Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella, Why You Should Love Classical Music, and #5 in our TOP 20 ALBUMS of 2009

Good evening music lovers!

If you ever needed any more proof that Ben Folds is a complete musical genius, check out the new album, Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella.




















Ben Folds – Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!
Ben Folds – Ben Folds Presents: University A Cappella!

It has been a long time since I have wanted to OWN an album sooooooooo much! To me, it's almost as if this album should always have existed - Ben Folds (and Ben Folds Five tracks too) sung a cappella, as if they were sent from heaven!!!

To get as major a kick out of this, it would be useful for you to be a Ben Folds fan and know some of the songs they're representing here. However, as an art form, this album is as about as clever as it gets! Recycled songs, sung without instruments, the voice doing all of the work (and making it look so easy). There are a lot of different Universities on here, including some jazz singers (on Selfless, Cold and Composed - Ben Folds – Selfless, Cold and Composed - University A Cappella Version).

I can't quite envision myself listening to much else this week - I will listen to this again and again, especially when it is on my iPod. I'm only halfway through it, and I'm in love!?! The version of Still Fighting It will make it into my new TOP 100, without a doubt:

Ben Folds – Still Fighting It - University A Cappella Version

What a beginning - just magical!!! Oooo, I have goosebumps! But, isn't this what makes music so wonderful sometimes - finding a new album (even if it is new versions of past songs), that just makes you feel special!

...and purchased!!!! Cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NB: still listening as I write below - check

******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******

I'd like to feature at least 5 reasons this week why YOU, the reader, should love classical music:

REASON # 1

I don't know enough about classical music to say that much of the music you listen to everyday wouldn't be around without Beethovan, Mozart and Bach. This is possibly true.

Classical music is a lot more accessible for the part-time, armchair listener now, with a lot of radio stations (radio 3 and classic fm, being the major examples) devoted to the music. I think a lot of people are still a little afraid of being perceived as fuddy-duddy if they listen to a lot of classical music in their 20's and 30's (I'm 33, before anyone asks).

I'm going to keep my reasons pretty simple - #1 is that classical music can be extremely relaxing! An obvious point, you might say, as I know there are a lot of double, triple (and more) CDs out there, such as:

Various Artists – Relaxing Cinema Classics
Various Artists – Relaxing Classics
Various Artists – Relaxing Classics (Vol. 1)
Mason Jar Ice Tea Drinkers – Relaxing To The Classics

But, it is worth trying to chill out to some classical music as well as the trance/chillout stuff that the last 10+ years has spawned. Composers have clearly been trying to calm us down for some time!?

******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******menace2music******

TOP 20 albums of 2009

#5
Metric - Fantasies

I read one review which said this was like The Killers with a female vocalist - I think this summed it up enough! Crack it open, and enjoy!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Next week on Menace2Music!!!

• 5 reasons to love classical music, as well as everything else
• everyone's typical classic albums - are they really classic
• the finale to Menace2Music's TOP 5 albums of 2009, in-depth
  
• plus all of Menace2Music's usual features

Hope you're all well - tune in next week for more and more...

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Damn, I ran out of time today!

Sorry - no blog entry today, as time has drifted away from me!

Promise that more is to follow!

Menace2Music

Why a week delay, and what next for Menace2Music!

Good evening, one-and-all - music lovers alike!

I apologise from the very bottom of my heart for leaving a week since my last entry! But for those who spotted it mentioned a couple of times in past entries, I became a father for the first time this week! So, I have been incredibly busy, and looking forward to the future with my wife and daughter!

But, the future is bright as far as I am concerned for Menace2Music! I have a lot of ideas for up-coming features, and look forward to discussing more-and-more music with you, both good and bad!

I'd like to finish up where I left off, and start afresh in the new week! So, lets get cracking on finishing my TOP 20 albums for 2009:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

10. Gavin DeGraw - Free
Loved this album from the very first listen, and have been meaning to purchase it for some time! Gavin's voice just has a perfect pitch and tone - the album is soulful (Gavin DeGraw – FREE), with some great pop songs thrown in too (Gavin DeGraw – Stay).

9. Regina Spektor - Far
I think this latest album is her strongest by some margin - my only disappointment was that a couple of tracks on spotify didn't make it onto the album (Regina Spektor – The Sword & the Pen - Non-Album Track). See also Genius Next Door (Regina Spektor – Genius Next Door) and Machine (Regina Spektor – Machine).

8. Doves - Kingdom of Rust
Have recently discussed this album, and said it would appear in my TOP 10 (which became a TOP 20). The Doves go from strength-to-strength - great guitars, strong vocals - terrific stuff!

7. Jason Lytle - Yours Truly, The Commuter
Another album that hooked me big time, but I am still yet to own! The former lead singer of Grandaddy puts together a mature songwriting album, with some amazing sounds going down (Jason Lytle – Fürget It). Another highlight is Jason Lytle – I Am Lost

6. The Horrors - Primary Colours
Like the Doves, I also mentioned this was a contender for my TOP 10, and it just misses the TOP 5. A band exploring new heights, broadening their tone - one of those albums I wish I could buy every week!

So, we'll hopefully conclude matters on the TOP 20 over the next couple of days, and then kick off afresh on Monday - will draft in a couple of new features during the week, so look forward to going over them with you soon!

Wherever you are, however your weekend is spent, let music flow through you!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Next 5 from my TOP 20 albums of 2009...

Morning,

I know what you're thinking - yesterday, he writes a really late blog, and now today he writes one incredibly early...!? Just trying to keep everyone on their toes!

The next FIVE from my TOP 20 albums of 2009 are an interesting bunch, particularly as I own all five (whereas from the first 5, I only owned Fanfarlo):

The whole list is available on SPOTIFY, but I will feature the albums in 5's:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

15. Adventure Man - Eg
I just think Eg is an extremely good songwriter, and this is reflected in his own solo work. I am yet to totally fall in love with this album like his last one (Turn Me On I'm A Rocket Man - a 90's masterpiece - unfortunately taken off spotify), but I'm sure it won't be long!

14. Throw Me The Statue - Creaturesque
Funky vocals, and excellent song-writing - can recommend this album!

13. Wait For Me - Moby
A return to form for Moby, one thinks! This is, in my opinion, his finest work since the commercially successful Play.

12. xx - The xx
Reviewed on an earlier blog entry, this is a just brilliant album - haunting, great harmonies, awesome stuff! Beautiful CD package as well, so top marks all round!

11. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
An elegant folk/indie crossover album that gets warmer and friendlier by the listen - could well, I think, with more listens, become quite a big album of the noughties for me!

Well, I hope this is enough to keep you going for the time-being! Hope whatever music you listen to today, it gives you lots and lots of pleasure!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

A month old, and am I getting sloppy....quite the opposite!

Good evening, one-n-all!

Just in time for a very quick daily entry today - Friday 13th!!! For those who are superstitious, I hope you have had a fantastic day, saluting magpies and avoiding ladders!

Yes, Menace2Music is a month old, yet I find myself putting a late entry on at this time of night! I can justify that I am not being lazy for two reasons:

* have had something vitally important to do today
* I have worked up my MENACE2MUSIC TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

Now, for you regular reader(s), you'll recall that I mentioned this would be a TOP 10. Well, in the course of putting this together, it just had to become a TOP 20!

The whole list is available on SPOTIFY, but I will feature the albums in 5's:

Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009
Menace2Music - TOP 20 ALBUMS OF 2009

20. Slow Attack - Brett Anderson
An album that gets better and better the more you listen to it - haunting, spiritual, and a fantastic voice!

19. Home - Armand Amar
Just beautiful - I felt the list should have one OST on it, and this one hooked me from the very first listen.

18. Popular Songs - Yo La Tengo
Inspired me to hit their back catalogue hard - to be honest, not sure yet why I love this album, but certain I will figure it out and review it on here!

17. Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix - Phoenix
This was a funny one - I listened to this early doors when it was released, and thought "OK, alright"....then, when I played it a few months later, I realised this album is a gem! Hugely fun, experimental musically - definitely worth dipping into, as you might find you like it too!

16. Reservoir - Fanfarlo
OK, they sound like Arcade Fire. I love Arcade Fire. So, now, I like Fanfarlo a bit, and I'm looking forward to hearing their next album where they might spread their wings a little!

Time permitting, I will get around to the remaining TOP 10 Q Albums, and discuss why my TOP 20 is, well, different!

Love to you all! Love some music today, whatever, wherever, whenever!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

We're into the TOP Twenty albums of 2009, and it's Artist Day!

Hi everyone,

Well, I would like to kick off today's entry with a little anniversary - Menace2Music is ONE MONTH OLD TODAY!!!!!! Yippeeeeeeeeeeee!!!


I plan to put daily entries on continually (haven't missed a day yet), so please don't go away....!!! Heehee!!!

Apologies for another short entry today, though I do have another exciting spotify playlist for you to have some fun with while I write my full artist day entry (publish next week, I hope...).

Lets get cracking on the Q mag top 50 albums of 2009 - we're into the top 20 now...

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

20. Fever Ray - Fever Ray*
19. Monsters of Folk - Monsters of Folk
18. The Boy Who Knew Too Much - Mika*
17. 21st Century Breakdown - Green Day*#
16. Walking on a Dream - Empire of the Sun*@#
15. Tongue N' Cheek - Dizzee Rascal (only clips available on SPOTIFY)*
14. What Will We Be - Devendra Banhart*
13. Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear (NOT on SPOTIFY)*@#
12. Everything is New - Jack Penate*@
11. Kingdom of Rust - Doves*@#

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 9 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 4 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 4 (marked with a #)

As I mentioned on Twitter (http://twitter.com/menace2music), I think the real highlight of these ten is Kingdom of Rust (KOR) by The Doves:

Doves – Kingdom Of Rust
Doves – Kingdom Of Rust

The Doves had always been around for me, but never a key band. KOR changed this entirely! This is now a band I will keep a very close eye on! Jetstream was their first teaser release, and what a treat this was! They labelled it a track for a "Blade Runner like soundtrack/audience" - well, this was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey!!?

I think I can tease you all a little to let you know that this album will definitely be in my Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday... Remember to check out the playlist of all of these TOP ALBUMS - we're up to 400 tracks spot-on, as of today:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Lastly today (again, my apologies for the short blog), a Thursday is typically ARTIST DAY. The next artist on the list is Queen, and I have put together a playlist of all of the Queen music on SPOTIFY:

Menace2Music - Queen
Menace2Music - Queen

I hope to get this written, and looked at next week - as I've said before, reviewing Queen's Greatest Hits (which has since been extracted from SPOTIFY - shame! Check out my review at http://menace2music.blogspot.com/2009/10/to-spotify-premium-or-not-missed-cds-on.html), I'm not the MOST enormous Queen fan in the World, but I think some of their music is fantastic and pioneering!

Hope you're all well - remember, if you can, let a little music into your life today!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Q's albums of 2009 (30-21), The Low Anthem, and what's going down...

Hi all,

Short entry today, as I have an absolute stinker of a headache (which makes it very difficult to listen to music)?!

Just going to let you know that all TEN albums from the next round of TOP 50 from Q magazine (do go out and buy it this month - awesome list, this is - http://www.qthemusic.com/) are on SPOTIFY, how exciting:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

30. La Roux - La Roux*@#
29. Wilco [The Album] - Wilco*
28. Working on a Dream - Bruce Springsteen*#
27. Horehound - The Dead Weather*#
26. Two Suns - Bat For Lashes*@#
25. The First Days of Spring - Noah and the Whale*@#
24. The Ecstatic - Mos Def
23. Invaders Must Die - The Prodigy*#
22. Oh My God, Charlie Darwin - The Low Anthem*@#
21. Kings & Queens - Jamie T

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 8 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 4 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 7 (marked with a #)

I'm up to owning 9 out of the 30 featured - not bad, I think!

Of the albums I have purchased, I would definitely recommend you listening to The Low Anthem - this one might just sneak into the bottom of my list - Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday:

The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin

Excitingly, Menace2Music blog is ONE MONTH OLD tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!! I set myself a number of mini tasks while I was writing this blog - one of the main ones was that I wanted to write something on this every day, however short!

This is going to become even more of a factor from next week, as I am about to become a father for the very first time! Taking this into account, next week will be simple, short entries detailing albums to listen to - it'll feature some of my TOP TEN of 2009, but also a few selected others that you should/could listen to, and the SPOTIFY links!

Hope you're all well - will try and round up matters on the Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car? feature shortly too! Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!!!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Morning/Afternoon Menace2Music fans!

Lots to get through today, and not a huge amount of time to write it, so lets get cracking:

Today's NEW TRACK, or Track of the Week, is Sky is Folding, by A Mountain of One:

A Mountain Of One – Sky Is Folding

Haunting backing vocals, and some neat bass guitar play make this an excellent track. The whole album (A Mountain Of One – Institute Of Joy) is definitely worth a listen too.

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Again, 3 of the next 10 I am looking at are not fully available:

40. 3 Words - Cheryl Cole (only on Premium SPOTIFY)
39. Primary Colours - The Horrors*@#
38. Truelove's Gutter - Richard Hawley*
37. Tarot Sport - Fuck Buttons (not on SPOTIFY)
36. The Eternal - Sonic Youth*
35. Backspacer - Pearl Jam
34. To Lose My Life... - White Lies*@#
33. Bitte Orca - Dirty Projectors*
32. Sunny Side Up - Paolo Nutini*@
31. Only Revolutions - Biffy Clyro (not on SPOTIFY)

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 5 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 3 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 2 (marked with a #)

So, of this ten, White Lies and The Horrors got me to put my hand in my pocket. I was swept along (see how freely I admit it) by the publicity bandwagon behind White Lies, but justifiably - their album is still excellent to this day, however morbid it might sound on occasion. But, this is the point - I know I've said this before, but "what they do, they do very well". You can't fault anyone for that!

I am a huge fan of The Horrors album, Primary Colours. From the first listen to it, I knew this was an album of the year for me. Check out my list - Menace2Music TOP TEN ALBUMS OF 2009, which I plan to publish on Sunday. This album might just feature... Why do I love Primary Colours - it rocks, it preaches, it flows like a fine wine on the tongue! This is a band evolving - I dare you to listen to their first album (The Horrors – Strange House) and then this one! Same band!?!? WHAT!?

DOWNLOAD:
The Horrors – Who Can Say
The Horrors – Primary Colours
The Horrors – Sea Within A Sea
(but this album is a creation that needs to be enjoyed in full)

Menace2Music Driving Classics - baby, will you drive my car?

We are building a very nice list of tracks in this SPOTIFY playlist:

Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?

Some great suggestions from Gail:

Chalk Lines and also Reversible--Division Day
This Town's Disaster--Blackpool Lights
Paralyzed--Bob Mould
Turn Me Off-The Audrye Sessions
Oh oh oh oh oh etc--Say Hi (to your Mom)
City & The Streets--Rubik

And most of all, We Will Fall Together or anything by Streetlight Manifesto (ska punk! they're amazing. Now I'm expanding in that area.)

