1001 Greatest Albums

Robert Dimery once put out a book (above) called the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. I own it. Most really big music fans I know have at least flipped through it and jotted down some notes. Its an amazing read. He lists off albums from every single genre, every single walk of life and tries to get the reader to expand their horizons and really just appreciate music in general. Again, a great book.

Well today while stumbling around the internet I found a blogger who is literally listening then writing about 1 album every single day until she is done with the entire book. She calls her site 100albums.com go check it out its quite interesting. Now this girl Liz unlike myself or many of my readers is not really too familiar with music at all. In fact she was quoted saying she took on this project to "get out of her tiny music bubble". She is on day 385.

This girls mind is going to be blown after listening to some of these albums for the first time. I mean you could you imagine listening to such albums as "Graceland" or "Thriller" for the first time? Amazing.

Good luck Liz!

Bright Eyes - Road to Joy

I find this song almost too beautiful. The words are carefully crafted. The song sung with great intention. The breakout at the end is completely necessary. The whole thing just solidifies in my mind how great of a band Bright Eyes is.

These lyrics are amazing:

The sun came up with no conclusions

Flowers sleepin in their beds

The city cemetary's hummin'

I'm wide awake, its mornin'

I have my drugs, I have my woman

they keep away my loneliness

My parents, they have their religion

But sleep in separate houses

I read the body count out of the paper

And now it's written all over my face

No one ever plans to sleep out in the gutter

Sometimes thats just the most comfortable place

So I'm drinkin', breathin', writin', singin'

Every day I'm on the clock

My mind races with all my longings

But can't keep up with what I got

And so I hope I don't sound too ungrateful

What history gave modern man

A telephone to talk to strangers

Machine guns and a camera lens

So when you're asked to fight a war thats over nothin'

Its best to join the side thats gonna win

No one's sure how all this got started

But were gonna make 'em God damn certain how its gonna end

Oh yeah we will, yeah we will

Well I could have been a famous singer

If I had some one else's voice

But failures always sounded better

Lets fuck it up boys, lets make some noise

The sun came up with no conclusions

Flowers sleepin' in their beds

The city cemetery's hummin'

I'm wide awake, its mornin'

Everything Is A Remix

Do you have a spare 8 minutes? Do you love music? Well then this video is for you.

Go over to the website HERE and check out the first installment of the web series "Everything Is A Remix" which is just brilliant!

The next installment should follow by the end of the year.

Usher... Still Has It.

"Dance Like Its The Last Night Of Your Life"

That is a lyric from Ushers new song "DJ Got Us Falling In Love", and well its a fantastic song. Unlike the last release from his latest album "OMG" this one does not have to rely on any fancy vocal tricks its just a great song with a great dance beat. Because lets all be honest, we listen to Usher's music to dance. He has put out such club thumping music like "Oh Yeah", "You Make Me Wanna" and "Confessions". These songs are epic dance songs and well this one follows suit.

Check out the music video below which is very well produced and does what it should... shows off the fact that although there are younger kids in the game right now, Usher is not giving up his top spot anytime soon!

And if you want even more Usher after this, go to mtv.com and check out his VMA performance. Amazing.

Top 100 Artists (Update!)

So a few weeks ago, I wrote THIS BLOG. It talked about how VH1 was getting ready to release their own "Top 100 Artists of All Time" countdown. They released the list prior to the show, except for that they didn't tell us the order of the top five people. (These five are in no order: Led Zepplin, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Michael Jackson) I spent the last few weeks, waiting for the premiere and figuring out what is my order out of these five great artists. I thought long and hard and well by the time the show actually premiered last week I was pretty set with my picks. Eager to see how my order stacked up against theirs.

Well, I wasn't really too surprised to find that I got it down exactly correct. I mean of course I did. I would be pretty mad at myself if I wasn't close. I mean these top five artists have never left my ipod. They are the greatest to ever grace a stage. Each one of them in their own right deserves the number one spot. Each one of them changed the world with their music. I know that without each one of these artists I would not have this blog, I would not enjoy music as much as I do, and well the world (including myself) would have been lost without them.

The top five artist of all time (according to VH1 and I guess myself are):

5. Bob Dylan

4. Rolling Stones

3. Led Zepplin

2. Michael Jackson

and of course... really did we even have to think about this

1. The Beatles

JMU Pulls Off The Upset of the Year!

Madison James Madison!!!! We are the Dukes of JMU!!!

Well well well what do we have here? A post about James Madison athletics? Could it be?

To anyone living within the Virginia state lines this weekend heard about the epic upset that my alma mater James Madison University pulled off against the national ranked and over all superior athletic rival Virginia Tech.

Many are calling the game the "upset of the college season 2010" or "the greatest win win JMU school history". Whatever they decide on in the end, I will tell you this. This game will not be forgotten by JMU fans anytime soon. You see when I was there it wasn't a horrible statement to tell outsiders that "yes, our marching band is better than our football team". Or to laugh when someone invited you to a game.

But that has all changed now. The last few years JMU has listened to the alumni complaints of "really the only thing wrong with JMU is their non existent athletic program". And really its so true. JMU is a great college that gives you a great experience. The only thing that I felt like I was missing out on at all going there was to have the big school athletic program excitement. With that the JMU college would be complete.

Well.... bravo JMU. Great job growing the program to a point that we are even competitive with a nationally ranked school. Thanks to the coaches who were amazing in preping these kids for the game of their lives. And thank you most of all to the players on Saturday who made every former JMU student proud.

RIP Tupac

"For every dark night, theres a brighter day"

I'd like to take a moment out of the regular scheduled posting today to pay respects to a rap legend who lose his life way too early. It was an early morning on this day in 1996 when the world learned of 2pac's passing after being taken to the hospital after a drive by shooting days earlier.

This was a blow to not only the rap community but to the music world in general. See 2pac will go down in history as one of the two greatest rappers to ever grace a stage. (I see him and Biggie in a complete deadlock). But where 2pac differed from biggie was the way he spoke. His rhymes were like poetry speaking to his community and to his fans. He spoke the truth. He rapped about real things, not just money and power. You knew you were listening to a 2pac song within the first 30 seconds. It was that easy to recognize his style.

When the world lost him, we lost a big talent. I mean who knows where the rap game would have went if he was still alive to this day? Could you imagine?

So today, I pause to remember a great musician. To someone who inspired the masses and to a man who really just spoke the truth.

The following video for his song "Changes" is easily my favorite of his of all time.

Linkin Park - The Catalyst

So keeping in theme with todays posts is a little bit more about the VMA's over on MTV last night. I really like this award show because like I said before it really separates the big named acts from the ones who really should have stayed at home. This was particularly true when it came to the rock act picked for the show last night.

Now, while I'm not the biggest fan of Linkin Parks albums, I have to respect them for the type of show that they can put on. Last night they easily landed in one of the top three spots of the night with their live performance of their new song "The Catalyst".

Using the Griffith Park Observatory as an appropriate background, this band threw down last night to a crowd of thrilled fans. This was the first televised performance of this new song and for a first time listener it was pretty darn fantastic. It was the perfect pairing of a band, song and location.

The whole performance seemed like one of those moments that the band is just looking at each other thinking "really, are we really playing here!?!" Amazing.

Lady Gaga - VMA Fashion 101

Okay let me just put this out there. I love Lady Gaga. I love that she is in the music industry, pushing people to top themselves. I love that she is in the fashion industry being a muse to some of the top designers in the game. I love the person she is to her fans, a role model to many who categorize themselves as the "non cool kids" in school. I just really love her!

That being said, can we now talk about her outfits for the VMA's last night?? When Lady Gaga goes places she is not just there to show up she is there to make a statement. She wants the world to know that she has arrived and well she is bringing her style and attitude as well. This is what makes her so unapologetic for her behavior in turn making her a fantastic artist, who is true to herself.

