It's time for another long blog post my dear reader, this time it's for the R's. The R's took me a little while to get through, but not because there was a certain artist I struggled to get through. With the Q's being so quick, and due to the fact that I wrote the post so quickly I wasn't far into listening to the R's before I made that post. Since that post was so short this one is coming almost three weeks later. The R's were very similar in length to the P's, featuring just three more artists and about four hours of additional length. There were a lot of great bands in the R's, and there was even three tracks on here that I contributed to the playlist. I won't draw out the introduction any longer, so let's get to the R's!
First up we have the classic 80's/90's rock band R.E.M, a band who's prolific career has spanned 31 years and is still going. R.E.M formed in 1980 in Athens, Georgia, and quickly gained the attention of the college and indie rock scenes. The band then broke through in 1987 with the song "The One I Love," which became a mainstream hit. The band then signed with a major label and began to tour arenas worldwide. As the popularity of Alternative Rock grew in the mainstream, so did R.E.M's popularity, which led to the release of their two most commercially successful albums Out Of Time and Automatic For The People, the two albums featured on this playlist. The singles from these albums went on to dominate MTV and rock radio, and were also featured in Major Motion Pictures. The albums were mellower than their previous work, departing from their previous harder rock sound. The albums highlighted both the guitar tone used by Peter Buck and the voice and lyrics of lead singer Michael Stipe. The band played a lot of their songs in the minor key, giving them a mellower/sadder sound than your normal tones. The songs were usually mid tempo mixes of folk rock, and rock ballads. After the success of the two albums the band's next album was a bit more of a return to their previous harder rock sound, but failed to achieve the same commercial success. I first heard R.E.M. when I was pretty young, I remember hearing songs like "It's The End Of The World (And I Feel Fine)," and "Losing My Religion" playing on my Dad's stereo. I know I was listening to R.E.M. before 1996, because I remember recognizing the song "It's The End Of The World (And I Feel Fine)" in the background of the opening scenes of the 1996 movie Independence Day. I always really liked their somber but melodic songs, I always liked it when they came up on the stereo. I still really like R.E.M, but I hadn't really listened to them for a long time before this blog. I had gotten these two albums from my Dad, but had barely listened to them since. I really enjoyed both of these albums, they're both full of great songs filled with loss, love, social awareness, and songs of general depression. I will definitely make more of an effort to come back to these albums in the future.
R.E.M. "Losing My Religion"
We have another multiple album contribution up next, this time it's from The Raconteurs. The Raconteurs are an American rock band based out of Nashville, Tennessee but formed in Detroit, Michigan. The band was formed out of parts of other previously successful bands, and was dubbed a super-group. The band features Jack White of the White Stripes as its biggest name, as well as two members of the Cincinnati, Ohio band The Greenhornes , as well as a personal friend of Jack White, Brendan Benson. The band formed after a jam session between White and Benson in Detroit, where they wrote "Steady As She Goes" which would become the first single off of The Raconteurs' debut album Broken Boy Soldiers. The two added the two members of The Greenhornes to the mix and The Raconteurs were born. The band gained immediate mainstream attention with the release of Broken Boy Soldiers in 2006, due in large part to the popularity of Jack White's other band The White Stripes. The band's songs immediately made their way on to rock radio and MTV, and right away the band was playing large festivals and opening for Bob Dylan. The band plays a blues infused style of roots rock, with tones and sounds that are reminiscent of the 60's and bands like The Beatles, not all the time, but on many occasions. Jack White is no longer the exclusive creative force in the band and it shows, gone are the loud fuzzed out guitar riffs and in are the crisper tones and slower tempos. Jack White is also no longer the only vocalist, the band makes heavy use of vocal harmonies throughout their music and White even gives up the lead occasionally to one of his fellow band mates. I first heard The Raconteurs back in 2006 with the release of Broken Boy Soldiers. I read about the group in music magazines and then heard the single "Steady As She Goes." I wasn't sure I liked the group at first, it was a departure from the White Stripes sound that I was such a big fan of. I liked the singles alright, but I wasn't sure I liked it enough to buy the album. My younger brother was convinced and had gotten the album so I heard a few more songs off the album and liked them enough to get the album from him, and also grab their second album Consolers Of The Lonely from him in 2008. Upon listening to the two albums again for this blog, I realized my appreciation for them as grown. What I was once unsure of, I am now a big fan of. I like that this group isn't just another version of The White Stripes, they're their own band with their own sound. I really like the mix of blues and rock and the multitude of musical styles conjured up in their songs. Jack White shines just as brightly surrounded by a full band as he does as just part of a duo. These albums for me solidify the musical genius that is Jack White. White has produced some of the best music of the 00's and doesn't show signs of slowing. I will be listening to The Raconteurs for a long time.
The Raconteurs "Broken Boy Soldiers"
The next three tracks are my first personal contribution to my iTunes. The next three tracks on this playlist are all recordings of my radio show at the University of Louisville's Radio Station WLCV, Radio Sabotage. Radio Sabotage was the name I gave to my show which I did for two hours every Wednesday night from 7-9pm. On my show I tried to play tracks you wouldn't hear on mainstream radio, sometimes the songs were just deep cuts from popular rock bands, but a lot of time I played indie rock and punk rock artists who weren't part of the mainstream. I didn't restrict myself to just those styles of music though, I also included classic Motown artists as well as some of my favorite Rap and Hip Hop artists. I would always open my show with the same song, my way of trying to tell anyone who had previously listened to my show that the previous show was over and mine was beginning. I started out playing The Beastie Boys "Sabotage" for the first couple of years and then switched it over to the Screeching Weasel song "Radio Blast." The tracks here were two shows recorded with the help of Andrew Williams, and a promo for my show created by Andrew from an interview featured in one of the recorded shows. Since the shows were two hours long both tracks are over an hour long. The first of the two recorded shows features an interview with the Philadelphia based band The A.K.A.s (Are Everywhere) who had just released their brand new album Everybody Make Some Noise the previous day. I start out the show with my normal opening song "Radio Blast" and then introduce myself and my co-host for the night Andrew Williams. The track then explains what that night's show will entail. For that show I played The A.K.A.s' new album uninterrupted and in its entirety, before getting to the interview. After the album finishes there are two separate interviews, the first is a twenty minute interview with bass player Justin Perry while he waited for his food at a Chili's restaurant and then second is a forty minute interview with lead singer Mike Ski. In both interviews the new album, and the recording process were discussed, there were also discussions on the future of the band, politics in music, and the world at the time. At the end of the show Mike Ski upon request said the phrase "What's Up Everybody? This is Mike Ski from The A.K.A.s, and you're listening to Radio Sabotage of WLCV!" and these words along with other snippets from the interview and music from the album formed the thirty second promo that was also featured on this playlist. The second track is just a regular show, recorded for posterity. The show features Andrew Williams, Mike Welch, and myself in the studio making jokes and playing music. During the breaks between song blocks we would comment on random observations of what we were seeing in the Student Center or whatever came to mind. I enjoyed being a DJ, but sadly it came to an end when I graduated from the University of Louisville in 2009.
