Not my practice blog, by Scott Knaster

Michael Jackson tribute flash mobs

Flash mobs are performing the Thriller dance and Michael Jackson songs around the world. You're not surprised, are you?

The Mesopotamians video

A few months ago I gushed about The Mesopotamians, a great somewhat-new song by my favorite band They Might Be Giants. Now please enjoy the semi-new music video for the song.

Amazon MP3 store

Check out Amazon's MP3 store, new today, selling DRM-free MP3s.

Video games hidden on LP records

Back in the late 1970s and early '80s, most personal computers used audio signals stored on cassette tapes as a storage medium. Some clever bands figured out that they could hide software on their LP records. Various kinds of programs were hidden, including actual video games. Users had to record the LPs onto tape, then load the tape into the computer. Here's a thorough description of many of these tracks hidden on LP-ROM, and even a few links to copies that are now available on the web.

Lost technologies are cool.

Absolut Vodka "Boum" commercial

I enjoyed this commercial so much (and saw it so many times during the NHL playoffs) that I bought the Charles Trenet record from iTunes (21 tracks for $10, such a deal!).

MC Hammer

I have a habit of relaxing by sitting down on the couch, tuning the TV to the start of the movie channels, and scanning through until I find something I want to watch. Because I'm going to be watching for an indeterminate amount of time that almost certainly is less than the length of a movie, and because I'm likely to be distracted by kids, dogs, et al., I use special rules to decide what to watch. I only watch a movie that:

• I have already seen.
• I don't care if I ever see (in its entirety).

So, on Sunday morning I tuned into Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story, which turned out to be both entertaining and educational. From this movie and follow-up study using the Google, I learned much about Hammer:

• When he was hired as a little kid by Charlie Finley, owner of the Oakland A's, his main job was apparently snitching on the players (which wasn't mentioned in the movie).
• He was interested in church and preaching before he became a big star.
• His $12 million house (no longer his) is in the Fremont hills south of Oakland, and you can see it from I-880.
• After he was done with Capitol Records, he was signed by Death Row and recorded with Tupac Shakur, but nothing was ever released.
• He spent it as fast as he earned it, or maybe even faster.
• He now lives (simply) in Tracy and (inevitably) blogs.

If you too would like to experience the cinematic excellence of Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story, note that it's still airing occasionally on VH1.

Songs from TV commercials

Folks always seem to be interested in finding out about cool music that's played in TV commercials. So Apple collected up a bunch of them into a playlist (launches iTunes). The playlist notes tell you which commercial each song was used for. But surprisingly, there is only one tune from an Apple commercial in there. To find more, click iMix on the home page and search for "commercials".

Radio station pet peeve

If I were in charge of Hell, I would reserve a special place just for radio stations that permit their DJs to talk over song "introductions" -- instrumental parts that come before the vocals begin. Hmm, the Inner Ring of the Seventh Circle sounds right, where they'll be crouching on the hot sand with moneybags around their necks.

Of course, KFOG never does this.

Rock and roll trivia

Chip Taylor, who wrote the classic hits Wild Thing and Angel of the Morning, is the brother of actor Jon Voight and the uncle of Angelina Jolie.

Kentucky Derby longshot winner Giacomo is named for Giacomo Sumner, son of Sting (Gordon Sumner) and Trudie Styler.

(Learned by listening to KFOG for the past two days.)

Coverville

I'm not a fan of podcasts in general -- too much talking head syndrome, too much self-reference -- but I have found one musical podcast that I listen to regularly: Coverville. This thrice-a-week show features half an hour (or so) of covers: new versions of songs that were originally recorded by a different artist. Coverville host Brian Ibbott comes straight outta Arvada, Colorado with six cover songs every show, and it's always fun and sometimes bizarre. I use Brent Simmons's awesome NetNewsWire to subscribe to Coverville.