May 2
Tool – 10,000 Days
I didn’t get into Tool back when they were really popular, and nothing has changed. I’m still not a big fan. I do know that this was a huge release this year. It sold out in a lot of stores in the first couple days. That’s insanity. I didn’t think there were still that many Tool fans left in the world. The packaging for the album turned out to be really cool it had built in 3D glasses to look at the liner notes with.
Pearl Jam – S/T
Another huge release for record companies and a lot of fans, it also came out the same day which made stores extra busy. I really like old Pearl Jam like VS. and ten but after those albums I kind of stopped paying attention. I thought I’d give this album the benefit of the doubt but I was kind of disappointed. I’m sure real fans of the band would see this album differently. Nothing really stuck out as being really good on the album, nothing really caught my attention.
August 8
Slayer – Christ Illusion
Also have never been a big fan of Slayer, I think that’s mostly due to the fact that the people I knew that listened to Slayer, Iron Maiden and other similar bands were dirt bags. Apparently that really affected me. But again this was yet another big release, hype-wise, a lot of people were talking about it, even those who didn’t even plan to buy it when it was released.
November 14
Plus 44 – When Your Heart Stops Beating
The more I listen to it the more I like it. Even though I don’t want to (see Angels and Airwaves). I haven’t decided if they have made this year better or worse, I guess they’ll have more of an impact on the early part of 2007 than they did in 2006.
Please feel free to comment on any of the views I have expressed here and in previous posts. I would especially like to hear opinions on the new Tool, Pearl Jam and Slayer from people who are fans of the bands. Please enlighten me and let me know where these albums stand in comparison to previous albums.
Thanks,
Banana
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Things that we could have done without in 2006...
February 28
Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely
Say hello to what was the bain of my existence for a good part of 2005 and 2006. This band is one of the many bands that comedian Brian Posehn were referring to in “Metal by Numbers”. They are absolutely horrible but really I couldn’t have expected much more, they are signed to Victory Records.
May 23
Angels and Airwaves – We Don’t Need to Whisper
Here we have one of the million Blink 182 spin offs. I love blink 182 but I’m getting really tired of the members of blink 182 doing bad projects. This album had a lot of hype surrounding it but in my opinion it did not even come close to living up to it.
June 6
Metallica play their new song (yet to be titled) for the first time in Berlin
I just really wish that they would stop trying to play music. They really should have given up after the Black album because after that it all went to shit and they hit rock bottom with St. Anger. Don’t even get me started with that album, that’s an entire blog all on its own. If you haven’t heard it just read the lyrics that all you have to do to realize the garbage that it is. It does sound promising that Rick Rubin (Red hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, System of a Down) is producing it but its Metallica, nowadays no one can make them sound good, especially when they couldn’t write a decent song to save their lives. I just read this album is due out in the spring of 2007, at least I’ll have something to talk about at the end of next year as well. Thank you Metallica!
June 20
Nelly Furtado – Loose
The title says it all. Nelly Furtado has been another pop star whore. Oops, I’m sorry I mean “Promiscuous Girl”. The so-called role models that are spread all over the media are teaching girls to be sluts. That seems like a great idea! I remember when pop stars were simplistic, innocent girls that little girls like myself looked up to. We didn’t look up to them because they could get any boy they wanted but because they could sing, sometimes write their own songs and dance. Remember Debbie Gibson? Tiffany? I’m really hoping by the time I have a little girl, the pop industry will turn around and head towards a more innocent image. I mean the slut image will get tired eventually won’t it? I certainly hope so.
June 27
Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits
Anything that stems from an internet joke should be aborted at conception; this idea shouldn’t have been allowed past the board room let alone materialized a second time. I don’t care to hear this, hearing a piece of a song once is enough for me, enough for anyone!
August 22
Paris Hilton – Paris
It was actually earlier in the year when I realized the world was officially coming to an end. Paris Hilton had a single? I had heard the rumors but tried to ignore it in the hopes it would go away but it didn’t, it just kept coming. As much as I hated to admit it, “Stars are Blind” was not a horrible song but there was no way I was endorsing anything that had to do with Paris Hilton. The girl that’s famous because her dad owns the Hilton Hotels and she parties all the time?!? Fuck I know tons of girls that could drink her under the table! As for the album, I’m convinced that she’s pulling a Milli Vanilli and doesn’t actually sing on the album others are saying that auto tune was her best friend on the album, either way it’s crap!