Of these, I really enjoyed Chalk Lines (Division Day - Division Day – Chalk Lines) and Turn Me Off (great drum beat on this one, and the vocalist/harmonies are terrific - Audrye Sessions – Turn Me Off). Both the albums, these come from, will be getting a listen shortly:

Division Day – Visitation
Audrye Sessions – Audrye Sessions EP

Right, I'm going now - hope you enjoyed today's snippets! Lots more to come as the week progresses!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Album of the Week, Q's Top 50 of 2009, and a couple of driving classics!

Good evening, and welcome to another week of Menace2Music!

Lets kick off with the album of the week - I'm going to review three very quickly, as (a) I couldn't decide which to review, and (b) we have so much else to go over today, including a number of other new albums of 2009 (Q's TOP 50 albums of 2009, starting with 50-41), and a look at some great songs to drive to (as we've all probably some Christmas drives ahead of us!).

The three albums of the week are:























Port O'Brien - Threadbare
The Unthanks - Here's The Tender Coming
McAlmont and Nyman - The Glare

Threadbare stood out immediately - the vocals are strong, over the top of the folk-indie roots. The only criticism I have is an old one. We seem to be inundated with bands that are pretty similar - it's almost like the Fleet Foxes were the new beginning of a folk rock revolution. A poor critique, to be honest, when you'll get a lot out of Port O'Brien's warmth and funky acoustic guitar playing.

I'd be interested to breakdown my CD collection to find out how many I have with female vocals over male - I would say, although the bands I'm featuring on ARTIST Day (every Thursday) tend to have male vocals, I have a lot of CDs by female artists. The Unthanks blend and harmonise two sisters vocals, and it makes a splendid sound across the whole album. The blend of piano, guitar and orchestration across the album is fantastic.

Lastly, The Glare is an acquired taste - lyrics have been placed over a number of Nyman's beautiful pieces of movie score. Much of it works, but the odd track lets this album down (for instance, In Loas works, but City of Turin sounds a little too messy).

DOWNLOAD:
Port O'Brien – Calm Me Down
The Unthanks – Annachie Gordon
McAlmont and Nyman – In Laos

Remember, everything reviewed (where possible) features in the Menace2Music playlist on SPOTIFY:

Menace2Music

Q's TOP 50 albums of 2009

Today, we're looking at 50-41 - what I plan to do is break this down in 10's, and then look to go into more detail on the TOP 10 as I get closer over the weekend! For all of you readers, I am putting all of the albums (as they're available) in a SPOTIFY collab playlist:

Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

Unfortunately, 3 of the first 10 I am looking at are not fully available:

50. Further Complications - Jarvis Cocker*
49. Together Through Life - Bob Dylan (NOT on SPOTIFY)
48. My Way - Ian Brown
47. The Liberty of Norton Folgate - Madness (only a teaser available on SPOTIFY)
46. True Romance - Golden Silvers*@
45. Outer South - Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band*@
44. Which Bitch? - The View*@
43. Imidiwan: Companions - Tinariwen (NOT on SPOTIFY)
42. El Bronx - Mariachi El Bronx
41. Two Dancers - Wild Beasts*

Menace2Music STATS to date:

a) albums I have listened to before this week: 5 out of 10 (marked with a *)
b) albums I have previously liked, and considered buying in 2009: 3 (marked with a @)
c) albums I own to date: 0

Interesting ten albums this, as I don't own any of them (the first album in the TOP 50 that I own is Primary Colours, by The Horrors, at #39). However, I have listened to a few over the last 12 months. The stand out album of this ten is definitely Golden Silvers' True Romance (check out songs like Arrows of Eros - you don't know whether to rock or dance: Golden Silvers – Arrows Of Eros). However, I will say that on a further listen, Which Bitch? by The View has got better and better. Gem of a Bird is an awesome track (The View – Gem Of A Bird).

Menace2Music Driving Classics - baby, will you drive my car?

I've put 24 tracks together in a SPOTIFY playlist already (Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?), but will really welcome some thoughts from others on GREAT SONGS TO DRIVE TO???

I hit shuffle on the playlist, and the first three I hit were:

Driving Home for Christmas - Chris Rea
Well, this is why I put this feature together (honestly, this was the first that came up) - a lot of us are going to be in the car over Christmas! And, there is always the need for music on journeys, however short or long! Not sure I'd have this one playing, though?! There are a few better tracks by the Rea-meister than this one!!!?

Don't Stop Me Now - Queen
A great song to drive along to, and sing out loud - who here hasn't sung this out in a car:

I'm a racing car passing by like Lady Godiva
I'm gonna go go go
There's no stopping me

If this is the case, do it tomorrow!!!!!!! It's also a terrific song for the harmonies and backing vocals of the passengers:

Don't stop me now I'm having such a good time
I'm having a ball don't stop me now
If you wanna have a good time
Just give me a call
Don't stop me now ('Cause I'm having a good time)
Don't stop me now (Yes I'm having a good time)
I don't wanna stop at all

Love it!

Run To You - Bryan Adams
I think this song works, like Don't Stop Me Now, as it builds, and is another song that is pretty easy to sing along to in the car! The lyrics aren't as long, or as involved, as Queen:

I'm gonna run to you
I'm gonna run to you
cause when the feelin's right I'm gonna run all night
I'm gonna run to you

Right, that's about it for today - lots more to come tomorrow!!!

