I got into a rather heated debate on a forum the last few days about censorship in music especially on the radio and video games. While my political leanings have always been to the right (hands off my money!) my personal liberties views tend to lean left (don't tell me what I can or can't see).
My personal belief is censorship is for lazy parents. Why should they have to teach their kids right from wrong when some government body can sanction what they are exposed to? My favorite movie when I was little was Major League. One of the first non-kids movies I can remember seeing in theaters was See No Evil, Hear No Evil and I specifically remember my parents asking if it was rated R for language or violence and they said for language only so inside we went. I was allowed to hear those words and when one came up my mom always told me to not use that word in public.
I never cursed out a teacher or uttered the f word in front of my grandmother. I did get in trouble in third grade for erasing Waldo out of the book on a white background after everyone had memorized his location on every page. I would've gotten away with it too had my friend not decided to erase him on non-white pages creating a notable absence. Now that was fucking funny, but I didn't say that to the teacher at the time.
Anyway back on subject. Some songs do needlessly spout obscenities and that is mildly annoying to me. For example, Down With The Sickness contains many words that do not necessarily enhance the song. It's more annoying that the edited version contains random pauses than that the word is missing, but if the artist's vision is to have that word in the song then by all means have it in the song. Imagine if a guitar lick or really cool crash cymbal portion of a song was removed for no reason. It would sound just as odd.
What really makes me die a little inside though is when songs like Creep are edited. This isn't just a random metal, we have to curse because it's metal, song. Thom Yorke is probably one of the most thought provoking songwriters alive and while I am both a huge Radiohead fan and find prolonged exposure to their music drab, I can't ever argue with the lyrics.
The entire song is about how a girl doesn't notice him and he feels bitter towards her because she is so much better than him. What conveys bitterness more while building up to the chorus?
A. You're so fucking special
B. You're so very special
Sometimes you need a curse word to put in for emphasis like "Fucking Soriano struck out again" or "Wayne was getting held for 3 fucking seconds". What's even worse is I'm sure there are some people out there who think very is the actual lyric to that song because they haven't heard the real version.
So to sum up I hope you enjoyed this fucking article and anyone in favor of music censorship can eat a steaming plate of mekrab.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Greatest albums (Part 4 5-1)
5. Foo Fighters - The Colour And The Shape (1998)
How amazing is Dave Grohl? Really is there anything he can't do? After stepping out of the shadows drumming for the breakthrough grunge group, he went solo more or less and rose to even greater heights. Some of the Foo's albums are a little bit uneven, but this one hits the nail on the head.
The Pixies influenced the start of grunge. Kurt Cobain brought it mainstream and Dave Grohl fused it with modern rock and absolutely nailed it. I am generally not a proponent of screaming in songs which is why I hate most new metal, but the raw emotion of the screaming verse of Monkey Wrench is absolutely perfect.
Key Tracks: Monkey Wrench, Everlong, February Stars, Hey Johnny Park
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
I think this one gets extra credit because while every other album on here is a great piece of music, this is the only one that is set to go along with a classic movie. I've watched "Dark Side Of Oz" multiple times and despite no actual verification from the band, come on, that is cool. Especially doing so with only the technology that existed in the 70's.
Probably Pink Floyd's most well known album and one of the most well known album covers in rock history, this is another ALBUM, not just a collection of songs. Everything flows together and fits perfectly ending with a grand crescendo and fade. Simply amazing.
3. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)
Now we come to the Boss. While I really wanted to put this album number one there are just a few less than stellar songs that knock it down a peg.
This album contains some of the very best songs ever, including my personal #1. Every song on here just screams epic and listening to it as a whole is like a Broadway musical in LP form. All of the band gets into this one with blistering sax solos from Clarence Clemons and gorgeous piano work by Roy Bittan throughout.
This was a real transition time for Bruce as his first two albums, although critically acclaimed did not reach mainstream success. He poured everything he had into making this record which was really his last shot at stardom and it showed. Even some of the tracks which individually did not stand out, worked in the concept of the whole album.
Key Tracks: Thunder Road, Jungleland, Born To Run
2. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) and Abbey Road (1969)
Ok I cheated. If I didn't this list would've had almost all Beatles albums and been kind of boring after I ran out of random things to talk about around the 3rd album. As it is, these are my two favorites and I couldn't decide between so you get a bonus album.
The thing that makes the Beatles the most respected and influential band in rock history is their evolution. They were a simple bubblegum pop band in 1962 that along the way dabbled in blues and r&b a smidge of country and wrote the first heavy metal song. Bands today don't get the luxury. They have one hit and then are pushed to make every single from there to eternity be a close relative of that hit. Could you imagine if the Beatles came out today and were told, "You can't make this music. It's too hard and there are Indian instruments. Stick to pop". Yet another reason why Top 40 radio has gone to hell in the past 15 years.
Key tracks: All of the above, just lock yourself in the supply closet and listen to the Beatles all day
1. Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
And taking the cake for kick-ass debut albums...
Really this is by far the greatest album that has been released in my lifetime. I've spilled thousands of words extolling GNR. I own this album on cd, vinyl and somewhere in my parent's attic, cassette tape. I went dressed as Slash for multiple Halloween parties.
Luckily my parents were cool with censorship and let me listen to this album when I was little. It's not like I actually understood the context of the songs and I'd heard the word "fuck" enough that it wasn't that much of a shock. Looking back on it now it doesn't really seem to be the type of thing a grade schooler should rock out to.
