Only A Northern Song
Killing You Softly With Our Song
6/28/09
Twenty - There will only be one
He was, quite simply, the most gifted performer I think I've ever seen.
There are only certain people that you will remember where you were when you heard the news of their passing. Michael Jackson was one of them. He simply transcended music and leapt into another level of entertainer. You knew who people were talking about when they identified him by his first name, and that was in an era when another MJ was tearing up the basketball courts.
When you talk about "Thriller" and begin to realize that it's STILL the best-selling record ever, you just start to scratch the surface of this man's immense impact. Motown was able to continue as a going concern simply because of his presence.
I'm upset by this and I think I'll continue to be. I recognized what the death of Elvis Presley meant when I was 10 years old, and I recognize what this one means 31 1/2 years later. When you lose icons, it resonates. Rest in peace, Michael.
Michael Jackson Grammys '88-Way You Make Me Feel & MITM
There are only certain people that you will remember where you were when you heard the news of their passing. Michael Jackson was one of them. He simply transcended music and leapt into another level of entertainer. You knew who people were talking about when they identified him by his first name, and that was in an era when another MJ was tearing up the basketball courts.
When you talk about "Thriller" and begin to realize that it's STILL the best-selling record ever, you just start to scratch the surface of this man's immense impact. Motown was able to continue as a going concern simply because of his presence.
I'm upset by this and I think I'll continue to be. I recognized what the death of Elvis Presley meant when I was 10 years old, and I recognize what this one means 31 1/2 years later. When you lose icons, it resonates. Rest in peace, Michael.
Michael Jackson Grammys '88-Way You Make Me Feel & MITM
Labels: throw down
6/26/09
Throw Down #20: No One Wants To Be Defeated
Originally, I had this great post about the evolution of the sports anthem, and how I was going to my nephew's Little League championship game (which his team WON by the way--town champions!), but instead, the throw down has turned to tribute. Sort of. As much as his life has taken bizarre turns, and as questionable as some of his actions may be, despite what the courts say, there is no denying that Michael Jackson, first with his brothers, and then as a solo artist, changed popular music as we know it.
What was most interesting for me today, in learning this news, was not the instance of his death. It was the way in which the word of it spread. I had seen coverage on the television news, before I left for my nephew's game, that Jackson had been rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest, but none of the news websites, save Drudge (God bless fucking Drudge, man), had any stories. About halfway through the game, my sister received a text message from one of her friends stating he'd died, and I watched as people in the crowd, in a wave, started pulling their phones out of their pockets, reading the screen, and turning to their neighbor to say, "Wow! Michael Jackson just died!" Instant media coverage. I myself texted a series of people, including Nick, who was so incredulous he called me from the train to confirm. At that moment, the throw down topic changed from sports anthem to Michael Jackson tribute. I almost typed MJ tribute, but seeing those initials and references to death just freaks me out a bit. I'm sure my dear co-conspirator here will appreciate and agree.
When I turned 12 years old, I remember that one of my relatives gave me $20. I wanted to do two things with that money. First, I wanted to go to a carnival that was being staged in my town the following weekend, and I wanted to buy "Thriller". That album had been released for a while at that point, but the video for the title track had not yet been released (that would come that December). However, as everyone who was breathing at that time can remember, several songs had already become number one hits, including "Beat It". I loved the video for that song, in constant heavy rotation on MTV. I would get excited when it came on, and stop what I was doing to watch Michael's little "West Side Story" unfold. I loved the guitar playing on that song, I loved the dancing gang members, and I loved the way the video told a story. I always had a flair for the dramatic. I mean, what is better than a dance rumble in a warehouse? Plus, if I'm not mistaken, isn't that Eddie Van Halen on the guitar on this song? Such it came to be that "Thriller" was the first record I ever purchased with my own money. And that album was worth every penny I spent on it. Song for song, the ratio of hits to dollars I don't think has ever been surpassed.
So Jacko, rest in peace. Despite all of your truly awe-inspiring weirdness, you really did change the musical world for the better.
Embedding disabled, so make with the clicking. Because, really, you need to watch this one.
What was most interesting for me today, in learning this news, was not the instance of his death. It was the way in which the word of it spread. I had seen coverage on the television news, before I left for my nephew's game, that Jackson had been rushed to the hospital in cardiac arrest, but none of the news websites, save Drudge (God bless fucking Drudge, man), had any stories. About halfway through the game, my sister received a text message from one of her friends stating he'd died, and I watched as people in the crowd, in a wave, started pulling their phones out of their pockets, reading the screen, and turning to their neighbor to say, "Wow! Michael Jackson just died!" Instant media coverage. I myself texted a series of people, including Nick, who was so incredulous he called me from the train to confirm. At that moment, the throw down topic changed from sports anthem to Michael Jackson tribute. I almost typed MJ tribute, but seeing those initials and references to death just freaks me out a bit. I'm sure my dear co-conspirator here will appreciate and agree.
When I turned 12 years old, I remember that one of my relatives gave me $20. I wanted to do two things with that money. First, I wanted to go to a carnival that was being staged in my town the following weekend, and I wanted to buy "Thriller". That album had been released for a while at that point, but the video for the title track had not yet been released (that would come that December). However, as everyone who was breathing at that time can remember, several songs had already become number one hits, including "Beat It". I loved the video for that song, in constant heavy rotation on MTV. I would get excited when it came on, and stop what I was doing to watch Michael's little "West Side Story" unfold. I loved the guitar playing on that song, I loved the dancing gang members, and I loved the way the video told a story. I always had a flair for the dramatic. I mean, what is better than a dance rumble in a warehouse? Plus, if I'm not mistaken, isn't that Eddie Van Halen on the guitar on this song? Such it came to be that "Thriller" was the first record I ever purchased with my own money. And that album was worth every penny I spent on it. Song for song, the ratio of hits to dollars I don't think has ever been surpassed.
So Jacko, rest in peace. Despite all of your truly awe-inspiring weirdness, you really did change the musical world for the better.
Embedding disabled, so make with the clicking. Because, really, you need to watch this one.
Labels: celebrity obituary, michael jackson, throw down
6/19/09
TD19: Theremin She Goes Again
I love a good cookout. Great food, a relaxed atmosphere, and the possibility that come 2am, you'll still be outside in the summer warmth, chillin' with your homies.
There are two kinds of songs that work on the outdoor speakers: The "Groovers" and the "Shakers". You know what I mean. Picture it: a backyard at dusk, a few dozen friends and family milling around with paper plates piled with burgers and potato salad. You're standing there, drinking a beer and talking to your buddy. A Groover comes on, and you get that smile on your face and you're bobbing your head, still talking, and it's all good. Then a Shaker plays, and you've got your hands up and you're singing along.
