Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. The Fresh & Onlys - "Peacock and Wing"
2. Bear in Heaven - "Ultimate Satisfaction"
3. INXS - "Kiss the Dirt"
4. Blank Dogs - "Three Window Room"
5. Cold Cave - "Life Magazine"

5 Years Ago Today: Eminem releases "Encore"...

Encore is the fifth studio album by American rapper Eminem. It was set for release on November 16, 2004, but was moved up to November 12, after the album was leaked to the Internet. Encore sold 760,000 copies in its shortened three day opening week and claimed the #1 spot on the Billboard Top 200. The album sold 1,632,000 copies in its first two weeks of release in the United States in November, 2004.

The shock-oriented lyrics in Eminem's previous three albums were toned down somewhat in Encore in favor of a lighter approach. Eminem was already beginning to show this lighter side on The Eminem Show and continued it with Encore.

The album features substantially more production from Dr. Dre than The Eminem Show. The Eminem Show was mostly produced by Eminem and longtime collaborator Jeff Bass.
The cover for Encore, which shows Slim Shady taking a "final bow", is representative of the fact that Eminem would soon plan to retire his alter ego.

The outro to "Encore/Curtains Down" also hints to this, as Slim Shady can be heard shooting into the audience and finally committing suicide by sticking a pistol in his mouth. These events are also depicted in the album's inlay art. The album was also made to seem as though it was recorded live, due to simulated audience claps and chants in some parts. On the front of the CD there is a mock suicide note from Eminem. it reads:

"To my familly and all my friends, thank you for everything. I will always love you. To all my fans, I'm sorry".

Suggested listening:

Old Music (Still Good Music): Duran Duran - "Ordinary World"...

Albums Covers I Hate By Bands That I Enjoy...

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Stadium Arcadium (2006)



Coming from a band that has had so many great album covers, this was difficult to accept as anything other than a hoax.

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. The Fresh & Only's - "Peacock and Wing"
2. Vampire Weekend - "Ottoman"
3. Wolf Parade - "Language City"
4. Young Jeezy - "Still On It"
5. Vampire Weekend - "Everywhere"

Old Music (Still Good Music): Robert Plant - "Big Log"...

a post-Zeppelin classic by Mr. Robert Plant.

Yeah...that's right, you tell them Miracle Whip!

If you're young, hip and not into your parents mayo...well do I have something for you: Miracle Whip. Yeah...aggressive advertising for that 18-25 demographic. SOOOO stupid. It's fucking eggs and vegetable oil, not "Catcher In the Rye".

New Music: Real Estate - "Fake Blues"...

The great song "Fake Blues" from Pitchfork Showpaper Benefit Show...

Suggested listening:

New Music: The National - "The Runaway"...

Top 5 Songs I am Currently Listening To...

1. INXS - "Don't Change"
2. Arthur Russell - "That's Us/Wild Combination"
3. Arthur Russell - "Keeping Up"
4. Tears For Fears - "Head Over Heels"
5. Billy Idol - "Eyes Without a Face"