I first heard the song "Hallelujah" watching a "Scrubs" rerun. It's a version by John Cale but isn't available on iTunes as a single. Based on the recommendation of our worship leader's web site about Jeff Buckley I decided to buy that version. I also bought the original Leonard Cohen version. It's a song many artists have covered and is in the background in many TV shows and movies. I like the Cale version the best but all have amazing merit. Go listen and enjoy.
The Police, led by frontman Sting — who along with his wife, Trudie Styler, has been active on environmental issues for years - was the last act to perform in the global concert series. They were joined on stage by John Mayer and Kanye West for a version of "Message in a Bottle."
I caught the Kanye West action during The Police set. To put it bluntly, he really sucks. There needs to be more to music than "uh" and "c'mon, c'mon". Any "raps" that Mr. West had were off tone and a distraction. The Police are one of the greatest bands of all-time and for their desire to seem edgy they really flunked out there. Now everybody "just throw your hands in the air and wave 'em like you just don't care."
The four of us (wife, kids and myself) make the trek to Dodger Stadium to see The Police and The Foo Fighters. I've waited well over 20 years to see The Police so it was a dream come true. I now also make it a point to bring my kids to see bands of true significance (we blew it not taking them to see U2 a couple of years ago). It was a bonus when they announced the Foo Fighters would be playing the show. Two bands I dig, one show. Very cool!
So we're walking around Dodger Stadium and I hear this "Nice shirt!" (I was wearing a This Holiday Life to support a great local San Diego band). I turn around and it is Andy Barron, media guy supreme who is working with Switchfoot. It was good to see a friendly face.
The big disappointment was the Dodger Dogs; the tasted like tofu dogs. As a Dodger fan I've always boasted about the greatness of Dodger Dogs. Not now after eating that crap.
To the important stuff; the show. Stings son's band called Fiction Plane was the first band. What a way to get some promotion. They were OK. The mighty Foo Fighters were next and they were amazing. Dave Grohl just flippin' goes for it on stage. His energy and enthusiasm was quite evident. All the women think he's hot and all the dudes thinks he's the coolest guy in the world. They did about an hour show and it was awesome.
Finally, The Police emerged. To me they are one of the top bands of all-time and I've enjoyed their music since I was a freshman in high school. I haven't read much about the shows so I was expecting the 3 "policemen" along with a bunch of backing musicians and singers. This was not the case; it was just Steward Copeland, Andy Summers and Sting. They were the 3 piece as it should have been. One thing to remember is these guys are all a lot older than when the were singing "Every Breath You Take" in 1983. Sting's voice doesn't go as high as it used to be and they don't jump around like they used to; nothing I didn't expect.
They played all Police songs without any solo songs. I've seen Sting solo before so I was glad they just stuck to the songs of the five amazing Police albums. They did everything I expected along with a favorite of mine called "Reggatta de Blanc". The energy wasn't as high as the Foo Fighters but it was still a great show.
I hope that this tour completes The Police. They've made five wonderful albums in a different time. They don't need to hurt their legacy by making anything new. For us long-time fans it was a nice way to say a proper "good bye".
In the interest of fairness I'm publishing the details of the effort to pardon Jim Morrison. See the extended entry for the response. My opinion is that the Governor of Florida will issue the pardon to just be cool. It will be harmless and worthless even though the efforts made by the Pardon Questers is more about rights of citizens and justice.
Inside the Jim Morrison Pardon Quest: Going Back To Miami
By Dave Diamond
There is an effort underway by the Doors Collectors Magazine, a popular
online Doors fan site, to request the Governor of Florida Charlie Crist to
consider an unprecedented full and absolute posthumous pardon for the late
famed Doors lead singer Jim Morrison, a citizen of Melbourne Florida. The
effort was initiated in 1996, when several infractions about the September
1970 conviction of Jim Morrison stemming from the now infamous March 1969
Doors concert put on at the Dinner Key Auditorium were discovered upon
re-review of this case.
Over the years, efforts to make the general music media and many elements of
Florida government aware of these infractions and trying to shed new light
on evidence never before heard or having not been allowed to be presented at
the initial trial, have been met with basic apathy, misinformation, rumors,
speculations and public "arm chair" jurying. The end result of the
unchallenged convictions have come to be accepted by most Doors fans and the
mainstream press as nothing more than the typical myth and mystique that
surround most of the legendary bands from the Sixties, often retold as facts
to generation after generation. Many in the music press over the years have
cemented Jim Morrison's "iconic" outlaw image largely due to the notoriety
of this particular case, thus diminishing his true contribution to popular
American music and literature.
In a true twist of irony, Morrison's actions on that abysmal evening in
Miami served to end what has now become accepted as his "Lizard King"
stature, thus attempting to change his image into a more simple poet weary
of the public excess. Ensuing years saw many fans and historians come to
accept him as a martyr for the 1st Amendment, an outlaw who fought the law,
a pure symbol of freedom against the oppresive and turbulent times of the
Sixties. Many longtime Doors fans, including the band members themselves,
saw this particular concert as the end of all that was legit with this band
and their live performances, an innocence gone. On the other hand, some fans
latched onto the notoriety, largely due to the music press & politcians who
were hell bent on making Morrison the cherry on the cake of the Sixties'
excess.
