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Gem of the Week: Casey Kasem

14 May

This week’s gem is reflecting on the work of radio icon and voice artist Casey Kasem.

I thought of him this week after seeing the news coverage that he is ill and missing.

According to an NBC News article written
by Maria Elena Fernandez  www.nbcnews.com, there has been a feud between Kasem’s wife and his kids over his care. His wife moved him from the facility he was getting care from and so far nobody knows where he is, including his kids. The issue is in court and the judge became concerned and assigned an investigator to locate Kasem’s whereabouts.

Kasem is from my hometown of Detroit and I have always thought he was cool. There is a down to earth and personable quality about him. He became known for creating and hosting the radio countdown American Top 40 that is now hosted by Ryan Seacrest. He also did the voicing for Shaggy from Scooby Doo. (one of my favorite cartoons)

I always felt that Kasem really knew his stuff when it came to his music picks and countdowns.  I liked his radio show because he would do dedications and add facts and information about the artists too.

I have even bought Kasem compilation albums and my favorite one is his christmas song picks because it was the only holiday compilation that had all of traditional songs I was looking for. When it comes to compilations I would trust his picks over any others.

Kasem was a big part of 80s pop culture when I was a kid and he truly is a broadcasting legend. I  hope he is found safe and I will always remember Kasem’s famous countdown radio sign off:

“Keep your feet on the ground and keep reaching for the stars.”

Below is a link from Stonecoldmarl0316 You Tube channel showing a Scooby Doo clip of Shaggy doing his impression of Kasem, which is clever and funny.

 

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Gem of the Week: Johnny Cash: Out Among the Stars

7 May

cash I recently picked up the Johnny Cash album: Out Among the Stars, released on March 25, 2014. The album is a set of previously unreleased songs.

According to Billboard.com article, Johnny Cash’s ‘Lost’ Album: Son John Carter Cash, Shares the story of ‘Out Among the Stars’ by Andrew Hampp, Cash’s son John Carter Cash details the story behind the songs recorded during the 80s. He also mentions that during that time his dad was battling drug addiction and his label had lost interest in him.

Overall, I really like the album and the songs have a classic country sound. So far the song Tennessee is my favorite and I like the duet with Waylon Jennings on I’m Movin’ On. Cash also sings a couple of tracks with his wife June Carter.

As a true country legend, Cash has such a long history of great influential music. Some of my all time favorites include: A Boy Named Sue, One Piece at a Time, Ring of Fire and The Man Comes Around.

The cool thing about Cash is that he does not carry a country only fan base. Cash’s music is universal and he draws fans from all genres and will always be known as the “Man In Black.”

I found a link for the song I’m Movin’ On from the JohnnyCashVEVO You Tube channel.

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Gem of the Week: Remembering Hip-Hop Pioneer DJ E-Z Rock

30 Apr

robbase

On Sunday I read the sad news that DJ E-Z Rock passed away. He was the other half  to the pioneering hip-hop duo with Rob Base. When I was a kid you couldn’t get away from their catchy hit song It Takes Two from the 1988 debut album with the same name.

According to a US Weekly article on www.usmagazine.com, DJ E-Z Rock who’s real name is Rodney Bryce was only 46 years old. His cause of death is not yet known.

The duo had classic hits from the debut album like: Joy and Pain, Get on the Dance Floor and of course It Takes Two. Those songs are part of my memories of listening to great hip – hop music growing up as a kid and I feel their music will continue to  live on.

As my gem this week and to remember DJ E-Z Rock, I have linked their music video for It Takes Two from the You Tube channel of RobBaseDJEZRockVEVO.

 

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Gem of the Week: Foo Fighters “Big Me”

16 Apr

ff

Reflecting on the Foo Fighters clever music video for Big Me from their 1995 debut self titled album.

Their debut album was awesome and you can listen to it  from their official website www.foofighters.com.

I always liked Big Me not only because it’s a great song but the music video parodies Mentos candy mint ads. The video is funny and creatively done. For those that do not remember back in the 90s Mentos aired silly commercials that would depict someone in a bind who would then come up with an extraordinary solution after eating a mint.

Former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl formed the Foo Fighters after the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994.

I remember the first song released was This is a Call. I heard  it on the radio and I loved it. Then I saw the first debut video for I’ll Stick Around which resembled the surreal style seen in videos from 80s pop band Devo.

After all these years Grohl has proved he is a talented rock icon transitioning from a drummer to guitarist and frontman.

