"Nothing Left Inside" - Black Flag

Black Flag has a large collection of essential hardcore punk songs and albums. While I love the main sound the band has, with the brash and fast as hell punk disarray, I also have a deep love for the slower and heavy sound that consumes the second half of this album. If you are new to Black Flag this might not be the best track to start with, it is one of those "Rollins Freak-out" songs I like to call them. Just pissed off music that sort of makes you feel icky. That feeling is honestly what really got me in love with Black Flag when I was 14 and was starting to get further and further into punk rock. Punk sometimes is hard to tell who is who from band to band, especially in the hardcore scene of the 1980's. Black Flag having plenty of face ripping songs that originally sucked me in I wanted just a little bit more from them and I found it in songs like "Nothing Left Inside" and "Damaged I" which helped set them apart from the spitty rabble. I have read through a good couple of Henry Rollin's books and let me tell you, while I love the philosophy the man spouts, he is one tormented soul. Some of his poetry is messed up and damn violent, I knew what it might be like before reading through them since in most Black Flag songs you can hear pure refined nihilistic rage. If you are wanting one of his books to start with I suggest, See a Grown Man Cry, Now Watch Him Die but don't say I didn't warn you. In a lot of ways, the style and atmosphere of this song is exactly what you will get out of that book. While Black Flag has many better songs this happened to be the one to grab me that day. I love songs that go damn well in the background like this one, I mean for solo listening I think if anyone else heard it they might look at you a little sideways. I dig the song none the less, but like I stated earlier it might not be the best place for a budding fan to start. Black Flag has stayed as my all-time favorite punk band after they took the Ramones place when I was 15 or so. I have listened through their albums countless times and always walk away feeling kinda fucked up but... in a good way. They have a unique style, and are one of those bands you can always pick out of the garden of punk rock. I chose the track while just at work and as soon as that droning dirty guitar kicked in I knew I was gonna be transported to the depressive world of Black Flag for a little bit. An odd song but still something I can get behind because there is so much raw emotion behind the song even with its simplistic lyricism. A perfect song to show off how lyrics don't always matter, it is how you sell those lyrics. Anyways, if you even sort of dig the track I strongly suggest checking out one of the biggest names of hardcore punk and play some damn Black Flag!

​​​Year Released: 1984
Album: My War (1984) 
Genre: Hardcore Punk
Mood: Depressive, Desperate, Pissed
Perfect For: Playing the background while working, Punching walls I guess if you are into that
Where To Next: "Blackout" - S.O.A.
​
​
Rating: 7/10

"Black Soul Choir" - 16 Horsepower

16 Horsepower is a band new to me, I barely discovered them just the previous day. They are an oddity that seems to mix a little bit of blues, country, punk, folk and alternative rock but this is a song-by-song scenario. A powerful band that is a complete joy to listen to, and I have played this song a ton of times since the first time I found it. It has a great atmosphere and singer David Eugene Edwards is certainly a unique vocalist, he seems almost a little too excited to tell you something that is hard to get off his tongue. I am excited to get further into the band, I am sure there is much to cherish since everything I have sunk my teeth into thus far has been great and each song brought a whole new style yet that dirty mountain country road feeling persisted in each song. I haven't found another song of theirs that beats this one yet though I have just barely started my journey into them and have mainly stuck in Spotify's Top 5 streams for the band. I love the lyrics and the sinful atmosphere. I chose the song while driving around with my lady trying to find the perfect pumpkin to carve that night. She artfully chose hers through a thorough prosses of elimination and I just found some unfortunate pumpkin away from the others that I feared nobody else would pick. That same pumpkin took a spill off the ledge just a day or two later so maybe it would have been better off being left, rest in peace strangely tall pumpkin. None the less, we got our pumpkins and loaded them into my truck and set off for the next thing on our agenda for the day. This song played in the background while we chatted and I noted how good of a find it was, then since it was part of a short playlist it played once more and again I appreciated the find. I knew then that the song just had to be on the song of the day section so maybe some others can find it. Gonna be hard to put a finger on exactly what genre this is but I will try my best since I think I am mainly the one who gives a hoot anyways. It was a great choice for a day driving around choosing pumpkins and other cliché autumn activities, the song is the sound of how I perceive autumn if the leaves could play instruments.

​​​Year Released: 1996
Album: Sackcloth 'n' Ashes (1996) 
Genre: Country Rock, Alternative Country
Mood: Damned
Perfect For: Mellow Autumn drives, Getting drunk, Casual listening
Where To Next: "Go Walking Down There" - Chris Isaak
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Poseidon's Creation" - Eloy
​
Progressive rock always makes me feel inspired, my art comes from the soul while bands like Eloy show that their art comes from the brain. Each time "Poseidon's Creation" comes back around in a playlist or what have you I am always blown away, the style and sound is fucking great, the album cover is great, the lyricism is great, the German as hell accent is great. Eloy is one of the bands that shocked me when I was going through any rock album I could find from the 1970's. Being a big fan of Yes, King Crimson, Gentle Giant and more for the last few years it pissed me right off when I realized I missed a band when first getting into progressive rock, especially a band that has you gasping at each turn the band takes. This album is a concept album retelling Plato's Island of Atlantis, and it is well worth the listen to anyone who enjoys progressive rock and instrumentals or even mythos. I mean this song takes damn near 5 minutes before vocals kick in, which to many modern music listeners is much too long. Though to people like me that is great, I love songs that suck you into their realm before telling you a story. This whole album is that way and once again caught me completely off guard by how damn great it is! I think I need to double check to see if I missed any more bigger German rock bands out there. Each time I think I gathered them all I find another and another from the UK or the US or like Eloy from Germany, guess you cannot collect them all but I shall die trying. I don't want any band left behind, because that could mean leaving behind an epic like "Poseidon's Creation". I chose the song while actually waking up, as soon as I came to I realized this is one of the best songs to wake up to. Strange mystic feeling mixed with energetic and clear cut singing gets you up out of bed. Then the instrumental part after the lyrics are done is groovy and great. I rarely have woken up with a smile and got out of bed without cursing the gods but with this song playing I was ready for the day. Played it again while I brushed my hair and teeth, it was a strangely good morning and I honestly think it was because of this song. One of the best songs to wake up to, like "Shine On You Crazy Diamonds" from Pink Floyd or "Different Strings" from Rush. 

