Category: Music (Page 22 of 38)

All Work and No Playlist: Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O’Connell’s favorite songs

June 20, 2011 /

Welcome to another installment of All Work and No Playlist. This week’s victim (we really do feel bad stealing all these iPods) is Taking Back Sunday drummer Mark O’Connell (far left, kneeling, in photo below), whose band has reformed with the lineup from their Tell All Your Friends days and will release a new self-titled album June 28. Says Mark: “We couldn’t be more excited about it.” Perhaps these 10 songs will provide some insight into the sound of the new record. Or perhaps not. He did put a Billy Joel song on here, after all, and we don’t see the band making the next “Tell Her About It” anytime soon.

“Battery,” Metallica

I remember the first time I heard this song, I couldn’t believe what was happening. I had no idea music like that existed. They are the pioneers of thrash metal.

“The Downeaster – Alexa,” Billy Joel

I am from Long Island — Billy Joel is from Long Island. He has Long Island pride — I also have long island pride. I want to meet that guy so badly, it hurts.

“Choices Made,” CIV

This reminds me of when I was in high school, and I was constantly pissed off at my mom. Every time I listened to this, I had that ‘Fuck you mom, I’m gonna do whatever I want to’ mentality.

“Long as I Can See the Light,” Creedence Clearwater Revival

This is the perfect ‘sit on the porch while the stars are shining’ kind of song. It reminds me of my dad, because he loves Creedence Clearwater Revival, and because of him, so do I.

“Forever,” Dropkick Murphys

This song makes me think of people that were close to me who died. Even though no one close to me has ever died. But when they do, I’ll definitely listen to this song. It makes me cry.

“J.A.R.,” Green Day

This song came out on the “Angus” soundtrack. I loved that movie and Green Day so much, and still love them to this day. It kind of hits close to home, because the kid was fat, just like how I was…

“The Science of Myth,” Screeching Weasel

Ben Weasel is an idol to me. It kind of bummed me out when he punched two girls in their faces (Ed. Note: Yikes), but the lyrics and music to this song are unbelievable.

“Reach for the Sky,” Social Distortion

It kind of sounds corny, but anytime I feel shitty or down, I put this fucker on, and reminds me to stop being such a pussy, and live life to the fullest.

“My Name is Jonas,” Weezer

I was on my way to visit my brother at Scranton University when I convinced my parents to buy this album for me. When this song came on, I was instantly in love. It reminds me when I started rebelling at 13.

“I Won’t Back Down,” Tom Petty

The album, Full Moon Fever, came out when I was eight years old. I’ve loved Tom Petty ever since. I’ve dealt with a lot of bullshit in my life, just like everybody else, and this is one of those songs that helps me get through to this day. Thank you, Thomas.

Music, Videos

R.I.P. Clarence Clemons

June 19, 2011 /

The music world lost a legend yesterday as Clarence Clemons died at the age of 69 following a stroke he suffered last week. Clarence was Bruce Springsteen‘s sidekick and the heart and soul of The E Street Band, and he’ll go down as the best sax player in rock history. He helped to define Springsteen’s signature Jersey sound with his epic saxophone solos, and like Springsteen he was a natural showman. The two of them were always in sync as they played off of one another onstage, both musically and when they were clowning around.

There was nothing like the drama of a Clarence Clemons sax solo, so no rock concert was quite like a Bruce Springsteen concert. His booming sax would put an emphatic exclamation point on many of Springsteen’s most powerful songs like “Thunder Road.” (see below)

Bruce issued the following statement:

Clarence lived a wonderful life. He carried within him a love of people that made them love him. He created a wondrous and extended family. He loved the saxophone, loved our fans and gave everything he had every night he stepped on stage. His loss is immeasurable and we are honored and thankful to have known him and had the opportunity to stand beside him for nearly forty years. He was my great friend, my partner, and with Clarence at my side, my band and I were able to tell a story far deeper than those simply contained in our music. His life, his memory, and his love will live on in that story and in our band.

Hopefully Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band will tour again, but it will never be the same without The Big Man.

