Swizzle Stick

Top Ten Alternative Songs Of The 1990′s

admin — Wed, 22 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

When it comes to the 1990′s in music, no one can argue that the charts were not dominated by alternative music. Thanks to the popularity of college radios and the rise of the Seattle sound, alternative music took world by storm through a barrage of interesting sounds and lyrics that spoke to the inner workings of the soul. While there should be no surprise at the artists on this list, some might argue which songs were indeed their favorite from these alternative bands.

Coming in at number ten is Wonderwall by Oasis. A solid hit for the Gallagher brothers and British pop, the world took to Wonderwall while the brothers took to constant fighting.

Next is Today by The Smashing Pumpkins. Billy Corgan brought his depression to his music and the Pumpkins became a worldwide sensation. On end of the spectrum, Closer by Nine Inch Nails explored a visceral look at intimacy.

At seven, Plush by Stone Temple Pilots helped show this band’s depth earlier on, while with Under The Bridge by Red Hot Chili Peppers, Anthony Kiedis showed the world the depth of his soul.

Bittersweet Symphony by The Verve comes in at number five with its controversial sample that cost the band ownership of the song and their momentum in the music world. With Alive by Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder introduced the world to his haunting voice.

Landing at number three, no list of top ten songs of the 90′s would be complete without Creep by Radiohead. At number two, No Rain by Blind Melon brought a bittersweet introduction and end to this band.

No matter what list of top ten songs of the 90′s exist, the king of that era goes hands down to Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana. This song broke the alternative scene worldwide and launched a decade of grunge fashion and sound to the masses.

Top Five Alternative Bands Everyone Should Know

admin — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Alternative rock originated in the late 1980s and became widely popular in the 90s. Characterized by distorted guitar sounds and non-mainstream lyrics, alternative rock emerged from underground 80s music and remains successful. Here are the top 5 alternative bands that everyone should know:

R.E.M.
R.E.M. formed in 1980 and achieved the most success in the early 90s. Influenced by American folk rock, they became popular when alternative rock replaced punk rock.

Nirvana
Known as one the most popular grunge bands, Nirvana boasted distorted guitar riffs along with Kurt Cobain’s angst, making them widely popular.

The Cure
The Cure enjoyed wide success in the early 80s due to tormented lyrics and dark melodies.

Red Hot Chili Peppers
Characterized by punk and psychedelic rock, the Red Hot Chili Peppers improvise in many of their shows. They have also won many awards over the past twenty years.

Coldplay
Formed in 1996, this British rock band has won many rock awards for their alternative tunes. Coldplay is active in social causes, and is still widely popular.

Breaking Alice Free Of Her Chains

admin — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Alice in Chains is a rock band from the United States. The band was formed in Seatlle, Washington in the late 80′s. The original group contained four members, who were: Jerry Cantrell, Layne Staley, Sean Kinney, and Mike Starr.
In the 1990′s, grunge music was widely popular, and Alice in Chains rose to fame. They do present a heavy metal influence more so than grunge, however. And, worldwide, they have sold an outstanding 35 million albums! They have had fourteen songs that made the tep ten list, and they were also nominated for eight Grammy awards.I was looking for more information and found it here.
However, fame can come with a price and with pressures. Some of the band struggled with substance abuse issues. In 2002, Layne Staley passes away from a drug overdose. Also in 2011, Mike Starr also died as a result of an overdose. He had previously left the band in 1993.
In 2005 the band got back together with Willaim Duvall doing the lead vocals, and they released a new album in 2009 for the first time in over a decade. The name of this album is Black Gives Way to Blue, and it was a huge success.
There is a rumor that the band will be releasing a new album sometime in 2012!

A Quad Of Brunettes Or 4 Non Blondes

admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Formed in 1989 in San Francisco, California, Four Non Blondes left their mark on the pop music world with one major hit, “What’s Up?”. The band continued to tour and released singles such as “Dear Mr. President”, “Spaceman”, and “Mary’s House” which was included on the soundtrack to Wayne’s World 2. Despite the popularity of “What’s Up?”, they never really got off the ground in a major way, perhaps in part due to the political nature of many of their songs.

The original lineup included Linda Perry on guitar and vocals, Christa Hillhouse on bass, Shaunna Hall on guitar, and Drummer Wanda Day. Before releasing their first album, “Bigger, Better, Faster, More!”, Roger Rocha replaced Shaunna Hall on guitar, and Dawn Richardson took over on drums. Though the band split in 1995, the lead singer, Linda Perry has had a great deal of success in the music industry as a producer and songwriter, working with such talent as Christina Aguilera, Pink, Courtney Love, Gwen Stefani, and Kelly Clarkson to name a few.

