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BOTR vol 07

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at June 30, 2008 in chark mu, telemitry, cryptonites, mashup, late of the pier, mmmathias, we plants are happy plants, dmx, danger tv, la riots, we are scientists, prince, louis armstrong, 3rdst4r, switch, diplo, weezer, daft punk, 50 cent, radiohead, music, remix, best of the remix, botr, plimsouls, mystery jets, mgmt, nirvana, sigur ros, coldplay and mp3. 7 Comments

Well it’s the end of another gorgeous month here in the heartland of the States. Gasp, I am an American blogger. I live in the armpit of America where nothing unusually awesome ever happens. Which is probably why I have so much free time to listen to music and play like my opinions matter {which we all know they really do}. Once again, though, the time has come for me to post my favorite remixed tracks I heard this past month. These aren’t the best songs in the world, they’re simply good enough to garner the attention of Best of the Remix {volume 07 I might add}. For those of you interested {cause I still pretend you care and you still pretend you’re reading this} you can check out all of the previous volumes of BOTR on one easy to read page by clicking here.

As one of my heroes would sing, “on with the show.” As a reminder, if you’re a blogger please refrain from linking directly to any songs hosted here on The World Forgot. Bandwidth ain’t free homies. Also, and you’d be surprised how oft I am asked about this, each and every song you see here on TWF is available to be downloaded directly from this blog. Simply right click and choose “save target/file as.” Some files {especially older ones} will be removed after awhile to make room on this site for the new tracks. Grab ‘em whil you can.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click}

mp3 : Coldplay - Violet Hill (Cyrptonites Remix)
There are times in this remix when I forget what song is allegedly being mixed around. And I like that. Cryptonites add just enough of their own flavor to make Violet Hill into something a little more danceable, a little more epic, a little more club worthy.

mp3 : Coldplay - Viva la Vida (Chark Mu Electric Remix)
This almost sounds like Viva la Vida would sound if you rapidly swing your head back and forth while listening to the original recording by Coldplay. Try it, it’s better than drugs, it’s free, and you get to listen to music at the same time. It also reminds me of elevator music mashed up against ruling the world.

mp3 : Coldplay - Viva la Vida (Telemitry Remix)
If the Chark Mu remix was easy listening for elevators this is easy listening for any car currently driving the streets of this desolate world. I think I should use more bigger words in my writings. Anyway, this remix combines the original track with just the right amount of technology to make a new piece of art.

mp3 : Coldplay - Viva la Vida (We Plants are Happy Plants Remix)
Best Coldplay remix I’v heard yet. Hands down. WPAHP brings the heat with this little slice of remix heaven. I know the album has only been out for a little slice of time, but this remix hits all the right buttons at all the right moments.

mp3 : Daft Punk - Superheroes (We Plants are Happy Plants Remix)
WPAHP scores a magic remix yet again with this little ditty. Absolutely delicious music.

mp3 : DMX, 50 Cent, MGMT - Pimp Feel The Electric Floor
I can’t find who made this little mashup. I seem to have lost the email or blog I scored this track from. If anyone knows who made it send me a note or leave a comment. In the meantime enjoy the brilliant mix of rap over MGMT’s music.

mp3 : Late of the Pier - Focker (Pete Carvell’s Fockin’ Gash Remix)
I’m fan of Late of the Pier, let’s be honest. I love their robot drummer in their music video {and most of all I love the dance break he brings to the song. This is essentially that dance break in extended format.

mp3 : Louis Armstrong vs Radiohead - What A Wonderful Surprise
Yet again another remix {mashup actually} for whom I have no author. This was sent to me in an email and the sender didn’t know who made this mix either. Enjoy it anonymously I suppose.

mp3 : Mystery Jets - 2 Doors Down (Plimsouls Remix)
This remix could be preformed live by !!! and you’d love it. You’d love every single second of it. And yes, being preformed by !!! would be a massive compliment because those kids can put on a show.

mp3 : Mystery Jets - Hideaway (Switch Remix edited by DIPLO)
I can honestly say I’ve yet to listen to an actual Mystery Jets album. So far I’ve been so inundated with excellently remixed tracks I’m almost scared to go back and listen to the original material. Regardless, this remix is hopping.

