FacebookTwitter
tom@stortz.com
24 May, 2011

Gusto’s Top 25 Musicians of All Time – 5-1

By |2011-05-24T23:09:24-04:00May 24th, 2011|Top 25 Best Bands|0 Comments

5. Led Zeppelin

I didn’t get Led Zeppelin when I was younger. I thought it was just a bunch of yelling and screaming and heavy metal BS. What a fool in the rain I was. Led Zeppelin were an English rock band formed in 1968 that consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, drummer John Bonham, and bassist John Paul Jones. The band played together for 12 years until Bonham died in 1980 (by choking on his on vomit after drinking too much) and this signified the end of Led Zeppelin. Bonham has been labeled as one of the greatest drummers of all time. John Paul Jones is currently playing with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme in Them Crooked Vultures. Jimmy Page is ranked as #9 in Rolling Stones top 100 guitarists. Robert Plant was the amazing vocalist and lyricist to this wonderful band and has had a successful solo career to boot. Led Zeppelin has sold over 200 million albums to date and some sources have the sales as high as 300. They are often cited as one of the key progenitors of heavy metal and hard rock. Their first 4 albums were titled Led Zeppelin I,II,III, and IV which makes for easy identifying. Classic songs like Black Dog, Kashmir, Stairway to Heaven, Immigrant Song, Going to California, Whole Lotta Love, What is and What Should Never Be (my personal fave), Ramble On, Moby Dick, Gallows Pole…. the list seriously doesn’t stop. This group has such an original, unreal sound that it’s hard to find anything like it. Bands today don’t compare with Led Zeppelin. A #5 ranking seems almost insulting but there really are only 4 spots better and there is no debate on one of them, which leaves 3 more open spots. Zeppelin is deserved of any of the remaining 4.

4. The Rolling Stones

We find another band who has caught my attention over the years. This isn’t like Ray Charles where I haven’t heard a song. I think the Stones are a great band and deserve a place in the top 10. Yes, I said 10 because even though they have countless amazing songs, I don’t find a ton that throw me over the edge.

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by guitarist and harmonica player Brian Jones and pianist Ian Stewart, with vocalist and harmonica player Mick Jagger and guitarist Keith Richards. Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early lineup. Jones initially led the band, but after teaming as songwriters, Jagger and Richards assumed leadership. Their worldwide estimated sales top 200 million albums. They have produced 22 studio albums which is a vast number. I think this is why I somewhat feel they have so many songs that I find them to be great, but not unbelievable. Their songs that top their list are Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil, You Can’t Always Get What you Want, Under my Thumb and Satisfaction. Others that I find very good songs are Midnight Rambler, Jumping Jack Flash, Street Fighting Man, Start Me Up, Shattered, Miss You, and Gimme Shelter. They even have “great” songs which I don’t particularly like like Angie, Beast of Burden, Ruby Tuesday, and Get off My Cloud. The amount of quality songs that this band has blows away competition. You just can’t argue that current bands are better then the Stones because no one has done it for as long, with as much consistency. A Bigger Bang was released in 2005! Plus they are known to party harder then anyone. Keith Richards fell out of tree at 60+ years old. I’ve probably listened to 30 of their popular songs and am still missing 100 of their other good songs. It’s hard to touch the Stones.

3. Bruce Springsteen

He is the Boss. Hailing from right across the bridge, Bruce is our local hero. Bruce sings for every blue collar guy and the emotion in his music is unmatched. After hanging with Gusto I’ve grown a real appreciation for Bruce. His band is known as the E Street Band but without Bruce, I can’t see them selling out arenas. Bruce is the man. He has sold more than 65 million albums domestically and 120 worldwide. I think I hold Bruce higher then I should because he hails from New Jersey which is just a stones throw away from Philly. I make the analogy that people from the Northeast love Bruce the way the South love anything Country. Born to Run and Born in the USA are some of the finest albums ever produced. He has 20 Grammy’s, has influenced dozens of the best artists and just owns in life. Gusto would be quick to say that Thunder Road or Rosalita are Bruce’s best songs. I’d quickly add Glory Days, Jungleland, Downbound Train, Cover Me, Dancing in the Dark, Born to Run, Racing in the Street, and Growin Up. Even the soundtrack songs Streets of Philadelphia and Secret Garden are great. I’m probably a bit biased to Bruce as well and he’s probably a bit high on the all-time list, but I don’t mind.

