I did it everyone! I truly picked my desert island songs. I spent days with this. I disciplined myself to only pick 10 songs. I kinda want everyone to listen to these songs in this exact order. Makes me cry actually. It’s the end of the world. I’ve escaped to an island and could only download 10 songs into my brain. These are the songs:
Dark Star by The Grateful Dead (From the Live/Dead album)
Seasons by Chris Cornell (From the Singles soundtrack)
Shine On You Crazy Diamond by Pink Floyd (From Wish You Were Here album)
Right Turn by Alice In Chains (from SAP ep)
A Day In The Life by The Beatles (From Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album)
Starla by The Smashing Pumpkins (From Pisces Iscariot B-Sides album)
Pneuma by Tool (From Fear Inoculum album)
Coney Island Baby by Lou Reed (Title Track)
Into Dust by Mazzy Star (From So Tonight That I Might See album)
Release by Pearl Jam (From Ten album)
These tracks all have special meanings for me. Bands I love and songs I obsess over.
Now I invite you to list your 10 desert island songs below in the comments.
Solos that make me weep is more like it! But seriously, I love a good guitar riff and a long jam that has a ripple effect on my brain thereby causing me to bust out into “air guitar” mode!!!
These are the fab FIVE:
1) David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) the example song is DOGS (it’s stellar)
2) Adam Jones (Tool) the example song is “Schism” (holy crap is that a jam)
3) J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr) a prime example is anything from the album, “You’re Living All Over Me.” In such short songs he squeezes these unbelievable solos. He packs a punch!!!
4) Lou Reed (of Velvet Underground) R.I.P. This man destroys this improvised song called “Sister Ray!” Damn he has endurance!!!
5) Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) on “Dazed and Confused” played live in New York for the film THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME…he busts out a violin bow string and seems to never stop playing! (See clip below)
About ten days ago I went to a local record store called Kiss The Sky at 5:30 in the morning to get a lottery ticket. My number was 63. What does that mean? (You might ask) Well when the doors officailly opened at 8:00 a.m. I had the right to be the 63rd person to be let into the store and buy records. Not just any records but rare limited editions of various vinyl pressings. 45’s, 7 inches, LP’s and special box sets.
I went and had breakfast after I got my number. Then I returned to the shrine of pressed wax that us enthusiasts enjoy spinning on our turntables. It was really crowded inside the store. But I struck up some conversations with other fanatics, like myself.
I walked away with a 45 of Frank Zappa’s “Yellow Snow,” a special Joy Division record containing their first 4 songs and a small box set of eight 45’s entitled “The Space Project.” This box set featured artists like Youth Lagoon and Beach House. It was a rare find and definitely was a limited pressing.
My questions for my readers out there……Did you go? What did you buy? Where did you go? How much fun did you have?
So I’m walking through the office and this guy has a list by his desk of what he considers “the top ten greatest bands of all time!” He’s written down bands like Limp Bizkit, Journey and Creed. Just stuff that makes me want to puke! This other guy, who sits next to him; has his list too which is slightly better but I don’t like Lynyrd Skynyrd and I’m not really into rap like Woo Tang Clan or other things of that nature.
So there was a debate going on with the two guys standing there and my wife and this other girl. Who are the greatest bands of all time? Two of us previously had this other list going on, we called it the frisbee list which we tossed back and forth and kept adding albums to that we believe to be really good…….at least 70% of the way through it. Ones that you rarely skip through. Essentially they are excellent all the way to the end of the record. That was the criteria.
But the whole thing is subjective, honestly. The more people that get involved with the frisbee list, there is going to be so much criteria that too much conflict of interest will occur. My lists are simply a personal thing. I choose my favorite albums of a given year. Or I choose playlists of the month that indicate a mood or a feeling. There’s a difference between favorite albums and favorite bands. Because you have to look at all of their individual records and decide what percentage of them are AWESOME!!!
