I had a discussion with a friend at dinner the other night about Facebook, a common topic of late. He and his wife have been rather resistant to signing on-they both work some pretty busy schedules-and I of course tried to give them every reason why they should, etc., etc. However, my buddy and his wife explained to me that it wasn't so much their busy schedule that prevented them from joining Facebook, but instead the fact that they just preferred to not have to speak with a lot more people than they already do day to day. Hey, I can totally understand that and I understand what they're saying, but I think they fail to realize the true beauty of Facebook and some of its fringe benefits. Let me explain...
First of all, as much as I am an outgoing, social guy, I generally HATE small talk. I hate it worse than I hate having to deal with Hodge's boring, often repetitive wall postings, but sometimes it's just a part of life. You're standing in line at Motor Vehicles or the Deli or the bank and you see that guy looking at you, you just know he wants to say something to you that's about as f**king relevant as what color underwear J Lo is wearing today (well, OK that could be mildly relevant). You try to avoid his stare but you accidentally lock eyes with him and it's "Hey, so you think this line could get any longer?". Now you're screwed, unless you want to pull the all time dick move of just totally ignoring him. I never do, though I wish I had the sack for it, "Yeah, pretty busy in here today," I reply. This usually sets off a chain reaction of mindless, pathetic and useless conversation that serves no purpose other than to keep the person who started it from feeling "left out" of life I suppose, and I guess that's why I always oblige, as much as I hate it.
Well, in the Facebook world, the wonderful thing is that first of all most of our "friends" are people that know each other at least a little bit. Sure there are those chicks that you friended at 3:00 am after searching "hot chick in Brazil" and somehow magically she said yes, but for the most part these are people you might actually want to speak to from time to time. However, even those you don't know very well are people that if you saw them in a bar/mall you'd probably be OK having a conversation with. So, here in the land of Facebook what you can do is have a combination of real and genuine conversations, and some that are just those same kinda mindless quick little anecdotal ones, but with people who generally aren't also possible serial killers!
Seriously though, my point is that what a utility like Facbook helps facilitate is staying connected. All too often we forget that just because we're busy with work, kids, jobs, hobbies, medical issues, money, sex(or lack of...sorry Jason!) or whatever, that almost everyone else out there is dealing with the same stuff day to day; we all have the same 24 hours in a day as the next person. As much as a little comment on someone's Status of "Hey, me too!" or "That's so funny" is not real dialogue or anything that will likely result in a deep discussion about Dada-ism or the Crusades, it's a sign that someone is paying attention and willing to be connected to you. Is it smalltalk? Of course, but it's absent of the oddness and unfamiliarity that so often goes hand in hand with the in-person variety, even when it's with someone you don't know very well. Do I really think that Mike Kreps cares what I am doing at every minute or that I think a particular tune is cool, etc? Probably not, though he seems like a great guy and will occasionally chime in on something I have to say. Does Neil Andrews want to come down to Glastonbury and drink Patron shots next weekend and talk about the Insurance industry? Very unlikely, but he still makes comments, as do I, on various shenanigans, and I like that. Will Debbie Quinn start weeping uncontrollably if I tell her I got my "stuff" caught in my zipper again the other day? No, though she should as it really f**king hurt! OK, so most people are going to laugh at this anyway, but what I am saying is that Facebook has created this intriguing second family of sorts that let's you stay connected to and in touch with, even on a superficial level at times, a great deal of people you wouldn't likely be communicating with. I find that fascinating and pretty enjoyable at times.
So, as for the "fringe benefits" of Facebook. Well, as much as I have focused this post on the casual small talk variety of conversation that goes on here, I really feel like it's also helped foster some decent friendships that either never existed or had fizzled for whatever reason. I know that people's children and families will always be, and should, the number one priority in their lives but I can't help think that a place like Facebook has helped a number of people, including myself, feel like there are more people out there in the world that feel like they matter and have friends that care about how they're doing and how they feel, etc. As much as I constantly hear the argument that Facebook/Texting/Email is causing a great disconnect among society I have to say I feel like it's actually the opposite. If I had not signed on to this site I would still have a decent amount of friends and I'd still be a nutjob, but I wouldn't have the same feeling of satisfaction as I do from having this "second family" around me at all times...even if half of them think I should be locked up!
As for my friend and his wife, well, they likely still wont sign on and that's OK. Facebook is not for everyone and not everyone wants to be connected. As much as I hate inane smalltalk I can't deny that the variety that exists on here is entertaining and strangely addicting. If that results in all of us never leaving our houses in 20 years then I guess this Social Networking thing will have failed but I honestly don't see that. I see a future where people will get back to wanting to meet new people and actually caring about what they might have to say, no matter how irrelevant or boring it may be. Hopefully it extends to the real world as well, and I have a feeling it might, and vice versa. Hell, maybe the guy at Panera who "eye stalked" me the other day until I nodded and he proceeded to tell me about his love of Bagels will have 50,000 friends on here by 2021! In the meantime, I am enjoying my 174.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
A Fantastic Weekend...With One Exception
So as many of you Facebookers have seen/heard, this weekend was my (and many others) 20 year High School reunion. With the help of Facebook, many of those folks that are not as outgoing (or uhh, totally deranged depending on how you look at it) as myself likely felt much more comfortable and relaxed at the event, and hopefully made some new friends they might never have imagined they would have had. In any case, it was a fantastic time for apparently all involved.
My plan for the reunion Saturday night was to talk to not only the "Facebookers" and old friends I had, but to make an effort to really reach out to and talk with those I didn't know in high School and some that, for whatever reason, might not have really liked me all that much (I know, it seems IMPOSSIBLE!). As much as I like to think I was always a swell guy and friendly to everyone, I know there were times back then that I wasn't as inclusive or welcoming to others as I should have been, though I don't feel I was ever outwardly mean; I just know High School was a time when all of us could have used more moments of inclusion and kindness. Well, I failed pretty miserably at this mission.
I did speak with a few people that are not on Facebook, and I exchanged some pleasantries with former classmates that I never really knew, but that was not the plan. The plan was to truly talk with everyone there, including their spouses/dates and really make a solid effort to not only recruit them to Facebook, but to get to know them and say "You know, I wish I had tried to get to know you back in High School". Hey, I am not an idiot, and I understand that maybe some people just won't gel well with my personality, now or then, and I don't have a misguided desire to be friends with every person I ever come in contact with, but I honestly wanted to do a better job than I did this weekend.
The whole event went by so fast, with the drinking and the madness with the always entertaining Jason Hodge, the scurrying around for after party plans, etc; it's understandable that I couldn't be expected to have long, deep conversations with everyone, but I wish I tried harder.
At the end of the day I know that everyone has their own families and friends, as do I, and not having me say hello and try to re-introduce myself to them will certainly not result in them losing sleep or living an unfulfilled life - I am not that self-absorbed to think I matter to anyone that much - I just think it would have been the right thing to do. At these events, many people (especially the shy ones and the spouses who scour the room desperate to see anyone they might know from another part of their lives so they can do something other than sit their by themselves...glancing repeatedly at their watch) just eat their food, smile and nod as others pass their table and try to put on a happy face but never have the courage to "make the move" and go out amongst the crowd and strike up a conversation - hey I am married to a classic example of this! So, I suppose in some way I feel, being blessed/cursed with an outgoing and unbridled personality, that I should be someone that makes the effort and tries to bring everyone together. Well, I didn't do as well as I would have liked and although it won't cause any lifelong scars to those that attended, it kinda bums me out now that it's over.
Overall, it was a fantastic and fun filled night, complete with the requisite Abare/Hodge mayhem and many wonderful pictures, conversations and stories. I hope all that attended had a great time and are looking forward to the next one, and I can assure you that come that next Reunion, whether I am stricken with laryngitis or 10 beers deep trying to outpace Hodge, I will have had a genuine conversation with everyone there...whether they like it or not!
My plan for the reunion Saturday night was to talk to not only the "Facebookers" and old friends I had, but to make an effort to really reach out to and talk with those I didn't know in high School and some that, for whatever reason, might not have really liked me all that much (I know, it seems IMPOSSIBLE!). As much as I like to think I was always a swell guy and friendly to everyone, I know there were times back then that I wasn't as inclusive or welcoming to others as I should have been, though I don't feel I was ever outwardly mean; I just know High School was a time when all of us could have used more moments of inclusion and kindness. Well, I failed pretty miserably at this mission.
I did speak with a few people that are not on Facebook, and I exchanged some pleasantries with former classmates that I never really knew, but that was not the plan. The plan was to truly talk with everyone there, including their spouses/dates and really make a solid effort to not only recruit them to Facebook, but to get to know them and say "You know, I wish I had tried to get to know you back in High School". Hey, I am not an idiot, and I understand that maybe some people just won't gel well with my personality, now or then, and I don't have a misguided desire to be friends with every person I ever come in contact with, but I honestly wanted to do a better job than I did this weekend.
The whole event went by so fast, with the drinking and the madness with the always entertaining Jason Hodge, the scurrying around for after party plans, etc; it's understandable that I couldn't be expected to have long, deep conversations with everyone, but I wish I tried harder.
At the end of the day I know that everyone has their own families and friends, as do I, and not having me say hello and try to re-introduce myself to them will certainly not result in them losing sleep or living an unfulfilled life - I am not that self-absorbed to think I matter to anyone that much - I just think it would have been the right thing to do. At these events, many people (especially the shy ones and the spouses who scour the room desperate to see anyone they might know from another part of their lives so they can do something other than sit their by themselves...glancing repeatedly at their watch) just eat their food, smile and nod as others pass their table and try to put on a happy face but never have the courage to "make the move" and go out amongst the crowd and strike up a conversation - hey I am married to a classic example of this! So, I suppose in some way I feel, being blessed/cursed with an outgoing and unbridled personality, that I should be someone that makes the effort and tries to bring everyone together. Well, I didn't do as well as I would have liked and although it won't cause any lifelong scars to those that attended, it kinda bums me out now that it's over.
Overall, it was a fantastic and fun filled night, complete with the requisite Abare/Hodge mayhem and many wonderful pictures, conversations and stories. I hope all that attended had a great time and are looking forward to the next one, and I can assure you that come that next Reunion, whether I am stricken with laryngitis or 10 beers deep trying to outpace Hodge, I will have had a genuine conversation with everyone there...whether they like it or not!
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Top 10 Albums of This Decade...So Far...In My Opinion!
OK OK, I know there's still a year left before we reach the next decade so really I should wait until the end of '09 until I publish this list, but I have a general idea of what's coming out (new U2, Springsteen, new GnR hasn't been fully reviewed by me yet, etc) next year and I'll just make adjustments as necessary when we hit Dec of '09. In the meantime, there are a number of fantastic CD's that have been released since 2000, some by new bands and some by legends, but all worth taking a serious look at if you haven't already. I will also post some "honorable mentions" at the end, and I am sure there will be many that people feel I have forgotten on underrated, so please remember this is simply MY OPINION and nothing else. I don't proclaim to be an expert in all things music, but I know what's good, and in the last 9 years this is what I think is the best of what's good:
10. TOOL - 10,000 Days
Tool is a band that I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with over the years. I was one of the first people I know who listened to them, giving 1993's "Undertow" repeated playings and really becoming hypnotized by their odd sense of gloomy alterna-metal. However, the triumph that was Aenima in 1996 became so overplayed at pool halls and on the radio, that I actually grew to dislike the band rather feverishly. In the years since I have grown to enjoy that CD, along with their other releases, and no longer have the same indifference to their sound. However, when "10,000 Days" was released I not only became a big fan again but I was truly awestruck.
"Vicarious" alone, with it's too-long-really-for-regular-and-frequent-airplay length and heavy groove, coupled with the the metal-ish, in your face vibe just makes the whole CD for me. I have been waiting for a tune like this from Tool for a long time and was thoroughly impressed when I first heard it. "The Pot" is another favorite and one that did receive a decent amount of radio airplay."10,000 Days" and "Jambi" are other disk highlights from a band that is lacking very little talent. Danny Carey is one of the most inventive and hard working drummers in rock and guitarist Adam Jones, while not always real flashy, is always intriguing. Combine that with the vocal stylings of Maynard and the always inspired bass work of Justin Chancellor and you have a recipe for great things...and 10,000 Days is pretty great.
9. JOHN LEGEND - Once Again
John Legend (Stephens) was already a "legend" when his debut disk, "Get Lifted" came out in 2004. Having done session work for the likes of Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys, among others; he was no stranger to the music world. His soulful voice and accomplished piano playing were a surefire recipe for a solo career and with Get Lifted he burst onto the R & B/Pop scene like a thunderclap. However, it was his follow up disk, "Once Again" that I feel truly began to elaborate on his talent and eloquence more so than his debut, which was chock full of cameos and more hip hop flavors. Once Again opens with "Save Room", a mellow jazzy number that's memorable, not just for it's beat but for the fact that Legend's vocal stylings are so infectious. "Heaven", though a tad overburdened by the vocal overdub often repeating within the track, is another stellar R & B number that doesn't lose power with that minor annoyance. "PDA" and "Coming Home" are two additional standouts from this wonderful CD, but it's the disk's first to last closer "Another Again" that makes this disk superior to Legend's debut. It's rich with smooth vocals but it moves along with a great vibe and the singing soars to textured highs and lows more so than on some of the other tracks. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly go through J.L.'s most recent release but I look forward to it, and there might be a chance it shows up on this list next year!
8. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Magic
With "The Rising", Bruce showed his fans he could explore the emotions and after effects of a horrible American tragedy without sounding overly dramatic or preachy (though he's been known to do so at live shows). The songs from that CD are fantastic, and most fail to falter even after repeated listenings years later. However, with "Magic", I think Springsteen hit a stride that he caught during The Rising, and honestly crafted in some ways a better record than his 2007 effort, though not enough to surpass its place on this list.
The funny thing about the CD is that it took awhile, and only after my wife suggested to me how good it was, to get me to finally start listening to it months after it came out. Considering how much I liked "The Rising" it was a odd that I waited so long but the wait was certainly worth it. From the opening of "Radio Nowhere", an edgy rocker that blends well with current musical trends, it's clear that this CD had the potential to be something special. "You'll Be Coming Down" follows, and although it's not charting any real new ground, it's catchy and appealing nonetheless. "Your Own Worst Enemy" is a personal favorite and another example of how Springsteen can craft hooky, pop flavored rock songs that weave their way under your skin with repeated playings. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" and "I'll Work For Your Love" are fine examples of this as well, and highlights of the CD, though my personal favorite on the disk is "Long Walk Home", possibly because I enjoyed the live version so much. Regardless, the disk is fantastic and will not only have pleased longtime fans but likely brought in a number of newer ones as well (which was certainly evident from the amount of sub-25 year old fans at this past tours shows).
7. THE STROKES - Is This It
The fact that the Strokes exist make me proud to be a music fan. For a long time as the nineties came to a close I started to worry that the universe of rock/pop would devolve into an annoying blend of bad alternametal blended with rap/hip hop. Thankfully, bands like the Strokes restored my faith in not only music, but of the buying public and critics who paid attention to the trends.
