In Which I Have Been A Prince Man All My Life

the iTunes playlist: Zach Galifianakis

Here are Zach Galifianakis's favorite songs from iTunes.

"Zero and Blind Terry" - Bruce Springsteen (mp3)

This is one of the great stories from the Boss that has always made me cry. I grew up on Springsteen, and he shaped my taste early on.

"Where I'm From" - Digable Planets (mp3)

This Planets song isn't where I'm from personally. But their grooves make tires inflate.

"7/4 (Shoreline)" - Broken Social Scene (mp3)

I can't stop listening to this record. I only wish it was a double album. I saw Eddie Vedder in New York, and he played a part in Walk Hard. My greatest rock 'n' roll moment.

"Paul's Song" - M.Ward (mp3)

This is my favorite Eminem song. He does a cameo in Funny People that is hilarious. This song is about his guilt over working too much.

"Cursed Sleep" - Bonnie Prince Billy (mp3)

This gentleman is a friend of mine, and to me he's the modern Bob Dylan. The two of us made a video for Kanye West a couple of years ago.

"At Dawn" - My Morning Jacket (mp3)

I first heard this song in a small record store in Wilmington, N.C. years ago. I went to a show of theirs years ago where there were about 17 people in the audience. They were so inspiring to me. Later on, I got to sing with them at the end of a four-hour set they did outside of Nashville in front of 20,000 people in a downpour of Southern rain.

"You're Gonna Make me Lonesome When You Go" - Madeleine Peyroux

Best Dylan cover I have ever heard.

"Broke" - Modest Mouse (mp3)

I am convinced these guys can sing about Styrofoam coolers and make it poetic and beautiful. My dream is to write an album for them one day.

"Emily -  Joanna Newsom (mp3)

I don't have many favorite harpists, but Miss Newsom is that. She is more than that, of course. Her words in this song make me forget about pain, even though it might be about pain.

"Song to Woody" - Bob Dylan (mp3)

A great American poet singing about another great American poet.

"Pussy" - Brazilian Girls (mp3)

I have watched the video version of this song around 100 times. A must-see and must-listen. I feel this group should be the next big thing, but they may be too smart to be that.

"King Leer" - Morrissey (mp3)

I feel that Morrissey has always been misunderstood by his sad fanbase. His lyrics are so flippant, and anyone who can tastefully sing, "I crept up behind you with a homeless chihuahua, you cooed for an hour, you handed him back and said, 'You'll never guess, I'm bored now'" is a genius in my book. Of course my book doesn't have many pages.

"Waiting On a Friend (Rolling Stones cover)" - Pearl Jam (mp3)

Simply love this song for the content and the great sax playing, especially toward the end.

"New Partner" - Palace Music

My first introduction to Will Oldham. One of the best love songs ever to be vomited out of this singer.

"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore" - Prince

I have been a Prince man all my life. This is one of his underproduced songs: raw Prince just singing his horny heart out.

"Human of the Year" - Regina Spektor (mp3)

Cliche is coming. Her range is so remarkable. I think Regina is one of the most underrated singers out there today. 'All mankind is now your brothers.' I'm not sure what this song is about, but I love music that is open for you to make up you own mind.

"Rock Box" - Run-DMC (mp3)

I was in Greece when I first heard this song, and I listen to it almost weekly. It was the first rap song I had heard outside of Kurtis Blow.

"I Don't Know What It Is" - Rufus Wainwright (mp3)

There was a time in my life where this song got me out of some emotional holes. I own all o his albums. Rufus is proudly gay, and I am a straight man. He makes me want to be gay. I don't know what it is. I have performed this song many times, singing into a pencil or whatever, while wearing nothing but underwear and sweat. There, I said it. All true.

"Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur" - Sigur Ros (mp3)

I stood right next to the stage at a music festival while this dream-like group spoke to me in a language that is usually reserved for mystical goats and the unspoken elements in life that make you believe that all matter is to be considered a thing of splendid delight and throwback-heart clockwork. They make you wonder at the often-broken human machine, which can, from time to time, be a locomotion of all desired emotion.

In Which Ellen Page Fills Our Heart To The Brim

the iTunes Playlist: Ellen Page

Oh to be Ellen Page! We already want to be a lesbian, and Ellen takes it up to another level. All music is new to Ellen. She heard of music about three months ago when Sean Penn told her who Eddie Vedder was. Ellen was produced via an immaculate conception somewhere in Halifax, much like Howard Norman's classic novel of the city, and one of our favorite books of all time, The Museum Guard.

Ellen probably has an addiction to cute pills, otherwise it would be difficult to look like this all the time. I wonder if when she stares at Alison Janney and Catherine Keener she thinks that is what she will become. Diane Keaton is v. jealous of Ellen. Jack Nicholson is jealous of Ellen. Fuck, we all are. Being a cute little lesbian like Ariel Schrag in Potential is pretty much as good as it gets.

The celebrity playlist she made for iTunes follows.

"Possibly Maybe" - Bjork (mp3)

I adore Bjork. The swan dress and all. This is probably my favorite song by her. Feels like someone stuck in their head while falling for another, but not knowing how the other individual feels. Intense, beautiful, and scary.

"Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl" - Broken Social Scene (mp3)

I would love if some sort of machine existed that could tell me just how many times I have listened to this song. I guess iTunes tracks it, but I only recently got into this iTunes thingy. Anyway, the point of that ramble is to say that I adore this song. Emily Haynes (from Metric) singing with Broken Social Scene. It's just a cosmic blend of awesomeness.

"Wild is the Wind" - Cat Power (mp3)

I am crazy about Cat Power, she is one of my favorite musicians. I could create an entire playlist with just her songs actually. In any event, here is a cover of 'Wild is the Wind' that paralyzes me. It is so gorgeous.

"Honey or Tar" - CocoRosie (mp3)

This song is beautiful, still, but very dirty. Elements that I love compacted into one stunning song. CocoRosie is fantastic.

"Gymnopedies, No. 1 (Bank of America)" - Erik Satie

Erik Satie's music is the score for my favorite film, The 400 Blows. I cannot even describe how his music makes me feel. So simple, but full of so much emotion.

"En Gallop" - Joanna Newsom (mp3)

When I first heard Joanna Newsom, I immediately fell in love. She was all I listened to for awhile. Both of her albums are insanely amazing. This song fills my heart to the brim.

ellen & catherine keener are the same person at different times

"You Love Me" - Kimya Dawson (mp3)

Kimya Dawson inspires me to no end. She has an enormous heart. She is one of those people that makes me feel better about being in this world. This song is extremely touching.

"Please" - Mary Gauthier (mp3)

This album was just recently introduced to me. I am loving Mary Gauthier. Her voice blows me away.

"In a Manner of Speaking" - Nouvelle Vague (mp3)

I was obsessed with this song at one point. There are no words.

"Ice Cream" - New Young Pony Club (mp3)

Wow, all the music so far is incredibly beautiful and also very mellow. So here is one that makes me feel sugar high. It makes me feel other things too...as in it gets me pretty excited...tee hee.

"Break It Up" - Patti Smith (mp3)

Patti Smith is one of my icons. This song is from one of my personal favorite albums of all time, Horses. It makes me want to tear off my clothes and run through a field or something. Is that weird?

"Entertain" - Sleater-Kinney (mp3)

This song makes me freak out, basically when I listen to it I can't control myself. For intense, their album Woods should never be playing if I am driving. I love these girls, but I am also totally jealous, because I will never be them.

"Love Will Tear Us Apart" - Susanna and the Magical Orchestra (mp3)

This song knocks me out. It is so beautiful, honest, and sad. Sends a feeling straight to my gut.

"Lover's Spit" - Broken Social Scene (mp3)

Leslie Feist singing this Broken Social Scene song...need I say more? Let's just make out.



In Which It Can Be Ten Times Faster Than It Is

the iTunes playlist: James Murphy

"Profile is a transient thing, unless you're Madonna," James Murphy said recently. He's really unsatisfied with how popular he is, and has vowed that This Is Happening will be his last album. The road becomes so tiresome, and he can just spend most of his time scoring Noah Baumbach movies about how depressing it is to be white for the next decade. He's either five years behind or five years ahead of the Eminem plan, depending on your point of view. Here are his favorite songs.

"Paint Work" - The Fall (mp3)

When I first heard this track I asked myself who would sit in the studio and say, 'Yep, this is done' and then just leave? I love this band, and this track especially.

"2nd Thought" - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (mp3)

You can hear the shitty handheld mic being used on the vocals. I love it. It's an amazing vocal performance as well. I was a Dazzle Ships guy growing up - I think because everyone loved 'Enola Gay' so much, and I wanted to be cool or something stupid like that. I kind of slept on this record because I'm an idiot.

"Eisbar" - Grauzone (mp3)

Please just get someone who speaks German to translate this song for you. You will never be the same.

"Sara (live)" - Fleetwood Mac (mp3)

I don't know a better song, really. The live version of this destroys as well. I hate saying crap like this, but, honestly, I think bands were just better players in this era.

"Lovemachine" - Supermax (mp3)

I would like to hereby endorse Supermax in every way. Literally. Cover art as well.

"Every1's a Winner" - Alan Vega (mp3)

Cover of an amazing Hot Chocolate song by the singer of Suicide? Check. Can it be ten times faster? Done.

"The Platform on the Ocean" - Arthur Russell (mp3)

Arthur Russell is one of our American treasures. This is a beautiful and personal performance with cello and delays. That voice!

"Coke and Mirrors" - Six Finger Satellite (mp3)

This could have come out yesterday. I love this band. Very proud to have traveled with them for years doing sound. And now, the Juan MacLean? Genius.

"Nick the Stripper" - The Birthday Party (mp3)

Bought the 12'' of this at the Princeton Record Exchange because of the cover. I felt transported by it; I wanted to be at the show in the picture. Still, it's the thing I see in my head when I think of an awesome show. Oh, and the best guitar solo since "Taxman."

"Local Foreigner" - Planningtorock (mp3)

I love Janine so much it makes me freak out. Listen to anything by her you can.

You can find previous playlists here.

"All My Friends" - Franz Ferdinand (mp3)

"Drunk Girls" - Wooden Shjips (mp3)

"All Talk" - Kid Cudi ft. LCD Soundsystem (mp3)