The Foo Fighters have made some great videos over the years like (1997) Everlong and (1999) Learn to Fly. A couple great albums that are my favorites include: (1997) The Color and the Shape and (2005) In Your Honor.

I hope Grohl has continued success with the Foo Fighters. Below is the link for Big Me shared from Foo Fighters VEVO You Tube channel.

 

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Gem of the Week: Biz Markie

2 Apr

biz

Hip-hop great Biz Markie is my gem of week for his natural story telling charm as a rapper. I choose to flash back to his hit, Just a Friend off his 1989 album The Biz Never Sleeps.

I was in 5th grade when the song came out and it brings back memories of classic hip-hop songs that were big during that time.

My favorite part of the song which is also the part that gets stuck in my head is his humorous crooning.

“You, you got what I need but you say he’s just a friend And you say he’s just a friend, oh baby You…”

According to his official site http://www.bizmarkie.com, he has never slowed down with his freestyle, beat boxin’ music projects,which is cool. He still DJs and he has even taken part in Nick Jr’s kids show Yo Gabba Gabba doing a beat box of the day.

He also paired with rock band Flaming Lips and pop artist Ke$ha for the song 2012 (You Must Be Upgraded) and though it was an offbeat collaboration, it still turned cool with a trippy pop sound.

Biz has this witty, quirky and good-natured style about him and I think that is the reason he has longevity and remains in a respectable light.

He has scheduled summer tour dates taking part in reunion hip-hop tours like the 7th Annual Roots Picnic coming up May 31st in Philadelphia.

Below is the link for Just a Friend on Vimeo from his official site.

http://vimeo.com/36390570

 

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Gem of the Week: Toto’s 1982 hit “Africa”

26 Mar

toto This week’s gem goes to progressive rockers Toto for their classic 1982 hit Africa from their album Toto IV.

I am seeing Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band play this summer and part of his line up this year includes Steve Lukather from Toto and I am looking forward to the show even more.

This means I might actually get to hear Africa live with Ringo Starr and for me it just can’t get any better than that.

I think the song is a timeless gem to listen to and Toto in general is a rockin’ band who are still out there touring.

According to Toto’s official site www.totoofficial.com, the band is currently on tour in Japan and has U.S. show dates scheduled for this summer.

Their website also stated some less known facts under the band history tab about how much the band members have collaborated on many albums and worked with many artists such as, Micheal Jackson. Basically,  the members started off as studio musicians working with big names like Steely Dan during the 70s before they decided to form their own band.

Their background as session musicians gives them the talent to adapt and play in any type of situation.

I have linked the music video for Africa from TotoVEVO’s You Tube channel below.

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Gem of the Week: Flipper

19 Mar

flip

Reflecting this week on Flipper, a early 80s hardcore punk band from California.

I love old school punk bands like Dead Kennedys and Black Flag but I remembered Flipper because I was a  Nirvana fan and I know Flipper was one of their biggest influences.

Krist Novoselic (former bass player of Nirvana) also played with Flipper for short while. According to their official site http://www.flipperrules.com the band asked Novoselic to join them and they went on tour with The Melvins in 2006.

Their website also showed that the band was still touring as of 2012 but that was the latest update posted.

I love the heavy old school trash punk sound and the song Ha Ha Ha from Flipper’s 1984 album Blow’n Chunks is a perfect example.

I couldn’t help but feature them as my Gem of the Week.

I found a link for Ha Ha Ha from Magnus Sellergren’s You Tube Channel, enjoy!

http://youtu.be/kJCKwqyR7KY

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Gem of the Week: London Grammar

5 Mar

London

I love when I can listen to a band that sounds new and refreshing; London Grammar has that raw quality.

My best friend got me to check them out and according to the bands official Facebook page the trio is from London. The singer Hannah Reid has a mesmerizing and soothing quality to her voice.

I listened through their debut  studio album If You Wait on iTunes and I love the melodic vibe.

It really is a great album to check out and so far my favorite tracks are Sights and Hey Now

iTunes classifies their genre as alternative but I think experimental indie pop is a better description.

The offbeat quality of their sound and music videos remind me a bit of Bjork.

London Grammar’s most powerful impact is definitely Reid’s vocals.

I look forward to hearing more from this band and checking them out live when they come to town.

You can watch their videos and listen to their music from the bands official site.

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Gem of the Week: Top Five Albums Turning 20

5 Feb
94

My tribute to the music of ’94

I got inspired to compile a top five list of great albums from 1994 after reading an article on Stereogum.com about how Green Day’s Dookie album just turned 20 years old.

