One of My FIRST LOVES

I know that's weird to say, seeing as I was 5 years old, but I had a MEGA CRUSH on Phil Collins, so for my sixty-third pick, here he is.

Artist - Phil Collins
Album - No Jacket Required
Released - 1985
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Pop, Rock


Tracks:
Side One
Sussudio
Only You Know and I Know
Long Long Way To Go
I Don't Wanna Know
One More Night
Side Two
Don't Lose My Number
Who Said I Would
Doesn't Anybody Stay Together Anymore
Inside Out
Take Me Home

Yes, I know, this is a change up for sure, but I can't help to think as I look through my records for another pick that I loved Phil Collins when I was a kid.  This album came out in 1985 and I was 5 years old and I remember seeing him and thinking, WOW, I want to marry him.  Little did I know what the reality of that was and I think that is when I first fell in love with music (and musicians).

No Jacket Required is Phil Collins' third solo record from his previous band Genesis.  The name of this album came from a restaurant in Chicago that did not allow Phil Collins to enter without a jacket, the dress code requirements, and he was having dinner with none other than ROBERT PLANT.  It amazes me how, while listening to this record, I can almost think about watching One More Night on MTV.  One of my favorite songs, but at the time the music was more important to me than the lyrics.  I had no clue what these songs meant, but I know with the sound of his voice, I was instantly in love.  Other notable tracks on this record are Sussudio and Don't Lose My Number.  I also love the fact that the sleeve of this record has Phil Collins in a suit with sneakers.  Ahhhh, yes, now I know why I have so much admiration for this man.

Enjoy!

Back to Back, Part II

Double duty is always fun, especially on days where I just feel like listening to records.  That day is TODAY and this is my sixty-second pick.

Artist - The Kinks
Album - Kinks Greatest Hits
Released - 1966
Label - Reprise
Genre - Rock


Tracks:
Side One
A Well Respected Man
Where Have All The Good Times Gone
Till The End of The Day
Set Me Free
Tired of Waiting for You
Side Two
All Day and All of the Night
I Gotta Move
Lola
Wait Till the Summer Comes Along
You Really Got Me

This is the first compilation album released in the US by The Kinks, who are a British rock group.  Do you think it's fair to name your favorite songs on a Greatest Hits album since the whole meaning of a Greatest Hits album is to list ALL THE HITS?  Well I definitely love A Well Respected Man, Tired of Waiting For You, All Day and All of the Night and Lola.  Great songs by a great group of guys and not to just mention this Greatest Hits album, their other records are pretty outstanding, to say the least.  A group that started in 1964, they were categorized in the whole British Invasion genre along with the other greats, like The Beatles and the other notable British rock/pop groups.  It amazes me how today, most of these songs are in movies, such as Well Respected Man which is featured in Juno.  I do appreciate great music composers that are in charge of putting music in movies to not just stay with that is out today, but to dig deep for a good song from back when I wasn't even alive.

Enjoy!

Back to Back, Part I

What a hot day!!  Well I guess I can't complain because it was in the high 90's instead of the low 100's, so I'll take that over 109 ANY DAY!  So for my sixty-first pick, I picked a man who will grace us with his presence in October for Austin City Limits Music Festival.

Artist - Neil Young

Album - Comes A Time

Released - 1978

Label - Reprise

Genre - Country Rock, Rock, Folk Rock

Tracks:

Side One

Goin' Back

Comes A Time

Look Out For My Love

Lotta Love

Peace of Mind

Side Two

Human Highway

Already One

Field of Opportunity

Motorcycle Mama

Four Strong Words

Neil Young's ninth album, Comes A Time is a soft and subtle record with stripped down songs.  Just him and his acoustic guitar and his voice.  I'd like to think that Neil Young speaks to me in his songs, since I feel I am a hopeless romantic in a sense, but to be honest, I just love the sound of his voice.  Him as a person is another story, but his music makes me feel good.  Comes A Time and Look Out For My Love are two of my favorites on this album along with the other remaining songs.  No matter how I see him, I know I can just close my eyes, relax my mind and listen to him sing, it puts me in a trance.

