#26 Punk Rock Friday

#25 That's some serious Dan Brown shit

I ran into an article on Cracked (yes the best website in the world!) on how Da Vinci's 'Last Supper' supposedly has a secret hidden musical arrangement.

Sounds like some serious Dan Brown shit huh?
Well by drawing a five line musical staff across the painting, the deliciously looking bread rolls, held by the characters in the painting become musical notes.
Now play those from right to left (because that's how Da Vince wrote) and in a 3/4 time pattern (because the characters are grouped in 3's, there are 3 windows behind Jesus and because 3 is the magic number) and you have an actual melody that makes sense.

Curious?

#24 Nike: Master Accuracy. Hit the Target

Music: Jump - 16 bit

#23 Beatles Tributes - Part 1

Not a band in the world has had more recorded tributes payed to them then the Beatles. The numbers are way up there in the 100's. Ranging from bands that try to sound exactly like the Beatles, to bands that try to sound like anything but the Beatles (and as I write this I wonder what is weirder).
There's honest tributes that do the songs justice to tributes that should be considered statutory rape. Here's a first selection with five tributes I came across recently.



1. The Woofers & Tweeters Ensemble - Beatle Barkers
I guess this is what you'd call: a carefully thought out bad idea. One that resulted in an incredibly unlistenable album of Beatles covers performed by dogs.
The instrumentation on the record is pretty much kept the same but all vocal parts are replaced by pitched barking sounds. For flavor the responsible people (although not a living human being is taking responsibility on the sleeve) added cats meowing and random barnyard sounds.

My personal favorite: Hard Day's Night a great duet between sheep and dogs.


Tracklist:
1. I Wanna Hold Your Hand
2. Love Me Do
3. Ob La Di Ob La Da
4. We Can Work It Out
5. I Saw Her Standing There
6. I Feel Fine
7. Can't Buy Me Love
8. All My Loving
9. Day Tripper
10. She Loves You
11. A Hard Day's Night
12. Paperback Writer

Download - Buy





2. Count Basie - Basie's Beatle Bag
The Count and his Orchestra bring exactly what you'd expect the Count and his Orchestra to bring: Swing versions of Beatles songs.
Basie in his life did two records with songs of the Fab Four and this is the first one from 1966. Overall this is a pretty great record and I especially like 'I Wanna Be Your Man'. The band seems to have trouble starting up but halfway in they rock the track full throttle.



Tracklist:
1. Help!
2. Can't Buy Me Love
3. Michelle
4. I Wanna Be Your Man
5. Do You Want to Know a Secret
6. A Hard Day's Night
7. All My Loving
8. Yesterday
9. And I Love Her
10. Hold Me Tight
11. She Loves You
12. Kansas City" (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller)

Download - Buy





3. Beatallica - Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band
What do you do if you want to start up a tribute band, but both the singer and drummer want to start a Metallica tribute band while the bass and guitar player opt for The Beatles?
Right! You start up a band that mashes up the songs of the Beatles with the sound of Metallica and re-write both of the band's lyrics so they become funny. The band off course you call: Beatallica.

Beatallica was founded in 2001 and they're still around these days. Internet research tells me they're not doing bad either. Beatallica has played shows all over the world and they've recorded numerous full length albums and EP's.

Interesting fact number 1: In 2005 Sony ATV, the publishing company that own the rights to the Beatles songs where not amused. They send out a cease-and-desist notice to the band and threatened to sue.
The band was saved from legal action by Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, who offered assistance with legal negotiations and had Metallica's attorney defuse the situation with Sony. Bet you didn't see that one coming from Lars.

Interesting fact number 2: The singer sound just like James Hetfield.

Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band is Beatallica's first official release.

Tracklist:
1. Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band
2. Revol-Ooh-Tion
3. Blackened The U.S.S.R.
4. Sandman
5. Helvester Of Skelter
6. Garage Dayz Nite, A
7. Anestesia (I'm Only Sleeping)
8. Leper Madonna
9. Ktulu (He's So Heavy)
10. For Horsemen
11. Hey Dude
12. Sgt. Hetfield's - (Reprise)
13. And Justice For All My Loving

Download - Buy





4.Butchering the Beatles: A Headbashing Tribute
Devilhorns up! This record features over 50 international heavy-metal-heavy-weights. Alice Cooper is there, Lemmy Killmister, Billy Idol, Duff from G 'n R and over 46 more heavy metalists most people have never heard of.

Butchering the Beatles is a full-on metal hommage to the guys from Liverpool. The songs structures are pretty much left intact. Every guitar lick however, has been lengthened to sometime 8-times it's original size to make room for some serious ejaculatory solo-ing. But hey:

THAT'S METAL!



Tracklist:
1. Hey Bulldog - Alice Cooper, vox; Steve Vai, guitars; Duff McKagen (Velvet Revolver / Guns N Roses), bass; Mikkey Dee (Motorhead), drums


2. Back In The USSR - Lemmy Kilmister (Motorhead), vox/bass; John5 (Marilyn Manson / Rob Zombie), guitars; Eric Singer (Kiss / Alice Cooper), drums
3. Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Geoff Tate (Queensryche), vox; Michael Wilton (Queensryche), guitar; Craig Goldy (Dio), guitar; Rudy Sarzo (Dio), bass; Simon Wright (Dio), drums; Scott Warren (Dio), keys


4. Tomorrow Never Knows - Billy Idol, vox; Steve Stevens (Billy Idol), guitars; Blasko (Ozzy Osbourne), bass; Brian Tichy (Billy Idol), drums


5. Magical Mystery Tour - Jeff Scott Soto (Yngwie Malmsteen / Soul Sirkus), vox; Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force / Alcatrazz), lead guitar; Bob Kulick, (Meat Loaf / Paul Stanley Band), rhythm guitar; Jeff Pilson (Dokken / Foreigner), bass; Frankie Banali (Wasp / Quiet Riot), drums


6. Revolution - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top), vox / guitar; Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard), guitar; Mike Porcaro (Toto), bass; Gregg Bisonnette (David Lee Roth / Ringo Starr Band), drums; Joseph Fazzio (Superjoint Ritual), drums


7. Day Tripper - Jack Blades (Night Ranger / Damn Yankees), vox; Tommy Shaw (Styx / Damn Yankees), vox; Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake / Dio), guitars; Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake / Thin Lizzy), bass; Virgil Donati (Steve Vai / Soul Sirkus / Planet X), drums


8. I Feel Fine - John Bush (Anthrax), vox; Stephen Carpenter (Deftones), guitar; Mike Inez (Ozzy Osbourne / Alice In Chains), bass; John Tempesta (The Cult / Testament), drums


9. Taxman - Doug Pinnick (Kings X), vox; Steve Lukather (Toto), guitar; Tony Levin (John Lennon / Peter Gabriel), bass; Steve Ferrone (Eric Clapton / Tom Petty), drums


10. I Saw Her Standing There - John Corabi (Motley Crue), vox; Phil Campbell (Motorhead), guitar; C.C. Deville (Poison), guitar; Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), bass; Kenny Aronoff (Smashing Pumpkins / Jon Bon Jovi), drums


11. Hey Jude - Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest / Iced Earth), vox; George Lynch (Dokken / Lynch Mob), guitar; Bob Kulick (Meat Loaf / Paul Stanley Band), rhythm guitar; Tim Bogert (Vanilla Fudge / Beck / Bogert & Appice), bass; Chris Slade (AC/DC), drums


12. Drive My Car - Kip Winger (Winger), vox; Bruce Kulick (Kiss / Grand Funk), guitar; Tony Franklin (The Firm / Whitesnake), bass; Aynsley Dunbar (Whitesnake / Journey), drums

Download - Buy





5. Cello Submarine - 12 Cellists Of The Berlin Philharmonic
The almighty internet claims that The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the greatest orchestra's in the universe. Ergo their cello section is one of the best cello sections of the universe as well. If you're wondering what'll happen if the best cello section of one of the greatest orchestra's in the world is playing the most awesome songs of the greatest music group since eternity I suggest you hit the download link. Go!



Tracklist:
1. Yellow Submarine
2. Let It Be
3. Something
4. Fool on the Hill
5. Help!
6. Yesterday
7. Michelle
8. Hard Day's Night
9. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
10. Here, There and Everywhere
11. Can't Buy Me Love
12. Hey Jude

Download - Buy

#22 Random Linkage

- Cracked on the origins of the acoustic guitar
- Understand Rap, we all should
- You know the 90's are back if Cap'n Jazz reunites
- The first Beatles release on itunes. You'll have to make the music yourself though
- Chinese government bans vulgar language in Karaoke bars

#21 Charting The Beatles

My part time Beatlemaniac and full time head of infographics at NRC / friend Marien Nicotine send me a link to a project called "Charting the Beatles". A website dedicated to the visualization of the music of the Beatles.

