062 Top Ten Records of June the 7th, Yeah!
Ugh... I woke up really sick this morning. The allergies are tearing my sinuses apart... It's been attacking my nose, my throat and even seems to be creeping over to my ears. I'm a total mess. In other news, it was a pretty great day of new releases yesterday, so let's do that super Wednesday thang...
*** The Top Ten Records Released on June 7, 2005 ***
10 Bad Manners - Ska Party
I really wish I knew more about this crazy British video show I used to watch in the early 80's, because that's where I was introduced to Bad Manners... and henceforth prone to nightmares starring their large bald singer, Buster Bloodvessel. I think his name had something to do with it. I never got that into ska back then, no matter what my rogue high school friends tell you. I never dressed the dress or walked the walk. I did try my hand at playing some ska, though. That was pretty terrible, but in a fun way. The best part about being in a ska band is you can invite 20 of your friends onstage to fulfill various unnecessary roles. Just look at that dancing guy from the Bosstones. He's not even that great of a dancer.
Bad Manners' best song is "Lorraine" and it's second to last on this compilation sandwiched between two (of three) versions of, um, "Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu." This CD also looks like it might be just for the UK. I don't think they made much of a splash here in the US. Insert joke about Buster Bloodvessel cannonballing into a wave pool.
09 Kelly Osbourne - Sleeping in the Nothing
Now before everyone goes bitchcakes, let me explain. This album and Kelly's previous records and singles are true testaments to how far studio trickery has come these days. Even though I believe they were consciously trying to recreate the 80's with the contemporarily bland arrangements, they seem to have forgotten that Pro Tools and the Autotune function didn't exist back then. But then again, who really expects Kelly Osbourne to create her own music on some ratty old analog guitar or bass or even worse... sing in key? She needs a lot of help in that field and auto tune is right there to lift her flat pitches up to their correct height...
And no one really expects her to actually write her own songs, right? That's why Linda Perry was brought in! You may have read about Linda's recent signing to Kill Rock Stars? This proves a point that songwriting can be a plain ol job with all of the pride and originality sucked out. Linda (most likely Linda's agent) probably got a call one day from Kelly (most likely Kelly's agent) and was asked to write a bunch of songs... specifically for Kelly Osbourne... for Pink... for Lisa Marie Presley... for Gwen Stefani. So now a respected songwriter can don a mask so to speak and create songs in character! The whole argument i think would be better explored and pondered in a different blog. I have 8 other records to get to.
08 Cal Tjader - Solar Heat
Cal Tjader is the undisputed king of the vibraphone in my book. I have to mention the really great tune "Soul Sauce" which was skillfully remixed by Fila Brazilia on one of those Verve Remixed comps. I'd suggest tracking it down. I'd also track down Time For Two, an excellent collaboration with one of my favorite jazz singers, Anita O'Day. The standout track by far is the absolutely delightful "Peel Me a Grape." Come Friday Come, with your mp3's so fair and topical....
Solar Heat was recorded in 1968, released in 1995 and given a grand re-release... yesterday on Passport Audio. It's a bunch of crazy interpretations and 2 original Tjader compositions. It's way better than the Kelly Osbourne record. I haven't heard it, but i'm confident in my declaration.
07 Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business
Seriously, Don't Phunk With My Heart? It's cheap and the song isn't great... but damn it's catchy. Just yesterday they were playing it in Blockbuster and even though i was in there for maybe 2 minutes, i left with that dumb melody in my head. Curses. Did you know that Justin Timberlake sings the hook on one of the songs? "My Style." Same problem. Bad song. Very catchy. Thankfully, I've found a song on this album that isn't catchy. The anti-war tune, "Union" which features ugh, Sting on one of the verses singing the exact same melody as "Englishman in New York." Yuck. It's not as bad as that P. Diddy collabo, though.
Did you know that Hey Mercedes played a show with Black Eyed Peas? As is usually the case with University sponsored events, the powers that be want / need to please all of the students, so Washington University in St. Louis asked us to open a Jurassic 5 / Black Eyed Peas show! And it turned out to be a really swell time. Enough people were there to see us so it wasn't uncomfortable at all... and I watched most of Black Eyed Peas set... and I was impressed. They played with a full band and the crowd was mesmerized. We had to leave for Jurassic 5, but it's quite possible that their set was rained out anyway... on with the show.
