Nevermind The Posers

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# 4…Top 5 Favorite Songs of All Time February 23, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 1:05 PM

Klone’s #4 Song of All Time
4. “Wanted Dead Or Alive” by Bon Jovi (1986) – The loner anthem that has never stopped being relevant.  Since its release in the late 1980s, this song has been a cultural icon for all things bad ass.  This third single off of Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet (1986) reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1987, making Slippery When Wet the first hard rock album to have 3 top 10 hits on the list. The song also inspired the short-lived MTV show “Unplugged” after Jon Bon Jovi and lead guitarist Richie Sambora performed it acoustically at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards, giving the music loving public a taste for acoustic renditions of hard rock powerhouses.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanted_Dead_or_Alive_(Bon_Jovi_song)
http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1145

Tina’s #4 Song of All Time
4. “Comfortably Numb” by Pink Floyd – Every time I hear this song, I feel relaxed and calm, as if I was having an out-of-body experience.  I’m pretty sure Rodger Waters was not talking about drugs or sex when he wrote this song, but more of being in another state of mind, thinking in ways you’ve never imagined.  The line “Your lips move but I can’t hear what you’re saying” reminds me to slow down in life.

Dan’s #4 Song of All Time
4. “We’re Not Having Any Fun” by Lola Ray – I’ve listed this song on other Top 5 lists, but that’s because it’s one of my absolute favorites.  It really just needs to be heard, especially since Lola Ray is a relatively unknown band and hasn’t had any huge radio hits.

Mark’s #4 Song of All Time
4. “Photographic” (Some Bizarre Version) by Depeche Mode – This is a far superior promo single version of the song that would eventually be slowed down and sugared up for their 1981 debut album.  For me, it is a better early representaion of the darkwave synth-pop sound that DM would eventually return to and perfect with Violator in 1990.  This song makes me excited to listen to Depeche Mode.

Greg’s #4 Song of All Time
4. “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys were the first band that I loved.  I was in the 2nd grade and had to listen to them everyday.  Their simple innocence and sweet melodies, to me, personify childhood.  What better song then “Good Vibrations” to truly explore this theme – a song about feeling good.  It’s about a girl but the feeling behind it could be used for any childhood moment – good vibrations about a new toy, a new friend, or a new fort.  It’s fun-loving for the love of fun.

 

# 5…Top 5 Favorite Songs of All Time February 22, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 10:44 PM

Our first Top 5 countdown!  This was a difficult task that took much thinking and soul searching.  It’s safe to say you can look out for a second edition of this Top 5 list in the future.  Enjoy our #5 songs and check back tomorrow for what makes our #4 spots.  Tell us your #5 favorite song of all time!

Klone’s #5 Song of All Time
Disclaimer:  I composed this list with a caveat: I am of the opinion that as a fan of music, with extremely eclectic tastes, it is a near impossibility to parse my entire musical library down to 5 songs that define who I am as an aficionado of the art form.  I feel that any attempt to do so has somewhat misrepresented my musical tastes, either through unintentional omission or overlooking of different genres.  Therefore, I present this “Top 5 Songs of All Time” with the caveat that this list is of 5 of the most significant songs that come to mind when trying to compile the “All Time” list, and will forever be subject to change as time continues on into the future.

5. “Bat Out Of Hell” by Meatloaf (1977) – This song is simply amazing.  Composed by Jim Steinman, it propelled Meatloaf to the forefront of musical stardom, and proved beyond a doubt that fat guys can rock and get girls.  The song itself is an epic rock opera contained in a single track, and should be the soundtrack to the opening sequence of a movie, or the opening number of a stage production of the story chronicled in this song (and continued through the rest of the album of the same title, and the sequel album Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell (1993)).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bat_Out_of_Hell

Tina’s #5 Song of All Time
5. “T.N.T” by AC/DC – This song had to make the list, it is a personal anthem of mine.  My initials are TNT so I’ve confided in this song a bit.  When I hear it, I feel empowered, pumped up, and ready to explode!  This song screams rock n’ roll and the oi’s are fist raising, really bringing the whole song together.  The only line I can argue is the “so lock up your daughter and lock up your wife” , since I don’t swing that way, other than that, “T.N.T” is a solid choice for my 5th spot on the Top 5 songs of all time.

