Tag / Alanis Morissette

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Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 18

20 years ago, during my sophomore year of high school, I put together the first of what would become a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. We last looked back at all 20 volumes three years ago to see which of my “favorite” songs still resonated in today’s digital world. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how, or if, things have changed in the past 3 years.

Volume 18 covers the summer of 1995, my first working at the bank, and the lead up to the first of my two senior years of college.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Dancing Days

A radio hit despite never being officially released as a single, the Led Zeppelin cover more than doubled its impressive total over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 13 plays 27 plays, most recently on 8/28/2018 

PJ Harvey – Down By The Water

The surprise mainstream hit for the indie darling, which hit #2 on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks chart, added a mere 3 listens in the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 13 plays 16 plays, most recently on 10/9/2018 

REM – Strange Currencies

Nearly left off the Monster album due to its rhythmic similarities to Everybody Hurts, the song more than tripled its number of plays over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 plays 2 plays 7 plays, most recently on 7/18/2018 

Live – All Over You

Hitting #4 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart despite never being released as a single in the US, Live’s latest has doubled its plays in the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
5 plays 5 plays 10 plays, most recently on 6/24/2018 

Soul Asylum – Misery

Originally recorded off of Q101, the debut single from Soul Asylum’s follow-up to their breakthrough album nearly tripled its listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 4 plays 11 plays, most recently on 12/15/2018 

Collective Soul – December

Peaking at #20 on the Billboard charts, the second single from the band’s second album nearly tripled its output over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
2 plays 3 plays 8 plays, most recently on 10/9/2018 

Elastica – Connection

The first US hit from Elastica, peaking at #53 on the Billboard charts, added 6 listens in the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 11 plays 17 plays, most recently on 12/17/2018 

Juliana Hatfield – Universal Heart-Beat

Hitting #5 on the Modern Rock Tracks charts, the solo release from Juliana Hatfield garnered 5 additional listens in the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 8 plays 13 plays, most recently on 1/2/2019 

Side B

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Top 200 Albums – #31 – 40

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library. Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact. So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We continue with the next batch of 10 albums ranked between #31 and 40, including 3 studio recordings, 3 greatest hits packages, and 1 live performance.

#40: Patton Oswalt – Finest Hour
iTunes stats: 128 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The fourth album from the mind of Patton Oswalt makes an impressive debut on the list.

#39: Garfunkel and Oates – Music Songs
iTunes stats: 129 plays
Previous Ranking: 36

8 tracks from the musical comedy duo of Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci make up this total.

#38: David Cross – Shut Up, You Fucking Baby!
iTunes stats: 130 plays
Previous Ranking: 54

Every track from the first comedy album from David Cross makes up this total.

#37: Garbage – Garbage
iTunes stats: 132 plays
Previous Ranking: 54

The debut album from the Garbagers, whose total would be higher if not for their greatest hits album, makes the list on the backs of 12 tunes.

#36: Motley Crue – Motley Crue Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 133 plays
Previous Ranking: 29

9 of the glam metal bands biggest hits make up the total for this greatest hits package.

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Top 200 Albums – #190 – 196

itunes_imageNearly 4 years ago, we first counted down the Top 200 albums in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2018.

We start things off with the 11 albums (thanks to ties) that rank between #190 and 196, including 5 studio recording, 3 compilations, 1 greatest hits package, 1 live recording, and 1 comedy record.

#196: George Carlin – Back In Town
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

The 15th comedy album from George Carlin was released in 1996 and uses all of it’s tracks to make its debut on the chart.

#196: Katy Perry – One Of The Boys
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 141

Katy Perry’s debut single, I Kissed A Girl, makes up this entire total all by itself, which accounts for a 55 spot drop in the rankings.

#196: Toad The Wet Sprocket – Dulcinea
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 152

Only 2 songs from Toad the Wet Sprocket’s fourth studio album contributed to this total, an increase of 13 plays since our last look.

#196: TLC – Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: 158

3 songs make up this total for TLC’s debut album, which I remember getting at Musicland along with Toad the Wet Sprocket’s Fear.

#196: Various Artists – The Runaways: Music from the Motion Picture
iTunes stats: 40 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

2 tracks from the soundtrack to The Runaway’s biopic allows it to make its debut on the list.

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iTunes Top 200 Artists: #21-30

3 years ago, we first counted down the then Top 100 artists in my iTunes library.  Since that time, I’ve successfully managed to migrate my music collection to a new PC with the stats intact.  So, I figured it was time to take another look, expanding out the field to the top 200 artists, based on number of plays from late 2007 through January 1, 2017.

