The Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums (Albums 15-11)

#15 – The Cure: Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
Jill says: “Quite simply, the lyrics of track 16, “A Thousand Hours”: ‘A thousand wasted hours a day/Just to feel my heart for a second/A thousand hours just thrown away/Just to feel my heart for a second…'”

#14 – New Order: Substance (1987)
Jill says: “I could write volumes about New Order. I could write a novel about this album. I have every single New Order and Joy Division album there is to have. I have it on cd, I have it on vinyl, I have it on rare, very expensive bootleg vinyle. I paid an exorbiant amount to see them live. It’s dark, it’s deep, it’s dirty, it’s clever in it’s hidden messages. I am not a “Blue Monday” and “Bizarre Love Triangle” kind of girl. To find me on that album, you have to look elsewhere: “Everything’s Gone Green”, “Thieves Like Us”, “Procession”, “1963”, and the song that ranks 2nd on my list of all time favorite songs, “Perfect Kiss”.”

#13 – The Flaming Lips: At War With the Mystics (2006)

Cale says: “The Flaming Lips have a career that spans the life and death of several genres. 80s metal, hair bands, new wave, grunge rock; the list goes on and on. Through it all, the band has remained true to their psychedelic rock roots while remaining as innovative and entertaining as ever. They experienced sort of a rebirth in the late 1990s and since then have created some of their strongest albums ever. In my opinion, it is their most recent album, At War With the Mystics, that tops them all! Every second of this album is breathtaking, filled with such dense compositions that you’re bound to catch new things you’ve never heard before with almost every listen! It is an amazing achievement for any band, much less a band that’s been around for over two decades.

#12 – Tears for Fears: Songs from the Big Chair (1985)
Jill says: “Honestly, don’t dismiss Tears for Fears the way I did for so long. “Shout” is the most recognizable but not the best track. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is fantastic but it’s “Head Over Heels/Broken” that is the true gem. It’s a live track but that doesn’t take away from the simple genius of it. I used to not like Tears for Fears, but the older I get, the more I realize they are truly quiet a talented pair.”

Cale says: “I don’t think there has ever been an album cover that screams “Alternative Rock!” more than this one. And who could argue with the fact that “Shout” is the most rockin’ song this side of Metallica? Only a fool, friends. Only a fool.”

#11 – Depeche Mode: Songs of Faith and Devotion (1993)
Jill says: “It is one of the few albums I will listen to from beginning to end without skipping over anything. “Walking In My Shoes” is by far my favorite, “In Your Room” is so sexy it makes me blush, and “Higher Love” just makes me want to start the entire thing over again.”

Erin says: “Depeche Mode never gets old and neither does Songs of Faith. I’m pretty sure that I’ll be singing these songs when I’m well into my twilight years, but hey, they’re that good.”

The Top 5 Alternative Hits by One Hit Wonders

So, in lieu of the missed Retro Review last week, Cale and I agreed that I would take charge of Top 5 Friday so that I could get over an illness and grace you with my opinions, yet again. Therefore, this week, as the headline states, it’s my favorite alternative hits by one hit wonders. While I’m a huge fan of successful artists who produce multitudes of life altering albums , I must also pay homage to those who have fallen. Thus I present you with the magic…please behold.

5. Nine Days – “Absolutely (The Story of a Girl)”
I know what you’re thinking…and you’re right. It is a bit of the lighter side of alternative rock. A little more pop and a little less, “with the lights out it’s less dangerous”. I get that. However, the lighter side is exactly why I love this song. I can’t tell you the number of times it has popped into my head and stayed there for days…ironic, huh? It’s a great piece that tells about the solemness of this girl that lead singer, John Hampson, is truly fond of, and even as he lays out all her “imperfections”, he claims to “absolutely love her when she smiles”. “Absolutely (The Story of a Girl)” is a happy song that takes me back to fond memories of listening to and singing this song in my first car. It’s cheesy, I know, but memories often play a huge part in musical selections and is the reason for this song being brought to the forefront of my mind. BTW, in case you’re planning on checking, Wikipedia will list them as having 2 hits. “Absolutely (The Story of a Girl)” and some track called “If I Am”… Let’s be honest, has anyone ever really heard it, and more importantly, would you remember it?

4. Spacehog – “In the Meantime”
I gotta be frank with you all… I know nothing of this band. Nada. What I do know is that “In the Meantime” is one of my absolute favorite songs ever. It’s one where you may understand the lyrics as being one thing, while I’m hearing words that are completely different. It’s a song where I’ve probably given it entirely new lyrics. However, lyrics aside, it’s a great song for several reasons. The vocals are so unique that I feel if we’d ever heard more from Spacehog, it would’ve been easily identifiable. The song has great hooks, verses, chorus, bridge, ending…I mean, it has unbelievable structure. The ending is totally separate from this vocal/guitar driven song in that it scrapes away all other musical factors, save the piano, and plays what could almost sound like an adult lullaby. It’s a beautiful melody that will always stand out in my mind as being a perfect ending to an amazing song. Seriously, if I could give “In the Meantime” a true rating, it would be an easy 10.

