Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. The Killers - "A Dustland Fairytale"
2. The Killers - "Neon Tiger"
3. Burial - "Etched Headplate"
4. Kid Cudi - "Man on the Moon (The Anthem)"
5. Kanye West - "Amazing (Feat. Young Jeezy)"

The Evolution of "The Next Jordan"

Michael Jordan's professional baketball career spanned from 1984-2003. In those 19 years of domination, MJ proved himself to be the greatest player to ever step onto the hardwood. 6 championships, 5 NBA MVP awards, 14 NBA All-Star appearances, 6 time NBA Finals MVP...and the list goes on and on. No one could dream of creating such a player, but, a strange thing happened around the time Jordan was winning his third straight NBA title. The term "air apparent" was born. "Who will be the next Michael Jordan"? The masses were so in love with # 23, that they wanted another one...and not only that, they wanted to predict who it was going to be.

1993: Penny Hardaway


Penny was the first to actually be labeled the "Next Jordan" in his rookie season with the Orlando Magic. Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal lead the Magic from the lottery to the NBA Finals during Jordan's 1st retirement. This only helped fan the flames of "Next Jordan" talk. Sadly, Penny never really met his potential as an NBA elite. After mediocre stints with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and a brief reuniting with Shaquille O'Neal in Miami, Penny was ultimately set out to pasture.

1994: Grant Hill


Next up, Grant Hill. Since Penny wasn't shaping up to be Mr. Jordan quickly enough, the media needed a new player to focus on. Hill, a 6'8" shooting guard/small forward from Duke, was pegged to be next NBA superstar to follow in Jordan's footsteps. Though Hill showed moments of brilliance early in his career, injuries certainly marred any and all forward progress towards him being "Jordan-esque".

1995: Jerry Stackhouse


Jerry Stackhouse was the first to actually believe that he was the "Next Jordan". He and Jordan both played college ball at UNC, both were drafted #3 overall and both were 6'6". "Stack" had to be it, right? Wrong! Stackhouse challenged Jordan in their first head-to-head meeting. Jordan flat out embarassed Stackhouse, which quieted the "Next Jordan" talk shortly thereafter. Stackhouse is however unique on this list, given that he is the only one to ever play on the same team with Michael Jordan during their time on the Washington Wizards.

1996: Allen Iverson


Probably the biggest stretch in the history of the phrase...a 6' 0" point guard? This is where the reaching for the "air apparent" really began. Iverson was a scoring machine with a tenacity and focus we had not seen since Jordan. However, this did not qualify him to be the "Next Jordan". Unlike Jerry Stackhouse, Iverson was successful in challenging Jordan in their first NBA game:



1996: Kobe Bryant


1996 was the first year that produced 2 players considered to be a possible Jordan successor. Kobe Bryant was a skinny, 17 yeard old, 6'6" shooting guard when was taken 13th overall in the '96 NBA Draft. Initially, Bryant played limited minutes, but as the season continued, he began to see some more playing time and the media began to see shades of "Jordan". More on Kobe later...

1997: Tracy McGrady


Another year, another "Jordan" comparison, this time in the form of Tracy McGrady. Since Kobe Bryant wouldn't begin to show his colors for about 3-4 years, people got anxious and the following year dubbed T-Mac the first: "the next, 'next Jordan'. At this point the term became so saturated that it became self-mocking and self-fulfilling. I don't believe that anyone ever really considered McGrady a possibility to be the "Next Jordan".

1998: Vince Carter


Our second Tar Heel to enter the lineage: Vince "Air Canada" Carter (only player on the list to share the nickname "Air" with Jordan). This one was almost too easy for branding the next, "Next Jordan". Vince went to UNC and could jump REALLY, really HIGH. He won the dunk contest with an emphatic display of leaping ability (much like Jordan). Why wouldn't he be the "Next Jordan" one might ask? The easy answer: Carter has never displayed the ability to score at will, win big games or lead a team...all qualities that made Jordan "Jordan".

