A Letter to My Ipod
Dear ipod-
Now I don't want this to be considered as me questioning you. We both know that you're one of my closest friends and I value you're judgement...buuuuuuuuut I don't understand you lately. If anyone knows what my music patterns are right now it's you. You know better then anyone that I'm listening to a steady dose of Foo Fighters, O.A.R., Kings of Leon, and Beastie Boys. So explain to me why you keep pushing rap on me? It was cool and nostalgic when you played Ready To Die but now I feel like you're forcing me to want to be in rap mood. It's just not happening right now. I appreciate today's attempt of Me by Atmosphere because they're like the rock band of hip hop, but I'm just not feeling it right now. There will come a time where I'm in the "rap mood" again but as of right now please stop forcing it up on me. The song was good today but could you maybe choose something tomorrow that better fits my music patterns? Thanks for listening to me and continue being awesome.
Awesomely Yours
Kevin
Can't Knock The Hustle
Something must be wrong. It's currently 9:48 at night and I am just now having my first Arizona Iced Tea. Usually it's one in the morning and then another late afternoon and sometimes (depending on how crazy I'm feeling of course) a final one when I gets home from work. I have a problem. To counter act the large amounts of iced tea I do drink a lot of water (to protect my kidneys and all) but lately I don't know if I'm keeping up with my large iced tea in take. Things to consider. Drink more water and maybe less Arizona? Hmmmm...
A full day has passed since the release of O.A.R.'s new album King and I'd say I've listened to it one and a half times (I jumped around a bit). Intital reaction... I really like it. It's definately a return to form, it's got the reggae undertones and upbeat feeling that I associate with O.A.R. music. This is something that pleases me. I want to listen to it again fully a couple of more times before I fully fall in love with it, but as of 9:51 today and I'm happy.
We're not here to talk about O.A.R.'s new album though. Yesterday we got ourselves a little bit of Biggie (I think that might be an unintential oxymoron) and today my ipod chose to stay in the same gangsta vein by giving us some Jay-Z.
Now I have no plans on knocking the hustle (pun intended here) but that Carlito's Way like intro probably would have worked a little better if Jay-Z had probably used an actual line from Carlito's Way. Although I do appreciate the effort. Every turns to Scarface for their latin, Al Pacino gangster ways and often forget about this masterpiece. Carlito's Way may not have the quoting magnitude that Scarface has but for Gods sake couldn't we have taken an actual piece of the movie instead of getting this guy at the start of the song who sounds like he's doing a bad impression of Al Pacino's bad impression of a latin person? But I digress.
Can' Knock the Hustle is made by Mary J's hook here. There's no mistaking that Jay-Z's rhymes and flow here are top notch (when aren't they though?) but that hook brings the song together. It's the foundation. I don't know how many of you have heard Jay-Z's Unplugged album (the Roots play as his band for the night), but the version of Can't Knock the Hustle is pretty awesome. As a matter of fact that whole Unplugged album is pretty awesome. You wouldn't think that a rap unplugged would be able to work but Jay-Z pulls it off. I think it has a lot to do with the Roots kicking out the jams.
Speaking of MTV I believe yesterday was it's 30th birthday. It's a milestone no doubt but I thought you stopped really celebrating birthdays when the thing died (oh snap!). Yes I know MTV still exists but not in the same capacity that it once did. Growing up MTV was everything, acutally music videos were everything. That time has passed. MTV has become less and less and less about the music and more about the crappy reality TV craze. Shows like Road Rules and the Real World used to be the minority, not it's all the station shows. I actually take offense to the fact that they still have the VMA's. How is it possible to dedicate a three hour show to music videos when your station only plays them at one o'clock in the morning?! So yes lets celebrate the fact that MTV has turned 30 but lets be realist here. The only music that can be heard there anymore is the crappy pop crap that they use during reality TV montages. Makes my 90's self sick.
A full day has passed since the release of O.A.R.'s new album King and I'd say I've listened to it one and a half times (I jumped around a bit). Intital reaction... I really like it. It's definately a return to form, it's got the reggae undertones and upbeat feeling that I associate with O.A.R. music. This is something that pleases me. I want to listen to it again fully a couple of more times before I fully fall in love with it, but as of 9:51 today and I'm happy.
