With all these loose music threads tossed out sporadically on the board, I thought we could organise it a bit.
So I present to you
YOUR DAILY SONG TIP THREAD
* You pick a song which you've listen to recently (though not necessarily for the first time), a song that the mainstream audience might not be already too familiar with. Preferably, it should be something you came over by chance. A serendipity discovery.
* It doesn't have to be your favourite song, or belong to your favourite genre etc, so don't be affraid to post something non-representative. The only requirement is that you can write something personal about it, if it affected you in a good or bad way, etc.
* Write a little comment about it, how you discovered it and, (optional) some fun fact.
* You may post in this thread max once per day. You may only post in this thread if you can contribute with a song! If you wish to comment on a previous poster, separate the feedback from your own song with a horizontal rule [ hr ].
Posts in this thread that don't provide a Daily Song Tip will be removed!
Example:
Song: Nosebleed Section, by Hilltop Hoods (available on Youtube, albeit with a non-original video)
Comment: Definitely not my typical kind of music. Very corny, of all things Australian hip-hop! But this song is simply so corny it's good. Made me all giddy inside. Apparently, they are the shit in the Aussie hip-hop scene.
How I discovered it: My girlfriend played an old CD last night which she had got as a present during her stay in Australia, long time ago. We listened to the song several times and giggled over it.
Fun fact: The sampled song is Melanie Safka's "People in the front row", which I, to my great satisfaction, reckognised immediately.
Now you go ahead! You can write more lengthy than I did, or half as long if you wish.
I'm not feedbacking on Andails song, but on his idea which is brilliant! Plus I'm getting to try the horisontal line !
Song:Just (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5X7HKxpiQA), by Radiohead from their 2nd album "The Bends"
Comments: Definately my kind of music! My cup of tea! A perfect video and an even perfect(er) song! I've been listening to this song for more than 8 years now and it still works! That means a lot to me!
How I discovered it: A friend commented on Radiohead and the specific song. That was it! I stuck with Radiohead and still am!
Fun Fact: Now how fun this comment can be... :-\ Radiohead, are using contemporary classical music techniques in various songs to make their music. They are not just grabbing a guitar and write music. For example here they are using techniques from the early 40s from Messiaen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olivier_Messiaen) and his Quatuor pour la fin du temps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quatuor_pour_la_fin_du_temps)
Note: hope is not dead. I can't post for another 24 hours. ;D
Sure, I'll play.
Song
Venus Say by BUZY. Available(ish) on YouTube. You'd never find it, so here it is. If this is inappropriate, I'll remove it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmv6JPU_rcY
Comment
This probably is my kind of music, really. I don't remember how, but I got into Japanese music at some point. It has a nice catchy melody which is what I appreciate mostly, but I also rather liked the lyrics. Most of the Japanese songs I come across seem to have this kind of "Nicely upbeat but with recognition of melancholy" tone.
Again, if poorly translated lyrics are inappropriate removal will occur.
http://gendou.com/amusic/lyrics.php?id=75&show=2
How I discovered it
After finishing a fantastic anime called PlanetES (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetes) I was looking for another anime to watch, and I discovered that the same studio made an anime called "Twin Spica" about teenagers wanting to be astronauts. This song was the opening theme for that series.
Fun Fact
The band, BUZY, are an all-female Japanese pop musical group, according to Wikipedia. One of their songs was used in the Megaman anime, apparently. Oh, and apparently this song has the same tune as "Kujira" (which I assume to be a song of some kind) with different lyrics. And this song may have been written by one of the guys from Porno Graffitti, a much more famous Japanese group.
Hot. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/8/83/Buzy.jpg)
Song: A Song From Under the Floorboards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p58kCYsiwt0) by Magazine
Comments: The lyric "my irritability keeps me alive and kicking" really resonates with me for some reason. I haven't studied the origin of the lyrics, but I always imagined it to be influenced by Kafka. There's some lovely cover versions of it, my favorite being the one by Strange Boutique.
How I discovered it: Morrissey performed a cover of it at a concert I attended in Sweden last year.
Fun fact: Someone synced the music with clips from Phantom of the Opera and put the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3LaNeG5fu8) on youtube. At least it's a chance to hear the album version which is a bit different from the performance posted above.
Song
Uninvited by American melodic-punk band Ruth Ruth from their album Laughing Gallery.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1du1EdYf0zI
Comment
This is good American punk, but not like Bad Religion and Pennywise, it's more focused on melody and this track in particular show's just how good they were back in the day.
