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

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!

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?

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.



Best Mashup Ever Created?

http://www.spin.com/articles/download-black-keys-big-boi-mashup

I vote yes. If you haven't heard a Big Boi or Black Keys song by now, the combonation of the two might blow your mind so listen with caution.

DJ Wick-it's mashup is of the following:



Big Boi's "Sir Lucious Left Foot...[blablabla]..."



The Black Keys got really creative on this album cover.



 It's what the kids call "That Fire."

  



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!

Hear The Rainbow

Because you can't "taste the rainbow" through your computer screen, I've decided to provide a great list of color-based songs.  Colors are used pretty frequently in song titles so finding a great song with the major colors wasn't very difficult.  Orange on the other hand...

 In ROYGBIV order:

"99 Red Balloons", Goldfinger -

Sorry to all of you Nena fans out there, I like Goldfinger's cover better than the original.

"Color Orange orange song", The Frog Street Press -

If you actually watched that one, I feel bad.  Sorry, but it will be stuck in your head all day.  What's really scary is that The Frog Street Press made a video like, "Color Orange orange song" for each color.  But you're in luck, for I am a merciful blogger (and I think we all know how to spell our colors by now).

"Yellow Sun", The Raconteurs -

One of Jack White's many bands.  I think he could join a mariachi band and sell out arenas instantly.

"Greenshirt", Elvis Costello -

I'm definitely naming my future son Elvis.  But only if he becomes a famous front man.

"Mr Blue Sky", ELO -

ELO's fans have been petitioning to get them into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.  If ABBA is in the Hall of Fame, I certainly think ELO should be.

Sorry to disappoint you, but Indigo and Violet don't have any great songs of their own.  Unless you want to listen to Hole or Coldplay, go for it.

Now for another song for my largest reader demographic, kindergartners: