Wednesday, January 26, 2005

Say what? 80s Disco all night long

so here we are - face to face - a couple of .....

ok lets start over - few things to report -

a) cam'ron has a new track that uses the music to hill street blues.

b) I feel like Sarah promoting random blog sites - but i like this one http://www.stereogum.com/ It's all about music, and its also kind of random. They seem to have fun with it.

c) It looks like I'm going to DJ a gay wedding in March. The main dilemma is that i don't really know what 80s disco is. Now before you people start going all "ah ah ah ah Staying Alive" on me - I said 80s disco. So it will be an educational evening musically. And it'll be cool to attend a gay wedding, despite I guess that it is technically illegal activity. But who cares really. As I keep hearing - why should we ban gay marriage - they should have the opportunity to be just as miserable as straight married couples are. Whoo Hoo! October 7, 2006!

Aside from that gearing up for next tuesday, Feb 1. Why do you ask? I'll tell you! It's the first day I get health insurance!!! Yeah - Yeah! And that will be just in time for the superbowl ski day! Which will be followed by fireworks inside Tommy's house.

Tomorrow is aparently the apocolypse - so none of this will matter. I'm excited - I can't wait to tell my kids about the day the world ended.

Be excellent to each other.

Thursday, January 20, 2005

it's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a blog

Well its been a while since I've last posted. Lots gone on - so let's start

(Casey Kasem Voice) First - we go to Frank from Staten Island - while on my little ski vacation in Vermont with 4 gays guys - I got a voicemail from my friend Adam. Adam said he was reading my blog about my favorite albums of the year. He saw that I had listen Jamie Cullum's Twentysomething as #7. Adam mentioned he had been looking at the cd in a store, but did not buy it. After reading my blog, he thought "well if it's one of Frank's top CDs, it must be good." Adam purchased the CD and said it is an amazing CD and loves it very much. Adam died - no joking. Casey, can you please play "twentysomething" for Adam in New Jersey, as he's going through what Sarah and Tomato Nation call a 1/4 life crisis. Frank, here's your request and dedication. Fucking Ponderous.

So back to life as we know it. Work has been crazy this week. One of my kids decided to celebrate MLK day by going crazy. She's made it MLK Makes me C-RA-ZY week. So i'm on the edge of my seat with her. But life will go on, well for me. You know it's bad when your supervisor tells the kid "you can run away, but i'd wait till June when it's warmer."

Had some fun (isn't it always) car trouble. One of those instances where you bring it in for 1 thing and they find somethign else wrong with it. As a co worker put it - it's like going to the doctor for a cold and finding out you have cancer.

back to the dedication - We did have a fantastic time skiing - and i'm looking for round 2 on SUPER(bread)BOWL(with chilli)SUNDAY. Hopefully this year we'll actually get to see this year's "wardrobe malfunction."

This Saturday me and the woman are going scuba diving - well training for it. Which will be really bizarre since it's going to snow on Saturday night. Well thats about it - ok I lied - I'm getting very excited as Nine Inch Nails have announced that they will be touring really soon. 2 dates already set in London. I can't wait for a date around NYC, and for their new album "with teeth" set to come out around May. But we'll see, Trent is infamous for delaying albums and tours.

Back to the waterloo for me Saturday. Oh yippee... I updated www.djfrankmanzo.com (well Sarah did) so go check out the set from the last time in Philly. I'll be keeping you posted on some new stuff going on as well. till next time -

keep you feet on the ground and keep giving a reach around

Frank


Wednesday, January 05, 2005

iTunes Top 15 Albums of 2004 Link

Go here with iTunes and you will be able to see tracks from my top 15 albums of 2004. That way all those that care (or have tons of time to kill) can get to listen in on what I think is the best music of 2004.

Look for an iTunes Top 50 Songs of 2004 coming soon.

Tuesday, January 04, 2005

Happy 2005

well we're here now in 2005 - so I figured I'd wish everyone a happy new year to all and hope your new years resolution isn't failed 4 days in. I haven't come up with one yet. Possibly to accurately count the number of people attending a bash at 174 Foster rd. This year's original count was 9. And we ended up with about 50. But it was a blast. Club Manzo was in effect - raving in the living room to some great progressive house tracks. From what I remember - songs like "Final Chapter," "La La Land" and "Sandstorm" were played - rather loudly. We had a teriffic time, and I can only hope we can do that again. Thanks for all those that came, those that cleaned up, those that tried to take out my contact lenses and those that were very nice to me in my day of being hungover. Obviously the last 2 involve the person that still wants to spend the rest of her life with me.

So anyways - Here we go with that top 50 list of my favorite songs of 2004. However I must say 2005 has already been musically educational. Check out a band called "the bravery" and I finally listened to the Green Day CD, which would've made it to the top cds of 2004 if I had listened to it before Jan 2nd. So here you go - I'd love all comments. I'm ready for them.

1. Kanye West – Jesus Walks
Just an amazing track – He explains why this track rocks in his lyrics
2. Britney Spears – Breathe On Me
Ok I know – It’s Britney – But the song is wonderful and sexy. And not in that I’m a white trash whore kind of sexy. You can make a good song – but you can still be trash
3. Shape UK – Lola’s Theme
A house track with trumpets! That’s the Shit! Oh right the lyrics make me jump up and down so hard I skip the record at Pure
4. Nelly Furtado – Forca
If I explain I’ll be beating a dead horse
5. Keane – Bend and Break
One of my favorite bands of the year – best track on the album
6. Snow Patrol – Run
See Above
7. Switchfoot – Meant To Live
One more time – See Above
8. Superchumbo f/ Celeda – DirthyFilthy
The best dirty tribal track I’ve ever heard. So much fun!
9. Jamie Cullum – Frontin’
A jazz cover of Jay-Z and Pharell - Genius
10. Jem – 24
This chick is awesome, and this is the best song on her album
11. Utada – Devil Inside (All Mixes)
Every mix, including the original, makes this song so great. Listen to it over and over
12. The Killers – Somebody Told Me
Jump up and down to some electronic punk rock. And a damn catchy line!
13. Rachael Yamagata - Worn Me Down
Again – the best track off a great album. A great live performer as well, unlike #49.
14. Maroon 5 – This Love
Played out? Hell Yeah. Love it? Yeap
15. Outkast – Roses
They can do no wrong. Caroline!
16. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
In the same line with the Killers. Catchy as shit.
17. Nelly w/ Tim McGraw – Over and Over
Ladies – for the ladies. Finally something new – hip hop and country! What?
18. Sia - Breathe Me (Mylo Remix)
You’ve prob never heard it, unless you listen to Zero 7. This is the 2nd sexiest song of the year. Hmm.. Maybe the word Breathe is just sexy
19. David Morales – How Would You Feel
He brings back some needed soul into house music again
20. Gavin DeGraw – I Don’t Wanna Be
guitar + angst = my adolescence / softer sound. Takes me back, in a Pearl Jam’s “Daughter” kinda way
21. Linkin Park / Jay-Z – Numb/Encore
because mash-ups are cool for 2004
22. Stacy Burket f/ Audio Angel – Shakedown (Superchumbo Mix)
Another dance track that stands above the rest
23. Ben Folds – Give Judy My Notice
Ben goes back to write good old pop love songs
24. John Legend – Used to Love U
hip hop - or soul - or both. New voice - old school feel
25. Modest Mouse – Float On
Once again - a great song - catchy as shit - album blows
26. Nina Sky – Move Ya Body
this gets the award for the slowest house song - this one got sped up right away. this will get play for years
27. Destiny’s Child – Lose My Breath
it was only a matter of time till the "drumline" movie had a theme song. makes me want to march in place really fast
28. Kaskade – Steppin’ Out
slowing down house music and making it nice and groovy
29. Kylie Minogue – Slow (Chemical Brothers Remix)
Sexy track #3 - Chemical Brothers makes Kylie even hotter than the video for this song
30. Dave Armstrong – Make Your Move
80s sample? check! Repetitious beat? Check! All over it like white on rice? CHECK!
31. John Mayer – Daughters
Sometimes I'm a sucker for a sappy track.
32. No Doubt – It’s My Life
best 80s cover of the year - however they get the award for the most random cover that made me play the original more than anything else.
33. Blink 182 – I Miss You
Blink 182 does their best attempt at Green Day's "Time of Your Life" - except this one didn't get played out
34. Counting Crows – Accidentally In Love
Stupid stupid stupid! Shrek Shrek Shrek!
35. Green Day –American Idiot
In 94 - it was about being too lazy to masturbate - in 04 its being too lazy to think (for ourselves) - and I can still relate
36. Jill Scott – My Petition
As read above - this is my favorite track from her album. Honestly - there's something really cool about this song. Sounds like an old Diana Ross track.
37. Velvet Revolver – Fall To Pieces
Scott Weiland is back - a radio friendly track - but reminds us that he's still able to belt out a great song. I'm sure that belt is than used to tie off his vein, but what ya gonna do
38. Mike Doughty – Move On
Mr. soul coughing makes a track that makes me want to vote for Kerry - like I needed more reasons
39. Mobb Deep – Got It Twisted
80s sample? check! Thick hip hop beats? Check! Holy shit - She Blinded me with science! Creative Genius!
40. Lisa Hunt – The Joint is Jumpin’ (BlueRoom Mixshow)
This track makes me scream for more - a dancefloor jam for peak time.
41. Zero 7 – In Time
slow it way way down - the feel good song to listen before bed
42. Josh Rouse – James
a free itunes download - worth every penny
43. Scissor Sisters – Take Your Mama
No it's not Elton John, but it might as well be. Catchy and cute - but I dunno who's Mama they want to take out
44. Yeah Yeah Yeah’s – Maps
this gets the Nirvana award for most unintelligible track of the year. But sometimes understanding words don't mean shit.
45. Beyonce – Me, Myself and I
Ok so - This is 1 of 2 songs that I must admit I really liked this year. And #49 is coming soon.
46. Frou Frou – Holding out for a Hero
The best reinvention of an 80s song - its on the Shrek Soundtrack - sounds so damn cool! Whoo Hoo Frou Frou
47. Sondre Lerche – Two Way Monologue
Probably the oddest song - his voice is wierd and so is his sound. And shit so is his damn name! But this song makes me wonder what else he can come up with.
48. Usher f/ Ludacris & Lil John – Yeah!
Played out? YEAH YEAH! WHAT? OKAY! Does it make people dance? YEAH! YEAH! WHAT? OKAY!
49. Ashley Simpson – Pieces of Me
Ashley Simpson blows - and the twat can't sing. Her songwriter and producers came up with a great song here. Wish it was someone else that we would remember in years to come.
50. Mase – Welcome Back
Mr. Slow Rappin' comes back with a track - with a sample. A 70s sample here. From Welcome Back fuckin' Kotter. What thinks of this shit? Why can't I do that?

So there you have it. Enjoy - or berate me. I'm can take take!