September 19
Fergie – The Dutchess
The Dutchess, gimme a break she’s not even the greatest member of the Black Eyed Peas although the Elephunk album was pretty good. All I ask is that if you can handle it, just listen to the single off this album for yourself, I can’t tell if she’s singing or talking. I mean it’s a good song to shake your ass but that’s it. And what’s even better is a while ago I saw a magazine with her on the cover and it said and I quote “Find out what Fergie did before she started BEP”. The Black Eyed Peas were around long before Fergie came around. Ya wanna know what she did before BEP? I’ll tell you, she was a member of a shitty unknown pop group called Wild Orchid. I’m really tired of seeing this girl.
October 15
CBGB hosts its final show featuring Patti Smith before closing and announces it’s moving to Las Vegas after a lengthy rent dispute. This is by far the shittiest thing to happen all year. This was the birthplace of punk in America, where many now famous hardcore bands made names for themselves including Gorilla Biscuits, the Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Reagan Youth, Warzone, and Youth of Today. So much history exists withing the walls of CBGBs, I only wish I had been able to attend a show there before Hilly Kristal closed it’s doors. Hilly has been quoted as saying he plans on gutting the location in New York and taking as much as he possibly can (including walls and urnals) to the Las Vegas location and auctioning off what he doesn’t want off on ebay. I’ll be watching eBay like a hawk for a piece of that history.
Panic! At The Disco – A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
This album was actually released in the fall of 2005 but P!atD (apparently this is short hand for Panic! At the Disco) didn't actually release any singles until 2006 so it was this year that I grew to like, love, and hate them all in a couple months. I'm not proud to say that I liked them but I never went so far as to buy the album I didn't need to I heard it everyday at work. Thanks Carmen! It was a member of Fall Out Boy who found P!atD, I think we could have figured that out on our own considering they sound exactly like Fall Out Boy right down to the voice of the lead singer. I think one Fall Out Boy and one Pete Wentz is enough for now.
Guns n Roses
So they're finally on tour. Rumours have been ongoing about new material for almost 10 years now. I really think Axl should just give up. I mean Guns n Roses’ hay day is long over, they’re never going to recover the stardome or fanbase that they once had, especiallly not with an album that has been in production for almost ten years at a cost of over $15 million. That according to Wikipedia. Also for the crotch rock that G n R play is it really necessary to have 8 members? It’s reported that Chinese Democracy is finally being released this coming spring. I would be really surprised if it actually came out on time considering it’s and Axle’s history.
September 2006
Rock Star Supernova
I admit I really enjoyed watching this season of Rock Star, I also really liked Rock Star INXS. The contestants actually have previous experience in bands, writing original material and playing intruments, they’ve been working really hard on making a career out of playing music. They’ve put their time in and deserve this chance. The contestants on American and Canadian Idol where they have not had much previous experience and most of them couldn’t write their way out of a wet paper bag. They don’t deserve the chance they’ve been given. Back to the topic at hand. I guess I can understand why Lukas Rossi was chosen to front Tommy Lee’s super band, he’s “different”. I guess he can sing but I really can’t stand the way he sings, it’s too similar to all those new cock rock bands like Theory of a Nickel Creed. They should have picked Toby. More importantly they should have picked a better name.
Hawthorne Heights – If Only You Were Lonely
Say hello to what was the bain of my existence for a good part of 2005 and 2006. This band is one of the many bands that comedian Brian Posehn were referring to in “Metal by Numbers”. They are absolutely horrible but really I couldn’t have expected much more, they are signed to Victory Records.
May 23
Angels and Airwaves – We Don’t Need to Whisper
Here we have one of the million Blink 182 spin offs. I love blink 182 but I’m getting really tired of the members of blink 182 doing bad projects. This album had a lot of hype surrounding it but in my opinion it did not even come close to living up to it.
