The Alphanumerics Of Modern Music: The Kace Era

Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

L is for Luther Vandross.

Wrapping up the letter L is Luther Vandross. There are previous generations that can recall wistfully, the memories of classic crooners. The days of singers like Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and so on. My generation didn't really need that. We had Luther Vandross. To understand what I mean by this, let me put it this way. Luther had that voice and that smile. He had that charm. Only Luther Vandross was allowed to have that voice and that smile and that level of charm with those two put together, because any other man would be too tempted to condense these into pure evil. What's more amazing is that Luther had the ability to make it look easy. For him, it was.

From the moment Luther arrived in 1981 with "Never Too Much" until his death in 2005, he was the smoothest. He recorded "One Shining Moment," the NCAA Basketball Tournament theme and made it his, to the point where anyone trying to record it now (see Hudson, Jennifer) is booed loudly in favor of hearing Luther's voice again. Luther Vandross had that effect. He had that voice and that smile and there was no one who stood a chance in bettering him.

Luther Vandross would also become known for being the go-to guy for love songs. If planning for a romantic evening and there isn't enough time for a mixtape, no need to panic...just throw in some Luther Vandross. It was easy. He made it easy. It was all part of what made Luther so darn good. Songs like "Here And Now" and "Power Of Love/Love Power" along with covers of songs like "Always And Forever" made Luther synonymous with the concept of the love song for a generation. He also had a Christmas album, This Is Christmas that would score well with the audience. I'm convinced the only reason Luther's dead is because we're not good enough to keep him here forever. Seriously, who's going to replace that voice or that smile? And also make it look so easy? And so smooth?

I can't think of anyone, either.

"Never Too Much" is the song and music video that got it all started for Luther Vandross in 1981. The concept of the music video being a popular way to go was still rather young and it was the year MTV debuted, just adding to the newness of it. And there Luther was, debuting with his first single from his first album with an accompanying music video. I'll let others argue whether Luther was ahead of his time, but for my generation, he was definitely on time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RzgOt4eppQ
"Never Too Much" by Luther Vandross
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Madness.

Kicking off the letter M is Madness. For anyone hoping the letter M would start off with M, sorry. Madness captured quite a few fans in the 1980s and would inspire various ska bands in the 1990s and beyond. They were also a great party band, especially with their single, "One Step Beyond." Madness was a prominent fixture in the first half of the 1980s in the UK with 6 albums that would score in the Top 20 British album chart. While they're remembered mainly as one of those crazy 1980s groups in the United States, Madness has remained constant in the United Kingdom. Their lead singer, Suggs also managed to score some success as a solo act in the UK in the 1990s, which was around the time ska bands started popping up in the United States. You may remember a few...and by few, I mean Reel Big Fish. But there were others!

"Our House" is the music video of choice and Madness's biggest hit in the United States, their lone Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was also their furthest reaching hit, scoring high in various European countries as well as Australia.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwIe_sjKeAY
"Our House" by Madness
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Madonna.

Thirty years. Thirty years practically non-stop. That's a long time to be at the top. That's a long time to remain very relevant. Keep in mind there are other artists who made their splash in 1982 and they're either past tense or clinging to whatever, "classic," status they can maintain. There are artists who have debuted after 1982 in the same boat. And there's Madonna. To explain Madonna's impact on music since she left the Breakfast Club and Emmy behind to become a solo artist would drain the English language of superlatives. Loved by many and probably even hated by many, Madonna has kept a steady finger on the pulse of Pop Music and Pop Culture.

To explain her musical career in a way dice roleplayers can understand, Madonna has continued to roll successes at each turn while also equipped with a merit of Clairvoyance. She has constantly redefined her image while evolving with the pop music and dance sounds without missing a beat. At the risk of a bad pun, she's been in a league of her own. She has more Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 singles than anyone else. She has 12 #1's on that same chart. Madonna would head into 2012 with 39 #1's on Billboard's Dance chart including 18 consecutive singles reaching #1 there. She's also been popular worldwide as her concert tours and albums and singles sales would indicate. There's also her albums success on the Billboard 200, scoring #1 on eight occasions. Madonna also has been one of the top players in the art of the music video, including some that became controversial like her videos for "Like A Prayer" and "Justify My Love," to the more iconic ones like "Lucky Star," "Material Girl," and "Vogue."

