Flashback Friday - The B-52's

(For some reason my blog didn't post last Friday so I'm posting it 3 days late)

The B-52's  are a group that I discovered in the summer of '82. Now while I'm not a huge fan of their current stuff I loved their first couple of albums. A song that I really loved which is also a title of an EP is Mesopotamia. This was suppose to be a studio album which they started recording with David Byrne of the Talking Heads, but Byrne ended up pulling out of the project before it was finished. 





I can remember the first time I heard it. I was at my cousin's house on Buena Vista in Patty's room. She said what I can remember, "Oh you should hear this group I think you would like them." She put on the EP and I sat on the edge of her bed and listened. After listening to the entire EP I knew I had to own it so bought it the next day. I must have played that EP non-stop for at least a month. There are other songs that I like, Cake, and Loveland, but Mesopotamia is my favorite. I liked The B-52's because I think they had a unique sound that no one else seem to have had back then.  Every so often I listen to this and it reminds me of summers that my brother and I used to spend here in California, hanging out with our cousin's Patty, Melissa, and Jennifer. Good times....

Suggested Listening - Sigur Ros

They are not your conventional pop or rock group. Sigur Ros comes from Iceland. 

The group formed in August 1994 by Jón “Jónsi” Þór Birgisson  (guitar and vocals),  Ágúst Ævar Gunnarsson  (drums 1994-1999), and  Georg Hólm (bass). Now members include Kjartan Sveinsson and Orri Páll Dýrason. When I first heard their music it was on a TV show on cable called Verve. I flipped on the channel and hear the music that they were playing, it was very ethereal sounding. I left it there and was trying to figure out the lyrics to the song that was being sung. I had no clue that they were Icelandic and Jonsi was singing in his native language. I think that's what intrigued me more. After they finished playing the song I came into, they began their next song. It was Svefn-G-Englar (roughly translates to Sleepwalkers).....







This song put me in a trance like state. I sat glued in front of the TV until they were done. I've never had a group or artists move me like this song and the others that they played that day. Over the years I had stopped listening to them. I watched a documentary that Sigur Ros had done in 2007 called Heima, and it re-introduced their music back into my life. The documentary was filmed in the late summer of 2006. They returned home to play a series of free, unannounced concerts for the people of Iceland. This was and is a beautiful documentary about the band traveling home and their music. Here's the trailer to the movie....





Sigur Ros I can say is my favorite band and I will never tire of listening to them. I remember reading in someone's blog on their music and I quote "You ain't human if SR don't make you weep." I will be the first to admit, there are a few songs of theirs that have almost brought me to the brink of tears. If this is your first time hearing them I encourage you to look up more of their songs and take a listen . I believe that if you aren't a fan of them now, you will be come one shortly after...

Flashback Friday - David Bowie

This morning I had my iphone on random shuffle. I was listening to a play list that I created of all my favorite music (well not all) from the 80's. Just as I was getting on Muni (our subway) to head to work Fashion from David Bowie comes on. 



This song came out in 1980 and I was between the ages of 12 and 13. I think I was just getting ready to begin Junior High at Maywood. We had just relocated to Washington state from California the year before, so I didn't really have many friends. I was not a very outgoing child and was an introvert so this made it difficult for me to make friends.


On the weekends I would sit in my room and listen to my stereo (a hammy down from my parents). If I was feeling bad or down I would retreat to my room, shut the door and tune into my favorite station. I would sing along to every songs and learning all the lyrics perfectly.  There was a great station called "the wave" (no longer on the air) that played new wave/modern rock. I would listen for hours and sometimes record my favorite songs off this station (god I think I still have some cassette tapes some where at home). This was one of the songs that would get played a lot, but only felt that way.


This song reminds me of hanging out in my old room. Music poster plastered on every wall with my over sized headphones on and laying on my bed. Hearing it now reminds me of where I was as a child and how much I've grow and changed since then.

Revamping my Format

So I'm finding it a little hard to keep up with my current format of how often I will post. This is how I envision it from this point forward....

First Sunday of the month - New Artist Profile (a new artist that I discover and think you might enjoy)

Monday/Tuesday- My Suggested Listening (artist I'm currently listening to)

Fridays - Flashback Friday (A blast from the past ranging from the popular to the obscure. A great song that brings back great memories every time I hear it.)

Look for my next post tomorrow for Flashback Friday!!!!!

Flashback Friday - Total Coelo

Thank you Myla for this first post...


The other day a friend of mine forwarded a link to this song. Total Coelo - I eat cannibals









Total Coelo a one hit wonder from the 80's (well at least I think the song was some kind of hit). I remember hearing it for the first time on MTV back in 1982 (when they used to play music). The tribal drumbeat sucked me into the song. and then one by one the group appeared in the video. I thought the girls were hot (we'll 80's hot) and they all seemed dressed in what it looked like hefty bags. The first time that I heard this song and saw the video I think I was a Freshman/Sophomore in high school. I was sitting at home after school watching MTV instead of doing homework. Daydreaming of the day that I wouldn't have to go to school anymore and being out in the world on my own. Now as I listen/watch it again I'm taken back to that day. The girls dancing in a spotlight with a back drop that looks (or is trying to look) like the African Sahara. The video filmed in a studio with neon lights and fog/smoke machines. They were all dressed in colorful costumes (aka hefty bags), and dancing along to the catchy lyrics with their well choreographed dance routines.


I still love this song....

Gossip (AKA The Gossip)

What can I say about this group other than I ♥ THEM!!!! Gossip started back in 1999 with founding members Beth Ditto (lead singer), Nathan "Brace Paine" Howdeshell (guitarist), Kathy Mendonca (former drummer), and now Hannah Billie (present drummer). They all met (with the exception of Hannah Billie) in college where they all attended Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. Now they all reside in Portland, OR where they are based.


The first CD that I bought of theirs was Standing in the way of Control 





This is the song that got me hooked. If I had to describe their sound I would say a little punk with a hint of disco. I don't think there was a song on this album that I didn't like. Beth Ditto has such an awesome voice that you can feel the emotions in her singing. Some songs on the album, Fire with  Fire (love this one as well), Jealous Girl, Coal to Diamonds, but a song that I think you can really feel her emotions is "Yr Mangled Heart". My favorite line in the song goes, "I don't want the world, I only want what I deserve!". This CD is a must own (in my opinion).


I just recently bought their newest CD Music for Men and all I have to say is WOW!!! Sometimes bands have a tendency with their follow up album not doing so well, but not this one. First single I think was "Heavy Cross"





The first couple of albums/EP's were gritty and raw, but this one seems a lot more polished. Don't get me wrong I loved the raw sound and feeling that I got from listening to the others. With this album they signed with a new studio which is a part of Sony, so I feel they wanted to try and make them look/sound a little more main stream. Some other songs on the CD are Dimestore Diamond, Vertical Rhythm (great song), Love and Let Love, and Four Letter Word.


I was hoping to see them April 19th @ the Regency Ball room here in SF, but they canceled the show. 


This is a group to keep your eyes out for. I feel like they are on the verge of becoming big soon. So if you get a chance and they are in your city see them while you can in a small intimate venue. You won't regret it!!!!!

Getting back to business....

As you may have noticed I haven't posted anything in about a month. It seems that I had some malicious gadget on my blog that prevented me from having access. I finally resolved the issue and now can really start my blog.  :-)