Let The Sunshine In

This is an outstanding video podcast of my favorite singer, Mike Doughty. He, along with his band, is playing live in/at a radio station. The first and the last songs are particularly enjoyable. Please take a few minutes and watch it, it's good stuff.




p.s. I do intend to get back to regular blogging in the near future...

Gnarley Genius

OK, these guys were hit the scene a year or two ago, but I am still into them. Their creativity is great. They seem to really have fun making music.

Check out the following videos:

I love how they inject themselves into music history. Kudos to Dennis Hopper and Dean Stockwell.


You all know this song, but have ya seen this fantastic live performance...The force is with them...lol.


Had to include the official "Crazy" video. I dig the Rorschach test. What do you see in the inkspot?


Great music and fun videos.

Polk Salad Annie a.k.a. My Internal Soundtrack

Tony Joe White. How can ya help but shake what ya got when ya hear this tune. This has gotta be one of the grooviest jams ever made. I often find myself cranking this song on my Ipod while walking this streets the Taipei. It takes every bit of my willpower to keep from snapping my fingers and breaking out into an absurd hip-gyrating awful attempt at dancing...lol.

The National Anthem

What a great display of the-edge-of-sanity music making. Radiohead stretches the boundaries of music and does it remarkably well. This is a performance from Saturday Night Live a few years back. I have rarely seen a more intense, awe-inspiring performance. Check out the guy on the right with the electronic gizmos and the horn section, they are interesting. If you like this, you should check out their OK Computer album. I think it just might be the best album of the last 10 years. The song is called The National Anthem and appears on their Kid A album...enjoy!



Oops, here is another great performance from the band. This is Karma Police live on The Lettermen Show. It's off of the aforementioned Ok Computer LP. It's a little less frantic, but no less intense.

Simply the Greatest

Bob Dylan is quite simply the greatest artist to ever pen his thoughts and put them to music. His lyrics are so penetrating. Take a look and listen to this song. It will transport you to the tormented world of Hollis Brown. Every time I listen to this song I get goosebumps...it's incredible.

your grass is turning black, there's no water in your well
you spent your last lone dollar on seven shotgun shells

Yes, Great Rock-N-Roll is Still Being Made

The Black Keys. The boys from my hometown are the real deal. It's a shame that today's music has abandoned its roots. These guys are doing their best to keep alive the gut-wrenching guitar and drum riffs that make rock n roll great. Just two guys playing some seriously heavy stuff. It's raw, unadulterated my-soul-is-on-fire music. Check out the evolution of Dan, the lead singer, in the following videos. He goes from a clean-cut kid in the beginning to now he is doing his best Jerry Garcia impersonation...lol.

The early days on Conan O'Brien.


Starting to get some exposure and great press, live on Letterman.


A song from their latest album. I love this tune. The recording is pretty bad, but it grooves.

Morphine & Son Volt

Two of my favorite bands. These two couldn't be more different. Morphine was an underground band in the '90's, they didn't have a guitarists, just bass, drums, and horns. Son Volt is a great band to emerge from the alt-country genre. Neither one of these bands is putting out music anymore. The lead singer of Morphine had a heart attack and died, and Son Volt broke up.

Early to Bed by Morphine
check out the great artwork in this one...these guys were quirky and very creative.



Catching On by Son Volt (live at Austin City Limits)

Proud Mary

Anyone who has ever spent time with me will tell you that I am a music nut. My music collection is mind-boggling. I have been an avid collector and listener since I was a kid. I recently stumbled upon a live performance of, what I believe to be, one of the greatest songs I have ever heard. It's a cover version of CCR's Proud Mary. Ike & Tina Turner laid down the groove like few others could or ever will.

It starts nice and easy and builds up to such an incredible groove. If you don't feel the need to shake your booty while listening to this, you may want to consult a physician.

Check out this great piece of music history:

The Return of The Police

In case some of you missed it, The Police played together at the Grammy's this year. They have always been one of my favorite bands going back to my teenage years. I was shocked to see them playing together considering the three members of the group pretty much hate each other, have for years. Stewart Copeland, the drummer, and Sting (Gordon Sumner), the lead singer and bassist, always had very different ideas about the direction the band should be heading. Also, Sting is, according to many folks that have recorded with him in the past, difficult to work with. Throughout the years of the bands existence he refused to sing songs the were penned by the other guys in the group. This was a mistake because Copeland is a very smart guy who has proven himself in the years since the bands break-up. There is some great footage out there of the guys physically assaulting each other on stage...hot tempered. Ego's were to blame for the premature end of this great group.

After their performance on the Grammy's, they announced that they were putting together a reunion tour. This is exciting for me except for the fact that there is NO WAY they will play Taiwan...lol. The tour is sure to be a success and lots of fun. If any of you out there get a chance to go, please let me know how it was.

