Top 2010 Songs

Here is my countdown of the ten best singles this year of 2010. It was a weak year for music but there were some salvageable tracks out there though I feel that there wasn't one big monster song that I'll recall as the years anthem.

10. Hollywood by Codeine Velvet Club
This band is fronted by the singer of Fratelis. it has a groovy 1960s vibe of something like a show tune.
9. Billionaire by Travie McCoy
Bruno Mars helped out on this little ditty of a song that in some respects is exactly how I often feel. The song is actually pretty shitty but it got stuck in my head enough to warrant top ten status.
8. Tighten Up by The Black Keys
Sounds like an old blue eyed soul number but it's really just a couple of dudes from Ohio.
7. Tatooine by Jeremy Messersmith
It's a little song that's really quite sweet on the ears. The construction paper video is also really cool, simple but cool.
6. California Girls by Katy Perry
This song was everywhere this past year and made east coast girls pissed off more than usual. Snoop Dogg lends his stoned vocals to this track making it better on the comedy scale. This song also had a crazy video that made me wonder about the sanity of Mrs. Russel Brand.
 5. Die By The Drop by The Dead Weather
This one sounds like being stoned. It's another organ heavy song featuring Jack White and the chick from the Kills.
4. Modern Man by The Watson Twins

Somber and sweet. This song got no notoriety but that's why this countdown is unique.

3. Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) by My Chemical Romance

The title is kind of a joke but the song seriously makes you want to raise your fist and chant along, this song is a crowd pleaser for sure!

2. Stylo by Gorillaz

Another song with guests cracking the top ten, this time it's Mos Def and bobby Womack. The Gorillaz gave us another hypnotizing track to groove to.

1. Bed Intruder by Antoine Dodson & The Gregory Brothers 

How could there be anything better than a clip taken from the news, given a beat, ran through pitch perfect and magic! This is the modern world, this is the age we live in, this is the number one!

Retro Concert? More, More, More!

As you know old washed up pop stars form decades past can now tour the reunion/nostalgia circuit and do well. I have been a contributor to this biz for the past few years starting when me and some friends took on what was a true wonder, Van Halen. Our hopes for the show ranged from wondering what the hell we were doing going to see a bunch of fifty year olds play songs that at best were 25 years old to being totally amped for some real rock! What we got were all the hits, played with great professionalism and a great time; Hot For Teacher, Runnin' With The Devil, Unchained . . . all were just so damn good to hear live! This experience led to rocking shows like Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, Iron Maiden that did not disappoint; you get to hear all the famous songs and a couple new ones that aren't so bad. There's no sitting around to here one or two songs; they are all good. Recently I went to another one of these shows and bore witness to Billy Idol.

Homeboy delivered a show that back in 1990 would have been a total fantasy. He's still an ass but knows it's his bread and butter. mercifully he didn't play his biggest hit, Cradle of Love which surely caused some folks to be disappointed but I've always hated that song as it's sort of too much of the pop rock. Instead we got his cover of L.A. Woman from the Charmed Life album.
Rock n' roll is a fantasy and these bands are putting on fantasy shows that take us back to a time that is heightened by our own interpretation of the past, our own emotions connected with the music of our youth (unless you're one of those kids being dragged to the show by their parent). Part of me thinks this is sad because Rock is supposed to be young, dirty and dangerous and what we get is the too old to go crazy version. This however is better than what the kids are putting out there today, I mean Neon Trees are supposed to be a rock band but they don't rock and they just sound like a poppier rendition of The Strokes. They are the Cradle of Love to White Wedding. So while the young folks struggle to get it up let the old guys bring it harder!

Hold it! Come to think of reunion shows, my first was back in 1989 when I saw The Who's 25th anniversary show; it was alright, better for the experience than being a fan. There were so many drunk dudes who are my age now there; the circle is complete.

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 46

You will experince the rocking highs of Mt. AC/DC and Peaks of Damone and you will be then dropped into the Abyss Hall & Oates, you will swim through the Sea of Nightrain and a Blue Bayou. Wandering the dark valleys where Siouxsie & The Banshees sing you run from the Wolfmother! Alas it's all a fantasy under strict control of he Dream Police!
Enjoy because I am a dork!

1. That's The Way I wanna Rock & Roll by AC/DC

This almost a lost track in the lexicon of AC/DC, maybe it was because it was contending with more energetic songs of the late 80s

2. Dream Police by Cheap Trick

Epic, synth rocker!  I saw them in 1988 and they did a great show!

3. What Girls Want by Material Issue

It's a funny song and sort of right on

4. Aweful by Hole

I'm not sure which rock star wrote this song for Courtney Love but it is the bands best song. It's a sick overview of being a young girl in Hollywood

5. Out Here All Night by Damone

Boston Rocks! I was delighted and intregued when I first heard this song; it has ballz! Welcome Damone!

6. I Turn My Camera On by Spoon

This song is flacid and a way to shill after too much guitars

7.The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill by The Beatles

Why this song? It's kind of like a kids song; it has a sing along  and sounds cute.

8. Maneater by Hall & Oates

Smooth sax, keyboards, distinct bass . . . this is almost background music for porn but wound up being a top ten hit.

9. No Shelter by Rage Against The Machine

Starts off smooth but gets very agro quickly. This was the best thing about the 1998 Godzilla movie.

10.Live Wire by Mötley Crüe

This is the beginning of a band that got huge, besides the various Tommy Lee, drum stupidy at the end of the song it was one of the groups best tracks.

11.Knock On Wood by Morningwood

Covering disco is a very clever thing indeed

12.Nightrain by Guns N' Roses

Some songs have a life of their own, this song is one of them; it lives in it's own universe of cheap booze

13.Trains to Brazil by Guillemots

Because the Nightrain is a bit too much for some the Train to Brazil is much more nice

14.Disappear by INXS

There is nothing wrong with loving Austrailia's second greates band. They make the people want to dance!