06 Pat Benatar - Greatest Hits
It's Krazy Fest 1999 and i'm just offstage. I'm upset because of some inner band conflict. I'm a little nervous since we're up next. And... i'm also watching in awe as Araby (of Jejune) totally kills "Heartbreaker" in the karaoke contest. She was the winner by far! I wouldn't even dream of attempting "Rio" after that performance.
Anyway, Pat Benatar, whose real name is Patricia Andrzejewski (Polish?), was the classic tough girl singer of the early 80's, with the very famous haircut to boot. Probably notable boots as well... Back in the day, I put "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" in the same punky league as "Bad Repuation"... however, Pat began to do straight up pop with the gag-worthy "We Belong" while Joan Jett (Joan Larkin) kept rocking till the Light of Day with Michael J Fox. Still, there are some hot jams on here like "Love is a Battlefield" and "Little Too Late." You only wish it came with a greatest videos DVD so we can watch that awesome "Battlefield" epic again.
05 Bullet Train To Vegas - We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are
Any band named after a Drive Like Jehu song is ok in my book... and their name should give you a pretty good idea of what they sound like. Imagine Jehu with the singer of McLusky, maybe? All of the songs I've heard have been frantic, fast-paced, energetic, and at the same time, very tuneful. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. They're going on tour soon so you should check em out. I have a feeling the live show is incredible.
In other news, I haven't forgotten about the rummage sale I mentioned on Sunday. I'm working on the page right now. I have a feeling i'll be the purveyor of the ultimate summer fashion accessory... Seriously, your outfit just won't look right without your color coded Braid All Access wristband. Yes, that's right. I said it.
04 Need New Body - Where's Black Ben?
I just have no idea where to start. My friend Courtney introduced me to Need New Body a few years ago and the whole time I felt as though my head was going to explode. They are damn near impossible to describe. There songs range from straightforward folkrock to frenetic They Might Be Giants-esque heavily detailed novelty rock to surfy instrumentals. Actually, I think They Might Be Giants may be a good place to start. You know where is a bad place to start? Their website. An intentional jumbled mess. A whole lotta Alf dolls. Headlines that read "Yo Blurfy Blops Everybody!" Um.
It is now 2:48 PM eastern time and although i know what the top 3 will be, i still haven't settled on the actual order. Woe no banana.
03 Coldplay - X & Y
It must be 100 degrees outside. I would consider this Coldplay weather. I know you're probably thinking that maybe it should be cloudy or rainy, but I liken the music to walking really slow and sweating a lot. And maybe passing out... But I like it. I'd much rather listen to Coldplay than pass out from heat exhaustion. Who wouldn't? Show of hands? I remember the first time I heard "Yellow." I was on tour in LA and I think it was K-Rock that played it constantly. None of us had ever heard of em. We thought Chris Martin sounded a bit too much like Dave Matthews. Seems like a weird comparsion, huh? Or do you agree? Show of hands?
Truth be told, I really like a lot of Coldplay songs, including "Yellow" (By the way, not an available Braid all access wristband color)... and on this album, there are a handful of new classics like "Fix You," which I thought was amazing on SNL and "Swallowed in the Sea." They have this way of writing songs with very simple and catchy vocal melodies that sound as if they took little or no effort to write. Upon first listen to each of the songs, you knew exactly what patterns Chris Martin was going to fall into. When it works, it's brilliant. When it doesn't, it's boring to me. And then I start listening to the lyrics, which usually aren't that great. Luckily, It works most of the time.
02 The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan
My girlfriend and I were the White Stripes for Halloween. I think that went over really well. You've really reached a lofty platform of fame when you've become a popular Halloween costume. You've also reached a lofty platform when you can choose to get married one week before your new album comes out. Hmmm, cross-promotion. You just know someone smoking a cigar behind a desk had that brilliant idea. Russell Crowe, too. The guy throws a phone at a hotel manager and oh yeah, he's in a new movie! It's such a sneaky way of getting publicity, but hey it works I guess. I'm surprised Kelly Osbourne didn't do anything outrageous last week. Maybe she did but no one really cared...
Love em or hate em, you know you're in for a treat with each White Stripes album. And this one largely ditches the guitar for the piano. Especially on songs like "My Doorbell," I love that big empty space... and that unmistakable (lack of) production. Maybe you think it's gimmicky but it's just such a welcome change from 99% of the junk that gets peddled around these days...
