TSFR: CHESTER FRENCH

God DAYUM its been a long time since we had a TSFR here at LB. What's up with that, huh??
Anyway, I'm going to the Blink 182 / Weezer Tour this summer. Two of my favorite bands from my youth in one show with a couple supporting acts. Unfortunately, one of these acts is Taking Back Sunday. However, the other band is a duet called Chester French. Not a very attractive name, but don't let it fool you.

Chester French is a catchy blend of rock, pop, and funk. "She Loves Everybody", the song featured in this TSFR, is highly reminiscent of 60s psychedelic rock, but brings a modern twist and a hook that I can't for the life of me get out of my head. The video itself is also quite a piece of work.

Thanks to Chester French I now have a reason to show up to the concert before 7:00 PM. Unfortunately, thanks to Chester French, this means I'll also have to endure an hour or so of Taking Back Sunday.

Oh well, Enjoy!

With some of the fiercest hip-shakin psychedelic groove you've ever heard, and the baddest chick you've seen since 1995, THIS SHIT FUCKING ROCKS.

Chester French - She Loves Everybody
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

-Brien

MAD AS A HATTER!

So yea, it's been 22 days since I've posted anything. I'm a respectable member of society now, going to my daily job a bankrupt amusement park. I don't have as much free time as I used to. Sorry 'bout that, reader(s).

But anyway, Movifone's got the latest on Tim Burton's highly anticipated take on the classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with the film's first trailer. I must say, I am quite excited.

2010's gonna be one hell of a year*.




-Brien




what with the Yuktobonian-Osean War and everything.

LEANING BACK'S TOP 5 MICHAEL JACKSON COVERS

I was never a huge fan of Michael Jackson, but there's no denying the influence he had on popular music and culture. In memoriam I've prepared a small tribute to the "King of Pop" to show his influence throughout pop music and also showcase artists paying tribute through their own versions of his songs. Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, LEANING BACK's Top 5 Michael Jackson covers.



#5: James Morrison - "Man in the Mirror"

Morrison does a pretty straight on, stripped down version of the song. He doesn't reinvent it, but manages to give it a solid, fresh new sound.



#4: Ben Gibbard - "Thriller"

Deathcab for Cutie frontman, Ben Gibbard puts on a unique performance of the seminal "Thriller" sans zombies and werewolves. This version's just a bit more toned down, a bare bones acoustic performance, complete with a lyrics sheet taped to the top of the guitar. Awesome.



#3: Fall Out Boy - "Beat It"

A few years ago the very thought of Fall Out Boy covering a song of this magnitude would have brought me to raging tears, but the band has since cleaned up their live sound and grown into some very, very solid songwriters. Although the guitar solo is somewhat lacking, Patrick Stump delivers a powerful vocal performance and the band breathes new life into - well the song didn't really need any CPR, it's a classic - but nevertheless, Fall Out Boy pulls through here and gives us a "Beat It" for the 21st century.

Fall Out Boy - Beat It
Uploaded by UniversalMusicGroup. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

#2: Alien Ant Farm - "Smooth Criminal"

This is a happy memory from my childhood in a time where a cool new band called Alien Ant Farm had an awesome new song. It was a while before I was educated with knowledge that said song was in fact a cover. I was rather disappointed with the original version after hearing it, and AAF's remained the only version forever in my heart. It was just about the band's only hit in my memory too...

Alien Ant Farm - Smooth Criminal
Uploaded by hushhush112. - Music videos, artist interviews, concerts and more.

#1: Chris Cornell - "Billie Jean"

Topping off the list we have Soundgarden/Temple of the Dog/Audioslave ex-frontman, Chris Cornell tearing Jackson's hit "Billie Jean" to pieces, then eating those pieces, and spewing the them out in a fiery pillar of awesomeness. Not only does Cornell completely reinvent the song, filling it to the brim with gut-wrenching soul, but he does it all with just a lone acoustic guitar and a microphone. It's almost enough to make us forget about all that Scream business. Almost.



Rest in peace, MJ. You gave the world some great music and leave behind a great legacy. Even if people don't like the music, they can't doubt the influence it had on pop music and culture at large.



- Brien





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