bloc party - helicopter
arctic monkeys - fake tales of san fransisco
dizzee rascal - fix up, look sharp
chemical brothers - block rockin beats
lcd soundsystem - daft punk is playing on my house
bright eyes - take it easy(love nothing)
of montreal - Requim for O.M.M
Beck - girl
Toots and Maytals - pressure drop
bob marley - punky reagee party
Matisyahu - youth
Murs - L.A.
danger doom feat. talib kweli - old school
the dandy warhols - smoke it
death from above 1979 - blood on our hands
franz ferdinhand - the fallen
flogging molly - seven deadly sins
the flaming lips - yeah yeah yeah song
violent femmes - kiss off
gnarls barkley - gone daddy gone
ryan adams - to be young
my morning jacket - one big holiday
bright eyes - make war
whiskeytown - 16 days
wilco - jesus, etc.
tom waits - make it rain
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Feel My Heat
That's right continuing the long trend of me being a rock nerd I have my own college radio station. The name of the show is Feel My Heat, and I will be playing all sorts of stuff. Not suprising if you have seen my ipod. But you can count on hearing a fair amount of Tom Waits, Elvis Costllo, Bowie, and Johnny Thunders. Along with my favorite new artists.
Oh and if you are interested Butch Walker should be famous. His new album The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the lets go out tonites is great. It 70's British glam with a modern La feel.
Butch Walker - Hot Girls in Good Moods
Head Automatica - New York is Burning
Dirty Pretty Things - Gin and Milk
Tom Waits - Way down in the Hole
Elvis Costello - (I don't want to go to) Chelsea
Oh and if you are interested Butch Walker should be famous. His new album The Rise and Fall of Butch Walker and the lets go out tonites is great. It 70's British glam with a modern La feel.
Butch Walker - Hot Girls in Good Moods
Head Automatica - New York is Burning
Dirty Pretty Things - Gin and Milk
Tom Waits - Way down in the Hole
Elvis Costello - (I don't want to go to) Chelsea
Sunday, August 20, 2006
ASP Redux
Hello from Ohio...I am good thanks for asking but we have more impotant business A Sophmoric Production has been updated. And its finally returned to form. No more story pieces that are connected and making a story. No more random scenes for my brothers friends in a fast food joint. Just pure slacking. Same Characters as before. Mike and Tommy just continuing to waste thier potential. But this time with commentary on modern television. Thats its two guys watchin tv. Pure Brillance.
Top 5
Social Distortion - Prison Bound
Replacements - Waitress in the Sky
Kings of Leon - Four Kicks
Mike Ness - Don't Think Twice
Adolescents - Who is Who
Top 5
Social Distortion - Prison Bound
Replacements - Waitress in the Sky
Kings of Leon - Four Kicks
Mike Ness - Don't Think Twice
Adolescents - Who is Who
Monday, July 31, 2006
gaye marriage
I sincerely stand against gay marriage. No its not because it is an attack on the scared practice of marriage or it is not supported by the bible. When you can get married drunk at 4 am in Las Vegas by an Elvis impersonating Mr. spock with one blood shot eye, clearly your institution is in trouble. No I stand against it because I believe in the sanctity of divorce. Divorce is between a man and a woman who clearly hate each other. And with any luck this divorce can occur when after the couple have had a couple kids. And as we know gays can adopted but they can't have children through the relationship and what fun is a divorce with out running the lives of several innocent children aswell? So keep up the good fight Mr. Bush just change our rationality about gay marriage, just like you did with the war in Iraq. Because we all know that when we can't find a link between al-queda and gay marriage, we can then say that gays have wmd's and once that doesn't work we can believe that we are protecting the sancitity of the gay people.
top 5
blondie - x offender
x-ray spex - I am a cliche
the queers - punk rock girls
tom waits - way down in the hole
the jam - going underground
top 5
blondie - x offender
x-ray spex - I am a cliche
the queers - punk rock girls
tom waits - way down in the hole
the jam - going underground
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Apathy
There was a new york times editorial today which pointed out that world war three can be started by several diffrent scenarios and each one is likely. Which really just depresses me. Dallas wrote about the lack of protest songs by young hip bands. And he is totally correct there isn't much. Mostly because the youth no longer feel the urge to do anything. It seems like there is no passion in my generation, no one wants to protest, no one wants to fuck authority, seems like my generation just likes to be raped over by Bush. My generation - generation Apathy.
