This Week's Playlist

It has been a slog over the past couple of weeks at work, so blogging has been, shall we say, a bit light.  However, I am trying to get back.

I am a child of the 80's and musically, it was a time when my tastes began to diversify (particularly later in that time frame), but I started getting a taste of different styles.  I was (and always will be) a rock and roll guy, I started testing different ideas.  Here is my list of 1980's songs that I still enjoy 20+ years later.

1. Money for Nothing by Dire Straits.  Seriously, this must have been the 1980's MTV anthem, with Sting ethereal lead in and hook to Mark Knopfler's picked guitar lick and crafty lyrics.  The video was brilliant and remains so today.
2. Beat It by Michael Jackson.  Yep, I liked Michael, particularly on the Thriller album.  Say what you will, the man was a genius performer.  When I heard the guitar solo, I knew who it was, even though most of my friends didn't believe me--I knew Eddie Van Halen's guitar work.  This was a harder Michael and I had to decide between this song and Thriller, but went with this one because this was the song that got me into Jackson as an artist who was more than just fancy dancing and pop songs.
3. The Heart of Rock & Roll by Huey Lewis & The News.  Huey Lewis & the News were on a tear with Sports, but this song just gets me going and as an added bonus, provides a great geography lesson in music.  Their later albums had much more of a jazz feel, but Sports hit the big time.
4. Owner of  a Lonely Heart by Yes.  Progressive rock extraordinaires, Yes was a favorite my father's.  Their early stuff was a tad pretentious (lots of prog rock was), but so very orchestral.  They were a band that showed that rock was music and didn't have to be a 3/4 or 4/4 time with a simple melody to be good.  90125 was a brilliant album that put Yes back on the musical map.  I also like Leave It from the album as well.  Now about that snake in the video, still don't get that.
5. Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel.  An iconic video, a basic beat and superbly sung lyrics made Gabriel a household name with this song.  I had heard Gabriel with Genesis (my father a big fan of them) and with some solo work ("Shock the Monkey" and "Solosbury Hill") but when I hear Gabriel, I think Sledgehammer and Solosbury Hill.  But Solosbury Hill was not released in the 1980's so doesn't make the cut.
6. On the Loose by Saga.  This Canadian quintet was largely underrated.  They were in heavy rotation early on MTV, particularly with this song.  I think a lot of people looked at them as a bit too theatrical, but their musicality was terrific, with complex guitar riffs and keyboard overlaying a solid rhythmic core.  Worlds Apart remains one of my favorite albums as a whole unit, with each song occupying a perfect place.   
7. Abacab by Genesis.  The song and album named for the chord progression was probably the last of Genesis' more "progressive" rock albums.  Not long after this, Phil Collins hit it big as a solo artist and Genesis took off with Invisible Touch.  The musical outro seems to go on a bit too long for me, but this is still a brilliant song showing off the hallmarks of prog rock music, with different time signatures and slightly less than easily followed lyrics.
8. Cool the Engines by Boston.  Third Stage was a brilliant album, and while still recognizably Boston, a little different with more ballads.  Cool the Engines though is classic Boston, big heavy bass and drums and Tom Scholz's multi-layered guitars.  Brad Delp's vocals never sounded better and the song really does progress from the rising beginning, blistering middle sections with Delp and Scholz reaching their peak and then easing off.  A song that suits its name.
9. Photograph by Def Leppard.  Pyromania put the boys from Sheffield on the world musical map and Photograph led the charge.  The guitar/drum combo intro is easily recognizable and instantly put you in the groove.  While Hysteria solidified Def Leppard's sound, you can hear the sound coalescing in this album.  