When the image, the music, the Sixties, Vietnam, the press, individual
historical interpretation, the general apathy and all of those other
elements are stripped away, what's left is the law and the Miami case
itself. The effort of the Doors Collectors Magazine has been examining the
1970 Miami trial for 11 years, without thought to anything outside of the
case itself. Upon in-depth review of the case, several well documented
Constitutional violations were found, violations that very simply denied
true justice in this case. Morrison's defense was barred from presenting key
evidence and witnesses who could have clearly exonerated him. Morrison had
the right to confront his accusers, but the then-Mayor of Dade County and
the officials who brought the charges on did not appear for testimony. Many
of the witnesses that were present had no real consistent recollections of
the Miami concert. Witness accounts varied and memory lapses were frequent.
Forget for a moment that he IS Jim Morrison. We looked at this from the
standpoint that he was a citizen of Florida who was denied true justice for
several reasons. It was a politically motivated case to begin with. There
are musicians, bands and performers over the years who have done far worse
that pop off some profanity onstage and they were never arrested and
charged. The officials involved in the Morrison case were under pressure to
act. If Jim Morrison had INDEED committed the offenses at hand, he would
have been arrested that night during or directly after the Miami performance
just as he was during the now infamous 1968 New Haven concert, where he was
maced in the eyes by a police officer before the show. During the Miami
performance, the police had no probable cause to arrest Jim Morrison and
they didn't. In fact, it was proven that many of the police officers in
attendance that night were seen laughing, joking and hanging out with The
Doors before, during and after the show. If there was no cause for arrest
during that timeframe, then the ensuing charges only underscore the
political pressure that followed.
With regard to the now legendary question of the alleged exposure, there are
no credible witnesses, photographs or any film/video that can prove with
100% certainty that this incident occured. Under oath in the Dade Couty
Court, during his 1970 trial, Jim Morrison testified that he did not expose
himself. The jury found him GUILTY of this charge even though the State of
Florida could not & did not LEGALLY prove this incident happened beyond a
reasonable doubt!
Further, the charge of public intoxication is mind boggling in how the jury
handled this. There are several audio CDs out there that clearly demonstrate
that Morrison was intoxicated. Morrison was found NOT GUILTY on the charge
of public intoxication by the jury! What exactly was WRONG with this jury?
How exactly did they base their findings? Why didn't the Florida press pick
up on this right then and there?
It is common knowledge that Jim Morrison remained free on bail, pending
appeal. He died July 3rd, 1971, but that's NOT where the story ends! His
appeal was never heard! THAT point right there is what led to the formation
of this current pardon effort, in light of two legal precedents that have
come to light in the last few years, that when compared and applied to
Morrison's conviction, paint a much different picture.
1. December 23, 2003- New York Governor George Pataki issued an official
Pardon to famed Sixties comedian Lenny Bruce. Pataki called his decision,
the first posthumous pardon in New York state history, "a declaration of New
York's commitment to upholding the First Amendment."
2. On October 17, 2006, Enron founder Ken Lay died prior to exhausting his
appeals, his conviction was abated. Precedent in the Fifth Circuit Court of
Appeals, the federal appellate court governing the district where Lay was
indicted, indicates that abatement had to be automatically granted. When
abatement occurs, the law views it as though he had never been indicted,
tried and convicted. The government opposed Lay's attorneys' motion for
abatement, and the Department of Justice issued a statement that it "remains
committed to pursuing all available legal remedies and to reclaim for
victims the proceeds of crimes committed by Ken Lay."
Jim Morrison himself had this to say in 1971, months before his passing to
LA reporter Bob Chorush about the Miami verdicts: "I got acquitted on
everything else. We were trying to get this erased because it's not good to
have something like that on your record. It's just if something really
serious happens then you have a record and it looks a lot worse. The trouble
with all these busts is that people I know, friends of mine, think it's
funny and they like to believe it's true and they accept it; people that
don't like me like to believe it because I'm the reincarnation of everything
they consider evil. I get hung both ways."
It doesn't matter if one is a fan of Jim Morrison or not. What matters here
is a citizen of Florida was convicted in the Dade County Criminal Court in a
case where due process of law was not properly applied. These facts, in
light of the newer precedents, can no longer be ingnored by the State of
Florida. It is the intention of Doors Collectors Magazine to provide
Governor Crist with all resources available to seriously consider a pardon
and finally after almost forty years, bring this case to a close once and
for all. If it could happen to Jim Morrison, it could happen to any one of
us! In the interest of true justice and closure for the Morrison family, it
is being asked of Governor Crist to issue the pardon and abate Case# 69-2355
State of Florida vs. James Douglas Morrison off the current and future
Florida law books.
I finally caught a glimpse of the U2/Green Day video "The Saints Are Coming". The basic concept is that when Katrina hit that the US troops in Iraq were immediately deployed to help Katrina. On the surface that sounds nice but could you imagine what would happen in Iraq if that redeployment occurred? Never mind how long a redeployment would actually take. These simplistic and silly ideas actually being made into a music video show how out of touch some folks can be. Of course, now some folks will be asking why we didn't redeploy our troops from Iraq to help with Katrina. This is one of those veiled attempts to try and be for the troops because we should be using them for humanitarian missions instead of their current mission.
I'd expect this simple mindedness from Green Day but I thought U2 was smarter than this.
God bless our military and may they complete their mission successfully.
Basically, he goes on stage when somebody wins an award and rants about how he deserved to win.
Kanye, if you're reading, and i know you are (because this is the best blog ever and it should be given every award ever created, and by the way, George Bush hates blogs. Can you sense my sarcasm?)...back to Kanye. Kanye, you're dumb. I'm sorry to be the one to break it to you. You can take all your other awards, hop on a plane, and come back to America where everybody loves you.
Several concerts on the Dixie Chicks' "Accidents & Accusations" tour have been canceled after slow ticket sales, but the group says it has replaced them with other dates.
