Tuesday, December 21, 2004
DAVID POSTS?!?!
This is totally just filling in the blanks on one of Jeremy's posts, but maybe it'll get me started on some more posting here.
Favorite Bands (Top 5): Cult, Queensryche, Megadeth, Van Halen, Sevendust
Favorite Albums (Top 5): Queensryche "Operation:Mindcrime," Foo Fighters "There Is Nothing Left to Lose," Megadeth "Rust In Peace," Van Halen "Fair Warning," Sevendust "Seasons"
Favorite Songs (Top 5): Queensryche "The Killing Words," Van Halen "Sinner's Swing," U2 "Like a Song...", Soundgarden "Superunknown," Stone Temple Pilots "Lounge Fly"
First Concert: I think it was Paul Revere and the Raiders
First Concert that I went to on my terms: Offspring (Ixnay tour)
Concert that I wish I had seen: any Stone Temple Pilots gig where they were the only headliner
First Record I listened to: Green Day "Dookie"
First Record I bought: Weezer (blue)
Favorite Music Movie: "This is Spinal Tap"
Favorite Music Book: "Hammer of the Gods -- The Led Zeppelin story" Of course, it's sort of the only music book I'd read with any motive to finish the whole thing.
Favorite Music Television Show: "Behind the Music," "Headbangers Ball"
Favorite "Behind The Music" Episode: Def Leppard. It sparked a made-for-TV movie, for goodness' sake.
Favorite "guilty pleasure" song: Queensryche "Hand on Heart." So cheesy, but oh so great.
Favorite Music Writer: Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
The one band that I will always defend: Queensryche
Great Road Trip Albums: Pearl Jam "Ten," Tom Petty "Anthology: Through the Years" (both work great after concerts)
The Album You Should Listen To While Driving On The Coast: Mother Love Bone
The one band I should like, but don't: Dream Theater. It's kind of the whole timeless Queensryche vs. Dream Theater debate, but I have the feeling they just concentrate more on technicality to the fault of the songs themselves. Of course, I do need to listen to them more.
Best Song By An Actor: probably something Jamie Foxx did in the Ray movie
Most Overrated Band: Dave Matthews Band. They're great, don't get me wrong. However, I was on a college campus for the last four years. After about two weeks I got enough exposure to Bob Marley and Dave Matthews Band to the point where I could go eight years without hearing their material and it wouldn't faze me. Dave Matthews Band is great. But they're not as great as some would have you believe.
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Holy crap, I've contributed to this place! Here's to hoping music can coexist better with my sports intake than it has been lately. Or at least hopefully I can conjure up some post material more often.
Favorite Bands (Top 5): Cult, Queensryche, Megadeth, Van Halen, Sevendust
Favorite Albums (Top 5): Queensryche "Operation:Mindcrime," Foo Fighters "There Is Nothing Left to Lose," Megadeth "Rust In Peace," Van Halen "Fair Warning," Sevendust "Seasons"
Favorite Songs (Top 5): Queensryche "The Killing Words," Van Halen "Sinner's Swing," U2 "Like a Song...", Soundgarden "Superunknown," Stone Temple Pilots "Lounge Fly"
First Concert: I think it was Paul Revere and the Raiders
First Concert that I went to on my terms: Offspring (Ixnay tour)
Concert that I wish I had seen: any Stone Temple Pilots gig where they were the only headliner
First Record I listened to: Green Day "Dookie"
First Record I bought: Weezer (blue)
Favorite Music Movie: "This is Spinal Tap"
Favorite Music Book: "Hammer of the Gods -- The Led Zeppelin story" Of course, it's sort of the only music book I'd read with any motive to finish the whole thing.
Favorite Music Television Show: "Behind the Music," "Headbangers Ball"
Favorite "Behind The Music" Episode: Def Leppard. It sparked a made-for-TV movie, for goodness' sake.
Favorite "guilty pleasure" song: Queensryche "Hand on Heart." So cheesy, but oh so great.
Favorite Music Writer: Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
The one band that I will always defend: Queensryche
Great Road Trip Albums: Pearl Jam "Ten," Tom Petty "Anthology: Through the Years" (both work great after concerts)
The Album You Should Listen To While Driving On The Coast: Mother Love Bone
The one band I should like, but don't: Dream Theater. It's kind of the whole timeless Queensryche vs. Dream Theater debate, but I have the feeling they just concentrate more on technicality to the fault of the songs themselves. Of course, I do need to listen to them more.
Best Song By An Actor: probably something Jamie Foxx did in the Ray movie
Most Overrated Band: Dave Matthews Band. They're great, don't get me wrong. However, I was on a college campus for the last four years. After about two weeks I got enough exposure to Bob Marley and Dave Matthews Band to the point where I could go eight years without hearing their material and it wouldn't faze me. Dave Matthews Band is great. But they're not as great as some would have you believe.
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Holy crap, I've contributed to this place! Here's to hoping music can coexist better with my sports intake than it has been lately. Or at least hopefully I can conjure up some post material more often.
THE BEST OF TIMES
I found this topic on a random message board and thought that it would be an interesting topic for me to take on here at Rambling On Music.
The topic? List my favorite songs from a various list of bands. Trust me, I have good taste in music.
Led Zeppelin - "Immigrant Song"
U2 - "Two Hearts Beat As One"
Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"
Pearl Jam - "Tremor Christ"
Dave Matthews Band - "Ants Marching"
The Beatles - "Get Back"
Guns N Roses - "Paradise City"
R.E.M. - "Finest Worksong"
The Pixies - "Here Comes Your Man"
Nirvana - "Come As You Are"
Soundgarden - "The Day I Tried To Live"
Rage Against the Machine - "Down Rodeo"
Alice In Chains - "We Die Young"
Stone Temple Pilots - "Interstate Love Song"
AC/DC - "Shoot To Thrill"
Ozzy Osbourne - "No More Tears"
The Who - "Behind Blue Eyes"
Queen - "Fat Bottomed Girls"
Beastie Boys - "Sabotage"
Rush - "Vital Signs"
Boston - "I Think I Like It"
Duran Duran - "A View To A Kill"
Pink Floyd - "Run Like Hell"
The Kinks - "You Really Got Me"
Eminem - "Guilty Conscience"
NWA - "F**k Tha Police"
Snoop Dogg - "Gin and Juice"
Dr. Dre - "Still D.R.E."
DMX - "What's My Name?"
Coldplay - "Clocks"
The Cult - "Fire Woman"
Def Leppard - "Bringin' On The Heartbreak"
Aerosmith - "Angel"
Styx - "Renegade"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Breaking The Girl"
The Eagles - "The Long Run"
Foo Fighters - "Stacked Actors"
Live - "Lightning Crashes"
Metallica - "Creeping Death"
Pantera - "5 Minutes Alone"
Megadeth - "Symphony of Destruction"
Anthrax - "Madhouse"
Iron Maiden - "Aces High"
Judas Priest - "Heading Out To The Highway"
House of Pain - "Jump Around"
Radiohead - "High and Dry"
Van Halen - "Unchained"
Bruce Springsteen - "Glory Days"
Weezer - "Say It Ain't So"
Nine Inch Nails - "Hurt"
Tom Petty - "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
Cheap Trick - "Surrender"
Madonna - "Into The Groove"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Rocket"
Bon Jovi - "You Give Love A Bad Name"
Cypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain"
Fill up the comments box with your favorites...
The topic? List my favorite songs from a various list of bands. Trust me, I have good taste in music.
Led Zeppelin - "Immigrant Song"
U2 - "Two Hearts Beat As One"
Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"
Pearl Jam - "Tremor Christ"
Dave Matthews Band - "Ants Marching"
The Beatles - "Get Back"
Guns N Roses - "Paradise City"
R.E.M. - "Finest Worksong"
The Pixies - "Here Comes Your Man"
Nirvana - "Come As You Are"
Soundgarden - "The Day I Tried To Live"
Rage Against the Machine - "Down Rodeo"
Alice In Chains - "We Die Young"
Stone Temple Pilots - "Interstate Love Song"
AC/DC - "Shoot To Thrill"
Ozzy Osbourne - "No More Tears"
The Who - "Behind Blue Eyes"
Queen - "Fat Bottomed Girls"
Beastie Boys - "Sabotage"
Rush - "Vital Signs"
Boston - "I Think I Like It"
Duran Duran - "A View To A Kill"
Pink Floyd - "Run Like Hell"
The Kinks - "You Really Got Me"
Eminem - "Guilty Conscience"
NWA - "F**k Tha Police"
Snoop Dogg - "Gin and Juice"
Dr. Dre - "Still D.R.E."