All in the span of thirty years. Say what you will about Madonna, but even if you're not a fan of hers, there is no doubting her success or consistency. This is just a brief summary as I realize I'm leaving so much out discussing her here. However, there is one last thing I wish to mention when it comes to Madonna. She has been the rare occasion where Weird Al Yankovic parodied a song based on the suggestion of the would-be parodied artist, leading to Weird Al's "Like A Surgeon." Take that, Coolio.

"Bad Girl" is probably my favorite music video by Madonna. It's got Christopher Walken in it as the Angel of Death and what's not to like about that? "Vogue" was a great video and also led to one of her better performances for MTV's Video Music Awards (back when I used to pay attention to those things). Then again, there was Madonna's performance of "Hollywood" at the VMA's that led to her kissing Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera...but whatever. It's Madonna. And Madonna can do whatever she wants. Why? She's Madonna. And you're not. Never forget that.

"Lucky Star" winds up being the music video featured here. I still remember as a young boy, there being young girls who wanted to dress just like Madonna in this video so it's a nice childhood flashback to a simpler time of...well...girls wanting to be like Madonna. The song itself would be Madonna's first Top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was one of her first hits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThHz9wlBeLU&ob=av2e
"Lucky Star" by Madonna
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Mariah Carey.

From the very beginning, it was evident that Mariah Carey was going to be a major player for years to come. Debuting in 1990 with a voice of soulful vengeance and an octave range that could soothe, invigorate or even operate a garage door, Mariah hit the ground running with her first 5 consecutive American singles reaching #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Her Billboard success is something to behold. Her duet with Boyz II Men, "One Sweet Day" still holds the record for most weeks at #1 on the Hot 100. She's tied with Elvis Presley for Most Cumulative Weeks at #1 on that chart and only the Beatles can claim more #1 hits on the Hot 100 (and she only needs 2 more to tie that mark). Remember where I mentioned Mariah debuting with 5 consecutive #1's? There have only been a handful of artists that can claim a similar record throughout their career. Whitney Houston, the Beatles, the Bee Gees, the Supremes, Michael Jackson and Katy Perry. Not a bad company of artists to be in. Mariah however still manages to stand out from this exclusive group by accomplishing the 5 Consecutive #1's streak twice, her second time occurring in the latter half of the 1990s.

Her album success is also impressive. Between 1990 and 2010, Mariah released 13 studio albums (2 of which were Christmas related and 1 that was a Soundtrack to a movie). 6 of those reached #1 on the Billboard 200 and her lowest charting of those, the Soundtrack to Glitter peaked at #7. And even there I can kinda throw her a mulligan since Glitter's release date was September 11, 2001 and let's face it, there were more important things on our minds at that point. Still, the worst of the bunch reached the Top 10 which is impressive.

Outside of all of the statistical stuff, Mariah's managed to matter for a reason. Turns out, she's really good at this whole singing thing and while I admit to not being too big a fan of her 2000s material, in the 1990s she really was one of the best around, especially between 1990 and 1996.

"Vision Of Love" is featured for the music video and it's notable for at least two reasons. It was her first single, starting her tour de force through Billboard Hot 100 history (and that's not even taking into consideration her success in more genre specific charts). It also provides one of those rare glimpses of the left side of her face. Don't blink or you'll miss it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tov22NtCMC4&ob=av2e
"Vision Of Love" by Mariah Carey
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Marilyn Manson.

He wasn't born with the name, Marilyn Manson of course. He chose it for himself. He and the rest of his band would choose similar monikers, using names that mixed someone known for beauty with someone known for evil. Thus, young Brian Warner would become Marilyn Manson. Plus, it had a better ring to it than Charles Monroe.

