Monthly Archives: October 2013

The 11 Best Songs By Live of the 90s

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It may be Halloween but it’s also throwback Thursday.  So a little treat for you, let’s go back to Live (the band) in their heyday.  Throwing Copper is easily the most underrated album of the decade.  When it came out many people thought Live might actually become bigger than Pearl Jam because of it.  It does hold up and it was a struggle to not have an entire top 11 with just Throwing Copper songs…and honestly, would anyone have argued against it?

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Live of the 90s:

  1. White, Discussion (Throwing Copper)
  2. I Alone (Throwing Copper)
  3. Operation Spirit (Mental Jewelry)
  4. Lakini’s Juice (Secret Samadhi)
  5. Pillars of Davidson (Throwing Copper)
  6. Lightning Crashes (Throwing Copper)
  7. Waitress (Throwing Copper)
  8. Heropsychodreamer (Secret Samadhi)
  9. Pains Lies on the Riverside (Mental Jewelry)
  10. Iris (Throwing Copper)
  11. The Dolphin’s Cry (The Distance to Here)
Buy Ed Kowalczyk’s new album, The Flood and The Mercy…now!!

The 11 Best Linkin Park Remixes

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Thirteen years ago, I had my own email blast that went out to about 1000 people called The Good, The Bad, and The Unknown.  Funny, huh?  Each week, I would review 3 albums.  A good album, a bad album, and an unknown artist.  I would review each album song by song in a humorous way.  One week I took a break and reviewed 4 of the trending nu metal bands.  I didn’t include the song reviews…but it’s interesting to see what I thought of the band then, and now how my review stands up.

Papa Roach “Infest”

The new favorite sons of the metal movement.  Not sure why.  The singer sounds like his tongue is too big for his mouth.  Sylvester the cat has better pronunciation skills.  And the music is just okay.  No skill required.  It’s supposed to hardcore, but it sounds like they just got out of bed. Of course, who said it takes skill to get played on the radio?

How this album ranks: C

Will they be around in 5 years? 15%

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Disturbed “Sickness”

They’re from the south side of Chicago.  So I can understand the burning anger building up inside of them.  But I’m confused at how making bizarre animal noises is an outlet for that anger.  I knew a kid in junior high school who used to make animal noises in class.  He’s in jail now.

How this album ranks: C-

Will they be listened to in 5 years?  10%

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Slipknot “Slipknot”

What do call a bunch of dorks who dress up in clown costumes and pretend to be something they’re not?  Okay, if you said Republicans, then you’re half-right.  It’s actually the band Slipknot.  Since their music bares no originality (they sound like Korn), they’ve decided to dress up like clowns because no one has ever done that before (Insane Clown Posse).

How this album ranks: C-

Will they be around in 5 years?  20%

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Linkin Park “Hybrid Theory”

Don’t know a lot about this band except they sound exactly like a cross between Stabbing Westward, God Lives Underwater, and Depeche Mode.  Poor Depeche Mode.

How this album ranks: B

Will they be around in 5 years? 50%

Here are the 11 Best Linkin Park Remixes:

  1. Numb/Encore (Collision Course)
  2. Enth E Nd (Reanimation)
  3. Frgt/10 (Reanimation)
  4. Nobody’s Listening – Evil Genius Remix (We Major)
  5. The Catalyst – King Fantastic Remix (The Catalyst)
  6. 1stp Klosr (Reanimation)
  7. Jigga What/Faint (Collision Course)
  8. Rnw@y (Reanimation)
  9. H! Vltg3 (Reanimation)
  10. What I’ve Done – M. Shinoda Remix (LPUX)
  11. WTH> You (Reanimation)
Buy Linkin Park’s new remix/reinterpretation album, Recharged…now!

 

The 11 Best Songs By The Arcade Fire

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South Park told us to blame Canada but today we may need to thank Canada for saving rock n roll.  Ten years ago, The Arcade Fire put a smile on our face with a Funeral…now they’re brightening our lives with a Reflektor.  It took their return to make us realize how silent our world had been without them to show us how it is done.  It’s like David Bowie stuffed the Talking Heads, LCD Soundsystem, and French teacher and in a hypodermic needle and injected them into our veins.  The Arcade Fire have made a career of shining light on dim worlds.  From enlightening a funeral to electrocharging religion to enriching everyday life, The Arcade Fire is the dawn from the dusk.  Which reminds me, don’t forget to set your clocks back this weekend for Daylight Savings Time.  It gives you an extra hour to listen to the new album.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Arcade Fire:

