Category: Pop Music

My Sunday Song – “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins

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My Sunday Song #62 is the song “In The Air Tonight” by Phil Collins.  The song is off the album, Face Value, and was released as a single on January 8th, 1981.  The song is one of Phil’s most recognizable and most popular songs and it reached #2 in the UK and #19 in the US on Billboards Hot 100.

What makes it so recognizable is the drum work throughout.  The slow build up to that drum beat that comes screaming in and there throughout the rest of the song.  Who hasn’t been in their car and when that part comes up, you air drum and everyone around you looks at you like you are a nut…and also wondering why you aren’t holding on to your steering wheel.

The song’s popularity even increased when it was used in the pilot episode of Miami Vice in 1984.  That helped it remain a part of pop culture forever.  The creepiness of the song and the dark overtones worked nicely in the episode and showed how well music and TV could work together.

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “In the Air Tonight” by Phil Collins” →

Friday New Releases – October 20th

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October is flying by and there are a bunch of new ones available this week…even Christmas albums if you are so inclined.  There are some brand new bands, some old favorites and some fabulous reissues/deluxe editions.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know which ones you are interested in with a comment below.  Thanks and have a great weekend.

  • 61tzU2GB7VL._AC_US160_  Sons of Apollo – Pyschotic Symphony – (Inside Out Music):  Another supergroup and another one featuring Billy Sheehan and Mike Portnoy.  If you liked in The Winery Dogs, this is not the Winery Dogs.  This is a much heavier band with Jeff Scott Soto on lead vocals rather than Richie Kotzen.  Also on the record is Bumblefoot on guitar and Derek Sherinian that make this a massive group with a massive sound.  Can’t wait to dive into this one.

  • 51TQWYRXviL._AC_US218_  Europe – Walk the Earth – (Silver Lining Music):  Europe is still putting out quality albums after 35+ years in the business.  The took most of the 90’s off, but came roar back in the 2000’s and have been non-stop ever since.  I have held off from listening to anything on this one yet as I want to take it in all at once.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 20th” →

The Debut: Maroon 5 ‘Songs About Jane’

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Welcome to another edition of The Debut.  This month is the debut album for Maroon 5 called ‘Songs About Jane’.  Maroon 5’s debut album came out on June 25, 2002 and went as high as #6 on the Billboard charts.  The album also has gone on to sell more than 10 million copies worldwide.

When the album came out, there wasn’t a lot of good pop music and there wasn’t a lot of uniqueness or original sounding music.  Then along came Maroon 5.  With Adam’s tenor vocals, a killer falsetto and that funked up rock sound, Maroon 5 offered up something different, unique and oh so memorable.

Who is in the band you ask?  Well, it consisted of the following members:

  • Adam Levine – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • James Valentine – lead guitar, backing vocals
  • Jesse Carmichael – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Mickey Madden – bass guitar
  • Ryan Dusick – drums, percussion, backing vocals

IMG_0411

Continue reading “The Debut: Maroon 5 ‘Songs About Jane’” →

Friday New Releases – October 13th

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Here we are on another Friday and another week of great releases.  But before I get into that I just noticed that this is my 400th post since I started.  Crazy to think it I have been able to think of that many things to write about and that people still come to check out the site.  Pretty cool.

Okay back to the post…If you like rock, there is a plethora of new music.  There is probably a little something for everyone.  My choices are highlighted in Blue.  Let me know what you are looking to pick up.  I hope you find something.  Have a great weekend.

  • 61ldUwPrdAL._AC_US218_  Revolution Saints – Light in the Dark – (Frontiers Records):  Frontiers Records has a knack for putting together little supergroups. Most of the time those supergroups only last one album.  Thankfully, Revolution Saints are back with record number two!!  Who is in Revolution Saints you may ask (please ask)?  Well, I am glad you asked…you get Jack Blades (Night Ranger and Damn Yankees), Deen Castronovo (Journey and Ozzy) and Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio, Dead Daisies).  The first album was spectacular and expect more of the same greatness.

