Baseball Playoffs!

Baseball Season is ready for the post season. I did okay in my prediction but not great, below are my predictions verses the reality.

American League

East
New York Yankees Yes they did as we all knew they would.
Central
Detroit Tigers Because they have the Triple Crown winner and should the MVP Miguel Cabrera. A-MA-ZING!
West
Texas Rangers Unbelieve! The Oakland Athletics beat the Rangers on the final day of the season to win the AL west by 1 game.
Wild Card
Boston Red Sox Move over Boston, move over Tampa Bay The Baltimore Orioles are back from over a decade of sucking ass.
Los Angeles Angels Texas Rangers won't be denied a playoff spot despite the Angels insane rookie Mike Trout

National League
East
Philadelphia Phillies The Phillies had a tumble of a season so our nations capital could have a run at it. The Washington Nationals  will have home field advantage throughout the playoffs. No Strassburg but there is a Harper.
Central
St. Louis Cardinals So Pujols' exit was felt and The Cincinnati Reds won the central. Good arms.
West
San Francisco Giants Called it.
Wild Card
Cincinnati Reds They won the division so the St. Louis Cardinals could once again show up in the Wild Card dress
Atlanta Braves They're doing it for Chipper and because the 90s are back in style

My crazy Prediction will be the San Francisco Giants stifling all bats to meet up with a Baltimore Orioles team that still doesn't know they're supposed to lose 90 games a year. We will have our first orange and black on orange and black series. Halloween fans freak out!

Mix #92

These are some Rainy days in San Francisco so I'm making part of the newest mix. There's some great new tunes as well as some good old ones
enjoy!

Mix #92 from Solidpants on 8tracks.

1. When the Rain Comes Down by Andy Taylor

Yup, that Andy Taylor, the one from Duran Duran had a meek solo career but I thought a couple of the songs were alright when I was thirteen or fourteen.

2. NY Girl by Hatcham Social

What Do I know about this band? Nothin'! I guess they're from New Cross in London . . . good for them!

 3. This Head I Hold by Electric Guest

Funky music that you won't hear anywhere else.

4. I Can't Stand the Rain by Ann Peebles

If you wondered where the Missy Elliot sample came from, wonder no more.

5. Take One Two by EMA

She's still doing her modern folk thing in a way that I like.

6. Genesis by Grimes

The 80's have touched these kids deeply

7. Only Happy When it Rains by Garbage

Remember when they were huge? Garbage was a big, famous group in the mid 90s and then they floundered like bands are prone to do.

8. Maria Marie by Thieves Like Us

More 80s influenced synth music!

9. Brothers by Tanlines

Moody dance music that sounds like it was made in 1988

10.So. Central Rain by R.E.M.

A classic from the band from Athens GA. What's funny is how I'm equating all the keyboard heavy music in this mix with the 80s when this band was all over the 80s. This music sounds not of it's time but in it's indie heart it's encompassing it.

11.Minimum Day by Cold War Kids

Who doesn't love the Cold War Kids? They're a good band.

12.Go Right Ahead by The Hives

OH MY GOD! Speaking of bands that everybody loves, the Hives are returning to us with another awesome rock song. I love it! I need it!

13.November Rain by Guns N' Roses

It's been such a long time since Axl knew right from wrong . . .  This was when he was someplace in between but was still putting out good music with the real band.

14.She's The Woman by Van Halen

OH Yeah! A Different Kind of Truth is Rock and I need it!

15.Rain by The Cult

Another 80s song that is not about keyboards in the least. The Cult were such a good band before they sucked and then rejoined us in the modern world.

16.Girls by Deep Sea Arcade

This is a cool jam with poppy alternative hooks

17. Attic by Paul Weller

The man from the Jam keeps it going and going good.

18.Here Comes The Rain Again by Macy Gray

Yes, she's covering the Eurythmics. Her album of covers is a strange, strange, strange.

19.Bloody Mary(Nerve Endings) by Silversun Pickups

Moody not manic . . .  not sure how I feel about this chapter in their career yet.

20 Love Reign O'er Me

Big powerful Who song to wash away the rest! I think this was used in a Sprite add back in the 80's

Baseball 2012!!!

