SONG OF THE WEEK: 4-6-2025

SONG:  "Once"

ARTIST:  Pearl Jam

ALBUM:  "Mansfield, MA - 7-3-03" (Bootleg)

YEAR:  2003

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Seattle, Washington

YEARS ACTIVE:  1990 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

“Once” is a song by Pearl Jam that explores themes of trauma, violence, and the psychological impact of childhood abuse. It is the second part of a trilogy known as the “Mamasan” trilogy, which includes the songs “Alive,” “Once,” and “Footsteps.” The narrative follows a character who experiences severe emotional turmoil stemming from his past, leading him to become a serial killer. I chose the live version of "Once" for my Song Of The Week. You can hear the studio version on Pearl Jam's debut album "Ten".

PEARL JAM DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1991 - Ten (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Diamond

1993 - VS (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 7X Platinum

1994 - Vitalogy (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 5X Platinum

1996 - No Code (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

1998 - Yield (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

1998 - Live On Two Legs (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2000 - Binaural (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2002 - Riot Act (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2003 - Lost Dogs (Epic Records)

* Peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2004 - Live At Benaroya Hall (BMG Records)

* Peaked at #18 on the Billboard 200

2006 - Pearl Jam (J Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2006 - Live At Easy Street (J Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

2009 - Backspacer (Monkeywrench/Universal Music Group)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2011 - Live On Ten Legs (Universal Music)

* Peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200

2011 - Pearl Jam Twenty (Columbia Records)

* Peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200

2013 - Lightning Bolt (Monkeywrench Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

2017 - Let's Play Two (Republic Records)

* Peaked at #31 on the Billboard 200

2019 - MTV Unplugged (Legacy Records)

* Peaked at #47 on the Billboard 200

2020 - Gigaton (Monkeywrench Records)

* Peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

2023 - Give Way (Epic/Legacy Records)

* Peaked at #26 on the Billboard 200

2024 - Dark Matter (Monkeywrench Records)

* Peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

* Pearl Jam also has a bunch of live "vault" releases as well as releasing bootlegs of their live shows through their website*

MY THOUGHTS ON PEARL JAM:

Pearl Jam got their start back in 1990, hailing from Seattle, Washington. Their story is quite long so I'll try to keep it simple! When the lead singer of Mother Love Bone, Andrew Wood, died of a drug overdose, MLB members Stone Gossard and Jeff Ament were not quite sure where they were going to go from there. Gossard began jamming with childhood friend Mike McCready. McCready suggests Stone call Jeff Ament. Demo's are being created. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden asks Stone, Jeff and Mike to help him on some songs as a tribute to Andrew Wood. Add Soundgarden drummer Matt Cameron to the mix. Temple Of The Dog is formed! Former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Jack Irons tells Stone that a buddy from San Diego is a good vocalist. Stone gives Jack a instrumental tape. Jack gives Eddie Vedder the tape. Eddie goes surfing. Puts lyrics and vocals to the songs "Alive", "Once" and "Footsteps". The "Mamasan" trilogy is born. Vedder lays first official vocals on Temple Of The Dogs' "Hunger Strike". Stone Gossard on guitar, Mike McCready on guitar, Jeff Ament on bass, Dave Krusen on drums and Eddie Vedder on vocals form a band called Mookie Blaylock. Band goes on tour opening for Alice In Chains. NBA player, Mookie Blaylock doesn't want band using his name. Pearl Jam is formed! Let me break it down by decade. The 90's! The "grunge" rollercoaster is about to begin! Nirvana's "Nevermind" changes the whole musical landscape and flips it on it's head! Seattle is the spot! Nirvana. Alice In Chains. Soundgarden and Pearl Jam. This is where it's at! Pearl Jam's first 3 albums are historic! 1991's "Ten", 1993's "VS" and 1994's "Vitalogy" catapult Pearl Jam to the top of the mountain. But success and fame are hard to deal with. Since "VS", Pearl Jam has been pulling back from the spotlight. No more music videos. Less interviews. A lawsuit against TicketMaster! When the band released 1996's "No Code", they were clearly trying to reinvent themselves a little bit, as shown by their decision to release "Who You Are" as their lead single. Awesome song but very un-Pearl Jam like for that time! They would close the decade out with 1998's "Yield". Could be my favorite album by the band but that could change day to day! 2000 to 2010. These were some tough years for the band. 2000's "Binaural" and 2002's "Riot Act" were not the band's most sought after records. On top of that was the tragedy that happened at the band's performance at the Roskilde Festival in 2000 where 9 fans were crushed to death during PJ's set. Never shy in their politics, the Bush Administration with their warmongering ways led the band to produce probably their most political album, 2006's "Pearl Jam". A very urgent album and also one of my favorites by the band! The band would finish that decade off with 2009's "Backspacer", maybe the band's most positive album and one that keeps growing on me year after year! 2011 to present. By this point, the albums are more spread out. The band members have growing families and other projects so it takes a little longer to get together and record new material. 2013's "Lightning Bolt" is a somewhat disappointing album. 7 years later the band dropped "Gigaton" in 2020. A much better effort from their previous album. "Who Ever Said" is currently my favorite song. Once again, that can change in a minute! In 2024, the band released their most recent album, "Dark Matter". Produced by Andrew Watt, he got the band to come to the studio and hammer out the songs as a band like they did back in the day and the guys loved the approach and the album shows that it's such a cohesive effort. I think "Dark Matter" will be considered one of the band's best albums in time. Oh. I forgot to mention the drummers.. Dave Krusen on "Ten", Matt Chamberlain ('91 tour), Dave Abbruzzese on "VS" and "Vitalogy", Jack Irons on "No Code" and "Yield" and Matt Cameron ever since! What can I say? Pearl Jam is my favorite band and has been since I heard the opening chords of "Once" on their debut album "Ten". I really believe that the early 90's grunge explosion was the last great era of music. I appreciate the greatness of bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Alice In Chains more and more each time I listen to their music. They are still so relevant and I'm always waiting for a new band to come out and have the kind of impact that those bands had. It will happen. Someday, it will happen. 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Soundgarden

