Showing posts with label Van Halen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Van Halen. Show all posts

Saturday, April 14, 2012

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!




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


Friday, March 30, 2012

Mix #91

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


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.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

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!





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!


 

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Weekly Mix #84


Deal with it it's happening more than it should, indie music is sort of groovy. I know it's just a bullshit music industry thing but good music, rock music is now under the dumb moniker of Indie. Unfortunately it's all sort of still self aware without being  balls out. It's the legacy of Nirvana, how to be a Rock Star without losing street cred. I guess wearing clothes from the thrift shop still works.
Listen and enjoy!

 




1. You got Nothing On Me by Mando Diao
They just deliver and maybe it's in that Tom Jones way but I don't care, they make me want to boogie. 


2. You Gotta Lose by Obits
Proving that Sub Pop is still a label and proving that music still happens there.




3. Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly) by The Icicle Works
This is one of my favorite 80s one hit wonders and apparently Eddy Vedder's as well, just listen to Evenflow.




4. Bridge Burning by Foo Fighters
Another good song off the Wasting Light album 


5. Heatseaker by AC/DC
Fucking ridiculous and fucking awesome and that's why AC/DC is so great. They get away with the dumbest stuff and make it sound do good, especially when you want to rock out like a fifteen year old.



6. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie by The Red Hot Chili peppers
They've lost it, they've gotten old and they can't hack it anymore. I wonder if they feel embarrassed for recording Punk Rock Classic now?

7. New York Groove by Ace Frehley
I got into this little jam after hearing it as the them song to some tattoo show taking place in NYC. Frehly's solo album was part of those four solo KISS albums that all came out at the same time.





8. Go Outside by The Cults
It took me a little time to warm up to these buys but now I dig their indie sound.


The Cults: They look like Mazzy Star but aren't


9.Pressure and Time by Rival SonsThese guys give it a solid punch as they try to rock out but the sound is too big for the rest of their surroundings


10. Where Have All the Good Times Gone! by Van Halen
Good question Dave. Sometimes an old rock band still sounds more rock than a modern rock band and they're not even rocking their hardest. Also this song will begin our little voyage to Southern California

11.Each and Every Day by Best Coast
 A lot of energy in the beginning of this tune about trying to convince 


12.This Town by The Go-Go's
Maybe they were inspiration to groups like Best Coast, I don't know. The dark side of the Go-Go's, singing about Hollywood shit and how jaded and desperate the place makes people.

 
13.Beverly Hills by The Circle Jerks
L.A. Punk is so aware of Hollywood and glamor it's a little funny


14.Take the World by She Wants Revenge
I would have never guessed I would like a She Wants Revenge album as much as I do Valleyheart their love song to the Los Angeles they grew up in. This song gets them away from their Joy Division roots and graduates them to Wang Chung



15.To Live and Die in L.A. by Wang Chung
Say what you'd like about this group because I have hated them and then liked them. This is my favorite song of their by far. Why would a British band be right for a movie about crime and police in Los Angeles? This concludes out SoCal musical voyage but the glam still continues.





16.Suicide Blonde by INXS
This was the first single off their X album the follow up to the enormously popular, Kick. The Album didn't do very well due to it's  . . . well I have no idea why. The songs were great but the audience had changed I guess. Maybe the harmonica just didn't sit well with people but This is in my top 10 INXS songs.


17.Scheiße by Lady GaGa
What's the German word for Shit? This song will make you want to go all Euro disco if you haven't already. I'm not a fan of GaGa's latest album as most of the songs sound like scheiße but this one is funny enough to transcend the poop.

18.Otis by Jay-Z & Kanye West
This is what the world has been waiting for, this is the greatest hip hop team up ever, right? Maybe, maybe not but this is a great first single off The Throne

19.Is This It by The Strokes
When I saw them live about eight years ago this was the encore and I thought that it was a weird last song as it's so calm.

 20.I Know You Love me by Peter, Bjorn and John
Another of my favorite albums of 2011, The song off of Gimme Some has that great Scandinavian rock music understanding that American's can't quite seem to get a hold of. With that said it would have been the last song on the mix but I had to pay tribute where tribute was due.
21.Love Is A Losing Game (demo) by Amy WinehouseI was putting this mix together the same time as Ms. Winehouse' passing and was compelled to include one of her songs. This demo version of this song is just her and a guitar and it is stark, painful and a hard tune to pay attention to but it is beautiful.

