Roses –by The Cranberries (Album Review)

It's been too long since I put new material on the blog, so I'll take a few minutes to review the latest album by The Cranberries, a band I enjoyed in my youth.  I started listening to them with their second album, No Need to Argue (which remains their best album, in my opinion), and I kept listening straight until their "last" album in the early 2000's.

A few weeks ago, I was perusing music on Amazon.com, just to see what was out there after many years of not buying much new, and lo and behold the Cranberries put out a new album in 2012, their first in over a decade.  Well, I couldn't let that pass without a listen, so I bought the digital MP3 version and had at it.

"Roses" is a good warm-up comeback album, something reminiscent of their earliest material, and a potential stepping-stone toward future hits.

This album has a lot of songs I'd classify as okay, but only a couple that stand out to me.  "Conduct," the first song on the album, is my personal favorite of the collection, while "Waiting in Walthamstow" is a haunting melody which seems eerily familiar (though I can't tell what it reminds me of).  "Tomorrow" is reminiscent of one of their earliest hits, "Dreams," and the others should satisfy those familiar with the Cranberries song stylings.

So, how does this album compare to their earlier works?  I'd say it is their best overall album since No Need to Argue, but it lacks a major hit.  As I said, there are a few songs that I really like, but nothing really jumps out at me as a single.  "Show Me" had real potential, and listening to the first forty-five seconds for the first time I was expecting it to be that stand-out song, but the chorus just fell short.  It seemed to be building up to something that could have been a real head-banger, but it didn't.

I'd put this as a solid 3-star album; definitely worth buying for Cranberries fans.

Madison Rising's "The Star Spangled Banner"

A few weeks ago, I ran across a link on facebook to a hard-rock youtube video of The Star Spangled Banner by Madison Rising.  While I'm generally more of a moderate rock kind of guy, this new version of America's national anthem appealed to me.  Now, for some inexplicable reason, facebook has been deleting the link to the video from people's walls.  Accusations of censorship are running rampant.  It's probably just the work of a few disgruntled facebook employees who don't like the video for whatever reason, but some people say it's a concerted effort at censorship.  All I know is, the video link I shared on my wall vanished recently, just as it has from many other people's walls.

Check out the music video here.

You'll see there is nothing offensive, pornographic, or otherwise ban-worthy in this video.  Your 5 year old could watch this and hear the song without any ill effects.  It's a very patriotic American message.

I reposted the link on my profile page today.  We'll see how long it stays there this time.  Feel free to share it on your fb walls, as well.  It's worth a listen.

Frank Crumit

Here's a brief look at a forgotten legend in pop music.  Frank Crumit was a renowned singer of comedic songs back in the 1920's and 30's, though most people these days have no clue about who he was.  I'm not going to write a lengthy biography of him, but you can look him up easily enough.  You can even find many of his songs online for free, as most of them are in the public domain now.

I personally have several of his 78RPM records, including the famous "I've Got The Profiteering Blues," recorded around 1920, written about the hyper-inflation that followed the first World War.

A few other great songs you might find amusing are "A Gay Caballero," and "There's No One With Endurance Like The Man Who Sells Insurance," as well as the epic "Abdul Abulbul Amir," (which had many sequels).

For those who are familiar with the financial history behind the roaring twenties and the great depression, you'll really appreciate "A Tale of the Ticker."

Many of you will recall the drunken favorite "Little Brown Jug," and, of course, there's always the wild and wacky "Prune Song."

It's not for everyone all the time, but these ancient oldies are worth a listen or two.  So, check out a few of them today at archive.org.

The Tuesday Triple (6)

Here we are, on another Tuesday morning.  I'm feeling pretty tired right now, as my back has been aching much of the night.  It is being a real bother lately, but it's something I'll just have to live with for the time being.  It only hurts when I'm lying down for extended periods, anyway.

All right, let's see what pops up this morning.

It Came out of the Sky –Credence Clearwater Revival:  This is quite a spirited song for the morning.  Good beat, rousing, and humorous.  This is one of their better tunes.  Yes, I'd say this is worth listening to.

Out of Touch –Darryl Hall & John Oates:  Here's a typical mid-80s tune.  Not really a bad song, but first thing in the morning? 

Daytime Nighttime Suffering –Paul McCartney & Wings:  One of McCartney's B-sides.  Not something I'd call a favorite, but it's better than most of the junk people put out these days.

Okay, this week we had one really good song and a couple of okay selections.  Enjoy the rest of the week!

The Tuesday Triple (5)

I didn't sleep well last night.  The heat of summer months tends to disrupt my rest, and my back has been bothering me as well lately.  I'm sure I'll be fine, but in the meantime I'll have to muddle through everything feeling a bit tired.

