Lists

Top Ten Best You Asked For It Songs

By Michael Lopez Thu., May 12 2011 at 2:00 PM
Categories: Lists, You Asked for It
IT_South_Park.jpeg
You Asked For It
​In creating last week's list of the ten worst You Asked For It songs, I found myself thinking, "Well, I better make a list of the ten best songs, too." It's been infinitely more fun to listen to some local music that I actually enjoyed rather than slog through some crappy, shoddily-produced album that made me question my very existence. While it may have been more fun, if you will, to write about those awful albums, it was ultimately a futile exercise.

Like they always say, "If you can't say anything nice, then don't say anything at all." In honor of this most important credo, I now present my list of the top ten best You Asked For It songs.
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JD Stooks, Joey Arroyo Band, Mr. Miranda & Jimmy Nelson, Prophet & The Cowboys of the Apocalypse, Snow Songs, The Father Figures, The Orphanz, The Whisperlights, Tugboat, Underground Cities
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Lists

Top Ten Worst You Asked For It Songs

By Michael Lopez Thu., May 5 2011 at 12:04 PM
Categories: Lists, You Asked for It
Pennywise(1).jpeg
You asked for It
​By my estimations, I've been doing You Asked For It for over a year now -- just about 15 months. In that time, I have come across some really fresh, interesting new music from local, unsigned bands. Those albums have shown me that there is a very solid core of musicians in and around Phoenix/Tempe that just might have what it takes to move on to the next level of their careers. For some that simply means going on an extended tour of the west coast, for others that might mean simply getting signed to a label. Whatever the case may be, I have heard a lot of music that has given me lots of hope for the local music scene.

Conversely, I've also heard far too many painfully awful records in my time at the helm of YAFI. I honestly remember some of the truly terrible albums more than I do the good ones. That's my own sad, masochistic problem, but hey -- why not force my problem on you all and make a list of the ten worst songs in my time as commander-in-chief of YAFI? Join me on a trip down memory lane as I revisit some of the more painful YAFI songs.

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36 Cents and a Dream, Blaine Long, Comfort For Change, Moovayla, Noxious of AZ, Pride of the Garage, Ringo Jones Gang, RoQ'y TyRaid, Sneed Leed, The Earps, You Asked For It
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You Asked for It

The Unlucky 8s: Leave It Be EP

By Michael Lopez Wed., Apr. 20 2011 at 11:04 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
Leave It Be Cover Art.jpeg
The Unlucky 8s - Leave It Be EP
​Artist: The Unlucky 8s

Title: Leave It Be EP

Basics: Well, looks like it's back to some more old guy garage rock for this week's YAFI. Thankfully, these rock bands with decidedly older members know a goddamn thing or two about recording good music, and The Unlucky 8s are no exception. Their sound is self-described as "flavored with dashes of garage and power-pop and the kind of heart-on-their-sleeve lyrics that will haunt you late at night." 

I've been doing YAFI for some time now, but I've yet lose sleep over a lyric that I've heard. Well, maybe a lyric or two from Pride of the Garage's Dan Miles -- but those didn't necessarily make me lose sleep as much as lose some of my sanity.

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Bob Hoag, Ed Masley, Hasten My Surrender, Leave It Be, The Unlucky 8s
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You Asked for It

Stellacutta: Stellacutta EP

By Michael Lopez Fri., Apr. 8 2011 at 8:04 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
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Stellacutta
​Artist: Stellacutta

Title: 2-song self-titled EP, containing the tracks "Schadenfreude" and "Inching The Foot"

Basics: Stellacutta are an young, unsigned 5-piece band from Tempe whose members all study music at Arizona State University. The band describes their current mission as wanting to get the word out about their music, but also -- in a most noble manner -- just sincerely wanting to give people great creative music to listen to.

Well, how about that? Some much-needed humility from an unsigned YAFI band. I wish that was always the case, yet there's always a Fat Tree for that.

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Inching The Foot, Schadenfreude, Stellacutta
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You Asked for It

Covela: Covela EP

By Michael Lopez Thu., Apr. 7 2011 at 8:19 AM
Categories: You Asked for It

covela.jpg
Covela
​Artist: Covela

Title: Covela EP

Basics: Covela basics. 

I kid. Covela is described as having a "driven, melodic rock sound has been paralleled to Paramore, Jimmy Eat World, Muse and The Killers." The comparisons to Paramore make plenty sense as the band plays rock music with a female lead singer -- Sarah Drinkwine. Before I glanced at the band's bio, I had already made my own Paramore deductions. As is the case with many a YAFI band struggling to form an identity, they can easily rely on their talented lead singer to help solidify things. Covela would best suited, then, to hitch their wagons to Drinkwine's talents.

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Tags:

Better, Covela, Sarah Drinkwine, Time
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You Asked for It

Warren L. Jones III - I Imagine So...

