Sex Drugs and Rock N Roll Forever

Lollapalooza: Sunday

2011-08-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Completely dead on our feet, we decide to make it all the way through Day 3 we needed a break from the scorching afternoon sessions as there was no one we wanted to see until 4 anyway. We headed to Revolution Brewing for lunch which I can't recommend enough.

Our main goal for Sunday was staking out a good position for Foo Fighters. Unfortunately this meant we had to cut Cage The Elephant out of the schedule whom we all really wanted to see, but was the only band on our revised schedule not playing at Music Unlimited. Also Flogging Molly would have been great, but I've seen them twice before and they were on directly opposite of the Cars.

We got to the stage right as the Cars launched into their first song and pushed as far as we could up into the crowd. It's always nice to have a few nostalgia acts around. The Cars are a classic rock staple, but a little past their prime. Nothing special, but it was still nice to say I've seen them. The heat was bearing down intensely though as I chugged through my Gatorade as well as a bottle of water I brought within about 10 minutes of arriving. The girlfriend went out for reinforcements during the show and searched for a camelbak to keep us hydrated as we anticipated moving closer for the Arctic Monkeys show in blazing heat. She found no camelbak and instead came back armed with 3 ponchos.

This would prove very wise as the oppressive heat gave way to a very dark and swirling clouds a few minutes before the Arctic Monkeys were to begin their set. The already mud packed field was getting much worse as buckets of rains or a Box of Rain for deadheads out there poured down. All around mud people were forming as it was impossible to stay clean and dry in this environment. Finally the rain subsided and the Monkeys came out. A band I support, but find overproduced at times delivered exactly that live. Some of the drumming was a little heavy handed, but as they settled in for the stretch drive of their weather shortened set they got the crowd dancing and singing along to their big hits. The good thing about the rain delay: Foo Fighters were now only 35 minutes away.

Now the moment we've been waiting for all weekend and really the impetus of the trip. We were exhausted, wet and muddy, sore backs, hip flexors and feet that were on fire. The second Dave Grohl set foot on the stage it was all worth it. After releasing a string of just ok albums, earlier this year the Foo released Wasting Light a hard rocking masterpiece better than anything they've put out this side of The Colour and Shape. They immediately launched into the album opener Bridges Burning. Oh you can now add a sore neck to my list of maladies. Headbanging to this is natural instinct.

After playing Rope and launching into The Pretender the skies let loose again. This does faze Dave Grohl. He is superman. They ripped through a fantastic performance as I am now getting a little hoarse as well screaming the chorus of this song. Mother nature is not going to put a damper on this show. They play through the whole storm. There was one moment that was picture worthy when during Learn To Fly a close up on Dave Grohl appeared on the monitor with rain flying all over the place while he was chugging along on the guitar. Epic.

The rain settled back down and at this point really no one cared if they were wet or muddy. We knew we had no chance of leaving the grounds clean. My shoes are still recovering from the mud bath we went through while walking out. Maybe another washer cycle? Doing everything Cee Lo didn't Grohl keeps the crowd engaged during the whole show and they play an excellent mix of songs both old and new. I don't get my far fetched wish of "Hey Johnny Park", but it doesn't matter. This is great.

As the time is nearing closer to 10 p.m. they anounce there is no encore. They aren't leaving the stage, just playing until the time is up. This is what rock and roll is supposed to be. Finally after heaping praise on Lolla founder and Jane's Addiction lead singer Perry Ferrel they launch into the last song of the night and one of my personal all time favorites. I don't think anything could top singing "Everlong" in the rainy muddy field. It's the highlight of the whole weekend. I doubt I'll ever do the whole 3 day Lolla thing again and I don't know if everything will ever feel this real forever or if everything could ever be this good again. All I know is right now this is the pinnacle of a rock and roll show and I loved every minute of it.

Lollapalooza: Saturday

2011-08-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

Having learned the lessons and the tricks of maneuvering and surviving Lolla, we set out for day two of the weekend of music.

Coming in the north entrance, we were going to head all the way south, but while walking by the Playstation stage we enjoyed what we heard from Chico Trujillo. A band that was not our initial schedule, they were a latin jam band. I believe we used the term "Latin Polka Boy" to describe them. Quite an unexpected treat and I'll be looking up some of their stuff now that I know they are good live.

We headed down to the Music Unlimited stage to catch a day set from Fitz & The Tantrums. A fairly new band that so far has just released an EP and a single album, they have a wonderful classic motown sound led by French lead singer Fitz. They proudly say they feature no guitars in their band, but the sound is no worse for wear as they have some wonderful organ, saxophone and everything else in the kitchen sink going. I was disappointed they didn't play my favorite "We Don't Need No Love Songs", but they closed out with "Money Grabber" which I've heard playing quite a bit lately on XM Alt Nation. A tremendously catchy song, I really hope this band catches on. The live performance was good but not transcendent, but a scorching hot sunny day in mid-afternoon isn't exactly prime set time.

Again a mid-afternoon lull without any bands we are dying to see. We are dying to get out of the heat though so we seek out a pub to get some dinner and drinks before coming back later in the evening and stop by the Deftones on our way back down south to camp out for the rest of the night. Luckily they played "House of Change" the one song of theirs I actually liked when I was in college. The other couple songs we heard were pretty boring, generic and bad, much like everything else besides that one song. Meh.

We camped out as close as possible on dry land to catch Cee Lo and stake out our good position for Eminem at the same stage later. Cee Lo was ummm...interesting. Beyond the wonderful "Fuck You", a few Gnarls Barkley songs and a couple other listens, I was expected a soul/funk brigade and really didn't know what it was going to be like. Ceel Lo came out dressed in something out of a heavy metal cliche with big spiked shoulder pads and a leather clad all female band. They then ripped into a searing cover of Danzig's "Mother" wtf? Alright that was cool and unexpected, but the show went downhill from there. The whole show seemed very out of sync with lots of misstarts and confusion. Cee Lo tried to play to the crowd which I'm assuming was there mostly to see Eminem later and got very irritated when they didn't respond as expected. He pretty much threw a hissy fit and was very bizarre. In addition to Danzig he did covers of Violent Femmes and Billy Idol and many keyboard/tape loops of other popular classic rock songs without delivering. It really seemed like the work of a not talented artist which I now have to wonder if Cee Lo really is after seeing such a horrid performance. He played a mediocre rendition of "Fuck You" which was probably dedicated to the fans at that point then left the stage 15 shy of his set time, the only act we saw that didn't use the fully allotted time.

Finally after a mad scramble to the bathroom and to bring some more water back for the group, we settled in for Eminem. It looked like everyone else had the same idea. I love My Morning Jacket and would still like to see them, but Eminem was our obvious choice for the Saturday headliner. The crowd was pumped up and I'm pretty sure we were some of the only few in the whole crowd, or at least the only ones who staked a claim to a good seat that weren't smoking during the show. Apparently Eminem is clean now, but his major fans are anything but.

I have to admit I am not familiar with his whole discography as my taste lean more toward the rock than rap, but Eminem does transcend that. He's a amazing song writer regardless of genre and I was very eager to see him perform as I've heard he's even better live. The first half or so of the show was mostly newer stuff that I wasn't familiar with, but it was all pretty good so I'll probably get on Rhapsody sometime this week and catch up with his new album. He then launched into Stan and did a medly of his older hits from his days before recovery. As 10 o'clock neared there were still two songs left that it was pretty obvious he was going to play. He launched into "Not Afraid" which is incredibly powerful live with the whole crowd singing along with the chorus. After massive cheers he came back for an encore of what else but "Lose Yourself". I've written about this song before and it is still amazing every time I listen to it. This isn't just my favorite rap song, it's one of my favorite anything songs ever. I love the way it starts out slow with the steady drum and guitar beat throughout. As the song intensifies, so does Eminem's voice along with the pace of his wording. The frantic last verse races to get back to the final chorus as 50,000 fans sing along. Yeah it doesn't get much better than this. I expected big things and Eminem surpassed even those heightened expectations.

Weary, dirty and stinky we head back to the apartment to catch some much needed sleep before the final day.

Lollapalooza: Friday

2011-08-09T08:33:00.000-07:00

After several years of throwing around the idea, I finally found some takers and decided to attend my first ever Lollapalooza. As we set out Thursday evening, the weekend seemed to be lining up perfectly. It may be hot, but only 80's hot and forecast for clear skies almost all weekend. Also we found a great Lolla app to easily navigate our days.

After a little delay caused by even greater than normal amounts of traffic on I-94 and a long line to go through security and in the gates, we made it inside the grounds at Grant Park at around 2p.m causing us to miss TAB the Band an up and coming, but retro sounding band formed by two sons of famed Aerosmith guitarist Joe Perry.

We walked to the Bud Light stage and caught the last 5 or so songs by Young the Giant. The lead singer seemed to have good energy and a few of their songs were catchy. They finished out their set with "My Body" an incredibly catchy pop-rock piece that I hope is receiving sufficient airplay around the country. I really dig that song and it's the only one of theirs I knew prior to the show.

Of course the reason we were at that stage was to move up after they departed to get premium standing space for the next act at that stage, Grace Potter & the Nocturnals. I saw them in Indy a few months ago after discovering them earlier this year and if you've never been to a show it's simply a must. They are one of the best current bands around. Led by the sexy Grace Potter a sort of Tina Turner meets Janis Joplin presence, the band is very tight and talented putting on one hell of a live show.

I really don't know how this band hasn't hit mainstream yet although I have heard Paris (Oh La La) played on some trailers and teasers so maybe it's coming. On their three albums they've had it all so far: Flat out rockers: check Bluesy jams: check Softer ballads in the vein of a Sara Barellies: check. As good as their albums are all the songs are amped up even further during a live performance resulting in the closer "Medicine" where the entire band ends up beating on the drum set simultaneously while Grace Potter has a near wardrobe malfunction from all ends. As always they slay the crowd, leaving everyone wanting more. One hour is just not enough Grace for my life.

A mid-afternoon lull and severe dehydration lead us to seek out some food and air conditioning before coming back to the park in the early evening. My friend wanted to see A Perfect Circle so we headed to the Music Unlimited Stage. My view on this band has always been that they are very mediocre. None of the couple songs I heard live did anything to dispell this notion.

