SotD Oh Well - Oh Well

Day 92: Michael Jackson - Bad

If you can put aside all of the things that Jackson was accused of, all of his eccentricities, all of his weird medical issues and only evaluate him based on his music, I think most people have to admit that he was one of the most talented artists ever to come along.

Bad was the follow up to his huge monster hit album Thriller. There was no way anyone could have ever come out with an album that was going to live up to the hype of that. The expectations for Bad were just too high. He did, however, give it a good go and Bad is actually a pretty good album. Unlike Thriller, which pretty much every song was a hit single, Bad did have some weak spots on it, songs like "speed demon" and "Liberian girl" but it also had some amazing songs like "dirty Diana", "the way you make me feel" and "smooth criminal".

Overall I think this was a pretty good album, perhaps his last good album. 4/5

SotD Fine Young Cannibals - Suspicous Minds

SotD Fine Young Cannibals - Suspicous Minds

Day 91: The Doors - L.A. Woman

I'll be right up front, I don't like The Doors, never have never will. I don't like the genre of 60's style music, I think the band is over-rated, and Jim Morrison is a terrible singer. I guess for the time period, it must have been good, compared to other bands, but I have no idea why they are revered now. To say that listening to this album was painful would be very accurate. Hope there isn't another one on the list. 0/5

SotD Haywire - Thinkin About the Years

Day 90: Oasis - (What's the Story) Morning Glory

Sometimes when I am listening to an album I unfortunately allow my preconceived opinion and bias influence the listening experience and the review. I try hard not to but it comes out anyways. This Band is one of those examples. I have only ever heard a few of their songs, the radio hits, and have never been fond of them. Then, at the height of their popularity they pull some ass-hat moves, and also proclaim themselves "The Greatest Band in the World" and it just left an even worse taste in my mouth for them. So it comes time to listen to a full album of theirs, probably their biggest success, and I was put off before it even started. So without allowing my bias against them to interfere I still didn't like it all that much. The songs were kind of sloppy, the lyrics pretty weak and the lead singers voice really didn't do it for me, kind of whiny. Basically it was just an OK album that a lot of bands could have come up with, especially not the kind of album you would expect from the world's greatest band :) 2/5

New Music: Red Hot Chili Peppers & Lenny Kravitz

Red Hot Chili Peppers - I'm With You

The Chili's have had a rough go of it through out their career, with the death of a band mate, drug abuse, and pretty much a revolving door at the spot of guitarist. That's why it good to see them continue on making music and overcoming these hurdles. The have been making solid music for over 20 years and this album is no exception. After a couple listens i am really liking it even though it is a little less upbeat and funky as their last album, and the addition of a new guitarist hasn't hurt them at all, I feel that he is a great addition to the band and you can tell that he blends right in. In fact there are a couple songs on the album, the lead off single for one, that have some really awesome guitar solo's in them. Even though I don't feel like this album is as radio friendly as some of their others and it might only spawn one or two radio hits, it is still really good, perhaps one of their best in quite a few tries. 5/5

Lenny Kravitz - Black and White America

What can I say about Mr. Kravitz that I haven't said before. This guy is awesome. For someone that is pushing 50 he can still really make some amazing music. This album is totally funky. Amazing guitar, amazing drums and bass, amazing singing, all around amazing. Right from the first song you are sucked in and you don't want it to end, which luckily it doesn't for quite awhile since the CD is 16 tracks long. My favorite song on the album has to be the collaboration with Jay-Z, "Boongie Drop" it is really, really good. If I were to have only one small complaint it is that the lyrics are a little weak on a couple of the tracks, but all of the others more than make up for it. 5/5

SotD Neverending White Lights - The Grace

SotD One Republic - Apologize

I have decided that while I would like, and still will attempt to, make this blog a daily review of one album a day, that summer, when I started, isn't like the rest of the year and I am finding there is a lot less time for me to accomplish it, and I am tired of feeling bad if I miss a few days here and there and stop feeling like I have to apologize when I do. So, in that vein I am going to continue on with the blog but it will have to be more on my time than on a daily schedule, and hopefully if there is anyone out there following it you will continue to check it frequently.

