Song In My Head

You figured Peter Bjorn and John were destined for one-hit wonder greatness. After all, can you think of a song that was more ubiquitous in 2006 than "Young Folks"? Everyone could whistle along with it... and did. It was everywhere. And then it wasn't. And I figured, much like Swedish compatriots Saab, that would be the end of that.

Only it wasn't. I keep hearing their follow up song, the aptly titled "Second Chance", and it's not half bad.

What Has-Been Concert Would You See?

There must be a huge market for people who haven't made new music in 30 years or so. I just got a concert listing from Live Nation and I can't believe the people who are (still) touring. John Parr? How about a double-bill of Yes and Styx? Def Leppard with Heart? Or this three-for-one: Motley Crue, Poison and the New York Dolls? And it's not just bands from the 80s... Sublime is still touring, despite the fact that their lead singer died years ago. And who wouldn't want to miss the Goo Goo Dolls with Michelle Branch? They were lousy the first time around.

I mean, I get the fact that these people need to make money, and I'm guilty of seeing a few has-been concerts in my day (Happy Mondays, anyone? Gary Numan?) But the only has-been act on today's list that I'd even consider seeing is The English Beat. There's a great band.

On a related note, the Song in My Head today is "Never You Done That" by General Public. Still, I doubt I'd pay $40 to go see them!

Glen Campbell Farewell Tour

Sad news -- Glen Campbell announced today he has Alzheimer's. He'll release his final album later this year and launch a farewell tour. I'm just happy he was around long enough to give us 2008's Meet Glen Campbell, where he pulled a Johnny Cash and covered a bunch of modern rock songs including "Times Like These" by Foo Fighters, Green Day's "Good Riddance" and "Sing" by Travis. You don't believe me? Here you go:

OK, I'm not gonna blame Glen for any of those tracks. "Wichita Lineman" and "Galveston" alone are enough to solidify his stature in my mind.

Songs that Rock

I never got into The Go! Team, even though friends of mine told me I'd like them. Then I heard 2007's single "Grip Like a Vice" and it blew me away. It's the perfect combination of garage rock and hip hop. Here it is:

RIP Big Man - Part II

John was the one who first introduced me to Bruce in high school, so it doesn't surprise me that he picked the best Clarence Clemons sax solos for his list. "Jungleland" is my all-time favorite, but here are a few others that are definitely some of the Big Man's best:

1. Sherry Darling - The sax gets you from the opening in this one and never lets you go. Bruce has only a few songs where Clarence plays all the way through and this is one of the greatest. After CC's solo, Bruce busts back in: "Well let there be sunlight, let there be rain, let the brokenhearted love again, Sherry we can run with our arms open wide before the tide..." An absolute classic.

2. Bobby Jean - I have to admit this was never one of my favorite songs to hear live for the first couple years seeing Bruce, but that was because Clarence wasn't playing it then (on the Human Touch tour). CC's solo on this one really brings the joy (which Bruce intended) to an otherwise sad song about a failed relationship.

3. The Ties That Bind - One of my absolute favorite songs, and probably the best opening song for a concert. CC's sax interlude in this one breaks the song up from its hard driving rock intro, but once he's done, it goes right back and finishes up strong. That's what Clarence was best at, playing just enough to keep you interested and ready for the big finale you know is coming.

4. Spirit In The Night - Another sax-heavy track, and Clarence was always featured prominently in live versions. You could tell Bruce and CC enjoyed playing this one live because they always got into it. Much like John's comment on "The Fever," this song oozes sexuality, and the sax is a big part of that.

5. Drive All Night - A lesser known track from "The River" but a definite showcase for Clarence. This song goes some 5 plus minutes and includes CC coming in and fading out with solos. I saw Bruce do this live in Philadelphia, but without Clarence - I can only imagine what it would have been like.

RIP Clarence Clemons

Well, the legendary sidekick of one of my favorite bands died on Saturday after suffering a major stroke.  I am glad I had the opportunity to see Clarence Clemons perform with the E-Street band on many the occasion, and friends and I even talked about if this was the last time they would be the powerhouse they were known for (no offense to keyboardist Danny Federici who died in 2008.)  Sadly, it appears 2009 might be the end of the legendary E Street band  that has made Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band the infamous  live performers that they were known to be.  In honor of the Big Man, I give you my 5 favorite Clemons solos:

5.  Badlands
A small solo, but huge in stature in a live performance.  When Clarence steps forward in the passionate sing along, it serves as an emphasis to "spit in the face of these Badlands!"

4.  Rosalita
Technically, not as impressive as many other solos, the swirling sounds of the tenor sax keeps this party in motion.  A classic show-stopper, and a great example of how Clemons saxophone helps to create the full sound of the E Street Band.