15.Sorry by Buckcherry

Somebody told these guys that singing about partying was nice and all but you have to show the world that there's more to you than that. So Josh and boys wrote a song and apologized for it.

16.Mysteries by Yeah Yeah Yeahs

From the excellent Show Your Bones album.

17.Life Is Sweet by The Start

An L.A. band that is crazy sounding and feels very influenced by the band that follows

18.Love in a Void by Siouxsie & The Banshees

Young and angry and in love, Goth punk at a high level

19.Blue Bayou by Linda Ronstadt

I know it's a Roy Orbison song but I prefer to think of it as hers

20.Haven't Got a Clue by Dramarama

The call in the beginning of the song is from a prankster who harassed a bartender and recorded it. It's horribly funny.

21.Woman by Wolfmother

If you knew me when this song was hot you were annoyed at how much I listened to this Black Sabbath influenced piece. It rocks but alas they never got this bad ass again.

22.We Will Rock You by Queen

Thank you Queen for existing

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 45

 Many new bands on this little guy right here, well new for 2005. This was the first mix made in 2006 and it seems I was looking out for new bands and sticking with the  gold!


1. Gold Lion by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
From one of the best albums of 2006! Karen O shows off her Siouxie pipes in this one.
2.The Passenger by Siouxie & The Banshees
It's a Goth sing along!
3. Departures by Medelia
This is sweeping music complete with agonized vocals
4. Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac
One of the top five breakup songs of all time
5. Jetsetter by Morningwood
Quality pop rock
6. American Gigolo by Weezer
This is kinda' a rocker that turns into typical Weezer. They also throw a little Welcome To The Jungle in it.
7. It's So Easy by Guns N' Roses
So much fire power and attitude. So angry, so horny, so young
8.Growing Up With GNR by Aqueduct
A friend sent this song to me a s a gift; it's cool
9. Prepare for the Fight by The Lovemakers
Bay Area band with keay boards and boy and girl singers, very 80s
10.Send ME an Angel '89 by Real Life
Speaking of keyboards this one haunts us with them
11.Dirty Harry by Gorillaz
This is the chill out song of the mix
12.I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor by Arctic Monkeys
The Arctic Monkeys were supposed to be the next big thing and dubbed the best teenage band in the world
13.Shake by Yin Yang Twins feat. Pitbull
Even I want to dance to this song
14.Bam Bam Sister Nancy
If you love music and know music you love this song or maybe you heard it in an [Adult Swim] promo.
15.Galang by M.I.A.
Before she blew up with Paper Planes
16.Don't Run Wild by The Del Fuegos
Mid 80s Boston Rock!
17.Touch, Peel, Stand by Days of the New
There's areally good rock "Yeah!" in this post grunge era grunge song.
18.Arbeit Macht Frei by The Libertines
Translates to "work will set you free"
19.Outsiders by Franz Ferdinand
This is a little funky and a little trippy but mostly white
20.Cosmopolitan by Nine Black Alps
This band was also supposed to be the next big thing five years ago.
21.Stutter by Elastica
A band that came and went so fast they didn't even say goodbye
22.88 Lines About 44 Women by The Nails
Ending a mix with comedy is always a good thing

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 44

This is an 80s heavy mix with three songs from 1981 alone, can you figure out which ones? The newer songs in this mix are weak but that is bound to happen so we can enjoy the past more. Listen and enjoy the songs; they're all available for down load someplace.

1. The Queen Is Dead by the Smiths
A song about being drag
2. Bright Yellow Gun by Throwing Muses
A great little band from Providence
3. Jessie's Girl by Rick Springfield
His biggest hit and a song that still speaks to covetous men today!
4. Suck My Kiss by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This is what the Chili peppers are really all about in the end
5. Rock Show by Peaches
Not her best effort but it's kinda' fun
6. Hung Up by Madonna
Danceable as always
7. Heroes by David Bowie
One of his best. There's some neat production on this.
8. Love To hate You by Erasure
I think this is my favorite Erasure song
9. Rock & Roll Queen by The Subways
This song was in an awful movie called RocknRolla
10.Heartbreaker by Pat Benatar
She was a rocker chick inthe first degree but then she got soft on us and ran with shadows
11.The Stroke by Billy Squier
Really it's just funny that there's a song called The Stroke.

Before Kip Winger there was Billy Squier

 
12.Just Like Honey by The Jesus and Mary Chain
More like, just like heroin
13.Crimson and Clover by Joan Jett
Like always Joan nails her covers
14.This Boy by Franz Ferdinand
A little spinner of a song
15.Johnny and Mary by Robert Palmer
Somber stories from the man who would bring us, Simply Irresistible and Addicted To Love
16.Different Drum Linda Ronstadt with The Stone Poneys
Linda was breaking hearts before she hooked up with Governor Jerry Brown
17.I'm Not A Loser by Descendants
What is this song about? Read the lyrics and you figure it out.
18.Girls Attractive by Diamond Nights
I bet there are people who like this song much more than I do.
19.The Love Cats by The Cure
One of their best tunes! Chicks dig it!
20.The Witch by The Cult
When 80s goth rock bands trip into the 90s with a drum loop this happens
21.In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins
A favorite for years and maybe Phil's best song, he hadn't gone all Sussudio on us. Recently it's been heard and loved in The Hangover

Dead Stars: Lesie Nielsen

 RIP Leslie

Cinematic comic classic, Leslie Nielsen passed away on Sunday November 28 from Pneumonia complications. He will be remembered for his off the wall portrayals of the Naked Gun cop Frank Drebin and the ridiculous doctor from the Airplane! movies.
Picking one moment , one joke is really too tough as there were so many hilarious so enjoy this!

