Tinted Windows Review

Ok, the Snack King is back (and he told you so) and has something to say about a kick ass cd that he bought. About 4 weeks ago, I found out about a "Super Group" that consisted of Cheap Trick's drummer, Smashing Pumpkin's guitarist, Fountains of Wayne Guitarist/Bassist & Taylor Hanson, YES TAYLOR HANSON!. Before you say, TAYLOR HANSON, check out the band's lineup. F.O.W. mastered the "Cars/'80s" and Beanie has played drums for one of the all-time best pop/rock groups of all time, so it's no wonder that the band has the F.O.W. sound, minus the keyboards. Taylor Hanson has obviously grown up since "Um Bop" and can handle being a rock-pop star. So, to anyone reading this, try the cd, it's $9.99 at your local music store. It's the perfect summer boat/pool/drinking/cornhole/race weekend cd. Buy it and enjoy it! I did!


The Snack King!

Tinted Windows

Video of The Week: KISS - Strutter

Video of the Week

Oasis: Dig Out Your Soul Review (2008)

Oasis' 7th studio album and their first since 2005's Don't Believe The Truth is titled "Dig Out Your Soul", is due out worldwide on October 6th and in the United States on October 7th. While most Oasis fans were (and are) very satisfied with "Don't Believe The Truth", it certainly wasn't as big a step forward as much as it was a return to form. Dig Out Your Soul is a big step forward.

It's Oasis confidently moving out of their comfort zone into more experimental songwriting, arrangements, and production. And it's because of that new direction that Dig Out Your Soul is a very exciting album and a very good album. It is certainly one of the best of the year and is arguably Oasis' best album to date, if not, it's definitely their most psychedelic.

The album starts off strong with "Bag It Up" & "The Turning" and only gets better from there.

All three of the Noel Gallagher sung tracks are truly excellent and among the best (and most inventive songs) he's written (and sung) yet. "Waiting for the Rapture" is both spacey and dirty at the same time. It's a great mix and the vocals are truly mesmerizing.

"(Get Off Your) High Horse Lady" is another album highlight (one of many.) Noel Gallagher's voice & the rhythm guitar sounds like they were recorded through an old radio or a phone which gives the song a very spooky sound when combined with the the big drums, hand claps, and guitar riffs. It's a really surreal mix of big drums & a sort of country sound that's hard to explain. One thing is for sure, Oasis has never done a song like this before. For those who don't think Oasis is a creative band, listen to this track to be proven wrong.

"Falling Down" is the 3rd Noel sung track and it also sounds unlike anything Oasis has recorded before. It's a drum & bass based track (like so many songs on this album that showcase Oasis "getting into the groove" like never before) but it also features a great catchy vocal line.

Liam Gallagher wrote three songs for the album with "I'm Outta Time" being a true standout track. It's likely to be the favorite track of many who hear this album because it features one of Oasis' best melodies ever and Liam sings it beautifully. The production & arrangement is also perfect as it has an experimental/psychedelic edge but at the same time it sounds entirely "classic." Certainly some will say that it sounds too much like a Lennon tune and definitely Liam wears his influences on his sleeve but regardless of that this is still a great song and I don't hear it "ripping off" any song in particular so I don't think that complaint has any merit.

Bassist Andy Bell & guitarist Gem Archer both contribute one song each as songwriters with excellent results.

Archer's trippy "To Be Where There's Life" is another highlight. Sitar + great groove + stunning bass line = awesome. And once again it doesn't sound quite like anything Oasis has recorded before.

Bell's "The Nature of Reality" has an incredible Led Zeppelin-esque stomp which mixes in perfectly with one of the best guitar riffs I've heard in a long while. When those drums drop, I get chills. A great musical moment.

The album ends in a trance like fashion with Liam Gallagher's "Soldier On."

Regardless of whether you like Oasis already or not, I must highly recommend you give this album a chance. Oasis have long been remarkable for the catchy tunes & riffs they write and now they are just as remarkable for the creative arrangements, songwriting, & production they bring to the table. Dig Out Your Soul, is a modern psychedelic masterpiece.

Top CDs To Listen To Without Tracking Through A Single Track

1. Oasis: (What’s The Story) Morning Glory?
2. Pete Yorn: Musicforthemorningafter
3. Green Day: Dookie
4. Foo Fighters: The Colour and The Shape
5: Queensryche: Operation Mindcrime
6. 2Pac: All Eyez On Me
7. Live: Throwing Copper
8. Radiohead: The Bends
9. Stereophonics: Word Gets Around
10. Stone Temple Pilots: Core

The Importance of Music

Growing up, music was always a part of my life. I had older brothers who played in bands from the age of 10 and I always was surrounded by musicians. Out of a town of 5,000 people, I know 4 people who made a living playing music professionally. My oldest brother played music in Nashville for Shenandoa and other bands who toured with The Ranch, Keith Urban's first band in Nashville. Another friend has played for such acts as Deanna Carter, Pam Tillis, John Prine and currently plays for Gary Allen. The third friend played in several Indy bands and toured and partyed with Sweet F.A., one of the '80s Hair Metal bands. The other friend played for 10+ years for Indy-based cover band Mike & Joe. So from an early age, I was surrounded by musicians who helped form my appreciation for music.
During the '80s, I lived for Saturday nights because I was allowed to stay up until 3:00am and watch Headbangers Ball. In the 90's I got to experience the whole Seattle grunge scene during highschool and the new British invasion that consisted of Oasis, Blur, Radiohead, Stereophonics, Travis, Supergrass and The Prodigy. Nowadays I wonder where has the passion for new bands gone? The radio plays nothing but record label garbage and a "New" supergroup has yet to form. Yes, there are successful bands such as Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park and Velvet Revolver (please find a singer soon!), but there isn't that band that you can picture being around for 30+ years like Kiss, Aerosmith or The Rolling Stones.
Another gripe of mine is where are the freakin' videos? MTV and MTV2 play highschool based reality shows and that's it!!! Don't call yourself Music Television when you don't play videos! My video watching has now moved to Friday and Saturday nights watching videos on YouTube because that's the only place to watch videos and learn of new music.
I'm still waiting for that supergroup to emerge, but to be honest, I don't see it happening soon. So I guess I'll continue enjoying my favorite bands from the 80's and 90's, which isn't that bad, but I wish SOMEONE would decide to be original and produce a sound that is trendsetting, not radio friendly.

Must Have Snacks For Football

1. Rock The Planet Salsa
2. Boneless Wings
3. Jalepeno Pretzel Bites
4. Bold and Zesty Chex Mix
5. Habenero Doritos

My Top 10 CDs Of All Time

1. Oasis: (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
2. Pete Yorn: musicforthemorningafter
3. Foo Fighters: Colour and The Shape
4. Green Day: Dookie
5: Stereophonics: Word Gets Around
6: Stone Temple Pilots: Core
7. Ryan Adams: Rock n Roll
8: Liz Phair: Exile in Guyville
9. Guns N Roses: Appetite For Destruction
10. Alice In Chains: Dirt

Hair Metal Video of the Week Extreme