DMX - "What's My Name?"
Coldplay - "Clocks"
The Cult - "Fire Woman"
Def Leppard - "Bringin' On The Heartbreak"
Aerosmith - "Angel"
Styx - "Renegade"
Red Hot Chili Peppers - "Breaking The Girl"
The Eagles - "The Long Run"
Foo Fighters - "Stacked Actors"
Live - "Lightning Crashes"
Metallica - "Creeping Death"
Pantera - "5 Minutes Alone"
Megadeth - "Symphony of Destruction"
Anthrax - "Madhouse"
Iron Maiden - "Aces High"
Judas Priest - "Heading Out To The Highway"
House of Pain - "Jump Around"
Radiohead - "High and Dry"
Van Halen - "Unchained"
Bruce Springsteen - "Glory Days"
Weezer - "Say It Ain't So"
Nine Inch Nails - "Hurt"
Tom Petty - "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around"
Cheap Trick - "Surrender"
Madonna - "Into The Groove"
Smashing Pumpkins - "Rocket"
Bon Jovi - "You Give Love A Bad Name"
Cypress Hill - "Insane In The Brain"
Fill up the comments box with your favorites...
Friday, December 17, 2004
CLINT LOWERY LEAVES SEVENDUST
Blabbermouth.net
Earlier in the week, we were led to believe that Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery had just left the tour due to personal issues. But in fact, he has quit Sevendust. Lowery plans on pursuing other projects.
These have been rough times for the music industry. The shooting of Dimebag Darrell has affected the music industry tremendously. If you've followed Sevendust, you know that these guys have toured their asses off over the years. As a big Sevendust fan, I can only hope that Lowery is just tired from being out on the road and just needs a break. I just want this news of him quitting to be a temporary move, because I feel that Lowery is a crucial part of this band.
So go crank up the Sevendust, will ya?
Earlier in the week, we were led to believe that Sevendust guitarist Clint Lowery had just left the tour due to personal issues. But in fact, he has quit Sevendust. Lowery plans on pursuing other projects.
These have been rough times for the music industry. The shooting of Dimebag Darrell has affected the music industry tremendously. If you've followed Sevendust, you know that these guys have toured their asses off over the years. As a big Sevendust fan, I can only hope that Lowery is just tired from being out on the road and just needs a break. I just want this news of him quitting to be a temporary move, because I feel that Lowery is a crucial part of this band.
So go crank up the Sevendust, will ya?
Friday, December 10, 2004
WAL-MART AND MUSIC
A Maryland family has filed a lawsuit against Wal-Mart, accusing the company of "deceiving its customers" by stocking copies of Evanescence's recent concert CD/DVD "Anywhere But Home".
The issue here is the lyrics of "Thoughtless", one of the tracks on "Anywhere But Home". "Thoughtless" is not an original Evanescence song. It was originally performed by Korn on their "Untouchables" album. For the record, I have Evanescence's "Fallen" and there is not a single profane word on that album.
A portion of "Thoughtless":
Why are you trying to make fun of me?
You think it's funny
What the f*ck you think it's doing to me?
You take your turn lashing out at me
I want you crying, when you're dirty in the front of me
"I don't want any other families to get this, expecting it to be clean. It needs to be removed from the shelves to prevent other children from hearing it," said plaintiff Trevin Skeens of Brownsville.
Skeens said he and his wife, Melanie, let their daughter buy the music for her 13th birthday and were shocked when they played it in their car while driving home.
I've never gotten the whole "my kid is going to be scarred by hearing the f-word" theory. Please. I would venture to guess that this girl had heard the f-word way before she listened to the Evanescence CD. But I digress.
Oh, and when I was 13, I was listening to Offspring "Smash". There was a certain song called "Bad Habit". Great song, and the following lyrics sure as hell didn't scar me for life. At least my parents didn't look at music that way.
Drivers are rude
Such attitudes
But when I show my peace
Complaints cease
Something's odd
I feel like I'm god
You stupid dumbsh*t goddamn motherf**ker
Lesson in life, folks: Don't buy your music at Wal-Mart, unless you absolutely know that the CD you're going to buy has no objectionable material at all.
The issue here is the lyrics of "Thoughtless", one of the tracks on "Anywhere But Home". "Thoughtless" is not an original Evanescence song. It was originally performed by Korn on their "Untouchables" album. For the record, I have Evanescence's "Fallen" and there is not a single profane word on that album.
