My Music History, Part 4: 90′s to Now + 12 Favorite Albums of All Time


This was supposed to be  a 5-part series, but frankly there were only a handful of albums since 1995 (post-college) that I have absolutely loved. So I decided to combine those with my DID (Desert Island Discs; you know, the music you would have to listen to for the rest of your life should you crash land on an island, a la Lost) in the same post.

Here are the CDs which have been on shuffle in my car for the last few years…I know, random.

   

  

Matt N is a given, but this particular CD…is just special to me. I will finally openly admit to being a fan of JT (although I don’t love his second effort as much).  Missy is a dirty bird, and this CD makes me both laugh and want to dance, every time. As for the Boss – of his entire body of work, this album simply resonates the most with me.

And now, on to my 12 Favorite Albums of All Time, in order of release date.

I am not going to elaborate or articulate how and why each makes the list; there are significant emotional connections and life experiences attached to each, and even I don’t share everything in this space…

Suzanne Vega: Suzanne Vega (1985)

Paul Simon: Graceland (1986)

U2: Joshua Tree (1987)

Melissa Etheridge: Brave and Crazy (1989)

George Michael: Listen Without Prejudice, Vol. 1 (1990)

Indigo Girls: Nomads Indians Saints (1990)

Depeche Mode: Violator (1990)

kd lang: Ingenue (1992)

Peter Gabriel: Us (1992)

Sheryl Crow: Sheryl Crow (1996)

Music from the Motion Picture: Garden State (2004)

Green Day: American Idiot (2004)

Apparently I was not enamored with music from 1997-2003, and it also seems that very little has touched my soul since 2004.  Let’s hope that something spectacular this way comes, sooner rather than later.

Do you have Desert Island Disc lists, or have I been playing this game alone in my head for years?

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Reminder: Logo Design Contest Ends Sunday (August 31)! $100 Up For Grabs


Just a friendly reminder that the window of opportunity is closing to submit a new logo for this site; the deadline is Sunday…which just so happens to coincide with the 3 year anniversary of the blog.

If I select your design, you will win one of the following prizes (your choice):

  • $100
  • $100 iTunes gift card
  • 3 seasons of your favorite show on DVD

My requirements are ridiculously simple…to incorporate:

  1. The name JOpinionated
  2. TV, film & music graphics

In addition to being rewarded for creativity with a lovely gift from the above list, the winning designer will have a link/plug to their site, and see their sweet logo implemented on all JOpinionated branded sites (as well as future t-shirts, buttons, etc.).

I will continue to share the submissions as they arrive. Thank you in advance!

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Fall TV 2008 Schedule: New & Existing Shows


This has been a long hot summer with a seriously dry television spell. Thank goodness we’re fast approaching the debut of brand new programming and unveiling of several new series’. The shows which I will be setting a TiVO Season Pass for and writing about are starred with an asterisk.

By date….

August 26
Greek
ABC Family

September 1
Prison Break
FOX

September 1
Raising the Bar
TNT
Drama

September 1
One Tree Hill
CW

September 1
Gossip Girl
CW

September 2
The Shield
FX

September 2
90210
CW
Drama

September 3 *
Bones
FOX

September 3 *
Sons of Anarchy
FX
Drama
For the cast alone: Ron Perlman (Hellboy), Katey Sagal (Helen on Lost), Mitch Pileggi (AD Skinner on The X-Files), Drea De Matteo (Adrianna on The Sopranos), Sprague Grayden (Heather on Jericho), Dayton Callie (Charlie Utter on Deadwood)

September 7 *
True Blood
HBO
Drama
From Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball. Need I say more?

September 7 *
Entourage
HBO

September 8
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
FOX

September 9 *
Fringe
FOX
Drama
I saw a 90 minute unedited version of the pilot at Comic-Con and fell in love immediately. From the mind of J.J. Abrams (Alias, Lost), featuring stellar new discovery Anna Torv and Lance Reddick (The Wire, Lost) and Joshua Jackson (whom you will no longer refer to as Pacey from Dawson’s Creek after episode 1).

September 9
Privileged
CW
Comedy Drama

September 10
Do Not Disturb
FOX
Comedy

September 10
‘Til Death
FOX

September 13
Saturday Night Live
NBC

September 16 *
House
FOX

September 18
Survivor: Gabon
CBS

September 18
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
FX

September 18
Smallville
CW

September 18
Supernatural
CW

September 22 *
Heroes
NBC

September 22
CSI: Miami
CBS

September 22
How I Met Your Mother
CBS

September 22
Boston Legal
ABC

September 22
The Big Bang Theory
CBS

September 22
Worst Week
CBS
Comedy

September 22
Two and a Half Men
CBS

September 23
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
NBC

September 23
NCIS
CBS

September 23
Without a Trace
CBS

September 23
The Mentalist
CBS
Drama

September 24
Lipstick Jungle
NBC

September 24
Knight Rider
NBC
Drama

September 24
The New Adventures of Old Christine
CBS

September 24
CSI: NY
CBS

September 24
Criminal Minds
CBS

September 24
Gary Unmarried
CBS
Comedy

September 25 *
The Office
NBC

September 25 *
Ugly Betty
ABC

September 25 *
Grey’s Anatomy
ABC

September 25
My Name is Earl
NBC

September 25
ER
NBC

September 28
Desperate Housewives
ABC

September 28 *
Brothers & Sisters
ABC

September 28 *
Dexter
Showtime

September 28 *
Amazing Race
CBS

September 28
Californication
Showtime

September 28
Cold Case
CBS

September 28
The Unit
CBS

September 28
American Dad
FOX

September 28
The Simpsons
FOX

September 29
Chuck
NBC

October 1 *
Pushing Daisies
ABC

October 1 *
Dirty Sexy Money
ABC
I’ve seen the first two episodes and really like the direction and tone…

October 1 *
Private Practice
ABC

October 1
Friday Night Lights
DirecTV
Sadly, I will not be able to catch these new episodes until they air on NBC in the future

October 3 *
The Ex List
CBS
Comedy
Only because I love love love Elizabeth Reaser (Ava/Rebecca on Grey’s Anatomy), and it’s about time she got her own show

October 3 *
Life
NBC

October 3
Numb3rs
CBS

October 3
Everybody Hates Chris
CW

October 3
Ghost Whisperer
CBS

October 3
The Game
CW

October 6 *
Samantha Who
ABC

October 9
CSI
CBS

October 9
Kath and Kim
NBC
Comedy

October 9
Eleventh Hour
CBS
Drama

October 9
Life on Mars
ABC
Drama

October 10
The Starter Wife
USA

October 13
My Own Worst Enemy
NBC
Drama

October 14
Eli Stone
ABC

October 17
Crusoe
NBC
Drama

October 30 *
30 Rock
NBC

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