SAILING :: Yacht Rock (Web Series review)

Yacht Rock (Web Series review)

First of all, I've got to thank my sister Sara for introducing me to the Yacht Rock series. With all my time on the net, this one had completely passed me by. I was familiar with the term Yacht Rock and what it described - but what was the real history and the origin of the name? The Yacht Rock series was released in 2005 after being written, directed and produced by J.D. Ryznar and co-produced by David Lyons and Hunter D. Stair. It's a fictionalized mockumentary in 12 episodes, following the smooth rock superstars of the late 70's and early 80's. It follows the careers Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, and others. In fact, the term "yacht rock" was used to describe this genre of music only after the release of the series in 2005.

The storylines are hilarious and the caricatures are completely over the top. You'll recognize comedians and other celebrities such as Jason Lee, Dan Harmon, Justin Roiland, Steve Agee, and Drew Carey. Go now, watch all 12 episodes (they are roughly 5 minutes each) and enjoy. You can learn more at:

http://www.yachtrock.com/

Start here with episode 1:

FUCK IT :: The Replacements - Unsatisfied

The Replacements - Unsatisfied

This song has always held a special place in my heart. I'd like to think it was influenced by the Stone's - Satisfaction (Can't get no). Who knows? This is genuine raw punk rock. As a fan and a recovering alcoholic, I get it. The best songs come from the worst of times. That's what the great artists are known for.

If you know the band, lead singer Paul Westerberg had a lot of troubled demons going on. You see, Paul and the band had a problem with alcohol and playing live. They were notorious!

Take for instance their later performance on SNL. Not only did they get banned from performing in the show. All Warner Bros. artists were, in effect banned.

It started with bassist Bob Stinson who was mentally ill and had self-medicated through drinking. That night, the band started creating problems with the sound check. They were too loud and the studio turned them down. The band was essentially locked in for a few hours and Bob needed alcohol, to which it was smuggled in. The host - Harry Dean Stanton, knocked on the green room door and proceeded to get fucked up with the rest of the band. During the first performance, the Replacements were at their drunken best. At one point, Paul yelled at Bob, "come on fucker" to cue his solo. At the finish, Bob did a somersault, in which he ripped his pants baring his ass. Producer Lorne Michaels was fuming and this began the banning. They were allowed to finish the show, but they wouldn't play television for another 3 years.

There are lot's of other examples, the point is that the Replacements would never be satisfied and that's why their sentiment is still gold today!

Again, I get it. We drink and we play music because something is missing in our lives. We are unsatisfied!




SNL performance:

BALKAN POWER :: Smallman - Two Rivers

Smallman - Two Rivers

I was hanging out at the local watering hole last night and ended up meeting this Bulgarian, Ivan, who was in town on business. The topic quickly turned to music and he shared this band - Smallman, with me. Later on, once I got home and was able to properly hear the music - it really resonated with me. The core of their music is mixing the Bulgarian bagpipe into aggressive, slow and deep-sounding guitar and bass lines. Check out more on their Bandcamp page.



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ART OF WAR :: Battles - The Yabba

Battles - The Yabba

Battles have been bringing their experimental sound to the masses since 2002. The current line-up is guitarist/ keyboardist Ian Williams (formerly of Don Caballero and Storm & Stress), guitarist/ bassist Dave Konopka (formerly of Lynx), and drummer John Stanier (formerly of Helmet). They recently played at Bonaroo.

I came across "The Yabba" a few days ago and I was blow away by the whole thing. The layering is intense and the audio and video really mesh well together. I could easily see myself playing this in a DJ set. -No Boats

EVERYTHING TO LOSE :: Turf War - Cheers to the Years

Turf War - Cheers to the Years

Known for rowdy shows and catchy rock songs, Turf War started in 2008 as a bedroom solo project for lead singer John Robinson and quickly turned into a full band with Brian McGrath filling in on drums and backup vocals, Cecil Moss on Guitar, and Bradley Morris on bass. Later bringing in Ian McDonald. The had a successful album and tour and then John left the group to do solo work. Cheers to the Years is an homage to debauchery and keeping it punk. - No Boats

ROCK WITH YOUR BLOC OUT :: Bloc Party- Better Than Heaven

Bloc Party- Better Than Heaven

Definitely my favorite tune off Bloc Party's third album Intimacy .... Better Than Heaven is the perfect platform to show off singer Kele Okereke's vocal talents. The song begins immediately with verse over bass notes and continues until halfway through, the bass notes give way to a guitar driven climax. With lyrics like "You get sadder, the smarter you get - and it's a bore", Kele is telling us that as we lose our innocence - we can become more jaded. But that's ok because "If this world does not turn you on ... well I've got enough for the both of us". Stop thinking, start feeling ... it's only sin, original sin.