2003: LeBron James


By 1999, the "Next Jordan" drought began and did not end for nearly five years. "King" James surfaced in the land that Jordan helped to destroy: Cleveland. LeBron looks and plays as though he was created in a lab: 60% Dominique Wilkins DNA/40% Michael Jordan DNA. An interesting note of Lebron being the next "Next Jordan" is that he is the first in this list to actually wear the same jersey number as Jordan, thus making it even easier to tag him with title. LeBron James garnered many accolades, but very few of them pointed to him being the "Next Jordan"...

The reason: Kobe Bryant



The NBA has yet to see its' next player to be pegged as the next, "Next Jordan". Kobe has proven that no one will get any closer to the real thing than he has. Winning 3 straight titles with the Lakers, all while becoming the best player in the league has proved be the "knighting" of Kobe Bryant as the true "air apparent" to Michael Jordan. Maybe the change he made in his jersey number (from 8 to 24) is his sign of self-awareness?

Note:

Harold Miner*


*Miner, who was nicknamed "Baby Jordan" for his dunking ability, was never actually labeled/considered the "Next Jordan". Thus the reason for his absence on this list.

My Top 25 Favorite Albums By Decade

I recently compiled my 25 favorite albums from the last three decades: 70's, 80's and 90's

1970-1979:

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Mikdavis/my_top_25_favorite_albums__1970_1979

1980-1989:

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Mikdavis/my_top_25_favorite_albums__1980_1989

1990-1999:

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Mikdavis/my_top_25_favorite_albums__1990_1999

New Music: Kanye West Mixtape

"DJ Benzi, Plain Pat and Kanye drop a new mixtape in promotion for Kanye’s upcoming studio album. The mixtape features a whole bunch of remixes to classic and new Kanye. Producers like Cookin Soul, A-Trak, Nick Catchdubs, Stretch Armstrong, Diplo and others get down for the tape and put together some great remixes. A-Trak really stands out on the tape and shows off his remix skills."

1. Sky High Introduction
2. Good Morning (The Kickdrums Remix)
3. Champion (Nick Catchclubs Remix)
4. Barry Bonds (Eli Escobar Remix)
5. Crack Musik (Cookin Soul Remix)
6. We Major (The Kickdrums Remix)
7. Get Em High (A-Trak Remix)
8. Throw Some (Cousin Cole Remix)
9. Electric Touch (Steve1der & Mighty Mi Remix)
10. Love Lockdown (Tom Wrecks Remix)
11. Flashing Lights (Diplo Remix)
12. Addiction (Kenny Dope & Terry Hunter Remix)
13. Stronger (A-Trak Remix)
14. Workout Plan (Chaise Marcel Remix)
15. Impatient Boy (Benzi Remix)
16. Homecoming (Discotech Remix)
17. I Wonder (Scottie B Remix)
18. Good Life (Stretch Armstrong Remix)
19. Can't Tell Me Nothing (DJ Godfather Remix)

download:

http://www.mediafire.com/?zz3tpmuxenw

JFK Assassination: 45 Years Ago Today

Today marks the 45th anniversary of the JFK assassination. From a very young age I was intrigued with the conspiracy to shoot and kill a president in the modern era. It is still hard for me to believe that things like this were (and are) possible. If not for the infamous 8mm film shot by Abraham Zapruder on that day, the American public would have likely went on believing that Oswald acted alone in the assassination of John F. Kennedy.