A portion of "Thoughtless":
Why are you trying to make fun of me?
You think it's funny
What the f*ck you think it's doing to me?
You take your turn lashing out at me
I want you crying, when you're dirty in the front of me
"I don't want any other families to get this, expecting it to be clean. It needs to be removed from the shelves to prevent other children from hearing it," said plaintiff Trevin Skeens of Brownsville.
Skeens said he and his wife, Melanie, let their daughter buy the music for her 13th birthday and were shocked when they played it in their car while driving home.
I've never gotten the whole "my kid is going to be scarred by hearing the f-word" theory. Please. I would venture to guess that this girl had heard the f-word way before she listened to the Evanescence CD. But I digress.
Oh, and when I was 13, I was listening to Offspring "Smash". There was a certain song called "Bad Habit". Great song, and the following lyrics sure as hell didn't scar me for life. At least my parents didn't look at music that way.
Drivers are rude
Such attitudes
But when I show my peace
Complaints cease
Something's odd
I feel like I'm god
You stupid dumbsh*t goddamn motherf**ker
Lesson in life, folks: Don't buy your music at Wal-Mart, unless you absolutely know that the CD you're going to buy has no objectionable material at all.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
DIMEBAG
Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell, dead at 38
Needless to say, I'm floored.
Dimebag Darrell was one of the best guitarists in all of rock music. He was the main reason why I listened to Pantera. More recently, I've started to really take a liking to Damageplan, Darrell's new band. What really shocks me about this whole deal is that Phil Anselmo is still alive. Who knew?
Pantera Listening Area (unofficial site; full-length audio links of Pantera songs)
Pantera at All Music Guide
Damageplan at All Music Guide
RIP, Darrell.
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
JEREMY PREDICTS THE GRAMMYS...
So you don't have to.
Of course, the Grammy Awards are not that legitimate.
Two words: Jethro Tull.
However, I'm going to predict the Grammy Awards, 3 months in advance. Yup, I'm bored as hell right now.
Album of the Year
Ray Charles & Various Artists - Genius Loves Company
Green Day - American Idiot
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Usher - Confessions
Kanye West - The College Dropout
---Green Day "American Idiot" was the best album of 2004. But since this is the Grammys, I expect Usher "Confessions" to win. After all, it was the biggest album in pop music of the year. And that's what matters to the Grammy folks.
Record of the Year
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
Ray Charles & Norah Jones - "Here We Go Again"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
---"Yeah!", the most overplayed song of the year. Again, I'm predicting Usher here.
Song of the Year
John Mayer - "Daughters" (John Mayer, songwriter)
Alicia Keys - "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys - songwriter)
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks" (C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters)
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying" (Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman, songwriters)
Hoobastank - "The Reason" (Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb, songwriters)
---Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" is a damn good song. I don't listen to a lot of country music, but I know good music when I hear it. And "Live Like You Were Dying" is a damn good song. I hope the Oscar committee gives McGraw a Supporting Actor nod for his portryal as Charlie Billingsley in "Friday Night Lights".
Best New Artist
Los Lonely Boys
Maroon 5
Joss Stone
Kanye West
Gretchen Wilson
---They say that the Best New Artist award is the kiss of death. Well, here's hoping that Maroon 5 wins it, because I absolutely hate them. Next?
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Björk - "Oceania"
Sheryl Crow - "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
Norah Jones - "Sunrise"
Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For?"
Joss Stone - "You Had Me"
---There's always an upset or two every year when it comes to the Grammy Awards. So I'm predicting that 17-year old Joss Stone will take the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance award. No reason other than the fact that there is an upset or two every year.
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Elvis Costello - "Let's Misbehave"
Josh Groban - "You Raise Me Up"
John Mayer - "Daughters"
Prince - "Cinnamon Girl"
Seal - "Love's Divine"
---Josh Groban wins this award even though he's going up against Elvis Costello and Prince? Well, I think he will. Keep in mind that my picks aren't about which song and/or band/singer that I like, but they're about who I think will win. In other words, I'm a realist.
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Evanescence - "My Immortal"
Hoobastank - "The Reason"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved"
No Doubt - "It's My Life"
---I still think that Hoobastank's "Daredevil" soundtrack effort "Right Before Your Eyes" could have been bigger than "The Reason". But that being said, I think Hoobastank takes home the Grammy for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group. Who knew?