To borrow from Klosterman again, GNR was cool because they didn't just sing about the lifestyle, they lived it. Drinking, drugs and sex were standard subject matter for almost all 80's songs, especially hair metal, but GNR lived it. Axl was arrested for battery (which kind of puts "It's So Easy" in a different light). David Geffen pushed for Use Your Illusion to be a double album because he was afraid one of the band members would OD before they got finished. Guns N Roses weren't just a rock and roll band, they were rock and roll.
Key tracks: Sweet Child O Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, Night Train
How amazing is Dave Grohl? Really is there anything he can't do? After stepping out of the shadows drumming for the breakthrough grunge group, he went solo more or less and rose to even greater heights. Some of the Foo's albums are a little bit uneven, but this one hits the nail on the head.
The Pixies influenced the start of grunge. Kurt Cobain brought it mainstream and Dave Grohl fused it with modern rock and absolutely nailed it. I am generally not a proponent of screaming in songs which is why I hate most new metal, but the raw emotion of the screaming verse of Monkey Wrench is absolutely perfect.
Key Tracks: Monkey Wrench, Everlong, February Stars, Hey Johnny Park
4. Pink Floyd - Dark Side Of The Moon (1973)
I think this one gets extra credit because while every other album on here is a great piece of music, this is the only one that is set to go along with a classic movie. I've watched "Dark Side Of Oz" multiple times and despite no actual verification from the band, come on, that is cool. Especially doing so with only the technology that existed in the 70's.
Probably Pink Floyd's most well known album and one of the most well known album covers in rock history, this is another ALBUM, not just a collection of songs. Everything flows together and fits perfectly ending with a grand crescendo and fade. Simply amazing.
3. Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run (1975)
Now we come to the Boss. While I really wanted to put this album number one there are just a few less than stellar songs that knock it down a peg.
This album contains some of the very best songs ever, including my personal #1. Every song on here just screams epic and listening to it as a whole is like a Broadway musical in LP form. All of the band gets into this one with blistering sax solos from Clarence Clemons and gorgeous piano work by Roy Bittan throughout.
This was a real transition time for Bruce as his first two albums, although critically acclaimed did not reach mainstream success. He poured everything he had into making this record which was really his last shot at stardom and it showed. Even some of the tracks which individually did not stand out, worked in the concept of the whole album.
Key Tracks: Thunder Road, Jungleland, Born To Run
2. The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967) and Abbey Road (1969)
Ok I cheated. If I didn't this list would've had almost all Beatles albums and been kind of boring after I ran out of random things to talk about around the 3rd album. As it is, these are my two favorites and I couldn't decide between so you get a bonus album.
The thing that makes the Beatles the most respected and influential band in rock history is their evolution. They were a simple bubblegum pop band in 1962 that along the way dabbled in blues and r&b a smidge of country and wrote the first heavy metal song. Bands today don't get the luxury. They have one hit and then are pushed to make every single from there to eternity be a close relative of that hit. Could you imagine if the Beatles came out today and were told, "You can't make this music. It's too hard and there are Indian instruments. Stick to pop". Yet another reason why Top 40 radio has gone to hell in the past 15 years.
Key tracks: All of the above, just lock yourself in the supply closet and listen to the Beatles all day
1. Guns 'N Roses - Appetite For Destruction (1987)
And taking the cake for kick-ass debut albums...
Really this is by far the greatest album that has been released in my lifetime. I've spilled thousands of words extolling GNR. I own this album on cd, vinyl and somewhere in my parent's attic, cassette tape. I went dressed as Slash for multiple Halloween parties.
Luckily my parents were cool with censorship and let me listen to this album when I was little. It's not like I actually understood the context of the songs and I'd heard the word "fuck" enough that it wasn't that much of a shock. Looking back on it now it doesn't really seem to be the type of thing a grade schooler should rock out to.
To borrow from Klosterman again, GNR was cool because they didn't just sing about the lifestyle, they lived it. Drinking, drugs and sex were standard subject matter for almost all 80's songs, especially hair metal, but GNR lived it. Axl was arrested for battery (which kind of puts "It's So Easy" in a different light). David Geffen pushed for Use Your Illusion to be a double album because he was afraid one of the band members would OD before they got finished. Guns N Roses weren't just a rock and roll band, they were rock and roll.
Key tracks: Sweet Child O Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, Night Train
Greatest albums (Part 3 10-6)
10. Nirvana - Unplugged (1994)
I'm sure Kurt Cobain would appreciate the irony that the band that was the lynchpin of grunge had one of their most well received album on an acoustic set. To his credit, he knew exactly what songs would and wouldn't work in this format, something that isn't quite as obvious as it seems if you've ever heard any Chris Cornell acoustic material.
It also flies in the face of common sense to take Dave Grohl's drumming away from songs yet still have them be excellent in a different sort of way. He knew enough not to try to do Smells Like Teen Spirit or a lot of the edgier songs off Nevermind and added enough wrinkles to make it intereseting. He even said F U to MTV who didn't want him to do a cover of a band so obscure as the Meat Puppets, but Lake of Fire is one of the best cuts on here. My favorite, however, has to be Where Did You Sleep Last Night? where even acoustically he gets the nice grungy screaming in on the last verse which always gives me chills. Sadly this was Nirvana's last album. Oh what might have been.
Key Tracks: About A Girl, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Lake Of Fire, Plateau
9. Boston - Boston (1976)
Speaking of hitting the ground running with a debut album...wow. Think they had been building up waiting for a record deal for a while? Every single one of these eight songs received solid radio play and if I had to rank every Boston song all would be in the top ten if not the top 8 themselves. How many albums can you say that about?