So, on to this week's three random songs...

My Generation –The Who.  A true classic!  It's the song that really kicked off their career.  Before this song, they were relatively unknown.  It's a bit dated now, but isn't a bad song.

Holy Cow –Lee Dorsey.  Here's another one out of that 1965 hits collection.  Nothing really exciting here, though it isn't offensive or annoying.  It's okay for background ambience, but not anything that would cause me to stop and really listen.

Thing –Matthew Sweet.  A rarity in his repertoire, this was one of his B-sides.  It appeared on the CD single of Time Capsule, and it really is a great little song, far underrated.  Personally I feel this one had real potential, but it was never utilized.  It could have even been a single, itself.   This catchy tune about dysfunctional romance really deserves to be played more.

Three more brief commentaries, quick and easy.  I wish every American a happy Independence Day tomorrow, and encourage everyone to read a copy of the Declaration of Independence.  How can you celebrate something you don't know?  Read the document that started it all, and enjoy the festivities with clarity of sight.  In fact, here's a copy, so you don't have to waste time hunting for it.  God Bless America!

The Tuesday Triple (4)

After yesterday's big announcement of my new fan forum and the forthcoming Summer Shootout Writing Contest, let's see what kind of songs roll off the old Media Player.  Will they be profoundly fitting, or random garbage... or both?

Send Her My Love (Live) –Journey:  Blah.  That's what hits me when I hear this song.  It's not one of my favorites, just another drippy love song.  This live performance doesn't make it any better.  That's a disappointing start to today's triple.

Say it With Love – The Moody Blues:  Blah x2!  Hey, I really like the Moody Blues, but this is one of their lesser songs.  It was the "big hit" from their Keys of the Kingdom album, but there were so many better songs on it!  While I like this a lot more than Send Her My Love, it is still a pretty unexciting selection.  Two down, one to go...

Sick of Myself –Matthew Sweet:  The Media Player seeks to redeem itself with the third song by throwing out Matthew Sweet's biggest hit.  While not my personal favorite, this is the song was really the peak of his career.  It was the first song on his 100% Fun album, and it was the first of his songs I ever heard (or remember hearing).  Yes, this far outshines the first two songs in this week's triple play.  Bravo!

Well, at least it wasn't a full slate of mediocre songs.  Let's see what next week brings.

The Tuesday Triple (3)

It's the triple triple!  To celebrate our third installment in the Tuesday triple, I'll be giving away a big whopping nothing!  That's right, everyone who reads this week's blog post will receive the legendary no-prize made famous by Marvel Comics during the 70s and 80s.  To claim your no-prize, just listen to each of the three songs listed below and have a great day!

Sometimes Less Is More –Justin Hayward:  This singer/guitarist for the Moody Blues put out a little known solo album in 1996 called "View From the Hill," and this was one of the lackluster songs among the collection.  Now, I can't say it was a horrible release; it's just nothing special.  As I said, it's lackluster, a collection of easy listening songs with soft melodies, but nothing I'd call a hit.  It's a pretty bland beginning for our trio.

Down on the Ground –Tommy Shaw:  Next, we have a song from the singer/guitarist of Styx.  In 1998, he put out a solo album (it seemed to be the thing to do for aging rockers in the late 90s) called "Seven Deadly Zens."  Unlike Justin Hayward's release of the same period, this album had a few good tunes, but also some middle of the road stuff, and a few duds (plus some voice work by ST:TNG's own Deanna Troi).  This is one that seems to sit in the low-mid range of quality; an okay filler song with a catchy tune and enough of a beat to keep you awake. It reminds me of some Bon Jovi songs in that regard.

Long Live Rock –The Who:  It seems to be the day for fillers.  Here's a reject song that The Who shoved on their "Odds and Sods" album, of odds and ends.  This song wasn't good enough to put on a regular album, and it doesn't really do it for me.  There are gems amongst the clutter on the cutting room floor, but this wasn't one of them.

There you have three songs that really don't do it for me.  Give them a try, and see if you feel differently.

Tuesday Triple (2)

Well, last Tuesday's inaugural post for this feature seemed to be well-received.  I'll keep producing these for the time being, and hope it will keep people engaged while I work through a dry period in my blogging life.

So, without delay, here are the 3 random songs that came up this morning:

All Over My Head –Matthew Sweet:  Here's a quaint rock song from his Blue Sky on Mars album.  While it's a pretty catchy tune, it never quite hit the threshold of "hit."  When rating his songs, this one always came near the top of the second round of selections, and might fit in well with a "Best of Matthew Sweet, Volume 2" if ever such an album were released.  Enjoyable, and worth a listen, most certainly.

