2) Pink Floyd: Comfortably Numb

The spotlight was on Gilmour for this piece on a Roger Waters dominated album. After hearing David play this live I was so tempted to put it at number one but I felt that would be a bit unfair. Regardless this solo is a classic and it keeps with the Gilmour style. Gilmour has a very distinct sound which sounds unlike anyone else and this solo sounds incredibly unique compared to other guitarists like all of his other work. In this song there are two wonderful solos but the one which makes the song what it is is at the very end. The solo has a very grungy sound to it but yet at the same time maintains that sense of Floyd type serenity. It's a pretty lengthy solo that is incredibly powerful and moving. This is a solo for the ages and one that is always put in high regard put sometimes I wonder if it's put in high enough regard. It's always seen on the top solo lists but is usually overshadowed by "Stairway to Heaven" among many other songs, but just because David Gilmour isn't the most well known guitarist doesn't mean this is one of the best solos ever. One interesting side note about the solo is that it was actually quite a few solos pieced together to make one timeless piece.

The Movie that Rocks the Most

Stacy: Happy anniversary, Wayne.

Wayne: Stacy, we broke up two months ago.

Stacy: Well, that doesn't mean we can't still go out.

Wayne: Well, it does, actually. That's what breaking up is.

...

Stacy: Well, don't you want to open your present?

Wayne: If it's a severed head I'm going to be very upset.

Stacy: Open it.

Wayne: What is it?

Stacy: It's a gun rack.

Wayne: A gun rack... a gun rack. I don't even own a gun, let alone many guns that would necessitate an entire rack. What am I gonna do... with a gun rack?

Stacy: You don't like it? Fine. You know Wayne, if you're not careful, you're going to lose me.

Wayne: I lost you two months ago. We broke up. Are you mental? Get the net!

Oh yes! Waynes World one of my most favorite movies ever. I'm not going to lie, when I first saw I thought it was dumb and not even the list bit funny. I especially hated the ending which wasn't quite an ending, it made the movie just seem like I've wasted an hour and a half of my time. Upon watching the movie again I was laughing hysterically, I'm not sure exactly what made me love it the second time around but now it's one of my all time favorites. From start to finish it has an endless array of one liners that will become intertwined with your daily life. "Wayne's World, Wayne's World, party time, excellent!" "We're not worthy!" "Schwing!" just to name a few. Wayne and Garth are two of the best characters of any movie, they're so lovable and have the most distinct personalities. They are the perfect duo, one being adventurous and outspoken and the other being the complete opposite at first site but deep inside is someone yearning to break out of his shell. I don't think there is any movie that "rocks" more than Wayne's World and a close second is Wayne's World 2 which certainly lives up to its predecessor. I would give anything to watch this movie right now but unfortunately I left it home along with all my movies (for those who don't know I'm in my dorm right now.)

Pearl Jam vs. Tool vs. The Red Hot Chili Peppers

Well May 2^nd should be a fairly interesting day regarding record sales. Two major bands coming out with two highly anticipated albums. Tool will be releasing their first album “10,000 Days” since 2001’s Lateralus and Pearl Jam is releasing their first album since 2000. Rolling Stone declared Pearl Jam’s new self titled album their best record in ten years where as Tool fans follow their band in what some may see as a cult like following. This is certainly a good day for music, I can’t say that I’m a Pearl Jam fan mainly due in part to Eddie Vedder’s voice but they were easily one of the most important bands of the 90’s and were the centerpiece of the Grunge scene along with Nirvana. To make things even more interesting The Red Hot Chili Peppers are coming out with a double disc album named “Stadium Arcadium.” Like the other two bands the public hasn’t seen new work in quite awhile, their last album was released four years ago. My prediction for the first week would be that Tool will outdo Pearl Jam mainly because of the fact that Tool fans would live and die for the band and many Tool fans I’ve talked to are purchasing more than one copy (I wish I could waste my money like that.) The following week The Peppers will probably eclipse the sales of Tool and will take the number one spot. This is definitely something to keep an eye on.

Best Songs for Commercials

OK well we all know that selling your songs to companies to use is "selling out" but regardless of your thoughts on that what do you think would be the perfect songs for certain companies. I came up with this idea after seeing one of my favorite songs "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" by The Kinks on an IBM commercial. So here are some that I came up with

Viagra - "All Day and All of the Night" by The Kinks
Nyquil - "I'm Only Sleeping" by The Beatles
Rolex - "Time" by Pink Floyd
Smells Like Teen Spirit - "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana (it's a deoderant if you didn't know)
Budweiser - "Roadhouse Blues" by The Doors

These are just a few ideas I'm sure that you can come up with some better ones. List some that you can come up with.

3) Led Zeppelin: Stairway to Heaven

Well here we are, the most famous rock song of all time and not to mention the most famous solo of all time. Jimmy Page shows off his incredible skill best in this song. The solo is actually very similar to Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" when regarding the chord progressions. An interesting little fact about this song is that Page actually recorded three solos and chose the one he liked best. This solo is extremley moving and always gives me goosebumps. It's usually regarded as the number one solo but I have it at number three because the next two solos are just mind blowing. Sure this is the most historic solo but I don't think it quite stands up to the next two. Does anyone want to take a guess at what the next two are? Your input would sure make the countdown a bit more fun.

Persistance is a Virtue!

Today I woke up at 10:30 to shower up and then to try to get tickets for Tool which went on sale at 11. They are playing at the New York City Center which only holds around 2,500 people. The tickets aren't even sold on ticketmasters website, they are sold through the venues website. Considering they are such a small venue they clearly had no clue what was going to hit them when Tool was coming. About fifteen minutes before the tickets went on sale the website went down and for around three hours after they went on sale they were just going down and loading at the slowest rate imaginable. The phone lines were jammed and it seemed the only way to get tickets was through the box office. At around 11:30 I had to go to some thing regarding my housing for next school year. I consistantly called but kept on getting the same busy message, I was pretty postive that I wasn't going to get them. When I got back at around 12:30 the website still was performing terrible and the phone lines were still jammed, so I figured I had a pretty good chance. I was also looking on the Tool message boards and still everyone was having a tough time getting tickets. I kept calling and finally at 2:oo I finally got through with the phone. Exactly three hours later I was able to gain access to a ticket. This was certainly one of the worst experiences I've ever had with getting tickets along with System of a Down, this might even be worse. Well I guess I can't say that considering this time I actually got a ticket. No matter how much I dislike Ticketmaster something should have been done about this. It shouldn't take over three hours to sell out a concert which if everything was running correctly would have sold out in a matter of a minute. I guess I can't exactly blame the venue but they should have certainly taken some extra steps to try to make the whole process of obtaining tickets smoother because this was absolutely a nightmare. In the end I can't complain because I am seeing Tool and my seat isn't too shabby. I guess after calling non stop for three hours makes you appreciate the ticket that much more, and Thank God for free weekends because my cell phone bill would be through the roof!

Wish Me Luck

Tomorrow morning at 11:00 I will try to buy tickets to see Tool at the New York City Center which only holds about 3,000 people. It seems like the chances of getting tickets are pretty slim but hopefully I will be able to get my hands on them. I guess tomorrow I'll write on whether or not I got them. Wish me luck!

The Inevitable Has Occurred

Tool's new album "10,000 Days" has leaked onto the internet and the downloading frenzy has occured. This comes to no surprise considering this happens to each and every album that came out in this technological era at least by a band that has a following. The question of morals really comes into play when this happens. You've loved a band for so long and their new album which you've been patiently waiting for leaks onto the internet... Do you download it or wait until it releases? The hardest thing is when you are a fan posting on message boards and everyone has already downloaded it but you want to wait for the release, everyone is talking about the album and you are trying to keep strong and hold out until the album actually hits shelves. Personally I can't resist the temptation, when an album leaks I have to hear it, now of course I support the band by buying the album and I always buy them the day they come out but it's so hard to see it sitting there online and not download it. For those who actually do wait I commend them for their extreme self-control but I on the other hand don't quite posess that trait. What is everyone elses thought on leaked albums, do you download it? Do you download it and buy the album when it's released? Or do you just wait until it's released to buy it? Well the reason I do what I do is like I said I have very little self control and I figure that regardless of when I hear it I've waited long enough. At the same time I remember the good old days (remember I'm only 20 haha) of waking up bright and early to get to the store and unwrapping the album and smelling the sweet smell of a new Cd and flipping through the jacket. I do think there is a bit more pleasure in buying it the day of release and holding out on hearing it before but I just can't resist. I do have an enormous Cd collection so don't just assume that I download and not buy because there is nothing quite like owning a Cd. I support the music industry completely and I never disagreed with what Metallica did when taking down Napster, of course I love free music but how could you honestly hate them for sticking up for their rights?

Vicarious

I realize there aren't many Tool fans reading my blog if any but my excitement for this new album is just through the roof. The new single "Vicarious" leaked on to the internet about 2 nights ago or so and of course I couldn't resist so I had to hear it. The new singles official release is supposed to be tomorrow the 17th but it's basically impossible for things to not leak anymore in this age of the internet. Well besides that fact, I have listened to the song around twenty times and it is slowly growing on me like all Tool does. Normally I hate it and then the more I listen to it the more the obsessoin grows, they are just that type of band. There are a few complaints I have about the song: the lyrics are rather lame and not as powerful as most Tool songs, I honestly feel that Manynard James Keenan writes some of the best lyrics I have ever read but this song just seems very unconnected and not emotionally moving. As well as the lyrics the mixing of the song doesn't seem quite right. Maynard's vocals are basically on the same volume as the rest of the instruments which makes for some difficulty making them out. The bass seems a little drowned out along with high emphasis on guitar which isn't that great. My final critique is that it just doesn't sound innovative. The reason I live and die to hear their next album is because of the fact that I know I'm going to hear something completely innovative and different from everything that is out on the market, I know I won't be hearing some recycled garbage that I hear on the radio. This doesn't seem to be too innovative, and I do realize that it is the single but previously every Tool single was very innovative. Well it might sound that I hate this song but I am just giving a critique as a die hard fan. I've been waiting about five years for this album to come out and I would hate to be disapointed, but I am pretty postive that Tool would not let me down.

4) Van Halen - Eruption

An insane solo to say the least that I’m sure many would regard as the best solo of all time. It’s certainly one of the quickest and most intense solos I have ever heard, the only problem is it seems to be aimless. Regardless of it seeming to not lead in any directions the solo is incredible and really showcases the talent of the great Eddie Van Halen. I normally hate to knock a song for “not having any direction” but this solo doesn’t even really seem to be a song, it just seems to be a show of power in guitar skills. The song uses some heavy tapping, extreme uses of the whammy bar, and lightning quick arpeggios. When playing this song live Eddie would often face his back towards the audience because of the fact that he didn’t want guitarists to learn his techniques which he had mastered. It’s a pretty interesting tid-bit and in the end guitarists have learned from Eddie but he has certainly earned recognition for all of his accomplishments.

The White Stripes

When I hear just one song by The White Stripes then my whole week is turned into a White Stripes week. When thinking about this amazing band I sort of wonder if enough people truly appreciate them. Clearly if you read anything written by music critics you would see they have fallen in love with them but has the public? They certainly have a large fan base but I get the feeling that too many people are just putting them down and writing them off as just another pop band and those who are fans of the band don’t fully understand their talent. Many people will go out on the limb without hearing them and say they are just another one of those “The” bands like The Strokes, The Vines, and The Hives. This is one of the biggest misconceptions about The White Stripes; yes they did come out in that “the” era of bands but they sound nothing like them, better yet they don’t sound like anyone I have ever heard! They just sound like two kids following their instincts and that just may be why they sound so unique. If you listen to any of their albums you will hear such an eclectic group of songs ranging from blues, to punk, to garage rock, to grunge, to bluegrass. This band has more talent than 99% of bands that have come out in the past ten years, the song writing is genius and Jack White’s is most definitely one of the best guitarists ever and you can quote me for saying that. Something people need to keep in mind is that this is just a duo, a guitarist and a drummer, nothing else. Jack White’s guitar work is so powerful that there is absolutely no need for a bass. Now Meg White is not a great drummer by any stretch of the imagination but her start and stop playing is very catchy and infectious so one really doesn’t need to be so talented when playing behind Jack White. So people can go and write them off as another MTV band but it’s their loss, they are missing out on one of the gems of my generation. Great vocals, incredible guitar, beautifully innocent lyrics, and catchy songs are just a few ways to describe The Stripes.

5) Jimi Hendrix: All Along the Watchtower

Well here we have Jimi touching up some of Bob Dylan’s best work. On top of adding a good rockin’ vibe to the song he decided to add some incredible guitar solos where as Dylan had harmonica solos. There isn’t really one solo in this song, he goes off and does quite a few but the most notable ones are during the second half of the song. They are phenomenal solos that really wail. Hendrix did not fail on doing Dylan’s work justice.

Some Fun for a Change

Got this fun little thing from Layla’s Blog Ramble On

Instructions: Go to your music player of choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud, and press play. Use the song title as the answer to the question. NO CHEATING.

Out of 4,467 Songs I got two songs by The White Stripes… What are the odds? Certainly some interesting results though.

How does the world see you?
Judith – A Perfect Circle (I can understand this, I seem to question everything and have strong opinions)

Will I have a happy life?
Been a Son – Nirvana (Is this implying that I’m a girl and should be more manly or maybe that I will have a good life because I was a son and not a daughter)

What do my friends really think of me?
Dear Prudence - The Beatles (I guess they see me as lonely and I like to do things by myself, once again this is true)

What do people secretly think of me?
What’s Goin’ On – Marvin Gaye (I hope people think of me like this, well I hope they think of me as the person wanting positive change)

How can I be happy?
We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes (I love this song, I guess I’m going to need friends to be happy)

What should I do with my life?
How Could I Just Kill a Man – Rage Against the Machine (Scary….)

What is some good advice for me?
Crazy Train – Ozzy (I need to learn how to love and to forget how to hate I suppose)

How will I be remembered?
Wonderboy – Tenacious D (Oh wow, what a way to be remembered!)

What is my signature dancing song?
The Four Horseman – Metallica (I love to headband haha)

What do I think my current theme song is?
Resolve – Foo Fighters (I need resolve?)

What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
Learning to Fly – Pink Floyd (Not quite sure what this means)

What song will play at my funeral?
Geek USA – The Smashing Pumpkins (Luckily the song isn’t actually about Geeks but is beautiful, not quite a funeral song though)

What type of men/women do you like?
Our House – CSNY (I like this choice, I guess it would imply that I want a girl who just loves to be with me)

What is my day going to be like?
Hotel Yorba – The White Stripes (Very Fun song, my day is pretty much over and my day has been pretty ordinary I guess)

6) Cream: White Room

Well the famous wah wah pedal comes back into the countdown with Cream’s hit “White Room.” Eric Clapton is always regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time and here is just one of many songs proving how fantastic he really is. This song really defines psychedelic music and the solo is the focal point of the song. Right before the heroic solo starts there is hauntingly dramatic sounds which is a perfect start to what’s to come. This is definitely one of my favorite solos; it’s one of those ultimate air guitar solos that you just scream along to. It may not be one of the hardest solos to play but the way it meshes with the song and the sound is just genius. Clapton never falls short of greatness.

Be Careful With that Axe David

1st Half:
All of On an Island but not played in order due to a fantastic surprise!

2nd Half:
Shine On You Crazy Diamond
Wearing the Inside Out
Dominoes
Fat Old Sun
Breathe
Time
Breathe Reprise
High Hopes
Echoes

Encore:
Wish You Were Here
Comfortably Numb

The atmosphere was great, what better venue could you have than the historic and beautiful Radio City Music Hall in the heart of New York City? Not to mention this is the first show of his North American tour. At 8:00 the lights dimmed down and smoke shot up from the front of the stage and went from one end to another completely blocking all sight. The beginning of “Casterollizon” blared over the speakers and when I say blared might I add that the acoustics in Radio City were by far the best that I have heard in any venue. After the smoke faded away the spotlight shined on Gilmour as he tore up the guitar. After “Casterolizon” ended it went into “This Heaven” which was different than the album which continues into “On an Island.” Eventually “Take a Breath” was played and the light work was incredible, plus it was the first upbeat song played and it really had a great feel and Gilmour’s guitar work was classic. The light work was so ridiculous during “Take a Breath” that I’m surprised I didn’t start convulsing, the lights were bright and pulsating for quite awhile. David then announced that he had a surprise for us and that the reason that he was not playing the album in order was because David Crosby and Graham Nash were going to be taking the stage with him and they were late to the show. The crowd went nuts for their presence and they helped do the harmonies on “On an Island” and I believe “The Blue.” Sorry, the first half was sort of a blur to me when in comparison to the second half. The first set ended with “Where we Start” which was the first song of the show to introduce some great laser work which would later be utilized in the show. They went on a 15 minute break and then the lights slowly dimmed down and I repeat slowly dimmed down. The band took the stage again and played “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” which really got the crowd going. It was an interesting rendition of the song where there were no instrumentals during the vocals, but both Crosby and Nash came out for a second time which sure was a treat. I’m not quite sure if I liked that little touch of no instruments behind the vocals but regardless the song is classic and the intro of it was a fantastic way to start some classic Floyd songs. Following that I believe was “Wearing the Inside Out” which gave Richard Wright a turn on vocals and he did a fantastic job, following that David announced that he was going to be playing a song by Syd Barrrett which was “Dominoes.” After they played “Dominoes” I was praying that it would be followed by “Wots…Uh the Deal” but to my discontent “Fat Old Sun” was played. Now I love this song but I love “Wots…Uh the Deal” more, but after hearing “Fat Old Sun” played live I wasn’t quite as depressed. The solo at the end was astonishing and up to that point it was the highlight of the show. Then the sounds of “Dark Side of the Moon” played over the speakers, the opening of cash registers and ticking of clocks and the crowd ate it up. “Breathe” was then played and following “Breathe” was “Time” and during the chiming of the bells in the intro the lights on the ceiling were spinning along with the chimes which was a pretty interesting touch. David played the song flawlessly and of course there was no doubt that he would do anything less than amazing. “Breathe (Reprise” was played and the crowd really shouted at their top of their lungs for this part which really was a great vibe. “High Hopes” then came and besides a hissing in the speakers for around ten or twenty seconds the song was great, a very powerful Floyd song off of “The Division Bell.” What was to follow was truly the highlight of the show and even the highlight of my life. “Echoes” was then played and it was insane, Gilmour didn’t cheat the crowd with this and played it to completion and the vocals were beautiful and the instrumental was astonishing. The light work for this song was at its best and I’m sure nobody will deny it from being the highlight of the show. The closing of the song brought all the crowd to its feet and it was enough to bring the band out for an encore. The little radio intro to “Wish You Were Here” was played and its obvious what followed. This was certainly a crowd favorite and it had everyone singing because honestly, who doesn’t know the lyrics to “Wish You Where Here?” The show closed with “Comfortably Numb” another crowd favorite and Gilmour completely owned the stage with one of the most amazing guitar solos ever. Upon hearing it live I really might think that it is the greatest solo ever, it is so powerful and unique. The band then all took center stage and invited Crosby and Nash to join and bowed down and thanked the crowd. Did I ever think a show could top U2? Probably not any show that I would see but luckily I was wrong. Pink Floyd is the most amazing band I have ever heard and Gilmour did the classics justice and put on an unforgettable show. Besides his voice cracking maybe two times his voice sounded just like it did on Floyd albums and his guitar playing didn’t diminish a bit. If you did actually read this whole review then I commend you on your patience haha.

Tomorrow is the Day

Well I thought that the day would never arrive but finally it has. Tomorrow I am finally seeing David Gilmour at Radio City Music Hall and I know that it will be a moment that I will never forget. Pink Floyd is easily my favorite band of all time and no band is even a close second to me. From the moment I listened to "Wish You Were Here" I had changed in ways that I would have never thought possible. Who would have thought that a band could change your whole life? The ways I think, act, dress, and look are all thanks to Pink Floyd. David Gilmour has always been my favorite member of Floyd and certainly one of my favorite guitarists with his distinct sound. One thing I am sure of is this show will be incredible! I can't wait to write my review of it, I will most definitely have it posted by at least Wed.