Big Sexy Top 20 Songs of 2013

I am a glass half full type of guy. At least I like to see myself that way. My knee has been killing me for a long time, but I can see the day in which I can round third base, pain-free, legs pumping as fast as they can, and be thrown out by 30 feet at the plate. I look forward to running down the sideline of my son’s football game as part of the chain gang after their defense has given up another long play.

When I look back at 2013 musically, I think of the new bands I was turned onto, the bands I just now have started to appreciate to their fullest and some of the good times music has given me. This was the year that Spotify has changed the way I listen to/own music. It was the year Key & Peele taught me what “dub-step” actually sounds like. (Key & Peele was a wonderful addition to my life in 2013! If you are not watching it yet, please do.)

I haven’t figured out the theme of the Top 20 of 2013 yet. 2011 was the year is foul language. 2012 was the year of horns. Maybe by the end of this post, I will figure it out. Without further ado, I present the Big Sexy Top 20 songs of 2013. Wait, here’s a little more ado: New rule for this year on top of the “it doesn’t really have to be from 2013, just new to ME” in 2013 is that I didn’t want to repeat any bands in the Top 20. Also, this Top 20 is more of the “Upbeat Top 20” as the Top Cool Out Songs will be released soon and many of those are some of my absolute favorite songs of the year. Is that enough ado? Make sure to click on the highlighted text for video accompaniment. 

1. Daft Punk – Get Lucky

Fave Lyric: She’s up all night till the sun. I’m up all night to get some. She’s up all night for good fun. I’m up all night to get lucky.

Yes, it’s disco. Yes, the lyrics are a little repetitive. But, this was easily the song of summer, despite some people that were influenced by the other Pharrell Williams collaborated song with the naked girls and son of the 80’s sitcom dad. There is just a great groove to this song. Even though I have heard it hundreds of times by now, it still makes my hips wiggle and my soul smile. Does that Fave Lyric above not spell out the conflicting attitudes of guys in the club?

The video in the link is the official video of the song. Kinda boring, but it does remind you that these French wierdos always were helmets. Vive le robots! Another favorite TV/Music crossover is this video from “Stephest Colbchella‘013” showing that this song makes everyone want to dance. Ima steal his spinning dance move with the arms up halfway. Watch out, Mrs. Sexy!

2. Queens of the Stone Age – I Sat by the Ocean

Fave Lyric: I sat by the ocean. And drank a potion, baby, to erase you. Face down in the boulevard, yeah, I couldn’t face you.

I am always a little worried when a band I really, really love comes out with a new album. QOTSA has been one of my favorite bands for nearly a decade, but due to Josh Homme’s health issues and the fact that he apparently cannot work with the same people in his band for very long, they have not released a new album in four years.

I don’t love the first song on the album. In fact in might be my least favorite song in the whole playlist. I was very nervous. But then the second song, I Sat by the Ocean kicks off as good of a quartet of songs as I can remember. In fact it’s those four songs, as a group, which belong in this slot. It starts with a kinda whiny, slide guitar lick and is joined by the Fave Lyric about 30 seconds in. It just sets the tone for some sour news ahead for clearly a troubled man. This song shows the angst of someone who clearly is nearing bottom. The chorus is “you, me and your lies”. I don’t think these kids are going to work out. It has all of cool swagger I love from the Queens. He is clearly rocking by the end of the song. 

The album then segue ways beautifully into one of the Top Cool Outs, The Vampyre of Time and Memory . Climbs out slowly into If I Had a Tail  and wraps up with the blistering My God is the Sun. Epic!

3. Rizzle Kicks – Skip to the Good Bit

Fave Lyric: Wanna be fit but I don’t like runnin, then I see you I wish I done sumthin.

Had a hard time picking one song off of one of my favorite albums of the year. Down with the Trumpets was the Big Sexy song of 2012. RIzzle Kicks came right back out in 2013 with an even stronger album even if they were unable to crack the top song of the year. This is still a fun song sampling one of my favorite One Hit Wonder songs of all time, EMF’s Unbelievable. I love this cheeky British band’s happy hip hop. They love horns and just having fun. It is infectious. They want everyone to have fun with them. I bet their concerts are just one big party. I’m not surprised the video is fun as well. This band doesn’t quell my desire to move to London.

4. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis – Can’t Hold Us

Fave Lyric: Put our hands UP like the ceiling can’t hold us.

I know this list is kinda mainstream so far considering my typical musical influences, but Macklemore cannot be denied this year. There are a ton of versions of this song out there: pretty white girl acoustic, Gaelic, Ohio State Marching Band, and my favorite, over highlights of the Seahawks winning the Super Bowl.   I know it is white guy wrap, but the drop into the Ray Dalton verses and the female background singers and the horns really make this song. In fact, there might be too much Macklemore. It’s a high energy song that makes me bob my head when I hear it. I can’t even considerate it rap (and neither can rap fans who put their own hands up when the Grammy was announced).

5. Haim – The Wire

Fave Lyric: I know I know I know you’re gonna be ok anyway.

This can’t-break-up song really started hitting big after the sisters appears on SNL a few months back. It’s got a catchy, hand-clap feel and is just a good song. Pretty funny video of the poor broken hearted dumpees.

6. The Coup – The Guillotine

Fave Lyric: We got hella people. They got helicopters.

Love this Wiz inspired video. The Coup is a funk rock protest band from Oaktown. Preach! This album hit me at the end of 2012, but this song didn’t hit heavy rotation for me until 2013. Many choice cuts off their album Sorry to Bother You. Give it a spin and fight the power.

