Toronto Mike

Music

Total 775 Posts

Explain This Kiss Thing, Please

Rock band Kiss is introducing a his-and-hers fragrance line.  They've also recently launched a premium denim line and have announced plans to open the world's first KISS Coffeehouse on my birthday in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  "Every army needs food and drink and the KISS Army is no exception!" said
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The Marks of the Beast

In recognition of today's date, I thought it appropriate to review the ten best "devil" songs, ever!  Remember, the Devil is in the details. Me and the Devil's Blues - Robert Johnson Could any other song be #1?  This guy sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for guitar
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Crazy Songs

In addition to Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy", there have been other "crazy" songs.  Here are some in my collection. Crazy - AerosmithCrazy Little Thing Called Love - QueenSomewhere Down The Crazy River - Robbie RobertsonCrazy Tonight = Strong Teeth - The KleptonesShe Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young CannibalsThe Return of the
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Wedding Prologue Tunes

The 100 songs for my brother's wedding have been finalized, burned and are ready for the big day.  It's 6.9 hours worth of tunes, so it's highly unlikely anyone will ever hear the same song twice. Yesterday I received a request from the bride to produce a second mix
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Speak Up Or Forever Hold Your Peace

I just remembered that there's more to providing music for a wedding than assembling a list of 100 appropriate but cool tunes.  I've actually got to burn these tunes on disc to play at Steve's wedding that's fast approaching. I'm going to burn the disc Tuesday with the final list
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Hail Hail Pearl Jam

Last night, I attended the second of two Pearl Jam concerts at the Air Canada Centre.  This time, I was seated to the right of the stage, on the Stone Gossard side, 16 rows ups.  The first show was great, this show was spectacular. The Toronto Sun review of the
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A Nicely Tied Bow

Last month I wrote about how odd it is that Our Lady Peace is skipping Toronto on their cross Canada tour.  Then, earlier this month, I complained about the crappy Edgefest line-up before I realized they're calling it Edgefest II and hadn't announced Edgefest 1 yet. It turns out Our
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Pearl Jam at the ACC

Last night, I attended the Pearl Jam concert at the Air Canada Centre.  It was the first of two back-to-back shows.  I was seated to the left of the stage, on the Mike McCready side, 19 rows ups.  Here are my thoughts on yet another great show. My Morning Jacket
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Pearl Jam 101

Pearl Jam's tour kicks off tonight here in Toronto.  I'll be there and I'll return tomorrow for show #2.  Pearl Jam is enlightened enough to have a progressive policy regarding cameras, so I'll try and snap some pix. Before I head on down to the ACC, it's time for Pearl
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Hallelujah

I knew Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" was heavily covered, but I had no idea how many artists have recorded the gem.  This thorough list of Cohen songs covered by other artists reveals it's been covered 82 times.  It's not even the most covered Cohen song.  "Suzanne" has been done 146 times
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Eddie's Choice: Boon or Bono?

Last June, on a whim, I jotted down five superficial life goals.  Number two on that list, right after "Celebrate Maple Leafs Stanley Cup victory" was "Watch Pearl Jam concert from backstage and meet Ed". The last time Pearl Jam came through Toronto, everything seemed to line up perfectly to
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By Gorge, Sasquatch!

The annual Sasquatch! Music Festival at The Gorge Amphitheatre in the state of Washington has an absolutely killer line up.  It's frighteningly good, actually, with all the bands you want to see and more.  There's some fantastic Cancon too. Here's the line up: NINE INCH NAILS, BEN HARPER, THE FLAMING
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My Last.fm 10

It's been about two years since I installed the Audioscrobbler plug-in to track the tunes I play on my computer.  This thing operates so far under the radar I totally forget about it.  My personal Last.fm page has been keeping track of every song I've played since then (42952
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Serve The Servants

One of my favourite Nirvana songs is "Serve The Servants".  It opens with the splendid lyric "Teenage angst has paid off well, now I’m bored and old" and broods along nicely after that.  It's a great tune, but I've always been troubled by the line "I tried hard to
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Rain

All week long while we worked it was warm and sunny.  All weekend long it has been rainy and cool.  Here are my favourite "rain" songs.  Not "rainy" songs, "raining" songs or "raindrop" songs, but "rain" songs. Early Morning Rain - Gordon LightfootRain When I Die - Alice In ChainsNovember
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Songs For A Wedding

Late next month, my little brother Stephen is getting married.  I have been given the most important role in any celebration.  I'm in charge of the music. I am responsible for putting together a wedding playlist that will not offend those with more MOR tastes but retains a certain element
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A Busted Move

I thought I could trust Young MC.  Marvin Young, who went by the name Young MC, had a monster hit in 1989 with "Bust a Move".  Don't even pretend you didn't like it.  Everyone, including yours truly, enjoyed "Bust a Move". Like many others, I memorized the lyrics to "Bust
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April Songs

It's April, but you probably already knew that.  Here's something you didn't know.  There are four songs in my collection with the word "April" in the title. April 29, 1992 - SublimeApril Fool - Soul AsylumApril in Paris - Louis Armstrong & Ella FitzgeraldPieces of April - Three Dog NightNow
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PJ on SNL

Pearl Jam will be the musical guests when Lindsay Lohan hosts "Saturday Night Live" on April 15.  It's a rare television appearance for Eddie Vedder, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, Mike McCready and Matt Cameron. Speaking of PJ, they'll be soon in town for a couple of Toronto gigs at the
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Just The Facts Revisited

A little over a year ago, I used iTunes to take note of some interesting facts about my MP3 collection.  Sure, these facts were only interesting to me, but it was still interesting. I thought I'd answer the same questions and see how things have changed.  An (s) means it's
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