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 43

Happy Thanksgiving you Jive Turkeys
There are some odd 808s gems dug up and given to you from me but that's because I was searching for songs I used to kind of like. What's strange to me is that some of the new songs Nth Degree and Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt and Chords have an 80s feel.

find these songs and enjoy

1. Beat So Lonely by Charlie Sexton
Later Charlie went on to form the Arch Angels
2. Nth Degree by Morning Wood
Welcome to the mixes Morningwood
3. Gold Dust Woman by Fleetwood Mac
This is creepy song; it kind of gets in the skin. IS this the first Fleetwood Mac song to be tossed in here? It might be.
4. Life's What you Make It by Talk Talk
This is the other song released by the band who brought you, It's My Life
5. New Year's Day by U2
This song makes me cold
6. Chords by Madelia
From the "good song you've never heard" department
7. Llorando by Rebeka Del Rio
Featured in the film Mulholland Drive in a very freaky scene

8. And We Danced by The Hooters

As far as I know they have nothing to to do with the restaurant

9. Give me Novacaine by Green Day

I don't know why they spelled incorrectly but they did

10.Evil and a Heathen by Franz Ferdinand

They used to call songs like these, "deep tracks"

11.Got The Time bu Joe Jackson

When you listen to the speed of this song it makes perfect sense that Anthrax covered it.

12.Los Angeles by X

She had to leave Los Angeles but alas she never did

13.The Stand by The Alarm

Some people called them the next U2

14.City Noise by Scarling

More Goth rock!

15.Let the Music Do The talking by Aerosmith

I don't think they were totally clean at this moment as this was from the album right before Permanent Vacation.

16.Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt by We Are Scientists

A song about being young and lusty

17.What Katie Did by The Libertines

British garage band rock

18.You're So Vain by Carly Simon

That sun of a gun, Warren Beatty never felt so loved

19.Plowed by Sponge

Kind of dark and nebulous in meaning

20.Sneakyville by The Lmonheads

This song is apparently all Charles Manson quotes but I can't confirm this

21.Lawyers In Love by Jackson Brown
A great song about the 80s that includes a good howl and witty lyrics

Mouth Breather Hall of Fame

So far the mouth breather hall of fame includes three members:

Darth Vader

Napoleon Dynamite

 Eli Manning

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 42

Sometimes I look at Mixes and I wonder what and why and if but then I realize I juts like music and I have a part of me that needs to organize things I like. Listen and enjoy.


1. When The Levee Breaks by Led Zeppelin
This was added just to pay tribute to Hurricane Katrina, the real body of the mix starts after this
2. You May Be Right by Billy Joel
Back in the late 70s and very early 80s Billy Joel was cool and even then he was getting into accidents involving motorized transportation.
3. Do You Want To by Franz Ferdinand
The first single from their second album was very well received by me. I know they were involved in some shady record label payola scams but that's entertainment.
4. Mr. Brownstone by Guns N' Roses 
Yea, this song is about drugs. If you didn't know that, you don't know Diddly
5. Roadhouse Blues by The Doors
One of my all time Karaoke favorites
6. Little Ghost by The White Stripes
What can I say; it's a cheery little ditty.
7. Wax Ecstatic (To Sell Angelina) by Sponge
This is what happens when a band tries to sound like a band who sounds like another band.
8. Diamonds from Sierra Leone by Kanye West featuring Jay-Z
Years before he was called a jackass by Obama
9. Reason Is treason by Kasabian
I can't recall why I forced myself to listen to this band
10.Taste The Pain by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Definitely one of their best songs 
11.Helena by My Chemical Romance
Gothic pop never made so much money, Siouxi Sioux and Peter Murphy send their regards
12.Give In by The Bravery
Boring single that is on this mix because I felt like using another moody band after My Chemical Romance
13.What's My Name by Snoop Doggy Dogg
Before he dropped the "Doggy" and back when he was supposed be a gangster.
14.Pon de Replay by Rihanna
I assumed she was going to be a one hit wonder, most Caribbean acts are, right?
15.Watching The Detectives by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Kinda' reggae but mostly clever and British
16.Electric Avenue by Eddy Grant
He had a career in the UK before this song was plugged in her in the US; he was already 35 when this tune broke in 1983. Kinda Caribbean but mostly British wit.
17.C'mer by Interpol
New York's finest
18.Wake Up by Arcade Fire
These guys write epic songs
19.Valerie Loves Me by Material Issue
Power pop from Chicago! Their singer Jim Ellison committed suicide in1996.
20.Dirty Water by Dropkick Murphys
The best song about Boston finally covered by a Boston band. Some hip hop guy should have wrote a New Orleans rap and sampled the original.

