Song Of The Week: 1/28/18

Song: "Strange Meeting"

Artist: Hurricane #1

Album: "Hurricane #1"

Year: 1997

Place Or Origin: Oxford, England

Years Active: 1996 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Strange Meeting" appears to be a song about a relationship that ended but perhaps both people weren't quite sure they wanted it to end. Perhaps it was due to circumstances that got in the way but you get the sense that the relationship did not end badly. You get a sense when they bumped into each other unexpectedly, that they could almost not say a word. You feel they didn't have to. I think they both feel the same way about each other, but once again, circumstances get in the way and they go off on their seperate ways.

HURRICANE #1 DISCOGRAGPHY (Full length albums only):

1997 - Hurricane #1 (Creation Records)
1999 - Only The Strongest Will Survive (Creation Records)
2015 - Find What You Love And Let It Kill You (Tapete Records)
2016 - Melodic Rainbows (Rooster/Helipad Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF HURRICANE #1:

Hurricane #1 formed as a band back in 1996 in Oxford, England. Guitarist Andy Bell wanted to get a new band together after his former band Ride broke up, so he hooked up with vocalist Alex Lowe and formed Hurricane #1. Right off the bat, the band secured a contract with Creation Records, the very same label of Oasis. In 1997, Hurricane #1's self-titled debut album dropped featuring the singles "Step Into My World", "Just Another Illusion" and "Chain Reaction". "Step Into My World" would reach #29 on the U.K.'s singles chart and the album would eventually sell over 100,000 units. Their follow up album would be 1999's "Only The Strongest Will Survive". The single of the same name would be Hurricane #1's highest charting single, reaching #19. Not long after the release of this album, Andy Bell would decide to part ways with the band, eventually becoming the bassist for Oasis. Because Bell was the chief songwriter for Hurricane #1, the band decided to break up and go their seperate ways. While Bell was with Oasis, Alex Lowe began a solo career which featured three albums and he also began a new band project in 2007 called Garage Flowers. In 2014, Lowe decided to reform Hurricane #1, this time becoming the chief songwriter as Bell did not take part in the reformation. Lowe basically wrote the songs for their album "Find What You Love And Let It Kill You" while going through chemo treatments as he was battling cancer. In 2016, the band released "Melodic Rainbows". While the release was in Japan, eventually in 2017 the album was also released in the U.K. Starting in September of 2017, the band was set to release a song for digital download every month in what would eventually become an album tentatively titled "Delusions Of Grandeur". The band is also planning a tour for the beginning of 2018. Hurricane #1 was part of the second wave of bands that were coming out of the second so-called "British Invasion" that was headed by Oasis and Blur. Perhaps the band would have never even seen the light of day if it wasn't for internal conflicts in Andy Bell's former band Ride. As it is, Hurricane #1 was a solid band and it really showcased Bell's songwriting abilities. They definitely sounded a lot like Oasis, due to Alex Lowe's vocals which were eerily similar to that of Liam Gallagher. I'm sure Noel Gallagher was happy to have Bell join Oasis, just to have another good songwriter in the band to take some pressure off. The new version of Hurricane #1 is ok, but it seems to lack the songs from when Bell was the chief writer. Lowe is a good vocalist, but i'd rather hear him singing Bell's songs. In my mind, "Step Into My World" is one of the best songs to come out of that Brit pop era of the mid-90's.

TEN HURRICANE #1 SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Step Into My World
2. The Price That We Pay
3. Let Go Of The Dream
4. Think Of The Sunshine
5. Just Another Illusion
6. N.Y.C.
7. Best Is Yet To Come
8. Only The Strongest Will Survive
9. Monday Afternoon
10. The Greatest High

Song Of The Week: 1/21/18

Song: "Slaves & Bulldozers"

Artist: Soundgarden

Album: "Badmotorfinger"

Year: 1991

Place Of Origin: Seattle, Washington

Years Active: 1984 - 2017



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Slaves & Bulldozers" appears to be a song about the music industry. The artists, being the slaves, and the labels, being the bulldozers. So many artists pour their soul into their crafts and the industry just looks at the bottom line. They will not hesitate to use your blood, sweat, tears, emotions and honesty to pad their wallets. They also will not hesitate to stiff the artists out of their fair share. "Slaves & Bulldozers" is Chris Cornell saying to the music industry that he sees through their deceitful ways and he's learned from his own mistakes. Once any artist is free from bad contracts, it is important that they protect their art at all costs.

