You wouldn’t know it to look at me, but I love a good hard rock song as much as the next tat-covered metal-head.  I have always struggled to control my foul temper and there is something about the pure expression of raw anger in many hard rock songs that I love.  I’m pissed off – and so are they!

As you’ll see, many of the songs on this list are by “the usual suspects,” but I have tried to pick songs from these bands that are a little less obvious.  “Smells Like Teen Spirit” is a brilliant hard rock song, but you already knew that, so what’s the point of putting it on my list?  OK, then, dear reader, please turn your amplifier up to 11 and let’s kick it…

• Nirvana, “Lithium” – These guys changed it all, didn’t they?  The hilarious thing is that “Nevermind” knocked off Michael Jackson’s “Dangerous” to become the #1 album in America.  With all due respect to the King of Pop, Kurt Cobain was dangerous.  “Lithium” is classic Nirvana…Slow, then crunchingly fast, then slow, then fast.  Toward the end, Cobain screams, “I like it, I’m not gonna crack/I miss you, I’m not gonna crack/I love you, I’m not gonna crack/I kill you, I’m not gonna crack.”  Is it any wonder he eventually cracked?   
• Cracker, “Low” – Whatever happened to these guys?  Who cares, they left us with this amazing single, which includes this lyric: “I’ll be with you, girl/Like being low/Hey, hey, hey/It’s like being stoned.”  I’ve never been stoned, but I’ve been low, baby. 
• Smasing Pumpkins, “Bullet with Butterfly Wings” – Is there a better voice in rock than Billy Corrigan’s?  Not when he sings this lyric: “Despite all my rage/I am still just a rat in a cage.”  Yes, Billy.  Me, too.
• Rage Against the Machine, “Guerilla Radio“ – Yes, yes, I know.  I AM the machine. But I can bite the hand that feeds me, can’t I?  Actually, this song takes the hand, rips it from the arm, chews it up, and spits it into a gutter.  The menacingly whispered, “It has to start somewhere/It has to start sometime/What better place than here/What better time than now,” leads to the repeatedly screamed, “All hell can’t stop us now.”  Oh, baby, turn that shit up.
• Metallica, “Enter Sandman” – This is the quintessential hard rock song, so I was tempted to pick another Metallica tune until I had the opportunity to attend Game Six of the World Series a few weeks ago.  They play this song when Yankee closer Mariano Rivera jogs out from the bullpen to the mound and it was EPIC.  52,000 people banging their heads.  Say your prayers, Phillies, you won’t be with us much longer. 
• Silverchair, “Tomorrow” – I can’t name another Silverchair song, but this one kicks ass, Fatboy.  Here’s a lyric that always makes me think of my ex-wife: “You say that money isn’t everything/But I’d like to see you live without it/You think you can keep on going, living like a king,/Ooh babe, but I strongly doubt it.”  She actually HAS kept on living like a king, but, oh, well.  Maybe tomorrow…
• Foo Fighters, “Monkeywrench” – How do you go from being the drummer of Nirvana to the front man of another kick-ass hard rock band?  I don’t know, ask Dave Grohl.  This song is about being gay (I think), but it really hits on all of the classic hard rock themes – not fitting in, persecution, and just being absolutely ripshit about the whole thing.  Take a deep breath and sing along with this lyric: “One last thing before I quit I never wanted any more than I could fit into my head I still remember every single word you said and all the shit that somehow came along with it still there’s one thing that comforts me since I was always caged and now I’m free.”  Remember, you need to save up enough air so that you can scream the word “free” for about 20 minutes.

I realize that I am missing several worthy artists: Guns-n-Roses, Pearl Jam, Van Halen, and Def Leppard, to name just a few. But I am out of time, and so are you.  Please add your ear-bleeding suggestions to the list.

από τα πρώτα.90s γαμώ.

The world is a vampire, sent to drain
Secret destroyers, hold you up to the flames
And what do I get, for my pain?
Betrayed desires, and a piece of the game

And I still beleive that I cannot be saved

Every time a 0 is involved with the turning year, people tend to go crazy over “the best _____ of the decade”. Lists come out about music and movies and tv shows and whatever. Well, I decided to do that. Because I’m a dork. What I ended up doing is a list of things for every year since the year 2000. I will talk about some of them and leave links to others that I think are fantastical and that I belive you (whoever you are) might enjoy. So. Here we go. Expect to see some bands that repeat, and some that you know I like, if you like me:

2000
Does anyone remember how fantastically catchy ‘Bohemian Like You’ was? The silly video with the karaoke-thing, etcetera? There was a lot of decent music coming out around this time, and I remember being consistently barraged by good albums. This wouldn’t continue through the rest of the decade. Californication would be the last time I would enjoy RHCP as a band.

Dandy Warhols (song – Bohemian Like You); Red Hot Chili Peppers (album – Californication); Smashing Pumpkins/Foo Fighters/A Perfect Circle(show – Summersault – Winnipeg Stadium); Nine Inch Nails (video – Into the Void)

2001
In 2001 I succumbed to sexy pop for a favorite song. Seriously. That song is awesome. Frusciante’s album was magical, and I think my video of the year is really the only choice.

Kylie Minogue (song – Can’t get you out of my head); John Frusciante (album – To Record only Water for Ten Days); Tragically Hip (show – Winnipeg Arena); Fatboy Slim (video – Weapon of Choice)

2002
Dave Grohl makes the list twice as a drummer in this year, and probably would have taken the album too, but from out of nowhere came what would change my mind about Canadian music in that I ended up following almost every project that Broken Social Scene had outside of it’s main band after hearing the album and seeing them live.

Queens Of The Stone Age (song – Go With the Flow); Broken Social Scene (album – You Forgot it in people); Broken Social Scene – (show – Pyramid Cabaret); Tenacious D (video – Tribute)

2003
I remember the moment I fell in love with Sit down Stand up. It was on the eve of the album coming out, and Radiohead played a live show that was broadcasted to Silver City theatres in Canada. When that song reached the crescendo into the fast ‘raindrops’ part, I was almost on the edge of my seat. Which I could also say about the Metric show. They were second on a bill of three that featured Hot Hot Heat as the main act, and were still relatively new, but downright sexy and exciting to watch. I’ve since seen them six more times.

Radiohead (song – Sit Down, Stand Up); Mars Volta (album – De-Loused in the Comatorium); Metric (show – Pyramid Cabaret); Buck 65 (video – Wicked and Weird)

2004
The second time a John Frusciante album makes my favorite albums. This album is widely regarded as his most ‘mainstream’ and is a fantastic, great-amazing thing, just like the Bowie concert, which was the last concert I ever saw at the ol’ Winnipeg arena.

