I wanted to do a Five For Friday this week but found myself unable to do one, so to make up here's six tracks I've been listening to the most
6. Depeche Mode- Enjoy The Silence (Mike Shinoda Remix): Take Depeche Mode's classic track and add Linkin Park's signature style to it and the result is this. Mike Shinoda makes Enjoy The Silence sound like Linkin Park's track Crawling. While the original version is a favourite of mine I enjoy the louder guitars in this remix.
5. Akurat - Lubie Mowic Z Toba: This Reggae/Ska/Punk band have some great energetic tracks, but this track is a bit mellower from this Polish group, the repetative guitar note really lulls you until the brass kicks in.
4. MOVITS!-Äppelknyckarjazz: I love this mix of swing and hip-hop, not only does it make swing music sound a bit more fast paced, it's also interesting to hear Hip Hop done over something other than processed beats.
3. After School- Ah!: Dubbed Korea's answer to Pussycat Dolls this RnB girl group each of the five members (though it has since become six members) get a vocal part in this song each one having a distinctive sound, not just relying on the lead vocalist Park Kahi to carry the song.
2. BoA Featuring Sean Garrett- I Did It For Love: BoA is quite the multitalented RnB artist, not only does she have albums out in her native Korean language but she has also produced Japanese albums and this track is from her debut English album, the chorus is quite infectious and her voice seems to bounce along to the beat.
1. Aya Kamiki- A Constellation: A favourite of mine from her first mini album Constellations which can be found on last.fm (I provided the link for it in a previous Five For Fridays blog), it reminds me of Natccu's Kagen No Tuki in its progression from quite a slow mellow track to a soft rock melody.
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Friday, 13 November 2009
Five For Friday 8
You know the drill, lets get down to the music, mostly live songs this week I've been in the mood for songs that sound somewhat raw.
5.PXNDX (Panda)- Narcisista Por Excelencia (Live): the opening guitar intro to this track has a bit more bite to it compared to the studio version, Panda's inclusion of a live orchestra really brings the piano solo alive, giving its brief inclusion in the song more meaning.
4. Muse- Undisclosed Desires: This is quite a marmite track amongst Muse fan's because it has an RnB vibe to it which was the band's intent when constructing this song, I really do like it as it fits with new album The Resistance's feel, while the track lacks any of Muse's signature guitar or piano parts the strings in the song really give the track some meat and who doesn't love a beat of slap bass?
3. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR- DIVE into YOURSELF: The gang vocals on the track give the song a real upbeat vibe to it, the dual vocals between Yūsuke and Mākii sounds really balanced in this track. the tempo seems to shift to a faster one towards the end of the song throwing that extra bit of energy into the sound.
2. Gackt- Koakuma Heaven (Live): Unlike the majority of Gackt's songs that I've featured in previous FFF's this track is more pop orientated, but this live track sounds a bit more rockier with Gackt's band performing it. This live track is over 7 minutes long because Gackt and his band take a break in the middle of the song to do a version of Dancemania ending with the Final Fantasy victory tune before picking up where they left the song. I doubt you'd see Morrissey do this sort of thing.
1. T.M. Revolution- Meteor (Live): the guitars in this track sound like they make this track triumphant whenever they kick in while the drums impact with a booming effect that can grab your attention, I like the live version of this track because Takanori stretches the last not and really sounds like he's putting his heart into it as it goes into an instrumental ending.
5.PXNDX (Panda)- Narcisista Por Excelencia (Live): the opening guitar intro to this track has a bit more bite to it compared to the studio version, Panda's inclusion of a live orchestra really brings the piano solo alive, giving its brief inclusion in the song more meaning.
4. Muse- Undisclosed Desires: This is quite a marmite track amongst Muse fan's because it has an RnB vibe to it which was the band's intent when constructing this song, I really do like it as it fits with new album The Resistance's feel, while the track lacks any of Muse's signature guitar or piano parts the strings in the song really give the track some meat and who doesn't love a beat of slap bass?
3. HIGH and MIGHTY COLOR- DIVE into YOURSELF: The gang vocals on the track give the song a real upbeat vibe to it, the dual vocals between Yūsuke and Mākii sounds really balanced in this track. the tempo seems to shift to a faster one towards the end of the song throwing that extra bit of energy into the sound.
