Author Archives: acompleteunknown

The 11 Best Songs By The Replacements (Twin Tone Years)

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To many Replacements fans there are two versions of the band.  The early version of the band on Twin Tone Records and the later version of the band on Sire.  Some fans love both versions…others abhor the major label version, calling the band sell-outs for cashing in.  In there defense, even if the Twin Tone years were stronger creatively for the band, they were not very lucrative financially.  Bob Stinson had to work part time as a pizza chef and the band covered most of their traveling expenses on the floundering label.  I’m not sure the band wanted to spend the rest of its life eating corn dogs, sleeping on couches and delivering pizza just so you could feel better about yourself liking them.  I’ve even heard people bashing the reunion EP as being a major letdown.  They reunited to raise money for their guitarist Slim Dunlap who suffered a debilitating stroke and can’t pay his medical bills.  How big of a pretentious douche bag do you have to be to hate on that?

Here are 11 Best Songs By The Replacements (Twin Tone Years):

  1. I Will Dare (Let It Be)
  2. Color Me Impressed (Hootenanny)
  3. Black Diamond (Let It Be)
  4. Unsatisfied (Let It Be)
  5. Takin’ A Ride (Sorry Ma)
  6. Go (Stink)
  7. Kicking Your Door Down (Sorry Ma)
  8. Kids Don’t Follow (Stink)
  9. Sixteen Blue (Let It Be)
  10. Raised In the City (Sorry Ma)
  11. Take Me Down To The Hospital (Hootenanny)

Buy The Replacements new EP, Songs for Slim…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Dave Grohl That are Not Nirvana or Foo Fighters songs

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As difficult as it was to narrow down David Bowie’s career to 111 songs, this list might actually be harder.  I honestly believe Dave Grohl has been featured on more albums than David Bowie.  Though many of his appearances may be simmered down by some to a mere session drummer guest spot, there’s a distinguishable energy on many of the songs where Grohl leaves his mark.  The new album is no different…not to mention…he directed a movie.  I was talking to my friend about the new album.  For some reason, he didn’t realize who he was…finally after five minutes of explaining he said, “Oh, you mean the guy from Nirvana.”  No wonder he does as much shit as he does.  Go Dave.

 

The 11 Best Songs With Dave Grohl That Are Not Nirvana or Foo Fighters Songs:

  1. How Do You Do (Dave Grohl – Touch Soundtrack)
  2. Every Day is Exactly The Same (Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth)
  3. No One Knows (Queens of the Stone Age – Songs For the Deaf)
  4. Against The 70s (Mike Watt – Ballhog or Tugboat?)
  5. Bad Boyfriend (Garbage – Bleed Like Me)
  6. Shake Your Blood (Probot – Probot)
  7. Go With The Flow (Queens of the Stone Age – Songs For the Deaf)
  8. Mind Eraser, No Chaser (Them Crooked Vultures – ST)
  9. Good Golly Miss Molly (Backbeat Band – Sountrack)
  10. Your Shoes (Taylor Hawkins – Red Light Fever)
  11. It’s All About The Benjamins Rock Remix (Puff Daddy – Been Around the World)

Buy the Sound Track to Dave Grohl’s documentary, Sound City…now!!!

The 111 Best Songs By David Bowie

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I am not the definitive voice on David Bowie.  I am one voice.  Basically, this list encompasses the majority of Bowie’s solo career.  I did not include Tin Machine or his guest spot/team-ups.  I also avoided the live albums.  This list was hard enough with just his main releases.  This should be a good start…especially if you’re only getting into Bowie now.  Just remember, I told you about him first.

 

Here are the 111 Best Songs By David Bowie:

  1. Suffragette City (Ziggy Stardust)
  2. Life on Mars? (Hunky Dory)
  3. Modern Love (Let’s Dance)
  4. Ziggy Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
  5. Rebel Rebel (Diamond Dogs)
  6. Moonage Daydream (Ziggy Stardust)
  7. China Girl (Let’s Dance)
  8. The Man Who Sold the World (The Man Who Sold the World)
  9. Young Americans (Young Americans)
  10. Changes (Hunky Dory)
  11. Hang On To Yourself (Ziggy Stardust)
  12. Space Oddity (Space Oddity)
  13. Golden Years (Station To Station)
  14. Five Years (Ziggy Stardust)
  15. Andy Warhol (Hunky Dory)
  16. Song For Bob Dylan (Hunky Dory)
  17. The Width of a Circle (The Man Who Sold the World)
  18. Neighborhood Threat (Tonight)
  19. Bang Bang  (Never Let Me Down)
  20. Jean Genie (Aladdin Sane)
  21. Blue Jean (Tonight)
  22. Sound and Vision (Low)
  23. DJ (Lodger)
  24. John, I’m Only Dancing (Ziggy Stardust)
  25. 1984 (Diamond Dogs)
  26. Cracked Actor (Aladdin Sane)
  27. Starman (Ziggy Stardust)
  28. Let’s Dance  (Let’s Dance)
  29. Watch That Man (Aladdin Sane)
  30. Queen Bitch (Hunky Dory)
  31. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Stardust Deluxe Edition)
  32. Be My Wife (Low)
  33. Rock N Roll Suicide (Ziggy Stardust)
  34. Loving The Alien (Tonight)
  35. Fascination (Young Americans)
  36. Star (Ziggy Stardust)
  37. Heroes (Heroes)
  38. Let’s Spend the Night Together (Aladdin Sane)
  39. Soul Love (Ziggy Stardust)
  40. All The Young Dudes (Aladdin Sane 30th Anniversary)
  41. Cat People (Let’s Dance)
  42. Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (Scary Monsters)
  43. She’s Got Medals (David Bowie)
  44. Diamond Dogs (Diamond Dogs)
  45. New York’s In Love (Never Let Me Down)
  46. I’m Afraid of Americans (Earthling)
  47. Afraid (Heathen)
  48. Lady Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
  49. Kooks (Hunky Dory)
  50. Black Country Rock (The Man Who Sold the World)
  51. Fame (Young Americans)
  52. Criminal World (Let’s Dance)
  53. The Supermen (Hunky Dory Special Edition) 
  54. Sunday (Heathen)
  55. Janine (Space Oddity)
  56. Secret Life of Arabia (Heroes)
  57. Strangers When We Meet (Outside)
  58. Growing Up (Diamond Dogs 30th Anniversary)
  59. Time Will Crawl (Never Let Me Down)
  60. Reality (Reality)
  61. The Bewlay Brothers (Hunky Dory)
  62. Drive In Saturday (Aladdin Sane)
  63. Oh! You Pretty Things (Hunky Dory)
  64. It’s Hard To Be A Saint In City (Sound and Vision)
  65. Day-In Day-Out (Never Let Me Down)
  66. Breaking Glass (Low)
  67. Jump They Say (Black Tie White Noise)
  68. Time (Aladdin Sane)
  69. Panic In Detroit (Aladdin Sane)
  70. Seven (Hours…)
  71. Big Brother (Diamond Dogs)
  72. Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly (Space Oddity)
  73. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere? (Pin-Ups)
  74. Rock N Roll With Me (Diamond Dogs)
  75. Cygnet Committee (Space Oddity)
  76. Tonight (Tonight)
  77. It Ain’t Easy (Ziggy Stardust)
  78. You’ve Been Around (Black Tie White Noise)
  79. Letter To Hermione (Space Oddity)
  80. Slow Burn (Heathen)
  81. The Prettiest Star (7-inch version)
  82. Seven Years In Tibet (Earthling)
  83. I’m Deranged (Outside)
  84. Because You’re Young (Scary Monsters)
  85. Always Crashing in the Same Car (Low)
  86. Little Wonder (Earthling)
  87. Outside (Outside)
  88. Beat of Your Drum (Never Let Me Down)
  89. The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Hours…)
  90. Look Back in Anger (Lodger)
  91. Slip Away (Heathen)
  92. TVC15 (Station To Station)
  93. Teenage Wildlife (Scary Monsters)
  94. Black Out (Heroes)
  95. Bring Me The Disco King (Reality)
  96. New Killer Star (Reality)
  97. Johnny I’m Only Dancing, Again (7-inch)
  98. Pallas Athena (Black Tie White Noise) 
  99. Quicksand (Hunky Dory)
  100. Station To Station (Station To Station)
  101. Fantastic Voyage (Lodger)
  102. Tumble and Twirl (Tonight)
  103. Uncle Arthur (David Bowie)
  104. Thursday’s Child (Hours…)
  105. Magic Dance (Labyrinth)
  106. Wild Is the Wind (Station To Station)
  107. Dodo (Diamond Dogs Expanded Edition)
  108. Wild Eyed Boy From Free Cloud (Space Oddity B-Side)
  109. Bombers (Hunky Dory Special Edition) 
  110. Don’t Look Down (Tonight)
  111. When I Live My Dream (David Bowie)
Buy David Bowie’s new album, The Next Day…now!!!

 

The 11 Best Songs By The Men

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I’ve been fighting this parking ticket for almost 9 months now.  I had parked on a street one evening.  I was not parked in the red and there were no parking signs on the street.  I was attending a party and parked with a row of twenty other cars.  We came out during the party to find that all of our cars had been ticketed.  The parking officer claimed he tried to come into the party to tell us to move our cars but was turned away at the door by the bouncer.  This was untrue because the party had no bouncer and the front door was wide open.  We argued with the officer.  He said we should pay more attention to the no parking signs.  We all said what sign?  He just shrugged and said there was one a couple blocks away.  Huh?  I argued with the guy for the next 15 minutes until he agreed to wipe out the ticket.  He gave me his number to call him that Monday and he would take care of the ticket.  I couldn’t call until Tuesday, when I did talk to him, he at first acted like he didn’t know me.  Then when I kept talking, he started to remember our conversation.  I asked if he would take care of the ticket, still.  He said, “yeah, yeah, yeah.”  Then I asked what I had to do.  He said just wait, you’ll get something in the mail.  I followed with, “that’s it?”  He said “That’s it.”  I thanked him and hung up. A few weeks later, I got a letter stating that I was delinquent in my fine.  The only reason I was delinquent was because the officer told me not to pay!!!  I think that’s called entrapment.  So now strapped with a fine, I attempted to fight the ticket.  I paid the ticket…but they continued slapping more late fees on me despite already collecting my money!!  This is outright criminal.  Below are two pics.  One of my car parking on the street…not in the red.  And one of the street in daylight…see if you can find the no parking sign.  Neither can I.

 

 

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Men:

  1. Open Your Heart (Open Your Heart)
  2. Turn It Around (Open Your Heart)
  3. Bataille (If You Leave)
  4. Animal (Open Your Heart)
  5. Ex-Dreams (Open Your Heart)
  6. () (If You Leave)
  7. Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition (Immaculada)
  8. Candy (Open Your Heart)
  9. A Minor (Sacred Bones Presents Todo Muere 2)
  10. Think (If You Leave)
  11. Oh Yoko (Immaculada)

Buy The Men’s new album, New Moon…now!!!

The 11 Best Posthumous Songs By Jimi Hendrix

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There has always been a question to the legitimacy of the posthumous releases of Jimi Hendrix’s unreleased material.  This is mostly due to Alan Douglas’ questionable producing on 3 of the albums and a couple of the compilations.  Using studio musicians to finish Hendrix’s tracks left a bad taste in fans’ mouths, tainting all the of posthumous releases, including the ones he had nothing to do with.  It wasn’t until 1997, when Hendrix’s estate took over his recordings are we given a real peak to what was left behind.  There really is only one official album that Hendrix was aiming to complete, that being First Rays of the New Rising Sun.  After that, what we have is a treasure trove of alternate takes, demos, instrumentals, and live jams.  So what are the true Jimi Hendrix releases?  The originals from the years directly following his death?  Or, the newer versions by the family?  Either way…neither versions were released by Hendrix.  Usually when you hear the family the family is taking over…and we instantly think they would have Hendrix’s best interests at heart.  That doesn’t mean they’re right.  I doubt any of the Jacksons could unanimously agree on how to release Michael’s leftover music.  And they’re all family.  So, my list will include alternate releases and really focus on the song…and not necessarily the recording.