Secret Machines (song – Nowhere Again); John Frusciante (album – Shadows Collide with People); David Bowie (show – Winnipeg Arena); DFA 1979 (video – Black History Month)

2005
I’ll never forget how many phone calls I got when Nine Inch Nails annouced that they’d be coming here. It was the first time I was going to see them, after being a fan since 1994. My phone rang off the hook, and for one song during that show, so did my emotions. I kinda quietly, completely lost it, and felt like a dummy. Ha! By the way, that Esthero video’s freakin’ hot, and I agree with every sentiment in it.

Sufjan Stevens (song – Come On! Feel the Illinoise!); Fantomas (album – Suspended Animation); Nine Inch Nails (show – MTS Centre) Esthero (video – We R in Need of a Musical Revolution)

2006
I saw Wintersleep by myself in front of about 30 people, and skipped work to get there. When I talked to the singer about this, he dedicated a song to me. How nice. As far as Nausea goes, I don’t know what it is about that song, but something in it drives me nuts. It’s way too good and it doesn’t even realize it.

Beck (song – Nausea); Regina Spektor (album – Begin To Hope); Wintersleep (show – The Collective); Eagles of Death Metal (video – Boy’s Bad News)

2007
National Anthem of Nowhere has become my most listened to track on last.fm, and I think the Wintersleep album has since become one of my most listened to albums. They will both continue to rise in numbers. If I did a song by song and album by album breakdown, these two would make somewhere within the top three. And it’s pretty cool that I got to see Mike Patton in any of his 34i83902439024 bands, but Peeping Tom blew me away.

Apostle of Hustle (song – National Anthem of nowhere); Wintersleep (album – Welcome to the Night Sky); Peeping Tom (show – Trocadero); Feist (video – 1234)

2008
God, In Rainbows is great. And Secret Machines live, that’s something so completely underrated, I don’t even know how to describe it to you. The power that they have to get an audience going, is a sight to behold and yet there were so few people there that I was kind of disappointed in the turnout. Oh, and yes, I realize that Feist gets the video 2 years running for the same album, but they’re both great videos.

Kaki King (song – Montreal); Radiohead (album – In Rainbows); Secret Machines (show – Pyramid); Feist (video – I feel it all)

2009
I know, it hasn’t been that long, but Them Crooked Vultures was exactly the album I wanted it to be. So there.  And as far as Spookey’s song goes, this is the second time I’ve talked about it in my blog. Previously appeared in my “songs you won’t see in Guitar Hero or Rock band“, and it’s just something to behold. Metric’s video was perfect, it was the video that I wanted them to have. Something sweet and cute instead of overtly dorky like all of their other videos. As far as Leonard Cohen’s concert goes, I hadn’t been a huge fan beforehand, but was introduced, and BECAME a large fan because of how amazing that concert was. Everything he did was perfect. The singing, the sounds, the engagement with the audience was fantastic. Top five concerts in my life, that one.

Spookey Ruben (song – Mechanical Royalty); Them Crooked Vultures (album – Them Crooked Vultures); Leonard Cohen (show – MTS Centre); Metric (video – Gimme Sympathy)

#79: Red Hot Chili Peppers/Stadium Arcadium (2006) — I’ve already noted that John Frusciante is one of the best guitarists of all time. As a collective, any band than can pull off the prolific feat of a double album in this day and age and have a sizable chunk of that music trully showcase why a band should be a Hall of Fame act is considerably impressive. Check out: ‘Snow (Hey Oh)’ ‘Wet Sand,’ Storm in a Teacup,’ and ‘Turn It Again.’

#78: Dinosaur, Jr/Farm (2009) — Before Nirvana, there was Dinosaur, Jr. That was 16 years ago in my mind…and in MY mind, my formative years took place just before the alternative era…I was listening to the Pixies by way of the U2 Zoo TV tour, and naturally found myself turned on to Mascis and Murph and the 1993 commerical breakthrough, Where You Been?…this was back when MTV played videos, kids. ‘Start Choppin,’ and ‘Out There,’ garnered several spins in the tape deck (yes, remember walkmen? No, no the band…) Jump ahead to today and they’ve never sounded so good (with Barlow back in the fold)…every song a testament to why J Mascis should be remember for the guitarist and songwriter he is. Check out: ‘Pieces,’ ‘Plans,’ and ‘See You,’ for a brief tutorial.

#77: Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson/Break Up (2009) — o.k. we all know the story – Pete woke up one morning and decided to do a duets album. Save for the Robert Plant/Alison Krauss record, there haven’t been too many duets records this decade that have been able to truly cross lines and blow people away. As with anything over time, this album is an update on a theme, but it works (addressing both the past and present musically) – in the end, it’s a beautifully crafted pop album. Scarlett’s voice is truly a gift and a great foil and muse for Pete’s music. In a nutshell, it just works. Check out: ‘Relator, ‘I Am The Cosmos,’ and ‘Clean.’

#76: Our Lady Peace/Spiritual Machine (2001): Up until ‘01, was a damn good year for music and competitive for my ears, OLP was the only music coming out of Canada worth my time. OLP probably produced their most artistic and well balanced album that year, save for the whole conceptual, sci-fi b.s. The music stands the test of time, and holds up remarkably well. Check out: ‘In Repair,’ ‘Are You Sad?’ and ‘Made to Heal.’

#75: Nonpoint/Statement (2000) — these guys, like fellow East Coast Nu Metalers Sevendust, made a household name for themselves by just constant touring…I can’t tell you how many times (ad nauseum) they have ended on local bills. So much so that perhaps their message is a bit watered down these days. That aside, 10 years ago Statement was released and the crunchy metal along with a lead singer was the right amount swagger, sway and full-on rage fit the time in place. Bear in mind I was 23 and was still one for the pits. In fact I think it was crushing blow to the spine and jaw at a subsequent show that finally made me hang it up. When you ‘re having a bad day and want to imagine breaking sh*t…this is what one listens to. Full album is a TANK. Check out: ‘Endure,’ ‘What a Day,’ and ‘Tribute.’

#74: Head Automatica/Decadence (2004) — I remember the first listen of this album (my expectations were low, seeing as I just never got into Glassjaw – surprising, I know…), but I love a lead singer who can completely re-invent himself for a new project and that’s exactly what Daryl Palumbo does for Head Automatica. Decadence is a hard-rocking pop gem. The boys in H.A. get the party starting and never let up. Such great lyricis, such great funky rock. Check out: ‘At the Speed of a Yellow Bullet,’ ‘Brooklyn is Burning,’ and ‘Beating Heart Baby.’ — and you’re hooked.

