It's just a glimpse, but if you watch at 1:31, you can see that "30 Lives" is included on the brand new DDR X Japenese Arcade machines. Very exciting!
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
The Motion Sick: Official Dance Dance Revolution X Japanese Arcade Confirmation
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Friday, December 26, 2008
The Motion Sick: Love Will Tear Us Apart (Part 2) - Tuvan Throat Singing
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I've gone and listened to a bunch of the LWTUA covers (primarily on Youtube) and realized Squarepusher was not the cover I liked. So, I actually can't remember what band did the one I did like. Either way, this version, which I had heard before, but had forgotten, also deserves recognition. It is a Tuvan-throat-singing version and it's pretty awesome. I think I will be ready to retire happy when there is a Tuvan-throat-singing cover of a song by The Motion Sick...
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Thursday, December 25, 2008
The Motion Sick: Love Will Tear Us Apart
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
The blog "Don't Judge Song by the Cover (sic)" has included our version of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" in its collection of said song. Normally, we'd file lawsuits and have our lawyers call theirs and yell at them in a threatening voice and send a paratrooper squad in to shut down their servers and sue kids who download from them and sue kids who upload to them and complain that our revenue stream has been destroyed by piracy, but since it's the holiday season, we'll let it go.
We've actually also admitted in the past (see http://strangeglue.com/interviews/showcase-the-motion-sick-interview-and-music-/1761) that we're pretty unhappy with our recording of the song, so please don't hold it against us. I personally am a fan of the original by Joy Division (of course) and the Squarepusher version...and maybe that is it (at least that I am aware of). We chose to record the song because it went over well live, but the recording didn't really capture what we hoped it would. I blame myself on that one. Oh well.
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We've actually also admitted in the past (see http://strangeglue.com/interviews/showcase-the-motion-sick-interview-and-music-/1761) that we're pretty unhappy with our recording of the song, so please don't hold it against us. I personally am a fan of the original by Joy Division (of course) and the Squarepusher version...and maybe that is it (at least that I am aware of). We chose to record the song because it went over well live, but the recording didn't really capture what we hoped it would. I blame myself on that one. Oh well.
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The Motion Sick: Merry Christmas!!!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I'll be celebrating Christmas in my usual non-Christian tradition, eating Indian food and watching movies. In the old days of high school, I was involved in the tradition of having a Christmas Bah Humbug party, where we all got together and rented as many movies as we could sit through in a single day.
Just so you all know my Christmas spirit is great, I provide you with this moving video:
If you liked that, go hunt down The Star Wars Holiday Special, it's almost as good.
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Just so you all know my Christmas spirit is great, I provide you with this moving video:
If you liked that, go hunt down The Star Wars Holiday Special, it's almost as good.
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Wednesday, December 24, 2008
The Motion Sick: Joe Consolmagno, POW and Theater Enthusiast
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
This is a pretty crazy article about this guy who was shot down during WWII and his experience putting on theater productions in a POW camp.
"Four miles above the earth, Joe dived out head first. The jolt of his parachute ripped off one of his boots. As he slowly descended, a German fighter plane wandered by. “I braced to feel the shock of gunfire,” Joe later wrote in an article. “But the enemy didn’t fire. He circled me so closely that I could see his oxygen-masked face, and he waved. I waved back. It didn’t seem appropriate to be impolite.”"
http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/magazine/winter2009/features/audience.html
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"Four miles above the earth, Joe dived out head first. The jolt of his parachute ripped off one of his boots. As he slowly descended, a German fighter plane wandered by. “I braced to feel the shock of gunfire,” Joe later wrote in an article. “But the enemy didn’t fire. He circled me so closely that I could see his oxygen-masked face, and he waved. I waved back. It didn’t seem appropriate to be impolite.”"
http://www.tufts.edu/alumni/magazine/winter2009/features/audience.html
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DNFMOMD: Iron Cupcake December Challenge: Chocolate with a twist
Posted by
Sophia Cacciola
A while back, my friend Maureen (an ice-cream maker extraordinaire) mentioned to me that earl grey and chocolate make an excellent flavor combination. It took me a bit to track down a company that sells food-grade bergamot (earl grey) extract (though I could have just used tea), the bottle they sent it in was quite impressive:

So, I ran with it this month in the iron cupcake challenge, and made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla earl grey icing:

It was an interesting combination, the earl grey has a smokey orange flavor, and smells like perfume, they went over quite well with the work crowd.
Per regulations, the list of prizes this month:
Our December ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:BETTY TURBO - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5002976as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281. PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!As an added bonus for December we have adorable cupcake pincushions complements of SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY, http://www.acupcakery.com/index.html.
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com/, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com/; the CUPCAKE COURIER http://www.cupcakecourier.com/; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com/ .

