VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs Hour 1

I am a sucker for these shows.  When I was perusing vh1 classic's website a couple of weeks ago I came across an advertisement for this series.  I was devastated, thinking I had missed it and therefore would be destined to walk the earth without knowing what Hal Sparks had to say about GNR or Metallica.  Little did I know the series hadn't even debuted yet.  I've been in Delaware for the past 2 weeks for Christmas (unemployed represent!), and therefore not as heavily acquainted with tv as I am in NY.  When I finally gained control of the remote tonight, my last night in DE, I checked VH1 classic first before switching to VH1 and gleefully stumbled upon hour 1.  So ready was I for some Sabbath, Metallica, Led Zep, and GNR, I had forgotten that it was the first hour, and thus 20 seminal great songs had to be critiqued.  Bullshit filler is expected, as is with any countdowns but I was unprepared for what was about to be burned into my brain..

Creed.   Really?  When was it OK to like this band, let alone put them on a greatest of anything list?  Besides, of course, a greatest toolbags list.  Seriously? CREED? 

That's not all.  Evanesence (I don't even care enough to see if I'm spelling their name correctly).  Just because you dress goth does not make you hard rock.  You wear black, and dark purple, congratulations.  No, not hard rock, sorry. There are harder rocking songs than that damn crossover hit.

One song in the first hour that really made me happy was the inclusion of The Darkness' "I Believe in a Thing Called Love".  What a great song.  Hard rocking, talented vocals, ridiculous but lovable lyrics, a possible parody but that's OK it just makes it easier to like.  I am legally downloading that song right now. 

"Roy Orbison singin' for the lonely, hey that's me and I want you only.."

Somewhere in the past month I've realized that I cannot live without Bruce Springsteen.  Well, just, "Thunder Road" and "Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" and "Born to Run".  I confidently proclaimed to an old friend of mine, "I could listen to Rosalita over and over everyday for the rest of my life."  To which he replied. "no, you couldn't."  (I haven't.)  But I'm currently believing that I could not survive a day without listening to "Thunder Road".  That song has been in my head for two straight weeks.  Bad songs just don't stay in your head for that long! (You don't let them.)  TWO WEEKS.  Who has a song stuck in your head for two weeks?  If you have please tell me what I would love to know.  The oddest part about the whole thing is that I used to hate on the Boss because I thought every single one of his songs sounded the same.  Which, they kind of do.  I also used to proclaim that he does not in fact sing, but rather, talks over the music.  My father instilled that last bit in me, he wasn't a big music guy and recently told me how much he regrets not paying attention to music when he was my age.  While my stance on Bruce has changed substantially, I do believe he is worth all the praise and accolades and adoration he receives.  I also believe he's a good lyricist.  He writes with such honesty that you sometimes hate him for it (for example in "Jersey Girl" where he sings, "we're gonna take that little brat of yours and drop him off at your mom's").  Disclaimer: I despise that song.  I think it is the main reason for my initial hatred of Springsteen and I didn't even know those lyrics were in there. But come on, he's talking about a Jersey girl here... she probably does have a brat for a kid. (Sarcasm.. or is it?)  Bruce would know he's a quintessential Jersey-ite (-ian?).  Every one of his early songs had themes of getting out of there, leaving a town full of "losers", and Jersey swamps.  Sounds like Jersey to me.  Anyway, I think he's one of better ones who can evoke pure honesty when he sings.  You know he's downtrodden, and hating his small town, and just can't wait to throw his fame back in the faces of everyone who didn't think he could do it.  It shows through his voice that he means every word that he says.  That or he's a great faker, either one.

The Obligatory "_____ of 2008" Lists. Post 1

Most Listened To Artists in '08 (based on Last.FM charts):

1.  Weezer

2.  Kevin Devine

3.  Death Cab for Cutie

4.  Saves the Day

5.  Amy Winehouse

6.  Prince

7.  Guns N' Roses

8.  The Smiths

9.  Chris Brown

10.  The Beastie Boys

Most Listened to Albums '08 (Last.FM)

1.  Brand New - Deja Entendu

2.  Saves the Day - Through Being Cool

3.  Saves the Day - Can't Slow Down 

tied with Taking Back Sunday - Tell All Your Friends

5.  Say Anything - ...Is A Real Boy

6.  Third Eye Blind - Third Eye Blind

7.  Saves the Day - Ups and Downs: Early Recordings and B-Sides 

tied with Jack's Mannequin - Everything in Transit and Northstar - Pollyanna

10.  Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/Love Sounds

An Open Letter to Axl Rose, Duff McKagan, Izzy Stradlin, Steven Adler, and Slash;

