2015 Week 50: Top 100 Tracks Streamed

Spotify's year in music is one of the great things about streaming. You can get a wrap up of at least some of your music habits in a way that would take way more obsessive nerdetry to do offline than I think even the most insane among us would never do. So, even though I do listen to vinyl and this year started using Google Play to stream my own collection, this number is pretty damn close to reality. 62 thousand minutes. Take that! But what was I listening to? Was it all the same band? Not quite. I don't think I can name 4, 526 artists, but that's what I listened to, at least once. I give everything a chance. How else would you find anything? Spotify also tells me I listened to 12,000 different tracks, mostly in the following genres.

But who gives a shit about genre? Not me, apparently. My top artists where:

1. Tom Waits - 247 Streams
2. Elvis Costello - 189 Streams
3. Arctic Monkeys - 156 Streams
4. Elvis Costello & The Attractions - 144 Streams
5. Ana Tijoux - 121 Streams

So I guess, technically, Elvis Costello should be number 1, but that's how Spotify breaks it down. I'm not sure what they consider a stream though since I get the sense the individual numbers might be too small.  Anyway, next measure was albums and no surprises there either:

1. Tom Waits - Rain Dogs - 117 Streams
2. Tom Waits - Swordfishtrombones - 77 Streams
3. Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie, etc. - 58 Streams
4. Royal Thunder - Crooked Doors - 54 Streams
5. Thunderbitch - Thunderbitch - 52 Streams

Which brings me to my top tracks. I won't get into the top 5 tracks and instead just direct you to this week's playlist, which is just my Top 100 for 2015, according to Spotify. I've been listening to it the past couple of days and while there really aren't any complete surprises, there are a few songs I hadn't actually heard in a while, but I guess I played them a lot at the beginning of the year. There are a lot of newer songs but mixed in with some of my old standbys. Shuffle this playlist and it's pretty much what riding around with me is like.

2015 Week 48: The Weiland Show

I hope everyone (all 2 of you) is following along and listening to my top 10 albums of 2015. I'll be back with number 6 next week. I'm pretty sure my list is unlike any of the lists put out by the major music publications. So far I haven't seen too much overlap, if any. I feel like my picks are exactly that: mine. I'm not picking things that are somehow technically flawless but don't actually move me. I'm picking things I actually enjoy listening to and will likely continue to enjoy. I certainly don't pick things just because they are popular and might get me a lot of hits, which really only shows why I actually suck at this blogging thing, but I digress.

In the meantime, let me bring your attention to a couple of albums coming out early next year that I am highly excited for. One of my favorite albums of the last few years is The Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets, the side project from Arctic Monkeys' Alex Turner and Miles Kane. I've been hoping for a second album from them since immediately after hearing the first one. And now, it's finally happening. This week they released a vague trailer for it and I was squealing like a Beatles groupie.

Also this week, Lucius announced their upcoming album, Good Grief. They also released the first video and single, "Born Again Teen." The song is instantly infectious and seems to indicate a slightly more frenetic, high energy and more electronic direction without losing any of the harmonies and well crafted songs of their previous work. The metaphor of the title is perfectly illustrated by the hyped up, frenetic drums of the chorus which kind of remind me of an album that (spoiler alert) almost made my top 10 this year, Mini Mansions' The Great Pretenders. Anyway, watch and listen.

I woke up this morning and the first thing I learned was that Scott Weiland died. While it wasn't a surprise, at first I thought it might be one of those hoaxes that come up once in a while, because he's exactly the type of celebrity that those hoaxes usually start about. Anyway, I wouldn't say I was a huge fan, but I do love Purple and Tiny Music a lot. So I put together a playlist that's not so much a greatest hits, though it kind of is, but plays more like a set list (I think). This is the concert he should have been playing if he could have beat his demons. In putting it together it really stood out to me how much his and Stone Temple Pilots' sound evolved from the Nirvana Jam in Chains sound of their first album. And even then, I can't really knock that first album, because imitation that good, when those other bands had literally just hit does demonstrate a certain level of talent that can't be denied. And their second album was a rapid evolution toward a sound that is really all their own. And all his, since he brought his flair to every other project he was involved in. Anyway, just enjoy The Weiland Show.

Dylan and Longevity

So the other day, I had a last minute invitation to see Dylan from Carlos. It was my third time seeing him and I'm fairly certain it'll be the last. Interestingly enough, the last time I saw him, over 15 years ago, was the first official date between my wife and I. And I use the word official because we'd been hanging out as friends for some time, but had gone past the point where were we fooling anyone anymore. Anyway, the show was ok, I guess. He had a great band and he was alright. He's still somewhat capable, but I felt like he was out of breath a lot of the time. I've said before I don't look for a "perfect" voice, but there was just something off. His energy isn't quite there anymore, maybe. I don't know. Carlos really liked it, so go read his review here.

I'm sure the crowd didn't help my experience any either. One thing I've noticed is the absolute rudest people are old people and old hippies are the worst. At one point I had to tell the two old bags behind me to keep it down, but they weren't the only ones talking. They just happened to be the most obnoxious.

While Dylan played I was struck with the thought of what artist from our generation my daughters might go see when they are older that would be comparable to us seeing Dylan, Elvis Costello or someone else like that. I couldn't really think of anyone that might have that longevity 20 or so years from now. The only one I could think of that might do it was Jack White, mainly because he's already had 3 bands and a solo career and keeps finding ways of reinventing the way he presents his material. Another candidate might be Dan Auerbach, but I see him moving more towards producing down the line. Then there's Alex Turner, who, truthfully is the best writer of the 3, so he has more potential. It all depends on how long Arctic Monkeys stay together and whether he eventually goes solo. It could just be that Arctic Monkeys is the band that my daughters go see when I'm 64. Who the hell knows?

I couldn't really think of anyone from the 90s that would really qualify to that extent. Cobain would have been, maybe, but I don't think Eddie Vedder would be at that level. Certainly not Billy Corgan. Dave Grohl, most likely. Maybe Tori Amos, if she found some new direction at some point? Bjork? How about hip hop artists? How will they age? Will there be an unlikely Tribe Called Quest reunion in 2040? The Fugees? doubtful on both counts. Chances are it'll be a pop artist like Christina Aguilera. or Adele. I don't know. I need a time machine.

2015 Week 3: Like the Beginning of Mean Streets

Third week of the year and things are moving along. It's nice to see more hits on here lately. Most of them are coming from FDRMX, so I need to find a way to submit more articles over there. I need that thing where you have all the time in the world to write and no shortage of ideas or concentration. What's that called? No seriously, what is it called and where can I get it? Is is it expensive? It probably is. But, yeah, time, which brings me to. . .

This week's playlist developed a theme pretty early on. I like to think of it as my version of a twisted mash up between the artistic design of Streets of Fire and a jukebox that exists in a dimension outside of time, where everything is in subliminal slow motion like a Martin Scorsese movie. So you know, just cool music to listen to. Enjoy. And if anyone has any ideas for playlist themes, shoot them my way. 

Flashback to 2010

I originally posted this on my Facebook page back in 2010. Enjoy.

Arctic Monkeys: How Two Old Farts Survived

April 2, 2010 at 9:17am

Maybe the fact that they were originally not letting any more people into the general admission pit area should have been a sign. But when the crowd of young hipsters said fuck it and rushed over the barriers after the opening band had left, we were right there with them, jumping the rail and nearly breaking a hip in the process.

Pretty quickly we were shoulder-to-shoulder, nose-to-back of head, ass-to-crotch, with all the walking bags of hormones. I'm not sure if I felt more claustrophobic or old at this point. I told Carlos not to look back at the crushing ocean of youth behind us, because he'd likely shit himself with the realization that we might die tonight.

After some back and forth with the tides of the adjusting crowd, holding our heads up so we could breathe, the band came on and thankfully opened with a slower number. Short-lived calm before the storm is all it was. Next song was mosh time and I for one, left my age on the floor. I won't deny that after a few pogo jumps, I'd have to stop, catch my breath and fight back the heart attack. But, damn it, I soldiered on. And when the young hooligans showed up and were getting a little more rowdy, I was not afraid! Well, maybe a little. Who am I kidding, I was terrified, but it was kill or be killed so I had to match their level of moshitude, which was no easy feat.

The iPhone came out sporadically and I got some decent shots, but the faster songs were impossible to capture for fear of losing my precious. By the end of the show, I left whatever vestiges of my youth I had left on that floor. I knew for a fact that I'd be sore today. What I didn't expect was to be woken up at 5am by a fucking satanic Charlie horse in my right calf that had me screaming like a little girl and Lesley laughing like one.

Imagine if it had actually been a metal show! Good thing I have the day off.

Denver Adventure 2014 Pt. 1 - Arctic Monkeys at Red Rocks

ALMOST!!

Arctic Monkeys is one of several bands I immediately think of when I hear people talk (out of their asses) about how music "now a days" sucks. I latched on to them the minute I heard "I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor" when their first album came out. I've now seen them live 4 times, and will likely see them again at some point, but seeing them at Red Rocks, in the rain, is pretty damn memorable. There's not much to say about the music because I'd already seen them once before this tour, when they came down to Miami. Still, this show, maybe because it was Red Rocks, maybe because of the rain, was a much better show. Not that the Miami show was bad, but the energy of this show was just up several notches,

Rock n Roll!

At one point, after the opener, Mini Mansions (who were very good) finished, we tried to get to the front row. We actually did get there and did our best to look invisible/like we were supposed to be there. It was going to work. It really was. Until the Man With The Flashlight asked to see our wrist bands. Somehow, though, we were able to get back to still good spots somewhere up in row fortysomething. The people of Denver would never survive in South Florida with that level of courtesy.

It was misery being 41 years old, in the rain and cold for over 4 hours, but damn it if it wasn't awesome at the same time. Great friends. Great music. Great crowd. The light show was awesome. I'm not big on larger venues, but Red Rocks is different. It's just special. And this was a special night. Now, some highlights.

Arctic Monkeys - Aging Hipsters Night Out

My buddy, Carlos and I had seen Arctic Monkeys last tour at The Fillmore, where our old asses moshed in the middle of the writhing young crowd. This time it was at Revolution Live, a smaller venue, but our asses were at least another year older and the writhing crowd seemed even younger. All in all though, even after waiting in the rain for an hour to get in, this was even more awesome than last time.

At first, it was a little frustrating, because we couldn't find a good spot while the Smith Westerns played what sounded like the same song over and over for about an hour. We even contemplated going VIP, but being broke has a habit of putting a stop to that. Eventually, though, we figured it would only make sense to go on the floor and once we did, it was actually not that crowded and we could see, very well.

Right off, the atmosphere was set when the Monkeys hit the stage, Alex Turner looking like a greaser John Lennon, in his leather jacket, going right into the creepy Pretty Visitors. Sure, there was crowd surfing and moshing, but there were moments that this could have been a show in Berlin in 1962. It was all about attitude and letting the songs do the talking. The crowd was all into it and my body was holding up just fine as we cast the shadow of a snake pit on the wall. One song lead into another, each one better than the previous one. That Arctic Monkeys can play is never in doubt.

By the time they came back for encores, I said fuck it and ventured further into the crowd, winding up right up front. It was here that I'm pretty sure Alex Turner looked right at me, probably thinking "what the bloody hell is that old fart doing up front?" Once the show was over, I started feeling the aches in my legs, waist, back, feet, soul. . . I don't go to very many shows, because, frankly, there aren't that many bands I want to see that actually come down here. But every time I have a night like this, I can't wait for the next one. Maybe The Black Keys will be back again soon.