Tightrope –Electric Light Orchestra:  The first track on the breakthrough "A New World Record" album, which brought ELO into the second half of the 70's.  While still utilizing orchestration and Beatles-esque styling, this album started to contain a little more of a contemporary sound, less like "the 60's part-2" and more like the modern rock of that time.  This song was always one of my favorites as a kid, as it is upbeat, fast-paced, with some classical flourishes.  It's still a 5-star song in my book.

One Summer Dream –Electric Light Orchestra:  Jumping back to the previous album, "Face the Music," we have a soft, melancholy song which can stir some touching emotions or put you to sleep, depending on your mood.  After hearing the first two songs in this week's triple, this one cools everything down nicely.

Once again, if you have these songs handy, give them a listen.  If not, maybe go out and find them (legally), and then see what you think of them.  Until next week, keep on listening...

The Tuesday Triple (1)

Here's a new feature that I'm going to try out on the blog for the foreseeable future (or until I get bored with it).  Each Tuesday, I'm going to hit the randomizer setting on my Media Player and write up a brief commentary on the first 3 songs that come up.  I happen to have a lot of music on my computer (all 100% licensed), and most of it falls into the "classic rock" or "oldies" category.  I still have a lot of vinyl lp's that I'd like to get on disc at some point, as well.

Okay, so here goes.  The very first Tuesday Triple!

1:  Last One –Paw.  There are a few good songs by this group, though this is one that falls in the blah category.  It isn't really a bad tune, but it doesn't have any kick to it.  It's fairly bland until toward the end, where things speed up a bit, before calming down again.

2:  Oh How Happy –Shades of Blue.  This is the only song I have by this group.  It's on a collection of "hits" from 1965, and while I wouldn't call it a favorite, this is a nice little song.  A little sappy, perhaps, but at least it has decent rhythm.

3:  Isn't Life Strange –The Moody Blues.  One of the bigger hits from their "Seventh Sojourn" album, there's something haunting and almost sad about this original version.  Personally, I prefer the remake found on their "Legend of a Band" compilation album.

I hope you enjoyed this little foray into blogging excellence.  If you have any of these songs, think about playing them at some point today, and see how they make you feel.

Moody Blues Experience

I discovered the Moody Blues in my late teens, and it was only by chance.  I found one of their records (In Search of the Lost Chord) in a bunch of old LP's that someone was throwing out, and once I put it on the turntable I found something worth listening to.  My early musical interests were heavily influenced by The Beatles, Electric Light Orchestra, The Doors, and various other classic rock groups, so The Moody Blues fit right in.  In fact, they quickly became one of my favorite groups.

It was only after I'd become enamored of the Moody Blues that I discovered that they were one of my father's favorite groups.  Apparently, he'd given them up because my mother absolutely hated them for undisclosed reasons (she said it had something to do with her mother, but never elaborated further).  So, for over twenty years, my father had gone without hearing a single Moody Blues album for my mother's sake, only to be reunited with the music thanks to me.  For several years before my mother's departure, he would listen to them in private, reliving memories of his youth and enjoying the newer albums he'd missed.  Now, he listens whenever he desires, since there's nobody around to offend anymore.

I have all of their regular US release albums on the original vinyl (minus the extremely hard to get Keys of the Kingdom).  I have most of the albums on CD, and my father often borrows them for extended periods.  It's a good thing I have a decent supply of fresh diamond needles, so I can still hear the records when the discs are absent.

The Moody Blues have a sound that is uniquely appreciated around the world, by people of all walks of life and all philosophical persuasions.  Their music was some of the only western rock allowed in Communist China for years, and they're a perennial favorite of radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, just to name two far-disparate examples.  Their music really transcends all barriers.

So, that's what I have to say about the Moody Blues.  Before I go, my top 3 albums:

Every Good Boy Deserves Favour

On the Threshold of a Dream

Long Distance Voyager

And Top 3 Songs:

Highway

The Story In Your Eyes

I Know You're Out There Somewhere

So, Moody fans, what are your top 3's?

Modern Art –By Matthew Sweet (Music Album) Review

I've been a fan of Matthew Sweet's music ever since I first heard his 100% Fun album in 1995.  Since that time, he's been one of my favorite musicians, and I've come to appreciate his ever evolving sound.  He has never quite gained the superstar status I feel his talent ought to warrant, but I'm not here to begrudge modern music tastes today.  Rather, I'd like to share my thoughts on Matthew's latest release, Modern Art.