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 41

 2005 going on and going sorta' strong. Enjoy the sounds and such

1. Danger! High Voltage by Electric Six
This is a fake band with Jack White singing back up vocals
2. Love Buzz by Nirvana
Very early Nirvana
3. Jesus Walks by Kanye West
I think this was before he said George W. Bush didn't like black people 
4. Christian, Christian by The Start
This is what an independent Los Angeles band sounds like
5. Tear You Apart by She Wants Revenge
This is what we're supposed to think an independent L.A. band is supposed to sound like
6. Satisfaction by Benny Benassi & The Bizz
You know this songs from dance clubs and burger commercials
7. Everybody Wants You by Billy Squier
Wellesley MA.'s own rock star.
8. Kick It by Peaches & Iggy Pop
Some duets are better but few are as weirdly entertaining
9. Don't Go by Yaz
This song is not by Red Sox great Carl Yestremski butu by a couple of U.K. musicians
10.Rite Of Shiva by Machines Of Loving Grace
Machines of Loving Grace filled the void while Nine Inch Nails were busy touring and recording new material
11.Dare by Gorillaz
Listen close as the former Happy Mondays singer lends his Manchester vocals to this track
12.Oh! Darling by The Beatles
Short and sweet
13.Glamour Is a Rocky Road by My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult
 This band was edgy at one point
14.Save It For Later by The English Beat
Ska flavored pop
15.Holding Out For A Hero, Bonnie Tyler
She had another hit besides Total Eclipse of the Heart and this epic, over the top work out tempo song was it
16.America, Fuck Yeah by Team America
From the movie, Team America
17.Eleanor Put Your Boots On by Franz Ferdinand
Is Brooklyn dirt nice?
18.Fisherman's Blues by The Waterboys
A modern day folk song.
19.I've Been Everywhere by Johnny Cash
As heard in commercials
20.The Denial Twist by The White Stripes
More stripped down rock
21.Skin by Madelia
This is what mid decade San Francisco bands sounded like . . . not really. They put on a great live show.
22.The Boys of Summer by Don Henley
I have to say that this song is undeniable in it's somberness that transcends your musical biases.

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 40

This weeks mix was a 2005 creation. We start with Gn'R welcoming us to the jungle and finish with Jane's tucking us in at night. In between there is a lot of classic songs and dance music.

Enjoy 

1. Welcome To The Jungle by Guns N' Roses
This is where it all began for most Americans, this where the face of rock n' roll changed for a few years until Kirk Cobain showed up. 
2. Peace Frog by The Doors
"Bloody red sun of fantastic L.A." This line confuses everybody from L.A.
3. Entertain by Sleater-Kinney
This song is loud and crazy, maybe one of my top ten songs by an all woman or woman fronted rock band.
4. Over The Hills And Far Away by Led Zeppelin
Sometimes this is the perfect Led Zeppelin song: light, playful acoustic guitar that eventually becomes loud and crunching electric
5. Ask by The Smiths
 Another wonderful song by the Smiths that could only been written in the 80s, remember, "Shyness is nice and shyness can stop you from doing all the things in life you'd like to"
6. My Doorbell by The White Stripes
 One good ditty deserves another. Some people think this is the best song from the Get Behind Me Satan album
7. Five Feet High And Rising by Johnny Cash
Songs about floods aren't common in rock or pop but here's a good one. So good De La Soul sampled it.
8. It's A Wonderful Life by Sparklehorse
It's a wonderful song, rest in peace Mark Linkous.
9. Feel Good Inc. by Gorillaz
Are your ready to dance? The Gorillaz second album was psycho trippy dance jam that was much better than it should have been
10.I Am Superman by R.E.M.
 Off the Life's Rich Pageant this was the last album R.E.M. put out before they blew up with The One I Love.
11.The God Ones by The Kills
Average and okay song but it works here
12.Technologic by Daft Punk
Because you love to boogie and you love robot voices telling you what to do.
13.Girl U Want by Devo
Were they really ahead of their time?
14.Gangsters and Thugs by Transplants
This has a good groove. Tim Armstrong's follow up band to Rancid never got huge but they had some good songs
15.Monkey Wrench by Foo Fighters
There's a lot of emotion on all these songs off The Colour and The Shape.
16.Time To Waste by Alkaline Trio
 Not much to say about this one
17. Velouria by Pixies
Remember when the Pixies were the future of rock? No?
18.Processed Beats by Kasabian
Danceable rock from the U.K.
19.Under Pressure by Queen w/David Bowie
One of the great songs of all time and THIS was one of the best performances of that song but with Annie Lennox
20.Lose Control by Missy Elliot & Fat Man Scoop
There's a lot of frenetic energy in this jam
21.Classic Girl by Jane's Addiction
When you start with an L.A. band sometimes you have to finish with an L.A. band

So long Sparky

Baseball managing great Sparky Anderson has passed away at 76. He won two world Series with the Cincinnati Reds in 1975 and 1976, a team that is always debated as the top National League team of all time. In 1984 he won the Series with the Detroit Tigers becoming the first manager to ever win a World Series in both leagues. He had a quick hook when it came to taking his pitchers out of the game but that's how baseball is played now.

RIP Sparky

Champions!

A total shocker! The San Francisco Giants are World Series Champions!

They did it with great pitching and timely hitting. They did it with all the right managerial moves. They made the rangers look tired and slow.

Congratulations!

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 39

 Here is a mix that was fairly up to day when it was made in 2005. It includes one of my favorite songs from 2004 including Portions for Foxes; a dark little ditty. We explore another track from The White Stripes' Get Behind Me Satan  album which almost seems like classic rock at this point.


Enjoy!