#73: Thirty-Six Crazyfists/A Snow-Capped Romance (2004) — 36CF’s second album and second entry on my Top 100 of the decade. They don’t call it a sophomore slump for nothing folks – I can’t tell you how many bands I’ve seen crash and burn this decade b/c of it. 36CF cleaned up some of Brock’s vocals (but not the heart-on-sleeve reverence of his lyricism) and continued to bridge that gap between the hardcore sound remniscent in late 90’s acts like Handsome, Deftones and Flaw while maintaining a metal following for their brash, angular guitar-work. In other words, not for the weak of heart. Checkout: ‘The Heart and the Shape’ ‘Skin and Atmosphere,’ and ‘Waterhaul.’

#72: The Duke Spirt/Neptune (2008) — during my brief tenure at R.S. there were only a handful of acts that really got my juices flowing and made me want to bend over backwards to promote them despite many obstacles. Liela Moss is a true rock n’ roll frontwoman. That powerful European voice …fits into the hipster melodies crafted perfectly around her. The band is equal parts Spiritualized, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine. God love ‘em. Another great ‘road,’ record. ‘The sky is more certain than you will ever be/the rainclouds are angry at you and at me/forgive me baby/I’m not all that you see/I would understand your heart/if I could feel it…’ Check out: ‘The Step and The Walk,’ ‘This Ship Was Built to Last,’ and ‘Wooden Heart.’

#71: Smashing Pumpkins/ZEITGEIST (2007) — It’s hard to say whether or not this release might’ve ended up higher had it not been for the past two years of Billy slowly jumping the shark and Jimmy finally jumping ship. I was a believer as promo built for the album and the Pumpkins returned to active touring duty for the first time in seven years. Yes, I say Pumpkins b/c I still believe the Pumpkins were really just Billy n’ Jimmy anyway. Save for ‘Starz,’ this album, when put together completely after you bought the final Best Buy version (and added the iTunes and Target exclusive tracks), is a formidable asset to the discography. While 2000’s MACHINA was the formal swan song of the band as SP diehards new it; this is the rock album fans wondered if they would see after Mellon Collie. Check out: ‘Bleeding the Orchid,’ ‘Tarantula,’ and ‘Stellar.’

#70: System of a Down/Toxicity (2001) — at the turn of the century, nu metal was on its last legs. Korn’s Issues was released in (1999) and they would only release one meaningful album over the next 10 years. Limp Bizkit were also fading away. Godsmack’s Awake came out in 2000 and, save for newcomers Mudvayne, could widely be considered the mainstream hard rock success as a heavier new scene in metal began to develop. S.O.A.D. debuted in 1998 and three years later launched Toxicity with all the manic tendencies of eccentric frontman Serj Tankian, railing about multiplying, leaving keys on the table, and pogoing at swinger parties. Beyond that Daron Malakian was creating metal riff’s that spoke to the masses while an Armenian percussion and backdrop offered a well-rounded, Grammy-winning style that set the band apart from its peers. Check out: ‘Chop Suey,’ ‘Bounce,’ and ‘Deer Dance.’

Melissa auf der Maur (Ex-Smashing Pumpkins), deren Solodebut mir schon ganz gut gefallen hat, verschenkt gerade den Titeltrack zu ihrem kommenden Album, und wenn das so klingt wie “Out Of Our Minds”, dann wird das ne runde Sache.

Download:   Melissa auf der Maur – Out Of Our Minds

[via The Crime In Your Coffee]

I remember a time, which seems many years ago but was actually not that far back, when I used to sit in my school common room during break time and watch or play on the Gamecube. I remember racing speedily along with zero gravity tracks, sweaty boys, pulses, and the sound of Biffy Clyro’s third album Glitter and Trauma. I remember slashing and hacking and generally button bashing Nintendo characters, and even further back, ducking and sniping the day away to the likes of Nirvana, The Smashing Pumpkins, and Rage Against the Machine, the likes of which were all extremely new (though old to the world) and strange to my ears but eventually came to constitute large amounts of my shelf space and my ongoing musical preferences. I remember a later time, huddled around the TV cheering along to a virtual football mega-tournament including half of the boys in the year, with the song, as titled at the top of this post, adapted to the currently favoured team. “I’m feeling so Iranian like you” has always had a hugely personal feel to it, despite having never consciously met an Iranian person, let alone imagined what it would be like to feel that way. I’m much more inclined towards Bohemia, but somehow it doesn’t feel as close.

All these memories are set to music. I seem to work that way… But today I think my evening formed a memory which will not be set to a soundtrack. This evening, though my Korean friends may not agree, I feel as though I had a very Korean evening. Here’s why:

This morning was unusually warm for Autumn, especially considering my girlfriend had warned me that today would be extra cold. Well, by the time I caught the bus home from school it had gotten unnaturally chilly, and the extra layer I had carried confusedly earlier now made a lot more sense. I, however, was not feeling all too great and was not particularly looking forwards to a quiet evening at home (which I feared would turn into an evening spent canoodling my computer and it’s associated gaming software) in what was now seemingly sub-zero weather. Relatively at least. To explain why I didn’t spend the evening conquering the virtual world, I must take you even further back than this morning.

Last night I stayed up unusually late writing unusually long emails to some of those back home in the UK, having no fear of needing to wake up because the next day was SATs day. This, from what I can gather, is a listening test which happens in High schools one morning every year, and all public offices – such as schools, government buildings etc – are closed until 9 40 so that the students can get to their (very important) tests on time, even if they happen to be running late. Apparently these are so important that if I kid is running late they’re allowed to ask a  policeman for a lift to school, whence they’re whizzed off on the back of a motorbike through the unusually traffic-less roads to their test. At any rate, this meant that I could get up a full hour an a half later this morning. Unfortunately this appears to cause my routine to shake too much, and I awoke at one thirty this morning and ate breakfast, thinking I’d better start getting ready to go. Thankfully I woke up properly halfway through, finished it off and didn’t get in the shower.

I also awoke at seven-thirty, eight, and quarter past eight thinking I was late for school.

When I finally did wake up at the (self-) appointed time of eight thirty, I finished off my cereal and showered and continued to school. This sounds inconsequential, however having eaten two breakfasts this morning, instead of one today and one tomorrow, meant that I needed to go shopping to buy some more this evening or go without breakfast tomorrow, which is, frankly, unacceptable. And so, there was at least one event planned for my evening which might otherwise have been spent neglectfully.

Before I arrived in my apartment, then, I swung by the Hana-ro mart and stocked up on various fruits and goods to restock my cupboards. After this I resisted the urge to buy a cheap and huge tub of ice cream, and instead bought a lovely doughnut from Dunkin’ Donuts! Unfortunately most people don’t realise that the name implies that you should dunk your doughnut in some coffee, however I occasionally fulfil this obligation. This evening, however, I didn’t, and continued they long journey to my room (Dunkin’ is in my apartment block). Before I got to the elevator though, I realised that, rather unlike me, I felt like buying some 떡볶이 (Ddeok-bokgi)!