mp3 : Nirvana - Incesticide (Anuerysm Remix by 3rdSt4r)
I’m going to go ahead and say 3rdSt4r is pronounced ‘third star’ for those of my readers who aren’t fluent yet in 1337 sp34k. There are times when I listen to this remix and I wonder if I’ll ever play it again. Then there the days when I hate everyone and this is the perfect track.

mp3 : Prince vs Daft Punk - Kiss (Daft Punk Remix)
I think Daft Punk should be given more accolades, more power, and more love. Sure they’re huge at their own shows and they have a passionate following, but they are so much more than just that one band that Kanye thought he should use to make a song. They are masters of everything they touch. Everything.

mp3 : Sigur Ros - Saeglopur (MMMathias Remix)
I love Sigur Ros {their upcoming album is unbelievably brilliant} and I also have a penchant to like anything MMMathias works on. This is a bit of a minimalist take on a classic Sigur Ros song and I think it adds a great effect to the song {think Imogen Heap’s standard MO slammed down over the boys from Iceland}.

mp3 : We Are Scientists - Chick Lit (Danger TV Remix)
This song would be at home in an eighties movie {starring Don Johnson to be sure} or out over the dance floor of your favorite club {mine being any that involve a beach in Thailand}. Well done all around.

mp3 : Weezer - Automatic (LA Riots Remix)
This remix takes one of the weaker tracks from the latest Weezer album {by weaker I mean of course not being sung by Rivers} and turns it into something that’s halfway memorable. That in and of itself should be worth a listen.

Once again, please do not link directly to the songs posted here. Feel free to link to the zip file hosted on zshare or directly to this blog. If you’d like to see all the other volumes of Best of the Remix click here.

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Weezer

Published by

billy

at June 3, 2008 in album, weezer, rock, music and mp3. 2 Comments

At least seven tracks on the new Weezer album, which most are calling The Red Album (amazon) (itunes), are masterfully done. And by masterfully done I mean they feature Rivers on lead vocals. There’s really only one gripe that I find with their new disc and that is the few songs that don’t have Rivers’ trademark vocals. I mean honestly, if I wanted to listen to you other cats sing I would buy the albums by your other bands {which I don’t own yet and don’t intend to}.

All that aside, my opinion is that this could be the best Weezer album since Pinkerton. I’m not going so far as to say they’ve eclipsed either Pinkerton or The Blue Album, but most of these tracks go a long way toward capturing those glorious moments once again. From start to finish I love the entire album {although I might be slightly biased} and I’m excited to hear a new Weezer album that both references their past success while still moving forward as an ever maturing band.

mp3 : Weezer - Pork and Beans
mp3 : Weezer - The Greatest Man That Ever Lived

I’m including Pork and Beans here, even though it’s been out for awhile, due to the story surrounding the song. Apparently the execs at Geffen told Rivers that he needed to write more commercially viable music so he and his bandmates could move more product. In response Rivers sat down and wrote Pork and Beans as their first single {hence the chorus “I’m a do the things I wanna do, I ain’t got a thing to prove to you…” and the repeated phrase the entire band sings in the song’s bridge, “I don’t care.”} Also worth noting is the music video for Pork and Beans. Simply classic. The other track here is my favorite song on the album and has the band putting together ten distinct styles of music all revolving around one central musical theme.

As a note I’d like to point out Circuit City has the album available for only $5.99 for those of you who have one of those stores close by.

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BOTM vol 08

Published by

billy

at May 31, 2008 in kylie minogue, coldplay, death cab for cutie, sigur ros, say hi, mstrkrft, flaming lips, eugene francis jr, emilie simon, debbie gibson, magnetic fields, weezer, cover, regina spektor, indie, music, cloud cult, acoustic, best of the month, botm, live and mp3. 3 Comments