All of our opinions are different. Surveys, polls, interviews and contests won’t yield any true accurate result. It essentially would last forever, the process. You could just keep listing band after band after band. Led Zeppelin, The Who, Genesis, Metallica (are they the greatest heavy metal band of all time???) and you could drive yourself crazy with a list like that.
In fact, I have come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as a top ten list. They are invalid. I’ll tell you why. How likely are we going to agree on all of the choices? Opinions are so wild. Let’s say you bring up The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. They seem to be the undisputed champions of the British Invasion. But then you forget about bands like The Kinks. Friggin LOU REED!! Now he was a genius!! I brought some of that up during the “discussion” at the office but that seemed to get shot down, among other artists I mentioned, like Megadeth (poor man’s Metallica? Really?) .
But coming up with lists are fun and we like to debate. Its an interesting way to IDENTIFY ourselves. We are all uniquely passionate about various artists. Criteria is very important. You can’t just say “these are my favorite bands” and that’s it. Could be only how you feel in that exact moment you announce those musicians. Or only what you remember. What if from several months from now your opinion greatly changes. Then what?
I wish people would focus on the dawn of music, more so. At least recorded music. Go back to the 1920’s. How about Louis Armstrong? An amazing Jazz innovator and trumpeter. Woody Guthrie, the folk movement. Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Elvis, The Beach Boys, Jefferson Airplane.
The bands on those lists in the office are just too specific to a certain time period. You can’t say that they’re the greatest bands of all time especially if you’re too zoomed in on a short period.
Is there a point to my babble?
You can’t ignore jazz. Take a music appreciation class that discusses the history of Rock and Jazz. Its important to learn about how things began. Appreciate the birth of rock and roll. How can you fully embrace what you listen to today without that knowledge?
My my top ten lists are only valid for my world. We listen to what we feel like.
Disagreements are okay.
I think many of us have come to the conclusion that the band Creed SUCKS!!! I don’t believe that most people today in America would say THAT band is one of the greatest groups of all time. In fact, I own the book entitled “1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.” Creed is never mentioned. Just saying…
You got to live for today. Make your mixtapes for your friends. They’ll either like them or they won’t.
There was talk about The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Sure I like them but I don’t worship them nor would I say that they were the defining band of my generation. That’s a bit much. But I did enjoy a couple of their records. Again…..more opinions. What about Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins and Stone Temple Pilots. Its silly to only limit it to one band. Just personal favorite tastes. 31 flavors…like Baskin Robins. Ice cream. Tons of licks. Don’t all enjoy the same flavor but we all like ice cream.
If we took a look a several genres and chose 10 bands (artists) from each category we could use those artists as a springboard. Or even go by decades. But honestly, its an impossible mission. Music is always new. Even now as I write down these words, there are “up and coming bands” recording incredible sounds.
Who are we?
Where are we going?
I am someone who is distracted
Aren’t we all distracted?
Attention Deficit Disorder
is a modern day problem
But when it comes to music like this
None of it matters anymore
It’s one of Indie Rock’s finest moments
with a full spectrum of music influences
Rock
Reggae
Folk
Jazz
Pop
Punk meets Gary Glitter
Now I admit that I just wasn’t always a fan of Arcade Fire. Not sure why. I simply wasn’t feeling the grooves before this DOUBLE album came out in October. For two months straight I have been playing this record repeatedly. So many touching songs. There are numerous dancing moments that suddenly get shattered into a million disco pieces smothered by hardcore punk and then swallowed whole by Bob Marley’s spiritual side. It can be silly at times when this Canadian group speaks of Joan of Arc in a Doo Whop style. Boy its just all over the place. It never gets boring. There are live induced moments that seem reminiscent of old radio programs at times and then it just takes off into these cosmic space directions. In a strange way I am reminded of Pink Floyd’s The wall mixed with a jazzy disco groove.
Perhaps to say that there is a U2, Radiohead, Neil Young and Velvet Underground vibe all mixed up on this record would not do it justice. Because its a double album, one could say that this is their ultimate concept album like so many others have done before. But its fun to take risks and let it all go and see what the masses have to say. After all we only have one life to live. Embrace this video below…..of the song…Afterlife. You just might get BLOWN AWAY!!!
