MusiBlog | Musiblog.Info – From One Music Fanatic To Another!

So I was a work and I brought up good old Google News and found an article by Los Angeles Times talking about how Adam Lambert impressed the remaining members of the band queen after the finale performance this last wednesday night. Though they are not sure they are quiet ready to make him the new lead singer, they did say they would be very interested in working with him in the future.

Adam Lambert was by far the best performer this year and I think he made it very clear in the very early rounds, that he was in a league all of his own. The other performers were great don’t get me wrong however Adam was pretty much untouchable every night from the start of the competition straight up to the last night. I still have no idea how it ended up that Chris Allen took the idol crown for season 8.

Chris Allen is talented and personally the whole acoustic guitar beach guy all laid back and mellow is right up my alley, but there is just no denying that the voters got it wrong yet again this year. 07- David Archuleta should have won over David Cook, and this year the crown should have went to Adam.

I am sure not being the winner will in no way hurt a person like Adam he has so much self confidence and talent (the man was born to perform)! So if you have not heard of the man be sure to check out some of his performances, even if you are not an American Idol fan. I am sure he will not disappoint. One of my person favorites besides the finale night was his version of  “ring of fire” by the late and great Johnny Cash. Also Mad World, there is nothing that this kid sang that sounded bad and I am sure that he will go far so two thumbs up high for Adam in season 8

1. TV on the Radio- Dear science
2. Bob Dylan- Tell Tale Signs- The Bootleg (Series Vol.
3. Lil Wayne- The Carter III
4. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges
5. John Mellencamp- Life, Death, Love and Freedom
6. Santogold- Santogold
7. Coldplay- Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
8. Beck- Modern Guilt
9. Metallica- Death Magnetic
10. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
11. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes
12. Guns n’ Roses- Chinese Democracy
13. Blitzen Trapper- Furr
14. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals- Cardinalogy
15. The Black Keys- Attack and Release
16. Randy Newman- Harps and Angels
17. B.B. King- One Kind Favor
18. Lucinda Williams- Little Honey
19. Erykah Badu- New Amerykah: Part 1
20. King of Leon- Only by the Night
21. Kaiser Cheifs- Off With Their Heads
22. Jackson Browne- Time the Conqueror
23. Conor Oberst- Conor Oberst
24. Girl Talk- Feed the Animals
25. The Magnetic Fields- Distortion
26. Mudcrutch- Mudcrutch
27. Brian Wilson- The Luck Old Sun
28. The Knux- Remind Me in Three Days….
29. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
30. Duffy- Rockferry
31. MGMT- Oracular Spectacular
32. Jamey Johnson- The Lonesome Song
33. Ne-Yo- Year of the Gentleman
34. Stephen Malkmus- Real Emotional Trash
35. Nick Cave and Bad Seeds- Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
36. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
37. Nine Inch Nails- The Slip
38. Ra Ra Riot- The Rhumb Line
39. Taylor Swift- Fearless
40. Jonas Brothers- A Little Bit Longer
41. AC/DC- Black Ice
42. David Bryne and Brian Eno- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
43. Nas- Untitled
44. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely
45. Be Your Own Pet- Get Awkward
46. The Academy Is…- Fats Times at Barrington High
47. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
48. Raphael Saadig- The Way I See It
49. Hot Chip- Made in the Dark

50.No Age- Nouns

Musiblog.info has brought this list to you from Rolling Stone magazine.  You may have already read it there, but go ahead and check it out here on the Reissues of the year list!

1. Dennis Wilson- Pacific Ocean Blue
The most handsome Beach Boy was also, in 1977, the most daring. Denis Wilson’s only official solo album was the biggest any member of the group, and is still the best: 12 songs of gripping need and tortured beauty, sung in craggy, soulful voice by a surfer dreamboat for whom the California dream was real, but not enough. Pacific Ocean Blue is Dennis’ version of his brother Brian’s triumph, Pet Sounds- an Intensely personal masterpiece0 while the session material from Dennis’ planned second album, Bambu, is his version of Brian’s SMiLE: a promise aborted and, with his death in 1983, forever unfulfilled.

