Archive 2004

 ESSENTIAL ALBUM- TORI AMOS- LITTLE EARTHQUAKES (January)

I have discussed some of my "Desert Island" albums in detail in other columns. However, others on the list, I haven't really discussed in much detail. I am now dedicating a column to albums on this list and why I think they are "essential albums". This month my discussion pick is Tori Amos' Little Earthquakes album. 

In recent years, I have had some reservations about Tori Amos' work. However, Amos' 1991 debut, Little Earthquakes, is a perfect album. Lyrically, the album is a feminist masterpiece. Musically, it is simple and beautiful. 

The idea of women finding a strong inner voice is a common theme throughout the album. On "Girl", Amos observes "she's everybody else's girl, maybe one day she'll be her own". On Amos' first hit single, "Silent All These Years", she openly discusses the power of overcoming secrets and shame and finding strength in doing so. She proclaims "sometimes I hear my voice and it's been here silent all these years". The albums's highlight is the beautiful, "Winter". Amos discusses hearing a voice saying "you must learn to stand up for yourself because I can't always be around" over a lovely piano back drop. 

The most striking theme on the album is how openly Amos discusses violence against women. On the angry but powerful, "Precious Things", Amos hisses "I wanna smash the faces of those beautiful boys". This song has really come to life in later live shows where Amos was backed by a band but the anger still lives through her piano on the album. The most haunting track Amos has ever written is "Me and a Gun". Sung a Capella, Amos openly discusses her own rape. When I heard this song live several years ago, it was the only moment I have ever experienced at a concert where the room was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop. 

Little Earthquakes is such a stunning album because Amos' lyrics on this album have given strength to so many female listeners. The album has such an intimate quality because is pretty much just Tori and her piano. Through her piano, Amos pours her heart out to the listener. On Amos' more recent works, she has used a backing band which has taken away a lot of this intimacy. Amos is a powerful enough musician and lyricist that she doesn't need other musician to reach her audience. Little Earthquakes is one of my favorite albums because it so personal and the music is achingly beautiful.

WHAT IS A FAN? (February)

What is a fan's role? I have been a fan of Greg Dulli for ten years. Recently, I have seen a lot of discussion among Greg Dulli's fans that I have found troubling. All of this discussion has made me think about what it means to be a fan and when do fans go too far with their admiration. 

I really first became troubled with the discussion from the Dulli fans when the Afghan Whigs broke up in 2001. I will be the first to admit that I was so disappointed when this happened. I expressed my farewell on this website. However, I read many posts on the internet from fans that were almost hysterical. I read messages where fans were acting like Greg Dulli had broken up with them personally. I read messages from people claiming that they couldn't listen to the Afghan Whigs for months because they were so upset. As much as I love Dulli's music, that is the extent of my relationship with him. I have never met him, we don't call each other, we don't e-mail each other. To my knowledge, these other fans have the same relationship with him. While I miss the music, I can't imagine being so upset over a relationship with someone you really don't know. Greg Dulli does not owe me anything as a fan. If he decided to stop recording today, that would be his personal decision. It would be disappointing but no "relationship" would be ended. 

Recently, after a Twilight Singers gig in Chicago, Dulli was heavily criticized by fans on the internet for starting the show late. Accusations flew that he was on drugs again, not dealing well with the death of friend, Ted Demme, etc. If I had been in the audience at this show, I probably would have been mildly annoyed at the wait. However, where do these fans get off gossiping about Dulli's drug use or how he handles grief? While I don't want Greg Dulli to be using drugs, there is nothing I can do if he chooses to do so. In short, his personal life is none of my business. Also, since I do not know him personally, how can I advise him on handling aspects of his life? In this incident, I think most of the fans' intentions were well meaning, but they were guilty of gossip and gross invasion of Dulli's privacy. The fact was that the show started late and Dulli was very animated during the show. The speculation of drug use, etc was nothing more than ugly gossip. 

