Paul McCartney Covers

Sometimes you don't have to create original music to rock it like it's your own work.  Here are some great examples:

1) The Faces' version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" :

2) The Foo Fighter's take on "Band On The Run" :

3) Comedian Tim Hawkin's use of the tune "Yesterday" :

And because I wish it was Christmas:

Got A Minute?

Here are some of the best songs under 2 minutes. 

For those of you who know that the best things come in small packages.

1) Bad Luck Drunk - Pour Habit

2) Le Garage - The Futureheads

3) Abra Cadaver - The Hives

4) Norgaard - The Vaccines 

5) I'll Follow The Sun - The Beatles

I like how this list worked out. A nice transition from some intense punk to a soothing Beatles tune.  Well done, Andrew, well done.

Party Boobytrap At Hard Rock Cafe

Backstage after the show

That's not water...

We only allow females to attend our concerts

Awesome venue

Moovin' to the groovin'

Wes melting the hearts of many

We want you at our next show

You Need To See This, Trust Me

While this video is not new by any means, I think it deserves another view.
It wouldn't surprise me if he played Whack-A-Mole hours upon hours in preparation for this performance.

Here's another must see:

If only Mario had ^THAT guy's skills, the princess would have been saved on the first level.

At least there is something they can agree on

Battle Of The Albums

I'd like to hear an art student's analysis this album art.

Facing off today in the album gauntlet will be five powerhouses.  All five are great but which will come out on top? *Hint* - The winner will have some kind of combination of the words white or black.

Provided below will be my favorite song off of each album and that album's cover art (or lack thereof, you creative bunch of Beatles).

1) The Beatles' "The White Album"

Above, somewhere in the white space is a video that has bits from The White Album. Enjoy!

2) Metallica's "The Black Album"

3) Jay-Z's "The Black Album"

4) Prince's "The Black Album"

This one is not going to win, sorry Prince fans.

5) The Hives' "The Black And White Album"

And the winner is.....

Ah, finally some color 

Was there ever any doubt? If you disagree, feel free to leave an angry comment!

Don't Forget The Lyrics!

Welcome to the first publication of Don't Forget The Lyrics! Today, we will explore the simplest of lyrics.

Oh Ash, how we miss you so

If you forget any of the following lyrics, I'm surprised you can even read this sentence.

1) The Beastie Boy's "Pow" -

The song starts at 1:30.  The lyric will sneak up on you about midway through the second minute so be ready.  And yes, I meant to type lyric (Shocker.... it's POW).

2) Daft Punk's "Around The World" -

OK, so this is a giant leap of lyric memorization from the last video.  If you think you can handle learning an entire phrase, by all means, try your best.  I always forget what to say after the "Around The World" part.

3) Fatboy Slim's "Don't Let The Man Get You Down" -

Wait, what did the sign say?

4) Overseer's "Horndog" -

Alright here is the biggest challenge. If you can remember a couple of lines, I hereby promote you to the upcoming advanced section of Don't Forget The Lyrics! Congratulations, not many people have achieved this seemingly impossible feat.

More Party Boobytrap!

Remember where you are at this moment. These guys are going to be famous soon.

Party Boobytrap

Pretty much the best band ever.

More videos on the way, courtesy of professional iPhone cameraman - Enrique 

Albums I Listen To All The Way Through Pt.2

Because you liked it so much the first time, here is the highly anticipated part two list of albums that are able to retain my attention for a full hour. Lately, the only other thing that has been able to garner my attention for that long is TLC's Toddlers And Tiaras.

They grow up so fast...

1) The Raconteurs' "Broken Boy Soldiers" -

"Quick, no one look at the camera"

Before I even start discussing this album, let me just say that Jack White could join any band and they would be instantly famous and talented. The Raconteurs are the White Stripes on steroids, adding another talented vocalist, Brendan Benson, a bass guitar, and a competent drummer (sorry Meg).

This debut album features a brilliant mix of hard hitting songs and some more mellowed out tunes. Which is good because I think my head might explode if there wasn't a break from White's electrifying guitar riffs.

Essential Tracks: "Steady, As She Goes", "Level", "Yellow Sun"

2) Rebelution's "Courage To Grow" -

Before this reggae band from Santa Barbara, California became every girls fave, their first studio album provided less songs about love and more songs which provoked some thought.

During my senior year of high school, I don't think this CD left my car's player.  I felt so cool walking through the halls singing, "Safe And Sound" which might be one of the catchiest choruses in recent memory.

This is the album that got me into reggae in general and it's a wonder to me how this band isn't more popular.

Essential Tracks: "Courage To Grow", "Safe And Sound", "Feeling Alright"

3) G. Love & Special Sauce's "The Hustle" -

Nice sneaks, MJ

G. Love & Special Sauce is a trio unlike any other.
For starters, G. Love himself  sings, plays guitar, and harmonica to create a pleasant blues vibe.  Backed by a skilled drummer and totally cool string bass player, their sound is truly unique.

"The Hustle" is the group's 6th album and is a great listen from start to finish.  And he definitely has a better flow than your average lead singer.  Only so many people can pull off a lyric like, "I don't date a girl with the thunder thighs/I got the mai tai special with the light brown eyes."

Essential Tracks: "Don't Drop It", "Booty Call", "Back Of The Bus", "Give It To You"

Who invited Edward Scissorhands?

Best Breakup Songs

Just got dumped? It happens to the best of us. But don't be too down, for just below these words will be some tunes that you can sing your broken heart out to.

Included with each song will be an essential  lyric; one that you should belt at the top of your lungs. Enjoy!

1) Soja's "Decide You're Gone"

Essential lyric: "I'll be sitting, watching you waiting for you to decide that you're gone."