This is a common snack in Korea and can be bought at roadside tents every fifty metres, and is effectively rice cake in rather spicy sauce. This I bought for the pricy sum of two thousand Won (one pound), and after successfully exchanging a few comments in Korean such as “Do you want it spicy”, “Yes, I like spicy Ddeok-bokgi!”, “Oh, you speak Korean well!” and ”Thanks”, I went up to my room.

Upon walking through my door I realised that the loud drumming and music I had heard outside (but haven’t mentioned until now) was actually across the road from my apartment block, and would continue to be loud and rhythmic for some time to come. You seem to be able to play extremely loud music on the streets occasionally with no consequences… I’m not sure if this is because they got a license or if it’s just the culture, however it provided a particularly Korean backdrop to my dinner, which was eaten whilst I sat cross-legged on my bed watching Power Puff Girls on TV.

Powerpuff Girls? Yes, but not as you know them, in fact, I watched 파워 퍼프 걸Z (Paweoh Peopeuh Geolzeuh), in which the girls were seemingly older than their English counterparts, had strange personal weapons, had as much leg showing as possible along with every other celebrity in this highly conservative culture and, in this episode, were fighting against strange mutant Sushi which had somehow gained consciousness, grown significantly and was devastatingly attacking the local city. After they had been defeated by the doctor’s clever chemical formula (one of which had probably caused the problem in the first place), the girls didn’t hesitate in eating the formerly-deadly fish. They celebrated in an appropriately cute Korean style as I happily munched on my chewy spicy ricey cakes and ignored the ever louder drums.

And when this had finished I flicked over only to find a strangely impressive Gordon Brown giving a speech at the Berlin Wall anniversary celebrations, which, if you missed them, included the domino-like falling of a huge amount of giant dominoes, which I can only assume was meant to symbolise the falling down of something a little more significant. And all this comes just a week before President Obama was due to visit Seoul to discuss a somewhat similar situation involving communists and a nation divided by a big line and political tensions. One couldn’t help but wonder how long it would take for the reunification of the Koreas to manifest itself, if, indeed, it ever does. I think I can hear on the wind that it might be becoming more likely in the near future…

Whilst I pondered these deep and complicated issues I sat and ate a persimmon.

Looking back, it was a completely ordinary day, but ordinary in what struck me as a Korean way. And, I guess, Korean is ordinary for me now. Come visit me, see if you can feel what I mean… And someone tell me how strange it is that being here is normal. I feel like it feels a lot less strange than it should.

톰

Just got finished watching tonight’s episode of “FlashForward.”

For anyone suffering from “Lost” withdrawal and weekly watercooler conversations about the meaning of the Dharma Initiative and John Locke’s miraculous resurrection, FF offers a fix that will get you through the rough patch.

It has an interesting and ever-deepening mythology; pacing that continually moves the story toward a future that may or may not be set in stone; and an often strained American accent by Joseph Fiennes.

But what I really love about the show is the use of music — from a Bjork tune played over a gorgeous shot of park dwellers slipping into their 137-second glimpse of their future, to tonight’s montage set to a live version of Bob Dylan’s “Shelter from the Storm” and moments in recent weeks backed by Pearl Jam, Rufus Wainwright and the Rolling Stones. Whoever is in charge of the music is doing a masterful job in selecting tracks that offer maximum impact at a given moment.

That’s also one of the many reasons I miss “The Shield.” (If you know what’s coming next for poor Lem, the music and that last shot of Shane Vendrell is enough to give you goosebumps.)

This week’s theme was a toughie: SONGS TO MAKE SANDWICHES TO was inspired by a forum on music mag Word’s site. While Word readers couldn’t take the subject seriously I figured there was room for someone who did. And who better than little ol’ obsessive me? So sandwiches it was, but I made it easier by also including hamburgers, hot-dogs and the like. I even allowed songs about stuff that goes into a sandwich, like honey, tomatoes, chicken. Still I suffered some abuse. Impossible, you emailed. Why not make it broader and include all food pleaded Lynden. Crap theme, too hard, moaned Zoe. Oh you listeners of little faith.

We opened with a novelty song: SANDWICHES ARE BEAUTIFUL from Bob King, but in case you’re worried about this setting a tone for the rest of the show, be assured – rockers, r&b artists and especially the alternative pop singers all delivered some edgy songs on sandwiches.

Do you know where the word sandwich was born?  London. 1762. An English nobleman, John Montagu, the Fourth Earl of Sandwich was too busy gambling to stop for a meal even though he was hungry for some food. The legend goes that he ordered a waiter to bring him roast-beef between two slices of bread. The Earl was able to continue his gambling while eating his snack; and from that incident, we have inherited the fast-food product that we now know as the sandwich.

Today, our favourite version of meat between bread is called a hamburger. So we got the show rolling with the Whitlams’ brilliant  I MAKE HAMBURGERS followed by The Flaming Lips and SHE DON’T USE JELLY. New York based, Japanese duo Cibo Matto were next with LE PAIN PERDU. The name of the band is Italian for crazy food and the title of the song is French for Toast. The lyrics in their songs are all primarily concerned with food, well seemingly anyway, and I liked them so much I also played another of their tunes, KNOW YOUR CHICKEN later in the program. Here’s the crazy video clip of that track and, although he doesn’t appear in the clip, that’s Sean Lennon on bass.

Two items that elevate ordinary old toast to dessert status are marmalade and honey. So any excuse to play Patti Labelle’s LADY MARMALADE and Aretha Franklin’s HONEY and I’m there. Yum yum.

Louis Jordan loves his BEANS AND CORNBREAD while Lil Johnson pushes metaphor to it’s limits with SAM THE HOT DOG MAN. Neil Young is partial to TUPELO HONEY on his sandwich, while  Jimmy Buffet can’t stop singing about a CHEESEBURGER IN PARADISE.

When it comes to cheeseburgers, whether we like it or not, the burger with the highest profile has got to be MacDonald’s. Hell, there was a whole conversation about their burgers in the film PULP FICTION. Ah yes, how could we not include that iconic scene where John Travolta and Samuel Jackson discuss the merits of the French McDonald’s – ROYALE WITH CHEESE?

Two tunes that pay homage to the fact that a good cuppa is needed to wash down a sandwich or piece of toast were next.  Canadian Jeff Healey, gave Gertrude Lawrence’s A CUP OF COFFEE, A SANDWICH, AND YOU a burl and  then it was TOAST AND MARMALADE FOR TEA, a nice piece of bubblegum from the band Tin Tin.

Kaiser Cheifs reminded us of that vital sandwich ingredient – tomatoes –   with TOMATO IN THE RAIN. And then it was the hilarious TOAST from Paul Young and the Streetband. Classic. Take a look at this clip from 1978.

