My Top 40 at 40!

Recently, and by recently I mean yesterday February 2^nd, which just happens to be my day of birth, a buddy of mine threw down the musical gauntlet.  I have briefly and succinctly paraphrased the challenge below:

Top 40 Artists of your life. Not simply a list of 40, but a ranking from 40 to 1. You have to do it. It must be done. It’s your personal Hall of Fame. This is your preference, your jukebox, regardless of genre or generation. This isn’t educational or time relevant. It’s YOUR Top 40 of all time.

This did indeed get the blood rushing and made my musical pants go a little crazy.  I started to brainstorm a list (and by brainstorm I mean immediately sat down and pounded out 40 names, clarified his initial challenge, perused my list again, and started typing the first sentence you read. 

The initial list was not a difficult as I thought.  The ranking of 1-40 took a little bit of time as did my annotations (those are in my tiny, little head) as to why the band/musician made the list.  The list that lies before you is organic in nature and I believe it to be fairly finite to the time that it was written.  The list is not to be likened to a doctoral thesis, packed with statistics that verify the respective placement, resourced with renowned critical fawning, or any type of research other than my ears and their time on earth. 

Be mindful of the fact that there are only 40 spots on this list.  I can tell you that there are probably some glaring omissions on this list.  Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Bob Marley, Waylon, Willie, and the boys, did not make the list as well as a litany of other great, well deserving artists.  This list is completely subjective and the omission of anyone is not meant to be a form of disparagement.  It is quite simply a list of bands/musicians that I have loved over the years and also value their contributions to the musical world. 

The final piece of the musical puzzle for this list was really a late night revelation.  I realize it has only been a moment or two since you began reading this but I actually have been running the various scenarios of greatness in my head all night.  And then it hit me, the true measure of an artist’s greatness is my personal commitment to that particular artist. 

•  How much of myself have I invested in the artists? 
• What percentage of their catalog do I own? 
• Would I take the time to see them live if the following were aligned:
  • They are still alive
  • They band is still together
  • The venue was geographically conducive to seeing them live
  • The cost of the ticket did not require me selling my 1^st born child.  Although at 15 years of age and being really good at being 15 I would be willing to barter for a really good show right now.

Oddly enough, this revelation did not greatly alter my original list, there were a few additions and subtractions of artists and then the harrowing process of ranking them, with reason, was underway. 

No musicians were harmed in this list.  Of course, egos might be slightly bruised if they ever happen to stumble upon this little read blog and realize their spot on or omission to the list.

So, I give to you my Top 40 at 40!

1. The Beatles
2. Bob Dylan
3. Bruce Springsteen
4. The Rolling Stones
5. Led Zeppelin
6. The Who
7. Pink Floyd
8. Tom Petty
9. The Eagles
10. Eric Clapton
11. Elton John
12. Jimi Hendrix
13. The Doors
14. U2
15. Metallica
16. Pearl Jam
17. Van Morrison
18. Billy Joel
19. R.E.M.
20. Rush
21. Lynryd Skynyrd
22. Simon & Garfunkel
23. John Mellencamp
24. Stevie Ray Vaughan
25. Prince
26. Nirvana
27. Uncle Tupelo
28. Eminem
29. Nine Inch Nails
30. Beck
31. The Dave Matthews Band
32. Rage Against the Machine
33. Robert Earl Keen
34. N.W.A
35. The Black Crowes
36. The Beastie Boys
37. The White Stripes
38. Ryan Adams
39. Ben Harper
40. Joe Purdy

 

Great music awaits!

2011 Sneak Peak of Music You Should Be Listening To!

Another year has come and gone and we are in the early stages of a new year.  Out with the old and in with the new!  Today, I give you a sneak peak at some of the highly anticipated releases of 2011.  So sit back and let your music pants go crazy as you peruse this fine list of music to come.

My Morning Jacket

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

Let the love and reverb flow as Jim James and gang do their thing.  Producing the set themselves the band used a converted gym as their recording space.  The Louisville, Kentucky, rockers are keeping it real on their sixth record.  I’m going out on a limb and stating that this album will be one of the best albums of 2011.

