10 Great Musical Performances On The Late Show With David Letterman

I've been a fan of David Letterman for almost 20 years now and on May 20th he'll be signing off for the last time and retiring. I know as far as Late Night shows go his is probably the most niche and his humour is often difficult to comprehend, but that is probably one of the reasons why I gravitated towards him. Repeating his jokes, which I found hilarious, was often met with confused looks and immediate dismissals. His show wasn't only known for his humour but also his love of music. The Ed Sullivan theatre where The Late Show makes it's home was known for many famous performances over the years, and Letterman had carried on that tradition by having artists of all genres grace the stage. I'm throwing in some favourites of mine as well, not just the most meaningful ones. Here are 10 Great Musical Performances On The Late Show With David Letterman

1. TV On The Radio - "Wolf Like Me"

With the release of their 2006 album Return To Cookie Mountain TV On The Radio were still virtually unknown on the mainstream music scene. When they got asked to perform on The Late Show it seemed obvious that they knew they had to knock this one out of the park. What followed was a high energy performance of "Wolf Like Me" and you can tell at the end that David was certainly impressed. TVOTR has been on the show multiple times since.

2. Eddie Vedder - "Black"

Not really a musical performance as an impromptu moment. Dave's musical director Paul Schaffer goads him into humming a few bars of Pearl Jam's "Black" and then asks him if wants to see how it's really done. Enter Eddie Vedder who comes from the side stage door and delivers the song's climax line much to Dave's surprise, then he bolts. Pearl Jam has been on the show multiple times and Vedder has formed a friendship with Schaffer and Letterman over the years, Eddie Vedder will be the musical act on the 2nd last show on the 19th.

3. Darlene Love - "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)"

Darlene Love has performed "Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home) on Letterman's show every year since 1986 (except for 2007 when the Writer's Strike was going on). The performance would get bigger and bigger each year until finally in December 2014, nine days after Letterman announced his retirement, Love performed the song with Paul Schaffer's band and a choir and said she would never perform the song on any other TV show again.

4. The Heavy - "What Makes A Good Man"

English band The Heavy is another one of Dave's current favourite bands. When they first appeared on his show in 2010 and performed "How You Like Me Now?" Letterman was visibly astounded by their act. When they came back in 2012 to do "What Makes A Good Man" they stepped up their craft and Letterman allowed them to do an encore, a sure sing that he's gobbling up what you're laying down. He bestowed the same privelege on Hollywood group Vintage Trouble.

5.  Foo Fighters - "Everlong"

In early 2000 David underwent open heart surgery for a quintuple bypass. During recovery his show went on hiatus and eventually returned with friends playing "best of" clips and guest hosts filling in for him. Such guests included Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Jerry Seinfeld and Drew Barrymore. When Dave returned to the show on Feb 21 and among other guests (which included the Doctors and nurses who he credited with saving his life) he invited the Foo Fighters to perform. He announced them as "my favourite band, playing my favourite song". They did the show even though they had to cancel a few tour dates in South America to be there.

6.  Warren Zevon - "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner"

Another one of Letterman's close friends throughout the years was Warren Zevon. Zevon has called Letterman the "best friend his music ever had" as he had supported Zevon through his early years. In 2002 Zevon was diagnosed with terminal, inoperable cancer and on October 30, 2002 Letterman invited Zevon on his show as his sole guest. He spoke openly about his illness and reflected on life. He performed several songs which included "Roland The Headless Thompson Gunner" at Letterman's request. It would be the last song he would play on the Late Show. When Zevon passed away in 2003, Letterman honoured him by replaying his performance of "Mutineer" from the same show.

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

Future Islands gained a head of steam after appearing on The Late Show in 2014. Their music is more dream like and electronic and doesn't give itself to a grandoise performance. Or at least that's what people thought until mercurial front man Samuel Herring became an overnight sensation for his dancing and his stellar vocal performance of "Seasons (Waiting On You)". An impressed Letterman became an instant fan and invited them back earlier this year.