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - "Monkey To Man"
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
U2 - "Vertigo"
---You can't go wrong with any of the selections here. But I hope Green Day gets to take home at least one Grammy for their outstanding album, "American Idiot". Don't worry, U2 will get a ton of Grammy nominations next year.
Best Hard Rock Performance
Incubus - "Megalomaniac"
Metallica - "Some Kind Of Monster"
Nickelback - "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good"
Slipknot - "Duality"
Velvet Revolver - "Slither"
---In my opinion, Velvet Revolver's "Slither" is one of the worst tracks on "Contraband". I love Metallica, but come on, "Some Kind of Monster" has no business winning a Grammy. Nickelback? No. Slipknot? They are the new millenium version of KISS (see Stone Sour). And let's be honest here, Incubus "Megalomaniac" was the hardest rock track of the group here. What an excellent way to open up "A Crow Left of the Murder". Which reminds me, why hasn't that album been promoted more? I thought it was a damn good album.
Best Metal Performance
Cradle Of Filth - "Nymphetamine"
Hatebreed - "Live For This"
Killswitch Engage - "The End Of Heartache"
Motörhead - "Whiplash"
Slipknot - "Vermilion"
---In terms of who is the best metal band of these 5 bands, it's no contest. It's Motorhead. But since this is about who had the best metal song of the year, I think it's Killswitch Engage's "The End of Heartache".
Best Rock Song
Green Day - "American Idiot"
Velvet Revolver - "Fall To Pieces"
Modest Mouse - "Float On"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
Vertigo - "U2"
---"Fall To Pieces" is a great song. I've loved it since the first time I played it on my stereo, which was a good 6 months ago. Sure, it can be classified as "overplayed". But at least it's a damn good song. Again, U2 will get a ton of nominations next year.
Best Rock Album
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Delivery Man
Green Day - American Idiot
Hoobastank - The Reason
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Velvet Revolver - Contraband
---I'm still floored that Green Day was able to make an album like "American Idiot".
Best Alternative Music Album
Björk - Medulla
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
---PJ Harvey, critics darling.
Best Rap Solo Performance
Lloyd Banks - "On Fire"
Eminem - "Just Lose It"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
Twista - "Overnight Celebrity"
Kanye West - "Through The Wire"
---Eminem is the prince of rap music right now. I can't see him losing in this category.
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Beastie Boys - "Ch-Check It Out"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
The Roots - "Don't Say Nuthin'"
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
Terror Squad - "Lean Back"
---Only because the Beastie Boys have been dead to me since 1995.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Jadakiss Featuring Anthony Hamilton - "Why"
Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous - "Dip It Low"
Twista Featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - "Slow Jamz"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
Kanye West & Syleena Johnson - "All Falls Down"
---Score another one for Usher.
Best Rap Song
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Hey Mama"
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
---Will Jay-Z actually stay retired?
Best Rap Album
Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs
Jay-Z - The Black Album
LL Cool J - The Definition
Nelly- Suit
Kanye West - The College Dropout
---Hopefully Jay-Z's collaboration with Linkin Park won't show up on any Grammy lists next year.
Best Short Form Music Video
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
George Michael - "Flawless"
Steriogram - "Walkie Talkie Man"
U2 - "Vertigo"
---Yeah, I've seen Franz Ferdinand's current video for "This Fire" before...
When it was called "Take Me Out".
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I didn't go through all of the categories, because I don't give a damn about every single category on the list.
You can refer back to this post sometime in mid-February when the Grammys take place. Until then...
Of course, the Grammy Awards are not that legitimate.
Two words: Jethro Tull.
However, I'm going to predict the Grammy Awards, 3 months in advance. Yup, I'm bored as hell right now.
Album of the Year
Ray Charles & Various Artists - Genius Loves Company
Green Day - American Idiot
Alicia Keys - The Diary Of Alicia Keys
Usher - Confessions
Kanye West - The College Dropout
---Green Day "American Idiot" was the best album of 2004. But since this is the Grammys, I expect Usher "Confessions" to win. After all, it was the biggest album in pop music of the year. And that's what matters to the Grammy folks.
Record of the Year
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
Ray Charles & Norah Jones - "Here We Go Again"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
---"Yeah!", the most overplayed song of the year. Again, I'm predicting Usher here.
