10 Great Songs By Artists Who Only Released One Album

Wow it's been a while. Totally my fault. One thing that does keep me from doing consistent lists is that i'm running out of cool ideas to do song lists about. If you got something in mind let me know! Comment below or tweet at me @jonnyzhivago. And tell people! Let them know. This list came to me the other day, for one reason or another a band comes around releases an album and then is never heard from again. Here are 10 Great Songs By Artists Who Only Released One Album

1. "The District Sleeps Alone Tonight" - The Postal Service

The Postal Service was a side project of Death Cab For Cutie frontman Ben Gibbard. Him and Jimmy Tamborello, a producer in Los Angeles would send music back and forth through the mail (which is how they took their name) and it eventually became an album known as Give Up. Give Up was an immediate hit among Death Cab fans and non-fans alike. The songs were accessible, catchy and many featured guest vocals by Jenny Lewis which gave them a conversational feel between her and Ben. Though a new track was released in 2013, a second album was speculated but never made and the band has been officially disbanded.

2. "Anarchy Of The UK" - The Sex Pistols

Often named among candidates as the best Punk Rock Groups of all time, it may come to a surprise to some that The Sex Pistols released only one official studio album 1977's Nevermind The Bollocks...Here's The Sex Pistols. Like all classic albums the recording of Bollocks did not go without a hitch. Bass "player" Sid Vicious could not play bass to save his life, so several session musicians were used. The band were dropped by their label after recording only 4 singles and near the completion of the album Johnny Rotten and producers Chris Thomas and Billy Price were attacked at a local pub, which of course after word got out, helped promote the dangerous nature of the band to Britain's youth. To this day Nevermind The Bollocks is considered one of music's most important rock albums.

3. "There She Goes" - The La's


The La's were an English rock band from Liverpool who got their start in the mid-80's. They managed to record and release a few singles in the late 80's (which includes their biggest hit "There She Goes"), but finally landed a deal with Go! Records to record a full length album in 1987. Problems emerged finding the right producer who could get the sound that frontman Lee Mavers envisioned and went through as many as 8 producers before finally settling on Steve Lillywhite and Mark Wallis. Even though Mavers still wasn't fully satisfied. Couple that with a virtual revolving door of volatile musicians that would argue and butt heads with one another before quitting or being replaced and it's not wonder that The La's would not only never release another album, but shortly call it quits in 1992. Their self titled debut was released in 1990.

4. "I'm Hardly Ever Wrong" - The Would Be's

Silly Songs For Cynical People was the name of the 8 song EP released by the Irish group The Would Be's in 1991. Decoy Records was the obscure label they decided to release their album on, even though a reported 14 other labels expressed interest and were turned down. Eventually the band crumbled as not enough attention was gained and album sales were poor. The members will occasionally reunite here and there, but have made other projects their primary objectives.

5. "Since I Left You" - The Avalanches

The Avalanches are an Australian electronic group. whose 2000 debut album Since I Left You was a wonderful effort that combined funk, pop, hip-hop and electronic elements as well as sampling older songs and fusing them together other musical styles. The album had 9 nominations at the 2001 ARIA Music Awards in the UK and the album is viewed as one of Australia's best by many music critics. The Avalanches have not faded from obscurity and a second album has been apparently in the works since 2005. Ten years later and the project seems to have stalled, especially since longtime vocalist Darren Seltmann left the group in 2014. Fuckin' great video though...

6. "Last Goodbye" - Jeff Buckley

While some artists on this list have only made one album due to a personal choice or for financial and logistical reasons, Jeff Buckley was all but slated to release multiple albums full of fantastic music had it not been for his untimely death in 1997. Grace was released in 1994 and still is listed on critics top 100 lists and personal favourites all over the world. Though a few live albums and EPs of demos and unfinished material have been released posthumously, nothing has matched the impact and success of Grace.

7. "Respiration" - Black Star

Mos Def and Talib Kweli make up the hip-hop duo Black Star that formed in 1997. The album came about when Def and Kweli, who were releasing solo albums around the same time, realized their chemistry and decided to merge two albums into one. Black Star is known for their socially conscious lyrical content which is sometimes critical of hip-hop culture. Though Black Star have performed many times since the album's release Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star remains their only album. Maybe they said all they needed to say?

8. "The Music Sounds Better With You" - Stardust

Only releasing one album isn't cool, you know what's cool? ONLY RELEASING ONE SONG!!
Stardust consists of two producers (one being a member of Daft Punk) and vocalist Benjamin Diamond. The song came about simply by creating an instrumental track and having diamond sing over it. A sample from a Chaka Khan song was thrown in to flesh it out and "The Music Sounds Better With You" was released. The song was a hit all over the world and Thomas Banglater, one of the producers, was even offered 3 million dollars for a full length Stardust album. Alan Braxe the other producer has not worked with either other member since, leaving Stardust a thing of musc legend.

