Tag / Buffy

by admin

Book 23 (of 52) – Girls In Pants: The Third Summer Of The Sisterhood

Girls In Pants - Anna Brashares

Girls In Pants – Ann Brashares

Last year, I noticed that my collection of unread Buffyverse books was dwindling down.  I found a used copy of a hardcover crossover between Buffy and Angel that I had missed, Heat,  on Amazon, so I decided to go ahead and pick it up to restock the unread book drawer.  Sadly, when the book arrived, it was the dust jacket for the advertised book, but inside was a copy of Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood.  After requesting a refund from Amazon, they let me go ahead and keep the book, which sat on my dresser for more than a year until I recently decided to pick it up and try something different.  And something different it was.

My only other experiences with the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants saga was watching the two films.  Because of this, I had some familiarity with the characters, which made getting through this a little easier.  It wasn’t a bad read, but certainly not in my usual genre.  Short of another used book mishap, I don’t envision myself going back and reading the previous entries in the series.

by jim

Book 20 (of 52) – You’re Never Weird On The Internet (Almost)

You're Never Weird On The Internet (Almost) - Felicia Day

You’re Never Weird On The Internet (Almost) – Felicia Day

Last December, Felicia Day announced that she was writing a book and I went ahead a pre-ordered it on Amazon.  9 months later, her memoir has finally come out and, while I certainly enjoyed it, I’m left feeling a bit underwhelmed.

Day covers her unconventional upbringing, having been home-schooled from an early age and starting college as a 16 year old without a high school diploma, before moving on to her attempts to make it as an actor and, eventually, becoming a pioneer in creating original content for the web.  She details the struggle of trying to keep control of her creations as they became more successful, and the trouble it caused her, both physically and emotionally.

I consider myself a fan of Felicia Day, from her work as a potential in the final season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer to her starring role in the web series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog.  But, there are some gaps.  I’ve never seen her defining web series The Guild.  I subscribe to her YouTube channel, Geek & Sundry, but have never really watched any of her videos.  Reading her book didn’t really make me want to run out and change any of that either.  And maybe that’s OK.

by admin

Historical iTunes Top 10 Albums

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 10 albums, in terms of total listens, from this iTunes library.  My initial observations are, again, that these totals are completely out of whack.  When I last looked at the album totals for my current library, Bon Jovi’s greatest hits collection came in at #60, with only 6 more plays than they have here, where they are by far the leaders.  So, without further ado:

#1: Bon Jovi – Cross Road
iTunes stats: 48 plays
An abnormally large total for the first greatest hits package from the boys from New Jersey

#2: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slayer – Once More, With Feeling
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The soundtrack album to the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, which took home the top spot last year in my current library, has a strong showing here.

#3: The Cast of Sesame Street – Sesame Street Platinum: All-Time Favorites
iTunes stats: 35 plays
The best tunes from Sesame Street got a lot of plays back when Angelina and Danny were younger, enough to take the third slot here.

#4: Bon Jovi – VH1 Storytellers
iTunes stats: 25 plays
A bootleg album of the band’s performance on the afore-mentioned VH1 Storytellers.

#5: Various Artists – Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album
iTunes stats: 18 plays
The soundtrack album to Buffy The Vampire Slayer proper makes the top 5 after finishing tied for 34th in my current library.

#6: Avril Lavigne – Avril Live: Try To Shut Me Up
iTunes stats: 15 plays
Live versions of Avril’s hits, including a cover of Green Day’s Basket Case, place her in the top 10.

Continue reading →

by admin

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
by admin

Historical iTunes – Top 24

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 24 songs, in terms of total listens, from this iTunes library.  My initial observations are that all of these songs were either ripped from CDs or bought from the iTunes store.  Any MP3s don’t seem to be well represented in this library.

 

Close Your Eyes (Buffy/Angel Love Theme) Christophe Beck Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album 10 11/23/2006 10:53 AM
Sk8er Boi (Live) Avril Lavigne Avril Live – Try to Shut Me Up 9 2/28/2006 3:26 PM
Why Can’t I? (Live) Liz Phair Why Can’t I? (Sessions@AOL) – Single 7 8/5/2004 10:12 PM
Living In Sin Bon Jovi New Jersey 7 8/28/2005 11:10 AM
In These Arms Bon Jovi Keep The Faith 7 8/28/2005 12:59 PM
Livin’ On A Prayer Bon Jovi Cross Road 7 10/2/2005 10:38 AM
Keep The Faith Bon Jovi Cross Road 7 10/2/2005 10:44 AM
Connecticut’s For F*cking Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen of the Apocalypse Jesus H Christ and The Four Hornsmen Of The Apocalypse 7 11/17/2006 11:45 AM
C Is For Cookie Cookie Monster Sesame Street Platinum: All-Time Favorites 7 12/8/2006 9:06 PM
Basketcase (Live) Avril Lavigne Avril Live – Try to Shut Me Up 6 1/25/2004 4:07 PM
Supernova Liz Phair Live from the Chicago Store – EP 6 10/8/2004 8:15 PM
Never Say Goodbye Bon Jovi Slippery When Wet 6 8/28/2005 12:26 PM
Continue reading →
by admin

Top 200 Albums – #1 – 10

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 finish up the list and look at the top 10 albums that I have listened to the most.

#1: The Cast of Buffy The Vampire Slaying – Once More, With Feeling
iTunes stats: 326 plays
The soundtrack album to the musical episode of Buffy The Vampire Slayer takes the top spot thanks to 21 of the 23 tunes from the album.

#2: Various Artists – The Muppets
iTunes stats: 287 plays
The entire album contributed to this total for the soundtrack album from the big Muppets comeback movie in 2011.

#3: The Lonely Island – Incredibad
iTunes stats: 181 plays
7 tracks from the debut album, most of which originated as digital shorts on SNL.

#4: Foo Fighters – Live In Hyde Park 2006
iTunes stats: 180 plays
This bootleg makes the list thanks to 8 live versions of the band’s greatest hits.

#5: Various Artists – Billboard’s Top Rock ‘n’ Roll Hits: 1969
iTunes stats: 171 plays
8 of the 10 songs on this album contributed to this total, with the vast majority coming from Steam, thanks to its connection with the White Sox.

#6: Tegan and Sara – So Jealous
iTunes stats: 156 plays
The entire album, which I have also had loaded in my car’s CD player since 2005, makes up this total.

#7: Aerosmith – O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits
Continue reading →

by admin

Tuesday Afternoon Commute

With the temperature finally breaking 50 degrees, it was time to roll the windows down, crank the volume up, and enjoy some music on the long drive home.

Salvation Rancid Let’s Go 3/10/2015 4:07 PM
Go Speed Racer Go Sponge Saturday Morning Cartoons’ Greatest Hits 3/10/2015 4:10 PM
I Wanna Sex You Up Color Me Badd C.M.B. 3/10/2015 4:14 PM
Let It Be The Beatles Let It Be [2009 Stereo Remaster] 3/10/2015 4:18 PM
Walking on Sunshine Katrina & The Waves Katrina & The Waves 3/10/2015 4:22 PM
The Tra La La Song (One Banana, Two Banana) Banana Splits Here Come The Banana Splits 3/10/2015 4:24 PM
Clarissa Explains It All Tee Vee Toons TV’s Hits Vol. 7: Cable Ready 3/10/2015 4:24 PM
The Gay Pride Parade Patton Oswalt Feelin’ Kinda Patton 3/10/2015 4:26 PM
Wings Tee Vee Toons TV’s Hits Vol. 7: Cable Ready 3/10/2015 4:27 PM
Glorified G Pearl Jam Vs. 3/10/2015 4:30 PM
Cream Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds And Pearls 3/10/2015 4:34 PM
When All Is Said And Done, I Am Lonely And Miserable And Barely Able To Mask My Contempt For The Audience As I Trot Out The Same Sorry Act I’ve Been Doing Since The Mid-Eighties! David Cross It’s Not Funny 3/10/2015 4:43 PM
Cult Of Personality Continue reading →
by admin

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
Continue reading →

by admin

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 →
by admin

Commuting Fun

A Tuesday night commute that took well over an hour and a half was spent, not with the iPhone on shuffle, but working my way through the Ws.

Weed Card Garfunkel and Oates All Over Your Face 9/16/2014 4:32 PM
Welcome Back (Kotter) John Sebastian The Best Of John Sebastian 9/16/2014 4:35 PM
Welcome To Paradise Green Day Dookie 9/16/2014 4:39 PM
Welcome To The Jungle Guns N’ Roses Appetite For Destruction 9/16/2014 4:44 PM
Were Not Gonna Take It Twisted Sister Stay Hungry 9/16/2014 4:49 PM
Werewolves Of London Warren Zevon Excitable Boy 9/16/2014 4:52 PM
What A Wonderful World Joey Ramone Music From Gilmore Girls 9/16/2014 4:55 PM
What A Wonderful World Louis Armstrong Louis Armstrong’s All-Time Greatest Hits 9/16/2014 4:57 PM
What About Your Friends TLC Ooooooohhh…On The TLC Tip 9/16/2014 5:02 PM
What Do I Have To Do? Stabbing Westward Wither Blister Burn & Peel 9/16/2014 5:05 PM
What Happened To You? The Offspring Smash 9/16/2014 5:08 PM
What I Am Continue reading →