Nevermind The Posers

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♫ ♪♫ Top 5 Guilty Pleasures ♪ ♫ ♪ May 25, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 2:56 AM

Don't be ashamed, listen to what you like!

TNT’s Top 5
5. “Soul Sister” by Train – This song was released some time in August 2009 and I still can’t get enough of it.  I love how I can surf through the radio and find it playing somewhere.
4. “Apeman” by The Kinks – Guilty pleasure all the way!  The lyrics are great!   “But with the over-population and inflation and starvation and the crazy politicians/I don’t feel safe in this world no more/I don’t want to die in a nuclear war/I want to sail away to a distant shore/and make like an ape man/ Oh, I’m an ape man, I’m an ape ape man….”  If you haven’t heard it, you need to check it out here.
3. “It’s Not Unusual” by Tom Jones – Secretly, you know this song made your list too.
2. “Crash and Burn” by Savage Garden – Oh yeah, Savage Garden.  I was a huge fan of them; such a shame that they only had two albums.  KimKimma made/makes fun of my all the time for this one.
1. “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners – I can never get enough of this song!  While listening, this song should be repeated at least three times, minimum.  I recommend it on road-trips and while drinking…not together of course.  Gotta love one hit wonders.

Angela’s Top 5
Oh Top 5 guilty pleasures…fml for having to admit this…
5. “Since You’ve Been Gone” by Kelly Clarkson
4. “Imma Be” by Black Eyed Peas
3. “Need You Now” by Lady Antebellum
2. “You Belong With Me” by Taylor Swift
1. “Your Love is My Drug” by Ke$ha – That one hurt a little.

Stigz’s Top 5
5. Cheesy Sci Fi Movies – Yes yes yes.  I am guilty of watching those cheesy, class B, sci-fi movies which are based on giant animals (whatever they may be) attacking…its funny, and always on at 3AM when you still have a buzz going.
4. The Occasional Romantic-Comedy – Again, I’ll put my man card down and admit that I indulge in a rom-com from time to time.
IE: The Ugly Truth or He’s Just Not That Into You
3. That 70’s Show – Despite it being on Teen Nick constantly, I can’t get enough.
2. Chai Lattes – At the cost of ridicule, I LOVE chai lattes.  And yes, this is coming from a guy that drinks four-shot espresso’s like water.
1. Cheesy Action Movies – Van Damme or Seagal – nothing makes me happier than a retarded action movie by one of these two.  No originality and a plot that always involves gratuitous sex and/or blatant violence.  Satisfaction on every level of testosterone.

Klone’s Top 5
I think that the category “Guilty Pleasures” says enough without having to explain why we like each track.  They are songs we enjoy and feel guilty about it because, according to the rest of our rather cultured musical tastes, these are tracks we should ultimately not like.
5. “Take Me Home Tonight” by Eddie Money
4. “Crocodile Rock” by Elton John
3. “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass Elliot (Yeah, LOSTIES!!)
2. “Africa” by Toto
1. “I Want You” by Savage Garden

Mark’s Top 5
5. “Scooby Snacks” by Fun Lovin’ Criminals – One of the ultimate stoner songs, and what’s not to like?  It has a low-key delivered flow, laid over a solid live hip-hop groove and lyrics that feature the song’s subjects robbing banks and getting high (check it out here).  What makes this such a guilty pleasure for me is the fact that I know nothing else by them, and have never had the urge to seek out any other tracks.  Oh well.
4. “Eyes Without A Face” by Billy Idol – Billy Idol kicks ass.  So much so, that even when he goes from “rock screams” to “Dean Martin crooning” (by way of 80’s and New Wave), the result is still oddly likable and quite danceable.
3. “Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo –  I know this song makes a lot of people’s “guilty pleasures” list and it’s easy to understand why.  It is annoyingly catchy with its popping bass-lines accenting the synth harpsichord choruses, which are latched on to and trampled by cheesy synth drums (which were probably borrowed from Duran Duran).
2. “C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train)” by Quad City DJ’s –  I mentioned this psychotically danceable tune in my last Top 5, and I give it a well deserved encore in this weeks listings for one blistering reason: for some reason, when I hear “Woo Woo” and “Choo Choo” I always make the whistle pulling motion.  That’s right folks, I am a pure, unadulterated ass.
1. “The Sweetest Thing” by U2 – I am not much of a U2 fan, both musically and personally.  However, I have to give it to Bono and Co. for coming up with one of the most sugary, sappy, and downright instant lovable pop tune that they have ever laid to track.  And to think, it started life as a throw away B-side on their single for “Where the Streets Have No Name” and became a hit by way of re-release on their Best Of 1980-1990 compilation.  I guess pure sugar really has no expiration.