It has been a few years since Matthew Sweet released a new album (not counting the Under the Covers albums he did with Susanna Hoffs), but it was well worth the wait.  I pre-ordered the special Vinyl release of Modern Art from Amazon, and as soon as I played it through the first time, I knew we had another hit album on our hands!

This album is very retro in its sounding, and I don't mean retro-Sweet.  While different than his previous recordings, you hear a lot more of his musical influences (The Beatles, Neil Young, the Byrds, etc...) coming through in the work.  If you went back in time and put this record on the market in 1970, it would have fit right in with the top albums of that time period.  That's a plus in my book, since much of my preferred music comes from that era.

Favorite Songs:

Baltimore:  I'm not sure why, but this song really has me hooked.  It may be the best one on the whole album.

She Walks The Night:  A great retro-sounding track.  If you like 60's music, you'll dig this gem.

Another Chance (Bonus Track):  This is a great little song.  Why was it relegated to bonus download status?  It should have made it onto the album!

Album's Weak Point:

Ivory Tower:  For some reason, this song just grates on my nerves.  It is the one track I dislike from this collection.

I wasn't really keen on his Sunshine Lies release a few years back, but Modern Art makes up for that tenfold.  This is easily his best album since In Reverse, and it deserves more positive attention.  Download a couple of the tracks, and see what you think.

To Vinyl or not to Vinyl:

I have a whole stack of old LP's on a shelf right behind my desk, so it was a personal choice to go for Modern Art on vinyl.  It's rare that you can buy a "new" record in this manner today, so there was a certain thrill in purchasing it in this format.  It was a few dollars more, but it was worth it for me, and it came with a promotional card that allowed me to download the whole album (plus bonus tracks) onto my computer!

However, there are a couple of things that disappointed me about the vinyl release.  It came as a 2-record set, but the 13 songs they include on the records could have easily fit on a single, double-sided LP.  It sucks to have to get up and turn the record over after 10 or 12 minutes of play.  They only included 1 of the 4 bonus tracks on the LP, and it confounds me why they didn't just put all 4 bonus tracks on the record!  They would have easily fit, and it would have justified the 2-record set.

That said, I don't regret the vinyl purchase at all, especially with the free download.  I can listen to the songs in digital quality all I want, and put the records on the turntable when I'm in the mood.  The best of both worlds!

5-Star album all around!

My Kind of Message

A lot of songs don't really mean much of anything.  Sure, most of them say something, though it's often "I love you," or "I want you," or "Life sucks, pass the bottle" (that seems to be the common theme of much poetry, as well).  Yet, among the myriad array of musical morass, there are those songs which send my kind of message.  Sometimes, there just comes a song that speaks to me on a unique level, and makes me feel a sort of kinship with the lyricist.

Here are a few songs with messages that have touched me in some way or another.  See if any of them have an impact on your psyche.

8: Old Time Rock & Roll –Bob Seger

In this era of cRap music, whiny divas, and lousy beats, I often find myself feeling just like this song.  Most of the stuff I like to listen to was made years ago, and modern music generally leaves me shaking my head.

"I like that old time Rock and Roll!"

7: Bad Attitude –Meat Loaf

A song of rebellion and non-conformity, which cuts both ways.  It reflects a lot of my feelings about this 9 to 5 world, and the cookie-cutter mentality of society in general.  And it gives an often overlooked truth:  The most famous people in the world are those who busted out of the mold and did it their way.

"Every hero was once, every villain was once, just a boy with a bad attitude."

6: The Story in Your Eyes –The Moody Blues

This song has always held a bit of truth for me, and it reflects some of the way the world seems to be more often than not.

"Listen to the tide slowly turning, wash all our heartaches away.  We're part of the fire that is burning, and from the ashes we can live another day."

Buy @ Amazon:  The Story In Your Eyes

5: Dancing in The Dark –Bruce Springsteen

Sometimes, I can really relate to the theme of this song, of being stuck in a rut and wishing to bust out of it.  Standing still and waiting for "action" can really be a strain.
"You sit around getting older.  There's a joke here somewhere and it's on me."

Buy @ Amazon: Dancing In The Dark

4: I'll Be There –Starship

This last song of their final album is a hidden gem.  A hardcore song of love and devotion, which can be applied to so many situations.  This serves as the unofficial theme song for The Rogue Investigations.

"I'll be there for you when hope seems thin and your chances are few."

Buy @ Amazon: I'll Be There

3: There's A Place –The Beatles

One of their earliest and shorter songs.  In the grand scheme of things, it is somewhat weak compared to many other Beatles classics, but the underlying message of the song earns it a special place with me.  A lot of different bands have done covers of this one, though there's no beating the fab four's original!