June 6
Metallica play their new song (yet to be titled) for the first time in Berlin
I just really wish that they would stop trying to play music. They really should have given up after the Black album because after that it all went to shit and they hit rock bottom with St. Anger. Don’t even get me started with that album, that’s an entire blog all on its own. If you haven’t heard it just read the lyrics that all you have to do to realize the garbage that it is. It does sound promising that Rick Rubin (Red hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, System of a Down) is producing it but its Metallica, nowadays no one can make them sound good, especially when they couldn’t write a decent song to save their lives. I just read this album is due out in the spring of 2007, at least I’ll have something to talk about at the end of next year as well. Thank you Metallica!
June 20
Nelly Furtado – Loose
The title says it all. Nelly Furtado has been another pop star whore. Oops, I’m sorry I mean “Promiscuous Girl”. The so-called role models that are spread all over the media are teaching girls to be sluts. That seems like a great idea! I remember when pop stars were simplistic, innocent girls that little girls like myself looked up to. We didn’t look up to them because they could get any boy they wanted but because they could sing, sometimes write their own songs and dance. Remember Debbie Gibson? Tiffany? I’m really hoping by the time I have a little girl, the pop industry will turn around and head towards a more innocent image. I mean the slut image will get tired eventually won’t it? I certainly hope so.
June 27
Crazy Frog Presents More Crazy Hits
Anything that stems from an internet joke should be aborted at conception; this idea shouldn’t have been allowed past the board room let alone materialized a second time. I don’t care to hear this, hearing a piece of a song once is enough for me, enough for anyone!
August 22
Paris Hilton – Paris
It was actually earlier in the year when I realized the world was officially coming to an end. Paris Hilton had a single? I had heard the rumors but tried to ignore it in the hopes it would go away but it didn’t, it just kept coming. As much as I hated to admit it, “Stars are Blind” was not a horrible song but there was no way I was endorsing anything that had to do with Paris Hilton. The girl that’s famous because her dad owns the Hilton Hotels and she parties all the time?!? Fuck I know tons of girls that could drink her under the table! As for the album, I’m convinced that she’s pulling a Milli Vanilli and doesn’t actually sing on the album others are saying that auto tune was her best friend on the album, either way it’s crap!
September 19
Fergie – The Dutchess
The Dutchess, gimme a break she’s not even the greatest member of the Black Eyed Peas although the Elephunk album was pretty good. All I ask is that if you can handle it, just listen to the single off this album for yourself, I can’t tell if she’s singing or talking. I mean it’s a good song to shake your ass but that’s it. And what’s even better is a while ago I saw a magazine with her on the cover and it said and I quote “Find out what Fergie did before she started BEP”. The Black Eyed Peas were around long before Fergie came around. Ya wanna know what she did before BEP? I’ll tell you, she was a member of a shitty unknown pop group called Wild Orchid. I’m really tired of seeing this girl.
October 15
CBGB hosts its final show featuring Patti Smith before closing and announces it’s moving to Las Vegas after a lengthy rent dispute. This is by far the shittiest thing to happen all year. This was the birthplace of punk in America, where many now famous hardcore bands made names for themselves including Gorilla Biscuits, the Cro-Mags, Agnostic Front, Sick of It All, Reagan Youth, Warzone, and Youth of Today. So much history exists withing the walls of CBGBs, I only wish I had been able to attend a show there before Hilly Kristal closed it’s doors. Hilly has been quoted as saying he plans on gutting the location in New York and taking as much as he possibly can (including walls and urnals) to the Las Vegas location and auctioning off what he doesn’t want off on ebay. I’ll be watching eBay like a hawk for a piece of that history.
Panic! At The Disco – A Fever You Can't Sweat Out
This album was actually released in the fall of 2005 but P!atD (apparently this is short hand for Panic! At the Disco) didn't actually release any singles until 2006 so it was this year that I grew to like, love, and hate them all in a couple months. I'm not proud to say that I liked them but I never went so far as to buy the album I didn't need to I heard it everyday at work. Thanks Carmen! It was a member of Fall Out Boy who found P!atD, I think we could have figured that out on our own considering they sound exactly like Fall Out Boy right down to the voice of the lead singer. I think one Fall Out Boy and one Pete Wentz is enough for now.
