Nevermind The Posers

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#8…Top 10 Albums of All Time…because 5 just wasn’t enough! August 4, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 2:17 PM
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TNT’s #8
8. …And Out Come The Wolves by Rancid – Oh punk music, how you’ve shown me the way and paved my musical path.  This was the album that made me reach out and discover the world of punk.  And not just what was in the record stores, I’m talking underground and local acts.  The best way to listen to punk is live, hands down.  “Ruby Soho,” “Junkie Man,” and “Journey to the End of the East Bay” are songs that I can never seem to get enough of.

Mark’s #8
8. Stromata by Charlotte Martin – The numerous musical styles and influences of CharMar come together at long last for an album that is as beautiful and complex as it is fresh and unique.

Angela’s #8
8. Destruction by Definition by Suicide Machines – I know this album from front to back and had the privilege of seeing the band a few times in 2001 and 2002 before their ultimate end in 2006.  I’m sad they broke up, but this album never loses appeal for me.  I think it’s a fantastic piece of work through and through.

Stigz’s #8
8. Pretty Hate Machine by Nine Inch Nails – A grimy and grinding album from start to finish, it has elements incorporated from classic metal, to indie, to even dance music.  A motley blend of things I enjoy.

Klone’s #8
8. (TIE) Permanent Vacation (1987) / Pump (1989) by Aerosmith – I’m a rock guy, and in my mind no matter how heavy your tastes get, you can’t even tread into the world of rock without running headlong into Aerosmith.  When you think about it, these guys have been rocking since the early 70s, they’ve survived addictions to several of the more addictive substances that are notorious for robbing the music world of great talents, and have successfully incorporated so many genres of music into their sound, it’s no wonder “The Bad Boys from Boston” have also been dubbed “America’s Greatest Rock Band”.  Permanent Vacation followed two years later by Pump marked the band’s moment of clarity, where they were clean and sober, ready to leave all turmoil behind and ready to continue dominating the rock world into the new millennium, successfully finding an audience among the generation that longed to leave the then-so-called “classic” rock of the 70s behind.  Songs like “Dude (Looks Like A Lady)” and the power ballad “Angel” (Permanent Vacation) as well as “Love In An Elevator”, “The Other Side”, and the uber-hit “Janie’s Got A Gun” (Pump) were milestones in the changing sound of rock.  An interesting personal note, I hold Aerosmith to be the band that single-handedly taught me about the never-ending pursuit of women, as I became a fan of theirs during my formative years, and in my mind, took all of their songs to be about fucking.  I’d say Steven Tyler and Gene Simmons should be every heterosexual male’s role models.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aerosmith

 

#9…Top 10 Albums of All Time…because 5 just wasn’t enough! August 3, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 12:47 PM
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TNT’s #9
9. Affirmation by Savage Garden – I’m not embarrassed to have this album on my list (although a certain twin sister of mine might disagree); can’t hide the truth.  Although this was their second (and last) album recorded as a duo, it was the first one that I fell in love with.  I had such a deep connection with the songs that I couldn’t help but to hit the repeat button after each song came to an end.  “Two Beds and a Coffee Machine” makes me cry every single time I hear it, regardless of where I am.  “Affirmation” was the song that inspired me to live by the way of Karma, or at least start learning about what it really is.  It felt like this track opened my eyes and opened my mind to how I wanted to live my life.

Mark’s #9
9. Community Music by Asian Dub Foundation – One of the most abrasive and unique albums that I have ever had the pleasure of discovering randomly.  Rock, punk, reggae, dub, begali beats, drum and bass and electro music get furiously mashed together under the politically charged lyrical explosion from then-current front man Deedar Zaman. Incredible, and catchy.

Angela’s #9
9. From Here to Infirmary by Alkaline Trio – Like so many of my fellow NVMP staff, this record from the trio holds significance and stands out as one of their definitive albums.  It’s a solid record.  What more can we say about it?  Go Alkaline Trio.

Stigz’s #9
9. The Sufferer and The Witness by Rise Against – Splendid lyrics and raw, gritty in your face power to each verse and chord.  The soundtrack to a revolution.