A good backyard DJ has both types in his milkcrate of LPs, and knows how to mix it to keep the energy up. And so I give you the 5 tracks that should be played at any self-respecting
backyard shindig. Be forewarned: they're all over the place.
"Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys. Hello, summer! Before there was Jack Johnson, before there was Jimmy Buffet, there were the Beach Boys. You can tell me about your cheeseburgers in paradise, and you can glaze over like a blissed-out soccer mom when Jack Johnson comes on, but they owe it all to Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
"Could You Be Loved?" - Bob Marley and the Wailers. This one straddles the line between Groovin' and Shakin'. There are a dozen awesome Bob Marley songs out there, but this is the one I want on the outdoor speakers in the summer heat. It's got a fantastic head-bobbing beat, but the bass line is funky enough to get your great aunt Helen to shake it up to Jah.
"Immigrant Song" - Led Zeppelin. Every good outdoor party should include one solid headbanger, and this one's a crowd pleaser. Something about thick layers of guitar blasting from an undersized boombox just screams "summer" to me. Or maybe that's just in Jersey.
"Connected" - Stereo MCs. There was a lot of great dance music that came out of the '90s alternative genre. Remember "Groovy Train" by the Farm? Dee-Lite's "Groove is in the Heart"? Fun, fun stuff. But throw the Stereo MCs on, and you can throw a nice little jolt into the party without tipping it too far to the dance-party side.
"Having a Party". One of the best party songs ever, and you can have this one any way you want. Old school Sam Cooke? Go for it. Southside Johnny? Tremendous. Everyone knows it, people can sing along, and there's no way you can finish listening without a smile.
There are two kinds of songs that work on the outdoor speakers: The "Groovers" and the "Shakers". You know what I mean. Picture it: a backyard at dusk, a few dozen friends and family milling around with paper plates piled with burgers and potato salad. You're standing there, drinking a beer and talking to your buddy. A Groover comes on, and you get that smile on your face and you're bobbing your head, still talking, and it's all good. Then a Shaker plays, and you've got your hands up and you're singing along.
A good backyard DJ has both types in his milkcrate of LPs, and knows how to mix it to keep the energy up. And so I give you the 5 tracks that should be played at any self-respecting
backyard shindig. Be forewarned: they're all over the place.
"Good Vibrations" - The Beach Boys. Hello, summer! Before there was Jack Johnson, before there was Jimmy Buffet, there were the Beach Boys. You can tell me about your cheeseburgers in paradise, and you can glaze over like a blissed-out soccer mom when Jack Johnson comes on, but they owe it all to Brian Wilson and Mike Love.
"Could You Be Loved?" - Bob Marley and the Wailers. This one straddles the line between Groovin' and Shakin'. There are a dozen awesome Bob Marley songs out there, but this is the one I want on the outdoor speakers in the summer heat. It's got a fantastic head-bobbing beat, but the bass line is funky enough to get your great aunt Helen to shake it up to Jah.
"Immigrant Song" - Led Zeppelin. Every good outdoor party should include one solid headbanger, and this one's a crowd pleaser. Something about thick layers of guitar blasting from an undersized boombox just screams "summer" to me. Or maybe that's just in Jersey.
"Connected" - Stereo MCs. There was a lot of great dance music that came out of the '90s alternative genre. Remember "Groovy Train" by the Farm? Dee-Lite's "Groove is in the Heart"? Fun, fun stuff. But throw the Stereo MCs on, and you can throw a nice little jolt into the party without tipping it too far to the dance-party side.
"Having a Party". One of the best party songs ever, and you can have this one any way you want. Old school Sam Cooke? Go for it. Southside Johnny? Tremendous. Everyone knows it, people can sing along, and there's no way you can finish listening without a smile.
Labels: throw down
Hey 19 - the picnic starts in an hour
I'm hoping I do better with this list throwdown then last week's PATHETIC effort. I'm no good with ceremonies, but just making playlists is in my wheelhouse.
I think a good picnic playlist should be one that plays in the background, people nod their heads to the beats, and occasionally look up and go "Damn, I always LOVED this song." There are a literal ton of songs that hit me as perfect for this type of occasion; I could easily put together a 30 or 40 song playlist (and just might at the end of this because I love you all so much).
Let's set the scene, shall we? A warm-ish Fourth of July afternoon. Let's call it at 84 degrees with a westerly warm breeze. Cloudless, but that breeze persists. Kids scamper around playing with a football. The grill is going and the smells of cooking food is in the air. The crowd is plentiful but not overwhelming, and the beer matches it to a tee. The mood is happy because it's a lovely three-day weekend and laughter and talk fills the air. What songs are on in the background? Let's see what I'd choose.
1. Bob Marley - "Stir It Up". Any of the Marley catalog could fit this bill, to be honest, and I almost went with "Three Little Birds" or "No Woman, No Cry", but I think "Stir It Up" with it's relatively simple lyrics and easy-to-grasp rythyms make it one of the best background songs for a lovely warm afternoon.
2. Bruce Springsteen - "10th Avenue Freezeout". See, the thing with Springsteen is he's another artist that you could totally use as the featured artist for an entire afternoon's worth of fun. His music just screams Summer, or at least, most of it does. I think this particular song is under-rated by the average Springsteen fan, the hardcores know how brilliant it is. It would make a fantastic compliment to your first course of hot dogs, deviled eggs, potato salad and cold Corona.
3. Sublime - "Santeria". "I don't practice Santeria, I ain't got no crystal ball..." and everyone will be off on a sing-along. I also considered "40 oz. to Freedom" and "What I Got" and the super-obvious "Summertime", but I sort of felt like "Santeria" is the most accessible of these fine anthems. Shame what happened to this group, but hey, here's an idea. Knock off the drugs, fellas. Just a suggestion.
4. The Rolling Stones - "Love Is Strong". My favorite modern Stones song, easily accessible, slinky, dirty and fun. Plus, the video showed giant Stones and models storming around a city. So awesome and fun. This one would be on MY playlist, anyway.
5. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". See, "Woodstock" has been on VH1 Classic lately virtually every week, and while I could write 10 thousand words on what a clusterfuck that whole thing was, the scene with Crosby, Stills and Nash (Young was there but did NOT want to be on the concert film, so he stayed backstage and even sang on a few songs from back there) singing this song in the middle of the night, in one of their first big breaks, is just magic. Pure and simple. Again, this song brings everyone back, the kids like it, and the ending....well...how can you beat Stephen Stills getting his Spanish groove on. Fantastic.
So I left out a MILLION songs that I love for the Summertime. Tons. I love thinking about making playlists for the Summer and driving around. I don't do many picnics anymore for a variety of reasons, but, playlists are my thing. Here's a playlist for you to put together and enjoy for your next picnic. Apologies in advance if you can't find all the songs, but it's all subjective anyway.
In addition to the five above:
Elvis Costello - "Pump It Up"
Dire Straits - "Romeo and Juliet"
Beastie Boys - "High Plains Drifter"
AC/DC - "The Jack"
The Drifters - "Up on the Roof"
Ben Folds Five - "Annie Waits"
Beach Boys - "Don't Worry Baby"
Al Green - "Let's Stay Together"
ZZ Top - "La Grange"
Phish - "If I Could, I Would"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Pete Townshend - "Let My Love (Open the Door)"
Pilot - "Magic"
Grateful Dead - "Sugar Magnolia"
R.E.M. - "Don't Go Back To Rockville"
Madonna - "Cherish"
Jay-Z - "Hard Knock Life"
K.C. and the Sunshine Band - "Boogie Shoes"
Journey - "Lights"
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Linus and Lucy" (apropriate ANY time of the year, folks)
B-52's - "Rock Lobster"
Bob Seger - "Katmandu"
The Clash - "Train in Vain"
Def Leppard - "Rock of Ages"
Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"
Reel Big Fish - "Sell Out"
REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Lovin' You"
Kenny Loggins - "Footloose"
Bon Jovi - "Runaway"
Put'em in any order you like and add and subtract as you see fit. Have a great weekend.
Crosby, Stills, Nash -Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Woodstock 1969
I think a good picnic playlist should be one that plays in the background, people nod their heads to the beats, and occasionally look up and go "Damn, I always LOVED this song." There are a literal ton of songs that hit me as perfect for this type of occasion; I could easily put together a 30 or 40 song playlist (and just might at the end of this because I love you all so much).
Let's set the scene, shall we? A warm-ish Fourth of July afternoon. Let's call it at 84 degrees with a westerly warm breeze. Cloudless, but that breeze persists. Kids scamper around playing with a football. The grill is going and the smells of cooking food is in the air. The crowd is plentiful but not overwhelming, and the beer matches it to a tee. The mood is happy because it's a lovely three-day weekend and laughter and talk fills the air. What songs are on in the background? Let's see what I'd choose.
1. Bob Marley - "Stir It Up". Any of the Marley catalog could fit this bill, to be honest, and I almost went with "Three Little Birds" or "No Woman, No Cry", but I think "Stir It Up" with it's relatively simple lyrics and easy-to-grasp rythyms make it one of the best background songs for a lovely warm afternoon.
2. Bruce Springsteen - "10th Avenue Freezeout". See, the thing with Springsteen is he's another artist that you could totally use as the featured artist for an entire afternoon's worth of fun. His music just screams Summer, or at least, most of it does. I think this particular song is under-rated by the average Springsteen fan, the hardcores know how brilliant it is. It would make a fantastic compliment to your first course of hot dogs, deviled eggs, potato salad and cold Corona.
3. Sublime - "Santeria". "I don't practice Santeria, I ain't got no crystal ball..." and everyone will be off on a sing-along. I also considered "40 oz. to Freedom" and "What I Got" and the super-obvious "Summertime", but I sort of felt like "Santeria" is the most accessible of these fine anthems. Shame what happened to this group, but hey, here's an idea. Knock off the drugs, fellas. Just a suggestion.
4. The Rolling Stones - "Love Is Strong". My favorite modern Stones song, easily accessible, slinky, dirty and fun. Plus, the video showed giant Stones and models storming around a city. So awesome and fun. This one would be on MY playlist, anyway.
5. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young - "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes". See, "Woodstock" has been on VH1 Classic lately virtually every week, and while I could write 10 thousand words on what a clusterfuck that whole thing was, the scene with Crosby, Stills and Nash (Young was there but did NOT want to be on the concert film, so he stayed backstage and even sang on a few songs from back there) singing this song in the middle of the night, in one of their first big breaks, is just magic. Pure and simple. Again, this song brings everyone back, the kids like it, and the ending....well...how can you beat Stephen Stills getting his Spanish groove on. Fantastic.
So I left out a MILLION songs that I love for the Summertime. Tons. I love thinking about making playlists for the Summer and driving around. I don't do many picnics anymore for a variety of reasons, but, playlists are my thing. Here's a playlist for you to put together and enjoy for your next picnic. Apologies in advance if you can't find all the songs, but it's all subjective anyway.
In addition to the five above:
Elvis Costello - "Pump It Up"
Dire Straits - "Romeo and Juliet"
Beastie Boys - "High Plains Drifter"
AC/DC - "The Jack"
The Drifters - "Up on the Roof"
Ben Folds Five - "Annie Waits"
Beach Boys - "Don't Worry Baby"
Al Green - "Let's Stay Together"
ZZ Top - "La Grange"
Phish - "If I Could, I Would"
Lynyrd Skynyrd - "Saturday Night Special"
Pete Townshend - "Let My Love (Open the Door)"
Pilot - "Magic"
Grateful Dead - "Sugar Magnolia"
R.E.M. - "Don't Go Back To Rockville"
Madonna - "Cherish"
Jay-Z - "Hard Knock Life"
K.C. and the Sunshine Band - "Boogie Shoes"
Journey - "Lights"
Vince Guaraldi Trio - "Linus and Lucy" (apropriate ANY time of the year, folks)
B-52's - "Rock Lobster"
Bob Seger - "Katmandu"
The Clash - "Train in Vain"
Def Leppard - "Rock of Ages"
Neil Diamond - "Sweet Caroline"
Reel Big Fish - "Sell Out"
REO Speedwagon - "Keep On Lovin' You"
Kenny Loggins - "Footloose"
Bon Jovi - "Runaway"
Put'em in any order you like and add and subtract as you see fit. Have a great weekend.
Crosby, Stills, Nash -Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Woodstock 1969
Labels: throw down
Throw Down #19: Scarlet Begonias Or A Touch Of The Blues
In all fairness, the right music for a barbeque is a tricky, tricky mix. Especially if your invitation lists for them look anything like mine, which is, email everyone I know and see who shows. That is also the great beauty of a good barbeque, the random collection of people that arrive at your door, potato salad and six pack in hand. So, finding the right soundtrack can be a challenge. My musical taste is eclectic enough--throw my mother's taste, and my high school friends, and co-workers, and new friends whose iPods you're still getting to know, and neighbors and well, pleasing everyone is going to be a challenge. You can't lean too far in one direction or another; my sister Cat's incredible selection of soft rock classics would put everyone asleep, but cousin Sandy's emo-metal-angst-rock is too hard for most of the crowd. Where do you go?
Travel anywhere in the country, and you'll likely find a classic rock station. As I get older, more and more of the bands I grew up with appear on their playlists, but what I've found is that the classic rock mix will generally appeal to everyone. The older folks in the crowd knew the songs when they were new, and the younger ones can be reminded of their favorite band's favorite band. And besides, a summer barbeque is that perfect moment in time. Sometimes, you're lucky enough to have a pool and patio on which to lounge. Most of the time, it's the freshly mown grass, a back deck, bag chairs, and coolers scattered about with beer and soda. One of the guys has of course taken over the grill; it just happens. People are laughing, smiling, the sun is strong, the smell of sunscreen mixes with the smell of the charcoal and charring meat, and red cups are everywhere. It's happy, mellow, an all-inclusive groove. So you need happy, mellow, all-inclusive tunes to keep it flowing long into the evening.
So, my top five summer barbeque songs. Pull up a chair, crack a cold one, and breathe easy.
1. Jimmy Buffett - Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude. Accept it. There is no better summer party artist. Sing-a-long songs and lullabyes for adults. But, aside from that, there is a valid reason I've seen him in concert 8 times. He just embodies the concept of fun in the sun. And yes, they ARE all songs you know by heart.
2. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion. I'm from Boston. Playing Aerosmith at a barbeque here is like playing "Rosalita" at a party in New Jersey. It simply has to be done.
3. Boston - More Than a Feeling. A classic, classic anthem, designed for transitioning from sunscreen to bugspray, and watching the sun go down.
4. Grateful Dead - Scarlet Begonias. In the heat of the day, no other artist best embodies the tank top and flip flops groove as does the Dead. Yes, some may roll their eyes, but soon after will be softly bopping as they turn to refill the ubiquitous red cup. Smile. Summer loves you. Sublime also does an interesting cover of this song, but Sublime is not for everyone.
5. Buffalo Tom - Soda Jerk. I always need something a little modern. This band, also a Boston college rock staple, has enough pop hooks to keep the vanilla crowd happy, and enough indie cred to make your college friends get excited.
Which ones light your fire?
Travel anywhere in the country, and you'll likely find a classic rock station. As I get older, more and more of the bands I grew up with appear on their playlists, but what I've found is that the classic rock mix will generally appeal to everyone. The older folks in the crowd knew the songs when they were new, and the younger ones can be reminded of their favorite band's favorite band. And besides, a summer barbeque is that perfect moment in time. Sometimes, you're lucky enough to have a pool and patio on which to lounge. Most of the time, it's the freshly mown grass, a back deck, bag chairs, and coolers scattered about with beer and soda. One of the guys has of course taken over the grill; it just happens. People are laughing, smiling, the sun is strong, the smell of sunscreen mixes with the smell of the charcoal and charring meat, and red cups are everywhere. It's happy, mellow, an all-inclusive groove. So you need happy, mellow, all-inclusive tunes to keep it flowing long into the evening.
So, my top five summer barbeque songs. Pull up a chair, crack a cold one, and breathe easy.
1. Jimmy Buffett - Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude. Accept it. There is no better summer party artist. Sing-a-long songs and lullabyes for adults. But, aside from that, there is a valid reason I've seen him in concert 8 times. He just embodies the concept of fun in the sun. And yes, they ARE all songs you know by heart.
2. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion. I'm from Boston. Playing Aerosmith at a barbeque here is like playing "Rosalita" at a party in New Jersey. It simply has to be done.
3. Boston - More Than a Feeling. A classic, classic anthem, designed for transitioning from sunscreen to bugspray, and watching the sun go down.
4. Grateful Dead - Scarlet Begonias. In the heat of the day, no other artist best embodies the tank top and flip flops groove as does the Dead. Yes, some may roll their eyes, but soon after will be softly bopping as they turn to refill the ubiquitous red cup. Smile. Summer loves you. Sublime also does an interesting cover of this song, but Sublime is not for everyone.
5. Buffalo Tom - Soda Jerk. I always need something a little modern. This band, also a Boston college rock staple, has enough pop hooks to keep the vanilla crowd happy, and enough indie cred to make your college friends get excited.
Which ones light your fire?
Labels: aerosmith, boston, buffalo tom, grateful dead, jimmy buffett, throw down
Throw Down 19...
...on its way. We're just totally disorganized, and I think MJ may actually be in hiding somewhere. But, it will straggle its way to you slowly.
Carry on. Dig through the archives if you're getting overly anxious.
Carry on. Dig through the archives if you're getting overly anxious.
Labels: throw down
6/16/09
TD18: Better Late than Ezra
Apologies for the late post. I had no idea that when I threw that bunch of crap against the e-mail wall, this would be the one that stuck. But I made my bed, and so now I shall lie in it.
So, prom themes. What is a prom theme, anyway? I know, I know, it's that song the band plays toward the end, the one gimme "slow" number, the title of which will be printed on a beer mug, wine glass, or other strangely inappropriate and easily-breakable prom favor. But what does it mean? As I recall, the theme summed up how we were all supposed to feel about our dates, and about our night -- at least, according to the prom committee. Thus, I got "All My Love" and "Wonderful Tonight" from the Junior and Senior proms.
But unless you were a hopeless romantic or destined to marry your high school sweetheart (and good luck to ya), all of that was a load of hooey. The prom wasn't about our love for our dates...it was about playing dress up for a few hours, and if you so chose, heading to a hotel room or lenient parent's place for an after prom "party".
So, this week's list...since it's my list, I get to "tweak" it to my taste. Courtney has covered the Ultimate Prom Playlist. MJ did a nice job with songs that would make great prom themes. But what about our five central P-in-P characters? What if they were on the prom committee? What if they each had different ideas about what a great prom theme would be? And what if they fell into a time-warp and had the argument today? And what if I drew broad stereotypes and took huge liberties with this list?
Without further ado, I give you the five themes that most accurately reflect where the attendees want that night to be headed, according to me.
5) Duckie: “I Will Possess Your Heart”, Death Cab for Cutie. Duckie is probably about as emo as they come. The longing. The yearning. The stalking. The inability to express his true emotions unless he’s singing. Well Duckie, meet Ben Gibbard. He will possess your heart...you just don't know it yet.
4) Steff: "The Bad Touch", Bloodhound Gang. Come on, this is a gimme. If anyone in this movie wanted to do it like they do it on the Discovery Channel, it's Steff. Oh sure, all the girls out there thought there was more to Steff, that deep down he had feelings for Andie, but that's just trying to find the good in the bad boy. Don't bother. Steff's an ass, and he's got one agenda.
3) Blane: "There is a Light That Never Goes Out", The Smiths. This is perfect for Blane: it's deeply romantic in a sexually ambiguous, dour way. I have no idea what girls in the 80s saw in Andrew McCarthy in this movie, because his whole look has been softened up beyond belief. He's a walking example of airbrushing. Andie may think she's got herself a catch here, but once his Sephora bills start to exceed hers, it's guaranteed splitsville.
2) Jack Walsh: "Downbound Train", Bruce Springsteen. Man oh man, is Jack a sad sack. Can't pull his life together, can't hold down a job. Still in love with the woman who stomped on his heart. It's like the Boss watched this movie, and then wrote this song.
