Song Of The Week: 3/25/18

Song: "Fuckin' Up"

Artist: Pearl Jam

Album: "Live On Two Legs"

Year: 1998

Place Of Origin: Seattle, Washington

Years Active: 1990 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Fuckin' Up" is a song that appears to be about someone's ability to either lose everything or everyone he/she loves and their ability to bring everyone around them down. The vocalist sees himself as a drifter, and perhaps not by choice. He feels that everything and everyone he loves falls victim to him screwing things up. He feels he's better off being alone yet he just can't get the answer as to why he fucks everything up! Pearl Jam has covered "Fuckin' Up" dating back to the early 90's. It is often played to close out their live shows. This version I chose was performed in Mansfield, MA on September 15, 1998 and released on the band's first live record, "Live On Two Legs". The original version of "Fuckin' Up" was written and recorded by Neil Young and released on his 1990 album "Ragged Glory". Neil Young, along with Pete Townsend of The Who, was one of the legendary rockers who embraced Pearl Jam early on in their career and through his guidance, really helped save the band and steer them along as they endured the roller coaster of fame.

PEARL JAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1991 - Ten (Epic Records)
1993 - VS (Epic Records)
1994 - Vitalogy (Epic Records)
1996 - No Code (Epic Records)
1998 - Yield (Epic Records)
1998 - Live On Two Legs (Epic Records)
2000 - Binaural (Epic Records)
2002 - Riot Act (Epic Records)
2003 - Lost Dogs (Epic Records)
2004 - Live At Benaroya Hall (BMG Records)
2006 - Pearl Jam (J Records)
2009 - Backspacer (Monkeywrench/Universal Music Group)
2011 - Live On Ten Legs (Universal Music Group)
2013 - Lightning Bolt (Monkeywrench Records)
2017 - Let's Play Two (Republic Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF PEARL JAM:

Pearl Jam came from the ashes of Mother Love Bone and exploded on the Seattle music scene in 1990. The band's debut album "Ten" is a landmark album which has been certified diamond. What does that mean? It means that album has sold massively worldwide! It also propelled the band to superstardom, almost before they knew what had hit them. At the forefront of the grunge explosion of the early 90's, along with bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, Pearl Jam kept the heat on with their next two releases, 1993's "VS" and 1994's "Vitalogy". The pressures of being that big, that fast began to weigh on the band, especially vocalist Eddie Vedder and the band made a conscious effort to start pulling back the reigns. No more videos and less media obligations. They also did a 180 on their next album, "No Code". This was a much softer, more experimental side of the band and really an effort to change it up musically. Battles with Ticketmaster and going into a shell of sorts began to alienate the band from some of it's fans. The band itself was having some inner struggles and wondering if they were even going to co-exist much longer. Luckily, 1998's "Yield" was a return to form for the band. It also marked a full band collaboration whereas Vedder really took over creative reigns on "Vitalogy" and "No Code". From this album on, every band member would contribute to all future Pearl Jam releases. The early 2000's were a bit of a weird time for the band. "Binaural" and "Riot Act" were both good albums but seemed to be lacking something. The band also began offerering their bootlegs from every show available at this time, beginning with the "Binaural" world tour. Their bootlegs continue to be offered through their website to this day. This period also marked the biggest tragedy that the band was a part of, the 2000 Roskilde tragedy where 9 of their fans were trampled to death during their performance. In 2006, the country was becoming more and more split over the actions of the Bush administration post-9/11. The scene was ripe for a band like Pearl Jam to get their creative juices flowing and write what is perhaps their most political album yet, the self-titled "Pearl Jam", sometimes referred to as "Avocado". This album was a breath of fresh air to me. Urgent and hard hitting, an album with a definitive purpose. 2009's "Backspacer" is probably the band's most positive and fun album. The band's most recent effort was 2013's "Lightning Bolt". This album proved that Pearl Jam is still relevant in an ever-evolving music scene. The band also released a live album/dvd in the fall of 2017 called "Let's Play Two", which chronicles the band's two performances at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2016. More good news out of the Pearl Jam camp in 2018 is along with a tour of South America and some stadium dates in the United States, the band also released a brand new single in March titled "Can't Deny Me". The song is said to be part of a brand spankin' new studio album that could be released later this year! Pearl Jam's sound is a culmination of a slew of influences from The Who, The Ramones, Kiss, Neil Young, Dead Kennedys, Pink Floyd and many, many more! Of the 4 major grunge bands to emerge from the early 90's, Pearl Jam's sound always commanded arena crowds. Their music is powerful. Their lyrics personal and emotional. They have influenced hundreds of rock bands who came after them. They are equally comfortable playing arena anthems ("Alive"), acoustic ballads ("Elderly Woman"), punk influenced hardcore ("Mind Your Manners") and groove laced stompers ("Evenflow"). The band takes more time between albums as they tend to focus more time on their growing families as well as keeping busy with solo and side projects, but they always get back together to tour all over the world and their shows are always epic and must see performances that rival Springsteen and the Grateful Dead. I'd say they are overdue for a new album. Perhaps the band will be inspired by their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 or the current political turmoil in the United States and drop another aggressive album with a purpose!

