1. My mom had me when she was 40 years old

- my family would know this, but even for the times I’ve talked about my mom here, I don’t believe I’ve shared this here on the blog. There were some complications (breach), but for the medical advances that were around in 1963, I’m sure this one was common.

2. I took Ritalin as a child

- for some reason when I was about 9, my teacher thought I was hyperactive. This was reported to my mom, who as a single parent, took it to an extreme level and put me into counseling. At the time (early 70′s), Ritalin was a common thing for psychologists to prescribe for activities they were not all that familiar with. This lasted for a good three years before I finally got tired of taking it.

3. My first car was a 1974 Honda Civic


The above photo is not of the actual car I owned. Mine was a creme color. I didn’t have it very long – maybe about 6 months or so. My memories of driving this car are fading as the year’s pass. Unlike my memories of my second car, which was a 1972 Toyota Corolla wagon that had a huge dent on the side [I wish I had taken more photos in my early 20's].

4. The first computer I owned was an Atari 800


- Yes, with two cartridge slots and 48k of RAM, this was the top of the line back in the day [I won't tell you what year this was, but I'll let you guess]. I owned it for a good five years, even after I got my first PC. I wrote BASIC programs and played several games on it.

5. I was called “McFly” when the Back To The Future movie first came out

- I was proud to have this nickname. Even if people would use it often, to be associated with someone like Michael J. Fox was pretty cool in 1985.

6. The first CD I bought was U2′s “The Unforgettable Fire”


- the year was 1988. I had just bought my first CD player. There was a local record store in Orem, UT called Crandall Records. Albums and cassettes will still big, but CDs were starting to make huge inroads into the hands of music fans. As a fan of the band, I thought it was appropriate to get my favorite album of theirs on CD. I still have this CD today and will never part with it.

7. Several of my randoms here are “firsts”

- no particular reason other than they are random facts about me. See how I did that there? I now only have to worry about coming up with 10 of these.

8. My first short film I did was shown at a film festival


- the film is only 1 minute long, which was a requirement for the 2007 Treo Film Festival. But it was based off something that actually happened to me. The film festival was held at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood in October of that year. A good 500 people were at this event and for 60 seconds, I saw something my daughter and I created on a big screen. To this day, it’s one of the things I am most proud to have done, even though my skills in filming and editing have improved greatly.

9. I grew up a couple of miles from Disneyland


- Until I moved from California to Utah in late 1987, I never lived more than 2 miles away from Disneyland. My mom use to take me often when I was little. As a teen, I would go with my friends. And my first wife worked there when we first started dating. I would hear the train sound most days and fireworks at 9:30pm each night provided long lasting memories of growing up near The Happiest Place On Earth.

10. My favorite vegetable is brussel sprouts


Original image found at The Daily Green
- Believe it or not, I really do love these. steamed and cooked for 30 mins, then served with butter, they are so, so good.

11. I went to Gambler’s Anonymous for playing video games


Original image found at Pink Gorilla Games
- At the age of 17, along with my mom in tow, I stood up along side some people with serious gambling problems to announce that it had been 12 days since I last played Pac-man. I shit you not, this really did happen. The meetings were held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA and I was the lone person who wasn’t dropping $100 bills on the blackjack table or other card and casino games. My addiction to the quater-eating mavens wasn’t really an addiction at all, as after 10 or so meetings, it was suggested that we find another option for saving me the $10 a week I spent at the arcade. To say that I was embarrassed at being forced to do this, is an understatement. I look back now and glad I didn’t do this with my daughter over her Pokemon “addiction”.

11 Questions From Kim

Ok.. ok… I’ll at least answer Kim’s questions she posed over on her blog post. Go to her site to see the questions.

1. To be a writer/published author and filmmaker/screenwriter
2. Maine in 1999. I toyed with going all the way up to Nova Scotia, but ran out of time.
3. Yes.
4. Shrimp scampi and pan-seared scallops. And Fettucine Alfredo if it’s made right.
5. Depends on the news, but normally my wife.
6. Computer problems. See this blog post and why I loathe it.
7. Lately, MySQL questions. I try to keep them down to just a few times a month.
8. Because I like to read other people’s writings and the curious nature of why others blog like me.
9. Probably my wife. Maybe a few others. Mostly though, myself.
10. Yes.
11. The conspiracy that surrounds the JFK assassination. I did a history report on it many years ago in college and I was highly fascinated by how many different versions of the story are out there.

Ok, now comment away. Or steal this meme for your own blog. I say make up your own rules as you see fit.

Music Monday returns on this day to remember Martin Luther King, Jr.

The musical connection to MLK has been made by many artists, but most memorable to me are the songs “Pride (In The Name of Love)” and “MLK” by U2 off of their album “The Unforgettable Fire” released in October 1984. It was the first CD I purchased (I got it in 1987).

Pride is the more well-known song here, with a reference to the slain civil rights leader. Whereas MLK is more of a dedicated tribute. Here’s both songs available for your listening pleasure.

U2 – “Pride (In The Name of Love)”

U2 – “MLK”

___________________________

We’ve made great strides in extending civil rights, but we also still have a ways to go before equality is extended to all members of this great nation. May that dream that Dr. King had decades ago still echo in all that we do to help that along.

I will also include a few that I bought that missed the top ranking, as well as some that I still need to go out and get. The top entries are in the order of when they were released.

So with that, here’s my 2009 list:

• Lily Allen “It’s Not You, It’s Me”
  
  My daughter introduced me to Lily Allen, who I had heard of, but had never heard her music before. So I bought this sophomore release and was hooked. Of course, the two stand out tracks here are “The Fear” and “Fuck You”, which pretty much says to other young female artists to step it up a few notches if they want to have an outstanding album.
• Depeche Mode “Sounds Of The Universe”
  
  Most of you know I am a huge Depeche Mode fan. I’ve seen them multiple times in concert and there’s not that many songs or albums of theirs that I don’t like. This year’s release was a pretty strong effort by the band and songs like “Wrong” and “In Sympathy” made me love this band even more.
• Phoenix “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
  
  I was rather surprised that this was their fourth album. Where the hell have I been? Obviously not listening to this band. Tracks like “Lisztomania” and “1901″ only cement the love for playing this entire album from start to finish.
• Chickenfoot “Chickenfoot”
  
  I discovered this album early on in the year and I was instantly hooked. You take Sammy and Michael from Van Halen, add in Joe Satriani and Chad Smith to the mix and you have some kick ass tunes. “Soap On A Roap” and “Turnin’ Left” are just the tip of the iceberg for this hot new super group.
• Killswitch Engage “Killswitch Engage”
  
  One of the few metalcore bands that I really like released a new album this year. It’s self-titled [their second of their career... confusing to say the least] and it’s good… really good. Tracks like “Starting Over” and “The Forgotten” are melodic and hard-edged starting points to the greatness of the entire album.
• Pearl Jam “Backspacer”
  
  Pearl Jam was one of those bands that had to grow on me. But once they did, their grunge-like sound stuck. And while their self-titled release a few years ago wasn’t one of their better releases, they redeemed themselves with “Backspacer.” Stand out tracks like “The Fixer” and “Amongst The Waves” prove they still have got the musical touch.
• Alice In Chains “Black Gives Way To Blue”
  
  There has never been a band like Alice In Chains. So imagine my apprehension when they decide to release a new album with a new lead singer, William DuVall. Well, after many listens, this has proven to be really good. True Layne Staley fans may be bothered by him being replaced, but they should take a listen to songs like “Check My Brain” and “A Looking In View” and they may feel better about this return.
• Them Crooked Vultures “Them Crooked Vultures”
  
  Another super group? Did we really need another one? Before you shake your head in disagreement, you may want to listen to their debut album. Dave Grohl, Josh Homme and John Paul Jones [of Led Zeppelin] make this release a must listen. Songs like “New Fang” and “Mind Eraser, No Chaser” are just a couple of the 13 tracks that make this album rock.

Down A Few Rungs

And there were some albums that I bought that just didn’t grab me or they promised more than I thought they produced.

• U2 “No Line On The Horizon”
  
  U2 is one of my favorite bands and over their career, they have released some incredible albums. This was not one of them. Sure there were some catchy songs like “Get Your Boots On” and “Moment Of Surrender”, but overall, it was a snoozer for this fan.
• Muse “The Resistance”
  
  Muse have proven they are an incredibly talented band. Musically, they’ve released several albums that have been fan favorites. But there is something lacking in this latest release. Sure, their trademark sound is here, but there are many weak tracks on this album that just didn’t seem as strong as they could have been.
• Green Day “21st Century Breakdown”
  
  Green Day is one of those bands that I’ve always liked. And “American Idiot” was a great album and one that plays well from start to finish, telling a great story. But when you try to tell another story from start to finish on a new album, it may just start to feel the same. This album did just that. There were some great songs, but the melody sounded way too similar… almost like they were phoning it in. They did redeem themselves by being great in concert, though.
• Grizzly Bear “Veckatimest”
  
  I really did try to like this album. Lots of people loved it and praised it over and over. Even my daughter talked about how great it is. But I have to be honest that I didn’t completely fall in love with it, even after half a dozen listens. That doesn’t mean I hate it. On the contrary, but just not enough to make it a top candidate.

Albums I Need To Get Still

And there are a few releases that I need to pick up still, lauded by my daughter and others.

• Silversun Pickups “Swoon”
  
  I know my daughter has this album because she loves this band. I’ve heard a few songs from this album and liked them just as much as I did the tracks from their first release, “Carnavas.” Guess I need to get this latest release from my daughter.
• Passion Pit “Manners”
  
  I like some electronic dance music. LCD Soundsystem is one of my favorites. So after listening to several of the tracks on this album, I put it on my “must have” list. I still don’t have it, but I’m about to change that before the year ends.
• Cage The Elephant “Cage The Elephant”
  
  Grant Ruby, a friend and a DJ at local radio station 101.9 FM The End, has praised this album both on his blog and on the air. I’ve got one song “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” and I like it. Now I need to get the album to hear what other great songs I’ve been missing out on.
• Pet Shop Boys “Yes”
  
  I’ve been a fan of the Pet Shop Boys since their mid-80′s debut. I’ve had most of their albums over the years and they have never strayed from being great. Thanks to Dave from Blogography’s praise, this is an album that I will eventually own.
• White Rabbits “It’s Frightening”
  
  I really like the song “Percussion Gun” and have heard the rest of the album is just as good. I just need to go get the album and see for myself if the other tracks stand out just as great.

Best of Decade

There you have it – my 2009 list of albums that were great, not so great and ones I have yet to get. I also plan to do a best of decade list. That one is a bit more difficult to put together, but I’ll make sure it gets posted as soon I’m done.

So did I leave anything off? Put one on my list you think sucked? Comment away.

What’s Your Name, little Scooter, what’s your name….

Vimeo version – Click Here

Thanks

Thanks to everyone that participated in the Name The Scooter contest. It was a lot of fun. And a special shout out to the runner up names:

• Chilly’s Filly [submitted by Beth]
• Bombay Sapphire [submitted by DutchBitch]

Stay tuned for not only a summer full of Scooter Sunday episodes, but another giveaway. [sorry, no details just yet.... be patient my readers]

10. Alice In Chains: MTV Unplugged
    
    The first time I heard Alice In Chains, it was 1990 and they had just released “Facelift” I really wasn’t that into it. It only took a short time before their sound grabbed me and I became a fan. But the album of theirs that I listen to most is “MTV Unplugged” from 1996. The raw and stripped down sound is so clean and fresh. Plus it’s one of the last time’s Layne performed with the band. Just try and listen to this version of “Down in a Hole” without feeling goosebumps.

 

11. U2: The Joshua Tree
    
    The music released in 1987 was tops. An excellent year for many bands. U2 was already becoming a household name, but this album made sure no one mistook the band for the military plane. Songs like “With Or Without You” and “Bullet The Blue Sky” forever changed the status of this Irish band. This album is still in constant rotation in my CD player on on my iPod.

 

12. Prince: Purple Rain
    
    I found Prince’s music when he released the album 1999. But it was seeing the movie Purple Rain that helped me get more into this funk master’s mindset and his grooves. Even the backwards masking controversy could not stop people from embracing this album. “Darling Nikki” will always bring a smile to my face, and “Let’s Go Crazy” starts off any party with a blast.

 

13. Led Zeppelin: Houses of the Holy
    
    I’ve been a Zeppelin fan since the beginning of their career. And I like pretty much all of their music. This album, released in 1973, came out on top and stayed there. Even missing the title track (which showed up on their next album, “Physical Graffiti”), it still didn’t take away from the tracks like “Dancing Days” and “No Quarter”. In fact, this album contains my favorite Zep song – “The Rain Song” which is almost eight minutes of pure enjoyment.

 

14. The Eagles: Hotel California
    
    Even with their country infused sound, the Eagles forever changed the landscape of rock with this 1976 album. Hearing “Life In The Fast Lane” on the radio that year, wiped out any stereotype I had from their previous work. And although I prefer the version of “Hotel California” from their album “Hell Freezes Over”, the original studio version still stands up in its classic format.

 

15. Fleetwood Mac: Rumours
    
    If you have ever read the story of the making of this album, you will be amazed that it actually got made. To date, it has sold over 30 million copies and is considered one of the best rock albums ever made. And with songs like “The Chain” (which is my favorite), it’s hard not to keep playing this album over and over. This is the album that gets put on when I leave for a camping trip, driving down the highway and backroads.

 

16. Sex Pistols: Nevermind The Bullocks
    
    “God Save The Queen/Her Facist Regime” Opening lyrics that became glued to every punk kid’s memory. Released in 1977, it is the first and only album recorded by the Sex Pistols. It’s also the one that everyone turns to when they think of the start of the punk rock revolution. Raw, unapologetic and dirty, this album has stood the test of time and inspired many followers over the years.

 

17. Marilyn Manson: Antichrist Superstar
    
    Not too many people know what a huge fan of Marilyn Manson I am. I’ve seen him twice in concert (2001 and 2008) and have always considered his music misunderstood by most. Most people may remember all of the odd things he’s done over the years, but it’s this 1996 release that will remain one of his best works. Produced by Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), it tells a story of a misguided rock star looking for whatever it can find to satisfy any desire in life. Besides the well-known “The Beautiful People”, songs like “Little Horn” and the title track make this album one I never get tired of hearing.

 

18. Rolling Stones: Exile On Main Street
    
    I can’t tell you how many great albums were released in the 70′s. Today most are known as classic rock. Eight years into their career, the Rolling Stones came out with this album. Except for “Tumbling Dice”, there wasn’t a lot of well-known radio hits, but that wasn’t the point of this record. Playing it from start to finish is much more what Mick & Keith and Co. had in mind. Eighteen songs long, it’s easily my favorite, and with many music critics, as well.

 

19. Tears For Fears: Songs From The Big Chair
    
    How many times do you hear an album for the first time and think, “This is going to be huge” Tears For Fears second release from 1985 was one of those albums that I heard and uttered the above phrase. “Shout” and “Head Over Heels” were heard everywhere. You couldn’t escape them if you wanted to. And now 23 years later, I enjoy them just as much as when they were in heavy rotation on pop radio.

 

20. Notorious B.I.G.: Life After Death
    
    I don’t like too many rap artists. In fact, I can only name four or five that I really count as musicians that matter in the music industry. One had his life cut short, just days before the release of this album. Christopher “Biggie” Wallace knew how to rap. Just listen to “Hypnotize” and “Going Back To Cali” and you’ll hear someone who really spent time perfecting his talent. And to have one of the best selling double albums, it’s a 1996 release that you should really check out.

 

21. Pink Floyd: Dark Side Of The Moon
    
    Who knew that in 1973, an long time jazzy blues band was going down a more creative route musically. They had several albums that resulted in their efforts, but it was this album that sticks in most people’s minds as the definitive crown. Spending over 12 years on the Billboard Top 200 list, it’s the one album that most people own and play often. It’s meant to be played from start to finish and you can listen to tracks like “Money” and still be blown away at how well this sounds.

 

22. Black Sabbath: Paranoid
    
    The start of the 70′s found the a band from England releasing one of their best selling and most popular albums. “War Pigs”, “Faries Wear Boots” and “Iron Man” are some timeless classics, you can’t help but listen each and every time they are played. They would go on to release six more albums with Ozzy Osbourne at the helm, but Paranoid remains the one that most people know and love.

 

23. The Cars: The Cars
    
    An odd lead singer with an even odder name, Ric Otcasek (later changed to Ocasek) helped start this Boston band on its road to success. Their first album is yet another one that must be played from the beginning to the end. And with no gaps between the tracks on each side of the album, it flows perfectly. It’s very common for me to play all of side 2 (which is the final three songs) for a lot of people, just to show how well it sounds. “Good Times Roll” and “Best Friend’s Girl” are the stand out tracks that makes this record a keeper.

 

24. The Cure: Pornography
    
    Long considered a goth band, The Cure was always a favorite of mine. In 1982, they released the first of the trilogy of albums [Disintegration (1989) and Bloodflowers (2000) were the other two] that would define their drastic and dread-like sound. “One Hundred Years” and “Hanging Garden” are classic alternative songs that make you want to mosh and sway.

 

25. Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile
    
    A double album is not something that’s easy to release, let alone expect the buying public to embrace. Bands like Smashing Pumpkins and Peter Frampton made them work. And so did Nine Inch Nails in 1999. The album is broken up into two: Left and Right. While I prefer the Left side (another one that is great from start to finish), the Right side contains the Grammy-nominated song “Starfuckers Inc.”, which is not only a killer song, its lyrics tell a sordid tale about torn friendships.

 

So there you have it. I guess I could go on with my favorites, which could fill countless blog posts. But we’ll stop a the Top Nine and the rest of the top 25 favorites. Comment away if you have anything to add to this or add your favorites or suggestions.