Wooden Ships

This kind of ship is best, man. Look how majestic and "supreme" this watercraft is.

Very, that's how. So yeah, ships made of wood - epic pioneering explorers, conquistadores, cartographers, tradesmen - at one point in history, going around the world in these babies. Such wonderful examples of technology (for the time) and craftsmanship (timeless). Beautiful. I would love to take a "voyage" on one someday.

Anyways, Listen to this song:

Crosby, Stills & Nash - Wooden Ships


Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young) are cool as shit. Listen to this amazing song, these guys were right on the money. This is what a REAL supergroup does. These guys were part of The Hollies, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, and of course, Neil Fucking Young. This track doesn't have him on it though. The first CSN "compilation" record So Far hit the #1 spot on the US charts, so I dunno... just listen to that or something.

Anyways, if you're not already listening to CSN regularly, its probably a good idea to start.

Heavy Metal: A Step Beyond Science Fiction

I just couldn't wait for Luxury Wolf to get around to posting this. He'd do a better job, but he's... I dunno, dead or something. Anyways, here's the skinny.

Heavy Metal was a series of Science Fiction comic magazines released in the 70's. They were a smattering of highly outlandish, violent, sexual, (often all three) short stories which would've appealed directly to people like Ringo, Lux and Myself - if we were about 20 years older. I still really want to read some.

Heavy Metal has published works by H.R. Giger and Esteban Maroto, and also included a graphic version of Milton's epic 1667 poem "Paradise Lost" in an issue. It was also adapted into an animated movie. Throw the theme song on (its by The Eagles' Don Felder), its amazing:

Don Felder - Heavy Metal (Takin' A Ride)



Boom. So this movie was where the Canadians were "at" in 1981. They couldn't be more awesome. So yeah, the movie was set up much like an issue of the magazine. There are 9 short stories, each of them based around the concept that a ball of "pure evil" has landed on some planet (possibly Earth, I can't remember) and is fucking up all these different kinds of crazy civilizations. One of them as you can see, has big-breasted warrior women who ride around on Pterodactyls.

Just take it at face value, man. As if you don't want to see this film right now!?

Trans Am!

Imagine you're behind the wheel of this badass fucking car. Seriously, just imagine it, proud owner of this glorious Pontiac Trans Am. Look at the decal on the hood, that amazing gold striping, the incredible shiny black exterior.... What an incredible car.

Now turn the stereo volume up on this, motherfucker.

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Free Bird


You're now the coolest man to ever exist. I'd change my name to "Brock Razorskull", and name my new Trans Am something awesome like "Death's Whisper". Yeah.

Guys, Cheap Trick!

Hey, so chalk Cheap Trick down to being one of the greatest "oh... THAT song!" bands ever. Nobody really seems to remember the fact that they strung together 5 pretty fucking solid hits during their time (their "heyday" was around '74 - '88). They're also pretty well known for 4 decades of near-continuous touring.

They're still playing now, actually. Just incredibly well tightened, cheesy powerful pop-rock. Anyways, If I played you any of their charting songs, you'd recognize them... But here's my personal favourite:

Cheap Trick - Dream Police


Man, isn't that just the "essence" of Rock N' Roll for that period? Just such a simple chord arrangement and a pure, simple melody. So melody driven. So rad.

Total Badasses: Roy Orbison

Roy Orbison is, in my opinion - perhaps a little under-appreciated by the youth of today. In the early '60s, most male musicians put forth a macho, masculine persona. Orbison instead portrayed a quiet, desperate, lonely character.

He nailed it on most occasions, too - with some huge hits in "I Drove All Night", "Oh, Pretty Woman", and "Only The Lonely". Great tracks, absolutely timeless. Plus, he just looks and sings like a fucking badass. What woman wouldn't swoon over THIS guy?:


Timeless. Here's my favourite track of Roy's, the very last single he released before his heart-attack and subsequent death in 1988. For some reason the idea he died shortly after, makes this song all the more tender. :)

Roy Orbison - You Got It

[mp3]


For more Total Badasses, go here.

Those Summer Nights....

Its official, I miss the summer. Not for those horrible blisteringly dry days, but for the amazing nights. Just perfect setting for sitting outside enjoying the warm darkness. So great. The imagery that goes along with "hot summer nights", and all of that Miami nightlife scene is just awesome. Check out that classic sunset, so 80's and brilliant.

Really, i just want an excuse to "wear a shirt with the buttons mostly undone".

And ride this around:



Yeah man, I'd own on that thing, I wouldn't wear a helmet, either... Unless it had some sort of naked woman on it. Also, I'd be listening to this:

ABBA - Summer Night City

Total Badasses: Steely Dan

Generally I would be reluctant to put a '70s musical act (that isn't KISS) in the "Total Badasses" series, but I feel Steely Dan have a case to be made for it. First off, listen to this amazing, smooth track:

Steely Dan - Do It Again

[mp3]

The duo were bastards, apparently. Incredible perfectionists, and huge on "doing it right or not doing it at all" in the studio. I think they tore through 11 engineers and like 40 session musicians, or something, before finishing their final album before breaking up. Eventually they got back together and toured (they were mostly-studio-based prior to this) and got incredible press for their live show.

Also, they're named after a strap-on dildo. That's a terrifyingly awesome thing to name your band after. Especially when they sound like this ^^. Fuck yeah!

For more total badasses, click here.

Mystic Cave Zone #2

Ok, so we're revisiting this post. I mentioned that the music in the Mystic Cave Zone, from "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" on Sega Genesis/Megadrive - owns ass. It does.


[mp3]

Aw, hell yeah.