3. The Proclaimers – “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”
I assume that when one thinks of Alternative Rock, the bands Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, etc. come to mind, but what about it’s predecessors. Sure The Proclaimers (please don’t confuse with The Pretenders) don’t pop out as significant, or maybe even alternative rock, but you can’t deny that “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)” didn’t break the mold from other bands that were around in 1988. This song was so different from anything out there at that time and was so original, that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to honor the Scots. “I’m Gonna Be (500 miles)” is a brilliantly talented, goofy song that was featured in the film Benny & Joon (why does that feel like it was 10,000 years ago?). The song is an upbeat and lighthearted display of complete devotion. The patterns of “when you do this, I’m gonna do this” make up the spirited song and make it easy to sing along with and easy to fall in love with. And let’s face it…you’ll never forget the lines “and I would walk 500 miles, and I would walk 500 more” and the composed chorus of “duh duh duh duhs” that make this song worth remembering and/or hard to forget.

2. The Verve – “Bitter Sweet Symphony”
I do feel slightly guilty for listing The Verve in this category, because to be fair, I believe they’ve had several hits in the UK. However, if you glance up to the address bar on your screen, you’ll notice we’re not in Kansas anymore and being an American based musical opinions blog, I’m exercising my right to add them. I’ll say this…”Bitter Sweet Symphony” is not only an awesome song, but the video is great too. I love to watch him plow through literally every person he passes down the street like they’re not even there. Being that this is about the song, not the video, I’ll move on. “Bitter Sweet Symphony” was not even close to being an instant favorite of mine. In fact, it wasn’t even until I heard Lucas Rossi perform it on “Rockstar Supernova” that I even appreciated it as a good song, much less a favorite of mine. However, when I heard it under a different voice, I realized what an intricate composition it is, both vocally and instrumentally. It has the ability to be vocally ornamented, which is exactly what Rossi did with it. Once I heard his version, I went back and reexamined my feelings for the original…I loved it. I listened with a fresh set of ears and it was as if I’d heard it for the first time. It’s a beautifully written alternative rock song that makes you feel melancholy and malicious at the same time. If you’re having doubts about appreciating “Bitter Sweet Symphony”, I would encourage you to find a version of Rossi’s and then reevaluate The Verve’s masterpiece.

1. Tracy Bonham – “Mother Mother”
So while this is my fav, it’s hard for me to lump Tracy into this category because I love more of her music than just this one song. A few of them even got air play, but it’s “Mother Mother” that brings home the bacon. “Mother Mother” is a sarcastic tale of a girl and her phone conversation with her mother in which she makes small talk, asks some questions, and recalls some unexpected details. In the chorus, she sings/screams “I’m hungry, I’m dirty, I’m losing my mind, everything’s fine”. The song’s use of guitars and strings, which come prior to the chorus, don’t even set you up for when she goes berserk during the chorus. It’s a great surprise! Bonham is a phenomenal vocalist and with a hit like this and a voice like hers, it’s a travesty that she’s being classified as a one hit wonder. She’s truly masterful and “Mother Mother” proves it. This song is also one of the first tracks where I had ever heard a female vocalist scream, as it was very uncommon for women during that period in music. I remember loving how pissed off Bonham seemed, especially since I felt I could relate in all my teen angst. I always swore up and down that if I was in a band, I would cover this song, as have The Veronicas. “Rockstar Supernova” alum, Dilana even performed it on the show (though not by choice) and killed it (in a good way). It’s a fabulous song that deserves every bit of recognition it gets and more. It is my hope that you will enjoy it along with me.

Video of the Week – Week 62

So there was this whole thing…I didn’t realize that the video of the week I’d chosen in honor of our salute to Alternative Rock had already been used this past January…and I’m now replacing it…

So what do you do when you make an error like that? You skip over all the other obvious choices and go right for the Alternative Rock icon you should have gone with right from the start: Jane’s Addiction.

As music lovers, we have a lot to thank Perry Ferrell for. He taught us that it’s okay to be wicked weird. He was long ahead of his time when it comes to cosmetics and showed us that even men can wear black nail polish with dignity. He brought us Jane’s Addiction, Psi-Com, and Satellite Party. He brought us our first taste of the carnival like aspect that is a multi-act touring show…that’s right…the man gave us the Lollapalooza.

