Category Archives: Music

Entertainment, Music, radio

Black Lips Radio

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I’ve been listening to the Black Lips station on Pandora Radio for the past 30/40 minutes and what a play-list! Sometimes Pandora can be hit or miss, but today this station has been clutch:

1. Black Lips – “Buried Alive”
2. The Hives – “Hate to Say I Told You So”
3. Kings of Leon – “King of the Rodeo”
4. Deerhunter – “Heatherwood”
5. Black Lips – “Old Man”
6. Babyshambles – “Pipedown”
7. The Ponys – “Harakiri”
8. Deerhunter – “Never Stops
9. The Ramones – “53rd and 3rd”
10. Black Lips – “Stone Cold”
11. The Undertones – “Nine Times out of Ten”
12. Deerhunter – “Cover Me (Slowly)”

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: High Violet [2010]

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Band: The National
Release: 5/2010
Label: 4AD

1. “Terrible Love” – A-
2. “Sorrow” – A-
3. “Anyone’s Ghost” – A-
4. “Little Faith” – A-
5. “Afraid of Everyone” – A-
6. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” – B
7. “Lemonworld” – B
8. “Runaway” – B
9. “Conversation 16” – A-
10. “England” – B
11. “Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks” – B+

Comments: If you are looking to chill out and listen to some music, pop this on. If you are looking to dance like a hound or excessively head bob or pogo, you might want to pass. For what this album is worth, it’s a great listening experience. Sit back and enjoy. It’s not one of the best album’s I’ve heard in 2010 because it only offers an “in-the-now” sense of urgency. Perhaps on a rainy day or after breaking up with your girlfriend this works. The first five songs are excellently engineered and produced and are seemingly artistically flawless. After a set of three tracks (6-8) that are a little weaker than the previous five, The National step up their game with “Conversation 16.”

Grade: B+ (88)

Art, Entertainment, Lists, Music, pictures, Random

Greatest Album Closers!

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Since, most records I hear do not deliver Killer Klosers, this list is shorter than the openers list. Most artists close their albums with songs that aren’t epic enough, way too epic, drag on for too long, or are simply some weird thing at the end, more akin to a filler track. For me the best closers create a great feeling of conclusion, when you hear it you know it’s the final track; it sums up the mood of the record. The following do just that and then some!

1) Pink Floyd- Brain Damage- Eclipse- Darkside of the Moon (1973)

2) The Beatles- A Day In the Life- Sgt. Pepper (1967)

3) Deerhunter- Twilight At Carbon Lake- Microcastle (2008)

4) Bright Eyes- Road to Joy- I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning (2005)

5) Mark Sultan- Unicorn Rainbow Odyssey- The Sultanic Verses (2007)

6) Page France- Feather- Hello, Dear Wind (2005)

7) Rage Against the Machine- Freedom- Rage Against the Machine (1992)

8) The Doors The End- The Doors (1967)

9) Fugazi- KYEO- Steady Diet Of Nothing (1991)

10) Animal Collective- Derek- Strawberry Jam (2007)

11) Nirvana- All Apologies- In Utero (1993)

12) The Who- Won’t Get Fooled Again- Who’s Next (1971)

13) Pixies- Gouge Away- Doolittle (1989)

14) Jay Reatard- Waiting For Something- Blood Visions (2006)

15) Lost Sounds- Bombs Over M.O.M.- Lost Sounds (2004)

16) Arcade Fire- My Body Is A Cage- Neon Bible (2007)

17) Simon & Garfunkel- 7 O’Clock News/Silent Night- Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme (1966)

18) David Bowie- Rock and Roll Suicide- Ziggy Stardust (1972)

19) Beach Boys- Caroline, No- Pet Sounds (1966)

20) Weezer- Only In Dreams- Blue Album (1994)

21) Dead Kennedys- Stars and Stripes of Corruption- Frankenchrist (1985)

22) Ramones- Today Your Love, Tomorrow the World- Ramomes (1976)

23) Smashing Pumpkins- Farewell and Goodnight- Mellon Collie and Infinite Sadness (1995)

24) Box Elders- Death of Me- Alice and Friends (2009)

25) Sex Pistols- EMI- Nevermind the Bollocks (1977)

26) Elliott Smith- The Biggest Lie- Elliott Smith (1995)

27) System Of A Down- Soldier Side- Mezmerize/Hypnotize (2005)

28) Arctic Monkeys- A Certain Romance- Whatever People Say That I Am, That’s What I Am Not (2006)

29) Head Automatica- I Shot William H. Macy- Decadence (2004)

30) Slayer- Raining Blood- Reign In Blood (1986)

Chris

Art, Entertainment, Lists, Music, pictures, Random

Greatest Album Openers!