So, I ran with it this month in the iron cupcake challenge, and made chocolate cupcakes with vanilla earl grey icing:

It was an interesting combination, the earl grey has a smokey orange flavor, and smells like perfume, they went over quite well with the work crowd.
Per regulations, the list of prizes this month:
Our December ETSY PRIZE-PACK is from artists:BETTY TURBO - http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5002976as well as a pair of cupcake earrings from LOTS OF SPRINKLES at http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6057281. PLUS, IronCupcake:Earth can not forget our good friend, CAKESPY, http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5243382, who is now going to be doing a piece for our winner each month until further notice - sweet!As an added bonus for December we have adorable cupcake pincushions complements of SWEET CUPPIN CAKES BAKERY AND CUPCAKERY SUPPLY, http://www.acupcakery.com/index.html.
Last and certainly not least, don’t forget our corporate prize providers: HEAD CHEFS by FIESTA PRODUCTS, http://www.fiestaproducts.com/, HELLO CUPCAKE by Karen Tack and Alan Richardson, http://blog.hellocupcakebook.com/, JESSIE STEELE APRONS http://www.jessiesteele.com/; the CUPCAKE COURIER http://www.cupcakecourier.com/; TASTE OF HOME books, http://www.tasteofhome.com/. Iron Cupcake:Earth is sponsored in part by 1-800-Flowers, http://www.1800flowers.com/ .
The Motion Sick: I don't know these people!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein

see more pwn and owned pictures
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Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Motion Sick: Myspace? Is anyone out there? Are bands spammers?
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
It seems like every day on Myspace, we just get 50 requests from bands saying, "come listen to us" or "you're friends with so and so, so we thought you'd like us" or "check out our new single." My response is the same every time. I hit the spam button and if Myspace actually wants to be useful, they're going to have to actually treat these requests as spam. Anyone else experiencing the same? Anyone else agree that this is nothing more than spam?
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Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Motion Sick: Silly Sundays: The Final Chapter...The Final Countdown
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Silly Sundays, which evolved from WTF Sundays has ended up as being Silly Everyday...so, I am now abandoning Silly Sundays and just posting silly things as often as I'd like. It is fitting that the last Silly Sunday is yet another version of Europe's "The Final Countdown." Perhaps I should start a new feature...Final Countdown Fridays..
See all the previous "Final Countdown" posts...
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See all the previous "Final Countdown" posts...
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Friday, December 19, 2008
The Motion Sick: Mike's Self-Indulgent One/Two-Sentence Movie Reviews
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
In case you want to read movie reviews by Mike (me) and Sophia that are about 1-2 sentences long and often grumpy, now you officially can: http://mikeandsophia.blogspot.com/
We're still catching up on writing about movies we've already seen, but the main idea of the blog was so we could keep track of what we've been watching. About a year back, we started spending more time trying to compact the 300+ movies-to-watch list that we've been compiling for years...by watching more movies.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
We're still catching up on writing about movies we've already seen, but the main idea of the blog was so we could keep track of what we've been watching. About a year back, we started spending more time trying to compact the 300+ movies-to-watch list that we've been compiling for years...by watching more movies.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: ajax rayovac "love is a twisted melancholy disease"
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Here is the awesome new music video from ajax rayovac for "love is a twisted melancholy disease"
If you keep your eyes open, you will notice The Motion Sick's very own Matthew Girard playing the trumpet. Mr. Rayovac may also be known to you all as the very talented fellow who led the charge on the Up-Up-Down-Dance Mix of "30 Lives," which is currently featured in Dance Dance Revolution.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
If you keep your eyes open, you will notice The Motion Sick's very own Matthew Girard playing the trumpet. Mr. Rayovac may also be known to you all as the very talented fellow who led the charge on the Up-Up-Down-Dance Mix of "30 Lives," which is currently featured in Dance Dance Revolution.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
The Motion Sick: Listen To Our Two Albums - Free Streaming! Thanks to Reverbnation.
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
You can also embed these players on your blogs, web pages, myspaces, etc.












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The Motion Sick: Coffee Follow Up
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein

see more puppies
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The Motion Sick: Coffee!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
This relatively short image/text blog featured earlier in December explains the writer's affinity for coffee. I experienced a relatively similar progression with coffee (without however the trip to Paris or living in NYC), so I very much appreciated the coffee-stained reflections and napkin illustrations. Here are a few:


The classic High School dilemma of appreciating the "concept" of coffee, but being unable to actually drink the stuff.

Illustrating his ranging tastes of types of coffee (drip, espresso) as well as his bagel tastes from 95-present.

This looks like my desk sometimes.

When all you want is a cold beer... it seems like coffee is the only thing to be found.
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The classic High School dilemma of appreciating the "concept" of coffee, but being unable to actually drink the stuff.

Illustrating his ranging tastes of types of coffee (drip, espresso) as well as his bagel tastes from 95-present.

This looks like my desk sometimes.