2. Hank Williams- The Unreleased Recordings
It is an unimaginable thrill today: the greatest singer in country music crooning to you over your oatmeal. But in 1951, Hank Williams and his band the Drifting Cowboys were on the radio every morning at 7:15 a.m., Touting Mother’s Best Flour and rolling out an astonishing array of tunes his own songs, old-time spirituals and cover of Ernest Tubbs and Roy Acuff. On this three- CD set, Williams’ Voice is crisp and virile, and there is a kitchen-table immediacy to the performances, as if he’s right there sharing a cup of coffee.

3. Various Artist- Let Me Be Your Sidetrack: The Influence of Jimmie Rodgers
Jimmie Rodgers, the Singing Brakeman (1897-1933), was America’s first singer-songwriter of the recording era, His hillbilly tales, yodels and love stories- such as “T for Texas,” “Mule Skinner Blues” and “Miss the Mississippi in You”- hace been the bedrock repertoire of generations of country, folk and blues singers. Released on the 75th anniversary of his death, this six-CD set charts the force of that influence through the rest of the centurym in covers by every major voice in country as well as Pete Seeger Rick Nelson, Bono and arguably Rodgers’ biggest fan, Bob Dylan.

4. U2- Boy
U2’s near-perfect 1980 debut album- a precociously mature sunburst of spiritual optimism and the Edge’s minimalist church-ball guitar- becomes an essential history lesson with a second CD of pre-LP singles and hell bent live recordings showing the Irish quartet’s learning curve out of garage land. The club-on-fire versions of “Boy-Girl” and “11o’clock Tick Tock”, from the Marquee in London, are thrilling preview if how U2 would soon slay America. Alco recommended: the two-CD reissue of 1981’s October, a flawed follow-up made fuller with concert and BBC performances of a strong, united band on its way to 1983’s War.

5. Robyn Hitchcock and the Egyptians- Luminous Groove
The mid-Eighties electrics albums of England’s most enduring psychedelic son- the studio LPs Fegmania and Element of Light and the live blast Gotta Let This Hen Out- finally get the box set they deserve, along with extra tracks and a bonus double CD or related trips wryly titled Bad Case of History. In fact, Robyn Hitchcock and his Egyptians ( a slimmed-down version on his earlier band the Soft Boys) are in constant forward motion on theis five-disc collection, combining the fifth-dimension wonder of Syd Barrett and the amplified vigor of the ’66 Bob Dylan.

6. Various Artist- Boogie Woggie and Blues Piano
Boogie-woogie piano was the hip-hop of its day- a Chicago-born spin on the blues, charged with the fast syncopation of black urban life. Some of the tracks on this three-disc set come in tuxedos: Lionel Hampton and Benny Carter lead full bands (a young Nat “King” Cole rolls wild on Hampton’s “Central Avenue Breakdown”). But many of these 1936-41 recordings are basically fisticuffs-with-ivories by original masters of the form such as Meade Lux Lewis, Albert Ammons, Jimmy Yancey and Cripple Clarence Lofton, who’s “Strut That Thing” sounds like the granddad of Ray Charles’ “Mess Around.”

7. Nina Simone- To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story
The former Eunice Kathleen Waymon was the first R&B diva: a protean singer, equally gifted in jazz, folk and show tunes, who challenged racial injustice (“Mississippi Goddam”) and laid her melancholy on the table (“My Man’s Gone Now”) with the same deep range and sensual vibrato. This set is the perfect entrance into her rich discopraghy, covering multiple labels with space for her transforming covers of Bob Dylan, the Beatles, and Leonard Cohen, as well as her holy-warrior medley of George Harrison’s “my Sweet Lord” and the poem “Today Is a Killer” – from a 1971 show ar Fort Dix.

