Artist To Check Out: Justin Nozuka

Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of meeting singer/songwriter Justin Nozuka. He came to the office where I work to perform a few songs from his sophomore album You I Wind Land and Sea (which came out on April 13, 2010). If you are into acoustic pop/rock with a soulful edge, I think you'll enjoy this album. For those not familiar with Justin, his voice is reminiscent of Robin Thicke's. When I heard You I Wind Land and Sea for the first time, I enjoyed it... but it gets better with each listen.

One aspect I appreciate is the subtle stylistic shifts throughout the album. For example, the title track has a gospel feel (in addition to a wah-wah guitar solo). "Swan in the Water" starts off quietly with light accompaniment behind Justin's heartfelt vocals, but slowly builds to a mid-tempo groove before coming full circle back to its peaceful beginning. "Woman Put Your Weapon Down" features a first-rate guitar solo by one of Justin's band members, Mark Pellizzer. He accompanied Justin during his performance at my workplace and in between songs, Justin graciously made a point to mention Mark's guitar work on this track.

Justin even has a connection to this guy! When I mentioned the connection to Justin, he smiled and asked how I knew about it. Ah, the wonders of Wikipedia! Ironically, one of the songs on You I Wind Land and Sea is titled "Soulless Man". Check out Justin's music because he is anything but soulless.

My grade for You I Wind Land and Sea: B+

Below is a clip of Justin Nozuka performing an acoustic version of "Heartless", one of my favorite tracks from You I Wind Land and Sea. The performance took place at this year's Mayercraft Songwriter Panel. You can also catch Justin on The CBS Saturday Early Show the morning of 4/24.

Please Take A Moment To Vote In the "What 90s Movie Should Malcolm Watch Next?" Poll... Thank You

Yes, it's time for you to make your voice heard and vote for a movie I'm interested in seeing, but haven't yet. This time I've selected six movies from the 1990s. The movie with the most votes is the one I will watch next. Once I watch it, I'll post a review. Feel free to post in the comments section why you feel that I should watch the movie that you chose.

Tuesday Tunes, Week 129: Radio, Radio!

This week's theme is "Radio"...

The Retro Mix Playlist For 4/16/10

7 pm hour

We Are Family- Sister Sledge

Heartspark Dollarsign- Everclear

Don't You Forget About Me- Simple Minds

I've Found Someone of My Own- Free Movement

Situation- Yaz

Close To the Edit- The Art of Noise

Who'd She Coo- The Ohio Players

Double Retro segment's feat. artist: The Moody Blues

Go Now (released in 1964)

Your Wildest Dreams (released in 1986)

Calling America- ELO

Then Came You- Dionne Warwick & the Spinners

Groove Line- Heatwave

My Everchanging Moods- The Style Council

8 pm hour

Buddy Holly- Weezer

Sucked Out- Superdrag

Midnight Train To Georgia- Gladys Knight & the Pips

The Captain of Her Heart- Double

Bathroom Wall- Faster Pussycat

The Boys Are Back In Town- The Bus Boys

Will It Go 'Round In Circles- Billy Preston

Regulate- Warren G & Nate Dogg

Family Ties segment:

I'm Stepping Out- John Lennon

Say You're Wrong- Julian Lennon

Turn the Beat Around- Vicki Sue Robinson

Drive Me Wild- Vanity 6

Perfect Way- Scritti Politti

Planet Claire- The B-52s

Thunderstruck- AC/DC

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Your Wildest Dreams by The Moody Blues

The Moody Blues - Your Wildest Dreams
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Some Tax Day Music From the Fab Four

Since it's April 15, here is a clip from part 1 of an episode of The Beatles' 1960s Saturday morning cartoon in which they perform "Taxman". The clip also includes a sing-along segment to another popular tune by The Fab Four... enjoy!

