By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal Staff

Okay all my music aficionados (is that how you spell aficionado?), I need help. I need to get a Christmas present for my boyfriend. He is a big music lover – and I don’t mean the way Brittany Spears fans love music. He is actually a skilled and talented musician and he can even write music – which completely baffles me. In fact he has actually produced several indy CDs.

Cool, right?

Not so cool for me at the moment, because I really want to get him something ‘musical’ for Christmas, but his abilities and understanding are so far above mine that I am basically paralyzed with fear over the possibility of giving him something lame.

I already got him something small and funny … er, lame. That’s right I have exhausted all of my silly points and I still want to get him something more. Unfortunately, I’m basically out of money too.That means, I’m thinking musical and cheap – would it be totally lame to burn him a CD of love songs? And, if it isn’t too lame, what songs should I put on the CD?

Help me! Please!

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal staff

Is there anything short of murder that I can do to make Colbie Callait go away forever! Not only does she have three songs currently on pop radio and VH1 — all of them are intensely overplayed and they SUCK!

Okay, I’ll dial back the frustration a bit. They don’t completely suck. They have reasonably good lyrics — which would usually be enough for me. But come on, was she trying to make this music boring? Every time I get into my car I hear that iambic drone of hers and I want to puke!

DA da DA da DA da DA da
DA da DA da DA da DA da

In fact I usually say, “spare me,” out loud and everything. But I can’t escape. When I change the station — there she is again!

DA da DA da DA da DA da
DA da DA da DA da DA da

Enough already. Man can someone teach that girl about driving bass-lines and percussion? Can I get a riff please?

I’m also pretty sick of Natasha Bettingfield and Jordan Sparks — mostly because both are overplayed on both the secular and Christian stations. Oh, and their songs are all WAY too long. I mean even if I didn’t hear them constantly I’m pretty much tired of the song before it’s even half over!

Oh, and that Three Doors Down song is so over I want to punch the lead singer!

So what songs are you all sick of hearing on the radio? Maybe the forces of the universe will be kind and the people who choose programming for the local radio stations will see our posts and take these songs out of heavy rotation.

Let’s hear it! Oh, or quit hearing it.

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal staff

“Hi, my name is Crystal and I like pop music.”

“Hi, Crystal.”

I gotta tell you guys, every time I’m about to admit to my music listening tastes on this blog I feel like I’m standing up in front of a room full of discerning experts — or a firing squad. I’m not that hip. I’ve known that for years. I also don’t have — or take — the time to find out all about the vast majority of music out there. I just absorb the music that comes to me.

Now for the confessions: I listen to the radio. I watch VH1. I don’t even own and IPod. And — horror of all horrors — I am a Matchbox 20 fan. That’s right I am one of the many unwashed, uneducated, casual listeners.

Gasp!

Many of the self-proclaimed music snobs here at the Journal are usually laughing quitely and shaking their heads at me (especially when I start to talk about how “Mad Season” is a great piece of art despite the fact that it is commercially viable).

I just don’t see why selling a million or more albums means you’re a sell-out. It can still be art even if someone pays for it — right? Well, if I’m wrong I am willing to accept it. But I need you guys to convince me. (Maybe that particular topic will be better kept for a later blog.)

Well, with the help of fellow bloggers Eric, Todd and Aubrey, I have been trying to become a more discerning listener. I don’t imagine that I will ever be a qualified music snob — nor do I aspire to be — but I need to learn more.

So help me out guys. The last 5 CDs I bought were: Sara Bareilles, Matchbox 20, Maroon 5, Dashboard Confessional and Switchfoot. And I would like some Panic at the Disco and I need to get some old-school Prince. But honestly, there’s so much music out there I don’t really know where to start. What do I need to get next?

By Aubrey Watts

Jounal staff

As a newbie to Rapid City — by way of Denver — I have found while adjusting to life in a small town that my music, both old and new, has kept me going strong. Some of it seems to be down right the soundtrack to my life. All I would have to do is push play and others would know what I was about. On the other hand some of it goes along with my moods. Whether I am sad, happy, angry or just here it seems that I can find a song I like. Until tragedy happens, that gut wrenching feeling that life is no longer what you want it to be……….

Have you ever had a day where nothing seemed to fit? No song, group or lyric could hit that certain emotion you are seeking to put into words and then *BAM* there it is. Like a light bulb that has suddenly jolted to life in a darkened closet.

For me that song was “Stranger things have happened” by the Foo Fighters. Down on a gloomy day I found myself searching to match the emotions I was running through with a song that could say it all. Flipping through my Ipod it hit me like a ton of bricks. The opening notes of the guitar. Mellow yet extremely seductive notes. Dave Grohl’s voice dripping into the song and there it is.

I would love to know if any of you have a song like that in your life. When you heard that song you knew it would define that exact moment.

By Molly Albrecht

Online Editorial Assistant

Those who know me well would say I’m somewhat of a music snob. My iPod is jammed with musicians like Peter Bjorn and John, Sea Wolf, Castanets, Liars, Yeasayer, Great Lake Swimmers, Deer Tick, I Am Kloot and Phosphorescent–music that’s just a bit too obscure to find inside a Wal-Mart. I’ve always turned down my nose at “singers” such as Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson. They’ve never shown enough talent for my taste.

Imagine my surprise, then, when I learned that I actually enjoy one of teen pop sensation Miley Cyrus’ songs.

The first time I heard “See You Again,” I was driving to the gym, a mainstream radio station set as background noise. When Miley’s song started, it immediately caught my attention. I cranked up the dial and couldn’t help but bop my head to its catchy beat. By the time I’d arrived at the gym, I was full-on shimmying in my car.

Admitting that I enjoy a 15-year-old’s pop song isn’t easy for me. In fact, it’s downright embarrassing. But I think that everyone has that one song, or that one musical artist, that they’re a little reluctant to admit they like.

What are yours?