1. Bullet With Butterfly Wings by Smashing Pumpkins
"The world is a Vampire", Billy Corgan didn't have his coffee that morning or so I'm guessing but then again he's diva
2. Black Tambourine by Beck
This little Scientologist jam kind of makes me want to dance
3. I Hate the Way you Love by The Kills
All their songs sound the same
4. 99 Problems by Danger Mouse feat. Jay-Z
From the infamous Grey Album. The Beatles got mashed up with Jay-Z; it so good.
5. Portions for Foxes by Rilo Kiley
Sung by former child actor Jenny Lewis, this is a song about being lonely and having an empty soul
6. Take, Take, Take by The White Stripes
Obsession is bad, bad, bad thing
7. Mother Mother by Tracy Bonham
A 90's one hit wonder, the former Berklee College of Music student goes pop rock. It's a good song about being on your own for the first time.
8. Vertigo by The Libertines
America had The Stroke and England had The Libertines
9. Crispin Glover by Scarling
L.A.'s own little goth pop band. I saw them live in 2005 and they played really well.
10.NYC by Interpol
New York City's own Joy Division  that has a bassist that looks like Crispin glover . . . do you get the progression?
11.Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division
If it's not love it's impending fame
12.Misty Mountain Hop by Led Zeppelin
Classic rock that is supposedly about a walk in the park. I love the organ in the beginning, it sounds like jet travel.
13.Freedom Fighters by The Music
 A random song that I assume was bigger in the UK than here.
14.The Rooster by Outkast
This is a hot jam from the Speaker Box and The Love Below
15.No One Knows by Queens of the Stone Age
The ever changing line up of QotSA makes me wonder a lot about the band.
16.I Hope, I Think, I know by Oasis
 This was an overlooked gem on Oasis's highly anticipated album, Be Here Now.  The album was overripe and self indulgent but this song is short and simple. They even reference Wonderwall.
17.Sometimes Always by The Jesus & Mary Chain
Alternative rock started to put out duets in 1994 a sure sign of a genre's demise. Hope Sandoval from MAzzy Star lends her sweet lazy vocals to this tune
18.Rodeohead by Hard 'N Firm
Chris Hardwick of Singled Out and Web Soup was in this odd little band and made a very good Radiohead medley, country blue grass style.
19. Crawl Straight Home by HorrorPops
Rockabilly done modern
20.Goodbye Stranger by Supertramp
I used to get Heart and Supertramp mixed up when I was a little kid; i think I thought the singer was a woman. A song about love on the road, real problems that none of us have to deal with.

2010 World Series

So my predictions weren't correct, in fact they were dead wrong but I am OK with that. So this year we will have the Texas Rangers facing off with the San Francisco Giants for the baseball championship.
Congratulations to both teams! The Rangers are going into their first World Series ever while the Giants are looking for their first championship since they moved from New York back in the 1950s, longer than the Texas franchise has existed.

The way I see it is this, the Giants can win if their pitching stays sharp continuing to be very hard to score off of. Their hits will come and will probably scrape out between two and four runs a game. the Rangers on the other hand will win if they score more than four runs; there will be no tight games of 9 to 8. Texas has the neutralizer of Cliff lee who should be capable of shutting down the Giants' bats but who knows; they aren't a team that relies on the long ball and every run they get is a miracle so that strategy may still work. Pat the Rangers' starters I recall their being some bullpen problems which could also come into play in the late innings.
So to reiterate, if Texas starts hitting dingers regularly, forget about it, the Rangers will clobber San Francisco but if the Giants maintain it will be very tough. Don't expect Cody Ross to continue his post season power surge and don't expect the Giants pitching to walk three batters intentionally; they're made of tougher stuff than the Yankees as they know they can't rely on a juiced up Cano Home Run, a moon shot by mouth breathing Texiera or a disingenuous round tripper from A-Fraud.
To me this doesn't seem like a Series with a foregone conclusion; it could be combination of Texas tee offs and San Francisco Torture.

Good Luck guys!

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 38

There is a lot of huge songs on this mix and a lot of oldies in respect to the time the mix was made. There are only two songs from same decade which is against my current way of thinking which requires more modern tracks with old highlights that show genre and influence.

listen and enjoy

1. Rio by Duran Duran

This is what star power is all about, only a band like Duran Duran could pull off a song like this and make it seem awesome, only a band like this could do a video like this with Simon Le Bon riding the bowsprit.

2. Communication Breakdown by Led Zeppelin

So powerful, heavy and fast this song was when it came out in 1969 that it caused the Beatles to break up.

3. Barracuda by Heart

And while we're on the topic of powerful and heavy, this song goes the full distance! Rocking out full bore!

4. How Soon Is Now? by The Smiths

Some have labeled the best song of 1980s and I don't disagree. While initially I found this song morose and depressing, I couldn't resist it's sonic beauty. Johnny Marr's guitar work is beautiful factories, passing cars and emotional. It is a song that never charted in the states by a band that wasn't even as popular as The Cure but there's nothing else like it. Not even U2, R.E.M or Guns n' Roses could accomplish something like this.

5. New Model No. 15 by Marylin Manson

He can suck it a smile, not bad. Apparently he has adult film talent singing in the background but all I hear is Marylin's whiny bark.

6. Draw Your Breaks by Scotty

After all that power guitar we're taking it mellow and to the Caribbean island of Jamaica.

7. Here Comes the Hotstepper by Ini Kamoze

This is a feelgood song not in the way that makes you walk on sunshine but the kind that makes you feel cooler than shit and strut.

8. Wrong Way by Sublime

A song about hooking up with a girl who has unfortunate family issues by a guy who OD'd twice in the same tenderloin hotel. Rest in Peach Bradley.   

9. Roots Radicals by Rancid

Even though they were from The East Bay they always seemed more British than their contemporaries, Green Day and Offspring.

10.What' I Say, Pt 1 by Ray Charles  

Some of the best organ in popular music, ever. The groove and rhythm travel and get the blood in motion.

11.Hey Sailor by The Detroit Cobras

I've never seen this band live but I have heard they smoke more cigarettes than any other band. this is whiskey lovin' blues rock.

12.Daddy Never understood by Deluxx Folk Implosion

Straight ahead loud from the notorious motion picture, Kids.

13.Sing Your Life by Morrissey

I thought this was a happy song when I first heard it but that's the way it is with the best song from this man.

14.Jesus Christ Pose by Soundgarden

Let us return now to crazy guitars that rip up the fabric of reality, dig into your mind and demand satisfaction. Chris Cornel used to be such bad ass motherfuckin' singer and then fame happened.