Guns n Roses
So they're finally on tour. Rumours have been ongoing about new material for almost 10 years now. I really think Axl should just give up. I mean Guns n Roses’ hay day is long over, they’re never going to recover the stardome or fanbase that they once had, especiallly not with an album that has been in production for almost ten years at a cost of over $15 million. That according to Wikipedia. Also for the crotch rock that G n R play is it really necessary to have 8 members? It’s reported that Chinese Democracy is finally being released this coming spring. I would be really surprised if it actually came out on time considering it’s and Axle’s history.
September 2006
Rock Star Supernova
I admit I really enjoyed watching this season of Rock Star, I also really liked Rock Star INXS. The contestants actually have previous experience in bands, writing original material and playing intruments, they’ve been working really hard on making a career out of playing music. They’ve put their time in and deserve this chance. The contestants on American and Canadian Idol where they have not had much previous experience and most of them couldn’t write their way out of a wet paper bag. They don’t deserve the chance they’ve been given. Back to the topic at hand. I guess I can understand why Lukas Rossi was chosen to front Tommy Lee’s super band, he’s “different”. I guess he can sing but I really can’t stand the way he sings, it’s too similar to all those new cock rock bands like Theory of a Nickel Creed. They should have picked Toby. More importantly they should have picked a better name.
How could I forget?
April 25
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
I can not believe that I forgot about this album in my first post. What the hell? This is definitely one of my top albums of this year. I LOVE this album!!! I can’t even describe in words how brilliant this album is. For those of you who don’t know this is a collaboration album between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green. You may remember Danger Mouse from such albums as the Grey Album (mash up of The Beatles White album and Jay-Z’s Black Album). These two guys are geniuses. The album flows, but also each song is its own. Again this is another album that I can’t pin point specific songs to check out; you have to experience it as a whole. Don’t even bother to download it, just spend the money and buy it. It’s so worth it.
Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere
I can not believe that I forgot about this album in my first post. What the hell? This is definitely one of my top albums of this year. I LOVE this album!!! I can’t even describe in words how brilliant this album is. For those of you who don’t know this is a collaboration album between Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green. You may remember Danger Mouse from such albums as the Grey Album (mash up of The Beatles White album and Jay-Z’s Black Album). These two guys are geniuses. The album flows, but also each song is its own. Again this is another album that I can’t pin point specific songs to check out; you have to experience it as a whole. Don’t even bother to download it, just spend the money and buy it. It’s so worth it.
Things that made 2006 that much better...
I’ve been seeing best/worst of music 2006 lists popping up everywhere and I don’t necessarily agree with most of what these people are saying, so I decided to assemble my own list compiling the best and worst in the world of music in 2006 through my eyes and ears. My list ended up being a lot bigger than I had expected so I have split it up into three parts, Things that made 2006 that much better, Things we could have done without in 2006 and Things that I'm not sure what to think about from 2006 (this one is not very long).
January 23
The Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I am That’s What I’m Not
May 9
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
I remember maybe a year or less before this album came out reading about it in Rolling Stone and I thought, “A double album release of all new material? How is this going to work?”. I love RHCP but I was pretty skeptical how they were going to pull this off without including a bunch of filler on these two discs. There is a bit of filler but they're tracks that will grow on you, not the type of filler that will have you skipping the track when it starts. This album is kind of all over the place but it still flows. There's typical RHCP funk stuff mixed in with some rock anthems and some not so radio friendly tracks. My favorite track off of both discs is “Hump de Bump”
May 23
Less Than Jake – In With The Out Crowd
You better believe I was super excited for this release. I love LTJ! I loved “Anthem” and grew to love everything before that. I will say that this is not LTJ's best effort, even they have admitted that but there are still some really great tracks on it. Overall there aren't enough horns in my opinion but the songs where they are present are gold! “Overrated (Everything Is)” is a decent track but the one that stood out to me the first time I listened was “Let Her Go”. Less Than Jake is like pizza, it's awesome but when it's bad it's still pretty good. Rock n Roll Pizzeria!!
June 6
The Bouncing Souls – The Gold Record
I’ll be honest here, I didn’t pay much attention to The Bouncing Souls until recently but after this album was released I started to. I love this album. The Gold Record on its own is a great album and well worth a listen.