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Note: The following list is comprised of my favorite album openers and feel free to comment on your own. When I mean album, I mean full length, studio, LPs. In other words, no EPs, live recordings, single compilations or Greatest Hits. So, what constitutes greatest? Why do these stand out? Well, they have to be outstanding tracks, which goes without saying, but also they must set the tone for the rest of the album and for debut albums that artists’ music as a whole, message, attitude, etc. Greatest closers are coming next.

1) Pink Floyd- Speak to Me/Breathe- Darkside of the Moon (1973)

2) Rage Against the Machine- Bombtrack- Rage Against the Machine (1992)

3) Velvet Underground- Sunday Morning- The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)

4) Ramones- Blitzkrieg Bop- Ramones (1976)

5) The Stooges- Search and Destroy- Raw Power (1973)

6) Sonic Youth- Teenage Riot- Daydream Nation (1988)

7) Animal Collective- Peacebone- Strawberry Jam (2007)

8) Against Me!- Pints of Guiness Make You Strong- Reinventing Axl Rose (2002)

9) Black Flag- Rise Above- Damaged (1981)

10) Bad Brains- Big Takeover- Rock For Light (1983)

11) Beach Boys- Wouldn’t It Be Nice- Pet Sounds (1966)

12) Who- Baba O’Riley- Who’s Next (1971)

13) Girls- Lust For Life- Album (2009)

14) Page France- Chariot- Hello, Dear Wind (2005)

15) King Khan & BBQ Show- Anala- Invisible Girl (2009)

16) Pixies- Debaser- Doolittle (1989)

17) Sex Pistols- Holiday In the Sun- Nevermind the Bollocks (1977)

18) N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton- Straight Outta Compton (1988)

19) GZA- Liquid Swords- Liquid Swords (1996)

20) Dinosaur Jr- Little Furry Things- You’re Living All Over Me (1987)

21) Metallica- Battery- Master of Puppets (1986)

22) Kimya Dawson- Tire Swing- Remember That I Love You (2006)

23) Radiohead- Airbag- OK Computer (1997)

24) Tool- Stinkfist- AEnema (1996)

25) Bright Eyes- At the Bottom of Everything- I’m Wide Awake It’s Morning (2005)

26) Jay Reatard- Blood Visions- Blood Visions (2006)

27) Black Lips- Sea of Blasphemy- Let It Bloom (2005)

28) The Doors- Break On Through- Doors (1967)

29) Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention- Hungry Freaks, Daddy (1966)

30) Nirvana- Serve the Servants- In Utero (1993)

31) Led Zeppelin- Good Times, Bad Times- Led Zeppelin (1969)

31) Jimi Hendrix- Purple Haze- Are You Experienced? (1967)

31) Beatles- Taxman- Revolver (1966)

32) Shellac- My Black Ass- At Action Park (1994)

33) Wu-Tang Clan- Brind Da Ruckus- Enter the Wu-Tang: 36 Chambers (1993)

34) Elliott Smith- Speed Trials- Either/Or (1997)

35) The Clash- London Calling- London Calling (1980)

36) The Nightwatchman- California’s Dark- One Man Revolution (2007)

37) Sly and the Family Stone- Stand!- Stand! (1969)

38) Glassjaw- Pretty Lush- Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Silence (2000)

39) Mark Sultan- Beautiful Girl- The Sultanic Verses (2007)

40) Deftones- Feictera- White Pony (2000)

41) Slayer- Angel of Death- Reign In Blood (1986)

42) Weezer- My Name Is Jonas- The Blue Album (1994)

43) David Bowie- Five Years- Ziggy Stardust (1972)

44) Galaxie 500- Fourth of July- This Is Our Music (1990)

45) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds- Mercy Seat- Tender Prey (1988)

46) Box Elders- Jackie Wood- Alice and Friends (2009)