Take care, and all the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

Week 4 summary, and looking forward...

Morning all - so, Menace2Music is 4 weeks old, and what have we discussed this week (including spotify links):

Kurt Vile's album, Childish Prodigy - Kurt Vile – Childish Prodigy
Golden Silvers track, My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow - Golden Silvers – My Love Is A Seed That Doesn’t Grow
Genesis album - And Then There Were Three - Genesis – ...and Then There Were Three...
Artist Day was about the Electric Light Orchestra - Menace2Music playlist - ELO
The Bee Gees - The Ultimate Bee Gees - Bee Gees – The Ultimate Bee Gees
5 more tracks in my old TOP 100, including Bruce Springsteen, The Beatles and Radiohead
+ of course, the Menace2Music soundtrack/OST (18 tracks) - Menace2Music - OST

All-in-all, a top week, I think - I've enjoyed this week a lot! I've posted a few questions via Facebook which have got some awesome responses. These resulted in the following collaborative playlists - check them out while they're online:

Menace2Music - NOW 12 - Edson's list
Menace2Music - fave 80s song

As discussed yesterday, I am going to come back to the Menace2Music soundtrack again, in say a month-or-so - the playlist will remain online. I'd like to launch a new themed playlist this coming week, in fact, TWO of them! We will have:

Menace2Music - baby, will you drive my car?
Menace2Music - Q's albums of 2009

baby, will you drive my car - I'm going to have a good look at some fantastic songs to drive along to!
Q's albums of 2009 - Q magazine, this month (http://www.qthemusic.com/), has the TOP ALBUMS OF 2009. I am going to run through as many of the 50 as I can, adding them into this playlist as I go. I'll look at what Q have written, but importantly give my own view on what's great, what's alright, and what's pants!

So, all of that, plus the regular features/reviews (new album, new track, classic album, artist day, reissue album and my old TOP 100), I hope you'll tune into Menace2Music next week!

Take care, all of you - may the musical force be with you, always!

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
Menace2Music collab playlist - check it out @ Menace2Music

TOP 100 (tracks 85-81), the conclusion of the Menace2Music OST (for now), and ideas for next week!

Good evening music lovers - I hope you're all well, having fabulous weekends, full of music galore!

Today is old TOP 100 day, so a good look at 5 more songs:

85. Bobby Jean (Live) - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band Live 1975-85

I remember hearing the album Born in the USA about the same time as I got into bands like ELO, Queen and The Beatles - my father's cassette of this album was played regularly in the car. It wasn't enough to make me a major fan, but I did pick up this fantastic triple live album. This song always stood out for me, along with a live version of The River (check out the monologue at the beginning - Bruce Springsteen – The River - Live).

84. Things We Said Today - The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
NOT ON SPOTIFY

To be honest, I think my favourite version of this song comes on Paul McCartney live album, Trippin' The Live Fantastic - however, this is a great track, and shows the maturity of The Beatles' songwriting developing.

83. Paranoid Android - Radiohead
OK Computer

I remember having seen OK Computer, in some recent polls (might be NME or Q), detailed as one of the best albums of all time. It is good, no - very good. But for me, The Bends is a superior album. I will be touching upon my love and admiration for Radiohead in greater depth at a later point, so I will save fuller comment on this for then. Paranoid Android has some amazing guitar work in its interior, but some real finesse to it too. The lyrics are nonsense, but it is the musicality of Radiohead, and their appetite to experiment, which I love the most.

82. Please Forgive Me - Bryan Adams
So Far So Good

Bryan has already featured a couple of times on our iPod shuffle grab - we might see this song fall out of the new TOP 100, to be honest. I think this song was enjoyed a little more in my single days, and there are much stronger songs out there since this TOP 100 was put together (at least 5+ years ago).

81. Romeo and Juliet - Dire Straits
Alchemy

Unlike this song, which will definitely feature in the next TOP 100, and may even go higher. Dire Straits will feature on an Artist Day (Thursday) in a couple of weeks, justifiably - I think they're one of the ultimates in terms of guitar rock/pop. Some of their guitar solos are mind-blowing. The funny thing about this song, R&J, is that it is so much better live - the studio version of the song doesn't have the same electricity and energy about it (though, could this just be said about live music as a whole?). There will be a couple of their songs quite high in this TOP 100, but I am not going to say anymore than that - you will have to wait and see...

Menace2Music official soundtrack

As detailed in the title, I am going to conclude the soundtrack here, and come back to it again in a few weeks - it has been a lot of fun putting together some of my favourite soundtrack songs, but it would be nice to look at doing something a little different next week. I am definitely going to come back to it, for sure - maybe in a month-or-so...we shall see!

Three more today, and I'm going to conclude with a few songs in their own right, rather than score - we have:

Stand By Me - Ben E King
FILM: Stand By Me

What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
FILM: Twelve Monkeys

China Girl - David Bowie
FILM: The Wedding Singer

In short, Stand By Me is a classic song, and a classic film from my youth - everyone knows the lyrics, the simple, but amazing passion in the song. Much the same can be said about What A Wonderful World - the kind of song that swells the heart, and fills the soul with sunshine and fluffy bunnies...and lastly, a bit of Bowie! I could so easily have picked something from Labyrinth (Various Artists – Labyrinth), but this is a good way to finish (for now). I was a child of the 80's, so never really got to enjoy songs like this in bars or clubs - I can see the scene in The Wedding Singer, when this comes on! Total excitement!

