Good Music, Weird Places

Dunkin' Awesome

2009-03-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

March 10, 2009, approximately 7:10pm:

Dunkin Donuts, Laurel, MD:

I think that Dunkin' Donuts has the best iced coffee of all the chains that offer it. Though I'm pretty sure that they just had the radio playing tonight, I did hear a gem. "You Only Get What You Give" by New Radicals could be recognized in between really loud cleaning sessions that my local chain was performing. Always a great song.

Fast "Mexican" Food

2009-03-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

March 10, 2009, Approximately 6:40pm:

Chipotle, Laurel, MD:

Chipotle, a "mexican" eatery that specializes in creating tasty burritos in seconds flat usually plays quasi-ethnic music. Chants and hums are common. The papers that line the plastic often talk about plenty of important musicians, but I was surprised when I heard "Rudie Can't Fail" by the Clash while I was in there tonight. The guacamole is good, as is the music choice apparently.

More Fountain Soda Fixes

2008-03-16T16:46:00.000-07:00

March 16, 2008, approximately 6:50pm:

Expressmart, Syracuse, NY:

"Around the Clock Convenience" is about right. The Expressmart gas station/conveniece store on Erie Blvd. is one of my favorite places in Syracuse to get a fountain soda. I wasn't really sure why until today, when I heard "She Moves In Her Own Way" by The Kooks playing in it. The Coke was all foam, but the cherry coke was pretty good.

Acceptable in the 90's

2008-03-15T19:23:00.000-07:00

March 15, 2008, approximately 10:12pm:

Exxon, Laurel, MD:

I was in Exxon on All Saints Road in Laurel, because I'm home for spring break and was jonsing for some fountain soda refreshment. I was watching my enormous cup fill with Coke when I noticed the amazing song over the loudspeaker- "Good" by Better Then Ezra. Lately me and a few pals have been on a serious 90's kick with music. Anything made at the very end of the 20th century for us, please. This isn't a new phenomenon, I realize, because this isn't exactly old music, as it just happened- but wow I was pleased to hear that song.

[There are so many other points that I would love to discuss as a result of this gas station visit- like how fountain soda is not always tasty, and why. Also I think it's so strange that they sell DVDs at Exxon, like for $9.99. That's such a low price, I was really considering looking through the inventory. Anyway I was wondering what this means for stores like Best Buy and F.Y.E., who have somehow got away with charging ridiculous prices for their stock. Granted, the $9.99 bin at the Exxon will not have all the latest movies- (think "Music and Lyrics, that [recent] Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore collaboration), but this still probably has some effect on the way movies are sold? Maybe?]

more more more Food.com

2008-02-24T23:42:00.000-08:00

February 20, 2008, approximately 4:07p.m.:

Food.com, Syracuse, NY:

I am constantly in Food.com because my professor is required to give us a break during my class, and it's also damn convenient. This time I heard "You Only Get What You Give" by New Radicals blaring on the tiny boombox. I also think that I overheard a worker say something about how the song was a part of a CD that her daughter had made? Probably. I hope so.

Good Music All Around

2008-02-19T13:27:00.001-08:00

February 19, 2008, approximately 1:30-1:45pm:

CVS, Syracuse, NY:

CVS is known for disgruntled employees and a reasonable selection of post-Valentine's Day sale candy, but today it was known to me and some pals for playing the best radio station known to the human race- Movin'. I don't know for sure if that's even what was on, but I do know that I heard "Too Close" by Blue for the first time in years while shopping in there. You know the song. "Baby when we're grindin', I get so excited..." So, so good.

Chuck's Alley, Syracuse, NY:

Chuck's Alley had music piping from literally thousands of speakers at the top of its stores today. Walking along the walkway where cars often randomly (illegally?) drive, endangering plenty of lives, one could hear Meatloaf. But that's not the reason for this post. After I got enough cash out to pay for some records from the nice vendor who sells inside Funk n Waffles, I heard "Waterfalls" by TLC. Really takes me back.

