Ghosting!

A great new segment on The Jay Leno Show!

Sarcasm

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Film Riot! (Watch or Die!)

I wish church music was like this..

Nothing Compares

Song of the Week - Fly One Time

Ben Harper is such an artist and once again pulls off this masterpiece with him and Relentless7's latest album, White Lies for Dark Times.

Fly One Time is such a heartfelt song. I saw him perform it Live on Tonight and just watching him sing and perform was amazing enough. He performs with such passion for his music and art. This is not a poppy song, it's a great song. Please purchase it.

jrv

What's the best Twitter app for my iPhone?!

Ostrich Egg!

Film Riot!

Song of the Week - Spies

Coldplay.

This reminds me of a very cloudy day last summer. It was very dark, and set the mood to this song perfectly. This erie song starts off in such an organic way with the acoustic playing a simple rhythm. I really do love this song and the great tremolo guitar in the first chorus in the background.



Parachutes, their debut album, is one that sounds very similar to this one track.. in a good way. Everything is very organic; you can tell that they didnt tweak much of their songs from the way it was originally written. Don't be fooled by the 'lack of quality' in the recording. I believe they purposely gave it that sound to give it a very 'honest' sonic atmosphere.

going to go learn it now
josh

Immigrant Tale

Twitter Will Kill You

Scintillation

Autumn Story

Just in case you slept in..

Song of the Week - Art of Motion

This title track is the opening tune to Andy McKee's debut album in 2006. Lots of people know him as the guitar who slaps the guitar that they saw on YouTube. This song is not only technically advanced, but melodically beautiful.



Pay attention to the bass like slapping on the lower strings. Too cool! No words, just guitar. That's okay with me.

Love the ending.
-jrv

Stories From Seat M8-Jon and Morgan

Wardrobe

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Just Stop and Think

juststopandthink

with (crazy) love,

-jrv

TeaArt

one day..

Adele

the vocal weapon herself. in all her glory.

It's Always Sunny (Clip)

King of Pop is Dead

The New York Times

LA Times - originally crashed, now just very slow.

CNN

Yahoo!

TMZ

Godfather

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Bing, Bang, Boom... And a zap.

For You Pirates!

David Crowder* Band

newest single! how he loves!

click on the image to get :)

enjoy

jrv

BT Live!

Song of the Week - We Are Yours

Ornan's Floor is not only an awesome band but are great people. They really helped change my life at Zephyr.

I really like the guitar line in the pre-chorus which is the 'we are yours' part. This is not the best produced or best sounding record ever, but it gets the job done.

'That's what you are, our perfect Father.'

jrv

Mos Def w/The Roots

This is one of the coolest rap songs i've heard in a long time. Fast rap with great music!

Diggnation: Live from New York!

Inspiration

California Dreaming

pay no mind to the video still of conan and paltrow. this video is of JM3.

Diggnation!

Song of the Week | Belief

John Mayer holds first and second in my all-time favorite songs, and Belief happens to be my number 2. Number 1 has yet to be Song of the Week, but one day.. when the time is right.. one day..

First off, the classic drum intro to a song, has a subtle second drum beat to it. If you listen closely, there's the main beat that you naturally hear, but then in the background, there's another beat playing a more snare-based-beat with brushes. Steve Jordan knows how to do.



Beautiful guitar intro, once the band comes in, with a great clean sound being driven with the amazing Two-Rock amp, which is over-priced, yet worth it.

Verse one, second intro, back to another great verse, and then into the amazing low sung chorus accompanied by a very tasteful harmony sung by Mayer himself. Continuum was Mayer's first commercial album that really showed off his electric guitar skills, so naturally, guitar solo. Perfect.

Here comes the bridge, a very Sting-influenced one at that, where he is very lyrical and conversational just like the Room for Squares John. I've always said that John, in my opinion, makes the best bridges as a songwriter, and this one is a perfect example.

fade out,
jrv

Zune HD

Zune HD Video Hands On from Gizmodo on Vimeo.