Not to mention More Than A Feeling is one of the most infectious songs ever.
Key Tracks: More Than A Feeling, Foreplay/Long Time, Rock & Roll Band
8. Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl (1989)
This is a bit of an oddball pick for me in some regards as it's probably more of a nostalgia love than the music itself actually merits. Roy Orbison is one of the greatest artist and especially vocalist in rock history around from the beginning until his early death in 1988. This album was his comeback of sorts that was a big hit posthumately. It shows how much he was respected in the industry to have Bono and Elvis Costello give him songs for this album. If only Bono would have given him more songs to simply sing instead of spout political dribble, I wouldn't dislike U2 so much. This album along with the concurrent Traveling Wilburys supergroup project thrust the Big O back into the spotlight which was unfortunately after his death.
Most people know the hit single off of here, "You Got It', but every single track on here is good and much like Johnny Cash in his later years the excellent lamenting lost love crooner's voice only got wearier and truer with age.
This was one of the first cassette tapes I ever got and between my dad and I we played it until it barely worked anymore. For a long time this wasn't available as a cd, but last year at Christmas I found copies of it and got a copy for me and my dad. I'm pretty sure it hasn't left either of our cd players since then. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, this music sounds good and it's something I can bond with my parents over.
Key Tracks: She's A Mystery To Me, The Only One, California Blue, You Got It
7. Big & Rich - Horse Of A Different Color (2004)
I'm a rock and roll guy first and foremost so a country album rating this high is a definite coup. This album just has it all though. It really reminds me of a modern day Johnny Cash and how country music used to sound. After all as they say in the first song, rock and roll used to be about Johnny Cash. There are fun songs, deep songs and religious songs on here for a real wild west show. I love this album, unfortunately the Nashville hype caught on too soon and every album they've released since has been commercialized crap.
This is what country music is about. I just wish Big & Rich had taken their own advice and kept making their own music. Their subsequent suckitude though doesn't make this album any less enjoyable.
Key Tracks: Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy), Rollin' (The Ballad Of Big & Rich), Holy Water, Live This Life
6. Pearl Jam - Ten
This album is just a classic. Also buying the 15 year re-release/remix makes me feel old. There are kids in high school who weren't even born yet when this came out. But anyway, this is about the pinnacle of the grunge age, but the one thing that always stood out about Pearl Jam is that they were an evolution of Neil Young. Sure they were grunge, but Mike McCreary still has some wicked guitar chops.
Also back when MTV actually played vidoes, I can remember being really freaked out by the Jeremy video. I'm pretty sure that video on repeat along with Black Hole Sun would drive anyway insane.
The only thing that prevents this from vaulting to the top is the blah-ness of the last few tracks. Not bad, but not nearly as iconic as the first few tracks.
Key Tracks: Alive, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy
I'm sure Kurt Cobain would appreciate the irony that the band that was the lynchpin of grunge had one of their most well received album on an acoustic set. To his credit, he knew exactly what songs would and wouldn't work in this format, something that isn't quite as obvious as it seems if you've ever heard any Chris Cornell acoustic material.
It also flies in the face of common sense to take Dave Grohl's drumming away from songs yet still have them be excellent in a different sort of way. He knew enough not to try to do Smells Like Teen Spirit or a lot of the edgier songs off Nevermind and added enough wrinkles to make it intereseting. He even said F U to MTV who didn't want him to do a cover of a band so obscure as the Meat Puppets, but Lake of Fire is one of the best cuts on here. My favorite, however, has to be Where Did You Sleep Last Night? where even acoustically he gets the nice grungy screaming in on the last verse which always gives me chills. Sadly this was Nirvana's last album. Oh what might have been.
Key Tracks: About A Girl, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Lake Of Fire, Plateau
9. Boston - Boston (1976)
Speaking of hitting the ground running with a debut album...wow. Think they had been building up waiting for a record deal for a while? Every single one of these eight songs received solid radio play and if I had to rank every Boston song all would be in the top ten if not the top 8 themselves. How many albums can you say that about?
Not to mention More Than A Feeling is one of the most infectious songs ever.
Key Tracks: More Than A Feeling, Foreplay/Long Time, Rock & Roll Band
8. Roy Orbison - Mystery Girl (1989)
This is a bit of an oddball pick for me in some regards as it's probably more of a nostalgia love than the music itself actually merits. Roy Orbison is one of the greatest artist and especially vocalist in rock history around from the beginning until his early death in 1988. This album was his comeback of sorts that was a big hit posthumately. It shows how much he was respected in the industry to have Bono and Elvis Costello give him songs for this album. If only Bono would have given him more songs to simply sing instead of spout political dribble, I wouldn't dislike U2 so much. This album along with the concurrent Traveling Wilburys supergroup project thrust the Big O back into the spotlight which was unfortunately after his death.
Most people know the hit single off of here, "You Got It', but every single track on here is good and much like Johnny Cash in his later years the excellent lamenting lost love crooner's voice only got wearier and truer with age.
This was one of the first cassette tapes I ever got and between my dad and I we played it until it barely worked anymore. For a long time this wasn't available as a cd, but last year at Christmas I found copies of it and got a copy for me and my dad. I'm pretty sure it hasn't left either of our cd players since then. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, this music sounds good and it's something I can bond with my parents over.