It's been strange watching the Dixie Chicks handle a little controversy. Instead of just saying, "Don't we have a right to an opinion?" they took the "we are being persecuted" approach. Opinions can have consequences but handling it like a victim is just silly. They acted like they were being censored by the government. They weren't but a lot of folks decided not to play or listen to their music. That's called freedom, ladies. Laura Ingraham had it correct when she said "shut up and sing".
Last year I stumbled upon Run's House while flipping channels. It turns out it was a very interesting reality show about Reverend Run's (from Run-DMC) family. It was something that our whole family really enjoyed. Take a look.
There's a new band out there called The Tall Ships. I know the drummer a bit and they are a pretty interesting band. Check them out some of their music here.
I'm not here to raise contraversy, I'm the music guy. This is something I was curious about, and needed to hear it. This is the American National Anthem, the Star Spangled Banner...in Spanish.
You've heard the media talk about this, you've heard our President speak out on how he feels about this. What are your thoughts? Is it out of line to have a spanish version of this song? Is it not a big deal?
To keep this music related, the song features R&B (and apparently Latin) singer, Wycleff Jean. Enjoy the download, and let's hear what your views are on this.
"I changed the sound of music more than one time... For all those reasons, I'd be a part of the Bible. I'm definitely in the history books already."
This is one of the funnier things I've seen in a while. There is nothing funnier than an artist who takes themselves way too seriously or one who thinks they are way more important than they really are. I honestly don't understand all the hoopla about this guy. Give me old school rap like Run DMC or Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five any day over the newer rap. I'm not impressed with much of the rap over the last 15 years. It just seems to be more over-sampling or straight-up theft of other songs then mixing it up a bit and rapping over it. Again, I'm not impressed.
U2 won song of the year, a songwriter's award, for "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own," as well as best rock album for "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb."
When I see reports about the Grammys and they all talk about Mariah Carey or Kanye West but barely any mention of U2. It's a joke if U2 doesn't win but we'll see. Their latest, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, is simply an amazing album.
Reuniting the original Van Halen lineup is just a matter of time, according to former vocalist David Lee Roth.
I've seen Van Hagar in concert (it was real good) but not Van Halen. Even if they might be a bit long in the tooth I want to see Diamond Dave with the rest of VH. They can even bring Sammy along.
Every year, the radio stations turn Christmas. The songs play 24 hours a day, only to get old and annoying. BUT I have something for you! A twist on the classic Christmas Songs. Take legit bands, give them some computers to create their own music, and then let them put it on the internet for FREE downloading.
The Fog Breathers are a group of indie bands messing with those cheesy Christmas songs you've come to love. Eisley's drummer, Weston, contributes his talents to MANY tracks on this cd, as does his dad (and Eisley's manager), Boyd.
Head on over to the link above to listen to 4 tracks, and then look around their site for the free download of 12 or so tracks. It's worth the laugh, and you'll find yourself oddly addicted to these renditions. Including an original Christmas rap called "Chico Loves Christmas" from my favorite band in Chico, California ... BRIGHTEN. More to come on them later.
Until next year, Merry Christmas, and enjoy the music!
We were having another big night at Target before going to our Bible study last night when we say a slot in the music area for the above live U2 DVD. It was already sold out but I hadn't even heard about it. Note to self: scour the city for a copy of this DVD and get it. Our own JonnyUps wrote a great review of one of the Veritgo shows here.
The end of the world is here. We all knew it was coming, but did you expect it this soon?
I have tainted my iPod with a song called "Screwed" by none other than . . . Paris Hilton.
Click the song title to find out some information on this song, including why it may never legally surface on an album. But here's what I think about it.
Paris Hilton, heiress extraordinairre, has no right to be a singer. This song is emotionless, lifeless, and merely just a play on words in hopes of banking on her ever-so-news worthy home-made videos. A recording studio can work wonders. Technology can create the most accurate of pitches in a persons voice, and can cause your ears to think they have real talent, when in reality, there's very little talent to speak of.
I would do society a favor and not support Paris Hilton's album when it's released next year. I, personally, am very happy letting Paris be famous for...well, nothing.
Paris, if you're reading, keep on rocking. You're a great roll model for those people out there who buy things and attend parties for a living. I'll be looking forward to those great, stylish photos of you in People magazine. And I can't wait for your duet with William Hung. Boy do we have something to look forward to.
For real music, check out Tracy Johnson, I will be spending my Sunday being the attractive bass player in her first music video! Also find her on myspace
[Note from Garth: After receiving a kind email from Bob Kilpatrick, singer/songwriter and author of the original list of how to write mediocre worship songs, I wanted to clarify that I found part of his article in the Wichita Eagle and then freely adapted his points for this blog entry. Some of the wording is Bob's, but much of it is my interpretation and attempt to be a bit satirical. This might be a good case study on intellectual property rights. Are bloggers free to quote and/or morph someone else's work and post it as I have done, giving credit where credit is due, but not seeking permission first? Let me know below. Thanks. GT]
I used to scratch my head whenever a worship chorus fell flat at church. I would try to sing it. I would try to meditate on the words. But more often than not, many of these so-called worship songs just didn't do anything for me. And I wondered, is it me? Am I too critical or are the songs just really that bad?
It was with great relief and a chuckle that I came across some Sound Advice from Brent Castillo (adapting a list by Bob Kilpatrick) on what goes into creating a great mediocre worship chorus. I finally had a checklist to go by and realized that, no, it wasn't me. Many songs that pass for praise choruses today are just plain lame.