 

Fyfe Dangerfield May 23, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews,New Music — NVMP @ 4:22 PM
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This past Wednesday I checked out Fyfe Dangerfield at Joe’s Pub in NYC.  Founding member of UK band The Guillemots and playing only a handful of dates in our area, Dangerfield’s performance was a rare and enticing treat to hear.  He sang, tickled the ivories, and played guitar while being accompanied by two talented violinist, setting the tranquil and euphoric atmosphere of the night.  His debut solo album is called Fly Yellow Moon and was released in January 2010 and is now available on iTunes in the US.  Songs like “Barricades” and “Livewire” gave me the chills while the upbeat, rhythmical hits like “She Needs Me” and “When You Walk In The Room” made me fall in love with his music immediately; these are my favorite tracks and I highly recommend you check them out.
I am looking forward to listening to the album in its entirety.  Fyfe Dangerfield is a phenomenal singer/songwriter and I think Fly Yellow Moon is only the beginning of a long and prosperous solo career.

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Who Said Punk Was Dead? May 22, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 10:27 PM
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By Angela Blasi

On May 13th 2010 I had the distinct honor of visiting the Fillmore at Irving Plaza in anticipation of witnessing living legends the Buzzcocks.  Billed with the solid musical trio The Dollyrots, this gig held the promise of delivering amazing music while simultaneously kicking my ass.

Upon arrival, I made my way upstairs into the lower level of the show room to find The Dollyrots had taken the stage and were already a song or two into their set.  Watching inconspicuously from the side, I took note of the trio’s more reserved nature since the last time I had seen them with Bowling For Soup.  Being on a bigger bill, I couldn’t blame them for feeling more serious about this gig than the last.  Despite the magnitude of touring with The Buzzcocks, Kelly Ogden maintained true front woman status, leading the band through each high energy number with her humor and charisma while keeping a much older crowd attentive.  Backed by the salient vocals of guitarist Luis Cabezas, the pair created the powerhouse of a voice that drove the band through each number.  Throughout the night her quiet confidence bore through every moment, poignantly illustrating the origins of a song like “Because I’m Awesome.”  Never taking themselves too seriously but always giving the crowd a blistering set devoid of imperfections or stumbling like classically trained musicians, The Dollyrots have yet to disappoint me.  Not only do I appreciate the fun atmosphere they bring to a show, but also how in doing so they embody that true, ‘Music is amazing so let’s just play and fuck the details’ attitude.  Playing highlights such as “Jackie Chan,” “Bad Reputation”(originally performed by Joan Jett and The Black Hearts) and the title track off their upcoming album “California Beach Boy,” the band commanded the stage and let the older fan base of the Buzzcocks know that just because they’re from a newer generation doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten how to rock from their roots.

After a brief intermission and set change the standing room only crowd was buzzing with excitement.  Although the fan base was older than myself one could still feel the enthusiasm in the air, no different from that generated by the youthful crowds of punk’s start.  For this North American tour, the band promised to play both their classic albums Another Music In a Different Kitchen and Love Bites in their entirety.  Never a group to disappoint, they did just that.  Seamlessly charging full throttle into each song, the Buzzcocks stood and delivered.  The group wasted no time with mindless banter between songs but rather gave the crowd exactly what they came for: a feverish night of non-stop music.  As they plowed into song after song with no break, it became clear that time has had no bearing on the output of this group.  Each note played was executed with seasoned professionalism and just enough arrogance to make the audience take notice of the greatness sweating before them.  The set was complete with individual moments for each band member, showcasing their musical prowess separately and eventually flowing back together to form the high energy sound that is the Buzzcocks.  Even today, the snot-nosed lyrics, decreeing boredom, and the need for sex, drugs, and drink still keep up their edgy, youthful charm.  Brilliant in their lyrical simplicity and tight with their full-bodied musical deliverance, one can see why this is truly the stuff legends are made of.

 

Top 5 ‘I Can’t Believe I Bought That’ May 18, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 1:20 AM
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TNT’s Top 5
5. 98 Degrees, 98 Degrees and Rising – I feel nothing but shame and embarrassment.
4. Will Smith, Big Willie Style – Guilty.  Hahahaha, all I can think of when I hear the name Will Smith is this:
3. Dashboard Confessional, The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most – I have listened to this album once, from track one to track ten, and vowed to never play it again.  I remember feeling so depressed and that life was not worth listening to.  Sorry Chris Carrabba, your music is definitely not for me.
2. Mariah Carey, Rainbow – Seriously bought this album because it had a 98 Degrees song on it…and to piss mom off.  She banned Mariah Carey from our household because she could never stand Carey’s fake and phony airy sounding notes.  Mama knows best, wish I listened.
1. Now That’s What I Call Music!, Vol. 1 – What the hell was I thinking?  Wow.  I could have just put on the radio at that time and saved 20 bucks.  I remember keeping up with the collection to Vol. 5, but they were so expensive and released way too close together.  RIP Bob Mercer, I will always remember you for signing the Sex Pistols and Queen, but will try to forget that you created the Now That’s What I Call Music! series.

