90s Rock: Best Songs (Part 4)

And finally, continuing on from last week, here are my last group of favorite 90s songs.  There really are too many songs that are awesome.  My list is probably hobo excrement.  Oh well, it has been fun anyway. 

16) "Photograph" by The Verve Pipe

I went through a phase where I listened to TONS of The Verve Pipe.  They are an excellent band.  They are not in my Top 10 favorite bands of all time, or anything, but they have an underrated catalog.  Much like this song.  "Photograph" was the first song I ever remember hearing by them.  Of course, they later found more notoriety with "The Freshmen" but the sick organ track that underpins this song is not to be denied.  Give it a listen if you don't recall this song. 

"Cup Of Tea" is also another underrated song by The Verve Pipe.



17) "Lakini's Juice" by Live

There is no arguing that "Throwing Copper" is Live's best record. However, my favorite overall song by Live is "Lakini's Juice." If you can't tell by now, I am a huge fan of dirty, deep guitar riffs. The distorted bass creeps into your ears like a burrowing earwig. It also uses excellent subtle placement of string arrangements. You can't go wrong here.



18) "Still Remains" by Stone Temple Pilots

The only band with two songs on the list. I just couldn't leave this one off. It makes the list with the following line alone: "Take a bath, I'll drink the water that you leave." It's pretty gross, twisted love song- and I love it.



19) "Little Things" by Bush

My band in high school used to rock the shit out of this song in our garages. One of our favorites to cover, "Little Things" is simple yet rocking. Why Bush didn't take the music industry by the throat and skull-fuck it, I'll never understand. "Sixteen Stone" is amazing. The rest of their catalog... just ok. This song deserves a spot on the list though.

What's that? You want shirtless Gavin Rossdale from Woodstock '99? Ok!



20) "Tomorrow" by Silverchair

Silverchair deserves a spot on the list. This is their first hit single in the US and probably their catchiest song (at least from their early catalog.) This song is most impressive given that it was written, performed and recorded by 14/15 year olds. Daniel Johns sings like a 40 year old. It is a solid song to round out the Top 20.



And so ends my Top 20. I should do this again in 3 months and I bet I'd get a different list. Enjoy all the Game 5's coming up, they should be fairly entertaining.

90s Rock: Best Songs (Part 3)

Continuing on from last week- here are more of my favorite 90s songs.  I could probably do this list 100 times and get 100 different lists, but it's still fun to listen to the songs as I attempt the making of the list.

11) "Rosealia" by Better Than Ezra

I still feel like BTE is a highly underrated band.  I know they occasionally stray into a country-ish twang, but how can you go wrong with "Deluxe" or "Friction, Baby?"  Answer: you can't.  "Rosealia" just makes me feel good (wah-o, wah-o, wah... good! [Ok, I know that was lame.])  Seriously though, I am consistently glad when this song comes on and I never change the station if it happens to grace to airwaves on my radio.



12) "This Is A Call" by Foo Fighters

I think nostalgia has a ton to do with this song making the list. I remember when I first heard "Dave Grohl's new band" on the radio. This was the first single and I was blown away. I was still sad about the loss of Kurt Cobain's suicide and Dave Grohl came in to fill the musical void that the absence of Nirvana had created. This song rocks hard and is worth a careful re-listen to realize just how fantastic it really is.



13) "Plowed" by Sponge

Sponge had a few hits, but none of them are quite as good as this song. It starts with a sick lead guitar line and never lets up until it concludes. Say a prayer for me and anyone else from the 90s that happened to be in a mosh pit during this song.



14) "My Name Is Jonas" by Weezer

How great is this song?! So simple, yet with so much depth. Much like "Rosealia," this song just makes me feel better in any context. Weezer bring catchy hooks- it's what they do best.



"Perfect" by Smashing Pumpkins

They have so many great songs, but this one stands out to me. It is a melancholy love song with a very weird video that I can't say is all that great. The song, however, is my favorite in the entire catalog of Smashing Pumpkins (which of course, contains many other great songs.) Enjoy this awful music video.



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I've got five more for next week. I really do love talking about 90s music, even if it is impossible to make a truly accurate list, I stand behind all of these songs as awesome.

90s Rock: Best Songs (Part 2)

A few weeks ago, I posted my Top 5 90s Alternative songs.  Check it out HERE. 

Today we continue on with more songs for a most impossible list to accurately portray.  I could probably start over and come up with a different list each time.  Oh well- this is about as accurate as NFL Power Rankings or AP College Football Polls, so what the hell?  Let's give it a whirl. 

6) "Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town" by Pearl Jam

One of my favorite softer songs ever.  Pearl Jam brings the emotion in this mostly acoustic song.  "Hearts and thoughts they fade... fade away..."  I'll never get tired of that repetitious chorus. 



7) "Fell On Black Days" by Soundgarden

Soundgarden is great. I admit I don't like them as much as Nirvana or Pearl Jam or Alice In Chains. However, they are still a pretty damn good band. This has to be my favorite song by them. The bended guitar notes in the main riff are perfectly creepy and capture the true tone of the song.



8) "Heavy" by Collective Soul

Another band that has a plethora of respectable hits, but you'll never find them on my favorite band list. Maybe it is the religious undertones or something that keeps them from being at the top of my list, but even still I definitely do enjoy a majority of their catalog. This dirty rock song is one of the best. Those phased out guitar effects are tits.



