Where Do My Readers Come From?

Friday, December 23, 2011

More Music (Iron Maiden)

Today is Friday and it is the eve of Christmas Eve and, according to my Google music player which seems to think that alphabetical means by the first name of the artist or group, I am supposed to play for you some Iron Maiden. I have 18 of this bands albums. I like them and I have been lucky enough to see them in concert a small handful of times. So lets get to it shall we. ON WITH THE METAL!!!

"Aces High"



"Run To The Hills"



Those are two of my absolute favorites from the early 80's. What about Iron Maiden in the 90's?

"Run Silent Run Deep"



"Fear of the Dark" (This one was amazing live)



Okay onto the 2000's and the band is still going strong.

"Out of the Silent Planet" (C.S. Lewis)




"The Pilgrim"



Finally on into 2010 and beyond!!!!

Thursday, December 22, 2011

More Music (Iron & Wine)

I've written in length about this band/artist before Iron & Wine (Samuel Beam).


I am a fan of both his epic beard and his music. So I am going to throw up some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.

"The Devil Never Sleeps" (Live)



"Such Great Heights" (Live)



Now onto some studio work.

"Boy With A Coin"



"Walking Far From Home"

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

More Music (Insyderz)

Another of those Christian Ska bands from the mid to late 90's. Though the reason I still have this is because it was a gift for being in my best friends wedding. The Insyderz are pretty good but they are not as good as Five Iron Frenzy was. They may even be still together in some form or another. I really have no idea.

"Carnival"



"Trigger Happy"



"I Say"

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

More Music (Helloween)

This is a power metal band and while I do like them I am not sure why I only have one disc of a two disc set and nothing else of their discography. But I do enjoy their music and most not even ironically I just like it. But as I have said before I have a soft spot in my heart for this type of heavy metal. I will post a couple from this album and some of their older stuff that I like a little bit better.

"Power"



"Forever And One (Neverland)



"I Want Out" 1988



"Keeper Of The Seven Keys"

Monday, December 19, 2011

More Music (Harry Chapin)

Well good Monday to you all. We have finished with the G's and now we are on to the H's and the first artist in the H's is Harry Chapin and a live double album I have called The Bottom Line. If you get a chance give him a google he led an interesting life before he died to young. I enjoy his music.

"Taxi"



"W.O.L.D."



"Mr Tanner"



"Cats In The Cradle"

Thursday, December 15, 2011

More Music (Gotye)

Up next on our trip through the G's is the Australian band Gotye with his third studio album Making Mirrors. The reason I say his is because Gotye is actually the work of a man named Wouter "Wally" De Backer who is Belgian-Australian. This album is the only work of his that I have heard and I really do like it.The album is under considered to be one of the top 10 Australian albums this year and I think it may be the best of the bunch. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

"Eyes Wide Open"




"Somebody That I Used To Know"




"State Of The Art"





There is just kind of an ambient nature to this music that makes it something that I can just kind of chill too. I really like it.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

More Music (Goldfinger)

Well that was the end of the F's and now we are on to the G's and to start that off we have a band that I really enjoy. They are kind of part of the third wave Ska movement but I think of them as just more pop-punk then anything. I do enjoy them though. They are from Los Angles and they started in 1994. I have their 3rd album called Stomping Ground and so that is where my musical selections will be coming from. Though you get a bonus track or two. We shall see if I feel so inspired.


"Pick A Fight"



"Counting The Days"



"BRO" (This one has swears and may not be safe for work)



"99 Red Ballooons"



"Superman" All of my fellow Tony Hawk fans will remember this one.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

More Music (Franz Ferdinand)

I like this band. Listen to their music.

"Jacqueline"



"Dark of the matinee"



"Take Me Out"

Monday, December 12, 2011

More Music (Florence And The Machine)

Happy Monday folks and what better music to get your heart pumping and your toes tapping then a little Florence and the Machine. She has two albums out and I love them both equally. I am unable to recommend them highly enough. So let's hear a couple from the first album which is called Lungs and then two from the second album which is called Ceremonials. I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy bringing them to you.

"Dog Days Are Over"




"Kiss With A Fist" I love this song so much.




"Only if For A Night" (Live Version)



"What The Water Gave Me"



I had to post David Bowie after Florence.

Thursday, December 08, 2011

More Music (Flogging Molly)

Sorry about the lack of a post yesterday folks. The Mumford & Sons concert kind of wiped me out and I just wasn't feeling the Celtic punk rock.

I first saw this band play live at the Gorge amphitheater during one of the first Warped tour shows. They were playing on one of the small stages at about 3 in the afternoon and they put on an amazing show. They are still going strong and if you get a chance to see them play live then do it. They are Flogging Molly. Why don't we give them a listen.

"The Devil's Dance Floor" This is from their first album.



"The Likes of You Again"



To hear more look them up. They are good. But I am not in the mood for their aggro today.

Tuesday, December 06, 2011

More Music (Flight of the Conchords)

I have a soft spot for novelty acts but I really like them if they are also pretty talented and Flight of the Conchords are very talented. I only hope that they get back together soon. But, until then here are a few of their tunes to get you by.

I always want to do something special for "The Ladies of the World"



This one has their manager singing but I really like it. But then again I like "Leggy Blondes"



I really, really like this song. I think mainly because I like things that go "Boom"



I am posting this one because I think of it as a tribute to Bowie. Even though they are nowhere near as good as Bowie was or is even now. Bowie Forever!!!

Monday, December 05, 2011

More Music (Fleetwood Mac)

I find Fleetwood Mac to be a interesting band. They were formed in 1967 and have never really stopped. The band has seen loads and loads of changes but Mick Fleetwood and John Mckvie have basically always been there. They begun as more of a blues based rock band.

This is their first #1 British Single "Albatross"




That song just blows my mind because its sound isn't at all like what was Rumors or their other later albums.

"Tell Me All The Things You Do" I really love the guitar in this one. I think Jack White may have listened to some early Fleetwood Mac



Now we will get into some of their late 1970's more popular stuff.





Friday, December 02, 2011

More Music (Fleet Foxes)

I have probably overposted this band in the last few months but there next on the list. They are from out of Seattle and one of the few things I can tolerate from that horrible city and state to the North.