Key Tracks: She's A Mystery To Me, The Only One, California Blue, You Got It
7. Big & Rich - Horse Of A Different Color (2004)
I'm a rock and roll guy first and foremost so a country album rating this high is a definite coup. This album just has it all though. It really reminds me of a modern day Johnny Cash and how country music used to sound. After all as they say in the first song, rock and roll used to be about Johnny Cash. There are fun songs, deep songs and religious songs on here for a real wild west show. I love this album, unfortunately the Nashville hype caught on too soon and every album they've released since has been commercialized crap.
This is what country music is about. I just wish Big & Rich had taken their own advice and kept making their own music. Their subsequent suckitude though doesn't make this album any less enjoyable.
Key Tracks: Save A Horse (Ride A Cowboy), Rollin' (The Ballad Of Big & Rich), Holy Water, Live This Life
6. Pearl Jam - Ten
This album is just a classic. Also buying the 15 year re-release/remix makes me feel old. There are kids in high school who weren't even born yet when this came out. But anyway, this is about the pinnacle of the grunge age, but the one thing that always stood out about Pearl Jam is that they were an evolution of Neil Young. Sure they were grunge, but Mike McCreary still has some wicked guitar chops.
Also back when MTV actually played vidoes, I can remember being really freaked out by the Jeremy video. I'm pretty sure that video on repeat along with Black Hole Sun would drive anyway insane.
The only thing that prevents this from vaulting to the top is the blah-ness of the last few tracks. Not bad, but not nearly as iconic as the first few tracks.
Key Tracks: Alive, Even Flow, Black, Jeremy
Great albums (Part 2 15-11)
15. Pink Floyd - The Wall (1979)
The tradeoff to the digital world of music is songs must now stand on their own and the concept of the album is almost completely dead since with the touch of a button you can select a new song to play. It's kind of nice to be able to put on an album that's cohesive all the way.
While the individual songs aren't all stand alone great (although a few are) the album as a whole works wonderfully telling a story in a manner Pete Townshend would be proud of.
While Roger Waters was by all reports a jerk and this album did as much as anything else to drive the rest of the band away you can't deny its brilliance.
Key Tracks: Hey You, Comfortably Numb, The Trial
14. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
The best album from the best singer/songwriter of all time. Proof that you don't have to be a studied musician to make good music. Broken down, Dylan has pretty awful vocals and his harmonica playing is haphazard at best, but somehow it all works.
From the first hit on the snare drum to open up this album is almost flawless. Mr. Zimmerman may have made numerous fans unhappy with his switch to electric, but his second full electric album does it right and even ends with an 11 minute acoustic song as a jab to the critics.
Key Tracks: Like A Rolling Stone, Desolation Row, Ballad Of A Thin Man
13. Led Zeppelin - II (1969)
While Led Zeppelin is seen as a cornerstone of classic rock and one of the first "heavy metal" bands to come about, their roots are firmly planted in the blues. Jimmy Page was a member of the Yardbirds after all.
While IV may get the most glory due to Stairway, I prefer the more raw bluesy songs off this album as my choice Zep cuts. Zeppelin might be so popular now they are ever so slightly overrated, but this album really shows everyone's strengths together and individually. This album has both one of the greatest guitar solos ever ("Heartbreaker") and drums ("Moby Dick")
Key Tracks: Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should Never Be
12. The Who - Who's Next (1971)
When I was 24 years old, I was trying to go out with my friends as much as possible and hit on college girls. Pete Townshend composed a freaking rock opera. Advantage: Townshend
Really I could make a strong argument for the Who being the second greatest band ever. They get respect, but are still underrated. Pete Townshend is a genius who shows intellectual rock can still in fact rock.
From 1969-1973 The Who released Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia, any of which could have appeared on this list, but I'm going with the one that contains two of my favorite songs ever.
The Who really had it all. In addition to Townshend, Daltry was the perfect vocalist and Entwhistle and Moon provided excellent rhythm. While maniacally pounded the drums does not a good drummer make (look at most modern metal bands), manaically pounding the drums while still somehow maintaining a discernable rhythm is brilliant.
Key Tracks: Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Riley, Going Mobile
11. Green Day - Dookie (1994)
Remember when Green Day was good and not just another generic pop-punk band? Yeah I don't really either until I listen to this album and am reminded of it.
This album was also just innocent enough to not get banned on the school bus or during music class, at least until Longview came on. I hated censorship when I was 12 as much as I do now.
Since Weezer's blue album didn't make the list this seems like a good time to bring this up since Green Day and Weezer's careers have followed such similar trajectories.
I think anyone who grew up in the 90's intrinsically knows all the songs from that era. Last summer I was back at my college fraternity house helping work on re-tiling the kitchen floor. We had about 10-15 guys doing various tasks around the kitchen while listening to music. "Buddy Holly" was playing while everyone was doing their thing. Then like clockwork, everybody paused what they were doing belted "DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE" then promptly went back to what they were doing. It was like an involuntary reaction.
Key Tracks: Basket Case, When I Come Around, Longview, Pulling Teeth
The tradeoff to the digital world of music is songs must now stand on their own and the concept of the album is almost completely dead since with the touch of a button you can select a new song to play. It's kind of nice to be able to put on an album that's cohesive all the way.
While the individual songs aren't all stand alone great (although a few are) the album as a whole works wonderfully telling a story in a manner Pete Townshend would be proud of.
While Roger Waters was by all reports a jerk and this album did as much as anything else to drive the rest of the band away you can't deny its brilliance.
