Pearl Jam, being my favorite band, I may be biased. Having said that, I think that even if you don't like Eddie's voice (as if that's possible) you have to respect the band's lyrics. Of course, that's just one reason, on a long list, why I respect them.
Lyrically though, they are on a different level. For the sake of this post, I'm going to focus on their new album, Backspacer. It is a short one, but it is still hard to pick a favorite song. So, if we're talking lyrics, which we are, Just Breathe is my favorite:
Yes, I understand that every life must end, uh-huhIt is just a beautiful, beautiful song that makes me think of my husband.♦DiggIt! ♦Add to del.icio.us ♦Add to Technorati Faves
As we sit alone, I know someday we must go, uh-huh
Oh I'm a lucky man, to count on both hands the ones I love
Some folks just have one, yeah, others, they've got none
Stay with me...
Let's just breathe...
Practiced all my sins, never gonna let me win, uh-huh
Under everything, just another human being, uh-huh
I don't wanna hurt, there's so much in this world to make me believe
Stay with me
You're all I see...
Did I say that I need you?
Did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
As I come clean...
I wonder everyday, as I look upon your face, uh-huh
Everything you gave
And nothing you would save, oh no
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave...
Did I say that I need you?
Oh, did I say that I want you?
Oh, if I didn't I'm a fool you see
No one knows this more than me
And I come clean, ah...
Nothing you would take
Everything you gave
Hold me til I die
Meet you on the other side...
Well, Pearl Jam's long awaited next album Backspacer is only a month away! Sept 20th 2009 to be precise. Mind you any length of time between albums seems long to me. They have released their first song "The Fixer" off the album and it is awesome of course.
Take a listen and don't be afraid to tell me what you think; unless it's bad, then be afraid, be very afraid.
With Michael Jackson's death it makes me think about all the artists who were "gone too soon". Of course there are the obvious ones, like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, but here's some loses I mourn:
Jeff Buckley- I was into a different type of music when Jeff Buckley came out, but as I've gotten older, I can appreciate the beauty of his music. I really think he was special. I hate that he died before we got to see where he could have gone. Sadly, he drowned at only 31 years old. That's how old I am now...so sad.
Mother Love Bone's front man, Andrew Wood. Mother Love Bone's member's Stone Gossard & Jeff Ament later came together to form Pearl Jam after Wood overdosed on heroin.
When I was in high school I had a Mother Love Bone video I would watch every single day. Even though I love Pearl Jam like no other, Andrew Wood's death still saddens me.
Shannon Hoon from Blind Melon. I loved them, especially him. He had everything going for him. I wish it would have been enough. Unfortunately, for those who don't know, it was drugs...again. It's certainly nothing we haven't seen before, but I wish people would learn from other's mistakes. It can happen to you.
This is a re-post. #1 artist, King of Pop, whatever you want to call him, this man was a genius. Kids today don't know that there was a time when he was the biggest deal in the world. He was my generations Elvis. I idolized him as a child. It is truly a sad day. He will be missed.
Michael Jackson. Say what you will about Michael Jackson, but don't forget that there was a time when he was loved by all. Until I see some actual proof that he's done what they accuse him of, I still love him.
The way I see it, if he did do those things, the parents are just as much to blame. I know I would never settle for money if someone hurt my child.
About Michael Jackson as an artist, he is the best. He is inspirational to say the least. He can dance like no one else and I love his music...always have...always will.
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When I say "instrumentals" I don't mean it in the pure sense. Rather I mean the instrument accompanying a song. I know from the get go people will have some different opinions on this, but here are my favorites:
Favorite Guitar: Pearl Jam's "Sad". This YouTube version is a little rough, but you get the gist. I could re-start that song thousands of times in a row just for that intro.
Favorite Drums: Toadies "I Burn". In the beginning, the guitar starts the song off right, but it's the drums that take it home. I'm a big fan of the 80's type build up in songs, but not a huge fan of 80's music. Thankfully, this is 90's music and I loved the 90's.
Sorry, I don't have a bass fav yet, but I'll keep looking. I'll keep you posted.
I know everyone's talking about Twilight because it just came out on DVD and so I thought I'd get on the bandwagon.
You can read my movie and book reviews on my blog RnR Reviews.