"Meadowlarks"



"White Winter Hymnal"



"Mykonos"



"He Doesn't Know Why"

Thursday, December 01, 2011

More Music (Five Iron Frenzy)

On and on the wheel turns and it only stops turning when the light of life stops shining in our eyes. I think I just made that last sentence up. But most likely I stole that from several fantasy books. It is hard to say. So anyway on too the next band in my collection. There was a time in the Christian world when Ska was king at least for the alternative Christian kids if there is such a thing. This was arguably the biggest of that particular Ska movement. Five Iron Frenzy and this is a greatest hits collection (I think) Upbeats & Downbeats. It is interesting for me to note that despite not listening to this band in years I still enjoy the ska of it and the horn work. But then again we all know how much Big Lance loves to Skank. I won't get into an argument here about what is better 1st, 2nd or 3rd wave ska but this band was basically 3rd wave. I myself like all types of Ska.


"Cool Enough For You"



"Beautiful America"




"Old West"

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

More Music (Five For Fighting)

I enjoy Five For Fighting and I like the album "America Town" which came out in 2000. It is a little mellow and sappy for some. But there are times where this type of music hits the spot for me. Lets give it a listen shall we.

"Easy Tonight"




"Superman"



"America Town"



See you folks tomorrow. Have a good day.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

More Music (Fiona Apple)

Well that is the end of the E's folks. So lets jump right into the F's with a lady whose music I really enjoy. I only have one album and it is her first. That is Fiona Apple and Tidal which came out in 1996. If you enjoy the music today then go ahead and check out some of her other stuff as well.

"Sullen Girl"



"Shadowboxer"



"The Child Is Gone"





And one more surprise treat from a different album featuring Fiona and my favorite humorist right now Zach Galifianakis

Monday, November 28, 2011

More Music (Erasure)

I have one Erasure album and in it they cover several Abba songs and I love it. I have no regrets. I hope you enjoy the videos.

"Lay All Your Love on Me"



"S. O. S."



"Take A Chance On Me"



I hope you enjoyed the dance music.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Thanksgiving

No music today. You folks have a great Thanksgiving. If you don't celebrate it. Well just have a great day.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

More Music (Emily Osment)

Now today's artist may surprise a few of you. But those of you who know me will also know that I like a bit of good old fashioned pop music now and then. They will also know that I am partial to music sung by attractive ladies. So that being said I bring you an album by Emily Osment called Lovesick. Now I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this album. She really does a good job with this type of music and it will be interesting to see if she ever gets as popular as Katie Perry and Britney Spears.

"Lovesick" This song and video obviously owes a lot to Lady Gaga but that is okay. It works for me I think the chorus and the hook is really catchy.



"Let's Be Friends" This one is pretty much the same kind of song as the last one and pretty typical of this style of pop music. Weightless and Fun.



"Marisol" This one is a little bit different then the first two and highlights her voice more without so much of the autotune to support thing.



Now, I do not listen to bubblegum pop very much but sometimes it is the perfect thing because I just want to listen to something light and happy. This type of music is a palate cleanser for me. It lets me get back to my usual stuff that is deeply emotional and heart wrenching for me.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

More Music (Emerson, Lake & Palmer)

Hey everybody, if any of you are here because of the KNRK thing then thanks for checking me out. I am working through my music collection right now and I also post other stuff now and then. Usually when I post other stuff it is because I am either upset or super excited about something and I feel like other people should know about it.

Let us get to the music shall we. On the agenda for today is a band that I enjoy quite a bit when I am in the mood for their particular style of music. They are Emerson, Lake & Palmer and they were one of the great English progressive rock bands of the 70's. They sold over forty million albums and headlined some huge tours. They broke up for the first time in 1978 and resurfaced several times after that for reunion shows and one 40th anniversary concert. I am ashamed to admit that the only album I have of theirs is a best of that was put out by Rhino Records. I am hoping to pick up some more of their stuff in the future. How about we get to the music.

"Still...You Turn Me On" This song is really a classic prog rock song.




"C'est la vie" The video I found for this is horrible. But I just love this song.



"Lucky Man" I like this song. No regrets. I do not care what anyone else thinks and I will always sing along with it. Always.



Normally I avoid Christmas songs but I like this one. "I Believe in Father Christmas" It isn't technically an ELP because Greg Lake released it as a solo project. I do not care here it is.



There you go folks. I hope to see you back here tomorrow for the next artist in my collection.

Monday, November 21, 2011

More Music (Elton John)

Hey everybody, I know that it has been awhile since I last posted on my music collection and I must apologize to you all for that. I am hoping that I can use the week of thanksgiving and the holiday season to get back into the swing of things. I am working again and living with my parents and both of those things are bringing me some real calm and stability and I am feeling more like I am living on a normal schedule again. So here we go. I left off with Electric Light Orchestra and up next on my list is another artist who was a little extravagant and a lot talented and that artist is Elton John. I only have a two album greatest his collecting of Sir Elton but I really do enjoy it. His career as spanned four decades and he has sold more then 250 million records. So lets get it started shall we.

"Levon" is a great song. I just love it so much and it never fails to make me sing along.



This song is a little overwrought but I tend to like things that are overwrought. No regrets for me. "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me"



I wasn't going to post this one but I really love this song. "Rocket Man"



"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" another classic number.



I simply have to close this out with a song that was used to great effect in the film Almost Famous that song is called "Tiny Dancer"

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

10 Years Goes By Fast

I am sorry that I haven't posted much lately. I have started working again and I am having a hard time jumping back into the music library but I am hoping to get there next week. I decided I would write something tonight. Because tomorrow is the, if I am doing my math right, tenth anniversary of my wedding or would be if I was still married. Instead it is almost the 3rd anniversary of my divorce. It is interesting to me because up until about a week ago I had not really even thought of it. But a friend of mine got married last Friday and that brought back some memories. Most of them good. But I am hoping I can stave off the emotional meltdown by throwing some songs up and getting some of this out of me.

I am not sure what that means but I hope the music can let me just not dwell on what might have been or what was and instead focus on the present.



I am just going to be throwing up some songs that mean something to me.



This song hurts so much. But it is a good kind of hurt.



Sometimes I do wish nothing but the best. Sometimes I do not. Sometimes I just want to wallow in it and be resigned to being alone.



I hate to get into the psychology of the fact that I am identifying with the songs being sung by women. But maybe it is just the overarching themes of the songs.



I've posted this one before but I love it so much.



Sometimes I wish I could be the Rake. But I know that will never happen. I am too soft. But some people tell me that is a good thing.



