Category Archives: Music

Favorite Things: DGC Rarities Volume 1

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DGC Rarities Vol. 1

Growing up in the 90s, one of the coolest albums I ever bought was DGC Rarities Volume 1. I played the heck out of that thing! Through the magic of the Internet I recently re-discovered this awesome compilation and now, nearly 20 years later, it’s one of my favorite things.

Released in 1994, it was very much a product of its time—full of grunge and college radio tunes by some of the biggest (and some of the most obscure) bands of the era.

Chock full of covers, B-sides, and demos, DGC Rarities featured some of my favorite songs of all time. This album is worth a listen for the inclusion of Pay to Play by Nirvana alone (released under the name Stay Away with updated lyrics on the classic Nevermind), but there’s much more to enjoy if you’ve got the inclination.

A complete track listing is provided below in case you need any additional convincing.

  1. Teenage Fanclub, Mad Dog 20/20
  2. Nirvana, Pay to Play
  3. Weezer, Jamie
  4. Cell, Never Too High
  5. Hole, Beautiful Son
  6. Beck, Bogusflow
  7. Sonic Youth, Compilation Blues
  8. that dog., Grunge Couple
  9. Counting Crows, Einstein on the Beach (For an Eggman)
  10. The Posies, Open Every Window
  11. Sloan, Stove/Smother
  12. St. Johnny, Wild Goose Chasing
  13. Murray Attaway, Allegory
  14. The Sundays, Don’t Tell Your Mother

You can download DGC Rarities from Amazon, Google Play, or iTunes for under $10. At less than a buck per track for the entire collection of 14 songs, it’s a steal.

Sadly, there never was a DGC Rarities Vol. 2, but if it had been released, which songs do you think would have made the cut? Sound off in the comments below.

Album art courtesy of Geffen Records

JoCo and JoRo Bring an Early Christmas Present

One Christmas at a Time

Not content with a slot on my Halloween playlist, Jonathan Coulton is obviously angling for a position on my list of classic Christmas albums as well. This holiday season he’s joining forces with John Roderick to release One Chistmas at a Time.

I don’t start getting excited about Christmas until after Thanksgiving, however, thanks to JoCo & JoRo I’m getting into the spirit. The album features ten nine original Christmas songs and one Chanukuah song.

As much as it pains me to admit this, I know that Coulton’s music isn’t for everyone. So, here’s your chance to try before you buy.

The Week Between

2600

If the tracks above tickled your fancey you can pre-order now and download the album DRM-free on November 15th.

Do you know of any other awesome Christmas albums I should be listening to this year? Sound off in the comments below.

Album Art for One Christmas at a Time by Jonathan Coulton & John Roderick via Soundcloud.

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Seven Spooktacular Songs for Your Halloween Playlist

So, you’re getting ready for your big Halloween bash, eh? If you want your party to make an impression that’ll last for many All Hallow’s Eves to come you’ll need to make sure you’ve got all the essentials covered.

Sure, you’ve got your age-appropriate costume, party games, food, drinks, and lots (and lots and lots and lots) of candy, but have you given any thought to your Halloween Playlist?

Best O' Boingo
Image via Amazon.

Please, oh please, don’t tell me you were just gonna connect your iPhone to the stereo and put it on shuffle! Do yourself (and your guests a favor). Add these seven songs to your soirée’s soundtrack for a fiendishly good time.

Monster Mash

The Monster Mash sounds just as campy today as when old Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt Kickers recorded it fifty years ago. It’s good fun that tickles everyone’s funny bone.

Werewolves of London

Everyone knows that werewolves are complete party animals and Warren Zevon showed us that those London lupines are no exception.

“Ah-hooo!!!!!”

Dragula

No Halloween playlist would be complete without at least one Rob Zombie song. The man lives everyday like it’s Halloween—I mean just look at the guy! What better song from the Zombie catalog for your evening’s listening pleasure than this little ditty about the Munster’s drag racer?

Rob Zombie: Past, Present and Future
Image via Amazon.

Dead Man's Party

Oingo Boingo’s annual Día de Los Muertos shows were a 1980s LA staple until frontman, Danny Elfman, swapped writing kooky new wave music for writing kooky music for kooky Tim Burton movies. Dead Man’s Party represents the best and most fun music from that period.

Ghostbusters

If it weren’t for the his contribution to the Ghostbusters Soundtrack, I’d have never heard of Ray Parker Jr. and that would have been a shame because this song is as fun as the movie was.

Re Your Brains

I may be late jumping on the JoCo bandwagon, but I’m sure enjoying the ride! Yes, this song is about an email correspondence between two co-workers, one of whom just happens to be a zombie intent on eating the other’s brains. It wouldn’t work nearly as well as it does if it weren’t for the fact that Coulton remains one heck of a musician and vocalist.

Thriller

As classic as Michael Jackson’s Thriller is as a song, it’s an even better music video. Take a page out of the Philipino inmates’ handbook and bust out MJ’s moves for a group number on the dance floor.

While I can’t guarantee your party’s success, I can promise you that at least the music won’t stink if you stick to my suggestions.

What songs made the cut onto your Halloween playlist? Sound off in the comments below.

All images are from my flickr, unless otherwise noted.

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Seven Best Fake Names in Punk Rock

The Ramones' 1976 debut album laid down the mu...

The Ramones’ 1976 debut album. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

What is it about punk rock that continues to attract legions of young, middle class, American WASP fans? That’s a blog theme for another day. Today, I’m only interested in the best fake names in one of my favorite musical genres.

For reasons totally unbeknownst to me, punk rock has a plethora of colorful (usually black and blue) characters who decided that their given names weren’t hardcore enough for their edgy onstage personas. Here are the seven best fake names in all of punk rock.

1) Johnny Rotten

Johnny Rotten
Image via HiLobrow.

Johnny Rotten brought Anarchy back to the UK. He is mostly recognized as lead singer of The Sex Pistols, arguably the best punk group ever.

2) Rat Scabies

Rat Scabies
Image via Last.fm.

Maybe a name like Christopher Millar wasn’t dark enough to be a member of early British punk pioneers The Damned. I don’t really know if Rat Scabies was an attempt at humor or some disgusting ailment suffered by the former Millar.

3) Pat Smear

Pat Smear
Image via Billboard.

Before he was fighting Foo or touring with Nirvana, Smear was a member of highly influential Germs. Say what you will about Smear, but he had a great sense of humor. I can’t think of his name without thinking of Leslie Nielsen’s classic Naked Gun movies. “I must kill Pat Smear … ”

4) Sid Vicious

Sid Vicious
Image via Coolspotters.

Sid was bandmates with the aforementioned Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols. The story of Sid’s life and mutually destructive relationship with Nancy Spungen is a cautionary rock and roll fable. Drugs and humans—especially psychotic humans—don’t mix.

5) Lee Ving

Lee Ving as Mr. Body
Image via Avelyman.

Not only was Ving the front man of the hardcore punk band Fear, but he was also the first guy to get whacked in my favorite movie based on a board game; 1985′s Clue.

6) Jello Biafra

Jello Biafra
Image via ipass.net.

I remember drawing Dead Kennedys logos on my Pee Chee folders long before I knew anything about the band or their outrageous lead singer. This guy’s name is just plain whacky. I’m not sure what he was sniffing when he came up with it, but any guy who can pens lyrics about Star-Bellied Sneetches and rails against the atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge is alright in my book.

7) Every Single Member of The Ramones

The Ramones
Image via Max’s Kansas City.

Consisting of Dee Dee, Joey, Johnny and a revolving cast of other guys (Tommy, Marky, Richie, Elvis, and CJ) whose last name was not really Ramone, the Ramones are often credited as the first punk rock group.

They proved that you don’t need to master more than three chords, write songs lasting longer than two minutes, or use your real name to be punk.

In the words of Cheech Marin:

“[it's] just punk rock. You don’t have to know how to play. All you just got to do is be a punk.”

Are there any other great punk rock pseudonyms out there? Sound off in the comments below.

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Grab a Ton of Free Music from Google Play

I love music. I listen in the car, when I work out, when I do chores—whenever I can. As such, I’m always on the look out for great music I don’t have to pay for.

Music Manager

Fortunately, the Internet is full of places to get free music. Some of them even let you download it legally, too!

Apple has a whole section devoted to music (and movies, and apps, etc.) that are Free on iTunes. Not to be outdone, Amazon lets you browse their MP3 Store for free downloads. Now Google is getting in on the game.

Enter: Google Play

If you haven’t checked it out already, be sure to head over to Google Play. Their interface is nothing special and the selection of music is no better than iTunes or Amazon MP3. However, they’ve got a much, much better selection of free music.

Head over to the Free Song Archive at the Google Play Magnifier Blog. Currently, they’ve got over 200 fantastic songs from the likes of Train, Social Distortion, “Weird Al” Yankovic, System of a Down, Mariah Carey, Shakira, Johnny Cash, Carrie Underwood, Whitney Houston, John Mayer, etc.

Google-Play-600x300
Image via freebee360

As a bonus, be sure to check out this playlist full of quality tracks from Radiohead, Snoop Dogg, Gorillaz, Daft Punk, and more Coachella Music Festival All-Stars.

What’s your favorite source for great, free MP3 downloads? Sound off in the comments below.

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Seven Songs for the Ultimate Road Warrior’s Playlist

Some travelers jet set to glamorous locations—London, Paris, Madrid, Sydney, Shanghai, etc.—then there are those of us who fly into smaller, regional airports and then drive along rural roads of small-town America. We are the true Road Warriors.

In my current role I spend at least one week a month in Arkansas. The only thing that’s kept me sane on the long drives from LRNA to our field office has been a steady stream of great music.

