I think everyone holds on to their “coming of age” music. Recently, I was sitting at the bar in a local pub and one of those VH1 shows featuring metal bands from the 80’s came on. A lady sitting a couple of spots down made the comment that 80’s rock was without a doubt the best. I hate it when people other than myself make definitive statements like that. I fought the urge to openly ridicule her. At times I feel the need to voice my opinion on music matters and I usually just end up offending people. I was nice and amiable though. The egocentric narcissist within did not prevail. I just nodded politely and made small talk about music from the 80’s in general.
The fact is we all hold dear to us the music that was significant to our generation. I once worked with a man who was straight-laced and dignified, but if The Marshall Tucker Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers were brought up, his demeanor changed and he reverted into Matthew McConaughey’s character in “Dazed and Confused”. I loved it! And that’s ultimately why I gave the lady a pass in the bar. Aside from the fact we are entitled to our preferences, that music was no doubt significant to her, and was woven into the tapestry of her life.
We all have music that was playing in the background of our lives as we were coming of age; songs that provided the soundtrack for the significant moments, and rites of passage in our teenage and early adult lives. For me, it was the music of the 90’s.
The 90’s were a very special time and place in my life. It marked the high school and collegiate years of my story. All sorts of firsts occurred. There were first cars, dates, dances and proms. There were first college classes, roommates, road trips, parties and independence. There were girlfriends, sex, drunkenness and revelry. There was the loss of my father… all kinds of significant moments in my life. Some were awkward and angst-filled. Some were blissful and filled with happiness. There was innocence and corruption, passion and pain, agony and ecstasy. All in all, the halcyon days of my youth were beautiful and golden.
As I reflect on that time I cant help but hear the music in my mind. A song can come on now and it will instantly take me back to those moments. I realize now that the music was truly just as special to me as the moments themselves.
Below is a list of 10 albums that provided the soundtrack for that time in my life and played an important role in expressing the heart and soul my generation.
1. Blood Sugar Sex Magik – Red Hot Chili Peppers
This Rick Ruben produced album thrust the Chili Peppers into the mainstream. A teenage John Frusciante was added to the lineup as lead guitarist. His unbridled, inborn, preternatural talent accompanied with Flea’s funky base lines changed the face of rock music.
2. Nevermind – Nirvana
This is the album that defined my generation for good or ill. It set the new standard for rock music and made Kurt Cobain the reluctant spokesperson for my generation. The four-chord riff in the intro and chorus of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” put the final nail in the coffin of the 80’s metal hair bands. It assured us that gimmick rock, along with its Aqua Net and spandex was forever dead and there would never be another metal ballad written again.
3. The Chronic – Dr Dre
This is the album that legitimized rap music. Not only was it the introduction of Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre set the standard for rhyming and sampling with “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ thang”. All in all, no one can do it better.
4. Under The Table and Dreaming – Dave Matthews Band
This album truly introduced the world to a unique, eclectic sound. It is a blend of alternative, acoustic rock, and jazz-fusion.
5. 311 – 311
This self-titled album was their mainstream breakthrough. It’s a perfect blend of whiteboy rap-metal and reggae fusion.
6. Rock Spectacle – Barenaked Ladies
This live album perfectly exemplifies the bands noteworthy harmony. This is genuinely happy, feel-good music at its best.
7. Sublime – Sublime
The album is a multi-genre mix of reggae, ska, rock and hip-hop. Just listening to it makes you smell marijuana wafting through the air. This was their absolute best, but tragically was released two months after the death of their lead singer Brad Nowell, by heroin overdose. It set the standard for rebellion… “You cant fight against the youth, cuz’ were strong, and we’re rude, rude people”
8. Live at Luther College – Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds
Besides inspiring countless amorous hook-ups among college coeds, this album set the benchmark for acoustic sets. It was just two men, and two acoustic guitars. No one compares to Tim Reynolds when it comes to improvisation.
