What Am I Doing Here? Twisted MixTape

I am very, very tired. It's been a rough day, so I'm just going to jump into this weeks invite by Jen, for a Twisted MixTape. The challenge this week is to choose five songs outside your comfort zone, stuff from any genre which is not on your usual playlist. The original idea was five from the same genre, but that's not gonna happen tonight, so I'll mix it up.

Now I'm a rocker, don't think there's many of you who don't know that, but the blues always set me free. So I'll try to stay away from those two styles, but no promises. Like I said, I'm really tired.. and cranky, so zip it with the comments.

Let's start with Classical. Yeah, I said it. Now I don't know shit about Classical music for the most part, just a few pieces here and there. This piece is one I first heard a long time ago when "the other" would play it non-stop as he conducted an imaginary orchestra. Oh hell, we've all done it. It's been used for commercials, the Olympics, anytime you need a grand statement. The entire piece was derived from the poems of Benedictine monks in the 11th or 12th century. By the way, most of the poems were a little... erotic. Fun times. Written by Carl Orff, this is one piece of it, don't ask which piece, I'm to tired to go any further with it. Let's just say it's one of the better know sections of the composition.

Carmina Burana

Jazz, not my strong suit. But older Jazz I like. A little something from 1959. Miles Davis.

"So What"

A little country, not old country, but not new country either. Sometime during high school, I got into Kris Kristofferson. Then I got a bunch of my friends into him as well. That guy with the rough voice, who sounded like at age 30something, he had inhaled the fires of hell. Great lyrics and back in the day, not too hard on the eyes. From the album The Silver Tongue Devil and I, an album I may have played the grooves off...

"Lovin Her Was Easier"

Metal, or as far as I usually get into metal. Def Leppard. If they come on the radio, I won't turn them off, but I'm not playing them at home.

"Bringing On The Heartbreak"

Last up, a little country rock. It's fairly new, by an artist I interviewed this year, You can read it here on MusicStarUniverse.com. It's rocking, got some great licks, and is sexy as hell. From the album, The Road Ain't Long, Mr. Dee Rock.

Don't have a video, but take a listen to the audio.

"Ripples On The Moon"

Thanks for the extra curricular workout Jen. Enjoyed tonight's exercise.

Dee Rock: "The Road Ain't Long" Album Review

Out of Nashville comes country-rock artist Dee Rock.

Now I'm not known to be the biggest country fan around so in reviewing his album, I wasn't sure what to expect or how I would feel about it. Well, from the opening track "Ripples on the Moon," I was pleasantly surprised. Dee plays one hell of a hot guitar, rocks the melodies pretty hard and has some tasty lyrics. Oh yeah, his voice is pretty fine too.

It also seems Dee Rock has quite a love for Country and the Military. The album has one song "The Uniform," about the sacrifices of our servicemen, servicewomen and their families, along with a couple of other which you can hear on his website: "The Colors I Fly" and "Patriot Girl"

For the full review, as well as his bio and links to his website, where you can listen to all the album tracks, click here; Dee Rock album review at musicstaruniverse.com

.