Beastie Boys

‘Hot Sauce Committee Part 2’ (Unscheduled 2011)

Now that Adam Yauch is on the road to recovery from throat cancer, the New York trio will release their first album in four years. I for one am glad to see the boys back in the studio mixing and mingling their distinctive sound. 

Drive-By Truckers

Go-Go Boots (February 15)

The boys are back and I could not be happier.  Cooley and Hood continue their southern styled rock with their topical lyrics and swagger.  Expect plenty of guitars, stories steeped in deep southern experiences and the vocal contrast of Cooley’s drawl and Hoods howl.

 R.E.M.

Collapse Into Now (March 8 ) 

Rumor has it that the 12-tracks are some of their strongest rock songs in years. It also finds front man Michael Stipe rocking old school R.E.M machine gun like phrases with the frantic cadence of classic tunes like “It’s The End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”. The boys have teamed with producer Garrett “Jacknife” Lee (U2, Weezer,) and laid down the tracks for their 15th album in locations within the contiguous 48 states and Europe. And as is the latest craze, the album has guest vocals from none other than Mr. Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam fame.

Kanye West & Jay-Z

Watch the Throne (Unscheduled 2011)

In keeping with the bigger than life style of hip/hop royalty these two juggernauts the laid down tracks all over the world, including the South of France and Australia. Their first single “H.A.M.,” hit the airwaves this month.  Even before he released, his 2010 masterpiece, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, Kanye was already working on this collaboration with Jay-Z, The record was initially set as an EP but morphed into a full-length album.

 The Kills

Blood Pressures (April 5)

 For the duo’s fourth studio album, both Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart wrote separately, more out of necessity brought on by Mosshart’s involvement with Jack White’s musical love child The Dead Weather.  In other Weather news, Jack Lawrence’s band The Greenhornes also recently released an album!  Incidentally, Lawrence is also in White’s other musical venture The Raconteurs.  Allow another side note: Jack White is musical genius!

U2

Songs of Ascent (Unscheduled 2011)

The veteran rockers are busy working on three albums, (talk about over achieving), and the first to arrive will be their collaboration with super producer Danger Mouse. So, how does the Broadway production of Spiderman fit into the mix?  Danger Mouse has been on fire as of late.  He contributed production value to the Black Keys major breakthrough Attack & Release and last year he teamed up with The Shins front man James Mercer and gave us Broken Bells. 

Foo Fighters

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

After the side project of Them Crooked Vultures, I am looking forward to this little rock’n’roll revival for the Foo Fighters’ first disc in five years. There are 11 songs on the album and the word on the street is that from start to finish, there’s not one ballad.  This album finds Dave Grohl reuniting with Nirvana’s Krist Novoselic and Butch Vig, who produced 1991’s Nevermind.

Lady Gaga

Born This Way (May 23)

Some might believe this to be the most anticipated pop record of the year. As for Lady Gaga, she won’t let you forget it. For months, she’s been teasing bits of info via the time suck of Twitter and at her shows about the 2011 release. The wait is almost up: Gaga will drop album’s first single, “Born This Way,” on February 13.

Fleet Foxes

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

Washington State’s hirsute folk style band was close to wrapping the follow-up to their self-titled debut last fall. Ever the perfectionist, Robin Pecknold scrapped much of the material to “return to the cave,” as he called it, and start over. The record has since been mastered and is prepped for release. No new territory explored on the follow up; Folksy, sweetly layered vocals and harmonies that call to mind the early harmonious groups such as The Eagles and Crosby Stills, and Nash and sometimes Young!

Radiohead

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

Their first album since 2007’s In Rainbows with the record, which will be produced by Nigel Godrich. Still, a rep for the band confirms a new record is due out sometime this year.

Jane’s Addiction

 (Unscheduled 2011)

With the abrupt departure of, Perry and crew went way out on a limb and hired TV on the Radio guru/producer-instrumentalist Dave Sitek to handle the bass lines and possibly contribute ideas as well as a cool infusion of new life for their new LP, tentatively titled The Great Escape Artist

 Red Hot Chili Peppers

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

With the loss of guitarist John Frusciante, The Peppers have recruited touring guitarist Josh Klinghoffer for their latest LP.   Some of the disc will include songs that were written by Flea on piano, as well as material inspired by Afro-beat music from Lagos, Nigeria.  