The image pictured above shows you an in depth graph on the songwriting contribution within the band. More stats and graphs on self reference and song keys here.

#20 Punkrock Friday

#19 Heavy Metal for Football

Wieden+Kennedy New York launches heavy metal band The Group of Death to Support ESPN's 2010 world cup coverage.
Pretty funny!

#18 Franz Ferdinand and the rest of the world work for Dior.

To promote their new handbags, Dior hired a whole bunch of people and spend a whole lot of money for a series of commercials. Their latest installment "Lady Dior, Lady Rouge" features french Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard who performs a "Le Chanson" called The Eyes Of Mars, that is written by and performed with the lads of Franz Ferdinand.

Speaking of "French" Ferdinand, they're also said to do a remake of the Lobster Quadrille for Tim Burtons upcoming 3-D wet dream Alice in Wonderland.

I love the French!

#17 Random Linkage

- Billy Gorgan and Jessica Simpson are dating.
- R.I.P. Bobby Charles.
- R.I.P. Teddy Pendergrass.
- R.I.P. Carl "Mr. Country" Smith.

#16 The Gap, Daft Punk and Juliette Lewis

A great golden oldie. The Daft Punk robots dancing with Juliette Lewis for a Gap commercial.

#15 Bongo Rock pt. 2

Last weekends Noorderslag was amazing. My head is still pounding though.

Here's a clip of the Madd featuring yours truly, taken from Dutch television.

#14 Bongo Rock

Tonight the Uncrowned Rotterdam Bongo King a.k.a. me will be bongo'ing away with 60's beat heroes, The Madd. We play at the Noorderslag festival in Groningen, 19.45 at Heineken Foyer... guess what I'll be drinking tonight.

You know who's also quite a bongo player? Preston Epps...

#13 Izio Commercial

New Izio Commercial by Dawn directed by Bram Schouw music by Michiel Marsman & Niels Geusebroek and your friends at Sizzer Amsterdam.

#12 Punk Rock Friday

#11 Jay Reatard R.I.P.

Sad news:
Garage rocker Jimmy Jay Lindsey Jr, better known as Jay Reatard, passed away last night in his Memphis home. Jay Reatard died in his sleep at the age of 29. More details are forthcoming.

Jay Reatard played in about one million bands. The past couple of years Jay Reatard toured and recorded with his solo project. I saw and played with him in 2007 when my old band The Quotes opened up for them at the Patronaat in Haarlem.
Their set was simply put brilliant. Brutal, tight and rocking while breaking some ear drums here and there.

Jay will be missed. R.I.P.

#10 Honda Civic - Battles- Atlas

#9 Random Linkage

- Beatles Yellow Submarine in 3D in the make.
- Top 10 whistling songs.
- Ex manager of Ramones murder trial commences.
- Kings of Leon get their own clothing brand. Wu-wear, Rocka-wear, Kings of Leon-a-wear.
- What music genre sings about what body part. Apparently in 23,64% of all Hip Hop tracks, the human "Ass" is serenaded.

#8 My daughter is sick, my wife is sick and you're talking about coupons?

I recently watched the movie Funny People.
In the opening sequence Adam Sandler is doing a prank phone call that reminded me of the legendary kings of prank calling: The Jerky Boys.

The Jerky Boys is/were an American comedy duo from Queens New York, who were on top of the world sometime in the mid nineties doing telephone prank calls and putting them out on records.
They did well for themselves, believe it or not, these guys sold over 8 million records (that's an 8 and 6 zero's), did a couple of commercials and even made a movie entitled Jerky Boys: The Movie in 1995.

Two of my favorite sketches are "Pablo Honey" (where Radio Head took the name from for their first album) and "Terrorist Pizza" in which they scare the shit out a Pizza Guy by threatening to "bomb his place". Both are from the Jerky Boys 2 album. You're welcome!