8. Various artist- The Jerry Ragovoy Atroy: Time is on My Side, 1953-2003
The timeline covers Henry Ragovoy’s half-century, as a producer, writer and arranger, in the fine print of classic R&B and soul records beginning with a 1953 doo-woop single by the Castelles, But most of these tracks were cut in the early and mid-Sixties, when Ragovoy made magic daily with mighty voices such as Howard Tate(“You’re Lookin’ Good”), Garnet Mimms (“Cry Baby”), Miriam Makeba (“Pata Pata”), Dusty Springfield (“what’s It Gonna Be”), and Lorraine Ellison ( the Ever-majestic “Stay With Me”). Ragovoy didn’t sing a not on these sides, but these are hiss greatest hits all the same.

9. Rodriguez- Cold Fact
This remarkable artifact of Michigan hippie soul by singer-songwriter Sixto Diaz Rodriguez- a lost classic originally issued in 1970- is what Bob Dylan’s mid-Sixites electric records might have sounded like if he’d made them in Detriot at the dawn of funk. Rodriguez’s strident acoustic strumming and period-arguments lyrics (“Curicify Your Mind”, “Rich Folkes Hoax”) are coated in brittle-fuzz guitars, while Rodriguez vocally recalls a young Cat Stevens- atop the Afro-acid strut of early Funkadelic. Ironically, some years after it bombed in the United States, Cold Fact became a hit- in South America. Now it finally gets another chance here.

10. Augustus Pablo- The Mystic World of Augustus Pablo: The Rocker Story
For the Jamaican producer, composer and keyboard player Augustus Pablo, reggae was not a music. It was a sacrament. Pablo, a devout Rastafarian, pursued the black heart and holy ecstasy of Jamaican rhythm and vocal soul in records he made not only hinder his own name (“East of the River Nile”, “King David’s Melody”) but for great voices like Jacob Miller, the Heptones and Hugh Mundell. These four CDs (plus a DVD) go deep with a wise emphasis on Pablo’s dub sorcery and his fascination with the plastic-church-organ sound of melodic a.

Hello all I am new here but by no means am I new to music. I have always loved music and probably always will. I think of music as not a living breathing creature but very similar. Music, well I should say good music, in my mind would be described with humanistic descriptions for example: I believe it has a pulse a set rhyme that will continue through the piece, now that may speed up or it may slow down, maybe a bit of both but a beat none the less that will carry the song through to the end. I believe that good music is not only about the musical instruments itself but also the words the accents the little quirks or hell yeahs in each song that make them original.

You can have great words but if the beat sucks chances are not a lot of people will like it. Just like people in many ways, average will get you nowhere. Unless you can stand out from the crowd whether it is by being catchy,  absurd, having clever words, or clever beats you just won’t stand out. One of these qualities may get your song hear but if you want to be remembered or covered or eternal then you must have a combination of those things, As I get older I can’t figure out if music is just going into a slump or maybe I just don’t hear the variety that I used to to it just seems like all there is today is covers. I know there are a lot of good, no great songs of old, but come on people. You can’t tell me that there are no original thoughts out there anymore. I will admit I like more than my fair share of music that most the world would turn there noses up at but all this whiny stuff and the covers aren’t  even changed up into “remixes” anymore they are done exactly the same but by someone else.

I know if the music of today was not in high demand and people were not buying it then it would not be being produced. So maybe instead of being upset with the what things are going with music I should be asking what is wrong with people today. Originality is the best quality to music and humans alike do not be a sell out, do not fit the mold, do not be afraid to walk your own path and even though you may walk alone sometime at least you are being you. Musicians with their music and people with there lives need to listen in.

Well at least a partial list is out now for which bands will be at Bonaroo, you can check it out at Bonnaroo.com. So far there looks to be about equal amounts of bands I know and ones I don’t know by name but there is always the chance I know there music. I am going to try and go this year, I have never before been to a festival and it is something that I have always wanted to do, so cross your fingers for me and wish me goodluck! Anyway I thnk that someone looking to expand there musical taste should definatley check out a festival. Bonaroo is a bit pricey nut there are plenty out there that are not as long or as expensive. Bonaroo is a four day festival JUne 11th -14th in  Manchester, Tennessee. Some of the highlights are: Phish, NIN, Elvis Costello, Beastie Boys, Al Green, Bella Fleck, Moe, and many many more. So hope to see you there and if not think about another this year. Festivals are great for see something new with stuff you already like.

