Tuesday, August 31, 2004
August 29: Deep Blue Something - Home
No wonder these guys were one-hit wonders; once you get past "Breakfast at Tiffany's," every song is so dated it could have been on the Pretty in Pink soundtrack. And this came out in 1995! Somebody listened to way too much Cure, and completely missed the boat on Nirvana.
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August 28: The Refreshments - Fizzy Fuzzy Big and Buzzy
Great album title, and great album. And Matt, you were right; Falcon Five-O DOES sound a whole lot like these guys.
I'm still a little pissed off that the Refreshments weren't huge.
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I'm still a little pissed off that the Refreshments weren't huge.
Monday, August 30, 2004
August 27: Semisonic - Feeling Strangely Fine
While listening to this on the way to a 12p show Friday, I remarked that I felt Semisonic's "Closing Time" was the last song in the '90s alternative-pop movement that had been led by Better than Ezra, the Gin Blossoms, etc. a few years before, and that it was fitting because of the lyrics; it's a turn-out-the-lights song on an era, finishing it off on a high point just as nü-metal and boy bands hit the radio.
Kit remarked that he felt the exact opposite, that to him "Closing Time" was the first song in the "corporate alternative" movement epitomized by Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, and, more recently, crap like Uncle Kracker, and that it paved the way with its slick sound and annoyingly simple lyrics.
In many ways, both those statements are true; we just see it differently because I like the song, and Kit doesn't. So, depending on your perspective, it's either the last good song or the first bad song of an era.
The drummer from Semisonic recently wrote a book about his time in the music business (the band's pretty well defunct now), and I just bought it; it's supposed to be eye-opening. I'll let you know what I think.
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Kit remarked that he felt the exact opposite, that to him "Closing Time" was the first song in the "corporate alternative" movement epitomized by Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth, and, more recently, crap like Uncle Kracker, and that it paved the way with its slick sound and annoyingly simple lyrics.
In many ways, both those statements are true; we just see it differently because I like the song, and Kit doesn't. So, depending on your perspective, it's either the last good song or the first bad song of an era.
The drummer from Semisonic recently wrote a book about his time in the music business (the band's pretty well defunct now), and I just bought it; it's supposed to be eye-opening. I'll let you know what I think.
Friday, August 27, 2004
August 26: Sponge - Wax Ecstatic
Not the first Sponge album; I still can't find that one. No, this is the second Sponge album, the one where they stopped trying to sound like Stone Temple Pilots and started trying to sound like the Black Crowes. Which is a bit of a weird shift, considering it was 1996 and the Black Crowes weren't popular anymore. And two songs have the words "drag queen" in their title; what's THAT about? Just what is Sponge trying to tell us here, that even though they're greasy rockers from Detroit, they really want to hang out in New Orleans with she-males and listen to the Allman Brothers? No wonder they got dropped after this.
As a footnote, I saw Sponge live in OKC the night Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon died. The band found out in between the end of their set and the encore, and then did a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" in tribute. It was pretty cool. Really doesn't have anything to do with this album, since this was in '95 on the Rotting Pinata tour, but I thought I'd throw that in.
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As a footnote, I saw Sponge live in OKC the night Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon died. The band found out in between the end of their set and the encore, and then did a cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" in tribute. It was pretty cool. Really doesn't have anything to do with this album, since this was in '95 on the Rotting Pinata tour, but I thought I'd throw that in.
August 25: Local H - Pack Up the Cats
You think the White Stripes are fresh and original? Naaahhh... Local H was doing the one guitarist, one drummer thing way before Jack and Meg White were even boyfriend and girlfriend, much less fake brother and sister/ex-wife and ex-husband. (how creepy is that, by the way?)
This is their album from '98 that got lost up in another of those great corporate shuffles at major labels and basically died on the vine. It's pretty good, though; kind of a concept album about a band that tries to sell out in order to make it out of their small town, but fails. My favorite song is "All the Kids are Right," about the worst gig ever. Check it out sometime.
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This is their album from '98 that got lost up in another of those great corporate shuffles at major labels and basically died on the vine. It's pretty good, though; kind of a concept album about a band that tries to sell out in order to make it out of their small town, but fails. My favorite song is "All the Kids are Right," about the worst gig ever. Check it out sometime.