Sting is an excellent song writer...he was an English teacher prior to forming the band.

Love these particular lyrics:

Don’t think me unkind
Words are hard to find
They’re only checks I've left unsigned
From the banks of chaos I’m my mind
And when their eloquence escapes me
Their logic ties me up and rapes me
De Do Do Do De Da Da Da

We Have a Right to Know!...just plain creepy

This one goes out to my best buddy Perry. Check out the video on the top of the right-hand column. This is one of many wonderfully bizarre concoctions by Tom Waits. If you aren't familiar with his work, then SHAME ON YOU! He is undoubtedly one of the most original artists of our day. A critic once described his voice as sounding "like it was soaked in a vat of bourbon, left hanging in the smokehouse for a few months then taken outside and run over with a car."...lol. His music persona is unique. He is at his best when singing about freaky places and characters. Perry has been a die-hard fan of his for years. He once traveled on a Greyhound bus from Cleveland to Minneapolis to see him...kinda kooky!....lol.

He likes to throw in a spoken-word number every now and then on his albums. The video is one of my favorite stories he tells. He isn't singing in this one, but it's a classic.

The whistling at the end sends a chill up my spine.

Do yourself a favor and get some of his music. **warning** It can be habit forming!

Folks, THIS is Rock N Roll

As you may have noticed, I have placed a video on the right-hand side of the blog...it's right there, check it out! Click on the "play" button, not the screen, unless you want to link to the You Tube website.

Before you click on it, please understand that this is NOT over-produced, American Idol type crap. This is down and dirty rock n roll, the way it's supposed to be! These two guys recorded this stuff in the drummers basement in my hometown, Akron, Ohio. The entire album cost them about $50! They are quickly becoming one of the hottest bands on the planet.

This is The Black Keys live on Letterman. This video is a few years old, from a couple of albums ago.

Enjoy!!!!!

Enjoy Every Sandwich

This week marks three years since the death of Warren Zevon. Enjoy Every Sandwich was an insight he was fond of using prior to his death. I have been a fan of Warren's music for as long as I can remember...I think his Mr. Bad Example album may have been the first CD I ever bought. He had a wonderfully twisted sense of humor that bordered on scary at times. My buddy Perry & I had the pleasure of catching Warren play in Cleveland about a year or so before his death, what a memorable night.

I like to think my time here in Taiwan is about Enjoying Every Sandwich. At work, I try my best to have fun at all costs. See the value in even the smallest things.

In honor of Warren, my Ipod will be playing only his music on the 7th. Not really all that big of a deal, I listen to his stuff all the time.

Magic Potion (Desperate Plea)

OK, someone out there has to do me a HUGE favor! I need the new Black Keys CD!!! It's coming out on Sept. 12th (Magic Potion is the name of the new album)...who is gonna do me a solid and buy/ship it to me??? If you do, I will somehow pay you back ten-fold. This is serious stuff folks, I am unable to get it over here in this musical black hole. If you're so inclined, here is my shipping address:

David Edwards
#280-9th Floor-E
Nen Hua Road Section 1
Banchiao City
Taipei County, Taiwan 220

p.s. I won't tell anyone if you stash a few Reese's Cups in the box with the CD!!

Black Sabbath Had It Right

Love him or hate him for his goofy reality TV show, Ozzy Osbourne hit the nail on the head back in the day (circa 1970). The first song on the Paranoid LP, War Pigs rings true today, 36 years later.

I was jamming to the tune on my Ipod today and it shocked me how it captures the current mess our country (the US) is in.

Check out the lyrics:

Generals gathered in their masses,
just like witches at black masses.
Evil minds that plot destruction,
sorcerers of death's construction.
In the fields the bodies burning,
as the war machine keeps turning.
Death and hatred to mankind,
poisoning their brainwashed minds.
Oh lord, yeah.

(This is where the drummer, Bill Ward,
plays some of the most powerful drum riffs
I've ever heard.)

Politicians hide themselves away.
They only started the war.
Why should they go out and fight?
They leave that role to the poor, yeah.
Time will tell on their power minds,
making war just for fun.
Treating people just like pawns in chess,
wait till their judgement day comes, yeah.

(mean drum work with guitar riffs that
inspire some serious air-guitar moves...)

Now in darkness world stops turning,
ashes where the bodies burning.
No more War Pigs have the power,
Hand of God has struck the hour.
Day of judgement, God is calling,
on their knees the War Pigs crawling.
Begging mercies for their sins,
Satan laughing, spreads his wings.
Oh lord, yeah!

Impressive. Captures the insanity of war. Cuts through all the crap and spells it out. The guys orchestrating the actions in the Middle East are gonna be sitting at the right hand of Satan when all is said and done.