I suppose I will finish with what I usually do when the depression strikes.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Rumor Control

I realize that I have been lax lately. But I have been without internet at home. I will be remedying that on Saturday so Monday there should be a new music blog post for everybody.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

More Music (Electric Light Orchestra)

I am not ashamed. I love Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). There is something about them that I just really, really, like. I find their songs singable and danceable and just great to listen to. I know that their type of prog-rock is not for everyone but I am going to throw up a couple of the big hits and maybe some obscure pieces that I really enjoy. I also love Jeff Lynne's hair.He had an epic fro for the era.


How can you not like that awesome fro? Lets get to the music shall we.

"Mr.Blue Sky" is awesome.



"Telephone Line" Another classic



"Ma-Ma-Ma Belle" I love it



"21st Century Man" I do not know what it is about this song but I really like it.




This version of "In The Hall of The Mountain King" just makes me smile.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

More Music (The Eagles)

So we finished the D's and now we are moving into the E's and our first group is the Eagles. Now this is how I usually feel about the Eagles


But I have one album of theirs and it is a two disc live one called Eagles Live
. I believe I purchased it because I like the song "Seven Bridges Road" on it. But other then that they Do not do much for me as a band. But I will throw up some videos for you my faithful readers.

"Wasted Time" this is actually a more poignant song then I realized it was. But I may be just personalizing it as I tend to do with everything.



"Life in the Fast Lane" This one always reminds me of Miami Vice




"Seven Bridges Road" just a good, good song.


Tuesday, September 20, 2011

More Music (Dropkick Murphys)

Here we are the last group in the D category and it is Dropkick Murphys who I enjoy now and then. But I really have to be in mood for their kind of Irish tinged punk rock. I am not often in the mood for punk rock so I do not listen to them very often. I only own one album and it is The Gang's All Here. There are some fun songs on the album but I also feel that their are better Irish sounding and better punk bands out there. I know they have a large and loyal following but my usual response to punk rock bands out of the Boston area is a resounding "meh". I just do not really care. I also do not really care for Boston as a city or for the people from the area. "West Coast 4-Eva" What, What"


Here you are their version of "Amazing Grace". I am not posting anything else by this shite band.


Monday, September 19, 2011

More Music (The Doors)

Another Monday and another installment of my music library. We are almost finished with the D's and today we are checking out The Doors. I like The Doors. I do not listen to them all of the time and that is mainly because in high school I wore out several tapes listening to them. But every now and then when I pull them back out I am reminded of why I enjoyed them so much. One thing that I really enjoyed about them was that they did not have a bass guitarist they used bass keyboards and I always thought that was pretty cool. If I am correct and I am not going to check so you can just deal with it. Their first album came out in 1967 and their last was in 1971. I am not counting any of the albums released after Jim Morrison died. Why would I? Without him the band wasn't the same. I am hoping I can show you some songs that were not on the radio much because those same songs are still being played on classic radio even now and that is just sad.

"The Alabama Song" is one of my real favorites.



"People Are Strange" is another song that I just really like. It did get some radio play.



"Spanish Caravan" is just a great, great song.



"Five To One" something about this one I just really like as well.



This one is off of their last album "L'America". I love it's strangeness.



See you tomorrow with the last group in the letter D in my collection. I wonder who it will be?

Friday, September 16, 2011

More Music (Dixie Chicks)

Well. This is a significant change from yesterdays post. This is an album from 2002 Dixie Chicks and the album is called Home. I really do like all of the song's on this album. It is the only Dixie Chicks album that I own and I am not even sure what moved me to purchase it. I believe that it may be their cover of the Fleetwood Mac song "Landslide". But I am not totally sure either way lets get to toe tappin shall we.

Here is a live version of "Long Time Gone" on I believe German television. I also like that in this song they pretty much take a swing at modern country radio and I am always in favor of that.



A live version of "Landslide" oooh again in Germany. Nice.




"Travelin' Soldier" this is a sad song but I really enjoy it. I know it is not that big of a surprise that I would like a sad song.



Lets wrap this up with a little "White Trash Wedding"



Say what you want about the Dixie Chicks and their politics or even about country music. But the reality is that they can flat play live. That is why I posted all live clips. There are lots of modern pop artists who are totally studio manufactured and just can't play live so in a lot of ways this is just refreshing to see and hear.

I am just enjoying this too much. I am going to post two more songs that are not on the album that I own but I really like them.

"Not Ready To Make Nice". This is an actual music video but it is a pretty cool video actually.




"Lubbock or Leave It"

Thursday, September 15, 2011

More Music (DIO)

Ronnie James Dio or DIO was one of the the original American heavy metal acts. When I am in the mood for some big time head banging Dio is one of my staples. So put on your acid washed jeans and your leather jacket and lets get to rockin. These songs are all from the greatest hits album. The Very Beast of Dio that is not a typo that is heavy metal trying to be clever.

"Holy Diver"



I could say so much about that last video but my words would not be enough. Wow!! I just wow.

"Rainbow in the Dark"





Live version of "Man on the Silver mountain"



KEEP ON ROCKIN FOLKS!!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

More Music (Depeche Mode)

Sadly I only have one album from this band 1987's Music for the Masses. I think I used to have another but I seem to have misplaced it. Which actually vexes me a little bit. But me being vexed is a story for another day. It has been a long time since I last listened to this album but I still really enjoy it. I saw Depeche Mode in concert in Portland either for this albums tour or the next one and I remember really enjoying it. I also remember being underage and drinking beers in the parking lot of the Memorial Colosseum and lying to a policemen about my age. It was a great night. So lets listen to some music from the album shall we.

"Little 15"



"I Want You Now" A live version of this song.



okay that last one made me think of someone that I can't have. I am a little bit surprised by that. Let's keep it together Lance.

"Strangelove"



Another live one "Pleasure, little treasure"

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

More Music (The Decemberists)

I have already written lots and lots about this band in previous posts. I usually listen to them at least once a day. It isn't always the whole album but I listen to a song or two. I really feel like there is not a song that I don't like of theirs. They are all amazing in one way or the other. So I am just going to put up a few of my favorite songs.

"Leslie Anne Levine" 2002 Castaways and Cutouts




"The Soldiering Life" 2003 Her Majesty






"16 Military Wives" 2005 Picaresque I love this song but I love the video as well. For two reasons 1. It reminds me of Rushmore. 2. I did MUN in college.



"The Infanta" 2005 Picaresque I just love the drums in this song.



"Yankee Bayonet" 2006 The Crane Wife



"Sons and Daughters" 2006 The Crane Wife Something about this song just works for me. I love it so much.



