Tunes From ITunes…12.1.09

Iggy will bend over backwards for ya if you buy their reissue!

Brrrrrr….it’s getting cold out there! So I went in search of some tunes to warm ya up. It’s gonna be a long winter so let’s get started with the new & the old and a CD that is a MUST have for this season…

The Stooges – “Down On The Street” (rock)
Iggy Pop & crew in a classic favorite. If you need to add a little spice to your holiday season, go pick up the reissue of “Funhouse”. It’s rock the way it’s supposed to be!

Blackroc – “What You Do To Me” (Hip Hop/Rap)
Soulful and grinding. Picture a smoky bar with lots of velvet and neon. That’s this track.

Spoon – “Written In Reverse” (alternative)
Not my favorite Spoon track but I HAD to get it! Funky piano and somewhat silly lyrics, but for a Spoon fan, a gotta buy!

Muse – “Undisclosed Desires” (alternative)
After reading an article about this band, I thought I would return to check out their latest that was released a while back. Found this hidden gem and it’s kinda hot. Don’t know how I missed it the first time around…

Adam Lambert – “Music Again” & “Aftermath” (pop)
The first track sounds like a Queen track & the 2nd sounds like Daughtry. You figure it out.

The Good Listeners – “Square Houses” (alternative)
Light & fluffy with a steel drum thrown in there for good measure. This song shoulda been released this past summer! But it wasn’t. But it WILL make you think of wispy days and you’ll yearn for the summer heat…

Rihanna – “Te Amo” (pop)
This track is SMOKIN’ hot! I know everyone likes her dance tracks but this one is smooth and all kinds of sexy. Go get it right now!

Living Things – “Dirty Bombs” (Alternative rock)
You’ll want to grind on a partner with this bluesy fuzz-box of alt-rock. In the same vein as The Cult but with less guitar. I totally dig it!

Allison Iraheta – “Don’t Waste The Pretty” (pop)
I blasted Iraheta on her single release a few weeks ago. Her voice is just so classic and yet her producers have made her out to be a poppy, Kelly Clarkson wannabe. But if that’s what you like, her new album isn’t really that bad. Overproduced? Yes. But her voice still shines. I downloaded this track and it’s pretty good pop. Makes up for that “Friday” song…which stinks.

Lady Gaga – “So Happy I Could Die” (pop)
Oh Lady…now she’s touching herself and wrapping herself in electronica. Everyone is digging on her “Bad Romance” single, but I figured I’d be different and download something else. This particular track sounds EXACTLY like  Natasha Bedingfield’s “Pocket Full Of Sunshine”. Seriously…if there aren’t lawsuits from the Bedingfield camp, there’s a problem. Club DJ’s will love it though! It’s an easy mix!

“The Proof That Lady Gaga Ain’t The Only One Making This Kind Of Music” Album of the Week: Priscilla Renea – “Jukebox”
I checked out this album and I swear, it COULD be Lady Gaga. But it isn’t. But it has piano and it’s poppy and…well…I don’t know if Renea is wearing dominatrix clothing & hanging herself in her videos, but I can’t really tell any difference. The kiddies will love it!

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: The Bravery – “Stir The Blood”
It’s a lot louder in places and the 80’s never sounded better. Doing his best Robert Smith howl in places, Bravery lead singer Sam Endicott wails and carries the discoteque sound to new heights. “Slow Poison” is the new single and is excellent. I would also recommend “Hatef**k”, “I Have Seen The Future” & “Song For Jacob”.

What The Heck…Taylor Swift?

Watching the AMA’s the other night and there were all of these horrendous performances and dancers flying everywhere and artists that looked orange and were setting stuff on fire and then…out of nowhere…a little bird fluttered in and stole the entire freakin’ show. Just like she did the MTV Music Awards and the CMA’s and just about anything else she does. Taylor Swift has this country by the neck and is…not…letting….GO!

Look…I’m not a Taylor Swift hater. Honestly…I don’t know anything about her really other than she is SUPER popular and Kanye West obviously hates her videos. Other than that, I don’t own any of her songs and I know only what I hear about her on television or on the internet. I’m an old guy who loves rock n’ roll. But you know what she DOES have that appeals to an old fart like me who has been taking some serious crap from Lady GagGag fans? She is modest and unassuming and about as nice a young woman as you’ll ever find. And I find THAT to be appealing in pop music these days. And apparently so do many others.

Like I said…I don’t know much about her but what I have seen of her I like more and more. She comes across as a normal, everyday person who is working hard to get her music out there. She seems like she is very appreciative of her fan base. And, as far as I know, she has never lit her instruments on fire, worn a balloon costume or an owl costume or or a Kermit the Frog costume. I don’t think she’s ever hung herself onstage while dripping in blood…but I’d have to look that up. I’ve never seen her in a dominatrix suit, never seen her hump a dancer onstage or have pyrotechnics flare out of her bra. I’d even go so far as to say that she has never had to hide her true self behind anything other than her music.

 As a matter of fact, it seems to me that Taylor Swift has gotten so many accolades mostly due to the fact that she WRITES AND PERFORMS the kind of music that many people can appreciate. Doesn’t matter whether you like country music or not, Taylor Swift comes across as a class act and that says something in this day & age. “Class” is something that this generation of pop musicians have forgotten. Nowadays it’s all about who can top the other and that was painfully obvious in last night’s AMA performances. The music was below average and every artist was either lip-synching or those who chose to sing sounded out of key. It was horrendous trying to watch some of those guys onstage! And then Taylor Swift won “Artist of the Year” and I felt a little vindication. Sure…Kings Of Leon didn’t win (my choice). But neither did the spectacle known as Gaga or Michael Jackson, who hasn’t had a new album in forever or Eminem, whose latest album is all about drug rehab.

So I’m just gonna leave it at that. Even though I don’t know if I consider her to be the greatest artist out there right now (I’ll leave that one up for discussion), what I WILL say is that Swift appears to be in a class all by herself when it comes to knowing her fan base and her age group . With her, you get what she gives you…and that is pop-country music that is heartfelt and personal. And THAT, my friends, is quality music, no matter whether it appeals to you or not. It’s what music is all about. And sooner or later, the Gaga’s will disappear (they always do) and the musicians will remain.

Spinning My Wheels: The Hills Mix

Get outta the way! Cyclist comin’ through!!!

Today my friend & spin instructor, Lori, allowed me the honor of mixing up a batch of tuneage to get rollin’ through some imaginary hills. In order to prep, she gave me a sheet with the exact times that each stage of the class was gonna take. I came up with this hour or so of stuff to keep me motivated. Dunno about anyone else, but I thought it was pretty awesome and I got a good workout out of it!

Warmup (5:10): Richard Ashcroft – “On A Beach”

Speed (6:00): Metro Station – “Shake It”
James – “How Was It For You”

Hill #1 (4:47): Steve Miller Band – “Fly Like An Eagle”

Downhill (3:09): The Beatles – “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”

Speed (7:30): New Young Pony Club – “Ice Cream”
Adam Lambert – “For Your Entertainment”
Green Day – “Coming Clean”

Hill #2 (7:30): Don Henley – “Who Owns This Place”
The Diamonds 0 “The Stroll”

Downhill (4:00): Sonique – “It Feels So Good”

Speed (7:45): Aesop Rock – “None Shall Pass”
Barenaked Ladies – “Falling For The First Time”

Cooldown (8:00): Blue October – “Overweight”
Train – “Hey, Soul Sister”

Use it if you feel so inclined! And happy spinning!!!

Foreigner Rocks The 80’s in 2009

Remember back in the 80’s when you would go to the record store, buy a cassette, open it, look at the cover art, read the liner notes, slide the tape in the tape deck and crank it up? You do? Well then…you are an 80’s child…just like me. In today’s world, we don’t buy cassettes or CD’s or albums anymore. We download. And all the songs are so serious or sexual or just plain dumb. Whatever happened to love songs? Or songs about heartbreak? Or how down on our luck we can be? Back in the 80’s, that was all they sang about. And bands like Journey or Def Leppard or Whitesnake knew how to rock out and let loose. Who knew they were still doing it?

When Foreigner released “Can’t Slow Down” (available only at Wal-Mart), it had 2 things going against it. First…I hate Wal-Mart. Second…I never really cared all that much for Foreigner. Sure…I like a few of their songs from the 80’s. “Juke Box Hero” was always a good single. And then you have “I Want To Know What Love Is” which, I think, pretty much everybody danced to at their first high school dance back in 1985. So they had a few hits that I listened to, but for the most part, I was more of a Def Leppard/Journey/Sammy Hagar fan. So imagine my surprise when I was presented with a free copy of the new album and…well…I actually LOVE IT!

Here’s the thing about the 80’s…it was simple. Granted…I was a kid back then so I had no stress. But even then, it was a different time. And the music that was coming out then was simple. Huey Lewis & The News, Hall & Oates, Madonna, Prince, Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Nicks, on & on & on. Artists were releasing FUN music. And even when the music was heavy, it had a simple pop sensibility to it (“Billie Jean”, “Papa Don’t Preach”). So much music now is so over-complicated with technology. Beeps & whistles and overdubbing. It can all get in the way of a good, simple rock song. It’s not needed. And Foreigner proves it on this album.

With new singer Kelly Hansen joining the band (Lou Gramm is gone), Mick Jones & crew have never sounded tighter. Every track is a great pop nugget and could have been included in just about any 80’s John Hughes film. When I first listened to this album, the film “VisionQuest” came into my head. With rockers like “Ready”, “Angel Tonight” & the title track, they could have easily fit into the action scenes where the guy takes the girl on a motorcycle ride through the city. And then you have the love songs like “Fool For You Anyway”, “I’ll Be Home Tonight” or “As Long As I Live” where the guy is racing to stop the girl from leaving. And then the end titles could be “In Pieces” or “When It Comes To Love”, with their sweeping guitars & keyboards (and a surprise sax in the latter). Simply awesome…

Everyone is gonna laugh at me about this…but I miss this kind of music. The lyrics are simple (sometimes TOO simple) and the hooks are powerful. They are melodic and carefree and fun. This is an AWESOME album and so far, it’s possibly my favorite album of 2009. Imagine that…an 80’s band releases an album that SHOULD have been released in 1987 and I love it. Go figure. And go buy “Can’t Slow Down” at your local Wal-Mart. It might be the only time I ever say you need to go to Wal-Mart…but you won’t regret it. And I bet once you listen to this album you’ll understand exactly what I’m talking about here. And you’ll wish it was 1987 all over again…

Tunes From ITunes_11.3.09

The reviews are in…Casablancas gets a thumbs up.

Realizing that really nobody gives a hoot about this series (other than Suzanne), I enjoy highlighting music tracks I like and I’ve even picked a few hits in the past couple of years (Beyonce’s “Sweet Dreams” is super hot right now and I picked it as a hit back in May). Anyway…I can’t say this week is gonna be a barnburner of music but there are a few tracks that are HOT, HOT, HOT in my ears and you really should check ‘em out!