SotD Figures on a Beach - Accidently 4th Street (Gloria)

Day 89: ABBA - The Visitors

I am afraid to admit that ABBA is a small little bit of a guilty pleasure. I mean the closest thing that I have on my Ipod is an Erasure ABBA cover album, I don't have any actual ABBA, but I do enjoy their music. I think it comes from my parents listening to them while I was growing up.

Anyways, this album is actually the band's last album, and one that I don't remember hearing before. It didn't have any immediately recognizable hits on it, but it was pretty good, basically an all round fun 80s album, but not as good as let's say Voulez-vous.

On a side note, I tried to find a reason for the breakup but there really isn't anything concrete. In fact they have never even announced that they were done as a band, they just stopped performing together in 1982, shortly after this album was released. The band as also been offered millions of dollars to do even a single concert, to which they have refused all offers, even though there doesn't seem to be any bad blood that would keep them from doing it, weird. 3/5

Day 88: Phil Spector - A Christmas Gift for You

I'm not sure why I do but I hate Christmas music. I love the holiday but hate the music. It is so annoying, so terrible, I just hate hate hate listening to it. So needless to say this album was terrible for me. The concept behind the album is to take some Motown artists and have them record or rerecord the same old Christmas songs that have been recorded a hundred times. While the songs were produced OK, they weren't terrible in the sense of the music or the singing, they grated on me like fingernails on a chalk board because of how I feel about them. So as a Christmas album, probably a 4/5, but as a Christmas album to me 0/5.

Day 87: Mudhoney - Superfuzz Bigmuff

I feel really bad about the delay between posts. So many times I've thought about logging on and posting this review but every time I went to something comes up and I have to put it off. The kids starting back to school and my school starting back up have definitely ate up my free time. Now that things are starting to get back into the normal groove of things I think I'm going to be able to stay on top of this.

Anyways, Mudhoney. What can I say that is somewhat positive. There was only 6 songs on the album, and most were 3 minutes or less, that was great. Other than that I felt like this was kid of a wanna be grudge band from the 90's. I wasn't overly thrilled with the songs themselves, they seemed poorly written and poorly played and the singer is not very good, but maybe that's what they were going for, they are a grudge band after all. 1/5

New Music: Blue October - Any Man in America

I've been away on vacation for a few days before school starts back up, so I haven't had any time to listen to any albums. On top of that while I was away the one album I have been waiting for was released so I have been listening to it as much as I can so that I could give a educated review of it.

So I have listened to this album 4 or 5 times so far and still have some mixed feelings on it. The biggest thing is that it is so raw and painful. It almost feels like I am intruding on someones private conversations or that I am actually living inside Justin's (the lead singer) head. Not that this is a bad thing. It is the thing that I have loved most about Blue October's music. Whether the subject is depression, suicide, anger, or love and happiness, he is never afraid to lay it all out there emotionally. Somehow this time though, it is deeply, deeply personal. He has gone through a messy divorce and battle for his daughter, and lost, so the whole album is an account of his feelings and reactions to this process. These are real life events and real life hurts that, even though I have never gone through what he has and can not relate on that level, tear you up as you listen to them.

There has been some controversy so far on whether or not he should have been this open. Whether he should have aired all his dirty laundry for his fans to hear. Whether or not this will help or hurt his relationship with his daughter as she gets older, and hears some of the horrible things he says about her mother. That is not for us to determine. The songs speak for themselves and Justin, and Justin alone will have to deal with any aftermath that the album has for his relationships. But speech is free and if it helps him heal then it accomplishes what, I'm sure, it was intended to do, and I for one am grateful, because even though I don't relate to these songs I have related to a lot of other songs by them, like thousands of other people have. In the meantime I have an awesome album of music to listen to while I wait for concerts to come and go and hopefully many more CD's by the band. 5/5

Day 86: Metallica - S & M

I'm not a big fan of this album, and was a little surprised that it was included on the list. I can understand the concept and novelty of it, but to me, a big Metallica fan (I've seen them twice in concert), it kind of made them seem like they had gone soft. For Metallica fans I doubt it is part of their collection, and doubt that it is consider one of their best by most people. On the other hand for casual Metallica fans I can see the appeal as it brings all of their hits to one album, I just would have rather seen them release a live album instead. 2/5

The one bonus of the album, a new song not on any other albums.