After a few songs, we went to stake out some good seats for OK Go playing at the tiny Google+ tent. The band came out dressed in mono-chromatic Google colored suits and delivered a great pop rock show. I like this band, but really can only say I knew a handful of their songs. They brought at the handbells at one point showing some amazing unique skills. All in all they put on a very entertaining crowd pleasing show ramping up toward the end with their better songs resulting in a show closing crowd sing along version of "This Too Shall Pass" which is personally my favorite song of theirs.

Afterwards we hurried back to the Music Unlimited stage where Muse had already started their show. As we were walking we heard the steady drone of "Uprising" already playing. Apparently Muse isn't into saving their best for last following that up quickly with "Supermissive Black Hole". Also after every song they seemed to do a little outro guitar lick from a classic song such as Back in Black along with a lot of great fireworks and other special effects. I've heard Muse put on a great show and so far not disappointed. We wanted to catch Coldplay as well and I remarked that since they had already played two great ones, if they played my favorite "Hysteria" now it'd be perfect and we could catch both. Sure enough the next song the droning guitar and steady drum kicks in and I'm in heaven. The drumming on this song is just amazing.

All the way back across the park we go to catch Coldplay which has a lot more sizable audience than Muse. As we are walking up we hear them start "The Scientist" which is by far my favorite Coldplay song. Everything is coming up Milhouse tonight. We stake a claim along the very west side of the field as barely any room was available. After a few lackluster songs, we admit we are all beat and don't feel like sticking around another hour to hear "Viva La Vida" the only other Coldplay song I really care for so we call it a night and hoof back to the apartment. We learned a lesson about pacing ourselves and setting up our schedule in order to get decent spots for our most highly sought after bands. Next up: Day Two.

A simple way to determine the best song

2011-06-14T12:14:00.000-07:00

After an interested debate over whether "Everlong" is one of the greatest songs ever (My vote: yes), I had an epiphany. What makes a song one of the "best ever"? After all, I love hundreds, thousands even of songs from all different genres and time periods. How can they possible be compared to each other?

The simple definition: If a song randomly comes on the radio while driving by myself, there is no way at all I ever turn the station until it's over.

Some songs are great sing along songs and great for party atmospheres (for example Whitesnake). Some songs are great to listen to with the windows rolled down on a nice spring day (for example Santeria). Some are great when you are in a melancholy mood (for example Fake Plastic Trees). The best songs are good in every cause you can possibly think of.

I love "Sweet Home Alabama" and consider it a landmark song, but sometimes I'm just not in the mood to listen to it, or at the very least explore the other channels just to see what's on before coming back to it. No matter what kind of mood I'm in, if I hear "Everlong" or "Thunder Road" on the radio, I'm hooked. That is what for me defines the tag "best songs ever".

Best songs of 2010

2011-02-15T11:08:00.000-08:00

After consuming all lists I've come across and giving a shot to some of the songs I hadn't heard until the best of lists, I've come up with my own twisted version of 2010's best. As with most years, I disagree with a good majority of the lists although at least this year the consensus number one isn't something as bland as Animal Collective was in 2009. I still don't see how people stayed awake during "My Girls" much less thought it was the song of the year.

While Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend, Gorillaz, and Elizabeth Cook all released albums I really liked, none of their individual songs made the cut. Worshiping at the altar of Springsteen, I of course found The Promise a great listen, but since most of the stuff on there was recorded in the late 70's, it doesn't really apply. The list goes to 11 because I couldn't decide which one I wanted to cut.

11. "Congratulations" - MGMT

While their sophomore album of the same name was quite a disappointment overall compared to the electric feel of their debut album, this song captured me from the very beginning. It almost sounds like a 70's era John Lennon song.

10. "Swim Til You Can't See Water" - Frightened Rabbit

This is a band I would love to see get more recognition. I can't quite put my finger on why I like their stuff so much, but I do. I don't really have much else to say about this song. It's not the greatest song ever written, but in a fairly weak 2010 crop it stands out simply because it's the best song of an album by one of the best bands around.

9. "Good Enough" - Tom Petty

Geezers made quite a strong showing last year. The previously mentioned Bruce Springsteen scraping tracks from the vault of his period as the best artist ever was the highly publicized event, but Neil Young had a great album and Tom Petty, again with the Heartbreakers, came back with a raw bluesy sound similar but yet different from anything they've released before. At almost 60 years old he still puts on a fantastic live show too. It's a shame they picked "First Flash of Freedom" as the lead single to Mojo because it's one of the worst songs on the entire album. This spot was going to Petty, but it was a toss up between this or "I Should've Known" off one of the secretly best albums of the year.

8. "Bang Pop" - Free Energy

The name of this song pretty much says it all. It is essentially a brash unabated pop song with one of the catchiest guitar licks I've heard in a while. The production quality on this is superb, making the guitar lick in the chorus almost sound "underneath" the main hook. I'm really looking forward to hearing more of this band. Everything I've heard has been catchy and well produced.

7. "Harlem River Blues" - Justin Townes Earle

This guy must have learned something from growing up on Copperhead Road. The son of great Americana artist Steve Earle delivers quite possibly the most upbeat song ever about committing suicide. It reminds me of old Johnny Cash gospel tinged music and in a dark way, I suppose it is.

6. "The Diamond Church Street Choir" - The Gaslight Anthem

If I weren't limiting myself to one song per artist, I'd probably just put the track list for this whole album. Why do 2nd albums always get referred to as "sophomore albums" but 3rd albums never as "junior albums"? Well this junior album American Slang from The Gaslight Anthem builds immensely on the first two. They have now released 3 very distinct, yet all very good albums growing closer to the mainstream with every one. Again I picked the best song off what was my favorite album of 2010.

5. "Macon" - Jamey Johnson

If more country music sounded like this, I might be swayed back to mainstream country even though if this song were released 35 years ago it'd be called Southern Rock. An ex-marine turned country singer, Johnson delivers his normal baritone voice to a rocking country number about getting back home to see his girl.

4. "Infinity Guitars" - Sleigh Bells

Sometimes a song comes along that is so far out of left field and so good it just blows my mind. This is one of those songs from last year from the Sleigh Bells debut. Brash female punk has always been a soft spot for me and this is one of the best song titles I've ever heard as well as doubling as what would be a great name for a southern rock band. It starts out with a punk rhythm and goes into overdrive at the end as the "infinity" guitars kick in. Very recommended.

3. "Bloodbuzz Ohio" - The National

This band is very unique. I've been hearing about them for a few years now, and they've always been on the fringe of my musical taste. I could appreciate it, but it didn't jump out at me. Their newest album High Violet has really stepped it up a notch. The more I listen to this song, the more I love it. The lead singer has a very deep baritone voice and his singing style reminds me somewhat of Johnny Cash adapted into an alternative style.

2. "Runaway" - Kanye West

I'm not sure if putting a hip hop song second is a condemnation of 2010 as a whole or justification that arrogance leads to brilliant music that can cross genre comfort zones. No matter what you think of him as a person, Kanye is very talented as a songwriter and especially producer. This song is so beautifully layered and textured and proves a single piano note can be very powerful. The end of this epic song is almost symphonic. My girlfriend who is a classical music aficionado even requests to hear this song every time we're in the car. Another song that gets better every time I hear it.

1. "Fuck You" - Cee Lo Green

I have to admit, even though I'd heard of this song in the summer, it took me quite a while to actually listen to it. Once I saw the title, I just assumed it was another half baked annoying rap song which is about as far from the truth as it could be. Again I learned to never judge a book by its cover. Had I known who Cee Lo Green was, it probably would've been another strike against it although I've learned I apparently hate Danger Mouse because I couldn't stand Gnarls Barkley, but quite enjoy the Cee Lo Green half of that duo.

This is a classic break-up song with a modern twist. I hate censorship and often curse words used in songs are completely unnecessary, but they don't detract from the song here. How many of us have wanted to say the same thing after a particular nasty breakup before? What makes this song fantastic is the soulful singing of Cee Lo. If I ignore the lyrics, I could slip this in a compilation cd of great motown hits and it would sound perfectly in place.

I'm already making a mental list of new releases from this year that have been on my playlist, but what I really hope is more songs come out of the blue to me that are fantastic as I discovered last year.

Deep Tracks Part 1

2010-01-28T06:32:00.000-08:00

I have a never ending thirst to find new exciting music. I've found many times though that doesn't necessarily mean new, just new to me. Even after nearly 20 years of listening to classic rock, I still stumble across lesser known songs by popular artists I come to love. In this series of posts I'll point out some of my personally underrated favorites by popular artists along with reminiscing about when I first discovered the song myself.

Elton John - Mona Lisas And Mad Hatters (Honky Chateau - 1972)

Always one of my favorite artists, Elton has such a back catalog that it can be very cumbersome picking through everything to find the gems that don't appear on greatest hits packages or public opinion. Luckily I have tv to help me out.

A few years ago I got hooked on the new show after "Lost" called "Life On Mars". Sadly it was cancelled after one season as most shows that I actually like are, but they played lots of good 70's music throughout. In the series finale they played this song at the end and I was awestruck by how great it was. It's in the same vein as Tiny Dancer and other piano ballads. It's been in my regular rotation ever since.

Kid Rock - Blue Jeans And A Rosary (Rock N Roll Jesus - 2007)

Juxtaposing Kid Rock and Elton John is strange. I feel kind of wrong doing it. Imagine how surprised I was to hear this song off his very solid Rock N Roll Jesus album. After a few times of listening to it, I said to myself "My God this song (especially the chorus) sounds like an Elton John song". Obviously Kid Rock's vocals can't hold a candle (in the wind) to Elton's, but the use of strings, some of the vocal inflections and even the lyrics to a degree all fit. I could easily see Elton performing this song.

Tom Petty - Louisiana Rain (Damn The Torpedoes - 1979, Live Anthology - 2009)

Honestly I don't know how this one slipped through the cracks all these years. Tom Petty has always been one of my favorite artists since I discovered I loved music and this is one of his better album albeit one that for some reason I don't own. I'm sure I had heard this song at some point in my life, but re-discovered it when the live anthology came out a few years back. Maybe it's because the live version is considerably better than the studio track. It's just your classic Petty tune, but newish to me.

