24 April 2012 - Ace of Base - All That She Wants

I remember when this song was new in 1993.  It was a comparatively minor hit - "The Sign" was its followup and it exploded - and I remember thinking about how ABBA-esque they were.  And the video!  I thought its sepia tones and somber mood matched the mellow dance beats of the song. I remembering thinking that these guys were really cool.  Then their next single came out, and all music credibility went out the window.

I find this song cool also because of the multiple key changes during the song.  It's not the easiest song to sing.  So I'm told.  I mean, I sing it perfectly.

23 April 2012 - Anjulie - Boom

I hate to say it, but I really don't have much to say today. It happens. Here's a pretty cool video for a pretty cool tune.

22 April 2012 - Spain - It's So True

It's Guilt-Free Sunday!  So, let's listen to Josh Haden, brother to Petra Haden (you might have seen a post about her over here) and his band, Spain, of which Petra has been an occasional member.

I really like Spain.  Their music is really quiet without being boring, somber and yet still full of emotion.  This live performance of one of my favorite songs by them shows that to the fullest.  They've recently reformed, and this performance is post-reformation.  The song, however, sounds like they never took a single day off.

They've also got a new album coming out next month, which you can preview in parts on their website. I hope you enjoy this song and also investigate their others.  You won't be sorry you did.

20 April 2012 - Dokken - Breaking The Chains

I actually saw a free Dokken show a few years ago in Virginia Beach. I can confirm that they were still a Rokken.

19 April - New Kids On The Block - Tonight

Before boy bands were cool, there were five guys from Boston called New Kids On The Block.  I was the right age when they were new to be slightly annoyed by them because I was supposed to be.  Still, I could appreciate their harmonies and their sound.

This under-appreciated song was one of their last singles, and it had a slightly different sound than most of their earlier work.  Whereas their early songs were mostly straight-ahead pop music, complete with the poppy love songs and poppy ballads, this was a full-on five-part harmony reminiscent of The Beatles and The Four Seasons.



Yes, I compared NKOTB to The Beatles.  And I meant it.  This song is their "Glass Onion".

As an added bonus, here are NKOTB, as part of their tour with Backstreet Boys, performing this song in Edmonton.  This should make my Canadian friends happy.

18 April 2012 - Minnie Driver - Beloved

I miss used cd shops. There used to be about four of them in my town, but over the years they have all closed down (granted we now have a vinyl store, which is pretty rad). I used to spend hours scouring the cheap bins hoping to find some gems...and I often would. One particular day I rolled across the brand new Minnie Driver cd for $3.99. Minnie Driver sings? Who knew? Turns out it was her second record. Really? Curiosity of course set in and I had to buy it, even though all I could think was that there's no way it could be listenable (no disrespect to Ms. Driver, it's just...well, there hasn't been a ton of crossover success for actors in the music world). Happy to say though that I was wrong, and that Seastories is a perfectly pleasant listen with a bit of country, folk and pop music mixed with Driver's breathy vocals. Man, now I'm really missing used cd shops. Maybe I should head over to the Goodwill and do some cd hunting.

17 April 2012 - Justin Timberlake - Rock Your Body

I admit it.  I like Justin Timberlake.  I find him to be likable and entertaining.  He makes interesting dance music that isn't like music that everyone else is making.  He's mainstream, but tries to stay just a half step ahead.  He understands the hip hop influence on his music.

I particularly like this song for several reasons.  First of all, it shed a squeaky-clean image he had previously, as a member of N*Sync (who we might examine closer another day).  He's brave enough to beat-box, which is a lot harder to do than it looks.  He went simple with the video - just a dancing light background and Justin Timberlake (and his female partner in the song, who might not have been the one who really did the singing, but that's not important right now).  And, to be perfectly honest, the boy can dance.



Oh, and it's the song he was singing when he ripped Janet Jackson's top off at the Super Bowl.  Everyone forgets that he was involved with that little scandal, albeit unwittingly.