Last night she used the VMA's as her own runway, showcasing at least three fantastically whimsical outfits that were no doubt made just for her. These award show red carpets have turned into a circus due to Lady Gaga and its fantastic. She pushed people like Beyonce to try out different things and well to be true to whatever you want to wear. I mean come on. Last night she wore an entire get-up made out of meat (including a head piece). (I'm sure PETA is having a field day today)

And to make the style last night even more insane MTV did something crazy. They brought on Cher (the queen of all outfits) out on stage to present the last award of the evening. When Cher came out on that stage last night the crowd burst into cheers. You see she was rocking the SAME outfit as she did in the "Turn Back Time" video. Yes that one.

At this moment everything inside me turned into a Lady Gaga cheering section. I was begging that she would win so that I could get this one picture. A picture worth a thousand words. A picture that needs absolutely no explanation.

She won. I got my picture and well its pretty amazing!

MTV Video Awards

So last night I continued with the tradition I've been keeping since middle school and sat down to watch the infamous "MTV Video Music Awards". You know the show that made headlines last year when Kanye West got up and stole poor little Taylor Swifts awards. Or if your older like me you remember such ridiculousness like the Britney/Madonna Kiss or when Courtney Love intruppted Madonna on the red carpet OR when Gun and Roses put on the most epic performance of "Welcome to the Jungle". You can say these awards have seen their fair share of epic craziness.

Last night was no different. There were a slew of notable performances and a slew of lip syncing wannabes who proved that they belong back on the disney channel (I'm talking to you Justin Beiber).

Yet there was one performance from last night that was so far beyond everyone else in the room. A song so well performed that it may have even given her a jump start for success here in America.

I've talked before about Florence and the Machine and my undying love for them. Well, after watching the show last night I'm even more impressed with them. This left me speechless.

More from the VMA's to follow today...

Need Motivation Today?

In need of some motivation on this Friday? Check out the video below, it really puts things into perspective and will motivate you to get off that couch and go do something!

Magic ft Rivers Cuomo

Okay this following post is a shout out to my little brother Rick. He came to Richmond for a surprise visit a few weeks ago and brought with him is undying love of pop music. Now Rick is easily one of the smartest kids I know, but I often make fun of his Ryan Secreast Top 40s love. For some reason its all he listens to and he LOVES IT. He knows all the hit songs out there right now and well, I love him because he doesn't apologize for it. Instead he insists on trying to introduce me to new songs that well lets be honest, I wouldn't be caught dead listening to.

One of these songs he brought with him was B.O.B's new song called "Magic" and well after laughing through it the first time or two I heard it... its stuck with me. The melody is uber catchy, it features one of my favorite lead singers Rivers Cuomo from Weezer and well now I like it. Well I don't know if like it is the word, but it sure has been caught in my head for the last few weeks.

So here is its shout out.

Radiohead - All I Need

What can I say about this next band that has not already been said over and over again. I was reminded of this while watching the "Top 100 Artists of All Time" last night on VH1 when I came across them at number 29. For me, Radiohead easily makes my list in the top 15 and for good reason. They are easily THE most creative /innovative /ballsiest band that has came around in the last 2o years.

Wow that was the easiest sentence I have written in a while.

The following video off of their spectacular album In Rainbows is for the song "All I Need" and well the video is one for the record books. Radiohead joined with MTV in an effort to bring wide attention to human trafficking. They tell the story of two boys in parallel stories one of a little boy in the West and one of a little boy in a sweatshop in the East. The whole concept and execution of the video is quite powerful and worth the watch.

Bravo to Radiohead and to MTV for doing what they could to bring awareness to such an important issue plaguing our world right now.

Dance Movie

So this weekend while out visiting one of my best friends in California, we did something that most people would laugh at us for. We seriously went to go see Step Up 3d. Yes that dance movie. In 3d. It was amazing. haha. I mean as amazing as a dance movie with a overly predicable plot would be.

For example. This was an exact scene: The young couple in the movie go are walking down the street in NYC. They stop over a grate that leads down to the subway. Using their slushes that they just brought from 7-11 use the the ice drink (and the 3d) to literally pour out and spell their names in the sky. Cause thats realistic right? haha oh movies.

And well since seeing that movie I have felt the sudden urge to break out and dance wherever I go. Now this would be fine if I could actually bust a move. Unfortunately if I tried to do such a thing, even more embarrassment would ensue.