June 27
Good Riddance – My Republic
Their 7th full length album and the first album after their hiatus following their Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection tour. A great album for old and new punks alike, it still has the same ol’ Good Riddance feel that we all know and love but also brings a fresh sound that would appeal to younger people who may not have grown up listening to Good Riddance.
July 4
Rise Against -The Sufferer and the Witness
I’m not really sure where to start with this album. There’s so much to say I’m speechless. I’m going to go so far as to say this is number one on my top 5 of this year. “Ready to Fall” is the first single off the album, many of you may remember me talking about it from a previous post. The songs video counterpart is harsh especially for those with weak stomachs or soft hearts. The in-your-face attitude of the video is also carried on throughout the album and is carried well I might add. You can feel their passion for the music and the topics at hand. This release is just as good as Siren Song for the Counter Culture. As for favorite songs, I can’t just pick one the whole album is solid.
Greg Graffin – Cold As The Clay
Although Mr. Graffin isn’t as good at folk music as he is punk, this album is still great. Featured on the album are various other artists including but not limited to Jolie Holland, Brett Gurewitz, and Jason Tait from The Weakerthans. This album may not be for everyone, I recommend checking it out before buying it.
August 15
Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics
Like I said before I’m not a huge fan of pop especially not of Christina Aguilera but now that she’s made her way out of her slutty Xtina phase and grown up some I can actually enjoy listening to her. This album has a lot of blues, jazz and soul influences which are very apparent (not just in her fashion). I love it when modern artists can take decade’s old music and personalize it for new generations. It’s nice that Christina managed to do this without ruining the essence of music from the 30’s and 40’s.
August 2006
Metal by Numbers a song that mocks screamo bands. You know the bands that try so god damn hard to look metal and sound metal but don’t realize they’re making complete fools of themselves? Or pretty much every band on Victory Records currently This song is to metal what “Signing Emo” is to punk. This video is definitely worth watching.
January 23
The Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I am That’s What I’m Not
I admit that after hearing all the hype surrounding these guys I wasn’t too interested in hearing them. I resisted for as long as I possibly could and when I finally heard the album I realized what all the hype was about and that they actually exceeded the hype in my opinion. If you haven’t heard these guys I definitely recommend taking a listen. If may not be for you but at least give it a chance.
February 21
The Loved Ones – Keep Your Heart
February 21
The Loved Ones – Keep Your Heart
For the love of punk rock! I haven’t heard a punk album so well written and catchy in a really long time. I’m going to go so far as to say that this is one of the best punk albums of the past 5 or more years. I think even those of you who don’t necessarily listen to punk would love this. “Jane” is one of those songs that just sneaks in your head and stays there for days but unlike shitty pop/rock songs it’s enjoyable and don’t mind having it in your head.
A little teaser as to what was to come on the full length in April with a great cover I might add.
March 21
The Sainte Catherines -Dancing for Decadence
The Sainte Catherines -Dancing for Decadence
This album is definitely in my top 5 for releases this year. These guys have come a long way from the shitty track on an old Peanut Tree compilation that also included missing. If gives me the shivers just thinking about how horrible that track was. Anyway Dancing for Decadence is a great punk album from beginning to end. The album stays true to what punk is and what’s even better? They’re Canadian!!
Anti-Flag – For Blood and Empire
Oh, Anti-Flag. This is the first of two albums to be put out by Anti-Flag as per their contract with RCA. It seems a bit hypocritical of a band with very strong anti-capitalist lyrics to be signing to a major. I’m not judging them though they’re my favorite punk band and have been for a couple years now. Personally I like The Terror State better but on this album you can hear Anti-Flags growth as musicians. It’s nice that the album doesn’t sound exactly like everything else they’ve released over the years.
