New music track: Franky Perez & The Forest Rangers

One of the shows I follow is Sons of Anarchy.  I fell in love with this motorcycle gang, namely the character Jax Teller, years back when my brother and I caught up on season one over Christmas break.

While the acting isn’t above par per se, the action and the story line keep you on the edge of the seat.  Plus it calls to that rebellious side in me.  That outlaw, live above the law that we all admire.

The soundtrack is always rocking with an equal amount of rough and tough as well.  Including this remake of “Higher Ground:”

I love the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s version of the song as well, but this one really strikes my fancy.  I love that the guitar has been turned up and the beat slowed down.  It’s the perfect background song for the bad boy motorcycle cast.

For more rockin’ biker tracks, check out the new “Sons of Anarchy: Vol. 2″ soundtrack due out later this month and featured today on Rolling Stone.

Two of my favorites…

Shepard Fairey does the Rolling Stones’ 50th Anniversary logo…and it’s awesome.

I first saw Shepard Fairey’s work at the IFC in Boston several years ago and was blown away.  I’m generally not a fan of modern art and tend to prefer the classic impressionist and Renaissance artists, but I love a political uproar. 😉  I remember his work being über controversial at the time.  Very 1984-esque, I love it!

The Rolling Stones, a favorite from an early age many thanks to my dad, made a wise choice in selecting Fairey to do their art work.  I love the vintage-y look of the red color of the tongue.  Very reminiscent of a lot of Fairey’s work that was exhibited at the IFC.

I never would have imagined the two collaborating but it’s absolutely genius.  I think you can really grasp the connection the two artists have as well.  They both are heavily attracted to rebellion, naturally, I adore them.

I grabbed the image and Fairey’s response to the design work (below) from Rolling Stone magazine.  I love that Fairey too was introduced to the Stones by his father…

“I’ve been a big fan of the Rolling Stones since my dad introduced me to “Satisfaction.” Tattoo You is one of the earliest albums I bought with my own money and I studied the album package obsessively … you may notice how its color scheme and iconic art could have inspired me? The Rolling Stones have had a lot of great art over the decades, but nothing can top their tongue logo, originally created by John Pasche in 1971. In my opinion, the Stones’ tongue logo is the most iconic, potent and enduring logo in rock & roll history. I think the logo not only captures Mick Jagger’s signature lips and tongue, but also the essence of rebellion and sexuality that is the allure of all rock & roll at its finest.

I first worked with Mick Jagger and Dave Stewart on their project SuperHeavy. Mick and Dave were great to work with and I became at ease with our creative rapport despite their stature as musicians. However, when Mick Jagger reached out to me about designing a logo to mark the Rolling Stones’ 50th anniversary I was quite overwhelmed. Mick said he was open to any of my ideas. One of the first things I asked Mick was, “Don’t you think the tongue HAS to be included?” He responded, “Yeah, I guess it ought to be.” Case closed. I was very humbled and honored to be asked to work on the 50th logo, so my objective was to service and showcase the Stones’ legacy rather than try to make my contribution dominant.

I worked on this project as a fan knowing that the Stones’ tongue was the focus and the starting point. With that in mind I set out to integrate the 50 in a creative and memorable way. I think the solution speaks for itself in celebrating the Stones’ trademark icon and historical anniversary. I’d like to thank the Rolling Stones for all their great music that has impacted my life and for allowing me to make a small contribution to their 50th anniversary.

Cheers!” ~Rolling Stone magazine

The times, they ARE a changing…

photo complimentary of fast.fm

“Bob Dylan will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the New York Times reports. The songwriter will be given the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States along with author Toni Morrison, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, astronaut John Glenn and former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

Dylan was praised as one of the “most influential American musicians of the 20th century” in a statement about the honor released by the White House. The White House also acknowledged that Dylan had “considerable influence on the civil rights movement of the 1960s and has had significant impact on American culture over the past five decades.”

Dylan was previously honored with a National Medal of Arts in 2009.” ~Rolling Stone

How cool/ ironic it is that Bob Dylan’s music is being honored by the government he so often criticized in his music!  When I think 60s/70s rebellious attitude, I think Bob Dylan.  His music spoke to the generation then and continues to do so now.  I constantly find peace in his lyrics and his raspy voice.  There’s something about his music that truly soothes the soul.