Temple Of The Dog

Stone Temple Pilots

Mad Season

Alice In Chains

TEN PEARL JAM SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

Ok.. I love this band too much to just throw 10 songs out here. I'll list what song is my go to song at this moment on all their albums. And I'll throw in a non album track and a live cover to boot!

Ten - Release

VS - Indifference

Vitalogy - Last Exit

No Code - Present Tense

Yield - Faithful

Binaural - Light Years

Riot Act - Love Boat Captain

Pearl Jam - Life Wasted

Backspacer - Got Some

Lightning Bolt - Infallible

Gigaton - Who Ever Said

Dark Matter - Won't Tell

non-album track - State Of Love And Trust

Live Cover - The Kids Are Alright (The Who)

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3-30-2025

SONG:  "The Lemon Song"

ARTIST:  Led Zeppelin

ALBUM:  "Led Zeppelin II"

YEAR:  1969

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  London, England

YEARS ACTIVE:  1968 - 1980

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

“The Lemon Song” encapsulates raw sexuality intertwined with emotional conflict, drawing on traditional blues motifs while also paying tribute to earlier artists like Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Johnson. The combination of explicit imagery and musical homage creates a complex narrative that resonates with listeners familiar with both rock and blues traditions. The Lyrics are taken from Howlin' Wolf's "Killing Floor" and Robert Johnson's "Travelling Riverside Blues".

LED ZEPPELIN DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1969 - Led Zeppelin (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #10 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 8X Platinum

1969 - Led Zeppelin II (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Diamond

1970 - Led Zeppelin III (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 6X Platinum

1971 - Led Zeppelin IV (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 2X Diamond

1973 - Housed Of The Holy (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Diamond

1975 - Physical Graffiti (Swan Song Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Diamond

1976 - Presence (Swan Song Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 3X Platinum

1976 - The Song Remains The Same (Swan Song Records)

* Peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 4X Platinum

1979 - In Through The Out Door (Swan Song Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 6X Platinum

1982 - Coda (Swan Song Records)

* Peaked at #6 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

1997 - BBC Sessions (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #12 on the Billboard 200

* Certified 2X Platinum

2003 - How The West Was Won (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Platinum

2012 - Celebration Day (Atlantic Records)

* Peaked at #9 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON LED ZEPPELIN:

Led Zeppelin formed as a band back in 1968, hailing from London, England. Originally dubbed The New Yardbirds, due to legal issues with members of the original Yardbirds, the band changed it's name to Led Zeppelin. Right out of the gate, the formation of Jimmy Page on guitar, John Paul Jones on bass, keyboards, mandolin's and whatever else he could get his hands on!, John Bonham on drums and Robert Plant on vocals, Led Zeppelin proved to be a giant amongst men! Their debut self titled album, "Led Zeppelin", smashed down the door of the musical landscape and announced that there was a new sheriff in town! 1969's "Led Zeppelin II" would begin a string of seven straight albums to peak at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts! It would also be their first album to be certified Diamond! That means it went at least 10X Platinum! Where Zeppelin's first two albums were heavy, blues based rock and roll, their third album, 1970's "Led Zeppelin III" featured a more acoustic atmosphere, showing that this band could shift on a dime at any moment. Then there was 1971's "Led Zeppelin IV". What can you say? This album has been certified 2X Diamond! It has sold more than 37 million copies worldwide, making it one of the most successful albums of all time. The song "Stairway To Heaven" I believe was the most requested and most played song of the 1970's! Led Zeppelin was officially the biggest band in the world by this point! 1973 saw the band release "Houses Of The Holy", another album to certified Diamond as well as their next release, 1975's "Physical Graffiti". 1976 saw the band take a bit of a hit for the first time. While the album "Presence" still peaked at #1 on the Billboard charts, it was probably their first album to get some negative reviews, though "Achilles Last Stand" is an epic song. In 1979, the band released "In Through The Out Door". This album was the only Zeppelin album where Jimmy Page was not as involved with the songwriting process as he was for the rest of their albums. It's really a John Paul Jones/Robert Plant album. In the early morning hours of December 10, 1980, drummer John Bonham was found dead in his bed after suffocating on his own vomit while sleeping, or more likely being passed out from drinking. The tragedy was so heavy for the band that they ultimately decided they could no longer continue as a band. No one could replace Bonzo on the drum kit. Zeppelin would release a collection of b-sides and rarities in 1982 called "Coda". They also released some live albums after their break up, most notably 2012's "Celebration Day" which was a live reunion of Led Zeppelin with Jason Bonham, John's son, on drums. The band reunited for a tribute concert for Atlantic Records' president Ahmet Ertegun. This show took place on December 10, 2007 at London's O2 Arena and was one of those shows that everyone wanted to be at. Rumors circulated that maybe the band would get back together for good with Jason on drums but that did not happen. Page, Jones and Jason Bonham seemed to really want to do it but Robert Plant wanted to leave Zeppelin's legacy as it was so the permanent reunion was not to be. Most recently, it appears that the remaining members are all on board with a Led Zeppelin documentary that is in the works so that's great news. Arguably, Led Zeppelin is the greatest rock and roll band of all time. Many say that them and Black Sabbath are the originators of what would become heavy metal and hard arena rock. What a collection of all stars of music Led Zeppelin is! Robert Plant, again, you can argue is the greatest rock and roll frontman of all time. Jimmy Page, you can argue is the best guitarist of all time. Not only that, the music he created for Plant to sing his lyrics over is just some of the best music of all time. Timeless music! John Bonham.. In my mind, he is the best drummer of all time. John Paul Jones is sometimes the unheralded guy of the band but this dude is a legend. His basslines are so tasty and he brought so much to the table as a multi-instrumentalist. Led Zeppelin was just a freight train, especially from 1969 to 1975. Their first 6 albums are just incredible. A truly legendary band!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Cream

Pink Floyd

The Doors

Jimi Hendrix

The Rolling Stones

TEN LED ZEPPELIN SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Whole Lotta Love

2. Black Dog

3. Immigrant Song

4. Over The Hills And Far Away

5. Kashmir

6. Going To California

7. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

8. Achilles Last Stand

9. Hey Hey What Can I Do

10. Fool In The Rain

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3-23-2025

SONG:  "Shame"

ARTIST:  Stabbing Westward

ALBUM:  "Wither Blister Burn & Peel"

YEAR:  1996

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Macomb, Illinois

YEARS ACTIVE:  1985 - Present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

“Shame” by Stabbing Westward is a song that explores themes of loss, identity, and emotional turmoil following a breakup. The lyrics reflect the deep pain and confusion experienced by someone who feels incomplete without their partner. The song’s narrator grapples with feelings of worthlessness and questions their own existence in the absence of the loved one.