7. Kanye West – Black Skinhead

Fave Lyric: [heavy Breathing with the Drums]

Kanye West is crazy. The question is, is he crazy like a fox or just crazy like a nut job? There has never been a more narcissistic public performer. No one loves Yezzus like Yezzus. As much as I want to dislike this guy, it is impossible to not love this drum intro. This beat is one that stays with you. Big ups to the guy who made this video so I don’t have to look at Kanye while I watch. I haven’t seen The Wolf of Wall Street but this song’s inclusion in the trailer only makes me want to see it more. Plus, I love this gif of a dancing Leonardo.

8. Kings of Leon – Don’t Matter

Fave Lyric: I can fuhk or I can fight, it don’t matter to me.

KOL get their rock back on in this hard rock burner. This song is short and sweet. It doesn’t quite take me to where I think they used to be. It’s new. It is like a combination of old KOL and QOTSA. This song is a standout on their mostly ok album released this year. It is a good album in a down year for albums. This song would be choice in any year. The album will not be considered one of my favorite albums by this band.

9. Pearl Jam – Mind Your Manners

Fave Lyric: None

I love the animated video! I feel very much the same about this song and album as I just mentioned in the Kings of Leon comment. Good album in a down year for albums. This song is a clear standout. Not one of my favorite Pearl Jam albums of all time. This song sounds a lot like Spin the Black Circle from a classic PJ album from 20 years ago. 

10. The Lonely Island – YOLO

This is an album that I loved. I know it is a comedy album, but they really do have some serious chops. This is the probably the cleanest song on the album. There are several fun yet catchy songs on the album. This song has an Adam Levine chorus and a Kenrdrick Lamar verse and has a good beat. It is a clever take on the already played out YOLO tag line that all the kids liked to throw around for about 6 months. Man, the expiration date on cool things gets shorter and shorter. As an old guy, I can certainly see the lesson of YOLO is to be extra careful not extra dangerous.

11. Murder By Death – Brother

Fave Lyric: I know there’s better brothers, but you’re the only one that’s mine.

This a discovery band. This song is from 2006, but I love the unique sound these guys are putting out. A deeper baritone than The National. This song has kind of a punk-rockabilly hybrid. Is that a violin in this song? I was sure this band was from Texas, especially after hearing Spring Break-1899 (that will be on the Cool Out list), but I was surprised to hear they are from the Midwest. This is a great song about a guy still being loyal and loving to his loser brother despite all the years of misdeeds. I love that it tells a story all the way through.

12. Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

Fave Lyric: Simmer down and pucker up. OR Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few? Cause I always do.

(Watch the video full screen on as big of a screen as possible!) Arctic Monkeys came back with a strong album this year, helped out by the one and only, Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. It is easy to hear his influence throughout the record, but specifically on this song. With a different voice, I would think this WAS the Queens of the Stone Age. However, I do love his accent. This song has the same cool rock swagger that I love from QOTSA. This song is about a guy who is infatuated with a girl but is afraid to find out if his feelings are requited.

13. TV On The Radio – Mercy

Fave lyric: I know my life can be my life

Nice driving beat. The song seems like a throwback to something for me, but I can’t put my hand on it. This song ended up growing on me. I don’t think I ever thought it would end up on the Top 20 when I first heard it.

14. San Cisco – Awkward

Fave Lyric: do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do do

I know this is poppy and/or hipster, but it just sticks with me and I love it. This might not be a band or song that I love if I heard it too much, but in 2013 I heard it just the right amount. This band actually has another very listenable pop song called Fred Astaire which sounds like a poppy Strokes. 

15. Arcade Fire – Normal Person

Fave lyric : If that’s what’s normal now, I don’t wanna know.

I really ended up loving Arcade Fire’s last album, The Suburbs, after I was a bit incredulous as to why they had such a positive independent reputation. I didn’t get it. I eventually did get it and don’t know why I was missing it for so long. I have listened to their long awaited follow up for quite a bit now and it does not approach The Suburbs or their wonderful 2004 album, Funeral, that I only discovered after falling for the band. I keep giving it chances because I expect it to click with me eventually. But maybe Arcade Fire will fall in line with Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon of being a band I love that put out a record that I don’t necessarily love. This song has a harder edge that Arcade Fire can put together every once in a while. It has a jangly piano and kind of a Pixies sound to it. So far, at least, this song is a stand out on another “not top” album of a band I like.

16. The Neighbourhood – Afraid

Fave lyric: You’re too mean, I don’t like you. Fuck you anyway.

I love the dreamy sound of the band, The XX. The XX are very sparse, with a kind of atmospheric mellow pop sensibility. The Neighborhood sounds a lot like The XX to me in a good way. They are a little harder and don’t have the female give and take. They had a big hit in another good song, SweaterWeather. That song is a little overplayed and not quite as good as Afraid.

17. Cloud Nothings – Fall In

Fave lyric – Fall in, fall in, fall in.

Cloud Nothings were a new band for me last year and made the Top 20 with Stay Useless from the same album, Attack on Memory. Fall In is a quick blast of energy. The singer has a rawness to his voice and you can’t really understand what he is saying when he really gets going, but the tone chorus of “Fall In” seems like that is what is going on – there is some frantic mess that you can’t understand, then you “Fall in, fall in, fall in”.

18. Fitz and the Tantrums – Out of my League

Fave lyric – o o o o o o o oo o, o o o o o oo o

Welcome back to the ‘80s! I am a sucker for repetitive nonsense words in an upbeat song. I had no chance against this song.

19. The Mowgli’s – San Francisco

This song kinda fits with Fitz above for me. This is such a happy song and the video is so positive. I think I am going to burst from happy feelings watching it! Watch for my cameo at the 1:48 mark of this video. At least that how I saw myself when I was kicking around town with a walker.