top 5
seu jorge - five years
Diverse and Mos Def - Wylin' out
desaparecidos - popn' off at the F
TSOL - World War III
(What's so Funny about) Peace, Love, and Understanding
top 5
seu jorge - five years
Diverse and Mos Def - Wylin' out
desaparecidos - popn' off at the F
TSOL - World War III
(What's so Funny about) Peace, Love, and Understanding
Friday, July 21, 2006
bands
So in the past two days I have seen two of the best live shows ever: Gnarls Barkley and the Flaming Lips. Seriously if you have the chnace to see either band I highly suggest seeing them. Gnarls Barkley was very entertaining and funny. And the Flaming Lips show was amazing I can not describe the show. It was sorta like a kids birthday party, an acid trip and a rock concert mixed with plenty of technicolor. Seriously after a string of lesser concerts, warped tour, and less active and visually pleasing concerts but great sounding, pearl jam and sonic youth, it was fun to see bands that mixed both aspects so well. So ya my life has been changed.
Anyway I saw clerks II today, in fact I saw the first show at my local movie theater. It was okay it had its moments, but it was not as good as the first clerks. But then again it was better than Mallrats or Jay and Silent Bob. So it was a return to form for Kevin Smith but it just isn't quite up to his original work.
Top 5
Gnarls Barkley - Go-Go Gadet Gospel
Flaming Lips - Bohemian Rapsodey
The Black Keys - All Hands His Own
Ted Leo - Six Months in a Leaky Boat
Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind
Anyway I saw clerks II today, in fact I saw the first show at my local movie theater. It was okay it had its moments, but it was not as good as the first clerks. But then again it was better than Mallrats or Jay and Silent Bob. So it was a return to form for Kevin Smith but it just isn't quite up to his original work.
Top 5
Gnarls Barkley - Go-Go Gadet Gospel
Flaming Lips - Bohemian Rapsodey
The Black Keys - All Hands His Own
Ted Leo - Six Months in a Leaky Boat
Nick Lowe - Cruel To Be Kind
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Conspiracy and Concerts
So does anyone else find it interesting that Kenneth Lay is dead? I mean this is one of the most dangerous men in the world for George Bush, and he happens to die. Now some people think it is a suicide and others think it is a murder, me I just think it is an impossible coincidence. But then again what would happen to Bush? Nothing its not like his numbers can go any lower.
On a happier not I saw Pearl Jam last night. They put on a great show and really are the biggest band in the world, not necessarily the most popular but goddamn can they play. They are in a hard place since they can play there greatest hits every night like there hero's, the who and rolling stones; or they can play whatever they want and lose people who go who like the music but just the greatest hit and only have their fan base, similar to Neil Young. But Pearl Jam did a great job of mixing the two. Plus they had Rodney on the rock introduce them which is just cool. Oh and for those of you wondering the opening band was Sonic Youth. I believe that this is the perfect 90's show. And as Eddie said SAVE TRESTLES
Top 5
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't no Easy Way
Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine
Pearl Jam - Off he Goes
X - Fourth of July
Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers
On a happier not I saw Pearl Jam last night. They put on a great show and really are the biggest band in the world, not necessarily the most popular but goddamn can they play. They are in a hard place since they can play there greatest hits every night like there hero's, the who and rolling stones; or they can play whatever they want and lose people who go who like the music but just the greatest hit and only have their fan base, similar to Neil Young. But Pearl Jam did a great job of mixing the two. Plus they had Rodney on the rock introduce them which is just cool. Oh and for those of you wondering the opening band was Sonic Youth. I believe that this is the perfect 90's show. And as Eddie said SAVE TRESTLES
Top 5
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club - Ain't no Easy Way
Tom Waits - Heartattack and Vine
Pearl Jam - Off he Goes
X - Fourth of July
Rolling Stones - Dead Flowers
Sunday, July 02, 2006
nothingness
Hurray I got my laptop to connect to my internet, so now I freedom of motion where I type and I am not dependent on my ipod for music. It seems like a minor miracle that it worked since I am techology illiterate.
