The 11 Best Songs By Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Has American Idol destroyed the music industry?

Everyone wants to blame the internet and all the illegal downloading. But believe it or not...a lot of people STILL don't know how to do it. My parents have a hard enough time checking their email...let alone figuring out what the hell a torrent is. My friends have too much going on in their lives to hunt down where to download the music, they would rather just buy the album off itunes because it's less hassle. So is downloading to blame? For a small percentage...sure. But for a 60% drop? There's something bigger going on.

American Idol has become the mainstream. This is where America learns about new music. But the difference between AI candidates and real rock stars...AI candidates have no musical talent. Sure they can sing...but they have no connection to the music they're singing. It's not personal. It's not created from inside them. In fact, they themselves are created to be the artist that America thinks they want. The problem is...you can only wear that mask for so long. That's why all the AI artists' 2nd albums tank. They're not real musicians. They are karoake artists. A gimmick. And once "that artists'" gimmick has warn off...no cares anymore.

I really think the American Idol topic has a lot more to it...so over the next couple of days...I'll explore it in more detail. and hopefully, I can convince you all to turn it off...and bring back a music industry resurgance.

With a new Mars Volta album only a couple weeks out... ever prolific Omar (lead guitar) is releasing his 11th (that's right) solo album in 5 years. Let's see anyone on American Idol do that. This newest venture brings on Mars Volta singer, Cedric, to add vocals to all but two songs...so basically...it's like a Mars Volta album...to warm-up for the coming Mars Volta album.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Omar Rodriguez-Lopez:

1. La Tirania de la Tradicion (Se Dice Bisonte)
2. Calibration (Calibration)
3. The Palpatations Form A Limit (A Manual Dexterity)
4. ....Is Pushing Lucy (Calibration)
5. Se Dice Bisonte (Se Dice Bisonte)
6. Power of Myth (Old Money)
7. Jacob Van Leenpkade II (The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange)
8. Hands Tied To The Roots of a Hemorage (Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus)
9. Coma Pony (The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange)
10. Tied Prom Digs on the Docks (Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fungus)
11. Dispanec Triage (Megritual)

Buy Omar's new solo album, El Grupo Nuevo de Omar - Cryptomnesia.

The Unknown: Arctic Monkeys - Live at KCRW 2005

Lately, the Arctic Monkeys have been stirring up a lot of excitment on the live front. Just a few months ago, the band previewed new songs in concert, prompting rabid anticipation that a new album would be just around the corner.

Now, this week, the band releases a Live CD/DVD to very little fanfare. How little? Well, I'm sure most of you are learning about this as your reading my blog...and the album's already been out for a few days. The DVD chronicles a spectacular show at the Apollo in Manchester, which was getting rave reviews when it was released last month in England. But now in the US version, the band has added a bonus 10-song live CD from Austin, Texas. And anything musical that comes out of Texas has to be good.

Arctic Monkeys - Live on KCRW

1. A View From The Afternoon
2. Dancing Shoes
3. Fake Tales of San Francisco
4. You Probably Couldn't See For the Lights
5. Perhaps Vampire is a Bit Strong But
6. From The Ritz to the Rubble
7. A Certain Romance

Buy the Arctic Monkeys' new CD/DVD combo, Live at the Appollo.

The 11 Best Songs By Ben Harper

I think winning the NBA Finals may be the toughest sporting chanpionship of all professional sports. It's not just about be being the best physically...but being superior in all categories, inculding mental toughness and emotional endurance. The champion of the NBA finals will likely play more games in just the playoffs than an NFL Superbowl champion will play in its entire season. The NCAA's March Madness may be the most fun...but to be the Final Four Champ, you'll play less games than most NBA teams will play in their opening best of seven series. The MLB champs play more games in their season (but their season is actually shorter). And their playoffs are a series short of even holding a candle to the NBA. Only the NHL can compare. But as close as the NHL comes, they fall short because they "re-seed" the playoff teams after each round. Ensuring that the #1 seed will always have the lightest path.

So no matter how the cards fall in the playoffs, whoever wins the NBA finals, without a doubt, deserves it.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Ben Harper:

1. Another Lonely Day (Fight For Your Mind)
2. Jah Work (The Will To Live)
3. Glory and Consequence (The Will To Live)
4. Opression (Fight For Your Mind)
5. With My Own Two Hands (Diamonds On the Inside)
6. Burn One Down (Fight For Your Mind)
7. Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave (Welcome to the Cruel World)
8. Excuse Me Mr. (Fight For Your Mind)
9. Diamonds on the Inside (Diamonds On the Inside)
10. Burn To Shine (Burn To Shine)
11. Mourning Yearning (Both Sides of the Gun)

Buy Ben Harper and the Relentless 7's new album, White Lies For Dark Times. Only $3.99...seriously, you can't beat that.