20. Icona Pop – I Love It

Fave lyric - You’re from the 70’s but I’m a 90’s bitch.

This song is bordering on overplay and it has suffered from it. I’m going to sneak it on the list as I thought it was a very cool song when it came out. These Swedes give zero fucks. The song hit big when it was used as the musical score Lena Dunham’s cocaine blow out on Girls. It has now transitioned to being the music for the latest Bratz movie. That is a very large drop in coolness. Not being a fan of either cocaine nor Bratz, my enjoyment of the song happened in the middle of its coolness.

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There it is. The Big Sexy Top 20 Songs of 2013. A little tardy. I’m sure these are all in the rearview mirror now, but hopefully there is a new nugget or two that you can take out of it and enjoy in 2014. I suppose the theme is non-sense poppy songs and disappointing albums from superstars of rock. That isn’t a great theme. I’ll keep noodling…

Album Review-Green Day !DOS!

Teddy Ballgame knows how to push my writing buttons. He has told me before he was looking forward to my take on the three album blast of music from the end of 2012 by a band that we share a love for, Green Day. When I got the albums last year, they never really made it circle of playlists I would choose. Then I get this simple message from Ted in an e-mail linked to a Green Day song from Dos, "Amy".

Ted: Your thoughts?

I didn't remember this song, so I popped up the link and gave it a listen. Amy is an end-of-album ballad on Dos. Being a fan of both Green Day ballads and plucky guitars, I am disappointed to say that I don't love this song. I absolutely love "Whatshername" from American Idiot. That might be one of my favorite songs ever. I actually think "Amy" could be helped with more band and less plucky guitar.

This song is a good example of something I don't like about this whole album. Too many of the songs sound like Billy Joe is going for a throwback to the early 60's sound or maybe to early Beatles. I don't like early Beatles such as "Love Me Do". I need to go through all three of these albums and dump all the songs I don't like and maybe create a single album that I could consider a part of the Green Day anthology. The fact that I have not revisited these albums from one of my favorite groups is a reflection of the albums. For a while, I thought I might be to blame. I'm not.

This morning, I decided to take time to revisit Dos in detail. Listening to it once while I was concentrating on work, then re-listening when I had to beat of the songs already in my sub-conscious.

I didn't end up plucking out many of the songs to add to my 1-2-3 mix. I felt that the punk songs felt kinda forced and many of the other songs made me visualize the three of the them in matching suits standing next to mic stands on my black & white TV. However, there is a nice rally of three songs starting with Ashley through Lady Cobra that are worth another listen. The start of Ashley was not promising, but the overall song is a decent, driving punk song. Baby Eyes is alright. Lady Cobra is probably my favorite song on this disc. I'd cover my eyes, too, Mike Dirnt.

Overall, I think if I felt like doing the Twist or the Mashed Potato, I would spin this disc at 33 1/3 and break out my golf pants and party like it was 1969. If not, I think there are plenty other choices on my Spotify playlists. Ima gonna check out 1 and 3 and let you know if I'm missing something.

Overcoming Southern Prejudice, One Band at a Time

I don’t want to go the South. Ever. I don’t have a good reason for thinking this way. It is based on my own ignorant prejudice of an entire region. This prejudice is not based on race. It is not based on religion (though I do think too many Southerners are probably way too religious). It is not based on any specific experience I have had or that I have heard anyone close to me have. I have exactly two experiences in the South. I spent my half of my Honeymoon in Orlando, Florida. Nothing about the region stuck out too much too me. It was sticky. But also the weather outside was very humid. The other experience is actually a collage in my mind of flying through the Atlanta airport twice and the Charlotte airport once. My memory of those experiences was that all the people sure did seem nice.

All prejudices are bad. One of the first metaphoric phrases I remember is that “you can’t judge a book by its cover”. That was probably brought to me by my loving mother to make me feel better about my bloated, unattractive cover on the outside of the Big Book of Sexiness. I have clearly judged all the inhabitants of South as uneducated rednecks and/or crooks based on (1) history lessons (2) Larry the Cable Guy and (3) Hillbilly Handfishing.

When it comes to music, I have been quick to say “I hate Country Music”. Those that may not know me that well know that “hate” is not a word I throw around lightly. There is a big divide in my mind between “rather not”, “do not like” and “hate”. I reserve that hate for only the evilest of the evil. Sunburns. The Jets. A certain female property manager in the 90’s.  I have come down from those earlier proclamations of “I hate Country Music” to just a “I’d rather not listen to Country Music.” In fact, I’d listen to it before classical music and opera. Moving up with a bullet!

My oldest son, Teen Sexy, is an absolute joy of a person. I am so proud of the young man he is becoming. However, all teens see what their parents are and want to find away to distance themselves. Tell a teenager he better not ever drink/have sex/swear and you’ll catch him exalting like Tourette’s sufferer while banging the girl least-likely-to-succeed on the couch next to an empty bottle of Jack. Well, Teen Sexy’s big revolt to this time is his LOVE of Country Music. He might have missed my shift from “hate” to “rather not”. My biggest fear is that his next rebellion will be to want to vote Republican.

Actually, I have had a musically history with Southern Rock. There is a fine line between Southern Rock and Country. I have never liked Lynyrd Skynyrd or The Allman Brothers, but I was a big fan of ZZ Top and 38 Special in my teens. Along the way there have been other songs with a bit of a Southern twang that I have enjoyed.

The big turning point in my adult appreciation for Southern Rock was a concert Mrs. Sexy took me to in Portland for my birthday in 2008. The Hold Steady is absolutely one of my favorite bands in the whole world. They are even better live. For this particular tour, The Hold Steady were co-headlining with a band that I knew had a pretty good following, but I had never heard really listened to,  The Drive-By Truckers.