We're not here to talk about O.A.R.'s new album though. Yesterday we got ourselves a little bit of Biggie (I think that might be an unintential oxymoron) and today my ipod chose to stay in the same gangsta vein by giving us some Jay-Z.
Now I have no plans on knocking the hustle (pun intended here) but that Carlito's Way like intro probably would have worked a little better if Jay-Z had probably used an actual line from Carlito's Way. Although I do appreciate the effort. Every turns to Scarface for their latin, Al Pacino gangster ways and often forget about this masterpiece. Carlito's Way may not have the quoting magnitude that Scarface has but for Gods sake couldn't we have taken an actual piece of the movie instead of getting this guy at the start of the song who sounds like he's doing a bad impression of Al Pacino's bad impression of a latin person? But I digress.
Can' Knock the Hustle is made by Mary J's hook here. There's no mistaking that Jay-Z's rhymes and flow here are top notch (when aren't they though?) but that hook brings the song together. It's the foundation. I don't know how many of you have heard Jay-Z's Unplugged album (the Roots play as his band for the night), but the version of Can't Knock the Hustle is pretty awesome. As a matter of fact that whole Unplugged album is pretty awesome. You wouldn't think that a rap unplugged would be able to work but Jay-Z pulls it off. I think it has a lot to do with the Roots kicking out the jams.
Speaking of MTV I believe yesterday was it's 30th birthday. It's a milestone no doubt but I thought you stopped really celebrating birthdays when the thing died (oh snap!). Yes I know MTV still exists but not in the same capacity that it once did. Growing up MTV was everything, acutally music videos were everything. That time has passed. MTV has become less and less and less about the music and more about the crappy reality TV craze. Shows like Road Rules and the Real World used to be the minority, not it's all the station shows. I actually take offense to the fact that they still have the VMA's. How is it possible to dedicate a three hour show to music videos when your station only plays them at one o'clock in the morning?! So yes lets celebrate the fact that MTV has turned 30 but lets be realist here. The only music that can be heard there anymore is the crappy pop crap that they use during reality TV montages. Makes my 90's self sick.
Biggie Smalls Is the Illest
Can you remember the first album that you listened to that made you a fan of a certain genre of music? Like the first time you listened to Sgt. Pepper's or Nevermind and understanding that this was the type of music that would follow you for the rest of your life. I had listened to plenty of rap songs when I was in high school and I thought they were cool enough, but the first rap album I ever truly listened to made me understand the awesomeness that was hip hop.
Ready To Die was the first real hip hop album I had ever listened to and I was instantly sucked in. People talk all the time about the best debut albums and I think that Ready To Die should be mentioned more in the conversation. From start to finish Ready To Die takes you on a hip hop journey that holds your speakers hostage for over an hour. It was enough to make me understand that there was more to rap then just listening to songs, that the albums could totally rock.
I like that Ready To Die is the title track of the album but it's song six. It probably sounds kind of silly but I hate when the title track is the first song on the album. I'm not really sure how to explain I just feel that we should work our way to the song that was the basis of the album. Don't just hand it out at the start. Let's build up to it so when it does play it packs the impact that it deserves. The listener should be like "damn this song is totally worth naming the album after".
Biggie's slow, deliberate delivery here is excellent. Each phrase, each word just rolls through you speaker and into your ears. There's a fierceness to the way he rapped and the stories that he told that just captivates you. Biggie is one of best story tellers in hip hop and when I'm listening I'm instantly pulled into his world. It doesn't sound ridiculous or forced (like some of 50 cent's stuff), it's authentic and real. It almost makes me want to have grown up on the street... almost.
Listening to Ready To Die (the song not the entire album- I was too busy listening to O.A.R.'s King all day) brought me back to high school. I kept thinking about track meets and listening to rap mixes on my walkmen to get myself pumped up for the race. Yes I said walkmen. What was better than making a mix tape? That's right... nothing.
Favorite Line From Song: I got techniques drippin out my buttcheeks/Sleep on my stomach so I don't fuck up my sheets (awesomely hysterical)
Ready To Die was the first real hip hop album I had ever listened to and I was instantly sucked in. People talk all the time about the best debut albums and I think that Ready To Die should be mentioned more in the conversation. From start to finish Ready To Die takes you on a hip hop journey that holds your speakers hostage for over an hour. It was enough to make me understand that there was more to rap then just listening to songs, that the albums could totally rock.
