The Mong Makes Another Movie - Please Help The Mong Stay Active

Hello, friends. I am going to be in major pre-production and/or actual production for my new movie, BEING MICHAEL MADSEN, in both mid-August and early-to-mid-September. This means that I will be missing all meetings until at least October.

You'd be surprised how much this annoys me because, the sad truth is, our Music Group is one of the few "social engagements" I look forward to each month. "To much work and not enough play"...blah, blah, blah. Anyway...

I'm pretty sure that I am not contributing any CDs or topics for at least a few meetings so believe I won't muck up the works in this regard. But if this is not the case, I request that Jay or Ken fill in for me, since, as I doubt anyone would argue, my taste tends to lean towards theirs.

But even though I can't be there for the next few meetings, I want to keep my "membership" active. So, here's my suggestion: to keep the relevant contributing (number ratings) averages consistent, I promise to find the time to "grade" all music selections with an associative one-word "review," which will be a challenge (keeping it one word) and potentially amusing for all, too. I will post these one-word reviews and the respective 1-5 star(s) for each CD at the Blog so that Ken can keep score. I can't promise I'll be able to contribute to any topics but as Bart Simpson says, "I can't promise to try, but I'll try to try." Oh yeah, I may post this stuff at any time, not necessarily at or around the meeting date. Cool?

So, if this is all cool, I guess the favor I'm asking is: Will someone or combinations of those providing CDs send them to me in the mail? If so, my address is:

Michael Mongillo
179 Finch Ave.
Meriden, CT 06451 USA

Thanks!

August's Topic

Hello All,

As those attending the meeting already know...my topic for next month is somewhat selfish. For those who didn't know, I am getting married in November and my fiance and I are going through the process of picking our ceremony/reception music; and as all music snobs are - we are hand picking pretty much every song that is to be played for the evening. As much as we would love to play only music we love, we know that we need to play songs that our family can enjoy as well. So, to perhaps help me out a bit in case I forget something good...

Name 5-10 songs that you feel should be played at a wedding/reception. Whether it be a slow song or something to dance to. Be creative or go traditional...your choice.

Optional - And on another note, if you want, name 5 songs that are usually played at a wedding that you would rather stick a fork in your eye than hear again at another one.

July's Reviews - Warning* - Somewhat Sexually Explicit Content

CD Reviews:

Bad Brains – I Against I:
It was nice to re-visit this album. Back in high school (when I got into them) I was always a much bigger fan of their album “Rise,” but having listened to this one again years later I might have to change my opinion. Bad Brains were the greatest post-punk/metal/funk/reggae/soul fusion band…of course who else came close to sounding like them, without being a complete rip-off. They were original and innovative and brought a different flavor to the hardcore scene. Dr. Know is a madman on the guitar and HR vocals are quite out of the ordinary. Really fun disc! Score: 3

Drive By Truckers – A Blessing and A Curse:
Alt-Country - Southern rock with most of the vocals sounding like a cross between Rod Stewart and Don Henley…painful. I know I’ll be seriously outvoted on this one considering most or you have a hard-on for these guys, but a vibrator and some KY couldn’t even get me interested in these guys. Score: 1 (Basically for lyrics and guitar skills)

Joy Zipper – The Heartlight Set:
First off, “Go Tell the World” and “1” are amazing openers. Wow, what great songs. Had the CD continued like those 2 opening tracks this might have been a solid 5 vote from me, but it slowed down a bit. After the first listen I liked it, but was disappointed that the rest of the disc didn’t hold up to those first 2 tracks. However the more I listened to it, the more I realized what a great disc this was from beginning to end. My only real disappointment was learning that the last track wasn’t indeed Dio’s “Holy Diver” because that would have been amazing. Score: 4

Katrina & The Waves:
Being a child of the 80’s, I have to appreciate it. It is full of infectious pop, but to me, a lot of other female fronted 80’s bands did it a little bit better. Perhaps the overkill of “I’m Walking on Sunshine” effected my judgment somewhat, but I’ve heard better. Score: 2.5

Ocean Colour Scene – Greatest Hits:
Having known only a couple songs previously, it was nice to get a little more cultured on the Ocean Colour Scene. There were several songs that I recognized that I didn’t know they did. I thought it was a great collection. There really wasn’t anything I would skip over in future listens. It’ll be great to pull out and listen to once in awhile, but not on a regular basis.

