KUR’s Year In Review

Just kidding. You didn’t really think I was going to do a “year in review”, did you? Some interesting data from my last.fm account however that I thought I’d share.

Top Artists in the last 12 months:

  1. Frank Zappa: 619 plays
  2. Neil Young: 468 plays
  3. Bob Dylan: 350 plays
  4. Elliott Smith: 325 plays
  5. Ween: 281 plays
  6. Rufus Wainwright: 277 plays
  7. The Beatles: 257 plays
  8. Nick Drake: 200 plays
  9. David Bowie: 176 plays
  10. Flip Kowlier: 166 plays

Well… no real surprises there.

Nay, the revelation lies in the Top Tracks for the last 12 months:

  1. Bob Dylan – Like a Rolling Stone: 15 plays
  2. Bob Dylan – Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues: 14 plays
  3. Bob Dylan – Ballad of a Thin Man: 14 plays
  4. Bob Dylan – It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry: 13 plays
  5. Rufus Wainwright – I Dont Know What It Is: 13 plays
  6. Bob Dylan – Desolation Row: 12 plays
  7. Nick Drake – Pink Moon: 12 plays
  8. Rufus Wainwright – Oh What a World: 12 plays
  9. David Bowie – Life On Mars: 12 plays
  10. Rufus Wainwright – Vicious World: 11 plays

I have officially become a Bob Dylan junkie!

Of course, this list says more about the limited amount of Bobness I have in my possession than it does about my overall listening patterns — the chances of Peaches En Regalia playing 15 times on shuffle are slim, seeing as how I own pretty much the entire FZ catalogue — but still: this year’s revelation, for me, appears to have been Mr Zimmerman.

Take in account also that Sharleena’s iTunes is playing around here half the time, something which would certainly distort the above results (Eels! Flaming Lips! Ween! Sufjan Stevens! Barenaked Ladies! Spinvis!).

Yourself? Any personal listening trends you wish to share?

(Oh, and hey: have a Happy New Year!)

A Skin Too Few – The Days Of Nick Drake

I just stumbled upon this wonderful documentary on Nick Drake, early 70s singer-songwriter of near mythical fame. We’re big fans here at Barry Towers. Be sure to check out the man’s small but fabulous body of work (if you hadn’t already, of course).

Part two is here; from there use the right sidebar to get to the other parts.

Sunday Mix: Music Is The Best

muffin-fz

Well, Zappa freaks, fans, and friends, you may not be able to download it from iTunes, yet you can still listen to my mixtape, “Sunday Mix: Music Is The Best” for free, here at KUR, and enjoy the various rare and interesting FZ field recordings, as well as early 45 versions of songs (before many were remixed beyond recognition), while you celebrate what would have been Frank’s 68th birthday. I think I’m going to chow down on a muffin, myself.

Click here to listen to the mixtape.

Note: If anyone feels we are infringing their copyright, contact us and we will remove the item in question.

AAAFRNAAA FZ Birthday Bundle 2008

A new release, through iTunes:

Tracklisting:
01. Dancin’ Fool (Disco Version) 6:18
02. More Trouble Every Day 5:48
03. Gorgeous Inca 3:25
04. Ancient Armaments 4:09
05. America The Beautiful 3:35
06. You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch 3:12
07. Saturday Girl 2:50
08. Alice 5:12
09. Espanoza 3:26
10. Dumb All Over 5:46
11. Twenty Small Cigars 5:59
12. Lacksadaisial 5:44
13. Dirty Love 4:04

Tubes Wild West Show — Mondo Bondage

Did someone mention The Tubes? For your entertainment pleasure, here is an updated theatrical version of The Tubes classic “Mondo Bondage” taken from their DVD, “Wild In London” (Recorded at the Shepherds Bush Empire, Dec 2004).

Beware: An aging Fee in leather bondage attire may either offend, or perhaps even excite certain viewers. You are hereby warned.