This was an interesting discovery. My sister and I went to the club Metro in Chicago back in May to see a band called Japandroids. Crocodiles was the opening act. I never heard of them before. But I must admit that they had a pretty captivating presence on stage. Their sound is like noise rock mixd with psychedelia. Guitar feedbacks, experimental sounds and good fuzzy hooks.
These guys are from San Diego, California. Yet, I can hear some Lou Reed’s Brooklyn influences among their styles. The bands Jesus and Mary Chain, R.E.M. and some of those other 80’s post punk junk groups work their way into influencing their musical mix. Simple songs with a California sun vibe. But a lot of crunching guitars and fun choruses are scattered all over the record, Crimes of Passion. It’s only a spec longer than thirty minutes long too. So, this disc gets right to the point. It doesn’t waste any time. Plus tambourines and pianos contribute nicely to a deliciously passionate rock album that just feels good on my ears. Give it a listen!
Lou Reed died on October 27th 2013. I don’t believe rock and roll bands change people’s lives. But when I was 19, in college, one of my roommates was listening to a song by Lou Reed that really resonated with me. Coney Island Baby is the name of it. We were smoking cigarettes and talking. I asked to play the song again. I went back home during winter break. I bought a compilation record called Different Times: Lou Reed in the 70’s. That song was on there as well as many other of his hits. I bought this compact disc at a strip-mall in Aurora, Illinois. Northgate, the neon sign read. The mall isn’t as pretty as it used to be, kind of a dump actually. But I loved it when my discman leaked a tiny reproduction of Reed’s voice into my head all day, every day for most of 1996. I enjoyed listening to him. His music is out there to be experienced any time you want to hear it. He made lots of records.
When you’re a teenager, rock & roll has a gravity that it can never have again. In the summers of my college days, Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground were sort of my emotional life. I have blogged before about his music and I have been still listening to his stuff. When I heard the news, I listened to Coney Island Baby right away. I tried, but could not recapture the intensity of feeling that song had for me in another time. I wouldn’t want to, however. But the spaces in that song are certainly planted in my DNA now. (paraphrased) Man, I’d swear, I’d give the whole thing up for Lou.
later lou
to be misunderstood
is not so bad
brutal honesty in New York City
crossing his legs
holding a guitar
on his lap
writing a sad song
with sunglasses on
(better artistic impressions)
to care
but not regret or change
to transform
but stay the same
a poet
a story teller
a man who will be missed
enjoy the twilight
as its reeling
I took a little break from blogging, due to the recent Halloween festivities. Then Lou Reed; the amazing musician, singer and songwriter; passed away. He was a great guitarist and storyteller from Brooklyn. I posted a couple of small blog entries on this man. His death reminded me about how precious life is. Now it’s November and it is time for my “playlist of the month.” The crumblings of summer are quite apparent, saying goodbye to what has been and what we must prepare for: Old Man Winter. He is coming. Although this entire month is still Autumn; here in the Midwest, we tend to get that winter chill somewhat early.
Lou Reed’s death inspired the theme for November. Of course we must remember our Saints, our soldiers and be thankful for our families and friends. We sit around and drink. Turkey raffles are won! Children learn about Plymouth Rock, Pilgrims and Indians. Of course, many football games are played and we eat chili and drink beer to celebrate all of this American nostalgia. Yet, it is still a melancholy time. Today we remember the dead, for it is All Souls Day. Or in Mexico, we call it Día de Muertos. So this playlist, which I have assembled, is a tribute to our changing weather, embracing what we have remaining of our Autumn season and finding comfort and understanding through loss.
