Strut-ting His Stuff

Be still my heart...I do love me some Lenny Kravitz.

That hunky, gorgeous piece of eye candy has just dropped a new album called Strut. Playing to his rock side, Kravitz said this album literally wrote itself. Kravitz has been living a dream as of late, his acting career skyrocketing in the past few years. He landed a role in the Oscar winning movie Precious and then as Cenna in the Hunger Games and Catching Fire movies. He then played a key role in the award winning movie, Lee Daniels, The Butler. Yes, it's been a good couple of years for Lenny.

Kravitz says that while he was on set finishing up Catching Fire, he kept hearing music in his head that just wouldn't go away. He decided to pay attention to it rather than loose it and his latest album was hatched. A true instrumentalist, song writer he starts with guitars and drums first and adds what it needs along the way. Best known for his number one hit, "Fly Away", Lenny Kravitz has been a hit maker since he debuted in the early 90's.

I'm buying the album because I love his music and I'm a huge fan. Rumor has it the inside cover sleeve photo is worth the price of it alone.

This isn't it the one from the new album, but you get the idea here.

What was I saying?

Oh yeah...I love me some Lenny Kravitz. I wanna fly away..........

Rock For All Ages

Wow.
Right, they didn't reinvent the wheel here, but I sure had a good time. So shoot me.

Rock of Ages was a two hour long rock and roll anthem to my youth. I loved it because I didn't have to think about it too hard. I just had to sit back and be entertained. Beside the fact that I could name all the  bands and sing along to virtually every jukebox song that was played out in musical form on the screen, the cast of Hollywood heavies made it an even more enjoyable rock and roll adventure. Oh I know, Rock of Ages was panned by the critics and it opened to minimal box office success, but I would venture to guess that this one will grow some legs and spark new life on DVD.

For me, it was two things; the music, oh the beautiful music, and the cast. Let's start with my favorites:

• Paul Giamatti. The guy is an anomaly by Hollywood standards, but he has truly perfected the "slime ball, scum bag" role to an art form. He's so despicable and disgusting (that heinous ponytail,  ewww) that I hate to love him and love him I do. My visceral response to his work only leads me to believe the truth and the truth is that Giamatti is genius.
• Alec Baldwin. Hello? Is there any comedic role this guy can't turn into gold? As an over the hill rocker who stayed too long at the party, Bourbon Room owner Dennis Dupree, Baldwin and his loyal side man Lonnie (Russell Brand) gave one of the movie's comedic high points with REO Speedwagon's "Can't Fight this Feeling". 
• Russell Brand? He just played himself, with a spot on makeover of a hair band groupie, which is why it was no stretch. His warm and fuzzy Lonny is the emotional anchor that binds this story together and serves as the comic relief. 
• Then there's Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, a resurrected Axl Rose type of rock God. Cruise nailed it and for me, the guy plays this role so dark and so sexy that I was left almost searching the iTunes store for Arsenal/Stacee Jaxx songs. It's such a departure for this Hollywood Marquee player, that I once again am amazed by Cruise and his brilliance when he throws something different at me. See: Tropic Thunder

The rest of the cast rounds it out quite nicely. While I enjoyed the performances of Julianne Hough and a somewhat unknown Diego Boneta, and Malin Ackerman and Catherine Zeta Jones, this one belonged to the big boys. 

And the music. 

The climactic finale, with the rock and roll anthem of today, Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" was predictable but nonetheless enjoyable. It somehow managed to sound fresh and uplifting, but for me it was Cruise who made it new. 

Again, I'm just a sucker for a Rock and Roll story for all ages. So shoot me. 

Blow Me One Last Kiss.

Dang, she's hot.

Seriously, I was watching her perform on the Today Show this morning and I was just thinking about how sexy and hot Pink is. She's hot in so many ways than being just hot too.

I mean first, she's a Rock Star. Crazy talented, edgy and just crazy-f-ed up enough to produce some real genius. Pink rocks it hard and from her music you get the feeling that in her short 33 years on this planet she's lived a lot of life. She doesn't lip sync her live performances because she changes up her spot on raspy vocals with some amazing harmonies which are unique to each show. Her songs usually have her trademark profanities laced within the lyrics but Pink gladly deletes them for more viewer friendly venues like Rockefeller Plaza. All signs that the once hard-core rocker has softened.

Now she's a mom. And clear, sober and happy are the words Pink uses to describe her life today. Reunited with her husband Corey Hart after a brief separation, she's got a beautiful little girl and she's just released a new album that drops today entitled, "The Truth About Love."

Then there's the whole 'she doesn't even know she's beautiful' thing. Pink, the same girl that sang, "Tired of being compared to damn Britney Spears/ She's so pretty. That just ain't me." in her hit "Don't Let Me Get Me", just signed a contract with Cover Girl. Not pretty? She's now a Cover Girl spokesmodel.Take that Britney Spears.

I just love her spirit. She's sexy, beautiful, young, rich, and taking the world by storm once again. If the secret to success in the industry is reinvention (see Madonna) Pink has proved a solid player by just being good.... and true to herself. Pink always "Get's the Party Started" leaving us to "Raise our Glass" and when it's all said and done she reminds us that no one, least of all her, is."F*****ng Perfect".

I Was Just Thinking....

• Real men don't cry. Real men don't lie either. Roger Clemens was acquitted yesterday of all charges that he lied to Congress when he denied using performance enhancing drugs to extend his baseball career. What the? I can't believe it. We all know he lied about using so how could the jury not know? His friends, his trainer, those closest to him all took the heat to protect The Rocket and his good name. They admitted, under oath, to being injected with steroids, but we are expected to believe that Roger wouldn't? And for that matter, what good name? Clemens has tarnished, torched and blew up that name so that he can pretend that he never used steroids.  And that's the thing with liars, their lies become truths in their own minds. And now those blurred lines have a verdict to fuel their fire. Still won't get him into Cooperstown.  
• It's five o'clock somewhere. Actually, it's 4 o'clock in the afternoon in Uganda where Frack is now spending day one of his three week mission. They arrived early this morning about 12:40 am EST and are halfway through day one of the expedition. I pray he takes good care of himself and the group, as he was voted Team Leader. Wouldn't it be great if I could get him to "Team Lead" his homework this fall? I miss that kid so much already and it's only day one. One day at a time, mom.
• Long live Rock! So I'm watching TV last night and I see this Pet Smart commercial about the new Brett Michaels Pet's Rock collection for your pets. It's an exclusive line designed by the rocker that offers, bowls, beds, toys, leashes and apparel for that Rock Star pet in your life. Brett Michaels? Isn't that the guy that won the Celebrity Apprentice a while back? Is this what that trophy gets you? Somewhere the Gods of Rock and Roll are having a good, hearty laugh about this one. And speaking of Rock and Roll, I'm thinking I'd like to go and see the "Rock of Ages" movie this weekend. The theater geek in me will not be denied, but the Tom Cruise fan, even though I think he's a douche, wants to watch Cruise make history. Rumor has it there are some stellar performances from Cruise, Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin. Worth the take, I say. 
• Forever a Townie. I watched "The Town" last night. I had never seen it and dang, if that wasn't a great movie. Jeremy Renner was fabulous but Ben Affleck??(be still my heart) was HAWT! Who knew a Boston accent could be so sexy? This guy could steal my heart any day, and I didn't even know I liked him. The movie, based on the novel, "The Prince of Thieves" is set in Charlestown, MA and Affleck and his group of thugs are major bank thieves. This one never stops delivering from start to finish and if you haven't seen it, like me, I highly recommend it. Two Daily Dandy thumbs way up!

Super Heavy Subject Matter

I read about this "Dream Team" new band today made up of an eclectic group of performers, some legendary, some not. They call themselves "Super Heavy", and I think they just may be super cool.

For the past two years, Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, Damien Marley, and AR Rahman, have been working on a secret album that drops this week. Super Heavy's debut album is said to be a "fusion" of unexpected musical styles from "reggae, to ballads to Indian songs in Urdu". With Jagger being draw enough for me, I'm curious to listen to their sound considering this unique collaboration of these artists.

Said to be Dave Stewart's brainchild, who got the inspiration from listening to different sound systems in his home all at once. He talked to friend Jagger and brain stormed how they could make a fusion of sounds. After six months of making calls, Stone, Marley, Rahman, Stuart and Jagger started banging it out in the studio. Admittedly not knowing "what the hell they were doing at first", Stuart explains that these jam sessions with the artists each contributing something of their own, slowly worked their way into songs.

An All Star Band? An interesting concept at best. But whether or not this new grouping actually touches and inspires fans is another thing completely.

So you be the judge. Check out the website at SuperHeavy.com

And check out their first single, Miracle Worker:

And Jagger still got his moves....

Long Live Rock

Right now I'm thinking that this guy could be 1000, and I'd still rock out at a Bon Jovi concert. That's probably because I'd be 1000 too, but that's not the point.

The point is that beside the fact that Jon Bon Jovi is a smokin' hot, stone cold fox (and I know I say that about a lot of my faves, but Bon Jovi ranks right up there next to My Tommy Brady) the dude STILL rocks. Hard. And tours, and makes new music, and deserves his place in Rock and Roll history. Dead or Alive. (a little Bon Jovi humor there)

The fact that Bon Jovi will turn 48 on March 2 means nothing to the rock gods in heaven. He's still sexy as HELL, rocks hard, fills stadiums, churns out hits regularly and his music still sounds hot. Heck, Bon Jovi even crossed over into another genre (country) and had a huge hit a few years ago. That's what I call staying power. The boys are still relevant.

So what's all the hub bub about aging rockers?

Look at The Rolling Stones. Mick and Keith and the boys just finished touring and wrapping up a Martin Scorsese documentary about the band and Mick is 66 and Keith is 65. Neither of them look bad for being dead, but you can't deny, the dude's still have it. Let's face it the Stones still rock, and the abundance of hot young ass thrown at their feet, to this day prove it. They don't even need to make any new music, their catalog of hits from decades ago stands alone and still has relevance. Because it's the music of many generations. It's the music we measured key moments in our lives by and it plays in the soundtrack of our memories. The Rolling Stones may just be untouchable.

So why was The Who's performance at the Super Bowl halftime show so greatly criticized?

Steven, (the dude looks like a lady), Tyler of Aerosmith is 62 and possesses arguably one of the greatest singing voices of all time. Lately, Tyler has seen better days. Rumored to be battling drugs and alcohol after a twenty five year period of sobriety, Tyler reportedly quit Aerosmith in November.

"On November 10, 2009, Joe Perry confirmed that Steven Tyler had quit Aerosmith to pursue a solo career and was unsure whether the move was indefinite"

Yet right up until that time, Tyler and Aerosmith were churning out hits and selling out stadiums all over the world. Dare I say, Aerosmith may be more relevant now than ever in their forty year spanned career.

So what was it about The Who's performance at Sunday's Super Bowl that sparked this "when should old rockers say when" debate? Was it 65 year old Roger Daltry's short hair and bespectacled appearance? Was 64 year old Pete Townsend's sound not inspiring? Were they just not good?

I don't see how it's possible. Beside the fact that they "sold out" some of their music catalog to CBS for their Crown jewel CSI series, their music still stands alone. This Hall Of Fame band still has the chops and the music and is considered one of the most influential rock bands of all time. And if you were wondering, The Who has plans to release an new album in 2010 and a World Tour.

Say what you will about Green Day and rest, I give them props too. But I like my rock and roll served up with a heaping side helping of Rock and Roll Royalty.