I'm not asking for much here.  Well, from you 5 I probably am, but I'm just going to throw this out there: REUNITE.  FOR A TOUR. Please?  Do you realize what you can accomplish with ONE U.S. tour?  Do you?  Have you all forgotten what its like to play "Welcome to the Jungle" or "Sweet Child O' Mine" in front of tens of thousands of your diehard fans?  Maybe you have, but I'm sure us fans haven't. (Note: I've never seen you play live, but I'm not giving up hope that one day I will.)  Seriously now, do you realize how much money you could make doing that kind of tour?  I know, you all have said repeatedly that it has nothing to do with money.  But let's be honest here, of course it has something to do with money because that's what you're fighting in court over right now.  Not directly, no, but fighting over the rights to "Guns N' Roses" is all about the money you'll make under that name.  An album 15 years in the making by any other artist would not sell, period.  (Chinese Democracy is underselling but hey, its selling. You never should have entered into an exclusive with Best Buy Mr. Rose, and a little bit of non internet message board promotion couldn't have hurt.)  Back to my point though: All that money you're wasting on court fees and lawyers fighting over the rights to the name would pale in comparison to the money the 5 of you would walk away with after a tour.  We all know some of you don't get along anymore (Axl-Slash I'm looking at you), but couldn't you manage a 1 and a half hour set for a month or two for say, I don't know, a cool ten million each?  I'm not asking for an album, I'm not asking for everyone to spend Thanksgiving together next year like one big family, and I'm not asking for the debauchery present in your early shows.  All I'm asking for is some "Paradise City" live- sung by Axl, and backed by Izzy, Duff, Steven, and Slash.  Consider it.  I've already said I'd give up my firstborn, and an arm and/or leg, just to see you guys together, so you know, all those are up for grabs.  Think about it.  I'm willing to negotiate.

Sincerely,

D.M.C.

(Not 1/2 of Run DMC but I don't think Daryl McDaniels would object to a GNR reunion.)

be still my heart.

Ben Gibbard squashed all hopes today of ever putting out another Postal Service record.  While that news makes me terribly sad- I adore everything (yes, even the Phil Collins cover) that they've done- I applaud Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello for not putting out another record just to capitalize on the moderate success of the first.  Gibbard noted that a second Postal Service record was not a top priority for either involved, which would clearly translate into a sub-par follow-up.

What I loved about the original album was that it was completely inspired.  No one told Gibbard or Tamborello they had to release an electro-pop record.  It was born out of a pure sense to create.  Adhering to that and putting out the record they want to create, when they want to, will only lead to to the second album all the fans are waiting for.. even if that means its the electro-pop Chinese Democracy.

Frustration.

It has recently come to my attention that Pitchfork (the overly elitist music website) has rated some of my non-traditional favorite albums a 3 or less.  Examples include: Stay What You Are by Saves the Day (2.9), Something to Write Home About by The Get Up Kids (2.0).  Exceptions include: Deja Entendu by Brand New (6.9) and Transatlanticism by Death Cab for Cutie (6.4).  I have never been one to rate anything related to music.  I do not understand or condone the rating process, as music is completely subjective. I firmly believe that no two people hear an album in the same way.  While many people will come to the same conclusion regarding an album, "I like it," or "I don't like it," no two people will illicit the same response from an album.  While a number of my friends share my musical tastes (though not my borderline obsession), favorite bands, and greatest songs, I firmly believe the song that I am hearing is a completely different song from what my friend is hearing.  I understand this may be a confusing idea to wrap your head around- but that is just how I believe musical judgement operates.  Yes, there have been times where I've called people crazy, or any of its synonyms, for not appreciating what I appreciate (and yes a number of times people have ended up agreeing with me- though much later and after much refusal to), but I later convince myself that this is a personal experience with a piece of music, one that I can not control.  

Which is why I don't believe in music reviews.  I don't believe you can put a number, a star, or any other crazy form of rating, on something that is meant to be taken in on a personal level.  

The only people I feel that are qualified to rate other people are those that do it, and I doubt the reviewers on Pitchfork have ever put out an album.  If they had, I'd love to see what Pitchfork rated it.

i don't want you to love me anymore.

Just added the reissue of The Get Up Kids' Four Minute Mile to my record collection, one of my most coveted bands.  I have everything they've ever recorded, plus numerous bootlegs including their final show.  It was a sad day in my college dorm when I realized they were done.  All good things must come to an end right?  But alas, for the 10 year anniversary of Something to Write Home About, TGUK are reuniting and playing a handful of shows.  If they decide to stay in the midwest I just may have to take a trip.. and maybe visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame while I'm at it?  Hello Cleveland!!! 

(yes the rock and roll annex opened up here in NYC just last week, and while I am anxiously awaiting time to get there I just think it would pale in comparison to the original.  Plus I've never been to Cleveland?)

I've also added the 7" "Time Bomb" single by The Format, and also their Snails EP.  No luck on finding Dog Problems on vinyl.. full list of all albums I own to come..

"And hey, I choose my company by the beating of their hearts.."

I am a sucker for lyrics (and anything acoustic. Bonus points if you know what that line is from).  There is love at first sight, love at first listen,  but for me, it has always been love at first lyric.  As shameful as it is to admit, (but hey, I am a product of the AOL/AIM generation) what sparked my interest into the genre I so gleefully listen to most, was the latest away message or profile quote of a buddy lister of mine.  While my beginnings into this genre did not all start because of an instant reply indicating how emotionally bruised one was at that moment, it sure did help me to find more of those soul-baring lyricists.  I of course am talking about what most refer now to as "emo".  (From here on out I will refer to Emo in quotes, so as to prove my point; I do not listen to what is traditionally considered the Emo genre.  I listen to the second cousin once removed "emo" genre.)

