Irish Punk Rock In Scorsese's The Departed: Queen, 30 Seconds To Mars, Dropkick Murphys

"I WANT IT ALL"    QUEEN

When you've got to release three greatest hits albums just to contain all of your best songs, you can't deny how amazing a band like Queen was.   One of the most influential bands of all-time, "I Want It All" got released at the end of their original line-up career and sometimes gets lost in the shuffle of their greatest songs.   But this song verges on metal with one of Brian May's hardest solos and Roger Taylor's best drum work.    Freddie's vocals perfectly capture the theme of taking charge, making things happen, a revolution of personal drive and ambition. 

"FROM YESTERDAY"    30 SECONDS TO MARS

When Jared Leto, lead singer of 30 Seconds To Mars, played their set at Coachman Park in Clearwater, Florida, he climbed to the top of the light tower during this song!   The band has only released 3 CD's in their fourteen year history but they're currently in the studio working on their next project.   One fact that always impressed me, Jared is a big time actor but never uses this fame to exploit his band's popularity.   In fact, if a venue promotes them as Jared Leto and 30 Seconds To Mars, they won't play there.   Ballsy move but you've got to respect the artistic choice to let their music generate their fans.   "From Yesterday" has a 14 minute video shot in China, here's an edited version.

"I'M SHIPPING UP TO BOSTON"   DROPKICK MURPHYS

Celtic pride in full effect when you drop in a Dropkick Murphy's CD.   Like me, you probably first heard this band during the Martin Scorsese film, The Departed.  The crime boss theme and a cast including Leo DiCaprio, Jack Nicholson, and Matt Damon contributed to their Oscar win for Best Picture.  Leo's transformation from a good cop to a Boston thug perfectly matched up to the soundtrack of the Dropkick Murphy's drunken bar band anthem.    Jonathan Papelbon used this song as his entrance theme song when he closed games for the Boston Red Sox.

 

You've Heard It At Stadiums But I Bet You Don't Know The Name Of This Song: Zombie Nation, Amos Lee, Jackson Taylor Band

"KERNKRAFT 400" (Sports Remix)   ZOMBIE NATION

The stadiums are doing The Wave, the speakers are blasting that song you've heard a million times, the chorus of "Whoa-oh-oh" is whipping the crowd into a frenzy.  Sports teams from everywhere including Brazil's soccer team, baseball's Boston Red Sox, hockey's Toronto Maple Leafs, Australian football teams, even the Alabama Crimson Tide, have played this song to get their fans "pumped" up during the game.   But what is the song's title?  "Zombie Nation" is chanted in the chorus.  But wait!   "Zombie Nation" is the band's name, the actual song is titled "Kernkraft 400"  The band is actually a Munich DJ who combines techno with electronica and will forever be known for his electrifying song that no one remembers the correct title.  

 
 
 
"MILES"    JACKSON TAYLOR BAND

Flip through the radio dial and the same songs get played to death, similar styles generate copycat versions.   The Jackson Taylor Band break the rules of traditional country music and haven't gotten the airplay they deserve.   They combine great storytelling with Southern Rock, a take it or leave it attitude that hasn't translated into chart success YET.   "Miles" is a rockin' love song you've likely never heard but will be singing along with by the end of the first chorus.

   
"SOUTHERN GIRL"   AMOS LEE

"Something about a Southern girl makes me feel right."   Amos Lee's voice perfectly combines folk with a bluesy soulful mix that shines on this track from his 2006 CD, "Supply And Demand".   His lyrics sound country here but his vocals sound like a lost 70's singer-songwriter classic.  If someone who's all over the charts, like Kenny Chesney, covered this song, I could see it become a #1 smash and a country music classic.