Music Therapy is something I remember hearing about right around the time I was going  off to college. I recently went and looked at the site “American Music Therapy Association” and it was established in 1998. I personally think it is a very creative way to addressing  stress and providing an alternative to medicine in the pill form. I believe that the world is already way too medicated. I also think people need to just calm down. Now even though I don’t see music therapy as being a widely accepted practice, I do think they have a great idea. I mean who didn’t listen to music when they were a teenager (not that I am saying you don’t now); your parents make you mad or even a sibling or maybe just school sucked that day. So you go home and go to your room crank up your favorite tunes and just relax. Teenagers deal with a lot of stress, not that I am saying that adults don’t however when you are starting to gain independence and responsibilities and your body in changing and your mind is developing and your hormones are going crazy; I myself just loved to crank up the music and let if all float away. Even today if I have a bad day at work the first thing I do when I get to the sanctuary of my car is blast the radio to a song I like scream it out to an audience of  myself and let all the days problems just go.

I see this therapy  being most helpful to young adults, because it is not just about listening to music and feeling better,  about palying or writing or whatever will let you express yourself and let it out. (Madonna had it right!) Now insurance does pay for this and like anything to do with an insurance company not all apply and not all will be covered but that site does go into pretty good detail about different states and coverage.

I think before parents throw their children on ritalin or concerta or zoloft or any more of those “make my children act right drugs” maybe this could be a safe and drug free alternative to calming and destressing. Music by nature is supposed to be joyous and a sort of celebration or at least that is my take on it. I mean to right down the words and put it to music and then lay it down on cd or vinyl or whatever it has to be something that not only appeals to you but is something others in the world can appreciate as well.

I think that music is a wonderful thing and I personally try and listen and watch as much as I can. I also think that maybe not as far as going to a doctor and be prescribed music, I have used music many many times to help me get into a better mood or let something go, and I am sure I am not the only one.  So anyway if anyone is feeling a bit overwhelmed try putting on something you find calming and turn down the lights and turn up the volume

So last night I was watching American Idol and even though I have not been a true American Idol fan; I watched a tiny bit of last season and I have seen about half of season 8 the current one; however I thought that it was insane to so pointly admit that it is not just about the perons ability but about their personal looks. Now I know that sex does sell but come on, why have a competition about sing and a person’s talents and then say in fine print say  ” oh by the way if we do not find you attractive no matter how good you are you are S.O.L.” I am sorry but what a load of crap. If the show is about music and singing then leave it at that if a show needs spark and fire and drama to sell then tell the person that they are ugly or unattractive but do not count out their ability because of there looks. Have they done this every season, does anyone know or is it just a new thing this season. I can understand to a point I can but I still think that the bottom line is ability.

I watched the judges go back and forth, about to put a beautiful girl that could not sing that well ahead of another girl who was not attractive but had a much better voice. Now I can appreciate a nice body as well as the next person; but is it not enough to take a young person and make a star out of them as well as anyone else with a lot of talent that makes it far in the competition. Must we hold the world attention by saying that singing is not enough to keep people watching and voting night after night, but that person must also have sex appeal or it is no good. Plus who could forget all the off handed remarks and flat out insults by the judges give frequently. I just think that music and talent are enough and I think it is a bad look of the world when a show like this say so blatantly that if it is not sexy then no one will like it.

So in the news today it has been brought to light that the U.S. goverment has been using music on detainees in Iraq.  This is a list of the most frequent;y used songs. I wander what the artist think about this?

“Enter Sandman,” Metallica.

“Bodies,” Drowning Pool.