He was something of an underground sensation in the mid-1990s, that is until 1996 and his cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" started getting airplay. For a few months, it seemed Marilyn may be destined to become a 1990s One-Hit Wonder version of Alice Cooper. Then the album, Antichrist Superstar was released along with its hit, "The Beautiful People." Since then, Marilyn has been a disturbing, artistic, grotesque and methodical star in rock music. Not once did he seemed too concerned about that. He liked being able to record music and perform in front of an audience. He even grew to like having a platform to share various opinions on various things. His band and the music they would play would become his outlet for the narrative. Albums like Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and The Golden Age Of Grotesque, among others would craft together his stories and the characters within.

Outside of that, Marilyn Manson also became one of the recurring characters in Celebrity Deathmatch and even had a music video with his character in that claymation form, "Astoshing Panaroma Of The Endtimes." There was his uneasy collaboration with the Sneaker Pimps for "Long Hard Road Out Of Hell" which would also be the title of his autobiography. Perhaps that title lends to Marilyn's mindset for his work, crafting himself as perhaps the anti-AC/DC. Whereas AC/DC nicknamed their constant life on the road, "Hell," for Marilyn, his music and dedication to his craft was his way out of the Hell that Marilyn perhaps envisioned himself trying to escape.

Perhaps. Or it just sounded cool at the time. One of the side effects of Marilyn Manson being who he is in the music industry is winding up with Judas Priest Syndrome. Judas Priest had been accused of inspiring young men to kill themselves. Marilyn would eventually be viewed as a similar scapegoat for whenever young men would feel the need to go on a murderous rampage in their local school.

Perhaps that's why I went with "Man That You Fear" as the music video of choice. There's a very religious sacrificial nature to it with Marilyn portraying the one chosen by chance for execution by the community. The video draws inspiration from different sources, including a short story called The Lottery. Someone has to bear the blame for the bad things that happen. There was a time where Marilyn Manson was that someone and that's assuming the self righteous have found another target for their angst by now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rthl_O4_G2o&ob=av2e
"Man That You Fear" by Marilyn Manson
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Maroon 5.

Maroon 5 not only serves as what could arguably be the example of what Pop Rock sounds like in the early 21st Century, but they also serve as a reminder that my Mom will always be more cool and in tune to pop culture than I could ever hope to be.

Since somewhere around 1999, I admit to being a bit in and out of music fads. As the years progress, I continue to find myself becoming the bitter old man in the room, wondering why music isn't as good as it used to be. I've accepted being part of that generation that somehow got mad that Poison was no longer a big deal, but Heaven forbid I have to sit through some song by Taylor Bieber or who or whatever that is, singing about Fridays or something. I don't know, I usually just tune that stuff out. However, when I do feel the occasional urge to get an idea of what's actually good nowadays, I can always count on Mom.

I credit a lot of my eclectic taste in music as being some genetic thing passed down from Mom. Growing up, it was nothing unusual for Mom to go through the record collection of 33's and 45's, sifting from one genre to the next. On any given afternoon or evening in those early childhood years, the music could range from Percy Sledge to the Grass Roots to the Embers, Drifters, some Beach Boys and at some point, maybe some Van Halen. She also dug Iron Butterfly and Black Sabbath, but loved her some Archies or whatever other Bubblegum Pop she could get her hands on. As music progressed, Mom's ears progressed with it.

So now, we're here in the 2010s. I'm in my mid-30's. My Mom...a little older than that. We both appreciate the older stuff, yet she seems to have a better appreciation of the newer stuff in music than I do. Part of the Saturday Morning routine for her is to watch VH1's Top 20 Countdown, which is where one of those music video channels actually plays music videos. There's a pretty good chance about every other week, she'll hear something new or recent and suddenly it's on her cellphone, either as a ringtone or just something to listen to. Also, thanks to her I get to understand a little better why Maroon 5 is such a big deal.

All of their studio albums have reached Top 10 on the Billboard 200 and since 2002, they've been a prominent fixture for Pop Rock. I have quite a few songs by them, too and most of them are enjoyable. Yet for some reason, I feel like this is one of those bands I've never bothered to really get into, because again...I'm becoming that bitter old man in the room that longs for simpler times that truthfully never existed in the first place. My Mom seems to get that and that's why she's cool.