Enjoy!

Hot Stuff

To a lovely lady that makes me want to dance.  Here is to you, my SIXTIETH pick.

Artist - Donna Summer
Album - Walk Away - Collector's Edition - The Best of 1977-1980
Released - 1980
Label - Casablanca
Genre - Pop, Electronic, Disco, Dance-Pop


Tracks:
Bad Girls
Hot Stuff
I Feel Love
Last Dance
Mac Arthur Park
On The Radio
Our Love
Sunset People
Walk Away

Talk about a record with the greatest hits.  Donna Summer is the Queen of Disco and Dance and when you hear this record you really can't help but dance.  This record was put out by Casablanca Records, since she had most of her hits on that label.  Seeing that it came out in 1980, the best year ever (my birth year), these tracks are from 1977 through 1980.  As I stepped away from my desk for a moment to get some water, I couldn't help but dance my way back to my seat.  Yes, I occasionally do that, dance when the timing is right, but that's just me.  I like to do whatever I want to do and if it's dancing in my room, then yeah, I will do it.  This album is so great and with songs like Bad Girls, Hot Stuff, Last Dance and On The Radio, you will know why.  Sadly enough, Donna Summer died this past May and as I heard the news, I immediately asked Kevin if he had any of her records.  He told me no at that time, but I ended up finding one.

Enjoy!

Doubling Up Part II

Back to back posts, you should be so lucky -- just kidding.  For my fifty-ninth pick.

Artist - The James Gang
Album - Yer' Album
Released - 1969
Label - Bluesway/ABC
Genre - Rock, Hard Rock


Tracks
Side I
Introduction
Take A Look Around
Funk #48
Bluebird
Lost Woman
Side II
Stone Rap
Collage
I Don't Have The Time
WrapCity in English
Fred
Stop

After listening to this album, I think the best thing about it is that when side I ends, there is a loop that says "Turn Me Over" and on side II it says "Play Me Again."  When I first heard that, I laughed.

This is the first album by The James Gang and their second debut on my blog.  I just had to put them on again because not only do I like The James Gang, but I bought this record while I was in South Florida and it was in the DOLLAR BIN.  Sometimes I feel like people don't recognize the greatness of an artist, let alone a record, but to find this album, it was a MUST BUY for me and I'm very happy with my purchase.  Plus I absolutely love Funk #48, Lost Woman, and I Don't Have The Time. I almost forgot an absolute favorite of mine, which is Fred.  Something about the sound of the voice and guitar with the light drums and bass.  EARGASM!!! I do think I have an old soul because I LOVE music from the 60's/70's.  I can't help it.

Enjoy!

Doubling Up Part 1

Today is the day I double up on my vinyl record post, since I haven't posted in a while due to my travels, but I want to make sure I get caught up.  So here is to my fifty-eighth pick!

Artist - Black Sabbath
Album - Paranoid
Released - 1970
Label - Vertigo
Genre - Heavy Metal


Tracks:
Side One
War Pigs
Paranoid
Planet Caravan
Iron Man
Side Two
Electric Funeral
Hand of Doom
Rat Salad
Fairies Wear Boots

The greatest are back on my list.  A young Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi shredding on guitar, Terry "Geezer" Butler and Bill Ward on drums present you with Paranoid, the second studio album by Black Sabbath.  It was said that the original title of this album was to be War Pigs, but the big wigs made him change it to Paranoid in fear of backlash of the Vietnam War.  All in all, this album is well put together and it also produced some amazing tracks such as War Pigs and Iron Man.  Definitely a record to have in your collection and listen to every so often, but the funny thing is as I post my second Black Sabbath record on this blog, I've been listening to them a lot more.  Funny how that works.  It's like almost a trigger in my mind that I have to listen to it and when I do it just makes me happy.  There are not too many albums/artists I can say that about, but Black Sabbath definitely is one of them.