Wilco

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

After splitting from their longtime home Nonesuch last year Jeff Tweedy and the Wilco boys will release their latest effort on their own label. The band has been quiet about details of the new album but there has been confirmation, by a band rep, that the album is due out sometime in 2011.

Lil Wayne

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

Since his release from the joint Weezy has been on lockdown in his Miami studio working on Tha Carter IV, his sequel to 2008’s Tha Carter III. Its first single, “6 Foot 7 Foot,” featuring Cory Gunz, was released on last month. The word is that Wayne, who started working on the album before his state sanctioned vacation, started over and will use rhymes from his time spent reflecting in the pokey.  How many funny jail references can you work in one paragraph?

Outkast

Currently Untitled (Unscheduled 2011)

It’s been four years since the Atlanta duo dropped and we quickly forgot Idelwild, but there has been confirmation that they’re working on their long overdue follow-up, which is expected this year. Both Andre 3000 and Big Boi have been busy working on solo projects.  Boi dropped his solo release (Sir Lucious Left Foot:  in 2010 with much hype and was on several year best of lists, including mine.  Dre’s efforts have yet to come to fruition but might also appear in 2011.

Dr. Dre

Detox (Unscheduled 2011)

Though there’s no official release date, and appears that this release might be Hip Hops version of “Chinese Democracy” but given Dre’s musical genius and many collaborations it just might be worth the wait. 

Here is a cursory view of what is expected in 2011.

 Monthly Breakdown of Releases

January 11

• Cage the Elephant, ‘Thank You, Happy Birthday’
• Cake, ‘Showroom of Compassion’
• Edie Brickell, ‘Edie Brickell‘

January 18

• Decemberists, ‘The King is Dead’
• Gregg Allman, ‘Low Country Blues’
• James Blunt, ‘Some Kind of Trouble’
• Social Distortion, ‘Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes’

January 25

• Amos Lee, ‘Mission Bell’
• Cold War Kids, ‘Mine is Yours’
• Corinne Bailey Rae, ‘Love‘
• Deerhoof, ‘Deerhoof vs. Evil’
• Iron & Wine, ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’
• Talib Kweli, ‘Gutter Rainbows’
• Wanda Jackson, ‘The Party Ain’t Over’

February 1

• The Go! Team, ‘Rolling Blackouts’
• Matisyahu, ‘Live at Stubb’s Vol II“

February 8

• …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, ‘Tao of the Dead’
• Alison Krauss, TBA

February 15

• Bright Eyes, ‘The People’s Key’
• The Dears, ‘Degeneration Street’
• Drive-By Truckers, ‘Go-Go Boots’
• Mogwai, ‘Hardcore Will Never Die, But You Will’
• PJ Harvey, ‘Let England Shake’

February 22

• Harry Connick Jr., ‘Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway’
• INXS, ‘Original Sin’
• Jeff Beck, ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Party: Honoring Les Paul’
• John Waite, ‘Rough & Tumble’
• The Low Anthem, ‘Smart Flesh’

March 1

• Blessed Union of Souls, ‘The Mission Field’
• Dropkick Murphys, ‘Going out of Style’
• John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours, ‘John Popper & the Duskray Troubadours’
• Lucinda Williams, ‘Blessed‘

March 8

• Avril Lavigne, ‘Good Bye Lullaby’
• Lupe Fiasco, ‘Lasers‘
• R.E.M., ‘Collapse Into Now’
• Sara Evans, ‘Stronger‘

March 15

• Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi, ‘Rome’
• Green Day, ‘Awesome as F**k’
• New York Dolls, ‘Dancing Backward in High Heels’

March 22

• Edwyn Collins, ‘Losing Sleep’
• Pitbull, ‘Planet Pit’
• Raphael Saadiq, ‘Stone Rollin’
• Ray Davies, ‘See My Friends’

March 29

• Mountain Goats, ‘All Eternals Deck’
• Peter Bjorn and John, TBA

April 12

• Paul Simon, ‘So Beautiful or So What’

April 26

• Dirty Vegas, ‘Electric Love’

 2011 Releases With No Date Etched In Granite:

• Aerosmith, TBA
• Andre 3000, TBA
• Fiona Apple, TBA
• Busta Rhymes, ‘The Chemo’
• Chingy, ‘1st Quarter’
• Coldplay, TBA
• Common, ‘The Believer’
• Death Cab for Cutie, TBA
• Eve, ‘Lip Lock’
• Wyclef Jean, ‘If I Were President: My Haitian Experience’
• Nickelback, TBA
• Britney Spears, TBA
• Justin Timberlake, TBA
• Ting Tings, TBA

Tune In Tuesday: 6/29/10

Welcome back for yet another installment of Tune In Tuesday. 