"The Rake's Song" 2009 The Hazards Of Love I love this whole album but I really really like "The Rake's Song" this is a live version.



"The Rox In The Box" 2011 The King Is Dead



There you go folks. I just love this band.


Monday, September 12, 2011

More Music (David Bowie)

This is a good Monday. My favorite solo artist is David Bowie. It started for me when my friend was going away to college and he gave me some of his albums. They were Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, The Doors Strange Days and I do not remember the others but really the only one that mattered was David Bowies.

I think Ziggy Stardust is probably the best creation of David Bowie and one of the best concept albums that has ever been. I really like Bowies entire discography so I am pretty psyched that I can bring you some of his music today. These are going to be in no particular order. They will just be songs of his that I like.

"Changes"



This is one of my favorite songs. "Life On Mars?"



"Five Years" from Ziggy Stardust



"The Man Who Sold The World" and doesn't David look lovely in that dress on the album cover.



"Waiting For The Man" I love Mick Ronson on guitar in this one.



"Modern Love" I know there are Bowie fans who do not like this song. But for some reason I really enjoy it. I enjoy it much more then "Lets Dance" another song from the same era.



I could go on and on but lets finish it with that one.

Friday, September 09, 2011

More Music (Dark Moor)

I know that today's music is not going to be for everyone. It is the band Dark Moor and they are from Spain. I am pretty sure that they are the only Spanish band that I have in my collection and I have just about 8 hours of their music in my collection seven studio albums and one live album.

I like to think of their music as epic metal. It is melodic and operatic but still has some wailing guitars and lots of awesome drums and rockin vocals. I know for a fact that I have a few friends who really love this kind of music. I am not totally sure why I do since I tend to be a snob about things. But, for some reason I just really love the over the top nature of it. So here we go

Here is there version of a little bit of Mozart.



Here is their 8 minute version of Swan Lake. It is hard to not get pumped up listening to it.



"The Bells of Notre Dame"



And finally "Maid of Orleans"

Thursday, September 08, 2011

More Music (Dancehall Crashers)

Yay for ska!! Now this band Dance Hall Crashers is not your typical ska band. I would say that they were part of the third wave of ska that was almost more punk then ska and in fact this album, Lockjaw does not have any horns and that is not typically ska. But, the drums and the arrangements are very much of a ska type. As we get further into my collection we will get to some real 1st wave and 2nd wave ska and you will really hear a difference. I tend to enjoy all the waves of ska actually.

So lets get to the music shall we.

Anyone who has seen the film Angus is going to remember this song "Enough"



I really enjoy this song "Go"



"Good For Nothin"




There you go. This kind of music never fails to bring a smile to my face and tap to my toe.

Wednesday, September 07, 2011

More Music (Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young)

Well not much that I need to say about this band. These are two of my favorite albums and I could really listen to them over and over again and I have. So if you haven't heard or listened to Crosby, Still, Nash and Young do yourself a favor and pick up these two albums. Deja Vu and So Far, are I think two of the best acoustic albums of all time. You may disagree with their politics but you can't say that their music was not good. So I am going to throw up some videos and let you guys just enjoy it.

"Carry On"



"Almost Cut My Hair" This one is really more for me. I am really leaning toward getting it cut. I know several people who it would make happy.



"4 + 20" just a great song



Here are three from the next album So Far.

"Wooden Ships"...not much can be said about this song. It is just so good.



"Teach Your Children" This is one of my favorite songs.



"Ohio" This is a more political song it is about the Kent State shootings. Go ahead and google it if you want. I am not going to be trying to unpack that mess today.



Let's finish up this nice musical trip with some "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes"



I would be remiss if I didn't also post "Southern Cross" I just can't help myself even if it isn't on the two albums that I own it is an amazing song.

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

More Music (Coheed & Cambria)

Who is in the mood for a little "progressive rock" or prog rock as it is popularly known. Now I am not going to give you a definition of prog rock you can google it. But here are some band that are known for basically starting prog rock in the 70's. Pink Floyd, King Crimson, Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull, and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. I coincidentally enough have albums from all of these bands. I know that is not a real shock to most of you.

Coheed & Cambria have been described as new prog. I like to describe them as "post-neo-orthodoxy prog rock" but that is mainly because I like to give things extra long names because it amuses me. I have two of the bands five studio albums. Their first album The Second Stage Turbine Blade which came out in 2002 and their fourth album Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness which came out in 2005. I like the fourth album a little bit better then the first one. Lets get to the music shall we. In fact I like the fourth album so much I am not going to be posting anything off of the first one.

There is something about this song "Always And Never" that just blows me away. But I am kind of a sucker for this type of majestic over the top rock music. You will hear more of it as we move further into my collection. My apologies if you hate it.



This is an even better example of the type of music I was just talking about and is actually the song right after the one I just showed you. "Welcome Home"



I think we will call it quits right there. You folks enjoy your headbanging and remember these words and live by them


"Keep on rockin."

Monday, September 05, 2011

More Music (CIV)

Well after a stretch of pretty mellow music we are taking a little trip down punk rock lane with a band called CIV and there album So Far, So Good...So What. I am not even sure when I purchased this album or even where I was at in terms of life that I was listening to this. Because most people know that I am not a big fan of punk rock. There is some of it that I do like to be sure. But really it is not my favorite type of music.

This album was released in 1995 and was the bands first album. The band name came from the last name of the lead singer Anthony Civarelli. They came out of New York City and their most well known song was "Cant Wait One Minute More" which I remember MTV playing a lot of and it being on an episode of Beavis and Butthead as well as in a Nissan commercial in 2005.

So lets start with "Can't Wait One Minute More" and dig a little deeper into the album after that.



As I watched that video and re-listened to the album I am starting to remember why I liked this album. There are some pretty cool songs on it and they remind me a little bit of how Social Distortion sounded during that era. They also remind me of Suicidal Tendencies.

This one is called "Set Your Goals". The song is only 1:50 I am not sure why the video is 3:21. But anyway. 1..2..3..4



This last one is called "Choices Made" and is pretty much the punk message.

Friday, September 02, 2011

More Music (City and Colour)

This album is called Sometimes and was the debut solo album by a Canadian artist named Dallas Green. He decided to call his solo work City and Colour. It is pretty much acoustic solo work and he has some other musicians who tour with him and help him record now and then. I like this album quite a bit. It just is really a nice album to listen to on repeat and let the songs kind of fill you up.