9) "Don't Look Back In Anger" by Oasis

I love me some Oasis. I also happen to believe that Noel Gallagher is a better singer than his brother Liam. I'm very much looking forward to hearing Noel's solo work that is coming out soon. This song is fantastic and still doesn't get old for me.



10) "Motorcycle Drive By" by Third Eye Blind

This is more of a fan favorite song than a single, but it is still pretty well known. The pushing and pulling of soft versus heavy is flawlessly executed. This song is deserving of a spot in the Top 10.



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Thoughts? Arguments? Suggestions? Leave it in the comments.

90s Rock: Best Songs

This list is fucking impossible to make, but I'm going to try to do it anyway.  The 90s is my favorite decade of music out of the last five.  As an aside, if I had to extinguish one decade's music from existence, my first pick is the 70s.  Then it would be the 2000s.  I'd much prefer to have the 60s, 80s, and 90s still in my future cloud player that will clearly be jacked directly into my brain like I'm Neo from the Matrix.

But I digress.  I was at Dick Tracy's house the other night and we were going through our favorite 90s songs.  There were too many to count, so I understand that my efforts will likely be futile.  I'm trying to come up with a Top 20, but let's start with the first batch of songs that, if they were at the Cold Stone Creamery, they would come in "Gotta Have It" size.

1) "Dead And Bloated" by Stone Temple Pilots

This song gets me pumped.  If I ever needed to win a Super Bowl, murder a vampire, or pull off a bank robbery with Jason Statham, I believe I would pick this song to put me in the right mindset. 

Making playlists for murder worked for Jessica Biel in "Blade: Trinity."

Obviously, this song is helped by me just having seen STP in July, but nonetheless, it tops my list of 90s Rock songs.  I'm not sure where Scott Weiland's deep grunge voice has disappeared to, but if I could request a return for their next hypothetical record, I would love to do so.  Make it happen interwebs!

2) "Drain You" by Nirvana

This song is a classic.  It is not overplayed like almost every other song on "Nevermind," and if it ever comes on the radio, I do not change the station.  This song really, really brings me back to my youth.  I can still remember watching a pink haired Kurt Cobain perform this song on MTV... ya know, back when MTV had music- not just Ronnie and CT knocking fools out.

MTV also had this crazy show that was probably awesome... on WEED!

3) "Them Bones" by Alice In Chains

This list is dominated with songs that get my juices flowing. "Them Bones" is a perfectly written Rock/Metal/Grunge song that stands up all these years later. Layne Staley yelling "AH!" a few times at the beginning sets the stage for an epic rocker with ridiculously memorable harmonies. With two of the original members of AIC dying due to heroin addiction, one has to wonder if they could've produced this song without the drugs. One could also wonder if they could've produced even more great songs had they actually kicked the junk. Much like, "How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie pop?"- the world may never know.

4) "Infected" by Bad Religion

Another song that gets me pumped and would keep my attention if it came on the ol' FM radio. Changing the station when this song comes on could get your hand slapped in the same manner as if you were stealing french fries off my plate. Do not do either of those things!

"There are several sacred things in this world that you don't ever mess with. One of them happens to be another man's fries."

The overlapping lyrics at the end of this song are a highlight of not only just this song, but the entire decade of the 90s.

5) "Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth With Money In My Hand" by Primitive Radio Gods

I can't name one other song by this band off the top of my head.  I'm certain one of my friends had the CD and I listened to it, but this is the only song that stood out- and it is a doozy.  I believe the sample in this song is of B.B. King and I still listen to this song regularly to calm myself during particularly stressful days.  The piano solo seems awfully improvised, and it works well within the framework of the song.

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Like I said, this list is impossible and ever-changing.  The point is, the 90s was a great decade for music and I love reminiscing about the great songs from back then.  It brings nostalgia to the forefront of my brain... in a great way.  Stay tuned for more songs and bring your list to the party in the comments.

90s Rock: Silverchair

Silverchair was a kick-ass 90s band that I loved when I was growing up.  I not only enjoyed their music, but I very much enjoyed the concept of a few 16 year-olds making it big in the music industry.  Daniel Johns is a great songwriter that tends to investigate pop/rock songs in a very dirty/heavy way.  Let's look at some of their sweet jams.

"Israel's Son" - The opening track of "Frogstomp" is a great way to get the blood flowing. A slow, plodding bass line builds to explosion once the verse pops in. I could almost see a WWE Wrestler coming out to this song.



"Tomorrow" - It would be difficult to do a Silverchair post without including their biggest hit. This song makes virtually no sense lyrically, but it is catchy as all hell and is just as much fun to listen to now as it was back in the 90s.



"Shade" - Depending on who you talk to, "Shade" could be highly under OR over rated. It was never a huge hit, but this song seems to have a cult following of sorts. The D minor hammer-on chord to start the song is fucking money. Does anyone care to explain how a teenager has such a deep sing voice?



"Slave" - Opening the album "Freak Show" in similar fashion to "Israel's Son," "Slave" puts a nice metal twist on Silverchair's signature grungy sound. These teenagers were angry!!! The chorus reminds me of something Filter would have done.



"Freak" - More dark lyrics from a brooding teenagers, but this song is oddly catchy. Regardless of immaturity at the time, the talent does show right through. They must have had a lot of fun touring with these songs.



"Roses" - This is probably as close as Silverchair comes to imitating Nirvana (more "In Utero" style.) The verse riff is dirty and the chorus is catchy with a rock/metal flavor. Very underrated tune.



"Ana's Song" - This was another decent size hit back in the late 90s. I believe it references Johns' fight with anorexia, but who knows? What I do know, is that this song is awesome!



"Emotion Sickness" - So after listening to all that dirty rock, watch them bring the string section along for this excellent song. "Neon Ballroom" is definitely where the band begins to mature as musicians and people. Not to say I don't enjoy their early work more, but you can see them reach another level of musicianship on this record.



So there you go- Silverchair is the band of the day here. Have any favorite songs that I missed? Let me know in the comments.

90s Rock: Nirvana

Here is a post from my old blog. Nirvana is one of the corner stones of 90s rock, so they deserve a mention over here. Leave your favorite songs in the comments, if you so desire.

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On April 5, 1994, Kurt Cobain took his own life and robbed the world of any further musical genius that he had to offer.  (Obviously, it's more important that he wasn't there to raise his daughter, but since I didn't know him personally, this is about the music.)  I can't believe he's been dead for 17 years.  Considering how repetitively I listened to Nirvana albums during my formative years, it still feels like Cobain's legacy lives on through his smaller-than-it-should-be song collection.  Let's look at some of my favorite songs (this may or may not include their biggest hits):


"Blew" - The first track off their "Bleach" album.  This song rocks in a dirty punky way, but also shows the obvious potential for catchy songs they were about to put out a few years later on "Nevermind." 



"Aneurysm" - I'm going to talk about "Incesticide" first because a lot of these tracks were recorded before "Nevermind" even though the physical album was released afterward. This song has multiple phases and is very well written. The "She keeps it pumping straight to my heart" portion of the song is a fine climax to cap off a great tune.



"Drain You" - I'm totally stoked that I found the video I wanted for this song. It's from MTV Live in 1992. Kurt has pink hair and they rock this song. It has pop sensibility with a grungy build up in the final third of the song. This might be one of the most underrated tracks they ever released as it was never a huge hit, but really is one of their best.



"Lithium" - Ok, besides the fact that this song is unbelievably awesome, here is another video that I'm excited to find. Dana Carvey intros the band at the 1992 MTV Music Video Awards. Kurt plays a few bars of "Rape Me" to give MTV execs a heart-attack, then goes on to play a killer version of "Lithium." Of course, the cherry on top is when bassist Krist Noveselic throws his bass in the air and hits himself in the face. IN THE FACE!



"Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" - This song is also highly underrated. For anyone who complains about "In Utero," just chill. The album is full of great songs. Sure, it's less pop-y than "Nevermind" but it's a great album none-the-less. If you want to rock, then look no further than this song.



"Heart Shaped Box" - I'm trying to balance some singles in to this post along with some of the lesser known tracks. This song is obviously one of their big singles. It's still awesome, and holds up well in 2011.



"On A Plain" (Unplugged) - The whole "Unplugged In New York" album is just amazing. Seeing a band that naturally loves to rock with punk/grunge riffs as the backbone of their music then go completely acoustic is interesting. Seeing them make that transition into something wholly beautiful is a whole other ball game. It's hard to pick specific tracks, but I do love this song.



"Where Did You Sleep Last Night" - A Leadbelly cover tune (from 1944 no less) that seems appropriate to be the closer to this post. Nirvana transformed music for the better. It's unfortunate that Kurt Cobain is gone, but their music will live on for generations to come.

90s Rock: Toad The Wet Sprocket

First, I'd like to give a big shout out to Kevin Correia for showing his true self last night.  Would you like to see his stat line?  Of course you would!

2 IP, 10 H, 8 ER, 2 K

There it is.  That's Correia we all know and love from his days in San Francisco.  However, I digress...

Toad The Wet Sprocket is a great band.  They bring great songs to life with Glen Phillips' smooth vocals and fantastically poppy musical arrangements.  If anything, they are a bit underrated as a band.  Also, as it turns out, they are playing in Sacramento on August 18.  Dick Tracy and I may make it out, but nothing has been set in stone.  Let's look at some of their best tunes.

"All I Want" - One of their seminal hits, this song is a perfect template for effective songwriting.  Minor key verse, relative major key chorus, transitional key bridge in the middle- songwriting like this hits clean-up and drives in runs.



"Walk On The Ocean" - Another one of Toad's more popular songs, the bass line really stands out here. Also, the subtle mandolin (I think it's a mandolin) in the chorus brings a certain grandness to the song that I very much enjoy.



"Crowing" - I would guess that most people feel that "Dulcinea" is Toad's best record. It would be hard to disagree with that. The album is great top to bottom. One of my favorite songs on the record is this one. I found a video of them playing the song live at the Saratoga Winery in 2009. Thanks to the fan who got this video!



"Something's Always Wrong" - How great is this fucking song?! It's pretty damn great. The video is also excellent as it spoofs the Home Shopping Network. The price on buy Toad The Wet Sprocket goes from $339 ($399 retail!) all the way down to three easy payments of $29.99! What a deal. You can also buy a penance rope for $29, if you happen to be the albino priest from "The Da Vinci Code."



