Author Archives: acompleteunknown

The 11 Best Songs By Rival Schools

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There was a ten year gap between Rival Schools debut album, United By Fate (2001) and their second official release, Pedals (2011).  That’s a bigger gap than was between Quicksand’s debut and Rival Schools.  That doesn’t mean Rival Schools was silent during that time.  In 2003, the band recorded a follow-up to United By Fate…but the common problems that plague every band caused the album to never see the light of day…until now.  This week, the re-mastered…maybe even re-recorded version of that second album, Found, finally gets an official release.  Though it had been floating around the internet for years…this finished version is light years in quality above anything else out there.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Rival Schools:

  1. The Switch (United By Fate)
  2. High Acetate (United By Fate)
  3. Used For Glue (United By Fate)
  4. Shot After Shot (Pedals)
  5. Travel By Telephone (United By Fate)
  6. 69 Guns (Pedals)
  7. Holding Sand (United By Fate)
  8. Undercovers On (United By Fate)
  9. Choose Your Own Adventure (Pedals)
  10. Small Doses (Pedals)
  11. On Vacation (Used For Glue)

Buy Rival Schools new album, Found…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By James Blake

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Looking for a job in today’s world is much harder than it was years ago…and frankly, far more time consuming.  Big hub career boards like Career Builder and Monster are pretty awful.  All they do is point you to outdated job listings where you have to go to the site and fill out ten pages of personal data just to see if you qualify for the job.  My friend filled out an online application for a manager position at Panda Express. He said it took him 90 minutes.  To work at Panda Express!!  Sadly, he not only didn’t get the job…he didn’t even get an interview.  Having to fill out applications on every single site (and submit a fully filled out resume) seems so counter-productive…it’s kinda obvious why we have such an unemployment problem in this country.  It’s not that there isn’t enough jobs…it just takes too long to fill out all the applications.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By James Blake:

  1. CMYK (CMYK)
  2. Limit To Your Love (James Blake)
  3. Wilhelms Scream (James Blake)
  4. Unluck (James Blake)
  5. Fall Creek Boys Choir (Enough Thunder)
  6. Not Long Now (Enough Thunder)
  7. Love Happens Here (Love Happens Here)
  8. A Case Of You (Enough Thunder)
  9. Enough Thunder (Enough Thunder)
  10. Lindesfarne II (James Blake)
  11. I Never Learned To Share (James Blake)

Buy James Blake’s new album, Overgrown…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Dawes

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March Madness is the ultimate war of attrition.  And may be the perfect analogy to the music industry.  You have everything:  from one-hit wonders to legends, from big city brawlers to country kids, from the unknown to the everybody knows.  There’s no guarantees in the tournament, the big name powerhouse can lose to the upstart podunk school making their big dance debut (Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown).  But to win it all…you have to last.  You have to keep going.  You may have one memorable game and for a mid-major like Harvard that may be enough.  Or reaching the Final Four for Witchita State.  But to win it all and become a champion, you have to beat everyone in your path.  There are no second chances…and like in pro-sports, there’s no coming back next year.  This is your only chance.  Music at least you get second chances…and sometimes sticking around is the best way to be heard.  Dawes may be the best band to win the war of musical attrition.  They get better with every release and with folk rock hitting its stride…they may be hitting theirs at just the right time.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Dawes:

  1. If I Wanted Someone (Nothing Is Wrong)
  2. Time Spent In Los Angeles (Nothing Is Wrong)
  3. That Western Skyline (North Hills)
  4. Coming Back To A Man (Nothing Is Wrong)
  5. God Rest My Soul (North Hills)
  6. The Way You Laugh (Nothing Is Wrong)
  7. My Girl To Me (North Hills)
  8. Fire Away (Nothing Is Wrong)
  9. Rest Easy (Daytrotter Session)
  10. When You Call My Name (North Hills)
  11. All My Failures (Suitcase EP)

Buy Dawes new album, Stories Don’t End…now!

The 11 Best Songs By Rilo Kiley

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The news of a new Rilo Kiley album created a stir of excitement.  When Rilo Kiley broke up five years ago…it was done right as the band was hitting their stride.  There is something to be said about going out on top…though it sucks for the fans.  But hearing that a potential reunion was in the works everyone was on their toes, especially after the multiple solo albums.  Hearing it was just a B-sides album was a bit disappointing…though it’s better than nothing, right? That said…it seems this might just be the prelude to more things…a tour, a reunion album…maybe it is worth sticking around to see what comes next.

Here Are the 11 Best Songs By Rilo Kiley:

  1. More Adventurous (More Adventurous)
  2. Portions For Foxes (More Adventurous)
  3. With Arms Outstretched (The Execution of All Things)
  4. Love and War 11/11/46 (More Adventurous)
  5. Accidntel Deth (More Adventurous)
  6. My Slumbering Heart (The Execution of All Things)
  7. Breaking Up (Under The Blacklight)
  8. The Execution of All Things (The Execution of All Things)
  9. Under The Blacklight (Under The Blacklight)
  10. The Good That Won’t Come Out (The Execution of All Things)
  11. Glendora (The Initial Friend EP)

Buy Rilo Kiley’s new b-Side compilation, Rkives…now!

The 11 Best Songs By The Cold War Kids

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I had a  free credit to Best Buy that was expiring.  I needed to get something.  It was only $15.  Not enough for a big purchase…but I could definitely pick up a CD I didn’t have.  Which is rare to hear that there’s a CD out there that I don’t have.  I’ve been wanting the new expanded edition of Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors…so I felt that would be a good choice. I went to the store and begin browsing.  I felt like I had walked out into a war zone.  CDs were strewn all over the racks…none of them in any sort of discernible order.  Empty gaps…some CDs opened.  Any no trace of the new Fleetwood Mac set.  But they did have about 50 copies of the new Justin Timberlake and Lil Wayne CDs.  When I asked a sales person for help they told me they could order the CD online and have it shipped to my place.  I thought…I could have done that. At home.  What’s the point of me coming into the store if you’re just going to do something I’m could do myself?  What’s the point of even having a store?

Once upon a time, Best Buy was my go to Tuesday destination.  When a new album came out I would be at Best Buy the moment it opened because the new albums would actually sell out.  There was a demand.  Now it’s a graveyard.  A graveyard created by the box store itself.  They used to have one of the best music selections this side of Tower Records.  From obscure CDs, to exclusive editions, to the most popular releases, they gave it a shit.  Now, it’s obvious they couldn’t care less.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Cold War Kids:

  1. Something Is Not Right With Me (Loyalty To Loyalty)
  2. Audience (Behave Yourself)
  3. We Used To Vacation (Robbers & Cowards)
  4. Mexican Dogs (Loyalty To Loyalty)
  5. Hospital Beds (Robbers & Cowards)
  6. I’ve Seen Enough (Loyalty To Loyalty)
  7. God, Make Up Your Mind (Robbers & Cowards)
  8. Hang Me Up To Dry (Robbers & Cowards)
  9. Bulldozer (Mine Is Yours)
  10. Welcome To the Occupation (Loyalty To Loyalty)
  11. Louder Than Ever (Mine Is Yours)

Buy The Cold War Kids new album, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Depeche Mode of the 00s

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Recently, Christopher Clemons of the Seattle Seahawks said that any NFL player who comes out and reveals that his is gay…that would be considered a selfish act.  This reminds me of a story from my childhood…

When I was in high school, one of my classmates noticed that I was listening to Depeche Mode on my walkman and teased me for being gay because I liked Depeche Mode. Unfortunately for him, I wasn’t gay. His rationale was that everyone in the group Depeche Mode was gay…so therefore if I listened to them…then I was gay by association.  He teased me while wearing a Judas Priest t-shirt.  Recently, I heard through the grapevine that he’s come out of the closet.  Exactly.

The 11 Best Songs By Depeche Mode of the 00s:

  1. Precious (Playing The Angel)
  2. In Sympathy (Sounds of the Universe)
  3. Martyr (Best Of)
  4. Suffer Well (Playing The Angel)
  5. Lillian (Playing The Angel)
  6. Light (Sounds of the Universe Deluxe Edition)
  7. Fragile Tension (Sounds of the Universe)
  8. Free (Precious Single)
  9. Dream On (Exciter)
  10. John The Revelator (Playing The Angel)
  11. Perfect (Sounds of the Universe)

Buy Depeche Mode’s new album, Delta Machine…now!

 

The 11 Best Songs By The Strokes

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It has happened…the best time of the year for music fans is upon us.  Record Store Day.  April 20th, 2013.  It’s the day all us of audiophiles spend every last spare dime in our piggie banks on limited edition 7-inches in blue splatter paint or a see-through vinyl.  Where a $30 12-inch with one demo seems like a good deal.  Why?  Because Record Store Day is what listening to music is all about.  It’s about owning a piece of the music.  About obtaining something that no one else has.  Today, getting an album is easy, whether you pay for it or it’s free.  There’s nothing special about owning music anymore.  Before digital, buying an album was part of the process.  It was about that journey.  That piece of music was representative of what you went through to get it and why you chose it.  Every time you held it in your hands it brought you back to that moment.  Record Store Day is about that feeling.  It’s about a band’s connection to its fans.  Well that…and the fact that splatter paint vinyl looks so freaking cool.

Check this year’s release list here:  http://www.recordstoreday.com/SpecialReleases

The 11 Best Songs By The Strokes:

  1. 12:51 (Room on Fire)
  2. Heart in A Cage (First Impressions of Earth)
  3. Under The Cover Of Darkness (Angles)
  4. Hard To Explain (Is This It)
  5. Reptilia (Room on Fire)
  6. Someday (Is This It)
  7. Last Nite  (Is This It)
  8. Life is Simple in the Moonlight (Angles)
  9. Electricityscape (First Impressions of Earth)
  10. Taken For A Fool (Angles)
  11. Ize of the World (First Impressions of Earth)
Buy The Strokes new album, Comedown Machine…now!