Sidenote: I have never liked the term "emo" being used to describe the bands I enjoy.  Mostly, because they are not the original emo bands.  That title belongs to the ones that came before, Sunny Day Real Estate, Rites of Spring, etc., the ones that inspired all the so called "emo bands" that I spent (spend, who am I kidding) so much of my time listening to.   I also despise the fashion sense, mockery, and stigma associated with those who listen and subsequently dress "emo".  As the Format once so wisely said, "Boys in swooping hair cuts are bringing me down taking pictures of themselves," (ironically the lead singer of the Format has-or had every time that I saw him, a swooping hair cut.) "Emo" has had some relative success lately- most notably Fall Out Boy, Panic! at the Disco, and all the other copycats out there (Metro Station I'm looking at you).  One could say that Jimmy Eat World (who some would consider a true Emo band) set the stage with their popular hit "The Middle" and later "Sweetness" for all these bands to follow, but let's be honest Jimmy Eat World has nothing on Fall Out Boy in terms of chart-topping success. (This is not to say FOB > JEW, I prefer JEW and feel they are superior in every way possible- except in getting 13 and 14 year old girls to buy their records.)

"Emo" lyrics, for whatever reason, have always hit the hardest with me.  My freshman year of highschool a friend of mine directed me to "Hit or Miss" by New Found Glory and, "maybe it's for the best, maybe it's not for anything!" would change everything for me.  Could 10 truer words ever be spoken?  I was hooked.  Which is why, over 7 years later and with thousands of other "Could (insert # here) truer words ever be spoken?" I felt the same feeling.  I found out today two of my all-time favorite songwriters have joined forces and are putting out an album early next year.  I have nothing but extremely high lyrical expectations for this release (which may be bad because when are expectations ever lived-up to?).  These two songwriters are "emo" darlings in the "scene" and I can only expect absolute chaos when this thing leaks / gets released.  There are very few people I hold as near and dear to my lyric loving heart as these two.  Chris Conley and Max Bemis have sonically, nearly persuaded me to permanently etch their words onto my skin countless times.  (I have resisted .. so far.  I can see no better excuse than to kill two birds with one stone and tattoo a lyric from the forthcoming album.)

So with that, I beg of this soon to be release, that I utter for the 1,001th time "can (insert #) truer words ever be spoken?"

so much good music, so little time.

that's all.

God damn I love VH1 Classic.

There were about 850 layoffs at Viacom this week (no I do not work there- or anywhere for that matter), and rumor is that the layoffs at MTV were concentrated in the music department.  Which makes me wonder why that channel is even still consider MTV.  It should just drop the M now because there is about 7% of music programming still alive on that channel.

Which brings me to the subject of this post: I fucking love VH1 classic.  The programming for this channel is beyond entertaining and everything that a network that calls itself "music television" should be made of.  "Seven Ages of Rock" is ridiculously addicting and extremely informative and entertaining.  For anyone who considers themselves to be overly obsessed with ANYTHING in the realm of music- which I do- this miniseries (?) / documentary is fascinating.  Being the ripe young age of 22 I've not been around for about 75% of the bands featured, yet find Dennis Hopper's narration and direct interviews with members makes you feel as if you're experiencing the bands for the first time along with everyone else in the world.  

I am constantly living in a state where I believe I was born 15 years too late.  I am extremely jealous of my parents musical genre spanning lives.  Up until now I've lived bitterly, constantly complaining to them of how lucky they should feel to be able to say they have lived knowing what its like to NOT have a Led Zeppelin, or a Pink Floyd, or even a Prince or Michael Jackson, in the world.  Their generation knows exactly what its like to discover something all at once, and be a part of a larger "thing."  Up until this exact point, as I sit here watching the last installment of the "Seven Ages of Rock" do I realize how fucking lucky I am to be able to experience that exact sentiment with..

Oasis.

I can vividly remember being in my Dad's 1993 champagne Honda Accord with its battered (much in part to my constant rewinding and fast-forwarding) tape deck and putting in "What's the Story, Morning Glory?" and skipping the first two tracks and diving headfirst into "Wonderwall".  Even my father, who in all honesty does not really pay much attention at all to music, though he tries very hard to keep up with me..thanks dad, was going, "Wow, that is a great song."  That it is.  That song is monumental, and catapulted Oasis to legendary status.  I, at the age of 9, cared nothing for the rest of the tape and treated it with as great care as many other tapes in my collection (Queen's Red Greatest Hits tape, Dookie, Jagged Little Pill) by paying no attention to any song that wasn't catchy as fucking hell, which meant of course played on mainstream radio.  (I'm thinking my musical tastes could have been much worse back then.)

Would I have realized that I am just as lucky as my parents to have experienced a Wonderwall-less world had I not been watching this great channel?  Maybe.  But it finally got me inspired to start writing in this thing about 18 years after I made it (greatly exaggerated.)

"There's great bands, and then there's fucking great bands.  Like ya know that change the way people wear clothes and talk and speak and they affect things ya know?" - Noel Gallagher