Key Tracks: Hey You, Comfortably Numb, The Trial
14. Bob Dylan - Highway 61 Revisited
The best album from the best singer/songwriter of all time. Proof that you don't have to be a studied musician to make good music. Broken down, Dylan has pretty awful vocals and his harmonica playing is haphazard at best, but somehow it all works.
From the first hit on the snare drum to open up this album is almost flawless. Mr. Zimmerman may have made numerous fans unhappy with his switch to electric, but his second full electric album does it right and even ends with an 11 minute acoustic song as a jab to the critics.
Key Tracks: Like A Rolling Stone, Desolation Row, Ballad Of A Thin Man
13. Led Zeppelin - II (1969)
While Led Zeppelin is seen as a cornerstone of classic rock and one of the first "heavy metal" bands to come about, their roots are firmly planted in the blues. Jimmy Page was a member of the Yardbirds after all.
While IV may get the most glory due to Stairway, I prefer the more raw bluesy songs off this album as my choice Zep cuts. Zeppelin might be so popular now they are ever so slightly overrated, but this album really shows everyone's strengths together and individually. This album has both one of the greatest guitar solos ever ("Heartbreaker") and drums ("Moby Dick")
Key Tracks: Heartbreaker, Whole Lotta Love, What Is And What Should Never Be
12. The Who - Who's Next (1971)
When I was 24 years old, I was trying to go out with my friends as much as possible and hit on college girls. Pete Townshend composed a freaking rock opera. Advantage: Townshend
Really I could make a strong argument for the Who being the second greatest band ever. They get respect, but are still underrated. Pete Townshend is a genius who shows intellectual rock can still in fact rock.
From 1969-1973 The Who released Tommy, Who's Next and Quadrophenia, any of which could have appeared on this list, but I'm going with the one that contains two of my favorite songs ever.
The Who really had it all. In addition to Townshend, Daltry was the perfect vocalist and Entwhistle and Moon provided excellent rhythm. While maniacally pounded the drums does not a good drummer make (look at most modern metal bands), manaically pounding the drums while still somehow maintaining a discernable rhythm is brilliant.
Key Tracks: Won't Get Fooled Again, Baba O'Riley, Going Mobile
11. Green Day - Dookie (1994)
Remember when Green Day was good and not just another generic pop-punk band? Yeah I don't really either until I listen to this album and am reminded of it.
This album was also just innocent enough to not get banned on the school bus or during music class, at least until Longview came on. I hated censorship when I was 12 as much as I do now.
Since Weezer's blue album didn't make the list this seems like a good time to bring this up since Green Day and Weezer's careers have followed such similar trajectories.
I think anyone who grew up in the 90's intrinsically knows all the songs from that era. Last summer I was back at my college fraternity house helping work on re-tiling the kitchen floor. We had about 10-15 guys doing various tasks around the kitchen while listening to music. "Buddy Holly" was playing while everyone was doing their thing. Then like clockwork, everybody paused what they were doing belted "DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE-DIL-DE" then promptly went back to what they were doing. It was like an involuntary reaction.
Key Tracks: Basket Case, When I Come Around, Longview, Pulling Teeth
Greatest albums (Part 1 20-16)
Just because I've always felt like compiling a list like this. Ground rules: Live albums count, greatest hits packages don't. These aren't necessarily meant to be the consensus best, just ones that I personally love or have special meaning to me. Onto the list.
Honorable mention: Because it's a greatest hits package it doesn't qualify for the list, but one of my favorite memories of college was gathering around with some friends from the dorm, drinking and singing along to Garth The Hits on a lazy Friday night. That disc was my gateway to liking country music.
20. Concrete Blonde - Live in Brazil (2003)
I believe the biggest respect you can pay a band is to say they put on a great live show, which is really what music is all about. Sometimes those bands have trouble conveying that over to a studio recording, which is why I love live albums anytime I can find them.
Don't get me wrong, Concrete Blonde's studio recordings are still plenty good and I still find it perplexing that they didn't hit it bigger in the 90's. As is it "Joey" and "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" received some regular radio airplay, but other than that they stayed pretty well underground.
Which is a shame, because Jim Mankey was an excellent guitarist with some almost R.E.M. style pop hooks at times, but also shades of punk and 80's pop at times as well. What really made Concrete Blonde great though, was the magnificent voice of Johnette Napolitano and the voice only got more powerful and amazing live.
I'm much more of a music person than lyrical person, but sometimes the vocal performance can just put things over the top and this album's got it all. Never a stranger to controversial songs, this live set has them all. Song about AIDS? Check. Song about gun control? Check. Song about alcoholism? Check. Throw in a goth rock song and a Leonard Cohen cover bake at 350 and serve warm.
On a Leonard Cohen tangent, I love the man's lyrics. I truly do, but he has got to be one of the worst performers ever so I love when someone with actual talent remakes his hits.
Key tracks: God Is A Bullet, Joey, Tomorrow Wendy, Everybody Knows, Take Me Home
19. Counting Crows - August And Everything After (1993)
Oddly juxtaposed next to a great live album is a band that put on quite possibly the worst live show I've ever seen, but I still can't deny the greatness of this album. When I got my first cd player for my 13th birthday, this cd along with Tom Petty's greatest hits were almost constantly playing.
Of course, Mr Jones was the huge hit off this album, but most of the rest of the album has a much more distinct mellow feel to it. And I really do want to be Bob Dylan. I've already got the acoustic guitar, harmonica and ability to mumble down. Now if I could just nail the songwriting poetry I'd be good to go.
