This past Tuesday around 2:30 PM, the unthinkable happened. I actually experienced an Earthquake. Having lived in Northern New Jersey for most of my entire life, I’ve never felt an earthquake before. When my entire office building shook, I knew something was wrong, and an earthquake was my first thought. Then I laughed at myself for how silly that sounded. Turns out, it wasn’t so silly after all.
Although it originated in Virginia, the effects of the quake were felt as far north as Massachusetts. It was a scary feeling for a few moments, as no one around me was sure of what had happened. We quickly evacuated the building, but minutes later got the all clear to head back inside. Feeling the building shake (albeit mildly) made me wonder what people who have lived through large Earthquakes feel like. The one I experienced was a 5.9. I would never want to witness an 8.0.
And now there’s news of a huge hurricane heading our way. At least this is a natural disaster that I am used to…
Here’s what rocked this week:
The Great Kat - The World’s Fastest Guitarist?
Here’s an interesting piece. This article is on Long Island Native Katherine Thomas, known as the Great Kat. Her current CD, Beethoven Shreds, is available now. So, is the Great Kat the world’s fastest guitarist? I guess we’ll have to check out the CD to find out. In the meantime, read over this great article that will fill you in on all the details.
Say It Loud: The Genius of James Brown
Debuting at the Grammy Museum this September is an exhibit to none other than the Godfather of soul. The exhibit will focus on James Brown as the “Godfather of Soul” – blazing a trail in American music by blending gospel, pop and soul- as well as show Brown’s role as a trendsetter in both fashion and dance. The exhibit will also illustrate how Brown used his music and celebrity to positively impact the Civil Rights Movement and race relations of the 1960’s. The exhibit will open to the public on September 17, 2011.
Want To Go To An Indie Music Campout?
Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven will be rolling into the Joshua Tree region of California next month to co-host their 7th annual CAMPOUT music festival. CAMPOUT will take place September 15th, 16th and 17th at Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace in the High Desert of Southern California. The locale of this fest ties in perfectly with Cracker’s own history as their signature album Kerosene Hat was recorded there back in 1993 in the now-closed movie soundstage next to the Palace. This year’s edition of CAMPOUT looks to be one of the best ever. Tickets are available now.
Dave Matthews Band Caravan Postponed
The DMB Caravan was supposed to take over New York City this weekend. However, due to the impending hurricane, the governor of New York has declared a state of emergency for Saturday and Sunday. Therefore, the only festivities that will take place are on Friday night. The rescheduled dates of Saturday and Sunday will be announced in the near future. If you have tickets to these two nights, hang onto them. Single day ticket holders have also been invited to use their ticket for Friday night’s show.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 267
Albums Remaining: 1,786
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, updates, and shout outs, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Showing posts with label Every Album Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Every Album Challenge. Show all posts
Friday, August 26, 2011
Monday, August 8, 2011
Early Lessons From The Every Album Challenge
Sometimes listening to an album only once is hard. Sometimes it’s damn near impossible. Sometimes I question my sanity for taking on the self-imposed Every Album Challenge. I mean, really, what the hell was I thinking?
When the new Pop Evil album, War Of Angels, arrived in my hands for review, I was so excited. Pop Evil is one of my favorite new bands and their debut disc, Lipstick On The Mirror was freaking fantastic! Now I had the opportunity to hear their long awaited, sophomore follow up. Let me tell you – I played the hell out of that sucker! And now that the review is written and posted, no more War Of Angels for me until this challenge is over.
The same thing happened when I listened to Dom Liberati’s The Good Hurt. Holy heck! What an album! Normally, post-review, I would have played that disc for another month straight. However, with the Every Album Challenge clearly in effect, I had to file it away until the end of the challenge. Current projection on when I will listen to The Good Hurt again, February---2014. That just sucks!
What about some of the great albums from my collection that I’ve already listened to? Those are done for years too. No more Hinder’s All American Nightmare. No more American Bang. No more Restless Days from The Clarks. That’s hard to handle, but it’s called a challenge for a reason.
With just a little redirected focus, I have been able to see the good that has come out of this challenge as well. I listened to Ice Cube’s War & Peace Volume 2 for the first time in years. I forgot how magnificent that album was! I rediscovered Def Leppard’s Pyromania and was reminded of the brilliance that is captured on that record. David Lowery’s The Palace Guards never sounded better, because I knew that it was the last time I would hear it for a long, long while. When I stop and think about that before spinning an album, the music sounds so much sweeter.
Digging through the archives of my collection and seeing some of the rare gems that I have yet to listen to, gems that haven’t been played in so long they are collecting dust, gives me hope. Once I get over my urge and desire to hear new music endlessly, I will be able to really hunker down and enjoy the depths of my massive album collection.
There is so much still unexplored. John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Willie Nelson, Ja Rule, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mozart and more. It all has yet to be listened to. It is all waiting for me. And it will allow me the opportunity to turn away from my normal routine of Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Kiss, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Springsteen, and whatever the new release of the week is. The Every Album Challenge has born some grand fruit---the fruit of rediscovery.
I am looking forward to the rarities that lie ahead. Yes, I am going to miss certain albums that have already been played, but the opportunity to remember the greatness of my entire collection is too good a lure. That will keep me focused for a while. That will help me to enjoy the next stage of The Every Album Challenge.
Albums Listened To: 227
Albums Remaining: 1,826
When the new Pop Evil album, War Of Angels, arrived in my hands for review, I was so excited. Pop Evil is one of my favorite new bands and their debut disc, Lipstick On The Mirror was freaking fantastic! Now I had the opportunity to hear their long awaited, sophomore follow up. Let me tell you – I played the hell out of that sucker! And now that the review is written and posted, no more War Of Angels for me until this challenge is over.
The same thing happened when I listened to Dom Liberati’s The Good Hurt. Holy heck! What an album! Normally, post-review, I would have played that disc for another month straight. However, with the Every Album Challenge clearly in effect, I had to file it away until the end of the challenge. Current projection on when I will listen to The Good Hurt again, February---2014. That just sucks!
What about some of the great albums from my collection that I’ve already listened to? Those are done for years too. No more Hinder’s All American Nightmare. No more American Bang. No more Restless Days from The Clarks. That’s hard to handle, but it’s called a challenge for a reason.
With just a little redirected focus, I have been able to see the good that has come out of this challenge as well. I listened to Ice Cube’s War & Peace Volume 2 for the first time in years. I forgot how magnificent that album was! I rediscovered Def Leppard’s Pyromania and was reminded of the brilliance that is captured on that record. David Lowery’s The Palace Guards never sounded better, because I knew that it was the last time I would hear it for a long, long while. When I stop and think about that before spinning an album, the music sounds so much sweeter.
Digging through the archives of my collection and seeing some of the rare gems that I have yet to listen to, gems that haven’t been played in so long they are collecting dust, gives me hope. Once I get over my urge and desire to hear new music endlessly, I will be able to really hunker down and enjoy the depths of my massive album collection.
There is so much still unexplored. John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, Willie Nelson, Ja Rule, Bob Dylan, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mozart and more. It all has yet to be listened to. It is all waiting for me. And it will allow me the opportunity to turn away from my normal routine of Dave Matthews Band, Pearl Jam, Kiss, Aerosmith, The Rolling Stones, Springsteen, and whatever the new release of the week is. The Every Album Challenge has born some grand fruit---the fruit of rediscovery.
I am looking forward to the rarities that lie ahead. Yes, I am going to miss certain albums that have already been played, but the opportunity to remember the greatness of my entire collection is too good a lure. That will keep me focused for a while. That will help me to enjoy the next stage of The Every Album Challenge.
Albums Listened To: 227
Albums Remaining: 1,826
Friday, July 29, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Baseball Trade Deadline Edition
As most readers of The Rock And Roll Guru know, your cousin Ryo is a huge baseball fanatic. I can’t even begin to calculate the countless hours of my life that have been spent watching or reading about the game. It has always been my favorite sport and I am certain that it will always continue to be my favorite sport.
This Sunday is a huge day in the world of Major League Baseball---the trading deadline. Sunday, July 31st, is the last day that MLB teams have to trade for players without waivers. It’s the last day that most teams make their big mid-season acquisitions as they push forward into the playoff race. With some surprise teams in the post season hunt this year (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets), it will be interesting to see which General Manager pulls the trigger on a great deal that will put their team into a position to win.
This week, I have been watching the trade news like a metal head waiting to see the latest festival lineup. It brings me pure joy to watch teams wheel and deal as we learn the fate of some big name players. It’s always interesting to see what team they end up on and how well they help that team perform down the stretch. I expect that this weekend, I will be paying more attention to baseball than to music, and for me, that’s saying a lot. Add in the fact that I am attending both games of Saturday’s Yankees/Orioles doubleheader and you can see that it is going to be a fantastic weekend of baseball.
Here’s what rocked this week:
Gene Simmons Pops The Question
Hmmm, this reeks of a marketing ploy. Does he really propose? Does long time girlfriend Shannon Tweed say yes? It’s been a very hokey few months for Mr. Simmons. I just have to state that this seems to be a big ratings gimmick. Let’s hope that it doesn’t affect the next Kiss album.
A New Addition To The “27” Club
With the sad passing of Amy Winehouse this week, Billboard looks back on all of the significant musicians who passed away at age 27. It’s a shame that most of them could have lived much longer. While I was never a huge Winehouse fan, there is no denying her talent and ability. It’s sad to see the way her life ended.
Nirvana’s 20th Anniversary Edition Of Nevermind Coming on September 27th
New details have emerged regarding the 20th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind. The different versions arriving include more unreleased tracks, a special 4-disc edition (with a DVD), and a deluxe 2-disc version. The 4-disc version will have the original Butch Vig mix of the album as well as some other special treats. Personally, I’m surprised, because I didn’t think that there was any more unreleased Nirvana material left. Grunge fans rejoice on September 27th!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 205
Albums Remaining: 1,848
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, half thoughts, and other crazy musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
This Sunday is a huge day in the world of Major League Baseball---the trading deadline. Sunday, July 31st, is the last day that MLB teams have to trade for players without waivers. It’s the last day that most teams make their big mid-season acquisitions as they push forward into the playoff race. With some surprise teams in the post season hunt this year (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets), it will be interesting to see which General Manager pulls the trigger on a great deal that will put their team into a position to win.
This week, I have been watching the trade news like a metal head waiting to see the latest festival lineup. It brings me pure joy to watch teams wheel and deal as we learn the fate of some big name players. It’s always interesting to see what team they end up on and how well they help that team perform down the stretch. I expect that this weekend, I will be paying more attention to baseball than to music, and for me, that’s saying a lot. Add in the fact that I am attending both games of Saturday’s Yankees/Orioles doubleheader and you can see that it is going to be a fantastic weekend of baseball.
Here’s what rocked this week:
Gene Simmons Pops The Question
Hmmm, this reeks of a marketing ploy. Does he really propose? Does long time girlfriend Shannon Tweed say yes? It’s been a very hokey few months for Mr. Simmons. I just have to state that this seems to be a big ratings gimmick. Let’s hope that it doesn’t affect the next Kiss album.
A New Addition To The “27” Club
With the sad passing of Amy Winehouse this week, Billboard looks back on all of the significant musicians who passed away at age 27. It’s a shame that most of them could have lived much longer. While I was never a huge Winehouse fan, there is no denying her talent and ability. It’s sad to see the way her life ended.
Nirvana’s 20th Anniversary Edition Of Nevermind Coming on September 27th
New details have emerged regarding the 20th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind. The different versions arriving include more unreleased tracks, a special 4-disc edition (with a DVD), and a deluxe 2-disc version. The 4-disc version will have the original Butch Vig mix of the album as well as some other special treats. Personally, I’m surprised, because I didn’t think that there was any more unreleased Nirvana material left. Grunge fans rejoice on September 27th!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 205
Albums Remaining: 1,848
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, half thoughts, and other crazy musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Friday, July 22, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Anniversary Edition
Tomorrow is my 6 year wedding anniversary. I can’t believe that I have been married that long already, and more importantly, I can’t believe that my wife has put up with me for that long. Between the time I spend on this blog and my obsession with comic books and sports, I’m surprised she hasn’t come to her senses and left me by now.
To celebrate our anniversary, we will be going out to dinner at the place we met. I don’t believe that either of us has been back there since the night we met, so it should be interesting to see how much we can remember about that fateful night when we are there.
For this week’s edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup, I’ve decided to pull together some upcoming tours that are worthy of your attention. It seems like this has been one slow summer concert season. I know that I’ve only been to two concerts this year, and technically, neither of them was during the summer. Maybe that will change and I will attend one of these upcoming shows.
Here are some tours that rock:
POP EVIL
http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtist.aspx?ID=158749
Pop Evil is out on the road in support of their latest album, War Of Angels. If you’ve never seen Pop Evil live before, I implore you to check them out. Travel if you must. Pop Evil is a fantastic live band and one of the greatest new rock bands to arrive in a long time.
Theory Of A Deadman
http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/tourdates
Theory is also hitting the road to support a new album, The Truth Is… And while there are no shows scheduled near The Guru at this time, Theory is known for their extensive touring. I am sure that they will schedule a concert close to home in the near future.
Incubus
http://www.enjoyincubus.com/us/tour
Another band with a brand new album to support is Incubus. They are also fabulous in concert, but I am unfortunately going to miss them this year. They are playing the Arts Center in NJ on the same day that I am attending an annual Labor Day BBQ bash that I just can’t miss. It was a tough decision, but the BBQ won out.
Seether
http://www.seether.com/events.aspx
Seether too is supporting a new album, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray. The extent of their tour appears to be taking place in August. I’ve only seen Seether as an opening act, but with a late August stint scheduled for New Jersey, I may have to check out their headlining appearance.
Puddle Of Mudd
http://www.puddleofmudd.com
Puddle of Mudd has a couple of different tours coming up. First, they are out on a headlining tour doing two sets --- one an acoustic covers set and the second, a set of their greatest hits. After that tour wraps at the end of July, the band has some time off before starting a tour with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, and POD. That could be some show!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 190
Albums Remaining: 1,863
For more rants, raves, reviews, news, tour updates, and odd little musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
To celebrate our anniversary, we will be going out to dinner at the place we met. I don’t believe that either of us has been back there since the night we met, so it should be interesting to see how much we can remember about that fateful night when we are there.
For this week’s edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup, I’ve decided to pull together some upcoming tours that are worthy of your attention. It seems like this has been one slow summer concert season. I know that I’ve only been to two concerts this year, and technically, neither of them was during the summer. Maybe that will change and I will attend one of these upcoming shows.
Here are some tours that rock:
POP EVIL
http://www.pollstar.com/resultsArtist.aspx?ID=158749
Pop Evil is out on the road in support of their latest album, War Of Angels. If you’ve never seen Pop Evil live before, I implore you to check them out. Travel if you must. Pop Evil is a fantastic live band and one of the greatest new rock bands to arrive in a long time.
Theory Of A Deadman
http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/tourdates
Theory is also hitting the road to support a new album, The Truth Is… And while there are no shows scheduled near The Guru at this time, Theory is known for their extensive touring. I am sure that they will schedule a concert close to home in the near future.
Incubus
http://www.enjoyincubus.com/us/tour
Another band with a brand new album to support is Incubus. They are also fabulous in concert, but I am unfortunately going to miss them this year. They are playing the Arts Center in NJ on the same day that I am attending an annual Labor Day BBQ bash that I just can’t miss. It was a tough decision, but the BBQ won out.
Seether
http://www.seether.com/events.aspx
Seether too is supporting a new album, Holding Onto Strings Better Left To Fray. The extent of their tour appears to be taking place in August. I’ve only seen Seether as an opening act, but with a late August stint scheduled for New Jersey, I may have to check out their headlining appearance.
Puddle Of Mudd
http://www.puddleofmudd.com
Puddle of Mudd has a couple of different tours coming up. First, they are out on a headlining tour doing two sets --- one an acoustic covers set and the second, a set of their greatest hits. After that tour wraps at the end of July, the band has some time off before starting a tour with Buckcherry, Papa Roach, and POD. That could be some show!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 190
Albums Remaining: 1,863
For more rants, raves, reviews, news, tour updates, and odd little musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Friday, July 8, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Taking Some Time Off Edition
Starting tomorrow, Cousin Ryo is taking some time off. My nephew is visiting for the weekend and there are several projects that I need to complete, both around the house and for the blog. I thought this would be a great time for a blog-vacation. The Rock And Roll Guru will return to its regularly scheduled programming on Monday, July 18th.
To those readers who look forward to the weekend reviews of concerts and new music, I apologize. There will be none this weekend. They will be back when I return to The Guru. While I’m away, be sure to check out the best of the guru to catch up on some great pieces you may have missed. For those of you that love reviews, be sure to browse the concert page or the music you need to hear section. They contain all the reviews you can handle and then some. I’ll see everyone on July 18th.
Here’s what rocked this week:
Rock And Roll = Endangered Species?
The Cutout Bin asks this question with a solid article discussing how the format of rock has changed over the years. Around the nation, less and less radio stations are playing rock only. Fortunately for me, I subscribe to satellite radio and therefore get all the rock formats that I can handle. Currently, I am enjoying Octane, which plays nothing but modern rock. Judging from the bands and songs I’ve heard on that channel, the future of rock and roll is very safe indeed.
The 10 Most Uncelebrated Kiss Songs
Over at Hard Rock Hideout, I wrote a piece capturing the forgotten Kiss songs that need more credit. Kiss is a band whose catalog is vast and it’s hard for the band to give every song its due. I singled out the 10 songs that I feel deserve more attention than they get.
Dave Matthews Band Caravan Round Two
The second of four DMB Caravan shows kicks off today in Chicago. The full schedule has been released and once again the lineup looks incredible. With bands like OAR, The Flaming Lips, Yonder Mountain String Band, and David Gray, I must admit that I am a little upset I will not be in Chicago this weekend. I can’t wait to see what songs DMB plays for their three nights this time around. It’s going to be hard to beat the Atlantic City setlists, but I am sure the band is up for the task.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 160
Albums Remaining: 1,893
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, odd upates, and general music trivia, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
To those readers who look forward to the weekend reviews of concerts and new music, I apologize. There will be none this weekend. They will be back when I return to The Guru. While I’m away, be sure to check out the best of the guru to catch up on some great pieces you may have missed. For those of you that love reviews, be sure to browse the concert page or the music you need to hear section. They contain all the reviews you can handle and then some. I’ll see everyone on July 18th.
Here’s what rocked this week:
Rock And Roll = Endangered Species?
The Cutout Bin asks this question with a solid article discussing how the format of rock has changed over the years. Around the nation, less and less radio stations are playing rock only. Fortunately for me, I subscribe to satellite radio and therefore get all the rock formats that I can handle. Currently, I am enjoying Octane, which plays nothing but modern rock. Judging from the bands and songs I’ve heard on that channel, the future of rock and roll is very safe indeed.
The 10 Most Uncelebrated Kiss Songs
Over at Hard Rock Hideout, I wrote a piece capturing the forgotten Kiss songs that need more credit. Kiss is a band whose catalog is vast and it’s hard for the band to give every song its due. I singled out the 10 songs that I feel deserve more attention than they get.
Dave Matthews Band Caravan Round Two
The second of four DMB Caravan shows kicks off today in Chicago. The full schedule has been released and once again the lineup looks incredible. With bands like OAR, The Flaming Lips, Yonder Mountain String Band, and David Gray, I must admit that I am a little upset I will not be in Chicago this weekend. I can’t wait to see what songs DMB plays for their three nights this time around. It’s going to be hard to beat the Atlantic City setlists, but I am sure the band is up for the task.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 160
Albums Remaining: 1,893
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, odd upates, and general music trivia, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Friday, June 24, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Dave Matthews Band Caravan Edition
The Caravan begins today. As most regular readers of The Guru know, Dave Matthews Band is doing four shows this year (and only four). Each show is in a major city, with DMB set as the headlining act for all three nights of each festival. The first event kicks off today in Atlantic City, New Jersey. These festivals will probably go down in DMB history as some of the greatest performances the band ever gave and I have a strong feeling that DMB is going to pull out some real gems during their three headlining nights.
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this festival, thanks to a wedding that is taking me away all weekend. I’m sure I will be able to find several clips on the internet come next week, but I am still disappointed that I cannot attend the first ever Caravan. However, you can attend if you’d like. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office at Bader Field. For more details visit www.dmbcaravan.com
Here’s what rocked this week:
Free Caravan Sampler
Looking for some free music? The Dave Matthews Band is offering the Caravan sampler, free on ITunes. It includes songs from O.A.R., Gomez, Dawes, and of course, the Dave Matthews Band. Free is a price that’s hard to argue. Head on over to ITunes and pick up your copy today.
New Music Coming From Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger has been hard at work recording a new album, but not with the Rolling Stones. It’s a super group called Super Heavy and features Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. The album is due out in September. There is no word on whether the band will tour behind the record.
More Music From Chickenfoot
This was some of the best news I read all week. Chickenfoot is mixing their new album. I didn’t even know that the band recorded a new album or planned to release any new material. I honestly thought Chickenfoot was a “one and done” band. Now there are even rumors of a tour. That’s some great news indeed!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 132
Albums Remaining: 1,921
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, Every Album Challenge updates, and other odds and ends, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this festival, thanks to a wedding that is taking me away all weekend. I’m sure I will be able to find several clips on the internet come next week, but I am still disappointed that I cannot attend the first ever Caravan. However, you can attend if you’d like. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at the box office at Bader Field. For more details visit www.dmbcaravan.com
Here’s what rocked this week:
Free Caravan Sampler
Looking for some free music? The Dave Matthews Band is offering the Caravan sampler, free on ITunes. It includes songs from O.A.R., Gomez, Dawes, and of course, the Dave Matthews Band. Free is a price that’s hard to argue. Head on over to ITunes and pick up your copy today.
New Music Coming From Mick Jagger
Mick Jagger has been hard at work recording a new album, but not with the Rolling Stones. It’s a super group called Super Heavy and features Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame. The album is due out in September. There is no word on whether the band will tour behind the record.
More Music From Chickenfoot
This was some of the best news I read all week. Chickenfoot is mixing their new album. I didn’t even know that the band recorded a new album or planned to release any new material. I honestly thought Chickenfoot was a “one and done” band. Now there are even rumors of a tour. That’s some great news indeed!
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 132
Albums Remaining: 1,921
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, Every Album Challenge updates, and other odds and ends, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Stupid Vancouver Fans Edition
On Wednesday night, the city of Boston celebrated while the Bruins hoisted the Stanley Cup as the 2010/2011 champions. They played an excellent series. Boston's goaltender, Tim Thomas, was outstanding in all seven games and the Bruins deserved to win the cup. What did they do in the city of Vancouver to mourn their loss? They rioted. How STUPID can fans be? Apparently very stupid. Here's a link to some pictures that were captured during the riot:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/gallery/vancouver-canucks-fans-riot-after-stanley-cup-finals-game-7-061511/?gt1=39002#photo-title=Frustration%20boils%20over&photo=29901680
Seriously? This is how a respected city with respected citizens mourns the loss of a sporting event? Personally, I think they should consider kicking Vancouver out of the league. Their stupid, deranged, drunken, disorderly fans have not only disgraced the beautiful city of Vancouver, but they've also disgraced the National Hockey League. Judging by these photos, they seem to be proud of it. How dumb can you be? This is a disgusting display of poor sportsmanship. Unfortunately, the fans that aren't like this are going to be lumped in with the dummies that did the rioting. And they say heavy metal fans are psychotic. I don't see any fans of heavy metal burning down cities.
Here's what rocked this week:
Clarence Clemons Hospitalized
There is sad news from the Bruce Springsteen camp. Saxophonist extraordinaire, Clarence Clemons was hospitalized due to a stroke. The latest reports show that his health is improving, but he still has a battle ahead of him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the big man and his family during this rough time. I hope that his recovery is a speedy one.
Gene Simmons And Shannon Tweed - Is It Over, Or Is It Just A Hoax?
Gene Simmons' Family Jewels season 6 premiered this week. And while promoting the premiere on both The Joy Behar show and the Today show, it appeared that the couple was splitting up. Shannon Tweed apparently became upset over a photo she saw of Gene with some female fans but wouldn't elaborate further. And now Gene is tweeting that he is willing to go to counseling. Hmmmmm, smells like a ratings ploy to me. I guess only time will tell, but my gut tells me that they are far from finished.
The Lead Singer Of The Coasters Dies At 83
On an even sadder note, Carl Gardner, the lead singer of The Coasters has passed away after being in hospice care. The Coaster's big hit "Yakety Yak" was one of my favorite songs growing up. As a child, my mother and I would listen to The Coasters and The Platters a lot. It's always sad when we lose another great member of the music family. The Guru's thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Carl Gardner.
Adele Is A Bonafide Smash Success
Adele's latest album, 21, has hit number one on the Billboard 200 again. This is the tenth (non consecutive) week that Adele has held the top honor. And record executives still insist that no one pays for music anymore? Apparently they pay for Adele.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 122
Albums Remaining: 1931
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, and Every Album Challenge updates, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/gallery/vancouver-canucks-fans-riot-after-stanley-cup-finals-game-7-061511/?gt1=39002#photo-title=Frustration%20boils%20over&photo=29901680
Seriously? This is how a respected city with respected citizens mourns the loss of a sporting event? Personally, I think they should consider kicking Vancouver out of the league. Their stupid, deranged, drunken, disorderly fans have not only disgraced the beautiful city of Vancouver, but they've also disgraced the National Hockey League. Judging by these photos, they seem to be proud of it. How dumb can you be? This is a disgusting display of poor sportsmanship. Unfortunately, the fans that aren't like this are going to be lumped in with the dummies that did the rioting. And they say heavy metal fans are psychotic. I don't see any fans of heavy metal burning down cities.
Here's what rocked this week:
Clarence Clemons Hospitalized
There is sad news from the Bruce Springsteen camp. Saxophonist extraordinaire, Clarence Clemons was hospitalized due to a stroke. The latest reports show that his health is improving, but he still has a battle ahead of him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the big man and his family during this rough time. I hope that his recovery is a speedy one.
Gene Simmons And Shannon Tweed - Is It Over, Or Is It Just A Hoax?
Gene Simmons' Family Jewels season 6 premiered this week. And while promoting the premiere on both The Joy Behar show and the Today show, it appeared that the couple was splitting up. Shannon Tweed apparently became upset over a photo she saw of Gene with some female fans but wouldn't elaborate further. And now Gene is tweeting that he is willing to go to counseling. Hmmmmm, smells like a ratings ploy to me. I guess only time will tell, but my gut tells me that they are far from finished.
The Lead Singer Of The Coasters Dies At 83
On an even sadder note, Carl Gardner, the lead singer of The Coasters has passed away after being in hospice care. The Coaster's big hit "Yakety Yak" was one of my favorite songs growing up. As a child, my mother and I would listen to The Coasters and The Platters a lot. It's always sad when we lose another great member of the music family. The Guru's thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Carl Gardner.
Adele Is A Bonafide Smash Success
Adele's latest album, 21, has hit number one on the Billboard 200 again. This is the tenth (non consecutive) week that Adele has held the top honor. And record executives still insist that no one pays for music anymore? Apparently they pay for Adele.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 122
Albums Remaining: 1931
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, and Every Album Challenge updates, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Grueling Grind Of The Every Album Challenge
I’ll admit it. I may not have realized what I was getting myself into when I signed up to create and master The Every Album Challenge. The idea of the challenge was so alluring that I felt it was something I just had to do. It would also provide the chance to dig deep into my collection and listen to some albums that I haven’t visited in years, possibly decades. While my intentions were in the right place, the execution was not as well thought out. The Every Album Challenge is becoming… a challenge.
That’s not to say I’m ready to throw in the towel. It’s rare that I quit at anything, I wasn’t built that way. I’ve thought about giving in, that’s for sure, but I haven’t come anywhere close to actually giving up. However, it’s only been two months, talk to me after a year and see if I still feel the same way. Yes, part of the challenge is the fact that I do not get to listen to any new albums (except for review purposes). With a new Pop Evil coming soon and Kiss in the studio, there are going to be some days where this challenge seems near impossible. However, right now my biggest hurdle has been selection.
I’ve listened to 100 of the 2,053 albums in my collection. That means 100 albums can no longer be played. Some of my best discs have already been listened to and I may not hear them again for 3 years. So when I am making a selection about what to listen to next, I have to carefully consider many outside factors. The first question I usually ask myself is “can I go years without hearing this again?” That’s why I have not played my Gaslight Anthem CDs yet. I’m saving them for the right moment. Other albums, like Hinder’s All American Nightmare, I just HAD to hear one day. Now that I’ve played it – it’s gone until the end of the challenge. That’s very sad. No more All American Nightmare. No more “Red Tail Lights.” No more “What You Gonna Do?” That hurts. And yet, at the time I chose to play it, I was yearning to hear the record, so I gave in.
The other problem with this challenge is remembering what records I’ve already listened to. Yes, I have a spreadsheet to keep score, which is great when I’m home. When I’m on the road and ready to fire up the IPod though, it becomes an issue. I have to stop and think “Did I listen to this album yet?” If I’m not sure, it means that I can’t play it. Sometimes I end up putting on the radio instead, just to be safe. That gets to be tiresome. It flat out sucks when you want to listen to an album and then can’t because you can’t remember if the record has been listened to or not. The only thing worse than that is when I really want to listen to an album only to discover I’ve already played it. As this challenge wears on, I am certain that scenario is going to play out more and more. That could be the issue that drives me over the edge and leads to failure. Here’s hoping that I can continue to be strong.
Albums Listened To: 105
Albums Remaining: 1,948
That’s not to say I’m ready to throw in the towel. It’s rare that I quit at anything, I wasn’t built that way. I’ve thought about giving in, that’s for sure, but I haven’t come anywhere close to actually giving up. However, it’s only been two months, talk to me after a year and see if I still feel the same way. Yes, part of the challenge is the fact that I do not get to listen to any new albums (except for review purposes). With a new Pop Evil coming soon and Kiss in the studio, there are going to be some days where this challenge seems near impossible. However, right now my biggest hurdle has been selection.
I’ve listened to 100 of the 2,053 albums in my collection. That means 100 albums can no longer be played. Some of my best discs have already been listened to and I may not hear them again for 3 years. So when I am making a selection about what to listen to next, I have to carefully consider many outside factors. The first question I usually ask myself is “can I go years without hearing this again?” That’s why I have not played my Gaslight Anthem CDs yet. I’m saving them for the right moment. Other albums, like Hinder’s All American Nightmare, I just HAD to hear one day. Now that I’ve played it – it’s gone until the end of the challenge. That’s very sad. No more All American Nightmare. No more “Red Tail Lights.” No more “What You Gonna Do?” That hurts. And yet, at the time I chose to play it, I was yearning to hear the record, so I gave in.
The other problem with this challenge is remembering what records I’ve already listened to. Yes, I have a spreadsheet to keep score, which is great when I’m home. When I’m on the road and ready to fire up the IPod though, it becomes an issue. I have to stop and think “Did I listen to this album yet?” If I’m not sure, it means that I can’t play it. Sometimes I end up putting on the radio instead, just to be safe. That gets to be tiresome. It flat out sucks when you want to listen to an album and then can’t because you can’t remember if the record has been listened to or not. The only thing worse than that is when I really want to listen to an album only to discover I’ve already played it. As this challenge wears on, I am certain that scenario is going to play out more and more. That could be the issue that drives me over the edge and leads to failure. Here’s hoping that I can continue to be strong.
Albums Listened To: 105
Albums Remaining: 1,948
Friday, June 10, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Baseball Edition
Last night, for my birthday, Mrs. Vie got me one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received in my life --- Ken Burns’ box set documentary on baseball. It’s the updated edition that includes two bonus discs covering the modern era. Long time readers know how much I love the game of baseball. This gift made me as excited as a child. I can’t wait to start watching it. I almost called in sick to work so I could stay home to watch the entire thing in one setting. Well, maybe after I start watching it….
Here’s what rocked this week:
The Wheatley Chronicle Talks About The Caravan
Over at The Wheatley Chronicle, I stumbled across an excellent article discussing the upcoming Dave Matthews Band Caravan. Greg Hermann does a great job of discussing the band, the upcoming festival, and most importantly the fans. And since he counts himself amongst them, he knows how great they are from a first-hand experience. I think the four Caravan dates are going to be some of the best things to ever occur in Dave Matthews Band history.
A Man, His Ukulele, And An Unruly Critic
Eddie Vedder has released his second solo album, this one titled Ukulele Songs. It’s, you guessed it, and album with nothing but songs played on the Ukulele. According to Jaymie Baxley at Slant Magazine, that’s not so good. However, what I really love about this is the comments section. Personally, I may have to get a copy of this and review it myself.
Blink 182 On Tour With My Chemical Romance
Teaming up for The Honda Civic Tour, it’s Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance. No word yet on when the new Blink album is coming, or if there even is a new Blink album, but tickets for their tour go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 103
Albums Remaining: 1950
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, taunts, chuckles, and some other useless trivia, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Here’s what rocked this week:
The Wheatley Chronicle Talks About The Caravan
Over at The Wheatley Chronicle, I stumbled across an excellent article discussing the upcoming Dave Matthews Band Caravan. Greg Hermann does a great job of discussing the band, the upcoming festival, and most importantly the fans. And since he counts himself amongst them, he knows how great they are from a first-hand experience. I think the four Caravan dates are going to be some of the best things to ever occur in Dave Matthews Band history.
A Man, His Ukulele, And An Unruly Critic
Eddie Vedder has released his second solo album, this one titled Ukulele Songs. It’s, you guessed it, and album with nothing but songs played on the Ukulele. According to Jaymie Baxley at Slant Magazine, that’s not so good. However, what I really love about this is the comments section. Personally, I may have to get a copy of this and review it myself.
Blink 182 On Tour With My Chemical Romance
Teaming up for The Honda Civic Tour, it’s Blink 182 and My Chemical Romance. No word yet on when the new Blink album is coming, or if there even is a new Blink album, but tickets for their tour go on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 AM.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 103
Albums Remaining: 1950
For more news, reviews, rants, raves, taunts, chuckles, and some other useless trivia, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Graduation Edition
Some important family graduations are happening soon. This weekend, my wife and I will be travelling to New York to attend my nephew’s high school graduation. He will be starting college in the fall and a whole world of opportunity awaits him. I’ve watched him grow from a boy to a man and to see him graduate from high school will be an enjoyable experience.
My daughter is graduating 8th grade in 3 weeks. She will be off to high school next year where the pressures are twice that of junior high. My wife and I are hopeful that we have prepared her for what the future will hold, but it’s always hard to know. Teenage girls aren’t much for more than one syllable answers - - - unless, of course, they are texting.
I remember my own high school years with a bittersweet fondness. High school was an awkward period of life for me, as I’m sure it is for most students. High school is where my love for music was really cemented, so whenever I think back to those years, it’s with a smile. I fell in love with many of the hair metal bands from back then. I also discovered a lot of classic rock bands thanks to raiding my mother’s and father’s record collection. It was the period where music really took a solid hold in my life and has stayed with me ever since. I hope that my daughter’s high school years will have her finding her one true passionate love, much like it did for me.
Here’s what rocked this week:
INXS Will Be On The Road This Summer
This was some of the best news I saw all week. INXS is going on tour this summer. It will be the band’s first time on the road in far too long. And the best part is that they will be playing near my New Jersey home. While there s no confirmation on who will be singing for the band, it appears that J.D. Fortune would be on the road with the band. According to the band’s website, J.D. Fortune is listed as the current singer of INXS with the dates of 2005+ next to his name. I hope J.D. fronts the band for this tour. Any songs performed from Switch would be a real treat.
Brian Johnson Released A Memoir
I did not even know the front man for AC/DC had a book out until I heard him come on the Opie and Anthony show (right after his appearance on The Howard Stern show). The book is a unique take on memoir telling as it deals with all of the cars that Johnson has had throughout his life. Along the way, Brian tells some amazing, memorable anecdotes that any fan of the singer or AC/DC is bound to love. Here is yet another book that I have to add to my never ending list of rocker biographies to read.
Rock On The Range Recap
Over at musicpix.net, they have posted a nice little recap of this year’s Rock On The Range. While I couldn’t attend the festival myself, this is a nice way to see what transpired, who performed well, and who was over the top. Maybe next year I can check out multiple festivals. That would be grand.
New Pop Evil Album Rescheduled For June 28th
Finally we have a new release date for one of the most highly anticipated records of the year (at least to cousin Ryo). I will be reviewing this album for either The Rock And Roll Guru or Hard Rock Hideout, so I will get to hear it, even if it I won’t be able to enjoy it after that. I’m just glad that War Of Angels has a new release date. Now I wish the record company would explain why there was such a long delay and why it happened the day before the record was released.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 82
Albums Remaining: 1,971
My daughter is graduating 8th grade in 3 weeks. She will be off to high school next year where the pressures are twice that of junior high. My wife and I are hopeful that we have prepared her for what the future will hold, but it’s always hard to know. Teenage girls aren’t much for more than one syllable answers - - - unless, of course, they are texting.
I remember my own high school years with a bittersweet fondness. High school was an awkward period of life for me, as I’m sure it is for most students. High school is where my love for music was really cemented, so whenever I think back to those years, it’s with a smile. I fell in love with many of the hair metal bands from back then. I also discovered a lot of classic rock bands thanks to raiding my mother’s and father’s record collection. It was the period where music really took a solid hold in my life and has stayed with me ever since. I hope that my daughter’s high school years will have her finding her one true passionate love, much like it did for me.
Here’s what rocked this week:
INXS Will Be On The Road This Summer
This was some of the best news I saw all week. INXS is going on tour this summer. It will be the band’s first time on the road in far too long. And the best part is that they will be playing near my New Jersey home. While there s no confirmation on who will be singing for the band, it appears that J.D. Fortune would be on the road with the band. According to the band’s website, J.D. Fortune is listed as the current singer of INXS with the dates of 2005+ next to his name. I hope J.D. fronts the band for this tour. Any songs performed from Switch would be a real treat.
Brian Johnson Released A Memoir
I did not even know the front man for AC/DC had a book out until I heard him come on the Opie and Anthony show (right after his appearance on The Howard Stern show). The book is a unique take on memoir telling as it deals with all of the cars that Johnson has had throughout his life. Along the way, Brian tells some amazing, memorable anecdotes that any fan of the singer or AC/DC is bound to love. Here is yet another book that I have to add to my never ending list of rocker biographies to read.
Rock On The Range Recap
Over at musicpix.net, they have posted a nice little recap of this year’s Rock On The Range. While I couldn’t attend the festival myself, this is a nice way to see what transpired, who performed well, and who was over the top. Maybe next year I can check out multiple festivals. That would be grand.
New Pop Evil Album Rescheduled For June 28th
Finally we have a new release date for one of the most highly anticipated records of the year (at least to cousin Ryo). I will be reviewing this album for either The Rock And Roll Guru or Hard Rock Hideout, so I will get to hear it, even if it I won’t be able to enjoy it after that. I’m just glad that War Of Angels has a new release date. Now I wish the record company would explain why there was such a long delay and why it happened the day before the record was released.
Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 82
Albums Remaining: 1,971
Monday, May 23, 2011
What A Long Strange Trip It's Going To Be
Heading down to this year’s M3 Rock Festival in Columbia, Maryland, I was excited for numerous reasons. One of those reasons was the thought of how I would be able to listen to quite a few albums. This excited me not only due to my love of music, but also because it meant that some more albums could be checked off the Every Album Challenge list.
I estimated that during the four-hour ride to Columbia, I could listen to approximately 6 albums (assuming an average of 40 minutes per album). That meant 12 albums for the entire trip. Figuring that I might put the satellite radio on for a baseball game at some point, I conservatively estimated 10 albums would be listened round trip. That thought made me very happy. That thought was also completely wrong. I was able to listen to 6 albums when it was all said and done. That’s right, 6.
Realizing this on the final stretch of the trip home, it dawned on me just how daunting a task I have taken on here. I have currently listened to a total of 74 albums since the challenge began a month ago. 74 albums a month is a pretty good number. However, when you consider the fact that there are a total of 2.053 albums to be played, 74 is barely a scratch. For the first time since I dove into this challenge, I’ve actually stopped to ask, “What have I gotten myself into?”
I know that the new Pop Evil record is due to come out sometime this year. It’s a fact that Kiss is working on a new record with an eye on a fall release. The Cars just released their brand new record (the first with Ric Ocasek since 1987). All of these releases are huge temptations. Yet, somehow I must cast temptation aside and plod on with the many, many albums that are already in my possession. It was hard not to run out to the store on May 10th when The Cars Move Like This came out. I was a huge Cars fan back in the day.
Warrant released Rockaholic on May 17th, and after seeing them live at this year’s M3, I KNOW that I want to own that album. And yet, I can’t. The best I can hope for is a review copy that I will be allowed to listen to just long enough to write a comprehensive review. Then it’s off to the side pile until after the challenge. Did I really think this challenge through before I took it on?
And yet, it’s not all bad. I have enjoyed the rare albums from my collection that I’ve been spinning. And listening to a block of hair metal bands in one chunk was nice. However, it still hurts that there will be no new Warrant or The Cars in my collection anytime soon. I guess that I will have to settle for listening to Cherry Pie and Shake It Up. I just hope they will hold me over.
Albums Listened To: 74
Albums Remaining: 1979
I estimated that during the four-hour ride to Columbia, I could listen to approximately 6 albums (assuming an average of 40 minutes per album). That meant 12 albums for the entire trip. Figuring that I might put the satellite radio on for a baseball game at some point, I conservatively estimated 10 albums would be listened round trip. That thought made me very happy. That thought was also completely wrong. I was able to listen to 6 albums when it was all said and done. That’s right, 6.
Realizing this on the final stretch of the trip home, it dawned on me just how daunting a task I have taken on here. I have currently listened to a total of 74 albums since the challenge began a month ago. 74 albums a month is a pretty good number. However, when you consider the fact that there are a total of 2.053 albums to be played, 74 is barely a scratch. For the first time since I dove into this challenge, I’ve actually stopped to ask, “What have I gotten myself into?”
I know that the new Pop Evil record is due to come out sometime this year. It’s a fact that Kiss is working on a new record with an eye on a fall release. The Cars just released their brand new record (the first with Ric Ocasek since 1987). All of these releases are huge temptations. Yet, somehow I must cast temptation aside and plod on with the many, many albums that are already in my possession. It was hard not to run out to the store on May 10th when The Cars Move Like This came out. I was a huge Cars fan back in the day.
Warrant released Rockaholic on May 17th, and after seeing them live at this year’s M3, I KNOW that I want to own that album. And yet, I can’t. The best I can hope for is a review copy that I will be allowed to listen to just long enough to write a comprehensive review. Then it’s off to the side pile until after the challenge. Did I really think this challenge through before I took it on?
And yet, it’s not all bad. I have enjoyed the rare albums from my collection that I’ve been spinning. And listening to a block of hair metal bands in one chunk was nice. However, it still hurts that there will be no new Warrant or The Cars in my collection anytime soon. I guess that I will have to settle for listening to Cherry Pie and Shake It Up. I just hope they will hold me over.
Albums Listened To: 74
Albums Remaining: 1979
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The First Albums To Be Purged
The Every Album Challenge is well underway. Although it has been slower to move forward than first anticipated, I am still averaging about 10 albums per week. With my trip to M3 happening this week, I expect to listen to a LOT of albums. It’s a 5-hour ride one-way, so that should help me get through several albums on my spreadsheet. Of course they will mostly be hair metal albums but that’s all right. They have to be listened to at some time.
Last week I tried to play some of the more obscure albums of my collection. I wanted to really dig deep and listen to albums that I haven’t heard in years, or since I bought them. Two of those albums were Greg Garing’s Alone and I Mother Earth’s Dig. Unfortunately for both of these albums, listening to them was bad news. They now have the humble award of being the first two albums to be purged from my collection during the Every Album Challenge.
Dig was an album that I originally picked up at a record show for a dollar. In 1993, I Mother Earth released this debut album and the lead single, “Not Quite Sonic” received a lot of radio airplay. I Mother Earth was one of the sweetheart bands of the early alternative/grunge era. “Not Quite Sonic” exploded on the charts and radio stations everywhere played it constantly. Naturally when I saw it a record show in the mid-90s for a dollar, I had to add it to my collection. I played it a few times, filed it away, and pretty much forgot about it. Until now.
While scouring my collection for some obscure records, I decided to give Dig a spin. It did not reach me on any level. The problem with Dig is that I just find it boring. Even the single it was purchased it for, “Not Quite Sonic,” hasn’t held up well over the years. While still an enjoyable song, it was not enough to make me keep the record in my collection. Overall, the album is just weak. During the entire time that I was listening to it, no excitement emanated from my being. At the end of the record, I knew that it had to go.
Greg Garing’s Alone suffered a similar fate. Also bought at a record show for a dollar, I was a big fan of this album’s first single, “My Love Is Real.” When I purchased the entire record, I think I played it once and then filed it. Pulling it out this week made me understand why it has been silent for so long. While the single “My Love Is Real” is still a solid track and the last song on the album, “Fallen Angel,” is grand, they are not strong enough to save the record from the fate that has befallen. The judgment has been made and Alone will also be purged from the collection.
I haven’t decided just what I will do with the purged albums yet. If anyone has any ideas, drop me a line.
Albums Listened To: 51
Albums Remaining: 2,002
Last week I tried to play some of the more obscure albums of my collection. I wanted to really dig deep and listen to albums that I haven’t heard in years, or since I bought them. Two of those albums were Greg Garing’s Alone and I Mother Earth’s Dig. Unfortunately for both of these albums, listening to them was bad news. They now have the humble award of being the first two albums to be purged from my collection during the Every Album Challenge.
Dig was an album that I originally picked up at a record show for a dollar. In 1993, I Mother Earth released this debut album and the lead single, “Not Quite Sonic” received a lot of radio airplay. I Mother Earth was one of the sweetheart bands of the early alternative/grunge era. “Not Quite Sonic” exploded on the charts and radio stations everywhere played it constantly. Naturally when I saw it a record show in the mid-90s for a dollar, I had to add it to my collection. I played it a few times, filed it away, and pretty much forgot about it. Until now.
While scouring my collection for some obscure records, I decided to give Dig a spin. It did not reach me on any level. The problem with Dig is that I just find it boring. Even the single it was purchased it for, “Not Quite Sonic,” hasn’t held up well over the years. While still an enjoyable song, it was not enough to make me keep the record in my collection. Overall, the album is just weak. During the entire time that I was listening to it, no excitement emanated from my being. At the end of the record, I knew that it had to go.
Greg Garing’s Alone suffered a similar fate. Also bought at a record show for a dollar, I was a big fan of this album’s first single, “My Love Is Real.” When I purchased the entire record, I think I played it once and then filed it. Pulling it out this week made me understand why it has been silent for so long. While the single “My Love Is Real” is still a solid track and the last song on the album, “Fallen Angel,” is grand, they are not strong enough to save the record from the fate that has befallen. The judgment has been made and Alone will also be purged from the collection.
I haven’t decided just what I will do with the purged albums yet. If anyone has any ideas, drop me a line.
Albums Listened To: 51
Albums Remaining: 2,002
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Spin Doctors - Pocket Full Of Kryptonite
Man, oh man! Whatever happened to The Spin Doctors? Their debut record, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite, is chock full of intense and incredible songs and yet after their initial release, this band went into obscurity. The Spin Doctors have released four studio albums since their iconic debut, yet most of those albums get no recognition. I’ll admit that I don’t own, nor have I listened to, any of them. However, Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is a record that stands the test of time. If you only own one Spin Doctors record, this is the one to have.
Opening with the amazing “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” Pocket Full Of Kryptonite kicks off with a fantastic song and doesn’t let up. Three massive singles are contained on this record. The aforementioned “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” and “Two Princes.” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” is one of the most well known songs of the 90s. With a great hook and a fantastic vibe, it’s not hard to understand why.
Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is an album that was recorded in a funk blues, slap bass style reminiscent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. While most of the songs are short, radio ready hits, the jam band influence can be felt throughout the album. For the last song, “Shinbone Alley/Hard To Exist” the band really cuts loose and jams throughout the ten minute epic.
Other forgotten gems on this album include “How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?),” and “Refrigerator Car.” These are some timeless classics that I haven’t played in years. I recently pulled this record out for the Every Album Challenge and I’m glad that I did. Having not listened to the Spin Doctors in many years, it was nice to give this album a spin and reminisce on the greatness that is contained within.
When this album was first released, I was just out of high school and taking a year off before I would enter college. Pocket Full Of Kryptonite was played a lot during that year. It was (and still is) a fantastic record that led me to a whole world of new music, as I slowly drifted away from hair metal and discovered new styles and sounds.
I’m surprised that I didn’t keep up with this band more after Pocket Full Of Kryptonite. Perhaps they hit the sophomore jinx, or perhaps I delved into different sounds and styles (most notable grunge rock) and just forgot about The Spin Doctors. Whatever the case, I should have given Pocket Full Of Kryptonite more attention over the last ten years. Hearing “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” after so much time really brought a smile to my face. And yes, I sang along at the top of my lungs. The people in the car next to me at the traffic light may have got a chuckle, but that’s all right. I was enjoying a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Albums Listened To: 22
Albums Remaining: 2,031
Opening with the amazing “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” Pocket Full Of Kryptonite kicks off with a fantastic song and doesn’t let up. Three massive singles are contained on this record. The aforementioned “Jimmy Olsen Blues,” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong,” and “Two Princes.” “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” is one of the most well known songs of the 90s. With a great hook and a fantastic vibe, it’s not hard to understand why.
Pocket Full Of Kryptonite is an album that was recorded in a funk blues, slap bass style reminiscent of The Red Hot Chili Peppers. While most of the songs are short, radio ready hits, the jam band influence can be felt throughout the album. For the last song, “Shinbone Alley/Hard To Exist” the band really cuts loose and jams throughout the ten minute epic.
Other forgotten gems on this album include “How Could You Want Him (When You Know You Could Have Me?),” and “Refrigerator Car.” These are some timeless classics that I haven’t played in years. I recently pulled this record out for the Every Album Challenge and I’m glad that I did. Having not listened to the Spin Doctors in many years, it was nice to give this album a spin and reminisce on the greatness that is contained within.
When this album was first released, I was just out of high school and taking a year off before I would enter college. Pocket Full Of Kryptonite was played a lot during that year. It was (and still is) a fantastic record that led me to a whole world of new music, as I slowly drifted away from hair metal and discovered new styles and sounds.
I’m surprised that I didn’t keep up with this band more after Pocket Full Of Kryptonite. Perhaps they hit the sophomore jinx, or perhaps I delved into different sounds and styles (most notable grunge rock) and just forgot about The Spin Doctors. Whatever the case, I should have given Pocket Full Of Kryptonite more attention over the last ten years. Hearing “Little Miss Can’t Be Wrong” after so much time really brought a smile to my face. And yes, I sang along at the top of my lungs. The people in the car next to me at the traffic light may have got a chuckle, but that’s all right. I was enjoying a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
Albums Listened To: 22
Albums Remaining: 2,031
Friday, April 22, 2011
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Earth Day Edition
Although today, April 22nd, is Earth Day, didn’t this day use to fall on April 21st? I know that it did, thanks to the song “What Are We Gonna Do?” by Dramarama. Come on, you guys remember that song, don’t you?
It’s April 21st and everybody knows today is Earth Day…Merry Christmas…Happy Birthday to whoever’s being born today.
Great song! However, I bring this up not to mention the fantastic song by Dramarama, but to note the change of date for Earth Day. When this song came out, Earth Day was obviously on April 21st! When did it change to April 22nd? What happened that caused the shift? Did we move the date of Earth Day around the same time that we declared Pluto is no longer a planet?
Today is also Good Friday. Did you know that this is the first time ever that Earth Day and Good Friday share the same day? That’s something to ponder. It’s probably because the date of Earth Day recently changed. I wonder if Dramarama can do a sequel to “What Are We Gonna Do?”
Here’s what rocked this week:
Is Acthung Baby Better Than The Joshua Tree?
Over at 3 Minutes, 49 Seconds, author Paul Allen makes that very statement when he claims that Achtung Baby is U2s greatest record ever. While I think it’s an amazing album, there is no way that it is better than The Joshua Tree. What do you think?
Rihanna Rules The Charts Again
With her tenth number one single, Rihanna is ruling the charts this week thanks to the love for her latest single, "S&M." Lady Gaga’s latest song, "Judas," is hot on Rihanna’s heals. Fans just love these ladies. I’ll admit that I like their music too. Most of their songs are just plain catchy!
Boo Hoo For Ticketmaster/Live Nation
A great post over at Blogs N Roses regarding the staggering losses that Ticketmaster/Live Nation took last summer due to a “poor summer concert series.” Awwww. I feel so bad for them --- NOT! Here’s an idea on how you can avoid a “poor summer concert series”---lower your prices! Argh! Ticketmaster never ceases to aggravate me.
Motley Wants You To Decide The Setlist
This can be very good or very bad. While I think it’s a wonderful idea to let the fans choose the setlist for this summer’s tour (via fan votes), it could lead to a very boring, greatest hits, no deep tracks, setlist. I hope the fans are inept enough to choose more than “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Kickstart My Heart.” Instead how about a little “Merry Go Round,” “God Bless The Children Of The Beast,” into “Helter Skelter,” and “New Tattoo.” That would kick some ass! Let’s hope the fans get it right. I’ve put my votes in.
Every Album Challenge Update
Records Played: 20
Albums Remaining: 2,033
It’s April 21st and everybody knows today is Earth Day…Merry Christmas…Happy Birthday to whoever’s being born today.
Great song! However, I bring this up not to mention the fantastic song by Dramarama, but to note the change of date for Earth Day. When this song came out, Earth Day was obviously on April 21st! When did it change to April 22nd? What happened that caused the shift? Did we move the date of Earth Day around the same time that we declared Pluto is no longer a planet?
Today is also Good Friday. Did you know that this is the first time ever that Earth Day and Good Friday share the same day? That’s something to ponder. It’s probably because the date of Earth Day recently changed. I wonder if Dramarama can do a sequel to “What Are We Gonna Do?”
Here’s what rocked this week:
Is Acthung Baby Better Than The Joshua Tree?
Over at 3 Minutes, 49 Seconds, author Paul Allen makes that very statement when he claims that Achtung Baby is U2s greatest record ever. While I think it’s an amazing album, there is no way that it is better than The Joshua Tree. What do you think?
Rihanna Rules The Charts Again
With her tenth number one single, Rihanna is ruling the charts this week thanks to the love for her latest single, "S&M." Lady Gaga’s latest song, "Judas," is hot on Rihanna’s heals. Fans just love these ladies. I’ll admit that I like their music too. Most of their songs are just plain catchy!
Boo Hoo For Ticketmaster/Live Nation
A great post over at Blogs N Roses regarding the staggering losses that Ticketmaster/Live Nation took last summer due to a “poor summer concert series.” Awwww. I feel so bad for them --- NOT! Here’s an idea on how you can avoid a “poor summer concert series”---lower your prices! Argh! Ticketmaster never ceases to aggravate me.
Motley Wants You To Decide The Setlist
This can be very good or very bad. While I think it’s a wonderful idea to let the fans choose the setlist for this summer’s tour (via fan votes), it could lead to a very boring, greatest hits, no deep tracks, setlist. I hope the fans are inept enough to choose more than “Home Sweet Home,” “Dr. Feelgood,” and “Kickstart My Heart.” Instead how about a little “Merry Go Round,” “God Bless The Children Of The Beast,” into “Helter Skelter,” and “New Tattoo.” That would kick some ass! Let’s hope the fans get it right. I’ve put my votes in.
Every Album Challenge Update
Records Played: 20
Albums Remaining: 2,033
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Early Musings On The Album Every Challenge
As most of you area aware, I embarked on The Every Album Challenge this week. I am charged with the challenge of listening to every album owned in my collection (2,053 in total) without repeating or adding any new records until the challenge is complete. While I just kicked off on Monday, I have already made a few observations worth noting.
The first thing that leapt out at me was music selection. I am hesitant to play certain albums because I know that I only get to play them once. Other albums I am saving to listen to before or after the M3 festival. I have been trying to select albums that I almost never listen to first and save the more favored albums for a later date. I’ve skipped over several albums that I want to listen to, because I know that once they are played, that’s it for as long as this challenge takes. That could be 3 years or more.
Of the 12 albums that I have already listened to during this challenge, 2 stand out in particular to me. They would be 4 Non Blondes, Bigger, Better, Faster, More and 38 Special’s Tour De Force. 4 Non Blondes are a band that I loved in college. I played their debut album a lot when it first came out. Then, after 1994, I kind of forgot about the band and that album. I don’t think I’ve listened to it in 8 years or more.
I was very happy to learn that it still sounded as great now as it did back then. I was reveling in “What’s Up,” “Spaceman” and “Morphine And Chocolate.” I even asked myself, why haven’t I listened to this record more? My only guess is that there are too many new albums that get in the way. Remembering how great the 4 Non Blondes were is one of the early rewards reaped from this challenge.
38 Special’s Tour De Force is an album that I picked up at a yard sale with a bunch of other cassettes for a dollar (maybe two). I think walked home with 30 tapes for a total cost of $2.00. That’s nice. I love yard sales! When I got home, I know I played this album once, because I played all of the new tapes to make sure that they worked. Then it got filed away and forgotten. It was one of those albums that I didn’t even remember I owned. So, last night, I put it on the old cassette player and let her rip.
From the opening notes of “If I’d Been The One,” I was hooked. Southern rock and roll done right, that’s the best way to describe Tour De Force. “Back Where You Belong” sounded incredible, probably because I had not heard the song in so long. “One Of The Lonely Ones” was a surprise treat that I thoroughly enjoyed. I even sat and read the lyrics as the song played. When this challenge is over, I am going to need to play this album a few more times. I thought it was amazing and I don’t know why it’s been so neglected. Sometimes albums just got lost in the collection. This challenge should help solve that problem.
Albums Listened To: 12
Albums Remaining: 2,041
The first thing that leapt out at me was music selection. I am hesitant to play certain albums because I know that I only get to play them once. Other albums I am saving to listen to before or after the M3 festival. I have been trying to select albums that I almost never listen to first and save the more favored albums for a later date. I’ve skipped over several albums that I want to listen to, because I know that once they are played, that’s it for as long as this challenge takes. That could be 3 years or more.
Of the 12 albums that I have already listened to during this challenge, 2 stand out in particular to me. They would be 4 Non Blondes, Bigger, Better, Faster, More and 38 Special’s Tour De Force. 4 Non Blondes are a band that I loved in college. I played their debut album a lot when it first came out. Then, after 1994, I kind of forgot about the band and that album. I don’t think I’ve listened to it in 8 years or more.
I was very happy to learn that it still sounded as great now as it did back then. I was reveling in “What’s Up,” “Spaceman” and “Morphine And Chocolate.” I even asked myself, why haven’t I listened to this record more? My only guess is that there are too many new albums that get in the way. Remembering how great the 4 Non Blondes were is one of the early rewards reaped from this challenge.
38 Special’s Tour De Force is an album that I picked up at a yard sale with a bunch of other cassettes for a dollar (maybe two). I think walked home with 30 tapes for a total cost of $2.00. That’s nice. I love yard sales! When I got home, I know I played this album once, because I played all of the new tapes to make sure that they worked. Then it got filed away and forgotten. It was one of those albums that I didn’t even remember I owned. So, last night, I put it on the old cassette player and let her rip.
From the opening notes of “If I’d Been The One,” I was hooked. Southern rock and roll done right, that’s the best way to describe Tour De Force. “Back Where You Belong” sounded incredible, probably because I had not heard the song in so long. “One Of The Lonely Ones” was a surprise treat that I thoroughly enjoyed. I even sat and read the lyrics as the song played. When this challenge is over, I am going to need to play this album a few more times. I thought it was amazing and I don’t know why it’s been so neglected. Sometimes albums just got lost in the collection. This challenge should help solve that problem.
Albums Listened To: 12
Albums Remaining: 2,041
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Where Does One Begin A Challenge?
I am preparing myself for the upcoming Every Album Challenge with gusto. As I think about not obtaining any new music until I’ve listened to my entire music collection all the way through, a big question keeps returning to my brain---where exactly does one begin this challenge? And by that, I mean, which record should I start with?
As I was crafting the rules for this challenge, I was pondering if there was a need to do this in a particular order. At first I thought alphabetically, but I knew that by the time I got to Kiss or DMB or Pearl Jam not only would I run the risk of tiring myself out on my favorite bands, but I would most likely bore the pants off you, my loyal readers. How many days in a row can you really read about all the Kiss albums that I own? I knew that alphabetical was not the way to go.
Then I thought about doing it historically. Start with the earliest release years of the albums I own and end with the last new release that I ever purchased in 2011. That, however, would leave us stuck in the 80s for a really long time. Eventually I would start posting things like “totally tubular” and watching re-runs of Square Pegs and The Wonder Years. That would most likely lead me to quit blogging altogether. I knew that historically was not the way to go either.
Then I considered doing it by format. However, vinyl is not portable and I no longer have a cassette deck in my car, which would mean that a majority of the CDs would get listened to first, and then we’d be stuck with vinyl delights in the summer and for winter break. And since winter is when I plan to listen to most of my Christmas albums, I didn’t think this would work out too well. Alas, format was neither the way to go.
After much thought, I felt the best way to approach this challenge (and thus give myself the best chance to complete it) was to do it randomly. This means that I can listen to any album in my music collection that has not already been listened to whenever I choose. This will provide me the most flexibility within the parameters of the rules and still create some versatility in my listening pleasure.
The date of the challenge has been set. April 18, Tax Day here in the US. I felt it was an appropriate day to begin a new challenge. Especially knowing I will once again be giving the government even more of my money. It’s a good day for a fresh start.
What album will I kick off the challenge with? Well, that’s still up in the air. I’ve given thought to starting with one of my father’s favorite bands (Fleetwood Mac). I’ve also given thought to starting with one of my mother’s favorite bands (The Moody Blues). And of course I’ve given thought to kicking it off with my favorite band (Kiss). However, in the end, I think it’s going to be Bob Seger’s Night Moves that launches the challenge. It was the first album that I truly loved and I can’t think of a better way to begin the Every Album Challenge than with that fine, nostalgic, friend. It will be hard to listen to it only once though, so hard indeed.
The challenge begins on Monday.
As I was crafting the rules for this challenge, I was pondering if there was a need to do this in a particular order. At first I thought alphabetically, but I knew that by the time I got to Kiss or DMB or Pearl Jam not only would I run the risk of tiring myself out on my favorite bands, but I would most likely bore the pants off you, my loyal readers. How many days in a row can you really read about all the Kiss albums that I own? I knew that alphabetical was not the way to go.
Then I thought about doing it historically. Start with the earliest release years of the albums I own and end with the last new release that I ever purchased in 2011. That, however, would leave us stuck in the 80s for a really long time. Eventually I would start posting things like “totally tubular” and watching re-runs of Square Pegs and The Wonder Years. That would most likely lead me to quit blogging altogether. I knew that historically was not the way to go either.
Then I considered doing it by format. However, vinyl is not portable and I no longer have a cassette deck in my car, which would mean that a majority of the CDs would get listened to first, and then we’d be stuck with vinyl delights in the summer and for winter break. And since winter is when I plan to listen to most of my Christmas albums, I didn’t think this would work out too well. Alas, format was neither the way to go.
After much thought, I felt the best way to approach this challenge (and thus give myself the best chance to complete it) was to do it randomly. This means that I can listen to any album in my music collection that has not already been listened to whenever I choose. This will provide me the most flexibility within the parameters of the rules and still create some versatility in my listening pleasure.
The date of the challenge has been set. April 18, Tax Day here in the US. I felt it was an appropriate day to begin a new challenge. Especially knowing I will once again be giving the government even more of my money. It’s a good day for a fresh start.
What album will I kick off the challenge with? Well, that’s still up in the air. I’ve given thought to starting with one of my father’s favorite bands (Fleetwood Mac). I’ve also given thought to starting with one of my mother’s favorite bands (The Moody Blues). And of course I’ve given thought to kicking it off with my favorite band (Kiss). However, in the end, I think it’s going to be Bob Seger’s Night Moves that launches the challenge. It was the first album that I truly loved and I can’t think of a better way to begin the Every Album Challenge than with that fine, nostalgic, friend. It will be hard to listen to it only once though, so hard indeed.
The challenge begins on Monday.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Time For A Change
Change, now it’s time for change, nothing stays the same, now it’s time for change --- Motley Crue
The time has come for change. For quite a while I have wanted to take The Rock And Roll Guru to the next level. This is not due to lack of enjoyment with the work that has been accomplished over the last two-plus years. It is more because I feel so much can still be achieved with this blog. You can go almost anywhere to get a lot of the information that I produce here at The Guru. While some of the commentaries and everything that’s in the Best Of section is a product of my best, unique work, The Rock And Roll Guru has moved away from what was originally envisioned.
Sure, all blogs and websites evolve over time. Sometimes their creators can make solid changes and steer the direction of the blog. Sometimes the blog takes on a life of its own and the creator rides the wave to see where it will go. That is what I have done for the last year. The blog has morphed and while I’ve enjoyed some of the changes, there are other areas that left me wondering if I could have worked harder to make it better. I’ve decided that now is the best time for me to step in and really take over.
With that being said, I propose a huge change in the format of The Rock And Roll Guru. Originally, this blog was started so that I might capture a memoir of every concert I ever attended. Anything else that was blogged was pure gravy. Now that most of my concert memoirs have been written, I knew there was a new direction that I needed to go in. With approximately 20 concert reviews remaining (not counting the concerts I will attend this year), the original vision of The Rock And Roll Guru is coming to an end. And now I am excited to start the next phase of this blog.
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to my music collection lately. 90% of the reason this blog exists is due to my undying love for music. I have amassed quite a record collection over the years due to my obsession. But recently, between record reviews and listening to a lot of my favorite bands over and over and over again, I’ve gotten away from my collection as a whole. I’ve forgotten what it was like to listen to multiple artists. I’ve even forgotten some of the albums that I’ve owned.
Recently, I decided to log my entire record collection to understand exactly what was in my possession. This was something that had been done years ago, but I lost that file when the disc went corrupt, and my collection has grown since then. So I went through the entire process once again from album zero and re-entered every album that I own into a spreadsheet. The net result was 2,053 albums. That found me asking myself, how many of these albums do I truly listen to? More importantly, how many of these albums do I truly enjoy?
I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’ve discovered a way to find out. With the changes taking place to the format of The Rock And Roll Guru, I am embarking on a self made challenge. The challenge is for me to listen to every single album that I own without buying any new music before this task is complete. I call this challenge to myself, the “Every Album Challenge.”
Why The Every Album Challenge?
Recently, I read a book entitled “The 100 Thing Challenge.” In this book, Dave Bruno, author and creator of “The 100 Thing Challenge,” decided to live his life for one year by only owning 100 things or less. While I could never live my life like that, I can do something similar in my music life. “The 100 Thing Challenge” was an inspiration to me. It caused me to take a closer look at my life and my stuff. The one particular area where I spend way too much money and acquire way too much stuff is obvious --- my record collection.
I feel that I do not appreciate my music collection the way I should. I own over 2,000 albums. Before I logged my entire collection, I knew that I owned a hell of a lot of music, but I didn’t realize it was that much. 2,053 is a LOT of records. And how many of them do I listen to regularly? How many of them have I NOT listened to in ten years or more? I probably haven’t listened to the vast amount of my collection in years. Eric Steel’s Infectious? I didn’t even remember I owned that one. Lenny Kravitz’s Lenny probably hasn’t been played since the year it was bought (2001). Jefferson Starship’s Greatest Hits is still in the wrapper for crying out loud! And yet, here I am, waiting for the next great release to come out so I can run to the store and buy it. It’s time to put an end to this madness.
The Sacredness Of Enjoying Your Collection
These days, it’s even easier to own hundreds or thousands of albums. With the internet making every album ever recorded just a click away, anyone can own a massive record collection in a matter of days (whether legally or illegally is a post for another day). Now more than ever it’s how we utilize that collection that matters most. If I were to truly sit and enjoy my massive collection on a regular basis, then all would be well and the Every Album Challenge would not be necessary. But I don’t sit down and enjoy my entire collection on a regular basis. I enjoy parts of my collection, over and over again, and the rest gets ignored, collecting dust, and taking up space in my home or on a hard drive. The Every Album Challenge is bound to change that forever.
How The Challenge Works
Let’s get the basics of the challenge out of the way right now. The purpose of the challenge is for me to realize the music that I already own and to find a way to appreciate my record collection, one album at a time. In order to do this effectively, I really need to listen to every album that I own and then determine whether it truly belongs in my collection.
The overall challenge is simple. I will listen to every album that I own in my collection without purchasing, listening to, or otherwise obtaining any new albums until the challenge is completed. Estimating that I can listen to approximately 2 albums per day, I can safely assume it will take more than 1,000 days (or just over 3 years) for this challenge to be completed. That’s a long time to go without any new music. Yet, that is really the purpose of the challenge.
A lot of music that I own, I had to have it when it was released. Then after listening to it for a couple of weeks to a month, it was thrown into the collection and forgotten. Even my favorite artist’s new albums like Kiss’ Sonic Boom or Pearl Jam’s Backspacer got a few spins, and then were quickly filed away. It’s a lot of money to spend for a small return. The Every Album Challenge is a way for me to take back my music collection and see larger returns.
The Rules Of The Challenge
Since every good challenge needs a set of rules, below are the rules I have set for myself. These rules must be followed during the challenge. If any of these rules are not followed, then the challenge will be considered a failure and I will be placed on a 10 year moratorium from obtaining any new music.