Dan’s #5 Song of All Time
5. “The Church of Hot Addiction” by Cobra Starship – After three CDs, “The Church of Hot Addiction” is still my favorite Cobra Starship song.  There’s something about the driving guitar chords and scream-able chorus – “Hey, hey, hey! My light is electric, yeah!” – that makes my finger hit the back button every time the song ends.

Mark’s #5 Song of All Time
5. “Metal” by Gary Numan – A cold, chilly, robotic, darkwave synth-pop song that really solidified my love for the genre.  It helps to remind me that in the realm of music, no matter what, simplicity is the best and most effective way of expression.

Greg’s #5 Song of All Time
5. “Lucky” by Britney Spears – I know that Britney Spears has no place on lists of best music but I love this song, and consequently Britney.  This song takes me back to a time when there was something missing in my life that I just couldn’t quite put my finger on.  I identified with it, and her.  It is also kind of a predication of what was to come.  Maybe this was more of a cry for help then anyone at the time knew.

 

Rolling Blown: The Demise of Rolling Stone as a Definitive Music Journal February 17, 2010

Filed under: Rants,Too Cool for a Category — NVMP @ 5:02 AM
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By Alexander Castiglione, aka Stigz

Anybody that has a subscription to Rolling Stone probably knows where I’m going with this.  For those of you that don’t get the music journal in the mail; bear with me.

Over the past few months, I’ve noticed something going on with Rolling Stone.  Specifically, who was on the cover.  The particulars are as follows: I have seen, in recent memory, a half-dozen covers which made me stop in my steps.  Especially since this is the same magazine that used to have legends like Jimi and Robert Plant on the cover, and even more obscure up and coming acts which we all know and love.  However, Lil Wayne, like this past week’s cover, is not a person I would say is contributing to rock.
Or music.
Or the planet, for that matter.

In fact, he makes the top five for people we should euthanize, slightly behind Carson Daly and Ryan Stop-Fuckin’-Smiling Seacrest.  Of late, we have also seen beauties like Megan Fox, absolutely delicious.  Or Shakira – who should permanently jack Kit Kat’s catch phrase, “Break me off a piece,” and have it forever floating over her head holographicaly.  Somebody should call Steve Jobs about this.  And it makes a whole lot more sense than the I-Pad.  But I digress.

Even John Mayer, who regardless of your take on him/his music/his fans, is a legit musician.  Mayer uses his Strat to slay a dragon with some serious riffs, and still breaks it down jazz style to have panties dropping from here to Japan.  Say what you will about him, or this new “Sex Object” PR approach his people are spinning, but this dude can wail.  In short, he earned a cover.

Then we have, which to be honest I thought it was the cover of an AARP catalog, the November 29th 2009 issue of Rolling Stone with Bono, Mick Jagger, and Bruce Springsteen on the cover.  Yes, I know it was regarding the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Yes, I know it was a big deal.  And yes, now I know that two of the three are well acquainted with the good products from the great people at Pfizer.  But is this what Rolling Stone is about?

This magazine, of which I am a devout reader, has had some of the best pieces in not only music journalism, but journalism in general.  They all were about rock in some capacity.  Movies, music, cars whatever, they all related to the “Rock & Roll lifestyle.”  About this elusive and enchanting counterculture filled with good times, loud tunes, tattoos and smoking hot women, which has rocked this country for the last half century.  Yes, sex symbols make sense.  Yes, geriatric rockers make sense (however un-photogenic).  But Lil’ Wayne?  Come on!

Lil Wayne (whose name in itself makes me want to climb a clock tower) is in my book right under Kanye West.  The title of the book?  Douchebags Who Have Contributed Nothing to Music.

Being an aficionado of all music, whether it’s classic rock, metal, post-hardcore or electronic dance music, I can be safe in saying that Lil Wayne and Kanye (and anybody functioning under their paradigm of sampling and using sound effects to no avail and calling it “original”) are the bane of the music industry, and do not deserve the cover of Rolling Stone.  Vibe, yes.  Jet, Ok.  But Rolling Stone – never.
Ever.
Period.