10. Jump by Van Halen.  Van Halen with David Lee Roth hit new heights with this album and this song is about as straight forward rock and roll as you can get.  While this was not the first time Van Halen has used synthesizers in their albums, this song was the first to make such prominent use of them, but it doesn't cheapen the experience.  What usually went unnoticed in this band was Michael Anthony and Alex Van Halen, probably one of the best bass/drum pairings in rock and they never missed a beat in this song.
11. Rain on the Scarecrow by John Cougar Mellencamp.  Mellencamp had something to say with Scarecrow, an album that showed a distinct break from his previous work, much darker, moodier and yes more political.  Rain on the Scarecrow still stands as a truly brilliant song, evocative of the problems facing farmers.  The lyrics are powerful and while political, still tell a story without being too preachy.
12. Where the Streets Have No Names by U2.  From big stars to superstars with one album, The Joshua Tree solidified U2 as a world wide band and as a band whose politics went beyond just Ireland.  Musically, Joshua Tree was an eclectic group of songs that still hung together.  This song is, in my mind, the more "mainstream" of the songs, except maybe the ballad "With or Without You," but it still is a classic of musicianship and lyrics.
13. Tom Sawyer by Rush.  No compilation of my 80's songs would be complete without Rush's Tom Sawyer.  Prog rock musicality, high pitched signing, Neil Peart's drums and slightly gravelly guitars on a recognizable synth track.  I loved this song then and I love it now.
14. If Looks Could Kill by Heart.  Barracuda and Magic Man remain my all-time favorite Heart songs and the 1980s saw the Wilson sisters in big hair and tight clothes, but still solid musicians.  This is a slightly less known rocker from their self-titled album that brought you "Never" and "These Dreams" this song was simply more like the Heart of the late 70's, rockers first and balladeers second.
15. Promises in the Dark by Pat Benatar.  This rocker always gets me going.  Benatar's massive vocal range is highlighted a couple of times here, her ability to make her voice a little rough on some lyrics and absolutely ethereal in the next breath simply demonstrates why she won so many Grammy's.  Husband Neal Gerardo's guitar work is classic.  The length of time she holds that note in the middle/end of the song never fails to get me.
16. Born in the U.S.A. by Bruce Springsteen.  He was always a rocker, always a story song writer, but this album put Bruce on the map globally.  The organ/synthesizer melody line is recognizalbe instantly.  I knew this would be a classic.  
17. Sweet Child O' Mine by Guns & Roses.  This song changed the way I looked a metal and hair bands.  The basic guitar riff and slow guitar solo remains two of the best guitar lines ever written and while Axel Rose might be a chucklehead, he and the rest of G&R knew how to put together some rocking songs.  This song may have changed music in the late 1980's, paving the way for grunge, but what a way to change it.  I even sang this song to my oldest daughter as a lullaby--that is the beauty of the song.
18. Cult of Personality by Living Colour.  What can I say about this New York City foursome.  This song's brilliant lyrics, punchy drums and some of the coarsest guitar work ever brought about one of the greatest debuts ever.  So solid were these guys that they opened for the Rolling Stones when no one had ever heard of them.  Vernon Reid is one of the most criminally underrated guitarists/songwriters around and the way he plays guitar is amazing, from the gravel of Cult of Personality to the funk of Funny Vibe, they did it all on the Vivid Album and only got better with age.
19. Don't Stop Believin by Journey.  Another 1980's arena band classic, which will always remain with me as the song my friends and I performed in an air band contest in 7th grade.  The piano work at the beginning is brilliantly crafted and the lyrics tell a pretty story.  
20. Take Me Home by Phil Collins.  A lot of people might remember this video of Collins appearing in various iconic places around the world, but I love this song for the way it builds up.  In particularly, if you listen to teh drum loops, how they are distinct, but as more are introduced they emphasize each other.  Some of the lyrical turns of phrase as absolute genius.  This may not be Collins' most famous song, but as a musical journey, it is one of his best.  

