Saturday, August 27, 2011

Squeezing Souls

"Soul to Squeeze" is a song by the American rock band Red Hot Chili Peppers that was originally recorded during the production of their fifth studio album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik (1991). Although it was not featured on the record, "Soul to Squeeze" was later released as a single in 1993 and was on the Coneheads film soundtrack.

The song became an unexpected success when it peaked at number one on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks as well as number 22 on the Hot 100.

The music video for "Soul to Squeeze" features Chad Smith, Flea and Kiedis in a stereotypical circus. The song, which plays amongst all the acts of the circus, includes "freaks" and "the Conehead", a reference to the film.

The music video was shot in black and white. Originally, the video was supposed to feature the band playing with footage from the film Coneheads, but the band refused this idea; instead, a Conehead appears in the video as the circus's Human Cannonball.

One of my favorite actor/comedians, Chris Farley makes an appearance in the music video.




Monday, August 22, 2011

Long Time since I had some Cake

Cake is an American alternative rock band from California. The band has been noted for McCrea's sarcastic lyrics and deadpan voice, DiFiore's trumpet parts, and their wide-ranging musical influences, including country music, Mariachi, rock, funk, Iranian folk music and hip-hop.

Cake got together in 1991 with McCrea, DiFiore, Greg Brown, Frank French and Sean McFessel, who soon left and was replaced by Nelson. Following the self-release of its debut album, "Motorcade of Generosity", the band was signed to Capricorn Records in 1995 and released its first single, "Rock 'n' Roll Lifestyle", which hit number 35 on the Modern Rock Tracks music chart; French and Nelson then left the band, and were replaced by Todd Roper and Victor Damiani. Cake's second album, "Fashion Nugget"; on the strength of the lead single, "The Distance", it went platinum.



Sunday, August 21, 2011

Chris Cornell creates a Shadow on the Sun

Audioslave was formed after Zack de la Rocha left Rage Against the Machine and the remaining members were searching for another vocalist. Producer and friend Rick Rubin suggested that they should contact Chris Cornell. Boy that was smart!

Cornell was in the writing process of a second solo album, but decided to shelve that and pursue the opportunity to work with Tom Morello, Tim Commerford and Brad Wilk when they approached him. Morello described Cornell: "He stepped to the microphone and sang the song and I couldn't believe it. It didn't just sound good. It didn't sound great. It sounded transcendent. And... when there is an irreplaceable chemistry from the first moment, you can't deny it." The foursome wrote 21 songs during 19 days of rehearsal and began working in the studio in late May 2001.

They are one of the greatest bands ever brought together. Here's a tune I truly love called, Shadow On The Sun:



Saturday, August 20, 2011

Are You In with Incubus?

Incubus has received both critical acclaim and commercial success, reaching multi-platinum sales, as well as releasing several highly successful singles. The band started branching out creatively and earned mainstream recognition with the release of their 1999 album "Make Yourself". In 2001, Incubus became even more successful with the single "Drive" and their follow-up album Morning View which the song below is from. Their sixth studio album, Light Grenades, debuted at No. 1 in 2006 and has received Gold certification in the U.S. Incubus released their first greatest hits album Monuments and Melodies in June 2009, accompanied by a tour of the United States, Japan and Canada. The band just recently completed a seventh album, "If Not Now, When?", which was just released on July 2011.



Thursday, August 18, 2011

An Epic Beginning with Faith No More

Faith No More is an American band from San Francisco. They were originally known as Faith No Man. A year after they got together, the keyboardist Roddy Bottum joined the band, and Mike Morris was ousted, the group began to call themselves Faith No More. After going through a series of singers, the band was joined by Chuck Mosley in 1983. After two albums and several line-up changes, everything seemed to come together when vocalist Mosley was replaced by Mike Patton in 1988.

In 1989, the band released their highly successful album, "The Real Thing", which featured their breakthrough hit single "Epic". The band's following album, 1992's "Angel Dust", was also highly successful and brought the hit "Midlife Crisis", which became their only #1 hit on the Modern Rock chart in their career. Faith No More however declined in popularity in the subsequent years.

This song will always be EPIC!



Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Sum41 Packs a Punch - Gave me a Fat Lip

Sum 41 is a Canadian rock band from Ontario and they've been together since 1996. In 1999, the band signed an international record deal with Island Records. The band released their debut album, "All Killer, No Filler" in 2001. The band achieved mainstream success with their first single from the album, "Fat Lip", which reached #1 on the Billboard Rock chart and remains the band's most successful single to date.



Saturday, August 13, 2011

Are You Gonna Go My Way?

Lenny Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, reggae, funk, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads.

In addition to singing lead and backing vocals, Kravitz often plays all the guitar, bass, drums, keyboards and percussion himself when recording. He is well known for his elaborate stage performances and music videos.

One of the most recognizable rock stars on the planet, Kravitz has already succeeded on countless levels -- including 15 million albums sold since tracking sales data began back in 1991. This 4 time Grammy Award winner is at the top of his game.

Here is one of my favorite hits from Lenny Kravitz:



Thursday, August 11, 2011

Red Hot Chili Peppers -- Funk/Rock Pioneers

The Red Hot Chili Peppers formed in Los Angeles, California, back in 1993. They are considered as an American funk rock band. The group's musical style fuses traditional funk with elements of other genres, including punk and psychedelic rock.

