Brian Risk's Blog » Lists http://brianrisk.com Can it be? Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:29 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 My iTunes star ratings http://brianrisk.com/my-itunes-star-ratings/ http://brianrisk.com/my-itunes-star-ratings/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:13:44 +0000 Brian Risk http://brianrisk.com/?p=622
  • No stars: Brian, listen to this song and rate it already!
  • One star: Delete this song later. You wish to hear it never again!
  • Two stars: Reserved for songs that wouldn’t make sense if played for a party. This includes comedy sketches, novelty songs, holiday songs, weird inner tracks, etc.
  • Three stars: This is a meat and potatoes song. Most songs get this. I’ve listened to this song and say, “you make the grade.”
  • Four stars: This song is a great example of what the band can produce. Every band from whom I buy a whole album should have at least one four star song.
  • Five stars: This is a great song. Maybe lifechanging. It not be any better than a four star song. In fact, it may be kind of weird (e.g. “Thirty Thousand Feet of Despair” by the Flaming Lips) but it connects with me personally.

    • (Some influence has been taken from how Lance once described his system.)

    ]]>     http://brianrisk.com/my-itunes-star-ratings/feed/ 1     10 feel-good songs to sing to someone to help them forget, if for only a moment, they are dying http://brianrisk.com/10-feel-good-songs/ http://brianrisk.com/10-feel-good-songs/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:35:07 +0000 Brian Risk http://brianrisk.com/?p=542 “Hey Ya” – Outkast [video tutorial] [lyrics]: You can sing this one off-key all day and it will still make the asses shake.

    “Cuz You Do” – Liam Lynch [chords]: Liam Lynch knows how to construct a pop song- no wonder both Paul McCartney and Tenacious D loves him.

    “Baby One More Time” – Britney Spears [chords]: Holy shit this is so over the top that it is nearly impossible to sing without being hilarious.

    “Good Vibrations” – Beach Boys [chords]: Who doesn’t want good vibrations?

    “Philosophy” – Ben Folds Five [chords]: All in all the most uplifting song the group ever put out.

    “What Is The Light?” – Flaming Lips [chords]: The Lips are tough for this kind of thing because though their songs often have a strong feel-good element and happy melody, they also have a darker undertone (I’m looking at you, “Do You Realize??”). This song is almost %100 positive.

    “Friday I’m In love” – The Cure [chords]: Before this list was a glimmer in my eye I had pictured this song as something for just such an occasion. I like the idea of catching someone eating in the middle of the night.

    “Come On Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners [chords]: Another 80′s classic. (Alternates: “99 Luftballoons”, “Take on Me”)

    “Pablo Picasso” – The Modern Lovers [It's an Em chord]: Not an obvious choice, but lyrics about a 5’3″ artist who has a way with the ladies is awesome.

    “Tub Thumping” – Chumbawumba [chords]: How much cred does this list lose by including this song? Before you toss this one right in the crapper, listen: It’s easy to play and almost guaranteed to get a laugh.

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