Pearl Jam is a classic rock band that formed out of the ashes of the now classic underground band, Mother Love Bone. They broke during the early 90s Alternative Revolution that spawned Nirvana, Alice In Chains, and Soundgarden. Their breakthrough album, Ten, has outsold Nirvana’s Nevermind, and is considered a classic.
Pearl Jam was never really an alternative band. Instead, they were a throwback to The Who, Neil Young, The Doors, and other classic rock bands. They were labeled alternative because they were not 80s hair metal and dealt with real issues as opposed to partying and getting drunk. The band struggled with success and continued to release hit albums. Lead singer Eddie Vedder is perhaps the last of the rock stars.
The band supports leftist causes and during the early 00s were castigated by fans for attacking President Bush. After a departure, they returned to their original sound in 2006 and in 2009 are reissuing Ten.
Rock n Roll Moment: Pearl Jam took on Ticketmaster over ticket prices and fees. They lost.
Essential Pearl Jam:
Ten (1991)
Vs. (1993)
Vitalogy (1994)
Pearl Jam (2006)
Pearl Jam’s Top 10:
Even Flow
Alive
Black
Jeremy
Daughter
Elderly Woman Behind A Counter In A Small Town
Better Man
Corduroy
Nothing As It Seems
Do The Evolution
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
George Kell (1922-2009)
Hello everyone and welcome to Tiger Baseball!
Hall of Fame Third Basemen, Tiger Announcer for 37 years, and all around gentleman.
In today's world, most announcers are cookie cutter and clueless. George Kell was neither. He knew the game inside and out and painted a picture for the listener. George also brought out the best in his broadcast partner, Al Kaline.
As a player, he was a great hitter and fielder. His signature moment was beating out Ted Williams for the batting title on the last day of the season back in 1949.
Goodbye George! We will miss you!
http://www.freep.com/article/20090324/SPORTS02/90324034/1048/rss03
Hall of Fame Third Basemen, Tiger Announcer for 37 years, and all around gentleman.
In today's world, most announcers are cookie cutter and clueless. George Kell was neither. He knew the game inside and out and painted a picture for the listener. George also brought out the best in his broadcast partner, Al Kaline.
As a player, he was a great hitter and fielder. His signature moment was beating out Ted Williams for the batting title on the last day of the season back in 1949.
Goodbye George! We will miss you!
http://www.freep.com/article/20090324/SPORTS02/90324034/1048/rss03
What Does Obama Do??
He's been in office for 60 days or so and all he has accomplished is tripling the debt and play celebrity. Is he President or is he Lindsey Lohan?
So far, Obama is not like any Crisis President in history. However, he is a bit like the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Historians will say Obama twittered while Rome burned.
Here's the recap:
-He attacked Rush Limbaugh
-He appeared on Jay Leno
-He approved the AIG bonuses and then decided it was a bad idea
-He spent a day with Sportscenter explaining his NCAA Brackets
-He piped in on Jessica Simpson's weight
-He finalized a book deal
-He laughed at us all on 60 Minutes
What's left for Obama to do?
-Appear on Dancing With The Stars
-Serve as a lifeline on Millionaire
-Become a contestant on American Idol
-Learn how to speak without a teleprompter (Obama without a teleprompter makes Bush look like Einstein).
So far, Obama is not like any Crisis President in history. However, he is a bit like the Roman Emperor Nero. Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Historians will say Obama twittered while Rome burned.
Here's the recap:
-He attacked Rush Limbaugh
-He appeared on Jay Leno
-He approved the AIG bonuses and then decided it was a bad idea
-He spent a day with Sportscenter explaining his NCAA Brackets
-He piped in on Jessica Simpson's weight
-He finalized a book deal
-He laughed at us all on 60 Minutes
What's left for Obama to do?
-Appear on Dancing With The Stars
-Serve as a lifeline on Millionaire
-Become a contestant on American Idol
-Learn how to speak without a teleprompter (Obama without a teleprompter makes Bush look like Einstein).
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
#64 Guns n Roses
They came from the LA underground and took the world by storm. Then, they flamed out. In between, they wrought destruction and changed the direction of popular music. GnR emerged at the right time. They were dirty, gritty, and edgy while everyone else used aquanet. “Welcome to the Jungle” was the first nail in the coffin of the 1980s pop music scene and pushed audiences away from Warrant, Winger, and Whitesnake. In the early, 90s, they released the “Use Your Illusion” albums and became one of the biggest bands in the world while other 80s bands died off.