  1. Suburban War (The Suburbs)
  2. Ready To Start (The Suburbs)
  3. Neighborhood #3 Power Out (Funeral)
  4. Rebellion Lies (Funeral)
  5. We Used To Wait (The Suburbs)
  6. Month of May (The Suburbs)
  7. No Cars Go (Neon Bible)
  8. Keep The Car Running (Neon Bible)
  9. The Suburbs (The Suburbs)
  10. Wake Up (Funeral)
  11. Antichrist Television Blues (Neon Bible)

Buy The Arcade Fire’s new album, Reflektor…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By The Velvet Underground

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Lou Reed dead at 71.  Legend.  Genius.  Groundbreaking.  Brilliant.  Iconic.

These words don’t even come close to describing his music contributions.

Sleep well, Lou.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Velvet Underground:

  1. Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  2. Rock & Roll (Loaded)
  3. Heroin (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  4. Sweet Jane (Loaded)
  5. I’m Waiting For The Man (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  6. Candy Says (The Velvet Underground)
  7. Venus In Furs (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  8. Pale Blue Eyes (The Velvet Underground)
  9. There She Goes Again (The Velvet Underground & Nico)
  10. Beginning To See the Light (The Velvet Underground)
  11. Sister Ray (White Light/White Heat)

The 11 Best Songs By Trentemoller

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When it comes to internationally famous Danish rock stars, the list is quite small.  If they were to hold an outdoor festival, your line-up would consist of a drum solo by Lars Ulrich, a reading of Hans Christian Andersen by Brigette Nielsen, and Trentemoller.  The road to get there has not been paved.  For Trentemoller to have the break out success they’ve sustained so far is feat itself.  Maybe its the format of electronica that allows the DJ/creator to speak through the music without relying on words…on the other hand, that hasn’t stopped Sigur Ros.  Granted, they are the only band out of Iceland to find success the way they have.  After a string of singles, remixes, and cook books…Trentemoller delivers his third album to get your Friday rolling and your party started.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Trentemoller:

  1. …Even Though You’re With Another Girl (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  2. Take Me Into Your Skin (The Last Resort)
  3. Sycamore Feeling (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  4. My Dreams (My Dreams)
  5. Like Two Strangers (The Last Resort)
  6. Shades of Marble (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  7. Neverglade (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  8. The Mash and The Fury (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  9. Moan (The Last Resort)
  10. Silver Surfer, Ghost Rider Go!!! (Into The Great Wide Yonder)
  11. Blue Hotel (My Dreams)

Buy Trentemoller’s new album, Lost…now!!

The 11 Best Tears For Fears Songs of the 80s

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Reunions are a tricky thing.  This week Slash said he would be open to a GNR reunion.  Gene Simmons said there’s no way KISS would reunite for the Hall of Fame ceremony.  And Boston announced a new album with deceased singer Brad Delp on lead vocals.  If you can get a dead guy to reunite and sing with you, then anything is possible.  The Tears for Fears split in the early 90s seemed like it was a done deal with Roland carrying on the TFT name solo.  Though their creative differences weren’t the worst musical break-up we’ve seen, it seemed like a reunion was a broken dream.  Then in 2004, on a break from their illustrious solo careers, Smith and Roland reunited not just for some gigs but even recorded a whole new album.  It wasn’t 80s bliss but it was entertaining.  Now despite this year’s cover of the Arcade Fire’s Ready To Start, the band’s best song in 25 years, it was the ’80s where they sowed their seeds.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Tears For Fears of the 80s:

  1. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Songs From The Big Chair)
  2. Head Over Heels (Songs From The Big Chair)
  3. Mad World (The Hurting)
  4. Shout (Songs From The Big Chair)
  5. Change (The Hurting)
  6. Watch Me Bleed (The Hurting)
  7. Pale Shelter (The Hurting)
  8. Sowing The Seeds Of Love (The Seeds Of Love)
  9. Mothers Talk (Songs From The Big Chair)
  10. The Way You Are (The Way You Are)
  11. Year of the Knife (The Seeds of Love)

Buy the new Deluxe Special Extended Anniversary edition of The Hurting…now

The 11 Best Songs By The Avett Brothers

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News Flash:  The Good, The Bad and The Unknown’s first book with be arriving in book stores and online on November 29th, 2013.  It’s called The 111 Best Music Lists of the 2000s, authored by yours truly.  Here’s another chapter ripped from the pages of the official release.

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At the start of their career, the Avett Brothers released most of their albums without a record label, relying on touring to support their craft.  It was no surprise that record labels weren’t banging down the doors to sign up an acoustic duo that featured a banjo.  This was 2000, not 1900.  But the brothers believed in the music they were making and refused to give up or give in. After eleven albums in ten years, the Avett Brothers’ persistence in making quality music was finally noticed… by Starbucks, of all companies.  The coffee chain gave the band national recognition when they made their song, “I and Love and You,” the musical pick of the week.  The band’s 2009 album went on to critical acclaim and was picked by many as one of the best albums of the year, making the banjo a new household item.

Fun Fact:  In their spare time, Brother Scott is a renowned painter and print maker and Brother Seth releases solo albums under the moniker Darling.

Song Note (I And Love And You): This song was inspired by a gig the band played at Brooklyn’s Galapagos.

The 11 Best Songs By The Avett Brothers: 

1.      November Blue (Country Was)

2.      Talk on Indolence (Four Thieves Gone)

3.      Head Full of Doubt Road Full Of Promise (I And Love And You)

4.      If It’s The Beaches (Gleam EP)

5.      Bella Donna (Second Gleam)

6.      I And Love And You (I And Love And You)

7.      Paranoia in B Major (Emotionalism)

8.      January Wedding (I And Love And You)

9.      Colorshow (Four Thieves Gone)

10.  Pretty Girl From San Diego (Emotionalism)

11.  At The Beach (Mignonette)

Buy The Avett Brothers new album, Magpie and the Dandelion…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Morcheeba

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Built out of the ashes of the trip-hop movement in the ’90s, Morcheeba may be the lone survivor of a genre that seems to ripen with age.  With only a thread of Massive Attack remaining, a Portishead that may be still around but who really knows, and Tricky who gave up trip-hop for a less longstanding ’90s genre called grunge, Morcheeba remains the only artist from that era who is still keeping pace.  Their last album wasn’t just a welcome return, it was like the band transported it via telephone booth from 1996 to our doorsteps (or earbuds).  Trip-hop was a brief moment in musical time.  It hit softly, made a little imprint, but has withheld the test of time.  Like Pearl Jam, Morcheeba has struggled but emerged stronger than ever.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Morcheeba:

  1. Blindfold (The Big Calm)
  2. The Music That We Here (The Big Calm)
  3. Tape Loop (Who Can You Trust?)
  4. Blood Like Lemonade (Blood Like Lemonade)
  5. Undress Me Now (Charango)
  6. Trigger Hippie (Who Can You Trust?)
  7. Recipe For Disaster (Blood Like Lemonade)
  8. Wonders Never Cease (The Antidote)
  9. Otherwise (Charango)
  10. Part of the Process (The Big Calm)
  11. God Bless And Goodbye (The Antidote)

Buy Morcheeba’s new album, Head Up High…now!

The Unknown: The Head And The Heart

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The sophomore slump is a brutal undiscriminating fate that can befall any band.  My most anticipated sophomore album of the year was Yuck’s “Glow & Behold.”  It failed to fulfill any of my expectations. This album is so band I had to double check to make sure I was listening to the right band.  In 2011, Yuck had my favorite album of the year.  This year, Yuck’s album ranks dead last on my list of 150 albums from 2013 behind such stellar musical bowel movements including Jack Johnson’s snoozefest, MGMT’s bad drug trip and Snoop Lion’s tribute to weed.  The Naked and Famous’ new album (another highly anticipated sophomore offering) skimmed by but just barely.  Now it’s the The Head and The Heart’s turn to prove that their rookie year was no fluke.  It’s early but I’m hopeful. They put out some big shoes to fill on their debut album, I just hope they can fill one of them this time out.

Rivers and Roads

Buy The Head and The Heart’s new album, Let’s Be Still…now!

 

The 111 Best Pearl Jam Songs

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The only grunge rock band to survive the 90s, 00s, and is still in tact in the teens.  For 22 years Pearl Jam is still with us, still strong, and still owning the game.  Here’s a look back at what they’ve done for us so far.

This list contains all their material from their main releases not including any of the official live albums or live bootlegs.  The only live songs included (a couple) are from the Christmas Singles or from part of a compilation.