The color of their hair aside, this very bright flash in the pan from the early nineties will always be remembered for their greatest gift, Linda Perry, who not only brought us that age old question “What’s going on?’, but is still vicariously asking us to “Get it started in here”.

A Teenagers Favorite Food: Red Hot Chili Peppers

admin — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Listening to Red Hot Chili Peppers is not simply an alternative rock appetizer. For true music fans, their songs offer a buffet of genres. This is a band who has found a way to seamlessly blend alternative rock with a little bit of everything from funk to punk rock.

Red Hot Chili Peppers first burst onto the alternative rock scene with their 1991 album, Blood Sugar Sex Magik. This became the band’s first breakout hit selling over 13 million copies. Since that time, Red Hot Chili Peppers have sold over 60 million albums worldwide and won seven Grammy Awards.

They have managed to remain relevant and popular two decades later because their music and lyrics continue to evolve over time. Songs penned by different band members over the years range from introspective and melancholy to energetic and comical.

Expressing a wide range of emotions through their music has helped Red Hot Chili Peppers remain in tune with the current teen generation. Teenagers get this band because the band’s music mirrors their emotions and struggles. They understand what it feels like to fall in love, what it means to struggle with addiction and the impact of losing someone close to you.

The Truth About What Jane Was Addicted To

admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Jane’s Addiction is an alternative rock band that formed in 1985. The name originates from a housemate of lead singer Perry Farrell named Jane Bainter who was addicted to heroin,http://www.examiner.com/rock-music-in-san-francisco/more-than-words-putting-the-jane-jane-s-addiction. She shared a room with Farrell at the Wilton house. The popular song ‘Jane Says’ is named for her. The bands early flyers had her image on them. She has not recieved compensation for the images. She has not recieved pay from XXX, Warner Bros, or the band for her signature or any thing else.

Jane Bainter does not have children at this time. She is in a relationship that may be headed toward marriage in the future. She has not had contact with Perry Farell in ten years. When asked if she liked the idea of the band using her name she said “I did not like it at all”. She did not think the band was going to be successful. Not many people recognize her in public. Someone did recognize her at a restaurant from her laugh which is on the intro to one of the bands videos. She has not dated anyone in the band. Her favorite Janes Addiction songs include Summertime Rolls and Had a Dad.

Music Retrospective: Was (Not Was)

www.swizzle-stick.com — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0000

Long ago, before the days of Hughes Net satellite internet (or any internet, for that matter), two childhood friends came together in suburban Detroit. Joined by their love of music (and a pressing need for cash), the two friends decided to transform themselves. David Weiss became David Was. Don Fagenson became Don Was. Together, they became the avant-pop group known as Was (Not Was) (and yes, the parentheses are always included).Was (Not Was) formed in 1979, at a time when the punk genre was reinventing itself as post-punk and even the pop genres of dance and funk were becoming open to a new form of experimentalism. W(NW) certainly provided that. Beginning with their first self-titled album in 1981, the group became known for combining disparate musical genres with spoken word poetry and surprising but talented guest stars. On their debut, these included Wayne Kramer from the Michigan proto-punk group MC5, Doug Fieger from the LA new wavers The Knack, and Marcus Belgrave, trumpeter for the avant-jazz musician Charles Mingus.On 1983′s Born to Laugh at Tornadoes, heavy metal and future reality TV superstar Ozzy Osbourne joined the fray, contributing a rap to “Shake Your Head.” Meanwhile, Mitch Ryder sang on “Bow Wow Wow Wow,” while Doug Fieger returned on “Betrayal” and “Smile.” Marshall Crenshaw sang on “The Party Broke Up,” and Mel Torme, a jazz singer known as The Velvet Fog, sang on the awkward ballad “Zaz Turned Blue.”So with all these guest stars, what did the actual members of the group do? David Was primarily played flute, keyboards, and harmonica, while Don Was played bass guitar and piano. Lead vocalists “Sweet Pea” Atkinson and Harry Bowens also made important contributions to the band that is Was (Not Was).That’s right, is. After releasing their 1990 album Are You Okay?, the group disbanded in 1992. In 2004, they reunited, and in 2008 released the critically-acclaimed album Boo!. Highlights on the album include Kris Kristofferson on closer “Green Pills in the Dresser,” Wayne Kramer on guitar, Marcus Miller on bass, and Booker T. Jones on the Hammond organ.For those who like a little (or a lot) of eccentricity with their dance music, you owe it to yourself to at least check out Was (Not Was). It may not be exactly your cup of tea, but then again, was Was (Not Was) ever anyone’s?