9. "Stroker Ace" - Lovage

Lovage is a musical project of famed producer Dan The Automator who was worked with such bands as The Gorillaz, Ben Lee, Kasabian and Del Tha Funkee Homosapien. Dan enlisted vocal contributions from Mike Patton (Faith No More) and Jennifer Charles (Elysian Fields) and released an album full of songs called Music To Make Love To Your Old Lady By in 2001. Other contributors include Kid Koala, Astacio The Nudist, SweetP and Daniel Spills. It's a visionary album and one of the most unique musical experiences you'll ever have.

10. "Get What You Give" - The New Radicals

The New Radicals, also known as that band with that guy in the hat, were known in the late 90's for their single "Get What You Give".  Hailing out of LA, the guy in the hat was Gregg Alexander who was the band's founder and lead singer. He was known for his political activism and awareness of social aspects and current events which were featured heavily in his songs' lyrics. After the success of their first album Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too they were slated to release a new album in the early 2000's. A few mysteriously cancelled tour dates led to speculation about the band's future. Those speculations were confirmed when Alexander announced the group had disbanded in July of 1999.

What do you want me to write about?

I'm here for you folks!

Thanks for reading as always!

JZ

10 Great Songs By Unique Artists

What do I mean by Unique artists? Typically when a new band comes out or when you're introduced to new music that artist is recommended to you based on who they sound like. "They're kind of like a heavier Rush" "I'd say an acoustic Nirvana". With these bands and artists that comparison is damn near impossible as no other band sounds like them. That's what i'm going for here or every song by the band is different from the next so they can't be pigeon toed into any one genre. 10 Great Songs By Unique Artists

1. Tom Waits - "Goin' Out West"

I can't imagine the reactions people would have if Tom Waits was played on mainstream radio. Most people who hear some of his songs for the first time think they're funny by comparing his voice to that of Cookie Monster's. Waits has always been a trend setter and followed the beat of his own drum. A celebrated songwriter, his songs have been recorded by countless popular artists like Rod Stewart, Bob Seger, The Eagles and Bruce Springsteen. His mannerisms and acting style have been copied as well, Heath Ledger based aspects of his oscar-winning performance of the Joker on Tom Waits. Though his influence can be seen on many aspects of popular media he hasn't begged for time in the spotlight. Even after successfully suing companies for using his songs (or sound alikes) in their commercials, he'd typically donate all the winnings to charity. His music expands many genres and even defies explanation. "I Hope I Don't Fall In Love With You" is a lounge pianist's lament. "Downtown Train" a vagabond's song for unrequited love. "Goin' Out West" a bizarre sound mashing song seemingly aimed at the vanity of Hollywood.

2. Bjork - "Army Of Me"

Hailing from Reykjavik, Iceland how does one describe Bjork? A multi-instrumentalist, producer and even actress, she can seemingly do it all. After her punk band The Sugarcubes came to an end, Bjork was able to release more experimental and eclectic music. Her uniqueness overflowed visually into her music videos and became almost more well known for those over her music. With 9 studio albums under her belt spanning almost 40 years(!) she's got another one coming out this year. There aren't many adjectives to describe her music as other than simply Bjork.

3. Ween - "Ocean Man"

Dean and Gene Ween are the two masterminds behind one of the most experimental and mercurial bands of the 90's. Ween were definitely one of those bands who could have 5 different styles of songs on one album. It made them virtually impossible to place in a genre so they would get labeled as 'experimental'. For the first 10 years of their existence they would have an audio tape backing them up, before adding a few more members to the group while they toured. "Ocean Man" comes off the album The Mollusk released in 1997 and generally viewed as a concept album as most songs on it are nautical themed.

4. Primus - "Southbound Pachyderm"

Coming out of California, what makes Primus stand alone among most other rock oriented groups from the 90's is essentially Les Claypool. His distinct voice and mesmerizing often confounding slap-bass style playing was unlike anything in modern pop music. Their song often feature a story-telling narrative with humourous lyrics and double entendre. Claypool is often involved in the videos for the songs as well, which have also been noted for their uniqueness. Claypool is definitely an individual and any band he may have started would have been in a class by themselves, i'm sure of it.

