In November 1999, Dr. Dre released Dr. Dre 2001, the sequel to his influential debut The Chronic, an album that brought gangsta rap to the suburbs of white America. The CD was emblazoned with a chromatic pot leaf, and behind it was a picture of Dre hunched over a studio soundboard inhaling a fat bag of weed. It set off the second-coming of West Coast gangsta rap releases. I bought the album at a Circuit City the day it came out. The next day in middle school, a teacher saw what was on the CD and confiscated it. Regardless, I went back and bought another copy, locking myself in my room, and blaring the album and over again. Even though I was a sheltered kid at the time who lived on the opposite coast and couldn’t relate to most of the shit that was being talked about, I was obsessed.

The album spawned a series of funked-out, sun-baked albums, including a newly West Coast resurgent Snoop Dogg (he had been on No Limit Records until then and was making shitty down south tracks with Master P), Dogg Pound members Daz & Kurupt, Warren G, Xzibit, DJ Quik and Ice Cube. Following the East Coast-West Coast feud between 2Pac and Biggie that ended in their deaths, hip hop fell into a gray area. All we really had then was Puff Daddy dressed up in blown-out gold sparkle jumpsuits.

But then came the West Coast’s return. I’m not including the period when the Game came on the scene, because that came later. In contrast to today’s region-less West Coast come up of Kendrick Lamar and Top Dawg Entertainment, this music was still strictly localized, referencing bouncing six-fours, swap meets and gang banging at Long Beach barbecues. The period I’m talking about, roughly the very end of 1999 through around 2003, had some albums that have been forgotten, or maybe never really remembered in the first place. This included albums like Snoop Dogg’s Top Dogg, Kurupt’s The Streetz iz a Mutha, Xzibit’s Restless and the Dogg Pound’s Dillinger and Young Gotti.

Each of these albums featured iced-out fonts and of course, a parental advisory sticker. They continued what the West Coast was known for: buoyant, Parliament Funkadelic-influenced basslines, police siren-synths, and rappers that basically bragged about how much weed they smoked and how much head they got. But it was awesome. The production holds up especially well today. And if you can get past the dated shout outs to what year it is (19 muthafuckin’ 99), then there is a lot to like about this period  What follows is a playlist I made of some songs from this forgotten era. As Snoop would say, “blaze a fat sack to this.”

Dropkick Murphy's - "Kiss Me I'm Shitfaced" Because this is just so much more honest than those silly "kiss me i'm Irish" shirts. There are plenty of folks at the St. Patrick's Day parade who are not Irish, but are looking for a sloppy makeout session. This is their full-disclosure theme song.

The Pogues - "A Pair Of Brown Eyes" Well, there had to be a Pogues song on this list (spoiler alert: there's two), and this one makes sense because it's perfect for a drunken sing-along, especially when you get to the "and a rovin a rovin a rovin I'll go" part, which is one of the best parts of any song ever.

Thin Lizzy - "Whiskey In The Jar" A sort of obvious pick, but a great song in any case. The Metallica version of this song is quite good, too, but it's been played to death, and it just seems more logical to give this spot to an actual Irish band. There are dozens of versions of this song floating around in the corners of the internet, so feel free to substitute whichever version you like.

George Thorogood And The Destroyers - "I Drink Alone" Parades aren't for everyone, and neither is public drunkenness, so this classic goes out to all the folks who will be getting plastered in the privacy of their own homes, preferably with no company whatsoever. A lot of folks will hanging out with their pal Johnnie Walker, and his brothers Blackie and red this March 17th, and we salute them.

Flogging Molly- "What's Left Of The Flag" Well, first of all, this is just a great celtic-punk song, and a great drinking song, but it's title could hold a deeper meaning for some. Let's be honest, Irish culture gets bastardized pretty severely at most St. Patrick's Day parades - one Facebook friend of mine expressed his dismay at the usage of the Lucky Charm logo being used in the parade. So, this one goes out to anyone annoyed at how their Irish heritage is represented on this day.

The Cranberries - "Zombie" In a similar vein of More Serious Songs, this immortal 90s hit discussed the 1916 Easter Rising, and was fairly controversial when it came out. Some praised it for calling attention to an important part of Irish history, while others thought it trivialized the events. In any case, it's certainly a memorable song, and shows the darker side of Irish heritage.

The Dubliners - "Seven Drunken Nights" To anyone thinking of making it St Patrick's Week.

Merle Haggard - "I Think I'll Just Stay Here And Drink" Hey, Celtic music isn't the only source of good drinking songs - country has a ton of classics. As with "I Drink Alone," this could go out to the folks don't go downtown to the parade, but will still be knocking back a few dozen. And also for those who don't need it be March 17th in order to do so.

The Pogues - "Dirty Old Town" The second Pogues song - they get two because they're the Pogues. This legendary folk tune was oringally recorded Ewan MacColl, but it's been covered by just about every act associated with Irish music in any way, including The Dubliners. MacColl considered the Pogues version to be the definitive take on his song, so it's the one I chose here, but feel free to substitute your own personal favorite.

The Irish Rovers - "Wasn't That A Party" A popular favorite around this time of year (I've heard it at Wegmans three times this weekend), which is somewhat ironic because it describes the consequences the next day more than the party itself. The perfect theme song for the crippling hangover you'll be waking up with the next morning.

Halloween is just three days away, and with that in mind, we here at buffaBLOG proudly present some of our favorite spooky songs to celebrate the most darkly whimsical time of the year.

Ministry - "Everyday is Halloween"
Before they went the industrial metal route, Ministry were more of a synthpop act. They were still fairly scary, however, as seen with this infamous ode to the goth lifestyle, which proudly proclaims "I dress this way/to keep em at bay/'cause Halloween is everyday." A motto for the ages if there ever was one.

Bauhaus - "Bela Lugosi's Dead"
Bauhaus' first single was quite possibly their masterpiece, as the world was introduced to Daniel Ash and Peter Murphy through this immortal 9-minute single, which is both atmospheric and fairly terrifying at the same time. An immortal goth song, and an immortal post-punk song.

Rolling Stones - "Midnight Rambler"
The Stones always scared the pants off of the establishment, but with this ultra-creepy ode to the Boston Strangler, even those who were on board were likely frightened just a little bit. The centerpiece of 1969's Let It Bleed, and arguably the darkest song in the band's discography.

Suicide - "Frankie Teardrop"
Consider this a companion to "Bela Lugosi's Dead," except it's considerably scarier. Another lengthy post-punk number from the late 70s, this one runs for over 10 minutes, and becomes increasingly terrifying as it gains more and more steam. Even if you only hear this song once, you'll never forget it.

Depeche Mode - "Black Celebration"
Because what is October 31st other than well...a black celebration? 

Alice Cooper - "Welcome To My Nightmare"
We couldn't have a Halloween list without the Coop, now could we? Alice Cooper is practically the human embodiment of Halloween, and that was never more true than with 1975's concept LP Welcome To My Nightmare. The title track sets the mood perfectly for his most theatrical album, and one of his best

Iron Maiden - "Bring Your Daughter...To The Slaughter"
This song was awarded a Razzie for Worst Original Song back in 1990 (it was in one of the Nightmare On Elm Street sequels, and I'm too lazy to look up which one). Probably for being so cheesy. But I say a little cheese does you good now and then. Plus, the chorus is pretty undeniable. Even when Maiden were being silly, they still rocked pretty hard.

Green Jelly - "Three Little Pigs"
Local Band Who Made It Big Alert. Halloween often takes things that are beloved to children, and warps them to fit the theme, so this demented telling of a classic children's story fits the bill just fine.

Bloodrock - "D.O.A."
Bloodrock have been somewhat forgotten by recent generations, but their most famous song remains one of the scariest things ever put to music. The lyrics describe an awful plane crash, as the narrator desperately yearns for death that won't come. Maybe don't play this one around the kids.

The Cramps - "TV Set"
Just about any Cramps song would have fit on this list - they were pretty much Halloween: The Band. Still, this ode to a serial killer who threatens to "cut your head off and put in my TV set" is quite possibly the spookiest thing they ever recorded.

Peter Gabriel - "Intruder"
During his time in Genesis, Peter Gabriel dressed up in elaborate, and often ridiculous, outfits. But when he went solo, shit became decidedly real, as evidenced by this creepy number sung from the point view of a stalker. Narrowly the scariest song on an album full of them, "Family Snapshot" tells the story of a kid who considers shooting the president, then settles for his parents, while "I Don't Remember" is a harrowing portrait of amnesia. That whole album scares the crap out of me, but this is a bit more brutal than he others. (Note: Since Peter Gabriel is not on Spotify yet, I've included Primus' version. Don't worry, it's good.)

Lou Reed - "Metal Machine Music 1-4"
RIP  Lou. We honor your legacy with the most controversial - and perhaps the most distinctive - work of your career. A solid hour of guitar feedback, if you can handle this, you can handle just about any of the frights that Halloween has to offer.

A few weeks ago, we gave you the ultimate playlist for the 2013 Buffalo Bills. Now, with hockey season just around the corner, buffaBLOG proudly presents the 2013-14 Sabres Soundtrack - songs you can listen to as you're riding to and back from the arena, wondering why Ryan Miller still hasn't been traded.

Depeche Mode - "Suffer Well"

To General Manager Darcy Regier, who memorably claimed that the Sabres rebuilding "may require some suffering." For fans hoping to see the team their two-year playoff drought, his words weren't exactly encouraging.

Rolling Stones - "No Expectations"

Of course, Regier is certainly not the only one to express this sentiment. Just about every prominent hockey writer in the country thinks the Sabres are in for a rough campaign. Buffalo News writers John Vogl, Mike Harrington, and Bucky Gleason all have the Sabres missing the playoffs, and none of them pick them to finish higher than 12th in the conference. The Sabres might not be doomed just yet, but no one seems to be expecting much from them this year.

Pink Floyd - "Money"

To Vile Leino, who really needs to start living up to that $27 million contract he signed in 2011. In his first season in Buffalo, he was practically invisible, and last year, injuries limited him to just nine games. Leino isn't too popular at that this point, but if he become a solid contributor, he could win back some of the fans who have turned on him.

Counting Crows - "Hanginaround"

To Drew Stafford, who is just kind of...hangin' around at this point.

LL Cool J - "Mama Said Knock You Out"

To Tyler Myers, the player most desperately in need of a comeback. After winning the Calder Trophy as a rookie, Myers' play has declined with each passing year, and the fans our running out of patience. Hopefully, right now Myers is shadowboxing, and jamming to some old school LL, getting ready to remind us why we loved him in the first place.

John Denver - "Leaving On a Jet Plane"

To Thomas Vanek and Ryan Miller, the two longest-tenured Sabres, and subject of trade rumors for some time now. It's been speculated that both will be moved near the trade deadline, but one can't help wondering how that might change based on the team's performance. If 2009-10 Miller comes back, and the team is playoff contention, it's pretty unlikely that they move, but if the team is as bad as most experts expect them to be, don't be shocked to see Miller and Vanek out the door.

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "The Waiting"

To backup goalie Jhonas Enroth, who probably thought he'd get a chance to start by now. In May and June, there was loads of talk that Miller would be moved in the summer, clearing the way for the Enroth era. Instead, the Sabres couldn't find an offer they were willing to take and #30 is the primary man behind the pipes until further notice. Your day will come, Jhonas.

John Sebastian - "Welcome Back"

To Henrik Tallinder , who makes his triumphant return to Buffalo this year after a stint with the Devils. Tallinder may not be the same player he was during his peak years with the Sabres, but his experience could be beneficial to a very young group of defensement.

Mott The Hoople - "All The Young Dudes"

To all the young dudes on this team! The Sabres are definitely in the midst of a youth movement, as practically half their roster was born in the 90s. Tyler Ennis and Cody Hodgson will be expected to be major contributors, while Marcus Foligno has looked good in stretches, and could thrive in his first full-length season. After not doing a whole lot lat year, Mikhail Grigorenko should be major improvements. So yeah...lot of young dudes there.

The Kinks - "Apeman"

To Patrick Kaleta, because he's an apeman. He's an ape man, he's an ape ape man, oh he's an apeman.

Nena - "99 Luftballoons"

To newly-minted captain Christian Ehrhoff because....he's German? Yeah, that'll work.

Nas ft. Puff Daddy - "Hate Me Now"

To Head Coach Ron Rolston, because, well, a lot of people seem to hate him. It's not really his fault. Lindy Ruff left a huge impression on this city, and his replacement is bound to face a lot of scrutiny. However, it's worth noting that the team performed better under Rolston than under Ruff last year, so perhaps we should give a fair shake.

Last year I made a New Year's Eve mix and a bunch of people downloaded it via mediafire. This year, I decided to alter the medium in order to strike gold twice. I don't really know what else to say. Here is a danceable New Years Eve mix. 




Song Order:  
Casiokids - "Verdens Stoste Land"
The 2 Bears - "Work"
Dvas - "Society"
Wallpaper - "Everytime We Do It"
Javelin - "Oh! Centra"
V-Nasty - "Free Vnasty - You Already Know"
Big Ass Manatee - "This is How We Do It"
Hot Chip - "Flutes"
Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaur - "Tapes and Money"
Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"
Holy Ghost! - "Jam for Jerry"
Starfucker - "Boytoy"
Architecture in Helsinki - "Contact High"
Of Montreal - "A Sentence of Sorts in Kongsvinger" 
Chromeo - "100 Percent"
Holy Ghost! - "Some Children" 

Confession: I interned as a low level juvenile delinquent (hey, I went to an honors school!) during my teenage years on the West Side, and as a result learned about the existence of the secret and frankly magical gardens that dot that area jumping fences and legging it away from __________  before the Buffalo Garden Walk kicked off however many years ago it kicked off and opened them up to the public. People, I don't know squat about gardening and I have no green thumb, but I can tell you that there is art in them backyards, and as discerning Buffalonians (and citizens of WNY and beyond) it behooves you to get out this weekend (10 - 4 Saturday before the buffaBLOG Broadway Market Rooftop Extravaganza preferably, and Sunday) to check it out. Here's a  playlist for your enjoyment, and to get you in the mood to hit up the Buffalo Garden Walk (be sure to print a map or pick one up from one of the three headquarters locations). Good times in Buffalo people. Good times...


"Nothing But Flowers," Talking Heads.




"Gardening At Night," R.E.M.
"Gordon's Garden Party," The Cardigans.
"The Seed," The Roots with Cody Chestnutt.
"The Birds In Your Garden," Pulp.
"Bloom," Radiohead.


"The Sun Was High (And So Was I)," Best Coast.




"Rain," The Beatles.
"Bugs," The Flaming Lips.
"Deadbeat Summer," Neon Indian.
"Zen Garden," Tangerine Dream.
"Ooh La La," Goldfrapp.



"A Good Year For The Roses," Elvis Costello.
"Let Your Love Grow Tall," Passion Pit.
Bloom, Beach House. Yeah, the whole album.



And to give you a taste of what the Garden Walk is all about and the wonders that await you, here's a Buffalo For Real video featuring local musician, raconteur, and man about town Nelson Starr.

Why shouldn't we have a day to celebrate love? It's awesome. Whether your valentine is your mom, your cat, or your lover, there's a song out there that expresses just what that person, pet, or inanimate object (love doesn't discriminate) means to you.

The Turkey Trot is an annual Buffalo tradition that has a different meaning for everyone. Some people roll out of bed, still hungover from the night before, lace on their nearest pair of sneakers and decide to run an 8K. Others have made this their goal race during which they will run their longest distance yet. Then there's people like me who take it extremely serious by trying to run it at a ridiculous pace while passing every costumed attendee with a scowl. Any way you decide to run the Turkey Trot, you're going to need a killer playlist to make it through those 4.96 miles amongst 13,000 other runners. Helena Beat by Foster The People Passion Pit - Sleepyhead by rodeoclown The Cave by Glassnotemusic

If you're not into checking calendars to see what month it is, look no further than local television commercials to get your answer. The one thing I can't stand about November is the incessant campaign commercials that do little to sway my opinion and create more mudslinging than anyone cares to clean up. The more I see these commercials, the more I think of how successful a candidate who just promotes themselves would be in a race, rather than one that points outs its opponent's flaws. Those who side with me, there's a light at the end of the tunnel.
Let's Call It Off (Girl Talk Remix) by kateblechinger
Fitz and the Tantrums - Don't Gotta Work it Out by TheTop22
Modest Mouse - Float On by Protooo

We've all been to the Halloween parties that try a little too hard. Fog machines that hardly cover half the room, more fake spider webs that you can ever imagine cleaning up and the same tired playlist of "Thriller" and the "Monster Mash." Sure you could go along with a playlist of the latest Top 40 hits that can be heard at least ten times a day on the radio, but why not shake things up with some creepy music that wasn't specifically made to be played for such an occasion. Here are some of my picks to keep your playlist interesting while keeping the mood macabre.
The Broken Places by thelittleidiot

Explosions in the Sky - "Your Hand in Mind"
The post-rock group out of Austin found themselves in a bit of unwarranted controversy around the times of the attacks, not to mention this recent overblown coincidence. Their album, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, was released exactly one week before September 11th. The record featured artwork of a plane flying over a group of troops and the message on the inner notes stating "this plane will crash tomorrow". Their most recognizable song, "Your Hand in Mine", off their follow up album The Earth is Not a Cold Dead Place though begins with a sense of loss and ends with hope. Like most Explosions in the Sky songs, not a word is spoken, but the emotional impact is unavoidable. The album title itself is reflectively optimistic, no matter how distant that optimism may have been.


Bruce Springsteen - "The Rising"
Written as a direct response to the September 11th attacks, the title track from Springsteen's 12th studio album became an anthem for a country banding together in the face of tragedy. The song depicts a New York City firefighter making his way up on of the World Trade Center buildings after one of the hijacked planes crashed. The courage and fear found in the lyrics only further stresses the acts of heroism that occurred that day.


Wilco - "Ashes of American Flags"
The story behind Wilco's breakthrough album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, has been well chronicled, but the album at it's core was a collection of loss, alienation, and cynicism in a post 9/11 world despite being recorded prior to the attacks. Between the American symbolism ("diet coca cola") or the feelings of defeat ("speaking of tomorrow, how will it ever come?") in the lyrics, "Ashes of American Flags", a wrenching portrait of can easily be a metaphor country at a loss, a wrenching portrait of confusion and the search for answers.


Wilco - "Jesus Etc."
While the title does not have the direct symbolism of "Ashes of American Flags", "Jesus Etc.", the standout track from Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, again written prior to 9/11, featured the chilling lyrics "tall buildings shake, voice escape singing sad, sad, songs". While neither Wilco song on this list is what you would call uplifting, both tracks managed to capture the helpless feelings that many Americans experienced following the tragedy.


Embrace - "Ashes"
The song from the British group can be seen as personal or as broad as you like. Each person was touched differently from the 9/11 attacks, and whether you interpret the song as a victory of a singular conflict or something much bigger, the song's anthemic chorus is almost impossible not to rally around. The overall feel of the song is not of one of sorrow and loss, but rather of victory and persevering, the moment when you realize that the worst is behind and the emotional rebuilding can begin.


Ryan Adams - "New York, New York"
The first single of Adams' Gold album is his love letter to the Big Apple. The video, which was shot just days before the attacks, became even more meaningful than the song as the alt country singer/songwriter sings his "farewell to the city and the love of my life" with the iconic skyline serving as his back drop. The World Trade Center Towers, standing just over his left shoulders, never looked so proud.