Five For Friday 11

5. Fact- Reborn (original version)
This is a more rawer version of a song the band did for their debut album, it's longer than the somewhat 'edited' version that appears on their debut album, I enjoyed hearing the last 2 minutes of this song which had been left out as it shows a softer side to an otherwise heavy track.

4. MC Sniper ft Outsider and Horan- Heart Disease
The thing I enjoy about this track is Horan's singing intermixing with MC Sniper and Outsider's rapping, as a collaboration it really works and the beat is fantastic.

3. Outsider ft Basick, Carry.D of Swagger
I've been on a bit of an Outsider kick this week after downloading the Korean rappers latest album Maestro and this track is by far one of the highlights for me, it's fast paced and has some of Outsider's trademark fast rapping.

2. Fact- Slip of the Lip
This song feels as though it is influenced by post hardcore bands from America, from the guitar sounds to the second set of vocals sounding deeper than the main vocals. It makes Fact stand out from the other J Rock bands out there.

1. Outsider- Alone/Loner
What struck me about this track first off was the strings, it gives the rap a more mellowed feel, until Outsider goes into his fast rapping in the second verse and its quite amazing how he can speed up his rapping and slow it down for the chorus, the backing track initially sounds out of place but surprisingly works well with the song.

World Tour Playlist 13/1/2010

Fact- Reborn (Japan)
Gackt- The Next Decade (Japan)
Sally Sharpio- Love In July (Sweden)
FM Belfast- Killing In The Name Of (Lotus) (Iceland)
Dada Life- Happy Hands & Happy Feet (Sweden)
Artist Spotlight
Rain ft Tablo- I'm Coming (Korea)
Song from a country not played before
Jehangir Aziz Hayat- Pretend To Be (Pakistan)
El Canto Del Loco- Zapatillos (Spain)
Carsick Cars- Zhong Nan Hai (China)
Koda Kumi ft Misono- It's All Love (Japan)
Mexican Institute of Sound-Allocatel (Mexico)
Thermostatic- Driving (Sweden)
Polysics- Domo Arigato Mr Roboto (Japan)

World Tour's show time changes... again

My World Music show, Beard's World Tour will no longer be broadcast on Sundays, it will now be part of the Wednesday afternoon schedule at KCC Live from 3pm, I'll still be playing music from all over the world, hope you can listen to some boss world music with no adverts to spoil the mood.

Yeah I know it's only recently moved from Friday to Sunday but its back on during the week now due to the fact that I can now physically do a live show during the week now.

I'll be introducing a new feature called Phrasebook and I'll have a track from a country I've never played a song from before.

Five For Friday 10

A new year, a new Five For Friday (kind of odd how the first FFF of 2010 is the tenth one)

5. Utada Hikaru- Beautiful World (PLANiTb Acoustica Mix)
The original version of this song was more piano based and had a pop feel to it while this version is obviously more rockier (hence it being an acoustica mix though it has some electric guitar sounds to it). The vocals from this song sound almost the same as the original version though Utada's vocals in this mix haven't been played about with sound filters and effects as much in this version which makes the vocals sound a bit more natural

4. SWEET BLACK featuring MAKI GOTO- Lady-Rise
Stumbled on this song on youtube just randomly clicking through video suggestions and found this, I really like the backing music to this and I really like the vocals especially during the chorus when they sound their strongest.


3. Koda Kumi featuring Misono- It's All Love
This is a collaboration song between sisters and from what I've been able to gather from various websites writing about this song it's based on a phone call they had about one of them having a bad relationship and it sort of sounds like a phone call as it is a constant back and forth between the sisters rather than taking certain segments of the song between them. There is a nice blend of styles in this song with Misono's rock sensibilities mixing with Koda's RnB/Dance/rock sensibilities well, though the rock vibe does seem to overlay to much (though Koda has sung songs with a J-Rock vibe to them)

2. Gackt- Vanilla
The intro has a real nice Ska vibe to it, Gackt's vocals sound really good. It's also one of those types of songs were I tend to mishear lyrics, often I thing Gackt is singing about cheesecakes.

1. Aya Kamiki- A Constellation (2007 version)
I have highlighted this song in my one off Six for Sunday though that version was J-Rock, this version has been altered to sound like a ballad and it works well. In fact I would go as far as to say it works just as well if not better as it sounds more soulful, I still enjoy the original version but this one has grabbed me more.

End Of Time Review: Part 2

So that was it, the last David Tennant as The Doctor, welllll... that is if that half human, half Time Lord version of himself doesn't come back but never the less it was a thrilling episode, well I say thrilling it was a tad bit too long and drawn out towards the end but I guess thats artistic credit for you. However with the way Russell T. Davies ended his run as Head Writer on Doctor Who, it feels like all the characters were going to disappear for good and in most cases (except for Sarah Jane Smith and Jack Harkness) they probably will.

Other than that though it was a fantastic episode from the 'Worst rescue ever' to the final moments of Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor in a burning TARDIS shouting 'Geromino!' (looks like that will be the new 'Alons-y') as not only does The Doctor (David Tennant) have to face every single person on the planet, now that they look like The Master (John Simm) but also the return of the Time Lord race, led by Rassilon. Played by former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton who cleverly uses The Master to accomplish their return.

Like the previous episode, John Simm's Master is a scene stealer, literally, and while his insanity is played down Davies' explains why The Master is insane and when both The Doctor and The Master learn the truth behind The Master's insanity Simm's acting really makes you feel sorry for the character. While Rassilon is portrayed as quite the power mad ruler with selfish intent which Timothy Dalton plays magnificantly giving the audience some insight as to the inner workings of the Time War which up until that point was only mentioned in passing by The Doctor and exactly why The Doctor ended up being The Last of The Time Lords.

