I ♥ Phil Dunphy, yo.

Do you watch Modern Family?!

If not, you should, it's hilarious! We love it! I look forward to Wednesday nights because it's Phil Dunphy night, yo.

Kyle Week: Song of the Day - The Mother Hips (pt 2)

Tim Bluhm & Greg Loiacono - pre-show performance in SLC in 2001
(Fellow T-Bird, Brian Isaacson is in the bottom left corner)

As promised, today will focus on acoustic songs written and performed by Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono - co-guitarists and vocalists for The Mother Hips (when recording/performing as an acoustic duo, they are known as Ball-Point Birds).


Daisy & Joaquin
Classic Tim & Greg.


My Stony Heart
I love the mood of this song. Feeling melancholy? This song is for you.


Impatience/Change
The following line in this song (at 1:02) always makes me stop and think. "What is a man who doesn't follow paths that lead him where his heart wants to go?"


An Extraordinary Meeting In The Winter Forest
I love this song. Very visual storytelling.

I hope you enjoy the music. As mentioned earlier this week, if you have any suggested artists, please share.

Kyle Week: Quick Tech Tip - Half Stars in iTunes

There is something strangely satisfying about rating a song in iTunes. Sort of like a private, people's choice award - without the Red Carpet. The only problem is deciding how to rank those in-between songs. You know, a song that deserves more than 4 stars, but is not quite worthy of 5 stars? Serious dilemma, right? Not any more.

Here is how you can tweak your iTunes to allow for 'half-star' rankings (it might look more technical/intimidating than it really is):

For Windows Vista:

• Close out iTunes.
  
• Open your Start Menu and type iTunesPrefs.xml into the 'Search' field and hit enter. A new window will open up and you should see a matching search result.
• Copy the iTunesPrefs.xml file and paste it to your desktop - just so you have a clean copy if things get messed up.
  
• Return to the open window and right click the iTunesPrefs.xml file and highlight the 'Open With' menu option. When the submenu pops up, choose WordPad to open the file.
• Once open in WordPad, search the .xml file (ctrl f) for the following line:

• Below this line, but above the next line, type

• Save the WordPad file and close it out.
• Open iTunes and start giving those in-between songs the love they deserve.
• Once the half-stars are enabled, you can delete the iTunesPrefs.xml copy you placed on your desktop.

For Mac:

• Close iTunes
• Open Terminal (go to 'Applications', then 'Utilities')
• With Terminal open, type in the following command and press enter

defaults write com.apple.iTunes allow-half-stars -bool TRUE

• Open iTunes and test it out.

End Result:




Kyle Week: Song of the Day - The Mother Hips (pt 1)

(Greg Loiacono, John Hofer, Tim Bluhm, Paul Hoaglin)

Trust me...their music is even better than their logo.

In fact, The Mother Hips have SO MUCH good music, I had to split the post over two days:

• Tuesday will highlight music from the entire group - specifically three recent albums.
  
• Wednesday will highlight the acoustic work of Tim Bluhm and Greg Loiacono - dual front-men (guitars/vocals) for the Hips.

Time We Had (Kiss the Crystal Flake)

Channel Island Girl (The Green Hills of Earth)


Lion and the Bull (Pacific Dust)


Time Sick Son of a Grizzly Bear (Kiss the Crystal Flake)


White Falcon Fuzz (Pacific Dust)


Singing Seems To Ease Me (The Green Hills of Earth)


Third Floor Story (Pacific Dust)

Kyle Week: My Life According to Rush

I occasionally wander over to Mindi's blog (for good humor) or Tiffany's blog (for good writing). When I say occasionally, I mean about as often as I change the oil in my car. During one of these random visits I happened to catch this post (inspired by Tiburon). I immediately knew if I were ever to author a post other than for Kami's birthday, it would be the one you are reading right now. That's right, I just linked this post to itself (you know, just to mix things up).

Describe yourself:
Working Man; Driven; Finding My Way

How do you feel:
Need Some Love; Limbo

Describe where you currently live:
Subdivisions

If you could go anywhere, where would you go:
Half the World; Territories; The Way the Wind Blows

Your favorite form of transportation:
Red Barchetta

Your best friend:
New World Man

You and your best friend are:
Second Nature; Open Secrets

What's the weather like:
Turn the Page; Freeze

Favorite time of day:
Here Again; Nocturne

If your life was a TV show, what would it be called:
Circumstances

What is life to you:
One Little Victory; Making Memories

Your Relationship:
Sweet Miracle; Chemistry; Between Sun & Moon; Time Stands Still; The Speed of Love; Closer to the Heart; In the Mood

What do you fear:
I Think I'm Going Bald; The Enemy Within; The Weapon; Losing It

What is the best advice you have to give:
Show Me Don't Tell Me

Thought for the day:
Everyday Glory

How I would like to die:
Roll the Bones; Between the Wheels

My soul's present condition:
Hope; Ceiling Unlimited; How It Is:

My Motto:
Best I Can

What I believe in:
Spirit of Radio; Freewill; Before and After

I'm impressed by:
Marathon

My wish for others:
Big Money; Peaceable Kingdom


Now that I've wasted 5 minutes of your day, feel free to scroll down to my previous post, where I'll try to redeem myself by providing something of actual value.

Kyle Week: Song of the Day - Fleet Foxes

Music, like emotion, is deeply personal - and meant to be shared.

So much music, so little time to share. Therefore, 'Song of the Week' is now 'Song of the Day'

Much love to Ryan Jacobs for introducing me to Fleet Foxes. They may look a little grisly, but they sure sound amazing. If you like harmony (and who doesn't?), you'll love Fleet Foxes. They have several great songs, but non better than "Drops In The River."

Rules for maximum enjoyment:

• No distractions.
• Volume up.
• Use earphones.
• Close eyes. Seriously.

Why I love this song:

• 'Crosby Stills & Nash' harmony.
• Slow crescendo throughout the song.
• Mellow without being boring.
  

Other worthwhile songs by Fleet Foxes
White Winter Hymnal (this was my first exposure to FF. Caught me by surprise)
Ragged Wood (2nd favorite - love the change of pace starting at 2:30)
Blue Ridge Mountains
He Doesn't Know Why (did I mention Crosby Stills & Nash)
Sun It Rises (just get past the first 22 seconds...)

Listen to anything that sounds like Fleet Foxes? Leave a comment and share the wealth!

Mary Murphy Muffs

I am better prepared for this Season of So You Think You Can Dance, and I'll tell you why in three little words:

Mary. Murphy. Muffs.

They work wonders, from the screaming -to the laughing -to the Hot Tamale Trainin' -to the bearing of her SYTYCD-imony in her western wear (last Thursday...she was killing me). The tricky part is knowing when to take them off. Sometimes you'll think she's done talking even though the camera is still on her, but don't be fooled. Just because her mouth isn't open, doesn't mean she's done. And c'mon they are cute and fluffy!

If you happen to dig Mary Murphy, then you would love the Mary Murphy Wake Up Call.


To muff or not to muff, that is the question.