Christmas (and Birthday) iTunes Bucks, vol. III

I had a few of my close friends to my house for the 40th birthday - and it was, well, a blast. A very nice experience getting to hang with my good pals on the day I celebrate peaking the gap and rolling down the backside of the human lifespan. Lord willing, I’ll have 40 more. Got $40 in iTunes bucks for the Birthday - taking my account above $50 with what’s left over from Christmas.

My approach in 2008 has differed from 2007 where I focused on albums and went through the bucks pretty quick. This year, I am generally buying one or two songs at a time - more variety. An update for all of you out there who peek at the blog, but never comment (come on, you know you’re there… like a mouse peaking out from under the fridge at the cheese under the toddler’s chair).

Over My Head (Cable Car) - The Fray.  I have to give the credit for this purchase to DaveE as The Fray was the group he recommended in 2007.  I didn’t end up purchasing How to Save a Life, but found the snippets of this song to be appealing.  Nice driving piano in places.  Nice electric/acoustic sound.

Shut Your Eyes - Snow Patrol.  Another DaveE suggestion.  For some reason I think of Vanilla Sky when I hear it (Open Your Eyes).  Not my favorite, but I don’t regret the purchase.

Rhapsody on a Theme from Paganini - John Barry.  Classical Rachmaninoff which you may remember from the movie Somewhere In Time from the early 1980’s.  My favorite music of a classical variety.

Let It Be (AI Studio Version) - Brooke White.  What can I say?  I dig A.I.  I dig the Beatles and I am a piano man.  Nuff Said.

What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers.  I have heard it said that the name of the band is a reference to marijuana.  Be that as it may, they’ve got some pretty groovy music.  I just love the lyrics: “What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.”  That is just plain true.

China Grove - The Doobie Brothers.  At least once a week, the opening guitar riff seems to pop into my head - and then comes the rock piano - and I’m singing to myself “When sun beats down…”.  Always been a fave.

Ever the Same - Rob Thomas.  Some of his stuff is a little too “alternative” for me, but this little gem is gentle and different.  The only other song of his I have is Little Wonders - from the Meet the Robinsons soundtrack - another gem of a song.

‘Til I Hear It From You - Gin Blossoms.  Nice song by the group that produced one of my favorites - Follow You Down - which I gleaned from the How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days soundtrack.   Yes, I own the whole soundtrack - and yes, the music from it is great.  I fully expect to be mocked by the jock mice, and that is okay.

Well that’s it for now.  I have tried and tried, but I can’t make myself pull the trigger on 5th Gear by Brad Paisley.  I like his music, but his albums seem a lot like 1980’s lunch meat to me (there’s meat there, but there’s a whole bunch of filler, too).  Comments and suggestions are welcome as I still have $44 to spend.

Peace.