CD Review: Stan Ridgway

www.swizzle-stick.com — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 02:24:10 +0000

Stan Ridgway Neon Mirage (A440 Records)Stan Ridgway’s unique singing style first gained fans during his time as frontman for Wall of Voodoo, but it wasn’t until the band broke up and he took center stage that his true vision could come through. He follows in the tradition of American troubadours before him like Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan (in fact, he covers Dylan’s “Lenny Bruce” on Neon Mirage), but he hasn’t forgotten the synthesizer experiments of Wall of Voodoo, or his long-time fascination with movie soundtracks.His new album (the first in six years) finds Ridgway mining some dark emotions, inspired by the loss of several friends and family members in the time since 2004′s Snakebite. It starts off with “Big Green Tree,” which features traditional folk instrumentation. The third track, “Desert of Dreams,” features jaunty jazz horns, which segues into the beautiful “Halfway There”a critical favorite. Ridgway’s neo-cowboy-drawl never seems defeated, but his emotional investment is evident. No one would mistake these songs for manufactured radio hitsthey’re too honest, and too unique. The rest of the album is just as surprising.Ridgway has evolved far past the 1980s novelty hit “Mexican Radio,” although new listeners today might not even remember that song. Neon Mirage, while mining a more compassionate sound, shows even more willingness to experiment, and succeeds as a result.

DVD Review: Ondine

www.swizzle-stick.com — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 12:13:53 +0000

Ondine (dir. Neil Jordan, 2009)This subtle Irish fantasy starts with a simple, albeit unexpected, framework: a compassionate fisherman named Syracuse (a career-high Colin Farrell) pulls a young woman (Alicja Bachleda) up in his net. She can’t remember anything, but calls herself Ondine, after the 1811 French novel in which a water spirit falls in love with a knight. The mystery of Ondine’s identity, and her seemingly magical powers to call fish into their nets, provides the main crux of the story. Until the very end, you’re not sure what the film’s genre is. If it’s a drama, then it’s a very surreal and beautiful one. If it’s a fantasy, then it’s a dark and sensual one that’s not certain to have a happy ending.Over the film’s foundation, it builds layer upon layer of weight and relationships. Alison Barry plays Syracuse’s daughter, struggling from kidney failure, who becomes convinced that Ondine is a selkie straight out of Celtic myth. Syracuse’s ex-wife Maura (Dervla Kirwan) blames him for their present troubles, and seeks refuge in alcohol and a grizzled musician. Meanwhile, Syracuse tries to atone for his past sins (including some hilarious sequences with a village priest played by Stephen Rea) and avoid making any new ones, despite the undeniable attraction he feels to the beautiful Ondine.Music is a driving force throughout the film. The score is done by Kjartan Sveinsson of the band Sigur Ros, and his haunting arrangements perfectly capture the mythology of the film. Folk ballads from Irish musicians like Lisa Hannigan provide a counterpoint, grounding the film in solid human emotion. It’s a shame there’s no soundtrack album available, as it would be a must-buy and would certainly introduce some Irish artists to a wider audience. Another glaring omission is the lack of English subtitles, which means some of the heavier-accented conversations may need to be rewound a few times. Despite this, Ondine is one of my most-recommended DVDs of the year: a treat for the eyes, ears, and soul.

New tracks from animal bands

www.swizzle-stick.com — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 04:01:57 +0000

Picking a name can be a make-or-break deal for a band. Some names just don’t have the right ring to them, while others don’t convey the band’s personality clearly enough. Animal names have been a popular choice for bands from a variety of genreshere are three wildly different bands with recent releases.

Deerhunter The band’s new album Halcyon Digest (their fourth full-length and their first exclusively on the 4AD label) shows the experimental group at new heights. The title refers to a fascination with memory and sees the post-punkers integrating nostalgic musical touches to eras past.
The Moondoggies The Moondoggies do their best Neil Young impression on new album Tidelands. Opener “It’s a Shame, It’s a Pity” is short and sweet, and pretty much exactly what you’d expect. If you’re bored of spinning those old records over and over, you could do worseor you could just get Neil Young’s new album Le Noise.
Swans Swans emerged as part of the New York No Wave scene in the early 1980s, developing a highly idiosyncratic brand of noise punk madness that often seemed to fade away into nothing before pounding back again. The band has done the same thing, returning with the similarly dividing My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky. You’ll either get it or you won’t.