Here are the 11 Best Posthumous Songs By Jimi Hendrix:

  1. Angel (First Rays of the New Rising Sun/The Cry of Love)
  2. Hey Baby (First Rays of the New Rising Sun/Rainbow Bridge)
  3. Ezy Rider (First Rays of the New Rising Sun/The Cry of Love)
  4. Valleys of Neptune (Valleys of Neptune)
  5. Room Full of Mirrors (First Rays of the New Rising Sun/Rainbow Bridge)
  6. Freedom (First Rays of the New Rising Sun/The Cry of Love)
  7. Message To The Universe (South Saturn Delta)
  8. Bleeding Heart (South Saturn Delta/War Heroes)
  9. Drifter’s Escape (South Saturn Delta/Loose Ends)
  10. Here He Comes Lover Man (South Saturn Delta)
  11. The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam’s Dice (South Saturn Delta/Loose Ends)

Buy Jimi Hendrix’s new album, People, Hell and Angels…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Porcupine Tree of the 00s

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There’s no bigger nightmare in LA than the 405.  It was always bad.  But it was a reliable bad.  Since they started construction on the 405…about 5 years ago…traffic has not only grown worse, it has become almost unbearable.  And it’s not just the 405 that’s undriveable, it’s every freeway in LA.  It’s a ripple effect that has clogged every major road artery in the city.  The construction (originally supposed to end in the fall of 2013) is currently scheduled to be finished by the end of 2015.  That’s nearly 2 and half years behind schedule and the rumor is they’re about 200 million over-budget. If I went 200 dollars over budget on a project, I’d be fired.  If they’re so far over budget, why do I have to pay for it?  Angelenos are looking at about 10 years of horrendous, productivity-stifling traffic just to add one carpool lane.  Maybe will traffic will be slightly better when it’s done…but will it be worth it?  The only ones who look to be coming out on top in this whole business is the construction company who can’t even get the work done right in the first place.

 

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Porcupine Tree of the 00s:

 

1.      Arriving Somewhere But Not Here (Deadwing)

2.      Fear of a Blank Planet (Fear of a Blank Planet)

3.      Cholorform (In Absentia)

4.      Deadwing (Deadwing)

5.      Anesthetize (Fear of a Blank Planet)

6.      Way Out of Here (Fear of a Blank Planet)

7.      The Creator Has A Mastertape (In Absentia)

8.      Open Car (Deadwing)

9.      Buying New Soul (Lightbulb Sun)

10.  Time Flies (The Incindent)

11.  The Sound of Muzak (In Absentia)

 

Buy Steven Wilson’s new solo album, The Raven That Refused To Sing…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By the Smiths

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What is amazing about the Smiths is how consistent all their music is.  Every song is good.  Every song.  Making a list is almost impossible.  Every time I go through their catalog, the list changes.  From day to day and minute to minute. I could put all the songs on cards and paste them up on my wall, then throw darts blindfolded and the 11 cards I hit could make my list…and it would an outstanding list no matter which cards I hit.  Well…unless I hit  the carpet and light switch.  Each Smith fan has their favorites.  Each person’s list would be completely different and each list would be uniquely exceptional. Now, there are the haters out there who abhor the Smiths and Morrissey.  We call those people…Katy Perry fans.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Smiths:

  1. There Is A Light That Never Goes Out (The Queen Is Dead)
  2. Stop Me If You Think You’ve Heard This One Before (Strangeways)
  3. Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want (Louder Than Bombs)
  4. Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Love Me (Louder Than Bombs)
  5. Still Ill (The Smiths)
  6. How Soon Is Now? (Meat Is Murder)
  7. Half A Person (Louder Than Bombs)
  8. Panic (Louder Than Bombs)
  9. I Want The One I Can’t Have (Meat Is Murder)
  10. Queen Is Dead (The Queen Is Dead)
  11. The Night Has Opened My Eyes (Strangeways)

 

Buy Johnny Marr’s new solo album, The Messenger…now!!!

