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Add to your iPod...

judy staring at the sun

by catherine wheel

who knew that a song about heroin addiction could be so damn catchy?  one of the most influential bands from the early-90s alternative movement, london's catherine wheel had great success with their loud, guitar-driven sound.  this song, from their 1996 album 'happy days' is far more radio-friendly and pop-oriented, and features the mellow vocal sounds of tanya donelly of belly and throwing muses fame.  controversial at the time for the opening lyric, "smacked up again behind the door, begging please give me some more," this song never helped propel the band to the heights that they aspired to.  now defunct, catherine wheel lives on in those who like to pretend that it's still 1994.

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happy ending

by mika

self-explanatory.

Go see...

rent

after 12 years on the great white way, this show about a group of bohemians struggling with life and death in alphabet city is closing its doors.  and while you may say to yourself, 'i saw it years ago,' or, 'i'll just watch the movie,' there is really nothing as amazing as seeing the show at the nederlander theater.  while the original cast will forever live as the greatest bunch to sing jonathan larson's songs, american idol alum and current mimi marquez, tamyra gray, should be added to the short list of those performers that have crackled on that 41st street stage.  her naturally beautiful pipes have a bit of welcome tarnish on them as she brings the drug-addled teenager to life.  her unbelievably lithe body, clad in pleather, is remiscient of daphne rubin-vega's mimi in 1996.  tamyra's turn completely dwarfs rosario dawson's film version, and it kind of makes you wonder if chris columbus even thought of her in his casting.  digressing, in 12 short years, this show has already become a period piece, and while the folks at dot.conor are sad to see it go, it will be just as rewarding to see it come back.  but, until then, here's to the 535,600 moments so dear.

Fall in love with...

sweet p

tattoos, shamttoos.  the only good thing about the current season of project runway is the 46 year-old los angelino, sweet p.  in a season that is so disgustingly self-aware, this ink-covered, former catholic school girl is the only breath of fresh air for fans to breathe.  tim gunn is old news; heidi, who?  and the other contestants are either too brutal to watch (ricky), too cliche for words (christian), or too flat-out from another planet for anyone to actually care about(elysa).  sweet p may not be the best designer on bravo's catwalk, but she has personality and talent, something that should take her far in this year's competition.  and we'll be okay if she doesn't win, just as long as that bitch, victorya, or that dick, rami, don't.  hopefully, though, sweet p makes it work.  (did we just quote tim gunn?  oh no...)

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inside and out (the unmix)

by feist

yes, leslie feist came to the forefront of america's pop culture conscience when her song "1,2,3,4" became the ubiquitous theme for the new ipod nano, and yes, she is nominated for the best new artist at next month's grammy awards, but she's been around for some time in her native canada.  her best song by far is "inside and out" from her debut album, let it die, and the b-side of that song, a verrrry stripped down version appears on this collection of rarities, open season.  the original is a lavish production, with a definite disco-vibe, whose giddy energy reflects what it feels like to be deeply in love (enjoy the video below).  this version, however, is just ms. feist and an acoustic guitar.  the lyrics have a new, deeper meaning as she croons, "i am the girl who loves you inside and out, backwards and forewards with my heart hanging out."  no longer is she so overcome with emotion that she has to belt to the rafters with a funky bass line, but rather she sings just above a whisper, while her guitar gently weeps. 

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kiwi

by maroon 5

one of maroon 5's most melodic and catchy songs is also the band's dirtiest.  a very obvious euphemism for - on second though, we'll let you figure it out for yourselves.  adam levine totally sells it, though, and you can easily forget what it's about until...the chorus reminds you what it's about.  subject matter aside, the song is 3:35 of pop bliss, with great harmonies, a surprising horn section cameo, mixed with the perfect rhythm.  and it's okay if you like the subject matter.  dirty is in this year.

Fall in love with...

dunkin donuts coffee

don't get us wrong.  the dot.conor staff loves new york city, and there is no other place we would want to live.  but, if there were ever a reason to move elsewhere, like, say, boston for example, we'd have a hard time saying no for one reason, and one reason only: dunkin' donuts coffee.  the venerable company, celebrated for its delicious sugary concoctions of dough and icing, also holds the title for the best coffee on the plant, hands-down.  sure, starbucks has neat lattes and an impressive record label, but dunkin' donuts has thrived for over 50 years by keeping it simple, stupid.  the same pink and orange lettering beckons you to the store where for half the price of a grande, peppermint mocha, you can get a mouth-watering large coffee anyway you'd like it.  rich, nutty, unbelievably satisfying, it's no wonder that new englanders welcome the fact that there is a dunkin' donuts on practically every street corner.  we are staying in manhattan, but our friends in beantown can pass along the notion that you can never have enough dunkin'. 

Enjoy...

love will never do (without you)

by janet jackson

janet jackson's 1989 masterpiece, janet jackson's rhythm nation 1814 had an astonishing seven top-five singles on the billboard 100 chart.  one of her best songs, on the album and in her catalog, is this one, with her trademark industrial beats and powerful harmonies.  what makes this song a classic, however, is not just that it's a catchy pop song, but rather that it has an amazing video.  music videos used to be more important that the song itself, and a good video could turn a dud into a hit.  this clip, directed by the legendary herb ritts, and featuring ms. jackson clad only in a black halter top and jeans, with an upswept hairdo, and two relative unknowns at the time (antonio sabato, jr. and djimon hounsou) captures the playful essence of the song.  most videos from this time are beyond outdated, but this one stands the test of time, even as it approaches its (gasp) 18th birthday.

What can save...

american idol

as season 7 of the pop culture juggernaut premieres tonight, after a season of both dwindling numbers and contestant talent, people are wondering if american idol can rebound this season.  the show's producers and talent believe that it can and have been talking non-stop about it.  so what will save this season?  these 5 things:
1.  no sanjaya-like freaks
2.  more paula-like freakouts
3.  simply pick good singers
4.  get rid of that lame final song
5.  more ryan

Add to your iPod...

losing end of distance

by the samples

is sean kelly of the samples gifted with an amazing voice?  not really, but he can sure craft a great song, including this one, off of this acoustic set with fellow sample-r, tom askin.  the raw emotion in kelly's voice when he croons "i've been looking everywhere for you" is palpable.  anyone who has ever loved someone, whether a bf/gf, or a family member, can most definitely relate to the verse "nevermind the streetlights, or every shadow shaped like you, every call keeps me running to the phone, operator tell me how to get this off of me" when missing that person.  it's a simple song with two guitars, two singers, and a piano.  and as this song proves, that's all you need to make a good one.