After my one and only contribution to the playlist, we have or next artist to contribute a full album. Radiohead are a rock band based out of Great Britain. The band formed in 1985 but didn't release their first single "Creep" until 1992 and didn't release their first album until 1993. The song "Creep" gained worldwide attention when it was released on their 1993 debut. After that their popularity began to grow in Great Britain, and with the release of their third album OK Computer in 1997 they gained a wider international following. Over the years the album has been hailed as a landmark record of the 90's. Their next album, 2000's Kid A introduced new themes to their music such as electronics and continued to expand their popularity. The album featured here is 2003's Hail To The Thief which was also widely praised for its expansive use of different musical styles, the album featured lyrical themes dealing with the horror of war. Lead Singer and lyricist Thom Yorke has become one of the more recognizable figures in Indie Rock due to the general adoration of his band's music by most indie rock fans and music magazines. I first heard Radiohead when I heard the song "Creep" on Alternative Rock radio in the late 90's. I wasn't really aware of who the artist behind the song was until a few years later. Then in the early 2000's I began to hear more and read more and more about the band in music based media. So finally after hearing everybody sing their praises for years I decided to check them out, and I rented out Hail To The Thief from my local library. I didn't get much of a chance to listen to it when I rented it so I put it on my iTunes so I could listen to it later. I listened through the album and wasn't immediately struck by what I was hearing. Their sound was good, but just didn't really do it for me so I put the album on the shelf for a couple years and didn't listen to it again until this blog. Upon hearing the album again, I like it more than I did initially but it's not one of my favorites either. I enjoy the melodic piano driven rock mixed with electronics, and Yorke has a very nice voice but I don't love this album the way so many people seem to. I hear a sound in this album that most likely influenced bands like Clinic, and I enjoy that sound but just casually.
Radiohead "2+2=5"
Another full album contribution comes next, this time the band contributing is Rage Against The Machine. Rage Against The Machine are a Los Angles based band that formed in 1991 and quickly gained widespread attention for their ferocious/ aggressive/ politically charged style of music that mixed heavy metal, hip hop, punk, and funk. The band gained its greatest popularity with the release of their third album The Battle of Los Angles in 1999. Several of the songs from that album went into heavy rotation on Rock Radio and MTV, and songs like "Calm Like A Bomb" were featured in Hollywood Blockbuster Action Movies. The band is known for their radically left leaning lyrics which often featured themes dealing with corporate greed, social inequalities, and government oppression. The lyrics were delivered in lead singer Zack de la Rocha's distinctive shout that went from straight yelling to rapping and everywhere in between. The band also became known musically for the guitar work of Tom Morello. Morello makes heavy use of different guitar effects mixed with a method of playing called "tapping" to create his uniquely heavy but funky guitar riffs. I first became aware of Rage Against The Machine in 1999 with the release of The Battle of Los Angles. I heard some of the singles like "Guerilla Radio" and "Sleep Now In The Fire," and I really liked their angry/aggressive politically charged style and when my Dad got the album it was one of my favorites of the time. Over the years I would hear Rage Against The Machine here and there, but I hadn't listened to this full album in a long time. I finally burned this album from my Dad a few years ago. It was another couple years, when I got to this blog, before I listened to them again. Listening to this album again all these years later, it stands up. I still really like this album, so many good songs on this album it's hard to find a weak one. I enjoy Morello's guitar effects and Rocha's angry yell. Rage Against The Machine were a great band, and now that they're tentatively reunited hopefully they will be again in the future.
Rage Against The Machine "Renegades Of Funk"
The first one and done artist is up next in Rain Parade. Rain Parade were a Los Angles band involved in a part of the 80's Alternative Rock scene called Paisley Underground. The subgenre of Alternative Rock featured vocal harmonies over folk rock styles while sharing themes of psychedelia similar to bands like The Byrds. The guitar sound is nice and clean, with very little distortion on each strum and string pick. The vocals are harmonized from start to end, with very little solo harmony. The band was active from 1981-1986 and briefly reunited in 1988 to finish the album that was in the works when they split, but all members then moved on to other projects. I wasn't familiar with Rain Parade before hearing this song on Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80's Underground, and it didn't particularly stand out to me then. It's a nice little song, with some fun harmonizing but it's not something I see myself listening to much, even on shuffle I might skip it.
The Raincoats are next up and contribute two tracks to the R playlist. The Raincoats were a British Post Punk band which started in 1977 and broke up seven years later in 1984. The Raincoats fronted by Ana da Silva had a fluctuating line up for the first year of its existence, eventually becoming an all female post punk band in 1978. The two songs featured here are an original and a cover, the first song "Fairytale In The Supermarket" is a quick post punk tune about women thinking for themselves and not taking cues from old stories of how women should act. The second song is a cover of The Kinks' song "Lola" a song about a young man's encounter with a transvestite in a Soho night club. I can't recall when the first time I heard The Raincoats was, the name has some familiarity to it that makes me think my older brother may have introduced me to them at some point before hearing "Fairytale In The Supermarket" on Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80's Underground. I like both songs despite being quite different. The first is a more aggressive sound with a punk edge, but the cover is a very sweet and melodic rendition. I like these songs, but I'm not sure it's enough to make me look up more.
Next up we have the classic New York City Punk band The Ramones. The Ramones were a New York City rock band that formed in 1974, and whose sound, look, and attitude have been recognized by many as the beginning of Punk Rock. The band took influences from the guitar driven pop of the 50's, girl groups of the 60's, and hard rock bands like The Stooges and distilled the sound down to songs that rarely went longer than 2:30. They played a simple four chord style with a frantic tempo driving everything, this was the standard format for most of their early songs. They would play a variation of the same four chords, usually alongside a fast tempo drum beat. The band never achieved widespread success, with only one album in their 22 year career going Gold. Despite the lack of mainstream success in their time, the band has found greater success and recognition posthumously. The band is widely recognized as one of the founders of Punk Rock and as an influence on such punk heavy hitters as Bad Religion and The Sex Pistols, The Sex Pistols were formed after hearing The Ramones. The cover photo for their self titled debut album, the four members in jean jackets with sunglasses and long dark hair leaning against a brick wall, has become an iconic and instantly recognizable image. The Ramones' music has been used in numerous films, TV Show, and commercials throughout the years, and songs like "Blitzkrieg Bop" have become some of the most recognizable songs in rock and roll. I think "Blitzkrieg Bop" may have been the first Ramones song I heard, but it's hard to remember since I've been listening to them for so long. I grew up with my older brother listening to The Ramones, and as I got older I would hear their songs on the radio and in movies. I had enjoyed the songs on radio and in movies but I didn't get my first Ramones album until college, when I uploaded Rocket To Russia from the radio station. The album is a punk rock classic, with so many good/ iconic songs. I really like The Ramones and I can hear and appreciate the influence they had on other punk bands that I enjoy. The Ramones were punk pioneers and I will continue to enjoy them for years to come.