Background:

The assassination of John F. Kennedy, the thirty-fifth President of the United States, took place on Friday, November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, at 12:30 p.m. CST. John F. Kennedy was fatally wounded by gunshots while riding with his wife Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy in a Presidential motorcade. The ten-month investigation of the Warren Commission of 1963–1964, the United States House Select Committee on Assassinations of 1976–1979, and other government investigations concluded that the President was assassinated by Lee Harvey Oswald. This conclusion was initially met with widespread support among the American public (1964–66), but polls conducted after the original 1966 Gallup poll show as much as 80% of the public hold beliefs contrary to these findings. The assassination is still the subject of widespread speculation and has spawned numerous conspiracy theories, though none of these theories has been proven.

what I choose to believe:

From Oliver Stone's 1991 film "JFK"

Suggested viewing:

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Kanye West - "Get Em' High (A-Trak Remix)"
2. Kanye West - "Street Lights"
3. Beirut - "Nantes"
4. Leona Naess - "When Sharks Attack"
5. Deerhunter - "Heatherwood"

My 50 Favorite Album Covers

(in order)

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Mikdavis/my_top_50_favorite_album_covers

New Music: Lil' Wayne & DJ Drama Present...Dedication 3

Dedication 3 is a mixtape by DJ Drama & Lil Wayne. It is the sequel to it's predecessors, Dedication and the highly successful Dedication 2. Lil Wayne also told MTV,"Tha Carter IV is nice but you need to be looking for Dedication 3"

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147568-lil-wayne-dedication-3

http://www.zshare.net/download/51330008e026bee9/

Jonestown: 30 Years Later...

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the "Jonestown" mass suicide. My intrigue has never waned for Jonestown and its people. Jim Jones (who was from Lynn, IN and graduated from Richmond High School) went absolutely mad with power and convinced nearly a thousand people to take their own lives by drinking cyanide. It still hard to accept and comprehend all these years later.

Background:

Jonestown was the informal name for the "Peoples Temple Agricultural Project", an intentional community in northwestern Guyana formed by the Peoples Temple, a cult from California led by Jim Jones. It became internationally notorious in November of 1978, when 918 people died in the settlement as well as in a nearby airstrip and in Georgetown, Guyana's capital. The name of the settlement became synonymous for the incidents at those locations.

On November 18, 1978, 909 Temple members died in Jonestown, all but two from apparent cyanide poisoning in an event termed "revolutionary suicide" by Jones and some members on an audio tape of the event and in prior discussions. To the extent the actions in Jonestown were viewed as a mass suicide, it is the largest such event in modern history. The incident at Jonestown was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a non-natural disaster until the events of September 11, 2001.

The poisonings in Jonestown followed the murder of five others by Temple members at a nearby Port Kaituma airstrip. The victims included Congressman Leo Ryan, the first and only Congressman murdered in the line of duty in the history of the United States.

suggested viewing:



"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men."

Artists on my "Must See Live" list

I was lucky enough to see Radiohead over the summer on their "In Rainbows" tour. It was easily one of the best concert experiences I have ever had (or will have for that matter). I saw Wolf Parade last week after a three year wait and well...it was worth the wait! Given that Radiohead and Wolf Parade were #1 and # 2 atop my "must see live" list, that list has obviously changed:

1. Arcade Fire



Arcade Fire has to be at the top. The U2 of the decade. I missed them in Chicago last year, will not pass them up again.

song that I would most want to hear live: "My Body is a Cage"

2. The Beastie Boys



This just goes without saying. The Beastie Boys have been at it for twenty two years now. I missed them a month ago in Dayton, OH. They were playing an Obama benefit at Hara Arena. I passed it up and I may live to regret it.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Pass the Mic"

3. Sufjan Stevens



Another one from the files of "I had a chance to see them live". Indianpolis, 2006 and I passed it up. Sufjan was on the "Come on feel the Illinoise" tour (complete with butterfly wings) and I can only hope to redeem myself for making that mistake.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Pittsfield"

4. Animal Collective



This one is especially difficult to swallow: free tickets to see Animal Collective @ Southgate House in Newport, KY in late 2005. I passed it up. That decision keeps me up at night. I wasn't into them at the time, only knew of them and knew they were weird with a capital 'W'. Three years later and I love them.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Unsolved Mysteries"