"Is This It" is so good it should be required listening for all fans of rock and roll. The Rolling Stones don't choose you as an opener for their tour(s) unless you piss vinegar and bleed attitude. These guys have it all, and combine that with some memorable if not simplistic riffing and a unique vocal styling/recording and you have a recipe for the kick ass debut from the Strokes. "Last Nite", the first single is almost a slower punk-ish tune, with a bouncy riff that just begs you not to bob your head. "Someday", a song I forced my first band to cover, and they eventually came to worship, is another jamming garage rock tune that's so infectious yet simple you just find yourself tapping your foot long after it's over. When the guitars ring out and the bass just plods along on the open E string at the end of each chorus you can feel yourself wishing you had long hair to just shake around like a crazed muppet! "Hard to Explain" is another uptempo bopper that recalls late 50's/early 60's music of the UK, a place where bands like the Strokes and Kings of Leon had always been in high favor. "Trying Your Luck" is a disk favorite for me, ripe with early 70's groove and style. A little more mellow and dark, it's a nice compliment to the more uptempo rockers on the disk. There really isn't a bad song on this brilliant debut CD and The Strokes continue to crank out great tunes, but this, for me, is just their masterpiece.
6. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind/ How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Tie)
I really hate lists that include ties, but I really had no choice with these selections. I know, I know, seems like a cop out but I really spent some time re-listening to both CD's and I truly couldn't pick a favorite. So, with # 6 here we have the legends U2 and their two stellar efforts since 2000, ATYCLB and HTDAAB. Before both came out I recall having a discussion with another U2 fan who was severely depressed with the direction U2 had gone since the mid mid 90's/"Pop" era. I couldn't blame him, as it didn't fully represent what I feel is the best of U2, who are always amazing with their simple yet eloquent tunes and arena-busting rockers. I assured this friend that U2 would be back on their game soon, and with "All..." they certainly were.
Though "Walk On" and "Beautiful Day" probably got the most attention and airplay (and seemed to be most reminiscent of pre-90's U2), for me it was the hypnotic and beautiful "Kite", written about Bono's father. The bridge in that song, from "I'm a maaaannnnn, I'm not a child..." just gives me the chills with it's dramatic vulnerability and declaration. U2 have always been about drama and emotion but this tune, more so than any since the 80's, really swells with it and delivers to the listener, without being over the top. "Walk On" is a great U2 radio song as well, and "In a Little While" has always been another favorite, with it's bluesy/gritty feel and hooky vocal lines (slow down my beating heart...). Without question, ATYCLB was a great return from probably the best band in the world. The only reason this CD, and the next, didn't crack the Top 5 is that I have set such high standards for these guys I feel that they have even greater things to come.
With "How to Dismantle..." U2 basically stayed in the same place they were with ATYCLB, crafting another masterpiece of dramatic yet stylish pop rock that is layered with beautiful textured sounds. The Edge (David Evans) is rarely in the Top 20 on "best guitarist" lists but it's really unfair, as what he does stylistically with his extremely supple wrist, allowing for gorgeous strumming, can't be overlooked. he also knows when not to overplay and when to use effects. The same can be said of the bassist Adam Clayton. Although he lacks any real flash or speed with his playing, he often plays with a jazz-musician mentality, using the bass as not just a beat but a whole other entity within the song. Then, one track later he's just filling in the holes and laying behind the guitar and vocals. Bono's singing has always been impressive, and there's no question Larry Mullen, Jr. is a great drummer, but it's what these guys do as a cohesive unit that creates magic. "City of Blinding Light" is a favorite from this disk, with it's haunting guitar riff and ambient melody. "Vertigo" is an in your face, don't-forget-you-can-still-rock single that reminds older fans like me that these guys can still write great high energy rock and roll. "Miracle Drug" and "Yahweh" are two melloer tracks that move along familiar U2 lines, and are better than simple fillers, which a band with this much history and success could certainly be tempted to write at this point in their career. However, on this disk I think it's the single, "Sometimes You Can't make It On Your Own" that really makes this CD an example of exceptional U2. I don't know of any other band that writes better ballad-esque rock and roll. From the simple strumming by The Edge to the falsetto vocals, this is just a great example of what U2 does best and a reason that they have multiple disks in my Top 10.
5. IRON MAIDEN - A Matter of Life and Death
It's easy to understand how many music fans ignore or claim to dislike Heavy Metal. A lot of the music is very loud, overly distorted and somewhat angry. Many metal bands write lyrics dealing with death, the occult and general misery and most of the players look like guys who would rather stab you in the eye than say hello. However, with certain metal bands, if you can get by the volume and the lyrics and the looks, you'll find at their core a solid bunch of musicians, and this certainly the case with Iron Maiden.
These guys are dripping with talent...from the expansive and acrobatic vocal range of Bruce Dickinson to the furious but always interesting drumming of Nicko McBrain, to the mesmerizing riffing/solos of the tri-guitar attack of Smith/Murray and Gers and finally the galloping mayhem of Steve Harris' magical Fender P Bass. Iron Maiden have all the tools, but as is the case with many talented bands, that doesn't necessarily always result in great recorded music. Well, with "A Matter of Life and Death", Iron Maiden not only shamed much of their comrades in the "senior metal" genre, but they embarrassed most of their younger competition as well.
AMOLAD is a shining achievement on many levels. It opens with the strong but radio-friendly "Different World, complete with haunting vocal hook from Dickinson and plenty of multi-guitar harmonies, as is their trademark. Tracks like "Brighter Than a Thousand Suns" and "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" certify that no one tops Maiden in the "slow building hard rocker". These guys have always been a phenomenal live band, but what they've done with this exceptional CD is found a way to convey that intense live sound/energy to a studio recording. "The Longest Day", "Out of the Shadows" and "Lord of Light" are three others that standout on this superb disk, but for me it's the stellar "For the Greater Good of God" and the closer "The Legacy" that make this disk a definitive Top 10. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" off the brilliant 80's disk Powerslave showed that Maiden could write long, epic songs that were slow to build but always interesting and solidly metal. Well, FTGGOG and The Legacy are no exception to that rule, and in many ways trump previous efforts to top Rime. Everyone in the metal game should go back and listen to this superior disk and remember that it's made by a bunch of guys working their way into their 50's, and take some notes. There should be no doubt that Maiden are one of, if not the best, metal band in the world today.
4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The Rising
Although I grew up a hard rock/metal fan, during the late 80's I went through a pretty intense Springsteen phase. I had heard the classics like "Born to Run" and "Rosalita" a thousand times before and always respected the songs for what they were: great classic rock and roll tunes. However, it was tracks off "The River" like "Drive All Night", with it's almost pathetic longing and devotion to his lover, and "Jungleland", with it's haunting and melancholoy sax solo that truly hooked me in; there's never been any doubt that Bruce Springsteen is a great rock and roll artist, but songs like that just showed a more raw and vulnerable side that I preferred to his uptempo numbers. So, when 9/11 hit and the days that followed were filled with unease and mourning, there was never any doubt that the veteran songwriter from Jersey would be back with a great album that dealt with the emotions surrounding the tragic event.
"The Rising" was the first time Bruce had recorded a full album with the E Street Band in 18 years, and what a glorious reunion it was. From the fantastic first track, "Lonesome Day", which to this day is in my top 5 of live songs he performs, to the slow-building, neighborhood party atmosphere of "Mary's Place", this CD just fails to disappoint in any way. The album weaves it's way between moderate and up tempo numbers like the previously mentioned tracks, and wonderfully blends in slow, melancholy numbers like "Into the Fire" and "My City of Ruin", and the painfully beautiful "You're Missing". Springsteen certainly captured the emotions surrounding the days and months following 9/11 in a way that was genuine and not overly depressing, all the while seasoned with elements of rejuvenation and brotherhood. It was the right album at the right time, and whether you always agree with his politics or not, it can't be disputed that The Rising was a triumph.
3. INTERPOL - Antics
I started to really pay attention to Interpol around the same time I was listening to The Killers a lot, even though I had purchased this CD long before their debut had come out. I just remember having both CD's in the back seat of my car and only getting around to putting The Killers into the CD changer, until one day I finally decided to grab "Antics" and pop it in again. It would be my first listing since I skimmed through it in late 2004. HOLY F**KING S**T was I impressed!!
Although the opening track, "Next Exit" has never been a favorite, and possibly a reason why I failed to give this CD a thorough listen when I first got it, when I listened to it this time somehow it hooked me. Paul Banks, the lead vocalist/guitarist, has such a strangely hypnotic voice that it's hard to ignore and not be drawn in to. Couple that with the early 80's, British New Wave-esque guitar sounds and you have a band that has a formula for some inspired creations. "Evil", with it's simplistic yet hooky bass line and intensifying volume during the chorus is fantastic. "Take You On A Cruise" is darkly intriguing and mesmerizes with some of it's vocals and finishes like a great glass of wine. "C'mere" is as good as any up tempo New Wave/Alternative rock song has ever been, and "Slow Hands" is a gritty thumper that received a lot of rotation on alternative radio. The true majesty of this disk, however, lies within the brilliant "Narc", a slow building, intoxicating track that to me might be the best Alternative song written this decade. It's possible I have listened to this tune a thousand times since I first heard it, and there may be that many more plays before this decade is up. The simplistic guitar riff, mixed with the vocal building into the chorus is just stunning. Although I don't love where the song heads in the bridge, it pays the listener back by getting back on track and finishing strong ("You should be in my space..."). There haven't been that many CD's I can honestly say didn't leave my CD changer in my car for over a solid year, but this was one of them, and deserved every play it got, and still gets today.
2. KINGS OF LEON - Because of the Times
Wow, was this a hard one to write. Any of you that know me, or notice my Facebook posts regularly, know how big a fan of Kings of Leon I am. I have seen them live twice in less than two months, have tickets to their MSG show in January and am contemplating a trip to the UK in June to see them play Wembley! Ok, so I am obsessed, sue me! It would be hard not to love a band made up of three brothers and a cousin (The Followills) from Tennesse who like to drink and get in fights, but luckily these guys actually write great music to boot!
Anyway, my enjoyment of this band actually started awhile back with their debut "Youth and Young Manhood", in 2003. They actually released the EP "Holy Roller Novacaine" the same year and 4 of those songs ended up on that disk. They had such a dirty, backwoods, and edgy southern rock feel that I fell for them quickly. I listened to the disk a number of times and quickly bought the next two that followed but failed to ever give them the listening time I should have, though I recall loving "The Bucket" and "Four Kicks" and "Pistol of Fire", all from Aha Shake Heartbreak. Then, just 6 weeks before the release of their newest CD, "Only By the Night", another exceptional effort, I went back and listened to their third CD, "Because of the Times" in full on my Itunes while I played online chess of all things. Almost like I had just drank an entire bottle of Red Bull spiked with ecstasy, something came over me that just took control of my musical senses and just said "HOLY S**T" and awoke me to the brilliance that is KOL. I had the CD in a mixed order and the first track was "Arizona", a slow moving tune that's sonically pretty and has such a simple yet addictive bassline that I had to immediately learn and play it after hearing the song. "Fans" followed, and without hesitation this tune worked it's way into my senses like few others have and may be what I feel is their best song overall. Though it's written about experiences in London, it's always been a live favorite here as well and it may still have the record for most plays in a row of any one song when I played it 10 times in a row last month. That particular track has that quality, on an even more intense level, that many Dead songs have in that you almost can't listen to it and not be forced into a good mood. "Knocked Up" was next and just knocked me over with it's slow thumping intro and build. You can hear the fear and anxiety in this song about the possibility of new life between a volatile couple. I think the song would have been great if it had stayed mellow the whole way through, but it kicks it up a notch just long enough to make the song more interesting. "Charmer", "True Love Way, "Ragoo" and "My Party" are other tracks that make this a phenomenal disk, but for me it's the one-two punch of "McFearless" and "Black Thumbnail" that add just enough mojo to push this disk far up the list. McFearless is filled with brilliant drumming and stinging alternative rock guitar sounds but it's the vocals from Caleb in what you'd likely call the chorus that make this track so memorable. There's a desperation and fragility in his singing on this track that is so intriguing that I wish I could get in touch with whatever emotions he was feeling when it was recorded so I could channel them into my own writing. "Black Thumbnail", a no-frills killer rocker that was their choice to close the show I saw in Boston, is one of those tunes that just overcomes you after repeated plays. It's not breaking any new ground, it has no individual musical sections that are particularly impressive, and it's not filled with hooks...but it just f**king rips! If KOL ended every show with this track they'd be doing themselves no disservice. The live stage is really where Kings of Leon take control and dominate, but "Because of the Times" is such a stellar recording it deserves high praise, and a very high spot on my list. So why was this "hard to write", as I mentioned earlier? Well, their other three CD's are all fantastic and picking a favorite is nearly impossible for a devoted fan. Even the new CD "Only By the Night", though more pop-flavored and richly produced, is a triumph and worthy of high praise. However, in order to avoid stuffing this list with ties, BOTT needs to be the choice, and should be required listening for all rock and roll fans and be worshipped by all!. I guess when you're chosen to open shows for U2, Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan and called a "favorite" by Radiohead, however, it's high praise enough.
1. AUDIOSLAVE - Audioslave
I agonized for quite some time about which CD should be # 1 on my list and it essentially was between 2 bands and 3 CD's. The second 2 CD's from KOL and the first and from Audioslave, and the former's debut just kept coming out ahead, and for good reason.
I was always a casual fan of Rage Against the Machine, and a much larger fan of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. So when you take arguably the best hard rock/alternative vocalists and add them to one of the most intense and successful hard rock/rap fusion bands out there, you're sure to have a finished product that's worth checking out. Well, "Audioslave" was better than just a great debut from a hybrid Supergroup, it was and still is an exceptional piece of rock and roll and will likely be timeless.
From the opening of "Cochise", the killer arena-busting first single, you know you're listening to something cool. It's not Radiohead, it's not Coldplay, it's not Opeth or Coheed and Cambria, this opening track is just kick-you-in-teeth-slam-you-to-the-ground modern hard rock that could get a quadraplegic up and jumping! Although the vocals are very different from Zack, whether you prefer that style or not, you can't deny that Cornell added something special and amazing to this 3/4 Rage project. You can also hear a depth in guitarist Tom Morello's playing that was not always there with Rage. There's also a warmness to Tim Commerford's bass lines, especially on mellower tracks like "Like A Stone". There are few weaknesses in this lineup, and there are few if any low points on this disk. My favorite on the disk, and featured in the great Michael Mann film "Collateral", "Shadow On the Sun" is particularly noteworthy and really shows the masterful range these guys covered in their songwriting and the insane power and depth that Cornell's vocals have. Although "Gasoline" and "Set it Off" are straightforward rockers, they are not filler tracks at all and are impossible to skip when listening to the disk. "I am the Highway" received a solid amount of Radio airplay and took the more folky/pop rock that often surfaces in their music to a beautiful place. "Hypnotize" does just that with it's Soundgarden-esque vibe and groovy build. "Bring 'Em Back Alive" is out of the Rage playbook a little more than some of the disk's tracks, but it's welcomed and filled with enough Cornell-ness that it can never be mistaken for anything other than an Audioslave track. Tom Morello has always been a heavy effects user, but I feel like it only mildly goes overboard on this disk and this tune might be a example of that.