Couldn't help but laugh during worship this past week when I ran a few of the less-memorable songs down the checklist. Yep. Out of the 10 or so rules for mediocre songwriting, the Sunday snoozers showcased at least 5 of them.
If you're a nascent songwriter or just an over-eager parishioner, simply follow these guidelines* as you craft your next chorus. Be careful though. Sunday worship may always be the same. Ready?
10 Rules on How to Write Mediocre Worship Songs
1. Start with a melody that sounds like another melody. Especially effective if modeled on another mediocre melody. Make sure you change it just enough to avoid lawsuits.
2. Add some odd chords to make up for the derivative melody. If in the key of C, try throwing in a C#maj7, B6, and F#m combination.
3. Feel free to invent new song structures. Chorus, chorus, chorus, chorus can always substitute for verse, chorus, verse, chorus. But be sure to substitute the words Father, Jesus, and Spirit so the song has variety.
4. Borrow lyric ideas often. Songs that refer to "amazing grace" and "king of majesty" are often good starting points.
5. Use a lot of Christian-sounding phrases. Here are a few to consider: I just want to thank you, glory hallelujah, sing praises, come let us worship, and He lifts me up.
6. Try to say more than one thing in your song. In fact, say three or four things. Wander from idea to idea. Start by singing about your past sinful life, then move on to how wonderful nature is, then sing about the people of God and end up at the Second Coming.
7. Talk to God and about God in the same song. Better if it's in the same line. For example: "We love you Lord, for He's the best Lord there is."
8. Mix and match your metaphors. Let rivers run over the mountains in your song. Let the hand of God rain down on you. Let the applause of our hearts go up like a fragrance.
9. Give the song a title that is not in the lyric. Obtuse or esoteric sounding titles are good. One-word titles or nature-related ones are also well-received. For example, anything that shouts "You" or mentions "Mountains, Wind and Sky" work well.
10. And finally: Never, ever rewrite your song after the first draft. Taking time to craft your song demonstrates a lack of faith. If you hit a lyrical block, use phrases like "really want to" and "great and mighty" and "hallelujah" to get you going again.
Well, chorus-writers, should I include any other rules to make mediocre magic? Let me know. Or feel free to post a lyric in the comment section and we can evaluate it for you. :-) Lots of luck!
Reflecting on Ephesians 5:19,20
GT
* These guidelines are somewhat modified from singer/songwriter Bob Kilpatrick's original tongue-in-cheek list which was first published in a 2004 issue of Christian Musician. If offended, the fault falls to me. For truly helpful songwriting tips, visit Bob Kilpatrick's website and read How To Write A Really Good Song.
In fact, Beyonce did not write her big hit "Crazy in Love," or even conceive of it. "Crazy in Love" — its horns, percussion, chief melody and overall "feel" — was written by the late and very great Eugene Record of the Chi-Lites (he died this summer). The group recorded and released it in 1969 as "Are You My Woman (Tell Me So)."
The article continues dealing with many examples of how these "musicians" don't write much except probably their silly lyrics. I have little respect for these sampler types especially when they claim so much more about the song writing.
In the movie, which will premiere at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City on Tuesday, Madonna warns how people "are going to go to hell, if they don't turn from their wicked behavior."
So, this is just funny considering the source is Madonna. Off the top my head I cannot think of someone who has had a more worthless impact on society for such a long period of time that the "Material Girl". Before she goes and accuses anyone for bad behavior she owes society an apology for over 20 years of cultural crap.
Madonna represents a big negative in American culture. How someone, who's more shocking than talented, can become a cultural icon is beyond me. She's had a few good songs (good production can make anyone pretty good) but her contibutions aren't worth much more than the bytes of data this entry represents.
CNN.com - CBGB owner: Club will fight - Sep 2, 2005 - I am all about keeping CBGB's open in New York but all these celebrities coming out to support it are just acting with great stupidity. Why don't they just step up and pay the $19K monthly? What am I missing? If a business can't succeed then it goes away. I think they want CBGB's made a landmark so that the government will take care of it. Sorry folks, CBGB's just isn't THAT important. Pay for it yourselves!
MSNBC is reporting that singer Luther Vandross has died. When I was heavy into R&B in the 80s, Luther was the man. One time my friend Duke saw Luther in concert and said one woman had pee'd her pants due to a bit of over-excitement. Luther was a great singer and songwriter who made it on pure talent. He will be missed.
UPDATE: I'll never forget when Luther sang "Love The One You're With" in front of the Clinton's at one of those televised presidential performances. I don't think Luther meant anything but the look on Hillary's face and her body language was priceless.
Billy Corgan, lead singer of Smashing Pumpkins, has a solo record coming out. Less rock and more of a digital experience, Corgan still seems to sing passionately on this record. The fact that Billy Corgan is a musical legend (whet you like him or not), is enough to convince you to atleast borrow this album and listen to it. He also includes a cover of Leonard Cohen's"To Love Somebody"
This album has a less poppy, more experimental feel, and may not be your favorite record of the year...but hey, it's Billy Corgan and you'll probably end up liking it 3 years from now anyways. Apparently the ENTIRE album is up for presale on iTunes, so you can go take a listen to clips from each song and decide for yourself.
And if you don't have iTunes, just get it. :) Tim and myself reference it often in our posts. Let me know what you think of the album because I haven't decided if I like it yet or not.
Michelle Malkin: COLDPLAY: "THE MOST INSUFFERABLE BAND OF THE DECADE" - Yes, Coldplay can be quite insufferable but I pick up some of their songs via iTunes. Their latest is Speed of Sound and is a real good song. I've learned to get rid of the boarish soapboxing by most bands and still enjoy their music. I actually don't mind some soapboxing as long as it's not just silly "Bush sucks" rhetoric (see Green Day).