I highly recomend the book Nothing Feels Good by Andy Greenwald. It is all about teenagers, punk rock, and emo. Audrey and I both enjoyed reading it.
top 5
alkaline trio - mercy me
smashing pumpkins - daydream
tom waits - cold cold ground
Nas - N.Y. State of Mind
Kanye West - two words
I highly recomend the book Nothing Feels Good by Andy Greenwald. It is all about teenagers, punk rock, and emo. Audrey and I both enjoyed reading it.
top 5
alkaline trio - mercy me
smashing pumpkins - daydream
tom waits - cold cold ground
Nas - N.Y. State of Mind
Kanye West - two words
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Ohio: A recap
For all of you that didn't know I was in Ohio for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday this week. Here is a recap of what happened:
- Got to the airport, the airline didn't have record of our tickets but they did eventually find them
- My mom spilled an entire bottle of water in he purse ruining the maps and orientation papers we had
- Lost my keys in the airport at some point and no longer have keys to my car, my brothers car or my la fitness tag
- Got stuck in the small airplane ever
- Landed in Chicago to find that due to weather the plan we were supposed to take to Dayton was delayed and kept getting delayed
- Met a crystal meth addict who was missing everyone but two of his teeth
- Decided to drive from Chicago to Dayton, over 300 miles apart, starting at 11 pm
- Saw over 20 abandoned cars and 1,000 truckers
- Saw all of Indiana, let me tell you it is flat
- Went to a convince stare at 3 am in Podunk Indiana and met a nice cashier who was missing all her teeth
- Got to my hotel at 4 in the morning in Dayton
- Blew off morning orientation
- Found out that Dayton and Miami are not very close and took over hour and half to get there
- Got directions from a friendly chain smoking mailman
- Finally arrived at Miami at noon
- Sat through most important parts of Orientation, what to pick for classes
- Found out that I am not allowed to drink at college and that sexual assault is a serious offense
- Learned what Corn Holing was
- Didn't sleep in the dorms because my roommate got up so many times
- Got my classes and discovered that were some kids at Miami that were preps
- Drove again from Miami to Chicago, taking a longer distance trip but faster since we avoided most of the construction on highways
- Saw the rest of Indiana and Illinois I hadn't scene; Who knew that Americans still farmed
- Found out that the airline canceled my tickets due to the fact that I didn't take the Dayton flight; resulting in me buying tickets for a flight that I already had tickets for
- Met Callan in the Chicago airport on accident, she was comign back from Paris, we caught up on everythign that had been going on
- Had my flight from Chicago delayed over two hours due to Weather and President Bush
- On the plane Callan discovered that she had lost her ipod, she cried; I felt her pain
- Eventually I got home
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Emo-core and Waiting for Godot
Haven't blogged in awhile.
Haven't had much to say.
Still don't have much to say.
I have been happy the past couple days.
Today I hung around waiting for people to be able to do something.
No one was able to do anything.
I spent most of the day listening to punk and emo.
I like punk and emo.
I wish my friends liked punk and emo.
I wish there were more punks and emo kids that were my friends.
I wish my school allowed more of them.
I want my tv to work cause I want to watch noggin right now.
I am a sucker for canadian Mellow-drama.
I am a sucker for girls who say aboot.
top5
the promise ring - red and blue jeans
jawbreaker - chesterfield king
hot water music - trusty chords
minor threat - screaming at a wall
the blood brothers - ambulance vs. ambulance
Haven't had much to say.
Still don't have much to say.
I have been happy the past couple days.
Today I hung around waiting for people to be able to do something.
No one was able to do anything.
I spent most of the day listening to punk and emo.
I like punk and emo.
I wish my friends liked punk and emo.
I wish there were more punks and emo kids that were my friends.
I wish my school allowed more of them.
I want my tv to work cause I want to watch noggin right now.
I am a sucker for canadian Mellow-drama.