The Ramones "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker"
Another punk rock band comes up next, this time it's Rancid. Rancid are a Berkley, California based punk rock band formed in 1991 by Tim Armstrong and Matt Freeman, both former members of the ska punk band Operation Ivy (see The O's). In forming Rancid Armstrong maintained many of the ska musical elements that were present in Operation Ivy's music. The music, which features Freeman's bass playing heavily, is much more straightforward punk rock with quick simple chords strummed over a steady beat. The songs on top of being in the classic punk rock style featured catchy choruses that helped lead to the band's popularity at the beginning of the 90's as part of the 90's punk revival. The band fielded multiple offers from Major Labels, but in the end decided to stay with their independent label. The music is driven by Freeman's bass lines, with Armstrong's English accent sounding vocals pulling everything together. The first of the two albums featured here ...And Out Come The Wolves was the band's third and most popular, with three of its songs, "Roots Radicals," "Ruby Soho," and "Time Bomb," getting heavy rotation on MTV. The band's songs tend to deal with DIY (Do It Yourself) themes, criticize elitism in the punk rock scene, and populist politics. I first heard Rancid through my older brother, who gave me ...And Out Come The Wolves as a birthday present while I was in High School. I instantly fell in love with the album, and it became and still is one of my favorite punk rock albums. The songs are insanely fun and catchy both lyrically and musically. I really like Freeman's bass lines throughout the album, and I like how it works with the simple guitar chords of punk rock. I wasn't as big of a fan of their later albums like Indestructible which is also featured on this playlist. The later albums just don't have the same urgency, the same flare, the band's older and lost some of its adolescent anger. I will stick with ...And Out Come The Wolves for my Rancid fix. Fans of early Green Day and Offspring should enjoy Rancid.
Rancid "Ruby Soho"
Yet another full album contributor is up next, this time it is The Rapture. The Rapture are a dance punk band often associated with the post punk revival movement of the early 00's that featured such bands as Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party. The band formed in 1998 and gained initial success in 2001 when a track from their debut EP was featured in the 2001 movie The Rules of Attraction. The band's mixture of post punk sounds with electronica and dance music gained them a quick following and their 2003 full length debut Echoes received widespread praise and was named Pitchfork's album of the year. The band gained some play on MTV but then got eclipsed by other post punk revival bands like Franz Ferdinand. The band faded a bit from the public eye until the release of 2006's Pieces Of People We Love. The albums single "Get Myself Into It" got some MTV airplay and was a reminder that The Rapture weren't gone yet. I first heard The Rapture with the release of Echos in 2003, the band was gaining a lot of attention and my younger brother bought the album. I enjoyed the album when I listened to it with him, but I didn't actually get my own copy until a few years later, after I got the pleasure of seeing The Rapture in Cincinnati. I really enjoy their dance infused rock style, their songs are a lot of fun and something I will continue to listen to.
The Rapture "House Of Jealous Lovers"
The Raveonettes are a Danish rock band, and are the next full album contribution to the R playlist. The Raveonettes are a rock duo who's sound is characterized by an attempt to emulate rock and roll of the 50's and give it more of a modern twist. The band uses close two part vocal harmonies throughout their music, ala The Everly Brothers, but unlike the Everly brothers they use heavy distortion, driving rhythms, and write lyrics about such dark themes as crime, lust, drugs, murder, love, and betrayal. The band caught its break in 2002 when they played in front of a Rolling Stone magazine editor at a festival. The editor wrote rave reviews about their performance and it led to them being signed to a major label. The band has achieved some minor success, but not the breakthrough success that was expected of the band when they signed in 2002. The band has remained around the edge of the mainstream, being a name talked about by music magazines on occasion but one that's not widely known in the mainstream. I first heard of The Raveonettes before I actually heard their music. I had seen a lot of press in music magazines about the band and when I found a copy of the album Lust Lust Lust at the radio station I decided to give them a listen. I put the album on my iTunes and promptly forgot about it. I don't think I had listened to it more than once or twice before this blog. I enjoyed the album alright, it had a Velvet Underground and Jesus And Mary Chain sound to it. You can definitely hear the influences of bands like The Everly Brothers as well as the two mentioned in the previous sentence. The music is interesting, but not enough so to make me come back to it often.
The Raveonettes "You Want The Candy"
Up next is a soul music legend, Mr. Ray Charles. Ray Charles was an Soul artist who developed his passion for jazz music as a child and parlayed that love into a career. Charles learned to play piano at a young age while attending the Florida School For The Deaf and Blind after he lost his sight at age seven. Charles began his musical career playing with different groups around Florida. After a few years of this he decided to form his own band, he moved to Seattle and began recording his own material. Charles scored his first R&B hit in 1949 when the song "Confession Blues" went to #2 on the R&B charts. After his label folded he signed with Atlantic Records, one of the top producers of soul in the 50's. Charles achieved even greater success with Atlantic with songs like "I Got A Woman" topping the charts. He added a girl group as his backing vocalists, completing his signature sound. Charles became a cross over hit at the beginning of the sixties after signing with ABC-Paramount Records. He helped to integrate country and pop music, and was one of the only African American musicians to be given artistic control over his music. He was given a deal that gave him royalties and eventual ownership of the master recordings. Charles continued to record right up till a few years before his death in 2004. Charles has been hailed by many as one of the greatest artists off all time, and singer Billy Joel even called him more important than Elvis. I can't recall the first time I heard Ray Charles, probably because I was really young when it happened. I grew up listening to Ray Charles, my Dad was a fan and I became one. I love Charles' soulful vocal performance, and the backing harmonies from his singers. His music is so influential that it gets sampled to this day (Kanye West "Gold Digger"). He is a legend of soul and R&B and one of the greatest figures in modern music history. I can't foresee a time when I won't enjoy Ray Charles.
It was inevitable that this album would come back up after I've already smacked it around quite a bit in my previous posts, I'm speaking of course of The Blackest Album: An Industrial Tribute To Metallica. This time the artist butchering Metallica songs is Razed In Black. Razed In Black is an industrial, techno band based out of Hawaii. The band is mostly an underground act, not gaining much attention nationally or internationally. For the compilation the band covers Metallica's "The Thing That Should Not Be" and "Damage Inc." Both of them are fuzzed out, techno laced "remixes" of the original songs. I think it's apt that "The Thing That Should Not Be" is one of the songs covered here, because these are The Songs That Should Not Be on The Album That Should Not Be. The heavy fuzz and electronics completely drown out the underlying song that is being covered, if you didn't know the lyrics to these songs it would be hard to tell they were Metallica songs. I'll be skipping these songs when they come back up in shuffle.
A one and done artist is up next, this time the artist is The Real Kids. The Real Kids were a Boston based punk band active in the 70's. The band was founded by John Felice who was a founding member of the band The Modern Lovers (see the M's) but left before the band's only recording. The Real Kids play a straightforward mix of punk rock, classic rock ala Chuck Berry, and Buddy Holly. The band didn't achieve much success outside of New England and disbanded around the end of the 70's. I wasn't familiar with The Real Kids before my older brother put this song, "All Kinda Girls," on my computer. Even after he did I didn't listen to it until this blog. It's a nice little song with an interesting mix of punk and Chuck Berry. I enjoyed the song, and will do so again when it comes up on Shuffle but not really anytime besides that.