I like that Ready To Die is the title track of the album but it's song six. It probably sounds kind of silly but I hate when the title track is the first song on the album. I'm not really sure how to explain I just feel that we should work our way to the song that was the basis of the album. Don't just hand it out at the start. Let's build up to it so when it does play it packs the impact that it deserves. The listener should be like "damn this song is totally worth naming the album after".
Biggie's slow, deliberate delivery here is excellent. Each phrase, each word just rolls through you speaker and into your ears. There's a fierceness to the way he rapped and the stories that he told that just captivates you. Biggie is one of best story tellers in hip hop and when I'm listening I'm instantly pulled into his world. It doesn't sound ridiculous or forced (like some of 50 cent's stuff), it's authentic and real. It almost makes me want to have grown up on the street... almost.
Listening to Ready To Die (the song not the entire album- I was too busy listening to O.A.R.'s King all day) brought me back to high school. I kept thinking about track meets and listening to rap mixes on my walkmen to get myself pumped up for the race. Yes I said walkmen. What was better than making a mix tape? That's right... nothing.
Favorite Line From Song: I got techniques drippin out my buttcheeks/Sleep on my stomach so I don't fuck up my sheets (awesomely hysterical)
On The Eve of New O.A.R. Album
Shhhhhh it's 11 o'clock and I just downloaded the new O.A.R. album King. Don't tell itunes. Actually I'm getting ahead of myself. Let us flashback to this morning.
7:45 This Morning
Our hero finds himself in his car. He's been on the road since 7:15 and the reception of sports radio has been getting on his nerves. Too much static and the FM station that the Mike and Mike program is usually on is currently spouting religious music (at least that's what he believes since he's not hanging around to find out). So what does one do when frustrated with morning radio... they turn to their ipod.
Our hero sets up his ipod to play and waits for a commerical. Even through his frustration he sticks to his routine. He hits shuffle and waits...
O.A.R.'s Delicate Few starts to play through his speakers as our hero reaches for the volume. He doesn't care how early it this song needs to be played loudly. As a matter of fact Delicate Few would make our heroes top five favorite O.A.R. songs. Although he prefers the live version (the crowd participation at the beginning of the song is good fun for all) he has no complaints with the studio version.
Return To Present
,
I found the playing of Delicate Few as a good omen. With the new O.A.R. album coming out tomorrow (shhhhh really 11 o'clock tonight) I've tried really hard not to be excited, but right now I can't help it. I need this album to be good. My relationship with the band hangs in the balance. If this turns out to be a mess and a re-hashing of 90210 themes I can't be held responsible for what comes next. But the Delicate Few omen and the fact that Taking On the World Today is a pretty good track has me feeling a little giddy. On top of that I've really enjoyed the Rolling In the Deep cover. It's almost like my band is coming back, but again I refuse to get excited. I can't make it through that kind of let down.
I downloaded the delux album (it had something like four bonus tracks attached to it and I recognized one or two of them as older O.A.R. songs which is has me pretty pumped to hear them recorded), and will be waiting until tomorrow to listen to the album. I don't want to start playing it now when I won't be able to fully appreciate it. Plus lets be honest here, listening to an album for the first time always sounds better when listening in your car (second helping should be done through headphones and third listening can be done within your home). I'm nervous.
But lets just focus on the past... for a minute. The great thing about Delicate Few is it's actually two songs. For me the first half of the song is probably the best (especially live) but the second half is just as good because it gets you up and dancing. The band has actually been known to perform City On Down and have it lead into the second half of Delicate Few. This is enjoyable but I prefer the song whole.
It's tough to find a good live version of Delicate Few. I want the crowd to be loud at the start and sometimes you find versions where the crowd doesn't know all of the words and it just sounds like a jumbled mess. I think the first time O.A.R. played the Garden might be the best version of the song. Maybe though. I need to do my research on this. I'm hoping that King holds on to these principals and doesn't leave me pissed off in my car tomorrow morning.
