Top 200 Albums of All Time: The Velvet Underground

Velvet Underground and Nico: The Velvet Underground (1967)
The Velvet Underground served as Andy Warhol’s house band. Their first album, with Warhol girl Nico, broke new ground in experimentation and subject matter. While most acts of the period sang of love, the Underground covered heroin addiction. They also explored sadomasochism, prostitution, and other taboo topics. The Underground proved a decade ahead of their time.

Top 200 Albums of All Time: Van Halen

Van Halen: Van Halen (1978)
Van Halen’s debut record changed hard rock for two decades. After its release, every guitarist tried to imitate Eddie Van Halen’s playing style or David Lee Roth’s showmanship. A multitude of clones followed. The first VH record itself is a masterpiece of rock loaded with classic tracks. Both Rolling Stone and Guitar World have placed it on their best of lists.

1984: Van Halen (1984)
Van Halen has two diamond albums to its credit, the band’s aforementioned debut and 1984. At first, the album bred controversy since VH incorporated keyboards into the act. The end result was a crossover smash. “Jump” became the band’s only #1 hit to date. Supposedly, DLR came up with the lyrics during a leap year (1980?) and after witnessing someone on TV threatening suicide on a ledge.

5150: Van Halen (1986)
1986 was the year of 5150. Van Halen jettisoned DLR for Sammy Hagar and embarked on a new direction. Hagar kept the band relevant for a decade before inner turmoil broke it apart. Warner Brothers tried to get the band to drop the Van Halen name, but the brothers refused. Despite controversies around the band’s name and DLR’s departure, 5150 became Van Halen’s first album to hit #1. Although they enjoyed platinum albums in the past, someone else always blocked their path to the top of the charts.

For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge: Van Halen (1991)
Van Halen is one of only a few bands to peak in popularity more than once. In 1984, the band enjoyed the height of their popularity only to repeat their success in 1991. The album features many Hagar-era Van Halen classics including “Poundcake”, “Runaround”, “Top of the World”, and “Right Now.” The last hit became an omnipresent anthem during the period.

Top 200 Albums of All Time: U2

War: U2 (1983)

U2 changed with War. It is the moment the band became overtly political. Whereas their previous works focused on the spiritual and youth, War made them activists. U2 wanted to be the Clash. In 1983, they made the first foray into their hero’s territory.

The Joshua Tree: U2 (1987)

U2 loves America. The Joshua Tree is part rock album and part sociological examination of the U.S. The album portrays the band’s love of America, but also criticizes some elements of the country. It is America through the eyes of four Irishmen. The Joshua Tree is as close to social science as music can become.

Actung Baby: U2 (1991)

U2 can be pretentious. This pretentiousness almost ended their career. In 1991, U2 reinvigorated themselves in Berlin and released Actung Baby. The four decided to embrace celebrity culture, consumerism, and lightened up. The end result is a brilliant reinvention that embraced alternative rock, classic rock, industrial, and Euro influences.

All That You Can’t Leave Behind: U2 (2000)

Once again, U2 had to reinvent itself. The “Discotheque” video from 1997 nearly destroyed the band. Refusing to destroy themselves, U2 returned to their 80s form with All That You Can’t Leave Behind. With the album’s release, Bono claimed U2 was reapplying for “best band in the world.”

No Line on the Horizon: U2 (2009)

After experiencing wild success in the 2000s with their return to form, U2 experimented again in 2009. No Line on the Horizon incorporated Middle Eastern influences into the record, which sold “only” five million copies. The band was disappointed with album sales which may indicate another “return to form” in the offing.

Top 200 Albums of All Time: T artists

Remain in the Light: The Talking Heads (1980)

The Talking Heads wanted people to realize they were a group and not David Byrne with a backing band. Remain in the Light included African rhythms and studio innovations such as samples and loops. Byrne used Africa as lyrical inspiration. Despite this, the album’s most endearing work, “Once in a Lifetime” deals with a midlife crisis.

Aenima: Tool (1996)

The album’s title combines enema with anima. Much of the work connects song to song through short segues. The band itself is camera shy, so their videos tend to exclude them. For example, the video for “Stinkfist” is all Claymation.

Quotes of the Month: February 2012

Quote of the Month: 

"It's not much different to being 109."

-WWI Vet Florence Green on what it’s like being 110

Dumb Quote of the Month:
“Obama‘s ideology is based on “some phony theology. Not a theology based on the Bible. A different theology.”

-Rick Santorum


"I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs repair, I'll fix it.”

-Mitt Romney

“My husband can not throw the ball and catch the ball at the same time.”

-Gisele

“And Randy, not like any other superstar I've met, he has more quit in him than any of those other players.

-Cris Carter on Randy Moss

“I wish management would come out and either trade [Pau Gasol] or not trade him."

-Kobe

“Satan [has been] attacking the great institutions of America, using those great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality as the root to attack all of the strong plants that has so deeply rooted in the American tradition."

-Rick Santorum

Andy Van Slyke: A Timeline

Born: December 21, 1960

1979: Drafted by Cardinals in 1^st Round (6^th overall)

Debut: June 17, 1983 (Cardinals)

1985: One of five Cardinals to steal 30 bases

1985: Cards win Pennant (Lose World Series to the Royals)

1987: Traded to Pirates

1988-1992: Won five straight Gold Gloves

1990-1992: Pirates win three straight Division titles, but lose the NLCS each time

1991: Angered Canadians by calling Canada a “pacifist, socialist country”

1992: In Game 7, NLCS, Van Slyke tried to reposition Barry Bonds so the leftfielder could throw out Sid Bream at home in the event of a hit to left. Bonds flipped off Van Slyke and was out of position when a hit came in his direction.

1995: Signed with Orioles as a Free Agent

1995: Traded to Phillies

1995: Retired

2001: Received no votes for the Hall of Fame and was removed from the ballot

2006-09: Coach for Detroit Tigers

2006: Tigers win Pennant (Lose World Series to Cardinals)

2009: Wrote book on 2008 Tigers

2010: Wrote The Curse: Cubs Win! Cubs Win! Or Do They?

Accomplishments:
3x All Star

5x Gold Glove winner

2x Silver Slugger

.274 career average

Hit .300: 2x

835 runs

100+ runs: 2x

1562 hits

Led league with 199 hits (1992)

293 doubles

30+ doubles: 2x

Led league with 45 doubles (1992)

10+ triples: 3x

Led league with 15 triples (1988)

164 home runs

20+ home runs: 2x

792 RBI

100 RBI (1988)

245 stolen bases

20+ steals: 6x

30+ steals: 2x

.349 OBP

.443 slugging

.500 slugging: 3x

Led league in Sac Flies with 13 (1988)

Postseason: .190, 1 HR, 10 RBI (5 series)

History Shorts: Fall of the Han Dynasty (220 A.D.)

China's greatest civilization collapsed in 220 A.D. Corruption weakened the dynasty and barbarian invasions overrun the empire. On top of this, high rates of taxation and natural disasters further undermined the Han. The following are a couple of student reports on the Han Dynasty. I could not find a good pop culture interpretation of the Dynasty, but the Han's fall was too big to ignore for History Shorts!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfAT9X2VcSs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKHTfRm1HQs