​​Year Released: 1977
Album: Ocean (1977) 
Genre: Progressive Rock
Mood: Epic
Perfect For: Taking a seat and opening your ears, Waking up
Where To Next: "Starship Trooper" - Yes
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"All for the Love of Rock 'N' Roll" - Ram Jam

Known for their 1970's defining hit "Black Betty" but that doesn't mean Ram Jam doesn't have other zingers. Their short career of only 2 albums didn't gather all too much attention aside from "Black Betty" but I was pleased to find out that the album that holds that legendary song actually is well worthwhile, one that any rock fan or collector should give a spin, don't worry it isn't one of those albums that has completely the same sound all the way through. There are multiple tastes of rock music within its 34-minute runtime, not just the explosive and fun nature of "Black Betty". One of the tracks that really grabbed my attention when listening through this album the first time over 10 years ago was "All for the Love of Rock 'N' Roll". A straight forward rocker, and a song that expresses the love and power of rock music which I have always been a fool for. I still need to figure out some merchandise for this website, if not just some shirts and jackets for myself. While listening to this song I finally had an idea come together that I like. I have been looking for some kind of motto and I think "all for the love of rock n roll" is a great one and really sums up this website. Would also look good under my logo on a shirt or maybe on the back of a jacket. I liked that one or maybe thought about doing a motto after the Motley Crue song "All in the Name Of..." which uses "all in the name of rock n roll" but while that song is a kick ass one I really don't want the website affiliated with the creepy ass lyricism at the start of that song. Anyways I gotta jump on that shit and get my name and website out there, at least then I will know if there is still a market for website/blogs since I really don't wanna deal with social media. None the less this website will rock n roll for now, and songs like this one make it all worth while. This website is really built all for the love of rock n roll, that and trying to show some songs off to those that are looking for a new song to cherish. Music is therapeutic so in a way I am like a rocka rolla pharmacist, dishing out 30 tracks a month, one pill taken by ear daily. 

​​Year Released: 1977
Album: Ram Jam (1977) 
Genre: Rock
Mood: Rockin
Perfect For: Having a beer, Driving to an event or night on the town, Appreciation of rock and rock culture
Where To Next: "Smokin' in the Boy's Room" - Brownsville Station
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Nobody Loves You (When You're Down and Out)" - John Lennon

The day was a rough one, the type of day that has you nauseous from the stress you heave upon your shoulders. Between the loss of friends and the stresses of finding a way to move up in this rat race I was already over the day. When it was at its peak of mania John Lennon had to stick his big nose into the picture. I felt personally attacked as this song kicked off and John Lennon told me nobody loved me. I jest, it was comical in a masochistic way, I can't say it made me smile but I still chuckled by the perfect timing of the song. This has always been a favorite of mine from John Lennon's solo work, its floaty and depressing feeling always hits the mood right (if that mood is being down which usually it seems to be). While the song is based around John Lennon's disappointment with the lack of acceptance of his work at the time from critics, which is odd to think about in retrospective since he almost has a clean sweep of albums modernly. Not only that, this was the period when John and Yoko were separated, which seemed to fuel a handful of songs from this album. This album has always had a darker tone and feeling in comparison to some of his other work and it makes sense with what was going on with Lennon at the time, honestly I love the darker depressive theme of the album, seems a lot more human. The song is somewhat harrowing, with its depressing and real talk lyrics that finally come to an end with the final line "everybody loves you when you're six foot in the ground". I wonder if it feels weird knowing when you die that so many will know and may cry, for us common folk it is only a handful of people that find out and the world keeps on turning. Not a whole country or the media though, I guess superstars are hardly like us no matter what they say. Maybe deep down in their skin they are but the character they play on stage and in the newspapers is far from your common man, especially people like the Beatles, they might as well be aliens, can't say there is proof to say otherwise.... Suspicious... Anyways this song is a great one, has that self-loathing feeling like we heard on the Beatles "Yer Blues". It is a well written song, lyrically you can feel the desperation and venom in the words. Performance-wise, it is very homey and human, easy to get behind even for us that have no idea how it is to be in the public eye. I would say in my opinion it is the best track on the album, it is all consuming and oh so hollow. I just wish that John Lennon didn't have to throw such words and feels at my ass when I was just trying to make it through work without puking on my battered converse.

​Year Released: 1974
Album: Walls and Bridges (1974) 
Genre: Rock
Mood: Hollow
Perfect For: Depression, Reality checks, Casual listening, Cigarettes at an overlook, Post break up blues
Where To Next: "Yer Blues" - the Beatles
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Whoa, Sailor" - Hank Thompson

Hank Thompson is a legend of country music, and once again another musician that country music historians and fans have sucked ass at keeping alive. What the hell is with country music's legacy?! Give it another 20 years (if us humans even survive that long) a good majority of the olden golden country music is going to be damn hard to study and listen to. Hank Thompson had a damn long and a damn successful career, staying happily in the upper rankings of the "hot country songs" section of the US Billboard chart from 1948 all the way until 1975. He has plenty of great albums and he followed the shifting of country styles and sounds naturally, but like many fell short when it was time to do crossover country and country pop of the late 1970's. He has a recognizable and fun voice be it a steel guitar and fiddle at a jubilee or a full string section as he tells you the tales of the American west and the American waste. "Whoa, Sailor" is a 1949 country classic just 3 years prior to his legendary "Wild Side of Life" which everyone in country music did a version of. This was Hank Thompsons third big hit, and he did it in style. A fun tale of our character walking into a watering hole with beer on his mind but ends up taking a chance to try talking a lady off her barstool. She fought it off by saying "whoa, sailor" and giving many reasons to why she isn't that easily won over by our brave and foolish sailor. By the conclusion of the song he gives up and gets himself a drink, but like in many country songs from the time, once she sees his wallet then her interest changes and she says "whoa sailor, I think you've won my heart". The sailor knew her game and it worked, which he is fine with since its "every sailors aim to have a girl in every port". A clever and fun song, and like in classic country style it is a well written and quick story. With World War 2 coming to a close just 4 years prior there were still countless military themed songs but I can think of few that I like more than "Whoa, Sailor". 

​Year Released: 1948/1949
Single: Swing Wide Your Gate of Love / Whoa, Sailor
Chosen Compilation: Capitol Collectors Series (2010)
Genre: Country
Mood: Whimsical
Perfect For: Casual listening
Where To Next: "I'm Movin' On" - Hank Snow
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Heaven Knows" - Robert Plant

Robert Plant's solo work sometimes gets criminally overlooked, there are so many damn good tracks to hold up to the light. One of which is "Heaven Knows" off of his 1988 classic Now and Zen, an album that already has plenty of great tracks but none hold a candle to "Heaven Knows". It is an epic song even in its calming feeling, and like anything that questions foolish actions and thoughts I am there to appreciate it being a fool myself, like calls to like. It was a great song to see and hear when me and my girly friend went to the Led Zeppelin light show in Salt Lake City, something I have been meaning to do forever but kept putting it off. It was a cool experience even though there were the annoying type of families in there, moved from my girlfriends selected seats due to those STINKKKY children just to go sit in a seat that naturally the next STINNNKKKKY children appeared at. Guess I don't own the planetarium but that doesn't mean I can't be annoyed, especially when Led Zeppelin is an important band to me and I was excited to go see the show. At first, I got over it by thinking "maybe this will be the moment of rock discovery for these children", but no, those kids could have given a fuck less and just seemed to want to go the whole time and strangely get too intimate with the crispy public chairs. If it wasn't for "Stairway to Heaven" being the last song from the main set list then I am sure that family would have been gone much earlier since it seemed to be the only song they were waiting for. Right when it was ending and my brain had all it could handle of wavy visuals and lasers the crowd asked for an encore, which I wasn't complaining about. To my surprise the man behind the lasers chose "Heaven Knows" from Robert Plants solo work instead of base Led Zeppelin. This song almost went better with the lasers than the other songs, it was a damn good ending and something that will certainly be kept in the special memory chest in the back of my brain. The song is great, great for drives or just lounging around and thinking. Robert Plant's solo work is full of those type of songs, one that fully utilizes the keyboard but doesn't have it drown out the rock that Plant specializes in. Plain peculiar lyricism but maybe I am just missing something. A song for dreaming as much as it is for crying, a melancholy feeling fills its 4 minutes but one that doesn't leave you hollow, more one that leaves you hopeful but once again I am not quite sure why since the lyrics don't reflect that. Might just be me, though I suppose this whole website is about me? I still cannot decide if this music journal is a cool idea or once again is simply vain.

​​Year Released: 1988
Album: Now and Zen (1988)
Genre: Rock
Mood: Dramatic
Perfect For: Laser shows it seems, Nights on the town, Mellow night time drives
Where To Next: "Had a Dream (Sleeping with the Enemy)" - Roger Hodgson
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Going to the River" - Fats Domino

"The true king of rock n roll", and that isn't me making that statement that was Elvis Presley, if the king calls someone else the king then I think that goes to show the impact of that man. Fats Domino is easily one of the most essential people in starting up rock n roll music, representing the sound before many of the names we praise modernly and before it even really was called rock n roll. Fats Domino is a damn good performer and all around fun bopper than can have you jiving or crying within an instant. Man plays the piano like an angel and sings like the common man's struggles, a sound that can please the ears of many no matter if this song came out 71 years back. I remember the first time I heard Fats Domino's "Ain't That a Shame", it really changed a lot of things in my musical taste. Not quite sure why a 10 year old fell head over heels with old rock n roll but it was Fats Domino that really kicked that off within my soul, something that is everburning and always wanting more songs for my insatiable appetite of rock n roll. "Going to the River" is some classic Fats Domino, has that fun rhythm but a sad lyrical theme. I honestly think jumping in the river to kill yourself seems like a sort of shitty way to go, I love the idea of being one with nature as you pass but I would hate be found all bloated and terrible looking, guess death isn’t pretty but I dont know why it cant be. With its darker lyricism and sorrowful feeling Fats Domino paints a great photo of the misery that fills the characters soul. It is strange that Fats Domino is a relatively well known name and a respected father of rock music but his legacy is fading fairly quickly. Whoever owns his music is sitting with their thumb up their bum, time to start reissuing some of his albums or even putting out a stupid amount of compilations every year like many of the 1940's and 1950's musicians do. There are a lot of Fats Dominos I haven't had the chance to sink my teeth into since even YouTube doesn't have some of it. Breaks my heart when it happens to musicians, legacy is damn important to keeping the memory and influence of musicians alive, maybe I will be rich enough one day to buy rights and catalogs so I can do it myself. Fats Domino is a musician that means a lot to me, damn good songs and an interesting man. It is in songs like "Going to the River" that show why his music influenced so many, it is in songs like this that really tickle my soul, it is in songs like this that you should set aside 3 minutes right now and listen to the fat man do his thing on that there piano.