I’m actually committing to doing this month’s Best of the Month volume actually at the end of the month {volume 07 came out about five days after April was a bygone, so this is a change of pace}. Once again I present to you the best tracks that I heard during this month. This is my no means a completely exhaustive list of all the great music floating around on the interwebs, but it’s my personal slice of thirteen delicious tracks. Enjoy them on at a time or grab the entire volume in one convenient download. For all previous volumes of this series click here.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click} {link broken}

mp3 : Cloud Cult - Love You All
I’ve been listening to their latest album almost nonstop since I got it a few months back and I’m starting to think that this is my favorite track from the disc. Granted it has arguably the most simple lyrics on the album but the complexity of emotions portrayed through the arrangement is quite amazing.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Coldplay - Can’t Get You Out of My Head (Live Kylie Minogue Cover)
Although they might not be the biggest band of all time I would argue that they just might be the biggest band of this year. They’ve masterfully promoted their new album and somehow they’ve kept the lid on the leaky pipes which plague so many other big bands. This is a great cover.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Although Violet Hill was the first single dumped on the world, and the music video for that song is quite well done, I think it’s Viva la Vida which shows a nice maturity for these four boys fronted by Chris Martin. My only question is how they produce the strings in a live setting. Quite a brilliant start for their upcoming album which I am greatly anticipating.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Death Cab for Cutie - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Live Cyndi Lauper Cover)
With all the hype surrounding bigger, or at least more blogged about, acts I feel as if the launch date of the latest DCFC album passed by without much ado. In all actuality I guess I didn’t even post a review {although I love it}. Regardless I love Ben Gibbard’s special take on this classic song.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Emilie Simon - To The Dancers In The Rain (Live)
Sometime during this month I started listening to the more melancholy female singers on the market right now and I found myself falling in love with each of them in turn. Sometimes being sad is what you need to feel and sometimes listening to sad music is the right choice.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Eugene Francis Jr - Poor Me
Kind of like a mashup of Frou Frou with The Shins, Eugene Francis Jr seems like the golden reason to make a sequel to Garden State {if only for the soundtrack}. I love this song.
myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : MSTRKRFT - VUVUVU
I haven’t really listened to this genre of music since the days of undergrad all nighters spent studying architecture. Energy drinks of tomorrow will still fall short of the punch packed into any MSTRKRFT song. Ever.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Regina Spektor - The Call
Although I’m not a big fan of The Chronicles of Narnia movies {they’re a bit childish and the CGI is almost as bad as that found in the new Indiana Jones} it’s quite a treat to hear Regina Spektor on the soundtrack. And I really like the lyrics in this song. Kudos to you Ms. Spektor.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Say Hi - We Lost The Albatross
After dropping the To Your Mom from his title and, arguably, dropping some of the silliness from his musical creations as well, Eric Elbogen’s music has grown up quite a bit. I love this song off his latest album and I hope it’s a sign of even greater ideas yet to come.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Sigur Ros - Gobbledigook
I’m officially a sucker for all things Sigur Ros {much to the chagrin of many of my friends}. I don’t know how I first heard of this band from Iceland {a land I’ve long wanted to visit}, but I’ve loved them from that first listen. This song hails from their upcoming album {hot on the heels of their last effort Hvarf/Heim} and they’re giving it away free from their website.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : The Flaming Lips - Knives Out (Radiohead Cover)
The Flaming Lips caught my attention when they sang about robot killer Yoshimi {for an entire album} and it’s great to hear them cover another of my favorite bands. This performance hails from a 2002 set they played at the esteemed KCRW studios.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : The Magnetic Fields - Too Drunk To Dream
I really hate the latest album by The Magnetic Fields. It was such a departure from the melodramatic beat and cello filled pop of their previous two efforts. Somehow songs from that album keep sneaking into my favorite lists though. It’s as if taken one at a time the songs are alright, but when put together for forty five minutes they’re simply too much to handle.
site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Weezer - Pink Triangle (Live Acoustic)
I love me some Weezer and I really love what I’ve heard so far from their upcoming album. Pink Triangle hails from what may be my favorite Weezer disc of all time, Pinkerton, and this is a solid live version of the song {even if the crowd gets picked up by the mics a bit much. Cut them some slack, obviously they’re drunk. Right?}
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BOTM vol 07