"Makes Me Wonder" is the music video of choice and one of the first videos I can remember seeing on Logo's NewNowNext. The song itself would also become Maroon 5's first #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior to that, their #1 success was in the form of "This Love" and "She Will Be Loved" getting to that spot on the Adult Pop chart. In 2011, Maroon 5 would actually outdo themselves in terms of singles success when they would team up with Christina Aguilera and unleash "Moves Like Jagger" on everyone. I still haven't quite gotten into that song yet. My Mom, on the other hand thinks it's great. Ha. Kids, these days.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAebYQgy4n4&ob=av2e
"Makes Me Wonder" by Maroon 5
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Martina McBride.

I've always had this fascination with 1990s Country. Really, the fascination could go back to the 1980s where artists like Alabama, Hank Williams Jr. and Dolly Parton, among others were doing their best to prepare listeners for what the 1990s would be like. Then the 1990s arrived. Sure, there was George Strait and Garth Brooks. Sure there was George Jones, but take a listen to George from the first half of that decade. "High Tech Redneck" doesn't really sound like something George would have run with in any prior decade.

That's just how it was in the 1990s. With the advent of music video and the growing popularity of it as a promotional artform, Country Music was slowly, but surely starting to get the grasp of it. The Nashville Network (nowadays Spike TV, so yeah times have changed) did their part. Then CMT showed up and at least for a while, it was all country music videos, all the time. Pam Tillis, Patty Loveless, Dwight Yoakam and others started getting more into it. The days of the Forester Sisters were becoming a thing of the past. The Judds were becoming just Wynonna (or as you also may know her, Dario Franchitti's Sister-In-Law). Things were progressing. Maybe for the better. Maybe for the worst. Maybe it depends on your opinion of Shania Twain, I don't know. Maybe it comes down to whether you enjoy "No News" Lonestar or "Amazed" Lonestar.

Either way, Country's popularity was growing. Reba McEntire was a household name and man, did she have lovely eyes. In 1992, another lovely eyed lady would appear on the scene and she too would become a big part of the genre. That lady was Martina McBride.

I still remember hearing "My Baby Loves Me" for the first time and becoming a fan of hers. Then in 1994, Country Music received arguably its most powerful and striking music video since Garth Brooks decided to show off his...acting...talents in "The Thunder Rolls." "Independence Day" became one of those videos people still talk about when it comes to the 1990s and its dealing with domestic abuse. In 1995, Martina would show that she could still go in a happy direction with songs like "Safe In The Arms Of Love" and "Wild Angels." On into the 2010s, Martina is still doing her thing. Good for her.

Originally, I was going to have "Safe In The Arms Of Love," but I try to shy away from featuring covers on here for the most part. Plus, let's face it, "Independence Day" is just too powerful to be ignored. At one point, it shows not just artistically, but perhaps even prophetically when it comes to our society just how fine the line can be between entertainment and reality. There's the abuse taking place being interspersed with the playfight and people laughing at it. As a society, we like the entertainment. We even like when the entertainment is portrayed as violence. There's even an appreciation for the entertainment of the taboo nature. The key word though...entertainment.

So many things we can draw a strange pleasure from when it comes entertainment and I'm no exception. But when the violence is real, it's no longer entertainment. No matter how desensitized news coverage can attempt to make us, there's never the same entertainment value in suffering. We can cheer punching and kicking and mindless explosions in scripted form. We can put up with weird things. When it's real though, it's not fun anymore. It goes straight to tragedy and travesty along with a headshaking moment of someone mistaking the fantasy and reality. It's no wonder the crowd in the music video is laughing obliviously. They're oblivious, after all. Cut to the little girl running back home to see her home in flames, the reality of her situation made all the more real...and all the less funny. Chances are, the other characters had no idea. "Independence Day" is a good representation of society at large. Maybe we know people are being hurt. Maybe we don't care. Maybe because it's happening elsewhere. At least until it happens to us, or it happens in a setting where it could be us. Only then do we seem to pay better attention.

Until then, we'll remain happily oblivious. Aloof for our own protection and sanity. "Let the whole world know that today is a day of reckoning."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VPpAZ9_qAw&ob=av2e
"Independence Day" by Martina McBride
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Master P.

I tend to think that Master P really meant no harm. It just sorta went in that direction. In terms of music, 1998 was a bit murky. For Hip Hop, 1997 was the death knell for Rap As We Knew It. The Notorious B.I.G.'s death earlier in the year was the end of the glory days. Who would be there to pick up the slack? Who would come along to shake things up again? Jay-Z did his part. And there was Eminem, along with Nas, DMX and some others. And there was Puff Daddy, but whatever. For some reason, there was a sense that something was still missing. Enter Master P.

He had aspirations of playing in the National Basketball Association, but the NBA dreams never panned out. His career as a rapper had garnered him some minor attention initially. He had been around since at least 1991, but it wasn't until 1996 that he seemed to get noticed. With 1997 becoming an up-for-grabs setting, Master P gathered his No Limit Soldiers and marched toward the battlefield of Hip Hop, determined to change the game.

In his own way, he did. Not necessarily for the better. The problem was that Master P had a style that could be duplicated, but not really in a way that was enjoyable. Before anyone could understand what this meant, Rap became infested with the likes of Nelly and a host of others who at their best, could only aim for mediocrity. Ushered in was a time of kindasorta style over substance, though I credit those rare moments where someone like Eve would come along and try. KRS-One was "Underground" and the more Independent talents like Fokis wound up too under the radar. Instead, people chose to dial Mike Jones' cell phone number, though if nothing else, Mike did have "Back Then" and he can always be proud of that.

But what about Rap now? What about Hip Hop? I remember a time in 1998 where instead of feuding with another rapper, Master P's big rivalry was with Curt Hennig. I'm beginning to wonder if, even in death Curt wound up in the winner in that debate over what Rap is. All I know is that it wasn't always like this. I can still remember a time where I could think of talented rappers with great songs and not have to mention Weird Al Yankovic or John Cena as some of the more decent of the bunch. It's quite possible that for all his effort, Master P still wound up being a little too ahead of his time. The result is years of people lacking the ability to comprehend those Soldiers.

"Make 'Em Say Uhh!" is the music video of choice and aside from Shaquille O'Neal making a cameo (thankfully in a non-rapping role), there were other rappers helping Master P out with the lyrics. Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend and Mystikal all contribute here. Mystikal would go on to record a fun song of his own about shaking mule-like creatures...or something really fast. Yes, I was tempted to go with "Kenny's Dead," but nah. By the way, as a quick warning, this is the uncensored version so...lots of bad words being yelled and at other times being grunted out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpGZZRUKPLQ
"Make 'Em Say Uhh!" by Master P f/ Silkk The Shocker, Mia X, Fiend & Mystikal
WARNING: Naughty Language...and lots of it!
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Matchbox Twenty.

At the time I started compiling this list to give myself an excuse to type, I felt this need to place Matchbox Twenty on it. As I started going through the list in December 2011, it became a subconscious tug-of-war. There's always been this war inside my head, though it may be fair to think of it more as a battle royale. When it came time to figure out who was going to be cut from the list so it would be 365, Matchbox Twenty made the cut. Other artists didn't make that last cut and most all of them could have made it on the same idea as Matchbox Twenty's, which was having some sort of impact and success.

Was it their chart success as a band? Was it Rob Thomas being able to shine as a solo artist while also providing vocals for one of Santana's biggest hits? Was it the insistence on, "Twenty," being spelled out instead of being typed out in numerical form when it came to their band name? Why were they on this list?

Then I remembered. Suddenly I found myself in a very dark place. This is where I find myself staring at a blinking cursor, waiting patiently for me to continue. I remember that album, Yourself Or Someone Like You. I recall it being owned by different people. I remember certain lyrics being recited. I don't care to remember much else, because after that it's a reminder of times and places I've done pretty well to get away from. As I've mentioned in other entries, there's always the chance of that deeply personal element kicking in. There are songs that can trigger memories, be they pleasant or unpleasant.

"I'm sorry 'bout the attitude I need to give when I'm with you. But no one else would take this s*** from me. And I'm so terrified of no one else, but me. I'm here all the time, I won't go away."

Yeah you will. And it won't be me. Just someone like me.

"Push" is the music video of choice and oddly enough it's one of those songs I still feel the need to sing along with. Most of the time I do. I also remember this song scoring #1 on a Top 500 thing at a rock station years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAkHqYlqops&ob=av2e
"Push" by Matchbox Twenty
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for the Matthew Good Band.

If you're not sure who Matthew Good is or have never heard of the Matthew Good Band, don't feel bad. After all, Matthew doesn't. In the 1990s, the Matthew Good band provided a counter to both culture and counterculture alike. Punches were not pulled and the art of being an antisocial agent provocateur was ratcheted up with Matthew leading the way. Eventually the band would split up, but Matthew has continued on with a solo career in Canada and is still willing to fight the world every inch the way.

"The Future Is X-Rated" is the music video of choice and while other songs certainly fared better on the Canadian charts, this is the song that along with the corresponding music video served as a warning and a commentary on humanity.

"And now Christmas is for shopping and the Shopping God is everything."

Be warned though. While nudity is covered up, the lyrics aren't so for the easily offended, religious-wise...this is a heads up before you decide to take in "The Future Is X-Rated," because you know you want to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWJYVyx5eRw
"The Future Is X-Rated" by the Matthew Good Band
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Matthew Sweet.

Ah, the Summer of 1995. Graduation Night had come and gone as I said goodbye to that part of my life. Friendships and friendship circles would have their last hurrah over the course of those Summertime months. Meanwhile, I was still getting into the whole CD thing and one that I wanted and would eventually get would be Matthew Sweet's 100% Fun. Prior to this, I had basically known Matthew as that guy who helped usher in the concept of modifying anime with his music video for "Girlfriend." After "Girlfriend," anime geeks everywhere started tinkering with the idea of creating their own fan videos, something that would cross over into other forms of film and animation, eventually bringing about the AMV Hell series that's become popular on the Internet, not to mention a whole slew of TiBette videos on YouTube.

I first heard "Sick Of Myself" and then I heard and got to watch the music video for "We're The Same." Upon getting 100% Fun, I would wind up listening to it a lot over the next several months. It was one of the CD's I enjoyed as I ventured up to Maryland with the parents as I had nothing else to do except be around bad influences back home. Or whatever. Honestly, I didn't mind since the Senior year full of drama, melodrama and dark comedy had led me to believe that maybe it was time to get away for a while.

I find myself near a place called Aberdeen, MD (home of the Ripkens!) and when I wasn't walking down the road to a nearby shopping place that included a Party/Gifts store that sold magazines and comic books, I was usually drawing. I used to draw a lot. A lot of times during those days, it was to Matthew Sweet's 100% Fun CD. I also remember having a phone in my bedroom which was kind of a big deal for me. There were three people that I would talk with for a few minutes here and there during that time, of which I'm still friends with one (the other two is just a really long, drawn out story I'll have to save for the Tell-All Memoir book).

Matthew Sweet would go on to have other good stuff after 100% Fun, most notably "Where You Get Love." But when it comes to Mr. Sweet, both in terms of music and memories, nothing beats 100% Fun.

"Sick Of Myself" is from that 100% Fun album and is the featured music video here. I think it's arguable that "Girlfriend" had the greater overall impact, especially in terms of anime geekdom where as a result of fans getting to tinker with their favorite Japanese cartoons, we have evolved into the greatness that is Team Four Star and the ever awesome Muffin Button. All hail the Muffin Button!

However, I didn't feel like sharing memories of a certain time in my life and then play something from another time. "Sick Of Myself" became one of those songs I wanted to hear over and over and there have only been so many songs in my lifetime that have inspired that. And the whole album just seemed to capture that time in my life nicely.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpPaf8zMib4
"Sick Of Myself" by Matthew Sweet
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Meat Loaf.

How can a man named after a supper meal be so epic? It's almost like there was a joke that somewhere got serious and the world became better for it.

In a way, he's both the ultimate underdog story and the ultimate comeback story all rolled into one. In the 1970s, he had tried his hand at the rock band thing. It didn't work out. Maybe he wasn't taken seriously due to his stage name. So he went into stage acting and as it turned out, he had a voice on him. He had the kind of voice that could literally shatter speakers at the right note. He was part of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and even did some lead vocals for Ted Nugent. This is all leading up to 1977.

In 1977, Meat Loaf teamed with Jim Steinman and unleashed a fury called Bat Out Of Hell. It was more than an album, it was a story from first song to last and caused Phil "Scooter" Rizzuto's voice to wind up being heard on Rock Radio stations, thanks to "Paradise By The Dashboard Light." While Bat Out Of Hell was a major success, the next several albums released in the 1980s weren't so much. Jim Steinman, Meat Loaf's cohort for Bat Out Of Hell released some solo work of his own while also helping out artists like Air Supply, Bonnie Tyler and...the World Wrestling Federation? I wonder how much money he made off of that Rock N' Wrestling cartoon theme anyway?

By the end of the 1980s, Meat Loaf was having to regroup. His finances, his voice, his confidence, everything. He was pretty much considered past tense. In 1993, it was back to work and Back Into Hell. Teamed up once again with Jim Steinman, Bat Out Of Hell II: Back Into Hell unleashed a second fury unto the world with another story of romance, wild times and reminisces thrown in. Among the circle of friends I was around during Senior Year, that album appeared to be a consensus favorite. We all had a favorite song or at least one we could best identify with. To this day, I still debate over whether it's "It Just Won't Quit" or "Everything Louder Than Everything Else."

Two years later, Meat Loaf set out to prove that he can make something great without Jim. The result was Welcome To The Neighborhood, featuring my favorite of the Meat Loaf collection, "I'd Lie For You (And That's The Truth)." Once again, another great album with another great story, this one of love, love lost and a peaceful ascension to the afterworld. Meat Loaf would eventually release more albums, including Bat Out Of Hell III: The Monster Is Loose and in 2011, Hell In A Handbasket. He's done some acting along the way and according to people who have watched The Celebrity Apprentice, can lose his crap in the blink of an eye when pushed to his limit.

For me, Meat Loaf represents some good stories, both fictional and non-fictional. In terms of the non-fictional ones that take up quite a bit of memory, some were good, others not so good. All memorable just the same.

"But it was long ago and it was far away. Oh, God it seemed so very far."

"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" is the music video of choice and at 7 and a half minutes, it's the short version of the song. It was the song that launched Meat Loaf's comeback, scoring #1 on various charts in various countries. And given part of the theme of the music video I can't help but wonder if there's a connection between this and Aerosmith's "Janie's Got A Gun."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tuYKUgBZEc
"I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)" by Meat Loaf
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Megadeth.

Ever been fired? It happened to Dave Mustaine once. In the early days of Metallica, Dave was there with the band to Hit The Lights. Eventually, Dave would be made to hit the road due to a number of issues, both with himself and the rest of Metallica. Undeterred, Dave would eventually form Megadeth. Since 1985, Megadeth has been one of the preeminent bands in Metal. They have released thirteen studio albums and only one, their first failed to crack the Billboard 200. Five of those albums would rank in the Top 10 of the 200. And while only "Symphony Of Destruction" would make the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at #71, Megadeth has managed to do just fine when it comes to the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart with 19 Top 40 songs there. They have also found International popularity.

Other highlights have included being part of one of the better multiple artist compilation non-Soundtrack albums, The Beavis And Butt-Head Experience as well as having one of the better songs on the Last Action Hero Soundtrack. While the film wasn't exactly spectacular, the Soundtrack at least rocked and "Angry Again" was a big part of that. And there was that time "Crush 'Em" was used temporarily as Bill Goldberg's theme in World Championship Wrestling.

"Sweating Bullets" is the music video featured. I suppose "Symphony Of Destruction" could have worked, but I've always liked this song and the music video with multiple Daves fighting themselves and one another inside of what appears to be some kind of prison. And it just rocks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIiArYI5ass&feature=related
"Sweating Bullets" by Megadeth
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

M is for Melissa Etheridge.

