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.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
My Top 10 Favorite Bands
This list is almost impossible to accurately materialize on paper. Bands come and go in similar fashion to College Football Teams on the various Top 25 rankings during the season. I am certain that my Top 10 Bands List has changed over the last year or two, so I figured it would be fun and informative (even to myself) to go through this exercise.
I know blogs are their most successful when they are open to debate, but it's hard to tell me that my own opinion of my favorite 10 bands is incorrect. Instead, bring your list to the comment section and then we can have a debate for interstellar domination.
Criteria - My criteria is simple- what bands do I continually listen to? What bands do I rarely, if ever, get sick of? I recently received an iPad for my birthday (savage!) and I put about 16 GB of music on the iPad out of the 82 GB that I have on my computer. What bands did I immediately place on the iPad without a second thought? These factors help indicate to myself what my favorite bands are. I'm highly aware that this is a very "in the moment" type list.
First, I'd like to give a shout out to Bright Eyes. Conor Oberst and crew once found themselves as high as #3 on this list and they will not make the Top 10 any longer. The songs are still good, but the recent Oberst solo albums and the newest Bright Eyes album has lost my interest quite a bit. Keep on rockin', but Ed Rapuano just pulled the trigger on strike three and you've been sent to the bench.
Honorable mention that missed the cut: The Beatles (I go through phases and they'll always be one of my favorites, but at the moment, I have not been spinning their tunes regularly), Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, and Guster.
#10 - The Killers
It's possible that no current band embodies the 1990s alternative rock sound more than The Killers. Brandon Flowers is an odd character, but the quality of their songwriting is hard to deny. If you're unfamiliar with them (trust me, you're not unfamiliar) start with "Hot Fuss" and rock track #1 "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine." You'll immediately know exactly how great this band is.
Favorite Tracks: "I Can't Stay," "Bones," "When You Were Young," "All These Things I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It."
#9 - Radiohead
Radiohead has fallen from their former spot in my Top 5 because of their recent album "King Of Limbs." I have yet to connect with that album as I have with all of their previous efforts. It is next to impossible for me to drop them from the Top 10 based on "The Bends" and "OK Computer" by themselves, and I enjoy the rest of their catalog a lot. They should watch themselves though. A guitar driven rock album next would garner much enjoyment from me and many other fans- the weather report on that possibility looks doubtful at best.
Favorite Tracks: "Just," "Airbag," "You," "Optimism," "There There," "Bodysnatchers."
#8 - Foo Fighters
Their new album is stellar. The new documentary I recently watched made me appreciate them even more. The ups and downs of the Foo Fighters have made them stronger and increased the quality of their music. I recently had a conversation debating (all moral issues aside) whether if you had the power to bring back Kurt Cobain and allow Nirvana to continue making music, would you sacrifice the entire Foo Fighters' catalog to do so (because Dave Grohl would have stayed with Nirvana had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide.) This obviously involves reincarnation and time travel, so it's impossible, but you get the idea. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would not risk the Foo Fighters' catalog over the potential music that Nirvana could have released. That is a strong statement for how good I think the Foos are.
Favorite Tracks: "This Is A Call," "For All The Cows," "Hey, Johnny Park," Stacked Actors," The Pretender," "The Walk."
#7 - Oasis
Oasis has been broken up for awhile, and I think we can agree that their later albums aren't quite as good as their earlier products. However, "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" will always remain as two of my favorite albums ever. Noel Gallagher is an amazing songwriter who has massively influenced me as a musician. Now if only they could stop bickering with each other and go back to telling Damon Albarn that they hope he would "catch AIDS and die," well- then maybe they'd start making great music again.
Favorite Tracks: "Slide Away," "Live Forever," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Cast No Shadow," "Don't Go Away," "Talk Tonight."