Rock, which is what Rolling Stone should be about, is about sticking it to the man (yea, I stole the Jack Black line from School Of Rock), about finding your voice and screaming it out to the world, about displaying yourself and breaking it down by lyrically tearing apart this random series of tragedies, accidents, joys, hates, failures, and triumphs we call life.  Not about bling, not about retarded Bentley tattoos, and not about who wins the most Grammy’s, but about who actually earns them.  And even Grammy’s lost their appeal, as they have slowly but surely become the music industries equivalent of a high school popularity poll.

The naysayers of this article will say, “Well, it’s pop culture, and that’s kind of what Rolling Stone reports on. Trends in music and stuff…”  Well fuck that.  And fuck pop culture.  Since when did Rock & Roll, or any music for that matter, become about “what’s popular.”

Music is about what moves you.  Music is about what inspires you.  Music is what soothes your savage beast – or uncages it.  Music is what connects us with everyone, everywhere, for all time.  Music is about vibing with the tonal creations of another human being.  Music, good music, is not pop culture.
Pop culture is the enemy.

PS Rolling Stone, please, please, I beg you, stop harboring the adversaries of musicality.

 

Top 5 Songs That Give You Chills February 15, 2010

Filed under: Can You Believe This?! — NVMP @ 7:34 PM

This week NVMP presents the Top 5 Songs That Give You Chills.  Tina and I discussed this Top 5 a bit because it’s a little ambiguous.  Why would a song give you chills?  Because you love it?  Because you hate it?  Because it brings up a memory you tried to bury at the back of your mind?  Is the song creepy?  Is there a lyric that gets under your skin?  Does the song evoke a certain emotion that makes you shake?  We wanted to see what our writers would come up, so without further ado, NVMP presents the Top 5 Songs That Give You the Chills!

Tina’s Top 5:
5. “Send Down Your Angels” by Raining and Ok – This band is unsigned from Arizona, but the music and lyrics to this song could put me in a coma, listen in!
4. “Two Beds And A Coffee Machine” by Savage Garden – This is not a scenario that would ever happen to me, but it’s still chilling.
3. “Soul Shine” by The Allman Brothers Band – The opening guitar riff alone gives me chills, or maybe that’s just Greg Allman’s voice.
2. “Bouncing Ball” by HoneyHoney – If you haven’t heard the band HoneyHoney yet, drop everything and check them out.  Both creepy and love chills here.
1. “Seven Years” by Norah Jones – I relate so much to this song, feel like it was written just for me, so all of the above kind of chills for this one.

Dan’s Top 5:
5. “With Every Heartbeat (Acoustic)” by Robyn – Robyn sings as though she’s about to burst into tears, and the piano accompaniment is simply haunting.
4. “Oh My God” by Ida Maria – I get goosebumps when she starts screaming “Oh my God” at the end of the song.
3. “Make You Feel My Love” by ADELE – ADELE’s voice is like a cup of tea with honey and a warm blanket on a rainy day.
2. “We’re Not Having Any Fun” by Lola Ray – A bittersweet song that needs to be heard.  John Balicanta’s voice is panty-dampening.
1. “Biko” by Bloc Party – “Biko” tells the story of a loved one who died of cancer.  Not only is the subject heartbreaking, singer Kele Okereke’s melancholy plea to “toughen up” makes me shake.  The song is deeply intimate, expressing a sense of helplessness that permeates every chord and drumbeat.

Honorable Mentions: “Sanctuary” by Utada Hikaru, “Somewhere Only We Know” by Keane

Angela’s Top 5:
5. “Straight Lines” by Silverchair
4. “Breathe Me” by Sia
3. “You Never Know” by Immortal Technique
2. “Agony In Her Body” by Sage Francis
1. “Lose Yourself” by Eminem

Mark’s Top 5:
5. “Flaming June” by BT – The brilliance moves me every time, as every emotion you can feel is musically struck with each stutter edit and note played.
4. “Activity” by Way Out West – The chills prepare me for the trip down memory lane that this song causes.
3. “Theme from Star Trek: The Next Generation” by Dennis McCarthy – Still excites me to hear after all of these years.  Calling all geeks.
2. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode – I don’t know whether it is the pangs of sadness or the chills of isolation that get me.
1. “Foreplay/Long Time” by Boston – It was the first rock song that I remember hearing, and 20 years on, it still sends a shiver of excitement up my spine.