Having read the books, I know how it ends, but for the fun of it, the question is posed, "Team Edward" or "Team Jacob"? Well, as far as the movie goes, Rob Pattinson (Edward) over Taylor Lautner (Jacob) because Jacob is too young for me. They both are really, but Jacob looks illegal.
In the book, however, I might have chosen Jacob. He's more aggressive and he's warm. Edward is passive and cold...likable but as a human, who wants to snuggle up to a statue?
Of course, all of this is mute because after seeing Jackson Rathbone (Jasper) without the horrible white make up, I'm wishing he played a bigger part in the series. I'd so be "Team Jasper". Rathbone, like Pattinson also has a band, called 100 Monkeys. YouTube does have some stuff if you want to check them out.
Queen. Like the Beatles, Queen had an amazing run. Their songs are amazing and are still loved by everyone today just as much as when they first came out.
They're just one of those bands whose music brings people together. Whether it's in the stands at a game or in your car like on Wayne's World, you gotta love Queen.
The Beatles. It was coming just had to get my personal favorites out of the way. The Beatles, of course, are arguably the best band ever as far as on a wide scale. They were amazing song writers who influenced many and helped lead the way for a music revolution.
Unfortunately, The Beatles broke up in 1969/70. John Lennon was then shot by Mark David Chapman (Dec. 9, 1980), making a Beatles reunion impossible. While everyone knows Mark David Chapman killed Lennon, not everyone knows why.
Chapman had been a huge Beatles fan, but was put off when John Lennon stated that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus.". Thus his Beatles obsession conflicted with his religious obsession and Lennon ended up dead as a result. It was a sad end to something so great.
Lennon, himself, was not my favorite person. I don't necessarily respect some of the things he stood for, but I can definitely respect his impact on the music world.
That being said, I don't think The Beatles was a band made more famous because it ended. I know there's a theory that an artist becomes immortalized if they die young, but I think The Beatles and Lennon would have remained great either way, much like the Rolling Stones.
Even if you don't like the Stones, you have to give it up to them. Not only have they kept touring, but they also put out new music. Most older bands just play the old stuff, so I like that they didn't go down that road.
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Unfortunately, The Beatles broke up in 1969/70. John Lennon was then shot by Mark David Chapman (Dec. 9, 1980), making a Beatles reunion impossible. While everyone knows Mark David Chapman killed Lennon, not everyone knows why.
Chapman had been a huge Beatles fan, but was put off when John Lennon stated that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus.". Thus his Beatles obsession conflicted with his religious obsession and Lennon ended up dead as a result. It was a sad end to something so great.
Lennon, himself, was not my favorite person. I don't necessarily respect some of the things he stood for, but I can definitely respect his impact on the music world.
That being said, I don't think The Beatles was a band made more famous because it ended. I know there's a theory that an artist becomes immortalized if they die young, but I think The Beatles and Lennon would have remained great either way, much like the Rolling Stones.
Even if you don't like the Stones, you have to give it up to them. Not only have they kept touring, but they also put out new music. Most older bands just play the old stuff, so I like that they didn't go down that road.
Live. Now, I know that bands like the Beatles and Led Zeppelin were bigger bands, but this list is personal. I like the Beatles and can respect Led Zeppelin, but they're not something I listen to on a regular basis. So, please don't be offended. I know I'd be offended if I saw a list without Pearl Jam on it so I can understand. Just thought I'd explain my stance before I go on.
Anyway, about Live, I know everyone jumped on board with their Throwing Copper album, but I loved their Mental Jewelry album that came out before that. If you haven't heard that album, you need to. It's one of my favorites and will probably go on my lists at some point. All of Live's albums have been good though. I'm glad Chris Daughtry brought that back to light when he was on American Idol and sang Live's version of the Johnny Cash song, I walk the Line.
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Toadies & Burden Brothers. If you like Toadies, you'll know the front man also fronted the band, Burden Brothers. So, I include both bands together because the singer, Vaden Todd Lewis, is my real love.
I adore his voice and can't say enough good things about him. I love that his songs are twisted and even evil at times, with themes of revenge and angst. I have seen both bands live several times over and talked to the lead singer up close and personal. I can tell you these bands rock hard!
Now, if you're saying to yourself that Toadies sounds familiar but you can't remember what they sing, you gotta check them out on playlist or whatever music site you use. Toadies is recently back together and are better than ever. They are not on my playlist below because I reserve them for my "crank it up" list instead. I'm sure you can imagine why.