2.Elton John

I know that Gusto is partial to Elton. He’ll say that he has a place in his heart for Elton and grew up listening to him. In his four-decade career John has sold more than 250 million records, making him one of the most successful artists of all time. His single “Candle in the Wind 1997” has sold over 33 million copies worldwide, and is the best selling single in Billboard history. Hard to argue with those last facts that Elton doesn’t deserve a top 5 spot. Billboard magazine has him listed as #3 most successful artists of all time. The Rolling Stone has him at #49 of the top 100. He adds 30 albums to his amazing arsenal of talent. I think some people associate Elton with soft, lovey music but they are so far off. Elton has become one of my favorite artists as well. To run through some of his best songs Rocket Man, Your Song, I’m Still Standing, Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters, Tiny Dancer, Madman Across the Water, Levon, Daniel, Indian Sunset, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie and the Jets. My faves are Funeral for a Friend / Love Lies Bleeding (wonderful 2 part song) and Grey Seal (such a different sound). Elton has so much music that I haven’t possibly listened to most of it. His charisma, flamboyance, and magical singing talent should be landing him high up on all time lists.

1. The Beatles

This is no surprise. If you don’t agree, you haven’t listened to them enough. They are transcendent. I don’t know if I used that right but I know it means supreme or lying above the range of perception. In 8th grade I used to listen to Sgt Pepper while I did my homework. How on Earth does an 8th grader like a band from the 60’s? Because they are the greatest band ever created and there has been nothing like them since. A group of guys has never come together to surpass the Beatles. It’s not even close. Instead of just saying how good they are let me back this up with some facts and history.

From 1962, the group consisted of John Lennon (rhythm guitar, vocals), Paul McCartney (bass guitar, vocals), George Harrison (lead guitar, vocals) and Ringo Starr (drums, vocals). They have sold somewhere between 600 million to 1 billion albums. Only Elvis comes close to those numbers. Former Rolling Stone associate editor Robert Greenfield said, “People are still looking at Picasso … at artists who broke through the constraints of their time period to come up with something that was unique and original. In the form that they worked in, in the form of popular music, no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive.” In 7 years they produced 12 albums. Do you understand how short that time period is to produce 12 albums? You put these guys together and all they did was create outstanding pieces of work. I almost feel bad listing some of their great songs because I don’t have the time to list everyone – Something, Here Comes the Sun, Yesterday, Across the Universe, Let It Be, In My Life, Come Together, Golden Slumbers, Get Back, Eleanor Rigby, All You Need is Love… Their albums Revolver, Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper… and all the others for that matter are great. They didn’t make bad music. What the Beatles did as a group is something that none of us will ever see again in our lifetimes. I wasn’t even a part of it, yet I can tell it’s was a completely amazing, glorious and distinguished period of time. I have never heard anything else that sounds like the Beatles. Probably never will and for that, they will hold the #1 spot for the next century.

Thanks to everyone who reads this and thought it was a worthwhile effort from someone who is just an average Joe who listens to music. I got all my facts from Wikipedia and if there are any copyright issues, I’ll reference everything to them (who then reference it to someone else.) The pics obviously swiped too. I tried to put as much knowledge in the small space without getting too lengthy. I also think it’s important to add that Gusto created this list in 2 tries. He didn’t go back and start shifting spots for the most complete list and I know there are bands he missed. Some artists that come to mind – The Who, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and the Doors are 5 that have to be ahead of Green Day, KOL and Alice in Chains, Jim Croce. However, I think it was a good idea to leave his list in tact without mangling it because this is what first came to his mind. My particular list wouldn’t have as many singers (Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Van Morrison) and I would be substituting some bands I like that I know don’t get recognition as being “great” by the critics. I think his top 5 though is a marquee round out. Thanks for reading.