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Check out my soccer blog at Nutmegs and Stepovers

This Week's Playlist

They (whoever they is) often states that smell is the sense that generates the most vivid memories.  For me, music often carries very specific memories when I hear a song.  Here is a list of 20 songs and the memory I associate with them.

1. In America by the Charlie Daniels Band.  When this song came out, it seemed to be playing on the radio everytime my family drove to the beach in St. Augustine Florida, so I always associate it with the beach.
2. Homebound Train by Bon Jovi.  I just love the ryhtmn guitars in this song, but oddly enough, this song was playing when a buddy of mine and I were riding the train back from a climbing trip in West Virginia.
3. We Didn't Start the Fire by Billy Joel.  My wife and her family were big Billy Joel fans and we all went to see Joel in Washington DC, one of the best memories before my father in law passed away.
4. Acoustic Curves by Animusic.  My wife and daughter had gone to Boston with my wife's friend.  I used a four day weekend to paint four rooms in our house.  My wife was surprised and I discovered Animusic during that painting blitz.
5. Flying in a Blue Dream by Joe Satriani.  Flying in a Blue Dream was my first Satriani album purchase and after hearing this song on my Walkman coming home from the mall, I was hooked instantly.  Satriani remains one of my favorite artists ever.
6. Don't Stop Believin' by Journey.  Me and my friends entered an air band contest with this song in the 7th Grade. I rocked the air drums and the lip synching.
7. Enter Sandman by Metallica.  My Navy roommate and I would blast this song when ever we would go rock climbing.  Since we went climbing 3 or 4 times a week, the CD got a lot of play.
8. Even Flow by Pearl Jam.  One of my housemates in college got me hooked on Pearl Jam thanks to this song.  She went absolutely nuts listening to the song.  I will never forget her introducing me to this band.
9. Another Rainy Night (Without You) by Queensryche.  A squad mate in the Navy just after boot camp turned me on to Queensryche by playing this song.  I will always associate hearing this song with the knowledge that I had been selected to join the U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard.
10. AFH by Slackjaw.  My Phi Sigma Pi friends from U. Va. (Chris and Sabine) turned me on to this Charlottesville band.  This song is forever associated with road tripping during college.
11. Panama by Van Halen.  From high school, I remember when this album came out as a freshman in high school and how much my friends and I would listen to it before soccer practice.
12. Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down.  Another song that got me hooked on a band during college, I remember listening to these guys on the radio in the bus I was driving through Georgetown to pick up a tour group.
13. Where the Streets Have No Name by U2.  I remember sitting in the theater with a former girlfriend watching the opening of Rattle & Hum, still one of my favorite rock documentaries.
14. Explosive by Bond.  I had a business trip to San Francisco/Sacremento and I remember this song being on the CD player in my rental car as I walked through the streets of San Francisco toward the Golden Gate Bridge.
15. Dream On by Aerosmith.  From my much younger days, this was the song that was on the radio when I first started listening to Rock 105 from Jacksonville Florida.
16. I Alone by Live.  This was the first concert I went to with the woman who would become my wife.  Live at HersehyPark Stadium was brilliant and the first of dozens of concerts we have attended.
17. Represent by Weezer.  This is my soccer song.  I remember watching the game where the opening commentary came from and I can't help but see that goal by Jonathan Bornstein and Landon Donovan's goal against Algeria in the World Cup.
18. To the One Who Knows by Yanni.  I know, Yanni right, but I actually like some of his stuff.  Me and a girl I liked in the Navy danced to this song while watching a thunderstorm move in.  Never really got the nerve up to date her, sorry Karmin.
19. Barracuda by Heart.  "No this ain't the end" was something of an anthem for my high school soccer team when we got behind.  This song still reminds me of travelling for games.
20. London Skies by Jamie Cullum.  I picked up my wife after her trip to San Francisco and this song was playing which she just loved and it reminds me, oddly enough, of London.

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Check out my soccer blog at Nutmegs and Stepovers

This Week's Playlist

Not that I am casting about for a theme for each week, but I try to have something that links the songs together.  This week, I pulled out the common theme of music I discovered or found in 2010.  That is not to say that every song was released in 2010 (although a majority of them are), but it is music that I got in 2010.  Some of these songs come from the Free Weekly download from iTunes (which I very much encourage).  Most of the stuff on the free download is pretty mainstream, but still worth the fact that some are duds (to me) and some are hidden little gems that I might not have discovered otherwise.