Enjoy!

I'm BACK

As I have been out of commission these past few days, I've been slowly dying simply for the fact that I could not post my vinyl records on this blog.  My vacation is now over and I am back in full force and nothing would make it better than displaying my fifty-seventh pick.

Artist - John Coltrane

Album - The Gentle Side of John Coltrane

Released - 1975

Label - ABC Records

Genre - Jazz

Tracks:

Side A

Soul Eyes (Recorded June 19, 1962)

What's New (Recorded September 18, 1962)

Welcome (Recorded June 10, 1965)

Nancy (Recorded September 18, 1962)

Side B

My Little Brown Book (Recorded September 26, 1962)

Lush Life (Recorded March 7, 1963)

Wise One (Recorded April 27, 1964)

Side C

Alabama (Recorded November 18, 1963)

My One and Only Love (Recorded March 7, 1963)

I Want to Talk About You (Recorded October 8, 1963)

Dear Lord (Recorded May 26, 1965)

Side D

After the Rain (Recorded April 29, 1963)

In a Sentimental Mood (Recorded September 26, 1962)

The Spiritual (Recorded November 5, 1961

Nothing makes me happier than listening to jazz on a day like today.  My first day back to work and I am all kinds of tired.  All day I thought about what I would put on to get me back on track and this was it.  John Coltrane knows how to make me feel relaxed, especially on a day like today.  His sound, his musical talent is just beyond words and with this record, you sense it.  The title tracks alone make you fall in love with what would be heaven upon the ears.  I have a special fascination with jazz, soul or any kind of soft instrumental music.  I like to play it while I eat, while I read, while I cook and definitely while I am relaxing.  

Enjoy!

Vacation

Since Friday, June 15th, I have been in sunny/rainy South Florida on vacation.  I can't help but write in here and explain to my many readers (year right) how awful I feel that I've neglected this blog.  Not neglected per se, because I did write that I was going to be on vacation and I was not going to write as much as I wanted to BUT I actually have a good excuse now.  So I went up to Radio-Active records and bought some vinyls that I found in the dollar bin and one of them even included Luke, which was a great find.  Then I believe on Monday, my Macbook started giving me these pop up messages about my hard drive being too full, which I was in the process of removing some stuff and it made this noise.  Grant it, it wasn't just some fan noise, it was a ticking noise.  So I immediately turned it off and went to turn it back on and as of late I have a white screen with a blinking file folder on it.  When I googled that error message, it said I needed to put in one of my start up discs, which is at home, so my Macbook is currently out of commission.  THEN I have use of my Aunt and Uncle's computer, but it's slower than molases and for some odd reason it likes to log out of everything and make you log back in.  So I decided that when I come back home, I'll just make two posts a day until I get caught up and back on my one a day posts.  I did take some photos of some records I wanted to post, Andrew Bird being one of them, but I really find it weird that I post and not listen to the record as I write.  So I will be writing something for that record and just wait until I get home to write the others.

So that being said, I'm definitely enjoying my MUCH NEEDED vacation and I cannot wait to listen to some of the records I bought.  I geek out over vinyl records and music in general!! :)

Whistler extraordinare!!

Since on vacation, I haven't posted in two days.  I blame the adjustment of things, time and emotions.  All in all, I'm here in sunny/rainy Miami and with my fifty-sixth pick, this is one that I've grown to love.

Artist - Andrew Bird
Album - Armchair Apocrypha
Released - 2007
Label - Fat Possum
Genre - Indie folk, Folk Rock, Baroque Pop


Tracks:
Fiery Crash
Imitosis
Plasticities
Heretics
Armchairs
Darkmatter
Simple X
The Supine
Cataracts
Scythian Empires
Spare-Ohs
Yawny at the Apocalypse

Someone call...

My fifty-fifth pick:

Artist - The Police
Album - Outlandos d' Amour
Released - 1978
Label - A&M
Genre - Rock, New Wave, post-punk, reggae


Tracks:
Side One
Next To You
So Lonely
Roxanne
Hole in my Life
Peanuts
Side Two
Can't Stand Losing You
Truth Hits Everybody
Born in the 50's
Be My Girl - Sally
Masoko Tanga

The debut album by the Police, Outlandos d'Amour is a mix of new wave and reggae, that would almost have to be a first for an artist.  On top of that, you have the unique sound of Sting's voice, which makes it that much more unusual.  I do enjoy the reggae roots being incorporated into each song and the sound, which would ultimately follow them onto future recordings.  Roxanne is one of my favorite songs on this record and even though it's about a prostitute at the red-light district (so they say), something about Sting's voice that emphasizes each word in the song with the feeling of longing.  I don't know if that sounds weird, but Sting's voice is definitely mesmerizing.

On that note, I will be on vacation for the next 10 days, so my posts might not be too interesting, but for the most part, I will post a vinyl record and visit some great record shops while in South Florida.

Enjoy!

Love or Something Like It

My fifty-fourth pick is one that will always go down in history.  This band has made such an impact on music then, now and for the future and there will be no other band like 'em.  Enough said.

Artist - The Beatles

Album - White Album

Released - 1968

Label - Apple

Genre - Rock

Tracks:

Back in the U.S.S.R.

Dear Prudence

Glass Onion

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Wild Honey Pie

The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

Happiness is a Warm Gun

Martha My Dear

I'm so tired

Blackbird

Piggies

Rocky Raccoon

Don't Pass Me By

Why don't we do it in the road?

I Will

Julia

Birthday

Yer Blues

Mother Nature's Son

Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey

Sexy Sadie

Helter Skelter

Long, Long, Long

Revolution I

Honey Pie

Savoy Truffle

Cry Baby Cry

Revolution 9

Good Night

Listen, relax and enjoy!

All Things Come to an End

Indeed the truth is to be told.  All things come to an end, either good or bad, but eventually nothing lasts forever.  Here's to great music and my fifty-third pick:

Artist - My Bloody Valentine
Album - Loveless
Released - 1991
Label - Creation
Genre - Alternative Rock, Shoegazing, Noise Pop, Dream Pop, Indie Pop


Tracks:
a Side
only shallow
loomer
touched
to here knows when
when you sleep
i only said
b side
come in alone
sometimes
blown a wish
what you want
soon

Loveless is My Bloody Valentine's second album and by the looks of it, Kevin Shields wrote and co-produced this record.  For those of you who do not know Kevin Shields, I suggest you become familiar with him because he is magnificent and therefore this record deserves that much more credit.  Come in Alone is such an epic song, the vocals, the guitar, the sound is just amazing.  It almost puts you in a trance.  Also, another great song is Sometimes, which happens to be on the soundtrack of one of my favorite movies Lost in Translation.  To be quite honest, I think Kevin Shields had a part in the music for the soundtrack.  Just amazing, simply amazing is how I sum up this album.  Such a great band that I never had the pleasure of seeing live but I heard their live sound is quite piercing.  So piercing that a lot of people wear earplugs.

Enjoy!

Takin' it Back, Waaaaay Back

I absolutely adore my friends and I know they adore me because they always think of me.  Conceded, yes, but it's true.  A co-worker of mine gave me a bunch of hip-hop vinyl records today and much to my surprise, I found my fifty-second pick.

Artist - Goodie Mob
Album - Still Standing
Released - 1998
Label - LaFace/Arista
Genre - Hip-Hop/Rap


Tracks:
Side 1
The Experience
Black Ice
Fly Away
The Damm
Side 2
They Don't Dance No Mo'
Beautiful Skin
Gutta Butta
Ghetto-ology
Side 3
Distant Wilderness
Greeny Green
I Refuse Limitation
See You When I See You
Side 4
Inshallah
Just About Over
Still Standing

Listening to this takes me back, way back to my Junior year of high school.  Believe you me, I loved hip hop, well I actually still do.  Not many people know, or maybe some do know, that Cee-Lo Green was a part of Goodie Mob, the Atlanta based hip hop group.  At the time of this record, all kinds of amazing artists were coming out of Atlanta, Georgia and Goodie Mob was one of them.  This is their second album and with songs like Beautiful Skin, They Don't Dance No Mo' and Ghetto-ology, not to mention the guest appearances by OutKast, this record made was raw in all forms of rawness.  For the majority of this extensive, yet lucrative album, Goodie Mob used their lyrics to put a message out there and if you'd like to know, listen to the end of Beautiful Skin.  How I love to hear public service announcements when listening to a great song.