5. Hot Chip



One of the best new bands to appear in the last 5 years. Quirky, weird and extremely talented. I had hoped to see them this year in New York City, alas it did not happen.

song that I would most want to hear live: "So Glad to See You"

6. Damien Jurado



The reminder of mistakes parade on: April 19th, 2005. Damien Jurado @ Rhino's in Bloomington. I was already in Bloomington, why didn't I just stay an extra nite and shell out the $12? Who knows. I WILL see Damien Jurado live (despite the fact that I passed him up yet again back in October, $8 in Columbus, OH)

song that I would most want to hear live: "Tether"

7. Postal Service



I have never had the opportunity to see The Postal Service live, so no mistakes made there. If they ever put out another album (2009?) I will certainly beat a path to wherever they play.

song that I would most want to hear live: "District Sleeps Alone Tonight"

8. Magnolia Electric Co.



Opportunity wasted yet again. Mr. Molina and his Magnolia Electric Co. play Bloomington, IN at least once a year (if not twice) so I know my past decisions will not forever haunt me.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Leave the City"

9. Handsome Furs



They just played Columbus, OH last month for $8. I still dont understand why I didn't attend. New album in 2009 and a new chance to make a better decision.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Sing! Captain"

10. Kanye West



The one and only hip-hop performer on the list...for a reason: most hip-hop shows are either A) cancelled B) re-scheduled and then ultimately cancelled C) Suck. I think that Mr. West would be the exception. Kanye played in Cincinnati over the summer and I knew nothing of it. Given my previous record, I am sure I would have passed on it anyway and ultimately second guessed myself.

song that I would most want to hear live: "Everything I Am"

Kanye West "Heartless" Video

Rotoscoping + Kanye = Quality

easily one of the best videos of 2008

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Kanye West - "Street lights"
2. Wolf Parade - "Call it a Ritual"
3. The Clash - "Straight to Hell"
4. Au Revoir Simone - "The Lucky One (James Yuill Remix)"
5. John Legend (Feat. Andre 3000) - "Green Light (Diplo Dade County 1988 Mix)"

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. Animal Collective - Street Flash
2. Tough Alliance - "Looking For Gold"
3. Friendly Fires/Au Revoir Simone - "Paris (Aeroplane Remix)"
4. Wilderness - "Own Anything"
5. Fleet Foxes - "Your Protector"

Top 25 Rap/Hip-Hop Albums

http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Mikdavis/my_top_25_favorite_rap_hip_hop_albums

(in order)

My Most Anticipated Releases of the 08' 4th Quarter

With less than two months left in 2008, there are still some noteworthy (see: powerhouse) record releases left in the year. Here are the albums I am anxiously awaiting:


Modest Mouse - EP

I am still holding holding out hope that this will be released before the ball drops in NYC


The Killers - "Day & Age"

The kings of post-(insert genre) are set to release another reason for me to keep living


Kanye West - "808's & Heartbreak"

Mr. West has transformed his look and style once again with an entire album in auto-tune. It should be interesting (or terrible).


Handsome Furs - "Face Control"

Let's get one thing clear: I love the Handsome Furs. He sings and plays guitar, she makes the beats. I loved the 2007 release "Plague Park" and the upcoming "Face Control" should be amazing.


Eminem - "Relapse"

We haven't heard much from Mr. Mathers since his 2005 "retirement" release "Curtain Call: The Hits". I am sure Eminem has some topics he would like to discuss after three years in the shadows.


Jay-Z - "The Blueprint 3"

It's Jay-Z putting out another 'Blueprint' with "Swagga Like Us Pt. 2" which will feature Andre 3000, Young Jeezy & Nas...enough said.


Cat Power - "Dark End of the Street EP"

Chan Marshall herself will be releasing a "leftovers" EP from her second covers album "Jukebox" in Decemeber. I think everyone is hoping that her version of the David Bowie "Space Oddity" will make the final release.


Dr. Dre - "Detox"

one can dream...