Blood Sugar Sex Magik, the group's first commercial success, has sold over thirteen million copies. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have won 7 Grammy Awards. The band has sold over 65 million albums worldwide, charting nine singles in the Top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, five number one singles on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and they currently hold the record for most number one singles on the Alternative Songs chart at twelve.

Red Hot Chili Peppers ~~> Suck My Kiss from the Blood, Sugar, Sex Magik album.



Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Solar Midnight -- A Sellout by Lupe Fiasco?

Lupe Fiasco has a bonus track on iTunes for the soundtrack to The Twilight Saga: New Moon called "Solar Midnight" which he produced himself. On his Myspace blog, Fiasco addressed concerns by the fans who believed that he had "sold out" by making a song for the Twilight soundtrack. He says "I'm not SELLING OUT by doing a song for NEW MOON...People thought I 'SOLD OUT' when I did 'Kick, Push'".

I call it innovative...Definitely NOT a "sell-out". It's a new genre of music and people are embracing it more and more every year. Once you can get a multitude of different types of listeners listening to your music, than you know you've did the right thing. I'm sure Lupe Fiasco will be "Selling Out" Arenas from coast-to-coast for many years to come.



Monday, August 8, 2011

Take A Look Around with Fred Durst

Limp Bizkit has been driving the rap-rock aka rap/metal (Alternative Hip Rock) genre for over 15+ years now. Formed in Jacksonville, FL in 1995, the band achieved mainstream success with their second album Significant Other, released in 1999.

Limp Bizkit has now sold an estimated 33 million albums worldwide.

This video below was rarely shown in the States. Fred Durst has stated that he disliked the video - despite the fact that he directed it - and the band decided to release the video only in a few markets outside the U.S., specifically Europe.



Mission Impossible II Theme -- This song is *only available* on their 3rd Album, "Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Turn on the Redlight... King

A combination of rock and hip hop, the album conjures old school sounds, thanks to Mark Kasprzyk aka "Kaz" and producers Wally Gagel and Xandy Barry, as well as the good vibes at Hollywood’s TGG Studios (now known as Wax Studios; alums include Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and, yes, Neil Young). “I’m all about mixing in the old sounds,” Kaz says, “and giving it that warm, analog feel. There is sampling, hip hop grooves and beats, but I also wanted good old fashioned meat and potatoes: bass, guitar, drums.”

In the smashing hip-hop flavored debut single, “Old Man,” Kaz offers a reluctant salute to his father, a larger-than-life figure who taught school during the day and raced stock cars at night (“The life he demanded/Kept us all in a struggle/When he ruled with his fist/It kept us all out of trouble”). “No father issues here,” says Kaz with a laugh.

Here's the Official Redlight King Video for their debut song "Old Man":




Saturday, August 6, 2011

Would YOU Like Some Cake?

Let me know... Do you like Cake? Or maybe you just like short skirts?... Or possibly even long jackets? If you like just one or all of the above, then you've come to the right place.

"Short Skirt, Long Jacket" was Cake's first single released off their debut album "Comfort Eagle" way back in 2001. The associated music video below is composed entirely of people listening to the song on headphones, combined with their reactions.



Cake is good! MMmmmm...

Friday, August 5, 2011

Flobots and I are very Happy Together

When I first heard this cover of an old "Turtles" song I was completely blown away. From beginning to end, it's one of the best covers ever done. Flobots has totally brought this song back into the mainstream. Here's the song below:



Wait for the ending: (lyrics:)
And I don't know and I can't think
and I'm so smote that I can't see
and I look at the picture I have in my head and
I won't doze and I can't sleep
and it's so good that I'm locked down
and your quotes get put in my thoughts now
and there's nobody else to distract me
cause you've got me on lockdown
and it can't stop and it won't stop
and we rock on leavin shows stopped
so thank you for comin goodnight everyone we're the flobots...


Thursday, August 4, 2011

Hitting the Floor with Linkin Park

Hit the Floor (from the album Meteora)
What I believe this song to mean:

It's about someone who treats a person wrong and they allow it b/c they dont want to hurt them. They are fed up with it and they are waiting for the whole "what goes around comes around" effect to happen.

This is one of my favorites period. Still considered one of the best LP songs known to date. Hard & heavy rock and roll with a mix of hip hop. True Rap-Rock!




Wednesday, August 3, 2011

311 Gets the Led Out

This song was meant to imitate reggae and its "dub" derivative emerging from Jamaica in the early 1970s. Its genesis is traced to Led Zeppelin's rehearsals at Stargroves in 1972, when drummer John Bonham started with a beat similar to 1950s doo-wop, and then twisted it into a slight off beat tempo, upon which a reggae influence emerged. The distinctive drum sound was created by placing three microphones a good distance away from Bonham's drums.

"D'yer Mak'er" is one of the few Led Zeppelin songs where all four members share the composer credit. This track, as well as another song entitled "The Crunge", was initially not taken seriously by many listeners, and some critics reserved their harshest criticism for these two arrangements. Look at them now, laughs.

Here's 311 covering this great song:



Monday, August 1, 2011

Walk This Way covered by Run DMC

"Walk This Way" is a song by Aerosmith. Written by Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, the song was originally released from the 1975 album Toys in the Attic. In addition to being one of the songs that helped break Aerosmith into the mainstream in the 1970s, it also helped revitalize their career in the 1980s when it was covered by rappers Run-D.M.C. This cover was a touchstone for the new musical sub-genre of *rap rock*, or the melding of rock and hip-hop. This song has became an international hit: