How woefully behind am I on my blog that I saw Andrew McMahon live in April, saw Amie in Portland the week it came out (starting to become something of a tradition, however unintentionally, that we see each other upon the release of a new McMahon disc) and it’s now been roughly two months since. As such, this is less a first-reaction review as it is a final digestion of his first music as a true solo artist, following his runs in Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin. Continue reading
Author Archives: Joshua O'Connell
A night with Penn & Teller
This past weekend continued my aim to get out and do more this year, and boy was it a treat: Penn & Teller visited Foxwoods, and I had the opportunity to see them live. Continue reading
Required viewing/listening: ‘Just a Minute’
Thanks to the Internet, it’s relatively straightforward to learn about entertainment produced in other countries. Thanks to Comedy Central, I watched the British episodes of “Whose Line is it Anyway?” long before the American version, and because of the wider variety of contestants found it a bit more entertaining (although I do still love the American version, and look forward to its return this summer). Thanks to my knowledge of that show, I found a radio show (that’s occasionally appeared on TV, such as the above) that’s been keeping me entertained as of late: “Just a Minute.” Continue reading
Cascada’s ‘Glorious’ new single
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQph3cvzBPY
Cascada, who has broken through over the years with a few tracks in the U.S., is making waves overseas with their latest track, “Glorious,” which is a catchy taste of dance-pop from the group that brought us such gems as “Evacuate the Dancefloor.” For those who just sort of thought they disappeared after “Dancefloor,” it’s a bit more complicated than that; “Glorious” proves to be a high point, and a return to form, for Natalie Horler and producers Manian and Yanou. Continue reading
Music other people like: Muse, Bastille
After a number of years where I was in a bit of a malaise about music, the past year and a half or so has been pretty exciting. I’ve been immersed in music much more so, and have stepped away somewhat from podcasts, which had been my audio of choice for a number of years.
All that said, unlike in college, where music discovery was practically a job, my time’s much more limited now, so I miss things a lot, especially given I don’t listen to the radio at all anymore. So I’m grateful when friends introduce me to music. Continue reading
American Express reminds you of recurring charges when replacing your card
One of the more exciting parts about technology for me is the times when a very simple idea proves to be a great help or time saver. It’s something I strive for and teach people regularly at my job, as I think sometimes a very elegant solution implemented in the right spot, however simple it may be, can really bolster a person’s opinion of a business. Continue reading
Fleetwood Mac release first new music in a decade
After a decade of relative silence following the release of the underrated 2003 album “Say You Will,” Fleetwood Mac has released an extended play of tracks called, appropriately enough, “Extended Play.” A decade is just too long for a group that has proven yet again that they can still produce some excellent songs. Continue reading
Andrew McMahon’s solo tour, with friends
Earlier this month I had the opportunity to see Andrew McMahon, formerly of Something Corporate and Jack’s Mannequin, live for what is now the fifth time (twice with SoCo, twice with Jack’s, and now alone). As has been the case with each concert, it was a bit of an adventure. Continue reading
Getting cash back: What’s the point?
I’ve posted repeatedly about rewards programs, cash back and savings opportunities that should, in theory, let you either get more for your money or get money back, which can be applied to what’s next. But with so many programs and opportunities, with rewards that tend to be lukewarm or good only for certain timing, the question many times becomes whether it’s worth the time and energy. Continue reading
Required listening: Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky”
Supposedly, disco died more than 30 years ago, yet leave it to a group like Daft Punk to remind people why the genre is one that can still be relevant in 2013. Continue reading