MC Lars – The Graduate
MC Lars is Weird Al for punks. He refers to his music as Post-punk laptop rap. The songs may not be the greatest but the lyrics definitely give you a laugh especially if you’re one of those people who are fed up with fashion punks and fashion-core. “Signing Emo” is by far the best song on the album with “Internet Relationships” coming in at a close second
April 4
Pink – I'm Not Dead
Ok so I’m not usually a huge fan of pop music, but there’s something about this album and Pink for that matter. Maybe I’ve been fooled but Pink, even though she’s a pop star, still has the balls enough to say how she feels and write songs that actually say something and have meaning and aren’t just one dimensional. This album is no different. The first single “Stupid Girls” is in your face with how fucked up the image of what’s “hot” is right now and how misguided young girls are with slutty pop star images and personalities. One of my favorite tracks is “Dear Mr. President”, an open letter obviously to George W. Bush asking how he can live with himself when he causes so much pain and hurt in the world. I’m not asking you to go buy this album maybe just read the lyrics and if you have a young daughter buy it for her, help her learn that Paris Hilton is not a role model.
April 11
.moneen. - The Red Tree
The first release by .moneen. since signing to Vagrant and it seems they've composed more radio friendly songs for this album (as in track length). It's a well produced and composed album, it flows evenly from one track to the next. I'm not as found of The Red Tree as I am with Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now. The first single “If Tragedy's Appealing Then Disaster's An Addiction” is a great track I also enjoy “The Frightening Reality Of The Fact That We Will All Have to Grow Up And Settle Down One Day”.
April 18
NOFX - Wolves in Wolves Clothing
This is yet another great punk album that was released in 2006. The March released EP gave us all a little taste of what was to come with Wolves in Wolves Clothing. A solid album throughout but if anyone knows NOFX they know that have pretty much put out the same album for the last 10 years. Also if you know and love NOFX it doesn't fuckin matter because it's NOFX and it still rocks.
Key tracks: “Seeing Double at The Triple Rock”, “Wolves in Wolves Clothing”, “Benny Got Blowed Up”, “60% (Reprise)”, “Doornails”
April 25
Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
In my opinion this album is the best thing Mr. Springsteen has done since the Born in The USA days. I can't suggest one single track because the whole thing is brilliant. This is a great folk album/must have for every music lovers collection.
Oh, Anti-Flag. This is the first of two albums to be put out by Anti-Flag as per their contract with RCA. It seems a bit hypocritical of a band with very strong anti-capitalist lyrics to be signing to a major. I’m not judging them though they’re my favorite punk band and have been for a couple years now. Personally I like The Terror State better but on this album you can hear Anti-Flags growth as musicians. It’s nice that the album doesn’t sound exactly like everything else they’ve released over the years.
MC Lars – The Graduate
MC Lars is Weird Al for punks. He refers to his music as Post-punk laptop rap. The songs may not be the greatest but the lyrics definitely give you a laugh especially if you’re one of those people who are fed up with fashion punks and fashion-core. “Signing Emo” is by far the best song on the album with “Internet Relationships” coming in at a close second
April 4
Pink – I'm Not Dead
Ok so I’m not usually a huge fan of pop music, but there’s something about this album and Pink for that matter. Maybe I’ve been fooled but Pink, even though she’s a pop star, still has the balls enough to say how she feels and write songs that actually say something and have meaning and aren’t just one dimensional. This album is no different. The first single “Stupid Girls” is in your face with how fucked up the image of what’s “hot” is right now and how misguided young girls are with slutty pop star images and personalities. One of my favorite tracks is “Dear Mr. President”, an open letter obviously to George W. Bush asking how he can live with himself when he causes so much pain and hurt in the world. I’m not asking you to go buy this album maybe just read the lyrics and if you have a young daughter buy it for her, help her learn that Paris Hilton is not a role model.
April 11
.moneen. - The Red Tree
The first release by .moneen. since signing to Vagrant and it seems they've composed more radio friendly songs for this album (as in track length). It's a well produced and composed album, it flows evenly from one track to the next. I'm not as found of The Red Tree as I am with Are We Really Happy With Who We Are Right Now. The first single “If Tragedy's Appealing Then Disaster's An Addiction” is a great track I also enjoy “The Frightening Reality Of The Fact That We Will All Have to Grow Up And Settle Down One Day”.
April 18
NOFX - Wolves in Wolves Clothing
This is yet another great punk album that was released in 2006. The March released EP gave us all a little taste of what was to come with Wolves in Wolves Clothing. A solid album throughout but if anyone knows NOFX they know that have pretty much put out the same album for the last 10 years. Also if you know and love NOFX it doesn't fuckin matter because it's NOFX and it still rocks.