I would like to say that hearing DBT in concert immediately made me a big fan and that would be the end of the endless essay. It didn’t. It was pretty good, but I wasn’t paying that much attention. What kept dragging me was the Truckers lead singer, Patterson Hood. He was so genuinely happy to be on stage I thought he had won a contest. For the end of the DBT set, The Hold Steady joined the Truckers on the stage for “Let There Be Rock”. It was such a fun song and story that I scrambled to find a copy of this live version. Patterson also didn’t listened to Skynard as much as AC/DC  and Ozzy Osborne growing up (like me!). “Bon Scott singin’ ‘Let There Be Rock’!”

In the years since, a Drive-By Truckers Song even made the 2010 Sexy 20, but I never much got into their catalog of music or downloaded a whole album. I don’t know when or how it happened this year, and it has taken 9 paragraphs to get to it, but the Drive-By Truckers are officially the Big Sexy Band of Summer – 2013! When I sit down to work, throw on the headphones to mow the lawn or get ready for a bit of a drive  and want to listen to something, it just seems like it is often the band I hook up on Spotify.

My first constant listening of DBT this summer was to their 2002 classic double album Southern Rock Opera. Check out the spoken word Alabama history lesson , Three Great Alabama Icons  with it’s perfect segue way into a “song from the devil’s point of view” (“Wallace) about former governor and possibly #1 culprit in my southern prejudice, George Wallace.

Going through the DBT catalog, and as a new fan, I spend a lot of time on a greatest hits compilation from about 4 years (and two albums) ago. When I do branch out, I find gem after gem of songs with a good rocking beat but an ample amount of soul that is hitting me just right at this time and place in my life. There are many stellar DBT songs, but I’m going to close with this one, Zip City. It is led by the DBT’s other lead singer, Mike Cooley. This song has too much soul to it than a live version can give credit to, but this animated video is kinda fun. My only problem with the video is this is a better song to just listen to and create your own imagery.

Can music influence prejudice? I don’t know the answer. I still have a lower opinion than I should of Southerners and I wish I didn’t since I really haven't known any my entire life. I do think now I might enjoy a long weekend in New Orleans or tailgating before taking in an SEC football game. Progress.

BS Top 20 Songs of 2012

Every year is such a gift in music appreciation and this year was no different. There are new bands that hit the scene, bands that I’ve heard for the first time even though they’ve been toiling for years and new sounds infecting the Big Sexy lexicon of songs. This year’s Top 20 songs are littered with songs featuring horns. There are trumpets, trombones, clarinets and even kazoos played in my favorite songs of the year. Everyone’s blowing something. Another big hit this year was a fuzzed out guitar. Not sure if I love that, but a few of my favorite songs of the year feature it.

I’m sure you, the loyal readers of this annual column and those of you who simply Googled “big + sexy + kazoo” will have your eyes opened to an excellent song or two along the way. Here are the top 20 songs of 2012. For you first time internet users, click on the highlighted song title to watch the video of the song in a new window.

1. Down with the Trumpets - Rizzle Kicks

Fave Lyric: Umm, how much sound from the brass to the air would it take to get your bras in the air? (Pardon me there)

Not sure what this is? Is it dub step? Is it Brit Hop? I don’t know. I know I love it.  It’s happy, bouncy and cool. These two English kids are just talking about having fun, “Dag nab it”. I think what makes it for me is the deep bass line, the British accents in such a fun way and, of course, the trumpets! It’s a rare song that can make me feel cool and geeky at the same time. “Whaaaat?”

2. Run Right Back - The Black Keys

Fave Lyric: She don’t read too much, but there’s no doubt, she’s written about.

I have already praised this band, album and song in a previous post. This song was atop the list from wire to wire. Not an easy trick with my fickle ears. This is my favorite song off one of the top albums of the year. Great guitar and drums. This is a pretty positive song from these blues rockers. From what I can tell, he just really thinks this gal is something special and he cannot get enough of her. Sadly, there is no video for this song yet as the Keys are modern masters of the music video.

3. Sixteen Saltines – Jack White

Fave Lyric: I eat sixteen saltine crackers, then I lick my fingers.

Does this song actually mean anything? Who knows? Probably about some woman who has broken his heart. Jack White’s solo album is full of songs from a man who has been burnt by love. What I can tell you is that this song is 2 and a half minutes of Jack White kicking ass White Stripes style. That is an awesome guitar lick. The video is just weird and creepy, don't watch it.

4. Leeds United - Amanda Palmer

Fave Lyric: Who needs love when there’s Law & Order? And who needs love when there’s Southern Comfort? And who needs love at all?!?

This is a unique song. I found it from a story about Kickstarter, the internet sight where you can donate money to get artist projects funded. Amanda Palmer is a singer in the Dresden Dolls and raised over a million dollars to make a solo album. Those are some dedicated fans! This song is not even from that album. It’s a couple of years old, but I love it. The singer is holding on to a relationship where the only passion is for the local soccer team, “Leeds United”.  She’s getting by on tv reruns and alcohol. I love how the song builds. The breaking voice of the singer and her emotionally strained voice grows as her desperation is further communicated. The jangley piano (this album was produced by Ben Folds) and blaring trombones and trumpets (again with the trumpets?) and wonderful. Without really digging into the meaning, it is hard to tell this isn’t just a happy song about the team.

5. Let Yourself Go - Green Day

Fave Lyric: Always fuck, fuck, fucking with my head now.

Oh, how I was looking forward to seeing Green Day at the Memorial Auditorium! It would be a small(ish) venue for the best live band in the world. I was counting on this song being the lead song and setting the tempo for the whole night. I'll have to settle for this live clip. The song kicks ass from the opening chords. It is a throwback to the 90’s punk rock band version of Green Day. The trio of albums released by Green Day this fall show that they can excel in a wide variety of musical genres. But this is their roots. This isn’t a deep, political allegory. It is just three guys wailing on instruments, screaming and bouncing around for three minutes,  getting their yayas out.

6. Love Interruption - Jack White

Fave Lyric: I love all of the ways he wants love to mistreat him. If I had to pick one, I’ll pick the first one as
it is the surprise. You start off thinking love is going to be sweet, but “I want love to roll me over slowly, stick a knife inside me and twist it all around.”

Is that a clarinet being featured prominently in this song? Best clarinet since Electric Six on Showtime. This is the bluesier side of Jack White. This man has been hurt by someone so deeply he doesn’t ever want to be tempted by that emotion again. I love the creativity in the lyrics. It is a stand out song about hating love. Not a unique topic, but uniquely done.

7. Demons – Sleigh Bells

Fave Lyric: They’re gonna bury you, they’re gonna finish. They’re gonna stand ‘em up six by six by six.

Sleigh Bells is heavy metal with a cheerleader. They are just a two person band, with a dude who loves to slay a guitar and a girl who sounds like she should be saying “Here we go Raiders, here we go”. Not only in tone but in cadence. The drum machine is particularly kicking it in this song. When I was DJ’ing the Rio Raiders last football game, I thought of having the team take the field to this, but I thought it might be a little left field since the old guard was asking for AC/DC. (I settled on Nirvana – Love Buzz, which was pretty cool). This song has a very hard driving guitar and is a great pump up song. I usually like to dig into the meanings of songs but hellifino.

8. Strange Arithmatic  - The Coup

Fave Lyric: Teacher, my hand’s up. Please don’t make me a victim.

The Coup is a finalist for Big Sexy new band of the year and the album, Sorry to Bother You is a top album candidate. This album has been described as a “party in a can”. However, The Coup is a VERY political band. Boots Riley, the main guy in the band, was speaking all over the Occupy Oakland scene. The best I can tell, they are mix between Rage Against the Machine and Parliament Funkadelic. This particular song is extra funky. (Is that a kazoo break?) I love that they go through each subject and tell the listener how the way the subject is being taught is keeping us down.

9. Gold on the Ceiling – The Black Keys

Fave Lyric: They wanna get my….

Back again to the Black Keys. This is just another excellent song of El Camino that has received many listens on my ipod. Great blues guitar that just begs to be played on my custom made air guitar. I don’t care much about the words in the one. Just rock out, bob my head and clap my hands.

10. The Plot – White Rabbits

Fave Lyric: I’m so whoa-o-o-o-o

This song is a couple years old, but was a wonderful discovery. Nice driving drum line. The repeating of the lyric above is fun to sing. I like the pace changes in the song. I also like to think that it is a song from a dog’s point of view as he is watching an unhappy couple. Is the whoa-o-o-o-o a howl? It’s probably not, but if it is, how playa is that?


11. The House that Heaven Built - Japandroids

Fave Lyric: When they try to slow you down. Tell them all to go to hell.

Japandroids is a finalist for best new artist with their new album Celebration Rock. The album title does not lie. This is harder rock that really seems upbeat and fun. Japandroids is a fun name for a fun band. This song has the fuzz guitar that has become more prevalent in college rock. I don’t know if the singer wants to party or kick someone’s butt. Maybe both.


12. 45 – The Gaslight Anthem

Fave Lyric: Turn the record over. See you on the flipside.

The Gaslight Anthem had a couple of good songs this year. These Jersey Boys have always had a bit of a Bruce Springsteen meets John Mellancamp for a rock band, that I’ve never been able to fully embrace. But this song crosses over even a little more into alternative rock. This songs kicks it and dude is getting on with his life after a break-up with a reference to 45’s that their target audience has no idea exists. Maybe she thought he was too old.


13. Stay Useless - Cloud Nothings

Fave Lyric: I need Dom to stop moving. I need Dom to stay useless.

Cloud Nothings is another band that favors a fuzzy guitar sound. The actual lyric is "I need time to stop moving. I need time to stay useless.” I thought it was a song about needing a guy to stop getting in the way. It’s more about a guy who is too busy. I can relate to that, but I like thinking it’s about a guy wanting his friend to stay useless.

14. Star Machine – Bob Mould

Fave Lyric: You say you want it. You say you need it. You say it’s everything you ever want to be, yeah.

I missed the Husker Du wave in the 80’s. I never knew they were so rocking! Some thirty years on, the lead singer puts out his 10th or so solo album and I finally get a taste. This old guy kicks ass. This sounds a lot like the Foo Fighters to me with a different singer. My first taste of Husker Du was see the Foos cover a Husker Du song in concert. I can see why Dave Grohl is a big fan.

15. Little Talks – Of Monsters and Men

Fave Lyric: Don’t listen to a word I say. The screams all sound the same. Hey!

Of Monsters and Men reminds me of one of those bands with a bunch of people. The male and female lead singers take turns signing in their cool Icelandic accents. The trombone blasts with the sing-a-long-able “Hey” really add the party to the song.

16. Sixpack – Jeff the Brotherhood

Fave Lyric: Let’s load the car up. I got a bag of ice. I got a six-pack. And I don’t wanna go back.

That’s how this song starts off. Sounds like a good start of a summer evening to me. This band also likes the fuzzy guitar. I also like the line “It’s so hot in this tiny room. So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so-o hot”. This song makes me thirsty.