When all you want is a cold beer... it seems like coffee is the only thing to be found.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Top 13 of 2008
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I am sort of picky about liking music. So, although this is a list of my favorite (lucky) 13 albums of 2008, as you get further down the list, the albums include fewer songs that I actually like. The Airborne Toxic Event record, for example, only contains maybe 2 or 3 songs that I like, but those songs are good enough to keep me interested. In recent years, there are always only maybe 3-4 albums that I really like as a whole. This year, the top 6 or 7 are pretty strong and will probably get some rotations in the future.
1. and 2. Dead Confederate - EP / Wrecking Ball
It's safe to say that I really like Dead Confederate. They spit out searing, lumbering rock with a clear and unique collision of psychedelia and sludge in a way that is completely fresh and compelling. I've yet to hear a song by them that I didn't like. Definitely my favorite band this year. They're great live too!
"The Rat"
3. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Cloud Cult is another one of those collective indie troupes centered around a singer/songwriter. Their songs are heartbreakingly optimistic and bright, while keeping a sort of indie/hipster panache. The record has a few songs that I like less than the others, but overall, this one is a solid no-skip spin.
Here is some bad live video of "Everybody Here is a Cloud" that I shot at their recent show at The Middle East
4. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Perhaps the hardest band name to spell in indie rock. This was a curious omission from most lists I've seen. These guys just write great songs and have killer arrangements and instrumentation. Totally awesome and underrated band and a really great record.
Here is "Lost Coastlines," which is great, but my favorite song is "Singer Songwriter" (which has no official video)
5. Girl talk - Feed the Animals
I sort of want to be pissed off at Girl Talk for making a career "innovating" something that has been going on in the underground for 20 years, but the kid does it so well, that I can't bother to be bothered.
"In Step" unofficial video
6. Battle Hymns - Hidden Reservations
This under-the-radar Seattle band really blew me away with their debut album. Sadly, I couldn't find any video or audio to embed here, but you can give them a listen:
http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/01/battle-hymns-hidden-reservations.html
http://www.myspace.com/battlehymnsofthewesternstates
7. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
One of my favorite bands ever. This album isn't their best, but it isn't their worst either. It can be tough to deal with the layers and layers of reverb covering up the songs. A lot of the songs stood up better live.
"California Girls" (unofficial video and live)
8. Langhorne Slim - (Self Titled)
It's tough to describe the hobo screeching folk of Langhorne Slim, but it's easy to say that I think it's great. He has been making really strong music for some time now, but this album really shows what he's got.
"Rebel Side of Heaven" (official video) and a bunch of songs live on the LaundroMatinee Sessions
Langhorne Slim - Restless from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
9. The Killers - Day & Age
This band has great hooks and manages to subvert mainstream music with some odd lyrics. This combination has always attracted me to them as the best of the million bands that currently sound like this (AKA the only one of them I can even stand to listen to). The album has some really awful songs, but when it comes down to it, the four or so great songs makes it worth a listen. "Spaceman," a song about being abducted by aliens is my favorite, but lead single "Human" is both a little cryptic and a little awesome. I can't explain it, but I really like watching Brandon Flowers sing. I guess he comes off as sincere, when he could easily act like a rock star.
"Spaceman" and "Human" (live on TV)
10. The Airborne Toxic Event - (Self Titled)
This is a tough one. Stylistically, I love this band. Most of the lyrics on this album are unbearable and stupid, but a few songs are so overwhelmingly good. I guess it all sort of teeters between bad high school poetry and genius. It makes sense that Pitchfork gave it a controversial 1.6 rating (out of 10). I'd be tempted to hack it apart too, but then "Sometime Around Midnight" is so universal and well crafted that, despite its hackneyed topic, corny lyrics, complete lack of a chorus (literally, no chorus), and endless build to nowhere, it is one of the best songs to come out this year. The band, a poor man's The Arcade Fire? Only time will tell.
"Sometime Around Midnight" - The video is too literal and sort of ruins the song in a way, but eh, here it is...close your eyes if you'd like. Also, the main guy in the video looks like Langhorne Slim, for whatever that is worth.
11. Conor Oberst - (Self Titled)
I like Bright Eyes. I haven't really been on board with where things have been headed for the last few albums. This "solo" record is a little better than Cassadaga to me, but it's still only in the 50% on target range for me. You can hear Conor wringing Dylan out of every cell of his body on this one...sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes not.
"I Don't Want To Die (In The Hospital)" (live)
12. She and Him - Volume 1
The most amazing thing about this is that when I heard that Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward were doing an album together, I checked to make sure it wasn't April 1st. When I actually heard the album, I checked again. Some really good stuff. "Sentimental Heart" is my favorite.
"Sentimental Heart" (Unofficial Video)
13. Jenny lewis - Acid Tongue
I've been a big Rilo Kiley fan for years. I only liked one song on Jenny's first solo record ("You are What You Love"), but this record has at least a few songs I'm really enjoying.
"Acid Tongue" (Live)
Honorable Mention: Parry Gripp Song Of The Week - Sometimes you need a one-minute joke song to make you feel better. Parry Gripp, singer of Nerf Herder, knows how to craft them. Classics like: "Young Girl Talking About Herself" and "Cat Flushing A Toilet" won't leave my head any time soon...
"Spaghetti Cat (I Weep For You)"
Albums That Everyone Else Loved That I Didn't:
Portishead - Absolutely, heinously terrible. Unlistenable crap. Worst album I've heard this year.
MGMT, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Black Kids - Yawn. I'm lumping too much together here, but the common thread is that the songs just don't hook me.
Guns 'N' Roses - Most reviews were mediocre, but I think it's actually worse than that. Axl can still belt, but the songs are total garbage.
Anyway, that sums up 2008 for me...here's to new music in 2009!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
1. and 2. Dead Confederate - EP / Wrecking Ball
It's safe to say that I really like Dead Confederate. They spit out searing, lumbering rock with a clear and unique collision of psychedelia and sludge in a way that is completely fresh and compelling. I've yet to hear a song by them that I didn't like. Definitely my favorite band this year. They're great live too!
"The Rat"
3. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Cloud Cult is another one of those collective indie troupes centered around a singer/songwriter. Their songs are heartbreakingly optimistic and bright, while keeping a sort of indie/hipster panache. The record has a few songs that I like less than the others, but overall, this one is a solid no-skip spin.
Here is some bad live video of "Everybody Here is a Cloud" that I shot at their recent show at The Middle East
4. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Perhaps the hardest band name to spell in indie rock. This was a curious omission from most lists I've seen. These guys just write great songs and have killer arrangements and instrumentation. Totally awesome and underrated band and a really great record.
Here is "Lost Coastlines," which is great, but my favorite song is "Singer Songwriter" (which has no official video)
5. Girl talk - Feed the Animals
I sort of want to be pissed off at Girl Talk for making a career "innovating" something that has been going on in the underground for 20 years, but the kid does it so well, that I can't bother to be bothered.
"In Step" unofficial video
6. Battle Hymns - Hidden Reservations
This under-the-radar Seattle band really blew me away with their debut album. Sadly, I couldn't find any video or audio to embed here, but you can give them a listen:
http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/01/battle-hymns-hidden-reservations.html
http://www.myspace.com/battlehymnsofthewesternstates
7. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
One of my favorite bands ever. This album isn't their best, but it isn't their worst either. It can be tough to deal with the layers and layers of reverb covering up the songs. A lot of the songs stood up better live.
"California Girls" (unofficial video and live)
8. Langhorne Slim - (Self Titled)
It's tough to describe the hobo screeching folk of Langhorne Slim, but it's easy to say that I think it's great. He has been making really strong music for some time now, but this album really shows what he's got.
"Rebel Side of Heaven" (official video) and a bunch of songs live on the LaundroMatinee Sessions
Langhorne Slim - Restless from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
9. The Killers - Day & Age
This band has great hooks and manages to subvert mainstream music with some odd lyrics. This combination has always attracted me to them as the best of the million bands that currently sound like this (AKA the only one of them I can even stand to listen to). The album has some really awful songs, but when it comes down to it, the four or so great songs makes it worth a listen. "Spaceman," a song about being abducted by aliens is my favorite, but lead single "Human" is both a little cryptic and a little awesome. I can't explain it, but I really like watching Brandon Flowers sing. I guess he comes off as sincere, when he could easily act like a rock star.
"Spaceman" and "Human" (live on TV)
10. The Airborne Toxic Event - (Self Titled)
This is a tough one. Stylistically, I love this band. Most of the lyrics on this album are unbearable and stupid, but a few songs are so overwhelmingly good. I guess it all sort of teeters between bad high school poetry and genius. It makes sense that Pitchfork gave it a controversial 1.6 rating (out of 10). I'd be tempted to hack it apart too, but then "Sometime Around Midnight" is so universal and well crafted that, despite its hackneyed topic, corny lyrics, complete lack of a chorus (literally, no chorus), and endless build to nowhere, it is one of the best songs to come out this year. The band, a poor man's The Arcade Fire? Only time will tell.
"Sometime Around Midnight" - The video is too literal and sort of ruins the song in a way, but eh, here it is...close your eyes if you'd like. Also, the main guy in the video looks like Langhorne Slim, for whatever that is worth.
11. Conor Oberst - (Self Titled)
I like Bright Eyes. I haven't really been on board with where things have been headed for the last few albums. This "solo" record is a little better than Cassadaga to me, but it's still only in the 50% on target range for me. You can hear Conor wringing Dylan out of every cell of his body on this one...sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes not.
"I Don't Want To Die (In The Hospital)" (live)
12. She and Him - Volume 1
The most amazing thing about this is that when I heard that Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward were doing an album together, I checked to make sure it wasn't April 1st. When I actually heard the album, I checked again. Some really good stuff. "Sentimental Heart" is my favorite.
"Sentimental Heart" (Unofficial Video)
13. Jenny lewis - Acid Tongue
I've been a big Rilo Kiley fan for years. I only liked one song on Jenny's first solo record ("You are What You Love"), but this record has at least a few songs I'm really enjoying.
"Acid Tongue" (Live)
Honorable Mention: Parry Gripp Song Of The Week - Sometimes you need a one-minute joke song to make you feel better. Parry Gripp, singer of Nerf Herder, knows how to craft them. Classics like: "Young Girl Talking About Herself" and "Cat Flushing A Toilet" won't leave my head any time soon...
"Spaghetti Cat (I Weep For You)"
Albums That Everyone Else Loved That I Didn't:
Portishead - Absolutely, heinously terrible. Unlistenable crap. Worst album I've heard this year.
MGMT, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, Black Kids - Yawn. I'm lumping too much together here, but the common thread is that the songs just don't hook me.
Guns 'N' Roses - Most reviews were mediocre, but I think it's actually worse than that. Axl can still belt, but the songs are total garbage.
Anyway, that sums up 2008 for me...here's to new music in 2009!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Band Camp: Buy Our Songs in Many Digital Formats
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Of course, you can still always buy a CD and forego worrying about specific digital formats, but Bandcamp is now selling our music in a wide range of formats including some lossless ones...
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Tuesday, December 16, 2008
The Motion Sick: Nostalgia
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I was at Stop & Shop getting my weekly groceries, and I happened upon this glorious display:

For those of you who have never seen Flutie Flakes, they were created by Flutie as a fundraiser for Autism (Doug Jr. is autistic). More info here: Flutie Flakes
I actually couldn't bring myself to purchase any, but I have waxed nostalgic about Flutie Flakes in the past. It was a little upsetting for two reasons...
#1. There was no team specification for Flutie... whose uniform is he wearing?
#2. The flakes were selling selling for 2/$5. Clearly, they were trying to get rid of them as fast as possible.
However, I have learned that Flutie's cereal of choice has been re-issued for their 10th anniversary (they were introduced during his first season in Buffalo). No sign of the Flutie candy bar or the Flutie Fruties fruit snacks. More Flutie Flake info here.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
For those of you who have never seen Flutie Flakes, they were created by Flutie as a fundraiser for Autism (Doug Jr. is autistic). More info here: Flutie Flakes
I actually couldn't bring myself to purchase any, but I have waxed nostalgic about Flutie Flakes in the past. It was a little upsetting for two reasons...
#1. There was no team specification for Flutie... whose uniform is he wearing?
#2. The flakes were selling selling for 2/$5. Clearly, they were trying to get rid of them as fast as possible.
However, I have learned that Flutie's cereal of choice has been re-issued for their 10th anniversary (they were introduced during his first season in Buffalo). No sign of the Flutie candy bar or the Flutie Fruties fruit snacks. More Flutie Flake info here.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: "30 Lives" in an arcade version of Dance Dance Revolution in Japan???
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
There is great rumor and speculation that some arcade versions of DDR, due out early next year, may include our song "30 Lives."
If you look closely, this image printed in a Japanese magazine shows "30 Lives" on the song wheel

original image: http://mieya.cool.ne.jp/photo/2008/2008d/20081201a2.jpg
Thanks to http://www.youtube.com/user/KanadianKyuubi for pointing this out!
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If you look closely, this image printed in a Japanese magazine shows "30 Lives" on the song wheel

original image: http://mieya.cool.ne.jp/photo/2008/2008d/20081201a2.jpg
Thanks to http://www.youtube.com/user/KanadianKyuubi for pointing this out!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Monday, December 15, 2008
The Motion Sick: Aquaman's Lament featured on Associated Content
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
http://www.associatedcontent.com/audio/5171/aquamans_lament_.html?cat=33
Our song "Aquaman's Lament" is the featured song right now on Associated Content. Hopefully, a silly cut-up video to accompany it will be finished soon...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Our song "Aquaman's Lament" is the featured song right now on Associated Content. Hopefully, a silly cut-up video to accompany it will be finished soon...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
DNFMOMD: Spotted: Contains no tofu!
Posted by
Sophia Cacciola
Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Motion Sick: Boston Music: Seen
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Matt and I had a fun time today recording an interview and song performance session with Michael Murie from Boston Music: Seen ( http://bostonmusicseen.com/ ). The show is a really cool Internet and local television segment integrating live performance and interview. Some live footage was recorded at our International Pop Overthrow show at Church last month and today we did some more recording in my kitchen. I'm particularly looking forward to seeing the outcome of our wacky two-person, (some might say) Wesley-Willis inspired performance of "30 Lives," which featured some new arrangement choices, but alas, no dancing. The episode should be out some time in the early months of next year.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: H Best of 2008
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Another best of 2008 list containing The Motion Sick:
http://hthesite.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-best-of-08-lists.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
http://hthesite.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-best-of-08-lists.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: DO NOT EVER WEAR THIS!!!! The Hood Thong
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Hipsters worldwide, beware! The hood thong is here and it's terrifying.
http://www.umlautbrikauski.com/hoodthong/index.html
I hope this doesn't become the new standard for concertwear at Fall Out Boy shows.

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http://www.umlautbrikauski.com/hoodthong/index.html
I hope this doesn't become the new standard for concertwear at Fall Out Boy shows.

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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Silly Sundays: Ace of Full House
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I don't even know what to say...good thing Uncle Jesse was involved.
More of the episode if you're really masochistic...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
More of the episode if you're really masochistic...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Parry Gripp and his one-minute songs...
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
A whole bunch of one minute songs with one line. I think it's the guy from Nerf Herder. They are pretty great:
http://parrygripp.com/
Here's a video for "Young Girl Talking About Herself"
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http://parrygripp.com/
Here's a video for "Young Girl Talking About Herself"
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Flute Beatboxing
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Saturday, December 13, 2008
The Motion Sick: I hate cute cats as much as the next guy, but this is pretty awesome...
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Stolen from John of Porcelain...http://www.porcelainrocks.com/
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 12, 2008
The Motion Sick: Our 118th show - Tonight at Oliver's/Cask'N'Flagon
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
There's a post about This Blue Heaven on Ryan's Smashing Life
12/12/08
Oliver's Nightclub at the Cask N' Flagon
62 Brookline Ave (on the corner of Lansdowne)
Boston, MA 02215
9:00 The Motion Sick
This Blue Heaven CD release
The Honors
Common Thrill CD Release
21+
$10
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
12/12/08
Oliver's Nightclub at the Cask N' Flagon
62 Brookline Ave (on the corner of Lansdowne)
Boston, MA 02215
9:00 The Motion Sick
This Blue Heaven CD release
The Honors
Common Thrill CD Release
21+
$10
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Silent Star Wars
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Motion Sick: Team Love Library!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Team Love has decided to rotate a selection of free downloads of its albums and rarities in the Team Love Library:
http://library.team-love.com/
It's a great bunch of things available already. It looks like they are posting albums that have already been through their primary selling cycle (i.e., older records), but it's a lot of really good stuff.
It's an interesting move for an indie label and you have to wonder what their bottom line looks like.
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http://library.team-love.com/
It's a great bunch of things available already. It looks like they are posting albums that have already been through their primary selling cycle (i.e., older records), but it's a lot of really good stuff.
It's an interesting move for an indie label and you have to wonder what their bottom line looks like.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Motion Sick: The Motion Sick makes Ryan's Smashing Life: Best of 2008 list
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
The ever-awesome Ryan's Smashing Life has included us on his list of the best 20 albums of 2008 along with Portishead, Ben Folds, She and Him, The Kooks, and a bunch of other great artists!
http://ryanssmashinglife.blogspot.com/2008/12/20-new-albums-you-need-to-own-in-2008.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
http://ryanssmashinglife.blogspot.com/2008/12/20-new-albums-you-need-to-own-in-2008.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: David Virr's Top 50 of 2008
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=40862502892
We're #26 on WFNX DJ David Virr's Top 50 albums of 2008!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
We're #26 on WFNX DJ David Virr's Top 50 albums of 2008!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: If anyone is looking for me, I'll be trying to wash my brain off...
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
First, I couldn't make it through the whole song. Second, this is the most painful thing I have ever heard. I like noise and dissonance and all. I can't even explain the literal dizziness and pain that listening to this has caused me. I warn you not to do it!
More info at: http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/12/10/the-best-worst-midi-file-ever/
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More info at: http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/12/10/the-best-worst-midi-file-ever/
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
DNFMOMD: Vegans are the enemy of everything good and decent
Posted by
Sophia Cacciola
Time had a mostly uninteresting article about the history of veganism, which is remarkable only because it didn't explicitly call us fanatics, or say that it's unhealthy.
Time Article
Also, this guy is an idiot:
Time Article
Also, this guy is an idiot:
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
The Motion Sick: Useful Site: Tubemogul - Videos Videos Videos!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
http://www.tubemogul.com/
Handy site provides a single upload point and then relays videos to many other video hosting sites like Youtube, Google, Yahoo, Myspace, Blip, etc.
Saves a lot of time for me!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Handy site provides a single upload point and then relays videos to many other video hosting sites like Youtube, Google, Yahoo, Myspace, Blip, etc.
Saves a lot of time for me!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Weird News: The Kiss of Deaf
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7772902.stm
Um, yeah, pretty sure this is nonsense, but yeah.
"The kiss reduced the pressure in the mouth, pulled the eardrum out and caused the breakdown of the ear. The chorus of warnings was echoed by the Shanghai Daily, which wrote: "A strong kiss may cause an imbalance in the air pressure between two inner ears and lead to a broken ear drum."
Maybe if she were kissing a high-powered vacuum, but even then, seems unlikely.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Um, yeah, pretty sure this is nonsense, but yeah.
"The kiss reduced the pressure in the mouth, pulled the eardrum out and caused the breakdown of the ear. The chorus of warnings was echoed by the Shanghai Daily, which wrote: "A strong kiss may cause an imbalance in the air pressure between two inner ears and lead to a broken ear drum."
Maybe if she were kissing a high-powered vacuum, but even then, seems unlikely.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: The End of an Era...
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
My first iPod has finally bit the dust.
It is a sad day. I've had it for almost 4 years, extending much beyond the typical 2 year lifespan of most iPods. It has been on 2 tours with The Motion Sick, countless plane and train rides, car trips, a half marathon and many gym visits. You will be missed old friend...
I also will miss the occasional comment about why my iPod screen isn't in color...
(of course, I had to open it up to see what it looks like on the inside)
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
It is a sad day. I've had it for almost 4 years, extending much beyond the typical 2 year lifespan of most iPods. It has been on 2 tours with The Motion Sick, countless plane and train rides, car trips, a half marathon and many gym visits. You will be missed old friend...
