[This was originally written for the 11/24/03 issue of "5", back in our e-mail newsletter days. We've decided to dig it up and share it with the larger readership we've acquired since. Feel free to submit your own. Enjoy! - KJ]
PUFF DADDY & THE FAMILY "It’s All About the Benjamins" [rock remix] (Bad Boy)
How the hell did The Artist Formerly Known as Puff Daddy ever get alt-rock icons such as Nirvana drummer/Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl and former Replacements bassist Tommy Stinson to work with him?
Granted, aside from Grohl being a clown, he does in fact relish every opportunity to get behind the drums. But did Puffy even know who Stinson was? However it went down, the latter two were featured on this particular version, which is fueled by a great distorted guitar riff, thus giving it--in our humble opinion--the extra oomph the original lacked. The video’s pretty cool, too.
MOTLEY CRUE
Although we don’t own any of their discs, they are the only hair band we’ve ever seen live–-a friend had extra tickets and dragged us along--and for the most part, actually like. "Live Wire", "Looks That Kill", "Shout At The Devil", "Wild Side", "Girls, Girls, Girls" … the Crüe had better songs and truer rock and roll attitude than most (see Bon Jovi, Winger, Warrant, Poison, etc) and as far as hard rocking acts from the '80s go, they are second only to Guns ’N’ Roses in our book.
SPICE GIRLS "Say You'll Be There" (Virgin)
The second single from their debut album Spice, "Say You'll Be There" was never as ubiquitous as its annoyingly catchy predecessor "Wannabe". But it was a tasty ear candy morsel wrapped in a pop/soul package that was definitely above average and more than anyone had a right to ever expect from them. (It does sound suspiciously similar to Carl Carlton’s "She’s A Bad Mama Jama", however.) Although we won’t be partial to it, look out for the Girls' Abba-like rehabilitation to be in full swing by 2010. Or sooner.
SHANIA TWAIN "You’re Still The One" (Mercury)
Co-written by its intended object of affection, über-producer and Shanias’s husband Robert John "Mutt" Lange, this ode to romantic bliss–-and newly minted wedding reception staple-- has always been near and dear to us. And probably always will be. There, we said it.
VARIOUS ARTISTS Music For TV Dinners (Scamp)
Despite its title the music collected on this album is more reminiscent of supermarkets than supper. You know, the kind of tunes that made Muzak the evil purveyor of bland songcraft it has become known for.
Still, there’s a nostalgic charm attached to many of the tunes included herein. Quite a few did in fact make it to TV, but if you’re over thirty you’re more than likely to recognize them as the soundtrack to many a food shopping experience. We know we do.
