Wednesday

Well, yesterday was a struggle but I managed to stay awake for most of the day and I am feeling pretty good today. I got a solid 1 am to 7 am sleep session and that is pretty much what my body needs to keeps itself on its natural schedule. So that is a good thing.

Valley - Tramped By Turtles

My music player sometimes seems to know just what I need to get things started. I love this song.


Yesterday was an interesting day. I spent a good chunk of the day in a fog because of the lack of sleep. So it was odd. I felt very off but at the same time functional.

Drowned - The Who

The intro into 'I am the Sea' off of the classic Who album Quadrophenia. You can never go wrong with this one.

I watched the State of the Union address last night. I always enjoy listening to the President speak even if it is a President that I am not a particular fan of. In the case of President Obama I was far more excited about him when he was first elected then I am now. But I am also well aware that I am operating at a certain level of frustration dealing with the federal govt and Congress right now because of their decision to end emergency unemployment. President Obama addressed that issue last night but I am not going to be holding my breath. Because even if they reinstate it I doubt I will be getting back pay and I am still going to be behind on some of my bills because of the their being no money of any kind coming in at all. But the job search continues. I applied for a job at the Oregon Lottery yesterday.

A World Of Our Own - The Seekers

A classic late 60's number. I like it.

I also watched the latest episode of the television show Justified last night and that show just seems to be getting better and better as far as I am concerned. The first 4 seasons are available on Amazon Streaming right now and if you have not ever watched it I would highly recommend it. If you are a fan of Elmore Leonard novels or police or detective stories I do not think you can go wrong with this one.

Mother of Light (A New Age Dawns pt 2) - Epica

One of my beloved Northern European metal bands. Except for these guys are Dutch. I love them.

I really feel like I am reaching for these to write about this morning. It feels like one of those days that I want to sit quietly in my room with the light off and sip my coffee while I listen to music with my eyes closed. I imagine that is how I am going to be spending part of the day for sure. I suppose that sounds depressing to some of you. But that isn't what it is. It is for me a way to just kind of calm myself and feel centered and anchored as part of the existing world around me. I am not being distracted by the latest television show or video game but am able to just sit quietly and breath. Thoughts may come and go but I do not dwell on those thoughts. They rise and sink but I continue to sit quietly and breath. That is for me, often, the best way to get myself back on track so to speak.

Beth - Kiss

I love this acoustic version of the song Beth by Kiss. One of my favorites.

 Well, that is is for today folks. The darkness is calling for me with its calm and its solitude. Keep those feet moving and keep on loving each other and try to remember that despite our politics we are all human and all deserving of a little pleasantness. Be kind to each other.

In Praise of....

the heavy metal ballad or power ballad. There was a time back in the 80's basically and perhaps for a little bit in the early 90's when some of the heavy metal acts were the biggest bands in the land. These bands shared a responsibility to not only rock your faces off but to also tenderize your hearts with the sweetest of love ballads. Why don't we climb back inside the old mystery machine and give a few of these a listen. You may not be better off afterwards but you will probably enjoy the experience just a little bit. (I hope).

These are in no particular order. But they are the ones I enjoyed the most. 

Love Hurts - Nazareth - This is arguably one of the first of the power ballads. It came out in 1976 and you can feel the pain of unrequited love from it. So emotional and dripping with teenage angst. 

Beth - Kiss - One of my favorite power ballads of all time. So good. So over the top. 

Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue - One of the great ones and probably my favorite Motley Crue song. Which probably says something about the kind of music that I emotionally connect to. But I am not ashamed. Not one bit. 

Close My Eyes Forever - Ozzy and Lita Ford - Ahhh such a lovely duet and almost guaranteed to get you to 2nd base with that sweet chick you made the mix tape for. 

Don't Close Your Eyes - Kix - Does anybody remember Kix? 

Catch you later folks. 

Sometimes...

a kiss is just a kiss. But a kiss in not just a kiss when we are talking the KISS!! The Monsters of Metal!! The Purveyors of Sonic Destruction!! The Master of Musical Mayhem! You wanted the best! You got the best, KISS!!

The reason I am bringing this to your attention today, is because yesterday was Paul Stanley's 61st birthday, so I thought I would bring to you my Top 3 Kiss songs that were written by Paul Stanley.