Another season is starting and I feel a little more complete.
Most of the media and experts have made their predictions and they all seem to involve the Rangers or Angels going to the World Series which means that the National league is still a bit of an enigma.
The big free agent news in the off season was Albert(hasn't tested positive yet)Pujols, CJ Wilson going to the Angels while Prince Fielder went from the beer and dairy state to the automobile state by signing with the Tigers. Smaller transactions were the Yankees getting more pitching and getting Andy Pettitte to come out of retirement, The Giants got a little more offense which may go a long way if their catcher Buster Posey can bounce back from the broken ankle and hit as good as he's supposed to.

Here are my season predictions

American League

East
New York Yankees
The Yanks always win their division and there's no reason to think they won't do it again. The Rays, the Sox and even the Blue Jays won't pass them by game 162.
Central
Detroit Tigers
They got Prince but are the same team in a weak division. The Royals are supposed to be better and the Twins always seem to surprise but I think Detroit's got it.
West
Texas Rangers 
This is the division everybody is talking about because the Angels got so much better but the Rangers have a very deep line up and may have a stud pitcher in Yu Darvish. The A's will be a little better but a little ain't enough.
Wild Card
Boston Red Sox
They're making their comeback after a crappy finish. They have closer issues and as well as left field and room for improvement at short stop but they will outlast the Rays this year.
Los Angeles Angels
Their two key acquisitions will pay off and they will win more than the Rays and possible the Red Sox. 

National League
East
Philadelphia Phillies
They will repeat as division champs because they are the most complete team. The Braves, the Marlins and the nationals are said to be contenders this year but like the Yankees, the Pilliies will win.
Central
St. Louis Cardinals
Pujols is gone but they have what it takes to go the distance and be better than Cincinnati, Houston, Pittsburg and the Cubs.
West
San Francisco Giants
Pitching, pitching, pitching. The Giants are all about it and with some offensive luck and clutch at bats they will win the 90 games it takes to win the wild, wild NL West. The Diamondbacks won't be better and neither will the Dodgers.
Wild Card
Cincinnati Reds
 In a weak division they will look better than they are and squeek into the playoffs
Atlanta Braves
They're just a little better than the Marlins who don't have enough pitching and better than the Nationals who will be improved next year and they're more together than the Mets. 
 

Mix #91

This is an obtuse mix because there's no two ways about it. There's some excitement though, take a listen!

Mix #91 from Solidpants on 8tracks.

1. Stay Gold by The Big Pink

Sounds like the 80s but it's new

2. Oblivion by The grimes

Sounds like the 80s but it's new

3. Destination Unknown by Missing Persons

Sounds like the 80s because it is!

4. Lucifer by The Cult

These guys just keep on going and I give them props for that. This song ain't bad. 

5. Outta Space by Van Halen

This song is proof that A Different Kind of Truth is a real album and it ROCKS!

6. Gotta Have It by Kanye West and JAY Z

 The Throne just keeps on giving

7. Under Your Spell by Desire

Sounds like the 80s but it's new. This is from the Drive soundtrack

8. Ribbons and Detours by Silversun Pickups

A little trippiness from the Silver Lake band

9. Everyday I Rise by The Murder City Devils

With a name like Murder City Devils you would expect death metal but it's just a twangy pop/rock song. What's wrong with kids today?

10.She's A Woman by The Beatles

Classics never die they just make you happy

11.Shake YA Ass by Mystikal

A rapper who likes ass? Unheard of!

12.Alright by Cast

If you liked The La's, you'll be happy to know the singer formed this band afterward and had a couple more good songs in him.

13.Little Talks by Of Monsters and Men

This songs sounds like that song, Home by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros but it's not quite as charming.

14.Drink by Lil Jon

Do you like to party? Lil' Jon does!

15.Where Do You Go My Lovely by Peter Sarstedt

This is one of those romantic songs that seems like it could be about the one that got away, the one that was a bit too glamorous to be real.

16.The Only Place by Best Coast

Best Coast is back! The sound is a little less surfer and 60s girl group but it's still nice.

17.Cold Ethyl by Alice Cooper

I heard this song on the car radio and was surprised I never heard it before. Alice Cooper surprised me. 

18.Sixteen Saltines by Jack White

Mr. White rocks out on his blues influenced music

19.No Fun by The Stooges

Without the Stooges there may hve not been punk, thanks Iggy.

20.Somebody that I Used to Know by Gotye featuring Kimbra

Didn't like this song at first but it totally grew on me

21.(Ghost) Riders in The Sky by Johnny Cash

I loved this song when I was a kid. I thought it sounded so cool.

