‘Tiny Dancer’ videos, sung by Dave Grohl and cast of ‘Almost Famous’

So here is a video to go along with my last post, Dave Grohl singing Tiny Dancer and talking about the movie ‘Almost Famous’.

Here is the clip of the movie he is talking about. This is my favorite part of the movie also. It’s a perfect example of how music can bring people together.

Now I’m off to go watch this movie again for the 15,327th time.

Later.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Worship Dave Grohl

So there are a million artists out there that are great, even amazing. But to me, Dave Grohl represents everything that is wonderful about music. He is involved with projects in many different genres, he can play multiple instruments, sing, and is even an incredible songwriter. So here are some things you might not know about Dave Grohl, and some things that you probably do know. These are just a few of the reasons that I love him:

• He’s been in love with music since childhood, when he formed his first band at age 10.
• He was part of Nirvana, who was arguably one of the most influential bands of the 90′s. Or, like, ever.
• He put together the Foo Fighters, one of my all time favorite bands.
• With the exception on one guitar part (on ‘X-Static’), he played every single instrument by himself for the Foo Fighters self-titled debut album.
• Grohl has had his fingers in everything! He has played and recorded with a number of amazing performers, including Queens of the Stone Age, Garbage, Killing Joke, Tenacious D, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Pete Yorn, Nine Inch Nails, Paul McCartney, and even David Bowie.
• He’s sexy as hell.
• His favorite movie is the wonderfully perfect ‘Almost Famous’, which happens to be MY favorite movie. He performs an acoustic version of ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John in honor of it at many of his concerts.
• He put together musical project Probot, in which he wrote all of the music and most of the instrumentation. He collected a dream team of his favorite heavy metal singers, and each one sang lead vocals on one or two tracks, giving each song a sound unique from all of the rest. Even includes a bonus track by Jack Black.
• He’s coming to OKC with the Foo Fighters July 17, and I will FINALLY get to see them in concert!!!

OK, I know that’s only nine, but those are nine great reasons to worship Dave Grohl. If you don’t know his music, take the time to check it out. You’ll be glad you did.

Later.

My Top 10 “All Killer, No Filler” Albums

So, there are not too many CD’s out there that are “all killer, no filler”. I mean, usually we buy a CD because we like the band already or because we’ve heard a couple of the singles. Even if we like most of the CD, we end up skipping around because let’s face it, most albums are composed of a few good tracks and a bunch of bullshit. It’s rare to find an album that we can throw on and let it play all the way through.

While it doesn’t happen often, there have been a few times in my life when I have found that rare perfect record, one that I not only listen to the whole thing, I love every second of it. These are the CD’s that I have purchased not once or twice, but at least three (a couple 5-7) times each. They are the ones always worth replacing when they get lost, loaned out, or scratched.

So here are those perfect albums, in no particular order:

Pearl Jam ‘Ten’ – An incredible debut album. Ten perfect songs that helped to usher in the “grunge” era.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Jeremy’, ‘Evenflow’, ‘Alive’

My Fave: ‘Black’

Stone Temple Pilots ‘Core’ – Another great first record. Can’t say that I ever met a music lover who didn’t love this CD.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Creep’, ‘Plush’

My Faves: ‘Dead and Bloated’, ‘Wet My Bed’

Nine Inch Nails ‘Pretty Hate Machine’ – Rage, desperation, pain…this debut CD got constant play during my teenage angst phase, and I still never get tired of hearing it.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Head Like a Hole’, ‘Terrible Lie’

My Faves: ‘Ringfinger’, ‘Down In It’

Tori Amos ‘Under the Pink’ – I had never heard of Amos until her single ‘God’ was released. I bought the album and loved every minute of it. Every guy I have ever dated absolutely hates it. One even threw it out of his car window. Sometimes boys just don’t get it.