I also will miss the occasional comment about why my iPod screen isn't in color...
(of course, I had to open it up to see what it looks like on the inside)
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Sunday, December 7, 2008
The Motion Sick: Silly Sundays: Ukelele Styx
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I was reminded how awesome this song is when I semi-recently watched "Freaks and Geeks," the best TV show ever made. I was doubly reminded while we were on tour as I heard a Styx double slam at Subway in Old Lyme, CT as a fellow ordered the most disgusting sandwich I have ever witnessed. It was about 95% ranch dressing on 5% meat (unidentifiable variety) with "just a little bit of lettuce, not too much."
As awesome as the song is, I don't really think this version is any good, but what the heck...
Just to make life better, here's the real song. Damn, it's awesome!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
As awesome as the song is, I don't really think this version is any good, but what the heck...
Just to make life better, here's the real song. Damn, it's awesome!
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: We're on Roadtrip Nation again!
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Episode 8 of PBS show Roadtrip Nation includes "Losing Altitude" by The Motion Sick. Video is not yet available, but we'll post it when it is...
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/roadtripnation/episode8.html
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http://www.pbs.org/wnet/roadtripnation/episode8.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Friday, December 5, 2008
The Motion Sick: Help Identify This Song...
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
I am working on writing a new song. I was pretty happy with the first draft of it. I recorded a quick demo and listened back to it about 50 times, which is the main way that I evaluate my initial go at writing a song. Somewhere during the 20th time I had a weird feeling that one line sounded like it was very similar to another song. Now, for the life of me, I can't figure out what the song is. The line goes: "and she's coming now, coming now for you"
I feel like maybe there was a song in the late '80s or early '90s about a guy who is left by a predatorial woman and he is warning another person against her. He says something about how the woman broke his heart and now she's coming for him. I've tried searching variations of the lyric, but can't come up with anything.
It is possible that I overlistened to the song enough to convince myself that I didn't write it. Anyone know what song I am thinking of? Does it even exist?
On another note...
My approach lately has been to write songs using fewer individually heady lines. I want to keep everything as mundane sounding as possible, but make it so that once woven together, the overall song meaning is interesting and open to interpretation on multiple levels. That is what makes a great song: it touches everyone. It's really hard to do and I've learned to really be impressed by the skills of the people writing songs for Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. I do worry sometimes about coming off as pretentious because I just can't stop myself from inserting my favorite odd words like apophenia and ossified with the hopes of spreading interesting concepts.
I tried to keep this song simple, but couldn't resist half rhyming viper and cipher, which isn't so bad I think. I also couldn't avoid poking fun at my writing struggle by throwing in an honorable mention for platitude. The problem is really that this song speaks more to me than it will to others. Creating for mass consumption (i.e., with a target audience other than just myself) is tremendously challenging.
No one knows the truth about her
It won't sell the morning papers
I can see the complex coded proof
A legacy of failing actors
a million comedies of error
a tragedy of endless platitude
and she's coming now, she's coming now for you
I will build a helicopter
light down on a statue's shoulders
own the world for a minute or two
until I see the birds above me
the angels' auras brightly hovering
but now I know, now I know it's true
I can never fly quite as high as you
I can never fly quite as high as you
and she held me down, broke the cipher
Dug her teeth in like a viper
the chemicals spread deep and absolute
and she's coming now, she's coming now for you
I will build a helicopter
The song is a sibling to one of my other recent songs, "Winged Bicycle" - I've been thematically obsessed with flight, both fleeing and flying ever since we explored some visual representations of flight during our photo shoot for our last album. (see particularly http://themotionsick.com/themotionsick/photos/truthpress/TheMotionSick-Water.jpg )
She lives in a warehouse
signs warning of fallout
She tells you to look out
shout when the coast is clear
She sees all the faces
trapped in clouds there are traces
apophenia and blankets
seeping bloodstains on the walls
and she cries and she calls out
and she cries as she falls down
and she cries as she calls out his name
I leave the lights on when you're lonely
I keep the rights wrong like you showed me
I burn the pages of your diary
just to keep your secrets safe
September's fear is twice as cold
December's tears turn to icicles
she pedals her winged bicycle
starves to fly away
and she cries and she calls out
and she cries as she falls down
and she cries as she calls out his name
she shudders across her room at night
shaking like a stick of dynamite
dancing just to forget about her days
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
I feel like maybe there was a song in the late '80s or early '90s about a guy who is left by a predatorial woman and he is warning another person against her. He says something about how the woman broke his heart and now she's coming for him. I've tried searching variations of the lyric, but can't come up with anything.
It is possible that I overlistened to the song enough to convince myself that I didn't write it. Anyone know what song I am thinking of? Does it even exist?
On another note...
My approach lately has been to write songs using fewer individually heady lines. I want to keep everything as mundane sounding as possible, but make it so that once woven together, the overall song meaning is interesting and open to interpretation on multiple levels. That is what makes a great song: it touches everyone. It's really hard to do and I've learned to really be impressed by the skills of the people writing songs for Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus. I do worry sometimes about coming off as pretentious because I just can't stop myself from inserting my favorite odd words like apophenia and ossified with the hopes of spreading interesting concepts.
I tried to keep this song simple, but couldn't resist half rhyming viper and cipher, which isn't so bad I think. I also couldn't avoid poking fun at my writing struggle by throwing in an honorable mention for platitude. The problem is really that this song speaks more to me than it will to others. Creating for mass consumption (i.e., with a target audience other than just myself) is tremendously challenging.
No one knows the truth about her
It won't sell the morning papers
I can see the complex coded proof
A legacy of failing actors
a million comedies of error
a tragedy of endless platitude
and she's coming now, she's coming now for you
I will build a helicopter
light down on a statue's shoulders
own the world for a minute or two
until I see the birds above me
the angels' auras brightly hovering
but now I know, now I know it's true
I can never fly quite as high as you
I can never fly quite as high as you
and she held me down, broke the cipher
Dug her teeth in like a viper
the chemicals spread deep and absolute
and she's coming now, she's coming now for you
I will build a helicopter
The song is a sibling to one of my other recent songs, "Winged Bicycle" - I've been thematically obsessed with flight, both fleeing and flying ever since we explored some visual representations of flight during our photo shoot for our last album. (see particularly http://themotionsick.com/themotionsick/photos/truthpress/TheMotionSick-Water.jpg )
She lives in a warehouse
signs warning of fallout
She tells you to look out
shout when the coast is clear
She sees all the faces
trapped in clouds there are traces
apophenia and blankets
seeping bloodstains on the walls
and she cries and she calls out
and she cries as she falls down
and she cries as she calls out his name
I leave the lights on when you're lonely
I keep the rights wrong like you showed me
I burn the pages of your diary
just to keep your secrets safe
September's fear is twice as cold
December's tears turn to icicles
she pedals her winged bicycle
starves to fly away
and she cries and she calls out
and she cries as she falls down
and she cries as she calls out his name
she shudders across her room at night
shaking like a stick of dynamite
dancing just to forget about her days
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: 15,000 and 200,000
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
The music video for "30 Lives" has hit 15,000 views on Youtube
The combined DDR sales for the two games with "30 Lives" in them have hit 200,000. Most likely, those games will get our music/video in front of more people than all of the other methods combined including extensive video airplay on MTV networks, Fuse, MuchMusic, and many other stations.
Airplay history: http://themotionsick.com/themotionsick/video30livesairplay.html
It's just sort of interesting how these things work...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The combined DDR sales for the two games with "30 Lives" in them have hit 200,000. Most likely, those games will get our music/video in front of more people than all of the other methods combined including extensive video airplay on MTV networks, Fuse, MuchMusic, and many other stations.
Airplay history: http://themotionsick.com/themotionsick/video30livesairplay.html
It's just sort of interesting how these things work...
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The Motion Sick: Answer Songs
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
As part of my quest to outhip everyone by listening to the most obscure and esoteric music, I've found myself very interested in the popular trend of answer songs that really seems to have been prominent in the late '50s and early '60s. Sometimes they are sort of sequels to the original songs, sometimes responses, sometimes parodies. Sometimes they are by the original artist, sometimes not. Here are some great examples:
(1)Bobbettes-Mr. Lee
(2)Bobbettes-I Shot Mr. Lee
(3)Kenny Martin-I'm The Jivin' Mr Lee
(1)Neil Sedaka- Oh Carol
(2)Carole King - Oh Neil
(1)Ben E. King - Stand By Me
(2)Damita Jo - I'll Be There
Lesley Gore - It's My Party
Lesley Gore - Judy's Turn to Cry
Two Videos:
Elvis - Return to Sender
Gerri Granger - Don't Want Your Letters
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
(1)Bobbettes-Mr. Lee
(2)Bobbettes-I Shot Mr. Lee
(3)Kenny Martin-I'm The Jivin' Mr Lee
(1)Neil Sedaka- Oh Carol
(2)Carole King - Oh Neil
(1)Ben E. King - Stand By Me
(2)Damita Jo - I'll Be There
Lesley Gore - It's My Party
Lesley Gore - Judy's Turn to Cry
Two Videos:
Elvis - Return to Sender
Gerri Granger - Don't Want Your Letters
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Motion Sick: Music Absorption: The New Problem
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
Music Think Tank is a great blog examining how the music industry is changing. I know I've been posting a lot of industry stuff lately, but it's really what's on my mind as we try to come to terms with the complexities of the music and entertainment world. The latest essay on how the quantity of music readily available to, and pushed on the consumer results in much longer loyalty curves and longer artist association time constants.
http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/should-the-new-law-of-music-absorption-alter-your-music-busi.html
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http://www.musicthinktank.com/blog/should-the-new-law-of-music-absorption-alter-your-music-busi.html
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: Selling Out: Music and Advertisements
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
An interesting article about how the concept of "selling out" has changed in the last few years:
http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/rock-star-brought-to-you-by-huge-advertiser
Famous music/ad controversies:
http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/816
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/rock-star-brought-to-you-by-huge-advertiser
Famous music/ad controversies:
http://www.miller-mccune.com/article/816
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
The Motion Sick: My Sister on Rock the Reception this Thursday
Posted by
Michael J. Epstein
For fans of feel-good reality TV.
Although The Motion Sick didn't perform live as was considered at one point, my sister does appear this Thursday, December 4 at 8:30am on TLC's now-cancelled "Rock the Reception." My sister-in-law-once-removed Emily Eddey does a little singing during the slow dance part of the reception rocking, so there's a bit of rad live performance even if "30 Lives" didn't make the cut.
Originally, I was to appear in the dance, but The Motion Sick's television contract prevents me from doing non-sanctioned appearances with approval of a committee of representatives. It requires a 2/3rds majority for cable, 4/5ths for network television, and 1/10th for cable access. Also, they had too many people and had to cut some, so I volunteered out.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
Although The Motion Sick didn't perform live as was considered at one point, my sister does appear this Thursday, December 4 at 8:30am on TLC's now-cancelled "Rock the Reception." My sister-in-law-once-removed Emily Eddey does a little singing during the slow dance part of the reception rocking, so there's a bit of rad live performance even if "30 Lives" didn't make the cut.
Originally, I was to appear in the dance, but The Motion Sick's television contract prevents me from doing non-sanctioned appearances with approval of a committee of representatives. It requires a 2/3rds majority for cable, 4/5ths for network television, and 1/10th for cable access. Also, they had too many people and had to cut some, so I volunteered out.
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The Motion Sick Blog - http://themotionsickreviews.blogspot.com/
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