How I discovered it
Laughing Gallery was the first CD I ever called my own. Â My cousin gave it to me as a birthday present about 12-13 years ago because I loved it so much, and the song I'm recommending today remained my favourite song for years.
Fun Fact
Ruth Ruth have had a tough time over the last 15 or so years. Â Dropped by each of their record companies after one album, they have released records on American and Epitaph and others. Â They split in 1999(ish) and all was quiet until they decided to start from scratch in frontman Chris Kennedy's garage and recorded Right About Now which they released themselved without a major company, but it was only availble on Itunes and CDBaby
To hear more of their stuff, they have a MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/ruthruth
Cute idea, though my guess is this'll reach more than enough pages in a few weeks, but hey, I trust andail knows what he's doing. And about songs, Nik, lovely choise, Radiohead is great.
song: Junior Senior - Move Your Feet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKcDa0Kp2K8
Comment: Not my cup of tea, but a very catchy tune, and I think I really like it in a kinky way, the singer's not bad either.
How I Discovered It: Well my brother sent me the mp3 with msn telling me he liked it a lot as a jammin song. My friend at the moment was sitting next to me and told me it was shit.
Fun Fact: Well my brother then linked me to their video telling me it's great again, and it indeed is, especially if you like pixel art, and I know you do. And yeah, the song does make most people sway around a bit, a great partytune :) And even though no-one knew this band, I recognised the song immediately as one I've heard, and to my brother, I was the first one to know it. Well, the single is also available on the soundtrack of the popular American television show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy.
Song
Flaming Telepaths by Blue Öyster Cult, from their third album Secret Treaties (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secret_Treaties).
Comment
A pounding piano rift opens up this lament to drug-induced, occult madness. A real stomping piece of rock.
How I discovered it
Quite recently, while browsing in Tower Records for something "new". The cover to this CD caught my eye and the song titles intrigued me.
Fun Fact
The lyrics to this song, like a number of BOC songs, were taken from the poetry of the band's manager Sandy Pearlman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandy_Pearlman). His cycle of poems entitled "Imaginos" became a BOC concept album in 1988, and featured narration by Stephen King. Apparently.
Song: Dance With Me by Orleans
Comment: Very sweet. Play this to your girlfriend/wife/significant other and she will give you lots of kisses.
How I discovered it: During last year's US House election campaigns, I saw Stephen Colbert interview Orleans co-founder John Hall, who was running against incumbent New York congressional representative Sue Kelly. Both Colbert and Hall harmonised a few bar of Dance With Me together and it sounded quite beautiful.
Fun fact: Hall won against Kelly and is now the Congressional Rep for New York's 19th district. Many attribute his appearance on The Colbert Report to aiding his victory. During his interview, Colbert offered him "smear cards" to smear Kelly as a joke. Hall selected one that read: "My opponent smokes marijuana".
See Colbert's interview with John Hall here. (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/10/20/blue-americas-john-hall-harmonizes-with-stephen-colbert/)
See the follow up interview after Hall won. (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2006/11/09/colbert-welcomes-newly-elected-representative-john-hall/)
Song: Good Morning Captain, by Slint
Comment: The pinnacle of Slint's achievements. Builds perfect anticipation, and utilizes the "less is more" philosophy to a chilling degree. And when it gets loud, it gets LOUD. This band never received proper credit for the way it influenced other artists.
How I discovered it: I was camping with my brother and he lent me the CD for a night.
Fun fact: The band broke up almost directly after the album's release, and one of the members (David Pajo) went on to play in Zwan.
Song:
Take the veil Cerpin Taxt (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i--4PdRO1tE&mode=related&search=) by The Mars Volta
Comment:
One of their best songs. And as always with TMV, it's a blend of odd rhythms, frenetic progressive instrumentation and ambient soundscapes, topped off with Cedric Bixler-Zavala's high-pitched, nasal voice and wonderfully cryptic lyrics. (Or how about "The iconoclastic had it coming for years/They know the prisons that you have yet to fear/Where thumbs hide inside of sleepingbag mouths/Adlib your memoires by casting a drought"?) All this while retaining a great sense of catchy songwriting midst all the experimentalism.
How I discovered it:
Now, I been a fan of The Mars Volta since the first time I heard them, and especially their first full-length album, "De-loused in the Comatorium", which is nothing short of a masterpiece in my opinion. But it took me a while to fully appreciate the last track on that cd. However, after repeated listens, it's become one of my absolute favorites with them. Now I can't stop listening to it.
Fun Fact:
Well, not really "fun", I suppose, but the song, and indeed the whole album is based on the fate of their ex-bandmember Jeremy Ward, who died shortly before they recorded the album.
Song:
Symphonaire Infernus at Spera Empyrium (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hvGWkMk2bOY) by My Dying Bride
Comment:
The very first song My Dying Bride apparently wrote, it's 11 minutes. The version above sadly is clocks at chopped 5 minutes. This song is really important to me for many reasons. Well before this brand of romantic doom metal has been saturated by clones of the 'original three' (british Peaceville artists My Dying Bride, Anathema, and Paradise Lost) there were no photographs in sleeves, no interviews, no silly vampire lyrics, nothing but a very esoteric promise that only heavy metal can make, but rarely holds. The lyrical material here is, top-notch:
The destroying genius of idols
Will shroud the world with utter lies
Dance the cobbles, his abode named Dis
Portraits have spoken their masters distress
Icons with kisses, tell me who have seen this
Failing Enochian tapestries
Depict the prince of fallen virtues
In almost poetic rhapsody
Masturbate to the sound of the knell
The Patchetic stench of dying children
Perhaps our fall is certain
Limbs entwined in absolute contrusion
Please put off your veil
Your heart is blameless
And I shudder for knowing it
A hot May makes a fat churchyard
And Lychfowel breed in chaotic frenzy
Her cry was the saddest of all earths sounds
Trauma bites hard the hearts of Kin
Swept away by a moments sadness
They say rage is a brief madness
By way of the beloveds farewell
Give back to nature what we first did take
And monuments would slowly fill
The agendas' of Kings and Queens
In silence our faces bleed
The holy voice torn away by the gale
Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you...
Love is a game where both players cheat
Gone is the tale of Hero and Leander
Women are angels yet wedlock's the devil
To have and to hold but death no longer parts
Harlots and sluts, whores of our world
Expose their stinking vaginas
Many who have no will of their own
Hold their souls towards the sinister bloom
Are you rich oh lord of vanity
As you peddle your wears of cruelty
Dressed up so you look the part
So blind, it's ignorance you wear
Quite brutal beyond belief
Sores that weep their septic tears
Dragged out through war torn lifetimes
And death shall feast on us all
The mills of God grind slowly
The adorable light of that which is most divine
The fascination of her shape
With mansions of awe and splendour
Elegant in simplicity
So at last your faith rewards you
Through fields enriched with pastel shade
And fragrant lavenders soft to smell
You laugh and drink wine of no great age
Nature does scent the farthest shores
Face to face your angelic host
All hopes in you imperishably kept
Is God your wish and all your dreams
If your body is frail then yes by all means
Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you...
Sorry for not putting just a snippet, but how do you do that with this sort of work?
If experienced under the right circumstances ( youtube isn't it. ) this music is magic. Full of an incandescent malevolence, a cruelty of life, and more.
How I discovered it:
By bying the first EP.
Amusing Anectode:
When I witnessed this song live, and I was in the front row singing the lyrics and headbanging all the while, My Dying Bride recieved numerous rounds of applause. It wasn't because the audience was so appreciative of this track, it was because they were unfamiliar with it, and every time a rest came they thought the song was over. For them I guess My Dying Bride played 3 different songs close to each other.
Song: Grendel, by Marillion
Comment: It's nearly fifteen minutes long and covers a variety of styles. It depicts the story of Grendel (of Beowulf fame) from the monster's point of view, and is none too kind about the humans in the story.
How I discovered it: I got one of their CDs as a semi-random birthday gift and started buying all of them.
Fun fact: The band was missing a vocalist when they wrote the song, and the lyrics were added later by the vocalist (Fish) after they joined up.
Song: Wellkumn, by Bagster (http://www.myspace.com/bagster)
Comment: This song just grabbed me instantly, a ska, punk, rock anthem type song, with some funny lyrics, well worth a listen
How I discovered it: I've seen the band play a few times, they are local, but I haven't seen them for over a year. I noticed them on one of my myspace friends pages and checked out their page and heard some of their latest songs and this one stood out for me
Fun fact: I had this song in my head today, and after a while it had changed into the Teddy Bears Picnic - ie
"If you go down to the woods today, You're sure of a big surprise
If you go down to the woods today, You'd better go in disguise."