You heard it on the radio: ‘God’, ‘Cornflake Girl’

My Faves: So hard to choose! ‘Icicle’, ‘Pretty Good Year’

Foo Fighters ‘The Colour and the Shape’ – Oooh I love the Foos! This album came out during a crazy time in my life, and hearing ‘Everlong’ always reminds me of riding in a car with my two best friends singing at the top of our lungs.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Everlong’, ‘My Hero’

My Faves: ‘Everlong’, ‘Monkey Wrench’

Fiona Apple ‘Tidal’ – The hands-down best album to get, um…”intimate” to. The music is sexy as hell with lyrics to match.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Criminal’, ‘Shadowboxer’

My Faves: ‘Slow Like Honey’, ‘The Child is Gone’

Nirvana ‘In Utero’ – Does this record even need introduction? So much more rough (in a good way) than the crazy popular ‘Nevermind’, with amazing raw vocals from Kurt Cobain. Mmmm what a great album.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Heart Shaped Box’, ‘Rape Me’, ‘All Apologies’

My Faves: ‘Serve the Servants’, ‘Heart Shaped Box’…really I could keep going…a really great album!!

Alice In Chains ‘Dirt’ – I love this album because it really attempts to make you feel what they were feeling in that moment. When Staley sings ”Down in a hole, feeling so small…” he isn’t faking it, he totally feels that and when you hear it you know it. Can still give me goosebumps if I listen to it alone.

You heard it on the radio: ‘Would’, ‘Rooster’, ‘Down in a Hole’

My Faves: ‘Down in a Hole’, ‘Dam That River’

Pink Floyd ‘Animals’ – So many great Floyd albums to choose from! ‘Animals’ is not for a Floyd rookie, in my opinion. You have to be ready to really “get” Animals. But once you really get it, oh man, there’s nothing better.

You heard it on the radio: This record wasn’t really made for radio, as 3 of the 5 songs are over 10 minutes each and the other two clock in at 1:25 each.

My Fave: ‘Dogs’

Eagles – ‘Greatest Hits’ (First volume, 1971-1975. Normally I wouldn’t include a compilation, but this one is too good not to be included) This album is just good mellow fun. Great at any time for any occasion.

You heard it on the radio: Probably all of it! But most well known would be ‘Desperado’, ‘Tequila Sunrise’

My Faves: ‘Witchy Woman’, ‘Already Gone’

So there you go, 10 perfect records. Don’t download them, go out and buy them ’cause these 10 are definitely worth owning in their entirety.

Later.

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Top 10 Summer Songs

So for the first time this summer I took my kids to the local waterpark, which for us is a good 30 minute drive. It felt great outside, so I rolled down the windows, found my summer playlist on my ipod, and cranked up the radio. Now these songs don’t necessarily have anything to do with summer, but what they all have in common is a great beat, melody or fun lyric that makes you wanna sing at the top of your lungs. For me, that’s what summer driving is all about.

Keep in mind that this list contradicts everything I wrote in my last blog. I don’t care. Summer is the perfect time to make exceptions. So here they are:

• “Kate” by Ben Folds Five
• “The Anthem” by Good Charlotte
• “American Girls” by the Counting Crows
• “Dance, Dance” by Fall Out Boy
• “Hit Me Baby One More Time” cover by Travis (the best cover ever!)
• “The Girl All the Bad Guys Want” by Bowling for Soup
• “Keep Fishin’” by Weezer
• “Nix Hex” by 311
• “Accidentally Kelly Street” by frente!
• “When Did Your Heart Go Missing” by Rooney

Bonus tracks: “Lose It” by Cartel (The Band in a Bubble!) and “My Band” by D12

I know these songs are from completely different genres and you might not think that they are “your kind” of music. Just download ‘em, put ‘em on CD, and throw it on next time you are out for a summer drive. Trust me, by the time you get where you are going you’ll be in a great mood.

BTW, I’m diggin this Top 10 thing. More to follow.

Later.

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The word or the beat? Songs with Great Lyrics

So there is an ongoing battle between my hubby and I over what music gets play when we are together (although I must say I almost always win – I try to choose my battles wisely and that is always something I am willing to fight for). We are both music lovers, yet we have complete different taste in music. He is a huge fan of rap and hard rock. I am a huge fan of, well, everything else.

Now don’t get me wrong, there is definitely a time and place to chill with Snoop or bang some heads to old Metallica (has there BEEN a better metal song written than “One”?), but for the most part, the bands and songs I love have a bit more…heart.