SotD Sisters of Mercy - Marian

SotD Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside

Day 85: Dexy's Midnight Runners - Too Rye Ay

If I had to come up with a list of my top 10 least favorite songs ever, to go along with my top 10 favorite, the song "Come On Eileen" could possibly be #1. I hate that song. With a passion. So if I had to come up with a top 10 least favorite albums, I think this one would be right up there also. Everything about it is horrible. The music, the lyrics and the lead singer, who's name is Kevin, not Dexy, like I thought it might be, is a terrible singer. To me he sounds like he is out of tune most of the time. It is no wonder these guys only ever had 3 albums released and only one "hit" single. 0/5

I debated putting a video up since I hated this album so much but I will just to keep the blog uniform.

DAY 84: Tears for Fears - Songs From the Big Chair

Two 80's bands in a row, awesome. I really like Tears for Fears, especially this album. They are classic 80's music, with more. They use the standard synth and drum machines but also add a lot of other instruments. The songs are also a lot more message oriented. They try to convey a message in their songs about world or personal issues, instead of just happy pop songs. It adds a bit of dimension to their songs. 5/5

SotD The Nails - 88 Lines about 44 Women

Day 83: The Human League - Dare

Oh 80's synth-pop and drum machines how I love you.

This album was great. I had heard the main single "Don't you want me" many times before, but had never bother to listen to the whole album. Probably because, even though "Don't you want me" is a pretty good song it's not an amazing song compared to other 80's pop songs. The album is much better than the single though. All of these songs are pure 80's joy. Just really fun to listen to. If you are a fan of 80's pop then you will most assuredly love this one. 5/5

SotD Rancid - Ruby Soho

Day 82: The Verve - Urban Hymns

I guess,because I'm not in a band, I can't understand the turmoil and difficulties that come from being in one. It seems like only the rarest of bands can hold it together through all of the fame, money etc that comes with being in a popular band. All the others at some point in time fall victim to their own success and implode. The Verve is just another example. These guys had released a few EPs and 2 full length albums before this one. They had also already broken up one time before it was released. Then they release "Urban Hymns" and the single "Bittersweet Symphony" and have their greatest success to that time. Then it all comes crashing in again and they spend the next decade not talking to each other, reforming as a band, releasing a forth album and then breaking up a third time.
Overall the album was pretty good but not great. Bittersweet Symphony is definitely the highlight. Its pretty pop oriented with a touch of psychedelica thrown in for good measure. 3/5
BTW someone please explain to me why bands throw away all of the fame and money that they work so hard to obtain. It just baffles me.

SotD The Verve Pipe - Freshman

Day 81: Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

I. Love. This. Album. But it wasn't always this way. The first time I ever heard this album I was standing in line to buy INXS concert tickets. Now this was way back in the day when u couldn't just go on the internet and grab your tickets. If it was a really popular band u would go stand in line for hours before they went on sale so that you could make sure and get some. Anyways, the people in front of us had a ghetto blaster, which for you young-ins is a portable stereo. These people were playing, although I didn't know at the time who it was, this album. But that's not the best or the worst part. It was the only thing they had to play so they just kept playing it over and over for hours. I didn't count but I bet that they played the whole thing between 8 and 10 times. By the time they had got their tickets and left I was absolutely sick of it. I hated it. I never wanted to hear it again.
Fast forward a few months. I'm out at a dance and the DJ plays "Add It Up" and I have forgotten all about the previous experience. This time I'm totally into it, and ask the DJ, cause I still don't know who the band is, who it is so that I can go out later and get the album. Ever since that time I have loved this album.
What I love so much about it is its simplicity. The songs are simple and extremely catchy, and you can crank it and sing along knowing that you probably aren't singing any worse than the lead singer. So to make a long story short, if you have never heard this album you have got to give it a listen, I promise that it will grow on you and you will love it as much as I do. And to those random people in front of me in the line that day, thank you for inadvertently introducing me to one of my all time favorite albums. 5/5

SotD Robbie Williams - Millenium

Day 80: John Lee Hooker - The Healer

I am starting to notice a trend in the albums that I have listened to so far. The albums by artists who are masters at their particular instruments, and this guy is an amazing guitar player, they are lacking in most other areas. Like I said this guy is one of the best blues/R&B guitar players I have heard, but not a great singer and the lyrics are not the best I have heard, I was a little bored with the album other than the guitar playing. I would rather have this been an instrumental album for sure. 3/5

SotD Thornley - So Far So Good

Day 79: Bob Dylan - Bring it all Back Home

I have never listened to a Bob Dylan song before today, let alone an album. I guessed that I wouldn't like it and I was absolutely right. It was agonizingly painful to listen to. I'm not even really sure how to explain in words why it was so terrible. His voice is horrible, I doubt it can be called singing, and the songs themselves are a mess. They kind of ramble on without making a whole heck of a lot of sense. I know there are a lot of Dylan fans, if you happen to be one, let me know what it is I am missing in this cause I really didn't like it at all. 0/5

SotD Soft Cell - Tainted Love

Day 78: Joni Mitchell - Court & Spark

I was very pleasantly surprised by this album. First of all I think this is the 1st album so far that is by a Canadian artist, so that gives it extra credit and secondly, I really enjoyed the folk rock sound to it and Joni's lyric writing ability is really inspired. I love songs that are more about telling a story, and not as concerned about being a hit pop tune. Songs that I can relate to or that have an emotional connection of some sort, and she was able to pull this off quite nicely.
I can also see how she is considered so influential on so many other artists, and why Prince has repeatedly said that she is one of his favorite artists. I can see her style in many of his songs. 5/5

I loved "free man in paris"

SotD Trans X - Living on Video

Day 77: Louis Prima - The Wildest

So today's album is way back to almost the beginning of the list chronologically. It is #4 and was originally recorded in 1958. I was really liking this album. Again is an album heavy on jazz with lots of horns and piano, which I really like, and imagine my surprise when two of the songs are songs that I had heard before as re-recorded cover versions by more current artists. "Just a gigolo - I ain't got nobody" was redone by David Lee Roth in the 80s and "Jump, Jive an Wail" was redone by Brian Setzer (lead singer of the Stray Cats) in the 90s. It was good to see that these songs that had a big influence on today's music were being appreciated and honored by the artists they inspired. Overall it was a really good jazz/rock album with upbeat lively songs that gets you tapping your feet. 5/5

SotD Sly Fox - Let's go all the way

Day 76: Living Colour - Vivid

I haven't listened to anything by these guys for a really long time, and probably have never listened to the whole album. I think that the band released other albums besides this one, but I think it is safe to say that they were a one hit wonder. A couple of the songs are really good, "Cult of Personality" and "Glamour Boys" being the two main hits. It is a pretty decent rock album, but lacking in both the lyrics and singing department. Most of the songs are a little hokey lyrically, and are just generic rock songs. Overall I'm not sure that I agree that this album should have been included in this list. 2/5

SotD Ready for the World - Oh Sheila

Day 75: Rod Stewart - Gasoline Alley

I really love Rod Stewart's voice. It is so unique. The raspy growl type quality makes him enjoyable to listen to. Having said that I didn't enjoy listening to this album. I was pretty much bored through the whole thing. I'm not sure if it is the style of music which it is or if it is the song writing itself, to give hime credit most the songs are written by other people, I checked. I just didn't connect with any of them. None of them had that "wow" factor that makes you want to listen to it over and over.
I know Rod has had a huge career, but if all his other albums are like this one, I'm not sure how. 1/5

SotD B.o.B - The Kids

SotD Soundgarden - Rusty Cage

Day 74: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark - Architecture & Morality

OMD is another great 80s band. Unlike other 80s bands though, they are a little more abstract than others. Their earlier albums, like this one, are a lot more electronic, relying on synthesizers and drum machines, but still making awesome music. Sometimes their lyrics are a little obscure but even that is made enjoyable by the lead singers voice. Their music really has stood the test of time and after over 10 years they released a new CD last year which is really good, maybe even one of their best. 5/5

Day 73: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures

The key to appreciating Joy Division is knowing the back story to the band. Unknown Pleasures is the debut album from the band, released in 1979. The band itself was formed in 1976 and was short lived. Ian Curtis, the bands lead singer, had a history of illness including epilepsy. Because of the seizures that he experienced he suffered from a lot of depression, that ended in 1980 when he committed suicide by hanging himself in his kitchen. It was shortly after the release of their second album, Closer, was released and right before embarking on their first American tour.
Like I said, to appreciate Joy Division it is essential to know the back story, so that when you listen to the songs you aren't just listening to songs. You are listening to the lyrics of a person struggling with some very deep, dark, serious personal issues. The songs take on new mean in this context. You can imagine the pain and depression that Ian was going through. Especially on the second album, many of the songs were probably written by him, with the knowledge that he would be ending his life at some point in the future.
Both albums are dark, but they are also brilliant. Each song is filled with emotion. His voice is haunting and draws you in. Ultimately you can't help but feel the songs. 5/5

