Most Underrated Prince Songs and Albums

Anytime a musician passes away, their catalog gets some extra attention. The same is happening for Prince, who shockingly passed away at the age of 57. Typical hits like "1999" and "When Doves Cry" have surely gotten most of the attention, but he has so many fantastic albums and songs to choose from.

Songs:

"The Cross" - Sign o' The Times, 1987. Sign o' The Times is one of Prince's most well known albums, though as a double album some songs can get less attention than others. "The Cross" stands out to me in showcasing his strong and sincere vocals. The progression of the instruments works well also, building up slowly from a quieter ballad into some heavy guitar and drums, with a sitar thrown into the mix.

"So Far, So Pleased" - Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic, 1999. Gwen Stefani joins Prince on this track from his 1999 album, which of course was a big year for the man who made the hit song "1999" years earlier. The album itself is hit-or-miss, but definitely contains some gems, with this track being the best. Gwen & Prince go well together vocally, and it doesn't feel forced.

"Bambi" - Prince, 1979. The early Prince albums released during the days of disco give more of a dance feel to them. Yet on "Bambi," Prince also showed that he could play a heavier guitar sound as well as anyone else, kicking things off with a crunching guitar intro.

"Thunder" - Diamonds and Pearls, 1991. "Thunder" is simply an infectious song that brings together many of Prince's hallmarks into one song. Its R&B, Rock, Pop, Funk & Soul all rolled up into one, which Prince could always do so expertly. It kicks off the Diamonds and Pearls album with a bang,

"Cinnamon Girl" - Musicology, 2004. If "Cinnamon Girl" were released in as a single in the 80's or early 90's during the height of his popularity, it probably would have been a big hit. Yet in 2004 it flew under the radar in the US, though did gain traction on the UK chart. The chorus will quickly have you singing along, and Prince crafts quite the guitar solo.

Albums:

Chaos & Disorder, 1996 - Prince released this as his final album with Warner Bros. to fulfill contracutal obligations after years of hoping to get out of his contract. Yet the album is powerful, not some throwaway that was half-assed. Prince released a kick ass, hard rock album without any filler on it. His guitar skills are on full display, letting it known he could play as hard as any Grunge or Alternative band popular at the time.  He didn't do any promotion for the album or release any US singles, he simply moved on to his next project, which is partly why it didn't gain much traction.

PlectrumElectrum, 2014 - Prince had put together an all-female band named 3rdEyeGirl who he played and toured with. One of the great things about Prince is how he was able to find other talented musicians and give them  a platform, not afraid to share the spotlight. They churned out this hard rocking album and the amount of fun they're having comes across on each track. Check out Prince with 3rdEyeGirl performing "She's Always in my Hair."

Around the World in a Day, 1985 - This album hit #1 and sold 2 million copies, as well as spawning two hit singles in "Raspberry Beret" and "Pop Life." Yet, it tended to be forgotten in the years since aside from the two singles which is why I consider it underrated. A lot of that has to do with it following the smash Purple Rain and with Sign o' The Times coming two years later. Its also not as radio friendly and one of his more experimental albums. That all makes for a rewarding experience though, instead of Prince just coasting on Purple Rain, he decided to challenge himself and listeners with a psychedelic soundscape.

The Gold Experience, 1995 - Prince's dispute with his record label was in full force at this point, which of course overshadows the release of The Gold Experience. The album is filled with fast rock, funk you can move to, and some of his best songs dealing with sex. The ballads here are also well done, never getting into an overly sappy territory. Its the type of album you can listen to straight through and wonder where the time went. Even the interludes are enjoyable.

U2's Greatest Live Performances

U2 were in New York City last week, apparently mixing their new album at Electric Lady Studios. Rumors suggest the goal is to have their 13th studio album out sometime between October and December 2013, with a tour to follow starting in the Spring. We'll see if this holds up, but it looks like some new music is on the horizon. Throughout their long career, they've been known for creating some real chill inducing performances that could even leave non-fans speechless. Here are some of their greatest live performances, though there are plenty more to choose from.