01 Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory
They always seem to get grouped in with a bunch of substandard junk, but Motion City Soundtrack is something very special, my friends. Upon first listen to them I just couldn't deny it. Justin Pierre has a powerful voice, a great ear for catchy vocal melodies and he rides that fine line between clever contemporary analogies and cheesy pop culture references. And the actual music itself is always interesting and never boring or mundane. It's no wonder that Justin is so vocal about Jawbox being his favorite band. I'm a fan. A huge fan. And these new songs are better than ever.
As for the wrapup that will come a week from Sunday... my money is on The Black Eyed Peas. What do you think? Will they out-debut Coldplay & The White Stripes? I'm fairly certain and excited that MCS will debut in the Top 100. I don't know why I get so giddy about this stuff. Maybe it's because I've been a fan of Billboard and the Top 40 since I can remember. I used to keep track of the charts when I was 7... I have proof. Tomorrow, the rummaging begins.
*** The Top Ten Records Released on June 7, 2005 ***
10 Bad Manners - Ska Party I really wish I knew more about this crazy British video show I used to watch in the early 80's, because that's where I was introduced to Bad Manners... and henceforth prone to nightmares starring their large bald singer, Buster Bloodvessel. I think his name had something to do with it. I never got that into ska back then, no matter what my rogue high school friends tell you. I never dressed the dress or walked the walk. I did try my hand at playing some ska, though. That was pretty terrible, but in a fun way. The best part about being in a ska band is you can invite 20 of your friends onstage to fulfill various unnecessary roles. Just look at that dancing guy from the Bosstones. He's not even that great of a dancer.
Bad Manners' best song is "Lorraine" and it's second to last on this compilation sandwiched between two (of three) versions of, um, "Ne-Ne-Na-Na-Na-Na-Nu-Nu." This CD also looks like it might be just for the UK. I don't think they made much of a splash here in the US. Insert joke about Buster Bloodvessel cannonballing into a wave pool.
09 Kelly Osbourne - Sleeping in the Nothing Now before everyone goes bitchcakes, let me explain. This album and Kelly's previous records and singles are true testaments to how far studio trickery has come these days. Even though I believe they were consciously trying to recreate the 80's with the contemporarily bland arrangements, they seem to have forgotten that Pro Tools and the Autotune function didn't exist back then. But then again, who really expects Kelly Osbourne to create her own music on some ratty old analog guitar or bass or even worse... sing in key? She needs a lot of help in that field and auto tune is right there to lift her flat pitches up to their correct height...
And no one really expects her to actually write her own songs, right? That's why Linda Perry was brought in! You may have read about Linda's recent signing to Kill Rock Stars? This proves a point that songwriting can be a plain ol job with all of the pride and originality sucked out. Linda (most likely Linda's agent) probably got a call one day from Kelly (most likely Kelly's agent) and was asked to write a bunch of songs... specifically for Kelly Osbourne... for Pink... for Lisa Marie Presley... for Gwen Stefani. So now a respected songwriter can don a mask so to speak and create songs in character! The whole argument i think would be better explored and pondered in a different blog. I have 8 other records to get to.
08 Cal Tjader - Solar Heat Cal Tjader is the undisputed king of the vibraphone in my book. I have to mention the really great tune "Soul Sauce" which was skillfully remixed by Fila Brazilia on one of those Verve Remixed comps. I'd suggest tracking it down. I'd also track down Time For Two, an excellent collaboration with one of my favorite jazz singers, Anita O'Day. The standout track by far is the absolutely delightful "Peel Me a Grape." Come Friday Come, with your mp3's so fair and topical....
Solar Heat was recorded in 1968, released in 1995 and given a grand re-release... yesterday on Passport Audio. It's a bunch of crazy interpretations and 2 original Tjader compositions. It's way better than the Kelly Osbourne record. I haven't heard it, but i'm confident in my declaration.
07 Black Eyed Peas - Monkey Business Seriously, Don't Phunk With My Heart? It's cheap and the song isn't great... but damn it's catchy. Just yesterday they were playing it in Blockbuster and even though i was in there for maybe 2 minutes, i left with that dumb melody in my head. Curses. Did you know that Justin Timberlake sings the hook on one of the songs? "My Style." Same problem. Bad song. Very catchy. Thankfully, I've found a song on this album that isn't catchy. The anti-war tune, "Union" which features ugh, Sting on one of the verses singing the exact same melody as "Englishman in New York." Yuck. It's not as bad as that P. Diddy collabo, though.
