Tis the Season Breh!!

Tis the Season to be Jolly! And I am happy there is a season for it. Christmas has come a long way from whenever it was first invented, hell it has come a long way over the past 28 years of my existence. The meaning is debated, the focus gets lost, religious ambiguities get set into place, but year after year you can always count on it being there. I definitely have my own interpretations and reasons I enjoy the Christmas season, but it is not very Christmas-y to preach how I interpret it because people should take Christmas for what they need it to be for them. The overall arching themes though that I love is the idea of bonding with your family, being more caring to one another, the idea of giving back, and just the general bonding that can occur during the holiday season. One thing I know we all agree on is that being Jolly is fun, and people being in a cheerful mood is always a plus no matter what time of year or the occasion.

Critics complain about how that should be all year round (and it should), and that Christmas has become commercialized (which is has), but it is about not letting yourself get caught up in the aspects that you don’t jive with. There is a lot to complain about, but why not just have some fun and get into the holiday spirit. One thing that always helps get me in the spirit is the audio/visual aspects of Christmas. The movies are fun, Christmas lights are kinda awesome (especially when synchronized with songs be the Trans-Siberian Orchestra), but most of all I enjoy the music.

Some people cant stand Christmas music, and they loathe that day after Thanksgiving when all of the chain stores and clear channel radio stations switch their speakers to a consistent rotation of Christmas tunes. I understand that fully, the consistent barrage of songs while at a store can be overbearing, and the radio has a way of recycling the same versions over and over again. If you are able to avoid that, and take your Christmas music in doses, it is quite pleasant. There are so many classic songs that can bring a smile straight to my face. There are extremely well composed songs that when performed correctly are powerful and emotional. There are catchy ones that get stuck in your head, and there are really bad ones as well.
 

For me, it can depend on the artist and the style being used on whether or not I can enjoy a Christmas song. There are many artists that take a beautiful song and just do it so poorly that it makes you shake your head in shame, and those are the songs that turn people off to the seasonal jams. In the mix though are a few songs that are so well written that it is almost impossible to ruin, no matter who sings it (and remember I said almost, because it can be done).

One of my favorite things about Christmas music is it span centuries. There are classic songs that have been sung for over 100 years each season, and each year there are new songs being written and implemented into a seasonal rotation. I definitely prefer the more classic styling of song like “O’ Holy Night” and “We Three Kings or Orient Are”, there is just something that powerful about those classic choral songs that mesh so well with the season. The next generation of songs such as “White Christmas” and “Silver Bells” are right up there for me, and I can listen to Bing Crosby, Perry Como, or Ella Fitzgerald croon all day long on these classics. It seems that over the past 30 years though there has been few songs that have stuck around, and that modern Christmas songs aren’t as connected to the season. There have been a few that have become staples such as Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” and Wham!’s “Last Christmas” has seen a resurgence. I don’t know if it’s the quality of songs being written, or just the connection with those older songs, but many songs just don’t make the cut.

On this mix I included a mix of classics, Jesus oriented songs, non-spiritual Christmas songs, some newer ones, and some others that juts make me laugh and are definitely not going to make the long term cut. I definitely are missing a lot that should be one here, but thought I would give ya’ll a decent random mix of songs. Along with this I included a bonus O’ Holy Night mix. “O’ Holy Night” is easily my favorite Christmas song of all time, and I have way too many versions, and love a majority of them. It is just a well-written song, and when performed correctly has one of the most powerful choruses in musical history. The transition from the verse into “FAAAAAAAAAAAALLL On Your KN EEEEEEEEEEEEES” sends tingles through my body every time, whether or not your are Christian, you cannot deny the amazing power in this song.

Christmas theatrical films are another great thing about the holiday season. Each year a new movie tries to make its way into the hearts of American Christmas lovers rotations, but very few stay. Needless to say there have been many classics composed over the years, and we will discuss a few here. Of course you are going to have your Jingle All the Way’s or your Deck the Halls, but you have to sometimes sift through the bad to find the truly genius. With no further ado my top 5 favorite Christmas movies

5. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

An excellent sequel to an excellent movie. Who would’ve thought that using the exact same plot but just moving it to New York would have worked so well? It did, and Kevin had so many different antics to get into! He faced his old nemesis’ the Wet Bandits (who renamed themselves the Sticky Bandits), had an old friend who was shunned by society, wanted to not spend Christmas with his family got his wish then realized he did want to and it happened, an d had a house full of booby traps. That in combination with the amazing use of the hand held recording device, Tim Curry and Rob Scheneider’s antics as the hotel staff, and Kevin being able to geniusly use all of his Dad’s cards and cash makes it a well worth view. Finally you had a viewing of Angels with filthier Souls (the sequel to Angels with Filthy Souls from the first one) where Gangster Johnny shoots down his cheating lover with a barrage of bullets and witty lines, and both were used in some sort of deceptive trick. It hit all the right marks, and definitely is on par with the first one. So next on the list we have…

4. Home Alone

What is not to love about Home Alone. It combines a crafty 8 year old boy who goes from being completely… well lets just say he was what the French call Les Incompetant to being able to run a household in a matter of days in battle with two dim-witted robbers who seem to have a superhuman pain threshold. Along the way you get classic one-liners, great soundtrack composed by John Williams, and ideas for a new home security system. Being around the same age as Kevin and seeing this movie was inspiring. It made you believe that if put into that situation you would be able to pull through and become the man of the house. R.I.P. Creepy old man who turned out to be very nice but in need of advice from an 8 year old boy.

3. Ernest Saves Christmas

So this is a classic that I haven’t seen in years, but I used to love Ernest growing up. Ernest goes to Camp, Ernest Scared Stupid, Ernest goes to Jail and Ernest Saves Christmas were all staples of my childhood. Ernest was such a good natured fella (in his movies, cant speak to real life but I imagine him just as he is) and his attitude is what Christmas is all about. Helping to find a new Santa so the tradition can live on. Running around with Elves and Reindeers, having his two crazy pals in every morning getting into kooky antics. I cant necessarily speak to individual parts as much since its been so long, but this movie definitely needs to be added into the classics

2. A Chistmas Story

A movie of the past 30 years that has achieved a status as a classic to the degree that TBS plays it for 24 hours straight. I remember watching this movie growing up and being kind of freaked out at times. That Santa was creepy and was kicking dude down a slide while his weird elf side kicks come around and tell him he is going to shoot his eye out. Either way though overtime I grew to love this movie. The “double dog dare” dialogue, the leg lamp, the Chinese food restaurant at the end, the bunny suit, and so many more great scenes make this movie a must see each season.