All I Want Is You/Where The Streets Have No Name, Slane Castle (2001) - The Slane Castle concert is one of U2's most highly regarded shows. They seem to be in such a loose mood at this show, possibly because it wasn't originally going to be released as a DVD. Streets, with its slow building intro, is enough to deliver goosebumps to even the most jaded person. If you're looking for a top quality performance of the song, Slane Castle is one of the better versions you can get.  

Wake Up Dead Man/Walk On, Boston (2001) - I love the combination here, as this slow performance of "Wake Up Dead Man" leads into a passionate and rousing rendition of the live staple "Walk On". "MLK/Walk On" from the U22 Live album of the U2360 Tour has a similar effect. "Walk On", written for Aung San Suu Kyi while she was under house arrest in Burma, always has a high level of passion when performed.

Beautiful Day/MLK/Where The Streets Have No Name, Super Bowl (2002) - A few months after 9/11, U2 were tasked with putting on the first Super Bowl Halftime following the tragedy. And they delivered on a grand scale. It started with the soaring & energetic "Beautiful Day". Once the somber "MLK" kicked in, the giant screen with the victims' names rose to the roof and created the greatest moment in Super Bowl Halftime history. This eventually leads to the building "Where The Streets Have No Name" that ends the set on a high note that left everyone feeling that things were going to be alright.

Surrender, New Year's Day, & Sunday Bloody Sunday, Red Rocks (1983) - While their Live Aid performance is what launched them to mainstream status, Red Rocks (Under a Blood Red Sky) is what made U2 known amongst music fans as one of the best live bands in the world. Red Rocks is a famous outdoor amphitheater in Colorado, and on this particular night the rain was coming down, while torches lit the amphitheater. The red lighting & smoke from the fire amidst the mist and rain created quite the stunning visual and a fitting backdrop to the powerful music coming from the stage. MTV (back when they played music) put many of the song performances into rotation, and the video became a best seller. The rest is history, as the show solidified their presence. You could really pick any song, though those three are my personal stand outs from the show.

Bad, Live Aid (1985) - After the success of "Red Rocks" on MTV & video, U2 found a new venue to showcase their live performance, this time at a music festival headlined by some of the biggest acts on the planet at Live Aid 1985. The band played a 14-minute version of "Bad", which took up most of their set forcing them to cut a song. Bono jumped into the crowd and danced with a girl, who was close to being crushed by fans who were pushing towards the stage. Bono saw it and made his way to her to save the day and create a memorable moment. He just can't help himself! The performance put them on the map in a mainstream way for the first time.

SFOR Soldiers Stood Watch

Sarajevo Concert, PopMart Tour (1997) - There aren't any specific performances that stood out at this show, considering Bono was suffering from vocal issues that hurt his performances, though The Edge and the crowd helped him along. The main reason this is such a big moment is the magnitude of the show itself, where they became the first act to put on a major concert in Bosnia following the ends of the brutal Bosnian War in 1995 & Siege of Sarajevo in 1996. The band lost a lot of money on the show due to extremely low ticket prices, since unemployment in the region was so high following the war. Trains ran into Sarajevo for the first time since before the start of the war on the day on the concert. They were also the first big act to perform at Madison Square Garden just a month after 9/11 when other acts were nervous about putting on shows with large gatherings. U2 has a knack for using music and performance to help heal and boost morale.

With or Without You, Live in Paris (1987) - "With or Without You" is their signature song, and pretty much any version during the late 1980s is a gem. The live version occasionally is longer and adds the line "We'll shine like stars in the summer night/We'll shine like stars in the winter light/One hope/One love" which is simple yet adds so much to an already perfect song.

