Chicago

I've been listening to Chicago's Greatest Hits Vol I--you know "Saturday in the Park" and such and I just wonder why there's nothing like this going on in today's music. Hell, I don't even know if anyone is using horns in their rock let alone filling the void of this kind of great music.

Admittedly, I don't listen to the radio...the iPod has made that unnecessary so I can't say for sure there isn't anything out there, but I do peruse iTunes and can't seem to find anything.

Anyone know something I don't? (besides all that....)

Music: Vocalists

In no particular order, here are my favorite rock vocalists because I just love the sound of their voice:

Paul Rodgers (Bad Co.)
Chris Thompson (Manfred Mann's Earth Band)
Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam)
Amy Lee (Evanescence)
Lenny Zakatek (Alan Parsons Project)
Brad Delp (Boston)
Donnie Iris
James Taylor
Steve Walsh (Kansas)
Ritchie Havens
Sarah McLachlan
Glenn Shorrock (Little River Band)
Chris Cornell (Soundgarden)
David Clayton-Thomas (Blood, Sweat & Tears)
Michael McDonald (Doobie Bros.)
Enya
Burton Cummings (Guess Who)
Roger Daltry (The Who)
Steve Perry and Gregg Rolie (Journey--only when they share vocals on the same songs)
Leo Sayer

Why We're Here or...Idolatry

Was reading an interview with prog-rock musician Neal Morse and he said something that made me stop a moment because I think he's come to the wrong conclusion for the wrong reasons.

He said,
"One is that God made us to worship. He created us to worship him but since we in large in part don’t worship him then we have to worship something, because we’re made to worship [laughing]. So we find people and stuff that we can see, and in a way it makes sense. You find somebody that you can see whether its a musician or a movie star. It can be good things that we idolize, or a pretty girl that sings well like Britney Spears...The problem is we were made for that and idolatry kills you know? It’s bad for the people that do it and it’s bad for the people that are idolized too. It’s just not how God made us so we suffer."

I don't think we were made to worship. I, for one, would not wish to have anything to do with a "god" who made me to worship him/her. That need is an inherent weakness and thus, "god" cannot be perfect as we are always told, at least in the Christian faith.

What I think is that people get caught up in all the mess Neal mentions because as a species Man is basically class oriented. We, like other simians, live in a hierarchy. From early on, Man's societies have always had a ruling class, be it religious, political or militaristic in nature. In our society, people want prestige and prominence, they want to feel special, above others...in one way or another...this explains why American Idol is such a huge hit.

We idolize what we want to be...thus, if we idolize a movie star it's because we want to be like that movie star and thus if we idolize a "god" it also is because we want to be like that "god".

The Two Joes

All the reconnection I've been doing has made me a little nostalgic for some musicians I knew. Joe Bilotti and Joey Howell. We all went to the same highschool, though Mr. Howell was a grade or two above.

These are two of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and I'll be damned if you don't always find them with a smile on their faces.

As musicians, they were two of the best I've ever seen. Mr. Bilotti I believe studied music at my alma matter, Montclair State in NJ, while I believe Mr. Howell attended The Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Back when I was single in my twenties, these two played together in a band (of which I don't recall the name)...but they were just amazing together.

I only recently found out Mr. Bilotti was playing in Soft Parade and that made me try to hunt down what became of Mr. Howell, who is currently playing in a band called Parrot Beach. If you ever get the chance to see these bands with these two playing, go; you'll see true musicianship.

I maybe off on some of my info here, so anyone that knows, please feel free to correct me.

Music: 51st Grammys

Rant. I'll now admit I'm getting old and crotchety about my music.  I made it into the 90s with Pearl Jam/Soundgarden et al...  However, the 00s haven't been very fruitful.

So, in my cruise through iTunes looking for new music (as I received an iTunes card for xmas), I came across the nominee list for the 51st Grammys.  The male/female pop category has always sucked.  But take a look at the other categories; does this just confirm my view that there's nothing new worth listening to?  Look at all the old timers, good God, even Motley Crue.  Even that crappy Eagles album has been nominated.