Song of the Year
John Mayer - "Daughters" (John Mayer, songwriter)
Alicia Keys - "If I Ain't Got You" (Alicia Keys - songwriter)
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks" (C. Smith & Kanye West, songwriters)
Tim McGraw - "Live Like You Were Dying" (Tim Nichols & Craig Wiseman, songwriters)
Hoobastank - "The Reason" (Daniel Estrin & Douglas Robb, songwriters)
---Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" is a damn good song. I don't listen to a lot of country music, but I know good music when I hear it. And "Live Like You Were Dying" is a damn good song. I hope the Oscar committee gives McGraw a Supporting Actor nod for his portryal as Charlie Billingsley in "Friday Night Lights".
Best New Artist
Los Lonely Boys
Maroon 5
Joss Stone
Kanye West
Gretchen Wilson
---They say that the Best New Artist award is the kiss of death. Well, here's hoping that Maroon 5 wins it, because I absolutely hate them. Next?
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance
Björk - "Oceania"
Sheryl Crow - "The First Cut Is The Deepest"
Norah Jones - "Sunrise"
Gwen Stefani - "What You Waiting For?"
Joss Stone - "You Had Me"
---There's always an upset or two every year when it comes to the Grammy Awards. So I'm predicting that 17-year old Joss Stone will take the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance award. No reason other than the fact that there is an upset or two every year.
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
Elvis Costello - "Let's Misbehave"
Josh Groban - "You Raise Me Up"
John Mayer - "Daughters"
Prince - "Cinnamon Girl"
Seal - "Love's Divine"
---Josh Groban wins this award even though he's going up against Elvis Costello and Prince? Well, I think he will. Keep in mind that my picks aren't about which song and/or band/singer that I like, but they're about who I think will win. In other words, I'm a realist.
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Evanescence - "My Immortal"
Hoobastank - "The Reason"
Los Lonely Boys - "Heaven"
Maroon 5 - "She Will Be Loved"
No Doubt - "It's My Life"
---I still think that Hoobastank's "Daredevil" soundtrack effort "Right Before Your Eyes" could have been bigger than "The Reason". But that being said, I think Hoobastank takes home the Grammy for the Best Pop Performance by a Duo or a Group. Who knew?
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - "Monkey To Man"
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
U2 - "Vertigo"
---You can't go wrong with any of the selections here. But I hope Green Day gets to take home at least one Grammy for their outstanding album, "American Idiot". Don't worry, U2 will get a ton of Grammy nominations next year.
Best Hard Rock Performance
Incubus - "Megalomaniac"
Metallica - "Some Kind Of Monster"
Nickelback - "Feelin' Way Too Damn Good"
Slipknot - "Duality"
Velvet Revolver - "Slither"
---In my opinion, Velvet Revolver's "Slither" is one of the worst tracks on "Contraband". I love Metallica, but come on, "Some Kind of Monster" has no business winning a Grammy. Nickelback? No. Slipknot? They are the new millenium version of KISS (see Stone Sour). And let's be honest here, Incubus "Megalomaniac" was the hardest rock track of the group here. What an excellent way to open up "A Crow Left of the Murder". Which reminds me, why hasn't that album been promoted more? I thought it was a damn good album.
Best Metal Performance
Cradle Of Filth - "Nymphetamine"
Hatebreed - "Live For This"
Killswitch Engage - "The End Of Heartache"
Motörhead - "Whiplash"
Slipknot - "Vermilion"
---In terms of who is the best metal band of these 5 bands, it's no contest. It's Motorhead. But since this is about who had the best metal song of the year, I think it's Killswitch Engage's "The End of Heartache".
Best Rock Song
Green Day - "American Idiot"
Velvet Revolver - "Fall To Pieces"
Modest Mouse - "Float On"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
Vertigo - "U2"
---"Fall To Pieces" is a great song. I've loved it since the first time I played it on my stereo, which was a good 6 months ago. Sure, it can be classified as "overplayed". But at least it's a damn good song. Again, U2 will get a ton of nominations next year.
Best Rock Album
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - The Delivery Man
Green Day - American Idiot
Hoobastank - The Reason
The Killers - Hot Fuss
Velvet Revolver - Contraband
---I'm still floored that Green Day was able to make an album like "American Idiot".
Best Alternative Music Album
Björk - Medulla
Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand
PJ Harvey - Uh Huh Her
Modest Mouse - Good News For People Who Love Bad News
Wilco - A Ghost Is Born
---PJ Harvey, critics darling.
