Tuesday Music Mix

Good morning on what may be a wet or dry morning. I am not sure as I have not looked outside yet.

Stricken - No Doubt

Good song a little dramatic and sappy but I believe it was written by a teen girl. So I will allow it.

Tomorrow night I am getting taken to see 'The Big Lebowski' on the big screen in Portland. I am very much looking forward to that. It is personally one of my favorite films and one that has grown on me over time. The first time I watched it I found it a little hard to watch and I am not sure exactly why. Though I have noticed that several of the Cohen Brothers films that I love were initially a little hard for me to watch.

Get The Fever Out - Samantha Crain and The Midnight Shivers

I enjoyed this poppy little tune from this small band. I am not sure if they are even together.

Being able to see it again on the big screen will be a great experience I am sure. That is one of the many good or great things about living near the Portland area. There are often some great films being shown or shown again and if you are paying attention you can have some great experiences. If you like that kind of thing that is.

I Want You Now - Depeche Mode

One of Depeche Modes great songs. I saw this band in concert and it felt like it was a really good show. Worth seeing live.

Maria - Men at Work

A very nice song from the boys who came from down under.

Boy I guess I emptied the ol' noggin after yesterday. There is not much going on. I am not feeling upset or super happy. I am just feeling present and I think that is good. But, when I am digging for something to write about it isn't as helpful. But that is the way the cookie crumbles I suppose. I am not complaining about it.

See What A Fool I've Been - Queen

This is a seriously good bluesy Queen song. So good.

Keep on loving each other today folks and if you get a chance. Take a moment and take a deep breath. Breathe in through your nose and really try to fill your lungs with that air. Then hold it for a bit and release it through your mouth. You will feel the better for it. Trust me and if you can find the time to do it once today then maybe tomorrow you can find the time to do it twice and so on and so on. It will help. Trust me.

Friday Music Madness

Little bit of music for you folks today. This way people at the Coffeehouse think that I am working. Suckers.

I Am Africa - Book of Mormon (Musical from the South Park guys)

This is a pretty good song as far as songs from musicals go. I understand the the musical itself is very good.

Down There By The Train - Johnny Cash

I love Johnny Cash and anyone who has paid attention to this blog knows that. I think that this is one of his great songs. So good and so real in terms of his voice and the depth of his feeling. This song is from one of his American Recordings albums. I hope to meet Johnny down there by the train myself one day. Him and a few other people. I also believe that Tom Waits either covered it or perhaps even did it first. I am sure that his version is stellar as well.

Today is one of those grey sky and gloomy days in the valley. I think this is the kind of day that people who hate Oregon weather complain about. It isn't raining it is just kind of gloomy in the air. Most of the time I am totally okay with this kind of weather but I understand why some people just are unable to handle it. That is for sure.

Nice Day For A Sulk - Belle and Sebastian

This is another lovely song. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone at this point. It seems that all their songs are good ones and easy ones to listen too.

The Power - Manowar

Yes, Yes, Yes. Time to rise up in your cubicle and start your moshing.

Aces High - Iron Maiden

This is one of my favorite Maiden songs. Just a classic and it has all the markings of classic Maiden. The song basically tells the story of being a fighter pilot. All of the classic Maiden songs tell a story of some sort. That is what makes them classic. They do not put out concept albums they put out concept songs and I love them.

Sixteen - No Doubt

This is one of the few songs that wasn't a huge hit off of this album. But I like it. It is a little more rock then Ska but I still find it listenable. I miss No Doubt. They were a fun band.

Hey! You guys have a great weekend and I hopefully will talk to you on Monday.

Tuesday Tunes

Tunes on a Tuesday for you my loyal readers. Let us see what the Google Music machine creates for us today shall we.

World Go 'Round - No Doubt

This is a band that I have fond feelings for. The album Tragic Kingdom is one of my favorites between the songs and the that the majority of the songs are about Gwen Stefani's break up with the bands bassist there is an irony that just amuses me. This is not one of their hits but it is actually a pretty solid number.

Trip Through Your Wires - U2

It amuses me that this band was once considered alternative by the radio people. Though I guess it is pretty cool to go from that to being considered one of the biggest bands in the whole world and totally mainstream. All that aside. I genuinely enjoy their music.

The Only Way To Be - Save Ferris

There are not a lot of ska bands with female singers. This is one of them and like No Doubt they are very enjoyable to listen too. I think Monique Powell has a great voice. The just itself had some MTV action and a little bit of radio but never seemed to be able to break through. I enjoy their music.

Dumpweed - Blink 182

In my mind this was probably the best Blink 182 album. There are probably people who would disagree with me but I think this came at a time when they were still excited about playing music and still writing songs that were personal to them.