24 May, 2011

The LiLo Demise

By |2016-10-28T15:21:31-04:00May 24th, 2011|Celeb|0 Comments

Lindsay Lohan has the notion of being famous for being famous. She isn’t a tremendous actor and hasn’t really had a great career. Aside from cute, little Lindsay in the Parent trap at age 11, and then a relatively good role in Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, I haven’t seen her in anything. Important to note these roles were when she was most likely clean and had her head on straight pre 20 years old. In 2007, she racked up two DUI’s and numerous visits to rehab. She pretty much lost control and has been a Britney Spears train wreck ever since. Honestly, all Lindsay means to me is a double scoring word in Scattergories for things you throw away. HOWEVER, I do find one thing about her unbelievable. Her boobs are just so amazing. I just don’t really see where they come from. I know in Mean Girls she was full, figured near perfect 10, and then she turned to coke, got skinny in her anorexic days, but she still maintains these amazing boobs. Here are some pics of a transformation and I just assume implants but I have no idea.


She’s probably 20 or so in this and has a tight stomach, pretty face, nice rack. Just an awesome picture. (What is that leg btw?) It’s sad to see her turn into present day Lindsay.


Her complexion is scary, the hair is ugly, she seems like a coke whore but look at how big that tit is. I was just in disbelief when I saw this. TMZ had it up and this picture wasn’t enough to make me post this but then lightning strikes twice?


Look at the direction her boobs are going? They are huge and two nip shots in a week is just making me think that this is was she’s resorted to. This is what she’s become famous for, on purpose nip shots. She lost her Lindsay allure and it’s just sad to see it go. She’s just a good example of becoming famous, choosing drugs to cope with the enormous pressure put on her by the paparazzi and other factors of being famous. It really is sad. Also if anyone reads this and can answer whether I’m allowed to post pics from TMZ w/o their permission (even when this site doesn’t make a dime), I’m curious. And I’m sure you people think I’m a perv for making this post like this, but cmon, the effect of this post is much better this way instead of me picking normal pictures of her.

24 May, 2011

Gusto’s Top 25 Musicians – 10-6

By |2011-05-24T16:29:19-04:00May 24th, 2011|Top 25 Best Bands|1 Comment

10. Dave Matthews Band

Founding members were singer-songwriter and guitarist Dave Matthews, bassist Stefan Lessard, drummer/backing vocalist Carter Beauford and saxophonist LeRoi Moore. Some people are DMB fan boys, some are not. One of the first Cd’s I ever bought was Under the Table and Dreaming and I listened to every track and enjoyed everyone as a youngster. Growing up during DMB’s popular days of the 90’s, I was turned off by how much people liked them. I feel like people liked them because they were the thing to like. After Under The Table Dreaming I just dismissed Dave from my music arsenal. I have a working knowledge of his more popular songs like Crush, Crash into Me, Tripping Billies, and The Space Between but I really lived Ant’s Marching, Satellite, What Would You Say, and The Best of What’s Around. To date Dave has sold 30-40 million copies worldwide. I find Dave to be talented but he would probably not make my personal top 25 list. Even when I hear his new songs I just think he has this stigma that turns me off.

9. Bob Dylan

The magazine The Rolling Stone, which is a long running (formed 1967) critique of music and pop culture, is named after the Bob Dylan song “Like a Rolling Stone” to give you an idea of Bob Dylan’s influence. The song also takes the #1 song in their list of top 500 songs. He has sold an estimated 30-40 million albums. Dylan’s music relates to US Civil rights and Anti War movements. The song in Forrest Gump that Jenny sings is Blowin’ in the Wind by Dylan. Other major hits from Dylan are Mr. Tambourine Man, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door, Hurricane, and Highway 61 revisited. He is known for his song writing and unique voice. I have never taken the time to listen to the lyrics that closely and I’m sure they are great as he’s regarded as a fantastic song writer, I however have not listened to Dylan enough to form a real opinion. I find some of his music to be a slow ballad that I just can’t enjoy. I probably wouldn’t have Dylan in my top 25 but you can blame that on my lack of listening to his work.

