Your Daily Song Tip Thread

[Nikolas]

Guys/gals: This thread is teh greatest! I love your choices! Thanks for all those links!


song: Toccata op. 11 in D minor by Sergei Prokofiev (Sorry AGS!  )

Comments: This is a brilliant solo piano piece that I don't think I will get tired of listening. Mechanical and difficul as hell... For those interested the score can be found in pdf format (legally all the way) here

How I discovered it: I first heard it a long time ago through a friend... It just struck me as a great piece and put it in mind to play it some day... Got the score saw it was difficult and abandoned the whole idea of performing it...

Fun Fact:...until 2004 where I got to play it in a concert. I apologise in advance for the bad quality of this recording, taken from a VHS camera... Tried my best to fix it up but it is still bad. I also apologise for the shameless self promotion. Noe that the quality of playing is certainly worst than the above posted video (plus it's an mp3, and not a video)

[He-Man]

This is an Amazing idea for a thread.
Great songs so far especially Rincewind. The Mars Volta rocks.


Song: Mighty Midgets - Bon Apartheid

Comments: Dainish punk rock with a twist of something else. Since Denmark is a pretty small country not many people know about the band.
It's a song against the Dainish National Party that is turning a lot of Dainish people into racists. Good melody and good message.

How I discovered it: I found it on their website. It's from their upcomming 7" with the band Stars Burn Stripes.

Fun fact: I wrote the song!

[Chrille]

Song: The Jungle Line by Joni Mitchell

Comments: Tribal drums and a C64-ish sounding synthesizer dominate this awesome song.

How I discovered it: A friend played me a few songs by Joni Mitchell. I liked what I heard, so I looked her up on allmusic.com and bought 'The Hissing of Summer Lawns', which seemed like the most interesting album to me (also the wonderful album cover appealed to me). The Jungle Line is the second song and it surprised me since it didn't sound anything like what my friend had me listen to (and it doesn't sound like anything else of hers I've listened to since).

Fun fact: At the time it was probably a very unique recording (1975), mixing african drums with rock like that. It reminded me of what I'd heard by Björk when I first heard it.

[LimpingFish]

Song
I Have Not Been to Oxford Town, by David Bowie and Brian Eno, from the concept album 1.Outside

Comments
The story of 1.Outside is set in a cyberpunk vision of 1999 (the album was released in 1995). This song is about a character called Leon Blank, and how he is protesting his innocence in the murder of a teenage prostitute, Baby Grace. For such depressing subject matter, the tempo of the song is surprisingly upbeat.

How I discovered it
The video game Omikron: The Nomad Soul, which contained a number of songs he penned for his album 'hours... began my affinity for the later albums of David Bowie (post Black Tie, White Noise).

Fun fact
Bowie voices all the characters for the narration segments of 1.Outside. These range from the private eye Nathan Adler, to Baby Grace, to cult leader Romona A. Stone.

[Vel]

Song
The Isle of the Dead, op.29 by Sergei Rachmaninov
Comments
This is possibly the most haunting piece of music I have ever heard. I absolutely love it and have been enchanted by it ever since I first heard it.
How I discovered it
Wiki. Symbolist Painters - Boecklin - Isle of the Dead(painting) - Musical piece
Fun fact
Actually it sounds as a funeral tune. Hilarious.

[Tuomas]

Song
Camel - Rhayader http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aezncdri9Y
Comments
This is their third album from 1975. One of the few albums that I officially rated with 5 stars, and it's an instrumental.
How I discovered it
Richard Sinclair, who used to play in a band called caravan, one of my favourites, later on left the band and joined a band called Camel. I decided to look that up and fell in love with their big hit, Lady Fantasy. THis video I found after someone posted a clip of him playing a great guitar solo that reminded me of Andrew Latimer, who is one of the best, or at least most accurate guitar players ever, as heard here.
Fun fact
The fun fact here, well, Camel was mistkaen to the tobacco company firstly, when they adapted the logo of the company to their second album. They did not know about this until later when Camel started selling cigarettes during their gigs, and they demanded the logo to be changed in the US.


at this point I have to congratulate LimpingFish on an excellent choise. In fact, Brian Eno used to play the keys on the Camel album Rain Dances. And Vel & Nik, always safe choises, *thumbs up!*

[He-Man]

Song: A Wilhelm Scream - Soft Cell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Iq2uyeRtmU

Comments: The song is taken from their 2006 album Ruiner. I think it's the best album of last year. I you are into punk and/or metal you should check it out.

How I discovered it: I heard about the band from a website where I was looking for guitar tabs. I bought one album and I was hooked. Now the band is one of my favorite bands.

Fun Fact: I don't know any really fun facts about this song but I'm not even sure it's the best song of the album...

[Chicky]

song - Rapture - HURT (acoustic session) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrvDKZcwpA0

comments: Seeing as it's coming from me, this is one of those songs that you could easily pass by and not bother listening to. But you should take time to listen. This is an live acoustic session recorded in the studio. In my personal opinion it's a great deal better than the album track that they released and the emotion that is put into the vocals is not only pleasing to the ears but great to watch.

How i discovered it: A friend passed me a link to the album track and i followed that up and found this.

Fun fact Hurt also released this as an audio acoustic track, but in my personal opinion the version in this video is far better which much more powerful vocals.

[Andail]

Many great artists and songs so far. Keep 'em coming!

Song: Thick as a brick, by Jethro Tull. (Excerpt here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toHlMD50eYY, but it's best appreciated in its entirety, with the lyrics in front of you, while you enjoy a glass of wine.)
Comment: Possibly one of the "big" songs in my personal history of music appreciation. It's a 45 minute symphonic/folkmusic masterpiece, with the instrumental prodigy Ian Anderson in his prime. This is a song which needs plenty of time and attention, and a good hi-fi system.
How I discovered it: My father played it when I was young.
Fun fact: The original album case had a newspaper page, telling (among some other articles) the background of the lyrics. It features the winner of a poetry competition, "Little Milton" (and also about his subsequent disqualification), and it is this poem which makes up the lyrics of the song.
Me and my friends were greatly impressed by the advanced lyrics, composed by such a young boy, until we later realised it was only a hoax. Upon closer inspection, you'll find the whole newspaper completely parodical.

[Helm]

Song:
Silent Cries by Fates Warning

Comment:
Here's something from a bygone era for you. The album is "No Exit" which is not critically acclaimed (Both 'Awaken the Guardian' right before it, and 'Parallels' three albums after are are rather considered their peaks, I agree with 'Guardian'). This shows Fates in quite the middle period of as a band. Moving away from their power and proto-progressive metal of 'Awaken' and into a thrash-informed but still very lyrical mood. Very bad guitar production, that 80's gated reverb snare, but still amazing. Their singer, Adler, the successor of the sublime John Arch at the time looked like Prince!

How I discovered it:
Fates Warning discovered me, not the other way around.

Amusing Anecdote:
Dig the trainers.

[biothlebop]

Song: Joanna Newsom - The Sprout and the Bean (youtube)
Comment: I think it sounds very children's-book-fairytale-like, gives me a nice drowsy feeling from listening.
How I discovered it: I had it on my computer, it played randomly one time when the player was on shuffle.
Fun fact: That thing is a harp. I don't see or hear them nearly often enough.

[Chrille]

Song: Kentucky Avenue by Tom Waits

Comments: One of my favourite Waits-songs. From the album 'Blue Valentine' my favourite of the albums he recorded pre-Swordfishtrombones. It's a sweet, funny and very moving song. Waits' wonderful vocals are backed by a simple piano line being repeated to great effect. It brings back pleasant memories of growing up even though I don't exactly share those of the narrator in the song. I guess it treasures those kind of memories in general.

How I discovered it: Nothing special about it, always meant to check out the album since I liked all the songs from it that was on a Waits' compilation.

Fun fact: Judging by this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLAV_rhoQ0s , I wonder if Waits is just in-character all along or if it really is based on his own childhood. Either way, I prefer the album version to the live recording in that video.

[Ghormak]

Song:
A Headache and a Sixty-Forth by Ron Jarzombek.