Allman Brothers Band - Seven Turns (Seven Turns -1990)

A product of their nth lineup change, I don't remember this song when it was new so I doubt it received much radio play in my area. I discovered this song about five years ago. I really don't remember the first time I heard it, but I remember instantly loving it. Around that same time, I experienced a rather disheartening breakup and one of the things that got me through was teaching myself how to play this song on guitar. I couldn't find any tabs for it online at the time, so I charted every note and taught it to myself.

Guns N Roses - Estranged (Use Your Illusion II - 1991)

Being a big GNR fan, I do remember this one when it was new, but I feel it still really doesn't get the respect it deserves. Maybe that's because it's a lot like November Rain only not quite as good. This was the third video in the overblown video trilogy following November Rain and Don't Cry which both received significant airplay at the time. Do yourself a favor. Watch the video of this. Maybe it'll push the memory of Slash playing while Fergie butchers one of the best songs ever out of your mind.

CCR - Wrote A Song For Everyone (Green River - 1969)

CCR and John Fogerty crammed a lot of memorable songs into a pretty short timeframe in the late 60's/early 70's. This one I discovered on Chronicles II which is all the lesser known songs still worthy of greatest hits. It's one of my favorites by them. A simple acoustic guitar with ever powerful vocals by Fogerty. I like uniqueness in rock and roll and anytime you hear Fogerty sing you instantly know who it is.

Book Review: Cornflakes with John Lennon by Robert Hilburn

2010-01-28T06:03:00.000-08:00

I have a well earned reputation as the person who knows all about music so when my college roommate visited a few weeks ago he brought along this book for me knowing I'd enjoy it.

While I keep up with the new music scene as well as I can, I often times miss literature like this. I had never heard of the book or Robert Hilburn, but it looked like a very interesting read. Robert Hilburn, as it turns out, was a music critic for many years withe L.A. Times and got to know a lot of the artists he covered personally. This book is more or less about his interactions with a lot of rock and roll's greatest artists ranging from Elvis to Jack White and also U2 (seriously why do people like them so much?)

I was very eager to read about his interactions, but I was a little cautious because I disdain most music critics. At least in today's landscape, critics tend to heap praise on boring sounding indie acts and turn their nose up at anything mainstream. While it's true most mainstream music today is crap, they appear pre-ordained to like and hate certain music without ever having any solid reasoning behind it.

The first chapter put a lot of my fears to rest. It's a very good intro to the book, discussing Mr. Hilburn's child life and his influences in music that really shows the reader a lot about his character and his passion for rock music. I think my favorite thing about his writing is you can tell that being a critic wasn't just a job for him. He makes a good critic because he is actually passionate about the music he is listening to and to me, passion is what rock and roll music is supposed to be. He manages to write the whole book as a fan of rock music, not as a condescending critic. I envy him for being around rock and roll's roots and discovering Elvis and other many great artists on the up.

On a side note it must've been great to be a critic in the 60's and 70's and eagerly awaiting the release of a good new album. I still remember the rush I got as an early teenager discovering all this music that was so great that was released before I was born. It's a bit different though. Once I discovered I liked the Beatles or Springsteen I instantly had their whole catalog at my disposal and didn't have the built up anticipation of seeing what they would do next. Again I think I'd fit in much better in society growing up 25-30 years earlier. How many albums do I eagerly await now? Ragweed and umm..Jack White's new project sorta?

While I don't always agree with his assertions I understand where Bob comes from in his musical taste. He doesn't just want an artist to make a hit song. He wants them to become that song and become something transcendant. I personally think you miss out on some songs this way, but overall it's not a bad position to have. While I may enjoy a catchy throw away single (i.e. most 80's pop) it doesn't move me the way listening to the absolute best does. Waiting around for something transcendant though gets boring. I'd love to have an artist come along with amazing work and blow me away, but it rarely happens anymore at least on the album level. I'd love to find the next great band and hang on their every album, but in the meantime I'll take my one or two fantastic songs even if it may not be a stepping stone to something more.

One thing he mentions throughout in the book is the essential artists in rock. The 20 or so artists that if you took them away, rock music wouldn't be the same. I'd never really thought about it like that before, but once presented with the theory I did buy into it. Obviously without Elvis or the Beatles, you don't have rock and roll. Even though I appreciate a lot of songs by Boston, Billy Joel, Kansas etc. removing them from the picture doesn't affect rock's landscape too drastically (although my life would be a little less joyful without "More Than A Feeling" or "Carry On Wayward Son").

This book was a delightfully easy read and has been passed on to the girlfriend and her father and I'm sure it will make its rounds to many rock and roll loving friends in the future. I would highly recommend it for anyone who appreciates the history of rock and roll music.

Top 100 (5-1)

2009-08-10T06:45:00.000-07:00

5. Pearl Jam - Alive

The best grungy classic rock song ever. Pearl Jam has always been kind of a hybrid band. They are definitely grunge and fit in nicely with the Seattle scene, but they always had more classic rock (especially Neil Young) influences to their music than fellow Seattle grungers did.

At the forefront of this influence are some absolutely blistering guitar solo by Mike McCreedy and this song features one of my favorites of any genre. The way this song crescendos into an all out rock fest at the end is absolutely amazing.

4. Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird

Ok so it's cliche, but cliche or not it's just a damn good song. Another song with the classic start slow/end rocking format that is all but lost in new music nowadays with legendary guitar work from the triple-axe attack. The only danger this song poses is to motorists who don't have cruise control. Often times during the solo, 80 mph can be hit easily without being conscious of it.

3. Bob Dylan - Like A Rolling Stone

From the first snare hit you just know this song is going to be a classic kick-off to Dylan's best album. After embracing the electric guitar, Dylan gives critics of the move nothing more to complain about after this song. How does it feeeeeel indeed.

2. Beatles - A Day In The Life

Reason number infinity Lennon & McCartney were the best songwriting duo ever. As was the case with a lot of Beatles classics, this tune was composed from half written song by each side of the duo melded perfectly together by George Martin.

The dreamy trance like music and lyrics from Lennon crescendos into Paul's verse then right back to Lennon before the final crescendo and the single biggest piano chord in rock history fading out in the oblivion.

1. Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road

I've always put this song hand in hand with Born To Run as a lot of fans probably do. But while I like Born To Run, I absolutely love this song. It is the epitome of classic rock and roll to me and probably a pretty controversial song for #1 overall, but this song instantly brightens any day in which I hear it.

It starts off with a simple harmonica/piano medley referencing Roy Orbison and picks up the pace ending with a sax solo by the great Clarence Clemons. It's probably also the Boss's greatest vocal performance (at times reminding me of The Big O himself) not to mention one of the best road trip songs ever.

So there you have it. My personal Top 100 list. Undoubtedly since I started writing it, some songs have changed their rankings in my own mind and I'm always on the outlook for good new songs I can add to the list in the future. I'd love to hear everyone else's opinions on both my list and your own personal list especially of why people favor songs that you don't find on traditional Best of lists.

Top 100 (10-5)

2009-08-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

10. Dire Straits - Sultans Of Swing

For a while when I was a teenager this was one of my favorite Bob Dylan songs. From the moment I realized it's Dire Straits it's been my favorite song by them as well. Yeah I know, now I can tell the difference pretty easily, but I was a neophyte then.

Mark Knopfler is really an underrated guitarist. The guitar work (and the drumming) in this song rate amongst the best of any classic rock song. The only thing that could possibly make it better were if the lyrics involved installing microwave ovens.

9. Aerosmith - Dream On

Most bands peak early and it's not a big surprise to find their best song is off their first album, however in a musical career as long and storied as Aerosmith it is a bit of an odd thing. Ironically this song is probably about as un-Aerosmith sounding as Aerosmith gets. If you squint, you can tell it's Steven Tyler singing, but it lacks his trademark scat. Still an absolutely fantastic song though.

8. Beach Boys - Good Vibrations

Why do the best ones always have to be crazy? If not for his neurosis it's very possible Brian Wilson may have become as big as Paul McCartney. While they started out as a fairly simply surf group they, like the Beatles, grew up in terms of complexity as the 60's waned. The Beatles begat Pet Sounds which begat St. Pepper's. Sometimes friendly competition is good when it leads to 2 of the best albums ever recorded.

With the Beach Boys it was always all about the harmonies and this song is the apex of that along with the dreamy quality of the music and lyrics.

7. The Who - Won't Get Fooled Again

In making this list, I realized I really really like The Who which came as no surprise, but they are the only band with two songs this high on my list. This song showcases everything that is good about the band. The structure of the song changes so many times up to the most defining yowl of any song ever made.

And the drumming, oh Lord the drumming. The track laid down by Keith Moon is probably the best drum track ever and thanks to the increasing blandness of newer song's drums may hold that title for a very long time.

6. Queen - Bohemian Rhapsody

There is no band out there quite like Queen. It's amazing what they managed to accomplish with the limitations of 1970's analog recording equipment. This signature cut has probably caused numerous traffic accidents as people were busy banging their head to this song a la Wayne's World.

To create this masterpiece the 3-part harmony was dubbed and overdubbed numerous times to create the choirlike vocals.

Top 100 (15-11)

2009-08-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

15. Kansas - Carry On My Wayward Son

I'm really to the point now where depending on the day any of these may qualify as my favorite song. I play a variety of instruments and like songs for a variety of reasons, but this song nails it on every front. It's got several guitar solos, a killer bass line, good drums and soaring vocals. Probably my #1 most played song on Rock Band as well.

I'll have another post up soon about "The Loudness War" and why classic rock production is so much better, but one thing newer bands can learn from this is variation. My favorite points of the song are when the drummer plays a few well placed open hi-hat notes in the middle of a verse to really add to the build up.

14. Radiohead - Karma Police

Thom Yorke genius..blah blah blah. Yeah it's still true. The beautiful archepellago harmony of the acoustic guitar and piano during the chorus is fantastic. It's both simple and complex at the same time and then fades into a noise at the end that somehow works.