As many of you would already know we are big fans of music here at Broken Masterpieces. I just learned how to do an iTunes iMix so I created one that has all my iTunes purchases I've ever made. To view it you'll need the iTunes software but click below to see the list:
Here we are, #3 in the series of artists that have been introduced to me via my friend Heidi. She has a knack for catching good music before it hits big. Yes, I know, Jason Mraz is big now. So is Jack Johnson, and Nickel Creek (the others in this series)...but when she told me about them, they weren't...or something like that. But anyways...
Jason Mraz is best known for his song, "The Remedy" which is a white boy-acoustic rap song. If you've heard it, you know what I mean. This guy has amazing control with his mouth while singing, and he can improvise on stage just as easily. Trust me, I've seen it. Best part about Jason Mraz...he's got an album coming out this summer. (as do the other 2 best bands, Nickel Creek and of course, Switchfoot)
Jason actually has a new song, Wordplay, up on myspace, check it here:
One of the greatest rock bands ever, Cream, came back together for one concert (CNN). Although their career was only 3 years in length, they made some fantastic music. The were the ultimate power trio.
note: the next 3 Featured Artists will be ones suggested to me by my friend Heidi Y.
I've finally given in. I've tried and tried to not like Jack Johnson. Why? Well because every song I have heard of his has always sounded the same...just like the songs that came before. This time, that's not the case. Once I heard his new song, "Sitting, Waiting, Wishing" (or something like that), I knew this time would be the time I got hooked.
After the pressuring of my friend Heidi last night, I bought the album. I sat down with the intentions of criticizing it. And, to my surprise, I liked it. Just about every song stuck out to me. My favorite songs would be Banana Pancakes and Breakdown. (just in case you actually go buy the cd and listen to it).
So as unprofessional as this review is, take note: I was an avid Jack Johnson un-supporter because all of his songs sounded the same. If you felt the same way as me, you'll probably like this new album. It's fun, and smiley, and there isn't enough music out there today that you can say that about....
....but keep reading over the next few days because the other 2 artists are just as wonderful!
Now I know I have been pushing these bands, or artists on here. I'm sure a few of you click the links, listen to the music, and so forth.
The reason I have waited on talking about this band until now, is because I didn't believe they were for real. I got this album at the end of March, and now at mid April, it is still the only band I have listened to on my iPod since I got the album. Keep in mind, I only have 3 gigs left on my 40 gig iPod...I can review bands on this site for a lifetime. :)
Mae is the band. The Everglow is the album. Yes, they are both individual links. They both have their own sites. Who knows. Anyways. This album starts out with a Prologue, one of the more creative "extra" tracks on any album I have heard. The Prologue suggests you take out the booklet that came with the cd, and follow along. The booklet has incredible illustrations, and the lyrics to the album follow along like a story. As the songs play, I have realized that there isn't a single song on this album that I don't enjoy...that isn't catchy, that isn't packed full of harmonies, guitars, piano, strings...whatever you can imagine. It's audibly colorful. If this album had a taste, I would probably compare it to the flavored wallpaper in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" because every inch of it tastes different, but is equally enjoyed.
I can't get my point across any more than this (i'm only entitled to so many lame, out-of-context comparisons per day) without posting the album on the internet for you all to hear. So...follow this link and listen on their site:
This is a band that makes me truly say, "I can't believe my ears" because they are so great. Take a listen and PLEASE tell me what you think. I'd like to hear feedback on this so I know I'm not just crazy.
The latest entry into our culture from Ludacris is a video I saw called "Number One Spot/The Potion" (warning, typical rap video degredation of women). Somehow it was inspired by the Austin Powers movies and had the background song from the opening scene from the first Austin Powers movie as the main sample. The "vocals" didn't come close to matching the sample. Musically, the vocals and music are supposed to match but not anymore, I guess. It would be like Bono singing "Smells Like Teen Spirit" over the backing of "One".
It amazes me the things the entertainment industry sells and people actually buy.
I'm taking nominations for best rock band ever. I'll do a poll pretty soon. Here's some bands I think I'll consider nominating; U2, Beatles, Police, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Nirvana, Rolling Stones. Any more ideas?
One of the things I tell my kids is that "Switchfoot is my favorite band, but U2 is the best." Well that was confirmed a few hours ago as my wife and I saw U2 in Anaheim on our 11th wedding anniversary. The set list is as follows:
Love and Peace
Vertigo
Elevation
Cry/ Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh / Into the Heart
City of Blinding Lights
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
New Year's Day
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet the Blue Sky
Running to Stand Still
Zoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Pride in the Name of Love
Where the Streets Have No Name
One
All Because Of You
Yahweh
‘40’
Not inccluded in the set list was a touching tribute for Pope John Paul II.
There are few bigger than life people but Bono is one of them. I've seen U2 before in 1987 and 1992 but just in big stadiums. This time is was a sports arena. As you can see from the set list the U2 guys covered a lot of territory. The only real downer was that I dropped a $35 tee shirt for my wife so it is lost. It's not available online yet so if anyone is seeing U2 soon please let me know if you can help me get her another one.
The reason I'm blogging at this insane hour is that my ears are shot and I can't sleep.
UPDATE: U2 does need to get the sound balanced a bit more. The Edge's guitar was too loud and drowned out a bit of Bono. According to a friend, this was also the case in San Diego.
