It’s Elvis Presley’s birthday and, to celebrate, here are five reasons why I love The King. Continue reading
10 in ’13: 5-1
Time for the second half of my favorites list. (For the first half, see here.)
5. The Bronx (IV) – The Bronx
As much as I loved and appreciated Mariachi El Bronx, I’m glad to have a straight up rock release. Fast paced and punchy with some catchy hooks make for a great return to form.
Favortes: “Ribcage”, ‘Too Many Devils”
4. The Next Day – David Bowie
Bowie is Bowie and I’d listen to it either way, but I was happily not disappointed. Not for everyone and anyone can find something to not like about anything, it’s best to just sit back and enjoy it.
Favorites: “I’d Rather Be High”, “Valentine’s Day”
3. Young Legs – Anthony Green
Nice and polished under AG’s familiar voice, Young Legs offers up tight song writing with a piano heavy touch.
Favorites: “100 Steps”, “When You Sang To Me”
2. Trouble Will Find Me – The National
I love The National’s brand of “horny and depressed” (as the Portuguese describe it) music. Just what I look for when I listen to them. This delivers.
Favorites: “Sea of Love”, “Graceless”
1. AM – Arctic Monkeys
Front to back, AM is a slick rock record. A little moody, quite sexy, and just the right amount of attitude.
Favorites: “Knee Socks”, “#1 Party Anthem”
10 in ’13: 10-6
It’s that time of year again. That time where you see one ‘end of the year’ list after another ‘end of the year’ list. So why not another that’s broken into two parts just to annoy you. As always, I stress that these are my personal favorites from the year because music, after all, is subjective. If you want to express your musical taste, perhaps make a list of your own. For now, check this out, maybe you’ll like it.
10. Uncanney Valley – Dismemberment Plan
Twelve years makes for different music but it is a welcome comeback for me. Catchy and upbeat with a little less wit, it’s quite a fun ride that gets better as you go along.
Favortes: “Living In Song”, “White Collar White Trash”
9. Tape Deck Heart – Frank Turner
Acoustic driven punky folk will get me every time and this is no exception.
Favorites: “Four Simple Words”, “Plain Sailing Weather”
8. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You… – Neko Case
Moody and beautiful, this was an instant favorite for me. As if that wasn’t enough to love Neko Case, she also dressed like a gorilla for a Tiny Desk Concert.
Favorites: “Nearly Midnight, Honolulu”, “Local Girl”
7. Modern Vampires of the City – Vampire Weekend
I’m having a hard time not liking these guys and their infectious pop. And I’m not sorry.
Favorites: “Finger Back”, “Diane Young”
6. On Oni Pond – Man Man
A little poppier than I expected, but I can dig it. Honus Honus’s voice alone is enough to pull me in. Enjoy it in all its synthy goodness.
Favorites: “Loot My Body”, “Pink Wonton”
Merry Happy Christmas, I’m Still Alive
Bloggin’s been thin lately, but I’m still alive and looking to breathe new life into this in the new year. For now, if you read this, I’d like to wish you a Merry Happy Christmas! Also, we’re nearing the end of another year, so you better believe that I’ve got a list o’ my favorite albums for you. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business. And by business, I mean music.
If you’re looking for some of my personal favorite quality Christmas classics, see this from last year.
If you’re looking for some new, non-traditional Christmas tunes, I highly suggest Quality Street: A Seasonal Selection For All The Family by the ever awesome Nick Lowe. (available on Spotify)
If you’re lookin’ for that comedic touch, try Happy Holidoozy Merry Christmess by The Apple Sisters. (available on Spotify)
If you want to get lost in a bunch of rad reading, head on over to Why It Matters to check out all of Mr. James Stafford’s Christmas reruns.
Lastly, if you’re looking for my personal touch, I’d like to share you my favorite tale of true Christmas spirit! Oi to the World ya filthy animals!
Friday Flashback: BoogadaBoogadaBoogada!
Time for some straight up punk rock as we revisit Screeching Weasel’s BoogadaBoogadaBoogada!.
A mix of hardcore to pop punk tracks, BoogadaBoogadaBoogada! remains punk rock staple and one of my favorite albums. Purchased second hand with who knows what else, it worked it worked its way into my heart from the opening lines of “Dingbat”. The one thing I really remember upon first listen was getting to “Sunshine” and thinking, “Wait, isn’t that that song that was in the Flintstones?” The song, “Open Up Your Heart (And Let the Sunshine In)” was still fresh in my mind because I had recently listened to Saturday Morning Cartoon’s Greatest Hits which, coincidentally, has also gotten the flashback treatment. (See here.) It’s a track that encompasses everything I love about the album, in that it’s honest and playful at the same time. It’s also one of my favorite songs on the album because, well, I’m a sap. That said, you should open up your hearts and let the sunshine in. And you should also open up your ears and let the sweet sounds in. Happy Friday folks!
“Sunshine”
Monday Morning Coffee: Life, the Universe, and Everything
Today, I’d just like to ask a simple question, based on the people of Krikkit from Life, the Universe, and Everything. If you looked up at the sky to only see darkness and were told there was nothing in the world except your planet, would you be content?
Friday Flashback: Through Being Cool
In honor of Saves The Day’s newest release, let’s dip back into 1999 with my first purchase from them, Through Being Cool.
Carrying over from my high school daze, pop punk was heavy in my wheelhouse in the early aughts. I, however, didn’t really know the band when this album came out. It wasn’t until I sold my soul to Hot Topic that I ever really heard any of their music. I remember the start of my time in that store and the numerous times Stay What You Are played since it was still within a couple of months of its release. Of course this was mixed in with the one Christmas mix that was sent the store that consisted of Blink 182, The Ramones, Mojo Nixon and a few others. If you’re confused, I started working there on a Black Friday. In that first month, I got a solid dose of Stay What You Are and also developed a solid hatred of Mojo Nixon’s “Christmas, Christmas”. Not Mojo Nixon himself, just that song. I also remember having to manually censor the F-bomb in “Firefly”. Think of the kids, man.
Though, not sick of Stay What You Are, it didn’t end up being my first purchase since I was already getting it hammered into my ears at the store. I opted instead to work my way backwards with Through Being Cool. Upon first listening, it instantly became one of my favorites. I also wondered why we weren’t playing that in the store. As a whole, it packs far more fun and upbeat songs.
Of these fun and upbeat songs, most people recognize “Shoulder to Wheel”. Listening to it now, it’s rather simple and the line “I’m having a bad week, I miss my mom,” is definitely a sign of where they were at the time. It was quite fun to sing along with people though, especially if you were in a car. “We’re rockin’ oouuuuuuut!” Thankfully, five albums later, they’ve grown up a bit and are still making music. And on that bit o’ sunshine, I leave you with some tasty pop punk tunage for your aural consumption. Happy Friday folks!
Monday Morning Coffee: Eddie vs. Murray
Hello (all two of you) readers! I’ve been a rather awful with posting lately, but the good news is I have some renewed vigor and ideas to remedy that. Starting with this, the first dose Monday Morning Coffee (title subject to change). That little spark to get the week going. I envision these being completely random topics from today’s metal mascots to rants on music related current events to Q&As. There’s more to come, but enjoy this for now.
There has been a question brewing in my weird little brain for quite a long time. Who would win in a fight between Iron Maiden mascot, Eddie the Head, and Dio mascot, Murray? The problem is, how does one even start to judge how that fight would go? Let alone be completely objective about it. I suppose first, you’d have to examine each one on its own.
Friday Flashback: Hey! Album
I’ve got Butch Walker on the brain with news of a new song and release date of his new EP, so I figured why not go back to the start for me with Marvelous 3’s Hey! Album.
It was the late 90’s and my brother says to me, as he often did, “Hey, you might like this.” And boy, did I. I never really stopped liking it actually. This album absolutely holds up for me. Even the cheesier parts still work. You may have heard of their one hit, “Freak of the Week” on this album. This ends up being what most people remember, which makes me quite sad, because there’s so much more.
Friday Flashback: Hot Fuzz
In honor of The World’s End, which is out right now, I thought it appropriate to take a musical journey back to the not so distant past with the Hot Fuzz OST. Also, for good measure, maybe revisit the Shaun of the Dead OST in a previous flashback.
Ok, if you haven’t seen this film yet, you probably should stop now and go watch it. It’s equal parts parody and homage to the action film genre and it’s all parts awesome. So now, not only is this film awesome, the soundtrack is equally awesome. Like the Shaun of the Dead soundtrack, this also has film dialogue cut into the songs helping keep continuous flow throughout the album. We start the whole thing off with Timothy Dalton’s gravely voice before the drums kick in to the familiar opening of Adam Ant’s “Goody Two Shoes” and Martin Freeman sets things up.
A Song Without A Chorus 