Random Music Note:
To make tomorrow even better the Foo Fighters released a six song EP from their live itunes show in London. They've been streaming it forever through itunes and it was ticking me off that everyone else who played the festival got to put their show out on record, so I'm pretty happy to have these six tracks despite the fact that it isn't the full show. I've been looking for a live Foo Fighters album for awhile (outside of Skin and Bones) and this will satisfy those needs for now. I have to get my brother in-law, Paul, to record the Wimbledon show to his computer. Things to remember. So if O.A.R. blows I've got Foo Fighters goodness to fall back on. The Summer of Foo continues!!! (Random Note- I finally bought the Back and Forth documentary yesterday. Watch it... right now).
7:45 This Morning
Our hero finds himself in his car. He's been on the road since 7:15 and the reception of sports radio has been getting on his nerves. Too much static and the FM station that the Mike and Mike program is usually on is currently spouting religious music (at least that's what he believes since he's not hanging around to find out). So what does one do when frustrated with morning radio... they turn to their ipod.
Our hero sets up his ipod to play and waits for a commerical. Even through his frustration he sticks to his routine. He hits shuffle and waits...
O.A.R.'s Delicate Few starts to play through his speakers as our hero reaches for the volume. He doesn't care how early it this song needs to be played loudly. As a matter of fact Delicate Few would make our heroes top five favorite O.A.R. songs. Although he prefers the live version (the crowd participation at the beginning of the song is good fun for all) he has no complaints with the studio version.
Return To Present
,
I found the playing of Delicate Few as a good omen. With the new O.A.R. album coming out tomorrow (shhhhh really 11 o'clock tonight) I've tried really hard not to be excited, but right now I can't help it. I need this album to be good. My relationship with the band hangs in the balance. If this turns out to be a mess and a re-hashing of 90210 themes I can't be held responsible for what comes next. But the Delicate Few omen and the fact that Taking On the World Today is a pretty good track has me feeling a little giddy. On top of that I've really enjoyed the Rolling In the Deep cover. It's almost like my band is coming back, but again I refuse to get excited. I can't make it through that kind of let down.
I downloaded the delux album (it had something like four bonus tracks attached to it and I recognized one or two of them as older O.A.R. songs which is has me pretty pumped to hear them recorded), and will be waiting until tomorrow to listen to the album. I don't want to start playing it now when I won't be able to fully appreciate it. Plus lets be honest here, listening to an album for the first time always sounds better when listening in your car (second helping should be done through headphones and third listening can be done within your home). I'm nervous.
But lets just focus on the past... for a minute. The great thing about Delicate Few is it's actually two songs. For me the first half of the song is probably the best (especially live) but the second half is just as good because it gets you up and dancing. The band has actually been known to perform City On Down and have it lead into the second half of Delicate Few. This is enjoyable but I prefer the song whole.
It's tough to find a good live version of Delicate Few. I want the crowd to be loud at the start and sometimes you find versions where the crowd doesn't know all of the words and it just sounds like a jumbled mess. I think the first time O.A.R. played the Garden might be the best version of the song. Maybe though. I need to do my research on this. I'm hoping that King holds on to these principals and doesn't leave me pissed off in my car tomorrow morning.
Random Music Note:
To make tomorrow even better the Foo Fighters released a six song EP from their live itunes show in London. They've been streaming it forever through itunes and it was ticking me off that everyone else who played the festival got to put their show out on record, so I'm pretty happy to have these six tracks despite the fact that it isn't the full show. I've been looking for a live Foo Fighters album for awhile (outside of Skin and Bones) and this will satisfy those needs for now. I have to get my brother in-law, Paul, to record the Wimbledon show to his computer. Things to remember. So if O.A.R. blows I've got Foo Fighters goodness to fall back on. The Summer of Foo continues!!! (Random Note- I finally bought the Back and Forth documentary yesterday. Watch it... right now).
Where My American Idol Obsession Began
I do believe that I have broached the subject of American Idol at least once or twice here at A Year Of Shuffling. The guilty pleasure I can't get rid of. I know I spent a good deal talking about this season and maybe touching on a little bit on other season I've watched. Well folks, today allows me to tell you where it all started. Actually it's more of a who started it all. David Cook.
