So I'm leaving for Las Vegas tomorrow for a long weekend, and ending it on Monday with a return to the east coast to see the Foo Fighters. Needless to say I don't think I'm going to be posting that much while I'm over there. As a a matter of fact I'm not going to bring my lap top (Shea will have hers so there is a slight chance but doubtful). I just wanted to give you guys the heads up so you didn't think I was flaking out on you guys again. Expect a number of posts on Tuesday. Until then enjoy todays song.
What I like about this track is there is a lot of emphasis on the bass and the drums. It's not like it's a particularly difficult drum scheme but you can always hear it. The bass stands front and center and makes like a bass-bass-drum type rhythm.
Getting back into O.A.R. has re-opened the door to a lot of bands I stopped listening to as much. Michael Franti and Spearhead sort of fall in that category. I used to listen to the Yell Fire album all the time and slowly it fell out of rotation. So when I played it for the first time in ages it was like listening to it for the first time again. Forgiving O.A.R. was one of the best things I've done musically this year.
Well off to Vegas goes I. I'll catch you guys in a couple of days.
You Should Talk About This Album More
When people talk about Bob Marley records Survival isn't mentioned as much as it should be, but I would go so far as to say it belongs in his top three best albums (this is not including Legend because that is more or less a greatest hits album). Actually this album kind of reminds me of working at Borders (I bought it with a gift card I got for employee of the month... that's right self plug). Come on One Drop alone makes this album worth buying.
It's Time To Meet The Muppets...Queen
It's funny that this song would be selected now. Funny for a few reasons.
Reason 1- Shea and I were literally talking about this song on Saturday when I played it in her car. She told me I find the song to be funnier than it is and funnier than other people think. I thought this was kind of weird but correct me if I'm wrong here… this is the Muppets singing Queen right? It's the freakin' Muppets singing probably what is Queen's biggest song. How is this not funny or awesome (granted Shea used the word funny and didn't say anything about it not being awesome). I would think everyone would find this song to be funny. Just listen to Animal. I was curious to how the Muppets would handle some of the subject matter of the song, and the use of Animal is perfect. No one wants to hear a Muppet singing about killing a man and going to jail and yada yada yada. Imagine Kermit singing that. Well it would remind me of this painful video to watch.
Reason 2- I have been on a HUGE Muppets kick as of late. Maybe it has to do with the upcoming movie or the Green Album (speaking of which if you haven't listened to this or downloaded it what in the hell is wrong with you?! There is some really great stuff on here. For Christ sake the Fray do Muhna Muhna… and it's awesome). Whatever it is I'm all about the Muppets right now. We spent a hungover Saturday a couple of weeks ago watching two hours of the first season of the Muppet Show (the night before we danced about to bits of the Green Album… seriously people what are we waiting for here?). It was glorious. Do yourself a favor and just check out some of those old shows they're worth it for the subtle funny.
Non Muppet Related News- I saw Cameron Crowes love letter to Pearl Jam (PJ20) last night. There is so much I want to say but I'm still geeked out over the whole thing I'm not even sure where to begin. In short it was amazing. DVD comes out Oct. 25 (with a bunch of special editions being sold by the Ten Club) and I think they're airing it on PBS a few days before that. Do yourself a favor and watch it. I thought I was in love with Pearl Jam before…it just blew my mind.
When Soundtracks Go Wrong
I bought the Pineapple Express soundtrack thinking it would be pretty good. There was a good collection of songs within the movie (come on Electric Avenue!!!) and it was funny so these things seemed like they would translate well to a soundtrack. Unfortunately I was incorrect (surprised right? that hardly ever happens). The stand out tracks…well they stood out but everything else was kind of "eh". Funny within the movie not so much on the soundtrack. What can I say? We live and learn. Not every soundtrack can belong to Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko, or Kill Bill Vol. 1 (yeah that's right two Tarantino soundtracks). Then again what was I expecting from the Pineapple Express soundtrack? You're not really going to strike gold here. It's not Empire Records or Mallrats. There's no cultural movement within the movie so I shouldn't be surprised that there isn't one on the soundtrack. I guess good soundtracks encompass a time period. A sound that instantly takes you back to movie and your life. It's like one of those cheesy collection albums without the infomercial or the cheese.
But instead today we got Pineapple Express. D'oh!
For me this song never takes off. It's that kid who you meet at the playground who seems like he'd be fun to play with then spends the next five minutes running in a circle blabbering, and you find he's more annoying then fun. That's this song for me. I don't really know what else to say about it really. It exists in a world where no one really cares I suppose. It fit inside the movie well. That's something positive right?
It's Ray Charles Y'all
I first heard Ray Charles through Billy Joel and their amazing duet, Baby Grand. To this day it's one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. As I got older I of course discovered America the Beautiful and Georgia (sweet Jesus Georgia) among many others. I have never seen the movie Ray though (although I have glimpsed bits and pieces here and there), and I can tell you that Ray Charles is the most unsuspecting heroin addict ever. Who would have thought? There are so many blind jokes that I'm going to stray for but it just didn't seem to fit.
I like these types of songs where the backup singers are involved with the lead singer or front band. James Brown would do this type of stuff all the time to the point where the backups played the role of James's conscience and he had to check in with them before he did anything else. I think it also boils down to the fact that music that requires participation from band members translates well to live shows because you can turn that participation to the crowd. And we all know that I love crowd participation.
The cool thing about Ray Charles was his passion. When the man was performing or recording you could hear it in his voice you could hear it in the piano playing…the man had passion and soul. Unchain My Heart touches on that soul. You can hear it while listening that Charles just wraps himself entirely in the song and creates almost his own little universe with himself and the band. I could easily picture him forgetting that there was anyone else in the world at that moment. That's the beauty of his music sometimes you forget too.
Five Songs I Can't Live Without (At Least This Week)
1. Truth- Alexander
2. Miss You- Foster the People
3. Waste- Forster the People
4. Kick Drum Heart- Avett Brothers
5. Given To Fly- Pearl Jam
I like these types of songs where the backup singers are involved with the lead singer or front band. James Brown would do this type of stuff all the time to the point where the backups played the role of James's conscience and he had to check in with them before he did anything else. I think it also boils down to the fact that music that requires participation from band members translates well to live shows because you can turn that participation to the crowd. And we all know that I love crowd participation.
The cool thing about Ray Charles was his passion. When the man was performing or recording you could hear it in his voice you could hear it in the piano playing…the man had passion and soul. Unchain My Heart touches on that soul. You can hear it while listening that Charles just wraps himself entirely in the song and creates almost his own little universe with himself and the band. I could easily picture him forgetting that there was anyone else in the world at that moment. That's the beauty of his music sometimes you forget too.
Five Songs I Can't Live Without (At Least This Week)
1. Truth- Alexander
2. Miss You- Foster the People
3. Waste- Forster the People
4. Kick Drum Heart- Avett Brothers
5. Given To Fly- Pearl Jam
Hell Yes 90's Aerosmith, Hell Yes
Where does one begin to start with 90's Aerosmith. Wow. For me Get A Grip Aerosmith was the start of me finding my own sound outside of my parents. Livin' On the Edge was one of those songs that I fell in love with instantly, and memorized it and sung it every chance I had, and started to realise that I could like my own bands and didn't just have to listen to what my parents were pumping. While Aerosmith didn't really fit the alternative music I was going to start listening to I never pushed them aside. In fact I was proud of my love for all things Aerosmith.
Let's be honest here too people, Aerosmith helped make the music video awesome! Yeah I said. That string of videos (including Cryin' here) staring Alicia Silverstone were incredible. She was smokin' and everyone wanted to see Aerosmith's videos because she was in them (come on need I say how hot she was on the bike in Amazing and her and Live Tyler in Crazy? Do I people?). Watching these videos now they just glow with 90's excellence, but back then they were the shit. (Side Note 1 For LOST Fans: The person who steals her bag in the diner is none other than Sawyer himself) (Side Note 2- the video version of the song is actually longer then the studio cut because they liked the footage they shot so much. Thank you Pop Up Video. Wow does anyone remember that?)
I love Cryin'. Everything about it from those opening chords to the harmonica solo to the screamin' it's one of those songs that just makes me think how exciting it was to listen to Get A Grip with my head phones on. Aerosmith helped introduce me to a lot of other classic rock bands that the grunge music was missing out on (don't get me wrong with grunge I learned of the Pixies, Sonic Youth, and the Ramones but with Aerosmith I learned of the Who's Tommy or some random Zeppelin record.) Aerosmith opened a lot of doors for me musically, and it's funny you don't hear them get referenced enough like that.
What is great about Cryin' and the whole rest of the Get A Grip album was how Aerosmith was able to adapt their sound again in order to remain relevant. I've never seen a band able to keep a float for so long even when it seems like they were dead in the water. They save themselves by re-doing Walk This Way with Run DMC and then kind of slip back into the shadows and then bam Pump hits and followed up by Get A Grip and it's like they never left. Yeah they've gone a little too pop as of late but Aerosmith does what it needs to survive. How can you fault them with that? And even if you do listen to Cryin' again and see if you feel the same way.
The Game Has Changed
The Game. The Game? Hmmmmm I'm not really sure where to begin with this one. I for one was really excited for his first album (The Documentary) there was so much positive hype plus I was still had my love affair with Shady/Aftermath going on and even better then that Dr. Dre had his hands all over this album. What more could you ask for right? Everything about it seemed like it would be good, and speaking honestly it was a really good rap album. From start to finish The Documentary delivers the goods. Over hyped? Yeah probably. Solid? Yeah it's that too.
The worst part of this album (besides the fact that they changed the name of the album from N.W.A.) was all the drama that followed it. All that G-Unit, 50 Cent vs. The Game crap got annoying real fast. It was like all of you need to shut the hell up and just record songs. It was during that time period where 50 Cent had to beef with everyone. It just wasn't fun.