I think a big part of me choosing this band as # 1 on the list, and more specifically this disk, is that I got a chance to see Audioslave when they toured and to this day it's probably the most impressive hard rock show I have ever seen. These guys were ON FIRE and tighter than any band I have ever seen. Tracks like Cochise and Shadow On the Sun were so impressive and so full of passion that I simply can't recall a hard rock or metal band topping what they pulled off that night, and that includes Iron Maiden, who are kings of the live stage as well. Also, when these guys released this disk, having been so bummed by the demise of Soundgarden, I wasn't expecting an earth shattering CD, I was just expecting something cool to listen to. What I got was a CD that just blew me, and a lot of other rock fans, away. Now, with Soundgarden and Audioslave gone, and persistent but varying rumors about Rage recording new material together again, it's one of a few from them I have to be content with. Although all three are great, and I strongly considered adding their last, "Revelations" to the list as well, in the end I had to go with their debut. It was a great CD that knocked me on my ass and continues to be played in heavy rotation by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of rock and roll fans. In my opinion, this decade has not seen or heard a better rock record.
Honorable Mentions:
Radiohead - "In Rainbows", Green Day - "American Idiot", David Gilmour - "On An Island", Weezer- "Weezer", Kings of Leon - "Youth and Young Manhood" & "Aha Shake Heartbreak", Metallica - "Death Magnetic, Fair to Midland - "Fables From A Mayfly", Black Crowes - "Warpaint", The Killers - "Hot Fuss"
10. TOOL - 10,000 Days
Tool is a band that I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with over the years. I was one of the first people I know who listened to them, giving 1993's "Undertow" repeated playings and really becoming hypnotized by their odd sense of gloomy alterna-metal. However, the triumph that was Aenima in 1996 became so overplayed at pool halls and on the radio, that I actually grew to dislike the band rather feverishly. In the years since I have grown to enjoy that CD, along with their other releases, and no longer have the same indifference to their sound. However, when "10,000 Days" was released I not only became a big fan again but I was truly awestruck.
"Vicarious" alone, with it's too-long-really-for-regula
9. JOHN LEGEND - Once Again
John Legend (Stephens) was already a "legend" when his debut disk, "Get Lifted" came out in 2004. Having done session work for the likes of Lauryn Hill, Janet Jackson and Alicia Keys, among others; he was no stranger to the music world. His soulful voice and accomplished piano playing were a surefire recipe for a solo career and with Get Lifted he burst onto the R & B/Pop scene like a thunderclap. However, it was his follow up disk, "Once Again" that I feel truly began to elaborate on his talent and eloquence more so than his debut, which was chock full of cameos and more hip hop flavors. Once Again opens with "Save Room", a mellow jazzy number that's memorable, not just for it's beat but for the fact that Legend's vocal stylings are so infectious. "Heaven", though a tad overburdened by the vocal overdub often repeating within the track, is another stellar R & B number that doesn't lose power with that minor annoyance. "PDA" and "Coming Home" are two additional standouts from this wonderful CD, but it's the disk's first to last closer "Another Again" that makes this disk superior to Legend's debut. It's rich with smooth vocals but it moves along with a great vibe and the singing soars to textured highs and lows more so than on some of the other tracks. I haven't had a chance to thoroughly go through J.L.'s most recent release but I look forward to it, and there might be a chance it shows up on this list next year!
8. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - Magic
With "The Rising", Bruce showed his fans he could explore the emotions and after effects of a horrible American tragedy without sounding overly dramatic or preachy (though he's been known to do so at live shows). The songs from that CD are fantastic, and most fail to falter even after repeated listenings years later. However, with "Magic", I think Springsteen hit a stride that he caught during The Rising, and honestly crafted in some ways a better record than his 2007 effort, though not enough to surpass its place on this list.
The funny thing about the CD is that it took awhile, and only after my wife suggested to me how good it was, to get me to finally start listening to it months after it came out. Considering how much I liked "The Rising" it was a odd that I waited so long but the wait was certainly worth it. From the opening of "Radio Nowhere", an edgy rocker that blends well with current musical trends, it's clear that this CD had the potential to be something special. "You'll Be Coming Down" follows, and although it's not charting any real new ground, it's catchy and appealing nonetheless. "Your Own Worst Enemy" is a personal favorite and another example of how Springsteen can craft hooky, pop flavored rock songs that weave their way under your skin with repeated playings. "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" and "I'll Work For Your Love" are fine examples of this as well, and highlights of the CD, though my personal favorite on the disk is "Long Walk Home", possibly because I enjoyed the live version so much. Regardless, the disk is fantastic and will not only have pleased longtime fans but likely brought in a number of newer ones as well (which was certainly evident from the amount of sub-25 year old fans at this past tours shows).
7. THE STROKES - Is This It
The fact that the Strokes exist make me proud to be a music fan. For a long time as the nineties came to a close I started to worry that the universe of rock/pop would devolve into an annoying blend of bad alternametal blended with rap/hip hop. Thankfully, bands like the Strokes restored my faith in not only music, but of the buying public and critics who paid attention to the trends.
"Is This It" is so good it should be required listening for all fans of rock and roll. The Rolling Stones don't choose you as an opener for their tour(s) unless you piss vinegar and bleed attitude. These guys have it all, and combine that with some memorable if not simplistic riffing and a unique vocal styling/recording and you have a recipe for the kick ass debut from the Strokes. "Last Nite", the first single is almost a slower punk-ish tune, with a bouncy riff that just begs you not to bob your head. "Someday", a song I forced my first band to cover, and they eventually came to worship, is another jamming garage rock tune that's so infectious yet simple you just find yourself tapping your foot long after it's over. When the guitars ring out and the bass just plods along on the open E string at the end of each chorus you can feel yourself wishing you had long hair to just shake around like a crazed muppet! "Hard to Explain" is another uptempo bopper that recalls late 50's/early 60's music of the UK, a place where bands like the Strokes and Kings of Leon had always been in high favor. "Trying Your Luck" is a disk favorite for me, ripe with early 70's groove and style. A little more mellow and dark, it's a nice compliment to the more uptempo rockers on the disk. There really isn't a bad song on this brilliant debut CD and The Strokes continue to crank out great tunes, but this, for me, is just their masterpiece.
6. U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind/ How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb (Tie)
I really hate lists that include ties, but I really had no choice with these selections. I know, I know, seems like a cop out but I really spent some time re-listening to both CD's and I truly couldn't pick a favorite. So, with # 6 here we have the legends U2 and their two stellar efforts since 2000, ATYCLB and HTDAAB. Before both came out I recall having a discussion with another U2 fan who was severely depressed with the direction U2 had gone since the mid mid 90's/"Pop" era. I couldn't blame him, as it didn't fully represent what I feel is the best of U2, who are always amazing with their simple yet eloquent tunes and arena-busting rockers. I assured this friend that U2 would be back on their game soon, and with "All..." they certainly were.
Though "Walk On" and "Beautiful Day" probably got the most attention and airplay (and seemed to be most reminiscent of pre-90's U2), for me it was the hypnotic and beautiful "Kite", written about Bono's father. The bridge in that song, from "I'm a maaaannnnn, I'm not a child..." just gives me the chills with it's dramatic vulnerability and declaration. U2 have always been about drama and emotion but this tune, more so than any since the 80's, really swells with it and delivers to the listener, without being over the top. "Walk On" is a great U2 radio song as well, and "In a Little While" has always been another favorite, with it's bluesy/gritty feel and hooky vocal lines (slow down my beating heart...). Without question, ATYCLB was a great return from probably the best band in the world. The only reason this CD, and the next, didn't crack the Top 5 is that I have set such high standards for these guys I feel that they have even greater things to come.
With "How to Dismantle..." U2 basically stayed in the same place they were with ATYCLB, crafting another masterpiece of dramatic yet stylish pop rock that is layered with beautiful textured sounds. The Edge (David Evans) is rarely in the Top 20 on "best guitarist" lists but it's really unfair, as what he does stylistically with his extremely supple wrist, allowing for gorgeous strumming, can't be overlooked. he also knows when not to overplay and when to use effects. The same can be said of the bassist Adam Clayton. Although he lacks any real flash or speed with his playing, he often plays with a jazz-musician mentality, using the bass as not just a beat but a whole other entity within the song. Then, one track later he's just filling in the holes and laying behind the guitar and vocals. Bono's singing has always been impressive, and there's no question Larry Mullen, Jr. is a great drummer, but it's what these guys do as a cohesive unit that creates magic. "City of Blinding Light" is a favorite from this disk, with it's haunting guitar riff and ambient melody. "Vertigo" is an in your face, don't-forget-you-can-still
5. IRON MAIDEN - A Matter of Life and Death
It's easy to understand how many music fans ignore or claim to dislike Heavy Metal. A lot of the music is very loud, overly distorted and somewhat angry. Many metal bands write lyrics dealing with death, the occult and general misery and most of the players look like guys who would rather stab you in the eye than say hello. However, with certain metal bands, if you can get by the volume and the lyrics and the looks, you'll find at their core a solid bunch of musicians, and this certainly the case with Iron Maiden.
These guys are dripping with talent...from the expansive and acrobatic vocal range of Bruce Dickinson to the furious but always interesting drumming of Nicko McBrain, to the mesmerizing riffing/solos of the tri-guitar attack of Smith/Murray and Gers and finally the galloping mayhem of Steve Harris' magical Fender P Bass. Iron Maiden have all the tools, but as is the case with many talented bands, that doesn't necessarily always result in great recorded music. Well, with "A Matter of Life and Death", Iron Maiden not only shamed much of their comrades in the "senior metal" genre, but they embarrassed most of their younger competition as well.
AMOLAD is a shining achievement on many levels. It opens with the strong but radio-friendly "Different World, complete with haunting vocal hook from Dickinson and plenty of multi-guitar harmonies, as is their trademark. Tracks like "Brighter Than a Thousand Suns" and "The Reincarnation of Benjamin Breeg" certify that no one tops Maiden in the "slow building hard rocker". These guys have always been a phenomenal live band, but what they've done with this exceptional CD is found a way to convey that intense live sound/energy to a studio recording. "The Longest Day", "Out of the Shadows" and "Lord of Light" are three others that standout on this superb disk, but for me it's the stellar "For the Greater Good of God" and the closer "The Legacy" that make this disk a definitive Top 10. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" off the brilliant 80's disk Powerslave showed that Maiden could write long, epic songs that were slow to build but always interesting and solidly metal. Well, FTGGOG and The Legacy are no exception to that rule, and in many ways trump previous efforts to top Rime. Everyone in the metal game should go back and listen to this superior disk and remember that it's made by a bunch of guys working their way into their 50's, and take some notes. There should be no doubt that Maiden are one of, if not the best, metal band in the world today.
4. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN - The Rising
Although I grew up a hard rock/metal fan, during the late 80's I went through a pretty intense Springsteen phase. I had heard the classics like "Born to Run" and "Rosalita" a thousand times before and always respected the songs for what they were: great classic rock and roll tunes. However, it was tracks off "The River" like "Drive All Night", with it's almost pathetic longing and devotion to his lover, and "Jungleland", with it's haunting and melancholoy sax solo that truly hooked me in; there's never been any doubt that Bruce Springsteen is a great rock and roll artist, but songs like that just showed a more raw and vulnerable side that I preferred to his uptempo numbers. So, when 9/11 hit and the days that followed were filled with unease and mourning, there was never any doubt that the veteran songwriter from Jersey would be back with a great album that dealt with the emotions surrounding the tragic event.
"The Rising" was the first time Bruce had recorded a full album with the E Street Band in 18 years, and what a glorious reunion it was. From the fantastic first track, "Lonesome Day", which to this day is in my top 5 of live songs he performs, to the slow-building, neighborhood party atmosphere of "Mary's Place", this CD just fails to disappoint in any way. The album weaves it's way between moderate and up tempo numbers like the previously mentioned tracks, and wonderfully blends in slow, melancholy numbers like "Into the Fire" and "My City of Ruin", and the painfully beautiful "You're Missing". Springsteen certainly captured the emotions surrounding the days and months following 9/11 in a way that was genuine and not overly depressing, all the while seasoned with elements of rejuvenation and brotherhood. It was the right album at the right time, and whether you always agree with his politics or not, it can't be disputed that The Rising was a triumph.
3. INTERPOL - Antics
I started to really pay attention to Interpol around the same time I was listening to The Killers a lot, even though I had purchased this CD long before their debut had come out. I just remember having both CD's in the back seat of my car and only getting around to putting The Killers into the CD changer, until one day I finally decided to grab "Antics" and pop it in again. It would be my first listing since I skimmed through it in late 2004. HOLY F**KING S**T was I impressed!!
Although the opening track, "Next Exit" has never been a favorite, and possibly a reason why I failed to give this CD a thorough listen when I first got it, when I listened to it this time somehow it hooked me. Paul Banks, the lead vocalist/guitarist, has such a strangely hypnotic voice that it's hard to ignore and not be drawn in to. Couple that with the early 80's, British New Wave-esque guitar sounds and you have a band that has a formula for some inspired creations. "Evil", with it's simplistic yet hooky bass line and intensifying volume during the chorus is fantastic. "Take You On A Cruise" is darkly intriguing and mesmerizes with some of it's vocals and finishes like a great glass of wine. "C'mere" is as good as any up tempo New Wave/Alternative rock song has ever been, and "Slow Hands" is a gritty thumper that received a lot of rotation on alternative radio. The true majesty of this disk, however, lies within the brilliant "Narc", a slow building, intoxicating track that to me might be the best Alternative song written this decade. It's possible I have listened to this tune a thousand times since I first heard it, and there may be that many more plays before this decade is up. The simplistic guitar riff, mixed with the vocal building into the chorus is just stunning. Although I don't love where the song heads in the bridge, it pays the listener back by getting back on track and finishing strong ("You should be in my space..."). There haven't been that many CD's I can honestly say didn't leave my CD changer in my car for over a solid year, but this was one of them, and deserved every play it got, and still gets today.
2. KINGS OF LEON - Because of the Times
Wow, was this a hard one to write. Any of you that know me, or notice my Facebook posts regularly, know how big a fan of Kings of Leon I am. I have seen them live twice in less than two months, have tickets to their MSG show in January and am contemplating a trip to the UK in June to see them play Wembley! Ok, so I am obsessed, sue me! It would be hard not to love a band made up of three brothers and a cousin (The Followills) from Tennesse who like to drink and get in fights, but luckily these guys actually write great music to boot!
Anyway, my enjoyment of this band actually started awhile back with their debut "Youth and Young Manhood", in 2003. They actually released the EP "Holy Roller Novacaine" the same year and 4 of those songs ended up on that disk. They had such a dirty, backwoods, and edgy southern rock feel that I fell for them quickly. I listened to the disk a number of times and quickly bought the next two that followed but failed to ever give them the listening time I should have, though I recall loving "The Bucket" and "Four Kicks" and "Pistol of Fire", all from Aha Shake Heartbreak. Then, just 6 weeks before the release of their newest CD, "Only By the Night", another exceptional effort, I went back and listened to their third CD, "Because of the Times" in full on my Itunes while I played online chess of all things. Almost like I had just drank an entire bottle of Red Bull spiked with ecstasy, something came over me that just took control of my musical senses and just said "HOLY S**T" and awoke me to the brilliance that is KOL. I had the CD in a mixed order and the first track was "Arizona", a slow moving tune that's sonically pretty and has such a simple yet addictive bassline that I had to immediately learn and play it after hearing the song. "Fans" followed, and without hesitation this tune worked it's way into my senses like few others have and may be what I feel is their best song overall. Though it's written about experiences in London, it's always been a live favorite here as well and it may still have the record for most plays in a row of any one song when I played it 10 times in a row last month. That particular track has that quality, on an even more intense level, that many Dead songs have in that you almost can't listen to it and not be forced into a good mood. "Knocked Up" was next and just knocked me over with it's slow thumping intro and build. You can hear the fear and anxiety in this song about the possibility of new life between a volatile couple. I think the song would have been great if it had stayed mellow the whole way through, but it kicks it up a notch just long enough to make the song more interesting. "Charmer", "True Love Way, "Ragoo" and "My Party" are other tracks that make this a phenomenal disk, but for me it's the one-two punch of "McFearless" and "Black Thumbnail" that add just enough mojo to push this disk far up the list. McFearless is filled with brilliant drumming and stinging alternative rock guitar sounds but it's the vocals from Caleb in what you'd likely call the chorus that make this track so memorable. There's a desperation and fragility in his singing on this track that is so intriguing that I wish I could get in touch with whatever emotions he was feeling when it was recorded so I could channel them into my own writing. "Black Thumbnail", a no-frills killer rocker that was their choice to close the show I saw in Boston, is one of those tunes that just overcomes you after repeated plays. It's not breaking any new ground, it has no individual musical sections that are particularly impressive, and it's not filled with hooks...but it just f**king rips! If KOL ended every show with this track they'd be doing themselves no disservice. The live stage is really where Kings of Leon take control and dominate, but "Because of the Times" is such a stellar recording it deserves high praise, and a very high spot on my list. So why was this "hard to write", as I mentioned earlier? Well, their other three CD's are all fantastic and picking a favorite is nearly impossible for a devoted fan. Even the new CD "Only By the Night", though more pop-flavored and richly produced, is a triumph and worthy of high praise. However, in order to avoid stuffing this list with ties, BOTT needs to be the choice, and should be required listening for all rock and roll fans and be worshipped by all!. I guess when you're chosen to open shows for U2, Pearl Jam and Bob Dylan and called a "favorite" by Radiohead, however, it's high praise enough.
1. AUDIOSLAVE - Audioslave
I agonized for quite some time about which CD should be # 1 on my list and it essentially was between 2 bands and 3 CD's. The second 2 CD's from KOL and the first and from Audioslave, and the former's debut just kept coming out ahead, and for good reason.
I was always a casual fan of Rage Against the Machine, and a much larger fan of Soundgarden and Chris Cornell. So when you take arguably the best hard rock/alternative vocalists and add them to one of the most intense and successful hard rock/rap fusion bands out there, you're sure to have a finished product that's worth checking out. Well, "Audioslave" was better than just a great debut from a hybrid Supergroup, it was and still is an exceptional piece of rock and roll and will likely be timeless.
From the opening of "Cochise", the killer arena-busting first single, you know you're listening to something cool. It's not Radiohead, it's not Coldplay, it's not Opeth or Coheed and Cambria, this opening track is just kick-you-in-teeth-slam-you
I think a big part of me choosing this band as # 1 on the list, and more specifically this disk, is that I got a chance to see Audioslave when they toured and to this day it's probably the most impressive hard rock show I have ever seen. These guys were ON FIRE and tighter than any band I have ever seen. Tracks like Cochise and Shadow On the Sun were so impressive and so full of passion that I simply can't recall a hard rock or metal band topping what they pulled off that night, and that includes Iron Maiden, who are kings of the live stage as well. Also, when these guys released this disk, having been so bummed by the demise of Soundgarden, I wasn't expecting an earth shattering CD, I was just expecting something cool to listen to. What I got was a CD that just blew me, and a lot of other rock fans, away. Now, with Soundgarden and Audioslave gone, and persistent but varying rumors about Rage recording new material together again, it's one of a few from them I have to be content with. Although all three are great, and I strongly considered adding their last, "Revelations" to the list as well, in the end I had to go with their debut. It was a great CD that knocked me on my ass and continues to be played in heavy rotation by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of rock and roll fans. In my opinion, this decade has not seen or heard a better rock record.
Honorable Mentions:
Radiohead - "In Rainbows", Green Day - "American Idiot", David Gilmour - "On An Island", Weezer- "Weezer", Kings of Leon - "Youth and Young Manhood" & "Aha Shake Heartbreak", Metallica - "Death Magnetic, Fair to Midland - "Fables From A Mayfly", Black Crowes - "Warpaint", The Killers - "Hot Fuss"
Monday, November 17, 2008
Compassion...forgiveness
During a recent political argument with an ex girlfriend she mentioned to me, "You're the most compassionate person I know...how come you're not a liberal??!!" I laughed and offered some of my standard ideological explanations that I won't rehash now, but her "compliment" was taken to heart and it made me think a little about where I am as a person and where I may be headed as a parent (hopefully) someday soon. It also became even more relevant when a past event was brought back into light through this wonderful universe of Facebook...
As some of you know, there's a certain individual from the glorious days of Suffield High that I was pretty close buddies with who, on a couple occasions, did some financially disrespectful things to me. They were not life threatening, they didn't result in anyone being framed for murder or losing a limb or suffering any lifelong mental anguish; they were just disappointing. It was particularly upsetting considering this former pal and I, at least I thought, shared a pretty close kinship in the sense that we were both a little off the beaten path comedically (no, it's NOT Hodge!), we shared some sports and musical interests and there was just a general solidity to the friendly bond we had. I had learned of some earlier nefarious acts committed on his part but they were rather minor and not committed against any of his close friends, so I was never concerned about being buddies with the guy. As a young kid I did some pretty crazy things, tossing Pumpkins and logs at Mailboxes (Hey L.G, how are ya!) and spray painting odd things on people's barns and various other acts of juvenile mayhem, however I had never intentionally screwed over a friend. I suppose I was naive enough to think that because I lived my life that way, that those close to me would adhere to the same code...though sadly I was wrong.
So here it is many years later, everyone's older, starting families, growing more worldly and wise and I am certain many people, including this person, are not totally proud of everything they have ever done in their lives; I know I have made mistakes I wish I could go back and fix. In these specific instances though, a guy like me who has always agreed with "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me", finds it tough to just let it go and move forward, even if the situation is rectified/apologized for, etc. What certainty do I have that allowing this person back in, per se, will not result in another such indiscretion on their part; illicit or otherwise. I think the answer is that there can be no such certainty, and therein lies the dilemma.
Most that know me well have heard the stories of me transitioning from a very shy and quiet kid who was often picked on up through 7th grade, to a more outgoing and self-assured adolescent when I moved to Suffield. I certainly wasn't always the funniest or nicest or toughest kid, but I made a conscious decision to live my High School and later years as someone who made an effort to get along with everyone but who would also never back down from a fight if I was threatened or mistreated. As I got older and began various Martial Arts studies, I really tried to absorb the principles of these teachings, such as avoidance of conflict, not being an aggressor and even forgiveness. It's not always easy to do but I have managed to stay out of a lot of potential fights in the last 15 years because of these principles, and I try to apply them to non-physical conflict as well whenever I can.
Ok, so knowing that I wish to avoid conflict, physical or otherwise, what is the best path for dealing with this old "friend", twenty years later? Do I forgive and take the risk that forgiveness will lead me to place that only fosters deep anger should things unravel again? Do I have faith in the idea that people can and do change, and that everyone has a place inside them that longs to be good and decent and nurturing to those they know? As my ex had mentioned, I can be a very compassionate person. I give what I can to numerous charities, I offer my help to strangers whenever presented with the opportunity and I have a genuine love and affection for the potential of the human soul which I still feel, though often reluctantly, wants to be kind and honest. Do I extend this compassion and forgiveness to someone who's wronged me more than once, and put faith in what time and life lessons may have taught them, knowing I could be the beneficiary of another disappointment if nothing's changed?
These are hard questions to answer for most people, though some will always elect forgiveness and some will always seek vengeance. I don't like being an "all or nothing" kinda guy and I am at a place in life where seeking revenge for petty acts committed 20 years ago is not only useless and somewhat childish, but in many ways even pathetic. There was even a time many years ago when I did something I was not at all proud of and someone close to me chose to forgive me for that, though they had every right not to; that selfless and thoughtful act has made it hard for me to hold lifelong grudges against anyone.
I think what I need to do is what I would tell anyone I care for to do in the same situation. Something that's been said a million times in history and spells out a pretty decent plan for any similar scenario:
I will forgive, but I will never forget.
As some of you know, there's a certain individual from the glorious days of Suffield High that I was pretty close buddies with who, on a couple occasions, did some financially disrespectful things to me. They were not life threatening, they didn't result in anyone being framed for murder or losing a limb or suffering any lifelong mental anguish; they were just disappointing. It was particularly upsetting considering this former pal and I, at least I thought, shared a pretty close kinship in the sense that we were both a little off the beaten path comedically (no, it's NOT Hodge!), we shared some sports and musical interests and there was just a general solidity to the friendly bond we had. I had learned of some earlier nefarious acts committed on his part but they were rather minor and not committed against any of his close friends, so I was never concerned about being buddies with the guy. As a young kid I did some pretty crazy things, tossing Pumpkins and logs at Mailboxes (Hey L.G, how are ya!) and spray painting odd things on people's barns and various other acts of juvenile mayhem, however I had never intentionally screwed over a friend. I suppose I was naive enough to think that because I lived my life that way, that those close to me would adhere to the same code...though sadly I was wrong.
So here it is many years later, everyone's older, starting families, growing more worldly and wise and I am certain many people, including this person, are not totally proud of everything they have ever done in their lives; I know I have made mistakes I wish I could go back and fix. In these specific instances though, a guy like me who has always agreed with "Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me", finds it tough to just let it go and move forward, even if the situation is rectified/apologized for, etc. What certainty do I have that allowing this person back in, per se, will not result in another such indiscretion on their part; illicit or otherwise. I think the answer is that there can be no such certainty, and therein lies the dilemma.
Most that know me well have heard the stories of me transitioning from a very shy and quiet kid who was often picked on up through 7th grade, to a more outgoing and self-assured adolescent when I moved to Suffield. I certainly wasn't always the funniest or nicest or toughest kid, but I made a conscious decision to live my High School and later years as someone who made an effort to get along with everyone but who would also never back down from a fight if I was threatened or mistreated. As I got older and began various Martial Arts studies, I really tried to absorb the principles of these teachings, such as avoidance of conflict, not being an aggressor and even forgiveness. It's not always easy to do but I have managed to stay out of a lot of potential fights in the last 15 years because of these principles, and I try to apply them to non-physical conflict as well whenever I can.
Ok, so knowing that I wish to avoid conflict, physical or otherwise, what is the best path for dealing with this old "friend", twenty years later? Do I forgive and take the risk that forgiveness will lead me to place that only fosters deep anger should things unravel again? Do I have faith in the idea that people can and do change, and that everyone has a place inside them that longs to be good and decent and nurturing to those they know? As my ex had mentioned, I can be a very compassionate person. I give what I can to numerous charities, I offer my help to strangers whenever presented with the opportunity and I have a genuine love and affection for the potential of the human soul which I still feel, though often reluctantly, wants to be kind and honest. Do I extend this compassion and forgiveness to someone who's wronged me more than once, and put faith in what time and life lessons may have taught them, knowing I could be the beneficiary of another disappointment if nothing's changed?
These are hard questions to answer for most people, though some will always elect forgiveness and some will always seek vengeance. I don't like being an "all or nothing" kinda guy and I am at a place in life where seeking revenge for petty acts committed 20 years ago is not only useless and somewhat childish, but in many ways even pathetic. There was even a time many years ago when I did something I was not at all proud of and someone close to me chose to forgive me for that, though they had every right not to; that selfless and thoughtful act has made it hard for me to hold lifelong grudges against anyone.
I think what I need to do is what I would tell anyone I care for to do in the same situation. Something that's been said a million times in history and spells out a pretty decent plan for any similar scenario:
I will forgive, but I will never forget.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Obama, McCain and a # 9 Pocket...
I was at a local sandwich shop yesterday, waiting in line, and a political ad for a state senator came on the radio. It was typical over the top, sensationalized content bashing the guy's opponent. There was a little girl coloring behind the counter, the daughter of a woman who manages the place, and she heard the ad and decided she'd make a comment; "Is that Mo-bama, mom?" Her mom laughed, as did I and a guy standing in line with me. Apparently even the seven-year-olds of the world were absorbing some of the Obama-mania that has been saturating the radio and television airwaves, and she innocently confused this ad for a fellow Democrat with one for Obama. It was a very cute moment, from an adorable little girl.
The guy standing next to me, a early forties African American, laughed when he heard the girl ask the question and after her mom explained that it was an ad for someone else, the guy says, "So this is going to be one hell of an election, eh?" to which I replied, "I think so." He asked, "So who you going for, McCain or Obama?" Personally I am not bothered at all about revealing such things, but I know that the couple seated about 30 feet away looked rather shocked, as if he had asked me when the last time I pleasured myself was. Politics is a very personal thing, and I get that, but I have no problem answering such a simple question in public. The conversation, though paraphrased a bit, went as follows:
"I think I am going to have to go McCain, though it's not an enthusiastic vote," I reply.
"Yeah, I hear that. I have listened to both these guys speak on things and I don't know if anyone really represents me completely but I feel like I have to give my vote to Obama."
"Why is that?" I asked. The couple sitting in the booth nearby leaned in a little, eager to hear where this might be going.
"Well, to be honest because I think it might be a good thing to give a black man a chance. I think it might help heal some wounds and open some doors that have been closed for a lot of people, not just blacks or minorities either."
This is the kind of conversation that can make a lot of people, especially white folks, very nervous. These discussions have been going on ever since Obama became the nominee, and relation-discussions between blacks and whites have gone on forever, but in the current election climate it can seem like it's a dangerous road to venture down. I have never been a big fan of holding back or suppressing feelings, and my neighbor in line here didn't seem to be either, so I had no fears about engaging in this topic.
"You know, I don't dispute that, not at all. I think Obama represents a lot of things that are great about this country and I think that just having him in office will likely inspire/motivate a number of people who might not have otherwise been inclined to be. I worry about his tax policies and his ability to fund a lot of his programs, but who knows how many of those will get off the ground anyway. I am a little uneasy with the idea of people voting based solely on race, religion, hair color, etc etc, but I understand your point and I can't say that if I was a minority that I might not vote for someone I felt represented my community in a way that was positive and uplifting, even if I didn't believe in all of his platforms."
From this point on, after I placed my order and he did the same, we waited in line and discussed the political positions of Obama and McCain in pretty great detail. William, as I learned his name after we shook hands and left the restaurant awhile later, had a lot of insightful and thought provoking things to say about not only the election and politics in general, but also about the black community and the US population as a whole. It became increasingly clear to me that although I feel the opportunities for minorities in this country have never been better, the possibility of an Obama administration was not simply about "Look what a black man can do" but rather about "Let's support a leadership role that's not the status quo". As I explained my tepid support for McCain, and his ability to work with both parties effectively, William was in almost total agreement, and even complimented him on his military and foreign policy skills, and only really disagreed with his choice to initially support the Iraq War. We talked about inner city education, taxes, abortion, energy and even the Jeremiah Wright situation, which he brought up simply by saying "I think there is a general misconception by white people that black folks don't like them, which was intensified by that whole mess with Wright. I think if you ask most black folks to tell the truth, it's that some are cautious, not spiteful." Whether Jeremiah Wright represented a small fraction or a majority of their population is not really relevant in terms of an Obama administration because only an idiot would assume any bias his preacher had is going to spill over into any facet of his leadership.
As we wrapped up the conversation I told him that I would still likely be voting for McCain based solely on fiscal/defense policy but that if Obama won I would be be in support of him as a leader, and at least give him a chance to get things done in his first few years in office. Although many of Obama's positions are counter to what I feel the best way to improve an economy or defend a country are, I am not someone who is against the idea of trying things another way from time to time; I have been proven wrong before and I will admit defeat when my battles are lost. I think what I learned most from talking with William for those 20 minutes or so was that we live in a pretty amazing country and one that has had a somewhat checkered past, but one that has had some amazing triumphs as well. It's not all "black and white" out there, it's not one way or the other and it's not Obama or McCain that will cure the ails of any one individual. It's two people that live side by side, though from vastly different worlds, talking to one another about the real issues that affect everyone and how best to make things better for all of us going forward. I think William would agree that whether Obama or McCain gets elected, the only chance of the economy rebounding and the "mood of the country" improving is if we as a nation make that happen together.
What a glorious world it would be if we could get to that place...
The guy standing next to me, a early forties African American, laughed when he heard the girl ask the question and after her mom explained that it was an ad for someone else, the guy says, "So this is going to be one hell of an election, eh?" to which I replied, "I think so." He asked, "So who you going for, McCain or Obama?" Personally I am not bothered at all about revealing such things, but I know that the couple seated about 30 feet away looked rather shocked, as if he had asked me when the last time I pleasured myself was. Politics is a very personal thing, and I get that, but I have no problem answering such a simple question in public. The conversation, though paraphrased a bit, went as follows:
"I think I am going to have to go McCain, though it's not an enthusiastic vote," I reply.
"Yeah, I hear that. I have listened to both these guys speak on things and I don't know if anyone really represents me completely but I feel like I have to give my vote to Obama."
"Why is that?" I asked. The couple sitting in the booth nearby leaned in a little, eager to hear where this might be going.
"Well, to be honest because I think it might be a good thing to give a black man a chance. I think it might help heal some wounds and open some doors that have been closed for a lot of people, not just blacks or minorities either."
This is the kind of conversation that can make a lot of people, especially white folks, very nervous. These discussions have been going on ever since Obama became the nominee, and relation-discussions between blacks and whites have gone on forever, but in the current election climate it can seem like it's a dangerous road to venture down. I have never been a big fan of holding back or suppressing feelings, and my neighbor in line here didn't seem to be either, so I had no fears about engaging in this topic.
"You know, I don't dispute that, not at all. I think Obama represents a lot of things that are great about this country and I think that just having him in office will likely inspire/motivate a number of people who might not have otherwise been inclined to be. I worry about his tax policies and his ability to fund a lot of his programs, but who knows how many of those will get off the ground anyway. I am a little uneasy with the idea of people voting based solely on race, religion, hair color, etc etc, but I understand your point and I can't say that if I was a minority that I might not vote for someone I felt represented my community in a way that was positive and uplifting, even if I didn't believe in all of his platforms."
From this point on, after I placed my order and he did the same, we waited in line and discussed the political positions of Obama and McCain in pretty great detail. William, as I learned his name after we shook hands and left the restaurant awhile later, had a lot of insightful and thought provoking things to say about not only the election and politics in general, but also about the black community and the US population as a whole. It became increasingly clear to me that although I feel the opportunities for minorities in this country have never been better, the possibility of an Obama administration was not simply about "Look what a black man can do" but rather about "Let's support a leadership role that's not the status quo". As I explained my tepid support for McCain, and his ability to work with both parties effectively, William was in almost total agreement, and even complimented him on his military and foreign policy skills, and only really disagreed with his choice to initially support the Iraq War. We talked about inner city education, taxes, abortion, energy and even the Jeremiah Wright situation, which he brought up simply by saying "I think there is a general misconception by white people that black folks don't like them, which was intensified by that whole mess with Wright. I think if you ask most black folks to tell the truth, it's that some are cautious, not spiteful." Whether Jeremiah Wright represented a small fraction or a majority of their population is not really relevant in terms of an Obama administration because only an idiot would assume any bias his preacher had is going to spill over into any facet of his leadership.
As we wrapped up the conversation I told him that I would still likely be voting for McCain based solely on fiscal/defense policy but that if Obama won I would be be in support of him as a leader, and at least give him a chance to get things done in his first few years in office. Although many of Obama's positions are counter to what I feel the best way to improve an economy or defend a country are, I am not someone who is against the idea of trying things another way from time to time; I have been proven wrong before and I will admit defeat when my battles are lost. I think what I learned most from talking with William for those 20 minutes or so was that we live in a pretty amazing country and one that has had a somewhat checkered past, but one that has had some amazing triumphs as well. It's not all "black and white" out there, it's not one way or the other and it's not Obama or McCain that will cure the ails of any one individual. It's two people that live side by side, though from vastly different worlds, talking to one another about the real issues that affect everyone and how best to make things better for all of us going forward. I think William would agree that whether Obama or McCain gets elected, the only chance of the economy rebounding and the "mood of the country" improving is if we as a nation make that happen together.
What a glorious world it would be if we could get to that place...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Gone Baby Gone...in the "Top 5"!!
Anyone that knows me will surely tell you I have at least 40 movies in my "all time top 5". It probably started about 20 years ago when I decided that "Angel Heart" was the greatest movie ever made and forced numerous pals and girlfriends to watch it with me, none of whom were as impressed as I was by the film. Over the years my Top 5 has grown to legendary status, and includes such classics as "Some Like It Hot" and "The Goodbye Girl" to modern pictures like "Gladiator" and "LA Confidential". The one thing that has remained a constant is "The Shawshank Redemption" sitting comfortably atop the list as my personal favorite film of all time, however, for the first time in a long while there is a dark horse that has leaped over some of the others and started to nip at the heels of the mighty Shawshank...
If someone asked me a couple years ago if I would ever spend $10 on a movie directed by Ben Affleck I would have first punched them in the eye and then laughed out loud for a solid minute. After I had gathered myself and then kicked them in the sack, I would answer sternly, "No f**king way asswipe," and be done with it. Why would a film lover, someone who usually agrees with many professional critics and takes the time to search for what lies beneath the obvious exterior of the average movie and dissect it, ever assume that Ben Affleck would be allowed to direct a movie never mind actually attempt to? They might as well have asked me if I thought Reese's Peanut Butter cups would suddenly start sucking...ridiculous!
Well, here it is years later and alas, Ben Affleck has indeed directed a movie. A BRILLIANT, engrossing, visually engaging, exceptionally acted, captivating morality tale that captures a slice of the South Boston experience like no other film has, including Mystic River. Now, don't get me wrong, Mystic River was a great film (in my Top 5!) and superbly directed by the all time great Clint Eastwood, but it is somehow not quite as captivating as "Gone Baby Gone". Sure, they were both stories penned by the excellent local writer Dennis LeHane about the perceptions of different people in this same environment and the catastrophic results they can cause, but Gone Baby Gone, for me at least, just captures the spirit of the inhabitants of this neighborhood more beautifully. The story unfolds in a real and tangible manner, spearheaded by the minimalist yet stunningly well acted performance of Casey Affleck, Ben's little brother. Trust me on this, Ben should stay behind the camera and let Casey handle the acting chops for as long as they both shall live. If this film is not proof enough of that, also check out Casey in the exceptional "The Assassination of Jesse James..."
Gone Baby Gone has style and intrigue and mystery, interwoven with tension and darkness that is palpable, all the while keeping you entertained with it's story and shocking language that would be comical if it weren't so representative of the actual people that inhabit this area of Massachusetts. This movie asks you to make choices, though the characters have made theirs, for right or wrong. This movie leads many of us to places we probably don't feel comfortable going but should think about visiting from time to time. It's truly a masterpiece and deserved a worthy marketing campaign and promotion to support it's wonderful gift to the audience, but sadly it was never marketed thoroughly enough when it was released last year.
Gone Baby Gone is likely going to start tearing off little pieces of Shawshank in my Top 5, and that's OK. Shawshank was a brilliant movie that was nearly flawless and will never leave that list. However, as long as guys who can't act their way out of a speeding ticket who also dated Latino dancer/singer/actresses with huge asses continue to make magic like this on film, there will always be movies breathing down its neck. My Top 5 may continue to grow, and that's OK because I really just enjoy great movies and it's hard not to give them the recognition they deserve. Interestingly though, no one really knows or cares about my Top 5 or ever consulted me for any reviews or opinions, so, whether it's a Top 5 or a Top 1000 is almost irrelevant. I guess I just like the small compact number and by telling someone who asks how a movie was, replying "It's in my Top 5 movies ever!" , seems like a good response that creates some urgency.
Gone Baby Gone deserved an Oscar, that's just the crazy truth about Ben's little film. His brother could have won best Actor and there would have been no injustice in that. Sounds crazy, I know, but the movie is just that good and is firmly placed in my Top 5. I did hear that Scott Baio is directing a remake of "The Dirty Dozen" with Mr. T and Gilbert Gottfreid starring so a little more room might need to be reserved in the near future. Until then, the Top 5 is "closed".
If someone asked me a couple years ago if I would ever spend $10 on a movie directed by Ben Affleck I would have first punched them in the eye and then laughed out loud for a solid minute. After I had gathered myself and then kicked them in the sack, I would answer sternly, "No f**king way asswipe," and be done with it. Why would a film lover, someone who usually agrees with many professional critics and takes the time to search for what lies beneath the obvious exterior of the average movie and dissect it, ever assume that Ben Affleck would be allowed to direct a movie never mind actually attempt to? They might as well have asked me if I thought Reese's Peanut Butter cups would suddenly start sucking...ridiculous!
Well, here it is years later and alas, Ben Affleck has indeed directed a movie. A BRILLIANT, engrossing, visually engaging, exceptionally acted, captivating morality tale that captures a slice of the South Boston experience like no other film has, including Mystic River. Now, don't get me wrong, Mystic River was a great film (in my Top 5!) and superbly directed by the all time great Clint Eastwood, but it is somehow not quite as captivating as "Gone Baby Gone". Sure, they were both stories penned by the excellent local writer Dennis LeHane about the perceptions of different people in this same environment and the catastrophic results they can cause, but Gone Baby Gone, for me at least, just captures the spirit of the inhabitants of this neighborhood more beautifully. The story unfolds in a real and tangible manner, spearheaded by the minimalist yet stunningly well acted performance of Casey Affleck, Ben's little brother. Trust me on this, Ben should stay behind the camera and let Casey handle the acting chops for as long as they both shall live. If this film is not proof enough of that, also check out Casey in the exceptional "The Assassination of Jesse James..."
Gone Baby Gone has style and intrigue and mystery, interwoven with tension and darkness that is palpable, all the while keeping you entertained with it's story and shocking language that would be comical if it weren't so representative of the actual people that inhabit this area of Massachusetts. This movie asks you to make choices, though the characters have made theirs, for right or wrong. This movie leads many of us to places we probably don't feel comfortable going but should think about visiting from time to time. It's truly a masterpiece and deserved a worthy marketing campaign and promotion to support it's wonderful gift to the audience, but sadly it was never marketed thoroughly enough when it was released last year.
Gone Baby Gone is likely going to start tearing off little pieces of Shawshank in my Top 5, and that's OK. Shawshank was a brilliant movie that was nearly flawless and will never leave that list. However, as long as guys who can't act their way out of a speeding ticket who also dated Latino dancer/singer/actresses with huge asses continue to make magic like this on film, there will always be movies breathing down its neck. My Top 5 may continue to grow, and that's OK because I really just enjoy great movies and it's hard not to give them the recognition they deserve. Interestingly though, no one really knows or cares about my Top 5 or ever consulted me for any reviews or opinions, so, whether it's a Top 5 or a Top 1000 is almost irrelevant. I guess I just like the small compact number and by telling someone who asks how a movie was, replying "It's in my Top 5 movies ever!" , seems like a good response that creates some urgency.
Gone Baby Gone deserved an Oscar, that's just the crazy truth about Ben's little film. His brother could have won best Actor and there would have been no injustice in that. Sounds crazy, I know, but the movie is just that good and is firmly placed in my Top 5. I did hear that Scott Baio is directing a remake of "The Dirty Dozen" with Mr. T and Gilbert Gottfreid starring so a little more room might need to be reserved in the near future. Until then, the Top 5 is "closed".
So who IS the best...don't get me started!
I have been doing a pretty decent job of avoiding political discussions this election season, which is amazing considering the attention this race has drawn. I have a select few friends, on both sides of the aisle, that I chat with semi-regularly and I do enjoy those discussions, even if I don't always agree with what's being "pitched". As much as I try to avoid the incessant bickering that goes along with political opinions, I find it nearly impossible to extract myself from any argument involving music, especially when it concerns the timeless question of "So who is the greatest guitar player of all time?" This is one discussion I will always be in the middle of when it comes up even though it may eventually cause me to stroke out.
Anyone who knows me understands that musical conversation, especially in the Rock and Roll realm, will always draw me in no matter my mood, temperament or current activity. It's as impossible for me to ignore as a plate of Suzy Q's, though arguably more healthy. Like politics, music can be a very personal thing, and even more so when the subject of favorite this or favorite that comes up. I have opinions, like all music fans do, but often times those opinions can be woven with simple scientific fact that for some reason, the knuckleheads trying to argue with me just can't seem to understand! Usually, the argument begins with, "You know who the greatest guitar player ever was? ____________________!" This is usually when I see red and quickly try to imagine soft white bunnies and whispery winds and calming waterfalls, in an attempt to stave off the intense rise in blood pressure I know is coming. It rarely works...
There are a lot of fantastic rock guitarist out there, some living and some dead, and all brought their own unique style and sound to Rock and Roll. There are players like Eddie Van Halen who took the hammer on/pulloff style to an entire new level, some would even try to say he invented it (he didn't). There are legendary neo-classical players like Richie Blackmore whose work with Deep Purple was imaginative and soaring and speedy and inventive, and sometimes just plain boring, oddly. There is Randy Rhoads, who was cut from a cloth similar to Blackmore and took the classically inspired sound to new heights while playing his short lived stint with Ozzy, and likely would have been a bigger legend than he is today had he lived beyond his 25 years. Of course many people worship and adore Jimmy Page, as do I, for he crafted some of the most recognizable and in-your-face Blues based riffs ever to hit the eardrum. David Gilmour from Pink Floyd often times gets overlooked when guitarist discussions come up because he was rarely flashy. However, his blues-drenched note bending and passionate timing is awe inspiring at times, especially on his later solo works. Aerosmith, in my opinion, have always been at their best when they are in stripped down, bluesy form and Joe Perry is shredding away. His style and technique is impeccable, interesting and messy all at the same time, and paved the way for later greats like Slash to come along and take it up a notch. These are all true legends of the instrument, indeed, and worthy of a place in the Top Ten...but none of them can match the magic and sheer intensity that the Top 3 bring to the game.
Eric Clapton was not called "slow hand" because he played slowly. It was actually a name given to him resulting from a "slow clap" that originated in his early club years, in respect to his brilliant, bluesy playing. Later he would be called "God" and be sought after by numerous bands and legends to compliment their works. I have seen him live a half dozen times now, most recently at MSG with Steve Winwood who played along side him in Blind Faith, and I can say with no reservations that he is the greatest living blues-rock guitar player alive today. The man can work his away around minor pentatonic scales and lazy rock riffs like no other player out there. I was in complete awe of what this legend did with those 6 strings that night as he took in your face blues to a dimension few of us have probably ever seen and likely never will again. He took fellow musicians to school while he captivated the casual fans, as he simultaneously intoxicated us all.