5. Jamiroquai - "Virtual Insanity"

Founded by Jay Kay, Jamiroquai are a band from Britain that fuses elements from Jazz, Rock, Funk, Dance, Hip-hop and Electronic music to form their unique sound. Jamiroquai songs can often simply feature guitars, bass and drums, or a full-blown orchestra, or merely a synthesizer while Kay goes nuclear on the mic and dance floor. Think about it. What's another band that you can compare to Jamiroquai?

6. System Of A Down - "Suite Pee"

Sure you can stack System of a Down beside most heavy metal acts from the 2000's and today and it would work, but you know that they stand out like a sore thumb due to their unique time structures, vocal diversity and non-conventional song structures. I remember when I first heard Toxicity in 2001 I didn't like it, mainly because I couldn't wrap my head around it. Being unable to avoid the songs and albums however I warmed to SOAD and recognize their brilliance and talent that are unmatched to this day.

7. Brand New - "Degausser"

This one might be a bit hard to describe. Brand New first appeared on the scene as another punk band from Long Island with ties to Taking Back Sunday and The Rookie Lot. Something changed along the way and their sound started to morph and mature. More melodic tunes with dark lyrics started to populate their albums and the band started to disassociate themselves with the mainstream, choosing to write and release the type of music they wanted to instead of what might have been expected from them. It worked. 2 near perfect albums in Deja Entendu & The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me followed and they are unlike anything i've heard before in terms of song structure, themes and creativity. Their last album was released in 2009. Can't wait to hear what's next.

8. Sublime - "Badfish"

It's not punk, it's not reggae. It's something else. It can't be ska because there's no brass section. Though I can see why it would be associated with all 3. The energy of punk and ska, fused with the Reggae mentality and often chill vibe, Sublime was tough to call when they arrived on the scene. Rock stations played them. R&B stations played them. Even the Latin stations played them because of their Mexican flavours. Since their demise a few bands have come around clearly inspired by Sublime, but none will ever reach the accolades of the original.

9. At The Drive-In - "198d"

Often lumped in with the punk scene At The Drive-In were as much a punk band as they were metal, and in some songs electronic. Likely due to the eclectic array of musicians in the group, At The Drive-In could shift between genres effortlessly and often within the same song. A song could start of slow and melodic and end up with hardcore screaming. After 3 full studio albums the band split into two seperate groups: Sparta and The Mars Volta. 2 bands withe distinct sounds, kind of sheds some light on why At The Drive-In was a little all over the place.

10. Mr. Bungle - "Pink Cigarette"

Fronted by the enigmatic, yet musically enriched Mike Patton, Mr. Bungle came from Eureka, California and that is the last normal thing about them. From the get go Mr. Bungle refused to be identified by a genre or style and even went as far as wearing Halloween costumes on stage. All instruments were fair game on Mr. Bungle records from train whistles to kazoos to bongos to saxophones. One album could be described as thrash metal and then the next straight up jazz.  Their 1999 album California is by far their most accessible, though some of the genre shifts still exist. In a sad happenstance around the album The Red Hot Chili Peppers also released an album that year called Californication and it greatly overshadowed the Mr. Bungle album. There was already animosity between the two groups, but that's another list for another day

Thanks again for reading! No go out there and be unique!!!

JZ

10 Great 90's Songs By Female Artists

Went on a little 90's kick lately and realized there is a whole sub-genre of tunes from that era that gets painfully overlooked in modern rock radio and media. Remember when a woman could pick up a guitar and rock a room? Well i'm sure there are many that still can, but how many can you name currently making waves in the music world? They aren't front and center anymore unless they are dancing around and shaking what they got at the same time. Here's 10 great songs from a great decade by female artists!

1. "Do You Sleep?" - Lisa Loeb

Lisa Loeb holds the distinction of being the first American artist to have a song hit #1 without being signed to a recording label. "Stay" became a huge hit when her friend Ethan Hawke gave a copy of her demo to Ben Stiller who decided to use the song in his movie Reality Bites. Of course she would immediately land a recording contract with Geffen Records and released Tails in 1995. "Do You Sleep?" was Loeb's second big single and while "Stay" is a classic, "Do You Sleep?" showed off more of her already impressive song writing skills.

2. "Who Will Save Your Soul?" - Jewel

Jewel (real name) got her start in music singing in bars and taverns in a small town up in Alaska. She would learn to yodel and eventually take off across the country performing whichever gigs she could to gain exposure, it was during this trip that she famously lived in her car. Her first album Pieces Of You went 15 times platinum and featured 4 singles including "You Were Meant For Me", "Foolish Games" and "Who Will Save Your Soul?". Later on she would change her folky style and release a dance album in 2003.