I think the split with G-Unit was probably the best and worst thing that could have happened to the Game. Yeah he shed himself of the garbage that 50 was becoming but he also lost that publicity that came with being associated with him. Once that beef died it seemed that the Game became an afterthought, I would say he neither won or loss that beef. Yeah he was still putting out some pretty good albums and tracks but it wasn't holding the impact that it would have if he had maybe stayed in the good graces. I don't it's one of those double edge sword type deals.
I really liked this song off when I first heard it, and listening to it again today for the first time I liked it but not as much. A large part of it has to do with my love for most things Eminem (minus Encore and Relapse). When I first heard the track I agreed that Em did kill the Game on his own track but since re-listening and hearing Eminem drop nastier verses I think that comment downgrades Games ability to rap because this isn't Em's best work, nor is it his worse. It's just him dropping in and making it a song because his name is attached.
I recently read an interview with Game where he states that he loves going after rappers, but the one he stays away from is Eminem because he knows Em will rip him up. I kind of liked that he acknowledged that. It's good to have that understanding.
The worst part of this album (besides the fact that they changed the name of the album from N.W.A.) was all the drama that followed it. All that G-Unit, 50 Cent vs. The Game crap got annoying real fast. It was like all of you need to shut the hell up and just record songs. It was during that time period where 50 Cent had to beef with everyone. It just wasn't fun.
I think the split with G-Unit was probably the best and worst thing that could have happened to the Game. Yeah he shed himself of the garbage that 50 was becoming but he also lost that publicity that came with being associated with him. Once that beef died it seemed that the Game became an afterthought, I would say he neither won or loss that beef. Yeah he was still putting out some pretty good albums and tracks but it wasn't holding the impact that it would have if he had maybe stayed in the good graces. I don't it's one of those double edge sword type deals.
I really liked this song off when I first heard it, and listening to it again today for the first time I liked it but not as much. A large part of it has to do with my love for most things Eminem (minus Encore and Relapse). When I first heard the track I agreed that Em did kill the Game on his own track but since re-listening and hearing Eminem drop nastier verses I think that comment downgrades Games ability to rap because this isn't Em's best work, nor is it his worse. It's just him dropping in and making it a song because his name is attached.
I recently read an interview with Game where he states that he loves going after rappers, but the one he stays away from is Eminem because he knows Em will rip him up. I kind of liked that he acknowledged that. It's good to have that understanding.
I'll Take the Studio Cut Over This Live Version
This isn't the exact version of the song that played on my ipod this morning but I suppose it's close enough for government work.
So my ipod must be gearing up for Pearl Jam's big 20th birthday next Tuesday. I'm not going into a lot of detail here because I actually like the stuido cut of Whipping better then this live version (or the live version that played on my ipod this morning). For some reason I think it just translates better on a record then live (or at least in this case). But I won't deny that I'm always pretty excited to start my day off with a little Pearl Jam. It actually lead to me listening to the live album they dropped earlier this year, Live On Ten Legs, which upon first couple of listens I thought was "eh". See I have problem with live albums that take from a bunch of different shows. They all ways try and peace them together as if it's just one show and most of the time it misses the mark. Sometimes they fit and other times the sound seems different and you can tell the band was in a different mood. Although listening to Live On Ten Legs this morning on shuffle I enjoyed it a bit more.
That's my story folks and I'm sticking to it.
Who Wins In A Fight Lemmy, God, or HHH?
Once upon a time I used to be a pretty huge wrestling fan. I'm not talking about high school or college wrestling (it's a little much for me), no I'm talking about the then WWF and now WWE. I wish I could sit here today and tell you by huge I meant descent but I mean huge. I would tape matches on Raw and Smackdown and make collections of my favorites of the year, I was going to house shows, I was rocking t-shirts, the whole nine. Through this love of wrestling I discovered I could actually do a pretty good Rock impression (I know be jealous, but I'm not sure if I could still do it it's been so long).
Part of my obsession with wrestling (and yes I'm okay to say that it was an obsession) was the music. Come on, who among us has not thought about how freakin' cool it would be to have their very own intro music? I think about it at least once a day. I have tons of different songs picked out too. Songs for when I walk into work, songs for when I leave the bathroom, songs when I wake up, the list goes on and on. So naturally I would be drawn to wrestling theme music. Now when I was growing up (during the high years of wrestling, when it was fun to watch) the music was evolving. Hulk Hogan's Real American was fading and new songs were emerging to take it's place (for the record I listened to Real American before I ran Warrior Dash and man did it pump me up). I was being WWF albums with songs to my favorite wrestlers and burning them to CD's for basketball games and track meets (wow I'm sound like such a loser here). I couldn't help it.
Now this... this has to be one of my all time favorite wrestling theme songs ever. Let's just break it down (break it down... that's for my fellow DX nerds. God must stop). Not only is this a wrestling theme song, but it's a wrestling theme song sung by fuckin' Motorhead (sorry for the swearing just needed to get my point across)! That's right people... fuckin' Lemmy himself is singing a wrestling theme for HHH (or as he's known as... The Game). It almost seems like it should make sense doesn't it?