In Mexican cuisine, a sandwich is either a taco or a burrito. Beck didn’t sound too happy when he sang SATAN GAVE ME A TACO. It seems taking delivery of that snack had all kinds of repercussions. Meanwhile, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention went CRUISING FOR BURGERS. As you do.

All girl group Care Bears on Fire let loose with the precautionary BARBIE EAT A SANDWICH. Nice animated clip too. Check it out:

Let’s talk chicken. Here’s a question: What’s a chicken sandwich without MAYONNAISE? Smashing Pumpkins offered up a track dedicated to the condiment of all condiments. Mmmmm mmmmm: chicken, lettuce and mayo on white bread – can’t get better than that. The Detroit Grand Pubahs reinforced the fact that all songs, but especially those about food, are really about sex. The tune? The very cheeky WE CAN MAKE SANDWICHES. Here we go: another crazy video clip:

Out of the disco and out on the road: Little Feat are sang all about HAMBURGER MIDNIGHT and then John Mellencamp reckons that life is like choosing between HOTDOGS AND HAMBURGERS, (not sure what he’s getting at there).

Comedian Mitch Hedberg does a great skit on sandwiches and I particularly liked the bit about the Club Sandwich. We followed that with a dangerous piece of radio: Metal band Psychostick with THIS IS NOT A SONG, IT’S A SANDWICH!

After Psychostick we needed to calm down and what better way than with Feist and a song about the calming qualities of HONEY? You wouldn’t exactly call The Sugarcubes, (with Bjork), a calming influence. They can’t decide what to put on their sandwich and are threatening to EAT THE MENU. Check out the very young Bjork and a fabulous floating burger, all in one clip!

We closed the show with an oldie but a goodie: I LIKE BREAD AND BUTTER by the New Beats. Check out the clip from 1964:

Next week the show will feature Songs about Elvis; not by Elvis – although that would be good too – Songs about Elvis. Come on this one is easy, so start sending those requests in.

But for now, here’s this week’s playlist:

This is about a week of catch up or so, so this is one fucking long list!

2009 – The Future Is Soon
Aggrolites, The – IV
Andrew W.K. – Close Calls With Brick Walls
Anti-Flag – The People or The Gun
As Tall As Lions – You Can’t Take It With You
Ataris, The – …Anywhere But Here
Ataris, The – Welcome The Night
Avail – Front Porch Stories
Avail – One Wrench
Bad Brains – Bad Brains
Barry, Tim – Manchester
Big D and the Kids Table, Brian Failure – Beijing to Boston
Black Keys, The – The Big Come Up
Black Sabbath – Paranoid
Briggs, The – Back To Higher Ground
Cloak Dagger – Lost Art
Common Enemy – Living The Dream
Converge – Axe To Fall
Death By Stereo – Into The Valley Of Death
Dost, Andrew – Columbus
Drive Like Jehu – Drive Like Jehu
Drive Like Jehu – Yank Crime
Flaming Lips, The – Silent Night
Full of Fancy – Sweet Baby Jesus
Gabel, Tom – Anna is a Stool Pigeon
Ghostlimb, Fischer – Split
Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy
Hatebreed – For The Lions
Hot Chip – The Warning
Jizz Kids, Guts – A Safe Return To The Forest
Judas Priest – Hero, Hero
Lawrence Arms, The – The Greatest Story Ever Told
Longfellow – And So On
Lucero – 1372 Overton Park
Mad Caddies – Just One More
Mars Volta, The – Is Anybody There
Mars Volta, The – Live At The Electric Ballroom
Max Levine Ensemble, The – Ok Smarty Pants
Monikers – Wake Up
Morrissey – Years of Refusal
Motley Crue – Girls Girls Girls
MxPx – Secret Weapon
Naked Raygun – Jettison
Naked Raygun – Understand
Nerf Herder – American Cheese
Nine Pound Hammer – Sex, Drugs and Bill Monroe
No Use For A Name – Hard Rock Bottom
No Use For A Name – Keep Them Confused
No Use For a Name – More Bitterness
Only Crime – To The Nines
P.O.D. – Payable On Death
Protest the Hero – Kezia
Prozacs, The – Playing The Chords We Love
Real McKenzies, The – 10,000 Shots
Real McKenzies, The – Oot and Aboot
Rehasher – High Speed Access to My Brain
R.E.M. – Automatic for the People
Revolutionary Youth – Bleed Decay
Scorch, Al – This Lonesome World…
Sick Of It All – Call To Arms
Sick Of It All – Life on the Ropes
Sick Of It All – Yours Truly
Skatalites – Stretching Out Vol. 1
Skeletonwitch – Breathing The Fire
Smashing Pumpkins – Gish
Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
Star Fucking Hipsters – Never Rest In Peace
Strung Out – An American Paradox
Swellers, The – My Everest
Tool – 10,000 Days
Used Kids – Yeah No
Vandals, The – Play Really Bad Original Country Tunes
Vandals, The – Sweatin’ To The Oldies
Various Artists – Glory Daze
Various Artists – Mallrats
Various Artists – New Tales To Tell
Wrister, North Trolls – Split

Now I’m aware these fifteen aren’t all exactly 100% acid rain-evening-suicidal-trashed cons grunge tracks, but November is the only month of the year I’ll pop most of this shit in, so by default it’s gonna be half classics, half surface scratchers. Reppin’ the hard flannel.

#37. November Grunge

1. Smashing Pumpkins – Zero
2. Stone Temple Pilots – Plush
3. Pearl Jam – Even Flow
4. Fourth Grade Nothing – Adirectional
5. Stone Temple Pilots – Interstate Love Song
6. Bush – Machinehead
7. Bush – Comedown
8. Sonic Youth – Mote
9. The Cranberries – Zombie
10. Better Than Ezra – Good
11. Weezer – Jamie
12. The Pixies – Is She Weird
13. Marcy’s Playground – Sex and Candy
14. Echo & The Bunnyman – The Killing Moon
15. Pearl Jam & Neil Young – I’m the Ocean

On this day in 1978, post-punk band Echo and the Bunnymen debuted as the opening act for the Teardrop Explodes at Eric’s Club in Liverpool.

While they were a popular in their native England, the Bunnymen had limited commercial success across the pond in the U.S.  Only 1984’s “The Killing Moon” and 1987’s “Lips Like Sugar” had any chart success.  However, they became more widely known to American audiences when “Bring on the Dancing Horses” was included on the soundtrack to the 1986 film, Pretty in Pink.

In 1985, the Bunnymen toured Scandinavia as a cover band, including songs by Television, the Rollign Stones, and the Talking Heads in their sets.  In 1987, they contributed a cover version of the Doors’ “People are Strange” to the soundtrack for the film, The Lost Boys.

Despite a lack of great commercial success, the Bunnymen have had a great influence on other musicians and, in 2002, they were awarded the Q Inspiration award by British music magazine Q.