Whenever I listen to this album, I can't help but think back to my days in Junior High. As many of you know, I attended a rather frightening "Christian" school. One vivid memory I have of those days is the periodic record burning assemblies the school would put on in the name of "God". They would bring in some charismatic guy to scare us about the evils of rock n roll. I distinctly remember one guy going bonkers over the very song/album that I am talking about here.

He was convinced that Black Sabbath was the incarnation of Satan. He, shouting at this point, pointed out the glorification of Satan in the song War Pigs. This, I think, may have been my first exposure to spinning the truth to make your case...

Now that I am older, and I hope a little wiser, I can see through the bullsh*t they were trying to make us believe. It's happening today, with the situation in Iraq. The brainwashing is continuing as we speak.

Support for the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc., is NOT a Christian value! The powers that be would like you to believe that what they are doing is righteous and perhaps biblical. It's biblical if you subscribe to the Old Testament way of living...and if you do, than I expect you to head straight out and stone to death all those folks who work on Sundays. When you're done with that adventure, start burning at the stake all those crazy people who insist on wearing garments made from two different threads...

Jesus, as I interpret the writings was a rather peaceful man.

Whacko Christian leaders and lawmakers in the US legislating their version of morality has done little more than bred hatred and intolerance.

I can't help but think that there is a link between the money-making efforts during war time and the religious zealots.

It's no wonder Buddhism is looking more and more like a refreshing way of life.

Magic Potion and My Head Is Spinning

Just heard a few tracks from the new Black Keys album, outstanding! I am gonna be contacting folks at home regarding picking me up a copy of Magic Potion. It's going to be released on September 12th. I need someone to grab one for me a ship it over here...already growing impatient.

I've been able to pick up a few MP3's off the 'net so far, not enough, I need the album!

The Black Keys Update

Just found out The Black Keys new album is coming out on September 12th! You know I am chomping at the bit for this one. It's called Magic Potion.

The guys are getting serious attention world-wide, how exciting. They are going to be opening up for none other than Radiohead while they tour the West Coast in the U.S. What a great opportunity for them to get big-time exposure. Also, I just heard them on a new TV commercial for Sony...that is incredible.

In case some of you don't know, The Black Keys are a couple of young guys from my hometown that are making in big in the rock music scene. They were working together for a lawn-mowing company when they decided to start playing music...check em out, they freaking rock!!

I've included a couple of cool picks of the guys jamming on stage. I've been told that they are perhaps the loudest live band you'll ever see...lol. When you listen to them, you won't believe it's only two guys.

Jose Gonzalez & The Superball Dream

I just stumbled upon an amazing video and artist. The video is for the song "Heartbeats", it's a live performance in London interspersed with the most incredible images. I have watched it about 20 times and it mesmerizes me every time.

This is amazing stuff. The imagery is mind-blowing. It's such a beautiful song accompanied by someone's creative vision. No Star-Wars-like special effects, just a cool idea.

Jose is a classical guitarist with tons of talent.

please check it out:

http://www.bravia-advert.com/music/

After the page has loaded, go down to the area on the right that says "The Music Video" and click on the quicktime link "high"(H. 264). Please make sure you have the speakers on your computer turned on and the volume up, the music jives wonderfully with the images. Be prepared to watch it a few times...

The Ballad of Hollis Brown

I've decided to post the lyrics to The Ballad of Hollis Brown by Bob Dylan because it's intense and I find myself listening to it over and over again frequently. This song isn't necessarily out of the ordinary for Bob, his entire collection is poetry.

Hollis Brown
He lived on the outside of town
With his wife and five children
And his cabin brokin' down.

You looked for work and money
And you walked a rugged mile
Your children are so hungry
That they don't know how to smile.

Your baby's eyes look crazy
They're a-tuggin' at your sleeve
You walk the floor and wonder why
With every breath you breathe.

The rats have got your flour
Bad blood it got your mare
If there's anyone that knows
Is there anyone that cares ?

You prayed to the Lord above
Oh please send you a friend
Your empty pocket tell you
That you ain't a-got no friend.

Your babies are crying louder now
It's pounding on your brain
Your wife's screams are stabbin' you
Like the dirty drivin' rain.

Your grass is turning black
There's no water in your well
Your spent your last lone dollar
On seven shotgun shels.

Way out in the wilderness
A cold coyote calls
Your eyes fix on the shortgun
That's hangin' on the wall.

Your brain is a-bleedin'
And your legs can't seem to stand
Your eyes fix on the shortgun
That you're holdin' in your hand.

There's seven breezes a-blowin'
All around the cabin door
Seven shots ring out
Like the ocean's pounding roar.

There's seven people dead
On a south Dakota farm
Somewhere in the distance
There's seven new people born.