Key Tracks: Mr. Jones, Round Here, Omaha
18. Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
I know being a semi-music snob, I should fundamentally dislike cock rock, but I fully embrace it, not just as a guilty pleasure, but as legimately good music. Music doesn't need to be complex to be good. Hair metal proves this point to a tee.
That being said, lumping all hair metal together is kind of unfair to bands that were actually talented. Crue isn't just good hair metal music, it's good metal music period. And this along with Shout At The Devil is their quintessential album. But since I was 1 when Shout At the Devil came out, I'm going with this one.
I had forgotten how much I enjoy this album until it was released to the Rock Band discography. Red White and Crue is usually in my rotation since I get more of the essential songs on that, but the absolute best are all on here.
Key Tracks: Kickstart My Heart, Dr. Feelgood, Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
17. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
Johnny Cash like fine wine just got better with age. The last album he released before his death is definitive proof of that. At the very least, you have to admit this is the greatest recording ever made by anyone over the age of 70.
I read a quote one time that said, "Johnny Cash could sing the phone book and make it sound great" which is almost unassuredly true, but his American recordings with Rick Rubin definitely prove this as all but one song on here is a cover (some of his own older songs) and everything sounds great even though it's only his voice, an acoustic guitar and an occasional piano.
Everytime I hear NIN version of "Hurt" I have to remind myself it's the original and Cash's is the cover. Trent Reznor even renounced that song, saying he couldn't do it any better than Johnny Cash. It's almost like it was written for him.
Key Tracks: Hurt, The Man Comes Around, Give My Love To Rose
16. Cowboy Mouth - Live At The Zoo (2004)
Probably the least known band you'll see in this list, and probably the best live band you'll ever see. Describing a Cowboy Mouth show is futile. I can't possibly put into words how awesome of an experience it is. Last time I saw them, I was 3 feet away from Fred's bass drum. When I can't hear by the time I'm 40, I'll still say it was totally worth it.
This is just good straightforward rock with a little punk and a tad bit of a country feel to it at times. This cd is almost on permanant rotation and it's also great music when I'm out on a run. I'm now up to seeing them live at least 5 times and more importantly introducing others to them as well.
This is probably the band I discovered through the most random channel as well. About 4 years ago now my friend Hardy posted a blog entry talking about how his parents were conservative when he was younger and wouldn't let him go see bands like STP, Weezer, Green Day and Cowboy Mouth. One of these things is not like the other, so I decided to seek out this unknown band and it just so happened they were playing live less than a month later. A group of us went to the show and the rest is history.
Key Tracks: Light It On Fire, Everybody Loves Jill, Jenny Says
Honorable mention: Because it's a greatest hits package it doesn't qualify for the list, but one of my favorite memories of college was gathering around with some friends from the dorm, drinking and singing along to Garth The Hits on a lazy Friday night. That disc was my gateway to liking country music.
20. Concrete Blonde - Live in Brazil (2003)
I believe the biggest respect you can pay a band is to say they put on a great live show, which is really what music is all about. Sometimes those bands have trouble conveying that over to a studio recording, which is why I love live albums anytime I can find them.
Don't get me wrong, Concrete Blonde's studio recordings are still plenty good and I still find it perplexing that they didn't hit it bigger in the 90's. As is it "Joey" and "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" received some regular radio airplay, but other than that they stayed pretty well underground.
Which is a shame, because Jim Mankey was an excellent guitarist with some almost R.E.M. style pop hooks at times, but also shades of punk and 80's pop at times as well. What really made Concrete Blonde great though, was the magnificent voice of Johnette Napolitano and the voice only got more powerful and amazing live.
I'm much more of a music person than lyrical person, but sometimes the vocal performance can just put things over the top and this album's got it all. Never a stranger to controversial songs, this live set has them all. Song about AIDS? Check. Song about gun control? Check. Song about alcoholism? Check. Throw in a goth rock song and a Leonard Cohen cover bake at 350 and serve warm.
On a Leonard Cohen tangent, I love the man's lyrics. I truly do, but he has got to be one of the worst performers ever so I love when someone with actual talent remakes his hits.
Key tracks: God Is A Bullet, Joey, Tomorrow Wendy, Everybody Knows, Take Me Home
19. Counting Crows - August And Everything After (1993)
Oddly juxtaposed next to a great live album is a band that put on quite possibly the worst live show I've ever seen, but I still can't deny the greatness of this album. When I got my first cd player for my 13th birthday, this cd along with Tom Petty's greatest hits were almost constantly playing.
Of course, Mr Jones was the huge hit off this album, but most of the rest of the album has a much more distinct mellow feel to it. And I really do want to be Bob Dylan. I've already got the acoustic guitar, harmonica and ability to mumble down. Now if I could just nail the songwriting poetry I'd be good to go.
Key Tracks: Mr. Jones, Round Here, Omaha
18. Motley Crue - Dr. Feelgood (1989)
I know being a semi-music snob, I should fundamentally dislike cock rock, but I fully embrace it, not just as a guilty pleasure, but as legimately good music. Music doesn't need to be complex to be good. Hair metal proves this point to a tee.
That being said, lumping all hair metal together is kind of unfair to bands that were actually talented. Crue isn't just good hair metal music, it's good metal music period. And this along with Shout At The Devil is their quintessential album. But since I was 1 when Shout At the Devil came out, I'm going with this one.
I had forgotten how much I enjoy this album until it was released to the Rock Band discography. Red White and Crue is usually in my rotation since I get more of the essential songs on that, but the absolute best are all on here.