RIP Amy

Friday, October 14, 2011

Weekly Mix #82

There's some new music worth listening to on this mix as well as some older gems that I needed to have on here for whatever reason was so crucial at that time. This almost seems like a party mix with a couple exceptions
go and find these songs and listen to 'em


1. I Wanna Be Adored by The Stone Roses
Some songs should have been used already like this one. I love it to death in all of it's Madchesterness!


2. So Far by Buckcherry
This is actually the same type of song as above but it sounds nothing like it. These sleazy Hollywood boys were supposed to bring back the glory days of the Sunset Strip but it just never happened.
3. White Limo by Foo Fighters
Welcome back boys! going on and going strong.


4.Make Some Noise by Beastie Boys
Still funky after all these years! This is the best song they've released in over a decade and one of the best songs of the year. the video is funny too.
5.Blow by Ke$ha
This is a party jam and it is dumb but what can you do.
6.Hold Back the Rain by Duran Duran
So funky, so English. I love the classic Duran Duran a little too much


7. Yeah Yeah Yeah by The Sounds
I love their keyboard sound and their Blondie look


8. Lies of the Beautiful People by Sixx A.M.
Nicky Sixx' other band
9. Beatles and Stones by Beady Eye
Not the song by the House of Love
10.Dance The Night Away by Van Halen
I don't usually think about dancing when I think of Van Halen
11.Degeneration Street by The Dears
I have no clue if this is parallel or crosses Fascination Street or Desolation Boulevard.


12.Needle In The Hay by Elliott Smith
and then he killed himself
12.For 12 by Other Lives
This s dream rock . . . I think.
13.Poison Ivy by Faster Pussycat
Sucky Glam Rock but I get into it
14.The Boy looked at Johnny by The Libertines
Back when this band was the buzz, back when people though they mattered


15.Tomorrow Has To Wait by Peter Bjorn and John
Love these guys, beards and all.
16.You're So Right by The Strokes
Another song from their 2011 album
17.Be Your Bro by Those Darlins
This is just a funny song about wanting to be friends with a boy


18.Tiny Dancer by Elton John
This is a very famous song! Not just Almost Famous
19.Rave On by Buddy Holly
I think this is my favorite song by him
20.Going Out In Style by Dropkick Murphys
In love with Boston? Well, here's the band for you!

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Weekly Mix #81

On this mix I got a little retro blues stretch going which can either be really enjoyable or really dull depending where you are and what you are doing.  There are new songs and old song, there's music from Scotland, Australia, Spain, New Zealand, the U.S. and Canada so you can enjoy some "world" music.




1. Party Poison by My Chemical Romance
If anything it seemed like the right song to start the mix off with
2. I Want You Back by Hoodoo Gurus
What good song that has been lost in time because they were Australian. This isn't even my favorite song by them as Miss Freelove '69 is a little more fun.
3.There Is a Light That Never Goes out by Dum Dum Girls
The gall to cover the smiths! Dum Dum Girls do a great job o joke, they maintain that nice melody and never seem to get worked up about it. Which way us better to be hit by a double decker bus or a ten ton truck?
4. Sometimes by My Bloody Valentine
There are people believe modern rock started and ended with their album Loveless, I'm not one of them. I get it, I do, the fuzzy guitars and layers and all that is great.
5. When I'm With You by Best Coast
This song grew on me slowly but when I heard this iTunes studio version I was smitten by it! Granted it is an indie rock piece of ear candy but when I hear it I always hear a Phil Spector girl group. I shoved this song down my friend's throats for two weeks trying to make them submit and love the song the way I do. Who cares if they're hipsters?