2. Gackt- Koakuma Heaven (Live): Unlike the majority of Gackt's songs that I've featured in previous FFF's this track is more pop orientated, but this live track sounds a bit more rockier with Gackt's band performing it. This live track is over 7 minutes long because Gackt and his band take a break in the middle of the song to do a version of Dancemania ending with the Final Fantasy victory tune before picking up where they left the song. I doubt you'd see Morrissey do this sort of thing.
1. T.M. Revolution- Meteor (Live): the guitars in this track sound like they make this track triumphant whenever they kick in while the drums impact with a booming effect that can grab your attention, I like the live version of this track because Takanori stretches the last not and really sounds like he's putting his heart into it as it goes into an instrumental ending.
Friday, 6 November 2009
Five For Friday 7
Another selection of 5 tracks that have been constantly in my head this week, (not too many Muse tracks I can promise you right now despite seeing them this week)
5. MaNga- Beni Benimle Birak: Turkish Rock/Hip Hop group, have recently won the best European act at this year's MTV EMA's this track feels like an Arabian nights soundtrack mixed with scratches and a power rock rhythm once the chorus hits.
4. X-Japan- Rusty Nail [Live]: This live song is from one of their last performances before their break up, apart from Hide the band had all but shed their Visual Kei image (think of it as Japan's version of the glam metal look except more flamboyant looks, wild hair colours and styles and better dressed) the guitar really drives this track and makes the track sound uplifting, the inclusion of the orchestral sounds give it a classical edge to the track (warning the video does feature some strobe lighting)
3. Aya Kamiki featuring Takuya- W Boiled Extreme (W-B-X): This opening song to the series Kamen Rider Double sounds great, while it isn't as good as Gackt's Journey Through The Decade (Takuya's vocals aren't as strong as Aya's but do complement her well) W Boiled Extreme does have a catchy chorus line. You can also listen and down load some of Aya Kamaki's music from LastFm for free.
2. Gackt- The Next Decade: A more rockier song for Kamen Rider Decade (this time used as the theme tune for the film Kamen Rider Decade The Movie: All Riders Vs Dai Shocker) the song sounds edgier than the theme tune for the TV show (which I talked about last week) it has a stronger guitar sound which complements the vocals very well, the music video also showcases Gackt in his role as Riderman which he plays in the film and the end credits to this PV are the orchestral version of The Next Decade.
1. Muse- Bliss: The first rock song I truly got into although to be quite honest I was more mesmerised by the concept of the video before I even noticed the music. the intro is what really grabs me the combination of harp sounds mixed with the synth sounds and the almost whirlwind sounds throughout the song. The vocals are great swapping from Matt Bellamy's regular singing voice to the slightly higher 'ooo's'.
5. MaNga- Beni Benimle Birak: Turkish Rock/Hip Hop group, have recently won the best European act at this year's MTV EMA's this track feels like an Arabian nights soundtrack mixed with scratches and a power rock rhythm once the chorus hits.
4. X-Japan- Rusty Nail [Live]: This live song is from one of their last performances before their break up, apart from Hide the band had all but shed their Visual Kei image (think of it as Japan's version of the glam metal look except more flamboyant looks, wild hair colours and styles and better dressed) the guitar really drives this track and makes the track sound uplifting, the inclusion of the orchestral sounds give it a classical edge to the track (warning the video does feature some strobe lighting)
3. Aya Kamiki featuring Takuya- W Boiled Extreme (W-B-X): This opening song to the series Kamen Rider Double sounds great, while it isn't as good as Gackt's Journey Through The Decade (Takuya's vocals aren't as strong as Aya's but do complement her well) W Boiled Extreme does have a catchy chorus line. You can also listen and down load some of Aya Kamaki's music from LastFm for free.
2. Gackt- The Next Decade: A more rockier song for Kamen Rider Decade (this time used as the theme tune for the film Kamen Rider Decade The Movie: All Riders Vs Dai Shocker) the song sounds edgier than the theme tune for the TV show (which I talked about last week) it has a stronger guitar sound which complements the vocals very well, the music video also showcases Gackt in his role as Riderman which he plays in the film and the end credits to this PV are the orchestral version of The Next Decade.