Topic

I could only really think of two bands that went from severe hatred to love. Perhaps as I get older the list will change and grow.

1. The Cure – in 6th grade, one of my best friends got into them and began dressing and looking like Robert Smith…I hated everything I heard. About 4 years later, I ended up LOVING them.

2. Jeff Buckley – A boy I dated in high school played Buckley for me when I was about 15 and I hated every second of it. I was too busy dealing with teen angst and grunge bands that I failed to see the beauty of this man’s music. I got into him 6 months before he died…I regret not getting into him sooner and being able to see him live.

As for bands that I used to love, only one immediately popped in my head. My tastes have changed a lot since high school. (I used to be a huge ska kid and I still enjoy listening to the old stuff, so I can’t list that.) I know my list would be longer but all of my old CDs are boxed up and I can’t really look through them to find more without causing a huge mess.

311 – I loved this band and saw them live many times. Their early albums still holdup a little, but when they tried to get more reggae I lost interest…and then when they did that dreadful cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” my disinterest grew to hatred.

Concert Review

On Tuesday I went to Mohegan and for the first time that I can remember, not one, but two opening acts kicked the headliner's ass. DBT's and Robert Randolph (do check him out) were both out of this world. While DBT's should not have been a part of this tour, Robert Randolph, who is a gospel jam act, completely outclassed the Black Crowes. The Crowes received all sorts of cheers from their horde but in all honesty they were all drunk and didn't realize that every song sounded exactly the same.

More importantly this fellow music clubber parlayed $10 into a blistering $54.50 at the slots.

M. Teapants

Noseforbeer is Still in the Game

I have updated the syonopsis with his NEW selection.

BUM BUM BAAAAA- July's Meeting

Fairly funspalicious meeting. Mike M is getting into LA shape by not consuming carbs, Byron had a disc rated solid in the 2's, Jay regailed us with the wittiest reviews of the month and Jen got hubba hubba sexy (read her review). Wings were had by all as were 3 different types of beer at a blue light price of $7/pitcher.

Mike M hit a milestone by placing a second top tenner in almost as many months and we welcomed Neil to the top 10, bottom 10 that is, for his contribution. Midwest Mike was the lone fuddyduddy on Katrina which stands to reason if you ever met him. DBTs, as D'Arcy likes to call them, were quite well recieved except for Jen who painted a spectacular picture for all of us to mentally. OCS, again as D'Arcy likes to call them, were give a dodectet thumbs up (12 for you not in th' know).

The question brought out much philosophical musings, mostly by Jay who we have extra patience with since he is the oldest. It appeared that mostly styles of music went from disdain to love and over commercialized acts went the other way. The challenge posed by Jay was to name bands that ended without having a total dud or sucking moose hogs because eventually all bands/artists blow after time because their creativity or new ideas dry up, as he noted usually after their first disc. His example was the Beatles, which we all agreed. But we said "bollocks!" to the idea that bands eventually suck since it is all subjective- all bands with longevity have hill and dales and sometimes they go in new directions that might not appeal to us.

After this contention we drank another pitcher and hugged (except Jen because she scared us earlier) and made up.

Next Month:

Jen is our glorious Host and provided a Radiohead Ghits, with topic to come

New:
Somerdale- Friday Nite in America (Jay)
Matisyahu- Youth (Neil)

Old:
Possum Dixon- Possum Dixon (Ken)
The Gravel Pit- Mass Avenue Freeze Out (Mike M)

Those with September homework;

Meeting Date: August 15th

Host: Byron
New: D'ARcy, Jen
Old: Jay, Monsta

“The Mong” – Music Group Commentary, July 11, 2006

MUSIC COMMENTARY

Crazy busy this month; hence, the brevity of my commentary.

BAD BRAINS – I AGAINST I = 5 STARS (THEN) / 4 STARS (NOW) = 4.5 STARS
Bad Brains best and it holds up surprising well. And the much-missed SST label released it too. SST, where are you now?

DRIVE BY TRUCKERS – A BLESSING AND A CURSE = 4 STARS
So-called “Alt Country” is always hit or miss for me but when I do like it (see topic question), I rarely like it this much.

JOY ZIPPER – THE HEARTLIGHT SET = 4.5 STARS
Yes, I give all my own selections high ratings. This is because I take the trouble to choose releases for my music club friends that I truly love and that I believe achieves some level of greatness, innovation, and/or brilliance. I do it all for you. You’re welcome.

