Today’s tune is a catchy number from Seattle’s own Sloucher. Don’t let the band’s name fool you; it’s evident from the first listen that these guys put a lot of heart into their music. “Certainty” […]
Tag: rock music
Tuesday Tunes – “Brother (in Loins)” by Bettie Serveert
Today’s tune comes from Dutch band Bettie Serveert. “Brother (in Loins)” appears on the band’s 2016 album, Damaged Good. The band recently released a music video to accompany “Brother” and I love its 1980s feel. The […]
Tuesday Tunes – “Iron Rooster” by Foo Fighters
On October 28th, the Foo Fighters’ website was replaced with a mysterious clock and looped audio on its homepage counting down to November 23rd. Was the band announcing a new album – Sonic Highways II, perhaps? Another world […]
Guitar Hero: My Journey to Guitar Lessons
I was nine years old when I fell in love with guitar. At the time, I was enrolled in Saturday morning piano lessons – mostly by my mom’s choice – and had just been promoted to Level 3. […]
Wishlist: Every Pearl Jam Album Ranked by Fans
It’s become increasingly popular for bands with large discographies to have their albums ranked from “best to worst” or “worst to best” by popular music magazines and websites. Pearl Jam is no exception, with Diffuser, Rolling Stone, Stereogum, and other sites contributing their own lists. However, one Pearl Jam fan was unhappy with these rankings, so he took to Twitter to get a different opinion – but this time, directly from fans. “I was irked by Rolling Stone’s readers’ poll that put Ten, Vitalogy, & Vs. at 1, 2, and 3 respectively, as if they [Pearl Jam] never improved after that initial period, when we know that to be far from the truth,” Andrew said.
Over the course of several weeks and 45 rounds of voting, Andrew, known as @theboytemps on Twitter, asked the “#PJFam” (a Twitter hashtag used by many Pearl Jam fans) to rank their favorite Pearl Jam albums. He presented two albums per round and fans voted for their favorites until the top ten emerged based on the number of votes received.
Here are the albums from least to most favorite, as ranked in Andrew’s poll:
Tuesday Tunes – “Lonely Man” by Alpha Rev
Today’s first tune comes from Alpha Rev, an alternative rock band based in Austin, Texas. “Lonely Man” is featured on the band’s third album, Bloom, released in 2013. This song has a country feel, making it a little different than most Alpha Rev songs and the rest of the album, but it works well here. “Lonely Man” is a simple, yet painful story – a man describes his choices to put work ahead of his family, how those choices lead to the dissolution of his marriage, and how he’s living the life of a lonely man as a result. It’s almost a cautionary tale; it feels as though the man is sitting beside you at the bar and warning you, “Don’t make these mistakes unless you want to end up alone like me.”
Musically, what stands out the most to me are McPherson’s vocals. His emotions are so raw and present in this song, especially toward the end. He doesn’t simply tell the story, he feels every word of it. It sent a chill or two down my spine.
Tuesday Tunes – “Go Malachi” by J. Roddy Walston and the Business
“Heavy Bells” was almost featured this week as it’s been stuck in my head for the past three days, but instead, I opted for a song that I consider one of J. Roddy Walston and the Business’s most underrated gems. “Go Malachi” is the final track on the band’s first full-length album, Hail Mega Boys, released in 2007. Through some of the most poignant lyrics I’ve ever heard, the song describes the dissolution of a marriage resulting from the wife’s unfaithfulness. Interestingly enough, in the Bible, Malachi 2:10-16 deals with divorce. I can’t help but wonder if that’s what inspired the song title.
Tuesday Tunes – “Congregation” by Foo Fighters
On Monday, November 10, 2014, Foo Fighters fans around the world (myself included) rejoiced with the release of Sonic Highways, the band’s eighth studio album. In honor of its release, this edition of Tuesday Tunes is dedicated to one of my favorite tracks, “Congregation.”
Interview with Lullwater
Gene Simmons may have said that rock music is dead, but Lullwater, an alternative rock band from Athens, GA, is intent on keeping the genre very much alive. Lullwater formed in 2007 and has performed with their current lineup since 2012, consisting of John Strickland (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), Brett Strickland (lead guitar/vocals), Roy “Ray” Beatty (bass guitar/backing vocals), and Joe Wilson (drums). Lullwater’s self-titled album, released on September 17, 2013, pays homage to the grunge bands of the early 1990s who influenced their sound. Recorded on tape at London Bridge Studios in Seattle, WA and produced by Jonathan Plum, the album contains thirteen raw, energetic tracks that showcase Lullwater as a definite act to watch.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Lullwater before their October 11, 2014 show at The Cat’s Cradle in Carrboro, NC while on tour with Flyleaf and Ryan White.
Between the Notes 