The Ultimate Top Five Begins

This weeks Podcast by Bill Simmons is freaking awesome. His conversation will the great Marv Albert, and subsequent discussion with his homie about the awful start to the season by the Yanks, certainly made up for that lame discussion last week with Alton from the Real World.

YesSSS!!!!


Now on to the reason for this post. I was asked last week by a student who the five greatest rock and roll bands of all time were. I was torn.Normally I explode into my list. Based on my IPOD data, I consider the best rock and roll bands ever to be RATM, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, U2, and Tool by simple rate of airplay. Clearly there is a generational and genre bias at play here.

Now I consider my opinions to be profound, but I no longer consider myself a ego maniac. The situation in class became a moral quandry. Do I promote the groups I promote, or as a teacher, provide an objective view with the addendum that it really all depends on each person to create their own list. I was objective, kinda.

The list I told the kids was the following,
1.The Beatles
2.The Rolling Stones
3.Led Zeppelin
4.Pink Floyd
5.U2

I told them any objective person would need to have the top two, but after that it would ultimately boil down to personal taste. I chose to look at what is the overall perception amonsgt music folks who write for Rolling Stone, Blender, Spin, and ughhh..MTV.com Over the coming weeks I will expand on my decision and explore these five bands, trying to decipher the five greatest songs from each band.

However, first a few thoughts on the list.

A.Yes, the list has a European Bias. For whatever the reason, the British Isles have taken a musical form born in America (Rock and Roll) and created the most imaginative possibilities for its progression as an art form.

B. Yes, there is a Gender Bias. Beyond a few bands here or there, men have dominated rock and roll. As a male, and despite being raised my a single mother, I have been far more prone to being influenced by men then women when it has come to music. I currently have 680 songs on my IPod. Only 1 song is a song that is sung by a women. It is just impossible for me to put Heart or The Go-Go's over any of these bands.

C.No, the two greatest American band of all time, Rage Against The Machine and The Doors did not make the list. I had to be objective, and that meant putting my own tastes to the side as much as possible.

D. Yes, the inclusion of U2 is controversial. The students were down right pissed off about it, like I had slaughtered their pets before their eyes. (The only area of life my students have shown any consistent sophistication is in the their concepts on the world of music. It is a great uniter of populations.) However, if you can name a band that has dominated the music world more then U2 over the past 27 years, please tell me. It was also essential to include a band whose career has spanned the 80's and 90's. While watered down by more lame music acts and the horrors of the commercialization that made Britney Spears a Superstar, these decades were still filled with profound music by rock and roll bands that transcended the music world and came to symbolize the lives and issues that affected people during that generation. No band of the past 27 years has done this better then U2.

Until next time, this is that freaky beatnik The Prez saying, catch you on the flipside you cool cats.....

The Year in Review

The tenuous life of the Prez has taken a few twists and turns in recent weeks. As he continues to be tempted by the existence of the Powerball Lottery and the Travel Channel, along with the bizarre escapist mindset it creates, it is time for the May version of the The Best of 2007.

As in the past, these are the opinions of just one man…albeit a particular tough talkin’, intellectually stimulated, piece of man meat.

Best Rock Duo of the Year
Local H
No other duo really matters…..really…Anyone else is just an imitator…even that group from D-Town….with that virtuoso guitarist and shitty drummer….yeah that one.

Best Album of the Year
1.The Nightwatchman-One Man Revolution……pure genius.
2.Nine Inch Nails-Year Zero…..Rezner in all his pessimistic glory. Like all of the past albums, A crazy combination of Thom Yorke’s solo stuff and Metallica’s energy.
3.John Mellencamp-Freedom’s Road….Did you know, this is Ouuurrrrrrr Counnnntryyyy
4.Arcade Fire-Neon Bible……..For everyone’s inner indie rock vagina monologue.

Waiting on Radiohead, Metallica, GnR, Dr.Dre, Velvet Revolver….making the list above practically useless. Sorry.

Best Film
1.The 300-You know I loved the trailers, and the film lived up the intensity of the hype. No clip needed. You have seen them all.
2.Blades of Glory-The second in the Will Ferrall sports trilogy was good. Better then the first.
3.The Grindhouse- Tarentino and Rodriguez…enough said.

Best Politician
1.Ron Paul-The Republican X factor?
2.Hillary Clinton-Kicking Ass and taking names, and unifying Republicans everywhere...
3.Obama-has gained one name status. Now he needs an issue...
4.Mitt Romney-The old man parties flip-flopper. But what about that Smile!
5. Chris Dodd- Won the 1st democratic debate in many people’s eyes, but has the most ground to make up..

Worst Fantasy Baseball picks so far
1.Chris Carpenter-Ouch!
2.Mark Texeria- Mr.Tex should have been called Mr.Juice.
3.BJ Ryan-Ouch!
4.Dice K and Ervin Santana-Don’t believe the hype?
5.Jason Giambi-Because cheaters should never be cheered. Has anyone been more forgotten in the Steroids Scandal then the Giambino? I blame the media and it’s NY bias. Then we wonder how ESPN can do reports on people thinking the Anti-Berry Bonds crowd is racist.


Best News of the Year
1.Randy Moss traded to New England-It makes me smile every time I think about it.
2.Rage Against the Machine Reunites-An electric performance at Coachella '07. Its time for more! Those guys are the Mick and Keith of progressive musical activism.
3.Mavericks Lose! Mavericks Lose!- The longer Stephen Jackson's season is extended the greater the chances of a "Stephen Jackson Moment"

Remember kids…This land is your land

What have we Learned? Nothing

Violence can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by violence.
~Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

The topic of murder has been on my mind for weeks. The current war on terror not withstanding, I recently covered with my students the Vietnam War, the shootings at Kent State and Jackson States, the RFK and MLK assassinations, and damaging environmental pollution by corporations in America.

When murders occur in America, most are accomplished with the use of guns. I equate guns with violence. Our military seeks out recruits on TV promoting "An Army of One". I believe this creates an evil dichotomy, Human Beings + guns=Violence.

The question must be asked, Can we as Americans be surprised when a person takes the lives of others acting on the elements of the violence that permeates our country and that we collectively support?

We fight terrorism abroad and yet see its destructive hand on the streets of our cities, in our schools, and in our homes all the time. The act of firing a gun is at the very least a means of creating a sense of terror. Thus, today every American no doubt must look deeply into their souls and think about the society we live in.

As the shock and horror of the shootings at Virginia Tech filtered through the news on Monday, it was impossible not to think about the shootings at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. I wondered out loud if the shooter thought he was an "Army of One".

I have since long been thankful my schools have often had some kind of break on the week of April 20th since. It was also clear to me that the nation had not learned enough in the past 8 years. Shootings at schools across the country has continued. Again, we had jackasses like Dr. Phil and Joe Scarbourgh on television getting on their pulpits to blame video games, movies, and music. Been there, done that. I am watching Rambo right now, and I don’t want to kill anyone. I do have an urge to join the Marines though…

Bullets

The fight over gun control has been a political issue in America for generations. My own kin have long developed a concept that gun control only keeps the weapons away from the poor, so that the government can oppress them. However, this has not lead the particular kin in question to actually purchase a firearm. For me, guns could vanish and my life would not change. For millions of Americans, they would cry to the heavens that they have been wronged in a way that would destroy their lifestyles. Fine enough. We all live in a fear based society anyway. My take is that we should do more to raise the price of bullets. Would today’s massacre have been prevented if an 8mm clip of 19 was $25,000? I think so.

My students questioned me at length the past few weeks when the topic of gun control fell nicely into the curriculum. I gave them the bullet hypothesis and watched as their minds were blown. I explained that I had no problem with guns, just the bullets. The bullets would destroy the lives of millions in our life time. I was inundated with responses. “What about the sport of hunting?” “What about the 2nd amendment?” “Mr. Prez, you are a dirty hippie!”(said in Jest) “Where are your Birkenstocks?” “Your right” “Go drive a hybrid”. “My father is in the NRA” ‘I was shot by my brother”.

My response, “I love death metal, and thus I can’t be a hippie.” I added “Well the Birks are out of the closet,and the Hybrid will be purchased by 2025 when I can afford one.” (Now that is Teacher of the Year material).
Next time I will expose them to the Downing Street Memo. They will think up is down.

Now, it is time we check this out, and learn to stop the senseless violence in this country and around the world.

This particular speech seemed very apropos today.

Strength and Honor....

Does Anyone Remember Laughter?

As is his tendency when he is up late grading, The Prez's mind wanders. Tonight he has decided to take a famous song and literally interpret it's lyrics to fit some of his opinions on the news of the day. Why not go with the greatest song ever composed....


There's a lady who's sure,
All that glitters is gold

This is Doc Rivers. Mr. Optimistic. He is overseeing the worst Celtics team in the history of the franchise, but he believes karma is aligning to allow him a shot at Oden or Durant. If we end up with the #3 pick in the draft I am going to vomit. Somehow, Doc will still be able be optimistic, or he will leave.

There's a sign on the wall,
But she wants to be sure

This is Teddy Bruschi. He has lost two steps in the past 18 months. IF he retires now he is a legend in New England forever and will probably end up in the Hall of Fame. If he ends hanging on one a season or two more, the Hall of Fame may allude him.

There's a songbird who sings,
Sometimes all of our thoughts are misgiven.
Ooh, it makes me wonder,

This is Jane Fonda. Didn’t she have to apologize for hanging out with and rooting on the VietCong? This lady is like a cancer to the anti-war movement. You know what? …She is the Terrell Owens of the anti-war movement. Jane Fonda and T.O. in the same sentence...Ugh I just puked…..

In my thoughts I have seen,
Rings of smoke through the trees,

This is the firefighters, the most blue collar workers in America. I am going through “Rescue Me” withdrawal big time...


And it's whispered that soon,
If we all call the tune,
Then the piper will lead us to reason.

Now I have always thought this a call for revolution, and that I was the Piper. But I am also an egomaniac. However, I am increasingly thinking that these are actually better reflective of the ideas exhibited in people directing the religious Terrorist Organizations all over the globe. I have been surfing the web allot late into the evening (Looking for Morpheus…) and have come across stuff that just makes me sad. I wish I could boil Extremism down to a mental illness, but I can’t. It plays into the deepest of our animal instinct, and it will destroy all that we know and love before this is over.

Yes, there are two paths you can go by,
But in the long run,
There's still time to change the road you're on.

To every educator in America. We are playing for the Kansas City Royals and being told to win the World Series this year. The contradictions that exist between federal/legal mandates and practical application in our decaying schools across this country may already be enough to force me to go forth with Operation Dewey Decimal.

Dear lady, can you hear the wind blow,
And did you know,
Your stairway lies on the whispering wind.

To the President of Iran and the clear forcast for the return of brinksmanship Neo Con Stizzyle (Which is like regular brinksmanship, but with an actual complete desire to start a war and drop the an H-bomb while they are still in power). We have Switchgrass and Coal. Get ready for America to unleash hell Thermonuclear style on you.

And if you listen very hard,
The tune will come to you at last.
When all are one and one is all To be a rock and not to roll.

The reason we all can still be optimistic with life right now. The DH is still the greatest rule adaptation to ever happen in professional sports, and the Boston Red Sox have a DH named David Ortiz who is an absolute monster.

Strength and Honor Comrades….