This song kicks too by the way. It always gets me pumped up when I hear it. Makes me want to kick some ass or hit some one with a folding chair or jump off a ladder. Maybe when I was younger (I'd like to tell you that my friends and I never tried to wrestle in the back yard but I'd be lying. Many epic battles in pools (it's easier to lift and kill people in the pool), garages, backyards, I still think my body is trying to heal.) but I can't do that stuff now... I'm married (Note To Self- Contact Tim see if he's interested a wrestling fight reunion... Further Note To Self- Shut up).
You haven't lived people until you've watched a wrestling PPV and Motorhead shows up to play a wrestler's theme song. I can remember this happening three times, maybe four. It will blow. Your. Mind.
As I've gotten older I've strayed away from wrestling (all my favorites left or got to old), but every now and then I'll check in on it or watch something with my brother in-law Paul and my buddy Tim. It reminds me of old times when we'd get together on that one Sunday a month for the PPV. It's a very nostalgic feeling for me I suppose. While I've out grown wrestling it still holds a place in my heart, and I couldn't help but giggle when this came on today. I mean who giggles to a Motorhead song? So this is for my wrestling junkies out there. Be proud of your obsession. It's okay. There are worse things out there. Also please embrace C.M. Punk I'm pretty sure he can make it fun to watch again. And that's the bottom line because- sorry I really meant to stop myself but it's just too easy.
Part of my obsession with wrestling (and yes I'm okay to say that it was an obsession) was the music. Come on, who among us has not thought about how freakin' cool it would be to have their very own intro music? I think about it at least once a day. I have tons of different songs picked out too. Songs for when I walk into work, songs for when I leave the bathroom, songs when I wake up, the list goes on and on. So naturally I would be drawn to wrestling theme music. Now when I was growing up (during the high years of wrestling, when it was fun to watch) the music was evolving. Hulk Hogan's Real American was fading and new songs were emerging to take it's place (for the record I listened to Real American before I ran Warrior Dash and man did it pump me up). I was being WWF albums with songs to my favorite wrestlers and burning them to CD's for basketball games and track meets (wow I'm sound like such a loser here). I couldn't help it.
Now this... this has to be one of my all time favorite wrestling theme songs ever. Let's just break it down (break it down... that's for my fellow DX nerds. God must stop). Not only is this a wrestling theme song, but it's a wrestling theme song sung by fuckin' Motorhead (sorry for the swearing just needed to get my point across)! That's right people... fuckin' Lemmy himself is singing a wrestling theme for HHH (or as he's known as... The Game). It almost seems like it should make sense doesn't it?
This song kicks too by the way. It always gets me pumped up when I hear it. Makes me want to kick some ass or hit some one with a folding chair or jump off a ladder. Maybe when I was younger (I'd like to tell you that my friends and I never tried to wrestle in the back yard but I'd be lying. Many epic battles in pools (it's easier to lift and kill people in the pool), garages, backyards, I still think my body is trying to heal.) but I can't do that stuff now... I'm married (Note To Self- Contact Tim see if he's interested a wrestling fight reunion... Further Note To Self- Shut up).
You haven't lived people until you've watched a wrestling PPV and Motorhead shows up to play a wrestler's theme song. I can remember this happening three times, maybe four. It will blow. Your. Mind.
As I've gotten older I've strayed away from wrestling (all my favorites left or got to old), but every now and then I'll check in on it or watch something with my brother in-law Paul and my buddy Tim. It reminds me of old times when we'd get together on that one Sunday a month for the PPV. It's a very nostalgic feeling for me I suppose. While I've out grown wrestling it still holds a place in my heart, and I couldn't help but giggle when this came on today. I mean who giggles to a Motorhead song? So this is for my wrestling junkies out there. Be proud of your obsession. It's okay. There are worse things out there. Also please embrace C.M. Punk I'm pretty sure he can make it fun to watch again. And that's the bottom line because- sorry I really meant to stop myself but it's just too easy.
Hip Hop Week Continues
I always find it interesting when my ipod gets into moods like this. There are times where it just throws a whole bunch of random stuff at me and that's fine, but when it hits a groove like it has this week that's really when it peaks my interest. What is it right now that has my ipod wanting to play hip hop? I'm starting to think of the Shuffle as the ipods choice. Picture this... when I hit shuffle every morning my ipod is making it's choice of song for the day. This is the number one song on my ipods mind right now. Kind of weird right? I blame this on having to much time to think while driving and years and years of drug abuse (just kidding folks...yes kidding).
This track on paper sounds like it should be really promising. It's Kanye West and Nas on a Kanye produced track, it should be pretty awesome. And I'm not dismissing the coolness of the track because it is pretty chill, but when you put two mega names like this on a track together I want a home run. I want something epic. Picture this. If Elton John and Billy Joel were to write a song together wouldn't you want that song to be a blend of both of their styles as well as something fresh and original? And I'm totally aware of all the artists in the world I could have used here I chose Billy Joel and Elton John. What do you want from me?