9. Californication – Red Hot Chili Peppers
This album marked the sobriety of John Frusciante along with his return to the band. His backing vocals along with his trademark guitar licks and riffs had been sorely missed in their previous album. This is the Chili Peppers at their pinnacle. This album resonated with me probably more than any other and was the beginning of my kinship with the vast Pacific where the sun “…settles in its final location”
10. Enema of the State – Blink 182
This marked the closing of the decade and the ushering in of a new pop punk sound that would play a huge role in the next decade. This album was a culmination of the college experience. It was a harbinger that midterms, finals, and attending class hungover would soon be over. The days of showing up with a baseball cap pulled down low over the eyes were ending, and real life would be coming soon.
Below is a playlist for the above-mentioned albums:
Under the Bridge – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Sir Psycho Sexy – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Smells Like Teen Spirit – Nirvana
Come As You Are- Nirvana
Nuthin’ But A ‘G’ Thang – Dr Dre
Let Me Ride – Dr. Dre
Ants Marching – Dave Matthews Band
What Would You Say – Dave Matthews Band
Down – 311
All Mixed Up – 311
Brian Wilson – Barenaked Ladies
If I had $1,000,000 – Barnenaked Ladies
Santeria – Sublime
Jailhouse – Sublime
Say Goodbye – Dave Mathews and Tim Reynolds
Seek Up - Dave Mathews and Tim Reynolds
Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers
What’s My Age Again? – Blink 182
All the Small Things – Blink 182
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Rock Goddesses: My penchant for the female lead
Someone once asked me what my weaknesses were, and I candidly replied:
"Bourbon, and tanned coeds with negotiable morals". To be honest not a lot has changed over the years. On more than one occasion the spirit of Kentucky has been the cause of my downfall, and many times I have been sidetracked by the scent of a woman. Those are just some of the tragic flaws that tend to rear their head in my life.
Over the past few years another vice has found a home in me, and that is my affinity for female musicians. The fact is you can take a marginally attractive girl who may not have gotten any play in school, strap a guitar to her and instantly a goddess is made. A transformation occurs that turns something ordinary into something heavenly.
Below is a list some of my favorite female artists:
Lissie Maurus
Pay attention when you listen to Lissie because you are honestly having an encounter with the Divine. Her vocals are powerful and her songcraft is exceptional. A blonde angel clad in flannel and jeans, with a voice soaked in cheap beer and cigarettes, she is truly a rare find. Although she has only released an EP so far, her singing has touched my soul. Definitely look up some of her performances on Youtube.
Brandi Carlile
I don’t know if Brandi will ever sell out an arena as a headliner, or if her music will be fully appreciated by the masses, however I would have difficulty naming a more talented musician and songwriter. When you hear her sing you get a glimpse of perfection. Her music is sincere and definitely comes from the depths of her being.
Courtney Love (Hole)
She’s known for her bizarre drug addled interviews. She falls down a lot. More often than not she is bruised and dope sick. Volatile. The fact of the matter is she is a rock goddess, and with a few days of sobriety strung together you would be hard-pressed to find someone who sings of California better…
Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Wearing skinny jeans, a t-shirt and Vans, Hayley is a petite, beautiful package with a vocal range so impressive that it may not have an equal.
Alison Mosshart (The Dead Weather)
When you see her clad in black, hair down over her face, cigarette in hand and perched atop the monitors, howling the lyrics into the microphone with her gravelly, bluesy voice, you realize she is probably the greatest among female lead singers.
Here is a must have playlist of the above mentioned artist
Lissie – Everywhere I Go
Lissie - Wedding Bells
Brandi Carlile – Turpentine
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Brandi Carlile – Folsom Prison Blues (Live- Johnny Cash cover)
Hole – Malibu
Hole – Skinny Little Bitch
Hole – Pacific Coast Highway
Paramore – Misery Business
Paramore – Brick by Boring Brick
The Dead Weather – So Far From Your Weapon
The Dead Weather – Hang You From The Heavens
"Bourbon, and tanned coeds with negotiable morals". To be honest not a lot has changed over the years. On more than one occasion the spirit of Kentucky has been the cause of my downfall, and many times I have been sidetracked by the scent of a woman. Those are just some of the tragic flaws that tend to rear their head in my life.
Over the past few years another vice has found a home in me, and that is my affinity for female musicians. The fact is you can take a marginally attractive girl who may not have gotten any play in school, strap a guitar to her and instantly a goddess is made. A transformation occurs that turns something ordinary into something heavenly.