Klone’s #9

9. Core by Stone Temple Pilots (1992) – Another gem from the early 90s, the debut album that helped Stone Temple Pilots rise to fame, interestingly enough due to the common misconception that the band was an Eddie Vedder side-project – the music video for their first single “Plush” featured distorted video footage of front man Scott Weiland, coupled with the similarity between his voice and Vedder’s served to cause mass confusion.  The rest of the tracks on the album were a powerhouse of a new brand of rock dubbed “Alternative”, as it served to break the lingering hold of the 80s rock glam bands on the mainstream, while adopting some of the structure and grittiness of metal and grunge.  Almost 20 years later, STP is still on the scene, and albums like “Core” prove why.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Core_%28album%29

 

#10…Top 10 Albums of All Time…because 5 just wasn’t enough! August 2, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 12:21 PM
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By popular demand, NVMP stretches our Top 5 Albums of All Time to our very first Top 10.  To describe and define our musical selves, it was obvious that just 5 albums couldn’t cut it, thus presenting our continuation of the topic.  Enjoy!

TNT’s #10
10. Page Avenue by Story of the Year – I’ve always been a big fan of SOTY, but their debut album defined them as a group and has some of their greatest songs to date.  Aside from the hit singles “Anthem of Our Dying Day” and “Until the Day I Die”, I loved the songs “Swallow the Night” and “Sidewalks.”  I was lucky enough to experience these songs on stage with the band at Warped Tour in 2004 and 2008, nothing beats that feeling!

Mark’s #10
10. Exile by Gary Numan– After a lackluster decade of overspending, sub-par attempts at appealing to audience taste and eventual bankruptcy, this album represents Gary Numan’s first real step towards the renewal of his musical direction, and life.  Haunting synths and cold, robotic drum loops back a voice ringing with frustration, aggravation, and a renewed vigor.

Angela’s #10
10. Answer That and Stay Fashionable by AFI – I’m a huge AFI fan and I love all of their work.  I put their first album on my list because it just makes me smile to know that they started off with simple punk tracks about wanting a mohawk and eating cereal all day long.  It sort of encapsulates a moment in their early career when they were simpler, yet you can hear the potential they had for more.  The evolution of A Fire Inside is brilliant, but I like to throw this one on from time to time and rock out.

Stigz #10
10. The Battle of Los Angeles by Rage Against The Machine – Inspiring and equally unnerving lyrical content, with some grungey Morello magic.  All around a slamming album.

Klone’s #10
10. Ten by Pearl Jam (1991) – Their most successful album to date, Pearl Jam’s debut release was a bombshell of a collection of music history altering gold.  It took a year for the album to permeate across the musical mainstream, but by 1992, it was Billboard’s #2 album (back when Billboard was still a reliable source for determining what people are actually listening to).  I’ve always considered this to be one of the many offerings of the grunge movement, especially when considering that Pearl Jam (originally called Mookie Blaylock) rose from the ashes of Seattle heavy hitter Mother Love Bone, the band that originally featured guitarist Stone Gossard and bassist Jeff Ament.  More often than not, when I feel the need for a Pearl Jam fix, the track will be off this disc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Jam_Ten

 

Top 5 Songs or Albums That Never Leave Your Car July 26, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 9:08 PM

Greensboro 4/1/91, GnR Appetite for Destruction, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts I Love Rock 'n Roll, and Hole Celebrity Skin cassette tapes. That's how I roll. - TNT

TNT’s Top 5
5. Celebrity Skin by Hole – This is the only Hole album I can tolerate.  Believe it or not, I enjoy these tracks in traffic and there is no good explanation as of why.
4. A Live Grateful Dead tape from Greensboro 4/1/91 – Best cassette I ever purchased, feels like I’m at the concert every time I play it.  Featuring “Dark Star,” “Black Peter,” “Love Light,” and “Baby Blue”, I’m happy the guy I got this tape from was being forced to “make some space in the garage” by selling them.  One man’s space is another gal’s musical gold!
3. Appetite For Destruction by Guns N’ Roses – If I had a soundtrack to my childhood, it would probably be this album.  Musically speaking, not in the sense that I was dancing with Mr. Brownstone or loaded like a freight train/flyin’ like an aeroplane/speedin’ like a space brain…just that I was raised listening to a lot of Guns N’ Roses.
2. I Love Rock ‘n Roll by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts – Cassette tapes are awesome, especially in this case, because it’s my only musical outlet for some Joan Jett.  “I Love Rock ‘n Roll,” “Crimson and Clover,” and “Bits and Pieces” are epic driving songs!
1. METALLICA! – Absolutely any song or album by Metallica = the greatest driving music of all time!  Be careful, you know you’re going to speed…it’s pretty much a given.