The Fly, ZooTV Live from Sydney (1993) - "The Fly" launched U2 into the 90s when it was released as a lead single from Achtung Baby, showing their versatility. The live version is a highlight from the ZooTV DVD, as the band tears through the track and Bono sings into a mic that distorts his voice. The track was thankfully resurrected on the U2360 Tour in 2011.

Vertigo, Glastonbury Festival (2011) - "Vertigo" is one of their most energetic songs, and the live version adds a nice intro that builds up to the pulsating guitar courtesy of The Edge. The crowd at Glastonbury provided some nice background vocals for Bono, as the rain fell down which was reminiscent of Red Rocks. This Glastonbury version also has a nice little snippet of The Beatles' "She Loves You", which is always great to hear.

John Lennon & Paul McCartney: "Imagine The Band"

While there can never be a Beatles reunion, there are ways you can fill an appetite for some new-ish material. "Imagine" by John Lennon from 1971 & "Band on the Run" by Paul McCartney & Wings from 1974 have been mashed together to create an interesting new take on both songs by Go Home Productions, called "Imagine the Band". And yes, you can imagine if this is what The Beatles may have sounded like had they continued past 1970. 

John Lennon's piano playing on "Imagine" is sped up with the vocals removed, while Paul McCartney & Wings' "Band on the Run" is slowed down to match the two classic songs together as one quite nicely. It goes to show that even when the two former Beatles were writing completely different songs, they can sound so absolutely perfect together. 

Response to 10 Great U2 Guitar Songs

Bono & The Edge

Gibson recently posted an article that attempted to bring together the 10 greatest U2 guitar songs. Tough task because the iconic rock band has so many great songs and with that comes a variety of opinions. However, I noticed that all the songs in this list were hit singles. While there is nothing wrong with that, as all those songs are outstanding, when it comes to a band like U2 you can really dig into their catalog and find so much more. So here are more songs, in no particular order, that have some of the best guitar we've heard from The Edge. Mostly sticking to non-singles with a few exceptions.

1. New York (All That You Can't Leave Behind, 2000) - Bono provides some interesting lyrics as he describes New York City, however the real star of this song is The Edge. His guitar really comes blistering into the song around 2:10 into this underrated track. It has some of my favorite guitar work from The Edge, and considering it wasn't released as a single and hasn't been played live in a while, you should probably give it another listen. Check out this fantastic unofficial fan-made video for the song:

2. The Fly (Achtung Baby, 1991) - One of the singles I'm including, it tends to be a bit forgotten considering the popularity of the other singles from Achtung Baby ('One', 'Mysterious Ways', 'Even Better Than The Real Thing'). The distorted guitar hits you right away and carries you through one of the best songs in U2's rich history. This was the lead single from Achtung Baby, and it was the perfect choice to signal the band's new alternative rock/electronic/experimental direction of the 90s after their more serious output of the late 80s. I bet when many people first heard this song, their initial thought may have been, "this is the same band that made 'With or Without You'?!?" 'The Fly' helped signal U2 as a group with many tricks up their musical sleeves.

3. I Threw a Brick Through a Window (October, 1981) - Here's another example of the guitar taking the stage ahead of Bono's vocals/lyrics. That is no easy feat considering Bono is one of the strongest singers of all time. October is their least popular album, though still a great listen, so many of the songs remain unknown to the masses. Many of the songs on October are powered by the instruments. Bono's lyrics were stolen, so they had to be re-written quickly, which is part of the reason. That inadvertantly allows The Edge, Larry Mullen and Adam Clayton to shine and take a larger focus than on other albums.

4. Vertigo (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, 2004) - How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb contains some of U2's most powerful and heavy guitar work. However, 'Vertigo' stands out and another hit single I just can't ignore. The "iPod" song will forever be a live favorite and staple thanks to the ear blasting guitar heard throughout in addition to the catchy lyrics. It gets people on their feet.