During their rise, they did everything to excess. Hotel rooms were smashed, riots started, drugs consumed at an alarming rate, and in the middle of it all, Axl Rose lost his mind. After releasing a punk cover album, the band disintegrated.
Controversy followed the band. Axl liked to wear Charles Manson t-shirts. They have been attacked for misogyny, homophobia, racism, and sexism. The recording of “Rocket Queen” contains a recording of Axl having sex with Steven Adler’s girlfriend (she got a bottle of Jack in return for allowing the recording for the album). On top of it all, Axl’s antics led to all out rioting in St Louis and Montreal.
In late 2008, Axl returned without the original lineup. The disappointing “Chinese Democracy” album was 15 years in the making. A reunion of the original band is off the table according to Axl.
Rock n Roll Moment: Which riot should we discuss here?
Essential GnR:
Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Use Your Illusion I (1991)
GnR’s Top 10:
Sweet Child o Mine
Patience
Paradise City
Welcome To The Jungle
You Could Be Mine
Don’t Cry
November Rain
It’s So Easy
Yesterdays
Rocket Queen
During their rise, they did everything to excess. Hotel rooms were smashed, riots started, drugs consumed at an alarming rate, and in the middle of it all, Axl Rose lost his mind. After releasing a punk cover album, the band disintegrated.
Controversy followed the band. Axl liked to wear Charles Manson t-shirts. They have been attacked for misogyny, homophobia, racism, and sexism. The recording of “Rocket Queen” contains a recording of Axl having sex with Steven Adler’s girlfriend (she got a bottle of Jack in return for allowing the recording for the album). On top of it all, Axl’s antics led to all out rioting in St Louis and Montreal.
In late 2008, Axl returned without the original lineup. The disappointing “Chinese Democracy” album was 15 years in the making. A reunion of the original band is off the table according to Axl.
Rock n Roll Moment: Which riot should we discuss here?
Essential GnR:
Appetite for Destruction (1987)
Use Your Illusion I (1991)
GnR’s Top 10:
Sweet Child o Mine
Patience
Paradise City
Welcome To The Jungle
You Could Be Mine
Don’t Cry
November Rain
It’s So Easy
Yesterdays
Rocket Queen
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Atlantis Discovered!
There have been many theories regarding Atlantis. There have been many candidates as well. Some claim it was just beyond Gibraltar. Others think it is in the Bermuda Triangle. Still others believe it was Ancient Ireland. However, the best candidate appears to be the Minoan Civilization from Crete.
The Minoans (2700-1450 BC) had a highly advanced trading civilization on Crete. They were the most advanced civilization in Europe at the time. Their maritime civilization was rich in culture as well as material wealth. Around 1450 BC, they ceased to exist.
Minoan Civilization collapsed at the same time the Santorini volcano erupted. The Santorini Volcano is on the Ancient Island of Thera. The Minoans homebase was Crete, but they had a colony on Thera. The eruption was one of the strongest in human history. The eruption caused a tsunami with waves upwards of 500 feet. Ash from the eruption was found in Turkey and Egypt. The tsunami, ash fall, and earthquakes associated with the eruption destroyed the Minoans.
Were the Minoans the basis of the Atlantis myth? Well, they were very advanced as were the Atlantians. Santorini has rock quarries matching Plato's descriptions. Plato's description of the Atlantian Apocalypse matched the Minoan demise. Their civilization was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as described by Plato.
The one problem is the date. The general consensus is the Santorini event occurred between 1650-1600 BC while the Minoans collapsed about 1450 BC. Perhaps, the volcano wiped out the Minoans, they rebuilt, only to be wiped out by the geologic activity as a result of the volcano. Perhaps Atlantis was based on the Minoans on Thera only and not the whole Minoan civilization.
The Minoans (2700-1450 BC) had a highly advanced trading civilization on Crete. They were the most advanced civilization in Europe at the time. Their maritime civilization was rich in culture as well as material wealth. Around 1450 BC, they ceased to exist.
Minoan Civilization collapsed at the same time the Santorini volcano erupted. The Santorini Volcano is on the Ancient Island of Thera. The Minoans homebase was Crete, but they had a colony on Thera. The eruption was one of the strongest in human history. The eruption caused a tsunami with waves upwards of 500 feet. Ash from the eruption was found in Turkey and Egypt. The tsunami, ash fall, and earthquakes associated with the eruption destroyed the Minoans.
