Well 2010 comes to a close. The annual "best of" lists are everywhere. So, I decided that I will make my final post of 2010 my version. It's FAR from a best of, critics choice, or anything that ranks the content. It's really just my "random thoughts" about the year in music, concerts and events... enjoy and we'll see you in January:
Music, gotta be honest not much excited me. However, as I tend to do I found a few albums that I purchased (legally) and welcomed them into a growing collection. Again, no order, no critics just me.
Eminem - Recovery: Never a huge fan of his genre. But he pushed the envelope, and the first single was strong and one word I use to describe it is INTENSE. One talented guy. Now, will the Grammy Awards recognize this?
Disturbed - Asylum: Another 1 word title. If you like Disturbed, then you'll like this. Great group of guys, and hardworking surburban Chicago band. Pretty much witnessed their success first hand. A good Disturbed record.
Black Crowes - Croweology: Sucks about the hiatus. However, a nice treat for the fans. You'll hear alot more about these guys as you read on.
Robert Plant - Band of Joy: Made alot of critics lists. Good record. Talk about somebody who's evolved, and aged gracefully. His fans and his music have too. If you're 14 and listening to Whole Lotta Love for the first time, then you'll say WTF. If you're 30 or older give this a listen. He's still the Tall Cool One in my opinion.
Tom Petty - Mojo: Great Tom Petty record. He rocks out a little more, and let's the Hearbreakers loose on a few tunes.
Drive By Truckers - The Big To Do: The first complete DBT record I've ever listened to. It's a little dark at times (but humorous!). The song writing is one of the strong points. They played LOLLA!
Scorpions - Sting in the Tail: Their swan song. I grew up listening to these guys, and it's hard not to like any of their music. Again, if you like the Scorps this is good. I missed their farewell show, but some great memories none the less!
Elton John and Leon Russell - The Union: Again, a critics darling. However, I like this record. Glad to see Elton venture into anything other than pop music soundtracks. Another mellow one, but a Sunday on the deck/patio with a grill, this is the disc.
*SHOWS*
I had a hell of a concert season! As I turned 40, I made a commitment to some shows... Here are a few highlights:
My 20th Jimmy Buffett show! Probably a highlight. Always a good time. If you've attended the tailgate, then you know what I mean. Looking forward to this annually! "If you want an experience, go to a Jimmy Buffett concert..."
Rush performs Moving Pictures in it's entirety: I'm becoming a fan of the Charter One Pavillion. Pretty intimate place for outdoors, with the skyline behine the stage! Due to a ticket snafu we're upgraded to the first 5 rows right in front of Getty's bass amps.
I see Phish for the first time: First show of the summer. Attending the only Chicago appearance with 50,000 Phish Heads. Gives the Parrottheads a run. Talk about a vibe! I would see these guys again, and even bought some of their music this year. Met a ton of cool people!
The Black Crowes say goodbye: 3 hour farewell. I hope these guys comeback. This was a real bummer but they went out in style. The Chicago Theater will never be the same. Good to see effort, energy and caring about the fans! Goodbye bad guys.
Roger Waters tours the Wall! Holy Shit! This was the pinacle! I don't care who else tries something, THIS is it! What a show! If you didn't go, I want to say that I'm sorry. What a night!
Overall, I always find ways to celebrate with music. I would like to give an honorable mention to Lady Antebellum's song Need You Now. If you're walking around in Las Vegas late at night with the woman you love this song takes on a whole new meaning.
Looking forward to 2011... another Buffett show, Stevie Nicks' new record, and the Rolling Stones are going to tour....
-Mike
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Healing Power of Music
Recently my mother passed away unexpectedly. As you might imagine, in the time since life has become increasingly difficult. I happen to be blessed in the area of friends & family as well as in the secular world so the usual "I'm here for you" or "Let me know if there's anything I can do" meant a lot more coming from those angles for me then some others and for that I am truly thankful.
One thing that made me feel (and always does at times like these) bad for others is when friends & family are forced to say something along of the lines of "I wish there was something I could say to help". Many people are at a loss during a situation like this and it's completely understandable. I mean... what DO you say? What IS there to say? Unfortunately nothing outside of the comforting phrases listed above. This is where The Healing Power of Music has been a savior to me in the past few weeks. How has music healed me? In so many ways!