The 11 Conor Oberst Songs

Since the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame induction...a full month ago...the thoughts of weighing current artists musical merit has been big topic on my mind. Doing a blog like this, it's hard not to look at each artist and consider their impact in the bigger scheme of things. Especially this week. Three very strong music artists...each with distinct musical voices...but are any of them RNRHOF material? Between Ben Harper, Cracker and Bright Eyes/Conor...only BEC has the best shot at making it. Conor has played on stage with legendary artistis like Bruce Springsteen and the Stones...so the respect is there. Conor has a legion of diehard fans...just take a look at Toby Maguire's hair in the third Spiderman movie. So the fanbase is there. But the one thing that's missing is true commercial crossover. Maybe that's why he ditched his Bright Eyes moniker for a new start...even though Bright Eyes is really just Conor with an interchanging cast of musicians. But perception is everything. Will mainstream success be the one thing that alludes Conor from RNR hall glory in 15 years? At the end of the day...I think he's a shoe-in...not just because of his musical talent...but the lack of competition from his contemporaries. It's not about being the best...it's just about being better than the guy next to you.

Here are the 11 Conor Oberst Songs:

1. The Happiest Place on Earth (Desaparecidos - Read Music)

2. Moab (Conor Oberst)

3. Man and Wife, The Latter (Desaparecidos - Read Music)

4. Souled Out!!! (Conor Oberst)

5. Lenders in the Temple (Conor Oberst)

6. Breezy (Gentlemen's Pact)

7. Milk Thistle (Conor Oberst)

8. Sausalito (Conor Oberst)

9. $$$$ (Desaparecidos - Read Music)

10. Synesthete Song (Gentlemen's Pact)

11. Cape Canaveral (Conor Oberst)

Buy Conor Oberst's new album, Outer South.

The 11 Best Songs By Cracker

Second bands are never supposed do as well as first bands. Mars Volta is great...but At The Drive-In is still better. Crowded House has some great hits...even great albums...but the Split Enz are still superior. And don't even get me started on Porno For Pyros. That's why Cracker's long-term success is such a fluke. Camper Van Beethoven was such an indie rock darling, it was hard to imagine that Lowry's follow-up band could be anything more than a novelty. But almost twenty years later, Cracker is still going strong. What makes their succes even more shocking is that they are one of the last bands standing from the early 90s. Many of their grunge peers are already having "reunion" tours, while Cracker has never bothered to leave the stage.

I was lucky enough to get an advance of the new album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. I surprised how alive the album sounded. This is easily Cracker's best release in a over a decade and solidly on par with Kerosene Hat or Gentlemen's Blues. On this release, Cracker isn't just churning out more tunes for their catalogue to keep their core fans happy, on this album, they're making a statement. With guest spots from John Doe, Patterson Hood, and Adam Duritz, they are showing that not only are they as good as the bands that they influenced, they are proving that they match up with bands that influenced them.

Here are the 11 Best Songs By Cracker:

1. Teen Angst (Cracker)

2. Low (Kerosene Hat)

3. Forever (Forever)

4. I Want Everything (Kerosene Hat)

5. The Golden Life (Gentlemen's Blues)

6. Been Around the World (Gentlemen's Blues)

7. Another Song About The Rain (Cracker)

8. 100 Flower Power Maximum (The Golden Age)

9. I Hate My Generation (The Golden Age)

10. My Life Is Totally Boring Without You (Gentlemen's Blues)

11. Ain't Going To Suck Itself (Countrysides)

Buy Cracker's new album, Sunrise in the Land of Milk and Honey. (get a bonus track at my Amazon store)

I never do this...but here's one of the new tracks because I think the album's that good.

Show Me How This Thing Works

The Unknown: Ben Harper - It's Radioactive (Live)

The first time I ever saw Ben Harper play live was the first time I ever heard his music.  Back in college, I begged my connection at the label for passes to the show because I was more interested in seeing the opening act.  I think it might have Coolbone.  Remember those guys?  Yeah...no one does.  But until that point, I had honestly never given him a fair listen, and it was like he knew it too.  I was trying to get my friend to leave after the opening act but we decided to stay for one song.  That opening song was 17-minutes long.  It was an epic jam on the scale of Hendrix proportions.  If there was any more songs in Ben's set that night...it really didn't matter.  This one song was filled with so much energy and electricity, he could have ended his set right there and not one person would have been disappointed.  In fact, it was so fucking brilliant, I'm sure most of us would have forked over more cash just because we felt guilty.  But this wasn't the only song...there more...and as the momentum of the concert built, the intensity of the songs magnified with each note.  I wasn't a fan before the show...but the next day, I went out and bought all his albums.  It's hard to watch a musician this talented get shoved aside while the David Cooks, the Ciaras, and the Kelly Clarksons accolades, when most likely...they don't even know how to play the cowbell.  

Here's a live Ben Harper radio broadcast from 97 to give you a brief look at how amazing BH could be live.  And the missing tracks are just radio promos...don't worry...you're not missing anything.

