Music Blog

November 15, 2008 at 5:41pm by gunky

I just took a look at the site for the first time in a week or so. Actually I was rebuffed a few times last week as the site was getting a new coif. Anyway, I gotta agree the site is better looking and perhaps more functional - haven't checked it out too much yet. But as indicated last week by JP in response to IMOJP, and other previous posts, looks like no feature for searching the playlists. Pity - I still think that would be useful. But there's room for it to be added later, I'm sure.

Still, looking good, guys. Thanks.

November 15, 2008 at 10:37pm by gunky

JP asked (in Around the Horn - Hump Day) why a search is being requested, and if it would be useful or just novel. As a several-time requester, my reasons have been that I'd like to be able to see if you've played certain songs or artists (and, maybe, when) and what the reviews were like of them. A few times I've heard something elsewhere and wondered if you've played it. Not to be fawning or anything but I confess you do lend at least a little cred by now. bendlistener's google-search tip works pretty well, but I actually have to remember the syntax - a recipe for ... not remembering.

Case in point - A while back I'd heard the name Star-f'er (uncut) several times, initially assuming they were a thrash band by the name alone, but then someone I knew mentioned they'd heard they were not bad. I then wondered if you'd played them but couldn't figure out if you had. Finally started hearing them on your show and realized I liked 'em, despite the name.

Of course, as I think about it, that's a poor example because searching for their (uncut) name wouldn't have met a match on your site. But you get my drift.

November 15, 2008 at 10:40pm by Jeremy Petersen

"The search function isn't a novelty - let's say someone hears a song by a band and wants to know if there are any others you've played, or if there's a review (of any song) by that band. Also, just entering 'cold' it's interesting to see what's generally played. The playlists are archived anyhow, a simple search function is already available in the Content management system OPBmusic is built off of."

Okay, fair enough, that makes sense. I'm not sure about that last part though-- my understanding is that it may be a bit more difficult than that. Point taken though.

November 15, 2008 at 10:42pm by Scott

Jeremy,
Thanks so much for having Super XX Man on your show. OPBmusic absolutely rules. See you next Sunday Mr. Emcee. We'll have a panther mask for you.

November 15, 2008 at 10:50pm by Jeremy Petersen

A pleasure, Scott. A mask would go a long way in curing the stage fright....especially a menacing panther, or at least a cautious one.

November 15, 2008 at 10:53pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

OK - to get these site requests out of the way.

- Unless I'm mistaken, OPBmusic's site is built off a well known open-source CMS(content management system). There are good to very good and easily configured search functions available for this CMS.

- Another great feature would be to have "Auto-refresh" options. The default could be off, the options could be "every five minutes" or "on change" this is relatively simple code in Web 2.0. That way - especially when entertaining or with hands full of paint - one doesn't have to walk up to the computer to refresh, it's set to auto.

It isn't your job JP to field this stuff - there should be a separate link to webmaster for signed up opbmusic members (and opb donaters like us) to do this online but offblog.

Hey Gunky - checked out your tastes. Pretty concurrent but I don't understand the Nick Drake adulation...? He was run-of-the-mill in the UK.

November 15, 2008 at 10:53pm by bendlistener

perhaps i didn't explain the syntax for using google search well enough. whenever you want google to limit a search to a particular site, you add site:xxxxx.com (for example) to the search and it will be limited. so to search here for a band or artist with a single-word name, just use:

site:opbmusic.org bandname

for a muti-word name, put quotes around it (standard google syntax), such as:

site:opbmusic.org "artist name"

sorry if i made it confusing originally but i find it does the trick quite well.

best regards.

November 15, 2008 at 11:03pm by Jeremy Petersen

My, this is heated!:)

Let me assure you all that the webmaster(s) are very much here (hearing all you're saying). So no worries about requests falling on deaf ears. Just sayin'.

For the record, Nick Drake's mostly without fault in my book....

November 15, 2008 at 11:14pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

Name those webmasters & them webmothers... get 'em before congress to explain the financial meltdown and why they've never followed policy outlined in "Capital(It fails us now)" by the Gang Of Four. And yes that is a heavy handed request (getting back to music).

(Bendlistener - it's a great tip for any website, but any website worth its salt has a search function, even a smart search, just for convenience)).

Who likes St Vincent? Is she going anywhere?

November 15, 2008 at 11:22pm by Jeremy Petersen

Alright! A pitch to talk music....

I like St. Vincent. If you've had the opportunity to catch her live before she started touring with a full band it was particularly impressive because she was doing it all, recreating everything right before your eyes. She's got a tough act to follow with that debut, though.

November 15, 2008 at 11:53pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

Oh you're playing her now, "Now, now" indeed.: stunning still. In the UK someone just said of some lesser talent is she the new "St Vincent, no she's the new Kate Bush". Both preposterous. Annie Clark(St Vincent) is yet to be widely acknowledged, largely because she's too clever - PJ Havey incased? - and Kate Bush is unrepeatably great despite many poor songs.

November 16, 2008 at 0:06am by karen

The new site design is great. I like it very much. I also agree it would be lovely to be able to search for songs and/or artists played on the site, but I'm pleased to discover that the pop-up player window now shows the name and performer of the current song. Brilliant.