1) Andie: "Bizarre Love Triangle", New Order. This took me forever. What song best captured her situation? How to accurately portray the teen angst, the lovely, wonderful, redheaded teen angst? (Have I mentioned I LOVED Molly Ringwald back in the day?) So I punted and picked an awesome song that references a crazy romantic situation. FTW! Added bonus: New Order has no decent video on YouTube, so we all get Frente!
Labels: throw down
6/12/09
18 And Life
I'm not going to lie. I haven't been to a prom for 23 years, and I wouldn't have the foggiest as to what passes for a prom theme these days. I think if I found out what songs are being chosen, I might not be so happy about the choices.
I thought about making an end run with this one and choosing songs like "Can I Play With Madness?" by Iron Maiden (and by the way, you must must must watch Flight 666 on VH1 Classic, it's unreal and great), but then I realized that I would turn into an ironic hipster douchebag if I went that way, and I'm not an ironic hipster douchebag no matter what my shrink says.
So let's go, shall we? For the record, my prom theme was "Forever Young" by Alphaville which was a song I hated then, and it's a song I hate even more now. I know that I'm a heretic for saying this and I fully expect lit matches to be thrown at me at the next 80's RULE! committee meeting, but fuck it, it's how I feel. They wrote that piece of shit with the idea that it would become a prom theme, I'm convinced of this. They wanted that scarlet A branded on their chests, and thus, they can all die in a fire. I'm much better at the 70's WERE AWESOME DUDE! committee meetings anyway.
Songs that would make fantastic prom themes, ready, steady, go!
1. "You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry and the Pacemakers. Yes, I know that most high school kids would not choose a 45 year old version of a 64 year old song. I don't care. It's simple and beautiful and the sweeping anthem-ness of it would fill all the youngsters hearts as they held their loved ones close. Trust me on this. Plus, seriously, how can you go wrong with Rodgers and Hammerstein? I mean, honestly.
2. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" - Billy Joel. Proms are the last big event of some beautiful young person's high school career, at least, until the drunken graduation party, right? So, life is just a series of hellos and goodbyes. I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again. Now, get out.
3. "Fall On Me" - R.E.M. The song I desperately wish had been my prom theme. I know it's about acid rain and how terrible that was supposed to be, but if the kids these days are into being green, this is it! A perfect song by a perfect band who even have a record called GREEN! This cannot miss.
4. "Rest My Chemistry" - Interpol. Look, I shouldn't have to convince you how unbelievably great Interpol is. You should just know. The lyrics to this song start out as follows, and bear in mind, you're talking about 17 and 18 year old child/rebels, who would love a teaching staff and whoever is chaperoning their prom to hear "I haven't slept for two days, I've bathed in nothing but sweat. And I've made hallway scenes for things to regret. My friends they come, and lines go by...". Yeah. Now THAT's a prom theme.
Okay, I'll cave and put one really sweet, poppy and lovey-dovey song on the list.
5. "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" - Bryan Adams. I admit it. I like this song. I think it's a good song and it's a good slow dance number. You can get cheek to cheek with this one, you know the lyrics, you can sing it to your parter, it's got the goods. There are probably better choices here, but whatever. I thought I would nail this list and I know now I'm not the guy for this one. Courtney has already whipped my ass with her list and I'm sure Nick will, too. Ah well. Sometimes you have to come in last.
Anyway, enjoy your weekends, and I'm leaving you with Rest My Chemistry because I can.
Interpol - Rest My Chemistry
I thought about making an end run with this one and choosing songs like "Can I Play With Madness?" by Iron Maiden (and by the way, you must must must watch Flight 666 on VH1 Classic, it's unreal and great), but then I realized that I would turn into an ironic hipster douchebag if I went that way, and I'm not an ironic hipster douchebag no matter what my shrink says.
So let's go, shall we? For the record, my prom theme was "Forever Young" by Alphaville which was a song I hated then, and it's a song I hate even more now. I know that I'm a heretic for saying this and I fully expect lit matches to be thrown at me at the next 80's RULE! committee meeting, but fuck it, it's how I feel. They wrote that piece of shit with the idea that it would become a prom theme, I'm convinced of this. They wanted that scarlet A branded on their chests, and thus, they can all die in a fire. I'm much better at the 70's WERE AWESOME DUDE! committee meetings anyway.
Songs that would make fantastic prom themes, ready, steady, go!
1. "You'll Never Walk Alone" - Gerry and the Pacemakers. Yes, I know that most high school kids would not choose a 45 year old version of a 64 year old song. I don't care. It's simple and beautiful and the sweeping anthem-ness of it would fill all the youngsters hearts as they held their loved ones close. Trust me on this. Plus, seriously, how can you go wrong with Rodgers and Hammerstein? I mean, honestly.
2. "Say Goodbye to Hollywood" - Billy Joel. Proms are the last big event of some beautiful young person's high school career, at least, until the drunken graduation party, right? So, life is just a series of hellos and goodbyes. I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again. Now, get out.
3. "Fall On Me" - R.E.M. The song I desperately wish had been my prom theme. I know it's about acid rain and how terrible that was supposed to be, but if the kids these days are into being green, this is it! A perfect song by a perfect band who even have a record called GREEN! This cannot miss.
4. "Rest My Chemistry" - Interpol. Look, I shouldn't have to convince you how unbelievably great Interpol is. You should just know. The lyrics to this song start out as follows, and bear in mind, you're talking about 17 and 18 year old child/rebels, who would love a teaching staff and whoever is chaperoning their prom to hear "I haven't slept for two days, I've bathed in nothing but sweat. And I've made hallway scenes for things to regret. My friends they come, and lines go by...". Yeah. Now THAT's a prom theme.
Okay, I'll cave and put one really sweet, poppy and lovey-dovey song on the list.
5. "Everything I Do (I Do It For You)" - Bryan Adams. I admit it. I like this song. I think it's a good song and it's a good slow dance number. You can get cheek to cheek with this one, you know the lyrics, you can sing it to your parter, it's got the goods. There are probably better choices here, but whatever. I thought I would nail this list and I know now I'm not the guy for this one. Courtney has already whipped my ass with her list and I'm sure Nick will, too. Ah well. Sometimes you have to come in last.
Anyway, enjoy your weekends, and I'm leaving you with Rest My Chemistry because I can.
Interpol - Rest My Chemistry
Labels: throw down
Throw Down #18: What About Prom, Blane?