1. Diehard

So some people may argue that this is not a Christmas movie, but it takes place on Christmas. They are at a Christmas party, and it is referenced throughout the entire movie. Therefore it is a Christmas movie, maybe just not of the classic variety. But c’mon its fuckin Bruce Willis whoopin terrosist’s asses as one of the greatest action characters of all time. Who doesn’t know John McClaine, “Yippy Kay Yay Motherfucker”, and his not by the book antics. He pretty much saved Christmas for all of those hostages besides two, and if that is not what the Christmas spirit is all about then I don’t know. Plus it has Alan Rickman starting his career as Hans Gruber, definitely one of the best villians in an action movie. And who can forget Carl Winslow getting Bruce’s back throughout the movie, the man who believed him when everyone else thought he was in over his head. It goes to show that in extreme circumstances, Bruce Willis will always blow up elevator shafts, jump off exploding roofs, and toss dudes out of windows to get the job done.

Honorable Mentions: Elf, Miracle on 34^th St., A Wonderful Life, and any Claymation Christmas special!

So here is a Christmas mix for everyone. Whether you are Christian, Agnostic, Athiest, Muslim, Jewish, or Pagan I hope you can find some enjoyment in the songs on this cd. Christmas was stolen from winter pagan festivals, and it is a holiday season so I hope you all can enjoy a time of year just to be with the ones you love and share a caring spirit with your fellow humans.








Link: SFMTC Vol. 11a - Tis the Season Breh!

Link: SFMTC Vol. 11b - O' Holy Night Bonus Mix

SFMTC Vol. 11a - Tis the Season Breh!

01. Trans Siberian Orchestra - O Come All Ye Faithful - O Holy Night (Instrumental)
02. Bing Crosby - White Christmas
03. Ella Fitzgerald - Jingle Bells
04. Afroman - afroman is coming to town
05. Rev Horton HEat - frosty the snowman
06. Snoop Dogg - Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto
07. Ray Evans - Silver Bells
08. Chauntelle Dupree - What Child Is This
09. Robert Shaw - Carol of the Bells/Deck the Halls
10. The Vandals - here i am lord
11. The Wave Benders - The Little Drummer Boy
12. yo la tengo - it's christmas time
13. vaughn monroe - let it snow, let it snow, let it snow
14. Neil Diamond - Winter Wonderland
15. Louis Armstrong - Zat You Santa Claus
16. Franz Gruber - silent night
17. Sufjan Stevens - We Three Kings of Orient Are
18 . neko case - christmas card from a hooker (tom waits cover)
19. carpenters - merry christmas darling (original recording)
20. Raveonettes - The Christmas Song
21. John Mercer and Margaret Whiting - Baby Its Cold Outside
22. The Ventures - rockin' around the christmas tree-here comes santa claus
23. Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire)
24. Wham - Last Christmas
25. Kermit The Frog - Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
26. L.A. Guns - Run Rudolph Run
27. Aretha Franklin -  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
28. Gene Autry  - Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
29. Boney M - Feliz Navidad
30. John Williams - We Wish You A Merry Christmas-End Title (Somewhere In My Memory)

Flashbacks!! Cont'd

Chapter 2: The Alternative to the Alternative

So in our last Blast from the Past entry we discussed the 90’s alternative revolution. We touched on some of the big names who earlier releases crushed, some underdogs who made a brief appearance, and overall some severely underrated records. It is a good segue into this section discussing the alternatives to the alternative. Some of our past entry could find a spot on this list (Sonic Youth, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr.), and it just goes to show the prevalence of great music that was happening during that time period. We could look at all types of music, but we will focus on the rock n roll that emerged during that time.

So what does it mean to be the alternative to the alternative? Well the alternative revolution was originally focused on providing something different from what was happening in mainstream music, it was something that was different and fresh, but once it started to gather a large following and was seen as a money making genre, the alternative became the norm. So once the airwaves were saturated which what was once considered the alternative that opened to the door for something else to be the alternative. This entry does not consider the alternative to be an individual sound, but a conglomeration of what else was happening at that time. 

It is interesting to look at some of the originators of the early 90’s movement and see what life handed to them. Mudhoney is a great example of a band in my mind that helped to really pave the way, and never got their just desserts. They were thought to be the “Nirvana”, and would be the saviors of rock n roll. They gathered a good sized following, they were the poster boys for the Sub-Pop label and then Nirvana broke through into the spotlight and gathered critical acclaim. Mudhoney was sure now to capitalize off a style of music they helped to pioneer, but then Ole Kurt offed himself and something happened. Grunge lost its appeal to many, what was the point to carry on with it after the patron saint passed on. Mudhoney became relics in their own time and never quite got their piece of pie. 

The 80’s saw the rise of more and more independent label’s and that only increased in the 1990’s and no two bands better represented the indie movement than Pavement and Fugazi. Throughout their career the maintained a cult following, and even when they were approached by the majors chose to stick by their values and remain on an independent label when many of their peers began to sign to majors. Indie Rock is an interesting “genre” because really it does not have a defined sound, and originally was used to label bands not on the majors. Eventually though a sound became associated with a certain era of indie bands who were gaining more national exposure and Pavement was one of the early ones. 

Due to their loyalty to the independent method, the sound that was associated with them was characterized as indie. College Rock, alternative, punk, grunge, experimental, neo-psychedelia, and pop all helped to influence indie bands and these days indie is used in such a wide context it is hard to really define it. Pavement though embodied to an extent what the indie spirit was, and it is hard to find many bands who will continually stick to their guns in that manner. Others have carried on the spirit of Pavement, and the 2000’s has continued to see an increase in the prominence of independent labels. 

