Still rockin!

I am a huge fan of 80’s music. That’s pretty common knowledge. But, it’s more than just liking the songs, or even a sense of nostalgia. It’s also about the artists of the time. And today I will point out the longevity of some of those favorites.

Within the last 10 years, three of my favorite 80’s acts have come out with all-new material that is just as good as their old stuff, if not even a bit better.

Bon Jovi – Have a Nice Day (2005)

This is arguably one of my favorite albums (are they still called albums? Or even CD’s?). Bon Jovi has come out with two new albums after this one, but Have a Nice Day is just so awesome. The sound is unmistakably Bon Jovi, but with some new kicks and great riffs. I actually got to see them in concert a few years later, and they sound awesome. Still one of my top-five bands of all time.


Billy Idol – Devil’s Playground (2005)

Nobody quite matches Billy Idol as an icon in rock music. Over the years, he hasn’t been afraid to try new things, musically. His album Cyberpunk was done completely with electronic music, and it’s very slick. But Devil’s Playground saw him return a bit to his signature sound, with a few twists. Also, he added some whimsy that just makes me giddy when I listen to songs like “Plastic Jesus” and “Yellin’ at the Christmas Tree.”



Rick Springfield – Songs For the End of the World (2012)
Although Rick never really left, he fell off the radar in the late 80’s. But that didn’t slow him down, as he continued to work on TV, in the studio, and most especially on tour almost constantly. Last fall he released his newest album, Songs For the End of the World, and it is amazing. Like Billy Idol and Bon Jovi, there is some signature Rick Springfield in there. But there is also some really great new sounds and some excellent vocals. He rocks out, and you can tell that he still just enjoys being a rock star.

These guys are all in their 50’s and 60’s, and yet they still rock on. All three of these are on my favorite playlist, and I listen to a lot of this music daily.

Favorite Rock Albums

I thought I would take a break from the usual fare, and talk about music today.  My wife is much more musically-inclined than I am, but I know what I like.  She has her favorites (her email addresses are usually some variation of "Bowie fan"), and I have mine.  We agree on a lot, but differ on some.

Below is a list of some of my favorite Rock Albums of all time (the use of the term "album" probably kind of dates me here).  You should know that these are just MY favorites, and this list will no doubt vary greatly from any given person's. The criteria I used for this list is simple.  The album a) has to be Rock n Roll, b) can't be a "greatest hits" compilation, and c) has to be an album that I like most, if not all of the songs on.

Reckless - Bryan Adams

When I was a sophomore in high school, my new step dad (who is only 9 years older than me...mom was a cougar, apparently) gave me a handful of his records.  This one was the one I listened to the most, and the one that really set the stage for my musical tastes.  I love most of what Bryan Adams does, but this album is by far my favorite.  When I used to have boyhood fantasies of being a rock star, I would sing along with this album, playing my air-guitar like nobody's business.  To this day, I still love these songs.

Appetite for Destruction - Guns n' Roses

This is the album that got me into metal.  Prior to this, I was only passively interested in the sub-genre, preferring more standard fare, like Bryan Adams, Foreigner, Journey, and the like.  But Appetite really grabbed me by the balls.  I still believe that GnR had the chops to become one of the greatest bands in history, and could have been on the level of Led Zeppelin and The Who.  Too bad they imploded, and kind of faded away.  Still, Slash is arguably one of the greatest guitarists in rock history.

5150 - Van Halen

Ok, let me just start by stating that I am one of those strange people who think that Van Halen actually sounded better when they had Sammy Hagar.  I like the Diamond Dave stuff too, but I like the Sammy albums better.  In fact, picking one of those to be my favorite is hard.  But I think, overall, 5150, their fist with Sammy, is my favorite.  A lot of good songs on that one.  And a good mix of sounds.  Some whimsical, some heavy, and all rock.  The album still kicks ass.  And even though they had some great songs in later albums with Sammy, this one was the only one that was a "complete package" for me.

Pride - White Lion

Probably one of the most underrated of the "big hair" bands of the late 80's, White Lion's Pride was and is one of my all-time favorites.  Mike Tramp's vocals are awesome, the lyrics are deep and often thought-provoking, and the riffs are well done.  When the Children Cry is one of the most emotionally charged rock ballads ever, simply because it's not just about the singer's personal love-life.

Escape - Journey

Anyone who knows me personally knows that no list of mine involving music would be complete without some mention of Journey.  It was hard to pick a favorite album, because I know most of their music from their Greatest Hits compilation.  But Escape had the most songs that I love (I even wore a replica t-shirt for a themed family photo a couple of years ago), so it makes my list.  The episode of the TV series "Glee" called "Journeys" is my favorite, and their Journey mix is my all-time favorite TV musical performance.

Operation: Mindcrime - Queensryche

When I was in the Army, my buddy used to listen to this in our room all the time.  I didn't like it at first, but then he made me a copy, and I would listen to it while I walked a guard post around the motor pool late at night.  It amazed me that album tells a story, and a very emotional and cinematic story.  I used to dream about making a movie based on this album.  It's because of this that I can't just listen to one track from it.  That would be like opening a favorite book, and just reading one chapter.  The album as a whole is an experience.

This is just a partial list, and I am sure that, if I thought about it for a long time, I'd probably come up with at least a dozen more to add to it.  But this is what came to me as I thought about it.

As with most of my lists, you can see that I am a child of the 80's.  What can I say?

My Music and Me

If this music doesn't get you going,
you must be dead.

Ok, I'm not the most musically-inclined guy.  I can't play an instrument of any kind (beyond a few notes on a piano), and I am not much of a connoisseur of music.  But I do have my favorites, and my mood and mental state can be influenced by what I am listening to at any given moment.  Certain types of music, and more specifically, certain pieces of music, bring about certain behaviors and moods.

For instance, the scores to the Rocky movies still manage to get my blood going.  And I'm not just talking about "Gonna Fly Now" (though that one does indeed get me going...just like practically anyone else with a pulse).  The training montages from just about every one of them is great.  Particularly "Going the Distance" by Bill Conti from Rocky II, and "Training Montage" by Vince DiCola from Rocky IV.  Not to mention the various songs from those movies.  I mean, who doesn't feel like throwing a punch when they hear Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger"?  And "Hearts on Fire" by John Cafferty from Rocky IV is just awesome.  I hear these songs and I just picture in my mind's eye Rocky wailing away on a heavy bag (though that may have more to do with having seen all of them dozens of times each).

When I am writing, music is both a boon and a curse sometimes.  I tend to like silence when I write, as my brain is easily distracted.  However, the right music can help me along nicely.  When I write (especially when I write action), the scene tends to play out in my head like a movie.  And every good movie needs a soundtrack.  When it's fantasy/sword & sorcery I'm writing, I find that the soundtracks to Gladiator, Troy, The 13th Warrior and Conan the Barbarian are all particularly helpful.  I also like the Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack.  However, sometimes the music needs to fit the genre.  If I'm writing modern action, I prefer a heavy metal soundtrack.  Something with a lot of bass and electric guitar riffs.  Metallica works well, though I do tend to head back to the 80's for some of it.  The afore-mentioned John Cafferty did some great songs, such as "Voice of America's Sons" from Cobra, and "On the Dark Side" from Eddie and the Cruisers.

I also prefer certain music when I am just not doing anything.  I own all of Enya's CDs and will often just play her songs on my iPod when I need to relax.  In that regard, Loreena McKennit and Clannad are also good.  And sometimes I will put on those soundtracks I mentioned.  Gladiator is quite possibly the most emotionally charged soundtrack I have ever heard.

My first "favorite" album.

If you looked at my iPod you'd probably laugh.  I doubt there is much of anything on there (aside from a couple of soundtracks) that's less than 10 years old.  And most of it is probably closer to 25 years old.  I'm a huge fan of the 80's (I'm sure I've mentioned that a few times here), and this extends both to movies and music.  Heck, I even have a pair of black and white checkered Vans that I wear.  But my teenage daughter has a pair just like them, so that's not so bad.

Anyways, enough rambling.  Time to hit Play, and get on with the day.  Happy Friday, all!