U2 - 3/30/2005 - iPayOne Center (aka San Diego Sports Arena)
After buying tickets and finding out they were behind the stage, I made the best of my evening. Going to see U2 with 5 friends can't be a bad night. We arrive and are looking up the back of the arena for our seats. An usher asks if he can help us find our seats (and still looking up)...he points down, and walks us to our 4th row seats!! Somebody (me) failed to see how close we were sitting on the seating chart...these seats were unreal.
Honestly, no words can describe this show (although Tim (our host here) will do a great job sharing his experience in just a few short days). It was the most unreal moment in my life, and I'm glad I didn't make millions by selling my ticket outside before the show.
Playing the favorites from Vertigo, Elevation, With Or Without You, Pride, Sunday Bloody Sunday, New Years Day, Yahweh and "40"...I was mesmorized the entire 2 hours they played.
U2's Vertigo tour picks up right where the band left off -- Monday's debut at the San Diego Sports Arena felt like the slightly tweaked next leg of its previous tour. After spending the '90s topping itself with progressively wilder and higher-tech extravaganzas, the band is wisely sticking with its return to simplicity (relatively speaking) and the powerful intimacy of its early days.
Amazingly, it works virtually seamlessly. The band opened with "City of Blinding Lights" and the brash "Vertigo" from the new "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb," followed by tracks from its raw 1980 debut, "Boy." The angry young Bono re-emerged for a moment on "Cry/The Electric Co.", followed by the Gaelic-titled rarity "An Cat Dubh" (in which he stroked an imaginary black cat like a James Bond villain) and introspective "Into the Heart," sending longtime fans into rapture.
If there were opening-night jitters, they didn't show. "Wow, San Diego turned out to be the right place to kick this off," Bono said – the tour was originally supposed to begin on the East Coast, but was delayed due to illness in a band member's family. "We are really, truly blessed tonight, and thank you for that," the singer told the
sold-out crowd. Though Tuesday was presumably reserved for fine-tuning before U2 returns to the Sports Arena on Wednesday, it seems there's little fixing to be done.
The heart-shaped catwalk of 2001 has been replaced by an oval, again reaching deep onto the floor; the band also incorporated touches from other eras, such as the visual overload of its Zoo TV incarnation and
the benediction-by-spotlight from the Joshua Tree era. (Hey, they don't count as visual clichés until they stop working.) U2 closed with the spiritual "40," as meaningful today as it was some 20 years ago.
The band's dynamic hasn't changed since then, either. As Bruce Springsteen noted when he inducted the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this month, U2 is pretty much the last band where casual fans know the names of all four members. Bassist Granted, Adam Clayton and drummer Larry Mullen Jr. are quietly businesslike as they
drive the band's sound (though a grinning Mullen was egged into singing along on a line or two). Then there's Edge, architect of the huge, soaring guitars that are key to the band's essence.
And, of course, there's Bono, the earnest ham with enough Irish charm to pull it off. Monday he prowled on all fours, banged on a drum, blindfolded himself and posed for execution and twice mocked his Jesus complex. Way more fun than heading the World Bank.
Besides, he wields more power onstage. The band made its political points firmly but without preaching via a mid-show chunk of the set list – the ominous "Love and Peace or Else," "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
(Ireland's civil unrest) and "Bullet the Blue Sky" (American foreign policy). A gorgeous, gentle "Running to Stand Still," in which Bono sings of learning to "scream without raising your voice," was capped with a simple video scroll of excerpts from the United Nations' Declaration of Human Rights. It was reassuring to hear an extra-loud shout-out for Article 5.
Later, national flags streamed down curtains of lights during "Pride (In the Name of Love)," and Bono plugged his One Campaign (theonecampaign.org) to battle AIDS and poverty in Africa by way of
introduction to "One."
But U2 has learned there's as much to be said for soothing the soul as stirring it. "Beautiful Day" remains one of rock's most uplifting anthems; Bono offered tribute to his late father on the touching "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own." And the holy "Yahweh" from "Atomic Bomb" (with Mullen, newly dubbed multi-instrumentalist,
stepping out to play a synthesizer) was the perfect segue to "40," based on the 40th Psalm and the closing track to the band's "War" album. You know U2 has deeply involved the audience when the night's most magical moment comes as the crowd continues to sing long after the band has left the stage.
--- Cathy Maestri
So in reflection, this is the #1 show I have ever attended in my life, and will forever stay that way...that is, until I'm the one on that stage.
The last song was "40", and minutes after the show was over, the crowd sat and sang the lines, "how long...to sing this song? how long..."
As the crowd faded, and the lights came up, I knew this was the one I'd never forget.
I just got a phone call from guest author, JonnyUps. He's reporting from the U2 concert that, although he has tickets behind the stage, they are only 4 rows back. I'm anxiously awaiting his review.
The above is the latest offering from Jars of Clay. It's a remake of some classic spiritual hymns. Sounds good so far. One song is not on the album but is offered at iTunes:
- What Wondrous Love
This is the best of all the songs. Get it, especially with Good Friday just a few hours away.
It's time again for you to hear about some music you may not have heard of yet. Eisley is a band from Texas that has quite a unique sound. They are currently on tour with New Found Glory (if i EVER link that band on here, i will resign from my duties) which shouldn't classify them in a certain style for now. They have strong female vocals, unreal harmonies, and songs more catchy than the West Nile virus in a mosquito infested swamp. If that doesn't say anything, what will? If you haven't clicked any of my links yet, THIS is the link you should click. Check out Eisley here:
Since a bunch of Third Day fans are visiting from Mark Lee's blog, let me ask you what is your favorite Third Day song? Mine is Show Me Your Glory from the Come Together. Leave your choice in the comments section.