Enjoy!

Are YOU Experienced?

I bring you my fifty-first pick:

Artist - The Jimi Hendrix
Album - Are You Experienced
Released - 1967
Label - Reprise Records
Genre - Psychedelic Rock


Tracks:
SIDE ONE
Purple Haze
Manic Depression
Hey Joe
Love or Confusion
May This Be Love
I Don't Live Today
SIDE TWO
The Wind Cries Mary
Fire
Third Stone from the Sun
Foxey Lady
Are You Experienced?

Album Disclaimer:
Be forewarned. Used to be an Experience meant making you a bit older.  This one makes you wider.  With the assistance of Mitch Mitchell (on drums) and Noel Redding (on guitar), Jimi Hendrix breaks the world into interesting fragments.  Then reassembles it.  You hear with new ears, after being Experienced.  Those who've only seen him perform know only part of This Experience.  They rave about a young man who plays a guitar in more positions than anybody before him.  Now, this debut album will put the hears of Hendrix' listeners into some novel positions.  Be forewarned.

This is the absolute truth and when you hear this record you will hear and listen to the breakdown and reorganization of each instrument that develops into the magic of psychedelic rock.  In college, I wrote a paper on Jimi Hendrix that earned me an A, but the majority of that had to do with my obsession with Seattle and all things Seattle.  My how things change!!

There is this one Jimi Hendrix song that I love, but it is not on this album.  Many of these songs made it into mainstream success, even to this day being on commercials.  As you know, Jimi Hendrix is part of the infamous 27 club with the other talented artist that died at the ripe age of 27.  I know I said it before and I will say it again, such talent gone to soon, but the music lives on.  Are You Experienced is considered one of the best rock albums of all time and with songs like Purple Haze, Hey Joe, The Wind Cries Mary, Fire and Foxey Lady, you will see why.  The progression of the guitar and just the way it flows with the music is undeniably perfect.

Enjoy!

Right in my Backyard

This is a mini milestone of sorts for me, because I'm on my fiftieth vinyl TODAY.  So with that being said, I didn't have to search far for this one, since this band is right here from good 'ol Austin, Texas.

Artist - Explosions In The Sky
Album - Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever
Released - 2001
Label - Temporary Residence Limited
Genre  - Post-Rock


Tracks:
die
greet death
yasmin the light
the moon is down
live forever
have you passed through this night?
a poor man's memory
with tired eyes, tired minds, tired souls, we slept

Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever is Explosions in the Sky's second album and they are from the lovely city of Austin, Texas, where I currently reside.  It's hard to imagine this album came out in 2001, since before 5 or so years ago I never HEARD of Explosions in the Sky.  Mind you, I'm from Miami, so the scene down there isn't very post-rock, indie rock friendly, unless you know people who are into that and not much into the mainstream type of rock.  But low and behold, I have a great group of online friends that I met in a message board that have showed me the way to better music, a much more broader selection so to speak.

Yesterday, when my friend mentioned this record was in my collection, I had to play it today.  I've been on an Explosions in the Sky kick since coming back from Seattle and there is nothing that makes me happier than knowing Kevin has this on vinyl.  Grant it, I was listening to it on my iTunes as I was cleaning today, trying to make sure everything is done before I go on vacation, and as soon as I put the record on the turntable, what a difference.  I feel like the sound is just that much more intense and with it being post-rock and all.  I had the great pleasure of seeing them at Austin City Limits (not the festival, the actual venue) and they were mind blowing.