17. The Only Place – Best Coast

Fave Lyric: Why would you live any where else? We’ve got the ocean, got the babes, got the sun. We’ve got the waves. This is the only place for me.

What a happy song! It’s all about how blessed the singer is about leaving at the beach in California. I’m going to assume she means the sunny and warm part. It really is just a simple happy song about being just where you want to be. You just don’t hear much of that.

18. Too Close – Alex Clare

Fave Lyric: I can’t lie no more. I can’t hide no more. I got to be true to myself…. So I’ll be on my way.

I may be getting a bit tired of this song already, but I really liked it for most of the year. It sounds kinda like a funkier Maroon 5 until they break into distorted tempo of the heavy bass line.

19. Trojans – Atlas Genius

This is the safest song on the list. And no, it’s not about condoms. It’s about a breakup of a relationship and the singer is changing everything in his life but the Trojan horse that she parked in his head is still there. I don’t think this song will have the longevity of many of the other songs on this list, but I really liked this song in 2012.

20. Tongue Tied – Grouplove

Fave Lyric: One, two, three, four (before the change in vocal)

This is another very happy song. It’s been a little too played, but similar to Too Close, I really liked this for most of the year, so don’t hate on it now. This is another group that sounds like they have a bunch of people. This song mixes some female vocals in with the lead singer. It’s just another song that you can’t help but feel happy when you hear it.

21. Wet Hair – Japandroids

Fave Lyric: Let’s go the France so we can French kiss some French girls.

Another song from Japandroids, but this song is actually from their previous album. The lyrics here are repeated over and over throughout the song. Each minute repeats a different verse of no more than 15 words that repeat a similar flow. I originally thought they might be haiku, but haikan’t.

Just missing this list, but worth the effort to check out...

Disparate Youth – Santigold

Handwritten – The Gaslight Anthem

Hello – Karmin

Do It Anyway – Ben Folds Five

Youth Without Youth – Metric

Battle of the Bands: Jack White v. The Black Keys

The Black Keys and The White Stripes have long been lumped together by some disinterested music listeners and mistaken for each other by others. People who really know the score do not have any problem distinguishing the two. However, the bands do have similarities. They are both 2 member rock bands from the Midwest with a foundation in blues. Not to mention their ying and yang band names. Now that they are each in their second decade of music excellence and both have new-ish records out, it’s a good time to discuss their latest efforts.

The Black Keys released their new album, El Camino, just after the close of the Big Sexy Fiscal year, thus making it ineligible for Big Sexy Album of the Year. That title went to Foo Fighters’ Wasting Light in a ceremony held off-site at the Marriott Anaheim Hills. I loved Wasting Light as you can see from my album review from last year. I stated, with considerable hyperbole, that it would go wire-to-wire for the Album of the Year title. That is a hard feat to pull off as I usually lean toward an album that lights my fire near the second half of the year.

The unfortunate release date of El Camino by The Black Keys eliminated it from the 2011 prize and makes it difficult to take home the 2012 prize. It is clearly an excellent album. My lone criticism of 2010’s Brothers album was that it was a bit long. I’m sure the Keys liked every song, but to me, the back half of the album was long on filler. El Camino came in at a tight 38 minutes of rock excellence. From the opening chords of Lonely Boy, I knew the Black Keys had knocked it out of the park. The Black Keys keep getting better and better.

I think the major influence in their improvement from butt-kicking to kick-ass is the presence of Danger Mouse. Danger Mouse can produce. Danger Mouse is the not-as-fat-as-a-house half of Gnarls Barkley. But he has risen to more prominence in recent years for his production chops. He has 5 Grammy nominations for Best Producer since 2005. He produced Demon Days for Gorillaz, turned James Mercer of the Shins into Broken Bells and is currently working with U2.

I’m not in the studio with them; I think the second hand smoke would be too dense. But since Danger Mouse has been production their albums, the Black Keys have a fuller sound and a more polished finish. Usually saying a rock band is more polished is a bit of a dig. Everyone wants their rocks bands to sound like they are just shredding in their garage. The problem was that The Black Keys sounded like they had not yet made it into the garage. They have always been a blues band first that had rock sensibilities. Now they are more of a rock band with hat tip to their blues roots.

El Camino not only has great guitar licks and a bluesy sensibility. It has great hooks, some backing vocals and multiple instruments. There will be songs in the Big Sexy top 20 songs of the year (Run Right Back) and on the 2012 Big Sexy Cool Out list (Little Black Submarines). Despite, or maybe because of, this increased production value, it is an excellent rock and roll record. 4 ½ stars!

Jack White has been prominent in my life and in my ears for a bit longer than The Black Keys. As the creative and talented half of The White Stripes, Jack White opened my ears to a whole different sound. His blend of Motown, folk, blues and punk was unlike anything I had heard before. There was such simplicity in the guitar/drum combination, but such diversity in what Jack could do with his axe. The White Stripes were a punk band that acknowledged their blues and folk roots.

Jack White is a weird dude. From the odd-color combinations to pushing off his ex-wife band mate as his sister, it is hard to pin this guy down. My guess is that he needs some therapy, but that can be said for all genius artists. The Black Keys seem like guys I would love to share a case of PBR's with on a Wednesday night. I’m not sure I would actually want to spend any time with Jack White.

After continuing to make music with the pretty good Raconteurs and the pretty disappointing Dead Weather, Jack White released his first solo album, Blunderbuss, earlier this year. This puts him in the same Big Sexy Album of the Year discussion as The Black Keys. I was concerned with Blunderbuss before I heard it. The further Jack White was getting from the White Stripes the less I liked his sound.

I was very pleased that the first time I heard the first single, Love Interruption, it was apparent that the Jack White who can light up my car stereo was back. It is a slow building song, which never really does hit the emotional release that the lyrics require. (Is that a clarinet??) I don't know what has gone on with Jack and his model/actress-wives, but this cat no longer wants to fall for the treacherous wiles of love.

The first half of the album is rock solid with the possible exception of the title track. Blunderbuss, the song, seems like an end-of-the-album wind down, not something splashed at cut #5. The album has much more diversity than a White Stripes album. Sixteen Saltines sounds like old White Stripes. Freedom at 21 has a blistering guitar solo at about the same tone as a dentist's drill. Hypocritical Kiss is a good cool out song with some piano. Unfortunately, the last several songs do not match the intensity or musically craftsmanship of the first 60% of the album. Itunes has a cool little counter on the side of the playlists that tell you how many times you have listened to a song. I just checked and I have listened to the last 5 songs about a third as many times as I have listened to the first 6. For that reason, I can only give Blunderbuss 3 ½ stars. It will be in the Album of the Year countdown, but it won’t be at the top.

Regardless, both of these albums should be in your collection and many of the songs in heavy rotation.

Johnny Cash: Bad Ass or Baddest Ass?

That was the question that good friend, fellow music lover and part time softball aficionado, Teddy Ballgame posed just the other day. I found the topic interesting enough to post my thoughts here for the few people that stumble across this while surfing the net and for all of the Thai spammers that like to try to post comments about how my readers can achieve "rock hard wang to make you girl love you long time".

Ted's assertion was that Johnny Cash was the coolest musician of all time. Cash was a bad ass in the '60s and the 70's, then came back in the 21st century and completely kicked ass on a cover of the Nine Inch Nails song, Hurt. He was in his 70's when he covered that song. His version is so good, that when Ted heard it on the radio, it provoked his teen-aged daughter to comment on it's bad-assery. (Daughter's comment paraphrased, not an actual quote).

I considered his opinion and did not dismiss it out of hand as I do most other people's opinions about music. That is how deep my respect runs for Ted's musical taste. It should be noted that Ted and I completely disagree on about 50% of each other's musical opinions. Chief among these differences:  my belief that Radiohead is one of the most creative and excellent bands of all time and his opinion that they suck big, sweaty donkey balls.

After much reflection (is 5 minutes considered "much"), this is what I determined. I've never been much into Johnny Cash. He was certainly an iconic name that I have summarily disregarded through living my life much like a (lesbian) teenage girl. I do concede that it is impressive that he can still impress youngsters today as he did 60 years ago.

The first time that I ever gave Cash much though was when I caught wind of the aforementioned NIN cover. I have a touchy relationship with cover songs. Usually, I think it is an affront to the original version, even if they do a descent job. It's a result of the Gleeification of America if I can Fox News-ify terminology. You can find legitimate, labeled bands covering every song on YouTube. Sometimes it's bearable; sometimes it's laughable.

There are certain covers that exceed the original version of an excellent song. I present Cake's I Will Survive and Gnarls Barkley's Gone Daddy Gone as examples of this. Johnny Cash's cover of Hurt is not even a cover. It is a complete re-telling. It is that good. To an extent, it shows how amazing he is. A little more digging will see other excellent covers by Johnny Cash. He also does a respectable version of my favorite U2 song, "One".

Despite this, his substantial catalog of songs spanning over 50 years and his Hall of Fame career, I am unable to label him as a Big Sexy Hall of Famer. There is no doubt he's cool. There is no doubt that, as a musician, he's a bad ass, He's just not the baddest ass. That title is still up for debate.  No matter how many black shirts he has and no matter that he has fired the South's collective memory or iconoclast to nearly Dale "3" Earnhart stature, he will continue to be someone I know of and can respect, but someone who will continue to maintain a safe distance from my ipod. There's only so much room on it with all of the live versions of Radiohead's 1997 seminal album, OK Computer crammed on there.

Big Sexy Beer of the Year

Beer is good. But it hasn’t always been. I wonder if my feelings toward beer have changed as my taste buds changed or has beer actually gotten a lot better. I am sure it is a combination of both.

Most people call beer an acquired taste. It is an impressive marketing job beer companies have done over the years to force impressionable young men to continue to ingest it. Young Big Sexy drank for all of the reasons Middle Aged Big Sexy is worried my boys will drink. For YBS, Beer was relatively easy to acquire. Beer was relatively inexpensive. Beer made me more attractive. Beer made me cool. Beer made it possible to talk to people. Beer was the ultimate escapism from the awkward, confused and damaged mind of a teenaged loser with bottomed-out self-esteem.

I remember when I first had beer. It was the worst liquid I ever had.  My first “beer of choice” was Stroh’s. I remember my friends and I would often say “Alex, two cold Stroh’s” in reference to our favorite commercial at the time. Stroh’s had good commercials and they worked on their target audience of High School seniors. Stroh’s was horrible.  I don’t think they make it anymore. If they do, it is likely exported to Egypt or some other beer-poor land as Imported American Beer. Beer is so bad, that YBS would have to play drinking games to be able to force down the swill in an attempt to become the Big Sexy that was bottled up (no pun intended) inside me.

My next beer of choice was MGD. Miller Genuine Draft.  Another horrible beer, but it was an improvement. It had a bit of a lighter feel to it. My uneducated mind attributed it to the fact that it was draft beer in a bottle. All beer in bottles is draft beer that is bottled. They still make MGD but now they target it as a 64 calorie beer that is more like the flavored water that you can get that has a hint of orange or gives you the essence of blackberry. MGD 64 has a beer-like taste to it.

