Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Uncle John's Band by The Grateful Dead

I was really curious how The Grateful Dead sounded. My father has hyped this band and it's heavily bearded guitar-toting icon, Jerry Garcia.

So during one of my audio CD binges I bought several Dead albums. Some consisted of highly trippy sounds, which one magazine has labeled something you can appreciate only when you're on a high, similar to the state the Dead recorded them.

Uncle John's Band is probably one of their most laid back songs, in fact it sounds something that the Beatles could have wrote themselves. Vocal harmonies are a top notch, Rhythm and Lead guitars at sync and the bass lines are suave!




Well the first days are the hardest days,
Don't you worry any more, 'Cause when life looks like easy
Street, there is danger at your door.
Think this through with me, let me know your mind.
Woh - oh, what I want to know, is are you kind?

It's a buck dancer's choice my friend; better take my advice.
You know all the rules by now and the fire from ice.
Will you come with me, won't you come with me?
Woh - oh, what I want to know, will you come with me?

Goddamn, well I declare, have you seen the like?
Their walls are built of cannonballs, their motto is
Don't tread on me. Come hear Uncle John's Band playing
To the tide, come with me, or go alone.

It's the same story the crow told me;
It's the only one he knows.
Like the morning sun you come and like the wind you go.
Ain't no time to hate, barely time to wait,
Woh - oh, what I want to know, where does the time go?

I live in a silver mine and I call it Beggar's Tomb;
I got me a violin and I beg you call the tune
Anybody's choice, I can hear your voice.
Woh - oh, what I want to know, how does the song go?

Come hear the Uncle John's Band by the riverside
Got some things to talk about, here beside the risin' tide
Come hear Uncle John's Band playing to the tide,
Come on along, or go alone,
He's come to take his children home.
Woh - oh, what I want to know, how does the song go?

Come hear Uncle John's Band by the riverside,
Got some things to talk about here beside the risin' tide.
Come hear Uncle John's Band playing to the tide, come on
Along or go alone, he's come to take his children home

Friday, July 11, 2008

Crapshoot by Perpertual Groove

What can you get for 130pesos? you can get a premium burger or 3 cheeseburgers or you can buy a SPAM and a loaf of bread and eat your heart out!

Recently for 130 pesos I got a magazine from Booksale, Relix, which comes with a free Audio CD. I didn't know then that one of the songs included in the mag would be my companion on an unfortunate journey to Malabon.

If I was a judge-the-book-by-its-over-type I would have just pressed forward and not bother with this song. Not that I'm not a judge-the-book-by-its-over-type but I was impressed by this song early on. The early pounding of the drums and straddling bass easily made it's mark but what impressed me was the guitar work.... it's like art and noise rolled into one.



Step up to the passline
Come on and make your bets
You think you know so much honey
You aint seen nothing yet

The way you turn your back on things
Now you must lie in your bed
The way you turn your back on things
I wont soon forget

Cause i cant see anymore of me
taken part in this sad sad deal
As they say what will be will be
this time has never felt so real

Step up to the passline
Come on and make your bets
You think you got a lock on so much money
You aint won nothing yet

This bed shes yours to lie in
Now that youve made your bets
The way you turn your back on things i wont soo forget

Cause i cant see anymore of me
taken part in this sad sad deal
As they say what will be will be
Wouldnt you agree this time has never felt so real

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Like I Love You by Justin Timberlake

This song is easy to love and something that puts Justin Timberlake in the realm of an 80's Michael Jackson. The song starts out with a speech backed by rhythmic strumming of a guitar. By the time the song gets to chorus electronic instruments courtesy of NERD pumps in.

Every time i here this song I always think about playing it live. I even had the audacity to propose to play this during college knowing the fact that it's just an acoustic guitar that's driving it really... too bad that none of my classmates doesn't know how to dance to make any performances of this song passable.