5. Surrender (War, 1983) - The guitar provides much variety throughout the 5 1/2 minutes of 'Surrender', going along with some of the chanting as I call it heard here. The length gives Edge plenty of opportunities to stand out. War, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb and Boy are chock full of heavy, loud guitar for those who like harder rock.

6. Stay (Faraway, So Close!) (Zooropa, 1993) One of the greatest songs they've ever made. It was a single, though it should have charted much higher on the Hot 100 than its peak of 61. It makes for a great alternative ballad, and is mostly played acoustic in concert now. The guitar moves the outstanding vocals along nicely, and its the definition of what a ballad should be.

7. Breathe (No Line on the Horizon, 2009) Most people agree that this should have been a single, and probably the lead. However, it opened many shows on the U2360 tour. The song soars and lifts you up, a U2 specialty. Mainly crafted by The Edge himself, he took influence from Jack White & Jimmy Page, whom he worked with in the guitar documentary It Might Get Loud. 

8. Bullet the Blue Sky (The Joshua Tree, 1987) The guitar slides are used expertly in 'Bullet the Blue Sky', and the song carries a lot of power especially when performed live. The studio track has a great distorted solo towards the end, which was nice considering most of the album is a mellower affair.

9. The Electric Co. (Boy, 1980) From their very first album, the young Edge gets to unleash his powerful guitar throughout the album, but my favorite is on 'The Electric Co.' Electric would clearly be the best word to describe it, as his guitar travels through your speakers like lightning.

10. Until the End of the World (Achtung Baby, 1991) The song is dark and exciting, with The Edge bringing his shimmering guitar along for the ride. Another non-single that has become a live favorite of many fans. The song is perfect in every way, and The Edge delivers one of his best guitar solos. The entire song was born of a guitar riff, so its only fitting.

11. Electrical Storm (Best of 1990-2000, 2002) The "William Orbit Mix" lacks the powerful guitar intro, but you can find the guitar "Band Version" as a B-Side with the 2-disc version of the hits album, which features 'Electrical Storm' as a new song.

Guitar lovers should check out these as well: 'Elevation' (All That You Can't Leave Behind), 'Wake Up Dead Man' (Pop, 1997), 'Desire' (Rattle & Hum, 1988), 'Window in the Skies' (U218 Singles, 2006), 'A Sort of Homecoming' (The Unforgettable Fire, 1984), 'Love Comes Tumbling' (Wide Awake in America, 1985), 'Crumbs From Your Table' (How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), 'Fez - Being Born' (No Line on the Horizon).

David Bowie: 'The Next Day' Review

David Bowie's new album The Next Day is easily going to go down as one of the best albums of 2013, and one of the best of Bowie's long career.

The first single, 'Where Are We Now?' is a melodic and hypnotic tune that goes down easy and had people wondering if that would be the direction of the album. Well, just listening to the songs that come before and after, 'Love is Lost' & 'Valentine's Day', is enough to convince you that this album is about much more than that. 'Where Are We Now?' is more of an anomaly, a nice way to take a break from the harder edged songs that come before it, such as 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'.

The rest of the tracks have blistering guitars and fast drum beats, with some even having a slight electronic dance influence ('Dancing Out In Space', 'If You Can See Me'). Don't worry though, those songs rock just as much as the rest of them. 'I'd Rather Be High', one of the album standouts, sounds like a more upbeat version of 'Where Are We Now?', hypnotic in a faster way. 'How Does the Grass Grow?' will pulse in through your headphones/speakers like nothing else, and features some of the best guitar work on the album along with '(You Will) Set The World on Fire', one of the hardest rockers in his entire catalog. It's also quickly becoming a favorite of mine. 'You Feel So Lonely You Could Die' follows that and brings in the piano with some nice soulful backing vocals to create a nice transition from such a loud rocker.

The standard album closer, 'Heat', slowly builds up with a dark & mysterious vibe running throughout it, fitting for the album closer. The Deluxe Version adds three additional tracks after this though if you need a little more.