Dixie Carter, 1939-2010

This past weekend, actress Dixie Carter passed away due to complications of endometrial cancer at the age of 70. Without a doubt, her best known role was as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom Designing Women (1986-1993). One of the highlights of many Designing Women episodes was when the outspoken, liberal Julia would go on a rant that would leave her adversary literally speechless. The scene below, which is very timely considering the divisive political climate in this country, is from the 1988 episode "The Candidate":





Ironically, Carter was a registered Republican who described her political views as libertarian. One thing I learned over the weekend was that because Carter disagreed with many of the commentaries she had to deliver as Julia, she made a deal with the producers that for every speech she gave, Julia would get to sing a song in a future episode. When viewers were treated to scenes such as the one below (from the 1990 episode "Payne Grows Up"), I'd say a song for each speech was a good trade-off.




Do you have any favorite moments from Dixie Carter's career? If so, please share them in the comments section.

Final Results of the Recent Tiger Woods Poll

In the recent poll in which I asked readers how they felt about Tiger Woods' return to golf for the 2010 Masters, over 40% of you said that you had no rooting interest. Since it's not self-explanatory as to why one voted the way they did, I wish that people had elaborated in the comments section. Although it's likely that those rooting against Tiger did so based on the extra extra-marital affairs he had, there may be some who disliked him before they knew he was cheating on his wife. My opinion of Tiger Woods the golfer hasn't changed at all. I rooted for him pre-November 25, 2009 and I continue to do so. Although I'm not condoning anyone cheating on their spouse, the Tiger Woods controversy was blown out of proportion. The way some in the media/public reacted, you'd think Tiger murdered and/or raped somebody.

Here are the final results:

Poll question- How do you feel about Tiger Woods' return to golf for the 2010 Masters?

I'm neutral like Sweden- 44%
I'll be rooting against him- 29%
I'll be rooting for him- 25%

Thanks to everyone who voted.

The Retro Mix Playlist For 4/9/10

7 pm hour

Long Train Running- The Doobie Brothers
My Drawers- The Time
Push It- Salt-N-Pepa
Go To Hell- Alice Cooper
Half A World Away- R.E.M.
Stay- Shakespears Sister
Mr. Cabdriver (live)- Lenny Kravitz

The Guilty Pleasure of the Week:
I Think I Love You- The Partridge Family

Albert Flasher- The Guess Who
Turning Japanese- The Vapors
Words- Missing Persons
Around the Way Girl- LL Cool J
Never Stop- Brand New Heavies
Rock Creek Park- The Blackbyrds

8 pm hour

Naughty Naughty- John Parr
Feel It Again- Honeymoon Suite
The Love You Save- The Jackson Five
"Chick-A-Boom (Don't Ya Jes' Love It)"
Kiss the Rain- Billie Myers
Jackie Blue- The Ozark Mountain Daredevils
I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man- Prince

Now & Then segment's featured artist: Natalie Merchant
It Makes A Change (from her 2010 CD Leave Your Sleep)
Trouble Me- 10,000 Maniacs

Jealous Again- The Black Crowes
Dance Hall Days- Wang Chung
Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car- Billy Ocean
So It Goes- Nick Lowe
Crazy On You- Heart

The Retro Mix Video of the Week: Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car by Billy Ocean


Billy ocean - get out of my dreams
Uploaded by kareem93. - Explore more music videos.

The Mad Men Cast & Crew Let Out Their Inner Kim MacAfee

As a tribute for creator/exec-producer Matthew Wiener, during the wrap party for the 3rd season of the Emmy-winning series Mad Men, the cast and crew put together a video in which they sing along with or lip-synch to Ann-Margret's version of the title song to the 1963 movie Bye Bye Birdie. Be sure to stick around for the last two minutes of the video for bloopers, false starts, and assorted silliness.




Unfortunately, Christina Hendricks (Joan Harris) does not take part in the video. For fans of the luscious redhead, here's a two-fer:


What other songs from the "Mad Men" era would you like to see the cast & crew perform for future wrap parties?

Please Take A Moment To Vote In the Current Tiger Woods Poll... Thank You