Zombies On Parade
I awoke this morning sprawled in front of my stereo. After a time, I figured out the melody stuck in my head was My Funny Valentine. I've spent most of the morning listening to the ten different versions of it I have. I've concluded my favorite is Billie Holiday's, with runner-up Elvis Costello's. Not to say that Julie London, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Perry Como, and Sinatra all don't have great covers, but Billie and Elvis's are best.
For those who grew up listening to Smash Mouth, or like-themed 90's summer pop, I have a gift for you. As anyone knows, Smash Mouth fell out of the limelight in the early 2000's and are now a band reduced to playing State Fairs (like Pleasanton's) and leasing all their music to shitty Disney movies (ie: Zoom, Big Fat Liar, Inspector Gadget, Pizza Hut) Their 1999 album Astro Lounge is a near perfect masterpiece of zany beats, awesome hooks, snappy tunes, and all around enjoyable fun summer songs. Most of their other stuff is throwaway radio trash.
But fear not, constant reader, for the main singer-songwriter for Smash Mouth named Greg Camp has since left the band and released a solo-album entitled Defektor. Now, a solo-album from a has-been hipster from a has-been 90's band really sounds the opposite of good. But I am happy to say the stereotype doesn't fit. Its probably the best stuff that's come out of the Smash Mouth arena since Astro Lounge. On my first run-through listen, almost every song stood out and endeared itself to me. So, if you like "Zombies On Parade" or "The Armageddon Slide" please don't hesitate to treat yourself to Defektor.
Also, my Joint Birthday party with my sister was an absolute success. I enjoyed everyone's company who came, and hope they had as much fun as I did. I'm 20 now. Shit.
For those who grew up listening to Smash Mouth, or like-themed 90's summer pop, I have a gift for you. As anyone knows, Smash Mouth fell out of the limelight in the early 2000's and are now a band reduced to playing State Fairs (like Pleasanton's) and leasing all their music to shitty Disney movies (ie: Zoom, Big Fat Liar, Inspector Gadget, Pizza Hut) Their 1999 album Astro Lounge is a near perfect masterpiece of zany beats, awesome hooks, snappy tunes, and all around enjoyable fun summer songs. Most of their other stuff is throwaway radio trash.
But fear not, constant reader, for the main singer-songwriter for Smash Mouth named Greg Camp has since left the band and released a solo-album entitled Defektor. Now, a solo-album from a has-been hipster from a has-been 90's band really sounds the opposite of good. But I am happy to say the stereotype doesn't fit. Its probably the best stuff that's come out of the Smash Mouth arena since Astro Lounge. On my first run-through listen, almost every song stood out and endeared itself to me. So, if you like "Zombies On Parade" or "The Armageddon Slide" please don't hesitate to treat yourself to Defektor.
Also, my Joint Birthday party with my sister was an absolute success. I enjoyed everyone's company who came, and hope they had as much fun as I did. I'm 20 now. Shit.