6. The Roller by Beady Eye
What is it that lacks from this music, is it Noel Gallagher?
7. Around My Head by Cage the Elephant
I heard this song and suddenly it was clear that bands were still being influenced by the Pixies. Think Dig For Fire.
8. Ana by The Pixies
This is one of my favorite Pixies songs even if it is about an alien. Without the Pixies there would be no Nirvana as we know it.
9. Tambourine Girl by Ringo Deathstarr
Is their name awesome of awful? The song isn't bad between guitar surges, there's actually a catchy tune here. It has a certain 80s underground vibe a band that I can't quite recall.
10.April Skies by The Jesus & Mary Chain
There are people who are so crazy for this band it's funny. I like them and do understand that their influence reaches beyond the bands who don't know they're copying them. Scottish rock doesn't get much better, or does it?
11.Young Blood by Naked and Famous
This is what the US gets from New Zealand in the way of music. I like them but I couldn't tell you why.
12.Stick w/Me Kid by The Dears
Do I really wish this band was as big as they deserve to be? They sound like they shold have hits but it just never happened, did it? Oh, Canada!
13. Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine by The White Stripes
Let's get electric bluesy and such
14.Wail by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion
A band that I assume influenced Jack and Meg. They always seemed to never quite live up to what I expected from them but this song is alright.


15.Stray Cat Strut by The Stray Cats
"Gettin' my dinner from a garbage can" Brian Stetzer has come years since this 1982 song even though you wouldn't always know it. In comparison to all the New Wave that was going on this song was a blast of sort of sweatiness that seemed far more genuine despite the reality of it. After all The Stray Cats were a retro rock band.
16.Boogie de la Muerte by Guadalupe Plata
Spanish retro rock in the rockabilly style sounds just as good as when the Americans were doing it in the fifties and again in the eighties. I'll say this for them, they seem to be having more fun than anybody else.


17.She's Long Gone by The Black Keyes
It all fits together if you hear these songs back to back. These guys get real into a groovy sound here but man do the rip off the White Stripes  Ball and Biscuit.
18. Runaway by Del Shannon
Is this the real deal? He was a man of a good voice RIP Del.
19.We Are Everlasting by Standing Shadows
Alright, we're back with some 2011music that frankly is not that great.
20.Baby's Arms by Kurt Vile
A dreamy little sweet song for the lovers.
21.House of Pain by Van Halen
I was so down with this song for like a three week period that I drove myself crazy. This bad boy is from the bands last album, 1984. Hagar does not count! By the way this starts another linear part of the mix, are you smart enough to get it?
22.Superhuman by Velvet Revolver
Abrasive at first and then it gets going into the mind of Scott Weiland. So are they still a band or what?
23.Cocaine Chest Pain by Kopek
I heard this song and thought the band would be awesome but they were not, this was the best they had to offer on this album. They're named after a breed of dog, so that's cool.




Thursday, April 7, 2011

Weekly Mix #59

This we're on time and I'll keep it going down the line. Some of this mix really rocks out so look out!


1. New Rose by Guns N' Roses
Doing a cover song quite well
2. Heaven Sent by INXS
I've always liked this song even if it wasn't one of their massive hits.
3. Kids by MGMT
Kinda' floats on by and then we never heard from these guys again.
4. You Cross My Path by The Charlatans
Still making groovy tunes after all these years, wow!
5. Shockwave by Black Time
I heard this metal song and thought maybe, just maybe there was hope for music in 2008 but I think I was the only person to buy it.
6. Leda Automatica by Year Long Disaster
Great name for a band! This is a 70s retro rocker from some L.A. dudes
7. Raining Blood by Slayer
Run for cover, get out of the way; this song will kill you if you can't handle it!



8. Monsoon Perfume by Dengue Fever
Music from another time but actually it's modern. Not to be confused with the mosquito spread virus or Slayer this band won't kill and seems rather harmless.
9. Hoodoo by Muse
A somber and dramatic note of a song
10.Them Bones by Alice In Chains
Wake Up! This song is a loud one and the first track on their 1992 dark masterpiece.
11.Saints of Los Angeles by Mötley Crüe
Their big come back! I saw them twice on this tour and they were tight and loud!
12.Unchained by Van Halen
Another great rock effort by the band that bought us spandex to crazy metal guitars. This is off the Fair Warning album which is a strange one.
13.Chelsea Dagger by The Fratellis
This song got featured in a beer commercial
14.Baby Baby by Guadalupe Plata
Spaniards know how to rock American style too
15.Cheap and Cheerful by The Kills
Before the singer ran off to make music with Jack white, this is what she was doing.
16.Killer on His Knees by Crucified Barbara
Women doing metal!
17.Powerslave by Iron Maiden
I had recently seen Iron Maiden play at the L.A. Forum and this was one of the high points of the show
18.Bark At The Moon by Ozzy Osbourne
If you like metal you love this. Rest In Peace Randy Rhodes
19.Go Go Go by The 88
Little light pop never hurt
20. Welcome Home by Coheed & Cambria
OH MY GOD! When I heard this song I this band would be the most awesome band ever but they weren't. In fact they were simply successful in writing a kick ass Led Zeppelin sounding song.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Weekly Mix # 58

Here's where we get our first glimpse of 2008. Sorry this was late.


1. Runnin' With the Devil by Van Halen
OH YEAH! You know this is really just a blues song that was transformed into awesome!
2. The Kelly Affair by Be Your Own Pet
One album and then they broke up, probably for the best
3. Tom Sawyer by Rush
I don't like Rush and I don't think I ever will. This song however is just barely on the tolerable scale.
4. Time To Pretend by MGMT
I don't get why this band was so loved and haled as brilliant. They must know the critics.
5. You're Gonna' Miss Me by The 13th Floor Elevators
Roky Erickson's band. Like most people I didn't hear this song until I saw High Fidelity.
6. Be My baby by The Ronnettes
Some people love this song because it was in Dirty Dancing; I just like the Phil Spector Wall of Sound production and the big hair.
7. Rehab by Amy Winehouse
Huge song! This won her Grammy's and made her millions of dollars. It is a throw back to do-wop and Motown and The Ronnettes big hair but has Mark Ronson production
8. Talk Dirty To Me by Poison
Oh No! Before Brett Michaels embarrassed himself as a "reality" personality he embarrassed himself in his band Poison by making pop rock under the guise of metal.
9. Into Action by Tim Armstrong
The man from Rancid; he knows how to make a good time summer album. The girl who sings with him on this was thirteen years old.
10.This Is The Day by The The
You may know this song from an M & M's commercial. It's actually a pretty sad song.
11.It's My Fault for being Famous by The White Stripes
B-sides are a lost entity because nobody knows what that means anymore. Now it's just a bonus track. Anyway this is a funny song about being stalked by the press and fans.
12.Eat Yourself by Goldfrapp
She returns to her Felt Mountain after being disco for some years.
13.Sundown by Gorden Lightfoot
Just a groovy 70s singer songwriter. This was on heavy repeat for a while back in 08'
14.Boston by Augustana
Great sweeping pop song that only got my attention because of the city.
15.Well All Right by The Hives
We get hand clapping in this one and that's awesome.
16.The Moneymaker by Rilo Kiley
This song is nowhere near as crazy as, Portions For Foxes but it's still pretty mean.
17.Umbrella by Rihanna feat. Jay-Z
This song made Rihanna huge and there was no going back much to Chris Brown's chagrin.
18.Tennagers by My Chemical Romance
Many people think this is MCR's best song, I don't but I do think it's a good one. The video owes a lot to Smells Like Teen Spirit, I suppose it's an homage
19.1979 by The Smashing Pumpkins
It's a little song and it's cute; it was also a big hit for them. I heard that Billy Corgan had to completely recompose the music right before they recorded it.
20.Lazy Eye by Silversun Pickups
When the Smashing pumpkins couldn't be Smashing Pumpkins, The Silversun Pickups could be.
21.The End Of The Line by The Traveling Wilburys
The late 80s super group containing Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Roy Orbison and produced by Jeff Lynn made a lot of money off this project.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Weekly Mix #57

This Mix was made in 2007 and while sort of seems like a collage of unrelated songs there are a couple threads here and there. Pantera shows up for the first time. A couple one hit wonders also show in the forms of Blind Melon and The Toadies. The most outlandish song is That Ain't Right. Enjoy the music if you can!

1. Firerworks by Siouxie & The banshees
Majestic, Gothic pop from the 80s
2. Rockers to Swallow by Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Karen O get's a lot of her vocal sounds from Siouxie so I thought I'd compare the two side by side.
3. Pretty Green by Mark Ronson feat. Santo Gold
The previous song ended with, "hey!" and this one begins with, "hey"; it makes a lot of sense. Ronson put out this album of his music and singers he liked; it worked. The beat of this songs goes well with the next.
4. Freedom 90 by George Michael
A good song that was maybe more famous for it's video which featured the day's super models and not one image of the singer.


 
5.This Is Hardcore by Pulp
Moody, haunting, sexy and totally coked out!
6. Gloves by The Horrors
The Horrors were my favorite band at the time when this mix was made in 2007
7. No Rain by Blind Melon
Say  little prayer for their dead singer Shanon Hoon and enjoy this classic 90s song about a boy and his bong.
8. Hey, Good Lookin' by Hank Williams
Didn't ever listen to the cowboy until the mid 00s and then I thought he was pretty cool
9. Broken Boy Soldier by The Racanteurs
Creepy music by Jack White and friends
10.Misery Business by Paramore
Poppy music with a chick singer and a almost rock guitars. If anything I learned what the word paramour meant after hearing this band.
11.Crazy Bitch by Buckcherry
Where to start . . . Notorious. What I've learned about this song is that while some women don't appreciate this song at all while others use it as their ring tone. The guitar part was written by Slash.
12.Unglued by Stone Temple Pilots
In many ways STP are like those 70s bands that everybody but the reviewers liked. This song is a good rocker.
13.That Ain't Right by Heavy Trash
 Cowboy up and listen to this tale of domestic troubles. I think this was a joke band but I have no idea really.
14.Tick Tick Boom by The Hives
Not only is this the bands best song but sports broadcasts love to use it as the clock ticks down.
15.Could This Be Magic by Van Halen
One of the stranger pieces of music Van Halen put out as it's just a little acoustic guitar, foot tapping and Diamond Dave singing about boozing it up and having a great time in the tropics. Actually the other guys do step in for the chorus.
16.The State of Massachusetts by The Dropkick Murphys
This songs starts like an Irish sea shanty but then explodes; it's what the Dropkicks are good at.
17.Fucking Hostile by Pantera
While most rock bands were getting weak and lame, Pantera was insistent on being METAL! They rocked very hard and gave teenage boys hope that somebody understood them. Hell, listening to this song now get's my adrenaline going. Welcome to the world of my mixes. Rest In Piece Dimebag.
18.I Don't Wanna Stop by Ozzy Osbourne
A good metal effort by an old man on the wrong medication. I first heard this gem in a car which made it more awesome than it really is.
19.Possum Kingdom by The Toadies
Our second stop on the weird 90s review is this song about . . . well I'm not sure, girlfriend murder, maybe?
20.Elizabeth My Dear by The Stone Roses
Just a minute long this isn't really a song and was used just a s filler. Though a song about killing the queen of England to the tune of Scarborough Fair is super weird.
21.Stronger by Kanye West
This song has nothing to do with the rest of the mix but it was there for using so I took it and ended my mix with a dance beat!    


PS Next weeks mix is real good!

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

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.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 30

Number 30! It's pretty main stream and if you listen to music from Jamaica then it's all mainstream. This mix is damn good and if you don't like it well you can go read somebody else's blog about mixes, somebody who knows how to get song samples or the whole song to play when you click on it, a blog with more pictures, a blog that thrills! One thing keeps bugging me though as I look over these tunes, is the song order the best it could be? If you think no, suggest something better, please.
Click on song titles for videos
enjoy!