I am a sucker for girls who say aboot.
top5
the promise ring - red and blue jeans
jawbreaker - chesterfield king
hot water music - trusty chords
minor threat - screaming at a wall
the blood brothers - ambulance vs. ambulance
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
the play
see I wrote about wanting to resseruct A Sophmoric Production but really I have nothing to write about and for the most part have lost insipartion for it. I think I am going to include the short parts that I wrote in the Original play along with a new more graphic and depressing ending. This one does not let mike get off easy. In fact I am sure that it will be sure to shock many of you. Anyway that is really what is happening with it is a couple new minor parts, editing for the first time, and a new ending. And if anyone is interested I want to film this thing. Kinda a fun little project for summer since seniors have jack shit to do. I expect that it won't actually get filmed but we can pretend for a coupel days that it might. By the way I don't want to play Mike. So if anyone wants that role they can have it.
top 5
The Animals - Good Times
Roxy Music - The Bob
Lou Reed - Street Hassle
Patti Smith - Gloria
The Scientists - Last night
top 5
The Animals - Good Times
Roxy Music - The Bob
Lou Reed - Street Hassle
Patti Smith - Gloria
The Scientists - Last night
Friday, June 09, 2006
Back Packin in Central Ohio
A mix that I was listen to when I went to Miami
All Liberal Art style back pack hip hop
Kanye West - School Spirit
Foreign Exchange - All that you are
Notorious B.I.G - Hold Ya Head
Sage Francis - Personal Journalist
Aesop Rock - Fast Cars
Atmosphere - Smart Went Crazy
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
Atmosphere - Get Fly
Felt - Employees of the Year
Atmosphere - Substance Abuse
Gangstarr - Battle
J-Live - Hush the Crowd
El Da Sensei - Crowd Pleasa
Jurassic 5 - Concrete Schoolyard
Hieroglyphics - Classic
Living Legends - Night Prowler
Eyedea and Abilities - Big shot
Soul Position - Keep it Hot for Daddy
Lootpack - Long Awaited
Pharoahe Monch - My Life
Planet Asia - All these Beats
Talib Kweli - Drugs, Basketball, & Rap
All Liberal Art style back pack hip hop
Kanye West - School Spirit
Foreign Exchange - All that you are
Notorious B.I.G - Hold Ya Head
Sage Francis - Personal Journalist
Aesop Rock - Fast Cars
Atmosphere - Smart Went Crazy
Jurassic 5 - Quality Control
Atmosphere - Get Fly
Felt - Employees of the Year
Atmosphere - Substance Abuse
Gangstarr - Battle
J-Live - Hush the Crowd
El Da Sensei - Crowd Pleasa
Jurassic 5 - Concrete Schoolyard
Hieroglyphics - Classic
Living Legends - Night Prowler
Eyedea and Abilities - Big shot
Soul Position - Keep it Hot for Daddy
Lootpack - Long Awaited
Pharoahe Monch - My Life
Planet Asia - All these Beats
Talib Kweli - Drugs, Basketball, & Rap
Monday, June 05, 2006
Parents
So yesterday Julian had a bbq at his house which was fun. And I suggested that we could have one at my house tomorrow. And he said that he owed one ot his mom because she allowed them to be loud in the pool. Now this seems bizarre for two reasons: first his parents kept telling us to be quite so it wasn't like they never said anything and second isn't that what you do in a pool be loud and splash. So the idea of owing her one seemed completely ludacris to me. Especially to your parents isn't that what they do put up with your shit?
Then again I live a very different life when it comes to parents. First my parents are almost never consulted when it comes to most aspects of my life. The major descions they might play some role but even those I make the choice for the most part. They really just let me do whatever. When it came to applying to college they didn't tell me where to apply or anything like. In fact I think they only told me two things about applying: you cant apply to either USC or Buffalo. And certainly no one at the school really knows who they are. A few people know my dad but no one knows my mom. That's because they really don't see the point in doing the school functions. After I leave, my family will have nothing to do with the school. Neither of my brother's will go to smes and that might be why people find my family so bizarre. We just don't care bout the school.