1. Synchronicity II by Queensryche.  This song is taken from their 2007 album of cover tunes.  The Police classic is a bit harder edge in keeping with their metal roots, but of all the Police songs, this is one that fits a metal band very well.  The guitar work on this song is brilliant and the deeper bass of Geoff Tate deftly replaces Sting's vocal range.
2. I'm Bad by The Last Vegas.  Straight forward rock and roll with a metal edge.  The chorus rocked me when I first heard the song, but when you listen to the lyrics, you can get a sense that these are not one-dimensional rockers.
3. The High Road by The Broken Bells.  I love bands that put some thought into their lyrics and they certainly did, but I was torn about including this song because I am not a fan of the instrumentation and arrangement, but it is a solid song from a band that is on the right path musically.
4. Caravan by Rush.  I have been a Rush fan for, well, decades.  Geddy Lee's singing has matured, Neil Peart can still write the lyrics and Alex Lifson can still make a guitar sing.  Into their fourth decade of music making and the Canadian trio can still deliver.  Not their best song ever, but a very good song.
5. Behind the Sun by Living Colour.  Vernon Reid and the boys certainly deliver on this disk.  This song stands out a bit more for me because of the guitar riff, which is much cleaner than you often hear from Reid, whose work with Living Colour is often more gravelly.  The melody as sung by Corey Glover delivers as well.
6. Around My Head by Cage the Elephant.  A retro-punk feel to the music and lyric delivery appeal to me This song is courtesy of the iTunes free download recently.  The song is growing more on me by the listen.
7. All I Want by A Day to Remember.  The band sounds a bit familiar, kind of like early Offspring with a little less quirkiness. The riff is basic, the drums solid and the melody a little catchy.  They may not fully take off, but A Day to Remember has put together a solid effort.
8. Run Back To Your Side by Eric Clapton.  The greatness that is Clapton and his blues infused rock is apparent.  He has been doing this so long, it is hard to believe that he can still be so fresh in his work.
9. Strong Medicine by Patty Reese.  Reese appeared at a free outdoor show at my wife's theater and I was immediately impressed.  Reese brings the blues somewhat like Bonnie Raitt, but without the heavy guitar.
10. Don't Stop the Music by Jamie Cullum.  If you like your jazz with great lyrics and a fun time apparent in the music, then Cullum is your guy.  The chorus is brilliant and the musicianship classy.  Cullum is crossing a little into the pop side of music and this song will show you why.  
11. Littleworth Lane by Joe Satriani.  Satriani is by far one of my favorite artists (I think one of his songs has appeared in just about everyone one of my weekly playlists).  On his latest album, Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards, he has really expanded his repetoire of genres and this song is blues guitar through and through.  The song doesn't try to overwhelm you with a flurry of notes and that is teh appeal because blues guitar doesn't either.
12. Take Off the Blues by the Foreign Exchange (feat. Darien Brockington), another iTunes freebie but this song took a while to grow on me.  The groove is mellow and the feel melodic.  The lyrics are decent but I think it is the rather basic musicianship that bothered me most.  Not quite a guilty pleasure, but pleasurable nonetheless.
13. Bulletproof by La Roux.  Dance music is not my thing, as I like something more than just a peppy beat or simple lyrics.  But the lyrical quality in this song is truly solid, although La Roux's voice is a little to bright for the song, but I like the melody and the beat is accomplished not through heavy bass, but by the crafty use of synthesizers.
14. Love is Dead by The Lovemakers.  A surprisingly up tempo song for such a dreary topic.  A duet that melds the two voices together well.  
15. Animal by Neon Trees.  A stripped down basic beat song with a brilliant melody laid down on top without a lot of flash and over the top arrangement.  The lyrics are not a good as I think they could be, but that is simple a personal taste.
16. Think Like a Man by Orianthi.  I am a big fan of this woman (maybe it is the guitar or the Aussie accent or both).  While her guitar work is good, this song definitely shows some songwriting chops and a bit of sardonic side as well.
17. Trinity by Paper Tongues.  The melody caught my attention immediately on hearing this song.  A mesmerizing cycle backed by a chorus that emphasizes rather than clashes with the stanzas by keeping the same kind of familiar melody in place.
18. Keep on Lovin' You by Steel Magnolia.  Although I have gotten much more country over the past year, this song resonated a bit more than others.  A solid song with  a terrific duet, more of a rock beat that most country.  Although to be fair, country is not a label that really fits this band.
19. Represent by Weezer.  The unofficial anthem of the U.S. Men's National Team written for the World Cup in South Africa by Rivers Cuomo, I can see the Jonathan Bornstein goal in my head from the lead-in clip and a personal little highlight reel in my head.
20. Maybe by Sick Puppies.  An inspirational song wrapped in solid rock music, an odd band name and brilliantly delivered.  I just love this song.

This Week's Playlist

This week, I decided to go with some instrumentals this week.  I had a few problems because I told myself that I would select no more than two songs from any one artists (I don't have as much instrumental only music).  But by the same token, it opens up some other genres that I have been moving into a bit more.  So enjoy this list.