I never really paid attention to American Idol for the first, ummmmm, was it six seasons? I'm going to go with six yes. It just didn't interest me. As a matter of fact I thought it was everything that was wrong with the music business. A group of people who are given a record deal because they're able to beat other people on a reality show. Where's the struggle? Where's the hard work? How come these people get rewarded with record contracts while awesome local bands are stuck being awesome local bands and never are given the opportunity that is handed to these kids?! It really bothered me to the point where I would constantly knock the show. Yes I've proclaimed my love for the music of Kelly Clarkson but that was years later when I discovered how amazing Since You've Been Gone was. It was really non Idol related.
When Shea and I started dating I learned that she was really into American Idol. I believe I kind of loosely touched on my dislike of the show but you never want to trash something you know some one you care about likes. That's just mean. As it happens Shea watched a great deal of football with me our first year together (same year the New York Giants won the Super Bowl), actually Shea continues to watch a great deal of football with me and even informs me of team signings before I find them out. My wife is awesome. But this is all besides the point. As I was saying Shea watched a great deal of football with me our first year together, and as a trade off I agreed to give American Idol a try. I thought I would go into looking to make fun of it, and being really bitter about those on the TV butchering classic songs in hopes of making their very own crappy record. Well I'm not ashamed to admit I was wrong. I was wrong because of one person... David Cook.
I quickly became obsessed with the awesomeness that is David Cook. I was downloading his cover songs off of itunes and playing them in heavy, heavy rotation. As a matter of fact to this day (this is a big admission for me too people) there are three David Cook songs in my 25 Most Played Songs and two of them come from his time on American Idol. His cover of Always Be My Baby is probably the single best thing that has ever been performed on American Idol (that's one), and his cover of Billie Jean (in the vain of Chris Cornell) is actually better than Cornell's (oh my god I actually said that out loud. I'm sorry people it's true).
After experiencing David Cook there was no turning back for me. I was hooked on American Idol and it is one of my favorite things to watch with Shea. As you can tell from previous posts I get really into it, and god forbid if one of my favorites gets voted off. Nothing pisses me off more. Now granted some of the seasons following David Cook's win haven't been as good (actually this years was probably the best season since) it doesn't matter. I can't wait to watch it. It's even more fun when you have specific singers to hate on (looking at you Adam Lambert and you're cover of Ring of Fire).
Five Songs I Can't Live Without (At Least This Week)
1. Cult of Personality- Living Colour
2. Taking On the World Today- O.A.R.
3. All My Life- Foo Fighters
4. Better Off- Foo Fighters
5. Do the Evolution- Pearl Jam
I never really paid attention to American Idol for the first, ummmmm, was it six seasons? I'm going to go with six yes. It just didn't interest me. As a matter of fact I thought it was everything that was wrong with the music business. A group of people who are given a record deal because they're able to beat other people on a reality show. Where's the struggle? Where's the hard work? How come these people get rewarded with record contracts while awesome local bands are stuck being awesome local bands and never are given the opportunity that is handed to these kids?! It really bothered me to the point where I would constantly knock the show. Yes I've proclaimed my love for the music of Kelly Clarkson but that was years later when I discovered how amazing Since You've Been Gone was. It was really non Idol related.
When Shea and I started dating I learned that she was really into American Idol. I believe I kind of loosely touched on my dislike of the show but you never want to trash something you know some one you care about likes. That's just mean. As it happens Shea watched a great deal of football with me our first year together (same year the New York Giants won the Super Bowl), actually Shea continues to watch a great deal of football with me and even informs me of team signings before I find them out. My wife is awesome. But this is all besides the point. As I was saying Shea watched a great deal of football with me our first year together, and as a trade off I agreed to give American Idol a try. I thought I would go into looking to make fun of it, and being really bitter about those on the TV butchering classic songs in hopes of making their very own crappy record. Well I'm not ashamed to admit I was wrong. I was wrong because of one person... David Cook.
I quickly became obsessed with the awesomeness that is David Cook. I was downloading his cover songs off of itunes and playing them in heavy, heavy rotation. As a matter of fact to this day (this is a big admission for me too people) there are three David Cook songs in my 25 Most Played Songs and two of them come from his time on American Idol. His cover of Always Be My Baby is probably the single best thing that has ever been performed on American Idol (that's one), and his cover of Billie Jean (in the vain of Chris Cornell) is actually better than Cornell's (oh my god I actually said that out loud. I'm sorry people it's true).