Best Rap Solo Performance
Lloyd Banks - "On Fire"
Eminem - "Just Lose It"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
Twista - "Overnight Celebrity"
Kanye West - "Through The Wire"
---Eminem is the prince of rap music right now. I can't see him losing in this category.
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
Beastie Boys - "Ch-Check It Out"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
The Roots - "Don't Say Nuthin'"
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
Terror Squad - "Lean Back"
---Only because the Beastie Boys have been dead to me since 1995.
Best Rap/Sung Collaboration
Jadakiss Featuring Anthony Hamilton - "Why"
Christina Milian Featuring Fabolous - "Dip It Low"
Twista Featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx - "Slow Jamz"
Usher Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris - "Yeah!"
Kanye West & Syleena Johnson - "All Falls Down"
---Score another one for Usher.
Best Rap Song
Snoop Dogg & Pharrell - "Drop It Like It's Hot"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Hey Mama"
Kanye West - "Jesus Walks"
The Black Eyed Peas - "Let's Get It Started"
Jay-Z - "99 Problems"
---Will Jay-Z actually stay retired?
Best Rap Album
Beastie Boys - To The 5 Boroughs
Jay-Z - The Black Album
LL Cool J - The Definition
Nelly- Suit
Kanye West - The College Dropout
---Hopefully Jay-Z's collaboration with Linkin Park won't show up on any Grammy lists next year.
Best Short Form Music Video
Franz Ferdinand - "Take Me Out"
Green Day - "American Idiot"
George Michael - "Flawless"
Steriogram - "Walkie Talkie Man"
U2 - "Vertigo"
---Yeah, I've seen Franz Ferdinand's current video for "This Fire" before...
When it was called "Take Me Out".
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I didn't go through all of the categories, because I don't give a damn about every single category on the list.
You can refer back to this post sometime in mid-February when the Grammys take place. Until then...
Thursday, December 02, 2004
3 DOORS DOWN "LET ME GO"
I've been a fan of the Mississippi-based band 3 Doors Down since I saw them at Endfest in Bremerton 4 years ago. So far in their young career, they've released two very solid albums, "The Better Life" and "Away From The Sun".
On February 8, 3 Doors Down will release their third album, titled "Seventeen Days", featuring the new single "Let Me Go". "Seventeen Days" is currently being recorded in Nashville with producer Johnny K, who is best known for working with Disturbed. After listening to "Let Me Go", I'm going to call it right now: 3 Doors Down "Seventeen Days" will be one of the most successful rock albums in 2005.
Here's a full-length audio link to "Let Me Go" (Windows Media)
And in addition, The Tennessean interviewed guitarist Chris Henderson a couple of weeks ago. Henderson was asked why the band wanted to record their new album in Nashville, a few hours way from their Mississippi home.
"We figure we're a Southern band, and Nashville's a Southern city, sort of. It's a Southern city with a lot of un-Southern flavor — kinda like L.A. and New York all mixed in with Mobile, Ala. It felt right in our guts. And here we can fly under the radar a little bit — people know we're here, but they don't really give a crap, because there just went Loretta Lynn."
Whatever you do, don't stereotype Nashville as just a country music town. It's a great music town in general.
I can't wait til February 8.
On February 8, 3 Doors Down will release their third album, titled "Seventeen Days", featuring the new single "Let Me Go". "Seventeen Days" is currently being recorded in Nashville with producer Johnny K, who is best known for working with Disturbed. After listening to "Let Me Go", I'm going to call it right now: 3 Doors Down "Seventeen Days" will be one of the most successful rock albums in 2005.
Here's a full-length audio link to "Let Me Go" (Windows Media)
And in addition, The Tennessean interviewed guitarist Chris Henderson a couple of weeks ago. Henderson was asked why the band wanted to record their new album in Nashville, a few hours way from their Mississippi home.
"We figure we're a Southern band, and Nashville's a Southern city, sort of. It's a Southern city with a lot of un-Southern flavor — kinda like L.A. and New York all mixed in with Mobile, Ala. It felt right in our guts. And here we can fly under the radar a little bit — people know we're here, but they don't really give a crap, because there just went Loretta Lynn."
Whatever you do, don't stereotype Nashville as just a country music town. It's a great music town in general.
I can't wait til February 8.