"There is a place where I can go when I feel low, when I feel blue, and it's my mind, and there's no time when I'm alone."

2: Getting to The Point –Electric Light Orchestra

Written to reflect Jeff Lynne's feelings about his band dissolving, this song also has a deeper meaning about the world at large.  I often look out at this chaotic world, and feel exactly like this song.

"It's getting to the point where nobody can stop it now.  It's getting to the point of no return, and all that I can do is stand and watch it now.  Watch it burn, burn, burn."

Buy @ Amazon: Getting To The Point

1: Don't Wait for Heroes –Dennis DeYoung

A lot of people know him as the pianist singer/songwriter for Styx, though Dennis DeYoung's solo career has produced a few message gems, as well.  This first song from his Desert Moon album speaks to those of us who still cling to creative dreams, of fame and fortune in our selective fields.

"Winners are losers who got up and gave it just one more try."
Buy @ Amazon: Don't Wait For Heroes

That about sums it up; eight songs that send a message that has touched my heart.  I've put links to those that I could find available on Amazon.  They don't have any Beatles or Seger for sale as individual MP3 songs, and Meat Loaf's "Bad Attitude" is probably too obscure (the Bad Attitude album has been out of production for years, which is a real shame, since it's one of his best).  Enjoy these songs wherever you may find them.

So, what are some songs that have impacted your life?

Top Ten Hit Parade: Matthew Sweet

He's one of the music industry's little known artists who's done a bit of everything over the years, but never become a superstar.

I began listening to Matthew Sweet back in 1995, when "100% Fun" was BMG Music Club's featured selection of the month. I was rarely one to buy their quick pick (as my music tastes can be anything but mainstream), though something about this particular album called to me. They listed The Beatles as one of his musical influences, and I have always been a fan of the Fab Four, so that pushed me over the top in my choice, and I was willing to give him a chance. The rest, as they say, is history. I was hooked right after the first few tracks, and have been listening ever since. Over the years, he's remained one of my favorite musical artists, and he currently sits at #4 on my personal preference list.

Below is a list of my top ten favorite Matthew Sweet songs. The order may shift a little, depending on my mood, but these are a solid collection that I can listen to any day of the week.

10: Life Without You–A very sweet love song with a steady pop soundtrack. There's a "funny" story behind why my wife can't stand to listen to this song, and I might tell it someday. Regardless, it's a really nice little tune, though perhaps a bit sappy. It appears on "Altered Beast," an album named for the hit video game some of you might remember.

9: Missing Time–A song all about alien abduction (from the aptly named album "Blue Sky on Mars"). It's a slow and soft song which screams "1970s" to me for some reason. Listen and see what you think.

8: I Wanted To Tell You–From his breakthrough "Girlfriend"album, which brought him much of his current success. It's an off-beat love ballad of sorts.

7: Back Of My Mind–An excellent song from his most recent album, "Sunshine Lies." I'm still trying to figure out the lyrical nuances of this piece, but the music is excellent.

6: Over It–A short and sweet rock piece about disagreements, and getting over it!

5: Tomorrow–A song of optimism and coming to terms with reality. The musical score is upbeat and sweet, and I bet you've never heard an accordion sound so good! The perfect conclusion to "Living Things."

4: Future Shock–It's about a dysfunctional relationship on the rocks. The backbeat and the lead guitar speak to me more than anything else.

3: Walk Out–The music is haunting in this one, with the country-rock guitar musings and a Harpsichord backup. Try to find an insightful message in the lyrics.

2: Get Older–A song about being young and growing older, just like the title implies. A really nice harmony with this one. Both this and Walk Out come from "100% Fun."

1: Thunderstorm–A 9:36 rock symphony, which takes us through 4 distinct parts. This is simply the best song he's ever put together in my opinion. You can really hear the Beatles influence in places, which might be another reason it's my favorite. This accompanies Future Shock on "In Reverse."

These songs may not have been "hits," but they certainly are worthy of that title in my book. There's no accounting for taste, so I can't say if anyone else will agree with my favorable view of these tunes. It's just my three cents worth.

There you have it, my personal top ten Matthew Sweet songs. There are a lot more which I could mention, and I might at some point, but this is a nice sampling to start. Try them out, and see what happens. You never know.

*The links provided are listings for the mp3 downloads at Amazon.com, which are pretty cheap by themselves. I know there are different sites where you can download music for free, but I've never used them (I may be the last man online who hasn't pirated music; I'm such a boy scout). I'm sure these songs are available pretty much everywhere music is stolen, though I encourage you to acquire them through legitimate channels (Matthew Sweet has to eat!).