Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards

Wow, what a weekend I had! I am an Events Coordinator at Wave 94.7FM Smooth Jazz, and I have been there for a year-and-a-half. This past weekend, we celebrated the 5th Annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards at the Living Arts Centre in Mississauga, and was it a busy weekend!

Since this was my second award show, my duty was the same...keep the artists happy! No, I'm kidding. It was transporting the artists to and from rehearsal and to the actual show. Many artists from last year remembered me, so that was really cool. It was great seeing and talking to them. My coworkers and I had very long shifts, but they were all very appreciative.

**Special thanks goes out to Darren Rahn, Nate Harasim, Deborah Connors, Warren Hill, Wayne Gerard, Frank Selman, Michael Lington, Vernon Barbary, Third, James and Jerry for their kindness**

Even though smooth jazz isn't my favourite of all music genres, I have certainly grown to appreciate it. For some great smooth jazz, check out these myspaces...

Darren Rahn = http://www.myspace.com/darrenrahn
DeNate = http://www.myspace.com/denatemusic
Warren Hill = http://www.myspace.com/warrenhillpopjazz
Wayne Gerard = http://www.myspace.com/waynegerardjazz
Vernon Barbary = http://www.myspace.com/vbassmusic

Know Your Enemy

Alright, here is my review for the newest single from Green Day entitled "Know Your Enemy." This is the first single to the upcoming, highly anticipated eighth studio album "21st Century Breakdown" from Green Day. What do I think? It's pretty good. Simple, catchy, and leaves you tapping your foot or bobbing your head to the beat.

Here's the deal...May 15th marks the day that Green Day will be back in full force with a new album; the first since 2004's critically acclaimed and OVERRATED album "American Idiot." Sorry folks, that's just my opinion. I like pre-American Idiot Green Day. Don't get me wrong, the album had some good songs, it was just weird how much the media ERUPTED over that album. It kind of made me sick...

ANYWAYS, back to "Know Your Enemy", it's a song with a perfectly crafted, fistpumping beat that slaps your brain with catchy melodies. It reminds me a little of old school GD, so yay!

Let's hope the album is good...check out my review of the album on May 15th!

Rock Mix 4

Need a new rock mix? Yeahhhh, it's been a while!

1. Another Sunday - I Mother Earth
2. Cyanide - Metallica
3. Down To My Last - Alter Bridge
4. Colors - Crossfade
5. Work - Jimmy Eat World
6. In Bloom - Nirvana
7. Audience Of One - Rise Against
8. Disarm - Smashing Pumpkins
9. This Is It - Stains
10. Courage - The Tragically Hip

I Mother Earth

Remember I Mother Earth?

If you don't, well, they were a great Canadian rock band, who's popularity peaked in the mid 1990's. The band was known to have been fronted by two singers; Edwin (1991-1997) and Brian Brynes (1997-2003). In the twelve years as a band, they released 4 studio albums and one compilation album. IME had success with every album in the Canadian music scene, selling a few hundred thousand albums in total.

In 1996, IME released their second LP entitled, Scenery and Fish. That album combined IME's trademark sounds with a slightly softer, radio-friendly approach, and was a critical and commercial success. In particular, the singles "One More Astronaut" and "Another Sunday" pushed the band into the big leagues of Canadian commercial music by going double platinum (200,000 albums sold).

After an abrupt decision to part ways, lead singer Edwin left the band and in 1997, the band threw Brian Brynes the microphone. In 1999, the band released, Blue Green Orange, and their popularity was gained once again with the single "Summertime in the Void." The new album was somewhat of a departure from earlier work, opting for more textured, sample sounds and less of an emphasis on the band's hard-rock reputation. Nevertheless, the album went Gold (shipments of 50,000 copies) in Canada.

The band released their final album in 2003 and then broke up. Yes, that was short and sweet.

I Mother Earth discography:
Dig (1994) (Certified GOLD in Canada)
Scenery and Fish (Certified DOUBLE PLATINUM in Canada)
Blue Green Orange (Certified GOLD in Canada)
The Quicksilver Meat Dream (Flop?)

Stay Alive Forever...

There is a song for every emotion.

Music is very powerful; it tailors to every human emotion and attaches itself to the soul. Whatever the occasion is, there is truly a song for every emotion. In my life, "Forever" and "Forget It" by Breaking Benjamin have become life long favourites because they were tunes that catered to past life struggles that I experienced. Please download them and listen to them at night, you'll get the full power of these songs.

In Bloom

This is an in-studio look with producer Butch Vig at the making of "In Bloom" from Nirvana's mega selling Nevermind album.

Goo Goo Update

Are you a fan of the Goo Goo Dolls? I sure am. If you're wondering what they've been up too, I can sum it up with one word; RECORDING. Here is a clip of the what will be the new album...

Studio Cam, Episode 1

Alter Bridge

This is Alter Bridge; a band that I finally became attached too. What a solid rock band! The band was formed in 2004 by Mark Tremonti and Scott Phillips, both formerly of Creed. With ex-singer Scott Crapp...oops, Scott Stapp, the rest of the band was eager to rock out again! They reunited with former bassist Brian Marshall and called up vocalist/guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four, which was a band that Creed toured with earlier in their career. After that, Alter Bridge was born.

One thing I love about this band is that they're without singer Scott Stapp. For the record, I never liked Creed...well, maybe a few songs, but it was mainly because of Scott Stapp. In my opinion, Stapp is the biggest poser that the early 2000s ever saw. For all those critics who slammed Chad Kroeger for sounding like Eddy Vedder (not at all), Scott Stapp sounds EXACTLY like Vedder. Like honestly, what a rip-off.

In 2004, Alter Bridge released their debut album, One Day Remains, on August 10, 2004 along with their first single "Open Your Eyes." The album was certified Gold by the RIAA. Three years later, Alter Bridge released their sophomore album, Blackbird, on October 9, 2007. As of December 2008, Blackbird has sold 227,000 copies.

Check out these tunes...
1. Open Your Eyes
2. Metalingus
3. Broken Wings
4. Down To My Last
5. Shed My Skin
6. Rise Today
7. Before Tomorrow Comes
8. Watch Over You
9. Brand New Start
10. Break Me Down

Obey Your Master!

You know, there isn't much I can say about this topic. Metallica is now in the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame! Please watch this video, it was a real treat seeing Jason Newsted back on stage performing with his old band. Obey your master...MASTER!!!