Music’s connectivity varies by person but I believe that there is some resonating emotional cord that is struck when we are truly touched by the music.  While I appreciate the complexity of the instrumentation, I tend to gravitate to the lyrical aspect of music.  While this is not always etched in granite, it holds about 90% of the time.

Today I am going to go back a few years and highlight some albums that are indelibly etched in my fabric for various and sundry reasons.

Under the Table and Dreaming

Dave Matthews Band

This was the first studio album from Dave and the band and was a really musically liberating sound.  The combination of guitar, bass, violin, saxophone and drums just sounded so fresh in the early 90’s.  The vibe from the music was so upbeat that you couldn’t help but move while listening to it. 

This album was in heavy rotation during college and began a twenty year relationship with the band.  I’ve seen them live several times and own all their studio albums as well as the majority of the live albums. 

Key Tracks: The Best of What’s Around, Typical Situation, Jimi Thing, Ants Marching, What Would You Say

Singles (Soundtrack)

Various Artists

This is the best soundtrack to come out in the 90’s and may very well be the greatest soundtrack of all times.  I realize that is a really bold claim and I’m ok with that.  I’m a rebel!

This album captured Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, and Smashing Pumpkins on one album before they reached the collective conscience of the country.  The album went platinum and really caught the buzz of the Seattle grunge scene.  In addition to the great songs from the soon to be huge bands, there were several key tracks from stalwart Seattle bands such as Mudhoney and Mother Love Bone.

Key Tracks: Drown, Chloe Dance/Crown of Thorns, State of Love and Trust, Breath, Birth Ritual, Would

And Justice for All

Metallica

This was my heavy metal musical baptism and bible in the latter part of my high school years.  I was really into classic rock and when this album came out I could not get enough.  The guttural growls of James Hetfield, the relentless drumming of Lars, and just the all out anger of the sound was so intoxicating.  As a recalcitrant teen, this was my anthem.  As I’ve gotten older, I have learned to appreciate the level of skill that they possess as a band of musician and how they helped define the genre.

Key Tracks:  Dyers Eve, One, The Shortest Straw, Blackened

Green

R.E.M.

Green was R.E.M.’s sixth album but was their major label debut.  This album was also the debut of Peter Buck’s mandolin which would help define the band’s sound on subsequent albums.  The album had such a different sound from their previous albums.  Stipe’s singing is more deliberate and clear and the lyrics run a range of emotions. 

Key Tracks:  Stand, You Are the Everything, World Leader Pretend, Orange Crush, I Remember California

Full Moon fever

Tom Petty

This was Petty’s first venture into solo territory even though he had collaborations with his Heartbreakers and a Wilbury or two.  The album has a cleaner almost crisp sound compared to some of the earlier Heartbreakers albums.  Helmed by Jeff Lynne (Traveling Wilbury’s, Electric Light Orchestra) the album is solid with no real weak tracks. 

Key Tracks: Runnin Down a Dream, Free Fallin’, Love Is a Long Road, I Won’t Back Down,

Joshua Tree

U2

This is my all time favorite U2 album.  They had not quite blown up into the biggest rock band in the world but were well on their way.  Each track is unyielding in musical bliss and twenty plus years later, it plays like a greatest hits album.  The album is sonically heavier than their previous albums and is their foray into the influence of the blues. 

Key Tracks: With Or Without You, Running To Stand Still, I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For, Trip Through Your Wires

Great music awaits!

Mixed Tape Monday: States

Greetings blog readers!  Have you missed me?  I’ve been away for a few days and am back in time for Mixed Tape Monday.  Due to recent travels, today’s topic is States. 

Note:

I tried to stay away from the low hanging fruit such as Sweet Home Alabama, Nebraska, and Hotel California, etc…

Song:              Oklahoma Girl

Artist:             Eli Young Band

Album:           Level

Song:              Georgia, Georgia

Artist:             Elliott Smith

Album:           New Moon

Song:              California Justice

Artist:             Five For Fighting

Album:           Two Lights

Song:              Texas Skies

Artist:             The Freddy Jones Band

Album:           The Freddy Jones Band

Song:              Sodom, South Georgia

Artist:             Iron & Wine

Album:           Our Endless Numbered Days

Song:              Dressed Up Like Nebraska

Artist:             Josh Rouse

Album:           Dressed Up Like Nebraska

Song:              The Stars In Alabama

Artist:             Jamey Johnson

Album:           That Lonesome Song

Song:              California

Artist:             Jay Farrar

Album:           Terrior Blues

Song:              Crossing Mississippi

Artist:             Jeffrey Foucault

Album:           Miles from the Lightning

Song:              Coast of Carolina

Artist:             Jimmy Buffet (with love to Gwendolyn)

Album:           License to Chill

Song:              You Can Tell Georgia

Artist:             Joe Purdy

Album:           You Can Tell Georgia

Song:              Idaho

Artist:             Josh Ritter

Album:           The Animal Years

Song:              Arizona

Artist:             Kings of Leon

Album:           Because the Times

Song:              Carolina Drama

Artist:             The Raconteurs

Album:           Consolers of the Lonely

Song:              Tennessee Square

Artist:             Whiskeytown

Album:           Faithless Street

Song:              Nashville to Kentucky

Artist:             My Morning Jacket

Album:           The Tennessee Fire

Song:              Leaving New York

Artist:             R.E.M.

Album:           Around the Sun

Song:              Songs About Texas

Artist:             Pat Green

Album:           George’s Bar

Song:              Tennessee Sucks

Artist:             Ryan Adams

Album:           Demolition

Song:              Long Way From Georgia

Artist:             Ryan Bingham

Album:           Mescalito

 Read, review, and responds.

Great music awaits!

Mixed Tape Monday: Rain

Greetings readers of my blog!  Today is Mixed Tape Monday.  For those of you a little young for the mixed tape reference, a mixed tape was what you made for that special someone or yourself that was a compilation of various songs and artists.   The tape was arranged in a particular order to convey your feelings or mood.  Now, we can burn all the music to a playlist or disc and it has the same affect but just not the nostalgia.

 So, with that being said, each Monday will be Mixed Tape Monday and will have a whimsical topic based on well, my whims!  The list will be 15-20 songs that relate to stated whimsical topic.  Given the weather related events of the weekend, today’s topic is Rain.  In case you are not from the DFW area, it rained all weekend long.

 So, listed below are great songs that have rain in the title or referenced in the song. 

 Rain Mixed Tape:

• Purple Rain
  • Prince
• Louisiana Rain
  • Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
• Black Rain
  • Ben Harper
• No Rain
  • Blind Melon
• A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall
  • Bob Dylan
• Red Rain
  • Peter Gabriel
• Rain King
  • Counting Crows
• Have You Ever Seen the Rain
  • Credence Clearwater Revival
• I Love the Rain the Most
  • Joe Purdy
• Rain on the Scarecrow
  • John Mellencamp
• Electrical Storm
  • Joseph Arthur
• Rainslicker
  • Josh Ritter
• Naked In the Rain
  • Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Sky is Crying
  • Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Something Sexy About the Rain
  • Kenny Chesney
• November Rain
  • Guns N’ Roses
• Washington Avenue
  • Pat Green
• Sit and Listen to the Rain
  • Whiskeytown
• So. Central Rain
  • R.E.M.
• Riders On the Storm
  • The Doors

 Great music awaits!

R.E.M

Today we celebrate the greatness of the influential alternative former quartet, now a trio, from Athens, Georgia known as R.E.M.

R.E.M. Discography and best song from album:

• Murmur (1983)
  • Talk About the Passion
• Reckoning (1984)
  • So. Central Rain (I’m Sorry)
• Fables of the Reconstruction (1985)
  • Driver 8
• Lifes Rich Pageant (1986)
  • Begin the Begin
• Dead Letter Office (1987)
  • Pale Blue Eyes
• Document (1987)
  • It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
• Eponymous (1988)
  • (Don’t Go Back to) Rockville
• Green (1988)
  • You Are the Everything
• Out of Time (1991)
  • Belong
• Best of R.E.M. (1991
• Automatic for the People (1992)
  • Drive
• Monster (1994)
  • Strange Currencies
• R.E.M. Singles Collected (1994)
  • Time after Time Etc
• New Adventures in Hi-Fi (1996)
  • E-Bow the Letter
• R.E.M. In the Attic (1998)
  • Toys in the Attic
• Up (1998)
  • At My Most Beautiful
• Man on the Moon Soundtrack (1999)
  • The Great Beyond
• Reveal (2001)
  • Imitation of Life
• In Time: The Best of R.E.M. 1988-2003 (2003)
  • Bad Day
• Around the Sun (2004)
  • The Final Straw
• And I Feel Fine… The Best of the IRS Years 1982-87 (2006)
  • The One I Love
• R.E.M. Live (2007)
• Accelerate (2008)
  • Living Well is the Best Revenge
• Live at the Olympia (2009)

Top 5 R.E.M. Albums:

1. Green
2. Out of Time
3. Automatic for the People
4. Document
5. Monster

Top 10 R.E.M. Songs:

1. It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
2. The Great Beyond
3. E-Bow the Letter
4. The Final Straw
5. Driver 8
6. You Are the Everything
7. Stand
8. Orange Crush
9. Half A World Away
10. Belong

Read, review, and respond.

Great music awaits!

Guilty Pleasures!

Today we are going to talk about guilty pleasures.  Musically, that is.  Monday’s blog got a lot of great reaction and so today we are going to bare our soul and let loose our dirty little musical secrets.  Clearly, we have some love for David Cassidy and Howard Jones. 

Several people readily admitted that they did/do listen to some of the music that resides on the list of music you should not listen to.  The majority of those people also admitted that they listened to it when it was new and fresh and did not have the open disdain that might be associated with it today. 

However, we all have hidden secrets that we keep hidden deep on our iPod or tucked away on an unmarked CD.  There are also songs that we are connected to that we will roll the windows down, open the sun roof, or drop the rag top and crank up the tunes.  What are the songs that you will sit in the car, risk being late, and listen/sing until it is over?  What are the songs that you clandestinely listen to but do not or would not openly lay claim to? 

For today’s blog, we will have three; count them, 1, 2, 3 categories:

1. Top(car, not clothing) down & loud
2. Sit in car and be late
3. Guilty & A Little Ashamed

Below are some of my guilty musical pleasures:

Artist	Song	Category	Own CD
R.E.M.	It’s the End of the World As We Know It (and I Feel Fine)	Top Down & Loud & Sit in Car	Yes
Bon Jovi	Blaze of Glory	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
Elton John	Little Jeanie	Sit In Car	Yes
Cinderella	Don’t Know What You Got Tell It’s Gone	Sit In Car	No
Corey Hart	Sunglasses at Night	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
Tom Petty	Break Down	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Violent Femmes	Blister In the Sun	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Van Halen	Right Now	Sit In Car & Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Stevie Nicks & Don Henley	Leather & Lace	Sit In Car & Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Styx	Renegade	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Foreigner	Juke Box Hero	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Journey	Wheel In the Sky	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Beck	Loser	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Butthole Surfers	Pepper	Top Down & Loud	Yes
The Cult	She Sells Sanctuary	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Elton John	Tiny Dancer	Top Down & Loud & Sit in Car	Yes
Faith No More	Epic	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Fine Young Cannibals	Good Thing	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Five For Fighting	Superman (It’s Not Easy)	Sit In Car & Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Gin Blossoms	Hey Jealousy	Top Down & Loud	Yes
Grateful Dead	Touch of Grey	Top Down & Loud & Sit in Car	Yes
David & David	Welcome to the Boomtown	Sit in Car	Yes
Billy Squier	The Stroke	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	Yes
Charlie Sexton	Beat’s So Lonely	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
The Moody Blues	The Voice	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
Glenn Frey	Smuggler’s Blues	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
REO Speedwagon	Time for Me To Fly	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No
Night Ranger	Sister Christian	Guilty & A Little Ashamed	No

Great music awaits!