Here’s French cover band, Nouvelle Vague, performing “Killing Moon” live in Athens in 2007.

And here’s The Quakes‘ psychobilly version.

Lo-fi band Pavement performed a version as part their 1997 BBC session, describing it as “an old family favorite.”

Finally, “Lips like Sugar” has also received its fair amount of attention as a cover song.

Some nice person on youtube put together versions by Coldplay and by the Smashing Pumpkins and threw in a bit of the Seal version from the 50 First Dates soundtrack at the end.

Dixie Carter, presidenta de TNA, insinuó en su Twitter, que Billy Corgan, el aclamado vocalista de la mítica banda Smashing Pumpkins, podría ser un un futuro, un conductor invitado en TNA iMPACT

Billy Corgan/Smashing Pumpkins, se tomó un descanso de sus grabaciones (de su disco), para ver iMPACT esta noche, y enviarme mensajes de texto como si fuera el programador famoso de esta noche

Los Smashing Pumpkins ya han tenido que ver con TNA, recordemos que  “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”, fue el tema oficial de Lockdown 2009 (Arriba  un video con la banda tocando el tema en vivo)

A história é que o ex-vocalista do Bush, e marido da Gwen Stefany, vai aparecer num episódio da série ‘Criminal Minds’.

E lá, com a cara branca e olhos pretos por conta da maquiagem, faz uma versão bizarra de ‘Love will tear us apart’, do Joy Division.

Mas é impossível alguma coisa ficar boa com aquele jeito arfante de cantar, né?

Rossdale também anda tocando ‘Landslide’ em seus shows. É uma das músicas mais chatinhas do Smashing Pumpkins. Bonitinha, mas chatinha, saca? E ao fim ele dá aqueles gritinhos arfantes enquanto as meninas gritam. Terrible.

TEST

1. 얼마 전 간만에 Daydream Nation 앨범을 들었다. 90년대를 꿰뚫은 시대정신과 뜨거운 미학이 가득 담겨 있다고, 새삼 생각했다. 이 앨범을 들으면서 고등학교 시절을 보낼 수 있었다는 것은, 축복이었다고 해도 좋을 것이다. 물론, 내 고등학교 시절에 출시된 앨범이란 소린 아니고…;

2. 내친 김에 Dirty 앨범도 같이 들었다. Goo와 Dirty 중에 고르라면 나는 Dirty 쪽이었던 기억이 난다. 어쨌든, 가만히 듣고 있다 보니 연주가 정말 탄탄하다. 당연하지, 변칙튜닝한 20여대의 기타를 앰프에 비벼대면서 평생을 살아온 사람들인데. 변칙튜닝이 주법 이외의 어떤 차이를 가져오는지도 그때는 실은 제대로 이해하지 못했는데, 그런 탐구생활을 하면서 성공적인 결과물을 가져왔다면 일단 얼마나 기타를 안고 사는지를 먼저 생각해야 할 것이고, 그것이 곧 실력으로 연결된다는 것은 당연한 결론이다. 하지만 그때는 소닉유스가 연주를 잘 하는 밴드라는 생각은 별로 하지 못했다. 부끄럽구나. 그러니까 나는, 비르투오조와는 가장 거리가 먼 성격과 마음가짐으로도, 겁도 없이 음악을 하겠다고 덤빌 수 있었던 것 같기도 하다.

3. Dirty를 듣다가 부치 빅을 생각했다. 어쨌거나 내 10대 시절의 가장 커다란 존재감이었던 스매싱 펌킨스도, 부치 빅을 만나 완성된 것이 아닌가 하는 느낌이었다. Dirty 앨범에서 줄곧 보여지는 곡 단위의 탄탄하고 선 굵은 리듬 리프들은 스매싱 펌킨스가 Siamese Dream을 거쳐 슈퍼밴드가 되는 데에 가장 중요한 받침돌이 된 것 같다. Sugar Kane이나 Youth against Fascism은 Today와 얼마나 닮아 있나 하는 것. 부치 빅이 그런, 곡의 아이덴티티로서 두드러지는 리듬에 먼저 관심이 있어서 드럼을 잡았는지, 드러머여서 그런 스타일이 나왔는지는 모르겠다. 흥미롭게도 정작 가비지의 곡들은 그 정도까지 명쾌한 리듬 리프는 아니라고 생각하는데…

4. 라이브에서는 또 다른 이야기지만 레코딩에선 사실 기타가 솔로를 위해 빠져나간 반주 자리를 베이스와 드럼만으로 메꾸기가 쉽지 않다. 확 빠져나간 긴장감에는 유효하지만, 계속해서 달려나가는 꽉 찬 느낌을 베이스만으로 채우는 건 어려우니 오버더빙도 많이 하고 그러는 거겠지. 그런데 소닉 유스는 (디스토션이 걸려서도 그렇겠지만) 베이스만 남아도 별로 허전하지가 않다. 그러다가 풀밴드가 총공세를 가할 때면, “베이스만으로도 이만큼이었다면, 풀밴드는 이 정도는 해야지!” 라는 느낌으로 때려준다. 두들겨 맞고 마구 휘둘리는 쾌감을 이만큼 느끼게 해주는 밴드가 얼마나 있을까.

5. 이 모든 것은 The Eternal 앨범을 듣게 된 이후였다. A Thousand Leaves 때부터 느꼈는데 소닉 유스는, 당연한 소리지만, 진화하는 것 같다. Daydream Nation 때부터 나는 “소닉 유스는 신이다!” 외치지 않을 수 없었는데 더 진화하면 대체 뭐가 되는 거야… 싶지만.; 그만큼의 성과를 이루고도 여전히 완성형이길 거부한다…는 것조차도 아니고, 당연하다는 듯이 조금씩 조금씩 움직여나가는 모습이 사뭇 감동적이다. 그런데 인디 빠면서 소닉 유스 안 좋아한다는 어불성설 궤변을 늘어 놓는, 이름은 밝히지 않겠지만 김라흐는 백배사죄하라.

6. 원래 보컬에 크게 마음 두는 편은 아닌데, 그럼에도 정말 완전히 파고 드는 설레는 보컬들이 있다. 남자 보컬 중엔 닐 테넌트는 언니 부문으로 빼고 서스턴 무어와 버나드 섬너가 양대산맥인 것 같다. 뭔가 미묘하게 닮은 구석이 있다! 표 차이가 꽤 있지만 마이클 스타이프까지 덧붙인다면 제법 그림이 나오지 않나?

언니 부문 얘기는 농담이고; 닐 테넌트 목소리 정말정말 좋아하지만 서스턴 무어나 버나드 섬너만큼 동경하게 되진 않는 것 같다. 글쎄, 이거 소녀시대보다 카라가 좋아요랑 비슷한 얘기가 되나? ; 데이비드 개헌이나 빌리 코건도, 꽤 좋아하지만 맥락을 막론하고 너무 좋은 그런 건 아니다.

