Note: : The Snakester and I spent the better part of our teen years listening to a lot of Beatles songs. Every few years we dust off this list to see where we rank our favorite songs. I think my list changes from time to time just because I change a little bit or I rediscover one album or another. I could of done the Top 50 favorites for this one and would not had any real problem with it. We're going to follow this up with the 10 least favorite Beatles songs. That list is a little bit harder, but even the greatest band in the world had a bad one or two. Enjoy.
10. For No One – Revolver
I love the pace of this song. They never really change it and McCartney’s voice carries through bending around notes like only he could. I think we’ve all had a few failed relationships that you can think about when you hear this one. It’s funny how people that meant so much to you during a certain period of your life can mean so little later.
9. I’ll Follow the Sun – Beatles for Sale
I think part of the reason I like this one so much was because it was one of the few Beatles songs that I didn’t over-play when I was younger. It’s a standard early ballad in terms of the Beatles, but I like the idea of always being where it’s warm.
8. Let It Be – Let It Be
I’ve said this before, but the original album version of this song it just so much more powerful than the version packaged later on some the greatest hits albums. The guitar is riff near the end is powerful. It’s a sappy song, but that doesn’t stop me from singing along about every time it comes on.
7. I Saw Her Standing There – Please, Please Me
This is my favorite of the Beatles early stuff. It’s quick, it’s catchy, it’s Rock ‘N Roll to it’s root and core. It’s amazing how fast and peppy this song is compared to so much of there later work.
6. Blackbird – White Album
Paul’s voice is soothing and calm in this little ditty that always seems to relax me. Adding the birds to the background at parts in a nice touch. This is one that often gets a little overlooked with all the other Beatle greats.
5. Here Comes the Sun – Abbey Road
While McCartney and Lennon were very good at making complex songs and sounds, Harrison was folksy kind of guy that could take an acoustic guitar and churn out a soft, steady song. I think more than any song this one hits it on the head that the world will be fine when the group breaks up after the album. Also that in fact the individual members will be happier.
4. Tomorrow Never Knows – Revolver
This is an explosion of sound and creativity. Lennon’s voice is a bit muffled. There is a solid steady drum beat, it all adds up to hippyish turn the group was going to take with the next few albums after Revolver. I love listening to this one on headphones. You pick up about a hundred more sounds spiraling around in the background.
3. Happiness is a Warm Gun – White Album
This song is sexual, it’s angry and it even has a little doo-wop in it also. This song could have popped up on a Nirvana album 30 years later and it would have fit in. I thinks it’s signifies a little bit of the bleakness the guys had entered with increased drug use.
2. Eleanor Rigby – Revolver
This may be the most striking songs Paul ever wrote. The lyrics have almost a novel or short story-like feel with each one pegging the vast loneliness of life. The image of the pastor wiping the dirt from his hands as he walked from the grave or writing the words of a sermon no one will hear are probably two of the best in the history of Rock ‘N Roll.
1. Penny Lane – Magical Mystery Tour
I’ve always loved Penny Lane. I am sure is catchiness was one of the first things to draw me in. But now that I am a little I really like how this song is wistful without seeming so. All the little scenes and people of Penny Lane played to a happy tune makes me think about all the people and places of my own personal Penny Lane. “Very strange.”
Honorable Mention: Helter Skelter, I’m Only Sleeping, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Revolution, A Day in the Life, I’ve Just Seen a Face, I’ve Got a Feeling, Across the Universe.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Polar Caps
Warning: I am writing this as I go and I have a feeling it's going to be very random and possibly not well thought out.
In college, I took several geography classes that all dealt with the many different subjects and variations of geography. I believe it was in a course that focused on climate and weather that I first heard that at several different times in the earth's history the poles had reversed. Meaning that north became south and south became north. I don't believe this has happened at any point during human existence and I've since wondered what will happen when this occurs again. Will gravity be temporarily lost? Will all of us not nailed to the ground spin out into space. I guess the good news of that is we will go through a series of freezing and burning till whatever ever is left of us basically breaks down in outer space.
Also we talked quite about the poles melting. Which my uneducated and naive intuition feels may just trigger the above to happen. Meaning most of us will be covered in ocean by the time it happens then.
I guess what made me think of this was how polar opposite the world feels right now. The gap between the right and the left in politics in this world continues to grow. The current U.S. presidential election features an old white guy (nothing new there), who despite being in his mid-70s and a part of politics for the past 30 plus years, that is trying to sell people he is the opposite of what he appears. A maverick? A trend setter?
Then you have a middle aged black man who picked an old white guy for a running mate all in hopes that people will see him as a traditional, safe, ready to be your leader kind of candidate. But lets face it. The guy grew up in the Illinois political climate. For those that don't know, Illinois politics is as corrupt as most third world dictatorships. If you really think he is the next coming of Kennedy, think again.
I guess what's funny about it all is these are two men who appear the opposite are really trying to be exactly the same. They're trying to connect to people fleeing to one pole or the other. Hoping that the weight on one end will carry them over. Heck they're even switch they're polar positions if it means four years in a seat that will likely make them one of the worst presidents no matter what they do. Times are going to be tough.
I guess no matter how the world spins and which pole is north and which is south, they'll always be one on opposite ends. Unless, of course, the guy from Kids in the Hall is siting on the moon and crushing us with his fingers.
In college, I took several geography classes that all dealt with the many different subjects and variations of geography. I believe it was in a course that focused on climate and weather that I first heard that at several different times in the earth's history the poles had reversed. Meaning that north became south and south became north. I don't believe this has happened at any point during human existence and I've since wondered what will happen when this occurs again. Will gravity be temporarily lost? Will all of us not nailed to the ground spin out into space. I guess the good news of that is we will go through a series of freezing and burning till whatever ever is left of us basically breaks down in outer space.
Also we talked quite about the poles melting. Which my uneducated and naive intuition feels may just trigger the above to happen. Meaning most of us will be covered in ocean by the time it happens then.
I guess what made me think of this was how polar opposite the world feels right now. The gap between the right and the left in politics in this world continues to grow. The current U.S. presidential election features an old white guy (nothing new there), who despite being in his mid-70s and a part of politics for the past 30 plus years, that is trying to sell people he is the opposite of what he appears. A maverick? A trend setter?
Then you have a middle aged black man who picked an old white guy for a running mate all in hopes that people will see him as a traditional, safe, ready to be your leader kind of candidate. But lets face it. The guy grew up in the Illinois political climate. For those that don't know, Illinois politics is as corrupt as most third world dictatorships. If you really think he is the next coming of Kennedy, think again.
I guess what's funny about it all is these are two men who appear the opposite are really trying to be exactly the same. They're trying to connect to people fleeing to one pole or the other. Hoping that the weight on one end will carry them over. Heck they're even switch they're polar positions if it means four years in a seat that will likely make them one of the worst presidents no matter what they do. Times are going to be tough.
I guess no matter how the world spins and which pole is north and which is south, they'll always be one on opposite ends. Unless, of course, the guy from Kids in the Hall is siting on the moon and crushing us with his fingers.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Big Red's Nightmare Cubs roster
Note: These are guys that pissed me off when they played and make me cringe thinking back on them.
C - Todd Hundley
The roids didn't take for Hundley. He came to the Cubs after a couple good years in LA, but couldn't hit a beach ball with a tennis racket for the Cubbies. He was also a terrible defensive catcher and from all reports an all around jerk of a guy.
1B – Julio Zuleta
This position was hard because Mark Grace, Derrek Lee and Leon Durham have filled this spot for like 22 of the 26 season I've been alive. Zuleta kind torques me off because when came up he appeared to be a guy destined for some good things, but they never happened and then he simpy disappeared completely from baseball.
2B – Manny Alexander
This was Sammy Sosa's boy, which meant he didn't go away until Sammy went away. Alexander was a light-hitting, average defensive player that ended up in the lineup or in key late game at-bats way too often and never seemed to come through.
3B - Steve Buechele
Buechele actually had a solid season with the Cubs. Unfortunately they played him for three seasons. I think his batting average plummeted during those years from like .290 to .185. That's what you get for giving a long contract to a guy on the back end of his career.
SS – Neifi Perez
Perez was fine on the bench. Unfortunately, Dusty Baker didn't keep him on it. Perez seemed to play everyday even if it wasn't the same position. He'd occasionally get a big hit but for the most part he'd strike out and play with very little range out at short.
RF – Jacque Jones
Jone was decent in Minnesota and was decent at times for the Cubs. But the Cubs paid him to be great and he was never that. He was also one of those guys that thought he could throw every runner out at the plate. Jones barely could get the ball to shortstop on most days.
CF – Corey Patterson
Patterson had a lot of promise. But he never learned how to lay off bad pitches, hit to get on base, bunt, hit for consistent power, how to steal a base, etc. He was a pretty good defensive center fielder but that only gets you so far.
LF – Todd Hollandsworth
Ugh. It always amazes me to think Hollandsworth was once the NL Rookie of the Year. He was a decent bench player, but like always the Cubs saw a guy get a pinch hit or two and they'd try to play him every day. It didn't work out real well.
Bench
Utility outfielder - Alphonso Soriano
I know how can you put a 40 home run hitter on the bench. Well because he's a horrible fielding outfielder (yes he's got a good arm, but he throws a lot of guys out that would have been out if he would have just caught the ball). Plus he's to obstinate to realize that he's not a leadoff hitter. He can't run. He can't bunt. He can't get on base to start rallies. He can hit home runs, that is it.
Utility infielder - Jerry Hairston Jr.