50 Artists you should be listening to and own at least one album!

Ok, I thought yesterday’s blog was fun and elicited some reaction from you, the sweet , gentle reader  and a few David Cassidy fans( ITILY ladies and possibly gentlemen) and also caused a bit of a stir on facebook as well.  So, let’s go and reverse the whip.

I will attempt to continue to WOW you with my vast musical knowledge and then silently judge you if you are not impressed with my musical prowess.  Just kidding, I would never judge you or your poor musical taste. 

I do think that there are some artists that transcend genres and have universal appeal.  Others have a loyal following and then have that one album that regales the masses and they are beloved for generations.  Some of us grew up on music and we think it is greatness based solely on the nostalgia for the time and place in which we first heard it.  And then there are music purist who likes a band /artist because they respect the lineage and the impact that they had on music.

I tend to be a bit of all of the above.  There are some artists that I like because there is some form of connectivity that I really can’t explain, while others are truly a moment in time that has endeared me to an artist, and then there is the whole musical heritage piece.  I am intrigued by the evolution of music and the artists that find themselves compelled to play.  As mentioned previously in a blog, I have no musical talent.  I do not play and instrument, I do not sing close to well, and I’ve never had aspirations to do either.  I simply love to listen to music. 

As much as I have a propensity to scorn/judge, in my humble opinion, awful music, I really respect the fact that those dreadful musicians had the nerve to attempt to play, at some point get signed, and were able to release an album or at the very least a single.  When it comes down to it, I don’t judge the horrific musicians as mercilessly as I judge the faction who listens and procures the music.

So, below is a listing of artists/bands that you should be listening to and would be in any reputable music collection.  

• Ryan Adams
• The Band
• The Beastie Boys
• The Beatles
• Beck
• The Black Crowes
• Jimmy Buffet (with love to Gwendolyn)
• Johnny Cash
• Eric Clapton
• Credence Clearwater Revival
• Drive-By Truckers
• Bob Dylan
• The Eagles
• Steve Earle
• Foo Fighters
• Pat Green
• Merle Haggard
• Ben Harper
• Jimi Hendrix
• Robert Earl Keen
• Led Zeppelin
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Dave Matthews Band
• John Mellencamp
• Metallica
• Willie Nelson
• Nirvana
• Pearl Jam
• Tom Petty
• Pink Floyd
• The Pixies
• Joe Purdy
• Radiohead
• R.E.M
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Rolling Stones
• Rush
• Paul Simon
• Sonic Youth
• Sound Garden
• Bruce Springsteen
• James Taylor
• Traveling Wilburys
• U2
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Wilco
• Whiskeytown
• The Who
• Neil Young
• ZZ Top

I just listed the artist and not the album or albums that you should be listening to and really own by said artist.  Also, I stopped at 50 and that took a considerable amount of restraint.

This is fundamentally meant to light the candle of thought and get you to think about your 50 artists.  If you only had 50 artists that you could listen to, who would they be?  Think of yourself as Tom Hanks in Cast Away and instead of Wilson the volleyball, you have an iPod with 50 artists and their entire catalog. 

So take some time, peruse the list and let me know who you would have added or deleted from the list or send me you complete list.

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Joseph Arthur!

Joseph Arthur is the singing /songwriting protégée of former Genesis front man and current world music guru Peter Gabriel.  Arthur was the first American recording artist singed to Gabriel’s Real World Records. 

 His 2000 release Come to Where I Am and the opening slot on tours with Ben Harper and Gomez helped Arthur attain a larger fan base.  He also briefly toured Europe with R.E.M. in 2004. 