Entertainment, Music

Friday Video – ‘Green’ two-fer: Dink and New Order

June 17, 2011 /

With “The Green Lantern” assaulting the multiplexes this weekend, we thought we’d do a themed piece to go with it. First up: Dink, a Kent, OH quintet that scored a modern rock hit with this little aggro dance number “Green Mind.” (Think Soul Coughing, but more aggressive.) Always loved this song, and watching the video now is so amusing. Look at how much fun those kids are having. Not sure they’d be allowed to mosh like that now. Bonus points to the band for sampling Kenneth Mars from the 1968 version of “The Producers” (the 1-2-3-4 count-off in German). And of course, for that great, great intro. “Frankly, I’m getting a little ticked off.” “Go to hell.” Awesome.

Second, we have New Order’s “Everything’s Gone Green,” where the remaining members of Joy Division were still trying to find themselves after lead singer Ian Curtis committed suicide. You can definitely hear the groundwork for “Blue Monday,” which would appear a year and change later, being laid down here.

Lastly, for no real reason other than to pretty up this post when it hits our Facebook page, here is a picture of New Order. You have to hand it to them — they were pretty indifferent to fashion and style trends, and that’s a good thing. It gives them a timeless look, and ultimately, we believe that is how New Order will go down in history. These songs are going to live forever.

Music, Videos

Friday Video – Death Cab for Cutie, “You Are a Tourist”

June 10, 2011 /

We’ll just go out and say it: Death Cab for Cutie’s Codes and Keys has been in power rotation since we got our grubby little mitts on it, and this is saying something considering we were mysteriously prepared to be disappointed. Not sure why — we just were. And then they gave us this. Thanks, Death Cab.

For a moment, it looks as though the clip is going to be one giant tracking shot, but thankfully they didn’t go that route. Still, it is kind of amusing to see this unassuming group of sensitive Northwesterners make such a big, splashy video. Go back and watch their clip for “A Movie Script Ending” again; do you think that band had dreams of large video budgets? We’re guessing not.

Here’s hoping the title track is selected as the next single. That song kills, though it does bear an uncanny similarity to Cat Power’s “The Greatest.” Ah, but let the lawyers worry about that.

Music, Videos

An okay evening at Spike TV’s “Guys Choice” Awards

June 9, 2011 /

We’re fussy about Red Carpet events here at Bullz-Eye central. That’s largely because as a lone, online writer you’re pretty much at the mercy of the publicity gods in terms of who you’re going to meet up with and you never know who that’s going to be. One condition we have is that we get to see the show/movie/what-have-you in question so, if all else fails, we can write about that or at least get a bit of entertainment and free food. In this case, that was a good thing. Not because we didn’t get to talk to anybody interesting, but because Spike TV’s “Guys Choice” presentation, which premieres on the network at 9:00 Eastern/6:00 PDT Friday is not your usual award show.

Right down to the sexy female dancers who liven up the breaks and its highly distinctive award statue, “the Mantlers,” it’s easily the most laid back and honestly silly awards show I’ve seen. It’s also the only award show we know of which contains R-rated profanity in one of its award titles: the “Funniest Motherf*cker” award, this year being given to Jim Carrey. It’s safe the say the show was completely irreverent about everything, except for its commendable commitment to drawing attention to the bravery and sacrifices made by members of our armed forces.

Speaking of Jim Carrey, the famed comic provided a remarkable bit of comedy dealing with the always absolutely never hilarious topic of..oh, Lord, we’d better just leave it alone. You don’t want to know. Carrey himself made it clear that children and other sensitive people were better off not hearing the routine before proceeding with a shocking and explosively funny performance, abetted by the sensitive stylings of violinist Neil Hammond.

More traditionally edgy and hilarious at certain points, but a lot longer, was a marathon bit by faux canine Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, aka comic genius Robert Smigel. The latter merited a bad on-camera review from Sean Penn who between this show and his criticism of Ricky Gervais at Golden Globes, seems to be developing a side career as a real-time award show comedy critic.

Mila Kunis at the Spike Guy's Choice AwardsJustin Timberlake less controversially proved himself to be, once again, no comic slouch, while promoting the charms of the co-star of his next flick, “Friends with Benefits,” the beautiful and talented Mila Kunis. Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards distinguished himself by simply being alive to pick up his award and being the innately humourous individual he is.

And so it went. I’ll have a few choice quotes from the show at the end of this piece. First, though, let’s talk about the folks we met on the Red Carpet.

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