A day late and... a day late. I've got nothing. It was bound to happen sooner or later, that a weekly edition of The Listening Room would slip from Monday to Tuesday. I have a good excuse this week. You can read my excuse and consider it a supplement to this very installment of The Listening Room. Your compliance is appreciated.
These may not be the best songs ever, they may not even be our favorites, but they kept us entertained last week. You could do worse than to try a few of them out and see what they do for you.
DJRadiohead: "Psychotic Breakdown" from Degradation Trip Vol. 1 & 2 by Jerry Cantrell
I guess that tells you everything you need to know about my mental state of the last week then, doesn't it? Alice in Chains fans know how much Jerry Cantrell meant to the sound of the band, but it is almost scary to listen to tracks like this. Jerry will never be able to fully summon Layne Staley's vocal powers, but he can mimic them a bit and he does on this song. Layne's energy is certainly lurking here and Jerry has rarely sounded better. His layered, detuned vocals and detuned guitars have an integrity and power the nu-metal clones that followed never got right. "Psychotic Breakdown" would have been hugely popular if it had appeared on an AiC record.
Mark Saleski: "Rehab" from Back To Black by Amy Winehouse.
I've had two musical whiplash experiences recently caused by seeing performances on the television. The first was due to Lily Allen and her appearance on Saturday Night Live. She played "Smile" and my reaction was something like: What The Hell Was THAT?!
Similarly, I caught Amy Winehouse on David Letterman's Late Show. Out comes a woman with a straight-lined dress, heels, giant hair and mega-makeup. I have no idea what this is going to sound like. She launches into "Rehab" and I am transfixed. With a big 'ole horn section and backup singers, Winehouse sounds like the evil side of Diana Ross. Or Something.
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Article comments
1 - Mat Brewster
Hmmm, I guess I missed this week. I have no excuse. Although I've pretty much been listening to the same Ryan Adams bootleg as last time, so maybe it's good that I didn't repeat myself.
2 - DJRadiohead
I hear you, Sir Brewster. I didn't have a song that really dominated my listening this past week, so I chose a song that I know I did listen to and went with it.
3 - DJRadiohead
Another "Or Something." moment from Saleski.
I've been hearing of this Amy Winehouse. I'm going to have to hear some of that.
4 - Anna Creech
Mark:
5 - Mark Saleski
heh! thanks anna.
6 - DJRadiohead
Yes, thanks, Anna!