Ben Harper - It's Radioactive (LIVE)

1.  Ground On Down/Star Spangled Banner

2.  Voodoo Child

3.  Don't Take That Attitude To Your Grave

4.  Excuse Me Mr.

5.  Gold To Me

6.  Sexual Healing

7.  Please Me Like You Want To

8.  Burn One Down/Jah Work

Buy Ben Harper and the Relentless 7's new album, White Lies For Dark Times

(only $3.99!!!!!)

The 11 Best Bob Dylan Songs of 00s

It's always a good day when a new Bob Dylan album gets released. But narrowing Dylan's career down to a small sampling of 11 songs is practically impossible. A few months back I did Dylan's 111 best songs...and that was a vast and difficult undertaking. Dylan's worn so many different musical hats, comparing his early work to his current work is like comparing apples to automobiles. It's almost like comparing two completely different artists. This decade has proven to be a very productive one for Dylan, churning out more music than many artists 40 years his junior. The music he made this decade deserves its own recognition.

Here are the 11 Best Bob Dylan Songs of 00s:

1. Things Have Changed (Wonder Boys Sdtk)

2. Mississippi (Love and Theft)

3. Ain't Talkin' (Modern Times)

4. 'Cross The Green Mountain (Gods and Generals Sdtk)

5. Spirit on the Water (Modern Times)

6. Tell Ol Bill (North Country Sdtk)

7. Po' Boy (Love and Theft)

8. Workingman's Blues (Modern Times)

9. I Can't Get You Off Of My Mind (Timeless - Tribute to Hank Williams)

10. Huck's Tune (Lucky You Sdtk)

11. Thunder on the Mountain (Modern Times)

Buy Bob's newest musical tapestry, Together Through Life.

The Unknown: Jane's Addiction - 11-29-88

Depeche Mode wasn't the only 80s giant to make a return splash this week. Jane's Addiciton, another massively influential 80s band, released a box set of outtakes, b-sides, demos, and live tracks. Though most of these tracks have floated around on bootlegs and blogs, they finally get the proper mastering treatment with this release. I've never been a fan of tracks pulled from concerts...always prefered the full concert...but this is a good start. I think of this like the Nirvana box set from a few years ago. It's really for fans only...but if you're a fan, it's something you have to have.

Hopefully, the full reunion this summer, will offer some more broken punk that they so brilliantly fostered in their early days. Probably not...but one can hope.

Here is the concert where one of the box set tracks (Bobhaus) was taken from:

Trip Away 11-29-88

1. Kettle Whistle

2. Obvious

3. Whores (mistitled Romeo)

4. Idiot's Rule

5. Bobhaus/Pigs in Zen

6. Ted Just Admit It

7. Standing in the Shower

8. Had A Dad

9. I Would For You

10. Ocean Size

11. Trip Away

12. Mountain Song

13. Chip Away

Buy the box set, Cabinet of Curiosities now!

The 11 Best Depeche Mode Remixes

No band has had as much influence on the club scene as Depeche Mode. Back in the 80s...a remix meant either a longer version of a song or a slight mix of the levels with a cowbell thrown-in for fun. But DM turned remixing on its head by taking it to another level. They reinvented songs by changing the beats, the structures, even the lyrics. The Quad Mix of ETS is the breaking point of remixing in my opinion. They turned a 3-minute pop song into an orchestral number. That's a height all remixers should aim for.

In picking through the 200+ remixes of Depeche songs, I stuck to remixes rather than alternate versions of songs like the ETS Harmonium, the acoustic PJ, or the lounge version of Love in Itself. Though most of the best remixes have come in the later part of their career, without some of the brillant mixes from the early years...the newer remixes would have never been possible.

Here are the 11 Best Depeche Mode Remixes:

1. Enjoy the Silence (The Quad Final Mix)

2. World in My Eyes (Cicada Mix)

3. Photographic (Dub Mix) by Rex the Dog

4. Useless (Escape From Wherever: Parts 1 & 2)

5. Enjoy The Silence (Reinterpreted) by Mike Shinoda ft. Linkin Park

6. Policy of Truth (Capitol Mix)

7. Halo (Remix) by goldfrapp

8. Lilian (Robag Wruhme Slomochen Kikker)

9. Suffer Well (M83 Remix)

10. Get The Balance Right! (Combination Mix)

11. Nothing (Rock Mix) by Headcleaner

Sounds of the Universe is out now!!

The 11 Best Depeche Mode Songs of the 00s:

Okay, so it wasn't their best decade. But there are a couple of gems that hold up with some of their best material. No, not all of them...just a couple.


Here are The 11 Best Depeche Mode Songs of the 00s:


1. Precious (Playing the Angel)
2. Suffer Well (Playing the Angel)
3. Martyr (Best Of)
4. Free (Playing the Angel B-side)
5. Freelove (Exciter)
6. Lilian (Playing the Angel)
7. Shine (Exciter)
8. A Pain That I'm Used To (Playing the Angel)
9. When The Body Speaks (Exciter)
10. John The Revelator (Playing the Angel)
11. Goodnight Lovers (Exciter)


Last chance to buy the new Depeche album Sounds of the Universe for only $3.99.