SOUNDGARDEN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1988 - Ultramega OK (SST Records)
1989 - Louder Than Love (A&M Records)
1991 - Badmotorfinger (A&M Records)
1994 - Superunknown (A&M Records)
1996 - Down On The Upside (A&M Records)
2011 - Live On I-5 (A&M Records)
2012 - King Animal (Republic Records)
2014 - Echo Of Miles: Scattered Tracks Across The Path (A&M Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF SOUNDGARDEN:

When you think of the very beginnings of "grunge" music, this is one of the bands that should immediately come to mind. Before Alice In Chains, before Nirvana and before Pearl Jam, there was Soundgarden. Formed in 1984, Soundgarden along with the bands Green River, Skin Yard, Malfunkshun, The U-Men and The Melvins laid the foundation of the Seattle sound in the form of the 1986 compilation, "Deep Six". Soundgarden would be one of the first bands to sign with underground Seattle label Sub Pop as well. Not to be outdone, or "outshined" if you will, the boys in Soundgarden would be the first grunge band to sign with a major label as their second full length album, "Louder Than Love", was distributed by A&M Records, which the band would have a career spanning relationship with. Now to the good stuff! 1991. Pearl Jam has "Ten". Nirvana blows up with "Nevermind". Laying in the weeds with "Badmotorfinger" is the mighty Soundgarden!! Though they didn't blow up right away like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, their music could not be denied. They were a part of the legendary Lollapalooza '92 line-up, along with Pearl Jam, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Ministry and the Seattle sound was God! 1994. Soundgarden releases one of the best albums of all time. I didn't stutter. All time!! "Superunknown" with songs like "Spoonman", "Superunknown", "The Day I Tried To Live", "My Wave" and the biggest single in the band's career, "Black Hole Sun", the band was catapulted to multi-platinum status and Grammy Award winning artists. Their 1996 follow up album, "Down On The Upside" wasn't as criticaly acclaimed as "Superunknown", nor as successful, but even among growning tensions within Soundgarden, this album was a killer album. The tensions proved to be too much for the band however and in 1997, the guys decided to break up. In the next 13 years, all of the band members focused on other projects, most notably, Cornell doing some solo stuff then hooking up with the guys from Rage Against The Machine to form Audioslave. Drummer Matt Cameron joined Pearl Jam as an official member while guitarist Kim Thayil and bassist Ben Shepherd also kept busy doing their own thing. Much to the delight of their fans, in 2010, Soundgarden announced they were reuniting and headlining select festivals. 2012 saw the band release their first studio full length album in 16 years, "King Animal". This band still had it's teeth no doubt! In 2014, Soundgarden released "Echo Of Miles", a career spanning, three disc album containing most of the band's b-sides and rare tracks. In 2016, rumors were that the guys had about six songs pretty much complete and were working on more in hopes of having a new album out possibly in late 2017 or early 2018. Fast forward to May 18, 2017. After performing a show in Detroit, Michigan with Soundgarden, lead singer Chris Cornell retreated to his hotel room where he committed suicide by hanging. Though Cornell had fought with addiction and depression in his life, he seemed like he was in a really good place. He loved his family. He loved making music. He had so much talent and so much more to give. It's still a bit unreal to know that he is gone. He's one of the most powerful lead singers of any genre, period. He was that good. From his lyrics, you could tell their was a lot of dark in there. Maybe so much that he couldn't get it all out. Soundgarden will go down as one of the most influential and one of the all around best bands of all time. I believe that the early 90's Seattle sound is the last rock music to come out that felt like it changed the world. I'm pretty sure that Soundgarden will no longer exist as a band. Cornell meant way too much to just throw another lead singer in there. Plus, who could they find to replace him? No one has that guy's pipes. Maybe they do something like Nirvana did at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and get some singers to perform with them one last time cuz this band will definitely get in, in fact, they should already be in. I'm hoping the band has a few new songs in the can that surface at some point because we all need more Cornell!!