Just something about you
The way I'm lookin at you whatever
You keep lookin at me
You gettin scared now, right?
Don't fear me baby, it's just destiny
It feel good right?
Listen


I kind of noticed, from one night
From the club, your front face
It's kind of weird to me
Since you're so fine
If it's up to me your face will change


If you smiling, that should set the tone
Just be limber
If you let go, the music should groove your bones
Just remember
Sing this song with me


Ain't nobody love you like I love you
You're a good girl and that's what makes me trust ya
Late at night, I talk to you
You will know the difference when I touch you


People are so phony
Nosy coz they're lonely
Aren't you sick of the same thing?
They say so and so was dating
Love you or they're hatin
When it doesn't matter anyway
Coz we're here tonight



If you smiling, that should set the tone
Just be limber baby
If you let go, the music should groove your bones
Baby just remember
Sing this song with me



Ain't nobody love you like I love you
You're a good girl and that's what makes me trust ya
Late at night, I talk to you
You will know the difference when I touch you


Yeah, you know I can make ya happy
I could change your life
If you give me that chance
To be your man
I won't let you down baby
If you give me that chance
To be your man
Here baby, put on my jacket
And then ...


Maybe we'll fly tonight (I just wanna love you baby)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Maybe we'll fly tonight (I just wanna love you baby)
Girl ...


RAP


Ma, what chu wanna do?
I'm in front of you
Grab a friend, see I can have fun with two
Or me and you put on a stage show
And the mall kids, that's how to change low
From them you heard "wow, it's the same glow"
Look at me, I say "yeah, it's the same dough"
We the same type, you my air of life
You have sleepin in the same bed, er'night


Go rock with me, you deserve the best
Take a few shots
Let it burn in your chest
We could ride down
Pumpin N.E.R.D. in the deck
Funny how a few words turn into sex
Play this free, joint called "brain"
Ma, take a hint
Make me suerve in the lane
The name Malicious
And I burn every track
Clipse and J. Timberlake
Now how heavy is that?


Maybe we'll fly tonight (I just wanna love you baby)
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Maybe we'll fly tonight (I just wanna love you baby)
Girl ...


Ain't nobody love you like I love you
You're a good girl and that's what makes me trust ya
Late at night, I talk to you
You will know the difference when I touch you


Break this down


You know, I used to dream about this when I was a
little boy
I never thought it would end up this way, (drums)
It's kind of special right? yeah
You know, you think about it
Sometimes people just destined
Destined to do what they do
And that's what it is
Now everybody dance.

Tadhana by Moonstar 88

I just like this song from the intro to the palm muted verse guitar chords and the steady bass and the way the drums is pounded in the chorus. I also love the guitar fills.

This song has a nice video too. One of my favorite OPM songs that didn't need growing on me.



Nalimutan mo na ba
Ang daang pinagmulan
Ng saya sa iyong ngiti
Habang tayo’y magkatabi

Nais kong hawakan ang
Ang ‘yong kamay, oh ka’y gaan
‘Ni aninong nahuhuli
Nahihiya sa’yong lambing

Tadhana bakit ka nakita
Tadhana bakit ka nakita

Ka’y bait ng iyong tingin
Ka’y lamig ng iyong tinig
Kasalanan ko man nangyari
Ang hindi kausapin

Nalimutan mo na ba
Ang daang pinagmulan
Ng saya sa iyong ngiti
Habang tayo’y magkatabi

Tadhana bakit ka nakita
Tadhana bakit ka nakita

‘Di na mtitiis, luhang babalik
‘Di na mtitiis, luhang babalik

Tadhana bakit ka nakita
Tadhana bakit ka nakita

Nalimutan mo na ba
Ang daang pinagmulan
Ng saya sa iyong ngiti
Habang tayo’y magkatabi

Tadhana bakit ka nakita
Tadhana bakit ka nakita
Tadhana oohhh…
Tadhana oohhh…

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Alive and Kickin' by Mr. Big

How to great an awesome and timeless rock song? Start out with a bluesy riff.... then just rock out the remaining 5minutes!

Never having the opportunity to listen to Mr. Big's 1st 2 albums during the 90's, it's only recently that i had the chance to appreciate one of the band's anthemic songs.

Alive and Kickin' never fails to start-me up on days when i feel down. We have a purpose when we wake up each day and I hope i do achieve something significant and connect to people.

Seeing Richie Koetzen perform a loyal version of this song and carrying Paul Gilbert's mantle is no easy feat! It's also fun to to Billy Sheehan's bass line, catching up to and complementing Paul's licks. You'll better appreciate Sheehan's contribution to Mr. Big's music once you see him perform songs live, he's a showboat if there's one with his huge neck bends and attempts at bass guitar feedback!

