Reimagining Fleetwood Mac - Lindsey Buckingham Edition

 Day of three finds us looking in at the driving guitar force of Fleetwood Mac, with Lindsey Buckingham.  There's no denying that adding Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham to the Fleetwood Mac mix completely elevated the band to another level.  Each one had such a distinct sound, when coupled together they form a complex companionship.  Separated, you can hear their unique voices in a more complete setting.

 In this experiment, not every song works.  Again, this isn't a "best of."  It's about what group of songs can cohesively go together to form an album.  Now while Tusk is pretty much a full Fleetwood Mac contribution, it's really Lindsey's baby (not to mention that it there was some good extra credit in there for a few USC students) hence its inclusion.

 Enjoy and let me know which edition is your favorite.

Here is Buckingham Mac:

1. Tusk (Tusk)
2. Tango In The Night (Tango In The Night)
3. Big Love (Tango In The Night)
4. Empire State (Mirage)
5. Go Your Own Way (Rumors)
6. Family Man (Tango in the Night)
7. Can't Go Back (Mirage)
8. Monday Morning (Fleetwood Mac)
9. What Makes You Think You're The One (Tusk)
10. Caroline (Tango In The Night)
11. I'm So Afraid (Fleetwood Mac)

Re-imagining Fleetwood Mac - Christine McVie Edition

 Day two of re-imagining the Fleetwood Mac brings us to Christine McVie, who sang with the band for a few albums prior to Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' recruitment.  That said, I'm only including songs after the self-titled Fleetwood Mac album (1975). As much as l love Stevie, Christine may have written and sang my favorite Fleetwood Mac tunes, including Little Lies and Isn't It Midnight.  Neither song is included here for various reasons.  I wanted this experiment to feel more like a solo work.  It's one thing to have another member chiming in for some background vocals but for songs like Little Lies and Hold Me, the rest of the band have too prominent of contributions.  As great as those songs are, they sound too much like a collaborative effort...and don't necessarily fit for purposes of this post. Here is Fleetwood MacVie:

1. You Make Loving Fun (Rumors)
2. Think About Me (Tusk)
3. Say You Love Me (Fleetwood Mac)
4. Sugar Daddy (Fleetwood Mac)
5. Never Forget (Tusk)
6. Over My Head (Fleetwood Mac)
7. Everywhere (Tango In The Night)
8. Brown Eyes (Tusk)
9. Oh Daddy (Rumors)
10. Over & Over (Tusk)
11. Honey Hi (Tusk)

   

Re-Imagining Fleetwood Mac - Stevie Nicks Edition

One of my favorite bands of all time is Fleetwood Mac.  What makes The Mac so amazing isn't one particular member.  The band is a true sum of its parts.  They are the gold standard when it comes to the team effort approach to their songs, albums and live shows.  Though they are a chameleon of a band who has evolved and changed over time, they have had their share of chaotic times.  But difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations.  When the group is in sync with each other, there is no one better. But what if that wasn't true?  What if Fleetwood Mac only had one singer?  The Mac has been known since their early beginnings as a band who has shared vocal duties.  But just for fun...what if that wasn't true?  What if they only had one singer?  What would an album by Fleetwood Mac sound like?  Over the next three days, I want to look at three different versions of The Mac...each one featuring a different singer.  What would an album sound like if only Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie or Lindsey Buckingham were the singer?  I am not advocating this should be the case...but what if? Up first, here is the Stevie Nicks version of Fleetwood Mac.  I have kept the album to a tight 11 songs, trying to find the best songs that cohesively fit together.  It's an interesting experiment and I'd love to know your thoughts. Listen below. Fleetwood Nicks

1. Sisters of the Moon (Tusk)
2. Straight Back (Mirage)
3. Seven Wonders (Tango in the Night)
4. Gypsy (Mirage)
5. Rhiannon (FM)
6. Sara (Tusk)
7. Dreams (Rumors)
8. That's Alright (Mirage)
9. Angel (Tusk)
10. Landslide (Rumors)
11. Storms (Tusk)

     

The 111 Best Songs By The Red Hot Chili Peppers

There is a divide between RHCP fans when it comes to their music.  Fans from the 80s are RHCP purists who believe the Chili Peppers were at their best from their debut up through Blood Sugar Sex Magic.  Fans who discovered the Chili Peppers because of Blood Sugar Sex Magic think the Chili Peppers were at their best after Blood Sugar Sex Magic.  There is no dispute that there is a noticable difference in the style of music before and after BSSM.  While both sets of fans claim to be Chili Pepper purists, what neither of realize is that the Chili Peppers have survived the chaotic waters of the music industry because they changed...they evovled.  Can't we all just get along and enjoy both?
It's Independence Day Weekend...enjoy the playlist with some true American Rock 'n' roll.
The 111 Best Songs By The Red Hot Chili Peppers:

1. Suck My Kiss (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
2. Under The Bridge (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
3. Parellel Universe (Californication)
4. Give It Away (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
5. Knock Me Down (Mother's Milk)
6. Higher Ground (Mother's Milk)
7. Taste The Pain (Mother's Milk)
8. Fight Like A Brave (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
9. Soul To Squeeze (Give It Away)
10. Californication (Californication)
11. If You Want Me To Stay (Freaky Styley)
12. Love Rollercoaster (Beavis and Butthead Do America)
13. I Could Have Lied (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
14. Stone Cold Bush (Mother's Milk)
15. Behind The Sun (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
16. Power Of Equality (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
17. Blood Sugar Sex Magik (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
18. Dosed (By The Way)
19. Breaking The Girl (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
20. Johnny, Kick A Hole In The Sky (Mother's Milk)
21. Throw Away Your Television (By The Way)
22. Naked In The Rain (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
23. Around The World (Californication)
24. Shallow Be Thy Game (One Hot Minute)
25. Funky Monks (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
26. Coffee Shop (One Hot Minute)
27. By The Way (By The Way)
28. Otherside (Californication)
29. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (I'm With You)
30. Catholic School Girls Rule (Freaky Styley)
31. Monarchy of Roses (I'm With You)
32. On Mercury (By The Way)
33. Tell Me Baby (Stadium Arcadium)
34. Scar Tissue (Californication)
35. Look Around (I'm With You)
36. Show Me Your Soul (Taste The Pain)
37. This Velvet Glove (Californication)
38. Special Secret Song Inside (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
39. Hard To Concentrate (Stadium Arcadium)
40. Dani California (Stadium Arcadium)
41. If You Have To Ask (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
42. 21st Century (Stadium Arcadium)
43. Factory of Faith (I'm With You)
44. True Men Don't Kill Coyotes (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
45. Road Trippin' (Californication)
46. Aeroplane (One Hot Minute)
47. Can't Stop (By The Way)
48. This Is The Place (By The Way)
49. Magic Johnson (Mother's Milk)
50. Subway To Venus (Mother's Milk)
51. Long Progression (I'm Besides You)
52. Snow (Stadium Arcadium)
53. Catch My Death (I'm Besides You)
54. Warlocks (Stadium Arcadium)
55. Out In LA (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
56. Hometown Gypsy (I'm Besides You)
57. Mellowship Slink in B Major (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
58. Search And Destroy (Give It Away)
59. Fortune Faded (Greatest Hits)
60. Good Time Boys (Mother's Milk)
61. Storm in A Teacup (Stadium Arcadium)
62. We Believe (Stadium Arcadium)
63. The Zephyr Song (By The Way)
64. Backwoods (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
65. One Big Mob (One Hot Minute)
66. Brendan's Death Song (I'm With You)
67. Subterranean Homesick Blues (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
68. Me & My Friends (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
69. Hump De Bump (Stadium Arcadium)
70. Stadium Arcadium (Stadium Arcadium)
71. Millionaires Against Hunger (Freaky Styley Remastered)
72. Nobody Weird Like Me (Mother's Milk)
73. How It Ends (I'm Besides You)
74. Make You Feel Better (Stadium Arcadium)
75. Quixoticelixer (Californication Itunes Bonus Track)
76. Sir Psycho Sexy (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
77. Joe (Desecration Smile)
78. Walkabout (One Hot Minute)
79. Yertle The Turtle (Freaky Styley)
80. Apache Rose Peacock (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
81. Cabron (By The Way)
82. C'Mon Girl (Stadium Arcadium)
83. Torture Me (Stadium Arcadium)
84. Ethiopia (I'm With You)
85. This Is The Kitt (I'm Besides You)
86. Minor Thing (By The Way)
87. Hanalei (I'm Besides You)
88. The Righteous & The Wicked (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
89. Venice Queen (By The Way)
90. Pink As Floyd (I'm Besides You)
91. Purple Stain (Californication)
92. No Chump Love Sucker (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
93. Love Trilogy (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
94. Annie Wants A Baby (I'm With You)
95. So Much I (Stadium Arcadium)
96. Nevermind (Freaky Styley)
97. Desecration Smile (Stadium Arcadium)
98. Castles Made Of Sand (Blood Sugar Sex Magik Reissue)
99. Turn It Again (Stadium Arcadium)
100. Tear (By The Way)
101. The Greeting Song (Blood Sugar Sex Magik)
102. Especially In Michigan (Stadium Arcadium)
103. Get On Top (Californication)
104. Get Up And Jump (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
105. Charlie (Stadium Arcadium)
106. Slow Cheetah (Stadium Arcadium)
107. I'll Be Your Domino (Snow)
108. Funky Crime (The Uplift Mofo Party Plan)
109. Funny Face (Snow)
110. Warped (One Hot Minute)
111. Open/Close (I'm Besides You)

The 111 Best Songs By Garabge

It was a challenge to get to 111...there are a couple of stretches to get there but we made it. Here are the 111 Best Songs By Garbage:

1. Only Happy When It Rains (Garbage)
2. Vow (Garbage)
3. The Trick Is To Keep Breathing (Version 2.0)
4. I Think I'm Paranoid (Version 2.0)
5. Push It (Version 2.0)
6. Medication (Version 2.0)
7. When I Grow Up (Version 2.0)
8. Queer (Garbage)
9. Temptation Waits (Version 2.0)
10. Androgyny (Beautiful Garbage)
11. Supervixen (Garbage)
12. Special (Version 2.0)
13. Control (Not Your Kind Of People)
14. Cup of Coffee (Beautiful Garbage)
15. Stupid Girl (Garbage)
16. Shut Your Mouth (Beautiful Garbage)
17. Milk (Garbage)
18. The World Is Not Enough (WINE Soundtrack)
19. Parade (Beautiful Garbage)
20. Sleep Together (Version 2.0)
21. My Lover's Box (Garbage)
22. Soldier Through This (You Look So Fine)
23. A Stroke of Luck (Garbage)
24. You Look So Fine  (Version 2.0)
25. Breaking Up The Girl (Beautiful Garbage)
26. Thirteen (Push It)
27. Dumb (Version 2.0)
28. Battle In Me (Not Your Kind Of People)
29. Sleep (Only Happy When It Rains)
30. Kick My Ass (Sweet Relief II)
31. Girl Don't Come (Only Happy When It Rains)
32. Bleed Like Me (Bleed Like Me)
33. #1 Crush (Vow)
34. Silence Is Golden (Beautiful Garbage)
35. Run Baby Run (Bleed Like Me)
36. I Hate Love (Not Your Kind Of People)
37. Can't Seem To Make You Mine (When I Grow Up)
38. Dog New Tricks (Garbage)
39. I Just Wanna Have Something To Do (Why Do You Love Me)
40. Man on a Wire (Not Your Kind Of People)
41. Sugar (Not Your Kind Of People)
42. Tell Me Where It Hurts (Absolute Garbage)
43. Because The Night (Because The Night)
44. Blood For Poppies (Not Your Kind Of People)
45. It's All Over But The Crying (Bleed Like Me)
46. Felt (Not Your Kind Of People)
47. Drive You Home (Beautiful Garbage)
48. The Chemicals (The Chemicals)
49. Big Bright World (Not Your Kind Of People)
50. Cherry Lips (Beautiful Garbage)
51. Hammering In My Head (Version 2.0)
52. Nobody Loves You (Beautiful Garbage)
53. Boys Wanna Fight (Bleed Like Me)
54. Girls Talk (Girls Talk)
55. Wicked Ways (Version 2.0)
56. What Girls Are Made Of (Not Your Kind Of People Deluxe Edition)
57. Untouchable (Beautiful Garbage)
58. Trip My Wire (Queer)
59. Fix Me Now (Garbage)
60. Use Me (Cherry Lips)
61. Automatic Systematic Habit (Not Your Kind Of People)
62. Afterglow (I Think I'm Paranoid)
63. Right Between The Eyes (Bleed Like Me)
64. Not Your Kind Of People (Not Your Kind Of People)
65. The One (Not Your Kind Of People Deluxe Edition)
66. Why Do Love Me (Bleed Like Me)
67. Beloved Freak (Not Your Kind Of People)
68. So Like A Rose (Beautiful Garbage)
69. Never Be Free (Sex Is Not The Enemy)
70. Bad Boyfriend (Bleed Like Me)
71. Candy Says (Breaking Up The Girl)
72. Metal Heart (Bleed Like Me)
73. Begging Bone (Androgyny)
74. Happy Home (Bleed Like Me)
75. Why Don't You Come Over (Bleed Like Me)
76. Til The Day I Die (Beautiful Garbage)
77. The Hunger (Prometheus Bound Soundtrack)
78. Deadwood (I Think I'm Paranoid)
79. Can't Cry These Tears (Beautiful Garbage)
80. Lick The Pavement (Push It)
81. Show Me (Not Your Kind Of People Deluxe Edition)
82. April Tenth (Shut Your Mouth)
83. Sex Is Not The Enemy (Bleed Like Me)
84. Subhuman (Vow)
85. Dark Hearts and Heart Beats (Dark Hearts Soundtrack)
86. As Heaven Is Wide (Garbage)
87. Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses (Ahk-toong Bay-bi Covered)
88. Confidence (Breaking Up The Girl)
89. Driving Lesson (Stupid Girl)
90. Love Like Suicide (Not Your Kind Of People Japanese Edition)
91. Enough Is Never Enough (Cherry Lips)
92. Not My Idea (Garbage)
93. Nobody Can Win (Why Do You Love Me)
94. Betcha (Tell Me Where It Hurts B-side)
95. Badass (Run Baby Run)
96. 13 x Forever (Special)
97. Wild Horses (Shut Your Mouth)
98. Honeybee (Sex Is Not The Enemy)
99. Time Will Destroy Everything (Girls Talk)
100. Bright Tonight (Not Your Kind Of People Deluxe Edition)
101. All The Good In Life (Tell Me Where It Hurts B-side)
102. On Fire (The Chemicals)
103. Space Can Come Through Anyone (Why Do You Love Me)
104. Sex Never Goes Out Of Fashion (Shut Your Mouth)
105. Witness To Your Love (Give.Listen.Help)
106. Get Busy With The Fizzy (You Look So Fine)
107. Alien Sex Fiend (Stupid Girl)
108. Butterfly Collector (Queer)
109. Happiness Pt. 2 (Breaking Up The Girl)
110. Tornado (When I Grow Up)
111. I'm Really Into Techno (Shut Your Mouth)

