The coolest rock and roll songs of yesterday, today and beyond. From popular favorites to obscure nuggets. Album reviews, song reviews, music trivia, the future and history of rock music and everything in between.
Okay, so maybe "new wave" isn't all that new any more, but it's still a blast to listen to.
Adam and the Ants 1981 album Prince Charming is loaded with top-notch new wave tunes. If I had to sum it up, I would have to say it's about being yourself--doing what you want, but not being pressured into doing something you don't want to do.
The title track contains one of the best lyrics. It's simple, but oh so meaningful.
Ridicule is nothing to be scared of.
Plus, the campy take off of Cinderella is wonderful. There are a few celebrity cameos, and at the end we get to see Adam as Clint Eastwood, Alice Cooper and Rudolph Valentino.
I just heard this again after I don't know how many years. I thought of all you rock and roll fans right away.
Fastway was formed by "Fast" Eddie Clark (formerly of Motörhead) and Pete Way (formerly of UFO), hence their name. It should be noted that though the group was formed by Clark and Way, the latter never played on the album due to another project.
But with a hard rockin' pedigree that includes Motörhead and UFO, you know you're in for a musical treat.
Here is the video for "Say What You Will" from their debut album, Fastway.
Tim Burton's version of Alice In Wonderland is opening in theaters nationwide today. So, with that in mind, here are two videos that fit that theme. One is a less obvious choice, the second is more closely related to the story.
First up we have Alice Cooper doing the theme song from another movie (Friday The 13th VI). Besides the same name, and that it was from a movie, it also contains the line "And he crawled out of his hole", which also fits in well with the Wonderland theme.
Fans of classic rock would most likely think of Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" as the most obvious choice. And I like to keep everybody happy here at Rock and Roll Decades, so here it is...
I was flipping through the TV stations and happened upon a unique live performance of St. Vincent doing "Your Lips Are Red". It was the first thing I heard by Annie Clark (who uses St. Vincent for her stage name), and I was mesmerized.
This clip from "Austin City Limits" is nearly two and a half minutes longer than the track from her debut album Marry Me. Yet, the way the song builds from Vincent pounding on her guitar to a spellbinding climax, the time seems to float on by and you're left with the feeling of wanting more.
The sound and video quality is excellent. Watch until the end to be treated to some commentary from Annie Clark herself.
Hear and see for yourself. But don't blame me when you become a new fan, too.
As you can hear, it isn't easy to put St. Vincent into one neat category. But that's okay, because it's rock and roll. Her ability to meld styles into a "singing along before it's half over" type of song speaks for itself.
Even though he was the youngest of The Beatles, today (February 25th) would have been George Harrison's 67th birthday. While he was regarded as "the quiet Beatle", George had a wonderful sense of humor and contributed greatly to the best rock and roll band of all time.
It would be difficult to imagine the Beatles' canon without songs like "Here Comes The Sun", "Taxman", or "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". Here is an acoustic rendition that George recorded right around this time in 1968. It has a somewhat haunting quality that is reminiscent of Elvis' version of "Blue Moon". Be sure to listen for the extra verse.
George recorded solo music before the Beatles disbanded. However, he didn't have his first big hit until "My Sweet Lord" was released at the end of 1970.
He had a few more hits, but as the years passed his popularity (with a few exceptions) waned. Then, in 1987 he collaborated with Jeff Lynne of ELO and released the album Cloud Nine. "Got My Mind Set On You" went to #1 in the US. It was played in heavy rotation on MTV along with "When We Was Fab". A nice retrospective that captured the feel of the Fab Four days.
The following year saw Harrison team up with other rock and roll legends Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison as The Traveling Wilburys. The album was well-received by fans and critics alike.
In his later years, George was quite reclusive. This was due in large part to the heinous murder of John Lennon. As it turned out, his fear was not completely unwarranted. In December of 1999 an intruder stabbed Harrison seven times. Luckily, his wife was able to fend off the attack and George survived.
He died of cancer on November 29, 2001 His final album, Brainwashed, was released in November of 2002; just shy of the one year anniversary of his death. "Stuck Inside A Cloud" was from that album.
We still miss you, George. Perhaps you gave us the best perspective with another one of your songs from all those years ago...
I'll be the first to admit that nothing can compare to the original Woodstock festival held in 1969. However, I wasn't able to drive out to that historic rock and roll festival because the state of Wisconsin doesn't issue driver's licenses to 10-month-old babies.
So, I was thrilled at the chance to go to the 25th anniversary concert. I was not thrilled at the cost of tickets ($144 each) but it was worth it.
It was an awesome experience that I will mention from time to time.
We pitched our tent closer to the smaller South Stage which tended to host the less popular (for the time) acts. One of the performances we saw was The Cranberries. They have a nice mellow edge to their rock and roll, yet their tunes tend to linger long after you hear them.
If you look closely you can actually see me in the crowd in this video for "Dreams".
Hey! How about a new retro sounding slab of funkified rock and roll from the coolest club duo in the Great White North?
If you have never heard Chromeo, you will be surprised at just how well they capture a funky, danceable, 80s pop, 70s disco (yes, I used the D-word) vibe. And they make it work.
So, it's Saturday night, and if you're reading this that means you're not on a dance floor, but don't let that stop you.
Rock on!
(For best viewing, click the full-screen icon in the lower right of the video pane.)
The first time I saw Iggy Pop's video for "Five Foot One" was when I was in 6th grade. I snuck out of bed after everyone else was asleep because I knew there was a videos show on.
I sat about three inches from the screen because the volume had to be kept low to avoid waking anybody up. This was before MTV, so you had to take what you could get.
The funny thing is, while I am sure the program featured hit songs of the day, and that I enjoyed watching them; none of them stuck in my brain like Iggy Pop.
I had no idea who he was. But for an 11 year old fan of rock and roll, I knew I liked it. Thank goodness for YouTube!
Without any further ado, here it is boys and girls!
The Soft Pack formed in 2008 under a different name. They have a few recordings under their rock and roll belts, but The Soft Pack is their official full-length debut album.
Elements of 80s alternative and punk combine with surf guitars and garage rock. An upbeat sound permeates the tracks on the record. You may find it hard to sit still as the music starts to take control of your extremities.
The CD could just as easily fit into a college dorm as it could a party for fans of power pop or post-disco rock and roll.
"Answer To Yourself" is as good of an introduction to the band as any. You get the impression these are normal guys who know how to have fun. It picks up a bit of steam as it goes along with a nice punkish payoff towards the end. Enjoy the music, and go ahead and let yourself go as you listen.
In the summer of 1987 I was looking forward to becoming a first-time father. And even though my oldest is now a college sophomore, the following scene is still crystal clear in my mind.
At that time Saturday night meant one thing: Headbangers Ball on MTV. I was relaxing on the couch, getting ready for a brand new video by some band I had never heard of. After watching the video, and allowing for some time to mentally process what I just saw, I shared my prediction with everyone in the room.
"This band isn't going anywhere", I said deliberately.
Oh, by the way, the video was none other than "Welcome To The Jungle" by Guns N' Roses; a song that has gone on to become a part of popular culture. Its parent album, Appetite For Destruction, went on to sell over 30 million copies worldwide and holds the record for fastest selling debut album in the history of rock and roll.
Almost 25 years have passed since that summer's night, and I still haven't made a prediction as dumb as that one.