Greg’s Top 5:
5. “Christmas Shoes” by Bob Carlisle – When it’s Christmas time I have to change this song if it comes on the radio, or else I begin to cry like baby.
4. “Revelry” by Kings of Leon – I love this song; it almost makes like a smokey room filled with lost souls, all dreaming in revelry.
3. “For Good” from Wicked: Original Broadway Cast Recording – The last song before the finale, it’s about two people who came into each others lives and changed them for good, for the better.
2. “Until the Day I Die” by Story of the Year – “You remind me of a time when I knew who I was, but still the second hand will catch us like it always does.”  Time passes, life changes, friends are forever.
1. “Let It Be” by The Beatles – This is one my favorite Beatles songs.  Whenever I hear it I instantly get chills.  “And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me speaking words of wisdom, Let it be.”

Klone’s Top 5:
5. “Love Is On The Way” by Saigon Kick – A late 80s love song by a band that has existed almost completely in obscurity, despite a moment of popularity on MTV.  The track may be cheesy, but in a decadent and beautiful way that makes one stop and shiver.
4. “Bab O’Riley (Live)” by Blue Man Group – A cover of a legendary track from The Who, the Blue Man Group rendition challenges all the conventions of typical live performance.  The iconic introduction is performed utilizing the BMG’s signature PVC Pipe-instrument back-packs, and a grand piano tilted on its side and struck with a gargantuan mallet to recreate the rhythm guitar progression.  Amazing when seen on video, and I can only imagine it to be MIND BLOWING live…Mind blowing and chilling.
3. “Hero of the Day” by Metallica – This track off of the 1996 album Load, was among the first series of tracks that let us know the ‘tallica boys had grown up a little since The Black Album.  I will never forget listening to the new disc in a friend’s car on the day it was released, and being the only one who was instantly in love with “Hero of the Day”.  I had goosebumps.
2. “Eulogy” by Tool – This haunting lament to a lost loved one inspires visions of a dark and dreary existence, where the twisted forms from Tool’s videos romp and play, and occasionally gather to remember someone who “had a lot to say.  He had a lot of nothing to say, we’ll miss him.”
1. “Down In The Park” by Foo Fighters – Originally by legendary “Cars” crooner Gary Numan, this updated 90s cover for the musical collection Songs In The Key of X: Music From and Inspired By The X-Files, gave the song more presence and body than the original 80s rendition, entrenching the tune in an eerie shadow of dark mystery and sci-fi intrigue.  I will always remember the blizzard during my senior year of high school, and driving through it to this track as my soundtrack.  Chilling.

Stigz’s Top 5:
5. “Walking Dead” by Linkin Park – If a bad acid trip had a soundtrack, this would be it.
4. “Like Moths To Flame” by Thrice – Although it’s off of Vheissu, of which I am not the biggest fan, this track definitely rocks in a creep-tastic way.
3. “Paint It Black” by The Rolling Stones – …Nuff said.
2. “Umbabaruma” by Soulfly – Tribal chants in ancient tongues…always a creepfest.
1. “Time” by Pink Floyd – …Random alarm clocks ringing…sick shit.

 

Scorpions Call It Quits At 50 February 10, 2010

Filed under: Can You Believe This?! — NVMP @ 3:05 AM
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By Klone

Is it just me, or do you hear an all-to-familiar whistling on the wind?  Are those the “Wind of Change” I hear blowing, or is it just the arctic blast making my eardrums ring with icicles?  Nope…it was the news that long-time rock icons Scorpions are throwing in the towel.  Is that chill a sudden sadness?  Or could it be the fact that, uh, well…I kinda thought that happened already.  Okay, assumed is probably a better word, but doesn’t news like this kinda serve more to remind us that these guys existed at all, let alone are breaking up?  Maybe I’m just out of touch.