Angela’s Top 5
For me, this one is mostly about the songs I listen to in the car, because that’s where I listen to 95% of my music…because that is where I am 95% of my day.
5. A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out by Panic! at the Disco – I love keeping this one handy because it’s one of those albums where I can listen to every single song and not get sick of it.  Too bad they hit the sophomore slump with their follow-up album.  I really loved this one.
4. Infinity on High by Fall Out Boy – I used to despise Fall Out Boy until they made this record.  I have most of this album on the iPod and gravitate towards it pretty often.
3. Yes, Virginia by Dresden Dolls – Since I bought this album it’s been with me or at least in my car at all times, just in case I’m in serious need of good music when all else fails.  I also tend to listen to a lot of Amanda Palmer’s solo work off Who Killed Amanda Palmer.
2. Coral Fang by The Distillers – It’s a great album to rock out to while I drive, very much a summer soundtrack!
1. The Spill Canvas. . .assorted tracks –  Another band whose albums I don’t physically own, but have most of their complete albums on the iPod.  Certain songs of theirs like “Polygraph Right Now,” “Lullaby,” and “Not Over You” never get old for me.  Plus, I love singing them full throttle in the car.

Daniel Edward’s Top 5
5. By The Way/Californication by Red Hot Chili Peppers – It’s a tie between these two because both are always in my car and both are great soundtracks to any driving adventure.
4. “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior – A fun song that everyone loves!
3. “Telephone” by Lady GaGa featuring Beyoncé
2. “The Church of Hot Addiction” by Cobra Starship
1. “Oh My God” by Ida Maria – My favorite song to listen to when I’m stuck in traffic!

Klone’s Top 5
5. Dumb and Dumber: Original Movie Soundtrack featuring Various Artists (1994) – One of the original road trip movies before there was a film just called “Road Trip”, “Dumb and Dumber” was a generational flick about a couple complete morons who have a wacky adventure from Rhode Island to Aspen.  It’s an eclectic selection of tracks from bands like Crash Test Dummies and Butthole Surfers.  I’d probably never buy an entire album from any of the artists on this disc, but the collection, and the association with the film, and the memories of many road trips to Pennsylvania where my Grandma used to live make this one of my always in the car CDs.
4. Fallen by Evanescence (2003) – One of the die-hard, awesome from beginning to end, can listen to the entire disc on repeat at least twice albums I’ve purchased in the new millennium.  The only day this disc was not in my car was the day I was importing it through iTunes so I could put it on my iPod.
3. October Rust by Type O Negative (1996) – My first Type O album was the instant classic Bloody Kisses (1993), and it completed my introduction to the band after my first exposure to tracks like “Black No. 1” and “Christian Woman”, which were popping up on the airwaves and putting the band on the rock world’s radar.  When I discovered a new album was being released, it was an instant pick-up for me, and I was not disappointed by a single track.  Their cover of Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl” is worth the price of the disc alone.  Another great disc for road trips.
2. Lost Highway (Soundtrack From The Motion Picture) featuring Various Artists (1997) – I’m a huge David Lynch fan, so when I heard he was doing a film called “Lost Highway”, I was intrigued to see what the master of the bizarre and macabre had in store for us.  Keeping in mind that this was a David Lynch piece, I knew the soundtrack would be more of a compendium album than a soundtrack, and could be played as a stand-alone collection of awesome tracks from a collection of amazing artists.  Everyone will recall the Nine Inch Nails track “Perfect Drug”, which set the stage for more darker tracks like Smashing Pumpkins’ “Eye” and Lou Reed’s cover of “This Magic Moment”.  This one definitely messed with my head on a dark drive home through the woods of the Pocono Mountains the weekend I bought the CD in 1997.
1. “<My Most Current Mix>” featuring Various Artists (2010) – This might be considered something of a cop-out for my #1 this week, but it’s as completely honest as can be.  Anyone who’s been in my car knows that I always have a mix CD in the car with whatever songs I’ve become most recently obsessed with.  Current mix (as of 7/23/2010) includes: The Cult – “Sweet Soul Sister”, Lady Gaga – “Alejandro”, Train  – “Hey Soul Sister”, Jack Johnson – “You and Your Heart”, Chevelle – “Letter From A Thief” & “Jars”, Breaking Benjamin – “I Will Not Bow” & “Follow Me” & “Give Me A Sign”, Chester Van Beethoven – “Pictures of Matchstick Men and You”, Dead Can Dance – “Carnival of Lights”.

