34. "Take Me With You" by Morphine
I think the first time I heard Morphine was while watching the movie Wild Things, which uses a few songs prominently throughout the film. Probably not the best introduction. Years later, I was re-introduced to them and the album The Night, which I've come to love. I'm not a huge fan of the sax, but Morphine uses the silky tones as most bands would use blues guitar, invoking feelings of sadness and regret and all of those things most people want to forget about and not relish in. This song in particular struck me when I first heard it, and I think I actually listened to it over and over for an entire night, because this is what a lonely night sounds like. It's got so much emotion but without it being forced. The subtle strings in the background aide the bass and sax in just the right way, and the late-great Mark Sandman's vocals are perfect as always. This is one of those songs that, as I listen to it, always drags me deep into thought (not just sad and depressing thoughts, but of all kinds... just thoughts), and I love it when songs are able to do that.
3.31.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 33
33. "Gimme Danger" by Monster Magnet (Iggy and the Stooges cover)
I love the original song, and credit is obviously due Iggy and crew for the song itself. The reason a cover song made my list is that, besides it being an excellent and faithful version that adds a bit of punch to the original, Monster Magnet is now one of my favorite bands... and I wasn't a very big fan of them until I listened to this. Up until I listened to a compilation album called The Hard & The Heavy, all I'd heard was "Space Lord," "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" (which I dug, but an isolated good song doesn't make a great band), and "Heads Explode." The former and latter of these songs, which also had accompanying videos that got some MTV airtime, portrayed the band as everything I hated about rock music at the very end of the '90's: arrogant and stupid. I didn't realize that was part of the joke until much later. Listening to this cover, I thought, "Hey, these guys might not be so bad," and later on that year I heard "Silver Future" which sealed their fate as a band I'd have to check out. I now think they are one of the last few remaining rock bands that know what it means to just be a rock band, without any of the BS that's become associated with that title. I don't know that much about their personal lives or their personalities off-stage, they don't seem too concerned with image, unless they're purposefully trying to parody the image of rock bands, they don't do appearances as themselves on reality shows or guest-host MTV programs... they just make rock music and then they go out and perform that for their fans.
I love the original song, and credit is obviously due Iggy and crew for the song itself. The reason a cover song made my list is that, besides it being an excellent and faithful version that adds a bit of punch to the original, Monster Magnet is now one of my favorite bands... and I wasn't a very big fan of them until I listened to this. Up until I listened to a compilation album called The Hard & The Heavy, all I'd heard was "Space Lord," "Look to Your Orb for the Warning" (which I dug, but an isolated good song doesn't make a great band), and "Heads Explode." The former and latter of these songs, which also had accompanying videos that got some MTV airtime, portrayed the band as everything I hated about rock music at the very end of the '90's: arrogant and stupid. I didn't realize that was part of the joke until much later. Listening to this cover, I thought, "Hey, these guys might not be so bad," and later on that year I heard "Silver Future" which sealed their fate as a band I'd have to check out. I now think they are one of the last few remaining rock bands that know what it means to just be a rock band, without any of the BS that's become associated with that title. I don't know that much about their personal lives or their personalities off-stage, they don't seem too concerned with image, unless they're purposefully trying to parody the image of rock bands, they don't do appearances as themselves on reality shows or guest-host MTV programs... they just make rock music and then they go out and perform that for their fans.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 32
32. "So What" by Ministry
Ministry is one of my favorite bands, and while they are sort of a one-trick pony, I love that trick so much that I can't get enough of it. They're smart and mean and harsh and fun and louder than anything else on the planet. However, "So What" is one of those songs that isn't exactly what the group is best known for. In a way, it's on this list for similar reasons as my #2 song, KMFDM's "Full Worm Garden." Its the fact that it's just as good as, yet sounds different than, most of their other great songs. The lyrics are a stand-up-and-shout anthem against misguided authority, its got one of my favorite bass lines of any song ever, and the 1950's propaganda-film samples inter-cut between the verses are also my favorite use of samples in any song.
Ministry is one of my favorite bands, and while they are sort of a one-trick pony, I love that trick so much that I can't get enough of it. They're smart and mean and harsh and fun and louder than anything else on the planet. However, "So What" is one of those songs that isn't exactly what the group is best known for. In a way, it's on this list for similar reasons as my #2 song, KMFDM's "Full Worm Garden." Its the fact that it's just as good as, yet sounds different than, most of their other great songs. The lyrics are a stand-up-and-shout anthem against misguided authority, its got one of my favorite bass lines of any song ever, and the 1950's propaganda-film samples inter-cut between the verses are also my favorite use of samples in any song.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 31
31. "Disposable Heroes" by Metallica
People can say what they want about Metallica, but I will always defend them to some extent. And when it comes to the album Master of Puppets, I think they created a metal album to stand alongside Sabbath's Paranoid as one of the finest examples the genre has to offer. This has been my favorite song by the band, (closely followed by the song "Four Horsemen" off of their debut... I'm a sucker for a good gallop), and it proves why I love them so much. This was the band in their prime, coming straight off of the groundbreaking Ride the Lightning. Ulrich's drum beat is monstrous, (many a great band have simplified the beat slightly when they cover it), Hammett's riffs and solos are top-notch, Hetfield's in his lyrical element, singing about war and death and the cost and consequences of such, and the late great Cliff Burton, who knew exactly when to synchronize with the guitar and when to go his own way, is stupifying. Am I saying this is the best metal song ever? No. I'm saying it's one of the best, though, and it's probably my favorite metal song. And for the record, I think a lot of people hate Metallica for BS reasons. Metallica, by "selling out" and gaining MTV and national radio airplay, reached out to a kid in the 5th grade who was dumbfounded by what he heard, and the kid awoke from some trance, threw down his previous albums consisting simply of whatever was popular at the time, and went out into the world to discover what else was out there. I'll never badmouth Metallica, because without them "selling out," I might not have heard, or cared enough to really listen to, almost every other song on this list. Metallica was the first band I really got into, and I discovered them on my own, without someone handing me something and saying "check this out," which I think made all the difference.