8. Billy Joel

Out of everyone on Gusto’s list so far, Billy Joel would find his way at least this high on mine. It’s really pretty simple too, when I look at an artist like Joel to Dylan, he catches me in with the actual music. Some songs aren’t profound song writing, some definitely are, but they all have music and a hook which the average guy like me can enjoy. He has sold over 150 million copies and is the 6th best recording artist and the 3rd as a solo artist. I have listened to more Billy Joel songs then any other artist (besides 1) and his sound appeals to me. I’m going to run through a few of my personal favorites rather then his huge hits – Prelude / Angry Young Man , Miami 2017, The Ballad of Billy the Kid, Vienna, Summer Highland Falls, and Sleeping with the Television On. I know critics tear into some of his work from the 80’s but I don’t really ever find his songs to be bad. I’m going to listen to The Nylon Curtain and see if anything changes. I think the Stranger and 52nd Street are his more popular albums. I am a Billy Joel fan and you won’t find me saying anything bad from my limited taste for music. I didn’t see him on Rolling Stones top 100 artists for what it’s worth.

7. Van Morrison

I know very little about Van Morrison. I am aware of the songs Brown Eyed Girl, And It Stones Me, Moondance, and Domino. This is another artist who misses the mark for me. It’s that same type of slow singing, good songwriting, lack the hook which passes me by. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Van Morrison 42nd on their list of “Greatest Artists of All Time”. I have very little to say except that it seems like he has produced about 30 albums. I just listened to about 5 songs and I don’t hear it. Sorry Van Morrison for not giving you a banner write up, I’m too much of a dolt.

6. Ray Charles

I promise you the next 5 musicians are all recognizable and don’t have me researching why these guys are good. Gusto will be fast to tell you that there is hardly anyone who can compare to Ray Charles singing voice. I can’t argue, but I don’t really care. He also helped racially integrate country and pop music during the 1960s. Plus I’m sure being blind didn’t hurt his allure. This is just one of those artists who I am unable to appreciate. When you have a quote like, in honoring Charles, Billy Joel noted: “This may sound like sacrilege, but I think Ray Charles was more important than Elvis Presley. I don’t know if Ray was the architect of rock & roll, but he was certainly the first guy to do a lot of things . . . Who the hell ever put so many styles together and made it work?” I just can’t give you a good opinion on why Ray Charles should be this high but I wouldn’t even have him on my list of the top musicians. Rolling Stone had him at #10 for what it’s worth.

23 May, 2011

Forming your own opinion

By |2011-05-23T23:00:20-04:00May 23rd, 2011|My Brain|0 Comments

I’ve been pretty pleased with the response to some posts lately. I know it sounds really stupid but I read every comment and helps me form future entry’s. Something as stupid as Sam telling me he wants me to finish the music list gives me the motivation to get it done. Jkash said I should include Jkash and he got a spot next to Jamaal Charles. When Bud tells me he likes variety, I know he’s happy with any crap I produce that keeps him a little less bored. Even when I rip on everyone of Laura’s comments I still feel some sort of satisfaction knowing she keeps commenting. I know from the readers point of view it’s like wtf is this guy’s deal demanding input from us but I can’t make this a better blog without it. Hafer, you can’t just dive into my pool and enjoy the water if I don’t know what temperature to keep it. I read everyone’s dumb comments and take them to heart. I don’t crave the attention as much as I value the input. Now I just need a few thousand readers so I don’t have to personalize this with these types of posts and then you can complain how I don’t relate to my readers.

After a long winded intro that I hope was mildly entertaining, I did have a point to this post. If you follow this blog, you’ll know I’ve been using Gusto’s list of artists as the backbone of my top 25 music artists. An obvious question would be, why don’t I use my own top 25 artists? I know it’s difficult to concede the fact that someone knows more then you, but if you always think you know everything, how can you learn? Now even though I don’t necessarily agree, or like, some of his top 25 artists, he has a more extensive music background and I’ve seen the work he’s put into his music collection to validate his opinions. I felt that his opinion of top artists held more credibility then mine would. I will at the end fit some of my artists so you can see what type of music I like, opposed to who he deems as the best.