the other thing that I find interesting about parents is the need to proclaim there love for the kid. In the year book there is about a million pages of ads saying how proud the family is that the student graduated and that they love them. This sort seems like a given. When a kid graduates the parents and the parents love them. If you don't meet those two qualities, chances are your kid isn't graduating. So why are there all those damn pages? I guess its to tell everyone that you love them. A need to once again show off. As if your big house nice car and fashionable clothes aren't enough. In the end all that these things say is that "fuck you I am better than you and that I love my kid more than you love kid"
top 5
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
Ted leo - timorous me
Bruce Springsteen - If I should fall behind
Lyle lovett - If I had a boat
Robert Earl Keen - Crystabel
Then again I live a very different life when it comes to parents. First my parents are almost never consulted when it comes to most aspects of my life. The major descions they might play some role but even those I make the choice for the most part. They really just let me do whatever. When it came to applying to college they didn't tell me where to apply or anything like. In fact I think they only told me two things about applying: you cant apply to either USC or Buffalo. And certainly no one at the school really knows who they are. A few people know my dad but no one knows my mom. That's because they really don't see the point in doing the school functions. After I leave, my family will have nothing to do with the school. Neither of my brother's will go to smes and that might be why people find my family so bizarre. We just don't care bout the school.
the other thing that I find interesting about parents is the need to proclaim there love for the kid. In the year book there is about a million pages of ads saying how proud the family is that the student graduated and that they love them. This sort seems like a given. When a kid graduates the parents and the parents love them. If you don't meet those two qualities, chances are your kid isn't graduating. So why are there all those damn pages? I guess its to tell everyone that you love them. A need to once again show off. As if your big house nice car and fashionable clothes aren't enough. In the end all that these things say is that "fuck you I am better than you and that I love my kid more than you love kid"
top 5
Gnarls Barkley - Smiley Faces
Ted leo - timorous me
Bruce Springsteen - If I should fall behind
Lyle lovett - If I had a boat
Robert Earl Keen - Crystabel
Senior Projects
I think the idea of the senior project is a good idea but it does not work. First not everyone is working the same amount of hours. Some people are only working two days a week, while others are working everyday and barely get 60 hours. The system seems inherently flawed by making people work hours. Also many peoples companies do not have enough work for kids to do. Thus it is impossible to hold the students responsible if they do not get 60 hours if the business does not have enough work for people. Lastly I find it bizarre that our last two weeks of school we all get separated. I like the idea of a senior project but why should the students do something that helps the community and allows them to spend their last few days together? If the grade got split in thirds and the groups all worked the same hours doing a beach cleanup or building a playground for the less-fortunate would not the students get the same benefits as filing for 8 hours. All the jobs seem to have taught most students is to pay attention in college because they would never want these jobs ever again.
top 5
Da Backwudz - you gonna love me
love equals death - bombs over brooklyn
frontline - bang it
transplants - gangsters and thugs(chopped and screwed)
Bouncing Souls - OLE!
*Bonus* Artist Unkown - You'll never walk alone
top 5
Da Backwudz - you gonna love me
love equals death - bombs over brooklyn
frontline - bang it
transplants - gangsters and thugs(chopped and screwed)
Bouncing Souls - OLE!
*Bonus* Artist Unkown - You'll never walk alone
Thursday, June 01, 2006
End of School
School is over. I just have to turn in a poster board and I will be done with high school. Which seems kinda bizzae since...well actually it doesn't seem bizzare at all. I was never that into high school. I can't remember my first day of High School. ANd this is my second high school and 7 overall school. So I don't really have the attachment that alot of people have. But life goes on and we are no going on to COLLEGE. Something I have been waiting for. And in the midst of all the chanigng and leaving I have rediscovered the greatness of 90's rock so that is my top 5.
top 5
Pavement - Range Life
Nirvna - Lounge Act
Cracker - Low
Gin Blossoms - Found out about you
Sonic youth - Sugar Kane
top 5
Pavement - Range Life
Nirvna - Lounge Act
Cracker - Low
Gin Blossoms - Found out about you
Sonic youth - Sugar Kane
Monday, May 29, 2006
RIP Dekker
Desmond Dekker, the Jamaican singer whose 1969 hit, "The Israelites," opened up a worldwide audience for reggae, died on Wednesday. He was 64.
He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters.
"The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners.
The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." But that song was treated as a novelty. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions.
Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. As a teenager he worked in a welding shop alongside Bob Marley and auditioned unsuccessfully for various producers until Mr. Marley encouraged him to try out for his own first producer, Leslie Kong.
Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. 1 in Jamaica. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. 1 hits in Jamaica.
A series of songs including "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul" made Mr. Dekker a hero of Jamaica's rough urban "rude boy" culture.