First and immediate, music helped me relieve me of some deep sadness that just had to get out. A car ride to meet with my siblings turned to complete crying out of my eyes while listening to Elvis Presley's recordings of "The Wonder of You" and "My Way". At first, I chose the music because the first track says everything I always wanted and (and got to thankfully) say to her about who she was and what she meant to who I am. The second because she was the embodiment of the sentiment behind Paul Anka's writing in "My Way". But before the first verse had been sang, I was already tore up. It's hard to describe, but it was much needed therapy. The day and a half before it was spent mostly in shock, comforting others or relaying the events to others who weren't aware yet and then dealing with their shock & pain.
The emotion conjured up both by what the songs meant to me coupled with the heartfelt renditions themselves, just sort of pushed me over an edge that I needed. I was able to get out a lot of grief that I honestly don't believe I would've otherwise. I was later able to use both of those songs when I put together an online video tribute of sorts and others were able to gain joy out of it which is amazing to me and something I'm eternally grateful for.
In the following days my sister (whom I owe getting me started on music to) would post songs on her Facebook page that reminded her of our mother. I was amazing what some of those songs did to help the healing process. We were able to share memories of our mom from different perspectives and different eras based on memories linked to a particular song. How cool is that? That was music having the ability to say something to us no one or thing else could.
Long car rides with only the following 8-Track Tapes to accompany us: Simon & Garfunkels Greatest Hits, The Best of John Denver, Kenny Rogers: 20 Greatest Hits, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden and The Best of Charlie Pride. Then there were names of artists tossed around that both of us hadn't heard in years but were locked in our memories due to the influence of the original music lover; our mom. Ever heard of Roger Whittaker? How about Floyd Kramer? Ever heard the one and only hit by Terry Gibb? Maybe not, but our mom LOVED one or more songs by these artists and her passion for them has a place in each of our minds.
I was astounded how good I felt when I listened back to some of those tracks I haven't heard in maybe 25-30 years. Did it bring her back? Of course not. Did it make me miss her? At times. But more importantly, each song unlocked a different warm, incredible memory linked to my child hood. This to me is worth more than all the gold in this world. My sister and I were able to share memories, have some giant laughs and learn things from each other while talking about each of these songs. What else could've brought that to us other than music?
As I said, there is no magic here. It was through any of this music that all of us became instantly healed by any means. But I see something deeper there, I see where music moved me to a state I needed to be in. It helped me work through some emotions that otherwise may have stayed locked up for who knows how long. More importantly, it helped myself and others I know remember and share a ton of locked up memories. I know it's cliche to say it, but our mother really would've wanted that. She would've wanted us to talk about watching The Barbra Mandrell Show, Solid Gold or Dance Fever (remember any of those??) together. She would've wanted us to laugh about the bad things we all had planned for that Best of John Denver 8-Track Tape. She would've liked that I've passed her message on that recently she gave Michael Buble one listen and decided "he sounds pretty full of himself" and so many other thoughts she had an artists or songs.
All of these things help in the healing process. Some days will be harder than others and music will be there to help in either case. I can see some of the same music listed above really making us miss her some days more than others. But I can also see those same songs bringing joy through stories told and re-told through the coming years without her. It's music saying that thing that no one else can think to say but would love to. It's a feeling or emotion that can only be unlocked by a certain sound, voice or melody that it's linked with in our heads.
It's a constant reminder to us of her and who she was to us. It's the healing power of music and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
One thing that made me feel (and always does at times like these) bad for others is when friends & family are forced to say something along of the lines of "I wish there was something I could say to help". Many people are at a loss during a situation like this and it's completely understandable. I mean... what DO you say? What IS there to say? Unfortunately nothing outside of the comforting phrases listed above. This is where The Healing Power of Music has been a savior to me in the past few weeks. How has music healed me? In so many ways!
First and immediate, music helped me relieve me of some deep sadness that just had to get out. A car ride to meet with my siblings turned to complete crying out of my eyes while listening to Elvis Presley's recordings of "The Wonder of You" and "My Way". At first, I chose the music because the first track says everything I always wanted and (and got to thankfully) say to her about who she was and what she meant to who I am. The second because she was the embodiment of the sentiment behind Paul Anka's writing in "My Way". But before the first verse had been sang, I was already tore up. It's hard to describe, but it was much needed therapy. The day and a half before it was spent mostly in shock, comforting others or relaying the events to others who weren't aware yet and then dealing with their shock & pain.
The emotion conjured up both by what the songs meant to me coupled with the heartfelt renditions themselves, just sort of pushed me over an edge that I needed. I was able to get out a lot of grief that I honestly don't believe I would've otherwise. I was later able to use both of those songs when I put together an online video tribute of sorts and others were able to gain joy out of it which is amazing to me and something I'm eternally grateful for.
In the following days my sister (whom I owe getting me started on music to) would post songs on her Facebook page that reminded her of our mother. I was amazing what some of those songs did to help the healing process. We were able to share memories of our mom from different perspectives and different eras based on memories linked to a particular song. How cool is that? That was music having the ability to say something to us no one or thing else could.
Long car rides with only the following 8-Track Tapes to accompany us: Simon & Garfunkels Greatest Hits, The Best of John Denver, Kenny Rogers: 20 Greatest Hits, Elvis As Recorded At Madison Square Garden and The Best of Charlie Pride. Then there were names of artists tossed around that both of us hadn't heard in years but were locked in our memories due to the influence of the original music lover; our mom. Ever heard of Roger Whittaker? How about Floyd Kramer? Ever heard the one and only hit by Terry Gibb? Maybe not, but our mom LOVED one or more songs by these artists and her passion for them has a place in each of our minds.
I was astounded how good I felt when I listened back to some of those tracks I haven't heard in maybe 25-30 years. Did it bring her back? Of course not. Did it make me miss her? At times. But more importantly, each song unlocked a different warm, incredible memory linked to my child hood. This to me is worth more than all the gold in this world. My sister and I were able to share memories, have some giant laughs and learn things from each other while talking about each of these songs. What else could've brought that to us other than music?
As I said, there is no magic here. It was through any of this music that all of us became instantly healed by any means. But I see something deeper there, I see where music moved me to a state I needed to be in. It helped me work through some emotions that otherwise may have stayed locked up for who knows how long. More importantly, it helped myself and others I know remember and share a ton of locked up memories. I know it's cliche to say it, but our mother really would've wanted that. She would've wanted us to talk about watching The Barbra Mandrell Show, Solid Gold or Dance Fever (remember any of those??) together. She would've wanted us to laugh about the bad things we all had planned for that Best of John Denver 8-Track Tape. She would've liked that I've passed her message on that recently she gave Michael Buble one listen and decided "he sounds pretty full of himself" and so many other thoughts she had an artists or songs.
All of these things help in the healing process. Some days will be harder than others and music will be there to help in either case. I can see some of the same music listed above really making us miss her some days more than others. But I can also see those same songs bringing joy through stories told and re-told through the coming years without her. It's music saying that thing that no one else can think to say but would love to. It's a feeling or emotion that can only be unlocked by a certain sound, voice or melody that it's linked with in our heads.
It's a constant reminder to us of her and who she was to us. It's the healing power of music and wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.
Marjorie Louise Robinson
October 12, 1934-November 27, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Kid Rock: Born Free
Ugh... What happened to the Kid Rock we knew and loved?
Kid Rock started as another rock/rapper guy but started to change with "Cocky", he put more country into his music and it really got interesting to hear this new rock/rap/country thing that nobody was doing on a grand stage and it was for a few albums, but "Born Free" shows that the trip is over and he needs to get back on track.
The problem is that he has gone too country and he doesn't do it well, the album is just boring. It has no real imagination and sounds half baked throughout. I hear this is mostly Kid Rock doing exactly what Rick Rubin told him. Way to be a rebel, lol.
Funny thing about Kid Rock albums... His first single is usually one of the worst songs on the album ("Feel Like Making Love", "So Hott", "Forever") however the rest of the albums had really strong songs which were usually released later, but "Born Free" is a good song... So why does the rest of the record suck so bad?
Bottom line is that it is a slow paced, boring country record.
Lose Rick Rubin, most acts get about one good album out of him and that's about it. Get back to what you do best.
Kid Rock started as another rock/rapper guy but started to change with "Cocky", he put more country into his music and it really got interesting to hear this new rock/rap/country thing that nobody was doing on a grand stage and it was for a few albums, but "Born Free" shows that the trip is over and he needs to get back on track.
The problem is that he has gone too country and he doesn't do it well, the album is just boring. It has no real imagination and sounds half baked throughout. I hear this is mostly Kid Rock doing exactly what Rick Rubin told him. Way to be a rebel, lol.
Funny thing about Kid Rock albums... His first single is usually one of the worst songs on the album ("Feel Like Making Love", "So Hott", "Forever") however the rest of the albums had really strong songs which were usually released later, but "Born Free" is a good song... So why does the rest of the record suck so bad?
Bottom line is that it is a slow paced, boring country record.
Lose Rick Rubin, most acts get about one good album out of him and that's about it. Get back to what you do best.
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