The Next Day gives you everything you want from a David Bowie album, and stands with his best works. In terms of the vocals, they don't sound all that different from his earlier albums. So much for all those reports about if he was healthy of not, because he sounds outstanding here. The album can be streamed on iTunes now. It will be released on March 11 in the UK and March 12 in the USA, and is obviously a must buy.

*Update* His wife Iman has let slip Bowie may be going on tour at some point. Speaking to a magazine and talking about their daughter, she stated, "We are stuck, we can’t travel. Our schedule is around her, so I don’t know. We’ll have to go visit him, but we won’t be on tour with him because she’s in school."

David Bowie: The Stars (Are Out Tonight)

David Bowie released his new single, 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)', from his upcoming album The Next Day. It follows in the footsteps of his first single 'Where Are We Now?', but the sound doesn't have much in common. 'Where Are We Now?' was a slower, droning song that could best be described as hypnotic. 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)' is a much faster, louder rock song that is reminiscent of his music from Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane.

A music video was released as well, which features Bowie and Tilda Swinton as a happy married couple who get followed home by a celebrity couple which is plastered all over the front of the tabloids, interfering with Swinton & Bowie's life. The couple is made to look like Bowie when he was younger. Watch the new video below, and don't forget The Next Day will be out March 12th in the US.

New Music - September 18, 2012

This past Tuesday began a pretty busy week for the music industry, with various albums being released from consistent hit makers. Its that time of year when artists want to get albums out ahead of the Holiday season, when sales for the struggling music business are strongest.

The Truth About Love - Pink (or P!nk). Pink was always more than just another pop singer. She dabbles in other territories, with most of her songs having a rock edge while still being pop songs that can make anyone want to get up and dance. "The Truth About Love" is her sixth studio album, and just like her previous albums is being well received by critics and fans. The album is heavy on the dance-rock tracks, featuring plenty of guitars and catchy choruses. Eminem guests on the song "Here Comes The Weekend." The album is on sale for $5 this week only on Amazon MP3, along with her previous studio albums (I'd recommend the underrated "Try This" from 2003, which features heavier rock thanks to Rancid singer/guitarist Tim Armstrong).
Top songs: "How Come You're Not Here", "Try", "Beam Me Up", "The Truth About Love".

Battle Born - The Killers. The Killers return after a brief hiatus with their fourth album "Battle Born." While not as strong as their first album "Hot Fuss", its still a solid effort overall and can easily become some fans' favorite. The sound most closely resembles "Day & Age" from 2008, filled with that shimmering and modernized new wave 80s sound. The album kicks off with some electronic beats, but quickly breaks out the guitars, a mix you will hear throughout. Brandon Flowers sounds as good as ever, which wasn't in doubt anyway.
Top songs: "Runaways", "Miss Atomic Bomb", "Battle Born", "Flesh & Bone".

The Spirit Indestructible - Nelly Furtado. Considering the massive success of her 2006 album "Loose", this one is flying under the radar, and probably shouldn't be. The lead single "Big Hoops" is flawed and shouldn't have been the lead single, but the majority of the tracks are strong. What she managed to do well on this album is create songs that aren't your typical pop songs, and better than most of what you'll hear on Top 40 radio. Like her first two albums it contains variety, with songs featuring elements from all different genres-Pop, R&B, Rock, Hip Hop, Dance and a guest appearance from rapper Nas.
Top songs: "Parking Lot", "Miracles", "Circles", "Bucket List".

Rolling Stones New Songs; 50th Anniversary

Fans have been speculating about what The Rolling Stones have been up to in preparation of celebrating their 50th Anniversary. First it was announced that they will be playing four live shows in November at the O2 Arena in London and at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, two at each venue. They also have a new documentary called "Crossfire Hurricane" spanning their 5 decades that will air November 15th on HBO. Directed by Brett Morgen, all four members (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts & Ronnie Wood) will be talking about their history in the film. Expect some background on their albums, and of course the normal "sex, drugs & rock 'n roll" stories.