SotD The Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene

Day 72: John Martyn - One World

There was a lot wrong with this album in my opinion. First I didn't really get what it was that he was trying to do with it. it seemed like it was all over the place style-wise. At times it had a reggae feel to it, other times it was R&B, other times it was psychedelic 60s music and other times it was just plain odd. Secondly, this dude can not sing. I'm sorry but he sounds like he just finished hacking up a lung. Like he has had throat surgery. His voice is all raspy but not in a good way, like Joe Cocker raspy. It was just painful to listen to. 1/5

The only song on the album that I sort of enjoyed, and before posting this video I never would have guess that he was white.

SotD Happy Anniversary

Today is my 20th anniversary. It seems almost impossible that it has been 20 years already. We have had some rough times but mostly they have been really good. We have had changes, challenges and successes, no more so than our 4 awesome kids. For today's songs I have 2. The first is kind of our song from when we first met and the second is a song that just seems to fit.
Happy Anniversary. Here is to, at least, 20 more. Love you.

Day 71: ZZ Top - Eliminator

I'm not a huge fan of the boys of ZZ Top, but I do enjoy some of the songs that they have put out over the years. What this band does have going for it though is two things. One, they make good old rock and roll, and Eliminator is a perfect example of that. It is track after track of basic, cut to the bones rock. Nothing fancy, nothing over the top, just infectious tunes that make you want to rock out. Secondly, these guys have the corner on cool. The long beards, that they apparently haven't cut since they were teens, the sunglasses, the fuzzy rotating guitars, the cool cars and the girls, these guys got it all, and it's a good thing cause they ain't good looking and they aren't the best singers in the world.
I had already heard the hits from the album, "Legs", "Gimme All Your Lovin" and "Sharp Dressed Man" but had never listened to the rest of the album. It was about what I expected. Most of the songs sounded similar and followed the same basic rock formula, but that's all I needed out of the album. It was just fun to crank it up and rock out. 4/5

SotD Blue October - The Chills

New video just released. Just had to share it :)

Day 70: The Beatles - Rubber Soul

What can I possible say about The Beatles that hasn't already been said a million times in the last 50 years? More importantly what can I say about The Beatles that isn't going to get me in trouble. Do I think that they were an extremely influential band? Of course they were, probably the most influential band of all time.
Do I also think that they are extremely overrated? Yes I do. In my opinion a good portion of their songs are really pretty amateurish compared to today's standards. Their very basic simple cord arrangements pair with drug induced lyrics that sometimes leave you scratching your head. However, that doesn't mean that they aren't catchy songs, and their simple nature is part of their charm. Part of my issue, I'm sure, is the fact that I wasn't alive when these guys were tearing up the charts, so I don't really understand how original and new their music was at the time.
Of course I have heard a ton of Beatles songs and do have a few favorites. Amazingly enough a couple of them happened to be on Rubber Soul, though I had no idea. Norweigan Wood and Michelle I have liked for a long time and I would say are probably in my top 5 Beatles songs. The album also had 5 or 6 other songs that are immediately recognizable and another 5 or 6 I had never heard before.
I'm not a fan of The Beatles, I openly admit it. I do however understand how important they were to getting music to where it is today, and for that alone they deserve the praise they get. 4/5

SotD Spoons - Romantic Traffic

Day 69: The Killers - Hot Fuss

For a band that only released their first album 6 years ago, The Killers have been consistently producing some really great music. Hot Fuss was released in 2004 and is the 1st of the Killers 3 albums so far, and I have to say that I have really come to love this band. Hot Fuss is a really great album, full of some really strong songs. Lyrically they are cutting edge. Musically, their style is very refreshing and Brandon Flowers has one of the best voices I have heard in a long time. He has amazing range and tone. I would most definitely recommend this, and their follow-up albums to anyone who hasn't yet heard them. These guys, I hope, are going to keep making "Killer" music for a long time to come. 5/5

BTW I keep a kind of a running list, in my mind, of bands that I would love to see in concert, and these guys are most definitely on it.

SotD Tricky - Evolution Revolution Love

SotD Faith No More - Easy

Day 68: Linkin Park - Hybrid Theory

When Linkin Park came along with their glorious rap/metal fusion I was really impressed. I loved this album from the second I heard it since it was so different than anything anyone else was doing. The hard hitting combination of  metal, record scratching, drum beats, screaming and rapping was just so good. Full of energy and songs of anger, lost love, betrayal this album really keeps you energized the whole way through. The singing/rapping combination of Chester Beddington and Mike Shinoda really works well as they play off each other on almost every track.

Linkin Park kind of looses their way a couple of albums later but with the release of their most recent CD "A Thousand Suns" they have seemed to have started to find themselves again. On another note, Mike Shinoda, the rapper in the band, has a side project and CD that is really good. check out Fort Minor if you get the chance. 5/5

Day 67: Green Day - Dookie

I am a big fan of the older Green Day, not so much the newer stuff. In fact I only have 3 Green day albums, this one, Insomniac and Nimrod. To me those are the albums when they were doing something really exciting. Each track is a 3 minute, or less, burst of energy. Quick and to the point. True to the punk rock format, Green Day were the masters of the genre. Now I'm not going to be one of those people that claims they sold-out. I understand that, in most cases, artists are making music because that's what they love to do, but they also want to make money doing it, and I'm o.k with that. To me though, when Green Day went totally commercial and hit conscious is when they lost appeal to me. I know they still have millions of fans and are selling millions of albums, but if you want to listen to some really great punk rock, listen to their older albums and you can't go wrong. 5/5

SotD Blue October - A Quiet Mind

Today I made/finalized a big decision that I had been wrestling with. One that is going to hopefully define the rest of my life, well my career/work life anyways. For that I need to post my favorite Blue October song and perhaps even my favorite song. This decision has given me a quiet mind. Finally.

New Music: Daniel DD Wassef - Someone Out There ...

So, last week my wife was flying up to visit a friend and she got to talking to the guy next to her. Turns out that he is a music artist that has just recently put out a CD. She of course tells him that I am writing this blog so he gives her a CD to give to me to have a listen to and review.
I've listened to it a few times now and I can say there were a few things that I liked about it and a few things I think could be better. First the likes. 1: The CD doesn't offer any credits at all so I have to assume that he is responsible for all the lyrics and music, which were both pretty good. Lyrically they were well written and didn't ever come across as thrown together or sloppy. Musically, if it was all written by and mixed by him it was really good. Some of the music was very well arranged and the addition of piano to some of the tracks was excellent. 2: This guy has a really good voice for a rapper (most rappers are tone deaf and can't sing worth crap). On a couple of the tracks he sings and I would say that his voice is as good as some of the R & B singers currently popular. In fact, since rap isn't really my thing, I'd like to hear an R & B album by this guy.
The major complaint that I have about the album is that at times he reverts to all of the stereotypes of the rap genre. I understand that rappers rap about the things they know about, their life experiences, I just wish that new rappers would break away from the songs about smoking weed, track 9 "Sixteen Ounces", and treating women like Ho's. People that love rap probably want to hear it, but for myself it turns me off of the genre. I also wish rappers didn't feel like they have to use profanity in their raps. To me it makes them seem less intelligent. Rap about whatever it is you want to rap about without throwing in the F word for emphasis or using a swear because you can't find a word that rhymes. For example, track 1 from the CD, "I'm a writer" is really good but I was put off by the swearing that seems unnecessary.  I use to love Eminem, but now every song of his is like a profanity onslaught, and I feel like other rappers feel they have to rap that way because of it. Be better than that.  
Overall this CD did have some good songs on it. "Music for the Dead" I really like and was probably my favorite. The Title track "Someone out There" is also really good and showcases his vocals more. If you like rap I would say that this album is a good investment for 6 or 7 of the songs that are really good, and I think this guy is probably going to have a pretty good career. 3.5/5

 BTW DD, if you happen to see this lets chat :)

Day 66: Pet Shop Boys - Actually

The Pet Shop Boys are another 80's band that I love. I'm not sure that I have a favorite album of theirs but this album definitely has a lot of my favorite Pet Shop Boys songs on it. Songs like "Heart", "Shopping", "It's a Sin" and "Hit Music". What I really do love about these guys is that, unlike some of my other favorite 80s bands, Depeche Mode, The Cure and New Order, PSB is all about making albums of Pop driven, Fun, Dance club oriented hit songs. I mean, some of their songs are serious in nature but primarily they want you to have fun when you listen to their music, and that's never a bad thing. 5/5

Sotd Tea Party - The Messenger

Holidays

Back from holidays and ready to start back into listening to the list. Check back tomorrow for a review of the Pets Shop Boys album "Actually", a review of a CD I got of an upcoming rap artist I got and a review of some new albums by Incubus and The Parlotones and back to the song of the day feature.

Day 65: Pixies - Doolittle

After a listen through of Doolittle, I wasn't blow away but I liked it enough to hope that there is maybe another Pixies album on the list that I will get to listen to. A couple of the songs stood out from the rest as pretty dang good. "Here comes Your Man" is really catching and uplifting and of course "wave of mutilation" is the one Pixies song I already had on my Ipod, although it is the slower version of the song used in the movie Pump up the Volume. It is one of those songs that, when it pops up on my Ipod, I am really happy to hear it. One of those songs that I can't shut off once its playing.
A lot of the songs, when you listen to the lyrics, have religious overtones and deal with some darker subjects like death, making me wonder what their other albums are like. If you are a fan of the alt-rock/grunge style of music this album is right up your alley. 4/5

SotD The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go

summer holidays

Things have been soooo busy the last two weeks with the 4th and having family visit etc. and now this coming week we are going out of town. It has really been cutting into my music time :( I am going to try and get the pixies album and maybe one more listened to before I leave but no promises. If I don't them I will be back to reviewing one a day on the 18th. Maybe a couple new album reviews too :)

SotD Underworld - Fever

Day 64: Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold as Love

I have never listened to a Hendrix album all the way through. Like most people, I would imagine, I have heard the "hit" songs, Purple Haze, All Along the watchtower, but never liked them enough to want to hear more. After listening to it this album I'm not sure what all the hype is about. He is definitely an amazing guitar player, maybe one of the best, and for a lot of people that is enough. some of the songs were decent but again the style of music, psychedelic rock, just isn't my style.
It is also very strange to me that for a guy that only released 3 albums in a 2 year period before his death that such a huge legacy could be built. Sure he played a lot of live shows and had some unfinished recordings that could be released after his death, but from what I have seen most of his posthumous albums are just re-hashed re-designed forms of other albums, but they sell so I guess who am I to say whats good marketing.
Overall I would say that these albums are important for what they gave to future rock. I could really hear the influence Hendrix had on other artists. I can hear some of his style, especially in artists like Lenny Kravitz, and Prince. For that I would say they are essential albums. 3/5

SotD Nitzer Ebb - Rope

Day 63: KISS - Destroyer

I think that I can probably recite the lyrics to this album in my sleep. I first heard it when it originally came out, 1976. I was 6 years old and loved it from the first note of Detroit Rock City. This album was my first introduction to Rock, my first introduction to music really. It just blew me away. It was so energized, so alive. It really got into my soul and moved me. A friend of mine, Greg, and I would spend hours using make-up to paint our faces, cutting out guitars from cardboard and lip syncing to this album, the reason I know the lyrics so well. These guys were our idols.
Is this the best rock album ever produced? I'm not sure. Some would say yes, some would argue for others. To me though it was my introduction into the world of music, and for that it ranks up there pretty damn high. 5/5

SotD Stabilo Boss - Everybody

SotD HAPPY CANADA DAY!

Here are some of my favorite Canadian videos :) Sorry there are so many, I couldn't pick just one.

Day 62: Coldplay - Parachutes

The first time I heard the song "Yellow" I absolutely hated it. It wasn't until I fell in  love with Coldplay's 'Rush of Blood to the Head' album that I went back and listened to this album for the first time, and while it is a pretty good album it still isn't my favorite. For those that are Coldplay fans, of which I am one of them, you can really see the progression from this album to following albums in the bands maturity and song writing ability. Don't get me wrong this album definitely does have some really good songs, it's just that Chris Martin's song writing on "Rush" and following albums gets so much better that on those albums every song is great, every song is a potential radio hit. On this album 5 or maybe 6 of the 10 tracks are really strong, the others are kind of filler.

It is still an essential album to have though if you are a fan of the band. 4/5