His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. By the end of the decade, Mr. Dekker had won the Golden Trophy award, presented annually to Jamaica's top singer, five times and was known as the King of Bluebeat. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified."
"Honour Thy Father and Mother" was released in Britain in 1964 on Chris Blackwell's Island label, which would later release Bob Marley's albums. Three years later, Mr. Dekker had his first British Top 20 hit with "007 (Shanty Town)," a tale of rude-boy ghetto violence — "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail" — sung in a thick patois, which Americans would hear later as part of the soundtrack to the film "The Harder They Come" in 1972. Paul McCartney slipped Mr. Dekker's first name into the lyrics to the Beatles' ska song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," on "The Beatles" (also known as the White Album) in 1968, the year Mr. Dekker moved to England.
With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. "I was telling people not to give up as things will get better," he said in a interview last year for the Set the Tone 67 Web site.
"The Israelites" reached No. 1 in Britain and No. 9 in the United States in 1969. The song would return to the British charts in 1975 and was reissued as a single after being used in a commercial for Maxell recording tape in 1990.
Although Mr. Dekker had no further hits in the United States, he continued to have hits in England with "It Mek" in 1969 and the first recording of Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It if You Really Want" in 1970. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975.
The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager.
In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University.
Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter.
He died after collapsing from a heart attack at his home in Surrey, England, his manager, Delroy Williams, told Reuters.
"The Israelites" was the peak of Mr. Dekker's extensive career, selling more than a million copies worldwide. He was already a major star in Jamaica and well known in Britain. The song was his only United States hit, but it was a turning point for Jamaican music among international listeners.
The Jamaican rhythm of ska had already generated hits in the United States, notably Millie Small's 1964 hit, "My Boy Lollipop." But that song was treated as a novelty. "The Israelites," with its biblical imagery of suffering and redemption, showed the world reggae's combination of danceable rhythm and serious, sometimes spiritual intentions.
Mr. Dekker was named Desmond Adolphus Dacres when he was born in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1941. As a teenager he worked in a welding shop alongside Bob Marley and auditioned unsuccessfully for various producers until Mr. Marley encouraged him to try out for his own first producer, Leslie Kong.
Mr. Kong produced Mr. Dekker's first single, "Honour Thy Father and Mother," in 1963, and it reached No. 1 in Jamaica. Like many of Mr. Dekker's songs, it carried a message. A string of Jamaican hits followed, including "It Pays," "Sinners Come Home" and "Labour for Learning." Mr. Dekker had a total of 20 No. 1 hits in Jamaica.
A series of songs including "Rude Boy Train" and "Rudie Got Soul" made Mr. Dekker a hero of Jamaica's rough urban "rude boy" culture.
His 1960's songs used the upbeat ska rhythm, a precursor to reggae also known as bluebeat. By the end of the decade, Mr. Dekker had won the Golden Trophy award, presented annually to Jamaica's top singer, five times and was known as the King of Bluebeat. He won the Jamaican Song Festival in 1968 with "Intensified."
"Honour Thy Father and Mother" was released in Britain in 1964 on Chris Blackwell's Island label, which would later release Bob Marley's albums. Three years later, Mr. Dekker had his first British Top 20 hit with "007 (Shanty Town)," a tale of rude-boy ghetto violence — "Dem a loot, dem a shoot, dem a wail" — sung in a thick patois, which Americans would hear later as part of the soundtrack to the film "The Harder They Come" in 1972. Paul McCartney slipped Mr. Dekker's first name into the lyrics to the Beatles' ska song, "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," on "The Beatles" (also known as the White Album) in 1968, the year Mr. Dekker moved to England.
With "The Israelites," released in Jamaica in December 1968, Mr. Dekker had an international impact. "I was telling people not to give up as things will get better," he said in a interview last year for the Set the Tone 67 Web site.
"The Israelites" reached No. 1 in Britain and No. 9 in the United States in 1969. The song would return to the British charts in 1975 and was reissued as a single after being used in a commercial for Maxell recording tape in 1990.
Although Mr. Dekker had no further hits in the United States, he continued to have hits in England with "It Mek" in 1969 and the first recording of Jimmy Cliff's "You Can Get It if You Really Want" in 1970. But while Mr. Dekker kept up a busy performing career, the death of Mr. Kong in 1971 ended his streak of hits. He returned to the British charts with "Sing a Little Song" in 1975.