Enjoy!

Country Fried Rock

In honor of ROT (Republic of Texas) Rally, I dedicate my forty-ninth pick to all the bikers in town this weekend, invading our lovely city!

Artist - ZZ Top
Album - Eliminator
Released - 1983
Label - Warner Bros.
Genre - Blues Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock


Tracks:
X1
Gimmie All Your Lovin
Got Me Under Pressue
Sharp Dressed Man
I Need You Tonight
I Got Six
X2
Legs
Thug
TV Dinners
Dirty Dog
If I Could Only Flag Her Down
Bad Girl

Eliminator is the eighth album by ZZ Top and if I don't say so myself, this cover art reminds me a lot of Stephen King.  I guess it's because of the car and the headlights, which makes me think of Christine.  I think this is a perfect pick for the weekend, since every year motorcycles from all over come and take over Austin, Texas.  Its so intense that our office closed at 3:00 p.m. and other businesses along Congress Avenue did the same.  What they do is they block off all of Congress and it gets FILLED with motorcycles of all types.  Yesterday, when I was on my way home from my run, I started to see more motorcycles on the streets.  I knew it was time.

A worthy song on this album is Legs, which would constantly play on MTV, back when MTV was worth watching.  You have two guys with fuzzy guitars, long beards and trench coats playing and the occasional guitar twirl, and your typical 80's girl with great legs walking around.  It was pretty comical.  But if you read the track list, there is a song called TV Dinners, which is pretty funny because it literally talks about tv dinners.  This is a great, fun album.

Enjoy!

Between Love and Lust is Reality

There is not much I can say without stating the obvious.  I LOVE ATMOSPHERE and throughout this year long trek, they will be displayed a few times.  So for my forty-eighth pick:

Artist - Atmosphere
Album - Sad Clown Bad Spring #12
Released - 2008
Label - Rhymesayers Entertainment
Genre - Hip Hop


Tracks:
Less One
Good Daddy
Carry Me Home
Happymess
Not Another Day

I did not want to cheat the list or anything like that, but I could not decide on what to display today.  After a productive workday and then my run, I kept thinking about what I felt like listening to.  Initially I wanted to listen to something smooth and soft until I figured it out, you know, like a light bulb going off over you head.  Then it hit me, I could definitely use some Atmosphere in my life right about now and then I remembered I got the Sad Clown Bad Spring #12 EP.  For the most part I wanted to just display LPs on this blog, but I thought, what they hey...it's my blog, I can do what I want.  But if it makes you feel better, it is the same size as a regular LP.  That has to count for something, right?

Atmosphere is one of the many bands who I favor the most out of everything that I know.  I know music, so with that statement alone, it's saying a lot.  My first post, number one, my first, was Atmosphere's God Loves Ugly, which is my #2 of my top 10 albums of all time.  If you want to know my history with Atmosphere, read the first post because I'm not ready to repeat myself, but I do admire and absolutely love Happymess.  I think this album came at a right time for me in my life, since I was going through so much emotionally and physically taking care of my father.  Not once did I ever regret any decision I ever made, but listening to Happymess, Less One and Not Another Day really helped me get through a lot, not to mention other Atmosphere songs.  I just feel that music is such an escape from reality, even if it's just for a little bit.  I think that is why, for the most part, I'm a pretty positive, optimistic and outgoing person.  Life is to short, but with just a little music, it makes it that much better.

Enjoy!

The Uprising

I've been in the mood for some good rock, insane guitar and with that, I bring you my forty-seventh pick:

Artist - James Gang
Album - Rides Again
Released - 1970
Label - ABC
Genre - Rock, Hard Rock


Tracks:
Side One
Funk #49
Asshtonpark
Woman
The Bomber A.Closet Queen B. Cast Your Fate To The Wind
Side Two
Tend My Garden
Garden Gates
There I Go Again
Thanks
Ashes The Rain and I

FUNK - MOTHERFRICKIN' - #49 is the rawest song alive, or should I say EVER!!  Sadly to say, Side One is a lot better than Side Two, but for the most part this record is indeed a good one.  James Gang is one of those old school, classic rock bands and it does show in the first few songs of Side One.  Funk #49 is such a great song and to this day, I do hear it on mash-ups.  For those of you who don't know what a mash-up is, it's when a DJ or Artist puts a few songs together into one.