Were the Minoans the basis of the Atlantis myth? Well, they were very advanced as were the Atlantians. Santorini has rock quarries matching Plato's descriptions. Plato's description of the Atlantian Apocalypse matched the Minoan demise. Their civilization was destroyed by earthquakes and floods as described by Plato.
The one problem is the date. The general consensus is the Santorini event occurred between 1650-1600 BC while the Minoans collapsed about 1450 BC. Perhaps, the volcano wiped out the Minoans, they rebuilt, only to be wiped out by the geologic activity as a result of the volcano. Perhaps Atlantis was based on the Minoans on Thera only and not the whole Minoan civilization.
Greatest Movie Battles
Now for something different...here are my top 10 movie battles...
1. Omaha Beach (Saving Private Ryan): Actual Omaha Beach Vets claimed it was too real.
2. Battle of Stirling (Braveheart): Completely inaccurate; but Mel gives a great speech.
3. Pearl Harbor (Tora Tora Tora): The defining moment in perhaps the defining World War II film.
4. Little Round Top (Gettysburg): Out of Ammo? Affix bayonets and charge! The Rebs won't know what hit them!
5. The Death Star (Star Wars): No one had ever seen anything like this before. Now, the ending might be considered cliche.
6. Germania (Gladiator): Does a great job showing the Roman Tortoise and Roman Discipline; Shows how they could conquer.
7. Ft. Wagner (Glory): As the dead are buried, they are all shoeless...symbolic of the whole film.
8. Helicopter Raid (Apocalypse Now): Flight of the Valkyries, Robert Duval, Napalm, Surfing; an allegory for the entire Vietnam War.
9. Helms Deep (LOR: The Two Towers): The greatest land battle in fantasy/sci fi movie history
10. Battle of the News Crews (Ron Burgundy): Brick killed a man with a trident!
1. Omaha Beach (Saving Private Ryan): Actual Omaha Beach Vets claimed it was too real.
2. Battle of Stirling (Braveheart): Completely inaccurate; but Mel gives a great speech.
3. Pearl Harbor (Tora Tora Tora): The defining moment in perhaps the defining World War II film.
4. Little Round Top (Gettysburg): Out of Ammo? Affix bayonets and charge! The Rebs won't know what hit them!
5. The Death Star (Star Wars): No one had ever seen anything like this before. Now, the ending might be considered cliche.
6. Germania (Gladiator): Does a great job showing the Roman Tortoise and Roman Discipline; Shows how they could conquer.
7. Ft. Wagner (Glory): As the dead are buried, they are all shoeless...symbolic of the whole film.
8. Helicopter Raid (Apocalypse Now): Flight of the Valkyries, Robert Duval, Napalm, Surfing; an allegory for the entire Vietnam War.
9. Helms Deep (LOR: The Two Towers): The greatest land battle in fantasy/sci fi movie history
10. Battle of the News Crews (Ron Burgundy): Brick killed a man with a trident!
Saturday, March 21, 2009
#65 Sly and the Family Stone
Sly and the Family Stone were a funk/soul band out of San Francisco. They emerged in the mid-1960s, peaked in the early 70s, and sputtered out in the early 80s. They have greatly influenced pop, rock, soul, funk, R&B, and hip hop. One rock historian summed up Sly’s influence by breaking up African-American music into two periods: Before and After Sly and the Family Stone.
Rock n Roll Moment: Sly got married on stage and then divorced shortly thereafter when his wife refused to participate in an orgy.
Essential Sly:
Stand! (1969)
There’s A Riot Going on (1971)
Fresh (1973)
Small Talk (1974)
Sly’s Top 10:
Dance To The Music
Everyday People
I Want To Take You Higher
Stand!
Family Affair
Que Sera Sera
I Get High On You
Hot Fun In The Summertime
If You Want Me To Stay
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
Rock n Roll Moment: Sly got married on stage and then divorced shortly thereafter when his wife refused to participate in an orgy.
Essential Sly:
Stand! (1969)
There’s A Riot Going on (1971)
Fresh (1973)
Small Talk (1974)
Sly’s Top 10:
Dance To The Music
Everyday People
I Want To Take You Higher
Stand!
Family Affair
Que Sera Sera
I Get High On You
Hot Fun In The Summertime
If You Want Me To Stay
Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)
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