resident alian's music

Seal (warning: this site resizes your browser window! use "open in new window" to prevent altering your default setting)
English-born Sealhenry Samuel writes songs that are played in radio stations of various formats, including Top 40 (adult contemporary), modern rock, and modern jazz ("smooth jazz"). It's a mix of dance, rock, and R&B/soul. His velvet voice makes his albums highly listenable all the way through, especially his self-titled Seal [1994] and Seal IV (latest proper album). His latest album is Best: 1991-2004, which includes a disc of acoustic versions, making it worth getting for any collector. I've been a Seal fan since 1994 and own all of his albums.

moby
Richard Melville's alter ego (as well as Voodoo Child and others). Great electronic music, but also speed metal, ambient, and movie scores. He's also got a lot of important things to say about lifestyle and religious convictions. If only we could all take care of the environment more, be truly more compassionate toward each other, and eat a little less meat. Moby's latest album is hotel, which, unlike its predecessors 18 and Play, includes its ambient companion tracks on a second CD with the album (initially, at least, at no extra charge). I've been a Moby fan since 1994 and seen him in concert once and own all of his albums (under the Moby name).

Frou Frou
Imogen Heap has two solo albums (as a singer/songwriter) and one with Guy Sigsworth, the other half of Frou Frou, who also worked with Björk (and it shows). Imogen's voice alternates between whispering and ethereal but works well with the dance beat. Their only album is details, but I hear there's a new album in the works. I've been a Frou Frou fan since 2004 and own their sole album.

Dido
Classically-trained Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong made her breakthrough in electronic pop that fits into the modern rock genre somewhat. She writes her own songs and vocalizes them with both strength and vulnerability. We've been Dido fans since 2000 and seen her in concert once and own all (both) of her studio albums.

erasure
One of the ultimate synth-pop bands in existence. Vince on keyboards and Andy on vocals. Pure pop heaven. News: new album, Union Street out 18 Apr 2006, a collection of acoustic album tracks and acoustic re-recordings. I've been an Erasure fan since 1989 and own all of their albums, except the Hits! album (but I do have the more comprehensive Hits! DVD).

depeche mode
Synth-pop and guitar rock all in one. They pretty much have it all. News: they finally released singles box sets 4-6! Latest album: Playing the Angel. I've been an dM fan since 1989 and seen them in concert three times and own all of their albums. I wrote 6 parodies, some of which went on the dM BONG mailing list, but never went into the archives. I also made some dM MIDI files from scratch on my Yamaha PSR-510. If anyone is interested in any of these, please email me.

depeche mode T-shirt design
Someone on the BONG mailing list designed this incredible multi-color logo for a T-shirt. Email me if you want to claim it.

U2
Official website, redesigned to promote their latest album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. One of the best and most influential bands of our day. Great sounds by the whole band and great lyrics, mostly by Bono. This is their official site. I've been a U2 fan since 1991 and seen them in concert twice and own all of their albums.

ZooTV picture
I forgot where this came from, but it's cool. Email me if you want to claim your artwork.

The Cardigans
The latest in a long line of Swedish bands, starting with ABBA, Roxette, and...Ace of Base. They've evolved from kitsch-pop rock to electronica to singer/songwriter rock with their latest album, Long Gone Before Daylight, yet to be released in the US. The latest album, Super Extra Gravity (hence the new logo), hasn't been released in the US yet, but I'm waiting for it. I've been a Cardigans fan since 1996 and seen them in concert once and own all of their albums, except the last one until it gets released domestically.

Jewel
Modern eminent singer/songwriter Jewel Kilcher has styles spanning folk, rock, pop, and even dance. Her lyrics are poetic and sometimes autobiographical, sometimes questioning and sometimes reverent. Her latest album is Goodbye Alice in Wonderland. We've been Jewel fans since 1999 and seen her in concert once (for free in Central Park to promote 0304) and own all of her albums.

Natalie Imbruglia
Sydney-born Natalie Imbruglia provides a style of songwriting more conducive to rock than folk. Her voice is sweet and sometimes seductive, while the music goes from lite to hard rock. Her latest album, yet to be released in the US, is Counting Down the Days. We've been Natalie Imbruglia fans since 2001 and own just her second album (White Lilies Island) (for now).

Annie Lennox
The lady from Scotland has soul. She proved her vocal talents and writing ability as half of the Eurythmics, and her solo efforts further demonstrate that. Her latest album is Bare. We've been Annie Lennox fans since 1996 and own all of her (solo) albums.

10,000 Maniacs
Maureen's favorite band, at least during the era of Natalie Merchant. They highlight socially conscious themes with great lyrics and folk-rock accompaniment. Their last album with Natalie Merchant was MTV Unplugged and last studio album Our Time in Eden. With Mary Ramsey, their last album was The Earth Pressed Flat. They now have a new lead singer, Oskar Saville, and toured but have yet to produce a new album. We've been (Natalie Merchant's) 10,000 Maniacs fans since about 1995 and own The Wishing Chair through MTV Unplugged and the collection Campfire Songs.

Dan's Boingo Page
Boingo rocks and rocks strange. Great party band and great Halloween band. Two words: Danny Elfman. There's been no official site since Boingo disbanded, but this fan site has lots o' stuff and lots o' links. The new official site is almost ready, and may be ready by the time you see it. I've been a Boingo fan since 1994 and seen them once during, unfortunately, the Farewell tour and own all of their greatest hits (2) and live albums (1). Also check out this Elfman interview by KROQ before the Farewell Concert in LA that I found on the 'net and saved.

Coldplay
A slimmed-down guitar and piano rock band. Their style alternates between upbeat and mesmerizing, resulting in nothing but well-crafted albums, from start to finish. The latest masterpiece is X&Y. I've been a Coldplay fan since 2002 and seen them in concert once and own all of their albums.