8. Paul McCartney - "Sing The Changes"

In July of 2009, Paul McCartney treated New Yorkers and Letterman's audience alike with a six song set performed from above the Marquee of the Ed Sullivan theatre. His song with The Fireman 'Sing The Changes' was the one that made the air, but other songs to the set included "Band On The Run", "Back In The USSR" and "Coming Up"

9. Odetta & The Boy's Choir Of Harlem - "This Little Light Of Mine"

September 11, 2001 was a day that changed much of the Western World and arguably the entire globe forever. New York City of course felt the effect of terror and atrocity more than anyone. After about a week's hiatus The Late Show returned to air with a strange and uncomfortable energy. Many weren't sure if they were ready to laugh again, but David took it upon himself to comfort and address a scared population with intelligence, humour and heartfelt honesty. If you have a few minutes watch his opening monologue from that first show back and it might change your opinion of him. His musical guest that night was soul singer and civil rights activist Odetta along with The Boys Choir Of Harlem with a heartwarming rendition of "This Little Light Of Mine"

10. Tom Waits - "Take One Last Look"

Another of David's favourite recurring guests is songwriting legend Tom Waits. Waits' first appearance on Dave's show was back in 1983. His performances were always special, unique and inspiring and his interviews a treasure. Just the other night Letterman welcomed his friend back to the show and Tom had a surprise for him. Tom Waits had written a song specifically for Dave called appropriately enough "Take One Last Look". Who could ask for a better send off as a music lover? One of the most important and original artists of all time writes you a song. Can't say much else about it. Just remarkable,

There will never be another one like Dave.

Thanks for all the laughs!

I hope you enjoyed my humble tribute.

-JZ

10 Great Songs That Tell You Off

Yeah I know it's Cinco De Mayo, but this is the kind of mood i'm in. This is the kind of day it's been. Here are 10 songs that tell you off!!

1. "Shut Up" - The Watchmen

Winnipeg's The Watchmen had some modest success in their native Canada. Their albums In The Trees (1994) and Silent Radar (1998) are their two biggest and most popular. Brand New Day was released in 1996 and featured a few good tracks, but didn't get the attention of the other two. "Shut Up" is one of those songs.

2. "My Own Summer (Shove It)" - Deftones

Hailing from Sacramento, California are the Deftones who were one of the biggest heavy bands to come out of the 90's. Although it's easy to label the Deftones as heavy metal, their sound has evolved over the years and has incorporated elements from other genres such as alt-rock, rap, proggesive music and punk. "My Own Summer (Shove It)" comes off their remarkable 1997 album Around The Fur.

3. "Get Off (You Can Eat A Dick)" - Kittie

Kittie's first album Spit released in 2000 got the worldwide attention and finally let the rest of us in on a secret that London, Ontario was keeping hidden for so long. Kittie is 4 girls who can rock and kick ass! They also got a bit of a potty mouth on them as evidenced by "Get Off (You Can Eat A Dick) the 9th song on their debut.

4. "Fuck You" - CeeLo Green

Back in 2010 CeeLo Green released a fun, quiry and vulgar song named "Fuck You". It was clear to see what this song was going to be about and I appreciated the song's frankness, yet apparent vulnerability. I thought it was cool that an established artist would release a song title "Fuck You" despite the consequences. Then I saw the video, and the lyrics and title was changed to "Forget You". If there is a song that you are afraid that your audience is going to be offended by don't play the goddamn song, instead of insisting the artist make a watered down, neutered version that completely strips the song of it's bravado. And to CeeLo if you are inspired to write a song that lashes such venom at another person and some radio station, or tv station wants you to clean up the song so they can play it and sell more ad space without offended their weak-kneed sponsors, well I think you already know the 2 words you need to tell them. Unless money is really that much more important to you. UGH.

5. "Fuck You" - Lily Allen

A year earlier than CeeLo on her album It's Not Me, It's You, Lily Allen did it better anyway. While there do exist some "clean" versions of her song "Fuck You", for the most part, the song has been kept intact as it should have been. Thank you very much.

6. "Shut Your Mouth" - Pain

PAIN are a Swedish music project that fuses heavy metal and electronic music to get their clean, unique sound. People often say that the brains of the operation Peter Tagtgren resembles Christopher Walken. Take a look at his video for "Shut Your Mouth" released in 2001 and decide for yourself.

7. "F.O.D" - Green Day

Fuck off and die. It stands for fuck off and die.

8. "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon

This one is definitely a more civilized and elegant way to tell someone off. It might not get as big a reaction at the time, but calling someone vain should cut them deeper to the core in the long run. Simon has always been tight-lipped as to who the subject of this song is. Some speculate it's about Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson and Cat Stevens. I'm sure at different times each of those men have proven Carly's song 100% accurate.

9. "Fuck You Bitch" - DMX

This one is probably the most NSFW song on this list lyric-wise. I mean DMX is an intimidating dude to begin with, his raw voice and in your face rapping style. If he calls me a bitch and then says "fuck you" i'd be all like, "alright good sir, I am a bitch and yes thank you for telling me to fuck myself! Have a marvelous day!" Smooth jam at times though

10. "Fuck You" - Headstones

Noticing a theme here? Seriously, sometimes people really need to get their inner emotions out. Writing a "Fuck You" song is much more appropriate, positive and all around cooler than going nuts and punching something or someone. Let your negative energy out in creative, clever methods. Listening to songs like this can help! I fuckin' swear!