Still Dreaming comes off of Nas's first album release on Def Jam records which was a really big deal at the time, now not so much. At the time of this album Jay-Z was the head of Def Jam and he signed Nas to a record deal which was such a huge deal because of the "beef" between the two of them. Although it seems that said "beef" might have been all for money since it was squashed so quickly but I digress.
Any way it just sounded so promising with Nas and Jay-Z working together on an album, so I was quick to scoop it up when it came out. After a few listens I knew I was sort of disappointed but I thought it was a step in the right direction. There were some really good songs on there, and there were some songs that were just there. I for one would have loved if the Roots and Nas had cut a full album together. Maybe one day.
This album was more about the hype of it coming out on Jay-Z's record label then anything else. Still Dreaming has a real smooth beat to it. Very jazz like which is cool (but at times reminds me of the Kanye/Game collaboration Wouldn't Get Far) . I would have liked a better hook here, and believe it or not a little more Kayne. Maybe have the two of them trade viruses off each other or something. There was so much potential here that I felt that kind of got left on the cutting room floor.
Things to check out on this album though, Will.I.Am (yes that one) actually produces a couple of really good tracks here. It makes you almost forget that he sold his soul to the pop gods for money and lame catchy hooks... almost.
This track on paper sounds like it should be really promising. It's Kanye West and Nas on a Kanye produced track, it should be pretty awesome. And I'm not dismissing the coolness of the track because it is pretty chill, but when you put two mega names like this on a track together I want a home run. I want something epic. Picture this. If Elton John and Billy Joel were to write a song together wouldn't you want that song to be a blend of both of their styles as well as something fresh and original? And I'm totally aware of all the artists in the world I could have used here I chose Billy Joel and Elton John. What do you want from me?
Still Dreaming comes off of Nas's first album release on Def Jam records which was a really big deal at the time, now not so much. At the time of this album Jay-Z was the head of Def Jam and he signed Nas to a record deal which was such a huge deal because of the "beef" between the two of them. Although it seems that said "beef" might have been all for money since it was squashed so quickly but I digress.
Any way it just sounded so promising with Nas and Jay-Z working together on an album, so I was quick to scoop it up when it came out. After a few listens I knew I was sort of disappointed but I thought it was a step in the right direction. There were some really good songs on there, and there were some songs that were just there. I for one would have loved if the Roots and Nas had cut a full album together. Maybe one day.
This album was more about the hype of it coming out on Jay-Z's record label then anything else. Still Dreaming has a real smooth beat to it. Very jazz like which is cool (but at times reminds me of the Kanye/Game collaboration Wouldn't Get Far) . I would have liked a better hook here, and believe it or not a little more Kayne. Maybe have the two of them trade viruses off each other or something. There was so much potential here that I felt that kind of got left on the cutting room floor.
Things to check out on this album though, Will.I.Am (yes that one) actually produces a couple of really good tracks here. It makes you almost forget that he sold his soul to the pop gods for money and lame catchy hooks... almost.
Lazy Ass Rap Songs
Like I've said before I went through a Shady/Aftermath phase where I was listening to just about anything that was put out on the record label. It mostly stemmed from my love of all things Eminem and trickled down to lesser albums from Young Buck and yes Lyod Bankis . See there was a period where the whole label thought they were untouchable, Eminem even started producing records (to mixed results mostly misses, must I remind you all of the Tupac album?) and 50 Cent put out albums after Get Rich Or Die Tryin'. I personally thing it went all down hill after Eminem's Encore and the G-Unit album.
So while I was on this kick of Shady/Aftermath artists I was almost forcing myself to like certain albums because of their affiliation. I listen to this stuff now and I wonder what the hell I was thinking? This song is lazy hip-hop at it's best. It sounds like an Eminem produced beat (I'm to lazy to look it up), the rhymes from everyone involved are simplistic and there is no real flow here, and the hook... well I expect better from Nate Dogg.
It's songs like this that kind of made Eminem and 50 Cent less effective. At least Eminem has been able to redeem himself, 50 Cent on the other hand. Wow, that went wrong. Now that I think of it I probably bought this album because Eminem did a track on it. Tisk, tisk, tisk.
A Rap Super Group You Should Know About
Mos Def and Talib Kweli together form the rap super group Black Star. They've only put one album out but if you're looking for the roots of what makes hip hop so good look no further. This album is awesome. If you're just looking for some smooth, chill, awesome hip hop look no further. Actually why aren't you downloading it right now... go I'll wait.
In the mean time check this out
5 Songs I Can't Live Without (At Least This Week)
1. Ole- Pearl Jam
2. My Body- Young the Giant
3. Mahna Mahna- The Fray
4. Dangerous Connection- O.A.R.
5. 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover- G. Love
You Know Mary... She Be Crazy
I love, love, love this song. First off lets start by saying Shea was today's Guest Shuffler. It feels like we haven't had a Guest Shuffler in awhile. I'm not sure if I've discussed it here yet but Shea is not a Pearl Jam fan. Yes there are a couple of songs of theirs that she likes or appreciates, I actually she appreciates Pearl Jam as a whole but it's just not her sound. That's found I've made my peace with that. She doesn't need to be a Pearl Jam fan for our marriage to work. One song of theirs she does happen to really like though is their cover of Crazy Mary so I was very excited when she hit shuffle today that it turned up.