The final straw happened a few weeks ago. A fan in Europe claimed that Greg Dulli repeatedly humiliated her from the stage during a Twilight Singers show. I am not going to discuss this incident in detail because I was not at the show so I cannot make a true assessment of the situation. I do have two brief observations based on my limited knowledge of what happened. The fan claims that she made several comments to Dulli from the audience. All I can say is that if you bother Dulli while he is performing, the odds are high that he will strike back at you. Performing is Dulli's job. I don't like people interrupting me while I am working and I would show the same courtesy to someone else who is doing their job. Second, if Dulli was humiliating you during the show, why did you stay? I wouldn't have put up with it. I would have been gone after the first incident. This incident led to a lot of discussion on the internet both defending and criticizing Dulli. This discussion led to Dulli requesting that a webmaster remove an Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers forum from his website. I don't agree with Dulli's request but I understand it. I don't support censorship and I believe that when one takes a job in the public eye, there will be criticism. However, the fanatical and hysterical acts of the fans in these incidents have contributed to Dulli's decision. I think that the extreme acts of some of the fans have led to a backlash at the fans from Dulli. 

I think that Greg Dulli knows that his career is based on his fans. However, he has also criticized the extreme acts of the fans. In one recent interview, he openly discussed how he loved performing but hated the backstage atmosphere with his fans. On "Esta Noche" from the Twilight Singers album, Blackberry Belle, Dulli observes "let me bleed a while, the people want a taste, so taste me". 

While these incidents are specifically related to Greg Dulli, I am sure that every musician and fan can come up with similar incidents. Therefore, I think fans need to keep some things in mind. First, fans are there because of their love of the music. The music should always come first. Second, because you met a performer after a show does not equal a relationship with the performer. Relationships are based on real contact such as you hang out together, you phone and e-mail each other. Since there is not a relationship, don't make judgments on the performer's personal life. Love the performer for their music not a perceived relationship. Show love and compassion for those people in your life that you have a real relationship with. Lastly, get off the computer and get a life. Use discussion forums to talk about the thing fans all have in common: a love for the music. Stop personally attacking each other and spreading malicious gossip. Criticism can be fine. However, keep it to the music and stop making personal attacks at the artist. Artists need their fans. However, artists have personal lives too. Respect this and come together for the music.

REVIEW: NORAH JONES- FEELS LIKE HOME (March)

Considering all the success Norah Jones had with her debut album, Come Away With Me, there is a lot hype surrounding her follow up album, Feels Like Home. Jones proves that she is not a one hit album wonder with this release. However, this album is not Come Away With Me revisited.
 

On the album, Jones takes more of a songwriter role. On her debut, Jones only participated is the writing of three songs. On this album, her songwriting is more visible. Some highlights of Jones' songwriting skills are the folk-influenced opener, "Sunrise" and feminist declaration, "What Am I To You?". The most interesting example of Jones as a lyricist is on the track, "Don't Miss You at All". She takes the music from a classic Duke Ellington jazz track, "Melancholia", strips down the music to only a haunting piano, and declares "And then I wonder who I am, without the warm touch of your hand, ...I don't miss you at all". 

This album is more influenced by folk music than Jones' debut was. On "Creepin' In", Jones is joined by country legend, Dolly Parton, for a twangy number. Jones does a great folk cover of Tom Waits' "The Long Way Home". "In the Morning" is a great break up song where Jones declares "funny how my favorite shirt smells more like you than me". "Humble Me" is performed like an old spiritual where Jones confesses "I'm on my knees empty, You humble me Lord, Please, please, please forgive me". 

Feels Like Home is an album that grows on the listener after several listens. I'll admit that this album bored me after my first listen but I appreciate it now. One glaring omission from the album is Jesse Harris' songwriting. He wrote many of the songs onCome Away With Me including Jones' first hit, "Don't Know Why". I missed his songs but the songs on this album are still strong. On this album, Norah Jones proves that she is still a great vocalist who is not afraid to experiment with different musical styles.

REVIEW- PETER SEARCY- COUCH SONGS (April)

Peter Searcy was a teenage punk rocker when he was the front man for Squirrel Bait. With his 2000 solo debut, Could You Please and Thank You, Peter Searcy proved that he was a mature singer-songwriter with a keen ear for pop melodies. Peter Searcy is back with his long-awaited follow up, Couch Songs. Couch Songs is an acoustic album that was recorded in Searcy's basement. The album is a collection of eight new songs and three songs from Could You Please and Thank You, performed acoustically. 