The 11 Best Songs By Songs: Ohia

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Loss is the hardest thing any of us face in life.  It comes suddenly and destroys ruthlessly.  Being under appreciated while you’re here…is equally potent.  Jason Molina of Songs: Ohia and the Magnolia Electric Company died this past weekend.  He was 39.  His music is timeless.

 

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Songs: Ohia:

 

  1. The Black Crow (The Lioness)
  2. Hot Black Silk (Axxess & Ace)
  3. Nervous Bride (The Lioness)
  4. I’ve Been Riding With The Ghost (Magnolia Electric Company)
  5. Didn’t It Rain (Didn’t It Rain)
  6. Tigress (The Lioness)
  7. Cabwaylingo (Songs: Ohia)
  8. Captain Badass (Axxess & Ace)
  9. Love Leaves Its Abusers (Axxess & Ace)
  10. John Henry Split My Heart (Magnolia Electric Company)
  11. Hearts Newly Arrived (Impala)

The 11 Best Songs By Justin Timberlake

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Okay, I’m not going over to the dark side…and no, I’m not becoming a pop music fan.  But I can honestly say, I respect the guy.  Of all the pop stars to come out over the past couple of decades…he’s leaps and bounds more creative and innovative than the rest.  When Justin was awarded the MTV video music award over Johnny Cash, he threw a fit and thought it was a complete travesty that he should win over the legend.  I was blown away.  I thought all these pop kids were nothing but manufactured toy dolls whose sole purpose was to sell a glossed out over-produced product.  I never thought any of them knew about the roots of the music of what they were singing.  Well, I was wrong.  Justin is a song writer from Tennessee who has as much respect for the music that laid the foundation for him as the music he’s making.  There are influences from Michael Jackson to Prince to Stevie Wonder to Johnny Cash.  I have to respect that. But wait there’s more.  From his self-deprecating performances on SNL with Andy Sandberg and…yes,  his absolutely fantastic, History of Rap series with Jimmy Fallon…it’s more than just respect…I’ve grown to appreciate his music.  I think he’s still growing musically…and I think his best years are yet to come…

Here’s the 4th installment of History of Rap for your enjoyment.

 

Here are the 11 Best Solo Songs By Justin Timberlake:

  1. What Goes Around… / …Comes Around Interlude (FutureSex / LoveSounds)
  2. Rock Your Body (Justified)
  3. Summer Love/Set The Mood Prelude (FutureSex / LoveSounds)
  4. Last Night (Justified)
  5. My Love (FutureSex / LoveSounds)
  6. FutureSex / LoveSound (FutureSex / LoveSounds)
  7. Let’s Take A Ride (Justified)
  8. Until The End of Time with Beyonce (FutureSex / LoveSounds Deluxe Edition)
  9. I’m Lovin’ It (I’m Lovin’ It EP)
  10. The History of Rap (Late Night With Jimmy Fallon)
  11. Dick in A Box (Lonely Island – Incredibad)
Buy Justin Timberlake’s new album, The 20/20 Experience…now!!!

 

The 11 Best songs By The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

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Today begins March Madness…sorta.  A couple years ago, the NCAA thought it would be a great idea to add a couple extra games on the front of the tournament.  They thought it there’s nothing bad about “more” March Madness, right?  Wrong.  There’s a big problem.  No one cares.  No one watches the first four games.  Two of the games are by 16-seeds…which makes little or no impact on the actual tournament.  The other two are a 13-seed game and a 12-seed game, which could make an impact…but it’s only two games.  Therefore, no one counts them.  Everyone waits to fill out their brackets until after those games have been completed.  Basically, they’re ignored.  So why have them?  Here’s why. Like everything in college sports…it’s ruined by the prospect of more money.  College football refuses to have a tournament (which everybody wants) because the Bowl games make so much money.  And College basketball wants to keep their tournament exactly how it is…but adding more games potentially brings in more money.  Instead of protecting the integrity of the sport…they’re only thinking about the size of their wallets.  BRMC faced the same situation in their early years.  They could have sold out and gone pop (how many people at their label wanted them to do)…but they kept their integrity and continue to make some of the grittiest and honest rock music out there.  They didn’t make the big bucks…but they still make great music.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club:

  1. Whatever Happened to My Rock N Roll? (B.R.M.C.)
  2. We’re All In Love (Take Them On, On Your Own)
  3. Rifles (B.R.M.C.)
  4. As Sure As the Sun (B.R.M.C.)
  5. Berlin (Baby 81)
  6. Stop (Take Them On, On Your Own)
  7. Weapon of Choice (Baby 81)
  8. Love Burns (B.R.M.C.)
  9. 20 Hours (American X)
  10. Conscience Killer (Beat The Devil’s Tattoo)
  11. In Like the Rose (Take Them On, On Your Own)
Buy Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s new album, Specter At the Feast, now!!!