Pearl Jam has been on Jimmy Fallon Thursday and Friday of this week and their documentary and it's soundtrack, PJ20, comes out on the 20th of this month so I've been I've been listening to alot of Pearl Jam the last couple of days (yes more so then usual). So Crazy Mary playing totally fit my mood.
The song is a cover of an old Victoria Williams song, and I have to say it's kind of creepy. The whole story of Mary and the town and stuff sounds like it should be out of a horror movie. It sounds dark the story sounds bleak it seems like maybe it would make a good movie with pop outs and teenagers who are following the legend of crazy Mary.
I actually have a version of this show where Eddie Vedder says "this song is about a insane person" before they start to play. Going into the second versus the sound cuts out and their is this god awful screech. Vedder addresses the crowd saying it's the first time that he's called Mary insane publicly and he doesn't want to ever play the song again since it was so scary. Spoiler alert they do finish but it's still a freaky moment. So for me this song gives off that paranormal, horror movie feel. I love it. The first time I saw them they played it in the second encore. I left feeling very happy.
Take a bottle pass it round... I want to watch a horror movie now.
Summer Can't End When Bob Marley Exists
So the weather and the media may have us believe that summer is over but I'm here to protest. For starters the weather today was a little bit warmer and the sun was out (suck it rain), and the song of the day came from no other then Bob Marley. Summer can't end as long as the music of Bob Marley is a live.
For me there are certain artists or bands that just encompass summer (Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R., Sublime to name a couple). I can listen to them all year round but they sound the best during the summer months. So when I put them on the Want To Hear It Now playlist in February it's my way of putting a little summer in my life. There is a battle between winter and I and I'm battling it one song at a time.
Bob Marley not only is summer but his music transcends the barrier of being just summer music. I can put a Bob Marley record on any time of the year and feel completely relaxed and at peace, and yes a bit warm. This winter you should try to play a Bob Marley album or song or maybe you're own summer bands during the greyest day of winter. I dare you to come back and tell me that it doesn't make you feel a little bit better inside. You too can fight Mother Nature.
Satisfy My Soul is one of my all time favorite Bob Marley songs. It's chill tempo and easy going spirit just put me at ease. I love, love, love the "you make me feel like a sweepstakes winner" line. It makes my heart smile. The whole song from the rocking of the boat to the chorus help to show why Bob Marley shines so brightly. Such positive energy and good feelings stem from his music it's hard to just classify him as a summer artist. Bob Marley is summer in music form, and I beg you to take him with you all year. Everyone deserves a little slice of summer all year round, don't you think?
For me there are certain artists or bands that just encompass summer (Dave Matthews Band, O.A.R., Sublime to name a couple). I can listen to them all year round but they sound the best during the summer months. So when I put them on the Want To Hear It Now playlist in February it's my way of putting a little summer in my life. There is a battle between winter and I and I'm battling it one song at a time.
Bob Marley not only is summer but his music transcends the barrier of being just summer music. I can put a Bob Marley record on any time of the year and feel completely relaxed and at peace, and yes a bit warm. This winter you should try to play a Bob Marley album or song or maybe you're own summer bands during the greyest day of winter. I dare you to come back and tell me that it doesn't make you feel a little bit better inside. You too can fight Mother Nature.
Satisfy My Soul is one of my all time favorite Bob Marley songs. It's chill tempo and easy going spirit just put me at ease. I love, love, love the "you make me feel like a sweepstakes winner" line. It makes my heart smile. The whole song from the rocking of the boat to the chorus help to show why Bob Marley shines so brightly. Such positive energy and good feelings stem from his music it's hard to just classify him as a summer artist. Bob Marley is summer in music form, and I beg you to take him with you all year. Everyone deserves a little slice of summer all year round, don't you think?
Lil Jon...Again? Aaaaand a Special Announcment
So as I was listening to this garbage (I don't know why I have this much Lil Jon on my ipod... a part of me died inside when I heard this) I was thinking of my approach to writing about it. How does one write something about Real Nigga Roll Call with a straight face or expect to be taken seriously? I don't think that it's possible. So that got me thinking about the different avenues I could travel here. Allow me to share with you what I came up with.
1. Philosophy- I could get into the whole idea that the "real nigga roll call" is in fact a way of searching for ones self and exploring ones "inner nigga" or as I understand it, one's inner child. By having a roll call for the "real niggas" one is lead to believe that Lil Jon is actually searching for the real him.
2. Ice Cube Should Know Better- I think this really speaks for itself here.
3. How Many Times Do the Words "Nigga" and "Mother Fucker" Appear- I tried counting twenty seconds in and just gave up. I thought about going back and trying again but that meant that I would have to listen to this abomination again so instead I'll just say a lot. (Challenge: Does anyone dare to count them and report back to me?)