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to sound harsh.  Who can really say they haven’t done a non-Jersey Shore-guido fist-pump, or banged their head to “Rock You Like A Hurricane”?  I’d be lying if I said I haven’t.  Who can really say they haven’t raised a lighter at a party when “Wind of Change” comes up in rotation at the end of the night?  Hey, I’ve been that guy.  Great songs are great songs, no matter when they were written or when they were popular.  Some things just can’t be denied no matter how hard you try.  That said, I don’t think I’ve heard anything from them since 1980-something.  Now, if I were a resident of Germany, perhaps the case would be different.  I certainly hope that some of our German readers would fill us in on some of the accomplishments this five-decade rock blitzkrieg has been amassing since our last early-90s keggers.  I feel it more than appropriate to get that, “Oh yeah, those guys?” reaction when hearing the news of their retirement.

Fear not though, true believers.  For the rest of you out there who are finding your Scorpions thirst still requires quenching, the band that was founded in 1965 by guitarist Rudolf Schenker, now 61, will not being going quietly into that good night.  They will rage against the dying of the light with a farewell world tour in support of their farewell album Sting In The Tail, due out on March 19th.  The tour will kick off in Prague on March 15th, and spend the next few years making its way around the globe.  So, keep your ears to the digital airwaves and make sure to keep checking in with your friends here at NVMP for the latest news about when Scorpions come stateside.  It’ll be your last chance to catch Klaus Meine, Matthias Jabs, Rudolf Schenker, Pawel Maciwoda and James Kottak, the current and final line-up.

“Taaaaake me…to the magic of the moment/On a gloooooory night/Where the children of tomorrow dream away/In the wind of change”

Related Articles:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8478359.stm

 

Who dat? February 9, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews — NVMP @ 11:27 PM
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Quick Thoughts by Gregory Swindasz

Did you see that stage at the Super Bowl?  It was amazing; the whole thing was a display screen.  And those fire works!  The half-time show looked so great, truly stunning. But who was on that great amazing stage?

Oh that’s right The Who; who dat?
Dat who, The Who.

In all seriousness, legendary band The Who took the Super Bowl half-time stage this year, and while the stage itself has never looked better, the performance was a little lacking.  And there’s much to say about this stage.  Once occupied with the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” of Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake.  Or how about the Rolling Stones or Paul McCartney.  Yes, the Super Bowl half-time stage has hosted some amazing legends in its time.

It’s truly a shame that today all I can remember or think about is the stage.  The Who’s performance was not up to par.  They sounded tired and winded at times.  I did like that they went through their best songs including “Baba O’Riley” and “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”  It really wasn’t an amazing performance.  At least it was an amazing stage.

 

Top 5 Love Songs February 8, 2010

Filed under: Manic Monday Top 5 — NVMP @ 9:45 PM

Love can be a lot of things. It can be blind or a battlefield; it can be a mystery or a riddle; you can fall in or out love.  Love is also great fodder for songs, whether it’s new or old love, a make-up or a break-up.  Last week NVMP covered our favorite songs for the scorned lover, but this week we tackle our favorite love songs.

Editor’s Note: I’ve been on vacation the past week with my boyfriend in Georgia. He’ll be contributing his love songs picks to NVMP’s Top 5 this week!
– Dan

Tina’s Top 5:
5. “1,000 Miles Per Hour” by OkGo – This song is beautiful; it’s about two people running away together from all of their problems.
4. “Until The Day I Die” by Story of the Year
3. “I Will” by The Beatles – “Love you forever and forever/love you with all my heart/love you whenever we’re together/love you when we’re apart.” Perfect.
2. “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden – I deemed this my wedding song when I was 12 years old.  Beautiful, melts my heart every time I hear it.
1. “I’ll Catch You” by The Get Up Kids – One of those songs that can bring me to tears with only the first chord.  If my soul-mate hated this song, I’d be forced to say ‘hit the road Jack’.

