It’s funny that when you’re not feeling down you want to listen to some mood music. And, for me at least, Chris Cornell is a one of the masters at self-loathing music. So naturally I’ve been listening to a lot of his stuff lately.
However, I’m not feeling as bad now, so the music’s been getting a bit more upbeat. And, one song comes to mind, which would be Audioslave’s “Be Yourself”. Yes, I know that Audioslave isn’t a pure 90’s band, but we’ll let em’ slide since the band is made up of Cornell and Rage Against The Machine. I am also well aware at how played out the song is.
“Be Yourself” was the first single from Audioslave’s second album, Out of Exile in 2005. The song quickly shot up to the top of both the Modern Rock Tracks and Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. It was even used in the Scrubs episode “My Mirror Image”, man I love that show.
The song is rather simple, and since it came from Chris Cornell and the guys from RATM, I thought they were getting a bit too soft and poppy. But, the more I listen to “Be Yourself”, it makes sense to me now.
Sure, Cornell is saying “be yourself”, but it’s not that obvious. I think he means that only you have to answer for your mistakes and accomplishments in life. And, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks about you, because at the end of the day there’s only one person you really have to answer to…which would be yourself. So, if you’re content with who you are, then that’s what really matters.
Green River, which was the Seattle band that featured future Pearl Jam members Stone Gossard and Jess Ament and Mudhoney members Mark Arm, Steve Turner and Alex Vincent, are prepping for their first show in around 21 years.
The band will reunite for Sub Pop’s 20th Anniversary gig in Seattle this Sunday, July 13, and it looks like they’re going to play some rarities. Jeff Ament told Billboard that that band has relearned two unreleased demos, “Baby, Help Me Forget” and “Leech”, which Ament called “some of the best songs” that the band has.
The band had already rehearsed twice in April, but have met up three times since and Ament now says that they feel like their “95% there”. He also stated: “We had a go at 16 or 17 songs and we have 14 right now, but we may need to get that down to 11 or 12 for Sunday. We have a 40-minute slot”.
Here’s what else Ament had to say about the possibility of Green River reuniting in the future: “It would be fun to write a couple of new songs with those guys”. Ament even admitted that the band has gotten offers to tour again, but he is waiting for the “ultimate pairing”, which be a tour with the one and only Stooges.
How awesome would a Green River tour be?
Oh well, I’m not holding my breathe, but if you’re attending the Sup Pop festivities this weekend have a blast. It should be a good time.
Beck has had an interesting career in my book. After all, how could an artist top themselves once they gave us one of the most defining songs of a decade, which would be “Loser” of course.
Well, he did so with two of the best albums from the 90’s, 1996’s Odelay and 1998’s Mutations. Midnite Vultures in 1999 wasn’t as genius, but “Sexx Laws is a killer track. Then in 2002 Beck got a bit depressed and stripped down for the fantastic Sea Change. But ever since it seems like Beck has been trying to find his way again. Guero in 2005 and The Information in 2006 weren’t horrible albums, but they felt like Beck was trying way too hard to once again find that funky genius that gave us so much great music from the 90’s.
Modern Guilt, however, proves that Beck has indeed found his way.
Sure, it was easy to get swept into the hype of the new album when it was revealed that Danger Mouse was producing it, but there is no let down folks. Everything from the hypnotic, conspiracy filled first single “Chemtrails” to the psychedelic embraced “Gamma Ray” and “Modern Guilt” to the jazzy Cat Power collaboration “Walls” to the classic sounding Beck track “Profanity Prayers” are…well…just awesome. And what really seals the deal is the closing track “Volcano”, which is one of those head bopping tunes where just close your eyes and feel the music. Very good stuff.
The only complaint about Modern Guilt is that it’s too short, it’s only about 35 minutes long. But hey, quality not quantity is always a good philosophy.
Overall, a great album with a unique theme dealing with today’s crazy world, which is certainly worth the cost.
Here’s a live performance of another new track, “Youthless”.
Scott, from The Rock Dose and Metal Martyr, was awesome enough to send me this about the new Melvins album, which comes out today.