Fugazi could be seen as the kings on the independent movement in a certain manner. Ian McKaye was a prolific member of the D.C. punk scene; he was instrumental in helping to create a DIY scene that was self-sufficient. He pioneered hardcore punk with the band Minor Threat, emo with the band Embrace, post-hardcore with Fugazi, and the independent label Dischord Records. Fugazi is another band that embodied the independent mentality, and always remained on an independent label despite fierce recruitment from the majors. Fugazi was considerate of their fans in that they never charged ridiculous ticket prices to their shows no matter how popular they became. Fugazi refused to cross corporate sponsorship with their passion of music. Ian continues to support independent movement with his label and from what I have gathered has never made a choice that was contrary to his ethical beliefs.

I had no idea what the shoegaze scene was back in the 1990’s, reading back on it a bit it seems there was some popularity in the US and that some of the songs became radio singles, but I hardly remember hearing anything about those bands until the later years of my high school and that was past their era. It seemed to be quite the fad over in England, and had a similar evolution as the grunge scene in the United States. Like grunge, it sprung up, hit its peak popularity and then disappeared just as fast. Interestingly enough, Shoegaze fell out of popularity due to the rise of the Brit Pop scene in England, and the Grunge scene in the US. These days though you still find enthusiasts of the shoegaze movement, and you see a lot more bands taking cues and influence from Chapterhouse and Slowdive than Nirvana or Oasis these days. It has made a bit of resurgence with the so called “nu-gaze” movement, but in the early 90’s it seemed England was littered with the likes of Slowdive, Ride, Lush, Chapterhouse, and Moose. Bands such as My Bloody Valentine, and The Jesus and Mary Chain were influences on Shoegaze and are at time grouped in with this scene.

The 90’s also unleashed a wave of bands who took the emo of the 1980’s, the post-hardcore of the early 90’s, the sounds of the current indie movement and blended those with pop sensibilities to create what is commonly referred to as Emo these days, but more so is a post-emo indie rock sound, and this scene was pretty diversified. Bands such as Sunny Day Rea Estate, Mineral, Jawbreaker/Jets to Brazil, and Jimmy Eat World all had similar influences, played in a similar scene, but each took a different approach in their sound. A lot of these bands were a part of that major label swoop of underground pop punk/emo bands of the mid 90’s, and while many still have cult fan bases, none really broke through to find a place in the hearts of mainstream America. Sunny Day Real Estate could easily be seen as one of the most important bands of the 1990’s. They helped to break down the walls between the emo/indie scene and alternative rock, and unfortunately helped to pave the way for the crappy wave of “emo” bands in the 2000’s. Even more unfortunate is the further mutation of the emo scene that happened. Bands such as My Bloody Valentine or Thursday are a far cry from the emo pioneers like Rites of Spring and Embrace. It makes me kind of sad due to most people associating a scene not with what it was founded on (even though the early emo bands hated the label) and with what is being sold to them as emo. 

The alternative to the alternative became a haven as I moved out of middle school. I could find things such as punk rock, but also weird experimental music that had a strange appeal as my musical palate developed.  I found music that still had the sensibilities of pop music, but also layered with creative aspects to keep the music fresh. The staleness of hearing the same thing over and over again started to disappear and I felt more in control of what I was listening to. It was exciting to hear some of these bands on the radio for a brief minute and then discover that they had way more to offer than the one song I heard being played. It was sweet to get a cd in which most of the songs were of quality in comparison to bands like Bush who put out a cd and maybe 4 songs were listenable (at the time).  Some call me pretentious; I just call me a man with taste. It is not my place to say what or what not to listen to, but it is my job to try to let others know what is out there besides the obvious. In the 1990's labels such as Matador, Dischord, Sub-Pop, Jade Tree, Revelation, Fat Wreckchords, Touch and Go, SST, and Epitaph led the indie front, please continue to support independent labels and keep money going to those actually involved in the music scene. So I hope you guys enjoy this mix, here is a slice of the alternative to the alternative!

Link: SFMTC Vol. 9b - The Alternative to the Alternative

SFMTC Vol. 9b - The Alternative to the Alternative

01. Helmet - In The Meantime
02. Screaming Trees - Bed of Roses
03. Hum - Ms. Lazarus
04. Seaweed - Stale
05. Sonic Youth - Screaming Skull
06. Turbonegro - New Wave Song
07. Superchunk - 30 xtra
08. Fugazi - Cassavetes
09. Dinosaur Jr. - Goin Home
10. Guided by Voices - Bulldog Skin
11. Catherine Wheel - Judy Staring at the Sun
12. Sebadoh - Black Haired Girl
13. Brian Jonestown Massacre, the  - She Made Me
14. Green Pajamas - Emma Is Crying
15. The Pixies -  Gigantic
16. Butthole Surfers - The Ballad of Naked Man
17. The Charlatans - NYC
18. Mineral - Silver
19. King Missile - As I Walked Thru Queens
20. Jets to Brazil - Conrad
21. The Stone Roses - One Love
22. Mudhoney - Good Enough
23. Pavement - Range Life
24. Sunny Day Real Estate - Rising Tide
25. Stereolab - Wow and Flutter
26. Smoking Popes - Adena
27. The Jesus and Mary Chain - She
28. The Folk Implosion - Chained to the Moon
29. Spiritualized - I Want You
30. Quicksand - Omission

Liquid Drug of Choice

“Coffee Mug… Gonna clear the Haze… Liquid Proof… That I can win this race”, lyrics that graced my ears at the tender age of 13 and made me laugh. At that point in time I was not very interested in coffee. I knew adults liked it, and Starbucks was a “hip” place to be, but I did not really get the whole coffee thing. These days coffee is a consistent part of my life, but I wouldn’t classify myself as a coffee fiend (I have friends who have better earned that title). I am an appreciator of a fined brewed warmed beverage, and it definitely helps to start my day.

As a non-morning person, I would prefer to have a job that works 10-6 or 11-7 rather than a 9-5, but since that doesn’t really work at most places, coffee is my friend who helps me out in the morning. Coffee is the friend that I need at the time when most other friends are occupied. The slight boost that it gives is enough to push through that morning haze and to be the productive person that I am capable of being, but too much sends me on a hyperactive spree that harbors my concentration and reduces it to that of a kitten with a ball of string. I had to find the right balance during grad school or else I would be bouncing around during class, and pretty much becoming a distraction to myself. Sometimes that extra boost is croosh though, and many of crazy events can be caffeine instigated. 