1. Ballroom Blitz by Sweet
This song is manic glam!
2. Finding Out True Love Is Blind by Louis The XIV
This one is modern glam, I always thought the video should have been a dude pushing a mail cart through an office with all the girls he talks about the other workers. The chorus is sung by the other dudes in the shitty, confining mail room. During the bridge our mail boy will go into fantasy.
3. Are You Gonna' be My Girl by Jet
This song stinks; it's Lust For Life rip off
4. Here She Comes Now by Nirvana
This is a demo and still sounds pretty damn awesome!
5. I'm Still In Love With You by Sean Paul feat. Sasha
Why do I love this song?
6. Stepping Razor by Peter Tosh
Fierce song about being a bad ass. From the film, Rockers which was the other Raggae movie that wasn't The Harder They Come.
7. How I Could Just Kill A Man by Rage Against The Machine
Great cover of Cypress Hill, maybe better than the original.
8. Kids In America by Kim Wilde
This song is so synthtacular the 80s couldn't let it go. In the video Kim was apparently so nervous she looked like she was trying to be seductive. (I read that someplace)
9. Get Ur Freak On by Missy Elliott
Changing the way we talk about sex and a really weird sounding rap song when you get down to it. Very innovative. I believe the video was directed by Hype
10.Still OF The Night by Whitesnake
80s Heavy Metal was rarely more epic; if you don't like this song it's only because you can't handle it.
11.Boyz-N-The-Hood by Dynamite Hack
One of the best covers ever? No, just one of the funniest. The video is perfect.
12.P.I.M.P. by 50 Cent
Steel drums in rap might not be popular but damn does it works here. Not that 50 Cent cares what I say about him but I think this is best track.
13.Mr. Brightside by The Killers
Eric Roberts has seen better days and that unfortunately is what everybody thinks of when this song plays. It was also a sign that band's name, The Killers was a misnomer . . . or ironic . . . or just dumb.
14.I Believe In You by Kylie Minogue
More disco magic from the future. If Kylie Minogue believes in you things can't be all bad.
15.Hysteria by Muse
I swear the guitars in the beginning of this song make me think it's all about to explode and then the drums come in and take care of that.
16.Hey Ya! by Outkast
Was this the best song of year? It has hand claps, sexy/dirty lyrics and a beat that a friend insists is hooked into girl's heads.
17.Touch Me I'm Sick by Mudhoney
Named after A Russ Meyer movie, this was Seattle in 1988, this was grunge before it got labeled as such, this is the genesis of Citizen Dick.
18.Isrealites by Desmond Dekker
I first heard this song in the movie, Drugstore Cowboy so it's what I think about when this song plays . . . wow, two Matt Dillon references in a row, WTF!
19.Jealous Guy by Roxy Music
For about two months in 2004 I listened to this song everyday, don't know why
20.Beautiful Girls by Van Halen
Nothing says summer like van Halen from the 70s!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 18

This weeks mix is rad! There are a lot of awesome tracks so rock out!

1. We Got the Beat by The Go-Go's
There first single
2. Tough Guy by The Beastie Boys
Sort of rap
3. Jaded by Aerosmith
I thought this song was so great when it came out but it has dwindled in awesomeness since.
4. It's No Good by Depeche Mode
Lounge at it's best
5. Running To Stand Still by U2
One of their 5 best songs
6. Johnny 99 by Bruce Springsteen
A song that makes me want to die
7. Life On A Chain by Pete Yorn
Before Scarlet, before the dark times
8. Beautiful Disaster by 311
311's best song eveh!
9. Outshined by Soundgarden
How can you dispute looking California but feeling Minnesota
10.Black Betty by Ram Jam
Sometimes this song is great but sometimes it sucks, the Leadbelly version is good too
11.Connected by Stereo MC's
GEt down and dance 90s style
12.Superstition by Stevie Wonder
So funky, so good!
13.Show Me your Soul by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Obvious transition
14.Let's Go Crazy by Prince
That guitar is smokin'!
15.Stop by Jane's Addiction
Greatness and their whole career in one song!
16.Hot For teacher by Van Halen
Class Dismissed!
17.Eyes Without A Face by Billy Idol
It's all about the gigolo pool!
18.3 Small Words by Josie and the Pussycats
This song is actually by Kay Hanley the singer for Letters to Cleo
19.American Girl by Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
This song got better when I saw Everclear cover it live

Monday, May 17, 2010

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 16

This mix takes shape and is full of good songs and a few horrible ones. Oh yeah, enjoy


1. Highwaystar by Deep Purple

If you don't like driving to song . . . Fuck You!
2. Speed by Atari Teenage Riot
defined German industrial hardcore
3. Let Forever be by The Chemical Brothers
Featuring Noel Gallagher of Oasis
4. Citysong by Luscious Jackson
More NYC danceable rock
5. Elevation by U2
Another sucky U2 song from the "All That You Can't Leave Behind" Album
6. Locked Out by Crowded House
This what rock from New Zealand sounds like
7. Idioteque by Radiohead
The title of this song enforces the belief that this band is full of themselves
8. Sonnet by The Verve
Sweet and tender Brit pop
9. Butterfly by Crazy Town
This singer of this band can now be found on Celebrity Rehab
10.Empty Skies by Kosheen
This band should be from Germany but they're from Bristol England
11.Simple Kind Of Life by No Doubt
No Doubt's sell out album
12.Love For Sale by Fine Young Cannibals
A lovely rendition of the Cole Porter song
13.Oh My God by Guns N' Roses
This is all we got from Axl between "Sympathy For The Devil" in 1994 and Chinese Democracy in 2008; it doesn't suck as badly as either of those items
14.Stupid Girl by Garbage
The song that broke the band to the masses and put Shirley Manson in short dresses for good
15.I Am Stretched On Your Grave by Sinead O'Connor
Baldy sings a poem written in the 1600s . . . good for her. This melody is actually quite hypnotic
16.When Worlds Collide by Powerman 5000
Rob Zombie's little brother belts out like a dog some Industrial Metal
17.Viva Las Vegas by Elvis Presley
What else Could you ask for Elvis and Vegas together at last.
18. Break On Through by The Doors
The Doors first single and a great karaoke number
19.Panama by Van Halen