Grunge forefathers and sludge-birthing wildmen The Melvins are set to release their nineteenth (!) record. Nude With Boots continues in the LA-based band’s tradition of matching mega-huge riffs with walls of rhythm and electr-fried skuzz. Last week the band premiered the triumphant Boots via their Myspace page. In case you missed it, you can head over to their Last.fm page or to AOL Spinner to hear this monster in full.
In other Melvins news, the band has expanded their previously announced tour with Big Business, stretching it throughout August with stops all over the map. Things kick off later this month at Amoeba in LA and come to a close a month and a half later down the block at the LA Historic State Park.
07-15 Los Angeles, California - Amoeba In-Store
07-16 Santa Barbara, California - Velvet Jones
07-17 Sacramento, CA - The Boardwalk
07-18 San Francisco, CA - Slim’s
07-19 Reno, NV - Club Underground
07-21 Modesto, CA - Fat Cat
07-23 Bend, OR - Domino Room
07-24 Eugene, OR - WOW Hall
07-25 Portland, OR - Wonder Ballroom
07-26 Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market
07-27 Missoula, MT - The Other Side
07-28 Billings, MT - Bones Brewing
07-29 Teton Village, WY - Mangy Moose
07-31 Denver, CO - Ogden Theatre
08-02 Minneapolis, MN - TBD
08-03 Madison, WI - High Noon Saloon
08-04 Chicago, IL - Double Door
08-05 Detroit, MI - Small’s
08-06 Cleveland, OH - Grog Shop
08-07 Buffalo, NY - Town Ballroom
08-08 Rochester, NY - The Club at Water Street Music Hall
08-09 Boston, MA - Paradise Rock Club
08-10 Northampton, MA - Pearl Street
08-12 New Haven, CT - Toad’s Place
08-13 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
08-14 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
08-15 Baltimore, MD - Ottobar
08-16 Carrboro, NC - Cat’s Cradle
08-17 Atlanta, GA - The Drunken Unicorn
08-18 Athens, GA - 40 Watt Club
08-20 New Orleans, LA - One Eyed Jacks
08-21 Houston, TX - Warehouse Live
08-22 Austin, TX - Emo’s
08-23 Dallas, TX - House Of Blues
08-25 Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad
08-26 Tucson, AZ - Plush
08-27 Phoenix, AZ - The Brickhouse Theater
08-28 San Diego, CA - Canes
08-29 Pomona, CA - Glass House
08-31 Los Angeles, CA - LA Historic State Park
Download and Share The Melvins “Nude With Boots” From Nude With Boots [Ipecac]
“…among the best (and catchiest) songs they have written during their quarter-decade project in hard-rock deconstruction, summoning and scrambling Zeppelin, Saint Vitus, late-’80s thrash, and…vintage Melvins.” – Spin
“The Melvins-cum-Big Business attack has been alternately heavy and agile, slimy and gleaming, feeling fortified on every front.” – Pitchfork
“Melvins fans will love it. Classic rock fans won’t get it. Everyone else will let it float by. Don’t let that mistake be yours.” – Guitar Kult
I haven’t listened to the entire album yet, but from what I have heard, it’s pretty awesome. The tracks are very classic rock sounding, but have that little Melvins touch. Defiantly check it out.
Could Blur possibly be joining the seemingly endless slew of disbanded 90’s acts who want to give it another go?
According to the their bassist Alex James, it seems very likely that the Brit alt-rockers will reunite.
James recently spoke to the UK’s Independent, where revealed that the band were offered the headlining spot at this year’s world famous Glastonbury Festival. Here’s what he had to say: “Blur very nearly played Glastonbury this year,” and added that “There was a pang of regret when I heard Damon mum had nixed it at the 11th hour“.
Hmmm, seems a bit cheeky to me.
However, James did go on to state that he’s “sure” that Blur will headline Glastonbury in the future.
This would be cool if Blur got back together, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. After all, this isn’t the first time that James has promised that the guys would be getting back together. Last year he stated that a new Blur album would be on it’s way, but the other guys don’t seem to be into it. We’ll just have to wait and see.
For now enjoy the video for one of my favorite Blur tunes, “Coffee & TV”.