Julian Casablancas – “Out Of The Blue” (rock)
The lead singer of The Strokes hits with a new solo album and a hot opening track. This song is really cool and hip, much like The Strokes used to be. I dig it and predict it will be in my Top 20 favorite songs of the year!

The Temper Trap – “Sweet Disposition” (alternative)
This band is a favorite of a Beatles-hating friend of my brothers. She recommended I check them out so I did. I downloaded the entire album. Funny that I hear Beatles influence in quite a few of their songs. Anyway, THIS track is the diamond on the album. Excellent!

U2 – “The Unforgettable Fire” (alternative rock)
A re-release of the entire 1984 classic album, this is my favorite U2…song so I downloaded it again. And  it is still awesome!

Diamond District – “First Time” (rap)
Very old school and  heavily influenced by east coast 90’s rap, this group of producers hit it with this slow jam.

Echo & The Bunnymen – “”Do You Know Who I Am?” (alternative)
I think this band has pretty much been around forever (well…since 1978) and this is a very pop-like single for them. I dig it anyways…

Carrie Underwood – “Songs Like This” (country)
This album will be huge for her and this little gem will be buried among all the hits. But I kinda like it. Do I smell a Top 10 hit? Possibly…

Them Crooked Vultures – “New Fang” (rock)
Consisting of the drummer from Foo Fighters, the lead singer from Queens Of The Stone Age & legendary bass/keyboard player, John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, this supergroup has a new album (which I will be buying) coming out in mid-November. But for now, I get this track and it is wonderfully awesome. Rock at its best! Go get it…right…now! Or…you could just download the FREE track called “Mind Erasure, No Chaser” on ITunes also. Whichever suits your fancy.

The Almost – “Lonely Wheel” (pop rock)
Not exactly a groundbreaking band, but this single is not bad at all. Rocks out and is fun to listen too! Reminds me of Motion City Soundtrack. Plus the album cover is cool…

The “Oh Mah Gawd Her Career Is Already Over Before It Started” Track Of The Week: Allison Iraheta – “Friday I’ll Be Over You”
Holy crap. This track SOUNDS terrible. If you watch American Idol, you would know Iraheta as the promising female singer who belted out songs like Hearts “Alone” & Janis Joplin’s “Cry Baby”. She has amazing vocal ability but this track is so generic, I can’t even give it it’s due. Sounds like a bad cross between Pink & Kelly Clarkson. Not good…

The “It Will Get Tons Or Airplay But I Still Think It REALLY Sucks” Track of the Week: Lady GaGa – “Bad Romance”
No relenting on my thoughts that this artist is really not that original (seriously…does anyone else think “Paparazzi” sounds like a Gwen Stefani song?), this song is just plain terrible. Repetitive and…well…just plain awful. ‘Nuff said.

Top 10 Songs To Crank To 11

If it’s gonna be THIS big, it’s gotta be THIS loud!

When it comes to rock, I like it loud. And there ain’t nothing better than a rock song that DESERVES to be cranked to 11! If you don’t get the “cranked to 11″ reference, you need to rent “This Is Spinal Tap”. If you do get it…then you’ll get this list. Once again, this is MY personal list…but feel free to list your favorites in the comment section! And if you do decide to take my advice and crank this list up, don’t blame me when the neighbors come knockin’…

10. Sammy Hagar – “There’s Only One Way To Rock”
And Sammy knows how to do it.

9. Rage Against The Machine – “Killing In The Name”
Possibly the angriest song on my list here. This track is a slow heat and it burns right up to the very end, where it finally unleashes de la Rocha’s wrath.

8. Kid Rock – “Rock & Roll Jesus”
Completely underrated, this track is HOT. The Kid rocks in concert and this song is a jewel in his arsenal.

7. Oasis – “My Big Mouth”
It starts loud, then it gets melodic in a way that only the Gallagher brothers can do it. But it never stops rockin’ and it never backs down.

6. Metallica – “Enter Sandman”
Who doesn’t know this song? Metallica fans can say what they want, but when it comes down to it, “Sandman” is Metallica’s signature song. And it’s awesome. Even if you’re not a Metallica fan…

5. LL Cool J – “Mama Said Knock You Out”
A rap song? In the middle of all these great ROCK tracks? Hell yeah! LL flexes and sends a warning. And this song NEVER sits low in my stereo.

4. Led Zeppelin – “Rock And Roll”
Robert Plant’s distinct vocal makes it soar but it’s the drumming of  John Bonham that makes this an instant “Crank To 11″ classic!

3. Van Halen – “Everybody Wants Some”
David Lee howls and makes this one jam worthy. Plus…it’s all about what everyone wants and that’s what R&R is all about!

2. Guns N’ Roses – “Welcome To The Jungle”
What got me thinking about this list was this track. Seriously…if it wasn’t for Angus & the boys, GNR would OWN this list. And this track is one of the most recognizable riffs in the history of rock.

1. AC/DC – “Thunderstruck
Angus opens with a undeniable guitar and then the drums kick in a beat and then Brian Johnson’s raspy voice hits you like a ton of bricks. Not AC/DC’s most famous song, but it reminds me of my college days in Athens, Ohio and everytime I hear it, I crank it. And just so you know…I crank it to 12.

Tunes From ITunes_10.20.09

Quick! Somebody needs to save modern music!!!

So…this has been a slow couple of weeks. And it has left me with no choice but to go back into the past and download some tracks that have been waiting patiently for me to download. Not that all of these tracks are oldies, but the new stuff definitely has a lot to be desired. So let’s get started…shall we…?

Norah Jones – “Chasing Pirates” (pop)
Doing her best Tracy Chapman, this jazz chanteuse is back with a lead single from her soon-to-be-released new album that is a nice little departure from her regular sound. Poppy and pretty…should be a hit.

Tim McGraw – “Good Girls” (country)
From the new album, “Southern Voice”, this slow track just sort of meanders and is very descriptive. I like it…but it reminds me more of Rascal Flatts than McGraw for some reason.

Paramore – “Brick By Boring Brick” (rock)
I bought the whole album, hoping to recapture some of the magic of the last album and…well…it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I am hoping that Paramore is not a one note pony with explosive guitar riffs and high school laments. But the band is young and eventually they will need to branch out a bit and explore new horizons. That being said, I won’t recommend or not recommend their new disk called “Brand New Eyes” because, for what it is, it’s not the wrost thing I’ve ever heard. But the best track on the album is this one. And it is great!

Benton Paul – “Run” (pop)
Itunes free song of the week. Not bad. Good pop. Will probably be all over Top 40 radio soon. I’ll be tired of it by tomorrow.

Josh Stone feat Jamie Hartman – “Stalemate”
The soulful voice of  Stone and the raspiness of Hartman make this track standout from Josh Stone’s new album “Colour Me Free!”. Nice & relaxing…

Devo – I Bought 3 Tracks…”Girl U Want”, “R U Experienced”, and “Uncontrollable Urge”
You want to hear what the early 80’s sounded like? Devo exemplifies it. And these 3 tracks are AWESOME 80’s! My wife will hate it. And I LOVE it!!!

Pepper – “Wet Dreams” (alternative pop reggae?)
I added the ? beside the “reggae” because USUALLY Pepper has a reggae tinge to it, but THIS track is pure alternative and it’s awesome! I LOVE their album “Kona Town”, but this single is off “Pink Crustaceans & Good Vibrations” and it’s cool as all hell!

Harry Nilsson – “Everybody’s Talkin’” (70’s pop)
Remember the movie “Midnight Cowboy”? You do? Well then…you are my age. And you probably remember this little ditty. You either love it or ya don’t. I won’t judge either way. And neither should you.

Hockey – “Song Away” (alt-pop)
This is good time music. Go download it right now. Too bad it wasn’t released in the summertime because it’s built for sunshine and cool breezes…

The 69 Eyes – “Framed In Blood” (goth rock)
This Finnish band dropped out of the goth rock race years ago, but this track is excellent! If you’ve never heard of them, go check out their “Greatest Hits” package called “Framed In Blood” because it is truly awesome.

Collective Soul – “Welcome All Again” (rock)
I absolutely LOVE this band. And this track kicks major ass! Go download it and get ready to rock n roll!!!

Joey Scarbury – “Believe It Or Not” (Theme from Greatest American Hero)
So…I started singing this to my kids the other day and they thought I was crazy. So I downloaded it on my IPhone and let them hear it. And they still think I’m crazy. But I like it anyway. So screw them.

Concrete Blonde – “Little Sister”
I love CB in the fall (in my opinion, lead singer Johnette Napolitano, is one of the most underrated voices in the music business), and I used this song for a video I produced for my little sister’s birthday party. Released in 1987, this self-titled debut album is excellent. Go download the whole thing and love it up!

The “This One Is For The Ladies” Pick Album of the Week: MoZella – “Belle Isle”
Yeah…every track on here is built with the ladies in mind. Well…that and a featured music montage on “Grey’s Anatomy”. Women will love it, men will hate it. It’s good pop music and sounds a little Amy Winhouse-ish. Go check it out. I’d recommend “Magic” & “Four Leaf Clover” if I were to buy anything off this album…which obviously I didn’t ’cause I’m a guy.

The “Dumbest Song Title EVER!” Track of the Week: “Karma Is A Female Dog” by Bomshel
Not only is the song title dumb, but so is the name of the band. And the song is awful also. Who comes up with this crap?

The “This Is The Music Industry Taking Advantage Of Michael’s Death” Album of the Week: “Michael jackson: The Remix Suite”
Seriously…every one of these tracks are terrible. Why bother? Oh yeah…because Mike died and there’s a new movie coming out. Might as well enlist a bunch of producers to remix a bunch of average MJ tunes from when he was 7. Not a good idea. At all.

BRAINZ…!!!

I KNOW my zombie movies and this guy is NOT in “Night of the Living Dead”

In Entertainment Weekly this week there is a big article counting down from A to Z all you could ever want to know about zombie flicks. My wife was paging through it last night and we got into a discussion about zombie movies. Steph isn’t a big zombie film buff. As a matter of fact, she says she’s only seen 1 zombie ever in her lifetime and that one was the one where they are trapped in a mall.

Me: “Dawn Of The Dead.”

Her: “No. That’s not it. Maybe ‘Night of the Living Dead’?”

Me: “No. That was the original shot in black & white back in the 60’s.”

Her: “Yeah…the one I’ve seen was from the 80’s.”

Me: “If it was shot in a mall, then it was ‘Dawn of the Dead.’ They made another one a few years ago.”

Her: “I don’t think that is it. You got your IPhone? Check it out on the internet.”

Me: “Look…I know zombie movies and ‘Dawn of the Dead’ was set in a mall. It was shot in Pennsylvania somewhere back in the late 70’s. I don’t know where the latest one was shot but I do know that it was set in a mall and all the cast was running from zombies. Did the zombies run in the one you saw?”

Her: “No. Well…I don’t know. But I don’t think it was ‘Dawn of the Dead.’”

Me: *sigh* “Then I dunno…”

Her: “Wait! It was called ‘Night of the Comet!’ That’s it! There were 2 girls and they were shopping at the mall and zombie guys captured them.”

Me: “Uh…yeah…”Night of the Comet” is one of my favorite movies of all-time. Did you know that?”

Her: “Nope. I thought it was ‘Grosse Pointe Blank.”

Me: “Well yeah…that’s true. But ‘Night of the Comet’ is my all-time favorite B-movie from the 80’s. That scene, where they are running from the zombies at the mall? There is a song playing in the background that I’ve been trying to find for years. It’s called “Eyes On You”. Can’t find it anywhere.

Her: “You actually remember the song that is playing in that one scene?”

Me: “Yep. Wanna hear the song that is playing in the end credits? I have it on my IPhone…”

Her: “You are such a geek…”

The End

Spinning My Wheels: The Strength Mix

So my friend Lori, who is also one of my wife’s best friends, asked me to put together a mix for her spinning class that she teaches every Thursday. So I did…and it was pretty damn good if I might say so myself! Here it is…check it out and see if THIS doesn’t get your blood pumpin’…

1. The Raconteurs – “Salute Your Solution”
2. Michael & Janet Jackson – “Scream”
3. Paramore – “Brick By Boring Brick”
4. MuteMath – “The Nerve”
5. Britney Spears – “3″
6. BT – “Never Gonna Come Back Down”
7. Pearl Jam – “Supersonic”
8. The Darkness – “Is It Just Me?”
9. Rob Thomas – “Give Me The Meltdown”
10. Black Eyed Peas – “I Gotta Feeling”
11. Under The Influence Of Giants – “Against All Odds”
12. Marc Broussard – “Hard Knocks”

If anything…it IS an interesting combo of music…LOL

Tunes From ITunes_9.30.09

The HORRORS of bad hair…

Can I just say that there has been so much good music come out in the last few months that I can barely keep up. And the past 2 weeks I’ve bought a TON of new music. I can’t seem to stop downloading and I have bought several really good albums and numerous singles. So let’s get to it, shall we? Goodbye summer! Hello to falling leaves, cooler temperatures and Halloween sights & sounds…

The Horrors – “Whole New Way” (alternative rock)
With a distinct 80’s alternative throwback sound, this track is bouncy and neat. And with a name like The Horrors, it HAS to be cool…right?

Will Hoge – “Long Gone” (rock)
This guy can do no wrong. As far as passionate writing and rocking are concerned, Hoge is what rock & roll SHOULD be…raw & unabashed.

AFI – “Beautiful Thieves” (alternative rock)
With a sound that’s melodic but with more punch, this band has quite a few songs on this album that sounded pretty good, but I went with this track and “End Transmission” and wasn’t disappointed in either.

David Grey – “Fugitive” (Pop)
“White Ladder” was one of my favorite albums of this decade and this track is an amazing song. I just wish the entire album sounded as good as this! But if you like uplifting music, you can’t go wrong with Grey.

Animal Kingdom – “Tin Man” (alternative)
This week’s alternative freebie of the week on ITunes. And I LOVE IT!!! Go download it right now before it’s not free anymore and then check out the album. I plan on purchasing it as soon as I get some disposable funds…

Mariah Carey – “More Than Just Friends” (R&B/Pop)
It’s pop music and it is all starting to sound alike, however this track is like a little slice of Mary J, Brandy and Janet all tied together. I dunno who is stealing from who, but this song has hit written all over it!

Kris Allen – “Live Like We’re Dying” (Pop)
Last seasons American Idol winner breaks out his first single and I was thinking it was gonna be the pop version of the Tim McGraw hit, but it’s not. But it IS pop music and it’s nothing spectacular, however it is listenable enough and should do okay on the pop charts. My kids will probably LOVE it.

Foo Fighters – “Wheels” (rock)
With a Greatest Hits disk on the way, this is one of the new tracks to appear on the upcoming release. Not my favorite Foo song, but it is definitely better than a lot of rock out there! Is there anything Dave Grohl CAN’T do? Nobody does rock like this guy…seriously.

Wave Machines – “Keep The Lights On” (alt-pop)
My brother recommended this track to me and it has a Scissor Sister kinda sound to it. Easy on the ears and kinda disco-ish. I dig it!

The Bravery – “Slow Poison” (alternative)
AWESOME track from this band. I really liked their last album and have high hopes for this upcoming CD. However be warned…I saw them live and they were terrible. A studio band in it’s best form and this song is really cool.

Death Cab For Cutie – “Meet Me On The Equinox” (alternative)
Can you say “Rush”? Because that is exactly what this song sounds like. With Ben Gibbard doing his best Geddy Lee impersonation, I totally forgot I was listening to DCFC. If this song had rocked more, I wouldn’t have even known. Still, for DCFC fans, this won’t disappoint.

The xx – “Crystalised” (alternative)
Everyone and their sister is raving about this band and the new album. I downloaded this track in hopes that it would grow on me..and it did. But not enough to make me wanna spill for the entire set. But this is a pretty good song and I can see why people are into it.

THROWBACK SONG OF THE WEEK: Peter Gabriel – “That Voice Again”
I heard this track playing while I was at dinner with some friends the other day and I couldn’t get it out of my head. Off the classic CD “So”, this is the hidden gem on the album!

ALBUMS OF THE WEEK:

Pearl Jam – “Backspacer”
Eddie and the boys are back and rocking (sort of) like the old days. The first few tracks are unadulterated rock but then the album settles in and becomes a look inward as Vedder & Co are apt to do. I particularly like the songs “Amongst The Waves” & “Just Breathe”. But if you are a Pearl Jam fan, this album needs to be bought in it’s entirety.

Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johannsen – “Break Up”
Yorn released a disk earlier this year that I was sorely disappointed in. With every passing album, he was getting farther & farther away from the greatness of “musicforthemorningafter”. But THIS album brings him back in a BIG way. With Johanssen as his muse, he is definitely back in form! Their voices go very well together and there are quite a few really good tracks. My favorite song is “Blackie’s Dead”, which is the rocker of the group, but you can’t really go wrong with any of them. 2 thumbs up for this one and the ladies will LOVE it!

Kid Cudi – “Man On The Moon: The End Of The Day”
I dunno what’s up with the title but I can say this…if Kanye West disappears into the rapper abyss, this guy will step right up. Although not as charged up as West, Cudi has a distinct style that appeals to me. He uses a lot of different genres of music and has a nice flow. Not overpowering by any means and easy to listen too for those who don’t get the heavy rap. I like “Alive (Nightmare)”, “Day & Nite” and “Up Up & Away”.

The Lovemakers – “Let’s Be Friends”
I dunno what I was thinking. This was an impulse buy and I liked the snippets that I listened too but overall this was a pretty weak album. But in it’s defense, I haven’t really been giving it much of a chance. I liked the other 3 albums so much that it kinda got shuffled beneath everything else. But it’s alternative-pop in the same vein as VHS Or Beta but not as good. If you want to sample, try “Where Did You Go?” or “Let’s be Friends”.

“DIRTY AS ALL HELL AND DON’T DOWNLOAD IF YOU DON’T HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT SEXUAL MATTER” TRACK OF THE WEEK:
Steel Panther – “The Shocker”
If you don’t know what “the shocker” is, then this song can enlighten you. However be aware, it IS very offensive and VERY funny! Sounding like “enter hairband of the 80’s here”, this band rocks along the lines of The Darkness or Jack Black’s band, Tenacious D. There are many tracks on the album “Feel The Steel” that are hysterical and really sound like typical hairband songs, but it’s the dirty lyrics that set it apart…and in this genre it is a welcome breath of fresh air!

“IT MIGHT BE GOOD BUT I’M KINDA OVER THEM ALREADY” CD of the Week: Alice In Chains – “Black Gives Way To Blue”
It’s not the band’s fault. They are just doing what they do. But I wore Alice out in the 90’s and I just don’t have the time to go listening to them again. Sorry guys…Pearl Jam has taken up that space left over from that time period.

I imagine I will be reviewing the new release from Paramore on the next edition of Tunes From ITunes. Check back and see what I think of the new one from a band that I think has tons of potential!

The Return Of 8 Trax: A Workout Mix

It has been some time since I last put together a mix of songs for my friends who actually believe I have any sense of music. But a few days ago, a friend asked me for a workout playlist. I hope I didn’t disappoint! Either way, I thought now might be a fun time to give you a DOUBLE dose of 8 Trax! So…without further adeiu…here is a mix to get your serious workout on…

VOLUME 1 – LET’S GET IT STARTED (Hip Hop Dance Mix)

Track 1. Flo Rida feat Nelly Furtado – “Jump”
Track 2. Shalamar – “Dead Giveaway”
Track 3.  The Chemical Brothers – “Galvanize”
Track 4. Gym Class Heroes – “Clothes Off!”
Track 5.  Twista feat Ludacris – “Higher”
Track 6. Jurassic 5 – “The Rhythm”
Track 7. Teddybears – “Are You Feelin It”
Track 8. Ozomatli – “Here We Go”

VOLUME 2 – HARD SWEAT (Rock Mix)

Track 1.  The Black Keys – “10A.M. Automatic”
Track 2. Marc Broussard – “Hard Knocks”
Track 3. Paramore – “Pressure”
Track 4. Tripping Daisy – “Blown Away”
Track 5. Hawk Nelson – “Bring Em Out”
Track 6. The White Sripes – “Fell In Love With A Girl”
Track 7. The Hold Steady – “Same Kooks
Track 8. The Darkness – “Is It Just Me?”

Hope that gets you all geared up!

The 2009 VMA’s

I gotta be honest…I didn’t watch the VMA’s last night (do they still MAKE music videos? Because I haven’t seen any on television in forever…). I was too busy hanging out with my wife & kids and then we tuned in to watch some more Dexter (which is my new favorite show). But this morning I kept reading all about the Kanye West silliness so I went searching and came up on THIS site which showcased some of the highlights (or lowlights) and I had to share my thoughts…

He’s an idiot.

1. Kanye West has run his course. If there ever was an artist who has taken the limelight and watched it flicker out, it is this tired act. I don’t care how talented he THINKS he is, the truth is he is simply another rapper who has managed to stay popular by making a spectacle of himself in public. Here’s a thought, Kanye. If you’re so good, why not just let your “music” speak for itself? I seriously doubt Beyonce Knowles needs YOU to stand up for her at the freakin’ VMA’s. My feeling is that Beyonce will be around a lot longer than you will. No matter how robbed she might have felt (Yes…her video is VERY good. But still…), Beyonce is a class act who realizes, in the grand scheme of things, that a VMA award is little more than a trinket in her closet. For you to attempt to steal the limelight for her is bull. What you meant to do was steal the limelight for yourself. And unfortunately, it appears that your little plan worked. It’s all anybody is talking about today. But I think you’re an ass who needs to be sent a message. So for that, I will not ever buy another Kanye West song or album…ever. And if another artist uses you in their song, I won’t buy it either. You are dead to me Kanye West (not that you were ever high on my list anyway…).