TEN SOUNDGARDEN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Outshined
2. Fell On Black Days
3. Rusty Cage
4. Pretty Noose
5. Black Hole Sun
6. Slaves And Bulldozers
7. Burden In My Hand
8. By Crooked Steps
9. Bleed Together
10. Birth Ritual

Song Of The Week: 1/14/18

Song: "Space Shot" (acoustic version)

Artist: Ash

Album: "A-Z: Acoustic Download EP"

Year: 2010

Place Of Origin: Downpatrick, Northern Ireland

Years Active: 1992 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Space Shot" is a song that appears to be about getting amped up to hit the town. The vocalist appears ready to have a good time. By reading the lyrics, it sounds like his night is definitely going include some mind altering drugs, perhaps cocaine or extacy or maybe even some acid. Whatever it is, it's going to be a major rush. Space shot, the ultimate high!! "Space Shot" was released as a single for Ash on their "A-Z: Vol. 1" series. This version I chose for my song of the week is an acoustic rendition that the band released as a digital download.

ASH DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1993 - Garage Girl (self-released)
1993 - Trailer (Infectious Records)
1996 - 1977 (Infectious Records)
1997 - Live At The Wireless (Death Star Records)
1998 - Nuclear Sounds (Infectious Records)
2001 - Free All Angels (Infectious Records)
2002 - Cosmic Debris (Infectious Records)
2004 - Meltdown (Infectious Records)
2007 - Twilight Of The Innocents (Infectious Records)
2010 - A-Z Vol. 1 (Atomic Heart Records)
2010 - A-Z Vol. 2 (Atomic Heart Records)
2015 - Kablammo! (Atomic Heart Records)
2016 - Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997 (Atomic Heart Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF ASH:

Ash formed as a band back in 1992, hailing from Northern Ireland. The band first began creating some noise with their song "Jack Names The Planets" but it was their 1996 album, "1977", that really put the band on the map thanks to the singles "Goldfinger", "Girl From Mars" and "Oh Yeah". That album quickly shot to number 1 on U.K. music charts and eventually went platinum. The band, then a trio of Tim Wheeler, Mark Hamilton and Rick McMurray, decided to add a second guitarist/vocalist to the line-up, Charlotte Hatherley. While releasing their next album, "Nuclear Sounds", Ash almost went bankrupt. It was their 2001 album, "Free All Angels", which once again thrusted Ash's popularity, especially in their native Ireland and in England. With singles like "Shining Light" and "Burn Baby Burn", "Free All Angels" also claimed a #1 spot in England and also sold platinum. After 2004's "Meltdown", the band decided to go back to being a trio and split amicably with Hatherley. In 2010, the band decided to release a single every two weeks. This was called the A to Z series, each single named relative to the letters of the alphabet. Eventually, the band released two albums which featured the 26 singles, "A-Z" volumes 1 and 2. At this time, it would also mark the band's relationship with Atomic Heart Records after pretty much spending the first 15 years as a band on Infectious Records. The band's last proper full length studio album was 2015's "Kablammo!" and their most recent release was a live album in 2016, "Live On Mars: London Astoria 1997". The band was touring in early 2017 in support of that live album. Ash broke on the music scene right at a time when Seattle's grunge was king but there was a burgeoning alternative rock movement that was creeping to the surface. Though they're from Ireland, they sometimes get tossed in with the Brit pop scene that was beginning to happen as well. Though they got some love in the United States, especially when "1977" came out, they were a pretty big deal in Europe, especially Ireland and England. Their style is alternative rock with definite hints of pop and at times punk. If you like the music of bands like Superdrag, Everclear, Donots, The Vines and Oasis, then you'd most likely enjoy Ash. Ash is one of my favorite bands, moreso when I was younger, but I still love their music. It's a shame that Charlotte isn't still in the band though. She added a dynamic to the band that I miss, especially her harmonizing background vocals that fit so well with Tim Wheeler's lead vocals. To this day still, when I hear "Goldfinger" or "Burn Baby Burn" I get excited. Definitely takes me back to my younger days getting loaded with good friends!!