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The Brian Jonestown Massacre - Take it from the Man! (Full Album)

What can I say about The Brian Jonestown Massacre? They just might be one of the greatest unknown bands of all time. That may be because of lead singer Anton Newcombe's tumultuous relationship with the band, the music industry, drugs and his own demons. Despite the problems, they have managed to release quite a repertoire of albums (mostly self released) and are the subject of the incredible documentary Dig! If I've managed just one more convert, then I've done my job.




Dig! from Retazovvorks on Vimeo.

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MANDATORY :: Joy Division - Unknown Pleasures (1979) Full Album

In 1979, Joy Division changed the musical landscape with their debut album - Unknown Pleasures on Factory Records. The music was dark and gloomy, which resonates with their audience even to this day. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion). They worked with Martin Hannett to produce Unknown Pleasures.

The band initially disliked the "spacious, atmospheric sound" of the album, which did not reflect their more aggressive live sound. Hook said in 2006, "It definitely didn't turn out sounding the way I wanted it ... But now I can see that Martin did a good job on it ... There's no two ways about it, Martin Hannett created the Joy Division sound." Hook also noted that he was able to hear Curtis's lyrics and Sumner's guitar parts for the first time on the record, because during gigs the band played too loudly.

The album's cover, which I used to think was a picture of a mountain range or some sort of "Joy Division" is actually a reverse print image of radio waves from pulsar CP 1919, from The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy. It may be one of the most iconic images in rock history.

In 1980, a troubled Ian Curtis would take his own life in his home in Manchester. The remaining members went on to form New Order, achieving critical success.



TRACLIST:
00:00 - Disorder
03:28 - Day of the Lords
08:15 - Candidate
11:17 - Insight
15:44 - New Dawn Fades
20:32 - She's Lost Control
24:30 - Shadowplay
28:23 - Wilderness
30:59 - Interzone
33:13 - I Remember Nothing

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World Party - Goodbye Jumbo (Full Album - playlist)

World Party

Karl Wallinger's band - World Party might be one of the greatest bands that you've never heard of from the 80's and 90's. Wallinger got his start as the musical director of London's West End version on The Rocky Horror Picture Show, before joining a funk band dubbed The Out and then The Waterboys.

Recorded at Wallinger's home in 1986, his debut album Private Revolution yielded two minor hits in the UK, "Private Revolution" and "Ship of Fools". "Ship Of Fools", however, did much better outside the UK — it reached no. 4 in Australia, no. 21 in New Zealand, and no. 27 in the US, in the process becoming the act's only major international hit.

Between World Party's first and second albums, Wallinger aided Sinéad O'Connor in recording her 1988 debut, The Lion and the Cobra. O'Connor, then an unknown, had appeared as a guest on World Party's first album. She would go on to appear as a guest on the second LP as well.

Goodbye Jumbo, World Party's second album, contained the minor UK hit singles "Way Down Now" and "Put the Message in the Box". Wallinger collaborated with fellow songwriter Guy Chambers on some of the tracks. Goodbye Jumbo was voted "album of the year" by Q magazine and was nominated for a Grammy Award for "best alternative music performance" in the US.

These guys are an incredible live show too. I have the chance to see them at the Rock Am Ring Festival in 1993 in Nurburgring Germany along with Faith No More, INXS, Leonard Cohen, Danzig, The Black Crowes and a ton of other acts.



TRACKLIST:
1 Is It Too Late 4:25
2 Way Down Now 3:50
3 When the Rainbow Comes 5:00
4 Put the Message in the Box 4:17
5 Ain't Gonna Come Till I'm Ready 5:06
6 And I Fell Back Alone 3:56
7 Take It Up 4:38
8 God on My Side 4:16
9 Show Me to the Top 5:16
10 Love Street 4:21
11 Sweet Soul Dream 4:40
12 Thank You World 3:48

Bronze Radio Return - Shake! Shake! Shake!

From the land of insurance companies, Hartford, CT - today we have a great tune by indie / roots rockers Bronze Radio Return. Shake! Shake! Shake! was released in 2011, on the EP of the same name. The song has been licensed for use by many companies including Nissan, who used it in their new Leaf commercial.

http://bronzeradioreturn.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bronzeradioreturn
https://www.facebook.com/bronzeradioreturn
https://twitter.com/BronzeRadio

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ONE MAN BAND :: The Brokeoffs - Brain Damage/Eclipse (Pink Floyd)

This guy is a mystery. He's definitely got some talent though to be able to play the foot drums as well as he does. I was expecting some kind of drum machine or computerized setup going into this, but he does it all analog style!

BONUS: One Man Band-AC/DC


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POWERFUL :: Sarah Jaffe - Clementine

Someone very special to me posted this one on my Facebook. The lyrics and delivery are incredible.