We continue today with the 10 performers who have combined for 1816 listens over the past 10 years.

#30: Klaus Badelt
iTunes stats: 161 plays
Previous ranking: #16

The composer dropped 14 spots in the rankings due to the White Sox no longer using his theme from Pirates of the Caribbean as part of their pre-game routine.

#29: Steam
iTunes stats: 164 plays
Previous ranking: #24

Another casualty of the White Sox victory playlist getting fewer plays over the last few years, Steam drops 5 spots in the rankings due to only 54 additional plays.

#28: Captain Stubby and the Buccaneers
iTunes stats: 173 plays
Previous ranking: #19

The novelty band responsible for the White Sox rally song from 1959 added 55 listens in the past 3 years, causing them to drop 9 spots in the rankings.

#27: Green Day
iTunes stats: 174 plays
Previous ranking: #30

The west coast punk rockers added 77 listens from their 18 songs to jump 3 spots in the rankings.

#26: Veruca Salt
iTunes stats: 175 plays
Previous ranking: #18

The girls from Chicago used 13 songs to increase their plays by 51, causing them to drop 8 spots.

#24: Stone Temple Pilots
iTunes stats: 182 plays
Previous ranking: #35

A 10 spot jump in the rankings, thanks to 100 new listens spurred on partially due to the death of singer Scott Weiland in December of 2015.

#24: Liz Phair
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Historical iTunes Top 16 Artists

itunes_imageI recently came across an iTunes Music Library XML file from an old computer that covered some time frame between 2003 and 2007.  I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the 785 songs I had listened to in that timeframe and, eventually, incorporate some of those numbers into my current library.

Today, we will look at the top 16 artists, in terms of total listens, from this iTunes library.  My initial observations are that these totals are completely out of whack.  When I last looked at the artist totals for my current library, Bon Jovi came in at #21, with only 10 more plays than they have here, where they are the leaders.

 

Artist Play Count
Bon Jovi 103
Garbage 60
Liz Phair 39
The Cast Of Buffy The Vampire Slayer 39
Avril Lavigne 31
No Doubt 21
AC/DC 18
Elvis Presley 17
Foo Fighters 15
Aerosmith 13
Def Leppard 11
Pearl Jam 11
Alanis Morissette 11
Tee Vee Toons 10
Gin Blossoms 10
Christophe Beck 10
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Mix Tape Monday Revisited – Volume 19

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Volume 19 stretches from late summer 1995 and into the fall semester of the first of my two senior years of college.  Again, it mostly features what was considered alternative music, with Coolio interjecting some street flavor for good measure.

Side A

Tripping Daisy – I Got A Girl

The one hit for Tripping Daisy managed to double its number of plays in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 7/22/2015

Foo Fighters – This Is A Call

The debut for Dave Grohl’s new venture earned a relatively paltry 4 additional plays in the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 13 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 17 plays, most recently on 4/2/2015

Pearl Jam – Whipping

The final appearance of Pearl Jam, which I barely even recall, picked up 2 listens in the past 3 years, none in nearly 2.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 9/7/2013

Hootie and the Blowfish – Only Wanna Be With You

Hootie’s ode to, among other things, the Miami Dolphins added 3 new listens in the past 3 years, despite not having been heard in over a year.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 6/8/2014

Elastica – Stutter

The follow up from Elastica picked up 2 listens in the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 2/10/2015

Cranberries – Ridiculous Thoughts

2 listens for the latest from the Cranberries in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 6/2/2015

Green Day – J.A.R.

3 new listens for Green Day’s contribution to the Angus soundtrack.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 10 plays, most recently on 5/8/2015

Alanis Morissette – Hand In My Pocket

The second release from the juggernaut that was Jagged Little Pill tripled its number of listens in the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 1/15/2015

Side B

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Mix Tape Monday Revisited – Volume 18

Between 1989, my sophomore year of high school, and 1995, my fourth year of college, I put together a nearly 20 volume collection of mix tapes, containing my favorite songs that I had gathered either from the radio, a cassette tape, or (eventually) CD. Three years ago, we looked back at all 20 volumes and which of my “favorite” songs I still listened to. Today, we revisit those mix tapes and see how things have changed in the last 3 years.

Volume 18 covers the summer of 1995 and the lead up to the first of my two senior years of college.