Did you know that Hey Mercedes played a show with Black Eyed Peas? As is usually the case with University sponsored events, the powers that be want / need to please all of the students, so Washington University in St. Louis asked us to open a Jurassic 5 / Black Eyed Peas show! And it turned out to be a really swell time. Enough people were there to see us so it wasn't uncomfortable at all... and I watched most of Black Eyed Peas set... and I was impressed. They played with a full band and the crowd was mesmerized. We had to leave for Jurassic 5, but it's quite possible that their set was rained out anyway... on with the show.
06 Pat Benatar - Greatest Hits It's Krazy Fest 1999 and i'm just offstage. I'm upset because of some inner band conflict. I'm a little nervous since we're up next. And... i'm also watching in awe as Araby (of Jejune) totally kills "Heartbreaker" in the karaoke contest. She was the winner by far! I wouldn't even dream of attempting "Rio" after that performance.
Anyway, Pat Benatar, whose real name is Patricia Andrzejewski (Polish?), was the classic tough girl singer of the early 80's, with the very famous haircut to boot. Probably notable boots as well... Back in the day, I put "Hit Me With Your Best Shot" in the same punky league as "Bad Repuation"... however, Pat began to do straight up pop with the gag-worthy "We Belong" while Joan Jett (Joan Larkin) kept rocking till the Light of Day with Michael J Fox. Still, there are some hot jams on here like "Love is a Battlefield" and "Little Too Late." You only wish it came with a greatest videos DVD so we can watch that awesome "Battlefield" epic again.
05 Bullet Train To Vegas - We Put Scissors Where Our Mouths Are Any band named after a Drive Like Jehu song is ok in my book... and their name should give you a pretty good idea of what they sound like. Imagine Jehu with the singer of McLusky, maybe? All of the songs I've heard have been frantic, fast-paced, energetic, and at the same time, very tuneful. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it. They're going on tour soon so you should check em out. I have a feeling the live show is incredible.
In other news, I haven't forgotten about the rummage sale I mentioned on Sunday. I'm working on the page right now. I have a feeling i'll be the purveyor of the ultimate summer fashion accessory... Seriously, your outfit just won't look right without your color coded Braid All Access wristband. Yes, that's right. I said it.
04 Need New Body - Where's Black Ben? I just have no idea where to start. My friend Courtney introduced me to Need New Body a few years ago and the whole time I felt as though my head was going to explode. They are damn near impossible to describe. There songs range from straightforward folkrock to frenetic They Might Be Giants-esque heavily detailed novelty rock to surfy instrumentals. Actually, I think They Might Be Giants may be a good place to start. You know where is a bad place to start? Their website. An intentional jumbled mess. A whole lotta Alf dolls. Headlines that read "Yo Blurfy Blops Everybody!" Um.
It is now 2:48 PM eastern time and although i know what the top 3 will be, i still haven't settled on the actual order. Woe no banana.
03 Coldplay - X & Y It must be 100 degrees outside. I would consider this Coldplay weather. I know you're probably thinking that maybe it should be cloudy or rainy, but I liken the music to walking really slow and sweating a lot. And maybe passing out... But I like it. I'd much rather listen to Coldplay than pass out from heat exhaustion. Who wouldn't? Show of hands? I remember the first time I heard "Yellow." I was on tour in LA and I think it was K-Rock that played it constantly. None of us had ever heard of em. We thought Chris Martin sounded a bit too much like Dave Matthews. Seems like a weird comparsion, huh? Or do you agree? Show of hands?
Truth be told, I really like a lot of Coldplay songs, including "Yellow" (By the way, not an available Braid all access wristband color)... and on this album, there are a handful of new classics like "Fix You," which I thought was amazing on SNL and "Swallowed in the Sea." They have this way of writing songs with very simple and catchy vocal melodies that sound as if they took little or no effort to write. Upon first listen to each of the songs, you knew exactly what patterns Chris Martin was going to fall into. When it works, it's brilliant. When it doesn't, it's boring to me. And then I start listening to the lyrics, which usually aren't that great. Luckily, It works most of the time.
02 The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan My girlfriend and I were the White Stripes for Halloween. I think that went over really well. You've really reached a lofty platform of fame when you've become a popular Halloween costume. You've also reached a lofty platform when you can choose to get married one week before your new album comes out. Hmmm, cross-promotion. You just know someone smoking a cigar behind a desk had that brilliant idea. Russell Crowe, too. The guy throws a phone at a hotel manager and oh yeah, he's in a new movie! It's such a sneaky way of getting publicity, but hey it works I guess. I'm surprised Kelly Osbourne didn't do anything outrageous last week. Maybe she did but no one really cared...