Angela’s Top 5
5. White Town
4. Ricky Martin
3. Hanson, MMMBop
2. Backstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys
1. Titanic Soundtrack

Dan’s Top 5
5. Eiffel 65
4. Lindsay Lohan
3. Quad City DJs
2. Sisqo
1. Soul Decision

Klone’s Top 5
Money should come with a warning label…once spent, you cannot get it back.  Keep that in mind as you buy goods that may seem cool now, but fail to stand up to the test of time.
5. “Original Television Soundtrack: LOST Season 1” composed by Michael Giacchino – Okay…I’m an insane LOST fan.  When this disc was released I was like, “Wow, maybe I could use some of this for the LOST segment on my podcast.”  (At the time I was in full production swing on my podcast “Hollow9ine” (http://hollow9ine.podomatic.com), which would feature a lot of discussion of LOST.  I still listen to this when I go hiking on the Palisades in North NJ.  It kinda makes me feel like I’m on the island…which in itself is embarrassing enough.
4. “Original Television Soundtrack: LOST Season 2” composed by Michael Giacchino – Yeah, somewhat of a continuation of #5.  This volume contained more of the regular themes that weren’t included on Volume 1.
3. “Spanaway” by Seaweed – The 1995 release from the Tacoma, Washington-based band.  The hit single off this disc was a song called “Start With” which was getting a lot of radio play at the time of the album’s release.  It was cool enough that I ran out and bought the CD, only to find that there was one other song worth listening to on the album called “Magic Mountain Man”, the rest was a complete waste of time.  Of all the random CDs I bought for a single song that I liked, this one has always been, hands down an embarassing pick-up.  Can’t believe I bought that.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seaweed_(band)
2. “The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Stephen King’s The Stand”  composed by W.G. “Snuffy” Walden – Okay, now to this composer’s credit, he scored huge iconic tv shows like  “thirtysomething”, “The Wonder Years”, “Roseanne”, “Ellen” and “My So-Called Life”.  He also scored the TV Mini-Series adaptation of Stephen King’s epic novel “The Stand”.  I ordered this CD through one of the music stores at the local mall (as this was before the days of Amazon.com, eBay and iTunes), and I was expecting it to be a compilation CD of the actual commercial songs featured in the film (including 80s hit “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House).  Instead it was the score.  The CD grew on me, as I refused to let it just become a coaster, but I always had a slight twinge of pain in my heart when I realized I was expecting something different when I purchased this.  Too bad I was too young to realize that I should’ve done something about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W.G._Snuffy_Walden
1. “Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities” by The Circle Jerks – Who would’ve thought an obscure cameo on backing vocals by Debbie Gibson for the track “I Wanna Destroy You” would’ve gotten the attention of so many people who didn’t even know who The Circle Jerks were (myself included).  I basically picked this CD up because of a short segment I caught on MTV news in the spring of 1995, where they were covering Gibson’s surprise appearance with the band at their CBGB’s performance in support of the CD release of “Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities”.  I wasn’t even a big Debbie Gibson fan, so the fact that this made me want the CD doesn’t  make sense, and that’s why it is my #1 “I can’t believe I bought that.”  The CD was a total piece of crap, even “I Wanna Destroy You”, the song with Gibson’s cameo backing vocals, wasn’t cool enough to defend the purchase of this disc.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circle_Jerks

Mark’s Top 5
5. Groove Theory, Groove Theory – What made this album purchase so humiliatingly awful wasn’t so much that I spent money on this wreck, but the reason why I bought it in the first place.  I had heard that my first girlfriend (who at that point in 1996 had dumped me for someone else, hooray for the mid-nineties) really liked the song, and in an effort to win her back, naturally assumed that buying her the album featuring her favorite song would do the trick.  Nope.
4. Scott and Todd- Scam-A-Mania ’96, Vol. 5 – This is probably one of the most embarrassing albums that I have ever purchased.  Also a “gem” of the mid-nineties, I was just a casual fan of radio, trying to make the morning easier with a “Morning Zoo” atmosphere to cheer me up, not knowing that better and funnier radio was out there. Featuring lame, hack “phone-scams” and stupid song parodies that thousands of people each day willingly consumed, ignoring the awful puns and insulting humor (with songs about Dr. Jack Kevorkian, Mad-Cow disease, etc.).  I really have no excuse for buying this excrement.
3. Skee-Lo, I Wish – For some reason, nothing seems to cement one’s pure whiteness than to acknowledge that you know all the words to this low-key but catchy mid-nineties hip-hop tune.  Am I embarrassed by this?  Yes, but do I care?  No.  This was actually a great little tune that went with the flow of real hip-hop (back when it had jazz influences) that was the centerpiece of a very decent album.  And the production by Skee-Lo himself showed that he wasn’t too shabby as a producer either.  Where have you gone, Skee-Lo?
2. Quad City DJs- Get On Up and Dance – Who didn’t wanna “ride this train” back in the mid-nineties, as this insanely infectious tune invaded both the airwaves and my heart for a good part of 1996.  But that was then, this is now, and I really have no clue what I am going to do with this decade old dust collector now.
1. The Vengaboys- Up and Down, The Party Album! – Ahhh, yet another album featuring a colossal hit dance song utilizing the art of sexual innuendo by way of transportation references.  Once I was off of the Venga bus, I somehow was convinced to come back to their bubblegum-dance fold with  “Boom Boom Boom Boom”, where those four magical words told you just what would occur if you went into the singer’s room (thank god the singers in this case were women). However, after 1999, I had my fill of the Vengabus and avoided their usual routes (KTU, Z100, WPLJ, the Jersey Shore, Kearny, to name a few) after finally discovering real dance music.

 

Dirty Sweet – American Spiritual May 13, 2010

Filed under: CD Reviews,Music Swap,New Music — NVMP @ 6:47 PM
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TNT thinks: Consider yourselves warned- Dirty Sweet’s American Spiritual is extremely catchy and highly addictive.  I’m in love with this album because I grew up with Southern rock and they have vibes that remind me of Tiger Army, only less punky.  There are also some great, chilling guitar solos.  The titles of each track are brilliant, “Rest Sniper, Rest” and “Star-Spangled Glamour” and “Crimson Calvary”, genius.  These are all amazing songs that I suggest you check out.  I also love “Please Beware” (the lyric ‘please beware, I’m going crazy’ I relate to on a daily basis’.  New TNT anthem?) and “Rest Sniper, Rest.”  When I’m listening to this album, I imagine myself driving down a long open road.  So you can bet your dirty sweet ass I’ll be packing this album on my next road trip.

H-Toof thinks: Dirty Sweet brings us some enjoyable Southern cock rock on their second studio album, American Spiritual.  American Spiritual is like a rock canvas splattered with everything from gospel, country and blues to R&B and heavy metal.  The album plays like a chronicle of problems facing our country today, and takes aim at warmongering politicians and our celebrity-obsessed news media.  Overall, American Spiritual is a strong, varied rock album that both new and old fans will enjoy.

Check out Dirty Sweet’s video for “Marionette”

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Top 5 Songs That Remind You of Your Mom May 11, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 7:48 PM

TNT’s Top 5
5. “Black No. 1” by Type O Negative – Mom loves this song and always commented on how sexy Peter Steele’s voice was (R.I.P.).  I remember mom playing this cassette in her car every morning before she’d drop me off for high school.  In October, mom blasts some Type O non-stop.
4. “I Could Have Danced All Night” by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner (from the musical My Fair Lady) – Yup, even though she’s a hard-core metal lovin’ mama, she still loves musicals.  I can’t help but to think of her when I hear this song…or any of her other favorites from Hello, Dolly! or West Side Story.
3. “Mainstreet” by Bob Seger – Any Bob Seger song really, but this song stands out.  She loves the introduction, he can really make that guitar sing.  “Roll Me Away” and “Turn the Page” also gives her chills.  I saw Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band with mom when I was younger, I remember sitting so close to stage, we were on the left side; it was awesome.

2. “Enter Sandman” by Metallica – When I hear this song, I immediately imagine mom cooking dinner and rocking out.  A smile comes to my face when she waits for and belts out the “BOOM” right after the sadistic laughing.  She can also do ‘yeeeaaaahhhh yeeeaaaahhh’ sections (aka Hetfield’s add-lib metal scats) better than anyone I know (yes, even you Giblin).  My mom rocks, literally.
1. “Free Bird” by Lynyrd Skynyrd – Seriously though, Lynyrd Skynyrd is her favorite band.  Every song reminds me of my mom, she’s the biggest fan I know.  Mom took my twin sister and I to plenty of concerts over the years, but Lynyrd Skynyrd was our first (we were six years old).  Whenever Van Zant or really anyone says the words “What song do you want to hear?” I know that “FREE BIRD!!!” is the next thing shouted out of her mouth.  My mom loves music, and she’s where I get my passion from.  Thanks mom for everything, and especially for teaching me how to rock.