Honorable Mentions: Bat Out of Hell by Meatloaf (1977), Purple by Stone Temple Pilots (1994)

Mark’s Top 5
5. “The The Empty” by Le Tigre –  Although I haven’t listened to them in quite sometime, listening to this song recently reminded me of why I started listening to them in the first place.  Fantastic electro-rock/punk that adds two minutes of kick-assery to my morning commutes.
4. “In a Big Country” by Big Country – Such an incredibly written and fun rock song that makes your trip just that much more enjoyable, courtesy of rock guitars twisted to sound like bagpipes.  Needless to say it is in regular rotation on the ol’ iPod.
3. Shifting Skin by ON– I have mentioned this album/artist on many Top 5’s, and will continue to do so as long as this album kicks the ass of all music on terrestrial radio (As of today, it has spent the better part of 10 years in my car).  At this rate, the album will never leave my car.
2. Dead Can Dance/Spleen and Ideal by Dead Can Dance – The first and second releases, respectively, from DCD have recently found a home in the speaker system of my car, where they are cranked at full blast, drawing some of the strangest ‘What the fuck is that?’ looks at traffic lights.  If they only knew what they were missing.
1. “Utopia” by Brendan Perry – The first single/free download from Dead Can Dance’s Brendan Perry is a beautiful and haunting electronic ballad that delicately blends the world music overtones of DCD with swirling, synthetic orchestral arrangements and beautifully crafted song writing.  This music is perfect for soothing you during a car ride, regardless of its length, so it’s usually best to play twice.  🙂

 

Top 5 Songs That Get You Out Of Your Seat! July 20, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 5:03 AM

TNT’s Top 5
5. “Clap For The Killers” by Street Sweeper Social – ‘Double up for them gangstas’.  Such a great song, if you’ve never heard it, listen up fool.
4. “Devil’s Dance Floor” by Flogging Molly – Doesn’t matter where I am, if this tune comes on I am most certainly out of my seat.
3. “The Way We Move” by Innerpartysystem – Da-da-da-dance with me.  A true definition of a hook- If I hear the first five seconds, I need to listen to the entire track.
2. “Punk Rawk Show” by MXPX – This song goes back to my mixed tape days…classic.  “We ain’t got no place to go, so let’s go to the punk rawk show.”
1. “Start Wearing Purple” by Gogol Bordello – This song has been and still is my favorite Gogol Bordello track.  But honestly, any track from this gypsy punk band will get you dancing.

Daniel Edward’s Top 5
5. “Take It Off” by The Donnas
4. “Danger! High Voltage” by Electric Six
3. “Move Your Feet” by Junior Senior
 2. “Telephone” (featuring Beyonce) by Lady GaGa
1. “Dance In My Blood” by Men Women & Children

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Gay Bar” by Electric Six – A surprisingly catchy mix of surf guitar licks, punk, metal and some disco inflections.  Watch in amazement as the song visibly divides the room, as it instantly makes half of the room laugh, and the other half very uncomfortable, and even more so when you are prancing around and singing along, just to get the “point” across.
4. “Tarzan Boy” by Baltimora- It was used in the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie way back in 1990…and still rules.  It always makes me want to jump up and throw kicks at random people.
3. “Shots Shots Shots” by LMFAO – It’s a truly dreadful song, but even I’ll admit that it makes you want to get crunk, and flail about while drinking way more than you should.
2. “Juke Box Hero” by Foreigner- Though a shitty bar band, there is something about that amazingly ranged scratchy rock voice that always gets me up and forces me to sing along, as if I’m possessed by some lame, over animated aging rocker.  But it’s still pretty awesome.
1. “Rebel Yell” by Billy Idol – The ULTIMATE fist pumping song, loved by alcoholics, lushes, preppies and all walks of bar hopping folk. Just try to sit still during the chorus.

