Enya - Watermark

So, in the very rare occurrence, I like to listen to something super slow, and maybe even instrumental. I've always been a huge fan of the piano - I never learned how to play it, but I love to listen to it. For some reason, it has an intense calming effect on me. Enya is probably one of the most recognizable names when it comes to slow, brooding piano tracks. Plus as a bonus, I'm classifying this as my 'odd' review of the week! I kind of dig this. As stated, I wouldn't go out of my way to toss this on, but it's not bad. It reminds of getting a massage or sitting at a beautiful Hawaiian beach. The only problem I personally have this this type of tuneage, is it inspires too much thought. If I put this on while working, I'd end up getting nothing done as I'd just continue to drift off in wonder. It's good for that too though, as if I had a big life decision to make - I could easily toss this on and end up thinking more clearly. I'd say if you're a fan of this genre, check Watemark out. It certainly has my vote as an album that could really change your mood. If you're in position to, drift away to this one today.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Watermark
2. Cursum Perficio - (Latin)
3. On Your Shore
4. Storms in Africa
5. Exile
6. Miss Clare Remembers
7. Orinoco Flow
8. Evening Falls...
9. River
10. Longships, The
11. Na Laetha Gael M'Oige - (Irish Gaelic)
12. Storms in Africa, Pt. 2

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Orinoco Flow
2. The Longships
3. Exile

FINAL RATING:
3.5 out of 5 stars

AC/DC - Back In Black

Here I've been trying to avoid doing an AC/DC review like pirates tried to avoid picking up scurvy. Now I have to go and admit how I don't really care much for them - as I feel all their music sounds the same. Super heavy guitars, pretty loud - in your face vocals and lyrics that mean absolutely nothing. The lyrics are really just background noise for the fans to murmur along with. That doesn't mean their songs aren't super catchy though, as they certainly are. And they have a pretty bigtime following, so all those people outweigh my opinion. This is probably my favorite album by them, and that's only because of the sheer 'hype you up' principles behind it. If you're feeling down and need a pick me up, you can toss this on and feel like you can punch a hole in a brick wall. If you went and listened to 30 professional sports teams locker rooms, I bet at least half play AC/DC on a regular basis. Not sure why, as it isn't exactly peppy type stuff, just for some reason that heavy guitar and the simple lyrics you can sing along with make you feel invincible. How many tracks have you heard play over the system at sports venues? It's crazy. AC/DC could easily live off the royalties from sports arenas everywhere. Anyways, check this one out. It's a neat record.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Hells Bells
2. Shoot To Thrill
3. What Do You Do For Money Honey
4. Given The Dog A Bone
5. Let Me Put My Love Into You
6. Back In Black
7. You Shook Me All Night Long
8. Have A Drink on Me
9. Shake A Leg
10. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Hells Bells
2. Back In Black
3. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

Alice Deejay - Who Needs Guitars Anyway?

I have to admit, at first it was just a clever tagline - but this whole Techno Tuesday thing is really starting to grow on me! Not only is it a bit of consistency for you, the reader, but it also gives me some hot dance tracks to look forward to every week! This Tuesday, the selection is one Alice Deejay. This happens to be the one and only album they ever put out and they have not graced a stage since back in 2002. A bit of a shame, as their tuneage was pretty good. I do need some help from the dance crowd though, as I'm running out of stuff that I enjoy and need new artists!! This album runs a little bit of emotional gambit. There are some super upbeat songs and then some real down beats that make you think. I like records that do that. The electronics used by Alice are really cool as well. Too many times dance is just about jacking the bass up to 900 and calling it a night. They use a nice amount of bass with flat out mind bending electric chords. Check out the Top 3 and see if they are your cup of tea. I hope you enjoy this one, and then enough people can revolt and make Alice Deejay toss out another record!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Back in My Life
2. Better off Alone
3. Celebrate Our Love
4. Lonely One, The
5. Who Needs Guitars Anyway?
6. Will I Ever
7. Elements of Life
8. Fairy Tales
9. Waiting for Your Love
10. No More Lies
11. I Can See (See It in Your Eyes)
12. Everything Begins With an E
13. Got to Get Away
14. Alice Deejay

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Better Off Alone
2. Will I Ever
3. Got To Get Away

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars

Ben Folds - Songs For Silverman

Let me start by saying, I'm a Ben Folds fan. When they were the Ben Folds Five I enjoyed their stuff, and then when they dropped the 'Five', I enjoyed their first record 'Rockin' the Suburbs'. One thing irks me a little bit though, everytime they come up in coversation - I feel like people act like they're gods. Seriously, they're good, don't make them out to be The Beatles or something. The songwriting is clever, they put on a good show, they keep making really good tuneage. That's about it. I don't think Mr. Folds even thinks he needs to be your favorite artist ever. Anyway, this is a pretty solid album. If you've never tuned into Ben, check him out. His arrangements are typically second to none. There is always some great vocals and some great piano and some great background beats. I personally have to be in the right mood for Ben Folds, and maybe you do too - but check them out. Especially the Top 3 here as I think I'll give you a pretty good indicator what he's all about. I can finally say - Enjoy! and make your Monday disappear with music!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Bastard
2. You To Thank
3. Jesusland
4. Landed
5. Gracie
6. Trusted
7. Give Judy My Notice
8. Late
9. Sentimental Guy
10. Time
11. Prison Food

Listen To Samples

1. Landed
2. Late
3. Bastard

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars

Ke$ha - Animal

Wow. Just....wow.

So, I'm going from creating my Top 100 of the '90s - which for the most part were some of my favorite songs of all time in my favorite genres. Then I go to Ke$ha, which is really, quite simply - awful. I mean, in theory I should have known it would be terrible since, how many reputable artists replace s's with dollar signs? I could go on another huge rant about what's wrong with pop music, but I'll do that some other time. I can't even blame her too much, she did write the music - but some producer actually listened to this and thought - "WOW, this blew my mind!" I don't get it. You can tell she's trying to span genres by appealing to the teens, the pop fans and then the dance crowd. I'm sure she'll continue to be huge with the first two - but I don't think it's nearly groovy enough to hit the good dance clubs. I implore everyone, please listen to the track "Dinosaur". It is EASILY one of the WORST songs I've ever heard. Again, any track that the artist spells words - probably not going to be a gem. Just an FYI there. I would leave you with an ENJOY, or some quip, but instead I'm too sad and angry.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Your Love is My Drug
2. Tiktok
3. Take it Off
4. Ki$$ N Tell
5. Stephen
6. Blah Blah Blah
7. Hungover
8. Party at a Rich Dude's House
9. Back$tabber
10. Blind
11. D.I.N.O.$.A.U.R.
12. Dancing With Tears in My Eyes
13. Boots & Boys
14. Animal

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Animal
2. Blah Blah Blah
3. Your Love Is My Drug

FINAL RATING:
.5 out of 5 stars

"Yes Pete, it is. In fact, it's pronounced 'mill-e-wah-que' which is Algonquin for 'the good land'."

It's Friday. It's the day after tax day. I grew up during the time. I think it's the best decade for movies. I think it's the best decade for music. The other lists I've seen are terrible.

How many reasons do you want? Wait, you probably don't even know what the post is about yet. Well, the day is finally here B Siders!! I've assembled a list of the Top 100 songs in the '90s!! Here is a quick key as to how I came to my Top 100:

Weighting:
50% - How Much I Enjoy It
25% - Repeatability
10% - Made Artist Blow Up
10% - Cultural Influence
10% - Popularity
-5% - One Hit Wonders

As you can see, being a one hit wonder will count against you here. Not that it matters too much with me, as if I really like it - it'll be on the list. The other rule is you can only have ONE track per artist. I think that makes the list more valid, as otherwise someone like me will have all alt rock and rap artists 1-100. As always, comment on how stupid my list it or how brilliant I am. I think it turned out pretty well! Oh, and now I want to watch Wayne's World again... Here it goes!

First, the list of tracks that didn't quite make it: (in alphabetical order)

Ace Of Base - The Sign
Arrested Development - Mr Wendal
BBD - Poison
Barenaked Ladies - The Old Apartment
Breeders - Cannonball
Bryan Adams - I Do It For You
CC Music Factory - Gonna Make You Sweat
Cher - Believe
Christina Aguilara - Genie In A Bottle
Color Me Badd - I Wanna Sex You Up
Deadeye Dick - New Age Girl
Digital Underground - Humpty Dance
Duncan Sheik - Barely Breathing
Ed McCain - I'll Be
EMF - Unbelieveable
Fastball - The Way
Fiona Apple - Criminal
Fugees - Ready Or Not
Gerardo - Rico Suave
Geto Boys - Still
Hanson - MmmBop
Jamioquai - Virtual Insanity
Lauren Hill - Doo Wop (That Thing)
Lenny Kravitz - Fly Away
Live - I Alone
Meatloaf - I'd Do Anything For Love
Meredith Brooks - Bitch
Naughty By Nature - OPP
New Radicals - You Get What You Give
NSYNC - Tearin Up My Heart
Paula Cole - I Don't Want To Wait
Ricky Martin - Livin La Vida Loca
Right Said Fred - I'm Too Sexy
Sarah McLachlan - Building A Mystery
Shaggy - Boombastic
Sheryl Crow - All I Wanna Do
Snow - Informer
Sophie B Hawkins - Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover
Spice Girls - Wannabe
Superdrag - Sucked Out
Temple of the Dog - Say Hello 2 Heaven
Tom Petty - Learning To Fly
Wilson Phillips - Hold On


AND THE TOP 100!!

100. Billy Ray Cyrus - Achy Breaky Heart
99. Chumbawumba - Tubthumping
98. Matchbox 20 - 3AM
97. Montell Jordan - This Is How We Do It
96. Kris Kross - Jump
95. Celine Dion - My Heart Will Go On
94. Garth Brooks - Unanswered Prayers
93. Michael Jackson - Black Or White
92. Third Eye Blind - Semi Charmed Life
91. Mariah Carey - Vision Of Love
90. Destinys Child - Say My Name
89. Public Enemy - Fight The Power
88. MC Hammer - Can't Touch This
87. Hole - Doll Parts
86. Crash Test Dummies - Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
85. Lisa Loeb - Stay (I Miss You)
84. Garbage - Stupid Girl
83. Will Smith - Getting Jiggy With It
82. Vanilla Ice - Ice, Ice Baby
81. Backstreet Boys - I Want It That Way
80. LL Cool J - Mama Said Knock You Out
79. Sinead O'Conner - Nothing Compares 2 U
78. Marky Mark and the Funkybunch - Good Vibrations
77. Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise
76. Marcy Playground - Sex And Candy
75. Madonna - Vogue
74. Pantera - Drag The Waters
73. Jewel - Foolish Games
72. Britney Spears - Baby…One More Time
71. Cranberries - Zombie
70. Deee Lite - Groove Is In The Heart
69. Cypress Hill - Insane In The Brain
68. Missy Elliott - The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
67. Joan Osbourne - One Of Us
66. Blues Traveler - Hook
65. Sugar Ray - Fly
64. Counting Crows - Colorblind
63. Technotronic - Move This
62. Van Halen - Right Now
61. Marilyn Manson - The Beautiful People
60. Korn - Blind
59. BLACKstreet - No Diggity
58. Blind Melon - No Rain
57. Offspring - Smash
56. Prince - 7
55. En Vogue - My Lovin (Never Gonna Get It)
54. Puff Daddy - Can't Nobody Hold Me Down
53. Megadeth - Symphony of Destruction
52. Whitney Houston - I Will Always Love You
51. Sir Mix A Lot - Baby Got Back
50. Spin Doctors - Two Princes
49. TLC - Waterfalls
48. Goo Goo Dolls - Iris
47. Incubus - Drive
46. Guns N Roses - November Rain
45. Eric Clapton - Tears In Heaven
44. The Gufs - Smile
43. U2 - One
42. Salt N Pepa - Shoop
41. Fatboy Slim - Right Here, Right Now
40. Dave Matthews Band - Crush
39. No Doubt - Don't Speak
38. Smashing Pumpkins - Thirty Three
37. Collective Soul - Shine
36. Hootie and the Blowfish - Let Her Cry
35. REM - Everybody Hurts
34. Warren G - Regulate
33. Jay Z - Hard Knock Life
32. Presidents of the USA - Peaches
31. House of Pain - Jump Around
30. Alice in Chains - Would?
29. Eels - Beautiful Freak
28. Snoop Dogg - Gin And Juice
27. Cake - The Distance
26. Rage Against The Machine - Bulls On Parade
25. Ice Cube - It Was A Good Day
24. Spacehog - In The Meantime
23. Bush - Glycerine
22. Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
21. Beck - Where It's At
20. Radiohead - Just
19. Weezer - Say It Ain't So
18. Alanis Morissette - You Oughta Know
17. Metallica - Bleeding Me
16. Sublime - Pawn Shop
15. Daft Punk - Around The World
14. Green Day - When I Come Around
13. DMX - Ruff Ryders Anthem
12. Beastie Boys - Sabotage
11. Oasis - Wonderwall
10. Soundgarden - Black Hole Sun
9. Stone Temple Pilots - Interstate Love Song
8. Eminem - My Name Is
7. 2Pac - Hail Mary
6. Nirvana - Dumb
5. Notorious BIG - Juicy
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Soul To Squeeze
3. Black Crowes - She Talks To Angels
2. Foo Fighters - Everlong
1. Dr Dre - Nothin But A G Thing

Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream

A follower of mine was discussing how one of her biggest regrets was never going to a Pumpkins show in her life so far. I have to say, these guys put on a pretty solid show. It made me realize that I've never put anything of theirs out on the B Side!! Better late than never I suppose. I could have started with Gish, which is one of my faves, but I figured I'd start with a record that would receive a more favorable review. I think I may like Mellon Collie a little better, but this was up there with some of the earliest music I ever purchased. I still toss it in fairly often to this day. It seems like a lot of folks talk about the Pumpkins and talk about how they enjoy their tunes, but I don't hear it all that often. If I'm over at someones place and there is ambiance music in the background - it's very rarely ever Smashing Pumpkins. That's kind of sad. They have made a ton of good music over the years. Personally I feel they peaked a bit with Mellon Collie - but that's just the way I feel. Adore and the following didn't have the classic vibe to them - and I think those albums were a little weaker on their discography. They put one out sometime in late 2009 called Teargarden by Kaleidyscope, but I honestly don't think I've heard anything off of it. If you're casual fan, check out their Rarities and B-Sides too. They do a great cover of Landslide and You're All I've Got Tonight. Happy listening!



TRACK LISTING:

1. Cherub Rock

2. Quiet

3. Today

4. Hummer

5. Rocket

6. Disarm

7. Soma

8. Geek U.S.A.

9. Mayonaise

10. Spaceboy

11. Silverfuck

12. Sweet Sweet

13. Luna



Listen To Samples



Top 3 Tracks:

1. Cherub Rock

2. Today

3. Disarm



FINAL RATING:

4.5 out of 5 stars