So last you heard, I had the chance to open for The Honorary Title. They were definitely good, but after making friends with the drummer, Atom, he informed me that he was the drummer for another band. Apparently The Honorary Title is just 2 people, with additional musicians filling in on tour.
Atom's band has been one of my favorites for a while now, so this was a cool moment for me. So, for me, check out The Format and take a listen. They are a good band, you can understand them, and it's just fun music.
There is an amazing band that I've been listening to for almost 10 years called Jars of Clay (JoC). If you are not familiar with Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) then you may have never heard of the Jars boys. Forget all the stereotypes of CCM, Jars of Clay is truly a great band. They rock on accoustic guitars quite a bit and have deep and thoughtful lyrics. No gimmicks, their music could be classified as light rock but I call it accoustic rock (they are electric a bit also). I listen to Jars of Clay on those frequent nights when I need to go back to the office to get some undisturbed work done. Check them out! (Don't let the CCM label fool you, they are great.)
For the man who calls a lot of Americans "American Idiot", let's see him explain this. Here's the mind-bending lyrics of this "artist":
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mindf*** America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.
Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.
Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information nation of hysteria.
It's going out to idiot America.
Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
What a kind and tolerant man; bringing healing to us all. Nice to see most of the audience at the Grammy's giving these guys a standing ovation for the above song.
I saw the pre-game music for the Super Bowl. Charlie Daniels was cool but then the Black Eyed Peas came on. Look, if a band has to have a pretty girl bump and grind through the song then they probably aren't that good. Well, they weren't. At least Earth, Wind and Fire were on a bit but the show could not be saved. The game is quite a bit better than the Black Eyed Peas and now it is time for Paul McCartney.
I know many people are saying that Paul McCartney is playing the Super Bowl half-time show because he's not going to do anything dangerous (probably quite true). Let's give Sir Paul proper credit: he's a flippin' legend who's an amazing musician. Forget so much of the other junk from last year, Paul doesn't need silly gimmicks to draw attention to himself. He'll let his music do the talking.
In flipping channels I ran into the Ashlee Simpson Show on MTV. It is discussing her SNL disaster. I've discovered her real problem, she's just not a good singer. Back track or not, she's just not that good. Then again, there's a lot of junk out there so I will leave her alone after this entry.
I gave realRhapsody a 14-day trial. It wasn't quite what I wanted but I would urge folks to give it a try. When I called to cancel they were very pleasant. Hey, it's worth a shot.
UPDATE: Just got this comment -
Well, it's been over TWO HOURS on hold trying to cancel and I have yet to talk to anyone. You can't just cancel the service online, you have to call during business hours. I don't know ANYONE who can afford to take over two hours out of their business day to sit on hold.
This Is Just Nasty - Ashlee Simpson at the Orange Bowl
I finally had the time to dig up the video of Ashlee Simpson "singing" at halftime of the Orange Bowl. Here it is, courtesy of BryantChoung.com. It makes you want to "scream"! I heard a replay of Jim Rome this morning and he thinks Ashlee should quit singing and become the president of her sisters' fan club. Ouch!
UPDATE: Just noticed the "anarchy" symbol on the drum kit. Ugh, yeah!
I ordered this a few days ago from Amazon along with some conservative books (including the new Hewitt book). The Oils are some serious lefties but they are so stinking good. The above is a "best of" compilation. Sorry I've not been blogging much lately but I've been putting in half days (12 hours) at work the last few days. I'm pooped.
Kenneth Tanner has a great review of the new U2 album here. It's great to read reviews like this who don't try to paint people of faith into a box. What we don't realize with U2 is that they are the Michael Jordan of rock music. Someday we won't have them so enjoy this greatness now. I will do my best to catch them live, again.
Since I drank almost a whole 2 liter of Vanilla Diet Pepsi (had to go to work for a bit tonight) I'm a bit wired so I'm watching Saturday Night Live. The show's pretty mediocre but I just saw U2 singing on it. What a contrast from a few weeks ago when Ashlee Simpson was exposed. Now SNL needs to put on Switchfoot.
What a stinkin' joke! Saturday Night Live is so far down in the toilet that they let on lip syncers? I saw Outkast do a lip sync also on a previous replay. Hey SNL, get some real artists like Switchfoot. Ashlee Simpson is just someone who's a zero talent trying to gravy train off of her sister.
UPDATE: If you can't do it live, then you can't do it. The Switchfoot guys have been on many late night shows and it's clear they were live. Yes, imperfections show but that's rock 'n roll.
ANOTHER UPDATE (this really ticks me off): I remember a few years ago Michael Jackson did a "performance" on the MTV Video Music Awards and he frickin' lip synced the whole darn thing. Afterwards a bunch of moronic artists were praising how great the performance was. There was one artist who called him on it and now I can't remember that artist. It was someone from something like Foo Fighters or Blues Traveler (both excellent bands). More anger later on this topic later, I'm sure.
I just think this commercial is too cool. Bono has got to be the coolest person in his 40s. This is a band that's been together about 25 years and are better than ever. They aren't just cashing in but making great music. I'm just hoping when U2 comes to Southern California that Switchfoot can open for them.
Joey Ramone, whose real name is Jeff Hyman, died in 2001 of lymphatic cancer. Dee Dee Ramone, whose real name is Douglas Colvin, died from a drug overdose in 2002.
It's amazing how quick these men have died. I saw the Ramones in 1992 and they were totally cool. They played a ton of 2 minutes songs in about an hour. This was a band that was truly cool to like.