So, Nick floated a series of top 5 lists in response to my panicked "what are we writing about tomorrow, boys?" email. And, when MJ replied, in all caps, mind you, "WHAT ABOUT PROM BLANE?", after I wiped the spit off of my computer screen from the explosive laughter, I knew prom theme songs had to be the way to go. We are, after all, in the tail end of prom season, graduations, all those teen rites of passage are just spinning around us, like little drama dervishes. I will admit, though, I had a great time at my senior prom. Junior prom? Well, that was an entirely different story, in fact, see the above referenced movie to get a clue about my quest for a junior prom date, but senior prom? As you can see, I had the biggest dress in the room, I went with a good friend who danced every dance with me, and we had a phenomenal time. Just don't ask me what our actual prom theme song was; I couldn't tell you under duress. Perhaps I'll float it on facebook to the class of 1989. And, a member of the class of 1989 just confirmed that our prom song was "Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. Which will be the first and last time that song is ever mentioned on this blog.
However, top five prom theme songs is just too good a topic to let the fact that I don't actually remember my prom theme interfere. Which also means that I may be compelled to stick to tunes that were actually released on or before my senior prom, which was April 22, 1989. But, that's too limiting, and entirely too cheesy, so here we go, Courtney's Ultimate Prom Playlist. Slip that wrist corsage on your date and commence swaying awkwardly...
1. Good Riddance - Green Day. If I were going to a prom today, I would demand this be played. It's angsty enough for teen love, but still sentimental enough to work beautifully.
2. Tangerine - Led Zeppelin. I'm completely serious. "I was her lover/she was my queen/and now a thousand years between..." Hey, it's better than goddamn fucking Stairway. Which they may have actually played at my prom. I'm still awaiting confirmation.
3. Brand New Day - Van Morrison. At the coolest prom ever.
4. Sixteen Blue - The Replacements. The drunken buffoons prom.
5. Purple Rain - Prince. Because the last song of the night should be endless, and soulful, and long enough to cling to each other under the cheesy disco ball and bad mood lighting, while chaperones circle nervously. No one should be that stuck to each other before adulthood. Last dance of the night was always glorious, and as equally full of promise and disappointment. "I never wanted to be your weekend lover/I only wanted to be some kind of friend/Baby I could never steal you from another/It's such a shame our friendship had to end..."
Anyone care to dance? I've got the perfect dress.
Labels: prom, throw down, top 5 lists
6/10/09
All Mixed Up in the Wash, Hot Water Bleeding Our Colors
I will fully admit to discovering this song in the previews for the new season of Burn Notice (oh, how glad I am that show is back on the air--such fun!). I also know next to nothing about this band as well. They seem "new-ish", and I worry that they're more aligned with Fall Out Boy and that genre of annoying emo bands I've managed to avoid for so long. MJ and I were talking yesterday online about the lack of new bands in his life, anyway, and how hard it is to get "grabbed" by some of these fresh and shiny musical faces out there. It happens.
HOWEVER, listen to that driving, smoldering bass and guitar line. It's slinky, warm, with an edge. I like an edge. It's vaguely reminiscent of Joy Division, or Echo and the Bunnymen, and, of course, this is a swishing around my living room in that oh-so-deliberate way kind of song. You know, the way I swish around to "Hypnotized". So, I can't get enough of this one these days. Enjoy.
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
HOWEVER, listen to that driving, smoldering bass and guitar line. It's slinky, warm, with an edge. I like an edge. It's vaguely reminiscent of Joy Division, or Echo and the Bunnymen, and, of course, this is a swishing around my living room in that oh-so-deliberate way kind of song. You know, the way I swish around to "Hypnotized". So, I can't get enough of this one these days. Enjoy.
Hang Me Up To Dry - Cold War Kids
Labels: cold war kids
6/7/09
Throwdown #17: Hi! Is there any shrimp cocktail left?
Hey there. It's the FNG.
Did you ever get an invitation to a great party, but despite your best intentions end up getting there crazy late, only to discover that the mini hot dogs and shrimp cocktail is gone, and the only thing left to drink is Mike's Hard Limeade? Yeah. That's me right now.
Anyway, my deepest thanks to Courtney and MJ for elevating me from troublesome commenter to actual contributor. When I got Courtney's e-mail telling me that she and MJ were looking for a third, I wasn't sure what to think...after all, I haven't met MJ, and there is the whole issue of performance pressure. Imagine my relief when I realized it had to do with the blog!
Anyway, on to the Throwdown. This was a toughie. As I was explaining to Courtney, my listening habits have trended toward the shuffle. I spend a couple hours of my day immersed in my commute, and lately I've been working toward two music goals: trying to work through all those songs I never listen to on my iTunes, and learning more about this whole indie-country/newgrass genre that's piqued my interest.
So shifting gears to full-length albums has taken some thought. Getting 3 was pretty easy. Five was harder. But I've got 'em, and you're welcome to shoot them to shit in the comments.
Murmur - R.E.M. My purchase of this cassette, at the Compact Disc World in Menlo Park Mall, marked the beginning of my whole thing for R.E.M. It was 1989, and I had just devoured Green while on a vacation with the family. On my return, during the next mall outing, I made it a point to find and buy their first LP. It was love at first listen. From the opening of "Radio Free Europe", through classics like "Talk About the Passion", "Perfect Circle", and "Sitting Still", to the close with "We Walk" and "West of the Fields," this was a statement album that's still best taken in one long, awesome dose.
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen. Ok, this is almost cheating. It's only 8 songs long. But what an 8 songs. And better yet, it's arranged perfectly for the LP format, each side opening with an anthem and closing with the sort of epic that Springsteen does best. Sure, these songs come up all the time in my commuter shuffles. But when I'm hopping in for a long car trip, this one gets run from start to end.
The Joshua Tree - U2. When they laid these tracks down, did Bono and the boys know that they were mere months from jumping the proverbial shark? (And on a side note, can we hunt down and kill whoever it was that sold Bono his first pair of those fucking "fly" sunglasses? Those shades were the end of it all.) But anyway, to me The Joshua Tree stands alone among the U2 catalog as the album where they really tried to do something completely revolutionary and actually got it right. The songs that made the album, and their production and arrangement, are dead-on. This is another one that I experienced first on cassette -- mowing lawns in the summer, this one was frequently in my Walkman. Side One is filled with radio hits, and by itself makes a case as one of those "perfect album sides". But Side Two, with "Red Hill Mining Town", "In God's Country", and "One Tree Hill", is the perfect foil for Side One.
Lucky - Nada Surf. The first time I went through this album, I didn't really dig it. This is not to say I thought it was a bad album -- the first 3 songs are pure power pop heaven. But for the first few plays I wasn't into the rest, and so it was relegated to the back corner of my library. Months later, while prepping for my first Nada Surf show, I dug it back out and gave it another whirl, and I was hooked. I don't know what my blockage was the first time, but this disc is 11 tracks of sweet indie pop, a fantastic blend of songwriting and hooks.
Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady. I blame Courtney. Also, I'm struggling with the rest of the HS catalog. But the threaded stories of Almost Killed Me make it ideal for a straight-through play. It's one of those cases where, while the songs can be appreciated on their own, the continuity of a full listen make them that much better.
Did you ever get an invitation to a great party, but despite your best intentions end up getting there crazy late, only to discover that the mini hot dogs and shrimp cocktail is gone, and the only thing left to drink is Mike's Hard Limeade? Yeah. That's me right now.
Anyway, my deepest thanks to Courtney and MJ for elevating me from troublesome commenter to actual contributor. When I got Courtney's e-mail telling me that she and MJ were looking for a third, I wasn't sure what to think...after all, I haven't met MJ, and there is the whole issue of performance pressure. Imagine my relief when I realized it had to do with the blog!
Anyway, on to the Throwdown. This was a toughie. As I was explaining to Courtney, my listening habits have trended toward the shuffle. I spend a couple hours of my day immersed in my commute, and lately I've been working toward two music goals: trying to work through all those songs I never listen to on my iTunes, and learning more about this whole indie-country/newgrass genre that's piqued my interest.
So shifting gears to full-length albums has taken some thought. Getting 3 was pretty easy. Five was harder. But I've got 'em, and you're welcome to shoot them to shit in the comments.
Murmur - R.E.M. My purchase of this cassette, at the Compact Disc World in Menlo Park Mall, marked the beginning of my whole thing for R.E.M. It was 1989, and I had just devoured Green while on a vacation with the family. On my return, during the next mall outing, I made it a point to find and buy their first LP. It was love at first listen. From the opening of "Radio Free Europe", through classics like "Talk About the Passion", "Perfect Circle", and "Sitting Still", to the close with "We Walk" and "West of the Fields," this was a statement album that's still best taken in one long, awesome dose.
Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen. Ok, this is almost cheating. It's only 8 songs long. But what an 8 songs. And better yet, it's arranged perfectly for the LP format, each side opening with an anthem and closing with the sort of epic that Springsteen does best. Sure, these songs come up all the time in my commuter shuffles. But when I'm hopping in for a long car trip, this one gets run from start to end.
The Joshua Tree - U2. When they laid these tracks down, did Bono and the boys know that they were mere months from jumping the proverbial shark? (And on a side note, can we hunt down and kill whoever it was that sold Bono his first pair of those fucking "fly" sunglasses? Those shades were the end of it all.) But anyway, to me The Joshua Tree stands alone among the U2 catalog as the album where they really tried to do something completely revolutionary and actually got it right. The songs that made the album, and their production and arrangement, are dead-on. This is another one that I experienced first on cassette -- mowing lawns in the summer, this one was frequently in my Walkman. Side One is filled with radio hits, and by itself makes a case as one of those "perfect album sides". But Side Two, with "Red Hill Mining Town", "In God's Country", and "One Tree Hill", is the perfect foil for Side One.
Lucky - Nada Surf. The first time I went through this album, I didn't really dig it. This is not to say I thought it was a bad album -- the first 3 songs are pure power pop heaven. But for the first few plays I wasn't into the rest, and so it was relegated to the back corner of my library. Months later, while prepping for my first Nada Surf show, I dug it back out and gave it another whirl, and I was hooked. I don't know what my blockage was the first time, but this disc is 11 tracks of sweet indie pop, a fantastic blend of songwriting and hooks.
Almost Killed Me - The Hold Steady. I blame Courtney. Also, I'm struggling with the rest of the HS catalog. But the threaded stories of Almost Killed Me make it ideal for a straight-through play. It's one of those cases where, while the songs can be appreciated on their own, the continuity of a full listen make them that much better.
Labels: throw down
6/6/09
TD17 - In which I show up late
Ha ha ha ha. So WORK is fun right now.
Anyway, I finally did show up for this one, and it's a great topic. Of course, the list that I made at work the other day when we first discussed this is still sitting on my desk, because when I finally got out of there yesterday at 7 PM after a 12 hour day, I wasn't quite coherent.
So I'm winging it trying to remember the ones I wrote down (yes, I actually wrote them down, old-school style). Today (er, yesterday's) theme is 5 albums that must be listened to from start to finish. I thought it was going to be tough when it was first suggested, but ultimately, I wrote down about 20 that I thought would fit the bill, and thus, here's my list.
Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan. It starts with the unbelievable "Like a Rolling Stone" and runs through "Tombstone Blues", "Ballad of a Thin Man", "Queen Jane Approximately", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", and "Desolation Row". A perfect record in every sense of the word, and Dylan at his apex.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles. It's clear that this record was meant for people the world over to hear it in a complete fashion. It was the first record released with the exact same track listings in both the UK and the US. It's a magnificent record from start to finish, including the title track, "With a Little Help From My Friends", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Getting Better", "When I'm 64" and the brilliant "A Day in the Life".
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin. I remember recording this record from a radio broadcast of it onto cassette tape, and then wearing that cassette tape out after repeated listenings. For me, after the numbered records, this is Zep's finest outing and is a double-album that can go front to back, and the "side 2" tracks of "Houses of the Holy", "Trampled Underfoot" and "Kashmir" are right up there with the best 'album sides' in history.
Freedom of Choice - Devo. Yes, Devo. This record is the pinnacle of the Devo catalogue, which was under-rated and remains so to this day. This record starts out with the fantastic "Girl U Want", runs through "Whip It", "Snowball" and the title track, and has "Cold War" and "That's Pep" on the back side. A fantastic effort start to finish, and one you should own, if you don't.
Learning to Crawl - The Pretenders. I mentioned this record when I wrote about the 25th anniversary of the catalogue of 1984, and this record specifically always stood out for me as one of the top records of not just that year, but the 80's as a whole. I'm finding more and more that Chrissie Hynde's voice is very comforting for me, much like Michael Stipe's is. At any rate, this record is phenomenal from start to finish, starting with "Middle of the Road", and running through "Back on the Chain Gang", "Show Me", "My City Was Gone", "Thin Line (Between Love and Hate)" and the criminally under-rated "2000 Miles". Excellent record from top to bottom.
So those are my choices, but there are many that could make "Honorable Mention". So get to mentioning them. Enjoy your weekends.
Anyway, I finally did show up for this one, and it's a great topic. Of course, the list that I made at work the other day when we first discussed this is still sitting on my desk, because when I finally got out of there yesterday at 7 PM after a 12 hour day, I wasn't quite coherent.
So I'm winging it trying to remember the ones I wrote down (yes, I actually wrote them down, old-school style). Today (er, yesterday's) theme is 5 albums that must be listened to from start to finish. I thought it was going to be tough when it was first suggested, but ultimately, I wrote down about 20 that I thought would fit the bill, and thus, here's my list.
