Silversun Pickups - Carnavas

I was introduced to the Silversun Pickups fairly recently. After I started the blog, so sometime in 2010. These guys are an indie rock band from the Los Angeles area in California. They got a pretty slow start back in 2002 or so. They were calling themselves 'A Couple Of Couples' back then, and playing small shows in that area. They changed their name based on a liquor store near where they lived at the time. This album dropped in 2006 - and that's when they started to blow up a bit. They did a lot of touring with rock group Wolfmother, and saw a solid following. Then they decided to tour across the pond, and then they made it. If you ever open for Foo Fighters overseas, you're going to get a HUGE audience. Foo Fighters over there are just gigantic for some reason. Never did figure that out. They've made a lot of pop culture cameos too. You can find their music in a variety of movies, tv shows and video games. Style wise, they use a lot of guitar distortion - and I'd maybe put them in a similar style as the Pixies. Their vocal is a little cleaner though, which is I suppose why some people put them in a pop genre. I disagree with that though - as I'd roll with Indie Rock all the way. There isn't a whole lot to not enjoy with this album. Maybe my only complaint would be it isn't longer. It's only 11 tracks, and I'd love to have listened to 15. This album is arranged perfectly and flows so well. Not a solid seller by any means, so check this out today and pick it up if you love it. They've dropped another album since this, and I'll check that out soon too. Until that day - bring on the Pickups!

TRACK LISTING:
1. Melatonin
2. Well Thought Out Twinkles
3. Checkered Floor
4. Little Lover's So Polite
5. Future Foe Scenarios
6. Waste It On
7. Lazy Eye
8. Rusted Wheel
9. Dream at Tempo 119
10. Three Seed
11. Common Reactor

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Lazy Eye
2. Little Lover's So Polite
3. Rusted Wheel

FINAL RATING:
3.75 out of 5 stars

Alanis Morissette - Jagged Little Pill

First and foremost, my biggest apologies again for yesterday. Not only did I post super late - I also only posted once. That is the first time in the history of the B Side that I only got to one post. Shouldn't be happening again any time soon. I promise. Anyways, Alanis. If you're approximately my age, you heard this growing up. And you heard almost every track off of it. It was huge. Alanis is Canadian, so naturally you'd think her giant album would sell more copies over there than in the US. Then you'd look at the Canadian sales for this record, see it's a beautiful 12x platinum, then you'd be certain it outsold there. But curiosity gets the best of you - and you look up the US sales anyway. Boom! 16x Platinum in the states. That's a huge number. For the women, I think she was an inspiration of sorts. She was very vocal, outspoken and seemed to be very powerful. When 'You Oughta Know' came out over the radio, what a powerful song - and an anthem for a few women I knew at the time. For guys, I think even though she's not traditionally "hot" by others' standards, she had that rockstar hotness quality to her. Enough that men weren't afraid to admit they bought the album. You wouldn't have been saying the same thing about Britney - maybe make nasty remarks about what you'd do alone in a room with her, but never say you bought 'Baby..One More Time'. I don't think I need to get into her style, because like I said, you had to have heard this a billion times. And going back on it today - 15 years later - it's still good. I don't know much by her before or after this, but I'll check it out sometime. I'm going to listen to this all day today in tribute, you should too.

TRACK LISTING:
1. All I Really Want
2. You Oughta Know
3. Perfect
4. Hand in My Pocket
5. Right Through You
6. Forgiven
7. You Learn
8. Head over Feet
9. Mary Jane
10. Ironic
11. Not the Doctor
12. Wake Up
13. You Oughta Know (Alternate Take)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. You Oughta Know (Alt Take - because of the SICK bonus track)
2. Head Over Feet
3. Ironic

FINAL RATING:
4 out of 5 stars

Kid Cudi - Man On The Moon 2: The Legend Of Mr. Rager

HUGE apologies to my B Siders today. It's 11am or so central time and I'm finally getting to review some music. Needless to say, it's been a super busy day so far for me. Heidi didn't have time to write something up for you guys this morning either, so here I go. I knew Cudi was dropping this today anyway, so I knew what I was getting into. I reviewed his original Man On The Moon record quite a long time ago, and gave it a very favorable review. I think Cudi is one of the most fresh up and coming rappers out there. For my money, his flow and lyrics are a TON better than Drake. This album is a little different, as it's not just a concept type album, this really goes into a story detail. After his success with last years drop, he went into a bit of a tailspin. This album - is in fact that story. How he reached the fame and fell victim to a young person getting huge in the industry. I think it's really well done. The singles off this record so far have been 'Erase Me' and then 'Mr. Rager' - which are both okay tracks, but maybe not the best. The problem with some of the songs, they can't be played on the radio. Not without really censoring them hardcore. I don't think Cudi wants that. I'm not sure yet if the change in attitude on this album is for the better though. While I think it's a great concept and I love when rappers tell a true story - this has a drastically different feel to it. I loved the original, and I'm having trouble finding tracks that I'll really identify with. I think I'd have to listen to this start to finish every time, and in today's single world, that's hard to do. I've even gotten sick of Erase Me, and I loved that song a couple months ago. Time will tell I guess.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Scott Mescudi Vs. The World
2. REVOFEV
3. Don't Play This Song
4. We Aite (Wake Your Mind Up)
5. Marijuana
6. Mojo So Dope
7. Ashin' Kusher
8. Erase Me [Main]
9. Wild'n Cuz I'm Young
10. Mood, The
11. MANIAC
12. Mr. Rager
13. These Worries
14. End, The
15. All Along
16. GHOST!
17. Trapped In My Mind