Comment:

This title originated at a WatchTower rehearsal. I can't remember who had the headache, but someone said "Man, I've got a headache." Then someone else said "Man, I've got a headache and a half," then "I've got a headache and a quarter." Of course this continued until we got to "...a headache and a 256th" or so. The one that stuck in my head was "A Headache And A Sixty-Fourth."

For this song, I wrote some disgusting, sick, annoying themes for one measure of 4/4, followed by a measure of 1/64.

How I discovered it:
Helm introduced me to the guitarist/composer/amazingperson that is Ron Jarzombek, a man who uses interesting ideas and theory to make music that actually sounds good and not just pretentious.

Fun fact:
Nod your head slowly in time to the music. Every second nod you'll have to extend that nod just a little bit to catch up with that sixty-fourth!

[Nikolas]

Ghormak/Helm: Great tracks! Brilliant! All of them!


song: Music Hysteria

Comments: A great song which does remind me a little towards NIN, but at the same time has the Muse stamp on... Not the usual semi-electronic stuff they do...

How I discovered it: A friend reminded me of Muse and I went on to watch Time is running out on youtube (what I great site!) The I linked to Hysteria and that was it! don't think I will keep listening to this for ever but still a great song!

Fun Fact: My kids love dancing to the sound of Muse (and NIN), and nothing else! Quite funny if you consider how "violence is promoted by this evil artists... "

[Nacho]

Song: Coma girl, Joes Strummer and the Mercaleros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qs8lQuEGJ4
Comments: An IMO good funny song, and the first song I heard of a group that I like a lot. I have periods, and during a time I had this "TEX-MEX" period, when I started to hear songs like "Oye" (from "The Mexican" soundtrack) or "Malagueña salerosa", in a cover by "Chingón" in the Kill Bill soudtrack.
How I discovered it: Looking for "Mondo Bongo" by the same group. I song I liked since I heard it in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"
Fun fact: Not really funny, but Lorena and me used to song "Bongo Bongo" in spite of "Mondo Bongo" when we hear this record...  :

[Blackthorne]

Song:Kid Charlemagne - Steely Dan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylr2D4Pwn58
Comments: A funky take on San Fransico life, post 60's Hippie Culture.  Great arrangement and amazing solo (The album version, off of THE ROYAL SCAM)
How I discovered it: Playing my friend's old LP's when I was a kid.
Fun fact: Song makes many references to San Fransico culture, including The Merry Prankster's Bus "Further" ("Everyone stopped to stare at your Technicolor Motor Home")

Bt

[Tuomas]

Song: Lionel Richie - Hello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDZcqBgCS74
Comments: One of the best ballads I've heard. And a cute video too. Everyone knows this.
How I discovered it: I think it was BOYD and ProgZmaX together, or just one of them that made a "funny" verbal joke that no-one got at #AGS
Fun fact: "Hello" was covered by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes on their album Take a Break. It has also been covered by Paul Anka on his album Rock Swings.

Enjoy

[Helm]

after Lionel Richie, let's take a left turn

Song: Univers Zero - Heresie - 02: Jack the Ripper

Comment: Univers Zero were one of the original Rock In Opposition progressive bands from the '70s along with Henry Cow, Art Bear, Magma, so on. They're from Belgium, they have a very rich history I will not recount here, but I do suggest you do on your own time. They bear little resemblance to anyone else, though bands like Art Zoyd, Present and Shub Niggurath followed loosely in their footsteps. They're a progressive rock band which mutated into very dark, chamber music using strings, winds and percussion instruments, mostly no electric guitars (but electric base) and so on. They summon the Great Cthulhu.

How I discovered it: They visited me in a dream.

Fun Fact: The band had an ad out during the early 70's looking for a hearse, to lug their equipment around for live shows.

[nulluser]

-

[HillBilly]

Song: The Dust Storm, by Those Poor Bastards

Comment: One of the best Death Gothic Country songs I've heard in a while. It really brought me back to the beauty of depressing country music. I was pleased to find out the rest of their songs were pretty miserable too.

How I discovered it: I googled for a picture, and ended up on someones MySpace. That someones MySpace was playing this song.

Fun Fact: Yes, it's supposed to sound like a 78" record.