The real difference between my guy and I is this: he loves a good beat, and while I can be completely moved by a beautiful guitar solo or a melody on the piano, what I really love are the lyrics.

Take 311 for example. I have this group of friends who is completely obsessed with them. Now their first album, “Music”, is a great album with that you can totally jam to. I really dug 311 when I first heard them and I’ve seen them live a couple of times. OK. So I’m checking out their new CD, Transistor, back in 1997 (I know, it’s been a decade, but the 311 argument comes up a lot, trust me), and I hear this lyric (from No Control):

imagine if you
had a child of two
you’re a single mom
with a son named tom
you work a long hard day
just to bill pay
with no time to play
then what would you say

and that was just it for me! I couldn’t do it, couldn’t listen to that CD anymore.

That’s an ultimate pet peeve of mine, when songwriters throw words together just because they rhyme. I like my music to have meaning. Sure, it doesn’t matter when you are on the dance floor but when you think about your absolute favorite songs, don’t you think about the ones that moved you, and inspired you? A well written song can bring you to tears, give you goosebumps, make you laugh out loud. If I were a famous musician, those are the kinds of songs that I would want to be remembered for.

So, in honor of that sentiment, here are a few songs whose lyrics absolutely blow me away. I will post a line or two here, but to get the full effect you really need to look ‘em up:

• “Dogs” by Pink Floyd (the lyrics to this song blow my mind – there is so much Floyd that is amazing but if I had to pick one this is definitely it) – “You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to. So that when they turn their backs on you – You’ll get the chance to put the knife in.”
• “Icicle” by Tori Amos (everything from this album, “Under the Pink” is amazing, but this song is so disturbing and yet so hauntingly beautiful…) – “Greeting the monster in our easter dresses. Father says bow your head like the good book says, Well I think the good book is missing some pages.”
• “Bleed” by Cold (when a good friend of mine introduced me to this song, he told me that when he heard it it reminded him of me – that’s still my favorite compliment I’ve ever gotten. This song is fucking beautiful) – “You can stop the world, Try to change my mind…You can stop the world, But you won’t change me. I need music.”
• “Serve the Servants” by Nirvana (another band I could list 1,000 times…this one’s more obscure so maybe you will discover something new) – “As my bones grew they did hurt,They hurt really bad. I tried hard to have a father, But instead I had a dad”
• “Down In It” by Nine Inch Nails (not a fan of his newer stuff, but T.R. is an amazing lyricist) – “I was swimming in the hate now I crawl on the ground and everything I never liked about you is kind of seeping into me.”

These next few aren’t in the same league as the last few, but worth noting all the same:

• “The Clincher” by Chevelle – “This happened to be never changing, Holding inside, the phobia viewed. Made cold and crippled, ending it all”
• “Low” by the Foo Fighters – “screws inside turn so tight…turning on you”
• “First of May” -by Jonathan Coulton – “Cause it’s the first of May, first of May. Outdoor fucking starts today”
• “Cigarette” by Ben Folds Five (here’s the whole damn song – not exactly transcendent but I love these lyrics) – “Fred Jones was worn out from caring for his often screaming and crying wife during the day, but he couldn’t sleep at night for fear that she, in a stupor from the drugs that didn’t ease the pain would set the house ablaze with a cigarette”

I know there are lots more but I’m tired. Maybe I’ll do a Part 2 someday.

Later.

An Introduction

So… things have slowed down at work and I have an easy summer school semester. I’m bored. So I thought I would be cocky enough to think that someone out there might actually give a shit what I have to say and decided to start a blog.

I’m going to make you a promise: I’m not going to write about what’s happening in my life, what my kids are up to or what my political views are because seriously, does anyone really give a damn? So I am going to write about the only thing I am really passionate about, which happens to be the only subject that I actually know shit about, and that’s music.

So I’m gonna post my views, thoughts and opinions on that subject and maybe by the end of the summer someone will actually read it. If that someone is you, feel free to respond with your own opinions (as long as you agree with me, if not get your own blog). But seriously, if you have a new band that you think I should hear, please let me know. If it sucks, don’t be offended if I tell you so.

First edition coming tomorrow. Try not to crash the wordpress servers by waiting around online for it. Later.