Check out all of the tracks in the Menace2Music OST @ Menace2Music - OST

So, we'll conclude matters tomorrow and wrap up everything we've discussed this week! I've had a couple of thoughts for a new feature - maybe "Great Driving Songs" or "Best Albums of the Year", or maybe both............

As I said at the beginning, I hope you're all having a fab weekend! I've just put Spotify on shuffle - a folder of new songs I love, and I've hit some Dawn Landes (Drive - Dawn Landes – Drive). A nice way to finish today...

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
I try to feature all of the songs I write about in a SPOTIFY playlist - check it out @
Menace2Music

The Ultimate Bee Gees, Menace2Music OST, and what's your fave album of the last few years?

Now, I have never professed to be a huge lover of dance and disco music, but it has more of a place in my collection than soul and rnb. But, there is something about the Bee Gees - they're not just about disco and the 1970's - this is a band that are versatile (listen to Tragedy and then To Love Somebody, and you'll see), fabulous fun (who hasn't strutted their stuff like Travolta to Stayin' Alive at least once in their life), and have some of the most amazing harmonies of any band you'll ever listen to (Nights on Broadway is a perfect example).


This year sees the release of a double album - The Ultimate Bee Gees. There have been a number of Greatest Hits albums and alike, and if you own one already, you're not going to run out and buy this one for a few extra songs and live tracks (a great example of when SPOTIFY does a great job). However, if you don't have an alike album in your collection, I would advise picking this up, or asking for it in your stocking. Why?

Well, as well as the above reasons, I feel the Bee Gees are pretty accessible to everyone, some of the tracks are terrific fun to sing along too (even if most males would have to have pretty serious cosmetic surgery on sensitive parts of their body to even go close to making the required notes), and there are some great songs to listen to on here, perhaps on a long Christmas drive - this album has 40 tracks (almost 2 and a half hours of music), so plenty to go around!

However, if you were only to download three, I (personally) would go for:

Nights on Broadway - for harmonies, this is one of the most accomplished songs of the 20th Century, and will appear in my new TOP 100 later this year)
New York Mining Disaster 1941
Massachusetts

However, these are three very personal choices - a bit too purist, and not nearly disco and fun enough! If you want three great tracks for a party, go for:

You Should Be Dancing
Stayin' Alive
Tragedy

Menace2Music official soundtrack

Re-entry And Splashdown - James Horner
FILM: Apollo 13

Song for Bob - Nick Cave and Warren Ellis
FILM: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford

Bibo no Aozora/04 - Ryuichi Sakamoto
FILM: Babel

Well, firstly, you might spot that I'm working my way a little alphabetically now - I've got the iPod out, hit genre for soundtracks, and started at the top! As well as the ability to shuffle (a plus, when I have over 14,000 tracks on my current Pod), I find genre searching a huge plus - saves having to plough through lots of artists or albums, if you only want to listen to a specific type of music.

A first entry for James Horner (of Titanic fame) with a track from Apollo 13 - this album doesn't only have his score, but also some fantastic songs from the era, like Somebody to Love (Jefferson Airplane), Purple Haze (Jimi Hendrix Experience) and Night Train (James Brown). I have singled out the above track for two reasons - one, because is so atmospheric and portrays the emotion this moment exhibits, but two, because I always cry at the end of this film (however many times I've seen it, knowing full well that they're going to survive?!)

Jesse James the film is worth watching for two main reasons - its cinematography and its music. The acting is non too shabby either, but it was its cinematic portrayal of the West, and Nick Cave/Warren Ellis's OST that stood out for me. This is the final track on the soundtrack, which is one of those that is worth listening to a few times, from beginning to end - it is a beautiful and moving soundtrack.

A certain amount is lost as this track concludes, with the violins and piano using a little too much of what I might call "scratchy artist warrant" towards the end, but otherwise, this is a phenomenal track at the end of a phenomenal movie. The soundtrack for Babel won an Oscar, and it is understandable why. As a whole entity/soundtrack, it is amazing - however, I would say that I have found listening to single tracks difficult. This one has always stood out above the crowd.

Here are the links for the Menace2Music OST:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

Today's question on my Facebook page was about what your favourite album of the last few years was? I thought, as we'd had a band question, and a song question, we needed an album question! I chucked in a few:

Animal Kingdom (Signs and Wonders)
The Decemberists (Hazards of Love)
The Doves (Kingdom of Rust)
Joan As A Policewoman (To Survive)
The Maccabees (Wall of Arms)
Metric (Fantasies)

...and we've had some terrific suggestions:

Prince (not sure what the album was yet?)
The Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind
St Jude - The Courteeners
Goldfrapp - Supernature
Latest Wilco (Wilco [the album])

Thanks to everyone for their suggestions - I am having a good listen to all of the above (I already own St Jude), and will report back!

