Tag / Gin Blossoms

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Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 15

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 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.

Side A

Frente! – Labour Of Love

Originally recorded via Chicago’s new rock alternative, Q101, the hit from Marvin! The Album picked up a single additional listen after going unheard for nearly 3 1/2 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
10 plays 16 plays 17 plays, most recently on 10/20/2018 

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

Ranked at #19 by Pitchfork Media on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s, the mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company increased its play total by 4 over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 25 plays 29 plays, most recently on 10/9/2018 

Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse

Released as a hidden track on the AIDS-benefit compilation album No Alternative, the posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle added 7 new listens since last we checked.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 11 plays 18 plays, most recently on 9/23/2018 

Warren G – This D.J.

Peaking at #9 on the Billboard charts, the second single from the rapper’s debut album added 6 new listens over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 plays 4 plays 10 plays, most recently on 10/11/2018 

Cracker – Eurotrash Girl

The hidden track, originally recorded off the radio via Q101, picked up 5 additional listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
10 plays 13 plays 18 plays, most recently on 7/31/2017 

Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song

Named the 58th best hard rock song of all time by VH1, the latest hit from STP added 17 new listens over the past 3 years, aided in part by the death of singer Scott Weiland late in 2015.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
1 plays 5 plays 22 plays, most recently on 11/29/2018 

Gin Blossoms – Allison Road

Peaking at #20 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, the Gin Blossoms hit added 6 new listens over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 13 plays 19 plays, most recently on 8/28/2018 

Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)

The first single from Weezer, which hit #6 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, added 11 new listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 13 plays 24 plays, most recently on 6/12/2018 

Side B

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by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 13

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 13 takes us into late spring of 1994 and my the end of my sophomore year of college. The song selection is now mostly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop hits to go along with it., with a little pop and Aerosmith on the side.

Side A

Alice In Chains – No Excuses

The first Alice In Chains song to top the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, originally acquired via 93.5 KHY in Lafayette, added 10 new plays over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
3 plays 6 plays 16 plays, most recently on 12/23/2018 

Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm

The third single from the band’s breakthrough release Siamese Dream, which was banned by the BBC because of its lyrical content, more than doubled its output over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
5 plays 7 plays 15 plays, most recently on 12/17/2018 

Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

The debut single from Counting Crows, which hit #2 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, added an impressive 14 plays over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 plays 3 plays 17 plays, most recently on 9/17/2018 

The Cranberries – Dreams

The first single from the band, which became a hit after Linger put them on the map, saw a 13 listen increase.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
7 plays 9 plays 22 plays, most recently on 7/12/2018 

Jodeci – Cry For You

The 60th biggest hit of 1994 picked up 10 listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
0 play 2 plays 12 plays, most recently on 11/20/2018 

Julianna Hatfield Three – Spin The Bottle

The track, featured on the Reality Bites soundtrack, added 8 additional plays over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
10 plays 13 plays 21 plays, most recently on 11/1/2018 

Aerosmith – Deuces Are Wild

Aerosmith’s contribution to The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience compilation album, originally recorded for Pump, more than doubled its listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
4 plays 6 plays 14 plays, most recently on 5/30/2018 

Gin Blossoms – Mrs. Rita

The minor Gin Blossoms, which peaked at #36 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, picked up a single new listen, 3 1/2 years ago.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
1 plays 5 plays 6 plays, most recently on 6/25/2015 

Continue reading →

by admin

Another Mix Tape Monday – Volume 12

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 12 covers the summer of 1993 and into the fall and my sophomore year of college.  Alternative has mostly taken over, although there’s still a small smattering of pop and hair metal, or whatever we were calling Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses back then.

Side A

10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night

The hit from MTV Unplugged, which was Natalie Merchant’s swan song with the group, picked up 9 plays over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
9 plays 21 plays 30 plays, most recently on 10/22/2018 

Cracker – Low

The first single from Kerosene Hat, which reached #3 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart, picked up 17 listens in the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
13 plays 14 plays 31 plays, most recently on 12/15/2018 

Def Leppard – Miss You In A Heartbeat

The final US top 40 hit for the band, which peaked at #39, doubled its listens over the past 3 years, with the most recent occurrence coming more than a year ago.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
2 plays 3 plays 6 plays, most recently on 1/12/2018 

Cher w/ Beavis & Butthead – I Got You Babe

Cher’s threesome with the animated duo, from the hit film Beavis & Butthead Do America, earned a healthy 12 play increase over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
17 plays 22 plays 34 plays, most recently on 11/26/2018 

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged

The nearly 9 1/2 minute opus, which hit #16 on the Mainstream Rock chart, tripled its listens over the past 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
2 plays 4 plays 12 plays, most recently on 10/14/2018 

Lemonheads – Into Your Arms

The only Lemonheads track to appear on the Billboard chart, peaking at #67, the tune added 6 additional plays over the last 3 years.

iTunes Stats
2012 2015 2019
4 plays 13 plays 19 plays, most recently on 7/14/2018 

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #140 – 147

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 things with the next batch of 10 albums that rank between #140 and 147, including 5 studio recordings, 2 compilations, 1 live performance, 1 CD single, and 1 comedy record.