"Windmills" - This one of the most relaxing songs of all time. I'll put it on when I'm stressed or just need a relaxing 3+ minutes. It always does the trick. The fretless bass is money.



"Come Down" - The first single off of "Coil," this is just another one of Toad's poppy hits. They seem to have unlimited amounts of this type of friendly sounding songs. That last sentence was the worst! (But hopefully you understood my point.)



"Dam Would Break" - The hammer-on D minor chord that starts this song is just perfect. I know I've talked a lot about the music theory that underpins their songwriting, but it is all worth mentioning. It really goes to show how underrated this band actually is. I may have just talked myself into going to the show on August 18!



Did I miss your favorite Toad song? Are you mad that I didn't mention "Fall Down?" Well, there- I mentioned it! Hopefully you enjoy their music as much as I do. Rock on fellas!

90s Rock: Miscellaneous

We all know there are plenty of bands from the 90s that may deserve a mention, but probably do not deserve an entire post written about them.  The Toadies are one such band (even though I did write a post about them awhile back on my other, less anonymous blog.)  So here are some solid tunes from the bands that did not make it to the upper echelon of 90s bands that I enjoy (Nirvana, STP, Pearl Jam, Oasis, AIC, Smashing Pumpkins, etc.) 

Tonic - "Casual Affair"

Tonic comes close to getting their own post, and I'm not saying I'll never flesh out their catalog a bit further, but this song deserves extra special mention because it fucking RAWKS!  Seriously.  The intro is a dirty blues-based hammer and pull on the E string riff that I never get sick of.  If you don't like this, you don't like 90s rock!



Dishwalla - "Counting Blue Cars"

I think most people recognize and enjoy this song. Minor key verse with a soaring chorus. Standard songwriting that will get the job done a majority of the time. I very much enjoy the rest of the "Pet Your Friends" record, but this is the song that really put Dishwalla on the map.



Verve Pipe - "Photograph"

I know everyone knows them from the remixed version of "The Freshman" that wasn't even on the original "Villians" album, but how great is this song?! It was the first single off "Villians" and the organ and bass really shine on this track to create quite the catchy tune. (Apparently not that popular as this was one of the most difficult times I've had finding a decent version of the song on YouTube.)



K's Choice - "Not An Addict"

Just because I jam with the drummer that originally recorded this song, does not make me bias!!! I actually saw them open for Tonic and Verve Pipe in Chicago at the Vic when I was in high school. I bought the CD shortly after and it's quite good. I don't always enjoy women singers, but when I do, I prefer K's Choice.



Lit - "Miserable"

And because you deserve a video featuring Pam Anderson from the 90s, here is Lit's "Miserable." That's a huge bitch! I always preferred this song over "My Own Worst Enemy," but both are pretty good songs to rock out to.



That's it for me today. I hope you enjoyed these great songs from moderately popular 90s bands.

90's Rock: Third Eye Blind

I can't believe I haven't taken a look back at these guys before today!  While they did not make my Top 10 list yesterday, I have always like Third Eye Blind quite a bit.  This could stem from the time I met them after they opened for Oasis in San Francisco (this was before they were signed and a year before their debut album was released.)  It could be simply because they have very accessible and catchy hooks to their brand of alternative rock.  Either way, they are the subject of today's look back at the 90's. 

"Losing A Whole Year" - There's really no where else to start.  I love this song.  It's a great opening song that perfectly introduces listeners to 3EB's first record.  I'm not one for bands that rely a lot on streaming lyrics/pseudo-rapping, but these guys could be the exception (and O.A.R. to some extent.)  Anyway, here's a live performance from the Fillmore in 2007:



"Semi-Charmed Life" - I don't always highlight bands' biggest singles, but this one gets a nod because my band in high school used to cover this tune, quite successfully I might add. Has a song about massive drug addiction and dirty sex acts ever sounded as happy as this? I think not:



"Thanks A Lot" - I've always been a sucker for this song. I remember identifying this as a favorite the very first time I saw them. When I mentioned that to their bass player, Arion Salazar, he took it as a huge compliment. He also then went on to promote his other band. I guess even he didn't realize how big Third Eye Blind was about to blow up.



"Motorcycle Drive By" - I have yet to find someone who dislikes this song. It could be their best. I'm not going to lie, for those of you who know my true identity and own my recent CD, track 7 was pretty heavily influenced by this song. When I wrote the tune, it didn't start out that way, but at some point I recognized the similarity and rode with it. I'll continue to enjoy "Motorcycle Drive By" for years to come.



"Wounded" - This use of harmonics and delay on this song is just fantastic. I remember picking this song as a favorite the day their second album, "Blue," was released. It remains one of their best.



"1000 Julys" - This is 3EB's attempt at being AC/DC. This song is obviously influenced by "Back In Black." Rip off or not, I still enjoy it. The song rocks and brings me right back to 1999.



"Slow Motion" (WITH LYRICS) - In one of the greatest puss moves by a record label in the 1990s, "Blue" was released with an instrumental version of this song because of the blood, gun, and drug references throughout the song. You see, the Columbine, CO incident had occurred within the same year and the label felt like this song could lead to another similar incident (I made that up, but seriously, slap a Parental Advisory sticker on the record and chill the fuck out.) Here's a fan made video that features the song as it should have been released.