"Storm" by Vanessa Mae.  A violin virtuoso who plays regular classical and crossover classical on different albums.  This song is a crossover that is pretty solid musically.
"Acoustic Curves" by Animusic.  Saw this song and video on PBS a few years ago and was enthralled.  This is not animation set to music, it is music that drives the animation.  Check them out here.
"Vein Melter" by Herbie Hancock.  What can you say about the man and the album ("Headhunters") that changed the face and sound of jazz.  Mellow groove and brilliant writing.
"Flatbush and Church Revisited" by Vernon Reid & Masque.  Living Colour's guitarist Reid's "side project" shows that Reid is not just about the gravelly guitar work that made Living Colour great, but that he can play with so many different styles.  This song is brilliant, clean and demonstrates that that Reid is one of the most underrated guitarists around.
"Kashmir" by Bond.  Say what you will about Bond, a manufactuered classical string quartet who makes dance music (and look good while doing it), any classical quartet that takes on a Led Zeppelin classic is brilliant.
"Baluchitherium" by Van Halen.  Most Van Halen instrumentals are usually Eddie Van Halen and his guitar but this one is definitely a song to hear.  Eddie is brilliant on the guitar and the rhythm section of Alex Van Halen and Michael Anthony show why they are among the best.
"Zap (Live)" by Eric Johnson.  Unless you follow guitarists, you might not know about Johnson, but his guitar work is distinclty influenced by his Texas roots and is certainly clean.  This live cut is from a tour he did with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
"Wormhole Wizards" by Joe Satriani.  This is my favorite track from Satriani's most recent album, Black Swans and Wormhole Wizards.  This is classic Satriani, a song with great guitar work, but the album is working in other instruments a bit more.
"Reel Around the Sun" by 12 Girls Band.  This group of 13 women (only 12 are on stage at one time) playing traditional Chinese instruments take on a classic song from "Riverdance" and make it work so well.
"Answers (Live)" by Steve Vai.  One of the most creative and ambitious guitarists around, Vai makes one of his older songs very fresh in a live setting.
"YYZ (Live)" by Rush.  Behind Neal Peart's lyrics, it might be hard to forget that the Canadian trio are also fantastic musicians.  This instrumental from "Moving Pictures" really solidified my liking of the band (which got better as Geddy Lee stopped trying to shout/sing and just sing in a more natural range for him).
"Highly Strung" by Orianthi.  Steve Vai makes another appearance on this list, teaming with the young Australian woman who has impressed Vai, Carlos Santana and Michael Jackson (Orianthi was hired to be Jackson's guitarist on the King of Pop's tour that didn't happen).  Technically sound, lots of fun and proves that Orianthi is not just a hot guitarist, but a guitarist who happens to be hot (and can sing).
"Banana Mango 2" by Joe Satriani.  This is my second cut from Satriani (of my limit of two).  This piece includes some really fun rhythm and drums in addition to some brilliant technique from Satriani.
"Fuego" by Bond.  I love this song and like the Spanish influence.
"Cathedral" by Van Halen.  A short technique piece from Van Halen that sounds much more like a viola or cello than a guitar.
"Pipe Dream" by Animusic.  A much more rhythm/drums piece that if someone could do it live with vibraphones, xylophones and other percussion would be absolutely brilliant.
"Doll" by Keiko Matsui.  Another jazz entry, I heard this song at the movie theater in the pre-show entertainment.  I thought it a fantastic piece and got me interested in Mastui.  There are many other much better songs by Matsui, but I will never forget this one.
"Lily Was Here (DNA Remix" by Candy Dulfer.  I love the interplay of saxophone and guitar in this jazz piece.
"Home Blues" by The 5 Browns.  This classical piece contains a guest appearance by Chris Botti and just mesmerizes me.  I just love this piece.

This Week's Playlist

This week's playlist features songs with lyrics that I love or have a turn of phrase that for some reason simply resonates with me.  So with each song, I have put in one lyric (which may be one of many in the song) that just worked its  way into my head.

1. "Tears of Yesterday" by Hoobastank:  "I write your name in my breath on the window, sit and watch as it fades away."
2. "Citizen Soldier" by 3 Doors Down:  "For when they simply need a place to make their bed/right here underneath my wing you can rest your head."
3. "I'm Not Running Anymore by John Mellencamp:  "Well I got two circus clowns who like to fight/they've got one black eye and a bloody nose.  They are the hoodlums of my third wife/whatever I say they will oppose."
4. "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant by Billy Joel: "And the king and the queen went back to the Green but you can never go back there again."
5. "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" by the Charlie Daniels Band:  "My name is Johnny and it might be a sin, but I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret cause I'm the best that's ever been"
6. "Mine All Mine" by Van Halen.  "Some only see what they want to see, claiming victory oh but that's not me.  Gimme a truth, gimme something real.  I just wanna feel that it's mine, all mine."
7. "This is My Song" by Carbonleaf.  "My name is Hope, Luck just ran out.  He said he'd  return without a doubt, ah but don't you believe him.  Oh I happen to have a message from Love, she told she knows what you've been dreaming of."
8. "Grey Street" by Dave Matthews Band.  "There's a stranger who speaks outside her door, says 'Take what you can from your dreams, make them as real as anything.  Ohh, it'll take the work out of the courage.'"
9. "Hysteria" by Def Leppard.  "When you get that feeling, when you start believing."
10. "Bobby Jean" by Bruce Springsteen:  "You'll hear me sing this song, if you do you'll know I'm thinking of you and all the miles in between. And I'm just calling one last time, not to change your mind, just to say I miss you babe, good luck, good bye, Bobby Jean."
11. "If You Only Knew" by Shinedown:  "I don't regret any days I spent, nights we shared or letters that we sent."
12. "Twentysomething" by Jamie Cullum:  "Who knows the answers, who do you trust.  I can't even separate love from lust." 
13. "3x5" by John Mayer.  "Didn't have a camera by my side this time, hoping I would see the world through both my eyes."
14. "Nothingness" by Living Colour:  "This is the place I call my own, I live with the lies and the fear all alone."
15. "Solosbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel:  "TOday I don't need a replacement, I tell them what the smile on my face meant, my heart going boom, boom, boom, "Hey," I said, "You can keep my things, they've come to take me home."
16. "Time Stands Still" by Rush:  "I turn my back to the wind, to catch my breath before I start off again/ Driven on without a moment to spend and pass the evening with a drink and a friend"
17. "Home Again" by Queensryche.  "For me it wasn't easy to raise the flag and leave, but I thought that you should know how much you mean to me.  I won't be there to see you dance or hear you sing the songs we love, so please be strong, it won't be long till I'm home again."
18. "The River" by Bruce Springsteen.  "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse?" 
19. "It's Probably Me" by Sting.  "The jury's out, your eyes search the room but one friendly face is all you need to see.  If there's one guy, just one guy who'll lay down his life for you and die, its hard to say, I hate to say it, it's probably me."
20. "Departure Bay" by Diana Krall:  "The fading scent of summertime, arbutus trees and firs, the glistening of rain soaked moss, going to the Dairy Queen at dusk."