I remember being told by a friend a while back about the Melissa Etheridge Theory. The theory equates the level of Melissa's creativity and musical awesomeness with the bitterness of her relationship. If there was a breakup leading into the writing and recording of her next album, chances were it was going to kick several shades of rear. Whether that's true, I'll leave to the experts to decide. On a related note, Rawwr.

Melissa's songs of relationship issues have become the stuff of legend among the fandom. Songs like "Bring Me Some Water," "Like The Way I Do," and "Your Little Secret," among others are favorites and for a few out there, themes. There was her Yes I Am album with some of her more memorable songs like "Come To My Window," "If I Wanted To" and "I'm The Only One." Speaking of albums, Melissa Etheridge has been a mainstay on the Billboard 200 since her debut in 1988. Heading into 2012, she's released 10 albums, 1 Christmas related album and 1 Greatest Hits compilation and all scored on that chart, only the Christmas related one failed to make the upper echelon of the list.

Not being afraid to pour out her soul and personal experiences into song lyrics, this also meant that her battle with breast cancer would become topical in her music, giving the world "I Run For Life." She's also touched on sociopolitical issues, either in song, speech or the occasional interview. And there's "Kiss Me," which is just sexy.

Getting back to the Theory though, maybe it's spot-on, maybe not. I don't know for sure. I do know one thing, though. When I listen to "Like The Way I Do," it registers. Either way, Melissa Etheridge is really good at what she does.

The music video is "Your Little Secret." Yes, "Come To My Window" tends to have a lot of personal meaning for a lot of people and it's arguably her signature song. Yes, "Bring Me Some Water" rocks. Yes, "Nowhere To Go" inspired some friends of mine to start up some super cool internet radio stations. "If I Wanted To" was a song I once considered to be quite possibly my own Melissa Etheridge theme, because most everybody has one. I get all that. But "Your Little Secret" is the first song I think of when it comes to her. It just flat out rocks, appears to pay off some of that theory mentioned earlier and the music video, which started getting a lot of MTV airplay during a great time, late 1995 is a bit in-your-face in terms of the content.

Sorry, Mr. Cathy, but she's just not that into you. Now make me a sandwich...unless it's Sunday.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_RV2oTT6IQ&ob=av2e
"Your Little Secret" by Melissa Etheridge
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Kace-1 · 1,000 or More Posts Joined: 24 Dec 2011 Posts: 1092

Men At Work. Australian for 1980s Band.

Regardless of AC/DC or INXS or Kylie Minogue or Midnight Oil or even the Easybeats or Ben Lee, if someone asks me to name an Australian music artist off the top of my head, chances are the answer is going to be Men At Work. Well, maybe Joe Dolce, because Aussies just love that dude.

Men At Work really wasn't around that long in terms of relevance. They were part of that wacky first half of the 1980s, where Pop Music had become something akin to the Wild West. Bands of desperadoes from all over converged onto radio and MTV to make their mark as the Poppest Gun in the West. For a brief time, it looked like Men At Work was going to be in the running. In the United States, they're remembered mainly for three songs, "Down Under," "Who Can It Be Now?" and "Overkill," the latter of which would be covered years later by Lazlo Bane, along with Men At Work's Colin Hay. And even though we tend to only remember those songs being hits due to some retcon effect worthy of Mephisto or Hal Jordan, they did have others, like "Be Good Johnny" and "It's A Mistake," among others. There was this fascination we Americans had with Men At Work, brief as it was. That fascination would lead to Crocodile Dundee...which would lead to Outback Jack and if you know me well enough, you know which Outback Jack I'm talking about. Men At Work became arguably the most fascinating form of Aussieness to the States since Rolf Harris.

And thanks to this instinctive need all humans have to appeal to stereotyping...Mate. There, I said it.

"Down Under" is the music video of choice and Men At Work's signature song. It was #1 here in the States on both the Billboard Hot 100 and the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks charts. As one might have guessed, it's a song about Australia though it tends to lend more to sociopolitical commentary than perhaps initially realized. I guess Men At Work was just a little more subtle in the details than Midnight Oil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MeG-hNXXy6I
"Down Under" by Men At Work
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