15.Big Empty by Stone Temple Pilots

This was the song that made STP  cool to me. I didn't quite bond with the first album but this tune was soulful, bluesy and huge and available on the Crow soundtrack as well as the bands second album.

16.It's Only Rock n' Roll (But I like It) by The Rolling Stones

Classic rock must be represented. I must have been real hot for this song at the time I made the mix because I rarely ever play it. Maybe I just needed a song.

17.Jealous Again by The Black Crows

I hated this song for years, I hated this band for almost as long as I hated the song but I mellowed and realized it wasn't that bad.

18.Portland, Oregon by Loretta Lynn and Jack White

Some people said this was their favorite song from 2004 but I disagree. It is a good tune about gin drinking though.

19.Where Did You Sleep Last Night by Nirvana

  When Nirvana's Unplugged album came out I told myself I wouldn't buy it unless the Leadbelly cover was on it. The amount of pain and agony Kurt Cobain emotes through his voice is enough to make you shutter and almost agree to help him pull the trigger.

20.Hey, Hey, My My (Into The Black) by Neil Young

This is the story of Johnny Rotten or at least that what Neils says and who knows, maybe it is but if you read or heard Kurt Cobain's suicide note you know that he incorporated it into his rock n' roll story.

Dead Stars: Tom Bosley

Actor Tom Bosley passed away on October 19th at age 83. He played the iconic role of Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days, an old school dad who was constantly being tested by the subversive 1950s. Coming along in the 1970s he wasn't the innovator of TV fathers but he did have staying power, 11 seasons worth.

RIP Tom Bosley

 TV Guide ranked him number 9 on the all time TV father list which isn't bad. In comparison to how TV fathers have recently been portrayed recently (Homer Simpson, Don Draper, Peter Griffin) his traditional character is a breath of fresh air as he doesn't destroy the house, he doesn't bone all the girls at the office, endanger his families lives or come up with hair brained schemes to get rich quick. Howard Cunningham was a no bull, hardware store owner who just wanted to come home from work to an appreciative family and a steak.

In addition Mr. Bosley also won a Tony award in 1959 and co starred on Murder She Wrote.

Dead Stars: Barbara Billingsley

Barbara Billingsley died Saturday at the age of 94. If nothing else she set the standard for TV house wives in the 1950s and 1960s on the hit show Leave It To Beaver. High heels and pearls were the look all the time, very impressive for a stay at home mom who has degenerated since then.

RIP Barbara

Here's the deevolution of housewives for those of you who don't see it. If we start with Mrs. Cleaver out next step would be:

  Carrol Brady: She started off like Mrs. Cleaver but along with the rest of her family got a little groovy at the 1970s shook their peaceful Californian living. This house mother wore pants and did a lot less house work as she had her live in servant/carpet muncher Alice.

Next we took a weird lateral move in the 70s and 80s where the housewife was replaced with a servant lie Mrs. Garrett so her feelings and sexuality didn't need to be addressed unless we were faced with a very uncomfortable very special episode. There was no Mr. Garrett so we must assume she was either a widow or a liar. The possibility that Mr. Garret left her ass for a sexy french maid is also up for deabte.

Suddenly when things looked hopeless Claire Huxtable popped up! She was a Lawyer or a Doctor or something that netted a lot of money; she had a lot of children and seemed to take good care of that big house. I don't recall a servant ever getting shown out the back door.  Kudos to the 80s, right?

Wrong! We then got slapped with the reality of the typical housewife who was angry, bitter and not a very good housekeeper. In addition she couldn't even keep her ass thin for her man. The appearance of Rosanne caused men all over to balk at the prospect of getting hitched and having kids as this bite of reality was a bit too much.

Somehow our housewife suddenly took all the laziness and bitterness of Roseanne and decided she was a prostitute. Peg Bundy the horny, inappropriately dressed stay at home mom set the bar for the girls who teenagers when they first saw her and is many ways responsible for the rash of Real Housewives.

The Horror, the horror, the horror!

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 37

There's not a lot of modern music on this mix even for the year it was made in 2005 but there is a lot of British music.