By Michael Lopez Wed., Mar. 30 2011 at 7:55 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
IImagineSo.jpeg
Warren L. Jones III - I Imagine So...
​Artist: Warren L. Jones III

Title: I Imagine So...

Basics: What say you to a YAFI first -- at least for my tenure? That's right, I'm talking about some smooth, uncensored jazz. No more pop punk or countrified rock. Just the sweet, dulcet tones of Warren L. Jones III and his supporting cast. 

Jones has a long, impressive history in music, spending 30 years as a professional bassist, composer, clinician and teacher. He is a Jazz Bass performance graduate of the Arizona State University School of Music and was an adjunct faculty member of both the ASU and MCC jazz departments.

Warren L. Jones III, it's safe to say, knows his jazz.

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Tags:

Eureka! Grill, I Imagine So, Indigo Bunting, Warren L. Jones III
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You Asked for It

Third and Maryland: Wednesday

By Michael Lopez Tue., Mar. 29 2011 at 10:02 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
WednesdayMaryland.jpeg
Third and Maryland: Wednesday
​Artist: Third and Maryland

Title: Wednesday

Basics: Billed as "funk-based blues and straight-ahead rock n' roll," Third and Maryland (TAM) play more blues than rock on their first full-length. The majority of the album is stripped-down, mellow rock with a few upbeat tracks bookending everything. This all leads to an unfortunately disjointed effort that feels more like their previously YAFI-reviewed three-song EP with six tracks of filler thrown in for good measure.

Every band likes to have fun with their self-written (I assume) bios on MySpace and Facebook. However, citing Charlie Sheen and "winning" as both influences and bands they like, TAM have taken things to a ridiculously stupid level. Charlie Sheen is an ass. It's not funny anymore. Actually, it was never funny.

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In Just Three Days, Lauren's Song, Third and Maryland, Wednesday
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You Asked for It

Fat Tree: The Great Give & Take

By Michael Lopez Thu., Mar. 24 2011 at 8:04 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
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Fat Tree - The Great Give & Take
​Artist: Fat Tree

Title: The Great Give & Take

Basics: Originally from Alamogordo, New Mexico, Gilbert's Fat Tree are billed as a rock/funk/jam band. Nowhere in there, however, is the descriptor "painfully white," because that's what I can't help but hear when I listen to this album -- a bunch of white dudes trying to play what they call "funk." Furthering this notion, the band has this offer about themselves: 

Every once in a while, a band comes along that restores your faith in the future of popular music. That band needs to get you to bob your head, shake your hips, and close your eyes and take you to that escape from the stresses of your day. Fat Tree is such a band. 

Kidding or not, that is just not funny or quirky or whatever. Nor is it true.

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Alamogordo, Fat Tree, Get Here Soon, Gilbert, Just Us, The Great Give & Take
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You Asked for It

Eddy Detroit: Street Of Dreams Single & Ghetto Cafe EP

By Michael Lopez Wed., Mar. 23 2011 at 10:20 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
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Eddy Detroit - Street of Dreams
​Artist: Eddy Detroit

Title: Street of Dreams & Ghetto Cafe

Basics: Detroit sent us both a 2-song Street of Dreams CD single, if you will, as well as Ghetto Cafe, a 6-song album/EP. The former is from 2010, the latter 2009. Detroit has quite a history in Phoenix - a quick bio on Last.fm reveals this: 

Elusive, exotic rock artist. Collaborated with Sun City Girls' Alan+Richard Bishop on the album 'Immortal Gods' and it is now considered a cult classic. He self released Immortal Gods and another album on his own Pan Records, his final album 'Jungle Captive' was released on Majora in 1997. His records are increasingly hard to find, but he is believed to still be playing today. 

Oh he is still playing today, and his music is just as quirky and irreverent as it ever was.

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Eddy Detroit, Ghetto Cafe, Immortal Gods, Street of Dreams, Sun City Girls, The Bums
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You Asked for It

The Plainfield Butchers: Hard To Be Human

By Michael Lopez Wed., Mar. 16 2011 at 9:04 AM
Categories: You Asked for It
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The Plainfield Butchers - Hard To Be Human
Artist: The Plainfield Butchers

Title: Hard To Be Human

Basics: Billed as "the new project featuring members of Big Vinny and the Cattle Thieves, Digital Leather, Andrew Jackson Jihad, and The Half Empties," The Plainfield Butchers have some impressive experience among their four members. Their debut record Hard To Be Human is a tight tour de force of punk and power pop. The album consists of 10 songs that clock in at just over 22 minutes long. What is not to love about that? 

The Butchers definitely get their money's worth out of those 10 songs, crafting some immensely enjoyable and polished punk.

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Tags:

Hard To Be Human, The Plainfield Butchers, Truckstop Urinal
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