They are supporting Reel Big Fish on their tour over here
Song:Do You Trust Me? by Blanche (video) (http://youtube.com/watch?v=euSRYuxq8UU)
Comment: An alt-country song with a quirky, slightly bizarre feel. Well worth listening to, especially if you want something different!
How I discovered it: My brother played it for me after he first discovered them (they were touring with The White Stripes). I'm not a fan of country music in general, but some alt-country, like Blanche, appeals to me.
Fun fact: Blanche was the first band I ever saw in concert, and I believe this was the first song they played :)
Song: Brian Ellis - XYL (myspace (http://www.myspace.com/brianellis))
Comment: One very talented man, several instruments, painstaking overdubbing, great music! Sort of folk electronica rock.
How I discovered it: As a fan of Benbecula Records and a labelmate of Brian elsewhere.
Fun Fact: If you unscrew your belly button, your bottom falls off!
Good choice by the way Nikolas! I'm not sure I can see the Messiaen influences in Just - I thought those influences really came in after OK Computer - but Quatuor pour la fin du temps is pretty harrowing piece of music, especially considering the circumstances of it's composition. It's probably not easy to listen to for most people, but highly rewarding... people should check that out if they're familiar with Radiohead already :)
Song: Blue And alone (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y815A3_HVSw) by Weeping Willows
Comment: Please ignore the video, since this band is quite unknown outside Sweden, I couldn't find any better link.
I really like this song, gets me all emotional.
How I discovered it: It was the opening tune for a swedish comedy program called "Pistvakt" (http://www.nojeninorr.se/custom/images/PISTVAKT2.gif) , the program was mediocre, but I really liked this song.
Fun Fact: No, not really.
Once a day huh?
song: Jethro Tull - Heavy Horses http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmMyLBJk-Qw
Comment: I have this on vinyl and cd. actually everytime I hear this song, it brings a different memory, of home playing guitar, or at a exhibition with my mates, what ever. It's one of the greatest folkrock/prog songs there ever is, and I was so surprised to see there was a video for it.
How I Discovered It: Weel first of all I discovered Jethro Tull and they've been my favourite since '97-98. My father had a collection of old vinyls and he gave them to me. That's how I found this. The video I found when I was thinking of good lyrics for a song, that or a poem that someone told me to write to her. I remembered the lyrics of this song, and this album as whole, and sought the video.
fun fact: of the band presented here, only 2 continued to make the next album. Rest left, bassist died. Later, a few years ago the keyboardist/violinist, David Palmer had a genderchange and is now known as Dee Palmer.
Have to comment, Radiant and Rincewind, great choises, especially Radiant. Not many people own Market Square Heroes, so consider yourself lucky.
Song
What's He Building? - Tom Waits (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6CxDBBuo4k)
Comment
I like this song because it sounds like it's being sung by Ben from Full Throttle, or possibly a Grim Fandango character. The offkey sound effects in the background also seem to remind me of Grim Fandango. It's quite an eerie song, but the voice of Tom Waits is just ... well, it's incredible.
How I discovered it
It scared a friend of mine, who sent me the video on Youtube. I didn't find it scary, but since I found it so rich and delicious, I favourited it. The one I listened too had better audio quality than the one I linked here.
Fun Fact
Listen closely in the background... they're saying "I heard that too."
A song about rumours or paranoia perhaps... or maybe even something more real?
We DO have a right do know ;)
Song
Holy Wars...The Punishment Due, by Megadeth (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megadeth) from their 1990 album Rust in Peace (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rust_in_Peace).
Comment
What epic metal should be. A myriad of tempo and key changes, and guitars that manage to sound like the string section of a symphony orchestra playing at full whack. Six and a half minutes of audio adrenalin.
How I discovered it
...is tied directly into how I discovered Megadeth. Which goes way back to 1992, remains inactive for 12 years, and then begins again in 2004. It's a long and rambling story. So...
Fun Fact
Wikipedia: "Holy Wars" deals with the ongoing Arab-Israeli Conflict then the song proceeds to, after a bridge, become "The Punishment Due", which is about the comic book character The Punisher." Groovy.
Song:
Stardust - Music sounds better with you (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdYs0iaI5ro)
Comment
Now, usually, I'm definately not an avid listener of club/house music and so on, but this song is just to wonderful to ignore. Repetitive, sure, but when the hook is as good as this, it really doesn't matter. Be sure to watch the video as well, it's just as good. This is an essential summer-tune for me.
