Author: John Paulsen (Page 12 of 19)

Tom Petty: “Saving Grace”

By now, most people fall into one of three categories when it comes to Tom Petty’s music: 1) they like it 2) they hate it or 3) they’ve never heard it. Enter the first track, “Saving Grace,” from his forthcoming CD, Highway Companion. It’s carried by a bluesy guitar riff and Petty’s understated vocals. It sounds like it would be the first song Tom would play if he did a surprise gig at your favorite saloon.

Listen to the entire song here.

Pearl Jam: “Marker In The Sand”

With my upcoming Pearl Jam/Tom Petty show, I thought it wise to dig into Pearl Jam’s most recent effort (creatively titled Pearl Jam). It’s a pretty good record, but my favorite song is “Marker In The Sand,” which is reminiscent of the band’s Vs. days. (That’s a good thing.) I especially like the cascading chorus.

Listen to a song clip here.

Read Bullz-Eye’s review.

Journey: “Feeling That Way/Anytime”

That “Separate Ways” video (on YouTube.com) inspired me to listen to some Journey, and I have to mention the band’s two most underrated songs. “Anytime” was one of the band’s first hits from Infinity, and peaked at #83 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart. It is now usually played on classic rock radio with “Feeling That Way,” which is a slow building rocker that showcases Steve Perry’s unique vocals, the group’s patented harmonizing and one of the band’s better guitar solos. After hearing the pair played together a few times, the ending of “Feeling That Way” screams for “Anytime,” another groovy rocker with a slow beat and an infectious chorus. The two songs were left off of the band’s Greatest Hits compilation that came out in 1988. With clunkers like “Be Good To Yourself” and “I’ll Be Alright Without You” and a running time of just under 62 minutes, Columbia Records has no excuse. Sony had the chance to correct the mistake in 2001, but failed by leaving “Feeling That Way” off of The Essential Journey, which was a double-disc compilation. What a slap in the face.

Listen to a song clip here.

Super Furry Animals: “The Horn”

Granted, after eight albums, I’m a little late to jump on the Super Furry Animals’ tiny bandwagon, but their new(est) disc, Love Kraft, is pretty damn good, and “The Horn” is the most accessible single of the bunch. “Psyclone!” and “Zoom” are the other big highlights, but the whole album, consisting of less SFA psychedelia and more pop, is pretty solid.

Check out some song clips here.

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