Van Halen - Self Titled

For some odd reason, I have gotten turned onto Van Halen again lately. I've been going from STP to Radiohead to Van Halen in fairly consistent rotation. Anyway, I won't claim to be on the Van Halen superfan bandwagon, but I always enjoyed them from time to time. Since I don't have a certain record that sticks out in my head as better than the rest, I'll start from the beginning. When I think of '70s music, Van Halen wouldn't even enter into my thought process. This came out in '78, when I envision the world was still jamming to Zeppelin, Floyd and still trying to understand why Jimi died. I think of VH as an 80's band through and through. Clearly that isn't the case, and if I was alive to live in it - I'd probably know Van Halen was around and kicking. These guys are really into heavy guitar, and solid vocals from no matter who is behind the mic. Eddie Van Halen has to be in the discussion for best guitarist of all time, and that shows brightly with 'Eruption'. What impresses me about them too, is some of the songs actually have some substance. It's not like AC/DC where the lyrics are irrelevant on most tracks and the music is all that matters. I respect that. Check Van Halen out, I think you'll enjoy their tuneage. If you listen and this record isn't for you, grab a different one. I think eventually you'll find something you like.



TRACK LISTING:

1. Runnin' with the Devil

2. Eruption

3. You Really Got Me

4. Ain't Talkin' 'Bout Love

5. I'm The One

6. Jamie's Cryin'

7. Atomic Punk

8. Feel Your Love Tonight

9. Little Dreamer

10. Ice Cream Man

11. On Fire



Listen To Samples



Top 3 Tracks:

1. Runnin With The Devil

2. Eruption

3. Ice Cream Man



FINAL RATING:

4.25 out of 5 stars

Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds

So funny thing happened to me today. I was chatting with a follower of mine and they indicated that I should get to Justin Timberlake. Part of me thinks that they didn't think that I'd ever in my life listen to him, and that it would almost be like torture. Well B Side fans, I really enjoy listening to his music. Even Justified had some really good tracks on it. Although I wouldn't say I fell head over heels for that one, I totally groove on FutureSex. I think more albums that come out should be like this. The album literally spans almost every genre of music possible. There is a little something for everyone here. There are a couple huge duds on the record, but with the Deluxe Edition, there are 15 tracks. That is double what most people come out with nowadays. I'm a little surprised he hasn't put another record out since this one, but I guess he's busy with making movies now or something. Anyway, even if you're the most grizzled of men - pop this one in. Don't let the name on the cover fool you, you'll actually enjoy it. At the very least, check out my Top 3 as I think it'll span all different genres. Happy Saturday!

TRACK LISTING:
1. FutureSex/LoveSound
2. SexyBack
3. Sexy Ladies/Let Me Talk to You (Prelude)
4. My Love
5. LoveStoned/I Think She Knows (Interlude)
6. What Goes Around... Comes Around
7. Chop Me Up
8. Damn Girl
9. Summer Love/Set the Mood
10. Until the End of Time
11. Losing My Way
12. (Another Song) All Over Again
13. Until The End Of Time
14. SexyBack (Remix)
15. Sexy Ladies (Remix)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Chop Me Up
2. (Another Song) All Over Again
3. What Goes Around....Comes Around

FINAL RATING:
4.25 out of 5 stars

Pearl Jam - Ten

This is really hard for me to talk about. I mean, I have this music blog in which I talk about how much I LOVE music and how it's something that gets me not only through my day, but gets me through life. I think we all can point to music to describe moments and sections of our lives. And I feel that our mood can be totally altered by music. If your environment puts you in a bad mood, nothing can cheer you up faster than listening to your favorite song. Just turning it up as loud as it goes and drifting away - forgetting all of life's problems. And with this, as studious and open as I am and as loving of all music as I am -- I have one thing to admit:

I don't really care for Pearl Jam.

I know...I know...blasphemous! Well, they just don't really do it for me. I respect them like I respect any band that changed music as much as these guys. No question they're super talented, they have great music - they're just not in my Top 50. For those that know them, they loathe the spotlight and prefer to stay out of the mainstream. They do a great job at putting on many shows for fans, and putting the shows recording out for commercial release. Smart. Since I'm not a huge fan, I'll just start with their first record. Some people might tell you it's one of the best records of all time, I'm going to tell you otherwise. Feel free to let me know why you now want to punch me in the face.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Once
2. Even Flow
3. Alive
4. Why Go
5. Black
6. Jeremy
7. Oceans
8. Porch
9. Garden
10. Deep
11. Release

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Black
2. Alive
3. Oceans

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Damien Rice - O

Chalk this up to another band I got to hear in a strange way. I was watching the movie "Closer" with Natalie Portman, Jude Law etc...and I loved the movie - but the ending of the movie culminated with this great Damien Rice track called "The Blowers Daughter". It was a perfect ending to a really good movie and the song summed up the emotions that probably everyone who saw it that day was thinking. Not even due to the lyrics really, just the vocal performance and the raw emotion that Mr. Rice was tapping into. I immediately went out and bought this record when I found out what and who it was. Needless to say, this album is pretty solid. I'm guessing most of you folks haven't heard of it - so check it out. It's a very slow, emotional type album, that will certainly not get out up and dancing. As I always say, if you're just in that 'mood', go and put this on. You'll enjoy the hauntingly slow guitar work and the passionate vocals by either him or the other vocalists on the cd. It's not the best album I've ever heard - but it's a nice change of pace on a rainy day. Check it out, especially the Top 3.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Delicate
2. Volcano
3. Blower's Daughter, The
4. Cannonball
5. Older Chests
6. Amie
7. Cheers Darlin'
8. Cold Water
9. I Remember
10. Eskimo

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. The Blower's Daughter
2. Cheers Darlin'
3. Eskimo

FINAL RATING:
3.25 out of 5 stars

The Doors - Self Titled

Yay classic rock! For some reason I always seem to forget about the Doors when I'm strumming through my classic catalog. Crazy since their music is really very good. I decided to start with their first album, as it's a solid representation of what was coming next. This album doesn't contain my favorite Doors track on it, but it's solid all the way through. If you haven't heard them, Jim Morrison's vocals are flat out amazing. His passion for the songs he belts out is just incomparable to any other band out there. There are some great lyrics as credited not just to Morrison, but the whole band. In this era of drugs and a budding sense of what was rock n roll, there were some great bands out there that made some music that will continue to span eras. The Doors are right there in that boat. Their music will live on in my grandkids and their grandkids and will be known and heart in the year 3010. They're not up there with Hendrix, Zeppelin or Floyd in my opinion - but I completely understand if this is your favorite band from '60s or '70s. I encourage you to listen to not just the hits, but the odd duck songs you may not have heard before. Great stuff through and through.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Break on Through (To the Other Side)
2. Soul Kitchen
3. Crystal Ship, The
4. Twentieth Century Fox
5. Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)
6. Light My Fire
7. Back Door Man
8. I Looked at You
9. End of the Night
10. Take It as It Comes
11. End, The
12. Moonlight Drive (Version 1)
13. Moonlight Drive (Version 2)
14. Indian Summer (8/19/66 Vocal)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Light My Fire
2. Soul Kitchen
3. The End

FINAL RATING:
4.25 out of 5 stars

Randy Travis - Storms Of Life

Get your big jug, washboard and a set of spoons - it's Country day! Confession to make though, I wanted to do Garth Brooks, but apparently he doesn't allow any website to post samples of his tuneage. So one of my followers suggested Randy Travis this week. I'm on my second go round with this record as I'm typing - so far, not so good. I think this is why I have issues with country genre in general. Most of the songs to me sound exactly the same. They all seem to have that (how do you describe it), for lack of a better word - beat. One bass, one snare - over and over and over again. For some reason - that repetition really gets to me. Between that and the vocals also staying the same - he pretty much sings monotone with the exception of maybe showing the range of about 3 notes on the mic. This seriously reminds me of my Grandmother listening to Conway Twitty in the car when I was a kid, and thinking about opening the door and making a break for it on a busy interstate. Okay, maybe it's not that bad, but this isn't the music for me. I'm confident I'd like Garth Brooks more than this, as the album I intend to review I've listened to once already. If this isn't indicative of Mr. Travis's normal work - let me know and I'll pick up something else. Right here and right now, I can't wait to move on to the next review.

TRACK LISTING:
1. On the Other Hand
2. Storms of Life, The
3. My Heart Cracked (But It Did Not Break)
4. Diggin' Up Bones
5. No Place Like Home
6. 1982
7. Send My Body
8. Messin' with My Mind
9. Reasons I Cheat
10. There'll Always Be a Honky Tonk Somewhere

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Storms Of Life
2. On The Other Hand
3. 1982

FINAL RATING:
1.75 out of 5 stars

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere

Sometimes I whole heartedly disagree with genre classification. This is one of those cases. I see a lot of sites list Gnarls as hip hop/rap - no way. Some show this album as alternative - no way. This to me is a pop record through and through. So if you're a pop music fan, this review is for you. If you disagree with my genre classification, let me know about it. I put it there since the way the album is laid out, the lyrics and the general feel for it. I think the reason a couple sites list it as alternative is simply because it doesn't fit into any other genre. I have a problem lumping everything into alt just because it isn't any standard classification. Anyway, this record is pretty solid. I know some people really went gaga over it - and I wouldn't put myself in that venue. I think it's really good, I think it's really different - but I wouldn't tell you to rush out and buy it. There are a few good tracks including a Violent Femmes cover in 'Gone Daddy Gone'. I hear Gnarls puts on a flat out, amazing show. Maybe sometime I'll hit one up and have more respect for them. One more album exists called 'Odd Couple' - but I've never heard any of it. I'll get to it someday - but until then toss this back on. If nothing else, jam out to Crazy one more time.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Go-Go Gadget Gospel
2. Crazy
3. St. Elsewhere
4. Gone Daddy Gone
5. Smiley Faces
6. Boogie Monster, The
7. Feng Shui
8. Just a Thought
9. Transformer
10. Who Cares?
11. Online
12. Necromancing
13. Storm Coming
14. Last Time, The


Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Crazy
2. Gone Daddy Gone
3. Smiley Faces

FINAL RATING:
3.25 out of 5 stars