You didn't hurt me, nothing can hurt me

I'm feeling rather bummed today. One of my all-time favorite bands is playing at Chicago's Charter One Pavilion tonight, and I'm missing out because I snoozed on buying tickets in advance. I really need to stop procrastinating so much.

Nine Inch Nails is one of the very first bands that got me into industrial rock music. Ministry and KMFDM fall under the same category, as far as musicians that influenced my childhood taste buds... which is pretty odd. I didn't know too many 13-year-old's who were jamming to this dark, edgy, industrial music back then. The Downward Spiral was one of the very first CDs I ever purchased (it was actually third, right behind The Offspring's Smash and Sheryl Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club...don't laugh at me).

I have never seen Nine Inch Nails live, and that needs to change. They've been around as long as I can remember, and who knows how many good years they have in them? I'm sure they'll still be rocking for the next few years, so I'm not too worried about it. But today, I'm bummed. Rather than be sad about it, I think I'm just going to share some of my favorite NIN tracks with you today.

One of the reasons I like them so much, besides their aggressive electro-rock sound, is because their lyrics can be so gritty and intense. I don't know it it's just me, but when I try to figure out most of the song meanings, the only thing that comes to mind is sex. Sometimes passionate, loving sex. Other times dirty, heavy sex. Another recurring theme I find...pain. Pain which leads to anger and devastation. And I guess when I really think about it, love and pain are the two strongest emotions one can feel. And Nine Inch Nails do an excellent job evoking these sentiments through lyrics and music.

I'm going to dissect just one song here for you, because I'm listening to it right now as I type and my mind is swimming with thoughts. "Ruiner" is the perfect song to blast when you find yourself hurt by another. Someone came into your life, turned your world upside down and failed to apologize for his mistake. And now you're hurt, upset, angry, full of rage. Just blast "Ruiner," and those feelings will quickly turn into relief and satisfaction, because you realize this person was a waste of your time in the first place. Lesson learned.

Here's a breakdown of some of the lyrics: "You had all of them on your side, didn't you? You believed in all your lies, didn't you? The ruiner's got a lot to prove, he's got nothing to lose and now he made you believe... The raping of the innocent, you know the ruiner ruins everything he sees. Now the only pure thing left in my f*cking world is wearing your disease... You had to give them all a sign, didn't you? You had to covet what was mine, didn't you? The ruiner is a collector, he's an infector serving his sh*t to his flies. Maybe there will come a day when those that you keep blind will suddenly realize. Maybe its a part of me you took to a place I hoped it would never go. And maybe that f*cked me up so much more than youll ever know."

And the best line, which Reznor sings repeatedly to close out the track: "You didn't hurt me, nothing can hurt me, you didn't hurt me, nothing can stop me now."

So to those of you attending tonight's show, have a blast for me. I hope they play the following songs, because I am positive they'd kill these tracks live.

I dedicate this post to you, Bati ;-)

Nine Inch Nails - Ruiner
Nine Inch Nails - Sunspots
Nine Inch Nails - Sin
Nine Inch Nails - The Persistence of Loss
Nine Inch Nails - Reptile

I'm surrounded

Photo: Raphael Gendron Martin

I had the pleasure of having an enlightening Q & A session with the man behind the mic of Chicago's very own Republic of Lights. Gosh...I'm such an insider! I suppose it may help that I've known Alan Snider, lead vocalist and guitar pro, since I was 11 years old. I'm pretty sure we intended to start our own rock band and call it The Broken Llamas. Oh, what I would give to see the disturbing — yet tantalizing — cover art we designed during our 7th grade lunch breaks! Anyhow, I digress. Back to Republic of Lights (or what should be The Broken Llamas, if I stuck to my aspirations of becoming a rock star)...

This young, fresh, electric band will be performing at The Bottom Lounge this Saturday (May 30) with Har Mar Superstar. And I'm pumped! Alan even gave me permission to rush the stage and throw my undergarments at his band mates. Or did he? Hhmm...I suppose we'll find out. Here's what Alan had to say:

Jazzy Juice: As an enthusiastic and passionate music lover, I've been disappointed (as you might already know) with rock music recently. What are your thoughts on rock music?

Alan Snider: Well, I think that, in general, rock music has flourished since 2003. The internet, while killing revenue, has created an audience for a ton of bands who wouldn't otherwise have had one. Traditional methods of finding and distributing music made nu-metal happen, which was absolutely the low water mark of American pop music. Even though there was a ton of good music being made at that time, I think that was probably the worst time to be a fan in pop music's history. The democracy of the internet diminishes the need for million-dollar marketing binges. They still happen, but buzz on music blogs seems to happen more and more around deserving artists, regardless of their label affiliation. The downside of that is that those same, deserving bands are old news by the time they release a second album, which makes it difficult to have a semblance of a career.

