This week’s song is one of the lesser known hits from a very well known band. That band being Barenaked Ladies which have sold over 5 million records in the US and have charted a number one hit in 1998 with “One Week.” “Shoebox,” released in 1995, is the first single off of their third studio album, Born on a Pirate Ship, which also features one of their most popular hits, “Old Apartment.”
The single was also featured on the Friends Original TV Soundtrack, a album which of course features the famous theme song for the show, “I’ll Be There for You” by The Rembrandts, but also such classics as “It’s a Free World, Baby” by R.E.M and “I Go Blind” by Hootie and The Blowfish.
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The new music video for Better Than Ezra’s first single off of Paper Empire was released today and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed watching it. I might even go as far to say that I liked the music video more than the s, although they do compliment themselves very well. The stop motion animation fits perfectly for the song and it is well directed.
I don’t have much more to say other than enjoy it. You can read my review of Paper Empire or my post on “Absolutely Still” if you are up for further reading. Enjoy it.
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Armed with new drummer, Michael Jerome, and long time bassist, Tom Drummond, lead singer Kevin Griffin is getting set to release Better Than Ezra’s seventh studio album. The new album, entitled Paper Empire, will be available to the public on May 12th, 2009. Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on it early. I am excited to share with Better Than Ezra and 90’s music fans alike, what is in store this time from the boys from New Orleans.
The album kicks off with a song many of you may be familiar with, “Absolutely Still“. The first single off of Paper Empire, “Absolutely Still”, was released a few weeks ago and according to Kevin, the music video has already been recorded and they even have a few behind the scenes pictures of the shoot on their myspace page. It continues to grow on me every time I listen to it. The second track, “All In”, is definitely a concert song. I can picture Ezralites singing along to this one at the next concert. My favorite line is “The moral to the story / There really isn’t one / The bottom of the line / Is to have a bit of fun.”
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This week we celebrate the new single from the boys from New Orleans. “Absolutely Still” by Better Than Ezra is a first taste of their new album entitled Paper Empire. Paper Empire, which is due out May 12th 2009, is their seventh studio album and puts a close to the nearly 4 year drought in between albums. Their last studio album, Before The Robots, is one of my favorite albums of the last ten years and a review of the album can be found here. I will be sure to get a review of the new album up as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Along with the news of the new album and the release of the new single, came the announcement that long time drummer, Travis Aaron McNabb, was leaving the band to continue his gig with the country duo Sugarland. Sugarland, who picked up two Grammys this year, needed a drummer for their live performances and Travis has been filling that void for about a year and a half and is now taking on a permanent role. Filling the void on the other end is new Better Than Ezra drummer Michael Jerome (pictured above-right). I haven’t heard him play yet but both lead singer Kevin Griffin and Bassist Tom Drummond are fans of his drumming skills and have faith that he will be the replacement that the need.
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This week’s song celebrates one of the most iconic bands of the ’90s, Hootie and The Blowfish. “Time” is one of 5 singles off the extremely popular Cracked Rear View album that was released in 1994. This album sold a remarkable 16 million copies, currently ranked 15th on the United States best selling albums of all time. “Time” is just one of many hits that Hootie and The Blowfish enjoyed in the ’90s, but one of my personal favorites due to its great lyrics.
The Chorus:
Time is wasting
Time is walking
You ain’t no friend of mine
I don’t know where I’m goin’
I think I’m out of my mind
Thinking about time
And if I die tomorrow, yeah
Just lay me down in sleep
I think almost anyone can relate to these lyrics. Very rarely is time on your side and this song drives home that point quite nicely. I felt that it would fit well this week as the uncertainty of the economy rolls on as well as the bitter cold winter.
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Remember the days before T-Pain and Nelly? Back when Sean Combs was still Puff Daddy? Back when two kings of the game ruled supreme? When rap still sounded like rap? If you haven’t figured it out yet, this article is dedicated to ’90s rap music. Rap in the ’90s brought widespread popularity to the genre. In the late 80s, Public Enemy, Run-D.M.C. and N.W.A. built a foundation for the gangster rap genre. They paved the way for what would be arguably the best decade the genre has ever seen.
