Knocking Off The 90s: Twisted MixTape

While I haven't had a lot of time for writing my blogs as of late, there's a good reason. The project I've been waiting to start is about to explode. It's about as an exciting opportunity as I've ever had in my life, and at the same time, it's overwhelming and scary. But good scary.

My input into this new venture won't be visible here on my blogs, so I'll try to keep them going as often as I can in the short run. In the long run everything should balance out, and hopefully things will get back to normal... or there may be a new normal. As soon as this project launches, I'll give you an update to explain where things are headed. But for today, I promised Jen I would deliver the second part of the Twisted Tuesday MixTape for the 90's for her blog hop. I'm using all live performances for his MixTape and they're really good. So let's do it.

Coming out of Pittsburgh in 1990, Rusted Root combines a staggering number of influences to produce one of music's most unique sounds. Truly one of the best groups of the decade, this song was a hit and was eventually used in a commercial... but don't hold that against them. This live performance captures everything that is special about them,

"Send Me On My Way"

Dear god do I love this next song. I've used it a few times already, and if I feel like it, I'll use it again. It has everything, great guitar, power vocal, a chorus which is one of the best EVER, and between Kenny Wayne and lead singer Noah Hunt, two of the more insanely hot men on the planet. Did I mention they were hot?

"Blue on Black"

I first saw Amanda Marshall when she opened up for John Mellencamp at Madison Square Garden. I fell in love with her voice from the moment she started to sing. Her self-titled debut album doesn't have a bad track and is still in my rotation. Deciding which song to choose wasn't easy.

"Last Exit to Eden"
I couldn't pull in a couple of the videos I wanted, so here's the link. Check it out, it's wonderful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9XviS-PTHs


Rites of Passage by the Indigo Girls is another one of those special albums that never get retired for too long. While "Galileo" is my favorite song on it, I used that not too long ago when I picked the song for Lance's 100 Word Song Challenge.  Next best choice...

"Jonas and Ezekiel"
Again, couldn't pull in this video, but it's a great version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuEEIofUtVI

Not sure why I'm going with this last pick. It's not one which I owned or would search out, but I've always liked it and it was what seemed to be the last gasp for a heavy rock sound that wasn't metal. Lenny Kravitz and...

"Are You Gonna Go My Way"

Thanks for having me over again Jen, sorry I forgot the chips. Hope to make it to your place again next week.

Just Before it Goes Downhill: MixTape Tuesday Hits the 90s

The 90's, Part 1. The decade when music officially started going down the shitter. Radio was the first. Slowly but surely any radio station that had programmers who thought outside the box, was either devoured by corporate chains and told what to play, or succumbed to low listenership, as pop and techno along with some grunge took over. Please hold your emails, I fully admit I do not worship at the altar of Curt Colbain. I'll grant he was good, but was his best behind him when he killed himself? We will never know. For my money, I'll take Michael Stipe anyday.

This was the decade that gave us such truly memorable crap such as the Macarena, MMMBop, U Can't Touch This and Whomp. I rest my case.

Anyway, I hadn't started getting heartburn from listening to the music just yet, that really began as the decade ended, but it was a decade where you had to really look for good music instead of just being able to hear it every time you turned on the radio.

So for Jen's Twisted MixTape Tuesday, Part 1 of the 90's, I've come up with what were some of the best of what was out there.

"I like a good beer buzz, early in the morning." How can you not love a song with a lyric like that? Sheryl Crow broke out with a song which could basically be a Mission Statement for a lot of us.

"All I Wanna Do"

R.E.M. were brilliant. End of story. Take your pick of seven or eight possible choices, but I'll go with what I think is the strongest.

"Losing My Religion"

At the age of forty, one of my favorite female singers showed all the boys how it's done, when in 1990, she won three Grammy awards for what would be considered her comeback album.  In 1989, Bonnie Raitt released Nick of Time... which was and is still totally kick-ass. Hard to choose which song to go with, so let's just go with something called...

"Love Letter"

Time to have a little fun. If you're looking for an earworm along with some real fine harmonica playing, and who doesn't want that... I give you John Popper and Blues Traveler with...

"Runaround"

Over the years Carlos Santana has had many vocalists. In 1999, Rob Thomas from Matchbox 20 was the front man on a song he co-wrote. It was a huge hit, winning three Grammy Awards and was Billboard's #1 song for twelve weeks. Deservedly so, it's a great collaboration.

"Smooth"

Though he died in 1990, one year later his album The Sky is Crying was released. On it was one hell of a version of a Jimi Hendrix song, which if you've read this blog long enough, you know I believe it's hard to find a bad version of it. Stevie Ray's is superb.

"Little Wing"

So I'm only one over the official list of five. Thanks Jen, you run one loud and rowdy joint... I feel so at home.