2. The Michael Jackson tribute with Janet making an appearance is very cool. The dancing was excellent and seeing Janet perform in honor of her brother was top notch. Nicely done by the crew!

3. Lady GaGa is still a mystery to me. I’ve received so many responses to the blog that I wrote about her and I keep getting a huge amount of hits from folks “googling” her name (over 5,700 hits today at this point). I have no idea what the public likes about her so much. At the VMA’s last night she performed her latest single, “Paparazzi”, and then managed to hang herself onstage while covering herself in blood. I get the imagery and she was basically just emulating her video for the show, but you know she is one of the best artists out there today when it comes to manipulating the media. She is popular because she knows how to use the paparazzi. And her video and her performance last night speaks for itself. She has become the latest Marilyn Manson. And that’s cool, I guess. But look where Manson is today. And I have to believe she is following the same career path.

4. Beyonce has ass for days. And she can sing too. But I still can’s stand that “Put A Ring On It” song….

5. Paula Abdul hosting a show called “Divas”? Seems perfectly logical…

And that’s all I got.

Tunes From ITunes_9.03.09 (Kasey’s Birthday!)

YAHOO!!! We’re the ALBUM OF THE WEEK!!!

Today is my niece’s birthday. She is a big ITunes music lover so I thought I would hook her up with some music to download. It’s gonna be a little new and some old songs today…but they’re ALL good!

JET – “Black Hearts (On Fire)
After listening to various tracks on the latest album from this band, most of them don’t sound much different from anything else they’ve done. But I like this rocker.

Stars of Track & Field – “Racing Lights”
Poppy alternative track. Not emo but close.

The Love Willows – “Keep Your Head Up”
In the same vein as The Veronicas or The Donnas, this female lead has a nice sound and this short track is peppy enough to keep your head bobbin’.

Pearl Jam – “The Fixer”
This isn’t as rockin’ as I would like but it’s Pearl Jam and good enough. I like the lyrics a lot and I like the direction. As close to pop as PJ will ever get.

Third Eye Blind – “Can You Take Me”
I’m wearing this track out on my IPod. Love it and a good return from a band that, at this point, hasn’t had a hit since “Semi-Charmed Life” dropped over 12 years ago.

Puscifer – “Momma Said”
The same guy behind Tool & A Perfect Circle dropped this a couple of years ago, but a friend brought up the band last night and now I’ve got the track stuck in my head again. LOVE this song and if you are so inclined, there is also a couple of remixed versions of it on ITunes. I recommend the BLESTeNATION mix.

The Academy Is – “Bulls In Brooklyn”
Another song that came out a while back, but it came up in a mix on my IPod and thought I would share. Actually the entire album ain’t bad (Santi) but this track is heads above. Go check it out!

Kevin Michael – “It Don’t Make Any Difference To Me”
If ya like a little R&B with your hip hop, then check out this one. Straight from the Michael Jackson line, Michael teams up with Wyclef Jean for this little slice of pop heaven. Plus it has a nice message to it. So…there ya go.

Clint Mansell – Lux Aeterna
Instrumental piece of the week. Was highlighted in the movie “Requiem For A Dream”. Slow burn and very ominous (which matches the theme of the film). If you’re a movie buff, this is an amazing track. If you like great instrumentals that aren’t electronica, then check it out!

Mike Doughty – “The Only Answer”
This track has been around a while as well, but I’ve always loved it. I think you will also. The lead singer of “Soul Coughing” has a distinctive sound and this song is perfectly pop.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK: MuteMath – Armistice
I’m totally digging this album and there are some really great tracks on here that deserve a listen. For my money, “Armistice” is possibly one of the best songs of the year. I’m 99% sure it’s gonna make my Top 10 list. Besides that track, there is “Goodbye”, “Clipping” & “Electrify”. All good stuff. If you like Spoon…you’ll really like this band!

Tunes From ITunes_8.12.09

The 80’s called. They want their outfits back…

Today is quite an eclectic mix. I, for one, was a bit surprised at all the good stuff out there this past couple of weeks! Of course, I’m just now getting around to writing about it (see THIS post). So anyway, have fun checking these out and if you do, please leave me a comment or two. I’d love to know what you are listening too or what you think of my personal picks!

Mindy Smith – “What Love Can Do” (Songwriter)
ITunes compares this track to Fleetwood Mac. And they are 100% correct. If this doesn’t remind you of Stevie Nicks, nothing will. And I LOVE Stevie! I also recommend “Love Lost”, if ya got an extra dollar lying around…

Imelda May – “Wild About My Lovin” (Songwriter)
Okay…maybe I’m in a mood, but this stuff is classic blues and I’m digging it.

AM – “Grand Opinion” (Adult Alternative)
Mellow and reminds me of classic rock from the 70’s. A little bit Simon & Garfunkel-ish…but not really. Hard to explain. But this track is groovy.

Cobra Starship – “Living In The Sky With Diamonds” (Dance)
This is straight outta the discotheque. Nothing but good old fashioned fun. If you liked the Scissor Sisters or any band like them, you’ll like this.

Cavo – “Crash” (Alternative)
I don’t know why this reminds me of Styx, but it does. Anyway you look at it though, it’s pop alternative rock (which covers many genres, I admit). And I like it.

Slaughterhouse – “The One” (Rap)
Oh…I’m gonna be working out to THIS track. This thing makes ya bounce and rocks the boat a bit.