Tracklist:
1. Pablo Honey
2. Drinking Problem
3. Pet Cobra
4. Sol's Warts
5. Breast Enlargement
6. Roofing
7. Gay Hairdresser
8. Volunteer
9. Terrorist Pizza
10. Pico's Mexican Hairpiece
11. Little Emergency
12. Sparky the Clown
13. Security Service
14. Sol's Nude Beach
15. Diamond Dealer
16. Sol's Naked Photo
17. Mattress King
18. Ball Game Beating
19. Sporting Goods
20. Scaffolding
21. Sex Therapy
22. Sol's Phobia
23. Cremation Services
24. Pizza Lawyer
25. Fava Beans
26. Husband Beating

Download - Buy

#7 Muppets - Bohemian Rhapsody

Via Sehsucht

#6 Random Linkage.

- Jay-Z is one occult motherfucker.
- Scratch that... Jay-Z apparently is Satan himself.
- A History Channel Documentary from the future: Beatles 3000.

#5 Punk Rock Friday

#4: Problem Comparison: Tiger Woods vs. Jay-Z

Via Niels Post.

#3: Merry Fucking Christmas or What Can You Get a Wookiee for Christmas (When He Already Owns a Comb?)

For this years Sizzer Christmas greeting we decided to create a Christmas jukebox with a playlist consisting of the bad, the bold, the crazy and the weird.
To put it in other words we made a Christmas compilation mainly, Paul McCartney's “Simply Having A wonderful Christmas Time” should be on every compilation, compiled of songs one does not hear on your average radio station.

Searching for these songs was quite an interesting process since nothing in the world has created more novelty tracks then Christmas. One particular recording really stood out for me though, one that's ententitled "Christmas in the Stars" recorded by the complete Star Wars cast.
You see… 20th Century Fox had such low expectations of Star Wars they let George Lucas keep the rights to any sequels, music and merchandise. This led to an uncalled for amount of lunch boxes, action figures, cups, apparel, kitchen items and other memorabilia with the Star Wars logo slapped on them.

In 1978 the Star Wars franchise created a 2 hour Holiday Special. In this Holiday special Han Solo and Chewbacca visit the planet Kashyyyk, Chewbacca's home world, to celebrate Life Day (which I guess is Wookie Christmas) with Chewie’s hairy family.

No matter how bad the Holiday Special was received it didn't stop Lucas to make aforementioned Christmas album two years later.
If you thought The Phantom Manace was bad and you deiced to spend two hours of your life on the Star Wars Holiday Special, trust me it gets interestingly worse with this record.

R2-D2 duets with C-3PO, there are horrible children's choirs are all over the place and aliens seems to randomly pop up in recordings.

Alongside the Star Wars cast this album is notable for featuring the first professional recording of a 17 year old John Bongliovi, who sings lead vocals on the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas."
This man soon became famous under his stagename... Jon Bon Jovi spawning a whole new galaxy of hairy badness.

Thank you George Lucas.

01 Christmas In The Stars (3:19)
02 Bells, Bells, Bells (3:13)
03 The Odds Against Christmas (3:03)
04 What Can You Get A Wookiee For Christmas (When He Already Owns A Comb?) (3:23)
05 R2D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas (3:14)
06 Sleigh Ride (3:36)
07 Merry, Merry Christmas (2:38)
08 A Christmas Sighting ('Twas The Night Before Christmas) (4:07)
09 The Meaning Of Christmas

Download - Buy

#2: It's The End, The End Of The 00's. It's The End, The End Of The Century.

December 31st 2009 the end of an era, or more specific the end of the century.

As a person am quite up to date when it comes to music, however once I was a person that was completely up-to-date when it came to music. I knew why bands were great even before bands themselves knew why they were great and shared this information with my peers.

Soon I realized this staying on top of things like this really takes up way to much time quite impossible to also delve into the previous 60 years of pop music.

I now live by a very simple philosophy: "I'll hear later on what was good or not!" and the best way of doing that is by the end-of-the-year-music-lists (or in this case the end-of-the-century-music-lists). I am especially quite fond of the list that on-line super-mag Pitchfork provides us. After definitive lists such as the 200 greatest songs of the 1960 and Africa 100, The Indistructable Beat they have know canned the 00's and '09 for my and your discovering pleasure.

- Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2009.

- Pitchfork's Top 100 tracks of 2009.

- Pitchfork's top 200 albums of the 2000's.

- Pitchfork's top 500 tracks of the 2000's.

For those of you even lazier then me, my friend DJ Sandeman made a pretty sweet 2009 mix for Dutch blog 3voor12.

#1: Hello World!