 

The 111 Best Songs By Bob Dylan (Birthday edition)

Happy 75th birthday, Bob! He's probably one of the few artists I could post 1111 songs for....but who has the time?

Here are the 111 Best Songs by Bob Dylan:

1. Hurricane (Desire)

2. Don't Think Twice, It's Alright (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

3. My Back Pages (Another Side of Bob Dylan)

4. It Ain't Me Babe (Another Side of Bob Dylan)

5. It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bringing It All Back Home)

6. Lay, Lady, Lay (Nashville Skyline)

7. Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid)

8. Masters of War (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

9. A Hard Rain's A-Going Fall (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

10. With God On Our Side (The Times They Are A-Changin')

11. Like a Rolling Stone (Highway 61 Revisited)

12. Things Have Changed (Wonder Boys Soundtrack)

13. Tangled Up In Blue (Blood on the Tracks)

14. Wedding Song (Planet Waves)

15. Ballad of a Thin Man (Highway 61 Revisited)

16. Stuck Inside of Memphis with the Mobile Blues (Blonde on Blonde)

17. Baby, Let Me Follow You Down (Bob Dylan)

18. I Want You (Blonde on Blonde)

19. Desolation Row (Highway 61 Revisited)

20. Precious Angel (Slow Train Coming)

21. The Times They Are A-Changin' (The Times They Are A-Changin')

22. Tombstone Blues (Highway 61 Revisited)

23. You Ain't Going Nowhere (Basement Tapes)

24. Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest (John Wesley Harding)

25. Bob Dylan's Dream (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

26. Simple Twist of Fate (Blood on the Tracks)

27. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll (The Times They Are A-Changin')

28. Only A Pawn in Their Game (The Times They Are A-Changin')

29. Absolutely Sweet Marie (Blonde on Blonde)

30.  Subterranean Homesick Blues (Bringing It All Back Home)

31. All Along the Watchtower (John Wesley Harding)

32. Love Sick (Time Out of Mind)

33. North Country Blues (The Times They Are A-Changin')

34. You're No Good (Bob Dylan)

35. Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands (Blonde on Blonde)