Well it’s Independence Day, so it only seems fair that we do an FYI on The Presidents of the United States of America.
Chris Ballew (vocals, basitar) and Dave Dederer (guitbass) began as a duo under the names The Lo-Fis, The Dynamic Duo and Pure Frosting in 1993.
Drummer Jason Finn would soon round out the line-up, while he was still in the band Love Battery.
The complete band performed their first show in December of 1993 at Seattle’s Romper Room.
The President’s of the United States of America first recording was a 10 song cassette entitled Froggystyle.
The band signed to Seattle record label PopLlama in 1994 and soon released their self-titled debut album.
PUSA then signed to Columbia Records, and their debut album was re-released in July of 1995.
The lyrics to “Lump” came from a strange dream that Chris Ballew had while having an allergic reaction to antibiotics.
“Weird” Al Yankovic parodied “Lump” with his tune “Gump” on 1996’s Bad Hair Day.
“Peaches” was written about a crush that Ballew had, since he stood underneath her peach tree and squeezed peaches trying to build up the courage to talk to her.
“Kitty” originally appeared on Froggystyle, but was entitled “Kitty at My Foot”.
In the fall of 1995 the band turned down an offer to perform on Saturday Night Live, since the date conflicted with Chris Ballew’s wedding.
On President’s Day, 1996 PUSA performed at Mount Rushmore.
II was released on November 5, 1996 and included several re-recorded tracks from Froggystyle.
II would reach number 31 on the Billboard 200.
PUSA recorded a version of the theme song to George of the Jungle for the 1997 live action adaptation staring Brendan Fraser.
In January of 1998 The Presidents of the United States of America broke up, since Chris Ballew wanted to spend more time with his family and other musical ventures.
Pure Frosting was a compilation album released on March 10, 1998.
PUSA recorded a cover of the the Buggles classic “Video Killed the Radio Star”, which appeared on the Wedding Singer soundtrack and Pure Frosting.
The Drew Carey Show used the band’s cover of “Cleveland Rocks” as it’s theme song. The song was originally written and performed by Mott the Hopple frontman Ian Hunter.
The band wrote the theme song for the made for TV movie My Date with the President’s Daughter in 1998, which stared Will Friedle, who know the big brother from Boy Meets World.
After PUSA broke up, the band went on to various side projects, including: Ballew releasing albums with The Tycoons and The Giraffes, Dederer working with Duff McKagan in The Gentleman and Loaded and Finn jamming with The Nevada Bachelors, The Fastbacks and his former band Love Battery.
PUSA worked with Sir Mix-A-Lot in the rock and hip-hop group Subset.
Columbia released Lump, a greatest hits compilation, on January 1, 2000.
The band reformed in 2000 to record the single “Jupiter” for MUSICBLITZ Records. The web based label would go on to convince the band to record a new album.
Freaked Out and Small was released on September 12, 2000. This was the first album where the band used normal guitars and bass guitars.
The band broke up and once again reformed by 2004.
Love Everybody was released on August 17, 2004 through the band’s own label, PUSA Inc.
Guitarist Andrew McKeag has seemingly replaced Dederer.
On March 11, 2008 These Are The Good Times People was released and was the first PUSA album to feature McKeag.
The video for the first single, “Mixed Up S.O.B.”, was directed by “Weird” Al Yankovic.
On June 15, 2008 the band was part of Pet-Aid 2008 in Oregon.
Happy a great Independence Day and enjoy some “Peaches”.
The STP frontman has announced the release date for his upcoming solo album, which will follow his first solo album, 1998’s 12 Bar Blues. The still untitled album will hit shelves on October 7 through Weiland’s own label, Softdrive Records.
Here’s what Scotty had to say about the album, “It’ll definitely be a sonic journey like the first album was, a little bit more focused since I’m not on a narcotic journey like I was on the last one. But, you know, still sort of all over the map, because my influences are so wide and varied.“.
Weiland has been working on this album for years now and, as previously reported, the record will be produced by Steve Albini.
I’m actually looking forward to hearing this. 12 Bar Blues had some great tracks, so I’m curious to hear what tricks he’s got up his sleeve.
Here’s the video for “Barbarella” from 12 Bar Blues.
