My Sunday Song – “Do You Love Me” by Guster

For My Sunday Song #52, I have gone with the peppy little jaunt called “Do You Love Me” by the band Guster.  The song is from the 2010 album called ‘Easy Wonderful’ which was their sixth studio album.  The song is their biggest hit which reached #9 on the Adult Album Alternative chart.  They have not had a Hot 100 hit.

For those out there that don’t know Guster, they are an American alternative rock band.  They are also labeled as a Jangle Pop band.  Jangle pop is defined as follows (per wikipedia)…

Jangle pop is a subgenre of pop rock that emphasizes trebly, ringing guitars (usually twelve-string electrics) and pop melodies reminiscent of those from the 1960s.

That definition would describe this song.  What I love about the song is twofold.  First, the music and melodies of the song are so catchy, poppy and just plain fun.  You can’t help but feel good when you hear the song.  It is very infectious.

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Friday New Releases – August 11th

Happy Friday!  My busy season is just a couple weeks from being over and I can’t wait.  I need some new music to get me through it, but it is a very weak week.  Well, all except for one and it is highlighted in Blue.  I hope there is something for you.  Luckily I still have a few from last week to get through in more detail.

  • 51CDRf5FgHL._AC_US218_  Will Hoge – Anchors – (Bordello Records):  One of my favorite singer/songwriters is Will Hoge and I love it when he puts out new music so I am super excited about this one.  He is the man!!  I think he is one of the best songwriters out there today and you must check him out.  He is a little bit of rock, a little bit of country and a little bit of folk.  He is a little bit of everything.  I believe this is his 10th studio release if you count his two independent releases from early on in his career.  He also has a bunch of E.P.s and Live albums.

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“Nothin’ To Lose: The Making of Kiss 1972-1975” by Ken Sharp, Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley – Book Review

I try to read at least one book a month and for July it was “Nothin’ to Lose: The Making of KISS 1972-1975” by Ken Sharp, Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley.  All thanks to a Amazon running a $2.99 special for the Kindle.  That is exactly how I read Paul Stanley’s autobiography for only $2.99.

As a KISS fan this was a really a no brainer to read.  I knew a bunch of the stories, but not everything.  As a side note, I found a way to enhance the experience of reading this book.  If you have Kissology DVD series, you can watch the shows they are talking about in the book.  You definitely need the 1st series which covers 1974-1977.  You also need Volume 3 which contains the much talked about Queens, NY Coventry Show from December, 1973 the band’s first ever concert filmed in make up in its entirety.  When you add this to your reading, it truly enhances the whole experience.

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Art of Anarchy – The Madness – Album Review

I have been sitting on this album for months now and I am finally getting around to do a review.  I will admit that I love listening to Scott Stapp sing.  I am a fan so this album really excited me.  After Scott Stapp’s last effort, his solo album ‘Proof of Life’, I had really high expectations for this new direction.  ‘Proof of Life’ as my favorite album of 2013.

Now Scott was back with a band and not a new solo effort.  I was hoping for me solo work or even Creed, but not so…a new band.  Well, who is this band Art of Anarchy?  Art of Anarchy is a rock band and this is actually their second album not their first.  Their first was with Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots fame; however, he died after the release of that album.  I will also admit, I had never heard of this band even with Scott Weiland as the lead singer.

The band pushed on and brought in Scott Stapp as the lead singer. I immediately thought these guys were nuts.  You are going from a person with addiction & mental health issues and ended up dying from that to another person that has suffered from addiction issues as well as mental health issues that are well documented.  I thought that they were either very brave or very stupid.  It turns out they were very brave (so far).

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My Sunday Song – “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M.

My Sunday Song #51 is my favorite R.E.M. song called “Losing My Religion”.  The song is off the 1991 album ‘Out of Time’ and it reached as high as #4 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was probably the most popluar R.E.M. song at the time and maybe ever.  It was nominated for 4 Grammy Awards and won for 2 of them.  One of which was for music video and you can see it at the end of the commentary.