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
August 24: Everclear - So Much for the Afterglow
Yet another band from my youth that is completely irrelevant today. Of course, it's really Everclear's own fault: they made the same album over and over again. This one, from 1997, is just the best elements from Sparkle and Fade polished and turbo-charged. And then they made a soft version of this album, and then a harder version, and then they made another version of this album again. And now they're putting out a greatest hits, because the writing's on the wall and nobody buys their albums anymore.
I'd have to say this is probably their high point, though.
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I'd have to say this is probably their high point, though.
August 23: Sunny Day Real Estate - How it feels to be something on
As contrasted to "How it feels to be on something," which is completely different. Sort of.
Supposedly, Sunny Day Real Estate are one of the forefathers of emo, but if you remember them, it's because Dave Grohl swiped their bass player and drummer for the first incarnation of Foo Fighters. This is the "comeback" album from '98, when the drummer (but not Nate, the bass player) came back. I got this when I worked for the Tulane newspaper, and can't sell it, because it's just in a paper slipcase. I wasn't that impressed at the time, and I'm still not now. It reminds me of a third-rate Jane's Addiction.
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Supposedly, Sunny Day Real Estate are one of the forefathers of emo, but if you remember them, it's because Dave Grohl swiped their bass player and drummer for the first incarnation of Foo Fighters. This is the "comeback" album from '98, when the drummer (but not Nate, the bass player) came back. I got this when I worked for the Tulane newspaper, and can't sell it, because it's just in a paper slipcase. I wasn't that impressed at the time, and I'm still not now. It reminds me of a third-rate Jane's Addiction.
August 22: The Nixons - Foma
If you were in high school in the mid-'90s in Oklahoma, you own this album. And you can sing every single word of "Sister" to this day, because the radio stations played that song 100 times a week.
Listening to it again, there are a lot more holes than I remembered. "Sister," "Wire," and "Happy Song" are still awesome, but the lyrics on a lot of the others are kinda crappy. I prefer the second Nixons album to this one.
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Listening to it again, there are a lot more holes than I remembered. "Sister," "Wire," and "Happy Song" are still awesome, but the lyrics on a lot of the others are kinda crappy. I prefer the second Nixons album to this one.
Monday, August 23, 2004
August 21: Various Artists - The Beavis and Butt-Head Experience
Uh... huh-huh. There are a lot of bands on here that rule.
YEAH! they RULE!
uh... huh-huh. There aren't any bands on here that suck. Like, Warrant and Winger aren't on this album.
Heh-heh. Yeah, those guys SUCK!
Plus, there's the classic Butt-head tune "Come to Butt-head." And the duet with Cher on "I Got You Babe."
Uh...huh-huh. This album rules.
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YEAH! they RULE!
uh... huh-huh. There aren't any bands on here that suck. Like, Warrant and Winger aren't on this album.
Heh-heh. Yeah, those guys SUCK!
Plus, there's the classic Butt-head tune "Come to Butt-head." And the duet with Cher on "I Got You Babe."
Uh...huh-huh. This album rules.
Friday, August 20, 2004
August 20: Collective Soul - Dosage
I remarked early on in this blog that if you go back to Collective Soul's albums, especially the last three, they're very cold, clinical, and sterile. This one, from '99, is no different. Every note is in exactly the right place. But that doesn't mean Ed Roland isn't a great songwriter; he is.
I actually bought this CD in Krakow, Poland while backpacking through Europe. It was a nice reminder of America at the time.
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I actually bought this CD in Krakow, Poland while backpacking through Europe. It was a nice reminder of America at the time.
Thursday, August 19, 2004
August 19: Wakeland - to see the sun
If you live outside of Oklahoma, and aren't between the ages of 23 and 30, you've never heard of Wakeland, but that's cool. Wakeland was this band from Oklahoma State that got big by playing REM covers at frat parties in the late '80s, then started writing their own music, put out two well-received indie releases, got signed to Warner Brothers, and... flopped miserably. Then they retreated to Oklahoma City, where they became the biggest band in town by far, put out a couple more indie CDs, and faded into that good night. They're also known in Oklahoma music circles for having had more bass players than Spinal Tap had drummers. Seriously, one time 12 Pearls was opening up for them, and their bass player quit in the middle of the set.