As for day-to-day life on the domestic front, the wife of British director Guy Ritchie said one of her biggest mantras of motherhood has been: "Pick up your s--t."
Many of you don't know much about Morrissey but I've been a big fan of his music since around 1987 when he was with a band called The Smiths. Although I've never agreed with much he had to say I still enjoyed his music. I still may enjoy it, I don't know; knowing what a truly hateful individual he is. At least he's honest. May God bless Morrissey anyway.
I'm not the biggest fan of the band Coldplay I love their song called Moses. I'd heard it on the radio and grapped it off of iTunes. Now I can't get enough of it. I can't find the song on the Coldplay web site but if I do I'll let you know.
What is real sad is that this group of performers are at the top of the class when it comes to popularity. Frankly, they've got nothing on real musicians like Switchfoot, Cold Play, U2, Sting and so many others. The difference is that the outrageous is allowed to top talent and artistry.
So I'm flipping through the channels this morning while eating first breakfast when I come upon an old Paul Simon video, "Boy in the Bubble". Cool video and next they play "You Can Call Me Al". It seems like I'd forgotten about this great album. Well, I'm listening to it now.
Sarah Masen will be making an appearance at my church in Carlsbad, California. If you are in San Diego it's worth checking out. Here's the link. She's a great singer/songwriter and I'm going to do my best to make it on that Sunday night.
I think it's real important to criticize things but there is a time and place. A Christmas concert at the Vatican is not the place. I guess Lauryn Hill needs to boost her record sales. See the story here.
So I'm channel surfing while on the exercise bike and MTV has a new Beatles video. Wow, real music on MTV. After the Beatles I'm about to change the channel when I hear a familiar sound. Turns out it's the beginning of the latest Switchfoot song, "Meant to Live". Yes, Switchfoot on MTV!
As my previous entry indicates, I bought the latest issue of Rolling Stone to see the 500 greatest albums. To my shock, Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys was #2. There are only 3 songs that are any good at all and none of them would be a song I'd consider great except maybe "Wouldn't It Be Nice". Heck, it's not hardly the Beach Boys but a freaked out Brian Wilson with his own handpicked musicians. The vocals were really the only things done by the rest of the guys. To me, it's self-indulgent junk. I think it's the case where it's just something cool to say you like even though you never listen to the whole thing through. Could somebody please help me understand why this album is considered great.
I bought this album today. The order of the songs is completely different from the "original" and the music is stripped down to the core. I gotta admit, that I like it better than the "original". Some of the songs are real different, especially "Let It Be" and "The Long and Winding Road". This is real and true pop music. The Brittany's, Justine's and Christina's are just a very cheap imitation.
I just saw some guy on CNN say that he thinks Tupac Shakur will have as big of an impact on the black community as MLK. Let's just home not. How sad that anyone compares MLK to Tupac. Talk about a legend growing after someone dies. Somebody please tell me anything that Tupac did that was positive.
UPDATE: Saw it again and he called Tupac a martyr.....
A true American legend, Johnny Cash, has died. As I've blogged before, I'm a latecomer to Johnny Cash, but I'll miss him. Now he is reunited with his wife and is in the presence of his Savior.
I'd just like to thank all the news sites for including the picture of Madonna and Brittany Spears in lip-lock. Thanks a lot. I'm just glad my kids weren't with me when I went to MSNBC or FoxNews.
Has Madonna really done anything to help society? She also hasn't had a decent song since about 1989. Now, she's so desparate for attention. Time to go, and take your other lip-locking buddies with you.
Even though I didn't watch it, the MTV Music Video Awards are now officially STUPID. Johnny Cash was nominated for 6 awards and got shut out for the video "Hurt". I don't have a link for it anymore but if you can see it, it's worth the time. The videos that beat him were warmed over vomit. I'd really like to see some worthwhile art make it into pop culture. It's not looking good.
This Sunday night Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are playing at Dodger Stadium AKA Blue Heaven on Earth. I gotta find a way to go. I need to get a hold of my old friend Adam as we were total Springsteen freaks back in the day.
UPDATE: Couldn't go. Adam was away on business. Oh well.
Flipping channels and run into Ms. Lavigne in a live concert in London. Ugh! I saw her a few weeks ago doing a Metallica song. Again, ugh! When announcing nominees for Grammy awards she didn't even know who David Bowie was and even pronounced Bow like a dog barking. She seems to be just another manufactured artist. She's right up there with Alanis Morrisette in terms of manufactured. I don't believe they wrote much of their music and are just puting on a facade. What really made me concerned was that the Avril concert was packed.
There's a lot of good acts that deserve more play. Music that's just darn good, written and played with passion and is authentic. That's what I want to see.
This is one of the songs of the great album called "The Rising" by Bruce Springsteen. Even though the man is hugely rich he still can reach deep inside the soul.
Empty Sky
I woke up this morning
I could barely breathe
Just an empty impression
In the bed there you used to be
I want a kiss from your lips
I want an eye for an eye
I woke up this morning to an empty sky
Empty sky, empty sky
I woke up this morning to an empty sky
Empty sky, empty sky
I woke up this morning to an empty sky
Blood on the streets
Blood flowin' down
I hear the blood of my blood
Cryin' from the ground
Empty sky, empty sky
I woke up this morning to an empty sky
Empty sky, empty sky
I woke up this morning to an empty sky
On the plains of Jordan
I cut my bow from the wood
Of this tree of evil
Of this tree of good
I want a kiss from your lips
I want an eye for an eye
I woke up this morning to the empty sky
In memory of the victims of 9/11. How did this album not win the Grammy?