Here are my top five albums from ’94 (of course I’m including Dookie) that are now 20 years old :

5. Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral 

I was one of those 14-year-old teen girls that loved Trent Reznor. I could care less about him now but this album was in my Walkman all the time. Songs like March of Pigs, Terrible Lie, Hurt and Closer make this album a gem. The Downward Spiral should become a requirement to  every grunge music fan’s collection from 1994.

4. The Notorious B.I.G. – Ready To Die 

This is a great hip-hop album that came out during the time when west coast rappers like 2Pac  dominated the scene. Biggie put the east coast sound into mainstream with his hit single Juicy and then Big Poppa  (’95) from this debut album. I have mentioned before that I can’t get into todays hip-hop. When Biggie rapped it was real venting and he delivered with passion.  My favorite jam off the album is Gimme The Loot.

3. Live – Throwing Copper

Lead singer Ed Kowalczyk and myself share something in common and that is we both love R.E.M.  I listened to this album a lot and the hits from this album were all catchy: Selling the Drama, I Alone, Lightning Crashes and All Over You. Live writes songs that are awesome lyrically as well as musically.

2. Green Day – Dookie

This really was an influential breakthrough album with hits like Longview, Basket Case and When I Come Around.  While Green Day has matured and grown so much as a band over the past 20 years, I still carry that first impression of their goofy teen image in the video for Longview. Dookie is pure brilliance and to think of how lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was only 18 years old at the time is crazy but then again he continues being a true talent.

1. R.E.M – Monster 

Aside from them being my favorite band, I felt this venture into a harder sound totally worked out making this a great album. Every single minute of this album rocks with big hits like: Whats The Frequency, Kenneth?, Star 69, Bang and Blame, Strange Currencies and my personal favorite song off the album, I Don’t Sleep, I Dream. I can still listen through Monster over and over again.

I narrowed my top five list to reflect what I listened to the most and I left off a few of my veteran favorites from the ’94 era like: Pear Jam, Nirvana, Sound Garden, Rancid and Tori Amos.

I’m happy those five gems are in my collection because they came from a great defining year in music.

I included a link from Greenday’s You Tube channel for the classic video Longview.

 

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Gem of the Week: Grammy Performance Highlights

29 Jan
Print

Grammy Love

Sunday nights 56th annual Grammy performance line- up included my favorite legends of rock from Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr to Metallica.

I felt this article written by David Bauder from the Huffington Post summed up the Grammys vibe best stating:

 “What makes music special is its seeming randomness, of magic moments coming from where you’d least expect them. Sunday night’s Grammy Awards proved that. In a room filled with music history and industry powerhouses, Lorde and Daft Punk took major awards. And there were other moments, too — some moving, some boring, some baffling, some just plain fun.”

I was looking forward to the finale rock performance with Nine Inch Nails (NIN), Fleetwood Mac’s Lindsey Buckingham and Queens of the Stone Age with Dave Grohl. I thought it was an interesting grunge combo and it was a great closing performance that was rudely cut short due to lack of time. That was unfortunate and NIN frontman Trent Reznor tweeted his frustration against the incident by cursing out the Grammys, I can’t say I blame him for his anger.

I enjoyed seeing respected artists from my 80s and 90s era in music and pop culture  like actor Neil Patrick Harris and 80s pop queen Cyndi Lauper presenting. My favorite presenter for the night was Thirty Seconds to Mars frontman Jared Leto who touched on the loss of rock legend Lou Reed before introducing Metallica.

While I liked Metallica’s performence overall, I felt the vocal sound quality was disappointing. The band was playing their hit One along with classical pianist Lang Lang. The chaotic piano with lead guitarist Kirk Hammett’s solo was cool but I could barely hear frontman James Hetfield’s vocals.

Some performances that deserve an honorable mention for being awesome were country music’s legendary trio Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Merle Haggard along with Blake Shelton doing Highway and other hits. Miranda Lambert and Greenday frontman Billie Joe Armstrong’s performance of The Everly Brothers song, When Will I be Loved was a nice tribute to the late Phil Everly.

My main reason for tuning into the Grammys this year was to see Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr reunited on stage together. While It would have been cool if they did a Beatles song, their performance of McCartney’s song Queenie Eye was still awesome.

I am also looking forward to the Beatles tribute set to air February 9th on CBS for the 50th anniversary of their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show.

For the record I love Ringo Starr and it was cool to see him on drums with McCartney; not to mention he looks great for 73 years old!

 

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