Honorable mentions: “Fidelity” by Regina Spektor, “Two of Us” by The Beatles, “All I Want Is You” by Barry Louis Polisar, “Movie Loves A Screen” by April Smith and the Great Picture Show

Dan’s Top 5:
5. “Sanctuary” by Utada Hikaru
4. “Hard to Concentrate” by Red Hot Chili Peppers – This song sounds like someone’s wedding vows.
3. “The Real Thing” by Gwen Stefani – A light pop diddy about love.
2. “Out of Control (State of Emotion)” by Kenna – From the lyrics to the driving beats, this song wraps up all the confusion, joy, anxiety and happiness that comes with love and puts it in an upbeat little package.  It’s about being completely and unabashedly in love.
1. “Stricken” by No Doubt – It’s a simple, sweet song about being stricken by love.

Honorable Mention: “Drive You Home” by Garbage, “Right Back Where We Started From” by Maxine Nightengale, “Wishbone” by Architecture in Helsinki

D.J.’s Top 5:
5. “Who’s Gonna Love You” by The Pussycat Dolls
4.  “I Did It For Love” by BOA
3.  “Meet Me Halfway” by Black Eyed Peas
2. “Piece of Your Heart” by Natasha Bedingfield
1. “Make You Feel My Love” by ADELE

Stigz’s Top 5:
5. “How’s It Gonna Be” by Third Eye Blind – An extremely sappy and old school track, this definitely gets at the angst, uncertainty, and emotional torrent that we call love.
4. “You Are My Everything” by Mary J. Blige – I’m not exactly a fan of R&B or hip hop per say, but an ex-girlfriend turned me on to this song, and it definitely evokes the St. Valentine’s Spirit.
3. “Water Runs Dry” by Boyz II Men – Anybody that’s been to a middle school dance knows this one, and if you listen to it when you get older, it definitely takes on a new life and meaning once you get past the fact you’re listening to Boyz II Men.
2. “Take Me Away” by 4 Strings – A classic dance track that, whether you’re intoxicated or not, makes you feel at home and safe in your own skin.  If you haven’t heard it, check it out.
1. “Monkey Knife Fight” by Minus the Bear – This track absolutely and completely paints a picture, a portrait, of a love affair.  Not using cliché lyrics and over the top hyperbole, this song delves into the smaller things, specifically the lines, “Windows down wide/all the city lights just blur/my eyes on the lights her head on my shoulder,” which delineates the connection between two people without the bells and whistles of cliché ballads we all too often hear.

Dave’s Top 5:
5. “Truly, Madly, Deeply” by Savage Garden – A guilty pleasure to say the least, Savage Garden solidified their status as a mushy, relationship band with this track.
4. “Always” by Bon Jovi – Sometimes Jersey boys say it best.
3. “Angel” by Aerosmith – A classic the moment it was written, this song is definitely responsible for a few “surprise” love-children.
2. “Love Is On The Way” by Saigon Kick – Cheesy…80s…Decadent.
1. “For Cryin’ Out Loud” by Meatloaf – Epic and bold, the way love anthems were meant to be.

Caroline’s Top 5:
5. “My Best Girl” by Lucero
4. “Wildflowers” by Tom Petty
3. “Everlong” (Acoustic) by Foo Fighters
2. “Beyond The Sea” by Bobby Darin
1. “All I Want Is You” by U2

Greg’s Top 5:
5. “From This Moment” by Shania Twain – The moment of saying “I do” that forever connects you to your beloved.  How cute.
4. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston – I will always love you, ‘nuff said.
3. “I’m Already There” by Lonestar – I don’t like country, the music, the artists, the message, but when I heard this song for the first time, I fell in love with it.  It was 9/13/01 and some news program was showing a montage of fathers who had died in the WTC.  The idea of the person you love being gone but still there as “the moonlight on your hair” still makes me choke up.
2. “I Will Follow You Into The Dark” by Death Cab For Cutie – This song is so touching –  I have always wanted someone to say to me that they would follow me into the dark.
1. “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles – I believe this to be one of the best love songs ever.  It’s about young love, when holding hands is best thing in the world.  Isn’t that what we all want, just someone to hold our hand?

Angela’s Top 5:
5. “You’re My First, My Last, My Everything” by Barry White
4. “Down on Bended Knee” by Boyz II Men
3. “I Swear” by All 4 One
2. “And I Love Her” by The Beatles
1. “You Are So Beautiful” by Joe Cocker – It’s my parents’ wedding song.  I had to.