There it is.  These is not everything, but I have always admired the way songwriters can put together a series of words and phrases to evoke an image, a feeling, or a thought.  Couple with music, the impact is palpable.  I can hear these phrases and lyrics and reconstruct the entire song in my head.  That is what makes these lyrics to powerful for me.

This Week's Playlist

Final one for this year.  Going to the rocking side of things:

1.   "Honest Man" by The Gracious Few.  Great new stuff by former Live and Candlebox.
2.   "My Kinda Girl" by Chickenfoot.  Another "supergroup" with Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony from Van Halen, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith and guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani.  A basic, straightforward rock song very well executed.
3.   "The High Road" by Broken Bells.  This duo created one of my favorite songs of 2010.
4.   "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crowes.  I fell in love with this song when it first came out in 1990 from this Atlanta band.
5.   "Shape I'm In" by Arc Angels.  A little heralded bank, the Arc Angels put together a great album of core rhythmn and blues songs.  This is as basic R&B as you can get.
6.   "Dream On" by Aerosmith.  Great song by great band.  Enough said.
7.   "Bringin on the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard.  The early song that established this Sheffield band as the soundtrack of my middle and high school years.
8.   "Run Back to Your Side" by Eric Clapton.  Eric Clapton's latest single gets back to his famous roots.
9.   "This Ain't A Scene, It's An Arms Race" by Fall Out Boy.  Great writing, well played and and fantastic hook.
10. "High" by Jimmie's Chicken Shack.  From Annapolis Maryland, this band got some early play on MTV but have pushed on.  This was their first really big hit and still gets me pumped up.
11. "I Just Wanna Rock" by Joe Satriani.  One of my favorite artists ever, this is not one of Satch's best songs, but it is a fun song and he does different things with his guitar in this song.
12. "I'm Bad" by The Last Vegas.  With a 80/90's sound, and high quality musicianship, this song got me hooked on the Chicago fivesome.
13. "Back in Black" by Living Colour.  One great band (ironically) covering one of the greatest rock songs ever.  Brilliantly done and Vernon Reid rocks the solos.
14. "Holier Than Thou" by Metallica.  My brother liked Metallica long before me, but the "black" album got me hooked.  My Navy roommate and I played this CD until I thought we would burn it out.
15. "State of Love and Trust" by Pearl Jam.  I got in to Pearl Jam thanks to a girl I knew in the Navy.  This song is just encapsulates this band.
16. "Synchronicity II" by Queensryche.  the "thinking man's metal band" covers the Police.  Supremely well done.
17. "They Say" by Scars on Broadway.  I was never a big fan of System of a Down, but this song by Scars was something that just struck me.
18. "Sin With a Grin" by Shinedown.  One of my favorite new bands, and one of the best bands to come out of Jacksonville Florida since Lynyrd Skynyrd, they simply rock.  This is one of their harder, faster songs, and I love the title.
19. "Riot Act" by Skid Row.  A much older song by Skid Row, but off an album that, from first song to last, demonstrates that a band that a lot people simply didn't credit with much had some musical and songwriting chops.
20. "Black Rain" by Soundgarden.  This band getting back together was good news.  After a solo career and time with Audioslave, Chris Cornell shows that he still has the pipes and this song's hook just drew me in.

