MUSIC: "Astronomy"

A friend of mine recently was bemoaning the state of pop music today; something I can totally relate to. If it doesn't come from a lady with a lobster on her face or from some Disney-created pop tart with a terrible voice, people won't listen. Its a shame really. So I asked my friend what prompted this specific rant and he ordered me to "listen!" to what was being played on our bar's electronic juke box. He said, "I don't understand why Blue Öyster Cult never achieved the fame of Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd." I didn't want to admit that I wasn't familiar with the band that was allegedly playing, but that would have only made his point, I guess.

Anyways, I checked them out and I do believe he is right; they are a great and under-appreciated band. Check out "Astronomy" from their 1974 album, Secret Treaties.

Buzzy

MUSIC: The Adventures of Bobby Ray

First off, I would like to declare publicly that I am NOT obsessed with B.o.B. despite the fact that I have now blogged about him twice in the past two months. My bad. I can't help it if he's one of the only people putting out decent music these days...

If you liked "Nothin' On You" and want more more more, then check out his just-released album, The Adventures of Bobby Ray. If you're cautious and want to test the waters slowly, check out the single islander-tinged "Lovelier Than You," or "Ghost In The Machine" which is a genre-crossing cover song in the making, if I ever heard one! By my personal favorite is "Magic" featuring the bubbly and smooth vocals of Weezer frontman, Rivers Cuomo, and is the perfect blend of rap and pop-rock that make the late-2000's a great time to be a hip-hop fan.

Buzzy

MUSIC: "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)"

I've been waiting with baited breath for The White Stripes' newest album to come out ever since I heard the rumors almost a year ago. I know Jack White has a bazzillion side-projects (The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, etc.) but, I my humble and loving opinion, he is at his best when he's with his ex-wife, Meg.

In honor of that anticipation, I present to you one of my favorite songs from the band's catalogue, "You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told)" from their album Icky Thump. I love the plea to a complacent and misplaced love, saying "you're not hopeless or helpless, you just do as you're told." Hurry, Jack, and give us some more!!!

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Don't Matter" cover

Massachusetts-based band, Phone Calls From Home, has a new album out, Connected, with a killer cover of Akon's hit, "Don't Matter". While its use of auto-tune (like the original) is disappointing, the more rocking interpretation is fitting of the song. I also love that the video is shot in some strange city where waitresses at "mom-and-pop" diners dress like they're going out to a night club and there is an exclusive park for punk/emo dudes to go for walks in.

Check out the single and album on iTunes!

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Nothing To Lose"

I'm a little confused and disgusted by the latest musical collaboration, which, incidentally, is what lead me to investigate it in the fist place. Off of ex-Poison front-man Bret Michael's next as-yet-untitled solo album comes the single, "Nothing To Lose" featuring...(wait for it)...Miley Cyrus.

I don't know if this is some last desperate attempt at getting Bret some new younger fans (younger than the girls that watched the VH1 celeb-reality sex romp "Rock of Love") or Miley using daddy's connections to access a more mature and possibly edgier audience. Either way, I really don't want to know. I feel I would be disappointed in someone and some point in this musical journey.

Regardless, its a pretty good song and I think it has potential to chart well. With a slightly rock, slightly country vibe, Michaels sings about asking a girl to fall for him after she's been burned too many times before.

"If been totaled and put down,
Wearing my heart on my sleeve,
Yeah, those scars that you wear,
Well, I've got them to can't you see?"

If you don't think about Micheals' sexual reputation and Cyrus' age, it's a sweet song.

Sergio del Limonar

MUSIC: "Mariachi El Bronx"

I would like to start by quoting Spin magazine writer Doug Brod, who's review single-handedly made me buy this CD:

"You know that album your host puts on when somebody leaves for a beer run and everyone's tripping over empties as they sloppily tug at whoever's closest to dance or make out with, and it sounds like maybe some punk band nailing traditional Mexican music without ever approaching smirking novelty - kind of exotic, yet immediately accessible - and three gloriously heart-rending songs in, the whole room starts asking increduously, "Who is this?" This is that band."