7. 그 동안 시건방 떨면서 소닉 유스를 조금 멀리했던 나 자신을 참회하면서, 올 가을 파리 공연도 아무 생각 없이 흘려 보냈던 나 자신을 책망하면서, 하지만 소닉 유스는 “지금 안 보면 평생 후회할 것 같아!”라고 하기에는 너무나 생생하게 살아 있다는 걸 느끼기에 마음의 여유를 갖자. 언제 어디에서 어떤 공연을 보게 되더라도 최고일 테니까.

A Twin Cities que apresenta canções compostas em inglês, 
formada por Diego Maraschin (guitarra e vocal), Beto Martinez (bateria),
Igor Montanari (baixo) e Giuliano Machado (guitarra), se apresenta,
na quarta-feira (11.11) na capital gaúcha. O show que irá marcar
a gravação do CD ao vivo, acontecerá às 23 horas, no mais novo
centro cultural de Porto Alegre, o Complexo Master (Praça Garibaldi, 46).

LEIA MAIS NOS SITES
:: SORTIMENTOS.COM >> http://www.sortimentos.net/?p=3711
:: GEBBEG >> http://gebbeg.com.br/?p=7071

.

Tudo começou com uma reclamação minha sobre o Strung Out e seu CD lançado esse ano, o ‘Agents Of The Underground’. Particularmente adorei o instrumental, já as letras me deixaram totalmente desiludida, sérinho. Queria postar no meu fotolog, algo referente ao Strung Out mas sem citar o nome da banda ou das letras; eu gosto de testar as pessoas que comentam lá. Elas realmente sabem do que eu estou falando ou são um monte de merda comentando ‘bonita a foto’!? Então começei a prestar atenção nas letras, buscando algo que coubesse lá. E sabe o que aconteceu? Todas as letras de merda falavam sobre amor, sobre saudade e essa coisa toda corna de ser. Larguei mão.
Aí eu lembrei de uma banda que eu sempre ouvi falar, sempre bem. Então abri o youtube e digitei lá: “Smashing Pumpkins”, uma música estranha, com um cara parecidinho com o Voldemort do Harry Potter aparece lá, se mechendo de um jeito estranho. Enfim, já tinha visto algumas coisas, mas não tinha dedicado meu tempinho pra eles. E olha que sou saidinha no assunto ok Aí eu pergunto pra ele, e ele diz: “É a melhor banda do mundo!” E agora, eu não acho isso. Porque será que ele pensa isso?

Então, vamos á wikipédia pra escrever esse nosso primeiro parágrafo ok:
Smashing Pumpkins é uma banda de ‘rock alternativo’, que surgiu nem Chicago em 1987. Teve várias formações mas a maior parte dos álbuns são assinados por: Billy Corgan (vocais, guitarra), James Iha (guitarra, vocais), D’arcy Wretzky (baixo, vocais) e Jimmy Chamberlin (bateria, percussão). As grandes ambições musicais e letras catárticas de Billy, moldaram as canções e álbuns da banda, que têm sido descritos como “angustiados, relatos da terra de pesadelos de Billy Corgan.” blábláblá blá
Vamos parar de tititi e por as cartas na mesa, #adoro. Porque eu to perdendo tempo aqui escrevendo sobre uma banda que eu não conhecia até hoje, nunca tive interesse e tem um vocalista totalmente perturbado? E escrevo com prazer, excitada. Como se estivesse atrasada pra pegar o ônibus, os dedinhos batendo forte e o coração agitado. Escuto umas músicas aleatórias no youtube e então chego (me levam) até a “letra mais linda do mundo”, ‘Ava Adore‘. Uma letra que diz descaradamente: “Lovely girl, you’re the beauty in my world. Without you, there aren’t reasons left to find. …
In you I see dirty
In you I count stars
In you I feel so pretty
In you I taste God
In you I feel so hungry
In you I crash cars.”

Eu confesso, tenho um certo apego á esse modo de escrever. Me excita! Enfim, me apaixonei pela letra da música, achei muito forte e bonita ao mesmo tempo. Então fiquei sabendo em que condições o ‘cara esquisito’ escreveu isso… A mãe que ele não conversava á anos morreu, o tecladista morre de overdose, a mulher chuta ele e o baterista sai da banda… Acontece tudo junto e daí sai a letra que virou uma das minhas preferidas assim que prestei atenção, deixo ela aqui embrulhadinha pra vocês:

Aí a figura estranha do Billy tomou uma posição diferente pra mim, inconscientemente. Ele é o máximo, forte e magnífico. E esse disco, o ‘Adore’ de 1998 eu precisava baixar . Afinal a música bonita era só a primeira delas. Billy não toca as músicas desse disco mais, tal disco que por sinal quase não tem bateria, tem muito piano e batidas eletrônicas. Foda-se, baixei do mesmo jeito. Até que ele diz: “Não, não comece por esse, comece por outro.” Depois de 4 resenhas de uma linha cada sobre os primeiros discos da banda, a decisão pelo ‘Siamese Dream’ soa inquestionável.. Baixei os 2.
Escuto “Today” um dos hits do ‘Siamese Dream’, adoro! Inclusive o vídeo. Aí surge uma dúvida, porque dessa letra tão feliz? O que levou o cara que me lembrava abóboras escrever coisas como:
“Today is the greatest
Day I’ve ever known
Can’t wait for tomorrow
I might not have that long
I’ll tear my heart out
Before I get out

Pink ribbon scars
That never forget
I tried so hard
To cleanse these regrets
My angel wings
Were bruised and restrained
My belly stings”

Gostei da música, é confortável. Descubro o porque da ‘alegria’ contida nela. Billy estava fodido, na merda mesmo. Morava no sótão da D’arci (baixista), ela tinha terminado com ele e chutado ele de lá, a banda tava uma merda (começo de carreira). Então ele tenta se enforcar, mas com os 192 centímetros foi difícil conseguir, ele sai só machucado e caminha até a calçada onde escreve esse hit. Então tudo se tornou compreensível, o porque da importância daquele dia.