#147: The Beatles – With The Beatles
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 158

This album, like all of the Beatles studio albums, would be much higher, but I lost all of the old counts for their albums when I upgraded to the remastered versions in 2009.

#147: Garbage – Shut Your Mouth EP
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 100

Live versions of Wild Horses and Only Happy When It Rains make up the total from the CD single for Shut Your Mouth.

#147: Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: 87

The debut album for the alt rock band lands on this chart thanks to 4 different tunes.

#147: AC/DC – AC/DC Live
iTunes stats: 52 plays
Previous Ranking: N/A

9 tracks from this live album, helped somewhat by my seeing them in concert in Toronto a few years back, makes for a nice debut.

#143: Bangles – Bangles: Greatest Hits
iTunes stats: 54 plays
Previous Ranking: 172

5 of the Bangles biggest hits, which notched 30 additional listens, contribute to this total for their greatest hits album.

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by admin

iTunes Top 200 Artists: #81-88

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 our march up through the the top 100 with this next batch of artists, which includes:

#88: Soul Asylum
iTunes stats: 54 plays
Previous ranking: #70

20 new listens for the Minneapolis-based band causes them to drop 18 spots in the rankings.

#88: John Morris
iTunes stats: 54 plays
Previous ranking: N/A

The composer of the score from the best movie ever made, Clue: The Movie.

#88: Artie Lange
iTunes stats: 54 plays
Previous ranking: #76

The comedy stylings of Arthur Lange drop 12 spots despite 23 new listens in the past 3 years.

#84: The Cranberries
iTunes stats: 56 plays
Previous ranking: #80

A small 4 spot drop for the Irish band, who picked up 26 new listens to their 8 tracks over the last 3 years.

#84: The Beastie Boys
iTunes stats: 56 plays
Previous ranking: #91

30 new listens in the last 3 years bumps the Beastie Boys up 7 spots in the rankings.

#84: Gin Blossoms
iTunes stats: 56 plays
Previous ranking: #63

25 years after the release of their debut album, the Arizona group drops 21 spots due to a small increase of 18 listens over the past 3 years.

#84: Christina Aguilera
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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

Mix Tape Monday Revisited – Volume 15

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 15 takes us into through the summer of 1994 and into the fall and my junior year of college. The song selection is, again, mostly alternative with some west coast gangsta rap.

Side A

Frente! – Labour Of Love

The hit from Marvin! The Album picked up an impressive 6 additional listens over the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 10 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 16 plays, most recently on 4/29/2015

Mazzy Star – Fade Into You

The mesmerizing tune from Hope Sandoval and company nearly tripled its total for an amazing 16 play increase.

2012 iTunes stats: 9 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 25 plays, most recently on 6/23/2015

Nirvana – Verse Chorus Verse

A modest 2 listen increase for this posthumous B-side from the trio from Seattle.

2012 iTunes stats: 9 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 11 plays, most recently on 3/14/2013

Warren G – This D.J.

An infinite increase for the lesser-received follow up to Regulate.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 7/3/2015

Cracker – Eurotrash Girl

The hidden track picked up 3 additional listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 10 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 2/10/2015

Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song

The latest hit from STP added 4 new listens over the past 3 years, despite not being heard in over a year.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play, on 10/3/2010

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 7/1/2014

Gin Blossoms – Allison Road

The Gin Blossoms latest nearly doubled its total over the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/8/2015

Weezer – Undone (The Sweater Song)

The debut hit from Weezer added 4 new listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 9 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 4/14/2015

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday Revisited– Volume 13

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 13 takes us into late spring of 1994 and my the end of my sophomore year of college. The song selection is now mostly completely alternative, with just one or two hip-hop hits to go along with it., with a little pop and Aerosmith on the side.

Side A

Alice In Chains – No Excuses

A doubling of plays for the Alice in Chains hit which was originally acquired via 93.5 KHY, Lafayette’s rock station.