"Forget Myself" - This is a bonus song. It was released in 2003 and I received this CD as a gift for my college graduation. I immediately loved this song. I imagine the lyrics are somewhat referencing Stephen Jenkins' relationship with actress Charlize Theron. It's worth a listen and I even found a full band acoustic version that I had never heard before. It's great:



For as long as they've been around, my biggest complaint is their lack of albums. It seems like Third Eye Blind takes a LONG ASS time to come out with a record, but when they do, I typically enjoy the results. Another great 90's band that really takes me back.

90s Rock: Soundgarden

While Stone Temple Pilots' "Purple" was the first CD I owned, Soundgarden's "Superunknown" was CD numero dos.  That being said, for whatever reason I don't have the deep knowledge of all their songs as I do with other 90s Alternative bands.  I'm sure I can come up with a respectable list, but make sure you add in anything I may have missed.

"Rusty Cage" - Let's start with a sick number that even Johnny Cash covered before he passed away. The guitar is frantic and Chris Cornell shows off the kind of vocals the rest of the world was in store for when listening to Soundgarden. Check the tape:



"Outshined" - Another single off of "Badmotorfinger," this song has slivers of pop influence in between the rock. You can hear that the band wants to kick ass, but still has a very adept songwriting ability.



"Let Me Drown" - Now we're fucking talking! This could be my favorite Soundgarden song of all time. It is a perfect opener for the record (and probably for shows as well.) It wasn't a single, but this song kicks motherfucking ass. It seriously makes me want to mosh right now.



"Limo Wreck" - Another lesser known song off of "Superunknown." "Limo Wreck" plods along until you Chris Cornell belts out his signature high notes that send shivers down many a 30-40 year old.



"Fell On Black Days" - This was actually a single- a dark single, but a single nonetheless. Everything about this song is fantastic. The instrumentation is great, the singing is great, it is quite a flawless song.



"The Day I Tried To Live" - Hey, I know everyone likes "Black Hole Sun" or "Spoonman" and while those are great songs, I prefer to listen to these every time if given an either/or choice. By the time Chris Cornell goes call and response with himself in the chorus, my ears thank my brain for decided to put this song on. So sick.



"Burden In My Hand" - This is probably my favorite song from "Down On The Upside." Check out this acoustic version done by Chris Cornell at a solo show. Mind blowing.



"Preaching The End Of The World" - I know, I know. This isn't even Soundgarden. The song is fucking awesome and pretty appropriate considering all the Rapture and Mayan prediction talk. Who knew there was an official video for this song? Not me, that's for sure.



I hope you enjoyed a look back at another great band from the 90s.

90s Rock: Foo Fighters

This is archived from my previous blog.

In honor of the Foo Fighters' album release yesterday (the album is good people!), I'm going to take a look at the songs they made in the 90s.  Just like Horatio Sanz in "Step Brothers" singing only "80s Joel," I do NOT want to hear about how I left off "Times Like These" or "The Pretender."  90s Foos only!

"This Is A Call" - The first single and first track from the first CD that Dave Grohl ever released under the name Foo Fighters.  I was instantly a fan, although the vocals could go a little higher in the mix for my taste.  Other than that- it's a rocking song that was a great way to lead off Grohl's career as "not just Nirvana's drummer."



"I'll Stick Around" - Now, if you thought "This Is A Call" rocked... then this one was an absolute treat as it rocks even harder! Dave Grohl yelling "I don't owe you anything!" is sweet. Many believe that line is aimed at Courtney Love, and I like to believe that is the case.



"For All The Cows" - What's that? You wanted the video with them doing a fake Mentos commercial? Go look it up on YouTube then! This is an underrated jam from the first record. I'm pretty certain we used this song in a video my friends and I made for our Freshman Biology in high school. I don't even remember what the video was about, but I remember this song being in there- you can tell where my head was in high school.



"Monkey Wrench" - After all the success of the first record, it was time to go record a new record with the new band Dave Grohl had assembled. This was the first single out of the shoot- and it is so fricken' awesome I don't have a great way of describing it. I was blown away when I first heard it.



"My Hero" - Varsity Blues anyone?



"Hey, Johnny Park" - Another one of those underrated tracks. I know it got some radio play, but this song crushes harder than a savage hangover after a night of drinking Wild Turkey.



"Gimme Stitches" - This wasn't a single, but I love the groove with the guitars hitting on the backbeat. Well done again, Mr. Grohl.



"Stacked Actors" - Yeah, I'm staying away from the singles of their third album because I love the "deep tracks" so much. I used to listen to this song a ton in my dorm room Freshman year of college. Foo Fighters is probably at their best with lighter verses, a build up, then a savage rocking chorus. This song is textbook FF's.



"Aurora" - I love this intro and the song is extremely well written. Again, we're looking at a softer verse with a livelier chorus.



There are plenty of songs that could have been on this list. "Walking After You," "Learn To Fly," "Alone + Easy Target," "Breakout" and so many others. The point is, Foo Fighters are great and it's nice to see that they have still retained their rock base sound unlike many other bands from the 90s who have lost their ability to re-create their signature rock songs from that decade (cough*Radiohead*cough.) I'm all for experimentation, but sometimes it's nice to see bands slide back into their original songs like an old pair of jeans.

90s Rock: Stone Temple Pilots Deeper Tracks

Since I'm going to see STP in Reno this Friday, I figured I'd go back into their catalog and look at lesser known tracks.  I've already posted about them earlier, but their 90s concoctions are fantastic and deserve a closer look.

