Songs We Used to Love

Oh hey young Johnny Depp, how are you doin? Handsome? Alright then. Carry on.

Songs We Used to Love

Nothing like a posthumous Biggie appearance for a Friday.

Songs We Used to Love

Ah Ween. I fell in love with this song thanks to Beavis and Butthead. Oddly enough, it sort of holds up. And really, if it wasn't a couple weird parts and the strange chorus, this would have been an awesome song. I guess I shouldn't ask for anymore than I've been given here considering how fucking weird these guys seem to be. Also, that chick is hot.

Songs We Used to Love

I'm not even bothering to fuck around with something shitty today. It's been a long week and I need something soul-crushingly awesome. Ah... much better.

I was sad when I couldn't find an official version of this song with a Varsity Blues mash-up (I admittedly tried zero to actually find it, i was just sad that result #1 was not Varsity Blues-ey). That was always the scene that really got me going (non-whipped cream division), just all the slo-mo action supercuts of close-up badass football plays. The Beek firing the old pigskin around the field in the oopty-oop offense. Paul Walker being all man-pretty on the sidelines. FUCK YEAH!

RE: Mr. Horse's comments

I've been a big The Killers fan ever since the release of their 2004 album, Hot Fuss. Before that, I really didn't understand any of their work. Too artsy, too intellectual. It was on Hot Fuss where, uh, Brandon Flowers' presence became more apparent. I think Mr. Brightside was the group's undisputed masterpiece. It's an epic meditation on intangibility. At the same time, it deepens and enriches the meaning of the preceding three albums. Emma, take off your robe. Listen to the brilliant ensemble playing of Stoermer, Flowers and Keuning. You can practically hear every nuance of every instrument. Becky, remove your dress. In terms of lyrical craftsmanship, the sheer songwriting, this album hits a new peak of professionalism. Emma, why don't you, uh, dance a little. Take the lyrics to All These Things That I've Done. In this song, Brandon Flowers addresses the problems of abusive political authority. Somebody Told Me is the most moving pop song of the 2000s, about monogamy and commitment. The song is extremely uplifting. Their lyrics are as positive and affirmative as, uh, anything I've heard in rock. Becky, get down on your knees so Emma can see your ass. Brandon Flowers' solo career seems to be more commercial and therefore more satisfying, in a narrower way. Especially songs like In the Crossfire and, uh, Only the Young. Emma, don't just stare at it, eat it. But I also think Brandon Flowers works best within the confines of the group, than as a solo artist, and I stress the word artist. This is Runaways, a great, great song, a personal favorite.

Welcome Back Killers

No one in music knows exactly who they are like the Killers. They don't bother with changing their sound or even subject matter (Runaways, their new single, is probably the 20th song they've sung about running away). And it's because they do what they do so well. Catchy, huge sing-along-ability, and always fun. I can't wait for Battle Born to come out. I'll be first in line at my local bittorrent site. Be sure to say hi.

Songs We Used to Love

Well last night's draft sucked ass for me as a Laker fan, so fuck everyone. I'm going to ruin your weekend by jamming a shit song into your brain.



According to Billboard, this was the #1 song of 1994. Ace of Base, seriously? Were you trying to be clever by not using 'Bass'? What a fucking shit group and shit song. Oh, interesting tidbit, everyone in 1994 was so fucking retarded that not only did Ace of Base have the #1 song of the year, they also had numbers 9 and 10. 3 goddamn shit songs in the top ten of that year. Here is a list of albums that came out in 1994:

Green Day - Dookie
Weezer's self-titled
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Nirvana's Unplugged
Nas - Illmatic
STP - Purple
Live - Throwing Copper
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
Beck - Mellow Gold

... and a thousand more fucking amazing albums that are revered nearly 20 years after the fact. 1994 was one of the greatest all-time single years for rock and roll and rap. And yet there were enough pieces of shit in this country with fucking terrible taste that Ace of Base had 3 of the top 10 songs OF THE YEAR. What the fuck America? WHAT THE FUCK!?!?

Now That's A Comeback

So a little while ago Billy Corgan claimed the Smashing Pumpkins latest album would be a return to the genius of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. This week he made good on that promise. Oceania is a stunning comeback album in the same vein as the record mentioned above. And it comes complete with the shitty parts wiped out. No double album this time around, just a tuned-in 13 tracks that require zero skipping. Kudos Mr. Corgan, you delivered on your promise.

*Fiona Apple has an album out this week too, but it is complete and utter shit, so I posted a video of her in sexier times.

Songs We Used to Love

Nothing like taking a cheesy love song and making a video that literally has nothing to do with love. Look at all these sports references! Hootie and his boys are more than just a bunch of doofs, they also play sports poorly and spend shitloads of money on athlete appearances and the golden age of Sportscenter! Though I can't really argue with paying Dan Marino whatever it takes to look like a tool, lightly tossing footballs to the one guy on earth with worse hands than Gap.