  • 71ZApFbDTuL._AC_UL115_  Fozzy – Judas – (Century Media):  When you hear the name Chris Jericho, what is the first thing you think of???  Wrestling??  No, Heavy Metal Music.  Chris has been lead singer of Fozzy for 18 years and they are now on their seventh album with ‘Judas’.  As I always, I look forward to hearing what they bring to the table each time and this time is no different.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 13th” →

My Sunday Song – “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills & Nash

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For My Sunday Song #60, I am highlighting my favorite Crosby, Stills & Nash song “Southern Cross”.  The song was released in September 1982 and was featured on the album ‘Daylight Again”.  I remember seeing the video on MTV as it was in heavy rotation for awhile.  I just loved the laid back feel of the song and of course watching the boat sail across the water.  It seemed so relaxing. I really enjoy the phrasing of the lyrics and the song flow.  It is the song that actually made me a little fan of the group.

The song is about a man who decided to take a journey by sailing across the Pacific due to a failed relationship.  He determines all he needs is a boat and his music.  He hopes he will find that woman on his trek that will make him forget his past relationship and find a love that will endure (and you know it will).

In researching the song, I now know what the Southern Cross is.  I thought it was the boat as that is what the video would have you believe.  No.  The Southern Cross is a star constellation that is only seen in the Southern Hemisphere and some of the tropics.  Sailors in the Southern Hemisphere use it to navigate by.  The constellation is called Crux which means cross (thanks wikipedia).

Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills & Nash” →

Friday New Releases – October 6th

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Welcome to October and of course, I have a list of new releases for you to check out.  There are definitely some I am getting this week and I will talk about those as they will be highlighted in Blue.  There are not a ton, but hopefully you will find something.  I know I have.

  • 61VQ92of-mL._AC_US160_  Whitesnake – Whitesnake (30th Anniversary Edition) – (Parlophone Records):  Duh!! No Brainer!!!  I can’t believe it has been 30 years since this album was released.  I have it on Vinyl, but I want this CD see.  With classics like “Still of The Night”, “Here I Go Again” and “Is This Love” you can’t go wrong with this one.  The only downside is the Super Deluxe Edition, which I ordered, is on hold until October 27th.  Oh well, still can’t wait to get ahold of it.

  • 61FIqt+D+pL._AC_US218_  The Darkness – Pinewood Smile – (Canary Dwarf Ltd):  The glam metal band that glorifies the excess of 80’s rocks brings us their new album.  After 5 albums has the schtick gotten old?  We will see.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – October 6th” →

Bob Rock – Producer Extraordinaire #4

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We are now on our 4th Producer Extraordinaire in this series.  We have seen Robert John “Mutt” Lange, Brendan O’Brien and Bruce Fairbairn so far, and now it is time for Bob Rock.  Bob Rock actually got his start as a recording engineer and mixer under the great Bruce Fairbairn so he learned from one of the best.

Bob’s musical career started back in 1979 / 1980 when he started engineering from Bruce as well as joined the band Payola$ who had a big hit in 1980 called “Eyes of a Stranger”. They were pretty successful in Canada and won a Juno Award in 1983 for Single of the Year.  However, Bob’s real talent (or at least to me) is his ability to work with bands and produce amazing albums.

METALLICA:

Bob Rock has worked with some of the biggest bands in the world, but they don’t get bigger than Metallica.  Bob was selected as the Producer for the band’s biggest album they had ever done, however, at the time they did not know it would become so big. “The Black Album” as it is commonly known made Metallica cool in the mainstream world as well as the Thrash world.

Continue reading “Bob Rock – Producer Extraordinaire #4” →

Friday New Releases – September 29th

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Welcome to the last Friday New Releases of the month.  There are too many new releases this week and no way to even come close to listening to it all.  There a handful I will attempt to get to and those will be highlighted in Blue, but doesn’t mean there aren’t others on this list I don’t want to hear.  I have to some way prioritize the listening choices.  I am sure there is something on here that you will find exciting.  Let me know what you are interested in getting.

  • 91+F7bRBJkL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg  Shania Twain – Now – (Universal Nashville):  Oh Shania, how we have missed you.  Back with her first album in 15 YEARS!!!.  I have heard a couple songs off the album and haven’t been overly impressed so I am little worried about this one.  My wife and I enjoy Shania and went saw her in concert about 2 years ago and we also had “From This Moment” played at our wedding.  As a result, I will give this a listen despite my hesitations.

  • 51-RUWDsUjL._AC_US218_  Black Stone Cherry – Black to Blues EP – (Mascot Label Group): The Southern Hard Rock band is bringing us a little EP to hold us over until their next album…I am so cool with that.  They don’t seem to ever disappoint and I could use a good old rock album about now.