It was a genius idea, really, putting together this festival line up of acts ranging from Ice T and Body Count to Sonic Youth to The Roots to Metallica to The Ramones to Orbital to Incubus and I could go on and on for hours recounting every act that ever graced a Lallalooza lineup. It was cancelled, it was brought back, it went from a touring show to a one time thing in Chicago, but none of that matters. What matters is Perry Ferrell brought us to a new way to see live music.

While there’s all that, the nail polish, the weirdness, the rock icon status, there’s still a bit of mediocrity about Jane’s Addiction. They aren’t the best band ever and they aren’t the worst band ever. I’m actually hard pressed to find another song they had. If it weren’t for Lollapalooza they’d be just another Alternative band…

One that gave us the genius ode to shoplifting. Dogs barking, the girlfriend with the bad eye shadow, the security camera views, using a common produce aisle pillar as a stripper pole…they’re all here (and more) in a simple, catchy tune with a great guitar rift about how great it is to just take what you want when you want it.

Even shoplifters need an anthem.

Incubus: "Morning View"

It’s Monday, and according to logic – and the weekly schedule here at Audio Overflow – this “Retro Review” for Incubus’ 2001 album, Morning View should have been posted yesterday. So when Erin, who usually writes these reviews, “called in sick” yesterday, I hurriedly sat down and typed out what will go probably go down as the single greatest thing that has ever been written. It was more poetic than Maya Angelou, more profound than Moby Dick, and more insightful than Plato. But that’s just me being meek. Unfortunately for you and the present and future of humankind, some freak accident caused the entire thing to be deleted just as I started typing in the key tracks. The greatest review ever forged was lost in the annals of history.

The original introduction to my review had significantly more to do with the album. It read a little more like this:

One could effectively make a case either for or against Incubus. I know this because I’m currently torn over them. Back in High School, they were my favorite band. Since their 2004 album, A Crow Left of the Murder, I’ve steadily grown out of love with them. Brandon Boyd is truly unparalleled as a rock vocalist, though as a lyricist he’s sometimes laughably flawed. Likewise, Mike Einziger often wavers between guitar god and spirited amateur. Incubus has their moments on every album where they simply blow you away, and for that, they deserved to be listened to. It is Morning View, however, that remains their most impressive LP to date! It varies between loud, distorted, rock jams and introspective ballads, but does so effortlessly and sometimes unnoticably.

Morning View‘s cover depicts a picturesque California coast; a peaceful, secluded patch of beach. The brilliant thing about the album is that every song, regardless of style, feels like if would be a perfect accompaniment to such a place. The album’s first single, “Wish You Were Here” makes you want to close your eyes and picture yourself on that distant coast; the wind ripping through your hair, and your arms outstretched in a “With Arms Wide Open” music video type of way. If you could put music on a postcard with the phrase “Wish You Were Here,” this would be it! Boyd’s lyrics beautifully capture this moment as well, singing, “I lean against the wind, pretend that I am weightless, and in this moment I am happy.”

But Morning View is not all pretty, happy moments. Songs like “Mexico,” or the beautiful, “11am” drip with regret and remorse. Boyd softly sings, “7am. The garbage truck beeps as it backs up and I start my day thinking about what I’ve thrown away,” and you can immediately empathize with him. Both songs have a very somber, slow tone to them and brilliantly counter the intensity of the album’s opening moments. Others such as “Blood on the Ground” or “Under My Umbrella” feature a defiant sound, more in line with the band’s earlier funk-punk influenced albums.

But more often than not, the tone of Morning View is one that is rather complacent. “Are You In?” is such a blissful, jazzy song that it’s hard not to fall in love with it. Brandon Boyd sings in a carefree falsetto throughout a large portion of the song, noting that “It’s so much better when sea foam green is in fashion,” which is dumb, yes, but also strangely satisfying. “Just a Phase” features similar lyrical blunders but finds the band experimenting with different sounds and using silence to effectively heighten a moment of increased volume in a way that I’ve yet to hear done quite so convincingly. And then there’s always the zen-like experience that is listening to “Aqueous Transmission,” the album’s peaceful closer. At over 7 minutes long, it takes the listener on a journey. Again, Boyd paints a beautiful picture that is brilliantly conveyed with the music. He sings, “I’m floating down a river…Lying face up on the floor of my vessel, I marvel at the stars and feel my heart overflow.” Sounds of crickets, frogs, and other noisy creatures add ambiance to an already surreal track. Such a song could only appear on this album, and Incubus has never really made a song that rivals this one.