Key tracks: “Seeing Double at The Triple Rock”, “Wolves in Wolves Clothing”, “Benny Got Blowed Up”, “60% (Reprise)”, “Doornails”
April 25
Bruce Springsteen – We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions
In my opinion this album is the best thing Mr. Springsteen has done since the Born in The USA days. I can't suggest one single track because the whole thing is brilliant. This is a great folk album/must have for every music lovers collection.
Taking Back Sunday – Louder Now
If any of you listen to or used to listen to Taking Back Sunday you'll know that Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want To Be sound a lot alike and although Louder Now still sounds like Taking Back Sunday, it's more rock and not so much emo which is ok by me. I've always liked them but began to rethink once they managed to release Tell All Your Friends twice but hearing this one reignited my fondness for them.
Key tracks: “What it Feels Like To Be A Ghost”, “MakeDamnSure”
If any of you listen to or used to listen to Taking Back Sunday you'll know that Tell All Your Friends and Where You Want To Be sound a lot alike and although Louder Now still sounds like Taking Back Sunday, it's more rock and not so much emo which is ok by me. I've always liked them but began to rethink once they managed to release Tell All Your Friends twice but hearing this one reignited my fondness for them.
Key tracks: “What it Feels Like To Be A Ghost”, “MakeDamnSure”
May 9
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium
I remember maybe a year or less before this album came out reading about it in Rolling Stone and I thought, “A double album release of all new material? How is this going to work?”. I love RHCP but I was pretty skeptical how they were going to pull this off without including a bunch of filler on these two discs. There is a bit of filler but they're tracks that will grow on you, not the type of filler that will have you skipping the track when it starts. This album is kind of all over the place but it still flows. There's typical RHCP funk stuff mixed in with some rock anthems and some not so radio friendly tracks. My favorite track off of both discs is “Hump de Bump”
May 23
Less Than Jake – In With The Out Crowd
You better believe I was super excited for this release. I love LTJ! I loved “Anthem” and grew to love everything before that. I will say that this is not LTJ's best effort, even they have admitted that but there are still some really great tracks on it. Overall there aren't enough horns in my opinion but the songs where they are present are gold! “Overrated (Everything Is)” is a decent track but the one that stood out to me the first time I listened was “Let Her Go”. Less Than Jake is like pizza, it's awesome but when it's bad it's still pretty good. Rock n Roll Pizzeria!!
June 6
The Bouncing Souls – The Gold Record
I’ll be honest here, I didn’t pay much attention to The Bouncing Souls until recently but after this album was released I started to. I love this album. The Gold Record on its own is a great album and well worth a listen.
June 27
Good Riddance – My Republic
Their 7th full length album and the first album after their hiatus following their Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection tour. A great album for old and new punks alike, it still has the same ol’ Good Riddance feel that we all know and love but also brings a fresh sound that would appeal to younger people who may not have grown up listening to Good Riddance.
July 4
Rise Against -The Sufferer and the Witness
I’m not really sure where to start with this album. There’s so much to say I’m speechless. I’m going to go so far as to say this is number one on my top 5 of this year. “Ready to Fall” is the first single off the album, many of you may remember me talking about it from a previous post. The songs video counterpart is harsh especially for those with weak stomachs or soft hearts. The in-your-face attitude of the video is also carried on throughout the album and is carried well I might add. You can feel their passion for the music and the topics at hand. This release is just as good as Siren Song for the Counter Culture. As for favorite songs, I can’t just pick one the whole album is solid.
Greg Graffin – Cold As The Clay
Although Mr. Graffin isn’t as good at folk music as he is punk, this album is still great. Featured on the album are various other artists including but not limited to Jolie Holland, Brett Gurewitz, and Jason Tait from The Weakerthans. This album may not be for everyone, I recommend checking it out before buying it.
August 15
Christina Aguilera – Back to Basics
Like I said before I’m not a huge fan of pop especially not of Christina Aguilera but now that she’s made her way out of her slutty Xtina phase and grown up some I can actually enjoy listening to her. This album has a lot of blues, jazz and soul influences which are very apparent (not just in her fashion). I love it when modern artists can take decade’s old music and personalize it for new generations. It’s nice that Christina managed to do this without ruining the essence of music from the 30’s and 40’s.