4. Maybe Lil Jon Is A Genius- Wait stop laughing. Is it possible that all this "crunk" music is in fact a farce and it's Lil Jon's way of assessing us as people. He secretly judges the people who buy and listen to his music and thinks that they are small and weak people who just want to prey on the weakness of others. Lil Jon is in fact laughing all the way to the bank... shortly after this thought I punched myself in the eye to keep it real.
And now on to today's BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:
Alright Shufflers here we go. I have a friend, Linda Meigel, who happens to be a self publishing author. Her first book Monkey Shine was wonderfully written and highly entertaining. For those of you interested in it please go check it out here http://www.amazon.com/MONKEY-SHINE-Linda-Meigel/dp/0982373910/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1315538372&sr=8-7 on Amazon.
Well as I mentioned she owns her own publishing company which is starting to hit the ground running, and I'm proud to announce that I will be joining her expanding cast of authors! That's right folks I got my first book deal. Linda and I have conspired to co-write a collection of short stories (ten each) that deal with the darkness of human behavior. We each will write ten separate stories with the longest one being 20 pages and each story after being two pages less (for those of you not quick at math that means story 10 would be two pages long). The collection will be published under Linda's publishing company, Street Monkey Publishing, when everything is done.
As of right now there is no time table to when the book will be released as I'm still working on my ten (just about finished with my first and have the other five mapped out to be written), and Linda is also working on publishing her second novel along with writing the short stories (p.s. I've read the first couple of chapters from her next book and it's very exciting). But as things get further along in the process I'll be posting teasers and blurbs and upcoming stories and updates on the project.
So there you have it Shufflers, my first book deal. Just thought I'd share the excitement. I'll catch you all tomorrow and please don't listen to this song again...ever.
A Beatles Cover That Misses The Mark
I want to start off by thanking the incredibly awesome people over at Amazon for sending me a new car device so I can play my ipod whilst driving again. I can't even tell you people how much it sucked having to listen to the radio for about a week and a half. I stuck to my morning routine and listened to Mike and Mike but on the way home and such I would pretty much turn the radio down and drive home in silence. I just can't take it. It's not even worth scanning because it finds the same five songs on eight different stations. Made my heart sad knowing my ipod was sitting right there next to me begging to be played loudly and I couldn't comply. So the first thing I did this morning was hooked it up, turned it up, and hit play. Driving is fun again.
Our second cover song this week and one done by the Beatle no less. Now far be it for me to criticize the Beatles or anything they have ever done, buuuuuuuuuuuuut I think the original is better than this version. I know, I know calm down I have my reasons. While it's cool to have the Beatles doing a cover of Please Mr. Postman the sexiness of the song is kind of lost. That's right kids I said sexy.
Hear me out here folks. I don't know if anyone else finds it this way (it could just be a weird me thing) but I think the whole "Deliver the letter/The sooner the better" part is really sexy. I can't explain why. Maybe it's because of the way the words sound together, I don't know to be honest. It's just one of those things that just is. Unfortunately I don't think that sexiness carries over in the Beatles version. It's still catchy and fun to sing, but I don't find Lennon's delivery of "Deliver the letter…" sexy at all. Maybe a little whiney? I don't know.
Actually I think my main problem with this cover is it comes across a bit whiney, and less wanting. The original has longing and lust in it, again this doesn't translate here. It is exactly what you think it is, the Beatles singing a version of Please Mr. Postman. That's it. There's no added spin or twist here. It's just four dudes who wanted to sign a bitchin' song and recorded it because they could. Granted these four dudes are the Beatles but it doesn't make the song spectacular. Just makes it a cool listen.
Side Note: Stay tuned tomorrow Shufflers for an awesomely exciting announcement here at A Year of Shuffling.
Our second cover song this week and one done by the Beatle no less. Now far be it for me to criticize the Beatles or anything they have ever done, buuuuuuuuuuuuut I think the original is better than this version. I know, I know calm down I have my reasons. While it's cool to have the Beatles doing a cover of Please Mr. Postman the sexiness of the song is kind of lost. That's right kids I said sexy.
Hear me out here folks. I don't know if anyone else finds it this way (it could just be a weird me thing) but I think the whole "Deliver the letter/The sooner the better" part is really sexy. I can't explain why. Maybe it's because of the way the words sound together, I don't know to be honest. It's just one of those things that just is. Unfortunately I don't think that sexiness carries over in the Beatles version. It's still catchy and fun to sing, but I don't find Lennon's delivery of "Deliver the letter…" sexy at all. Maybe a little whiney? I don't know.
Actually I think my main problem with this cover is it comes across a bit whiney, and less wanting. The original has longing and lust in it, again this doesn't translate here. It is exactly what you think it is, the Beatles singing a version of Please Mr. Postman. That's it. There's no added spin or twist here. It's just four dudes who wanted to sign a bitchin' song and recorded it because they could. Granted these four dudes are the Beatles but it doesn't make the song spectacular. Just makes it a cool listen.
Side Note: Stay tuned tomorrow Shufflers for an awesomely exciting announcement here at A Year of Shuffling.
Welcome Back From the Lost Week
Alright as promised back and better then ever people. I'm not really sure what happened to me last week, or what will forever be referred to as the Lost Week. It wasn't like I wasn't shuffling either (except last Friday I didn't but I can explain. The device to play my ipod in my car broke and when I got home from work we had people over and good times were had and well...yeah). Actually I blame a great deal of last week on the fact that my ipod car playing device kicked it. Tough day especially when the radio sucks and there has been so much music that I've been in the mood to listen to all day (Foster the People, The Muppets: Green Album, and Young the Giant to name a few). So I'm scratching last week from the record books and just starting fresh. Time to get things back on track and stopping with these half assed posts.
(couldn't find a video of the song so here is a link where you can download it for free instead http://www.oarsa.org/features/viewsong.php?songID=109 )
First off I love this song. I think I have four to five different versions of it on my ipod (Allman Brothers obviously and I know there's a Dave Matthews Band version on there some where too and probably one that I'm forgetting). You see the cool thing about O.A.R. live shows is that you usually get a pretty cool cover. Having seen them nine times I've heard some really good ones. I've got to see them do Pearl Jam's Release (oh.my.god.), U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and With or Without You, Zeppelin's Fool In the Rain, and one of my personal favorites Billy Joel's Downeaster Alexa (the first time they covered it was at Jones Beach for us Long Islanders). Back in the days when I was constantly trading for shows I would some times base what shows to trade for on the covers that were performed. This particular show drew me in because of Melissa.
I have this thing with songs named after ladies where I want to name my future daughter that name so I can sing said song to them when they're a baby (insert awwwww here or gag your choice). I had the same thing with Bob Marley's Kaya. I just loved the idea of naming my daughter Kaya and singing her that song. For those wondering Shea has totally voted down the name Kaya but I'm still allowed to sing said song to future daughter if I choose. I don't know it'll just seem weird now don't you think?
Totally besides the point I love this version of Melissa. Over the last month and my rekindling with O.A.R. I've really grown to love the voice of Marc Roberage. I've always appreciated it and I love how into the music he gets, but I don't know if I ever realised before how great his voice is. There's evidence of that in this cover of Melissa. It's just such a tender moment, and I wish I was at that show. It would have been such a great song choice to transition into something like I Feel Home. I love those quiet moments in shows that bring things in and softens out the show. Sometimes that's where you find the best concert moments.
My homework assignment for you tonight Shufflers is go on itunes or You Tube and find your favorite version of Melissa. If you don't mind so much please feel free to post whatever version you may find here in the comments. I'm always looking for new versions of great songs to listen to.
It's good to be back.
(couldn't find a video of the song so here is a link where you can download it for free instead http://www.oarsa.org/features/viewsong.php?songID=109 )
First off I love this song. I think I have four to five different versions of it on my ipod (Allman Brothers obviously and I know there's a Dave Matthews Band version on there some where too and probably one that I'm forgetting). You see the cool thing about O.A.R. live shows is that you usually get a pretty cool cover. Having seen them nine times I've heard some really good ones. I've got to see them do Pearl Jam's Release (oh.my.god.), U2's Sunday Bloody Sunday and With or Without You, Zeppelin's Fool In the Rain, and one of my personal favorites Billy Joel's Downeaster Alexa (the first time they covered it was at Jones Beach for us Long Islanders). Back in the days when I was constantly trading for shows I would some times base what shows to trade for on the covers that were performed. This particular show drew me in because of Melissa.
I have this thing with songs named after ladies where I want to name my future daughter that name so I can sing said song to them when they're a baby (insert awwwww here or gag your choice). I had the same thing with Bob Marley's Kaya. I just loved the idea of naming my daughter Kaya and singing her that song. For those wondering Shea has totally voted down the name Kaya but I'm still allowed to sing said song to future daughter if I choose. I don't know it'll just seem weird now don't you think?
Totally besides the point I love this version of Melissa. Over the last month and my rekindling with O.A.R. I've really grown to love the voice of Marc Roberage. I've always appreciated it and I love how into the music he gets, but I don't know if I ever realised before how great his voice is. There's evidence of that in this cover of Melissa. It's just such a tender moment, and I wish I was at that show. It would have been such a great song choice to transition into something like I Feel Home. I love those quiet moments in shows that bring things in and softens out the show. Sometimes that's where you find the best concert moments.
My homework assignment for you tonight Shufflers is go on itunes or You Tube and find your favorite version of Melissa. If you don't mind so much please feel free to post whatever version you may find here in the comments. I'm always looking for new versions of great songs to listen to.
It's good to be back.
The Lost Week
Okay so I kind of messed up. While I was shuffling last week I was not recording them and not posting them here. I really dropped the ball here folks and I'm not afraid to admit it. So in order to save A Year of Shuffling I'm pulling a Lost Week. Similar to John Lennon's Lost Weekend I'm not counting anything from last week and am now claiming to have had computer problems preventing me from posting.
A Year of Shuffling gets back on track tomorrow, and let us never speak of last week again.
A Year of Shuffling gets back on track tomorrow, and let us never speak of last week again.
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