Making Matcha Tea

How matcha tea is made, and how to make it.

Song of the Week - Wordless Chorus

First things first, you don't have to be weird or 'too cool' to like this music. Anyone can like this, it's open to yours and my world. My Morning Jacket is a great band that definitely sounds a bit like Radiohead on this track, in a good way.



A wordless chorus it is. 'Ooh's and 'ahh's are lame if you're just trying to fill space, but not in this case. Fits great.

jrv

Inform Yourself..

An introduction to the Camellia sinensis plant (tea).

Song of the Week - Light Through the Veins

jon jon jon.. this is truly an amazing piece of art. After I saw him open up for Coldplay in Dallas, I fell in love with his music. So patient and sincere. I can imagine listening to this driving fast down a highway late at night surrounded by lights.



If you love the song half way through, just wait til you get to the last 1/4. This is when you know you've entered sonic romance. You can hear what he's saying and he has yet to open his mouth. You feel like you know him yet you've never even met him. You fall in love.

If you haven't spotted it yet, it is also featured in Coldplay's Life in Technicolor.

This might be one of my all-time favorite songs and this is how you make 9 minutes seem too short.

jrv

Adagio Teas

I just gave up all sodas for tea and you should too. Tea is a bit esoteric but is easy once you get the basics down. Buy yourself some Loose Tea and give it a go.



just sayin..

jrv

Song of the Week - Consoler of the Lonely

just listen.



jrv

Song of the Week - You Found Me

You might disagree with me on this one, but The Fray's Isaac Slade makes this song.  His vocal in the chorus is right on.  The strain on his voice sounds great and the fact that he's crying out to God makes it even better.  This is the second song of theirs that hits me in the first couple of words.  "I found God" just hits you with those great low notes and simple melody.  He's got a great feel on singing.  I love his imperfections.  Singing's more than hitting notes.

It's an interesting song when you break it down.  First verse is only piano, then the drums come in the second part of the first verse.  Then the second verse comes in double time and when the chorus comes in, it goes back to normal.  

Did you hear that piano sound in the bridge in the far distance?  That's some great producing or engineering.. depends on whose idea it was. 

lost and insecure,

jrv

a sonic short..

Morningside by the wonderful Sara Bareilles

this is one those songs that one particular part makes the song.  this one's bridge makes it. while the chorus is wonderful and groovy especially the second time around because it's twice as long, the bridge definitely wins this time 'round.

jrv

Song of the Week - Lucky (feat. Colbie Caillat)

Jason Mraz is back with yet another great hit following his smashing single, I'm Yours, from his third major album.  Jason really needed this after his second album flop, Mr. A-Z, but the tables have turned!  This is a class A pop song!  Catchy! Simple!

photo credit

Lucky would not be so without the wonderful singing by Colbie.  Her voice is amazing and perfectly compliments Jason's.  This will be a duet for the ages!  I know I've already covered it!  Pretty groovy (the chorus) for a pop tune and the way Caillat lays back on that vocal makes it an even smoother ride.

  

photobucket

Unfortunately, I wish I could say the rest of the album was as good as his first two singles, but it's not.  I would definitely not advice you to click 'buy album' in iTunes and just stick with buying tracks 2 & 3.  I promise you, though, you will not be disappointed with this one.  I have yet to meet someone who doesn't like it.

stay lucky!

jrv

Song of the Week - Not Myself

An oldie but goodie by John (yeah that's right) Mayer.  On his debut major label album, Room for Squares, he's got too many great songs, but this one, this week is in my head.  So, now it can be in yours too!

Not Myself gets props for being incredibly simple, yet incredibly amazing.  If you know Mayer, you know that his songs, musically, are not your typical pop tune.  Jazz chords, blues solos, stretchy guitar chords, and much more.  But, this one is a good I, IV, V chorus.  

What makes this song get away with the musical simpleness is that it has great lyrics.  Not conversational at all, unlike most of his songs, but each short line full of debt.  Of course, I know, it's not that it's simple, it's that it's right.  Do me a favor and listen to the intro again and see if you've always noticed the keyboard bell sounds.  Most people just hear an acoustic guitar. 