2) The Vines' "Get Free"

Essential lyric: "She never loved me, why should anyone?"

3) The Subways' "I Want To Hear What You Have To Say"

Essential lyric: "And every time I see you, you just walk away. Still the world is turning, I cannot complain."

4) Jamie Lidell's "Where D'You Go?"

Essential lyric: "Gonna have to get along without ya" (repeat three times getting louder each time for maximum effectiveness.) 

5) Beck's "True Love Will Find You In The End"

Essential lyric: "Don't be sad, I know you will. Don't give up until, true love finds you in the end."

6) Ben Fold's cover of "Bitches Ain't Shit" - A quick warning to my largest reader demographic, (that means you kindergartners!) do not listen because this man has a potty mouth.

Essential Lyric: Well, they're all pretty essential, Snoop Dogg's verse is a must learn from top to bottom.

As the great philosopher Derek Zoolander once said, " I can Dere-lict my own balls, thank you very much."

Although I wouldn't recommend it. 

Strangely, that is how my relationship ended too....

Bands That Will Save Rock & Roll

For every generation, there are a handful of groups that keep rock chugging along as it should.

These groups are few in number and have the daunting challenge of trying to make money while 'artists' like Ke$ha or Rebecca Black become famous with questionable talent (see below).

You may have heard of a few of these bands. I didn't include any that have already done their share in keeping rock alive.

Now its up to the following bands to show the world what real music sounds like (in no particular order):

1) Bombay Bicycle Club's "Evening/Morning" off of their first album -

It takes a real man to pull off short shorts like that.

2) We Were Promised Jetpacks' "Quiet Little Voices" -

The lead singer has an Enrique Iglesias mole so you know he'll be famous.

3) The Vaccines' "Norgaard" -

Any quality song under two minutes garners my respect.

4) If you've made it this far through the list, prepare to be pleasantly surprised.

Young The Giants' "Cough Syrup" -



I highly recommend checking out their entire self-titled album.



Ice Cube and homies don't approve.



Albums I Listen To All The Way Through Pt.1

Too often I buy a CD or download one and only end up liking two or three songs. To help everyone else avoid this, I've compiled a rather extensive list of albums that I enjoy throughout their duration.

And while I may skip an interlude here or there or skip ahead to my favorite song on the CD, for the most part, I've listened to the following CDs enough to know the order of the songs by heart.

I don't want to make this too lengthy so here is part one of my list (more to come):



All the cool kids suck the cancer stick



 1) Arctic Monkeys, "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not"



 The Arctic Monkey's first album is by far their best.  Largely regarded as the first band to become popular thanks to the internet, this Sheffield quartet provided the perfect amount of rock to get me through the stress every 15-year-old goes through.

Like getting your driving learners permit or maybe even kissing a girl.

Top Tracks: "A View From The Afternoon", "Mardy Bum", "A Certain Romance".

2) The Cribs "Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever"

The Crib's second album suffered no sophomore slump.  Because of this album alone, they are one of my favorite bands.

This is the trio at their finest, upbeat riffs and contrasting vocals make the listener think that there are more than just three people playing music.

But enough of my opinion, listen to this gem for yourself.

Top Tracks: "Our Bovine Public", "Girls Like Mystery", "Men's Needs"



Eryka Badu Kente Tribe Represent!



3) A Tribe Called Quest "The Anthology"

OK, so I'm kind of cheating on this one since it is a greatest hits album. At the same time, just because your band has a greatest hits record, that doesn't always mean I'll enjoy it.

That means you, Nickelback.

This album was the first to get me into listening to rap. Q-Tip and Phife Dawg continue to blow my mind with flow like nothing I've ever heard before.

Top Tracks: "Check The Rhime", "Can I Kick It?", "Buggin' Out".



After re-watching that video, I volunteer myself to bring back jean shorts. So versatile yet stylish.

That ends part one, part duex on the way soon.



5 Songs I Never Skip On Shuffle

Shuffling through songs on my iPod is pretty hit or miss.  For every song that I love that comes on, there is an interlude from a rap album or a short medley that didn't quite develop into a full song.  There are a good amount of songs that I never skip but I doubt you want to struggle through my top 100 or so songs that I never skip.

Here is my most recent collection of non-skippable songs in no particular order:

1) "Mardy Bum" - The Arctic Monkeys

2) "Breakneck Speed" - Tokyo Police Club

3) "Under Cover Of Darkness" - The Strokes

4) "Shake Me Down" - Cage The Elephant

5) "I Don't Wanna Wait" - Soja

Enjoy!

Jamaican Me Crazy

Truth be told, I feel bad for the last post. Now that you have songs that are bad but annoyingly catchy stuck in your head, I've decided to provide some medication. Enjoy my current top 5 reggae jams from a white boy who wishes he could pull off some dreadlocks.

A little bit of roots reggae, little bit of what I like to call progressive reggae, and a whole lot of awesome.  These songs will help you enjoy your summer.



So sit back and just
Chill out mon' cause there's 'no problem' with the following tracks:

5) The Expendables, Sacrifice

4) Put this on a burned CD for your girl and it's a done deal.
Katchafire, Hey Girl



3. Passafire, Kilo

I had to do a live version for Passafire seeing as they are hands down the best concert I've been to (twice now).

2. These guys are no slouch in concert either:
Soja, I Don't Wanna Wait

1. And my current favorite......
Tribal Seeds, All I Know

Tribal Seeds are touring now and I'm seeing them in July. To say that I am excited is an enormous understatement.

Oh and how could a list of reggae songs be complete without a classic. From a TV show produced by a fellow Langley. From the opening credits...

Honorable Mention from Cops:

Inner Circle's Bad Boy's:

That song in particular really speaks to me and my way of life.

Rastaman Drew signing off hoping your day has been brightened.