Richie's and Billy's show chemistry is a lot better though. Paul Gilbert just didn't like Billy that much I guess. Ego's bumping and Mr. Big disintegrating
:(



Black top blazin', hometown fadin'
Out of sight in the rear view mirror
Stevie Ray blasting on the radio
As I slam it into higher gear

My baby's by my side, tears in her eyes
Writing a goodbye letter
Sayin' Johny and me are running' wild and runnin' free
Just like you did momma

Don't know where we're goin'
But when we get there we'll know
We're gonna follow the code of the road

Jump into the fire
Keep our love alive and kickin'
Down the dorr, it's what we're livin' for
Rockin' side by side
Keep your love alive and kickin'

We got everything we own in the trunk and on the roof
And she's got baby sitting money in her pocket
We're drivin' fast, ain't no looking back
We're flyin' through the desert like a rocket

White line widin' up interstate five
The road goes on forever
And it does't matter where it's gonna take us
As long as we're together

We're talkin' our chances
Gonna do it our way
Pedal to the metal shooting down the highway

Jump into the fire
Keep our love alive and kickin'
Down the walls, that's when
Freedom calls
Rockin' side by side
Keep your love alive and kickin'

When Did Your Heart Go Missing? by Rooney

Main reason why I try to gamble on unfamiliar artists is because I just love the feeling of being surprised when encountering good catchy songs such as this. I have a copy of Rooney's first album but it never really grew on me and it didn't have any song that I would consider as somewhat significant (at least in this life of mine)

But lo and behold, I grabbed a copy of Paste Magazine from Bookstore for 130 pesos (it's quite hefty as they can go for as low as 50 pesos) and had a chance of listening to this song.

It has somewhat of an 80's feel (where they using synths?!?). I have an allegiance with this kind of love songs, wherein it's somewhat melancholic, not sad. It doesn't have the feeling of surrender rather confidence that everything after this song is rocked out.

Solid bass line, steady drum parts, great danceable funky guitar riff and a story to tell
that's the recipe.



Love don't come so easily
This doesn't have to end in tragedy
I have you and you have me
We're one in a million
Why can't you see?

I'm waiting, waiting for nothing
You're leaving, leaving me hanging
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing?
I treat you like a princess
But your life is just one big mess
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing, yeah?

I meant every word I said
I never was lying when we tucked in bed
I'm retracing every step in my head
What did I miss back then?
I was so, so misled

I'm waiting, waiting for nothing
You're leaving, leaving me hanging
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing?
I treat you like a princess
But your life is just one big mess
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing?

I don't understand
How could you forget what we had,
It's so wrong

I'm waiting, waiting for nothing
You're leaving, leaving me hanging
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing?
I treat you like a princess
But your life is just one big mess
When did your heart go missing?
When did your heart go missing?

Yeah!

Things were so good
We had a little dream
A little dream together
Buy a house, settle down, do our thing
But you disappeared on me
And your heart, your heart went missin'
I don't know how to find it
I don't know where it is
I don't know where your heart went
It was here just the other day
Now it's gone
I'm gonna call the police
Call the investigator, the heart investigator

Highwire by Gin Blossoms

This is not one of Gin Blossom's famous songs. I was listening to the Congratulations... I'm Sorry album when my liking for this song just flashed! The intro had a great combination of drum fills, guitar riffs and nicely timed bass presence.

The song is simply laid out though honestly i can't figure what this song's all about, but it's really rocking and would like to play this song with a band sometime!



I wanna take you so far
But they don't want to let us out
But they do, they do, they do

I don't wanna walk on that highwire
They ain't gonna let us down
But they do, they do, they do

What I could never believe in
I was never really even
And I forgot about the cost
And then I got lost, I got lost, I got lost, I got lost

Didn't really wanna live it over
Or even wanna live it down
But I do, I do, I do

What I could never believe in
I was never really even
And I forgot about the cost
And then I got lost, I got lost, I got lost, I got lost

Didn't really wanna live it over
Or even wanna live it down
But I do, I do, I do...