Klone’s Top 5
5. “Whiskey In The Jar” as performed by Metallica (cover) (1998) – Originally made popular in America by import band Thin Lizzy in 1973, this traditional Irish folk song was transformed into a serious hard rock number by American metal Gods Metallica on their cover compilation album Garage, Inc. (1998).  When this single exploded on the airwaves in the winter of ’98, I was working as an electrical contractor.  One day on a commercial job in Paramus, NJ, building out a floor in a commercial space, hearing this song blaring over one of the on-site boom-boxes (yeah, FLASHBACK) made me jump down off a ladder and run across the active construction site windmilling my strumming arm on an air guitar and screaming the lyrics.  Ironically enough, I was NOT fired for it.
4. “Dig” by Incubus (2006) – Literally revived me and brought me from my slumped, sleeping position to my feet when I saw these guys at PNC the following summer.  Was so disappointed in the set list (and rather drunk from tailgating), that I passed out after the 3rd song.  Had it not been for “Dig”, I would’ve missed the rest of the show.  The people in the seats behind mind gasped, as they thought I had passed out for sure.  LoL.
3. “Take Your Mama” by Scissor Sisters (2004) – Dancy and fun.  It’s a guilty pleasure to say the least.  Do it, take your mama out!
2. “Valerie” by Steve Winwood (1982) – I’m a child of the 80s (born at the tail end of ’79), and when you’re a child of the 80s, you grow up dancing to some crazy shit, although at the time, it wasn’t considered crazy.  Guess that’s what you get from the decade dedicated to blow.  Anyway, this song has never lost its effect on me, so when I hear it at weddings (if DJ-ed) or anywhere it would be appropriate, I tend to get my groove on.
1. “Magic Dance” by David Bowie (1986) – “I saw my baby…cryin hard as babe could cry.  What could I do?  My baby’s love had gone, and left my baby blue.  Nobody knew…what kind of magic spell to use.  Slime and snails or puppy dog tails?  Thunder or lightning?  And baby said…Dance, Magic Dance, Magic Dance.”  You all fucking know it, so shut up…and Dance, Magic Dance, Magic Dance!

Stigz’s Top 5
5. “Give It Away” by Red Hot Chili Peppers
4. “Tuck Me In” by Alkaline Trio
3. “Partyman” by Prince
2. “The Big Payback” by James Brown
1. “Dancin (I got the pills)” by Erick Morillo

 

#1…Top 5 Albums of All Time! July 16, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 4:44 PM
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TNT’s #1
1. Something to Write Home About by The Get Up Kids – Without a doubt, this is my favorite album of all time because of the way it makes me feel.  I remember I had such a strong connection with this album when I played it for the first time.  From the guitar slide in the first seconds of “Holiday” (track 1) to the ending chord in “I’ll Catch You” (track 12), I’m hooked.  I reference this album as true ’emo’ music.  They’re not whining (in my opinion) or crying or pissing everyone off, their lyrics are EMOtional.  Take the hint you poser bands hiding under the tag ’emo’.  People are usually shocked when they ask “What’s your favorite band or album?” and I can answer the question.  It’s not an easy task for such a tremendous music lover like myself.

Angela’s #1
1. Dookie by Green Day – I chose this as my number one for a few reasons.  I can listen to this album over and over and it never gets stale.  I was in 4th grade when Dookie came out; I studied this album.  I listened to it religiously, studying the lyric sheet and committing each song to memory.  It’s directly responsible for my love affair with the band as well as my first introduction to punk rock.   I know American Idiot was phenomenal, but this one is a bit more personal…and it can get me through anything.  To this day, people still cite it as one of the top albums of the 90’s.

Klone’s #1
1. Master of Puppets by Metallica (1986) – One could argue that if its historical significance, or impact on the music world at large, when it comes to Metallica it would be about either their debut album Kill ‘Em All (1983), their mainstream break-through album Metallica (The Black Album) (1991) or their controversial transitional album Load (1996).  When one is arguing with true, die-hard fans, who are about Metallica for the music, for the feeling they get from listening to the songs and identifying with the themes and emotions being expressed, one cannot expect that argument to end anywhere but Master of Puppets (1986).  The final album featuring bassist phenom Cliff Burton (1962 – 1986), the collection of tracks could be considered the group’s true masterpiece, as well as their first gold record, selling over 500,000 copies when released.  From the opening bars of “Battery” through the last notes of “Damage, Inc.” this anthem laden album is an explosive powerhouse of thrash metal combined with serious melodic structure, giving rise to some of the most epic songs in Metallica’s library, without a single one less than 5 minutes.  Tracks worthy of special mention, since none of the songs on this album were radio singles or music videos at the time of the album’s release (though some tracks eventually made their way to the airwaves in the following decade): Track 2 – “Master of Puppets”, Track 4 – “Sanitarium (Welcome Home)”, and my personal favorite Metallica song of all time Track 7 – “Orion” (Instrumental).

Mark’s #1
1. ESCM by BT– Easily one of the greatest dance albums in the past 20 years.  A truly diverse and ethereal album that appeals to the senses, in particularly mine.  It’s hard to believe that I ignored this album as ‘overlong nonsense’ when I first heard it.  But once I gave it a chance and experienced this masterpiece all the way through, I was
forever initiated into the sonic church that BT leads.  From the hip-hop/folk grooves of “Firewater”, to the piano led beauty of  “Flaming June” (my favorite tune), right through to the hidden symphonic segment of “Flaming June” at the end of the album.  I am forever hooked.

Dan’s #1
1. Return of Saturn by No Doubt – It didn’t have many radio hits, but No Doubt’s Return of Saturn is my favorite album of theirs.  Upbeat, downbeat, kooky, moody and whimsical, Return of Saturn bursts with personality and shows how the band grew from Tragic Kingdom.

Stigz’s #1
1. Dookie by Green Day – This album, a complete and utter classic, is responsible for my descent into the world of music.  I think the first time I heard this I was like 11 years old, and it’s been downhill from there.

 

#2…Top 5 Albums of All Time July 15, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 6:25 PM
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TNT’s #2
2. OkGo by OkGo – So many memories!  Everyone has that one band that they listened to before they became huge stars.  Well, OkGo was mine.  I remember seeing and meeting OkGo at Maxwell’s in Hoboken in high school, around Valentines Day, and we’re talking way before the treadmill video.  In my opinion, their self titled album is their best work, a masterpiece.  Every track flows into the next, so clever and memorable.  One tune will have you dancing or clapping along, like in “You’re So Damn Hot”, another will teach you life lessons, “The Fix Is In”, or bring you to a comatose state like in “Shortly Before The End”.  Oh No was a decent album, Of The Blue Colour Of The Sky was a travesty, OkGo is the way to go my friends.

Angela’s #2
2. The Wall by Pink Floyd – An album that truly defines what it means to be a concept album.  Track by track, flowing together cohesively, taking us along for the journey that would later be played out on-screen in the movie bearing the same name.  It’s another one of those albums that transcend time, labels, sounds, and genre’s.  It’s a work of sheer brilliance that has remained untouched since its inception.  Not only is the band and the album iconic, but also legendary.

Klone’s #2
2. (TIE) Dookie by Green Day (1994)/Weezer (a.k.a. The Blue Album) by Weezer (1994) – Unlike my usual justifications, heavily laden with facts about the albums and artists…facts that should pretty much speak for themselves as far as lending credo to the significance of the albums, and hence their inclusion on my list, but when it comes to these two albums…Dookie and Weezer (The Blue Album) I must elaborate differently.  These two albums pretty much defined my freshman year of high school, already a time when our minds are super impressionable, and social awkwardness forces us all to begin to decide/define who we are.  By September 1994, both albums had made their way to the airwaves, just in time for me to be walking into my first days of high school, and both albums accompanied me down those halls.  This was in the days way before iPods, when most people still had a Walkman (that’s right, cassettes…remember those?), and I had made the ultimate tape with all Dookie on Side A, and Weezer (The Blue Album) on Side B.  Ever since then, these two albums have been connected in my mind, and listening to them these days gives me instant flashbacks to a time when I was pretty much first discovering who I was.

Mark’s #2
2. Greatest Hits by The Police– My very first foray into the world of one of the world’s greatest and most unique rock bands.  Looking back on it, this album was a musical milestone for me, as my purchase of this album was my graduation from the world of MTV’s sugary-pop into the Police.  It’s hard to pin down exactly what it is about this album that I love.  Maybe it is Andy Summers’ classical guitar playing through dozens of effects pedals to create a one man symphony,  or Stewart Copeland’s psychotic poly rhythms, or maybe even Sting’s melodic but oddly punkish vocals.  Well, regardless of the reason, this group is a huge influence on me…they kick royal ass.

Dan’s #2
2. Liars by Lola Ray – Lola Ray has been featured in many of my Top 5 lists.  It’s hard to express how much I love this album to people who haven’t listened to Lola Ray’s music.  The music, lyrics and John Balicanta’s vocals all come together to create these musical stories about the good and bad of love and relationships.

Stigz’s #2
2. S.C.I.E.N.C.E by Incubus – One of the dopest albums I have ever purchased, and still to this day can leave it on repeat.  Tracks like “Idiot Box” and “New Skin” changed my life.  Lol.