Mark’s Top 5:
 5. “Pictures of You” by The Cure – Do I really have to explain why it is such a great, agonizing love song?

4. “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel – The realization of love.  Who hasn’t cried just a little when hearing this song?  I sure haven’t… ahem.
3. “Limits of our Love” by Charlotte Martin – Taking risks and shouldering each other’s problems; do what you can to make something that feels right work.
2. “Lucky Cloud” by Arthur Russell – A sweet and simple Cello led tune.  Who hasn’t gone overboard from one kiss?
1. “Enjoy the Silence” by Depeche Mode – The absolute king of the gloomy love song.  Eerily accurate.

 

2010 Grammys- Taylor Swift’s Day or Mayday February 5, 2010

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Rants — NVMP @ 8:06 PM
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By Gregory Swindasz

So the Grammys are all said and done, but the dust storm known as Taylor Swift has not yet settled.  Taking home the most honored award in the music industry has not helped the doe-eyed country phenomena, in fact, it seems to have only hurt her future.  As we all know, after the Kayne West MTV VMA embarrassment, Swift was on top of her game.  Even Obama called West a “jackass”.  We all felt bad for the cute young sacran-sweet blond from Tennessee.  Her teenage ballads remind us of a time when we were young and hopeful for our fairytale ending (“Love Story”) or of the vulnerable times of young lives (“Fifteen”), but no one, at least of those who I have spoken to, thought she deserved what she got – either at the VMAs or the Grammys.

With contenders like “I Am…Sasha Fierce” (Beyoncé) and “The Fame” (Lady Gaga), Swift’s “Fearless” did not seem to compare for Album of the Year.  As cute as the songs are, this was not game changing music that would go down in the anthems of American music history.  Songs like “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” or “Poker Face” had a bigger impact on the music world then “Fifteen”.

This is only one piece of the puzzle.  Her performance at the Grammy Awards (and really at any other live on-air performance) was less than stellar.  So much so it prompted CEO of Big Machine Records, Scott Borchetta, to say to the Associated Press: “This is not `American Idol.’  This is not a competition of getting up and seeing who can sing the highest note.  This is about a true artist and writer and communicator.  It’s not about that technically perfect performance.”  When the CEO of your record label has to compare the Grammys to American Idol to defend your seemingly undeserved victory, something is off, and it’s not just her pitch.

There is something off here.  Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Green Day and so many others gave perfect and amazing performances.  Beyoncé whipping her hair around as she bounced up and down on her knees, Gaga singing with Sir Elton John, or even the triumphant claim by Will.i.am at the end of the Black Eyed Peas performance “Welcome to the future” is what the Grammys are all about.  I’m sorry Taylor, if you’re going to win Album of the Year, at least sing on key.

There could have been something else here.  I remember hearing a few months ago that Swift was what the young people wanted, so the music industry was going to give it to them.  If giving Swift this highest of honors was in some way a shot at reclaiming sales lost to piracy, then that truly is the furthest thing from honorable.  Personally, I don’t believe that’s true.  We will all just have to watch and see how things go.  There is something off here, maybe it is just her pitch or maybe we will never know.

 

The 52nd Annual Grammys…A Fresh Perspective on a Time Honored Tradition

Filed under: Concert Reviews,Rants — NVMP @ 6:46 PM
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By Angela Blasi

So this year was my first time actually sitting down and watching “The biggest night in music”.  I have to say I’ve heard a lot of hype about the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, along with shameless name dropping that made me want to tune in.

Kicking off the show was the amazingly talented Lady Gaga performing her hit “Poker Face”.  I’m a huge Lady Gaga fan, I have no idea why, but I like her more and more every single time I see her.  This evening only helped strengthen my obsession and respect for her as an artist.  When the twin pianos, adorned with mannequin arms stretched towards the ceiling, rolled down stage to reveal both Lady Gaga AND Sir Elton John, done up in dirty futuristic fashion only the two of them could pull off flawlessly, the precedent for the evening had been set.  More-so, being able to hear her live vocals as well as watching her play piano, I was truly able to gain more insight to her as a talented musician and song writer.  It was a stellar performance in which the legends of the music industry passed the torch to its brightest and most talented.  And I must note, Lady Gaga rarely took her eyes off Sir Elton John.  I can’t blame her.  To be that young with all her success and already sharing a stage with nothing less than a musical god, I wouldn’t tear my eyes away either.