3. "Sunny Came Home" - Shawn Colvin

Shawn Colvin hails from South Dakota and is most known for her best selling 1996 album A Few Small Repairs which featured the Grammy award winning song "Sunny Came Home". As she was about to accept the award Wu-Tang Clan member Ol' Dirty Bastard stormed the stage and protested his band's loss of Best Hip Hop Album earlier that night.

4.  "Birmingham" - Amanda Marshall

A Radio Broadcasting instructor of days gone by would be sorely upset with me somewhere if I didn't include Canada's Amanda Marshall.  After being discovered by Jeff Healy, Marshall set off on a solo career spanning 3 albums and multiple hit singles in her native Canada. Only this song "Birmingham" would hit in the US, perhaps because it's named after a city in one of their states, it reached #43 in 1996.

5. "I'm Hardly Ever Wrong" - The Would Be's

This one just squeeked in. The Would Be's were formed in 1989 in Ireland released one album in 1991 and then promptly broke up. The band was formed by two brothers, but it featured a 17 year old Irish lass Julie McDonnell on vocals. Great news everyone! It appears that The Would Be's reformed in 2012 and released a new album in 2013!!

6. "As I Lay Me Down" - Sophie B. Hawkins

Though this song is not as recognized as her earlier hit "Damn, I Wish I Was Your Lover", "As I Lay Me Down" saw Sophie B. Hawkins resting atop the Adult Contemporary charts for six weeks. After struggling with record label drama in the late 90's, Hawkins would form her own recording company and released albums throughout the 2000's on her own.

7. "Strong Enough" - Sheryl Crow

It's incredible to look at some of the artists on this list and see how many platinum albums they all have between them and then you realize most of those are from their debut albums. Tuesday Night Music Club was Sheryl Crow's official debut album, after her first attempt was rejected by her record label. The name of the album is a reference to the group of musicians who would meet with Sheryl on Tuesdays to work on the album.

8. "God Made Me" - Chantal Kreviazuk

From Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada, Chantal Kreviazuk's debut album Under These Rocks & Stones was a critically acclaimed effort carried by the success of several singles like "Surrounded", "Believer" and "God Made Me". Later albums by Kreviazuk would feature songs co-written by her husand Raine Maida of Our Lady Peace and later still she would begin writing songs for other artists.
Avril Lavinge, Mandy Moore and Christina Aguilera are a few of the acts she wrote for.

9. "Human Behaviour" - Bjork

One of my favourite videos from the 90's, Iceland's Bjork has always walked her own path and released the kind of music she wanted to.  This song is a holdover from her days in the band The Sugarcubes, she couldn't really fit the lyrics and odd harmonies in with a punk band. So when she released her solo debut...err...Debut it was obvious which track to get out as #1. With some Eastern inspired percussions "Human Behaviour" is one of her easiest songs to recognize.

10. "Super Nova" - Liz Phair

The queen of indie 90's grunge-rock, Liz Phair had quite the cult following without all the Platinum sales of other entries on this list. Other great Liz Phair songs are "Extraordinary", "Jealousy" and "Whip Smart". Recently Phair release an album Funstyle in 2010 and also reviews books.

Check back often!!

JZ!!

10 Great Songs About The Fans

Really where would an artist or musician be without their fans? They'd be starving, struggling, still playing street corners and coffee shops. It's good to see when a musician appreciates their fans and some even go as far as to write a song or two about them. Here are 10 Great Songs About the Fans

1. "We Are 138" - Misfits

Ok i'm kind of cheating on the first one here. No one really knows what this song is about, except Glenn Danzig who doesn't say it's about anything beyond "violence". When the Misfits were first getting started they had a small gathering of fans whom they called Fiends. The Fiend Club was the name for it officially and the rumour was that around the time "We Are 138" was written there were 138 official members of the Fiend Club. True or not, who knows. I'm not going to say I know for sure, because I would hate for Danzig to come and pummel me.

2. "4 U" - Korn

From the 1999 album Issues. Korn has always had a strong connection with their fans, from naming songs after them specifically or just understanding the power that music can have to get young people through difficult parts of their lives. In much the same way, singer Johnathan Davis has said if it wasn't for the support of many of the band's fans he might not have made it through some tough times on his own. The song "4 U" is dedicated to all Korn fans.

3. "Down" - 311

Man I love 311, but how do you describe them? Hard hitting guitars infused with funk, reggae, hip-hop and punk elements. Every song is different from the last, which is likely why they never got much attention from mainstream media. They'd have no idea where to pigeon toe them into. 311 have always had a large loyal following despite little mainstream help, "Down" is the band thanking the true fans for always being there.

4. "Born For This" - Paramore

Another simple song dedicated to fans of the band who's support helped Paramore release a second album. This song also features a nod to a band that Paramore is a fan of. The lyrics "we want the airwaves back" is from a song by Swedish band Refused called "Liberation Frequency". Maybe Refused will write a song thanking Paramore.

5. "From Me To You" - The Beatles

At the time of it's release "From Me To You" was described by a British newspaper as a "sub-par" Beatles song. Upset by this label John Lennon realized that from then on out he needed to be mindful of the quality of the songs he records and never forgot that paper's comments. "From Me To You" was written as a message to their fans before the band became popular in America.

6. "Pulse Of The Maggots" - Slipknot

Some artists have cute and endearing nicknames for their fans, "Beliebers" comes to mind. "Dead Heads" is another. If you're a dedicated Slipknot fan the band affectionately refers to you as a maggot. This came from the viewpoint from the stage as the band is performing, the constant movement of the crowd looked like a "Pulse of Maggots".

7. "We Love You" - The Rolling Stones

When Keith Richards, Mick Jagger and Brian Jones had their homes raided by Sussex police in 1967 it began a new chapter of their life. One that would not only find the Rolling Stones charged with various drug offences, but also an eye-opening time where the wonder and love of living a free life would come to be questioned as reality by the band members themselves. It was a dark and trying time, but to thank the fans who stuck with them and several other groups who would show their support (namely The Beatles and The Who) The Rolling Stones wrote and recorded 'We Love You".

8. "Fans" - Kings Of Leon

Before the release of 2008's Only By The Night Kings Of Leon had found success with 3 previous albums and while those albums were released in their native US, the biggest support and fanbase they found was in the UK. Their early albums either hit #1 or broke the the top ten in the UK while barely making any waves in North America. The second single off of the 2007 album Because Of The Times is called "Fans" and it is a direct thank you message to the love and support of their followers in the United Kingdom.

9. "If U Think U Know Me" - Orianthi

More people might know who Orianthi is had Michael Jackson's This Is It had gone off as planned. She was personally selected by the King Of Pop to be the lead guitarist for his farewell concert series before his death put a halt on the whole operation. Hailing from Australia, she has several studio albums to her name. 2013's Heaven In This Hell has the song "If U Think U Know Me" which is about her fans and the rush she gets from seeing them at her shows singing the lyrics right back at her.

10. "Blitzkrieg Bop" - The Ramones

The Ramones are one of the most influential punk bands of all time. They earned a quick and gigantic following in the late 70's and 80's around their native New York City. They themselves loved the bugglegum pop sound of the time, namely "Saturday Night" by The Bay City Rollers and wanted a song that was a call to arms to their fans and had a chant that could be sung along to just like "Saturday Night". "Blitzkrieg Bop" was born as was the now legendary punk chorus "Hey Ho Let's Go"

Thanks to all my fans!!

I'm out!

JZ

10 Great Songs With Sports Themed Music Videos

Yes today is the Super Bowl!! One of the year's biggest events in American Television and sports fans in general. The Seatlle Seahawks (almost typed Super Sonics) look to defend their crown against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Even if you're not into the NFL or sports in general it's still a good day to hang with friends and be merry. While you're waiting for the big game to start i've compiled a list of songs of that have sports-themed music videos. Something to get the conversation on the right track before kick off!

1. Gob - "I Hear You Calling"

I understand the premise of this video, but the narrative needs a little work. Gob find themselves cutting across a soccer field in the middle of a full-mooned night. They see a damsel tied up for some reason and then a squad of zombie-soccer players challenge them to a match for the young lady's sweet virgin ass. Hey, they're not giving me much here, gotta make it interesting. Cue typical sophmoric-Gob hijinx and tomfoolery, a few "Thriller" references and badda-boom, badda-bing you got yourself a music video. This was done a few years before the whole "Zombie-Apocalypse" fad had erupted so you gotta give Gob at least that.

2. Hole - "Be A Man"

Track 2 on the one-syllabled band name, sports-themed music video mix tape is "Be A Man" by Hole. Recorded for the Any Given Sunday soundtrack, the video features Courtney Love in all her coked up, super-skank glory having accidentally stumbled on to a football mid-game. Of course her first reaction is not to get to a safe distance to avoid being trampled, no no. Her first instinct is to get naked and make out with as many players as she can. Flag on the play??

3. Dinosaur Jr. - "Feel The Pain"

In one of Spike Jonze's first forays into the music video world, Dinosaur Jr. have decided to turn New York City into their own personal golf course. You can see Spike in one of the cars watching the ball sail over his head.

