I wonder …

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I wonder if Mark Wahlberg secretly wishes his rap career would have taken off instead of acting.

I wonder if he raps in the shower.

I wonder if he keeps in touch with the Funky Bunch.

Hmmmm …

Free mp3: Simple Mental Math

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OK, so I’m probably last to the party, but I stumbled across this 16-song sampler from PolyVinyl Records for FREE! (I actually saw it for $1.99 on iTunes, but did some other investigating and found it free.)

You can opt to include your e-mail, but you don’t have to, just put the download code (MATH), though it may automatically be provided.

There’s some pretty cool indie-type tunes on here, including The Headlights, Mates of State, Japandroids, etc.

If you’re looking to get a lot of new music quick (and, I think I mentioned it before … but it’s for free!), this may be the way to go.

You Tube Note: Band: The Headlights. Song: Get Going. Video for the first single from the Headlights album Wildlife. Produced by John Yaworsky. Directed and edited by Scott Marvel of Daily Planet.

Oh Snap, guess what I saw

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I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I’ll decide to laugh. After all, it is Biz taking care of biz.

But to keep the smile I’ll always remember this one:

Free mp3: Echo & the Bunnymen

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Amazon free mp3 of the day is “Think I Need it Too,” the new single from Echo & the Bunnymen. Yes, that Echo & the Bunnymen.

For those who weren’t around in the 1980s, the Bunnymen were part of the second British invasion. Though they never hit it huge, they did have some hits, like “Lips Like Sugar” and “The Killing Moon.” Look ‘em up for yourself.

Anyway, the new single doesn’t seem to be a re-hashing of old glory. It’s pretty fresh and has a post-punk vibe that fits wintry days. Check it out.

It is free, after all.

You Tube note: Echo & the Bunnymen Perform “Think I Need It Too” on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Songs that ruined the band: Shiny Happy People

Had some good suggestions about songs that ruined the band. Here’s one from what I’ll call a “Special Rambler.” He’s one of the most prolific tweeters I know, Server Monkey (Twitter and blog):

I feel like I’m rambling a bit here, but here goes…

R.E.M. singlehandedly defined what became to be known as alternative rook throughout the 80s.

Somewhere along the line, it seems as if Berry, Buck, Mills and Stipe consumed entirely too many mind-altering substances. First, they recorded “Stand” for their Green album, which could be forgiven because it was purposefully recorded to be well, um, bad.

That it became a HUGE hit for them on the radio is a clear example of the kind of power that radio station managers have over what the public listens to. Chris Eliot liked it enough to use it as a theme song for Get a Life should be added evidence.

But, like a long forgotten Jedi twin sister, there is another song that did far more damage to R.E.M.’s rep than “Stand” ever could.

Out of Time was a departure from the Green album’s more stadium rock feel. “Shiny Happy People” is absolutely, positively out of step with the rest of the album. Perhaps it was a situation where the guys were hanging out with Kate Pierson and had to do SOMETHING with the studio time? So, rather than waste quite expensive time, we suffered for it. They, for a fact, admit that this is how the only Hindu Love Gods album was recorded (which I sheepishly admit that I happen to own).

But, don’t take my word for it…when a band publicly disavows their own work…well, that seals the song’s reputation for mediocrity, no?

P.S. For their reworking of this song for Sesame Street, it is VERY apparent that Peter Buck was quite under the influence in order to perform the thing. Honest. Check it out for yourself.

We made it easy to check out: it’s the video included with the post!

Do you have a suggestion about a song that ruined a band (here are some others)? Let me know and you too can ramble on about it!