Album Review - The Griswolds / Be Impressive

On Twitter, I have never been one of those, "Follow me and I will follow you back" type of accounts.  I follow those I like.  Period. It is mainly bands, record companies, and other bloggers and writers.  There are so many unknown bands out there that will follow you just for a follow back.  Either that or they are just looking for you to check them out.  Often enough, if you do not follow them back within a couple of days they will unfollow you.  In some cases they will do that even if you do follow them.

The Griswolds changed that for me.

Album Review - The New Pornographers / Brill Bruisers

After teasing us with the brilliant lead single, Brill Bruisers, The New Pornographers opened up the new offering a week early on iTunes a week before its scheduled release.  It is a loving and nostalgic celebration of 60's and 70's pop music that is crafted into something completely new.  Perhaps they drew influence from the Brill Building itself in Times Square which housed the publishing of some of the best pop music of the same era by authors such as Simon, Diamond, and Bacharach.  After listening to it about 500 times I thought I would weigh in with my thoughts.  Below is a track by track blow. This is completely stream of consciousness as I listen.  It's not thought out or analyzed.  It is just what I think and how I feel at the moment these songs enter my ears.  For the best experience I recommend listening for yourself.  My words are nothing compared to the music contained on this album.  They are the true artists.  And they are artists at the top of their form.

Echo & The Bunnymen @ Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA 08/19/14

These days I am still on my Sentimental Tour.  Most of my current concert experiences are revisiting bands from my youth that I never had a chance to see.  Money was scarce when I was a teen and what little I had went to vinyl, cassettes, and on occasion CD's if it was a sure thing that I would love the album.

Now that I am older, so are the crowds.  The are more laid back and appreciative, and surprisingly the bands still sound great even though they are in their 50's and 60's. Echo & The Bunnymen would prove to be no different.

My Top 10 Songs of 2014 (So Far...)

It seems like everyone has a Top 10 list of new songs these days.   And that is a wonderful thing. It sparks conversation and debate.  It shares information.  It challenges you to pay attention.  So you ask what have I been listening to this year?  I'm going to tell you on one condition.  You have to share your list with me.

Album Review - Jenny Lewis / The Voyager

I was late to the party in terms of discovering Rilo Kiley. It wasn't until 'Under The Blackligh't that I first heard them. This was already a departure from 'More Adventurous'. It was less indie, which isn't always a bad thing.  I was ok with it.  I took to it immediately.

Shortly after that Jenny Lewis hit us with her 2008 solo album 'Acid Tongue'.  The Alt-Country tinged melodies were both sultry and dreamy. I was taken with Jenny's delivery.  I went back and revisited her back catalog and I felt with every offering it just kept getting better.

When the announcement was made for the release of 'The Voyager' I could not believe how excited I was.  We've waited 6 years for this and I couldn't wait for the day to get a copy in my hands.

Our Top 10 "I'm Mad As Hell & I Am Not Going To Take This Anymore!" Songs - PART 2

I always have trouble with Top 10 lists.  I always want to list what I think should be on the list and not what I really feel what should be on the list.  I have decided that for this list I would get into character and let my anger make the decisions for me.  As research, I journeyed deep inside my psyche to find pure anger.  I travelled unconsciously back to my 18 year old self to a time when my psycho ex-girlfriend stole a good portion of my cassette collection.  I am still pissed even as I type this.  Now that I have a fierce, pent up inner rage that is ready to be released here are my Top 5 "I'm Mad As Hell & I Am Not Going To Take This Anymore!" Songs.

Our Top 10 "I'm Mad As Hell & I Am Not Going To Take This Anymore!" Songs - PART 1

I have learned since I have started this site that Blogging is a community thing.  Which is sometimes difficult as I am the poster boy for Narcissism.   I am working on it though and today is my first step.  I am very happy to be collaborating with one of my favorite Bloggers, Gita from Odd & Ends.  Her blog is a wonderful mix of Beauty, Music, and a celebration of Life in general.  We are both channeling our inner rage this week to bring you our top 10 "I'm Mad As Hell & I Am Not Going To Take This Anymore!" songs.  Gita is going to kick this off with the first 5 songs plus an honorable mention.

Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden @ Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJ 07/30/14

I love both of these bands.  I do.  But when I heard that they were playing Camden I initially balked.  It has nothing to do with my love for the bands.  Its quite the opposite.

I have seen both of these bands before.  both in their heyday.  Both when they were most important in my life.  I saw NIN in 1990 at The Torcadero Theater in Philadelphia.  They opened for Jesus and Mary Chain.  The stage show for J&MC was enormous, and NIN was relatively unknown so they were made to play on the floor directly in front of the stage.  There were maybe 30 to 50 of us in attendance and our minds were blown.  I had heard 'Sin' and 'Head Like a Hole' on Trenton State College's radio station but we were not prepared for this assault.  Trent threw beer on us, he beat up his band, he broke their instruments, and he dragged the keyboard player across the floor by his hair.  One guy in the audience was in such a frenzy he jumped on my back.  It is a concert experience I will never forget.

I had seen Soundgarden during Lollapalooza '92.  It was a crazy day at Montage Mountain in PA and when Soundgarden took the stage after Pearl Jam they took hold of the audience.  By the time they played a cover of Body Counts 'Cop Killer' I thought my head was going to explode.  And that wasn't from the drugs either.  Another unforgettable experience.

After these life highlights I wasn't sure that I wanted to see them at a larger, outdoor venue.  So when a friend asked if I wanted to go I told her no.  I wanted to leave my memories in tact.  Here is the great thing about friends.  They know you better than you do.  A mutual friend of ours stepped in and offered us free tickets.  How can you say no to free tickets?  You can't!  Did I mention that I have the best friends???

The only problem now was to wait months for the show.