Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way

This is the song that the talk box was made for.* Another classic song from a time that should have never left us. This is what a long song should be. Now I am a fan of progressive rock- 2112 by Rush, most of the good Yes songs, most of the good ELP songs, long is good- but some groups can't pull off a larger track. Joe Walsh, has, not just once, but, twice- more on that some other time- made a terrific song that is quite long. Joe has a knack for writing catchy tunes and lyrics that you can sing no matter your knowledge of the lyrics and, more so, your sobriety. If you ever wondered what they are playing in Valhalla, besides Led Zeppelin, then you can be sure that Joe Walsh is on the jukebox.



*You don't believe me!?!? I am hurt. Check wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk_box, if you don't believe me. Or, perhaps, just call Joe.

James Gang - Walk Away

As far as real hard and heavy rock goes no one beats Joe Walsh. James Gang was an epic trio that, in my opinion, rivals even that of the awesome might of Cream- there I said it. Joe Walsh may just be another ordinary average guy but he can play that rock and roll like no one else. James Gang always had a good drummer and bassist, and at the time of this recording the line up was Jim Fox and Dale Peters, respectively. This song is what real rock and roll is about, it is pure emotion in an explosive way, not the shit peddled by the record companies in our era. Dashboard Confessional, Akaline Trio, AFI, Fall Out FUCKING Boy have no clue on were they should start to make true and honest and rock and roll. Because, when you get right down to it, down to the nitty gritty, down to the heart of the matter, down, all the way down, rock and roll is just the blues. And if you are going to play rock and roll, you have to be versed in the blues; and, Joe Walsh, he can play that blues.

So some people may cry and moan that Joe Walsh was in the Eagles and thus loses all credentials in the rock world. I have two things to say to these people: 1. fuck you, the Eagles are great and 2. I don't have anything else, so just walk away...

Phish - Divided Sky

I find myself to be the furthest thing from divided when it comes to the song "Divided Sky" by Phish because I utterly love this track. The song started at a length of about one and a quarter minutes when it was first recorded for the studio album which has been known as both "Phish" and "The White Tape." The sweeping guitar playing is extremely euphoric and empowering. While it does have the not entirely unusual pep of Phish, the happiness in the song is not representative of pep, but, instead, it is symbolic of the track finding its place in the core of the Phish mythology of Gamehenge. The following is an introductory bit spoken by trey prior, or perhaps after, to the song's appearance:
[The divided sky chant is part of an ancient ritual dating back to the
Pre-wilson years of she purity in gamehendge. after listening to the
Sacred sounds for a sloping lawn, three chosen subjects eat a special
Root collected at the base of the enormous mountain that rises in the
Center of the forest. the root is believed to contain the spirit of
Icculus, who lives at the top of the mountain. after eating the root,
They venture into a vast field at sundown. the field is deep green,
And stretches as far as the eye can see in all directions. in the
Center of the field stands an enormous black rhombus. they climb the
Rhombus and begin to sing, paying homage to the gods of the night
Sky.]

Phish + Jay Z --> Awesome

I know what you may be thinking: Phish and Jay Z cannot possibly blend well. If you still have that thought in your mind, then you are about to change.

The following was recorded the night after Phish recorded, and shot, the "Live In Brooklyn" CD/DVD. The first song of the two, performed by Phish backing Jay Z, features some good instrumentals but Jay Z finds himself pulling the most out of the audience with his "I have 99 problems," as they answer his call to the audience to shout with "but a b____ ain't one." However, the best instrumentals occur when Phish plays Jay Z's "Big Pimpin'." Trey's guitar work and Page's piano playing both stand as deeply energizing, though Fishman's drums seem a bit muted which may just be a result of the quality of the recording.

Sit back and enjoy...