This is their album from 1994, the one that got them signed. The old Spy, KSPI in Stillwater, used to play "Misconstrued" and "I'm Just Trying" like six times a day when I was in high school, so I have fond memories of this one. You may be able to find "Misconstrued" on Kazaa, actually; it's mis-labelled as a Toad the Wet Sprocket song. Which was one of Wakeland's problems; they sound like a cross between Toad and the Gin Blossoms, which by the time their major-label album came out in '95, was not very cool.
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This is their album from 1994, the one that got them signed. The old Spy, KSPI in Stillwater, used to play "Misconstrued" and "I'm Just Trying" like six times a day when I was in high school, so I have fond memories of this one. You may be able to find "Misconstrued" on Kazaa, actually; it's mis-labelled as a Toad the Wet Sprocket song. Which was one of Wakeland's problems; they sound like a cross between Toad and the Gin Blossoms, which by the time their major-label album came out in '95, was not very cool.
August 18: Material Issue - International Pop Overthrow
If you know this band at all, it's from one of their two semi-hits: "Valerie Loves Me," and "Kim the Waitress." This is the debut, from '91, with "Valerie Loves Me." A buddy of mine in junior high was really into Material Issue, and I think that's where I ended up with this album.
This one's...OK. Pretty standard-issue power-pop, nothing spectacular. A lot of it sounds really dated now, because of the bad early-'90s production.
Sadly, Material Issue are only a footnote in rock history, because lead singer Jim Ellison killed himself following the commercial failure of the band's two follow-ups and their dismissal from Mercury Records. He did it by choking on the carbon monoxide fumes from his moped. Not a very rock star way to go, and ironically, his death was completely overshadowed by the fact that Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon died the exact same day by overdosing on heroin, which is a rock star way to go.
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This one's...OK. Pretty standard-issue power-pop, nothing spectacular. A lot of it sounds really dated now, because of the bad early-'90s production.
Sadly, Material Issue are only a footnote in rock history, because lead singer Jim Ellison killed himself following the commercial failure of the band's two follow-ups and their dismissal from Mercury Records. He did it by choking on the carbon monoxide fumes from his moped. Not a very rock star way to go, and ironically, his death was completely overshadowed by the fact that Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon died the exact same day by overdosing on heroin, which is a rock star way to go.
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
August 17: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face It
The Bosstones: leaders of the Ska Explosion of '97, which led directly to the Ska Implosion of '98-'99 (Reel Big Fish, where have you gone?).
Seriously, this is a good album, and a good introduction to late-'90s ska-rock. The Bosstones tone down the hardcore elements of their sound and replace them with more laid-back tunes. I like it.
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Seriously, this is a good album, and a good introduction to late-'90s ska-rock. The Bosstones tone down the hardcore elements of their sound and replace them with more laid-back tunes. I like it.
August 16: Weezer - Pinkerton
The album where Rivers Cuomo shows you his dark side: he finds himself attracted to lesbians and Asians, he's horribly neurotic, and he occasionally touches himself to pictures fans sent him ("Across the Sea"). The album is introverted, muddled, and light years away from the blue album, and in the process, Rivers accidentally invented emo.
I can testify that the period around Pinkerton was not a happy one for Weezer; when they played New Orleans in the spring of '97, my friend Kat and I were the only two out of our group who could be bothered to go, and there were only 200 or so people there, including a group of guys at the front who kept demanding to hear "Friends of P" (from the bass player's side project, the Rentals). No wonder the bass player quit and the rest of the band took four years off, and when they came back, they were playing hollowed-out, soul-less songs that sounded like outtakes from the blue album.
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I can testify that the period around Pinkerton was not a happy one for Weezer; when they played New Orleans in the spring of '97, my friend Kat and I were the only two out of our group who could be bothered to go, and there were only 200 or so people there, including a group of guys at the front who kept demanding to hear "Friends of P" (from the bass player's side project, the Rentals). No wonder the bass player quit and the rest of the band took four years off, and when they came back, they were playing hollowed-out, soul-less songs that sounded like outtakes from the blue album.
August 16: Weezer - Pinkerton
The album where Rivers Cuomo shows you his dark side: he finds himself attracted to lesbians and Asians, he's horribly neurotic, and he occasionally touches himself to pictures fans sent him ("Across the Sea"). The album is introverted, muddled, and light years away from the blue album, and in the process, Rivers accidentally invented emo.
