Seven to list seven

You know, I was thinking of a couple different ideas for my next blog entry, because I haven't written anything in a while. And since it's so freakin' hot outside, I was going to sit down and do it now.

I could write about old stuff (Atlantic City, Baseball Hall of Fame, the film festival) - all of which I'll get to (eventually). I could write about the Red Sox and Celtics. I could write more about politics (and bore people, because I think the political breakdown of my friends is roughly a ration of 1:everyone else, in conservative:liberal terms).

But Bryan saved me the trouble with the following:

List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre,
whether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must
be songs you're really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these
instructions in your blog along with your 7 songs. Then tag 7 other
people to see what they're listening to.

The seven people I'd love to hear lists from include:
1. Bill
2. Alan
3. J.D.
4. Shilo
5. James
6. Ryan
7. Dorian

So in no particular order, I offer these:

1. "Medicine" by Orbit:

Knowing I was going to miss the latest Orbit reunion show this past weekend in Boston, I started listening to the Orbit catalog over the past few weeks. And I realize that for those who know Orbit well, this song is the "easiest" one to pick - it was a moderate hit in the early '90s and landed them on Lollapalooza. However, it's so ridiculously catchy and upbeat, and it's got that great 90's production that I miss so much - a great, buzzing wall of sound, with a bouncy bassline and those awesome fuzzy guitars.

More than the song itself, I think, are the memories that come back when I hear Orbit (this song particularly). Jeff Robbins standing atop Paul Buckley's drum set. Bill, Dan, and Al presumably at arm's length away. The Sheila Divine up next. Long nights out watching bands with my friends.

This song is like "Star Wars", in a way. Ask me at any given time on any given day what my favorite movies are, and "Star Wars" will always be one of them. Ask me about songs that are getting me through the days, and "Medicine" always seems to be on the list.

2. "The Perfect Crime" by Faith No More:

Thanks, iTunes! I had this song on an old cassette of the soundtrack to "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey", and though it resurfaced on FNM's "This Is It (Best of)" disc, I wasn't going to buy it, because I had all the albums otherwise. Buying the single was a great decision.

If I remember correctly, "The Perfect Crime" was FNM's first studio production with Mike Patton part of the writing process ("The Real Thing" was recorded instrumentally before Patton joined the band, and he wrote his own vocals after the fact).

It was also the first step from moving away from the awful "funk metal" label they were burdened with, instead inching toward a more progressive, less "radio-friendly" sound. The lyrics are incredibly anti-social, while the song itself sounds remarkably upbeat. Quite an accomplishment.

BONUS:
I found this on YouTube while searching for a video for the song.

3. "Tattooed Millionaire" by Bruce Dickinson:

(I can't embed this one for some reason, but here it is at YouTube)

My brother - I don't give him enough credit sometimes. I still think a lot of the music he listens to is a little too "out there" for my own tastes, but he does have a proven record of liking stuff way before I do and making me regret not jumping on board earlier. He is a lifelong Iron Maiden fan. It took me a long, long time to "get it", I guess. I only really started to appreciate them a couple of years ago, in the early 2000's. He was listening to them a lot back in High School, in the late 80s/very early 90s.

Anyway, Bruce Dickinson put out a bunch of very different sounding solo records when Maiden was on a bit of a hiatus. I remembered his cover of Mott the Hoople's "All the Young Dudes", but had completely forgotten about the title track to this album. I stumbled upon a discography of Bruce's when I was looking up information about his previous (pre-Maiden) band, Samson, it rang a bell. "Tattooed Millionaire" ... hmm, I thought I remembered something about it, but wasn't sure. So I downloaded the song.

Yup. Love it! Pure pop-metal, completely un-Maiden. But that voice, and that ridiculous melody! Who could resist it?

Also, and I don't know if this is true or not, but Wikipedia mentions it, so it must be true (uh, yeah): "Tattooed Millionaire" is allegedly about the Mötley Crüe bassist,
Nikki Sixx, after he was found having an affair with Bruce Dickinson's
wife.

If the song is, indeed, a "fuck you" of sorts to Nikki Sixx, then the song is even better, because Motley Crue sucks and needs to be destroyed.

4. "Walk, Don't Run" by the Ventures:

Again, I have to kind of thank my brother, in a roundabout way. He introduced me to bands like Man or Astroman? and Los Straightjackets the better part of 12-13 years ago, I guess it would be. These bands are essentially updates of the surf-music genre. Usually when I start listening to something, I'll work my way backwards if I find enough reason. When you work backwards in the world of twangy surf guitars, you will run into a giant mountain of awesomeness called the Ventures. Everyone's heard of the Ventures (and Dick Dale, etc.), sure, but does anyone our age actually buy their records anymore?

I know that Nicole's father is a big fan, too. I'm sure that he wouldn't find much interest in most of the music I listen to, but at least we have this.

And I guarantee that you know this song, even if you don't recognize the title.

5. "The Step and the Walk" by The Duke Spirit:

I heard this one of Sirius' "Left of Center" station. Nicole says they play it all the time, but it's new to me. I'm sure all the hipster kids have already moved on to something else and I'm late to the party, but that's fine by me. I swear I recognize the melody from something else, but I can't place my finger on it. It's sort of equal parts late 60s pop/soul, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and The Sounds. I'm probably talking out of my ass, but that's what I get out of it. I don't know. I dig the song, so I guess it doesn't matter.

6. "Agaetis Byrjun" by Sigur Ros

I have absolutely no idea what the words are, what it means, or anything else. I just find it hauntingly beautiful.

Several months ago, I heard an "acoustic" version (similar to the one above) on Sirius radio (the Chill station) and had no idea where it came from. And wouldn't you know, wrapped up under the Christmas tree last December was a gift from Nicole, Sigur Ros' two disc "Hvarf Heim" album. And there it was.

It still sends chills down my spine, and the emotion transcends the language (until I find out that it's about a lawnmower running over a Smurf or something).

7. "Babe, I'm on Fire" by Nick Cave and Bad Seeds:

I can only promise you I'm not trying to gain indie points by listing this. A couple of years ago I ripped a couple of Nick Cave CDs from a friend, and a few months ago I put a couple of them on my iPod because I needed something new to listen to.

So one day I'm out walking the dog and what comes on? "Babe, I'm on Fire". It kicked my ass. In fact, I think I'm still sore. I had no idea it was going to be so long, and not once did I get sick of it.

Again, I'm totally late to the party on Nick Cave. He's another guy I've known about for years, but never got around to actually checking out. I beg forgiveness from anyone and everyone who'll accept it from me. The dude's unreal.

And if I ever find a place that makes the mistake of putting this on their Karaoke playlist, I'm going to clear the room. It's going to be awesome.