Here are the 111 Best Songs By Pearl Jam:

  1. Black (Ten)
  2. Porch (Ten)
  3. Rearviewmirror (Vs.)
  4. Not For You (Vitalogy)
  5. Alive (Ten)
  6. Even Flow (Ten)
  7. Once (Ten)
  8. Corduroy (Vitalogy)
  9. Animal (Vs.)
  10. Jeremy (Ten)
  11. I Got Shit (Merkin Ball)
  12. State of Love and Trust (Singles Soundtrack)
  13. Indifference (Vs.)
  14. Immortality (Vitalogy)
  15. Garden (Ten)
  16. Do The Evolution (Yield)
  17. Daughter (Vs.)
  18. Yellow Ledbetter (Jeremy)
  19. Release (Ten)
  20. Got Some (Backspacer)
  21. Insignificance (Binaural)
  22. Sonic Reducer (Christmas Single 1992)
  23. Last Exit (Vitalogy)
  24. The Fixer (Backspacer)
  25. Breath and a Scream (Singles Soundtrack)
  26. Hail, Hail (No Code)
  27. Small Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town (Vs.)
  28. Better Man (Vitalogy)
  29. Johnny Guitar (Backspacer)
  30. Smile (No Code)
  31. MFC (Yield)
  32. Nothingman (Vitalogy)
  33. God’s Dice (Binaural)
  34. Unthought Known (Backspacer)
  35. W.M.A. (Vs.)
  36. Brain of J. (Yield)
  37. Crazy Mary (Sweet Relief Tribute)
  38. In My Tree (No Code)
  39. Rats (Vs.)
  40. Grievance (Binaural)
  41. Last Kiss (Christmas Single 1998)
  42. Save You (Riot Act)
  43. Leash (Vs.)
  44. Unemployed (Pearl Jam)
  45. Why Go (Ten)
  46. World Wide Suicide (Pearl Jam)
  47. Long Road (Merkin Ball)
  48. All Or None (Riot Act)
  49. Go (Vs.)
  50. Inside Job (Pearl Jam)
  51. Crown of Thorns (Pearl Jame Twenty)
  52. Spin The Black Circle (Vitalogy)
  53. Mankind (No Code)
  54. Sad (Lost Dogs)
  55. Force of Nature (Backspacer)
  56. Thin Air (Binaural)
  57. Whipping (Vitalogy)
  58. Ghost (Riot Act)
  59. Nothing As It Seems (Binaural)
  60. Red Mosquito (No Code)
  61. Breakerfall (Binaural)
  62. Get Right (Riot Act)
  63. Dissident (Vs.)
  64. Thumbing My Way (Riot Act)
  65. Fatal (Lost Dogs)
  66. Satan’s Bed (Vitalogy)
  67. Given To Fly (Yield)
  68. Green Disease (Riot Act)
  69. Deep (Ten)
  70. Army Reserve (Pearl Jam)
  71. In Hiding (Yield)
  72. Light Years (Binaural)
  73. Strangest Tribe (Christmas Single 1999)
  74. Man of The Hour (Big Fish Soundtrack)
  75. You Are (Riot Act)
  76. Brother (Ten Reissue)
  77. Can’t Keep (Riot Act)
  78. Habit (No Code)
  79. Love Reign O’er Me (Reign Over Me)
  80. Glorified G (Vs.)
  81. Life Wasted (Pearl Jam)
  82. Supersonic (Backspacer)
  83. Ole (Ole)
  84. Severed Hand (Pearl Jam)
  85. Low Light (Yield)
  86. Other Side (Save You)
  87. Cropduster (Riot Act)
  88. Gone (Pearl Jam)
  89. Just Breathe (Backspacer)
  90. Someday At Christmas (Christmas Single 2004)
  91. Lukin (No Code)
  92. Comatose (Pearl Jam)
  93. Faithful (Yield)
  94. Wash (Alive)
  95. Leaving Here (Home Alive)
  96. Hold On (Lost Dogs)
  97. Gonna See My Friend (Backspacer)
  98. Hard To Imagine (Chicago Cab)
  99. I Am Mine (Riot Act)
  100. Down (I Am Mine)
  101. I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You (Christmas Single 2000)
  102. Come Back (Pearl Jam)
  103. Off He Goes (No Code)
  104. Undone (I Am Mine)
  105. Footsteps (Jeremy)
  106. Love Boat Captain (Riot Act)
  107. No Way (Yield)
  108. Alone (Go)
  109. Wishlist (Yield)
  110. Santa Cruz (Christmas Single 2008)
  111. I’ve Got A Feeling (Alive)

Buy Pearl Jam’s new album, Lightning Bolt…now!