I can testify that the period around Pinkerton was not a happy one for Weezer; when they played New Orleans in the spring of '97, my friend Kat and I were the only two out of our group who could be bothered to go, and there were only 200 or so people there, including a group of guys at the front who kept demanding to hear "Friends of P" (from the bass player's side project, the Rentals). No wonder the bass player quit and the rest of the band took four years off, and when they came back, they were playing hollowed-out, soul-less songs that sounded like outtakes from the blue album.
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I can testify that the period around Pinkerton was not a happy one for Weezer; when they played New Orleans in the spring of '97, my friend Kat and I were the only two out of our group who could be bothered to go, and there were only 200 or so people there, including a group of guys at the front who kept demanding to hear "Friends of P" (from the bass player's side project, the Rentals). No wonder the bass player quit and the rest of the band took four years off, and when they came back, they were playing hollowed-out, soul-less songs that sounded like outtakes from the blue album.
August 15: Beck! - Odelay
If you want to hear an album that just sounds like it was produced in the '90s, Odelay is your album. I was never that huge a fan of Beck, probably because his sound is so gimmicky: it's essentially folk crossed with '70s "rhinestone cowboy" country and a whole bunch of techno and trip-hop production. This is his best work, though. I think that's because the Dust Brothers co-wrote and co-produced everything (they were also responsible for Hanson's "Mmmbop," by the by).
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Tuesday, August 17, 2004
August 14: Goo Goo Dolls - Superstar Car Wash
Wow... before their big breakthrough with "Name," the Goo Goo Dolls were pretty much just straight ripping off the Replacements. No, seriously. They even got Paul Westerberg to co-write a song on this album (from 1993).
I guess I should have done a more recognizable Goo album for '90s month, but hey, I figured I'd show that I know my obscure Goo as well as "Iris." Not that any of the songs on this album are half as good as "Iris." But they do sound like Replacements songs with somebody else singing vocals, if you're into that.
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I guess I should have done a more recognizable Goo album for '90s month, but hey, I figured I'd show that I know my obscure Goo as well as "Iris." Not that any of the songs on this album are half as good as "Iris." But they do sound like Replacements songs with somebody else singing vocals, if you're into that.
August 13: EMF - Schubert Dip
OK, raise your hands if you own this one. No, you looking at the computer screen... that's right, you. Raise your hand, too. I know you have this.
Not much to say about EMF (Epsom Mad Funkers, not Ecstacy Mother Fu¢ker$, by the way) except there's a reason they're one-hit wonders: all the other songs have pretty much the exact same beat. But "Unbelievable," that's a heck of a song.
Anybody else remember when EMF and Jesus Jones were supposed to be leading the Third British Invasion, which was pretty much blown away six months later by Nirvana? Anybody?
I'll say this: there are a lot fewer copies of this album in your average used-CD store than there are Jesus Jones. Don't exactly know why that would be.
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Not much to say about EMF (Epsom Mad Funkers, not Ecstacy Mother Fu¢ker$, by the way) except there's a reason they're one-hit wonders: all the other songs have pretty much the exact same beat. But "Unbelievable," that's a heck of a song.
Anybody else remember when EMF and Jesus Jones were supposed to be leading the Third British Invasion, which was pretty much blown away six months later by Nirvana? Anybody?
I'll say this: there are a lot fewer copies of this album in your average used-CD store than there are Jesus Jones. Don't exactly know why that would be.
August 12: Counting Crows - August and Everything After
I remarked to one of the 12 Pearls guys this weekend that this '90s month has been a little depressing on some levels, because I'm slowly realizing that almost all the bands I idolized growing up have become completely irrelevant. Today's example: the Counting Crows.
At the moment, the Crows are primarily known for that annoying song on the Shrek 2 soundtrack; prior to that, their last hit was a Joni Mitchell cover that featured Vanessa Carlton on backing vocals. Remember when they were considered cool, combining the music of roots rock with the lyrical sensibilities of REM or U2? Remember when Adam Duritz's voice didn't completely annoy you? Listen to this album, and you will.