TEN ASH SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Goldfinger
2. Burn Baby Burn
3. A Life Less Ordinary
4. Shining Light
5. Jesus Says
6. Starcrossed
7. What Deaner Was Talking About
8. Tracers (featuring Emmy The Great)
9. Cocoon
10. Warmer Than Fire

Song Of The Week: 1/7/18

Song: "Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is"

Artist: Oasis

Album: "Standing On The Shoulder Of Giants"

Year: 2000

Place Of Origin: Manchester, England

Years Active: 1991 - 2009



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Put Yer Money Where Yer Mouth Is" appears to be a song about standing behind your actions. If you say you're going to do something, then do it. If you believe in something, then stand behind it. No one lives forever so it's important to stand behind your beliefs and decisions with actions, not just words.

OASIS DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1994 - Definitely Maybe (Creation Records)
1995 - (What's The Story) Morning Glory (Creation Records)
1997 - Be Here Now (Creation Records)
1998 - The Masterplan (Creation Records)
2000 - Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants (Big Brother Records)
2000 - Familiar To Millions (Big Brother Records)
2002 - Heathen Chemistry (Big Brother Records)
2005 - Don't Believe The Truth (Big Brother Records)
2008 - Dig Out Your Soul (Big Brother Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF OASIS:

Oasis formed as a band back in 1991 but it wasn't until lead singer, Liam Gallagher's brother Noel saw them play that he saw the band as a vehicle to get his own music out to the masses. When Noel joined the band, he became the defacto leader and songwriter. Fast forward to 1994, while the grunge movement was exploding in the United States, Britain was having their own resurgence in the world of pop/rock music. Oasis, along with Blur, would be at the forefront of this movement when they delivered their debut album, "Definitely Maybe". This album entered the U.K. charts at #1 within a week of it's release, making it the fastest selling debut album at that time in U.K. history. The roller coaster continued with their sophmore effort, 1995's "(What's The Story) Morning Glory". This album featured the band's first #1 single in the U.K., "Some Might Say" and on the heels of monster singles, "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back In Anger", has sold over 22 million units worldwide. Though the band was on top of the world in terms of success, the relationship between the two Gallagher brothers was beginning to disintergrate. The band's next album, "Be Here Now" was initially selling big, but sales died down quickly. As the 2000's began, Oasis began dealing with losing band members and the tension between Liam and Noel seemed to be getting worse. Noel was leaning on his bandmates to collaborate a little more and the albums "Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants", "Heathen Chemistry" and "Don't Believe The Truth" reflect that. In fact, "Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants" features the first cut penned by Liam Gallagher, "Little James". 2005's "Don't Believe The Truth" was a bit of a comeback record for Oasis. Behind the hit single "Lyla", this album has sold over 7 million units worldwide. Oasis would release one more full length studio effort in 2008, "Dig Out Your Soul". While touring in support of this album, a fight backstage between Liam and Noel would turn out to be the last call for Noel. On August 28, 2009 he announced to the world that he quit Oasis and could no longer work with his brother Liam. Noel has since created his solo band, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds while Liam formed the short-lived band Beady Eye and is currently supporting his very first solo album. Oasis was a great band. Influenced heavily by The Beatles, you also hear some Stone Roses, Rolling Stones, The Jam and The Smiths influences in their sound as well. Noel had a knack for creating simple pop songs that sounded huge while his brother Liam had a nasally snarl and rock and roll star attitude that made him be one of the top frontmen in rock and roll. They say sometimes the hardest thing to do is work with family and this was very much true for Oasis. The tension and fights and arguments between the Gallagher brothers would be too much and eventually led to the downfall of the band. On the outside, the band was still achieving success as a headlining act, but on the inside they were imploding. While the new projects the Gallagher brothers are involved in are great, it's not Oasis. Here's hoping these two can come to some sort of peace with each other and they can resurrect one of the best bands in the business. Right now, however, that seems like a pipe dream for Oasis fans.

TEN OASIS SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Live Forever
2. Morning Glory
3. Rock'n'Roll Star
4. Acquiesce
5. Lyla
6. Don't Look Back In Anger
7. Go Let It Out
8. Whatever
9. Stop Crying Your Heart Out
10. All Around The World