36. Tonight, I'll Be Staying Here With You (Nashville Skyline)

37. Blowin' In The Wind (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

38. Girl From North Country (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan/Nashville Skyline)

39. Maggie's Farm (Bringing It All Back Home)

40. Visions of Johanna (Blonde on Blonde)

41. Dignity (Greatest Hits 3)

42. Just Like A Woman (Blonde on Blonde)

43. One More Night (Nashville Skyline)

44. Most of the Time (Oh, Mercy)

45. He Was a Friend Of Mine (Bootleg Series Volume 1)

46. Lily, Rosemary and the Jack of Hearts (Blood on the Tracks)

47. Bob Dylan's 115th Dream (Bringing It All Back Home)

48. Boots of Spanish Leather (The Times They Are A-Changin')

49.  You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go (Blood on the Tracks)

50. Most Likely You'll go Your Way and I'll Go Mine (Biograph)

51. Going To Alcapulco (Basement Tapes)

52. Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Bringing It All Back Home)

53. Jokerman (Infidels)

54. Not Dark Yet (Time Out of Mind)

55. Political World (Oh, Mercy)

56. Highway 61 Revisited (Highway 61 Revisited)

57. Mississippi (Love and Theft)

58. Idiot Wind (Blood on the Tracks)

59. Quinn The Eskimo (Self Portrait)

60. One More Cup of Coffee (Desire)

61. It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train To Cry (Highway 61 Revisited)

62. Going Going Gone (Planet Waves)

63. The Ballad of Hollis Brown (The Times They Are A-Changin')

64. Shelter From The Storm (Blood on the Tracks)

65. Honest With Me (Love and Theft)

66. All I Really Want To Do (Another Side of Bob Dylan)

67. Changing of the Guards (Street Legal)

68. When The Night Comes Falling From The Sky (Empire Burlesque)

69. Fixin' To Die (Bob Dylan)

70. Forever Young (Planet Waves)

71. You're a Big Girl Now (Blood on the Tracks)

72. If You Ever Go To Houston (Together Through Life)

73. Million Dollar Bash (Basement Tapes)

74. Highlands (Time Out of Mind)

75. On A Night Like This (Planet Waves)

76. Lily of the West (Dylan)

77. Tell Me That It Isn't True (Nashville Skyline)

78. Just Like Tom Thumb Blues (Highway 61 Revisited)

79. She Belongs to Me (Bringing It All Back Home)

80. Highway 51 Blues (Bob Dylan)

81. I'll Remember You (Empire Burlesque)

82. As I Went Out One Morning (John Wesley Harding)

83. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (John Wesley Harding)

84. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean (Bob Dylan)

85. Sweetheart Like You (Infidels)

86. Nobody 'Cept You (Bootleg Series Volume 2)

87. Standing In The Doorway (Time Out of Mind)

88. Covenant Woman (Saved)

89. Mozambique (Desire)

90. To Ramona (Another Side of Bob Dylan)

91. If You See Her, Say Hello (Blood on the Tracks)

92. In Search of Little Sadie (Self Portrait)

93. Sara (Desire)

94. Blackjack Davey (Good As I Been To You)

95. Thunder On the Mountain (Modern Times)

96. Chimes of Freedom (Another Side of Bob Dylan)

97. Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee (Love and Theft)

98. Emotionally Yours (Empire Burlesque)

99. Series of Dreams (Bootleg Series Volume 3)

100. Tears of Rage (Basement Tapes)

101. If Not for You (New Morning)

102. Talkin' World War III Blues (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

103. Can You Please Crawl Out Your Window? (Biograph)

104. It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) - (Bringing It All Back Home)

105. World Gone Wrong (World Gone Wrong)

106. From A Buick 6 (Highway 61 Revisited)

107. I Shall Be Free (Freewheelin' Bob Dylan)

108. I Threw It All Away (Nashville Skyline)

109. Caribbean Wind (Biograph)

110. Buckets of Rain (Blood on the Tracks)

111. Ain't Talkin' (Modern Times)

The Unknown: Marie Danielle - Hustler

No one thinks of Los Angeles as a country music city.  Los Angeles is a city drenched in steamy asphalt roads, overpacked with tin cars on an eternal idle.  The urban sprawl is a desolate kingdom of industrialization.  This is the city that gave birth to heavy metal music that crawled its way out of the sleaze and grime of its underbelly.  It gave birth to a massive hip-hop culture that rebelled against the forced environment of the low-income slums.  It is not a city that brings to mind the heartfelt twang of an acoustic guitar.  But despite all that, Los Angeles is a desert.  Long before the skyscrapers, celebrities, and traffic nightmares, it was a western town snuggled up against a sandy beach.  If you rip off the superficial covering, you will discover that country is in LA's heart and soul.