It has been over 6 years since Morning View first released. A lot has changed since then. Music has come and gone, and my tastes have changed significantly. The constant throughout all of that has been this one album. I can listen to it today just as I did 6 years ago; blaring through my speakers, me singing at the top of my lungs, air drumming, guitaring, etc. It is my go-to album for karaoke, a mainstream rock must-own, and by far Incubus’ most solid and impressive peace of work. If you’ve yet to hear Morning View (who are you?), or would like to get reacquainted with it, I highly recommend giving it a listen. It has not disappointed me yet after (literally) hundreds of listens. Have fun with it!

Key Tracks:
1. “Circles”
2. “Just a Phase”
3. “11am”
4. “Under My Umbrella”
5. “Aqueous Transmission”

9 out of 10 Stars

The Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums (Albums 20-16)

Welcome back to week two of this 5-week countdown of the Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums. Last week’s list included albums 25-21. This week, we’ll pick up where we left off. Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out the rest of our Alternative Rock related posts in observance of Alternative Rock Month here at Audio Overflow!

#20 – Incubus: Morning View (2001)

Cale says: “Incubus had already released two great albums by the time their third major-label LP, Morning View, was released. It was this one, however, that has gone down as their masterpiece. Filled start to finish with quality songs of varying styles, Morning View is an absolute blast to listen to, sing along to, or rock out with – depending on which song you choose to listen to. Listen to the whole thing without stopping, now that’s the real treat! It is one of the best mainstream rock albums of the 21st century, or hell, any century.”

#19 – 10,000 Maniacs: Our Time in Eden (1992)

Jill says: “I still very happily wear my 10,000 Maniacs tee shirt from the tour supporting this album. White, with the cover on the front, and on the back, lyrics from “Stockton Gala Days”. “That summer fields grow high. We made garland crowns in hiding, pulled stems of flowers from my hair.” An album that is the best use of Natalie Merchant’s unusual voice and probably the only thing they produced worth listening to. “

#18 – The Smashing Pumpkins: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (1995)

Cale says: “It’s hard to believe that an album like this ever existed, and that it was as good as it was. How many double-albums do you know of that feature quality songs on every track? How many double-albums do you know of that go own as the best in an artist’s catalog? It doesn’t happen very often, or ever for that fact. The Smashing Pumpkins’ 1995 masterpiece was the height of their career. It’s almost as if they put everything they had into this one effort. Perhaps that’s why everything that has come since has been somewhat of a disappointment.”

#17 – Radiohead: OK Computer (1997)

Cale says: “Widely considered to be the best alternative rock album of all time, OK Computer is a true work of art in music form! It was the album that transformed Radiohead into a talented band into the “saviors of rock and roll.” Their future efforts would try to distance themselves from the style that they perfected in this album, but few of their efforts can hold their own against such a great record.

#16 – Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill (1995)

Erin says: “Freakin’ Awesome! I love this album and still know EVERY WORD to EVERY SONG! It’s truly a shame that her best songs from this album were mostly hidden to radio stations, but her fans loved them. This will always be one of my favorite alternative albums!”

Jill says: “People don’t get this, but I only like one Alanis Morrisette song. “Wake Up.” That’s it. Her kind of girl anger just doesn’t do it for me. I can’t identify, I can’t make it my own. I will say this, though, she makes a great God. “

Tune in next week for picks 15-11.

Top 5 Friday: My Favorite Favorite Female Voices of Alternative Rock

Let’s face it, the women of the music world are sometimes overlooked in favor of their more popular counterparts. When you get into a genre like Alternative Rock, as we are this month, it’s the men that come immediately to mind. I’ll be honest, it took me a few minutes to come up with a list of women in Alternative Rock that I even liked. I’m slightly disappointed by this, but I do think I came up with some gems.

5. Sleater Kinney: Are they Indie? Are they Alternative? Some people have them on one list, some people on the other, and a few have them on both. Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein broke up with the bands they were in (which are so unnotable I don’t even know what they are) and formed Sleater Kinney in 1995. They put out 7 albums in 10 years and are no longer a group. That’s pretty much all I know about them. I admit, I am not the biggest Sleater Kinney fan in the world. They’ve always been a take it or leave it kind of band for me. Seeing them live really helped bolster my opinion of them, though, so now every so often I find myself dragging out a few Sleater Kinney albums for things like house work and really angry painting sessions. Sometimes they fit into that need for angry girl music that isn’t something like Tori Amos or Ani diFranco; something that’s got a lot more of a rock edge to it. “All Hands On the Bad One” is a great album, but it’s the single “Jumpers” from 2005’s “The Woods” that makes me really happy. Writing this I realized what Sleater Kinney is for me: a female version of Rage Against the Machine. Only a little tamer.