New Music

Is the fact that I really don't find too much new music interesting or even fun a sign that I'm too old for it all? I hope not because I love music so. If I was twenty years older would I have been bored by all the music I loved as a teenagers and young adult? the thought that I've reached the end of the line means either this is thought is true, music sucks today or I'm just refusing to get on board with what's happening in music now.
What is happening in music now? Eighties sounds and horrible acoustic stuff? Pop doesn't really count because that's a whole genre that's never been known for it's originality. I mean Katy perry didn't innovate auto tune and Mumford and Son's didn't do anything special when they wrote those songs.

I don't know, I just want new music that makes me happier than what I hear now.

Mix # 90

Alright! Another mix to get you feelin' awesome! This one has some LA hardcore and some international stuff as well as some well known gold.
Enjoy!

Untitled mix #8 from Solidpants on 8tracks.

1. Tattoo by Van Halen
No Joke the song has grown on me and it's not a stinker at all! "Sexy Dragon magic!"
2. Suburban Home by Descendents
LA hardcore was a weird scene
3. Back of Your Neck by Howler
 Here's a little ditty by  a band I don't know anything about.
4. Bad Girls by M.I.A.
So she gave the finger during the super bowl, so what? Football is a game of men spanking each other's asses and being very violent, I don't think a hand gesture should be the most objectionable thing on the field. She's a hip-hop/rosk star she must do these things.
5. Talaha l'Badro Alaina by The Master Musicians of Jajouka
Music from Morocco, music to go into a trance to. 
6. Song for the Fields by Fields
Modern Pop rock
7. What We Do Is Secret by The Germs
Darby Crash, the singer of the Germs was a homosexual and Scientologist.
8. Born To Die by Lana Del Rey
Said to be the worst artist to perform on Saturday Night Live, said to be a poser I have to disagree, she's just out to get big.
9. Home by Edward Sharpe & the magnetic Zeros
This song sounds like it's from the 1970s but is just a couple years old; it's cool. 
10.Making Time by The Creation
This song was in a dozen adds and is pretty good. 
11.Take It On The Run by REO Speedwagon
Classic rock form the suburbs! I never liked this song until recently.
12.Where Is My Mind by Sunday Girl
A Pixies cover? Well that's great! they do a good job.
13.Sink The Pink by AC/DC
Mid 80s AC/DC usually gets a bad rap but I dig this song because it rocks!
14.Rise Above by Black Flag
More punk, henry Rollins' band kicked ass!
15.Wargasm by L7
LA Grunge by women
16.Broken Bottles by Silversun Pickups
Not their best but it's their newest
17.I Just Want Some Skank by The Circle Jerks
Yeah, he does!
18.You're the On That I Want by Angus & Julia Stone
Yes, this is a cover of that song from, Grease
19.Bleed Together by Soundgarden
These grunge masters put out a song that is positively classic rock before they put out Badmotorfinger
20.Hot Girls In Love by Loverboy
If you don't love Canadian 80s rock than you can go find a new life
21.Adieu by Coeur de pirate
French pop usually sucks but these guys did it right!
22.Comeback Kid by Sleigh Bells
Currently they are the critics darlings but it will pass
23. Home Sweet Home by Mötley Crüe
Great lyrics, great song! Great video! Crazy 80s!


 

Dead Stars: Whitney Houston and Davy Jones

Two very different vocalists from two very different eras have past on within the past month. Neither ever meant too much to me at any point in my life though I can say my life has been touched because of their saturation into pop culture. These are both people who brought much joy to people around the world with their music and that's what matters.

I recall watching Davy Jones in The Monkees as a kid and being amused and liking the show and enjoying the songs even though Day Dream Believer wasn't my favorite song by the group. I think he was more of a teen heart throb for the girls who watched the show, even in the 80s when the band had a small rebirth. Davy reportedly passed on a massive heart attack at the age of 66.

RIP Davy

Whitney Houston's death was a bit more troublesome as it appears to have been alcohol and prescription drug oriented. You've heard all the clamor about the dangers of these over the counter drugs when they are mixed with booze, it's been all over the news. It's sad she found solace in so much drug abuse from crack to all that other stuff. Whitney is the queen of the Grammy's, winning ore than anybody else in history. She had huge songs all over the radio like The Greatest Love of All, Saving All My Love For You and I will Always Love You which were all tremendously well sung power pop ballads. It's hard to imagine a pop music world before her and it's difficult to imagine what the pop world have been without her.

RIP Whitney

Mix # 89

Well this is the first mix to be published in 2012! There are no 2012 songs on the list but that's okay because there are no less than three covers on this one!

Mix # 89 from Solidpants on 8tracks.

1. Immigrant Song by Karen O and trent Reznor
What this song says is that no mortal man can sing like Robert Plant and a woman must be brought in to sing the Led Zeppelin cover, also it was the reason why the trailer for The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was so good. This song makes me want to rape and pillage but not really.
2. Who's Gonna' Ride Your Wild Horses by Garbage
This is a great song but I never liked the arrangement U2 used, I preferred some of the stripped down remixes. Garbage takes this song and goes trippy with it. 
3. I Think The World Of You by Two Wounded Birds
This song is a Radiohead rip but it's good and lets me pu the next song on here without guilt.

4. Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead

There was a time when they still made music that normal people liked to listen to, not the crap they do now which is little more than  weird impulse and beats.

5. Morning Glory by Oasis
If you know this album at all, you know that song is a alarming when it hits. Nothing else on the album is like this and that makes it really f'ing cool. I love the helicopter!
6. I Am The Walrus by The Beatles

Without the Beatles there is no Oasis or countless other English, Brit pop bands

7. Nightcall by Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx

This gem is from the, Drive  soundtrack and is a beautiful synth song! It sounds like the dark side of the early 80s.

8. Villains of The Moon by Cold Cave

More 80's synth inspired music, it's cool.

You knew they would look likes this!

9. Your Silent Face by New Order

The real deal.

10.Something To Die For by The Sounds

They're too good to be this unknown but that's life. They also sound influenced by 80s synth bands.

11.Suffragette City by The Horrors

After their last album I thought the Horrors were done and would float away on their stupid soundscapes but this cover of Bowie is awesome! Good job!

12.World Up My Ass by The Circle Jerks
Can an 80s LA hardcore punk band be seminal? Well these guys were. They were a reason that scene was what it was. You can see them in The Decline of Western Civilization being loud and fast if you're curious, probably on YouTube as well.

13.Civliization's Dying by The Hives
They kept it real with a punk cover. Can the Hives really be punk though? Can Sweden be punk? Black Metal, yes but punk?
14.Casino El Camino (parte 1) by Guadeloupe Plata

Fun lovin' Spanish dudes playing roots rock!

15. Ghost Towns by Radical Face

Somber Rock that reminds me of The Shins and The Decemberists

16.So Lonely by The Police

They used to be a tough English band that played Ska but then they matured and got quite different. Before they grew up, before the money, before the world tours.

17.Simmer Down by Bob Marley

Before he got Reggae down perfect he was playing ska and it was cool

18.Our Day Will Come by Amy Winehouse

Unfortunately it did not and it makes this song much more sad than it was ever intended to be. It's a little difficult to ignore her passing when listening.

19.Try a Little Tenderness by Otis Redding
The man! The Soul! The good advise.
20.Grey Cell Green by Ned's Atomic Dustbin
This band was huge in the UK but never caught on too big in the States, maybe you saw them on 120 Minutes one Sunday night. They had a big sound and big hair. They were the next thing after Manchester.

 

And the Wheel Chair Will Rock?

So the wait is over for the first taste of new Van Halen. It's the first music David Lee Roth has released with Eddy and Alex since those two tracks (Me Wise Magic, Can't Get This Stuff No More) on a greatest hits compilation some fifteen years ago.
Now after a very successful and kick ass show a couple years back they did a whole album together. The first single, Tattoo is weak and a I really hope isn't the best they could come up with. It's as though David Lee Roth forgot who he was, in a lazy way. If Diamond Dave belted out more of the song instead of his talk/croon it would be far more enjoyable. Let's face it when Dave's excited we're excited. When he wails, "Sexy dragon magic!"  it's awesome but then he loses it. Meanwhile musically instead reaching back to 1984 or before they only reached back to 1986 and pulled out a some 5150 scraps but I'm not sure this has even got what it takes. The solo isn't quite distinguishable as an Eddy solo but seeing as he's been copied for the past thirty-five years it's forgivable.
I understand they're musicians and they don't want to rehash the things they did before and I respect that but since Duran Duran put out their 2010 release, All You Need Is Now there's no excuse why a band of such age can't recapture what made them great and build on that sound to deliver an enjoyable album.



I'm not saying that this song is horrible or it won't grow on me but it is clear the boys are getting old. I hope the rest of A Different Kind of Truth is better than this.