Now, in my defense, in my trolling for new music, I did come across a few bands who had a handful of decent songs: Shinedown, Egypt Central, Deepfield, Thriving Ivory, Pop Evil, Midnight to Twelve.  Not that I'd buy their entire CDs but a song here and there. So, I'd like to think I'm somewhat open minded to what's happening in today's music.

But this one thing I must be said, compelled yet again am I; Coldplay SUCKS.  I don't understand it; how is it anyone thinks that crap is any good?  They just plain suck.  I know I'll catch hell but...it must be stated.

The only solace I have in all this is that an old friend, along with his brother, have educated his son in music the likes of Led Zep and Gov't Mule.

Music: The Eagles Long Road Out of Eden

I only now had a chance to checkout the songs on the Eagles' new album, Long Road Out of Eden.  There's a reason the cover shows a desert--because the creative well has dried up and gone barren.  It was so bad I felt compelled to post my first iTunes review: one star only because you don't have a "no star" choice and my headline simply read; This album blows...  

Music: What the hell happened to Rod Stewart?

Two of the greatest rock voices of all time are: Paul Rodgers (of Bad Co. fame) and Rod Stewart.

But what the hell happened to Rod Stewart?  Rodgers at least continues to make bluesy rock 'n' roll music or works with Queen.  Stewart on the other hand took off to record "standards".

While they may have sold well (since he had more than one volume of standards), they are a complete waste of this man's great raspy rock voice.  Even his latest batch of cover tunes leaves so much to be desired (Great Rock Classics of Our Time-sorry, just can't link to this let down)--which includes a Bread softy, 80s Jon Waite...even Fooled Around and Fell in Love, while a great Elvin Bishop song, it's a song for Mickey Thomas not Rod Stewart.  Great rock classics?--Rod what have you been smoking?

Alas, we are faced with our rock legends growing old. Unfortunately, I can't say all with grace.  The blues legends could keep doing what they did until they died, but I'm sorry, it's just sad watching Mick Jagger try to still sexually slink his way across the stage when he's only several years younger than my father.  This past summer's Rolling Stone's cover of Led Zep was just plain sad to look at.  Jimmy Paige looks like someone's grandfather--at least Robert Plant went off with Alison Krause rather than continue to squeal "ooooh, yeah, yeah" at his age.

Music: Retrospection 2

OK...I just looked on Rolling Stone's site for the top albums of 2008.  #1: TV on the Radio--this is the best of 2008?  And #2 is an album of "out takes and orphaned songs" by Bob Dylan.  Then Evil Urges is the "mightiest rock band of the year".

All I can say is, 2008 must've sucked for music.

Music: Retrospection

Basically, I'm a 70s AOR (that's Album Oriented Rock for you kids) kind of guy when it comes to music.  Not to say I don't listen to other types of music or other "times" but as a generalization, this description works.  So, yes, I'll listen to everything from Pearl Jam to Enya, lots of classical or jazz when in the mood etc...I hated the 80s music, the 90s was better, but today, I don't know it all sounds the same to me.  Coldplay does nothing for me--and it all sounds like that.  

I also have a penchant for lesser known bands and songs of the day: Tarney Spencer Band, Diesel, Sniff 'n' the Tears, Animal Logic, the Babys, Manfred Mann's Earth Band et al...

It's because of this that I don't listen to the radio and now that I've an iPod shuffle (the kids get the good stuff, even though their taste in music sucks and they only have like 10 songs to load on 30 gigs), I just plug this into the car radio and never have to listen to anything I don't like.  [Back in Jersey, I'd listen mostly to WDHA, the Jersey rock station instead of the NY stations--I met Kathy Millar once--she was very good looking.]  Now, I rely on iTunes to find out about anything new.

But this all makes me wonder: have I reached musical arrested development?  Am I incapable of liking today's music?  Though I have noticed that women seem better than men at keeping up with the day's music as time goes on.  Ah, well I guess I'll just keep listening to Donnie Iris again...{future music posts: old guys, dead guys and what the hell happened to Rod Stewart--what a waist}