13. Guns N Roses - Sweet Child O Mine

I think one of the points I realized when I was getting a little bit older was when I started hearing this song with regularity on classic rock stations. Led Zeppelin, Beatles, Pink Floyd, that stuff is classic rock. It came out before I was born. I remember buying this album when this song was new. That was only...umm...over 20 years ago...crap. And for over 20 years this has been among my all time favorites.

I remember driving around the country in high school with some friends looking for another friends house where we were supposed to play paintball. We were completely lost down county roads and lo and behold Axl was singing on the stereo, "Where do we go now?" Very appropriate.

12. Boston - More Than A Feeling

A rock song with dynamics? A build up from a softer sounding song into an all out rock fest? Must be from the 70's. Those types of songs don't exist anymore in the mainstream. Probably one of the first songs, I ever learned how to play on guitar and when I started concentrating on drums, this is one of the songs that made me realize I really really like the sound of a rimshot on the snare.

11. The Who - Baba O'Riley

Another thing my study of drums has taught me is I love the bass drum and I love lots of crashing cymbals. This song is tame by Keith Moon's standards, but still has a ton of cymbals at just the right spots to support Roger Daltrey's always excellent vocals. Nobody seems to appreciate this song as much as they should because they think the name of it is Teenage Wasteland.

Top 100 (20-16)

2009-06-29T10:58:00.001-07:00

20. Radiohead-Creep

What other word can you use to describe Thom Yorke other than "genius". This song is the epitome of songwriting. Perfect lyrics and perfect weathered vocals to go with them. I usually think cursing in a song is unnecessary and just makes for bad radio edits, but when he sings "You're so fucking special" it just punches me in the face every time.

19. Garth Brooks-The Thunder Rolls (Long Version)

Garth Brooks was definitely my gateway drug into appreciating country music and I'm not nearly alone on this. The last verse which only shows up on the live version adds a final kick to the classic country tale of the somebody done somebody wrong song.

18. Guns N Roses-Patience

Proof that Guns N Roses could pull off more than just rock. Not exactly a monster ballad, but an excellent acoustic song at least and one of the more criminally underrated tunes of all time. The outro is simply amazing. As a side node, one of those memories that just sort of sticks with me: Back when MTV actually showed music videos, I would always watch the Top 10?20? countdown and then it was bedtime. This song was #1 for several weeks in a row and right before the coda when the music pauses the screen goes black. Every single week, at this moment my dad would say "Time for bed" and I'd have to remind him without fail the song was not in fact over.

17. Bob Dylan-Tangled Up In Blue

Probably my favorite lyrics ever in a Dylan song. I've always loved the imagery in this one. The jangly guitar and the random drums accentuate the song perfectly.

16. CCR-Have You Ever Seen The Rain

A classic mid-tempo rocker. A very basic rhythm that lets John Fogerty's vocals shine through on a rainy day.

Album Review The Offspring - Rise and Fall Rage and Grace

2009-06-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

For some reason this album, which has been out for a year now, stayed pretty under the radar. This is surprising considering any band that was ever good releasing a record seems to get hyped nowadays. However in anticipation of seeing the Offspring live last weekend I decided to refresh myself on some of their songs and learn a few of the new ones to get the full concert experience.

First of all, the concert was fantastic. It was opened by a generic punk band called Time Again then the Dropkick Murphys came out. While I have an ancillary relationship with them, they were a solid live band and surprisingly enough I even knew a couple of their tunes.

After paying $3 for a lukewarm bottle of water to prevent heat exhaustion, we crowded a little bit closer for the headliners. We were instantly engulfed in a big hazy smoke as I half expected at a show like this. There was also about 400% more crowd-surfing than I have ever seen at a concert before.

I left the concert venue with very achy feet, no voice whatsoever and a sore neck. So in other words the concert was everything I hoped it would be. They mixed in about half of the new album with their old classics in a nice tight set list.

Now about those new songs...

The Offspring formed nearly 25 years ago and released their first album 20 years ago. They didn't hit it big until their smash 3rd album appropriately titled "Smash". Let this be a lesson to any aspiring bands who don't think album titles are important. After a few other strong albums (Ixenay on the Hombre and Americana) they released a few clunkers (A Conspiracy of One and Splinter) the latter of which was 5 years ago.

This album falls squarely in the middle of those two groups. There are a few stellar tunes on here and a few not so stellar. Overall it's a good album, but if you go in expecting a classic you'll be disappointed.

As is common with bands who are entering into their mid-40's there are a number of slower tempo songs and even ballads! However, there are a few songs that let their punk roots shine through and those are generally the best cuts.

The album starts out with the almost anthemic Half-Truism which is probably my favorite song on the record. I tend to hate political statement songs, but this one is thinly veiled enough and still catchy without getting overly preachy.

Then comes Trust In You, which is a little too metal sounding for my taste. Not surprising given that Bob Rock (Metallica) was the producer for this effort.

You're Going To Go Far Kid is very divergent from the roots as it features a disco like drum beat almost making it dancable. Also one of the better tunes on here.

Hammerhead, the first single, gets back to the punks roots and is very classic Offspring sound.

After this the album gets a bit murky. There are some experiments with pianos and they go 1 for 2 on the ballads as Kristy Are You Doing Okay? has some very touching lyrics and a very acoustic feel.

About the only other notable is Stuff Is Messed Up which is apparently Dexter's take on the politics that have sprung forth since the Offspring's last record. This is also what they led off the concert with. While I'm not a huge fan of the lyrics the song itself is rather catchy.

All in all, there are enough good classic punk tunes to justify the purchase of this album. Some of the forays into different types of music previously foreign to the Offspring fail, but I would still rather hear a band fail to branch into something different than just release the same tired drivel. *cough* Green Day *cough*

Really despite the critic's reception to this album as well as the past two Green Day albums, this album is what Green Day aspires to be. I would gladly listen to this album anyday over the boring pop-punk of American Idiot or 21st Century Breakdown.

Bottom line: If you like the Offspring, you'll probably enjoy at least some of this collection.

Top 100 (25-21)

2009-06-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

25. Janis Joplin-Me And Bobby McGee

Janis is still the queen of female vocalists as far as I'm concerned. The husky bluesy voice has never been repeated in rock and roll. This song was actually written by Kris Kristofferson, but of course this is the one everyone knows.

24. Elton John-Tiny Dancer

This song just keeps going, but it never gets old. This is definitely peak Elton with all the words and music excellently arranged. Apparently he was also a big fan of 'Taxi' hence the hold me close you're Tony Danza line. Never understood why the song was named Tiny Dancer.

23. Eagles-Hotel California

This is one of the songs I credit for getting me into classic rock. Growing up in the 80's I obviously knew who Don Henley was, and when the Eagles re-united and released Learn To Be Still, I said "My gosh that's Don Henley. What is this band called the Eagles they are attributing this song to?"

Then I discovered Hotel California (both the song and album) and fell in love with the guitar work. Simply a classic.

22. David Bowie-Life On Mars?

To say David Bowie is peculiar is an understatement. While some of his Ziggy Stardust antics and way out there lyrics weren't to my liking, the man does have an incredible voice. This song, like most of his, is kind of non-sensical, but his soaring vocals during the beginning of the chorus are simply beautiful.

21. Journey-Don't Stop Believin'

Do I really have to give a reason for song? It's the white people anthem of the nation. I'm pretty sure I could have a day straight out of the most depressing country song ever, and if I put this on the cd player, my mood would instantly become better.
Plus what other song can you see Tony Romo and Mr. Belding perform together?

Album Review - The Gaslight Anthem - '59 Sound

2009-06-08T09:16:00.000-07:00

If you are like me, you don't have a very large attention span so I'll do one short review and one longer one.

Short review:

Buy this album

Long review:

I've ready hundreds, probably thousands of reviews in my lifetime and one of the things that is hardest to define (and often wrong) is a reviewer's description of who the band sounds like. After all, when being introduced to a new band don't we all want to know they share something with bands we already know and love. This inevitably leads to any rock band out of New Jersey being labeled either "Sounds like Springsteen" or "Sounds like Bon Jovi".

I hate these classifications for two reasons

1. Often times it is far far from the truth. When I hear a band described as "Like the Who" only they have basic drumming and no rhythm section to speak of it makes me angry. Often times after hearing that, I'm left disappointed that the sound doesn't live up to the Who. And most bands can't.

2. It's just plain lazy in most instances. Just like when comparing athletes, white athletes are compared to other white athlethes and black athletes are compared to other black athletes. The comparison is made on visual similarities not actual styles of play. Just become a band is from the same area and has the same look of another band, does not mean those two are automatically related.

That said when I first listened to a few of this band's songs, I described them to a friend of mine as a punkish mix between Springsteen and The Killers and this was BEFORE I found out any other information about them.

The Springsteen similarity is what makes this band stand out from what I associate with "generic punk" music. The rhythm section plays punk, but the vocal stylings are much more melodic and rock based while the lyrics are often times like alt-country and can be very poignant at times. Also there are numerous references to other artists, which for some reason always wins points in my heart.

There are references to Tom Petty, Bob Seger, Counting Crows and (obviously) Springsteen.

"At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet,
It's a pretty good song maybe you know the rest"

If the Springsteen point hasn't been pounded home yet, do a YouTube search for them performing one of the Boss's underrated songs "I'm On Fire".

All in all the lyrics long for a time when music was actually music not overproduced marketing. While Green Day churns out another mediocre album, the mantle of melodic punk deserves to be passed on to bands such as this. In a small way though, even though this band deserves to hit it big, I kind of hope they don't so they can continue to produce music like this.

Key Songs: The '59 Sound, Old White Lincoln, Here's Looking At You Kid, High Lonesome

Top 100 Cont'd Part 2

2009-06-03T11:50:00.000-07:00

Queen-Somebody To Love

One of the more underrated aspects of Queen's music are the backing vocals of the band. Freddie Mercury is obviously a very talented lead man, but what makes this song are the call and answer parts from the band. The definitive reason Queen can't be easily replicated; No one else can do justice to "Somebody toooooooooo loooooooooove"

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Under The Bridge

The Chili Peppers have had a strange career arc. They went from relatively obscurity to a hit song and a few others and all of a sudden exploded into a huge rock band a decade later. While their newer stuff is slightly overproduced it still has a good section to it and I love Flea's bass anytime. This one hit from the 90's though is still my all-time favorite from them. One of my friends in high school used to think they said "Under the bridge of time". I bet a bridge of time would be awesome!