Here are the rules:
• I will listen to every album that I currently own in my collection as of April 18, 2011
• I will not listen to any album more than once
• I will not listen to or obtain any new albums during this challenge
o The exception to this is albums that I receive to review both here at The Guru and for Hard Rock Hideout (www.hardrockhideout.com)
. I will listen to those long enough to write a comprehensive review, and then the album will be placed aside until the challenge is completed
• I will mark each album as “listened” on my master spreadsheet once they have been listened to
• I must truly listen to the album, not have it on as background noise
• If after listening to a particular album, I determine that it is completely junk or something that I will never listen to again, it will immediately be purged from my record collection
• If I fail in any of these rules, the challenge will be considered a failure and I will place myself on a 10 year moratorium from purchasing any new music.
Can I still listen to new music? Sure, if it’s on the radio. I do have Sirius/XM, so I am bound to hear some new songs every now and again. I just can’t obtain a new album, or run online and stream a new album once I’ve heard the single. That would be considered a failure.
What Does This Mean For The Rock And Roll Guru?
Obviously, this challenge is going to be the focus of the blog for a while. Will I still be posting my concert reviews? Yes, until they are all complete. Will I still be reviewing new music? Yes, but it will likely be less for a while. New Music Monday’s will still pop up from time to time and album reviews will still be around, albeit less.
Will I still post Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup? Most likely, but there is no guarantee. The challenge may force me to stop reading about forthcoming releases as to avoid temptation, but I doubt it. I still like to keep my finger on the pulse of the music industry.
Will I still post press releases/upcoming concert information/summer tours/etc? Yes, but again, these will be considerably less. In the coming weeks I know that I am going to be blogging a lot about the challenge and how I am doing with it.
I will be doing my festival week series once again and I will continue with my How To… series as they are written. Elements of The Rock And Roll Guru will remain the same, but the Every Album Challenge is going to be the core focus for a while. I hope that you enjoy it and I hope that you will follow me all the way.
Come Join Me On My Journey
This is not going to be an easy challenge. Just off the top of my head, I know that Kiss is working on a new album, U2 will be releasing new music this year, Pearl Jam is bound to release an awesome live disc of their upcoming festival, and I’m sure that Dave Matthews Band will also release a live album from their four summer festivals. The Cars are releasing a new record in May, their first in over 20 years. How am I going to avoid the temptation of listening to that album? That is why it is called a challenge.
I am excited about the prospect of focusing solely on the music I already own and not rushing out to get the latest disc from (insert band name here). It is going to be quite a journey and I hope that you will stay along for the ride. I’ll be sure to update you as much as I can. The challenge begins on April 18th.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
The time has come for change. For quite a while I have wanted to take The Rock And Roll Guru to the next level. This is not due to lack of enjoyment with the work that has been accomplished over the last two-plus years. It is more because I feel so much can still be achieved with this blog. You can go almost anywhere to get a lot of the information that I produce here at The Guru. While some of the commentaries and everything that’s in the Best Of section is a product of my best, unique work, The Rock And Roll Guru has moved away from what was originally envisioned.
Sure, all blogs and websites evolve over time. Sometimes their creators can make solid changes and steer the direction of the blog. Sometimes the blog takes on a life of its own and the creator rides the wave to see where it will go. That is what I have done for the last year. The blog has morphed and while I’ve enjoyed some of the changes, there are other areas that left me wondering if I could have worked harder to make it better. I’ve decided that now is the best time for me to step in and really take over.
With that being said, I propose a huge change in the format of The Rock And Roll Guru. Originally, this blog was started so that I might capture a memoir of every concert I ever attended. Anything else that was blogged was pure gravy. Now that most of my concert memoirs have been written, I knew there was a new direction that I needed to go in. With approximately 20 concert reviews remaining (not counting the concerts I will attend this year), the original vision of The Rock And Roll Guru is coming to an end. And now I am excited to start the next phase of this blog.
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to my music collection lately. 90% of the reason this blog exists is due to my undying love for music. I have amassed quite a record collection over the years due to my obsession. But recently, between record reviews and listening to a lot of my favorite bands over and over and over again, I’ve gotten away from my collection as a whole. I’ve forgotten what it was like to listen to multiple artists. I’ve even forgotten some of the albums that I’ve owned.
Recently, I decided to log my entire record collection to understand exactly what was in my possession. This was something that had been done years ago, but I lost that file when the disc went corrupt, and my collection has grown since then. So I went through the entire process once again from album zero and re-entered every album that I own into a spreadsheet. The net result was 2,053 albums. That found me asking myself, how many of these albums do I truly listen to? More importantly, how many of these albums do I truly enjoy?
I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’ve discovered a way to find out. With the changes taking place to the format of The Rock And Roll Guru, I am embarking on a self made challenge. The challenge is for me to listen to every single album that I own without buying any new music before this task is complete. I call this challenge to myself, the “Every Album Challenge.”
Why The Every Album Challenge?
Recently, I read a book entitled “The 100 Thing Challenge.” In this book, Dave Bruno, author and creator of “The 100 Thing Challenge,” decided to live his life for one year by only owning 100 things or less. While I could never live my life like that, I can do something similar in my music life. “The 100 Thing Challenge” was an inspiration to me. It caused me to take a closer look at my life and my stuff. The one particular area where I spend way too much money and acquire way too much stuff is obvious --- my record collection.
I feel that I do not appreciate my music collection the way I should. I own over 2,000 albums. Before I logged my entire collection, I knew that I owned a hell of a lot of music, but I didn’t realize it was that much. 2,053 is a LOT of records. And how many of them do I listen to regularly? How many of them have I NOT listened to in ten years or more? I probably haven’t listened to the vast amount of my collection in years. Eric Steel’s Infectious? I didn’t even remember I owned that one. Lenny Kravitz’s Lenny probably hasn’t been played since the year it was bought (2001). Jefferson Starship’s Greatest Hits is still in the wrapper for crying out loud! And yet, here I am, waiting for the next great release to come out so I can run to the store and buy it. It’s time to put an end to this madness.
The Sacredness Of Enjoying Your Collection
These days, it’s even easier to own hundreds or thousands of albums. With the internet making every album ever recorded just a click away, anyone can own a massive record collection in a matter of days (whether legally or illegally is a post for another day). Now more than ever it’s how we utilize that collection that matters most. If I were to truly sit and enjoy my massive collection on a regular basis, then all would be well and the Every Album Challenge would not be necessary. But I don’t sit down and enjoy my entire collection on a regular basis. I enjoy parts of my collection, over and over again, and the rest gets ignored, collecting dust, and taking up space in my home or on a hard drive. The Every Album Challenge is bound to change that forever.
How The Challenge Works
Let’s get the basics of the challenge out of the way right now. The purpose of the challenge is for me to realize the music that I already own and to find a way to appreciate my record collection, one album at a time. In order to do this effectively, I really need to listen to every album that I own and then determine whether it truly belongs in my collection.
The overall challenge is simple. I will listen to every album that I own in my collection without purchasing, listening to, or otherwise obtaining any new albums until the challenge is completed. Estimating that I can listen to approximately 2 albums per day, I can safely assume it will take more than 1,000 days (or just over 3 years) for this challenge to be completed. That’s a long time to go without any new music. Yet, that is really the purpose of the challenge.
A lot of music that I own, I had to have it when it was released. Then after listening to it for a couple of weeks to a month, it was thrown into the collection and forgotten. Even my favorite artist’s new albums like Kiss’ Sonic Boom or Pearl Jam’s Backspacer got a few spins, and then were quickly filed away. It’s a lot of money to spend for a small return. The Every Album Challenge is a way for me to take back my music collection and see larger returns.
The Rules Of The Challenge
Since every good challenge needs a set of rules, below are the rules I have set for myself. These rules must be followed during the challenge. If any of these rules are not followed, then the challenge will be considered a failure and I will be placed on a 10 year moratorium from obtaining any new music.
Here are the rules:
• I will listen to every album that I currently own in my collection as of April 18, 2011
• I will not listen to any album more than once
• I will not listen to or obtain any new albums during this challenge
o The exception to this is albums that I receive to review both here at The Guru and for Hard Rock Hideout (www.hardrockhideout.com)
. I will listen to those long enough to write a comprehensive review, and then the album will be placed aside until the challenge is completed
• I will mark each album as “listened” on my master spreadsheet once they have been listened to
• I must truly listen to the album, not have it on as background noise
• If after listening to a particular album, I determine that it is completely junk or something that I will never listen to again, it will immediately be purged from my record collection
• If I fail in any of these rules, the challenge will be considered a failure and I will place myself on a 10 year moratorium from purchasing any new music.
Can I still listen to new music? Sure, if it’s on the radio. I do have Sirius/XM, so I am bound to hear some new songs every now and again. I just can’t obtain a new album, or run online and stream a new album once I’ve heard the single. That would be considered a failure.
What Does This Mean For The Rock And Roll Guru?
Obviously, this challenge is going to be the focus of the blog for a while. Will I still be posting my concert reviews? Yes, until they are all complete. Will I still be reviewing new music? Yes, but it will likely be less for a while. New Music Monday’s will still pop up from time to time and album reviews will still be around, albeit less.
Will I still post Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup? Most likely, but there is no guarantee. The challenge may force me to stop reading about forthcoming releases as to avoid temptation, but I doubt it. I still like to keep my finger on the pulse of the music industry.
Will I still post press releases/upcoming concert information/summer tours/etc? Yes, but again, these will be considerably less. In the coming weeks I know that I am going to be blogging a lot about the challenge and how I am doing with it.
I will be doing my festival week series once again and I will continue with my How To… series as they are written. Elements of The Rock And Roll Guru will remain the same, but the Every Album Challenge is going to be the core focus for a while. I hope that you enjoy it and I hope that you will follow me all the way.
Come Join Me On My Journey
This is not going to be an easy challenge. Just off the top of my head, I know that Kiss is working on a new album, U2 will be releasing new music this year, Pearl Jam is bound to release an awesome live disc of their upcoming festival, and I’m sure that Dave Matthews Band will also release a live album from their four summer festivals. The Cars are releasing a new record in May, their first in over 20 years. How am I going to avoid the temptation of listening to that album? That is why it is called a challenge.
I am excited about the prospect of focusing solely on the music I already own and not rushing out to get the latest disc from (insert band name here). It is going to be quite a journey and I hope that you will stay along for the ride. I’ll be sure to update you as much as I can. The challenge begins on April 18th.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
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