Maybe it's for that reason that, nationally, I haven't been disappointed in rock music at all. I got to see Jack White, Grizzly Bear and Radiohead play in Chicago on the same day last summer. Of Montreal's record was excellent. Phoenix's new record is so much fun. Animal Collective made a great record. And I feel like Spoon has perfected their sound... so there's a lot to be excited for if you're a fan of rock music. Watch your feet for all the name-dropping I just did.

JJ: Ha! And as a proud Chicago resident, I've been even more disappointed with the latest rock bands that come from this great city. I haven't seen anything like the Pumpkins in ages it seems. What do you think, specifically, about Chicago rock?

AS: When it comes to Chicago acts, I can understand your hesitation. The hip-hop community is thriving right now, and that makes for a rough comparison. There's definitely an under representation of Chicago in national pop-rock scene. When we spoke before, I said that Pete Wentz makes a poor Billy Corgan, but that's not entirely fair. Fall Out Boy is more a DuPage County band than a Chicago band. I don't mean that to slight them, it's just that I think they've completely captured the essence of what it means to be a kid from an affluent suburb who's into punk rock. It's not for me, it's not for a lot of music critics, but I think that it's unfair to burden a band who does one thing well with something as ridiculous as the musical aspirations of a city with an inferiority complex.

That said, I have a hard time thinking that Chicago will ever dominate the national music scene for a stretch of time like Seattle and L.A. have done, and that New York sort of always is doing. The very nature of the way that our city is laid out, geographically, can hinder that sort of creative community. Our venues are scattered like buckshot, and they become destinations rather than scenes. I think that influences the fact that our city only seems to produce random pockets of eclectic, excellent music in bursts here and there.

There's still a lot to like here, though. Company of Thieves, my brother's band 1997, Empires, the Redwalls, the now defunct Wax On Radio... all good stuff.

JJ: Well put, and I think you just put me in my place (which is mighty hard to achieve!). How, if at all, does Republic of Lights intend to fill this void in modern rock music?

AS: Well, we don't. I don't have any aspirations of SUPER RAWK STARDOM. I think I'd make a bad superhero superstar. I talk too much. I drink too much. I have questionable morals. It's great that Chris Martin can bask in the glow of that lifestyle — I think I'd ruin it pretty quickly. Look at all the talking I've done already. That doesn't exactly help you look mysterious.

JJ: Good point. I admire that about you, pal...I'm such a cheeseball. Can you tell me then what's special and unique about your sound?

AS: As a band, when we're right, what makes it work is the right combination of ominous tension and energy. That's also what makes a good nightclub. And a good cocktail.

JJ: I love a good cocktail! Now I'm thirsty. Thanks. Anyhow, are you competitive with other local bands? What is your relationship with them?

AS: In that some of them make the marketing aspect of our jobs easy, yes. I can get jealous of that because my band is terrible at it. Awful. But creatively and in terms of success, not at all. It would be sour grapes to begrudge anyone's success when they're trying to do something as ridiculous as being a musician in an age where no one pays for records.

Still, I wish that our scene were more collaborative. It's incredibly insular. I write with my band members, and sadly, that's it. It seems like it's like that all over town, at least from where I'm standing.

JJ: What is the focus of your music? Do you have a message?

AS: There's no message. We try and capture a feeling. It can be difficult, and it's always fleeting. But it's electric when it happens. I'm not interested in preaching my morality at people. That's what churches and talk radio are for.

JJ: Indeed. So what should I expect to see at your show at The Bottom Lounge? Will you at least take your shirt off and call me on stage to dance with you?

AS: At any other show, I would certainly take my shirt off. But look at Har Mar. Would you compete with that? Too much sexy for me to handle.









JJ: I don't know Alan. I think you might have him beat. I'd be willing to pay to watch you two gentlemen duke it out in your underwear...perhaps in oil. Ok, I'll stop talking now.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me. And for letting me post these awesome tracks! I can't wait to see you guys perform them live. My personal fave is "Landmines." Sexy sexy!

Republic of Lights - Got You Surrounded
Republic of Lights - Landmines
Republic of Lights - 38 and First Street

She's such a charmer, oh no!

