Michael Showalter

Welcome to my first ever blog for SPIN.com! Some of you may know me from my work on The State, or Stella, The Baxter or Wet Hot American Summer. Most of you probably know me from the episode of Law & Order that I did eight years ago where I played the forensics expert Allen Gee. Either way the question remains, "Why is this guy blogging on SPIN.com? And more importantly what does he have to say about music?"

That's a very good question especially considering I stopped listening to music after the Police broke up. But now that they're back together I've started listening to music again! The truth is that I love music but more importantly I love MY music and want to talk about it. Right now I have the soundtrack to Sweeney Todd (Johnny Depp version) on constant repeat, before that it was Sarah Bareilles, and before that it was Grizzly Bear. The point is -- for me it's not about who makes the music. It's about whether I like it. Can I dance to do it naked in my bedroom while I'm watching a baseball game with the sound off? Does it make me laugh, cry, contemplate suicide? So that's what I'll be talking about: my music, which I love.

Here's a little bit about me just to kick it off.

First Album: Astral Weeks by Van Morrison (stole it from a library)

Second Album: Mudslide Slim & The Blue Horizon by James Taylor (stole it from my sister)

Third Album: Synchronicity by the Police (bought it with cash money, yo!)

Favorite Band of All-Time: U2 (can you tell what decade I was teenager in?)

Least Favorite Band of All-Time: The Grateful Dead (Date-rapey dudes and rich girls in tye-dyes, smoking bongs that look like roller coasters at Great Adventure. Not cool.)

Best Song to Do "The Rock Lobster" To: "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's

Second Best Song to Do "The Rock Lobster" To: N/A

Best Strokes Solo Project: Albert Hammond Jr.

Second Best Strokes Solo Project: N/A

Third Best Strokes Solo Project: N/A

Best Dry Humping Song: "99 Luftballons," by the German chick who sings that song.

Best Kick A Rusty Can & Contemplate Suicide Song: "Wave of Mutilation" by The Pixies

Fourth Album: Al Jarreau's Best Of (file under: "Michael Expands Musical Horizons.")

Second Least Favorite Band of All-Time: Guns & Roses (One good song. I'm sorry but it's true. Please send hate mail to: Michaelshowalter@GNRSUX.com)

Best Band That Was Once Uncle Tupelo: Wilco

Worst Band That Was Once Uncle Tupelo: Sun Volt

Best Slow & Sleepy Fuck Music: Sade

Best Really Fast & Socially Conscious Fuck Music: Fugazi

Best Off-Key Hyper Lead Singer Fuck Music: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Worst Fuck Music: Weird Al Yankovic

Second Worst Fuck Music: Insane Clown Posse

Third Worst Fuck Music: Eddie Murphy's first solo album

Best Cover of Phil Collins' Song "Against All Odds" by Quirky Indie Band: "Against All Odds" by the Postal Service

To My Knowledge, the Only Cover of Phil Collins' Song "Against All Odds" by Quirky Indie Band: "Against All Odds" by the Postal Service

First CD: 3ft High and Rising by De La Soul (stole it from college roommate)

Second CD: Spike by Elvis Costello (stole it from Tower Records got caught and had ass-kicked by security outside of store in full view of onlookers)

Favorite Band That Is Radiohead: Radiohead

Favorite Band That Sounds Like Radiohead: Doves

Least Favorite Band That Sounds Like Radiohead: Keane