No, they may not be huge, but I prefer it that way. Whenever I discover a band early on and then they hit it big, it always ruins it for me. That's what happened to System of a Down. I liked them for a long time before they got big and then they just got played out.
Pearl Jam is, of course, the biggest exception. They blew up so fast I didn't even know what hit me.
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I adore his voice and can't say enough good things about him. I love that his songs are twisted and even evil at times, with themes of revenge and angst. I have seen both bands live several times over and talked to the lead singer up close and personal. I can tell you these bands rock hard!
Now, if you're saying to yourself that Toadies sounds familiar but you can't remember what they sing, you gotta check them out on playlist or whatever music site you use. Toadies is recently back together and are better than ever. They are not on my playlist below because I reserve them for my "crank it up" list instead. I'm sure you can imagine why.
No, they may not be huge, but I prefer it that way. Whenever I discover a band early on and then they hit it big, it always ruins it for me. That's what happened to System of a Down. I liked them for a long time before they got big and then they just got played out.
Pearl Jam is, of course, the biggest exception. They blew up so fast I didn't even know what hit me.
Pearl Jam. This obsession started for me when Pearl Jam first came on the music scene in the early `90's. I was living outside Seattle at the time and had already been turned onto Nirvana. I had also been a fan of Mother Love Bone whose members, Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament joined Pearl Jam after their singer, Andrew Wood died of a drug overdose (God rest his soul).
When I say obsession, I mean just that. They are the begin all and end all for me. You don't want to get me started on them because I'll never shut up. I did, however, just do a post on their re-release of Ten on my blog, R-n-R Reviews.
As far as my favorite PJ songs, I'll list them seperate. Until then here's my playlist (it's a work in progress):
Shut off my other playlist at the bottom of the page first.
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As far as my favorite PJ songs, I'll list them seperate. Until then here's my playlist (it's a work in progress):
Shut off my other playlist at the bottom of the page first.
Helena Bonham Carter, I love her for all the same reasons Tim Burton
(as the director and not the husband) does. She's beautiful and dark and offbeat.
Her resume says it all: Fight Club, Sweeney Todd, Harry Potter, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Big Fish. I mean these are some of my favorite movies of all time and she's been perfectly cast in each one.
Now she's set to play the Red Queen in Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter. How perfect is that? I'm so excited!!!
I recently watched, The Golden Compass and it just made me think about how unpredictable Nicole Kidman's films are. I didn't always like her, especially when she was with Tom Cruise, but she won me over with Moulin Rouge. Then she did The Others and The Hours, both of which I really liked. Not to mention Cold Mountain, which I loved.
Now one would think that, at this point, you can feel assured that seeing Nicole Kidman's name on a movie, means it's going to be good, but no. Then she does things like Eyes Wide Shut, Dogville, and Birth. Why? Why is she drawn towards these strange films?
It's too bad because I feel like she's on the verge of being really great; but part of being great is picking good films to associate yourself with. She doesn't have that part down yet.
That being said, she is still in my top 5 because, as I've mentioned before, I don't have a lot of favorite actresses. When I think of the ones out there, Nicole's high on the list, bad movie choices and all.
Anne Bancroft. I'm going to admit that I haven't seen all of Anne Bancroft's movies. However, I saw Night, Mother and was completely blown away. I cannot watch that movie without crying every time and I know it is because Anne Bancroft's performance. She is so believable, so genuinely good that it's mind-boggling. Of course, her bigger role was as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate, which was a great role as well.
The fact that she was married to Mel Brooks is weird to me because I don't see them together. Apparently they were together since the early 60's so it must have worked. Unfortunately, she passed in 2005. I was sad to see her go.
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The fact that she was married to Mel Brooks is weird to me because I don't see them together. Apparently they were together since the early 60's so it must have worked. Unfortunately, she passed in 2005. I was sad to see her go.
Glenn Close. This was hard for me because there aren't that many actresses that I really like. I put Glenn Close because she can play a bitch like no one else. She can also do funny (Mars Attacks!) she's great in period pieces, and she can also play a straight character (Sarah, Plain and Tall). She has good range and I respect her as an actress.
I love Damages and am so glad she's in it. In fact, she's probably the reason why I gave the show a chance.
Meryl Streep. Come on, you have to give it up to Meryl Streep. She’s been in so many great movies and she is always someone different. Whether it’s a different accent or a different hairstyle, she transforms to her character like no one else. I am always amazed how she can look so old in one movie, young in another, rich, poor, she is always believable.
My favorite Meryl Streep movies:
My favorite Meryl Streep movies:
The Bridges of Madison County & The Hours
Russell Crowe. As mentioned previously, he might have been #4 but for his cockiness. True, he has reasons to be cocky regarding his movies. He's made some great ones and he is an exceptional actor. However, I will always take humility over arrogance any day, which is why Kevin Spacey ranked # 4 On My Lists.
Still, I love Russell Crowe. He's been one of my favorites since I saw him in Romper Stomper, in which he gave an absolutely chilling performance as the leader of a skinhead group.
After that, I went out and saw every movie of his that I could find. All of which were movies he made in Australia; before he became famous here in the States. I especially enjoyed Proof with Hugo Weaving (Agent Smith from The Matrix and Priscilla Queen of the Desert fame). In fact, there have only been a handful of Crowe's movies that I did not love, including: Master and Commander and Proof of Life. In general though, I love his work and he is definitely not bad on the eyes either.
My top 5 favorite Russell Crowe films are:
- L.A. Confidential
- Gladiator
- The Quick and the Dead
- A Beautiful Mind
- Romper Stomper
What's yours?
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Kevin Spacey. I had a very hard decision to make for this spot. It was either Spacey, who I love; Brad Pitt, who I used to love more than lately; or Russell Crowe, who I adore almost as much as he adores himself. I, obviously, went for Kevin Spacey. Here's why:
Spacey has incredible range. He can be a psycho serial killer, a suave but shady cop, or just a normal Joe. He can be pushy, demanding, frightening, and yet meek and sympathetic. He can even do funny. I mean he can do anything. The other actors mentioned also have great range, but Pitt has almost turned me off since his split with Jennifer Aniston. No, his personal life shouldn't matter, but I haven't loved his movies since the break either. Crowe's cockiness knocks him down a peg for me. So that's where I stand with that.
I came across Matt Gunn's top 10 Favorite Kevin Spacey Movies which I thought was a great topic. Here are my top 5:
- Se7en
- American Beauty
- L.A. Confidential
- The Usual Suspects
- The Life of David Gale
What are yours?
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Johnny Depp. I think the phrase, women want him and men want to be him, was meant for Johnny Depp. His body of work is one of my favorites for sure. In all the movies he's done, there are only a couple that I did not like.
I'm not a big John Waters fan for one; and even though I love Tim Burton, I didn't love Ed Wood. Aside from that, Johnny Depp has had an astonishing career. Even in the movies I didn't like, I can see why he picked them and he, of course, did a great job in them. I've been a fan since the beginning (21 Jump Street) and I foresee myself always loving his movies.
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I'm not a big John Waters fan for one; and even though I love Tim Burton, I didn't love Ed Wood. Aside from that, Johnny Depp has had an astonishing career. Even in the movies I didn't like, I can see why he picked them and he, of course, did a great job in them. I've been a fan since the beginning (21 Jump Street) and I foresee myself always loving his movies.
Robert De Niro. Okay I might take some heat for this because I know everyone compares Pacino with De Niro. To me, there’s no comparison. Even though I don’t like De Niro’s attempts at comedy and prefer him as a bad guy, even his “bad guys” differ. His characters in Taxi Driver and The Untouchables are nothing like the bad guys he plays in Casino and This Boy’s Life.
He can play a romantic lead, a father figure, a confidant. He can be evil, mean, funny, sad, and sympathetic. A person who can go from Awakenings to Cape Fear is an actor and that’s all there is to it. Pacino wishes he was on the same level as De Niro.
As far as their recent collaboration, Righteous Kill, I hate to say it, I haven't seen it. I am just not in the mood for Pacino right now. I wish De Niro wouldn't have done it, but I think the problem is that there just aren't a lot of good roles for a great actor right now. I have been consistently disappointed by the movies produced in the past few years. Where's the Silence of the Lambs or the Cape Fear of this time? I'm talking about psychological thrillers with real bad guys. No Country for Old Men does not apply, before anyone even says it. yes, there's a bad guy, but I think that is the opposite of a psychological thriller. Read my full review of it here.
Point being, if there's a good role out there, De Niro can knock it out the park.
