Top Five Michel Gondry Music Videos

Michel Gondry is a genuis in the art of video. And here are my Top Five favorite Michel Gondry music videos.

Top Five Beastie Boys songs

The Mighty MCA is gone.

One-third of the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch (47), aka MCA, died earlier today. Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 and had been undergoing treatments on and off for three years -- he was notably missing when the Beasties were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame last month.The Jewish b-boys survived the fall of MTV and thrived through gangsta rap and grunge. They began as joke rappers -- fun but nobody took them seriously. They became icons, giants of the genre who never stopped making great jams.


On their first proper album in seven years, last year's “Hot Sauce Committee Part Two,” the unlikely elder statesmen showed their age (they reference Crocs not Adidas and appropriate lyrics from “Subterranean Homesick Blues”). But they didn't grow up. Like every Beastie's landmark, the album sounds like a coke-and-Pop-Rocks-fueled house party hosted by Afrika Bambaataa, Lenny Bruce, Optimus Prime and the Ramones.Yauch's treatments repeatably put off the release of "Hot Sauce" and the band hadn't played live since the summer of 2009. Clearly, he was struggling, but it's still a shock the health food junkie, Buddhist and optimist couldn't beat the illness.If you have a copy of "Paul's Boutique," I suggest spinning it now. If you don't, go out and get the landmark album -- it's a face-melting mess of beats, flow and samples (105 songs were sampled on the album, 24 on the last track alone). By Jed Gottlieb


I first discovered the Beastie Boys when I was in high school. And their sound has stuck with me ever since. What I really admired about the Beastie Boys is they were all three equal parts of the band. There was no front man, they "were" the front men.  Mike D, Ad Rock, and MCA, the three of them were equal collaborators, and one did not over-shine the other. I don't think their will ever be a Hip Hop group that will ever as significant as the Beastie Boys were in the history of american pop culture, and music.  


So here as tribute to MCA and his mourning comrades, are my top 5 favorite Beastie Boys songs.

Top Five Favorite Easter Cartoons

Sadly to say you don't ever see the classic Easter specials on TV anymore. So for you little kiddies you haven't seen these great Easter cartoons. Here are my top five Easter cartoons from my childhood. Plus as a bonus, my favorite Easter candy & commerical.

Top Five Amazing Rube Goldberg Machines

I love Rube Goldberg machines. The creative innovation that goes into making a complex machine do a mundane task, like opening blinds, unraveling a roll of toilet paper is so fascinating to watch. So here are my top five favorite Rube Goldberg machines.

Top Five Favorite Podcasts

Podcasts! When ever I'm working on my art I like to listen the podcasts. Now these aren't the only five I listen to. These are just the five I listen to the most.

#5
A Damn Movie Podcast
Hosted by Adam Sherlock and Adam Palcher broadcasting from Salt lake City. They run a theme based movie podcast that offers in depth reviews of films across the whole spectrum of film history. From the silent era, to modern day classics, and new releases. These guys have a very unique take on the movie review podcast. With the mini film festivals, and top 5 list's that accompany the said reviewed movies. These two guys make you appreciate your favorite films, and seek out the one that have yet to see. Voted best new podcast by SLC's City Weekly.  http://adamnpodcast.com/

#4

Cool Hunting Video

Showing you an glimpse into the innovations in design, technology, art, and culture. This podcast travels the world to show you some of the most interesting places, and artists that you've never yet seen.  http://www.coolhunting.com/

#3

The Nerdist Podcast

Hosted by comedians, Chris Hardwick, Jonah Ray, and Matt Mira. A funny podcast where nerds talk about various nerdy things, like movie, music, TV shows, the latest in technology, and various forms of pop culture, and of course Dr. Who. Bringing you a new episode twice a week. It's always exciting which famous guest they have next. from actors, and comedians, to famous directors and titans in the field of science. And now they have their own show, airing on BBC America http://www.nerdist.com/

#2

Doug Loves Movies

Hosted by comedian Doug Benson. He does a hilarious podcast in front a live audience at the UCB theatre in Los Angeles. Bringing on many of his comedian friends and actors to play movie based games and interact the with audience. From "build-a-title", and the ever popular "Leonard Maltin game." Playing for prizes for selected audience members, and to win a place in the coveted "tournament of champions."  http://douglovesmovies.com/  

#1

Comedy Bang Bang

Formerly Comedy Death Ray, This podcast hosted by Scott Aukerman, started as a show at the UCB theatre in L.A., then on L.A. radio station Indie 103. Now in there own Earwolf Studios, and starting their own TV show. Comedy Bang Bang gives you the best in improve comedy. With interviews with famous comedians, and actors. With special guests that pop in to say hi, like: Former governor Jesse Ventura, Bill Cosby Bukowski, Cake Boss Buddy Valastro, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Huell Howser,and Scott's own ex-step father Bob Ducca. There is something different each week, and it's always hilarious.  http://www.earwolf.com/

Top Five Favorite Drummers

If anybody plays an instrument, you start to admire musicians for their talents, and inventiveness in their profession. So being a drummer for the past 19 years, here are my top five favorite drummers of all time. Oh, and FYI, you will not find Neil Peart on this list. Why, because HE SUCKS!!!!


#5
Jon Theodore
Played for various bands, and The Mars Volta for 5 years and 6 albums. Best known for his explosive, multi-textural and dynamic playing style. His drumming style is amazing, his speed and stamina is unwavering. And off beat rhythms that change at the drop of the hat, without changing tempo, keeping the music sound spontaneous. 

#4

Dave Grohl
As everyone knows was the drummer for Nirvana, then went onto surprise the music world by switching to guitar and lead singer in his own group The Foo Fighters. But he hasn't lost his talent for drumming. Playing drums with Them Crooked Vultures. With Queens of the Stone Age front man Josh Homme, and John Paul Jones bassist for Led Zeppelin. Dave Grohl's drumming is loud, fast, and strong. You can really hear the strength and confidence is his drumming. You really get the sense that he's having fun when he plays, and that surely comes out in the music.

#3

Travis Barker
Drummer for the Aquabats, +44, Boxcar Racer, The Transplants, TRV$DJAM, and of course Blink 182. What makes him such a great drummer is his stamina and versatility. Playing many drumming styles from Punk to Alternative Rock, Hip Hop, and even Country. If you've ever seen Barker play, he puts his whole body into his drumming. And he's always searching for a new way to deliver the same beat while staying in tempo. His inventiveness is unsurpassed by most mainstream drummers. 

#2

Kieth Moon

Wild, and Crazy is how I would describe Kieth Moon's playing. His eccentric and innovative drumming style, and his self destructive behavior, earned him the nickname "Moon the Loon." His legendary drumming is best known for his dramatic, suspenseful drumming. Often eschewing basic back beats for a fluid, busy technique focused on fast, cascading rolls across the toms, ambidextrous double bass drum work, and wild cymbal crashes and washes. When he plays his unorthodox holding of his drums sticks, gives you the impression that he's enjoying every minute of his performance. 

for those of you who are not aware of this video. The Who had a tradition of breaking their instruments after to last song. and one thing that they wanted to do was blow up the bass drum with a large puff of smoke, and a loud "pop", for their appearance in the states, on the set of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. During rehearsal testing the drum effect. The producers okay-ed the stunt. But Keith didn't think it was big enough. So before they were to go on stage he Moon had loaded his drums with more explovises, into one of his two bass drums. During the finale of "My Generation", he kicked the the drum off the riser that set off the charge, with the intensity of the explosion surprising even himself. He singed Townshend's hair and permanently damaged the hearing in his right ear. Kieth even had a piece of cymbal embedded in his own arm. Now "that's" rock 'n' roll!

#1

Buddy Rich

Jaw-dropping is the best way to describe Buddy Rich's drumming. He is "the world's greatest drummer." Known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed. Rich's technique has been one of the most standardized and coveted in drumming. His dexterity, musicality of playing style, speed and smooth execution are considered "holy grails" of drum technique and have been considered next to impossible to duplicate. While Rich typically held his sticks using traditional grip, he was also a skilled "match grip" player, and was one of few drummers to master the one-handed roll on both hands. Some of his more spectacular moves are crossover riffs, where he would criss-cross his arms from one drum to another, sometimes over the arm, and even under the arm at great speed.

He often used contrasting techniques to keep long drum solos from getting mundane. Aside from his energetic explosive displays, he would go into quieter passages. One passage he would use in most solos starts with a simple single-stroke roll on the snare picking up speed and power, then slowly moving his sticks closer to the rim as he gets quieter and then eventually playing on just the rim itself while still maintaining speed. Then he would reverse the effect and slowly move towards the center of the snare while increasing power. He even kicked the wildness Muppet's ass Animal, in a drum contest.

Top Five Christmas Commercials

This week is my top five favorite Christmas commercials. Everyone remembers their holiday favorites, and I'm sure some of them won't be on this list. But that's because this is my top 5 list and not yours. And mines better.

#5

So you probably don't remember this one. It was on the air for only a year or two. But it as everything you need in a commercial: Norm MacDonald, Steve Buscemi, Stop Motion, bathing gingerbread women..... um.... yeah.

#4
Now I've never seen this commercial until this year, but it is instantly on my top 5. There aren't a lot of commercials that make me laugh out loud. And this is one of the few. enjoy! 

#3
This one is a childhood classic. This commercial makes me feel like a 10 year old again, It continues to make me giggle with glee, when I see this one. to bad they don't play it anymore. boo.

#2
Everyone should remember this one, because it still airs every year. We've all grown up with this commercial. When I saw this for the first time it blew my mind. Their's a kid in the snowman?!..... wait..... how did he do that?..... how did his branch arms turn into real arms?.... ow! my brain hurts. 

#1
Yeah, M&M's. Short and sweet. This commercial surprised the world, when we found out that giant talking M&M's were real.

What's Your Top 5?
post in the comments

Top Five Christmas Songs

Something new! Each week I'm going to share a top five. My family members wrote down some top five questions on a piece of paper, and each week i'm going to pull a random one and share with you. They will be completely random. But this week is all about Christmas, so the randomness starts the first week of January.


#5
Great Song that sounds like it should be in a action film. It sounds so epic and keeps building. In Home Alone when you here this song start you know the shit is about go down!

#4
Not very well known. In fact the only times I've heard this song is during the Muppet's Family Christmas special, and The Christmas Toy special. But it's still a great song. when you see the Muppets sing it, it makes you feel all warm and fuzzy.

#3

I love Sinatra. His voice sounds so haunting and mysterious. Hearing this song just makes a flood holiday memories fill my head.

#2
Nat King Cole is awesome. His smooth soothing voice just makes your eyes water with love and calmness. It makes me want to sit in front of fireplace with a fuzzy blanket, and a hot mug a hot chocolate.

#1
My favorite Christmas song, from my favorite Christmas special. This song has so many childhood memories in it for me. Around this time of year, when I hear it on TV or the radio, I get really excited. It's so laid back and cool, I can see the Vince Guaraldi Trio playing it just for me in my mind.

What's Your Top 5?
post in the comments