It wouldn't be a Russell T. Davies story without a chase sequence in it and unlike his love for vertical/horizontal chases, this story lacked that but in a good way as The Doctor in The Vinvocci spaceship raced towards the Naismith Mansion hoping to stop the arrival of The Time Lords all the while being chased by missiles which were being blasted by one of The Vinvocci and Wilf, it really added a bit of action and adventure often seen in films to the episode.

Once again the dialogue between The Doctor and Wilf Mott is a real highlight,there is a kind of 'father-son' bond here (even though they aren't related) and you can tell that Wilf doesn't want The Doctor to meet his fate but with this being a Doctor Who story even when The Doctor wins he still loses. The way Tennant's Doctor is forced to regenerate is somewhat similar to that of the 5th Doctor's and Tennant's predessecor, putting the life of their companion first although Tennant's 'noble' sacrifice comes after an out of character moment for The Doctor, who once again like in The Water's On Mars becomes angered by preordained events and once again we see The Doctor's selfish side.

The episode showed a minute of Matt Smith as the newly regenerated Doctor, finally, as much as I've enjoyed Tennant's reign as The Doctor, I have been looking forward to Matt Smith's arrival since he was first announced, mainly to see what he would bring to the role that has been going for 47 years and I enjoyed what I saw. Role on Spring 2010.

And here's what Whovians have to look forward to:

End Of Time Review: Part 1

It was the beginning of the end for the Tenth Doctor in the first episode of the two part End Of Time story, not only was it David Tennant's last outing as The Doctor, it was also head writer Russell T. Davies final story before handing over to Steven Moffatt.

The End Of Time sees The Doctor's arch rival The Master (John Simm) returning from the dead, which sees the start of The Tenth Doctor's regeneration into the Eleventh Doctor however this time The Master has come back more insane and more powerful than ever, meanwhile The Doctor has been summoned by the Ood and has been told of a coming 'darkness' and 'the end of time itself' so off he goes on one last trip on the TARDIS to confront his age old enemy this time teaming up with Donna Noble's grandfather Wilf (played by Bernard Cribbins).

The End Of Time had been built up as a bit of a dark, scary story but to in all honesty, Davies can't write dark stories, he litters his script with too many lighter moments (such as The Doctor meeting up with The Silver Cloak a group of pensioners Wilf enlists in finding The Doctor) these moments sort of see-saw through Davies darker or more serious script moments i.e. he'll have one scene which has a serious tone to it and then in the next scene Davies will lighten the tone, very rarely combining the two but when he does, it comes off very well and natural.

However, Russell T. Davies excels at character moments, the dialogue between The Doctor and Wilf in the cafe is fantastic you really get the sense that both characters feel defeated, Wilf, by the realisation that he is the only person on Earth who can remember the nightmare the entire universe is having and The Doctor, by the prophesies that have been foretold to him as well as the knowledge of his impending death. Bernard Cribbin's is fantastic as the companion for this episode and it is interesting to see him act as a sort of fatherly figure to the 903 year old Doctor.

The scenes between The Doctor and The Master are also well written especially with The Master's constant ramblings, which John Simm makes completely believable and so flawlessly switches from his insane ramblings to his need for The Doctor to hear the sound of the drums. Simm's maniacal Master is a lot more powerful this time round but he is a man without purpose until the climax of the episode where he creates his 'Master Race'. It's here that Russell T. Davies brings about not one but three chilling cliffhangers involving The Doctor's former travelling companion and Wilf's granddaughter, Donna, the aforementioned 'Master Race' and the revelation of another, more familiar race watching from the sidelines led by former James Bond actor Timothy Dalton, all of which should make for an entertaining if not sad ending to the two-parter on New Year's Day.

Five For Friday 9

There have been quite a number of tracks which have been fighting for dominance inside my brain this week and as such its been a little bit difficult to condense it into five tracks but here they are.

5. Deadmau5 ft Rob Swire- Ghosts 'n' Stuff

There is something hauntingly melodic about the synths, add that to the synth laden vocals from Pendulum's Rob Swire and the pounding bass drums creates an often repetitive yet cool dance tune.

4. Miyavi- Shiawase Nara Te Wo Tatakou

If the song sounds familiar, then it probably is as it's the Japanese version to If You're Happy And You Know It sung during a live concert, while it's difficult to follow along to it's interesting to hear a well known children's song sung in a different language by a serious musician.

3. Aimee Allen- Save Me

Originally a song for Unwritten Law (which Allen co-wrote with her then boyfriend Scott Russo) the song was a little more rocked up compared to this laid back acoustic version, which really suits Allen's husky vocals.

2. Lady Gaga- Alejandro

Compared to her singles, this track isn't as bombastic or OTT, it's a simple love song. The beat has an exotic flavour, over the electro beats. It's as though this song is about a foreign, forbidden love although it seems as though the song is about Gaga being caught in a love square, though she really likes this Alejandro guy...

1.Miyavi- Jikoai, Jigajisan, Jiishiki, Kajou(Intsrumental)/Selfish Love

The first thing that struck me from this track is the opening instrumental Jikoai, Jigajisan, Jiishiki, Kajou which combined Miyavi using the acoustic guitar in its natural form as well as using it as an percussion instrument almost simultaneously, before using a single drum and his acoustic guitar to produce a simple rhythm for the country inspired Selfish Love.