SONG OF THE WEEK: 6/27/21

SONG:  "No Country For Young Men"

ARTIST:  Ice Cube

ALBUM:  "I Am The West"

YEAR:  2010

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Los Angeles, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1986 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"No Country For Young Men" is a song that appears to be about an O.G. in the rap game that's not ready to give up his throne to the youngsters that's coming up. It's about flow and presence. Ice Cube has those in spades. There's room in the game for new talent. But no pun intended, bow down to the legend that's greater than you!!

ICE CUBE DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1990 - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted (Priority Records)

* peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200 on 7-14-90

* certified platinum

1991 - Death Certificate (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200 on 11-16-91

* certified platinum

1992 - The Predator (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 on 12-5-92

* certified 2X platinum

1993 - Lethal Injection (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 on 12-25-93

* certified platinum

1994 - Bootlegs & B-Sides (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #19 on the Billboard 200 on 12-10-94

1998 - War & Peace Vol. 1 (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 on 12-5-98

* certified platinum

2000 - War & Peace Vol. 2 (Priority/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 on 4-8-00

* certified gold

2006 - Laugh Now, Cry Later (EMI/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 on 6-24-06

* certified gold

2008 - Raw Footage (EMI/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 on 9-6-08

2010 - I Am The West (EMI/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #22 on the Billboard 200 on 10-16-10

2018 - Everythang's Corrupt (Interscope/Lench Mob Records)

* peaked at #62 on the Billboard 200 on 12-22-18

MY THOUGHTS ON ICE CUBE:

Ice Cube is one of the biggest and most legendary rappers to come out of the West Coast. Representing South Central Los Angeles and Compton, he and his supergroup, N.W.A., sprung to the top of the rap world with their no nonsense take on gangsta rap. That group, featuring Cube, Eazy-E, Dr. Dre, MC Ren and DJ Yella carried the torch that Ice-T lit and took it to the next level. Cube was definitely the most gifted emcee of the group, followed by Ren and along with The D.O.C., the three of them helped contribute lyrics for Eazy-E and Dre. Cube wound up leaving the group in 1989 over a contract dispute. He tried to convince Dre and Ren that they were getting hosed on their contracts but they didn't listen to him, at first anyway. Though Cube departed, he didn't harbor any ill feeling towards N.W.A., but they would diss Cube on their "100 Miles And Runnin'" EP. I'll get back to that a little later. Cube enlisted the help of Chuck D. of Public Enemy and the Bomb Squad to produce his debut solo album, "AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted". This album was a smash success and proved that Cube could stand on his own without N.W.A. Now, when N.W.A. dissed Cube again on their "Niggaz4Life" album, well...  Cube answered the bell with one of the greatest diss records of all time with "No Vaseline"! Battle over!! N.W.A. would split up with Dr. Dre joining Suge Knight and starting Death Row Records and Ren and Eazy would both go solo. Cube's biggest success came on his third album, 1992's "The Predator". This album reached #1 on the Billboard 200 as well as going double platinum do to the success of his biggest single, "It Was A Good Day". Cube continued releasing platinum selling albums with 1993's "Lethal Injection" and 1998's "War & Peace Vol. 1". When the 2000's came, Cube was still dropping top 10 albums like 2000's "War & Peace Vol. 2", 2006's "Laugh Now, Cry Later" and 2008's "Raw Footage". Ice Cube's most recent release was 2018's "Everythang's Corrupt". Ice Cube is one of the most iconic rappers of all time. I would put him in the top 5 of emcee's easily. For me personally, I think Ice Cube is at his best when he is shining the light on social ills and coming with a militant and political mindset. If Ice-T is the father of gangsta rap, Ice Cube is like his first son. When I think of the greatest diss rappers, Ice Cube and KRS-One immediately come to mind. Though Cube is great as a solo, there was nothing better than N.W.A. and their "Straight Outta Compton" album. That's is where I got my introduction to Ice Cube and it still ranks as one of my favorite albums of all time, in any genre. It sucks that Eazy-E died in 1995 because the rumor was that all the guys in N.W.A. squashed their beef and they were ready to make new music again which would have been insane! There were a few "N.W.A." songs released after Eazy's death with 1999's "Chin Check" and 2000's "Hello". It's true...  Ice Cube IS the West!!!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

N.W.A.

Eazy-E

Westside Connection

Dr. Dre

Snoop Dogg

TEN ICE CUBE SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. My Summer Vacation

2. When Will They Shoot

3. No Vaseline

4. The Nigga Ya Love To Hate

5. Ghetto Bird

6. Why We Thugs

7. Wicked

8. Everythang's Corrupt

9. Ghetto Vet

10. Drink The Kool Aid

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6/20/21

SONG:  "What I Meant To Say"

ARTIST:  Hoobastank

ALBUM:  "Is This The Day?"