1. Muse- Bliss: The first rock song I truly got into although to be quite honest I was more mesmerised by the concept of the video before I even noticed the music. the intro is what really grabs me the combination of harp sounds mixed with the synth sounds and the almost whirlwind sounds throughout the song. The vocals are great swapping from Matt Bellamy's regular singing voice to the slightly higher 'ooo's'.
Muse Live 5/11/09 at Liverpool Echo Arena
Right I'm not going to lie to you, I'm incredibly biased when it comes to Muse after all if it wasn't for their music I'd probably be a different person so to make this easier, I'm splitting this review in two.
1.The Fan Review
Wow utterly fantastic, it w
as perhaps the best gig I've ever been to this year, perhaps even for a long time, it is one of the few gigs I've been to where I've actually been motivated to move. The support act The Big Pink were OK but every song sounded very similar, while the drummer was obscured by the dry ice it was the drum sound which dominated the sound, making up for hard to decipher vocals. Muse however were fantastic, even when the roadies were moving Matt Bellamy's piano they kept the crowd entertained by having bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dom Howard play an improv session. Seeing the piano pleased me as the lack of Bellamy playing it for the beginning of New Born instead leaving it to the support musician, and the piano rendition of Cave was a welcome sound, (though there could have been more songs from Showbiz thrown in and maybe Feeling Good as well) while the set was shorter than what I would have liked to have seen, Muse did keep me entertained.
2. The More Serious Review.
It is clear to see why Muse are often nominated and win Best Live Act awards, the amount of production that went into the stage design for The Resistance Tour is absolutely phenomenal. The band were one three platforms that could ascend or descend and in the case of drummer Dom Howard's platform, revolve in a 360 degree revolution. No matter where you stood or sat at the concert at Liverpool's Echo Arena, you were guarenteed a decent view of either the band or the video screens that displayed images over the top of the images of Muse performing.
Supported by The Big Pink who had a strong beat to their music but lacked strong vocals to accompany the beat at first, becoming more and more confident with each song before sounding at their strongest for current single Dominoes. Muse powered their way through song after song starting with the first single from the Resistance, Uprising there was an almost Doctor Whoesque feel to the opener as guitarist Matt Bellamy waved a laser pen around almost akin to The Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver.
The set list consisted mainly of tracks from the latest album and included some unexpected song choices from the inclusion of a piano led version of Cave to the lack of Feeling Good. The set was only an hour and a half long which felt too short, while key songs in Muse's back catalogue were played there felt like there could have been a few more songs thrown in to make a more solid and balanced set, for a start there could have been at least one or two more tracks from the first album that could have been played (e.g. Sunburn and Muscle Museum), the other two parts of Exogenesis could have been played beefing the setlist a little bit more.
There was little interaction between Muse and the crowd while it is normal for Muse to be like this there wasn never really any moments of awkward silence between the crowd and the band, with either reverbs or improvs to bridge the gap from one song to another.
Set List
1. Uprising
2. Resistance
3. New Born
4. Unnatural Selection
5. Supermassive Black Hole
6. Guiding Light
7. Hysteria
8. United States of Eurasia
9. Cave
10. Undisclosed Desires
11. Starlight
12. Time Is Running Out
13. Stockholm Syndrome
---Encore---
14. Exogenesis Part 1
15. Plug In Baby
16. Knights of Cydonia
1.The Fan Review
Wow utterly fantastic, it w
as perhaps the best gig I've ever been to this year, perhaps even for a long time, it is one of the few gigs I've been to where I've actually been motivated to move. The support act The Big Pink were OK but every song sounded very similar, while the drummer was obscured by the dry ice it was the drum sound which dominated the sound, making up for hard to decipher vocals. Muse however were fantastic, even when the roadies were moving Matt Bellamy's piano they kept the crowd entertained by having bassist Chris Wolstenholme and drummer Dom Howard play an improv session. Seeing the piano pleased me as the lack of Bellamy playing it for the beginning of New Born instead leaving it to the support musician, and the piano rendition of Cave was a welcome sound, (though there could have been more songs from Showbiz thrown in and maybe Feeling Good as well) while the set was shorter than what I would have liked to have seen, Muse did keep me entertained.2. The More Serious Review.
It is clear to see why Muse are often nominated and win Best Live Act awards, the amount of production that went into the stage design for The Resistance Tour is absolutely phenomenal. The band were one three platforms that could ascend or descend and in the case of drummer Dom Howard's platform, revolve in a 360 degree revolution. No matter where you stood or sat at the concert at Liverpool's Echo Arena, you were guarenteed a decent view of either the band or the video screens that displayed images over the top of the images of Muse performing.
Supported by The Big Pink who had a strong beat to their music but lacked strong vocals to accompany the beat at first, becoming more and more confident with each song before sounding at their strongest for current single Dominoes. Muse powered their way through song after song starting with the first single from the Resistance, Uprising there was an almost Doctor Whoesque feel to the opener as guitarist Matt Bellamy waved a laser pen around almost akin to The Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver.
The set list consisted mainly of tracks from the latest album and included some unexpected song choices from the inclusion of a piano led version of Cave to the lack of Feeling Good. The set was only an hour and a half long which felt too short, while key songs in Muse's back catalogue were played there felt like there could have been a few more songs thrown in to make a more solid and balanced set, for a start there could have been at least one or two more tracks from the first album that could have been played (e.g. Sunburn and Muscle Museum), the other two parts of Exogenesis could have been played beefing the setlist a little bit more.
There was little interaction between Muse and the crowd while it is normal for Muse to be like this there wasn never really any moments of awkward silence between the crowd and the band, with either reverbs or improvs to bridge the gap from one song to another.
Set List
1. Uprising
2. Resistance
3. New Born
4. Unnatural Selection
5. Supermassive Black Hole
6. Guiding Light
7. Hysteria
8. United States of Eurasia
9. Cave
10. Undisclosed Desires
11. Starlight
12. Time Is Running Out
13. Stockholm Syndrome
---Encore---
14. Exogenesis Part 1
15. Plug In Baby
16. Knights of Cydonia
Friday, 30 October 2009
Five For Friday VI
Ah yes another Friday another five tracks, as we are near All Hallows Eve some of the tracks on today are somewhat linked with Halloween.
5. Lordi- Devil is a Loser
Finland's monster metal group, look like they're permanently dressed in their Halloween costumes (which look remarkably well made and are infact made by Mr. Lordi and his wife) this track highlights Lordi's as a non-satanic band (refering to the devil as Lordi's 'bitch')
4. X-Japan- I.V.
This track was featured in the film Saw IV and features some guitar tracks from their lead guitarist Hide who died in 1998, this song marked the first time the band had released a song since their disbandment in 1997. The video even features Hide's guitar on stage with the band and footage of Hide performing as he had a cult status amongst his fans.
3. SpeakLOW- Thriller
All this week on KCC Live we have been doing a competition which involved listeners phoning in whenever they heard Michael Jackson's Thriller. This version of the classic track is completely instrumental and sounds like a cross between Thriller, the theme tune of Shaft and Billie Jean. SpeakLOW are from Spain.
2. Gackt- Journey Through The Decade
The opening theme tune to Kamen Rider: Decade (Masked Rider Decade) both Gackt and the Kamen Rider Heisei era were celebrating their 10th annivarsaries though Kamen Rider Decade is actually the tenth series of the Kamen Rider Heisei series which began in 2000 and Gackt was in the group Malice Mizer from 1995 before becoming a solo performer in 1999. The song has some of the plot elements of Kamen Rider Decade including how the main character has to take a journey through 9 worlds and that he is a photographer.
The opening theme tune to Kamen Rider: Decade (Masked Rider Decade) both Gackt and the Kamen Rider Heisei era were celebrating their 10th annivarsaries though Kamen Rider Decade is actually the tenth series of the Kamen Rider Heisei series which began in 2000 and Gackt was in the group Malice Mizer from 1995 before becoming a solo performer in 1999. The song has some of the plot elements of Kamen Rider Decade including how the main character has to take a journey through 9 worlds and that he is a photographer.
