Stone Temple Pilots

So it's been almost ten years since STP released an album and even longer since they released anything good. Since then their sinewy Scott Weiland has released shitty solo records and fronted the band Velvet Revolver which also included Duff and Slash of Guns N' Roses incase you weren't aware. Honestly I don't care what the other members of Stone Temple Pilots were doing in this time, maybe they were thinking about a new Talk Show album or maybe they were counting their millions and raising families. Whatever.

So, Stone Temple Pilots has released this new self titled album which has the quality of being very easy to listen to as it flows from song to song without any real moments that would cause me to skip a song. Gone are the days of the grunge era's version of the Doors and here is a Californian, 70s, country, rockabilly influenced sound which is not breaking any new ground but it is worth listening to.
The first single, "Between the Lines" is what you would expect from a band of 40 year olds, the music moves but doesn't have that heavy sound that the band has used, the melody is catchy as are many of Stone Temple Pilots tunes. The other real rocker is, "Fast As I Can" which can be heard on ESPN's Baseball Tonight as filler music. "Huckleberry Crumble" is a cool Aerosmith, "Rocks" era influenced song.
Their is nothing on the album in the way of a ballad like "Interstate Love Song" or "Creep" and nothing rocks as hard as "Sex Type Thing" or even, "Down". At worst the songs canseem like the little brothers of "Lady Picture Show" and "Sour Girl" at best it's a catchy mid tempo rock record.

I'm not handing out stars or amps or scale it from 1 through 10 but I will say this album is worth a listen

American Cheese

Is this cheese that is known as "American" really a good example of what our country can produce or is it a symbol of just how disgusting our nation is?
What used to be made from a blend of Colby and Cheddar is now something that doesn't even fit the legal definition of cheese. It is a product that was forced into American homes during 3 months of 1942 wartime efforts as U.S. officials put a ban on all foreign cheeses.
The cheese is naturally a wonderful ingredient for Macaroni and cheese and a grilled cheese sandwich but after that the product is thin of tasty possibilities. It's something that if you're not raised on it you won't acquire the taste for like many regional dishes but like real region fair, American Cheese isn't worth much aside from cheap.

Drinking for Democracy

As Stated all over the place I am a sucker for junk food and now that Mountain Dew has tossed out some new colors for the masses to drink and then elect one to keep while the other two are sent off to a place shamed soft drinks wallow. You can find New Coke and Pepsi Clear slowly going flat over the decades.

First we have the blue, "Voltage" flavor which is a light tasting berry concoction which didn't really inspire anything in me. I can't see myself craving this beverage.



The white beverage called. "White Out" is a bit better in flavor but again it's not that interesting. The one thing that I kept thinking however was that I was drinking a white liquid; it didn't feel all together innocent.

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 17

Let's Rock! At Least at first we will before we settle down into some other elements of pop music. Enjoy the sounds at you leisure. These songs flow pretty well even if it doesn't seem like it. All the songs are available for purchase on iTunes but as per usual my attempt to be awesome and tech savy by creating a link have failed so happy hunting.

1. Girls, Girls, Girls by Mötley Crüe
What is a marble larch?
2. Do You Want To hit It by The Donnas
Horny rocker girls posing a very interesting question
3. One-Armed Scissor by At The Drive-In
After this album the band broke up and became The Mars Volta
4. Radio Free Europe by R.E.M.
Ladies and gentlemen, R.E.M. before they became total pussies
5. The Next Episode by Dr. Dre
This is the one with Snoop Dogg on it
6. You Do Something To Me by Sinéad O'Connor
Sinéad at her most sultry
7. What Difference Does It Make by The Smiths
Best Smiths song Ever
8. Elephant Stone by The Stone Roses
This was a big single in the UK
9. There's No Other Way by Blur
The US's first taste of the band back in 1991; I wasn't a fan at the time
10.The Other Side by Aerosmith
This song was in "True Romance"
11.In A Little While by U2
Why do I keep putting horrible U2 Songs on mixes, actually this song is just lazy
12.Block Rockin' Beats by The Chemical Brothers
This track was part of the great techno push of 1997
13.Darkside by Crazy Town
This song sucks but it goes well with Disco Science
14.Disco Science by Mirwais
I wan to see the laboratory that this Science is done in
15.Unsung by Helmet
They were dubbed the next Nirvana
16.Buddy Holly by Weezer
Great Video by Spike Jonze
17.Pleasant Valley Sunday by The Monkees
Somebody should cover this song . . . No, I take that back
18.Heartbreak Hotel by Elvis Presley
We've all checked in once or twice in our lives
19.Spin The Bottle by Juliana Hatfield Three
I think this song is about Johnny Depp
20.Then The Morning Comes by Smash Mouth
What happened to Smash Mouth?
21.My Way by Sid Vicious
Best version of this song of all time!

Dead Stars: Ronnie James Dio

RIP DIO

Singer of Rainbow, second singer of Black Sabbath and Solo Heavy metal god , Ronnie James Dio is dead at 67 from a battle with stomach cancer. The man with one of the hugest voices in Rock left us with at least a couple of gems most notably, Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark" which added to the mysticism and aura of heavy metal music in the early 80s. What I liked about the man was that he seemed to have a good sense of humor to him whenever interviewed even to go as far as saying his Italian grandmother was responsible for the devil horns hand gesture many fans throw up at rock shows. He was pint sized but that voice was gigantic and will live on on in the rock ether forevaw and evaw, Dio, YOU ARE A HOLY DIVAW!

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

Weekly Mix Tape Pt 15

Here is your regularly scheduled weekly mix! There are a lot of power hits on this baby and there is some plot to it which is always enjoyable.

1. Zoo Station by U2
Ready to let go of the steering wheel?
2. Back In Black by AC/DC
One of the most awesome rock songs of all time.
3. Independent Women by Destiny's Child
don't hate
4. Fame by David Bowie
With John Lennon on guitar this is gem in the Bowie catalog
5. The Way I Am by Eminem
an answer to "Fame"
6. Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles
It's the Beatles
7. Don't Call Me Baby by Madison Avenue
More disco!
8. Burning Flag by Marilyn Manson
Never a big song but it's an angry rocker
9. Closer by Nine Inch Nails
The best Nine Inch Nails release? Yeah, I can accept that
10.Body Movin' by The Beastie Boys
Goof y in their old age
11.Life of Leisure by Luscious Jackson
Freinds of the Beasties
12.Pressure Drop by The Maytals
One of my favorite reggae jams
13.Punk Rock Girl by The Dead Milkmen
Funny song that should be more well known than it is
14.Punk Rock Classic by Red Hot Chili Peppers
continuing the Punk Rock theme. Gn'R takes a lump in this one for no real reason
15.Playground Love by Air
From The Virgin Suicided movie
16.Doin' Time by Sublime
this song gives me a yuk feeling
17. Sympathy For The Devil by The Rolling Stones
Is this one of the top ten rock songs ever?