Web Zone Number 9


	2007.4.10 - Favorite albums section updated.
My Stuff
	"The Story with No Plot" - A bizarre nonsense story I co-wrote in the 6th grade. 'S fun! Sims Family Album - Here you can peruse some memorable moments shared by the roomies. (call this collection "Live with Regis, Obi-Wan and Puffy Lee"), The house was closely patterned after my own childhood home in Anchorage, AK (notice the pavement and indoor plumbing!). Many of the luxuries -- such as the rec room, pool, and plasma TV -- are strictly video-game fantasy.
Alaska Celebs
	Jewel - She was born in Utah, and rose to fame after moving to California. Regardless, I've always found her to be, as they say... "easy on the eyes." Scott Summers, aka Cyclops - This fictional character from the X-Men comic books was born in Anchorage, though Marvel keeps re-doing their continuity, so he could be dead for all I know. As destructive a force as it might be, I've always thought having eyes that shoot lasers was kind of a lame mutant power. William T. Riker - Another fictional character, this one from Star Trek: The Next Generation, will be born in Valdez, AK in about, oh, 330 years from now. And he'll find himself digging the poker and the jazz music. Wikipedia's list of "Notable Alaskans" Wikipedia's list of "Athletic Alaskans" - When it comes to sports, the 49th state fares much better.
Nine Favorite Musicians
	Foo Fighters - The first rock and roll band I ever became obsessed with, and to this day they remain my absolute favorite. No one else comes close to doing an insane, aggressive, hard-rock tune on one track, and doing a laid-back, pretty, acoustic ballad on the next. [Honolulu Concert Review from July 31, 2000. And I was there!] The Beatles - One listen to their greatest hits collection, Beatles 1, and you'll see why everyone loves them as much as they do. But you might want to skip their debut and just go to With the Beatles after that. By the time you get to Sergeant Pepper, you'll see what all the fuss was about. Blondie Fleetwood Mac Franz Ferdinand - Their second album was up and down, but in their debut, well, things just can't get much better than that. Hall and Oates - The ultimate '80s cheese-fest, but a guilty pleasure nonetheless. And some of their not-so-campy numbers were pretty good in their own right. Jack Johnson - His albums can start to sound a little samey when heard beginning to end, but there's always enough gems in there that make his music almost addicting. The Police - I dig that crazy Stewart Copeland sound. Weezer
Nine Fave Albums (Post-'90)
	*The Colour and the Shape* - Foo Fighters, 1999. *Bleed American* - Jimmy Eat World, 2001 *Franz Ferdinand* - Franz Ferdinand, 2004. *From Under the Cork Tree* - Fall Out Boy, 2005 *In Between Dreams* - Jack Johnson, 2005. *Nevermind* - Nirvana, 1991. *Oh No* - OK Go, 2005. *There Is Nothing Left to Lose* - Foo Fighters, 1999. *Weezer (Blue Album)* - Weezer, 1994.
Nine Fave Albums (Pre-'90)
	*Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band* - The Beatles, 1967. *A Charlie Brown Christmas* - Vince Guaraldi Trio, 1965. *The Empire Strikes Back Soundtrack* - John Williams, 1980. *A Hard Day's Night* - The Beatles, 1964. *Off the Wall* - Michael Jackson, 1979. *Outlandos d'Amour* - The Police, 1978. *Revolver* - The Beatles, 1966. *Rumours* - Fleetwood Mac, 1977. *Zenyatta Mondatta* - The Police, 1980.
Nine Fave Foo Songs
	"Everlong" - For me, it's a toss-up between this and #2, but in the end it always comes down to this, and there's a reason that most fans agree that this is their best. "Walking After You" - Definitely the X-Files version. Not one often found on "fan favorite" lists, but they've never done better than the guitar interplay on this one. "Aurora" - It's the kind of tune you have to be in the mood for, but when you are, you can't help but think this may very well be the best song they've ever done. "Best of You" - While this could be in the running, too, it's just not quite enough to break into the Top 3. Still, a rather powerful and emotional tune that gives me goosebumps like nothing else. "Ain't It the Life" - A different side of the band that might've helped pave the way for the all-acoustic disc of In Your Honor. While even Dave has admitted the solo feels like a formality, once it kicks in, it's the sort of thing that makes you glad to be alive. "February Stars" - I may be biased having been born in February, but this is definitely one of their great mushy tunes. "Monkey Wrench" - A perfect angry-but-catchy rock 'n roll song. "Miracle" - Hearing the violins in 5.1 surround is almost enough to make you cry. "Fraternity" - Maybe the best B-side they've done (although I'm a sucker for "Dear Lover" too). Just a great, straight-ahead, feel-good rocker. How did this not make the final album?
Nine UN-favorite Musicians
	Every day at work, I am forced against my will to endure the sounds of these irritating, maddening, grating, and (unfortunately) popular artists. And it's much easier to write about things you hate than things you like: Christina Aguilera Celine Dion - If these two "divas" were to ever record a duet, the combined forces of their oversinging would probably cause the studio to collapse. Five for Fighting - How could this quasi-group have such a tough-sounding name, and yet create such wimpy-sounding music? James Blunt - Well-named, because his music is bland, and his lyrics aren't sharp. ...And that voice! Josh Groban - His unique brand of pop opera (or "popera") succeeds in coming off as consistently annoying. Faith Hill - Her unique brand of pop country (or "pontry") succeeds in doing the same thing. Maroon 5 - Simply put: The Kenny G of funk music. Uncle Kracker - Should be disowned just for his warbly and utterly soul-less cover of "Drift Away." Shame on you, Dobie. Delilah - Not a musician, but this syndicated one-named radio "personality" is quite possibly the most obnoxious, repulsive, repugnant, self-righteous, and self-absorbed "human" being to ever walk the earth. Quick to dole out love advice, but has more exes than Liz Taylor and Larry King combined. Brags about her kids more often than Kathie Lee ever did. Often sounds intoxicated while on the air. Her audience makes Limbaugh's seem ethnically diverse. Known to cackle much like the Wicked Witch, and may very well fly home from work on a broom. May also possibly be the Anti-Christ. Fittingly enough, her supposed "name" is an anagram for "Hell Aid."

“When they finally come to destroy the earth,
they'll have to go through you first."


" WEB ZONE NUMBER 9" featuring • • • • • Page Updated 2007.4.10 • Site Established on 2001.11.04 • ©2007 Ken Maeda


		Music, Alaska celebs, and everything else...