I Love You, Food.com

2008-02-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

February 13, 2008, approximately 2:15p.m.:

Food.com, Syracuse, NY

I have such a love/hate relationship with Food.com. The lines are long enough to block the fountain sodas, people forget that they are at work when I'm dashing in between classes, just wanting a smoothie. But the only thing that's keeping me from hating it is the music. I'm sure it's just some generic radio station (possibly Movin'?) but I can't help but hope that there is some mastermind behind all of the music they play. Today while waiting in line for some snacks for class, I heard "Faith" by George Michael. I started laughing when I recognized it, and the girl in front of me thought I was laughing about something else- she was very, very wrong.

More Spoon

2008-02-12T22:51:00.000-08:00

February 12, 2008 approximately 12:30pm:

Follett's Bookstore: MSQ, Syracuse, NY

I heard "The Underdog" by Spoon playing overhead. I guess this shouldn't really strike me as weird- Follett's does sell The Onion (that's right- SELLS, I thought they were free...) as well as contemporary, relatively-cool CDs. But still, Spoon.

Not on Michael Jackson Day!

2008-02-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

February 4, 2008:

Did you know that today is Michael Jackson Day here on the Syracuse University Campus and surrounding area? Well I didn't either, probably because it's not- but one can't ignore the MJ coincidences around campus:

Food.com in Syracuse, NY
At approximately 2:15pm "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" could be found blaring through the boom box located near the paying station.

King David's on Marshall Street in Syracuse, NY
At around 6pm one could hear "Beat It" in this "natural eatery."

Why all the MJ? I don't know, but I love it.

New York Welcome Center

2008-01-14T13:04:00.001-08:00

January 12, 2008:

New York Welcome Center Rest Stop of I-81 North

I swear to anyone that will hear it that this rest stop used to feature vending machines that sold HOT food! Now they are nowhere to be found and one can only buy ice cream and normal snacks. It's truly a shame. But what's not a shame is hearing "Soul Meets Body" by Death Cab for Cutie filter through the speakers. Who would have thought that rest stops were so up-to-date with relatively-popular music? I would have expected anything that came out of the 80's at a rest stop, so believe me when I say that I was pleasantly surprised.

In Passing

2008-01-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

January 10, 2008 approximately 9:15p.m.:

Main Street: Ellicott City, Maryland

I had just bought a coffee at The Bean Hollow, this coffee place on Historic Main Street, more then likely wedged between random antique/dress shops, where the guy that works there cheerfully called my mocha + coconut syrup concoction a "coco mocha!," and was walking back to my car when I heard something I recognized. "Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no!" was literally blaring from a car stopped at a red light. That's right, I mean I heard "I Wear My Sunglasses At Night" by Corey Hart on Historic Main Street in Ellicott City. I turned to look at the driver and they seemed totally out of it. I expect that if someone is listening to this particular song at full blast, they should be enjoying themselves! I know that I would have been.

New Years Eve and Day

2008-01-01T18:49:00.000-08:00

New Years Eve, 2007:

Key Foods: Queens, New York

While shopping for an upcoming Ice Cream Social (caps necessary and appropriate), "The Underdog" by Spoon started blaring through the speakers. Though Spoon is becoming increasingly known, it was odd to hear this song off GA GA GA GA GA playing in a random supermarket.

New Years Day, 2008:

Taco Bell: Laurel, Maryland

Starving after being on an awful Amtrak adventure for hours, I needed sustenance. It being a "holiday," my first food choice, Chipotle, was closed. Luckily, the ever-reliable Taco Bell was not. Right as I'm about to leave the 'Bell, "Fake Empire" by The National could be heard overhead. Though it's not my favorite song to come out of 2007, it's a surprisingly good song to hear at your local fast food joint.

Hello and Welcome

2008-01-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

Hello and welcome to my new blog.

I was in a supermarket yesterday and in a certain fast food restaurant today and I heard music that I didn't expect to hear at those certain places. In a stroke of inspiration, I thought a it'd be a good idea to have somewhere to document all this craziness. Therefore in this blog I will discuss my random environments and the amazing music they seem to play. Here goes nothing.