The timing for my 100 List couldn't be better; this post is my 99th, meaning my next will be celebrating the 100th with my 100.
So, I'm sharing a couple music videos I just saw for the first time this week. The first is Misery, from Maroon 5. I checked it out after "The Voice" had me listening to the 4 coaches on YouTube. The video is best summarized as, simply put, Hot & Hilarious. A gorgeous, tiny little badass girl basically kicks the crap out of Adam Levine. Highly entertaining
Words I Never Said, from Lupe's "LASERS," was just released on the Interwebs today. Its got some awesome visuals to go with one of the heavier songs from Lupe's latest.
Also, expect a rant on Steve Carell's last episode on The Office, and those who will be throwing their hat into the ring (Gob? "COME ON!")
So, I am in the process of putting together my 100 Songs of the Rock Era, as well as a Summertime Mixtape of hip-hop to mix into what will be Country and Rock Season for me. So before I have those ready for air, I want to share my thoughts on the new TV Series/Singing Competition, "The Voice." (Hit The Link To Watch on Hulu)
I think its AMAZING. Where "Idol" has been stale since the discovery of Carrie Underwood (When was that? I must have been 14 still...), The Voice brings something fresh to the table. They switch up the format in a way that benefits the show greatly.
If you're terrible- you're not getting on TV for the judges to mock you, America to laugh at you and FOX to make money off you. Right off the bat, the contestants are obviously stronger and come from more walks of life than "Idol" would ever be looking for.
Next, the judges double as vocal coaches-- that is, they're competing in this too; looking for
the strongest contestants and then offering their expertise to nurture them into stronger
vocalists. Did I mention the judges are 4 of the biggest and most entertaining singers today? Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green, Adam Levine and Blake Shelton are all amazing singers, each who can offer something unique to their team.
Also, coaches are choosing their teams with their backs to the stage -- going solely off the voice. A competition that prioritizes vocal talent over looks? How Refreshing!
Oh and Carson Daly is back as the host. Where's he been? I love that guy!
It'll be interesting to see where the show goes once the teams are built and the coaches get involved 1-on-1, but I have high hopes.
(I've included clips of my 3 favorite performances from the premiere episode.)
I read a book a few years back, "Broken Prey," which is part of a series following a detective by the name of Lucas Davenport. Those kind of series are always right up my alley. You get to know the character so well and see them develop far more than in just a single story, and you grow to like them and learn their tendencies. Well, the reason I'm mentioning this is in this particular entry, Davenport's wife gives him an iPod and an iTunes card for $100. So he accepts this as a challenge to create a playlist of the 100 "Best Songs of the Rock Era" (this was back in '05, back when songs were just $.99). Here's a link to his list.
And since Davenport isn't a Beatles Fan, you won't find them on his list. So I took on the challenge of picking my Top 10 Rock Songs, excluding the Beatles. This may be a prelude to my own 100 Song Tribute...
(2011's Adventures of Bobby Ray? Singles have won me over, a la B.o.B did)
I will be absolutely shocked at this point if Brad Paisley's This Is Country Music fails to take my top spot at the end of 2011. Early in the year I figured Lupe's LASERS would be in contention- but it didn't quite live up to my lofty expectations (still a really really good album). With the exception of Tyler, the Creator's Goblin due out in under a month and a possible Slaughterhouse album, I don't know of any albums to be released this year that will be able to compete with Brad in my CD-Changer/iTunes/iPod rotation. But- you never know. I didn't see American Saturday Night or The Adventures of Bobby Ray, released the past two years, to claim my top spots in 2009 and 2010 respectively.
Take a look at the track list below. The features alone are mind-boggling. Pays to be the Jay-Z equivalent in Country Music. When either hits you up and offers a spot on their next album, you jump at the opportunity.
I'm keeping with my "new music can be good music" kick I was on for Hip-Hop Thursday, at least for this song. First time I really heard Tech N9ne was at Rock The Bells in 2009, and his fans scared the shit out of me. I mean, the "technicians" as they call themselves, are the most dedicated fanbase I've seen. And they were crazy enough that I didn't exactly enjoy Tech's Set. However, after listening to his music on my own in a quiet environment helped me realize how dope this guy is. Here's his roughly 1-week-old ode to his fan base, a song he's given away for those that pre-ordered his upcoming album, "All 6's and 7's." Needless to say, I'm anxiously awaiting the album's release and the arrival of my pre-order.
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"Angel Dance" -- Robert Plant (Rock)
Robert Plant's reinvention post-Led Zeppelin has been amazing to watch. First was his delving into old-school blues with a couple different groups. Then was his Country-Folk album with Alison Krauss, that caught everybody off-guard with how well the two worked together- creating one of 2007's best albums. And now, he's leading a new group, Band of Joy, sharing the namesake of his very first band, pre-dating his time with Zeppelin. "Angel Dance," is the first track of off the album sharing the group's name. It has a great sound to it-- something of a southern rock-country-blues mix, and its carried by Plant's still golden vocals.
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"25 Minutes To Go" -- Johnny Cash (Country)
I've been a Cash mood all week-- debating if my favorite live album is his At Folsom Prison, or The Allman Brothers' At Filmore East. Though I never came to a conclusion, it did leave me playing Cash over and over again (as I did the same with Fillmore last week), with my favorite tracks changing constantly. By now, "25 Minutes To Go," and "The Legend of John Henry's Hammer" both have over 20 plays on the Pod and more in iTunes. Nothing beats Johnny's bad-ass-ness, especially live in front of a group of criminals enjoying a few hours of freedom.