Franz Ferdinand
It's simple, but it rocks. One of my new favorites. Their music is retro new wave, post-punk like The Clash or Blondie (with a male singer). Alex Kapranos' playful and seductive voice is a big part of what makes the music great (yes, I'm comfortable with my sexuality). Their latest album is you could have it so much better. I've been a Franz Ferdinand fan since their self-titled debut in 2004 and own both of their albums.

The Killers
Another one of my new favorites. Their music is also retro new wave, but more synth-rock plus guitars like New Order and The Cure. Brandon Flowers' voice is what I think distinguishes this band from similar bands like Kaiser Chiefs and Interpol. Their only album is Hot Fuss, but their new album Sam's Town will be released on 03 Oct 2006. I've been a Killers fan since 2004 and own their sole album.

Jason Mraz
This San Diego local made a name for himself in the local venues here, with his mixture of singer/songwriter style, hip-hop/jazz/scat vocals, and acoustic funk accompaniment. His latest album is Mr. A-Z, a play on his name. I've been a Jason Mraz fan since 2002 (alas, I was not exposed to his music in San Diego before his breakthrough hit, "Remedy") and own both of his studio albums.

They Might Be Giants
The quirky NYC duo went full band, and the results are spectacular. Funny, subtle, and sometimes educational lyrics and a unique synth-rock sound. They also do punk and techno. Their latest album is The Spine. I've been a TMBG fan since 1990 and seen them in concert three times (once for free) and own all of their albums. Timmy loves TMBG too, especially No! and Here Come the ABCs, designed just for kids.

weezer
In the concerts page, I said "weezer cannot be defined, only shown through example." I was just trying to be funny, basing the description on a definition of "weak sauce" by Danny Guillermo and Joe Cahiwat. Breaking it down, weezer is a little punk, a little hard rock, but simple, clean, power chords combined with vocals alternating between yelling and somewhat nervous (not quite a nervous as The Flaming Lips). Their latest album is make believe. I've been a weezer fan since 1994 and seen them in concert once and own all of their albums.

Radiohead
Rock evolved. From their first album, pablo honey, they were ahead of their time. starting with the song "Creep", which apparently is lead singer Thom Yorke's least favorite song, explaining the clean guitar interrupted with distorted guitar for the chorus. (I still think it's a great song (partly because of the interrupting disorted guitar), but maybe too cliché now, even in that day, especially compared to the slacker themes in punk rock.) Their breakthrough album is the bends, including the song "Just", with a thought-provoking video. With Kid A and Amnesiac, they experimented with electronics to great success, then returned to mostly guitar rock with their latest album, Hail to the Thief, with a new album in the works. And there's definitely some intelligence in the lyrics, evident in all their songs, especially ones from the bends on, for example, "2 + 2 = 5" from Hail, inspired by Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. I've been a Radiohead fan since 1995 and seen them in concert once and own all of their albums.

Green Day
Modern punk. Sold out? Going major label didn't affect Billie Joe's great lyric writing ability. Green Day rocks like a badass. Their latest is Bullet in a Bible, the live CD/DVD set of their UK concert with songs from dookie up to American Idiot. My current favorite is "Holiday." I've been a Green Day fan since 1994 and own all of their major label albums.

nine inch nails
Industrial. The original. Fired-up lyrics with a unique metal-techno sound. Accept no substitutes. It's a lot of rage, but smart rage. Their (Trent Reznor's) latest album is [With_Teeth]. I've been a nin fan since 1994 and own all of their albums.

Metallica
The eminent metal band, hailing from the SF Bay Area. I got introduced to them during the 1993 Summer Bridge program at UCSD with their album ...And Justice for All, especially the song "One." It was my first exposure to heavy metal, breaking a lot of stereotypes, showing how intelligent and musically complex it can be. Their latest album is a return to raw heavy metal (no solos), St. Anger. My favorite of theirs if S & M, their concert with the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by the late Michael Kamen. I became a Metallica fan in 1994 and own most of their albums (haven't yet gotten Kill 'em All, Load, or Re-Load).

Alice 97.3 (FM)
Currently my favorite modern rock station in the Bay Area. Live 105's playlist got a little harder edged, which is fine every once in a while, but not half the time. Alice plays a lot of the bands above (except nin and Metallica). Also, they've got a great compilation CD that features live and acoustic (or both) performances of various artists they play, this is alice music, volume 7, available at both Amazon and B&N, along with another, volume 9, which I haven't heard yet.

Live 105 (FM 105.3)
Bay Area Modern Rock Station. I grew up on this stuff, at least in high school when Ben introduced me to modern rock. This station and KFRC became my primary stations in high school.

KFRC 99.7 (FM)
The Bay Area oldies station. It's my parents' music, but it's mine too. During high school, I was listening to the Top 40 station, X-100, but it went defunct, and KFRC returned from latency and took over that frequency. Since then, I got schooled in old school golden greats.

KROQ (FM 106.7)
The legendary modern rock station in Los Angeles. As far as I know, LA's rock scene pioneered the modern rock/new wave format that spawned Live 105 and 91X.

91X (FM 91.1)
San Diego's Modern Rock Station. Pretty much the same as Live 105 in content.

Jazz 88.3 (FM)
San Diego's jazz station. A service of San Diego City College.

My concerts page
Check out all the concerts I've been to. Set lists and reviews, plus some shows and more dangling prepositions. I've gotten to see at least half of the above acts and a few more of my favorites that aren't my top favorites like these.

U2 PopMart 1997
U2 in San Diego at Jack Murphy/Qualcomm Stadium. On my concerts page. Click on the animated GIF (or "Click here for more stuff" for text browsers) to get some pictures of the concert.