4. Liz Phair: I remember when Liz Phair made a little bit of a mainstream splash when she released her album “Liz Phair” in 2003. I saw her on Letterman doing “Why Can’t I?” and it just seemed to go downhill from there for her. She was no longer an Alternative darling for the media and was labeled as a sell out. That’s what happens when you go with a production team, it seems, that puts out albums for people like Avril Lavigne and Hillary Duff. “Liz Phair” wasn’t that great of an album, but if you go further back and dig out “whitechocolatespacegg” or “Exile in Guyville” you’ll find some true pieces of art. “Polyester Bride”, “Fuck and Run”, “Gunshy”, “Only Son”, and “Go On Ahead” are my Liz Phair staples. She’s bold, she’s honest, and she’s got a humorous approach to otherwise touchy subjects.

3. Siouxsee Sioux: Her name is really Janet. She helped form Siouxsee and the Banshees in 1976 and then broke them up, as many female lead singers are wont to do, in 1995. (And apparently got them back together for a reunion tour this year because reunion tours are big money.) But that wasn’t before she netted herself some critical praise and put out nearly 15 albums. As a teenager, I was so in love with Siouxsee’s voice and her look. The bright pink dresses coupled with the heavy black eyeliner and nail polish. The dyed dark black hair. And her voice…deep, sultry, commanding, dark. She sings as if she doesn’t care what the world thinks of her and she does a cover of Iggy Pop’s “The Passenger” that to this day sometimes still gives me goosebumps. (And does it far better than Iggy Pop ever did it.)

2. Dolores O’Riordan: After I submitted my list of my favorite Alternative Albums to Cale, like two days after it was made official, I was kicking myself for a glaring omission: The Cranberrie’s “Everyone Else Is Doing It So Why Can’t We?” I always forget about The Cranberries, even though “Zombie” pops up often on my iPod. (Is random really so random if it’s playing the same 50 out of 14,000 songs?) The firs time I heard Dolores O’Riordan I said “Wow. Her voice kicks ass” and that’s a sentiment I hold to this day. She’s got this distinctive voice that somehow never managed to lose the Irish accent the more she sang. She can screech with the best of them and she has the ability to draw you into her voice and keep you there until she’s done with you. “Linger” is such a poetic song driven by her vocals and who doesn’t love the chorus of “Zombie”? My favorite though, and always has been, is “Liar”. Genius lyrics and you really get a taste of that amazing Irish accent.

1. Natalie Merchant: There’s a lot to be said about 10,000 Maniacs and that’ll come at another time. This moment belongs to Natalie Merchant. I have a very vivid image of her live and this sums it up best: I should have just tacked her picture up on the wall and played her cd’s on a loop. She doesn’t move, she doesn’t have much stage presence, and she just belts out one song after another. Oh. And in person, Natalie Merchant is so incredibly striking it’s startling. If it weren’t for the voice she has it would have been a total waste of money to see her live. She’s got a voice like no other and she knows how to use it. There are songs like “San Andreas Fault” and “Ophelia” that have a very lullaby quality to them and when she sings about pioneer women moving across the country via covered wagon, her voice really puts you there. Natalie Merchant manages to tell a story with her lyrics and uses her voice to illustrate it. For me, Natalie Merchant can make me weepy, make me happy, and she never fails to make me want to hear more. Her voice is just so different that if you haven’t sought her out, you really should. Natalie Merchant is an Alt Rock goddess and should not be ignored.

Moods – Nostalgic

In keeping with our theme for this month…my play list comes from our collective list of the Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums.

Nostalgic, as defined by Websters:

1. a wistful desire to return in thought or in fact to a former time in one’s life, to one’s home or homeland, or to one’s family and friends
2. a sentimental yearning for the happiness of a former place or time
3. something that elicits or displays nostalgia.
4. A bittersweet longing for things, persons, or situations of the past.
5. The condition of being homesick; homesickness.

What do you remember when you listen to albums from the past? Do you think about that wedding dance you witnessed or that time you played a touch football game with your friends in a muddy field? Do you remember getting your driver’s license or that time you ditched 5th period Chemistry to make out at the end of the hallway with a guy you were pretty sure didn’t really like but turns out he did? Do you think about high school or college or even middle school in a montage form, snippets of your past hurling from the depths of your mind to the forefront of your thoughts, causing you to smile in brief recognition? Are they painful memories, some of them? The breakups, the failures, the time the popular girl teased you because your hair didn’t look just right?

I don’t like to fall into those periods of nostalgia. Not really. There’s a lot buried in my head I’d really rather not think about and sometimes those things are better left to remain in their cranial burial plot. I know as well as anyone else, though, that that’s one of the powers of music: it has the ability to snap you back to a time that is no more and can leave you planted there until it moves you on to something else. Music has the power to remind you of the good and the bad. We all do it, assign songs and albums to certain times in our life. If you thought about it you’d realize you probably have a soundtrack to your life comprised of songs you love and hate. One of the powers of music is to be categorized like that and we do it without even thinking about it. There’s a song there, in your heart, in your head, in the depths of your memories that you just can’t shake.

