SOURCE:  http://leisure.newstimes.com/story.php?id=68021

01-07-05

NEWS-TIMES MUSIC WRITER

I wouldn't mind having a few million dollars, but as a copy editor and music writer, it could be a really long while before that happens – to put it mildly.

So as I wait for my big raise or at least to come to my senses, I truly enjoy watching some of my favorite music stars achieve success in the form of album sales, awards and soldout shows.

I felt that way when I saw rappers Twiztid, Wolfpac, Blaze and The R.O.C. jam pack The Palladium in Worcester, Mass., for Fright Fest on Halloween. And it was good to see Eminem and D12's videos for "My Band" and "How Come" on MTV.

But one of the most rewarding aspects of my job as music writer is when I interview an artist for the first time and end up having a really cool conversation. That happened when I interviewed R&B singer JoJo, who admittedly isn't a millionaire just yet. Barely into her teens, JoJo was intelligent and fun to work with. And now, every time I hear her new single, "Baby It's You," on the radio, I think, 'You go, girl!' – or something along those lines.

Looking back at 2004, I got to interview quite a few veteran acts, including members of Fleetwood Mac, Judas Priest, the Temptations, Warrant, The Black Crowes and Men At Work.

I'm equally glad to have interviewed many top acts in today's rock scene, including Yellowcard, Linkin Park, Switchfoot, Story Of The Year, Maroon 5 and Simple Plan.

Meanwhile, I got schooled on ska music from Reel Big Fish and swing music from Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. And though I'd never watched "American Idol," I caught up with the show before getting on the phone with finalists Clay Aiken and Diana DeGarmo.

Jewel and Christina Milian are two of my favorite female singers and I interviewed both in 2004. I also caught up with larger-than-life rappers The Fat Killahz, animated hard rocker Andrew WK and somewhat controversial crooner Eamon.

Between The News-Times and www.newstimes180.com, I talked to and wrote about at least 70 music acts last year. While each person had an interesting story to tell, the following were my favorites based on our interviews, seeing them in concert and the impact they made on my enjoyment of music as a fan.

Here are my Top 10 most memorable interviews of 2004

6. Puddle Of Mudd

I told Wesley Scantlin, lead singer-guitarist for Puddle Of Mudd, that the band's "Life On Display" LP made their first album sound like a demo. That says a lot given that 2001's "Come Clean" LP sold more than three million copies. But I meant what I said and Scantlin appreciated it.

When you reach a certain point as a music fan, you have your favorite bands and it's hard for a new artist to make it into those ranks. With Puddle Of Mudd, though, I found an alternative rock band that's really worth listening to. Bands like Puddle Of Mudd, blink-182 and Jet have shown me that if a newer band is good enough, I'll enjoy their music.

During our interview, Scantlin talked about the lyrics he writes and the importance of making eye contact with members of the audience. I saw the band in concert at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. They played all the hits, including "Drift And Die," "She Hates Me," "Control" and "Away From Me."