How I discovered it:
Well, I remember seeing the video on one of these top-of-the-pop-ish programs on tv when it came out back in 1998, and it was somehow etched into my head. Didn't see or hear it again after that until sometime last year, when I suddenly remembered it and had a craving to find it again.
Fun Fact:
This song was the only thing this band/project ever released, which is a mighty shame. Notable is, however, that one of the three people behind this is Thomas Bangalter, more known as a member of Daft Punk.
Mr Flibble: Great choice. Tom Waits is the man, no doubt about it. :)
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 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSPDmQtWPak&mode=related&search=) (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 (http://www.imslp.org/images/2/29/Prokofiev_-_op11_toccata.pdf)
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 (http://www.nikolas-sideris.com/AGS/prokofievop11.mp3). 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)
This is an Amazing idea for a thread.
Great songs so far especially Rincewind. The Mars Volta rocks.
Song: Mighty Midgets - Bon Apartheid (http://www.mightymidgets.dk/Mighty_Midgets-Bon_Apartheid.mp3)
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!
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.
(http://static.rateyourmusic.com/album_images/s7172.jpg) (http://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/joni_mitchell/the_hissing_of_summer_lawns/)
Song
I Have Not Been to Oxford Town, by David Bowie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie) and Brian Eno (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Eno), from the concept album 1.Outside (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omikron), 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.
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.
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!*
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...
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.
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 (http://www.orthogonal.com.au/music/taab/index.htm), 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.
Song:
Silent Cries (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geypqj9d39c) 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.
Song: Joanna Newsom - The Sprout and the Bean (youtube) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A45s839vSqE)
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.
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.
Song:
A Headache and a Sixty-Forth (http://www.ronjarzombek.com/02.mp3) by Ron Jarzombek.
Comment:
Quote from: Ron Jarzombek
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!
Ghormak/Helm: Great tracks! Brilliant! All of them! :D
song: Music Hysteria (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DR2DpgV8fPw)
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... :P"
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... ::)
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
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
after Lionel Richie, let's take a left turn
Song: Univers Zero - Heresie - 02: Jack the Ripper (http://www.locustleaves.com/02%20univers%20zero%20-%20jack%20the%20ripper.mp3)
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.
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Song: The Dust Storm (http://www.myspace.com/thosepoorbastards), by Those Poor Bastards (http://www.thosepoorbastards.com)
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.
Song: The Bogus Man by Roxy Music
Comments: Forget about Love Is The Drug and More Than This (though I guess I like those as well :P ) Roxy Music peak way above that. This 9-minute gem of a jam can be found on their awesome second album "For Your Pleasure" (when Brian Eno was still in the band). The creepy music matches the great (and slightly cheesy ("The Bogus Man is on his way, as fast as he can run. He's tired but he'll get to you, and shoot you with his gun") ) lyrics perfectly. Great performances by all. Nice treatments by Eno. However, Ferry's vocals is what I like most about it.
How I discovered it: I first heard, or rather, listened to Roxy Music when an old live performance was shown on TV here.
Fun fact: I've heard of the boogie man but what the hell is a bogus man? Bogus, dude!
Song: The Samuel Jackson Five - If You Show Off The Milk, Who's Gonna Buy The Cow? (http://www.sj5.no/mp3/SJ5IfYouShowOffTheMilkWhosGonnaBuyTheCow.mp3) (from their homesite www.sj5.no
Comments: as the album title of this says, Easily Misunderstood. The music is defined Experimental/Post-Rock. This is not their best track, but it's the one available at the website, and is pretty good anyway.
How I discovered it: I was looking for info on Spock's Beard, when I spotted this in an aphapetical list, and thought it was funny so decided to take a look.
Fun fact: "Their name is most likely a joke based on the combination of Samuel Jackson and Jackson 5" (no shit)
Nice one Chrille. There's nothing Roxy Music would do bad, again I find Brian Eno mentioned, (3rd time I think).
Quote
Song: Mogwai - Close Encounters
Comments - outtake from the Rock Action album, previously only included on the Japanese release.
How I discovered it - looking around the official site I found an audio section, it was here: http://www.mogwai.co.uk/podcast/index.php?id=6
Fun fact - David Pajo (from Slint) contributes guitar.
Shouldn't this be moved to the popular forum already? I find it a brillaint thread! Really!