On a personal level, Oasis reminds me of summer time driving on winding roads, windows down and singing along to “Wonderwall” even though I really didn’t like it. I didn’t like it, but there was something to it that made me listen. Still does. The Killers serve to remind me of friends I no longer have and no longer wonder about; not all friendships stand the test of time and really, do I truly care about where my “best” friend from 1989 is now if I can’t even remember her name? Portishead is for kissing in covert locations and miscellaneous sexual encounters. It always has and always will be, though my mind does tie Portishead’s “Dummy” to a long, cold, snowy driving venture in Oklahoma one winter. I cannot listen to Tori Amos’ “Winter”. There are maybe three songs total in my vast collection of music I cannot listen to, though I love them, and “Winter” is one of them. “Winter” makes me lay my head on whatever available surface there is and sob like a baby. I left a Tori Amos concert once for that reason; I just couldn’t deal with it. On the other hand, “Silent All These Years” is so powerful and so strong that it reminds me of very empowering moments in my lifetime and those were lessons I was glad to learn.

Then there’s The Counting Crows. Images of my arm being grabbed as I walked away from an argument to make me the recipient of a kiss I wasn’t expecting, the first time I gambled in Vegas, a secret told and never spoken of again. “Monkey”, first presented to me on a mixed tape with a note.

Later on, after I got to live with the mixed tape that was called “And Stuff Volume 1” for a little bit, in a weepy 3 a.m. conversation, it was the first time I learned that someone had assigned a song to me. That I was forever burned in someone’s memory musically and always would be. I’d been doing it myself for so long, assigning songs to people, places, and things, that I was secretly thrilled to know that someone else did it too. It felt like such an honor and it still does, really. I’m always secretly giddy when I find out now that someone relates a song to me, remembers me by it. While I don’t like to fall into fits of nostalgia, it is nice to know that every so often, when a play list spits something out randomly, I’ve invaded someone’s thoughts. Even for a brief moment. Forward it, delete it, rewind it, play it on repeat 20 times, I’m there and someone is thinking about me. Maybe nostalgia isn’t such a bad thing after all.

“Monkey,” he whispered in my ear at 3:01 a.m., “is you. For me, it’s all you.”

So, whatever they remind you of, enjoy the memory. I only hope I’ve sparked something you’ve long forgotten with this play list…

Video of the Week – Week 61

So in case you didn’t catch that incredibly lethargic write-up I did yesterday of the recent Built to Spill show, I had the opportunity to see The Meat Puppets live the other night. That’s right, The Meat Puppets. The guys who have been around since 1980 and yet have only had one hit song, and that one is 14 years old!

In honor of the Meat Puppets’ unflinching drive to continue onward and downward, much like Presidential candidate Ron Paul, I’ve decided to bring you that one hit song by The Meat Puppets in all it’s 1994, grunge-rock influenced video. It is Alternative Rock Month here at Audio Overflow, and I can’t think of a video that captures the ridiculousness of mid-nineties rock videos more than this one. Enjoy the dreary, Oliver Stone nature of it – complete with a completely unnecessary dancing clown. You’re welcome.

“Backwater” by The Meat Puppets, from the album, Too High To Die.

Silverchair: "Neon Ballroom"

So I’ve liked Neon Ballroom since the first time I heard it. It wasn’t one of those albums that took 3-5 listens before you really began to appreciate it. It was instantly gratifying for me. As most music from the 1996-2000 period causes me to reminisce about high school, I have noticed that this album doesn’t differ. This one is even more special to me for a specific reason, which I’ll expound upon later and you’ll likely find lame. Any who, I find that Neon Ballroom is very much Alternative, very much brilliant, and very much still one of my favorite compositions.

First song, “Emotion Sickness” is a great way to kick things off. Their use of orchestrated music throughout the duration of this song is a super creative way to put a new spin on this genre, though they’re not the first to have done that. What makes Silverchair and “Emotion Sickness” so great is that you don’t lose any of the rock feel. The orchestration only works for the better, to enhance, yet contrast the ingenious vocals and rough music. The smooth transition into the next track, “Anthem for the Year 2000” is effortless and before you knew it, you’re rockin’ out to a completely different sound. I love this song because (and get ready for the lameness) I graduated from high school this year, but before I did, I nominated this song to be our class song. Alas, we had some crappy Dave Matthews Band song that like 2 people on student council voted for and nobody remembers… but I digress. Not only are the music and vocals on this song really rugged, but the lyrics are just ironic because the perceptions of youth formed by older generations, and what our generation (and Silverchair) believed to be factual, are completely different. They bring this out heavily in lyrics dealing with the world having small minds to politicians knowing everything. I could rant for a while about this song, but will opt instead to tell you that it’s a memorable song, and with its heavy sound and thought provoking lyrics, you shouldn’t be disappointed.

“Ana’s Song (Open Fire)” is the reason I bought Neon Ballroom. Upon hearing this song, I just thought it was pretty, but later, to find out that the lyrics were so heartfelt and emotional, I just thought it was brilliant. It hauntingly begins with Daniel Johns’ vocals and acoustic guitar and later picks up in volume and percussion. It’s a slow paced rock anthem that deals with the eating disorder, anorexia; a battle that Johns’ had reportedly dealt with. It’s worth every bit of the 3:41 time that it presents itself. The fourth track, “Spawn Again” has absolutely no singing, but only yelling. The music is typical of what you’d expect from Silverchair, but what’s unexpected is the transition from beauty to the beast (the previous song to now). It’s very rugged and political as opposed to soft and personal. It appears to deal with (and I may be being too literal with lyrics) animal rights. Several times throughout the track, animals are mentioned a long with lyrics like, “… why can’t the livestock be free when trading soldiers for steak” and “these are the facts, so eat what you murder”. You can read them an determine for yourself their lyrical nature, but musically, “Spawn Again” is a good song.

“Miss You Love” is another song that is both pretty and percussive. It begins very softly with vocals and piano, but later picks up to be a bit harsher. These lyrics will have you singing a long pretty quickly. I feel like the lyrics are pretty cut and dry about a teenage breakup, which almost everyone can identify with; a trait that makes this song all the more personal. It’s great on so many levels: the beauty, the realness, the rock… it’s simply one of the best songs on the album. “Dearest Helpless” is once again, performed in true Silverchair style. The music is almost Nirvana-ish, but the vocals say otherwise. While not a bad song, it never gets too exciting for me. It’s pretty typical, never straying from the path of a safe choice. In fact, not only do I not find the music exciting, but the vocals leave a little bit to be desired. Again, not bad, just not their best in my opinion. I’d expect just a little more. The next track, “Do You Feel the Same” is a great song. It’s not only musically interesting, but it reminds me of music you’d hear on a Bush CD, with a few variances. This song makes several unique chord, harmony, and rhythmical choices. You figure that out in about the first 30 seconds of the song. The lyrics are simple and pleasantly performed. Also, there are a few chords in this song which sound dissonant (a musical technique that I’m a huge fan of). I love this song so much and feel it’s one of the reasons why I love Neon Ballroom like I do.

I feel like Silverchair has saved their softest songs for this album, for “Black Tangled Heart” is just as slow, soft, and sentiment filled as the rest of their more heart felt tracks. One of the things I love about this song is their use of the orchestra again. I feel like orchestration only enhances rock (if you don’t believe me, check out S&M by Metallica). This song also has a few little dissonant spaces gracing us, and again, a huge fan of it. “Black Tangled Heart” will most likely not make you want to sing along. It’s more of a “sit back and listen” type of song. A good one though. “The Kiss Will Kill You” is another song which begins much softer and prettier than songs typically produced by Silverchair. Johns really gets a chance to show off his vocal ability in this song and for the first time, you see that he’s capable of more than just the rough, raspy sound he’s so commonly associated with. The guitars have a tremendous feature throughout the song. I appreciate that, since a lot of the music has really been piano and orchestrated. It’s nice just to have a song which is truly guitar driven.

“Satin Sheets” is much harder than the previous few songs, but I almost feel cheated with this one. It’s as if vocal abilities have just gone out with window, along with all creativity. Nothing seems to flow well in this song. It just sounds really abrasive to my ears. I don’t feel like I’m listening to the CD that, up until this point, I’ve loved. I’d venture so far as to say, I hate this song, but be advised that Neon Ballroom is still a truly awesome masterpiece, though it would have been nearly perfect without this one. I know this will shock you and all, but “Paint Pastel Princess” is yet again slower and softer, and once again, orchestrated. The good thing here is that I’m not yet bored by these sounds, because each song is tremendously different, with mild similarities (instrument choices and pace of songs). I won’t say that this song is my favorite, but it’s hard to say anything bad about it. No, the lyrics are not anything to write home about, but other than that, the musicality of this song is great. “Steam Will Rise” is the last track on the album and it’s definitely a good note to end on. It is following the majority speed with this album, but it’s a cleverly written song. Percussion is what kicks off this song and keeps you really intrigued to see where it’s heading. While the lyrics are dark, they are brilliantly written and flow so well with the melody and rhythm. An example is in the last verse, “Refrain, Confess, Contain, Repress, pretend I’m dead. Abuse myself, confuse myself, I won’t be led.” I’m normally not all for rimes, but it’s done pretty tastefully here, as if not completely intentional (though you know it had to be). It all ends with a bunch of synthesized music… another wonderful thing that hasn’t happened yet. As I said, a great way to end things!

