#TBT – The Coolest Songs of the 80’s – Playlist

The 80’s was a great time in music for me. It was the time I started really getting obsessed about with it.  There were so many great songs, thanks to the dawn of MTV, during this time. They exposed us to so many more bands that our radio stations were not playing.

There are good songs, great songs, rock songs, dance songs, pop songs and some songs that are just too damn cool.  This list is what I felt were the really cool songs of the decade.  Cool could be the subject matter or the overall sound of the song and of course it is very subjective.  I wasn’t very cool back in the day so my definition of cool might not equal yours.  Come to think of it…I am not cool now.  Oh well, I hope you enjoy the playlist.

Red Rider – “Lunatic Fringe”

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Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers: Runnin’ Down a Dream (2008 – Documentary)

On July 4th, I wasn’t feeling well and decided to sit and watch the Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers documentary called Runnin’ Down a Dream that is now streaming on Netflix.  I figured I might as well watch one of America’s greatest rock bands ever on our country’s birthday.

The film is by Director Peter Bogdanovich and released in 2008 by Warner Brothers.  When it was originally released it was as a 4 disc box set with the first 2 DVD disc being the movie, the third DVD disc was the 30th Anniversary concert and the fourth disc was a CD of rare tracks.  I just might pick this up if I see it when I am out.

Now be warned, if you plan to watch make sure you have 4 hours available because once you start there is no stopping.  The 4 hours flies by as this documentary is so entertaining mixed with great interviews and great footage of the band’s history. Any fan of Tom Petty should check it out as you will not be disappointed.

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#TBT – My Favorite Albums from 2013

2013 was an interesting year for me with the music that came out.  Either I listened to an album over and over or it just didn’t get listened to but a couple times and I was done.  This list are the albums that I just couldn’t get enough of during the year.  Based on my picks this year, I would say Rock had a great year!!  Here we go:

Scott Stapp: Proof of LifeScott Stapp – “Proof of Life” – This was my album of the Year for 2013. Yes, the man from Creed delivered an album that was both very personal and very relatable.  I enjoyed this album immensely and have just devoured it since the day it came out.  I can’t say enough positive things about this album.  It had great flow from beginning to end and every song moved me in some way.  He was not afraid to talk about Jesus and his faith in this album and I applaud him for it.  It was the album I never knew he was capable of delivering.  My favorite songs were “Only One”, “Jesus is a Rockstar”, “Slow Suicide”, “New Day Coming” and “What Would Love Do”…honestly they are all awesome.  I hope he gets his act together and releases more music.  Give this one a listen!!!

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#TBT – Favorite Albums from 2012

We are up to 2012 for my Throwback Thursday list.  I feel 2012 was a relatively weak year for new music.  This year, it was mostly rock that got me going.  Only one country artist made the list (sort of country and she made the honorable mention at that).  Not much else excited me, but the ones that did I really enjoyed.  Here are my Top albums for 2012 (in no particular order).

Lit - The View From the BottomLit – The View From The Bottom:  So glad these guys came back and did another album.  It had been way too long since their last album.  Their return was well worth the wait.  A great collection of songs and was probably my  2nd favorite album of the year.  I loved “Miss You Gone”, “The Wall” and “Same Shit, Different Drink” just to name a few.  Just good, fun, rock & roll.

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#TBT – Favorite Albums from 2011

To continue my Throwback Thursday of the last two weeks, here are my Favorite albums of 2011 (in no particular order):

Soren Andersen - Constant ReplaySoren Andersen – Constant Replay:  This is an incredible debut album.  The album name is accurate as it was on constant replay back when I got it.  There are so many great songs and no fillers.  I just love “Song About You”, “Black Lady”, “Lavender in My Calendar” and “Cold Shock”.   Soren has toured as the lead guitarist in the Glenn Hughes Band and played on numerous albums including Mike Tramp.  Put it on and enjoy the ride.

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#TBT -Favorite Albums of 2010

Since I did my favorites from 2009 last week, I thought I would continue that this week for Throwback Thursday. These are my favorite albums from 2010 (in no particular order)

 Paper Tongues – Paper Tongues:  What an impressive debut album.   They are from Charlotte, NC which I was unaware of until recently.  They haven’t put out a full length album since this one.  I need to see if they are still together and maybe playing around town. Some standout songs are “Trinity”, “Ride to California” and “Get Higher”.  Just great songs, great music and a positive message.  Rock needs more bands like this!!

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#TBT – Favorite albums of 2009

For Throwback Thursday, I am going to look back to the year 2009 and my favorite albums from that year.  These might not have been the most popular or the best selling albums, but they are what I enjoyed most that year.  So here are my favorites (in no particular order):

51znVwcqQQL._AC_US160_W.E.T. – W.E.T.: A perfect melodic rock album from members of Talisman, Eclipse and Work of Art. Great flow from beginning to end. Jeff Scott Soto is the lead singer and I have been a fan of all of JSS’ solo work and his work with Talisman and now with SOTO (see my artist profile on him here).  Highlights are “One Love”, “Brothers In Arms” & “Comes Down Like Rain”.

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#TBT – Scorpions – Humanity: Hour 1

Scorpions first album came out in 1972.   35 years later in 2007 they did something I never expected.  They released an album that for me was a big surprise. This is not the typical Scorpions album you are used to hearing.  They made an album that sounded like a modern rock album but there is still the Scorpions sound.  After their last few albums, my expectations were low as they I feel they have struggled to find themselves since the mid-90’s.

The album is different than their other albums as it is a concept album.  Per the band’s website:

 Humanity: Hour 1 is a concept album based on a loose storyline by Desmond Child and futurist Liam Carl, which predicts a world torn apart by a civil war between humans and robots. This apocalyptic nightmare serves as a warning shot to all humanity, whose only hope of survival is to reclaim our humanity.

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#TBT – The Alarm – Strength

I first came across The Alarm because one of my brothers had their album Declaration. This was back around 1984.  I really enjoyed that album and when Strength came out in October 1985 on IRS Records, I had to get it.

The Alarm, if you don’t know, were a four piece, new wave band out of Wales.  I believe at the time, the band was Mike Peters, David Sharp, Eddie Macdonald, and Nigel Twist.

This was the first album I really paid attention to how an album flowed. These songs seemed like they were meant to be in the order they were placed on the album. The songs maintained a specific sound and style throughout.  There were no fillers and each song had a purpose.

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#TBT – Def Leppard – Slang

For my first Throwback Thursday, I thought I would go with the most underrated album from my favorite band – Def Leppard’s “Slang”.  The album came out in 1996 and the band knew that their signature sound was no longer popular on the radio. They completely took a left turn and changed up their sound.

“Slang” was such a departure that I was stunned when I first heard the album. After the first listen, I wasn’t sure what I had heard.  I listened to it again and again. After several listens, I started to get it and I started to really like it.  “Work It Out” and the album title song “Slang” were the first songs that were standouts for me.

There were several slower songs that were not the typical Def Leppard ballads – “Breathe A Sigh”, “Where Does Love Go When It Dies” and “Blood Runs Cold”.  They were a little darker and very powerful.

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