Alex’s Top 5
5. “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey – For very personal reasons, I lose my shit when I hear this song.
4. “Dance Magic” by David Bowie– I can remember bugging out for everyone singing this song when I was a wee-lad.
3. “Cry Baby” by Janis Joplin – For some reason, this classic Janis track reminds me of mom-dukes.  Maybe it’s because it was in Look Who’s Talking and I used to watch that with her all the time.
2. “I Want You To Want Me” by Cheap Trick – Again, my mom was a huge fan of Cheap Trick.
1. ANYTHING by Meat Loaf – Mom was a huge Meat Loaf fan, so anything from “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” to “Bat Out Of Hell” to “I Would Do Anything For Love” remind me of her, but nothing more than “Objects in the Rear View Mirror.”

Klone’s Top 5
There are all sorts of reasons a song will remind you of someone, but when your mom is a talented songstress who should’ve been a huge singer, there are about a million more.  To narrow this list down to five was difficult, but this is the line-up of songs that my mom loves to sing, and sing she does…
5. “All The Jazz” by John Kender & Fred Ebb (from the Broadway show “Chicago”)
4. “At Last” by Etta James (I have a feeling my mom is going to sing this song at my wedding)
3. “Country Road” by John Denver (How I have heard this song sung karaoke style without attending West Virginia University can only be answered by my mom…)
2. “In My Life” by The Beatles (Mom loves Bette Midler, which means I grew up watching her movies, and she covered this in “For The Boys”…though, my mom always loved The Beatles.)
1. “La Vie En Rose” by Edith Piaf

Mark’s Top 5
I owe my Mom a great deal of credit for inheriting such a wide-ranging taste in music, who growing up devoured whatever songs and bands that she could from local radio stations like WNEW (when it was a hip “rebel” station).  She passed this love of great tunes to me, and so I present some of her absolute favorites to you!
5. “People are People” by Depeche Mode – My dear Mom loves this great mish-mash of Blues-rock and Electro from the great Depeche Mode, who she helped introduce me to when I was a lil’ lad.  If it wasn’t for her buying their greatest hits and lending it to me, I would have taken much too long to discover one of the most well written and composed electronic tunes to ever grace the sonic landscape.
4. “Red Skies” by The Fixx – This song reminds me of when I took my Mom to see a WPLJ- Saturday Nite at the 80’s show at the Nokia Theatre in New York for her birthday to see some of her favorite acts of the era: Missing Persons, Naked Eyes, the Knack, and of course the Fixx, who as it turned out she was itching to see since she was younger.
3. “View to a Kill” by Duran Duran – My mother’s love of the James Bond series of films was inherited by me, and through them I found yet another of my favorite 80’s tunes, which also happens to be the song my mother thinks is one of their best.
2. “Cars” by Gary Numan – What makes this song so special to me is that it was my mother who, when my interest in New Wave and 80’s began to surface, told me all about this chilly yet catchy tune.  I still hear her singing it to herself sometimes.
1. “For Your Love” by The Yardbirds – When asked about her favorite rock bands growing up, my mother references a who’s who of 60’s and 70’s hard rock bands, and she almost always name checks these English rockers.  Who knew that such a simple song would have such a generational effect.  And it is this particular tune that helps me see how great music stays alive for so long; through the sharing of music between parents and children, and in my case, Mother and Son.  Thanks Mom!

Dan’s Top 5
5. “TiK ToK” by Ke$ha – Every time I play this song in the car, she hits repeat.
4. “By The Way” by Red Hot Chili Peppers – She loves RHCP and this is one of her favorite songs.
3.  Any U2 song
2. “Paper Planes” by M.I.A. – Another song my mom loves and always requests when we’re in the car.
1. “Earthquakes and Sharks” by Brandtson

 

New Music on our Playlist May 8, 2010

Filed under: MySpace Music,New Music — NVMP @ 12:44 AM
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Hello again!  It’s Friday, time for some new music to get you pumped for the weekend.  Below is our MySpace Profile Playlist, click here to see profile (www.myspace.com/nevermindtheposers), to the left hand side you’ll find our playlist for some TNT song suggestions.  Pop it out and enjoy!  As always, you can click on the band’s name to view their myspace page if you like what you hear.  Spread the word and discover new music.  Enjoy the weekend!
– TNT