“Shoot to Thrill,” AC/DC.

“Hell’s Bells,” AC/DC.

“I Love You,” from the “Barney and Friends” children’s TV show.

“Born in the USA,” Bruce Springsteen.

“Babylon,” David Gray.

“White America,” Eminem.

“Sesame Street,” theme song from the children’s TV show.

A- Amos Lee, Aaliyah, ABBA, Ac/DC, aerosmith, Alabama, Alanis Morissete, Alice Cooper, Alice in Chains, Alison Kraus, All 4 One, America, Audioslave, Atreyu, Art Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin, Aphex Twin, Annie Lennox

B- Bella Fleck and the Flecktones, B.B. King, Black Sabbath, Blink 182, Blessed Union of Souls, Blind Melon, Blondie, Blood Sweat & Tears, Bad Company, Blues Traveler, Bob Dylan, Bo Diddley, Bob Marley, Bare Naked Ladies, Barry Manilow, Barry White, Beatie Boys, BB Mak, Bone Thugs in Harmony, Bonnie Raitt, Beck , Boston, Ben Harper, Better Than Ezra, Breathe, Brian Wilson, Ben Fold Five, Bruce Springstein, Buudy Holly, Buffalo Springfiled, Buddy Guy, Bush, Burt Bacharach, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Billy Joel, Bjork, The Butthole Surfers

C- Coheed and Cambria, Chuck Berry, Candlebox, Carl Perkins, Carly Simon, Vanessa Carlton, Carlos Santana, Carole King, Caroline’s Spine, Counting Crows, Cat Stevens, Cheap Trick, Chubby Checker, Chicago, Cypress Hill, Culture Club, Crystal Gayle, Crosby Stills Nash and Young, CCR, Crash Test Dummies, John Coltrane, Color Me Bad, Phil Collins, Natalie Cole, Nat King Cole, Eddie Cochran, Joe Cocker, Coldplay, Eric Clapton

D- Dire Straits, D’angelo, Damned Yankees, Damien Rice, Daniel Beddingfield, Dashboard Confessional, Dave Mathews Band, David Bowie, Miles Davis, Dead Kennedys, Deep Purple, Deftones, Deniece Williams, Dwight Yokam , Duke Ellington, Drowning Pool, Dr. Dre, Donavon, Don Henley, Dolly Parton, Do or Die, Disturbed, Diana Ross

E- Eric Johnson, Elvis Presley, Elvis Costello, Elton John, Elliot Smith, Electric Light Orchestra, Easy-E, Earth Wind and Fire, Eagle Eye Cherry, Emerson Lake and Palmer, Eminem, Evanescende, Eve 6, Everlast, Everclear, Everthing but the Girl, Everly Brothers, Ella Fitzgerlad

F- Frank Sinatra, Frankie Avalon, Faith no More, Fatboy Slim, Finger Eleven, Five for Fighting, Fleetwood Mac, Funky Fleaz, Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, Foo Fighters, Foghat, Flogging Molly

So in an earlier post on Robert Johnson i made mention of the forever 27, well this is what i am talking about. Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, Jimmie Hendrix, and Kurt Cobain all died at the age of 27. Just thing of what else they might have accomplished if they had not met their untimely deaths. This is a poster i do own a copy of myself when i saw it i had to have it. On the back of mine it has a piece of paper that tell 27 referances to one of the 4 artist in the poster see if you can find them and i will post all the answers at a later date. I still stand behind my earlier comment that Robert Johnson should have been  included.

for more information on each of these artist i have provided a few links below

Janis Joplin-  http://www.janisjoplin.net/

Jim Morrison- http://www.americanlegends.com/morrison/index.html

Kurt Cobain- http://www.burntout.com/kurt/biography/

Jimmie Hendrix-http://www.hotshotdigital.com/WellAlwaysRemember/JimiHendrixBio.html

also just some interesting links:

http://thechaosofdeath.blogspot.com/2008/02/27-club.html

http://www.the27clubmovie.com/production_synopses.html