August 2006
Metal by Numbers a song that mocks screamo bands. You know the bands that try so god damn hard to look metal and sound metal but don’t realize they’re making complete fools of themselves? Or pretty much every band on Victory Records currently This song is to metal what “Signing Emo” is to punk. This video is definitely worth watching.
Thursday, December 7, 2006
Local scene legend retires...
...and yet another venue closes in Fredericton, NB. Quelle surprise!
Currently: sad :(
Bugaboo, the home of punk rock, metal, rock and roll and whatever else you could throw at it has closed its doors. Apparently I’m a little behind because I just found out today and it was posted a few days ago on the Droltab Forum.
I, along with many of you I’m sure, have very fond and some not so fond memories of Bugaboo. To me this was a place you could go to take in a show, chill out and have a beer with friends or entertain yourself by watching the regular patrons of the bar. Including but not limited to “white shirt guy”, or “crazy arm wrestling lady” that Billy had to kick off the stage because the band was trying to play. I saw Nandez (RIP) for the first and last time here also SNFU, The Planet Smashers, Kilbourne and many others.
Bugaboo was also the home to numerous local bands and people including Spaceblood, Scarecrow Blues (a great way to keep your Mondays busy) Motel 69, Crosstown Rivals/El Diablo, Missing, Billy Strange (the cranky guy who ran the show aka Droltab) and Johnny P (local legend) just to name a few.
I think in a way Bugaboo/Droltab were the glue that was keeping the punk scene alive in this city. Billy was the only promoter putting on punk shows and putting on punk shows at reasonable prices. 5 bucks, that’s how much a show should cost unless you’re going to the Playhouse or UNB to see a show. There are other promoters who are putting on “punk” shows but I don’t like to count fashion core bands as punk nor would I pay $10 + to see said fashion punks be “unique”. Others mainly concentrate on metal. I miss the days when we had more than one venue to put on shows at. Before any of you yell at me “What about the Capital, Taproom etc etc” I’m referring to punk/metal friendly venues. Thank god Vixens opened up recently; it seems to have come at just the right time. I haven’t attended a show there as of yet so I have no opinion of the venue. I only hope that it’s decent ‘cause I wouldn’t mind spending part of my New Years Eve there. There’s a great line up. Iron Fist, Barracuda Sunrise, Pipeplayer, Spaceblood, Motel 69, Super Destroyer and the No-Shows not to mention it’s only 5 bucks and there’s $2 drinks between 10 and 10:30
There I go off topic. Back to the subject at hand, Bugaboo and what it has done for this city. Bugaboo helped pop my scene cherry way back in the day. I had been to numerous shows at other venues but I had never experienced a real drunken punk rock show like the ones at Bugaboo. One of my fondest memories is of New Years Eve 2004 at Bugaboo with Atomic Machetes, The Trick, Crosstown Rivals, The Dirt Track Dates & The Raisers (our own super group). I guess it’s not so much a memory as a faint recollection of the evening. I walked into the bar to have someone tell me that people were booing The Trick, now I realize that that line up was a little odd and The Trick was a little out of place but please have some respect. If you don’t like the band don’t watch. So receiving this news I proceeded further into the bar to cheer on The Trick super loud (and probably obnoxiously). At some point before even getting to the bar I lost all caring abilities. I don’t remember other sets or if I even watched them but I remember bits and pieces of Crosstown Rivals set but mostly I remember that they were awesome (not really, they were all hammered) and that Jon was having a really hard time singing and playing and having an even harder time standing up which is where the trusty mic stand came in handy. I wish I had pictures to capture that night.
As for the man who ran the show at Bugaboo, that was Billy. He booked probably 90% of the shows that came through there with his promotion company Droltab. He’s was always the one at the back of the bar or side of the stage trying to make everything sound just right. And a lot of the times running around doing whatever needed to be done at the time be it picking up empties or kicking drunken assholes out. He usually had a few sarcastic comments to throw in there as well. Billy is the guy that’s been around this scene since before all the fashion punks were in diapers and before most of us knew what a scene was. He’s a legend, Droltab and Bugaboo will both be missed dearly.
Banana
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