"Hello, I'm In Delaware"




"In the Water I Am Beautiful" What a sad, sad beautiful song. It totally reminds me of the times that I have just been really stupid about things. The older I get the more I am convinced that there are times when I am just really dumb.



"Comin Home" I really enjoy this song a lot. It reminds me of Johnny Cash and his "I've Been Everywhere".

If you have enjoyed this today or any of the artists of this type that I have posted lately. Do yourself a favor and track them down.



Thursday, September 01, 2011

Is Rick Perry A Liar?

I am not sure if he is or isn't but as I linked above he certainly seems to be liar, liar pants on fire about this issue. Is this true about all politicians or just Rick Perry? If he is willing to lie about this who knows what else he is willing to lie about?

Is Rick Perry a liar? Or just dumb? Decide for yourself.

More Music (The Chieftains)

The Chieftains are a band that I have been a fan of for a long time. I only have one album partly because their musical catalog is just so extensive. The album I have is The Long Black Veil. I am not sure that there is a weak song on it. They have some older traditional Irish ballads as well as some country songs that have come out of the traditions of the Irish. The most noticeable one for me being "Tennessee Waltz". I am not going to get deep into the band's history but The Chieftains have been around for 40 years and in that time have released some 40 albums counting live ones but appeared on several other albums that are compilations. The Long Black Veil has several guest singers on it some of the biggest artists in the music world, such as Sting, Mick Jagger and The Rolling Stones, Sinéad O' Connor, Van Morrison, Tom Jones, Marianne Faithfull, Ry Cooder and Mark Knopfler. It really is an amazing album and one of my favorites of any genre. Lets get to the music shall we.


Now, I am not a huge fan of the Rolling Stones or Mick Jagger but he does an amazing job in this one. This is just an amazing song about love and pain and regret. The title track of the album. "The Long Black Veil"





The next song is one that Sting did the vocals for. Called "Mo Ghile Mear" and big surprise it is another nice song.



This one is the one that Sinead O'Conner sings on. "The Foggy Dew" this is a haunting number and is about the Easter Uprising of 1916. A sad song but it was a sad time to be an Irishmen.



That is it for today. I hope you folks enjoyed your trip to Ireland.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

More Music (Cherry Poppin' Daddies)

This is a band that I really used to be into during the swing resurgence of the 90's.
The Cherry Poppin' Daddies have been around for nearly 20 years. Which is pretty amazing when you think about it. They have only put out 8 albums and the biggest of them was the multi platinum Zoot Suit Riot which was released in 1998. They are an Oregon grown band and come from Eugene which I think is pretty cool. A little bit of trivia for you as well. I worked at one time in a movie theater in Eugene called Cinema World and several of the guys who worked there had a funk/swing band. Well one of those guys a fella named Sean Flannery went on to play tenor saxophone with the daddies from 1996 to 2008.

Here is their biggest hit. "Zoot Suit Riot" which actually is a pretty fun song.



I am just not feeling it tonight. So I am not digging deeper into their discography because frankly while I used to really enjoy them. They as a band do not really do it for me any more. But please enjoy the big hit.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

More Music (Cake)

I like Cake. My favorite is German chocolate but I also like the band Cake as well. I do not have a lot to say about them. How about we just let the music do the talking.

I have felt like he feels in this song. Lots and lots of times in my life. It never gets any less painful to hear and seems to be the perpetual problem of the nice guy. But I do have lot of friends that are girls. :)



I just get a kick out of this song. I love the country sound and I totally get what he is saying about liking bench seats better then bucket seats and a stick shift. "Stickshifts and Safetybelts"





I like ladies who wear a "Short Skirt Long Jacket" But I prefer a short skirt and a nice sweater. :)



Why does everybody think that "Sheep Go To Heaven" and Goats Go To Hell.




I have felt like this as well.



Monday, August 29, 2011

More Music Bonus Post

So I literally tumbld across this girl today. The song is so amazing to me that I had to post it on here in the hopes that more people get to hear it.

The song is called "Empty Space" and her name is Haley Freedlund. I hope she has great musical success in the future. She is very talented.


More Music ( The Brian Setzer Orchestra)

Most people who know me in real life are well aware of my love of reggae and ska and epic heavy metal. But I also have a soft spot in my musical heart for swing music. It is so danceable and really just fun. It is just plain fun music.

This album by Brian Setzer formally of The Stray Cats is just a well made, well played, super fun good time, shake it baby, shake it album. The Dirty Boogie is one of the best of the modern swing albums and I believe really helped to generate the swing resurgence that we experienced in the 1990's. That was a fun time and I really enjoyed going to different swing clubs in the Portland area and dancing.

Lets get to the music so you folks can do some dancing as well.

This is a live performance of the title track from this album. "The Dirty Boogie"



"Switchblade 327" live at Woodstock in 1999. One thing that I really like about this style of music is that often the band members are really talented musicians.



That is all you are getting because frankly I am more interested in listening to the Decemberists collection that I have finally filled out.

Friday, August 26, 2011

More Music (Boston)

Well, well, well we have finally hit some classic 70's rock and roll. I own one album from Boston and it is their first album the self titled Boston. A little bit of trivia for you. This album is called by some the best selling debut album of all time. Some others say it is second best to Guns N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction and still others say that Alanis Morrisette Jagged Little Pill is tied with Boston with 16 million copies sold. It is interesting to note that though the album never reached number 1 on the Billboard charts it peaked at 3 and was on the charts for an amazing 132 weeks. That is almost three years!! Pretty crazy.

I am not sure who to believe and I know that they still count album sales so who knows what numbers are correct. The one thing that is correct is that like them or not the band sold an amazing number of copies for a debut album. I also am unashamed to say that I actually really enjoy listening to it. But I also admittedly have a soft spot for this kind of music from this era.

I really could give you all eight songs off of this album. I am going to start with number 1 and we will see if I feel like just giving you the full Boston experience.

"More Than a Feeling"



I think I am just going to go with every other. So here is number 3.

"Foreplay/Long Time"



Here is the fifth song. Are you feeling the rock fill you!!

"Smokin"



And finally a double jump to the last song on the album.

"Let Me Take You Home Tonight"



There you go. I can't wait until I get to Styx. They also carried the torch of music for this era.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

More Music (Bonnie "Prince" Billy/Matt Sweeney)

The album is called Superwolf and was created by Bonnie "Prince" Billy (Will Oldham) and Matt Sweeney. Now if you follow any of the newish music at all and have a drop of hipster blood in your body then you will recognize the name Will Oldham.

Also not to get to tied up into the whole who came first argument. I would say without Will Oldham there may not have been Bon Iver or Iron & Wine or Mumford and Sons and a myriad of other bands that all basically use the same acoustic guitar and plaintive and painful harmonic vocals. A style of music which I love dearly and I find it totally accessible and listenable. If you do not like it then you know what you can do.

There are 11 songs on this album and it comes in at a tidy 43 minutes. It is well worth your time to listen to. If you can't track it down. Well come on. It isn't hard. Do it. Just get yourself a copy. Trust me.

"Bed Is for Sleeping"



"Beast For Thee"



"Rudy Foolish"



And finally "I Gave You". This is a sad, sad, beautiful song and one that I love dearly.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

More Music (Bon Iver)

I really am unable to say enough about this band. I feel like the first album For Emma, Forever Ago was just an amazing solo work by Justin Vernon. But when it came time to tour he realized that he needed more voices for the vocal harmonies he brought in some other artists Michael Noyce, Sean Carey and Mathew McCaughan. For Emma was released independently in July of 2007 and is just amazing and the second titled simply Bon Iver is amazing as well.

The biggest difference between the two albums is that the second one was recorded with a full band as opposed to the first where Justin did all of the work and then joined them together via studio magic. Both are incredible and you should really do yourself a favor and track them down and give them a listen. To be sure, there is a certain melancholy sadness to his voice and his lyrics but it is so much more them music for the depressive inside all of us.

This is the first song off of For Emma it is called "Flume". It is really a lovely song.



This next song is also off of the first album the sixth track called "Creature Fear"



This is off of the latest album and it called "Holoscene". It is just a beautiful song.



This one is called "Blood Bank". It is from an EP of the same name. Enjoy it.



There you go folks.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

More Music (Bob Marley & The Wailers)

I really am enjoying this process because it is letting me show all of you the different types of music I am into. I am excited about today because we get to listen to Bob Marley. I think most of my regular readers know that I am into ska pretty heavily. But I do not know if I have ever really addressed my love of reggae as well. I own more Jimmy Cliff then Bob Marley but I am working to remedy that.

What we are sampling today is Marley's greatest hits album Legend. I am actually remiss in that it is Bob Marley & The Wailers. So let me apologize for not mentioning that sooner.


I just love the quote in the picture. Because I think it is totally true, even when a song makes me feel sad, the song also is taking me to a different place and the sadness just isn't a painful sadness. It is a memory or a reminder of multiple things and while sadness might be part of it, pain is not.

Well, lets get to the music. "Get Up Stand Up". This is an amazing song and this clip is from a live show in Germany. This song is almost funk as well as reggae I love it.



"Three Little Birds" is a great song. I have nothing more to say.



"Exodus". This is another live one. So good and so amazing. I recommend that you just lean back and let the music wash over you. Don't fight it. Just give into it.



I may have to give this group another post as I fill out my library. I hope you enjoyed the musical escape today.

Monday, August 22, 2011

More Music (Blues Traveler)

Well this is kind of fun. Blues Traveler was a band that really caught my interest and I used to listen to their album FOUR all of the time. But I haven't listened to it for quite a while so I am really enjoying revisiting it.

The band formed in 1987 and is a real mix of different styles and sounds and they are led by singer and harmonicist (I made that word up) John Popper. They have put out 9 studio albums since 1990 with their fourth album FOUR being easily the one with the most mainstream success. It was made platinum 6 times which is a nice feat for any band. I am sure there are some really amazing songs deep in their catalog but I am limited to what I own. So here are a few songs from the one album I own. If you enjoy it then please check them out.

I really think that "Run-Around" is a great song. The video is kind of lame actually but the song pretty awesome. I do have to admit that I kind of enjoy the band behind the curtain aspect of the video. They were not a video friendly band. Not pretty enough.



Crash Burn is a fun song and this is a taste of the the band live. I love John Popper on the harmonica.




"Brother John" kind of reminds me of the Allman Brothers and "Whipping Post". It is a great jam.



Friday, August 19, 2011

More Music (Blink 182)

So onward down the list we go. We are going to take a break from our regularly scheduled metal and visit the world of pop punk. It is not a world that I am musically a super big fan of. Though at one time I really did like this band. That was up until I saw them in concert and I realized that other then the drummer, who is amazing by the way, they just can't play. There were so many thing onstage to distract from how bad they were live that it really was a disappointing concert and believe me. I have been to some disappointing concerts.

I have three of their albums, Dude Ranch from 1997, Enema of the State, from 1999, and Take off Your Pants and Jacket from 2001. You can tell from the titles of the last two albums that their sense of humor leans toward the infantile. Which is fine. I think that there is a time and a place for that but if that is the only sense of humor you ever show then you really do need to grow up just a little bit.

Since I have three of their albums and right now I just do now care for Blink you are going to get one song from each album. Wait change of plans. I will play one song from the album and then one song live and you will see just how bad they are live. In my opinion.

So here we go. The first song is "Dammit" from Dude Ranch. There is a different drummer on this album. I do not know. Nor do I care what happened to him.



Here is the live version. There is a swear in this one. The F_ _ _ word.



This next song is from Enema of the State and is "All The Small Things" which reached number 6 on the Billboard hot 100 and was their highest charting song ever. I will grant you that the video does a good job of spoofing MTV and boy bands. But it just shows that they are a studio band not a real band.



Here is the live version at the MTV awards take a look at all the distractions from the actual music.



Okay here is my last album Take Off Your Pants and Jacket. This is one of the few albums in my collection I regret buying. Though I actually like "Stay Together For The Kids" it is a pretty good song about how much divorce destroys a family and hurts the kids.



Here is the live version from the 2010 Reading Festival so 9 years after the song was first released. ugh so bad



That was so bad. Now let me see if I can find you an example of how good of a drummer Travis Barker is and how hiring him was the best choice the band ever made. Here he is just warming up and practicing. If you appreciate the drums you will appreciate this.





Thursday, August 18, 2011

More Music (Black Sabbath)

In 1970 an album was released that shook the very earth. This album changed the face of music and I think was probably what started Heavy Metal. Sure, other bands rocked hard in the late 60's and through the 70's but no band rocked as hard as Black Sabbath.

As a teenager I was only aware of Ozzy Osbourne as a solo act and being a young man raised within the Protestant church it often seemed to me that Ozzy was the very devil that I had been so often warned about. Of course it didn't help matters when his solo albums looked like this.


