What's A Rose?

It is a difficult task to talk about the band “The Who” to anyone born after 1970. If I mention the band in passing, or reference a song from the band, I am often prompted with the question: who? Ironically, that response was the purpose for the band’s confusing name. It seems The Who, though not alone, may have opened a black hole that many current bands are sucked into. Contemporary artists seem to linger in the abyss of “What the H do we call ourselves?” Dashboard Confessionals fit nicely under this category. It makes sense that one would be confessing to their dashboard while singing; but, this is the name of the band, not the name of their album. People can not be confessionals or dashboards. The slightly cerebral contrast of the two words sounds rather fascinating on paper, but really ends up reminding male listeners that this is the type of music you don't want to get caught listening to with your car window down. I thought for a while that Walking on Sunday would be a great name for a band. Luckily, I never got around to forming and naming an actual band.

These confusing band names can offer plenty of entertainment opportunities if used correctly. Exercise your right to confuse others as you have been confused. Next time you are in a music store ask the clerk for some of your favorite bands without leading the question with “do you have an album by…”

Try this: Cake? Spoon? Bread? Ok Go? James? Rush? Say Anything? Bad English? America? Helmet?..Tool.

You can increase the fun with your own creativity.

Update Your I-POD!

Almost everyone has the one go-to play list. I have 23. I can never just get rid of a play list because I have so much history with it. Think of your play list.

What was there when you turned 16 and got your first car?
What was there when you took that road trip to New Hampshire?
What was there when your heart was broken for the first time?

Your play list was there. However, you can make new memories with each play list you make. It's not like your dumping your old play list for a younger, hotter, play list. You are just adding play lists to your life. Here are five 2008 album releases you might consider adding to your new play list:

1. Kate Nash , Made of Bricks



The album is full of thought provoking, upbeat lyrics. Any of her songs fit nicely on a "Getting Ready For A Date" play list. Come on, we all have one.





2. Josh Groban ,Awake

Awake is the third album released by Josh. He has added a bit of pop sound but retains the hard core christian lyrics. Might I suggest adding these songs to a "Sunday Morning Pre-Game" play list.




4. The Counting Crows, Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

This album is a bit more heavy than the band's past albums. The riffs are stronger and the lyrics are tighter. This album isn't the old crows of Mr. Jones, these crows are B.A! Songs from this album should probably not be on a play list that you listen to while driving, but on some sort of raging play list. Maybe they will find a home on a "I'm so Excited" play list.


3. Mike Doughty, Golden Delicious


Albums with this much poetic beauty are rare. Find it. Buy it. And put it on a "Walking in Nature" play list.






5. Beach House, Devotion

Devotion is a perfect example of an album you play when it rains, when you hope it will rain, or if you step in a puddle and it reminds you of rain.
Songs from this album belong on a "It's Wet Outside" play list.