I love the bass and the drums in that song. Just love it.

I want you. Just a simple love song by a gentle man.

There is something about the last one 'I Was Made For Loving You' that I find so fun. I do not know if it is the obvious disco influence of it or what. But I really enjoy it. It is true that Kiss is kind of a joke now but there was a time when they were the hardest rocking and the biggest band in the world. There first four albums are some seriously good rock n roll. So if you like that kind of thing, hit up the You Tube and give them a listen.

More Music (Who wants a Kiss)

We are back at it and on this Monday morning the band that is kick starting the day is Kiss. This is the last band in the K's on my list and I have their first 4 albums and even though I am sure that Gene Simmons would sell his mother for a quick buck I really enjoy the music on these four. Kiss, Dressed To Kill, Destroyer, Love Gun are all solid rock and roll albums and they have some really good guitar and bass work in them as well. Kiss was just a solid band and the excelled at writing radio friendly songs especially in terms of time of songs. So any here you go..."The baddest band in the land!! KISSS!!!

"Strutter"



"Black Diamond"



"Rock Bottom"



"Rock N Roll All Night"



"God of Thunder" One of my favorite Kiss songs



"Beth" There are 4 or 5 amazing songs from Destroyer it is probably my favorite Kiss album.



"Christine Sixteen" I might be wrong but I think this song is about sex. I am not sure though.



"Plaster Caster" This is from Kiss Unplugged which was on MTV and is actually really a good concert.



I guess I like this band more then I thought I did. I hope at least some of you enjoy the music.

Music Monday May 2nd

I like to listen to music. I realize I have talked about that before but I was thinking about guitar solos that I have enjoyed and I thought I would share some of those solos with you. You want to hear them? Here they go.


WAIT!! WAIT!! Change of plans. I am going with songs named after women. Some of these will be women I know some will not and there is no personal order of preference involved. I may do songs with guys names next week I am not sure. But if your name isn't here it is probably because no one has used it in a song title not because I dislike you or anything like that. The world doesn't revolve around you so get over it.



Jessica by the Allman Brothers is an absolute classic and has some amazing guitar playing by Dickie Betts I believe. One of my favorite songs to close my eyes and just zone out to. I like the piano as well.



Beth by Kiss is a hard rock classic. It is a little hair metal but it actually is a pretty good song.



This is a song I have never heard before I thought I had seen the Woodstock DVD. I really like it.



Ahh yes the smooth, smooth, country sounds of the Pure Prairie League.



Another clip from Woodstock but this is the 99 version a little Alison by Elvis Costello. This is another song that I really like but I like most of the music by Mr. Costello



I admit I like some pretty sappy music but I am not going to be ashamed of it. I like this song. Aubrey by Bread.



I love, love, love Iggy Pop. This song works for me in so many ways and it has the lovely Kate Pierson and that is always a plus.



Brandy!!! You know your a fine girl. What a nice song about sailors who are in love with the local bartender.

I would be remiss if I did not close this out some classic heavy metal. So here we go with a little King Diamond from 1987 "Abigail" I am pretty sure that most of you are not even going to like this. I DO NOT CARE!!! \m/ \m/



I tried to find the a modern song that had the name of a girl in the tile and the only one I could find in Billboards Top 100 list was Akon and the song Angel. It is an example of the horrible autotuning that is going in todays music. Here you go.



Meh



Thus ends your Music Monday for May 2nd 2011

Hair Metal Monday

Sometimes I get inspired by things and right now I am inspired to give you some hair metal videos. Have a good Saturday and keep on rockin!!!



Yes!! The epic metal piano has always been a favorite of mine. Just lean back in your chair and let it wash over you.



I do not really think of AC/DC as hair metal but this song rocks so here it is. THUNDER!!!



That is right!!! Pour some of that sugar on me!!! Let it rain!!!



You know that I can't pass up a little Queensryche. "I Don't Believe in Love"




Who wants a tasty piece of cherry pie!!! AWWWWWWWWWWW YEAH!!!



Ooooh time for a tasty rebuttal to Queensryche this band does believe in love and they are a modern version of the hair metal I love so much.



Want to hear a little secret? This is one of my favorite songs of this era of music.

I hope you enjoyed your little trip down the rock and roll memory lane.