Here is the list (and played in this order)
Remember November
1. Type O Negative = Everything Dies
2. Guns N Roses = November Rain
3. Tom Waits = November
4. Kansas = Dust In The Wind
5. Led Zeppelin = Ramble On
6. Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions = Blanchard
7. Smashing Pumpkins = Soothe
8. Pearl Jam = Indifference
9. The Beatles = A Day In The Life
10. NIN = A Warm Place
11. Neko Case = Don’t Forget Me
12. Hole = Dole Parts
13. Johnny Cash = Hurt
14. Lou Reed = Sad Song
This is an incredible song! A joyous celebration of the power of rock ‘n’ roll! I name it as my favorite rock and roll song ever written and recorded. No pun intended. It has a real catchy hook to it. The lyrics evoke that sense of being saved by this music. I picture myself cruising through a busy street or by the ocean or on a country road or anywhere for that matter and listening to this rock song.
It tells the story of a girl named Ginny who was “just five years old,” messing with the dials of her radio in her car until she turned “on a New York station and she couldn’t be-lieve what she heard at all.” Lou Reed is a fantastic song writer and guitar player!
Lou Reed praises the glory of “Rock & Roll” with brutal delight in this Velvet Underground song of that simple title, seeing it as the solace of that young girl, previously mentioned when it explodes out of that radio. It is the third track on the band’s 1970 album, Loaded. I think a fresh audience discovered it when this ten-minute version appeared on Lou Reed’s 1974 live album Rock’n’Roll Animal. What a fantastic record that one is! But the song alone,”‘Rock & Roll,'” is about me, you, anyone really whose eyes and ears suddenly are opened. For me, if I did not hear any rock & roll on the radio, including the song, then I would not be the man that I am today.
But why do I love it? It just feels so damn good on my ears!!!
Everyone has a favorite song, at least I hope so. For what would this world be like without music? I can remember certain times in my life based primarily on a specific tune. These were always in the foreground for me. Whether I was at a dinner party, a grocery store, watching a movie or playing a board game. These songs tend to be in the background for most people but not for me. I hear every word and notice every nuance.
But how do they help shape my life? Did any particular song give you the strength you needed during a tough time? Was there a song playing when you told your girlfriend or boyfriend that you loved them for the first time? (Feel free to share your favorite songs when commenting on my posts). Music is all-encompassing for me. Occasionally, I will try to start a new series for my blog. I will share what my beloved songs are. They are truly therapeutic.
So tonight’s tune…..Coney Island Baby by Lou Reed
This is a really great song. It’s a nice simple sentiment about taking comfort from the people who believe in you even when you feel worthless. The guitar riffs are just out of sight. I can envision myself sitting by the ocean and starring at New York at sunset and getting the images of the coach and the princess at the carnival. They are characters in his short story of a six and a half minute song. I hear it and I freeze just to listen to it’s powerful words and the story Lou Reed is telling about passion, tastes, intimidation and most of all…love.
When I first heard “Coney Island Baby,” I was 19 years old and in my second year of college. Sitting around in a friends’ dorm room smoking, drinking and relaxing. The groove of this melody was feeling comfortable to my ears. After I moved back home with my folks, I found myself hearing it more and more on stereos in cars, bars and at friend’s houses. I eventually bought a disc with this wonderful and magical song on it. I even threw it in on a couple of mix tapes.
The song itself tells the story of teenage years in Long Island and the confusion that goes with it. Am I going down the right path? Do I fit in with my peers or am I following my own path? Which is what I do. I follow the beat of a different drummer, so I can relate to this song. This begins slowly with the mellow guitars and Reed’s soft voice and builds to a nice uplifting ballad. Despite its meaning, it is an awesome piece of work.
Lou Reed did a lot with the music group, The Velvet Underground, but his solo stuff in the mid to late 70’s was spectacular. And this song was truly his masterpiece because he was such an outsider from NYC. What do I mean? He was and always has been a brave story teller talking about the scums of Brooklyn and the wild parties and the horrors of drug use. It is so personal with Lou, and on this song, you hear him in his most emotional state.
I could go on for eternity about this song. But I won’t because I have other ones to talk about down the road. So do yourself a favor. Listen to this one and tell me why you hate it! Because I feel nothing but love for it.
The Music Bard 