Marie Danielle is not a country artist.  She is an LA artist.  Even though she's originally from the East Coast, her sound is born from the rich musical tapestry that makes Los Angeles such a layered bastion of musical expression.  On her new album, Hustler, Marie embodies all the great emotional baggage coursing through LA's veins.  The album opens with the heartbreaking "Tinseltown" subtly crafted with a hint of Don Henley's lonely howl.  On "Dreary Head" there is an inescapable Brian Wilson loveliness.   "One Night Stands" is sprinkled with Beck's heart-wrenching desperation of feeling alone in a crowded room.  There's Exene's boldness, Rivers' introspection, and even a touch of swagger from GNR Lies on the album's essential song, "Soldier."  Each of Danielle's song has its own identity, but Hustler as an album is even better than the sum of its parts.  

Hustler's crowning achievement is its ability to evolve over multiple listens.  Upon first pass, it hooks you with its sensitivity.  But with repeat visits, the listener is able to peel back the layers discovering emotional peaks and valleys tucked inside the melodies. For every moment of hope there's an air of darkness.  For every downfall there's a smile.  For every fluffy cloud there's a silver nitrate lining.  It's a conflict-laden journey with Danielle's sultry vixen-esque voice, guiding you along with its alluring seduction.  Her intimate tone wraps you in a comfortable blanket, holding you close as if you're the only person this album is made for.  The album's major appeal is how personal it feels.  Marie Danielle is everyone.  She's your neighbor, she's your sister, she's your ex-girlfriend.  She is your confident, and in this moment, she's confiding in you.



Being a musical artist in LA means you have to be a fighter.  Playing shows in LA means competing against narcissistic Angelenos who would rather hear the sound of their own voice than bother listening.  The artist must power over them...over the selfies and status updates.  To successfully come up in this environment, an artist must have internal strength and tenacity. It is a war of attrition and those who survive are stronger from it.  Danielle is a survivor.

Marie Danielle's album, Hustler, is a must.  It is the summer mixtape for that long drive up the coast or the late night drive to Vegas.  It will accompany you after a break-up and be your fan on a first date.  If you're still reading this review and haven't purchased it yet...well, you're wasting your time.

Marie Danielle - Hustler is now available from Marie Danielle Music and Itunes.

The Unknown: The Cure - Disintegration (Re-Imagined)

This weekend was Record Store Day.  The greatest single event created for music fans everywhere.  And for all the haters, they're just bitter because they didn't think of it first.  Seriously.  Without Record Store Day, independent record stores would be out of business, not increasing in numbers.  So for any flaws it might have, the positives outweigh the negatives in extremes. This year, for Record Store Day, there were a few "alternate" versions of popular albums.  The Flaming Lips' alternate version of "Clouds Taste Metallic" and Fleetwood Mac's alternate "Tuck" are a couple that come to mind.  This got me thinking.  How can we re-imagine famous albums in a new way? Not necessarily a better way...but a new way.  Like visiting a best friend in a new house or a director's cut of a great movie.  Are there other ways to enjoy something we already love? My favorite album of all time is the Cure's "Disintegration."  It might be the perfect album.  To me.  It got me thinking...is there a new way to enjoy this album?  Even by merely re-ordering the songs...  Is there a new way to experience it?  I took the 12 songs from the original release.  I included the 4 B-sides and used the extended remixes of the singles in lieu of the current album versions.  With these 16 songs, I ventured out to create a new album. Immediately, I noticed one very important thing...the order of the songs is as important as the songs themselves.  Here's something to consider.  If I try to make a 12 song album, using these 16 songs, the possibilities of different albums number in the...get ready for this...billions.  Yes, billions.  There are over 800 billion different ways to order these 16 songs. Eight hundred billion.  This is true. It's called math.  Permutations, precisely.  Google it. So, of the 800 billion possible combinations, are there other combinations that work?  The answer is...yes.  Over the course of re-evaluating this album, I discovered two very different paths, creating two polarizing different albums: a dark album...and a light album.  So I have included them for you here.  Disintegration:  The Light and Disintegration: The Dark.  Listen to them both below...and enjoy a new journey into The Cure.  Even songs used in both alternate versions, come across with totally different feels in their new homes. A unique experience that can surely open the door into the listening of other favorite albums. Trying to stay on par with the original, I have capped the running length under 70 minutes.  Let me know your thoughts...and your own versions. The Cure Disintegration: The Dark     The Cure Disintegration:  The Light    