People can say what they want about Metallica, but I will always defend them to some extent. And when it comes to the album Master of Puppets, I think they created a metal album to stand alongside Sabbath's Paranoid as one of the finest examples the genre has to offer. This has been my favorite song by the band, (closely followed by the song "Four Horsemen" off of their debut... I'm a sucker for a good gallop), and it proves why I love them so much. This was the band in their prime, coming straight off of the groundbreaking Ride the Lightning. Ulrich's drum beat is monstrous, (many a great band have simplified the beat slightly when they cover it), Hammett's riffs and solos are top-notch, Hetfield's in his lyrical element, singing about war and death and the cost and consequences of such, and the late great Cliff Burton, who knew exactly when to synchronize with the guitar and when to go his own way, is stupifying. Am I saying this is the best metal song ever? No. I'm saying it's one of the best, though, and it's probably my favorite metal song. And for the record, I think a lot of people hate Metallica for BS reasons. Metallica, by "selling out" and gaining MTV and national radio airplay, reached out to a kid in the 5th grade who was dumbfounded by what he heard, and the kid awoke from some trance, threw down his previous albums consisting simply of whatever was popular at the time, and went out into the world to discover what else was out there. I'll never badmouth Metallica, because without them "selling out," I might not have heard, or cared enough to really listen to, almost every other song on this list. Metallica was the first band I really got into, and I discovered them on my own, without someone handing me something and saying "check this out," which I think made all the difference.
3.30.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 30
30. "Mechanical Animals" by Marilyn Manson
Despite the fact that in the eyes of the masses he transformed from Antichrist to Late Night punchline in less than a decade, Brian Warner and crew, better known to the world as Marilyn Manson, created some of the most memorable hard rock this side of the 70's. The album Mechanical Animals is another favorite album, and the title track is my favorite track off of that album. I like the way it changes from a 90's hard rock song to a 70's glam-rock song to an 80's industrial ballad and back, and it has a killer outro that builds up like a hand-grenade explosion. The lyrics are meaningful and interesting, full of Manson's usual creative wordplay, the music has its influences in just about everything, and more than anything else, it (like the album itself) shows a side to the band that no one ever expected.
Despite the fact that in the eyes of the masses he transformed from Antichrist to Late Night punchline in less than a decade, Brian Warner and crew, better known to the world as Marilyn Manson, created some of the most memorable hard rock this side of the 70's. The album Mechanical Animals is another favorite album, and the title track is my favorite track off of that album. I like the way it changes from a 90's hard rock song to a 70's glam-rock song to an 80's industrial ballad and back, and it has a killer outro that builds up like a hand-grenade explosion. The lyrics are meaningful and interesting, full of Manson's usual creative wordplay, the music has its influences in just about everything, and more than anything else, it (like the album itself) shows a side to the band that no one ever expected.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 29
29. "Lux Aeterna (Winter)" by Clint Mansell & Kronos Quartet
Another soundtrack song (from the gorgeous and scary Requiem for a Dream), and a movie-trailer regular, this has, to me anyway, become almost as iconic a piece as anything by Beethoven or Mozart. I know that's a bold statement, but I stick to it (this is my opinion, go write your own list!). Mansell and Kronos Quartet created a musical theme for a film that became so much more than just a theme for a film. It's timeless and beautiful and full of power and sadness. It, quite simply, moves me.
Another soundtrack song (from the gorgeous and scary Requiem for a Dream), and a movie-trailer regular, this has, to me anyway, become almost as iconic a piece as anything by Beethoven or Mozart. I know that's a bold statement, but I stick to it (this is my opinion, go write your own list!). Mansell and Kronos Quartet created a musical theme for a film that became so much more than just a theme for a film. It's timeless and beautiful and full of power and sadness. It, quite simply, moves me.
3.27.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 28
28. "The Soft Collision" by Machines of Loving Grace
In the latter half of the 90's I picked up an album simply because the band had done a track on The Crow soundtrack that was pretty cool. I quickly learned that the album sounded nothing like that track, but was even better than I'd hoped it would be. It rocked like a grunge band (the bass player shines in particular), it had atmospheres similar to the quiet spaces found in Trent Reznor's discography, and the vocals were haunting and gruff at the same time. There was a beauty that wasn't on the surface, and it was hard to put my finger on what exactly stood out, but it did stand out, and many years later this song still does. I, surprisingly, found that I listen to it regularly.
In the latter half of the 90's I picked up an album simply because the band had done a track on The Crow soundtrack that was pretty cool. I quickly learned that the album sounded nothing like that track, but was even better than I'd hoped it would be. It rocked like a grunge band (the bass player shines in particular), it had atmospheres similar to the quiet spaces found in Trent Reznor's discography, and the vocals were haunting and gruff at the same time. There was a beauty that wasn't on the surface, and it was hard to put my finger on what exactly stood out, but it did stand out, and many years later this song still does. I, surprisingly, found that I listen to it regularly.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 27
27. "When the Levee Breaks" by Led Zeppelin
My favorite song by one of the greatest rock bands in history. This song has one of my favorite drum beats ever. The lyrics are traditional, but Plant makes them his own (ever listen to anyone else do this song in an un-Plant-like way? It doesn't sound right, does it?), and Page's guitar work (and that sound and tone he gets) is outstanding. It's one of the few songs by the band that no matter how overplayed or overhyped Zeppelin gets, no one ever hates or gets tired of or says anything negative about.
My favorite song by one of the greatest rock bands in history. This song has one of my favorite drum beats ever. The lyrics are traditional, but Plant makes them his own (ever listen to anyone else do this song in an un-Plant-like way? It doesn't sound right, does it?), and Page's guitar work (and that sound and tone he gets) is outstanding. It's one of the few songs by the band that no matter how overplayed or overhyped Zeppelin gets, no one ever hates or gets tired of or says anything negative about.
3.25.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 26
26. "Jardin de Cecile" by Juno Reactor
If The Prodigy really got me into electronic music, Juno Reactor led me to believe that electronic music was a viable art form that could most easily be compared to classical music, rather than rock. It's the fact that Juno Reactor creates feelings, and those feelings resonate louder than the thumping bass and aboriginal beats used to convey them. This song, the first track on another Top 5 Favorite Album, takes its time to build up, letting the mood settle over you before whisking you away on a musical journey. Gorgeous. I was introduced to Juno Reactor via another "artist" from the (again) Mortal Kombat soundtrack, with the song "Control" by Traci Lords (yeah, the ex-porn star). The song on the soundtrack was an instrumental version, and when I looked to see who had done the music for Miss Lords' vocals, it was a group called Juno Reactor. Months later, I saw and picked up the album Bible of Dreams at my local record store, and have never been able to get enough since.