I remember one class in college called American Literary Traditions and the main point of the class was to think for yourself. If everyone just thought like everyone else, there wouldn’t be any progress. Slavery was a subject in the class and how captivity hindered the African American race from thinking. Once we grew as a society and allowed this group of uniquely thinking individuals to think for themselves, they were able to provide us with thoughts, activities and ideas that previous cultures weren’t able to develop. I know this point coincides with my previous paragraph about using someone to learn from, but I really think the best way to succeed in life is to act as a sponge to someone who knows more then you, and then develop thoughts for yourself. I know I throw one of these, hopefully thoughtful, posts in every once in a while.

23 May, 2011

Chuck Klosterman’s 23 Questions – #8

By |2016-11-03T15:28:46-04:00May 23rd, 2011|Books|2 Comments

8. You meet the perfect person. Romantically, this person is ideal: You find them physically attractive, intellectually stimulating, consistently funny, and deeply compassionate. However, they have one quirk: This individual is obsessed with Jim Henson’s gothic puppet fantasy The Dark Crystal. Beyond watching it on DVD at least once a month, he/she peppers casual conversation with Dark Crystal references, uses Dark Crystal analogies to explain everyday events, and occasionally likes to talk intensely about the film’s “deeper philosophy.”

Would this be enough to stop you from marrying this individual?

I’m not sure how important it is that the movie is Dark Crystal because I haven’t seen it. I used Wikipedia and get an idea but it seems to be a darker version of Labyrinth created by Jim Henson of the muppets. It looks absurd and the puppets seem laughable, Neverending Story type characters. Instead of Dark Crystal I’m just going to substitute “a movie that probably isn’t very good but has a cult following and appeals to some but not all.”

This would 100% get on my nerves. I’ve already wrote in a previous post that I think finding a perfect person isn’t really impossible and there are many fish in the sea. Now, someone constantly relating to a movie that I considered good is one thing, but I have a feeling that a Dark Crystal type movie isn’t going to be up my alley and this one little quirk would make me eventually hate the person. I sort of feel like I could make an analogy to me constantly quoting Step Brothers for a phase of my life. I would think a person would get annoyed with me and just eventually deliver an ultimatum. It bothers me when CK4 keeps saying “to be candid.” You don’t have to preface your sentences by telling me you are going to be honest because what about all the sentences when you don’t say that. It’s just something that your brain is triggering because you can’t think of something better to say. So if that one tiny point gets on my nerves, I can only imagine how tired I would get about someone referring to the Dark Crystal. I feel like I should probably watch this movie before I really can make a good answer to this.

On the flip side, I would like to think that I can overlook a person’s “flaw” if everything else about them is perfect. To be candid, I could probably do this without much problem. If they were going to be attractive, smart, funny, not a bitch, and we got along fine, I really think I could get past this tiny obsession with a movie. I would think in the back of my head “how on Earth is everything able to relate to this movie,” but a deal breaker, all things considered, probably not.

23 May, 2011

Gusto’s Top 25 Musicians – 15-11

By |2011-05-24T16:30:18-04:00May 23rd, 2011|Top 25 Best Bands|1 Comment

15. Eagles

The Eagles are an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1971 by Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner. On their 4th album Joe Walsh, replaced Leadon which would be the ensemble I would most relate to (Timothy B. Schmitt is currently the 4th). They have sold over 120 million albums worldwide and 100 million in the U.S. alone. They are the fifth highest selling music act in U.S. history and the highest selling American band in U.S. history. No other American band sold more than the Eagles during the 1970s. A few of their most famous songs that I think are noteworthy – Desperado, Take is Easy, Hotel California, Take it to the Limit, Witchy Woman, Peaceful Easy Feeling, New Kid in Town, Life in the Fast Lane, and Lyin’ Eyes. I think it’s awesome too that Glenn Frey (Smuggler’s Blues, The Heat is On, and You Belong to the City), Don Henley (End of Innocence, Dirty Laundry, Boys of Summer), and Joe Walsh (Life’s Been Good, Life of Illusion) all had success as solo artists. I find some of their songs a bit too lovey dovey but they have a crisp sound and are obviously extremely talented. I honestly haven’t listened to them enough to give them my best opinion.

14. James Taylor

I’m a little annoyed that I can’t find his total career album sales but his greatest hits sold 12 million US copies. His soothing voice, deep and insightful lyrics, and easy to listen to soft rock make for a combination that lands him at #14. I don’t really have a problem going to sleep listening to music and many times I’ve put on James Taylor and let it roll through the play list. Sweet Baby James was his first album of commercial success and Fire and Rain was the hit off the album. Other of his better songs are Carolina in my Mind, Sweet Baby James, Mexico, Your Smiling Face, Handy Man and You’ve got a Friend. I actually think JT might be a bit high on this list but I do like the music so you won’t see much of a complaint from me.

13.Pearl Jam

Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band’s line-up has included Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guitar), Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), and Mike McCready (lead guitar). The band has sold an estimated 60 million albums worldwide. I think it’s hard to place a band like Pearl Jam on this list. There is no doubt that the music is great sounding and their songs are great to rock out to but I feel like they just sort of get grouped in here somewhere among the top 25. They have plenty of hit songs but when you compare any of their songs to a song like Fire and Rain, it’s just two different worlds. Yellow Ledbetter, Last Kiss, Alive, Black, Jeremy, Daughter, Better Man, Elderly Woman Behind The Counter In A Small Town, and Even Flow have all hit the charts. Their music touches dark subjects like depression, suicide, loneliness, and murder and they have been called the most influential 90’s band. I certainly think Pearl Jam is an awesome band but I think they would be closer to the 25 part of this list.

12.The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band, formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, California. The group was initially composed of brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and friend Al Jardine. Rolling Stone has them listed at #12 on their list and the album Pet Sounds as the #2 album of all time. I’m sure those who read this far probably had no idea. I don’t really find their music that incredible. I know the songs Good Vibrations, Wouldn’t it be Nice, Kokomo, Surfin USA, Help Me, Rhonda, California Girls, and I Get Around. I think these are all good songs but if these are their best, I just don’t know how they earn this spot. I think their ranking has more to do with what their unique sound during their time. When Paul McCartney says Pet Sounds was inspirational to Sgt Pepper, I probably am missing something.

11.Michael Jackson

Critics always say that the 80’s wasn’t music’s finest decade but Michael Jackson was the 80’s. He brought a different sound that was specific to the 80’s and I think it sounded pretty damn good. His high pitched squeals and amazing dance moves made him unique, the songs all sound great with his awesome singing voice, and the lyrics are really pretty decent. He has sold an estimated 750 million copies worldwide to date. Songs like The Way You Make Me Feel, Man in the Mirror, Thriller, Billie Jean, You Are Not Alone, Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, Wanna Be Startin Something, Beat It, Human Nature, Smooth Criminal, Rock With You, PYT, Baby Be Mine, Bad, and of course Will You Be There were all chart toppers. I actually think Jackson is getting slighted a bit at #11.

23 May, 2011

Jamaal Charles Loves the End Zone

By |2011-05-24T16:32:04-04:00May 23rd, 2011|Sports|3 Comments

JKash noted that people love him as much as Jamaal loves the end zone. If you love Jamaal as much as I do, you’d know that Jamaal can break 70 yard runs on a week by week basis but for some reason he loses sight of that rectangular, 10 yard area. He found the end zone 8 times last year (including receiving td’s) which puts him right around 15th in scores by running backs. However, in terms of rushing yards (#2 behind Foster) and receiving yards by rb’s (#9), Jamaal should undoubtedly be a top 5 RB pick next year. What’s the problem, he doesn’t love the end zone as much as we thought. Correlation, people must not love JKash as much as he thinks and that’s coming straight from his own words. Now, JKash and I have had talks about how much some people love the end zone and I’m going to guess it’s not Jamaal’s fault he isn’t finding the holy land. It’s that goddamn bastard Thomas Jones stealing the goal line carries. When we see Thomas Jones has 6 rushing TD’s, all of which should be Jamaal’s, that lifts him up to the upper echelon of RB’s. JKash you should feel privileged to be mentioned as many times as you are in the same post as Jamaal. With the amount of times people are googling “JKash”, combined with people’s love of Jamaal, it’s hard for me to believe this isn’t going to be the greatest post of all time. If Jamaal ever comes to Philly, I think we have to meet him.