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Wild'n Cuz I'm Young
2. Marijuana
3. Erase Me

FINAL RATING:
3 out of 5 stars (on first impression)

Marshall Tucker Band - Self Titled

Classic review day was almost not going to happen. It fought me through and through today. Every band I wanted to review didn't link any samples. Brutal! Finally I got to Marshall Tucker Band - and one of my favorite classic songs ever - 'Can't You See'. If you haven't heard this track, I promise you'll love it. But my guess, is at some point in your life you have, maybe without knowing it. Way back in 1972 a few fellas from South Carolina got together and started jamming. Their style is a blend of rock, blues, gospel, jazz and a little country. Mixed together it goes down smooth. You might be led to believe someone named Marshall Tucker is in the band. Well my friend, you couldn't be any more wrong. They were sitting in a warehouse where they practiced trying to come up with a band name. Someone looked down at the warehouse key, and had Marshall Tucker inscribed on it. They were later informed that he was a local piano tuner - that had rented the space before the band did. The owner just never got around to making a new key. If I was a betting man, I'd guess Mr. Tucker was pretty excited to have his name grace a band for no reason. They have never stopped over the years either. They still put on a solid number of shows around the US to this day. They even had a studio release back in 2004. That's almost 40 years of playing and making new music. Pretty cool. I'm not super familiar with the rest of their catalog, but I enjoy this album. It's different. Unlike a lot that was coming out in the 70's. If not even just for the one track, this is totally worth checking out today.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Take the Highway
2. Can't You See
3. Losing You
4. Hillbilly Band
5. See You Later, I'm Gone
6. Ramblin'
7. My Jesus Told Me So
8. AB's Song
9. Everyday (I Have the Blues) (Bonus Track)

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Can't You See
2. Take The Highway
3. Hillbilly Band

FINAL RATING:
3.5 out of 5 stars

Savage Garden - Self Titled

I'm in a rockin' good mood for it being a Monday. Took a trip down to West Lafayette to see the Wisconsin Badgers take care of Purdue - and watched the Packers destroy the Cowboys last night. Makes waking up on Monday a little easier. Speaking of mood though, the definition of mood music might be Savage Garden. Follower Ashley asked me to get to these guys - so here we go. The band consists of two men from Australia that started making music back in 1993 or so. This album was their first ever studio release in 1997. It couldn't have gone much better - as it sold a righteous 12x platinum down under and then a solid 7x here in the states. Really nice sales for a debut drop. All that success and love was very short lived, as the band decided to take a break in late 2000. At first, it was just a hiatus to start some solo projects - but in mid 2001 it was decided that they were done for good. Kind of a shame I suppose, as I'm a sucker for a good mood track. Everyone knows they've had a few solid hits over the years. I did my best to remove myself from any Savage Garden for the longest time. Why you ask? Because my sister used to play 'Truly Madly Deeply' OVER AND OVER AND OVER in the morning while getting ready for school. I was trying to sleep - and she's have it cranked to 11. I promise anyone can only hear that song 5 or 6 hundred times in a row before you want to commit a crime. Looking back on the track now, it's pretty good. This album as a whole is again, pretty good. Not great, but has its moments. Worth checking out today, especially if you're in that slow jams mode. Happy Monday!

TRACK LISTING:
1. To the Moon & Back
2. I Want You
3. Truly Madly Deeply
4. Tears of Pearls
5. Universe
6. Carry on Dancing
7. Violet
8. Break Me Shake Me
9. Thousand Words, A
10. Promises
11. Santa Monica

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Truly Madly Deeply
2. I Want You
3. Universe

FINAL RATING:
3.25 out of 5 stars

B Side Presents, "Friday Gut Check - Shove Dollars In Your Ears"

It was asked of me recently to run through some of my least favorite albums ever. And at first, I thought - oh, okay. That'll be easy right? So turns out - there is a TON of really bad music out there. I'm not even talking about music that I don't particularly groove on - I'm talking about bands that I love, that missed a step with an album or two. For example, I love STP - you couldn't pay me to listen to Shangri-Ladi-Da. It's bad. Real bad.

