I have decided to move the SFTD (Song for the Day) thread to this rather neglected blog, so that there is some action going on. I have previously dabbled on about an obscure Bruce Dickinson song. You can find it here.
Today's song is none other than the MTV-bashing Dire Straits classic, "Money for Nothing".
I want my MTV, chimes Sting before some rather dynamic pop drumming leads to one of the most underrated riffs of all time. Mark Knopfler's old school, fuzzy blues riff contrasts the song's proud 80s pedigree - monotone drums and occasional busts of synth.
Sting returns ocasionally to help Knopfler, but the contrast is also evident here - drawling Knopfler versus high-pitched Sting.
Dire Straits is not adored by fans or critics alike, but the album from which this stand-out track is taken from, Brothers in Arms (1985), is one of the biggest selling albums of all time - and deservedly so. The band is severely underrated and underexposed and this song proves that perfectly - especially poignant considering the current state of MTV. It makes you wish that it was 1985 and you could watch music videos on TV. Sigh...
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
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...
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
A Loud Introduction to the Proceedings
Well, I thought I might start a rock blog in this Internet of ours. Having written little bits and pieces elsewhere , it is time to branch out and offer the public some rocking musings...
To start things off, I will refer to a list of best heavy metal albums of 2007. Exhaustive as this list is, unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the majority of these albums...and that says a lot about my expertise in the field.
That said, I was pleased to see Megadeth's latest offering, United Abominations making the top 10. It has been a long time since the metal community received a 'Deth album with arms open wide. I am a huge fan of the band so I always felt cheated by the magazines and critics for failing to put them in the same vein as some other band (you know which one). But, this year proves that Megadeth, despite an ongoing saga of changing band members, is more about the music. Good job, guys.
There were a couple of rather important omissions on the list: Down's excellent III: Over the Under and Black Stone Cherry's eponymous debut. But, then again, the list seems more inclined towards the "extreme" end of the spectrum. These two albums might have been too bluesy, or dare I say it, slow compared to the others.
Another list appears (actually two them) on my favorite heavy metal reference site. Again, there are usual suspects and some oddities.
Making lists is fun, so I will give you a list of my own: Top 5 Bands from Birmingham, England:
1- Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbourne
2- Motorhead
3- Judas Priest
4- Magnum
5- Duran Duran (just kidding...)
Currently listening to: In Requiem by Paradise Lost
To start things off, I will refer to a list of best heavy metal albums of 2007. Exhaustive as this list is, unfortunately I am unfamiliar with the majority of these albums...and that says a lot about my expertise in the field.
That said, I was pleased to see Megadeth's latest offering, United Abominations making the top 10. It has been a long time since the metal community received a 'Deth album with arms open wide. I am a huge fan of the band so I always felt cheated by the magazines and critics for failing to put them in the same vein as some other band (you know which one). But, this year proves that Megadeth, despite an ongoing saga of changing band members, is more about the music. Good job, guys.
There were a couple of rather important omissions on the list: Down's excellent III: Over the Under and Black Stone Cherry's eponymous debut. But, then again, the list seems more inclined towards the "extreme" end of the spectrum. These two albums might have been too bluesy, or dare I say it, slow compared to the others.
Another list appears (actually two them) on my favorite heavy metal reference site. Again, there are usual suspects and some oddities.
Making lists is fun, so I will give you a list of my own: Top 5 Bands from Birmingham, England:
1- Black Sabbath / Ozzy Osbourne
2- Motorhead
3- Judas Priest
4- Magnum
5- Duran Duran (just kidding...)
Currently listening to: In Requiem by Paradise Lost
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