On The List: 1980s

We are back and proud to announce our newest book.  On The List:1980s.  Out now!!! In this book, we explore that totally awesome decade:  the 1980s.  Neon clothes, big hair, cassettes, fast cars, MTV, and all the great music from pop to rock to metal to rap to every paisley jangle pub punk out there.  It’s available now and perfect for under the tree for that audiophile in your life.  Available now on Amazon

Here are the 11 best quotes from people who have read the book:

  1. Most Excellent!” – Two wild musicians at the Circle K
  2. “The sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, bloods, wastoids, dweebies, dickheads – they all adore it.” – High School Receptionist
  3. I feel the need…the need for this book!” – Naval Pilot
  4. Inconceivable!” – Some Guy who doesn’t know what the word means
  5. “It belongs in a museum.” – An Archeologist
  6. “Bitchin‘” – kid hanging out back at the Gas N’ Sip
  7. I came. I read. It kicks ass!” – Paranormal Expert
  8. “If you read it, you will be happy.” – Baseball player
  9. It’s great.  Now you know…and knowing is half the battle.” – Military Soldier
  10. I’ll be back…to read this again and again.” Robot from the future
  11. This goes to 11.” – Metal guitarist

The 11 Best Letterman Musical Performances

Thank you, Dave.

Here are the 11 Best Musical Performances on the David Letterman Show:

1.  Bruce Springsteen – Glory Days

2.  Future Islands – Seasons

3.  Foo Fighters – Everlong

4.  R.E.M. – So Central Rain

5. Beastie Boys – Ch-Ch-Check It Out

6.  Warren Zevon – Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner

7.  Eminem & Jay-Z – Renegade

8.  The Orwells – Who Needs You

9.  The Vines – Get Free

10.  James Brown – Sex Machine (July 12, 1982)

11.  Eddie Vedder – Black

 

 

 

 

The 11 Best Bruce Springsteen Songs of the 00s

In the AFC playoffs, it’s Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady.  Whether you love them or hate them, they are two of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.  And the winner of the game, will go to the Super Bowl, which will take place in New Jersey…the home town of none other than Bruce Springsteen…they greatest of his game.

There are good artists and there are great artists. And then there are legends.  There are artists who define genres and there are artists who make up their own.  This list is from our book, The 111 Best Music Lists of the 2000s.  In the 2000s, Bruce created The Rising, an album that might have even been bigger than him.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Music-Lists-2000s/dp/1491249129/

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There are certain albums in a band’s career that are above comparison.  For me, these include The Cure’s Disintegration, Michael Jackson’s Thriller, and Pearl Jam’s Ten.  Each of these artists put out plenty of great music over their careers but these specific albums are their zeniths of perfection.  Bruce Springsteen’s The Rising also belongs in this category.  That may be surprising considering the monumental albums that the Boss has delivered in his career: Born To Run, Born in the USA, and Darkness on the Edge of Town.  Each great.  But, The Rising was something else.  The Rising was a moment in time.  America was reeling from post-traumatic 9/11 confusion.  We did not know how we felt and we did not know how to feel.  We needed Bruce.  So, Bruce Springsteen put out an album of catharsis that expressed America’s emotional turmoil.  Everything that we had bottled up, he let out.  He did not shy away from hurt, from pain, or from anger.  Musically, it soared.  Lyrically, it was grounded.  There has never been any other rock album that captured a moment in American history so perfectly.  How can you compare his other music to this?  You can’t.  Bruce has made some of the best rock songs of all time.  He has made some of the best rock albums of all time.  The Rising was bigger than all of it.  It was the heart and soul of America set to music.  Because of this, I did not include any songs from the The Rising in this list… if I had, it would not have been fair.

 

The 11 Best Songs By Bruce Springsteen of the 200s (not including songs from The Rising): 

  1. 41 Shots (Live in New York City)
  2. The Hitter (Devils + Dust)
  3. Eyes on the Prize (We Shall Overcome)
  4. Magic (Magic)
  5. Outlaw Pete (Working on A Dream)
  6. Radio Nowhere (Magic)
  7. Devils + Dust (Devils + Dust)
  8. Last To Die (Magic)
  9. The Wrestler (Working on A Dream)
  10. All The Way Home (Devils + Dust)
  11. Life Itself (Working on A Dream)

Fun Fact: Initially, Bruce hated being called “The Boss.”

Buy Bruce’s new album  High Hopes…now!

 

The 11 Most Anticipated Albums of Winter 2014

 

 Tonight, Florida State beat Auburn in the last BS (I mean BCS…actually, I really do mean bullshit) NCAA football championship game.  In 2014, we get the first ever college football playoff.  It’s only 4 teams…but it’s a start.  But college football isn’t the only thing we have to look forward to.  Here’s a look at the best new releases of the next three months.

The 11 Most Anticipated Albums of Winter 2014:

  1. Broken Bells – After The Disco ( Feb 4)
  2. Beck – Morning Phase (Feb 25)
  3. Against Me! – Transgender Dysphoria Blues (Jan 21)
  4. Young the Giant – Mind Over Matter (Jan 21)
  5. Drive-By Truckers – English Oceans (Mar 4)
  6. The Crystal Method – The Crystal Method (Jan 14)
  7. Cibo Matto – Hotel Valentine (Feb 11)
  8. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks – Wig Out at Jagbags (Jan 7)
  9. Warpaint – Warpaint (Jan 21)
  10. Bruce Springsteen – High Hopes (Jan 14)
  11. Johnny Cash – Out Among The Stars (Mar 25)

 

 

The 11 Best Albums of 2009: 23-33 (Part 3)

 
As each step of this list is being unveiled, I have to say…there was a lot of music this year I really enjoyed.  Whether it was scrounging to find the unreleased Beck cover album…or the return of Franz Ferdninand…or the underrated ben gibbard/farrar duet, there was a bunch of music out there to get excited about.  Two newcomers to watch…Cut Off Your Hands and Cage The Elephant…I have a feeling they will be on these lists for years to come.

 
Here are the 11 Best Albums of 2009: 23-33 (Part 3):
23.  Cut Off Your HandsYou And I  (Turn Cold)
24.  JJJJ No 2
25.  WolfmotherCosmic Egg
26.  Franz FerdinandTonight 
27.  Cage The ElephantCage the Elephant (Ain’t No Rest)
28.  M. WardHold Time
29.  BeckVelvet Underground & Nico  (I’ll Be Your Mirror)
30.  Jay-ZThe Blueprint 3.0
31.  Steel PantherFeel The Steel
32.  Bruce SpringsteenWorking On A Dream
33.  Ben Gibbard & Jay FarrarOne Fast Move Or I’m Gone