November 16, 2008 at 0:10am by inmemoryofjohnpeel

"Brilliant"? Are you David Brent's cousin, or my first girlfriend?? Welcome to the blog.

November 16, 2008 at 0:15am by Jeremy Petersen

Yeah, brilliant! I like the new player, too (and it refreshes on its own)!

November 16, 2008 at 0:17am by Jeremy Petersen

Oh, and don't you mean Michael Scott? (though what he or David Brent has to do with this escapes me).

November 16, 2008 at 0:45am by karen

I resemble that. Didn't realize I might have been channeling The Office, either UK or US version. Just using the term according to its dictionary definition ("distinguished by unusual mental keenness"--that referring to the mentally keen OPB person who came up with the idea).
I enjoyed Super XX Man tonight, and I'm pleased to see Blue Giant on your playlist earlier. Plus, that Elvis Costello song "Sultry Girl"--is that a vintage tune, or does it just sound that way?

November 16, 2008 at 0:45am by karen

Oops. I mean "Sulky Girl."

November 16, 2008 at 1:36am by Jeremy Petersen

For some odd types, sulky and sultry may be mutually exclusive.

Anyway....."Sultry Girl" is classic-ish Costello, from Brutal Youth, out in '94. Are you looking forward to his new TV show as much as I am? I'm not overly excited by all of the scheduled guests, but Elvis is bound to make it interesting.

November 16, 2008 at 1:37am by Jeremy Petersen

See there? I did it, too, it's catching. That's "Sulky Girl."

November 16, 2008 at 1:44am by karen

Ha - funny. I should have looked at the album title there. I think actually have that somewhere. I'll have to dig it out and play it! Obviously it's been way too long.
I'm really looking forward to the show -- I too found the list of guests a little more mainstream and perhaps bland than I might have wanted, but I bet the show with Diana Krall will be interesting and charming. Not to mention the Bill Clinton show. I wonder if Elvis will be playing with the musical guests. Now that could be brilliant...

November 16, 2008 at 9:12pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

I don't watch the tele live (saw The Office on trans-atlantic flights, then DVD) but I would like to see Costello interview anyone - he can be cantankerous and defensive when crossed - otherwise he's usually pleasant and fairly witty. Musically he's been improving lately after his early genius faded (Imperial Bedroom is my pick).

I would love to see My Brightest Diamond but I'm booked on Thursday - are you going to play a different cut by her tonight?

Femi Kuti, as a young man he gave me one of his cane drumsticks... lovely man.

November 16, 2008 at 9:19pm by Jeremy Petersen

Re: My Brightest Diamond-- you mean you don't like the Edith Piaf cover?

November 16, 2008 at 9:24pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

I love the Edith Piaf cover, just curious to hear more of her (I don't own a CD yet).

November 16, 2008 at 9:27pm by Jeremy Petersen

We'll do both!

November 16, 2008 at 11:21pm by gunky

Missed most of tonight's show but I get to listen now that everyone else has crashed. Very active blog tonight. Liked the throwback to Zevon - pity he's gone. His last album (The Wind) was very poignant.

A couple of points. Refresh does happen in a couple of the OPBmusic windows, and not in another key one. The "Home" link and the "Listen Now" pop-up app both do refresh and show the current song, albeit sometimes a tad slowly. The "Playlist" link, which I used to display exclusively, does not refresh. Hence the reason I don't go there as much anymore. Also, the current song does show in the banner in iTunes if you use that app for streaming, which I can even read from across the room if I use Front Row on my mac.

And thanks for the nod IMOJP, though I'm sure my ratings are +/- at least one point depending on my mood. The Nick Drake as I remember was a peppy little number that had a great groove. What you need to know about me is that I've been in the musical wasteland of Portland radio for most of my adult life, plus raising children for the last 17 years. The best source of new music I had was "Eclecticity" and "Beats and Pieces", and with minor exception the rest was (and remains) highly repetitive commercial drek. I've known there was good stuff out there, in England or otherwise, but until the web started opening things up a few years ago and more recently (for me) OPB, it was hard to separate the wheat from the chaff. So I'm still catching up. We can't all be cutting edge, though now I can toss around names my kids and my friends haven't yet run across. Cheers.

November 16, 2008 at 11:22pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel

Thanks for that My Brightest Diamond. Excellent. Nice linking going on between tracks. And just for balance here's my review of the Jamie Liddel, the sooner he fades away (or does something else) the better.

IMOJP on Liddel:
Let's deconstruct this. Why does this remind me of clean karoke? Yes, he does imitate Stevie Wonder accurately, but if this were a Stevie W song it would rank as a weak one, like many SW did influenced by pop & commerce. There is inspirational SW out there (check Innervisions) but Lidell, jumping into this style and away from his usual voice, adds nothing. This seems nothing more than a music pose, with the novelty of it being a white English bloke who's a bit of a laugh (and having one).

November 16, 2008 at 11:33pm by Jeremy Petersen

Hey, umm, we're over here------->tonight.

But since we're here...