3.  Trapped
Not a Springsteen penned song (written by Reggae artist Jimmy Cliff) The solo served as a powerful attempt at escape.  It is one of my favorite live songs and the solo always gave me chills.

2.  Jungleland
Probably most people would rank this as #1, and that's because it is good.  Real good.  In one of Springsteen's better story-telling songs, the action seems to stop and clam down when Clarence pulls out this lengthy beautiful solo to change the mood of all that surrounds Jungleland.

1.  The Fever
A song that Springsteen was never fond of drips with sexuality like nothing I have ever heard before on record.  The sultry saxophone that continues throughout the song definitely  helps to create the mood of longing and wanting that Springsteen so passionately croons about.

Song In My Head

... or more like Stuck in My Head. "If it Happens Again" by UB40. Another oldie.

Tonight's Wikipedia Adventure -- Marillion

Did you ever get so lost looking useless things up on Wikipedia that you ended up somewhere you never thought possible? It happens to me all the time. And tonight's unforeseen Wikipedia adventure has led me to the Scottish prog-rock band Marillion -- perhaps the least cool band of all time -- still going -- if not exactly going strong -- after 30 years.

I remember their 1985 single "Kayleigh", which managed to reach #14 on the US Mainstream Rock chart. It's somewhere between Genesis and Journey, and while it's pretty bad, it has a certain charm.

Not so for the follow-up hit "Lavender", which has exactly nothing to recommend it.

When the lead singer (a rather stocky guy named Fish) left in 1989, he was replaced by Steve Hogarth, who turned down a gig with The The to join Marillion. (Do you see how trivially useless these Wikipedia adventures can get?). Anyway, they made something like nine studio albums in relative obscurity -- basically paying their studio costs thanks to their small but devoted band of loyal fans who send whatever petty cash they can to keep Marillion from going under. And in 2004, they actually made a pretty good song. Here's the critically acclaimed -- and commercially successful -- "You're Gone."

And now that I've documented my Wikipedia adventure, I can end this time-wasting enterprise and go home.

Song in My Head

I heard it this morning in the car -- I had forgotten all about this one. It's "Uncertain Smile" by The The.

A Happy Monday

Finally, someone commented on my Happy Mondays T-shirt. I was wearing it at the cafe at Whole Foods and the barista told me she liked my shirt. I'm honestly surprised more people don't comment on it, considering what a great band they are. I think she was equally surprised when I told her I saw them live last year -- she probably figured they fell off the map 20 years ago (and with their drug habits and penchant for self-destruction, who could blame her?)

Video Vault Friday

For some reason, images from this video got in my head after hearing a different song from this band on the way to work.  History has not been a good friend to Public Enemy.  Nothing negative, but I would have thought they would be considered seminal to the early stages of rap  - especially their politic stance.  Today's video is "Can't Truss It." I remember this video when I was in college. The scene when the slave's child is born white still resonates with me.  It's still worth a watch.

Can't Truss It

Song In My Head - Anthony Weiner Edition

"Cheetham Hill" by The Fall. Love Mark E Smith's snarly vocals. "Couldn't make out where he was from -- Salford or, uh, Manchester."

Don't Quit Your Day Job...

Tonight is the pivotal Game 5 of the NBA Finals, so I figured I'd take this opportunity to share a few standout rap tracks by NBA stars. (Admittedly, these come from 1994's seminal NBA rap album "B-Ball's Best Kept Secret".)

Here's one of tonight's stars - Jason Kidd - with his track "What the Kidd Did" featuring Money B of Digital Underground. Oakland in the house.

Here's perhaps the best of the bunch. It's one-time 76ers guard Dana Barros with his track "Check It". And it's honestly not that bad.

The late Malik Sealy rapped about how lucky he is in "Lost in the Sauce." Here are the lyrics to the chorus if you want to sing along: "Life's just one big jump shot/You're either on or you might be off/So try to maintain and refrain from the strain/And don't get lost in the sauce."

Cedric Ceballos teamed up with the late Warren G for "Flow On".

Here's Chris Mills doing "Sumptin' to Groove To".

And now Gary Payton (aka The Glove) with "Livin' Legal and Large"

Famously, Allen Iverson (as Jewelz) ran afoul of the league with "40 Bars".

And perhaps the most depressing rap song of all time: "Anything can Happen" by Brian Shaw. Listen - if you dare - as he raps about losing his entire family in a car crash.

Song In My Head

Let's keep the Joe Strummer theme going: The Clash - "Death or Glory"

Song In My Head

"Coma Girl" - Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros.

RIP Joe. Hearing you is like hearing an old friend.