Lyrics:

50 states
50 lines
50 crying all the time's
50 boys
50 lies
50 I'm gonna change my mind's
I changed my mind
I changed my mind
Now I'm feeling different

We were young
We were young
We were young, we didn't care
Is it gone?
Is it gone?
Is it floating in the air?
I changed my mind
I changed my mind
Now I'm feeling different

All that time wasted
I wish I was a little more delicate
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my name was Clementine

50 states
50 lines
50 crying all the time's
50 boys
50 lies
50 I'm gonna change my mind's
I changed my mind
I changed my mind
Now I'm feeling different

We were young
We were young
We were young, we didn't care
Is it gone?
Is it gone?
Or it's floating in the air?
I changed my mind
I changed my mind
Now I'm feeling different

All that time wasted
I wish I was a little more delicate
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my name was Clementine

All that time wasted
I wish I was a little more delicate
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my
I wish my name was Clementine

Sarah Jaffe is from Denton, Texas. She has released 3 EP's - Even Born Again EP (2008), Suburban Nature (2010), The Way Sound Leaves a Room EP (2011) and has another coming out in April - The Body Wins

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THERE'S NOT ENOUGH BEARD IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD :: The Beards - No Beard No Good (live)

This is the best song ever!!! The Beards go on a rant about the importance of beards, or evilness of not having one rather. I say never trust anyone who doesn't have facial hair ... ladies excluded?!?! I don't think so ... hahaha

From their accents, The Beards must be from down under. They all have beards and their music is very hairy. Let's get these guys on the road with ZZ Top stat!

https://www.facebook.com/TheBeardsAustralia
http://thebeardsblog.wordpress.com/
https://twitter.com/The_Beards

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follow: youtube / facebook

JAMMIN :: Widespread Panic - Walkin' (For Your love)

One of the hardest working bands on the "Jam Band" circuit, Widespread Panic came hot out of Athens, GA in 1986. With 6 core members and 15 additional instrumentalists, the band has been steadily touring for almost 27 years now. Their fans, known affectionately as "Spreadheads sometimes travel from city to city to follow them around, similiar to the "Deadheads" who traveled with the Grateful Dead.

Their live shows are amazing. Known for never playing the same show twice, the band has a show-to-show ritual of choosing the night's setlist. At the beginning of each tour, a member of the band's road crew makes a master list of all the songs the band performs and laminates it. Each night before the show he marks the last 3 nights' set lists in different colors. The band can see what has been played recently and then decide what songs to play during the first set. They return back to the list during setbreak to pick songs for the second set, and likewise, return after the second set for any additional sets if playing more than two, or the encore. as of 2011, they hold the record for number of sold-out performances at Red Rocks Amphitheatre (Morrison, Colorado) at 38 and Philips Arena (Atlanta, Georgia) at 17.

The catchy Walkin' (For Your love) comes from their second self-titled album released in 1991. If you are a fan, I'd recommend the documentary The Earth Will Swallow You.

http://www.widespreadpanic.com/
https://twitter.com/WidespreadPanic
https://www.facebook.com/widespreadpanic

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Angels & Airwaves - LOVE parts 1 and 2 (FULL ALBUM)

Angels & Airwaves have a new movie out called Love. It's an incredible storyline consisting of several separate characters. The main guy is trapped on a space station after the destruction of the earth. So throughout his years of being stuck up there, he sees the Earth starting to collapse below. He ends up basically becoming the last person alive. And then decades later, he wakes up one day and there's something outside of his spaceship, in low Earth orbit with him.

The movie is enhanced by the soundtrack which is completely produced by Angels & Airwaves and was released 2 years prior in 2009. Check out both soundtracks (the second is an instrumental) below:



TRACK LIST:
Et Ducit Mundum Per Luce - 0:00
The Flight Of Apollo - 2:36
Young London - 8:54
Shove - 14:00
Epic Holiday - 20:38
Hallucination - 25:19
The Moon-Atomic - 30:01
Clever Love - 36:21
Soul Survivor (...2012) - 40:51
Letters To God Part 2 - 45:00
Some Origins Of Fire - 49:07



http://www.angelsandairwaves.com/
http://angelsandairwaves.com/twitter
https://www.facebook.com/angelsandairwaves

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'73 TIL INFINITY

It can't be denied that the 1970's brought us some of the best music ever from rock to glam, funk, disco, punk and even hip-hop. The 70's even produced me during the year when the Watergate scandal was in full swing, lite beer was introduced to the US and the first handheld cellular phone call was made. The decade was full of those fed up by war and the hippie movement. Cocaine was the new drug of choice and people wanted to dance. Soul Train was born. The synthesizer was used more and more and the early stages of electronic music came to be. Here are a few gems from the 1970's to help you remember your roots:

















groovy,
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THE GREAT VAIN ????? :: Carly Simon - You're So Vain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You're_So_Vain



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SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW :: diplo - got stoned and mixed really old records for half an hour

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Tomahawk - Sun Dance

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Frank Black plus Tenacious D - Oh My Golly

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