Tuesday, April 8, 2008

A couple of changes...

For those of you interested (anybody?), I made three changes to the Awesome Playlist as the three new purchases I made this weekend proved to be excellent choices. So here are the changes:

Out goes...
Words of a Dying Man by Alabama Thunderpussy
Come Clarity by In Flames
People Like You by Live

And in comes...
Inflikted by Cavalera Conspiracy: the new single from the debut album from the Cavalera boys' new band. Fantastic groove thrash...highly recommended.

Alias by In Flames: I can't get enough of this album. Yes, they slowed down, but who cares if they slow down to songs like this.

When Your Mind's Made up by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova: quite far away from the above two tracks. This gives me goosebumps all over. A great album too. Cat Stevens would have been proud if he hadn't turned all nutty...

Saturday, April 5, 2008

What's on my playlist?

For those in the know, I have written before about my iPod woes. However, my addiction to Apple's little player could not detract me from listening to music, ladies and gents. Yes, I am still listening to music nowadays...on my iTunes...

Anyhoo, once in a while I update a playlist called...Awesome Playlist. It is basically the 30 songs I listen to most recently. I am aware that most of these aren't of headbanging fare...

So, in alphabetical order by artist:

1- Words of a Dying Man by Alabama Thunderpussy: awesome name for a band and an awesome song. Hence it's on the Awesome Playlist.

2- Ion by Apocalyptica: the stand-out track from their latest album, this song rocks as much as cellos can rock...

3- Threshold by Audrey Horne: this Swedish supergroup manage well to exploit the post-grunge scene. A great song.

4- Sorrow by Bad Religion: an olden goldie. You can't really go wrong with the our So.Cal revolutionaries.

5- Guyamas Sonora by Beirut: unlike anything I have in my library, I can't get enough of this song. Would be a great soundtrack.

6- You Won't Know by Brand New: I'm not hot on emo, but Brand New manage to transcend genres rather well...a bit like Coheed & Cambria in that sense...but the similarity stops there.

7- Mr. Jones by Counting Crows: come on, you know you love it. It is just irresistible.

8- Someday You'll Be Loved by Death Cab For Cutie: there's a macabre feeling to this song, which I think makes it darker than it is.

9- Clouds Over California by DevilDriver: as far away from Coal Chamber as you can get, this is pure HEAVY metal.

10- Indecision by Eagle Eye Cherry: a one-hit wonder he may have been, but his album is full of little gems like this.

11- Whorehoppin' (Shit, Goddamn) by Eagles Of Death Metal: catchy and funny. 'Nuff said.

12- Inis Mona by Eluveitie: these Swiss folk metallers know how to mix genres and instruments better than their Scandinavian contemporaries.

13- All My Life by Foo Fighters: my favourite song of theirs...pure heavy pop rock genius.

14- Come Clarity by In Flames: on the eve of the release of their new album, it never hurts to go back to this amazing track.

15- Out of the Silent Planet by King's X: sitars and guitars, this song does what Beatles couldn't do in India.

16- People Like You by Live: one of the only two good songs on their "V" album, this is the quintessential Live sound.

17- Halo by Machine Head: this song, catchy as it is, gets even better with every listen. One of the highlights of last year.

18- Wax Simulacra by The Mars Volta: one of the many outstanding songs from their recent album, this is one of their best.

19- Double Nature by Mustasch: still can't figure out these Swedes: are they for real or just posing? Regardless, it's a very good song.

20- The Poet & the Pendulum by Nightwish: the first 10 minutes are pure Nightwish and the last three are pure genius. Gives me goosebumps all over.

21- Lyla by Oasis: lift up your pints, gentlemen, and let's get shit-faced!

22- The Meaning of Life by The Offspring: shows how underrated Offspring were compared to Green Day.

23- Wave of Mutilation by Pixies: reminds me of Rock Band...sigh...

24- Normal by Porcupine Tree: an early contender for the song of 2008.

25- Feel Good Hit of the Summer by Queens Of The Stone Age: how-to-write-a-song-with-one-line 101.

26- Slaves and Bulldozers by Soundgarden: I will dare say that this is the second best vocal performance by a male artist ever...after Deep Purple's Child in Time, of course...

27- Curse of the Legions of Death by Testament: early thrash...there's nothing like it.

28- Polar Bear by Therapy?: one of the most uncomfortable songs I have ever listened to...yet I can't stop repeating it...masochist, moi?

29- Alien Angel by 3: a little too "sweet" it may be, but it hooks you right away.

30- Schism by Tool: an oddity that only Tool can conjure up, this is a song full of never-before-heard levels of aural assault with every listen.