If you’ve never had the pleasure of listening to Neon Ballroom, I strongly suggest that you give it a listen. It’s a great album with great talent and I couldn’t imagine a better choice to kick off Alternative Rock month. Whether you’re a Silverchair fan or not, if you’re a fan of Alternative Rock, or just flat out great music, I feel like you’ll enjoy it. It may not be your favorite, but at least you’ll have the exposure and the experience… both well worth it!

Key Tracks:

1. “Anthem for the Year 2000”

2. “Ana’s Song (Open Fire)”

3. “Miss You Love”

4. “Do You Feel the Same”

5. “Steam Will Rise”

9 out of 10 stars

The Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums (Albums 25-21)

It’s March, and here at Audio Overflow we’ve decided to commemorate the month with month-long coverage of the best alternative rock music of all time. Alternative rock means a lot to us. It was the music of our youth (whether we wanted it to be or not), it influenced our future musical tastes, and it oftentimes means a whole lot more to us than all that great music that our parents told us we missed out on. Yes, we at Audio Overflow have crazy-mad nostalgic love for alternative rock, and throughout the month of March we hope to rekindle that long-lost flame for you as well. For the next several weeks, all Retro Reviews, Video of the Weeks, and Top 5 Fridays will be alternative-rock themed. In doing so, we hope to reintroduce you to the best and worse that the genre has to offer.

On Saturdays we’ll be counting down Audio Overflow’s Top 25 Alternative Rock Albums, which, of course, begins today – right now, actually. As a brief disclaimer, I’d like to point out that Jill, Erin, and myself all have vastly different opinions on music; what makes it good, and what makes it memorable. Personally, though I’m a big fan of indie rock music, which could actually be classified as alternative, I shied away from a lot of stuff that I felt didn’t capture the spirit of the alternative rock movement in the late 80s and early 90s. The following list, therefore, is sometimes wildly varied and sure to bring a few surprises. But we hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

#25 – Portishead: Dummy (1994)

Jill says: “Oh gosh, this album is sexy. I’m not ashamed to admit it: it’s a total hookup album. Unless you’re listening to it at 3 a.m. in the dead of winter lost on a windy, icy, snowy Oklahoma road looking for your Aunt Donna’s house that you should have been at 5 hours previously. Then it’s just oddly comforting, if Trip-Hop can be oddly comforting.”

Cale says: “A strange album that can be both soothing and chilling. Beth Gibbons’ voice is the force that carries this noir-influenced album to the great heights it achieved years ago.”

#24 – Oasis: (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? (1995)

Cale says: “Undoubtedly one of the most influential and important alternative rock albums of my childhood. I remember bringing this CD (which I stole from my sister) to school one day and being the most popular kid in the class! It was one of the first times that I was introduced to rock music that didn’t assault my ears with distorted guitars, and for that I cherish it.”

Erin says: “A good album with a lot of good songs. It reminds me of high school. Oasis always seemed like they were our version of “The Beatles””

#23 – The Killers: Hot Fuss (2004)

Cale says: “In our nominating process for this list, I wound up being the only one who voted for this album, undoubtedly because it’s one of the most recent albums featured. That doesn’t take away from its greatness, however. I first stumbled upon The Killers in the wee hours of MTV programming several years ago and picked up this album later that same day. It is effortlessly entertaining from start to finish and a great re-imagining of alternative rock music!”

#22 – Counting Crows: Recovering the Satellites (1996)

Erin says: “True it’s mellow alternative, but it still fits. The counting crows have some classics and Recovering the Satellites is definitely their winner.”

Jill says: “”Monkey” for sentimental reasons. “Catapult” because it’s just awesome. “A Long December” because the first line of it is so very, very true for me. It’s “Another Horsedreamer’s Blues” though, that does it for me. It’s a song that tells a story and it’s one I can never ignore. There’s just little bits and pieces through out the entire album that I can, and easily do, apply to my entire life.”

#21 – Tori Amos: Little Earthquakes (1992)

Jill says: “It’s like every other song is the song you should listen to on this album. I purposely skip “Winter” because it’s one of two Tori Amos songs that have the power to make me put my head down on my desk and make me sob. I have never been able to figure out which is better, “Silent All These Years” or “Precious Things”. Both so powerful and so stirring. Maybe they’re both equally amazing.”

Cale says: “Joan Osborne who? Tori Amos was the female singer-songwriter of alternative rock…and still kinds is.”

Tune in next Saturday for pick 20 – 16.