It's been a while since I've posted anything in this category. Nevertheless:

Is it me or is my imagination running wild
Some things are not what they seem, no
You know I'd ask you to come into my world for a while
But I know it's only a dream

Stir - Only a Dream

For about the last 2 years I've listened to my Pandora radio station, and here recently it's given me some pretty kickin' new choices for music that I have labeled "really good".

The first band will kinda make you raise an eyebrow, mainly because they have a very grassroots feel, just barely clinging to the edge of the "country" genre. The band is called Son Volt. The few people I've shared their style with say that it's very strong sounding like old-school R.E.M. I can pick that up a bit in their sound, but it's not something that permeates the entire series of their albums.

If I had to pick one album out of their collection (which I picked up from Amazon last week), I'd say it's "Okemah and the Melody of Riot".

The second band is of a different sound entirely, and is probably much less likely to be known. Their name is Intercept, and they hail from the Indie side of the house. Their music is made up of a number of power chords, and the vocals have a very strong Paul Simon influence. Their lyrics seem to be full of messages of relationship experience, unlike Son Volt's lyrics about life in general, with lines such as:

All my friends say "you're crazy, Chris,
You shouldn't move straight for her,
You've built up your castles, and she's building up her castles, too..."
And I know that I shouldn't but I will 'til I win!

This is from their song, Berlin.

I strongly recommend checking these groups out. I know I'm going to try and catch the Son Volt show that's coming to town later this month. :)

I was listening to Pandora Radio at work one day, and a song by Kasey Chambers came on. The song was "Wayward Angel", and I really liked the sound of it. I have since found other songs by Kasey Chambers, and I enjoy them a lot.

I know, I know... It's not really the normal country music style though. She has almost a Sarah McLachlan sound, with just a little twinge of country.

It's been quite a while since I've blogged about music or lyrics. This song kinda applies to the previous blog entry, and it is just an amazing song anyhow.

So all surrounded
By the things I thought I'd put away
And all surrounded
By the things I thought I'd put away
And there's a pile in the closet
That's where I threw some yesterday
Maybe under the rug
That's where I swept some the other day

So the mess is drawing forces
Outside I hear them say
(Just) come out with your hands up
So we can blow you away
And I walk out the door
Get blown wide open
By the things I'd put away
And I wasn't even warned
Just blown wide open
By the mess is where I lay

So I'm all surrounded
By the things I thought I'd put away
So I'm all surrounded
By the things I thought I'd put away
And if I'm a slob
I never looked at it that way
Irresponsible
When you're not the first to say

But I told her I'm sorry
I never wanted it this way
Yeah, I still need her
But the mess won't go away
And I walk out the door
Get blown wide open
By the things I'd put away
And I'm out on the porch
Just blown wide open
By the mess is where I lay
Yeah, blown wide open
Blown wide open
Blown wide open
Blown wide open
The gun's still smokin'
Blood keeps flowin'
Blown wide open
Blown wide open
[Why's she going]
All surrounded

So here lately I've been spending a lot of time on YouTube, checking out the music videos for a lot of songs that I like. I just got blindsided though...

Some of my favorite bands include Tonic, The Black Crowes, and Candlebox, but none of them have really been able to exceed my expectations when performing live. The Black Crowes do a good job, but there's an element that's missing: Energy.

I just happened to watch a couple clips of Counting Crows, and I have to say, I never really noticed this before. The band is just so energetic and devoted, even when doing a live gig. It's hard to find any band that's not overly-processed to the point where they're incapable of putting on a show that is equal to or better than their records, but Counting Crows is fully capable of it.

I can't stand to watch the guy when he's singing, especially in this video, but they did a live session of "Anna Begins", which is totally phenomenal. Check it out here.

There's this thing I can't stand about modern music. Anyone who has listened to any sort of "modern rock" station, expecting upbeat, metal, with a bit of screaming involved, knows exactly what I'm talking about.

See, the music that's being played on those stations is borderline "emo" music. You know, that stuff that the "gothic" kids listen to, while sobbing about their boyfriend or girlfriend looking at another guy... The "modern rock" bands that I've heard consist of Evanesence (even though I like Amy Lee's voice), Staind (learn to spell!), and Sum41 (that's not rock; it's just plain annoying).

When I think of "rock", bands like Soundgarden, Metallica, Mudvayne, STP, and Alice in Chains come to mind. It's rather disheartening to hear a song like that Coldplay song that everyone was so hyped up about, when you're expecting to hear something along the lines of STP's "Dead and Bloated".

What caused me to start this entry? Seeing "Theory of a Deadman", a band that I kinda enjoy, being labeled as "Heavy Metal". I guess it just goes to prove that a genere means nothing anymore.

If anyone from the central Indiana area happens to find this, hit me up...

I'm looking for a list of songs that were played on 95.7FM WGBD back when it was "Modern rock for the 21st century."

If you have anything to contribute, send it to wgbd@skudd.com

Yes, I know... I've been listening to a lot of Big Wreck lately. They're good. Check them out!

I never had a day where money didn't get in my way
I never listened to much Elvis
I can't remember a warm December

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It's been a while since I've put anything in this category. Have some lyrics from a good song.

The Black Crowes. Enough said.