The 11 Best Songs By Thom Yorke

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Today a new system to stop internet piracy has been put in place.  It’s called the Consumer Alert System.  It’s a plan by internet providers to alert users who download music illegally.  You will get warnings that you are committing piracy and be told stop.  The problem with this system is it might be the most ridiculous and improbable attempt to stop online piracy.  First of all, how will they know.  Just because I download a file from online doesn’t mean the file is illegal.  How will they know the file is an illegal track unless they’re sitting behind me at my computer and watch me open it up.  And if they are to do that…then that touches upon a whole bunch of privacy laws.  The government can’t look at what books I’m checking out at the library…why should the internet providers be allowed to look at my online habits?  Why do they have the legal right to act illegally?  You’re not allowed to commit a crime in order to police another.

 

Here’s the irony in all this.  In 2012, it was the first year that music sales actually rose.  Finally consumer confidence has been restored and people are starting to buy music again…and what do they do…they repeat the same mistakes they made in the first place.  Mind-boggling.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Thom Yorke:

  1. And It Rained All Night (The Eraser)
  2. Black Swan (The Eraser)
  3. Rabbit in Your Headlights (U.N.K.L.E. – Psyence Fiction)
  4. Hearing Damage (Twilight: New Moon)
  5. Harrowdown Hill (The Eraser)
  6. Atoms For Peace (The Eraser)
  7. The Eraser (The Eraser)
  8. El President (Drugstore – White Magic For Lovers)
  9. The White Flash (Modeselektor – Happy Birthday)
  10. Analyse (The Eraser)
  11. 2HB (Velvet Goldmine)

 

Buy Thom Yorke’s new solo project (with Flea), Atoms For Peace – Amok,…now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Bullet For My Valentine

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I think I send a few shock waves through my social circle when people discover that I listen to these guys.  I’m not sure if I get more questioning glances because of this band or David Guetta. My brother is a wine snob…I mean, connoisseur. He’s like a fifth level sommelier…just for fun.  When it comes to wine…he has his favorites.  And he definitely turns his nose up at the others.  But he will be the first to say…that each person has their own tastes and if someone enjoys drinking Charles Shaw $1.99 then good for them.  Wine is meant to be drank.  I feel the same way about music.  It’s meant to be heard and enjoyed.  Everyone has different tastes which can vary from person to person and moment to moment.  There was a time when listening to Metallica caused the music elite to cringe.  Now, you’re not cool unless you do listen to them.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Bullet For My Valentine:

  1. Hearts Burst Into Fire (Scream Aim Fire)
  2. Eye of the Storm (Scream Aim Fire)
  3. Your Betrayal (Fever)
  4. No Easy Way Out (Scream Aim Fire Deluxe)
  5. Take it Out On Me (Scream Aim Fire)
  6. Tears Don’t Fall (The Poison)
  7. Fever (Fever)
  8. A Place Where You Belong (Fever)
  9. The End (The Poison)
  10. 4 Words (The Poison)
  11. Welcome Home Sanitarium (Scream Aim Fire)
Buy Bullet For My Valentine’s new album, Temper Temper now!!

The 11 Best Songs By Starfucker

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The first thing that crosses my mind when I hear of a band named Starfucker, I think that death metal.  This band is far from that.  Maybe it’s because Fucked Up tainted my conception of what a profanity-laden band would embody.  Also, with Fucker in the title of your band name…you’re really limited your exposure.  You can pretty much kiss off any halftime appearance at the Super Bowl, Grammy performance…and even MTV at this point.  Granted, Starfucker wasn’t their first name (Pyramid and STRFKR got turns) and as much as I assumed, the name has done very little to hamper them.  Target actually selected one of their songs to be featured in a commercial.  Target is pretty much a Game of Throne’s DVD short of a Walmart.  Nothing says family demographic like a band called Starfucker.  But good for Target for having the balls to pick the best band for the job, while not getting stuck on their name.  And good for Starfucker for not selling out and calling themselves something like Fall Out Boy.

 

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Starfucker:

  1. Millions (Reptilians)
  2. Medicine (Jupiter)
  3. Bury Us Alive (Reptilians)
  4. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Jupiter)
  5. Julius (Reptilians)
  6. Florida (Starfucker)
  7. Dragon Queens (Dragon Queens 7″)
  8. Burnin’ Up (Bsides WEB)
  9. Boy Toy (Jupiter)
  10. Rawnald Gregory Erikson the Second (Starfucker)
  11. Mona Vegas (Reptilians)

Buy Starfucker’s new album, Miracle Mile, now!!!