But to get to the point. The following song has been stuck in my head for the last five days.

And no this is not the typical music I listen to. AT ALL. Again - read the title of this blog... No Judgments! :)

Are You Ready For Some Football?

I love football. I do. I blame this obsession entirely on my father who from an early age dressed my brothers and I in over sized coats and dragged us to the Meadowlands in NJ to watch our favorite team the NY Jets. Year after year after year of disappointment followed with our team being probably one of the worst in the league. Yet every year, every Sunday in fact we would either gather around the tv in the living room or make the pilgrimage to the game no matter what.

It was just something that we did. We were proud to be JETS fans. Didn't matter the score (really it didn't...we sucked) but we had a ball. Some of my favorite memories was throwing nickels down the escalators on the way out, the threats that if we didn't behave they would toss us over the top (our seats were four rows from the top of the stadium), I loved the "jet" flyby at the start of the games, the tailgating, the people in our section... there was "Harriet" the section mom who brought twizzlers to all the games and then there was a man known only by his first name "Blood" he would dress in full camouflage and would by games end be head to toe in fake blood screaming out the opponents and sometimes pretending to eat the meat of the mascot. It was a damn circus.

When I moved down here to Va it was probably one of the things that I missed the most about NJ. These games were the one time a week where my brothers, dad and I would bond. We had (and this was rare) common ground. We all agreed. It was perfect.

I still continue to watch and follow games. Even signing up for the damn NFL package for my tv so I can watch the Jets game and not have to sit through another season of the deadskins.

Hell last year the JETS surprised us all and made it to the AFC championship game in Indianapolis. My Dad, brothers and I were obviously not going to miss that. So yup, we loaded on a plane from three different locations and met out there for what was one of the funner weekends of my life. Win or no win. It was a blast.

So yeah you can say that I'm a tad bit excited for the start of the season tonight.

Just a tad.

(oh and if asking how this is music related? Harry Conick Jr. is playing in the commercial above)

Please Speak Well of Me

About two weeks ago I picked up what is quickly becoming my new favorite album. I wrote about them here a week ago but now that I have had the chance to listen to the entire album I'm here to spread the word about it.

The following song off of The Weepies new album "Be My Thrill" is just amazing. The way their voices sound, the simple yet unique melody. The whole entire thing is pretty perfect.

Plus did I mention the lyrics yet? Just incredible.

"I've been away a year and a day

You recognize love after the fact

You did what you did and that was that

Don't say words that you don't mean

When I'm gone, please speak well of me

Looking back now

I only wish I had been kinder

Did I ever know love, did I ever know love?

And could I have been blinder?

Don't hold back all your love for someday, for someday

I would say that I'm sorry if it would do any good

But to never regret means you have to forget

and I don't think that I could"

They Say Its Your Birthday

Tomorrow is the day.

I turn the big 2-8.

Something about that number makes me feel like I'm finally making a dent in this whole aging business. Before it was just another year, but something about the 8 at the end of that number makes me feel a little older. My dad always told me that there are some ages when you turn them they feel young, and then some like ending with an 8, make you feel a little older. I totally understand this now.

Now by all means this is not a bad thing. I can actually say that this year looking at my life the day before I turn another year older, I'm quite happy with the way things are going. The last year of my life has been nothing short of crazy. Crazy good, crazy bad, crazy insane, and well isn't that what life is all about. Keeping things interesting.

I've learned a lot this year. Especially about myself and my surroundings. The best lessons I have been able to teach myself. And its these that I am most proud of. So here is some of those important things I have learned over the last year.

1. Throwing yourself out of an airplane is a good way to teach yourself about the world. I will never ever forget that first moment of seeing the earth at a new angle.

2. Working a job you love will completely change your life.

3. Writing a blog is not only a great way to keep yourself active doing and researching the things you love, its a great way to find out exactly what that passion is and dive into it without fear of judgement.

4. I love my family. Whether we are in a paddle boat around Richmond or at an AFC championship game. I'm lucky to have these people in my life.

5. Going on vacation with 30 of your best friends is something that everyone should be so lucky to do. That week changed me.