Helm: Thanks
I will edit the post to include my new track, please do not delete yet.
Song: Kontroll på Kontinentet (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5-Y7kjdXHc), by Kaizers Orchestra
Comment: Not my favourite song of theirs, but this video shows their live show the best. According to Wikipedia "Kaizers Orchestra are notable for being among the first Norwegian bands or artists singing in their native language to become popular in non-Scandinavian Europe", probably in large part because of their live shows
How I discovered it: They're fairly popular here
Fun fact: Each of their albums tell a story. The first album, as far as I can interpret, dealing with a mafia formed in the post-war society of an unspecified eastern European country by former members of the war resistance. This song in particular is the mafia leader trying to discover who in "the family" betrayed him, by pretending to be dead, having an open casket at the funeral, and waiting for the culprit to reveal his sins to the dead body only to discover that it was his sister. Oh, I spoiled it now.
Song: Start Wearing Purple (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p_81l4DXlwM) by Gogol Bordello
Comment: Crazy Balcanic Gypsy folk-punk from New York. I've seen these guys live twice, once in Denmark, once in Bologna, Italy, and loved it both times (though the show was slightly less energetic the second time as their chinese dancer broke her leg during the concert).
How I discovered it: They played at the Roskilde Festival last year, easily among the top-three acts of the whole festival.
Fun fact: The song is on the soundtrack of the film version of Jonathan Safran Foer's Everything is Illuminated. Lead singer Eugene Hütz plays a major part in the movie as Elijah Wood's Ukranian guide Alex.
Song:Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfGc4wcil2g)
Comments: One of the best from Kate Bush. The Kick Inside must be her best album, this one is on it. I know it's a hit song but it truly is a masterpiece. Just got to love her voice.
How I discovered it:Well I'm a huge fan of Peter Gabriel. And I read somewhere, that it was he who found this young exceptional girl and made her big. So I trusted him, and bought an album, and now I have all of them, as does my aunt btw.
Fun fact: She wrote the song when she was 19 after the novel Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë who has the same birthday as she.
Song: Sonic Youth - I Don't Want To Push It
Comments: Early, difficult Sonic Youth from their eponymous mini-album
How I discovered it: Purchasing said mini-album
Fun fact: the camp-sounding vocals are the result of Thurston Moore trying to imitate Damo Suzuki, the vocalist of German experimental band, Can.
Song: Omerta (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2blnsWLPts), by Katatonia
Comments: I'm a big Katatonia fan, but this is the only song I can listen to all day long. It's calm, with frustration looming beneath the calmness, but the message comes across. This song, as, seemingly, an old comment on youtube states, has helped me through some rough patches. Whenever I felt down, I'd listen to the song and I'd feel massively better.
How I discovered it: I got the CD the song is on through an ex-girlfriend, and suddenly this song starts, and I'm sitting up in my chair and scurrying to find the booklet so I can read along with the lyrics.[/b]
Fun Fact: Due to the very abrupt ending, I thought the CD was broken the first couple of times I heard it. After downloading the song, I found out it was supposed to end that way ;)
Song: The Game (http://www.nikolas-sideris.com/AGS/LevellersTheGame.mp3), Levellers
Comments: Great violin traditional irish, or something, playing, along with great rock on the back. I love it!
How I discovered it: A friend back in 91 introduced me to that Album (Vinyl back then), called "Levelling the land", and exactly that song as the best from the album. I went on and copied the album in a tape and then after a couple of years or so, bought the CD (which I lost afterwards... :@)
Fun Fact: hmmm.. can be too sure there is any. Just that it's a qutie old song and that the band is still around here and there. Back then it was consider far superior to the James, but future proved them wrong...
Song: Finntroll - En Mäktig Här
Comments: Finnish Folk-metal. Though a very untraditional song
How i discovered it: A friend and a big fan of Finntroll introduced me to this song
Fun Fact: Sounds VERY much like the theme from Monkey Island.
Song: Ocean Land (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGX3i_BcOp0), by Orphaned Land
Comments: I have a weak spot for "eastern" melodies and instruments, and it's even better if the band is from the area and not just a bunch of westerners experimenting with scales.
How I discovered it: "Hey Ghor, check this band out... " Â "Ok."
Fun Fact: It's about the only metal band I can think of at the moment that I'd recommend even to people who don't generally like metal. Jewish metal! A concept album about Noah's ark and the great flood! What's there not to like?