'Gotta love that bridge into that perfect acoustic guitar solo!

going from poetry to prose,

jrv

New Show to Watch!

Better off Ted premiered on the 18th of this month on ABC and I would've never been interested in this show if it wasn't for Portia de Rossi, who was in one of my favorite comedy shows of all time, Arrested Development.  

photo credit

Better off Ted is a show based on a company, Veridian Dynamics, that makes just about everything there is to make, as it clearly explains in the opening minutes of it's pilot.  Veridian Dynamics makes everything from edible bouncing balls to uncomfortable chairs that make employees work harder.  Portia plays Veronica, a highly unethical boss of Veridian Dynamics.  Her character has some similarities to her old character from Arrested Development, but successful.  She and Ted are hilarious in this new show.  I highly recommend you watch this show.  Catch up now while there's only been a pilot.  ABC is on a roll!

back in a Snapple!

jrv

iPhone Software 3.0

Finally! What we've all been waiting for, the next and huge update for all iPhone software users!

photo credit

Apple announced that they will finally add the overdue Cut, Copy, & Paste ability to their 3.0 software.  Of course, Apple made sure that it was made to be user friendly and easy.  If you need to undo a paste just quickly shake your phone to bring up the option to Undo.  With this new feature, users can finally email more than one photo at a time.  Secondly, the also long overdue MMS ability.  Users can now send photos, contacts, audio files and even location via MMS.  No longer will we have to email photos in order for a friend to see them; now we can just send them straight to their phone like the rest of the world.  Lastly, iPhone now lets you search your phone with Spotlight just like your computer.  There are many, many more features but these are the main ones I am most excited about. 

photo  from iLounge 

Other features include being able to delete single text messages instead of only being able to delete conversations.  We can also forward text messages which, believe it or not, was not a feature until 3.0.  

ps

LANDSCAPE KEYBOARDS! :D

jrv

Song of the Week - Gravity

by Sara Bareilles

Who needs a band?  Clearly, all Sara needs is a piano to make people cry. 

Such a gorgeous song to end her debut album, Little Voice.  Reminds me of Wheel off of Heavier Things, in that it's an honest, brilliant song that really puts the final touch on the albums.  What a great songwriter she is and a great singer.  I'm glad she is as successful as she is and hope that she only continues to climb.  

Nothing makes a song better than soul.  Her Gravity is a soul test.  If you feel nothing during this song, you might want to re-check your insides.  Try listening to this song while doing nothing but just paying attention to her heart.  Music is not art but rather the creation of it.  

bringing it back to you,

jrv

Tweetely-Tweet!

If you have not joined twitter yet, you need to. Why? Because I said so. "Think about it until you agree"

jrv

Song of the Week - Daydreamer

Adele's debut major label album shows us how you don't need to have drums in songs to make great songs.  This song shows us this in great excellence.  Sadly, it's not one of the most bought song from her album in iTunes. 

It was great listening to this song on my iPhone, in a plane flying over a snowed in Boston.  Clearly every singer out there needs to buy 19 so you can learn a thing or two.  I know I'm learning loads from her singing style.  The way she changes the sound of her words is so cool that it makes you want to talk the way she sings.  This is an incredible song.  "Feeling up his girl like he's never felt a figure before."  Don't let her amazing singing make you pay no mind to her lyrics; she has a great way of making you smile with just her lyrics alone.  This deserves to be Song of the Month.

sitting on her doorstep, 

jrv

Top 6 Most Played songs from my iTunes

6. Politik - Coldplay

I really thought this would be a bit higher than 6, around the 4 area.  There was a time where I played this all the time.  This song is the just way to epic and other than No Such Thing, I can't think of a better way to start off a record.  With a play count of 55, it's just one more play shy from #5 on my list.