Published by

billy

at May 6, 2008 in mgmt, aa bondy, john mayer, national, lily allen, bruce springsteen, stars, madonna, scarlett johannson, fall out boy, busta rhymes, amy milan, michael jackson, phantom planet, kanye west, arcade fire, radiohead, indie, music, cover, live, magnetic fields, death cab for cutie, weezer, best of the month, botm and mp3. 4 Comments

Once again it’s time for the Best of the Month series. This is volume number seven. If you’d like to see all other volumes in this series click here. Every month I comb the web, the blogs, my email, my mailbox, for the best tracks. I have more free time than the average web savvy individual so I use that time to compile what I believe is a mix of the best tracks I found this past month. Enjoy the music, tell your friends, and go see one of these artists play a live set.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click}

mp3 : AA Bondy - There’s A Reason
I love this track for the simple reason that I feel it could play over the soundtrack to any number of my favorite dramas. Maybe a romantic, comedic, drama. One with a lot of rainy days and melancholic moments.
for more : myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Amy Milan - I Will Follow You Into The Dark (Death Cab for Cutie Cover)
I like Amy Milan as a part of her group, Stars, and it turns out I like her just as much on this slightly countrified version of a Death Cab staple. It’s a great cover for Amy, and it’s true that it always helps when you start with a great original.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Arcade Fire - All The Umbrellas (Live Magnetic Fields Cover)
Although I’m not a huge fan of where Magnetic Fields have gone as of late I’ve been a fan of the older work for awhile. So when you combine a good song with one of the best bands currently performing you’re sure to get a golden cover song.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Busta Rhymes - Don’t Touch Me (Throw Da Water On ‘Em)
Busta has long been one of my favorite rappers. It began back in the day when rap was the king of the musical hill. You know, back when beats were solid, lyrics were important {or at least not so mind numbingly repetetive}, back when it was Dre, Snoop, Em, Busta, 2Pac, Fugees, Beasties, Ja Rule, Nas, etc. This track reminds me of what rap can be.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Death Cab for Cutie - Spring Break Broke
A fairly rare track here by Ben Gibbard and company. In fact I’m not sure I’d heard it before this month. It hails from back near the turn of the millennium but it still sounds fresh and consistent with the newest Death Cab {well, except for the decidedly lo fi production}.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Fall Out Boy (feat John Mayer) - Beat It (Michael Jackson Cover)
I love this track for showcasing all that I love about John Mayer and leaving out all that I find boring, vanilla, and lacking in talent. It’s a fact, John Mayer can flat out play guitar. He’s gifted, talented, ad nauseam. His lyrics are terrible and usually stupid. Here you get all the good with none of the bad.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Lily Allen - I Don’t Know
I like Lily for her brutal honesty. And for the fact that she’s better than Lady Sov and knows it {and proves it time and time again}. This track is a delightful combination of the current everything-is-a-dance-song trend with Lily’s trademark witty lyrics.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Madonna (feat Kanye West) - The Beat Goes On
She’s older than most of her competition and yet she still brings it all to the table. Sex appeal {kinda getting gross} check, cross promotion check, a slew of guest stars check, and a decent danceable album check. What’s not to like?
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : MGMT - Destrokk
To me this song is great because it’s not immediately recognizable as an MGMT track. For that matter, other than the overplayed Time to Pretend, I’m not sure if there is a standalone MGMT sound. And I like that.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Phantom Planet - I Don’t Mind
This is still my favorite track off of the newest Phantom Planet disc. I’m not sure if these boys will ever achieve massive success {they might have peaked in regards to popularity with California}, but I think they deserve it. Track after track, album after album, they’re still good.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Radiohead - True Love Waits
One of my favorite songs by Thom and company this track has never received an official studio recording. Although it was released on their live album, I Might Be Wrong, it usually only surfaces at the rare and random concert {regardless of how loudly I might yell my requests}.
for more : site amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Scarlett Johannson - Anywhere I Lay My Head
She is gorgeous, she is a serious actress, she’s this month’s cover artist on Paste, and she also has a cover/tribute album for Tom Waits. It’s the last one I’m still unsure about, but I liked this track enough to include it this month as a bonus. {usually there are only thirteen tracks in the BOTM series, so consider this your lucky day}
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : The National - Mansion On The Hill (Live Bruce Springsteen Cover)
They’re one of my favorite bands and in this instance they’re covering one of my favorite artists {c’mon rise up anyone?}. It seems like a match made in heaven right down to the crooning baritones and mellow yet socially aware mindsets of both The National and The Boss.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

mp3 : Weezer - Pork and Beans
I couldn’t let this little ditty slip through the cracks here at TWF. I’ve long loved the four boys who reimagined and reinvented guitar driven surf/nerd/diy rock. Here’s to hoping the rest of their new album will be as good {or better} than this first single.
for more : site myspace amazonmp3 itunes

That’s all for this month’s roundup. Come back tomorrow for the next issue of BOTR {Best of the Remix}. Enjoy the music.

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Wakey!Wakey!

Published by

billy

at February 12, 2008 in beach boys, decemberists, neutral milk hotel, bonnie prince billie, cyndi lauper, joie, alicia keys, yeah yeah yeahs, wakey wakey, indie, music, foo fighters, cover, weezer, live and mp3. 5 Comments

We all have our own personal version of every song. Whether it’s because you don’t really know the lyrics or the fact that you love to belt out alternate harmonies in your car, there is something inside of each of us that makes each song we hear unique to us. Maybe you play drums on your steering wheel, identify with certain idiosyncrasies or turns of a phrase, or maybe you just close your eyes and let the music overwhelm your senses. Whether or not you admit it, we all somehow make music our own.

Luckily for the entire world Mike Grubbs isn’t afraid to take a song, make it his own slice of heaven, and release it to the masses for free. For the past few months Grubbs, aka Wakey!Wakey!, has been putting out an incredible array of cover songs under the album name Wakey!Wakey! Wednesdays. Ranging from The Decemberists to Alicia Keys, from Cyndi Lauper to the Beach Boys, no stone has been left unturned in this exploration of just what a cover song can really be. And what he has come home with is ten songs that the test of time will prove stand proudly next to their original recordings, and in some cases eclipse them altogether. Now that the compilation is complete, with his brilliant rendition of Everlong by the Foo Fighters, I can safely say that this is the best cover album I have ever heard.

All the tracks in one zip file : here {zshare = left click}

The tracks here are posted in the order that they appeared over at Wakey!Wakey!’s myspace page. My hat is off to you Mike Grubbs, you have made a wonderful work of art for all of us to hear.

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A Weekend with Weezer

Published by

billy

at November 19, 2007 in weezer, blue album deluxe, a weekend, rock, music and mp3. 0 Comments

Alright, get over it, I know it’s Monday but I felt as if this modern day fab four deserved to have one last post. I understand the weekend is gone, but in our hearts Weezer shall forever live on. In 2004, commemorating the ten year anniversary of their first studio album, Weezer rereleased The Blue Album as a deluxe version (iTunes). This version contained a second disc packed with rare tracks, previously unheard material, some live songs, and a few fan favorites that had only ever been played in concert. Although much of this material was old news to many in the Weezer fan base it was still nice to have the tracks compiled and in good condition. Cheers to you Weezer and best of luck on your next studio album.

mp3 : Weezer - Jamie (Live Acoustic B Side)
mp3 : Weezer - Lullaby For Wayne (Previously Unreleased Pre-Production Recording)
mp3 : Weezer - Mykel and Carli (B Side)
mp3 : Weezer - No One Else (Live Acoustic B Side)

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{Don’t worry, I’ll now return to my regularly scheduled blogcast of music. I hope you enjoyed this weekend.}

A Weekend with Weezer

Published by

billy

at November 19, 2007 in maladroit, make believe, weezer, rock, music and mp3. 1 Comment

With this post we come to the end of the weekend as well as the end of the studio albums made by Weezer to date. First after The Green Album came a little ditty called Maladroit (iTunes) which was only the second of their five discs not to feature the band on the cover artwork. This, though, created a pattern so far which has the band appearing on every other album cover. Following this trend would lead me to believe that the new studio album due early next year will feature some form of art on the front cover and not a picture of the boys.

Although this album received favorable reviews from many critics the inclusion of a slightly metal or grunge sound for the guitar riffs threw off much of their loyal fanbase and was a leading cause in crashing the album sales. As a quirky sidenote most of this album was recorded in sessions where the uncut and rough tracks were available on a daily basis to avid fans via internet forums. In this way Weezer had a lot of fan input and discussion in the making of their fourth album.

mp3 : Weezer - Keep Fishin’
mp3 : Weezer - Love Explosion

Their latest studio effort dropped on shelves eleven years to the day from the original release of The Blue Album. Although it received mixed reviews from fans and critics alike the album sold well and eventually went platinum. Some people loved it, some people hated it. I don’t really think it’s as cut and dry as the reviews make it out to be as there are some sparkling moments on the disc. Admittedly it is a departure from all previous efforts the band has made as Make Believe (iTunes) clocks in at a sprawling 45 minutes and has only one song that clocks in under three minutes. {Note that an album length of 45 minutes is sprawling for Weezer as only this and their first studio album come in at over 35 minutes long}

To be honest I really liked this disc and saw it more of a maturation of their trademark Green/Blue album sound. It shows a valuable progression in tempo and style of song structures while still acknowledging that they are in fact, and always will be, those guys who sang Buddy Holly and Undone. These three tracks below showcase what Weezer sounds like now that they’re a little more grown up.

mp3 : Weezer - Perfect Situation
mp3 : Weezer - Hold Me
mp3 : Weezer - The Other Way

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A Weekend with Weezer

Published by

billy

at November 18, 2007 in weezer, green album, a weekend, rock, music and mp3. 0 Comments

In case you were not aware Rivers Cuomo has an album entitled “Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo” which drops exactly one month from today on December 18. Expect some greatness from this upcoming album as Rivers appears to be one of the most prolific writers of this modern music era. There are allegations that Rivers writes well over one hundred songs for each Weezer album and then only chooses what he thinks are the best ten to fourteen tracks for the final pressings.

In other news Weezer will have their sixth studio album out in the Spring of 2008. So if you’re not really into the unedited yearnings of a Harvard grad then you can always wait until his three buddies join him on what is sure to be a romp through romance, failures, the trials of life, and the slow maturation of little boys into men.

These tracks included below hail from Weezer’s third studio album which was self titled but is mainly referred to as The Green Album (iTunes). Hearkening back to their roots with The Blue Album these tracks found the band splashing away merrily with a sound and a vibrancy that most fans and critics adored from the start. It’s a short album but all the trademarks are still apparent. Falsetto harmonies, a massive wall of guitar sound, and some well written guitar licks apply to almost the entire album from start to finish. For those people who had never heard of Weezer 2004 was a good year to start liking the band.

mp3 : Weezer - Don’t Let Go
mp3 : Weezer - Island In The Sun

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A Weekend with Weezer

Published by

billy

at November 17, 2007 in weezer, pinkerton, a weekend, rock, music and mp3. 4 Comments

Weezer’s second full length album, Pinkerton (iTunes), was a departure from their original guitar driven surfer/loner/nerd anthem style of rock. As such, when it was first released in 1996, it was panned by critics and many fans alike who were eagerly anticipating a second edition of The Blue Album. To be frank here folks it seems like bands cannot seem to please anyone with a sophomore effort. In the case of Weezer they went in a new direction for their second album and fans and critics hated it. But look at The Strokes, who essentially released a second album, which could have been called This Is It to answer their first albums title Is This It?, that was so similar in sound and style to their first disc that audiences, critics, and even fans blasted the band for not changing.

Pinkerton, fortunately, has stood the test of time and now can be heard in a much more favorable setting. Attempting to give fans more of a slice of what their live shows were like Weezer dropped their producer, played the songs together in studios, and layed down the three separate vocal tracks at the same time. If their first album dealt with the peccadilloes of life in a broad sense then Pinkerton focused more on the minutiae of angst and longing. One could credit or lambaste Rivers Cuomo for this style of writing as it gave rise to latter day followers, Dashboard Confessional, who have successfully aped this type of story telling so well they have made it their own.

Here below are three powerful tracks from Pinkerton. The first two are of the standard Weezer variety of guitar driven power pop while the third track, the album closing Butterfly, is a slow motion acoustic song detailing the end of a relationship. Pay attention to the lyrics of Butterfly where Cuomo sings lines like “if I’m a dog then you’re a bitch” or “every time I pin down what I think I want it slips away.” If ever there was a critic who claimed Weezer was too one dimensional Pinkerton stands in bold defiance of such a claim.

mp3 : Weezer - Pink Triangle
mp3 : Weezer - The Good Life
mp3 : Weezer - Butterfly

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A Weekend with Weezer

Published by

billy

at November 16, 2007 in weezer, blue album, a weekend, rock, music and mp3. 2 Comments

Did you know that virtually no one posts in music blogs over the weekends? It’s strange but true and I’m here to try to reverse that trend. A trend which probably started due to the fact that almost all bloggers blog from work, instead of working, and when they’re at home they stop doing all of those avoid-work-at-all-costs activities. Or, if you’re a realist, it might be due to the fact that people have lives, no one cares to read weekend blog posts, or any other of a plethora of legitimate excuses, none of which my current life qualifies me for.

Taking all of this in stride I thought I would begin a little tradition here at The World Forgot to help me push through the mundane world of weekend blogging. Hence the first ever “A Weekend with” themes has begun. This weekend I’ve chosen Weezer and I’ll attempt to post at least once about them Friday, Saturday, and Sunday thereby turning this four or five day a week hobby into a full time all out obsession. Hopefully I’ll be able to keep up the “A Weekend with” theme at least twice a month from here until eternity. Enjoy the music.

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Weezer’s original debut album, most commonly referred to as The Blue Album (iTunes), was the very first CD I ever owned. I remember that crisp autumn day as I walked gallantly into Best Buy to purchase, for myself, one of the best guitar driven garage/surf rock albums of all time. To this day I can still sing every song word for word and I would bet many of my readers can as well. It was an album born of the garage band heyday, but came slightly after the depression that was grunge and other forms of dirty rock emanating from the Pacific Northwest. Obviously influenced by Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, as well as The Cars, the quartet that was Weezer put together a wonderfully idiosyncratic album about broken relationships, going surfing, and the pathos of life. In 1994 it seemed as if every single song on this album could get anyone in any shower, car, or public pool singing along as if they meant it.

Making every “best of” list from Rolling Stone to Pitchfork to Blender to Popmatters shows the depth of sound and the legacy that The Blue Album has left in behind. At first blush it was the ultimate guitar driven answer to a generation that was looking more and more for something alternative to the depression of grunge and metal that was so prevalent in the early 90’s. And now, fourteen years later, it has stood the test of time as one of the most influential pieces of the last twenty years. Honestly, after listening to the next two songs who couldn’t help leaping around practicing their air guitar?

mp3 : Weezer - My Name Is Jonas
mp3 : Weezer - The World Has Turned and Left Me Here

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Everything Reminds Me of Her

Published by

billy

at December 8, 2006 in architecture in helsinki, doveman, compliation, elliot smith, fergie, phantom planet, billy talent, ermoh, daft punk, sufjan stevens, music, mix, ben folds, weezer, postal service and mp3. 1 Comment

I might have the coolest younger brother on the face of the earth. He has great taste in music and occasionally he makes a mix for some various or sundry reason and ships it out via the internet to me. Granted, he is a younger brother, so some of his musical choices are a little sketch, but for the most part he puts together solid music. This mix of his is a little skewed because he made it for his girlfriend and every song in this selection apparently reminds him of her in some way. I figure the kid must be in love because I cannot fathom any other reason he would be listening to Fergie.

Enjoy the mix my brother made. I’ll have some more tunes up in a couple of days. As per usual the mix is available as a single download as well as individual songs.

download : Everything Reminds Me of Her

01 : Doveman - Dancing
02 : Architecture in Helsinki - What’s In Store
03 : Elliot Smith - In the Lost and Found (honky bach)
04 : Sufjan Stevens - To Be Alone With You
05 : Daft Punk - Something About Us
06 : Fergie - Fergalicious
07 : The Postal Service - Nothing Better
08 : Billy Talent - Pins and Needles
09 : Weezer - My Best Friend
10 : Phantom Planet - On My Mind
11 : Ben Folds - The Luckiest