Number 10
Song & Artist: Song 2 - Blur
Album & Date: Blur - 7th April 1997
Nationality of band: English
Members at release: Damon Albarn (Vocals - England); Graham Coxon (Electric Guitar - Germany); Alex James (Bass Guitar - England); Dave Rowntree (Drums - England)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSbBvKaM6sk&ob=av3e
My rant;
Ze Germans are coming (said nasally).... Did I ever mention that the Germans bombed my grannies fish and chip shop? Long story...
The second song and second single on the album with 2 minutes and 2 seconds of thumping drums, simple effective riff followed by dirty dirty grinding on the guitar and insane lyrics. This is the English trying to do grunge and it was (and therefore is) alternative.
I have been told not to use names on this blog, but: Years ago when John and I started debating this list I told him it needed a 'bolter' at 10. Something that, while brilliant, is not generally considered. And this is the 'bolter'.
This song reminds me of sitting on my bed in '97/'98 listening to my neighbour Lisa tell me about some drama she was having. Radio Hauraki was on in the background and as she got to the most critical part of her story this track came on and I yelled out wooo hooo much to her disgust. She kept talking and i kept wooo hoooing until we were both laughing like meat heads.....
Ah music, bringer of memory.
Bands:
5 - America
5 - England
Countries:
19 - America
19 - England
1 - Tanzania
1 - Germany
Decade
6 - 90's
2 - 70's
2 - 60's
Year
2 - 1994
2 - 1997
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1991
1 - 1979
1 - 1993
1 - 1968
Genre:
3 - Alternative
2 - Grunge
2 - Rock
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Post Grunge
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
I'm thinking of the best 'complete' band. Rock band obviously.
By complete i mean the band with the most talented people in it. You could say that Freddie Mercury is the greatest frontman of all time and Brian May is the greatest rock guitarist of all time too and I would possibly agree, depending on how argumentative i am feeling, but who rates Roger Taylor and John Deacon?
(Disclaimer: RHCP are my personal favourite band and i will argue forever that Blood Sugar Sex Magic is in fact the greatest album of all time along with Throwing Copper (Live) and a few others.)
RHCP are up there, Anthony Keidis is one of the greatest ever frontmen, Flea is probably the greatest rock bass guitarists ever and John Frusciante is a genius, but no one ever rates Chad Smith (Except me of course, that dude bangs fuck out of the skins like a madman and sadly i am nowhere near cool enough to say skins...)
Now I'm not saying that the people i'm not mentioning are crap or anything, all i'm saying is that they're not in the top twenty or so to ever do what they do.
Queen/ RHCP are lucky most bands only have one dude who is rated. Green Day = Billie Joe Armstrong; Faith No More = Mikey Patton
You have think about (as I write, 'Oops.... I did it again' has started to play. Fully wrecking my rock vibe.... that is the downside of ripping all of my wifes music to itunes and not finishing sorting it all out)
You have to think about Led Zeppelin with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. Four incredibly talented dudes; all of which are probably in the top twenty or so of their position in the band.
Once again, I will come back to this in good time.
By complete i mean the band with the most talented people in it. You could say that Freddie Mercury is the greatest frontman of all time and Brian May is the greatest rock guitarist of all time too and I would possibly agree, depending on how argumentative i am feeling, but who rates Roger Taylor and John Deacon?
(Disclaimer: RHCP are my personal favourite band and i will argue forever that Blood Sugar Sex Magic is in fact the greatest album of all time along with Throwing Copper (Live) and a few others.)
RHCP are up there, Anthony Keidis is one of the greatest ever frontmen, Flea is probably the greatest rock bass guitarists ever and John Frusciante is a genius, but no one ever rates Chad Smith (Except me of course, that dude bangs fuck out of the skins like a madman and sadly i am nowhere near cool enough to say skins...)
Now I'm not saying that the people i'm not mentioning are crap or anything, all i'm saying is that they're not in the top twenty or so to ever do what they do.
Queen/ RHCP are lucky most bands only have one dude who is rated. Green Day = Billie Joe Armstrong; Faith No More = Mikey Patton
You have think about (as I write, 'Oops.... I did it again' has started to play. Fully wrecking my rock vibe.... that is the downside of ripping all of my wifes music to itunes and not finishing sorting it all out)
You have to think about Led Zeppelin with Jimmy Page, Robert Plant, John Paul Jones and John Bonham. Four incredibly talented dudes; all of which are probably in the top twenty or so of their position in the band.