Time For a List

Alright, I've been itching to do a music list for a bit now, so here goes nothing. A lot of covers are absolute shit. Like shit that will make the original artist spin in their grave. Remember Michael Jackson covering the Beatles' "Come Together"? God fucking damnit that was a crime against nature. Or when Everclear (air quotes) reimagined "Brown Eyed Girl." A fucking floating turd that couldn't be flushed. So today we're gonna go ahead and celebrate a couple of the cover songs that got it right.

5. Travis - Hit Me baby (One More Time)



Hilarity points obviously push this a bit higher in the rankings. Travis also has a hauntingly good acoustic cover of Radiohead's "Fake Plastic Trees," but it lacks the falsetto choruses and on-the-brink-of-laughter moment where they realize just how ridiculous it is to cover a song made famous by the Queen of All JB Ever.

4. Jim James - Goin' to Alcapulco



Pretty much all of Dylan's catalogue has been covered. And for the most part pretty well. But as far as modern recounts, this absolutely takes the cake, even over The White Stripes' awesome cover of "One More Cup of Coffee." Not to mention it stands out completely from its contemporaries on the I'm Not There soundtrack, which is literally nothing but Dylan covers.

3. Pearl Jam - Crown of Thorns



"Crown of Thorns" is obviously the least known original here. It was the crowning (no pun intended) achievement of Andy Wood's very short song-writing career. It may be cheating a little as Jeff and Stone were both members of Mother Love Bone, the group that originally wrote the song, but I don't care. It's pretty fucking awesome to see Eddie pay tribute to the guy whose tragic death paved the way for Pearl Jam.

2. Nirvana - The Man Who Sold the World



From the iconic Unplugged... special comes the only time in history that David Bowie was bested at one of his own songs. I mean jesus, this version is somehow lightyears better than an already great original. By the way, you could say the same thing about Kurt's Meat Puppets covers from this same set.

1. Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower



Like I said, pretty much every Dylan song ever has been covered, but none better than this virtuoso performance by Jimi. This is the cover song every band should hope to produce when they decide to bite on someone else's work. It holds true to every note Dylan hit, but took it all a step further, melding Jimi's beautiful guitar work seamlessly into a version of the song that sounded like his own.

Songs We Used to Love

Fuck and yes. Nothin kicks off a Friday like the mellow flow of Q-Tip. Tribe is by far my favorite rap act to revisit from the good old days. They feel a bit more timeless than the rest. Maybe it's because Dre, Snoop, Wu, etc... remind me of certain memories and Tribe just reminds me of the good old days. Can't say for sure, but damn.... 3 day weekend on the horizon and the official kickoff to summer... add in some Tribe and we've got something special.

Songs We Used to Love

Oh fuck yeah, this is how you begin a Friday. A little bit of RATM always gets the blood moving. This is the first track off of their self-titled album. You can see the awesome album cover above. I think that about sums things up for the day. Enjoy!

Songs We Used to Love

Ooph, this one's a stomach punch. I remember absolutely LOVING this song and... jesus it does not hold up well. Or really at all. I mean, the way this song sucks today really kicked me in the crotch. It ruined my Friday. Fuck.

R.I.P. Adam Yauch

Adam Yauch, the Beastie Boys' MCA, died today, dealing a huge blow to both music and my childhood. A moment of...







and of course...

Songs We Used to Love

The first thing I remember about Onyx was the giant "Must Be 18" sticker pasted above the parental advisory sticker. Record stores did not want children owning this album, meaning MUST HAVE! I had to know why it was so obscene. Why it was only for adults? What could they have said that could be any worse than Wu-Tang or NWA? Sadly, I never worked up the nerve to try and slip this one by the parents (my dad had a blind spot for parental advisory stickers, but not "Must Be 18") but one courageous young man found a way. HWSNBN walked into a local department store, grabbed that album and confidently strode to the counter. Luckily for him, the late-middle-aged woman at the checkout must have been illiterate, because she sold that precious Onyx album to a kid that was probably 12, but looked younger. Huzzah!

So This is Nice

A few years ago the Mystery Jets had a fun little indie rock album that I listened to more than a few times. Now they're back, with an awesomely titled album, and have gotten way better. It's just lovely.

Songs We Used to Love

I can't say that I remember ever seeing the video for this song, so the anime was a surprise (and a nice bonus for Viv!). According to the youtube search, Matt Sweet used anime for all of his videos and I'd love to make a 'he ripped off Pearl Jam' joke here, but this video came out a good 5+ years before Do the Evolution.

Anyways, Matthew Sweet has always been underrated. This song is a lot of fun, Sick of Myself is catchy as hell, and his song Farther Down is the best part of the Can't Hardy Wait soundtrack. Seriously, anime? How random is that?

Gap panders to his big-titted ladyfriend

Songs We Used to Love

Double dip today after missing last week...

Eighteen years ago this week, Hole released Live Through This. Courtney Love was thrust on pop culture even though no one asked for it. Kurt had killed himself just one week before. Not cool April, 1994, not cool at all.

If you get a chance, hop over and check out this trailer. It looks absolutely riveting.

Welcome Back

Welcome Back, Beck. It's been far too long since we've had the good fortune to listen to your awesomeness. Thank you...