5. Stop This Train - John Mayer

Honestly, I don't really remember playing this song 56 times, but apparently I'm a fan.  John Mayer is by far my favorite artist, so i'll just stop right now because if I don't, his section will look like an essay.  I'll just say this.. nothing's better than artistic transparency.

4. Like A Star - Corinne Bailey Rae

If I'm not mistaken, this was a Song of the Week once.  I remember the first time I heard this song I couldn't stop playing it.  That would explain the 62 plays.

3. A Bad Dream - Keane

This song is so dreamy.  There's really nothing like it.  The melodies are simple, not even slightly syncopated and take you on a ride so high you won't be able to see the ground.  Gorgeous. 

2. Everything In It's Right Place - Radiohead

Sadly, I was late to hop on this song, I remember the first time I heard it I was in Writing Skills at Berklee.  We had to bring a song in for some reason that I don't remember, and someone brought this song in.  It was pretty epic.  Right when  I heard that gorgeous Rhodes play, I melted in my chair.  Ever since that day, this has been my favorite Radiohead song. 69 plays and counting..

1. Kid A - Radiohead

Ironically, my favorite Radiohead song is not my most played Radiohead song.  This, in fact, is very normal for me.  I don't like to over play my favorite songs.  My favorite song of all time--which will remain nameless for now, another day another blog-- has an extremely low play count.  I just can't play them whenever.  They're special, and it's not even in my top 25 most played.  Interesting.  Kid A is an amazing song and an amazing album.  Kid A wins with a play count of 80.  To be honest, those play counts are not very high.  I'm sure your 25th most played song has more than 80 plays, I don't know what I do in my spare time.  Apparently it's not listen to music.  I guess I'm just too busy writing it?  Doubt it. 

bringing new meaning to fave 5 (in this case 6),

Josh

Song of the Week - Song of Hope (Heave Come Down)

I've always loved this song, but this Monday I sang it with just my guitar during Monday night worship, not to be confused with Monday Night Football, and it just became something else for me.  The transparency and rawness of the song, being with just an acoustic guitar and in a beautiful Boston apartment, transformed it into something else.  Hearing the group of people singing along to the song during the bridge was truly divine. 

Robbie Seay wrote a great song this time around.  Huge hit.  Finally a worship song with some tastefully used falsetto.. and who doesn't love that great beat driven by those hi-hats?  This is the new Happy Day, Friend of God, etc.. but better. 

fyi...

The parenthesis are used because the artist most likely originally named the track Song of Hope, but the record label recognized that people would recognize the song better if it was called Heaven Come Down.  So, entitling the track Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down) is essentially a compromise.  I agree.

see ya next week!

-jrv

Song of the Week - Don't Stop The Music

Rihanna's done it again! I can't stop listening to this song.  Every part of this song is so catchy that I promise you your iTunes play count will increase by 10 in the next day!  You need to buy this album.  I predict her next album will have a couple songs trashing a certain someone.  Can't wait!

If this single doesn't make people move in the clubs, I don't know what will.  

Everything is so perfectly phrased.  Chorus is way catchy.  Is it me or is the bridge extremely influenced by Michael Jackson?  If you pay attention you can hear the bridge being sung in the background during the chorus'.

Song of the Week - Nothing In My Way/Bad Dream

Under The Iron Sea is one of my favorite modern albums for great melodies.  The first is 4 minutes flat and they're great ones, while Bad Dream's a great 5+ minute song.

Like most, the chorus for Nothing In My Way is where the melodic brilliance comes in to take you away.  Take notice on the harmony being sung, it's quite simple, yet makes the vocal sound a bit more intricate.

Bad Dream is definitely my favorite of the two.  I remember there was a time where it was my song of the month.  I haven't heard it much since that time, but it's been revived.  In my iTunes, it has a play count of 64.  Not bad.  I wonder which song is my most played.. hmm.. I'll definitely have to post my iTunes top 5 most played songs.  'til then!

-jrv

Song of the Week *Grammy Special*

What better song to have as song of the week than 2008's song of the year?