Music This Week

I like to keep track of the music I am listening too (since I tend to delete playlists from my iTunes after a while).  This week's playlist looks like this:

1.   "War" by Bruce Springsteen
2.   "True Reflections" by Dave Matthews Band
3.   "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson
4.   "Pretty Vegas" by INXS
5.   "Wormhole Wizards" by Joe Satriani
6.   "Escape" by Hoobastank
7.   "Everlong" by Foo Fighters
8.   "Think Like a Man" by Orianthi
9.   "Hysteria" by Def Leppard
10. "Paloma" by Carbon Leaf
11. "Lily Was Here" by Candy Dulfer
12. "Hard to Handle" by The Black Crows
13. "My Kinda Lover" by Billy Squire
14. "Even Flow" by Pearl Jam
15. "Living in a Dream" by the Arc Angels
16. "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith
17. "Flirtin' With Disaster" by Molly Hatchet
18. "Time Stands Still" (Live Version) by Rush
19. "Just Wait" by Blues Traveler
20. "Home Again" by Queensryche

If you check any of these songs (some are quite old and some very new), let me know what you think.

June 6 Playlist

It has been a while since one of these posts, but here is what is on my primary playlist right now.

Reel Around the Sun by Twelve Girls Band--nothing like classical Chinese instrument playing women playing a classic Irish Tune. Close your eyes and you can see the Riverdancers. As usual, this is well done and neat to listen to.

Where the Streets Have No Name by U2--If the album War made them household names, the Joshua Tree vaulted U2 into the realm of one of the greatest bands ever. I loved this opening song on the CD then and I still do. I love the guitar work, particularly at the start but all throughout the song. The lyrics were solid and the muscianship is probably the best on the entire album populated with great songs.

Walk Tall by John Mellencamp--this was one of the original songs to appear on Words & Music and like many of Mellencamp's songs, carries a strong message. "The simple-minded and uninformed can easily be led astray...People believe what they want to believe when it makes no sense at all..." The music is much more simplified, stripped down to basics, which has a strong appeal given the complexity that Mellencamp had achieved a few years back.

The Bells of Lal by Joe Satriani--Flying in a Blue Dream was the first Satriani Album I ever owned and still contains what I think are some of his truly classic pieces. The Bells of Lal comes in two parts, the first a short intro sort of piece and the second a more traditional Satriani song, with a verse/refrain set up. Satrini doesn't go for the all out bravado of a guitar hero, but this piece has some of his classic musicianship, and remains one of my all time favorites.

Look Where We Are by Hoobastank--It may be hard to categorize Hoobastank in a genre, but I love their rocking sound and this song is somewhat typical of a piece or two on each of their CDs, an optimistic outlook on life. I guess that is what I like, they are not pessimistic rockers.

Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits--a classic, it really is as simple as that. The lyrics tell a great story and Mark Knopfler's finger picking style of guitar playing knows no equal on this song and probably have never been surpassed. Here is an old video.

Paloma by Carbon Leaf--the Irish influenced rockers from central Virginia prove they have mad song writing skills with this one. Amazing lyrics and turns of phrases, complex rythmns and licks make the lyrical melody all the more amazing. Truly one of the best songs they have ever penned.

But Anyway by Blues Traveler--fast paced lyrics with a sense of humor and the blasting of guitar and harmonica, classic John Popper. Great BT stuff and still a fun song.

Keeping the Faith by Billy Joel (Live version). This song, and Scences From An Italian Restaurant are far and away my favorite Joel songs, way more than Piano Man. Keeping the Faith is an autobiographical anthem to the past and present and being comfortable with yourself. Joel wasn't always that way, but he seems to have learned his lessons and we could learn a thing or two as well.

Fuego by Bond--four hotties who can play the classical string quartet in a way your grandma wouldn't believe. Fuego is a spanish tinged piece with a great deal of pace and presents well. Not their greatest work, but the one I like most.

May 15 Playlist

1. Someone That You're With by Nickelback. A real stalker song, but the guitar riff also appeals to me.

2. I Write Sins Not Tragedies by Panic At The Disco! The song titles have nothing to do with the song, which in this case, like most Panic songs, have nifty turns of phrases that appeal lyrically. The underlying music has a certain cleverness, but doesn't really match the lyrical cleverness. Still a quality song.

3. December 1963 (Oh What A Night) by Return 2 Zero. This a capella cover is fantastic and takes a generally classic song and just tweaks it a little. The best part about the a capella version is that you can hear the lyrics and see why this song just appeals to people.

4. Show Don't Tell (Live) by Rush. Rush have been making music forever it seems. This song, off one of their many live collections from the 1989 album Presto song and released on the live Album Different Stages Live, but like all Rush songs, the lyrics by Neil Peart are outstanding.

5. Slowloud by Slackjaw. Slackjaw was a band I first heard on a road trip with my fraternity brothers from University of Virginia. The band was great, with a great drummer, and solid musicianship. But sadly, they never made nearly as big as that other big Charlottesville group, the Dave Matthews Band. I just liked the title to this song, although it is not one of their best.