The punk era of the late 1970's brought with it an English revival of ska by groups like Madness and the Specials. Mr. Dekker's songs were rediscovered, and he was signed by Madness's label, Stiff Records. His 1980 album, "Black and Dekker," featured members of a venerable Jamaican band, the Pioneers, and Graham Parker's band, the Rumour. The British hitmaker Robert Palmer produced Mr. Dekker's next album, "Compass Point," in 1981. But in 1984 Mr. Dekker declared bankruptcy, blaming his former manager.
In 1993, the Specials reunited and backed up Mr. Dekker on the album "King of Kings," with remakes of ska hits. In 2000 he released the album "Halfway to Paradise." He continued to tour regularly; his final concert was on May 11 at Leeds University.
Mr. Dekker was divorced and is survived by a son and daughter.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
A return to plays
So after a break I have returned to writing plays. The new set is going to be called Breakdown and Oso. The first part was called Heartattack and Antonio. Heartattack will be up soon in a finalized version. The stories are once again true enough and this time I hope that I really hurt because I am not pulling punches. I am tired of the hypocrisy in everyday life. And honestly I really hope that it makes the people I am writhing about take a good luck in the mirror. And hopefully when they are looking int he mirror they are not just chopping another line. Since I am here I will give some details about the plays:
sonic youth - teenage riot
the clash - kola kola
Hank Williams - six more miles
Bruce springsteen - pay me my down
Supremes - Baby Love
- Everyone in the play is someone in real life
- Hearttack is all real stories and occasionally actual conversations
- Breakdown is what imagine will happen with the characters, since it will be finished before I go to college I have no way of knowing what exactly happens
- Heatattack was meant to be funny
- Breakdown is meant to give you a look into the way I see life
- Breakdown occurs during early summer, basically now
- Hearttack occurred about spring break time
- I am Mike, but you have changed
sonic youth - teenage riot
the clash - kola kola
Hank Williams - six more miles
Bruce springsteen - pay me my down
Supremes - Baby Love
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Is a dream a lie if it dont come true?
top 5 songs about work and lost dreams
bruce sprinsteen - The River
Whickeytown - too drunk to dream
Billy Bragg - Levis Stubbs tears
Fred Eaglesmith - Just dreamin'
Desparecidos - Greater Omaha
Songs about growing up and losing all the dreams that you once had.
tom waits - cold cold ground
Leonard cohen - famour blue raincoat
felt like those two should just be throwin in there
bruce sprinsteen - The River
Whickeytown - too drunk to dream
Billy Bragg - Levis Stubbs tears
Fred Eaglesmith - Just dreamin'
Desparecidos - Greater Omaha
Songs about growing up and losing all the dreams that you once had.
tom waits - cold cold ground
Leonard cohen - famour blue raincoat
felt like those two should just be throwin in there
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Waiting for Rocko: Mixtapes and work
So I am at work and I am waiting for Rocky to arrive so I can show him that I am in fact at working and even sorta working. I wouldn't call what I am exactly doing working since I am sitting here writing in my blog but I am pretty sure I am doing more than a lot of students. The sad state of affairs at SMES. In a way I wish I was still at school simply because it was fun to just hang out and do nothing in most of my classes. If I could have gotten out of Spanish, I would have had the perfect schedule.
At work I do relatively minor things because I am untrained and uneducated labor. Thus I am filing, data entry, and doing inventory most of the day. Except for the part that I am eating lunch, taking a break, or working on my blog. So a great way to use my time. But I do enjoy working. My coworkers are smart and relatively funny. Also they seem to like me which is a plus because I am sure that some people in the school did not like me.
As I was sitting here I read a comment Dallas left me on my blog, which was my grade for a paper which I turned in as a blog. This was a post modern assignment and I went the post modern route and posted it. The reason I find it postmodern is that why do I think anyone cares about my thoughts on society and capitalism. Thus I am adding to the needless noise that our world is being filled with. And yet I continue to blog.
The second thing I saw was his great piece about the mixtape. An occupation that has taken up too much time in my life. As just about anyone at SMES can tell you I listen to my ipod a lot. And in Ms. finchers opinion too much. As she said it is disrespectful to listen to your headphones while talking to Mr. Boyle. While I listen to my ipod, about 75% of the time I am making an on-the-go mix of songs that I like and want in a convinent playlist. frequently the are poorly though out and badly time but they sometimes morph into a better playlist. Occasionally they even make it to cd form,and when that happens it means one of two things: one that the cd is properly mixed and I will not be embarrassed to play it for someone riding in my car or two that I wanted rap songs and I am too embarrassed to have power 106 on my stereo.
He also stated what every geeky guy believes which is that we are king of the mix tape. There can not be a million kings to a kingdom that tedious. Now I do not believe that I am at all the king. In fact I probably would be a middle manager level if it all came down to it, but I know that. Many many boys do not realize that there mixs just plain suck. Eventually they figure it out and let the pros take over for the party, but they originally make the rest of us suffer through bad songs from 50 cent and other assorted pop stars. But with any luck by the end of the night a different dj has taken the ipod and revived the party.
top 5
Catherine wheel - black metallic
Happy Mondays - 24 hour party people
David Bowie - here's/helden
Lcd Soundsystem - Yeah(crass version)
Kasbian - Club Foot
At work I do relatively minor things because I am untrained and uneducated labor. Thus I am filing, data entry, and doing inventory most of the day. Except for the part that I am eating lunch, taking a break, or working on my blog. So a great way to use my time. But I do enjoy working. My coworkers are smart and relatively funny. Also they seem to like me which is a plus because I am sure that some people in the school did not like me.
As I was sitting here I read a comment Dallas left me on my blog, which was my grade for a paper which I turned in as a blog. This was a post modern assignment and I went the post modern route and posted it. The reason I find it postmodern is that why do I think anyone cares about my thoughts on society and capitalism. Thus I am adding to the needless noise that our world is being filled with. And yet I continue to blog.
The second thing I saw was his great piece about the mixtape. An occupation that has taken up too much time in my life. As just about anyone at SMES can tell you I listen to my ipod a lot. And in Ms. finchers opinion too much. As she said it is disrespectful to listen to your headphones while talking to Mr. Boyle. While I listen to my ipod, about 75% of the time I am making an on-the-go mix of songs that I like and want in a convinent playlist. frequently the are poorly though out and badly time but they sometimes morph into a better playlist. Occasionally they even make it to cd form,and when that happens it means one of two things: one that the cd is properly mixed and I will not be embarrassed to play it for someone riding in my car or two that I wanted rap songs and I am too embarrassed to have power 106 on my stereo.
He also stated what every geeky guy believes which is that we are king of the mix tape. There can not be a million kings to a kingdom that tedious. Now I do not believe that I am at all the king. In fact I probably would be a middle manager level if it all came down to it, but I know that. Many many boys do not realize that there mixs just plain suck. Eventually they figure it out and let the pros take over for the party, but they originally make the rest of us suffer through bad songs from 50 cent and other assorted pop stars. But with any luck by the end of the night a different dj has taken the ipod and revived the party.
top 5
Catherine wheel - black metallic
Happy Mondays - 24 hour party people
David Bowie - here's/helden
Lcd Soundsystem - Yeah(crass version)
Kasbian - Club Foot
Monday, May 22, 2006
Times are a changin
New Name...Same old bad attitude
sorta
so I am back yall...from interning and proming
both have been fun, prom more than interns
hope yall have been having a good time the past couple days
for the name change it was time to move on and find a new theme song for the blog and I flet I need to keep it indie
if anyone has seen the street scene this year yall know its gonna be nuts
Kanye, Bad religion, Snoop, Social D, modest mouse, bloc party, and WU TANG CLAN
tops
cascada - everytime we touch
common - on my way home
kanye west - addiction
catherine wheel - black metallic
sonic youth - teenage riot
sorta
so I am back yall...from interning and proming
both have been fun, prom more than interns
hope yall have been having a good time the past couple days
for the name change it was time to move on and find a new theme song for the blog and I flet I need to keep it indie
if anyone has seen the street scene this year yall know its gonna be nuts
Kanye, Bad religion, Snoop, Social D, modest mouse, bloc party, and WU TANG CLAN
tops
cascada - everytime we touch
common - on my way home
kanye west - addiction
catherine wheel - black metallic
sonic youth - teenage riot
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