Quote from: HaddasFinntroll
Ooh, new album? Must get. Finntroll are hilarious, great fun.
Quote from: Ghormak on Fri 23/03/2007 12:11:34
Ooh, new album? Must get. Finntroll are hilarious, great fun.
Yes. It is to be released on the 28th of March (My birthday!) However it's already been leaked on P2P for a while, if you're inclined to do such things.
Song:
And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething (http://www.elysianminorband.net/) by Our Last Hope Lost Hope
Comments:
Being quite a huge post-rock-fan, and a near-fanatic follower of the band Godspeed you black emperor!, it's rare that I get the opportunity to hear bands that comes close to the intense emotional impact of that from above mentioned band. In recent years, the only two bands that has managed to really impress me in the genre has been british band Yndi Halda, as well as this bunch. A ten-piece collective with members mostly coming from the area in and around Sundsvall, Sweden, where I live. Not signed, and unfortunately not very active any more,(they haven't done anything new since around 2003, I think...) but brilliant anyways.
How I discovered it:
A friend told me that some mutual friends of ours; Leif Elverstig and Lotta Andersson, had played in a post-rock collective a couple of years ago, and gave me the link to their website.
Fun Fact:
Leif Elverstig, one of the guitarists in the band, is also a kickass solo singer/songwriter. Check out his stuff here (http://www.myspace.com/leifelverstig).
You can also exclude Samuel Jackson Five from my above post-rock-comment. They are indeed a great new band in the genre.
Great choice, Toumas!
Song: Myrrhman by Talk Talk
Comments: Not a fan of post-rock, but I love Talk Talk's experimenting in that genre. Much more quiet and subtle compared to most other acts I've heard. The song brings on images that appeal very much to me, a bit like Tom Waits' "9th & Hennepin" story.
How I discovered it: Nothing special, I'd gotten lots of recommendations for the album "Laughing Stock" and ended up buying it. Sadly they disbanded after this album, though Mark Hollis (frontman) released a solo album some years later which is supposed to be as good as the last two albums of Talk Talk.
Fun fact: Talk Talk started out as a 80's synth-pop band and then suddenly went from that to experimental post-rock.
Song: Three of a Perfect Pair by King Crimson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt3BNoK7ZO4
Comments:A great song with the most longlasting lineup of this classic band. I love it how they play it, and ask no appologies.
How I discovered it:I bought the record some years ago having heard King crimson before a lot. Must have been because of the cover. This song hit me the first minute, the album is great too.
Fun fact:Three doesn't make a pair. It's wordplay. Yay fun.
Song: Peaches en Regalia (http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1023) by Frank Zappa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Zappa), from the album Hot Rats (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_Rats)
Comment: Jazz fusion groove, with the overall effect of producing a big smile on the face of the listener.
How I discovered it: In Tower Records, under "Frank Zappa".
Fun Fact: Yes, facts can be fun.
(Thanks to Tuomas for the audio link. :))
http://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=1023 Here's a link for your song Fish, or a streaming of it if you want it :). Please remove this post once it's edited.
Song: The Odyssey - Symphony X
Comment: Symphonic rock. My favourite band, and the best song I've ever heard. It's about Odyssevs or something.. Not sure how you write it in English. A legend.
How I discovered it: I heard it on a trip to Italy, but I didn't bother listening to it. I later remembered, and thought I should check it out.
Fun Fact: The very first bomb dropped by the Allies on Berlin during World War II killed the only elephant in the Berlin Zoo.
Song: Fear of a Blank Planet by Porcupine Tree http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=2024739669
Comment: From the new record, Porcupine Tree really hit it this time making high on charts. I listened to this 25 times a row and never got bored with it.
How I discovered it: I heard them first 5-6 years back, a slightly different style back then. All the same, I bought their album in 2002, and then I heard this was out, I had to buy it immediately.
Fun Fact: The video here was drawn back due to the virginia Tech shootings, if you check the video out, you'll know why. That's not really fun, but it's a fact.
Song: Everything Evil (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SF9v-OkHmoM) by Coheed And Cambria
Comment: I just love the way this song builds and runs in sections, telling the story a bit at a time. The performance is a classic one, and took place just as they were introducing new songs from their second record into the setlist. The video is edited at the break, so it feels a little weird but they just goofed around for a bit so no worries.