6. It's Probably Me by Sting. Aside from maybe Fortress Around Your Heart, this jazzy feeling song by Sting is probably my favority by him as a soloist. I have long felt drawn to the powers of friendship and this is a song about unfailing friendship.

7. Leyenda by Vanessa Mae. A violin prodigy, Vanessa Mae has made both traditional classical albums and the sort of classical/pop crossovers with different influences. Leyenda has a spanish feel, with a great classical guitar segment.

8. One Robot's Dream by Joe Satriani. I have long been a Satriani fan and the underlying hook in this song just holds my attention. One thing about Satriani that is different is that his songs, although largely instrumental, have a real vocal feel to them, with stanzas, a refrain and often a bridge. Despite the guitar focus, Satriani doesn't just fill this song with lots of fret work, but still a good demonstration of his abilities.

9. Diamonds and Coal by Incubus. A sort of mellow song for them, almost a ballad, but not nearly as slow as a "power ballad." Not the best song on Light Grenades, but a solid effort that simply hooks me in.

10. I'm Goin' Home by Hootie and the Blowfish. Again, nothing wrong with Hootie, but this one is included because my oldest daughter, the Peanut, likes it.

Music this Week

When it comes to differnt things that I enjoy doing with my limited spare time, music is one of my passions. I cannot play an instrument, I can probably carry a tune only if I had a good sized bucket and I have (at least B.C.--before children) spent many a summer night at Nissan Pavilion or Merriweather Post pavilion in the DC area attending concerts. A few years ago in an 8 day stretch, my wife and I saw 4 different concerts at Nissan Pavilion. Were it not for the need to go to work, it would have been easier to just camp in the parking lot.

Every once in a while, I will get an email about what I am listening too since I don't keep up with updating the left hand column as frequently as I probably should. Like many people, I have an iPod that I update pretty frequently. but most of my friends wonder how I come to listen the music I choose. To be honest, I don't have a good answer other than to say that I like to listen to just about anything--exept gangsta rap--which I generally find to be without any redeeming quality. Even some of the worst pop music out there has something going for it, if only a hook or melody line, but I have never understood the "artistic" appeal of hard core rap.

Having said that, I have a habit of putting together a Weekly play list for my iPod, 10 songs that I will listen to a great deal in that week, perhaps not exclusively, but regularly. Here is this week's list and I will try to post them regularly.

1. Pipe Dreams by Animusic. Animusic is a wonderful production that involves creating pieces of animation with music and different animated instruments. I saw it on PBS one time and immediately bought the DVDs and CDs. Neat stuff and some really good music.

2. The Downeaster "Alexa" by Billy Joel--I have always liked this Billy Joel song. Musically it is not his best work, but lyrically it has a sad sort of pride in his family roots that cannot be dismissed.

3. Kashmir by Bond. This cover of the great Led Zeppelin classic I thought was simply audacious. The classical quartet gets the backing hook just right, but I would have liked to have the melody line a little more prominent. But still, very cool.

4. Grey Street by Dave Mathews Band. I like the music, I love the lyrics. One of the things about DMB that I have always loved is the rhythms that drummer Carter Beauford puts down. This song is no exception.

5. Departure Bay by Diann Krall. Her album "The Girl in the Other Room" is a wonderful piece of production and Krall's smooth voice is always wonderful to listen to. Departure Bay is a quiet, wistful and vision filled song that closes the album out. I could listen to this song over and over and never get tired of it.

6. I'm Goin' Home by Hootie and the Blowfish. Yeah, pretty old school I know. But while a lot of people dissed Hootie, they made music that people like listening to and there is nothing wrong with that.

7. Back in Time by Huey Lewis & the News. Good old fashioned rock and roll by a band that acts and plays like they are in it just for the fun of it. Although a soundtrack song for Back to the Future, the song is just so much fun.

8. Crowd Chant by Joe Satriani. I have always liked Joe Satriani since I first heard him back in teh early 1990's. This song is a riff on the old "call and repeat" crowd game that a lot of bands and artists like Satriani himself does. What is amazing is in the liner notes he explains how he made 30 people sound like 300--record their chant with 10 different microphones in 10 different locations in the studio. Neat trick and a fun song.

9. Put Your Hands on Me by Joss Stone. Sexy soul--it is a simple as that. Amazing that such a young woman can have such a big voice.

10. Breath by Pearl Jam. Nobody did angst better than Eddie Vedder an the boys of Pearl Jam, at this song has a little bit of that present, but I think one of the best parts of this song is that it is kind of the beggining point of their evolution away from their angst driven days. Good lyrics and great guitar hook.

That is this week's play list.