​

​Year Released: 1953
Single: Going to the River / Mardi Gras in New Orleans (1953)
Chosen Compilation: Fats Domino Swings: 12,000,000 Records (1958)
Genre: Rock n Roll
Mood: Depressive
Perfect For: Early morning adventures, Casual listening, Lazy days
Where To Next: "Mess Around" - Ray Charles
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Acid" - Acid

Acid is the name; heavy metal is the game. A hidden gem of speed metal and the starting days of heavy metal. They have an impressive amount of great straight razored heavy metal to offer for a band that most people have never heard of. Also, there weren't all too many heavy metal bands at the start with a female singer, so it is a good way to shake up 1983's already impressive heavy metal storming. The good thing about speed metal is you get the listeners rocks off by playing fast and playing heavy, doesn't always have to be pretty or even all that great but the pure metal mania that has your heart racing. When I first started going through the lesser-known heavy metal albums of the 1980's, which feels like a lifetime ago, Acid were one of the first bands to fully attract my attention, in some ways it was heavier than what other bands were doing at the time. The gritty gross punkish backing gives it a strange almost black metal feeling, it is easy to see they were inspired by bands live Raven and Venom. The straight forward heavy metal sound that comes from their debut is something special, though their follow up album Maniac is an early thrash metal gold mine. Not sure which album I prefer but I know which one is better and that is Maniac, one of those albums I think many heavy metal fans will find to taste. Granted that they like the raunchier gritty earlier days of less mainstream heavy metal. There isn't all too much info on the band out there, they had a short run and didn't leave all too many footprints like many in those feverish metal days at the start of the 1980's. Though they still can reach listeners, metalheads such as myself and such as you if you're into it. 

​Year Released: 1983
Album: Acid (1983)
Genre: Speed Metal
Mood: Bold
Perfect For: Heavy Metal Mania!
Where To Next: "Hung, Drawn & Quartered" - Raven
​
​
Rating: 7/10

"Never Say Goodbye" - Bon Jovi

It's crazy we can just jump from Bathory to Bon Jovi, but diversity is what makes art move forward and there are just too many damn good styles and sounds out there to stick with just one. Bon Jovi is one of the most well-known names in rock music, the band has had massive success and that success has seen them through 4 decades with an obscene amount of platinum records. This album here, Slippery When Wet, hit the illusive diamond sales that very few bands have pulled off. I am not one to hate on Bon Jovi, I have always dug their music especially this song. I love songs that reminisce of past loves and growing up, I'm a big sucker for "coming of age" stories, and I love those stories all that more when it is written damn well and the performance from the band gives you chills. The 1980's is the home of the power ballad, and this song is one of the finest ones to come out. Jon Bon Jovi has always been an impressive and compelling vocalist, he has that homey feeling but equally matches that feeling with a voice made to sail over a stadium. This album threw the band into the "superstar" category, spurring plenty of songs that you would have to be deaf to not have heard like their massively successful "Livin' on a Prayer", "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Wanted Dead or Alive" not to mention once again the kick ass power ballad of the album "Never Say Goodbye". It is hard not to get sucked into this song, for a moment you feel like the boy reminiscing of young love and strife. It has you reminiscing of your own days of growing up, the people you knew but don't anymore, which is as natural as the river. Bon Jovi has always been damn good at weaponizing the female demographic, it is in songs like this you can fully see that, even if it is from the point of view of the male lyrically. Well honestly I guess it could go either way. No matter if the band knew how to really get the female crowd going, there is no denying they put out some damn good stuff. I don't think they were going for the fastest guitar work nor were they trying to put out something unique, they just wanted to put out some straight forward anthems and they succeeded, never understood the hate for Bon Jovi, I don't think they ever tried being something they weren't. Blame MTV for putting the metal label on bands like this, not the band that wanted to rock and commenced doing so in style.

​​Year Released: 1986
Album: Slippery When Wet (1986)
Genre: Pop Rock, Hard Rock, Pop Metal
Mood: Emotional
Perfect For: Reminiscing, Mellow summer drives around town
Where To Next: "Don't Close Your Eyes" - Kix
​
​
Rating: 9/10

"13 Candles" - Bathory

Bathory is a band chock full of legacy, they inspired many and almost single handedly brought true black metal to the music world. Sure we had bands like Venom and Celtic Frost which helped bring the imagery and raunchy style of metal to the forefront but it was bands like Bathory and Hellhammer that really knew what they were doing. I am honestly not sure if the bands knew what kind of impact they were doing but this album alongside practically all of their 1980's work ushered in a massive genre of heavy metal. It took me years to fully fall in love with black metal. I liked the first wave of black metal bands a lot when first getting into metal though I fell out when the bands started getting too extreme. Bathory is the band that helped me see the light... or the darkness? "Call from the Grave" from the same album was the first song of true black metal that I fully fell in love with, then I went obsessive and took on all I could get from Bathory and even now plenty of their songs still feel like the first time when played. They are the type of band that you can instantly tell who it is once the song kicks off, they have their own beat and atmosphere even if black metal can sometimes be hard to differentiate one band from the other. Quorthon is one impressive musician, a true visionary that I personally believe is one of the most important musicians in all of heavy metal history. He practically does every part of Bathory, be it most of the instruments or the direction. No matter what, I know something wicked and great is going to come out of my speakers when I see that iconic band logo at the top of the album art. "13 Candles" starts off eerie and gets you sucked in before the 50 seconds mark rolls in and rips your face off. This is a key album to the progression of black metal and you can see why within this one track, this whole album is kick ass and pure gold for those that like the budding extreme metal sound of the 1980's, I highly recommend it. I chose the track while just working, nothing too special but any moment when Bathory is playing you feel so damn devious. A unique band that excels at having an evil atmosphere and keeping it the whole way through, it isn't about flairs for Bathory, it is straightforward heavy ass shit brewed in the belly of hell for the enjoyment of you and me.

​

​​Year Released: 1987
Album: Under the Sign of the Black Mark (1987)
Genre: Black Metal
Mood: Wicked
Perfect For: Driving in the rain, Casual listening, Your family Halloween party (you can trust me, they will love it) 
Where To Next: “Manitou" - Samael
​
​
Rating: 7/10