Continue reading “Friday New Releases – September 29th” →

My Sunday Song – “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles

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For My Sunday Song #58 I am going to tackle my favorite Beatles song, “Here Comes the Sun”.  Notice I said my favorite and I did not say the best.  I don’t want anyone getting a hair up there tail because I said the best.  My intention is to not start an argument as I know there are many people passionate about their Beatles.

The song was recorded in 1969 and released on their album ‘Abbey Road’ the same year. The song only features three of the Beatles, George, Ringo & Paul as John was recovering from a car crash.

Lyrically, it is a very simple song but musically there is a lot going on.  Paul did the bass, of course and Ringo on drums while George did everything else, and I mean everything else.  He is credited with both the acoustic and electric guitars, the harmonium, and introducing the band to a Moog synthesizer (which might have looked like something below).
Wall of MOOG Continue reading “My Sunday Song – “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles” →

Friday New Releases – September 22nd

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Another Friday is upon us and another day of new music.  There is a little of everything on tab for this week so hopefully there is something you can find you want to give a spin.  I have quite a few this week and they are highlighted in Blue as usual.

  • 613Ur6oUHlL._AC_US218_  Black Country Communion – BCCIV – (J&R Adventures):  BCC is back with their 4th album.  I thought they might have been done after their last one so I am thrilled to see a new release.  If you don’t know who they are, the band consists of some quite talented musicians you might have heard about…Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham and Derek Sherinian.  Not a bad line-up.  Definitely worth checking out.

  • 615l-IJwJwL._AC_US218_  H.E.A.T – Into the Great Unknown – (Frontiers Records): This Swedish rock band brings us their 5th release and first after losing original guitarist Eric Rivers.  I am interested to hear it despite 2 of the original members now gone including the lead singer.  That usually really bothers me when you lose the singer, but Erik Gronwell can hold his own and has done a fine damn job since taking over.  Here is to hoping for more of the same greatness from these guys.
  • 411N1zML8KL._AC_US218_  The Killers – Wonderful Wonderful – (Island Records):  For some reason, I really like The Killers.  When they are good, they are really good and Brandon Flowers has been sounding great lately.  I am digging the new song “Run for Cover” so hoping the rest of the album is on par with that one.

  • 61KFg3CH+0L._AC_US160_  Mastodon – Cold Dark Place E.P. – (Reprise Records):  It is only an E.P., but anything from this Atlanta Metal band is worth grabbing.  Bring it on.

  • images-1  Fergie – Double Duchess – (Retrofuture Productions):  Okay, yes I am interested in hearing Fergie.  I have my guilty pleasures.  She proved she can rock out when she did a song for Slash so I definitely want to hear what she brings to the table this time around.

  • 4192A8z6v8L._AC_US218_  Otherwise – Sleeping Lions – (Century Media)
  • 61FIiVNH5OL._AC_US218_  Macklemore – Gemini – (Bendo LLC)
  • 513lUqo6OtL._AC_US218_  Matthew West – All In – (Sparrow)
  • 61EuJwZ3BCL._AC_US218_  Josh Ritter – Gathering – (Pytheas Recordings)
  • 51CVVBAaSrL._AC_US218_  Midland – On the Rocks – (Big Machine)
  • 51nMKZQR5nL._AC_US218_  Van Morrison – Roll With The Punches – (Exile Productions)
  • 61LDM-QpKqL._AC_US218_  Leon Russell – On A Distant Shore – (Palmetto)
  • 61d5C7z7dcL._AC_US218_  Chris Hillman – Bidin’ my Time – (Rounder)
  • 61KHcRSiqCL._AC_US218_  Steve Martin / The Steep Canyon Rangers – “The Long-Awaited Album” – (Rounder)
  • 51T3BQ1iCJL._AC_US218_  Cradle of Filth – Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay – (Nuclear Blast)
  • 51sZCZfQfIL._AC_US160_  Lecrae – All Things Work Together – (Reach Records)
  • 51NFpv8xsDL._AC_US218_  Haley Reinhart – What’s That Sound? – (Concord Records)
  • 51o8JkMVkwL._AC_US218_  Brian Wilson – Playback: The Brian Wilson Anthology – (Rhino/Warners)