Totally Random Blog - David Lee Roth's Ladies' Night in Buffalo

I'm a big David Lee Roth fan.  When I was kid, I had Diamond Dave right up there with Spider-Man and Batman, and my first legitimate heartbreak came when Van Halen and Roth parted ways.  Of course, it wouldn't be long before Dave hit us with Eat 'Em and Smile, and while Van Halen would lose speed with Sammy Hagar at the helm, Roth was still killing it.  Now, I'm a bit iffy on some of his solo work beyond Eat 'Em and Smile, but that album still gets a lot of play in these parts.  Like most, I think that "Yankee Rose" is the best cut on the record, but lately I have been really taken with "Ladies' Night in Buffalo."  In particular, I'm really digging Steve Vai's stripped-down guitar track, something he apparently rebelled against initially, though he has come to appreciate it over the years.  The song is so very chill and it features Roth at his low-key coolest, exchanging all the usual bells and whistles for a bit of spoken word that is part quizzical rock song and part poetry.  I was looking online and apparently it was pretty well-received at the time of the album's release, with Spin labeling it "alarmingly cool" and Rolling Stone also taking time to give the track props in their review of Eat 'Em and Smile.  Anyway, they say sharing is caring, so that's what I'm doing.  It may be 2016, but I'm still rolling with Diamond Dave and trying to figure out just what the hell this sublime groove that is stuck in my head is all about.

Well, it's not Van Halen, but the band Roth put together for Eat 'Em and Smile is a hell of a lot better than Van Hagar.

Top 5 Songs by The Doors

Talk about a tough one.  What a band!  What a catalog!  So many great albums loaded with classic tunes, and so many of these tracks are so very near and dear to my heart.  I puzzled over this a lot, and it's still so easy to second-guess my choices.  Before I drop my list, let's talk a bit about The Doors and I. 

When it comes to art, I got a head-start.  Let me rephrase that, my dad gave me a head-start when it comes to art--music, movies, and books in particular.  These are things that happened in my life:

-I read my dad's copy of Christine by Stephen King when I was 8.

-When I was 10 or 11, I was getting ready to rent My Pet Monster or something like that.  "You should try this instead," dad said, handing me Phantasm. 

-Also at 11, dad gave me a double-cassette (That's right, double-cassette!  That's how we rolled once upon a when) greatest hits set of The Doors.

When it comes to that last one, well, honestly I was a bit perplexed.  I didn't know who The Doors were.  It wasn't one of the things I had asked for.  I remember looking at the picture on the front and expecting something like The Monkees at worst and maybe Aerosmith or The Rolling Stones at best.  I was into Van Halen and The Beastie Boys, and it didn't seem like a fit.

And then there came The Doors.  I'm not sure that I listened to anything else that summer.  I was totally lost in the music, totally riveted by what I heard, and there followed a lifelong love of that seminal band's unique and daring approach.  At some point thereafter, dad and I watched Apocalypse Now, and it was pretty damn cool to see a legendary band's music married to such a legendary picture to magnificent effect.

Also, I feel the need to talk about the talent involved.  This was one hell of a group.  Jim and his theatrics seem to get the lion's share of the credit.  His ability and his creativity were more integral to the group's success.  Additionally, the entire band was very talented.  If one wants to make a case for either Ray or Robby being more essential to The Doors than Jim, I'm not going to object.  Ray is actually my favorite contributor, but those three guys were all totally amazing.  It's not just that they were gifted either, they were passionate about sharing those gifts.  Densmore was also a quality percussionist and songwriter, and I'm certainly not trying to insult his contributions even if I have him a rung below his peers. 

So, yeah, . . . I had a tough time with this one.  Here's what I have:

Top 5 Songs by The Doors

#5 - Five to One

This one is so intense and so powerful that it almost feels like metal.  Morrison is so on, and the whole thing smokes from start to finish.

#4 - Hello, I Love You

Are there people who don't song along when they hear this one?

#3 - Riders on the Storm

Creepy, masterful, and so incredibly vivid.  Some songs really paint a picture--this one paints a lot of them.  This is a great example of the special kind of magic that The Doors possessed.  I just don't see how anyone else could have put together something like this.

#2 - Roadhouse Blues

Rowdy and fun, this is one of my personal favorites.  This one puts a smile on my face and showcases the blues sensibilities that gave the music such an edge at times.  Of all my choices, I feel that this one is the one I'm probably placing too high on my list, but I try to be honest with my decisions.  This is where I feel this track belongs.

#1 - The End

I'm tempted to wonder how much of an influence the movie had on my love for this one, but I have to remind myself that even before dad and I watched Apocalypse Now this was my favorite track.  Why wouldn't it be?  It's positively haunting, it's equally mesmerizing, and it has such an impact on the listener.  I could be wrong, but I feel like this is the most obvious choice on the list, and I'm not going to argue the point.

. . .

Seriously, what do you think? 

Is The End an easy choice in the top slot? 
 
Did I go too far with my love for Roadhouse Blues? 
 
How did so many great songs wind up on the shelf--what about Light My Fire or L.A. Woman?  There are others, many others.  

Did I disrespect John Densmore?

I would love to hear your take on The Doors and my Top 5.  Social commentary and questions regarding my father and his parenting choices are equally helpful; the healing process is going smoothly, but talking things out never hurts.

Tiny Gamer, Splendid Wife

So, my beloved wife hooked me up with WWE 13 tonight, and it's looking they've finally gotten it right again.  In my opinion, the last truly epic wrestling game was Wrestlemania 2000, but I'm a Jerichoholic, so take that for what it's worth.  That's not my point anyway.  My point is WWE 13 seems like a real winner.
I love the so-called "Attitude Era" of professional wrestling, and the way THQ has married archive footage and audio to gameplay scenarios is a great idea.  It's a nostalgic treat for old fans like myself, and it'll be like a history lesson for the younger fans.
I'm just getting started, but the graphics are sharp, the presentation is crisp, and the gameplay is stellar.  I think this is going to be a late night and I think it's safe to call WWE 13 a hit.
But you don't have to take my word for it.  Check out my main man, Ash. 

 

He thinks it's a terrific game.  He made some tiny little man sounds to that effect
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Also, I should note that this spectacular wife of mine, who did indeed score WWE 13 for me tonight, also scored me Van Halen tickets for our anniversary.

And, I should also point out that this same woman also got me tickets to see the Seattle defense beat up the Panthers.

She's a marvel and a blessing, and I'm so very thrilled to call her mine.  She's going to have a hard time topping 2012, that's for sure.
I think she's going to need FNM to pitch in and do a legitimate U.S. tour to pull it off.