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At the moment, the Crows are primarily known for that annoying song on the Shrek 2 soundtrack; prior to that, their last hit was a Joni Mitchell cover that featured Vanessa Carlton on backing vocals. Remember when they were considered cool, combining the music of roots rock with the lyrical sensibilities of REM or U2? Remember when Adam Duritz's voice didn't completely annoy you? Listen to this album, and you will.
August 11: Toadies - Rubberneck
Before we start, were they THE Toadies, or just Toadies? I never figured out which it was...
This album went platinum, and based on my friends, I think every single copy was sold in Texas and Oklahoma. People I knew from elsewhere in the country barely even knew who the Toadies were. Every song on here is a little bit creepy, if you take a step back and think about it; all the characters are stalkers, or murderers, or bizarre religious zealots who hate themselves. But that's cool, too.
I think my little sister stole my Toadies concert t-shirt one summer when I was home from college. For all I know, she still has it.
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This album went platinum, and based on my friends, I think every single copy was sold in Texas and Oklahoma. People I knew from elsewhere in the country barely even knew who the Toadies were. Every song on here is a little bit creepy, if you take a step back and think about it; all the characters are stalkers, or murderers, or bizarre religious zealots who hate themselves. But that's cool, too.
I think my little sister stole my Toadies concert t-shirt one summer when I was home from college. For all I know, she still has it.
August 10: Elastica - (self-titled)
My high school band with Kit used to play a cover of "Connection" because it was so simple. I think the less said about that, the better.
Elastica was fronted by the lead singer of Blur's girlfriend. The best song on here, "Stutter," has to do with male impotence problems (remember kids, this is pre-Viagra). Hm... the dude from Blur's girlfriend wrote a song about impotence... Let's see, if I put the 2 and 2 together, I get 4, which would make... oh. interesting.
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Elastica was fronted by the lead singer of Blur's girlfriend. The best song on here, "Stutter," has to do with male impotence problems (remember kids, this is pre-Viagra). Hm... the dude from Blur's girlfriend wrote a song about impotence... Let's see, if I put the 2 and 2 together, I get 4, which would make... oh. interesting.
August 9: Marvelous 3: Hey! Album
If you're doing '90s month, you can't just get all nostalgic over the early and mid-'90s. So I dug up this lost classic from 1998. Actually, I remembered it as a lost classic, then when I put the disc in the player, I realized it was just lost. "Freak of the Week" combines Everclear with Bon Jovi to good result, but the rest is pretty wishy-washy. Nowadays, Butch Walker, the lead singer of the M3, produces guys like Bowling for Soup, Stroke 9, and SR-71 (he co-wrote "Girl all the Bad Guys Want" and "Right Now").
I think this one might head over to the '90s sell pile.
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I think this one might head over to the '90s sell pile.
August 8: Toad the Wet Sprocket - Fear
I forgot how solid this album was all the way through. I still think Dulcinea was their high point, but this has some great tracks as well, and not just "Walk on the Ocean" or "All I Want," either. It doesn't hurt any that they ripped off R.E.M. a whole lot just as Out of Time hit No. 1 on the charts, either.
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August 7: Gin Blossoms - Congratulations I'm Sorry
I was a huge Gin Blossoms fan, which is why it pains me that they've officially become the first major '90s rock act to hit the nostalgia circuit. That's right; after two platinum albums, followed by a break-up that lasted five years, the Blossoms are back together and touring state fairs and casinos, playing the hits. Plans for a new album are murky at best.
Today's album was the Blossoms' second, and it's not nearly as good as the first, the one with "Hey Jealousy" on it. That's probably because the guy who wrote "Hey Jealousy" and most of the great songs on the first album was kicked out of the band for being a drunk and killed himself before the second album came out. The only thing I remember about this album is that I saw the band on SNL playing songs off it, and they looked like they did NOT want to be there. I should have seen the writing on the wall then.
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Today's album was the Blossoms' second, and it's not nearly as good as the first, the one with "Hey Jealousy" on it. That's probably because the guy who wrote "Hey Jealousy" and most of the great songs on the first album was kicked out of the band for being a drunk and killed himself before the second album came out. The only thing I remember about this album is that I saw the band on SNL playing songs off it, and they looked like they did NOT want to be there. I should have seen the writing on the wall then.
Monday, August 16, 2004
August 6: Oasis - What's the Story, Morning Glory?