ESPN has also licensed 16 Rolling Stones songs to be used on every NFL Monday Night Football telecast during the 2012 season, calling it "Legend to Legend." Expect some classic hits and some deeper tracks that may not be as well known when watching Monday Night Football this year.

It was also announced today that the band will be releasing two new songs recorded in Paris, their first since the last studio album "A Bigger Bang" came out in 2005. The two new tracks, "Gloom and Doom" & "One Last Shot", will be included on a new career spanning 50-song greatest hits album titled "GRRR!" This will take the place of 2002's "Forty Licks", which has been out of print since switching music labels. Fans probably wanted a full new album, but i'm sure any new songs will be well received. For those who already have most of their music and don't need a greatest hits album, you can download just "Gloom & Doom" and "One Last Shot" on Amazon or iTunes.

There will also be an 80-track super deluxe edition with all sorts of goodies for fans including a poster and bonus CD.  A vinyl box set for the die hard fans will be out as well. "GRRR!" will be released on November 13th, 2012 to coincide with the HBO documentary "Crossfire Hurricane" and the four live shows. Quite the autumn for Rolling Stones fans. The creative album cover for "GRRR!" was designed by Walton Ford.

Aaliyah Remembered

It's been 10 years since Aaliyah's plane crashed on August 25, 2001 soon after taking off from the Bahamas. Aaliyah was a rare talent, and was about to become a big movie star as well as an even bigger singer. She had begun filming for the Matrix sequels, but her scenes were not completed and they had to recast the role. She was also going to be collaborating with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, which would've expanded her music. Her last album includes some rock with her normal Soul/R&B sound. We can only imagine what she would have done since then.

My favorite songs of hers:
1. Try Again (2000) - Her biggest hit and for good reasons. Great beats to go along with her voice.
2. One in a Million (1996) - Her voice is on full display, and you could tell she was going to be a big star.
3. Miss You (2002) - Released after her death, the song is a nice ballad and her voice sounds great laid back like it is here.
4. We Need a Resolution (2001) - The video for this song is probably her best, and the song made a good first single for her final album.
5. What If (2001) - Not a single, a track on her final album. It's an industrial rock leaning song, a preview of what she may have done with Trent Reznor. She knew how to change her voice to fit a different type of song.
6. Are You That Somebody? (1998) - The song from Dr. Dolittle, another addictive song with a beat and chorus you won't forget.
7. I Refuse (2001) - A piano dominated song from her last album, really showcases her voice.
8. Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994) - One of her first songs, sounds like it could fit on a TLC album and shows that even at a young age, she had a big voice.
9. Come Over (2003) - Released from the posthumous album I Care 4 U.
10. Journey to the Past (1997) - Another single from a soundtrack, she gave a great performance at the Academy Awards in 1998 of the song. More of a pop song, her voice translates well just as it did in her Hip Hop and Rock songs.

For those who have never listened to Aaliyah, do yourselves a favor and download the albums or some tracks. (For some reason the CD's are out of print, so you can only download them on iTunes and Amazon.) Hope they someday release deluxe versions with extra material.

ESPN Rock Band March Madness

In honor of March Madness in College Basketball, ESPN is having one for Rock Bands at this fun little time wasting link where the fans vote for their favorite bands to move on in the tournament. There are 64 bands so it's too many to list here, but the four "#1 seeds" are fittingly The Beatles, U2, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin. Some of the others include Aerosmith, The White Stripes, The Jackson 5, Bon Jovi, Nirvana, Queen, Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd and a whole bunch more.

On a side note, Creed as of this writing has 9% to The Beatles' 91%. There are actually 9% who would pick them over The Beatles? Scary. My prediction for the final would be The Beatles and either Led Zeppelin or U2. Beatles for the win either way.

So if you don't want Nickelback to beat Led Zeppelin, go vote.

 

U2 & The Beatles: Possible Final?