This is the second album by James Gang, who are from Cleveland, Ohio and who also produced the guitar great Joe Walsh.

Enjoy!

In a Daze Away, You Feel the Pain and Mend Your Soul with Rock and Roll

Are you in need of a Doctor?  Or maybe you need to go to my forty-sixth pick:

Artist - Clinic
Album - Walking With Thee
Released - 2002
Label - Domino Records
Genre - Indie Rock


Tracks:
Side A
Harmony
The Equaliser
Welcome
Walking With Thee
Pet Eunuch
Mr. Moonlight
Side B
Come Into Our Room
The Vulture
The Bridge
Sunlight Bathes Our Home
For The Wars

Clinic is an underrated band that I discovered from a friend and I feel like not many people know about them.  From Liverpool, England, this is Clinic's second album and on one of their videos, they were all dressed up like Doctors, which I thought was pretty funny.   I do enjoy this band and this album, especially The Equaliser and The Bridge.  This is one of the many albums I play on constant rotation and when I make mix CDs I usually tend to put at least one song on this album on it.  I do enjoy making mix CDs for people and believe it or not, when I ask for one in return, people get intimidated because they know I know good music.  It's not about the type of music, I think it's the feeling behind each song that should be important.  That is why it takes me so long to make anyone a mix CD because I don't just slap together 15 - 20 songs on a CD, I make it with a purpose.

Enjoy!

All that Remains

Upon request by my ATX (Austin, Texas for you non-acronym people) bestie Robbie, here is my forty-fifth pick:

Artist - Led Zeppelin
Album - Houses Of The Holy
Released - 1973
Label - Atlantic
Genre - Rock


Tracks:
Side One
The Song Remains The Same
The Rain Song
Over the Hills and Far Away
The Crunge
Side Two
Dancing Days
D'yer Mak'er
No Quarter
The Ocean


Why did I not play this album sooner?  Well I literally have a long way to go, but this request was made and I had to fulfill.  As I'm listening and writing this, I can't help but think how amazing this album is.  Each song on here is so good, I mean beyond what has been out there for years.  Hearing this is like enjoying your first moment of happiness.  Speaking of happiness, a friend of mine, well two to be exact, made me so very happy today.  One is a friend from Europe who just gave me such great encouragement and I really thank him for that because I had a rough few days.  The other is my best friend from Miami who I absolutely love more than anything.  Talking to her today always makes me feel that no matter the distance, when we talk, it feels like not a day has passed.  I love those friendships and I keep all my good, true friends really close to my heart.  So what better way to bring in such a great, productive and happy day than Houses of the Holy.

Houses of the Holy is Led Zeppelin's fifth album and with songs like The Song Remains The Same, The Rain Song, Dancing Days, D'yer Mak'er and The Ocean, you can see why Led Zeppelin has had so much success.  My cousin had a poster of Led Zeppelin in her room and it was the one where the band was standing by the airplane.  Man, what a sexy group of rock stars.  Robert Plant's voice is just so piercing and memorizing as well as Jimmy Page's guitar playing.  Let's not forget John Paul Jones on bass and the greatness behind the kit, John Bonham, who I think is one of the best drummers EVER!!  Ahh, so many good things from this album come to mind that it makes me want to stay in a state of Zeppelin.  I totally made that up!!  It's insane to think such greatness started so long ago and is much appreciated today.

Enjoy!

