Mark Ewing has decided to go with a very good Gr Hits package of Graham Parker, called "Master Hits"
In the early eighties Parker went from strength to strength, as this cheapy comp amply proves. Fans of GP may not need it, unless they want a comp to play in the car or something, but it would serve as an excellent introduction for those unfamiliar with Parker, probably of the most criminally overlooked 80s artist. Parker came on as an angry Elvis Costello, a pub rock madman with a cutting wit and a jaundiced eye. Later in his career he succumbed to the encroaching Blahs (much like Costello), but you'd never know that from this album, plus it's cheap! How can you lose? Includes the superb `Life Gets Better', a great single that never was from the highly underrated REAL MACAW.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Previous Champions (Winners of the Darth Vadar Trophy)
2012- 1-Graham Parker(Mark) over 2-The Shins (Mark)2011- 8-Radiohead -Tony over 3-Bob Seger (Mark)
2010- 1-Nora Jones-Tony over 5-Alejandro Escovedo (Mark)
2009- 1-Niko Case-Tony over 2-She & Him (Mark)
2008- 1-Regina Spektor-Mark over 1-Dandy Warhols(Mark)
(2008- Signore Era begins)
- ..........................................................................................................................................
2012- 13-Sir Tom Petty
2011- Tie, 11-Sir George Harrison, 11-Dame Nora Jones
2010- 12-Sir Pink Floyd
2009- 12-Sir Roy Wiley Hubbard
2008- Tie, 12-Sir Alejandro Escovedo, 12-SirJohn Lennon
....................................................................................................................................
Kirby Kile Award (Highest finishing 'Dead' performer)
The following winter another accident cost Kirby Kyle an arm -- fortunately not his pitching arm. He had one leg and one arm, but more than that, he had heart.
2012- 2-Roy Orbison went 4-1 (lost to The Shins in Final Four). Defeated The Cars, Boston, Whitney Houston, 1-George Harrison.
2011- Jeff Healey (lost to Radiohead in Final Four, but beat: WHancock, Decemberists, 1-RollingStones.
....................................................................................................................................
Star Wars Wins By Coach through 2012.
05-Sandy Ewing
04-Ed Kruska
04-Mark Ewing
03-Tony Signore
Graham Parker Wins 2012 Star Wars!!
Graham Parker Wins 2012 Star Wars Vader Cup!! Ewing demands "Master Hits" as CD.
Shins no match for the powerful Graham Parker.
The final game was not exactly the most exciting game. Parker led by as much as 18 points, but The Shins didn't completely fall apart either. Shins brought the game to about 7 points with about 2 mintues left, but Parker ate up the time and went on to win a desisive victory.
Mark Ewing spent much of the game flipping channels to watch the Yankees-Marlins in the beautiful new Marlins Park. "I really like the lime green colors in the OF. Speaking of lime green colors, did you guys ever hear the story about Tony exchanging his lime green T-shirt? Well, I have...."
Parker's victims: 16-Artic Monkeys, 8-Kayak, 4-Heartless Bastards, 3-The Raveonettes, 4-Raul Melo, 2-The Shins.
Ewing's win snapped a 3-year losing streak to Tony. He had not won a Star Wars since coaching Regina Skektor to a 2008 Championship. Ewing has tied Ed Kruska for 2nd place in all-time wins.
Parker goes 6-0, and got 4 victorys off some very good, if not great teams.
Parker won the tough Stalingrad campaign, where his comrades went down early to the likes of The Secret Sisters, The Little Willies, and Greensky Bluegrass. Parker took out the talented 3-Raveonettes, and marched into the McClellan division, where Raul Malo emerged (having taken out the 1-Black Keyes). Malo was destroyed which led to Parkers slaughter of The Shins.
The Shins (5-1) had a fine year as well with wins over: 15-Black Crowes, 10-Eric Clapton, 11-Paul McCartney, and then huge wins over favorites: 1-The Rolling Stones, and 1-Roy Orbison. The Shins came out of the bloody Guadalcanal Division, where Signore had put a huge hole in. The stalwart infidels of the 1970's: REO, Sir Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton took out Mark's big men: Bobby Dylan, The Rolling Stones and John Prine.
The Shins took on the Stonewall Division 1-Roy Orbison. Orbison and the others had completely shut-out Mark's teams after the first round. 1-George Harrison, Peter Frampton and Whitney Houston advanced, but Orbison shocked GHarrison in a Elite 8 match that smashed any rumours that Tony was gonna get his "All Things Must Pass" CD.
Both Parker and The Shins will be back next year per the rules.
Coach Mark Ewing was elated. "Parker never gets his due in the States, so we are very happy to showcase Mr Graham Parker. I really thought The Rolling Stones or even Bobby Dylan would be standing up getting this major award, but Parker showed us all tonight that he was the greatest musician in the Star Wars."
The final game was not exactly the most exciting game. Parker led by as much as 18 points, but The Shins didn't completely fall apart either. Shins brought the game to about 7 points with about 2 mintues left, but Parker ate up the time and went on to win a desisive victory.
Mark Ewing spent much of the game flipping channels to watch the Yankees-Marlins in the beautiful new Marlins Park. "I really like the lime green colors in the OF. Speaking of lime green colors, did you guys ever hear the story about Tony exchanging his lime green T-shirt? Well, I have...."