Enfim, pela violência e devoção do cara esquisito eu me apeguei a banda num tempo ridículo, quase questionável. Hoje foi o meu dia de aprender sobre eles e entender porque essa banda é tão importante pra muita gente que eu julgo entender do assunto ok

Eu sei que sou iniciante na coisa, muita gente sabe mais que eu ou vê as coisas de outro jeito. Nao importa, chegou na hora certa. Pra finalizar, deixo aqui o link do blog do Billy, o meu ‘cara esquisito’ pra sempre ok (L) talvez seja demais pra alguns de vocês ou pra mim. Já tive umas explicações particulares e discussões interessantes sobre certas idéias citadas aí. O foda é que vocês julgam demais e se chegarem a julgar o billy, eu vou odiar vocês.

http://www.everythingfromheretothere.com/ – Se divirtam, monstrinhos. :*

Oh boy, here we go. I really wanted to talk about Adore, but due to the fact that I can never seem to hold on to a copy, time is nearly out for this blog, so it’ll have to wait another day. For now, let’s talk about Smashing Pumpkins’ newest album:

Zeitgeist, the band’s newest and seventh album (yes, a band that has been around since the late 80’s has managed to put out only 7 albums so far), was released 2 years ago to “mixed reviews”.

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but “mixed reviews” pretty much describes everything the band did after Mellon Collie. Starting with the actually-quite-good-but-sans-drummer Adore and continuing on through the I-haven’t-heard-them-yet Machina and Machina II, the band insisted on straying farther and farther away from the chunky, multi-layered guitars and amazing drum beats and just overall rock sound that had made them such a fixture on God-forsaken outlets such as the radio and what used to be called “music television” before it became Youtube. Each time the band absolutely refused to put out another epic 28 song double album of genre-defying guitar-heavy art rock, the reviews were “mixed”, meaning some people appreciated the band’s new direction, while probably adding in side-notes about how great it would be if the band would record something a whole lot better, like, say, Siamese Dream. The other side of those reviews would just tell it like it is, that they hated the bleepy bloopy stuff and would they please go back to guitar rock in a hurry because they’re one of the few bands who ever did it right.

Indeed, Zeitgeist is the result of said reviews, and other concerns, like Billy Corgan’s crippling bandophobia and the rest of the band’s interest in “playing the ponies” instead of playing the shows (by “playing the ponies” I mean sweet, sweet heroin) which caused the band to break up for 5 years. After branching off into less-than-stellar solo careers (apparently Corgan’s “super-ground” Zwan’s name comes from the number of people who wanted to hear it, a totally imaginary number), Billy Corgan decided maybe, just maybe, it might be worth it to put out just one more album of drummy guitar music, bringing the band’s total guitar-and-real-drums album output to 4. Not bad for a band just starting out, and apparently not bad for 20 year veterans of alternative rock.

So, Billy Corgan sought out his band, finding only drummer Jimmy Chamberlain suffering from his own solo career. They quickly became roommates (what?) and started writing and recording an album together. Yes, Billy “This Is MY Band” Corgan conceded to having a writing partner for this set of songs, and recording the whole thing the old-fashioned way, which involved playing for weeks on end into the same analogue 24 track recorder they used to record Mellon Collie, probably bleeding out of pores with the exertion (I really doubt Corgan actually shaves his head, I think his recording methods just caused his hair to refuse to keep growing).

The end result is an earnest “Here’s your freaking drummy guitar rock album” from the newly-reformed Smashing Pumpkins duo, a 12 song release made with all the care (and overdubs) that you would expect from a top shelf album, a cohesive, strong release with guitars all over the place, and drums even better than when the band was at the peak of their powers.

The critical reception?

Mixed reviews.

What else did you expect? Fans are impossible to please, and when you’re not exactly known for just tossing out an album every 2 years, you have to expect that your output is going to be put under that much more of a microscope. Sure enough, there are Pumpkins fans who refuse to even listen to the album, much less give it a fair shot as an actual album, and some Pumpkins fans (at least enough to pack a stadium or two) collectively declared “it’s good enough!”

Perhaps my experience is a little different, because this is the first Smashing Pumpkins album I actually paid attention to, because the song “Tarantula” and its crazy-but-fun video are what drew me into actually giving the band a second shot (along with my super-fan friend BBH). My entire experience with the Pumpkins has been a fairly positive one, I guess because, instead of working from their established hits and judging everything else based on the merits of their master work, I’m finding a lot of albums that are better than Zeitgeist couldn’t possibly have been, and I still consider Zeitgeist to be a good album, as far as albums go.

I mean, the album starts off with a real cracker of a rock song (starting with a drum solo, which I sternly approve of) laughably called “Doomsday Clock”, which will unfortunately forever be associated with that terrible Michael Bay Transformers movie. It combines more distorted guitar than I care to even think about, and the tune is catchy enough, and it’s fast-paced and energetic. Then we got through rock music that sort of tapers off on the energy, before introducing a mid-album rock-out in the form of the swing-tastic “Tarantula”, and then in the back of the album, we slow it down but not without the 10 minute “United States” jam, and then end the whole thing with… well, that depends on which version of the album you bought.

I got mine from Target, expecting the “Zeitgeist” title track to be something of a necessity, which it turned out to not be. In total, there were something like 5 retail versions of this album, and then 2 more subsequent re-releases that tried to combine said tracks. It was majorly confusing, but most people knew enough about stealing music from the internet to have a “complete” collection, so no big deal really.

The big highlight, for me, was “Tarantula”. To me, it kind of takes that final rock-out portion to Muse’s “Knights Of Cydonia” and turns it into its own song, with some truly bitchin’ guitar solos all throughout. It really transcends my appreciation for the Pumpkins in general and has become one of my all-time favorite up-tempo rock songs, where it joins “Highway Star”, “Ace Of Spades”, “The Number Of The Beast”, and the afore-mentioned “Knights Of Cydonia” in a special play-list I used to use when I wanted to get somewhere really fast on a bicycle.

Another big highlight for me was the “United States” 10 minute jam, which might be vaguely reminiscent of “Silverfuck” from Siamese Dreams, but is basically an extended session of low-note guitar wankery against a tom-heavy beat while Corgan bellows out a politically-charged song about what I can only assume is the country we both live in. Lyrically, I’m sure the song tries to come off as very, very important, but since Corgan’s whisper-to-a-scream vocals are a thing of the past, the kind of ho-hum way he sings the entire album sort of takes the teeth out of whatever point he was trying to make. Indeed, one of the primal screams from Mellon Collie can scarcely be replaced by the kind of hilarious “OWWWWW” that Corgan throws out at some point in this song, more Michael Jackson than metal, really. Still, the drums and guitars more than make up for it, like with the rest of the album, and at least there’s a good tune in there somewhere.

So this may sound like a “mixed” review, I suppose, but take my word for it, I do enjoy this album. I’m really optimistic about the next project that the Pumpkins (without Chamberlain of course, old habits die hard, and Corgan’s bandophobia dies hardest) have lined up, even if it’s Billy Corgan’s intention to kill the album format. That seems a real shame considering that the man really does know how to put together an album, and that’s something we appreciate here at Album Du Jour.

Anyway, if I can get ahold of a copy of Adore without too much trouble, we may bring up the Pumpkins one more time by year’s end. Until then!