other Carnival celebrations, falls out closer to Purim. During this holiday, kids play slå katten af tønden, which means "beating the cat out of the barrel." Although today it's more of a piñata-style game, it began with a real black cat beaten out of a suspended barrel.
• When you share your wisdom with someone, it's called, sharing the golden nuggets. At least that's what Christian Brøns told me as he wrote down some of my classic one-liners.
• Hi in Danish means, "hi." Like the word shalom in Hebrew, it's used for hello and goodbye.

At the end of a long Swampy weekend, both Thomas and I were wiped out. After 20 years, nothing has changed.

Thomas in 2009:

Thomas in 1989:

Hi hi, Danmark, tak for alt det sjove.

Here's all the pictures:

I Love Music