Classic Rocky IV Soundtrack Blog from Mar 2006

This is pretty good stuff, I forgot I wrote a lot of these:

Saturday, March 25, 2006

My life is in shambles Current mood: disappointed I like many people have thought Final Countdown by Europe was featured prominently in the film Rocky IV. I love the song and I love the movie (I'm an American) and I guess that's what makes me put the two together. That and the fact that the song is seamingly meant to be in that movie. Alas, the song came out a year before the movie and I'm left re-evaluating my life. Here's some more Final Countdown facts: Trivia "The Final Countdown" was played at the closing ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. The song is featured prominently in the television show Arrested Development as the beginning to the character GOB's magic act. In 1999 the dance remix "The Final Countdown 2000" was released. It was produced by Brian Rawling, who previously had a hit with Cher's "Believe". In November 2005 the European Space Agency launched a probe called the Venus Express on an exploration mission to the planet after which it was named. Europe is finally "heading for Venus". The song is featured in the player introduction ceremonies prior to Detroit Pistons basketball games. Several artists and bands have made cover versions of the song, including Dannii Minogue, Geoff Downes, Laibach, Norther, Dispatched, and Vision Divine, as well as French-Canadian comedian Mike Ward. The song was number 1 on VH1's "Most Awesomely Bad Metal Songs" list and number 16 on VH1's "Most Awesomely Bad Songs of All Time" list. Japanese pro wrestler Keiji Muto used it as his theme song early in his career. Nosawa Rongai also used it as his theme song when he was known as Space Lone Wolf. Indy wrestler Bryan Danielson currently uses it as his entrance song. Indie-Pop group Of Montreal used a cover version of "The Final Countdown" as the introduction to their hit song "Wraith Pinned to the Mist and Other Games" during their Winter 2006 US Tour. Contrary to popular belief, the song is not featured in the movie Rocky IV. The movie was released in 1985, one year before the song was even released. The song is featured in the climax of the popular internet flash cartoon How to Kill a Mockingbird

Classic Top Ten Blog from May 2006 (My Fave)

Friday, May 19, 2006

7 Minutes in Heaven Current mood: accomplished I've been milling over long-ass songs in order to make a kick-ass c.d. The only requirements were that they were at least 7 minutes long and that they couldn't include live versions: if we included every song that a jam band does, then the hippies win. Here's what I think the top ten 7-minute-plus songs of all-time are: 10. In-a-Gadda-da-Vida by Iron Butterfly 17:02: The ultimate crazy-long better while high song. Plus, it was parodied by the Simpsons - that's gold in my book 09. L.A. Woman by The Doors 7:50: very underappreciated Doors tune, I had the choice between this and Light My Fire. I stand by my decision. Also, 'Cops in cars at the Topless bars' line is classic. 08. Jesus of Suburbia by Green Day 9:04: As far as I'm concerned, this song will only rise on this chart. Fantastic, complete song off of a truly complete album. Of course, I'm a total homer for Green Day. 07. Master of Puppets by Metallica 8:39: Metallica, the only band with two songs in the top ten and they could have had more. Just an all-out assault of a song from start to finish. Probably the hardest song on the countdown. 06. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd 9:08: I know, I know, this is one of the all-time favorites, but I think it's better live than in the studio version and it gets ruined a little bit by every hoosier and frat boy requesting it at every concert, regardless of who's playing. 05. Layla by Derek and the Dominos 7:02: Ends with a badass piano solo, and that's hard to do. Plus it was featured prominently in Goodfellas, a huge plus. On top of all that, Clapton is a god. 04. One by Metallica 7:25: Now we move into the land of complete songs. The slowly building to a ridiculous crescendo songs. The guitar/machine gun is brilliant. 03. November Rain by Guns N Roses 8:56: No other song ever contains two solos as kick-ass as the ones that slash lays down in this song. I think the video helps it out too. 02. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin 8:04: The 7-minute song that all 7-minute songs are judged by. It says a lot that the song with the most airplay year after year is 8 minutes long. 01. Hey Jude by The Beatles 7:03: One of the greatest songs, regardless of length, of all time. And the most complete song on this list. Na-Na-Na-Nananana. close calls: Light My Fire by the Doors, Paradise By the Dashboard Lights by Meatloaf, Civil War by Guns N Roses, American Pie by Don Mclean (way too overplayed) Greatest Songs I thought were 7 minutes: 5. Piano Man by Billy Joel 4. Money by Pink Floyd 3. Livin' on the Edge by Aerosmith 2. anything off Aenima by Tool - None of those songs are 7 minutes long? 1. Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen - This song is only 6 minutes long? This is a total fucking mind-blower.

Classic Blog about Screamo from Aug 2006

Hey Look, I got rid of Screamo! At least, I will take credit for it. For definitely is less than there was when I wrote this...enjoy

Monday, August 28, 2006

Screamo Current mood:Unenthused Let me tell you about the two lamest forms of music to come out in the last ten years. 'Emo' is short for emotional music and it's basically kids who were cut from the team and couldn't get girls, and as a way to combat that the sing about their feelings. There's a lot of pain and pussiness involved. Then, on the other hand, you have the 'Scream' music where you have the same kids who grew up shitty but their avenue is to yell lyrics to the point of unintelligiblity. Most quote-unquote 'death metal' bands use this tactic now. Well, now the two styles have combined. It's called 'screamo' and it requires no talent. I could lead a screamo band, I can yell with the best of them. At the front of this movement right now is probably Hawthorn Heights, a completely overrated band, that the teeny boppers apparently love. Is this really where alternative/punk music is right now? When I was a 'kid', we had Pearl Jam, Smashing Pumpkins, Soundgarden, bands with talent. Bands Raged Against the Machine, they didn't piss, moan, and complain their way to stardom. Here's Hopin this is just a fad. Thanks, Foxy

Classic Counting Crows Blog from Aug 2007

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Counting D’OHs Current mood: aggravated Let me preface by saying that the Counting Crows can still put on a good show... Now: After I left Sedalia, MO last night I felt uneasy (Usually I feel that way entering the city) I caught the Crows at the State Fair and it continued a disturbing trend in bands that I grew up with. You remember the Counting Crows, they were relevant in the '90's. Everybody had their first album, August and Everything After and apparently they've been playing those songs since it came out and they're a little tired of it. They did what could only be described as a speed version of Mr. Jones like 3 songs into the show and you could tell Adam Duritz was mailing it in. That's not that big a deal to me as Mr. Jones has never been one of my favorite Crows songs anyway. I'll tell you what are though: Round Here, Omaha and Rain King How many of these did they play? ZERO...Nor did they play their bigger recent hits like Accidently in Love or Big Yellow Taxi So, what did they play, you ask? Well, they played an amazing version of Long December, Hanging Around and a bunch of shit only diehard fans would even remember and let me tell you somethin'...Those two guys were not in Sedalia, MO last night. This lack of love for old school and new school fans alike harkens me back to the Red Hot Chili Peppers I saw last winter - Another stellar show because those guys are amazing musicians, but the list of awesome songs they didn't play is long, but distinguished (I know, so is your Johnson). Under the Bridge, Soul to Squeeze, Suck my Kiss, Love Roller Coaster, Parallel Universe, My Friends, etc.etc.etc Red Hot Chili Peppers not playing Under the Bridge is like the Counting Crows not playing Round Here and that's my point. I know you guys have had established enough careers to where you can pick and choose the songs you play, but there's certain shit you owe your fans and maybe I'm on an island here, but those of are two glaring omissions. That being said, let me know when you're coming to Missouri again...I'll be first in line to see you

Laziness

I'm working on some posts for later this week, such as best Greatest Hits titles, but for now I'm just going to post a couple of older blogs I did on myspace. Thanks,

Fox

Summer Concert Review

Seeing as how I'm flat broke and flat busy the rest of the summer, I assume my concert-going is done for the season.  I have gotten to see some winners already, however:  one of the few big bands left on my must-see list and a couple of old standbys.

Let's start with the Offspring.  I saw the mighty punk band at the Buzz Under The Stars Festival in Kansas City and they were worth the price of admission by themselves.  (Which is good because The Used and Taking Back Sunday left a little to be desired and I missed opener Alkaline Trio.)  The 'Spring blistered through a tight set of all their hits including Bad Habit (!), a stripped down version of Gone Away (Dexter on the Piano!), Come Out and Play, and just enough songs off their new album not to get preachy with it.  They closed out the night with Self Esteem, which was just fine by me, although my buddy was upset they didn't play Gotta Get Away.  Now with the Offspring crossed off, I just have Metallica to see before they or I die or they sell out for good.

Next, I saw Aerosmith for an astounding fourth time and they stopped a disturbing trend of getting progressively crappy each time.  After a yeoman effort from 3 Doors Down, a hefty storm rolled through ST. Louis and postponed the show about an hour, cutting into Aerosmith's playing time (and presumably their bedtime...I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin').  But the band stuck to their guns and played the entire Toys in the Attic album, which was great for old school fans like me, but confused the hell out of the teenagers that wanted to hear Pink and Jaded.  In fact, the latest song the band played was Cryin'...seriously.  Good Stuff but I wish it would have lasted just a little longer.

Last, but not least, I saw Rancid and Rise Against at Pop's in Illinois.  Well, actually it was the parking lot of Pop's, which is annoying because we had to park in the field adjacent to the venue.  Speaking of annoying, 'doors' opened at 5 and the opening band, Riverboat Gamblers didn't go on until after 7.  Needless to say, a lot of $5 beers were drank in that time span.  Riverboat Gamblers, beside having a ridiculously awesome punk name, were nothing special.  Then came Rancid (how the hell do they defer to Rise Against?).  This was the second time I had seen the O.C. outfit but the first time I didn't know Roots Radical from Time Bomb ( I know!) so this was the first time I could really enjoy the set.  And what a tragically short set it was. Obviously a power punk band can get a lot of songs in in 40 minutes, but the show seemed lacking a little.  So after the delay and disappointment of not seeing all we could with Rancid, we skipped out on Rise Against, who seemed to be putting on a good show, but that was beside the point...we saw what we came to see.

So, if I had to pick a favorite of the summer, it would have to be the Offspring, just because a lot of bands lose their luster over the course of 15 (!) or so years, but they were just as feisty and charged up as they always were and for that I tip my hat and recommend that everyone see them immediately if not sooner.

The Dr. is out