Why do I like the song?  I really love the guitar sound and that mandolin that Peter Buck plays.  It captures to essence of the song and helps bring to life the imagery of the lyrics.  Michael’s voice is so unique and for this song it was a little creepy which is perfect as the song was about obsession over another.

“Losing My Religion” is an old phrase meaning that you have lost it.  You are losing your wits or temper.  As this is an obsession song, the singer has lost their mind over this person and is fantasizing about them constantly.  Lyrically it is very disturbing.

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The Mailman – Def Leppard & The Winery Dogs

After a really long week at work, it was so nice to come home yesterday to have these two gems waiting on me.

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First up, The Winery Dogs: Special Edition Dog Years – Live in Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016.  This 5 Disc special edition includes The Live in Santiago concert on Blue-Ray & DVD as well as a 2 CD set of the show.  Also included is The Dog Years Bonus EP on CD.  Not a bad little set and with coupons and a small gift card I had, this only cost $7 and some change.

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Friday New Releases – August 4th

Thank goodness July is over.  The Friday new releases were limited during July, but things start to pick up in a big way in August.  There are some great ones coming out today to get your month started out just right.  As I am in the midst of busy season at work, these releases will help get through it.  Hopefully there is something for you.  My picks are highlighted in Blue.

  • 51pk40Y5iKLDEF LEPPARD – 30th Anniversary Edition of HYSTERIA!!! – (Mercury):  It is hard to believe it has been 30 years since this release.  Amazing how time flies.  This album sounds just as good now as it did back then.  It is a classic.  With songs like “Women”, “Animal”, “Armageddon It”, “Love Bites”, “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar On Me”, you have the ultimate rock album.  There is only one edition to buy for me and it is the full on edition with 5 CDs, 2 DVDs, a couple books and everything you would want.  You have to get this!!!!  I already have and it will be there when I get home from work.

  • 61yXrpnKLCL._AC_US218_  The Winery Dogs – Dog Years Live in Santiago & Beyond 2013-2016 – (Loud & Proud Records).  Three outstanding musicians bring us their first live album.  Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy and Billy Sheehan make up The Winery Dogs and I couldn’t be more excited to grab this.  If you haven’t heard them, you are definitely missing out.  Give this one a listen!!  This should also be waiting on me when I get home!!!

  • 61UOXBW-THL._AC_US218_  Kryptonite – Kryptonite – (Frontiers Records SRL):  Frontiers Records has a way of bringing people together.  This group brings Jakob Samuel (The Poodles), Pontus Egberg (Treat), Robban Back (Moustasch) and Mike Palace (Palace) together to form a sort of supergroup.  I really love Jakob Samuel and The Poodles, so anything he does really peaks my interest.  Heres to hoping for something special.

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The Original Vs. The Cover – “Can’t Find My Way Home”

Welcome to the new in yet another series that is called “The Original Vs. The Cover”.  Not a very original title, but it gets the point across.  Each month I will pick a song and compare the original to my favorite cover of the song.

And there is not a better way to kick off this series than with Blind Faith’s song “Can’t Find My Way Home”.  The song was written by Steve Winwood and on Blind Faith’s only album back in 1969.  Blind Faith was one of the earliest super groups as it consisted of Steve Winwood from the bands Traffic & The Spencer Davis Group, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton from the band Cream and lastly, Ric Grech from Family.  Not a bad set of musicians.

Blind Faith’s “Can’t Find My Way Home” is a slow ballad with Eric Clapton playing acoustic guitar and Steve Winwood singing.  Of course Ginger Baker is playing percussion and Ric Grech is on bass, but the guitar work is of note.  The guitar work is fantastic as expected and it is rare you get Eric Clapton playing acoustic (at least back then).  The vocals have an eerie hollowness to them and I don’t know if that was Winwood’s intention or just the production of the song, but it works.  The overall production is simple and not much too it and I think that is why the song works so well. The overall tone fits the time period which was the end of the 60’s.

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