Quick Hits

I know I haven't been around much...Really busy into some things with work and the family and TV on DVD has once again consumed my life...I have always wanted to watch The Sopranos and I'm going through it on DVD now. So blame Tony Soprano for my lack of posts

Time for quick hits...


Alex Rodriguez and PED - Gag me...It's all the fault of the Rangers according to A-Roid as if someone forced him to sign a 252 million dollar deal...Deal with it dude

Texas Basketball - Not very good right now...I'm making the trek to Austin this weekend to see the Horns take on Blowu in basketball...Hopefully they can muster some guts

Ranger Baseball - Watch out MLB, the #1 ranked farm system will start to produce soon as the Rangers make their return to the playoffs...maybe even this year

American Idol - Too many to judge right now but power rankings will start soon when they shake the group down a little

Another top 10

I know this post has no substance, but I'm busy and I'm gonna try to be really in-depth with draft stuff...So onto a top 10 to finish it off because everyone likes countdowns

Tonight's top 10 may be a bit self-serving, but here are the top 10 Led Zeppelin songs as I've been going through my Zeppelin catalogue lately

MMA Stuff -

Saw a very interesting fighter this past weekend and when I talked to a contact at his gym I got some info on him. His name is Azaraiah "The Pirahna" Pattee and he's a 155 lbs. up and comer versed in Boxing, BJJ, and Muay Thai. Right now he's fighting out of Core Fight Academy, be on the lookout for him.

10. Black Dog - From Led Zeppelin IV

I love the way they use the music breaks in this song. Black Dog has no reference in the song, but they named it after a Black Lab that was around the studio. John Paul Jones said he wanted to make this song where people could never really get into a groove with the music breaks. The drums in this song are classic Bonham and it's one of the best portrayals of Robert Plant's vocal skills.

9. Whole Lotta Love - From Led Zeppelin II

This starts with one of the most famous Jimmy Page guitar rifs in the whole collection. It's an instant stop down anytime it comes on and one of the most rockin songs Zeppelin does. It's also one of the bluesy songs Zeppelin does. It's also one of the longest songs when Zeppelin performs live as Page can go on forever with his improvosational guitar skills.

8. Stairway To Heaven - From Led Zeppelin IV

This song is the bread and butter of Zeppelin's collection. Obviously when anyone mentions the band "Stairway To Heaven" is the first thing that comes to mind. On many "Best Song" lists this ranks right up there and it's in my top 10 but not one that's my favorite of favorites. The song goes from easy to hard rock in no time and is led in by the forceful driving drums of John Bonham and Jimmy Page's iconic guitar solo.

7. Rock and Roll - From Led Zeppelin IV

This is the definition of the perfect concert starter song. It comes in with an upbeat tempo and high energy from all instruments from the very start. It's probably between this and D'yer Maker between the most fun songs they do. Not one of their introspective, deep songs, but top to bottom a really solid song that is fun to listen to anytime.

6. Kashmir - From Physical Graffiti

Another one of their bread and butter songs and an iconic guitar riff. It was so iconic in fact that P-Diddy used it for his song "Come With Me" from the Godzilla soundtrack. As a drummer this is another song where you can truly appreciate Bonham's drumming. Most members of the band have said this is in their mind their best song and their best accomplishment as musicians.

5. Over The Hills and Far Away - From Houses of The Holy

This is one inspired from Lord of The Rings. Starts out with an acoustic melody and comes in hard with the drums. It kind of peaks and valleys at points in the song with the tempo but is a pretty hard rocking song if that's what you are looking for.

4. Ramble On - From Led Zeppelin II

Yet another song influenced by The Lord of The Rings. The beat you hear at the beginning of the song is John Bonham actually recording from the top of a staircase beating on a "rubbish pail" or trash can with a stick. Until the 2007 reunion, this song was never performed in it's entirety at a concert, but is obviously one of my very favorites.

3. Babe I'm gonna Leave You - From Led Zeppelin (Self titled)

This song has become a new favorite of mine. Originally it was a folk song that Robert Plant made into a blues track. To me this is Plant's best performance vocally. The range he shows in this song is unmatched in any other song in my opinion.

2. When The Levee Breaks - From Led Zeppelin IV

This song started as a blues song in 1929 and was adapted by Plant into one of their best rock performances. The song was recorded in such an innovative way, with reverse echo effect on the harmonica and guitar and the drumset being recorded from another level of the house to give it a distant echo but force. The drums, guitar, and harmonica are described as "Driving" with a purpose to represent a driving storm.

1. That's The Way - From Led Zeppelin III

It would be weird that as a big fan of John Bonham and the rock Led Zeppelin brings, that my favorite song would be their softest rock with no drums in it at all. I remember the first time I heard the song as it was really the one that actually got me into listening to Led Zeppelin. The song was written one day while Jimmy Page was just playing the guitar and Robert Plant wrote the lyrics in 15 minutes. It's my #1 favorite song of all time and though it may not be the best representation of them to most it is tops for me.