On further listen, this one might actually be the greatest album of the '90s. There's not a single weak song on here, and every one of these could have been a hit single had the Gallagher Brothers stopped fighting long enough to make a video for 'em.
So influential on my life that I started a band in college that sounded exactly like Oasis... except we had no drummer, and all our songs were acoustic, and acoustic Oasis doesn't sound that great. You can see why I don't have any gold albums on my wall.
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So influential on my life that I started a band in college that sounded exactly like Oasis... except we had no drummer, and all our songs were acoustic, and acoustic Oasis doesn't sound that great. You can see why I don't have any gold albums on my wall.
August 5: REM - Automatic for the People
For a long time, I would have said this was the best album of the '90s. Listening to it again after two or three years, I still think it's in the top 2 or 3. But I'm not convinced it's the best (a sub-par instrumental and a poorly-advised political song in the middle hurt).
That being said, the one-two-three punch of "Man on the Moon," "Nightswimming," and "Find the River" is easily the best 10 minutes of music ever, in my opinion.
This is REM's "death album," in between Out of Time, the "life album," and Monster, the "sex album."
If you don't own this, what is wrong with you? Even when Dashboard Confessional covered a bunch of songs off this album for an MTV special last year, they sounded great.
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That being said, the one-two-three punch of "Man on the Moon," "Nightswimming," and "Find the River" is easily the best 10 minutes of music ever, in my opinion.
This is REM's "death album," in between Out of Time, the "life album," and Monster, the "sex album."
If you don't own this, what is wrong with you? Even when Dashboard Confessional covered a bunch of songs off this album for an MTV special last year, they sounded great.
August 4: Live - Throwing Copper
I find it hard to be objective about Live, mostly because each successive album after Throwing Copper has been crappier and crappier, and I was dumb enough to keep buying them (though Matt will tell you Secret Samadhit is highly under-rated). Does anybody else remember that Live was Rolling Stone's band of the year in 1995? No, really. I found my copy the other day in a box. This album was deservedly huge, though I'm still not a fan of "I Alone." And I completely forgot about "Pillar of Davidson," the next-to-last song, which is simply awesome.
It sucks that Live wasn't able to meet expectations, and the last time I saw their name mentioned in a magazine, it was because they were being blamed for the rise of Creed. They are apparently still huge in Holland, according to my Dutch buddy Neils.
p.s. Does anyone know why this album has a dark red case? I've never been able to figure that out. It makes it almost impossible to read the track listing, or to see the cool painting on the cover.
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It sucks that Live wasn't able to meet expectations, and the last time I saw their name mentioned in a magazine, it was because they were being blamed for the rise of Creed. They are apparently still huge in Holland, according to my Dutch buddy Neils.
p.s. Does anyone know why this album has a dark red case? I've never been able to figure that out. It makes it almost impossible to read the track listing, or to see the cool painting on the cover.
August 3: Aerosmith - Get a Grip
How good is this album? So good that the very excellent "Deuces are Wild" was left off and became a hit off the Beavis and Butthead soundtrack.
Is this the last good Aerosmith album? Yeah, probably.
Do "Crying," "Amazing" and "Crazy" all pretty much sound like the same song? Yeah, but it's a damn good song.
A quintessentially '90s album if only because the videos introduced us to the lovely Miss Alicia Silverstone.
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Is this the last good Aerosmith album? Yeah, probably.
Do "Crying," "Amazing" and "Crazy" all pretty much sound like the same song? Yeah, but it's a damn good song.
A quintessentially '90s album if only because the videos introduced us to the lovely Miss Alicia Silverstone.
August 2: Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rear View
Like Bush, you can't discuss '90s music without Hootie. This album was so big, it's hard to fathom now, when the best-selling CD of the year sells maybe four milion copies. Nearly 20 million people own this album. I think it came free with boxes of Rice Krispies at one point (or maybe that was Alanis Morrisette's album). I once heard Hootie referenced in a sermon.
Why did we love Hootie so much? Perhaps in a musical climate where Color Me Badd wanted to sex you up, and Trent Reznor wanted to f*ck you like an animal, it was comforting that Hootie only wanted you to hold his hand, and that the dolphins (the Miami Dolphins or the animals?) made him cry.
Actually, that's one of the things I noticed about Hootie when I listened to it again; there are a lot of references to crying, from "Let Her Cry" on down. Darius Rucker is apparently a weepy, weepy man.