Key Tracks: Kickstart My Heart, Dr. Feelgood, Don't Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
17. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around (2002)
Johnny Cash like fine wine just got better with age. The last album he released before his death is definitive proof of that. At the very least, you have to admit this is the greatest recording ever made by anyone over the age of 70.
I read a quote one time that said, "Johnny Cash could sing the phone book and make it sound great" which is almost unassuredly true, but his American recordings with Rick Rubin definitely prove this as all but one song on here is a cover (some of his own older songs) and everything sounds great even though it's only his voice, an acoustic guitar and an occasional piano.
Everytime I hear NIN version of "Hurt" I have to remind myself it's the original and Cash's is the cover. Trent Reznor even renounced that song, saying he couldn't do it any better than Johnny Cash. It's almost like it was written for him.
Key Tracks: Hurt, The Man Comes Around, Give My Love To Rose
16. Cowboy Mouth - Live At The Zoo (2004)
Probably the least known band you'll see in this list, and probably the best live band you'll ever see. Describing a Cowboy Mouth show is futile. I can't possibly put into words how awesome of an experience it is. Last time I saw them, I was 3 feet away from Fred's bass drum. When I can't hear by the time I'm 40, I'll still say it was totally worth it.
This is just good straightforward rock with a little punk and a tad bit of a country feel to it at times. This cd is almost on permanant rotation and it's also great music when I'm out on a run. I'm now up to seeing them live at least 5 times and more importantly introducing others to them as well.
This is probably the band I discovered through the most random channel as well. About 4 years ago now my friend Hardy posted a blog entry talking about how his parents were conservative when he was younger and wouldn't let him go see bands like STP, Weezer, Green Day and Cowboy Mouth. One of these things is not like the other, so I decided to seek out this unknown band and it just so happened they were playing live less than a month later. A group of us went to the show and the rest is history.
Key Tracks: Light It On Fire, Everybody Loves Jill, Jenny Says
The perfect woman is like the perfect rock and roll song
I want to admit I have an addiction. I am addicted to rock and roll. It's the most trustworthy thing I have in my life. I'm not really sure what that says about me personally, but it's a good starting point for a rambling narcicistic essay.
I probably have more relationships with people based off interest in music than any other common element. There are some people I communicate with who I know nothing else about other than their taste in music. And frankly, I don't want to know more because one-dimensional relationships are often the easiest to maintain. I really don't care where they are from, or how many siblings they have. I just want to be assured that if I'm at a bar and a Foo Fighters songs comes on they'll sing along to it with me.
I have a wide variety of friends and a few close ones, but really everyone ends up being categorized by their taste in music at some point or another. I have one group of friends who listen to classic rock, another that listen to country, another that listen to only alternative music and my closest friends tend to have a very eclectic taste as I do.
My problem is I tend to lump women in these categories too. I like to fancy myself a very intellectual person who weighs the pros and cons and look at multiple sides of the situation, but if I see a cute girl belting out Journey, it trumps anything else. Women become caricatures of the music they love and it's what I associate when I think of them. One way or another, I always find myself dating girls who listen to rock and/or metal. They are just more fun to me.
When my last serious girlfriend and I broke up, my first two thoughts were
1) I'm going to miss her dog
2) She got me hooked on Barenaked Ladies deeper catalogue. Am I still going to be able to like them after this?
Admittedly, she had been torpedoing things for a few months to the point where I had already come to detest her, but it struck me as kind of odd those were the first two things that popped in my mind after the longest relationships I've had was ending. Happily, since I liked them before the Barenaked Ladies survived the breakup, so at least something good came out of it.
To paraphrase Chuck Klosterman, guys like strip clubs because strippers are their fantasy not reality. It's easy to separate real relationships and strippers in our minds. I think most guys want the girl next door with a wild side which frankly I'm convinced doesn't exist. My perfect girl can appreciate the nuances of Radiohead and fine wine one night and drink cheap beer and dance on the table to Pour Some Sugar On Me the next. That's why men love metal (and especially 80's music so much). It's a fantasy. I'm a fairly conservative guy. I've never done an illegal narcotic in my life and have had very few one night stands, mostly in college. That said, I love sleaze rock rife with sexual innuendo. It's a fantasy not a possibility. I don't actually want the kind of girl referenced in these songs. I just want the girl who also sees these songs as fantasty, but is still grounded in reality.
In the meantime, I'll just keep rocking out with my friends hoping to find that girl who will talk dirty to me....Uh!
I probably have more relationships with people based off interest in music than any other common element. There are some people I communicate with who I know nothing else about other than their taste in music. And frankly, I don't want to know more because one-dimensional relationships are often the easiest to maintain. I really don't care where they are from, or how many siblings they have. I just want to be assured that if I'm at a bar and a Foo Fighters songs comes on they'll sing along to it with me.
I have a wide variety of friends and a few close ones, but really everyone ends up being categorized by their taste in music at some point or another. I have one group of friends who listen to classic rock, another that listen to country, another that listen to only alternative music and my closest friends tend to have a very eclectic taste as I do.
My problem is I tend to lump women in these categories too. I like to fancy myself a very intellectual person who weighs the pros and cons and look at multiple sides of the situation, but if I see a cute girl belting out Journey, it trumps anything else. Women become caricatures of the music they love and it's what I associate when I think of them. One way or another, I always find myself dating girls who listen to rock and/or metal. They are just more fun to me.
When my last serious girlfriend and I broke up, my first two thoughts were
1) I'm going to miss her dog
2) She got me hooked on Barenaked Ladies deeper catalogue. Am I still going to be able to like them after this?
Admittedly, she had been torpedoing things for a few months to the point where I had already come to detest her, but it struck me as kind of odd those were the first two things that popped in my mind after the longest relationships I've had was ending. Happily, since I liked them before the Barenaked Ladies survived the breakup, so at least something good came out of it.
To paraphrase Chuck Klosterman, guys like strip clubs because strippers are their fantasy not reality. It's easy to separate real relationships and strippers in our minds. I think most guys want the girl next door with a wild side which frankly I'm convinced doesn't exist. My perfect girl can appreciate the nuances of Radiohead and fine wine one night and drink cheap beer and dance on the table to Pour Some Sugar On Me the next. That's why men love metal (and especially 80's music so much). It's a fantasy. I'm a fairly conservative guy. I've never done an illegal narcotic in my life and have had very few one night stands, mostly in college. That said, I love sleaze rock rife with sexual innuendo. It's a fantasy not a possibility. I don't actually want the kind of girl referenced in these songs. I just want the girl who also sees these songs as fantasty, but is still grounded in reality.
In the meantime, I'll just keep rocking out with my friends hoping to find that girl who will talk dirty to me....Uh!
Album Review Guns 'N Roses-Chinese Democracy
Alright I think it's finally time. I wanted to let this one soak in for a few months before I could give it a fair review. The result: far from the greatest album ever, but still enjoyable.
You see, Guns N Roses are like the ridiculously hot chick you dated in high school (or at the very least dreamt about dating). Appetite for Destruction was when you first met her freshman year. The feeling was intense. You were absolutely floored at how perfect she was. Over the next few years, the dynamics changed and you found out she was a little crazy, but still appreciated her attributes. Then you had a nasty break-up just before you left for college (probably because you refused to remove your top hat), heard gossip about her through friends, but didn't actually see her until your 15 year class reunion.
When you hear she is there, you are reminded of all the old memories and how perfect things were in high school (even if they all weren't) and seeing her again is kind of a disappointment. But then you take a step back and look at it objectively. She's definitely still crazy and has a few more years on her now, but she's still more attractive than almost every other women there, If you would have randomly met her in a bar, you would think it was a big score. The expectations were bigger than the reality though so it's a bit of a letdown.
Chinese Democracy is that woman at the reunion. There's really no reason to expect another Appetite For Destruction or even Lies or Use Your Illusion, but you can't help but be disappointed anyway that it's not. There are some good songs, some bad songs and some in between songs on this disc. Knowing the aging curve of musicians especially ones that lived as hard as Axl and co, it's really ludicrous to expect another masterpiece. Nobody expected Paul McCartney to make another Sgt. Pepper's in 1982 so why should we expect a 40 year old musician to re-create one of the top 5 albums of all time.
I may sound like an Axl apologist, which I very well may be. Guns N Roses was one of the first bands I remember liking when little, even if my 7 year old brain didn't understand Mr. Brownstone was a drug reference. Street of Dreams (a.k.a November Rain II) is one of the finest Guns N Roses songs I've ever heard. Catcher In The Rye is well, catchy and IRS and Better are among the highlights too. After 3+ months this disc is no longer in my car rotation, but a few select tracks are still on my iPod when I need a GNR fix. It's not groundbreaking or great, but it's better than 99% of the other drivel that goes for rock and roll these days, so have some patience, lower your expectations for another Appetite and just enjoy a good solid rock album.
You see, Guns N Roses are like the ridiculously hot chick you dated in high school (or at the very least dreamt about dating). Appetite for Destruction was when you first met her freshman year. The feeling was intense. You were absolutely floored at how perfect she was. Over the next few years, the dynamics changed and you found out she was a little crazy, but still appreciated her attributes. Then you had a nasty break-up just before you left for college (probably because you refused to remove your top hat), heard gossip about her through friends, but didn't actually see her until your 15 year class reunion.
When you hear she is there, you are reminded of all the old memories and how perfect things were in high school (even if they all weren't) and seeing her again is kind of a disappointment. But then you take a step back and look at it objectively. She's definitely still crazy and has a few more years on her now, but she's still more attractive than almost every other women there, If you would have randomly met her in a bar, you would think it was a big score. The expectations were bigger than the reality though so it's a bit of a letdown.
Chinese Democracy is that woman at the reunion. There's really no reason to expect another Appetite For Destruction or even Lies or Use Your Illusion, but you can't help but be disappointed anyway that it's not. There are some good songs, some bad songs and some in between songs on this disc. Knowing the aging curve of musicians especially ones that lived as hard as Axl and co, it's really ludicrous to expect another masterpiece. Nobody expected Paul McCartney to make another Sgt. Pepper's in 1982 so why should we expect a 40 year old musician to re-create one of the top 5 albums of all time.
I may sound like an Axl apologist, which I very well may be. Guns N Roses was one of the first bands I remember liking when little, even if my 7 year old brain didn't understand Mr. Brownstone was a drug reference. Street of Dreams (a.k.a November Rain II) is one of the finest Guns N Roses songs I've ever heard. Catcher In The Rye is well, catchy and IRS and Better are among the highlights too. After 3+ months this disc is no longer in my car rotation, but a few select tracks are still on my iPod when I need a GNR fix. It's not groundbreaking or great, but it's better than 99% of the other drivel that goes for rock and roll these days, so have some patience, lower your expectations for another Appetite and just enjoy a good solid rock album.
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