"Dead And Bloated" - I'm really hoping they open with this song.  I know it was a mild single, but it never reached popularity of other singles on "Core."  This is probably as close as STP gets to Alice In Chains.  This song has the AIC type vibe. 



"Sin" - Creepy intro that builds into a full blown rock and roll fest. Believe it or not, this was pretty racy stuff for the early 90s! This grainy live version from 1993 gives me chills.



"Naked Sunday" - You want to see a crazy drugged out motherfucker? Check out Scott Weiland at the Reading Festival in 1993. This dude unleashes the siren on his megaphone at the beginning of the song. That megaphone was fully utilized on "Core."



"Unglued" - What a rockin' song! This song kicks fucking ass. I found a live performance on Letterman which leads me to believe they were going to try to release it as a single, but it never caught on. Get past the Christmas wishes and sink your teeth into the good part of the video!



"Pretty Penny" - These guys were so popular that they played "Pretty Penny" on the MTV Awards in '94. The song is badass, but you have to be a HUGE band to talk your way into playing a non-single and decorating the stage in lava lamps on an award show.



"Silvergun Superman" - Yeah, I could for some of this on Friday.



"Pop's Love Suicide" - A poppy-er entry into their catalog, but certainly not suicide. This song rocks, though it is clear that Dean DeLeo got a brand new pedal he was infatuated with that does not sound as cool as the guitar tones used on their first two records.



"Ride The Cliche" - I like this song. The verse riff reminds me of something Aerosmith would rock and the chorus is solid STP. Very underrated tune.



"Heaven and Hotrods" - Structured in similar fashion to "Ride The Cliche" but this song is well worth your time to take a listen. It is easy to forget exactly how awesome these guys are, and I'm finally glad I'm able to see them this Friday.

90s Rock: Blink-182

Admittedly, I'm not currently the biggest Blink fan in the world.  However, much of my freshman year of college was spent listening to these guys, so I can definitely come up with a respectable list.  Let's get it on:

"Dammit" - This song has to be on the list.  It's their first single and brought them from the underground to pop/punk mainstream radio.  Watching the video is crucial because it is hilarious to realize that Blink used to have a drummer not named Travis Barker.  Sorry no name drummer- the studio executives found a ringer and you're out of the band!



"Josie" - Obviously, Blink-182's sound would be completely different if they didn't have both Mark and Tom singing. They harmonize well together and trade off singing the main lines and/or songs. This song shows of Mark's underrated vocals (which I prefer to Tom's even though Tom has had more post-Blink success.) These guys definitely relate to teenagers and young adults in a way that few other bands do.



"Adam's Song" - I'll pick one single from "Enema of the State" to mention and this is the one. This actually shows off Blink's talent for writing serious songs. This song is serious on lyrical and musical levels and very well done. Again, this is another one where Mark takes the lead. Fantastic song.



"Dysentery Gary" - Any song that mentions diarrhea has to make this list. "He's a player, diarrhea giver, tries to grow his hair out 'cause his friends are listening to Slayer." Hilarious! This is actually a pretty well written song as well, including the hilarious lyrics.



"Anthem" - "Home show, Mom won't know!" Awesome. Let me tell you from experience, Mom will likely find out about such shenanigans! However, it's still a fun premise for this song. Great use of bass and guitar together- inverted chords are the fucking best! Great song!



"Mutt" - My personal favorite song by Blink. Whether this reminds you of getting laid in college or of Jason Biggs running through the neighborhood to get back to Shannon Elizabeth in time to prematurely nut twice on neighborhood interweb camera, this song rocks. Here's a live version with funny commentary on the song by the band:



BONUS: A non-90s tune - "Online Songs"

This song calls out Josie for being a cheating whore! It's a great pop/punk jam. In fact, Blink mostly stays true to their roots while occasionally throwing in touching and serious songs for good measure.



After doing this post, I actually have somewhat rekindled my enjoyment of Blink-182! It reminded me of the good old times in college when I was coming into my own. Blink does a great job of representing the naive or ignorant times of growing up, and that is their greatest appeal. Fuckin' great stuff Tom, Mark, Travis, and the drummer that was kicked out so no one will ever know his name off the top of their head.

90s Rock: Matchbox 20

This might be a debatable inclusion to my 90s Rock posts.  However, before Rob Thomas began practicing pop voodoo with Santana, he was in a band called Matchbox 20 (they prefer to be called "Matchbox Twenty" these days, but when they started out they used the digits.)  You all are familiar whether or not you admit it publicly- you probably like a few of their songs.  Their first album especially is a well put together, cohesive record.  Let's look at some of the favorite tunes from their 90s years (first two albums.)

"Push" - The first single that started their career going down the multi-platinum path.  It's catchy, but very rock oriented and almost angry.  Maroon 5 should just cut MB20 a check for 5% of all their royalties.



"Long Day" - My personal favorite Matchbox 20 song. I seem to love songs that start out acoustic and build to rock hard. It's hard to argue that this song isn't fantastic.



"3AM" - Including this one because it's a decent song and because Rob Thomas' old band Tabitha's Secret sued MB20 for releasing the song. Thomas co-wrote it with members of his former band and had even previously released the song. I had to go to Wikipedia to get the dirt:

Matchbox Twenty's first album, Yourself or Someone Like You contained the song "3 A.M." This song was written and performed as Tabitha's Secret, and was released on the band's self-titled/self-published cassette EP. Stanley and Goff sued Matchbox Twenty claiming fiduciary breach of contract and sued Serletic and his attorney for tortious interference. This lawsuit lasted five years and was settled out of court in 2000.



"Argue" - I really like this non-single from "Yourself Or Someone Like You." The muted electric guitar in the verse with another guitar layering over the top is gorgeously done.



"Bent" - The first single off of their 2nd album "Mad Season" is one dirty little number. The soaring guitars and minor key verse build toward a poppy chorus. It's like they are holding the masses' ears hostage.



"Last Beautiful Girl" - Breaking away from their habit of using one or two word titles, this song puts on a clinic for pop music songwriters. Breaking ankles and dropping dimes the whole way through this song and adding a rocking bridge. What more do you want?



"Disease" - What's that? I broke my 90s-ish rule? Deal with it, asshole! This song is kick-ass! Something about it reminds me of the Rolling Stones, which is confusing because at face value it's nothing like the Stones at all. I really can't explain why I feel that way, but I will say that I am not ashamed to enjoy this song.



In some respect, I shouldn't glorify this band. They probably gave an assist to guiding grunge era out to pasture, but if you're looking for pop/rock- they definitely have some quality tunes to listen to.

90s Rock: Stone Temple Pilots

Archived post from my previous blog:

Stone Temple Pilots "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned.  I got it in 7th grade and listened to it over and over and over... To this day, it is still a phenomenal album that I love to queuing up from time to time.  STP is still going in between Scott Weiland's drug episodes and while their music is definitely not as strong these days, their old hits from the 90s crush most of today's rock music.  Let's examine their 90's collection (focusing on their first 3 albums.)  As always, I may include the singles or I may not- I'll do what I want!

"Wicked Garden" - This song just straight up rocks.  I know it was a single, but it probably doesn't have the same notoriety as "Plush" or "Creep."  The build up to get to "Burn, burn, burn- burn your wicked garden down" is candy to my trick or treating ears.  This song has serious balls.



"Plush" - One of my favorite songs to play myself, this is such a well written song. The acoustic version I'm posting is so sweet (with an intro by Riki Rachtman!) It really shows how versatile this song actually is.



"Piece of Pie" - Picking a non-single is tough, but this song is so dirty that I had to go with it. It's as if this song should've come from Alice In Chains. Here's a live performance from 2000.



"Meatplow" - And we're at the "Purple" album. I love the singles off this record, but you will find none on this list. There are three songs that need mention that were never released as singles. This is the first. I actually played this song for the Craigslist buyer of my old guitar amp. He immediately recognized it and bought the amp. He probably got good value too, but the point is that this song has magical powers.



"Still Remains" - This is one twisted love song. One of my favorite songs of all time. I always find this line funny: "Take a bath I'll drink the water that you leave." Nothing says love like drinking someone's used bathwater. At least, that's what STP taught me.



"Army Ants" - The drum solo around 3:20 is one of my favorites ever. "Fall in those single file lines, like army ants." So awesome.



"Big Bang Baby" - This album is where the choice of guitar distortion gets a little weaker, in my opinion. However, this song is a lot of fun and it's definitely worth a listen.



"Lady Picture Show" - It was between this one and "Trippin' On A Hole In A Paper Heart." I chose this one because it's a little softer and the use of 7th chords is agreeable to the ears. Check out this performance from '97.



"Down" - No. 4 made it out at the tail end of 1999, so it barely makes the cut. This was the first single off the album and it brings back the dirtier guitar distortion. This song keeps it real.



I know there are plenty of other great songs from this great band. What say you? Was STP one of your first CDs too? Ever shoot heroin with Scott Weiland? Feel free to leave your favorite STP songs or memories in the comments.

90s Rock: Weezer

At first, I really wasn't into the geek rock that Weezer brought to the table in the 90s.  However, it grew on me and now I can say I'm a fan.  Rivers Cuomo is an underrated guitar player and a fantastic songwriter.  Here are some of my favorite songs of theirs from the 90s. 

"Undone (The Sweater Song)" - This got it started for Weezer.  Their first true single/hit off of their self-titled "blue" album.  The dissonant 7th chords used give this song a trippy feel- in a good way.



"My Name Is Jonas" - The opening track to the "blue" album that is so much fun to listen to.  This has to be one of my favorite Weezer songs due to all the different phases this song has- phases that are perfectly strung together. 



"Only In Dreams" - A soft song that builds up in a way that demands attention. The subtle harmonies go largely unnoticed but add so much to the song. Definitely a great Weezer track.



"Pink Triangle" - A song about a lesbian that isn't responsive to a hetero guy's advances?! Sign me up! This song shows off Weezer's sense of humor. Then again, I think Rivers might be serious in this song and speaking from experience. Either way, though.



"Across The Sea" - From lesbians to Japanese girls- Rivers has quite the issues with girls- which is fine because it leads to songs like this.



"The Good Life" - I think this was a single that didn't necessarily catch on. Very catchy tune though. Really great tune from "Pinkerton." That record was late to be appreciated to the level it should have been.