“Mr. Coffee” by Lagwagon characterizes coffee as legal speed (the American way) which is a pretty spot on description. The potential jitters and shakes that are described in the song are all too real, and that is followed by the need for “drinking coffee, I drink coffee, drinking coffee everyday” (and repeat). It is true, it is an addictive substance that has real side affects, but it is such a prominent industry that it would never become illegal (thankfully). “ They haven't banned My liquid drug of choice There's too many hooked And they've got too much voice,” perfectly describes why coffee will always be around. That all being said those side affects do different things to different people. If you remember Billy Bob’s character in the movie Slingblade, he would not drink coffee due to its prepulsion to make him nervous. “Black Coffee” by Black Flag is a dark song with pretty disturbing lyrics equating his pain, frustration, neurotic tendencies to be increased as he drinks his black coffee and stares at the wall. The advantages and pleasures of coffee far outway the side effects for myself at least. Coffee has gotten me through rough mornings, and the short quip  of a song by Scholastic Deth sums it up nicely:

“Saturday morning  Waking up at 7 First cup of the day
Like sipping on heaven As a few chapters are read

Two or three will go down  Now I'm ready to skate some ledges downtown”

Now you switch out waking up at 7 with 11, and skating ledges downtown with climbing along the greenbelt, you just described parts of my grad school days.

Finding a good cup of coffee is rather important. You can drink gas station coffee and it does the trick, but there is nothing like a perfectly roasted coffee brewed to perfection. The Andrew Sisters do well to express this concern:

“Ah, curse ya, curse ya, curse ya, That’s the worst cup of coffee in  Persia!

Oh All I want is a proper cup of coffee, made from a proper copper coffee pot,

I may be off my nut, but I want a proper cup of coffee from a proper copper pot.

Brass coffee pots, glass coffee pots They’re no good to me”

Each country has their different way of brewing, but it is important to get that proper cup of coffee. As little children most of us do not like coffee, it is bitter, it’s not appealing really, especially black. Starbucks did a great job on introducing coffee dessert drinks, and helps to break the young ones in a little earlier. But it is the fact that as we get older our taste buds develop more, and we appreciate different flavors, and coffee is a certain flavor that needs to be done right. 

Coffee is a great social drink, and that is one of the reasons that we find it so prominently represented in the musical arena. It is social in so many different ways. It is a drink that brings friends together to talk about lifes happenings, it is a pathway for a man or woman to invite their love interest in for quality time, or a way for a heartbroken individual to try to talk some sense into their ex. It is a tool used by truckers to get through those long hard evenings. It is a chemical boost for those students who are cramming for the upcoming exam. It is easy to use in metaphors, and overall is just a relatable drink. Every country drinks coffee, so it usually makes for a good song

The use of coffee in torch songs, or heartbreak seems to be a pretty common pairing. “Black Coffee” as performed by Ella Fitzgerald does a great job of expressing her yearning for her man, and the notion that this coffee is that only thing helping her stay awake for his supposed return and his eventual disappearance. “One Cup of Coffee” is a tune that has made its way into many country performers regimens, but Bob Marley has a spectacular version detailing the use of coffee to sit and settle a current romantic dispute. It is a tool used to get one last chance, even if it is all for nothing. 

 

Coffee shops have been a haven for young adults in the very least since I became a young adult. They were my place of study, by place of solitude, and escape from the staleness of being at home, and a spot to meet up with friends for a moment to shoot the shit. One thing I loved about Austin was the amount of 24 hour coffee shops in that town. It makes sense due to the high volume of students placed there, and was a godsend on many evenings when needing to break away from the house at 1 am while finishing the final draft of a major paper. Here in Oregon I have discovered the advantageous coffee kiosk industry. I was amazed when I moved and saw that on every corner or so was a drive thru coffee place (not so much in Portland) and the range and quality of the coffee was awesome. Now I have a nice coffeeshop down the street that is easy enough to access, and owners are pretty dang awesome.

So you should all go out and appreciate the Liguid Drug of choice, legal speed, bean juice, jitter juice, black gold, a students study aid, cupped lightning, liquid lightning, morning thunder, cup of joe, or waky juice. There are ton of coffee shops everywhere, or buy some good beans and make your own. Here are a few recommended spots!

Rain or Shine –  http://rainorshinepdx.com                    
5941 SE Division St  Portland, OR 97206

La Crema – http://www.cremabakery.com                              
2728 SE Ankeny St. Portland, Or 97214

Epoch Coffee - http://www.epochcoffee.com                         
221 W North Loop Blvd. Austin, TX 78751


Bouldin Creek Cafe - http://www.bouldincreek.com             
1900 South 1st Street,  Austin, TX 78704

Bennu – http://www.bennucoffee.com/                                 
2001 E MLK Jr, Austin, Tx 78702

The Grind – groovinatthegrind.com                                              
 19 North Main Street,  Cedar City, UT
  
The Bean Scene – http://www.myspace.com/beanscenecafe     
511 E St George Blvd, St. George, UT

  
Interzone – http://interzoneorganic.com                                         
1563 NW Monroe Ave. Corvallis, Or

Link: SFMTC Vol 10 - Coffee: Liquid Drug of Choice 

SFMTC Vol. 10 - Coffee: Liquid Drug of Choice

01. The Descendents - Coffee Mug
02. Bob Marley -  One Cup Of Coffee
03. Al Bowlly & Lew Stone - Coffee in the Morning
04. Dantalian's Chariot  - Coffee Song
05. Blur - Coffee & TV
06. The Descendents - Kids on Coffee
07. Catfish - Coffee Song
08. Can - Bring me Coffee or Tea
09. Guy Clark - Instant Coffee Blues
10. Humble Pie  - Black Coffee
11. Black Flag - Black Coffee
12. Kate  Bush - Coffee Homeground
13. Mississippi John Hurt - Coffee Blues
14. Ramblin' Jack Elliot -  Cup of Coffee
15. Scholastic Deth  - Coffee Cures Everything
16. Ella Fitzgerald - Black Coffee
17. Split Lip Rayfield - Coffee
18. The Andrew Sisters -  Proper Cup of Coffee
19. 76% Uncertain - Coffee Achievers
20. Lightnin Hopkins - Coffee For Mama
21. Red Hot Chili Peppers  - Coffee Shop
22. The Promise Ring - Bread and Coffee
23. Bob Dylan - One More Cup of Coffee (Valley Below)
24.  Waring's Pennsylvanians - Let's Have Another Cup Of Coffee
25. Lagwagon - Mr. Coffee

Flashbacks!!