STABBING WESTWARD DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1994 - Ungod (Columbia Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

1996 - Wither Blister Burn & Peel (Columbia Records)

* Peaked at # 67 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

1998 - Darkest Days (Columbia Records)

* Peaked at #52 on the Billboard 200

* Certified Gold

2001 - Stabbing Westward (Koch Records)

* Peaked at #47 on the Billboard 200

2022 - Chasing Ghosts (COP International Records)

* Did not chart on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON STABBING WESTWARD:

Stabbing Westward formed as a band back in 1985, hailing from Macomb, Illinois. After dropping an EP in 1992, Stabbing Westward got signed by Columbia Records and dropped their debut full length album in 1994, "Ungod". It was the band's next release, 1996's "Wither Blister Burn & Peel", which would put the band on the map, thanks in part to the singles "What Do I Have To Do" and "Shame". The band had another very successful release in 1998's "Darkest Days". This was pretty much the height of the band's success. In 2001, they dropped the album "Stabbing Westward". This album was not as successful as their previous releases, possibly because it was a much less industrial rock sounding album and was more straight forward alternative rock. In 2002, Stabbing Westward decided to disband. While all the members worked on various projects, the most successful was lead singer Christopher Hall's band The Dreaming. In 2015, Stabbing Westward reunited. First, it was just to perform some shows to celebrate their 30th anniversary, but eventually, it became a full on reunion and a return to making new music too. In 2022, the band released "Chasing Ghosts", their first release in 21 years. As I said earlier, Stabbing Westward is an industrial rock/metal band. If you crossed The Cure with Nine Inch Nails, you'd probably get something close to sounding like Stabbing Westward. I got into these guys when I heard the song "Shame" back in 1996. I liked "What Do I Have To Do", which was the first single off of "Wither Blister Burn & Peel". But I really became a fan from "Shame". The funny part is, the album that was pretty much panned by fans, their 2001 self-titled album, is my favorite album by the band! I'm not a big industrial rock/metal guy so I liked the more alternative rock sounding "Stabbing Westward". "I Remember" is an incredible song from that album. I also maybe like The Dreaming better than Stabbing Westward. I'd have to think about that one though! 

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

The Dreaming

Sponge

Fuel

Taproot

Oleander

TEN STABBING WESTWARD SONGS YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Save Yourself

2. I Remember

3. Shame

4. So Far Away

5. Home In You

6. Violent Mood Swings

7. What Do I Have To Do

8. I Am Nothing

9. Ghost

10. Sometimes It Hurts

SONG OF THE WEEK: 3-16-2025

SONG:  "Angel"

aRTIST:  Aerosmith

ALBUM:  "Permanent Vacation"

YEAR:  1987

PLACE OF ORIGIN:  Boston, Massachusetts

YEARS ACTIVE:  1970 - present

WHAT I THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT:

The song “Angel” by Aerosmith is a power ballad that expresses deep feelings of longing, vulnerability, and the need for love. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and emotional turmoil experienced by the narrator, who feels alone and lost without the presence of their loved one. The repeated plea for the loved one to “come and save me tonight” highlights the narrator’s reliance on this person for emotional support and stability.

AEROSMITH DISCOGRAPHY (Full length albums only):

1973 - Aerosmith (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #21 on the Billboard 200

* certified 2X Platinum

1974 - Get Your Wings (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #74 on the Billboard 200

* certified 3X Platinum

1975 - Toys In The Attic (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200

* certified 9X Platinum

1976 - Rocks (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200

* certified 4X Platinum

1977 - Draw The Line (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200

* certified 2X Platinum

1979 - Night In The Ruts (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200

* certified Platinum

1982 - Rock In A Hard Place (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #32 on the Billboard 200

* certified Gold

1985 - Done With Mirrors (Geffen Records)

* peaked at #36 on the Billboard 200

* certified Gold

1987 - Permanent Vacation (Geffen Records)

* peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200

* certified 5X Platinum

1989 - Pump (Geffen Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

* certified 7X Platinum

1993 - Get A Grip (Geffen Records)

* peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* certified 7X Platinum

1997 - Nine Lives (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200

* certified 2X Platinum

2001 - Just Push Play (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200

* certified Platinum

2004 - Honkin' On Bobo (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

* certified Gold

2012 - Music From Another Dimension! (Columbia Records)

* peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200

MY THOUGHTS ON AEROSMITH:

Aerosmith formed as a band back in 1970, hailing from Boston, Massachusetts. Though their beginnings date back to the 60's, the classic Aerosmith line-up of Steven Tyler on vocals, Joe Perry on guitars, Brad Whitford on guitars, Tom Hamilton on bass and Joey Kramer on drums began in 1970. Very early on the band caught the attention of Columbia Records who quickly signed the band. Their debut, self-titled album came out in 1973. Instantly, this band was showing fans something. This album featured one of the band's most classic songs, "Dream On". This was followed up by 1974's "Get Your Wings". It was the 1975 release, "Toys In The Attic", that fully catapulted Aerosmith to a headline, arena act, thanks in part to another of their most famous tracks, "Walk This Way". The band continued it's dominance on the rock world with 1976's "Rocks". 1977's "Draw The Line" still had some killer tracks, like the title track and "Kings And Queens", this album started to mark a little bit of a tailspin for the band. Internal struggles and rampant drug use began taking it's toll on Aerosmith. When it came time to record and release 1979's "Night In The Ruts", Joe Perry left the band, a crushing blow. In 1981, Brad Whitford also departed the band. 1982 saw the band release "Rock In A Hard Place", a true low point for the band. Luckily, in 1984, Perry and Whitford returned to the line-up and in 1985, the band dropped "Done With Mirrors". With all the members having entered rehabs and in much better health and mind, 1987's "Permanent Vacation" would prove to be the first album that the band recorded totally sober. It was also sparked by a resurgence for the band thank to a collaboration a year earlier with rap group Run DMC on a remake of "Walk This Way". Suddenly, the arrow on Aerosmith was pointing up! 1989's "Pump" turned out to be one of the band's most successful albums and 1993's "Get A Grip" became the band's first album to peak at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts. This proved to be the peak for Aerosmith. Their next two albums, 1997's "Nine Lives" and 2001's "Just Push Play", were successful but the success was taking a bit of a southward turn. 2004 saw the band do a blues cover album, "Honkin' On Bobo", sort of a return to their musical roots. The band's most recent release would be 2012's "Music From Another Dimension!". There has always been an underlying tension in Aerosmith, all the way back to the beginning of the band. Most of it between Steven Tyler and Joe Perry. This has led to a lot of internal struggles and spats. Since they're last studio album, the band has been kinda on again, off again. They did tours, they cancelled tours, There's been talk of creating new music and there has been talk that they may be done. It's always something with this band. The last thing I know is that in 2023, Steven Tyler had a vocal chord injury that caused the band to cancel their supposed "farewell tour". But, in 2024, the members have kept open the chance of creating new music together so who knows?! What I do know is that Aerosmith is the most successful American band of all time. They have sold more albums than any other American band, over 150 million records worldwide! They were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 2001. These guys were heavily influenced on the blues rock sounds of bands like The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin and they would carve their own lane and identity as a band, a legendary band at that! For me personally, I love their 70's stuff. I think that is Aerosmith at their best. Raw, bluesy..  just a kick ass rock and roll band! Their 80's and 90's stuff is still good, I'm just partial to the early albums and sound. I always felt their stuff from say "Pump" and on was a little too polished for my liking. But I will say this, they weren't really affected by the grunge movement because the songs were still there. Aerosmith's songs were just far superior to a lot of the hair metal bands back then in my mind. Plus, they still had the respect of being rock legends so they didn't catch a lot of the flack that a lot of those 80's bands caught in the 90's. I hope it all works out for these guys and maybe they can get some new music out there cuz you'd hate to see them just fade away. Fingers crossed for my Boston bro's!

SIMILAR ARTISTS:

Van Halen

Kiss

AC/DC

Def Leppard

Led Zeppelin

TEN AEROSMITH SONGS THAT YOU SHOULD CHECK OUT:

1. Last Child

2. Sweet Emotion

3. Mama Kin

4. Kings And Queens

5. Dream On

6. Angel

7. F.I.N.E.

8. The Other Side

9. Walkin' The Dog

10. Same Old Song And Dance