This is the guy they got back for Sammy Sosa. So the Cubs made sure he played nearly every day and did nearly nothing. He's another guy with some skill but that doesn't seem to use any of it.
Utility - Jose Hernandez
Hernandez could play in a lot of spots, which made him valuable. But he was an all or nothing kind of guy. It was great to seem him homer 20 times a season, but the guys struck out 200 times with 180 of those coming with guys on base.
Rotation
Anthony Young
This guy had the longest losing streak in the history of the major leagues with the Mets. So the Cubs picked him up. He toiled a year or two with Cubbies and that was really longer than it should have been.
Jose Guzman
The Cubs got this guy when the Blue Jays had a Cy Young pitcher named Juan Guzman. I think for awhile that's who most Cubs fans thought they got. Instead they got a guy who won 12 games for the Cubs in 93 and 2 in 94. Not so good my friend.
Jason Bere
Not very good. This guy went 11-11 for the Cubs in 2001 and then 1-10 in 2002. Ouch. That's what you get for pitching a former White Sox.
Frank Castillo
Castillo was part of six Cubs rotations in the 1990s and never won more than 11 games. Most of his win totals were around 6. Granted the Cubs were real bad back then, but come on how did he keep his job that long.
Turk Wendell
Other than being really goofy, he didn't pitch very well for the Cubs. He held on longer than I thought with the Mets I believe. But if he had as many pitches and goofy superstitions, he be a Hall of Famer.
Closer - Anotonio Alfonseca
The six-fingered guy was given one big finger every time he came in and blew a save. There are a lot of former Cubs closers who could sit in this spot, but I don't think any of them were as bad Alfonseca could be at times.
Relievers
Bob Scanlon
I think Scanlon was probably the first Cub player I remember really not liking whenever he came into a game. He was guaranteed to give up a home run and three or four more runs every time.
Kent Mercker
This is the guy that got into with Steve Stone. Both guys were gone after that season. But my god they should have cut Mercker as soon as he started bitching. It's not like he was doing anything great out of the pen anyways.
Bob Howry
Home run Howry lived up to that name this last season. He didn't have anything left in tank. It seems Howry can only have one good year with a team before falling completely apart. We're still waiting for our one year.
Manager - Dusty Baker
I considered putting Baker and Don Baylor on this line. They were essentially the same, lets sit back and see if we hit any homers where out the rotation kind of guys. Baker just had a little more talent on his teams and more pitchers to use.
Pitching coach – Marty DeMerritt
This was the big, mean looking dude that didn't seem to do anything for Cubs pitchers in the late 90s. He'd fit right in with Dusty on the bench.
C - Todd Hundley
The roids didn't take for Hundley. He came to the Cubs after a couple good years in LA, but couldn't hit a beach ball with a tennis racket for the Cubbies. He was also a terrible defensive catcher and from all reports an all around jerk of a guy.
1B – Julio Zuleta
This position was hard because Mark Grace, Derrek Lee and Leon Durham have filled this spot for like 22 of the 26 season I've been alive. Zuleta kind torques me off because when came up he appeared to be a guy destined for some good things, but they never happened and then he simpy disappeared completely from baseball.
2B – Manny Alexander
This was Sammy Sosa's boy, which meant he didn't go away until Sammy went away. Alexander was a light-hitting, average defensive player that ended up in the lineup or in key late game at-bats way too often and never seemed to come through.
3B - Steve Buechele
Buechele actually had a solid season with the Cubs. Unfortunately they played him for three seasons. I think his batting average plummeted during those years from like .290 to .185. That's what you get for giving a long contract to a guy on the back end of his career.
SS – Neifi Perez
Perez was fine on the bench. Unfortunately, Dusty Baker didn't keep him on it. Perez seemed to play everyday even if it wasn't the same position. He'd occasionally get a big hit but for the most part he'd strike out and play with very little range out at short.
RF – Jacque Jones
Jone was decent in Minnesota and was decent at times for the Cubs. But the Cubs paid him to be great and he was never that. He was also one of those guys that thought he could throw every runner out at the plate. Jones barely could get the ball to shortstop on most days.
CF – Corey Patterson
Patterson had a lot of promise. But he never learned how to lay off bad pitches, hit to get on base, bunt, hit for consistent power, how to steal a base, etc. He was a pretty good defensive center fielder but that only gets you so far.
LF – Todd Hollandsworth
Ugh. It always amazes me to think Hollandsworth was once the NL Rookie of the Year. He was a decent bench player, but like always the Cubs saw a guy get a pinch hit or two and they'd try to play him every day. It didn't work out real well.
Bench
Utility outfielder - Alphonso Soriano
I know how can you put a 40 home run hitter on the bench. Well because he's a horrible fielding outfielder (yes he's got a good arm, but he throws a lot of guys out that would have been out if he would have just caught the ball). Plus he's to obstinate to realize that he's not a leadoff hitter. He can't run. He can't bunt. He can't get on base to start rallies. He can hit home runs, that is it.
Utility infielder - Jerry Hairston Jr.
This is the guy they got back for Sammy Sosa. So the Cubs made sure he played nearly every day and did nearly nothing. He's another guy with some skill but that doesn't seem to use any of it.
Utility - Jose Hernandez
Hernandez could play in a lot of spots, which made him valuable. But he was an all or nothing kind of guy. It was great to seem him homer 20 times a season, but the guys struck out 200 times with 180 of those coming with guys on base.
Rotation
Anthony Young
This guy had the longest losing streak in the history of the major leagues with the Mets. So the Cubs picked him up. He toiled a year or two with Cubbies and that was really longer than it should have been.
Jose Guzman
The Cubs got this guy when the Blue Jays had a Cy Young pitcher named Juan Guzman. I think for awhile that's who most Cubs fans thought they got. Instead they got a guy who won 12 games for the Cubs in 93 and 2 in 94. Not so good my friend.
Jason Bere
Not very good. This guy went 11-11 for the Cubs in 2001 and then 1-10 in 2002. Ouch. That's what you get for pitching a former White Sox.
Frank Castillo
Castillo was part of six Cubs rotations in the 1990s and never won more than 11 games. Most of his win totals were around 6. Granted the Cubs were real bad back then, but come on how did he keep his job that long.
Turk Wendell
Other than being really goofy, he didn't pitch very well for the Cubs. He held on longer than I thought with the Mets I believe. But if he had as many pitches and goofy superstitions, he be a Hall of Famer.
Closer - Anotonio Alfonseca
The six-fingered guy was given one big finger every time he came in and blew a save. There are a lot of former Cubs closers who could sit in this spot, but I don't think any of them were as bad Alfonseca could be at times.
Relievers
Bob Scanlon
I think Scanlon was probably the first Cub player I remember really not liking whenever he came into a game. He was guaranteed to give up a home run and three or four more runs every time.
Kent Mercker
This is the guy that got into with Steve Stone. Both guys were gone after that season. But my god they should have cut Mercker as soon as he started bitching. It's not like he was doing anything great out of the pen anyways.
Bob Howry
Home run Howry lived up to that name this last season. He didn't have anything left in tank. It seems Howry can only have one good year with a team before falling completely apart. We're still waiting for our one year.
Manager - Dusty Baker
I considered putting Baker and Don Baylor on this line. They were essentially the same, lets sit back and see if we hit any homers where out the rotation kind of guys. Baker just had a little more talent on his teams and more pitchers to use.
Pitching coach – Marty DeMerritt
This was the big, mean looking dude that didn't seem to do anything for Cubs pitchers in the late 90s. He'd fit right in with Dusty on the bench.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Snakester's Nightmare Cubs Team
This was a fun list to make. There are plenty of bad Cubs players over the years, several I still shake my head about to this day. But that was life on the North side.
C: Todd Hundley - High expectations and a legacy to live up to. Too bad we got him way past his prime. It got downright sad during his tenure. I almost put Micheal Barrett in here cause that guy really pissed me off, but Todd takes the cake. Worthless.
1B: Hee Seop Choi - Can we ever get tired of busted farm system guys? He was supposed to be the next great thing, now his legacy is that we traded him for Derek Lee. He could barely field and couldn't hit crap. I don't think he lasted much longer after the Cubs gave up on him.
2B: Eric Young - He was past his prime (just like the Cubs like to get them) and really did nothing great at all. He was slow and couldn't hit or field. Sounds like the guy I wanted out there.
3B: Kevin Orie - He was the next Ron Santo, at least that is what everyone wanted us to believe. I think he had like 1 good at bat that lead to his short lived fame. Then Jim Hendry realized we needed something much better. I was never impressed and I think I used to swear when he would come to the plate.
SS: Neifi Perez - Dusty loved trotting this guy out there. I am pretty sure that is why they finally said enough to him. Neifi just sucked. It was hard to watch any game he played and think that they were gonna win. But for some reason he was Dusty's guy and made for alot of bad Cubs memories.
RF: Jacque Jones - This was kind of a by default choice. Really there weren't many right fielders besides Andre & Sammy. Although if Kosuke doesn't improve!! I give Jacques credit for coming through pretty good down the stretch in '07. Still way too up and down for my taste. Alot of cringe moments when he would swing at some outrageously bad pitches.
CF: Corey Patterson - This one was easy. I remember always hearing this name, he is gonna be the answer. He will save the Cubs. What a joke. That is when I learned to not listen to what the organization says about their farm system talent. I hope they all got fired over this kid. Felix Pie isn't far off although he is showing signs. I chuckle when I see Corey striking out for the Reds. Dusty deserves him.