Rolling Stones-Gimme Shelter

Most true rock bands can trace their roots back to either The Beatles or The Stones. Obviously they have their own influences, but the Stones are always the ones cited by the harder rock bands such as Aerosmith as influences. The Stones were probably the first white R&B group. Would anyone really be surprised if this were first a Tempations song?

Rolling Stones-Wild Horses

While the Stones dripping bluesy sound is their trademark, the reason they are one of the all-time greats is because they had variety. This song is a beautiful heartbreaker with possibly some of Mick's greatest vocal work.

Rolling Stones-You Can't Always Get What You Want

You'll probably notice a lack of Satisfaction on my list which probably violates some secret rock list ritual. While a great song, there are just others of the Stones I like better such as this anthem. It's too bad most of the best musicians in rock history are either old, dead or in the case of Keith Richards, both.

Roy Orbison-Crying

It's probably good the Big O came out when he did. I can't imagine such a mysterious dark person would be embraced by popular music in the MTV age. But man could he sing. Has anyone in rock history had a bigger vocal range? And he shows it all off on this song.

Rufus Wainwright-Hallelujah

Leonard Cohen is a fantastic poet. I cannot stress this fact enough. The only problem is no one can stand his performances. I'm pretty sure most songs of his remade I like. This is probably one of his more famous songs. Although Jeff Buckley's version seems to get more critical acclaim, I much prefer this version.

Stevie Ray Vaughn-Pride And Joy

Another case of only the good die young. After coming back through drug and alcohol problems, Stevie was killed in a similar way to his southern rock idols before him. Truly one of the best blues guitarists around, this is his best song.

Styx-Renegade

The pinnacle of arena rock. Styx is sort of a polarizing band for me. I like many of their songs, but can never listen to them for long periods of time. Except for this song. For some reason when I first started listening to classic rock I thought this was a newer song...not really sure why.

Sublime-Santeria

Ska, punk whatever you want to count this as, it's just good relaxing music. Sublime is another band that has a fairly unique sound.

The Band-The Weight

The Band has always struck me as kind of an enigma. They had the whole Southern jam band thing going, but always seemed like they stood away from the spotlight a bit and then knew when to let it go, giving us the fabulous The Last Waltz.

This is a good laid back rock track with wonderful biblically invoked lyrics.

The Knack-My Sharona

For some reason this band was hailed as the next Beatles. Maybe it made sense at the time, but I doubt it as it looks extra silly now. This song does have the signature drum beat with a simple guitar lick, but what many people forget is the blistering guitar solo at the end, truly one of my all time favorites.

The Romantics-What I Like About You

This song really sounds like it's from the 60's. Just a good catchy guitar and I love the whispering part toward the end.

Third Eye Blind-Semi-Charmed Life

Quite possibly the best song ever written about crystal meth. Of all the outrages over song lyrics in rock history no one seemed to have a problem with this one probably because it's hard to understand what he's actually saying in the song. Very infectious beat though.

Tom Petty-Free Fallin'

Tom Petty sticks to the three chord format better than anyone. He has a unique, but not necessarily great voice. Somehow this all leads to him completely rocking. I dare anyone not to belt out the chorus to this one.

Tom Petty-Mary Jane's Last Dance

Back in 1994 this probably would have been number one on the list. I absolutely loved this song when it first came out and not much has changed since then. I'm pretty sure this song was a strong motivation for me buying my first harmonica and of course he mentioned Indiana in the song which is always great.

Tom Petty is also one of the great classic rock artists that MTV didn't kill. Don't Come Around Here No More's video is already freaky enough, but this one takes the cake. In the video he steals a dead Kim Basinger from the morgue and dances with her one last time. See it's not about pot, it's about necrophilia.

Tommy Tutone-867-5309 (Jenny)

Sure this song is kind of cheesy (obviously because it's from the 80's) but it's still awesome. Also anyone who actually has this number probably got it changed sometime in the mid-80's, but apparently somebody in Southern Indiana didn't. After commencement my junior year of college one of my friends decided to call this number on the 812 prefix. Some lady in Evansville was not pleased to hear from us at 3 a.m.

U2-With Or Without You

Let me get this straight. U2 is one of the most overrated bands in rock history. Bono is a blowhard. They have only ever released one good album and a handful of other good songs, most of which were singlehanded negated by Vertigo which may be the worst song ever made.

I love this song. It is beautiful, mellow, heartbreaking, loving, just about everything you could ever want in a rock ballad all at the same time. My next highest rated U2 song would probably be in the thousands and Vertigo is about infinity+2 on my list, but U2 has a gem with this one.

Van Morrison-Brown Eyed Girl

Van Morrison definitely wins the award for artist I thought was a band for the longest time, but he also wins with this song which I'm pretty sure I've heard played at the last 700 weddings or so I've been to.

Weezer-Island In The Sun

Weezer like Green Day turned on the suck after their initial few albums, but I can still remember when they were awesome. This is the perfect happy song. I don't think it's possible to not be in a good mood when this song plays.

Weezer-Say it Ain't So

One of my all time favorites from the 90's. Weezer set themselves apart from most 90's groups because they used brilliant poppy jangly guitar riffs instead of/combined with grungy music.

White Stripes-Seven Nation Army

Proof that not all newer music sucks. Though the garage rock revival didn't create a whole lot of great songs, it finally went back in the direction of real music instead of produced music that is overdubbed so much it loses all feeling.

It's also nice to see a musician who is willing to take chances and veer away from the standard path in search of something better. Not every album is great, but it's at least interesting and keeps fans wondering instead of spurning out the same generic rip-offs of your own songs album after album.

Who-Who Are You

I've spilled much virtual ink on the Who before. The adaptability they had was simply amazing. This is a later period song and really one of Roger Daltry's best vocal performances.

Who-You Better You Bet

A friend of mine in college absolutely hated this song and I'm not sure why. Most people think Keith Moon was a drumming madman. Which he was to a degree (and the muppet character animal was based on him). If you really structurely break it down though other than an afinity for rolls (especially snare rolls) he had some technically sound qualities to him. He was just unconventional.

He would use the bass drum to keep the beat instead of the hi-hats. He would do tom rolls to the beat and throw cymbals in instead of a snare on the backbeat. All of the chaos tied together with the steadiness of the bass playing makes the Who great.

Willie Nelson-Georgia On My Mind

In a song popularized by Ray Charles, I'm probably one of the few that prefers Willie's version in no small part to the harmonica played throughout.

Top 100 Cont'd

2009-06-03T09:27:00.000-07:00

Continued with the next 25

John Mellencamp-Hurts So Good

I'm from Indiana. Mellencamp writes our gospel music. Enough said.

John Mellencamp-Pink Houses

One day while out on my friend's boat we actually drove by John Mellencamp's house. I was very sad to see that it was not pink. In fact it's a real postmodern looking atroticity. The song however, still rocks.

Johnny Cash-Hurt

I once heard a quote that was something along the lines of Johnny Cash could sing the phone book and make it sound compelling. So true. Unlike most rock artists the man in black's music actually got better as his hardened age voice took over. There are so many Cash classics, but this is the most touching. Trent Reznor has even said Johnny Cash made this song his own.

Led Zeppelin-Fool In The Rain

Criminally underrated among Zep classics. This is one of Bonham's better drumming performances. As I've studied music from a critical viewpoint more and more since becoming an adult, I realized that the thing that draws me to bands most is a solid rhythm section. Between Bonham and John Paul Jones Zep has the best rhythm section of any band this side of the Who.

Led Zeppelin-Over The Hills And Far Away

Gun to my head, I'd probably list this as my favorite Zeppelin song (yes above Stairway). I love the soft intro/rocking end thing and this song is a blast to play on the acoustic guitar.

Led Zeppelin-Stairway To Heaven

This is the mecca of classic rock. You haven't truly played guitar until you learn this song. While I don't think it's the defacto best song ever it's still right up there. Again mellow beginning/rocking end. I'm sensing a trend here.

Live-I Alone

I saw Live live about two years ago and in retrospect I should've seen the awesomeness coming. I mean if you are going to name yourself Live you'd better put on a good show. They did their cover of Cash which was surprisingly fresh then launched into this song and got the crowd raucous. Unfortunately their set ending and Counting Crows came on the stage to bore everyone to death. The night would've been much better with just Live.

Marc Cohn-Walking In Memphis

A great one-hit wonder back in the time when such a thing existed without the record companies cramming more garbage down our throats once an artist hits it big. My ex-girlfriend found a copy of this cassette at Goodwill a few years ago for a buck. After listening to the rest of the songs, I fully understand how this was his only hit. Music is kind of amazing that way. It seems so counter-intuitive that an artist can have a song as fantastic as thing, yet produce nothing else of substance.

On a side note to bad country artists, STOP REMAKING GOOD SONGS!! Lonestar's version of this blows, yet sadly is probably the version a lot of people know now. At least Rascal Flatts hasn't covered it....yet.

Marshall Tucker Band-Can't You See

Another southern rock diddy by a band mostly associated with some good country hits. This is by far their most rock based song and it could easily be mistaken for something by the Allman Brothers which is a very good thing.

Michael Jackson-Billie Jean

He's become a national punchline in the last decade, which is sad because most people don't remember anymore that he used to be one talented musician back when he was still black. You'll see Thriller still top every VH1 and MTV video anthology list. I'm tall white and skinny, therefore I do as little dancing as possible, but I can help but get my legs moving sometimes when this song plays.

Motley Crue-Kickstart My Heart

While I don't apologize for loving 80's hair metal, I do appreciate that it's more "fun" music than "good" music. That said, I think Motley Crue is one of those bands that was a little bit more talented than their brethren mostly thanks for Tommy Lee's drumming. Further proof: Saints of Los Angeles is an awesome song. How many 80's bands have produced anything half decent since the 80's? After several years gone by, they're still kicking ass....whoa...oh Kickstart my Heart hope it never stops.