 

#3…Top 5 Favorite Albums of All Time July 14, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 2:18 PM
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TNT’s #3
3. The Very Best Of Skeletons From The Closet by The Grateful Dead – Oh the classics.  I grew up listening to The Grateful Dead, but I remember the day I went out and bought this album.  I walked into Music Merchant, a record shop in town (back when those still existed), took it home and fell in love.  Buying and listening to it on my own made me feel like a new woman, finally understanding what the big deal was/is about The GD.  Their music moves you many ways.  While repeating this album over and over, I discovered it works in a vast number of ways- zoning out, spacey dancing, cleaning the house, falling asleep- the possibilities are endless.

Angela’s #3
3. Greatest Hits: The Platinum Collection by Queen – Listen, I can’t narrow down just one queen album because so many contain songs that are just brilliant.  I’m absolutely in love with queen to this day.  I feel as though they are a band that transcends categorization.  They aren’t “classic rock” to me.  Personally, I can’t stand classic rock…but Queen and the genius that is Freddie Mercury stand out.  No matter how old you are, you know a Queen song.  So their music, especially their mega hits, deserve to be an all time album.

Klone’s #3
3. Use Your Illusion II by Guns N’ Roses (1991) – Just as Seattle was emerging as the new mecca of musical movements, Guns N’ Roses was dominating the world of hard rock, balancing out against contemporary heavy metal monsters Metallica as the more blues, traditional rock side of pop music.  Use Your Illusion II, technically the groups fourth album, was released simultaneously with Use Your Illusion I, prompting many fans and the music world at large to see the two separate offerings as a double-album.  Personally, I believe you should own both if you own one or the other, but I’ve always felt more of a kinship with Use Your Illusion II.  Both volumes had gems of their own, but II always seemed to have more of an epic, dramatic sentiment about it.  Long-form songs like “Estranged”, “Locomotive”, and “Breakdown” have an almost cinematic quality to the use of metaphor throughout the lyrics, while the uber-popular single “You Could Be Mine” rode the wave of fame that came from being included on the soundtrack for the massive 1991 summer blockbuster “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” and featured an appearance by Arnold Schwarzenegger reprising his role as the T-100 in the music video.  Guns N’ Roses are another of the “foundations of modern rock” bands that had long ago gone the way of the dinosaur, and though their entire library should be celebrated as such (with the exception of Chinese Democracy (2008)), for me Use Your Illusion II is the culmination of discography, the height of their career.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Use_Your_Illusion_II

Mark’s #3
3. Boston by Boston– This album, to me, is the epitome of pure 70s rock and roll and the very first rock album that I can recall hearing.  It was my introduction in to the world of not just music, but audio and the total ‘Do-It-Yourself’ attitude that makes music such a noble pursuit, courtesy of Boston’s resident ‘Mr. DIY’, founder Tom Scholz.

Dan’s #3
3. Men Women & Children by Men Women & Children – No other album puts me in a better mood than Men Women & Children’s self-titled album.  The album is one big party, and each song sounds like a self-contained party.   Their music is always on the top of my most played list on iTunes and I always put their music on mixes.

Stigz’s #3
3. They Make Beer Commercial Like This by Minus the Bear – Probably the funkiest album you will ever hear, with some kick ass breakdowns and awesome lyrics.  Their debut album, I’ll still argue it had the most funk out of everything.

 

#4…Top 5 Albums of All Time July 13, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 1:46 PM
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TNT’s #4
4. The Living End by The Living End – Australian punk can never be wrong.  When I heard the song “Prisoner of Society” for the first time, I had no clue who sang it but I was obsessed; it grabbed my attention like an airhorn in a library.  I love the entire album, but my favorite song is “West End Riot”.

Angela’s #4
4. Thriller by Michael Jackson – It’s Michael Jackson’s thriller…do I really need to explain this??  Even though I have never been one of his crazed fans . . . when the King of Pop died, it made me sad.  Similarly, he was the KING of Pop…that is a moniker truly earned in the music industry.  And rightfully so, you can not deny how he was iconic and extremely influential to music (even that is an understatement).  And Thriller?  It’s fucking Thriller dude, come on.

Klone’s #4
4. Bat Out of Hell by Meat Loaf (1977) – Two years before I was born, this epic album was released, a collection of musical masterpieces amounting to the closest thing to a rock opera that had never been performed theatrically.  Originally begun in 1974 as a workshop project called Neverland, songwriter Jim Steinman set out to do a sci-fi modernization of the Peter Pan story.  The core songs of the project became this historic album that almost never was.  Like many strokes of genius, this project was rejected by almost everyone in the music industry in the mid-to-late 1970s, that is until Tod Rundgren got a hold of the music being shopped around and decided to run with it, even though he found it more hilarious than serious and awe-inspiring.  The album has sold more than 43 million copies in the 30 years since its release, and annually sells 200,000 copies.  From first note to final, this album unfolds a story that is screaming to be made into a film or a theatrical production, the story of Romeo & Juliet romance between damned biker who meets his demise in a horrific motorcycle accident and an angel in the afterlife (my personal interpretation).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Out_of_Hell

Mark’s #4
4. Shifting Skin by ON – I discovered this highly under-rated gem courtesy of one of Matt Pinfield’s radio shows, where he glowed about the upcoming solo release from former lead singer of alternative rock band Failure, Ken Andrews.  What followed in the ensuing minutes was three minutes of catchy electro rock bliss of the album’s first single,  “C’mon Collapse”.  This album didn’t leave my CD player for months.  I credit this album with introducing me to the wide and varied musical world of Ken Andrews, and allowed me to discover dozens of other associated acts, like the amazing Charlotte Martin.  Thanks Ken!

Dan’s #4
4. Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette – Released in 1995, Jagged Little Pill launched Alanis’s music career and spawned half an album of hits.  From the ex-boyfriend assault ‘You Oughta Know’ to the lovey ‘Head Over Feet,’ Alanis was a chick with edge.  I still love this album.

Stigz’s #4
4. From Here To Infirmary by Alkaline Trio – One of my favorite bands, one of their best albums, with awesome grooves on the entire CD.

 

#5…Top 5 Albums of All Time July 12, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 12:37 PM
Tags: , , , , ,

You know an album has to make your Top 5 list if:
A) You love every single song on the album
B) You randomly hear a song from said album and when it ends, you immediately start singing the next song on the album
C) You don’t know how you got through life before hearing any or all of these songs
D) You think everyone under the sun should enjoy the album as much as you do, or at the very, least give it a try
E) All of the above.

I think the answer is obvious, but if you need clarification, the only possible answer is E) All of the above.

TNT’s #5
5. From Here To Infirmary by Alkaline Trio – This album gave me my first taste of Alkaline Trio.  Maybe it was my age, but for some reason every song made sense.  Musically and lyrically speaking, I feel that From Here To Infirmary is their greatest album.  I can’t even pick a favorite track off of this one, they’re all amazing.  Yet again, guitar slides and clever lyrics had me hooked.  If you’ve never listened to this album drop everything and buy it.

Angela’s #5
5. Just The Best Party by World/Inferno Friendship Society – This is a band I’ve followed around, gone to more shows than I can count, and gave me a sense of community within the underground punk scene.  But this is my favorite album by them. from start to finish it’s an incredible piece of work full of that upbeat, rebel class that only this band can convey.


Klone’s #5
5. Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins (1993) – This is easily one of the few select albums I can say I’m glad I was alive and aware of music when it was released.  Anyone who likes, nay loves Smashing Pumpkins cherishes this album because of its significance.  Even upon the first listening, you can feel the longevity of those tracks that would become classics among the foundation of this grunge-era monolith contemporary of the likes of Nirvana, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden.  “Cherub Rock” changed me the first time I heard it, and is the single track that made “Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock” a MUST HAVE for my Xbox 360 library, while tracks like “Today” and “Disarm” were instant pieces of musical history.  “Soma” was a track that served as my personal escape from the complexities of early adolescence, and was probably the single track that made me realize what an important and amazing album Siamese Dream was.


Mark’s #5
5. Dead Can Dance by Dead Can Dance – What do you get when two Australian punk-rockers move to England and start a band that melds tinges of punk with gothic, dark wave and world music?  This incredible debut album that is in a world all its own.  Their self-titled debut is a difficult record to classify; it can best be described as a melodic symphony of chaos sound, featuring drum programming, down tuned and at times, distorted guitars mixed with deeply resonating bass lines, heavy percussion, punk drumming and dulcimers thrown in for good measure.  Exhausting?  Yes, but it’s the fantastic mixture of genres and exotic melodies that draws me in and keeps me constantly fascinated.


Dan’s #5
5. Fantasies by Metric – It’s just a phenomenal album that has everything from upbeat, synthy rock to slower, darker songs.

Stigz’s #5
5. Blood Sugar Sex Magik by Red Hot Chili Peppers – One of the albums that put this band on the map – more so than Mother’s Milk – this album has some great feel good jams and some deep introspective tracks.  Solid all around.