I remember one of the first peers that I ever respected for just being himself. He was not just being a sheep like myself and doing what was expected by other people to be cool. Eric was a college rugby teammate of mine. There has never been a sport more married to beer than Rugby. Not pool, not bowling, not darts. I’d like to argue that rugby goes more hand-in-hand with beer than beer pong does. Anyway, any time we ruggers would go drink, Eric would order a strawberry daiquiri. I loved strawberry daiquiris but there was not one chance I was going to order that at some bar with all my rugby teammates. I could only come up with two reasons why Eric would not drink beer. Clearly, he either has some fatal hops allergy or had been told by a girl that she wouldn’t kiss him if he smelled of beer. Nothing else made sense. I asked him one night, in the least judgmental tone I could muster. Eric told me flatly, “I don’t like the taste of beer. “ My first reaction was to say, “Of course, you don’t like the taste of beer. Who could?” But I didn’t. I simply said what was really true to me, “That’s cool.”

Over the years, the Mad Men successfully found time between bedding their secretaries to change my taste buds. Now, I can honestly say that I love beer. I don’t like it. I don’t prefer it if given the choice at a restaurant. I seek out variety. I enjoy finding local brew during my travels. I write paragraphs expounding its virtues. In fact, I wish I could crack one right now as I write this. I do a lot of “research” to make the annual Big Sexy Beer of the Year awards. I hope that you will take the opportunity to sample the products of my past year of sacrifices in the name of art.

Best Travel Beer – I love to travel and as I stated, I always like to search out local beers. This year’s major trips took me to Cancun (Corona - ugh), Hawaii (Maui Brewing Company – meh) and San Diego. As you might surmise, San Diego was the beer winner. There are many great places to drink in San Diego’s Gaslamp District. Great place. There, I first enjoyed a tasty Sierra Nevada Tumbler Brown Ale. As past readers may know, I don’t like Sierra Nevada and it doesn’t like me. However, the Tumbler Brown Ale has more focus on the malty brown and not the hops. It found a way into the top 10.

The winner for Big Sexy Travel Beer of the Year goes to Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale. Red Trolley is a highly malted brown ale. Has a big caramel taste. It began as a Holiday Beer for Karl Strauss and was so tasty that it is nearly the brewery’s flagship beer. After my trip to San Diego, the Sexy family went to Disneyland. I’m sure it’s a good thing that they don’t typically serve beer with that huge crowd of people. But if there is a place that a parent craves a refreshing brew and 10 minutes of peace it is Disneyland. Imagine my elation to settle in for lunch in California Adventure and see Karl Strauss on sale. It truly was the Happiest Place on Earth.

Best Every Day Beer – I’m not saying you should drink every day, I’m just saying, if it isn’t a special occasion and you aren’t food pairing with beer, the beer I like to reach for is Samuel Adams Light. I’m heading to Boston this summer and I’m sure my kids are going to learn quite a bit about my favorite patriot.

Best Place to Quaff a Brew – I am so excited that the Kilt Pub opened up within stumbling distance to my house. I’m not sure, but I think my home value went up $5,000 when they opened. Maybe just my internal value of living there did. Either way, the Kilt workers are very nice people that serve (sadly) hit-or-miss food and a wonderful array of beer for Anglophiles and local microbrew lovers alike. They always have Bass, Harp and Smithwick’s on tap. I usually will go with a nice Imperial Pint of Smithwick’s. Every so often, John the owner, will pop the Fuller’s London Pride handle behind the bar. I think he does it just for me. He’s cool like that.

Best Imported Beer – I have mentioned my love of London Pride above and it is definitely a favorite of mine. This year, I am going to go with my favorite special occasion brew, Samuel Smith’s Nut Brown Ale. It’s smooth and dark, but not too dark and not too smooth.

Best Beer to Enjoy with a Burger – Spoetzl’s Shiner Bock. There is a great little burger place in Sacramento named the The Flaming Grill. I originally thought it was called The Flamingo Grill. A little "O" always changes things, or so I've heard. Anyway, The Flaming Grill is owned by a very affable and large fellow. And my man loves beer. We stopped in for the tasty burger, but he turned me onto this dark little number on tap. The Flaming Grill is the only place I have ever seen Shiner Bock on tap but I’m sure it will be all over soon. The name is growing and growing. The contestants of Top Chef Texas could be seen tilting back the distinctive yellow labeled bottle of Shiner Bock when taking relaxing time from cooking to snipe at each other and swear like sailors.

Best Fruit Beer – Pyramid Apricot Ale. I can be more than a little fruity from time to time and I’m not ashamed to say I like a beer with a little fruit flavor. That is the tricky part. The fruit flavor needs to be subtle. Ape Ale was my first ever fruit beer and it is atop the list this year. I am glad they abandoned whatever Generation Y name they were trying to give it and just went back to calling it Apricot Ale. This beer is substantially better on tap, but still tasty out of the bottle is you can get your swirl done right. A very close runner up here is Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier. It may take top honors next year if I can get a little from a tap after hoofing the Freedom Trail.

Drumroll for the ranking of the beers...

10. Newcastle

9.   Sam Adams Light

8.   Smithwick’s

7.   Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier

6.   Sierra Nevada Tumbler

5.   Pyramid Apricot Ale

4.   Fuller’s London Pride

3.   Sam Smith’s Nut Brown Ale

2.   Spoetzl’s Shiner Bock

1.   Karl Strauss Red Trolley Ale

Congratulations to Karl Strauss!! From unranked last year to the top of the board. It’s a big jump that is well deserved. To honor these selections, please find a 6 pack or two at your convenience and think happy thoughts about me while enjoying. There isn’t one beer on this list that I need to chug just because some guy made up a rule prohibiting pointing with my finger.