Chapter 1: The AlternaNation

So over the past few months I have been reading  a lot of posts reminiscing on the music of the 1990’s on a variety of different websites, and more specifically the alternative revolution that invaded overnight and faded out just as quickly. Looking back on those days helps to bring a smile to my face, and makes me laugh quite a bit. There were some pretty terrible bands and songs during this time period, and some of the bands whose albums I had in my collection serves as a reminder that no one is perfect. It was also the my first musical adventuring that I did for a sweet couple of years, and it was the start of me forming my own identity (as every young adolescent does during this time period). To make it clear, this is not a best of the Alternative 90's by the books. This is my look at different aspects of the alternative scene of that time combined with my retrospective criticism and revelations.

 To develop ones taste you do have to sort through some bad music, this eventually leads us to find the good (or at least what we perceive as good). We are young when we start to learn what we love or want in our music, and it is the different sounds that invade our life at this point that start to shape our journey. I am never ashamed of the music I once listened to, but I will never bullshit these days and pretend all of it was great. In this entry we will look at some of the greats, some of the overlooked, and some who I just enjoyed. They may not fit into everyone’s experience, but these are bands I remember having some form of an impact.

While there was a lot of bad music happening that we should actively forget as people, there were a lot of bands that somehow squeezed their way into the mainstream for a moment to produce high quality albums. I think album is the key word here as radio pop songs are not usually constructed around a full album, but more so the singles format. The good bands of this time may have had singles emerge on the radio, but the full length of their album was written with just as much vigor. There will always be music packaged and fed based around the singles, and if you only took your music in that way then you missed out (if it was the right Artist that is).  There were also bands that started out with a brilliant and revolutionary sound that ended up becoming water downed and stale, but you cannot deny the power in much of their earlier music. The radio has been known to stem creativity and encourage formulaic output, and unfortunately some of the great bands from this period got caught in that cycle (or they just continued putting out material for the sake of putting out material without that genuine creative drive).

Time has an interesting way of applying perspective, and when venturing back to some of these albums from my youth I am able to look at them from a different lens. There are the staple albums that I have consistently returned to that I can listen to just as easily today as I did when I was younger (Weezer ‘Blue album’, Rancid ‘Out Come the Wolves’). Then there are the albums I did not really dig when they were initially released, but have come back to in my maturity and have found a deeper appreciation for (Jane’s Addiction ‘Nothing Shocking’, The Verve ‘Urban Hymns’, Sonic Youth ‘Washing Machine’). On the other end of the spectrum, I have found the quintessential albums I used to love and now cringe when I hear a song played from it (Bush ‘Sixteen Stone’, Nirvana ‘Nevermind’, Soundgarden ‘Superunknown’). 

 The crazy thing for me is the amount of awesomeness that I overlooked for a long time. I listened to what the radio fed me. I listened to the singles, and overlooked many albums I have come to love. The radio was the source to find these new bands coming out in this style, but then one day I bought a Bad Religion album and with it came a catalog for Epitaph Records. Here was a map to music that I found I really liked, and I got to choose what songs and records to buy. It was liberating, and when I found out that I had more say I began to leave the alternative life behind, and with it some decent music. I can’t really blame myself though, in my eyes I was protecting my ears from the likes of Tonic, Semisonic, Matchbox 20, Creed, Marcy’s Playground, Our Lady Peace, and however many other bands that turned the alternative nation into a vomit inducing pile of crap and opened the door to further abomination such as the the likes of Nickelback, Hoobastank, 3 doors down, and Staind.

A classic example of overlooked alternative awesomeness was Jane’s Addiction ‘Nothing Shocking’. This album was released in 1988, a good 6 years before I really started diving into music. At the time it had the single “Jane Says” that also carried over into my time, but that song never really did it for me. Jane’s Addiction had already broken up by the time I had heard of them, and their media representation was not enough to inspire a further probe. They made a few resurfaces, one time with Flea on bass, but overall I never really looked into their music. A few years back I decided to check out that album out of curiosity (and I will admit due to the enjoyment of the “Mountain Song” on Guitar Hero) and I was kind of blown away. It was not what I expected at all. It blended a heavy dose of neo-psychedelia, with some heavy 70’s rock laden riffs, and pretty much helped to pave the way for alternative rock to break into the mainstream. The creativity on the track “Ted, just Admit it” was never paralleled by any other heavy alternative band, “Summertime Rolls” is a mellow masterpiece of psychedelic proportions, and the combination of the intro “Up the Beach” into “Mother Ocean” is a perfect blend of heaviness and pop sensibility. Overall there are a couple of tracks that don’t live up to the awesomeness of others, but this is easily in my opinion the best alternative album to have been written, and not even matched by the bands later efforts. 

There were so many bands that I just kind of dismissed back in the day as one hit wonders. Tripping Daisy was a band whose cd I owned and I could only tell you about that one song of theirs on the radio ( “I got a girl” ), and that cd found its way into a used bin during my collection cleanse post middle school. Being curious I have gone back, and that cd was pretty great for what they were doing and their sound was a contrast from a lot of the “Hunger Dunger Dang” rock saturating that era of alternaradio. The Flaming Lips, Sonic Youth, Butthole Surfers, the Meat Puppets and Dinosaur Jr. are all examples of radio “one hit wonders” (I use this phrase in terms of what the radio played, we all know these bands produced much greater music than what was aired) that I heard and then dismissed in the not too distant future. Some of those I came back to embrace quicker due to their association with the punk rock scene, and helped to see their connection and influence in the music underground I was now diving into. The Butthole Surfers to this day are easily the weirdest band that impacted me through their break into the mainstream for a moment in time. Their psychedelic noise rock was not very palatable to the youngin’ just jumping into punk rock, but over time the brain began to process their songs beyond “Pepper".

Then we have those groups of bands that came out slinging rock n roll and proper riffage, and slowly as they found a formula, they began to water it down further and further. The Red Hot Chili Peppers are a band that epitomizes that downfall, and encapsulate a band that is now only a shadow of who they once were. I came into my musical listening in the days after ‘Bloodsugarsexmagik’ was released and that for me was my introduction, what I didn’t realize is before that there were albums of some weird funk rock fusion happening. Pretty much what I saw was a band who scored big with “Under the bridge” and looked to recreate a mediocre pop formula over their next however many albums. Many people love Californication or Stadium Arcadium, but to me that is just a different band with the same name. I have a hard time accepting the switch from songs such as “Fight like a Brave” and “Freaky Styley” to songs like “Scar Tissue” and “Dani California”. It was the post-Hillel Slovak era that saw the eventual decline and departure of the Big Boys-Minutemen styled funk rock. Its not that I don’t approve of bands evolving, changing sound, finding new influences, maturing as musicians, it is just the final product that all of those lead to that matters. 

Soundgarden is another that could fit into this category. They created some amazingly heavy music, pioneered a genre, and helped to influence many younger bands, and then they became stale and manufactured. 'Superunknown' was an alright album (although if I ever have to hear black hole sun again it will be too soon), but their previous efforts of ‘Louder than Love’ and 'Badmotorfinger’ were pretty fantastic. Soundgarden acknowledged the change in style, and it is hard to say whether it was mainstream recognition or just overall artistic evolution that morphed their later material. I don’t even want todiscuss ‘Down on the Upside’, and I think Soundgarden recognized where things were heading and had enough brains to end their tenure before declining further. I can respect bands a lot more when they recognize when to set the instruments down rather than forcing it forward into mediocrity. 

So what else was happening during this time on alternaradio? Well, we had the pop punk explosion of the mid 90’s that had Green Day, The Offspring, Rancid and Bad Religion leading the charge. We had random alternative country bands popping onto the airwaves such as the Old 97’s, Cowboy Junkies, and Cracker (radio hits disguised a lot of their full sound). Green Day and The Offspring both went onto great financial success and departed a bit from their punk rock sound. The Offspring hit it big with ‘Smash’, which was a decent album, but after ‘Ixnay on the Hombre’ we saw the band turn to novelty songs like “Pretty fly for a white guy” and “Original Prankster” to keep the ears of the mainstream. Green Day wrote some catchy East Bay styled pop punk, and that style can still be seen as an influence in their music. After 'Dookie' though we saw the style become more similar to some straight power pop music that fit in more with Weezer than the likes of their former Lookout! Records label mates. Bad Religion and Rancid broke through to the radio, but both retreated back to their core punk fan base after later albums did not seem to have the same pull with a lot of America. ‘Outcome the Wolves’ is easily my favorite Rancid album, but Bad Religion definitely hit a sour period during their Atlantic Records tenure. These bands were not necessarily the alternative sound, but they found their way into this crowd and began to share radio waves.

A few more album notes, Weezer put out the best power pop album of the 1990's with the Blue album, and followed up brilliantly with 'Pinkerton', disappeared and then came back to then deteriorate to the band that wrote the song "Beverly Hills". The Verve kept the shoegaze feel alive after bands such as Chapterhouse and the Catherine Wheel broke up or became more power pop. Cake continued to write an interesting brand of alternative rock that I was unique and fun, and it kept them relevant to the masses for some reason as well. Blur broke through with a couple of hits, but overall had a catalog of psychedelic tinged britt-pop that was overlooked in America (England embraced them as much as they did Oasis).

So the mid 1990’s were an interesting time for music and what was breaking through, but by the end of the past century we saw what eventually happened. Formulaic output trumped creativity and ingenuity, quality was lost to security, the adventurous spirit of the underground music at the time was broken by the record executives looking for a new consistent way to make a buck. This process is what killed the alternative scene, and diluted it to an army of Creed and Nickelback clones. The adventurism of music did not die though, it assumed new forms, but the form found in the alternanation was lost.



Link: SFMTC Vol 9a - AlternaNation 

SFMTC Vol 9a - The AlternaNation   

01. Blur - Tender
02. Weezer - Surf Wax America
03. Soundgarden - Gun
04. Red Hot Chili Peppers - Funky Crime
05. Dinosaur Jr. -  Outta Hand
06. Primus - Fisticuffs
07. Cracker -  Mr. Wrong
08. The Offspring - Genocide
09. Blind Melon - Tones of Home
10. Tripping Daisy - Human Contact
11. The Old 97s - Timebomb 
12. Janes Addiction - Summertime Rolls
13. Rancid - Avenues And Alleyways
14. Butthole Surfers - Cough Syrup
15. The Flaming Lips - Plastic Jesus
16. Bad Religion - Incomplete
17. Cake - Stickshifts And Safetybelts
18. Meat Puppets - Sam
19. The Verve -  Catching The Butterfly
20. Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea

Album Spotlight

Amebix - Sonic Mass (2011)

The band Amebix has always been a pretty legendary in my eyes since I was first introduced to their brand of crusty punk and never really thought they would ever release a new album. Amebix always kinda boggled my mind and I didn't like them when I first was getting into punk. Their sound to me was weird, unorthodox, and groundbreaking, something I was not looking for at the time in a punk band. Coming back to hear the bands releases later on I started to appreciate each of them more, and especially the development of their sound between their two LP's Arise and  Monolith. So now we are presented with a new Amebix album after 24 years and I am not dissappointed at all!

The band takes Sonic Mass in a logical direction when looking at the progression that happened between Arise and  Monolith. If you are expecting an  Arise part II then you may be disappointed, but I would hope that wouldnt be the case after Amebix displayed their evolution on Monolith. With that being said Sonic Mass taken that formula and buiilt upon it. Here we have an amazing blend of classic Amebix mixing with a modern version, a version that doesnt sound like they are just popping in after 24 years to record a comeback album. Sonic Mass  is well crafted and thought out, and sounds as an Amebix album should in 2011.

You can hear the traces of crust punk, the post-hardcore and those are built upon by thrashing riffs, post-metal/doom heaviness, and a folk kick that bathory would be proud of. The production on this album is amazing, and the sound is overall crisp and defined. Amebix is definitely not afraid to use the technology of today to further enhance the quality of their sound. The obvious comparison, and many have said already, that this sounds like a lost Killing Joke record from the 80's. I definitely see the comparison, and I would also say that both bands were contemporaries of each other and provided just as much influence for their respective sound.

Either way, we have an awesome new record (one better than anything Killing Joke has put out recently) from a legendary band who still shows it has not lost touch with what it originally set out to do, and can still put out a damn good heavy album. If you are fans of Monolith, and if you havent heard Amebix before but love heavy music then check it out. Here is a little sample

Chaos in Tejas: a look into the music of Texas cont'd

Chapter 2: Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

To reflect on our last entry, Texas was and still is a huge influence and impact on my musical development and that music in Texas has evolved and been created due the atmosphere and culture Texas breeds amongst its residents. Having identified that, over the years I have begun to learn more about Texas artists, the musical roots of Texas, and the degree on which Texas has affected musical development nationally and globally.

To start let’s just got back to Lubbock, Texas in the 1950’s. Lubbock aint really much, its dusty, the water tastes horrible, and it is home to Texas Tech (boooooo). None of those things really matter though when you look at the influence it’s had on rock n roll with the creation of the Lubbock sound.  It was here that the infamous Buddy Holly and the Crickets got their start. It was here in Lubbock, Texas that the classic rock band lineup of 2 guitarists, bass player, and a drummer was solidified by Mr. Holly before his untimely death. The sound created by Buddy Holly was highly influential, and the blend of country roots with the burgeoning rock n roll sound was embraced by a national audience. Even those Britt’s thought pretty highly of this setup, just look at the Beatles and Stones who were highly influenced by Holly. Buddy Holly’s legacy and impact was later captured in the song “American Pie” aka the day the music died, a song detailing the author’s emotions the day Mr. Holly, fellow Texan the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash. As the Crickets went on without Mr. Holly they wrote a little song called “I Fought the Law”, which was adopted by fellow Texas Bob Fuller and went on to gain national acclaim and furthering Texas’ mark on Rock n Roll.

Most people who don’t know much about Texas music probably assume that its main area of expertise in in the realm of Country music, and while we have so much more, I would be lying if I denied how influential this state has been on Country artists. Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys may be the most important country figure to emerge from the bountiful Country music scene. Who is Bob Wills you ask?? Well I should not have to tell you, and it infuriates me that I do, but tell I shall. Bob Wills was the creator of the Western Swing sound which went on to influence generations of country musicians to follow, and also jazz, rock n roll, big band, and of course swing. He was the first to introduce instruments such as steel guitar, trumpets and other non-traditional instruments into a country based sound, and some of those took prevalent places in bands to come. Bob Wills was a huge influence on Buck Owens, a Texas-born California cowboy who went on to coin the Bakersfield sound. Buck Owens guitarist used the fender telecasters which was a guitar pretty much developed to fit in with the styling of Bob Wills’s music. The Bakersfield sound was a reaction to the polished, orchestral nature that was happening out in Nashville at the time, and was played by the blue-collar types looking for a rawer styling, and they had to look no further than to Mr. Wills for their influence.

(The Late, Great Townes Van Zandt)

That’s the tip of the iceberg for Country. To jump in a bit further we should look at the outlaw country that started to come out of Texas. One of the biggest influences of this movement would have to be Townes Van Zandt. Townes is possibly the best country artist to have graced this Earth, and you can argue with that but you are wrong. Steve Earle once proclaimed that Townes was a better songwriter than Bob Dylan, and while he later revoked his statement because he felt embarrassed, I will stand by that all day long. Townes was a dynamic songwriter, and had a way with words that allowed you to experience what he was going through without ever having been in his shoes. Throughout his life he suffered from bi-polar disorder which in turn led to a life of drug abuse and addiction, and a really sad life for an amazing poet. Townes has been recognized by musicians, critics, fans, and so many more over the past years, and what was once a cult following has grown into a national fan base who adore the music of a genius songwriter. Townes toured and played in small barrooms, dives, and KOC halls his whole life, and he was okay with it. The man loved to play, and he also loved his drugs which affected his later years and his ability to remain steady in his recording and playing. Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Guy Clark, and Steve Earle are all musicians who benefited from Townes. Hell, Willie scored a number 1 hit with Townes’ “Pancho and Lefty”. All of these men have gone on to do great things for Texas music, and have brought it into the national spotlight. They have gone on to influence younger generations of country artists throughout the nation. I would challenge you to find someone who does not know Willie Nelson, and if they don’t, slap them in the face. Yes, through Townes and then his successors, Texas Country has left its mark on the world.

(Blind Lemon Jefferson)

(Lightnin Hopkins)

The blues are a music that were developed mainly in the south starting around Mississippi, then over to New Orleans, up to Chicago, and around the beginning of the 20th century, out to Texas. I could not talk about Texas music without mentioning the likes of Lightin Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, T Bone Walker, Blind Willie Johnson, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.  Texas Blues had its own sound. Definitely rooted in the Mississippi Delta style, but relies a bit more on guitar improv and licks to fill the gaps. Blind Lemon Jefferson incorporated jazz into his styling which led to this use of improv. A lot of the Texas bluespeople had a kick of swing in their sound too. Stevie Ray Vaughn may be the best known due to his recent popularity from the 1980's to the present. He took the Texas blues style to a new level with his incorporation of different guitar tones and sounds enhanced by feedback and distortion. Blues. Houston, Texas Legend Lightnin Hopkins was a huge influence on the Texas music scene from the 50's through the 70's. He helped to bridge the gaps between the founders of the Texas Blues and the and coming musicians of the 60's. He gained more national recognition in the blues revival of the 60's along with the likes of Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters and BB King. Lightnin Hopkins was a mentor to a lot of younger Texas musicians including Townes Van Zandt, the 13th Floor Elevators, Nanci Griffith, and Stevie Ray Vaughn

(The 13th Floor Elevators)

Last post I touched briefly on Mr. Roky Erikson and the 13^th Floor Elevators. If you would to ask any expert in the realm of Psychedelic music what the three most important/influential albums of this genre were I would hope they would say: The Beatles ‘Revolver’, The Beach Boys ‘Pet Sounds’, and the 13^th Floor Elevators ‘The Psychedelic Sounds of…’.  The 13^th Floor Elevators were revolutionary for their time and place; they started out as the Lingsmen and were just an ordinary rock band. As time went on they added Roky Erikson on lead guitar and vocals, Tommy Hall on Jug and LSD into their lineup. Tommy Hall’s propensity for the drug aided the bands reputation in Texas, and they were one of the first groups to promote the psychedelic lifestyle. Eventually they made their way up to San Fran, got lost in some drugs, and became a cult act for years to come. They were well respected among their contemporaries and bands continue to draw upon their raw psychedelic power to this day as influence. Bands such as ZZ top, The Allman Brothers, Spacemen 3, the Jesus and Mary Chain, and R.E.M. all pay homage to the Elevators and it shows in their sound. In Texas they have been succeeded by the Black Angels, the Golden Dawn, the Strange Boys, and Trippin Daisy.

My favorite area of Texas Music history is easily the punk realm, and what is not to love. For starters let’s take a look at the funk masters of punk, The Big Boys. Propelled to popularity in the 80’s through their appearance in Thrasher videos, the Big Boys were a site to see. A punk rock band featuring prominent cross-dresser and openly gay singer Randy “Biscuit” Turner was a statement, especially for Texas. I can’t say I had the honor to witness them live, but old-timers say it was amazing. The energy, the focus, the attitude, and the comfort in pushing the punk envelope are what make the Big Boys legacy. A punk band these days would not dare to have a “funk off”, but the big boys did not give a fuck. They were who they were. Bands such as the Minutemen, Fishbone, and early Red Hot Chili Peppers pay influence to them as a major influence.  The Dicks were also an openly gay punk band in Texas in the 80’s, two things which were not popular amongst most citizens at the time. Gotta love Texas spearheading the inclusion of LGBT right’s in punk before it was even a thing to do. Here is a whole bunch of Big Boy's videos, enjoy!

 

(The Butthole Surfers)

On the weird tip you had The Butthole Surfers. The best part about the early 80’s was the weirdest noise group fit right in with the punk scene. Butthole Surfers are a punk band, and that is because they do their own thing in a way only they can. Musically they definitely at times have a punk influence, but you then combine that with heavy doses of psychedlia, loud angry sounding noises, and electronic bits and you get a glimpse in the Butthole Surfers. A friend the other night in a debate over the merit of Pink Floyd stated, “When you had the Butthole Surfers to listen to growing up, Pink Floyd did not impress you on the psych end of things”. While I do enjoy Floyd, there is validity in that statement.

The other Texas punk band that needs mentioning is DRI. These crazy men loved to play fast and dirty. They definitely hold their place in the punk hall of fame for their influence on the thrash and crossover genres. This band took the speed and rawness of punk and added in some of the technicality and heaviness of metal to blend into a perfect sound that too many bands have failed at trying to emulate. Along with Suicidal Tendencies and Corrosion of Conformity, they would have to be possibly the most popular of bands that appealed to both metal and punk crowds back in the 80’s and even to this day. They skipped out to Cali though, but they made a return to the homeland. Honorable Mentions: MDC (skipped out to Cali), Verbal Abuse, The Offenders, Really Red, The Skunks, and The Fearless Iranians from Hell

I am not a big fan of Houston, or even most Texas based rap. I can dig the Geto Boys, UGK depending on the album, and certain songs from other artists. Over the years we have turned out such horrible artists as Chamillionaire, Mike Jones, Paul Wall, and Lil’ Flip. I am sure there are more, but I don’t really care to know any of them. I do prefer my hip-hop from out of state artists. All that said, I cannot deny the influence of DJ Screw in the rap community. The chopped and screwed thing influenced a young generation of artists, and not really for the better or for the worse. DJ Screw was great at what he did, it is the reason he was named a Texas Music Pioneer by Rick Perry, it is the reason that “Skrewston” is a common nickname for Houston, it is a huge reason that the purple drank became so popular in the southern rap community (besides that it makes you feel real nice and slooooooow), Dj Screw had an enormous impact that spread to a more national level following his death in 2000. I remember hearing screwed rap when I was 14 and liking it, and hearing it again recently and still not liking it. I don’t get it and that’s ok, I respect Dj Screw for what he did. I do not though give a rat’s ass about the rest of these Texas rappers who are not inventive, and just played out. The dirty south is cheesy, and I have not found an artist to really convince me otherwise. Geto Boys though are awesome, Mind of a Lunatic

(Explosions in the Sky)

We could go on for a while about Texas music. I know we skipped over modern day Austin and its indie experimental scene, and while there is a lot of good stuff coming out of that scene, I feel Explosions in the Sky are really the only band to be a major influence on others or to have helped to pioneer a subgenre. Texas music history is rich with so many different bands, and so many that you may never hear if you are only looking to clear channel for your musical diet. Especially if you live or were born in Texas, know your states roots and be proud of what is has produced. Music is probably the best aspect of this states legacy, well maybe behind Tacos. Tacos are delicious.

 Link: SFMTC Vol. 8b - Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

 SFMTC Vol. 8 - Chaos in Tejas - Chapter 2: Fuck Ya'll! I'm From Texas

01. At the Drive In - Arcarsenal

02. Big Mama Thornton - I'm Feeling Alright

03. Willie Nelson - Sweet Bye and Bye

04. Steve Miller Band - Take the Money and Run

05. Bun B & Middlefingaz - Texas (chopped & screwed)

06. George Jones - Color of the Blues

07. Toadies - Backslider

08. Lightin Hopkins - Devil is Watching You

09. Okkervil River - Listening to Otis Redding at Home Alone on Xmas

10. The Golden Dawn - Starvation 

11. Billy Joe Shaver - West Texas Waltz

12. The Skunks - Hurt

13. Edgar Winter - We All Had a Real Good Time

14. Pat Green - Texas On My Mind

15. Explosions in the Sky - The Moon Is Down

16. The Dicks - Rich Daddy

17. Blind Willie Johnson - The Rain Don't Fall on Me

18. Conqueroo - Words Are not as Strange

19. Middlefinger - Fingernap

20. Roy Orbison - Candy Man

21. Far From Breaking - See Right Through

22. Spoon -  Don't Let It Get You Down

23. Guy Clark - Texas - 1947

24. MDC - Multi-Death Corporation

25. Devin the Dude - Doobie Ashtray

26. Dead Horse - Cod Piece Face

27. Steve Earle - Home to Houston

28. The Polyphonic Spree - Hanging Around

29. Mammoth Grinder - Sick and Rotting

30. The Red Krayola - the Parable of Arable Land

31. Nanci Griffith - Tower Song (Townes Cover)

32. Iron Age - Younger Earth