WASU PLAYLIST: BASEBALL 2010

by Alex Mayfield

It is that time of the year. The seats are filled, the lights are on, and it is baseball season. Though some might not be the biggest fans of the sport, it still has great songs tied to it. Certain songs remind us of the times we had watching baseball movies, enjoying games, playing catch, and we here at WASU want to honor America’s Pastime with a great baseball playlist.

Baseball Playlist:

Pre Game - Jimi Hendrix – “The Star Spangled banner”: How can we not start off a great game without “The Star Spangled Banner?” It is the song that starts off each and every ballgame and I figure that a playlist should start off the same way. However, we cannot just choose any version. The version has to be one that represents WASU. So who better to play it than Hendrix?

1^st Inning – AC/DC – “Hell’s Bells”: Once the game starts, only one song really comes to mind. Starting off with the bells that ASU students know so well and getting this playlist into gear. “Hell’s Bells” really pumps one up for any game.

2^nd Inning – John Fogerty – “Centerfield”: This song is a given. I find it hard to not put this song on a baseball playlist, mainly due to its phenomenal use in a music montage in the film Little Big League. Even if it had not been used in that movie, the song is clearly meant for the baseball season. I dedicate this song to all the fans who wish they were on the field.

3^rd Inning – Thin Lizzy – “The Boys are back in Town”: This song is for all those who are excited to see a home game after your team has been on the road for a week or two. Well Thin Lizzy’s classic song is perfect for celebrating this special occasion. It helps that the song is fun to listen to.

4^th Inning – The Clash – “Should I Stay or Should I Go”: The most asked question to the third-base coach by the runner on first. The Clash is simply asking whether or not they should steal second. Though the reasoning might be flawed, for some reason, when this song plays, baseball comes to mind.

5^th Inning- Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Fortunate Son”: Since Baseball is simply American, we needed a song that matched the level of patriotic power. Creedence Clearwater Revival reminds us of the sun, summertime, and the diamond. This is why it makes a great addition to our list of songs.

6^th Inning – George Thorogood and the Destroyers – “Bad to The Bone”: This song doesn’t really have much to do with baseball, but what is more “Bad” then jacking a homerun over the leftfield wall. It just seems to be that piece of the puzzle that fits. And who doesn’t like George Thorogood and the Destroyers?

7^th Inning – The Hold Steady – “Take me out to the Ball game” : “Take Me out to the Ball Game” is always played during the 7^th inning stretch and this is another song that we needed a cover version of and let’s face it, The Hold Steady do this song justice.

8^th Inning – Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline”: For whatever reason, when this song comes on, it takes every ounce of strength not to start chanting with the song. This holds especially true when inside a ballpark. This song just screams October and had to be placed on this wonderful set of songs.

9^th Inning – Dropkick Murphys – “Tessie”: Whether you are a Boston fan or not, this playlist needed the a song made for champions, and since this song was created to celebrate the Red Sox World Series win, it seems rather fitting to make it the final chapter.

Hopefully you all are ready to start your road trip to the nearest stadium and enjoy some peanuts and cracker jacks. Since you are now properly equipped, WASU wants you to go enjoy 9 Innings of pure bliss this summer!

Artist You Should Know NOW!!! - Eli "Paperboy" Reed and the True Loves

by Alex Mayfield

The first time I discovered Eli “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves I was at a Say Anything concert in early 2008. When listening to Say Anything, an alternative band known for doing exactly what their name implies, you really do not expect to hear Soul/R&B at the same show. However, once the True Loves came on stage, the crowd was immediately won over, as they should have been because the True Loves put on quite the show. Their sound blends doo-wop with horns and throws in some wailing vocals. Eli “Paperboy” Reed shows a lot of emotion while he sings and though the lyrics make for simple songs about love and heartbreak, it doesn’t matter because each track from this guy is a blast. Reed’s modern take on the 60’s soul genre provides a gateway to the past and is simply pleasing. With the blaring horns, up-tempo percussion, and swinging vocals, “Paperboy” Reed and the True Loves guarantee a great time.

Album to Download: Roll With You (2008)

Songs to Download: “(Doin’ the) Boom Boom”, “Am I Wasting My Time”, “Stake Your Claim”

Roll With You LP (2008)

Photos From : Eli Paperboy Reed's Official Website

Album Review: The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

by Alex Mayfield

Sea of Cowards is the second album from The Dead Weather, Jack White and Allison Mosshart’s side project. The Dead Weather certainly has a more experimental sound than The White Stripes and Raconteurs but proves that Jack White rarely does anything poorly. Though filled with more effects and ambient noises, Sea of Cowards brings forth a sound that is gritty and powerful. Mosshart and White’s vocals are dark and mysterious but blend together insanely well (“Die by the Drop”, “Blue Blood Blues”). On top of the vocals, Dean Fertita (Guitar) produces rhythmic fills and solid solos which create a down and dirty sound that really comes off sounding great (“Gasoline”, “I Can’t Hear You”). What makes this album even better is that it is continuously moving and flows incredibly well. Each song seems as if it was tied to the next with a deliberative purpose to create a cohesiveness that spans across the entire album. When the filthy guitar and these intermingled vocals come together, they produce a great album and though it might be an acquired taste, it is fantastic.

8.5 out of 10

Songs to Download: “Gasoline”, “Blue Blood Blues”, “Die By The Drop”

TheDeadWeather.com

WASU PLAYLIST: START OF SUMMER 2010

by Alex Mayfield

So WASU is starting a new blog segment called WASU PLAYLIST! This is simply to put up a nice playlist that we feel fits the moment. So what better way to end the school year with a playlist about starting summer? So for our inaugural playlist, that is exactly what we did. So here it is.

1. "School's Out" - Alice Cooper

2. "Magic Carpet Ride" - Steppenwolf

3. "Where'd You Go" - Mighty Mighty Bosstones

4. "Sagaba" - Blues Scholars

5. "Total Bummer" - NOFX

6. "California Waiting" - Kings of Leon

7. "Soul To Sqeeze" - Red Hot Chili Peppers

8. "Doin' Time" - Sublime

9. "Mellow Mood" - Slightly Stoopid

10. "Hard Sun" - Eddie Vedder

11. "Hey, Hey, What Can I Do" - Led Zeppelin

12. "Summertime" - Me First and the Gimme Gimmes

13. "All Mixed Up" - 311

14. "Maggie May" - Rod Stewart

15. "Moonsurfin'" - Malachai

16. "Ocean Breathes Salty" - Modest Mouse

17. "Hook" - Blues Traveler

18. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole

19. "Soil to the Sun" - Cage the Elephant

20. "Burning Man" - Third Eye Blind

21. "Dry The Rain" - The Beta Band

22. "The Boys of Summer" - Don Henley

23. "Wasting Time (Isle Vista Song)" - Animal Liberation Orchestra

24. "Take On Me" - Reel Big Fish

25. "Tiny Dancer" - Elton John

The best part about our new segment is that we want you guys to get involved with it. If you have a playlist that you want to tell us about, do it. It can be about anything. Road Trip Playlist, Beach Playlist, Workout Playlist, Bedtime Playlist, whatever. Shoot us a post on our Facebook Fan Page and you could find your playlist as the next segment of WASU PLAYLIST!

WASU Top 20 Songs of the Spring 2010 Semester

We realize that some of you might not of been able to hear the Top 20 Countdown show of the best songs this semester, so we wanted to make sure that you got a chance to catch what you missed. So here they are. The top 20 songs of the Semester based on your request:

20. “A More Perfect Union” by Titus Andronicus

19. “Heaven Can Wait (ft. Beck)” by Charlotte Gainsbourg

18. “The Mighty Sparrow” by Ted Leo and the Pharmacists

17. “Die by the Drop” by The Dead Weather

16. “Sleep When We Are Dead” by The Organ Beats

15. “Hurricane J” by The Hold Steady

14. "She's Got You" by Cosmo Jarvis

13. "Hide It Away" by Retribution Gospel Choir

12. "Beat the Devil's Tattoo" by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

11. "Little Lion Man" by Mumford and Sons

10. "Flash Delirium" by MGMT

9. "In the Sun" by She and Him

8. "Rhinestone Eyes" by Gorillaz

7. "Here We Are Juggernaut" by Coheed and Cambria

6. "American Slang" by Gaslight Anthem

5. "Mountains" by Biffy Clyro

4. "Romance is Boring" by Los Campesinos!

3. "Bang Pop" by Free Energy

2. "Run" by Vampire Weekend

1. "Snowflake" by Malachai

Those are your Top 20 songs of Spring 2010. We had a number of songs that just barely missed the cut. We felt that it was appropriate to give these songs a little recognition. Your Honorable Mentions are:

"Burning the Bowery" by Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social

"I Lied" by Gobotron

"Triskaidekaphobia" by Shooter Jennings and Heirophant

"You Know I'm No Good (Amy Winehouse Cover)" by Wanda Jackson

"All My People" by Portugal. The Man

And Just in case you wanted to hear some of the music on the Top 20, we decided to put a couple of the songs up so you could listen. Aren't we just the greatest?