TNT’s Music

1. “His Story”  by  Not Ok – Some true punk music!  Yet another Australian punk band that I feel in love with.  This song will kick your ass and make you wonder just what Christopher Columbus did…listen to the spoken breakdown, I guess it’s the bridge.  Take it or leave it, what do you think?
2. “Set The World On Fire!”  by  HELL&LULA – Such an awesome beat!  Is it rock?  Techno?  Electro?  I don’t care, this is a great genre spanning song.  Here’s a tip…Pop out our MySpace Playlist for more continuous listening and less clicking.
3. “No Medication”  by  Washington Square Park – NEW BAND ALERT!  Okay, drop everything because there’s a new punk band coming out of NJ that deserves your attention!  Check out “No Medication”, this song got me hooked.  Coming soon- WSP live show review and a few words with front man Max Rauch and guitarist Keith Williams.
4. “Texas Tea”  by  Young the Giant – This band used to be called The Jakes, proving that the name of your band has nothing to do with your music.  “Texas Tea” is a catchy pop hook with melodies that paint a vocal masterpiece.  Have a listen…
5. “I Don’t Mind”  by  Polly Mackey & the Pleasure Principle – I fell in love with Polly’s deep and rich vocals a long time ago, this is one of my favorite songs by the group.  This indie pop/rock band from the UK is a group to keep an eye on.
6. “Early Warnings”  by  Foreign Born – I’ve been talking about this band a lot lately, but how could I not?  It’s soothing and memorable all in one, the guitars really make this song come alive.  I love it.
7. “Embers and Ashes”  by  The Static Cult – This band needs to come to the USA ASAP!  They sound like next Bad Religion/Rise Against.  Bottom line, they rock!  This is one of my favorite songs, also check out “Hold Tight Hope.”
8. “Crawl Like A Dog (feat. Mark Lanegan)  by  Creature With The Atom Brain – I’m not really sure why I like this song, but I do.  Maybe you will too.  Definitely some similarities to Rob Zombie relaxed vocals.
9. “Tunnelvision”  by  Here We Go Magic – I’m hooked in the first five seconds of this song.  I love this indie/folk sound, AMAZING!  I hope this band is playing the Siren Festival this year, hailing from Brooklyn, NY, I see no reason they wouldn’t be invited to play, but let this be the first ask.
10. “Why Didn’t You Get A Haircut?”  by  Math the Band – I don’t care why you didn’t get a hair cut, but I do care about how much fun I’m having while listening to this song.  I could imagine myself doing a speedy robot dance to this song, lots of jumping is also included.  Anyway, less about my dance skills and more about Math the Band.  They just started a tour with MC CHRIS, immediately after their performances at Bamboozle.  Hope you can catch a show, I’ll be at Maxwell’s in Hoboken for the June 30th date if you wanted to buy me a drink for introducing you to this killer duo.  Maybe we can share a bowl of Candy Cereal with Math the Band, check out this scrumdiddlyumptious video. 
11. “Shake It Loose”  by  The Kicks – I saw The Kicks in NYC last week and was instantly blown away by this talented Nashville band.  This band does not fit into any one genre, which is why I featured two of their songs on this playlist.  “Shake It Loose” has driving guitar riffs that make you want to move.  I suggest catching a live show soon, some of their guitar solos are sick!
12. “Good Morning”  by The Kicks – When I heard this song live, I though “Instant radio hit”.  This is one of their slower jams, but still packed with power.  It gave me chills when I heard it live, its vocal beauty is gorgeous.  I love harmonies that bounce off the walls with resonance.  TNT is impressed.

 

And Our #1 Favorite Musicians Are… May 7, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 2:43 PM
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TNT’s #1 Musician of All Time
1. Jerry Garcia – It’s extremely difficult to put into words why this man is my favorite musician of all time.  I consider him my muse, my musical mentor.  I have listened to the Grateful Dead since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until I was 15 years old that I actually heard his lyrics and felt his music.  It felt like a I had a musical stroke, confused about how my mind thought for so many years of this as my mom’s music and almost paralyzed with my own thoughts and theories.  Since that epic day, I’ve become obsessed with the man, his music and his life.  I remember the day he passed away, only being 9 years old and not understanding the loss of such a great man, mourning and misery consumed the world.  Luckily, his spirit lives on through his music, his art, and his followers.  We miss you Jerry.

Alex’s #1 Musician of All Time
1. Jimi Hendrix – From his lyrics to his haunting guitar solo’s, often emulated but never duplicated, Jimi made the guitar do something that nobody in history has done before, or since.  He made the fretboard sing in ways that even Les Paul didn’t know were possible, and he invented the electric guitar.  He may have only played one instrument, but he played it so well, it seemed as if he came from the womb with it, emerging into the world with a Stratocaster under his arm, strung upside-down and destined for stardom.