Once again, I will come back to this in good time.
Monday, 6 February 2012
This is (another) new section of my blog which i will probably not do again but what the hell:
It's called "So what's annoying me today?"
Well two words: Alternative and Indie.
I'm going to spell out the facts and everyone who disagrees is simply wrong.
Alternative is not the word you give a band/track that is 'cool'. Alternative is a type of music that becomes popular fast, but is not the accepted popular music type of the time. Therefore, that type of music cannot be 'alternative' for long because it becomes popular
For example; Grunge was alternative for a while until it became popular and then it was simply grunge.
The interesting thing for me is that if you look back in time, music that was truly alternative at the time is always alternative. An example is Placebo in 1998, that music was alternative at the time and still is, but bands that got on the band wagon of that particular brand of punk (post post punk, yes i meant to write post twice, glam punk whatever) did not release alternative music.
Indie music is not a fucking genre. It is just a 'cool' way of saying the band is releasing their music through an indie-pendant (see what i did there.....) label, not a major label. So if you call your music Indie, good for you, you're not actually saying anything descriptive at all.... bully for you....
Now fuck this, i'm off.
It's called "So what's annoying me today?"
Well two words: Alternative and Indie.
I'm going to spell out the facts and everyone who disagrees is simply wrong.
Alternative is not the word you give a band/track that is 'cool'. Alternative is a type of music that becomes popular fast, but is not the accepted popular music type of the time. Therefore, that type of music cannot be 'alternative' for long because it becomes popular
For example; Grunge was alternative for a while until it became popular and then it was simply grunge.
The interesting thing for me is that if you look back in time, music that was truly alternative at the time is always alternative. An example is Placebo in 1998, that music was alternative at the time and still is, but bands that got on the band wagon of that particular brand of punk (post post punk, yes i meant to write post twice, glam punk whatever) did not release alternative music.
Indie music is not a fucking genre. It is just a 'cool' way of saying the band is releasing their music through an indie-pendant (see what i did there.....) label, not a major label. So if you call your music Indie, good for you, you're not actually saying anything descriptive at all.... bully for you....
Now fuck this, i'm off.
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Number 9
Song & Artist: Revolution - The Beatles
Album & Date: Hey Jude (Single) - 26th August 1968
Nationality of band: English
Members at release: George Harrison (Lead Guitar - England); John Lennon (Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals - England); Paul McCartney (Bass Guitar - England); Ringo Star (Drums - England)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkwgTBrW78
My rant;
Oh i do love controversy. The song at number 9 for me is not Revolution 1 from the White Album. This is Revolution, the B side from the Hey Jude single.
I know it was never a number one or even close (unlike many other Beatles Tracks according to the album "1") but fuck me this is a absolutely sensational track; Lennon screaming like a demented banshee; Lennon McCartney (if you believe they were a partnership) wrote a politically relevent song that rocked and got important people bitching about it. Think about the 60's and then every decade since then and it's not often that politically motivated songs have bitch slapped your ears and soul like this one. The Harrison/Lennon Guitars are dirty and heavy and most un-beatles.
Hoo Hoo; i love it. (mind you, poor old Ringo doesn't get a mention... at least he's still breathing I suppose)
I'll admit that there were some kick ass anti Vietnam songs in the late 60's early 70's and even Springsteen/REM in the 80's but since then no politically motivated song has kicked my ass.... (do we count American Idiot by Green Day.....)
So that's it. The Beatles at number nine and i'm still not sure if i think they are in fact a rock band. A great band, probably the greatest band ever, but a rock band??
Bands:
5 - America
4 - England
Countries:
19 - America
16 - England
1 - Tanzania
Decade
5 - 90's
2 - 70's
2 - 60's
Year
2 - 1994
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1991
1 - 1979
1 - 1993
1 - 1997
1 - 1968
Genre:
2 - Alternative
2 - Grunge
2 - Rock
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Post Grunge
Song & Artist: Revolution - The Beatles
Album & Date: Hey Jude (Single) - 26th August 1968
Nationality of band: English
Members at release: George Harrison (Lead Guitar - England); John Lennon (Rhythm Guitar/ Vocals - England); Paul McCartney (Bass Guitar - England); Ringo Star (Drums - England)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkwgTBrW78
My rant;
Oh i do love controversy. The song at number 9 for me is not Revolution 1 from the White Album. This is Revolution, the B side from the Hey Jude single.