Side A

Stone Temple Pilots – Dancing Days

The Led Zeppelin cover nearly doubled its impressive total over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 6/28/2015

PJ Harvey – Down By The Water

The surprise mainstream hit for the indie darling also nearly doubled its total in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 2/4/2015

REM – Strange Currencies

I finally listened to this tune from the Athens, GA boys.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 7/12/2015

Live – All Over You

Live’s latest has gone unheard in nearly 4 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/15/2011

Soul Asylum – Misery

Only one new listen for the follow-up from Soul Asylum over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 1/2/2013

Collective Soul – December

A slight increase for Collective Soul’s latest, which hasn’t been heard in nearly 2 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 9/10/2013

Elastica – Connection

The debut hit from Elastica added 4 listens in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 6/17/2015

Juliana Hatfield – Universal Heart-Beat

The first solo release from Juliana Hatfield more than doubled its number of listens in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 8 plays, most recently on 7/12/2015

Side B

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Top 200 Albums – #29 – 37

itunes_imageMy latest desktop computer arrived in late 2007, at which point I transitioned all of my music off of my laptop. 2 iPods, 3 iPhones, and an iPad later, that computer is still my main repository of music, with iTunes updating its stats every time I listen to something.

Having already gone through cassette tapes and CDs, and digital music, it’s time to roll everything up with the Top 200 albums whose songs I’ve listened to as of September 2014, according to iTunes. Today, we crack the top 30 with the 9 albums ranked from 37th to 29th with between 76 and 86 listens.

#29: Motley Crue – Motley Crue Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 86 plays
9 of the glam metal bands biggest hits make up the total for this greatest hits package.

#29: Garbage – Chicago ’05
iTunes stats: 86 plays
This bootleg, from the bands 2005 show at the Metro, uses all 17 songs from its setlist to make up this total.

#29: P.O.D. – Satellite
iTunes stats: 86 plays
2 tunes, and former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks, are responsible for this total.

#32: The Beatles – Past Masters, Vol. 2 [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 84 plays
This remastered version of the album has 10 songs that make up its total.

#33: The Beatles (White Album) [Disc 1] [2009 Stereo Remaster]
iTunes stats: 82 plays
This remastered version of the classic double album has 8 songs that make up its total.

#34: Garbage – Version 2.0
iTunes stats: 80 plays
12 tracks from the band’s second album make up this total.

#34: Various Artists – Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album
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A Long Thursday Commute

For the first time in 2015, let’s take a look at the tunes that got me through a 1 hour and 45 minute commute home tonight.

You’re Invited (But Your Friend Can’t Come) Vince Neil Exposed 1/15/2015 4:28 PM
We Built This City Starship The Muppets 1/15/2015 4:32 PM
No Excuses Alice In Chains Greatest Hits 1/15/2015 4:37 PM
Instant Karma (We All Shine On) John Lennon Lennon Legend 1/15/2015 4:40 PM
Get Free The Vines Highly Evolved 1/15/2015 4:42 PM
Something’s Wrong K’s Choice Paradise In Me 1/15/2015 4:46 PM
Truth About Romeo Pancho’s Lament Pancho’s Lament 1/15/2015 4:49 PM
Don’t Tell Me Avril Lavigne The Best Damn Tour Live In Toronto 1/15/2015 4:51 PM
Nothin’s Gonna Stand In Our Way Spectre General The Transformers: The Movie 1/15/2015 4:55 PM
Ain’t 2 Proud 2 Beg TLC Continue reading →
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Wasting The Summer Away

For reasons any right-thinking person could not possibly understand, traffic this summer has been particularly brutal.  No matter what time I leave work, it will take at least 2 hours to get home.  One example of this was this past Thursday, when I took off around 3:40 and pulled into my garage just after 5:46.  Because of this, I’ve been able to listen to a lot of music.  Here is Thursday’s playlist, which kept from killing people in the cars around me.

Cult Of Personality Living Colour Monsters Of Rock [Disc 2 Of 2] 6/26/2014 3:46
Dreams The Cranberries Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? 6/26/2014 3:51
Only You Garfunkel and Oates Music Songs 6/26/2014 3:53
I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) The Proclaimers Living In The 90’s (Disc 2) 6/26/2014 3:56
I Won’t Forget You Poison Poison’s Greatest Hits 1986-1996 6/26/2014 4:00
Sk8er Boi Avril Lavigne Let Go 6/26/2014 4:03
Jane Says Jane’s Addiction Nothing’s Shocking 6/26/2014 4:08
The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) Banana Splits Here Come The Banana Splits 6/26/2014 4:10
I Saw Red Warrant Cherry Pie 6/26/2014 4:14
What The World Needs Now Is Love Jackie De Shannon Forrest Gump (Disc 1) 6/26/2014 4:17
Smells Like Teen Spirit Continue reading →