Let's Get a Little Slang On...

While I don't think it was as close to a commercial success as several of their previous albums, Slang still had several good tracks in the usual Def Leppard rock style.  Here's the title track, and one of the ones I am still prone to add to a mix track for driving music.

Rock & Roll All Night...

While not a member of the Kiss Army (by any stretch), I do have an affinity for any good rock songs, and this one is classic - and actually adapted pretty well for an Unplugged session.

Slowhand

Probably the best to use the Unplugged format for exploring different sounds - bringing new listeners to music and songs they may not have otherwise heard - was Clapton.  As great as the original Layla is, I actually prefer the Unplugged version... there's just something much more powerful with the control it brings... but here's one that's completely different, and a nice example for the other songs he brings to the table.  It's mostly because of Clapton that I've gone out and sought after different blues artists, to at least get a familiarity.

No Excuses....

Continuing in the Unplugged vein, here's another one of my favorites that I think translated well (if not better) than the original version.

Here's one for the Troops...

Here's a special bonus video in honor of the 4th of July here in the states.  Don't blow up the barbeque.

Come As You Are...

Unlike some of the kids today that only have the band as a "gee, they were actually something cool that my parents used to listed to" relic, I remember when they were actually NEW, and changed the music scene.  I have always had a soft spot for the Unplugged series (at least, how it was supposed to be and initially pitched), and theirs was one of the sets that worked well and exemplified the format.  For those wondering about my musical inclination, this is also one of the few licks that I actually can play (and often play with it on either bass or guitar).

Since I Mentioned Them Last Week...

Here's one from U2, since I mentioned that Muse was the opening act when we went to the U2 concert.  While there are several of their radio staples that I do like very much, I've got a soft spot for this one, just because of the rhythm and beat work.  It's just a great one to queue up when out driving, windows down, sunroof open and stereo pumping.

Shhh... there's an Uprising going on.... Don't tell anyone

A few years ago, MC and I went to see U2 in concert (on their 360 tour)... the opening act for the show we  went to was this little group called Muse.  We hadn't heard of them (at the time), and when they started I was impressed.  By the end of their set we were both in agreement that we should check out their catalog.  Their first song was this one.  Think of it: concert venue, concrete stadium, and the bass could have been cranked up to 11 (feeling the bass through our feet, as well as the rest of our body, didn't hurt my interest in them, by the way).  And to this day, we still think of Dr. Who whenever the opening few bars play.

Did You See That Dagger in Chelsea...?

I have a little history with The Fratellis... not that I personally know them, but with how I got into them.  Shortly after my first wife passed away I went on a little bit of a music binge (a little retail therapy)... one of the albums I picked up (and the only one of the few that I got at the time that still is worth talking about) was their first album (Costello Music).  They are one of the few contemporary (within the last decade) bands that I would encourage anyone to check their albums out.

Head for the Bush

No, not like that...  Continuing the recent trend of my stroll back down music memory lane (through the 90's), here's a trip into the Bush... this one comes from their Deconstructed (remix) album and was used in An American Werewolf in Paris.

Let's Just Run Away...

Here's another one that goes back to high school for me.  I actually heard a different Soul Asylum song on the radio recently (to which my response was, "Wow, hadn't heard THIS one in a while.")  I think Grave Dancer's Union was their "lightning in the bottle" album, where everything just clicked well.  At one time I had And The Horse They Rode In On but wasn't as taken.  Their next two albums weren't bad, either, but they also weren't as commercial.

Right Now....

Feeling a little nostalgic, here's one that dates back to... high school for me.  Not the best adaption (it looks like it was captured from a TV), but if you want the "official" video, you can go here... Right Now.

Metallica on MVM

Yes, I will admit that I was late to the Metallica party... it wasn't until "One" that I started coming around, and got fully on board with (the black album).  I checked out not long after Re-Load, although I still appreciate the fact they can still put on one hell of a show.  Master of Puppets is one of those albums that if I had found it earlier, I might have gotten into them sooner.

Beatles on MVM

I first discovered the Beatles when I was about ten.  There was a music video show on Nickelodeon that included a couple of their videos (including this one), and it started a long standing appreciation for the band (as a group) and their music (especially when I started getting into playing different things, and just how intricate Paul's bass parts could be).

The Lonely Goatherd on MVM

I grew up watching it every spring, and even worked on a summer theater production for the show, and over the last few years I've had the nagging thought: what if the song were rearranged and cut by a metal band?  (Think about Metallica, Slipknot or someone similar as you listen to the original...)

W&N on MVM

I've always had an appreciation for word play, and the the ability to take a song, flip it around and create a completely new set of lyrics (while maintaining the rhythm of the original composition) is an aspect of that that Weird Al has perfected over the years.  It's both the subtlety and the references he incorporated that make me chuckle every time I hear one of his remakes, especially when I'm familiar (even in a passing sense, like this one) of the original source material.



Don't be too surprised if you see a few more pop up in the future.

In a Galaxy, Far, Far Away... MVM

Like most children growing up in the early 80's, I had my fair share of Star Wars figures, mostly from Jedi, so I was intrigued when the prequel was announced.  Like many others, though, there were elements that didn't quite meet those expectations.  But the music was still done by John Williams, so at least some continuity remained between the two sets.  I was quite surprised when I saw that there had been a video put together in support of the soundtrack.  So here you go... and may the force be with you (mitochlorians or no).

Deadeye Dick on MVM

This week’s selection for Music Video Monday is another little time-capsule piece.  Back in 1993-94 while still entrenched in the last few months of high school I played a lot of AD&D, including the early concept Battle Systems rules (when it was a separate rule set, when miniatures were metal, had to be purchased then painted – long before they were pre-finished and packed in blister boxes).  I would sit in my room, hunched over my miniatures, painting away, my radio tuned to one of the local radio stations.  This was one of the staples playing at the time and it always takes me back when I hear it.

Oh, to be a Goonie...

This week’s MVM entry comes to you from the 1980’s – when Madonna was rising to power, the Berlin wall still stood, and everyone wanted to be a Goonie.  For those of age, enjoy this little trip back down memory lane, and for the rest of you… time for your OWN quest to find pirate treasure, but a Cyndi Lauper soundtrack and Wrestler Cameos are up to you.

RJA on Music Video Monday

Late one night, while sleeping on the couch at my sister-in-law’s (when she was still living in the Hampton Roads area in Virginia… circa Summer 2006-ish, I think), I was flipping through channels while the rest of the house slept.  I landed on MTV2, or some other channel actually playing music videos late at night, and this band with a funny name was guest hosting.  The band: The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.  The video at the time was their first mainstream single, which touches on domestic violence.  I enjoyed the way the video was put together, and the edge – combination of how they handle the subject matter while still maintaining an up-tempo rock song.  I have since gone on to add most of their other work to  the library.

The Official video is here, but here's an acoustic cut that also works quite well (for those less rock inclined).