Below is a list some of my favorite female artists:
Lissie Maurus
Pay attention when you listen to Lissie because you are honestly having an encounter with the Divine. Her vocals are powerful and her songcraft is exceptional. A blonde angel clad in flannel and jeans, with a voice soaked in cheap beer and cigarettes, she is truly a rare find. Although she has only released an EP so far, her singing has touched my soul. Definitely look up some of her performances on Youtube.
Brandi Carlile
I don’t know if Brandi will ever sell out an arena as a headliner, or if her music will be fully appreciated by the masses, however I would have difficulty naming a more talented musician and songwriter. When you hear her sing you get a glimpse of perfection. Her music is sincere and definitely comes from the depths of her being.
Courtney Love (Hole)
She’s known for her bizarre drug addled interviews. She falls down a lot. More often than not she is bruised and dope sick. Volatile. The fact of the matter is she is a rock goddess, and with a few days of sobriety strung together you would be hard-pressed to find someone who sings of California better…
Hayley Williams (Paramore)
Wearing skinny jeans, a t-shirt and Vans, Hayley is a petite, beautiful package with a vocal range so impressive that it may not have an equal.
Alison Mosshart (The Dead Weather)
When you see her clad in black, hair down over her face, cigarette in hand and perched atop the monitors, howling the lyrics into the microphone with her gravelly, bluesy voice, you realize she is probably the greatest among female lead singers.
Here is a must have playlist of the above mentioned artist
Lissie – Everywhere I Go
Lissie - Wedding Bells
Brandi Carlile – Turpentine
Brandi Carlile – The Story
Brandi Carlile – Folsom Prison Blues (Live- Johnny Cash cover)
Hole – Malibu
Hole – Skinny Little Bitch
Hole – Pacific Coast Highway
Paramore – Misery Business
Paramore – Brick by Boring Brick
The Dead Weather – So Far From Your Weapon
The Dead Weather – Hang You From The Heavens
Monday, June 7, 2010
Fighting Bieber Fever and the musical herpes known as Ke$ha: A mix CD for “Abbs”
Before I begin there are a couple of things I have to disclose. First, I’m often accused of being a music snob. Second, I form fairly strong judgments about people based on their musical interests. As I look at those sentences I can see how the latter justifies the former, but before I digress any further I need to get to the heart of this thing.
Recently I received a text message from my friend Kat that said, “hey abbs asks if u will make her a mix cd?” “Abbs” is Abbey, her 14 year-old daughter, who had enjoyed one of the compilation CD’s I had previously made for her mother. Sharing music is something that brings me immense happiness and when I do this it’s an act of endearment reserved for an elite few. Actually people rarely ask me to make them a cd…usually its just something I force on them, so when someone does ask its somewhat of a heady experience.
Immediately my mind was alert and the reality of it all began to sink in. I was going to play a role in the shaping of a young musical mind. This was my chance to fight back against Justin Bieber, Ke$ha and the resulting brain damage that top 40 radio is currently responsible for. This was my opportunity to play the role of a Jedi master. For a few moments I was powerfully intoxicated over the prospect of this but just like any drug the comedown came quickly and panic set in.
I had no idea what to put on this CD. I had been given some loose, marginally ambiguous parameters in a subsequent text stating: “pretty much anything, especially acoustic stuff. she just says no heavy metal stuff and if any country it has to be really good.” I began to mentally sort through my iTunes library and eliminated 80 percent of it right off the bat over the whole “no heavy metal stuff” thing. Not that heavy metal comprises the bulk of the catalog but the term tends to be subjective with most people so I opted to avoid it all together. Country was not an issue because most of it is devoid of any real intrinsic value with the exception of artists like Hank Williams, and she was just too young and not experienced enough in heartbreak to really get him.
After brooding for a while a calm gradually came over me. I realized I did not have to provide the sole musical education for this child, just merely supplement it with some grace notes. I know her parents, and they both have exceptional musical taste, so it was comforting knowing I was not going to have cover the basics like Bob Dylan, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. A firm foundation had no doubt been laid and would be built on for years to come.
