Monday Music Mambo - 5/4/09

From my mambo:

What is your favorite acoustic song?

Right now, that would have to be "Forgive Me" by Missy Higgins. It's the last track on her latest album, and it's raw and emotional. It sounds like she recorded it in a bathroom.

Monday Music Mambo - 2/2/09

In honor of The Day The Music Died (which is actually tomorrow):

What rock and roll death has affected you the most?

Kurt Cobain's suicide in 1994 immediately comes to mind. I wasn't really a big Nirvana fan, but I saw them all over MTV and heard their songs all over the radio. They were the big thing in rock during that period. I remember being in shock when I heard the news during Homeroom at school. It was something the kids cared about. I don't recall what the adults thought, because to us, their opinion didn't matter. Kurt Cobain belonged to the MTV generation, and his death affected us greatly.

People have varying opinions on just how great Nirvana really were, but what cannot be denied is that Kurt was an artist who commanded attention. He made his mark on the world of music for good or bad. For that, he must be remembered.

Monday Music Mambo

Monday Music Mambo - 9/01/08

It's Exclamation Day at the Mambo!

Make a short playlist of songs that use exclamations in the title!

The Beatles - Help!
The Beatles - Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!
Coldplay - Lost!
Natalie MacMaster - Hey, Johnny Cope!
Sleater-Kinney - Oh!
Smashing Pumpkins - Behold! The Night Mare

Monday Music Mambo - 8/18/08

Today's Mambo:

Write a review of your latest album purchase, song download, etc.

I'm not going to do a full review, but I will write some of my thoughts about the album.

A couple weeks ago, I bought Quadrophenia by The Who. I've been wanting to buy it for a while. The title alone tells you this will be a cool album. I'm very impressed and enjoying it more and more. I think it's much better than Tommy. The songs are stronger, there are no five-second throwaway tracks, and the music just rocks harder! Many of the songs are really good. "The Real Me," "I've Had Enough," "5:15," "I'm One," "The Punk And The Godfather," and, of course, "Love, Reign O'er Me" are all spectacular. There seems to be very little guitar on this album. Drums and John Entwistle's awesome bass are the main instruments.

If I had to complain about this album, I would say that some of the songs aren't as well-structured as they could be, and too long as well. These moments seem to come mostly on the second disc. The majority of the songs, though, are wonderful.

Monday Music Mambo - 8/4/08

Today's Mambo is about music books:

1. Do you own any music-related books? If so, how many do you have?

*Looks at bookshelf* I can see 16 on one shelf, and I think I have a few more on another shelf. That would make about twenty, give or take.

2. What is your favorite book about music?

The best I've ever read is Cash: The Autobiography by Johnny Cash. It is thoroughly entertaining.

3. What musician/band/topic would you like to see written about in a book?

I think the tale of the Smashing Pumpkins would make for a great read. Drama, success, creativity, comebacks - it's all there!

Monday Music Mambo - 7/28/08

Today is Hamburger Day, and the Mambo is celebrating:

Pick a musician and create a hamburger inspired by him or her. For example, you might make a burger with Italian ingredients for Frank Sinatra.

Today, I think I'll create a Jeff Buckley burger. Jeff was born in California, so maybe this should be a slightly healthier burger. Veggie burger? Maybe. I think I'll go for chicken instead. He was bor in Anaheim, so one could add a roasted Anaheim pepper if one desired.

He later lived in NYC, so let's add something good from that city to this burger. Pastrami, maybe? Or a good Kosher pickle.

Jeff's family is Irish, so let's add some Irish cheddar on top. We could also add a rasher of bacon, but that wouldn't go well with pastrami, would it?

Jeff spent his final days in Memphis. Maybe a little BBQ sauce would be good as a spread. Or you could do as Memphis-folk do and add some coleslaw on top.

So, here's the Jeff Buckley burger:

Chicken burger topped with . . .

Pastrami
Irish cheddar
BBQ sauce

I'd eat that!

Monday Music Mambo - 6/2/08

Today at the Mambo, we are making recommendations:

Recommend the following to your fellow mamboers:

A song: "Jealous Of The Moon" by Nickel Creek
An album: "Adore" by Smashing Pumpkins (it is now ten years old this week).
An artist: Jeff Buckley
A genre: Celtic! It's great stuff, I'm telling you!

Monday Music Mambo - 5/19/08

Get ready to mambo!

Tell us your favorite song featuring vocals by Robert Plant (Led Zeppelin, Robert's solo projects, or anything else) and tell us why it's your favorite.

I'm having a hard time answering my own question. Figures! I like many of Robert's songs, but I think the one I like best for vocals is "Over The Hills and Far Away" because it shows everything Robert can do. He can sing gently, or he can scream like a banshee.

Monday Music Mambo - 4/7/08

Today's Mambo is brought to you by the letter C:

1. What is your favorite band or artist whose name starts with the letter C?

The Chieftains, of course!

2. What is your favorite song that starts with the letter C?

"Colossus" by Afro Celt Sound System

3. What is your favorite album that starts with the letter C?

Cajunization by BeauSoleil

Monday Music Mambo - St. Patrick's Day

Today's Mambo is Irish music-themed for St. Patrick's Day:

1. What is your favorite traditional Irish artist or band?

My favorite so far is Altan, but the Bothy Band are growing on me too. The Chieftains are also awesome, but perhaps a little too safe sometimes.

2. What is your favorite non-traditional Irish artist or band?

Probably U2.

3. What is your favorite instrument used in Irish music?

That would have to be fiddle.

Monday Music Mambo - 3/10/08

Hang up the phone and do the mambo:

1. Which musician would you like to share a telephone conversation with? What would you talk about?

I think I'd like to talk to Paul McCartney. We'd talk about the songs he wrote during his time with the Beatles, if he doesn't mind.

2. Name your favorite song with telephone or phone in the title, or has anything to do with telephones.

"The Phone Call" by The Pretenders

3. If you have a cell phone, what is your ringtone? If you don't have a cell or don't have a musical ringtone, what would you want your ringtone to be?

I don't have a ringtone on mine. I think I'd have "London Calling" or "Little Wing" as my ringtone. Those are both good songs.

4. What's Jenny's number?

867-5309, of course!

Monday Music Mambo - 3/3/08

Hey kids! It's National Anthem Day for the Monday Music Mambo.

1. What artist or band would you like to see perform the National Anthem?

I'll choose American acts. I'd like to see Nickel Creek do it, with their three-part harmonies. And, if he were still alive, Roy Orbison.

2. Where would they perform it?

At the Stanley Cup Finals! Preferably one in which the Detroit Redwings are playing.

3. Jimi Hendrix performed the National Anthem on his guitar. Which solo instrument would you like to hear perform the National Anthem?

I think it would be crazy if Robert Randolph played the National Anthem on his pedal steel guitar. He'd do it justice and make it sound like no other version!

Monday Music Mambo - 2/18/08

We're celebrating Thumb Appreciation Day at the Mambo:

Name three albums that you would give 'two thumbs up.'

Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt. Every song is great.

Siamese Dream by Smashing Pumpkins. Their most consistent album.

London Calling by The Clash. The best double album I own, if not the best double album of all time.

Monday Music Mambo - 2/11/08

Today's mambo is electric!

1. What is your favorite electrified instrument?

As much as I like the guitar, I think I like the bass guitar even more. The sound is so wonderful - beautiful and deep and scary and warm all at the same time.

2. What instrument do you think should be electrified that isn't?

Have they electrified the Bouzouki yet? If not, that should be made electric. It would rock! I'd also like to see what an electric banjo sounds like.

3. Name a song that just wouldn't be the same without electricity.

"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I don't see how it would work on acoustic guitar. Another good choice - "Helter Skelter" by The Beatles. No way does that song rock without volume and distortion.

Monday Music Mambo - 2/4/08

Today is Soup Day at the Mambo:

1. It's a well-known idea that chicken soup makes you feel better when you're sick. What artist makes you feel better when you're not feeling well?

The Beatles always cheer me up, no matter how I'm feeling.

2. Soups can be made from very diverse ingredients that somehow work well together. Name a band, duo, or any other combination that brings diverse people together into one great musical soup.

Other than the obvious Afro Celt Sound System, I'll mention Robert Plant and Alison Krauss. Who would have imagined those two collaborating? And well?!

3a. Creamy soups are popular for use in many dishes. Cream was one of the best blues rock groups of the 60s. What song do you like better - "Sunshine Of Your Love" or "White Room"? Tell us why you like that song better than the other.

I prefer "Sunshine Of Your Love" because of Clapton's excellent solo. It's probably my favorite guitar solo of all time. He's not playing a million notes per minute, but he's making every note that he does play count for something.

Monday Mambo - 1/28/08

Here's the Mambo:

1. They say every snowflake is unique. Name a musician who you think is unique and sounds like no one else.

The man I'm listening to right now - Elvis Costello. He's an original.

2. Snowfall covers everything in sight. Tell us about a cover song you enjoy.

I'll mention the song that just came on - "(What's So Funny 'bout) Peace, Love and Understanding" by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. The original is by Nick Lowe.

3. It snows a lot in Canada. Tell us your favorite Canadian musician.

I think Sarah McLachlan has to be my favorite Canuck. She has such a beautiful voice.

4. Watching the snow fall can be very peaceful. Name a song that brings you peace.

"Blackbird" by The Beatles brings me peace every time I hear it.

Monday Music Mambo - 1/14/08

It's Accordion Day at the Mambo!

1. Accordion - love it or hate it?

I do enjoy the sound of it. It adds a certain something to whatever type of music it's used in.

2. What is your favorite accordion style? (Zydeco, polka, Irish, etc.)

Zydeco is definitely the best way to play an accordion. You'll dance all night and day!

3. Do you have a favorite accordion player? Can you even name one?

Jimmy Breaux of BeauSoleil and Sharon Shannon are both excellent accordion players.

Monday Music Mambo - 1/7/08

Today's Mambo has a seventies theme:

1. What is your favorite band from the seventies (any band that recorded in that decade)?

I like Led Zeppelin, I love The Who, and I dig The Clash. But my favorite 70s band has to be The Attractions (with their leader Elvis Costello).

2. What is your favorite song that band released in the seventies?

There are so darn many! "Lipstick Vogue" comes immediately to mind.

3. Where would we find you in the seventies - a disco, a punk concert, or neither?

Obviously, you'd find me in my bedroom playing "This Year's Model" on the record player, trying to figure out the meanings to all of Elvis Costello's lyrics.

Monday Music Mambo - 12/10/07

It's Human Rights Day on the Monday Music Mambo, and we're making a playlist about the few human rights-loving artists I know of:

John Lennon: "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)." Very appropriate for the season.
Bob Marley: "Jammin'." No, I'm not going with the typical "Redemption Song."
U2: "Pride (In The Name Of Love)." They have a Christmas song too, but I don't want to jam this meme up with Christmas songs.
Bob Dylan: "Just Like A Woman."

Monday Music Mambo - 11/26/07

It's Electric Guitar day at the Mambo!

1. Have you ever played electric guitar? Did you enjoy it?

I've only fooled around a little on a friend's guitar. It was amusing. I just wish I could actually play.

2. Name one of your favorite electric guitarists and why you like him or her.

I'll name the late Stevie Ray Vaughan. Why was he so great? He had a style all his own. No one else has a sound quite like his. He could do it all - fast Texas boogie, slow blues, jazzier pieces. He was also a true entertainer - he put on a show and abused his guitar for the audience's entertainment.

3. Name a song with a good electric guitar solo.

One that I'm liking lately is James Honeyman-Scott's solo on "Kid" by The Pretenders. It's an excellent country-inspired solo. I especially love the very end of it.

4. You just bought a brand-new shiny electric guitar. What song do you try out on it first?

Probably "Purple Haze." That would be a good one to start with.