We have one more one and done artist before we get to the next full album contribution, this time the one and done artist is The Real McKenzies. The Real McKenzies are a band who formed at the beginning of the 90's in Vancouver, Canada and play a style of punk rock that is infused with traditional Celtic Instruments and songs. The band frequently takes traditional Scottish songs and updates them in the punk rock style. The song featured here "Smokin' Bowl" is a pop punk song with bagpipes infused throughout the song. The song features your standard punk rock chord progression, with a short guitar solo but with a bagpipe playing overtop. I wasn't familiar with The Real McKenzies before I picked up the compilation Rock Against Floyd, a free compilation available at Warped Tour through Fat Wreck Chords. I listened to the compilation a few times but then forgot about most of the songs on it a few years later, this song included. It's a fun song, I enjoy the mix of Celtic instruments and punk rock. The singer does his best to put on an accent but if he ever had a Scottish accent it's mostly gone in his singing. It's a fun little song, but I don't want to hear much more. I've got plenty of other Celtic inspired bands to choose from so I doubt I'll be following up with this band much.
The next artist on the R's is one of the most popular and best selling rock bands of the last twenty years, and contribute four albums to this playlist. The Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold over 65 million records worldwide during their twenty eight year career, and hold the record for most #1 singles on Alternative Rock radio. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were formed in 1983 by lead singer Anthony Kiedis and bass player "Flea," with two of their friends but Kiedis and "Flea" have been the only constant members. From its inception the band has played a style of rock featuring heavy funk influences mixed with punk rock and psychedelic rock. Their sound has evolved from album to album as the members became better musicians and incorporated more musical styles. Kiedis is a perfect example of the band's evolution. On their early albums Kiedis' vocal style was a mixture of sing-speaking mixed with "rapping," but as the band has grown he's moved to a more traditional vocal style with hardly any "rapping." Bass player "Flea" has moved from traditional punk rock rifts at the beginning of the band to funkier Bootsy Collins inspired bass lines. The band's guitar style has changed based on who was playing guitar on that particular album. The band achieved their first mainstream success with their fourth album, Mother's Milk, which went Gold in the US and reached number 52 on the Billboard Charts. The band's breakthrough success that launched them into the forefront of popular rock came in 1991 with the release of their fifth album Blood Sugar Sex Magik. The album featuring songs like "Give It Away" and "Under The Bridge" gave them their first #1 hits on Rock radio and launched them to superstar status. The pressure of fame was too much for guitar player John Frusciante who had joined the band just before Mother's Milk was recorded. Frusciante developed a heroin addiction and left the band in 1992, he was replaced by a series of different guitar players including Jane's Addiction's Dave Navarro who played on 1995's One Hot Minute. Frusciante would rejoin the Chili Peppers in 1998 after completing drug rehabilitation. The band's next album Calaforniacation, released in 1999, would be their greatest commercial success selling over eighteen million copies worldwide. I first heard The Red Hot Chili Peppers in the mid 90's, songs like "Give It Away" and "Under The Bridge" were still all over rock radio, and Blood Sugar Sex Magik was in my Dad's collection. In the late 90's I picked up the CD What Hits!? a compilation of singles from their first four albums. I really liked the CD and listened to it for a long time, and for a long time it was my only Chili Peppers album. When the band released Calaforniacation in 1999 I initially wasn't a huge fan of their new style, it was more straight alternative rock and less funk. I enjoyed the songs, but not in the same way as I had their earlier work. Over the past few years I've added more Chili Peppers to my iTunes, adding Mothers Milk, One Hot Minute, and Stadium Arcadium to my collection. I really enjoy The Red Hot Chili Peppers, especially their albums from the early 90's/late 80's. I love the mix of funk with rock, and Kiedis' "rapping" style. Their songs are a whole lot of fun and have had a large influence on the rest of rock and roll over the years. The song "Pretty Little Diddy" had its guitar riff heavily sampled by the band Crazy Town for their 2001 hit single "Butterfly." I will continue to listen to The Red Hot Chili Peppers despite my preference for their old sound over the new one, they're still a really good band.
Red Hot Chili Peppers "Give It Away"
A one and done artist comes to the playlist before the next full album contribution, the band featured here is The Red West. I couldn't find much information about The Red West, and I wasn't familiar with the band before this song. From what I can gather from a brief album description on Amazon.com, the band plays mostly surf rock and are signed by Atlantic Records. The song featured here "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear" is a classic Christmas Carol that comes to the playlist via A Santa Cause: It's A Punk Rock Christmas! The song was originally a poem that was then later set to music. It's a very tender song, and is covered nicely here. The song is updated with electric instrumentation, but the band did their best to keep the soft/tender nature of the song intact. I enjoy the vocals, they're a nice touch to the song. This song is one of the better ones from the compilation.
Another full album contribution is up next, this time it's from the band Refused. Refused were a Swedish Hardcore band that formed in 1991, releasing three full length albums and several EP's before breaking up in 1998. The band was heavily influenced by the sound of American Hardcore in the 80's and the leftist politics found in many of those bands' music. The band played a loud/heavy style of hardcore with lead singer Dennis Lyxzén moving from a yell on their early recordings to a hoarse scream on their later recordings. The band featured fiercely leftist and anti-capitalist lyrics. The band's seminal album was their third, The Shape Of Punk To Come: A Chimerical Bombination In 12 Bursts (usually just shortened to The Shape Of Punk To Come). The Shape Of Punk To Come is an album that has been cited by a large number of current rock artists as a big influence on their music. The album was a departure from some of their previous sounds and was meant as a challenge to the creeping influence of the mainstream in Punk Rock. The album featured small little "manifestos" at the end and between songs and relied more heavily on the rhythm section. The band would break up shortly after its 1998 release due to differing musical opinions. Dennis Lyxzén then went on to form The (International) Noise Conspiracy (see the I's). I was introduced to Refused by my older brother in the early 00's when he included the song "New Noise" on a mix CD for my Dad. I really liked the intensity and power of "New Noise." Although I enjoyed the song a lot and despite the fact that my younger brother had received a copy of The Shape Of Punk To Come from my older brother, it wasn't for several more years that I finally got around to listening to the rest of the album. I eventually put the album on my iTunes. I listened to the album once or twice before moving to other things, occasionally coming back to "New Noise," but not much else. Upon listening to the album again for this blog I regret this lapse in listening. The album is raw and intense the way punk rock was meant to be, and it gives you the urge to jump into a mosh pit. I plan on coming back to this album more often in the future. Anyone who like The (International) Noise Conspiracy should check out Refused as well.
Refused "New Noise"
Another one and done artist comes between Refused and the next full album contribution, this time the one and done artist is The Remains. The Remains according to their Wikipedia page were a short lived Boston garage rock band active between 1964 and 1966. The band were a local favorite and had a few local hits, even opening for The Beatles on their 1966 tour stop in Boston. The band has been described by some fans as a could have been great band, or a "lost band." The band was full of professional musicians so the song featured here "Don't Look Back" is very tight, with good production value. The albums tended to have some psychedelic influence to them. The song is a good one, classic garage rock much in the style of The Kinks and several other garage rock contemporaries. I wasn't familiar with this song before the playlist, it came to my iTunes via my older brother. I enjoyed the song, it's got a bit of Rolling Stones mixed with The Kinks feel to it. I enjoyed it and will do so again if it comes up on shuffle.