YEAR:  2010

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Agoura Hills, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1994 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"What I Meant To Say" is a pretty straight forward song. In any relationship, things aren't always going to be all roses. Arguments happen and sometimes things are said in the heat of the moment that aren't really meant. This no doubt causes strain on the relationship. The vocalist is owning up to his misgivings and he wants to smooth things out with this person when cooler heads prevail. The vocalist loves this person, no doubt. He doesn't want to lose her. It's just sometimes you say things that you don't really mean.

HOOBASTANK DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1998 - They Sure Don't Make Basketball Shorts Like They Used To (Self-released)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2001 - Hoobastank (Island Records)

* peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 charts on 2-9-02

* certified platinum

2003 - The Reason (Island Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 charts on 5-1-04

* certified 2X platinum

2006 - Every Man For Himself (Island Records)

* peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200 on 6-3-06

* certified gold

2009 - For(N)ever (Island Records)

* peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200 on 2-14-09

2009 - Live From The Wiltern (Island Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - Is This The Day? (Island Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Fight Or Flight (Open E Records)

* peaked at #66 on the Billboard 200 on 9-29-12

2018 - Push Pull (Napalm Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON HOOBASTANK:

Hoobastank formed as a band back in 1994, hailing from Agoura Hills, California, just outside of Los Angeles. Originally, the band had kind of a funk style to their music, even incorporating a sax player. The band often gets tabbed as Incubus' little brother and for good reason. Both bands are from around the same area and they often played shows together in the early years. On top of the obvious, their sound is quite similar. After self-releasing an album in 1998, the band signed a deal with Island Records and dropped what many consider to be their proper debut record, 2001's "Hoobastank". With singles like "Crawling In The Dark" and "Running Away", Hoobastank soared to the top of the charts. Gone was the funk sound laced with saxophone solos and here was a straight forward, melodic rock record. This album would achieve platinum status and things were ready to explode for Hoobastank on their next album, 2003's "The Reason". "The Reason" proved to be Hoobastank's highest charting album, #3 on the Billboard 200, and their best selling album, achieving double platinum status. The title track from that album, "The Reason", is the band's most successful and popular single to date. 2006's "Every Man For Himself" was a successful record but did not achieve the same success as their previous two albums. It also started a downward spiral for the band as it pertains to album sales and success in general. Hoobastank finished out their deal with Island with one studio album, one live album and one acoustic album. 2012's "Fight Or Flight" proved to be Hoobastank's last charting album on the Billboard 200. The band's last studio album was 2018's "Push Pull". Hoobastank did re-release "The Reason" in 2019 to include a vinyl copy as well as bonus tracks to celebrate the 15 year anniversary of that album. As I said earlier, Hoobastank is a melodic rock band, I guess they could be considered alternative rock as well. At first listen, you draw instant comparison to the band Incubus. The band's are eerily similar in sound and in the vocals. Some call them a rip off of Incubus. I don't see it that way. I feel that Hoobastank is good enough to stand on their own, though I do agree that Incubus is a better band. I first got turned on to Hoobastank like the majority of people I assume did, with their self-titled album in 2001. "Crawling In The Dark" was the first track I heard by them and I don't think I've heard a better song by them since that day. That's not to say they don't have other good songs, they most certainly do. I don't think as a band that they ever really improved upon that first album, or first couple of albums at least. I'd consider them to be a 2nd tier melodic rock band. At this point, I don't see them having another "Crawling In The Dark" in them though.

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Incubus

Trapt

3 Doors Down

Finger Eleven

Story Of The Year

TEN HOOBASTANK SONGS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Crawling In The Dark

2. Inside Of You

3. Running Away

4. Out Of Control

5. So Close, So Far

6. If I Were You

7. My Turn

8. This Is Gonna Hurt

9. The Reason

10. More Beautiful

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6/13/21

SONG:  "When I Pray"

ARTIST:  Russ Rankin

ALBUM:  "Farewell Catalonia"

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Santa Cruz, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1990 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"When I Pray" appears to be a song about looking back at your actions in life with a ton of regret. The vocalist sees now the mistakes that he's made in his relationship. Unfortunately for him, it seems his realizations have come too late. In the moment, perhaps you don't see what your words and actions can negatively impact. Hindsight is 20/20.