Viva La Vida - Coldplay

With any song from Coldplay, complementing it is just stating the obvious.  I remember the first time I heard this brilliant song in an Apple commercial.  I was blown away.  The colours, the bass drum being hit with a mallet and the military apparel all helped with the majestic vibe.  Love at first catch, it was.  

Who needs a drum kit to make a hit?  Who needs the song title to be in the song?

long live the king!

-jrv

Song of the Week - Glad To Be Unhappy

you must listen to this sonic brilliance. 

Frank Sinatra.  I miss this pop.  

-jrv

Song of the Week - Flashing Lights (Ft. Dwele)

Despite what you may think of Kanye West because of his incredibly huge head, there's one thing you will never be able to disagree with and that is that he is an amazing artist.  

This mix of I-can't-help-but-bob-my-head and smooth soaring in the sky music has always been my favorite.  That syncopated synth is the kind clubs die for and the rap is so commercial there's no explaining to why it's a hit.

This is pop, not rap, so if you don't like rap you'll still need to get this.  

-jrv

How to Wear a Tie

If your tie is wider than 2 1/2 inches, tailor it or go get yourself a narrow tie.  You look like you're borrowing your dad's ties.  Instead, make it look like you're borrowing his ties from when he was a boy. 

Please tie it correctly.  If you're taking more than 3 steps to tie it, it's too fat.  Fat ties are only allowed if you know when to use it during a formal event and you're not wearing a tux... but not even.  Don't let your tie go past your belt, unless you're wearing your tie loose.  Oh, and wearing your tie extremely high is not cool and is not 'in'.  I just looks like you borrowed your baby brother's clip on. 

buy this tie here

-jrv

Shows you Need to be Watching..

House M.D.

Fox

best show on t.v. hands down.  Dr. Gregory House is my favorite character on the tube right now.

Dexter

Showtime

my other favorite.  Dexter's a serial killer trying to have a normal life.  He's a nice guy who kills.  I love it.

Lost

ABC

Hi, my name is Josh and I am a Lostaholic. 

questions, questions and more questions.  

Fringe

FOX

a very under-rated show.  watch this.

The Office

NBC

minus this season, this is such a great show. and i dont have to convince anyone on this one. everyone watches this show. and with good reason.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 

FX

if you don't watch this show you need to.  dennis, mac, and charlie are geniuses.  this is definitely the best team of writers for all of comedy right now.  too bad the season's already over.  my favorite comedy.

How I Met Your Mother

CBS

Awesome!  Great cast with great lines.  You won't regret it.

30 Rock

NBC

Tina Fey is one of my favorites.  She's a brilliant, funny writer and with Alec Baldwin at her side they help make this the best comedy running right now.  Yes, even better than the office right now.

Pushing Daisies

ABC

This show gets the originality vote.  ..and the well-dressed vote.

Album of the Week - The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

I didn't get to post a song of the week last week because I was out of town and very busy, so to make it up I'm posting an Album of the week instead!  

Sadly, this is Lauryn's only studio album right now.  Hopefully she'll release another one in the future, but from what I hear, it's very unlikely.  This album is great!  Most rappers can't sing.  Most singers can't rap.  She does both, and does them brilliantly.  The first track, not counting the intro, is my favorite.  The way she grooves her rapping is very.. groovy Don't forget Doo Wop (That Thing) either. It's a great song and was a great single.  Love it!

This is definitely a must have album!  If you love art, you'll love this more. 

-josh

Song of the Week - The Middle

Anyone like popcorn?  I do.

It's been a while that The Disney Channel produces a singer with some talent.  Demi Lovato is an amazing singer.  

As far as catchy, pop chorus' come, this one is definitely one to boast about.  Surprisingly it's the least downloaded song off the album.  The chord progression to the the chorus is great.  The third chord couldn't be more perfect. 

I like it!

-jrv

pepsi smile

5 months and $1 million later..

photo by: Chris Brogan

lovin' the new look.  Is it just me, or does the logo look a lot like subtle backing of a certain president-elect?  Works for me.

It's a grin.  Can you see it?

-jrv