Thursday, April 8, 2010

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 9

There is a lot of energy on this bad boy including some very danceable Destiny's Child and Ian Brown the singer of the Stone Roses going solo. Please welcome Mötley Crüe to the world of mixes. This mix will get your blood going fast and can make teenagers angry. Enjoy!


1. Bad Reputation by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
I adore this song, it is so full of young attitude and cool. Joan Jett had bigger hits but this one remains my favorite. I always want to give people the finger when I hear it. Another thing, I don't think she's aged a day.


2. Too Fast For Love by Mötley Crüe
Before they were fat, rich and undead the Crüe were a tough bunch of assholes who could barely make it on stage. Too Fast For Love I believe was their first single and though it was never a hit it was damn good! Reminds me of the girls i would chase when I was sixteen.
3. Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys
Theremin! This song is great and if you don't feel the power you can have your Little Deuce Coup and leave! 
4. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
One of the greatest, most epic rock songs ever! Over the the top in every way, Queen set the bar with this classic. When the guitars kick in it is irresistible, you must bob your head!
5. Going To California by Led Zeppelin
I kind of want to cry every time I hear this song song as it reminds me of the optimism I felt when I moved to California but also has a heartbreak in it that reminds me my own lost dreams.
6. Let's Get It On by Marvin Gaye
Sexiest song ever? I don't know for sure but it is great soulful stuff. Rest In Peace Marvin



7. Jumpin' Jumpin' by Destiny's Child
This was a hot jam when I made this mix way back in the day. Before Beoncé was the mega star she is now she was part of the girl group.
8. The Real Slim Shady by Eminem
 This is when Marshal Mathers blew up! He was that obnoxious, bleach blond, white rapper until this song dropped. Then he was enormous.
9. Heart of Glass by Blondie
From one blonde to another. From punk to disco the New York band were the coolest of the cool and one of the most accessible acts of the era. The hot lead singer didn't hurt either.

 
10.Girls & Boys by Blur
From one band that started as pop that went disco to another. Girls & and Boys is a funny, groovy dance song about Brits on hedonistic holiday.
11.You Really Got Me by Van Halen
The original Kins version was a rocker, the Van Halen version was insane! Anybody who's loved guitars has loved this song.
12.Remedy by The Black Crows
This is the song that made feel that the Black Crows weren't total wankers. It's sexy, rough and soulful Southern rock from the early 1990s
13. Whatever by Godsmack
This song gets worse with age. It's sort of a funky Nu Metal but it really isn't.
14. Natural Blues by Moby
Moby made all his money from the album, Play He made a lot of cash selling the rights to his songs to big companies to use in their commercials which he claims he used the pay check to give to organizations that fought against those big companies.
15. Love Like A Fountain (U.S. Version) by Ian Brown
The singer of the Stone Roses got some phat beats and grooves for this album. I find this song was the best effort from, Golden Greats.
16. Big Time Sensuality by Björk
Big time! Bjork needed us to know that she liked to dance and had some inkling to be a disco diva at the time. Now she barely makes what can be called music. I miss the old Björk.


17.London Calling by The Clash
Anger and fury on how shitty 1970s England was. Militaristic in sound this song was like a call to arms to get aware of the shite around us.
18.Here Comes Your Man by Pixies
Kind of a classic, kind of a simple little pop song but for whatever reason this was the beginning of a sea change in the perception of what was cool in music.
19.Gotta Stop by The Lemonheads
Short and sweet punk. Good way to end the mix.