4. Elvis Presley vs. JXL - "A Little Less Conversation"

The official video for this song features people dancing in various methods in a colourful, boxed in world. Sometime after the song's release Nike decided to create a marketing campaign which feature vingnettes of soccer players battling 3 on 3 in a cage set while this song played in the background. It was so successful that the vignettes were edited together to fit the full length of the song and released a "mini-movie". This is one of the coolest music videos ever and the one I remember most for this song.

5. Green Day - "Nice Guys Finish Last"

The kickoff track to Green Day's 1997 album Nimrod was not the first single released form the CD. Nor was it the second or third, nope "Nice Guys Finish Last" was the 4th (and last) single taken from the album. The video shows the band as a mock football team, though they are performing on a stage. They even have a halftime pep-talk from their "coach". The song was used in the football movie Varsity Blues, so i'm sure that influenced the video in some way.

6. Hootie & The Blowfish - "I Only Wanna Be With You"

Hootie and The Blowfish were huge sports fans. When they heard the studio's idea for the music video for "I Only Wanna Be With You" included the band riding around on camels and acting zany, they rejected it in favour of a sports themed video. Lead singer Darius Rucker was beside himself when he got to run a few running plays with his favourite NFL player Miami Dolphins quarter back Dan Marino.

7. Against Me! - "White People For Peace"

Man, the last three lists i've done have had an Against Me! track. They're fooking good okay? Deal with it. Though there isn't an exact sport on display here, there is maybe a commentary on wars being fought in the world that play out on tv screens like it is a sport. Or some sports nowadays being so physical and brutal that it's only a matter of time before we're cheering on people trying to kill each other.

8. Sugar Ray - "Mean Machine"

 Long before Mark McGrath was your analyst of what the stars are wearing on the red carpet for Extra! or before he was the host of Don't Forget The Lyrics, he was screaming blood as the lead singer of Funk Metal band Sugar Ray down in Newport Beach. Sure Sugar Ray changed their style to incorporate more hip-hop elements and began to lean towards pop sensibilities, but "Mean Machine" was all rage. While, again, the video doesn't show any actual hockey being played, they do perform on a hockey rink and McGrath is skating around and freaking out in hockey pants and skates.

9. Nelly & St. Lunatics - "Batter Up"

Alright, I know I said these were great songs and videos, and while I do enjoy some of Nelly's songs, this one is just one colossal joke. I hope anyway. But it does feature some baseball being played so here ya go.

10. Lit - "My Own Worst Enemy"

Is bowling considered a sport? Well, for the sake of this list, let's say it is! Killer track from Lit a band that made their name in the 90's and one that also came out of California. I love videos like these, it looks like they're having a good time without bullshit posturing and stroking their own ego. Gotta get me some of those bowling shoes too

Enjoy the game everyone!!

Seahawks or Patriots, who ya got?
Comment or tweet at me @jonnyzhivago

Later!

JZ

10 Great Songs About Sleeping

Sleeping is the best. It's pretty much one of the most fun things you can do. Think about it, when you're sleeping you're relaxed. It makes you feel better. Typically warm and cozy. What can beat that? Musicians obviously feel the same, because there are countless songs about sleeping and dreaming. Here are 10 Great Songs About Sleeping

1. The Postal Service - "Sleeping In"

When Ben Gibbard branched out on his for a side-project away from Death Cab For Cutie he would send demos and portions of songs through the mail to his producer friend Jimmy Tamborello. Include Jenny Lewis on some backing vocals and The Postal Service was born. Though they officially only made one album (though when it's as good as 2003's Give Up that's all you need) they released some b-sides and rarities in 2013 for the album's 10 year anniversary. The band played it's last performance at Lollapalooza that same year

2. The Smiths - "Asleep"

The Smiths were one of the bands that dominated the 80's. With 4 albums released in the decade their sound and style of song continues to influence many bands to this day. "Asleep" was a b-side from the single for "The Boy With The Thorn In His Side" in 1985.

3. The Seekers - "Morningtown Ride"

Written by Malvina Reynolds in 1957 "Morningtown Ride" was a children's lullaby that talks of little kids being on a train ride as they sleep heading for "Morning Town". The song was covered and released numerous times. Once by The Seekers, an Australian folk band, in 1964. I was in a play when I was younger and this was one of the songs I remember having to learn for the production.

4. City & Colour - "Sleeping Sickness" feat. Gord Downie

City & Colour is Dallas Green, one time front man of Canadian hardcore group Alexisonfire. City & Colour was his side project which allowed him to get out some of his acoustic creations and more folk-inspired music that wouldn't fit on an Alexis album. "Sleeping Sickness" welcomes Canadian icon Gord Downie known for his frontman status of the Tragically Hip.

