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

Well, I tend to favor music and I can sing to, that fits my voice range, but also because I like the certain song. My favorite artists tend to be my favorite because they sing certain songs that I can relate to ones that I love the meaning and message that they are trying to send out. My favorite artists range from Celine Dion, Christina Aguilera, Elton John, Garth Brooks, Carrie Underwood, Kenney Chesney, Rihanna, to Mariah Carey. Like I said earlier what draws me to these artists are mainly there lyrics.

Kenney Chesney has a song called “Who’d You Be Today.” He had lost a friend that died at a very young age. In the song he sings about how he wonders what his friend would be like today would they have gotten married and started a family. “It ain’t fair how you died so young like a story that had just begun but death tore the pages all away.” My best friend died in a car accident when we were 14 years old. When this song first came I out I cried and cried and cried because it is truly how I feel about her death.

Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, and Sara Evans all have songs about love. Almost every girl going through high school and their late teen years and early twenties have all been in relationships and had their heart broken. I am currently in a relationship and hoping that it will be my last relationship. Sara Evans has a song “I Could Not Ask For More.” “Looking in your eyes seeing all I need, everything you are is everything to me….I’ve got all I’ve waited for, and I could not ask for more. I was just telling my boyfriend the other day that Rihanna and Neyo’s song “Hate How Much I Love You,” reminds me of our relationship. I can be mad at him one second and the next second totally forget why I was mad at him in the first place.

Micah Walk, yes this is probably a name you have never heard before, unless you are from Springfield, IL or the surrounding areas. This many is simply amazing and I hate to try to compare his music to another, because he really does have a unique and powerful sound.  If I had to put his name next to another more popular artist, I suppose I would have to compare his sound to Dave Mathews, Ryan Adams or the likes of these folks. Micah brings an amazing strength to his music, even on a sad song, I have never seen another live performer that can put any audience in the palm of his hand and make them feel the emotions he is feeling in each song he delivers.

There is something magical about his music and I think that this is something that everybody should have the chance to experience.  His music is low and slow and very emotional, far from emo though, trust me.  I have added a few tracks below for  your listening pleasure, these same tracks are readily available on his own site so make sure to visit him there as well.

If you are looking for a fast and furious noise ridden musical experience you will not find it here.  Micah started off playing in local coffee shops and at many open mic’s in the Springfield area and his music reflects the intimate and small personal venues he had become accustomed to playing.  The somber and some times even flat out sad songs he writes may be a downer to some, but much like the blues that I love so much, it seems to be very uplifting to me.

Micah Walk has created a new band and is starting to move to larger venues than ever, I for one wish him the best of success and have for some time wondered why this guy has not got a major record deal, because he truly deserves one.

Click On Micah To See His Own Official Site

Make sure to visit him on his own website here : Micah Walk

Here is a sample track of Micah Walk in action and you can find more like this by visiting his website above!

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

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

I just don’t know if this guy is amazing or if I am just a looser.? You tell me…John Pointer is a guitar player, a singer, and a beat boxer.? Sounds like? weird combo, not to be confused with “Brave Combo” they are a polka band, I said weird combo.? This guy is not a rapper, he just does his own drums, with his mouth that is.? He is a very smooth guitarist who loves hitting harmonics and is a please to watch play, he slaps the guitar to get unique sounds, much like Keller Williams.? He has a soft but smooth voice, close to Jason Mraz and with a little time in front of a crowd I think he can be the next big thing in the music or pop world.? Only time will tell but I’ll be here watching either way.

Any way, I’m not going to spam up the Musiblog with a bunch links, just google or you tube “John Pointer” you will see what I am talking about.? Check out my favorite song of his “The Flame”, it is one of his more developed songs and it is rather catchy, maybe good for the radio?? This guy has more talent in his pinkie finger than in my whole body. I have been following him for a while and he has recently got a couple jobs on commercials.? I think he just needs a good writer and he is on his way to superstardome!? There are not many I can honestly say that about but this guy is the real deal.

I think he is the best thing to come along since sliced bread, for what it’s worth, no not the “Buffalo Springfield” song, I just mean that you may not all agree with me, so its only worth what you make of it.

