Sean Penn on Real Time

Who knew Jeff Spicoli was such a thinker?? Caught the excellent Real Time with Bill Maher the other night on HBO and this episode blew me away, specifically the intellectual prowess of Mr. Penn. I understand he's become quite the activist in recent years and watching him on this show I was extremely impressed at his reasoning and balls. I'm all for people who have the courage to speak out, we need more of it.
Check out this episode, and all Real Time editions for that matter, on HBO On-Demand.

JJ Grey and Mofro

FINALLY: Well here we are folks, Memorial Day weekend 2007, and it took this long for me to find the first truly incredible album of the year. JJ Grey and Mofro, self-described as "front-porch soul", flew under my radar thus far but over this week I'd heard some songs from their current album Country Ghetto and am loving what I'm hearing. I think "The Sun Is Shining Down" could be one of the best things I've heard in a while, and there's many other gems here including the self-titled track and the solemnly grooved "Goodbye".
Upon review it seems these guys have been around for a while and are getting props from bigs such as the Allman Brothers who have them opening some of their summer tour.
Check out a sample and do yourself a favor: buy this record.

John Henry Bonham

Was there anyone more ferocious than JB? Led Zepp could never recover from his loss, and this gem shows reinforces that. Always had high respect for how they honored their founding brother and obviously left piles of cash on the table when they decided that they could not go on after he passed away.
I think of the recent attrocities The Doors and INXS where both bands tried to replace their irreplaceable frontmen, both arguably rock legends, so they could go on the road and tour. Especially that hideous INXS reality show. Sad, and doesn't have seemed to have worked either.

Never Seen Star Wars

What a douche.

It's Only Love

Sometimes you randomly come across songs that you've totally forgotten about and maybe never even liked in the first place, but when you hear them again and in a new way you have to admit that they kinda kick ass. I love when that happens.

Cool Online Ad

pretty sweet.

Brightback Morning Light

Got hipped to these guys earlier today, although their album came out almost a year ago. It's tough out there people, trying to break through the clutter. No way radio would touch this, got to rely on fans and word-of-mouth.
Sweet tune called "Everybody Daylight": Grab it for free by clicking the "First MP3" tab, can either stream or right-click to save.

Philosophers and Plowmen

I saw that classic Sci-Fi rockers RUSH will hit the road this summer, and thought back to trying to get into one of their shows at Radio City Music Hall back in 2003. While standing outside looking for a ticket, I never saw so many people who as a buddy described "looked like they crawled out of their parents basement" to hit the show.

It's about your fanbase, nothing else really matters.

I'll try again to see this power 3-piece and hopefully fare better than last time. I might not be their most rabid fan per se but how can you not appreciate some of their classic cuts, such as this.

Best Album Openers Ever

Good topic, always stirs it up. Sure you're gonna get alot of chiming in for "Welcome To The Jungle" from GnR's APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION and "Smells Like Teen Spirit" from Nirvana's classic NEVERMIND, and while this topic certianly shouldn't be limited to 90's-era releases (I mean really, every single Led Zeppelin album could apply here, and that opening cut on The Rolling Stones BEGGARS BANQUET doesn't sound too bad) but as I was walking today with the ipod I found myself revisiting the Smashing Pumpkins' excellent SIMEASE DREAM, and what's needs to be in this conversation is the outstanding "Cherub Rock".
A few words come to mind on this one: ferocious, assaulting, killer. It's like the guitars and drums are in a deadlocked competition for who can outplay each other, great changes and totally left-field soloing. Songs shold be like this one more often.

Got My New Shoes On

Lately it seems that I'm continually turning to my old and familiar music catalog as I just haven't seemed to hear anything new and good in a long while. However I came across this Paolo Nutini in the last week and have to say it's kinda working for me.
The kid is actually Scottish (?) and yeah this isnt necessarily groundbreaking, but at the end of the day its about a great hook and feel, and on a beautiful sunny day in NYC like this his "New Shoes" is kicking things up a notch. Splendido canzone, mon amici.