The 11 Best A Tribe Called Quest Songs Featuring Phife Dag

It's been a hard year on music.  Another major loss today with the passing of the iconic, Phife Dawg.  A legend, whose lyrical mastery inspired a generation of socially-motivated rappers.  A wordsmith, a poet, a legend.  Your words will live on. Here are the 11 best Phife Dawg performances in A Tribe Called Quest:

1. Buggin' Out (Low End Theory)
2. Oh My God (Midnight Marauders)
3. Electric Relaxation (Midnight Marauders)
4. Scenario (Low End Theory)
5. Award Tour (Midnight Marauders)
6. Check The Rhyme (Low End Theory)
7. Can I Kick It? (People's Instinctive Travels and the Path of Rhythm)
8. Jazz (Low End Theory)
9. Steve Biko (Midnight Marauders)
10. Mind Power (Beats, Rhyme, and Life)
11. Find A Way (The Love Movement)

  https://open.spotify.com/user/acompleteunknown/playlist/6lv8kyV3sNR8XZvxlSAob7

The 11 Best Song By Glenn Frey on Lead Vocals

In high school, I bought a four pack of CDs from Costco, featuring four of the Eagles best albums.  The set included The Eagles, Desperado, The Long Run and Hotel California.  Costco had been packaging four packs of CDs like this for some iconic artists like Fleetwood Mac, AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.  It was a great doorway drug for a young kid, discovering a classic artist for the first time.  I purchased the Eagles because I was growing up in a small town where country music was the mainstream while I preferred rock music. I believed it was a nice alternative to have in my car in case someone found one of my Depeche Mode or Cure CDs lying around.  What instantly struck me about the Eagles was their flawless ability to teeter back and forth between two lead singers with strong success.  Both of them had similar styles that blended into beautiful melodies and harmonies.  Only the Grateful Dead and Fleetwood Mac can brag about having multiple lead singers.  But when Weir sang over Garcia or Buckingham over Nicks, there were distinct differences in the songs.  The Henley-Frey combo was a needle in a haystack.  A perfect union that has forever ended. Glenn Frey's legacy is unmatched except only by his brother in arms, Don Henley. RIP Glenn...Take it easy... Here are the 11 Best Songs Sung By Glenn Frey:

1. Take It Easy (The Eagles - The Eagles)
2. Lyin' Eyes (The Eagles - One Of These Nights)
3. Tequila Sunrise (The Eagles - Desperado)
4. Already Gone (The Eagles - On the Border)
5. Don't Give Up (No Fun Aloud)
6. You Belong To The City (Miami Vice Soundtrack)
7. New Kid In Town (The Eagles - Hotel California)
8. Outlaw Man (The Eagles - Desperado)
9. Somebody (The Eagles - Long Road Out Of Eden)
10. The Allnighter (The Allnighter)
11. King Of Hollywood with Don Henley (The Eagles - The Long Run)

The 111 Best Dreams By David Bowie

Legends are rare.  Legends who endure are even rarer. Legends who can defy death are the rarest of all.  Bowie's absence will leave a hole in all our hearts but his music will live on in our souls.  Bowie shared his dreams with us: dreams of tomorrow, dreams of the unknown. His dreams will live on in all of us. This list encompasses the majority of Bowie's solo career.  I did not include Tin Machine, Black Star, New Day or his guest spot/team-ups.  I also avoided the live albums.  This list was hard enough with just his main releases.  I will update this list through-out the day as I re-visit Bowie's amazing dreams. Here are the 111 Best Songs By David Bowie:

1. Suffragette City (Ziggy Stardust)
2. Life on Mars? (Hunky Dory)
3. Modern Love (Let's Dance)
4. Ziggy Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
5. Rebel Rebel (Diamond Dogs)
6. Moonage Daydream (Ziggy Stardust)
7. China Girl (Let's Dance)
8. The Man Who Sold the World (The Man Who Sold the World)
9. Young Americans (Young Americans)
10. Changes (Hunky Dory)
11. Hang On To Yourself (Ziggy Stardust)
12. Space Oddity (Space Oddity)
13. Golden Years (Station To Station)
14. Five Years (Ziggy Stardust)
15. Andy Warhol (Hunky Dory)
16. Song For Bob Dylan (Hunky Dory)
17. The Width of a Circle (The Man Who Sold the World)
18. Neighborhood Threat (Tonight)
19. Bang Bang  (Never Let Me Down)
20. Jean Genie (Aladdin Sane)
21. Blue Jean (Tonight)
22. Sound and Vision (Low)
23. DJ (Lodger)
24. John, I'm Only Dancing (Ziggy Stardust)
25. 1984 (Diamond Dogs)
26. Cracked Actor (Aladdin Sane)
27. Starman (Ziggy Stardust)
28. Let's Dance  (Let's Dance)
29. Watch That Man (Aladdin Sane)
30. Queen Bitch (Hunky Dory)
31. Velvet Goldmine (Ziggy Stardust Deluxe Edition)
32. Be My Wife (Low)
33. Rock N Roll Suicide (Ziggy Stardust)
34. Loving The Alien (Tonight)
35. Fascination (Young Americans)
36. Star (Ziggy Stardust)
37. Heroes (Heroes)
38. Let's Spend the Night Together (Aladdin Sane)
39. Soul Love (Ziggy Stardust)
40. All The Young Dudes (Aladdin Sane 30th Anniversary)
41. Cat People (Let's Dance)
42. Scary Monsters and Super Creeps (Scary Monsters)
43. She's Got Medals (David Bowie)
44. Diamond Dogs (Diamond Dogs)
45. New York's In Love (Never Let Me Down)
46. I'm Afraid of Americans (Earthling)
47. Afraid (Heathen)
48. Lady Stardust (Ziggy Stardust)
49. Kooks (Hunky Dory)
50. Black Country Rock (The Man Who Sold the World)
51. Fame (Young Americans)
52. Criminal World (Let's Dance)
53. The Supermen (Hunky Dory Special Edition)
54. Sunday (Heathen)
55. Janine (Space Oddity)
56. Secret Life of Arabia (Heroes)
57. Strangers When We Meet (Outside)
58. Growing Up (Diamond Dogs 30th Anniversary)
59. Time Will Crawl (Never Let Me Down)
60. Reality (Reality)
61. The Bewlay Brothers (Hunky Dory)
62. Drive In Saturday (Aladdin Sane)
63. Oh! You Pretty Things (Hunky Dory)
64. It's Hard To Be A Saint In City (Sound and Vision)
65. Day-In Day-Out (Never Let Me Down)
66. Breaking Glass (Low)
67. Jump They Say (Black Tie White Noise)
68. Time (Aladdin Sane)
69. Panic In Detroit (Aladdin Sane)
70. Seven (Hours...)
71. Big Brother (Diamond Dogs)
72. Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly (Space Oddity)
73. Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere? (Pin-Ups)
74. Rock N Roll With Me (Diamond Dogs)
75. Cygnet Committee (Space Oddity)
76. Tonight (Tonight)
77. It Ain't Easy (Ziggy Stardust)
78. You've Been Around (Black Tie White Noise)
79. Letter To Hermione (Space Oddity)
80. Slow Burn (Heathen)
81. The Prettiest Star (7-inch version)
82. Seven Years In Tibet (Earthling)
83. I'm Deranged (Outside)
84. Because You're Young (Scary Monsters)
85. Always Crashing in the Same Car (Low)
86. Little Wonder (Earthling)
87. Outside (Outside)
88. Beat of Your Drum (Never Let Me Down)
89. The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell (Hours...)
90. Look Back in Anger (Lodger)
91. Slip Away (Heathen)
92. TVC15 (Station To Station)
93. Teenage Wildlife (Scary Monsters)
94. Black Out (Heroes)
95. Bring Me The Disco King (Reality)
96. New Killer Star (Reality)
97. Johnny I'm Only Dancing, Again (7-inch)
98. Pallas Athena (Black Tie White Noise)
99. Quicksand (Hunky Dory)
100. Station To Station (Station To Station)
101. Fantastic Voyage (Lodger)
102. Tumble and Twirl (Tonight)
103. Uncle Arthur (David Bowie)
104. Thursday's Child (Hours...)
105. Magic Dance (Labyrinth)
106. Wild Is the Wind (Station To Station)
107. Dodo (Diamond Dogs Expanded Edition)
108. Wild Eyed Boy From Free Cloud (Space Oddity B-Side)
109. Bombers (Hunky Dory Special Edition)
110. Don't Look Down (Tonight)
111. When I Live My Dream (David Bowie)