1. Muse- Knights of Cydonia [Live]
Muse's Spaghetti Western space song in its full glory, live. The song has a more anthemic feel to it played live and the galloping drums and bass and to hear Wembley sing the lyrics gives a great atmosphere to the song.
Muse's Spaghetti Western space song in its full glory, live. The song has a more anthemic feel to it played live and the galloping drums and bass and to hear Wembley sing the lyrics gives a great atmosphere to the song.
Friday, 16 October 2009
Five For Friday Five
Another five tracks that I just can't seem to stop listening to, also if you're after more recommended music then check out Gobshite's Miscellany and their Featured Friday blog.
But as for me here's my 5 tracks.
5. Lostprophets- It's Not The End Of The World: Still trying to get into this track it doesn't have that Lostprophets feel to it but hey its progression.
4. MC Sniper- Better Than Yesterday: Korean hip hop at its finest from MC Sniper and his pals MR.Room9, DJ Road, MooWoong, TakTak36, DJ.R2, MC.BK and Outsider it's quite an epic sounding track.
3. t.A.T.u- How Soon Is Now: Fantastic cover of The Smiths classic, has a bit more spunk and energy than the original.
2. Nerina Pallot- Real Late Starter: Ever had one of those tracks that you listen to and it just seems to fit that precise moment in your life, this song kinda does at least for me.
1. T.M. Revolution- Burnin' X'Mas: OK I realise how ridiculously absurd it is to be listening to a christmas song in the middle of October but it is quite possibly the best Xmas song I have listened to that has a hint of cheese without being so cheesey you want to kill yourself.
Thursday, 15 October 2009
Spoiler Alert
The Doctor: These books are from your future. You wanna read all ahead, spoil the surprises, not peeking at the end.
Donna: Isn't travelling with you one big spoiler?
The Doctor: I try to keep you away from major plot developments.
From the Doctor Who episode Silence in the Library
The Doctor: River, you know my name. You whispered my name in my ear. There's only one reason I would ever tell anyone my name. There's only one time I could…
Professor River Song: Hush now. Spoilers.
From the Doctor Who episode Forest of the Dead
Spoilers have probably been around as long as modern forms of entertainment have, perhaps even longer whether its sneaking a peak at the end of a whodunnit to see who actually did it or giving away plot details of a recent film. When Psycho was being released in the sixties Alfred Hitchcock came up with different measures for stopping audiences from knowing anything about the film going as far as buying as many copies of the book the film was based on and sending messages to theater bosses instructing them not to allow anyone in to be admitted into the film once it had begun. There were even advertisements in newspapers that told people to not give away the ending as it is the only one they had.
With the internet containing pretty much everything on it these days spoilers are easily accessible especially when you consider that Hollywood films, TV shows and comics are generally released in the US before they are released in the UK which means that blogs and forums (or even Wikipedia) which are frequented by American's will contain some spoilers. Often the spoiler tag is there and so users have the choice as to whether or not they click onto the link. Of course with adaptations there is the case of having experienced the original and knowing what happens in it but there is also the case of experiencing it in a new form.
Having the choice whether or not to click for spoilers can be a double edged sword, on the one hand it may entice you enough to check something out, but then its a case of seeing if something lives up to the expectations that have been built up by the spolier.
I used to enjoy being spoilt by spoilers, it often helped me decide whether or not to grab a comic, or to go see a film/TV show based on the spoilers posted by users on the internet. However while it has gotten me into things I may or may not have tried myself, it has also ruined what I was once enjoying because there isn't a surprise anymore, now its more 'lets get to the part of the story that everyones talking about' so I've gone cold turkey from spoilers. While watching all five series of The Wire I was able to resist the urge to read about what happens to characters and so when something did happen it was unexpected and made the experience of watching the show much more enjoyable. In comparison I was reading the spoilers for DC Comic's latest event Blackest Night the day the comics where being released in the US (Wednesday) before going to check it out in stores the day after, often leaving it behind.
But how about you? Do you like being spoiled? Or do you hate it when someone talks about something your interested in?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)