"Traveling Man" - John Brown's Body

While I am not super well versed in John Brown's Body (that sort of sounds bad) most everything I have heard up until now has been damn good. I like their approach to reggae and dub, while it is soundly nuzzled next to other modern kings of east coast reggae and American reggae they have a special sound and lyrical theme to shake them away from the rabble. I have yet to hear many traveling songs from reggae aside from some Slightly Stoopid and songs like "Stop That Train" from Bob Marley & the Wailers. Me and my lady were on our way to go do a corn maze when this song came streaming along, typically I turn my music down if I have my windows down when I get to lights but I let it slide this time because I was really feeling it. I mean not so loud to be "that guy" but loud enough people walking by could easily hear it. Fuck it though, it is a good song and who knows maybe someone at that light was wondering what it was cause they liked it. There have been a couple of times I have heard a song coming from someone's vehicle that I am half tempted to ask who it is by, more than likely I would just stumble on my words, look a fool, then turn off the road prematurely as if I meant to, so I don’t ever ask. Anyways, this song is gold for anyone who likes modern reggae, the song sounds good in a vehicle with a half decent sound system. Gotta love that good time feeling that reggae brings to the table, dunno if there are any more joyous and peaceful genres out there honestly. Makes sense that it is forever tied to marijuana, it is the music form of getting stoned. While I don't smoke too much anymore I still get a little buzz while listening to the genre. Overall the song matched the mood at the time, and while I only drove 30 minutes to the next county it made me feel like the traveling man. The traveling man that was going to confuse nice families on why my grown ass is going through a corn maze. Shit doesn't have any age restrictions, besides I dare say me and Alesha had more fun than those fools. I have never really been to a full fledged corn maze, and this one was supposed to be Utah's biggest and I would say it was mighty big. Ain't gonna make it a tradition but it was well worth the minor travel and 10 bucks a head to get in.
​
​Year Released: 2002
Album: Spirits All Around Us (2002)
Genre: Reggae
Mood: Peaceful
Perfect For: Calm driving on a warm day, Traveling, Rolling up some goodies
Where To Next: “Drift Away" - The Expendables
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Electric Head, Part 1 (The Agony)" - White Zombie

God damn do I love White Zombie, while I also love Rob Zombie, I think my heart truly rests with the kick ass yet small discography of White Zombie. There are few bands that teleport me back to high school like White Zombie, I abused the living hell out of the band while growing up. There are few bands better for jamming loud as hell at night time when driving through the quiet streets, that feeling is timeless no matter what age you might be. This track comes from their final studio album, Astro-Creep: 2000, an album that feels like I have loved my whole life. Thinking about it, their legendary "More Human Than Human" might have been one of the first metal songs I fell in love with. One of the first video games my parents got my sister and I was Twisted Metal, a game that helped craft me at a young age. The series had countless great songs, remixes and soundtracks but few had better than Twisted Metal III, that "More Human Than Human" remix grabbed me as a youth and set me up to loving industrial metal my whole life. That and the intro to the game is forever ingrained into my memory, that kick ass (at the time) 3D gameplay in rhythm with "Meet the Creeper" by Rob Zombie playing was peak kickassery! Man, I have memories of going to the blockbuster (or whatever one we went to) and renting these games, I remember one night in particular we got pizza and soda as a family then I went and played some Twisted Metal well into the night and nobody stopped me. I am not even sure how old I was, since it was PS1 I was probably like 3 the first time I picked up that controller to blow up some cars. What happened to the car combat games? Shit was cool as hell, but like skating games I guess it just faded as society changed. That and they would probably make it online only and it would lose its luster within a couple months. I grieve for the Twisted Metal series. I loved those games and the grimy heavy metal atmosphere, also Twisted Metal 4 had Rob Zombie as a playable character! I know they made a TV show not too long back that I haven't watched but I want another game not some half assed series. 2012's Twisted Metal was great, certainly a sleeper hit but I played it religiously when it came out and it was prime couch co-op gaming. Anyways, we are here to talk about the high octane "Electric Head, Pt. 1 (The Agony)". White Zombie has a special brand of metal that nobody has been able to truly replicate since, shit is made in a junkyard with massive amplifiers with porn and slasher flicks playing in the background. I was just driving home from hanging out with my mom and I heard the "perhaps you had better start from the beginning" and slowly turned my radio up as it went towards the drop. Pulled off the freeway and as soon as the light went green the song took off, gave me chills and carved a crooked smile into my face. Pulled out the cigarette, rolled that window down and just jammed down the boring streets of my hometown. Songs like this make you feel like a villain, some wicked imp bouncing up and down in your seat as the satanic serenade controls your body. Fucking love White Zombie, shit feels like you're on a drunken bender driving 100 Mph straight to hell.

Year Released: 1995
Album: Astro-Creep: 2000 - Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions (1995)
Genre: Groove Metal, Industrial Metal
Mood: Sinful
Perfect For: Playing REAAAL loud, Driving fast, Turning the quiet night upside down
Where To Next: “Angel With the Scabbed Wings" - Marilyn Manson
​
​
Rating: 9/10

"Everybody Plays the Fool" - The Main Ingredient

After days and days of having a heavy focus on R&B and soul I walked away with so many damn good songs. It is crazy how you can go weeks without finding a new great song and then out of nowhere you get multiple back-to-back. Before I welcome a song into the fold it has to go through fairly rigorous testing, and while there are plenty of good songs, there aren't nearly as many great songs. Tracks like the previously covered "Walk On By" are the prime example of a truly great song, Isaac Hayes surely set the bar high for other tracks this week, I still found plenty of other great songs one being The Main Ingredient's "Everybody Plays the Fool" with its whimsical feeling and all-around good time atmosphere even if the lyricism isn't all too happy, I guess depending on how you take it. A common life lesson kind of song that is damn easy to get behind with its mellow feeling and a beautiful melding of the old time R&B sound mixed with what changes it was going through at the time with the funk and danceability becoming more and more powerful. I sifted through some of the songs on this album and this was definitely the gem, while the others were good this one is great! I gave it three listens in a row because it truly consumes the room, makes you feel light and care free even with the broken-hearted lyrics. I have never really been taken for a fool by a woman, I guess growing up I had some crushes that I guess maybe I felt that way but never fully losing myself to another human. I constantly wonder if I am missing something, I truly love Alesha with all my heart and I have loved others before but not to this extent. Maybe I was always the one to pull the cord, or maybe my heart is missing a piece or two, who knows. I love heartbroken songs but I have always been so curious how the more intense heartbreaks feel. I get it to an extent; I have been hurt but nothing like these songs explain. I honestly hope I never find out but still I am curious, I am even more curious how it feels to fall so crazy mad about someone you lose yourself. I made a sacred promise to myself to never lose who I am when I was a child, be it in a career or be it in love. I think it is something a lot of people have to do to protect themselves from a world where people will hurt you just to get their rocks off. Nonetheless, I guess I see what they mean by "Everybody Plays the Fool" though I argue that there are some exceptions to the rule. Either be an emotional void like Caleb or train your brain to hold your pride high and keep your heart encased in tungsten. Don't get me wrong, I think I am a good boyfriend, I love with all my heart, but I will never give all of my soul. I don't think anyone should ever ask for it either, I believe love is two halves become a whole, not one holds the chain while the other plays the fool. Anyways, rant over, check out this classic soul track from a year that had too much damn good music of all walks.