That album came out in 1980 and I was pretty much scared to death of it. I had not yet really began to like music like I do now. Do not get my wrong. I enjoyed it but I went to a private christian school for most of grade school and my parents car had an AM radio so all I really listened to was the local 50's station. So I did not have a real understanding of rock music and what started with the 50's then shifted into the 60's with the Door's and Jimmy Hendrix and the Who but I still never listened to or had even heard of Black Sabbath. At some point in the late 90's I stumbled across a remix of the Sabbath Classic "After Forever". I believe it was on a film soundtrack. After listening to it a few times I started to realize that the lyrics did not seem to be in praise of Satan at all.

Being an inquisitive young man I decided to check out the original version of the song and I was really surprised by both the music and the lyrics. It is also interesting to note that the song just before "After Forever" is "Sweet Leaf" a song all about how good marijuana is. So really all of that is to say that Black Sabbath was a far more complex band then the Christian Anti-Rock Media really realized.

Enough of my theorizing. On to the music. I am going to throw up some stuff when Ozzy was in Sabbath and then I will put up some stuff from when Ozzy was kicked out and Ronnie James Dio joined the band. I prefer the Ozzy years better but there is some good stuff from when Dio was there.

So without further adieu I bring you track 2 off of their first album "The Wizard". They get extra special bonus points for use of the rockin harmonica. I also really love the drums in this track and the secret cowbell.



Their second album was called Paranoid and I bring you the 8th track "Fairies Wear Boots". Another song that just has an amazing drum and bass line with some tasty guitar licks and the lyrics just make me laugh. I love it. 6:30 of awesome.



Their third album, Master of Reality, was also an epic one and I think my favorite off of it is the one I mentioned earlier "After Forever".



I really think that the first three Black Sabbath albums are the best ones. But they did have a few good songs here and there after those their fourth album was called Black Sabbath Vol 4. One of the songs is called "Supernaut". Want to hear it? Here it is.



Actually I am going to stop there. Ronnie James Dio can get his own post when I get to him. Black Sabbath was and always will be Ozzy's band. No offense to Dio fans out there because I own some Dio and I like his work but I like his solo stuff. Frankly, I think his work with Black Sabbath was not that good.

So there you go. A little bit of heavy metal for you.

Tomorrow we are moving away from the metal and more into pop punk.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

More Music (The Black Keys)

This band...I just am unable to recommend highly enough. The Black Keys. They are an American band and are really a blues based rock and roll duo. The singers named Dan Auerbach and the drummer is Patrick Carney and their first album came out in 2001 in total right now they have 6 studio releases and several Extended Plays (EP) and a couple of live albums as well. There is a seventh album in the works but that has not been released yet.

In the spirit of true honesty. I must admit that while I have all their albums I came a little late to the party and it pains me to admit that I have not been following them since their inception. That only really pains me because it makes the hipster inside me sad. I am surprised that I didn't discover them earlier because I love this kind of music. It is because I love this kind of music I am going to try to find a something from every album so hold onto your hats folks today is going to be a long post.

The comes off their first album The Big Come up (2002) some of these are covers and this album was recorded in one of their basements on a 8 track tape recorder that was from the early eighties . But it still sounds awesome, This song is called "I'll Be Your Man"



The second album had some reals gems. But my favorite is a cover of the classic 1959 song by Richard Berry called "Have Love, Will Travel". This song has been covered by lots of artists but I prefer the Black Keys version the best.



Their third album called Rubber Factory is another solid outing. This song "Act Nice and Be Gentle" sounds like it could a lost Zepplin song at the beginning but it is actually a cover of a Kinks song.



This song off of their fourth album Dig is one that I also like muchly. The video is kind of fun as well. The song is called "Your Touch.



Their fifth album is called Chulahoma and really you might be better off calling this an EP. It has 7 tracks on it and the 7th is a hidden one. This is a tribute album and is a collection of covers of bluesman Junior Kimbrough. But much like the first four I find it very listenable when I am in the mood for this kind of kick ass rock and roll. Though in the interest of brevity I am going to jump past this one to the final two albums that I have.

In 2008 we saw the Black Keys signing with a new label and releasing Attack and Release. I think my favorite of off this album is "I Got Mine" which was listed as number 23 on Rolling Stone's list of the 100 best songs of 2008. But there are quite a few good songs on this album and I am torn between playing you that one or digging a little deeper into the album. hmmmm ahhh screw it. Here is the last song on the album "Things Ain't Like They Used to Be"



The Black Key's latest album "Brothers" came out in 2010 and you can really here a change in their sound. It is still the same duo and you can tell that they really work well together. I like this album a lot. I know that isn't a big surprise but I really do like all of their music. I think some songs may be weaker then others but overall everything is very listenable to me. There are 15 songs on this album and I can think of three off of the top of my head that I feel are post worthy and I am sure that there will be more as I keep listening. I am going to go with "Howlin' for You" I really like this number.



As I listened to the Black Keys today while I was putting together this post. I realized that this is an interesting band. I think that there are times where their music all kind of sounds the same. But at least as far as I am concerned the sound is so good that it doesn't matter to me and when they really catch a good one that particular song is amazing. I am really looking forward to their next album.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

More Music (Black Grape)

Well this is an interesting band. The band was called Black Grape and the album is called It's Great When You're Straight... Yeah and was released in 1995 and promptly went to number 1 on the UK charts. The title of the album is a reference to drug use because one of the founding members, Shaun Ryder, had just had a band called Happy Mondays fall apart basically due to his drug addictions.

I honestly can't remember how I discovered them. I enjoy them but their sound is really a quirky one and not for everybody. While they received critical and some commercial acclaim in the UK they were pretty much ignored in the US. They released a second album in 1997 called Stupid Stupid Stupid which went to 11 in the UK but they broke up after that.

This is their first single which went to number 9 in the UK. "Reverend Black Grape".




The second single which I actually enjoy a lot is called "In the Name of the Father" which went to number 11.



This last one is called "Kelly's Heroes" and only made it to number 17 on the charts. I do enjoy the way the lyrics flow in it.



I have been enjoying going through my collection and I like coming across artists that I do not listen too as much as I did in the past. I always have felt that my musical taste was pretty eclectic and now I have confirmed it. I am sure as I get further down the list there will be even more surprises.