Love em or hate em, you know you're in for a treat with each White Stripes album. And this one largely ditches the guitar for the piano. Especially on songs like "My Doorbell," I love that big empty space... and that unmistakable (lack of) production. Maybe you think it's gimmicky but it's just such a welcome change from 99% of the junk that gets peddled around these days...
01 Motion City Soundtrack - Commit This To Memory They always seem to get grouped in with a bunch of substandard junk, but Motion City Soundtrack is something very special, my friends. Upon first listen to them I just couldn't deny it. Justin Pierre has a powerful voice, a great ear for catchy vocal melodies and he rides that fine line between clever contemporary analogies and cheesy pop culture references. And the actual music itself is always interesting and never boring or mundane. It's no wonder that Justin is so vocal about Jawbox being his favorite band. I'm a fan. A huge fan. And these new songs are better than ever.
As for the wrapup that will come a week from Sunday... my money is on The Black Eyed Peas. What do you think? Will they out-debut Coldplay & The White Stripes? I'm fairly certain and excited that MCS will debut in the Top 100. I don't know why I get so giddy about this stuff. Maybe it's because I've been a fan of Billboard and the Top 40 since I can remember. I used to keep track of the charts when I was 7... I have proof. Tomorrow, the rummaging begins.
posted by Robert at 9:58 AM
20 Comments:
any chance you'll put up a cover of "Rio"?
Chances: slim to none.
xxoo
bob
Don't forget that great "Shadows of the Night" video! Pat Benatar as Nazi fighter.
"that's right. I said it." hehehe
Check out this new david sedaris story. The usage of puzzles reminds me of you.
hey robert, when is the pink floyd cover "wish you were here" coming?
Soon. I'm thinking of a heavy techno version.
xxoo
bob
That sounds sweet, I've been waiting 4 years for that.
ok, I have to have one of those BRAID all access wristbands. I can't believe my wanting of them, but it will go well with my ticket stub of the second to last US BRAID show.
I know it's a little odd, but i just can't bring myself to throw them away. Someone must want them!
xxoo
bob
I don't have any Braid posters on my wall, one of those wristbands would be a nice substitute..
And I couldn't agree more about MCS being far above the subpar pop-punk army they've gotten mixed into. The new one has been growing on me fast, but I don't think anything can outdo I Am The Movie.
Not just one, but TEN. A sheet of TEN!
xxoo
bob
awwwww the white stripes for haloween?! so cute!!!!
the white stripes marryed each other or jack married someone or the girl married someone? i dind't hear about that.
I was going to check out This Is Me Smiling when they come to town (thanks to seeing them open for the last HM show) and, hey look who they're opening for! MCS. Listening to some stuff from their website, I'm totally psyched now. I see what you mean by the lyrics treading a line... the line that Piebald crosses routinely.
"Everything is Alright" reminds me of The Hooters on speed. That sweet high-register. Good stuff.
I would just like to applaude your use of the word "bitchcakes."
hey! Have you seen the PBS reality cooking show "Cooking under Fire"? I'm seriously addicted to it.
that's adorable that you kids were the white stripes. Jman and I were almost Nick and Jessica, but I was lacking some major components.
see you soon, duder.
BOB.
Check out this band. The name is Lumiis. Download 2nd and 3rd song for download. Let me know what you think since you seem so interested in random bands that no one's ever heard of.
I heard that the Kelly Osbourne record was meant to be a suprisingly alright listen.
Can't say I'm a big Coldplay fan, only songs that they've done that I've enjoyed a lot are 'shiver' and 'good put a smile upon your face', so I'm waiting for the single track off this album to please me again. Supposedly the picture on the front cover is meant to be a code that the fans have to work out. I have yet to hear or anyone who's solved it, any ideas?
I hope the White Stripes beat the Black Eyed Peas to #1. I saw a BEP track on this program we have here called 'Later with..... Jools Holland' and they played a song that contained 'miserlou' by Dick Dale. It was so depressingly bad. I can't stand them. And who the heck is that new bloke they have in? Terrible. Sorry. Cool that you played a gig with Jurassic 5 and them though. Jurassic 5 are a great listen once in a while.
Actually, I meant to say The Outfield on speed, not The Hooters. Got my 80s one-hit wonders mixed up. Oops.
bob, there is a band out of new york called Frame. check those cats out.
kelly osbourne went back to rehab this week. there's her cross-promotion.
Well Kelly did check into rehab??? Does that count as cross promotion, I think it does.
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