47) Black Sabbath- War Pigs- Paranoid (1971)

48) Deerhunter- Cover Me (Slowly)- Microcastle (2008)

49) Harlem Soon- Someday Soon- Hippies (2009)

50) System Of A Down- Suite Pee- System Of A Down (1998)

… and some more!
Bob Dylan- Rainy Day Woman #12 and 35- Blonde On Blonde (1966)

Arctic Monkeys- The View From the Afternoon- Whatever People Say I Am That’s What I Am Not (2006)

Lost Sounds- There’s Nothing- Lost Sounds (2004)

Mabuses- Dark Star- Mabused (2007)

Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock- Siamese Dream (1993)

Head Automatica- At the Speed of A Yellow Bullet- Decadence (2004)

Strange Boys- Woe Is You and Me- The Strange Boys and Girls Club (2009)

Those Darlins- Red Light Love- Those Darlins (2009)

Spacehsits- Can’t Fool With Me- Misbehavin’ (1998)

Chris

CD Review, Entertainment, Music

CD Review: The Adventures of Bobby Ray [2010]

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Rapper: B.o.B – Bobby Ray
Release: 4/2010
Label: Atlantic

1. “Don’t Let Me Fall” – B+
2. “Nothin’ On You” – B+
3. “Past My Shades” – C
4. “Airplanes” – D+
5. “Bet I” – C-
6. “Ghost in the Machine” – B
7. “The Kids” – A-
8. “Magic” – A-
9. “Fame” – A-
10. “Lovelier Than You” – B
11. “5th Dimension” – B-
12. “Airplanes Part 2” – B

Comments: “Don’t Let Me Fall” starts off slow, but improves as the song drags on. The chorus is cool. If you’ve listened to any modern hip-hop or pop station, I’m sure you’ve heard “Nothin’ On You.” It’s a “summer song” to me, despite its debut in November 2009. It’s finely organized with an enjoyable background lullaby, even if the chorus is a bit sub-par. “Past My Shades”…come on! Steer clear from “alternative rock” Bobby Ray. It’s not your thing. “The Kids” is a hip-hop sample of “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance” by Vampire Weekend. I dig. “Always in detention for the lack of attention/ you can call it deficit” tells me we got a bad kid up in here. “Magic” is repetitive and frankly fun (not the chorus), but it’s more like “Rivers Cuomo time,” showing Bobby Ray taking cue from Black Eyed Peas’ style. The second verse of “Fame” flows so well. It may be the best verse on this album. I mean, of course, lyrically it’s infantile and just plain dumb, but realistic to some degree. “Everyone can’t be O to the B” … right? “Airplanes Part 2” has me convinced that it’s an improvement over “Part 1.” What if Eminem wasn’t famous? Don’t we all wonder? Or maybe that thought has never crossed anyone’s mind until this song came about. When Bobby Ray raps before Eminem, the song loses cred. I mean, how does Bobby Ray know fame? He’s a relative unknown even in the hip-hop world. “He’s gonna have a hard time explaining to Haley and Lainey these foodstamps and this WIC shit ’cause he never risked shit. He hoped and he wished it, but it didn’t fall in lap,” raps Eminem on his verse. Highlight of the song. “Lovelier” has Bobby Ray on acoustic guitar and he proves to be all right in that regard.

Grade: B- (82)

Art, Entertainment, humor, Music, pictures

Question of the Week…

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Is it wrong to endorse an artists’ work, even if they led or lead truly horrible lives? For example, some point to the gifted filmmaker, Roman Polanski. Polanski has won academy awards for his work, but he wasn’t in attendence. Why? Decades ago he fleed the U.S. after drugging and raping a thirteen year old girl. Yes, this is quite sickening, but if he makes a film that is a masterpiece itself, should it not be treated like other great works of art? Picture this, you run an independent record label and you enjoy documenting the best damn music to please your ears. Suddenly you hear the greatest record of all times and it’s none other than…. Charlies Manson. So, now you sign Charlie (if you could) and release his material. Is there anything wrong with this hypothetical situation? What if it was Hitler, Mao, or some of the other massive murderers from history? Would it be immoral to endorse their work? Where do you draw the line? Is there a line? Let’s hear some thoughts…

Chris