Perfect Stranger - Dropkick Murphys

This is a perfect example of a band that I do not really care for. Though I have met their lead singer when Flogging Molly opened for them and he was a very nice man. I think it is more their fan base or what I perceive as their fan base that bugs me. I suppose I shouldn't let that stop me from liking their music but it does.

I hope you enjoyed the music today. Have a great one folks. 

More Musical Randomness (Wed)

Well, I hope you folks enjoyed the 1st edition on Monday of Musical Randomness. I am really looking forward to continuing the journey and seeing what pops up today and what my thoughts are going to be about the differing songs and musical artists.

1: Friday Night In America - New Grass Revival - This is a band that I actually enjoy a lot. But there music is certainly not for everybody. They are kind a more modern take on blue grass but are also a little bit gospel like in terms of their overall message. This song is not as gospel sounding as some of their others. I enjoy the banjo in it quite a bit as well.

2: Get It Hot - ACDC - Well I can safely say that this is not one of my favorite ACDC songs. I like ACDC a lot but this just is not one of their, shall I say, most inspired numbers both lyrically and musically. It is basically the title of the song repeated over and over again. Which I suppose you can say about most of their songs but for some reason I find this one far more annoying then I have some of their classic songs like 'Back in Black."

3: Oh! You Pretty Things - David Bowie - There is not much that I can say about this one other then that it is one of the best of David Bowies many, many great songs. I would recommend just sitting back and enjoying it in it's sublimeness. I love this song.

4: Ache: No Doubt - Now this brings back some fond memories. I used to listen to No Doubt all of the time.I believe that this is coming off of their first or second album. Which are okay as far as Orange County Ska goes but really their best album in my opinion is 'Tragic Kingdom'. My favorite part of that album is that Gwen Stefani had written it following the breakup of her relationship with Tony Kanal, the bassist for No Doubt and then to add to the irony it was huge and he had to tour all over the world playing songs written about how much he sucked. I just can't imagine how hard that would have been.

5: The One That Got Away: Katy Perry - I like Katy Perry. There I said it and I don't feel bad about saying it. I like her. I enjoy here music and I think that when she chooses to she can really sing. I find her voice pleasant. I also think she is pretty but I imagine I would like her regardless. I like this song. It is a stripped down version of the radio release and it is such a sad song and really is honest about the pain of a failed relationship and how much heartbreak that it brings. Excuse me for a moment my bedroom has gotten really dusty and I am having a hard time seeing my keyboard. Crap

See you on Friday. 

More Music (No Doubt)

Good Thursday to everyone out there. Today the band is a band that I really enjoyed when they were at their heyday and I have heard that they are working on a new album. I am not sure if they will be going back to their ska roots or not with it. Some people have said that No Doubt and Gwen Stefani destroyed Ska. I do not think that is the case it isn't a bands fault if radio and the public latch on to a song or group and make it popular. The only band I think that would actively run away from such a thing is probably Fugazi and those guys are weird. So anyway lets give a listen to some early No Doubt and some of their more popular radio hits.

"Snakes" (Early, early stuff and not really much of a Ska sound at all.)



"Total Hate" (Early, early, early but this song has more of a Ska punk sound to it.)



"Just A Girl" (This song put them on the map. Now I could say that I am tired of it from listening to it so much. But that isn't the songs fault. It is a good pop Ska song and I totally can see why it made them famous.)



"Sunday Morning" (There are several very good songs on the Tragic Kingdom album. One interesting thing is that Gwen wrote most of this album while dealing with the breakup of her relationship with the band's bassist Tony Kanal. When this album broke big they toured all over the world playing breakup songs. I always felt kind of sorry for him.)((I also love Gwen's look in this video)



(End It On This)



"Hey Baby" (Their next album went a little more Reggae more Dancehall if you will. I liked it though)



"Rocksteady"

Totally Television Tuesday

I wanted to write about television shows or something today but I also do not want to get into a rut and always write about the same stuff. I am torn because I am not feeling particularly inspired today and I hate to just throw up a bunch of YouTube videos because while I may enjoy it I am not sure that everyone else does. So what to do, what to do?




"Sister Golden Hair"? She knows who she is ;)

Top 10 Blond entertainment persons (Based on Lance's own secret recipe)

1.

I have always love No Doubt but I also love her solo work as well. I think part of it is her perceived confidence and style.

2.

I didn't really become aware of Kristen Bell until I saw "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" but recently I watched "Veronica Mars" (which I really enjoyed). I think she is a good actress and seems to be pretty active when it comes to helping others. I think that is a good thing.

3.

Not much can be said about the iconic Debbie Harry. She was and is a classic that transcended the music industry and a real ground breaker for the women of today.

4.

January Jones is a very attractive women but I think she really shines as Betty Draper. I am so looking forward to the next season of "MadMen"

I am stopping at 4. I have grown bored.