With the exit of Ice Cube in 1989, N.W.A. continued to feud and eventually disbanded in 1991. The stage was set for an epic battle of rap supremacy in the early 90s. An East-West Coast divide had formed with Bad Boy Records on the East Coast, and Death Row Records on the West Coast. Tupac threw gasoline on the fire when he accused Biggie and Combs of being involved with the shooting he fell victim to in a NYC recording studio in 1994. With each record after that, the drama escalated and I think we all know how this story ends.
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This week’s song is just over fifteen years old but it wasn’t until about two years ago that I heard it for the first time. “Bittersweet” by Big Head Todd and the Monsters, released in 1993, was a song that I first heard live in concert during the summer of 2006. It wasn’t a Big Head Todd concert per say but they were the opening act (Collective Soul and Live were the main acts) and I had the pleasure of hearing this song. Overall they did a pretty good job with their set but it was “Bittersweet” that really caught my attention. Sitting on the grass at DTE Energy Music Theatre enjoying “Bittersweet”, I had no idea that it was in fact their second most popular song to date (“Broken Hearted Savior” being their most popular). Obviously I was not alone in my admiration for this great song and for good reason. It is very different then most of the songs that are being played on the radio today and if you would like a break from some of that music, I strongly you check out this song for a breath of fresh air.
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The countdown of the Top 100 Songs of the 90s continues and this time it’s “Hanginaround” by Counting Crows. “Hanginaround” is another song that just snuck into contention for the countdown. It was released in 1999 off of their third studio album, This Desert Life. This single, along with their already existing fan base, propelled the album to platinum status in early 2000. This is just one of many popular singles they have released over the years, but personally one of my favorites. The lyrics are so universal and almost everyone can relate to them at some point in their life.
This is the first time the Counting Crows have been featured on the countdown but I have a feeling that it won’t be their last appearance. They had quite a run during the ’90s which continued well into turn of the century. They have sold over 10 million albums and have charted 8 singles on the US Modern Rock Charts. They are currently touring in Australia after releasing their fifth studio album, Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings, last year. While their sales numbers have declined over the years, they have such a strong fan base, I doubt they will hang it up anytime soon.
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After last week’s 90s Pop Music playlist, I decided to get back to my real roots and create a playlist with a collection of some of the best rock songs of the late 90s. This playlist has some of my favorite artists from the 90s, and these bands are the reason I first became interested in music in general.
I tried to go with more of these band’s more popular and familiar songs but I plan on creating a few more of these playlists, where I dig a little deeper into the genre.
My favorite from this playlist has to be “Push” by Matchbox Twenty, one of the best songs of any genre from the 90s. The opening to “Push” never fails to bring chills down my spine.
Fortunately, this is not the only great song on this playlist. All of these artists have proved their worth over the years, and these songs only sample their excellence.
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Fastball, famous for their hit single “The Way”, is back on the music scene with a new album, Little White Lies. Set for release in the spring of 2009, Little White Lies is the group’s first album in five years.
They have recently updated both their official website and myspace page in preparation for the new album’s release. Currently all of the songs on the band’s myspace page appear to be from the new album, including one of my favorites, “All I Was Looking For” and the title track, “Little White Lies”.
While it has been over ten years since Fastball’s All the Pain Money Can Buy, they are still kicking and hoping that the new album will revive the popularity that they once had.
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90s Grunge Hits
Just pure flannel shirt Seattle grunge music at it’s finest. »
90's Post-GrungeYour favorite late 90s rock. »
90's Pop Playlist
Hits you either want to forget or have come to embrace. »
90's Rap HitsJams to stroll through town with the windows down. »
90's Slow Songs
The best slow dance songs from the 90s. »