Weezer is a solid band from the 90s. I'm well aware I left off "Say It Ain't So" and "Buddy Holly" but you didn't need me to give those songs props. They're both solid (though possibly still overplayed- I heard "Buddy Holly" on the radio yesterday.) Rock on your nerdy assholes!

Quick add- "Susanne" from the "Mallrats" soundtrack- great tune!

90s Rock: Nine Inch Nails

Wednesdays will be reserved for 90s rock nostalgia. This week, we'll start with Nine Inch Nails- enjoy:

Trent Reznor is one angry dude- or at least he definitely was angry in the 1990s.  This was one band that my Mom was none to pleased to find in my music collection.  Whether Reznor was talking about fucking or finding happiness in slavery, these tunes were intense lyrically and sonically.  If I'm not mistaken, "Pretty Hate Machine" came out in 1989, but we're counting it as 90s because it is so damn good. Onward with a list of my favorite songs by NIN:

"Head Like A Hole" - One of the classic NIN songs from their catalog, this song combines metal with synthesizers to perfectly define "Industrial" music.  Not to mention that this song appeared on "Beavis and Butthead."



"Something I Can Never Have" - I'm putting this song on there as a great example of the range that NIN bring to the table. This is actually a dysfunctional ballad that showed the potential Reznor possessed (potential that was fully realized a few years later, but we'll get to that...)



"Wish" - These fuckers won a Grammy for this song! A Grammy! Best Metal Performance- look it up! This is the type of music I will request should I some day get confined in a "Jigsaw" trap.



"Happiness In Slavery" - This is essentially torture rock. You will never find this song on any jukebox not in a dominatrix den. Yes, the double negative was extremely intentional. Also, I'm posting their performance from Woodstock '94 when the full band came out covered in mud and rocked the fuck out of the crowd and the viewers at home (did anyone get this on PPV or watch tidbits on MTV back in the day?)



"Mr. Self Destruct" - This still is one of my favorite songs to put on while working out. The driving beat is motivational and helps me get through particularly difficult sessions at the gym. This is such a sick opening song for a record- well played, indeed.



"March Of The Pigs" - Another up tempo song that gets the blood pumping. Need to lift up a car while participating in a riot? Need to rip a radiator out of a wall? Need to survive a LA Dodgers game? This would be a great soundtrack to help you accomplish any of those feats.



"Hurt" - Yes, I admit, I skipped over a few essential tracks by NIN. Let me hear about it in the comments. A few songs ago, I mentioned Trent Reznor realizing his potential as a twisted ballad writer. Well, this is the song that gets it done. Perfectly laid out and extremely emotional. Johnny Cash's acoustic cover also demonstrates just how great this song is.  It has more layers than your average citizen of Minneapolis wears outside during a bitter winter's evening.



"The Big Come Down" - "The Fragile" barely makes the 90s cut, but this could be my favorite NIN tune. I once had the good fortune to see NIN sound-check this song to an almost empty venue. Trent Reznor turned to the rest of the band and said, "Let's rock the fuck out of this!" And they did exactly that. This song crushes everything in its path.



Nine Inch Nails are an important band to 90s rock. While they may not have "invented" Industrial music, they certainly gave it a defined style and identity. When you need to get in touch with your savage side or have ridiculously violent sex, just put on NIN and they'll show you the way.

Post #1

Fuck. 

Phew.  That felt excellent.  I may have become a robot in a similar fashion as "The Becoming" by Nine Inch Nails, but before my current state I was once a regular dude scared shitless to say anything remotely offensive (even if it wasn't actually offensive) on my former blog.  I'm hoping this format allows the freedom to be sarcastic, entertaining, and opinionated without worrying about consequences.  I'm not guaranteeing "Grade A" content all the time- hell no.  Far be it from me to promise that type of quality.  We're just going to have a good time and see what happens. 

So what will this blog be about?  Well, let me break it down:

- Sports: I love sports.  I'm a Chicago sports fan who does not live in Chicago.  I love all the teams except for the douche bags on the South Side.  I would say that Ozzie Guillen could lick my nutsack, but given his history of making out with guys... 

... I should definitely not offer that up.  He just might take me up on it.

- Fantasy Sports: Of course we'll talk fantasy baseball and fantasy football.  I stopped playing fantasy basketball because it sucks and have yet to get into fantasy hockey.  I may try it next year and recap the results here.  It will probably suck. 

- Music: I love 90s Alternative Rock.  We can talk about other types of music, but I will consistently guide the conversation back to Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Oasis, and other bands from that era.  90s Alt Rock kicks ass and if you don't like it, then you can probably just exit this blog right now and never come back. 

- Random Stories: You're still here?  Excellent.  Then I will recount random stories from my past.  Dumb activities from high school, Al Bundy-esque athletic tales, or just tales about motherfuckers I was unfortunate enough to meet at the grocery store.  You'll find them here with only one rule- DO NOT USE REAL NAMES.  That's it.  If you want to comment, you're obviously welcome to use your own real name, but don't use mine and respect the privacy of other commenters and jackasses that are involved in my stories. 

Truth be told, the format of the blog has yet to be fully formed.  As it takes shape, make suggestions or pass along ideas.  Just know that I'm the king of this castle and will rule this blog like Stalin.  I'm hoping to create fun atmosphere where folks waste a bit of their time every weekday.  We'll see how it goes...

Fuck.