There will never be a list of greatest rock guitarist that doesn't include the late Jimi Hendrix.. it would be blasphemy and unquestionably grounds for a minor beating from me. The man took the guitar, broke it into a billion little pieces, rebuilt it again, added a hearty helping of distortion and just shot off for the moon. What was amazing about Hendrix is that so much of his writing and playing took place while he was high and in many performances he's utterly brilliant despite the limitations his state of mind placed on him. Even when Jimi was out of tune he was ON, man. He just took the Blues and set them right the f**k on fire and didn't look back. Guys like Clapton and Pete Townsend knew they were done after they saw him play, as he fortified his reputation in London earlier in is career before tearing up the States. He worked with some of the greats like Miles Davis in his career as well, and everyone that came into contact with Hendrix knew they were part of something special. Anyone who places him at the very top of a greatest guitarist list can't be faulted for the choice, and I almost agree with them...almost.
To me, the measure of a great guitar player is not just about the speed or timing or technicality of the playing, it's not even about the sound. The best players have a combination of all of these things and some excel in certain areas more so than their peers, however the very essence of a great guitarist, or any musician for that matter, is how they ignite your emotions. Do they connect with your soul on a level that's not able to be measured in beats per minute or decibels or originality alone? Can they convey the feeling of the song or the passion of their playing in ways that no others can? For me, the one person who was always able to do that better than any other was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
S.R.V used to go out on stage and feel that he was "channeling" Jimi Hendrix, who he worshiped. He played some of Jimi's tracks like Little Wing and Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) complete with feathery scarves and cowboy hats and a wild way about him, ripping through the songs like a man possessed. His interpretation were not only very accurate and complimentary, but they were even more inspired and electrifying than the originals. Stevie used heavier gauge strings to add "thickness" to his sound, but still managed to play faster and more harshly than Jimi, ramping up the bluesy rock numbers to a frantic pace and sometimes just shredding them to pieces. Then, in a blink he'd be bending a note with so much focus and passion that B.B. King would be stunned. Stevie Ray had long wanted to be a black man, he had said, and rightly paid tribute to many of the Blues greats like BB and Albert King and Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy with his playing, and often times sharing a stage with some of them as well. He blew them all away, and they knew it, and they loved it.
What Stevie Ray Vaughn did with the guitar was pick up where Jimi left off and inject a southern-inspired shot of adrenaline into it. He had what Jimi had and a little more, and not only played like a maniac but also wrote some great Blues Rock music to boot. If you watch him play live on any of the numerous live concerts available on DVD you'll see a man that was so in touch with his instrument I have often wondered if he wasn't cosmically connected to it. He was a technician beyond compare, but he was also a passionate soldier of the Blues that drenched every note with inspired emotion. S.R.V was the man, and that's just the way it goes.
Now, I understand there are still lots of people who prefer Jimi or Eric or Eddie, or many that think the younger gunslingers like Satriani and Vai are "the shit", and I do love and respect all these players as well. Guys like John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen are insanely talented, in another universe at times. Pete Townsend and The Edge and Alex Lifeson are all somewhat underrated legends of the 6 string that likely deserve more credit than they ever receive. Jazz players like John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth are so mind-numbingly impressive technically that it makes my head hurt to watch/listen to them play! However, for me the guitar is simply a vessel for administering joy and pain and inspiration and in my opinion the captain of that ship will always be Stevie Ray. He was a God among the divine, man.
My Top 10:
1. SRV
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Eric Clapton
4. Randy Rhoads
5.Jimmyi Page
6. David Gilmour
7. Eddie Van Halen
8. Richie Blackmore
9. Joe Perry
10. Eric Johnson/ Slash (tie)
Anyone who knows me understands that musical conversation, especially in the Rock and Roll realm, will always draw me in no matter my mood, temperament or current activity. It's as impossible for me to ignore as a plate of Suzy Q's, though arguably more healthy. Like politics, music can be a very personal thing, and even more so when the subject of favorite this or favorite that comes up. I have opinions, like all music fans do, but often times those opinions can be woven with simple scientific fact that for some reason, the knuckleheads trying to argue with me just can't seem to understand! Usually, the argument begins with, "You know who the greatest guitar player ever was? ____________________!" This is usually when I see red and quickly try to imagine soft white bunnies and whispery winds and calming waterfalls, in an attempt to stave off the intense rise in blood pressure I know is coming. It rarely works...
There are a lot of fantastic rock guitarist out there, some living and some dead, and all brought their own unique style and sound to Rock and Roll. There are players like Eddie Van Halen who took the hammer on/pulloff style to an entire new level, some would even try to say he invented it (he didn't). There are legendary neo-classical players like Richie Blackmore whose work with Deep Purple was imaginative and soaring and speedy and inventive, and sometimes just plain boring, oddly. There is Randy Rhoads, who was cut from a cloth similar to Blackmore and took the classically inspired sound to new heights while playing his short lived stint with Ozzy, and likely would have been a bigger legend than he is today had he lived beyond his 25 years. Of course many people worship and adore Jimmy Page, as do I, for he crafted some of the most recognizable and in-your-face Blues based riffs ever to hit the eardrum. David Gilmour from Pink Floyd often times gets overlooked when guitarist discussions come up because he was rarely flashy. However, his blues-drenched note bending and passionate timing is awe inspiring at times, especially on his later solo works. Aerosmith, in my opinion, have always been at their best when they are in stripped down, bluesy form and Joe Perry is shredding away. His style and technique is impeccable, interesting and messy all at the same time, and paved the way for later greats like Slash to come along and take it up a notch. These are all true legends of the instrument, indeed, and worthy of a place in the Top Ten...but none of them can match the magic and sheer intensity that the Top 3 bring to the game.
Eric Clapton was not called "slow hand" because he played slowly. It was actually a name given to him resulting from a "slow clap" that originated in his early club years, in respect to his brilliant, bluesy playing. Later he would be called "God" and be sought after by numerous bands and legends to compliment their works. I have seen him live a half dozen times now, most recently at MSG with Steve Winwood who played along side him in Blind Faith, and I can say with no reservations that he is the greatest living blues-rock guitar player alive today. The man can work his away around minor pentatonic scales and lazy rock riffs like no other player out there. I was in complete awe of what this legend did with those 6 strings that night as he took in your face blues to a dimension few of us have probably ever seen and likely never will again. He took fellow musicians to school while he captivated the casual fans, as he simultaneously intoxicated us all.
There will never be a list of greatest rock guitarist that doesn't include the late Jimi Hendrix.. it would be blasphemy and unquestionably grounds for a minor beating from me. The man took the guitar, broke it into a billion little pieces, rebuilt it again, added a hearty helping of distortion and just shot off for the moon. What was amazing about Hendrix is that so much of his writing and playing took place while he was high and in many performances he's utterly brilliant despite the limitations his state of mind placed on him. Even when Jimi was out of tune he was ON, man. He just took the Blues and set them right the f**k on fire and didn't look back. Guys like Clapton and Pete Townsend knew they were done after they saw him play, as he fortified his reputation in London earlier in is career before tearing up the States. He worked with some of the greats like Miles Davis in his career as well, and everyone that came into contact with Hendrix knew they were part of something special. Anyone who places him at the very top of a greatest guitarist list can't be faulted for the choice, and I almost agree with them...almost.
To me, the measure of a great guitar player is not just about the speed or timing or technicality of the playing, it's not even about the sound. The best players have a combination of all of these things and some excel in certain areas more so than their peers, however the very essence of a great guitarist, or any musician for that matter, is how they ignite your emotions. Do they connect with your soul on a level that's not able to be measured in beats per minute or decibels or originality alone? Can they convey the feeling of the song or the passion of their playing in ways that no others can? For me, the one person who was always able to do that better than any other was Stevie Ray Vaughn.
S.R.V used to go out on stage and feel that he was "channeling" Jimi Hendrix, who he worshiped. He played some of Jimi's tracks like Little Wing and Voodoo Chile(Slight Return) complete with feathery scarves and cowboy hats and a wild way about him, ripping through the songs like a man possessed. His interpretation were not only very accurate and complimentary, but they were even more inspired and electrifying than the originals. Stevie used heavier gauge strings to add "thickness" to his sound, but still managed to play faster and more harshly than Jimi, ramping up the bluesy rock numbers to a frantic pace and sometimes just shredding them to pieces. Then, in a blink he'd be bending a note with so much focus and passion that B.B. King would be stunned. Stevie Ray had long wanted to be a black man, he had said, and rightly paid tribute to many of the Blues greats like BB and Albert King and Muddy Waters and Buddy Guy with his playing, and often times sharing a stage with some of them as well. He blew them all away, and they knew it, and they loved it.
What Stevie Ray Vaughn did with the guitar was pick up where Jimi left off and inject a southern-inspired shot of adrenaline into it. He had what Jimi had and a little more, and not only played like a maniac but also wrote some great Blues Rock music to boot. If you watch him play live on any of the numerous live concerts available on DVD you'll see a man that was so in touch with his instrument I have often wondered if he wasn't cosmically connected to it. He was a technician beyond compare, but he was also a passionate soldier of the Blues that drenched every note with inspired emotion. S.R.V was the man, and that's just the way it goes.
Now, I understand there are still lots of people who prefer Jimi or Eric or Eddie, or many that think the younger gunslingers like Satriani and Vai are "the shit", and I do love and respect all these players as well. Guys like John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan, Steve Morse, Yngwie Malmsteen are insanely talented, in another universe at times. Pete Townsend and The Edge and Alex Lifeson are all somewhat underrated legends of the 6 string that likely deserve more credit than they ever receive. Jazz players like John McLaughlin and Allan Holdsworth are so mind-numbingly impressive technically that it makes my head hurt to watch/listen to them play! However, for me the guitar is simply a vessel for administering joy and pain and inspiration and in my opinion the captain of that ship will always be Stevie Ray. He was a God among the divine, man.
My Top 10:
1. SRV
2. Jimi Hendrix
3. Eric Clapton
4. Randy Rhoads
5.Jimmyi Page
6. David Gilmour
7. Eddie Van Halen
8. Richie Blackmore
9. Joe Perry
10. Eric Johnson/ Slash (tie)
The Politics of Politics...
It's just over a month until what some people are calling, "The biggest election of our lifetime", and many of us are whipped into a frenzy about it. Up until about three months ago, at which time I told most everyone I know that I would no longer be responding to/forwarding/discussing political emails, I was pretty caught up in the political mania surrounding this election as well. So what happened three months ago, you ask? Well, I finally came to the conclusion that politics, discussion of politics, and really anything of a political nature was truly pointless and/or irrelevant to discuss among friends and colleagues. Let me elaborate...
As a Self-Employed person, and someone who has been without a corporate job for over 10 years now, I discovered a long while ago how important it is to be involved in decisions about who controls my money in Washington. The less money I have, primarily due to taxes I pay the federal government, has a direct relation to how I can and will run my business and this caused me to become very interested in politics back in the 90's. However, what I discovered very early on is that it doesn't make much difference who you call or write or complain to, as these elected officials in our pseudo-democracy are going to just do whatever they choose to do, influenced by money, incentives, etc., etc. Though I leaned (and still do, at least fiscally) conservative, I never joined any political party because honestly I didn't see ideal solutions from either party. However, what I did see very quickly is that as soon as you begin to adopt certain ideologies and political beliefs you are instantly branded a __________ or a ___________ by folks on the other side of that belief, and for awhile I was guilty of doing the same to others.
As the years passed and numerous arguments/debates ensued I learned that at the end of the day you are really never going to change someone's mind who's thoroughly entrenched on one side of the line, but sometimes you can have some amount of influence on those that teeter on the line itself. Even with those folks, however, what's generally happening is that you're "convincing" them of something they very well may be unconvinced of the moment someone influential on the other side of the topic gets their ear; the reason there are so many "undecided's" in every election is because so few people truly pay attention to or care about the Political Machine. So, if that's the case then what's the solution?
Well, there really isn't a solution, per se, but rather a "trick" to survive the heated political discussions that may come up in mixed company, especially this year. Before I offer that up, however, I think it's important to mention that I don't think any President, or any politician for that matter, Democrat or Republican, in the history of this great nation can be held fully accountable for or given credit for the day to day woes and victories we have as human beings, as truly great victories and defeats are shared by a number of involved parties, including civilians. I have made some mistakes in my life, some minor and some huge, and many of them were in the 90's, but none of that in any way is Bill Clinton's fault. I bought 3 different homes between 2000-2008, made a nice profit off some that I sold, but none of the credit goes to George Bush. It always makes me laugh when people think any President or political figure has the ability/power to truly shape one's life when in fact it is we ourselves that control 99.9999% of that. Even in the current financial mess, which has it's roots deep into Democratically controlled territory, spills heavily into Republican areas; there's blame for EVERYBODY in this one, folks. However, you can log on to a number of political blogs and find the blame put squarely on this Democrat or this Republican or at least 10,000 sites that blame GW for it. Well, we share in the blame ourselves, but as a society who loves to bicker and deflect, it's much easier to levy charges against "the other side" I guess. Although I have heard for years that Liberals were the party of "inclusion" and "diversity", strangely many of those I know who are self proclaimed "liberals" have very little Republican or Conservative friends. Also, the few highly religious Christian conservative folks I know, that support an "all knowing" and "forgiving" God, they don't seem to be fond of most liberals and have few if any as day to day pals. Well, here is where the "trick" comes in...
I say believe in EVERYTHING! Of course, not literally, though I do tend to weave and bob with some of these pet causes which makes me some sort of ConservalibRepubacratependent I suppose. What I mean is, when heated political discussions come up in social settings, let's say Abortion, I just agree totally. "Oh yes, a woman's right to choose is crucial, you gotta have that. You rock it sister!". But, if I am with a couple people who are Pro Life, that's easy too: "Oh yeah man, life begins at conception, for sure. Abortion is murder!" Now, it makes no difference where my opinion fits into this because honestly, am I going to change (or dare I think I have the right to try??) their mind? Of course not, and why should I? This applies to Obama vs. McCain just as easy: "McCain is the best choice, of course. Experience, a tough guy, a Maverick, a "hot" wife!" Whatever, just fill in as needed. "Obama is all about Hope and Change and Change and Hope and he's classy and a great speaker!" Blah Blah Blah. Again, easier to just go with the flow of the room than try to change minds and argue points that are truly irrelevant as they will not "fix" or change anything anyway. I have told my wife for years how awesome a threesome (with another woman...sorry Hodge) would be, laid out charts and graphs and offered up years of clean bathrooms and floors. Guess what? No threesome...
So, does this mean I won't vote and I no longer have opinions? Of course not! It simply means I am not stubborn or foolish enough to think one man (or woman) in office is going to be able to affect enough change in the 4-8 years that it will do anything better (or worse) for me than I could do for myself and my family. President's don't create nor cut jobs, they simply act as a figurehead for a much larger system that we as consumers essentially attempt to control, and sometimes we do, when other elected officials in suits aren't busy behind closed doors trying to screw it up. I say that if you feel like Obama will make America what you think it needs to be, go for it man, pull that lever! If you think McCain is the right choice for your vision of America then hit the button, make it happen. My point is that at the end of the day, 4, 8, 16, 32 years from now there will still be liberals, there will still be conservatives, and just like every election cycle previous, there will still be arguments about who's right and who's wrong. I think we all are...
As a Self-Employed person, and someone who has been without a corporate job for over 10 years now, I discovered a long while ago how important it is to be involved in decisions about who controls my money in Washington. The less money I have, primarily due to taxes I pay the federal government, has a direct relation to how I can and will run my business and this caused me to become very interested in politics back in the 90's. However, what I discovered very early on is that it doesn't make much difference who you call or write or complain to, as these elected officials in our pseudo-democracy are going to just do whatever they choose to do, influenced by money, incentives, etc., etc. Though I leaned (and still do, at least fiscally) conservative, I never joined any political party because honestly I didn't see ideal solutions from either party. However, what I did see very quickly is that as soon as you begin to adopt certain ideologies and political beliefs you are instantly branded a __________ or a ___________ by folks on the other side of that belief, and for awhile I was guilty of doing the same to others.
As the years passed and numerous arguments/debates ensued I learned that at the end of the day you are really never going to change someone's mind who's thoroughly entrenched on one side of the line, but sometimes you can have some amount of influence on those that teeter on the line itself. Even with those folks, however, what's generally happening is that you're "convincing" them of something they very well may be unconvinced of the moment someone influential on the other side of the topic gets their ear; the reason there are so many "undecided's" in every election is because so few people truly pay attention to or care about the Political Machine. So, if that's the case then what's the solution?
Well, there really isn't a solution, per se, but rather a "trick" to survive the heated political discussions that may come up in mixed company, especially this year. Before I offer that up, however, I think it's important to mention that I don't think any President, or any politician for that matter, Democrat or Republican, in the history of this great nation can be held fully accountable for or given credit for the day to day woes and victories we have as human beings, as truly great victories and defeats are shared by a number of involved parties, including civilians. I have made some mistakes in my life, some minor and some huge, and many of them were in the 90's, but none of that in any way is Bill Clinton's fault. I bought 3 different homes between 2000-2008, made a nice profit off some that I sold, but none of the credit goes to George Bush. It always makes me laugh when people think any President or political figure has the ability/power to truly shape one's life when in fact it is we ourselves that control 99.9999% of that. Even in the current financial mess, which has it's roots deep into Democratically controlled territory, spills heavily into Republican areas; there's blame for EVERYBODY in this one, folks. However, you can log on to a number of political blogs and find the blame put squarely on this Democrat or this Republican or at least 10,000 sites that blame GW for it. Well, we share in the blame ourselves, but as a society who loves to bicker and deflect, it's much easier to levy charges against "the other side" I guess. Although I have heard for years that Liberals were the party of "inclusion" and "diversity", strangely many of those I know who are self proclaimed "liberals" have very little Republican or Conservative friends. Also, the few highly religious Christian conservative folks I know, that support an "all knowing" and "forgiving" God, they don't seem to be fond of most liberals and have few if any as day to day pals. Well, here is where the "trick" comes in...
I say believe in EVERYTHING! Of course, not literally, though I do tend to weave and bob with some of these pet causes which makes me some sort of ConservalibRepubacratepend
So, does this mean I won't vote and I no longer have opinions? Of course not! It simply means I am not stubborn or foolish enough to think one man (or woman) in office is going to be able to affect enough change in the 4-8 years that it will do anything better (or worse) for me than I could do for myself and my family. President's don't create nor cut jobs, they simply act as a figurehead for a much larger system that we as consumers essentially attempt to control, and sometimes we do, when other elected officials in suits aren't busy behind closed doors trying to screw it up. I say that if you feel like Obama will make America what you think it needs to be, go for it man, pull that lever! If you think McCain is the right choice for your vision of America then hit the button, make it happen. My point is that at the end of the day, 4, 8, 16, 32 years from now there will still be liberals, there will still be conservatives, and just like every election cycle previous, there will still be arguments about who's right and who's wrong. I think we all are...
The Power of Music
As all of us wait anxiously for news about Wall St./Banking bailouts and we wonder how and when it may affect our day to day lives, sometimes it's hard to take out minds out of "worry mode" and focus on things less stressful. In the years since I was a pre-adolescent I can recall many times of heightened stress in our family, whether monetary or otherwise, and it didn't take me long to realize I needed a diversion from that tension, like many of us probably do now. For me it started with humor and using that as a defense mechanism from real or imagined bullies as a soothing tonic to what ailed me at the time. Although trying to be an upbeat and funny guy has been something I have strived to continue being all my life, I think what really kept me afloat in daunting or depressed times was music.
I was never surrounded by musicians or any intense musical environment growing up, though my mother and father both had bands they liked and played often in the house. There was no push to have me play any particular instrument, though I tried a few and failed miserably at many. I did enjoy my brief months as a trumpeter/drummer/recorder-ist, but I knew a prodigy of any of these instruments I was not. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was far better at enjoying other people's music rather than creating my own, and when I had this epiphany it hit me like a tidal wave.
From as early as my 9th year I can recall listening to bands like "Kiss" and "Pink Floyd" and not only becoming mystified by the "cool" lyrics (I was made for loving you baby...you were made for lovin me!) or haunting melodies, but I became obsessed with knowing who exactly these bands were and where they were from and what made they write what the wrote and why. During these early years my tastes were not confined to classic/hard rock either, as I was a huge fan of Barry Manilow and could probably sing all of "Looks Like We Made" it today, albeit horribly. I also loved Shawn Cassidy. I was digging Boz Scaggs. I was a huuuge fan of Lynyrd Skynyd, though possibly just because the name was odd. This love of rock bands then spilled over into what I am sure my mother would call, "Metal Hell".
My journey into the depths of metal began, oddly, with a very un-metal artist, Neil Diamond! My mom had his album The Jazz Singer and there was a tune on there called "Coming To America" I think it was, and something about it just really jazzed me up (no pun intended). It wasn't heavy metal but it was sort of mildly hard edged and for some reason this oddball choice of tunes to like led me to begin worshipping bands like Foreigner, AC/DC and soon after, Van Halen, which became a longtime favorite. How good 'ol Neil led me down the path to "Hells Bells" and other great hard rock/metal songs and artists is still a mystery but I know after hearing that tune of his I just craved something edgier.
As time passed, and right up through High School, I became very "metal-obsessed", idolizing and following bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Slayer, Scorpions, Megadeth, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Although bands like Zep were not "metal" per se, they were hard edged and respected enough where liking them didn't get you called a "poser" by other metal fans. I think the danger and toughness of metal bands also provided some pseudo shelter from the fears of growing up in a new town, which I did when I moved to Suffield, CT and entered high school. As the years passed though, I still listened to and enjoyed hard rock/metal but slowly began to diversify into all kinds of other sub genres and classes of music, including New Wave, Ambient/New Age, Jazz, Blues, Pop Rock and even classical. It just seemed to me that it was so limiting to restrict oneself to one specific type of music when there was so much intensity and beauty and solace to be found in so many other varieties.
That's the thing about music, there really is something for everyone. You can be having the worst day ever and just need a pick me up (and choose to avoid something of the chemical variety!) and put on "Scarlet Begonias" by the Dead and I defy you to stay depressed(you can also try "Manhattan" by Kings of Leon..you can't NOT dance around like an asswipe listening to that tune!). If you feel like enhancing your anger because a co-worker pissed you off and you want to pummel the heavy bag at the gym with their imagined face adorning the front of it, "Walk" by Pantera is a fine choice, or of course anything by Slayer. If you're feeling particularly amorous and you want to enhance an already heated environment for you and your partner, I would say almost anything from "Violator" by Depeche Mode would work, as well as numerous tracks by Roxy Music. If you just want a simple romantic, melodramatic ballad that will make you feel like you are sharing in the writers longing for his woman, "Drive All Night" is hard to beat by Springsteen. There really is a song for every occasion.
The truth is though, it's not just about certain songs or certain bands, it's about music as an entity. It has the intangible power to shape, guide, enhance and alter almost any mood one could be in at any given time. It's brilliance lies in the fact that it's created by people that are seeking the same thing we as listeners are; a place to change their consciousness, for better of for worse. I don't think there's been a day that I can remember since I was five years old that music wasn't a part of, and I hope that day never comes as I grow older. The times may toughen and the world may become more callous and cold but as long as there's a tune to temporarily take me to place I'd rather be then, as Bob Marley said, "Everything's Gonna Be All Right..."
I was never surrounded by musicians or any intense musical environment growing up, though my mother and father both had bands they liked and played often in the house. There was no push to have me play any particular instrument, though I tried a few and failed miserably at many. I did enjoy my brief months as a trumpeter/drummer/recorder-ist, but I knew a prodigy of any of these instruments I was not. It didn't take long for me to realize that I was far better at enjoying other people's music rather than creating my own, and when I had this epiphany it hit me like a tidal wave.
From as early as my 9th year I can recall listening to bands like "Kiss" and "Pink Floyd" and not only becoming mystified by the "cool" lyrics (I was made for loving you baby...you were made for lovin me!) or haunting melodies, but I became obsessed with knowing who exactly these bands were and where they were from and what made they write what the wrote and why. During these early years my tastes were not confined to classic/hard rock either, as I was a huge fan of Barry Manilow and could probably sing all of "Looks Like We Made" it today, albeit horribly. I also loved Shawn Cassidy. I was digging Boz Scaggs. I was a huuuge fan of Lynyrd Skynyd, though possibly just because the name was odd. This love of rock bands then spilled over into what I am sure my mother would call, "Metal Hell".
My journey into the depths of metal began, oddly, with a very un-metal artist, Neil Diamond! My mom had his album The Jazz Singer and there was a tune on there called "Coming To America" I think it was, and something about it just really jazzed me up (no pun intended). It wasn't heavy metal but it was sort of mildly hard edged and for some reason this oddball choice of tunes to like led me to begin worshipping bands like Foreigner, AC/DC and soon after, Van Halen, which became a longtime favorite. How good 'ol Neil led me down the path to "Hells Bells" and other great hard rock/metal songs and artists is still a mystery but I know after hearing that tune of his I just craved something edgier.
As time passed, and right up through High School, I became very "metal-obsessed", idolizing and following bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Slayer, Scorpions, Megadeth, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. Although bands like Zep were not "metal" per se, they were hard edged and respected enough where liking them didn't get you called a "poser" by other metal fans. I think the danger and toughness of metal bands also provided some pseudo shelter from the fears of growing up in a new town, which I did when I moved to Suffield, CT and entered high school. As the years passed though, I still listened to and enjoyed hard rock/metal but slowly began to diversify into all kinds of other sub genres and classes of music, including New Wave, Ambient/New Age, Jazz, Blues, Pop Rock and even classical. It just seemed to me that it was so limiting to restrict oneself to one specific type of music when there was so much intensity and beauty and solace to be found in so many other varieties.
That's the thing about music, there really is something for everyone. You can be having the worst day ever and just need a pick me up (and choose to avoid something of the chemical variety!) and put on "Scarlet Begonias" by the Dead and I defy you to stay depressed(you can also try "Manhattan" by Kings of Leon..you can't NOT dance around like an asswipe listening to that tune!). If you feel like enhancing your anger because a co-worker pissed you off and you want to pummel the heavy bag at the gym with their imagined face adorning the front of it, "Walk" by Pantera is a fine choice, or of course anything by Slayer. If you're feeling particularly amorous and you want to enhance an already heated environment for you and your partner, I would say almost anything from "Violator" by Depeche Mode would work, as well as numerous tracks by Roxy Music. If you just want a simple romantic, melodramatic ballad that will make you feel like you are sharing in the writers longing for his woman, "Drive All Night" is hard to beat by Springsteen. There really is a song for every occasion.
The truth is though, it's not just about certain songs or certain bands, it's about music as an entity. It has the intangible power to shape, guide, enhance and alter almost any mood one could be in at any given time. It's brilliance lies in the fact that it's created by people that are seeking the same thing we as listeners are; a place to change their consciousness, for better of for worse. I don't think there's been a day that I can remember since I was five years old that music wasn't a part of, and I hope that day never comes as I grow older. The times may toughen and the world may become more callous and cold but as long as there's a tune to temporarily take me to place I'd rather be then, as Bob Marley said, "Everything's Gonna Be All Right..."
The Death of a Friend
Like a lot of kids growing up, I was raised in a one parent household. My parents divorced before I was even three years old after my father's struggles with addiction became too much for my mother and young brother to bear. To my old man's credit, he did a fantastic job of pulling himself from the temptuous grip of alcohol and getting his life on track and was later involved in many parts of our adolescent life. However, during my High School years there is no doubt that I was always seeking "father figures", be it in the form of teachers or friends parents, etc. One such Individual was Bill Roberts, the father of probably my closest friends in High School, Chris Roberts. Chris also grew up with just one parent as his mother had passed away years earlier, and his father was a hard working, fun-loving and intriguing guy that many of us grew to love.
During High School, while we're all so desperate to fit in and make sense of the chemical and physical changes our bodies are going through, it's no shock that we'd likely gravitate to a "cool", strong willed guy who was not only accepting of his son's friends but would often sit down with them, have a beer and tell some incredible stories. Bill Roberts was just that guy. While not real tall, and seemingly not overwhelming physically, all of us still knew he could beat our ass if we pushed him, though none of us ever did. He would come home from a night out with friends or a girlfriend and often sit down with us troublemakers and let us know who was really the boss of the house he so thoughtfully opened up to just about anyone (I basically lived there for a good part of my high school years). At the same time, he'd have you laughing so hard at a story he'd tell you, and many times have told before, that you never felt anything but adoration for the big-hearted guy. I know Chris loved him as strong as any child would his father, and I am sure it made him happy that so many of his friends worshiped his old man as well, and who wouldn't? I know there was at least ten times I ate far too much of the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Filets he stocked in his fridge, but he never yelled, never screamed, he just came up with some wise ass comment making you feel like a schmo for not asking first or not replacing it later. Then a couple days later he'd be offering up that same gourmet chow to you at his pleasure. Bill Roberts was all heart, man.
As years went on and I moved a little father away and some of us grew apart, I lost touch with Bill and sometimes with Chris. One way or another Chris and I would reconnect but I rarely got to see his father, and that's really too bad. The times I did, usually on the Golf Course, it was like 1987 all over again, with him as sharp as ever, cracking a joke or assessing your swing or just busting your ass for finding you on his floor with a certain Sophomore and a bottle of his Whiskey twenty years earlier. It was always great to see him, and I really wished I had a chance to do that more often before his recent passing.
In the years since High School, even with us not being able to hang out and talk as much as we used to, I have always been more fond of Chris than probably anyone I had ever known. Like me, he has had his struggles with various demons but always manages to keep his head above water and come out on top. In all my years I have never known anyone that not only had one of the biggest hearts I have ever encountered, but who also busted their ass working labor-intensive jobs six days a week. I have to think this partially comes from his father, but Chris has certainly added his own flavor to what I have always felt was one of the best personalities of any guy I have ever been friends with. Bill raised a hell of a kid and one who I will always love and respect.
Tomorrow will be the day we all pay respects to Bill, and I am sure there will be stories told and laughs had and beers drank and tears shed. Bill Roberts was an infectious personality who knew how to work a room and make friends quick and he will be sorely missed. It brings into light the fears/anxiety of my own parents mortality and the need to enjoy and appreciate those relationships as much as possible. I know Chris spent a great deal of time with Bill before he passed away and I am sure is glad that he did. I hope that going forward he understands how much his father meant not only to him, but to so many of his friends.
Heaven is a better place than it was now that he's made the trip.