The next artist, The Replacements, contribute three albums to the R's playlist. The Replacements were a band that formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota at the tail end of the 70's. The band is often credited as the fathers of modern Alternative Rock. The band led by guitar player and lead singer Paul Westerberg played a style of music that drew influences from punk bands like The Clash and Classic Rock bands like Big Star. The band didn't play the usual fast tempo driven four chord rock of most punk musicians at the time, playing a more melodic sound full of harmony. The guitar sound tended to be less distorted and more straight forward, and Westerberg's vocals tended to feature effects that made them echo. Their lyrics were described as self-deprecating or "heart on sleeve." They alternated between up-tempo and slow sweet ballads. Songs like "Kiss Me On The Bus" have a happy feel to them while songs like "Here Comes A Regular" have something of a sad lament to them. The Replacements have been cited as an influence by many modern Alternative and Punk musicians including Green Day's Billy Joe Armstrong and John Rzeznik of The Goo Goo Dolls. I first discovered The Replacements around 2006 while working at WLCV. I had heard their name thrown around by a lot of Punk Rock fans, so when I found the album All Shook Down in the station's library I added it to my iTunes. I really liked the album from the first listen, songs like "Merry Go Round" really stood out for me and for a few weeks the album was on constant repeat. I liked the album so much I subsequently added the album Let It Be and the compilation double album All For Nothing/Nothing For All. Both albums were really good, and songs like "Here Comes A Regular" really stood out for me. I've listened to The Replacements several more times over the years and I continue to enjoy their music. Westerberg's voice has a wonderful timbre to it that really helps make the music. I would definitely consider adding more albums to my collection.
The Replacements "Merry Go Round"
The next contribution to the playlist is a band that contributes four songs to this playlist but does so under two different names. Since they went by two different names that happen to be similar enough to be next to each other on the playlist, I'm going to combine them into one entry. The band, from Edinburgh, started out as The Rezillos in 1976. The band was led by Eugene Reynolds and Fay Fife on vocals and were commonly associated with the punk scene. The band while based in punk rock included influences from Glam Rock and the Girl Group era of the 60's. The Rezillos disbanded in 1978 after Reynolds and Fife left the band, the two then formed The Revillos due to contractual conflicts over the name The Rezillos. The two bands were pretty close musically, featuring most of the same core elements mentioned above. The one The Revillos song featured here "Where's The Boy For Me" plays off of the girl groups of the 60's, featuring Fife backed by female vocal harmonies and a constant electric organ line. The Rezillos songs feature a back and forth between Reynolds and Fife on "Top Of The Pops" and solo vocals by Reynolds on "(My Baby Does)Good Sculptures ." In the song Reynolds declares that the reason he loves his baby isn't for "her pouty lips" or "her curvy hips" he declares that he loves his baby because "she does good sculptures." I first heard The Rezillos/The Revillos when my brother put "Where's The Boy For Me" and "(My Baby Does) Good Sculptures" on my computer. I later added the song "Top Of The Pops" when I was given No Thanks! The 70's Punk Rebellion by my older brother. I enjoy these songs, they're kind of cooky but a lot of fun to listen to. I will try to come back to these songs more than just in Shuffle.
The Rich Kids are up next with the song "Ghosts Of Princes In Towers" the title track off of their one and only album. The Rich Kids were formed in 1977 by former Sex Pistols bass player Glen Matlock after he left The Sex Pistols. The band has been called New Wave or Punk Rock due to their blending of power pop styles of the 60's and band's like the Who with punk rock. The band officially disbanded just two years after its inception in 1979. The song begins a looping effects laden guitar line and then moves into a simple four chord progression as the main body of the song. Matlock contributed backing vocals to Midge Ure, who's vocals also had effects applied to them to give them a bit of an echo. It's a good song, very much in the style of a lot of bands at the end of the 70's who took their main influence from punk. It's nothing hugely memorable in my opinion, but a good song.
Next is a band whose leader is credited by many as the innovator of the Punk Rock style that featured studded vests and safety pin laden clothing, this man was Richard Hell. The three tracks featured here come from his time as the leader of Richard Hell & The Voidoids. Richard Hell & The Voidoids put Hell in complete control of the musical direction, he had previously been a member of Television and The Heartbreakers (see The H's). Richard Hell started Richard Hell & The Voidoids in 1976 shortly after leaving The Heartbreakers. The band put out two full length albums before disbanding in the early 80's. The songs featured on this playlist are some of Richard Hell's best known songs, those being "I'm Your Man," "Love Comes In Spurts," and "Blank Generation." The songs tended to feature a steady drum beat at an up tempo, with simple chord guitar lines with quick solos laced throughout the song. Hell's vocals really stand out, he sings with a mix of earnest sincerity and indignation. I was introduced to Richard Hell by my older brother who gave me the song "I'm Your Man," which is still one of my top punk tracks of the 70's. I then got the other two tracks from No Thanks! The 70's Punk Rebellion, being two of the tracks that really stood out for me. "Blank Generation" is another one of my favorite classic punk songs. I really like Hell's vocals and the musicianship is done well. I will enjoy these songs for a long time, and may eventually pick up one of the band's two albums.
After Richard Hell comes a two song contribution from The Righteous Brothers. The Righteous Brothers were a Soul Music duo consisting of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield. The two began in as part of a five man band called Paramours in 1962 but struck out on their own just a year later. The duo got their first hit song in 1965 with the song "You've Lost That Loving Feeling," a soulful track produced by Phil Spector using his Wall of Sound recording style. The band recorded several more hits with Spector before leaving the label. The duo would score another hit just before they split in 1968. The duo reformed six years later and had a series of minor hits in the 70's and 80's. Medley had some solo success, especially when he recorded the duet "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" which was featured in the movie Dirty Dancing. The duo was described as being "blue eyed soul" and featured the interplay of Medley's bass and Hatfield's tenor. "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" was a radio smash and is one of the group's most popular songs. I don't recall the first time I heard The Righteous Brothers, but I'm guessing it was from my Dad. I love the soulful vocals of Medley and Hatfield, their voices full of tenderness and emotion. The two tracks featured here are two of my favorite soul songs. I enjoy these tracks, but I think I'll just stick with these two.
Rise Against are the next band on the playlist, and they contribute a significant chunk to the playlist having six full albums on the playlist. Rise Against are a melodic hardcore band from Chicago, Illinois who formed in 1999. Rise Against's first two albums were on NOFX front man Fat Mike's Fat Wreck Chords label. The albums, 2001's The Unraveling and 2003 Revolutions Per Minute were met with great underground success, enough so that major labels took notice. The band's first major label release was 2004's Siren Song of the Counter Culture and it gave the band it's big break. The album went Gold, and the lead singles "Give It All" and "Swing Life Away" got considerable rotation on rock radio. The band achieved even greater success with the release of 2006's The Sufferer & The Witness, which debuted at #10 on the Billboard charts and went Gold. The album's singles "Ready To Fall" and "Prayer Of The Refugee," both received heavy radio play at well as heavy rotation on MTV. The band's popularity continued to grow with the release of 2008's Appeal To Reason, the album debuted at #3 and went Gold in the US and Platinum in Canada. Then earlier this year in March the band released their sixth studio album Endgame, the album driven by the single "Help Is On The Way" debuted at #2 in the US and #1 in Canada. The band plays a more melodic version of hardcore punk, keeping the hoarse yells of hardcore and some of the same chord progressions, but those are mixed with driving bass lines and backing vocal harmonies. The band has become known for including big hooks in their newer songs, songs with big sing along choruses. The band's lyrics deal with political issues and social injustices. "Help Is On The Way" is about the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, and "Ready To Fall" deals with cruelty to animals and deforestation (the band is involved with PETA). The band receives significant radio airplay, "Help Is On The Way" has been on repeat on most stations since January 2011 and the song "Savior" from Appeal To Reason is still on heavy rotation three years after the album's release. I first heard Rise Against in 2004 with the release of Siren Song of the Counter Culture, I heard "Give It All" on Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 and on the radio and really liked the song. After listening to the entire album, they instantly became one of my favorite bands. After enjoying the album for a while I decided to purchase their earlier albums. I purchased The Unraveling and Revolutions Per Minute and my appreciation for this band only grew. The first two albums aren't quite as catchy, don't have the same big hooks but that didn't stop them from being great. After enjoying those three albums so much, I've purchased every album since. I really like lead singer Tim McIlrath's voice, it's got a really nice husky quality to it, one that is full of emotion that allows him to express his point in earnest. The music has gotten slightly less complicated with big hooks inserted throughout, but I still enjoy what they do. I like the thoughtful lyrics as well. Even if Rise Against gets more Alternative Rock than they already are, I think I will continue to enjoy this band.
Rise Against "Give It All"
Robert Randolph and the Family Band come after Rise Against, contributing two albums to the playlist. Robert Randolph grew up laying Pedal Steel guitar at his Pentecostal Church, and was discovered at a convention of Pedal Steel players. Randolph began to discover more secular music after being signed to a record contract, and his music began to take influences from Earth, Wind, and Fire and Sly & The Family Stone. In 2001 Randolph formed The Family Band with several of his "cousins" making up his backing band. The band started out touring with The North Mississippi Allstars before releasing their first album in 2002, a live album. The band's first studio album, 2003's Unclassified, attracted the attention of blues guitar legend Eric Clapton. Clapton invited the band to be his opening act on tour and then played on the band's next album, 2006's Colorblind. The band's songs have been heavily featured in promos for shows on NBC and ABC, and as part of NBA promos. They've also had the song "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That" featured in movies like Stomp The Yard. The band has also become known for their high energy live performances in which Randolph dances around the stage, sometimes completely leaving his pedal steel to do so. Randolph likes to make sure everyone is having a good time, and dancing along. The band's song draw on funk and soul music, generally being quick tempo songs featuring themes about equality, having a good time, and god. I first heard Robert Randolph and the Family Band back in 2006 when I saw the video for "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That." I really liked the song and continued to watch the video for a long time on YouTube. I eventually added Unclassified to my iTunes after I found it at my local library. Shortly thereafter, I added Colorblind which featured "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That." I really liked the funky yet soulful sound of the band, and I hadn't heard to many bands who played this style with a pedal steel guitar as the lead instrument. I really enjoy both albums, they're a lot of fun to listen to, and I will be coming back to them often.
Robert Randolph And The Family Band "Ain't Nothing Wrong With That"
We get away from the full album contributions again after Robert Randolph, this time starting with Roberta Flack. Roberta Flack is an American soul/R&B singer who rose to fame in the 70's with a series of hit singles. Roberta Flack gained popularity in 1972 after Clint Eastwood chose the song "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face," for the soundtrack of the movie Play Misty With Me. The song went to #1 and one the Grammy for Album Of The Year in 1972. The next year Flack released another number one hit, this time with the song "Killing Me Softly With His Song." The song was a cover, but quickly became more popular than the original. The song won Flack the 1973 Grammy for Album of the Year. Flack would score a string of hits in the 70's and influence a generation of R&B singers. Her version of "Killing Me Softly With His Song" is the most well known version, with the Fugees cover of the song being the second. I can't recall which of these two songs I heard first, but I remember them both from when I was young. It was young enough that I was able to recognize The Fugees' version from 1995 as a cover. I love Flack's voice, it's just so rich and full of emotion. These two songs are two of my favorites, Roberta Flack is a great talent that I will enjoy for a long time.
The next one and done artist is Robyn Hitchcock & The Egyptians. Robyn Hitchcock formerly of the band The Soft Boys formed the band in 1984 after four years as a solo artist. The band featured a few former members of The Soft Boys. The band broke up ten years later, calling it quits in 1994. The band played what was sometimes called psychedelic punk, with lyrics that included themes of surrealism, and melancholy depictions of life. The music itself was in the new wave style of the mid 80's, with looping guitar lines played on the higher notes of the neck. The song featured here "Madonna of the Wasps" is an interesting song that starts out with a chant like question "Is this love?" Hitchcock's voice is very similar to other British vocalists at the time, the same slightly droll sound. I wasn't familiar with this song before hearing it on Left Of The Dial: Dispatches From The 80's Underground. Even after hearing it on the compilation I forgot about it, I don't come back to individual tracks often and it wasn't memorable enough to cause me to make an exception. It's a good song, and enjoyable enough but not really the type of song I'd listen to consistently.
Another one and done artist is up next, this time it's Rockpile. Rockpile were a British rock band active at the end of the 70's and the beginning of the 80's. The band played a style of music that was a combination of the classic rockabilly of the 50's and power pop. This style was credited as an influence on the New Wave movement that would follow shortly after their break up. The band only released one album as Rockpile, the other three albums were considered solo albums, two for Dave Edmunds and one for Nick Lowe. Both artists were both under solo contracts so the music was recorded with the full band but released as solo albums to complete their contracts and allow them to focus on Rockpile. The song featured here "Teacher Teacher," is a fun little song. Edmunds vocals go from a sing song speech to more melodic straight forward vocals. The song has a fun little beat that makes it a nice listen. I wasn't familiar with Rockpile before this blog, and I'll probably forget about them again after the blog. The song is a lot of fun, and I like it, but being only a single track it will probably fall through the cracks.
The Energizer Bunnies of rock are up next in The Rolling Stones. The Rolling Stones are a British rock band whose career will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2012. The Rolling Stones are one of the most well known rock bands in the world, with more than eight number one records and an estimated two hundred million plus records sold to date. The Rolling Stones started off covering old blues songs by artists like Muddy Waters, but they would play the occasional rock song as well. The band led by singer Mick Jagger and lead guitar player Keith Richards were signed to Decca Records in the hopes that they would be the next Beatles. The band's first album contained only three original tracks. The band began charting in the UK with the album and developed enough of a following to tour the US. The band's second album is what began their rise to the mainstream, the album went top 10 in the UK and US. The band toured the US as part of the British Invasion movement of the mid 60's. The band gained a greater following in the US, and greater album sales worldwide. From there The Rolling Stones went on to record twenty more albums and grow their legend as one of the greatest rock bands off all time. Even the most casual of rock fans know who The Rolling Stones are and can name Keith Richards and Mick Jagger as members. Jagger's vocals and trademark strut have become iconic in the world of rock and roll. I can't recall the first time I heard The Rolling Stones, but like a lot of classic artists I imagine it was at a very young age. I've always enjoyed The Rolling Stones, but I've never felt the need to have an entire album. I've heard so many songs over the years, so many times, that I don't really feel the need to have one. I enjoy Jagger's voice and Richards' guitar work as the mix classic blues with rock and roll. I will continue to enjoy The Rolling Stones, just not in album form.
The Romantics are the next artist on the playlist, and are yet another one and done artist. The Romantics were a pop punk/ garage rock band which formed at the end of the 70's, and despite a few lineup changes is still active. The band's sound drew influences from the sound of the British Invasion of the 60's, garage rock and power pop. The resulting sound was very catchy but still had the raw feeling of garage rock. The band achieved moderate success in the 80's with several songs making it onto the charts, but never gaining the number one spot. One of their most popular songs, the one featured here, is "What I Like About You" which has been a staple in movies and classic rock radio. I'm not sure when it was, but the first song I heard by The Romantics was "What I Like About You." I really like the song, it's a garage rock classic. The song has a fun vibe to it as he goes into detail about what it is he like about "you." I'm not really familiar with any songs by The Romantics besides this one, but this is a great one to be familiar with.
The final one and done artist before the next full album contribution is The Ronettes. The Ronettes were one of the most popular girl groups of the 1960's, and were signed by and produced by Phil Spector. The group of two sisters and their cousin were discovered performing in their home of Spanish Harlem. The group became one of the most popular of the 60's with five top forty hits. The song featured here "Be My Baby," is one of their most well known. It's got that classic girl group formula, featuring one girl above the others with a band behind them. It's got the classic Phil Spector production common to a lot of girl groups of the 60's. I've been familiar with this song for a long time, but I didn't know who sang it for a long time. This is really one of the only Ronettes songs I know, but I really like it. I enjoy the girl group sound of the 60's, and this is a great example of that sound.
In between this series of one and done artists is a full album contribution from The Roots. The Roots are a Philadelphia based band that mixes elements of hip hop and neo soul to create their sound. The group was started in 1987 while founding members Black Thought and ?uestlove were still in High School. Black Thought handled the rapping while ?uestlove was on the drums. The two fleshed out the line up with a bass player and a second rapper named Malik B. The band toured locally in Philadelphia and in New York City gaining a following before the release of their 1993 debut album Organix. The album got them a deal with a major label. Three year later in 1996 they released their first album that sold well enough to crack the Top 40 charts. The follow up album came in 1999 and went to number four on the charts before it peaked. The album featured here, Phrenology, was released in 2001 but failed to achieve the same level of sales. The band gained exposure for themselves playing as Jay-Z's backing band for an MTV Unplugged performance, and then playing on his 2003 farewell tour. Their music has a strong element of funk throughout, with jumping bass lines. The band alternates between rapping and soul singing giving it it's mix of hip hop and neo-soul mentioned above. Black Thought's lyrics tend to dwell on subjects such as problems in the black community, and how stupid popular rap is. I first heard The Roots around 2001 with the release of Phrenology. My younger brother had become a fan of The Roots and got the album. I listened to it with him and enjoyed it. I stayed aware of The Roots over the years but never really explored their discography. A few years ago I put this album on my iTunes, and listened to it once or twice before moving on. I occasionally played the song "The Seed 2.0" on my radio show. I hadn't listened to this entire album in several years before this blog, and listening to it made me glad that I had come back to it. The Roots are wonderfully talented musicians, and one of the last hip hop groups to feature live instrumentation. I really like the mix of soul, funk, and hip hop. ?uestlove's drumming is wonderful, and he adapts easily to each song's style. Black Thought is a good lyricist, writing some wonderfully insightful lyrics and delivering them with force. I enjoyed listening to this album again, and would like to do so more often.
The Roots "The Seed 2.0"
After The Roots is Roy Orbison who doesn't contribute a full album to the playlist, but does contribute four tracks. Roy Orbison was an American singer-songwriter who gained popularity at the end of the 50's and throughout the 60's with his rich and soulful voice. Orbison started his music career in college as part of a band called Teen Kings who got signed to Sun Records, the same label that was home to Elvis and Johnny Cash. The band played traditional rockabilly music and with the help of Sun Studios broke onto the top 100 charts. The band broke up and for a few years Orbison wrote songs for a songwriting company, until he was finally given a chance as a solo singer at the tail end of the 50's. His breakthrough came in 1960 when he recorded the song "Only The Lonely" which went to #2 in the US and #1 in the UK. The song featured Orbison's crooning vocals accompanied by country western styled music and backed by female doo wop singers. The combination became his signature sound, and it parlayed itself into twenty two songs charting in the Top 40. Orbison faded away in the 70's, but experienced a brief revival in the 80's before his death in 1988. Orbison has been widely praised by musicians and critics over the years and is considered one of the best singers of rock and roll. I grew up listening to Roy Orbison songs like "Pretty Woman" and "Only The Lonely," and I always enjoyed hearing those songs whenever my Dad played them. I still enjoy these songs, Orbison's voice is just so rich that it's hard not to like these songs. The songs are tender and dark, which is part of what makes them such classics. I will continue to listen to Roy Orbison for a long time.
Another one and done artist, The Rubinoos follow Roy Orbison on the R's playlist. The Rubinoos were a power pop band that formed in California in 1971. The band saw its first success in 1977 with the release of their debut album and it's single "I Think We're Alone Now," the song cracked the Top 50. The band never again matched that success in the US, but the song "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" became popular in the UK. The song featured here is the previously mentioned "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend." The song features close vocal harmonies which eventually give way to the lead vocals. The song is very catchy, featuring imitated hand claps as part of its backing beat. It's chorus has a big sugary hook where they proclaim "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend, I'm Gonna Make You Love Me Before I'm Gone." There's also a quick guitar solo thrown in for good measure. The song is really catchy and it's hard not to sing along and tap your foot. The band disbanded in the mid 80's but reformed around the beginning of the 00's. I had heard this song several times before, but I didn't know who sang it before this playlist. I've heard the song here and there from various sources, and I've always enjoyed it. It's just such a fun and catchy song, it's hard not to like it. I'm sure I'll here this song around from time to time, and when I do I'll enjoy it.
Before our next full album contribution we have one and done artist Rufus Thomas. Rufus Thomas was an American R&B/ Soul singer who gained fame in the 60's and 70's as a part of Stax Records in Memphis, TN. He had several songs break in to the top 40 during this time period. He became known for recording humorous songs, many of which had a dance theme. Songs like "Do The Funky Chicken" and the song featured here "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog" became his staple. Thomas was often backed by Booker-T and the MG's. I had heard the name Rufus Thomas before hearing this song, but I wasn't particularly familiar with this song. It's an amusing song featuring that classic soul sound of the 60's as Thomas inquires "Can Your Monkey Do The Dog?" I enjoyed this song, it's amusing lyrically and fun to listen to. I'll enjoy this song when it comes up on shuffle.
The last artist to contribute a full album comes after Rufus Thomas, and that is the group Run-DMC. Run-DMC were a hip hop group out of Hollis, Queens who would become one of the biggest names in hip hop. The group started with Joseph "Run" Simmons getting into hip hop with the help of his older brother Russell Simmons. Run started out as a DJ but eventually began rapping as well. He convinced his friend Darryl "D.M.C" McDaniels to start rapping as well. The two rapped for a local DJ named Jason "Jam Mater Jay" Mizell, he was impressed and the group was born. The group got a record deal with the help of Russell Simmons who was a big time hip hop promoter at the time. The group released its first album in 1984 and it has been hailed by many as a revolution in hip hop. Gone were the flashy disco and funk inspired hip hop songs of the 70's, and their glam fashion went with them. Run-DMC's sound was sparse, hard hitting, cocky, and aggressive. The group even fused elements of rock and roll into their music, which would pave the way for rap rock in the 90's. The group's greatest success came with the release of their third album, the one featured here, Raising Hell. Run's brother Russell had by this time started his label Def Jam Records with Rick Rubin, and was having great success of his own. The album was produced by Rubin who helped the group further hone their sound. The album solidified their status as crossover artists between hip hop and rock by including a cover of Aerosmith's "Walk This Way" which featured Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and Joe Perry with Run-DMC. The video became a hit, and the song helped bring Aerosmith back into the popular eye. The group would never achieve the same level of success that they enjoyed on Raising Hell, releasing three more albums each one trying to update their sound for the current sound of hip hop. The group officially disbanded in 2001, but there was very little Run-DMC activity from the mid 90's on. The group is widely hailed as one of the greatest in hip hop, and their look influenced artists for years. Their signature look featured fedoras, big jackets, unlaced Adidas shoes and thick gold chains around their necks. I heard Run-DMC at different points throughout the 90's, usually in the form of "Walk This Way." For a long time I wasn't that interested in hip hop/rap, but as I grew older and my musical tastes expanded I began to really enjoy Run-DMC. After enjoying the occasional song here and there I decided to get a Run-DMC album, Raising Hell was their most widely praised and references album so it was the one I picked up. I really like this album, it's full of so many great songs. The songs are fun and cocky and well written. The rhymes are executed with attitude over perfectly sparse beats. I consider Run-DMC to be one of the best hip hop groups ever, and I will listen to them for a long time.
Run-DMC "It's Tricky"
As near the end of the playlist we have the first of four one and done artists who make up the final four tracks of the playlist. The first band is The Runaways, a short lived all girl rock band from Los Angles which featured five girls from local LA High Schools. The group formed in 1975 when rhythm guitarist Joan Jett was introduced to drummer Sandy West. The two girls decided to work together and quickly recorded additional members in Lita Ford on guitar, Cherrie Currie on lead vocals, and Jackie Fox on bass. The group released their self titled debut the next year, the band gained attention opening for Tom Petty, Cheap Trick, and Van Halen. Their follow up came the next year and went on a world tour, finding huge popularity in Japan. The group would release one more studio album in 1977 and began touring with the Ramones. The band officially dissolved in 1979 due to disagreements over music and money. Joan Jett would go on to have a successful career as a solo artist. The band played simple rock and roll with an attitude and edge similar to the Punk Rock movement with which they were commonly associated. Their songs were full of attitude, and adolescent anger as seen in such songs as "Cherry Bomb," their most popular song. The Runaways were short lived but left a big mark on punk rock, and paved the way for future all female rock bands. I first heard The Runaways because of Joann Jett. I really liked Joann Jett's song "I Love Rock and Roll" and I was interested in hearing more Joan Jett so I explored her music and songs like "Cherry Bomb" came up. "Cherry Bomb" is the song featured on this playlist. It's a great song about teenage rebellion featuring the chorus "hello daddy, hello mom, I'm your chchchcherrry bomb, hello world I'm your wild girl." I really like Joann Jett and this is where she began and I enjoy that as well.
The Ruts are up next on the playlist, and are the third to last band on the list. The Rut were a British punk band that formed in 1977. The band members saw the punk movement happening around them with bands like The Ramones and Sex Pistols, and wanted to get involved. The four members came together a made their first recordings in 1977 playing songs with a punk rock over tones and reggae undertones. Their lyrical themes cause them to be commonly associated with a style of punk commonly called Oi. The band played songs that tended to be about anti-racist themes, they also played several benefits against racism. The song featured here "Babylon Is Burning" was the band's most successful song, cracking the Top 10 of the British Charts. The song is a simple one, with only a few lyrics repeated again and again. The song's lyrics talk about ghetto's burning and the streets burning. I wasn't familiar with The Ruts before hearing this song on No Thanks! The 70's Punk Rebellion. It's an interesting song, it's got a bit of a spooky atmosphere to it for some reason, like something a band like The Misfits would play. It's an alright song, but not something I'd come back to.
The second to last band on the playlist is The Rx Bandits. The band got it's beginning in 1995 as a 3rd Wave Ska band, in large part due to their area of California being a hot bed for 3rd Wave bands. The band released one album of 3rd Wave before they began exploring other genres, and then going overtly political in 2003. The song here, "Overcome (The Recapitulation)" is from that era and comes to the playlist via Rock Against Bush Vol.1. It's an interesting song that has a heavy reggae influence to it, from its vocal style to its instrumentation. The guitar is a slower version of the fast staccato notes on the up beats of the song heavily featured in ska, and since Ska was influenced by Reggae that makes sense. The vocal styles are almost rapped, and the rapped vocals for me are very reminiscent of Matisyahu. I had heard of the Rx Bandits before this song, they gained a decent amount of popularity in the early 00's and late 90's. I hadn't heard the Rx Bandits before this song. It's an interesting song with an interesting reggae feel but it's not something I can see myself listening to much.
The final artist of the playlist is Ryan Adams. Ryan Adams is a singer-songwriter from North Carolina. Adams began his career playing punk rock, but eventually moved to alt country. Adams achieved some minor success with the band Whiskeytown in the 90's before striking out on a solo career at the beginning of the 00's. Adams achieved critical success with his solo work, but that didn't always translate into sales. He currently is releasing albums as Ryan Adams & The Cardinals. The song featured here "To Be Young" comes from his debut solo album. It's got a very folk rock feel similar to early Bob Dylan. It's got a very Dylan like guitar riff and Adams' vocals also bare a few similarities. I'm not sure when I first heard of Ryan Adams, it may have been in a music magazine, but I remember finding a copy of Ryan Adams & The Cardinals at the radio station and having a faint recognition of the name Ryan Adams. I hadn't really listened to this song before the playlist, I honestly didn't remember it was there. It's a fun little song with a happily reminiscent air about it, like Adams is saying "oh, to be young again!" I like the song, and I may come back to it again but not too often outside of Shuffle.
Well that will do it for the R's, I know it took a little while to get this posted but the Q's were just so quick I had barely started on the R's when I posted them. The S's are going to be another long post, so I'll have to insert breaks again to help people who need them. I'll be having shoulder surgery on August 23rd, so this will either help or inhibit my ability to get the S and T posts done. Stay tuned!