Thanks for reading!

Now frig off

JZ

10 Great Songs By Bands With Abbreviated Names

I've noticed a new trend in band names recently, it seems vowels are becoming uncool. Take a look at my list and you'll see what I mean, but the trend is ongoing as bands are taking longer names for their bands, removing all those pesky meaning less vowels and capitalizing all the remaining letters. Here are 10 Great Songs By Bands W/ ABBRVTD NMS

1. MSTRKRFT - "Heartbreaker" feat. John Legend

These guys might have been the first to stylize their name in this way. When Toronto's Death From Above 1979 called it quits back in 2006 it gave Jesse K. Feeler more time to work on his synth-oriented side project Master-craft. When it came to bring the band to the spotlight however, there were disputes with the major tool company with the same name, so they got around it by spelling their band name as MSTRKRFT though it's still pronounced the same way.

2. MGMT - "Time To Pretend"

I always have a hard time with these guys' names. Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden met while attending Wesleyan University and released a couple demos under the name The Management. When they realized that another group already used that name they went by simply MGMT. They released their major label debut Oracular Spectacular in 2008 to raving reviews. Since then they've been known for their psychadelic brand of synth-pop and have 2 more albums to their name.

3. CHVRCHES - "The Mother We Share"

Pronounced Churches, I suppose this one isn't really an abbreviation, but it's still subs a vowel for a consonant and is often stylized in ALL CAPS! CHVRCHES hail from Scotland and currently only have one album out, but are currently working on a follow-up for a 2015 release.

4. SBTRKT - "Temporary View" feat. Sampha

Geez not only do some of these artists remove all the vowels, but they'll sub a hard C with a K. Complete anarchy. NRKY!! Aaron Jerome is the man behind SBTRKT and the man behind the mask. He is known for his remixes of popular songs, but also has a few studio albums under his belt. "Temporary View" is a great chill track from his 2014 release Wonder Where We Land.

5. INXS - "Beautiful Girl (Stay With Me)"

Alright I guess these guys beat MSTRKRFT by a few years, Australia's INXS released their first album in 1980. A modest career storied by band turmoil and drug abuse, INXS were able to stay relevant and record many classic songs and vintage albums namely 1987's Kicks, 1990's X and 1992's Welcome To Wherever You Are.  After a bit of a hiatus the band returned in 1997 with Elegantly Wasted and were enjoying something of a successful comeback. Sadly while on tour in Australia, lead singer Michael Hutchence was found dead in his hotel room of an apparent suicide which stopped the band in it's tracks. They attempted to revitalize their band by using a reality show to find a new lead singer, but they never recaptured the heights that they once knew.

6. STRFKR - "Rawnald Gregory Erikson the Second"

Starfucker is an electronic band from Portland, Oregon who thankfully frequently use STRFKR to refer to themselves.  At one point an agent urged them to change their name, which they briefly did choosing Pyramiddd (no clue what those extra D's are for...word bling I guess), but the band decided they did not want to market the band that way so they fired their agent and changed the name back.

7. BLK JKS - "Lakeside"

I recently discovered these guys and like what I hear. Pronounced "Black Jacks" BLK JKS come out of Johannesburg, South Africa. I say I recently discovered them, but their latest EP was released in 2010. Their 2009 debut album After Robots was reviewed favourably by some major players in the media, namely Pitchfork Media and Rolling Stone. Hopefully we hear something new from these guys soon.

8. CHLLNGR - "Change"

That's Challenger if you're wondering, CHLLNGR is Steven Jess Borth II a Copenhagen-based producer who was also known for his remixes.  His debut solo effort came in 2011 called Haven and it fused R&B with elements of dub and reggae. "Change" is a cool little track. Check it out.

9. HTRK - "Feels Like Love"

Hat Rack? Hit Rick? Hi Track? Nope...this is Hate Rock, an Australian art rock project. They bounced around a few labels after forming in 2003 and finally released a major debut in 2009 after a long legal dispute. Tragedy struck when bass player Sean Stewart died of an apparent suicide in 2010. HTRK came back in 2014 with a new release Psychic 9-5 Club which had a more laid back and minimal style.

10. DLRN - "Reset"

Don't know much about these guys i'll admit. In fact I first saw this video yesterday, which was kinda fun. The song is great and the hook was stuck in my head for hours. I know the name was supposed to be Delorean but another group had it, so they simply removed the vowels. Watch the full video and you'll get the rundown of the group's members and guests.

THNKS FR RDNG!!

Frig, that isn't convenient at all!

JZ

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