Crack the Shutters
One of the best choruses I've heard in a long while:MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Though it's now immaterial...
...it's still worth sharing:Simon Cowell: Can't We Just Beat Him With Sticks?
Okay, so number 2 in the Christmas chart isn't bad for a 14 year-old cover by a dead guy, but the fact that the world (well, this country) must be subjected to the atrocious, overblown, point-missing piece of dog excrement that is the X-Fuckter version is upsetting.Very upsetting.
Interesting side-note: Guess what just missed out on the top-ten this year, coming in at number 12?
Go on, guess...
...
Oh, alright then, I'll give you a hint:
They just had to go and spoil it
Anyone remember this?Well, a year later, the cover has finally been given an official release, and has even entered the chart at number one. And, despite what I said before, it sucks.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still impressed every time I here the version she sang all those months ago on Radio1. The problem is, whoever produced the single version (probably under the direction of Simon Cowell, who may know what will sell to pre-pubescent girls, but hasn't got the first clue about music) was not and decided it needed work. The result is an over-produced mess with an unnecessary choir and far too many effects, which work to almost drown-out Lewis.
Still, better it retains the number one spot for Christmas than the soon-to-be-crowned X-Fuckter winner...
Still Alive
This be the main theme from the up-coming Mirror's Edge as sung by Lisa Miskovsky (who I've never heard of).
Kinda reminds me of Deep Forest.
Ending the Night on a High
So, as has become the norm since returning to studentdom, I was out clubbing last night. Come 3am when it was time to throw out the remaining punters, the traditional kick-out tune was played. Back when I was of an age of clubbing semi-regularly, that tended to be something along the lines of Sinatra's New Yor, New York, or some other swing classic.Last night, it was thi (give it till at least the third verse):
Amazing
I've actually caught up with all of my alerts!Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur
No, I can't pronnounce it either, but that's Icelandic for ya...I wish there was an English-speaking band that could produce a sound like that. Anyone happen to know of one? I know The Polyphonic Spree come close, as do The Flaming Lips in their grander moments, but there's something majestic about Sigur Rós's sound that I don't think the rest can quite capture.
Last Shadow Puppets
I meant to post this ages ago, but kept forgetting its name :/Appealing to Old and New?
With the release of Death Magnetic only a couple of weeks away, the first couple of new Metallica tracks have hit YouTube.First, The Day That never Comes:
Seeing as this was the first track to be released to the press, it's probably going to make some people nervous, especially if they give up after the first chorus as, up until that point, it is very remniscent of their 'Black Album' and Load/Reload days, but as the track moves on, it becomes increasingly louder and thrashier and builds to a dizzying climax. I like it!
Secondly, My Apocalypse:
An IGN review of this is what first made me aware the tracks were now out there in the ethos. In it, the reviewer defended the criticism he laid upon The Day That Never Comes;
| But all the extra verbiage in there about not being able to go back again – yeah, that part is wrong. I was wrong. I am here to admit that. James, Kirk, Lars, Robert, and even Rick – if you are reading this, all I can say is: I AM SORRY. I am coming to you as a man humbled. |
He then goes on to claim that My Apocalypse is possibly the band's best song since Master of Puppets.
Now, this may be a result of my only coming into the band in the days of Load and Reload (I was an ignorant youth; what can I say?), but I personally prefer the former to the latter. It might have a very subdued opening, but the thrash-like ending puts me in mind of the band's progression from then to now, making me think the soft introduction was probably purposeful.
My first reaction to My Apocaplypse, however, was, Messy. Very messy. It kinda reminds me of first hearing Frantic on St. Anger; that almost desperate need to sound as thrash as possible in order to put the the '90s behind them.
That said, the track sounds a lot better on a second listen.
My Brain is Hanging Upside Down
Not only a great song, but quite possibly the best song title in the world, ever. This is The Ramones with My brain is hanging upside down (Bonzo goes to Bitburg).Baton Idol
Recently, to celebrate the Proms (big classical music event held annually by the BBC), yet another TV 'talent' show hit our screens, this time challenging a group of C-and-below-list celebrities to become orchestral conductors.From the off, this struck me as an interesting prospect. Before watching this show, I knew absolutely nothing about the nutters with batons who stand in front of an orchestra and flail their arms around like they're being attacked by a hive of wasps, so I was intrigued to find out exactly what was going on.