Loss and a longing for reconciliation are common themes through out the album. The album opens with the beautiful, "Rewind". By far the best of the new songs, it brings a tear to my eyes when Searcy laments "In a perfect world, I'd be everything you want from me". On "Lost", Searcy confronts a friend who is an alcoholic and drug addict and states "When you come back around, please tell me, I'll be here waiting". On "Sparks", Searcy pleads with an ex for reconciliation because "the sparks are going to fly between you and I, this time we won't get burned". 

The three songs on Couch Songs that originally appeared on Could You Please and Thank You are "Invent", "Losing Light Fast", and "Nothing". These songs were some of the best songs from Searcy's debut album and they fit well thematically on Couch Songs. Hearing these songs performed stripped down and acoustically breathes a new, different life into these already strong songs. 

Couch Songs is not a substitute for Could You Please and Thank You but it is more a supplement to Searcy's debut. This album is not as strong as Searcy's debut but it provides a different way for the listener to hear Searcy's music. Like Paul Westerberg's album, Stereo, this album shows a pureness and simplicity in recording that is missing from most studio albums.

REVIEW: SUPAFUZZ- VERTIGO (May)

Supafuzz is one of best band from my hometown of Lexington, KY because they have consistently rocked and they have longevity. In the four years since their last studio release, Supafuzz has left their record label, added a guitarist, and some members have relocated to Atlanta. In the title of their last release, Supafuzz boasted that it is All About the Rock. With Vertigo, Supafuzz proves that it still is all about the rock. 

The album opens with the title track that is a straight up rocker that sets the tone for the album. Lyrically, I have always admired how Supafuzz's songs are about being empowered and not taking shit off of anyone. This theme still runs throughout Vertigo. The highlight of the album is the song, "Do You Feel". Over a wall of heavy, melodic guitars, frontman, David Angstrom, declares "I'm done pretending you're the one for me". "Falling to Pieces" has a superb, solid bass line, thanks to bassist, Jason Groves. Observing one's self-destruction, Angstrom questions "when you fall to pieces, who will help you, Jesus?". "It Only Hurt" and "The World Around You" are thunderous rockers that are perfect to release anger. The album slows down a bit towards the end with the haunting "Suffering" and "Zero". These two songs, though different stylistically, still have the emotion of the rockers. 

The guest appearances on Vertigo are first-rate. "Out to Win" features vocals from Henry Rollins, in all of his pissed-off glory. David Angstrom's wife, Aleah from the band Devil May Care, lends her vocals to "January Sun", which is a great musical collaboration for the couple. 

As an extra bonus, Supafuzz has released two EPs, LAMF andGimme, Gimme, along side Vertigo. These EPs feature songs not on the album that fans of the live shows will recognize ranging from the ultimate f* you song, "LAMF", to the sweet rocker, "Sun So Bright", a tribute to Angstrom's children. Yes, Supafuzz fans, the wait is over and Supafuzz shows once again that they know how to rock you.

REVIEW: ALANIS MORISSETTE- SO-CALLED CHAOS (June)

On Alanis Morissette's latest release, So-Called Chaos, she shows that she stills has a keen eye regarding relationships between men and women. She encourages women to be strong and sarcastically attacks women who are not true to themselves. 

The album opens with the rocker, "Eight Easy Steps". On this track, Morissette proclaims herself a "well-versed leader before you" and sarcastically states that she will teach the listener about topics ranging from "how to control someone to be a carbon copy of you" to "how to hate women when you're suppose to be a feminist" to "how to lie to yourself and thereby to everyone else". On the track "Excuses", Morissette challenges the listener to face personal shortcoming and quit making excuses because "they've kept me locked in my own cell". On "Spineless", Morissette attacks women who give up their own identity when they are in relationships with men. She sarcastically declares "I'll be the prettiest appendage to ever lose herself". 