So to make this list more fair, more appropriate - I've decided to document the worst 'best selling' albums of all time. The criteria for me is, these albums had to have sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. Yeah, that's 2-0 and then MILLION. And you're thinking - jeez B Side, how can a record sell that many copies and be bad? Wait and see my friend, wait and see. Now of course, these artists couldn't care less, as like my title indicates they'll just count the money. I've learned, that if I'm busy counting hundred dollar bills, the rest of the world is tuned out.

So here they are, in order in which they sold - least sales to most.


5. Billy Ray Cyrus - Some Gave All: You might notice that a lot of these albums coming forth are big time sellers due to one track. This record might be the definition of one hit wonder. Achy Breaky Heart, not a great song, very iconic. This album sold 20 million, right on the threshold. This album is bad. He covers 'These Boots Are Made For Walkin'. Seriously? That's a great song done by a woman - made for women. Stay out of it Billy. Please, don't listen to this!


4. Ace Of Base - Happy Nation/The Sign: So these albums are really the same thing. Labeled different sold the same, blah blah blah. Either way, it sold 23 million copies. Sit back and really listen to Ace of Base. Go ahead, I'll wait. ..... ..... Yeah, that's what I thought.


3. Santana - Supernatural: Okay, I love Santana. Top 5 best guitar men of all time. This album though - big time miss. 27 million copies. Huh, how strange. I must have heard Rob Thomas's 'Smooth' about 27 million times too. Oh, what's that? I also heard "Maria Maria" 24 million times? Oh wait, both songs are bad? I see a recipe for disaster here. If you can still tolerate this record, kudos.


2. Bee Gees - Spirits Having Flown: Yeah, no one really likes the Bee Gees. Contrary to what Wayne had to say in Waynes World. You might be lead to believe 'Stayin' Alive' or a huge single was on this album - nope. Just 10 tracks of basic garbage. Oh, and a grown man singing in way to high of a key. That didn't stop it from selling a ghastly 30 million.


1. Celine Dion - Falling Into You: Was there ever any real doubt? I mean, who ACTUALLY enjoys listening to her? I'll give you the 'Titanic' song. Even if you really hate that song but love the movie - fine. I'll give you that one track. The music, the cover art - it all makes me want to barf. 31 MILLION copies. This dropped in 1996 - and let's say conservatively this was 10 bucks. Almost a billion dollars??? Are you kidding me? I'm going to fly to Vegas, ask her to borrow a few million - she can spare it. WAIT!! She also covers ALL BY MYSELF! What a joke!

As always B Siders, let me know what I missed! I know this is a really broad spectrum - so even if you have a terrible album that didn't sell, let's hear it. I'll do that list sometime too!

Usher - Versus

Country and pop both in the same day?!?! Have I lost my marbles? Nope, it's just what came across my headphones today. When I review pop, I try to grab the hottest artist of the moment. (if I do current pop) And right now, Usher is on a really solid run. Back when I first started the blog, Usher dropped Raymond vs Raymond. That was in March or so. When I reviewed that, I recall mentioning something about the label flowing singles off that record too quickly, and that the sales would diminish after the singles stopped. Well - little did I know - they had an EP right around the corner to follow it up! EP = Extended Play for those who may not know. In the pop world, EP means a follow up to an album of tracks that maybe didn't make the original CD - or a way to generate smaller buzz after an album. In rap terms, and EP is usually a mixtape that generates buzz for an upcoming album. Slightly different. But all in all for Usher, this means he's been clogging the radio airwaves for a good 8 months now. I don't have specific issue with this, other than what he says the subject matter what about. He says it was an album exploring his life and newly single father. This album has nothing to do with that. He also put 'There Goes My Baby' on this again - which can be found on Raymond vs Raymond in the exact same form. That's lazy. Otherwise, I think Usher is also trying to appeal more to the hip hop crowd again - which is a bad move. His bread and butter is clearly in the pop area. Not many rap die hards take him seriously. Just sayin'. Anyway, this is mediocre - but worth a listen. 3 of the 9 tracks here will be (and already are) huge singles. I'd pay 4 dollars for it - that's all it's worth.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Love 'Em All
2. DJ Got Us Fallin' In Love
3. Hot Tottie
4. Lay You Down
5. Lingerie
6. There Goes My Baby
7. Get In My Car
8. Somebody To Love (Remix)
9. Stranger

Listen To Samples

Top 3 Tracks:
1. Hot Tottie
2. DJ Got Us Fallin In Love
3. There Goes My Baby (liked it last time, like it this time)

FINAL RATING:
2.5 out of 5 stars