#6 - Muse
Muse is another band that's dropped a few spots on my list recently, but they remain one of the best live acts touring these days. If you get a chance to see them, do it! You won't regret it. They are amazing. Mixing tons of MIDI tracks with their amazing musicianship is no small feat. Their overall sound mixes classical music with metal with pop with alternative. It creates quite the tasty stew. And does anyone ever get sick of the song "Uprising?" I think not.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunburn," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Hysteria," "Endlessly," "Starlight," "Knights of Cydonia," Uprising," "Plug In Baby," and so many more. These "favorite tracks" are impossible!
#5 - The Damnwells
This is a band on the rise for me, recently. The songwriting is just SO damn good. I made sure to grab their entire catalog immediately when I got the iPad and I never get sick of listening to them. I know they are a lesser know band, but I'm hoping they gain traction and make it bigger. In the meantime, I'm going to see them in San Francisco next Thursday at a small club and I'm pretty excited about it. I highly recommend checking them out- start with "Air Stereo" and go from there.
Favorite Tracks: "Soundtrack," "Werewolves," "Louisville," "Golden Days," "Electric Harmony," No One Listens To The Band Anymore."
#4 - Wilco
Still one of the best around, Wilco rocks. I went to see them for my birthday a couple years ago and they were as good as ever live. They are putting out a new album in September and I can't wait. The only thing about Wilco is that their music is not as easily accessible as other bands on this list. It takes work to actively listen to their music. Once you get it, though, it's totally worth the effort. Does this make Wilco fans pretentious assholes? Maybe. But count me among them.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunken Treasure," "She's A Jar," "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "Jesus, Etc.," Theologians," "Walken," "You Never Know," "You And I."
#3 - O.A.R.
This band has exploded up my personal enjoyment list. I agree there newer stuff is breaking away from their earlier roots a bit, but I enjoy almost all of it. In fact, their music typically can put me in a better mood. This is amazing from a band that is from Ohio State (which thinking about their dirty football program usually puts me in a worse mood.) I have yet to see them live, but I plan to as soon as they come out West.
Favorite Tracks: "One Shot," "Crazy Game Of Poker," "Heard The World," "Right On Time," This Town," "Something Coming Over," and their new single (the acoustic version) "Heaven."
#2 - Stone Temple Pilots
Yeah, this has everything to do with me seeing them a few weeks ago. However, it really was such a shot of nostalgia that I have been listening to their music a TON since the show. In fact, it's driven me to listen to "Shang-ri-la-dee-da" and their newest self titled record, which I was less familiar with previously. Guess what? Those albums are amazing as well! They may drop in the rankings later, but for now they have moved way up there. No one can ever take away the fact that "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned, and I am proud of that fact.
Favorite Tracks: "Dead & Bloated," "Piece Of Pie," "Meatplow," "Still Remains," "Army Ants," "Big Bang Baby," "Down," "Black Again," "Hello, It's Late," "Hickory Dichotomy."
#1 - Crowded House
The still reigning champ is Neil Finn's band Crowded House. I've seen them live a number of times and their live shows are fantastic. Great music and great banter. The songwriting is really what wins me over. And Neil's voice could probably make a wolverine purr. It would be hard for any band to usurp Crowded House as my #1 favorite band and I'll continue recommending them until people finally give in and listen to them!
Favorite tracks: "Mean To Me," "Mansion In The Slums," "Better Be Home Soon," "Fall At Your Feet," "Locked Out," "In My Command," "Distant Sun," "Don't Stop Now," "Twice If You're Lucky," "Elephants."
So there it is. My favorite bands at the moment. I'm sure it will change in the future, but who doesn't love opinionated power rankings? I mean, if every sports website can create power rankings for every sport, I suppose I can for music, right? Let's hear your list in the comments.
I know blogs are their most successful when they are open to debate, but it's hard to tell me that my own opinion of my favorite 10 bands is incorrect. Instead, bring your list to the comment section and then we can have a debate for interstellar domination.
 | ||
| "How dare you not recognize Bon Iver?!" |
First, I'd like to give a shout out to Bright Eyes. Conor Oberst and crew once found themselves as high as #3 on this list and they will not make the Top 10 any longer. The songs are still good, but the recent Oberst solo albums and the newest Bright Eyes album has lost my interest quite a bit. Keep on rockin', but Ed Rapuano just pulled the trigger on strike three and you've been sent to the bench.
Honorable mention that missed the cut: The Beatles (I go through phases and they'll always be one of my favorites, but at the moment, I have not been spinning their tunes regularly), Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice In Chains, and Guster.
#10 - The Killers
It's possible that no current band embodies the 1990s alternative rock sound more than The Killers. Brandon Flowers is an odd character, but the quality of their songwriting is hard to deny. If you're unfamiliar with them (trust me, you're not unfamiliar) start with "Hot Fuss" and rock track #1 "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine." You'll immediately know exactly how great this band is.
Favorite Tracks: "I Can't Stay," "Bones," "When You Were Young," "All These Things I've Done," "Smile Like You Mean It."
#9 - Radiohead
Radiohead has fallen from their former spot in my Top 5 because of their recent album "King Of Limbs." I have yet to connect with that album as I have with all of their previous efforts. It is next to impossible for me to drop them from the Top 10 based on "The Bends" and "OK Computer" by themselves, and I enjoy the rest of their catalog a lot. They should watch themselves though. A guitar driven rock album next would garner much enjoyment from me and many other fans- the weather report on that possibility looks doubtful at best.
Favorite Tracks: "Just," "Airbag," "You," "Optimism," "There There," "Bodysnatchers."
#8 - Foo Fighters
Their new album is stellar. The new documentary I recently watched made me appreciate them even more. The ups and downs of the Foo Fighters have made them stronger and increased the quality of their music. I recently had a conversation debating (all moral issues aside) whether if you had the power to bring back Kurt Cobain and allow Nirvana to continue making music, would you sacrifice the entire Foo Fighters' catalog to do so (because Dave Grohl would have stayed with Nirvana had Kurt Cobain not committed suicide.) This obviously involves reincarnation and time travel, so it's impossible, but you get the idea. In the end, I came to the conclusion that I would not risk the Foo Fighters' catalog over the potential music that Nirvana could have released. That is a strong statement for how good I think the Foos are.
Favorite Tracks: "This Is A Call," "For All The Cows," "Hey, Johnny Park," Stacked Actors," The Pretender," "The Walk."
#7 - Oasis
Oasis has been broken up for awhile, and I think we can agree that their later albums aren't quite as good as their earlier products. However, "Definitely Maybe" and "(What's The Story) Morning Glory" will always remain as two of my favorite albums ever. Noel Gallagher is an amazing songwriter who has massively influenced me as a musician. Now if only they could stop bickering with each other and go back to telling Damon Albarn that they hope he would "catch AIDS and die," well- then maybe they'd start making great music again.
Favorite Tracks: "Slide Away," "Live Forever," "Don't Look Back In Anger," "Cast No Shadow," "Don't Go Away," "Talk Tonight."
#6 - Muse
Muse is another band that's dropped a few spots on my list recently, but they remain one of the best live acts touring these days. If you get a chance to see them, do it! You won't regret it. They are amazing. Mixing tons of MIDI tracks with their amazing musicianship is no small feat. Their overall sound mixes classical music with metal with pop with alternative. It creates quite the tasty stew. And does anyone ever get sick of the song "Uprising?" I think not.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunburn," "Stockholm Syndrome," "Hysteria," "Endlessly," "Starlight," "Knights of Cydonia," Uprising," "Plug In Baby," and so many more. These "favorite tracks" are impossible!
 |
| Beethoven would be jealous of Muse- if he could hear. |
This is a band on the rise for me, recently. The songwriting is just SO damn good. I made sure to grab their entire catalog immediately when I got the iPad and I never get sick of listening to them. I know they are a lesser know band, but I'm hoping they gain traction and make it bigger. In the meantime, I'm going to see them in San Francisco next Thursday at a small club and I'm pretty excited about it. I highly recommend checking them out- start with "Air Stereo" and go from there.
Favorite Tracks: "Soundtrack," "Werewolves," "Louisville," "Golden Days," "Electric Harmony," No One Listens To The Band Anymore."
#4 - Wilco
Still one of the best around, Wilco rocks. I went to see them for my birthday a couple years ago and they were as good as ever live. They are putting out a new album in September and I can't wait. The only thing about Wilco is that their music is not as easily accessible as other bands on this list. It takes work to actively listen to their music. Once you get it, though, it's totally worth the effort. Does this make Wilco fans pretentious assholes? Maybe. But count me among them.
Favorite Tracks: "Sunken Treasure," "She's A Jar," "Nothing'severgonnastandinmyway(again), "Heavy Metal Drummer," "Jesus, Etc.," Theologians," "Walken," "You Never Know," "You And I."
#3 - O.A.R.
This band has exploded up my personal enjoyment list. I agree there newer stuff is breaking away from their earlier roots a bit, but I enjoy almost all of it. In fact, their music typically can put me in a better mood. This is amazing from a band that is from Ohio State (which thinking about their dirty football program usually puts me in a worse mood.) I have yet to see them live, but I plan to as soon as they come out West.
Favorite Tracks: "One Shot," "Crazy Game Of Poker," "Heard The World," "Right On Time," This Town," "Something Coming Over," and their new single (the acoustic version) "Heaven."
#2 - Stone Temple Pilots
Yeah, this has everything to do with me seeing them a few weeks ago. However, it really was such a shot of nostalgia that I have been listening to their music a TON since the show. In fact, it's driven me to listen to "Shang-ri-la-dee-da" and their newest self titled record, which I was less familiar with previously. Guess what? Those albums are amazing as well! They may drop in the rankings later, but for now they have moved way up there. No one can ever take away the fact that "Purple" was the first CD I ever owned, and I am proud of that fact.
Favorite Tracks: "Dead & Bloated," "Piece Of Pie," "Meatplow," "Still Remains," "Army Ants," "Big Bang Baby," "Down," "Black Again," "Hello, It's Late," "Hickory Dichotomy."
#1 - Crowded House
The still reigning champ is Neil Finn's band Crowded House. I've seen them live a number of times and their live shows are fantastic. Great music and great banter. The songwriting is really what wins me over. And Neil's voice could probably make a wolverine purr. It would be hard for any band to usurp Crowded House as my #1 favorite band and I'll continue recommending them until people finally give in and listen to them!
Favorite tracks: "Mean To Me," "Mansion In The Slums," "Better Be Home Soon," "Fall At Your Feet," "Locked Out," "In My Command," "Distant Sun," "Don't Stop Now," "Twice If You're Lucky," "Elephants."
 |
| "We're awesome, but under-appreciated in the US!" |
Monday, July 18, 2011
That Was Quick
The weekend disappeared faster than the US Women's Soccer Team's chances against Japan at a World Cup Championship. That being said, it was a fairly productive weekend for me. Let's go to the highlights:
Friday:
I was scheduled to play in Danville from 8-11pm (I'm a musician- remember?) Across the way, there was a Michael Jackson cover band playing and there was no chance I could begin my solo acoustic solo until they were done because I was outside and their bass and drums would have ruined the music I would have put into the universe. So I waited...
And waited...
I texted Mrs. P. (she was not at the show) and informed her of the situation. At this point it was probably 8:30. Mrs. P. texted me back with a pretty hilarious text-
"Fuck MJ, he's dead."
Any question as to why I married her should be halted in it's tracks right there. Tangible evidence of her awesomeness was comically displayed right there.
I was able to begin around 8:45pm and since I had already lost part of the show to the potential child molesters on the main stage, I decided to play for as long as I could without a break. I made it until around 10:20, before taking a quick break. Then I finished out the show. I really, really love how the people of Danville tip in $5s, $10s, and $20s. It is absolutely amazing and I am very grateful!
Saturday:
I woke up early and went to the 10am Bobypump class at 24 Hour Fitness. In no way am I proud that I go to a 80-90% women's weight-training class 2 or 3 times per week, HOWEVER, it is a great work out. It is an hour long and hits all the muscle groups. As long as I adjust my weight appropriately, it is quite a strength training regiment that produces results.
I normally go to the classes in Sacramento, but since I was still in the East Bay, I went to Aimee's class in Concord. Mrs. P. and I have a joke about how much of a hard-ass Aimee is and she did not disappoint on Saturday. She corrected my set position before the class even started. That said, I do think she is my favorite teacher because she has a tough attitude about her, where some of the other teachers can be a little soft and cater toward weaker students. Feel free to make fun of me as needed. Just know I'm getting jacked, son!
Later that day I had a show in Concord. At some point in the middle of the show, I got in a groove and decided to play all the re-worked Pop and R&B songs I've ever learned all in a row. The set went like this:
Poker Face (with Disarm worked in at the end of the song)
Firework
Baby One More Time
Pony
Ignition (The Remix)
And it went on from there. It seemed to go over quite well with the crowd and the show gained even more momentum from that point. The people of Concord stepped up their tipping game as well and once again, I am extremely grateful! Another fun and productive show in the books.
Sunday:
I saw the end of the Women's World Cup Final and wow- that was a terrible game. I'm not sure why we as a nation or possibly as a world translate natural disasters into an attitude of, "Well, they deserved to win because xyz happened to their country." Natural disasters have less to do with sports than Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with his illegitimate children. Just because 9/11 happened to New York does not mean the Yankees deserve to win the World Series. Just because Katrina happened to New Orleans does not mean the Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl. And just because there are earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, does not mean the Japanese Women's Soccer Team deserves to win the World Cup. Believe me, when the Ice Age hits Green Bay, WI- I will NOT be cheering for the Packers to win the Super Bowl. I suppose it can be a good bonus to a sports story that the media will no doubt exploit, but no team deserves anything. Championships in sports are earned- not deserved.
The US Team blew a golden opportunity and, in my opinion, choked the game away. If it makes everyone feel better about the loss, then sure, you can believe that Japan had tsunami created angles above them guiding them to victory, but I'm going to guess mental lapses on defense and God-awful penalty kicks had more to do with the US losing than anything tsunami related.
The rest of Sunday (for the most part) I caught up on the World Series of Poker's "Live" broadcast on ESPN 2. I could see where some people are frustrated by the slow moving coverage, but I must say, I LOVE what they are doing this year. Instead of watching chopped up footage of every all-in hand of the tournament, we get to see how the tournament actually plays out. I don't know how some of those guys keep their cool in the face of slow moving opponents (like the guy with the Brazilian flag wrapped around himself- that lucky bastard needs to get knocked out ASAP.) Overall though, it is much more representative of how poker actually works.
I am also a huge fan of not being able to see the players' cards until after the conclusion of a hand that at least sees a flop. Trying to put players on hands is fun and interactive television. It's easy to be an armchair poker player when you see the hold cards the entire time, but much more gratifying when you call a hand or fully understand why a player is doing certain things without seeing their cards. This version of poker watching is much better.
Lastly, Antonio Esfandiari is a GREAT poker commentator. Totally enjoy listening to his thought process and he really gives insight into the game. He's the poker opposite of Joe Theismann's football commentating.
And that's pretty much it. It was a solid weekend, it just went by so quickly. What weekend doesn't go by too quickly, though?
Friday:
I was scheduled to play in Danville from 8-11pm (I'm a musician- remember?) Across the way, there was a Michael Jackson cover band playing and there was no chance I could begin my solo acoustic solo until they were done because I was outside and their bass and drums would have ruined the music I would have put into the universe. So I waited...
And waited...
I texted Mrs. P. (she was not at the show) and informed her of the situation. At this point it was probably 8:30. Mrs. P. texted me back with a pretty hilarious text-
"Fuck MJ, he's dead."
Any question as to why I married her should be halted in it's tracks right there. Tangible evidence of her awesomeness was comically displayed right there.
I was able to begin around 8:45pm and since I had already lost part of the show to the potential child molesters on the main stage, I decided to play for as long as I could without a break. I made it until around 10:20, before taking a quick break. Then I finished out the show. I really, really love how the people of Danville tip in $5s, $10s, and $20s. It is absolutely amazing and I am very grateful!
Saturday:
I woke up early and went to the 10am Bobypump class at 24 Hour Fitness. In no way am I proud that I go to a 80-90% women's weight-training class 2 or 3 times per week, HOWEVER, it is a great work out. It is an hour long and hits all the muscle groups. As long as I adjust my weight appropriately, it is quite a strength training regiment that produces results.
I normally go to the classes in Sacramento, but since I was still in the East Bay, I went to Aimee's class in Concord. Mrs. P. and I have a joke about how much of a hard-ass Aimee is and she did not disappoint on Saturday. She corrected my set position before the class even started. That said, I do think she is my favorite teacher because she has a tough attitude about her, where some of the other teachers can be a little soft and cater toward weaker students. Feel free to make fun of me as needed. Just know I'm getting jacked, son!
Later that day I had a show in Concord. At some point in the middle of the show, I got in a groove and decided to play all the re-worked Pop and R&B songs I've ever learned all in a row. The set went like this:
Poker Face (with Disarm worked in at the end of the song)
Firework
Baby One More Time
Pony
Ignition (The Remix)
 |
| "I'm guessing the ladies loved it." |
Sunday:
I saw the end of the Women's World Cup Final and wow- that was a terrible game. I'm not sure why we as a nation or possibly as a world translate natural disasters into an attitude of, "Well, they deserved to win because xyz happened to their country." Natural disasters have less to do with sports than Arnold Schwarzenegger has to do with his illegitimate children. Just because 9/11 happened to New York does not mean the Yankees deserve to win the World Series. Just because Katrina happened to New Orleans does not mean the Saints deserve to win the Super Bowl. And just because there are earthquakes and tsunamis in Japan, does not mean the Japanese Women's Soccer Team deserves to win the World Cup. Believe me, when the Ice Age hits Green Bay, WI- I will NOT be cheering for the Packers to win the Super Bowl. I suppose it can be a good bonus to a sports story that the media will no doubt exploit, but no team deserves anything. Championships in sports are earned- not deserved.
 |
| "But I worked SO hard on my project! I deserve an A!" |
The rest of Sunday (for the most part) I caught up on the World Series of Poker's "Live" broadcast on ESPN 2. I could see where some people are frustrated by the slow moving coverage, but I must say, I LOVE what they are doing this year. Instead of watching chopped up footage of every all-in hand of the tournament, we get to see how the tournament actually plays out. I don't know how some of those guys keep their cool in the face of slow moving opponents (like the guy with the Brazilian flag wrapped around himself- that lucky bastard needs to get knocked out ASAP.) Overall though, it is much more representative of how poker actually works.
I am also a huge fan of not being able to see the players' cards until after the conclusion of a hand that at least sees a flop. Trying to put players on hands is fun and interactive television. It's easy to be an armchair poker player when you see the hold cards the entire time, but much more gratifying when you call a hand or fully understand why a player is doing certain things without seeing their cards. This version of poker watching is much better.
Lastly, Antonio Esfandiari is a GREAT poker commentator. Totally enjoy listening to his thought process and he really gives insight into the game. He's the poker opposite of Joe Theismann's football commentating.
And that's pretty much it. It was a solid weekend, it just went by so quickly. What weekend doesn't go by too quickly, though?
Friday, July 15, 2011
MLB Marketing vs. The Herd
 |
| "I suck." |
I was listening to "The Herd" earlier (Lord knows why) and he was talking about how baseball "doesn't market their players" and how they have to "get with technology." All of this led to his conclusion that baseball is a poorly run sport and is losing popularity because of bad leadership in the commissioner's office. I agree with his end conclusion, but some of his points leading up to it were thin at best.
I suppose this was all brought about because Colin Cowherd attaches value of all things to TV ratings. It is his end all, be all measuring stick of popularity. He can't comprehend that keeping track of games via the internet or getting updates on someone's cell phone could detract from the TV ratings, but not affect the overall popularity. But like I said, his end point is correct- baseball is losing popularity and needs to do something to win fans back. First, let's look at the other points of his that I mentioned above.
"MLB doesn't market their players/stars." Ok.
That was Felix Hernandez in his own commercial. Yes, the same King Felix that won the Cy Young with a 13-12 record last year. How about this one?
Ubaldo Jimenez got his own commercial about how confusing his name is. He had a great first half last year, then faded and did not win the Cy Young award in the NL, yet he gets his own "Epic" commercial. Not enough?
You just went on a journey inside Brian Wilson's epic beard. In fact, I'd wager that Brian Wilson inspired the "Always Epic" ad campaign. My point is not that these commercials are great, my point is that baseball went out of its way to create commercials for Felix Hernandez, Ubaldo Jimenez, and Brian Wilson. Does this not show effort on MLB's part to market their players? Are they attempting to create stars? Brian Wilson may be better at marketing himself than MLB is (as evidence by Sportscenter and Baseball Tonight last night) but that doesn't mean that MLB is not aware that they need to create stars from their sport.
"MLB needs to get with technology." What the fuck, Cowherd? Get with technology? Are you serious? Between MLB Network, MLB.TV and MLB At-Bat, I believe MLB has the most accessible technology on the market for major sports. NFL Network is great and Red Zone is also great. However, The Sunday Ticket is limited to DirectTV so if you don't have that brand of cable (I do not) you are fucked. Also, I pay $100 every year to get almost EVERY SINGLE baseball game on my computer. The value there is staggering. The NFL product is great, but MLB is definitely technologically savvy and brings great value to the table. I'm pretty sure "getting with technology" is not their problem.
What is the problem? I honestly don't know for sure. For my part, I still love baseball. I watch a lot of it. The Cubs and my fantasy team sure aren't helping this year, but I can loosely follow the Giants and the rest of the league and enjoy the year. Baseball brings a consistent product to the table each and every day during the season. I love knowing there are games going on and even if I go work out or find something else to do besides watch TV, I'm always checking on scores from my phone because I care about baseball.
I agree, the sport could use some younger, more up-and-coming stars, and let's keep it real, Derek Jeter should have at least appeared at the All-Star game, but overall, I still very much enjoy the game. Now, if the commissioner's office could get out of their own way, maybe baseball could be brought to another level, but that could be wishful thinking.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Brian Wilson - Yay Or Nay?
 |
| So, uh, that happened. |
For example, in the pre-interviews with Joe Buck and Tim McCarver before the All-Star game, he told them that when he was younger he worked as a gravestone shifter. Riiight. He reset gravestones that had shifted over time. I'm going to need a bit of proof before I believe the most sarcastic man in baseball. Apparently, Tim McCarver thought to himself, "This seems like an honest gentleman- I totally believe that story!" because he mentioned it during the broadcast when Wilson was brought in the game in the 9th inning.
 |
| "Rest... In... Peace..." |
 |
| Cue George Lopez's horrible and out of place Sponge Bob jokes. |
I will say this, for me, it is losing steam. True, I laughed at his spandex suit from the ESPYs last night. However, his antics are getting a little stale. Maybe "The Franchise" will change that. Maybe it will make them even worse. I think he may want to take a break or up the ante in some form or fashion. I'd be interested to hear how the rest of the country views B-Weezy.
Then again, if he leads the Giants to another World Series title, he can pretty much do whatever he wants. Maybe even another video like this:
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
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.
"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.
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.
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