If The Prodigy really got me into electronic music, Juno Reactor led me to believe that electronic music was a viable art form that could most easily be compared to classical music, rather than rock. It's the fact that Juno Reactor creates feelings, and those feelings resonate louder than the thumping bass and aboriginal beats used to convey them. This song, the first track on another Top 5 Favorite Album, takes its time to build up, letting the mood settle over you before whisking you away on a musical journey. Gorgeous. I was introduced to Juno Reactor via another "artist" from the (again) Mortal Kombat soundtrack, with the song "Control" by Traci Lords (yeah, the ex-porn star). The song on the soundtrack was an instrumental version, and when I looked to see who had done the music for Miss Lords' vocals, it was a group called Juno Reactor. Months later, I saw and picked up the album Bible of Dreams at my local record store, and have never been able to get enough since.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 25
25. "Sledgehammer" by Peter Gabriel
Quite possibly the greatest pop song ever written. I imagine if Peter Gabriel had been born in any other century, he still would've created genre-defying works of art that would tower above everything around him. Gabriel has written better, more thought-provoking songs, and he's composed more artistic soundscapes with some of the most talented musicians alive the world over, but "Sledgehammer" is such a great song. When you sit and listen to it, there are so many genius flourishes and parts to it, that the fact that he was able to make it sound so simple and accessible is the most amazing thing of all.
Quite possibly the greatest pop song ever written. I imagine if Peter Gabriel had been born in any other century, he still would've created genre-defying works of art that would tower above everything around him. Gabriel has written better, more thought-provoking songs, and he's composed more artistic soundscapes with some of the most talented musicians alive the world over, but "Sledgehammer" is such a great song. When you sit and listen to it, there are so many genius flourishes and parts to it, that the fact that he was able to make it sound so simple and accessible is the most amazing thing of all.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 24
24. "Under" by Filter
I love the song "Hey Man Nice Shot," but the song "Under" was the one I wore out on my cassette copy of Short Bus. It's got a cool groove, it's dark and gritty, and the lyrics are witty while still having a point. Filter are one of those bands that came and went... and then came back into my life again, (could be because I never liked "Take a Picture" and I distanced myself from them during that period, but then The Trouble with Angels was one of my favorite albums of 2010). Something about this song has always stuck with me, though, and I think it's just that it rocks.
I love the song "Hey Man Nice Shot," but the song "Under" was the one I wore out on my cassette copy of Short Bus. It's got a cool groove, it's dark and gritty, and the lyrics are witty while still having a point. Filter are one of those bands that came and went... and then came back into my life again, (could be because I never liked "Take a Picture" and I distanced myself from them during that period, but then The Trouble with Angels was one of my favorite albums of 2010). Something about this song has always stuck with me, though, and I think it's just that it rocks.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 23
23. "Zero Signal" by Fear Factory
I'm not a huge fan of heavy metal. I like some of it, but I could probably count off the bands that I actually steadily listen to on one hand. Fear Factory is one such band. They're probably the heaviest band I listen to. It could be the industrial flourishes they integrate into their songs. It could be that vocalist Burton C. Bell can sing as well as scream (long before that was the trendy thing to do, and his voice has still managed to stay unique amid the modern-metal-drivel). It could be that their songs are generally sci-fi related, and I'm a nerd at heart. Or it could just be that I like to jam out to heavy, fast and loud music sometimes. This track was the first I heard by the band (another offering from the Mortal Kombat soundtrack), and from its cinematic opening to its blisteringly fast solos to the calm and beautiful piano outro, the song is a modern metal masterpiece.
I'm not a huge fan of heavy metal. I like some of it, but I could probably count off the bands that I actually steadily listen to on one hand. Fear Factory is one such band. They're probably the heaviest band I listen to. It could be the industrial flourishes they integrate into their songs. It could be that vocalist Burton C. Bell can sing as well as scream (long before that was the trendy thing to do, and his voice has still managed to stay unique amid the modern-metal-drivel). It could be that their songs are generally sci-fi related, and I'm a nerd at heart. Or it could just be that I like to jam out to heavy, fast and loud music sometimes. This track was the first I heard by the band (another offering from the Mortal Kombat soundtrack), and from its cinematic opening to its blisteringly fast solos to the calm and beautiful piano outro, the song is a modern metal masterpiece.
3.24.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 22
22. "Up the Cathedral" by Danny Elfman
OK, to be fair... The "Batman Theme" is the one that should probably be on this list, but I've come to really enjoy this piece because, being the finale, it incorporates all of the themes from the entire score into a single breathtaking track. Ever since the 3rd Grade (circa 1990, btw, when Batman landed on home video and became a several-times-a-day ritual for me), I've known and could replicate the entire score from the Tim Burton Batman film. Any kid growing up with the film could, I guess. It opened me up to orchestral music, it opened me up to score soundtracks (sorry John Williams... I may have heard you first and you may actually be the more talented, but I actually listened to Danny Elfman first and I like him better... that's just how it is), and it first led me to having an appreciation for music. There are parts of this score arrangement that still give me goosebumps.
OK, to be fair... The "Batman Theme" is the one that should probably be on this list, but I've come to really enjoy this piece because, being the finale, it incorporates all of the themes from the entire score into a single breathtaking track. Ever since the 3rd Grade (circa 1990, btw, when Batman landed on home video and became a several-times-a-day ritual for me), I've known and could replicate the entire score from the Tim Burton Batman film. Any kid growing up with the film could, I guess. It opened me up to orchestral music, it opened me up to score soundtracks (sorry John Williams... I may have heard you first and you may actually be the more talented, but I actually listened to Danny Elfman first and I like him better... that's just how it is), and it first led me to having an appreciation for music. There are parts of this score arrangement that still give me goosebumps.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 21
21. "Five to One" by The Doors
I've always loved The Doors. Morrison was a poet, despite the modern naysayer agenda, and the rest of the band were close to genius. (If I had a time machine, seeing The Doors live on the Sunset Strip in their hey-day would probably be top of the list). This song has grown into my favorite song by the band. It could just be that the classic album-cuts, such as "Break on Through," "People Are Strange," and "The End," have been heard by these ears once too much. I don't really know the true reason for my love of this song, it's just my favorite song by The Doors and beautifully and chaotically captures everything about the band I love.
I've always loved The Doors. Morrison was a poet, despite the modern naysayer agenda, and the rest of the band were close to genius. (If I had a time machine, seeing The Doors live on the Sunset Strip in their hey-day would probably be top of the list). This song has grown into my favorite song by the band. It could just be that the classic album-cuts, such as "Break on Through," "People Are Strange," and "The End," have been heard by these ears once too much. I don't really know the true reason for my love of this song, it's just my favorite song by The Doors and beautifully and chaotically captures everything about the band I love.
3.23.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 20
20. "Burn" by The Cure
It's no secret that my favorite film is The Crow, and has been since, quite possibly, before I even watched it... because I fell in love with the soundtrack months before I saw the film in theaters. This song in particular. I like The Cure, and this song is not exactly a great representative of their sound, but in my opinion it's their best song. And as I grew to love James O'Barr's story more, and read the original comics and fully immersed myself in its gothic world, I came to appreciate this song even more for it's lyrical relevance to the original story. More than any other song on the soundtrack it feels like the story should feel, bringing just the right amount of madness and darkness to the overwhelming sadness of it all... and sad songs are what The Cure, and Robert Smith's voice, are all about.
It's no secret that my favorite film is The Crow, and has been since, quite possibly, before I even watched it... because I fell in love with the soundtrack months before I saw the film in theaters. This song in particular. I like The Cure, and this song is not exactly a great representative of their sound, but in my opinion it's their best song. And as I grew to love James O'Barr's story more, and read the original comics and fully immersed myself in its gothic world, I came to appreciate this song even more for it's lyrical relevance to the original story. More than any other song on the soundtrack it feels like the story should feel, bringing just the right amount of madness and darkness to the overwhelming sadness of it all... and sad songs are what The Cure, and Robert Smith's voice, are all about.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 19
19. "What the F*** Is Wrong with You?" by Combichrist
Combichrist have worked their way into a gap in my music listening that I didn't know I needed to fill; fitting in between the thumping bass and beats of The Prodigy and the raw speeding-train fury of Ministry's glory days. Now that I have them, I can't get enough. It's nothing life-altering, but it's a blast to listen to. This song was one of the first I heard, and it's become one of favorite songs to just throw on and listen to. An anthem for today's world, in my opinion. It's angry, dark, fun, and the closest I've ever heard an electronic artist getting to the feel of a metal song, but using distorted electronic bass instead of guitars to get you there.
Combichrist have worked their way into a gap in my music listening that I didn't know I needed to fill; fitting in between the thumping bass and beats of The Prodigy and the raw speeding-train fury of Ministry's glory days. Now that I have them, I can't get enough. It's nothing life-altering, but it's a blast to listen to. This song was one of the first I heard, and it's become one of favorite songs to just throw on and listen to. An anthem for today's world, in my opinion. It's angry, dark, fun, and the closest I've ever heard an electronic artist getting to the feel of a metal song, but using distorted electronic bass instead of guitars to get you there.
3.22.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 18
18. "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins
I don't care how overplayed it gets, how many comedy films use it as a punchline, how many bands create bad covers that further over-expose it, I will never, ever, get tired of listening to this song, and it will never, ever, lose its power. This song is a perfect example of why I like Phil Collins: his voice is amazing. Plain and simple. All I need is his voice and a perfectly timed drum fill, and I've got chills... but it's not just about that moment, it's the build up to that moment that makes it so powerful. Pop songs like this, I fear, are a thing of the past.
I don't care how overplayed it gets, how many comedy films use it as a punchline, how many bands create bad covers that further over-expose it, I will never, ever, get tired of listening to this song, and it will never, ever, lose its power. This song is a perfect example of why I like Phil Collins: his voice is amazing. Plain and simple. All I need is his voice and a perfectly timed drum fill, and I've got chills... but it's not just about that moment, it's the build up to that moment that makes it so powerful. Pop songs like this, I fear, are a thing of the past.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 17
17. "Sebastian" by Cockney Rebel
I was first introduced to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel through Jonathan Rhys Meyers, sitting on a stage and looking quite like the cover to Bowie's Man Who Sold the World, in the film Velvet Goldmine. I then went to find the original album cut, which was even more cinematic than the film version. It's an odd song, a lot of glam-rock songs use descriptions that I won't pretend to fully understand, but it's beautiful and haunting, nonetheless. This is one of the few songs on my list that comes from an artist whose collected work I'm not a huge fan of, but this particular song resonates with me.
I was first introduced to Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel through Jonathan Rhys Meyers, sitting on a stage and looking quite like the cover to Bowie's Man Who Sold the World, in the film Velvet Goldmine. I then went to find the original album cut, which was even more cinematic than the film version. It's an odd song, a lot of glam-rock songs use descriptions that I won't pretend to fully understand, but it's beautiful and haunting, nonetheless. This is one of the few songs on my list that comes from an artist whose collected work I'm not a huge fan of, but this particular song resonates with me.
3.21.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 16
16. "The Regulator" by Clutch
This song was my introduction to the band Clutch. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction, because this song is simply amazing. It's like an ages-old folk song, passed down through the generations by gruff-voiced southern minstrels who play by the fire, guitar in hand, to set the mood for the rest of your life. Clutch has some great balls-out rockers ("Pure Rock Fury" and "Profits of Doom" for the interested), but my favorites are their slower-burning, yet hard-hitting, tales. After this introduction, they quickly became one of my favorite bands and have reaffirmed my faith in the power of rock. They don't do anything fancy, they don't try to dazzle you with tricks, they just rock... and they're extremely good at it. I also think Neil Fallon's word-play is unrivaled. The album on which this song resides, Blast Tyrant, is another Top 5 Favorite Album.
This song was my introduction to the band Clutch. I couldn't have asked for a better introduction, because this song is simply amazing. It's like an ages-old folk song, passed down through the generations by gruff-voiced southern minstrels who play by the fire, guitar in hand, to set the mood for the rest of your life. Clutch has some great balls-out rockers ("Pure Rock Fury" and "Profits of Doom" for the interested), but my favorites are their slower-burning, yet hard-hitting, tales. After this introduction, they quickly became one of my favorite bands and have reaffirmed my faith in the power of rock. They don't do anything fancy, they don't try to dazzle you with tricks, they just rock... and they're extremely good at it. I also think Neil Fallon's word-play is unrivaled. The album on which this song resides, Blast Tyrant, is another Top 5 Favorite Album.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 15
15. "The Heart's Filthy Lesson" by David Bowie
Okay, so I didn't choose "The Man Who Sold the World" or "Ziggy Stardust" or "Space Oddity" or even "I'm Afraid of Americans," I chose this. So... sue me. I have come to absolutely adore the album "1. Outside," partly because it's dark and industrial-ish, and partly because there's an intriguing story being told that I have yet to completely figure out (might be because this is part one of a larger storyline). Anyway, I like Bowie's dark side. I love the aforementioned songs, and it's a tough call to pick a favorite, but if I had to, it'd be this haunting and groovy descent into madness. My favorite part is the piano after the first verse that slowly dissolves into complete chaos and then suddenly becomes a melodic companion to the kickass bass line.
Okay, so I didn't choose "The Man Who Sold the World" or "Ziggy Stardust" or "Space Oddity" or even "I'm Afraid of Americans," I chose this. So... sue me. I have come to absolutely adore the album "1. Outside," partly because it's dark and industrial-ish, and partly because there's an intriguing story being told that I have yet to completely figure out (might be because this is part one of a larger storyline). Anyway, I like Bowie's dark side. I love the aforementioned songs, and it's a tough call to pick a favorite, but if I had to, it'd be this haunting and groovy descent into madness. My favorite part is the piano after the first verse that slowly dissolves into complete chaos and then suddenly becomes a melodic companion to the kickass bass line.
3.19.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 14
14. "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath
The album Paranoid is essential listening to anyone that's ever gotten into hard rock or metal, and I listened to it fairly early on in my music-exploring days. As much as I loved hits like "Paranoid" and "Iron man," this song was my favorite off the album. Such an awesome opener! It may be overplayed and it may sound dated compared to what's hard 'n heavy now, but it still packs a punch and is still a great song.
The album Paranoid is essential listening to anyone that's ever gotten into hard rock or metal, and I listened to it fairly early on in my music-exploring days. As much as I loved hits like "Paranoid" and "Iron man," this song was my favorite off the album. Such an awesome opener! It may be overplayed and it may sound dated compared to what's hard 'n heavy now, but it still packs a punch and is still a great song.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 13
13. "Cruel Melody" by Black Light Burns
Wes Borland's solo project (produced by ex-Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle collaborator Danny Lohner) Black Light Burns debuted in 2007 with another of my favorite albums. While I love the entire album, this song stuck with me from the moment I first heard it, months before the release on the band's Myspace player, and it's yet to lose its luster. I wish more songs could set a mood just like this! The lyrical imagery proves that Borland, despite being in Limp Bizkit (which I've always personally felt was as overrated a band as the the latter 90's could possibly produce, and sort of summed up everything I dislike about that era), is a great song writer and musician as well as having a brilliant stage presence. And for a guy who seems more at home breaking stuff and rocking out, his surefooted and calm delivery on this track really took me aback.
Wes Borland's solo project (produced by ex-Nine Inch Nails and A Perfect Circle collaborator Danny Lohner) Black Light Burns debuted in 2007 with another of my favorite albums. While I love the entire album, this song stuck with me from the moment I first heard it, months before the release on the band's Myspace player, and it's yet to lose its luster. I wish more songs could set a mood just like this! The lyrical imagery proves that Borland, despite being in Limp Bizkit (which I've always personally felt was as overrated a band as the the latter 90's could possibly produce, and sort of summed up everything I dislike about that era), is a great song writer and musician as well as having a brilliant stage presence. And for a guy who seems more at home breaking stuff and rocking out, his surefooted and calm delivery on this track really took me aback.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 12
12. "Kick to the Head" by Apartment 26
Apartment 26 only put out two albums before disbanding, and while the first album was pretty good, the follow-up, Music for the Massive, became my favorite album of 2004 and now holds a spot in my Top 5 Favorite Albums. This is my favorite song on said album. Full of dreamlike imagery and showcasing each members' strengths to the fullest, the song is nothing short of a masterpiece of modern rock.
Apartment 26 only put out two albums before disbanding, and while the first album was pretty good, the follow-up, Music for the Massive, became my favorite album of 2004 and now holds a spot in my Top 5 Favorite Albums. This is my favorite song on said album. Full of dreamlike imagery and showcasing each members' strengths to the fullest, the song is nothing short of a masterpiece of modern rock.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 11
And now the songs I can definitely say are my favorites, listed alphabetically by artist...
11. "Would?" by Alice in Chains
I don't remember when it was that I first heard this song, but it's been my favorite Alice In Chains song since then. And since Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands, it follows that this is one of my favorite songs. With one of the most memorable bass lines in rock history, a great classic catchy sing-along chorus, along with the haunting atmosphere, it's Alice in Chains perfection.
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I don't remember when it was that I first heard this song, but it's been my favorite Alice In Chains song since then. And since Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands, it follows that this is one of my favorite songs. With one of the most memorable bass lines in rock history, a great classic catchy sing-along chorus, along with the haunting atmosphere, it's Alice in Chains perfection.
3.17.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 10
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
10. "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy
This song got me into electronic music in the way that I am into electronic music now, and so I'll always have an appreciation for it. I liked electronic music before this song entered my world, I guess, but it wasn't until I sat in a theater and watched the film Hackers (in which "Voodoo People" is featured prominently in two scenes), that I really, really got into electronic music. It was the furiously fun energy, and The Prodigy are still known for it today. It was at that moment than I began referring to the random disposable club fluff as 'techno' (which I've always felt gets thrown around in a derogatory manner by most people, anyway) and music that is artistically and meticulously pieced together with care and purpose (more than just 'so people can dance to it') as 'electronic music.' The Prodigy are still going strong, and still one of my favorite groups, and I went on to enjoy many other electronic artists in the years since, and it's all because the film Hackers had a kickass soundtrack.
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10. "Voodoo People" by The Prodigy
This song got me into electronic music in the way that I am into electronic music now, and so I'll always have an appreciation for it. I liked electronic music before this song entered my world, I guess, but it wasn't until I sat in a theater and watched the film Hackers (in which "Voodoo People" is featured prominently in two scenes), that I really, really got into electronic music. It was the furiously fun energy, and The Prodigy are still known for it today. It was at that moment than I began referring to the random disposable club fluff as 'techno' (which I've always felt gets thrown around in a derogatory manner by most people, anyway) and music that is artistically and meticulously pieced together with care and purpose (more than just 'so people can dance to it') as 'electronic music.' The Prodigy are still going strong, and still one of my favorite groups, and I went on to enjoy many other electronic artists in the years since, and it's all because the film Hackers had a kickass soundtrack.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 09
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
9. "That's All" by Genesis
It sometimes comes as a surprise to people that Genesis is one of my favorite bands. I love the Peter Gabriel-era prog-rock, but I've always been a bigger fan of the Phil Collins-era material. It began progressive and slowly became more pop-rock, but without losing its artistry. A Genesis pop song, such as "That's All," is not your average pop song. Interesting as well as catchy, witty lyrics that are meaningful without being complicated, and musically this song is perfection. I have a hard time choosing a favorite song by Genesis mostly because they have so many great tracks, in so many different musical genres, that to choose one would be a disservice to the band and to yourself. "That's All" is just a song that I love, and have always loved, and will never get tired of... but the same could be said of many other Genesis songs.
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9. "That's All" by Genesis
It sometimes comes as a surprise to people that Genesis is one of my favorite bands. I love the Peter Gabriel-era prog-rock, but I've always been a bigger fan of the Phil Collins-era material. It began progressive and slowly became more pop-rock, but without losing its artistry. A Genesis pop song, such as "That's All," is not your average pop song. Interesting as well as catchy, witty lyrics that are meaningful without being complicated, and musically this song is perfection. I have a hard time choosing a favorite song by Genesis mostly because they have so many great tracks, in so many different musical genres, that to choose one would be a disservice to the band and to yourself. "That's All" is just a song that I love, and have always loved, and will never get tired of... but the same could be said of many other Genesis songs.
3.16.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 08
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
8. "Eulogy" by Tool
There are a lot of great Tool songs to choose from, but "Eulogy" was a song that crept up on me with its power. I've always been a sucker for a good intro, a great buildup to the song itself, and "Eulogy" stretches it out just long enough to build up the anticipation. The song is beautifully constructed and wonderfully ambiguous. I've heard more theories about what this song is actually about than any other Tool song (I personally tend to lean towards the Hubbard theory). My favorite Tool album has always been Undertow, just because it was the first one I'd gotten into, but one can't deny the artistic brilliance of the follow-up Aenima, of which "Eulogy" is a prime example.
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8. "Eulogy" by Tool
There are a lot of great Tool songs to choose from, but "Eulogy" was a song that crept up on me with its power. I've always been a sucker for a good intro, a great buildup to the song itself, and "Eulogy" stretches it out just long enough to build up the anticipation. The song is beautifully constructed and wonderfully ambiguous. I've heard more theories about what this song is actually about than any other Tool song (I personally tend to lean towards the Hubbard theory). My favorite Tool album has always been Undertow, just because it was the first one I'd gotten into, but one can't deny the artistic brilliance of the follow-up Aenima, of which "Eulogy" is a prime example.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 07
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
7. "Hysteria" by Muse
There was a period in time when I had come to forsake new music by new rock bands, because there were so many that I detested. So many interchangeable bands that sounded the same and brought nothing new into the world, infesting the radio waves with their bland marketable drivel. I'd had enough, and so I had written Muse off as such a band, refusing to listen to them. Until a friend forced me to listen to this song... and I realized how wrong I had been about them. The album Absolution quickly became a favorite, and while I'd probably say "Butterflies and Hurricanes" is the best song on the album, "Hysteria," on top of being a great, well written song, just has an energy that's unrivaled. It is because of this band that I grew out of my self-imposed shell and began looking closer at some of the bands that have made their mark on the last five or six years. I've opened back up just a bit, and while I still detest a lot of modern rock bands, I've grown partial to a few that I never would've given a chance had it not been for this song's awesomeness.
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7. "Hysteria" by Muse
There was a period in time when I had come to forsake new music by new rock bands, because there were so many that I detested. So many interchangeable bands that sounded the same and brought nothing new into the world, infesting the radio waves with their bland marketable drivel. I'd had enough, and so I had written Muse off as such a band, refusing to listen to them. Until a friend forced me to listen to this song... and I realized how wrong I had been about them. The album Absolution quickly became a favorite, and while I'd probably say "Butterflies and Hurricanes" is the best song on the album, "Hysteria," on top of being a great, well written song, just has an energy that's unrivaled. It is because of this band that I grew out of my self-imposed shell and began looking closer at some of the bands that have made their mark on the last five or six years. I've opened back up just a bit, and while I still detest a lot of modern rock bands, I've grown partial to a few that I never would've given a chance had it not been for this song's awesomeness.
3.15.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 06
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
6. "Waking Up Beside You" by Stabbing Westward
Stabbing Westward's finest moments have always been emotionally draining yet hard rocking ballads of sadness and lost love. The track "What Do I Have to Do?" may have come first and been more popular, but it lacks the nature of the relationship between Christopher Hall's lyrics and his subject that this song creates. This song comes after the relationship is over, and Hall seems to be looking back and remembering the trivial things that he now misses more than anything else in the relationship. There's also a sense that Hall's negative outlook on the relationship from the get-go could be at fault for its decline in the first place. It's the realism that I appreciate, the way I relate to his words that moves me. This song is not-unlike the previously mentioned Toadies song "Doll Skin" in that it's an honest heartbreak lament. The dark recesses that Hall is able to artistically translate have helped get me through my own dark times.
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6. "Waking Up Beside You" by Stabbing Westward
Stabbing Westward's finest moments have always been emotionally draining yet hard rocking ballads of sadness and lost love. The track "What Do I Have to Do?" may have come first and been more popular, but it lacks the nature of the relationship between Christopher Hall's lyrics and his subject that this song creates. This song comes after the relationship is over, and Hall seems to be looking back and remembering the trivial things that he now misses more than anything else in the relationship. There's also a sense that Hall's negative outlook on the relationship from the get-go could be at fault for its decline in the first place. It's the realism that I appreciate, the way I relate to his words that moves me. This song is not-unlike the previously mentioned Toadies song "Doll Skin" in that it's an honest heartbreak lament. The dark recesses that Hall is able to artistically translate have helped get me through my own dark times.
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 05
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
5. "Enough" by Gravity Kills
This song is not the best Gravity Kills song by any means, and it's not even one I generally recommend as a good introduction to the band (I'd say "Guilty" or "Disintegrate" are the best songs for that, if you're interested), but "Enough" was the song, when I first picked up the album, that I listened to the most. So, even as I grew to love other tracks more and as I've matured I've taken to liking tracks that are, for lack of a better term, the slower songs, but I've still got that initial partialness to this track from those first listenings. I'll always think of Gravity Kills as I did in those first few weeks of owning the debut album, listening to it on repeat again and again, and as so I'll always associate this particular song with that initial experience. I'd like to point out that the Mortal Kombat film soundtrack introduced me to artists such as Gravity Kills, KMFDM, and Stabbing Westward (cut off the soundtrack, but three songs are featured in the film). My love of mid-90's film soundtracks stems from the fact that they led me to so many great bands that went on to become some of my favorite artists. So, here's to you, film soundtracks!
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5. "Enough" by Gravity Kills
This song is not the best Gravity Kills song by any means, and it's not even one I generally recommend as a good introduction to the band (I'd say "Guilty" or "Disintegrate" are the best songs for that, if you're interested), but "Enough" was the song, when I first picked up the album, that I listened to the most. So, even as I grew to love other tracks more and as I've matured I've taken to liking tracks that are, for lack of a better term, the slower songs, but I've still got that initial partialness to this track from those first listenings. I'll always think of Gravity Kills as I did in those first few weeks of owning the debut album, listening to it on repeat again and again, and as so I'll always associate this particular song with that initial experience. I'd like to point out that the Mortal Kombat film soundtrack introduced me to artists such as Gravity Kills, KMFDM, and Stabbing Westward (cut off the soundtrack, but three songs are featured in the film). My love of mid-90's film soundtracks stems from the fact that they led me to so many great bands that went on to become some of my favorite artists. So, here's to you, film soundtracks!
3.14.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 04
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
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My love of Toadies grew at crawl, from their 1994 debut Rubberneck (with its massive alt-rock hit "Possum Kingdom") to their long-overdue second album in 2001, Hell Below/Stars Above, that this song is taken from. Lewis' lyrics are layered with symbolism that can sometimes come across with several meanings at the same time. Toadies, (again, ever so slowly) have become one of my favorite bands to survive the 90's. This track in particular has, since the moment I first heard it, hit me with an honesty and sadness and sense of hope in the face of heartbreak, but tinged with a realism that the lovelorn rarely admit to. The fact that Lewis and crew were able to communicate these feelings so well and yet so simply is a testament to why I adore the band so much.
3.13.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 03
Please Note:
The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
3. "Dark Days Indeed" by Firewater
Firewater, as a band, was such a surprise to me. Not that they do anything that's surprising, necessarily, but it's surprising that I'd take to them as much as I have. When first introduced, I put off listening to them because I didn't think it was 'my thing.' However, upon the first notes touching my ears, I was in love. Something, I'm not even sure how to describe it, just clicked with me. The song "Dark Days Indeed" was such a track, too, that I instantly loved. By the time I'd heard it, I was neck-deep into Firewater's previous albums, and I guess it was just the right time for me to experience it. Tod A.'s dirty, gritty smokey-bar vocals (not unlike a young Tom Waits) and the worldly instrumentations thrown into the blender with some sort of grunge-rock-folk-gypsy circus mix. It's truly unique, while at the same time sounding like an old friend.
The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
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3. "Dark Days Indeed" by Firewater
Firewater, as a band, was such a surprise to me. Not that they do anything that's surprising, necessarily, but it's surprising that I'd take to them as much as I have. When first introduced, I put off listening to them because I didn't think it was 'my thing.' However, upon the first notes touching my ears, I was in love. Something, I'm not even sure how to describe it, just clicked with me. The song "Dark Days Indeed" was such a track, too, that I instantly loved. By the time I'd heard it, I was neck-deep into Firewater's previous albums, and I guess it was just the right time for me to experience it. Tod A.'s dirty, gritty smokey-bar vocals (not unlike a young Tom Waits) and the worldly instrumentations thrown into the blender with some sort of grunge-rock-folk-gypsy circus mix. It's truly unique, while at the same time sounding like an old friend.
3.12.2011
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 02
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
2. "Full Worm Garden" by KMFDM
This track came at what was thought then to be the end of the line for KMFDM, 1999's Adios. The album as a whole is hit-or-miss, not surprising considering the turmoil the band was in as it was recorded, and considering they broke up just before its release. However, this track was fresh and different from what I'd come to expect from the band (this was their 11th studio album), and the oddly poetic lyrics and vocals by Skinny Puppy frontman Kevin "Ogre" Ogilvie (who writes like no one else), the creepiness in the synths that's hauntingly beautiful within its own discord, and the subtle way the song builds as it progresses, have made this song continue to stand out as one of my favorite tracks from a band that's known for more pounding underground club hits like "Juke Joint Jezebel" and hard and heavy sonic blasts like "A Drug Against War."
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2. "Full Worm Garden" by KMFDM
This track came at what was thought then to be the end of the line for KMFDM, 1999's Adios. The album as a whole is hit-or-miss, not surprising considering the turmoil the band was in as it was recorded, and considering they broke up just before its release. However, this track was fresh and different from what I'd come to expect from the band (this was their 11th studio album), and the oddly poetic lyrics and vocals by Skinny Puppy frontman Kevin "Ogre" Ogilvie (who writes like no one else), the creepiness in the synths that's hauntingly beautiful within its own discord, and the subtle way the song builds as it progresses, have made this song continue to stand out as one of my favorite tracks from a band that's known for more pounding underground club hits like "Juke Joint Jezebel" and hard and heavy sonic blasts like "A Drug Against War."
My Top 50 Favorite Songs: 01
Please Note: The first 10 songs are NOT necessarily my favorite songs by what are most certainly some of my favorite artists. These songs stand out to me (for various reasons that I explain) from the rest of the artists' works, but I could not, under any circumstances, comfortably say that these songs are my definitive favorites from the artists. I have no definitive favorites from some artists; their entire collected work (minus a track or two) would be my favorites.
1. "Last" by Nine Inch Nails
The interesting flow of the vocals (so cool, in fact, that Godsmack unconsciously ripped it off on the track "Timebomb"), the thumping head-nod beat of the drums, and one of the hardest and most infectious guitar riffs in the industrial-rock leader's history, "Last" is not the best song Trent Reznor ever wrote, and not the most widely known, but it's always been one of my favorites... and because it doesn't get as much airplay as other faves such as "Wish," "March of the Pigs" or "Hurt," I only grow more fond of it as time goes on (pretty good for a track I've been listening to steadily for 15 years or so).
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1. "Last" by Nine Inch Nails
The interesting flow of the vocals (so cool, in fact, that Godsmack unconsciously ripped it off on the track "Timebomb"), the thumping head-nod beat of the drums, and one of the hardest and most infectious guitar riffs in the industrial-rock leader's history, "Last" is not the best song Trent Reznor ever wrote, and not the most widely known, but it's always been one of my favorites... and because it doesn't get as much airplay as other faves such as "Wish," "March of the Pigs" or "Hurt," I only grow more fond of it as time goes on (pretty good for a track I've been listening to steadily for 15 years or so).
3.11.2011
Introduction / My First Blog Post
From 2003 to sometime around 2006 (I don't remember exactly when I let it go), I ran a movie related website where I could finally speak my mind and share my opinions with others. This included everything from film reviews and Top 10 Lists, to me and my friends sitting around casting "dream movies" for Batman comics (long before Nolan got it right, we'd cast Christian Bale as Mr. Wayne) and adaptations of 80's cartoon series. It was a very basic site, mostly text and the occasional graphic to spruce it up, but it performed the job I needed it to. Problem was, it ended up being too much work to keep up with, and I later realized that I should've just created a Blog and not a full website.
But that was before Social Networking sites, and back then I always thought Blogs were places where pretentious people told the world how it should be ran. I didn't think about the fact that I could create a Blog just to post up my Top 10 Favorite Movie Car Chases. It just didn't occur to me then. In 2006, Myspace was all the rage (remember that site, seems like so long ago), and then not too long ago Facebook took over the world. I've been using the latter as my posting ground for any and every list or thought in my head, but I've come to realize that these new sites don't offer the room I need to fully express my opinion. I'm long-winded, I realize this, and maybe one day I'll go to some sort of Long-Winded Writers Anonymous (Stephen King will be there, as will filmmaker Peter Jackson) and I'll get straightened out for a modern A.D.D. society. But for now, I want more room to wiggle and a place, similar to my old website, where I can just go on and on about all these geeky thoughts. Plus, I won't have to worry about my posts getting lost amid the "Went to the store today and picked up pink shoes... kewl!" and "NEbody wan2 hang hit me up" everyday comments of people using Social Media as it's intended (I know that I'm the one at fault, not they, for thinking that I could use FB to get people to read all this stuff), and here I'll know that if I post something up then the people who'd care enough to read it in the first place can find it.
So, anyway, that's all led me here, to a place where I can post and share my thoughts on... well, whatever, and it's all mine. To give you a heads up, most of this Blog is going to be music and movie related, so I'll warn you now that it's gonna get geeky. Sometimes there might be the occasional rant on people in general, but mostly it's gonna be nerdy, geeky stuff. It'll be of a more personal nature, though. For instance, if I "review" a movie, it could be more an attack on critics of a misunderstood film than a traditional movie review. Or if I reveal my Top 50 Favorite Songs, it's going to be more a list of why I like the songs and less a list of important tracks that made their mark on music history. In short, this site is not about you as much as it is me getting stuff off of my chest and out of my head. If you don't agree, that's fine, tell me what you think in the comments. But it's just my opinion, and because these days most people seem to think that their opinions are the same as facts, especially on the internet, I'd like to clarify that I'm not one of those people and I do think there's room in this world for everyone to share their own. I think argument and debate are healthy, and without it, (again, especially on the internet), people are going to continue to be ignorant of opposition and will continue to believe that their opinions are "right."
One last thing... I type fast, just not fast enough to keep up with my thoughts, and usually I'll try to keep it as professional-sounding as possible to better convey whatever point I'm attempting to make, BUT there are going to be times when I use naughty words (oh no!) and there are going to be plenty of typos and grammatical errors, (English majors, you'll have noticed plenty of run-on sentences and comma issues already). Just keep all the critiques of spelling and grammar to a minimum, please. I know it's not perfect, and I'd like to think that a page devoted strictly to my opinions, and not fact, that it doesn't need to be. Thoughts themselves are not perfectly structured things, so the outpouring of those thoughts should flow as naturally as possible. If you're one of those people that's going to send me comments about comma splices, feel free, but it's not going to change that it's going to happen from time to time. Just deal with it.
This concludes the "Welcome to my Blog" post. I've already got a few things I've been working on, lists and such, that I'll be posting soon, so check back when you can.
But that was before Social Networking sites, and back then I always thought Blogs were places where pretentious people told the world how it should be ran. I didn't think about the fact that I could create a Blog just to post up my Top 10 Favorite Movie Car Chases. It just didn't occur to me then. In 2006, Myspace was all the rage (remember that site, seems like so long ago), and then not too long ago Facebook took over the world. I've been using the latter as my posting ground for any and every list or thought in my head, but I've come to realize that these new sites don't offer the room I need to fully express my opinion. I'm long-winded, I realize this, and maybe one day I'll go to some sort of Long-Winded Writers Anonymous (Stephen King will be there, as will filmmaker Peter Jackson) and I'll get straightened out for a modern A.D.D. society. But for now, I want more room to wiggle and a place, similar to my old website, where I can just go on and on about all these geeky thoughts. Plus, I won't have to worry about my posts getting lost amid the "Went to the store today and picked up pink shoes... kewl!" and "NEbody wan2 hang hit me up" everyday comments of people using Social Media as it's intended (I know that I'm the one at fault, not they, for thinking that I could use FB to get people to read all this stuff), and here I'll know that if I post something up then the people who'd care enough to read it in the first place can find it.
So, anyway, that's all led me here, to a place where I can post and share my thoughts on... well, whatever, and it's all mine. To give you a heads up, most of this Blog is going to be music and movie related, so I'll warn you now that it's gonna get geeky. Sometimes there might be the occasional rant on people in general, but mostly it's gonna be nerdy, geeky stuff. It'll be of a more personal nature, though. For instance, if I "review" a movie, it could be more an attack on critics of a misunderstood film than a traditional movie review. Or if I reveal my Top 50 Favorite Songs, it's going to be more a list of why I like the songs and less a list of important tracks that made their mark on music history. In short, this site is not about you as much as it is me getting stuff off of my chest and out of my head. If you don't agree, that's fine, tell me what you think in the comments. But it's just my opinion, and because these days most people seem to think that their opinions are the same as facts, especially on the internet, I'd like to clarify that I'm not one of those people and I do think there's room in this world for everyone to share their own. I think argument and debate are healthy, and without it, (again, especially on the internet), people are going to continue to be ignorant of opposition and will continue to believe that their opinions are "right."
One last thing... I type fast, just not fast enough to keep up with my thoughts, and usually I'll try to keep it as professional-sounding as possible to better convey whatever point I'm attempting to make, BUT there are going to be times when I use naughty words (oh no!) and there are going to be plenty of typos and grammatical errors, (English majors, you'll have noticed plenty of run-on sentences and comma issues already). Just keep all the critiques of spelling and grammar to a minimum, please. I know it's not perfect, and I'd like to think that a page devoted strictly to my opinions, and not fact, that it doesn't need to be. Thoughts themselves are not perfectly structured things, so the outpouring of those thoughts should flow as naturally as possible. If you're one of those people that's going to send me comments about comma splices, feel free, but it's not going to change that it's going to happen from time to time. Just deal with it.
This concludes the "Welcome to my Blog" post. I've already got a few things I've been working on, lists and such, that I'll be posting soon, so check back when you can.
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