I gave myself some ground rules:
1. Avoid songs with profanity (Singer-songwriters actually use F%!k more often than you would think in their lyrics)
2. Avoid heavily emotional stuff (Don’t want the girl to end up on a ledge or become a cutter or anything like that)
3. Try to stick with obscure stuff or alternate versions of songs to make it a fresh experience.
After some deliberation Abbey’s Mix went as follows:
Everlong (Acoustic Version) – Foo Fighters
Hiding – Meiko
To Be Alone With You – Sufjan Stevens
Misery Business (Acoustic Version) – Paramore
Angel In The Snow – Elliott Smith
Wedding Bells – Lissie
Pretty (Ugly Before) – Elliott Smith
Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover) – Lori McKenna
Rain King (Slow Version – Live) – Counting Crows
Piano Song – Meiko
California – Phantom Planet
Blonde on Blonde – Nada Surf
The Heartache Can Wait – Brandi Carlile
Prayer of Saint Francis – Sarah McLachlan
We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes
I’ll Back You Up (Live) – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Lay Me Down – The Dirty Heads
Crush (Live) – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Long December – Counting Crows
Into The Mystic (Van Morrison Cover) – The Wallflowers
Final Note:
This playlist is a proven tonic to fight Bieber fever and musical herpes. Use liberally and often after first signs of an outbreak appear….
Recently I received a text message from my friend Kat that said, “hey abbs asks if u will make her a mix cd?” “Abbs” is Abbey, her 14 year-old daughter, who had enjoyed one of the compilation CD’s I had previously made for her mother. Sharing music is something that brings me immense happiness and when I do this it’s an act of endearment reserved for an elite few. Actually people rarely ask me to make them a cd…usually its just something I force on them, so when someone does ask its somewhat of a heady experience.
Immediately my mind was alert and the reality of it all began to sink in. I was going to play a role in the shaping of a young musical mind. This was my chance to fight back against Justin Bieber, Ke$ha and the resulting brain damage that top 40 radio is currently responsible for. This was my opportunity to play the role of a Jedi master. For a few moments I was powerfully intoxicated over the prospect of this but just like any drug the comedown came quickly and panic set in.
I had no idea what to put on this CD. I had been given some loose, marginally ambiguous parameters in a subsequent text stating: “pretty much anything, especially acoustic stuff. she just says no heavy metal stuff and if any country it has to be really good.” I began to mentally sort through my iTunes library and eliminated 80 percent of it right off the bat over the whole “no heavy metal stuff” thing. Not that heavy metal comprises the bulk of the catalog but the term tends to be subjective with most people so I opted to avoid it all together. Country was not an issue because most of it is devoid of any real intrinsic value with the exception of artists like Hank Williams, and she was just too young and not experienced enough in heartbreak to really get him.
After brooding for a while a calm gradually came over me. I realized I did not have to provide the sole musical education for this child, just merely supplement it with some grace notes. I know her parents, and they both have exceptional musical taste, so it was comforting knowing I was not going to have cover the basics like Bob Dylan, The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. A firm foundation had no doubt been laid and would be built on for years to come.
I gave myself some ground rules:
1. Avoid songs with profanity (Singer-songwriters actually use F%!k more often than you would think in their lyrics)
2. Avoid heavily emotional stuff (Don’t want the girl to end up on a ledge or become a cutter or anything like that)
3. Try to stick with obscure stuff or alternate versions of songs to make it a fresh experience.
After some deliberation Abbey’s Mix went as follows:
Everlong (Acoustic Version) – Foo Fighters
Hiding – Meiko
To Be Alone With You – Sufjan Stevens
Misery Business (Acoustic Version) – Paramore
Angel In The Snow – Elliott Smith
Wedding Bells – Lissie
Pretty (Ugly Before) – Elliott Smith
Fake Plastic Trees (Radiohead Cover) – Lori McKenna
Rain King (Slow Version – Live) – Counting Crows
Piano Song – Meiko
California – Phantom Planet
Blonde on Blonde – Nada Surf
The Heartache Can Wait – Brandi Carlile
Prayer of Saint Francis – Sarah McLachlan
We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes
I’ll Back You Up (Live) – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Lay Me Down – The Dirty Heads
Crush (Live) – Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds
Long December – Counting Crows
Into The Mystic (Van Morrison Cover) – The Wallflowers
Final Note:
This playlist is a proven tonic to fight Bieber fever and musical herpes. Use liberally and often after first signs of an outbreak appear….
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