Year Released: 1972
Album: Bitter Sweet (1972)
Genre: Soul
Mood: Laid Back
Perfect For: Working, Sunny day drives, Coffee and cigarette blues
Where To Next: “Love Child" - Diana Ross & the Supremes
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Walk On By" - Isaac Hayes

I have always dug soul music, though throughout my years I have yet to take the deep dive and fully study it. Each time I get in a 1960's R&B and soul mood I am impressed by how many premium tracks I find; how many I have somehow had slip through my fingers for years. I was impressed with Isaac Hayes iconic "Theme from Shaft" the day prior so I decided to set some time aside to listen to a little more of what the man has to offer. Man, I did not expect to find so many damn good songs within the first album I decided to snoop into. "Walk On By" is fucking beautiful and the exact idea of ear candy, everything about the song has you hooked! It convinced me I really need to get further into progressive soul because this song is mighty impressive, one of the best songs I have discovered in the last month or two. This album and the songs on it are strangely bold, they seem completely original even though some are covers like this one. Also, I didn't expect the soul genre to throw out too many long tracks but this one is fairly long for soul of the time coming in hot at 12 minutes, also his cover of "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is just shy of 19 minutes and is also a damn fine song to take in from start to finish. I am typically a fool for the longer songs so long as it keeps you hooked and I can say with confidence this song had me hooked the whole way through. I already really enjoyed the smooth original from Dionne Warwick but I gotta say that Isaac Hayes really blows it out of the water. I chose the song while being blown away by it at work, it stayed on my mind the rest of the work day. The first version I heard was a shorter one so I was damn happy when I found there is a full album version on my drive home. Kind of an odd album cover, honestly looks like something that could have come out of the late 1960's as much as the early 2000's aside from the chosen font of the words. Anyways, I really gotta take in more progressive soul, I honestly feel like I have somehow sailed over something that will completely hook me. After I give my R&B tasting a slight break, I am going to come back full force to get some more and hope they are even close as good as "Walk On By".

​Year Released: 1969
Album: Hot Buttered Soul (1969)
Genre: Progressive Soul
Mood: Laid Back
Perfect For: Casual listening, Having a smoke (of what is your choice)
Where To Next: “Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" - The Temptations
​
​
Rating: 9/10

"Strawberry Fields Forever" - The Beatles

I swear I've almost had a Beatles song on each month's song of the day so far. I mean is it really all that shocking? The band is legendary! If there is ever an apocalypse there will still be people telling legends of these boys from Liverpool around a campfire. They hardly released anything that wasn't fully worth the time to take it in. Their immense fame scares the "cool kids" but they deserve every ounce of praise in my opinion. They didn't do the most cutting edge stuff but even with their comfortable and easy to get behind sound they brought in a lot of stuff to rock music. What they didn't bring in they made sure that what sounded good at the time sounded even better by the time they played their hand. I have always had mixed feelings about "Strawberry Fields Forever", the song is good but I have never been sure how to feel about it especially after the trippy buzz fades away. Growing up I was always super excited to get a chance to listen to it on psychedelics, when I got there I wasn't as blown away as I thought I would be, I was left with forever finding that damn rabbit on the album cover really flippin’ freaky and still can’t look at it properly. Strangely enough "A Day in the Life" is one of the best tripping songs I have come across, it is the perfect amount of trippy. Anyways, this song is still a goodie and makes you feel like you're floating. I am listening to it right now as I type this and I knew I had to tie myself to my chair before starting it just so I didn't float away. I chose this song while traveling with my dear Alesha, we went up Fish Lake to see the changing of the seasons and to check out the salmon run. There is something mesmerizing in watching fish struggle up a river, in some ways it is inspiring and in other ways it is plain sad. Makes you wonder what kind of fish you are. A perfect example of survival of the fittest and in a lot of ways we are those fish. We strive and push with all our might just to get bit by some ass hole with a leaf on his head that was in the way to start with. Nonetheless, a damn good time and a perfect way to usher in this strangely warm autumn season. We took the long way back connecting to I-70 then cutting through the smaller towns of Utah to eventually end up back home. The route we took had us high as hell going up and down mountain passes, we stopped off right as this song was in full swing at an overlook and I was lost in myself hearing this song and staring at the plethora of yellow and orange trees. Even Alesha said she could tell I was having a moment, wonder if I was drooling or something. One issue with using a lot of psychedelics growing up is some songs will forever make you feel fucked up, a lot of the Beatles is that way for me. It is a good time but probably shouldn't be played while super high on a highway with beautiful death cliffs right next to you, especially if your truck is in.... questionable condition. We survived though and here I am typing about it! Dead men tell no tales! If there are any Utahns reading this (pretty sure that is all who is reading this, hi mom and Nate) get your butt out there and go see those salmon! Worth the trip, and that trip goes that much better if you have some Beatles playing along the way.

Year Released: 1967
Single: Penny Lane / Strawberry Fields Forever (1967)
Album: Magical Mystery Tour (LP Version) (1967)
Genre: Psychedelic Rock
Mood: Floaty, Hollow, Haunting, Dreamy
Perfect For: Deep thought about fishes, Being in nature, Tripping
Where To Next: “Om" - The Moody Blues
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"The Sad Ballad of Danny Boy" - Floater

Floater is a strange band, one that cannot seem to keep going the same direction musically, but in some ways that is what makes them great. I have loved a handful of their songs for years, all the way back when I first started fully utilizing Spotify. Floater was one of the first bands I stepped out of my comfort zone and got into using this streaming service that has since changed the music world (for the better or worse I wonder). Though those handful of songs have been pretty well what I have abused for those years since from the band. I finally got around to listening through this album, Glyph, and I am honestly not sure how I feel about it. I see now why they are called Floater, a lot of the album is strangely trippy and atmospheric which you wouldn't fully expect if you started this band under the idea of songs like this one here. I really enjoyed it but there were a few filler tracks I could take or leave, still overall a solid 8/10 album which is decent. I was mainly super stoked to be taking in more of their work since I have loved the few songs for years now. One of those moments of wondering why I didn't do it earlier. This song is a decent warning to the negatives of drinking, though at the same time it glorifies being a drunk so I am not sure what the takeaway of the song is. All I know is that the little over 3 minute playtime is full of many damn good moments that always keep you on the edge of your seat. There are the kick ass almost head bang worthy drops and then strangely fun and funky beats. I chose the song while driving around town, these last couple of days had me driving a shit load which I will never complain about. I have wheels on my heels and love the merriment of movement. I was doing some minor Christmas shopping, yes I know, a tad bit early but you gotta keep on top of this shit or it goes poorly, that and I am also broke so I have found it to go smoother if I spread it out a couple of months in advance. I have no respect for those that give gift cards to loved ones, put some work and heart into it! Anyways I was on my way to get groceries after my ideas dried up and this album kicked on, luckily enough on my all time favorite road so I knew it was going to be a goooood time. By the time I got to wally world this song started up, so I had the joy of listening to it on the way in and found it rude to stop it half way so I played it again on my way home from the store. A good song, while it is a little on the odd side it hits much harder than it really has the right to.

Year Released: 1995
Album: Glyph (1995)
Genre: Rock, Hard Rock
Mood: Inebriated 
Perfect For: Drinking, Playing loud in your vehicle, Overcast drives
Where To Next: “Pudding Time" - Primus
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels)" - The Mamas & the Papas

The Mamas & The Papas put out some of the best folk rock to come out of the 1960's. You can jump into practically any album (maybe not People Like Us) and find a ton of great tracks. For this post I decided to choose one of the deeper dive tracks from The Mamas & The Papas. "Meditation Mama (Transcendental Woman Travels)" is an oddity from their collection, utilizing a heavy use of trance-like weariness instead of their often happy feeling and this one borderlines psychedelic pop. A great song and one that I sometimes forget is there but once I get into it I am in love. That beautiful harmony can have your hackles standing up. A track that is shamelessly from the 1960's but in all the good ways, I mean it is coming from a powerhouse of that decade and look at that song name. You know damn well what to expect within. I chose the song when just pulling back up to my house after going out with my lady. I have always loved pulling up to your house and sitting around for a little longer to finish up the song, it is even better when you pull up somewhere and the song comes to a close right when you put it in park, it’s kind of like you were destined to pull up and finish that song. Well I heard that melancholy trilling and figured I would listen to a little more before turning the truck off. I enjoyed the song while it was mellowly playing in the background on the way home and it sounded great before the hum of my motor ceased. There is a ton to love in this band, one that always puts your heart at ease. Even their sad songs have a strange overtone of happiness, just good peaceful music with everything you could possibly want out of folk rock. Also a first for John Phillips to take on full vocals with The Mamas & the Papas which is a nice touch. Just a straight up mellow track, not sure what else to really say.
​
Year Released: 1968
Album: The Papas & the Mamas (1968)
Genre: Folk Rock
Mood: Weary, Mellow, Melancholy
Perfect For: Casual listening, Taking a nice walk, Smokin' a little reefer
Where To Next: “Today" - Jefferson Airplane
​
​
Rating: 7/10

"Pretty One" - Roy Orbison

Like I have already mentioned previously, I have a heavy love for Roy Orbison both his earlier rockabilly based work and the crooning pop washed rock n roll. "Pretty One" is a perfect melding between those two sounds, giving you a good taste for what is to come from the big 'O' in his earlier 1960's work just a year later. This one is a pretty track, one that always has me singing along with it. This song comes from the B-side to his damn fun song "Up Town" that is equally as great but there aren't all too many Roy Orbison tracks that can beat out this one in my heart, a forgotten gem from his massive collection of hit songs and great albums. There aren't words to write that can express how great of a singer and musician Roy Orbison is, an often unspoken hero of the rock n roll days. Someone who could stop you dead in your tracks and have you crying after you won the lottery. His happy tracks are few and far between but that is alright since you don't usually come to him unless you wanna feel a little bit of beautiful sorrow, or maybe that is just me. I cannot tell which I love more with his sounds, it is a case by case day by day kind of situation but no matter what I know it is gonna be good. Another song that I chose while on the way to work, was a chilly morning and the previous song ended right when I got done getting ready, so I started up my truck and plugged my phone in and that all too familiar intro came streaming over the speakers and I was temporarily pulled out of the sluggish morning commute into a place of bliss. A place where it is okay to drive my happy ass to work so long as there is beautiful music in this world. So long as there is a world with those impressive vocals of Roy Orbison coming through the speakers with beautiful strings backing up his distinctive melancholy singing. He would be one of my first choices if I could sing like anyone, him or maybe George Jones. Instead I sing more like a mix between Gregg Allman and putting a horse in a blender.

​Year Released: 1959
Single: Up Town / Pretty One (1959)
Selected Compilation: The Monument Singles Collection (2011)
Genre: Rock, Pop
Mood: Melancholy, Romantic, Sad
Perfect For: Cold morning drives, Coffee blues, Casual listening
Where To Next: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" - Buddy Holly
​
​
Rating: 9/10

"One Piece at a Time" - Johnny Cash

Man, you gotta love some Johnny Cash! One musician that can bring in almost anyone no matter what your music taste might be. This song might not be the best example of that statement since this is a through and through country track with a little bit of comedy. I love the story of this song, and the whole minor impact that one song left on music. The name for the subgenre of music called psychobilly got its name from this song. It isn't the most revolutionary song but like anything Johnny Cash, it is a damn good time. Now I am someone who works for GM so the song hits even harder when I myself could make this car (though someone already did, give it a google search) well if I knew anything about cars that is, aside from auto parts. I chose the song based on this exact idea, some of the delivery drivers at my work mentioned how I should do it like "that one Johnny Cash song". I seldom speak at my work so they were shocked when I knew exactly what they were talking about and that I spoke, and better yet the complete history of this song and how it has ties to a rockabilly standard "Hot Rod Lincoln" that one of the people mentioned the similarities. Since then these older gentlemen have been drilling me on music and to their surprise I can talk Black Oak Arkansas as well as I can talk about Staind or Charley Pride. Happens that way every time an older person realizes I know my shit, the admiration in their eyes is always a wholesome feeling. Nonetheless, we played the song and all gave it a listen which I had no objection to stopping my work to listen to some Johnny Cash especially amongst fellow fans. This is a classic from his collection and one of the best to come out of his 1970's work. Nothing wrong with some story telling, especially when it's something we all can get behind which is wanting a new sparkling fancy car but being too damn broke to see it through. I don't think it would be the easiest feat to gather all the bits and pieces but as the story tells you, it ain't since that isn't how cars work. Especially if its pieces of a caddy from 1949 up until its completion in 1970. A good time song and one that any self respecting Johnny Cash fan should listen to right now if they haven't yet. Also google the car, it is a hoot and honestly impressive someone pulled it off.

​Year Released: 1976
Album: One Piece at a Time (1976)
Genre: Country
Mood: Fun
Perfect For: Casual listening, Driving, Working for GM
Where To Next: “Lord, Mr. Ford" - Jerry Reed
​
​
Rating: 8/10

"Thing Called Love (Live)" - Bonnie Raitt

Bonnie Raitt to me is one of those artists that has a ton of great songs that I never knew who really sung it. Ones that you are as likely to hear at the bar as much as you might hear it playing in the background at a thrift store. I have been sifting through Bonnie Raitt's long discography for 2 or so years now and each time I don't look forward to it until I am in that seat listening and there is so much to appreciate from a bold presence that melded blues, folk, rock and pop so easily. I was just heading home from work when I thought I would try fitting in some of my year by year study and it was time for Bonnie Raitt's live album Road Tested. The same thought passed my mind, "here we go again", since while I have been impressed with most of her musical ventures I wouldn't consider myself a fan. Though once again I ate my words and negative thoughts when this song kicked off and again I was locked into the embrace of her bluesy style and gave it another listen that night just to make sure I wasn't just in a better mood since I was off work. Nope, a great live version of a song that when going through the 1980's honestly grabbed me more than it should have. One of those songs I knew word for word but couldn't quite explain where I knew it from and still really don't. I think I just heard it around a lot and it is one of those songs that are too catchy to get out of your head. Either way for a musician to put out a damn fine live album all these years later is always a great thing, there are too many musicians that have been burning for a long time that put out lame live albums in their later career. This album was surprisingly far from it, has everything a Bonnie Raitt could ask for and is one that anyone that likes live albums can get behind. I was impressed once again and was glad to add it to this playlist and mark it as a damn good song from the year 1995. I will definitely note that she is a musician that can do a live album as well as she does a studio album.

​Year Released: 1995
Album: Road Tested (1995)
Genre: Rock, Blue Rock, Pop Rock
Mood: Homey
Perfect For: Casual listening
Where To Next: “Smackwater Jack" - Carole King
​
​
Rating: 7/10

"Hole in the Earth" - Deftones

There are few bands that left their mark on metal and rock music like the Deftones did from the 1990's all the way up until their most recent release Ohms. One thing you can always expect is the band to put out a good album, they don't have a single bad studio release even with their nu metal washed debut Adrenaline which I listened to again a couple of weeks back which left me with a pretty heavy hankering for more Deftones.  It took me a good while into my life to fall into the Deftones but when I did, I fell hard and still walk with a limp to this day. This was actually the first song of theirs that graced my ears while playing through the kick ass 2008 video game Saints Row 2. Nobody can beat GTA's radio stations though Saints Row certainly had some zingers and deep cuts that still hold some of my favorite songs to this day. 89.0 Generation X helped form the evolving music taste of young Caleb, while the other stations probably left a bigger impact, I still found a lot of different songs to cherish from that station. None the less this song is a true classic from Deftones, has that special sound that Deftones didn't persay create but one they chiseled into a perfect sphere that nobody has ever been able to top. Even till this day you can feel their influence in so many bands, especially the more mainstream metal and hard rock music. I mean how could you not be grabbed by this band? They hold your attention the whole time​ with a barrage or noise that one second leaves you floating then the next second has you angrily drumming on your steering wheel. Great music with a sublime atmosphere and lyricism. Speaking of lyrics this song is sort of a rough one, singer and dominant lyricist Chino Moreno was fed up with his bands seemingly lack of drive to get this album, Saturday Night Wrist, finished after a 3 year gap. Kind of a stab to his fellow band mates during a time when there was a lot of infighting, so instead of taking it easy he decided to write some lyrics... and then have them play it. Wonder if it pissed everyone off when the song was being done, not quite the Fleetwood Mac "Go Your Own Way" jab but still there are few times in rock and metals history with these kind of lyrics. Especially lines like "I hate all my friends, they all lack taste sometimes", while it isn't the rudest thing its just the boldness of having such personal lyrics put out like that. Anyways, a damn good song and one that can live rent free in my heart forever. Hope it found a place in your heart as well, once you catch the Deftones bug you're there for life.

​Year Released: 2006
Album: Saturday Night Wrist (2006)
Genre: Alternative Metal
Mood: Cosmic
Perfect For: Driving at night, Casual listening, Mellow nights
Where To Next: “3 Libras" - A Perfect Circle
​
​
Rating: 9/10