Of course, it turned out to be far more complicated than I expected, which is why I actually find myself admiring the people taking part. As is ever the case, a couple of them struggled to get a handle on what was going on, or failed to take it seriously, and were soon eliminated. Others are making steady progress and two in particular (comedian Sue Perkins and Drum&Bass vet Glodie) are proving to be naturals at it.
Another appeal of the show is the music. They're all conducting very familiar pieces, but I'm learning the names of things I've known all my life, but could never put a name to, and also seeing just how complex a lot of these pieces are. Case in point:
The biggest surprise of the show, however, is Goldie. For my American chums, he was a henchman in The World is Not Enough and British soap fans might recognise him from Eastenders, but he's mainly known as a Drum & Bass producer: Not the sort you'd expect to have a natural gift for conducting classical music - especially as he has no idea how to read sheet music - but his sense of rhythm and ability to break down compositions into a manageable form for himself have him riding high and consistanly impressing:
Alas, the most entertaining of the group - former Blur bassist Alex James - is also a consistent low-scorer, so might not be around much longer:
My one complaint about the show so far is, yesterday's episode had the contestants doing choral music, yet none of them was given Beethoven's 9th. Talk about missing a trick.
Hair-Metal: The Revenge
Last week saw the return of the Kerrang awards, with the usual shocks, surprises, drunkenness and Metallica.One of the biggest shocks and surprises of the night was the lack of a single nomination for Muse, but maybe the magazine decided someone else should have a go at dominating.
Bizarrely, considering the attitude of many of their contemporaries towards them, 30 Seconds to Mars technically dominated with an award haul of two - double their closest competition - including best single:
Awards were also picked up by the more familiar faces of:
Slipknot
and Avenged Sevenfold
New boys like:
Black Tides
And a couple of oldies in the form of:
Def Leppard
Rage Against the Machine
and, of course, Metallica
An honourable mention must also go to the band with the single stupidest name of the night and, possibly, all metal history.
“Errr…we need something stark and, like, depressing and hard…”
“Like cancer?”
“Yeah, like cancer…”
“How about cancer?”
“Perfect! Right, we also need something like dark and black and evil and that…”
“Bats?”
“Genius! Cancer Bats!”
Proof, if proof be needed:
Death and All His Friends
Yesterday's little tipsy post from our beloved Cherry has reminded me of a latest song fixation. Here be Coldplay with Viva La Vida:Baldness, Beer-guts and Belting Riffs
After two and half decades, it's understandable that Metallica would be getting a little thin on top and wide down below. In fact, it's kinda sad to see Kirk Hammett - who's always sported long, curly locks (except for his thick-mane period of the early 90s) - developing a bald spot, which just barely distracts from the girth of his gut being shown off by an ill-advised vest.Then again, when have Metallica ever been admired for their aesthetic appeal?
I'm presently in the middle watching the fly-on-the-wall footage of the recording of their new album. It's interesting seeing how it all comes together. I've watched rockumentaries before, but they tend to mostly consist of interview footage, with only minimal recording footage. Mission Metallica features regularly-updated studio footage, which makes for an interesting watch for someone who's always been fascinated by the process.
Of course, it also gives a sample of what's to come on The Death Magnetic and, so far, I'm liking what I'm hearing: Loud, fast and heavy :D
Unforgiven
This probably won't be big news to many of you (I know Twisty won't care one jot...whatever a jot is), but I've just heard that Metallica's new album is going to feature Unforgiven III, which I personally see as cause to post two of my favourite Metallica songs:From the Heart
Over in the Inferno, Dante reminded me of a little something special from our dearly departed lord and saviour, Mr. Bill Hicks (you might want to turn your speakers down just a smidge):Yet More Moozack!
Every now and then my randomised playlist lands on a forgotten gem that I love when I hear it, but immediately forget about when it's finished.So I wrote today's on my hand with the specific intent on posting it right here for you all to enjoy:
Also, Shirley Manson really does it for me, and not just because of her antics with the blow-up doll...
Early Morning Pick-Me-Up
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