KATRINA AND THE WAVES – SELF-TITLED = 2.5 STARS (THEN AND NOW)
Perfectly harmless and fun summer pop. Still holds up too.

OCEAN COLOUR SCENE – BEST OF
Awesome. I wonder why I don’t listen to them more often.

TOPIC

As mentioned, way too busy this month to give more than one example for each side of the coin.

Band(s) that has, over time, changed my opinion of them for the better:
Wilco
I couldn’t have liked Wilco less when I heard them through various friends or on random CD samplers over the years. Then, one day, I had one more CD to choose on my BMG introductory offer. It was then that I decided to give all the praise of “A Ghost is Born” and the collective critical praise of most of their releases prior to that its due and take a risk. It was “free” anyway. After being blown away by that album I was inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt when, before, I had not, and, backtracking from there, came to know their brilliance. Now I love-love-love Wilco now and “celebrate their entire catalogue.”

Band(s) that has, over time, changed my opinion of them for the worse:
The Rolling Stones
I think the only word to describe what the Rolling Stones have become is, “pathetic.” Once they were the epitome of rebellion, talent, and youth; now they are the epitome of conformity, mediocrity, and graceless aging. If they actually believe that anything they’ve done after Tattoo You is inspired, then they are kidding themselves more than fans who have stuck by them for about two too many decades. Notice I use the word, “inspired,” not, “groundbreaking,” or even, “valid,” which is to say that a band or artist doesn’t necessarily need to always be pushing the proverbial envelope to be good.

Sid's July Junk about Music

Katrina and the Waves - I was really hoping I would like this. Of course I had formed an opinion of this band quite some time ago when it was first released. That is - A too late for the bus New Wave cash in - an opinion based totally on the sound of the single and my arrogant “if it’s not punk, it sucks” attitude. But I wanted to like it. At least partially because I’m tired of giving Byron’s selections 1.5’s. But alas, it still doesn’t resonate. Maybe it’s dated or maybe there still is a hint of phoniness. There’s just not much to it for me and so I will write it off as a classic “it meant something at a certain time in my life” CD for Byron. But it still gets at 2 because it IS somewhat catchy.


Drive By Truckers - So the early buzz was that this was not the three guitar romp that the previous albums were. So be it. Never really saw much brilliance in that approach anyway, although I have to admit I didn’t give it the old “college try.” Midwesterner Hopkins has been prodding me for the last two years to get into these guys and I have to admit that my disinterest in the band (despite owning 2 official cds, one unreleased live cd and one live DVD), lies mostly with my laziness and inability to find the time to truly “get into it.” So I hate to dismiss their earlier work, but this sounds to me like a huge step forward because it is so much more tuneful than its predecessors. Sounds as though they took some time off and listened to some Uncle Tupelo records, which was a good move because this is the kind of understated record that Tweedy and company were famous for. And the gritty lyrics work for theses guys in a way that could be construed as sensationalism if not for the fact that there is a certain honesty to them that makes them work. 4

Bad Brains - I don’t think it’s mandatory that every band have some type of style that we can define. Certain bands live – and thrive – on eclecticism. But for this band the eclecticism fails them more often than not. I don’t get who they are and therefore, can’t figure out what they are. Is it a hardcore band? Is it a punk band discovering certain roots music? Are they trying to be a reggae band? Or do they just suck? Well, I don’t think they suck, but I wish they would decide who they are, because when they are hardcore/metal band, they really sound great This seems like a CD by a band in transition and if you’re into the band you’ll appreciate it as such, but in a vacuum, despite some great moments it sounds like kind of a mess. But it’s the kind of mess that, as I said, has its great moments, so it still gets a 2.5

Joy Zipper – I loved the song on Mike’s 2005 compilation, so I figured I would love this. For the most part, it delivers, but it tends toward predictability in a way that I can’t really understand, because it isn’t so much predictable, as they sometime seem like they’re tying too hard not to be predictable, which makes it predictable. Confused?…yeah, me too, ‘cuz I thought I’d love it not just like it a lot, which I do. But in the long run, it’s hard to criticize any particular songs – everything is pretty strong - although the chick is the one whoreally makes the record a 4.0

Ocean Colour Scene – Hey, it’s Brit Rock. What a surprise! They still can’t spell over there, but here’s the real surprise…it sounds great! A great discovery for me….until the CD breaks down and I throw it away because it was recorded on a shitty Memorex CD. Or D’Arcy’s burner failed him. I would love a copy of this that I could listen to.