During High School, while we're all so desperate to fit in and make sense of the chemical and physical changes our bodies are going through, it's no shock that we'd likely gravitate to a "cool", strong willed guy who was not only accepting of his son's friends but would often sit down with them, have a beer and tell some incredible stories. Bill Roberts was just that guy. While not real tall, and seemingly not overwhelming physically, all of us still knew he could beat our ass if we pushed him, though none of us ever did. He would come home from a night out with friends or a girlfriend and often sit down with us troublemakers and let us know who was really the boss of the house he so thoughtfully opened up to just about anyone (I basically lived there for a good part of my high school years). At the same time, he'd have you laughing so hard at a story he'd tell you, and many times have told before, that you never felt anything but adoration for the big-hearted guy. I know Chris loved him as strong as any child would his father, and I am sure it made him happy that so many of his friends worshiped his old man as well, and who wouldn't? I know there was at least ten times I ate far too much of the Chicken Cordon Bleu and Filets he stocked in his fridge, but he never yelled, never screamed, he just came up with some wise ass comment making you feel like a schmo for not asking first or not replacing it later. Then a couple days later he'd be offering up that same gourmet chow to you at his pleasure. Bill Roberts was all heart, man.
As years went on and I moved a little father away and some of us grew apart, I lost touch with Bill and sometimes with Chris. One way or another Chris and I would reconnect but I rarely got to see his father, and that's really too bad. The times I did, usually on the Golf Course, it was like 1987 all over again, with him as sharp as ever, cracking a joke or assessing your swing or just busting your ass for finding you on his floor with a certain Sophomore and a bottle of his Whiskey twenty years earlier. It was always great to see him, and I really wished I had a chance to do that more often before his recent passing.
In the years since High School, even with us not being able to hang out and talk as much as we used to, I have always been more fond of Chris than probably anyone I had ever known. Like me, he has had his struggles with various demons but always manages to keep his head above water and come out on top. In all my years I have never known anyone that not only had one of the biggest hearts I have ever encountered, but who also busted their ass working labor-intensive jobs six days a week. I have to think this partially comes from his father, but Chris has certainly added his own flavor to what I have always felt was one of the best personalities of any guy I have ever been friends with. Bill raised a hell of a kid and one who I will always love and respect.
Tomorrow will be the day we all pay respects to Bill, and I am sure there will be stories told and laughs had and beers drank and tears shed. Bill Roberts was an infectious personality who knew how to work a room and make friends quick and he will be sorely missed. It brings into light the fears/anxiety of my own parents mortality and the need to enjoy and appreciate those relationships as much as possible. I know Chris spent a great deal of time with Bill before he passed away and I am sure is glad that he did. I hope that going forward he understands how much his father meant not only to him, but to so many of his friends.
Heaven is a better place than it was now that he's made the trip.
Why do we "Facebook"?
The crew from Howard Stern returned from one of their (many) summer breaks and a topic of discussion was one of the staff's addiction to Facebook, mainly posting blogs and chatting with old friends, etc. I listed for about 10 minutes while Howard, Robin,Artie and Fred (the main "characters" if you're not a regular listener) bashed the poor guy, trying to make him feel like an idiot for getting involved in what they felt like was an utter waste of time and nothing short of pathetic. They went around the room bashing him for being so arrogant as to think anyone cared about his posts or friends and essentially that it was all just a huge waste of time, although one of them at least commented that it was a "cool website". I am a big fan of the Stern show, and I respect many of Howard's opinions, but on this topic I think he's just dead wrong.
I have barely been on Facebook for a week and I have already connected (or re-connected) with a number of High School friends that I haven't seen, or in many cases heard from, in 20 years. Some of the connections I have made are with people I wasn't necessarily that close with while in school and possibly with some that weren't even that big a fan of mine all those years ago! I think many of us knew somewhere in the backs of our alcohol/pot/college-obsessed/sports-soaked/sex-addicted minds in High School that there would come a day when we would meet up with some of these kids we walked by every day in the halls and either ignored or mistreated, but we chose to suppress any notion of that to continue to focus on the kids/groups we were most comfortable with. It seemed very important at the time to align yourself with those best suited to enable your desires and addictions or make you feel best about youself or place in the world. Of course, as years pass, even though we remain friends with some of those same people, we learn that High School was really just a big vat of insecure kids who had no idea what the f**k was going on and how to best navigate through those challenging waters. This included the brainiacs and uber-students, as they were often some bogged down in obsessive studying and/or college prep that they often couldn't see outside of their narrow channel and understand what the real world was really going to be all about. Myself, being very far from a great student and intrigued more by the combination of Pink Floyd and various smokeable plants than any book driven or real world education, well, I just kinda went with the flow, and along the way made a few very close friends and possibly turned some others against me. So how does this relate to Facebook?
For years after High School I would think, as many people did, "If I could only go back I would probably..." and this could be finished by a number of things including being more studious, friendlier to others, outgoing, less distracted, a better athlete, etc etc. Well, one of the things I often finish that sentence with is that ...I would probably try to be a friend to everyone. That being said, I do feel like during at least a part of my High School years I was a pretty genuine and outwardly friendly guy. However, I know that if the sum total of my experience during those years was added up and analyized I could have done a far better job being more inclusive and less obsessed with maintaining certain alliances and perceptions. Don't get wrong, I LOVED High School and those years were precious to me in many ways, but I think I left there not being the best almost-man I could have been. I suppose this (finally!) is where Facebook comes in...
It todays' universe there is no doubt we are far less connected people. When is the last time any of us ever wrote an actual letter and mailed it? Everything is quick emails and text and the occaisonal cell phone conversation or voice mail message, and these are generally with those we already know. How often does anyone get the chance to, or bother to make an attempt to, reach out to someone they never knew that well? That usually ends up far down the list of "priorities" and we've become a slightly more isolated and somewhat lost species because of that. The landscape of Facebook not only fascilitates conversation between existing friends and family but it encourages conversation with those who may be, or had been, outside your circle. For me, it's become a place to reach out to old friends that I was close with day to day as well as some I was not but wished I was. It's a vehicle for making personal connections that maybe should have been made before but probably weren't because we were all just scared kids trying to fit in amongst our previously chosen little "gangs", and even sometimes that was a struggle. Although the world of Facebook is still a digital one, it's one that not only aids in communication but it actually encourages it beyond anything simple email could ever do. Does someone from 20 years ago that I may have only spoken with in the halls 10 or 15 times care that "Dave is lsitening to Interpol right now" or that my mood is "Content"? At the end of the day probably not but I know for me it's not whether they care about me and my moods and everyday goings on, but that many of us have found a place where we're in some ways just those same young kids looking for a place to fit in and have some fun. The difference now is that twenty years of life experience has removed the inhibitions and fears, for the most part, and we're free to befriend anyone that we might not have make an effort to in the past, and that in itself can not be a bad thing.
Who knows if Facebook will be here in 20 years, and I am not foolish enough to think that I will have long and personal relationships with everyone I went to High School with or worked with or played football with so many years ago. However, if through this social networking site I can re-connect with those I have missed, and make new friends with those I never took the time to get to know enough, well then this place is not only a "cool website", but a magnificent instrument of human relationships.
I have barely been on Facebook for a week and I have already connected (or re-connected) with a number of High School friends that I haven't seen, or in many cases heard from, in 20 years. Some of the connections I have made are with people I wasn't necessarily that close with while in school and possibly with some that weren't even that big a fan of mine all those years ago! I think many of us knew somewhere in the backs of our alcohol/pot/college-obsess
For years after High School I would think, as many people did, "If I could only go back I would probably..." and this could be finished by a number of things including being more studious, friendlier to others, outgoing, less distracted, a better athlete, etc etc. Well, one of the things I often finish that sentence with is that ...I would probably try to be a friend to everyone. That being said, I do feel like during at least a part of my High School years I was a pretty genuine and outwardly friendly guy. However, I know that if the sum total of my experience during those years was added up and analyized I could have done a far better job being more inclusive and less obsessed with maintaining certain alliances and perceptions. Don't get wrong, I LOVED High School and those years were precious to me in many ways, but I think I left there not being the best almost-man I could have been. I suppose this (finally!) is where Facebook comes in...
It todays' universe there is no doubt we are far less connected people. When is the last time any of us ever wrote an actual letter and mailed it? Everything is quick emails and text and the occaisonal cell phone conversation or voice mail message, and these are generally with those we already know. How often does anyone get the chance to, or bother to make an attempt to, reach out to someone they never knew that well? That usually ends up far down the list of "priorities" and we've become a slightly more isolated and somewhat lost species because of that. The landscape of Facebook not only fascilitates conversation between existing friends and family but it encourages conversation with those who may be, or had been, outside your circle. For me, it's become a place to reach out to old friends that I was close with day to day as well as some I was not but wished I was. It's a vehicle for making personal connections that maybe should have been made before but probably weren't because we were all just scared kids trying to fit in amongst our previously chosen little "gangs", and even sometimes that was a struggle. Although the world of Facebook is still a digital one, it's one that not only aids in communication but it actually encourages it beyond anything simple email could ever do. Does someone from 20 years ago that I may have only spoken with in the halls 10 or 15 times care that "Dave is lsitening to Interpol right now" or that my mood is "Content"? At the end of the day probably not but I know for me it's not whether they care about me and my moods and everyday goings on, but that many of us have found a place where we're in some ways just those same young kids looking for a place to fit in and have some fun. The difference now is that twenty years of life experience has removed the inhibitions and fears, for the most part, and we're free to befriend anyone that we might not have make an effort to in the past, and that in itself can not be a bad thing.
Who knows if Facebook will be here in 20 years, and I am not foolish enough to think that I will have long and personal relationships with everyone I went to High School with or worked with or played football with so many years ago. However, if through this social networking site I can re-connect with those I have missed, and make new friends with those I never took the time to get to know enough, well then this place is not only a "cool website", but a magnificent instrument of human relationships.
The Wire
By now I am sure anyone with cable TV or a subscription to an Entertainment publication has heard of "The Wire", the spectacular HBO cop drama created by David Simon. It chronicles Baltimore from a number of different angles including the inner city drug trade and all its players, the cops, their families, the educational system, the political insiders and even the media. Being a huge fan of the Sopranos and other HBO series like Big Love and Curb Your Enthusiasm, I knew I would eventually make my way to The Wire, especially after the immense praise being lavished on it by so many viewers and critics. Well, having just finished the 5th and final season I can say that the unquestionably lived up to the hype.
In most great Television dramas, including my previous favorite The Sopranos, you have a few stellar characters that stand out week to week and keep you watching. When a show also has exceptional writers scripting these characters and it's not just the actors charm or looks or mannerisms that get you hooked, the show can move beyond a mere passion and evolve into an obsession, and that's certainly been the case for me and The Wire.
Over the years I have dabbled into a number of illicit substances, though I made sure to stay away from the injectibles, thankfully. However, I can't imagine it would be harder to quit Heroin than walking away from this show. By the middle of Season 1's second episode I knew that I was going to love the show, but at the halfway point I knew it was going to be a mild addiction. As that first season closed I was certain that a 12 Step program might be in order, otherwise I was in jeopardy of giving up work, bathing and even most frighteningly, sex, in order to keep watching this show. As the seasons progressed the addiction became worse, sneaking hour-long episodes in between client calls, banging out 2 episodes in a row first thing in the morning as the Pugs stared at me angrily wondering why their leashes were attached but they were yet unable to go outside and take a leak. The worst is the lying to the wife: "Yeah honey, I will look at that leak in the laundry room before you get back, definitely" only to find yourself elbow deep in a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, covered in orange pseudo-cheese and right in front of the TV when she returns.
The Wire is exceptional on so many levels that it would take 10,000 words and a thesaurus in hand to do it true justice. The brutal reality of it interlaced with eloquent moments of poetry. The subtle bits of clever humor blended with such over the top childish gags. The mix of strong, violent and even perverse characters with some of the most quiet and unassuming characters even seen on TV. The story lines are simple and engaging though at times cryptically complex, and the message(s) are often completely ovious and in your face yet sometimes subliminal and time-released. I could probably write an entire thesis on just "Bubbles", "Omar" or "McNulty" alone, a few of the shows standout and more popular characters. It wouldn't shock me if the Universities were already drafting course layouts for an in-depth study of this masterpiece of "fiction" already, and if so I am sure the classes will be full. In all my years I have never seen a show that not only captured the harsh reality of inner city life and painted it with such beautiful and intriguing characters, but one where the actual city portrayed became the true star of the show.
Do yourself a favor and either rent/buy Season 1 of The Wire and just let the stories unfold and feel yourself becoming captivated by its majesty. You've never seen anything quite like it, though it may even seem somewhat familiar and at times so real you feel you need to look away. It will definitely make you examine, or re-examine, your opinion and understanding of the inner city ghetto and it's impact and relationship to the rest of the country. It's truly mesmerizing and painful at the same time but it's also the most beautiful piece of filmed "art" I have ever seen. Let me know what you think...
In most great Television dramas, including my previous favorite The Sopranos, you have a few stellar characters that stand out week to week and keep you watching. When a show also has exceptional writers scripting these characters and it's not just the actors charm or looks or mannerisms that get you hooked, the show can move beyond a mere passion and evolve into an obsession, and that's certainly been the case for me and The Wire.
Over the years I have dabbled into a number of illicit substances, though I made sure to stay away from the injectibles, thankfully. However, I can't imagine it would be harder to quit Heroin than walking away from this show. By the middle of Season 1's second episode I knew that I was going to love the show, but at the halfway point I knew it was going to be a mild addiction. As that first season closed I was certain that a 12 Step program might be in order, otherwise I was in jeopardy of giving up work, bathing and even most frighteningly, sex, in order to keep watching this show. As the seasons progressed the addiction became worse, sneaking hour-long episodes in between client calls, banging out 2 episodes in a row first thing in the morning as the Pugs stared at me angrily wondering why their leashes were attached but they were yet unable to go outside and take a leak. The worst is the lying to the wife: "Yeah honey, I will look at that leak in the laundry room before you get back, definitely" only to find yourself elbow deep in a bag of Cool Ranch Doritos, covered in orange pseudo-cheese and right in front of the TV when she returns.
The Wire is exceptional on so many levels that it would take 10,000 words and a thesaurus in hand to do it true justice. The brutal reality of it interlaced with eloquent moments of poetry. The subtle bits of clever humor blended with such over the top childish gags. The mix of strong, violent and even perverse characters with some of the most quiet and unassuming characters even seen on TV. The story lines are simple and engaging though at times cryptically complex, and the message(s) are often completely ovious and in your face yet sometimes subliminal and time-released. I could probably write an entire thesis on just "Bubbles", "Omar" or "McNulty" alone, a few of the shows standout and more popular characters. It wouldn't shock me if the Universities were already drafting course layouts for an in-depth study of this masterpiece of "fiction" already, and if so I am sure the classes will be full. In all my years I have never seen a show that not only captured the harsh reality of inner city life and painted it with such beautiful and intriguing characters, but one where the actual city portrayed became the true star of the show.
Do yourself a favor and either rent/buy Season 1 of The Wire and just let the stories unfold and feel yourself becoming captivated by its majesty. You've never seen anything quite like it, though it may even seem somewhat familiar and at times so real you feel you need to look away. It will definitely make you examine, or re-examine, your opinion and understanding of the inner city ghetto and it's impact and relationship to the rest of the country. It's truly mesmerizing and painful at the same time but it's also the most beautiful piece of filmed "art" I have ever seen. Let me know what you think...
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