TEN PEARL JAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Alive
2. Release
3. Yellow Ledbetter
4. Corduroy
5. Rearviewmirror
6. Go
7. Given To Fly
8. Not For You
9. Do The Evolution
10. Light Years

Song Of The Week: 3/18/18

Song: "Rearviewmirror"

Artist: Pearl Jam

Album: "July 3rd 2003 Mansfield, MA" bootleg

Year: 2003

Place Of Origin: Seattle, Washington

Years Active: 1990 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Rearviewmirror" is a song about gathering up the courage and strength to finally get away from an abuser. Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder has said that he feels like the song is being sung from a car and driving as far away from a bad situation as you can get. The song has a connection to the song "Daughter", both studio versions are featured on the 1993 Pearl Jam album "VS". One key line in "Daughter" is when Eddie sings "the shades go down". In that song, the abuse is being hidden and the person feels trapped by the situation. In "Rearviewmirror", Eddie counters with "finally the shades are raised". Hence, the person has finally decided to get out of the abusive situation and get as far away from it as they can. This version I chose for my song of the week was performed live in Mansfield, MA on July 3, 2003. A show I was at!!

PEARL JAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1991 - Ten (Epic Records)
1993 - VS (Epic Records)
1994 - Vitalogy (Epic Records)
1996 - No Code (Epic Records)
1998 - Yield (Epic Records)
1998 - Live On Two Legs (Epic Records)
2000 - Binaural (Epic Records)
2002 - Riot Act (Epic Records)
2003 - Lost Dogs (Epic Records)
2004 - Live At Benaroya Hall (BMG Records)
2006 - Pearl Jam (J Records)
2009 - Backspacer (Monkeywrench/Universal Music Group)
2011 - Live On Ten Legs (Universal Music Group)
2013 - Lightning Bolt (Monkeywrench Records)
2017 - Let's Play Two (Republic Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF PEARL JAM:

Pearl Jam came from the ashes of Mother Love Bone and exploded on the Seattle music scene in 1990. The band's debut album "Ten" is a landmark album which has been certified diamond. What does that mean? It means that album has sold massively worldwide! It also propelled the band to superstardom, almost before they knew what had hit them. At the forefront of the grunge explosion of the early 90's, along with bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains and Soundgarden, Pearl Jam kept the heat on with their next two releases, 1993's "VS" and 1994's "Vitalogy". The pressures of being that big, that fast began to weigh on the band, especially vocalist Eddie Vedder and the band made a conscious effort to start pulling back the reigns. No more videos and less media obligations. They also did a 180 on their next album, "No Code". This was a much softer, more experimental side of the band and really an effort to change it up musically. Battles with Ticketmaster and going into a shell of sorts began to alienate the band from some of it's fans. The band itself was having some inner struggles and wondering if they were even going to co-exist much longer. Luckily, 1998's "Yield" was a return to form for the band. It also marked a full band collaboration whereas Vedder really took over creative reigns on "Vitalogy" and "No Code". From this album on, every band member would contribute to all future Pearl Jam releases. The early 2000's were a bit of a weird time for the band. "Binaural" and "Riot Act" were both good albums but seemed to be lacking something. The band also began offerering their bootlegs from every show available at this time, beginning with the "Binaural" world tour. Their bootlegs continue to be offered through their website to this day. This period also marked the biggest tragedy that the band was a part of, the 2000 Roskilde tragedy where 9 of their fans were trampled to death during their performance. In 2006, the country was becoming more and more split over the actions of the Bush administration post-9/11. The scene was ripe for a band like Pearl Jam to get their creative juices flowing and write what is perhaps their most political album yet, the self-titled "Pearl Jam", sometimes referred to as "Avocado". This album was a breath of fresh air to me. Urgent and hard hitting, an album with a definitive purpose. 2009's "Backspacer" is probably the band's most positive and fun album. The band's most recent effort was 2013's "Lightning Bolt". This album proved that Pearl Jam is still relevant in an ever-evolving music scene. The band also released a live album/dvd in the fall of 2017 called "Let's Play Two", which chronicles the band's two performances at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago in 2016. More good news out of the Pearl Jam camp in 2018 is along with a tour of South America and some stadium dates in the United States, the band also released a brand new single in March titled "Can't Deny Me". The song is said to be part of a brand spankin' new studio album that could be released later this year! Pearl Jam's sound is a culmination of a slew of influences from The Who, The Ramones, Kiss, Neil Young, Dead Kennedys, Pink Floyd and many, many more! Of the 4 major grunge bands to emerge from the early 90's, Pearl Jam's sound always commanded arena crowds. Their music is powerful. Their lyrics personal and emotional. They have influenced hundreds of rock bands who came after them. They are equally comfortable playing arena anthems ("Alive"), acoustic ballads ("Elderly Woman"), punk influenced hardcore ("Mind Your Manners") and groove laced stompers ("Evenflow"). The band takes more time between albums as they tend to focus more time on their growing families as well as keeping busy with solo and side projects, but they always get back together to tour all over the world and their shows are always epic and must see performances that rival Springsteen and the Grateful Dead. I'd say they are overdue for a new album. Perhaps the band will be inspired by their induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2017 or the current political turmoil in the United States and drop another aggressive album with a purpose!

TEN PEARL JAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Alive
2. Release
3. Yellow Ledbetter
4. Corduroy
5. Rearviewmirror
6. Go
7. Given To Fly
8. Not For You
9. In My Tree
10. Light Years

Song Of The Week: 3/11/18

Song: "My Wall"

Artist: Ten Foot Pole

Album: "Rev"

Year: 1994

Place Of Origin: Simi Valley, California

Years Active: 1993 - present



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"My Wall" appears to be a song about trying to suppress the youth's creativity and individuality, especially in the form of street art or graffiti. Those who build the department stores and plaster their windows with advertisements look at the kids with the spray paint as a nuissance and degraders of property. But really, who is the one that is ultimately degrading the property? Where once was green grass is now a paved parking lot. Where once there were trees is now a mall. The young punk spray painting underneath bridges had nothing to do with that but, they have the money so they make the rules.

TEN FOOT POLE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1993 - Swill (Ten Foot Records)
1994 - Rev (Epitaph Records)
1996 - Unleashed (Epitaph Records)
1998 - Insider (Epitaph Records)
2002 - Bad Mother Trucker (Victory Records)
2004 - Subliminable Messages (Go-Kart Records)
2017 - Setlist (Cyber Tracks Records)

CURRENT STATUS OF TEN FOOT POLE:

Ten Foot Pole formed as a band back in 1993 in southern California, but their roots date back to a band called Scared Straight. That band featured Scott Radinsky on vocals and Dennis Jagard on guitar. After going through line-up changes and not wanting to get lumped in to the straight-edge scene with a name like Scared Straight, the band changed their name to Ten Foot Pole. After self-releasing "Swill" in 1993, the band hooked up with legendary punk label Epitaph Records and dropped "Rev" in 1994. At this point, the band felt like they were gaining steam, especially with the punk rock resurgence happening in music at the time. The problem was that Radinsky's first priority was being a Major League Baseball pitcher and the band would have to work around that. Ultimately, the band and Radinsky decided to part ways and Jagard would take over vocal duties along with playing guitar. The first album featuring Jagard on vocals would be 1996's "Unleashed". This was a solid album but it definitely took some time for the band's hardcore fans to get used to Jagard singing the songs. Scotty Radz had a much more powerful voice. 1998's "Insider" would be Ten Foot Pole's last album with Epitaph Records. The video for the song "The Getaway" did get some pub on alternative video shows. The band signed on with Victory Records for their fifth release, "Bad Mother Trucker" in 2002. I saw this as kind of a down album for the band. But, the 2004 album, "Subliminable Messages", was awesome! I felt that Jagard finally felt comfortable on vocals on this album and he sounded strong. Ten Foot Pole was probably at it's low by the time "Subliminable Messages" was released but in my mind, this is the band's best album to date. After this album, however, Ten Foot Pole went on a long hiatus. Though they never disbanded. They popped up to play a few shows here and there between 2009 and 2015 but new releases were non-existent. In 2017 however, Ten Foot Pole released the album "Setlist". This was basically a compilation of new renditions of old songs and also featured a few new tracks as well. Ten Foot Pole is one of many southern California punk bands that mix skate punk with a little hardcore. For similar artists, I would say Strung Out, No Use For A Name, Lagwagon, 88 Fingers Louie and of course, Pulley. Pulley, for those that don't know, is the band that Scott Radinsky formed soon after he was let go from Ten Foot Pole. Awesome band!! For me? Ten Foot Pole never rose to the status of a No Use or a Lagwagon or a Pulley. They always seemed like a secondary band to those. But that doesn't mean they aren't pretty damn good. Maybe this "Setlist" album they just dropped is giving the band the creative juices to get back in the studio and drop a proper new album in the near future. I know Jagard is pretty set working in the industry as a sound engineer, but perhaps he has enough free time to work on new TFP material. Fingers crossed!!

TEN TEN FOOT POLE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Wake Up (And Smell The Fascism)
2. The Getaway
3. My Wall
4. Seven
5. A.D.D.
6. Kicked Out Of Kindergarten
7. Broken Bubble
8. Scars
9. Armchair Quarterback
10. Plastic

Song Of The Week: 3/4/18

Song: "Killing Floor"

Artist: Jimi Hendrix

Album: "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" box set

Year: 2000

Place Of Origin: Seattle, Washington

Years Active: 1963 - 1970



WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Killing Floor" is a classic Chicago electric blues song that was written by and originally performed by Howlin' Wolf in 1964. The version I chose for my song of the week is covered by the legendary Jimi Hendrix, who performed the song live many times, especially early in his musical career. The Hendrix version is much faster and more ferocious than the Howlin' Wolf version and Jimi would often make "Killing Floor" the opener in his early sets. The song itself is based on a true story. One of Howlin' Wolf's seven wives had found women's clothing on his tour bus. Next time she saw him, she fired a shotgun at him and he was hit with buckshot. Basically, he was saying that he should have gotten out of this messed up relationship long before it got to that crazy point where the woman is trying to end his life!!

JIMI HENDRIX DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1967 - Are You Experienced (Reprise Records)
1967 - Axis: Bold As Love (Reprise Records)
1968 - Electric Ladyland (Reprise Records)
1970 - Band Of Gypsys (Capitol Records)

*After Jimi Hendrix died, there were a slew of post-humous releases, some good, some bad. Producer Eddie Kramer and drummer Mitch Mitchell finally got the chance in 1997 to make what they felt would have been Jimi's proper fourth studio album when they put together "First Rays Of The New Rising Sun". There are several other compilations and live releases that are out there but I would say "First Rays" is the definitive one to get.

CURRENT STATUS OF JIMI HENDRIX:

Born in Seattle, Washington, Jimi Hendrix began playing guitar at the age of 15. After a brief stint in the military, he moved to Tennessee. After performing in several bands, he got a gig as the guitarist for the Isley Brothers and later worked with Little Richard. Jimi, however, was getting sick of just being in a backing band and had visions of being bigger than that. He moved to New York and formed a band called Jimmy James and the Blue Flames. At one of his performances, Linda Keith, girlfriend of Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, told Chas Chandler of Animals fame to come and see Hendrix perform. Chandler had Jimi's ticket. And that ticket was to go to England. While in England, Chandler helped Hendrix form a band, The Experience, with Noel Redding on bass and Mitch Mitchell on drums. Before The Experience even had an album out, Hendrix convinced Eric Clapton to let him join Cream on stage to which Clapton agreed. Hendrix jammed with them on a ripping rendition of Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" that literally blew Clapton away. In 1967, The Experience dropped their first album, "Are You Experienced". The album took off in England, with top singles like "Purple Haze", "Hey Joe" and "The Wind Cries Mary". Jimi's success in the States took a bit longer. It wasn't until his masterful performance at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival that Jimi became a legend. His blistering set ended with what Jimi described as sacrificing the thing he loved when he set his guitar ablaze. It's an iconic moment in rock and roll history for sure. When Jimi dropped his second album, "Axis: Bold As Love", he wanted to continue being creative in the studio but felt cramped by time constrictions and an ever growing studio expense. This led Jimi to think about creating his own studio which he would in 1970, called Electric Lady Studios. For the recording of "Electric Ladyland" the album, the relationship between Jimi and Chas Chandler was basically on the outs. Chandler stepped down as producer on that album and Jimi handled the board with the help of Eddie Kramer. "Electric Ladyland" was Jimi's most experimental album to date and it also featured his first top 40 hit, a cover of Bob Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower". "Electric Ladyland" was also Jimi's only album to reach #1 on the charts. The Experience as a band was beginning to falter however. Redding would eventually quit and Mitchell was eased out. Jimi began performing with Buddy Cox on bass and Buddy Miles on drums in what Hendrix would call the Band of Gypsys. This band would release a live album to fulfill an old record deal which featured the epic "Machine Gun". All the songs on that album were recorded from four different shows at the Fillmore East in New York. By January of 1970, the Band of Gypsys were no more and the plan was to reunite The Experience. Hendrix, however, decided against bringing back Noel Redding and the band moved on with Mitchell on drums and Buddy Cox on bass. Sporadically, Jimi was working on new material for his fourth studio album. He only spent four days at his newly designed Electric Lady Studios before having to depart to England. In those four days, he recorded the song "Night Bird Flying". Jimi was not too happy to be touring in Europe at this time and longed to create music in his new studio. The tour was marred with bad performances and cancellations. Jimi's last concert was performed on September 6, 1970 at the Isle of Fehmarn Festival in Germany. The band travelled back to London after that show. Jimi's last public performance would be when he jumped on stage to jam with Eric Burdon and his new band War at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho. Jimi would die less than 48 hours after this jam session. On September 18, 1970, Jimi's girlfriend at the time, Monika Dannemann, woke up to find Jimi breathing, but unresponsive. He was rushed to the hospital and pronounced dead about an hour and a half after she called emergency. Autopsy results showed that Jimi Hendrix aspirated his own vomit and died of asphyxia while intoxicated with barbiturates. At just 27 years old, Jimi Hendrix had left this world. Jimi Hendrix is a virtuoso in every sense of the word. He changed the way electric guitar would be played. Before Hendrix, guitarists used to try to avoid feedback. Hendrix embraced it. Hendrix was innovative when it came to incorporating wah pedals and phase pedals. Hendrix could be as gritty a blues player as there ever was yet he could play beautiful, rhythm and blues at the same time. He could go psychedelic or he could stomp you with the heaviest of hard rock songs. He was an innovator, a genius and a musical mastermind. Rock and roll history would not be complete without some of Jimi's signature moments. Stealing the stage from a legend like Eric Clapton at a Cream show. Setting the bar as high as it can go with his performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Playing Sgt. Pepper's live at a show in which Beatles members Paul McCartney and George Harrison were in attendance. Sgt. Pepper's came out just 3 days before that performance and Jimi nailed it! Closing the infamous Woodstock Festival in 1969 with a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner with enough feedback to make it sound like rockets were blasting across the morning sky! Jimi Hendrix is a legend. The greatest rock guitarist ever! It's amazing how big his impact is on rock and roll when you consider most of his material was created in a four year span. It makes you wonder how much more Jimi had to offer and what other creative grounds he could have broken if he had not died so young.

TEN JIMI HENDRIX SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
2. Purple Haze
3. All Along The Watchtower (Bob Dylan cover)
4. Little Wing
5. Fire
6. Red House
7. Castles Made Of Sand
8. Bold As Love
9. Highway Chile
10. Like A Rolling Stone (Bob Dylan cover)