enjoy the exploration

1. Epic by Faith No More
Before the word "Epic" became synonymous with annoying exaggeration this song was nnown for wacked out it's video, this was one of the first rap/rock bands to make a splash in the mainstream.
2. Nuthin' But A "G" Thang by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg
Classic rap from a man who is becoming the Axl Rose of the hip hop world; it's been 17 years since this album came out.
3. Higher Ground by Red Hot Chili Peppers
This was the bands MTV breakthrough from 1989. Stevie Wonder's original never dreamed of big drums like these.
4. My Friend Goo by Sonic Youth
What is this song about? Some say it's a bout a the dumb poser girls who go to rock shows and some say it's about a bitter slut.
5. Boogie Shoes by K.C. & The Sunshine Band
Having just bought the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack used and cheap I began to revisit an album I listened to all the time when I was 5 years old; it still sounds good.
6. You Can Get It If you Really Want by Jimmy Cliff
Music from the 1972 film, The Harder They Come. I've never seen it.
7. Jive Talkin' by Bee Gees
This is one of the rare disco era Bee Gees that's more groovy than over the top disco; it;s also from Saturday Night Fever
8. No Wow by The Kills
Every song the Kills do sounds just like this. Alison Mosshart went on to be in The Dead Weather with Jack White.
9. Blue Orchid by The White Stripes
And speak of the devil, Jack White appears with his first band. Listening to the vocals I often wonder if this song is a joke. For the record this mix was made years before the Dead Weather existed which goes to prove that there is a cosmic unconsciousness.
10.Molly's Lips by Nirvana
Catchy, catchy, catchy grunge pop, change the music and it could be a song from the 60s
11.Sign Your Name by Terence Trent D'Arby
The ballad that followed the hit Wishing Well, Mr. D'Arby proves he has a heart.
12.Like Glue by Sean Paul
He will not play number two and that's all I can understand in this dance hall song.
13.We 'A' Rockers by Inner Circle
Continuing our Jamaican music we have the theme to Rockers  a movie I Know I saw in the theater in 1978 because people tell me I have. Rockers is the other reggae movie.
14.Alright by Supergrass
This band was third part of the Brit pop invasion of the mid 90s following Blur and Oasis
15.Main Offender by The Hives
More rock from the land of Thor and Odin. I wonder if these guys got beat up by the death metal guys?
16.Weirdo by The Charletons
Manchester, so much to answer for. This is from the sophomore album by the band that were second only to the Stone Roses . . . and maybe the Happy Mondays in that rock sub genre. The Charlatans  however made more records than all of them with a much longer career.
17.Lost In The Plot by The Dears
This song wants to be a Smith's song so bad. Canadian rock sometimes comes through but . . .
18.I Started Something I Couldn't Finish by The Smiths
there's nothing quite like the real thing. Off the bands final album, Morrissey croons the line, "Typical Me, Typical Me, Typical Me", it's funny.
19.There She Goes by The La's
This song was bigger than the band and that's why they never put out another album. I can think of at least two covers of this song but the original is still the best. I saw The La's play a free show at the Hatch Shell in Boston in 1991.
20.Porcupine by Mary's Danish
Grunge era rock that wasn't grunge but still encapsulated the early 90s angst and "irony".
21.Missing by Beck
Kind of a trippy Latin number but not quite; it's a weird one
22.Vasoline by Stone Temple Pilots
This song is better in retrospect than it was at the time, like most of STP. I mean that in a good way. When Velvet Revolver performed this song it rocked a bit harder than this which is awesome!



23.Rat Velvet by Lemonheads
Boston Punk from the mid 80s
24.Moonlight Drive by The Doors
A dark song and a pretty song that ends our mix smooth.

American League Championship 2010

The American League will come down to the Western Division champs, the Texas Rangers playing the Wild Card New York Yankees. Both Teams can swat the ball pretty good and both a have a killer number one starter in their pitching rotation. So I would suppose that this series may come down to everything else. Who can be more patient at the plate who's bullpen stays strong.
Will Alex Rodriguez, the recently voted most dishonest man in baseball be able to hit or refrain from some manner of cheating? Can Vladimir Guerrero's knees hold up? Will Cliff Lee continue to toy with Yankees hitters like he did in last year's World Series? Is Andy Pettite healthy?
The biggest modifier is the Yankees experience in the post season; they won it all last year and many of the players have been in the playoffs a dozen times. It's passion versus professionalism.
I'm picking the Yankees in Six.

National League Championship 2010

So we got the formidable Philadelphia Phillies versus the scrappy San Francisco Giants vying for the National league pennant.

Watching the teams play should be a throw back to the lat 1960s when pitching dominating everything, the scores should be low and the dram tight. I expect to see games that have 2-1 finals and are decided withing the first inning or not until after the starter is done, I expect a couple games to be decided by a Phillie's bomb in extra innings, I expect the Giants to score a run or two they shouldn't.
The first game will be a showcase of awesome pitching with National League strikeout king Tim Lincecum and 21 game winner Roy Halladay hopefully bringing their Ace stuff to the mound.

I also expect the the Phillies to win in 5 games due to their tremendous line up, almost all of them can go deep at any time an area which the Giants seem a little anemic. The games will be close and tough.

C'mon Dave, Give me a break

Diamond David Lee Roth is 56 today, happy birthday to one of the great front men and mad men of Rock n' Roll! He swings from cables, does back flips, round house kicks, jumping splits, howls and croons; it doesn't get much better. Beginning in the 70s he helped but a face on California hard rock with Van Halen bringing more bombast and sex appeal than anybody ever wanted

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 36

In earlyish 2005 it came from someplace somewhere. It's not cutting edge but it has some good music. Listen and enjoy.


1. Synchronicity by Police
The Opening track is the opening track from one of the all time great albums, Synchronicty 
2. You Know Who You Are? by Nine Inch Nails
It was exciting that this came out but at the same time it was the end of the road
3. The Kids Are Alright by The Who
Not a bad song but that's okay
4. The Hardest Button To Button by The White Stripes
Thump,thump, thump, that's the song along with some funny lyrics
5. E-Pro by Beck
Little groovy song
6. Love Me by Eek-A-Mouse
This a weird song that I've always liked
7. God's Cop by Happy Mondays
Embracing a dance movement before their; this song gets some Disco down
8. Sprosten Green by The Charlatans
this is the more upbeat U.S. mix, shorter, better
9. New Moon On Monday by Duran Duran
 What is this song about?
10.Smile Like You Mean It by The Killers
The band that wanted to be Duran Duran . . . but Simon LeBon never went solo
11.True Faith -(94) by New Order
This song always made me curious
12.She Watch Channel Zero?! by Public Enemy
One of the genre changing greats
13.Whip It by Devo
The 80s were all about whipping it
14.Hip Hop Star by Beyoncé
Big Big Boi and Sleep Brown help out the diva on this one
15.Daddy Rolling Stone by The Forty-Fives
Good song, lame band
16.Pretty Noose by Soundgarden
Post grunge Soundgarden was a little flacid but this one was decent
17.Tell Me Something Good by Rufus
Funkytime fun
18.Float On by Modest Mouse
One Hit Wonder?
19.Night Moves by Bob Seger
A song about being young and trying get some action
20.I Believe in a thing Called Love by The Darkness
Bring back the glamorous Rock after it had seemed to disappear for a while

Baseball Playoffs 2010

So I made some predictions at the end of Spring Training which were not totally correct, let's examine them.