My brother said Hootie is still really popular in South Carolina. Good for them. They were playing in L.A. when I was out there, but I didn't go. I did, however, go to see Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, and just thinking of those little burgers makes me want to burn this mother down. Let's do it, Matt! Let's burn this mother down!
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Why did we love Hootie so much? Perhaps in a musical climate where Color Me Badd wanted to sex you up, and Trent Reznor wanted to f*ck you like an animal, it was comforting that Hootie only wanted you to hold his hand, and that the dolphins (the Miami Dolphins or the animals?) made him cry.
Actually, that's one of the things I noticed about Hootie when I listened to it again; there are a lot of references to crying, from "Let Her Cry" on down. Darius Rucker is apparently a weepy, weepy man.
My brother said Hootie is still really popular in South Carolina. Good for them. They were playing in L.A. when I was out there, but I didn't go. I did, however, go to see Harold and Kumar go to White Castle, and just thinking of those little burgers makes me want to burn this mother down. Let's do it, Matt! Let's burn this mother down!
August 1: Bush - Sixteen Stone
I began the month with a '90s band if there ever was one, Bush.
First of all, if anyone has a spare case and jacket for this album, please e-mail me, because I appear to have lost mine.
Bush occupies a weird position in my music life. Spring of my senior year (1996, if you're keeping score at home), THE event was the Bush concert at the State Fair Arena in OKC, with Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt opening up. Anyone who was anyone was there, and Bush did not disappoint, churning out the hits off this album, as well as a bornus cover of REM's "The One I Love." I even bought the t-shirt.
Which I then gave to my sister a month later, as the Bush backlash began. By the time their second album came out, when I was in college, it wasn't even remotely cool to like Bush (though I did secretly learn the guitar chords to "Swallowed" when my roommate was at class).
Nine years later, I don't see what all the fuss was about. First of all, Bush doesn't realy sound much like Nirvana at all. If anything, they're both ripping off the Pixies. Secondly, what the hell is Gavin Rossdale talking about? Why didn't I notice that these lyrics are utter and complete gibberish when I first bought this? And once you get past "come Down" and "Machinehead" the songs aren't that great, either. (p.s.: my old buddy Chris Friend wrote a parody song of Machinehead called "Stoplighthead" in high school... it was pretty much the same song, with "machine" replaced with "stoplight" ... yet it was still hilarious)
Sadly, Bush aren't even a fond memory these days, and Gavin Rossdale is known mostly as Mr. Gwen Stefani. Who'da thunk that? In 1996, surrounded by rabid adoring fans crushing the stage at the State Fair Arena, I certainly wouldn't have.
P.S. On a related note, I can find the jacket and case for my copy of Sponge's Rotting Pinata, but can't find the album. If you have a spare copy, e-mail me.
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First of all, if anyone has a spare case and jacket for this album, please e-mail me, because I appear to have lost mine.
Bush occupies a weird position in my music life. Spring of my senior year (1996, if you're keeping score at home), THE event was the Bush concert at the State Fair Arena in OKC, with Goo Goo Dolls and No Doubt opening up. Anyone who was anyone was there, and Bush did not disappoint, churning out the hits off this album, as well as a bornus cover of REM's "The One I Love." I even bought the t-shirt.
Which I then gave to my sister a month later, as the Bush backlash began. By the time their second album came out, when I was in college, it wasn't even remotely cool to like Bush (though I did secretly learn the guitar chords to "Swallowed" when my roommate was at class).
Nine years later, I don't see what all the fuss was about. First of all, Bush doesn't realy sound much like Nirvana at all. If anything, they're both ripping off the Pixies. Secondly, what the hell is Gavin Rossdale talking about? Why didn't I notice that these lyrics are utter and complete gibberish when I first bought this? And once you get past "come Down" and "Machinehead" the songs aren't that great, either. (p.s.: my old buddy Chris Friend wrote a parody song of Machinehead called "Stoplighthead" in high school... it was pretty much the same song, with "machine" replaced with "stoplight" ... yet it was still hilarious)
Sadly, Bush aren't even a fond memory these days, and Gavin Rossdale is known mostly as Mr. Gwen Stefani. Who'da thunk that? In 1996, surrounded by rabid adoring fans crushing the stage at the State Fair Arena, I certainly wouldn't have.