I know it was never a number one or even close (unlike many other Beatles Tracks according to the album "1") but fuck me this is a absolutely sensational track; Lennon screaming like a demented banshee; Lennon McCartney (if you believe they were a partnership) wrote a politically relevent song that rocked and got important people bitching about it. Think about the 60's and then every decade since then and it's not often that politically motivated songs have bitch slapped your ears and soul like this one. The Harrison/Lennon Guitars are dirty and heavy and most un-beatles.
Hoo Hoo; i love it. (mind you, poor old Ringo doesn't get a mention... at least he's still breathing I suppose)
I'll admit that there were some kick ass anti Vietnam songs in the late 60's early 70's and even Springsteen/REM in the 80's but since then no politically motivated song has kicked my ass.... (do we count American Idiot by Green Day.....)
So that's it. The Beatles at number nine and i'm still not sure if i think they are in fact a rock band. A great band, probably the greatest band ever, but a rock band??
Bands:
5 - America
4 - England
Countries:
19 - America
16 - England
1 - Tanzania
Decade
5 - 90's
2 - 70's
2 - 60's
Year
2 - 1994
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1991
1 - 1979
1 - 1993
1 - 1997
1 - 1968
Genre:
2 - Alternative
2 - Grunge
2 - Rock
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Post Grunge
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Dinosaur Jnr - Green Mind;
I was banging on the other day about having bought this album so here goes.
This is a 'good album'. I wouldn't cry if I never heard it again, but at the same time, i will seek it out from time to time.
Most of the songs are the same kind of vibe, good and average.
Knowing that they have released a bunch of albums since then means that they are hopefully better than this one.
Not the most interesting blog post, i know, but then again not the most interesting album.
I was banging on the other day about having bought this album so here goes.
This is a 'good album'. I wouldn't cry if I never heard it again, but at the same time, i will seek it out from time to time.
Most of the songs are the same kind of vibe, good and average.
Knowing that they have released a bunch of albums since then means that they are hopefully better than this one.
Not the most interesting blog post, i know, but then again not the most interesting album.
Number 8 - The Fencing Wire Position?!?
Song & Artist: Backwater - Meat Puppets (aka 'The Pups')
Album & Date: Too High Too Die; 25th January 1994
Nationality of band: American
Members at release: Derek Bostrom (Drums - America); Cris Kirtwood ( Bass Guitar - America); Curt Kirkwood (Electric Guitar/Vocals - America)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-HFbNhTTKQ
My rant;
Wow-fricken-wee .... this is a band that barely any one knew of until they helped out with Nirvana Unplugged (aka: Kurt Cobains pre-death funeral; but that's another story)
And sadly, despite releasing the 8th best rock track of all time, they remain remarkably unknown. According my research anonymous people on the net believe they are similar to REM, STP, Soul Asylum and Sonic Youth. Well, anonymous internet people, balls to you. They are a band that have been more influential than influenced.
Be sure to check out the youtube clip (above) before carrying on or you'll just be a confussled little duck....
...
...
So this band is probably the ultimate example of an alternative band in that they do all sorts of genres while still remaining a rock band. And i'll admit i heard this song in '94 and fell in love (truly madly and other emotive words) but i only picked up the album in 2007 after a boring wedding. i'll also admit i was surprised and disappointed with the album... initially. After a few plays over a wee while i can now say that i like the album. it's not in the top 20 or anything exciting like that, but i like it.
I usually keep my rants on the actual song quite short but this one is the shortest and i hope anyone who ever gets around to reading this appreciates why.
This is a dirty track with dirty guitars, a simple but sexual riff and lyrics that define life.
"And when I wake up in the morning,
To feel the daybreak on my face,
There's a blood that's flowin' through the feeling,
With a knife to open up the sky's vein."
and lyrics just don't get much better than that.