5. REM - "Daysleeper"

REM's 1998 album Up saw them end a 10 year relationship with longtime producer Scott Litt, and enter a more electronic-enfused musical direction versus their previous guitar-driven rock sounds. Michael Stipe said he set out to write songs that play a certain type of spirituality against the modern technology age tapestry. "Daysleeper" is a very relatable song for many people who find themselves working the nightshift yet still trying to keep up with society and maintain an identity.

6. Metallica - "All Nightmare Long"

Alright I know I said at the beginning that sleeping was fun and peaceful and cozy. Guess I forgot about the nightmares and we have artists who write songs about those too. Metallica's last album, 2008's Death Magnetic (Hey Metallica, you can release a new album anytime now) was something of a return to form for many fans. The proper link between ...And Justice For All! and The Black Album. One of the album's shining moments is "All Nightmare Long".

7. Latefallen - "Sleep It Off"

Latefallen are a hard rock/metal group from the Toronto are of Ontario, Canada. The first song I heard from them was "Sleep It Off". Great track and yeah sometimes you need to sleep off the painful effects of the night before. Doing some research here it appears that Latefallen called it quits in 2009.  We can still enjoy their music though.

8. Against Me! - "8 Full Hours Of Sleep"

Going all the way back to Against Me!'s humble beginnings when it was the name Laura Jane Grace would use when she performed alone with her guitar, "8 Full Hours Of Sleep" is the perfect song to reflect the power of sleep. Whether it's a health benefit or being used as an escape from something in the waking world. For better or worse. Sleep is an escape.

9. Semisonic - "Singing In My Sleep"

Best known for their 1998 album Feeling Strangely Fine which features the current last-call staple song "Closing Time" Semisonic come out of Minnesota and are currently on hiatus after a 3 studio album lifespan. "Singing In My Sleep" was the second single off of the same album but sadly didn't reach the same success as "Closing Time". Lead man Dan Wilson has since had a long and fruitful career as a solo-artist, producer, songwriter and visual artist. He has collaborated with artists like Nas, Adele, Weezer, Spoon, Pink and Taylor Swift.

10. Queensryche - "Silent Lucidity"

Lucid dreaming is the phenomenon that occurs when you are aware that you are dreaming and can control parts or all of the dream. Some people dedicate alot of time towards practicing dream control. Queensryche guitarist Chris DeGarmo wrote the song based off the idea he got from a book called Creative Dreaming. "Silent Lucidity" became Queensryche biggest hit in North America and is still played to this day on rock radio stations despite being over 24 years old.

Thanks for reading! Feels good to be back!!

JZ

The Top 15 Songs of 2014

It's a little later than usual this year, but i've finally narrowed down 15 great songs from the 2 dot one four. Not to be snide, but the delay wasn't because there were too many great songs to sift through. This list was much more difficult than years' passed and i'm sure a few weeks into 2015 i'll want to change it all anyway. Without further ado here we go. The best 15 songs of 2014.

15. The New Pornographers - "Bill Bruisers"

The title track from this West coast Canadian rock group's album released in August is "Bill Bruisers". It's got an anthem vibe yet it clocks in under 3 minutes. I love the constant ba-ba-ba of the backing vocals, almost Beach Boy-esque. I haven't heard much else from this album, but i've seen a few tracks off it on several other "best of the year" lists. No surprise there, The New Pornographers are one of those consistently great under-the-radar bands.

14. Mark Ronson - "Uptown Funk" feat. Bruno Mars

Ronson definitely came up with the perfect title for this track. You'll know within the first several seconds of this song if you dig it or not. Really not much else to say, let the music speak for itself on this one.

13. Phantogram - "Fall In Love"

Electro-rock duo Phantogram released their much anticipated second album in 2014, Voices. You may not recognize "Fall In Love" until the hook kicks in and then it becomes instantly nostalgic and memorable.

12. The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart - "Kelly"

People all over the world named Kelly rejoice!!! The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart are an indie-pop group from New York of multi-instrumentalists and several talented vocalists. "Kelly" is a bouncy, pop track similar to that of The Cure yet a little on the lighter side. A solid effort and if you like what you hear, check out an earlier song by them "Twins".

11. The Trews - "Rise In The Wake"

Alright back to the rock and back to the Canadians. The Trews' self-titled album, released in April, re-established their place in the world of pure rock here in their native land.  Producing plenty of introspective tracks and gratifying toe-tappers like "Rise In The Wake". "Age Of Miracles", "65 Roses" and "Under The Sun" could all of easily made this list as well. Love the constant pull-off guitar riff through this one.