7. I learned again the painful lesson of: Life is way too short make the most of it. Everyday.

8. You are never too old to load yourself in the car and go on phish tour. Never.

9. Do not be afraid to call in "emotional favors" to your best friends when you need them. Sometimes its nice to know that those people that you have stuck up and defended for years are really there for you when you need. And well, like always, learn from those who are absent during this time as well.

10. I love surprise visitors (especially by members of my family)

Finally the thing that I learned by far the most this year is the type of person that I am. The type of daughter I am. The type of sister I am. The type of friend I am. The worker I am. And really just the type of woman I have become. In this last year alone I've learned so much about what I can handle. What I can do for others and really what I can do for myself.

So yeah, if you ask me if I'm excited about my 28th year. Heck yeah I am. After 27, why wouldn't I be.

Best California Song: The Eagles or Led Zeppelin?

I have stumbled across an age old debate today. A debate that I'm sure has been tossed around oh a few hundred times over the last 30 years. Who sings the better song about California? The Eagles or Led Zeppelin. Now let me reiterate. This is not a debate on who the better band is. We are talking one song, and one song only.

The Eagles "Hotel California"

"You can check out anytime you like...but you can never leave"

This 1977 classic from The Eagles is easily the most recognizable tune and some say the best tune of the last 70s era. The lyrics spoke true to the southern California music culture that was swallowing up people by the hundreds. The song is an allegory about hedonism and self-destruction in the music industry at that time and Don Henley (lead singer) called it "our interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles".

Led Zeppelin "Going to California"

"going to California with an aching in my heart"

Now when talking about California in the 70s you could not forget about Zeppelin. You just can't. Robert Plant supposedly took the inspiration for this song from Joni Mitchell, whose music he was obsessed with by the 70s. Yet the song is made by Jimmy Page. His amazing guitar rifts and fantastic hippie inspired lyrics bring this song to a whole other level. This song was an instant cult classic, and one that nobody ever really forgot.

My favorite line "the sea was read the sky was grey, wondered how tomorrow could ever follow today"

**oh and this video is awesome**

So who has the better song about California??

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Californication

"Space may be the final frontier, but it's made in a Hollywood basement...."

I would be wrong to have a day dedicated to California and not mention the next artists. The born and bread California band that is The Red Hot Chili Peppers! This song came off their seventh studio album and was to date the bands biggest hit. The record marked a change in style for the band; Rolling Stone's own Greg Tate noted that "while all previous Chili Peppers projects have been highly spirited, Californication dares to be spiritual and epiphanic.

I have especially fond memories of this album for it was released during one of my summer breaks from college. My friend Dave's parents went away for a long stretch of time that summer and we spent many of nights hanging out at his house, relaxing, listening to this album and just basically creating some of my finer memories from that time. Every time I hear this song, I get put right back into that time, in that basement (and that epic beer pyramid). And I smile.

California Love

"I'd like to welcome everybody to the wild wild west"

Those lyrics that kick off this song basically sum up the video in its entirety. Its the wild west. Anything goes out in Cali and 2 pac let it be known to the entire world in his 1995 classic featuring Dr. Dre. This song (his first after being released from prison) is what I believe to be the 2PAC anthem. It sums up so much who he was as a person, which is why its no surprise that this was his most widely known hit. He was so proud of where he was from, he was wild, and well he was intense. These are all the feelings that you get from this video. No wonder it was ranked as #9 on MTV's list of all time greatest videos.

"California knows how to party..."

San Diego Bound

Well tomorrow I'm loading myself into a huge airplane and taking flight to California. San Diego to be exact. Its a long overdue trip to see some of my best friends from college. Its going to be a trip full of relaxation, beach time and of course San Diego's famous fish tacos. I will not leave without trying one! So yeah starting tomorrow I will be taking a break from blogging while I travel.

Although one would think someone with a music blog would have a lot to say about the new music she was hearing while traveling. True. But everyone needs a break from technology sometimes.... right? And well thats the excuse I will be giving myself.

So for my final posts before my trip I will be posting my favorite songs about California. And well, during my research last night I found that there certainly are a few great ones. Starting with The Mamas and Papas "California Dreamin'"