Here are seven of my go-to tracks for the Ultimate Road Warrior’s playlist.

  1. On the Road Again – Willie Nelson

    On the Road Again

    This track signifies the beginning of another trip away from home. I’m never as anxious as Willie to be back on the road though.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  2. I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

    The Legend of Johnny Cash

    Sometimes it feels like I’ve been everywhere, seen everything, and done everything. The Man in Black gets that like few others do.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  3. Working Man Blues – Merle Haggard

    Best of Merle Haggard

    Yeah, it’s a big job getting’ by with three kids and a wife. This song reminds of why I take these trips. So, I can provide the best life I can for the ones I love.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  4. Truckin’ – Grateful Dead

    5. American Beauty

    “What a long, strange trip it’s been” ‘Nuff said.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  5. Midnight Rider – The Allman Brothers Band

    The Allman Brothers Band - A Decade of Hits

    When my flight has been delayed (and delayed again and again and again …) this song provides the perfect soundtrack for those long, late night drives from the airport to the hotel.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  6. Ramble On – Led Zeppelin

    Led Zeppelin II

    By the end of a long week, I’m just ready to hit the road. This song not echoes that sentiment, but gets serious geek fred for its Lord of the Rings references (both Mordor and Gollum).

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

  7. Take Me Home Country Roads – John Denver

    John Denver's Greatest Hits

    This is the perfect song for driving back to the airport. My trip is over and all I want to do is go home and see the wife and kids.

    Available on iTunes and Amazon

For someone who claims not to be a Country Music fan This playlist is fairly fluid, but right now these are the songs I want to hear in my rental on my way to and from the the airport.

What do you want to hear when traveling along the open road? Sound off in the comments below.

All album art courtesy of Amazon

Seven Christmas Albums to Rock the Holidays

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is the music. I love it all—from traditional carols about the birth of Jesus to Rock and Pop songs about Santa, snowmen, and mistletoe—I can’t get enough of it.

There’s no better way to get into the season than with a some fantastic seasonal tunes. So, here’s my list of seven sure-fire Christmas albums to rock your holidays.

  1. A Charlie Brown Christmas – Vince Guaraldi Trio

    A Charlie Brown Christmas
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    There’s a certain melancholy to the Charlie Brown Christmas cartoon which helps us relate to the titular blockhead. But, the jazzy instrumental takes on familiar staples “Greensleeves” and “O Tannenbaum” make this album a perfect compliment to your holiday party.

  2. Noel – Josh Groban

    Noel
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    Wow! That’s really sums up how I feel about Groban’s take on Christmas music. I was literally blown away the first time I heard this. It’s easily the best Christmas album to come out in the last 20 years. Do yourself a favor and buy this one today.

  3. Christmas with the Beach Boys – The Beach Boys

    Christmas with the Beach Boys
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    This album occupies a special place in my heart. This was probably the third album I remember buying with my own money. I loved The Beach Boys’ harmonies on the old standards, but the most fun was their original tune “Little Saint Nick.”

  4. Have a Holly Jolly Christmas – Burl Ives

    Have a Holly Jolly Christmas
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    I know what you’re thinking—“Isn’t that the Ugly Bug Ball guy?”—and, yes, it is. But, he’s also the snowman in the classic Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer animated special. If you enjoy Holly Jolly as much as I do the rest of this album will be sure to brighten your spirits.

  5. Wintersong – Sarah McLachlan

    Wintersong
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    I’m sure Ms. McLachlan tires of her voice being referred to as ethereal, but it really is. This is a fantastic album with wonderful renditions of “Silent Night” and “Christmas Time Is Here”. The highlight of Wintersong is her cover of Joni Mitchell‘s “River”. At one time or another, we’ve all wished we had river that we could skate away on.

  6. A Very Special Christmas, Vol. 1 – Various Artists

    A Very Special Christmas
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    The first volume in the “A Very Special Christmas” (AVSC) series of albums may sound a trifle dated, but it’s just so much fun! Released in 1987 to benefit the Special Olympics, AVSC features a who’s who of late 80s rock and pop standouts. This album features two songs currently in heavy rotation on my Christmas playlist: “Christmas (Please Come Home Baby)” by U2 and “Christmas in Hollis” by Run-D.M.C.

  7. A Christmas Together – John Denver & the Muppets

    A Christmas Together
    Available on iTunes and Amazon

    It never officially felt like Christmas Time until my parents brought out the John Denver and Muppets Christmas record. With renewed interest in the Muppets, A Christmas Together is a great way to get (re-)acquainted with the world’s greatest performing puppet troupe. The songs range from sweet to silly without ever being condescending to the audience or the source material. This album is great fun regardless of your age.

There are so many great Christmas albums out there, so I know I may not have chosen your favorites. Which christmas albums would have made your list? Sound off in the comments below.

All album art courtesy of Amazon

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