10. Dan Mangan + Blacksmith - "Vessel"

I love when you hear a song for the first time and  dig it, but when you find out who the artist is it turns out to be one you're familiar with. Love that. It shows diversity in their abilities and courage to switch up their style and get out of their own comfort zone. I look for that trait in friends, lovers and of course musicians that I dig. "Vessel" is one of those songs.

9. Schoolboy Q - "Man Of The Year"

This album was released in February, but even now I still nod my head to the verses and hooks of "Man of The Year".  Schoolboy Q is Quincy Hanley from Los Angeles, CA who got his start looking up to West coast rappers like 2pac and Kurupt as well as Nas, Jay-Z and the Wu-Tang Clan. After 2 albums his 2014 effort Oxymoron was the first to be released on a major label. Yeah it's content is typical for hip-hop, Partying and being awesome, but the way it's delivered with a face-slapping rhythm and slick beat, makes it worth the listen.

8. Kyng - "Electric Halo"

Metal's not dead, shit there were tonnes of great Metal albums released this year, but I admittedly haven't absorbed them enough to honestly include them on this list. "Electric Halo" was a single that instantly caught my ear when I heard it. Kyng hail from California and are starting to get a big following from touring with the likes of Danzig, Megadeth, Static-X and Metallica.

7. Big Wreck - "Ghosts"

I'm slipping in my old age. I wasn't even aware Big Wreck released an album in 2014 until recently. I instantly went out and grabbed it and it was fantastic as expected. That should be my New Year's Resolution to not allow myself to be closed off from great music anymore.

6. Hopsin - "Ill Mind Of Hopsin 7"

Continuing with his intriguing and often controversial series of opinionated and scorching songs, Hopsin released his highly anticipated "Ill Mind Of Hopsin 7" on July 18, 2014 and it got over a million views on Youtube in a single day. It's a very real and honest anthem about his struggles with his own religion and details why he decided to leave it. A must listen for anyone who doubts religions and the connections it has with history and governance.

5. Future Islands - "Seasons (Waiting On You)"

Fueled by an energetic and mercurial performance on Dave Letterman which instantly went viral, Future Islands sky-rocketed into the public eye in 2014 and their song "Seasons (Waiting On You)" has earned the best song of the year monicker in many circles. While it hasn't quite had that much of an effect on me, it's dreamy and atmospheric vibe combined with funk bass and synth hooks are good enough to reach #5 on this list.

4. Chromeo - "Jealous (I Ain't With It)"

From the album White Women released in May of this past year, "Jealous (I Ain't With It)" sounds like it was pulled from a time capsule from 1988. Full of pop sensibility, but just starting to get that grungy tinge that the 90's would soon bring. Lovin' that slap bass too.

3. The Black Keys - "Gotta Get Away"

Remember what I was talking about with Dan Mangan? This song had that going on with me. Love how diverse The Black Keys are, they remind what you what you love about them but then keep you excited about what could come next. "Gotta Get Away" has got that vibe that even classic rock radio stations will play it. It's the type of song that makes listeners want to play guitar. I like to think that there are plenty of kids out there picking up instruments to be like The Black Keys and that's cool.

2. Against Me! - "Transgender Dysphoria Blues"

In 2012, in one of the purest punk-rock moments of all time Laura Jane Grace of Against Me! came out publicly as a transgender woman. The band's next album was 2014's Transgender Dysphoria Blues which was a bit of return to form for the band. I attributed it to Laura finally being able to express her properly and happily, even though many of the songs (this one included) come off as aggressive. More like finally reaching the end of a long and tiring journey and letting out a loud primal scream of joy. If you haven't...buy Transgender Dysphoria Blues and listen to it.

Before I get to the #1 song here are a few tracks released this year that didn't make the list, but definitely deserve a nod

- Panda Bear - "Mr. Noah"
- Father John Misty - "Bored In The USA"
- The War On Drugs - "Red Eye"
- EMA - "So Blonde"
- Real Estate - "Talking Backwards"

OK on to the best song of the year...


1. The Balconies - "Boys & Girls"

It's grimy and dirty. It's loud and furious. It's totally 100% badass. It can be danced to, it can be screamed along to, it can be fucked to. All great qualities of songs and music. Toronto's The Balconies obviously known it too, they left "Boys and Girls" as the kick off single for their fast-paced album Fast Motions and it barely slows down from there....yes, ok, there is a song called "The Slo" but it kicks ass too!!

Thanks for reading! Hope you enjoyed 2014!

Bring on the sheep in 2015 !!

Follow along ----> @jonnyzhivago

JZ