2012 iTunes stats: 3 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 1/15/2015

Smashing Pumpkins – Disarm

The follow up to Today, the smash hit that put them on the map, garnered a scant 2 additional listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 5 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 7 plays, most recently on 3/24/2015

Counting Crows – Mr. Jones

I have no real explanation for why I hardly ever listen to the debut smash from the Counting Crows, picking up 3 listens, but none in well over 1 1/2 years.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 10/14/2013

The Cranberries – Dreams

A slight 2 listen increase for The Cranberries big hit.

2012 iTunes stats: 7 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 9 plays, most recently on 6/26/2014

Jodeci – Cry For You

The minor Jodeci hit picked up 2 listens over the past 3 years, including one just a month ago.

2012 iTunes stats: Never played

2015 iTunes stats: 2 plays, most recently on 5/26/2015

Julianna Hatfield Three – Spin The Bottle

A 3 listen increase for the hit from the Reality Bites soundtrack.

2012 iTunes stats: 10 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 5/29/2015

Aerosmith – Dueces Are Wild

Aerosmith’s contribution to the Beavis and Butthead album picked up only 2 additional listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 6 plays, most recently on 11/20/2014

Gin Blossoms – Mrs. Rita

The minor Gin Blossoms hit picked up 4 new listens, despite not being heard in nearly 2 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 1 play

2015 iTunes stats: 5 plays, most recently on 8/20/2013

Continue reading →

by admin

Mix Tape Monday Revisited– Volume 12

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 12 covers the summer of 1993 and into the fall and my sophomore year of college.  Alternative has mostly taken over, although there’s still a small smattering of pop and hair metal, or whatever we were calling Def Leppard and Guns ‘N Roses back then.

Side A

10,000 Maniacs – Because The Night

The hit from MTV Unplugged, which was Natalie Merchant’s swan song with the group, more than doubled its total over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 9 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 21 plays, most recently on 1/16/2015

Cracker – Low

Somehow, I’ve only listend to the first hit from Cracker’s sophomore effort once in the last 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 13 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 14 plays, most recently on 7/16/2012

Def Leppard – Miss You In A Heartbeat

The minor hit for the boys from Sheffield garnished only 1 additional listen, nearly 2 years ago now.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 3 plays, most recently on 8/11/2013

Cher w/ Beavis & Butthead – I Got You Babe

Cher’s threesome with the animated duo, from the hit film Beavis & Butthead Do America, earned a healthy increase over the past 3 years.

2014 iTunes stats: 17 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 22 plays, most recently on 5/16/2015

Guns N’ Roses – Estranged

The GnR opus doubled its listens over the past 3 years.

2012 iTunes stats: 2 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 4 plays, most recently on 6/21/2014

Lemonheads – Into Your Arms

More than a tripling of listens for the big hit from Evan Dando and the boys.

2012 iTunes stats: 4 plays

2015 iTunes stats: 13 plays, most recently on 6/5/2015

Side B

Continue reading →

by admin

Top 200 Albums – #84 – 91

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 get closer to the top of the list and crack the 80s by looking at the 3 albums tied for 84th with 40 listens and the 5 albums tied for 87th with 39 listens.

#84: Rolling Stones – Forty Licks
iTunes stats: 40 plays
This all-encompassing, double CD hits package has 13 different tracks to make up its total.

#84: Tegan and Sara – If It Was You
iTunes stats: 40 plays
8 tracks from Tegan and Sara’s second album, and the one that introduced them to me, makes up its total.

#84: Purdue University Marching Band – Back Home In Indiana
iTunes stats: 40 plays
A version of the fight song for my alma mater makes up this entire total all by its lonesome.

#87: Nirvana – MTV Unplugged in New York
iTunes stats: 39 plays
7 songs from Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged performance, the first Nirvana album released following the death of Kurt Cobain, put it on this list.

#87: Def Leppard – Hysteria
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The first album that I fell in love with back in junior high makes this list on the back of 7 different tracks.

#87: Dr. Dre – 2001
iTunes stats: 39 plays
3 tracks from Dr. Dre’s second, and, to date, last, solo album make up this total.

#87: Gin Blossoms – New Miserable Experience
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The debut album for the alt rock band lands on this chart thanks to 4 different tunes.

#87: Various Artists – Austin Powers
iTunes stats: 39 plays
The soundtrack to the original Austin Powers film, featuring the work of artists like Strawberry Alarm Clock and Divinyls, makes this list thanks to 4 songs.