The Pearl Jam frontman toured the west coast back in April, and he just wrapped up a east coast run with Pearl Jam. He’ll head back on the road from August 1 to August 22.
This should make fans very happy as they can expect to see Vedder performing stripped down versions of Pearl Jam tracks, some covers and his solo work from the Into the Wild soundtrack. I think lucky fans will have a blast at these shows.
Liam Finn will be rejoining Vedder as the opening act. Tickets will go on sale to the public on July 11, but Ten Club members will have first dibs beginning on July 7.
Here are the tour dates for Vedder’s second leg of his solo tour:
Aug-01 & 02 - Opera House, Boston, MA
Aug-04 & 05 - United Palace Theatere, New York, NY
Aug-07 - NJ Performing Arts, Newark, NJ
Aug-09 & 10 - Salle Wilfrid Place, Montreal, QC
Aug-12 & 13 - Massey Hall, Toronto, ON
Aug-16 & 17 - Warner Theatre, Washington, DC
Aug-19 - Riverside Theatre, Milwaukee, WI
Aug-21 & 22 - Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL
I wonder why he skipped the Philly area? Looks like I have to plan another mini trip.
Here’s a live version of Eddie’s take on The Beatles classic “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away”.
This song is dedicated to Lindsay Lohan, since it’s her birthday and all.
Not to mention that it was on this day in 1776 that the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain, however, the Declaration of Independence wasn’t adopted until July 4. I already knew that little fun fact, seriously. So, just make your 4th of July festivities start two days earlier.
Anyways, “American Idiot” was the first single from the album of the same name , released on September 14, 2004. It’s a great in your face track that helped re-spark Green Day’s career. It would also land the number one spot on Billboard’s Modern Rock Tracks.
I think the theme behind this song is pretty obvious, as if the title didn’t give it away. It’s still a great track to remind us during this time of year that we have the freedom to express ourselves. Let’s not forget that.
Here’s the video, which was directed by Samuel Bayer, who directed all the videos for American Idiot. Oh yeah, he also directed the video for a little number entitled “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
I’ve been revisiting this gem of an album lately and I seriously forgot how great it was.
Pinkerton was Weezer’s second album, released on September 24, 1996. It experienced a bit of difficulties from the get go, like scattered recording time since Rivers was at Harvard and had leg surgery. Heck, the album was almost pulled off the shelves because a security firm in California, called Pinkerton’s Inc., sued the band and their label Geffen for trademark infringement. Even with these set backs behind Pinkerton, the album failed to match the success of it’s predecessor, The Blue Album and was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics.
However, this Madame Butterfly inspired album is my favorite in the Weezer catalog. It’s actually even one of my favorite albums from the 90’s.
Pinkerton stands out from the band’s other albums because of the constant themes of finding and losing love, which is probably one of Rivers favorite topics, but the entire is focused on this theme. It also just rocks out. It’s a non-stop, foot tapper sing a long of an album. The only track that slows down is the closer, “Butterfly”.
I actually can’t name any favorites from Pinkerton, because that’s just not right. Trust me, if you don’t own this album then go out right now and pick up a copy.
Here’s the tracklisting with some links and comments.
1. “Tired of Sex” - A great opening track that’s about getting tired of sex. Weird, huh?
2. “Getchoo” - A rather aggressive track, which I think is about the narrator being just a bit too pushy in the pursuit of his love interest.
3. “No Other One” - Not as aggressive as the first two tracks, but still a rocker track about a girlfriend that does some illegal activities.
4. “Why Bother?” - A pretty upbeat number, just kidding. Giving up never sounded so catchy.
5. “Across The Sea” - A sweet song dedicated to a Japanese fan.
6. “The Good Life” - OK, this is actually an upbeat tune that cheers me up whenever I feel down.
7. “El Scorcho” - The first single from Pinkerton that has lots of cultural references.
8. “Pink Triangle” - An interesting song about a guy who falls in love with a lesbian.
9. “Falling For You” - Starts off with peaceful intro and then kicks into a rocker about (surprise, surprise) falling for someone.
10. “Butterfly” - A strictly acoustic, and very depressing, song.
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