After experiencing David Cook there was no turning back for me. I was hooked on American Idol and it is one of my favorite things to watch with Shea. As you can tell from previous posts I get really into it, and god forbid if one of my favorites gets voted off. Nothing pisses me off more. Now granted some of the seasons following David Cook's win haven't been as good (actually this years was probably the best season since) it doesn't matter. I can't wait to watch it. It's even more fun when you have specific singers to hate on (looking at you Adam Lambert and you're cover of Ring of Fire).
Five Songs I Can't Live Without (At Least This Week)
1. Cult of Personality- Living Colour
2. Taking On the World Today- O.A.R.
3. All My Life- Foo Fighters
4. Better Off- Foo Fighters
5. Do the Evolution- Pearl Jam
I'd Rather Talk About My History of Rap Playlist
If there was ever a time where I wasn't feeling the song of the day today is that day. I don't know how to explain it. Shea and I are up in Pennsylvania again for the weekend and it just seems that Harry Chapin is just missing it's target audience today. I feel bad because I happen to like this song, and I do love Harry Chapin but I'm just not feeling it today dawg. I guess things like that are to be expected right? I do have over nine thousand songs on here, it was only a matter of time before a song came on that I really didn't care about. Wait that sounds harsh. I do care about the song... I just don't care about it today. So I'd rather write about the playlist that I'm currently working on.
I don't know how many of you guys have seen Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake do they're History of Rap bit but it's incredible. Four minutes of condensed rap awesomeness with Fallon and Timberlake killing it. Here check it out
So this got me thinking... I need a History of Rap playlist on my ipod. I actually don't know how I haven't done this yet. It seems academic. Making this playlist also works really well in my favor because I do have a lot of cheesy good rap songs floating around with no home. With this playlist I can throw them all together into a happy home filled of rap awesome. The playlist is currently sitting at twenty-five tracks and I'm pretty pumped. Allow me to share with you what I've got... I'm very open for suggestions.
1. Can't No Body Hold Me Down- Puff Daddy and Mase
2. Just A Friend- Biz Markie
3. Juicey- Biggie
4. Nothing But A G Thang- Dre and Snoop
5. Insane In the Brain- Cypress Hill
6. Jump Around- House of Pain
7. Jump- Kris Kross
8. We Trying To Stay Alive- Wyclef
9. Empire State of Mind- Jay-Z
10. Baby Got Back- Sir Mix-A-Lot
11. Paul Revere- Beastie Boys
12. It's Tricky- Run DMC
13. Rappers Delight- Sugarhill Gang
14. My Name Is- Eminem
15. Don't Believe the Hype- Public Enemy
16. Ms. Jackson- Outkasts
17. Gold Digger- Kayne West
18. Let Me Clear My Throat- DJ Kool
19. Here Comes the Hotstepper- Ini Kamoze
20. Scenario- A Tribed Call Quest
21. Wu-Tang Ain't Nothing To Fuck With- Wu-Tang
22. Ice Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice
23. California Love- 2pac and Dre
24. Zealots- Fugees
25. Fresh Prince Of Bel Air- Will Smith
I'm sure this list my aggravate my hip-hop purists but I can't help it. It's so freakin' fun to listen to. Be my guest Shufflers and steal this for your own ipod. Lower your windows, recline your car seat, put some dark shades on, and just bump it. Good times to follow.
(Side Note: My apologies to Harry Chapin and my blatant ignoring of his song today.)
Accidental Rock Concert In My Car
One of my all time favorite things in life has to be the unplanned rock out session in your car. You know the moments I'm talking about. You throw the ipod on so you have something on while you're driving. You may not be looking for anything specific but you just want it there. The next thing you know the volume is full blast and you're singing at the top of your lungs. Yes, you just fell victim to the unintentional rock out session. This morning I found myself being found guilty of such an act.
I had to open at work this morning so it means up I'm even earlier than usual. That's fine I really don't mind. I get myself an Arizona Iced Tea at 7-11 and away I go. I've really enjoyed this week from a football stand point because every morning there is something new to be reported. So a.m. radio has been a great deal of fun. Lately I've been finding the opportunities to put my ipod on a little tougher. There's so much news pouring in I don't want to miss it, and the afternoon is even worse because I've been working all day and I'm sure I've missed some stuff. So I have to time between the commericals. That kind of got thrown out the window this morning.