Topic

As much as I try to sift through the clutter in my mind, I can’t think of a band that fits the bill. Now, if I would have looked over my CDs instead of waiting till today at work to write about the topic, then maybe I’d have an answer. I’ll have something for the blog, I’m sure. Or not. It’s possible that I won’t because I tend to form pretty quick opinions and listen to way to much stuff to “give something I don’t immediately like a chance.” That’s reserved for Music group, and then only sometimes.

And regarding the rather lengthy list of bands whose talent and creativity suffer a leave of absence halfway through their career, I think it is a function of them just outliving their talent, just as an athlete outlives his talent and age. That’s why so many first records are so good. Artists used to take five years developing that first record and then 1 year putting together the second. It’s bound to suffer. And most people are not talented enough to string together a bunch of great music and they go on too long. An artist only has so much in them. It just can’t last forever. Name an important band other than the Beatles whose last record wasn’t one of their worst. And, actually, it could even be argued that Let It Be was a far inferior product to its predecessors. It’s just inevitable that, eventually, every band will suck before quit or break up.

Mike's reviews - like walking on sunshine baby....

Katrina & the Waves – Screams “dated” from the opening drumbeat of “Red Wine and Whiskey”. In fact, I’m starting to think 90% of all albums made in the 80’s were produced by one person using multiple names. If I ever hear “Walking On Sunshine” again, it will be too soon. Regrettably, the Lucas’ penchant for Espanol continues on “Que Te Quiero”. “Cry for Me” is an embarrassingly bad cover, and the album’s best track, “Going Down to Liverpool” is vastly inferior to the Bangles’ version. Katrina & the Waves sounds just like Quarterflash, the Motels, and several other bands I happily ignored while they were opening up for talented acts. ½ star (for giving the Bangles a hit)

Bad Brains – I have heard Mr. Noseforbeer wax poetically about this band for years, so I was interested in the disc. I suspected it would be a little out of my comfort zone, but it didn’t offend my sensibilities so much as it bored me. I expected a real hardcore punk album, and this is diet punk with a splash of ska. The rhythm section is very talented, the guitar work adequate, but the vocals are brutally bad. The songs aren’t much to speak of either. Mildly entertaining, but forgettable. 2 stars

DBT – Blessing- this is the best CD of 2006 so far. Curse- this is my least favorite DBT disc of the past 10 years. The band has cleaned up the raunchy, edgy 3 guitar army sound of their last three discs and replaced it with a brighter, more polished sound showcasing keyboard and other flourishes. While the sound feels like a blatant attempt to go “mainstream”, you can put a $1000 dress on a prostitute, and she’s still a whore. As the title song states, “there’s more here than meets the eye, and the real story’s under the surface”. Crystal meth in the bathtub, champagne hand jobs, sucking on the end of a shotgun, all the usual DBT sordid lyrical fare is here; albeit without the “southern thing” frame it is usually posed in. Mike Cooley’s tracks (“Gravity’s Gone” and “Space City”) are the highlights. “Aftermath USA” shows the band can channel the Stones as well as Skynyrd. Like their other work, it gets better with each listen, particularly the closing number, “World of Hurt”. Not their best, but still essential. 4 stars.

Joy Zipper – Pretty darn good dream pop that goes up a notch when the female sings lead, and down a notch when she doesn’t. The first half of the disc is fantastic. “Go Tell the World” and “You’re No Good” sound like Mid-1980’s Joan Jett, and I mean that as a high complement. “For Lenny’s Own Pleasure” is the highlight for me, very catchy tune and great sultry vocals. The disc seems to run out of steam towards the end, particularly “Rockdove”, the low point of the disc. It took a few listens for this to click with me, but an enjoyable disc, with some excellent moments. 3 stars

Ocean Colour Scene – Because of my vacation, I didn’t get the disc until yesterday, and noseforbeer wont get his in time. I only got through it twice, but my initial impression is that this is a very good band. The songs are well structured, vocals are solid, good guitar work, and well produced. Another plus is that all the songs were in English. If any of this material is older than 10 years, it doesn’t come across that way. “One For the Road” and “Better Day” were standouts for me. A disc I will definitely be revisiting.


Discussion Question

As a youngster I didn’t care for any of my “holy trinity” of music, Bob, Neil and Bruce because of the vocals. Becoming more mature and understanding more of what their songs were about turned me into a fan. I also hated Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash growing up because my father played them incessantly and I thought they were hokey. Again, maturity and understanding the genius of these two artists turned me. Rick Rubin’s work with Cash was instrumental in getting me to look at traditional country music in a different light.

Over the past 10 years, I’ve reluctantly become a fan of the Grateful Dead. The CD “Dead Does Dylan” was a turning point for me, and I’ve learned to separate their music from the image and their doofy fan base. I can’t listen to them all the time, but every once in a while, I just get a hankering to hear them.

“Black Sheep Boy” by Okervil River and “Z” by My Morning jacket are discs I initially didn’t care for and wound up liking them after revisiting them for group reviews.

Sting, Paul McCartney , Steve Winwood, Santana and Rod Stewart fit into the category of artists who I can’t listen to anymore because of the wretchedness of their recent efforts, which is a shame since their early work was really good. Eric Clapton is apparently striving to make the list, but has narrowly missed thus far. I’m bracing myself for a Neil U2 rant on this question….

DON"T PEAK- Ken's Reviews Early

Music Club
July 2006

Katrina & the Waves- Self Titled
Man was I ready to rip this disc a new one, but I can’t with a clear conscious. Yes the lyrics are pretty abysmal and “Walking on Sunshine” is goopy, but the music is fairly infectious. There ain’t no deep pathos here. Take away the Spanish titled number and “Mexico” and this isn’t that bad of a nostalgic disc, albeit obviously from the 80’s. Expected to chuck it and here I consider it a keeper. (3)

Bad Brains- I Against I
I have some bands that I love that I know are a tad repetitious, but this was freakin’ ridiculous. Liked nothing about it and can’t bear to waste more ink on it. (0)

Drive By Truckers- Blessing and a Curse
I am a fan of the Truckers since being introduced by Midwest Mike via the Noseforbeer conduit, but their latest leaves me empty. Gone is the guttural emotion of their delivery, the gritty noisy twang of over juiced guitars and their songs are missing the honest lyrical bite of the past. This is a more refined, sanded down DBT. Still better than most music out there it was disappointing that they seem to be losing the brutal, simple frankness I learned to love on their previous discs. Hopefully they’ll regain the roughneck sound I grew to love. Not bad but not as good as the past. (2.5)

Joy Zipper- Heartlight Set
There is something about this duo that truly grabs me. Maybe it’s the ethereal vocal duties alternating from male to female. It’s possibly the song structure and instrumentation creativity or that there is a melody in each song that catches you. It could also be that I was introduced to Joy Zipper through a commercial about soccer (“Go Tell the World”). Who the hell knows, but I really like this band and I like this disc. (4)

OceanColour Scene Ghits
Nothing bad on this compilation. This band has quite a big following in England and while I only own Mosely Shoals and a live bootleg. Every song I hear from this band becomes an instant fave. Good songs, melody with easy to learn words (listen to the live bootleg). Should fill in my weak collection. Everyone should make this a staple.

From Hate to Love
For the most part if I don’t like it now I’m probably not going to like it later. Usually the biggest shift is from disdain to tolerate. Below is the closest.

Country- I had no use for country based on what I saw on Hee Haw and such and before I actually listened to the music. God was I wrong. I learned there was Country and then there was crap. I have since been able to sift the good from the bad and “true” country has become one of my favorite styles to listen to.

From Love to Hate
This happens a bit more often with me.

Lenny Kravitz- Was a big Kravitz fan, saw him live, thought he was great. Then I noticed that his lyrics were lame and his riffs, while sometimes cool at first, were not lasting. He became more style than actual substance. Have since sold all his discs on E-bay.

John Cougar-Mellencamp- Ask Midwest Mike, like he, I was a big fan. Went to yukyukville to see him as well as NYC and Hartford. Played “Under the Boardwalk” for 3 hours straight at the Town House. Now I turn him off the minute I hear him.

Tom Petty- This is not a hate thang. It’s more like a “he’s ok” thang. I was big into Petty, but now his music all sounds the same. Couple of songs are still jewels; Mary Jane, Night Watchman, Refugee, Jammin’ Me and Don’t Come Around Here No More- but the rest – eh. I totally respect him and believes he deserves all the accolades he gets, I just choose not to listen to him.