Alanis Morissette has been criticized her whole career as being "an angry women". Towards the end of the album, Morissette shows her critics her softer side. On "This Grudge", Morissette tries to forgive stating that "14 years, 30 minutes, 15 seconds, I've held this grudge" but "I want to forgive for both of us". The album closes with the sweet, "Everything". Morissette proclaims that "I can be an asshole of the grandest kind" but that "you see all my light and you love my dark ... and you're still here". 

What I like most about Alanis Morissette is that she is a strong woman and feminist role model. Her music addresses thing that women have felt and this album is no exception. Musically, Morissette can rock when it fits the song but she can also strip down songs musically when it fits the mood of the song. These things make So-Called Chaos a good listen.

REIVEW- MORRISSEY- YOU ARE THE QUARRY (July)

It has been seven years since the former Smiths frontman, Morrissey, has released a new album. Since the split of the Smiths, Morrissey's solo career has been hit or miss ranging from brilliant (Viva Hate, Your Arsenal, Vauxhall and I) to disappointing (Kill Uncle, Southpaw Grammar). Unfortunately, Morrissey's long-awaited follow up to 1997's Maladjusted, You Are the Quarry,leans more towards the disappointing category. 

Morrissey has never been afraid to discuss politics in his music.You Are the Quarry's best moments are its more political moments. The album opens with "America is Not the World", an attack on American excess. Morrissey's keenly observes that America boasts to be "the land of the Free..of opportunity" but that "the president is never black, female, or gay". He also wonders "You can shove your hamburger and don't you wonder why in Estonia they say 'hey you, you big fat big'". Before Morrissey can be criticized too much by the listener for bashing America, he closes the song by boldly proclaiming America, "I love you". On "Irish Blood, English Heart", Morrissey also criticizes the politics of his homeland of England. He states that he's "been dreaming of a time when the English are sick to death of the Labour and the Tories " and denounce "this royal line". On "I'm Not Sorry", Morrissey proclaims that he "is not for the things I've done". 

One of the biggest criticisms that I have heard in the past of Morrissey's music is that he is a "mope" and "whiney". Morrissey has written some of the saddest but brilliant songs in the past, such as "Everyday is Like Sunday". However, the longer I listened to You Are the Quarry, I really started to believe that Morrissey proved his critics to be correct. There are only so many "poor, pitiful me" songs that one can listen to one album. The albums's lowest moment comes with "Let Me Kiss You". On this song, he whines "close your eyes and think of someone you physically admire and let me kiss you". On the "The World is Full of Crashing Bores", Morrissey observes that "this world is so full of crashing bores and I must be one cos no one ever turns to me to say 'take me in your arms and love me'". After several songs like this, I want to scream at Morrissey "QUIT YOUR WHINING AND STOP FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF!". 

Morrissey has a career full of brilliant songs both as a solo artist and with the Smiths. Unfortunately, You Are the Quarry is not such a collection. The album starts out edgy but becomes a pitiful mess. I bought the special edition of this album that included a DVD. The DVD only has one music video and some pictures on it. It, like the album, is not a very "special edition".

MY DREAM GREG DULLI COVER ALBUM (August)

Greg Dulli is famous for his covers. Whether he is intertwining them in his live sets or recording them as b-sides, Greg Dulli knows how to cover a song. Dulli has the gift of taking a cover song and making it his own while staying true to the original version of the song. Later this month, Dulli's band, the Twilight Singers, will release an album of cover songs called She Loves You. The album will feature covers of songs by Bjork, Fleetwood Mac, Marvin Gaye, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, to name a few. The release of this album got me to thinking about what songs I would like to hear Dulli cover. In honor of the release of She Loves You, here is my dream cover album by Greg Dulli. 

THE INFLUENCES 
Prince- Greg Dulli has shown his admiration for the Purple One over the years in his live sets. For fun, I love to hear Greg record a version of "Raspberry Beret". I would also love to hear Dulli sing "Darling Nikki" and "Get Off". Considering that "Darling Nikki" was the song that inspired Tipper Gore to start the PRMC, this song is tailor made for Dulli. As for "Gett Off", I can just hear Dulli purring the line "move your big ass round so I can work on that zipper baby". 

Marvin Gaye- On She Loves You, Dulli covers Marvin Gaye's "Please Stay". I would love to hear Dulli sings "Let's Get It On" as well. Dulli once said in interview that he wants this song played at his funeral "so people will remember me as I was in life". Indeed! 