Late Night Musings

Well here I sit, it is almost 2:30 am, and I have just woken up. I am not sure what did it. I believe that I fell asleep around midnight and all of a sudden my eyes popped open and here I am. I did try to go back to sleep but I had no such luck. I am not sure what is going on with my sleep cycle. I do know that being unemployed for as long as I have been has for sure affected it. Because you see I have no real reason to wake up in the morning. .... Umm as I look at that I realize that it sounds a little morbid. I mean I have no reason to wake up at a set time or to not stay up all night if I want to.

I am not feeling particularly upset this morning. I would even go so far as to say that on an emotional level it was a particularly good day for a myriad of reasons. Not the least of which was an email I received that made things a little less murky for me. This was the first song that popped up on my random as I turned on my music.


I think I can safely say that more and more Iron & Wine are becoming one of my favorite bands. Their is just something about the smoothness of his voice that I really, really enjoy.




I hope you enjoyed listening to that as much as I did presenting it to you.

I added some new elements to my blog. There is a box you can click to tell me if you thought the band I was highlighting was Good or Bad of if you were indifferent to it. I also added a way for you to share my blog posts to Facebook or Google+ or other things if you feel so inclined. Thanks for reading folks.

Monday, August 15, 2011

More Music (Black Eyed Peas)

Well, well, well this is an album that I am not sure why I even still own it. The album is Elephunk by Black Eyed Peas. This is their 4th album and I think the one that kind of put them on the map so to speak. It is very radio friendly and even as I listen to it again with some trepidation it is listenable but this is not my favorite kind of music at all.

If I want to listen to this style I would much rather listen to Gwen Stefani's solo album. I think that is a much better example of this kind of music. But here you go with some videos.

This one kind of stands out because of the title and on radio the song got changed to "Lets get started" But this version is "Lets Get Retarded".



This one is called "Hey Mama" and is a fine example of basically reggae hip hop and I am sure that I am not calling it the right name at all. But Rhianna has a song that sounds like this and Flight of the Conchords has a song that sounds like this and I actually really enjoy.



Here we are Flight of the Conchords and "Boom". Now this song I much prefer.



So anyway. There you go folks. Have a nice Monday.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Friday Night

Sometimes it is just not possible to sleep. I feel like I should be laying down. But I know it is going to be pointless. I know that I will just toss and turn and so instead I sit here in front of my computer listening to Bon Iver and Iron & Wine and feel sad.

I am sure that Grandma's death and the divorce and one other thing are the main reasons why. But the aftermath of those events have spiraled off into other things in my life that are making me sad as well. I have never been one to make big plans for the future. I never really saw the point in that. I have always felt like things would basically work out one way or the other. But now I am just not sure. I do not see anyway that things are going to work out.

I would love it if I saw some sort of inspiration but I just don't. I am heavily in debt and I do not see a job on the horizon or if I find a job I do not see it being a job that is going to actually allow me to pay off my debt.

I am not writing this as some sort of call for help. I process things verbally and I feel like I need to get some stuff out. Not that it is going to make any difference in the big picture of things but at least I will momentarily feel better because I was able to release some of this. I rarely post on the weekends anyway so I do not know who will read this anyway.

I guess I am feeling extra sad and emotional tonight.



The thing that is most upsetting to me is that I should not be so upset about this. It shouldn't matter and any of my friends would tell me I am being silly. I have been telling myself that I am being silly. But it doesn't seem to matter. I had a good solid month where I was not feeling alone and now I am back to feeling alone. It is hard for me to be as honest as I want to be in this forum because I feel like I need to be purposely vague about things.

But I also feel like if I just write this down but no one reads it then it isn't really going to be helping me anyway. With this process while I do not know who is going to read it. I at least know there is a chance of it being read by somebody. I am not sure why that matters to me but it does.



More Music (Billy Joel)

So as we move further into the B's we come across another famous piano man. The artist known as Billy Joel. He was born in 1949 and joined his first band The Echoes in 1963. But he did not achieve real success until he signed a solo recording contract in 1971 and put out his first album "Cold Spring Harbor". As of 2011 he has put out 13 studio albums with the last one coming in 2001 called "Fantasies and Delusions". He has released 4 live albums with the last one coming out in 2011 called "Live at Shea Stadium: The Concert". But that isn't all there have also been 12 compilation albums released. I think that even if you do not care for him. That is a pretty impressive amount of releases. When I was younger I owned "An Innocent Man" on vinyl but now the only thing I own is "The Complete Hits Collection 1973-1997" which is a three disc compilation. I think I am going to highlight 2 songs from each of the discs. That is if Youtube allows me to. So cross your fingers folks and lets get started.

Here is a live version of "Captain Jack" from 1972. This has fast become one of my favorite early Billy Joel songs.



This is a live version of "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)". It gets bonus points because of the sweet live sax. Play it Sax man. Play it groovy!!



Okay the next two are going to be from the second disc and that disc tends to concentrate more on his stuff from the 80's. I think "Innocent Man" was his best selling album but I could be wrong so no quoting.

I do love that I can find live versions of these songs. This is a live version of "Allentown". It really is a good song and says a lot about how the recession in the 80's affected the steel industry in Pennsylvania.



This won't be a live version. But "Tell Her About It" came out in 1983 and I can remember listening to this over and over again as I tried to pump myself up to ask a girl I liked out. Well...it didn't work and I locked up and mumbled. But the video is pretty fun and really from an era when videos were king.



Okay so on to the third disc and this era of Billy Joel is not one that I am all that familiar with but there are some good songs on it.

Here is a live version from 2006 of "We didn't start the fire". This was a pretty big song for him.



This next song is "The Downeaster Alexa" which was just put to great use in the film The Hangover II. It is really one of my favorite of his songs. I could find no good live versions of this one so you get the original video from 1989. It is just a great, great song.



Thanks for reading and listening folks and I hope you have a good weekend. I will see you on Monday as we continue to work our way through the B's.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

More Music (Bill Monroe)

Quick and dirty today. The artist is Bill Monroe and he is the father of Bluegrass and he is also one of the few members of the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

The only other artists inducted into all three of those are Jimmie Rodgers, Bob Wills, Hank Williams Sr, and Johnny Cash. So he is amongst some pretty good company.

Onto the music. I would break this down a little more in depth but I have 82 of his songs in my library totaling 3.9 hours of music. So this is what you are getting.

A lot of what I like about his work is that it often was just unabashedly religious. It was part of who he was and it came out in the music he played. This was before modern radio came along and decided that everything had to fit into a category. Modern radio gets a big lose in my book. What is saving modern music is the MP3 and the ability for people all over the world to use the internet to find any kind of music that they want to.