American League Division leaders: Predicted vs. Reality
A.L. East:Yankees/Rays
A.L. Central: Twins/Twins
A.L. West: Rangers/Mariners
A.L. Wild Car: Red Sox/Yankees
Excuses: I fell under the media spell of the Mariners being a good team and that was dumb. The Red Sox should have made it but the whole team became crippled and they just couldn't play through the adversity. The Rangers are a surprise with Vladimir Guerero coming back to life as some sort of undead Designated Hitter. As far as the Twins are concerned they are the best of the Central; they just outplay everybody else. I'm always happy when the Yankees don't finish first and I think it's funny they had to settle for the wild card slot. All that money and all that fame and they came in second simple and plain.


National League Division leaders
N.L. East: Phillies/Phillies
N.L. Central: Cardinals/Reds
N.L. West: Giants/Giants
N.L. Wild Card: Atlanta/Atlanta
Excuses: The Phillies are not to be messed with. The Reds showed crazy tenacity this year and showed me that St. Louis isn't the powerhouse I thought it was. It took until the final day of the regular season for the West and the Wild Card to be settled and that's awesome, sorry San Diego. The Giants' starting pitching is great and their bullpen has been airtight while Atlanta suddenly got real banged up in the end and may not be able to progress through it.


Post Season Predictions:
A.L. Champs: The Rays over The Twins
This may be the year that the Twins beat out the Yankees now that they have a new stadium and home field advantage. The Twins have to remember to keep the peddle down or they will find themselves watching the League Championship from the outside again. The Tampa Bay team will win knowing next year is going to suck!

N.L. Champs: The Phillies over The Giants
While the Giants and Braves series will be good and a showcase for their stud rookies (Buster Posie and Jason Heyward respectively), the Giants look like they can win the short series. The Phillies have too much fire power for anybody, the Reds aren't up to par and the especially Giants despite their awesome pitching staff. Let's face it Oswalt, Hamels and Halliday are three starting pitchers that nobody wants to mess with; their only weak spot is their closer Lidge.


Wolrd Series Champions: Philies back on top over the Rays who play well but are going to be over matched by the seasoned fellows from the city of brotherly love.

Daily Download

1990's Rock! Type by Living Colour

Daily Download

You love it! I Ran (So Far Away) by Flock of Seagulls

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 35

Here is the this weeks Mix! I enjoy this one quite a bit and you should too. MP3s really were working for me in this time, very early 2005.

1. The Hand That Feeds by Nine Inch Nails
Welcome back to world of Music Trent; it had been many years since it he put something out.
2. Sex Type Thing by Stone Temple Pilots
This song rocks so well it's a miracle it wasn't used 30 mixes ago!
3. Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani
 I don't know why this song is here
4. Girl by Beck
Summertime good vibes
5. Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival
One of my favorite apocalypse songs
6. Bringin' on the Heartbreak by Def Leppard
Power Ballad!
7. You Know You're Right by Nirvana
The final Nirvana song released; I think it's about Courtney Love being a horrible bitch
8. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones
Martin Scorsesse love's song. It's been in at least three of his movies.
9. Beverly Hills by Weezer
Rivers sings from the heart
10.Not Too Soon by Throwing Muses
Before Tanya Donelly was  singer for Belly
11.Brave New World by Michael Penn
Yes, this is Sean's brother
12.All I Wanna' Do by Sheryl Crow
This song wore me down and now I don't hate it
13.Funk No.49 by James Gang
 Such a cool jam
14.Sweet Dream (Are Made Of This) by Marilyn Manson
Sometimes I listen to this and I think Manson missed the point
15.Who's That Girl by Eurythmics
This is the Cabaret sounding song
16.Faith by Limp Bizkit
This is a joke but it's worth it.
17.My Michelle by Guns N' Roses
This was one of the best songs the band ever did and a true story
18.Prisoner of Society by The Living End
Feaux punk fromAustralia
19.No New Tale To Tell by Love & Rockets
Back in the 80s this song was so cool and underground
20.Gigantic by Pixies
Kim Deal before she headed up the Breeders sang about big, black penis
21.Over the Rainbow by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
RIP Israel

Daily Download

Haunting Melody: There Is an End by The Greenhornes and Holly Golightly

Daily Download

You may have heard this in commercials: Two Weeks by Grizzly Gear

Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame 2011

So the nominees for 2011's class of Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame have been released. Here they are along with by totally biased thoughts:


Alice Cooper: YES. The man is originator who only has to thank Screamin' Jay Hawkin's for his career. Without Alice Cooper there's no Kiss or Marylin Manson.

Beastie Boys: I suppose, when they started I hated them and then after a couple albums I liked them but now I am annoyed by them

Bon Jovi: NO. Besides  one or two tracks this band stinks and has no redeeming value

Chic: NO. I can only think of one song by them

Neil Diamond: NO, Mr. Diamond is not Rock but is quite a man of his own.

Donovan: Yes, Sunshine Superman has stood the test of time and Atlantis was used in Goodfella's

Dr. John: NO, He's been around forever but I'm not sold on his credits.

J. Geils Band: NO, I'm a Boston boy but I can't equate, Love Stinks and Centerfold into enshrinement

LL Cool J: YES, LL is the archetype of his generation of rap and his career spanned a couple decades

Darlene Love: NO, who is this?

Laura Nyro: NO, who is this?

Donna Summer: Yes, she is a disco diva who worked hard for the money! Last year I said no but I am flip flopping

Joe Tex: NO, who is this?

Tom Waits: YES! Tom Waits has been around forever and releases interesting albums that are all part of his world. His voice is like no other and his songs are typically interesting.

Chuck Willis: NO, and that's all I have to say about that