Right, it's Friday night - hope you've had a wonderful week, and you've an even more fabulous weekend ahead of you! I know I've said this before, but whatever you're doing - involve a little music - you know you want to!

All the very best, Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Electric Light Orchestra on ARTIST DAY, 3 more OST tracks, and what was your favourite song/single of the 1980's???

Morning everyone - hope you're all well!

Today is ARTIST DAY, and as I said I would write about Electric Light Orchestra today, and why I like them so much!

Three immediate reasons as to why I love ELO:

1. The blend of orchestra and rock works - they've proven so, again and again
2. I admit to not being the greatest fan of lyrics in the World (very often ignore them over the music and melody), but Jeff Lynne is a genius!
3. Fabulous songs like...

Well, the list is a very good one:

Mr. Blue Sky - catchy, and pop-tastic! I dare you not to have this on in the car the next time you're driving along with blue sky in the distance!
Turn to Stone - great harmonies
Wild West Hero - well, it must be said, that if we're talking about harmonies, this is the song - WOW!
Telephone Line - another catchy number, and some great lyrics:

Doowop dooby doo doowop doowah doolang
Blue days black nights doowah doolang

Oh, well, I meant:

I look into the sky, the love you need ain't gonna see you through
And I wonder why the little things you planned ain't coming true
Oh oh Telephone Line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight
Oh oh Telephone Line, give me some time, I'm living in twilight

I don't think my love of ELO is simply justified by being introduced to them at such an early age (I guess I first heard songs like the above when I was 7 or 8 years old) - what they do, they DO exceedingly well! They do bring LIGHT through orchestral-pop, and all credit to them! They cornered a market, as far as I'm concerned, and should be commended for that!

I will admit that, apart from the (many) greatest hits albums that they've released, I don't know enough about their backlist! But, if you were to hit this album at the very least, you'd have some fun, and get to know a fab and importantly, fun band!

The songs are great to sing along to, and admire!

The ELO collab playlist on SPOTIFY is still available - check it out:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:4Hfee7VdH1pOsR8tBcLOyo

...and for more official(ish) information on ELO, check out the following websites:

http://www.elomusic.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Light_Orchestra

Menace2Music official soundtrack

We're getting into double-figures now - so, lets get cracking....the next three are:

Romeo and Juliet (Balcony Scene) - Craig Armstrong
FILM: Romeo and Juliet

The Grace of Undomiel - Howard Shore (featuring Renee Fleming)
FILM: Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

The Asteroid Field - John Williams
FILM: The Empire Strikes Back

Craig Armstrong is one of the finest composers working in film today - as well as R&J, you'll have heard his music on films like Moulin Rouge, Plunkett and Macleane and World Trade Center. This track is one of R&J's major highlights, hence the reason it appears on albums like "The Most Relaxing Classical Music in The World...Ever"

The Lord of the Rings trilogy are amongst, in my opinion, the finest movies ever made. I was never the most enormous "fantasy" fan, but these films were so accessible and majestic. The music throughout was fabulous. If I have any criticism, its that it has not had the longevity on the iPod unlike other soundtracks. I am looking forward to owning the full set (they have released further albums with ALL of the music, and not just selections), which might give me a further glimpse into Howard Shore's masterwork.

Wow, how have I got to 12 tracks, and only just inserted John Williams, the King of Move Soundtracks! Not sure, but I am sure this track (which I think is one of the best pieces in all of the Star Wars movies) will be the first of many Williams tracks on this list as it develops!

Here are the links for the Menace2Music OST:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

Lastly, today's question was about your favourite song of the 1980's:

Starship "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"

A-Ha "Take On Me"

Def Leppard "Animal"

I look forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on this - the above three would definitely feature in my top 10 of the 1980's, for sure!

Have a great Thursday, everyone! Guy Fawkes night, and I just happen to live in the centre of the World when it comes to this night - Lewes. Tonight, thousands of people will descend upon the town, and hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of fireworks will be sent up into the sky, along with a few effigies (I hear Alistair Darling is one) will be burnt to smithereens (always wanted to use that word!!!). To all, have a fabulous night!

Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

And Then There Were Three (Genesis), and the OST goes from strength-to-strength...

If this were the last day of your life, my friend,
Tell me, what do you think you would do then?

This is an early turning point in this remarkable album - you can feel the energy of this album under the surface in opening track, Down and Out, but the above lyric in Undertow, is followed by blasts of emotion and a majesty of electronic harmonies.

We're talking a classic album today - it is Genesis' ...and then there were three...


This album was all about change and shifts of direction for Genesis - Steve Hackett had left the band, and the new three-piece had plenty to prove. This was their first opus. As Wikipedia mentions:

"...And Then There Were Three... heralded a move towards shorter radio-friendly songs and marked the band's move away from progressive rock at the height of punk rock"

The songs are long (9 of the 11 are 4mins+, and 2 are over 6mins), and show enormous depth - there are a couple like Ballad of Big that I don't find as memorable, perhaps because the lyrics tell a little more of a fantasy story. But, overall, there are a lot of layers to this album, and if you've only heard much of Genesis's later music (No Son of Mine onwards), listen to this as you're in for a treat!