Highway 61 Revisited - Bob Dylan. It starts with the unbelievable "Like a Rolling Stone" and runs through "Tombstone Blues", "Ballad of a Thin Man", "Queen Jane Approximately", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", and "Desolation Row". A perfect record in every sense of the word, and Dylan at his apex.
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - The Beatles. It's clear that this record was meant for people the world over to hear it in a complete fashion. It was the first record released with the exact same track listings in both the UK and the US. It's a magnificent record from start to finish, including the title track, "With a Little Help From My Friends", "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", "Getting Better", "When I'm 64" and the brilliant "A Day in the Life".
Physical Graffiti - Led Zeppelin. I remember recording this record from a radio broadcast of it onto cassette tape, and then wearing that cassette tape out after repeated listenings. For me, after the numbered records, this is Zep's finest outing and is a double-album that can go front to back, and the "side 2" tracks of "Houses of the Holy", "Trampled Underfoot" and "Kashmir" are right up there with the best 'album sides' in history.
Freedom of Choice - Devo. Yes, Devo. This record is the pinnacle of the Devo catalogue, which was under-rated and remains so to this day. This record starts out with the fantastic "Girl U Want", runs through "Whip It", "Snowball" and the title track, and has "Cold War" and "That's Pep" on the back side. A fantastic effort start to finish, and one you should own, if you don't.
Learning to Crawl - The Pretenders. I mentioned this record when I wrote about the 25th anniversary of the catalogue of 1984, and this record specifically always stood out for me as one of the top records of not just that year, but the 80's as a whole. I'm finding more and more that Chrissie Hynde's voice is very comforting for me, much like Michael Stipe's is. At any rate, this record is phenomenal from start to finish, starting with "Middle of the Road", and running through "Back on the Chain Gang", "Show Me", "My City Was Gone", "Thin Line (Between Love and Hate)" and the criminally under-rated "2000 Miles". Excellent record from top to bottom.
So those are my choices, but there are many that could make "Honorable Mention". So get to mentioning them. Enjoy your weekends.
Labels: throw down
6/5/09
Throw Down #17: The Long and Winding Road
The throw down this week is based off of a Facebook "Living Social" meme of sorts that half of my friend list has played. However, it is a great conversation starter, so MJ and I decided to go with it. For one, it's always nice to think about ENTIRE albums, and not just singles, which we tend to do so much of on this site. And two, it's a great welcome topic for our new contributor to this madness, one half of the Red Bank Rockers, Nick. Apparently, he used to do this thing on a regular basis, in print, during his college years. Go figure. I'm predicting he'll make MJ and I look like the rank amateurs we are in short order. But, welcome! We've been looking for the right "third" to add to this relationship. Heh...
So, I fully admit to not really having the time to listen to entire albums much anymore. Although, lately, I've wanted my commute to work to be more relaxing and entertaining than information, so I've started making sure I have great cd's in my changer. When I played this little game on Facebook, though, I wasn't so much thinking of my car; I really was thinking of albums that, although you can listen to one song here and there, and skip around, they really work best as a collective, dropping the needle (or hitting play, really, but who doesn't love a vinyl analogy), and just letting them run. Here are, for your listening pleasure, and musical contemplation, five albums that should be listened to from start to finish, with annotations. Because, really, what would this site be without random drivel about why my choices rule? ;)
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd. Part of this has to do with the way the songs are mixed to flow into one another, almost like movements. They truly feel disjointed when you try to listen to "Money" or "Brain Damage" as individual songs. Doesn't mean I haven't tried, it just works better as a whole.
Southern Rock Opera - The Drive-by Truckers. This album is a story, told in two acts, and whereas there are MANY stand-alone gems on this album (Women Without Whiskey and Zip City come immediately to mind), I find this album to be the best road trip companion I've ever heard. My travels to Red Bank have this as the soundtrack, without fail.
Abbey Road - The Beatles. Again, much like Dark Side, there are sections of this album that are meant to be heard as a whole, not individual songs. Plus, as a whole, this is my favorite Beatles album.
OK Computer - Radiohead. Since discovering this album (thank you, MJ), I find myself only wanting to hear all of it at once. It's an album that speaks to a mood, and sometimes, you just have to ride that mood out, one song at a time.
Passion: The Music from "The Last Temptation of Christ" - Peter Gabriel. There is a very specific, and PROVEN, reason that this album needs to be listened to from beginning to end. The ultimate irony of this album, the score to a movie about the life of Jesus Christ, is that it is the SINGLE BEST album out there for seducing someone and making love. TRUST ME. I have tested this theory, more than once. It works every time. So, if you're ever in my house, and I put this on, you will end up in bed with me. I say this unashamedly and without hesitation or reservation. It is what it is.
Alright, kids. What are your picks?
So, I fully admit to not really having the time to listen to entire albums much anymore. Although, lately, I've wanted my commute to work to be more relaxing and entertaining than information, so I've started making sure I have great cd's in my changer. When I played this little game on Facebook, though, I wasn't so much thinking of my car; I really was thinking of albums that, although you can listen to one song here and there, and skip around, they really work best as a collective, dropping the needle (or hitting play, really, but who doesn't love a vinyl analogy), and just letting them run. Here are, for your listening pleasure, and musical contemplation, five albums that should be listened to from start to finish, with annotations. Because, really, what would this site be without random drivel about why my choices rule? ;)
Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd. Part of this has to do with the way the songs are mixed to flow into one another, almost like movements. They truly feel disjointed when you try to listen to "Money" or "Brain Damage" as individual songs. Doesn't mean I haven't tried, it just works better as a whole.
Southern Rock Opera - The Drive-by Truckers. This album is a story, told in two acts, and whereas there are MANY stand-alone gems on this album (Women Without Whiskey and Zip City come immediately to mind), I find this album to be the best road trip companion I've ever heard. My travels to Red Bank have this as the soundtrack, without fail.
Abbey Road - The Beatles. Again, much like Dark Side, there are sections of this album that are meant to be heard as a whole, not individual songs. Plus, as a whole, this is my favorite Beatles album.
OK Computer - Radiohead. Since discovering this album (thank you, MJ), I find myself only wanting to hear all of it at once. It's an album that speaks to a mood, and sometimes, you just have to ride that mood out, one song at a time.
Passion: The Music from "The Last Temptation of Christ" - Peter Gabriel. There is a very specific, and PROVEN, reason that this album needs to be listened to from beginning to end. The ultimate irony of this album, the score to a movie about the life of Jesus Christ, is that it is the SINGLE BEST album out there for seducing someone and making love. TRUST ME. I have tested this theory, more than once. It works every time. So, if you're ever in my house, and I put this on, you will end up in bed with me. I say this unashamedly and without hesitation or reservation. It is what it is.
Alright, kids. What are your picks?
Labels: beatles, drive-by truckers, peter gabriel, pink floyd, Radiohead, throw down
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