I've heard a lot of hype about Kings of Leon recently, and I just couldn't get into it. I asked a few of my friends what they knew about this band, and they were all in the same boat as me. They've heard of them but never really listened to any of their songs. Finally, this past weekend, I was pretty much forced to sit down and really absorb their music.

If it wasn't for "I Want You" I may never have given them a chance. This track blasted through my friend's house, and I sat on his couch and let the goosebumps take over my body. I closed my eyes and took in the beautiful melody and profound lyrics. The singer's vocals hit me, hit me hard. This may be one of the sexiest songs I've ever heard. I am most serious.

Once that track finished playing, my friend decided I needed to hear "Charmer" and "Molly's Chambers" as well. "Charmer" is a twisted song. I love it because I can really feel the singer's emotion. It's hard not to! Just listen to the track. You'll quickly understand what I'm saying. And "Molly's Chamber" reminds me of a dusty surfer track. It's so catchy. I'm not sure if this is correct, but I'm almost positive I've heard this song in a commercial. And if I'm wrong, someone really needs to play this in a commercial, an iPod commerical preferably.

And if you've got a minute to spare, you should really check out the story behind Kings of Leon. They have an interesting background, which may pique your interest even more.

So after listening to these three songs, I realized I need to pay more attention to this band. With so much horrible rock music being overplayed on the radio and television, it's so refreshing to hear such a talented rock band. Their sound is diverse and pleasantly distinct. I know I can recognize that voice and that sound anywhere now. And I absolutely cannot wait to see these guys perform at Lollapalooza this year. What a treat!

Kings of Leon - I Want You
Kings of Leon - Charmer
Kings of Leon - Molly's Chambers

I lose myself in flashing colors

Finally! Memorial Day is just around the corner, and I'm amped for the three-day weekend! The weather is amazing, and thoughts of summer in Chicago invade my mind. There's nothing like it. Everyone around me is happy and making big plans for the festivities. This is good. I feel the hype in the air, and all I need now to set the tone is some hyperactive jams.

If these tracks don't get you out of your seat and on the prowl, you're a vegetable. Enjoy!


Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy (Grum Remix)
Revolte - Ironical Sexism (We Are Terrorists Remix)
Weird Science - Haus of Cards (Dan Sena Remix)

Life is still beautiful

Such a beautiful track for a beautiful day! It's in the high 70s and sunny here in Chicago, probably the most beautiful day I've witnessed this year. And I just discovered this uplifting hit as I was perusing the Hed Kandi website this morning. The geniuses at Hed Kandi closed two of their compilations with this track, and I totally agree with its placement. What a wonderful way to end a groove...on such a positive note.

If you keep up with my entries, you know very well that I've gone through a ridiculous amount of changes and I'm making big moves. This summer is going to be like no other. And I know this to be true for many of my close friends as well. I am on such a positive high right now just thinking about what the summer will bring. And this track is a perfect illustration for this mood.

If you haven't given the track a listen yet, here's a taste of the lyrics: "Even when the sun goes down on all the things you thought would last so long. It's alright. Life is still beautiful."

I know I say this a lot, but this may just be my new favorite song for the moment. It strikes a nerve. It keeps my spirits up, and that's exactly what I crave.

Now, let me introduce to you: Jazzy's Summer 2009 Anthem...


The Orange Lights - Life Is Still Beautiful (Alan Braxe Remix)

I'll wait a lifetime...

...for him.


Jackson Waters - Center of Attention

Deep black

Here's something for the deep trance lovers out there. This is not soulful or funky. It's not groovalicious or full of melody. It's simple techno. For the DJs out there, this is the kind of jam I'd love to hear when I'm just coming down from the crazy upbeat track you played moments before. A transitional track. Something to calm me down, but keep me dancing.

Or better yet, this is the kind of music I want to listen to on my drive home from the dance party I just left. I still got the groove in me, and my pals are in the backseat making out or blazing. Who knows?! The party isn't over; it just left the building.

Tiefschwarz is a three-man electro-house group out of Germany. In German, Tiefschwarz means "deep black." And that is a perfect description for their style. It's deep and it's dark. It's gritty and it's edgy. The three tracks below are from their DJ mix, Misch Masch. And they're intense.

So next time you need something to listen to during your late-night drive, jam to this. I don't condone your hedonism, but all I can picture when I hear these tracks is very bad things. Now go be bad, and tell me all about it later...if you can remember!


Kiki - Run With Me
Mathew Jonson - Folding Space
Mylo - Drop The Pressure (Riton Mix)

Mr. Scruff at Smart Bar tonight

Hi pals, this is just a reminder that those of you in the Chicagoland area need to hit up Smart Bar tonight. You might remember a lil' post I wrote last month about Mr. Scruff. I discovered his music at a record shop in San Francisco, and I've been pumped about it ever since. And thankfully, my cousin came across a flyer promoting an event at Smart Bar for tonight. Mr. Scruff will be spinning all night long, a six-hour set to be exact. That's right...SIX HOURS. And based on reviews I've seen on the web, this guy is amazing. Here's a lil' taste:

"Mr Scruff smoothly changed the pace of the music from soul and funk to dub, ska and reggae...As time slipped by, the type of music would sway gently from old reggae to new funk to old skool hip-hop - and the crowd lapped every drop...That’s the great thing about Mr Scruff's sets: you may not know the song but you can be sure it will be very, very funky."
-From www.bbc.co.uk

"As a DJ, Mr. Scruff is damn impressive. The breadth of his musical palette is phenomenal, and he manages to own all genres. Not dipping in and out, with the ebb and flow of fashion, but appreciating them, owning them, and moulding them into his vision. From funk to reggae, trance to ambient, to soul and indie, nothing seems forced, nothing is quirky for quirkiness’ sake. The ability to keep a crowd in the palm of his hand for five plus hours, while building a set from chill out to full on hoolie… I guess its easy when you know how."
-From www.claus.com

And if that's just not good enough for you, maybe you should come to Smart Bar and decide for yourself! I'll be the wild hippie girl dancing by herself in the center of the dancefloor.

If you're still not sold, here are some Mr. Scruff videos for you to check out:

Just because I like this song...

And I never heard this version of "Let It Rock" until I downloaded Kevin Rudolf's entire album. The album's not bad, but it's not good either. It's tolerable at best. But this song never gets old for me. I remember rocking to this jam late last summer..went out with a bang. And now I'm going into this summer with an even bigger bang.

Now please excuse me while I go party like a f*cking rock star and indulge my hedonistic urges...


Kevin Rudolf - Let It Rock (Filthy Dukes Remix)

Tuesday rant...

Don't you hate it when you hear an awesome track and you go out and purchase the entire album only to find out that one awesome track is really the ONE and ONLY quality song on the album? Yes, this sucks. I have learned and relearned this lesson many times. And here's a perfect example. I apologize in advance to the members of The Fashion; this is not going to be a flattering entry.

I heard "Like Knives" by The Fashion a few months back, and it was such a catchy and upbeat track. I listened to it over and over again. So I decided to download the whole album. What a mistake that was. I couldn't even listen to any other song in its entirety. Perhaps I'm being harsh, and I just need to give it another listen. This is sometimes the case. Some albums have to grow on me.

But still, this is annoying. How do you come out with such a great track, and everything else is mediocre at best?

You know what makes me feel better? I begin thinking about all the free music I've acquired over the years. And I think about all the fantastic music I should have purchased but somehow got my hands on for free. This, my friends, is about balance. Maybe that horrible album that I paid for with the one good track makes up for the 12 albums I got for free the month before.

As a matter of fact, that doesn't even matter.

I think about it this way. So what if the rest of the album sucks? So I paid $12.99 for one song. Big deal. It's a great song, and you can't put a price tag on the way a song makes you feel. I have a smile on my face, my toes are tapping, my head is bobbing. And I'll pay $12.99 for that type of satisfaction any day!

So here's that ONE great song, as well as two funky remixes.



The Fashion - Like Knives



The Fashion - Like Knives (Daniel Dexter Remix)



The Fashion - Like Knives (Tiger Baby Remix)

Keepin' it green!

I have been listening to Greenskeepers for a while now. I never knew much about them, but I was introduced to their music through Pandora, like most of my music. And today, I thought I'd do some research into this group. And apparently they are from Chicago, which explains so much. Their sound is so groovy and brings together so many different styles: indie, house, funk, alternative rock, new wave, etc. I especially like the main vocalist. He sounds so deliciously sinister!

So I did more research and found out another interesting fact. James Curd, an AMAZING Chicago house DJ, is one half of Greenskeepers. This also explains the reason for my obsession with this group.

And the best thing I discovered through today's research: Greenskeepers has a live DJ set at Underground in Chicago this Sunday! This made my day. After that, they'll be heading to Detroit, then Canada. It was meant to be. I had to look up Greenskeepers today. Funny how that happens, huh?

So if you're in the Chicagoland area this weekend, come check out Greenskeepers with me!

You'll notice all three of these songs are very different. "Lotion" is probably their first popular song. It pays homage to Buffalo Bill's character in Silence of the Lambs. Creepy, right? "Vagabond" is their most recent single, and you can hear it in the latest installment of Grand Theft Auto. "One Day" is a more electro/dance track, but its so funky fresh!


Greenskeepers - Lotion


Greenskeepers - Vagabond


The Juan MacLean - One Day (James Curd of Greenskeepers Remix)

Starting the weekend early

I haven't been my usual self lately. I've been laying low, staying in, relaxing. And that needs to change. NOW. So I figured who better to get me amped than Cut Copy? There's something about this Australian group that gets me in a happy, toe-tapping mood. You hear a little bit of 80s new wave infused into their electro-pop riffs. It's heavy!

Now, although I love Cut Copy's original tracks, I absolutely love any remix they introduce. Similar to MSTRKRFT, these guys are able to take a decent track and make it hot. So, today we're getting into the groove, friends. We're starting the weekend early with a healthy dose of Cut Copy.

I will confess: I have not listened to the original version of either of these songs. Cut Copy's remixes ruin the originals for me; I don't even care to listen to the originals because in my mind nothing can beat a good Cut Copy edit.



The Presets - Girl And The Sea (Cut Copy Remix)

The more you try to erase me, the more I appear

Lupe Fiasco + Pharrell + Kanye West = a stellar masterpiece!

Are you kidding me? As soon as I saw this track pop up on my IMEEM playlist, I had to give it a listen. And I'm slightly upset that I just heard this for the first time. Apparently it's been out for a couple years now. Oh well! To make the track even hotter (as if it wasn't hot enough), they mixed in Thom Yorke's "Eraser."

Lupe kills this track. That's all I got to say!


Lupe Fiasco feat. Kanye West & Pharrell - Us Placers

I need you to want me, to hold me, to tell me the truth

A lot of people ask me why I post so much electro and house music on here, and not as much rock. The answer is easy:

Rock music these days is pitiful. Well, the garbage they play on the radio hurts my ears. But I'm confident that there's quality rock music out there. I hear it from time to time. But MTV and pop radio have damaged rock music in a way that may be irreversible. But no words can explain the joy that consumes me when I hear a contemporary rock band that actually sounds like a real rock band. None of that whiny, emo garbage. I'm sorry, but I just can't stomach the cheesy songs that bands like Fall Out Boy, Death Cab For Cutie, and Coheed and Cambria put out. The only reason I know these bands exist is because I do occasionally turn on the radio. Then I immediately regret it when I hear these degenerates playing what they call music. I mean, seriously, why do they sound like their man parts were cut off? And why do people like this?

I hear MTV's TRL is no longer on television. That makes me happy. I'm pretty sure TRL is to blame for the rise in popularity of this nonsense. Maybe now they'll go back to playing real rock music. Or not. They're too busy airing pathetic reality shows. But I digress...

So, my pal George Carson (who happens to be a part of an awesome rock band: Loaded) suggested I check out Ghostland Observatory. They've been around for a few years now, and I can't believe I never heard of them. But I downloaded a handful of their songs, and they rock! They remind me of Wolfmother with a dash of MGMT. So thank you, George, for proving rock music still exists. You just gotta look for it.



Ghostland Observatory - Sad Sad City



Ghostland Observatory - Piano Man



Ghostland Observatory - Rich Man

Relax with me

I absolutely love those moments when I "rediscover" music. Does that ever happen to you? You find a song, love it, listen to it. Then somehow over the years you forget about it. Perhaps you lost the CD you originally had it on, or you never owned it in the first place. Maybe you just heard it playing at a club but never got your hands on it. Anyway, I remember hearing this song years ago. I cannot remember where or when; I just know I loved it when I heard it. It put me in a happy lil' trance. And today I decided to listen to one of my Pandora stations, and this was the first track played. You know me... I started grooving at my desk and thought I'd share the track with you.

So it's been a long, rough week. And the weekend has finally arrived. I think I'll listen to this song on my commute home from work. It seems like perfect background music. It's chill, it's relaxing, and it's Royksopp! This track will definitely make it to the beginning of my "sexy" playlist. Yea, that's right, I have a sexy playlist. If you don't, I suggest you create one soon. And add this track!


Röyksopp - So Easy

Also, here's a lil' tidbit of information about the artist. Did you know in Norweigan, "Røyksopp" means "smoke mushroom?"