Heart in the Hand

On this lazy Sunday, it took me a while to get into the day.  Since yesterday, I feel like I have not been myself and yet tried to do my normal activities.  I simply just wasn't feeling it,  but deciding on today's pick made me just a bit happier.  For my forty-fourth:

Artist - Otis Redding

Album - The Dock of the Bay

Released - 1968

Label - Volt Records

Genre - Soul, Rhythm and Blues

Tracks:

Side One 

(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay

I Love You More Than Words Can Say

Let Me Come on Home

Open The Door

Don't Mess with Cupid

Side Two

The Glory of LOve

I'm Coming Home

Tramp

The Huckle-Buck

Nobody Knows You (When You're Down and Out)

Ole Man Trouble

The Dock of the Bay was Otis Redding's six album which was released posthumously a year after his death in 1967.  Considered one of the major influential figures in soul and blues, each track on this shows that he indeed was a prominent figure.  (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay was one of Rolling Stone Magazine's top 500 songs of all time and it's almost hard to believe he died shortly after making this record in a plane crash.  I always feel like when I hear music that hits me a certain way and the artist dies after making such great music, it makes me think of what potential they could've had.  What influences could they have on today's music if they were alive?  It's sad to say that talented musicians leave too soon, but their music does live on for us to enjoy and for our future.  After giving this record a thorough listen, I absolutely love I Love You More Than Words Can Say.  As tough and guarded as I feel like some people think I am, I am an absolute sucker for love and love songs.  This is a great song and I've always admired Otis Redding's music.

Enjoy!

For those about to rock, here's my forty-third pick:

Artist - AC/DC
Album - Who Made Who
Released - 1986
Label - Albert
Genre - Hard Rock


Tracks:
Side One
Who Made Who
You Shook Me All Night Long
D.T.
Sink The Pink
Ride On
Side Two
Hells Bells
Shake Your Foundation
Chase The Ace
For Those About To Rock (We Salute You)

When I think of AC/DC, I always forget that they are a band from Australia.  Who Made Who was released as the soundtrack to Stephen King's movie Maximum Overdrive in 1986.  I've never seen the movie, but reading the back of the album cover does make me want to look into it more.  One, I love Stephen King and two, Emilio Estevez is in it (Emmmiiilllllliiiioooooooo)!  I know a lot of AC/DC songs tend to play at sports games, since I believe it's made to pump you up!!

The song that strikes a chord with me, and I would probably have a lot of people back me up on this, is For Those About To Rock (We Salute You).  One of the most powerful, deep hard rock songs out there!!  It's the type of song you play for motivational purposes.    Anyway, other songs that are favorites are Hells Bells and You Shook Me All Night Long.  The guitar playing on this record is pretty epic as well.

Enjoy!

Show Day

This weekend is going to be EPIC, well at least tonight and tomorrow will be.  Tonight I will be seeing No Age at Beauty Bar and this will be my third time seeing them, so I'm really excited but I will make sure to bring earplugs.  Tomorrow I will be seeing A Place To Bury Strangers, which I haven't seen since SXSW 2008 (my first SXSW).  So to honor this epic weekend, here is my forty-second pick:

Artist - Japandroids
Album - Celebration Rock
Released - 2012
Label - Polyvinyl Record
Genre - Garage Rock, Noise Pop


Tracks:
Side A
The Nights of Wine and Roses
Fire's Highway
Evil's Sway
For The Love of Ivy
Side B
Adrenaline Nightshift
Younger Us
The House That Heaven Built
Continuous Thunder

Japandroids is a duo hailing from Vancouver, B.C. who first entered my life in 2009 and I've also had the pleasure of seeing at the back of Urban Outfitters in Austin Texas during SXSW 2010.  One of my favorite finds, I believe Japandroids have come a long way since forming in 2006.  Most of the time it's pretty hard to just catch a break, but at this day and age, with the internet being as efficient and demanding as ever, you could either make it or break it. Each song on this record is shows you how LOUD a two piece can sound.  You would think they had other members in their band if you were to listen to them without seeing a photo.  I've had the pleasure of seeing them twice and the second time around had to be the best.  Definitely a band worth seeing!

Enjoy!