I could highlight each performance, but with three hours worth of material to cover and my penchant for detail, we could be here awhile.  So, I will talk about what stuck out most for me.  First off, Green Day’s performance of “21 Guns” off their latest album 21st Century Breakdown with the upcoming Broadway musical ensemble providing harmonies and vocals.  This brought the music of Green Day to a level I could have never thought possible.  Now, please understand, I’ve been a devout fan of this trio for the last 16 years of my life.  To wrap my mind around the fact that I’ve grown up listening to Green Day is phenomenal.  Say whatever you want about the band or their music,  they have become a solid punk rock legend in the world of music, in addition to winning another Grammy later in the night.  They have never disappointed me with any live show and their performance this evening solidifies their place as truly talented artists that had the power and longevity to change the face of the music industry forever.  Oh, and you can bet I’m going to buy a ticket to the Broadway show ASAP.

Taylor Swift is another name worth talking about.  I’m not necessarily a country music fan or a Taylor Swift fan, but the girl is definitely a rising star.  I think what I love most about her is just how genuine she is about all her recent fame.  Maybe it’s because she’s just so young or the country background, but she maintains a graciousness and sense of reality often lacking in many young success stories.  Her acceptance speech in which she says she’s accepting an impossible dream was brief, but eloquently stated.  I’m not about to buy a ticket to her show or even her album, but I can’t deny that the girl is actually talented.  Not to mention her performance along side Stevie Nicks was fantastic.  Go Taylor Swift.  I think she deserves her success and I hope she achieves great things in her career.

Now, when Beyoncé broke down “If I Were A Boy” and suddenly started singing Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know”, I couldn’t help but be disappointed.  Not by Beyoncé’s performance, but at the fact that Alanis herself didn’t pop out from behind a curtain somewhere to join in on the vocals.  It wasn’t bad, but the 90’s kid in me really wanted to see that.  Personally would have loved the hell out of it, but I think she did the song well and it flowed seamlessly in and out from her own music into Alanis’s smash hit.

I had to laugh at the brief moment when the Grammy director fell asleep and let Justin Bieber and Ke$ha take the stage together to remind the audience they could vote for the song Bon Jovi would be performing later in the evening.  Standing, or rather staggering, a good three feet above Justin Bieber, Ke$ha stood in all her white trash “you’s nothin’ but a ho” glory.  And Bieber, well, he managed to say “Beyoncé'” instead of “Bon Jovi”, stating that “Beyoncé is always on his mind…sorry Jay”.  If I was Jay-Z, I would have smacked the kid upside his head just because he’s a tool (really no other reason).  Up until that moment, I had the running thought of “wow, these are some seriously talented artists and it’s great to see some of the music industry’s most powerful voices and artists in one place”.  As a musician, it’s inspiring to see.  But then these two took the stage and I thought “wait…what the fuck are they doing at the Grammys…they sure as hell don’t belong here”.  At least it wasn’t more than 60 seconds.

So it’s 10:30pm now and a lot has happened over the course of the evening.  I feel as though I’ve gotten my fix with the things I wanted to see.  The rest of the night is pretty damn good, from Bon Jovi to the Michael Jackson tribute.  The Zac Brown Band was amazing and worth mentioning too.  I loved their harmonies, vocals and the level of musicianship alongside another legendary country artist Leon Russell.  This performance was nothing less than impressive and moving.  You know what?  That brings me to the main thing I’ve noticed over the course of the evening.  All night it was a beautiful blend of old and new.  The artists that have carved their place in music history forever seamlessly integrated with the very voices and faces they single-handedly inspired.  I think the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards illustrated just how far music has come, where it’s going, and the fact that everything new grows out of something old.  Without our musical forefathers to break ground for all that is subversive, non conformist, controversial, trendy, or done to pay homage to the true beauty of being passionate about the music, we wouldn’t have new artists to award and milestones to celebrate.

They just better not give Ke$ha a fucking Grammy next year.