I've been listening to Licensed To Ill on heavy rotation as of late. I've always said if I could only take five albums with me on a deserted island that Licensed To Ill would defiantly make that top five. Without a doubt it's one of my all time favorite albums, and to me it just sounds best in the summer time. If there was a book about making an awesome debut album 101 this would be at the top of the list. It should be the inspiration to any one trying to make their first album. The bar gets set high here. Listening to that has spawned off a lot of Beastie Boys listening in general for me (I think I have any where between five and six Beasties songs on the Want To Hear It Now playlist), so when Shadrach started playing this morning there was very little keeping me from transforming into the worlds greatest rapper. I don't know about anyone else but when I'm in the car and a rap song is on... I said god damn! I kill it. It's especially fun with a Beastie Boys song because I get to play different roles. Best. Time. Ever.
One of my favorite things about the Beastie Boys is the one liners in their songs. Each verse tends to have one and they're quick but they always make me chuckle. Today it was the "I've got money like Charles Dickens" lyric. For some reason I think that's the funniest thing ever, and even went so far to make it my Facebook status. Unfortunately no one else really saw the humor in it. I boo all of you by the way because that shit is gold.
Shadrach, Shake Your Rump, and Hey Ladies kind of plays as a trilogy of songs for me. They all have that same energy and my that same under tones in the beat. I don't know but I've always associated these three songs together. Maybe it's because they're all on Paul's Boutique (that does seem like the very obvious answer doesn't it?). It doesn't matter because I can't listen to one without the other. So after my ipod was done with it's awesome shuffling (live versions of Low Light and Leaving Here by Pearl Jam followed) I quickly switched over to my Beasties playlist to continue with my rock fest. Success was had by all. Even some of the cars passing me on the highway seemed to be getting into it. Well... they were at least noticing me get into it, and I think that's all that really matters in the grand scheme of things. Because in my car... it's all about me.
I had to open at work this morning so it means up I'm even earlier than usual. That's fine I really don't mind. I get myself an Arizona Iced Tea at 7-11 and away I go. I've really enjoyed this week from a football stand point because every morning there is something new to be reported. So a.m. radio has been a great deal of fun. Lately I've been finding the opportunities to put my ipod on a little tougher. There's so much news pouring in I don't want to miss it, and the afternoon is even worse because I've been working all day and I'm sure I've missed some stuff. So I have to time between the commericals. That kind of got thrown out the window this morning.
I've been listening to Licensed To Ill on heavy rotation as of late. I've always said if I could only take five albums with me on a deserted island that Licensed To Ill would defiantly make that top five. Without a doubt it's one of my all time favorite albums, and to me it just sounds best in the summer time. If there was a book about making an awesome debut album 101 this would be at the top of the list. It should be the inspiration to any one trying to make their first album. The bar gets set high here. Listening to that has spawned off a lot of Beastie Boys listening in general for me (I think I have any where between five and six Beasties songs on the Want To Hear It Now playlist), so when Shadrach started playing this morning there was very little keeping me from transforming into the worlds greatest rapper. I don't know about anyone else but when I'm in the car and a rap song is on... I said god damn! I kill it. It's especially fun with a Beastie Boys song because I get to play different roles. Best. Time. Ever.
One of my favorite things about the Beastie Boys is the one liners in their songs. Each verse tends to have one and they're quick but they always make me chuckle. Today it was the "I've got money like Charles Dickens" lyric. For some reason I think that's the funniest thing ever, and even went so far to make it my Facebook status. Unfortunately no one else really saw the humor in it. I boo all of you by the way because that shit is gold.
Shadrach, Shake Your Rump, and Hey Ladies kind of plays as a trilogy of songs for me. They all have that same energy and my that same under tones in the beat. I don't know but I've always associated these three songs together. Maybe it's because they're all on Paul's Boutique (that does seem like the very obvious answer doesn't it?). It doesn't matter because I can't listen to one without the other. So after my ipod was done with it's awesome shuffling (live versions of Low Light and Leaving Here by Pearl Jam followed) I quickly switched over to my Beasties playlist to continue with my rock fest. Success was had by all. Even some of the cars passing me on the highway seemed to be getting into it. Well... they were at least noticing me get into it, and I think that's all that really matters in the grand scheme of things. Because in my car... it's all about me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)