Bands:
5 - America
3 - England
Countries:
19 - America
12 - England
1 - Tanzania
Decade
5 - 90's
2 - 70's
1 - 60's
Year
2 - 1994
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1991
1 - 1979
1 - 1993
1 - 1997
Genre:
2 - Alternative
2 - Grunge
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Post Grunge
Song & Artist: Backwater - Meat Puppets (aka 'The Pups')
Album & Date: Too High Too Die; 25th January 1994
Nationality of band: American
Members at release: Derek Bostrom (Drums - America); Cris Kirtwood ( Bass Guitar - America); Curt Kirkwood (Electric Guitar/Vocals - America)
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-HFbNhTTKQ
My rant;
Wow-fricken-wee .... this is a band that barely any one knew of until they helped out with Nirvana Unplugged (aka: Kurt Cobains pre-death funeral; but that's another story)
And sadly, despite releasing the 8th best rock track of all time, they remain remarkably unknown. According my research anonymous people on the net believe they are similar to REM, STP, Soul Asylum and Sonic Youth. Well, anonymous internet people, balls to you. They are a band that have been more influential than influenced.
Be sure to check out the youtube clip (above) before carrying on or you'll just be a confussled little duck....
...
...
So this band is probably the ultimate example of an alternative band in that they do all sorts of genres while still remaining a rock band. And i'll admit i heard this song in '94 and fell in love (truly madly and other emotive words) but i only picked up the album in 2007 after a boring wedding. i'll also admit i was surprised and disappointed with the album... initially. After a few plays over a wee while i can now say that i like the album. it's not in the top 20 or anything exciting like that, but i like it.
I usually keep my rants on the actual song quite short but this one is the shortest and i hope anyone who ever gets around to reading this appreciates why.
This is a dirty track with dirty guitars, a simple but sexual riff and lyrics that define life.
"And when I wake up in the morning,
To feel the daybreak on my face,
There's a blood that's flowin' through the feeling,
With a knife to open up the sky's vein."
and lyrics just don't get much better than that.
Bands:
5 - America
3 - England
Countries:
19 - America
12 - England
1 - Tanzania
Decade
5 - 90's
2 - 70's
1 - 60's
Year
2 - 1994
1 - 1975
1 - 1965
1 - 1991
1 - 1979
1 - 1993
1 - 1997
Genre:
2 - Alternative
2 - Grunge
1 - Glam Rock
1 - Rock
1 - Punk
1 - Post Grunge
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Noise Rock;
I have listened to 'Goo' by Sonic Youth, the New York experimental 'no wave' (google it) band.
I feel a wee bit conflicted by the album. I reckon that had i been 2 or 3 years older i would have heard them before the grunge explosion circa 1991 and i would have really loved them.
But i feel that because i was exposed to grunge/alt rock and it took noise rock and built on it (with melody/rhythm) i will probably never become a true fan of Sonic Youth. It's like Bob Dylan, no doubt a great poet and musician but everything he did, someone has done far far better.
So i'm content to call Sonic Youth a 'bridge' band at this stage; bridging the gap from heavy metal to grunge etc. So it gives me a better idea of how grunge destroyed heavy metal in that it was just finishing off what noise rock started.
So i will keep listening to SY on and off and buy another one of their records when i get the chance (money) but next i am going to spend some emotional moments with 'Green Mind' by Dinosaur Jnr and see how i go there. According to my information DJ was influenced by SY, so i should get into it.
Rock on rittle bunnies
Oh yeah, Thurston Moore as 34th best guitarist of all time? Rolling Stone what the flying fuckballs were you thinking? yowser......
I have listened to 'Goo' by Sonic Youth, the New York experimental 'no wave' (google it) band.
I feel a wee bit conflicted by the album. I reckon that had i been 2 or 3 years older i would have heard them before the grunge explosion circa 1991 and i would have really loved them.
But i feel that because i was exposed to grunge/alt rock and it took noise rock and built on it (with melody/rhythm) i will probably never become a true fan of Sonic Youth. It's like Bob Dylan, no doubt a great poet and musician but everything he did, someone has done far far better.
So i'm content to call Sonic Youth a 'bridge' band at this stage; bridging the gap from heavy metal to grunge etc. So it gives me a better idea of how grunge destroyed heavy metal in that it was just finishing off what noise rock started.
So i will keep listening to SY on and off and buy another one of their records when i get the chance (money) but next i am going to spend some emotional moments with 'Green Mind' by Dinosaur Jnr and see how i go there. According to my information DJ was influenced by SY, so i should get into it.
Rock on rittle bunnies
Oh yeah, Thurston Moore as 34th best guitarist of all time? Rolling Stone what the flying fuckballs were you thinking? yowser......
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