Neil Young-Heart Of Gold

Bob Dylan hated this song. Not because it was bad, but because it sounded like something Dylan would do only better. That's high praise. I've always known I like Neil Young a lot but in compiling this list, I realized that more of his songs made the initial cuts than anyone outside of the Beatles or The Who although none of them cracked my Top 25. For the record, this one got closests.

Neil Young-Like A Hurricane

Neil is known for his unique guitar style and voice, but really at the heart of it he's just a poet who also happens to do those things. This contains one of the all-time best lines anywhere. "You are like a hurricane/There's calm in your eye"

Neil Young-Rockin' In The Free World

One of the few times a post-peak musician got it right. I was amazed when I realized this song was not in fact from the 70's (which didn't take long listening to the lyrics). I love the irony of this song (and Born in The USA) being used as rallying cries. I doubt most people who rock to this song realize that is about baby dumpsters and environmental destruction.

Nirvana-Smells Like Teen Spirit

The song that plunged grunge into the mainstream. Maybe I should've put a Pixies song here instead since without them there is no Nirvana, but this song did catapult all kinds of good music into the mainstream just so Chad Kroeger could defile it 15 years later.

Nirvana-Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

Off their acoustic album based on a traditional folk song, Cobain's screechy vocals really elicit the emotion on this one. As he is wont to do he screams the entire last verse and it somehow works.

Pat Benatar-Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Nothing fancy here, just a good straight forward rock song.

Patsy Cline-Crazy

Back before Willie Nelson became a country hero, he was just a songwriter and luckily for us, he wrote this gem for Patsy Cline to sing. Almost a jazzy number the piano fits in perfectly with Patsy's voice.

Pearl Jam-Yellow Ledbetter

Pearl Jam does Jimi Hendrix. Not that that's a bad thing. I don't understand why people are always ripping musicians for having stuff that sounds like the classics. Sure, I think we'd all rather have something new and exciting, but something that sounds like the Beatles is a million times better than some talentless band or the latest Nickelback knock-off even if it isn't terribly original. The Beatles first few albums weren't exactly original either.

Pearl Jam is a different kind of grunge group, taking cues from the Pixies as all others, but also with a healthy dose of Neil Young and actual sustained guitar solos. They have outlasted nearly all their contemporaries even if their catalog hasn't improved much in the past decade.

Phish-Farmhouse

I often wonder what would happen if I ever smoked pot. I mean, I'm laid back already, I like all the "stoner" rock and I love potato chips. I don't really see anything changing. I've yet to make it a Phish live show (mostly because they sell out immediately) but I'm sure hearing Trey's sprawling guitar solos is absolutely heavenly even without the high.

Phish-Sample In A Jar

A big Phish phan friend of mine in college randomly played this song on my guitar while in my room one day and after I downloaded the real thing, I couldn't stop playing it for days afterwards. The guitar work in it is amazing.

Pink Floyd-Comfortably Numb

For a period in my life, this may have ranked as my top song. A friend of mine joked once that most mix cd's I had contained this song. For whatever reason, I don't listen to as much Pink Floyd as I used to, but this song is still one of the best ever written.

Pink Floyd-Wish You Were Here

So you think you can tell a good song from bad? Start here with this gem. The famous intro is the backbone of this song and I always liked the songs David Gilmour sang better anyway.

Prince-Kiss

Call him whatever you want to, even if he suffers from Michael Jackson craziness he rocks. Prince sets the standard for funk and anyone who saw him perform at the Super Bowl knows he can shred on the guitar when he wants to as well.

Queen-Fat Bottomed Girls

I don't know what's so incredible about the guitar riff, I just know I love it. Queen seems to be a hit or miss group. Most people I know either love Queen or hate them with very little in between. I personally side with the ones who think Freddie Mercury was one of the best lead singers ever.

My personal Top 100

2009-06-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

List are all the rage! I want in! This list was actually very complicataed to build. I initially picked out several hundred songs out of my database and slowly started whittling down. Somewhere around the 150 mark the cuts became increasingly difficult.

The number one factor is obviously the pure sonic quality of a song, but I did tend to favor more mainstream/influential songs. While I may love Cowboy Mouth, none of their songs are more important to music than the Beatles.

After attempting to assign a number to every song, I realized anything from about 25-100 (as well as some songs I had to leave off) could swing depending on my mood so I just decided to rank 25 and present the other 75 in alphabetical order rather than assign a number arbritrarily. Onto the list of the first 25;

Alice In Chains-Man In The Box

Alice In Chains is one of the most underrated bands of the grunge era. I mostly define grunge as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice in Chains (you know, the Seattle scene), although the first three (especially the top two) seem to always get more recognition than AIC. What sets them apart for me are the tremendous vocals especially on this song. The backing vocals in the chorus (i.e. "Can you sew them shut", etc.) give a lot more depth to this song with the vocal layering.

Beatles-Happiness Is A Warm Gun

Possibly the most obscure song on my list, it's always been one of my Beatle's favorites and it is a real hidden gem from the Fab Four. Above all of that it is probably the most sonically pleasing argument ever for the second ammendment.

This song really has two parts. The first starts out like a typical moody Lennon piece of that period before spontaneously ending with some 50's style vocals at the end and I love me some 50's music. There's also a bit of vocal irony involved with singing about guns in a doo-wop style.

Beatles-Hey Jude

Who hasn't at one point in their life sang along with every "na-na-na-na-na-na-na" at the end of the song. As most Beatles fans know, this song was written by Paul for John's son Julian following Lennon's divorce. The original title was "Hey Jules" but later changed to Jude. This song is a classic, but is also noted for shattering the rule that radio singles must be under 3 minutes long clocking in at over 7 minutes thanks to Paul's scat outro that Steven Tyler among many others has made a staple over the last few decades.

Beatles-I Am The Walrus

This song, kids, is why you shouldn't do LSD. It's always amazed me how Lennon could write non-sensical drug induced lyrics and make them sound good, but he pulls it off yet again. "Yellow matter custard dripping off a dead dog's eye" is both very disgusting and very descriptive, but also very unique.

Black Crowes-Hard To Handle

One of the best cover songs ever even if most people have never heard Otis Redding's original. The Black Crowes cover it using their normal swampy rock tone with Chris Robinson's random noises about. I dare you not to have fun listening to this song.

Bon Jovi-Livin' On A Prayer

True fact: I have semi-seriously considered getting a talk box just so I could play the intro to this song. Just a great sing along song and one of the first I can remember knowing as my cassette tape of Slippery When Wet is still stashed somewhere in my parent's attic.

CCR-Long As I Can See The Light

I make no secret that I tend to like mid-tempo rockers more and this is just a good relaxing song complete with a saxophone solo! No one has ever come close to replicating John Fogerty's singing style. As one of the few living rock legends, I recommend seeing him live if you ever get the chance.

Chuck Berry-Johnny B Goode

Thank God for Michael J Fox...errr Marty McFly. If not for him, Marvin would've never called his cousin Chuck and we'd never have this classic. But wait, if he never wrote it then Marty would never know it to go back in time to play it so he could write it. Time travel makes my head hurt!

This song however does not. As mentioned previously, I love 50's music, but all of it doesn't hold up well 50 years later. This song does. The guitar intro is still one of the best of all time. Part of the reason I hate new music now is it's all so over-produced and generic sounding. It's amazing to think that with all the technology we have now, music was actually better 50 years ago when all it took was Chuck Berry, a guitar and inferior recording technology to make a great record.

David Bowie-Space Oddity

David Bowie is one weird dude. I've never gotten the thing with Ziggy Stardust and most of his music I find blah at best with two exceptions. One you'll see later. the other is this song.

Derek & The Dominoes-Layla

Unquestionably the best song from the best album ever released about being in love with your best friend's wife. Also one of the best outros ever as the blistering guitars fade out into the long piano outro that really should be played at any melodramatic point in my life.

Not being exposed to classic rock until the age of 12, I actually knew the acoustic version of this song first, which is good in its own right, but I remember being absolutely amazed when I heard this for the first time.

Dusty Springfield-Son Of A Preacher Man

Maybe it's because everytime I hear this song I associate it with Pulp Fiction (an all time top five movie) it puts me in a better mood. This is soul music at its best and Dusty Springfield's smooth vocals put it over the top.

Eagles-Life's Been Good

I cheat on this one a bit and say Eagles because while Joe Walsh's studio version is good the version on Eagles Live blows it out of the water. This is also the song during every Eagles concert I've seen where Joe puts on the helmet cam and scans around the crowd. This is one of the first serious songs I can ever remember learning how to play on guitar and one of the few I can always remember even though my skills have faded over the past few years.

Elton John-Your Song

Some of my not as close friends often associate me only with rockin' songs and country and are surprised when I mention I listen to stuff like Elton John. While it's true most of today's singer songwriters sound drab and boring to me, Elton John does not.

He uses drums and other instruments, not just the piano. His voice is one of the best ever, and God bless Bernie Taupin these are some of the best lyrics this side of Bob Dylan and Elton knows how to make them count.

This might be my favorite (and the best) love song ever written. This isn't some guy writing sappy lyrics to get laid, these are bona fide heartfelt lyrics sung by one of the most flaming famous musicians ever. Appreciate the irony, people.

Eminem-Lose Yourself

It's very easy for me to love a good classic rock or alternative song. Even a top notch country song I like, but the true test of a good song is if it can break through from a genre I'm not fond of and make me love it.

I'll get this out there. I hate most rap. I hate computerized sounds and the random sounds that aren't even instruments. I hate the subject matter in most of the songs. A lot of other Eminem songs fall into this category, but you can see a real maturation process from him since the Slim Shady days.

This song does have a (computerized) standard drum beat and guitar lick which is probably why it's passable, but what makes it for me is Eminem's vocal performance. His verses come out more hurried and frenzied towards the end matching the lyrics perfectly all before it erupts into another chorus. This is the kind of song structure that should be studied in music theory classes.

Eve 6-Inside Out

One of the classic 90's songs for me. Eve 6 released this song when they were teenagers and it is by far their best release to date.