RUSS RANKIN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2012 - Farewell Catalonia (Paper + Plastick Records)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON RUSS RANKIN:

Santa Cruz, California's Russ Rankin is best known as the lead singer of hardcore punk legends Good Riddance. With G/R, Rankin and the boys released eight studio albums, one live album, two compilations and multiple EP's. Rankin is also the frontman for another hardcore punk band called Only Crime, who have released three studio albums as well as a couple of EP's. In the middle of all that, Rankin found the time to release a solo album in 2012 called "Farewell Catalonia". This album mostly features Rankin playing stripped down electric guitars as well as acoustics. This allowed Rankin to perform tours with his punk rock friends and contemporaries like Tony Sly of No Use For A Name and Joey Cape of Lagwagon. "Farewell Catalonia" has proven to be Rankin's only solo release to date as most of his focus remains on Good Riddance and Only Crime. Russ Rankin is a beast! Just a great hardcore punk frontman and his band Good Riddance has been one of the most influential punk bands to come out of the 90's. Rankin's lyrics deal with personal demons, social injustice and political issues as well. His acoustic album is both beautiful and aggressive at the same time. This dude is just top notch! I first got into Russ in the early to mid 90's with Good Riddance. I always looked at them as Fat Wreck's answer to Epitaph's Pennywise. Two great punk rock bands is all!!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Tony Sly

Joey Cape

Scorpios

Joe McMahon

Chris Cresswell

TEN RUSS RANKIN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Points Between

2. Via Munich (Tony Sly cover)

3. Pushing Daisies

4. Seven Hours

5. I Walk The Line (Johnny Cash cover)

6. Beached Sailor

7. Departures

8. I Am On Fire (Chelsea cover0

9. Shine

10. When I Pray

SONG OF THE WEEK: 6/6/21

SONG:  "Chasing Rainbows"

ARTIST:  Tony Sly

ALBUM:  "Acoustic:  Volume Two"

YEAR:  2012

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  San Jose, California

YEARS ACTIVE:  1987 - 2012

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

"Chasing Rainbows" is a song that appears to be about putting too much trust in those around you to a fault. The vocalist is trying to tell this person that if they don't stand up for themselves and stop putting all their trust in others, the outcome is they will be let down, hurt or completely taken advantage of. Don't turn advice or help away, but trust yourself to make the right decisions for you. Tony Sly recorded "Chasing Rainbows" originally with his band No Use For A Name. You can check out the original version on No Use's 1999 album "More Betterness!".

TONY SLY DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

2004 - Acoustic (w/ Joey Cape) (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2010 - 12 Song Program (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2011 - Sad Bear (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

2012 - Acoustic:  Volume Two (w/ Joey Cape) (Fat Wreck Chords)

* did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON TONY SLY:

Tony Sly is best knows as the frontman for long time Fat Wreck punk band No Use For A Name. From 1987 till 2012, No Use cranked out eight studio albums, one live album, compilations, EP's and split singles. In 2004, Sly put out his first solo release, "Acoustic". This was a split album with his longtime friend, Joey Cape of Lagwagon. It wouldn't be for another 5 years however before Sly would actually partake in a solo tour. 2009 saw him play several dates and perform acoustically. In 2010, Sly released the album "12 Song Program". Again, this included newly written compositions that were performed acoustically. His split albums with Cape featured mostly No Use For A Name songs re-worked as acoustic renditions. In 2011, Sly released "Sad Bear" After performing many shows with Joey Cape, Jon Snodgrass and Brian Wahlstrom, the foursome decided to form a band called Scorpios and released an album in 2011. Again, this was an acoustic project. Tony's last solo release was another album with Joey Cape, 2012's "Acoustic:  Volume Two". Sly and Cape went on a small tour to promote the album but unfortunately, the tour was cut short. After playing in Gainesville, Florida on July 29, 2012, Tony Sly passed away in his sleep, the date was July 31, 2012. This was just a crushing loss for the punk rock community and I know for myself, it was just a terrible day. No Use was and is one of my favorite bands of all time. In my mind, Tony Sly is arguably the best songwriter in punk rock music. Just a keen sense of melody. His songs are really the soundtrack to me going from my teenage years to a legal beer buying adult and beyond! I found his acoustic stuff, especially "12 Song Program" and "Sad Bear" very introspective and sad. Some of it even depressing. I think he was dealing with a lot of inner demons and perhaps some of those ultimately led to his untimely death. Tony and his band, No Use, meant so much to me growing up. I still listen to them weekly. If I make an Itunes playlist, you can be sure there will be No Use For A Name and Tony Sly solo songs on it. R.I.P. Mr. Sly. Thank you for the music and the memories!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Joey Cape

No Use For A Name

Dave Hause

Chuck Ragan

Greg Graffin

TEN TONY SLY SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Not Your Savior (No Use For A Name cover)

2. Chasing Rainbows (No Use For A Name cover)

3. International You Day (No Use For A Name cover)

4. Soulmate (No Use For A Name cover)

5. Amends

6. The Monster

7. Homecoming

8. Capo, 4th Fret

9. Chemical Upgrade

10. Liver Let Die