Ho's Song of the Day- The Bridges: Pieces
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Song of the Day
Ho's Song of the Day is in honor of MJ's 2nd Anniversary of his Death - whether you liked him or not his impact on music will be everlasting. The song is Michael Jackson feat. Janet Jackson- Scream
Friday, June 24, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Albums to Listen to: Pinkerton
Every once and while I like to post something beside a song of the day, whether it be a playlist of songs I'm listening to, or highlighting a certain artist or album. Today I wanted to highlight an amazing album from what I believe to be one of most interesting bands of the 90's (and of course today). The group is Weezer,and the album that I wanted to focus on was their second album, Pinkerton.
While not as well known as their amazing debut, simply called Weezer, while most affectionately called it The Blue Album. Pinkerton was in a sense, an operatic experiment, in which a common theme and almost story is woven in the short 10 song album. While critics and fans at its initial release declared it a commercial/critical failure, the album would face a resurgence in the 2000s, where the album was met with praise, some critics calling it one of the most important albums of the 90s- and re-release of a deluxe edition in 2010.
The album is named after the protagonist of Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo draws upon the story and the structure of the opera to create the album and uses many illusions from the story, such as references to the Japanese culture and allusions within the Japanese style narratives in the songs. He also makes direct references to the opera by mentioning Cio Cio San, one of the main characters of the opera, and the beautifully written song Butterfly, a direct reference to Cio Cio San's nickname. Cuomo wrote this album in a very dark place, while studying at Harvard and feeling a complete sense of isolationism. This isolationism rings true throughout the album, especially on songs like Tired of Sex, where Cuomo espouses how he is tired of meaningless one night stands and Across the Sea, where Cuomo writes a narrative about he receives a letter from a Japanese fan and how much Cuomo wants to meet the author. Another theme that Cuomo runs through the album is a sense of seal loathing, such as the Good Life where Cuomo asks what he's been doing with his life, and how he can get back to said "good life".
What is truly genius about the album is Cuomo's willingness to write honest and very raw lyrics. The songs are very candid, and no wonder looking back, Cuomo is a little embarrassed of such a revealing album. One of the key elements of the album is sexual repression in which Cuomo reveals his darker sexual desires and repressions, which can be very literal and sometimes graphic. Going back to the song Across the Sea, Cuomo in one line of the song questions if she thinks of him when she masturbates. Tying with his sexual repression is the idea of longing, in which Cuomo longs for the unattainable half-Japanese girl in El Sorcho (who Cuomo explains is a real girl who in true nerd fashion he actually never spoke to, so he wrote a song about her) and the lesbian who is clearly out his grasp in the song Pink Triangle.
His honest song writing, compared with the musical talent of his group is what makes this album is interesting and so unique in the Weezer's repertoire. It is a for the most part a concept album, but it done so honestly and like Cuomo's style, so nerdy. I would say this album isn't for everyone, it took years to be accepted and fully embraced by the mainstream, and honestly at my first listen didn't catch my eye either, if anything just made me feel uncomfortable and weird, but maybe that's what Cuomo's point is- to be so honest, raw and candid, you are going to make others uncomfortable. Either way, a major success for the group and another reason to keep making that dorky =W= symbol with my hands.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Song of the Day
Ho's Song of the Day is a song that I've mentioned before ,but it's never been highlighted as a song of the day. Ben Gibbard of Death Cab cover Rilo Kiley's beautiful Silver Lining. Just gorgeous. Happy Friday everyone!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Song of the Day
Ho's Song of the Day is a song I haven't heard in awhile- it's Drew Alexander: New York Calls
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Song of the Day
Ho's Song of the Day is an awesome cover. Ellie Goulding cover of Mumford and Sons- The Cave.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
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