SOMETHING HOT 

Greg Dulli is known for making a song sexy. Who else but Greg Dulli could make "If I Only Had a Heart" from The Wizard of Ozsound sexy? These are some songs that Greg could bring his kind of sexiness to. First, on my "sexy" list would be Mazzy Star's "Fade Into You". Dulli covers Hope Sandoval's (formerly of Mazzy Star) "Feeling of Gaze" on She Loves You, but this song would be great as well. Second, I would add Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" to my list. This song is both creepy and sexy and Dulli could perfectly balance these two aspects of the song. I would also love to hear Dulli cover The Doors' "Light My Fire". Dulli, like Jim Morrison, has the ability to completely mesmerize and control his audience by using his sex appeal. Lastly, it would be funny and cool to hear Dulli cover The Divinyl's "I Touch Myself".
 

IF EVER YOU WERE LONELY 

In addition to being able to make a song sexy, Dulli also has the ability to write some of the saddest songs about loneliness and heartbreak. My best friend, Tracy, mentioned how Dulli could perfectly convey the saddest of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" and I have to agree. It was performed as a joke in The Wedding Singer by Adam Sandler, but I think Dulli could perform the perfect break-up anthem with The J. Geils Band's "Love Stinks". So there you have it, these are the ten songs that would be on my dream cover album by Greg Dulli. 

Coming in September: My review of She Loves You.

REVIEW: TWILIGHT SINGERS- SHE LOVES YOU (September)

Greg Dulli is known for his cover songs. He has intertwined them in his live sets and has recorded them as b-sides or for EPs. Dulli has a talent for doing justice to the original while making the song completely his own. For the first time, Dulli has complied them on a full length album, She Loves You, with the help of his band, The Twilight Singers. 

Most of Dulli's album are thematic and She Loves You is no exception. As Dulli notes on the Twilight Singers' official website, the theme of unrequited love runs through out the album. The album opens with Hope Sandoval's "Feeling of Gaze". Over a wall of guitar and piano, Dulli pleads "I feel alive with you. I feel alone with you. Celebrate". On one of the album's gutsier moves, Dulli covers Bjork's "Hyperballad". Not many performers could pull off a Bjork song and Dulli completely does. Dulli proclaims to be "searching for a real love, someone to set my heart free" on Mary Blige's "Real Love". Dulli's version completely kicks ass over Toby Lightman's version that is currently on the radio. A cover album by Greg Dulli would not be complete without a song by Marvin Gaye. In keeping with the albums's theme, Dulli chose Gaye's soulful plea, "Please Stay (Once You Go Away)". On Fleetwood Mac's "What Makes You Think You're the One", Dulli has total attitude as he sasses "everything you do has been done". 

The album's more interesting moments are when Dulli performs classics. Dulli takes on "Strange Fruit", a song made popular by Billie Holiday. A song about a lynching and race relations, Dulli along with friend, Mark Lanegan, make this song both dark and creepy. Dulli also performs George Gershwin's "Summertime". Dulli makes the song dreamy, hypnotic, and sexy all at once. I have heard a few other artists perform this song and no one has delivered it quite like this. 

She Loves You works because though the album has a definite theme Dulli pulls from an eclectic group of artists. Since Dulli's covers are so popular in his live sets, this album is a gift to his fans.

REVIEW: R.E.M.- AROUND THE SUN (October)

R.E.M. is one of the most influential bands for their time. Some of their albums are alternative rock classics. Since the departure of drummer, Bill Berry, in 1997, R.E.M. has become more experimental with their albums. Their new album, Around the Sun, is more in this vein, which is unfortunate. 