 While Arthur’s name might be hazily familiar, you have probably heard one of his many songs on the following T.V. shows:

Scrubs	Dawson’s Creek	Grey’s Anatomy
The L Word	Without a Trace	As the World Turns
Numb3rs	Laguna Beach	Lie to Me
House M.D	True Blood	The O.C.
Friday Night Lights

 In addition to the litany of T.V. shows, his music also appears in the following movies:  

The Bone Collector	The Bourne Identity	Shallow Hal
American Wedding	Shrek 2

 Joseph Arthur Discography:

Albums	EP’s
Big City Secrets Come to Where I’m from Redemption’s Son Our Shadows Will Remain Nuclear Daydream Let’s Just Be Temporary People	Cut and Blind Vacancy Junkyard Hearts I-IV And the Thieves Are Gone Could We Survive Crazy Rain Vagabond Skies Foreign Girls

 Top 5 Joseph Arthur Songs:

1. In the Sun (Come To Where I Am)
2. Honey and the Moon (Redemption’s Son)
3. A Smile that Explodes (Our Shadows Will Remain)
4. The Real You (Come to Where I’m From)
5. Black Lexus (Nuclear Daydream)

In 2006, he created his own record label Lonely Astronaut Records.  In the same year, his song “In the Sun” was covered by Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) and Chris Martin (Coldplay) as a Hurricane Katrina relief EP.  The album is only available on iTunes and is 6 versions of the song with various artists including Justin Timberlake, Will.i.am, and Arthur himself. 

Check out Joseph Arthur at www.josepharthur.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QotZ7TIaztw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skjj16bUS2s

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9jzTQuflFw

Great music awaits!

Last night I pushed the bounds of parental responsibility!

Last night I pushed the bounds of parental responsibility.  I took my oldest son (14) to a State Radio concert at House of Blues in Dallas.  It was not the show that pushed the boundaries; it was the time at which he returned home.  And that time, dear, sweet, gentle reader was, after midnight.  Can you hear Eric Clapton playing as you read?  Why? You might ask.  Well, he had a song called, wait for it….. After Midnight!

And I digress!

So, back to the point, Cade and I have always shared a special musical bond.  As a baby, I would always have music playing and to get him to sleep, I would have to stand and rock him to R.E.M.’s “Everybody Hurts”.  As he got older, he became fascinated with the cadence and delivery of the Beastie Boys and Red Hot Chili Peppers.  Also, much like me, he would connect to certain lyrics and relate them to certain things in his life.  Most of what he shared, with me, was songs about fathers and sons, family, etc…. 

So, for the last fourteen years, I have had the pleasure of expanding his musical horizons and forming this unique bond.  I have taken proper measures to not, intentionally, prematurely expose him to inappropriate lyrics or subject matters.  At fourteen, he has yet to listen to any of my old school rap CD’s. 

Over the years, we have acquired quite a soundtrack to our lives.  He is open enough to initially listen to anything I play and independent enough to make his own informed decision of good or bad music.  Oddly enough, we tend to agree more than not.  The one glaring difference is the current radio friendly Pop and R&B music that he likes.  The difference there is more of an age and experience thing.  I’ve got Milli Vanilli to live down and he, too, will have his musical regrets.

Here is where I really get to the point!

The concert began at 8:00 and the Austin, Texas band Full Service, relatively promptly, took the stage and played an interesting 30 min. set.  Their sound was a combination of bombastic rock and quirky, yet endearing, stage personality.  After the first few songs, I warmed up to their sound.  However, 30 minutes was just enough time.  The kazoo song was funny and interactive with the crowd.

The same thing cannot be said for the second opening act, American Fang.  This band, out of Houston, Texas was torturous at best.  The lead singer pranced around and screamed while the skinny leg jean guitarist struck customary rock posses and feigned indifference to the crowd.  The music was redundant and lacked creative merit. 

State Radio was great and played about an hour and fifteen minutes and did a commendable job of offering tracks from each of their three full length albums.  Cade knew the words to every song and sang along while taking pictures and recording video with his phone.  This was our second time to see State Radio and Cade’s second concert.  You might recall, from a previous blog, that I took him to Austin City Limits Music Festival a few months back. 

So, last night, I kept my son out late, on a school night, and then, fed him McDonald’s at midnight.  Not exactly a Father Knows Best type move, but for one more day, I was still cool and relevant to him.  We shared an experience that I won’t forget and hope that he, too, holds dear. 

And, yes, he got another State Radio T shirt and a CD.  I might be totally irresponsible, but I’m not a jerk.

Great music awaits!