I've often found that the better Genesis songs are those that have their softer side, as well as the rousing keyboard/electronic support. Songs like Snowbound start out softly, carefully, but conclude with the swirling, uplifting lyrics and music you're come to love in this album.

One of the reasons I like this album so much is that you do feel lifted - the songs blend together so sweetly, and the some of the keyboards and harmonies make you feel like you're flying along (see Deep in the Motherlode, for an example).

If anyone is listening to Genesis for the first time, I would have them listen to this, and then Duke, followed by some live albums (starting with Seconds Out - one of the greatest live albums there has ever been). Then they can get into the more commercial single-driven 90s Genesis, who were still pretty fab!

If you download three:
Undertow
Many Too Many
Follow You, Follow Me

To find out yet more about this album, long onto the following wikipedia link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...And_Then_There_Were_Three...

Menace2Music official soundtrack

The album is growing nice - we're up to nine tracks with today's three:

A Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
FILM: The Dark Knight

Plane to Chicago - Eliot Goldenthal
FILM: Public Enemies

Raising the Sail - Philip Glass, Burkhard Dallwitz
FILM: The Truman Show

Firstly, I just had to include another Batman track, and A Dark Knight, is an exhilarating roller-coaster of a track. Over 16 minutes in length, this track contains music from the film and is the resulting end credits. Quite simply, breath-taking. If you don't like music like this, then you don't really like OSTs and film scores. If this is the case, you can just by-pass the next couple of songs too - go on, don't let me hold you up...!?

I still haven't seen Public Enemies, but the OST got a good write-up in Empire magazine, so I listened on spotify, put in a playlist, and eventually went onto purchasing it. I like Plane to Chicago as it is one of those OST tracks that triggers emotion - you can feel the energy of the moment in the film, through the music. For me, you don't even need to see the film!?

Lastly for today, we have Raising the Sail, from The Truman Show. I think I always realised the music to this film was great, but I was reawakened when I watched it on TV the other night. There is plenty to enjoy about this film - the fantastic performances, the triumphant finale, but the music is also worth a listen on its own. I'm hoping to pick-up the OST on CD shortly, as I sense it might be one that becomes a classic for me as time goes on. This track shows how good this OST is - the blend of piano against electronic keyboard works perfectly. The only pain with the track is that it ends too abruptly, going into another track - Father Kolbe's Preaching (the music that plays as Truman beats the ball of his enormous cage).

Lastly, I'm going to try and post a few questions on Twitter (and my own personal facebook page) that will get people thinking, who might want to gesture an opinion - today's is one that has been asked many times before - "The Beatles or The Rolling Stones?"

For me, The Stones have their place (particularly when it comes to live performances and albums), but The Beatles were amongst the first bands I listened to as a child, and I was hooked from moment one.

I would answer "The Beatles" for three very important reasons:

1. Abbey Road album is my favourite album of all-time
2. Something was the first song that Emma (my wife) and I danced to at our wedding
3. George Harrison is a genius - I cried on the day he died, and the World misses him everyday that passes...

Already working on tomorrow's question - watch out people!

Have a great day, one-and-all!

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Golden Silvers (track: My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow), and the Menace2Music OST grows!

I like, if possible, to keep up with reviewing albums and tracks that I own, rather than picking anything - spotify is all well-and-good, but I think this blog is also about giving people an idea about the varied taste I have (it's also a great way of tracking everything I'm buying and listening to regularly).

Today's track comes from Golden Silver's album, True Romance - the track is My Love is a Seed That Doesn't Grow:


This song swirls around, with echoing synths and a strong piano backbone. For me, it was one of the strongest on the album from the beginning. It sounds like an ode to a lost love. I got the album today, from an ebay purchase - straight on the iPod, and another to give a longer listen to at a later point!

The next three songs in the Menace2Music OST are:

Recruiting Officer - James Newton Howard
FILM: Signs

Silk Spectre - Tyler Bates
Film: Watchmen

Descent Into Mystery - Danny Elfman
Film: Batman

Recruiting Officer is one of those tracks that starts so slowly, with those chirps, and then builds up as the scene in the film progresses - the violins and brass sweep in, and you have a very moving, atmospheric piece of music.

The next two songs are pretty short, but still have a whole lot of umph - we start with Silk Spectre. One of those tracks you just know comes from a superhero movie - crescendos of drums and orchestration!

I shut my eyes, and I can see the batmobile (which you have only just seen for the first time) storming along through the night, leaves being blown in every which direction - Descent Into Mystery is a fab track, beautifully combining orchestration and choir. Naturally, a fantastic track to drive to!

So, we're up to six tracks now in the Menace2Music OST - check it out on spotify at:

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc
spotify:user:menoir16:playlist:0QpCoaV6eGuZ7gQj5ChDFc

The Menace2Music main collab continues to build - we're up to 162 tracks in there now (11.4 hours worth of music already reviewed):

http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL

Hope everyone is well, and this blog is picked up by a few Golden Silvers fans - let me know what you think about the above song, and whether you have a different fave from the album, True Romance.

All the very best - Menace2Music
menace2music@googlemail.com
http://twitter.com/menace2music
http://open.spotify.com/user/menoir16/playlist/1j3HXNYIHuGDfW7aLh5OlL