Foo Fighters-Everlong, Foo Fighters-Monkey Wrench

Hey Johnny Park just misses this list. The Colour And The Shape is the essential Foo Fighters album. To date, I'm pretty sure this is also the only full album that has ever been played at basement bar.

Garth Brooks-Ain't Goin' Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)

As I'm sure was most people's segueway from "I hate country" to "Country is good" mine came while listening to lots of Garth Brooks my freshman year of college. This song has an ending hootananney to rival any rock song.

Georgia Satellites-Keep Your Hands To Yourself

Maybe it's because they were one-hit wonders, but I've always wondered why this song didn't get more recognition on the "greatest guitar solos" lists. This is the perfect southern rock song.

Great White-Once Bitten Twice Shy

Because they came out in the 80's Great White is often lumped into the hair metal grouping, but they have a much more bluesier edge to them than most groups. Plus this would be a fantastic song for Rock Band.

Green Day-When I Come Around

Ah remember when Green Day was actually good and actually made, you know, good music? It seems like so long ago, but it did happen. My personal favorite off of Dookie.

Head East-Never Been Any Reason

Probably my favorite song ever from a one-hit wonder. Seriously. I don't think I have ever heard another song by Head East. In fact back before the days of any information you wanted at your fingertips, I spent many hours on the dial-up posting to various forums on the interwebs to try to find out the name of this song.

James Gang-Funk #49

Nothing beats a good funky rock song, unfortunately not enough bands do it well. Luckily we have people like Joe Walsh. Guitar-epic, bass-epic, drums-epic.

Jerry Lee Lewis-Great Balls Of Fire

Now for my Andy Rooney moment. You ever notice how nobody ever plays the honky tonk piano anymore. When did digital sounds because the rage in rock music and the good old fashioned piano die out (and the harmonica too). I wonder how much of a tabloid star Jerry Lee Lewis would be in the modern media. Can you imagine if Britney Spears married her underaged second cousin?

John Lennon-Imagine

This song as we all know was inspired by Forrest Gump while a guest on the same Tonight Show as Lennon. What? That was fictional? Oh ok, let's move on.

2009-05-07T07:00:00.000-07:00

Artists I've seen live:
Cowboy Mouth (x5)
Cross Canadian Ragweed (x4)
The Eagles (x3)
John Mellencamp (x2)
John Fogerty
Journey
Heart
Aerosmith
Cheap Trick
Donovan
Rascal Flatts (x2)
Kenny Chesney (x2)
Shooter Jennings (x2)
Stoney Larue
Cheap Trick
Back Porch Mary
Big & Rich
Tim McGraw
many opening bands

Artists I'm adding this summer (or at least hope to add)
Kid Rock
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Bob Dylan
Willie Nelson
The Offspring

Censorship in music

2009-03-18T10:33:00.000-07:00

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.

Greatest albums (Part 4 5-1)

2009-03-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

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

Greatest albums (Part 3 10-6)

2009-03-03T06:26:00.000-08:00

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

Great albums (Part 2 15-11)

2009-03-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

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

Greatest albums (Part 1 20-16)

2009-03-03T04:09:00.000-08:00

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

The perfect woman is like the perfect rock and roll song

2009-03-03T03:33:00.000-08:00

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!

Album Review Guns 'N Roses-Chinese Democracy

2009-03-03T02:59:00.001-08:00

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.

Archives Part Deux

2008-12-19T07:50:00.000-08:00

Another from Nov of 05. I still find it amusing though.

Alright time to piss people off. New music sucks. I said it. I'm tired of listening to B97 in the weight room. I really want to get into better shape, but since my mp3 player is not functioning properly right now, I feel like stabbing myself in the eardrums with ice picks after about 5 minutes of being there listening to solid crap. What ever happened to real music played by real musicians, and meaningful song lyrics by people who could actually lend feeling to the song? The acoustic guitar and harmonica are practically gone in popular music, replaced by computer beats and other random noise.

My only conclusion I can come to is people are stupid. I can understand if some people like to dance and like a few rap songs because of that. Personally I hate it, but then again I don't like to dance. I like to wear my cowboy hat, drink beer and listen to dumb country songs because that's what I do, but I realize they aren't the best songs in the world, just good to drink to. So if someone likes that music to dance to, but still appreciates good stuff then no complaints from me (as long as I don't have to hear it), but some people actually like only bad music. This baffles me. Not to mention the actual musicianship and vocals (which can't be done very well over the net without audio) here are some examples of just what is wrong with lyrics. I understand many rappers and pop singers want to get laid, which is admirable, but at least write some good lyrics or at very least make sexual play on words like they did in the 80's.

Note: I actually listened to these songs on Rhapsody to make sure they were bad so I had some merit for criticizing them. I found a few songs that were actually decent enough (not good, but decent) to not be included in this study.

Example #1 Run It by Chris Brown (currently #2 on the charts)
I got friends, and you got friends
They hop out, and you hop in I look fly, and they jockin
The way you drop, drop makes me wanna pop
The way you drop, drop makes me wanna pop

Is he dropping a deuce? Does this excite him? I have no idea what's going on so let's review a better set of lyrics

Across The Universe (J. Lennon)
Images of broken light which dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a restless wind inside a letter box they tumble blindly as they make their way across the universe

Ah full of similes and imagery. It's almost poetic. The only way it could be better is if he mentioned how the images were "jockin'"

Example #2 My Humps - Black Eyed Peas (currently #3 on the Top 40)
What you gonna do with all that junk?
All that junk inside your trunk?
I’m a get, get, get, get, you drunk,
Get you love drunk off my hump.
My hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, my hump, My hump, my hump, my hump, my lovely little lumps. (Check it out)

I know when I am trying to pick up a woman, I tell her how I'm going to get her drunk, talk about her fat ass, and hump her. That's very romantic.
Let's see how Mr. Neil Young writes

Like A Hurricane
You are like a hurricane
There’s calm in your eye.
And I’m gettin’ blown away
To somewhere safer where the feeling stays.
I want to love you but I’m getting blown away.

Hmmm..again similes and imagery. The double meaning of the word eye. Great lyrics.Alright one more

Example #3 Holla back girl by Gwen Stefani
A few times I've been around that track
So it's not just goin' to happen like that
'Cause I ain't no holla back girl I ain't no holla back girl
ooh, this my shit , this my shit

Wow, people actually like this music. No, seriously. Are we supposed to be attracted to Gwen Stefani's feces? Again I'm confused.

Love and a .45 (Chris Knight)
Parole number fourteen two
Stands on the corner like she used to do
She's been away awhile so she's a little afraid
And the judge said he didn't want to see her again
But she's got no money she's got no rent
The money she had is already spent
Cause a couple of weeks ago she learned her lesson
Went and brought herself a little Smith and Wesson
Love and a 45 Are all you need to get thru the night
One'll kill you one'll keep you alive Love and a 45

Wow a song that tells a story. And a chorus where it gives the two subject matters the opposite connotation of their usual associations. Bravo Mr. Knight. That his shit! That his shit!

Hmmm...I rather like making sarcastic comments about bad songs. Perhaps I shall do it more often. I hope it amuses my readers as much as it does me:)

From the archives

2008-12-19T07:38:00.000-08:00

An entry I posted in my live journal a few years ago. A little outdated, but a lot is still relevant.

"Country music sucks" -spoken by countless people I've heard.

Obviously I disagree with this statement, but if my only knowledge of country music came from listening to Nashville music I would probably agree. Popular country music for the most part isn't actually country music. It's pop music with a steel guitar thrown in. Artists are made to produce money and catchy hooks, actual music quality and craftsmanship be damned.

I don't want trite love songs sung by voices with no soul in them. To paraphrase David Allan Coe, it ain't a real country song unless you mention mamas...or trucks...or trains...or prison....or getting drunk. To update it a bit any references to cowboys, gospel or other artists or songs is also acceptable.

There's a reason I hate emo music. I really don't want to hear some depressing song about how your daddy didn't love you enough when were growing up. Music is supposed to be fun, not make me want to kill myself.

In that mode, in a country song I don't want to hear about how someone you loved died (unless you killed them) or how somebody you don't really even seem to know has cancer. If you are going to write a depressing song, at least make sure the singer sounds rugged or fits the song (i.e. Monday Morning Church, anything by Cash).

Country & Western music is Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, etc. When I think of those names I think of country music. Even most "country-haters" like the real country music. On the other hand, when I think of Keith Urban's music or new Rascal Flatts it makes me want to throw up in my mouth. How is this classified as country at all?

Real country music still exists, only it's found in "Texas Country" which never gets played on the radio. These songs are real, not just a way to make a quick dollar. Pick up some Cross Canadian Ragweed, Shooter Jennings, Reckless Kelly, or Drive By Truckers and you'll see what real country music is about.

Now to finally get to what inspired this post I listened to Big & Rich's new album in full today. Pure and complete crap! It's amazing how on one album a new group can show promise and make me look forward to the next album, only to totally turn country pop and make horrible music a year later. While really only known for Save A Horse Ride A Cowboy, their first album contained many true country songs about cowboys, outlaws, God and lots of other stuff that sounds like good country. The new album sounds like everything else crappy on the radio now. I don't think I've been this disappointed in a new album since...umm...last year when Kenny decided to turn totally crappy. At least there were some warning signs there as most of his early career stuff was crappy. Big & Rich just turned overnight.

When I first thought of this, it struck me as odd that perhaps one of country's biggest names and one of the first pioneers (well of modern times anyway) to successfully cross over with country music into the pop stream is one of my favorite artists. Garth definitely made country cool to listen to again and led into this new country. It seemed odd to me I still love most of Garth's stuff, but dislike a majority of the pop country stuff that floods the airwaves now.

After analyzing it though it makes sense. It takes a greater talent to cross into a new territory than to follow into that same place. The first artists to do something new have the talent to do it, and then once it becomes mainstream all the knock-offs with lesser talent come. I like The Sex Pistols and the Ramones, but don't like a whole lot of punk. I loved Nirvana and Pearl Jam, but I hate most of the grunge stuff that is on the radio now. It's not Nirvana, Pearl Jam and to a slightly lesser degree Neil Young's fault they created a new grunge sound and newer lesser talented bands copied them.