Parker's victims: 16-Artic Monkeys, 8-Kayak, 4-Heartless Bastards, 3-The Raveonettes, 4-Raul Melo, 2-The Shins.
Ewing's win snapped a 3-year losing streak to Tony. He had not won a Star Wars since coaching Regina Skektor to a 2008 Championship. Ewing has tied Ed Kruska for 2nd place in all-time wins.
Parker goes 6-0, and got 4 victorys off some very good, if not great teams.
Parker won the tough Stalingrad campaign, where his comrades went down early to the likes of The Secret Sisters, The Little Willies, and Greensky Bluegrass. Parker took out the talented 3-Raveonettes, and marched into the McClellan division, where Raul Malo emerged (having taken out the 1-Black Keyes). Malo was destroyed which led to Parkers slaughter of The Shins.
The Shins (5-1) had a fine year as well with wins over: 15-Black Crowes, 10-Eric Clapton, 11-Paul McCartney, and then huge wins over favorites: 1-The Rolling Stones, and 1-Roy Orbison. The Shins came out of the bloody Guadalcanal Division, where Signore had put a huge hole in. The stalwart infidels of the 1970's: REO, Sir Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton took out Mark's big men: Bobby Dylan, The Rolling Stones and John Prine.
The Shins took on the Stonewall Division 1-Roy Orbison. Orbison and the others had completely shut-out Mark's teams after the first round. 1-George Harrison, Peter Frampton and Whitney Houston advanced, but Orbison shocked GHarrison in a Elite 8 match that smashed any rumours that Tony was gonna get his "All Things Must Pass" CD.
Both Parker and The Shins will be back next year per the rules.
Coach Mark Ewing was elated. "Parker never gets his due in the States, so we are very happy to showcase Mr Graham Parker. I really thought The Rolling Stones or even Bobby Dylan would be standing up getting this major award, but Parker showed us all tonight that he was the greatest musician in the Star Wars."
Monday, April 2, 2012
The Final Two!
02Apr12: Graham Parker Vs The Shins
Yes....Mark Ewing has finally defeated Tony Signore and all that's left to do now, is to let the bands play one last song. Parker would appear to be the heavy favorite in my opinion.
The CDs? Read below:
Imaginary Television by Graham Parker:
The ostensible premise behind Graham Parker's new studio release is that he created a batch of imaginary TV shows and then wrote the theme songs to accompany them. In the liner notes, he even provides a synopsis of each show rather than the song lyrics. It's an original, offbeat idea, befitting the witty Parker.
And it has absolutely nothing to do with the songs on this album. Not a damn thing. Yes, Imaginary Television is most certainly a concept album, but THAT isn't the concept. Rather than the collection of amusing novelty songs one might expect, Imaginary Television may be the most personal, vulnerable collection of songs Parker has ever released. It's a portrait of a man looking back over his life and re-evaluating everything, a man trying to come to grips with who he is---as an artist, a father, a husband, a human being.
The Shins: "Chutes Too Narrow" 2007 release:
This analogy probably doesn't make much sense, but this album somehow feels like a crisp, sunny autumn day in October. It's harvest season, leaves are falling, and the air is swirling with the scent of pumpkins, apples, and burning wood. It's very odd that I relate this music to a very specific image and season, but it might have something to do with the fact that it's by far my favorite time of year.
This 10 song collection borders on perfection. There are many musical styles and instruments present throughout: at different times we hear keyboards, violins, harmonica, and even a steel guitar accompanying the perpetual layers of acoustic and electric guitars. But even with the varying instrumentation and styles, there is an all encompassing sound. It's hard to explain, but it's extremely uplifting and satisfying.
Yes....Mark Ewing has finally defeated Tony Signore and all that's left to do now, is to let the bands play one last song. Parker would appear to be the heavy favorite in my opinion.
The CDs? Read below:
Imaginary Television by Graham Parker:
The ostensible premise behind Graham Parker's new studio release is that he created a batch of imaginary TV shows and then wrote the theme songs to accompany them. In the liner notes, he even provides a synopsis of each show rather than the song lyrics. It's an original, offbeat idea, befitting the witty Parker.
And it has absolutely nothing to do with the songs on this album. Not a damn thing. Yes, Imaginary Television is most certainly a concept album, but THAT isn't the concept. Rather than the collection of amusing novelty songs one might expect, Imaginary Television may be the most personal, vulnerable collection of songs Parker has ever released. It's a portrait of a man looking back over his life and re-evaluating everything, a man trying to come to grips with who he is---as an artist, a father, a husband, a human being.
The Shins: "Chutes Too Narrow" 2007 release:
This analogy probably doesn't make much sense, but this album somehow feels like a crisp, sunny autumn day in October. It's harvest season, leaves are falling, and the air is swirling with the scent of pumpkins, apples, and burning wood. It's very odd that I relate this music to a very specific image and season, but it might have something to do with the fact that it's by far my favorite time of year.
This 10 song collection borders on perfection. There are many musical styles and instruments present throughout: at different times we hear keyboards, violins, harmonica, and even a steel guitar accompanying the perpetual layers of acoustic and electric guitars. But even with the varying instrumentation and styles, there is an all encompassing sound. It's hard to explain, but it's extremely uplifting and satisfying.
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