LF: George Bell - I remember being upset as a kid when the Cubs traded Bell to the White Sox for Sammy Sosa. Of course that didn't last long. One move they got right. He was slow and only a marginal hitter. There have been plenty of bad options in left but George stuck out to me.
Ok lets move to pitching. This is where I probably had my list done in about 5 minutes. I remember everyone one of those crap slingers that pissed me off over the years.
Starters: Jaime Navarro, Mark Clark, Julian Tavarez, Kevin Foster & Glendon Rusch - Navarro was a huge bust but at least they got rid of him. Mark Clark was average at best but the Cubs thought he was the shit for some reason. Julian always seemed to have blisters, slivers, bruises, etc, whatever that wouldn't allow him to pitch. Then when he did he just sucked. Rusch is like the homer king. Seems like he was always giving up the big homers every game. He is proof that all you need to be is left handed to pitch in the majors, doesn't matter if you are any good. Kevin Foster just recently pasted away from cancer (RIP) so I decided not to speak too ill of him. I put him on though because there was one season he was one of 3 pitchers in the league to have 10 wins by the All-Star break. Then he only ended up with 12 for the year and the Cubs had a second half slide. Broke my heart.
Relievers: Kyle Farnsworth, Turk Wendell, Felix Heredia, Mitch Williams - Just a smoresgesboard of bad pitching. Farnsworth could throw heat just no where near the plate. His necklace issues always bugged me too. Turk is just a name I can never forget. Heredia blew lots of games for them. He seemed so good for like 2 months and it was that let down I will never forget. Mitch 'Wild Thing' Williams was never as good as the hype. Funny though that he ended up blowing the World Series for someone else. That always makes me chuckle.
Closer: LaTroy Hawkins - Just plain bad. I dunno if he was the closer by default but he sucked. He was a whiner too and I hated that. Hmm a closer that buckles under pressure and blames someone else like the media. Sounds like time for a career change.
Utility Outfielder: Brant Brown - He did help supply the greatest sound byte in Ron Santo's history but I am sure that is one he would like to forget. I don't know why they thought he could work in the outfield.
Utility Infield: Cesar Izturis & Jose Hernandez - Izturis was a bust and I was never a fan of the guy. He was holding back The Riot! Hernandez seemed like for everything he did right he did 5 things wrong. We wasn't horrible but he was never good enough to play anywhere everyday.
Manager: Don Baylor - No not Dusty although he probably pissed me off the most. I don't know how Baylor was ever thought to be a good manager. I remember watching games wondering if he knew anything about the game of baseball.
Pitching Coach: Marty Demeritt - This is mostly a shout out to some good times making fun of the guy. I remember that he seemed to wear a whistle like he was a mean gym coach. He looked like he was ready to kick the crap out of anyone. Big Red & I used to joke about what he was thinking and saying when he would walk out to the mound with all those bad pitchers: threatening their lives, etc.
C: Todd Hundley - High expectations and a legacy to live up to. Too bad we got him way past his prime. It got downright sad during his tenure. I almost put Micheal Barrett in here cause that guy really pissed me off, but Todd takes the cake. Worthless.
1B: Hee Seop Choi - Can we ever get tired of busted farm system guys? He was supposed to be the next great thing, now his legacy is that we traded him for Derek Lee. He could barely field and couldn't hit crap. I don't think he lasted much longer after the Cubs gave up on him.
2B: Eric Young - He was past his prime (just like the Cubs like to get them) and really did nothing great at all. He was slow and couldn't hit or field. Sounds like the guy I wanted out there.
3B: Kevin Orie - He was the next Ron Santo, at least that is what everyone wanted us to believe. I think he had like 1 good at bat that lead to his short lived fame. Then Jim Hendry realized we needed something much better. I was never impressed and I think I used to swear when he would come to the plate.
SS: Neifi Perez - Dusty loved trotting this guy out there. I am pretty sure that is why they finally said enough to him. Neifi just sucked. It was hard to watch any game he played and think that they were gonna win. But for some reason he was Dusty's guy and made for alot of bad Cubs memories.
RF: Jacque Jones - This was kind of a by default choice. Really there weren't many right fielders besides Andre & Sammy. Although if Kosuke doesn't improve!! I give Jacques credit for coming through pretty good down the stretch in '07. Still way too up and down for my taste. Alot of cringe moments when he would swing at some outrageously bad pitches.
CF: Corey Patterson - This one was easy. I remember always hearing this name, he is gonna be the answer. He will save the Cubs. What a joke. That is when I learned to not listen to what the organization says about their farm system talent. I hope they all got fired over this kid. Felix Pie isn't far off although he is showing signs. I chuckle when I see Corey striking out for the Reds. Dusty deserves him.
LF: George Bell - I remember being upset as a kid when the Cubs traded Bell to the White Sox for Sammy Sosa. Of course that didn't last long. One move they got right. He was slow and only a marginal hitter. There have been plenty of bad options in left but George stuck out to me.
Ok lets move to pitching. This is where I probably had my list done in about 5 minutes. I remember everyone one of those crap slingers that pissed me off over the years.
Starters: Jaime Navarro, Mark Clark, Julian Tavarez, Kevin Foster & Glendon Rusch - Navarro was a huge bust but at least they got rid of him. Mark Clark was average at best but the Cubs thought he was the shit for some reason. Julian always seemed to have blisters, slivers, bruises, etc, whatever that wouldn't allow him to pitch. Then when he did he just sucked. Rusch is like the homer king. Seems like he was always giving up the big homers every game. He is proof that all you need to be is left handed to pitch in the majors, doesn't matter if you are any good. Kevin Foster just recently pasted away from cancer (RIP) so I decided not to speak too ill of him. I put him on though because there was one season he was one of 3 pitchers in the league to have 10 wins by the All-Star break. Then he only ended up with 12 for the year and the Cubs had a second half slide. Broke my heart.
Relievers: Kyle Farnsworth, Turk Wendell, Felix Heredia, Mitch Williams - Just a smoresgesboard of bad pitching. Farnsworth could throw heat just no where near the plate. His necklace issues always bugged me too. Turk is just a name I can never forget. Heredia blew lots of games for them. He seemed so good for like 2 months and it was that let down I will never forget. Mitch 'Wild Thing' Williams was never as good as the hype. Funny though that he ended up blowing the World Series for someone else. That always makes me chuckle.
Closer: LaTroy Hawkins - Just plain bad. I dunno if he was the closer by default but he sucked. He was a whiner too and I hated that. Hmm a closer that buckles under pressure and blames someone else like the media. Sounds like time for a career change.
Utility Outfielder: Brant Brown - He did help supply the greatest sound byte in Ron Santo's history but I am sure that is one he would like to forget. I don't know why they thought he could work in the outfield.
Utility Infield: Cesar Izturis & Jose Hernandez - Izturis was a bust and I was never a fan of the guy. He was holding back The Riot! Hernandez seemed like for everything he did right he did 5 things wrong. We wasn't horrible but he was never good enough to play anywhere everyday.
Manager: Don Baylor - No not Dusty although he probably pissed me off the most. I don't know how Baylor was ever thought to be a good manager. I remember watching games wondering if he knew anything about the game of baseball.
Pitching Coach: Marty Demeritt - This is mostly a shout out to some good times making fun of the guy. I remember that he seemed to wear a whistle like he was a mean gym coach. He looked like he was ready to kick the crap out of anyone. Big Red & I used to joke about what he was thinking and saying when he would walk out to the mound with all those bad pitchers: threatening their lives, etc.
Big Red's Favorite Cubs Roster
Note: This project was pretty easy for the most part. I just haven't had the time to type it up. I mentioned this to Jake, but it's no shock that the hardest positions to come up with someone for me was Catcher, Shortstop and Centerfield. All places the Cubs have been traditionally weak and where World Series contenders are usually strong. I am also a little worried that I am a closet racist, because it seems like that I like predominantly white players.
C – Joe Girardi
Girardi had two stints with he Cubbies in the late 80s to early 90s and then again right before his retirement in the early part of this decade. While never anything spectacular at the plate, he was a true catcher in every sense of the word. He knew how to manage a staff, call a game and was solid defensively. It's also seemed like his was moral compass in every clubhouse he was in. Doesn't hurt the guy has strong ties to this area, heck, I even work with his aunt.
1B - Mark Grace
All this guy did was hit doubles (a lot of them) and play pretty much errorless infield. Every knocked the Cubs for years saying they couldn't win with Grace at first because he had such a lack of power. I find it ironic that the last two years that what the Cubs needed more than anything in the playoffs was a consistent bat from the left side. I guess you better watch what you wish for, you might just get it.
2B – Ryne Sandberg
This is a no brainer for me. Sandberg was easily my favorite player growing up. I even cried a little the first time he retired suddenly in the early 90s (Of course years later I found out part of the reason was that Gracey and half the Cubs clubhouse was banging his wife, which puts a little new spin on it). I believe Sandberg is the only Cubs position player elected to the Hall of Fame whose career spanned my lifetime.
3B – Bill Mueller
I know Aramis Ramirez ended the 30 plus year streak of revolving third basemen since Santo retired, but I think Bill Mueller would have done that for a four or five year period prior to Ramirez if not for a fluke injury. Mueller was a solid, disciplined hitter. He was on his way to a great season with the Cubbies before sliding for a foul ball into the St. Louis wall and cracking his knee cap. Cubs never really gave him a shot to rehab. A couple years later he won the batting title for Boston. Go figure.
SS – Ryan Theriot
Theriot is not the world's greatest shortstop by any stretch and is probably more suited for second base, but I couldn't really find another shortstop in the last 20 plus years that I liked better. Most people would plug Shawon Dunston into this gap, but they often forget that Dunston was one of those five-tool guys that only used about two of them well. (Although I'll admit he later in his career he became very solid for the Giants). Theriot is the antithesis of Dunston. He isn't blessed with a lot of great tools, but he gets everything out of what he's got.
Left field – Henry Rodriguez
O'Henry was always a favorite and he added some much need left-handed pop behind Sammy Sosa in the late 90s. Rodriguez will probably be forgot by a lot of Cubbie fans, but the guy hit like 75 homers in 2 1/2 years in the blue and white.
Center field - Doug Glanville
Glanville was a Cub system product that actually knew how to hit and run the bases. So of course they traded him to the Phillies for Mickey Morandini (who did have a good year or two for the Cubs) after a nice rookie season. He went on to have three or four years of 190 to 210 hits, 30 some stolen bases, batting leadoff for the Phillies. The Cubs picked him back up in 2003, but he was all used up by then.
Right Field – Andre Dawson
I remember sitting on the first base side at Wrigley as a kid and watched Andre nearly run through the wall in foul territory for a foul ball. Andre caught it as awkwardly made his way over the bullpen mounds and collided hard with the wall. The Hawk was awesome and I think most people still considered right field his place at Wrigley.
Bench
Outfielder – Glenallen Hill
Hill was a huge man with big muscles. It was great waiting to see how far he would hit it. Usually he struck out, but sometimes he really blasted it.
UTL – Mickey Morandini
Morandini was a good second baseman and good at the plate. He was also a key guy in getting the Cubs to the playoffs in 98.
UTL – Augie Ojeda
Ojeda can play where ever you want him to. He also is the underdog kind of player that comes in and everyone roots for.
My batting lineup
1. Doug Glanville
2. Bill Mueller
3. Andre Dawson
4. Henry Rodriguez
5. Ryne Sandberg
6. Mark Grace
7. Joe Girardi
8. Ryan Theriot
Rotation
Greg Maddux RHP
He's best pitcher of this area (Clemen can go take it in the ass some more). Nothing flashy, he just took the ball every fifth day and held the team to 3 runs or less.
Kerry Wood, RHP
If Woody could have survived throwing that Slurve, he'd been a hall of famer. It was unhittable when working. He was also a big game pitcher that loved the pressure.
Mike Morgan, RHP
Morgan was the poor-mans Greg Maddux. He pitched forever and for pretty much every team in the league. But he also took the ball every fifth day holding teams usually to five runs or less.
Carlos Zambrano, RHP
Zambrano is a bull that puts his head down and goes after teams, Unless he's having a psychotic episode then you don't know what the hell you're going to get.
Terry Mulholland, LHP
Muhlholland was steady for the Cubs in the late 90s, More importantly he added a left hander to the bunch something the Cubs desparately lacked for much of that decade.
Bullpen
Closer– Rod Beck
This guys looked like a biker, lived like a biker and when he took the mound you better hold on. Beck was the kind of old-school personality that I couldn't help but root for.
Reliever – Carlos Marmol
He'll be great before it's all said and done. When he's on, nobody can hit him.
Reliever – Mitch Williams
Most people forget he became the Wild Thing in Chicago before giving up home runs in the World Series for the Phillies.
Reliever – Joe Borowski
He was another guy that got a long with very little. The guy keeps hanging around getting people out at the end of games.
Manager – Jim Riggleman
Heard him inteviewed a few times and seems like a smart baseball guy just never got any talent when with the Cubs.
Pitching coach – Larry Rothschild
He's been pitching coach now for as long as I remember. That's through at least three managers, which doesn't happen very often.
C – Joe Girardi
Girardi had two stints with he Cubbies in the late 80s to early 90s and then again right before his retirement in the early part of this decade. While never anything spectacular at the plate, he was a true catcher in every sense of the word. He knew how to manage a staff, call a game and was solid defensively. It's also seemed like his was moral compass in every clubhouse he was in. Doesn't hurt the guy has strong ties to this area, heck, I even work with his aunt.
1B - Mark Grace
All this guy did was hit doubles (a lot of them) and play pretty much errorless infield. Every knocked the Cubs for years saying they couldn't win with Grace at first because he had such a lack of power. I find it ironic that the last two years that what the Cubs needed more than anything in the playoffs was a consistent bat from the left side. I guess you better watch what you wish for, you might just get it.
2B – Ryne Sandberg
This is a no brainer for me. Sandberg was easily my favorite player growing up. I even cried a little the first time he retired suddenly in the early 90s (Of course years later I found out part of the reason was that Gracey and half the Cubs clubhouse was banging his wife, which puts a little new spin on it). I believe Sandberg is the only Cubs position player elected to the Hall of Fame whose career spanned my lifetime.
3B – Bill Mueller
I know Aramis Ramirez ended the 30 plus year streak of revolving third basemen since Santo retired, but I think Bill Mueller would have done that for a four or five year period prior to Ramirez if not for a fluke injury. Mueller was a solid, disciplined hitter. He was on his way to a great season with the Cubbies before sliding for a foul ball into the St. Louis wall and cracking his knee cap. Cubs never really gave him a shot to rehab. A couple years later he won the batting title for Boston. Go figure.
SS – Ryan Theriot
Theriot is not the world's greatest shortstop by any stretch and is probably more suited for second base, but I couldn't really find another shortstop in the last 20 plus years that I liked better. Most people would plug Shawon Dunston into this gap, but they often forget that Dunston was one of those five-tool guys that only used about two of them well. (Although I'll admit he later in his career he became very solid for the Giants). Theriot is the antithesis of Dunston. He isn't blessed with a lot of great tools, but he gets everything out of what he's got.
Left field – Henry Rodriguez
O'Henry was always a favorite and he added some much need left-handed pop behind Sammy Sosa in the late 90s. Rodriguez will probably be forgot by a lot of Cubbie fans, but the guy hit like 75 homers in 2 1/2 years in the blue and white.
Center field - Doug Glanville
Glanville was a Cub system product that actually knew how to hit and run the bases. So of course they traded him to the Phillies for Mickey Morandini (who did have a good year or two for the Cubs) after a nice rookie season. He went on to have three or four years of 190 to 210 hits, 30 some stolen bases, batting leadoff for the Phillies. The Cubs picked him back up in 2003, but he was all used up by then.
Right Field – Andre Dawson
I remember sitting on the first base side at Wrigley as a kid and watched Andre nearly run through the wall in foul territory for a foul ball. Andre caught it as awkwardly made his way over the bullpen mounds and collided hard with the wall. The Hawk was awesome and I think most people still considered right field his place at Wrigley.
Bench
Outfielder – Glenallen Hill
Hill was a huge man with big muscles. It was great waiting to see how far he would hit it. Usually he struck out, but sometimes he really blasted it.
UTL – Mickey Morandini
Morandini was a good second baseman and good at the plate. He was also a key guy in getting the Cubs to the playoffs in 98.
UTL – Augie Ojeda
Ojeda can play where ever you want him to. He also is the underdog kind of player that comes in and everyone roots for.
My batting lineup
1. Doug Glanville
2. Bill Mueller
3. Andre Dawson
4. Henry Rodriguez
5. Ryne Sandberg
6. Mark Grace
7. Joe Girardi
8. Ryan Theriot
Rotation
Greg Maddux RHP
He's best pitcher of this area (Clemen can go take it in the ass some more). Nothing flashy, he just took the ball every fifth day and held the team to 3 runs or less.
Kerry Wood, RHP
If Woody could have survived throwing that Slurve, he'd been a hall of famer. It was unhittable when working. He was also a big game pitcher that loved the pressure.
Mike Morgan, RHP
Morgan was the poor-mans Greg Maddux. He pitched forever and for pretty much every team in the league. But he also took the ball every fifth day holding teams usually to five runs or less.
Carlos Zambrano, RHP
Zambrano is a bull that puts his head down and goes after teams, Unless he's having a psychotic episode then you don't know what the hell you're going to get.
Terry Mulholland, LHP
Muhlholland was steady for the Cubs in the late 90s, More importantly he added a left hander to the bunch something the Cubs desparately lacked for much of that decade.
Bullpen
Closer– Rod Beck
This guys looked like a biker, lived like a biker and when he took the mound you better hold on. Beck was the kind of old-school personality that I couldn't help but root for.
Reliever – Carlos Marmol
He'll be great before it's all said and done. When he's on, nobody can hit him.
Reliever – Mitch Williams
Most people forget he became the Wild Thing in Chicago before giving up home runs in the World Series for the Phillies.
Reliever – Joe Borowski
He was another guy that got a long with very little. The guy keeps hanging around getting people out at the end of games.
Manager – Jim Riggleman
Heard him inteviewed a few times and seems like a smart baseball guy just never got any talent when with the Cubs.
Pitching coach – Larry Rothschild
He's been pitching coach now for as long as I remember. That's through at least three managers, which doesn't happen very often.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Snakester's Cubs Dream Team
Big Red & I have been racking our brains trying to figure out a way to do an interesting list or post on sports. Big Red, being the creative one, decided we should fill out our all time Cubs teams. The rule was that it had to be players we saw play, so basically mid 80's to present. We will also follow with our nightmare teams. This was an incredibly fun list to make that brought back alot of memories. Hopefully I do these guys justice.
C: Joe Giradi - I don't remember him doing anything too spectacular but he was a good hard nose player. I guess the stereotypical catcher of the day. He played hard and did the right thing. Maybe 5 - 10 years from now this could likely change to Geovany Soto, but it is a little soon for that.
1B: Mark Grace - He was my hero through most of my youth and I always tried to wear #17 in honor of him. I even named my daughter Grace. I played first in high school and spent every game watching how he fielded and trying to emulate his swing (despite being right handed). As much as he was Mr. Cub in his day, he probably was a big reason they never won big either. It is hard to have a corner infielder with no power numbers but he was a lock for .300 BA and 50+ doubles. Hard to turn that down.
2B: Ryne Sandberg - This was going to be my son's name until I found out we were having a girl. Most of my memories are from later in his career but he could still play. Although I remember our high school coach yelling at our infielders to quit trying to Sandberg ground balls off to the side. Really there hasn't been another second basemen that lasted much more than a year since.
3B: Aramis Ramirez - Third base has been a sore subject in Cubdom for many years. I remember Vance Law for some reason. But I have seen Aramis mature into a good fielder from the time he came over. Aside from his recent playoff struggles he seems to get the big hits and I just like his look out there.
SS: Ryan Theriot - I have been a huge supporter of The Riot since I first saw him playing a couple years ago. Shawn Dunston was a great player but really Theriot is the kind of short stop a winning team needs. He goes to right field, plays great D and hustles. I would have loved to see him turning DPs with Ryno in his heyday!
RF: Sammy Sosa - For everything he did wrong, he did alot of stuff right. Sosa was my hero for a long time. I will never forget June of 1998. I still feel bad for how sour things got at the end of his stay and was glad to see that he could come back and play with the Rangers a few seasons ago. He carried them to the playoffs in '98 and was a big force in 2003. Plus you gotta love the sprint out to right field. Sorry Andre.
CF: Jerome Walton - This was probably the hardest position to work on. IMO the Cubs have never had a good center field, at least more than a year. I remember when Jerome won Rookie of the Year so I guess that puts him #1. Doug Glanville, Doug Dacenzo, Brian McRae etc all seemed to have like 1 decent year and that was it. Juan Pierre was better than people gave him credit for too. Maybe I should have put Kenny Lofton in here for his work in '03. Obviously this is and continues to be a weak spot for the Cubs.
LF: Moises Alou - Despite being an asshole (IMO), he is probably the best to cover left field in Wrigley. Soriano is good but Moises is better in every category except maybe speed. He has always been a professional hitter and good in the clutch. Henry Rodriguez almost snuck into this spot but really it is hard to say anyone is better than Alou.
Starting Pitchers: Kerry Wood (98 to 03), Greg Maddux, Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Trachsel & Carlos Zambrano - The Cubs all had these guys in some of their prime. Sutcliffe might have been a little old by the time he got to Chicago but he still put in alot of good years. Trachsel could be frustrating at times but I am giving him a nod for alot of pretty years through the '90s on some really bad Cubs teams. Kerry Wood is probably the best of all of them during his prime. I often wonder though if Maddux would have ended up as good as he was if he stayed in Chicago.
Relief Pitchers: Hecliffe Solcumb, Paul Assemacher, Chuck McElroy & Carlos Marmol - This is a rough position. You really didn't have like bullpen specialist until maybe the mid '90s really. I kinda went with names that I really remember being good. McElroy even had a brief stint as the main closer too (or stopper as they called them). I think if you were to look at their Cubs stats, this would be a good grouping.
Closer: Joe Borowski - Here is where I really go out on a limb. I remember lots of stressful 9th innings with Joe on the mound but he got the job done despite having like no stuff. I really don't remember the Cubs ever having a lights out closer. Wood is probably the closest to that right now if he can keep it going. So I pay my respect to a guy that has gutted out his career and really defies the odds. Which when you think about it that is what any winning Cubs teams really is doing, defying the odds.
Utility Outfielder: Glenallen Hill - I always loved watching this guy hit, it was so effortless. A quick snap of the wrist and the ball was gone. He hit the longest home run I have ever seen @ Wrigley, onto the rooftops across Waveland Ave. He was always a threat anytime he came to bat and was serviceable in the outfield for the most part.
Utility Infield: Randal Simon & Mickey Morandini - Mickey might have started quite a few games but I always thought he was better suited to be a fill in guy, he seemed scrappy. Both of these guys are lefties which is good off the bench. Randal is a hacker. I never really saw him strikeout. It seemed like he battled every time he came to the plate. I seem to remember like a 10-12 pitch at bat against one of the Marlins top pitchers in '03 during a tight situation where he finally came through with a hit to right field. I was just always excited when they let him play.
Manager: Don Zimmer - The late '80s was when I got old enough to understand what was happening with the Cubs and they were Zimmer's crew then. To me he will always personify the Cubs and a good baseball mentality. I found myself rooting for the Yankees just because he was a bench coach and I wanted him to win.
Pitching Coach: Larry Rothschild - It is hard to think of a better one out there. He is reserved in the manner that you look at him and know that he knows what he is doing. He survived some horrible years for a reason. The current staff has made the transitions that they did for a reason. I would want him on my side.
C: Joe Giradi - I don't remember him doing anything too spectacular but he was a good hard nose player. I guess the stereotypical catcher of the day. He played hard and did the right thing. Maybe 5 - 10 years from now this could likely change to Geovany Soto, but it is a little soon for that.
1B: Mark Grace - He was my hero through most of my youth and I always tried to wear #17 in honor of him. I even named my daughter Grace. I played first in high school and spent every game watching how he fielded and trying to emulate his swing (despite being right handed). As much as he was Mr. Cub in his day, he probably was a big reason they never won big either. It is hard to have a corner infielder with no power numbers but he was a lock for .300 BA and 50+ doubles. Hard to turn that down.
2B: Ryne Sandberg - This was going to be my son's name until I found out we were having a girl. Most of my memories are from later in his career but he could still play. Although I remember our high school coach yelling at our infielders to quit trying to Sandberg ground balls off to the side. Really there hasn't been another second basemen that lasted much more than a year since.
3B: Aramis Ramirez - Third base has been a sore subject in Cubdom for many years. I remember Vance Law for some reason. But I have seen Aramis mature into a good fielder from the time he came over. Aside from his recent playoff struggles he seems to get the big hits and I just like his look out there.
SS: Ryan Theriot - I have been a huge supporter of The Riot since I first saw him playing a couple years ago. Shawn Dunston was a great player but really Theriot is the kind of short stop a winning team needs. He goes to right field, plays great D and hustles. I would have loved to see him turning DPs with Ryno in his heyday!
RF: Sammy Sosa - For everything he did wrong, he did alot of stuff right. Sosa was my hero for a long time. I will never forget June of 1998. I still feel bad for how sour things got at the end of his stay and was glad to see that he could come back and play with the Rangers a few seasons ago. He carried them to the playoffs in '98 and was a big force in 2003. Plus you gotta love the sprint out to right field. Sorry Andre.
CF: Jerome Walton - This was probably the hardest position to work on. IMO the Cubs have never had a good center field, at least more than a year. I remember when Jerome won Rookie of the Year so I guess that puts him #1. Doug Glanville, Doug Dacenzo, Brian McRae etc all seemed to have like 1 decent year and that was it. Juan Pierre was better than people gave him credit for too. Maybe I should have put Kenny Lofton in here for his work in '03. Obviously this is and continues to be a weak spot for the Cubs.
LF: Moises Alou - Despite being an asshole (IMO), he is probably the best to cover left field in Wrigley. Soriano is good but Moises is better in every category except maybe speed. He has always been a professional hitter and good in the clutch. Henry Rodriguez almost snuck into this spot but really it is hard to say anyone is better than Alou.
Starting Pitchers: Kerry Wood (98 to 03), Greg Maddux, Rick Sutcliffe, Steve Trachsel & Carlos Zambrano - The Cubs all had these guys in some of their prime. Sutcliffe might have been a little old by the time he got to Chicago but he still put in alot of good years. Trachsel could be frustrating at times but I am giving him a nod for alot of pretty years through the '90s on some really bad Cubs teams. Kerry Wood is probably the best of all of them during his prime. I often wonder though if Maddux would have ended up as good as he was if he stayed in Chicago.
Relief Pitchers: Hecliffe Solcumb, Paul Assemacher, Chuck McElroy & Carlos Marmol - This is a rough position. You really didn't have like bullpen specialist until maybe the mid '90s really. I kinda went with names that I really remember being good. McElroy even had a brief stint as the main closer too (or stopper as they called them). I think if you were to look at their Cubs stats, this would be a good grouping.
Closer: Joe Borowski - Here is where I really go out on a limb. I remember lots of stressful 9th innings with Joe on the mound but he got the job done despite having like no stuff. I really don't remember the Cubs ever having a lights out closer. Wood is probably the closest to that right now if he can keep it going. So I pay my respect to a guy that has gutted out his career and really defies the odds. Which when you think about it that is what any winning Cubs teams really is doing, defying the odds.
Utility Outfielder: Glenallen Hill - I always loved watching this guy hit, it was so effortless. A quick snap of the wrist and the ball was gone. He hit the longest home run I have ever seen @ Wrigley, onto the rooftops across Waveland Ave. He was always a threat anytime he came to bat and was serviceable in the outfield for the most part.
Utility Infield: Randal Simon & Mickey Morandini - Mickey might have started quite a few games but I always thought he was better suited to be a fill in guy, he seemed scrappy. Both of these guys are lefties which is good off the bench. Randal is a hacker. I never really saw him strikeout. It seemed like he battled every time he came to the plate. I seem to remember like a 10-12 pitch at bat against one of the Marlins top pitchers in '03 during a tight situation where he finally came through with a hit to right field. I was just always excited when they let him play.
Manager: Don Zimmer - The late '80s was when I got old enough to understand what was happening with the Cubs and they were Zimmer's crew then. To me he will always personify the Cubs and a good baseball mentality. I found myself rooting for the Yankees just because he was a bench coach and I wanted him to win.
Pitching Coach: Larry Rothschild - It is hard to think of a better one out there. He is reserved in the manner that you look at him and know that he knows what he is doing. He survived some horrible years for a reason. The current staff has made the transitions that they did for a reason. I would want him on my side.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
YTCracker - Nerdrap Entertainment System
This is something I had been meaning to tell Big Red about. But then we did lists on our favorite video games and we are always talking about music, so I figured this would be a good entry. I found out about YTCracker when one of his songs was featured in commercials for G4's X-Play. It was catchy sampling from an old Nintendo game DigDug with a sound byte from Gauntlet, I think. I searched the Internet and found all kinds of info on YTCracker. (his name still makes me chuckle)
You can go to his website http://www.ytcracker.com and download alot of his music for free, including Nerdrap Entertainment System. It features 7 songs with the background rhythm being supplied by music from classic Nintendo (NES) games. I still haven't quite been able to place them all and have even searched the net for help. So if anyone out there can help me figure them out, drop me a note. The subject matter of his raps revolve around nerdy subjects: video games, computer programming, hacking, file sharing and most of all revenge against the stupid jocks.
The opening to my favorite track, N.E.S., starts out with the famous Contra code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start! For someone who grew up with the NES, that is like crack man! Another one of my favorites is Surgerunner in which he talks about his longing affection for Surge, super sugar soda that was the answer to Mt. Dew. I wondered whatever did happen to that?
Anyone, take a walk down memory lane and see if you can get all the references. I know I probably fit into this category a little more than Big Red but it is a good time and it is free. So you got nothing to lose! Go download it!
You can go to his website http://www.ytcracker.com and download alot of his music for free, including Nerdrap Entertainment System. It features 7 songs with the background rhythm being supplied by music from classic Nintendo (NES) games. I still haven't quite been able to place them all and have even searched the net for help. So if anyone out there can help me figure them out, drop me a note. The subject matter of his raps revolve around nerdy subjects: video games, computer programming, hacking, file sharing and most of all revenge against the stupid jocks.
The opening to my favorite track, N.E.S., starts out with the famous Contra code: Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start! For someone who grew up with the NES, that is like crack man! Another one of my favorites is Surgerunner in which he talks about his longing affection for Surge, super sugar soda that was the answer to Mt. Dew. I wondered whatever did happen to that?
Anyone, take a walk down memory lane and see if you can get all the references. I know I probably fit into this category a little more than Big Red but it is a good time and it is free. So you got nothing to lose! Go download it!
Monday, October 6, 2008
Big Red's Worst Album covers
Note: First, I haven't quite mastered the Mac world yet and haven't figured out how to get the album covers to work. Secondly, I found out while trying to come up with bad album covers that generally I either liked them, or they were so standard that I had no real dislike of them. I googled worst album covers and that just brought up a bunch of albums and artists from the 60s and 70s that I had never heard of. So for the most part I picked out albums from my collection that I liked the least.
10. Just Push Play - Aerosmith
Never was wild about the pink background and Robot chick. They were trying to be a little brave with this one and I don't think it worked. I think Aerosmith like Van Halen could pop their logo on the front of every album and be okay.
9. 15 - Buckcherry
I like this album and see that these hardrockers have a new one out that I might want to give a listen too. But the cover with a close up of a dirty finger getting pricked by a needle and blood pouring out is just a little too blunt for me.
8. Silver Side Up - Nickelback
This has a big green eye on the front crying silver tears. I think it'd be a great cover for some Sci-Fi or Fantasy book, but I don't get how any of it including the album title fits with the music.
7. Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
This album spawned a couple of my favorite Beatles tunes like Penny Lane and Your Mother Should Know, but the whole concept is a little too drugged out for me. The guys in costumes in front is bizarre and all the color is a little over the top.
6. Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
This album put the Peppers on the global market, but I never got into the cover art. It has the four members faces acting as a frame for the album with their tongues sort interlocking. Just not my thing I guess.
5. Some Girls - The Rolling Stones
This has the four guys in different woman's wigs on the front and is made out to look like some kind of newspaper ad with the four colors in the background. The other thing about this album is that you can' find the song list on the outside anywhere. I hate when bands do that.
4. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
This is the paramount album from probably one of the top five bands of the 60s and you have them playing with some goats on the front? I think this really hurt the album as much as the Beatles releasing Sgt. Peppers at the same time. It really made the Beach Boys look like yesterday's band and the Beatles tomorrows.
3. In the Dark - The Grateful Dead
Upside down faces on a black backdrop. I get the reference for the title, but don't we all expect a little more creative from the band that made Tie Dye popular. At least gets us a skull or two in there somewhere. I mean they're the Dead. Let's play that up a little more.
2. Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Usually I am all for female nudity, but come on the girl on this cover is like 11 years old. These guys were all in their 30s and 40s by the time this came out. Anyone else think this is a little weird. They couldn't even make this album cover today. They'd be put in jail for it. I don't see the point or the art in it.
1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John
Okay it took people how long to figure out Elton John was gay. Look back at this cover of a cartoon him straddling a piano and tell me you didn't suspect something then. Plus, my god like at the title of this thing. All together it's really campy, which was sort of John's thing, but a little too much so here.
10. Just Push Play - Aerosmith
Never was wild about the pink background and Robot chick. They were trying to be a little brave with this one and I don't think it worked. I think Aerosmith like Van Halen could pop their logo on the front of every album and be okay.
9. 15 - Buckcherry
I like this album and see that these hardrockers have a new one out that I might want to give a listen too. But the cover with a close up of a dirty finger getting pricked by a needle and blood pouring out is just a little too blunt for me.
8. Silver Side Up - Nickelback
This has a big green eye on the front crying silver tears. I think it'd be a great cover for some Sci-Fi or Fantasy book, but I don't get how any of it including the album title fits with the music.
7. Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles
This album spawned a couple of my favorite Beatles tunes like Penny Lane and Your Mother Should Know, but the whole concept is a little too drugged out for me. The guys in costumes in front is bizarre and all the color is a little over the top.
6. Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik - The Red Hot Chili Peppers
This album put the Peppers on the global market, but I never got into the cover art. It has the four members faces acting as a frame for the album with their tongues sort interlocking. Just not my thing I guess.
5. Some Girls - The Rolling Stones
This has the four guys in different woman's wigs on the front and is made out to look like some kind of newspaper ad with the four colors in the background. The other thing about this album is that you can' find the song list on the outside anywhere. I hate when bands do that.
4. Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys
This is the paramount album from probably one of the top five bands of the 60s and you have them playing with some goats on the front? I think this really hurt the album as much as the Beatles releasing Sgt. Peppers at the same time. It really made the Beach Boys look like yesterday's band and the Beatles tomorrows.
3. In the Dark - The Grateful Dead
Upside down faces on a black backdrop. I get the reference for the title, but don't we all expect a little more creative from the band that made Tie Dye popular. At least gets us a skull or two in there somewhere. I mean they're the Dead. Let's play that up a little more.
2. Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Usually I am all for female nudity, but come on the girl on this cover is like 11 years old. These guys were all in their 30s and 40s by the time this came out. Anyone else think this is a little weird. They couldn't even make this album cover today. They'd be put in jail for it. I don't see the point or the art in it.
1. Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy - Elton John
Okay it took people how long to figure out Elton John was gay. Look back at this cover of a cartoon him straddling a piano and tell me you didn't suspect something then. Plus, my god like at the title of this thing. All together it's really campy, which was sort of John's thing, but a little too much so here.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Snakester's Top 10 Bad Album Covers
10. Amorica - Black Crowes:
I remember seeing this one in a used CD store and thinking that was pretty bad. Especially then how it had to be censored as a black cover with just the triangle of the flag bikini on the front. Anymore I don't see how that is real offensive or graphic. Stupid and pointless, yeah I can see that!
9. Cosmo's Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival:
This always cracked me up when I had this on cassette. Yes a real cassette! Is it supposed to be like someone walked in on the guys and took a quick snapshot? This is probably their best album with the most hits. But the cover just doesn't make any sense.
8. Get A Grip - Aerosmith:
So are we supposed to get a grip on a cow teet? Branding a cow with the Aerosmith logo would be cool but a cow with a pierced nipple is strange. I can imagine the long nights they stayed up trying to think up something get for this kick ass album. Hmm I have pierced nipples, why couldn't a cow did it?! Come on! Get a grip!
7. Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out - The Rolling Stones:
For being so expressionless in any concert footage I have ever seen of the Rolling Stones, Charlies Watts seems way too overjoyed to be walking down a road with a donkey. The donkey doesn't seem as impressed. For their first big live album release, they could have represented this moment much better. Instead, they made themselves look like asses.
6. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin:
Led Zeppelin has some of the coolest album art ever. I just never understood this one. I had to do some research to find out that it is inspired by the ending of Arthur C Clarke's novel Childhood's End. I still don't see how that ties into the album at all. Although I think at this stage, maybe they were looking for more shock value on their covers to sorta give the middle finger to the industry. I don't get it but it is still my favorite LZ album.
5. Kiss Alive - Kiss:
This is supposed to represent the spectacle that was their live shows. It just looks extremely staged. They could have tried a little harder to get a real concert shot from one of their shows. I know Kiss is over the top but they aren't exactly fake. This shot makes them look fake.
4. Who's Next - The Who:
This one seems to get alot of praise. To me it is just a couple of guys pretending to have pissed on a concrete structure. I used to believe them all that this was so cool but really it isn't anything that great. The album is awesome if not underrated. The art way overrated!
3. Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles:
Ok, here is a tough time for me, finding fault in something from the Beatles. But come on, this was isn't anywhere near the level of their other art. It is over the top and corny. This was just another representation of their downward slide after Brian's death. They became unpolished and without discipline. I just have never liked looking at this cover, it isn't The Beatles!
2. 1984 - Van Halen:
Maybe this was a childhood photo of David Lee Roth? That is probably the only way this makes any sense. Maybe they were trying to show how rebels can be good guys too. I don't know, I am not an art major. This was quite a different direction from their previous cover art. Maybe there is more too it but I never liked it.
1. Metallica (Black Album)- Metallica:
Ok first it has been done, maybe in a different color but done. Then this particular version reminds most of Spinal Tap. Not a good way to be considered a serious metal band. This marked the beginning of a string of lackluster covers from a dark band previously using alot of symbolism on their covers. I never quite understood the little embossed snake in the corner either.
Breakfast in America - Supertramp:
I wonder if that lady regrets it now?
Electriclarryland - Butthole Surfers:
Is it weird that I was always more disturbed by the two eyes sitting on the side of his face?
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John:
How did anyone not know he was gay?
Hefty Fine - Bloodhound Gang:
Nobody wants to see that!
Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister:
I think I lost my appetite.
I remember seeing this one in a used CD store and thinking that was pretty bad. Especially then how it had to be censored as a black cover with just the triangle of the flag bikini on the front. Anymore I don't see how that is real offensive or graphic. Stupid and pointless, yeah I can see that!9. Cosmo's Factory - Creedence Clearwater Revival:
This always cracked me up when I had this on cassette. Yes a real cassette! Is it supposed to be like someone walked in on the guys and took a quick snapshot? This is probably their best album with the most hits. But the cover just doesn't make any sense.8. Get A Grip - Aerosmith:
So are we supposed to get a grip on a cow teet? Branding a cow with the Aerosmith logo would be cool but a cow with a pierced nipple is strange. I can imagine the long nights they stayed up trying to think up something get for this kick ass album. Hmm I have pierced nipples, why couldn't a cow did it?! Come on! Get a grip!7. Get Yer Ya-Ya's Out - The Rolling Stones:
For being so expressionless in any concert footage I have ever seen of the Rolling Stones, Charlies Watts seems way too overjoyed to be walking down a road with a donkey. The donkey doesn't seem as impressed. For their first big live album release, they could have represented this moment much better. Instead, they made themselves look like asses.
6. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin:
Led Zeppelin has some of the coolest album art ever. I just never understood this one. I had to do some research to find out that it is inspired by the ending of Arthur C Clarke's novel Childhood's End. I still don't see how that ties into the album at all. Although I think at this stage, maybe they were looking for more shock value on their covers to sorta give the middle finger to the industry. I don't get it but it is still my favorite LZ album.
5. Kiss Alive - Kiss:
This is supposed to represent the spectacle that was their live shows. It just looks extremely staged. They could have tried a little harder to get a real concert shot from one of their shows. I know Kiss is over the top but they aren't exactly fake. This shot makes them look fake.4. Who's Next - The Who:
This one seems to get alot of praise. To me it is just a couple of guys pretending to have pissed on a concrete structure. I used to believe them all that this was so cool but really it isn't anything that great. The album is awesome if not underrated. The art way overrated!3. Magical Mystery Tour - The Beatles:
Ok, here is a tough time for me, finding fault in something from the Beatles. But come on, this was isn't anywhere near the level of their other art. It is over the top and corny. This was just another representation of their downward slide after Brian's death. They became unpolished and without discipline. I just have never liked looking at this cover, it isn't The Beatles!2. 1984 - Van Halen:
Maybe this was a childhood photo of David Lee Roth? That is probably the only way this makes any sense. Maybe they were trying to show how rebels can be good guys too. I don't know, I am not an art major. This was quite a different direction from their previous cover art. Maybe there is more too it but I never liked it.1. Metallica (Black Album)- Metallica:
Ok first it has been done, maybe in a different color but done. Then this particular version reminds most of Spinal Tap. Not a good way to be considered a serious metal band. This marked the beginning of a string of lackluster covers from a dark band previously using alot of symbolism on their covers. I never quite understood the little embossed snake in the corner either.Honorable Mention:
Breakfast in America - Supertramp:
I wonder if that lady regrets it now?
Electriclarryland - Butthole Surfers:
Is it weird that I was always more disturbed by the two eyes sitting on the side of his face?
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John:
How did anyone not know he was gay?
Hefty Fine - Bloodhound Gang:
Nobody wants to see that!
Stay Hungry - Twisted Sister:
I think I lost my appetite.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Big Red's Top Ten Album Covers
Note: I sort of typed this up fast, so I am sure the typos are many. I didn't think this would be this hard, but I drew a blank for quite awhile. I also wanted to stay away from putting 10 Beatles albums on there just because that wouldn't be much fun. I am still toiling away with the bad album cover list. I don't have time now to pop on the album covers, but I will try and do it sometime this weekend.
10. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Most people think of the Born in the U.S.A. cover with Bruce and the Flag behind him when they think of Springsteen album covers. I always like this one. I always thought this was the more striking cover with the white background and Bruce with his guitar. It just went with the whole theme of the album.
9. War - U2
I have this one on vinyl and it's very jarring to see a close of a young boys face with such angry eyes and a bloodied fat lip. This was when U2 was political without apologies and without trying to jade music fans. This could be one of the more important albums and covers from the 80s.
8. Nevermind - Nirvana
I can't help looking at this cover and wondering how they did that. So I looked it up and basically they just threw that baby in the water and shot a whole roll of film in about 30 seconds. I also found out that kid is like 17 now and has no shortage of pickup lines.
7. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band - The Beatles
You can look at this one forever and try and figure out who each face is. Or you can try to pick out all the Paul is Dead symbology. Or you can just get distracted by all the bright colors. There's a little bit of everything in this one. Most of all it captures the circus feel of the entire album.
6. Back in Black - AC/DC
I sort of had to choose between this and Metallica's Black Album for this one. It's bold when a band trys to just sell the album with a blank, black cover. It was never more appropriate though then when AC/DC released this album following the death of its lead singer. It didn't hurt that this ended up being probably their best album.
5. Get a Grip - Aerosmith
All I really have to say is cow utters. How many bands could get away with that? Maybe it's just funny to me because I grew up in the midwest, but come on cow utters.
4. Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf
This one always catches my attention when going through my collection of CDs. I'll pull it out and just look at it even if I have no intention of listening to the album, which more often than not I don't. But it does capture the essence of rock 'n roll with the crazy looking guys driving his motorcycle off the cliff and into the pits of hell.
3. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
It takes a lot of balls to put a male crotch on the front of your album and then have a very noticeable bulge in the front to boot. Even if you don't want to look, you almost compelled to do so. But it's sort of the sophomoric humor that has helped the Stones stay alive for 150 years now.
2. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
Well to some degree the Zeppelin was always a little weird and this cover sort of epitomizes that with all the nude 'childlike' creatures crawling over the beach and rocks. This is one of the covers that I think every body recognizes when they see it, even if they don't know the title of the album.
1. Abbey Road - The Beatles
I think this has morphed into the most iconic of the many images the Beatles put out there. It just sort sums up the fact that this was it for them. They're all dressed differently walking single file across the street. I've always imagined they hit the sidewalk and all went off in different directions. It's just very serene.
10. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
Most people think of the Born in the U.S.A. cover with Bruce and the Flag behind him when they think of Springsteen album covers. I always like this one. I always thought this was the more striking cover with the white background and Bruce with his guitar. It just went with the whole theme of the album.
9. War - U2
I have this one on vinyl and it's very jarring to see a close of a young boys face with such angry eyes and a bloodied fat lip. This was when U2 was political without apologies and without trying to jade music fans. This could be one of the more important albums and covers from the 80s.
8. Nevermind - Nirvana
I can't help looking at this cover and wondering how they did that. So I looked it up and basically they just threw that baby in the water and shot a whole roll of film in about 30 seconds. I also found out that kid is like 17 now and has no shortage of pickup lines.
7. Sgt. Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band - The Beatles
You can look at this one forever and try and figure out who each face is. Or you can try to pick out all the Paul is Dead symbology. Or you can just get distracted by all the bright colors. There's a little bit of everything in this one. Most of all it captures the circus feel of the entire album.
6. Back in Black - AC/DC
I sort of had to choose between this and Metallica's Black Album for this one. It's bold when a band trys to just sell the album with a blank, black cover. It was never more appropriate though then when AC/DC released this album following the death of its lead singer. It didn't hurt that this ended up being probably their best album.
5. Get a Grip - Aerosmith
All I really have to say is cow utters. How many bands could get away with that? Maybe it's just funny to me because I grew up in the midwest, but come on cow utters.
4. Bat Out of Hell - Meatloaf
This one always catches my attention when going through my collection of CDs. I'll pull it out and just look at it even if I have no intention of listening to the album, which more often than not I don't. But it does capture the essence of rock 'n roll with the crazy looking guys driving his motorcycle off the cliff and into the pits of hell.
3. Sticky Fingers - The Rolling Stones
It takes a lot of balls to put a male crotch on the front of your album and then have a very noticeable bulge in the front to boot. Even if you don't want to look, you almost compelled to do so. But it's sort of the sophomoric humor that has helped the Stones stay alive for 150 years now.
2. Houses of the Holy - Led Zeppelin
Well to some degree the Zeppelin was always a little weird and this cover sort of epitomizes that with all the nude 'childlike' creatures crawling over the beach and rocks. This is one of the covers that I think every body recognizes when they see it, even if they don't know the title of the album.
1. Abbey Road - The Beatles
I think this has morphed into the most iconic of the many images the Beatles put out there. It just sort sums up the fact that this was it for them. They're all dressed differently walking single file across the street. I've always imagined they hit the sidewalk and all went off in different directions. It's just very serene.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Snakester's Top 10 Album Cover Art
Cover art has always been an essential part of music. It can set a tone for the album or turn you off to the music in an instant. Here are some of my favorites.
10. News To The World - Queen:
I remember getting his on vinyl from my uncle. Which would support the idea that cover art has a very different effect on the old vinyl LPs. They did alot more with the cover art them. The cover folded out I think and there is another picture of the robot reaching down into a globe structure full of screaming people. I guess it strikes me because of the remorseful look on the robot's face as he holds the dead/injured bodies. It is a very detailed drawing. Maybe it signifies technology gone wrong or how our own advancement can mistakenly be our undoing. Not sure, but I always liked looking at this one.
9. Vulgar Display of Power - Pantera:
I always loved the title of this album for Pantera and the cover art just adds to the meaning. Their music is like a punch to the face when you listen to it. This is by far their best album and I think the cover art sets the tone from the moment you look at it. I don't know whether it is or not, but I always thought it looked like Dimebag Darrell that was getting punched on the cover.
8. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd:
Perhaps one of the best albums ever made is very open to interpretation. The cover art follows suit with a simple display of how a prism refracts light into the colors of the rainbow. The cover only supports the fact that this album goes with The Wizard of Oz. Between the connection of the song Somewhere Over The Rainbow and the more visual connection of plain light (black & white) turning into the rainbow (color) as in the movie. Either way this image is perhaps even more iconic now that the band themselves.
7. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine:
They used an iconic picture from the 60's of a Vietnamese monk setting himself on fire in protest of the group. That pretty much sets the tone for their own music. Protesting persecution of minority races ranging from blacks & hispanics to native americans. It is a startling image that grabs your attention and makes you think deeper about your own resolve. It made a lasting impression of me since I first saw it.
6. Tommy - The Who:
It is a cool image that took me a long time to figure out. I always found it interesting with the woven pattern and one side being a picture of a sky with some birds flying. I think I finally read somewhere that it represents the openness of the human mind and how easily things pass through. Once I understand that, it gave the cover an ever better representation for the theme of Tommy. Even before that, it was still an awesome image.
5. Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden:
I love almost all of Iron Maiden's cover art with their mascot Eddie. This is by far my favorite. The devil looking like he is controlling a small eddie that is dancing on the ashes of burning corpses only to have Eddie puppeterring the devil. This is classic metal and adds to the mystic of devil worship even though there is like nothing overly Satanic about their music. I can only imagine how great this would look in a large vinyl cover!
4. Nevermind - Nirvana:
A symbol for a generation. I always wondered why there wasn't more outrage at the picture of the naked baby in the pool. These days they would have liked to have an investigation into Cobain's child pornography habits. It represented the change in culture and how the obsession for money was starting younger and younger in people. The purity of a naked child versus the evil of corporate money. You could almost say that was the struggly of Cobain's life.
3. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin:
This is probably the balliest cover art concept in the history of music. The original LP had no distinguishing marks of a title or the name of the band. Even today when I look at the CD cover of just the picture of the old man, it sets a good tone for the sound of album. Alot of it seems to harken back to the old world. The foldout on the vinyl cover shows a complete imagine of the picture hanging on a partially destroyed wall with the city in the background. There is sort of an enviromentalist vibe to it and I think some of the symbols on the album even represent base elements like Earth & water.
2. Master of Puppets - Metallica:
And Justice For All, Kill 'em All, & Ride The Lightening could have all probably made this list, but this one maked the biggest statement. The crosses of the dead connected by puppet strings to these hands in the sky. A grim picture that could be a statement on war or religion. Eitherway the tone is dark and menacing setting the stage for one of the greatest albums ever.
1. Abbey Road - The Beatles:
There are lots of great Beatles cover art but this is my favorite imagine. To me it beats of the others because it is an actual photo that is completely full of symbolism, some of which we still probably don't understand. I remember this cover especially being one to examine closely for clues on the Paul Is Dead conspiracy. (John in white of a preacher, George in plain clothes of the undertaker & Paul shoeless just as people are buried & Ringo in a black suit as an attendee of the funeral) It is a pop culture icon in itself and I could never list all the different parodies and tributes I have seen.
Honorable Mention:
Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan: stylish & suggestive
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen: Iconic
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers: cool photoshop
Metal Health - Quiet Riot: a good metal image
Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones: sex appeal in overdrive
The Beatles - The Beatles: took some guts & could probably disprove the point of this list
10. News To The World - Queen:
I remember getting his on vinyl from my uncle. Which would support the idea that cover art has a very different effect on the old vinyl LPs. They did alot more with the cover art them. The cover folded out I think and there is another picture of the robot reaching down into a globe structure full of screaming people. I guess it strikes me because of the remorseful look on the robot's face as he holds the dead/injured bodies. It is a very detailed drawing. Maybe it signifies technology gone wrong or how our own advancement can mistakenly be our undoing. Not sure, but I always liked looking at this one.
9. Vulgar Display of Power - Pantera:
I always loved the title of this album for Pantera and the cover art just adds to the meaning. Their music is like a punch to the face when you listen to it. This is by far their best album and I think the cover art sets the tone from the moment you look at it. I don't know whether it is or not, but I always thought it looked like Dimebag Darrell that was getting punched on the cover.8. Dark Side of the Moon - Pink Floyd:
Perhaps one of the best albums ever made is very open to interpretation. The cover art follows suit with a simple display of how a prism refracts light into the colors of the rainbow. The cover only supports the fact that this album goes with The Wizard of Oz. Between the connection of the song Somewhere Over The Rainbow and the more visual connection of plain light (black & white) turning into the rainbow (color) as in the movie. Either way this image is perhaps even more iconic now that the band themselves.7. Rage Against The Machine - Rage Against The Machine:
They used an iconic picture from the 60's of a Vietnamese monk setting himself on fire in protest of the group. That pretty much sets the tone for their own music. Protesting persecution of minority races ranging from blacks & hispanics to native americans. It is a startling image that grabs your attention and makes you think deeper about your own resolve. It made a lasting impression of me since I first saw it.6. Tommy - The Who:
It is a cool image that took me a long time to figure out. I always found it interesting with the woven pattern and one side being a picture of a sky with some birds flying. I think I finally read somewhere that it represents the openness of the human mind and how easily things pass through. Once I understand that, it gave the cover an ever better representation for the theme of Tommy. Even before that, it was still an awesome image.5. Number of the Beast - Iron Maiden:
I love almost all of Iron Maiden's cover art with their mascot Eddie. This is by far my favorite. The devil looking like he is controlling a small eddie that is dancing on the ashes of burning corpses only to have Eddie puppeterring the devil. This is classic metal and adds to the mystic of devil worship even though there is like nothing overly Satanic about their music. I can only imagine how great this would look in a large vinyl cover!
4. Nevermind - Nirvana:
A symbol for a generation. I always wondered why there wasn't more outrage at the picture of the naked baby in the pool. These days they would have liked to have an investigation into Cobain's child pornography habits. It represented the change in culture and how the obsession for money was starting younger and younger in people. The purity of a naked child versus the evil of corporate money. You could almost say that was the struggly of Cobain's life.3. Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin:
This is probably the balliest cover art concept in the history of music. The original LP had no distinguishing marks of a title or the name of the band. Even today when I look at the CD cover of just the picture of the old man, it sets a good tone for the sound of album. Alot of it seems to harken back to the old world. The foldout on the vinyl cover shows a complete imagine of the picture hanging on a partially destroyed wall with the city in the background. There is sort of an enviromentalist vibe to it and I think some of the symbols on the album even represent base elements like Earth & water.2. Master of Puppets - Metallica:
And Justice For All, Kill 'em All, & Ride The Lightening could have all probably made this list, but this one maked the biggest statement. The crosses of the dead connected by puppet strings to these hands in the sky. A grim picture that could be a statement on war or religion. Eitherway the tone is dark and menacing setting the stage for one of the greatest albums ever.1. Abbey Road - The Beatles:
There are lots of great Beatles cover art but this is my favorite imagine. To me it beats of the others because it is an actual photo that is completely full of symbolism, some of which we still probably don't understand. I remember this cover especially being one to examine closely for clues on the Paul Is Dead conspiracy. (John in white of a preacher, George in plain clothes of the undertaker & Paul shoeless just as people are buried & Ringo in a black suit as an attendee of the funeral) It is a pop culture icon in itself and I could never list all the different parodies and tributes I have seen.Honorable Mention:
Bringing It All Back Home - Bob Dylan: stylish & suggestive
Born In The USA - Bruce Springsteen: Iconic
Californication - Red Hot Chili Peppers: cool photoshop
Metal Health - Quiet Riot: a good metal image
Sticky Fingers - Rolling Stones: sex appeal in overdrive
The Beatles - The Beatles: took some guts & could probably disprove the point of this list
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