The album opens with its best track, the first single, "Leaving New York". Over a haunting guitar, Michael Stipes laments "It's easier to leave than to be left behind, leaving was never my proud". The following track, "Electron Blue", is catchy but the music feels artificial with too much electronic keyboards and drum machines. "The Outsiders" starts out interesting but takes a turn for the worse when Q-Tip starts rapping towards the end of the song. The rap doesn't fit R.E.M.'s sound like the KRS-One rap did on "Radio Song" from Out of Time. The album starts to redeem itself with the political, "Final Straw". The track is a fiery objection to the Bush administration's war in Iraq where Stipe observes "I never did believe that two wrongs make a right". The politics continue on "I Wanted to be Wrong" where Stipe confesses "We can't approach the allies cause they seem a little peeved and speak a language we don't understand". The album lightens up with the catchy pop song, "Wanderlust". The rest of the album is either mediocre or bad, the worst being the dull, "High Speed Train". I love Mike Mills but his low mimic of Stipe in the chorus is bad to listen to. 

R.E.M. will always be one of my favorite bands. I just wish they would get out of this experimental phase. After three mediocre albums of this, it is growing tiresome. Around the Sun is better than most current releases but compared to R.E.M.'s other albums, it's a let down. The good lyrics don't make up for the artificial electronic music. My advise to R.E.M. would be to put the electric keyboards and drum machines away and start rocking again!

REVIEW: JIMMY EAT WORLD- FUTURES (November)

I will say it up front- Jimmy Eat World rocks! Jimmy Eat World brought their catchy rock sound to the mainstream with their hit single, "The Middle" from their last release, Bleed American. Their new release, Futures, proves that Jimmy Eat World is not a flash in the pan. Futures is a perfect balance between pop melodies while still having a rock edge. 

The album opens with the rocking title track. The track is a call for political action where frontman Jim Adkins advises "I hope for better in November" and "Believe your voice can mean something". The catchy "Work" features Liz Phair on backing vocals. The songs observes the impact of work on relationships drawing the conclusion "Work and play, they're never OK to mix the way we do". "Kill" is about a one-sided relationship where the narrator observes "You kill me…I know what I should do but I just can't walk away". 

After several rockers, the album slows down with the reflective "Drugs or Me". This song is a straight forward plea against drug addiction where Adkins laments "If only you could see the stranger next to me. You promise, you promise that you're done but I can't tell you from the drugs". The band gains speed on the angry, in your face "Nothing Wrong". The album closes with the hypnotic "Night Drive" and "23". The band's experimental instrumentation on "Night Drive" gives the song a haunting, dreamlike quality.
 

Older Jimmy Eat World fans will like this album because it combines features of the prior albums Bleed American and Clarity. Songs from the beginning of the album like "Futures" and "Work" could easily have gone on Bleed American while "Night Drive" and "Drugs or Me" have the more experimental sound of Clarity. Futures is a great album because it experiments with different sounds. Jimmy Eat World seems to have also grown lyrically addressing more serious topics from drug addiction to politics. Futures is a straight up rock album that is an enjoyable listen.

THE COOL AND THE UNCOOL OF 2004 (December)

THE COOL 

Favorite Albums of 2004: 
Twilight Singers- She Loves You (see my review) 
Jimmy Eat World- Futures (see my review) 
Supafuzz- Vertigo (see my review) 
Peter Searcy- Couch Songs (see my review) 
Team America Soundtrack 

Favorite Songs I Heard on the Radio in 2004: 
Norah Jones- Sunrise 
Alanis Morissette- Everything 
Howie Day- Collide 
Keane- Somewhere Only We Know 
Green Day- Boulevard of Broken Dreams 
R.E.M.- Leaving New York 
Seether with Amy Lee- Broken 
Jet- Are You Going to Be My Girl
 

Best Concerts I Attended 
Twilight Singers- Southgate House, Newport, KY 4/6/04 This show was really cool anyway but it became even cooler when I could see myself and my best friend, Tracy, in the background of the DVD of this show that the band released. 

R.E.M.- Taft Theater, Cincinnati, OH 10/27/04 This show was extra cool because I never thought I would get to see R.E.M. in a smaller venue like this. The acoustics were excellent! 

Coolest Trend The Music DVDs
- DVDs offer the best concert experience short of being in the audience. The music DVDs that were bundled with a bonus CD made for great music sets at a reasonable price. I really enjoyed the DVD releases from R.E.M.(Perfect Square Live), Tori Amos (Welcome to Sunny Florida), and Evanescence (Anywhere But Home) this year. I am also interested in the 2004 DVD releases from Norah Jones, Better Than Ezra, and Live but I was not able to purchase these in 2004. 