P.S. On a related note, I can find the jacket and case for my copy of Sponge's Rotting Pinata, but can't find the album. If you have a spare copy, e-mail me.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Andrew's July summary (finally)
July 1: The Killers - Hot Fuss
July 2: Various Artists - Another Year on the Streets, Vol. 3
July 3: Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want
July 4: Sixteen Horsepower - Sackcloth 'n' Ashes
July 5: Upside and the Feds - High Heels and Hand Grenades
July 6: Deathray - (self-titled)
July 7: David Mead - Mine and Yours
July 8: Sugarcult - Wrap Me Up in Plastic
July 9: Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown
July 10: Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
July 11: R.E.M. - Animal
July 12: The Cooper Temple Clause - Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose
July 13: Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
July 14: Adam Sandler - Shhh...Don't Tell
July 15: Agents of Good Roots - One by One
July 16: Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
July 17: Various Artists - Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
July 18: Foo Fighters - Times Like These
July 19: U2 - Last Night on Earth
July 20: Longwave - The Strangest Thing
July 21: Hometown Hero - (self-titled)
July 22: Superdrag - Last Call for Vitriol
July 23: 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged
July 24: Oasis - Familiar to Millions (disc 1)
July 25: Oasis - Familiar to Millions (disc 2)
July 26: The Police - Live! (disc 1)
July 27: The Police - Live! (disc 2)
July 28: Our Lady Peace - Live
July 29: Nirvana - From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
July 30: Johnny Reliable - Going Hollywood
July 31: Johnny Reliable - Enough is Enough
Best album: Killers - Hot Fuss
Worst album: Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
Most disappointing: Superdrag - Last Call for Vitriol
So I'm back from the sunny Pacific Coast and an extended trip to L.A. Right before I left, though, I caught most of VH1's I love the '90s, and got inspired. So August is going to be '90s month (actually, August has been '90s month for 10 days now, but that's besides the point). If it didn't come out in the '90s, I ain't listening to it, which sucks because I shopped at Amoeba Records in LA after I decided to do this, and got a bunch of cool stuff.
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July 2: Various Artists - Another Year on the Streets, Vol. 3
July 3: Vertical Horizon - Everything You Want
July 4: Sixteen Horsepower - Sackcloth 'n' Ashes
July 5: Upside and the Feds - High Heels and Hand Grenades
July 6: Deathray - (self-titled)
July 7: David Mead - Mine and Yours
July 8: Sugarcult - Wrap Me Up in Plastic
July 9: Switchfoot - The Beautiful Letdown
July 10: Eagles of Death Metal - Peace Love Death Metal
July 11: R.E.M. - Animal
July 12: The Cooper Temple Clause - Kick Up the Fire, and Let the Flames Break Loose
July 13: Broken Social Scene - You Forgot It in People
July 14: Adam Sandler - Shhh...Don't Tell
July 15: Agents of Good Roots - One by One
July 16: Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
July 17: Various Artists - Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved
July 18: Foo Fighters - Times Like These
July 19: U2 - Last Night on Earth
July 20: Longwave - The Strangest Thing
July 21: Hometown Hero - (self-titled)
July 22: Superdrag - Last Call for Vitriol
July 23: 10,000 Maniacs - MTV Unplugged
July 24: Oasis - Familiar to Millions (disc 1)
July 25: Oasis - Familiar to Millions (disc 2)
July 26: The Police - Live! (disc 1)
July 27: The Police - Live! (disc 2)
July 28: Our Lady Peace - Live
July 29: Nirvana - From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah
July 30: Johnny Reliable - Going Hollywood
July 31: Johnny Reliable - Enough is Enough
Best album: Killers - Hot Fuss
Worst album: Mansun - Attack of the Grey Lantern
Most disappointing: Superdrag - Last Call for Vitriol
So I'm back from the sunny Pacific Coast and an extended trip to L.A. Right before I left, though, I caught most of VH1's I love the '90s, and got inspired. So August is going to be '90s month (actually, August has been '90s month for 10 days now, but that's besides the point). If it didn't come out in the '90s, I ain't listening to it, which sucks because I shopped at Amoeba Records in LA after I decided to do this, and got a bunch of cool stuff.
