Alright, that aint true either. Remembering song titles is an impossibility for me. But at least I can tell you the names of the lead singers for most of the popular bands today.

Dang it, that’s a lie too. Actually, I’m kind of a wank when it comes to music, mostly because I can’t remember names very well, so when I hear it on the radio, it’s amazingly difficult for me to pull the name of a band from my hat, or the name of the song even.

Never put me on your team if the game is music trivia, that much is certain.

But I do think I have good taste in music and what I like. I’ve got enough sources of stimulation in this regard, from my iPod, to XM radio, to Jango. I have to say that Jango, among other such services (like Pandora) has really helped me find new artists out there that I would have otherwise missed out on.

Jango is sort of a social network for music listeners, and while you listen to tunes, you see other people interested in the same bands you are, and by exploring their tastes, you can discover new music and new people. From Jango I’ve found awesome new bands like Silversun Pickups, Youth Group, Shout Out Louds and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Anyways, my iPod is usually not updated often, maybe every 4-6 months, but I try hard to keep finding new music to add to it. I find that if I continue listening to old stuff, I end up bored with whatever I have on there. Thus I’m constantly on the hunt.

I also keep an evolving Mix CD, where I add new stuff and take off old stuff here and there to always have the freshest songs in my truck. Of course I love my iPod, but there is something fun in making a real Mix CD, sliding it into your deck and blasting it away.

So two years ago I started this little CD project. I think it first began when I was headed out to a bachelor party in Las Vegas. Instead of flying, I decided to drive up and back, on my own, to give myself and the new truck a nice road trip experience together. If any of you have had a vehicle that you absolutely adore driving, than you might understand what I mean.

I put together a sweet CD for the trip, which I claimed (only to my wife) was the best mix CD ever made. By me. Well, of course it didn’t take too long for it to get old and tired, so I kept losing the songs I got sick of, and added new stuff I found.

So here we are, with Version 6, or V.6 of Mike’s Mix CD. I am of course hesitant to start blogging about my mixes, because one’s musical tastes tend to get more scrutiny than what movies you like or what shows you watch.

I tend to lean toward the Indie music scene, although I do get into a few mainstream bands.

Here it is, in all its glory. Hope you enjoy it and maybe find a new band or two along the way.

Mike’s Mix CD V.6 (or what I’m listening to)

1. Long Road to Ruin – Foo Fighters

This is my favorite song from their newest album, Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace. I just love the pace of it. A good opening to a mix CD.

2. Hey There Delilah - Plain White Tees

This one is probably on its way out in the next version. I just enjoy the simplicity and originality of it.

3. Well Thought Out Twinkles – Silversun Pickups

The Silversun Pickups are my latest favorite band. I just purchased their newest CD, Carnavas, and am almost to the point where I like every song on the album. They have a very garage-door sound, with a sort of heavy electric guitar. At least, that’s how I describe it. They are awesome. Heard about them on Jango, then found out they opened for Snow Patrol, my favorite band of all-time.

In fact, if you want to get a taste of their stuff, here is a video below that was directed by Joaquin Phoenix of all people. The song is called Little Lover’s So Polite.

4. Open Your Eyes – Snow Patrol

As I just said, I love this band and saw them in concert last year which was like a transcending experience for me. This is one of my favorite songs they do, and I tend to always have one Snow Patrol song on any CD I do.

5. Sam’s Town – The Killers

I love The Killers and this song and the other one I have on here are just great, upbeat tunes. A cliche maybe, but I love to listen to this one once I hit the freeway on a Friday after I get off work, with the windows rolled down. I could fly.

6. Middle of Nowhere - Hot Hot Heat

These guys opened for Snow Patrol at the concert last year and I like a few of their songs. They aren’t awesome, but Middle of Nowhere is a catchy tune. The lead singer looks a bit like Carrot Top (pictured right).

7. Dark Come Soon – Tegan & Sara

Been a huge Tegan & Sara fan since I found their older album years ago. Their latest is The Con and I like a good 5-6 songs off it. Tegan and Sara are both sisters and I just enjoy their amazing vocals.

8. Speed of Sound – Coldplay

I’ve heard that Coldplay is a chick band or something, or that liking them means I’m a girl, but I can’t help it. I think they are great and love many of their songs. This one is from their X&Y album.

If I’m a girl for liking them…well, then call me Danny Noriega.

9. Falling Slowly – Glen Hansgard/Marketa Irglova

From the Once motion picture soundtrack, this won Best Original Song at the Academy Awards this year.

10. Lazy Eye – Silversun Pickups

Another nice Silversun Pickups song.

11. Read My Mind – The Killers

I love the way this starts off a bit slow…and then jumps into a fast-paced song.

12. Sorry – Youth Group

An indie band out of Australia. I love this song but realize I haven’t explored much of their other songs, as this is the only one that seems to pop up on Jango. Gonna have to buy the album this came from, Casino Twilight Dogs.

13. Shut Your Eyes – Shout Out Louds

If I had a “favorite song” at the moment, this would be it. Awesome beat, quick-paced and I just love the lead singers voice. The Shout Out Louds are from Sweden and I’ve just come to realize I dig bands from Europe in general.

Here is the video of this song, for your enjoyment.

[youtube VBFa-OaF7KE]

14. All I want it You – Barry Louis Polisar

This is a cute little tune from the Juno soundtrack. And it’s so very indie that it’s almost beyond indie. Folk indie.

15. Call it Off – Tegan & Sara

Just a beautiful little song.

16. Anyone Else But You – Michael Cera & Ellen Page

I end it on the sweet little duet by Michael Cera and Ellen Page at the end of Juno. I don’t know what it was, but just seeing two people (even in a movie) just sit and play a neat little song together is magical.

You can watch it below and feel the magic. Of course, if you haven’t seen the movie, you might want to wait. Up to you.

[youtube nBDbUVXXp-U]

Well that’s it. I plan on doing these a few times every year, or at least when enough songs change on it to be useful to post. I may not be a music expert, but I am definitely passionate about it and what I like.

And in the words of Al Pacino from Scent of a Woman…”I’m not FINISHED!”

Now it’s time for a fun little overview of the Top 10 moments in Pop Culture this year.

What do I define as a pop culture moment? Well, anything that was in movies, television, books or music that stood out or was a stupendous achievement. An actor, a scene, a song, a book, a music video, an episode of a TV show, etc. None of this Britney, Lindsey Lohan crap.

I’m talking good stuff.

It was such a blast to try and remember everything awesome that has happened this year and I really hope some of these items bring back fond memories.

Enjoy.

Top 10 Pop Culture Moments of 2007

10. Hey There Delilah – Plain White Tees

I don’t know why, but this little love song from the Plain White Tees was really a big hit with me. I hate to like it because I heard it played everywhere, but frak, I can’t help it. Great little song. The lyrics are meaningful, the tune quiet and sorrowful. Right up my alley.

You can watch the video below:

[youtube EbJtYqBYCV8]

9. The rooftop chase in Bourne Ultimatum

The entire movie was an exciting thrill ride, but the scene in which Jason Bourne chases an assassin, who is after Julia Stiles, across the rooftops of Tangier was stomach wrenching fun. Just the work that went into choreographing that entire sequence must have been daunting, but they pulled it off so well, it’s one of the best ever.

8. 30 Rock product placements

30 Rock has been one of the most cleverly written comedies on TV lately, always witty and smart. Tina Fey has done a remarkable job in keeping it fresh and funny, yet this season they took it to another level.

Product placements are usually annoying, which makes us turned off to the whole idea of advertising. But 30 Rock changed all that by not only making it totally and beyond obvious what they were doing, but by making them a comedy bit in of itself.

See the below YouTube video for what I mean. There were more of these this season, but this was the funniest.

[youtube d36wUmJGzvA]

7. Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher

I wrote a lot about Damages this past summer and fall, and all if it was warranted. The writing was awesome, the pace of the show always seemed to be like a John Grisham novel and the outcome was completely satisfying.

Damages had a great cast too, with Glenn Close, Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan, but it really seemed like it was Ted Danson who made the season. I’m putting him at #7 for basically changing my whole opinion of him and totally blowing away the stereotype I placed on him before the show started of being a pretty lame actor who makes bad choices.

He was cast perfectly as a corrupt CEO who sold his company’s stock before informing the stockholders, thus creating a lawsuit of massive proportions. Danson balanced perfectly the air of fake innocence with the reality of being an evil man.

6. Glen Hansard and Market Irglova singing Falling Slowly in Once

Once just came out on DVD this past week and I oozed love for it all over the place. I talked a bit about the scene in the movie towards the beginning where the man and woman who star in the film, meet for the first time and then decide to play some music together over a lunch hour.

The results are one of the most amazing scenes in all of 2007 cinema.

If you are planning on renting the movie, I suggest skipping the video below, because the overall effect of it may be better experienced for the first time in the flow of the film.

[youtube XzQRuTwaFI8]

5. Discovering Four of the Five Cylons

The season finale of Battlestar Galactica was a two-hour thrill ride, culminating in the discovery of Four of the Final Five Cylons. The method of revelation was pretty cool and the way they all met in the same place and knew what they were was chilling.

Here’s to discovering the Fifth and Final Cylon this coming final season.

4. Jan’s boob job on The Office

There was hardly a better moment this year on The Office than when Michael Scott tried to stay broken up with Jan, but when he went in to say no, she presented him with two new “arguments” in her favor.

It was one of the most hilarious scenes of the year, leading to one of the best lines ever uttered by Michael:

“Your advice was good, hers’ were bigger.”

3. The Sopranos series finale

I’ve never seen more than half an episode of this show, but it was obvious what the finale of the series did to all their die-hard fans out there, how it was abrupt and caused endless speculation and discussion.

And I’ve seen the final moments at least half a dozen times and it’s been replicated all over the place, even on The Mayne Event on Sunday NFL Countdown. It was obviously a huge moment this past year in the television world. Heck, I feel like I was a part of it and never even saw the episode.

2. Reading The Deathly Hallows

One of the greatest events this year was the release of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, the conclusion of the Potter story, the seventh and final book. It was absolutely fantastic, a great read and one I did the weekend it came out. It was one of the most fun things I did this year, hunkering down for a long weekend of book reading, unable to put it down and going straight for hours at a time.

A perfect ending to the series, one I’ll never forget.

1. The finale of Lost, season 3

The end of the first season of Lost was great. They look down the hatch, with no clue what’s in store for them. Then the season premiere of the second year blew your mind. You had a tough time thinking it could be topped, but then season two ended with the realization that people were looking for them. One in particular.

So you get floored once again. And you don’t think it will happen a third time.

But then they go and give us probably the best season finale to date. The final moment with Jack and “someone else” brought to light a shocking fact about what you had been watching for the last two hours and had no clue. They flipped the series upside down and changed everything.

And now I think there is nothing they can do to compare with it again.

I’m sure I’ll be wrong.

—

There you go with another Top 10 list to satisfy your cravings. What were the best moments for you this year? Do you agree with my list?

(Oh, and expect one more list…if I can find the time to do it. We’ve done a lot of GOOD things this year…now it’s time for the BAD. )