Mark’s #1 Musician of All Time
1. BT – Where do I begin?  This man isn’t so much a musician as he is a sonic sculpture, molding mathematics, musical notations and multiple audio technologies and theories at his finger tips together, to bring to life hundreds of Mona Lisa equivalent audio pieces, each with their own distinct places among the stars of the audio planes.  He is the Leonardo Da Vinci of the music world, really, a tireless multitasker dabbling in all forms of music and technical wizardry to better himself, his music, and maybe even you.
RECOMMENDED: IMA, ESCM, Movement in Still Life, Emotional Technology, This Binary Universe

Angela’s #1 Musician of All Time
1. Amanda Palmer (of her own solo project and the Dresden Dolls) – Amanda Palmer is, in my opinion, an amazing artist.  She’s passionate, witty, down to earth and despite all her fame hasn’t changed the way she interacts with her fans since the first time I saw the Dresden Dolls before they were anything.  Her style of writing, both music and lyrics, is unique and refreshing.  Not to mention every time I see her live, either solo or with the Dolls, the show is ALWAYS amazing.  I am never disappointed at the mixture of performance art and rock and roll.
(www.dresdendolls.com)

Klone’s #1 Musician of All Time
1. Blue Man Group (1987 – ) – I will begin by fully admitting that a group is not a single musician, and by choosing Blue Man Group as my #1 musician of all time, I have cheated.  I fully admit that I have bent the rules on this, but I feel completely justified in doing so.  The amazing thing about Blue Man Group is that they are a group with a single identity.  The organization, as it is a group far larger than the three members who perform each individual show, was formed by Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman, based in Manhattan at the time of its inception.  The group is now an ensemble of musicians who rotate into the three-man performance positions on a show-by-show basis, but the performing trio always appears the same: Blue painted faces and hands, no ears or hair, and no voice.  The other unique characteristic is their focused use of percussion in their music and performances, most notably tuned instruments made out of PVC piping.  Since none of the performing trio are ever introduced by name, or speak at all during the show, the Blue Man Group is effectively a conceptual identity, casting the individual identities of the ensemble aside and allowing the audience to focus solely on the music and the experience of seeing them perform live.  The group’s unique brand of instrumentation not only mesmerizes audiences in their use for Blue Man original pieces, but enhance any songs the group ever covers, but giving a completely new audio perspective to the selected pieces.  My favorite example is their cover of The Who’s classic “Baba O’Reilly”, which can be heard and seen on their 2008 DVD release “How to be a Megastar Live!”, which was accompanied by a CD featuring the tracks performed in the show.  Blue Man Group is an evolution of both “the musician” and “the rock band” into a new level of being.  Welcome to the next level.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Man_Group

 

#2…Top 5 Favorite Musicians of All Time May 6, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 4:46 PM
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TNT’s #2 Musician of All Time
2. Joan Jett – Jett made it possible for women to rock, without her, we’d be generations behind.  The face of women in rock music,  she is an authentic rock icon.  She always knew what she wanted and she stopped at nothing to get it.  Still touring with The Blackhearts, she also has her own label- Blackheart Records.  Joan Jett is woman, hear her rock!  Bottom line- Jett kicks ass!

Alex’s #2 Musician of All Time
2. A) Prince – Androgyny may not be all it’s cracked up to be, but this dude has put out dozens of albums where he wrote, composed, and played every instrument.  If that’s not musicianship I don’t know what is.

2. B) Smokey Robinson – After seeing this guy live, who is pushing his 70’s, and hitting up a seminar at SxSW where he was a keynote speaker, this dude has done it all.  He basically made the MoTown genre what it is today, and worked with almost every act ever to come out of the Motor City.  Besides writing lyrics and singing, he produces and owns a label.  In short, he has pulsed through the veins of the music industry for 50 years, never missing a beat.

Mark’s #2 Musician of All Time
2. Andy Summers – Although I am not an accomplished guitar player myself, I count The Police’s Andy Summers as a personal guitar hero of my own (his classically trained background only).  Interesting enough, if you listen to all the Police records, you will notice one big detail, he never used straight distortion.  Instead, he used his own distinctive palette, which featured a barrage of effects pedals, which he used to create the sonic soundscapes contained within each police song.  To see what I mean, check this site out for a gander at his artillery: http://web.tiscalinet.it/andatta/effectspage.htm
RECOMMENDED: Zenyatta Mondatta (“Don’t Stand So Close to Me”, “When the World is Running Down”, “Driven to Tears”), Ghost in the Machine (“Secret Journey”, “Invisible Sun”, “Omegaman”), Synchronicity (“Synchronicity II”)

Angela’s #2 Musician of All Time
2. Green Day – Not only is Green Day one of my favorite bands since childhood, but I also rank them as a top artist (collectively) because of their consistency with delivering phenomenal live shows as well as their continuing growth musically.  Lots of bands from the 90’s never made it out of that decade. . . but Green Day did something not many bands can do to maintain longevity Evolve.  No, they don’t sound 100% like they did on Dookie, but why would I want them to?  I’ve grown up since then, and I’m glad they have been able to grow with me.  In their maturity, they haven’t been afraid to take risks and follow their music wherever it may take them. . and for that, I admire and respect their work beyond a regular fan.