With that wonderfully composed gratuitously run-on sentence Mr. Brod captures perfectly the very essence of this CD. The group, actually named The Bronx, and their semi-eponymous fourth album is an instant classic. Check out songs like "Despretador" and the sweeping "My Brother The Gun".

I guarantee that you have nothing like Mariachi El Bronx in your music collection and that you need it and don't even know. One time through and you'll be hooked.

Buzzy

PS: Sorry and Thanks to Doug Brod for letting me steal your words! I couldn't have done it better by a mile!

MUSIC: "Hellhole Ratrace"

"I don't wanna die without shaking up a leg or two...Yeah, I wanna do some dancin' too!"

Who doesn't feel that way from time to time. This song "Hellhole Ratrace", by San Francisco band Girls (made up of no girls, FYI), off their album titled Album, is about just getting through. A slow-burning rocker, the song is a self-motivating plea to to the best you can and enjoy yourself while you're doing it - to live happily with no regrets.

I wish I would have heard this one on New Years Eve! My resolution may have lasted a day longer...

Buzzy

MUSIC: "Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts" video

Massachusetts band Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers has been a favorite of mine for several years. If you've never heard of them then you are probably in the majority (and obviously don't go to UMass). This is definitely a band to keep an eye on, though, as they are poised to be the next big thing.

The video for their first single, "Shady Esperanto and the Young Hearts", off their fourth studio album, The Bear, is a giddy romp back to the days of our childhood backyard imaginations. Utilizing the UMass Minuteman Marching band (sans instrumnets for the most part) and seemingly impromptu choreography, the group embraces the lyrics "I never want to get old!"

Sergio del Limonar

MUSIC: Bruce Springsteen

"I believe that Bob Dylan and James Brown had a baby...that child is Bruce Stringsteen."
- Jon Stewart at the 2009 Kennedy Center Honors

Truer words have never been spoken about "The Boss." This is so very ZONINO! for me as I grew up listening to the only man my father deemed as being worthy of being played in his garage. I think his voice is true, raw, and beautiful. "Thunder Road" may be one of the greatest lyrical songs of the century and "Born in the USA" is one of the most epic of albums in American music history.

ZONINO! and congratulations, Bruce!

Buzzy

MUSICAL: American Idiot

If you are in the Berkeley, California area, or will be in the next month and a half, be sure to check out punk-rock band, Green Day's newest project - a punk-rock musical adaptation of their 2004 album, American Idiot. This world premier performance - which has already been extended twice - is being held at the beautiful Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where you can also purchase tickets.

The show, also called American Idiot, a one act piece featuring an live rock band on stage, follows the lives of three post-high school aged friends who want out of their humdrum lives in a small town and to experience life in an urban metropolis. A variety of Gothamesque problem arise, with various characters dealing with pregnancy, drugs, war deployment, loneliness, dreams, and immaturity. The cast is young and fresh with various members having experience on Broadway and with touring shows.

While the look may scream "RENT," the vibe is an electric guitar resonating about life many of us can actually relate to. Check out this amazing show while you still can in it's infancy before it becomes Broadway's next big thing!

Sergio del Limónar

MUSIC: "Use Somebody" Paramore cover

Fact #1: The Kings of Leon are awesome.

Fact #2: Their single "Use Somebody" is an instant rock classic.

Fact #3: We here at Zonino! are obsessed. (Here too.)

These are all true factual statements. Laws even. Don't argue with them. You can't win.

That being said, if someone were to try and imitate such awesomeness, their attempts very easily could be laughable to the point of extradition and humiliation. Done right however, we can only hold them up to the light on the highest pillar we can find and sing their praises.

Paramore, we salute you! Your outstandingly faithful yet original take on "Use Somebody" blew my mind. Great vocals by lead singer Haley Williams; haunting each and every word! I have chills...look! Now, release this as a single, please!!!

Buzzy