I recently accross a list of the “top 100 living songwriters” from Paste Magazine, the list was compiled by Robin Hilton.  So I will admit fully that I am personally more of a lyrics person than a name person.  I can tell you ever word to a song but I have absolutely no idea who sings it, who wrote it, or what band they are in.  Not to say that I don’t know any names but as a whole I come up short when it comes to “name that band.”  As I am going trough this list and I am looking at all these names and wondering if I am missing out on a bunch of great music or if I know more than I realize.   So of the top 100 I took the top 10 that I had not heard of and listened to their stuff to see what they were about.

So the wait is over, here is the top ten countdown, starting at the top:

10. Gillian Welch & David Rawlings – learn more

9. Ray Davies – learn more

8. Beck Hansen – learn more

7.Steve Earle – learn more

6. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller – learn more

5. Jeff Tweedy – learn more

4. Patty Griffin – learn more

3. Holland-Dozier-Holland – learn more

2. Randy Newman – learn more

1. Leonard Cohen – learn more

Christian rock has been around for some time now and most people think of it as a way to pull new people towards religion.   And in some cases this may be true but one thing usually is a common thread in there music, that is its mediocrity.  Through my time I have heard quit a few christian rock bands and one stands out of the crowd in so many ways I thought it would be worth writing this very post.

Third Day!  These guys actually do rock!  I love there music and yes there is a message in there songs, but unlike other artists in this genre it is not shoved down your throat, it is gently massaged down your throat with much musical talent.  They have a very clean sound and the lead singer has a deep and addictive voice.  If you have never heard the christian rock band “Third Day” it is time that you do.

Check out the Third Day Web Site.

This awesome christian rock band has had 24 No. 1 singles across multiple formats, they have won Grammy Awards, Dove Awards and fill stadiums wherever they play, so don’t think they are going anywhere, these guys are here to stay!

If you are interested in hearing some music from these guys check out Mr. Music Download.

So in another life about 10 years ago I find myself on 2 hits of acid in the college town of Carbondale, IL and roaming through the dorm rooms in the twin towers, no that’s not a 9/11 reference they actually have 2 tall towers of dorm room there, and that is what the kids call’em.

Anyway it was interesting to me that as I stumble mindlessly through the hallways of a large dorm hall that most didn’t even blink as I went by.  But more often than not others noticed my friends and my own altered state and ask us into there rooms, “come look at…” or “let me show you…” were common phases heard from the collegiate students here in this town.  I soon realized that I was not the sticking out like sore thumb in this town, more to the contrary I was actually fitting in in this strange land.

So now it is about 2:00 A.M.  and I am walking up and down the stairwell looking for the floor where the room in which I had started this journey and return to a “Safe Place”.  Suddenly the fire door in front of me flies open and a local long hair, that I have never met before in my life says, “We’re all waiting for you” and then  “Come On!”.  I thought this a strange thing to say to a stranger and yes even after sobering up he really was a stranger.

As the stranger brought me to his room in this 20 some floor dorm he stopped me at the door and said “Why don’t you enjoy myself?”  I thought this to be a strange way to come on to a guy and not being gay myself ask “Are you hitting on me?”.  He quickly told me that was not the case, he was just inquiring if I had heard of a song by a band called Phish.  The song was called “You Enjoy Myself”, he said that it was kinda a local favorite when tripping to lay down and let this song “take you anywhere you want to go”.

As he opened the door to his dorm room, sure enough my long lost acid induced buddies were right there. In the dimly lit room there were mood lamps, fuzzy objects and Orange Juice all to our LSD empowered pleasure.  They got me a spot somewhere between a futon and the floor, and started playing the song.

The ONLY thing I remember after that was I NEEDED to find out more about this band, the band they call Phish, the song realy did take me somewhere else and even after sobering up the song was a roller coaster of emotion, a run through the park and a quiet dinner at home, it is all or nothing, it is what you make of it yourself, and I to this day am trying to figure our the only 4 words, or lyrics in the song, thats part of the mystic, the magic and the wonder of one of my all time favorite bands, phish.

So I was listening to some old Nine Inch Nails tracks the other night and I realized that I had forgotten how much I love there music.  It’s different from today’s industrial music sound in a much more raw and abrasive way that is pulled off so well by Trent and friends.

If you want to hear a track or two from Nine Inch Nails to see what I’m talking about click here.

They have a heart pounding, driving sound that has not been matched in my eyes since.  Trent Rezner has a most ominous aura about his voice and music that I think is part of the mystic of the bands music.

Well thats all I got, see you all later.