Klone’s #2 Musician of All Time
2. Maynard James Keenan (1964 – ) – Born James Herbert Keenan, Maynard = Tool.  Tool = one of the most visionary rock bands of recent decades.  One could argue that Keenan is one of the many artists whose multifaceted talents place them in the same arena as icons like David Bowie and Frank Zappa, artists who clash with the mainstream by creating their own genre with the music they write, performances they conceive, and constantly reinvent themselves as an extension of their art.  Maynard is notably reclusive, making few public appearances other than at charity events, but his on-stage presence is one of confidence and experimentation.  This blatant lack of spotlight antics makes me feel like Keenan is even more of a true artist, concerned with creation first, and cash second.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_James_Keenan

 

#3…Top 5 Favorite Musicians of All Time May 5, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 6:31 PM
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TNT’s #3 Musician of All Time
3. Thelonious Monk – Oh Thelonious Monk, why do I love you so much?  Perhaps it’s your ability to always be different and create art with every note played?  Or maybe it’s because you are a founding father of bebop?  Could it be that you’re so addicting?  Once I hear “Ruby, My Dear” , “Straight, No Chaser”, or my all time favorite that got me hooked, “Blue Monk,”  you consume my auditory senses for hours.  I love you for all the reasons above and for the fact that you were never afraid to just be yourself.

Alex’s #3 Musician of All Time
3. John Frisciante and Flea of RHCP – Say what you want about Hillel’s replacement in the Red Hot Chili Peppers after Hillel’s untimely death, and his douchebaggery, but this dude is a genius with any stringed instrument.  Flea is tied with him because not only does he wail on bass, he rips it up with the trumpet…yes the trumpet, that was his first instrument.

Mark’s #3 Musician of All Time
3. Stewart Copeland – One of the greatest and most original drummers to ever grace the music scene.  His use of polyrhythms’ and insanely awkward time signatures helped to build drum patterns that were equal parts abrasive and eloquent, but never overbearing or out of place.  I have played myself to sleep merely trying to replicate his distinctive style.  He is now bringing his controlled chaos to film projects nationwide, and it couldn’t have made me more of a huge fan.  He is one of the reasons that drumming is one of my primary instruments.
RECOMMENDED: Regatta de Blanc (“Walking on the Moon” and “The Bed’s Too Big Without You”), Ghost in the Machine (“Spirits in the Material World”, “Secret Journey”, and “Omegaman”) Rumble Fish Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (“Don’t Box Me In” ft. Stan Ridgway)

Angela’s #3 Musician of All Time
3. Jack Terricloth (of the World/Inferno Friendship Society) – In all my years of going to shows, I have never seen a more charismatic front man.  As the lead singer of this punk rock orchestra, Jack has managed to take the class of NY, mix it in with the rough and rugged spit in your face attitude of punk, and bring it on stage to a cult of kids dedicated to wearing three-piece suits and waltzing at every show.  His command of an audience and ability to entertain never stops.  His vocals are on point and he always keeps the fans at attention.  You never feel like you are there watching a band, but rather when you go to a show, you feel like you and the band had made plans to meet and hang out.  Even the banter between sets never gets old, boring, or dry.  It’s always relevant and entertaining.  Few front men have the ability to ooze personality and charisma as much as Jack does.
(www.worldinferno.com)

Klone’s #3 Musician of All Time
3. David Bowie (1947 – ) – Born David Robert Jones, this iconic rocker inspired several generations of musicians in several musical genres, most immediately and notably the birth of glam rock with his androgyny laden alter-ego Ziggy Stardust.  With regular reinvention of his image and sound, one might take note of the tribute paid to Bowie in the HBO Series Flight of the Concords.  In the season one episode “Bowie”, main character Jermaine appeared as the various incarnations of David Bowie’s image, including The Goblin King from the 1986 film “Labyrinth”.  The man does everything from rocking to acting to directing, producing and all around knocking us on our asses with his sophistication.  One of my favorite quotes of all time is attributed to him, “Artists make culture, not the critic.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie