Gazoo's Thread of Self-Indulgence

[Gazoo]

Stylus Magazine, for whom I'd been writing for a little over a year for its Singles Jukebox, shut its virtual doors this week.  Sorry to see it go.  We were all invited to write short goodbye essays, which I did.

http://stylusmagazine.com/jukebox/

In the year or so I’ve spent playing in Stylus’s jingle sandbox, I’ve been very grateful to the site for performing the music-introduction function that radio stopped providing me many years ago. What made it even better to discover new music from Messrs. Swygart and Burns was their elimination of any distinction between “chart” music and “indie” music: Everyone was on level footing in this playground, equally fair game for exaltation or derision. (Usually both, unless you were MIA or Paolo Nutini.) And in the end, over half of the two-disc Best of 2006 compilation I put together for friends was material I was first clued to by Stylus, including two tracks from Joan as Police Woman. “Eternal Flame” embodies everything that was gratifying about writing for the Jukebox: It was unexpected, off-kilter, honest, and poetic, never obvious or ostentatious. (Not to mention a lesson in self-preservation: Be the lighter of your own eternal flame.) Joan and company reminded this corny old pop guy that great music with heart and intellect will always be made, even if it’s not reflected on the Rick Dees Weekly Top 40. And so did Stylus, a place that helped its readers not only learn about music new and old, but also clarify where their heads are in relation to pop music and its critics today. (A dry way of saying: Thanks for giving us all so much to think about.) Hearts and flowers, all.

[Gazoo]

So my latest personal project involves YouTube: I'm looking for good examples of people who are using the medium to fulfill their oldies-DJ aspirations.  I'm thinking there are some interesting stories to be found among them.  Here's an example of what I mean: a guy who calls himself "Music Mike," producing these little segments he calls "Flashback Favorites":

Lighthouse, "Pretty Lady"

(And hey, isn't that the most lovely song?  Horns aside, it would fit so nicely on Red Octopus, dare I say.  Its writer, Skip Prokop, also wrote "One Fine Morning" as well as my favorite Three Dog Night song, "I'd Be So Happy.")

Anyway, if any of you watch a lot of YouTube and have come across any interesting DJ-producers, I'd be curious to know.  Thanks!

Gaz

PS: Another example is "Vinyl Junkie," who knows a lot about Faith Hope & Charity:
http://www.youtube.com/user/vinyljunkie1960

[Gazoo]

Meant to post this earlier: my just-submitted-to-Pazz&Jop top 10s of the year:

ALBUMS:
1. Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights
2. Josh Rouse - Country Mouse, City House
3. Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
4. Of Montreal - Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?
5. Bruce Springsteen - Magic
6. Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army
7. VA - Binky Griptite's Ghetto Funk Power Hour
8. Travis - The Boy With No Name
9. Ryan Shaw - This Is Ryan Shaw
10. Annie Lennox - Songs of Mass Destruction

SINGLES:
1. Jens Lekman, "The Opposite of Hallelujah"
2. Hellogoodbye, "Baby, It's Fact"
3. Josh Rouse, "Sweetie"
4. Orson, "Ain't No Party"
5. MIA, "Jimmy"
6. Marilyn Manson, "Heart Shaped Glasses"
7. The Gossip, "Careless Whisper"
8. James Blunt, "1973"
9. Musiq Soulchild, "Buddy"
10. Maroon 5, "Makes Me Wonder"

(I left out Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons' "Beggin' (Pilooski edit)" on a technicality - not really a "new" release.)

[Gazoo]

Great news on my job front, guys: After eight months of working for TIME as a "project" employee, at tonight's annual review I was told that they'd like to bring me on as a permanent staffer.  Glory be!  Job security!  Name on masthead!  The ego smiles.

So this was my celebration in song tonight (skip the videos and just listen):
Lesley Gore, "Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows"
Dells, "There Is"
Black Box, "Fantasy"
Hues Corporation, "Freedom for the Stallion"
Chas Jankel, "Questionnaire"

[princessofcairo]

Congrats, Gaz!!

[Lightnin' Rod]

Great news on my job front, guys: After eight months of working for TIME as a "project" employee, at tonight's annual review I was told that they'd like to bring me on as a permanent staffer.  Glory be!  Job security!  Name on masthead!  The ego smiles.

So this was my celebration in song tonight (skip the videos and just listen):
Lesley Gore, "Sunshine, Lollipops & Rainbows"
Dells, "There Is"
Black Box, "Fantasy"
Hues Corporation, "Freedom for the Stallion"
Chas Jankel, "Questionnaire"

Very cool, Gaz.  Congrats!

[Alicat]

CONGRATULATIONS!!! You deserve it!

[RGMike]

Great news on my job front, guys: After eight months of working for TIME as a "project" employee, at tonight's annual review I was told that they'd like to bring me on as a permanent staffer.  Glory be!  Job security!  Name on masthead!  The ego smiles.

We're all smilin' -- great news, could not be happening to anyone more deserving.  Health benefits totally rock, dude.

[Gazoo]

Thanks, everyone!        (And I hope this doesn't derail from the concurrent thread on *changing* careers -- lawd knows I believe in the constancy of change.)

[mshray]

Thanks, everyone!        (And I hope this doesn't derail from the concurrent thread on *changing* careers -- lawd knows I believe in the constancy of change.)

Does this represent a significant uptick in salary and/or bennies?  Sure hope so!

[Gazoo]

Thanks, everyone!        (And I hope this doesn't derail from the concurrent thread on *changing* careers -- lawd knows I believe in the constancy of change.)

Does this represent a significant uptick in salary and/or bennies?  Sure hope so!

I have had full benefits in my project status, I'm happy to report (which is what allowed me to have my wisdom teeth taken out last fall).  Slight salary uptick (1.5% raise).  The big perk, along with the masthead ego-tripping-out, is increased job security.  Which feels good - although I'll miss the perverse pride I sometimes took in being a career free agent.

[Gazoo]

My new music blog is live today: Baby I've Been Thinking

Not sure how often I'll be updating it.  And don't mind me if I use some of my lines here on that blog.   

[RGMike]

My new music blog is live today: Baby I've Been Thinking

Not sure how often I'll be updating it.  And don't mind me if I use some of my lines here on that blog.   

Just don't use any of *ours* without attribution, bub   Congrats!

[Gazoo]

I haven't self-aggrandized in quite a while!  (At least not in this thread.)

So.  This is the book I copyedited for Time last month - it's doing well in pre-sales:

http://www.amazon.com/Time-President-Obama-White-House/dp/160320072X
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Time-President-Obama/Editors-of-Time-Magazine/e/9781603200721/

They've only given me 5 copies, which are promised to family, but if I can get more I'll bring a few copies next month, if anyone's interested.

(Speaking of the impending visit ... next week might be about time to start firming up some plans with y'alls.)

[RGMike]

I haven't self-aggrandized in quite a while!  (At least not in this thread.)

So.  This is the book I copyedited for Time last month - it's doing well in pre-sales:

http://www.amazon.com/Time-President-Obama-White-House/dp/160320072X
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Time-President-Obama/Editors-of-Time-Magazine/e/9781603200721/

They've only given me 5 copies, which are promised to family, but if I can get more I'll bring a few copies next month, if anyone's interested.

(Speaking of the impending visit ... next week might be about time to start firming up some plans with y'alls.)

I'll call you, but if you are indeed arriving Thurs evening (I thought that was what you said) and need a ride from the airport, let me know (assuming it's SFO).