How I discovered it: I heard Devil In Jersey City on the radio, and brushed them off. Few months later on, a student of mine brought me a couple of their tracks from the same album and I was amazed at their guitar lines. Didn't like the vocalist though :) But, he grew on me over time, and now pleased to say he's one of my favorites (second only to Sting - sorry Claude).
Fun Fact: The band lost their original drummer recently, as well as bassist Mic Todd. Basically they missed a tour. So they recruited a new drummer - Chris Pennie to take over on drums and another guy on bass. What's funny is that the new bassist didn't stick around for more than one short tour and the original bassist is back for the next album. So he hasn't really missed out on anything - though the fans react like he's been gone for ages. :) I find that to be funny.
Song: Istället för musik: Förvirring (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPlMeZ_yJZw) by Bob Hund
Comment:
Just one of those songs that will always be with me, where ever I go.
A trademark track by what I personally think is the best band to come out of Sweden ever. (And among the best worldwide, as well)
How I discovered it:
I started listening to Bob Hund and bought their albums, eventually stumbling upon this song, seeing as it's one of their more famous tracks.
Fun Fact:
The title of the songs translates roughly to "Instead of music: Confusion".
And here's some roughly translated lyrics for it, as well: (A lot of the genious in Bob Hund are in the swedish lyrics, so there's a lot of humour that's lost in translation, but what the heck. At least it becomes funny in a cheesy, translated way.)
Yet once again it's time to go into a nutshell
For months in a row I've been as happy as a blue whale
Yet once again it's time to dupe my contemporaries
If I get it right I can get more out of my future
You shouldn't stand aside
Rock'n'roll in no time
Werther had pains
Jean d'Arc did drugs
Dancing 'round a white skeleton
Life feels so free and right
The benefitiary full and stuffed
Go sweden, it's an easy win
Aaah - Aaah - Instead of music: Confusion
I've forgotten what I said, I've lost all beat, I'm gone
My life is a static, I've got too many candles on my cake
Old aunt motherland
You have irritated me at times
That's why I'm in a band
That's why I crush your hand
Aaah - Aaah - Instead of music: Confusion
Song: All Fires (http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=96950434), by Swan Lake
Comment: A folksy, haunting song that I cannot stop listening to.
By far, the best verse is:
1000 people did what they could
they found a steeple,
tore up the wood
500 pieces means 500 float
1000 people means 500 don't
and it's Theresa that I love the best
How I discovered it:
Someone messed with the satellite radio, leaving in on the Canadian channel. Twas fate, I says.
Fun Fact: At 200 dB, sound is fatal to humans.
I miss this thread.
Song: Experimental Film (http://www.homestarrunner.com/expfilm.html) by They Might Be Giants
Comment: Fun short pop-rock track that I can listen to on repeat for ages. Not normally my sort of thing but it's so happy I can't resist.
How I discovered it: The flash cartoon I have linked to above - I am a fan of the site, and knew some TMBG beforehand, but the site brought this song to my attention. I have since downloaded it and listened to it on much better speakers and such, which improves it tenfold.
Fun Fact: I have not met a human being who has not smiled while listening to this song.
Song:
Manau: Le loup le renard et la belett (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ImW0-MgR8I) Used as background for a Compiz presentation video.
Comment:
Not what I usually listen to, though a friend told me that Manau are quite popular in France. It's now one of my don't-understand-what-they-say-but-like-the-song-anyway songs, and I'm trying to get the CD.
How I discovered it:
I was looking for some Compiz footage- and then realised after a while that the video was okay, but the song got me hooked.
Song:
Forgotten Silence - Mezzocaine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fi6tXRn3-4U)
Comment:
They call it progressive metal, this one here is a great piece, not so heavy though. I really liked their new album, though this one song here is not the best on it. and the video's brilliant.
How I discovered it:
well I write reviews for www.prog4you.com So every once in a while they send me promotional disks of bands that I should write about. This was one among them, and band from Czech Republic. Pretty much the best album I got with the other 4 back then.
Song:Carousel (http://www.myspace.com/mrbungle) by Mr. Bungle (myspace link, the song is on the page)
Comment:Just been listening to a lot of my old cd's and I love this song in all it's bungly goodness, it's not my favourite song on the album, but it just makes you feel like you're at a carnival. The changes in all Mr. Bungle songs are awesome.
How I discovered it: saw a strange album cover at my cousins house in the early 90's and was intrigued, it was a while later that I actual listened to it.
Fun Fact: Mike Patton wears a Mr. Bungle T-shirt in the Faith No More clip for Epic