Watch: Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – “We Almost Lost Detroit”
There seems to have been an overwhelming amount of lack luster videos for good (and bad) songs as of late. Whether it’s strange dreamy characters that don’t make sense, annoying teenagers egging cars or a band playing live accompanied by some type of pyrotechnic, I began wondering if all the good video ideas had been used up. Personally, I’m a sucker for a clever time lapse or even the old tried and true road trip footage any day, but nothing plays better then a band showing love to their hometown. Dale Earnhardt Jr Jr’s album It’s A Corporate World came out about a year ago and their tribute to Detroit was instantly one of my favorites of the bunch. “We almost Lost Detroit” is a killer rock song that pays homage to the city that gave us Motown, the automobile, a few not-so-great sports teams and the pretty famous Kiss song. The video takes you on a tour of D-town’s most iconic images as the boys rock out in a delivery truck and the locals sing along to, what could be, a new anthem. With a clever idea, excellent execution and plenty of hometown pride, the only question that remains is, where’s Eminem? Enjoy the video starring the motor city below.
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – We Almost Lost Detroit from Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. on Vimeo.
MOR New Tunes Playlist: Volume Four
We’re back with another version of your favorite Merchants of Rock New Tunes Playlist series. We even have a fresh red graphic this go round, so how can you go wrong?
This go round, the “once prolific” Ryan Adams becomes the first artist to appear on two of our esteemed playlists, old favorites Wilco, Centro-matic, and Feist make an appearance, newcomers Phantogram, Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr., and Cults keep things fresh while Bon Iver, Artic Monkeys, Black Lips, Dawes, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Blitzen Trapper, and Noel Gallagher round out the latest playlist.
We think it is some of our best yet, but we’ll let you be the judge of that. Enjoy!
Don’t have Spotify? Do yourself a favor and download it, it’s free and quite wonderful. Why don’t you follow us while you’re at it?
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. – It’s a Corporate World Album Review
As their name implies Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. doesn’t take themselves too seriously, in both their lyrics and their music, in fact the band is even known to wear matching Nascar jumpsuits on stage (in case you’re wondering they’ve cleared their band name with the man himself – Mr. Earnhardt Jr). This Detroit duo crafts electronic yet whimsical tunes of the indie variety and if their live performances are any indication they seem to be having a heck of a time in the process. It’s A Corporate World is chalk full of fun little songs that make you want to whistle along, not a bad quality to have during these warm summer months. The bands’ first full length album kicks off with probably their best tune “Morning Thought” that like many of the other songs is highly rhythm driven and slightly funky. We then slow it down a bit with “Nothing But Our Love” and “Skeletons” that both chug along nicely and lead into the Phoenix-esque “An Ugly Person on a Movie Screen” that might have a future as a club hit. Later in the album we get the happy whistle tune “Simple Minds” and “If it Wasn’t You” that halfway through had my humming John Lennon’s “O My Love” (even though the latter is clearly a better tune). “Vocal Chords” is the perfect summer jam and will make you want to run through a sprinkler like a little kid again.
The bad news is that “When I Open My Eyes” is way too creepy and “Husbands (Interlude)” is completely unnecessary as it just sounds like the beginning of “Morning Thought” but ends up being a big tease because it goes nowhere fast. “The Fisherman” is another bummer because it just leaves you wishing they had ended on “Almost Lost Detroit” a fist pumping jam that really rocks. Of course despite the low points here and there It’s A Corporate World seems to be a nice little debut album and although I’m not sure of it’s longevity I’m happy it’s in rotation for now.