Jessie James – “Bullet” (Pop Country)
So I admit…the only reason I checked this out was because she’s kinda hot. But this song is fun and very catchy! In the same mold as Christina Aguilera with a fun little country rapping thing going on. Maybe mix Aguilera with Big & Rich? Dunno how else to explain it.

Inward Eye – “Day After Day” (Rock)
Nothing new, but this track IS catchy as hell. Reminds me of any number of early 90’s bands that popped up and then immediately disappeared. But I miss those bands, so this is a refreshing reminder!

Muse – “Uprising” (Alternative)
A throbbing beat reminiscent of Depeche Mode had me in a 90’s flashback through most of it’s 5 minute running time. If you dig the Mode, you’ll dig this big time!

Sugar Ray – “Closer” (Pop)
This is straight summer sugar pop. Why this band didn’t drop this track earlier in the summer is beyond me. Excellent track from a band that retired but then decided not to be.

Jordin Sparks – “Walking On Snow” (Pop)
I downloaded this because my daughter likes Sparks. I personally didn’t care for the first single (Battlefield), so this was a nice surprise. Nothing new but easy on the ears.

Sorcerer – “Push To Freeze” (Dance)
An instrumental to mix it up. If you’ve ever been in one of those hotel lobbys where they play light dance instrumentals? Well…this is it. Not a great track and it should have been shorter, but still…if you need a nap and like this sort of thing…it’s not the worst thing I’ve ever heard.

Gary Go – “Refuse To Lose” (Pop)
With the “Free Song of the Week” comes some free publicity. And because of that, Go gets an extra buck outta me! “Wonderful” is the freebie (and worth every penny!), but this track is the one that grabbed me. Most of the album is pretty mellow, but this track has a cool feel to it. Vague? Sure. But go get it yourself and see what YOU can think of to say about it. It’s not easy to describe.

ALBUM OF THE WEEK…(But not really): Monsters Of Folk
Not really an EP, it’s more like 3 singles released via ITunes and all 3 are excellent. If you like Bright Eyes or My Morning Jacket or M. Ward, you’ll REALLY like these songs because…well…all 3 lead singers (James, Oberst & Ward) are together for these 3 tracks! Don’t know if there will be an album released or what, but for $3, you can afford these great tracks! Each has a unique & distinct sound. “Dear God” smacks of Peter Gabriel, “The Sandman, The Brakeman and Me” reminds me of classic country and “Say Please” is Oberst at his best. Go get them NOW!

The B-52’s vs The Black Eyed Peas

Both are 4 person bands. One band got it’s start in Athens, Georgia back in the late 1970’s. The other hails from Los Angeles, California. One band is known for it’s outrageous beehive hairdos, the other for it’s colorful clothing styles. One band has a lead singer who doesn’t sing, he uses a vocal style called “sprechgesang”. The other has a lead singer whose name is “will.i.am” who is a rapper. One band has 2 female leads who have sung successfully with other artists, the other has one female lead who is a very successful solo artist.

Truthfully, there no comparing the two bands other than this…they’re both odd in some way and both have songs that are inane and silly and have that uncanny ability to crawl into your brain and squirm around uncomfortably. And both have songs that lyrically are intellectually stunted.

For example, I give you lyrics from The B-52’s “Cosmic Thing”…

I was havin’ this out-of-body experience
Saw these cosmic beings
Everywhere I went up there, they were shakin’ their cosmic things
Like someone gave ya a wild goose, or a freight train with
A loose caboose

You better shake your… honeybuns! Shake your honeybuns!
Shake it till the butter melts, shake it till the butter melts
Shake that cosmic thing, shake that thing, shake it, ohhhh yeah!
Shake that thing all night long, shake it man you can’t go wrong
Don’t let it rest on the President’s desk, rock the house!

Got that? Okay…now the BEP. Here’s a snippet from their single called “Boom Boom Pow’”…

Here we go, here we go
Satellite radio
Y’all getting hit with (Boom boom)
Beats so big I’m steppin on leprechauns
Shitin’ on y’all you with the (Boom boom)
Shitin’ on y’all you with the (Boom boom)
Shitin’ on y’all you with the…
This beat be bumpin’ bumpin’
This beat go boom boom

Oooookay. ANY band that can drop the word “leprechauns” into a song has got a screw loose somewhere…right?

Now let’s look at some song titles. For the B-52’s, you have “Private Idaho”, “Loveshack”, “Deadbeat Club”, “Rock Lobster”. The BEP have titles like “Smells Like Funk”, “Let’s Get Retarded” and “Don’t Phunk With My Heart”.

As far as music that is not too deep but fun to have pumpin’ out of your stereo, I grew up hearing the sultry voice of Cindy Wilson & Kate Pierson singing about lobsters and places where we can get together, so I’d take The B-52’s over BEP. However, in today’s commercialized radio world, The Black Eyed Peas have a stronghold on the airwaves that is untouchable. I can’t turn on an FM pop station without hearing one of their songs! And that makes them one of the strongest pop bands out there today.

So which is it folks? The B-52’s? Or The Black Eyed Peas?

This should be interesting. But before you decide, allow me to leave you with more lyrical snippets from these bands. I find them to be both very thought provoking…

LYRICS ONE:
Space junk—laser bombs—ozone holes
Better put up my umbrella!
Giant stacks blowin’ smoke
Politicrits pushin’ dope

All I know—we’ve got to change what’s happening
Something good could happen
I feel light has got to come through—and I need it
Something big and lovely.

LYRICS TWO:
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

Obviously…both have important social messages for our youth. Hmmmm…maybe one of  these bands isn’t as shallow as I thought…