Coolest Music Channel 
VH1- I'll admit it, I outgrew MTV years ago. While I could do without some of VH1's programming (The Surreal Life, Flab to Fab, Motormouth), I love the nostalgia of I Love the 80's/90's. Their "worst of shows" (50 Worst Songs, 50 Most Unmetal Moments, 50 Worst Metal Songs) had me laughing out loud. I also love VH1 Classics. We Love the 80's and The Alternative make me feel nostalgic for a better time in music. Plus on The Alternative, I have rediscovered some bands such as the Lemonheads, Camper Van Beethoven, and Voice of the Beehive in addition to enjoying old favorites like the Afghan Whigs. 

Coolest New Local Bands 
Ready Set Go and McAtee- I had about given up on seeing bands in my hometown of Lexington, KY. Though the scene is still dead in many ways, I am thankful for these two bands. They are the remnants of talent left in Lexington. 

Coolest Soundtrack 
Team America- Besides being the funniest movie of the year,Team America's soundtrack pokes fun at the movie soundtrack. Whether it be musically theater ("Everyone Has AIDS"), patriotic country songs ("Freedom Isn't Free"), action movie ballads ("Only a Woman" and "The End of an Act"), or movie montages ("Montage"), this soundtrack has creates memorable comedic songs. Plus, the epic score on the second half of the album would be perfect for a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. 

The In Between Category 
Richard Marx- I'll admit it- I loved Richard Marx when I was in junior high in the late 1980's. However, when Richard Marx started writing too many easy listening songs and for N'Suck, my love for him diminished. When he released his new single this year, "When You're Gone", I dug it because it is a catchy pop song that reminded me of the Richard Marx I loved in the 1980's. However, when his second single "Ready to Fly" came out, I knew that easy listening Richard Marx has not left the building. This song is so sappy sweet that I get a cavity listening to it. So to Richard Marx, you were both cool and uncool in 2004. 

THE UNCOOL 

The Teenage Princesses- I hated Avril Lavigne the first time I was subjected to her angry suburbia rock. She is still lame and winner of my "where in the creative process award". Who told her that the line "you gave me a kiss and made me go Oh, oh, OH" in "Don't Tell Me" would be clever? And then there was Ashlee Simpson. First off, how many idiots from the Simpson family must we be subjected to? Secondly, her little "Milli Vanilli incident" on Saturday Night Live just proves her level of talent. 

The Vote For Change Tour- I commend musician who have a social conscious and I don't believe anyone should be censored for their political views. However, when it comes to voting, I feel that voters need to objectively look at the issues and determine FOR THEMSELVES which candidate best represents their views. The whole concept of the Vote For Change Tour, i.e. telling fans who they should vote for, is insulting to fans' intelligence and is encouraging uneducated voting. The worst person behind this tour was Bruce Springteen. When he was ranting and raving like a tele-evangelist at the tour's finale about the "winds of change" and making vague political statements (i.e., talking about comparable wages when he charges $100+ for his show's tickets and makes more than 99% of Americans), I really did not respect his point of view. Bruce, when your roadies make the same pay you do, I'll talk to you about comparable wages. Give me facts and logical arguments if you feel a need to tell me who my vote should go to. 

Censorship- Yes, Howard Stern is offensive. However, I am disgusted my Clear Channel's ban of his program. Clear Channel loved him when he was making them money but they don't mind cutting him loose over Janet Jackson's boob. While I think Howard Stern can be disgusting, I commend his decision to move to satellite radio. He put freedom of speech ahead of the almighty dollar which I cannot say for Clear Channel. And by the way, if you don't like Howard Stern or anything else on the radio, no one is forcing you to listen to it. 

Cool Artists Releasing Mediocre Albums- The most disappointing come back was Morrissey's You are the Quarry. I love some of Morrissey's solo work but this album was not worth the wait. Another cool artists that released mediocore albums were Paul Westerberg (Folker) and Matthew Sweet (Living Things). I am still wondering what Matthew Sweet was smoking when he wrote "Cats vs. Dogs".