Jay's June Music Group Bullshit

Sufjan Stevens – “Vast in scope and breathtaking in its beauty, some of the most beautiful pop music you’ll hear all year, adventurous pop songs with intricate arrangements and sophisticated chord structure, seductive sense of melody and arrangement, an extraordinary achievement, one of the vital voices in music today.” Those are just some of the things that critics said about this critically acclaimed 2005 release…. To which I say….yeah…whatever. I really wanted to like it and I can appreciate it on an artistic level. If it was a film, it would be described as a sprawling epic, and it IS, but when it cones right down to it, I just didn’t like it. A couple of songs are affecting and the melodies creep in eventually, but it is just so FUCKIN much. Way too much. Way too ambitious and if it eventually makes sense, well fine, but I just don’t have the time. 4 for the effort, but 2 for the execution and, ultimately, a 2 because that’s how much I like it.

Lacuna Coil - A hot chick fronting a band playing music normally reserved for the testosterone set. What’s not to like? I’ll tell you what’s not to like – tedious metal music with no punch whatsoever. I guess I’m just not much of a fan of songs that lack melody…and soul….and passion….and energy. 1.5

Professor Longhair – Easy to like, but not good enough to love, blues rag music. I must admit I don’t know enough about the guy, but if he wrote the standards that populate the latter half of the record, then he’s an underappreciated talent. If he didn’t and can’t think of anything else to put on his records then I’m not so sure he’s anything more than a talented boogie piano player. But It is a great record to put into shuffle with Little Feat and the Radiators, two bands that I like that have drawn heavily from him. 2.5

Bad Religion - I actually own this record. Listened to it once and filed it – another victim of unrealistic comparisons to bands and an era by critics either too young or too hopeful to really understand what the late 70’s meant. Hearing it now, though, apart from the comparisons and hype, I do hear a band that matters. Sure they still lapse into the buzzsaw guitar for buzzsaw guitar’s sake- that is - guitar with no melody, just speed - but in the end, they sound better and listen better (i.e. smarter lyrics) than most of the other bands that I would throw into their class, Green Day and Rancid not withstanding. Glad I heard this a second…and third and fourth time. 3.5

Medeski, Martin and Wood - Maybe it’s just me, but about 5 songs into this collection I was still getting a mental image I had from the first song - Peter North having sex with Christy Canyon on a desk (for those of you who understand that reference, I know I'm dating myself, but,,,hey, that's the point). I know these guys have a good rep, but I just don’t get it. Some of it has a groove and I guess they can play, but this just seems like background music that anyone with moderate musical talent could write, arrange and play. When it works for me it is because of the drumming and very occasional guitar. I guess I’m just a Neanderthal, but I just can’t get over the fact that it sounds like a porn soundtrack.

Topic

Fist of all, no music makes me cry. Not that I’m some macho guy that can’t be reduced to tears, it’s just that music doesn’t do it for me. Film, now that’s another matter. I cry when I watch How the Grinch stole Christmas…and don’t get me started on It’s a Wonderful Life. But I just can't think of a song that brings me to tears.

Mad,?...only shit makes me mad and I don’t listen to shit more than once so nothing comes to mind. For the most part, because of their youth, I consider most rock and pop stars to be morons, so their leftist political statements only confirm my basic assertion that they are morons. Hence, no reason to get mad at them. The more mature lefties – Springsteen, Earl and Young (almost hard to include Neil as he was a fan of the big guy – Reagan…but :Living with War is pretty clear) – all state their case in fairly moving and complex ways, making it palpable to even a hardened conservative like me. And in terms of songs that remind me of what angers me...well I can't think of any that articulate my feelings to the point of anger.

Happy? The best music doesn’t necessarily make me happier than I was, but makes me dance around the room playing air guitar like Pete Townsend on crack. Songs that make me do that include…. Rockaway Beach by the Ramones, New Rose by the Damned and Soul kitchen by X . There are plenty more, but those are the ones that endure more than 20 years after hearing them for the first time.

What defines me? Kind of personal, but instead of a song or songs, I’ll choose a couple bands. Replacements and Guided by Voices. Their preferred music is loud but tuneful (most times) guitar rock (my favorite music) and their preferred condition is intoxicated. Nothing appeals to me more although my job often demands that I not get as drunk on a daily basis as I would like. I mean really….. if it wasn’t for kids, a job and, to a lesser degree, the harmful short term and long term side effects, who the fuck wouldn’t want to be drunk most of the time? Or is it just me?