I guess everything goes in cycles. Hopefully someday good music will actually be the stuff that's popular as well. Maybe another Johnny Cash, Beatles, Zeppelin, Nirvana, etc. will come around and give music a kick in the butt, but until then I get my rants:)

Pot, Kettle, Black

2008-12-19T06:57:00.000-08:00

"So kids: Start rock bands. Set down the 'Guitar Hero,' learn how to play an actual guitar and start a band, because it's hard to find more bands to put a solid rock-and-roll package together, to get out there."

-Chad Kroeger (MTV Interview)

When Guitar Hero games first came out, it was all the rage of actual musicians to deride playing a game on a little plastic controller. Over the past few years, more and more bands have gotten involved with Rock Band and Guitar Hero and been eager in licensing songs. Lesser known bands who have had songs included on games have grown a small following that would probably not exist otherwise (Bang Camaro rocks!) Additionally many kids who had never heard classic rock before are getting introduced to the likes of The Who and Rush which can only be a good thing going forward.

On a tangent, playing the Rock Band 2 set up at Best Buy made me have one of the few "I'm old" moments in my nearly 27 years. While playing with two teens, I gutted it through some of their crappy metal music and then when they offered to let me pick a song, I asked them if they'd ever heard of Pearl Jam since Alive is one of my all time favorites and I was really looking forward to it being on the disc. One kid shook his head and the other said, "I don't know that song, but I've heard of Pearl Jam"

ANYWAY, little plastic guitars and plastic drums don't musicians make, but it sure doesn't hurt. How many people have mastered the game and decided to go out and buy real instruments and learn for real? Would these same people have taken up this interest without the game? Highly unlikely.

I personally very rarely play the guitar on these games. I can play guitar in real life. Playing on a plastic controller has never appealed to me and often times I would become frustrated with the charting of a particular song and just shut off the game and pick up a real guitar and play it anyway. But to someone who has no musical background it can be a good gateway. Now that I've learned lots of basic drumming lessons, I would love to try a real drum set to see how well the skills translate.

Saying that Rock Band/Guitar Hero ruin music is one of the most inaccurate statements I've heard in a while. You know what ruins music? Crappy no-talent bands who are bland across the board. Bands who hit it big 8 years ago with a semi-good single whose entire catalog sounds like that one song with different lyrics. You know, bands like Nickelback.

So Chad Kroeger, STFU. I'll pluck some string on my Martin and then I'll sit in front of my plastic drum set and rock out to all my favorite music and maybe even discover a great new band in the process. Luckily, it doesn't appear my Rock Band will ever be ruined with a Nickelback song.

Album Review: Cowboy Mouth-Fearless

2008-10-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

One of my more random music discoveries occured a few years ago while viewing my friend's livejournal post. He was complaining about how when he was younger, his parents wouldn't let him go to see bands like Stone Temple Pilots, Soundgarden, Sublime or Cowboy Mouth.

One of these things is not like the other. So armed with Rhapsody I decided to get to know the music of Cowboy Mouth and it turned out it was pretty good. It just so happened that a month later they were performing at the Music Mill in Indianapolis so a group of us decided to go check them out.

I'll start a new paragraph for this one. Cowboy Mouth puts on the best live show I've ever seen. I had liked the stuff I heard online, but it was nothing compared to the experience of being at the show. The drummer was the front man and wore a Drew Brees jersey and no shoes. There was so much energy and crowd participation. We were all exhausted after seeing them play, which I'm pretty sure was a concert first. Needless to say Cowboy Mouth has become one of my favorite bands. I've seen them live 5 times and will continue to go anytime they are in the area because it never gets old. At their last show, they mentioned their new album coming out, which I ordered from amazon as soon as it came out.

Since I've been obsessed with Rock Band lately, everytime I hear songs, I think about how good of a rock band track it would make, especially for drumming. This would definitely be a great downloadable album.

While it's hard to capture the energy and emotion of the live show on a cd, this comes pretty close. And since they performed several of these in concert before the album came out, I can always close my eyes and imagine how it was live.

Two of these songs were previously released on other albums as Cowboy Mouth is wont to do at times. They edited Disconnected (boo censorship) and also redid Tell The Girl You're Sorry which is quite a funny song.

The first part of the album is very strong and vintage Cowboy Mouth. Griff's token song "Follow Me" is also good with a little Black Crowes vibe to it. The last few tracks are a little weak, but still not horrible. Listening to the first eight songs is an absolute delight. In particular I'm fond of "Anything" which to my knowledge is the first uplifting bitter song I've ever heard. The lyrics describe how he's strong and can live through anything now that his girlfriend used him and left him. I had recently been through a break-up very similar so this became a theme song of sorts for me.

Overall this is a very strong album, I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the mellower alternative sound or just good old-fashioned roots rock. I only wish there was a wardrobe option in Rock Band to make your drummer barefoot. Oh well, maybe Rock Band 2 will fix it.

Rating 8/10
Notable songs: "Anything", "Belly", "Tell The Girl You're Sorry", "Kelly Ripa"

Song associations

2008-10-16T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've noticed over the years that sometimes liking a song completely transcends the song itself. Sometimes when I hear a song I instantly associate it with a past life event, sweet or bitter (or bittersweet). Some of my personal associations

"Pepper-Butthole Surfers" During a senior year road trip to Vegas, we inexplicably played this song over and over. I still don't remember why, but now whenever I hear it, I think about driving through north Texas in the middle of the night

Memory factor: Sweet

"Wild Horses-Rolling Stones" A girl I dated a few years back was just beginning to get into classic rock. She asked me what my favorite Stones song was and responded with this, which she had never heard and ended up falling in love with also. We broke up 3 years ago and sporadically keep in touch, but stil everytime I hear this song, it makes me think of her.

Memory factor: Bittersweet

"I Never Wanna F'in See You Again-Rich Hardesty" This stems from a tiff I had with a female friend/fraternity brother's girlfriend several years ago. My roommate joined in with the argument so anytime she was around we just blared this song on repeat. Ironically, she's one of my closer friends now.

Memory factor: Bitter, although now just funny

"Ride With Me-Nelly" As a rule, I generally dislike rap songs, but senior year a group of friends and I all designated our own personal drinking song. I don't even remember what mine was anymore, but one of my roommates chose this and also came up with one of the stupidest looking white boy dances ever to go along with it.

Memory factor: Sweet

"No Rain-Blind Melon" A fraternity brother of mine had almost a polar oppsoite musical taste of me despite liking the same genre. He made me hate DMB even more, made me dislike Cake and even Pearl Jam by constantly overplaying everything. I love Pearl Jam, but it took me a few years after college to be ok to listen to them again. I associate this song with him because he was a huge Blind Melon fan, but absolutely hated this song even though it's the only song by them people know and really about the only semi-decent Blind Melon song.

Memory factor: Bitter

"Piano Man-Billy Joel" At a close friend's wedding reception several years back the Guinness was flowing freely. The night ended with everyone in a big circle on the dance floor swaying and singing along. Afterwards while climbing into our DD's van my friend was still singing with completely innaccurate lyrics. I kept punching him saying "Sing...the....right....words". This tradition had been carried on in a few other wedding receptions throughout the years, although usually without the punching.

Memory factor: Sweet

Youthful Angst

2008-10-16T06:52:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, I was amazed most people tended to stick their defined genres and the songs they knew. While, I'm still on the lookout for new bands, I am starting to see that point of view. I'm 26 now, own a house and a dog, have a girlfriend and a full-time job that keeps me busy. No matter how much of a music fan I am, I just don't have the time I used to to search out new music.

In addition to that, I've noticed myself on a heavy 90's alternative kick lately. It harkens back to times when life was simpler and less stressful even if I wasn't happy at the time. It's funny how the human mind remembers the glory days of yesteryear without the downside.

Rock and Roll is a young man's genre. The greatest part about it is the angst involved. Once that disappears, it loses a little feeling. Time after time we've seen bands start off with a few good albums only to fade to obscurity.

Dying young is the best thing that can happen to an artist from a commercial standpoint. Release a few good albums, die of a heroin overdose, become famous. It's a tried and true method. There's no downslope to the career. Growing up, Nirvana was popular, but Pearl Jam and other similar bands were just as popular (at least where I lived). One gunshot and nearly 15 years later, Kurt Cobain is a rock god and Pearl Jam is a run of the mill band. Maybe this isn't quite a fair comparison since not much will top Nirvana in terms of influence, but they had a breakthrough album, one more album and a posthumous live set and left people wanting more. No missteps, no burnouts, just great music then a succinct end. If Eddie Vedder had died immediately after releasing Vs. and Nirvana had gone on to release some commercial flops, would history look at the two bands differently today?

It's better to burn out than to fade away. Ironically sung by one of the few rock heroes who did the latter. Mr Young could not have written a more accurate lyric though. My My Hey Hey.

The placenta falls for the floor

2008-10-01T07:25:00.000-07:00

I've discovered my personal blog (which I often neglect for weeks at a time) most of my posts tend to be music related in some way. Most of my friends just smile and nod at those posts, while I stand on my high horse and preach to the world about how much the music I listen to rocks and how much everything else sucks (which quite frankly is true). So in order to spare them and possibly spur some interesting debates, I figured I'd start up a dedicated music blog. After all the world could always use more bloggers to keep people distracted from doing real work.

One caveat I give when I make music posts: Just because I insult music somebody likes, does not mean I am directly insulting that person. A few of my best friends have absolutely horrible tastes in music, which they are entitled to. It just means I probably can't spend more than 30 minutes in a car with them. If someone disagrees with me, because of a rational argument such as "That song has special meaning to me because...." or "I like this song because ", I can accept that even that song personally makes me want to jam an icepick in my ear. If someone responds with "I like that song because it's on the radio everyday and everyone else like it" or "shut up u suk that song rox" then I will laugh at them and be mercilessly sarcastic to them.

A good friend once dubbed me "The Santa Claus of Drinking Music" because I always had whatever anyone wanted to hear and generally knew everything most others played. It's a nickname that has stuck and I'm quite proud of it.