22 May, 2011

Chuck Klosterman’s 23 Questions – #7

By |2016-11-03T15:28:39-04:00May 22nd, 2011|Books|1 Comment

7. Defying all expectation, a group of Scottish marine biologists capture a live Loch Ness Monster. In an almost unbelievable coincidence, a bear hunter in the Pacific Northwest shoots a Sasquatch in the thigh, thereby allowing zoologists to take the furry monster into captivity. These events happen on the same afternoon. That evening, the president announces he may have thyroid cancer and will undergo a biopsy later that week.

You are the front page editor of The New York Times: What do you play as the biggest story?

I don’t just answer these questions like a tard and say the Loch Ness Monster because it would be the hardest to catch or the Sasquatch because of it’s rarity. I try to think why is Klosterman asking the question. I wonder if the order of events have anything to do with the question. Meaning, that since the first two happened earlier in the day, I wonder if there would be any work already done making it difficult to switch the first page story which would be a hassle. Assuming it doesn’t matter, I think the question tries to gauge how much importance you put on political matters. The President having cancer seems like a front page story in my mind and I really don’t care that much about politics. You’d think the health of the most powerful country’s, most powerful person would be a bigger story then a Sasquatch being captured. The legacy of both beasts though is pretty substantial but not getting on my front page if the President has cancer.

22 May, 2011

Gusto’s Top 25 Bands – 20-16

By |2011-05-22T19:20:30-04:00May 22nd, 2011|Music, Top 25 Best Bands|1 Comment

At Marks’ request. I also saw Gusto over the weekend and he said you couldn’t hold it against Jim Croce that he died early is the reason he should be so high. I find these next 5 to be his most questionable for what it’s worth because I would put Pink Floyd ahead of them all.

20. Radiohead

Radiohead are an English alternative rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke (vocals, guitars, piano), Jonny Greenwood (guitars, keyboards, other instruments), Ed O’Brien (guitars, backing vocals), Colin Greenwood (bass, synthesizers) and Phil Selway (drums, percussion). I’m not a huge Radiohead fan but I do find some of there songs to be pretty good. Fake Plastic Trees, Karma Police, Paranoid Android, Creep, High and Dry and their new one Lotus Flower are all wonderful songs. I also really like House of Cards and Optimistic. I’m sure people who really like Radiohead could point out some of their better, more obscure songs. They have released 6 albums and have sold 25 million copies. OK Computer is probably their “best” album critically. Pink Floyd has sold over 200 million copies to give you an idea of why on Earth Radiohead should get a spot above Pink.

19. Garth Brooks

This isn’t going to be my easiest artist to give insight on. It’s actually going to be the 2nd hardest with the next one being the most difficult. Brooks is one of the most famous country stars with mainstream success. I’ve now listened to exactly 3 of his songs as the playlist continues to play. Gusto gives ratings so I will generally start by listening to an artists most popular songs. The Dance is considered his best song. The music just isn’t for me to be perfectly honest. He’s sold 128 million albums so obviously people don’t exactly agree with me. I can’t even give any songs by him that I like. Sorry for the weak entry Mr. Brooks but it’s the best I can do not finding your music to suit my individuality.

18. Sam Cooke

Samuel Cook (January 22, 1931 – December 11, 1964), known professionally as Sam Cooke, was an African-American gospel, R&B, soul, and pop singer, songwriter, and entrepreneur. He is considered to be one of the pioneers and founders of soul music. Dying at 33 is probably why many people have never heard of him. Gusto likes musicians that have great singing voices and I can’t disagree that Sam Cooke is a great singer. Problem is I don’t find any reason why I should really like the music. He’s a singer, not a musician which is why I wouldn’t rank him this high. I am more inclined to like a song if it’s musically satisfying opposed to a singer singing great lyrics. Shallow perhaps but that is my personal opinion. Cooke had 29 top-40 hits in the U.S. between 1957 and 1964. Major hits like “You Send Me”, “A Change Is Gonna Come”, “Chain Gang”, “Wonderful World”, and “Bring It on Home to Me” are some of his most popular songs.

17. Alice in Chains

With a recent post about how I’m not a huge Alice in Chains fan you can assume I’m going to have a tough time justifying them ahead of Pink Floyd. Alice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. As I type I have the 5 starred “Don’t Follow” on right now. Alice in Chains can produce some music that I can like. I like the flow of this song and it reminds me of Patience by Guns and Roses which I think is a really good song. The band was one of the most successful music acts of the 1990s, selling over 25 million albums worldwide, and over 12 million in the US alone. The band achieved two number-one Billboard 200 albums (Jar of Flies and Alice in Chains), 14 top ten songs on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and eight Grammy Award nominations. I would say that’s a pretty successful track record. Yet again only 25 million album sales to be at #17 I have to question having them this high. I know that record sales shouldn’t correlate to great music because Britney would beat most of these on here. Some of Alice in Chains more popular songs are Rooster, Down in a Hole, Man in the Box, Them Bones, and Nutshell. They would not make my top 25.

16. U2

I always thought U2 was a joke and had no good music in my younger days. As I’ve gotten older I no longer believe that. After listening to the Joshua Tree straight through, I know I wasn’t right. U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono (vocals and guitar), The Edge (guitar, keyboards and vocals), Adam Clayton (bass guitar), and Larry Mullen, Jr. (drums and percussion). U2 deserves a spot as a top 25 band. They have sold 125 million albums worldwide and are constantly won one of the highest grossing tours around. Gusto likes to say the lead in to Where the Streets have No name is the best #1 track of any album and it is really hard to disagree. Just listen to the build up and tell me the song isn’t phenomenal. With songs like One, With or Without you, Beautiful Day, Stuck In A Moment You Can’t Get Out Of, Pride, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Mysterious Ways, it’s hard to argue their success. Rolling Stone has Joshua Tree listed at 26 of the best 500 albums of all time. I just had the aforementioned “Where the Streets Have No Name” track blasting to get the inspiration to write this. It’s best to listen to it loud because if you don’t, what’s the point? I’m now going to listen to Achtung Baby and see if I can get a better U2 experience because I’ve really only listened to The Joshua Tree and their more popular songs. I think U2 is appropriately placed at 16 because of their hits and the unbelievable tour revenue which should confirm there are other people who love U2.

22 May, 2011

Moral Victory

By |2011-05-22T18:23:05-04:00May 22nd, 2011|My Life|0 Comments

I know it doesn’t matter to most of you but it makes me happy that I could achieve 15 comments on a post. It just confirms that people do read this and have the ability to comment if I force them too. Hopefully with all that commenting out of the way, people don’t have to be scared to do so. My personal favorite was Laura’s though because I feel like she comments more then anyone and therefore has me blast her comments the most. Andrew Gourlay popping out of no where also made my day. I took the word blast from JKash but I think it’s hilarious. Putting things on blast is one of my new favorite things. I didn’t really have a good story about a 22 year old either. Basically she just came up to me, asked me how old I was, Ck4 said I was 23 and I said I was 27, we actually did hit it off for about 10 minutes and then I started twirling her on the dance floor and that was it. If I really wanted to bang her I probably could have been more aggressive and made it happen. She ended up talking to some bro about 2 minutes after I left her.

Some other parts of my weekend included a 20-0 romping in softball which just wasn’t even fun. I got swept by Gusto in 4 games of beer pong. We did Mad River on Friday and Brew Pub last night. We had a guest appearance by Casey which was fun on Saturday. I thought the brew pub was decent for what it’s worth. I haven’t really done much today and passed on golf like I said I was going to in the last post I wrote about golf. I haven’t been able to run in a few days either because since I broke my ankle and was forced into running a little differently and that screwed up this one part of my foot which is preventing me from running right. I had to give it a few days to heal. Late last night I ate this bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich and the cook made it terribly. The egg wasn’t cooked and the bacon was flimsy. The biscuit was alright though.

Toggle Sliding Bar Area

Categories